FAQs For Today's HANDS OFF! Protest In Beacon, NY

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Protest FAQs

Some readers have submitted questions, so we will answer them here. As always, submit your questions on any topic at any time.

"We are 2 seniors. Where is the best place to park?"
Polhill Park is located in a hilly area, no matter what direction you come from. Free parking is available at the Beacon Police Station, which is across the street (Wolcott Ave.) from Polhill Park. You will need to walk uphill from there to get to Polhill Park. Otherwise, you could park in the back roads on this side of Wolcott, behind South Avenue. Be mindful of people's driveways and fire hydrants. Don't block any. You'll still need to walk downhill a bit.

"Do we need to register?"
No. You can just show up. Registration at that web page was created because this is a nation-wide protest. When this happens, there are registration platforms created so that people can search by zip code to find the nearest protest. In theory, you could protest-hop. Go from one protest to another. But don't tire yourself out :)

“Is registering normal? Why is NATO mentioned in the protest flyer?”
That question has been answered in full here. With contributions from other concerned readers.

"How are the Beacon Police?"
From my experience as a white woman who has covered many protests in Beacon starting in 2020 with Black Lives Matter, the Beacon Police serve as facilitators of a protest. Even if one springs up without advance notice to them, they make their presence at the protest. Sometimes just their presence makes people uncomfortable. This was especially so during 2020 BLM. But as far as I have seen, their presence was there and they did not interfere. In fact, the police chief now, Chief Figlia, spoke at one of the BLM Open Mics, sharing his personal experience and wanting to connect with the community.

At this protest, I personally would not be afraid of Beacon Police. In this climate, however, I would remain alert as to who I can't tell is police in plain clothes, or posing as ICE, or is enforcement from another police agency.

"Should I attend?"
Up to you. Your safety is the most important. If you feel safe attending, I would say to smother yourself in calm vibes. If there are any agitators, or a$$holes, they may try to say things to poke you. Remind yourself to take deep breaths and to not respond. Zip your lips, and keep to any chants if you feel like chanting, or just listen and be present.

“This was removed from the mobilize us website is it still happening in Beacon?”
Interesting. I just called Beacon Police to verify, and as far as they know, it is happening. They said they were planning on checking in a little later in the day before it starts to make sure, but as far as they know, yes. I checked in with a few others with ears to the ground, and they have heard nothing about it being canceled.

UPDATE: A reader sent in this link, that the registration has “Reached Capacity”. It was not removed from the site, but apparently that site has a "capacity." Registering for a protest is never necessary, and personally, ALBB does not recommend registering, as who knows who is getting your data. A protest against a dictatorship and purposeful cratering of an economy can be organized by Zios who may be aligned with a viewpoint of no dictators, but not aligned with leveling Palestine and not caring about Pro-Palestine harassment. So be careful.

"Is this protest for Pro-Palestine? Because if so, I'm not attending."
That's an annoying question. If you're going to fight tariffs and dictatorship, then you might as well absorb a Free Palestine into your life. Because the federal budget did not decrease for sending Made In The USA bombs to kill children, women, men, medics, journalists, scholars, and artists in Palestine. Not to mention completely level cities. If you're pro-gun control but can't bother yourself to be vocal about Palestine, then you might as well start now. Ammunition and blowing things up is big business. It's all connected.

Stay safe.

Protest Details

Day: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Polhill Park
As part of the Hands OFF! protests being organized around the country, Beacon's will be at Polhill Park (near Bank Square Coffeehouse) from 3pm-5pm.

This protest is inspired by protecting:
Medicaid + Medicare + Social Security + Our Jobs + Our Wallets + Our Bodies + Fair Elections + Personal Data + Public Lands + Beteran Services + Cancer Research + NATO + Consumer Protections + Clean Air + Clean Energy + Schools + Libraries + Free Speech + LGBTQ+ Rights + Immigrants + Courts + More

About this event:
From the Organizers: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. We are fighting back!”

“They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now.”

🚨 On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! 🚨

“This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies. Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country.”

“A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”

Check out handsoff2025.com for more information.

Ferry Dock Remains Unrepaired, Halting Beacon/Newburgh Ferry Service - A Look Back At Other Cuts

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The Beacon/Newburgh Ferry has stopped running due to “extensive damage to the landing in Beacon,” the NY Waterway announced on March 10, 2025. According to people familiar with the area at the dock, the landing was removed from the water. People familiar with the area told A Little Beacon Blog that aside from an ongoing small leak, damage to the landing had not been noticed above water, and no one could speak for conditions under the water. Some say it was ice damage.

NY Waterway and MTA have not responded to questions about the details of the damage.

The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry was cut during the initial COVID shutdown in April 2020, and then was restored when a flush of federal funding was made available during the passage of the CARES Act, which then Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney voted for, as reported by ALBB at the time.

In 2011, the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry was suspended for 10 weeks “after one of the worst ice seasons in 6 years,” Times Herold-Record reported. This year in 2025, the landing was removed and cited for damage after the ice season, not before or during. State and federal funding covered $1.3 million of the operational funding in 2011, according to that report.

It was reported this year in March 2025 by LoHud that the Trump administration threatened to withdraw federal funds from the MTA for the subway in NYC unless they improve safety, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. Trump also rescinded federal approval for NYC’s congestion pricing program.

Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White is the Harbor Master of the dock and has not made an announcement about the ferry closure that ALBB knows of. Please write in a correction if you know different.

The ferry used by Bannerman Castle Trust is not impacted by this, nor is Clearwater. All events scheduled for Bannerman are proceeding and will be on ALBB’s Calendar, and classes and events for Clearwater are continuing and will be in ALBB’s Classes Guide.

Commuting across the river is delayed 20 minutes, as the substitute bus service takes 20 minutes longer, not accounting for unexpected traffic delays on the Newburgh/Beacon bridge, according to the Times Herold-Record in 2011. Also in 2011, ridership would drop from 150 people per day to 100, when the ferry stopped running and went to bus.

On the substitute bus schedule, it is stated that the bus can leave up to 4 or 5 minutes early if all passengers from the train are on board the bus. For people walking or transporting down to the station from Beacon or Newburgh to take the bus (not the train), they would possibly miss the bus if it left early and they did not read the small print on this substitute bus schedule.

The $250 Fine Has Been Issued To Residents Who Didn't Upgrade Their Water Meter Transistors

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Water bills for the past 3 months (January, February, March) have been sent out. Tacked onto some of them is the $250 fine for not upgrading the water meter transistors, as became required since last year to begin tracking water usage in real time, the City of Beacon's Administrator Chris White announced during last night's City Council Meeting.

"People who didn't sign up to have their water meter transistors replaced are getting an automatic fine of $250," he said.

He reported that 85% of residents did have their water meter transistors upgraded, leaving 15%, or "several hundred people" who have not responded and are subject to this fine. He did leave room for "amnesty," as he called it, where residents who did not upgrade have 3 weeks in which to do so. After April 21, that charge will stay, he said.

To reverse the fine, people need to make an appointment by calling Vepo, the company making the switch, at 877-860-8376

"Make an appointment, for late in May or in June, and then the $250 charge fined will be reversed...Set up an appointment, no questions asked," he stressed.

Mayor Kyriacou touted benefits of the new water meter transistors, stating that they track water usage in real time, which people can see by logging in. Additionally, the system will send an alert to people if there is a water leak and usage spikes.

The Mayor explained that water bills are sent every 3 months, so advance warnings of leaks is useful to catch within this new mechanism.

Real ID Deadline Coming Up :: Special Saturday Opening At Poughkeepsie DMV

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Event: Dutchess County DMV (Poughkeepsie location)- Open on Saturday, March 29, 2025
Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025
Time: 9am - 1pm
Where: Office of the Dutchess County Clerk
22 Market Street – 1st Floor
Poughkeepsie, New York 12601

*** via Press Release from the County Clerk of Dutchess County ***

Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall announced today that the Dutchess County Department of Motor Vehicles will open the Poughkeepsie DMV office on Saturday, March 29 from 9am-1pm to process license and registration transactions. The office is located at 22 Market St in Poughkeepsie.

The pending May 7th deadline for Real Id implementation has increased the volume of customers looking to upgrade their licenses to be compliant with federal law.

Customers are urged to make reservations as our queueing system prioritizes reservations.

Walk-ins will be accommodated but will have a longer wait time. Go to Department of Motor Vehicles (dutchessny.gov) to make a reservation.

To access a list of acceptable documents to obtain a Real ID go to NYS Dept of Motor Vehicles.

The Poughkeepsie office will be the only Dutchess DMV location open on this day. No enforcement or permit transactions will be processed.

Trinity Solar LLC Issued Peddling Permit While City Administrator Encouraged Citizens To Call Police On Solicitors

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Trinity Solar LLC was the only entity issued a Peddling and Soliciting Permit by the City of Beacon in all of 2024, and so far in 2025, according to a FOIL request obtained by ALBB to see all permits granted by the city.

The City Administrator encouraging people to call the police on people out soliciting - if they are the solicitors the community is referring to - may cause an unnecessary escalation on individuals.

Often the people walking around soliciting are employed by energy companies, are staying in local hotels in Fishkill, have iPads and badges to help with their jobs, but may not have a copy of the permit with them you if you ask them.

During a recent City Council Meeting, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White announced that people had been contacting the city about solicitations at their residences. While he informed the public about the Peddling Permit, encouraging residents to ask to see the permit when someone comes to the door, he failed to mention which if any entities had been granted such permit.

There are times when roofing and gutter companies walk up to front doors to offer their business cards, saying they are “doing a roof a few doors down.” But representatives from solar companies soliciting business have been common in Beacon over the years.

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 Closes Beacon Farmer's Market For Predicted Snow Storm

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In preparation for Sunday’s predicted snowfall, the City of Beacon closed the Beacon Farmer’s Market, located in the DMV parking lot, so that people could park their cars there overnight and into the morning while snow plows cleared the roads. Click here for ALBB’s Free Parking Lot Guide for other lots.

In an announcement to their followers, the Beacon Farmer’s Market said: “When it snows in Beacon, Main Street parking must be cleared to allow plows to pass through. During these times, public parking lots—like the DMV Lot—are needed for resident parking. With snowfall expected Saturday night into Sunday, the City of Beacon required our market space for this purpose. We’re happy to do our part to help keep Beacon accessible for residents!”

The City of Beacon issued an emergency robo-call to those signed up for the robo-service, reminding people of parking guidelines:

A Beacon highway Department truck plows around the Dummy Light on its way down East Main Street toward Mount Beacon.

“After two inches of snow, your vehicle cannot be parked on the street between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and must not obstruct City snowplows from clearing the streets. You’re welcome to move your vehicle into the City's public parking lots, but they must be moved 24 hours after the snow stops falling so that the parking lots can then be cleared after the streets are finished. We hope to avoid issuing any tickets for this storm.”

Mayor Lee Kyriacou also reminded residents to clear their sidewalks: "Please also remember that property owners must clear adjacent sidewalks within 24 hours of the snowfall ending. Further, it is both unsafe and a violation of City code to throw snow into the road.”

Meanwhile out on Main Street, most businesses were open. Including the landromat on East Main Street. This is also the location of three hair styling destinations: Horse & Lion, Tikos II, and Sullivan and Main.

Would Joe - Who Is Outside Most Of The Time - Like To Sleep In A Warming Center In Beacon? "Yes."

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Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

On the sunny Wednesday that was today’s 3 degree morning, A Little Beacon Blog accompanied an ALBB reader of yesterday’s article, “There Is No Overnight Warming Center In Beacon; There Are 2 Daytime Warming Centers Listed”, Meghan Spiro, who was so moved by the information that she purchased and overnighted a box of emergency blankets made of mylar to distribute to houseless community members in Beacon who sleep outdoors most every night.

Eventually, we tried reaching people directly on the streets, knowing they might not be in the library yet. We ran into Joe, a well known fellow who has slept outside in Beacon for 8 years. We asked him if he would sleep in a warming center in Beacon. He said: “Oh yes. Sleep overnight. Come out and do what I got to do in the morning. That would be great.”

“I got to do what I got to do in Beacon. If I’m in Poughkeepsie, I got to stay in Poughkeepsie all day. Doing what? I’m going to be outside anyway. Over there, overnight, they kick your ass out, and you got to come back. Leave at a certain time. Come back. I got to go over there just to go to sleep? Be out in the cold all day? Doesn’t make no sense!”
— Joe

There is no place in Beacon to sleep overnight for houseless people or those with little or no money. We asked what his other options were. He said Poughkeepsie or Newburgh. We asked if he would go there. “Nope,” he said. “There are busses and whatever. You need money for the bus. I have to come back and forth to Beacon. I got to do what I got to do in Beacon. If I’m in Poughkeepsie, I got to stay in Poughkeepsie all day. Doing what? I’m going to be outside anyway. Over there, overnight, they kick your ass out, and you got to come back. Leave at a certain time. Come back. I got to go over there just to go to sleep? Be out in the cold all day? Doesn’t make no sense!”

We made a drop at the Beacon Library, which is a warming center on the Dutchess County list. We continued on to the Beacon Community Kitchen located in the Tabernacle Church next to the Howland Cultural Center (we later learned the kitchen has abruptly closed).

We got to the library right when it opened at 9:30am. Knowing that we might not see dozens of people inside of the library - we took to the street to look for friends who sleep outside (or inside of structures they build out of boxes or plywood) who we could give the blankets to, and describe how they work.

Sure enough, we saw several friends who had just started their mornings, having had nothing to eat yet. One friend was Joe, a well known fellow, who has slept outside in Beacon for 8 years. He does jobs around Beacon to get through each day. One of his jobs is as a can and bottler, where he collects cans and bottles and turns them in for money. Each day of the week yields different amounts of cans from different locations. He has his favorite days, a secret which he will not reveal, as there are competitors.

We asked Joe if he would like a warming center in Beacon to sleep in at night during cold spells like this. He told us that he did, as getting up to Poughkeepsie for a sleepover warming center was too much. The money it takes to ride the bus there and back, plus, the daylight hours he loses in Beacon when he gets exited from the warming center there, as they keep entry and exit hours. Take a listen to Joe’s interview to get a glimpse into his day in the life and why a warming center in Beacon would help him.

During our interview, Joe mentioned that the Beacon Community Kitchen had closed two weeks ago. Sure enough, Justice McCray, a co-founder of Beacon 4 Black Lives and a former Beacon Councilmember, had announced during Public Comment of the 1/21/2025 City Council meeting that the kitchen had closed, but that The Yard was starting a free Breakfast Program from their new formation called The Backyard. The program starts on January 28th and will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-8:30am.

Products That People Have Asked For

The library has consistently said over the years that the most popular items people seek from the Tiny Food Pantry is toiletries, like tampons and toothpaste. Socks and underwear are a desired item as well.

There Is No Community Center In Beacon

Despite consistent calls for a Community Center by Justice McCray and others, there is no central Community Center in Beacon. In response to the pressure by the community in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter revival movement and COVID, the City of Beacon agreed to fund a $50,000 survey in 2020 to learn more about what people might want in a Community Center.

The survey opened in September 2022, and completed in March 2023. Today, in January 2025, there is no Community Center or plans for one. There is, however, a recently empty, large and beautiful firehouse on Main Street that the City of Beacon is selling to offset the geothermal floor it installed into the rebuild and centralization of the new firehouse that cost millions of dollars. Realtors are eager to sell the old firehouse, and some built their own website for it. The City picked The Gatehouse Team at Compass to represent the sale.

About Mylar Blankets

The mylar blankets are thin and compact. They can be re-used, so are useful for wrapping around the body if one needs to sit or lie still in freezing temperatures. The mylar blankets are commonly used by hikers in case they get stuck or injured on a trail and need to keep warm while waiting for help.

After we offered Joe a blanket, he thought about it, and doubted if they would work. After some nudging, he said that he would try cutting them up to place into his boots, as his feet get very cold, as one can’t stuff a lot into boots for effectiveness. We gave him 3 blankets. One for cutting, 2 for wrapping.

We eagerly await the next time we see him, so that he can tell us that the mylar emergency blanket did not work. We did give him recently purchased hand-warmers, which he also doubted if they would work. He did say that hand warmers given out by a church were expired, and did not work. Stay tuned.

There Is No Overnight Warming Center In Beacon; There Are 2 Daytime Warming Centers Listed

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Today the City of Beacon shared the message from Dutchess County spotlighting how people can access a warming center. Upon calling the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services (DCFS), one will find that there is no overnight warming center available in Beacon. A person or people would need to get to Poughkeepsie to the Christ Episcopal Church at 20 Carroll Street. Free transportation in the form of a dedicated bus is not available, and Dutchess County encourages people who need an overnight warming center to call the Beacon Police to consider transportation.

According to New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: “Under New York State regulation, a Code Blue is automatically in effect whenever the temperature and wind chill equals less than 32 degrees. Local social services districts are legally required to take necessary steps to ensure those experiencing homelessness have access to shelter and that shelter hours are extended.”

There are 2 warming centers listed with Dutchess County’s 211, which are the Howland Public Library, and the Salvation Army. The local resource HVNY has a list of warming centers by county, and does include these two locations. ALBB called the Salvation Army to confirm hours, but has not received response as of this publishing.

The Salvation Army, 372 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Hours: N/A
845-831-1253

Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street, Beacon, NY.
Hours: The Library says they are a warming center for their entire open hours:
Monday, Wednesday Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday/Thursday: 9:30am - 8pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Sunday: 12pm-4pm
845-831-1165

City of Beacon Lifts Stage 1 Drought Emergency

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On January 15, 2025, hours after A Little Beacon Blog published that the City announced on January 6th that Beacon continued to be in a Stage 1 Drought Emergency, quoting City Administrator Chris White from the 1/6/2025 City Council Meeting: “We still are in a Stage 1 Drought, even though we've had quite a bit of precipitation,” the City of Beacon announced via their Facebook page on 1/15/2025 that the “reservoirs have recharged significantly.”

Beacon Remains In A Stage 1 Drought; Reservoirs Need To Recharge

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Photo Credit: Posted at Wikipedia; Photographer Unknown at this time.

During the 1/6/2025 City Council Meeting, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White announced that the City of Beacon continues to be in a Stage 1 Drought. He said: “We still are in a Stage 1 Drought, even though we've had quite a bit of precipitation. We're still recharging the reservoirs, and that's why we haven't declared an end to that.” When the reservoirs dip below 60% full, Beacon’s Stage 1 Drought declaration is triggered.

Beacon’s drinking water comes from different sources:
3 reservoirs: Cargill, Mount Beacon, and Melzingah
3 wells: City of Beacon Wells 1 & 2 and Village of Fishkill Well 8

According to a Water Inspection Report from 2020, the reservoirs hold the following amounts:

Mount Beacon: 124 million gallons
Melzingah: 38 million gallons
Cargill: 152 million gallons

The water is then pumped into 3 water tanks: Howland/Grandview, Mount Beacon and Fairview.

According to Beacon’s 2023 Water Report, Beacon's water system serviced about 14,370 people, not including Downstate Correctional and Fishkill Correctional Facilities. There were about 6,280 services connections in the City of Beacon. The price for 1 unit of water (748 gallons) was $4.61, and the price for water out of town was $9.22.

The water is treated at Beacon’s Water Filtration Plant at 470 Liberty Street, where the current capacity of the plant water production is 4 million gallons. According to Beacon’s 2023 Water Report, the average flow was 2.134 million gallons per day. The maximum withdrawal that year was 2.713

From the 2023 Water Report, usage numbers broke down as follows:

  • Residential and Commercial: 298,228,348 gallons

  • Town of Fishkill: 125,041,664 gallons

  • Department of Corrections: 210,807,000 gallons

  • Unaccounted water: 144,661,998 gallons

According to the Beacon's Water Report: "Unaccounted for water is water lost due to system leaks, water used during plant operations, water main breaks, use in municipal buildings and operations, system flushing, fire department uses, meter error, and theft of service."

How to Discard, Throw Away or Recycle Your Christmas Tree In Beacon 2025

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In Beacon, when you are ready to discard your Christmas, simply remove all of the decorations, lights, tinsel, anything that is not an evergreen needle, and place it outside on the curb.

The City of Beacon’s Highway Department will come by to pick it you. To ensure pickup, you could send them an email or call, but doing so is not necessary.

The tree will be taken to Beacon’s Transfer Station (formerly known as “The Dump” where they used to burn the trash), and will be placed into the city’s large mulching pile, which is turned into dirt, that you can pickup up for free any time in your own vehicle.

When asked about the pickup deadline, by way of Carolyn Bennett Glauda to the City of Beacon’s Facebook page, who said: “For those of us who like to keep festivities going until January… how long will the city keep picking up trees?” the City’s Facebook page responded: “There is not a set deadline to pick-up at this time. You should be fine to keep the festivities going for awhile yet!”

The City’s Facebook page might be managed by Ben Swanson, who manages several technical aspects for the City, hence the cheery tone.

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.

Beacon Community Kitchen Seeks Turkeys and Ham; Members Of Community Donate All Year

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Days before this year’s Thanksgiving, the Beacon Community Kitchen, currently located in the Tabernacle Church of Christ at 483 Main Street (the intersection of Main Street and Church Street), put a call out for turkeys and ham for the holiday: “We are in need of turkeys and ham for our holiday meals. We are usually overwhelmed with the amount that we get but this year we have not received any. Spread the word and love.”

Beacon Community Kitchen serves one hot meal to go on Mondays - Thursdays. After this call was made, some turkeys were donated by people in the community, but more may be needed:

“Today we had a generous donation from Tom Kenny who brought us two fresh turkeys for our Guests. Thank you Tom for your generosity. We also want to thank Tina Finkelsten for her generosity. She brought down a turkey and a five pound bag of potatoes. Thank you for thinking of us!!”

Community member JOe (seated) eats a meal with Beacon Community Kitchen. Joe has lived in various locations in the woods of Beacon.

Candi Rivera, spokesperson for the Beacon Community Kitchen, continued to describe what was cooked that day: “Tuesday lunch: [Chef] Joe had to improvise. He rallied through nicely!! He made gnocchi creamy vodka sauce over oven warmed baguette and a fresh green baby kale salad to accompany the meal. Thank you Joe, Janice, Anna, Peggy and Tina.”

Beacon Community Kitchen accepts ingredients for dishes all year round.

On A Monday - In April

As Giving Tuesday approaches (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday holiday consumption), Beacon Community Kitchen celebrated any day a person or business donates food for them to cook. Like this day in April.

Owner Beth George of Bagel-ish Donates bagels on any given day.

In April 2024, Candi reflected: “Most people celebrate Giving Tuesday. Well today (Monday), we celebrate the generosity of many who came forward to donate back.”

Candi listed a few donations in a post at Facebook:

MAX’s of BEACON
“Peggy picked up at Max’s with the assistance of her friend Noah who helped with his truck. We received chicken breast, burgers, salad stuff, cream cheese, French Fries, cod, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, baking powder, corn starch, liquid smoke and more. We can’t thank you enough for consideration.”

PUSH TRANSPORTATION: and their Proprietor’s
“Joe Simmons and Shamikah Jones for their generosity and donation of boxes and boxes of guacamole, tossed salads and sugar snap peas. Thanks for your support and generosity in thinking of us. We also extend special thanks to Elmer Arroyo for his assistance today.”

EGGBERT’S FREE RANGE FARM
“[Farmer Carrie and her brother Tom] surprised us also and bought a case of pork products which included: pork jowls, ham hocks, and more……”

BEACON NATURAL MARKET of BEACON:
“Picked up and delivered by our own TROOPER PEGGY B!! We received spring mix, Dijon mustard, Swiss chard, yogurt, assorted cookies and teas.”

Candi concluded: “Talk about Acts of Kindness! Beacon is it!! We’re so blessed to have the support of sooooooo many kind and loving individuals with great big hearts. We can’t thank you enough for all you do, in one way or another, that keep us serving for 8 years strong.”

To donate money or coordinate food delivery, email or call: incareof.beacon@gmail.com (845) 728-8196.

OPEN: Beacon's New Fire Station - "An Architectural Gem" - State Of The Art Home For Fire Fighters

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Article by Jean Noack
Photo Credits of Interior Photos: Jean Noack
Photo Credits of Exterior Photos: Katie Hellmuth
Photos may not be re-used without written permission from the photographers.

A standing room only crowd attended the dedication of the centralized City of Beacon fire station on Nov. 16, 2024. Folding chairs had been set up in the massive truck bay of the new facility, which Mayor Lee Kyriacou called an “architectural gem.”

Denise Doring Van Buren, president of the Beacon Historical Society, moderated the ceremony as well as gave a history of the Beacon firefighting. Other speakers were Beacon City Administrator Chris White, Beacon Fire Chief Thomas Lucchesi and Mayor Lee Kyriacou.

The Mayor noted in 2006, a bold recommendation was made for a centralized fire station for Beacon. It was a controversial proposal coming out of a formal study on how to improve the City’s three firehouse situation.

Construction on the Wolcott Avenue site started in 2023 and was finished in Oct. 2024.

According to the Mayor, “The real reason this thing got done was Chris White. Let me just be absolutely clear. He made the key recommendation that we shift (the bays) to 9D, that we build sustainability into this building and that we invest in the façade. Along with those recommendations he oversaw all the construction and brought it in on time and on budget. Thank you.”

The Mayor also noted, “We have here today…a special building, a unique and natural addition to our city. It is state of the art firefighting, designed to keep our firefighters safe. It is a sustainable building. It is all electric with geo thermal heating and cooling.”

He also noted the high efficiency insulation and electric charging stations. The Mayor said: “The last investment in the building was a true brick façade with unique architectural details in harmony with Beacon’s Main St.”

He ended with noting a challenge that still remains. “The ‘people challenge’ is still with us,” he said. He said the city will have to work hard to recruit volunteers to supplement the paid firefighting staff. The decline in volunteers is a national trend that Beacon will have to deal with.

The ceremony was followed by self-guided tours of the facility. The tiny bunk rooms were seen, with views from the single windows of the Hudson River making them seem fitting for the heroes that will rest there. A gleaming kitchen, the chief’s office, a decontamination room, locker areas, exercise room, laundry facilities were part of the tour.

The newly paved public parking lot on 9D next to the fire station is now open. It was used as a staging ground for the construction equipment during the build.