Note: You can read the village's "One Square Mile" newsletter here.

By Mary Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville

May 7, 2025: Clearly, I have caught spring fever as I continue to write about all of the outdoor possibilities to spruce up the Village this spring and summer. Every year the Village just seems to get more beautiful thanks to the collected efforts of our citizen volunteers and our incredible DPW staff who work seamlessly together and have a good time at it to boot.

Repair Sidewalks & Trim Hedges and Tree Branches Please

In an effort to make our residential streets as pedestrian friendly as our business district, we ask you as homeowners to maintain and/or repair your sidewalks adjacent to your home. If repairs are needed and not remediated, the Village will need to issue a duty to repair notice. Though we are legally allowed to actually do the work and then put a lien on the property if the request is ignored, this is not a route we ever want to pursue if at all possible. The Village is responsible for all your nearby curbing, but not for one’s sidewalks.

In the same vein of walkability, we ask you to trim all hedges and tree branches, so pedestrians do not have to walk in the road when sidewalks are reduced by half due to planting overhangs. Many of you may not know that the majestic hedgerows bordering your property are actually in Village property Right of Way (ROW). As they add such beautiful aesthetic, we have no interest in interfering with their care and maintenance. We just ask that you take care of them so that your neighbors can walk unimpeded.

Trees: Fertilizing, Trimming, Planting

The Village will be organically fertilizing and trimming street trees (we spend over $100,000 a year on our tree care) and ask you to do the same for the trees on your property.

Preserving our municipal trees and replacing those lost to age, disease and storms is front and center this spring. In fact, thanks to a 50-50 partnership with the Bronxville Historical Conservancy, we will be planting $150,000 worth of specimen trees both in the Village right away and on Village owned property.

We need you as our eyes and ears in your neighborhoods to reach out and let us know a bare spot where trees have been removed and not replaced or just a good location for a tree to add to the aesthetic of your neighborhood. We are so grateful to the Conservancy as they share our vision of trees as pieces of history as our trees - beyond all the incredible aesthetic and environmental benefits - they provide important, symbolic links with the past as they have lived through eras with which we have very few other connections left.

Honestly, the investment in trees and the benefits that follow are the biggest bang for the buck in preserving the character and health of the Village.

Village Benches, Trash Receptables and Plaques

You will also see us sprucing up our Village benches, trash receptacles and polishing plaques, as we bring everything out from under their winter blanket.

Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers Banned from June 1 to October 31

Also, as the weather warms and we open our windows, I remind you that the Village does have a law banning use of gas-powered leaf blowers from June 1 to October 31.

The Village backs up the ban with enforcement and anyone using this equipment will receive an expensive summons so kindly remember and alert any gardening companies you may hire. If you see someone using a gas blower report it immediately to our police desk, as it will be all handled anonymously. Our patrolling police officers are also very mindful of the ban while on normal patrol.

Door-to-Door Solicitation in Bronxville is Illegal Without a Permit with the Exception of Those Selling an Idea or Cause

The warmer weather also brings out an increase in door-to-door solicitations.

Individuals selling goods cannot do so legally in the Village without first receiving a permit from the police department so do not hesitate to call the PD desk if the sales person cannot produce said permit because sadly upon investigation, our police officers have found that some of the charities that are reported to benefit from some of our donations have proven non-existent.

The first amendment does protect all those “selling” an idea or a cause so groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses do not need a permit/permission to ring your bell.

To limit this kind of visit, a small “No Solicitation sign near the front door has proven effective.