August is upon us and I hope you are all keeping cool as the heat index rises. Although we have had some rainfall lately, I would like to urge all residents to conserve water whenever possible. Currently, there is no emergency water restriction for the town/village of Harrison, but I want to insure that we will have an adequate water supply in the future. One practice that I would encourage all residents to consider is to water lawns, trees, shrubbery and gardens after nightfall and before 2 a.m. This will prevent water loss due to evaporation. Should Harrison’s water demand increase to levels that put water quality or fire protection in jeopardy, stricter water use restrictions may be required.
I am happy to report that recently there was one addition and two promotions made within the Harrison Police Department. At the July 31 swearing-in ceremony in Town Hall, Officer Steven Palais was promoted to the rank of detective, and Officer Arthur Marinelli was promoted to the rank of sergeant. George Valentino III was sworn in as a police officer. I am completely confident that Detective Palais and Sgt. Marinelli, as well as Officer Valentino, will carry out their new duties in a professional manner and will be an asset to Harrison.
On a related note, police Chief Olsey has asked that I remind residents that while vehicles are parked on the street, or in driveways and parking lots, car keys and valuables should be removed and all car doors should be locked. Overnight car burglaries can be common and unlocked vehicles can be an easy target. Although our Police Department patrols our neighborhoods with frequency, it is still advisable to take these easy precautions.
In the past, my office has been contacted by the Westchester County Department of Health to inform us that August is the month in which there is an increase in the number of residents reporting that bats have infiltrated their homes. Several years ago, a few Westchester residents were given a routine, preventative rabies treatment because they did not keep the bat, for testing purposes, after being exposed. According to the county health commissioner, the bats that are tested are usually not rabid, therefore the treatment protocol is avoided. Rabies is often fatal, so if the bat is unavailable for testing, the rabies shots will, in all likelihood, be administered to those who have been exposed. It’s critical to understand the importance of bat containment and treatment. If there’s a chance that a person or pet in your home has been in contact with a bat, contain the bat and call the county health department at 813-5000 to arrange for the bat to be tested for rabies.
In closing, I would like to bring your attention to a feature offered in our town clerk’s office. Town Clerk Jackie Greer has obtained an agreement between the town and the New York State Thruway Authority to sell E-ZPass “On-the-Go” tags in the office. Residents can purchase a prepackaged account kit, mount the tag in the vehicle and register the tag within 48 hours. For more information on this simple process, call the clerk’s office at 670-3030.
