MAYOR'S NEWSLETTER
From the Desk of Mayor Brian Pugh
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WELCOMING NEW BUSINESSES
Croton Children and Family Counseling, located at 1392 Albany Post Road in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in March. The new practice, founded by Greg Perlman, LCSW, offers therapy and psychiatric care for children, adolescents, adults, and families in Westchester County. The event marked the official welcoming of this new resource to the Croton-on-Hudson community and surrounding areas and accepts commercial insurance.
Brothers Matt and Mike Camerino, who previously ran The Croton Grille, reopened it at 140 Grand Street earlier this year and held a ribbon cutting last month. Over the years, this location has been home to several restaurants, including most recently as 140 Grand. The kitchen offers a varied menu and is ready to serve our residents and visitors.
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CROTON FIRE RECOGNIZES RESIDENTS FOR 75 YEARS OF SERVICE
The Croton Fire Department proudly recognized two remarkable individuals on March 15th. Lifelong village residents and best friends Tony Farano and John Manco, were celebrated for their historic commitment. Together, they have each dedicated over 75 years of service to the Colombian Hook & Ladder Company.
Tony and John are just two of the remarkable men and women that protect our community as members of our all-volunteer Croton Fire Department. Our village is truly blessed to have residents that are so devoted to their neighbors.
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REMEMBERING THE HON. WILLIAM RYDER
Croton-on-Hudson mourns the passing of William Ryder. Mr. Ryder was a longtime resident and former Village Trustee who died April 2nd at age 96. Ryder served the village for decades, including three terms as Trustee from 1969 to 1975.
Beyond his official roles, Ryder was deeply involved in the community through youth sports, the Historical Society, his church, and volunteering for veterans. His lasting contributions, including the donation of a Norman Rockwell painting to Village Hall, will be fondly remembered.
More information on Mr. Ryder’s life can be found in the following article in the Daily Voice: Longtime Croton Village Trustee William Ryder Dies.
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AMERICAN LEGION OBSERVES VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
Photo Credit: Vince Duffy
American Legion Fox-Eklof Post 505 held a Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, March 29th at the Harmon Fire House. The event, led by Commander William Tuttle, honored the sacrifices and service of Vietnam veterans, recognizing their service to our nation. Veterans, families, and community members gathered to express their gratitude and share their memories.
Vietnam War Veterans Day honors the service and sacrifices of those who served. First marked by presidential proclamation in 2012 and later made a law by an act of Congress in 2017, Vietnam Veterans is observed on March 29th.
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FORMER FIRE CHIEF ANTHONY GAGLIOTTI HONORED
The Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department recently laid to rest one of its members, past Chief Anthony Gagliotti of the Columbian Hook & Ladder Co. #1, who served for 74 years. The Ossining Fire Department and Millwood Fire Department provided support during a department funeral for Mr. Gagliotti. The Village of Croton-on-Hudson honored his memory by flying village flags at the Municipal Building and Croton Landing at half-staff.
Tony's commitment to the Croton Fire Department spanned decades, including his tenure as Chief in the 1960s. Honored for his almost 75 years of membership, Tony was a link to the department's history. Beyond the firehouse, Tony was a member of the Lions Club, and a former Village Assessor/Code Enforcement Officer.
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CUB SCOUT PACK 28 CLEANS UP SILVER LAKE
The Village of Croton-on-Hudson gratefully acknowledges the hard work and dedication of Cub Scouts Pack 28 for their recent cleanup at Silver Lake Park. Not only are they having a positive impact on our community's cherished green space, they are cultivating a lifelong commitment to community service and appreciation of our natural environment.
The Conservation Advisory Council’s CLEAN Committee and Temple Israel of Northern Westchester are partnering for a South Riverside and Duck Pond Park cleanup event on Sunday, April 13, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Volunteers are invited to meet in the parking lot between the pond and the ballfields. Participants are advised to wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and work gloves, with sunscreen and insect spray recommended, while bags, pickers, and disposable gloves will be provided.
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CAC’S EARTH DAY SET FOR MAY 3
Celebrate Earth Day 2025 in Croton-on-Hudson on Saturday, May 3rd (rain date May 10th) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Senasqua Park. This community-driven event features Earth-focused vendors, live music, hands-on activities, and opportunities to learn about local climate action. Explore initiatives like Pollinator Pathways, solar installations, electric cars, and more, presented by organizations such as Croton100 and Sustainable Westchester. More than a festival, this gathering is a call to action, highlighting local efforts and the importance of community in creating a sustainable future.
Additional information can be found in the following article in the River Journal.
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CROTON LITTLE LEAGUE SPRINGS FORWARD
The 2025 opening day of the local baseball and softball season for Croton Little League was a joyful celebration last Saturday, with hundreds of young athletes and their families participating in a parade, followed by inaugural games. The parade commenced at Croton High School, winding its way through the community to Dobbs Park.
Croton Little League, a non-profit organization founded in 1952 and affiliated with Little League International, offers competition and instruction across various divisions, including Majors, Minors AAA and A, Rookie Ball, Tee Ball, Softball Majors and Minors, and the Challenger Division for physically challenged children and those with mental disabilities, who are each paired with a "buddy." The league's aim is to provide a positive and enriching educational-athletic experience for the youth of Croton-on-Hudson, emphasizing skills, fun, and life lessons.
| | BOARD ENACTS CONSOLIDATED ASSESSMENT | | |
The Board of Trustees unanimously adopted Local Law 5 of 2025 at its regular meeting on March 26th to consolidate the Village of Croton-on-Hudson's assessment functions with the Town of Cortlandt. The Board’s vote followed a Public Hearing on March 12th.
In early 2024, the Village of Croton-on-Hudson commissioned the Laberge Group to assess its Engineering Department and identify areas for improvement. The resulting report, presented in February 2025, made several recommendations for improving operations--including consolidating the Village's assessment functions with the Town of Cortlandt. A majority of villages in Westchester County and New York state have consolidated assessment with their respective towns. Laberge estimated this would eliminate service duplication, streamline government operations, and save $32,000 to $37,000 annually and that the property assessment, and therefore the tax bill, for most village taxpayers would be lower.
The Village Manager, in conjunction with the Town of Cortlandt’s assessor, has tentatively scheduled an additional webinar for April 29 at 7 p.m. for Village residents to ask questions about the Town’s Grievance Day procedures and other questions they may have about the assessment process.
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BOARD REVIEW OF TENTATIVE VILLAGE BUDGET CONTINUES
The Village Manager submitted the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year to the Board of Trustees of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson on March 20th. A public hearing on the budget was held on March 26th. Adoption of a final budget is expected on April 23rd.
The proposed budget controls taxes while reducing debt. Of the ten other Hudson River villages that filed tentative budgets on the same date, the Village of Croton had the lowest proposed tax levy increase. Furthermore, the proposed budget advances the long-term objective of reducing the Village’s indebtedness, with a projected decrease of $692,299 in outstanding debt.
Over the remaining weeks, the Board of Trustees will continue a thorough review and discussion of the Village Manager’s proposed budget, working diligently and cooperatively with the Manager and department heads to achieve a balance between minimizing the tax burden and ensuring the provision of robust public services.
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Legal Resources for Residents
Pro Bono Net and Law Help NY have developed the flyers, in English and Spanish, for Village residents to get free answers about numerous topics, including housing, immigration and public benefits.
LawHelpNY.org, a free online legal information and referral site for New Yorkers, was established in 2001 by a consortium of legal aid organizations. It provides comprehensive information on various legal topics, including family, housing, and consumer law, empowering individuals to understand their rights and explore available options.
They self-help tools, court forms, and guides to navigate the legal system, as well as a directory of over 600 free and low-cost legal service providers. It also prioritizes accessibility with Spanish-language resources (AyudaLegalNY.org) and real-time chat support (LiveHelp).
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Employment resources & links:
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