Supervisor's Update - Friday May 8, 2020
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- Last Updated: 08 May 2020 08 May 2020
I would like to start this week by wishing you all a Happy Mother’s Day. There is never an easy time to be a mom – even without a global pandemic. Thank you to all the moms – and that includes biological moms, adoptive moms, step-moms, grandmothers, furry moms, aunts, big sisters, role models, and all other mom-figures -- making this work.
I would also like to extend my thanks to teachers and nurses this week. Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurses Appreciation Week is especially noteworthy this year, with our dedicated teachers and nurses going the extra mile during this crisis.
This week, Governor Cuomo announced his re-opening strategy. No area of New York is currently prepared to open, but the plan will allow businesses to prepare before the start date. We are expecting the finalized version of the re-opening strategy will be released soon. The preliminary blueprint laid out by the Governor divided the State into distinct regions, aligned with the regions some of us are familiar with from the Regional Economic Development Councils. Each region will be judged independently of the others, and based upon specific, data-guided measures. Since New York City was a hotspot, and is its own REDC region, it will be judged as its own region. Ossining is included in a region, Mid-Hudson, with Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Westchester. Reopening comes with its own challenges, especially since schools remain closed. The plan is structured into four phases, with different businesses in each phase. Between the phases are a strict set of criteria the region must meet. Before entering Phase 1 our region must demonstrate a steady, consistent decline in new cases. Among other guidelines, we must also build a security net into our hospitals by giving them time to restock supplies, as well as increased testing capacity and contact tracing. The phases are anticipating a potential second wave. In the absence of a second wave, hotspots are expected as people begin to interact again. The Governor has stressed the need for continued social distancing and mask-wearing to avoid losing the progress we have made.
The State has also announced opportunities for contact tracers to be hired. This is an essential aspect of any region in New York State being able to be reopened – we must have a better handle on evaluating positive cases and those with whom they may have come in contact. You can learn more about this opportunity and apply online.
As cases increase nationwide, new evidence shows that New Yorkers have successfully flattened our curve and are on the down slope. However, we must bear in mind that 231 New Yorkers died from this virus just on Thursday this week alone. That is 231 families, neighborhoods, communities, workplaces, and more with a tremendous loss to face. Now is not the time to become less vigilant. As the weather warms I am happy to get to see your faces again in our public spaces. Please be respectful of your neighbors, and those that we have lost during this pandemic, by wearing a mask if you are moving through spaces where social distancing is not possible (which, in my opinion, is pretty much anywhere you go! At the very least, have the mask around your next so you can put it on if you have to get within six feet of another).
There is virtually no reason to not wear a mask. If you do not have one at home, they are super easy to make! All you need is an old t-shirt and a paper towel, and you are good to go. Not so crafty? Grab a bandana or scarf you have lying around and use that instead. For those of us not in the medical industry, and who are just looking for some protection while going out for a walk or run, that should be sufficient.
Governor Cuomo has also announced a fun challenge – make a video about why it is so important to wear a mask, tag #NewYorkTough on your social media channels, and New Yorkers will be able to vote for their favorite! The winning video will be used as a Public Service Announcement. Come on Ossining – can we do this? Submissions are due May 15 – get on our creative juices to help promote healthy practices in New York State! Learn more here.
Local Coronavirus cases across the County appeared to increase this week after a backlog of unsorted results were appropriately distributed. A large number of cases state-wide were not properly filed upon initial intake or required additional information to be confirmed. These newly sorted cases reflect additional results spanning back to the March tests. As the backlog continues to be sorted, our numbers will become more accurate and more aligned with the State Health Department’s information. The filing error resulted at the State level from tests processed without attaching an address to a resident’s name. New York State made a significant dent in the backlog this week – we are expecting case numbers all across the county to rise to reflect this newly allocated information. We are, however, also backing out cases that were active for more than 14 days to try to show a more accurate picture of how many cases are presumably still active, of the total positives. The County is now supplying those numbers to us, which is helpful as a guiding document.
The Town and Village distributed over 1500 masks to local essential businesses in the past few days. The cloth masks are a donation from Hanes (the cotton undershirt company) and are washable and reusable up to 15 times. If your business needs masks please complete our easy online form in English, Spanish, or Portuguese or contacting Carina Scorcia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The masks are being distributed by appointment only.
A note on the upcoming School Board and Budget election – pursuant to Executive Order 202.26, the annual vote on school budgets and board members will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. The election will be entirely held via absentee ballot. The requirement to request an absentee ballot has also been suspended, all registered voters will receive a ballot automatically in the mail. Absentee ballots will in both English and Spanish. For the Ossining School District, the ballot will include two propositions pertaining to the budgets of the Ossining School District and Ossining Public Library, as well as the names of individuals running for three seats on the Ossining Board of Education and two seats on the Ossining Public Library Board of Trustees. For the Briarcliff School District, the ballot will include a proposition for their budget, as well as the names of candidates running for seats on the Briarcliff School Board. When you receive your ballot, fill it out, and return it via mail to the District Clerk of the district you live in, and ballots must be received by the District Clerks by June 9, 2020 at 5pm. No in-person voter registration or voting will be allowed. For further information, you can reach the Ossining District Clerk at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the Briarcliff District Clerk at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This week County Executive George Latimer unveiled a Ribbons of Remembrance memorial at Leonoir Preserve in Yonkers. I know the restrictions on funerals have been a burden on grieving families. Ribbons of Remembrance allows families to write the name of a lost loved one on a purple ribbon and then add it to the memorial site, hopefully offering some solace. If extended family will be joining you at the memorial, please continue to wear masks and social distance to protect others.
The Deadline for Paying your 2020 Town and County taxes due April 30th has passed. However, if paying by April 30th posed a financial hardship, please take advantage of the reduced penalty options:
- Pay between now and May 31st - .5% penalty (previous penalty 2%)
- Pay between June 1 and July 15th – 1% penalty (previous penalty 5%)
PAY ONLINE at https://www.townofossining.com/cms/receiver-of-taxes/tax-bill-online-payment or through the mail or at Ossining Post Office mail slot.
Additionally, you may be eligible to defer payment until July 15th 2020 without any penalty if you are suffering through a financial hardship directly caused by COVID-19 crisis. Please see the qualifications here. The forms necessary to be submitted WITH your payment by mail can be retrieved here. Please note that the form is due with your payment and did not have to be submitted by April 30th.
Calls to our Assessor’s Office continued this week following the mailing of the Preliminary Change of Assessment Notices for property owners. The re-appraisal process of properties maintains the accuracy of our tax roll and is coordinated by our Assessor’s Office and Tyler Technologies.
I would like to reiterate, an increase in assessed value does not necessarily mean a proportionate increase, or even an increase at all, in taxes. Taxes are determined by many factors, including the budgets of the various taxing jurisdictions. Property owners know their properties better than anyone, so participating in an informal review if you feel we might have been off in the valuation will help ensure the accuracy of our roll. If you feel your preliminary assessment does not accurately reflect the value of your property as of July 1, 2019, we encourage you to schedule a remote informal meeting with Tyler Technologies by calling 800-829-4235 Monday through Friday 9:00AM to 4:00PM or by logging on to www.tylertech.com/schedule to schedule an appointment. Prepare by looking online to compare your property to sale prices (within the past year) for similar properties.
As we have mentioned before, the first step should be an informal review with Tyler Technologies before the Tentative Roll is filed, normally June 1. Tyler Technologies may determine it is appropriate to lower the assessed value you received in your notice. However, if you are still not satisfied with the accuracy of your assessed value, you may file a grievance prior to Grievance Day, normally the third Tuesday in June, or June 16 this year. These deadlines are set by New York State law, and normally not able to be changed at the local level. However, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.22 on April 20, allowing individual municipalities to extend deadlines associated with the Assessment roll by 30 days. Following our discussion last week, the Town Board intends on extending the Tentative Roll filing date from June 1 to June 30, 2020, and holding Grievance Day on July 21, 2020, instead of June 16. We hope this extension will allow property owners ample time to review, investigate, and challenge their preliminary assessed value, if necessary. This extension will be formally adopted by the Town Board at our next Legislative Session, scheduled for May 12, 2020. You can call the Assessor's Office at (914) 762-8274 if you need any help or have questions.
Also, I would like to remind everyone to be vigilant of scams during this difficult time. Unfortunately, tough times can also bring out the worst in people, as much as it brings out the best, too. We received a report this week from a resident of a potential scammer masking their caller ID to read “Town of Ossining” – so scary! As a reminder, do not give out personal information over the phone and verify any call that does not seem legitimate, even if it may seem like the call is coming from someone you know or a trusted source. Unfortunately, people are able to spoof phone numbers with easily accessible apps these days. Also be wary of phishing attempts via e-mail. Do not open links or attachments from e-mail addresses you do not recognize, or seem a little bit off. Use your best judgment, and if you suspect you may have fallen victim to a scam, you can always contact the Ossining Police Department at (914) 941-4099. If you receive a phone call from someone who may be pretending to be a Town of Ossining staff member, you can always call the Supervisor’s Office directly at (914) 762-6001 to verify the caller.
Census outreach also continued this week. If you have received your Census mailing, please complete the survey and return it right away. We currently have not quite reached a 60% response rate and are way behind many of our neighbors who have surpassed 70%. C’mon Ossiningites! Get your Census on!!! Remember: more than 400 billion dollars in federal and state funding can be traced back to Census results and in the last Census Ossining lost nearly $2500 for each uncounted resident. Now more than ever we see the importance of programs and services we rely on every day. If you haven’t completed your Census by mail, you can fill it out online or by phone (844-330-2020 for English, 844-468-2020 for Spanish, 844-474-2020 for Portuguese). The Census is available in approximately 60 different languages, with the survey also available in Braille and large print. All Census responses are confidential. They should be completed by each household and account for every resident, regardless of citizenship or age. Preschoolers remain consistently under counted nationwide, so don’t forget the little ones. If your college student would have been away at school this semester, they will have already been counted by their college (so there’s no need to include them in your count). my2020census.com gets you started!
Many of us are used to kicking off the month of May with I Love My Parks Day, helping with park clean-ups throughout the State, or locally along the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail and Louis Engel Park. It is so hard to believe we are unable to gather this year for this fun, educational, and helpful initiative! But I guess it might even be better this year, since the New York State Parks has deemed all of May I Love My Parks Month! Join in the virtual photo challenge and tag #ShowParksLove. There are weekly themes and prizes from retailers like LL Bean and Patagonia. As we have all begun to see, our parks definitely need some extra love this year. Next week’s theme is “Give Back,” through volunteering, donating, and speaking out. Get more details online, and get your submission ready for next week! And please, if you see an overflowing garbage can, or even one about to, carry out your refuse and bring it home, and safely deposit it to reduce to possibility of contagion spread, and to help keep our parks looking beautiful.
We are expecting some chilly weather this weekend -- and maybe some severe winds and possibly even snow tonight into tomorrow -- but next week is supposed to have a few nice days. Our Mind Body Spirit - Ossining (MBSO) program was designed to invite local residents into our beautiful parks. Local wellness businesses host free events in the parks for group participation. We have had to adapt a bit this year, but you can still enjoy the beauty of the parks and participate in solitary wellness activities like hiking, yoga, mediation, and more. Check our this mindfulness instruction class from the Crossover Yoga Project filmed in Crawbuckie park!
Restaurants continue to open this week – and we are so glad to have them back! We update the color of this list weekly to help the current version stand out. Help us circulate this list by posting on your Facebook page.
While you are sharing posts to help support local businesses, let’s boost this one too! While restaurants were deemed essential services, other businesses have also had to adapt for their homebound customers. Your input is imperative to keeping this list updated. Quarantine can be stressful, these businesses are prepared to help by offering their amazing services. You will notice we don’t change the background color on this graphic – that’s because each business has a distinct type of adaptive service available and we want you to see that first!
I am thrilled to see the community coming together to support each other. Sewing groups have sprung up all around the country – and quite a few locally – to teach residents how to make their own masks and masks for others in need. Nancy Adelman and her team are organizing mask sewing for EMTs, nursing homes, and those in vulnerable populations (like homeless residents). Check out their GoFundMe page to see how to get involved or donate.
An increased interest in sending food to first responders also warms my heart! As a reminder, always contact an organization before making food donations (having pizzas anonymously delivered to a hospital is a lovely gesture but can be overwhelming for staff and does not account for schedules already in place). Hop on board this Meal Train designed to provide meals to hospital workers and OVAC.
As financial hardships grow due to the Coronavirus crisis, food insecurity rises with it. There are a lot of options available for hot meals in Ossining and Briarcliff – many meals cooked by our favorite restaurants and donated! The Village and Feeding Westchester host a food distribution program every Tuesday across several locations.
Gullotta House serves hot meals in Ossining from local restaurants on Fridays from 4-6pm at Stop & Shop. Donations keep the engine in motion so please support if you can, by visiting www.gullottahouse.org. The dates and locations for food distribution change weekly, so we recommend residents follow them on Facebook to get specific information. We are also sharing the info on our Town of Ossining Facebook page.
The Ossining Food Pantry is also on top of its game! The Pantry is expanding their list of recipients, delivering meals and gift cards to residents who need an extra hand. Ossining and Briarcliff residents are eligible to be included in their program. You can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to apply or for more information.
The Ossining Farmer’s Market has shifted to allow for pre-orders! Add to your cart throughout the week and pick-up on Saturday.
May is Membership Month for one local fitness center. Like many others, they have converted to an online regiment during the NY PAUSE orders.
Finally, in our virtual world, there are fun events to remote into! Locally, celebrate Mother’s Day with a livestreamed Cabaret presented by the Bethany Arts Center.
The fan-favorite Mike Risko Band is offering Singing Telegrams for local Moms! Performances on the front lawn keep everyone safe – and having a good time.
There are many fun and creative ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in quarantine. Here are some fun ideas, but make yours personal!
--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 e-mail 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 Regular Meeting - May 12, 2020
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- Last Updated: 08 May 2020 08 May 2020
Town Board Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 12, 2020, 7:30pm
THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING ONLY
Pursuant to Governor’s Executive Order 202.1 dated March 12, 2020
Members of the public can view the meeting via computer or mobile app:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81547524395
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:
Meeting ID: 815 4752 4395
(929) 205-6099
**Please note that by dialing in, your phone number will be visible to the host, participants, and attendees of the meeting.**
pdf 05 12 20 Via Video Conference (388 KB)
MTA Details Unprecedented 24/7 Cleaning Operation and New MTA Essential Plan Night Service
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- Last Updated: 05 May 2020 05 May 2020
MTA Details Unprecedented 24/7 Cleaning Operation and New MTA Essential Plan Night Service During Subway Closure 1-5 a.m.
NYCT, LIRR and Metro-North Begin Most Aggressive Cleaning and Disinfecting Regimen in MTA History, Leveraging Innovative Antimicrobial and UV Technology
MTA Launches Essential Plan Night Service Significantly Increasing the Number of Bus Trips by 76% and Number of Buses Deployed by Nearly 150% During the Overnight
Sign Up for More Information on MTA Essential Connector at mta.info/overnight
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today detailed its unprecedented 24/7 cleaning operation and new MTA Essential Plan Night Service during the upcoming subway closure from 1 – 5 a.m, which begins Wednesday, May 6. The new cleaning and disinfecting regimen marks the most aggressive in the MTA’s history, and will include around-the-clock efforts at all facilities, including those of New York City Transit, the LIRR, Metro-North, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and MTA Construction & Development. The MTA is also leveraging and evaluating innovative new cleaning solutions such as antimicrobial biostats and ultraviolet light to eradicate the COVID-19 virus. If proven successful, the MTA will deploy these solutions systemwide.
During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the MTA has served as the heroes moving heroes of the pandemic – getting healthcare workers, first responders and other essential personnel on the frontlines to their jobs so they can save lives. The MTA is now launching a new MTA Essential Plan Night Service to continue moving essential workers during the 1 – 5 a.m. period. This plan marks a robust increase in overnight bus service – substantially increasing the number of bus trips by 1,168 or more than 76%, and adding 344 new buses on top of the 235 already deployed increasing the operational fleet by nearly 150% during 1 – 5 a.m. period.
Supervisor's Update - May 1, 2020
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- Last Updated: 01 May 2020 01 May 2020
A new day, a new month. Welcome May flowers, there have been lots of showers to coax you out.
I want to thank so many of you who were able to make your Town/County tax payments on time. We know how hard it has been for all of us, and no matter what your situation, these are difficult payments to make. We know many of you will take advantage of either the hardship waiver the Town opted into or the greatly reduced late fees passed by Westchester County. But, 91.6% of our overall warrant was collected by the due date, down only about 3% from last year at this time. As you know, these funds go to pay for so many of the critical services provided by municipal government to protect public health and safety. We truly are all in this together!
Additionally, the first of the month may bring anxiety about rent payments. As a reminder, renters cannot be evicted from their residence due to inability to pay rent. For homeowners, nervous about mortgage payments, lenders cannot evict you and must provide an “opportunity for a forbearance of payments” for anyone facing financial hardships. Both of these protections have been put in place by Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders. As always, you can reach out to my office or visit www.townofossining.com if you have any questions about programs and services available to you, as many of the links you would need to find them are also available through our dedicate COVID webpage.
Before we jump in to the numbers for this week, there are a few items I would like to go over. We received a donation of cloth masks from Hanes (the cotton shirt and undergarment manufacturer), which has been passed down through the county to us to distribute. The masks are washable and reusable, and have been designated for essential service workers. If you are the owner of an essential business in the Town or Village, you can request masks for your workers through a Google form in English, Spanish, or Portuguese or by contacting Carina Scorcia at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There are a limited number of masks so high-traffic, public interaction jobs may be prioritized.
I know we fielded many, many phone calls last week and this week about the Preliminary Change of Assessment Notices which went out to property owners via mail last week. We were joined by our Assessor Fernando Gonzalez during this past week’s Legislative Session to explain this process in further detail and why we sent these letters out when we did. To view Fernando’s presentation, visit our YouTube page. We hope this video is helpful and informative. As you might recall, the process of re-appraising all properties in order to maintain the accuracy of our tax roll, started several months ago. We hired Tyler Technologies to coordinate with our Assessor’s office closely and facilitate this complicated process. If you feel your preliminary assessment does not accurately reflect the value of your property as of July 1, 2019, we encourage you to schedule a remote informal meeting with Tyler Technologies by calling 800-829-4235 Monday through Friday 9:00AM to 4:00PM or by logging on to www.tylertech.com/schedule to schedule an appointment. We recommend prepping before – take a look online at sale prices for similar properties within the last year and compare to your own.
We understand that for many facing unprecedented hardships due to the Coronavirus pandemic, receiving this notice was unsettling. Bear in mind that an increase in assessed value does not necessarily mean a proportionate increase, or even an increase at all, in taxes. Taxes are determined by many factors, including the budgets of the various taxing jurisdictions. Additionally, these notices and the reviews with Tyler Technologies are vital to the integrity of the re-appraisal process. Property owners know their properties better than anyone, so participating in an informal review if you feel we might have gotten it wrong will help ensure the accuracy of our roll.
As I mentioned, the first step should be an informal review with Tyler Technologies before the Tentative Roll is filed, normally June 1. Tyler Technologies may determine it is appropriate to lower the assessed value you received in your notice. However, if you are still not satisfied with the accuracy of your assessed value, you may file a grievance prior to Grievance Day, normally the third Tuesday in June, or June 16 this year. These deadlines are set by New York State law, and normally not able to be changed at the local level. However, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.22 on April 20, allowing individual municipalities to extend deadlines associated with the Assessment roll by 30 days. Following our discussion last week, the Town Board intends on extending the Tentative Roll filing date from June 1 to June 30, 2020, and holding Grievance Day on July 21, 2020, instead of June 16. We hope this extension will allow property owners ample time to review, investigate, and challenge their preliminary assessed value, if necessary. This extension will be formally adopted by the Town Board at our next Legislative Session, scheduled for May 12, 2020. You can call the Assessor's Office at (914) 762-8274 if you need any help or have questions.
As I mentioned earlier, this week also marked the deadline for Town and County Taxes. I referred to two options for those who were unable to pay on time this year. The County Legislature approved a Tax Penalty Reduction option to reduce the financial strain caused by the pandemic. Penalties for late payment have been reduced for all taxpayers. Penalties are reduced to .5% until May 30, with penalties rising to 1% from the first of June to July 15. So, on an average Town/County tax bill of $4000 if you pay by May 30 you would owe an additional $20, or by July 15 an additional $40. You do not need to apply for this reduction in penalties, it is automatically available to all taxpayers.
For those who require further flexibility, landlords, businesses, and individuals can apply for the elimination of all penalties until July 15 under "Hardship Requirements" established by the County. This action was approved by the Town in a Legislative Session this week and we’ve created a chart (below) to help taxpayers find which reductions are available to them. You can click on the chart below for a high resolution copy.
Hardship certifications can be found on the Town’s website here. We ask that if you are requesting the hardship exemption, you submit the certification form with your payment. Payments with hardship certifications can only be made via check in the mail, or by check at the mail slot at the Ossining Post Office (envelopes sent via the mail slot must be stamped and put through the slot before 5pm to be postmarked by that day). All other payments can still be made via those methods, or online: https://www.townofossining.com/cms/receiver-of-taxes/tax-bill-online-payment.
If you have further questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also call and leave a message at (914) 762-8790. As you can imagine, the number of questions we're receiving is very high and emailed questions are preferred. You can also email your question with a phone number if you feel a further explanation will be necessary. The staff in the Supervisor's Office is also ready to answer any questions you may have about these new relief programs, you can reach us at either (914) 762-6001 or (914) 762-6002.
Relief continues to pour in from generous neighbors lending a hand. For isolated seniors, and their separated families, I know there are a lot of unanswered questions. This Resource Guide with senior services and entertainment options may help connect you with the information you need.
Our beloved farmers market continues to adapt to the outbreak. Vendors are sharing their order/delivery options for everyone’s convenience in the Order From the Farmer’s Market Facebook group and their @downtoearthmkts instagram. Keep the locally sourced food coming and freshness on the table. The Farmer’s Market is also sharing their Recipe Box for everyone who needs a great new meal to lighten the evening (who doesn’t these days).
We are especially appreciative of artists during the outbreak – they have brought us great comfort. Subscribers of ArtNews from Westchester County may recognize the photographer on this month’s issue. Congratulations to Ossining resident Alan Haywood! ArtNews is sharing information about art events (virtual for now) and the artists who are helping keep us sane while we’re stuck inside.
Census outreach also continued this week. If you have received your Census mailing, please complete the survey and return it right away. We currently have only about a 50% response rate – lots of room for improvement. More than 400 billion dollars in federal and state funding can be traced back to Census results and in the last Census Ossining lost nearly $2500 for each uncounted resident. Now more than ever we see the importance of programs and services we rely on every day. If you haven’t completed your Census by mail, you can fill it out online or by phone (844-330-2020 for English, 844-468-2020 for Spanish, 844-474-2020 for Portuguese). The Census is available in approximately 60 different languages, with the survey also available in Braille and large print. All Census responses are confidential. They should be completed by each household and account for every resident, regardless of citizenship or age. Preschoolers remain consistently under counted nationwide, so don’t forget the little ones. If your college student would have been away at school this semester, they will have already been counted by their college (so there’s no need to include them in your count).
Since testing began, we have seen numbers climb in Ossining. However, we know we are seeing a leveling off of new positives in the last two weeks. As the warm weather starts to shape up, I want to remind you not to let “Quarantine Fatigue” set in. We must continue to remain vigilant so we do not see an uptick. Handwashing is still critical to keeping spread of the virus at bay, as are face masks for trips out of the house. If you go out, remember to social distance at all times. We do not want to have done all this work just to go backward in two weeks.
We are continuing our Zoom Town Board meetings next week with a Work Session on Tuesday, May 5. We have some exciting topics on the agenda, including a proposal by Ecogy Energy for a carport style solar system installation at Maryknoll, 75 Ryder Road. Town Planner Valerie Monastra and Town Building Inspector John Hamilton will also be “on the line” so we look forward to receiving their input as well, as the Town Board will be considering forwarding this proposal to the Planning Board for thorough review. John will be staying on for a departmental report, then we will have a preliminary discussion on what the future may hold for Ossining as we look towards phased re-opening of some industries. Following the lead of Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward guidelines, we look forward to starting the conversation as we look ahead to our new normal.
Our Planning Board will also be starting up Zoom meetings next week, with a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 6 (you can view their agenda here). We know this is a new forum for many, so I encourage you to participate in some Zoom trainings, available online. Not only will you be able to engage with your Town government using this new platform, maybe you can put it to use for a virtual Mothers’ Day brunch next weekend with your family, or virtual book club with your friends! The possibilities are endless and so vital to maintaining connections during this unusual time.
Alphabetized by popular demand, here is this week’s restaurant list. For those of you following along at home, this is our fifth edition – coming to you in a celebratory May-purple! Each week we update the list based on who is jumping back in. Please help circulate this list and any information provided by local businesses. These are strange times, I am so inspired to see everyone pitching in to support our neighbors any way they can.
Here is a newly updated version of the other fantastic businesses that are offering services to customers during these strange times. Want to learn to play an instrument, organize your workspace, meet a fitness goal, or try something new? These businesses are really saving the day so be sure to take advantage of their services and help save them as well!
Contribute to keeping Coronavirus at bay by connecting with these great programs. Nancy Adelman and her team organizing mask sewing for EMTs, nursing homes, and those in vulnerable populations (like homeless residents). Check out their GoFundMe page to see how to get involved or donate. If cooking (or baking!) is your thing, check out this Meal Train designed to provide meals to hospital workers and OVAC.
If you are worried about food security, know that there are options out there for you. Every Tuesday, the Village and Feeding Westchester host a food distribution program across several locations. Gullotta House has gone above and beyond, providing hot meals in Ossining from local restaurants on Fridays from 4-6pm at Stop & Shop. Need is increasing, so donations are appreciated. To help support them, please visit www.gullottahouse.org. The dates and locations for food distribution change weekly, so we recommend residents follow them on Facebook to get specific information. We are also sharing the info on our Town of Ossining Facebook page.
The Ossining Food Pantry delivering meals and gift cards to residents who need an extra hand. The Pantry is expanding their list of recipients to help meet the growing need. Ossining and Briarcliff residents are eligible to be included in their program. You can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to apply or for more information.
For some lighter news, Sing Sing Kill Brewery is continuing its weekly Virtual Happy Hour tonight at 6! Connect with others and catch up – there’s so much going on, take some time to check in with everyone.
Let some music into your day. Alexis Cole has launched “Virtually, Yours” a livestream via Zoom with requests in real time, original pieces, and other fun content. For everyone missing the arts, this is a great way to immerse yourself. Tickets are ten dollars, available at www.alexiscole.com/shows
For every family that was planning a trip away, we have an interesting option to share – Universal theme park, Disney, Coney Island, and others have created Virtual Roller Coaster rides! These first person views of a rider let the creative imagination into these otherwise closed parks. Hold on tight!
For those of you looking ahead, May is Membership Month for one local fitness center. Like many others, they’ve converted to an online regiment during the NY PAUSE orders.
In the fall we are used to celebrating Giving Tuesday to support local charities. As the Coronavirus challenges our dedicated non-profits and community groups, the effort is being launched with a spring edition this year #GivingTuesdayNow. Seek out your favorite charities on Tuesday, May 5th to contribute to their needs. Special thanks to IFCA for reminding us of this important event. IFCA provides much-needed services, housing for over 200 people, and assistance to neighbors in need. There are many local and not so local non-profits participating, including Open Door Family Medical Centers, so I encourage you if you are in a position to do so, to consider supporting one of your favorite causes this coming week. So many organizations are finding themselves without their normal sources of income, and would be so appreciative of the donation.
We have asked a lot of our kids this year. Seniors have adjusted their prom and graduation plans to say the least. In honor of our graduating seniors, and our first responders, the lights at the Ossining Football field will light up at 8:20 tonight (20:20 military time). The lights will stay on for twenty minutes.
New York City residents have been joined by millions around the country clapping at 7pm in honor of healthcare workers on the front lines. The cheers from balconies and windows is a moving tribute at the time hospital day shifts end and the night shift begins. This week, Maryknoll church bells joined the chorus. If you cannot hear them at 7, you can listen via livestream.
Stay safe Ossining -- and enjoy the weekend!
--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 e-mail 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!