September 12, 2023

Yesterday marked the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, also known as Patriot Day. As in years past, our community came together in various ways to honor the 9/11 victims. Ossining is committed to celebrating the observance of those victims’ memories by hosting the Ossining & Briarcliff 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, which included emergency service organizations and elected officials serving the residents of the Village of Ossining, the Town of Ossining, and the Village of Briarcliff Manor.

Community Service Information: Are you aware that almost 500,000 people & volunteers were in the exposure zone from 9/11 to 5/02? There is $10.2 billion available for eligible 9/11 responders, downtown office and service workers, residents, and students via the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund ("VCF"). The VCF was created to provide compensation for any individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001, or the debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those crashes. We know that many in our community were affected by this crisis: September 11th Victim Compensation Fund website.

Car Free Day is recognized annually on September 22. It was founded on the aspiration that people would be encouraged to travel by means other than a car. This is the sixth year of planning community events around Car Free Day in Ossining. In partnership with 511NYRideshare, Green Ossining, the Village, and the Town of Ossining, we will once again be encouraging Ossining residents to reduce their single occupancy driving on Car Free Day by teleworking, biking, scootering, walking, carpooling/vanpooling, driving an electric vehicle, or riding public transportation like a train, bus, or subway. Over the past two years, our team has collectively incorporated the promotion of local businesses interested in incentivizing and rewarding their customers arriving at their business car-free (i.e., $1 or a percentage off a purchase, a free item, etc.).

Are you a local business that would like to participate? If so - please complete the “Participating Establishments in Ossining Form” linked here (https://bit.ly/3LfEXXC) by Wednesday, September 13th, to be included. By participating in this promotional event, you can help alleviate the impact of transportation-related pollution - and get folks moving while we're at it!

Please join us at the Down to Earth Farmers Market on Saturday, September 16th at 9 AM to learn what you can do to get ready for Car Free Day on Friday, September 22nd! You can speak to representatives from Green Ossining, 511NYRideshare, and check out Croton-on-Hudson's PEDEGO Electric Bikes!

We look forward to seeing you there!

We will begin sharing the list of Ossining's local businesses that will reward their customers with exciting perks at the beginning of next week – so be on the lookout!

Have you heard that there is a Westchester County law against letting your car idle? The Anti-Idling Law prohibits the idling of vehicles for more than three consecutive minutes. This is due to the environmental concerns from vehicle emissions.

So, let’s save money, reduce noise, and improve fuel economy by not idling your vehicle. Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/3EvxrEt

Congratulations to our Village Historian, Joyce Sharrock Cole, for being appointed to the Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) Advisory Committee by our NYS Assemblywoman, Dana Levenberg!

The Revolutionary Westchester 250 (RW250) strives to build awareness and excitement for the events, places, ideas, and people—both the unsung and the famous—of the Revolutionary War period in Westchester County. Click here to learn more: https://www.rw250.org/

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestries came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of the independence of Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period. It's an excellent opportunity for all of us to become more educated about the diverse members who make up our community. 

This week’s Work Session will occur in person at the Operations Center on Wednesday, September 13, starting at 7:30PM. Some items of note:

Captain Donohue will join us to a) discuss OPD’s need to purchase HYBRID, as opposed to ALL-ELECTRIC, patrol cars in 2023 as well as a budget adjustment for their Capital Project for a digital message board, which was in the OPD’s Capital Plan for 2023.

The following items are related to Planning and Zoning led by Valerie Monastra, Principal Planner, Nelson Pope Voorhis:

1. PILOP (Payment in Lieu of Parking program for downtown, last discussed 4/26 Work Session) and the addition of Cannabis Growing Facilities to the code (last discussed 6/28 Work Session).
2. Zoning Changes project to discuss with the BOT regarding Local Law making the changes, which can then be referred to the Planning Board before returning to the BOT for a Public Hearing.

Bill Garrison, Superintendent of Recreation & Parks, will join us to discuss a request he received from Aaron Spring to add a Flag Pole & plaque to the lower field at Veterans Park. The Recreation Advisory Board reviewed and approved this request for a recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Just in time for Car Free Day (September 22), we were approached by Green Ossining/Ossining 100 for a "Resolution of Support" for a Transportation Alternatives campaign, in line with the goals of Project MOVER.

Corporation Counsel Stuart Kahan will guide a discussion about an ongoing issue with the survey for the property at 31 Clinton. He will then guide the BOT in a discussion regarding a request for a License Agreement at 63 South Highland, as they wish to rebuild the staircase, which is already partially in the Village's right-of-way.

We will end the Work Session with a follow-up to last week’s discussion regarding the Village’s Tree Warden. 

Sunday, September 17th, marks the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the high holidays. I will be celebrating this holiday with my family and neighbors. I wish everyone in our community who observes this holiday a joyful new year: A year of memory, inspiration, and dreams.