President’s Update & Summary of LPWA Board Meeting – May 7, 2020

On Thursday May 7 the LPWA Board met to discuss the status of our new website, membership activities, financial status and other neighborhood topics.

President’s Opening Comments

Steve Howard opened the meeting by commenting on all the progress we have made over the past year concerning the website, registering the organization with IRS and island landscaping. Board members also discussed the general well-being of our friends and neighbors in Lawrence Park West and how lucky we all are to live in such a beautiful environment during these uncertain times.

Membership and Communications Committee

The Committee reported 65 people have used the website to activate their account and or pay membership dues. Members have praised the effort and thanked the board for developing the new website and the relatively seamless roll out. Our goal also is to periodically update the website with local real estate market news, City of Yonkers and Sarah Lawrence College News and other local events.

LPWA will continue to notify the neighborhood with respect to any security concerns and other incidents or events of general interest to homeowners. As LPW is a heavily wooded area and wildlife sightings are common. Members are encouraged if they think such a siting is of general anecdotal interest, to report it to the LPWA for inclusion in the website.

There are currently 100 single family household members out of a total of approximately 300 households in LPW. LPWA’s goal is to reach 150 household members for the 2020/2021 dues and membership drive this summer.

The Board decided to postpone the annual 2020 fall gathering usually held in September to a later date, likely spring of 2021. Alternative venues and formats will be considered for this rescheduled event

Landscaping and Beautification Committee

The Committee is continuing to work with our landscape contractor on the annual maintenance and planting program for the five islands the LPWA maintains. The LPWA signage is also being maintained on an ongoing basis.

Treasurers Report

The Treasurer reported the LPWA’s financial condition is stable with adequate reserves to support our planned expenditures for 2020 and 2021. LPWA recently obtained an IRS tax ID number and we applied to the IRS for 501(c)4 status as a not for profit corporation.

Sarah Lawrence College update

As all Lawrence Park West neighbors can tell, the Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) campus has been very quiet for the last two months after all students left in late March.  Due to the cancellation of in-person summer programs, the campus is expected to remain quiet throughout the summer and SLC (along with all NYS colleges) continue to actively monitor guidance from the State to help inform their future operations. SLC is expected to announce in early July whether the fall semester will begin on their campus, online, or a hybrid of the two.
 
The College has only a few ongoing projects this summer. New chillers are being installed as part of the HVAC system replacement at the Heimbold Visual Arts building, a project that started this past winter.  With fewer people on campus, SLC expects the HVAC replacement project to finish on schedule by the end of the summer.
 
The only other notable projects include the final interior landscaping and pathway work at the second level behind the new campus center and the annual maintenance of trees on campus. SLC has advised LPWA that any neighbors immediately adjacent to campus where tree work is being performed will be notified.

 

Bronxville Farmers’ Market Update

The Farmers’ Market is thrilled to announce that they are opening starting on Saturday, May 23rd with enhanced safety protocols. The Farmers’ Market wishes they were opening under normal circumstances with music and cafe tables to enjoy brunch, but these extraordinary times call for them to implement extraordinary changes to their operation. There will be no music, no eating on-site, and no lingering. The market will open with a smaller roster of vendors to accommodate more space in-between tents and shoppers. They will add vendors as conditions allow. Entry will be timed and require pre-registration. Only a certain number of shoppers will be allowed in at a time so folks can maintain 6ft+ distance. They encourage you to preorder and pre-pay for efficiency.  Check out their Facebook page for registration and vendor listing. See you at the Market!

LPWA Annual Gathering is postponed

LPWA Annual Gathering is postponed until Spring 2021. More information to follow.