Supervisor's Update - June 24, 2022
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- Last Updated: 24 June 2022 24 June 2022
Though national news gives us many reasons to feel angry, scared, and sad this week, happenings in the Town of Ossining continue to be a source of joy and pride.
The week started with a joyous Juneteenth celebration this past Sunday. Hats off to our Juneteenth Council, led by Joyce Sharrock-Cole, Althema Goodson and Diana Lemon, for putting on a spectacular festival! I along with my Town Board colleagues, Liz Feldman and Angelo Manicchio, were present to join in the fun and present certificates.
Two of the Town’s very own – Kevin Moore and Eddie Banta – were recognized at the Juneteenth festival. Both Kevin and Eddie were recognized for being a part of the 40oz Crew, which steps in to help the community with various needs including meals and visits when someone is sick. Kevin was also recognized with a Trailblazer award for being the first Black Foreman in the Town of Ossining. Congratulations Eddie and Kevin for your well-deserved recognitions, and for all you do on a daily basis on behalf of the Town.
On Tuesday, we rang in the start of summer with another fantastic Make Music Day, thanks to Mike and Miriam Risko! I was on hand to present a proclamation to the Riskos for bringing such joy to the community, and to play a little guitar!
On Wednesday, we celebrated the near-completion of the Morningside Drive repaving and curbing project by taking Assemblywoman Sandy Galef on a tour of the impacted area. I was joined by Town Board member Angelo Manicchio, Town/Village Engineer Paul Fraioli, and Highway Superintendent Pete Connolly. The cost of this project was partially offset by $120,000 in Multi-Modal funding from the Assemblywoman’s office.
Phase one of this project was completed in the fall, including the installation of low-carbon concrete curbing to improve drainage and ensure the long term viability of the road infrastructure.
Phase two of the project, to complete the milling and paving of the roadway from Chappaqua Road to the New Castle town line, will be complete in the coming weeks.
It’s important that our state legislators come to visit us, to get familiar with conditions on the ground and the solutions we need them to advocate for. For that reason, on Thursday, I took State Senator Pete Harckham on a tour of our North State Road businesses. Because of redistricting, Ossining will become part of the State Senate district Senator Harckham currently represents and seeks to continue to represent. He listened attentively to the concerns of local business owners and nonprofits, and to me as I explained our infrastructure needs on North State Road.
We also dropped off some shoes to the collection Club Fit has taken up to donate to Ukrainian refugees!
In other news, the Community Equity Task Force is continuing its 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, which started on Saturday, June 18. Join us as we read The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee and engage in a series of activities intended to deepen our understanding of and commitment to racial equity. No worries about jumping in late; all of the previous days’ activities are viewable on the page, and you can get started anytime. Follow along on Facebook, chat with other participants in the Challenge Facebook group (message the Equity Task Force page for an invitation), and receive weekly email recaps by joining our Google Group, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Lastly, one week from today (yes, next Friday will be July 1!) we’ll be celebrating the return of fireworks at the waterfront! This year’s fireworks will be preceded by a concert by Pablito y su Latin Show. Major thanks to our partners in planning our Food Truck Fridays and Summer Concert Series - Mike & Miriam Risko, Eric Gearity of Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Gayle Marchica and the Chamber of Commerce, Jermain Smith of ENU Builds, and Recreation Superintendent Bill Garrison.
For more ideas for what to do this weekend and beyond, keep reading! Note that early voting continues this weekend for the Democratic and Republican primaries, and we have an early voting site here in Ossining at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center on Broadway. On the ballot this June is the Governor and Lieutenant Governor race for both Democrats and Republicans, and our local Assembly race for Democrats. Click here for early voting dates and hours. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 28, and polls will be open from 6 AM until 9 PM. Click here to find your Election Day polling place.
Note also that our next Town board meeting will be held on Wednesday evening (June 29) because our Town Clerk will be busy working the primary election Tuesday night. We will see you soon - till then, be safe and healthy!
--Dana
If your business, non-profit, or community group has an event that you would like to submit to be a part of the Supervisor's Update, please complete this form. We are happy to pass along events that provide a benefit to the community and support our local economy. Thank you for helping us to highlight all the best Ossining has to offer!
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Town Board Regular Meeting - WEDNESDAY, June 29, 2022
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- Last Updated: 29 June 2022 29 June 2022
Town Board Regular Meeting
Wednesday, June 29, 2022, 7:30pm
The meeting will be held via Zoom videoconferencing ONLY in accordance with State authority.
Via computer or mobile app:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83716905951
Meeting ID: 837 1690 5951
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:
(929) 205-6099
Meeting Agenda: pdf 06 29 22 Town Board Regular Meeting (216 KB) (rev. 6/29/22)
pdf Town of Ossining Voucher Detail 06 28 2022 (for 6/29/22 meeting) (30 KB)
Supporting Documents for Town Board Meetings are available via Google Drive.
Supervisor's Update - June 17, 2022
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- Last Updated: 17 June 2022 17 June 2022
Welcome (or welcome back) to the Supervisor’s Update! Lots to share this week.
First, congratulations to all of the Ossining and Briarcliff businesses that were named among the Best of Westchester selections by Westchester Magazine! These include The Tasty Table, The Chocolate Chalet, Club Fit, Arketekcher, Coral Sea Pools, Terra Tile & Marble, Mike Risko Music School, and the Ossining Public Library. Every year there are more and more entries on the list, a testament to our Town’s forward progress.
Yesterday, the Town cut the ribbon on the new air source heat pump we’ve installed at Cedar Lane, funded by a grant from NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program. We were joined by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Victoria Gearity from Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick’s office, Lauren Brois from Sustainable Westchester, Suzie Ross from Green Ossining, and Mitzi Elkes from our Environmental Advisory Committee. You will also recognize a few friendly faces in Victoria Cafarelli from the Town Supervisor’s Office, Mario Velardo and Alban Sylaj from our Parks Department, and Marcus DaSilva who heads up our food scrap recycling program.
For those who are new, the Town has earned eligibility for grants like this by implementing high-impact clean energy actions. Thank you to our State Legislators Assemblywoman Galef and Senator Reichlin-Melnick and their colleagues for ensuring that the State budget includes funding for municipalities in this way. It is so exciting to continue to improve our energy usage, particularly at Cedar Lane Park which is already home to so many of the Town’s sustainability initiatives, including the Food Scrap Recycling Program, electric vehicle charging stations, and Ossining’s Organic Community Garden in addition to thriving art programs.
You can read more about the pump and the event in this River Journal article. We are so pleased to continue to be a leader on environmental initiatives and showcase to the community how easy clean heating and cooling upgrades can be, as part of a critical effort to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The Town also recently reaffirmed our commitment to meeting the goals of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act by resolution, and this project moves us closer to those goals.
We have also been working on concept designs for a new stage at Louis Engel Park as part of our request under the Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding. We had the opportunity to share two concept designs with the Town Board and the public at Village Fair. We are hopeful that this project will be included in the DRI funding requests, and we also plan on seeking additional grant funding under the Consolidated Funding Application in July to ensure this project is transformative for Ossining. Please be sure to complete the DRI Project Survey by the end of the weekend, and include the Louis Engel Park stage among your five choices!!!
Speaking of Louis Engel, Ossining’s Juneteenth Festival will take place on Sunday, June 19 at Louis Engel Waterfront Park from 12 to 4 PM. The Town is proud to be a sponsor of this event recognizing this important date in American history, and we look forward to continuing to do so well into the future.
The Community Equity Task Force will be kicking off a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge this weekend, starting Saturday, June 18. Join us as we read The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee and engage in a series of activities intended to deepen our understanding of and commitment to racial equity. Follow along on Facebook, chat with other participants in the Challenge Facebook group (message the Equity Task Force page for an invitation), and receive weekly email recaps by joining our Google Group, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
During this weekend where we reflect on how far our nation has come and still needs to go with respect to equality, I hope you will join us in reaffirming the commitment to build a more equitable society here in Ossining and beyond.
On Tuesday, June 21, we’ll ring in the first official day of summer with Make Music Day! Visit the Make Music Ossining Briarcliff page on Facebook for a full line up of events happening around Town to mark this special day. If you stop by 16 Croton at 3pm, you may just see your favorite Town Supervisor trying her hand at the guitar (fair warning!) Wrap up your Make Music Day at 7:30pm at the Boathouse for Open Mic with the Mike Risko Band! Shout out to Mike and Miriam Risko for organizing this fun event for the community every year.
Also on Tuesday, June 21: we will hold a Town Hall meeting via Zoom. During Town Hall Meetings, we invite members of the public to make comment on the agenda items under discussion by the Board. This deviates from our usual Work Session format, and we seek to put items on the agenda that are of interest to the community. Among other topics on Tuesday evening will be a presentation from Sustainable Westchester on the pause in the Westchester Power program, and steps they are requesting municipalities take to end the pause. To learn more about Westchester Power, don’t miss the information session scheduled for Monday, June 20 at 7pm via Zoom. Registration information is below.
With summer here, fireworks and Food Truck Fridays will be here before you know it! We are so excited for the return of fireworks, this year accompanied by the musical stylings of Pablito y su Latin Show. Major thanks to our partners in planning - Mike & Miriam Risko, Eric Gearity of Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Gayle Marchica and the Chamber of Commerce, Jermain Smith of ENU Builds, and Recreation Superintendent Bill Garrison. And major shoutout to Brian Sheridan for the suite of amazing graphics and posters he has put together!
In other news, tomorrow (June 18) we enjoy the Portugal Day on Main Street. Hope to see you there!
For more ideas for what to do this weekend and beyond, keep scrolling! Note that early voting starts this weekend for the Democratic and Republican primaries, and we’ll once again have an early voting site here in Ossining at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center on Broadway. On the ballot this June is the Governor and Lieutenant Governor race for both Democrats and Republicans, and our local Assembly race for Democrats. Click here for early voting dates and hours.
Note also that Town Offices will be closed on Monday, June 20th in observance of Juneteenth.
We will see you soon - till then, be safe and healthy!
--Dana
If your business, non-profit, or community group has an event that you would like to submit to be a part of the Supervisor's Update, please complete this form. We are happy to pass along events that provide a benefit to the community and support our local economy. Thank you for helping us to highlight all the best Ossining has to offer!
Subscribe to our email blast list and receive Town news and updates.
Town Board Town Hall Meeting - Tuesday, June 21, 2022
- Details
- Last Updated: 17 June 2022 17 June 2022
Town Board Town Hall Meeting
Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 7:30pm
The meeting will be held via Zoom videoconferencing ONLY in accordance with State authority.
Via computer or mobile app:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85441020186
Webinar ID: 854 4102 0186
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:
(929) 205-6099
Town Hall Meeting Agenda:
1. Presentation on Town of Ossining Video Tour - Amy Velez, CGI Digital
2. Departmental Report - Mario Velardo, Town of Ossining Parks Foreman
3. Departmental Report - Bill Garrison, Ossining Recreation Superintendent
4. Presentation on Westchester Power Electricity Supply and Solar Credit Offerings - Nick Tedrow, Carmen Santos, & Yasmin Najjar, Sustainable Westchester
Please note: During Town Hall Meetings, members of the public have the opportunity to comment on the agenda items during the meeting.