PAINT THE TOWN RED! JOIN SUPPORTERS OF THE OSSINING BOAT AND CANOE CLUB TONIGHT AT 6:30

SUPPORTERS OF THE OSSINING BOAT AND CANOE CLUB TO HOLD A SUPPORT RALLY TONIGHT, TUES 2/4 AT 6:30 AT THE OSSINING PUBLIC LIBRARY

Supporters in favor of preserving the historic Ossining Boat and Canoe Club building have been planning to gather in a public rally at the Ossining Public Library since November, after inspectors brought in at the Town's direction padlocked the building.  However, discussion of the Town’s controversial plans to tear down the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club building was abruptly removed from the agenda for the November 19th Town Hall meeting, and rescheduled for two months later.  

The original rescheduled date of January 21st was snowed out, but since tonight appears that it will fall between storm systems, OBCC supporters are enthusiastically gearing up to appear prior to the Town Hall meeting in a demonstration of support for preserving the much-loved building. 

OBCC Trustee Meaddows Ryan released the following statement:   “With more snow in the forecast for Wednesday, we are thrilled that the Town Hall meeting at the Ossining Public Library on Tuesday will still take place as scheduled tonight.  Discussion of the Town's plans to raze the historic Ossining Boat and Canoe Club building is on the agenda, and we plan to meet beforehand to express our opposition to those plans, and our support for preservation. This is the event where we need to show our unity, our commitment, and most importantly, our numbers! Please join us for the support rally at 6:30, followed by the Town meeting at 7:30. Spread the word and bring as many people as you can, and please wear RED to show your love for the one, the only, and the ORIGINAL Ossining Boat and Canoe Club."

Members of Ossining Boat and Canoe Club have been working throughout the winter months with limited task-specific access to the building provided by the Town to update and correct concerns expressed by Town and building inspectors in November.  Another inspection was passed last week, and OBCC members are believe that the end of this process is within sight, following re-powering of the building by Con Ed, and then final repairs and inspections. All of the repairs and updates have been paid for by the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club, and countless hours of skilled labor provided by the volunteer members have likewise been provided at no cost to the Town or to taxpayers. 

Despite these efforts and investments by OBCC, the Town remains committed to their development plan geared to replacing the historic building with new construction, an objective that many within both OBCC membership and the greater community oppose.  Ossining Town Supervisor Sue Donnelly posted what she has referred to as "conceptual drawings" on the town website shortly after the Town Hall meeting on January 21st was snowed out.  Opponents of the development plan maintain that there is no reason to tear down a building designed to withstand all conditions at the foot of the river for almost a hundred years, especially when the building has continuously been declared structurally by officials and building inspectors. In addition, OBCC is run and paid for by the members at no cost to the Town or taxpayers, and provides an extensive list of community services.

For more information or to contact the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club, please visit www.obcc.org.