Call for Volunteers.
The Board of Trustees is soliciting resumes for several open positions and volunteer committees that help our Village run. We are indeed "hiring," although none of these are paid positions in the traditional sense. The compensation comes from the warm feelings of respect and appreciation you'll get from your neighbors, your family, your children. Your grandparents will get to brag about you, even if you never went to med school or never won a Nobel Prize.
We have openings on the following committees (click on the links for more info about committee missions, typical meeting times, and qualifications:
Any resident of the Village can apply for consideration by completing the online form here: https://www.briarcliffmanor.gov/.../Board-Member...
Be sure to upload a resume -- just like a real job! -- and we thank you, in advance, for your willingness to serve your community. It may be the most rewarding job you will not be paid for.
Halloween Safety Tips.
The Fire Chief would like to share a few Fire Safety tips for Halloween. Halloween is a fun, and spooky, time of year for kids. Make trick-or-treating safe for your little monsters with a few easy safety tips.
- When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. If your child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are large enough so he or she can see out.
- Provide children with flashlights to carry for lighting or glow sticks as part of their costume.
- Dried flowers, cornstalks and crepe paper catch fire easily. Keep all decorations away from open flames and other heat sources like light bulbs and heaters.
- Use a battery-operated candle or glow-stick in jack-o-lanterns. If you use a real candle, use extreme caution. Make sure children are watched at all times when candles are lit. When lighting candles inside jack-o-lanterns, use long, fireplace-style matches or a utility lighter. Be sure to place lit pumpkins well away from anything that can burn and far enough out of the way of trick-or-treaters, doorsteps, walkways and yards.
- Remember to keep exits clear of decorations, so nothing blocks escape routes.
- Make sure all smoke alarms in the home are working.
- Tell children to stay away from open flames including jack-o-lanterns with candles in them. Be sure they know how to stop, drop and roll if their clothing catches fire. (Have them practice, stopping immediately, dropping to the ground, covering their face with hands, and rolling over and over to put the flames out.)
DID YOU KNOW? - Decorations are the first thing to ignite in 900 reported home fires each year. Two of every five of these fires were started by a candle.
Consider becoming a VOLUNTEER Firefighter or EMT. Simply click the link https://join.bmfd.org/. You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/briarcliffmanorfiredept and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/briarcliffmanorfiredept.
The Fire Chiefs and all the Members of the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department hope you and your families have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
NOTE: The Halloween ‘Rag-a-Muffin’ Parade is yearly sponsored by the Village’s Recreation Department and the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department. The parade will be held this Saturday, October 28th at 9:30 AM with children in costume marching down Pleasantville Road from the Operating Engineers Building just north of Popular Road to the Firehouse. The Halloween parade concludes with entertainment. A light snack and treats will be provided to all participants.
In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled, but the entertainment will take place in the Fire House beginning at 10 AM.
Invasive Species Awareness.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to agriculture and trees. Its preferred host is the tree of heaven which you will read more about below. The spotted lanternfly overwinters in the egg stage. Egg masses, each containing 30-50 eggs, are laid on tree trunks or branches but also on other types of hard or solid objects such as bricks, vehicles and landscape boulders. New egg masses appear to be coated with a shiny grayish substance that initially resembles fresh concrete. As the egg masses age, they crack and fade to a tan or grayish brown over time. Egg masses can resemble a small patch of mud or “seed pods” and can be found on vehicles, tree trunks, boulders and stones, bricks and other outdoor surfaces. Egg masses are present from Fall until they hatch the following Spring.
If you spot this bug, characterized by its distinctive spotted wings and bright red underbelly, do not let it spread! Instead, take a photo to document, then safely squash it, and report the sighting to spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov. It's vital to stay informed and proactive to protect our environment from this harmful invader.
The tree of heaven is a rapidly growing deciduous tree. This invasive plant produces an overly abundant amount of seeds, crowds out native species with its dense thickets and secretes a chemical into the soil that is toxic to surrounding plants. Its aggressive root system can also cause damage to pavement, sewers and building foundations. The most effective way to control tree of heaven is to pull seedlings by hand before the taproot develops. Larger trees may be cut at ground level with power or manual saws. Cutting is most effective when trees have begun to flower (June-early July). At least two cuttings per year may be necessary (one early in the growing season and one late in the growing season) to significantly weaken the plant.
Bobcat Alert.
We have received a report about a bobcat at the intersection of North State Road and Chappaqua Road. We are warning you that unaccompanied pets even in your fenced in backyard or walking your pets unleashed have the potential for a lethal confrontation. Keep your pets leashed and under tight control.
Two Huge Shout Out of Thanks!
- For all the 2nd – 5th graders that braved the windy Saturday to “decorate” the Village for Halloween. Your window designs look great!
- Thank you to all our Village of Briarcliff Manor Business Owners who volunteered to have their windows painted for our annual Halloween Painting Event.
Save the Dates!
- Portraits in the Park – PART II – Sunday, November 5th
- Holiday Sing Along and Bonfire – December 9th
- Winter Registration will begin on Monday, December 11th at 9 AM
The Harlem Magic Masters Are Back! November 3rd at 7:00 PM!
The Briarcliff Rotary Club will again be sponsoring their annual fundraiser, a wonderful event featuring the world-famous Magic Masters basketball team playing against a local all-star team of Briarcliff area parents, teachers, and local celebrities. It will take place at the Briarcliff High School Gymnasium on Friday, November 3rd at 7:00 PM! Attendees can see a game filled with trick shots, half-court three-pointers, mesmerizing ball handling, and just a ton of laughs for all ages. There will be concessions sold by the Rotary Club, and souvenir clothing, basketballs and more sold by the Magic Masters. As always, the halftime show will include participation by some of the children from the crowd. Tickets for the Basketball Extravaganza are only $18 in advance, $20 at the door. They will be available at the
Briarcliff Recreation Department up until the day of the event, and you can also reserve seats with tickets to be held at the door by calling, texting or emailing Eric Lebenson at 914-924-3596 or ericlebenson@gmail.com
ICYMI.
DISCLOSURE NOTE
Any email sent or received through the Village of Briarcliff Manor communication systems may be monitored in the normal course of Village business, may be released to the public under the New York State Freedom of Information Law, and may be subject to discovery proceedings in legal actions.