March 21, 2023
MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
I Had a blast watching some chess tournaments at the Ossining Public Library this past Saturday. Thank you, Detective Chavez, for all you do for the community with your chess programs!
Based on community input, the Village of Ossining passed a local law regulating the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in 2018. Many factors went into this decision, including environmental health and safety issues, noise, public hearings, research on available electric leaf blowers, etc. The legislation was scheduled to give landscapers and homeowners more than four years to adjust to the new law. As a reminder to the community, effective January 1, 2023, gas-powered leaf blowers are NOW PROHIBITED on all properties less than ½ acre in size.
Use of a gas-powered leaf blower can only be used on parcels greater than a ½ acre and only between the following dates:
1.     March 1 and June 1,
2.     September 15 and December 15
Last week, the Village Board unanimously approved two generous donations to the Ossining Recreation and Parks Department. First was a $500 donation from Gullotta House, Inc. to be used toward programs scholarships. The other was from FlagHouse, Inc., for donating sporting goods and games for the department's youth and camp programs.
 
On behalf of the Village of Ossining and the Board of Trustees, I am grateful for the thoughtful donations to support recreational programming in Ossining.
The Village and Town of Ossining Office of Emergency Management meet on a monthly basis to discuss preparedness, coordinate the facilitation of events, emergency issues, and ensure continuity of government and business in Ossining.
 
As we transition from winter to spring and then to summer, I would like to highlight some topics which might be of interest to the public.

  • The solar roof installation at the Central Garage at the John-Paul Rodrigues Ossining Operations Center.
  • The work on the 5 Corners Intersection is anticipated to begin on or around April 1st, for which the Ossining Police Department will work to limit traffic diversions.
  • Also, on April 1st, the community can expect parklets which include outdoor dining on the public sidewalks, to return Downtown.
  • The Ossining Police Department is working on traffic calming on Underhill to address concerns around Havell/Van Cortlandt.
  • Much coordination will be needed as usual for the annual Green Ossining Earth Day festival, which will kick off the Ossining events season on Saturday, April 22.
  • During the meeting, staff discussed this summer's Riverjam Concert Series, which kick-offs on July 3rd with fireworks, and the concerts will run weekly through September 8th.
  • OVAC continues testing and administering vaccines – however, the amount has dropped as the COVID crisis finally begins to ease.
This week's meeting will be held on Wednesday, 3/22, at 16 Croton Avenue at 7:30PM.
The following are some of the topics to be covered during the Work Session:
  • Police Reform Advisory Committee Chair Jackie Shaw will be with us to give an annual update.
  • Trustee White will be making a presentation introducing a new committee focused on placemaking.
  • Two landlord groups will join us who wish to propose concepts requiring zoning text amendments on South Highland Avenue.

Two Important reminders:
  1. March 29th is a 5th Wednesday; thus, the Board will not meet.
  2. The first meeting in April is on Tuesday, 4/4 (instead of Wednesday, 4/5) in observance of the Passover holiday.
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