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Supervisor's Update- June 23rd, 2017

If you are reading this in time, you can still catch some awesome live music tonight. Vibe Theory, a local favorite, is playing at 8PM at the Steamer Firehouse Gallery. Tickets are $15 at the door-- come in and escape the drizzly rain while you rock out to some great original tunes.

If you are not reading this in time, no sweat (unless you are outdoors today, in which case, lots of sweat)-- our Summer Concert Series is on the way! The Series kicks off on Monday, July 3rd with the Independence Day Fireworks celebration featuring reggae cover band Tribal Legacy, and goes all the way through Labor Day Weekend. We are looking forward to a great season down at Louis Engel Park, I hope to see you there! (As a reminder-- on Monday the 3rd, commuters will not be able to cross the bridge into or out of the Metro North lot between 4PM and 10PM, when the fireworks are over. Please plan your travels accordingly.)

We are excited to report a lot of the improvements to the Ryder Pavilion were completed by our Parks department this week (with some help from Highway crew!).  At our Work Session last Tuesday, we heard from the Recreation Advisory Board and our Parks foreman about a temporary replacement for the basketball court which was removed during the Pavilion site work in order to be rehabbed.  We have shifted it to the lower tennis courts which had already been broken up to be used for batting cages, and will hopefully add a few more games there as well.   This will allow us to put more family- and barbeque-friendly games up at the pavilion, which we believe will be a nice added value for those utilizing the pavilion for their events. The Rec Advisory board will meet again in September, at which time they will consider options for the final location for a basketball court.

The paving company mobilized on Thursday, and all of the paving (including the "ring" around the pavilion, the hill from the road to the comfort station, and a length of road coming into the parking lot) was completed. The gutters on the pavilion itself, along with the box drains, were also installed. We are looking forward to getting some great feedback from our camp families when they arrive on Monday morning!

Some other news about our great parks-- the John Chervokas Spray Park at Louis Engel Park has been open on weekends since Memorial Day Weekend back in May, but beginning on Monday, June 26th, it will be open during the week between Noon and 6PM every day (we will open at 11AM and close at 7PM if the temperature is expected to exceed 90 degrees, which is noticed on the Village of Ossining's Recreation and Parks page.) Please note that on Wednesdays, the Spray Park will be closed to the public until 3PM, since the younger summer camp groups use it on those days. We also received our new ADA-compliant picnic benches and hot ash receptacles, which our Parks crew will be installing at the waterfront in the coming weeks-- we can't wait for you to see the finished product!

Yesterday, several of us Ossining folks headed up the line to Poughkeepsie for the Pattern for Progress Fellows Graduation-- Councilwoman Karen D'Attore and Town Budget Officer Maddi Zachacz were invited to take part in this outstanding program that emphasizes regional solutions to local issues, and were part of this year's graduating class. Their project focused on police/community relations, and not surprisingly, they tapped one of our most knowledgeable local resources on the subject to help. Ossining Police Chief Kevin Sylvester provided some invaluable feedback throughout the process, and he joined us at the graduation ceremony as well. As a fellow alum of Pattern's Fellows program, I continue to be incredibly impressed by the tremendous leadership potential we have right here in the Hudson Valley, and I am proud to welcome Karen and Maddi into the circle of Fellows. 

The guest speaker for the graduation was former US Army Colonel and former US Congressman Chris Gibson, who spoke with the group about how crucial bi-partisan solutions are to solving some of our nation's greatest woes, especially healthcare reform and tackling the national debt. It was truly an honor to hear from the Mr. Gibson about his suggestions for finding a path forward together-- in a time when Americans are so incredibly polarized, hearing from someone who is willing to talk across the aisle was tremendously refreshing, and his remarks about re-introducing civility into the public discourse were certainly well taken. Disagree though we may, recognizing one another as partners rather than adversaries will ultimately take us much further as a nation.

This is going to be another busy weekend in Ossining, but the weather may be a little tricky. Keep your eyes out for announcements about events that may be moved indoors or canceled due to the rain. One particularly special event is an annual community favorite-- St. Ann's Parish Festival will continue through Sunday evening, so make sure to head over for some delicious food (I would be remiss if I did not mention everyone's favorite pizza frite, although I dare say I have never had one!), the musical stylings of DJ Johnny G, and fun rides and games for the whole family. Clams on the half shell are my personal favorite, and I admire the same men who shuck them every year.

Think Happy Thoughts! Come see Theater O’s Peter/Wendy and get carried away.  It might be tough to get tickets at this late date, but it cannot hurt to try.  I hope to see you there tonight (7PM) or tomorrow (there is a 3PM matinee and 8PM performance.)

Also tomorrow (Saturday, June 24th), Senator David Carlucci will be holding a gathering at the Bryan J. Johnson Memorial Boat Ramp in remembrance of Ossining resident Bryan Johnson, who at the age of 26 lost his life in a boating accident back in 2012. Assemblywoman Sandy Galef will be joining the Senator to announce some new legislation that will make boating even safer for those out on the water. I hope you will join us at Louis Engel Park at 3PM to remember Bryan and learn about these new proposed bills.

Relay for Life will still be happening at Anne M. Dorner Middle School, but now will begin at 4PM and will only last until 10PM. The Opening Ceremony and Survivor's Lap will take place at 4PM, followed by the Survivor Reception at 5PM, the Luminaria Ceremony at 9PM, and the Closing Ceremony at 10PM. It's not too late to support a team!

On Sunday, June 25th, consider stopping by the Ossining Public Library for a presentation about coyotes presented by Frank Vincenti of the Wild Dog Foundation. These guys occasionally visit neighborhoods throughout Ossining, so come to the OPL at 2PM to learn about coyote behavior and how to keep you, your family, and your pets, out of harm's way.

This will also be a great Saturday at the Down to Earth Farmer's Market in Market Square-- Master Gardener Mary Patrzalek from Cornell Cooperative Extension will be offering some advice on how to get bees to visit your garden at home, and it is the first week for garlic scapes! (They have a very short season and sell out quickly, so if you're thinking a garlic scape pizza on the grill may brighten up your weekend, be sure to get there nice and early.) After you do your food shopping for the day, take a walk up the hill and pay a visit to the Ossining Public Library-- the Friends of the OPL will be holding their book sale tomorrow in the Budarz Theater between 9AM and 4PM. Enjoy a new read and relax, it's officially summer!

-- Dana