MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
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We thank Senator Pete Harckham for meeting with me, the Village Manager, and our staff at the Water plant this past Friday to learn more about our strategic plan for building a new water plant. As EPA requirements change dramatically and water needs increase in our area, having and maintaining a local natural resource is essential to the health of our community. While many communities struggle to maintain water infrastructure, we have worked diligently on improvements over the past decade. We are hopeful that our state representatives and other government partners will assist us in much-needed financial investments. |
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The Green Ossining Earth Day Festival is Saturday, April 22! We expect another great event this year as we kick off the summer event season. It is a great reminder of the importance of our environment. I invite you to spend the whole day learning from the many experts and organizations that will be there - and of course, to shop local! As always, there will be plenty of food and drinks.
This past weekend, the Earth Day Festival and Ossining were well represented at the National Scuba Conference in New Jersey by the Westchester Scuba Club, promoting their involvement at the Earth Day Festival. Make sure to stop by their booth to see a diving expedition next to the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club at around 1pm.
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Con Edison and the Public Service Commission are seeking public comment on proposed rate increases. They are proposing to phase in a 12% increase on transmission charges for electricity customers and a 20% increase on transmission charges for gas customers over the next three years. Every person has the right to comment on this proposal whether you are a Con Ed customer or not:
- To comment online, visit www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “22-E-0064” or “22-E-0065” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on the “Post Comments” box located at the top of the page.
- You may also send a letter to Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking the "Public Comments" tab.
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Call the Commission’s opinion line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.
If you have any questions, please contact your state representative, Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg, at (914) 941-1111 or email levenbergd@nyassembly.gov.
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Savings with Ossining Community Solar
Sustainable Westchester is subscribing customers to a community solar project for the energy produced from the solar being installed on the roof of the Ossining Operations Center! This subscription opportunity is available to Ossining residents first.
Participants will be assigned a portion of the community solar project. Once the project is operating, they will get up to 5% savings directly on their electricity bills each month! Community solar is free to join or cancel. There will be no change to the subscriber's current electricity supply.
Sustainable Westchester staff will move Ossining residents from the enrollment queue to the Ossining community solar project and follow up with them to complete their sign-up. Those who do not get to be enrolled in the project will continue to be part of the enrollment queue and be alerted when future opportunities come up. Please contact Sustainable Westchester at 914-242-4725 ext. 112 if you have any questions.
Con Edison electricity customers in New York and Westchester are eligible to receive cash payments for saving energy through the GridRewards™ program. GridRewards™ is a free app that connects you to your ConEd electricity usage and enables you to earn cash rewards for reducing your electricity usage.
Residents are encouraged to enroll before March 31st to receive the maximum benefit from the program for more information about GridRewards. Only a few spots are left!
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New York State has an annual burn ban from March 16 through May 14. During this time, NYS is especially vulnerable to wildfires, with nearly half of all serious wildfires happening in the spring. The annual burn ban temporarily prohibits burning residential brush to reduce the risk of wildfires across the state. Burning trash is illegal statewide in all cases. The law prohibits burning trash in wood stoves, fireplaces, and outdoor wood boilers. It is unhealthy, unneighborly, and unnecessary. It causes serious health concerns and diseases, contaminated soil, and discomfort for others enjoying the outdoors or their property. Burning trash and downed leaves are never allowed in Ossining at any time of the year. If you see someone burning trash, please call the building department or the police.
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Important reminders:
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There is no Village Meeting this week, as March 29th is a 5th Wednesday.
- The first meeting in April is on Tuesday, 4/4 (instead of Wednesday, 4/5) in observance of the Passover holiday.
For those celebrating Ramadan: Wishing you four weeks of blessings, 30 days of clemency, and 720 hours of enlightenment. Happy Ramadan!
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Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org
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