News

Happy Friday! Hope everyone is doing well at the end of another beautiful fall week. 

We finished one of our most important annual tasks this week: the submission of the tentative budget for the upcoming year. I have overseen the budget process for the Town of Ossining for seven years now, and I am proud to be once again submitting a tax cap compliant Tentative Budget to the Town Board. This budget represents a reduction in tax rates in the Unincorporated Town of Ossining and the Town General, while making significant investments to improve quality of life for all residents, now and in the future.  

A budget is a reflection of the values and priorities of those who create it. This budget invests in our local infrastructure, provides meals and activities to our senior citizens, improves our parks and public spaces, advances our commitment to reverse course on climate change and stand resilient against its devastating effects, dedicates funds towards improving equity in the community, helps us plan for housing that people can afford, and provides for public safety. I’m proud of the investments we’re making in improving life for all residents of the Town of Ossining. 

This budget is also a true reflection of the hard working and dedicated public servants who show up each and every day to serve their neighbors in our “Volunteer-Spirited Town.”  I am so grateful to be a part of Team Town; none of this important work would get done without these incredible people working behind the scenes every day to support and benefit our public. Special thanks to Victoria Cafarelli, our Budget Officer; Dale Brennan, Town Comptroller; and Liz Naccari, Deputy Comptroller, for their diligence in managing the process, crunching the numbers, and working a little bit of magic to make everything add up! 

To review the full budget message, the tentative budget itself, and the list of scheduled meetings between the Town Board and the Town’s department heads, click here to visit the budget office page of our website. The public is also invited to join us for a public hearing on the budget, scheduled for 7:30pm on Tuesday, November 22 via Zoom and in-person at the Ossining Municipal Building at 16 Croton Avenue. Zoom details are as follows: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87069189290

Or Telephone:

US: +1 929 205 6099

Webinar ID: 870 6918 9290

We encourage members of the public to review the budget and make comments. Comment will be taken at the Public Hearing, by phone at (914) 762-6001, or by email to the Town Board at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In other news, this week marks the 10 year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. This moment is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of shoreline resiliency, as well as the need to curb our emissions to keep global warming as low as possible. Please be sure to join us this coming Thursday, November 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Ossining Community Center (95 Broadway) for the Ossining Shoreline Revitalization Community Meeting. We are seeking the community’s feedback on the draft shoreline improvements that have been proposed so far. We look forward to hearing your input on how we can improve the waterfront to reflect your values and priorities. An interpreter and translated materials will be available for Spanish speakers. Learn more about this project and its importance at https://www.greenossining.org/shoreline-resiliency/. Click the images (or here) to RSVP for the meeting! 

Speaking of environmental protection, Westchester County Government recently released an excellent video reminding everyone to flip over their ballots when they go to vote in this year’s election. The flip side of the ballot contains a question about whether or not to pass New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. If “Yes” wins, the $4.2B Bond Act will fund restoration and flood risk reduction, climate change mitigation, open space land conservation, recreation and water quality improvement, and resilient infrastructure. Click here to watch the video, and remember to flip your ballot! The Town Board has issued a resolution in support of the Environmental Bond Act, and I recently wrote a letter to the editor in support of it; click here to read my letter about why I’m voting yes and hope you will too!

Early voting starts tomorrow (Saturday, October 29) and we will once again have an early voting location here in Ossining, at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center. Click here for details on early voting hours and additional locations, if another Westchester County location would be more convenient for you during the week. 

Tomorrow is also National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, initiated to help address prescription drug misuse. You can bring any unused prescription medications to the Birdsall-Fagan Police Court Facility for safe disposal. 

As we get closer to the start of the new Westchester Power contract starting, a reminder that notices have gone out in the mail regarding the details of our new electricity supply contract.  This contract will help us lower our carbon footprint with 100% green electricity supply. It will also guarantee a steady, fixed rate through the length of the contract, which is incredibly valuable in our current volatile energy market. Learn more about the new contract by visiting www.sustainablewestchester.org/wp.  Be sure to get the facts so you can make an educated decision about whether to stay in the program, or opt out, when the new contract goes into effect next week on November 1.

Ready for some Halloween fun? Keep scrolling! And please drive extra carefully over the next few days; between tomorrow morning’s Ragamuffin Parade and other festivities, there will be lots more children navigating the streets. Please allow them to do so safely! 

We will see you soon - till then, be safe and healthy! Happy Halloween! 

--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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Ossining Shoreline Revitalization & Community Connectivity
Improvements Project: Climate Adaptive Design

The Ossining waterfront is a place we enjoy throughout the year, yet it is at risk of flooding from storms, high tides, and sea level rise. Come see the community-inspired designs which work to improve the resiliency of this area.

Join us on Thursday, November 3rd, at 6 p.m. for the Ossining Shoreline Revitalization Community Meeting to share feedback on the draft shoreline improvements. We look forward to your input on how we can improve the waterfront to reflect your values and priorities.

Ossining Shoreline Revitalization Community Meeting

Thursday, November 3rd, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Ossining Community Center, Multipurpose Room
95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562

Translations and materials will be available in Spanish.

Click here to RSVP for the community meeting.

El paseo marítimo de Ossining es un lugar que disfrutamos durante todo el año, pero corre el riesgo de inundarse debido a las tormentas, las mareas altas y el aumento del nivel del mar. Venga a ver los diseños inspirados en la comunidad que funcionan para mejorar la resiliencia de esta área.

Únase a nosotros el jueves 3 de noviembre a las 6 p.m. para la reunión comunitaria de revitalización de la costa de Ossining para compartir comentarios sobre las mejoras preliminares de la costa. Esperamos escuchar su opinión sobre cómo podemos mejorar la zona ribereña para reflejar sus valores y prioridades.

Reunión Comunitaria de Revitalización de la Costa de Ossining
Jueves 3 de noviembre de 18 a 20 h
Centro Comunitario de Ossining, Salón de Usos Múltiples
95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562

Intérprete y materiales traducidos disponibles para hispanohablantes.

Haga clic aquí para confirmar su asistencia a la reunión comunitaria.

Though many would like to pretend that racism is a relic of the past, recent events make clear that it is a very contemporary concern. As members of the Ossining Community Equity Task Force, we are particularly appalled at bias incidents exposing youth to racist hatred, such as the recent discovery of a hate symbol on one of our playgrounds and taunts from fans at sporting events. These incidents evoke a long history of resistance to school and community integration, and we are dismayed to conclude that today’s children are now just the latest generation that must struggle against the scourge of hate.

We applaud the steps taken by the Ossining Schools and the Ossining Police to investigate these incidents and support those who have been harmed. However, we cannot continue to address harms after they have occurred. These incidents underscore the need for proactive and sustained commitment to racial equity work, both in and outside of schools.

Our Community Equity Task Force invites you to join us in this work. For those who do not already know, this Task Force is composed of leaders from municipal government, the library, local schools, faith communities, student groups, and the community at large, and is intended to address issues of inequity that persist despite our best efforts. We want to continue to look at how we can better serve all residents, and ensure that our diverse community also enjoys equity, inclusion, and justice. To that end, we are planning a new series of events to spark shared learning and renewed action among the community and its leaders. To learn more and get involved, go to the Email Alerts signup page of the Town of Ossining website, enter your name and email address, and then click “Manage Subscriptions” to add yourself to the Community Equity Task Force list.  

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm through this latest bout of inclement weather! Here’s hoping the groundhog was wrong in predicting six more weeks of winter earlier this month.

Before turning to Town business, a word on world news. I join leaders around the world in condemning the unprovoked attack on Ukraine by the Russian military.  We must stand in solidarity with the brave Ukrainian people who are facing an unimaginable horror right now.  I know this situation is especially challenging also for Ukrainian immigrants around the world, including right here in Ossining and New York, who are concerned about the safety of their loved ones and their homeland.  Please know the thoughts and prayers of the world are with you now for peace in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. 

Here in Town government, we started the week by participating in the annual Association of Towns Conference, held virtually for the second year in a row.  During the conference, we heard from US Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Attorney General Letitia James, NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and NYS Senator Liz Krueger regarding funding and programs for local governments.   At both the federal and state levels, unprecedented levels of funding are slated for local governments and infrastructure, from our roads and bridges, to our cyber security, which we know is of critical importance in light of the current geopolitical climate.  In the Governor’s Budget Proposal, there is also a significant increase proposed for the Environmental Protection Fund, which will help New York and local governments meet our climate goals.  We are grateful to Governor Hochul and our federal and state legislators for understanding the importance of local governments and our infrastructure, and for working to ensure adequate funding is available to us for our work serving our communities.

As February winds to a close, remember that Ossining’s celebration of Black History Month continues this weekend, and also into March a little bit too!  Bethany Arts Community will be holding a Paint and Poetry Jam tonight, Friday, February 25 from 7pm to 9pm, with spoken word artists and paint artists creating art together, bringing each other’s works to life.  What a beautiful and inspiring way to end the week.  There are more events featured under the “Celebrating Black History Month” tab here; be sure to check it out!

Lastly, a reminder that the online comment form on our Draft Comprehensive Plan, entitled “Sustainable Ossining,” will close soon, so please review the plan and make your comments now by visiting the project website, www.SustainableOssining.com. We are extending the comment period to allow more time to collect your input, such that it will now close next Friday, March 4. We will also be opening the public hearing on “Sustainable Ossining” at our next legislative session on March 8, which will be held via Zoom. We really want to hear from you as we put the finishing touches on our collective vision for the Town!

Please stay safe and warm!

--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 flier 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!