Supervisor's Update - Friday, September 3, 2021
- Details
- Last Updated: 03 September 2021 03 September 2021
I hope this email finds you safe and dry after another challenging week.
Please remember that the Fireworks and Concert Event originally scheduled to take place tonight, Friday, September 3rd, at the Ossining Waterfront HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Read the press release regarding the cancellation here.
We are so grateful for the incredible work of our police, fire, highway, ambulance and public works staff who helped us weather another historic storm this past week. Many of them were also called in to offer mutual aid to some of our neighboring municipalities who got hit much harder than we did, and we thank them for that as well. Their professionalism and courage never cease to amaze me. Our hearts go out to those devastated by Ida.
On another note, we were so excited to learn that one of Ossining’s own, Police Detective Jeff Chavez, was recognized this week as a 2021 40-Under-40 honoree by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. It is wonderful to see wider recognition of something we all know well -- we have some of the very best first responders around!
One more note about storms before we get to the fun stuff! Westchester County is currently soliciting input from residents as it updates our county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. Click here to take a survey to help the County determine what sorts of activities it needs to undertake to help reduce the risk of injury or property damage from natural disasters like the one we just experienced.
Moving on, because we decided to cancel tonight’s very large event, we are also happy to report that, with our partners, we will be able to offer one last Food Truck Friday/Summer Concert to end this great series before fall weather fully descends upon us! Next Friday, September 10, we’ll have some of your favorite food trucks and our Craft Beverage Corral down at the waterfront starting at 4pm, and Soul Sacrifice will perform from 6pm-8pm. Once again, we are so, so thankful for our partners in this series who really helped make it all possible: 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 Realty, Robison, Open Door Family Medical Center, Matero Fine Jewelry and Grace Lane Kennels. And this week, we are super extra thankful for everyone’s (including the band’s!) flexibility. Stay tuned for the food truck and craft beverage line-up, but you know it’s all going to be delish!
In other fun news, HORAC Ministries is having a Labor Day Community Fun Day this Monday from noon till 5 PM. Join in for a family-friendly day of fun and fellowship!
Congrats to the Ossining Schools for having a successful first day in spite of the storm and a two hour delay! And good luck to Briarcliff students who are starting next week. 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.
Car Free Day, coming up on Wednesday, September 22, will be here before you know it! 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.
If you have input for the Comprehensive Plan, please make sure to participate by September 17. This phase of the public outreach component is coming to a close soon. Outreach boards will be making their last rounds at some North State Road businesses and the Ossining Community Center this week and next week. Right now, visit Polished Spa Nails and next week other local North State Road businesses - we will share the locations in my update and on social media - 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. Definitely throw in a pedicure too - I highly recommend some self-care after this long week! The outreach boards will also be stationed by the lower level of the Ossining Community Center through September 16, see below. We want to hear from you as we finalize a draft of our Comprehensive Plan, which for those newcomers to the Supervisor’s Update, is a document that serves as our ten-year plan for the Town of Ossining. Visit the project website to learn more. We do also plan on circulating an online survey once the draft plan has been released later in the fall.
In State news, the Independent Redistricting Committee has rescheduled the public meeting that was set to take place yesterday due to the impacts of the storm. It will now be held on Thursday, September 9 at 4 PM. If you would like to share testimony as the state is redrawing state legislative and congressional district lines, click here to view the meeting schedule and register. All meetings will also be streamed live at www.nyirc.gov.
Also on Thursday, September 9: “Dance for Balance” will be held at the Law Park Pavilion in Briarcliff Manor from 6:30-7:30 PM. The program, created by local resident Dr. Neha Kachroo, DPT, uses an ancient Indian classical dance form called Odissi to help participants improve and maintain balance. Read more here. Space is limited; register at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Save the date -- The Ossining Fire Department will be hosting its annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at 9 AM on Saturday, September 11, welcoming first responders and elected officials from Villages of Ossining and Briarcliff and Town of Ossining at Louis Engel Park. We will recognize the 20th anniversary of this national tragedy that had a direct impact on 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 as a result of their heroic acts.
Westchester County will also be commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday, September 11 at 3:30 at the Kensico Dam, where the County will also 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. Also, Volunteer NY is partnering once again with Westchester County and the Westchester Parks Foundation to host 9/11 Serve and Remember National Day of Service. For more information about how you can take part in a day of service to honor victims of 9/11 and their families, anywhere from September 9 through the 12, visit the Volunteer New York website.
The gardens of Historic Sparta will also 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.
The Cedar Lane Arts Center fall schedule is now available - click here to view the schedules and register for clay, painting, and more. Additionally, 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 art history classes at Bethany Arts Center this fall - click here to view more details and register.
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.
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.
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, with a holiday weekend upon us, I would like to remind everyone of the importance of exercising caution with COVID-19 rates increasing across the country. The CDC shared this week that they are strongly recommending against travel for people who are unvaccinated, which includes most children. I know this is disheartening for most families, but it is so important to do whatever we can to ensure our school children are safe at the start of the new year. So please re-evaluate your travel plans, especially if you or anyone in your household are not yet vaccinated, and visit the CDC website for additional guidance on travel.
Plan a fun long weekend here in Ossining, maybe start off with a visit to the Farmer’s Market for some local produce and cook up a storm. Visit the Ossining Public Library for a good book, or check out passes to a nearby museum. The Louis Engel Park Spray Park is going to remain open for the season through next Thursday, September 9 so kids can cool down while school is closed a couple extra days this week. There is much fun to be had right here in Ossining and Westchester County, so you do not need to miss out if you choose not to travel this Labor Day weekend.
In celebration of and to honor all those essential workers who work so hard on behalf of our schools, health care facilities, infrastructure, restaurants, parks, homes, and our communities, Town offices will be closed this Monday, September 6th, in recognition of Labor Day. Please take some time to say thank you! Also, please visit our online Waste and Recycling calendar for changes to your collection calendar due to the holiday if you live in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining.
As a result of the holiday week, we rescheduled our work session from this upcoming week to this past week (which was otherwise a fifth Tuesday in August), so our next public meeting will be held in person on September 14th. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend and week and we will see you very soon.
Some of us will also be observing Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starting Monday night. For those of you joining me in that celebration, I wish you a sweet new year with much health (we need that) and happiness (we all need that too!) L’Shana Tovah.
--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 Work Session and Special Meeting - Tuesday, August 31, 2021
- Details
- Last Updated: 27 August 2021 27 August 2021
Town Board Work Session and Special Meeting
Tuesday, August 31, 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/89395822511
Meeting ID: 893 9582 2511
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone:
(929) 205-6099
Special Meeting Agenda:
pdf
08 31 21 Special Meeting
(204 KB)
Work Session Agenda:
1. Request for Town Acceptance of Roadway/Stormwater Infrastructure for Rinaldi Subdivision, 39 Stormytown Road
Supervisor's Update - Friday, August 27, 2021
- Details
- Last Updated: 27 August 2021 27 August 2021
To say this has been a difficult week would be an understatement. The loss of one of Ossining’s bright young lights, Dream Shepherd, is simply devastating. There are no words to describe the pain her family and our community are feeling now in the wake of her passing. We are also reeling from the news of the terrorist attack in Afghanistan; our flags are flying at half-staff in honor of our fallen soldiers as well as the many other victims of this devastating event. And we are thinking of Ossining resident Sophia Bator's cousin, Freshta, who has endured a dangerous journey to the Kabul airport and is now waiting to leave Afghanistan. We are praying she arrives here safely, and we will let you know how the community can help support her.
The weather has also thrown us a bit of uncertainty today. We have cancelled music for tonight due to the possibility of thunderstorms. However, food trucks will still be around. Kinwich, Bazodee Street Foods and Brothers Fish and Chips will be available from 4:30 to 8 PM. Plan for a great Sunday evening at the waterfront on 8/29, with Silver Fox playing on the Louis Engel Waterfront Park Stage starting at 5pm. SSKB will be pouring your favorite local craft brews as well and we are hoping to have a few food trucks. We will keep you posted!
As always, special thanks go to the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce, Sing Sing Kill Brewery, Mike Risko Music and recreation superintendent Bill Garrison for their hard work putting on this fantastic series. Also, big shout out to our sponsors who are helping to bring this incredible free event to Ossining throughout the summer: Mark Seiden Real Estate, Robison, Open Door Medical Centers, Matero Fine Jewelry & Design, and Gracelane Kennels.
Lots of fun things will be happening Saturday at the Farmer’s Market in Market Square! (Do you get the Down To Earth Markets newsletter? It’s full of useful and fun ideas and info. Click here to visit their website and sign up.) First, the Village of Ossining is seeking input from residents and other interested parties as it completes this year’s New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant application. There will be an opportunity to speak with Village of Ossining staff during the Farmer’s Market from 9-11 AM. Can’t make it? Click here to take a survey soliciting community input on the vision for Downtown Ossining. The survey closes August 31.
Got old clothes, shoes, bags, and household linens lying around? Green Tree Textiles is at the Farmer’s Market as well, collecting those items for textile recycling.
If you’ve got food scraps for recycling, remember that Green Ossining volunteers are at the Farmer’s Market from 9:30-11:30 every Saturday morning to collect them. Click here for a list of what’s accepted and information about how to order a compost kit.
Sing Sing Family Collective is hosting a Back to School kickoff event to support local kids impacted by the incarceration of a family member. There will be backpack giveaways and more on Saturday and Sunday, and a celebratory picnic on Sunday from 2-5 PM at Louis Engel Waterfront Park picnic area. To learn more about the event and/or volunteer to help out, click here.
Let the Briarcliff Booster Club & Volleyball team help with your chores this weekend! They are hosting a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, 8/28 from 9 AM till 1 PM at the Atria in Briarcliff. On Sunday, 8/29, they’re serving spaghetti from Tramonto’s for dinner from 5:30-7:30! Support local youth and cross some items off your to-do list at the same time. Order by noon on Saturday by calling (914) 347-8220 or online at tramontos.com - see the flyer below for details on how to order.
If you’re looking for a tranquil scene on Saturday morning, consider ordering tickets for Teatown’s Tune Your Ear to Nature and Live Music event with Beginner’s Ear, taking place from 11-12:30. Enjoy a guided meditation on the sounds of the Teatown Preserve followed by chamber music and a chat with the musicians.
Got little ones returning to school? 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. Busing will be provided on days where there is in-person learning. Register at www.villageofossining.org.
Speaking of school, the school tax bill was mailed out today for those who pay directly (as opposed to using an escrow account). Please look out for the bill. If you don’t receive it by September 7, please call the office of the Tax Receiver at (914) 762-8790 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To sign up for email alerts directly from the Tax Receiver’s office, click here.
Waste not, want not! Green Ossining will 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. Please also note this event is subject to change due to COVID-19 protocols, so keep an eye on the Green Ossining Facebook page if you plan on joining.
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 flyer below for more details on the event.
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.
Are you following Ossining Recreation’s newly relaunched Instagram account yet? It is @OssiningRecreation and it’s great! If you don’t have instagram, be sure to visit the Recreation page of the Village website to sign up for their email blasts to find loads of fun for the whole family. Briarcliff residents should be sure to sign up for the Briarcliff Recreation Notices email list for up to the minute info about pool hours and 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, 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.
Now that the Supreme Court has invalidated the CDC’s eviction moratorium, please let everyone you know about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Funds are still available and applying for them confers automatic protection from eviction. Renters and landlords who are not sure where to turn can use this new website from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which makes it easy to find rental assistance providers in our area.
There are also many local organizations, like Neighbors Link, assisting with the ERAP program. You can apply online. Please visit the Westchester County website or simply dial 211 for assistance.
Also note that New York State has funds available for New Yorkers who lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic and were ineligible for other federal relief programs due to lack of citizenship or other factors through the Excluded Workers Fund (EWF). Visit the Department of Labor’s website to learn more and apply.
The Westchester County Board of Elections is looking for poll workers to help administer the election coming up this fall. Help make democracy possible and make some money in the process! Click here to learn more and complete the poll worker application.
Do you commute into Manhattan, or just have opinions about the proposed Central Business District congestion pricing plan? There are multiple opportunities to share your thoughts. The MTA launched a new website yesterday where you can read more about the proposed plan, sign up for updates, and share your feedback. You can also call (646) 252-6777 to hear a brief description of the project and register to speak at a public meeting, or call (646) 252-7440 to leave a message sharing your thoughts. Residents of northern NYC suburbs are also invited to participate in public hearings on this topic on Wednesday, September 29 from 10 AM - noon and Tuesday, October 5 from 6-8 PM. There will also be environmental justice forums geared toward areas that have been disproportionately impacted by environmental problems; New York residents are invited to participate on Thursday, October 7 from 6-8 PM. You can register here to give public comment at a meeting.
Please remember that the gas powered leaf blower ban remains in effect in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining through September 30. Thank you to Green Ossining for preparing the summary below. 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.
Hard to believe that September is almost here! In light of the impending return to school and the County’s decision to cancel its fireworks displays on 9/2 and 9/4, we will be cancelling our fireworks display this year, as well as the concert and food trucks on 9/3. Stay tuned for a date to reschedule the last concert and deets on an encore for Food Truck Fridays and Craft Beverage Corral. We will confirm in the coming days.
Active cases of COVID-19 are up to 81 in the Town and its two Villages, according to the county dashboard. Wearing masks and getting vaccinated are the keys to maintaining some normalcy while dealing with this virus. If you have questions about the vaccines, or would like to learn of pop-up vaccination clinics in Westchester, visit VaxUp Westchester.
Have a safe and enjoyable 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 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!
Planning Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 1, 2021
- Details
- Last Updated: 25 August 2021 25 August 2021
A meeting of the Planning Board & Architectural Review Board of the Town of Ossining will be held on:
Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 7:30 P.M.
THIS MEETING WILL BE HELD IN PERSON & ON ZOOM (the public may attend at any location/format) AT:
John Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center
First Floor Conference Room
101 Route 9A
Ossining, NY 10562
Please be prepared to wear a mask in person.
YOU CAN ALSO JOIN THIS MEETING BY VIDEO CONFERENCE ON ZOOM:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89740713092?pwd=d0J5cmdPY3BTMWRTOURTS0UweVpYQT09
Meeting ID: 897 4071 3092
Passcode: 055866
One tap mobile
+1-929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 897 4071 3092
Passcode: 055866
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdkhUsFjm3
**Please note that by dialing in, your phone number will be visible to the host, participants, and attendees of the meeting**
NOTICE: Planning Board Member, Donna Sharrett, will be on location at 101 Route 9A in the Second Floor Building Department Office, Ossining NY 10562. Member Sharrett will be joining this meeting using the Zoom Link above.
Preliminary Agenda
- Rinaldi Subdivision, 39 Stormytown Road, 9-Lot Subdivision PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED
- Shriram Kasinathan, King Development, 540 North State Road, Site Plan Amendment PUBLIC HEARING CONTINUED
- Armstrong P&H, 593 North State Road, Site Plan Amendment
- Capasso, 34 McCarthy Drive, New Single-Family Residence, Architectural Review
Please call our office 914-762-8419 if you have any questions or concerns about the Planning Board Meeting process.
Please visit the Planning Board Projects Page to view PDF copies of the documents pertaining to the agenda for Wednesday, September 1, 2021.