We’ve made it to the end of another week! Hope your week was a good one.
First, a round of applause to our local police and schools for responding effectively to an incredibly frightening situation yesterday at Ossining High School. We are glad that no one was gravely injured. Kudos to everyone who handled this situation so well by looking out for one another and following the protocols that keep our community safe.
In other youth news, earlier this week I attended a coalition partner meeting for Ossining Communities That Care (CTC), our local coalition dedicated to improving the overall well-being of youth and families. We listened to updated data from the annual teen substance use study, and I was happy to learn that, in spite of the pandemic and recent moves to decriminalize and legalize adult marijuana use, teen substance use in Ossining has continued to decline. It is important to have conversations with young people in your life about substance use and abuse, to ensure they are well-informed about the risks and also the fact that substance use and abuse is not the norm among their peers, despite what they may think. Visit the CTC’s Grown Ups Show Up page to learn more about how to start these conversations and keep them going. It makes a difference.
This week, the Town and the Village of Ossining received 2,000 free COVID-19 test kits to distribute from Westchester County, and we are very appreciative of the resources from our partners in County government. A portion of the test kits will be dedicated for our community’s seniors and will be distributed via our Senior Nutrition Program. We are also distributing free COVID-19 test kits to residents at the Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC) Headquarters at 8 Clinton Avenue in Ossining. Residents can pick up two kits per household while supplies last, anytime between 9 AM and 5 PM on weekdays. Additionally, we received COVID-19 test kits from State Senator Elijah Reichlin Melnick, which we have distributed to our essential workers in the Town. Assemblywoman Galef’s office has also provided additional test kits to OVAC per our understanding so please do take advantage to pick up these kits now while you are healthy, in case you need them when you are not feeling so great. (Hopefully that will be never, but better safe than sorry!)
COVID-19 is still unfortunately still very much here, so remember all the tried and true mitigation efforts – wear masks in indoor public settings, get vaccinated and boosted, get tested if you are exposed or are experiencing symptoms, and of course, stay home if you are feeling sick! We hope these test kits, and the free testing available at OVAC every Monday and Friday, will help our community stay resilient in the face of another wave of COVID cases.
Now that it is spring, many of our road paving and rehabilitation projects can resume, including the McCarthy Drive Road Rehabilitation project. The Town’s contractor paused operations during the winter months, but will be re-mobilizing on site to complete the project starting Monday, May 16. Residents along McCarthy Drive and surrounding roads who are directly impacted by the project have received a more detailed update, which can be found here. We also anticipate that the Morningside Drive paving project will start back up sometime after Memorial Day; stay tuned for more updates.
Yesterday we learned that so far this year, the Food Scrap Recycling program has diverted 15 tons of food waste out of the trash stream. Now, instead of creating greenhouse gas emissions at (and reducing the efficiency of) the incineration plant in Peekskill, those scraps are turning into nourishment for our gardens. And today, the Food Scraps Recycling Program began our second annual Compost Give Back!
In case you missed it, there’s still time to pick up your compost. Participants in the program can pick up 6 gallons of free compost at Cedar Lane Park anytime between 9 AM to noon tomorrow as well. Registration in advance is preferred, but not required to participate in this fun day and get your garden started! Click here to register and let us know you’re coming. And if you haven’t yet begun recycling your food scraps, visit ossiningcomposts.org to learn more about our program and order a kit to help you get started.
For other green news and goings on in and around Town, scroll on! Many events this weekend, including the Riverkeeper Sweep events here in Ossining, will be happening rain or shine, but you should check in with the organizer on their social media or otherwise if you are unsure. Green Ossining will call a rain date for the Town-wide Tag Sale if indicated by tomorrow at 7 AM; check their website before heading out tomorrow, if that’s in your plans! We have heard that I Love My Parks Day is being postponed until next Saturday, May 14. As always, we share everything we receive here, but if you want an even more comprehensive list of events happening in and around Town, visit the new OssiningEvents.com community calendar, sponsored by the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone celebrating this weekend! We will see you soon - till then, be safe and healthy!
--Dana
If your business, non-profit, or community group has an event that you would like to submit to be a part of the Supervisor's Update, please complete this form. 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!
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If you’re heading to First Fridays, note that the Village of Ossining has recently launched its new parking app! Parking downtown just got easier - take a look.
