June 28, 2023
MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
Last Wednesday, we held a press conference to inform the public about the completion of the Rooftop Solar Array on the Village of Ossining Operations Center Garage. The project is the result of a partnership between Ecogy Energy, Sustainable Westchester, the New York Power Authority, Westchester County, known as the Westchester Community Solar Partnership System, and the Village of Ossining. Power gained from this solar project will offer energy credits to participating Village of Ossining residents and supply green energy to the municipality.

This state-of-the-art solar array is now operating, producing 149.2 kW of DC electricity that has been prioritized specifically for Village of Ossining Residents and cements Ossining's growing reputation as a leader in New York's energy transition. We will continue piloting innovative ways of decarbonizing our community to help the environment. Our next, even more ambitious, project will include a solar canopy in the Ossining Train Station parking lot. This is just one more way in which we are working towards being the greenest Village in the country!
It is always a great day when we get to spend time with our volunteer firefighters. I participated in the annual inspection this past weekend, and our local elected officials were well-represented. We are grateful for our volunteers and the service they provide to our community. Did you know Ossining has the largest volunteer fire department in New York State?
In addition to the many ways we have broadened communications and engagement with the community and all our constituents, we are increasing our presence more physically in two ways:

  1. Saturdays at the Farmer’s Market: One of the Trustees or I will be at the Farmers Market this summer to hear from members of the community about the projects we have in the pipeline as well as listening to any other concerns you might have. Come to the Farmer’s Market to share your thoughts: July 1, July 15, August 12, August 19, and August 26 from 9 am to 12 pm.  (see schedule below).  

  1. Walking tours: A trustee, the Mayor, or a management staff member will be conducting walking tours of the DRI projects answering your questions or just hearing your thoughts (see schedule below). Come join us for Community Walking Tours starting in July.

Walking Tours will start at Community Center and take about 90 minutes.
Thursday, July 26 @ 9:00 - 11:00 am
Thursday, August 17 @ 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Thursday, September 9 @ 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Thursday, September 21 @ 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Please note: If you are physically unable to participate in the walking tour, please contact me, and we will see how we can assist you.

I am eager to hear from you!
Ok, folks … Get that Summer fun calendar out! It's time to note all the exciting events coming to Ossining this summer. All of these events are family-friendly and FREE!
Summer is here, starting with the annual fireworks at Louis Engel Waterfront Park on Monday, July 3rd. Food Trucks and Craft Beverage Corral open at 5 PM, with the concert starting at 7 PM. For more information on upcoming Town of Ossining RiverJam events, held on Fridays throughout the summer, click here: https://www.ossiningriverjam.com/#Home-Target
Next up is our Acoustic Music Series, which kicks off at 7 PM on Wednesday, July 5th. We start with Noveblue, a swinging, versatile group that blends Jazz, Latin, Brazilian, and Funk to create a sound that has been called "Pure melodic Groove."
Don't miss your opportunity to watch your kids go head-to-head with the Ossining Police Department for this summer's first Cops & Kids Kickball event on Thursday, July 6, @ 6 PM. There will be music by DJ Johnny G and hot dogs provided by the Elks Lodge.
During the following week, Monday Summer Jazz Concerts at Henry Gourdine Park are back with Teri Roiger & Sharp 5. All concerts begin at 6:30 PM. Click here for more info: https://jazzforumarts.org/summer-concerts/ossining-henry-gourdine-park/
Also, this summer is everyone’s favorite Family Summer Entertainment Series, held weekly on Tuesdays at various parks in Ossining. The first event will be held at Henry Gourdine Park on July 11 @ 7 PM with a Pop-Up Circus.
Calling all local artists! Submerse NY is a state-wide flood-risk awareness and outreach effort that aims to supplement local community capacity to communicate flood risk creatively through visual markers and public art. Public art can be an effective physical and visual tool to help the public see their position in the landscape and connect it to present and future vulnerability to flooding.

Please fill out Submerse NY in Ossining: Artist Interest Form if you are interested in responding to the Submerse NY in Ossining design brief. This design brief intends to provide an artist or design group initial direction in developing an outreach campaign, physical marker, or public art project aimed at creating flood awareness in Ossining in partnership with the community. In response to this brief, designers are invited to develop conceptual designs for public markers and signage, art installations and sculpture, murals, and short-term community pop-up events or performances. For examples of the kinds of projects that can be developed, please refer to this repository of exemplary flood awareness and outreach projects. The project team and a group of community stakeholders will review applications. Submerse NY can compensate an artist or designer up to $2000 for conceptual design development. The deadline for submission is Wednesday, July 5th, 2023.
Congratulations to the Ossining Best of Westchester Award Winners!

Food & Drink
Empanada: Wanna Empanada
New Food Truck: Brothers Fish & Chips

Home & Garden
Flooring Shop: Westwood Flooring & Design
Frame Shop: The Art Barn
Home-Accessories Store: Melita’s Home

Shopping:
Music Store: Mike Risko Music School
New Book Store: Hudson Valley Books for Humanity
Optical Store: Raymond Opticians

Fun & Leisure
Library: Ossining Public Library

Kids:
After-school Program: Mike Risko Music School
Baby Clothes: Melita’s Home
Boy’s Clothes: Melita’s Home
Children’s Library: Ossining Public Library
Dining with Kids: DD’s Diner
Music School: Mike Risko Music School

Services
Pet Boarding: Gracelane Kennels
Shoe Repair: Tony’s Shoe Repair

Community & Media
Sustainability Committee: Green Ossining
Congratulations to the Green Ossining Sustainability Partnership Awardees! This newly established award was designed to name local businesses and organizations as Green Ossining Sustainability Partnership (GOSP) awardees. The GOSP was created to recognize local businesses and organizations that have demonstrated environmental stewardship through their business practices and have agreed to be resources to others who may want to learn from them.
 
Congratulations to the following awardees:
 
Food & Beverage (Brick & Mortar): Baked by Susan, Blue Pig, Brothers Fish & Chips, Cravin Jamaican Cuisine, Fable: From Farm to Table, FarmEats BBQ, First Village Coffee, Food that Fits You/Root2rise, Sing Sing Kill Brewery
Food & Beverage (non-Brick & Mortar): 6 Degrees Or Less Brewery
General Business: Fable: Farm to Table, Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, Hudson Valley Vertical Farms, Just Eyes Optometry, Ossining Riverworks, Regina’s Essentials, Theater O
Organizations: Bethany Arts Community, Ethical Society of Northern Westchester, Neighbors Link, Second Chance Foods, Teatown Lake Reservation, The Center at Mariandale, Westchester Land Trust
 
Click here to learn more: https://bit.ly/46pVmBE
This week’s Work Session will be held tonight, Wednesday, 6/28, at 16 Croton Avenue.
  • The Ossining Fire Department will present a new topic to the BOT - a LOSAP (Length of Service Awards Program).

  • The Village would like to increase our competitiveness for (2) major upcoming grants for the Indian Brook Water Treatment Plant. A revised Water IMA with the Town of Ossining is one of the most critical steps.

  • Valerie Monastra, Principal Planner, Nelson Pope Voorhis will present the following topics:

  • Zoning for the Cannabis Microbusiness Licenses.
  • Discussion of maps of the General Business (GB) district section along South Highland Avenue.
Day Holiday. No Mayor's Message will be sent next week. Let us remember our heroes who advocated the freedom we all enjoy today. Happy 4th of July!

The Village Board will meet again on Thursday, July 6th, @ 9:00 AM at Village Hall for a Special Meeting. At this meeting, members of the Board will convene for the purpose of voucher detail review.
Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org