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

/

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

/

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

/

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

/

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.

Beacon’s Leaf Picker Upper Truck Is Out - Leaf Pickup - In Effect

/

Leaf pickup is in effect for the City of Beacon. The leaf picker-upper truck is out and is going in quadrants, according to Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White. The truck travels in 4 quadrants of the city, the schedule of which has been posted on the City of Beacon’s website. The last posted quadrant is for November 25, but “will continue until it’s done,” said City Administrator Chris during this week’s City Council meeting.

The City instructs that piles of leaves collected onto the curb for pickup must be leaves only. “Piles with brush and branches will not be collected.” The leaf collector truck has a long tube for suction, and cannot suck up branches.

For leaves with mixed yard waste such as branches and grass, those may still go into a bag which will continue to be picked up as well, but by the regular red pickup trucks of the Highway Department.

Schedule of Quadrants for leaf pickup in the City of Beacon.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon

Leaf Pickup Schedule
Week of 11/4: Mountain South Quadrant
Week of 11/11: Mountain North Quadrant
Week of 11/18: Main St. North Quadrant
Week of 11/25: Main St. South Quadrant

After the week of 11/25, pickup will continue for several weeks, rotating through the quadrants.

Stage 1 Drought Declared For City of Beacon; Burn Ban Of All Outdoor Burns Remains In Effect

/

During last night's City Council Meeting, Mayor Lee Kyriacou issued a Stage 1 Drought Advisory for the City of Beacon, following the Village of Cold Spring doing so on October 4th, which they elevated to a Stage 2 Drought in early November. Cold Spring’s drinking water sources are different than Beacon’s, where they need to pay New York City to draw water if necessary. Cold Spring’s Stage 1 Drought trigger was 79.16% capacity. The Stage 2 was 59.8% capacity, where it had dropped from 67% a week prior. The capacity triggers for the City of Beacon are different, as Beacon pulls from different reservoirs and wells.

The Mayor cited the City of Beacon's Superintendent of Water and Sewer, Ed Balicki, who advised that the city's 3 reservoirs have reached 60% capacity, which is the trigger set in the City of Beacon’s code.

Mayor Lee stressed more than once that there is ample water, but that people should conserve and reduce water usage. Mayor Lee recommended the following:

  • Fix water leaks.

  • No washing of cars except at a commercial Car Wash.

  • No washing of patios driveways and outdoor areas.

  • No refilling of and drawing City water for fountains, waterfalls, pools, lakes, or ponds on your properties and then the.

  • No watering of lawns or golf courses.

This would also be a good time to schedule your water meter reader which can detect leaks in your home and alert the City of Beacon.

Mayor Lee educated on where Beacon's water comes from, explaining that water is pulled from 3 wells, which is why he is not concerned with how much water the City has, even though the code is requiring him to issue a Stage 1 Drought and recommend water conservation.

He confirmed with City Administrator Chris White that the City is pulling from 2 of the 3 wells right now. City Administrator White responded that there is a water quality issue with the Melzingah well, which is offline as a result. Further information about the cause of the quality decline was not given in this meeting.

Earlier, the Mayor confirmed that the Burn Ban remains in effect, and will be reissued every 5 days. He was comfortable with extending beyond the November 30 state-wide ban Governor Kathy Hochul issued earlier. However, the Mayor stated, Beacon’s ban is more restrictive in that it bans all exterior open burning. He clarified: “If you have a grill that closes and you're grilling outside, that is okay. But open campfires other open burnings outside are not permitted.”

As lawns and soccer fields remain dry and dusty, Councilmember Paloma Wake asked how the Burn Ban was being enforced. City Administrator Chris advised people to call the police if they see a fire. There is a $1,000 fine for breaking the ban. "We had a fire on Saturday from someone not extinguishing a smoking device. I think it was a cigarette and somebody's deck almost went up and FL so please be really careful. It's so dry out there."

Air Quality Returns To Green Good After Light Rain Overnight In Hudson Valley

/

After last night’s rain in Beacon and elsewhere, the air quality for the Lower and Upper Hudson Valley regions is Good, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) of New York State.

By Sunday night, the Times Union reported that The Whitehouse fire in Ulster County in the Town of Denning burned across 600 acres (there are 640 acres in a mile) and that 90% of the fire had been contained.

It took the work of 139 firefighters from 18 different fire companies and forest rangers to contain, the Times Union reported.

Beacon's Mayor Issues A State Of Emergency and Extends Burn Ban Until Further Notice

/

The day after Halloween, which in Beacon means the air is filled with the comforting smell of a warm fire from driveway or backyard fire pits, Mayor Lee Kyriacou issued a burn ban to protect dry yards and the area from catching fire due to the dry and windy conditions. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar issued a Drought Watch for downstate New York, as wildfires burn around the region.

The City's robo-system contacted subscribers saying: "Due to the extended dry weather and high risk of fire, the Mayor has issued an executive order, effective November 1st, banning all outdoor fires, including campfires. For more information and a copy of the executive order, please visit beaconny.gov. The order will be in effect until November 6th, at which time it may be extended, if necessary. Thank you for your cooperation."

On November 8th, the City of Beacon published a Proclamation issuing an Emergency Order under the November 1st 2024 State of Emergency, explaining the reason for the order. The Mayor stated: "I declared a State of Emergency in the City of Beacon due to extreme drought conditions, wind and an areawide increase of wildfires which threaten the public health, safety and welfare of our citizens and private property."

On November 8th, the City sated in that Proclamation that the Executive Order will remain in effect until it expires, is rescinded or further extended. After the initial Emergency Order was issued, the City announced that the order would be evaluated and extended: “The City of Beacon is extending the ban on all outdoor burning until further notice. The Emergency Order has been reissued and will be renewed every 5 days as required until the risk of fire decreases.”

The City of Beacon also published an Air Quality advisory chart, which stated that on Sunday, November 10th, the air quality in the Lower Hudson Valley region was ranked “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” which includes a warning of “fine particles” in the air. Anyone riding their bike may have noticed floating ash or other particles that were not bugs flying into their mouths.

People with asthma or people in general may want to consider wearing a mask when the air quality level is low and includes fine particles from burning ash.

Fires Rage In And Around The Hudson Valley During Warm Fall - Smoke In Air In Beacon

/

"Mommy, it smells like smoke outside. Is someone burning something in their yard?"

"No sweetie, parts of the Hudson Valley forests are burning."

On November 1st, City of Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou declared a State of Emergency in the City of Beacon "due to extreme drought conditions, wind, and an areawide increase of wildfires which threaten the public health, safety and welfare of our citizens and private property." At the same time, he issued an Emergency Order banning all exterior open burning until November 6th. As of November 8th, the ban was re-issued until further notice.

This burn ban was the day after Halloween in Beacon, where fire pits are lit for driveway gatherings as trick-or-treators make the rounds

On November 2nd, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar issued a Drought Watch for downstate New York, and published on the DEC.ny.gov website: "Recent unseasonably warm weather and lack of precipitation have led to dry conditions for many counties in New York, resulting in some downstate areas being put under drought watch. Local water restrictions and educating residents about how to help conserve our water resources are crucial steps to help prevent a more severe shortage until conditions improve."

On Saturday, November 9th, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office announced a forest fire had been going on since 3:30am in the area surrounding the North End of Indian Lake. They said that multiple Fire Departments responded to the scene, including: Putnam Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Cold Spring Fire Company No. 1, North Highlands Engine Company # 1, Kent Fire Department, Mahopac Falls Vol. Fire Department, Continental Village Vol. Fire Department, along with Buchanan, Montrose and Verplank Fire Departments from Westchester.

Also on Saturday, fire crews were battling a 2,000 acres forest fire in New Jersey in Passaic County, which then spread to Orange County, PIX11 reported. An 18 year old New York forest ranger died while fighting that fire. Dariel Vasquez was fighting the fire in Greenwood Lake when a tree fell on him MidHudson News reported.

On Sunday, November 10th, the Ulster Sheriff's Office announced that firefighters were battling a forest fire in the Whitehouse Forest: "Our agency is assisting state and local agencies including several volunteer fire departments from Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties in the Town of Denning with a large forest fire in the Whitehouse Forest between the Rondout and Ashokan Reservoirs. Please limit travel in the area as there are road closures."

The Times Union reported that the Town of Denning fire is approximately 422 acres, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, based on a flyover estimate. “Some 185 firefighters from 20 agencies from Sullivan, Ulster and Delaware Counties have been involved in fire suppression efforts. The incident is being managed through the unified command system by Ulster County Department of Emergency Services, Sullivan County Division of Public Safety, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Grahamsville Fire Department,” the Times Union reported.

This area is in New York City's watershed, which "contains reservoirs that feed into New York City's water supply system," News12 reported. NYC Water issued a statement via X (formerly Twitter): "DEP & New York State Police helicopters are conducting aerial firefighting operations to assist local fire departments battling the Whitehouse forest fire ranging across 384 acres of mountainous NYC watershed between Rondout & Ashokan reservoirs in western Ulster County in the Catskills."

According to the New York Times, hundreds of forest fires have been reported in New Jersey since October 20th. Also this weekend, a brush fire in a "heavily wooded section" of Brooklyn's Prospect Park burned 2 acres, where 100 firefighters responded to contain it, the New York Times reported.

Stabbed Teenager Found Walking After Midnight Through South Avenue Park Toward West Center Street

/

On Tuesday after midnight (Wednesday, July 31, 2024), “Beacon Police received a 911 call “of an upset subject” stating: ‘Looper's Plaza,” according to a press release issued by the department. Looper’s Plaza is the area that contains Beacon Dental, Sal’s Pizza, the convenient and wine store, and the basketball and tennis courts, at the intersection of South Avenue and Wolcott Avenue.

According to the press release, Beacon Police Department members “checked the area and located individuals in South Avenue Park walking away from the area toward West Center Street.” South Avenue Park includes the playground at the top left of the hill if one is facing the Beacon Recreation Center, which is located at 23 West Center Street.

“They stopped the individuals and one of them, a 16-year-old male, was observed to be bleeding. He stated he had been in a fight and was stabbed,” the press release stated. The teenager was transported to St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. At the hospital in the Emergency Room, “it was determined that he had suffered a non-life-threatening laceration to the head.”

While officers were interviewing the teenager, two other teenagers entered the ER: 17-year-old female and an 19-year-old male who were “also suffering from non-life-threatening lacerations.” The press release stated that the male and female teens were “believed to be associated with this incident.”

The incident is under investigation, and no further details have been released. People with information about the stabbing incidents are encouraged call the Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111 to ask to speak to a detective.

“Did She Get Hit By A Bus Finally?” ALBB Goes To The Hospital

/

Years ago when Katie first started the blog, and later pursued advertisers, she landed her first car dealership client. But before they said yes to investing their money into an advertising campaign, the manager asked Katie: “What happens if you get hit by a bus?” Bloggers are thought to be solo-workers, but one can’t run this blog alone. Needs a team, and I had one. While I am replaceable ;) I am not alone, I told him. I have team members. Fast forward to today, I’ve upgraded our “contract workers” status to employee. ALBB employs 2 people (Katie and Teslie) on payroll, as this is our full time job.

And then it happened. I disappeared.

The night of the 4th of July, Katie went to the hospital with stomach pain of 13 (between 1-10). A piercing side cramp with a side of mystery menstrual behavior made for a perfect storm of a surprise attack of Diverticulitis, as diagnosed by Peekskill’s NY Presbyterian (the best). After several blasts of 3 different antibiotics during an overnight hospital stay, Katie was released and went to the wonderful Women’s Center at Sun River Health, where she was told that the two were linked: a brewing intestinal infection can trigger menstrual movement and get everything out of whack. For months prior!

While on the ER bed, Katie texted her ALBB Co-pilot, Teslie, to hold it down. Katie also did some thinking. Things need to change. It’s been horrifying watching the trauma. Absorbing it, knowing that Israel’s treatment of Palestine has been going on for over 76 without most people (including Katie) saying anything. Watching the lies. Watching people turn their heads.

But not saying anything is worse. Personal life and professional. A person can only absorb so much without speaking. Or, when speaking, getting insulted, lied to, stalkers who sabotage, etc.

Therefore, here is what’s changing:

  • Donation Campaigns:
    ALBB will be having regular donation drives for ourselves (click here to donate online). This money goes to the business of ALBB. It’s why Teslie is here. It’s how Katie is here. We need your help all the time. Support independent media. Keep our voices free. Not free from charging you. Free from being held back from speaking.

  • Palestinian content:
    Will adapt again. To be turned into articles to tie locally when possible. We won’t let it disappear from our platform while big media is complicit in this genocide. But we need your help.

  • Beacon Local:
    Reporting locally is actually harder than Palestine. Because it’s small town living. But Palestine has cured Katie of this fear. Expect more hard news stories. But they require childcare! They take hours and days to research and write. And childcare costs.

Donate online or in person. Katie can meet you for a check, mail it, or you can donate here >

Deepest Thank Yous,
Katie and Teslie

Descriptions Of Organizations Denied Beacon’s $20,000 Community Investment Grant So That Committee Member Could Receive $7,550 To Ship Globally

/

Picking one or three or eight local organizations in a small city town to receive grant money will always be hard. Scrutiny will exist no matter what the choice. Jealousy will be around every corner. But the awarding of Beacon’s 2024 Community Investment Grant was just odd. Brazen, in fact. Of the $20,000 Community Investment Grant, $2,450 was left un-awarded. Saving the money for a rainy day? Two applicants were farmers. Farmers can use rain.

Let’s take a look at the five other organizations who applied for the City of Beacon’s $20,000 Community Investment Grant, but were denied. But first…

Background On The Scrutiny

(If you didn’t read yesterday’s article covering this in depth, a recap is below)

The following five Beacon local organizations applied for and were denied funding for this hyper local grant. The three organizations who were awarded funding by the City Council at the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Committee either share an office with the Recreation Department, or are on the Recreation Committee itself who made the award recommendation.

Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White said half of the Recreation Committee members were not “interested in this task” of vetting and recommending organizations for awards. Yet, they recommended Recreation Committee Member Sarah Dwyer-Shick to get $7,550 for her organization The Sports Bra Project that a newspaper article says has an office in Beacon, but mainly ships sports bras to people all over the world. Sarah’s name was nowhere on the Application Log, nor on her organization’s website, nor brought up during the City Council Meeting, despite City Administrator Chris, Mayor Lee Kyriacou and Councilperson Amber Grant vouching that this was a Beacon-specific organization. The Sports Bra Project’s impact to adults and children living in Beacon, or how it exceeds the other applicants, has yet to be determined.

City Administrator Chris agreed with Beacon’s attorneys at Keane and Beane that Common Ground’s application, on behalf of its markets, which include the Beacon Farmer’s Market by way of the food benefits program Green4Green, which gives people with low income money to shop farm fresh produced and baked goods, would serve people outside of Beacon. It is not clear how the Sports Bra Project, which seems to ship product manufactured elsewhere to people primarily in other countries, is not not serving people “outside” of Beacon. If it is because the organization’s founder might live in Beacon (not confirmed), then it should be noted that the other leaders of the organizations who applied also live in Beacon, so this qualification does not seem dominant.

After City Administrator White pushed to close this part of the meeting so that it could move to a legislative vote, he mentioned that the Recreation Department needed to get back to bigger projects, like South Avenue (by Loopers basketball and tennis courts) and Wee Play (the tot park at Memorial Park that received City investment for upgrades). Of the applicants, both Land to Learn and Compass Arts work with kids and teachers at South Avenue Elementary in their programming. The financial diversity Parks and Recreation Director Mark Price speaks of doesn’t seem to be represented here, when published in his 2024 CIG Application Memo: “We have selected three applicants that we would recommend awarding funding to in 2024. This recommendation, I believe, allows for a diversity of funding across several initiatives.”

Organizations On The Recreation Department Cutting Room Floor

Bannerman Castle Trust
The Trust is dedicated to bringing together resources and funding to stabilize the buildings on Pollepel Island. The Trust raises awareness and educates the public and government organizations on the value and history of the island. The Trust raises funds for repairing the island, and creating a master plan and eventually stabilizing the structures.
Contact: Kelly Ellenwood
Purpose: 30th Anniversary Community Cruise to Bannerman Castle
Proposed Use Of Funds:
Community Outreach, Flyers, Postcards, Bulk Mailing, Community Outreach, Programming Tour guide
Requested Amount: $2,000

Common Ground Farm
Common Ground Farm supports and engages the community by fostering access and connection to fresh food and local agriculture through farming, education, and farmers’ markets. Common Ground runs the Beacon Farmer’s Market, located on Main Street in Beacon.
Contact: Sember Weinman
Purpose: Common Greens Partnership
From Common Ground’s website: “Greens4Greens is a food benefit incentive program, started in 2016, that creates greater food access for shoppers at the Beacon Farmers’ Market, the Newburgh Farmers’ Market, and the Common Greens Mobile Market. Eligible state funded food benefits are matched dollar for dollar through Greens4Greens, making the farmers’ market more accessible to a wider base of consumers. The program has been completely community funded through contributions made by local businesses as well as the annual 'Soup4Greens' event. Our 2024 Soup4Greens event raised over $8000 thanks to the generous soup and pottery donations.”
Proposed Use Of Funds:
Greens4Greens coupons to be redeemed across our markets, doubling the purchasing power of many people who use benefits
Requested Amount: $6,400

Compass Arts
The mission of Compass Arts is to create healthy, just, equitable, and resilient communities through arts based classes, performances, and events rooted in exploration, collaboration, creation, and play.
Contact: Gina Samaridge
Purpose: Free Community Arts Activities Table Program
Requested Amount: $6,500



Land To Learn
Land to Learn is growing a movement for food justice and community wellness through garden-based education. Land to Learn’s in-school program brings garden-based education to 2,000 k-2 students in 10 public elementary schools throughout New York’s Hudson Valley region.
Contact: Stefan
Purpose: SproutED Program for Beacon Schools
Proposed Use Of Funds:
South Avenue Garden Revitalization Spring/Summer 2024
Requested Amount: $5,000

Roll Out FBS
(Assuming this is Foundation For Beacon Schools (FBS), but it’s not indicated on the Applicant Log)
Foundation For Beacon Schools (FBS) vision is for Beacon’s public schools to be at the leading edge in creating a learning environment in which all students are able to find and cultivate their talents, live purposeful, fulfilling, and vibrant lives, and carry their gifts into the future.
Contact: Lauren Adelman
Purpose: Community Art Event
Proposed Use Of Funds:
School workshops, community workshops, public event, teaching artists, supplies
Requested Amount: $3,500

Grant Winners

Sports Bra Project
The Sports Bra Project increases access to sports for women and girls by removing barriers to participation. They provide sports bras to athletes who don’t have access to such a basic piece of equipment.
Contact: The contact on this was an email for the generic admin@thesportsbraproject. But we we now know is Recreation Committee Member Sarah Dwyer-Shick, thanks to a newspaper article mentioned by Councilperson Amber Grant. However, Councilperson Amber did not mention Sarah’s name when she referred to the article. No one spoke Sarah’s name during the meeting.
Purpose: Sports Bra Bank
Proposed Use Of Funds:
Storage bins, bras, support and outreach materials
Awarded Amount: $7,550

Beacon Repair Café
(Located inside of the Recreation Department Office)
The Repair Café idea was born in Amsterdam in 2009 and was brought to New Paltz by volunteer organizer John Wackman in 2013. His dedication, enthusiasm and success inspired others to launch Repair Café events in their communities.
Contact: fromer@sustainhv.org (Repair Café’s fiscal sponsor is Sustainable Hudson Valley)
Purpose: Repair Café
Proposed Use Of Funds:
Materials and Supplies, lunch for volunteers, outreach
Awarded Amount: $1,000

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County
(aka Green Teen, located inside of the Recreation Department Office, but nowhere in the Applicant Log does it specify Green Teen…This was only stated in the City Council Meeting…So it is not confirmed if this is going to Beacon’s Green Teen, or Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Positive Youth Development Program at large)
Contact: jr825@cornell.edu
Purpose: Positive Youth Development Program
Proposed Use Of Funds: Youth wages, Staff wages
Awarded Amount: $9,000

Fourth Of July Fireworks At Beacon’s Memorial Park Thursday July 4th - Free Palestine

/

The City of Beacon is hosting the community’s fireworks on Thursday, July 4th at dark in Memorial Park. There may be vendor trucks and things to do. You’ll have to show up to find out.

There will be the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence by Dennis Pavlock and Committee (Anne Thomas, Clara Lou Gould (former Mayor of Beacon) and Emily Murnane) at 11am at Town Hall 1 Municipal Plaza.

In protest of the United State’s ongoing participation of the genocide of Palestinians and people in Middle Eastern countries, by way of the funding of Israel with Made In The USA weapons that are destroying families and shredding children, A Little Beacon Blog will not attend either event. We will not be sitting under those falling ashes.

Watch For Wandering Joggers And Zig Zagging Flying Gypsy Moths While High School Track Is Closed

/

Picture of the Track Closed sign during renovations, which a scheduled completion to be August 31.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

During this season of the Track Upgrade, where the Beacon High School track is being replaced as a planned infrastructure project from the school’s 2021 Capital Project, as announced by Beacon’s Superintendent Landahl in early May, joggers and walkers who used to circulate on that track are forced to explore other areas of Beacon, often taking paved and unpaved trails they have never traveled on before. The track is heavily used by community members as well as students and faculty. “The work should take the entire summer,” Dr. Landahl explained, “but we will update the community when it will reopen in late August.”

That, coupled with the new wave of emerged spongy moths (formerly racially offensively known as '“gypsy moths”) from that storm of sponge moth caterpillars dropping from the sky on silk webs, makes joggers and walkers have much to avoid while outside. Vendors from farmers markets are noticing that they are also now dropping poop onto the vendor tents.

The old track that was dug up in preparation for a new track.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

While A Little Beacon Blog will not make public where the alternative jogging paths are in wide open spaces in Beacon, we will give you advice on how to live amongst these flapping moths flying all over the place, including, possibly, into your face.

It was reported earlier that the mating behaviors of the moths is that the females sit still and cannot fly, while the males fly “erratically” trying to find the females by following the females’ pheromone trails, as described by Cornell University. Essentially, you are walking through waves of love hormones. If you are listening to love music, like ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimmie! Gimmie! (A Man After Midnight),” then you may want to jog with your mouth closed, as a flying male moth may land right inside of it.

Several predators exist for the gypsy moth, which is a introduced and invasive species, including some bird species at this stage. Mice are important for eating the caterpillar version, as are wasps and even the Calosoma beetle.

Next step will be finding the eggs laid after the mating ritual, and destroying the eggs. Apparently fire wood is a source for eggs. Natural mitigation methods include recommending not moving firewood to new locations in order to contain the outbreak. Squishing the moths on contact can be gross, as you will hear their bodies break. Try catching them and flushing them down the toilet. Like with stink bugs.

Good luck.

City Wide Yard Sale - This Saturday! - Follow The Neon Signs

/

Follow the signs!! Better than a spring candy hunt are the neon signs that have popped up all over Beacon for the highly anticipated City Wide Yard Sale and event from the Parks and Recreation Department, which is finally here!!

Follow the neon poster signs for where the next yard sale is. You may discover someone’s purged basement of tiny pools. You may discover an assortment of power tools. You may discover a collection of books! And don’t miss this church yard sale that includes a cookie sale! Saturday from 9am-3pm. Find a map of officially registered yard sales here as the PDF version, and here as the Google Maps version. There may be more yard sales not registered. Keep your eyes open! Enjoy.