December 20, 2022
MAYOR'S UPDATE
From the desk of Mayor Rika Levin
Governor Kathy Hochul announced six transformational projects in the Village of Ossining as part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award (DRI). The award will leverage our community's walkability and rich historic, cultural, and natural resources.
  
The Village of Ossining possesses several significant assets to build upon—the Hudson River waterfront, a historic Main Street, ethnic and cultural diversity through a large Latino and African-American population, and a Metro-North train station. Ossining's Revitalization is focused on synergistic projects to enhance public spaces, improve cultural and community assets, build the infrastructure to support existing businesses, and leverage new growth and development far beyond the downtown area. The investments are part of the Governor's ongoing efforts to revitalize the economy and create more opportunities within the Mid-Hudson Region. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative Award (DRI) is led by the Department of State, which provides technical assistance as each participating community develops a Strategic Investment Plan identifying specific projects with a unique vision for revitalizing the downtown area. 

The specific projects to be funded through the DRI support several goals and strategies of the Village's Strategic Investment Plan, such as — enhancing walkability, transit use, and waterfront access, Improving public spaces for performing arts and cultural activities, and expanding community services. The $9.7 million State investment in these projects through the DRI will leverage additional public and private sector investments as the revitalization process proceeds and builds momentum.  

The projects include:   
Enhance Walkability, Transit Use, and Waterfront Access:
  • Building a Multi-Modal Transportation Center to Facilitate Mixed-use Development - DRI Award: $2,243,000
  • Build a multi-modal transportation center to provide approximately 240 vehicle parking spaces, as well as bicycle infrastructure to accommodate parking and charging, to support infill development in downtown and promote decreased reliance on vehicle use. The center will generate renewable energy via a rooftop solar array, and the design will be consistent with the historic character of the Main Street Corridor.
  • Enhancing Streetscaping in the Station Plaza Neighborhood to Improve Connectivity - DRI Award: $857,000
  • Beautify the Station Plaza neighborhood through improved streets, widened sidewalks, bikeability, placemaking, and connectivity between the waterfront and upper Main Street.
Improve Public Spaces for Performing Arts and Cultural Activities:
  • Enhancing and Expanding the Market Square Public Plaza - DRI Award: $2,000,000
  • Design and construct a new public plaza to include seating, new landscaping, a raised stage, and kiosks. The public plaza would continue to remain in public ownership.
  • Preserving and Revitalizing the Historic Olive Opera House Building - DRI Award: $1,500,000
  • Conduct exterior renovations, restorations, and retrofitting of the interior of the building to allow for flexible workspaces, studios, and a performance space with modular stage.
  • Upgrading the Louis Engel Waterfront Park Performance Space - DRI Award: $600,000
  • Replace the existing stage with a new, covered state-of-the-art performance space to accommodate performances in inclement weather while drawing locals and visitors to the waterfront.
Expand Community Services:
  • Transforming the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center - DRI Award: $2,500,000
  • Transform the Community Center into a state-of-the-art facility for intergenerational recreation and learning that will create opportunities for innovative programming while providing expanded and improved space for STEM and sports for children, adults, and seniors.

Click here to read Governor Hochul's press release: https://bit.ly/3W8PdnT
"Hanukkah" means dedication in Hebrew, and the Jewish holiday, also known as The Festival of Lights, represents joy. It's punctuated by an eight-night display of dancing flames atop candles held in intricate menorahs, conveying warmth, comfort, and a miracle.
Please join us tonight for the annual Menorah Lighting event in Market Square. This holiday celebration marks the 3rd night of Chanukah, an eight-day festival of lights. Our entire community is welcome to attend. Bring the whole family!
It’s that time of year again! This past Sunday, The Ossining Police Department, Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the Ossining Fire Department hosted the 5th annual Candy Cane Run in Ossining.

Santa traveled all over the Village and Town - and delivered holiday cheer! He then continued on his journey around the world.
What a way to kick off the holiday week! I wish those of you who celebrate a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! There will not be a message from me next week, but I look forward to my first message of 2023 on Tuesday, January 3rd!
The Village of Ossining is proud to announce that at today’s Legislative Meeting, the Village Board unanimously appointed Christian Mosqueda and Robert Cregier as Police Officers. Together, we look forward to you working as part of the Police Department to enforce the law, prevent crime, and provide emergency response and support services as part of the Ossining community.
On the 9th of December, 2022, four Ossining residents graduated from the Westchester County Police Academy with the 154th Basic Recruit Class. Ossining Police Officers: P.O. James Hazel Jr., P.O. Jose Manco Guevara, P.O. Jason Marques, and P.O. Ellen Martinez completed 20 weeks of basic recruit training at the Police Academy in Valhalla, where they were tested both physically and mentally. In a speech to the graduating class, Westchester County Executive George Latimer told them, "You have been tested, and you have shown that you have the physical ability, the intellectual ability, and the emotional ability to be a police officer. That combination does not exist in many people. We send you out into the community to do something a majority of people can't do. We're proud of you, and we have confidence in you because you have the right stuff." The former recruits, now Police Officers, are eager to get out on the streets and start making a difference in the community where they live and now serve.
The newly elected and reelected members officials in New York State and the Village & Town of the City Council, myself included, will be formally sworn in at a community event at noon on January 1st at the Joseph G. Caputo Community Center. This event is open to the public, and everyone is invited to attend.
Shopping locally creates jobs and brings money into our community. In addition to being better for the environment, buying locally stimulates the local economy. Please consider supporting Ossining's local businesses – or donating to one of our many non-profits.
Village of Ossining | www.villageofossining.org