Letters to the editor, April 10, 2026

A reminder about gas-powered leaf blowers

To the Editor:

Spring has returned, and our neighborhoods are again inundated with the constant drone of gas-powered leaf blowers wielded by landscaping crews. 

Both these crews and the homeowners who pay for their services are breaking the law. 

In Bedford, Katonah, and Bedford Hills, it’s illegal to use gas-powered leaf blowers until Oct. 26. Starting in 2025, the “window” to use these machines in the spring was eliminated. 

According to the town law, both landscapers who use gas-powered leaf blowers and the homeowners who employ them could face fines of up to $1,000 and a mandatory court appearance. (Electric- and battery-powered leaf blowers may be used legally year-round.)

Although it is possible that some residents do not know about the law, it is likely that many more willfully ignore it. 

To those who choose not to obey this law simply because they do not like it, I ask: if you are in a hurry, do you drive 55 mph down Katonah Avenue? I suspect you do not; you realize that the speed limit is in place to protect health, safety, and quality of life in our community. If we all decided to pick and choose which laws to follow this would be a very different place to live.

Copious public discussion was had before the law was passed and an “easing in” period unfolded over the course of many years to allow the community to adapt to the regulations. Those who do not like the law can reopen the debate to have it changed; that is how democracy works. At this time, it is settled law that should be enforced.Please talk to your landscapers about the law and ask them to use landscaping alternatives that preserve quality of life in our neighborhoods.

Thomas Doyle Katonah 

Foundation urges strong support of the arts in BCSD

To the Editor:

The Foundation for Bedford Central Schools would like to begin by recognizing something our community already knows well: Bedford Central School District’s music and visual arts programs are exceptional. They are a source of pride across our district and play a meaningful role in the daily lives of our students.

Because of this, we are deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to these programs in the upcoming school budget.

Our music and arts educators consistently create spaces where students can explore their creativity, build confidence, and feel connected. Concerts, performances, and art showcases bring our community together and highlight the talent and dedication of both students and teachers. These experiences are not extras — they are an essential part of a well-rounded education.

While recent adjustments may preserve instructional time on the schedule, they do not fully protect the strength or future of these programs. We have seen in the past that even small reductions can lead to fewer opportunities for students and increased strain on teachers.

The current proposal goes further, and we are concerned it will negatively impact the quality of instruction and the student experience moving forward.

We also want to ensure that all students across the district continue to have equal access to strong arts programming, regardless of their individual school or resources outside the classroom.

We share this perspective with respect for difficult decisions facing the district. We also believe it is important to protect what is already working so well. We respectfully urge the district to reconsider these proposed cuts and to prioritize the long-term strength of music and arts education in our schools.

We urge members of the community to write to the Board of Education prior to the budget vote next week, Wednesday, April 22. All voices are needed.

The Foundation for Bedford Central Schools

Writers asks BCSD board to protect music and arts

To the Editor:

We are proud to be part of a community that has always found a way to do right by its students — and we write today in that same spirit, asking the Board of Education to protect our music and arts programs in the upcoming budget.

The board has navigated difficult financial decisions before, doing so creatively and in partnership with our community. Our community has spoken about the consequences of teacher cuts and has been heard. We’re asking the board to hear us again — this time by recognizing the profound impact of music and arts education on our students, our mission to nurture the whole child, and our community as a whole.

Central to that impact are the people who show up every day to make it possible: our extraordinary teachers. The educators in our music and arts programs are exceptionally talented and profoundly invested in our children. They deserve to feel genuinely valued — and if our district cannot always offer the highest salaries in the region, we owe them every other condition they need to thrive. That means time — not just instructional time, but time to collaborate, prepare, and plan the concerts, showcases, and special events that give students a sense of pride, connection, and belonging. These opportunities matter just as much as students’ athletic and academic pursuits.

By maintaining current staffing levels and prep periods — rather than requiring fewer teachers to travel between schools — we ensure educators have what they need to sustain the outstanding programs that support essential parts of our children’s development and sense of self. It also sends a clear message: we’re invested in them and the value they bring to our schools and community.

Let’s ensure that every student who walks through our doors has access to a thriving arts education — and the teachers who make it extraordinary.

Nell Shapiro, district parent and career teacher Alia Ornstein, district parent and basketball coach