Thanks to all who came out for the Open Streets Tarrytown event last Friday, and for braving the scattered showers! Thanks especially to the The Historical Society serving Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown for helping to organize the event, and those who shared their stories with us including the Tarrytown Police Department, the Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.., Revolutionary Westchester 250, Lyndhurst Mansion, and many others. Many thanks to our DPW and Police staff, and event coordinator Jenifer Ross for ensuring this series of events runs smoothly. The next Open Streets event is August 19th with a Health and Wellness theme. On September 23, we will celebrate Hispanic Heritage.

Report from the Board of Trustees Meeting on 7.17.23

ICYMI, you can watch Village Board meetings online.

• Grant Applications authorized: The Board of Trustees authorized the submission of three grant applications as part of Round XIII of the New York State Consolidated Funding Application.

1. Lagana Park: Please see below information about the survey the Village is conducting regarding improvements to Lagana Park. The Board authorized submission of a grant application to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to fund 50% of the improvements which are estimated to cost $1,029,900. This includes an increase to the project cost of $200,000 for playground improvements following discussion in Advice of Counsel at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting. If awarded the grant, the Village will be required to provide a 50% match or $514,950. More iformation below.
2. Water System Improvements Phases VIIb and VIII: The Board authorized submission of two grant applications to the State Environmental Facilities Corporation Water Infrastructure Improvement program. The next phases in the Village's decades-long water system upgrade project will address a need for redundancy in the system in the area around Rt. 119 and Martling Avenue and replacement of water mains in the Rosehill, Altamont, and Grove area of the Village. The latter project will replace 4 and 6 inch aging and tuberculated pipes with 8 and 12inch mains. With more than 34 water main breaks in that area in the last five years, the upgrades are long overdue. The total project cost for the two phases of work are $2.61 million and $3.3 million respectively. If awarded the grant, the Village would be responsible for 20% of total project costs.

• Agreement with Con Edison for paving Sheldon authorized: Because the Village is already planning to re-pave Sheldon Avenue as part of its multi-Village collaboration on the annual paving contract, the Board authorized the Village Administrator to execute an agreement with Con Edison for their contribution of funding toward the repaving as part of their obligations for the gas main replacement project they are conducting throughout the Village.



• Establishment of the Joint Rt. 9 Active Transportation Coordination Committee: The village has been cooperating with four area Villages on ways to improve pedestrian, cyclist and motorist safety along the Rt.9 corridor. Because Rt. 9 is a State-owned and managed roadway that runs through the heart of the Rivertowns, the Villages must work in concert with State agencies. Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins helped secure funding for preliminary and engineering design to take the original conceptual plans developed by Nelson Nygaard to the next phase. In order to better coordinate with State agencies and among the municipalities, the Board authorized Village Administrator Rich Slingerland and Trustee David Committee to represent the Village on the Joint Committee.

• Request to NYS Department of Transportation to make part of Rt. 9 25 MPH: The Board passed a resolution requesting that the New York DOT evaluate the section of Rt. 9 between Leroy Avenue and the Sleepy Hollow border for designation as a 25 MPH zone. The Village had already designated all Village roads to be 25 MPH zones, but RT. 9 and Rt. 119, which are managed by the State, remain posted at 30 MPH.

• Tri-Village Chlorination project: The Board authorized the Village Administrator to execute an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Villages of Briarcliff and Sleepy Hollow to collaborate on a project to increase the chlorination of the water supply coming from the the New York City-managed Catskill/Delaware Water Supply System, as is required by the New York State Department of Health. The Village also committed to an initial funding contribution of $15,000 toward the equipment purchase required to create a chlorine booster mechanism.

Coming up:

The Board of Trustees will hold its next Work Session on Wednesday, August 16 at 6pm. The agenda for the Work Session will be available here once it is released on August 11.

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

Best of Westchester - Again!

Westchester Magazine voted Tarrytown's Main Street the BEST IN WESTCHESTER for the 2nd year in a row! Many thanks to all of our local businesses who work hard to help keep this a thriving, vibrant Village. Thanks also to our Public Works staff for their many efforts to keep the flowers watered, the sidewalks clean, and the many tasks major and minor that make our downtown a welcoming place to shop, dine and stroll. And thanks to our First Responders - Police, Fire and TVAC - for keeping this community safe. There are many other Tarrytown entities to receive kudos in this year's Best of Westchester issue, including the Tarrytown Halloween Parade (Best Local Parade in Westchester!) - check them all out here.

Staying Cool

Heat waves are a leading cause of heat-related illness – and even death. Not all methods for keeping cool are effective during a heat wave. Using a fan can be more harmful than helpful when indoor air temperatures are hotter than your body temperature (more than 95 degrees).

Here are some tips from the New York State Department of Health to avid Heat Related Illness:

• Use an air conditioner.

• If an air conditioner is not available, spend at least 2 hours a day in airconditioned places (shopping mall, library, cooling center, air-conditioned home of family/friend).

• If you cannot leave your residence/ building, spend more time on lower levels where it may be cooler.

• Drink plenty of cool nonalcoholic and caffeine-free liquids.

• Close curtains and window coverings.

• Take a cool shower or bath. Place cold, damp cloths over your head, neck, armpits and body. Wear light, loose clothing.

• Limit strenuous physical activity.

• Avoid using your stove/oven.

Learn More about symptoms of heat-related illnesses here.

Places to Stay Cool:

Westchester County list of places to stay cool when it gets hot

Warner Library Summer Hours

Recreation Department - If you have lost power or are struggling to stay cool, call the Recreation Department, and they can find a place for you to keep cool during Fitness Center hours: (914) 631-8347

Crest Water Issues Update

The Village of Tarrytown Water Department completed its investigation of complaints from residents living in the Crest neighborhood regarding loud noises in the water pipes, loss of pressure, and other concerns. The Village engaged engineers with Woodard and Curran to diagnose the problem and recommend solutions in collaboration with our Village Engineer and Water Department personnel. 

The Village instituted the following remedies to address the problem:

• 1) A valve repair at the pump station addressed an issue that arose in 2022 following repairs that were made following a storm. The valve repair has reduced the amount of air being introduced to the system. 
• 2) Air breaks were installed on hydrants at key locations in the Crest neighborhood area to release air from the system when it accumulates. 

The Village is also pursuing the procurement and installation of a new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) to improve water pressure issues in the Crest neighborhood. 

If residents in the Crest neighborhood continue to have issues with air in the system and water pressure, please record the issue in this incident log survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CrestWaterIncidents

If you have additional questions, please call or email the Village Administrator's office:

(914) 631-1785

administrator@tarrytownny.gov

Improving Lagana Park: We Want to Hear From You

The Village of Tarrytown is working on a project to renovate and upgrade Lagana Park, located at 171 Sheldon Avenue. The current project scope includes restoring and re-grading the ball fields, re-doing the basketball court, renovating the tennis courts to include pickleball courts, making playground improvements, and improving the picnic pavilion. The Village is seeking grant funding to assist with the park improvements. We want to hear from residents about how you use the facilities currently, and any ideas you have about possible improvements. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey:

In 2022, the Village borrowed $290,000 toward Lagana park improvements, but intends to leverage those funds toward a comprehensive overhaul of a park that has been neglected for decades through an application for grant funding from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. We should know whether the grant has been awarded by December 2023. Once the Village knows what the financial parameters of the Lagana Park Improvements project will be, we will solicit more detailed feedback from the community through public meetings before drafting final specifications for the public bid in the first quarter of 2024. If the grant funds are not awarded, the Village will make park improvements, but they will likely be more limited in scope. 

The following is the draft concept plan to be submitted with the grant application: 

Con Ed Updates

Neperan Road: Gas service lines will be connected along Neperan Road next week. Please expect intermittent traffic disruptions.

Rosehill Avenue - Gas mains will be replaced next week between Fairview and Altamont, and subsequently between Altamont and Benedict. Please expect parking and traffic disruption.

Paving: Depending on the weather, paving is expected on South Washington Street, John Street, Franklin Street, and West Elizabeth Street the week of July 31. We will post additional information on Thursday, July 27 once we receive confirmation of the paving schedule from Con Ed.

Village Offices will be closed on Friday, August 11, 2023 for Records Management

The infamous red tape of government operations is regulated in New York by a 400-page tome to ensure proper archiving, transparency and accessibility. In a small government operation such as exists in Tarrytown, an annual day dedicated to keeping on top of the paperwork mountains is essential. This year, that day will be Friday, August 11. Village Hall will be closed to the public to allow staff to catch up on record keeping.

Fall Tree Planting

The Tarrytown Tree Commission's annual goal is to have at least 100 trees planted in our public spaces every year. We are looking ahead to fall planting season, and starting to compile our list of possible locations. Do you have a location in mind where you think we could use a new tree? Please send us your suggestions! Please email afasman@tarrytownny.gov and include the address or GPS coordinate with your recommendation.

Summer fun: Tarrytown campers meet Village First Responders and learn about all of the equipment that helps keep us safe.

Recreation Department: New Offerings

The Recreation Department has a number of new offerings to shout about. See flyers below for more information and click through to sign up!

• Adults-Only Luau Party at the Pool: Friday, July 28
• Sunset Yoga at Pierson Park
• Pickleball at Pierson Park
• Mini-Camps in August

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.

TravelStorys - an App for Visitors to the Tarrytowns

Check out the free audio tours of historical sites in our area. Have guests coming to visit this summer? It's a great way to help them get to know the area. Information in Tarrytown has been translated into Spanish.

PUBLIC HEARING AT KINGSLAND POINT PARK

THE KATHRYN DAVIS RIVERWALK CENTER

266 PALMER AVENUE - SLEEPY HOLLOW - NY 10591

Come share your thoughts about the future of Kingsland Point Park.

The Public Hearing will be conducted in English from 10:am to 11:am and in Spanish from 11:00am to 12:noon

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND!

**** Comments may also be sent to:  communications@westchestercountyny.gov 

The Council of Industry's

Manufacturers Apprentice Program Information Series

Looking to train your workforce to build the skills your company needs? The Council of Industry's apprentice program might be the answer.

The Council of Industry's Manufacturing Intermediary Apprentice Program (MIAP) is a comprehensive training program offering numerous benefits to employees and employers. Apprentices who complete this training will be awarded a recognized industry credential through the NYS Department of Labor.

This webinar series is designed to provide valuable insights on apprenticeships, incentives and best practices.

Exploring the Maintenance Mechanic Apprenticeship Program

Date: July 13

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Register

Exploring the Toolmaker Apprenticeship Program

Date: July 20

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Register

Exploring the Machinist (CNC) Apprenticeship Program

Date: July 27

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Register

Exploring the Industrial Manufacturing Tech Apprenticeship Program

Date: July 27

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Register

Expo Series for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises

Dates: July 13

Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Register

The final event of the 2023 New York State Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Regional Opportunities Expo Series will connect Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises with New York agencies and authorities, expert resources, information on State projects and tools to access State contracting opportunities.

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