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MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
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The Ossining community has benefited from a long line of exceptional police chiefs, and upon the retirement of Chief Kevin Sylvester, we knew that whoever took the reins would have big shoes to fill. Fortunately for Ossining, we had two strong candidates, both of whom lived in Ossining for most of their lives, are a product of the Ossining school system, and have spent their entire policing careers serving the Ossining community. I am proud of both candidates for making it such a challenge for the Board of Trustees. The Board engaged in many lengthy discussions among ourselves, as well as with stakeholder groups, members of the police, and volunteer organizations, to name a few, about what direction to take, and it was not a decision we took lightly.
After much deliberation, I am excited to announce that Detective Lieutenant Aaron Zimmerman has accepted the position of Chief of Police and will be joining the esteemed list of Ossining’s finest. The Board will pass a resolution to this effect on Wednesday, March 6th, at our next Legislative Meeting. I want to sincerely thank our Interim Chief, Brendan Donohue, for his hard work over the past two months. We are honored to continue working with him as Captain of the OPD and as a key member of OPD's leadership team. Having a strong, seasoned, professional team of individuals in place is essential for the Police Department to be successful in meeting its many objectives – keeping Ossining safe while ensuring equity and the highest standards of transparency and accountability. The Board of Trustees and I could not be happier to have such a talented team working on behalf of our Village and Town.
The chief's "swearing-in" ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m., at the Courthouse. We will enter the regular Work Session immediately following the ceremony.
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The Village of Ossining continues to make small steps to reduce our carbon footprint and make some money back while we do it! We are pleased to report that the Village of Ossining will receive a demand response check totaling $1,163.82 for our participation in the NY Grid Services programs.
Here are some steps to increase grid-services revenue, lower energy costs and carbon in 2024:
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Smart Thermostat Upgrades: optimize HVAC set point management, enabling both common and residential/retail space with wireless smart thermostats
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EV Charging: monitor and lower Electric Vehicle charging costs, accrue new Con Edison hourly cash incentives for tenant off-peak charging
As the built world becomes increasingly electrified, managing that usage will become increasingly valuable for our community!
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Seventh in our series of volunteer committee spotlights:
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) hears applications for and recommends the designation of landmarks and historic districts to the Board of Trustees; decides upon Certificates of Appropriateness; and hears applications for and recommends to the Board of Trustees donation of façade easements. Additionally, the HPC may advise owners of historical buildings on issues of restoration and preservation, advise the Board of Trustees with respect to the acquisition of a landmark and/or structure, etc. Not all municipalities have this particular committee, but Ossining, having so much of the municipality tied to our history, is privileged to have volunteers participate to ensure that our historical aspects are part and parcel of the ongoing development.
Board members sit for a five-year term, with seven members appointed by the Village Manager. The membership shall include a) at least one member with practical experience in architecture or urban design, land development, OR real estate; b) at least one member with practical experience in urban planning, land development, or real estate; c) at least one member who is a resident of a designated historic land architectural design district or property designated as a local historic landmark; and d) at least one member with a demonstrated interest in historic preservation or local history.
Click here to view the Village of Ossining’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
The remaining volunteer boards/ committees to be spotlighted are:
- Landlord-Tenant Relations Council
- Placemaking Committee
- Youth Advisory Board
- Zoning Board of Appeals
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Solar Eclipse Coming Soon!
(From the I ❤️ NY website)
By now, you may have heard: on Monday, April 8th, just after 3 PM, a total solar eclipse will be passing through about one-third of NYS, from the southwest corner near the PA border through to the northeast corner up by VT & Quebec. While this total solar eclipse travels over NYS, the entire state will be able to see at least 88% of a partial eclipse: Albany is 96%, Catskills between 90-95%, NYC 89%, and Montauk 88%. Fun Facts: The last total solar eclipse in NYS was in 1925; the next ones are expected in 2079 and 2144!
The eclipse will begin shortly after 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time. Full totality, or as close to it, will start at about 3:20 PM. Locations in the path of totality could experience total darkness for up to 4 minutes. Check out the NASA Map of the percentage of the eclipse.
For safety tips, check out I Love New York’s Eclipse website. DEC will also post eclipse information on Facebook and Instagram leading up to April 8th.
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Every year, Ramadan begins a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community for Muslims worldwide. It is the holiest month of the year for those in the Islamic faith. This year, Ramadan begins today, Sunday, March 10, 2024, and ends on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink (including water) from sunrise to sunset. After sunset, Muslims are allowed to eat and drink. It is customary to eat dates, along with fruits, vegetables, nuts, camel milk, and water. Ramadan Kareem - which means have a generous Ramadan!
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Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org | | | | |
