News and Events for Larchmont Residents |
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From the Mayor
Dear Fellow Larchmonters,
Happy September! I’m happy to report that Larchmont had no new coronavirus cases for the entire month of August! Our surrounding communities, County and State are also doing quite well. But please remember to keep following the protocols by wearing masks when required, washing hands frequently and not gathering in large groups.
Schools open next week with a combination of remote and in-person instruction. This is going to be an extra stressful time for our families with school-age children. I know that, as always, Larchmonters will watch out for their neighbors, offering help where needed and finding creative solutions to cope with all of the expected and unexpected issues that may pop up. If nothing else, we can all be ready to offer a virtual shoulder to cry on.
Larchmont al fresco continues to be a success. There’s a good vibe on the streets, reminiscent of a festive European square. The Village intends to keep this going as long as possible. I will be working with the Chamber of Commerce and our restaurants on planning for the holidays and outdoor dining in cooler weather.
Things in our downtown are going fairly well under the circumstances, however I cannot paint an entirely rosy picture. Since my last letter to you the MAG (Mamaroneck Artists Guild) has moved to an online presence only and vacated their long-held space on Larchmont Avenue. We are sad to see them go and hope they may be able to reopen a physical space in Larchmont in the near future. It is certainly possible that over the next few months we may see other businesses leave, but to some extent that is in our control – we must renew our commitment to SHOP LOCAL every day!
On the bright side though, the Board of Trustees was happy to celebrate the opening of Advance Lighting at 2003 Palmer Avenue. Advance is owned and operated by Raymond and Stephnie Barclay. Raymond had worked at Arrow Lamp and Lighting for many, many years and we are thrilled that he and his wife chose to open a new lighting store here when Arrow closed.
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Our next ribbon cutting will be at the new, expanded location of Love Bella! In addition to new businesses mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we welcome Bagels by Sophia to Chatsworth Avenue. And you may have noticed the construction activity at the former Larchmont Store (for newcomers that’s 1916 Palmer Avenue). The owner of that long-vacant retail space is building out 2 white boxes and apparently already has one tenant lined up – news to follow!
September is usually a month of exciting events in Larchmont – Larchmont Day (with Big Trucks!), the Arts Festival, and the Junior Tri-Athlon. Unfortunately, all of those have been cancelled due to COVID. We’ll have to plan for something extra special next year! But don’t forget to celebrate the 129th Birthday of Larchmont on September 22! Here’s a remembrance of last year’s festivities.
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September is also when we remember those who were lost in the attacks on 9/11. This year’s Tri-Municipal event has been cancelled, however the Village is working on a small ceremony to honor our lost residents, which we hope to live stream. Stay tuned for more information as we finalize plans.
Another effect of the COVID pandemic has been the reduction of non-property tax revenue for the Village. The 2020/21 Village budget was created in anticipation of an $800,000 shortfall in these revenue streams, so we feel we are in fairly good shape to weather the storm. But this required a cut in capital expenditures and freezes on filling vacant positions – so operations are not what they would be in a “normal” year. The Board will continuously receive updates and analysis from the Village Treasurer and Administrator and take any corrective actions necessary to keep us on a firm financial footing. Given that the school district has already received a cut in NYS funding, I fear we may be in for a reduction or loss of NYS AIM funding to the Village, which currently stands at $73,000. But the good news is that as of July, the sales tax revenues have been more robust than we budgeted!
Finally, Village elections, postponed from March, will be happening on Tuesday, September 15. Please see the Village Elections box below for detailed information. This year we have two ballots at the election. One is to choose your elected officials. Trustee Bauer, Trustee Fanelli and Myself are on the ballot. The other is a referendum to approve moving the Village elections from March to November to coincide with the General Election. If approved, this change would take place beginning in November 2021. Please come out to vote on September 15 or vote by absentee ballot!
Stay well,
Mayor Lorraine Walsh
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Village Notes
Constitution Park: Save the date! Our grand opening of the renovated Constitution Park will be held on October 3. Details to follow.
Fall Cancellations: Please note that the Larchmont Day celebration and the Fall Art Festival have both been cancelled for this fall due to Covid19.
Dog Beach Update: Due to Tropical Storm Isaias, a significant amount of erosion has required the temporary closure of Dog Beach. The Village is working to obtain the guidance and approval of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on a plan to remediate the erosion. It is expected the beach area will remain closed into the Fall of 2020
Leaf Blowers: Reminder, please make sure your landscaping service knows that ALL LEAF BLOWERS (which includes gas powered AND electric) are BANNED in Larchmont
until further notice. Violations may be given to both the landscaper and the homeowner, so please help with compliance by assuring the law is followed on your property.
Garbage pick-up: Curbside pickup only continues. Please be sure to abide by the L-M Sanitation Commission rules and place all trash in bins or cans to prevent spreading by animals (no loose trash bags are allowed). Trash and recycling may be placed at the curb either the evening before your scheduled pickup or before 6AM the morning of your pickup.
Village Playgrounds: While our playground equipment is open we are asking everyone to please ensure they follow all posted rules, including wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
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Village Elections
Our Village elections, which had been scheduled to be held on March 18, 2020, were postponed by order of the Governor and have been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020. Voting will be for the position of Mayor and two Trustees.
Polling Place for Village Elections: Polls will be open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM for Village elections and voting will be in the Larchmont Village Center, 119 Larchmont Avenue (behind the Library).
Referendum
In addition to voting for our elected officials, the Village Board has also passed a resolution to include a referendum on the ballot for the September 15 election. Village elections are held the third Tuesday of every March. The purpose of the referendum is to move Village elections to coincide with the General Election, which is held the second Tuesday of every November. If the referendum is passed, the change will happen in 2021.
The Board feels that this change would be beneficial to the Village for three primary reasons:
1. One of the first things a newly elected official is asked to do is to vote on a budget that the official did not meaningfully participate in, because the Village Board begins its budget process in January and adopts a budget in late April. If an official is elected in November instead of March, they will begin their term the first Monday of December and have the opportunity to participate in the full budget process.
2. We are hoping that by holding the election at the same time as the General Election it will bring greater awareness to Village Elections and local government (in the past we have had as few a 48 people vote in Village Elections); and
3. In order for the election date to be changed, the Board needed to turn over responsibility for elections to Westchester County and this means that we would no longer need to use Village personnel to run the election and we could remove this expense from the Village budget.
We hope that residents will vote yes on September 15 to move our Village Elections to the second Tuesday of every November to coincide with the General Election.
Absentee Ballots: For information on how to vote by absentee ballot in the Village Election, please click HERE.
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Committee and Department Updates |
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Recreation
Join us for our upcoming Tennis Clinics. Session are 6 weeks beginning on 9/15. Beginner clinics will be held Tuesdays 9-10:30; Intermediate clinics will be held Wednesdays 9-10:30; Advanced clinics will be held Thursdays 9-10:30. Cardio Tennis will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-12 (sign up for one or both sessions).
Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Clinics: please click HERE.
Cardio Tennis: please click HERE.
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Parks and Trees
New Co-Chairs: The Village Board recently voted to approve new Co-Chairs Karen Hall and Laura Treadway for the Parks and Trees Committee. We welcome them and would also like to thank Anne Mangone and Tony Porter for their many years of service!
us for our upcoming Tennis Clinics. Session are 6 weeks beginning on 9/15. Beginner clinics will be held Tuesdays 9-10:30; Intermediate clinics will be held Wednesdays 9-10:30; Advanced clinics will be held Thursdays 9-10:30. Cardio Tennis will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-12 (sign up for one or both sessions).
Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced Clinics: please click HERE.
Cardio Tennis: please click HERE.
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Larchmont Environmental Committee
Along with 26 other Westchester municipalities, the Village of Larchmont has renewed participation in Sustainable Westchester’s bulk electricity purchasing program, a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) project known as Westchester Power. Westchester Power provides members with 100% renewable electricity at fixed, competitive prices. The program’s large customer base helps it negotiate lower prices and its fixed rates protect against volatility. Since its inception in 2016, the program has saved Larchmont residents a total of $113,000 on their electricity bills and mitigated 17,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent to taking 3,600 cars off of the road each year.
This past year residents noticed higher prices on their bills relative to ConEd’s variable rates (equating to an average of $12.52/month/household higher than ConEd rates). This is because the current ConEd rate is at a historic low due to oversupply of non-renewables including fossil fuels. There’s no guarantee of where ConEd rates will be next year, but Sustainable Westchester is going out for a new bid in September for the January 1 contract, and the competitiveness of renewables is strong.
As with investing, it’s wise to take a long term perspective with energy choices. When Sustainable Westchester goes out for competitive fixed rates and locks in, they are sometimes ahead and sometimes behind ConEd, but they have an overall record of being ahead while reducing Larchmont’s carbon footprint along the way. While there are no guarantees that the price will be lower than ConEd, Westchester Power guarantees no rate surprises, 100% clean electricity, and critical support for continued development of renewables.
For more information:
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From the Larchmont Police Department
The PBA members and the Department are looking forward to the schools opening and are preparing to handle increased traffic in the school zones. With the uncertainty that has lingered through 2020 we are hoping "Back to School" season will bring some structure which a lot of people crave. If there are concerns regarding traffic or school crossings, community members should not hesitate to reach out to the Police Department.
In addition, the Police Department recently modified their shift schedule form 8 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts. Change is never easy, especially when we have officers who have worked here 20+ years. With every change there is opportunity and many of us are excited to see where this experiment takes us.
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From the Larchmont Fire Department
Here are some Generator and Carbon Monoxide safety tips! Generators should be used in well ventilated locations outside at least 5 feet away from all doors, windows, and vent openings. Measure the 5-foot distance from the generator exhaust system to the building. Please be sure to never use a generator in an attached garage, even with the door open. Place generators so that exhaust fumes can’t enter the home through windows, doors or other openings in the building. The exhaust must be directed away from the building. Make sure to install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for correct placement and mounting height. Lastly, if your CO or smoke alarm does go off,exit the building with your family and pets, and dial 911.
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Larchmont Volunteer Fire Department
The Larchmont Volunteer Fire Department is in need of fire fighters! The Larchmont Fire Department Volunteer Application is now on line! If you are interested in becoming a future volunteer fire fighter fill in the application. Don't delay do it today. For more information, call Bubba Fanelli: 914-403-2387.
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Help For Our Local Businesses
Please remember to eat and shop local to help our local businesses and ensure that we continue to have a vibrant downtown.
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Larchmont Library
The Library is beginning to open its onsite services on a limited basis. Please check the Library website for details.
If you need help with managing your account or anything else, Reference staff is ready to assist you. Email any time at [email protected]. If you want a real live person, call 914-734-5362 any weekday between 10am and 4pm.
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Census 2020
The 2020 Census ends September 30! It is extremely important that everyone participate in the 2020 Census. Not having an accurate count of our residents can negatively impact our community.
The Census count determines our share of Federal and State funding for healthcare, education, roads and transportation & parks. The Census count determines our share of State and Local Sales Tax. Westchester County estimates that 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 is a 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 $𝟮,𝟱𝟬𝟬 in funding 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿. Especially now with the financial uncertainty we need every dollar.
Census workers are out going door-to-door now. They are following up with households that did not respond by mail or online and are also doing spot checks for accuracy. Census workers should be wearing masks and have ID badges. Please answer their questions if they visit your home.
We are only at a 69% response rate, so please respond to the Census today! You can still respond online to the Census by clicking HERE.
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LMCTV
LMCTV has hosted some great community conversations recently which you can access HERE.
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Village Calendar
9/2 Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
9/10 Larchmont Environmental Committee Meeting
9/15 Village Elections
Board of Trustees Meeting
Traffic Commission Meeting
Planning Board Meeting
9/29 Board of Trustees Work Session
9/30 Architecture Review Board Meeting
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