Dear neighbors,

The Village of Ossining regularly receives considerable guidance from various County, State, and Federal agencies of how to contain the spread of COVID-19, which is shared on the Village’s website via the  Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) page .

We have put together some helpful information to support our community during the COVID-19 virus.

Get email updates on the evolving COVID-19 situation from New York State Sign up here for more frequent updates

Parking Extension until further notice for expiring permits. Leave your tag in the window. All other parking rules and enforcement are still in effect.

BEE-Line Bus System: Westchester County BEE-LINE Bus System to transition to rear-door boarding and exiting on all buses. New boarding system to begin on Monday, March 23, until further notice. Click here for schedule

Sanitation Our Sanitation & Recycling services are continuing as scheduled. Just a friendly reminder to set your alarms, so you have enough time to bring your trash and refuse curbside.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Cleaning and disinfection It’s important to Clean and Disinfect as noted from the Wired article published on 3/19/2020. The first thing to note is that cleaning and disinfecting are two very different things. The CDC recommends we all do a bit of both:

  • Cleaning is about removing contaminants from a surface.
  • Disinfecting is about killing pathogens.
  • Do both daily if anything or anyone has entered or exited your home.

Transmission is much greater via surfaces, but the CDC recommends we clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in our homes at least once daily just to be safe.
Food pantry The Village is pleased to say that Feeding Westchester’s mobile pantry will be continuing this week on Tuesday, 3/24/2020. This could not happen without the support of our volunteers, local non-profits, and staff working diligently to pack and distribute the bags of food. In addition to the Feeding Westchester mobile pantry, the Ossining Food Pantry Support has shifted their client support from food distribution to providing C-Town gift cards. This approach requires no client/volunteer interactions, thereby protecting all involved. It allows the clients to purchase food they need and want at times that are convenient for them.
Grab and Go food with Ossining Union Free School District The Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch Program locations are listed below. Students and their families will receive breakfast & lunch Monday through Friday from 11AM – 1PM. Both breakfast & lunch will be distributed to students at this time.
Precautions to take whether you shop in-store or online Consumer Reports has put together helpful information on how to protect yourself from Coronavirus when grocery shopping :
  • Wash your hands, counter, and other surfaces you’ve touched.
  • Wash produce with soap and water. 
  • Go shopping at a time that’s less busy.
  • Take sanitizer with you.
  • Use a credit or debit card.
  • If You’re Getting Your Groceries Delivered:
  • Avoid a direct hand-off. 
  • Tip electronically. 
  • Order earlier than you usually do.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. Westchester businesses are eligible to apply for SBA disaster relief loans. Individual businesses that have faced substantial economic injury in Westchester County may now apply for EIDL loans. Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. 

Loan officers at SBA will continue to operate even if they are working from a quarantined area. Please refer to the following link for guidance on how a business can apply for assistance, what assistance can be used for, size of loans, and other helpful information click here .

More information about the SBA disaster relief loans click here . 

To begin the application process click here . 

Microfund Loans The Ossining Micro Fund is a non-profit organization offering interest-free loans to individuals and families who encounter unexpected financial obstacles. Our philosophy is to “pay it forward” – when a loan recipient repays a loan, the money becomes available to help another person in need. Click here for information .

What Happens When You Shop Local? Great things!
  • More of your money will be kept in your local economy.
  • You embrace what makes your community unique.
  • You create local jobs.
  • You nurture community.
  • You take advantage of local expertise.
  • You invest in entrepreneurship.
  • You make your community a destination.