Home - Town of Ossining, New York

Supervisor's Update - Friday, September 17, 2021

Details: Last Updated: 17 September 2021 17 September 2021

I hope this update finds you all doing well out there, Ossining/Briarcliff. If Hurricane Ida impacted you and your property, and you are in need of help, be sure to visit the State’s comprehensive new Relief and Resources website. It contains information about NYS Department of Financial Services resources as well as a wealth of information regarding meeting basic needs, cleanup, accessing federal disaster assistance funds, and more.

Storms like Ida make the threat of climate change ever clearer. Here in Ossining, we have long been engaged in efforts to build a more sustainable future, and this week one of those efforts came to magnificent fruition. With the completion of the community solar project at Maryknoll, our town is now home to the largest solar canopy in Westchester County! The 2,184 panel system will produce enough electricity to offset CO2 emissions from 2,292,637 gallons of gasoline consumed. The clean electricity produced over the project's lifetime is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 24,963 acres of U.S. forests in one year. I was so pleased to be able to join representatives from a variety of public and private organizations committed to sustainability as we cut the ribbon on this project.

One of the significant additions the Town of Ossining made in the last few years was adding in a solar code to allow larger scale, tier 3 solar developments to exist. Of course, we know these developments are a balance between protecting the environment through reduction of fossil fuel reliance and acknowledging the benefits we receive from trees, not all of which can be measured by carbon offsets. So we were super excited that the first real solar development project that we approved in Ossining was with Ecogy Energy (the solar developer) and Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, where an already cleared piece of property (a parking lot--actually two!) was identified as a place to build a solar canopy. Not only will it be helping Maryknoll balance their books, keep rain off the heads of those opening their umbrellas as they step out of their cars, and continue Maryknoll’s mission to help sustain all of us in our “shared home”; it will also help the Fathers & Brothers offset their reliance on fossil fuels. And it’s a community solar development, with 77 households in Ossining, including all of IFCA's affordable housing units (representing 220 tenants)-- already signed up. Those who subscribe receive a 10% reduction off their electricity supply bill. Ecogy Energy has a focus on developing energy systems that serve traditionally underserved communities and low to moderate income individuals, who have historically been left out of the clean energy transition. We are extremely grateful for this project, which aligns so well with so many of our local priorities.

This new project opens as we are gearing up for another big event to promote sustainability: International Car Free Day is this Wednesday, September 22! On Car Free Day, we are asking everyone to change their habits for at least one day to reduce dependence on single-occupancy, gas-powered automobiles. So join us by walking or biking to work or school (and stop by a local business for breakfast on the way!), telework, carpool with a colleague, hop on mass transit, or take your electric vehicle out for a carbon-neutral drive. To learn more and take the pledge, click here!

We hope that after this one day, you can think of ways to keep the initiative going and reduce your carbon footprint through your commute. To that end, there is now a 511NYRideshare kiosk at the Community Center in Ossining. You can use it to learn more about program benefits, ask questions, enroll in the ridesharing program, and take the Car Free Day pledge. Check it out ASAP!

Over the course of this weekend we’ll be sharing more information about businesses who will be offering cool rewards for participating in Car Free Day. The Town of Ossining is also chipping in by offering free charging at the electric vehicle charging stations located at Louis Engel, Ryder, and Cedar Lane Parks. Check out our Facebook or Instagram to learn more and/or stay tuned for another email!

Representatives from Green Ossining and the Town and Village of Ossining will be at the Farmer’s Market tomorrow, September 18, to discuss ongoing and upcoming local environmental initiatives at our pre-launch event. Click here to learn more about the event and what’s to come! Looking forward to seeing you there!

We are still looking for local businesses to participate in Car Free Day. If you own a local brick-and-mortar business that would like to support this initiative by rewarding patrons for visiting your business car-free, please fill out this Google form by Sunday, September 19. We will provide a poster for you to hang in your business and add your establishment to our promotional efforts. Pedestrians and cyclists are excellent customers - the ability to pause and discover new businesses is higher on foot, when you are not zooming by on your way to something else!

Saturday is quite a busy day around Ossining. Green Ossining will also be hosting a Repair Cafe on Saturday, 9/18 from 11 AM - 3 PM at the Community Center. See the flyer below for information about what sorts of items can be brought for repair.

ENU Builds will be hosting a free, coed youth fitness pop-up this Saturday, September 18, from noon to 2 PM on the basketball courts at Nelson Park. If you’ve got kids interested in basketball, or just looking for something active to do, check it out!

The Westchester County Volunteer Firemen’s Association will cap off their annual convention with a dress parade at 3 PM on Saturday, September 18. More than 30 departments, most with apparatus and bands, are expected to participate. The parade will begin at Campwoods and Croton Avenue, continue down Croton to Main Street, and then follow Main Street down to the riverfront, ending at Louis Engel Park. The Ossining Police posted a map of the route on their Facebook page, please take note and if you need to get through town on Saturday afternoon, give yourself plenty of extra time. More importantly than getting AROUND the parade is coming out to watch it and support our local firefighters. Hope to see you there!

Briarcliff Recreation will be hosting an introductory pickleball clinic this Sunday, September 19 from 9-11 AM. Now that we have those new courts at Ryder, what better time to learn? To reserve your spot, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Also in Briarcliff: a Fall cornhole league is getting started this coming Tuesday, September 21. Games will be on Tuesdays at 7 PM every week until November 9 under the pavilion in Law Memorial Park. There is a social league and a more competitive league. Visit www.nycornhole.com to learn more and register.

Ossining Padres Hispanos is hosting a back to school supplies drive this Sunday, September 19 from 1-3 PM in Market Square. Please help if you can! Call (845) 216-2053 if you have any questions.

The next walking tour of the historic Sparta neighborhood at the south end of Ossining will take place on Sunday, September 19 from 1-3 PM. The tour will begin at the Jug Tavern (Rockledge Avenue and Revolutionary Road, behind the CVS) at 1 PM with an introduction to the history of the area. Participants will then walk about six blocks through the neighborhood learning about the historic homes in the landmarked district. Dr. Alan Stahl, a neighborhood resident who teaches in the History Department of Princeton University and has served as chair of the Village of Ossining Historic Preservation Commission, will lead the tour. The last tour for this year is scheduled for Sunday, October 10. The tour is free, but participation is limited to 20 people. For a reservation or further information, go to the Jug Tavern website: www.jugtavern.org.

Hispanic Heritage Month started this past Wednesday! In the Town of Ossining, we are excited and proud to honor and uplift people of Hispanic Heritage this month and every month. Many local organizations are hosting special programming to celebrate and we will be sure to share.

The Ossining Public Library is hosting a Latin Music 101 session on Zoom this coming Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30 PM. Click here to register!

OPL is also hosting Latin Dance workshops every Thursday during Hispanic Heritage month. There is an all-ages session at 6:30 and a teens and adults session at 7:30. Learn salsa, bachata and more! Click here to register.

There will be a Community Bike Ride at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, September 22nd to celebrate Car-Free Day. Click here to sign up - find the “Ride Schedule” menu and look for the Wednesday, September 22 ride with Kate Marshall.

If you or someone you know are interested in applying to Westchester Community College, click here to learn more about their virtual information sessions this fall. There are general information sessions taking place every Thursday this month at 3 PM, and a special session on the Nursing program coming up on Wednesday, September 29th at 5:30 PM. Participants will find out more about available programs and services and be able to ask questions and apply to the college. Attendees will also receive an online application fee waiver code to waive the $50 application fee!

Registration for Green Ossining’s Community-Wide Tag Sale is open now and ends September 24. The sale will be on Saturday, October 2. For the $25 registration fee, you’ll receive branded promotional materials and placement in online and local media publicizing the event. Click here to learn more and register to help reduce, reuse and recycle your old stuff. Remember one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure!

Getting a lot of seeds from your garden this summer? Start collecting them now so you’re ready for the Green Ossining + Ossining Pollinator Pathway Seed Swap event September 25 at the Farmer’s Market! Click here to learn more about how to collect and preserve your seeds, and check out the flier below for more details on the event.

Parents: Ossining Recreation is hosting a Kids’ Night Out next Friday, September 24. There will be food and loads of fun activities. Register in advance and enjoy a couple of hours to yourself while your kids have a great time at the Community Center.

Cedar Lane Arts Center clay instructor Keith Gordon will be hosting an introduction to Horsehair Raku and Obvara Pottery at Bethany Arts Center on September 25. You can register at www.bethanyarts.org.

Jill Kiefer of the Ossining Arts Council is offering on-line art history classes via Bethany Arts Center this fall - click here to view more details and register.

Altice USA announced this week that it is increasing the speed of its “Altice Advantage Internet” affordable broadband service at no additional cost and renaming it “Optimum Advantage Internet.” The speed increase will provide download speeds up to 50 Mbps to new and existing “Optimum Advantage Internet” customers as soon as October at the same price of $14.99 per month. To learn more and check your eligibility for the discounted internet, click here.

Congregation Sons Of Israel in Briarcliff Manor has taken over the running of The Opportunity Shop thrift shop in Chappaqua. Donations began on September 1, and the official reopening took place on September 13. The shop has been cleaned, painted, and new display tables were built. In keeping with Congregation Sons of Israel's history of helping those in need in the greater community, each month they will earmark a charity to which they will donate some of the earnings. The phone number for The Opportunity Shop is 914-483-4144. The hours for sales are: Monday through Friday from 10:00-4:00 PM. For donations: 10:00-4:00 PM and for consignments the hours are from 10:00-12:00 noon.

Please remember that the gas powered leaf blower ban remains in effect in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining through the end of this month. Thank you to Green Ossining for preparing the summary below, and thank you for your cooperation! Please share this information with your friends, neighbors, and landscapers. We have made this available for download in both English and Spanish as JPG and PDF files. Please help us spread the word! This information was mailed directly to all landscapers who are based in Ossining for their reference.

Finally, we are nearing the end of our Comprehensive Plan drafting process. Thank you to everyone who has given feedback in meetings and via our comment boards, and a big round of applause to the Comprehensive Plan steering committee for all of their hard work to date. We are now sharing a survey to collect feedback on your priorities for the draft objectives and associated strategies we will pursue in our Comprehensive Plan. Click here to take the survey and stay tuned for more on this topic.

Our next public meeting, to be held on Tuesday, September 21st at 7:30 PM, will be dedicated to a discussion of our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. We will be making a presentation to the Board discussing the amount of funding the Town is receiving and the parameters determining what it can be used for, and soliciting your feedback on how it should be spent. We are also going to give a quick update on some upcoming grant applications. Please join us! The meeting will be on Zoom and the link to join is here. The link will also be at the top of the agenda that we send out via email prior to the meeting.

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 email a flyer and brief description to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 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!

Town Board Town Hall Meeting - Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Details: Last Updated: 17 September 2021 17 September 2021

Town Board Town Hall Meeting

Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 7:30pm

THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING ONLY

Pursuant to Chapter 417 of the Laws of 2021 signed by the Governor on September 2, 2021

Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83424771943

Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:

Meeting ID: 834 2477 1943

(929) 205-6099

During Town Hall Meetings, members of the public are invited to comment on the discussion topics on the Meeting Agenda

Meeting Agenda:

1. Discussion on the Town's allocation of funding under the American Rescue Plan Act

2. Grants Update

Town Board Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Details: Last Updated: 10 September 2021 10 September 2021

Town Board Regular Meeting

Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 7:30pm

Municipal Building, 1st Floor Boardroom, 16 Croton Avenue

Ossining, NY 10562

Members of the public may view and participate in this meeting in person or via Zoom.

Via computer or mobile app:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86239698470

Meeting ID: 862 3969 8470

Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:

(929) 205-6099

Meeting Agenda: pdf 09 14 21 Regular Meeting (424 KB)

pdf Local Law #8 of 2021 A Local Law known and cited as Opt out of Allowing On site Cannabis Consumption Sites in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining (113 KB)

pdf TOWN OF OSSINING VOUCHER DETAIL 09142021 (37 KB)

Supervisor's Update - Friday, September 10, 2021

Details: Last Updated: 10 September 2021 10 September 2021

How are you doing this week? If you are among those still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, help is available. Read more about the Major Disaster Declaration on the FEMA website. If you have been displaced and/or need some form of immediate help, call 211 to reach the United Way Help Center and be connected to shelter and housing options, utilities assistance and other forms of disaster relief.

As you assess your storm-related damage, individuals can visit www.disasterassistance.gov to learn more about federal assistance and apply if needed. You can also call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) for additional help. Businesses can visit this link or call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339). Be sure to document any damage sustained and keep all receipts related to the incident. If you have insurance, you should file your claims prior to applying for federal assistance.

Here are some guides from the CDC regarding post-disaster cleanup:

Volunteers are available from local organizations to help with mucking out basements. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to be connected with help for your basement clean up.

As storms like Ida make the threat of climate change more apparent and urgent, our work to protect our community and its natural resources from the effects of climate change continues. This week, we’re excited to announce that the NY Department of Environmental Conservation Revitalization has awarded $125,000 in funding to Henningson, Durham and Richardson Architecture and Engineering, P.C. (HDR) to design a living shoreline project at the Henry Gourdine and Louis Engel Waterfront Parks along our very own Ossining waterfront. This is part of round two of the Climate-adaptive Design Studio (CaD) through Cornell University and we became eligible for this opportunity as a result of winning and participating in round one. The project will result in professional level designs inspired by the student level designs developed in the first round and with input from the community. The plan will also help create fish habitat and promote recreational fishing opportunities. Stay tuned - we'll be seeking public comment on specific design elements. In the meantime, learn more about the Ossining Climate-adaptive Design studio here!

I hope you’ll have the opportunity to head down to the waterfront at Louis Engel Park and join me for the last Food Truck Friday/Summer Concert of the season! Wanna Empanada and Brothers Fish and Chips will be available from 4-8 PM, as well as Sing Sing Kill Brewery at the Craft Beverage Corral. Soul Sacrifice will play from 6-8. They are a five piece guitar and horn-driven band playing classic blues, soul, funk and R&B. You’re gonna wanna dance--they are THAT good--so make sure you wear your best dancing-on-the-grass shoes!!! Beyond grateful for the amazing crew that made this incredible series all possible this year: the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce, Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Mike Risko Music, our sound man Keith Heilmann, our recreation superintendent Bill Garrison, our Town Parks department, Brian Sheridan from Hothouse Design, Victoria Cafarelli in my office, and our sponsors - Mark Seiden Real Estate, Robison, Open Door Family Medical Center, Matero Fine Jewelry and Grace Lane Kennels.

Tomorrow at 9 AM, the emergency service agencies of Ossining and Briarcliff Manor will host their annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Louis Engel Park. All are invited. The event will also be livestreamed on our Facebook page. If you cannot join in person, like us on Facebook to receive a notification when the event goes live. If you do not have a Facebook account, you will still be able to view the Facebook live because we are a public page. Just visit our page when the ceremony is scheduled to begin. We will recognize the 20th anniversary of this national tragedy that directly impacted so many of our local families and pay homage to those lost on the day, in the immediate aftermath, as well as those we lost years later as a result of their heroic acts.

At 3:30 PM, Westchester County will also be commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11 at the Kensico Dam. During this ceremony the County will unveil its memorial to first responders and those who died from 9/11-related illnesses. The event will be streamed live on the County facebook page.

Volunteer NY is also partnering once again with Westchester County and the Westchester Parks Foundation to host the “9/11: Serve and Remember” National Day of Service. For information about how you can take part in a day of service this weekend to honor victims of 9/11 and their families, visit the Volunteer New York website.

As we approach the 20th anniversary of this horrific day, I have been reflecting upon the impact of 9/11 and how the tragic events of that picture-perfect September morning, which turned so ugly, continue to influence our lives even to this day. I hope you will join me in focusing on how 9/11 has inspired a generation of helpers - first responders, teachers, healthcare workers, volunteers, and so much more. Many of the people serving in these essential roles today were young children 20 years ago, but have continued to be positively influenced into a life of service by those who, on September 11, 2001, did everything in their power to save others, even at the expense of their own lives or health. We must never forget that spirit of volunteerism and heroism exhibited by our first responders as well as ordinary citizens on 9/11. This is even more significant in 2021 as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, which we would be unable to do without our first responders, healthcare workers, and so many other essential workers who have stepped up in the past year and a half, also often at their own risk, to serve us all. For those in our community who experienced personal losses on September 11th and in the years following as a result of these terror attacks, our hearts go out to you and we wish your family peace and comfort on this anniversary.

Yesterday, President Biden announced a six-part plan to get the millions of Americans who are not yet fully vaccinated to do so as soon as possible. The aspects of this plan include vaccinations or mandatory weekly testing requirements for employers with 100 or more employees, vaccination mandates for federal employees and contractors, affordable access to regular testing, and more. This announcement was made in an effort to combat the Delta variant, which is spreading fast and has become a very dangerous situation largely for people who are unvaccinated, including children. To learn more, view President Biden’s plan here.

Here in the Town of Ossining, we will be starting a weekly testing mandate for our staff members who are not yet fully vaccinated next week. We have spent the past few weeks surveying our employees and working closely with our unions to develop a plan that will help keep our employees and constituents safe, on top of other existing safety measures, including mandatory masking in public areas of Town buildings. We are happy to report that over 90% of Town employees have received at least one dose of the vaccine. We are grateful to our union partners, CSEA and Teamsters Local 456, for coming to the table with us to establish this policy to help protect our workers as well as the public, and which closely reflects the new OSHA recommendations for employers across the country that President Biden just announced.

Please please please: if you have not yet gotten vaccinated, please do so. We know that this is largely a pandemic of the unvaccinated right now, and getting the vaccine will go a long way towards protecting your health, your family’s health, and even your community’s health. Recent data illustrates that in areas with high vaccination rates, COVID-19 positivity rates among children are lower than in areas with low vaccination rates. Getting vaccinated will help keep safe the children in our community who are not yet eligible for the vaccine. We all need to do our part to make schools as safe as possible during yet another challenging new school year.

Now, let’s dive into some other great events happening around town this weekend and in the upcoming weeks. Many are outdoors, which is COVID safe. I know I can’t get enough of this beautiful weather!

The gardens of Historic Sparta will be open for tours between 11 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, September 11. The price of a ticket includes a map, water and refreshments for your walk, and a donation to the Jug Tavern to support its work to preserve local history.

There is also a Historic Sparta cemetery gravestone cleaning workshop taking place from 10am - 1pm tomorrow. If you’d like to roll up your sleeves and learn about some of the people who were laid to rest here, this kinda work is for you! This is a free event for all ages; Ossining Historic Cemeteries will provide the materials and training. A great opportunity for those looking for community service hours! Click here for more info and to register. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

In the mood for more live music? Head over to The Boathouse between 8 and 11 PM Saturday to party with the Mike Risko Band.

If you have little ones who could use some homework help (or just a safe, enriching place to hang out till you get home from work), remember that OUFSD is partnering with the Recreation Department to provide an after school program with homework help and enrichment activities every school day from 3-6 PM. Click here for more details and to register.

This coming Monday, September 13, a representative from State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick’s constituent services team will be hosting mobile office hours at the Briarcliff Manor Public Library from 1-4 PM. Bring your questions, concerns and ideas to the Senator’s staff!

Car Free Day, coming up on Wednesday, September 22, will be here before you know it! If you’d like to participate, click here to read more and take the pledge. Planning is ongoing and we are looking for local businesses to participate. Pedestrians and cyclists are excellent customers - the ability to pause and discover new businesses is higher on foot, when you are not zooming by on your way to something else! If you are a local brick & mortar business that would like to support this initiative, please fill out this Google form, let us know what you might like to offer patrons as a reward for participating (for example, $1 off any purchase of $10 or more; a stamp on a frequent customer card, etc. Be creative!), and we will provide a poster for you to hang in your business and add your establishment to our promotional efforts.

Speaking of car-free travel, the MTA, along with the LIRR, is building on its popular Summer Saturdays program with its new Autumn Weekends program. Starting this weekend, monthly ticketholders can bring four additional riders with them on train trips for just $1 each. Leave your car behind and #TakeTheTrain to a variety of destinations along our Hudson Line!

We want to hear from you as we finalize a draft of our Comprehensive Plan (which, for newcomers to the Supervisor’s Update, is a document that serves as our ten-year plan for the Town of Ossining). Outreach boards like the one pictured below will be making their last rounds this week and next. Right now, visit Mrs. Green’s or the lower level of the Ossining Community Center to let us know your big ideas for the Town or what you would like to see on our main business corridor, North State Road. We will share more locations on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We also plan on circulating an online survey once the draft plan has been released later on this fall. Visit the project website to learn more.

The Cedar Lane Arts Center fall schedule is now available - click here to view the schedules and register for clay, painting, and more. Additionally, CLAC clay instructor Keith Gordon will be hosting an introduction to Horsehair Raku and Obvara Pottery at Bethany Arts Center on September 25. You can register at www.bethanyarts.org.

Jill Kiefer of the Ossining Arts Council is offering on-line art history classes via Bethany Arts Center this fall - click here to view more details and register.

Registration for Green Ossining’s Community-Wide Tag Sale is also open now and ends September 24. The sale will be on Saturday, October 2. For the $25 registration fee, you’ll receive branded promotional materials and placement in online and local media publicizing the event. Click here to learn more and register to help reduce, reuse and recycle your old stuff. Remember one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure!

Waste not, want not! Green Ossining will also be hosting a Repair Cafe on Saturday, 9/18 from 11 AM - 3 PM at the Community Center. See the flyer below for information about what sorts of items can be brought for repair.

The Westchester County Board of Elections is looking for poll workers to help administer the election coming up this November. Help make democracy possible and make some money in the process! Click here to learn more and complete the poll worker application.

Our next public meeting will be held in person on September 14th. At this meeting, we will be re-opening the public hearing on a local law to opt-out of on-site cannabis consumption sites in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining. As you might remember, this is one of two uses that municipalities can opt-out of as part of the recently adopted marijuana legalization in New York State. The other use is dispensaries, which the Town Board has opted to not take action on at this time. But, we expect permitting to take quite a bit of time at the state level, and the Town Board has expressed interest in evaluating our zoning codes that pertain to where dispensaries could be responsibly developed. The public can also watch and participate remotely using the link at the top of the agenda, which is distributed to this email list prior to every meeting.

The NYS Legislature also recently adopted a law which extends our ability to hold meetings exclusively by Zoom through January 15, 2022. After next week’s meeting, we are planning on resuming meetings via Zoom only starting September 20, but we will keep you posted. We will see you soon - till then, be safe and healthy! And to those observing Yom Kippur, here is wishing you an easy fast.

--Dana