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On The Record: Blown Away
Landscapers rally against leaf blower ban
Good morning subscribers. ☕This is your Thursday, Feb. 5, Rye Record newsletter, curating some of the latest headlines across the city of Rye.
Today’s Weather Channel local forecast calls for a sun and a high of 32 degrees ☀️ Check out the forecast for the rest of the week here.
Heating up. Tensions surrounding gas-powered leafblowers over noise and air pollution have been simmering in Rye for years — but now they appear to be reaching a boiling point.
With the City Council considering proposed legislation that would ban gas-powered blowers outright beginning May 1, residents and business owners showed up at a recent City Council public hearing to make their opinions known.
Landscaper, gardeners, and outdoor works spoke against the ban.
“You just can’t do it. It’s impossible to do. It’s just impossible,” Peter Balsamo, owner of Mamaroneck-based Peter Balsamo Landscaping LLC and a professional landscaper for over 35 years, told The Record.
Most of those supporting the ban said that disruptive leafblower noise was their primary concern. Several residents also spoke about environmental and health concerns associated with gas-powered lawn equipment.
A local law on the books permits quieter electric leaf blowers year-round, while limiting gas-powered leafblowers to the spring and fall cleanup periods, March 1 to April 30 and Oct. 1 to Dec. 15, respectively. That law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
Those speaking in opposition to a full ban on gas blowers, including Balsamo, all made the same argument: When it comes to the spring and fall cleanup periods, electric leaf blowers are simply not up to the job.
Balsamo put it simply at the council meeting: “You might as well use a hairdryer.”
To read more of Lilienne Shore Kilgore-Brown reporting, click here.
The Rye City Council is considering banning gas-powered leaf blowers. File photo
-Today’s newsletter is curated by Christian Falcone
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RYE RECORD STUDIOS 🎙
IN OTHER NEWS
DEER HERE. Rye wants to know just how many deer are roaming its neighborhoods — and it’s turning to drones to find out. The City Council OK’d a $7,000 proposal on Wednesday night to launch a thermal study to determine the severity of the deer population in town. -Miranda Ferrante
DUNKED. In Rye’s 52-42 victory at home Monday against fellow Class AA Nyack (6-10), the RedHawks were forced to play with just a few reserves and never led. They were no match for the Garnets’ depth or pressure defense. -Steven Kearney
CLOSED. Mamaroneck police broke up three illegal massage parlors leading to the arrest of five women, including three on prostitution charges. -Miranda Ferrante
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FROM OUR PARTNERS
BUSINESS & ORGS
Sophia Johnson was named the new executive director of the historical society.
The Rye Historical Society has a new executive director, Sophia N. Johnson.
Johnson led Columbia University’s Program for Economic Research. She also taught at New York University, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Affairs.
-by Record staff
Annie Toulouse was one of five Garnet seniors honored Friday. Photo/Steven Cao
SPORTS
Late in the third quarter of Rye’s 54-32 win Friday against Eastchester, Annie Toulouse suddenly found herself tied up.
While fighting for a rebound, the Rye senior’s foot got tangled among a mass of balloons that were placed behind the basket for the girls basketball team’s senior night. After Toulouse freed herself, junior teammate Frankie Chiaravalle pointed to the sky, and the Garnets shared a brief laugh watching the balloons float to the ceiling of Rye High School’s gym.
-by Chris Marshall
POLICE & FIRE
A train barrels through Winter Storm Fern. Photo courtesy MTA
A Metro-North car caught fire at the Scarsdale train station Wednesday morning, causing the evacuation of more than 100 passengers aboard and congestion on the line.
The train car, on the tracks at 1 Depot Place, went ablaze from mechanical issues around 7:45 a.m., according to the Scarsdale FD. In total, 125 passengers were evacuated from the train, leading to delays on the Harlem Line, News12 reported.
-by Record staff