Town of Bedford
March 25, 2022
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Dear Bedford,
Spring is finally here! Please take advantage of the nice weather to enjoy our local shops (including the new grocery store in Bedford Village!), restaurants, events, activities, and volunteer opportunities.
A thriving town starts with your participation in it.
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The Recreation and Parks Department Spring/Summer brochure is published!
Click here to see all the great activities, classes and programs, as well as info about registering for camps and pools. Please take note of the classes offered by some of our most talented local artists, actors, and photographers through our partnership with the Creative Alliance Project (CAP), now open to all! And, along with CAP, we are bringing Broadway actor (and Katonah resident) Bruce Sabath to the stage in Bedford Hills with his one man show on April 8th! Don’t miss this inspiring show full of song and storytelling. Purchase tickets here.
We have Town Board meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month so with 5 Tuesdays in March, this week was a bit of a bye week with no recent meeting to report about and no meeting next week to preview. However, there are a few upcoming public hearings on proposed amendments to the town code to be aware of including changes to the noise law to restrict the use of gas powered leaf blowers. Please come out on April 5 at 7pm and let your voice be heard. Click here to see the proposed amended laws.
As we are navigating our way through the pandemic and hopeful that this emergency will continue to subside, we are careful to continue to prepare and plan for all types of emergencies. Yesterday I attended a NYS Homeland Security & Emergency Services training on Emergency Management and will continue to focus on the ways we as a town and a community can be more prepared for future emergencies. Our Emergency Management Task Force is also working on evaluating risks and producing a town plan. Check out this website for info about supplies you may need to have on hand in an emergency or extended power outage.
Finally, it is still Women’s History Month and we are proud to recognize Bedford Hills resident Rev. Kymberly McNair who received an award from the County for her leadership, service, and work as a champion of women's rights and safety. Read more below. Also, you may notice flags are flying at half-staff through the weekend (per order of the President) in remembrance of Madeleine Albright, the first female US Secretary of State.
Please let me know if you have concerns or want to connect. I am always happy to hear from you.
Be well,
Ellen
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Rev. Kymberly McNair Receives County Proclamation |
Bedford Hills Resident Kymberly McNair was honored by Westchester County Executive George Latimer at the March 21st meeting of the Women’s Advisory Board.
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Reverend McNair, along with 17 other extraordinary women across Westchester, was honored for her tireless efforts in bolstering education, promoting social equity and serving her community. A champion for women's rights and safety, Kymberly works as the Director of Community Education and Organizing at My Sisters' Place, a Westchester-based organization that endeavors to combat domestic violence and human trafficking through comprehensive services, advocacy, and community education.
Bedford is proud to have Reverend McNair serving the Bedford Community locally as well on our town's Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory Committee (IDEA committee) and on the town's Police Reform Collaborative. McNair is also an active member of Antioch Baptist Church of Bedford Hills.
After a long history of being overlooked, intelligent, dynamic and powerful women all over the United States are finally being recognized for their talents, their achievements and the passion they invest daily in their efforts to make this world a better place. The Town of Bedford is proud to see Rev. McNair honored for her countless achievements, and we would like to acknowledge the many other brilliant women in this town as Women's History Month comes to a close.
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Notice from the Town Tax Receiver |
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AVOID PENALTIES. PAY YOUR TAXES BY APRIL 30TH
The Receiver of Taxes Amy Dickan has received the warrant for the collection of County and Town taxes for 2022. Click here for the notice, more info, and understand the penalties for late payment after April.
The Tax Receiver's Office is open 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday thru Friday and is located at the Town Hall, 321 Bedford Rd, Bedford Hills. You may pay online at bedfordny.gov and sign up for email confirmation when your payment is received. |
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Tree Maintenance and Planting - 2022 Update |
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In 2021 the Town of Bedford received a $50,000 grant from NYS Department of Environmental Protection for maintenance of public trees, including pruning and removal. The grant is part of the second phase of NYSDEC's Division of Lands and Forests’ Urban and Community Forestry Program, which works to increase public awareness of the importance of trees and help communities develop and implement comprehensive tree management plans to create healthy forests while enhancing quality of life.
The work is being done based on a hamlet area tree inventory performed by Davey Resource Group, a firm specializing in this work, under a previous DEC grant. We are grateful for NYSDEC’s support of tree health and safety in Bedford. To date approximately 50% of the pruning and removal work has been done, with the remaining work to occur this year.
Healthy community trees provide a host of environmental, economic, and social benefits, including wildlife habitat, shade to lower hamlet heat islands, watershed protection, flood reduction, increased property values, and improved public health.
The Town has implemented a tree planting program to replace lost trees, acknowledging the benefits of trees to the long term health of our planet. Approximately 25 trees per year have been planted as part of this program. 2022 planting locations are currently being selected. Thanks to the Conservation Board, the Tree Planting Committee, and DPW Commissioner Kevin Winn and his department for their work on this project.
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The leaf blower law has not yet been changed. Gas powered leaf blowers are allowed everywhere from (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm and Saturdays and holidays 10am-4pm) until May 15 when gas powered blowers are banned in the hamlet zones until September 15. To see if you live in a hamlet zone, click here.
Please bear with our town employees who are following the current rules and doing the big job of preparing our properties and parks for the spring/summer season. The Town of Bedford Parks Department will be using gas powered leaf blowers for certain tasks in the parks and on public property this spring to remove gravel, sand and salt from the lawns, clean out of catch basins and storm drains, and for some general maintenance. Thank you.
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The Town of Bedford welcomes DeCicco & Sons to Bedford Village!
Happy shopping!
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SUNDAY, MARCH 27
FROM 2-4:30PM
charla y cafecito (coffee and chat)!
The Bedford Hills Community House, 74 Main St., Bedford Hills
Thank you to the IDEAcommittee for organizing an afternoon dedicated to music, dancing, family and friends!
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Creative Alliance Project Presents: Living A Creative Life
Sign up for one class or more and learn from talented neighbors about photography, improv, acting, poetry, songwriting, painting!
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PERFORMANCE: Searching for Tevye |
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Friday, April 8, 7:00pm
The Bedford Community House Theatre
74 Main St, Bedford Hills, NY 10507
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“Searching for Tevye,” a one-man autobiographical live performance with 3 piece music ensemble that magically brings to life this extraordinary performers journey of choosing a life of creativity. Local resident Bruce Sabath is a New York based actor, working in theatre, film, TV and commercials. Read a review here.
*Ticket proceeds will go toward keeping our programs and senior programs free to Bedford residents.
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The Bedford 2030 Recyclopedia is Back! |
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Check out Bedford 2030's comprehensive, searchable guide to recycling everything in the Town of Bedford: from spray paint to soccer balls! Click here to visit the website and learn how to recycle correctly!
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WANTED: Treasurer to Bedford Hills Fire District |
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The Bedford Hills Fire District is seeking a part-time Treasurer for the Board of Fire Commissioners. This is a confidential and highly responsible position, calling for the use of independent judgement. The Treasurer will attend all meetings of the Board of Fire Commissioners and present a total accounting of monies received and disbursed during the fiscal year to Board of Fire Commissioners monthly, at the annual meeting and at any other time the Board may prescribe a budget presentation. Click here for more info regarding qualifications and how to apply. Resumes will be accepted until Friday April 8, 2022.
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Bird Friendly Backyards Seminar |
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Find out how to be a bird friendly neighbor. Learn the best ways to attract and benefit birds with this multimedia program featuring images, sounds and video of local backyard bird species. Discover the best choices for bird feeders and seed, native plants, water features and bird houses to improve backyard bird habitat.
This program is on Zoom on Tuesday March 29, from 7PM - 8PM and is presented by Anne Swaim from the Saw Mill River Audubon. For more information, click here.
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Westchester County Office of Economic Development announces the return of Launch1000 |
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Launch1000 is an idea accelerator that provides step by step, immersive, action-based learning to de-risk any new business idea before going to market.
This radically inclusive program works for products, services, social enterprises, non-profits, small local business ideas and large global business ideas. It also features a Dual Language Cohort (Spanish/English) to make the program accessible to more County residents.
To learn more, click here. P ara leer este documento en español, haga clic aquí. |
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Restaurant Week Returns to the Hudson Valley |
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Restaurant Week is back! From March 21 to April 3, enjoy a delicious three-course meal at a discounted price from some of your favorite restaurants, or try somewhere and find your new favorite! Over 100 restaurants from all over the Hudson Valley are participating this year, including 54 restaurants in Westchester! Click here to view participating restaurants!
Prix fixe lunches this week are $29.95, and dinners are $39.95.
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Seasonal Employment Opportunities |
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Bedford Recreation and Parks Department |
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The Bedford Recreation & Parks Department in now accepting applications for summer 2022 jobs! The department will be hiring for day camp, pool and seasonal park maintenance positions. If interested, please submit an “Application for Seasonal Employment.” Feel free to contact our office by phone at 914-666-7004 or by e-mail at recreation@bedfordny.gov with any questions.
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Town of Bedford is also seeking college students to intern in the Town offices this summer. Qualified candidates please email your resume and letter of interest to rsurace@bedfordny.gov.
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Below is a list of committees
that either have vacancies or have members with expiring terms
through June 30.
We will aim to conduct interviews for these prior to April 1st.
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Senior Advisory Committee: Seeking members of any age to fill 4 vacant positions for 3-year terms. The Committee meets on an “as needed” basis.
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Veterans Advisory Committee: 3 year term, 4 open seats. The committee works with veterans to navigate the local, state, Federal and many non-profit organizations which provide benefits and assistance. Non-veterans may apply!
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Katonah Museum of Art presents
Constant Carnival: The Haas Brothers in Context
March 13 - June 26, 2022
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Westmoreland Sanctuary presents
WEEKLY Guided Hikes with a Professional Naturalist
Sundays: March 27 @2
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Katonah Village Library presents
Building Brick Challenge
March 29 @4:30
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Bedford Playhouse presents
Yoga for Charity
March 31 @10 AM; 12:30 PM
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John Jay High School presents
The Wedding Singer the Musical
March 31 @7PM
April 1 @7PM
April 2 @1PM and @7PM
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Katonah Classic Stage presents
Dinner with Friends benefit reading
April 2 @7PM
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The Bedford Presbyterian Church has put out their food collection tent and requesting donations from the community. Donations will be split between the Community Center of Northern Westchester and the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry. |
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Families in Bedford, Pound Ridge, and our surrounding towns stand in solidarity with Ukrainian families being displaced by the threat of war.
As this humanitarian crisis continues, we hope you will donate to our community fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
IRC is providing critical aid to children, parents, and other civilians fleeing their homes.
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Hosted by the Pound Ridge Human Rights Advisory Committee and with support from Idea committee of Bedford NY, the community fundraiser will also feature a candlelight vigil* in Scotts Corners at 7:00 pm on Monday, March 7 (at the corner of Westchester Avenue and Trinity Pass) during which residents can gather to stand in solidarity and also drop off donations of humanitarian supplies. Supplies will be donated to the Yonkers-based Afya Foundation to ship to the frontlines.
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Free Coronavirus test kits available at Open Door |
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Rapid at-home Coronavirus test kits are available free of charge at Open Door Family Medical Center for uninsured patients.
For more information, please feel free to contact Chief Medical Officer at Open Door, Daren Wu, at dwu@odfmc.org
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Free COVID-19 testing in Westchester |
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Free COVID-19 testing is available at the Westchester County Center in White Plains for symptomatic persons. Appointments are encouraged, but walk ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment and check for availability, click here.
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Free COVID-19 Vaccines in Westchester |
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Free COVID-19 vaccines are available at the Westchester County Center in White Plains for ages 5 and up. Residents can sign up for a vaccine here.
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Utility Resources for Residents |
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Rent/Eviction:
- Call 2-1-1 or visit 211.org
- Legal Services of the Hudson Valley: (877) 574-8529
- Hudson Valley Justice Center: (914) 308-3490
- County Department of Social Services: (914) 995-3333
Heat/utility bills:
- County Department of Social Services: (914) 995-3333
- After-hours emergency : (914) 995-2099 for payment assistance, repair and maintenance.
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Click here to be directed to a document detailing how a resident can pursue assistance for utilities (para leer este documento en español, haga clic aquí)
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Past Supervisor newsletters:
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