October 28, 2025

At this moment in our history, as many federal employees face uncertainty and hardship, we are reminded that food insecurity can touch anyone—including those who serve our country every day.

In Ossining, we stand together as one community: No one should go hungry. I urge anyone in need to reach out for assistance.

Feeding Westchester is offering emergency food support to federal employees having difficulty affording groceries due to the ongoing closure of the federal government.

How to Get Assistance

Residents can register by visiting their website, completing a form, and providing their federal ID for verification. Shelf-stable food boxes will then be delivered on Thursdays through DoorDash.

You can sign up here: https://feedingwestchester.org/find-help/emergency-food-support-federal-workers/

What a beautiful Fall Day at our river front spending the afternoon with fellow Board of Trustees members, other local officials, and many neighbors and friends as we marked two historical events. The historic replica Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief docked at the Shattemuc Yacht Club in Ossining last week as part of its Bicentennial Voyage, marking 200 years of both the Erie Canal and Sing Sing Prison. Hundreds of residents gathered to tour the boat, which had been transformed into a floating museum exploring the waterways' history. The community celebration included adding local water to the symbolic "Wedding of the Waters" cask, live music, local food, and the planting of a Great Tree of Peace, creating a meaningful connection between history, community, and New York's vital waterways. Supervisor Feldman and I were honored to accept the two White Pine trees, which will be planted in Ossining and which symbolize the displacement of Native Americans as communities were developed across this corridor.

What a spooky season it's been! Happy Halloween from the Village of Ossining—Westchester's newest Fall Destination for eerie fun! We've already held sell-out run with events like the terrifying Haunted Kill Trail of Terror along the Sing Sing Kill Walkway under the Double Arch Bridge and our family-friendly Pumpkin Patch & Halloween Hayride at Nelson Park.

I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who made these events possible, especially our dedicated recreation, parks, and maintenance staff, the talented members of the Westchester Community Theater, all of our incredible volunteers, the Placemaking Committee, the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce, and the Ossining Police Department.

Now, let's close out October with one last hurrah! Be sure to bring the kids for our Trunk or Treat event at the Ossining Community Center (95 Broadway) from 6–8 p.m. on Halloween night.

As we approach our nation's 250th anniversary in 2026, Ossining has a unique opportunity to honor this historic milestone in a way that truly reflects our community’s rich history, diversity, and shared values.

The Ossining 250 (O250) Committee is leading local efforts to commemorate this momentous occasion. Our vision is to celebrate Ossining’s vital role in the American story—past, present, and future—through events, educational programs, and initiatives that highlight democracy, inclusion, and community pride.

We invite the community to join us for at our first Community Engagement Meeting. We plan to collaborate on ideas for Ossining’s commemoration of the country’s 250th anniversary to join us.

Meeting Details

Date: Monday, November 3, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM

Location: Bethany Arts Community @ 40 Somerstown Rd, Ossining, NY 10562

Important Notice: New federal government rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will take effect on November 1, 2025, impacting the eligibility of recipients who are able to work and are between the ages of 18 and 64, living without dependents under age 14. These changes, primarily affecting Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), include modified age limits for recipients and their dependents, and now require physically and mentally able individuals aged 18-64 to work at least 80 hours a month or participate in a qualified training program to receive benefits for more than three months in a three-year period. Furthermore, federal exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and current or former foster youth aged 18-24 have been eliminated, and failure to comply with these updated requirements may result in a loss of SNAP benefits. Recipients with questions about their eligibility should immediately contact the Department of Social Services Case Management Information Center at (914) 995-3333 or visit their local office, with more information available online at https://socialservices.westchestergov.com/snap/snap-announcements.

Reminder: Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th.

If you don't know where to vote on Election Day, you can find your assigned polling place by selecting your state on the official US Vote Foundation tool here: usvotefoundation.org/find-my-polling-place

For those who wish to vote early, you can still vote in person at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center through Sunday, November 2nd. For dates/times, click here: Early Voting in Ossining (2025)

In 1999, the United States Senate designated the last week in October as National Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. The observance is more commonly known as National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (NLPPW). The CDC, EPA, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and WHO coordinate events for NLPPW. Because of the success of the campaign in the U.S., the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and WHO created an International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in late 2012.

In the Village of Ossining, our Water Department places the health and safety of the public as its highest priority. In response to ongoing concerns about lead in drinking water, the Water Department has adjusted its treatment process to provide added protection. With the upcoming changes being introduced by the EPA and the New York Department of Health we have proactively changed our corrosion control chemicals. At the end of 2024 we switched from using Hydrated Lime to Orthophosphate. this change is intended to strengthen the protective coating inside plumbing systems and reduce the risk of lead entering the water supply.

There will not be a Village Board of Trustees Meeting this week. Please join us next Wednesday, November 5^th, at the Birdsall-Fagan Police Court Facility for our next Legislative Meeting.

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org