August 26, 2025

Connor Tompkins was recently promoted to Sergeant in our Police Department. He has served with the department for nearly ten years and held the position of School Resource Officer at Ossining High School from 2018 to 2023.

Sergeant Tompkins is also a member of the SWAT Team, a Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, a guest instructor at the Westchester County Police Academy...and in his spare time, he coaches football and wrestling for Sleepy Hollow Football.

I am so proud to have been a part of the OUFSD New Educators Academy. One of my favorite engagements every year! The curriculum is focused on building a culture of care and education, and preparing our students for the future. I always enjoy welcoming new educators to our community and encourage them all to let us know how local government can participate in education.

This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining The Ossining Collective’s: BACK TO SCHOOL SUMMER FESTIVAL. The event was a partnership of our own Ossining Youth Bureau, Star of Bethlehem, ENU, NAACP, OPD, OFD, OVAC, Gullotta House, Teatown, Open Door, and Kindle community. It was incredibly heartwarming to see so many partners come together to provide free sneakers, backpacks, school supplies, and other essentials to so many in our community. There were lots of fun, games, and even some serious basketball competition!

Thank you to everyone who worked tirelessly on this inclusive program.

Westchester County officials announced last week that multiple service changes for Bee-Line buses would take effect on September 2nd. Specifically related to Ossining, along Route 14 – the local route between White Plains, Ossining, and Peekskill – the 8:35 a.m. weekday southbound trip at the Cortland Town Center will leave five minutes later at 8:40 a.m. Route 17’s weekday 7:40 a.m. southbound trip at Cortlandt Town Center will also be pushed back five minutes, to 7:45 a.m. Route 17 is the express trip from White Plains up to Ossining and Peekskill. The county encourages riders to consult timetables for more details about each route at: westchestergov.com/beelinebus.

The New York State Department of Civil Service announced that the application period is now open for New York State’s entry level law enforcement civil service exam. The exam is for interested, qualified applicants seeking a position throughout New York at the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Office of State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the State University of New York. Qualified candidates can apply online until 11:59 p.m. EST on Sept. 17, 2025, to take the exam. There is no cost to take the exam as all state exam application fees are waived through December 2027. The exam is scheduled to be held in November.

The entry-level law enforcement exam is used to fill the following titles within each agency:

• DEC - Environmental Conservation Police Officer Trainee 1 & Forest Ranger 1
• Parks - Park Police Officer Trainee
• SUNY - University Police Officer 1

All prospective candidates must meet additional requirements before appointment as outlined on the Career Opportunities in New York State Law Enforcement webpages.

• Governor Hochul Announces $9.1 Million Investment for Roadway Resurfacing in the Hudson Valley
• Maryknoll Lay Missioners Mark 50 Years Doing 'A World of Good for a World in Need'
• Local Officials Commemorate Prescription Center of Ossining’s 50th Anniversary
• Hudson Valley residents push for improvements on Route 133

To our community members: Wishing you a very happy Labor Day. This holiday is observed on the first Monday of every September and honors the men and women who work to build this country. Through a time-honored tradition with roots in the coordinated efforts of the labor movement of the 1800s, we pay tribute to the American workforce.

I hope you enjoy a well-deserved break over the holiday weekend. Please note that the Village of Ossining offices, including the Recreation Center, will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of the holiday. The Village Board of Trustees will not meet this week; however, we will reconvene on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at the Birdsall-Fagan Police Court Facility for our next Legislative Meeting.

A friendly reminder that OUFSD schools begin on Tuesday, September 2nd. There will be a lot of kids out and about, both walking to school and to their bus stops. Please ensure you follow the appropriate traffic rules. School buses require your special attention:

• Slow down. School buses make frequent stops, so be patient and drive at a reasonable speed. Remember, school buses are required by law to stop at railroad crossings in addition to picking up and dropping off students.
• Be alert. Always be aware of children and parents waiting at a school bus stop or running to catch the bus before it departs.
• Come to a complete stop at least 20 feet away from the bus.
• Be extra careful to look around before moving your vehicle, as children may be walking in front of, behind, or alongside school buses. Check for pedestrians - especially near schools, bus stops, playgrounds, parks, and behind parked cars.

Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org