Home - Town of Ossining, New York

Before I leap into this week’s update, I wanted to inform you that some people have reported receiving emails from a spam email account with my name listed as the sender. Please be aware that if you receive an email that appears to be from me but is not from my This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. official email address, you should not open it and delete it immediately. Please always be careful when opening any suspicious emails.

This week, the Ossining Community Equity Task Force finalized their Equity Survey. All town residents are welcome to share and complete the survey, the results of which will be used to help shape the Task Force’s focus. We believe there is always room to make things more equitable. You can complete the Equity Survey in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Hardcopies of the survey are also available. Call my office at 914-762-6001 or email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request a copy.

Equity Equality

Tomorrow from 9 to 11am you can join me in a community effort to protect trees at Ryder Park from harmful vines and invasives. Meet at the pond behind the ball fields - drive down to the ball fields, park at the farthest one, then past the batting cage and it’s on the right, at the far end of the park.Wear your masks (of course!), bring your gardening gloves, and loppers or gardening tools, and boots in case it’s soggy. Registration is not required, but encouraged (so we can send updates about cancellations/changes) through Community Pass. If you have questions, please call 914-762-6001.

Protect our Park Trees Social Media

Early voting begins tomorrow. There are 17 early voting locations across Westchester and you can cast your vote from whichever is most convenient for you. The most local location to home for Town of Ossining residents will be the Ossining Community Center at 95 Broadway. For a complete list of locations and hours, visit the Board of Elections website.

Don’t wait until you have the ballot in front of you to find out who is running in this year’s election. There are County positions, like district attorney and family court judge waiting for your vote too. There are also local positions and seats in the Congress, the State Senate, your Assembly District, and State Supreme Court. You can visit www.vote411.org/ballot to learn about the candidates.

If you plan on voting by absentee ballot, you can drop off your absentee ballot at any early voting location (and it is our understanding that there will be a separate area to do that so you would not have to wait in line with those planning to vote in person). You can also place your ballot in the mail or bring it directly to the Westchester Board of Elections office in White Plains. Absentee ballots come with multiple envelopes, need a stamp, and must be signed, so read the directions carefully. You can direct your questions to the Westchester Board of Elections at https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/.

Vote 2020

Halloween is just about a week away. The CDC has released a list of guidelines to help people prepare for Halloween. It is possible to have a safe and fun holiday. Some great recommendations include using a shipping tube to help trick-or-treaters keep six feet from a doorway or setting up a station outdoors with mini “gift bags” that are easy to wipe down. It is exciting to see the light shows, decorations, and other creativity in our community.

Halloween is a cherished holiday for many families, but keep in mind that some people have not had visitors on their doorstep since March. Some houses may keep their lights off. Please be respectful of the precautions people have chosen to take at this time.

Halloween costume parade

So many houses have embraced the Halloween fun that the decoration contest was extended until October 25th. Decorate your home (inside or out) with a Halloween or autumn theme to help make the season more festive. Then, share a picture of your hard work on the Ossining Families, Positively Ossining, or Ossining Moms Facebook pages with the caption #fallossining2020 to participate in the contest.

Hallo

The Ossining Community Action Program (Ossining CAP) is still accepting packaged candy donations as part of their Spooktacular COVID-19 Candy Drive. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a drop off.

Spooktakular

Tonight at 7pm, the Ossining Public Library is showing Hocus Pocus as part of their Friday Night Flix. The event will be held outside the library so bring your coat and a blanket. Registration for all visitors is required; so are masks and social distancing. You can register on the Library Calendar page.

Hocus Pocus

If you are running late and miss the Library’s start time of Hocus Pocus, you are in luck – there is a second showing happening tonight at the Stop & Shop in Arcadian Shopping Center starting at 7:30. The showing is limited to 70 cars, so don’t be too late.

ArcadianTicket 11x17 Oct. 23

The Briarcliff Public Library is also very excited about Halloween. Their dedicated staff has put together a Halloween-themed reading list! Check out their full collection of kid-friendly spooky fun on the Library Pinterest Page. Click on the book cover for a link to see the summary or place a hold. All the books shown in the collection are available for curbside pick-ups.

Spooky

Switching gears, COVID-19 cases are rising across the country, including in New York. At one point this week there were over 40 states on the Travel Advisory list. Also, you may have heard that Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have positive case numbers which qualify them for this list as well, however because they are so connected to the economy of New York State, the Governor has deemed it impractical to officially add them to the list, however he suggests people only do travel to these states if absolutely necessary.

Holidays are approaching and each household needs to set aside some time to plan for how this year’s events will adapt. We cannot continue to allow cases to rise. Can you schedule Thanksgiving to happen outdoors this year? Can you plan to celebrate it early, while the weather is nice? What about college-aged students coming home for the holidays – do you have space set up for them to quarantine for two weeks? There are a lot of unknowns in our lives right not, but having a plan is a good first step. And while you are at it – make sure to get your flu shot! Medical experts recommend getting a flu shot to prevent what some are calling a “twindemic” or a surge in cases of both the flu and COVID-19. The word alone is scary enough, so head to a local pharmacy or medical provider for your vaccination as soon as possible. For many people, it should be free through your health insurance or employer. Just this week, the Town provided free flu shots to any Town employee who wanted one. Let’s all do our part to keep our family, friends, and neighbors healthy this winter!

NY Travel Advisory Info

There are a lot of resources for people related to the Coronavirus Crisis. Food distribution programs have continued on Tuesdays at Trinity Church and HORAC, on Wednesdays at St. Teresa’s School in Briarcliff, and on Fridays in the Ossining Stop & Shop parking lot. The Ossining Food Pantry is accepting new clients by phone at 914-762-5510 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Briarcliff residents are of course eligible too. The moratorium on COVID-related evictions has been extended to the end of the year. All New Yorkers are eligible for free mental health services through the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314. New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through the end of 2020 (you must apply within 60 days of losing coverage). Information about paid sick leave, workers’ rights, rents/mortgages, and more are also listed on the New York State website.

Health in NY 2

The New York State Department of Health launched the “COVID Alert NY” app in partnership with Google and Apple. The free app uses Bluetooth proximity-enabled technology to recognize other phones nearby. When a positive case is confirmed, phones that have been in close proximity will receive an alert. No personal information is shared. The app is voluntary, anonymous, and does not use location services, GPS, or geographical information. Knowing about a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested, and reduce the potential exposure risk to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others. You must be 18 or older to use the app. You can learn more through your phone’s App Store or by visiting https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-alert-ny.

COVID app

Contact Tracing is underway to reach people who have been exposed to positive cases. If you see an incoming call from NYS Contact Tracing, please pick up the phone. The callers have been trained to provide you with information about testing and other resources – from eldercare and childcare options to information about local testing sites and food deliveries.

Contact Tracing 4

The Ossining Village Historian, Joyce Sharrock Cole and the Ossining Public Library have launched the Ossining Community History Collection Project: Ossining during COVID-19. Share your experiences through journal entries, short stories, poems, essays, pictures, or audio clips. Do you remember the first time you wore a mask? Did you make one? How did you spend your March quarantine? If you want to participate but writer’s block is getting in the way, the Village has created a question list to help you. Visit the Ossining COVID-19 Project Interactive webpage to learn more and share your quarantine, graduation, loss, survival, or other COVID-19 experience.

COVID History Collection Project

Okay, now back to the fun!

Pottery classes are open at the Cedar Lane Arts Center. The Arts Center has a lot of wonderful classes available, all adapted with social distancing guidelines in place. Check out classes for pottery, painting, and stained glass work on the Community Pass page.

CLAC

Home Run Against Drugs is raising money for their Rising Above Boundaries mentoring program. The group’s mission is to promote healthy lifestyle choices in young people. This prevention program is designed to create a community where young people and families can make responsible, healthy choices, especially in avoiding the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs. Donations can be made through the HRAD website and are tax deductible.

HRAD

Do you have a creative idea for how to improve personal protective equipment? The SUNY Prepare Innovation & Internship Program has launched a grant program called PPE inventors, offering $10,000 for students and faculty who want to develop innovative alternatives to the PPE our frontline workers need in the fight against COVID-19. Applications are open to students and faculty at all SUNY state operated and Community College campuses (including Westchester Community College). Applications will be accepted through November 15th and the first grant will be awarded December 15th. You can learn more and apply through the SUNY website.

SUNY

A quick friendly reminder for all of our residents with fur babies: picking up after your pet is your responsibility. Even if you think you are using an area that is unique to you alone, chances are someone else will cross that path. You can use sliced bread bags, plastic grocery bags, newspaper bags, and even small paper bags to help keep the neighborhood clean.

Pick up after your pooch

Now let’s get into some events!

Sign up to donate blood today, reservations are available until 6:45. As we enter the 8^th month of the Coronavirus Crisis, large blood donation events have not been able to resume. This has left blood reserves at a critical low. If you are eligible to donate blood, please consider doing so. Schedule your appointment at NYBC.org to donate blood at the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp at 8 Clinton Avenue. OVAC is following health and safety guidelines, so you know you are in good hands.

OVAC blood drive

Tomorrow is the 12th Annual National Prescription Pill Take-Back Day. You can bring your expired or no longer needed prescriptions (including opioids) to the Ossining Police Station (88 Spring Street) or Briarcliff Police Station (1111 Pleasantville Road). Studies have shown that the first time teenagers use opioid drugs is by getting it from their parents' medicine cabinet. Clear out the clutter! Fun fact, you can actually drop off pills to the Ossining and Briarcliff Police Stations any day – they each have a contactless drop box. No needles or liquids please.

Clear your Cabinet

Are you curious about the history of Indian Point? Did you know the property was once an amusement park? The Peekskill Museum is hosting an in-person event on Sunday from 2 to 4 at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library. The program will feature four informative speakers who will present the history of Indian Point through illustrations and photographs, tracing the development of Indian Point from the first known inhabitants, through its use as an amusement park, up to today’s current time as a nuclear power plant. Tax deductible donations to the Peekskill Museum will be accepted. You can learn more about this event and the featured speakers on the Library’s Facebook Page.

Indian Point

Thanksgiving may look different but some things never change. If you are nervous about conversations about race and bias with your family you may want to check out this virtual program from the Westchester County Human Rights Commission. Many relationships have been severely altered by political discourse over the past few years, but respectful conversations are often the first step toward progress. You can register for the program online, by phone (914-995-7710), or by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). An ASL interpreter will be available for the program.

Brave Conversations

If you are a fan of skyscapes, this next event might be a real treat. The Hudson River Museum is hosting a live-streamed program through an online planetarium simulator. Learn about the constellations of October, like Pegasus and the other constellations that figure into the Perseus legend, the planets, and even a “teenaged” star that is making a huge mess—and a lot of noise. Just like programs in their Planetarium, the museum will be able to take questions in real time through chat and comments. Sign in for their Facebook Live on Thursday, October 29 at 7pm.

Space

Sing Sing Kill Brewery is hosting a Mask-querade on October 30. In the spirit of Halloween and COVID, the contest prizes will be awarded to those with the best, coolest, or most creative masks. Whether they complement the costume or ARE the costume, showcase your best! If there are nose/mouth holes in your mask, a COVID-appropriate one must be worn underneath. This Halloween celebration is a tribute to “Masks of the Titans,” a taproom art exhibition by John “Twyg” Hyde. Visit the taproom between 8-10pm to chat with the artist, check out his 3D printed works and handcrafted Halloween costumes on display, and enter in the mask contest. Charlie Bennett of The Night Hobs will be performing provide some spooky tunes on the cello. SSKB, like all our local business, is operating under capacity restrictions due to COVID, so the taproom and sidewalk café will remain open during the Mask-querade to allow for social distancing.

The Briarcliff Public Library is already excited for DINOvember. Details for some roaring good fun will be released soon on the Briarcliff Public Library website.

dinovember

With chilly weather approaching, you have probably taken a peek into your closet. If you have any jackets and coats that you plan to part with, consider donating them to the Ossining Padres Hispanos Winter Coat Drive on November 1st. Donations can be dropped off at the St. Ann’s rectory. Need a coat, stop by and pick one out.

Coat Drive

--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!

Supervisor's Update – Friday, October 16, 2020

Details: Last Updated: 16 October 2020 16 October 2020

This week I heard a lot about people who are preparing to vote. As you all know by now, New Yorkers have three options for casting their vote: in-person voting on November 3^rd, in-person early voting starting, and voting by absentee ballot. It is easy to remember that this year is a presidential election, but do you know who else will be on your ballot? Don’t wait until you have the ballot in front of you to do your research! You can visit www.vote411.org/ballot to learn about the candidates for Congress, the NYS Senate, your Assembly district, the NYS Supreme Court, the County District Attorney, the County Family Court Judge, and local races.

I know there have been a lot of questions about early in-person voting. There are 17 early voting locations across Westchester and you can cast your vote from whichever is most convenient for you. Is there a site near your job? Near your home? Near your favorite socially-distanced hangout spot? The most local location for Town of Ossining residents will be the Ossining Community Center at 95 Broadway. For a complete list of locations and hours, visit the Board of Elections website. Early voting starts on October 24.

If you plan on voting by absentee ballot, you can drop off your absentee ballot at any early voting location. You can also place your ballot in the mail or bring it directly to the Westchester Board of Elections office in White Plains. Absentee ballots come with multiple envelopes, need a stamp, and must be signed, so read the directions carefully. This is your vote and your voice, so when in doubt: ask. You can call or email the Westchester Board of Election with your questions.

Vote 2020

Do you know your polling place? Some polling sites have moved due to COVID-19’s impact on emergency service locations. There is a national shortage of poll workers, who are typically seniors. With underlying conditions in mind, many chose not to apply this year, leaving positions open. You can apply to be a poll worker and earn $350 a day (remember, there are early voting days!). Visit the Board of Elections website and scroll to the “Poll Worker Application Form.”

Election Workers Needed

This week, New York’s number of Coronavirus cases continued to rise. We are seeing clusters in portions of Brooklyn and some nearby counties as health guidelines are ignored or misunderstood. Even here in Westchester, we are seeing a slight uptick in positive case numbers. We know there is an overwhelming amount of information being shared. And we know it may seem like the guidance is changing. The best defense we have is masks. Wear your masks, wash your hands, and avoid touching your face. Please refer to the New York State website for updates on regulations and resources. New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health through the end of 2020 (you must apply within 60 days of losing coverage). All New Yorkers are eligible for free mental health services through the COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline at 1-844-863-9314. Information about paid sick leave, workers’ rights, rents/mortgages, and more are also listed on the New York State website.

We are also getting into the cold and flu season, adding additional complications to our already complicated public health landscape. Medical experts strongly recommend getting a flu shot to prevent what many are calling a “twindemic.” Flu shots are readily available at most local pharmacies and may even be free to you through your health insurance provider or employer. For Town and Village employees, we will be offering our annual free flu shots next week. We may not yet have a vaccine for COVID, but we do for the flu, so it is important to protect yourself in any way you can. At a time when our hospitals and medical professionals are already overwhelmed fighting the deadliest pandemic in recent memory, being proactive about the flu will truly save lives.

Last week, the New York State Department of Health launched the “COVID Alert NY” app in partnership with Google and Apple. The free app uses Bluetooth proximity-enabled technology to recognize other phones nearby. When a positive case is confirmed, phones that have been in close proximity will receive an alert. No personal information is shared. The app is voluntary, anonymous, and does not use location services, GPS, or geographical information. Knowing about a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested, and reduce the potential exposure risk to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others. You must be 18 or older to use the app. You can learn more through your phone’s App Store or by visiting https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/covid-alert-ny.

COVID app

Contact Tracing 4

COVID History Collection Project

The Ossining Recreation & Parks Department is offering a FREE Community Academy: Youth & Local Leaders Unite program. The program includes workshops and group activities. It also provides an opportunity for our young community members to have a voice in future programming for Ossining Recreation & Parks. Workshops and activities will focus on leadership, building positive relationships in the community, and addressing risk factors affecting today’s youth. This program is open to Ossining youth, ages 13-18. Register through the Community Pass page.

REC

Halloween is around the corner and our local institutions are getting excited. If you live in the Village of Briarcliff you may have read Village manager Phil Zegarelli’s list of fun (and safe!) activities being planned in his weekly email blast. He’s right, Halloween is not cancelled, so make sure you are familiar with easy ways to keep everyone safe.

The CDC has released a list of guidelines to help people prepare for a safe Halloween. This season is going to look different this year, but there are lots of ways to celebrate - whether you prefer to celebrate festive Halloween or spooky Halloween.

hallo 1

So many houses have embraced the Halloween fun that the decoration contest was extended until October 25th. Decorate your home (inside or out) with a friendly autumn theme to help make the season more festive. Then, share a picture of your hard work on the Ossining Families, Positively Ossining, or Ossining Moms Facebook pages with the caption #fallossining2020 to participate in the contest.

Hallo

The Ossining Community Action Program (Ossining CAP) is accepting packaged candy donations as part of their Spooktacular COVID-19 Candy Drive. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule a drop off.

Spooktakular

The Briarcliff Public Library is helping us get in the Halloween spirit with a special Halloween reading list. Check out their full collection of kid-friendly spooky fun on the Library Pinterest Page. Click on the book cover for a link to see the summary or place a hold. All the books shown in the collection are available for curbside pick-ups.

Spooky

You have probably noticed some scarecrows around town. Some are channeling spooky Halloween while others are celebrating festive Halloween, but they all have a very relevant theme this year: essential workers. The Ossining Girl Scouts help us get into the spirit with this annual tradition. Each troop has their own scarecrow - how many have you spotted?

Now let’s get into some events!

Tomorrow, residents may bring confidential personal papers for shredding to the Ossining Community Center at 95 Broadway. Shredding personal documents serves a double purpose - to recycle paper as well as protect sensitive information against identity theft - the fastest growing crime in the nation. Residents can bring up to four file-sized (10”x12”x15”) boxes of confidential papers per household. Please remove all large binder clips and covers. Papers from businesses, institutions or commercial enterprises are not acceptable and will be rejected, as will any junk mail or newspapers.

ae try

Also on tomorrow, the annual Riverkeeper Sweep will take place along the Hudson River from Brooklyn to the Capitol District. Volunteers remove debris from the river’s edge and help keep our Hudson River beautiful. Visit the Riverkeeper Website to sign up as a volunteer. There are a few local spots you can participate in to help clean up along the Hudson and its tributaries in Ossining.

Riverkeeper Sweep

Beginning on October 19, the DEC will enforce the State’s ban on single-use plastic carryout bags. Originally scheduled for March, this ban was postponed until COVID-19 could be better understood. Many people used the pandemic to begin carrying their own bags or switch to delivered food. So remember to keep some extra canvas bags in your car or office as enforcement of the ban goes into effect. New Yorkers use an estimated 23 billion plastic bags annually - each for only about 12 minutes - and approximately 85% of this staggering total ends up in landfills, recycling machines, waterways, and streets.

BYOB

Teatown is holding a family-friendly Halloween walk through the “enchanted forest.” Reserve your space now for times on October 23, 24, 30, or 31. Costumes are optional, but encouraged. Masks are mandatory. Tickets include refreshments, parking, and a visit with Teatown’s animal ambassadors.

Teatown

Missing live music? Mike Risko Music is hosting a virtual open mic night starting at 7pm on October 22^nd. Reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 914-762-8757 to join in as a performer or audience member. They’ll send the zoom link for an easy log in.

Risko Mic Night

As we enter the 8^th month of the Coronavirus Crisis, large blood donation events have not been able to resume. This has left blood reserves at a critical low. If you are eligible to donate blood, please consider doing so. Schedule your appointment at NYBC.org to donate blood at the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corp at 8 Clinton Avenue on October 23. OVAC is following health and safety guidelines, so you know you are in good hands.

OVAC

With chilly weather approaching, you have probably taken a peek into your closet. If you have any jackets and coats that you plan to part with, consider donating them to the Ossining Padres Hispanos Winter Coat Drive. Donations can be dropped off at the St. Ann’s rectory. Need a coat, stop by and pick one out.

Coat Drive

This should be an amazing time to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage. Make sure to get outside, enjoy our parks and public spaces, breathe the Hudson Valley air, and have a lovely and safe weekend.

--Dana