Cigar On Main Is Moving From East End To Middle Main Street In Former Dentist Office

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The former Prospect Dental office on Main Street, that has been vacant for some time, is getting a new tenant: Cigar On Main. The cigar store opened early last year on the east end of town, with a double-room layout to accompany their walk-in, temperature-controlled cigar cave. Cigar On Main are moving to 288 Main Street where they will now occupy two floors. This is right next door to Hudson Valley Food Hall.

In their new location, which is being completely renovated and built out, they are dedicating a the second floor “to all the cigar smokers in our community to come and interact with each other,” the owner told A Little Beacon Blog.

The ground floor will showcase the products Cigar On Main is known for (see a sampling here on their website). The new location will be open in a few months. During the renovation, Cigar on Main remains open at their current location of 520 Main Street, near the Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co.

Below are photos of what Cigar on Main looks like inside right now, before they head west for the former Prospect Dental spot.

White People Boycott Target In Mount Vernon, NY Over Its DEI Rollback

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News12 reported that people boycotted a Target in Mount Vernon, NY over the weekend, calling for it to reinstate its DEI programs.

Since Target announced their rollback of DEI, a $2 billion investment they made from 2016-2020, multiple Black-owned brands have stated that they have been dropped by Target, as reported by Black Information Network.

Early this March, LikeU Cards owner Kiara Imani announced over TikTok that Target dropped its contract with her business, which is a conversation-starting card game for parents, kids, and friends.

Kiara said in her announcement: "People keep asking my opinion about Target as a Black vendor who used to sell at Target. Don't go there. They dropped us along with a bunch of other Black vendors without a lot of notice."

LikeU is struggling to now sell 20,000 sets of cards through their website, likeucards.com. "There are tons of other creators of colors that had contracts that were dropped," Kiara said.

White people and Black people attended the protest outside of the Target in Mount Vernon, NY, according to News12 footage. Nation-wide, there are

Said Ronnie Lichtman of Neighbors Who Care: "We don't want Target to go out of business. We want them to reinstate their DEI policies. We hope that boycotts speak to them." According to Diversity.com, Target’s stock has gone down at least 12% since the boycotts started.

From as early as 2023, Target faced lawsuits from people challenging its DEI policy, calling it “reverse racism.” On January 21, 2025, the president signed an Executive Order to try to roll back DEI policies.

Target is among many corporate brands who have dropped their DEI policies at the pleasure of the president T, as Forbes reports.

Chinese Restaurant Reopens, and OG Beacon Is Here For It

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Left: Owner of the building and Chinese restaurant, Fa Tuan Ni was spotted behind the counter by a previous regular, the artist Teron Wright.
Right: Chinese character painted onto the side of the building: “Strength”

Fa Tuan Ni, owner of building and the Chinese Restaurant known as Xin Xing at 250 Main Street, has fired up the burners again and opened as promised on March 1st, 2025. The Beacon Internet is excited. Beacon-grown basketball player Elijah Hughes said on ALBB’s Instagram: “U can shakeback from anything in life.” Beacon-grown rapper TonyEChandy commented “Best Chinese spot in Beacon.”

Chef Drake KellzyLieu Hall said: "They're not new to this, they're TRUE TO THIS!"

The daughter of the artist Teron Wright who stopped in to the restaurant on opening day after delivering a piece of commissioned art to a collector who lives in Beacon.

On opening day, the Beacon-grown artist Teron Wright declared: “One time for the one time lol…They tried to shut us down but we back like we never left.” Teron had been delivering a commissioned piece of artwork to one of his collectors who lives in Beacon, and “figured why not grab me and my daughter a meal while we was in town,” Teron told ALBB.

“For those asking,” Teron reported on his own Instagram, “OG still behind the counter,” meaning, Teron was impressed and excited to see the familiar face of Fa Tuan Ni.

After a pause, Fa Tuan Ni gradually made changes to his building, which included painting the facade red and adding new characters to it that say “Peace” on the front of the building and “Strength” on the side of the building.

The Chinese character painted onto the front of Fa Tuan Ni’s building: “Peace”

Fa Tuan Ni can be seen on the outdoor fitness circuit, where he jogs up to the Beacon High School track to do calisthenics, or drops and does a few sets of 20 right outside his building on the sidewalk. In case anyone needed a dose of morning motivation.

Re Solicitors: City Administrator Says To "Call The Police;" vs Shut The Front Door

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In a post to the City of Beacon’s Facebook page, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White encouraged people to call the police after a person comes to an individual’s residence to sell services, as it is a violation of the City’s Peddling and Soliciting Law instead of simply shutting the front door.

People who come around selling services include local roofing companies, who will tell you they are “just finishing up a job on your street, and we wanted to give you an estimate or give you our card.” You can shut the front door.

Most common are younger people who come around selling alternative energy choices, and ask to see your Central Hudson bill to determine how much money you can save with their company. These people are usually from out of state and hired by those alternative energy companies to go around neighborhoods soliciting. These people are sometimes put up in hotels in Fishkill to do this work. For them, they are doing what they were hired to do. For us, they may be breaking Beacon’s local Peddling and Soliciting Law.

When you ask to see their Peddler’s Permit, they may say: “My manager has it,” or “I didn’t bring it with me.” All you need to do is shut the front door. In 2018, there was a convincing campaign going around for testing the water. The company did apply for an receive a Peddler’s Permit, according to then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, but their marketing was masked, as reported by ALBB. Read about that here.

If your child is home with you, and they see you swiftly deny this person consideration for their services, your child may tone-police you and say: “Mommy, why were you rude to that person?” You can simply say: “It is not rude to deny a person entry to our home, or consideration for their services. If that is rude, then sometimes Mommy is rude.”

No included in the Peddler’s Permit requirement are Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school groups, and politicians. Former Beacon City Councilmember and current Chair for the Spirit of Beacon Day, Ali T. Muhammad, responded to the Facebook message with this comment: “And this is not a message telling you not to participate in the electoral process of signing someone’s petition to get on the ballot. Support the process. It’ll help you become an informed voter.”

Calling the police is an escalation. Just say no. Or “No thank you, have a nice day.”

During campaign seasons, people seeking to get onto the local ballot are required to get a number of signatures to be considered. Especially if that person is new to politics, this might be a new face.

Message From The City Administrator Chris White:

From the original post, the message reads: “The City has received reports over the past week of solicitors going door to door to sell services. If someone comes to your door, please ask them to show their City of Beacon permit and check the date to make sure it is not expired. All solicitors are required to obtain and carry a "Peddling and Soliciting Permit" under our local law with the exception of local youth (e.g. Scouts, school groups) and political candidates. If they cannot show their Peddler Permit, please call the Police at 845-831-4111 and report them for violating the City's Peddler Law. Also, if you do not want any solicitors at your home, you can either put up signage stating "No Solicitors" or register your address on the City's "No Knock List."

City Of Beacon's Building Inspector Bruce Flower Resigns; A Look At 2 Questionable Situations He Was Involved In

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City of Beacon’s Building Inspector to leave position for Town of Poughkeepsie.

The City of Beacon’s Building Inspector, Bruce Flower, is leaving Beacon for his former area of employment in the Town of Poughkeepsie, as was announced during the City Council Workshop Meeting on 1/27/2025.

There are at least two questionable incidents in Beacon that Bruce is connected to:

  • Community Re-Development: Bruce was responsible for recommending that an intentionally burned down boarding house be rebuilt to accomodate one family instead of 9 apartments, as it was slated to do before the arson during an affordable housing crisis. Neighbors of the boarding house at 925 Wolcott Avenue demanded that the boarding house be rezoned to a single-family home because they didn’t like the renters or the owner, as evidenced in their letters to Beacon’s Zoning Board. ALBB has not looked into how many of the opposing neighbors also run AirBnBs or are in favor of short-term rentals in single-family homes. Bruce’s interpretation of the law did strip the zoning from the boarding house. This interpretation potentially incentives arson or destruction of a property by 50% or more in order to nullify its current zoning status, should an owner or third party want to do that.

  • Personal Persecution: Bruce encouraged Sun River Health management to file a Misdemeanor Complaint against the chalk artist Ryan Manzi who chalked “Free Palestine” onto the back of their building on Main Street (which faces Main Street), as per the Misdemeanor Complaint that ALBB has seen.

Both of these topics are explored in this article. To gain context, this article includes a look at the history of Building Inspectors in Beacon since 2018, when Tim Dexter abruptly retired as Building Inspector in 2018.

Bruce Flower joined the City of Beacon as Building Inspector II in October 2022, leaving his job of 18 years as Deputy Building Inspector for the Town of Poughkeepsie, according to Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White at the 1/27/2025 Workshop Meeting. While the numeral II is in the title, it does not mean that there are 2 Building Inspectors, as City Administrator Chris explained when a Councilmember asked him at the 2/3/2025 City Council Meeting.

Dave Buckley was Beacon’s Building Inspector when Bruce came in. Dave started as Acting Building Inspector in January 2019 when Tim Dexter retired at the end of 2018. While Dave was to be “Acting,” his temporary position as Building Inspector lasted for 2 years. After Tim Dexter retired in November 2018, Mayor Randy Casale’s appointee, George Kolb Jr., ended up declining the job in January 2019 after accepting it in November 2018. That contributed to Dave Buckley being in his position 2 years longer as Acting Building Inspector.

One of the issues Tim Dexter was most known for in Beacon was his handling of proposed legalization of AirBnB apartments. He stuck to his interpretation of zoning requirements to require an egress window or sprinkler system be in residential units that were to be officially recognized as permitted AirBnB units in Beacon. These fire-safety installations can be an expensive fire-safety investment for homeowners who are trying to offer short term rentals for additional income. This was widely pushed back on by Beacon homeowners seeking legal recognition of their AirBnB short-term rentals.

The egress window or sprinkler system requirement was later reversed by the next Acting Building Inspector, Dave Buckley, who had been the Deputy Building Inspector at the time. As Acting Building Inspector, Dave interpreted the law differently, saying that short-term rentals could be designated as “accessory use,” which would not require homeowners to have egress windows or sprinkler systems in order to acquire their short-term rental permit.

In 2022, Mayor Lee and City Administrator Chris White tried to bring Tim Dexter back onto the City of Beacon’s payroll as a consultant for the construction of the multi-million dollar new firehouse. This was briefly discussed publicly, but never brought to an official appointment after information about Tim Dexter was submitted to the then new City Council, according to Jason Hughes, a Beacon business owner of The Yard. Therefore, Dave Buckley remained on as Acting Building Inspector until Cory Wirthmann was appointed in July 2023.

Enter Cory Wirthmann

Beacon hired Cory Wirthmann as Deputy Building Inspector, in July 2023. Cory also co-owns the olive oil shop on Main Street, Scarborough Fare, producers of delicious infused olive oils and other culinary items. Cory is also the fire chief in New Palz. Now that Bruce is leaving, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris is recommending that Cory Wirthmann be appointed to Acting Building Inspector when Bruce leaves while they search the civil service list for an applicant match.

What Does The Building Inspector Do?

The Building Inspector interprets zoning laws along with the City Attorney and at times, with the City Council. The Building Inspector interacts with the Beacon community when he or she speaks with business owners or homeowners about any zoning or safety issues that may arise.

While Cory has been in Beacon since July 2023, it seems as though Beacon’s City Council has never met Cory before. During the 1/27/2025 City Council Workshop Meeting, Councilmember Molly Rhodes asked City Administrator Chris if the Council could meet Cory. “If he does become Acting Head or Head, if we're able to meet him either as a public session or Executive Session just to kind of get to know him as we did with Bruce. Kind of like, have the ability for the Council to kind of get to know him.”

City Administrator Chris didn’t think that necessary or possible: “I think I would need to check his availability. He’s also a fire chief and has a lot of commitments,” City Administrator Chris said. As a fire chief with a lot of commitments, it is unclear how Cory will perform his duties as Acting Building Inspector for the City of Beacon, if he can’t go down to Town Hall on a Monday night at 7pm to meet City Council. However, Cory did not speak for himself. City Administrator Chris made assumptions for him to block his schedule when Councilmember Molly requested to meet Corry.

Councilmember Molly pressed on: “To be clear, I'm just thinking for, because we did get a chance to meet other Heads of departments.”

City Administrator Chris responded: “I would just say probably the permanent person we would bring into to me of course.” Councilmember Molly pointed out that the Acting status may last a long time: “I'll defer to you once you learn more about how long he might be Acting for and that might also dictate what seems appropriate both from a practical and from a legal perspective.” In the case of the Acting appointment with Dave Buckley, that appointment lasted 2 years before Bruce Flower was hired.

Some business people in Beacon have told ALBB that interacting with Cory for permits and related matters has been a positive experience.

After Bruce Flower Leaves

Councilperson Paloma Wake was interested in information provided from Bruce’s Exit Interview. “This is a request I guess for any person who's leaving us. I assume that if anything relevant comes up in Bruce's exit interview, if it's relevant to hiring the next person, that that would be incorporated by Sara.” Sara Morris is Beacon’s HR Director. The City of Beacon never had an HR Director until around the time they put up their first Diversity Statement in 2020. Gina Bisale was the first HR Director, but she left shortly thereafter and Sara replaced her.

City Administrator Chris responded "I will leave that up to Sara,"

Councilperson Paloma presented an assumption: "It sounds like Bruce is leaving just because there's a bigger opportunity in a bigger city. Still, if there is anything relevant."

City Administrator Chris pressed that Bruce was moving into more of a Building role in the Town of Poughkeepsie, not that of a Zoning influence, stating: “He was in that position for 18 years and then the person above him retired. So we basically borrowed him for 2.5 years from the Town of Poughkeepsie. He also will focus more on the Building aspect and less on Zoning and Planning. They break that down between multiple staff. So they have a person who oversees Planning and Zoning. He will do Building then they have a Code Enforcement person. He's kind of all three of those here. “

How Bruce Flower Was Involved In Nixing 9 Renovated Apartments For People With Low Income During An Affordable Housing Crisis

The old boarding house that had 16 small SRO apartments in it at 925 Wolcott Avenue, with the gorgeous wrap-around porch, that had been a home to people with low income for decades in Beacon, burned down in January 2023. It was arson. A male tenant who was living in it was scheduled for eviction that day. He decided instead to douse it in gasoline, torch it, turn himself in, and plead guilty. No one was hurt. No one was inside. Neighboring houses were endangered by the flames and heat of the blaze.

The boarding house was undergoing renovations by new owner Yeshia Berger of 925 Wolcott Ave LLC, who bought it in July 2022, to scale down the number of apartments from 16 to 9 units, and keep them as SRO rentals (Single Room Occupancy in apartments or residential hotels in which low-income or welfare tenants live in single rooms). Yeshia began to fix the front porch before a permit was issued to him, neighbors told ALBB. Porch work in Beacon is often flagged by Building Inspectors for not being properly permitted first.

However, the neighbors weren’t mad that the old boarding house was gone. They were mad that the owner hadn’t cleaned the burned site quick enough, as reported in the Highlands Current. According to the newspaper, insurance payments were delayed, as happens when fires burn down properties. The neighbors then pursued a media campaign and Change.org petition in June 2023 titled “NO Zoning Variance to allow 'market rate' 9 unit building for 925 Wolcott, Beacon NY” to make sure an apartment building of any kind was rebuilt. The odd thing about including “market rate” in their Change.org petition title is that the apartments were slated to continue to be SRO units, which are reserved for people with low income.

The media campaign included letters from neighbors submitted to Beacon’s Zoning Board of Appeals in the neighbors’ pursuit to get the boarding house re-zoned to be a single-family home after more than 50% of it was destroyed by the fire. They wanted Beacon’s Zoning Board stop the already-in-progress renovation of the property so that low income people could not live there anymore.

The Highlands Current presented it this way: “The owner of a Beacon boardinghouse that was destroyed by fire in January wants to rebuild, although the surrounding neighborhood is zoned for single-family homes.” The boarding house had been there long before some of the people opposing its use lived in that neighborhood.

In fact, ALBB’s own co-host of our podcast, “Wait, What Is That?” Brandon Lillard, had looked at it with his mother 30 years ago when they were moving to Beacon from Brooklyn, before he attended high school at the Old Beacon High School when it was actually a school, not commercial studio spaces like it is now.

The new property owner, Yeshia Berger, wanted to rebuild his building and continue with the 9 SRO apartments as planned and previously approved in December 2022, just one month before the arson.

According to reporting, Yeshia bought the boarding house for $650,000 and was estimated to be making $20,000/month from the SRO rentals.

Neighbors pushed fervently to prevent the boarding house from rising again, which had been housing people of varying backgrounds for decades. In their letters submitted to Beacon’s Zoning Board, they used the income to present a case of unjustified profits as part of their justification to nix the apartments.

Some neighbors alluded to fights or gunshots that would happen at or near the boarding house. Others said in their letters to the Zoning Board: “What we need is affordable housing, not this extreme demonstration of wealth.” Ironic, that the apartments provided in this boarding house, and the apartments that the developer Yeshia Berger was going to rebuild, were zoned as affordable housing.

925 Wolcott Avenue after arson destroyed the decades old, multi-apartment boarding house located there. This is the new Single Family home that was constructed by Faust, with encouragement from the neighborhood who petitioned for the former property owner Yeshia Berger to be stripped of his right to re-build the SRO apartments during an Affordable Housing Crisis, with the Encouragement of then Building Inspector Bruce Flower.

The anti-apartment rhetoric from the neighbors questions if they really want affordable housing after all. Especially when the boarding house property later sold for half the price for which Yeshia had purchased it.

After the re-zoning and the sale, the luxury designers and builders Faust Interiors began building a single-family home on the property, as they confirmed to ALBB.

The rezoning resulted in profits going to a different group of people perhaps more approved of by the neighbors, resulting in a comfortable home for one family instead of nine.

Building Inspector Bruce Flower denied Yeshia the right to rebuild the apartments, citing 3 reasons, as reported here by the Highlands Current.

Bruce supplied his 3 recommendations, but the Beacon Zoning board reversed 2 of them, according to the Highlands Current. “Had they reversed all of them, the 9 apartments would be able to be re-built,” the newspaper reported. Neighbors, however, through the petition, were intent on stopping the income from the apartments, with possibly no regard for new renters who needed to occupy the apartments.

James Case-Leal, the creator of the petition, stated reasons in an Update to the petition to encourage people to turn out to reject the building of the apartments when Yeshia continued his legal appeals to be able to rebuild, which included encouragement to come out to the Zoning Board Meeting to:

  • prevent “another attempt to persuade the Zoning Board to bend the law for them to make a huge profit off of our community,” and

  • “express your support of Beacon zoning and opposition to the developer’s appeal to build another SRO.” The building was already an SRO, being renovated to serve 9 units instead of 16 units for different people to move into in order to stay in Beacon.

Through his attorney, Taylor Palmer of Cuddy and Feder, Yeshia said he would appeal the decision. But he ended up withdrawing his application in January 2024 according to a Zoning Board agenda and listed his charred property for $279.000, and sold it for $315,000 according to Zillow.

In its reporting of the zoning change, the Highlands Current quoted the Zoning Board’s conclusive direction as: “In its resolution denying Berger’s request, the ZBA said it was not ‘deciding the merits of the applicant’s proposed use and/or any opposition’ but was only making decisions on the building inspector’s determinations.” The one Zoning Board dissenter on the vote wanted to hire a consultant to test the boarding house owner’s presentation of findings. Circles were going to continue until Yeshia was out.

The newspaper reported: “Berger would only have been allowed to proceed with his December plans if the ZBA had reversed all three of Flower’s determinations.”

Also inconsistent with the City of Beacon’s pattern of going to great lengths to preserve historic buildings and architectural details is the loss of the boarding house that was going to be rebuilt after the fire. Beacon lost not only 9 apartments available to people with low incomes, but it lost an architectural gem, something for which it says it prides itself on.

Pictured below is the boarding house at 925 Wolcott before it was burned down in arson in January 2023:

Articles used in 925 Wolcott research to aid in timeline:

4/7/2023
”Beacon Wants Burned Home Cleared Out"

7/21/2023
"Beacon Boardinghouse Denied But Appeal Expected"
This article included a brief history of why the boarding house may have been created in the first lace, to help the community, from Denise Doring VanBuren, president of the Beacon Historical Society, and Diane Lapis, a society trustee.

8/18/2023
"Boardinghouse Owner Asks for Variance"

The attorneys for Yeshia, stated in a letter of appeal to Beacon’s Zoning Board: “A plain reading of Zoning Code section 223.20.D does not terminate a legal existing non-oncoming use that was destroyed more than 50% and any ambiguity regarding this damaged building regulation must be read in favor of the property owner.”

 

The Zoning Code section 223.20.D reads:

If any nonconforming building shall be destroyed by any means to an extent of more than 50%, no repairs or reconstruction shall be made unless every portion of such building is made to conform to all the regulations of this chapter for the district in which it is located.

Where the destruction of such nonconforming building is less than 50%, it may be restored and the nonconforming use continued, provided that the total cost of such restoration does not exceed the replacement value of the destroyed portion of the building at the time if its destruction and future provided that such restoration is started within a period of 6 months of such destruction and is diligently prosecuted to completion. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any wall declared unsafe by the Building Inspector.

 

The Attorney's Conclusion:

“Any interpretation that Section 223-10.(D) of the Zoning Code allows a non-conforming use to be extinguished when more than 50% of a structure is destroyed would create a dangerous precedent incentivizing the future destruction of similar structures. A plain reading of the applicable section of the regulations regarding a building that is destroyed more than 50% clearly does not regulate the use.”

How Bruce Flower Was Involved In Adding An Additional Misdemeanor Complaint That Contributed To The Imprisoning Of The “Free Palestine” Chalk Artist Ryan Manzi

Back in March 2024, a series of events rolled together, landing one well known Beacon resident and artist, Ryan Manzi, in jail for 4 months after he chalked “Free Palestine” onto the long brick wall that is the back of the Sun River Health Facility on Henry Street. The back of their building faces Main Street at 341 Main Street.

White paint dripping down the wall after someone applied it over the chalk of the Free Palestine message.

White paint spread over the chalk of the Palestinian flag.

At 3:40pm on March 25, 2024, Ryan visited the wall where he had previously chalked “Free Palestine” and various other designs around March 17, 2024, including Scooby-Doo, the word BEACON in large print, and a lucky shamrock for the annual St. Paddy’s Parade in Beacon. Known for his chalk art around town in front of the Towne Cryer, the Post Office, Smoker’s Mecca and other spots, seeing him here was part of a normal day in Beacon.

Not normal, however, was when someone poured white paint over the words “Free Palestine” and the Palestinian flag Ryan chalked onto the building. That person has never been identified. No other markings had paint on them. This act of paint throwing could be viewed as a hate crime or antisemetic crime, since it desecrated a semetic Palestinian symbol, and permanently damaged a building.

Ryan inspected the paint to see what could be learned from the application, and then re-chalked the “Free Palestine” message and flag. A Little Beacon Blog videoed it, and published an article about it. Many people walked by as Ryan chalked, saying hello to Ryan, and cheering him on, as can be heard in the video republished at the bottom of this article.

The Misdemeanor Complaint From Sun River Health

According to a deposition from Sun River Health Management that ALBB has seen as published in this article, Bruce Flower contacted Sun River Health about the chalk art and graffiti. The deposition complaint which led to a Misdemeanor Complaint was filed by the Regional Director of Facilities for Sun River, Marco P. Faustino.

In the complaint, Marco acknowledged that the paint and the chalk were done by different people, but told Bruce that graffiti had been an “ongoing issue” at the building, without identifying who did that graffiti.

Editorial Note: As a local who walks past the front and back of Sun River Health on a daily basis, I have never seen graffiti on it. When other buildings in town get media coverage for when their buildings are tagged by anonymous graffiti makers, Sun River Health’s building has not been among them. Please write in to ALBB if you know of and have visible proof of something different. A picture of Sun River Health’s facade on Henry Street is published below, and shows no markings of covered graffiti.

According to a deposition given by Marco to the Beacon Police on March 28, 2024 that ALBB has seen as has been published here, Bruce recommended that Marco file a report with the Beacon Police, which he did. Notable, however, is that it is unknown at this time if Bruce had called Sun River about this other graffiti that Marco mentioned, or if it was over the “Free Palestine” marking, with separate paint splattered on top of it by a different person.

Chris White, City Administrator for the City of Beacon.

Soon after Bruce contacted Sun River, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White had an interaction with Ryan while Ryan was crossing Wolcott Avenue on April 4, 2024, walking to the train station. The interaction led to the arrest of Ryan.

City Administrator Chris alleged in his Police Report, that ALBB has seen and has been published in this article, that as Ryan was crossing the street, “Ryan stopped in the roadway and began to give me the finger. I gave him the finger in return and drove past him as he proceeded to move off toward the sidewalk and descend the staircase toward Beacon Police Station.

“As I reached the red light at the intersection, I decided to look back in my rear-view mirror and saw Ryan charging at my car. I heard a loud thump on the back car and thought Ryan had just damaged my vehicle with a bottle. I then saw a plastic bottle full of liquid in his hand. I began to cross the intersection where I turned right on South Ave and parked my vehicle near Polhill Park. I then contacted the Beacon Police Department to file a report. As I talked to the dispatcher, Ryan again approached my vehicle and began recording me from the driver’s side window. At this time, Beacon Police arrived at my location, where Ryan began to argue and resist with Police. Ryan’s actions made me feel fearful at the time of our engagement.”

Ryan told ALBB that he did not “give the finger,” and told ALBB that he thought he heard Chris shout “terrorist” to him from his car window. When ALBB asked City Administrator Chris if that was true, he responded “No.”

Ryan told ALBB that as he was descending the stairs to continue walking to the train station, Sgt. James Serrine came out of the police station to approach Ryan, telling Ryan that he was under arrest, after City Administrator Chris had made his call to the police. Ryan told ALBB: “Thirty seconds after an incident, there is no way you can justify arresting someone. You can detain someone, but stating arrest requires an investigation. That’s when I backed away up the stairs and ran towards Polhill Park. Rule #1 when it comes to Beacon Police: make sure there’s witnesses.”

Ryan continued: “I never filmed White. I was on the phone calling the police to report harassment. He revved his engine at me and that’s when he called me a terrorist. So that’s when I came up to the car.”

The Misdemeanor Complaint for the Free Palestine chalk art was filed before this incident, but was added to Ryan’s charges after he was incarcerated for the Chris White incident, keeping Ryan in jail for 4 months, Ryan told ALBB. “Apparently the chalk was filed the week before the incident with Mr. White. He didn’t leave his car, called the cops by Polhill Park (showing he wasn’t fearful for his safety if he remained in the area as I continued walking down to the train station passing the Police Station). I was then in jail on $10,000 bail that violated penal law. I didn’t get the chalk charges until I was already incarcerated.”

Ryan was released 4 months later on a plea agreement to probation, he told ALBB.

In a separate incident, City Administrator Chris did have an altercation with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at a City Council Swearing-In Ceremony that the NYCLU said violated the Open Meetings Law, as City Administrator Chris blocked signage and called for the arrest of peaceful citizens.

In City Administrator Chris’ deposition of the April 4th incident, he stated: “I have never had any personal interactions with Ryan before today. I’ve learned of Ryan’s identity from a recent Beacon Blog where he was observed to be chalking a brick wall on Main Street.” The report goes on to detail more of their interaction.

Ryan Manzi is the nephew of Michael Manzi, the Superintendent of Streets for the City of Beacon. Ryan and his mother, who is Michael’s sister, told ALBB that Michael and Ryan do not speak currently, but used to be close years ago.

This story is ongoing and will be explored in other articles.

There is more to this story, which will be printed in a future article series.

Investor Seraphim Equities Aims to Buy 30% Of All Rentals in Newburgh - Already Faced Pushback For Artwashing And Property "Hoarding" in 2021

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by Arvind Dilawar
Arvind is an independent journalist. His articles, essays and interviews have appeared in The New York Times, Time Magazine, The Daily Beast and elsewhere. Find him online at: adilawar.com

“Seraphim Equities already owns nearly 5% of the city’s rental units.”

Photo Credit: Princeton University Press

The City of Newburgh is only four square miles and, according to the most recent Census data, includes fewer than 7,400 rental units. Seraphim Equities, a Long Island-based private real estate investment firm, owns nearly 300 of those units — almost 5% of the total — per public property records reviewed by A Little Beacon Blog. The purchases are part of Seraphim's strategy to corner the rental market in Newburgh — of which the firm hopes to control at least 30%, as reported by sociologist Richard E. Ocejo in his recent book Sixty Miles Upriver: Gentrification in a Small American City.

Seraphim Equities is a real estate investment firm based in Great Neck, Long Island.

224 Broadway, Newburgh, NY
Photo Credit: Google

Since 2018, Seraphim has purchased properties throughout Newburgh, all under various limited liability corporations similarly named “Newburgh SHG.” Following some of those acquisitions, the firm took legal action against the remaining tenants, such as in 2020 when “Newburgh SHG 15” — the LLC which owns 224 Broadway — filed non-payment proceedings against three different defendants, per public court records reported on more broadly at Chronogram’s The River. In 2021, Seraphim also attempted to organize a festival in Newburgh called Hudson Valley Hype in partnership with Fidelity Management Group, which was cancelled after locals like Celebrate845 criticized it as a ploy to market real estate. (Seraphim failed to respond to multiple requests for comment from A Little Beacon Blog.)

The Mural at 224 Broadway in Newburgh that Seraphim Equities commissioned to artwash displacing residents.
PHoto Credit: Celebrate845

Celebrate845 explained: “The company bought up an astounding amount of property in Newburgh New York when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and states on their website that ‘Newburgh re-emerges with a major revitalization movement fueled by an existing and growing artist community, non-profit organizations, and ambitious yet socially conscious developers, making Newburgh a city worth exploring.’ Seraphim is taking advantage of Newburgh by hoarding housing during a pandemic, flipping properties, and then using the creative community as a means to increase property values, ultimately displacing creatives and other long time residents, many of whom are low income BIPOC.”

For Sixty Miles Upriver, which was published in 2024, Ocejo interviewed Seraphim leadership and employees, who told him of their plans of “owning up to 30% of all rental units,” as he writes in his book. In an interview with A Little Beacon Blog, Ocejo further describes the firm’s operations in Newburgh.

“Seraphim is taking advantage of Newburgh by hoarding housing during a pandemic, flipping properties, and then using the creative community as a means to increase property values, ultimately displacing creatives and other long time residents, many of whom are low income BIPOC.”
— Celebrate845

“Companies like Seraphim manage an investment fund to purchase and rent out a large number of properties or speculate and sell them for profit,” says Ocejo. “The model is based on using investors' investments to acquire properties and generate income from escalating property values and rents.”

By soliciting outside investment and focusing it on markets like Newburgh, which are small and on the upswing, but still relatively depressed, Seraphim is able to gain control of a greater share of rental units and thereby demand higher rental prices. That higher rent compensates both the firm and its investors for their respective investments, and everyone is happy — except, of course, for renters. In Newburgh, where 69% of residents rent and 61% of renters are already cost-burdened, Seraphim cornering the market means renters are likely to see greater financial hardship and displacement, either via eviction or simply being priced out of their homes.

“By soliciting outside investment and focusing it on markets like Newburgh, which are small and on the upswing, but still relatively depressed, Seraphim is able to gain control of a greater share of rental units and thereby demand higher rental prices. That higher rent compensates both the firm and its investors for their respective investments, and everyone is happy — except, of course, for renters.”

Indeed, Seraphim is not shy about its method, which they placed prominently on their website homepage: “Seraphim Equities developed a city feasibility reporting system that algorithmically identifies cities and neighborhoods that are equipped for a holistic rejuvenation movement. Seraphim Equities leverages the expertise of its team to devise compelling business plans that combine real estate speculation and stabilization with capital markets partnerships to successfully develop cash-flowing portfolios of 1-4 family and mixed-use properties for acquisition by private equity firms and institutions.”

“With enough investors, a company like Seraphim can purchase a lot of rental properties in a market and contribute to unaffordable rents and fewer ownership opportunities for smaller actors,” says Ocejo. “When rental housing gets connected to financial markets, and the expectation is a continuous rise in value from rent and property appreciation, low-income people in high-poverty places like Newburgh suffer the most.”

Menorah Lighting From Chabad of Beacon Had Donuts, Latkes, Fire; But No Mention Of Genocide

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For the second year in a row, newly established Chabad of Beacon hosted a Menorah Lighting at Pohill Park, with a temporary structure that cannot remain overnight. Unlike in year’s past where the Bicycle Menorah from Beacon Arts and Beacon Hebrew Alliance would set up a menorah sculpture for 8 nights of differently themed dedications (aka Illumin8), this current City Administrator won’t allow such temporary structures to remain daily. The full video of this menorah lighting, and a bit of the fire show, are at the bottom of this article.

Donuts and Latkes at the Menorah Lighting.

The evening before dusk was full of neighborly spirit, plump donuts, fresh latkes, and music from a DJ playing remixes of Chanukah songs set to Top 40 beats. Sharing of treats is important to this holiday, as per one of the blessings that was passed out on a flyer: “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah. Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora. Gather round the table, we’ll all have a treat.”

The main emphasis for the lighting of the candles, as presented by Rabbi Shaya of Chabad Beacon, was the presentation of the idea of being a light in the darkness. He said there are two opinions to lighting the menorah:

  1. Light 8 candles all at once, starting with 8, and going down from there. Signifies a group, working together to light the darkness. The only way to be a light in the darkness is to be all together. You can't be alone. “Once you do all 8 together, you're tighter as a group, you can fight the darkness,” he said as he explained the opinion.

  2. Light 1 candle first, then 2, then 3, “like we are doing tonight,” Rabbi Shaya said.

    What is the difference of opinions, he asked? “The Menorah is all about being a light in the darkness. Lighting 1 light can light the darkness…You don't need a group with you,” he said. “You don't need 15 people. Whatever the good deed is that you're doing, you are lighting up the darkness.”

Rabbi Shaya's message was: "Let's be the light."

There was no mention of the genocide that Israel is enacting onto the people of Palestine in the name of Jewish people, some of whom insist “Not in my name.” This omission made celebrating the music difficult for those in attendance who do acknowledge and are following the genocide, which is being live streamed on our phones every second of the days and nights for 449 dark days, with no lighted end in sight.

The Fire Show

The Chabad of Beacon encouraged all to attend, promising a fire show to accompany the candle lighting. While the fire dancer was talented, watching the bursts of flames twirl around her was triggering for those who care about people being genocided with fire.

Those who witness the genocide have been watching decapitated babies burn, their charred bodies remaining in the arms of men trying to save them. At least three people including Aaron Bushnell, the active duty member of the US Air Force who fatally set himself on fire in protest of the genocide.

Rabbi Shaya with a second Rabbi who lit the rest of the candles after Mayor Kyriacou.

The day before the Menorah lighting in Beacon, the Israeli army burned down Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning hospital in Northern Gaza. “Doctors have been kidnapped, medics were burned alive, anyone who was mobile was forced to strip and told to travel by foot to the Indonesian hospital, which is not currently functioning,” reported @HealthCareWorkersForPalestine, who are encouraging people to call major media outlets to demand that they report on this, which US media outlets continue to black out. Keeping the genocide in darkness.

That, plus the homeless woman who was burned alive in a New York subway car as she stood paralyzed in pain, her identity of which cannot be found as of yet. The fiery visuals of the Chanukah fire show in Beacon were difficult to absorb.

The Lighting

Rabbi Shaya invited Mayor Lee Kyriacou to light the first candle. As Mayor Lee accepted the flame with which to light the first candle, he said: “So this is a tiki torch. A cross cultural event. But only to say…Thank you all for being here. Please enjoy your holidays however you celebrate them. Let's always be a Welcoming community. And that's all.”

Under the previous administration of Mayor Randy Casale, citizens of Beacon pushed for it to be a Welcoming City in 2019, when all could not agree on risking federal funding to be a Sanctuary City. After Mayor Lee lit the menorah, he said: “Mai Tais are going to be in the back, after we finish the lighting. And then we do the Polynesian hula dance.”

“Not In Our Name”: Beacons Of Light Represent Jews Against Genocide

Silently, and in the periphery of the menorah lighting, stood five people representing some Jewish people in Beacon who are protesting the Israeli genocide of Palestinian people.

A second Menorah Lighting has been organized for January 1, 2025, for people who need to recognize the genocide in order to celebrate. The theme is “Nobody is Free Until Everybody Is Free.”

A courageous thing to do, as those in the Jewish community are split. Those opposing Israel’s murder of Palestinians (sometimes known as Anti-Zionist Jews) have been mocked by other Jews who do not acknowledge, or defend the genocide (sometimes known as Zios or Zionist Jews), which follows the belief that the founders of Zionism weaponized Judaism to gain and maintain white supremacy.

One representative of the anti-genocide group passed out flyers promoting a second menorah lighting for January 1, 2025, with the theme “Nobody Is Free Until Everybody Is Free.” They did so safely and comfortably throughout the crowd, talking to some neighbors.

One of the organizers of the anti-genocide group, Phoebe Zinman, told A Little Beacon Blog: “Some people were really appreciative and grateful that we were there.” One neighbor approached the small group to ask who they were with. Phoebe said: “I told them we weren’t a coalition with a name. We were a group of Jewish people who had been in conversation and doing things since October of 2023.”

The Reception Of Anti-Genocide Jews At The Chabad Menorah Lighting

Three of the attendees of the anti-genocide group that attended the Chabad Beacon’s Menorah Lighting. From left: Loren Miller, Phoebe Zinman, and Lucky Longo.

“One man waving an Israeli flag told the anti-genocide Jews from Beacon: ‘You’re ruining our celebration.’ The anti-Zionist, anti-genocide Jews went on to describe what a different man said to them, who was wearing a tank top and was adorned in tattoos: “He said he would come ruin Christmas for us, and I said ‘We’re Jewish.’ And he said ‘I don’t care. You’re chickens for KFC.’ Which is hilarious to me. Does that make Palestine KFC? Does that make him a chicken standing up for being a chicken? So he just wants to be free to live as a chicken who won’t be slaughtered…like how Gazans are being slaughtered?”
— Phoebe Zinman, as told to ALBB

ALBB asked Phoebe how their presence was received at the menorah lighting. “We wanted to be here as a presence, showing that Palestine will not be erased. It’s part of this, and it’s not appropriate to celebrate Chanukah when this is happening. Like we’re killing….their children are our children.”

Speaking as a Jewish person, Phoebe and the other Jewish organizers wanted to make it explicit: “We can’t celebrate; we can’t participate in this holiday while this is happening. A celebration that doesn’t acknowledge what’s happening is not appropriate.”

The “Tank Top” guy who called the anti-ceasefire group “chickens for KFC.”

On the reverse, some celebrating attendees told the anti-genocide group that their presence was not appropriate. One man waving an Israeli flag told them: “You’re ruining our celebration.” Phoebe described what a different man said to them, who was wearing a tank top and adorned in tattoos: “He said he would come ruin Christmas for us, and I said ‘We’re Jewish.’ And he said ‘I don’t care. You’re chickens for KFC.’ Which is hilarious to me. Does that make Palestine KFC? Does that make him a chicken standing up for being a chicken? So he just wants to be free to live as a chicken who won’t be slaughtered…like how Gazans are being slaughtered?”

Lucky Longo, a non-Jewish participant with the anti-genocide group, told ALBB: “My sign says “From Darkness to Light; Stand For Palestinian Rights.” Lucky told ALBB that she wanted to be inclusive for Chanuka, “but I wanted to bring awareness as a non-Jewish person to this as a community member also.” As for their reception, Lucky said: “It was slightly ignored, but also, not super receptive. I still think in the back of people’s minds it will bring awareness.”

The man waving the Israeli flag who told the anti-ceasefire group that they were “ruining” the celebration. Overall the celebration was very celebratory. The anti-genocide group was standing in the background silently.

Ceasefire City

Beacon is a Ceasefire city. Through a pressure packed few weeks, Beacon’s City Council did sign a Ceasefire Resolution. It takes courage to be the light in the face of white supremacy. Supremacy is maintained through the darkness of intimidation by bullies. Perhaps Chabad Beacon will be that light for others to follow in their new home of Beacon.

Perhaps one day, Chabad Beacon will acknowledge and denounce the genocide, and stand against leaders doing so in the names of so many.

Third Suspect Arrested By Beacon Police For Murder Of Lionel Pittman In Forrestal Heights

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Chief Thomas Figlia of the Beacon Police Department issued a press release announcing the arrest of the third suspect in the murder of Lionel Pittman in the Forrestal Heights apartment community near the Beacon Recreation Center. He concluded: "At this time all three individuals who were present at and participated in the murder of Mr. Pittman have been arrested."

On November 21, 2024, Beacon Police arrested Zyree Downing, age 24 of Middletown, DE for the murder of Lionel Pittman. Zyree was charged with Murder in the First Degree. According to the press release, Zyree is an inmate in a Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution, where he was transported from that facility to Beacon by the Beacon Police Department to be processed on his charges. Once processed, he was transported to the Dutchess County Jail.

"This arrest, together with the June 11th arrest of Naije Perrette and the September 5th arrest of Khyree Pratt, represents yet another facet in the culmination of years of diligence work by members of the Beacon Police Department, the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, and other assisting agencies," Chief Figlia stated.

Chief Figlia then thanked other law enforcement agencies that assisted in the investigation leading to the arrests, including the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office, Medical Examiner's Office, Drug Task Force, Sheriff's Office, the New York State Police, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the City of Philadelphia (PA) Police Department, the Marple Township (PA) Police Department, the Delaware County (PA) District Attorney's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, NY/NJ HIDTA, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Naije Perrette on June 11, 2024 was charged with Second Degree murder, and arrested during a traffic stop in Beacon on Fishkill Avenue.

Khyree Pratt on September 5, 2024 was charged with Murder in the First Degree, and was already incarcerated out of state.

"A Call To Truth" :: The Thanksgiving Myth: Celebrating Genocide

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During this time of recognized genocide in Palestine by Israel, largely funded by the United States and protected by some European powers, Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning is becoming more recognized. Below is a statement by Heart of Falastine, who shared this slide deck to illustrate. Beneath the slide deck is a video of an annual recognition at Plymouth Rock of land theft, cultural extinction and normalized dehumanization created by BTNewsroom.

By Heart of Falastine:

“Thanksgiving is not what you think it is. Beneath the myths of ‘peace and harmony’ lies the brutal truth of genocide, land theft, and the erasure of Indigenous peoples. This colonial holiday celebrates the domination of land and the dehumanisation of those who belong to it.

“As millions prepare to gather in blind celebration, let us remember: Thanksgiving is a justification of violence disguised as gratitude. It perpetuates the same colonial mindset that sees the earth as property to be conquered, rather than a sacred relationship to be honoured.

“This season, refuse to celebrate the lie. Stand with Indigenous peoples. Acknowledge the truth. Reject colonial erasure. Choose solidarity over complicity.

📖 Inspired by the wise words of the Kanak people of occupied Kanaky (colonisers call it “New Caledonia” 🇳🇨 )

*******

By BT Newsroom:

“Hundreds marched at Plymouth, Massachusetts in observance of the National Day of Mourning. Organized by the United American Indians of New England, Indigenous people and supporters gather each year on Thanksgiving to honor the holiday’s true history of colonialism.”

Transgender Day of Remembrance Recognized In Beacon By BeaconLGBTQ

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Wednesday, November 20, 2024 was Transgender Day of Remembrance. One place it was recognized in Beacon was by BeaconLGBTQ at The Yard Beacon. The event featured food, drink and community. The event was designated free, sober, and kid friendly. BeaconLGBTQ described the day as: “Transgender Day of Remembrance: A day dedicated to honoring the memory of transgender individuals whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.”

The artwork they used to promote the event was a portrait of Cecilia Gentili by the artist Gabriel García Román who is based in Newburgh. He describes his experience photographing her here. Learn more about Cecilia’s expansive life, community service, and death here.

BeaconLGBTQ listed names on what they called an “official record of community members we have lost this year to anti-trans violence.” However, they emphasized: “Not listed are the countless Trans folks whose lives gone too soon from a million micro-aggressions, trauma and no hope. As well we know that many of our community members are mis-gendered and/or ignored, so the numbers and the names are under reported.” More names and portraits can be found here at www.transremembrance.org

San Coleman
Honee Daniels
Kassim Omar
Redd (also known as Barbie)
Tai Lathan
Vanity Williams
Dylan Gurley
Monique Brooks
Shannon Boswell
Kenji Spurgeon
Pauly Likens
Liara Kaylie Tsai
Tayy Dior Thomas
Jazlynn Johnson
Kita Bee
Andrea Doria Dos Passos
Starr Brown
Nevaeh “River” Goddard
Tee Arnold
Meraxes Medina
Alex Franco
Diamond Cherish Brigman
Reyna Hernandez
África Parrilla García
Sasha Williams
Kitty Monroe

Organizer KkDevina Naimool expanded on more of their thoughts here in their Instagram post.

Arrest Made In Beacon For Drug Sales and Illegal Firearm Possession - Loud Device Used To Distract

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During the early evening of the Supermoon on Tuesday October 17, 2024, some Beacon residents near the west side of town heard a loud bang while gazing at the larger than usual moon. Those were the sounds of “distraction devices” used by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force, with the assistance of the City of Beacon Police Department who has an officer on that Force. The Drug Task Force arrested George Cintron while he was driving down Beekman Street near his home, according to the City of Beacon Police’s Press Release. Beekman Street is where the apartment complex The Views is located, near the Beacon train station.

George was under investigation for “the sale of fentanyl and cocaine in the City of Beacon,” according to the Dutchess County Task Force’s Press Release. Their report continued: “The investigation resulted in the identification of George Cintron, age 37, who sold fentanyl to Drug Task Force Agents during this investigation. At the conclusion of the investigation a search warrant was obtained by the Drug Task Force to search the home of Cintron located in the City of Beacon.”

On that Tuesday night, George was driving, and it was during a traffic stop, the Beacon Police said, that he was pulled over, which was when the loud noise was used. According to their Press Release: “Due to the suspect's dangerous history that includes a federal conviction for possession of a destructive device (explosive) the Sherrif's ESU team utilized a loud distraction device to increase their safety on approaching the vehicle. No shots were fired, nor did anyone sustain any injuries." Neither Press Release indicated that George was in possession of an explosive device at the time, or how long ago he was found in possession of such a device.

After George was taken into custody, he was detained up the road at the City of Beacon Police Station as the Drug Task Force "executed a search warrant at his residence a short distance away." His arraignment was scheduled for the following day, October 18, 2024, according to the release.

It was during that search at George’s residence, the Drug Task Force said, that they found more than 16 ounces of cocaine, fentanyl, ecstasy, and an illegal “Ghost” handgun. Cintron was then charged with the following crimes:

(1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st degree, an A1 Felony
(1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm 3rd Degree, a class D Felony

In closing of the Drug Task Force’s Press Release, they say:

“If anyone has information regarding this case or about any other individuals selling drugs in Dutchess County, you are urged to contact the Drug Task Force confidential tip line at 845-463-6040 or by sending an email to the following web address: DrugTaskForceTips@gmail.com As with any criminal case, the charges described above are merely an accusation and those individuals named in this release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

ALBB’s Question: Is it a crime to buy cocaine, fentanyl, or ecstasy? Realizing that the assumption is that a buyer is addicted, and pity is usually given to that individual. But is it a crime to buy such narcotics? How many reseller markets are there in narcotic sales?

Spirit of Beacon Day 2024: Who Will Be There! Maps Of Vendor Tables

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For the 47th year of the Spirit of Beacon Day, which started in 1977 as an answer to racial tensions between youth and the community, there will be 85 vendor tables in the center of Main Street with the goals of reaching people in the community about their services, providing joy, and food! One of the goal’s of this year’s Spirit of Beacon Committee was to incorporate more cultural food and vendors.

Food from some Main Street businesses who are also setting up tables on the sidewalk, like Nansense (Afghan burgers newly opened on Eliza Street), Matcha Thomas, Pats Kitchen Corp, St. Rocco Society, Masjid Ur Rashid, Hidden Rose Catering/Single Hungry Club, Hudson Valley Food Hall, Keyfood, Mama La’s Food For The Soul, The Potluck Eatery, and more.

Plus, all of the restaurants in Beacon (see ALBB's Restaurant Guide here) and shops (see ALBB's Shopping Guide here).

Visit vendor tables from organizations including (but no limited to) Queer Family Network, Chabad Of Beacon, Nails By Yoshii, Growing And Empowering Myself And My Sisters Inc., Beacon Light Tabernacle Sda Church, Beacon Of Health Collective, Midnight Ferry, Goodwill Church Beacon, Kadampa Meditation Center New York - Beacon Branch, Beacon Prison Rides, Rapp- Release Aging People From Prison, Makerdale, Daydream Collaborative Clinic, Piano Adventures Beacon, and many more.

A Little Beacon Blog will be there in the Kids Section offering face painting. The Kids Section is once again in the front yard of the generous Salvation Army Beacon Corps.

Remember, don't ask the businesses for their bathrooms! Use the Porta Potties that the Spirit of Beacon Sponsors have generously provided for you. Sponsors in part this year include Keyfood, Ziatün, Roundhouse, Dia:, and Hudson View park. Find this year’s banner once again on Keyfood (because Beacon remains in a Banner Ban).

See you out there!

Second Murder Suspect Arrested By Beacon Police For Murder Of Lionel Pittman In Forrestal Heights

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On September 5, 2024, Beacon Police arrested Khyree Pratt, age 23 of Philadelphia, PA for the murder of Lionel Pittman in the Forrestal Heights apartment community near West Center Street (near the Beacon Recreation Center), on May 14, 2022, according to a press release issued by the Chief Thomas Figlia of the Beacon Police Department.

"Khyree is currently an inmate in a Federal Correction Institution out of state," according to the press release. He was transported to Beacon, NY on September 5th by the Beacon Police Department, "where he was processed on charges of Murder in the First Degree, and then transported to the Dutchess County Jail."

This is the second arrest in Lionel's murder. The first arrest was of Naije Perrette on June 11, 2024, who was charged with Second Degree murder, and arrested during a traffic stop in Beacon on Fishkill Avenue.

Said Chief Figlia in the press release regarding Khyree: [This arrest] represents yet another facet in the culmination of years of diligent work by members of the Beacon Police Department, the Dutchess County District Attorney's Office and other assisting agencies."

Chief Figlia sated that there are other elements of the investigation that are still ongoing, so no further information is being released at this time.

According to Patch.com, Khyree was arrested in June 2022 in Marple Township in Pennsylvania after Maple Township Police said that he led them on a chase on June 4, 2022. The media outlet reported: “According to police and court records, Khyree Hyneif Pratt, 21, of Philadelphia, has been charged with firearm crimes, fleeing or attempting to eluding police, drug possession, and other crimes.”

I Am Beacon's Back 2 School Block Party Is This Saturday From 12-3pm

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The Beacon Back 2 School Block Party from I Am Beacon is this Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 12-3pm. It is a time for excitement as kids and their caregivers get ready to go back to school. With the school schedules released on Friday, kids are abuzz with what classes they have when, and with whom. The Beacon Back 2 School Block Party is a great free way to connect with new and old friends outside.

Look for the Girl Scouts Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Cub Scouts Pack 1, Fl!p It 4 Life, Beacon Girls Soccer Booster Club, A Little Beacon Blog, Beacon Hood Chicken, City of Beacon Police Department, A-Sicka Foundation, The Beacon Players, Beacon City School District PTO Collaborative, Howland Chamber Music Circle, Hudson Valley Concierge Service, Safe Haven Animal Shelter & Wildlife Center, Highlands Current, NAMI- Mid-Hudson, Howland Library, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights, NY Project Hope and more.

A Little Beacon Blog will be popping up for our Face Painting table! See you there!

The Truth About Grocery Ice Cream Prices In The Freezer On Main Street In Beacon

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Example of a supportive comment at the top, followed by a insulting comment below. For businesses in Beacon or anywhere, slings at pricing for local business is tiring and can be more casually targeted at businesses run by people of color.

Last week, ALBB covered the opioid crisis related bankruptcy of Rite Aid as being the reason for their bare shelves. With the exception of the ice cream freezer, which employees said was broken. In response, one local reader, Lesly Deschler Canossi, commented via Instagram: “and leaving key food and molile pricing as only option on ice cream is just wrong.” She most likely meant the “Mobil” gas station in that typo. What is not a typo, however, is her intent of branding an image of pricing, which is misleading and untrue. The price of ice cream is nearly equal between Key Food and Rite Aid, with Rite Aid at times having the higher price.

Before we get started in this pricing deep dive, it must be recognized that there are people in Beacon who like to throw these punches at Key Food and Mobil, which are both locally owned by families who live in the community. Key Food is Yemeni American owned, and Mobil is South Asian American owned. When members of the Beacon community speak their rude remarks, is it racist? Islamophobic? Hangry?

It can’t be hangry since this is not the first time somebody took a swipe at Key Food for no reason. It has happened during a City Council Meeting, when Dennis Pavlov demanded that a bigger grocery store move in, for instance.

Are Local Contributions Recognized?

NAMI Ribbon PSA Campaign for Mental Health Awareness hanging outside key food on their trees, when the City Of Beacon denied NAMI from hanging them.

Key Food gives on a regular basis to organizations of Beacon, but are they recognized? This includes Key Food’s civic contributions, like when they donated 10’ of their parking lot years ago to be turned into mulched beds for trees to widen the feel of the sidewalk. Key Food also allowed PSA ribbons for the NAMI (National Alliance On Mental Illness) white ribbon campaign in May, when Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White denied NAMI the ability to hang them on lamp posts. The City of Beacon was the only municipality in this region who denied NAMI. The ribbons were everywhere else. Key Food allowed the ribbons on the trees in their parking lot, so that NAMI could have some representation in Beacon.

Facts: The Real Price Of Ice Cream

Let’s look at the real important issue here: the price of ice cream in the freezer.

In a Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough vs cookie dough comparison, Key Food was $6.79 and Rite Aid was $7.29. Other flavors varied, where Key Food was higher than Rite Aid by a handful of cents. Mobil, which is really a convenience store owned by Shah and not attached to Mobil, came in at $8.99. This means Mobil (or, Shah) can only buy ice cream in much smaller quantities than either Key Food or Rite Aid, giving him less buying power to pass a deal to customers.

Of Talenti, Key Food is $.60 higher than Rite Aid. Hardly sticker shock.

Discounts and Deals On Ice Cream

What also must be discussed are the discounts and deals on ice cream and other items at both Rite Aid and Key Food. Both offer deals with a VIP card. Rite Aid makes you use your card to get the deal. Which is a loss of your private data. Rite Aid then profits off your data by selling it to data mining companies who then hit your email inbox with personalized, flavored spam.

Key Food in Beacon just scans their own card, and off you go with your bonus special deal. Last week at Key Food, Haagen-Daz Ice Cream was 2 for $8 on Assorted Flavors, which comes to $4 per pint.

When you’re getting the coupon, be sure you read the label. If you grab a box that isn’t covered in the deal, then you’re not going to get the deal. Like these Haagen-Daz Vanilla Milk Chocolate bars. You get 2 for $8 of the box of 3. Not the box of 6 mini versions.

Ok? Ok.

And don’t miss the sale on Stone Ridge Creamery ice cream, where it’s $3.99 today.

But Wait, There’s More!

Did you know that Haagan Daz pints are only 14 ozs? Not even the full 16oz.

So now who you going to be mad at?