Village Offices will be closed on Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The revised sanitation schedule can be found below.

We wish you a wonderful celebration and may you find many reasons for gratitude this holiday season.

Report from the Board of Trustees Meeting on 11.20.2023

ICYMI, you can watch Village Board meetings online.

• Presentation from the School District on Capital Bond Project: At the Board of Trustees Work Session on November 15, Superintendent Ray Sanchez and Assistant Superintendent for Business Brian Fried presented on the proposed Capital Bond Project which is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Tarrytown residents should plan to vote at Washington Irving School and Sleepy Hollow residents will vote at the Morse School. The proposed $86million suite of projects will address aging infrastructure in multiple school facilities and overcrowding in classrooms through renovation and new construction. Full detail about the proposals can be found on the TUFSD website.
• The video of the presentation at the BOT Work Session can be found here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).
• The presentation can be found here.

• Lagana Park Grant Award Announced: Mayor Karen Brown announced that the Village received a $500,000 grant award toward the renovation of Lagana Park from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The grant will contribute to the refurbishment of tennis courts including pickleball courts as well as the ball field, the playground and the picnic area. The Village will be reaching out for community input prior to releasing the request for proposals for the project. Many thanks to those who contributed letters of support to the application. While the Village had scheduled the park's refurbishment as part of the Capital Plan, and borrowed money for the project, the grant award allows the Village to expand upon its original plan.

• Compatible Use Permit Approved: Following the close of the public hearing, Dr. R.N. Bhargava of Integrated Nano-Magnetics, Inc. was approved for a Compatible Use Permit which allows for the inclusion of an accessory laboratory in his office suite located at 220 White Plains Road. His research into the use of nano-particles in magnets that might be used in electric vehicles does not involve the use or production of toxic chemicals, does not involve medical research or overnight stays and must be approved by the Department of Health in advance of use. As part of their site plan review the Planning Board recommended the approval of the Compatible Use Permit. Fun fact: one of the 2023 Nobel Prize Winners in Chemistry, Alexei Ekimov, retired from Dr. Bhargava's lab, formerly named Nanocrystals Technology Inc.

Nobel Prize Winner Alexei Ekimov with longtime colleague, Dr. RN Bhargava of Integrated Nano-Magnetics Inc.after the announcement of the award.

• Public Hearing for Local Law to to Allow Penalty for Non-Compliance with Water Meter Upgrade: The Village is winding down the year-long project to upgrade the water meters for all water system users. If you have not yet done so, please make an appointment with Saks Metering to have your water meter upgraded. You can call them at at (914) 502-3333 or 877-583-7257 or go online to schedule an appointment at https://saksmetering.com/. More information can be found on the Village website. Because there is significant cost to the Village for those who do not comply with water meter replacement, the Board will consider a local law to allow a quarterly penalty for water system users who still refuse, after considerable communications efforts have been made, to have a new water meter installed.The Public Hearing will take place at the December 4th Board meeting at 7pm in Village Hall.

• Establishment of Ad Hoc Climate Action Planning Institute Task Force: The Village is working with Westchester County and seven municipalities to produce a Climate Action Plan for Municipal Operations thanks to a Climate Smart Communities grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Task Force will work with Village staff on recommendations to reduce energy use and emissions for Village buildings and facilities. Thanks to the volunteers committed to this project: Dean Gallea, Peter Gaito, Josh Halickman, Emily Herman, Jia Sun, Nicole Crescimanno, and Karen Bernstein. The meetings will be posted on the Village calendar when they are scheduled.

• Change in Day for Bulk Metal Pick-up: The Public Works Department collects large metal items such as old appliances, bed frames, and metal shelving on an appointment basis. The appointments have previously been scheduled for Wednesdays, but they will now be scheduled for Fridays. when scheduling a bulk pickup appointment, you can do so online by filling out the application. If you are wondering how to dispose of or recycle something, you can use the Recycle Right App found on the DPW website. Enter an item into the "Recyclopedia" and it will tell you about how to dispose of it. If you download the app on your phone, you will also receive reminders about sanitation collection and information about holiday schedule changes.

Coming up:

The Board of Trustees will hold its next Work Session on Wednesday, November 29 at 6pm. The agenda for the Work Session can be found here.

Want to learn what's on the docket for the Board of Trustees? You can sign up to receive agendas in your inbox here.

Interested in what is currently before the Land Use Boards? Sign up to receive agendas in your inbox, or find them posted on the website, three days before the scheduled meeting.

Current applications before the Planning and Zoning Boards can be viewed online:

Planning

Zoning Board of Appeals

More Free At-Home COVID Tests Available

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-⁠home tests beginning November 20. If you did not order tests when they were offered in September, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests.

Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping.

https://www.covid.gov/tests

Con Edison Updates

Holiday hiatus:

No work for the remainder of Thanksgiving week

Paving : Con Ed crews have completed all paving work for the year. Construction work will continue through the winter and trenches will be restored to rough grade pavement. Finish-grade paving will resume in the springtime after snow season. If there are steel plates on the roads, Con Edison's contractors will be responsible for cleaning them off after a storm.

Week of Nov. 27:

• Con Ed crews will continue work at the White Street and Franklin Street intersection.
• Gas main replacement work will resume on Midland Avenue.

Improving Communications

Con Ed distributes letters to property owners when they are doing work along a property's street frontage. We have asked them to include more clear information on what exactly they will be doing, particularly when the work is disruptive, such as digging up the street, excavating the gas valve in your driveway, or digging up your lawn to access the gas valve. Please be aware that Con Ed has the right to work in these areas that are in the public right-of-way, which is usually between 5 and 10 feet from the curb. We are aware that not enough information has been provided to property owners in the past and we have asked them to improve their communication going forward.

What's With All That Traffic on Rt. 9?

The orange and white barrels lining Rt. 9 on the south side of the intersection with I-287 is part of the ongoing R.9 Multi-modal Project administered by the New York State Thruway Authority in cooperation with Department of Transportation. The project began earlier this year.

As a reminder, the project involves multiple elements including:

• An extension of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge side path south to Lyndhurst Mansion;
• The construction of a 270-foot-long pedestrian bridge over the Thruway I-87/I-287 to improve access and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists;
• Widening of the ramps at Thruway Interchange 9 leading to and from South Broadway;
• Adding a second left turn lane from South Broadway to the southbound Thruway entrance ramp;
• Installing a traffic signal on South Broadway at Paulding Avenue to make it easier for motorists to turn;
• Repairing and resurfacing South Broadway from Route 119 to just south of Gracemere Lane;
• Relocating a village water main onto the South Broadway bridge.

Help TVAC purchase a Life-saving Device

The Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps is conducting a fundraising campaign to purchase two Lucas CPR Devices, one for each ambulance. Their fundraising goal is $40,000 and they have only raised $6,760 toward their goal so far. They have a long way to go! Consider contributing toward their campaign. More information can be found on their website, including information about how to score TVAC merchandise which also supports the cause.

For more information about the campaign and how to help:

https://www.tarrytownems.org/fundraising

Be Safe When Shopping Online This Holiday Season

RECREATION RUNDOWN

For information about all of the upcoming events and programs organized by the Recreation Department, click here, or sign up to get the news straight to your inbox every other week.

Find the latest TEAC Newsletter here:

From the School District

From the Chamber:

Winter Stroll Returns on December 2nd

Ride the Holly Jolly Trolley between downtown Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow to shop local and celebrate the season with store specials, sidewalk performances, and a visit with Santa at the Main Street Fire House. Information about the different activities can be found on the Chamber's website: https://sleepyhollowtarrytownchamber.com/winter-stroll/

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Village Committees are not the only way to give back to your community. There are lots of civic groups in Tarrytown doing important work. Like TEAC, the Friends of the Riverwalk are looking for volunteers to help maintain the plantings on the waterfront. Many more organizations are listed in the Volunteer Directory that has been assembled by the Community Coalition and Kids Club of the Tarrytowns.

Westchester County Operating Budget Released

A news conference was held on November 9 to announce the release of the proposed County Operating Budget.

Watch the full News Conference Here

View the Westchester County Proposed Operating Budget

For information about how to engage with the County budget process and the public hearings about the budget, please check out the website for the County Board of Legislators.

Transportation and Food Access Survey

The Westchester County Department of Planning, with the support of the Westchester County Department of Health, has launched a survey as part of its Transportation and Food Access Study. The survey asks Westchester residents ages 18 and older to share their experiences traveling to get groceries, as well as information on the type and affordability of food available to them in the County.

The goal of the study is to develop effective strategies to increase Westchester County resident access to affordable, quality food, with the goal of decreasing food insecurity, improving health outcomes, and increasing the quality of life in Westchester.

Take the survey here by Sunday, November 26. 

New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA)

FY24 Capital Project Fund Opportunity Now Open!

Up to $37 million in capital funding is available to nonprofit arts and culture organizations through the New York State Council on the Arts' Capital Projects Fund. The Fund has two grant categories: Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants and Large Capital Improvement Grants.

Deadline is January 11, 2024 at 4 pm EST. No extensions will be granted.

Watch Capital Opportunity webinars and register for office hours here.

For more information, visit https://arts.ny.gov/

Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)

More than $500 million in federal funding is now available to support the resurgence of small businesses across New York State through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program through the American Rescue Plan Act. Managed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them opportunity to succeed in the post-pandemic economy.

Visit esd.ny.gov/ssbci for information on resources available

Did you know?

Local businesses can find resources, classes and other opportunities on the Westchester Catalyst website:

https://westchestercatalyst.com/events/

Tuition Reimbursement Program for EMS AND Fire Volunteers

Citizen volunteers are often called on to respond to emergency situations in Westchester County. Due to a variety of factors, local volunteer fire departments and volunteer Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies are currently experiencing a critical need to recruit and retain members.

As an incentive for local residents to serve at volunteer fire departments and EMS agencies the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services (DES), has developed a program of recruitment and retention incentives for volunteer emergency services agencies. The program is designed to provide tuition or student loan reimbursement to volunteers for their service in the County.

For more info: https://emergencyservices.westchestergov.com/contact-us/h-e-r-r-o