boatingonthehudson.com HOLIDAY 2013 13
change of political administra-
tion since the building was ac-
quired by the Town of Ossining
in 1978. Before, during, and after
Super Storm Sandy last year,
club members were on hand to
prepare, protect and restore the
building at all hours of the day
and night, and at no cost to the
Town, or to Ossining’s taxpay-
ers. The club’s storm-resilient
construction, coupled with the
determination and commitment
of its skilled working members,
had the club back to work-
ing condition within weeks of
Sandy’s passing.
For nearly a century, this pic-
turesque wooden building has
given Ossining and the sur-
rounding area open access to
the magnificent Hudson River.
Early in the 20th century, the
club was formed to promote
canoeing and competition. As
motorized boats and sailboats
became popular, the OBCC
evolved to accommodate the
needs of the community. To
this day, as you travel over the
crest of the hill, you can see
both small motorized watercraft
and graceful sailboats sharing
OBCC’s mooring field against
the majestic backdrop of the
Palisades.
At minimal expense, anyone
can join OBCC. Since working
members do the skilled labor of
operating and maintaining the
club themselves, free of charge,
OBCC is able to keep member-
ship fees low in comparison to
other clubs or marinas that have
direct public access to the river.
The men and woman who are
full members contribute work
hours to care for the building.
Members and their families can
all enjoy the benefits that the
OBCC has to offer. OBCC is an
affordable working club that
offers both full and associate
levels of membership. Some of
OBCC’s current members actu-
ally moved to Ossining because
of the friendly atmosphere and
teamwork of OBCC.
“We rented in Ossining because
it was located between where
I was working and where my
wife was working. Eventually
we came to the conclusion that
it was the time in our lives to
make a residential purchase.
Although we had concerns
about making that commitment
here, I spoke to my wife and
told her that the friendships I
had formed at the Ossining Boat
and Canoe Club, the affordable
access to the river, my ability
to store my boat there, and my
sense of community and home
within the club building were
too important for me to buy
anywhere else.We have been
here for over 18 years now, and
we have been very happy”, says
current Rear Commodore Gary
Scherer.
OBCC treasurer Mike Pavelchek
adds “When my wife and I were
looking for homes, Ossining was
at the top of our list because of
OBCC.We were able to move
into a community where we al-
ready had a hundred friends. Af-
ter nearly two decades of living
here, the members of OBCC are
very much like family, and the
building is the family’s home.
OBCC is always ready to help
on the water or on the shore. Ev-
ery year, the club’s calendar is
filled with events, programs and
activities that facilitate and en-
courage the strong relationship
between the community and the
river. Some of these include:
The Ossining Community Sail-
ing Club, a program through
the Ossining Recreation De-
Two of OBCC’s youngest members, Lylablu and Ellyanna Swan
OBCC families gather to share meals
and playtime
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