Village of Ossining Marks 200 Years with Bicentennial Kick-Off Celebration

On Tuesday, April 2, 2013, the Village of Ossining will kick-off their bicentennial celebration, “Ossining in 3D,” with a special event from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Ossining Public Library’s Budarz Theater. The event, open to the public, will feature an exhibit of historical photos and artwork depicting 200 years of Ossining’s people, landmark buildings, and local natural treasures. A limited edition collection of photographs and maps selected from the exhibit have been professionally reproduced and will be available for purchase.

The kick-off event serves as a prelude to a year of Bicentennial festivities, bringing together members of the arts community and historical society with local dignitaries, business leaders, and the general public. Mayor William R. Hanauer and Ossining Historical Society member John Wunderlich, curator of the photo and art exhibit, will speak. Board members will also read from the legislation passed by New York State resulting in the Village’s incorporation on April 2, 1813.

“Now is the time to honor our past, celebrate the present, and build our future,” said Bicentennial Committee Chair George R. Camp. “We are thrilled to be partnering with a number of fantastic organizations to make this a truly special, enriching celebration not only for our community, but for the entire region.”

The cornerstone of the “Ossining in 3D” celebration will be a large-scale, 25-piece outdoor sculpture exhibit with installations in place from May through October throughout the Village’s historic buildings and downtown waterfront area. The six-month juried exhibition will provide direct and free access to art for thousands of residents and visitors.

“As one of the oldest historic villages on the Hudson River, Ossining is filled with a number of architectural gems,” said Camp. “The sculpture exhibit enhances our Village’s existing beauty, natural and manmade, with new works of art that are also rich in meaning.”

In addition to the sculpture exhibit, several events are planned over the spring, summer and fall months to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. Highlights include:

- Sculpture Exhibit Opening Reception (May 5): Celebrate the opening of the sculpture exhibit with a special meet-the-artist reception and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a tour of the sculptures

- Movies at the Waterfront (July-August): Enjoy a summer of movies from the 1930s to present day – all filmed right in your backyard. The series kicks-off with the 1932 drama “20,000 Years in Sing Sing” starring Spencer Tracy and Bette Davis

- Ossining Village Fair (June 8): One of the community’s premier events of the year, the Ossining Village Fair reflects the unique character of the Village, with a celebration that includes a wide range of vendors, food, games and live entertainment

- Best Slice in Town Competition (June 8): Held during the Ossining Village Fair, local pizzerias must impress a celebrity panel of judges as they compete for the title “Best Pizza in Ossining”

- Friday Summer Concert Series (July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16): Visit the waterfront park and then settle in at Harbor Square for an eclectic array of live music acts – everything from traditional jazz to modern favorites

- Heritage Tours (May-September): A variety of themed tours highlight the history, legends and lore of Ossining’s many architectural gems: Ellis Place Tour (May 11), Holy Ossining Tour (June 8), and A Grave Situation Tour (July 14)

- Mad Men Places Tour (September 14): This tour covers some of the real and fictional Ossining locations in the Mad Men TV program

- Harbor Fest (September 21): Explore the natural beauty of Ossining’s waterfront, see the tall ships, learn about Hudson River preservation efforts from the crew of the Clearwater Sloop, and enjoy a range of vendors, food, and live entertainment

-Plein Air Art Show (September 21): On-location painting by 40 artists at the Shattemuc Yacht Club, Westerly Road, Ossining.  Schedule: 9-3pm artists will be painting, 3-5pm public viewing, 5-7pm auction of artwork.

The Village of Ossining’s Bicentennial celebration is made possible with major support from Ginsburg Development Companies in collaboration with the Ossining Arts Council, Ossining Historical Society and the County of Westchester. Significant additional funding has been provided by General Electric Company, Emigrant Bank, Avalon Bay, Cedar Manor, Inc., Dorsey Funeral Home, Open Door Family Medical Center, Inc., Hudson Valley Bank, The Bethel Methodist Home, Solomon Organization, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc., Mahopac National Bank and Club Fit.

The Ossining Public Library is located at 53 Croton Avenue in Ossining. For more information on the kick-off celebration or other upcoming events, visit www.villageofossining.org or contact the Village Manager’s Office 914-941-3554.