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Written by: Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council

Published: 16 October 2025

Created: 16 October 2025

Last Updated: 17 October 2025

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Mowing leaves into tiny pieces on your lawn--also known as mulch mowing-- is healthier for your lawn and soil than piling or bagging them to be removed. Leaf-mulched lawns often need less fertilizer and water. It is also better for our environment because the pollutants from leaf blowers and trucks that must haul away the leaves are avoided. And, leaves piled in the streets can be a thing of the past! Homeowners around Scarsdale have been mulch mowing leaves for many years with great results. Here are the facts:

Mulch mowing does not harm your lawn—it makes your lawn healthier. Decomposing mulched leaves nestle between the individual blades of grass where weeds can germinate. Once the small bits of leaves settle in, microbes and worms start breaking them down. The nutrients from the decomposed leaves enhance the soil.

Done correctly, mulch mowing should not make your lawn look messy. As long as the mulch mowing creates small pieces--about the size of a dime--the shredded leaves quickly settle into the lawn, and your lawn should not look messy. It is important that the leaves are shredded because whole leaves left on a lawn can smother the grass.

It’s easy. Mulch mowing can be done with any standard homeowner or commercial lawn mower. Simply mow over the fallen leaves. All types of leaves can be mulch mowed. (Pine needles, which are acidic, may change the ph balance of your lawn if mulch mowed in large quantities, so consider using pine needles as a mulch around the base of pine trees.)

All landscapers have the equipment to mulch mow. If you have a landscaper, ask them to mulch mow your leaves. Many, but not all, landscapers have experience mulch mowing. If your landscaper is new to mulch mowing, the following are key points for them to know:

Equipment: To help shred the leaves into small pieces, it’s recommended that a mulching blade be used. This type of blade, which has grooves to shred the leaves, is inexpensive and available for any type of mower. Mulching kits, which include additional attachments beyond just a mulching blade, are also available at any mower distributor and can be fitted to commercial mowers.

Mulching Technique: Mowing the leaves in a circular pattern, rather than back and forth in lines, will result in smaller pieces of leaves which decompose more quickly and will avoid “striping lines.”

Time: It should take your landscaper no additional time to mulch mow leaves rather than blowing them to the curb. In fact, if done correctly, it actually saves time. It is just as easy (or easier) to mulch mow than it is to blow leaves curbside.

Cost: Mulch mowing leaves should not cost more than having leaves blown to the curb or bagged. There are many landscapers in Scarsdale who have been mulch mowing properties for years at no additional cost. If your landscaper claims it will be more time-consuming, ask them to try it for a few weeks. They will see it takes no extra time.

If you mow your own lawn, just keep mowing! You can continue using your mower without installing a mulching blade, but sometimes you may have to go over certain areas of your lawn twice to make sure the leaves have been cut into small pieces. Better yet, you can install a mulching blade yourself or bring it to any local mower shop to install. Try to mulch leaves once a week so the piles don’t build up too high for your mower, especially during the heavy drop of leaves. Remember to keep the blade sharpened and the deck height adjusted as needed.

Large piles of leaves will become markedly smaller when mulch mowed. Shredding piles of leaves significantly reduces the volume of leaves. What looks like a huge leaf pile will shred into tiny pieces and quickly settle into your lawn. Even if you need to put some leaves to the curb during the heavy leaf drop, any reduction in leaves put curbside benefits our environment.

Excess mulched leaves can be placed in your garden beds. Leaf mulch can be placed into garden beds to help prevent weed growth, to conserve moisture and sprinkler usage and to provide a protective layer in winter. Shredded leaves look great, are a healthy addition to your yard and will save you the cost of buying wood mulch. Remember, to avoid damaging trees and plants, never place mulch directly against a tree trunk or shrub and never pile mulch more than 2”- 3” high in a garden bed.

Leaf mulch mowing benefits our local landscape, reduces the number of truck trips in our community and gets large piles of leaves off our streets.

For information on mulch mowing, including video tutorials, see the Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em Mulch Mowing site at leleny.org.

If you have any questions or comments, email Scarsdale’s Conservation Advisory Council.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 October 2025

Created: 03 October 2025

Last Updated: 03 October 2025

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I Am More Scarsdale is thrilled to announce its 9th Annual "Breast Cancer Awareness" fundraising campaign, scheduled to run throughout the entire month of October.

In partnership with White Plains Hospital, I Am More is dedicated to raising funds to provide mammograms and associated services to uninsured and underserved women in Westchester County.

The stark statistics reveal that 1 in 8 women in the United States will confront breast cancer during her lifetime. Recognizing cancer risks, adhering to regular screenings, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are essential measures women can take to mitigate their vulnerability.

Disparities in screening mammography and barriers to accessing breast cancer screening are most prevalent among racial/ethnic minority and low-income women. Consequently, due to delayed screening, these women face a higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer compared to the general population, leading to increased breast cancer mortality rates. One significant barrier to early detection is the financial burden associated with mammographic screening.

Here's how you can contribute:

-Visit I Am More Scarsdale during the month of October.

-With a $20 donation, you can "Spin the Wheel" for a chance to win two $250 gift cards and additional prizes throughout the month.

-Purchase a pair of Indie Pink Hope Flip Flops ($60). 50% of the proceeds will be donated, with automatic entree into raffle with purchase.

-Please consider making an additional tax-deductible donation toward the below patient needs (http://www.wphospital.org/iammore)

$50 – will help provide reliable transportation to cancer care appointments.
Many women lack access to reliable transportation, which often leads to rescheduled or missed appointments and deferred care, which can result in poor prognosis. Therefore, transportation assistance is vital in ensuring that these women can access essential treatments.

$100 – will offset the cost of a mammogram for a woman in need.
Mammograms save lives! They have been a cornerstone in the fight against breast cancer, contributing to a nearly 40% reduction in breast cancer mortality in the U.S. since 1990.

$250 – will provide a wig to a cancer patient undergoing active treatment.
Wigs provide crucial support by helping cancer patients regain a sense of normalcy, confidence, and control over their appearance during a difficult period of treatment, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life.

I Am More Scarsdale, a women’s boutique in Scarsdale Village, is celebrating its Eighth-year anniversary.

I Am More’s mission is to empower women to make them feel confident, to support up-and-coming and women-owned businesses and designers, and to give back to local and women’s philanthropic organizations.

I Am More operates as a philanthropic organization, with ownership foregoing a salary to donate profits to the organizations it supports.

I Am More has been a recipient of the Best of Westchester awards for Best Women’s Empowerment Shopping, and owners, Marcy Berman-Goldstein and Abbey Solomon, have been recognized by the Westchester County Business Journal as powerful women leaders in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

White Plains Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization and a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. Its mission is to provide exceptional acute, preventive, and specialty services to the people who live in, work in, and visit Westchester County and beyond.

With more than 30 locations across Westchester — including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Hawthorne, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, Somers, and Yorktown Heights — White Plains Hospital and its physician network, White Plains Hospital Physician Associates, bring advanced care close to home for communities throughout the region.

Nationally recognized for quality and safety, the Hospital has earned a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for four consecutive years, Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and 13 straight “A” Safety Grades from The Leapfrog Group.

White Plains Hospital has begun construction on a 10-story, nearly 500,000-square-foot Expansion. Scheduled to open in 2028, the new facility will feature 240 new private rooms, additional state-of-the-art operating suites, an expanded Emergency Department while providing an exceptional experience for patients and families.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 24 September 2025

Created: 24 September 2025

Last Updated: 24 September 2025

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Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester), Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, has introduced the Vaccine Integrity Act (A.9060/S.8496), legislation that would allow continued access to vaccines and ensure insurance coverage for vaccinations. Her bill, which authorizes various healthcare practitioners to administer immunizations recommended by existing New York State immunization advisory bodies, is in response to recent federal actions which have disrupted New York’s longstanding, reliable vaccine distribution system. “New Yorkers should be able to get vaccines easily and safely at their local pharmacies,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “The newly imposed federal barriers and the spread of vaccine skepticism put New Yorkers’ health at risk. My bill would ensure that New York State can continue to allow vaccines to be readily accessible to all New Yorkers at pharmacies without unnecessary obstacles.”

Most New Yorkers over the age of eighteen get their vaccines at local pharmacies, where they can simply walk in and receive an immunization. This approach has made vaccination convenient and accessible. Recent federal actions however have made it harder for people to get vaccinated in New York State. Under current NYS law, pharmacies can only provide vaccinations without an individual prescription if those vaccines have been recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP has historically provided guidance that New York and other states rely on to shape public health policy, vaccine schedules and insurance coverage.

The September 19th recommendation by ACIP that individuals should receive the COVID vaccine only after consulting a healthcare provider means barriers will exist.

Governor Hochul’s September 5 Executive Order expands COVID vaccine access in the short term, allowing pharmacists to administer vaccines to children as young as three. However, the Executive Order is valid for only 30 days, would need to be continually renewed monthly to maintain access, and only applies to the COVID vaccine.

The Vaccine Integrity Act creates a permanent legal framework which would allow New York State to rely on guidance from the New York State Immunization Advisory Council (IAC), the 21st Century Workgroup for Disease Elimination and Reduction (WDER), and any regional advisory body that New York joins, such as the Northeast Public Health Collaborative that New York State jointly established along with eight states in the region (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Delaware) on September 15, in addition to ACIP. This would provide New Yorkers with reliable access to vaccines, even if federal guidance is disruptive or delayed.

Importantly, Paulin’s bill would require health insurance providers to cover any vaccines recommended by these state or regional committees, just as they currently cover ACIP-approved vaccines. This guarantees that residents can get the vaccines they need without facing financial barriers.

“My legislation provides a permanent solution that protects vaccine access, ensures insurance coverage, and maintains the convenience that pharmacies have provided for decades,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “Vaccine policies must be based on science, not misinformation, and they must expand access, not create barriers, in order to safeguard the health of New Yorkers.”

The legislation is sponsored in the State Senate by State Senator Michelle Hinchey.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 September 2025

Created: 16 September 2025

Last Updated: 16 September 2025

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Local officials, first responders and family members gathered at the Kensico Damn on September 11, 2025 to commemorate the 24th anniversary of 9/11 and the lives lost on that day along with many who passed away in the intervening years from 9/11 related diseases.

This year the weather this year was as sparkling as 9/11/01 when terrorists struck the World Trade Center, taking the lives of those who worked in the towers and the first responders who attempted to rescue them.

A large crowd gathered at Kensico Dam Plaza for the ceremony, which opened with the Westchester County Police Unit Color Guard, and a parade of pipes and drums from the Police Emerald Society of Westchester County.

The ceremony was emceed by Fox 5 NY Reporter Richard Giocovas who introduced County Executive Ken Jenkins. He said, “What stood out most was not the tragedy but the selflessness that defined every person in New York…. First responders rushed into danger without any hesitation. We chose courage, compassion and unity… We leaned on each other. There was a kindness, a compassion and a sense of shared duty. That spirit took us through those dark days. We all understood that we were part of something bigger than ourselves… We cannot forget that unity. Sometimes it feels like it is gone… We must get back to a place where we can see what binds…So today let us not just remember what happened. Let us re-commit to the lesson it taught us, that in unity and kindness and love we find strength as a people. May we never forget that in our darkest hour we find light in one another.”

Other speakers included Vedat Gashi, Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislatures who said, ”Though many years have passed the pain of that day remains. We remember the lives lost, and the courage we witnessed ….We saw first responders run towards danger not away from it…Ordinary citizens did extraordinary things…Americans chose to protect one another. They chose love over fear, service over self, and hope over despair. They revealed the very best of who we are. We also honor those who we lost in the years since, those who suffered from 9/11 related illnesses. Their sacrifices, though less visible, are no less profound. In their memory let us continue to work toward a future that is more just, more caring and more hopeful.”

Matthew J. McCauley, 9/11 Memorial Committee Co-Chair said, “More 9/11 responders have passed away since the event then we lost that day. The illnesses that are out there are very real. We went there because we wanted to go there and nothing will take that away.
Never forget. Make sure that we continue to respect those that passed away and to honor those that we keep losing. Keep telling their stories. Keep saying their names. That’s the way to respect their families. Continue to ensure that those who are sick are being cared for. Never forget those who we lost, those who are ill and those who we continue to lose. They will never be forgotten.”

Following remarks from Georgia Asciutto, who lost her husband on 9/11 and is a Co-Chair of the Westchester County 9/11 First Responders Memorial Committee the names of the 434 victims were read aloud in a solemn tribute to those whose lives were lost.