MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
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Today, Tuesday, April 26th - Ossining Launched Passport’s Mobile Payment Solution for Parking!
That means that residents, employees, and visitors now have a contactless (and cashless) payment method for parking sessions in the Village. We are truly excited for this launch, as both residents and visitors alike will have the ability to pay for and manage parking sessions from their smartphones as an alternative to using quarters. With a cashless option now available, the Village of Ossining can support its merchants and parkers through seamless, digital parking experiences.
Our landscape is changing, and we need to adapt accordingly to the systems and structures we depend on. By using a parking app as an alternative to carrying a pocket full of change, we can use emerging technologies to make the most of our resources and ensure a good return on investment for taxpayers. Passport's platform will not only improve the parking experience by giving drivers a convenient payment option; it will meaningfully reduce complexities in our operations.
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Earth Day 2022! It was so lovely to be together and in person at the waterfront at the 12th annual Green Ossining Earth Festival. A wonderful showcase for local organizations, educators, local businesses, and fun kid-friendly events. This is the largest such event in the county, with more than 5,000 people in attendance. While I got to speak with so many of you, I also enjoyed speaking to folks test driving the ACTON electric bike as part of the Project Mover project and helping folks register to vote. I had an opportunity to learn more about how pollution and construction change the environment from Teatown, and of course, I enjoyed shopping and food from local vendors. Thank you to the Green Ossining Volunteers for all their hard work on this event.
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Also, on Saturday, The Village of Ossining celebrated Village Resident James L. Bason, Jr. with the honorary street renaming of South Street & State Street.
James L. Bason, Jr. was a lifelong resident of Ossining. He was born in the Ossining Hospital, which is now the site of Star of Bethlehem Church. As a child, Jimmie had lived on South Street and State Street. He was educated in the Ossining School District and graduated from Ossining High School in 1962. He was well known throughout the community for his musical talent. James performed in many television talent shows, and at the age of nineteen, he and Wayne Sharrock earned a recording contract with Music World Records with the song "You Better Believe It." James is deeply missed by all – and touched many lives, and is remembered for his kindness, support, and giving spirit.
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This past weekend over 200 people attended a wonderful family event provided by our fire department. They welcomed all those interested in joining the volunteer fire department or simply wanted to learn more about how fire departments work in our communities. |
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It is with great pleasure that I share that the Village Board of Trustees has appointed the first 10 members of the Youth Advisory Board. The Youth Advisory Board's (YAB) focus is to meet local youth needs through advocacy and policy recommendations. It plans to promote positive youth development, following the Ossining Youth Board’s mission to connect youth to positive services and programs that will help promote education, physical and emotional health, civic engagement, economic security, healthy choices, and a sense of belonging to the community.
One Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2023: Dr. Walter Hidalgo
One Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2023: Diana Lemon
One Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2023: Wendy Yancey
Two Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2024: Jeannette Gerber
Two Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2024: Alice Joselow
Two Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2024: Kate Marshall
Three Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2025: Tenee A. H. Jones
Three Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2025: Harry L. Campbell
Three Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2025: James Finger
Three Year Term 4/20/2022 – 12/31/2025: Elaine Hutchinson
Our next step is establishing the Ossining Youth Council (OYC). The OYC will be a community-supported, youth-led leadership group guiding the Ossining Youth Bureau and advocating on behalf of other Ossining youth. We invite community members ages 13 -21 to join Michael Garcia, Youth Bureau Director, on Monday, May 9th at 6:30 PM on Zoom for an OYC Information Session.
Webinar ID: 865 8133 9973
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone: +1 929 205 6099
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Join me for the second DRI Community meeting on Saturday, April 30th, from 12 PM – 3 PM at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center. This is an additional opportunity for you to learn about the projects being considered for DRI funding, provide feedback, and share your ideas!
We will discuss:
- Projects Currently Under Consideration for DRI Funding
- Village of Ossining’s Goals for Downtown Revitalization
We want your feedback on:
- Your Preferences for Projects to Prioritize for DRI Funding
- Your Ideas for Improving Project Applications to Better Align with the Village’s Downtown Goals
I look forward to seeing you there!
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For this Wednesday's meeting (4/27, 7:30 PM over Zoom), we will begin with a Special Meeting to call for a Public Hearing on the e-bikes local law, as discussed this past Wednesday.
- The Police Reform Advisory Committee (PRAC) will be joining us for a presentation and to discuss their recommendations on the proposed CPCRB amendments (Local Law #1 of 2022).
- Based on conversations with NYS Dormitory Authority (DASNY), the Village is applying for a $500K SAM Grant, recommended by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, towards renovations for the Joseph G. Caputo Center Pool and Locker Room.
- John Fry from NEXUS will join Andrew Tiess, Superintendent of Water/Sewer, and Paul Fraioli, P.E. Village Engineer, to review the 16 Croton Elevator bid documents with the Board of Trustees.
- Embedded in the agenda are several documents related to past discussions on a zoning text amendment for Secor Road, including a petition submitted for a particular project in 2019, the memo resulting from the Planning Board referral in 2020, and BFJ’s commentary on the Planning Board’s memo shortly thereafter. Jaime Martinez, Director of Planning & Stuart Kahan, Corporation Counsel, will be with us to discuss the status of this request (the project and the petition).
- Paul Fraioli, P.E. Village Engineer, to give an update on road resurfacing throughout the Village.
Webinar ID: 847 0852 1282
Members of the public can listen to the meeting by dialing in via phone: +1 929 205 6099
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Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org
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