Supervisor

Supervisor's Update - Friday May 22, 2020

Details

Last Updated: 22 May 2020 22 May 2020

 

Before we get into the heart of what is happening now in our region, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of our true heroes. This week is National EMS week. Emergency Medical Service members have been an incredible lifeline (literally) during this pandemic. We are all so thankful to our dedicated team. The Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps (OVAC) led by Chief Nick Franzoso, has not only been on the front lines of this crisis, they have also been an invaluable asset and source of information for the Town, and so many other organizations in Ossining as we all attempt to navigate these uncertain times. If you find yourself driving past their headquarters at 8 Clinton Avenue – honk your horn in support as you pass by! THANK YOU!

 

 

 Also, last week was National Police week, and I want to take this opportunity to thank the great officers we have working in our communities round the clock, no days off, despite the risks of the virus. You may have seen a few of their parades over the past few weeks. The Ossining Police, led by Chief Kevin Sylvester, and the Briarcliff Manor PD, led by Chief Donald Gorey continue to foster strong relationships within our communities. Be sure to wave and thank them during their car parade this weekend (and at any other car parades as well)! 

 

 

This year’s unprecedented changes to social gatherings have made typical Memorial Day parades impossible. This week, the Governor announced that only ceremonies of ten people or fewer will be allowed. The Ossining Central Committee of Organized War Veterans will be holding an appropriately sized ceremony, in accordance with New York State guidelines. It is my understanding that our very own former Highway Superintendent Michael G. O’Connor will be behind the camera (his favorite place, as we know!) on Monday so we can all share in this ceremony a little bit by viewing a video and photos afterwards. The Briarcliff Manor American Legion will also be holding a small ceremony, led by Commander Lawrence Reilly, at Law Park. I believe they will also be sharing it virtually. Please do not attempt to attend these ceremonies in person – I know we all miss our annual Memorial Day parades, but it is important to respect the strict social distancing guidelines in place. Memorial Day is a solemn day of remembrance, so I encourage you to find some time this weekend to pause and remember those in our own community who have died in service to our country.

 

 

This week, portions of New York State began Phase One of the reopening process. While NY PAUSE required the entire state to close under uniform guidelines, the NY FORWARD program has divided the state into regions for evaluation. Ossining is a part of the Mid-Hudson Region, which includes Westchester County, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Sullivan, and Rockland. As a reminder, we are currently not eligible to re-open.

 

 

So here in Ossining, that means not too much has changed – you still must wear a face covering in public, maintain a six foot distance from others, remain home except for essential trips, and no Phase One businesses are eligible to re-open quite yet, including construction. A few changes did take place everywhere in New York as of May 15, which includes some additional landscaping and gardening (decorative plantings are now allowed to be done by landscaping businesses, for example), socially distanced light recreational activities like tennis, and drive-in movie theaters. So pick up your racquet, let your landscaper plant that tree, and get ye to a drive in! Here’s one in Poughkeepsie http://overlookdrivein.com/

 

 

Make sure you check out the online dashboard created by the governor’s office, showing the status for each region. There are seven benchmarks a region must meet to qualify for Phase One, which are:

1. Decline in hospitalizations;

2. Decline in deaths;

3. Reduced new hospitalizations;

4. Hospital bed capacity;

5. ICU bed capacity;

6. Diagnostic testing capacity; and

7. Contact tracing capacity.

 

 

As excited as we are to see regions open, it means it is even more important to remain vigilant. Already we are seeing case numbers increase in states where restrictions have been relaxed. It is important not to forget the safety practices in place to protect those who are more vulnerable to the virus. Washing your hands for 20 seconds or more should not be a March-only trend! Continue to social distance, especially now as the warm weather is bringing more people outside. Because our region still does not meet the requirements to enter Phase One, we don’t want to risk backsliding and moving further away from our opening date, so please help each other and help our region by following the social distancing and sanitizing rules and recommendations.

 

 

Naturally, many businesses have questions about how they can prepare for the eventual reopening and when that date may come. Reopening is going to look different for every business. New York State has released guidelines for Phase One businesses, including templates for workplace safety plans, affirmations that are required to be signed by business owners, and a lot more helpful information. New York State will be releasing guidelines for businesses included past Phase One, but they are not available yet. The question of “when” is a little more concrete. Businesses have been divided across each of the four NY FORWARD phases to protect employees and customers. The current requirements place a two-week monitoring period between each phase so a sharp increase in case numbers can be prevented. Employers will be responsible for providing all necessary protection for employees and operate at reduced capacity in order to maintain social distancing practices. This will make our favorite places look different, but we will be excited to see them up and running again anyway!

 

 

We are continuing to learn exactly how our actions today will have an impact tomorrow. Until now, parents could find comfort in believing children were less susceptible to severe symptoms of this virus. Unfortunately, symptoms have been recognized in many kids across the world. As a parent myself, I know is it very upsetting and nerve-wracking for parents to learn that their kids may be at risk. If your child doesn’t feel well, contact your healthcare professional. As a reminder, Open Door Family Medical Clinic is in Ossining, ready for anyone who cannot access their regular doctor or does not have one.

 

 

Governor Cuomo unveiled the details of the contact tracing program this week. Once a positive test is confirmed, the positive individual will be asked to share information about who they may have come in contact with. Those exposed will receive a call from “NYS Contact Tracing” with information about quarantine procedures, safety measures, and other options. Early action is going to be increasingly important to protect your health and avoiding a second wave. Scams are on the rise nation-wide, so the Caller ID information registered by New York State will help keep your private information safe.

 

 

We have all been under a tremendous amount of stress since March. If you are struggling, please know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Westchester and New York State have each provided access to free healthcare services during this crisis. The Town and Village of Ossining have collaborated on a Resources Document for easy access to current information for all residents.

 

 

For those looking for a physical space to mourn lost loved ones, a Memorial was created in Lenior Park in Yonkers in honor of the victims of COVID-19. Family members can add the names of those lost to the Ribbons of Remembrance memorial during park hours. Social distancing practices are still in place and all visitors should wear a mask.

 

 

Fill out your Census. Fill out your Census. What are you waiting for?? Fill out your Census!! Let’s not leave money on the table when we know how critical it is to get Ossining’s allocation (yes, that includes you too, Briarcliff!) While we remain focused on the Coronavirus and its impact, so many of the resources we are so heavily relying on right now are allocated based on Census data. We cannot let the Census be brushed aside during this Crisis. The 2020 Census can be completed by mail, online, or by phone. Do not let language get in the way, help us reach your family and your friends who may not understand the importance of the Census.

English: https://my2020census.gov/ or 844-330-2020
TDD (Telephone Display Device): 844-467-2020
Portuguese: https://2020census.gov/pt.html or 844-474-2020 
Spanish: https://my2020census.gov/ or 844-468-2020
Chinese: https://2020census.gov/zh-hans.html or 844-391-2020 (Mandarin) 844-398-2020 (Cantonese) 
Vietnamese: https://2020census.gov/vi.html or 844-461-2020
Korean: https://2020census.gov/ko.html or 844-392-2020
Russian: https://2020census.gov/ru.html or 844-417-2020
Arabic: https://2020census.gov/ar.html or 844-416-2020
Tagalog: https://2020census.gov/tl.html or 844-478-2020 
Polish: https://2020census.gov/pl.html or 844-479-2020 
French: https://2020census.gov/fr.html or 844-494-2020 
Haitian Creole: https://2020census.gov/ht.html or 844-477-2020 
Japanese: https://2020census.gov/ja.html or 844-460-2020

For more language options, visit the US 2020 Census website’s language center: https://2020census.gov/en/languages.html. The Census is a new concept for many people. Remember: it is a count of each resident and is completely confidential by law. 

 

 

Governor Cuomo also announced recently that state beaches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware would open, with restrictions, for Memorial Day weekend. The County has followed suit and decided to open Croton Point Park beach and Rye Playland beach. The re-opening of beaches includes strict capacity guidelines, and in some counties, like Nassau and Suffolk, residency restrictions. I know we are all anxious to get outside and celebrate the unofficial start to summer, but I urge you to respect the guidelines as they are only in place in an effort to protect us all from transmission of the Coronavirus. If you can, consider a staycation in your own backyard – I would love to see how you transform your backyard, balcony, terrace, or whatever outdoor space you have, into your own mini beach to celebrate Memorial Day - send us your pics and we will post them next week This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.!

 

 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed public access to the Croton Gorge Unique Area in Cortlandt. The State announced the decision was made due to the area’s distinct features, which inhibit the ability to properly social distance.

 

 

A great big thank you to everyone who participated in our first #MaskMonday on Facebook and Instagram! Share photos of yourself wearing your mask and to encourage mask-wearing in public spaces. Show off your creativity with pictures of your home-made masks, Ossining-themed masks, or sewing instructions. We want to see your masks!

 

 

Religious organizations have been restricted during this crisis, causing further strain for many. Starting yesterday, religious gatherings of up to 10 people are now permitted. Drive-in and parking lot services will be permitted. Social distancing measures must be enforced and all participants must wear masks. Reach out to your house of worship to see how they are adjusting to this new normal. Again, I know everyone is desperately seeking a return to normal, but please respect these guidelines in place to protect us all.

 

 

Our Parks Department has made some great improvements to kick-off our summer! Warm weather is here and we’re happy to see so many people enjoying our parks. This winter, our Parks Foreman Mario Velardo and his crew started a project to install new drainage at Ryder Park and we repaved the roads, and gave our comfort stations at Engel, Ryder and Gerlach parks much-needed updates. While they are not quite ready to be open (hardware still needs to be installed) nor do we know that they will open immediately, here is a little progress, as well as some pictures of work they did removing trees at beautiful Dale Cemetery in time for this Memorial Day weekend.

 

 

The Ossining Farmer’s Market has come up with a creative way to keep healthy food flowing without creating long wait times. Fill up a virtual shopping list by Thursday each week and pick-up, hassle-free on Saturday.

 

 

Every week we share a list of restaurants in Town that are open for takeout and/or delivery. There were only a few changes to the list this week. Do you see any of your favorite eateries missing? Let me know! We are all in this together and I am so happy to hear about families doing weekly take-out nights in an effort to support local businesses.

 

 

But wait there’s more! Not all Ossining businesses are restaurants and I’m proud to share this list of other businesses that have adapted to these difficult times. Do you know a business that has adapted to be open? Do not let their hard work go unnoticed! Share their info, here and beyond.

 

 

Unfortunately, food insecurity has continued to rise as financial hardships related to COVID-19 continue. Distribution times and locations are posted on the Town and Village Facebook pages to help get the word out, but ultimately it is up to each of us to make sure our friends and family know what resources are out there. The Resources Document mentioned earlier has a section on Groceries & Hot Meals, updated weekly to show current information. Distribution dates and times next week will be different due to the Memorial Day holiday.

 

 

Gullotta House has been connecting residents with hot meals through an innovative program. By partnering with restaurants that were struggling to bring in customers, Gullotta House is bringing our favorite meals to our neighbors for food distribution on Fridays from 4-5:30 at Stop n’ Shop. Donations to help support this effort are necessary to keep the program running and can be directed to www.gullottahouse.org

 

 

The Ossining Food Pantry is also doing all they can to serve those in need in Ossining and Briarcliff. 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.

 

 

New parents who are struggling to find baby diapers and wipes can look to the Ossining Community Action Program supplies. Reach out to 914-488-2277 for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

Around the country, millions in cities clap for healthcare workers at 7pm in honor of healthcare workers. The time corresponds with the daily shift change for frontline workers in hospitals. You may have heard the Maryknoll church bells join in each day. The bells can be heard far across Town, but if you cannot hear them at 7, you can listen via livestream on their Facebook page.

 

  

The weekly Open-Mic Nights from the Mike Risko Music School continue Thursday Nights! I know the days all seem to blend together now, so add this event to your calendar. Email the Riskos for Zoom log-in info and prep your set list for a good time.

 

 

The Ossining Documentary and Discussion Series is hosting a virtual showing! The live webcast runs from 6:30 to 8:10pm on Friday, May 29. Register here to learn more about our Hudson River and the climate-minded solutions being enacted by farms around it.

 

The Center of Mariandale is hosting virtual classes for homebound folks looking to learn something new. Their online catalogue includes classes about self-publishing, human-trafficking, religious connections, and more.

 

 

Now let’s all get to that three day weekend! As a reminder, please remain respectful of our parks and open spaces – no playing on playground equipment, wear a mask, try to bring out whatever you brought in with you, do not litter, and avoid overfilling our garbage cans. We can all do our part to make this tough situation a bit more relaxed and enjoyable for all. Also, Town staff will be taking the day off on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. If you need us, leave a message, shoot us an e-mail, and we will be sure to get back to you on Tuesday.

 

 

I hope you enjoy this extra time to relax with your family and friends (only if you are quarantining with them, or stay six feet away, of course), remember our country’s heroes, and kick off summer! We will “see you” next week.

 

 

--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 - May 15, 2020

Details

Last Updated: 15 May 2020 15 May 2020

You may have heard that today is the day when New York PAUSE expires. However, as of yesterday, much of the PAUSE has been extended to May 28, with other requirements extended until June 13th for our region. There are a few relaxed restrictions for our area, but otherwise, our region is not quite ready to enter Phase one of New York Forward. The Governor’s regional approach to re-opening is based upon specific criteria and metrics. The Town of Ossining is located within the Mid-Hudson Region, which is comprised of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange Counties. So just to clarify, at this time, the Mid-Hudson Region is NOT eligible to re-open today, May 15 pursuant to the directives of New York Forward.

 

 

New York Forward establishes seven criteria which an entire region must meet in order to advance to phases of re-opening. These criteria include:

1.   Decline in hospitalizations;

2.   Decline in deaths;

3.   Reduced new hospitalizations;

4.   Hospital bed capacity;

5.   ICU bed capacity;

6.   Diagnostic testing capacity; and

7.   Contact tracing capacity.

 

 

More specific information regarding this criteria and our region’s progress on these metrics can be found online. At this time, the Mid-Hudson Region meets five out of the seven criteria, and is therefore not in a position to re-open business. We must experience more days of declined hospital deaths and reduced new hospitalizations prior to moving to Phase One of New York Forward. Each region has been assigned a “regional control room,” largely comprised of County Executives and other stakeholders, tasked with closely monitoring these metrics and reopening efforts.

 

 

We have received a number of inquiries from residents and business owners asking how this impacts the Ossining community. When New York PAUSE expires for upstate regions today, the underlying restrictions of New York PAUSE for our area will not change. Most businesses that have been closed, will remain closed. If you are a non-essential employee, you will continue to work from home. You must maintain a six foot distance from others when in public and wear face coverings when not able to do so (also, specifically, these distance restrictions have been extended through June 13). The only state-wide change that will go into effect on May 15 which includes our region is the re-opening of certain low-risk businesses including landscaping and gardening, outdoor low-risk recreational activities like tennis (subject to certain restrictions), and drive-in movie theaters.

 

 

Once the Mid-Hudson region meets the benchmark required to enter Phase One, only certain businesses will be allowed to open. The State is gradually releasing templates for workplace safety guidelines and FAQs for businesses owners and employees, which include what the mandatory requirements will be. Any business that opens is required to institute health and safety practices to protect the public. We strongly recommend starting now to prepare a plan for how to institute these practices. We will be sharing guides and guidance for businesses in the coming weeks to help businesses before Phase One begins. The graphic below details the following phases of the plan. According to New York Forward, we must wait at least two weeks in between phases to closely monitor how that phase of reopening impacts the various public health metrics we must continue to meet. We are still a long while out before a full reopening, so I would not recommend booking reservations yet for your favorite restaurant or an appointment with your hair stylist (I know, I know, we are all so tempted at this point!). Instead, order some takeout tonight, buy a gift card to support your favorite local business, but still maybe avoid breaking out the kitchen scissors to cut your own hair! I promise it will be worth the wait – especially for my fellow curly girls out there!

 

 

 

I know this is a lot of information to navigate and fully understand. We will remain in close contact with our County Executive, George Latimer, as he begins his new role as our representative to the “regional control room.” We will also be watching closely as some other regions in New York State enter Phase One today, including the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, the North Country, and Central NY. The Town is also in the process of developing its own safety plan, as we plan for slowly introducing more of our employees back to reporting to work in person. We will also continue to keep our community apprised of developments as we learn them. I encourage you to share with your neighbors how to receive e-mail updates from us, and sign up for daily e-mail updates directly from New York State. They really are so informative. 

 

 

One of the core tenets of the re-opening phases is the establishment of teams of contact tracers. Tracers will help monitor spread of the virus and are the first step in connecting those exposed to the virus to the New York State Health Department for information and testing. The state is now hiring contact tracers. You can learn more about this opportunity and apply online.

 

 

As we are constantly reminded, COVID-19 is not a virus we fully understand yet. As we consider re-opening, it is imperative that we continue to seek information from official news sources and follow health experts’ advice to avoid a second wave of the outbreak. We learned about a disturbing new trend this week regarding children. While initial impressions of the virus seemed to spare children from severe symptoms, the Governor has noted a series of symptoms parents should carefully review. Information is still incoming and not all the symptoms are necessarily a sign of immediate urgency. Parents that notice symptoms should contact their healthcare provider and actively monitor the symptoms.

 

 

In order to protect children, vulnerable populations, and essential workers, it is important to continue to wear masks when in shared public spaces. Masks are easy to make and we are proud to announce we will be taking part in the #MaskMonday initiative, sharing pictures of our community members showing off their masks.

 

 

This is also the time to share those great how-to videos. Nancy Adelman, who has been coordinating a team to make masks for a variety of those who need them (everyone!), shared this helpful graphic showing how to make a mask from a t-shirt. [I should have two videos from her later today too!] Not so crafty? Health experts have indicated that those bandanas lying around will do the trick for most of us – as long as you are not a first responder or healthcare worker.

If you are an essential service business, charity, or organization the Town and Village have masks for you. So far we have distributed over 2600 washable and reusable masks! If your business needs masks please complete our easy online form in English, Spanish, or Portuguese or contact 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.

 

I would like to pass along a sentiment to everyone who is struggling with the emotional toll this pandemic has taken. Time homebound, in social isolation, can be draining and feel overwhelming. Last week, Westchester County unveiled a memorial commemorating our collective loss during this outbreak. Families, many of whom have not been able to mourn under traditional circumstances, can add a purple ribbon with the written name of a loved one. The Ribbons of Remembrance memorial is at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers.

 

 

It has now been a few weeks since property owners received preliminary change of assessment notices in the mail. I would like to remind everyone that you can still schedule an informal review 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. These meetings will help clarify any concerns you may have if you feel your assessed value does not accurately reflect your property value as of July 1, 2019. This informal meeting may result in the lowering of your preliminary assessed value. Prepare by looking online to compare your property to sale prices (within the past year) for similar properties. These informal reviews are essential to the re-appraisal process – we recognize you know your property better than anyone, so these meetings help ensure the accuracy of our roll. This week, the Town voted  to extend the Tentative Roll filing date from June 1 to June 30, 2020, and moved Grievance Day to 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. You can call the Assessor's Office at (914) 762-8274 if you need any help or have questions. 

 

 

As you know, the Town worked with the County Board of Legislators and the County Executive to find ways to ease the burden of paying property taxes at this time. However, the actual date that taxes were due was not extended.  Therefore, those who were not able to pay their 2020 Town and County taxes by April 30th will receive late payment notices from the Tax Receiver’s office in the coming days.  Remember: the two options available are to pay late with greatly reduced penalties (.5% if paid by May 30, and 1% if paid by July 15), or for those property owners who meet the hardship criteria established by the Westchester County Executive, a full waiver of penalties if paid by July 15. Learn more and download the request for hardship exemption on our website.

 

 

In Census news – the unincorporated Town broke 60% response rate this week. Woohoo! Ok that’s all the celebrating we are going to allow ourselves – that still means 40% of you still have not responded! Now is the time to get on it – you can respond today by visiting the Census website, 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. So basically that means no excuses! As a reminder, all Census responses are confidential and a citizenship question is not included. The Village of Briarcliff Manor is up in the top 6 municipalities at 74% (go Briarcliff!) and the Village of Ossining is at 56%. Please encourage all of your family, friends, neighbors, Zoom happy hour attendees, Instagram followers, Facebook friends, co-workers via conference call – did I leave anyone out? – yes basically everyone you know, to respond to the Census today.

 

 

We are so glad to share this weekly restaurant list. Help us keep our beloved restaurants in business by circulating this list and supporting them when you can.

 

 

While restaurants have been some of the more visible businesses adapting to the crisis, other businesses have risen to the challenge as well. Be sure to support these neighbors too – they are part of what makes Ossining an amazing place to live.

 

 

I am thrilled to see the community coming together to support one another. Sewing groups have sprung up all around the country – and quite a few locally – to teach residents how to make their own masks and make masks for others in need. Local volunteer 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! Hop on board this Meal Train designed to provide meals to hospital workers and OVAC. This is even more appreciated as we prepare for EMS week next week. This program may be winding down soon, so jump in before the train leaves the station.

 

 

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 Town 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 doing all they can to serve those in need in Ossining and Briarcliff. 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 Community Action Program is connecting parents with diapers and wipes during this difficult times. These days are tough enough without rationing diapers! You can contact 914-488-2277 for more information or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 

In their continued effort to balance great food with health and safety, the Ossining Farmer’s market rolled out a preorder option. Treat your cart like a virtual shopping list throughout the week and pick-up on Saturday.

 

 

The Mike Risko Music School is hosting Thursday Open-Mic Nights! Email the school for Zoom log-in info and prep your set list for a good time.

 

For those of you whose New Year’s Resolutions were adapted into Quarantine Resolutions, the Mind, Body, Spirit – Ossining program may be right up your alley! This program is designed to connect you with local wellness businesses and highlight how you can use our local parks and open spaces to stay fit in mind, body and spirit, help ease stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Now more than ever, health is in the national spotlight and in the forefront of our minds. Check out this week’s mindfulness lesson from the Crossover Yoga Project, recorded at the Crawbuckie Nature Preserve.

 

 

The Ossining Schools made an announcement this week regarding events for High School Seniors. The end of the year is full of milestones for Seniors and I know it has been particularly difficult to see those traditions be postponed, cancelled, or downsized. I want to take a moment to thank all our students for their dedication to public health – even at the expense of their prom, graduation, and end of year goodbyes. Parents should review a copy of Superintendent Sanchez’s letter here in English and Spanish.

 

 

I know many of us look forward to our great summer events – many of which are going to have to adapt this year. I held a meeting today to brainstorm some ideas for a fun summer in Ossining. Stay tuned!

 

 

Finally, we are looking at some beautiful weather this weekend! We are so happy to see so many of you getting out and enjoying our parks and open spaces, but we would like to remind you to please wear a mask when out in public. Also, please do your best to carry out what you carried into our parks. For the past few weekends, we have seen an increased amount of litter and overflowing garbage cans in our parks. Our parks crew is rather small, and they cannot be everywhere, especially on the weekends. We appreciate you helping to care for these public spaces we all love and treasure, perhaps even more so during these difficult times. Also, we cannot seem to keep up with wrapping our playgrounds with caution tape. As much as we wish they could be open right not, we are not ready for that yet. Please keep yourselves and your kids/grandkids off the playground and exercise equipment in our parks.  Until we establish safe protocols for use, they just are not ready. Playgrounds in Ossining are closed. And if you can, please try to enjoy the great outdoors at your own house, it will help ease the stress on our shared open spaces. Westchester County has shared many ways to get outdoors and enjoy spring. Or, maybe try your hand at digging up a part of your backyard or gathering up some pots on your porch or balcony to plant a garden this weekend! Many local nurseries are well stocked with plant starts and topsoil, and are offering curbside pickup or delivery. The folks at Stone Barns Center for Agriculture (just down the road from us in Pocantico Hills) are also on standby with your gardening questions as part of their Kitchen Farming Project – just e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tag @stonebarns #kitchenfarmingproject on Instagram. What a great way to enjoy this beautiful weather and grow some delicious food you can share with your friends, family, and neighbors.

 

--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 May 8, 2020

Details

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 30^th has passed. However, if paying by April 30^th posed a financial hardship, please take advantage of the reduced penalty options:

• Pay between now and May 31^st - .5% penalty (previous penalty 2%)
• Pay between June 1 and July 15^th – 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 15^th 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 30^th.

 

 

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!

 

Supervisor's Update - May 1, 2020

Details

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 5^th 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!