Movie Marathon Recommendations :: Retail Therapy 1/14/2022
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The Bannerman Island Gallery Fine Art Holiday Exhibition
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Over $111,000 Unplanned City of Beacon Dollars Spent On "Employee Discipline" Matter(s) - What's Going On?
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According to locals living in Beacon for decades, the City of Beacon is not known for firing city employees. When the you, you might find out by clicking refresh on the latest FOILs that were published by the City of Beacon. You certainly will hear about new hires and promotions by the City of Beacon during their weekly City Council Meetings, where City Councilmembers usually need to vote on a hire or promotion.
But if anyone is being fired, you will not hear about it. Such decisions are made in private during something called “Executive Session” which is a private meeting with the City Council that the public has no access to.
To seek information, just ask several people who know people who have worked for the City of Beacon over the past few decades. In these stories, you may hear stories of a white employee(s) testing positive for marijuana before it was legal to smoke in public or banned in Beacon’s public parks. You may hear stories of a vehicle accident that was never reported. Or of a gun casually being brought into a department destination before Beacon banned personal guns from being brought onto city property during work hours last year. You might see bent metal on the garage door of new Highway Garage, indicating that a vehicle backed or rammed into it, but that a collision report never made it into the books. On background, ALBB has seen a few photos, and heard from people with knowledge of such examples.
During the 12/13/2021 Monday Night Workshop Meeting, the City Administrator Chris White put forth to the City Council an approval to move $45,900 more dollars from an unrelated area of the budget - a real estate area of the budget - into a legal section of the budget to cover “associated employee discipline beyond the budget to date,” as noted in the proposal included in the Agenda packet for the City Council to review for the record.
This is not the first transfer of thousands of unplanned dollars for “Employee Discipline” during the pandemic, which has resulted in a nation-wide labor shortage and highlight of poor working conditions that may include emotional abuse in several industries. The first noted transfer of unplanned dollars was $66,418 to “Employee Discipline” from “CSEA Union Matters/FIRE IAFF Union Matters,” which ALBB wrote about here. This brings the total of unplanned spending on “Employee Discipline” to over $111,000 by the City of Beacon for 2021 alone.
The second noted proposed transfer tonight of $45,900 to “Employee Discipline” is being transferred from “In REM Sale of Property.”
What is an REM Sale of Property? An “REM Sale of Property” means, as City Administrator Chris White explained during the meeting, that when the City of Beacon takes control of a property in Beacon usually due to inability to pay, the City of Beacon can then resell that property and keep the profit. In 2020, there was a handful of those properties. In 2021, Chris noted, there was one such property. Therefore, they had real estate cash sitting that apparently had not been earmarked yet.
Who Or What Is The Employee Discipline Of Over $111,000 In 2021 For?
Reuben Simmons, former Highway Superintendent and current employee of the City of Beacon in the Highway Department.
Photo Credit: LinkedIn
The City of Beacon will not answer this question if ALBB were to ask, as they have a blanket policy of not answering to “personnel matters.” However, there is at least one employee who has had at least 8 Employee Discipline Hearings this year, and has been on forced paid and unpaid leave for the entirety of 2021: Reuben Simmons. ALBB sat in on at least one of those hearings.
Reuben Simmons, longtime employee in the Highway Department since 2002, and a Beaconite who is an involved member of the community, was Beacon’s former Highway Superintendent (ie lead position in that department, listen to ALBB’s podcast about it here) and has been the subject of Employee Discipline for quite some time. Starting in 2018, his case has taken unusual twists and turns. Including the dissolving of his job as Highway Superintendent based on a Civil Service technicality of the incorrect job title.
Beacon’s current head of the Highway Department, Superintendent of Streets Michael “Mickey” Manzi, who used to serve under Reuben as a staff member, replaced Reuben as head of the department after Reuben’s job title dissolved. According to documents that ALBB has seen, Michael “Mickey” Manzi continues to find fault in Reuben’s past work performance, and writes him up on charges that the City Administrator Chris White justifies for Reuben’s paid or unpaid leave status.
Those charges resulted in at least two 30-day periods of unpaid leave in 2021. Otherwise, Reuben has been kept on paid leave, but according to a letter sent to him by City Administrator Chris White, cannot come to public spaces in Beacon or talk to fellow employees within the working hours of the work day, until his disciplinary hearings are done. ALBB has attended one such hearing at the invitation of Reuben and received the Zoom link from the mediation attorney Jay Siegel, Esq., but was asked to leave when the City of Beacon objected to any reporters or members of the public attending.
What Are These “Charges” Justifying Unpaid Leave, Paid Leave, and Over $111,000 In Unplanned “Employee Discipline” Money?
Labor Attorney for the City of Beacon, Lance Klein, who is going against city employee Reuben Simmons.
Photo Credit: Keane and Beane
ALBB has seen the documentation of charges sent to Reuben, attempting to justify the “discipline,” which ALBB has learned amounts to accusations of things like talking to people for too long outside while on the job, or taking too long of a lunch.
Lunch for the Highway Department employees, ALBB is told, is 30 minutes. Which really just gives enough time to order and go from Mr. V’s and eat it in a Highway Department truck.
Witnesses have been called to at least 8 hearings deliberating Reuben’s case, where the City’s attorney Lance Klein of Keane and Beane questions those people included in the charges. Some of those witnesses have denied the charges and length of time that Reuben has spoken to them while outside on the job, or the logistics of a long lunch time that deserves penalty.
Current Beacon Superintendent of Streets, Michael “Mickey” Manzi. Writes up charges against Reuben resulting in new Unpaid Leave statuses for Reuben as Reuben’s hearings to defend himself progress.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon
One example of a disputed charge against Reuben is allegedly talking to a member of the public in Memorial Park (which is also the location of a Highway Department shed) for 2 hours. The witness for this charge allegedly denied it during the hearing when questioned by Lance the attorney.
If Reuben and this member of the public did speak for any number of moments, then a policy of any Highway Department employee speaking to any member of the public while out on public city streets, sidewalks, or parks would be in violation of some policy in the City of Beacon, would seem odd, counter-intuitive of an inclusive community and unproductive. Members of the public are not allowed to speak to city employees while on the job? Or risk getting written up if on the wrong side of a supervisor? Those supervisors being Michael “Mickey” Manzi and David Way.
In addition to speaking to members of the public in public, Reuben has also been accused of taking an extended lunch break. Lunch breaks for the City of Beacon are 30 minutes. Any moment after that due to long lunch lines or traffic could qualify as a violation equal to this treatment.
Members Of The Public Begin Speaking Out
City of Beacon Employee for the Highway Department, Reuben Simmons, speaks out about his communication with the City of Beacon. Reuben is currently on a rotation of forced unpaid and paid leave by the City of Beacon as they hold “Employee Discipline” hearings against him. There have been at last 8 Employee Discpline hearings so far, and a total of $111,000 of unplanned city budget money transfered in the City of Beacon budget to cover unplanned “Employee Discipline” legal expenses.
After years of silence, Reuben spoke out at a recent City Council meeting, addressing the elephant in the room - himself. He spoke directly and was well spoken in his thoughts, as he was when presenting city street status updates to the public and City Council during his time as Highway Superintendent from 2017-2018.
The City Council often meets in private Executive Sessions discussing “Personnel” and “Litigation” and have the legal protection of not disclosing who or what they are talking about.
Reuben - who is Black and is one of the few Black employees in the public works departments - has also been accused of speaking loudly to his supervisor Michael “Mickey” Manzi while voluntarily reporting an accident Reuben had in a City vehicle. According to multiple sources, Mickey, the Highway Department’s Superintendent of Streets who used to be Reuben’s employee years ago, found Reuben’s tone uncomfortable. Therefore, Mickey added the tone to the charges justifying unpaid leave.
This issue with “tone” is despite rumors from multiple people - in a generational age range - that several in the Beacon public works departments speak gruffly to each other on a regular basis, possibly even using racial slurs. Those direct mentions have not yet come to light yet in any public confessions.
It is notable that when Reuben was first placed on unpaid leave in January 2021 for the pursuit of these charges, the City of Beacon unveiled it’s Diversity Statement months prior in October 2020, where Beacon’s newly hired HR Director, Gina Basile, noted there was tension in the Highway Department.
During the City Council Meeting on December 6, 2021, longtime hawk of city government and regular participant in Public Comment, Theresa Kraft, spoke up. Not naming names, she made allusions: “Beacon is a strong, supportive community. It always has been, and always will be. We watch out for our neighbors. But enforcement is key [referencing to the spike in unlawful driving in Beacon and the recent death on Main Street and Teller Avenue]. I question how much the city wasted on litigation of an employee who took too long of a lunch break. I see at the end of tonight's agenda there is an executive Session for Personal and Litigation. Perhaps that alone could have paid to ease the food insecurity throughout Beacon for a few years. Holding a grudge is holding all Beacon residents hostage.” You can listen to her full speech here.
Background On Reuben’s Unpaid/Paid Leave - An Additional Expense To The City Of Beacon
Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White, who authorized Reuben’s first round of 30-days of paid leave on Chris’ first week on the job.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon
Starting in January 2021, Reuben was placed on unpaid leave for more than one session of a 30-day unpaid leave status by City Administrator Chris White. Unpaid leave is difficult at any time, but for a Highway Department employee, January is the gravy month. It is the month they make overtime pay in plowing days during blizzards.
When not on unpaid leave, Reuben remains on paid leave. Unless new charges are filed against him, and he gets a new letter from City Administrator Chris White stating that he is on unpaid leave again.
The Union protecting and advocating for Highway Department Employees is CSEA. In January, Beacon’s representative and president was Paula Becker, who works as an employee in the Finance Department for the City of Beacon with Susan Tucker, Beacon’s Finance Director who signs off on these budget recommendations. Paula recently received a promotion and raise from the City of Beacon.
When ALBB called Paula to confirm Reuben’s unpaid status back when it started in January 2021, City Administrator Chris White emailed ALBB to say that ALBB should not contact any staff with questions, and to only address him. After publishing an article on this matter, City Administrator Chris White declined to answer any more questions from ALBB on any matter.
Listen to Reuben explain the start of his employment situation on ALBB’s podcast recorded in July 2020 here. His employment disputes started in 2018.
PODCAST DROP! Beacon Bread Company, Ziatun and Tito's Restaurateur Kamel Jamal On Palestine's Future Liberation
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Way back in warmer times in Beacon (June 2021), we sat down with Kamel Jamal to talk about Palestine on ALBB’s sister podcast station, “Wait, What Is That?”
Even though I have known about Kamel for 10 years, I had not made moments to speak with him. Really speak with him. I knew his politics. I knew he fought back in social media. I knew he answered back to outlandish reviews. I knew he didn’t like the empanada guy at the Beacon Farmers Market. I knew he was a Palestinian refugee. I knew his wife Lena was lovely and quietly fierce, and that his sister Kate (who now goes by her Palestinian name, Khitam) was raw fierce and lovely.
And that’s it.
However. When 2020 happened, I started to come out of my shell. On all of my platforms. In different ways (different platforms have different audiences in different moods). I started reporting on Black Lives Matter protests in Beacon. I started researching questionable employment and disciplinary actions by the City of Beacon that might not be able to prove discrimination on paper, but continuously result in decisions that don’t add up. And who knew that writing about COVID safety and vaccination recommendations during a world-wide pandemic would be so gutsy.
Kamel and I started circling each other. Then residents in a neighborhood in Palestine called Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem protested the scheduled take-over or demolishing of their homes by Israeli forces in May 2021, resulting in a lop-sided exchange of bombs that resulted in dozens of Palestinians being killed (including children), as well as some Israeli citizens. Anyone dead is too many. Especially when defending their home. This, after decades of recently lived histories of horrific murders and attacks on both sides of the Israeli checkpoints, resulting in friends and family members lost from the entire region.
Brandon Lillard and I reached out to Kamel to see if he would be willing to speak to us on our podcast, where we could ask him all of our big and small questions. Kamel said yes. We also reached out to Rabbi Brent of the Beacon Hebrew Alliance to see if we could talk to him as well. He considered it, knowing it is delicate territory, and in the meantime, wrote this blog post. Soon after, Next Step Hudson Valley organized a Free Palestine march in Newburgh, which ALBB covered and wrote about here with videos.
Right around that time, Kamel reached out to me, as he wanted to be a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog for 3 of his restaurants: Beacon Bread Company, Ziatun, and Tito Santana’s (WTF is the alter-ego of Beacon Bread, and serves as the cool friend next door who you sometimes see when they’re in the mood). This part was a coincidence, but did create the first time for Kamel and I to really talk over coffee. We were very honest with each other, which was as refreshing as the mint he uses in his watermelon salad.
Take a listen of this podcast episode. There was a moment where he was overcome with emotion, but you’ll probably not be able to find it. Both Brandon and I were very grateful to be sitting with Kamel, with him so accepting of our questions, as he earned to speak about his Palestine.
The Artists Behind The "Greetings From Beacon" Mural At Beacon Bread Company
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Many people in Beacon double as something else. The owner of Beacon Bread Company, Kamel Jamal, happens to be an extremely creative person, both visually and with phrases. He not only doubles the number of restaurants he creates, but enables others to share their talent as well.
It was no surprise when he commissioned one of his Beacon Bread staff, Shannon J. Ramos, to cover the side of the building he leases with an inviting and celebratory “Greetings From Beacon!” mural. Shannon is a muralist and tattoo artist from Poughkeepsie, who developed this design with her boyfriend and fellow artist, Sean who is from Wappingers Falls.
“We met through art,” said Sean. “She’d go to my art shows, and I’d go to her art shows. I love her art. I was in a grumpy mood this morning, but this changed me today. Being able to paint with her is so much fun.”
After 2 months of working for Beacon Bread as a server, Shannon and Sean began researching the design, and after looking at tons of postcards, went with this rainbow connection that “brings happiness,” Shannon said. Painting on the brick wasn’t so much of a challenge, she felt. Shannon used house paint for the hand/detail work, and Sean’s medium is spray painting.
“Murals are a lot of work” Shannon explained. “So it’s fun to have someone to balance off and bring different aspects of art to it. He’s good at spray paint. I’m good at hand-paint. It’s fun to play off each other.” Sean points out that they enjoy the interactive process of having passer-byers walk past to watch them paint. The flowers were left un-colored so that BEACON could stand out. The entire mural took about one day to complete.
Shannon is a full time restaurant server and artist. She has remained at Beacon Bread after starting there in the Spring of 2021, and was surprised to experience the creatively supportive vibe she got from the management. “I got the job, and then…you know…you want to be as available as possible for hours, but then I could only work certain days, and they were totally cool with that and wanted to make it work. It’s cool about them, as they are cool about flexible schedules, and having me do this mural and highlighting what I like to do.”
Follow Shannon at her Instagram.
Beacon Farmers Market To Stay Open Outside All Year - Bring Your Mittens, Kittens!
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Featured here: Happy Belly, at the Beacon Farmers Market.
The Beacon Farmers Market was one of the first to pivot hard when the business shutdown happened when COVID-19 was first discovered and declared a global pandemic. They quickly built a extremely robust but temporary well-serving website to connect devoted customers to vendors, and opened outside, withstanding the deep snowfall Beacon experienced last year.
This year, vendors agreed that they prefer to stick it out outside in the DMV parking lot, where there is more space, possibly better internet, and that small-scale live music that helps keep the market moving.
Managed by Common Ground Farm, the organization approached the City of Beacon to seek permission to operate outside year round. The parking lot is owned by Dutchess County, and leased by the City of Beacon. The City Council approved the extended occupation of the DMV parking lot in early November. Expect to shop the market outdoors all year!
The Shred Foundation, a skateboarding organization serving under-served youth which is Black founded, at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Diana Mae Flowers, a Beacon Farmers Market staple for creative bouquets.
Cooperstown Cheese Company at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Trax, a Beacon local coffee roasters with 3 locations in Beacon, also likes to serve it up at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Eggberts Free Range Farm, another Beacon Farmers Market staple and wonderful source for eggs, beef, lamb and pork.
Advocates for free New York Health Insurance, which would in theory be funded by a payroll tax on New Yorkers. Anna Brady Nuse started a Change.org petition for the cause, and has been pursuing Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou to show support for free New York Health Insurance by putting it on Beacon’s City Council Agenda, where the council can create and vote on a Resolution supporting it. So far the Mayor has not put it on the agenda.
Winners Of ALBB's 2021 Juneteenth Art Showcase: Rachel Lewis (Poetry) and Vintage Messiah (Illustration)
/A Call For Juneteenth Art logo by Vintage Messiah.
A Call For Juneteenth Art logo by Dom (Dominesha) Garth.
A Little Beacon Blog is celebrating its 2nd Annual Juneteenth Art Showcase! On June 19th, we put a call out for art produced by people identifying with the Black community. We also put a call out for sponsors to contribute any amount, and 100% of the contributions would go to the artists featured here. We also put a call out for logo designers, and accepted and commissioned 2 logos (shown above)! One from Vintage Messiah (left) and Dom (Dominisha) Garth (right). Thank you to everyone who participated!
Being that Juneteenth can run from June 19th until July 4th, as both are independence days, we are announcing the artists selected for ALBB’s Juneteenth Art Showcase on July 4th weekend!
Thank you to our two sponsors for this: an anonymous reader, and Moraya Seeger DeGeare, founder of the To My Old Racist Earth movement. Thanks to your contributions, we were able to award two artists this year: Rachel Lewis for poetry and Vintage Messiah for Illustration. Their expressions are below!
Rachel Lewis - Poetry
Rachel Lewis (@xstarb0rn) has been published in the following publications: Honeyfire Literary magazine Issue 05, Most Girls, the online magazine The Cranberry, Celebrate 845’s zines Social Unity: Volume 1 Issue 2 and “…And All Was Illuminated.” Follow Dom on Instagram at @upstate.creative
In the submissions, we asked the artists two questions:
ALBB: What would you like to tell the United States and the rest of the world?
Rachel: “I would like to tell the United States, and the rest of the world, that we see through the performative activism veil and are requiring more than what we’ve been given in the past.
ALBB: What would you like to tell the community where you live?
Rachel: “I would also like to tell Newburgh, NY (which is located in the beautiful and diverse Hudson Valley) that your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and even strangers that you pass on the street, are tired of suffering so that others can remain in their comfort. Last year was an incredible time for human rights across the board. Let’s keep that energy flowing. Every piece of poetry I’ve selected represents the pain I’ve experienced because of racial inequality and recent enlightenment.”
Rachel’s poems submitted for 2021 Juneteenth are below:
Breonna Taylor
To date a black woman
Is to date her magnificence, her beauty.
To date a black woman is to look at her, to truly see.
You see her marching
For aunts, uncles, and cousins she doesn’t know;
Because their culture was ripped from them, centuries ago.
So when you want to date a black woman,
Be mindful of your prudence.
Only then will you gain access to her beauty,
To her magnificence.
In The Beginning
I believe that we all started from,
All sprouted from
The “Eve Gene;”
Carried by nothing less than magnificent beings.
Strong enough to carry the weight of the entire human race,
Us carriers are resilient
And consistently great.
Without us, life was not created.
Without us, the world’s driving force is emaciated.
And yet we still hunger for the respect that we deserve.
We could be demanding so much more
Instead of what others are so freely given.
But here we are,
Still fighting for respect and acknowledgement
And especially from our own men.
But do I believe we will regain ours?
Yes, because as much as history
Has tried to deny us our rights,
We are still magnificent beings.
We flourish
And we grow
And reap the greatness
Our ancestors have sown.
Creation
I was not born.
I was created.
I was created to stir, poke, and prod.
I was created to speak for those who cannot.
I am here to learn.
And I am here to teach.
I am here for those who are still asleep.
The lies and stories woven will no longer serve as our reality.
We demand justice.
We demand peace;
And furthermore, we demand equality.
This is America
The walls shook
But the foundation bore the weight.
In the center stood
Resiliency,
Righteousness,
And a call to reclaim power.
We are done fulfilling your need
With our humility.
We are firmly planted and united
And will continue to be.
Do not underestimate
Our strength
Because of our compassion.
We are not asking.
We are demanding
Our right to
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
And anything and everything
Y’all have been trying to deny us.
Vintage Messiah - Illustration
Vintage Messiah is the type of determined person who amazes you with what they create on old phones, some of which can’t even make a call, or can barely get online. Vintage is multi-talented, as he is not only an illustrator, but he is a recording artists and producer of beats using various instruments and sounds.
As an illustrator, Vintage works with paper and digital as he passes his projects through various stages. Follow him at @vintagemessiah and @vintagemessiahart
ALBB: What would you like to tell the United States and the rest of the world?
Vintage Messiah: "I want the United States to put down the guns of tyranny and stop fighting against ourselves. We breathe , eat and bleed the same why , so why can't we all fight for what's right at the big dinner table of change, sharing a meal and sharing hearts as one, rather than clawing through separation. We don't need a holiday to accept our differences and move on"
ALBB: What would you like to tell the community where you live?
Vintage Messiah: "Putnam County should acknowledge and accept the fact that we all came up here to enjoy the scenery, tropical weather, and peaceful times just as much as they do. We don't want to offend you by being ourselves, and you should feel the same. When my family bought a home in the outskirts of towns, the neighbors were open and welcoming. My one wish to unite the same way they did, with loving arms and a burning curiosity on how we can learn more about each other and be friends"
ALBB: How did you make the logo and these submitted works of art?
Vintage: I made it on paper, scanned it into my computer , then colored over it with digital software. Mixed Media for me is combining multiple different art forms and creating a piece out of it. I've made animated music videos before, which in itself requires video editing, audio engineering, vocal recording and drawing on paper and scanning it in, frame by frame (or with computer automated animation), and mixing it together for the final project. This has always been my process , as I create so much stuff, I couldn't stick to one label, so I made my own and explain it like I did here. For this drawing , it was just a sketch, scan and color!!! I could also animate it as well.
Artist: Vintage Messiah. Contact him to commission your own piece.
Artist: Vintage Messiah. Contact him to commission your own piece.
Business Grant Available For Those Impacted By COVID-19; Priority Given To Minority and Women-Owned Businesses, Veteran, etc.
/The Dutchess Business Notification Network has issued another reminder that grant money is available from the Empire State Development, which has announced the New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program. This program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses, and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations in the State of New York that have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interested businesses are urged to submit applications as soon as possible, due to limited funding. This is not a “first come, first serve” program. Instead, applications will be evaluated based on business attributes set by the legislature, and priority will be given to socially and economically disadvantaged business owners including, but not limited to, minority and women-owned business enterprises, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses, or businesses located in communities that were economically distressed prior to March 1, 2020.
Grant awards will be calculated based on a business's annual gross receipts for 2019:
Annual gross receipts = $25,000-$49,999: $5,000/business;
Annual gross receipts = $50,000-$99,999: $10,000/business; and
Annual gross receipts = $100,000-$500,000: 10% of gross receipts (max grant is $50,000).
An informational webinar is being hosted on June 25, 11am - 12noon, presented by Huey-Min Chuang, Senior Director of Business and Economic Development at Empire State Development. The webinar is sponsored by KeyBank and SDG Law.
About the Small Business Recovery Grant Program + Webinar
The NYS COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program was created to provide flexible grant assistance to currently viable small businesses, micro-businesses and for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations who have experienced economic hardship due the COVID-19 pandemic.
What will be covered in the webinar:
What is the grant program?
Who is eligible to apply?
How do you apply?
What amounts will be awarded if eligible?
What is the required documentation?
Use of funds?
How can you get assistance if you need help with the application?
Next steps.
Register For Webinar: Click here
Program Details And Application: Click here
The application portal for the $800 million New York State COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program is now open and accepting applications. More information and the application process can be found HERE.
This aid could be used to help employers finance operating expenses incurred during the pandemic between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021 and can be used to cover:
Payroll costs,
Commercial rent or mortgage payments for NYS-based property,
Payment of local property or school taxes,
Insurance costs,
Utility costs,
Costs of personal protection equipment (PPE) necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety,
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs,
Other machinery or equipment costs, and
Supplies and materials necessary for compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Eligible small businesses are defined as:
Those with 100 or fewer employees,
Organized under the laws of New York State,
Is independently owned and operated, and not dominant in its field.
Eligible “for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations” are independently operated live-performance venues, promoters, production companies, or performance-related businesses located in New York State with 100 or fewer employees, excluding seasonal employees.
Eligibility requirements include:
Entities must have begun operation on or before March 1, 2019 and continue to be in operation as of the date of application (maybe shuttered due to COVID restrictions),
Have to show a reduction in gross receipts of at least 25% from 2019 to 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols which resulted in business modifications, interruptions, or closures.
Show gross receipts between $25,000 and $500,000 for 2019 and 2020, and
A positive net profit for 2019.
They must not have qualified for assistance programs under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 or other available federal COVID-19 economic recovery or business assistance grant programs above certain thresholds (received more than $100,000 of a PPP grant or loan).
Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the entity’s annual gross receipts.
Art Call For Juneteenth Inspired Art - All Types - Paper, Print, Spoken, Sung, Mixed
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Logo design by Dom (@upstate.creative)
Hello!
For the second year in a row (see our first year!), A Little Beacon Blog is holding a Juneteenth art contest. The aim is to reserve space for the African American community to show their voices and visions during Juneteenth.
WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
Juneteenth is a holiday of independence celebrated on June 19th by the Black community commemorating the liberation of the enslavement of Africans taken from their homes in other countries, separated from their families, and brought to North America so that white Americans could have their own Independence Day from Great Britain on July 4th. Some Native American tribes in Oklahoma kept African slaves as well, as was a recent focus during the Tulsa Race Massacre in Greenwood.
Juneteenth has been celebrated for over 150 years by African Americans, but not all knew about it, as it wasn’t taught regularly in schools. Last year, during the social reckoning of 2020, Juneteenth got elevated, paid attention to, and respected by the white community and other races. On June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth into law as a national holiday, where the government workforce and schools will observe the holiday.
HOW THIS WORKS
Submit your work for consideration to be published on A Little Beacon Blog.
Any age is welcome.
People from the African American community, of any mix or origen.
African Americans living in the Hudson Valley of New York.
Any medium is welcome. If you recorded a song, send it via Spotify or something we can embed. Actually, we can embed an mp3 on our own website! Artwork that is painted, pixelized, collaged, quilted, etc.
Please answer these 2 questions with your submission:
What do you want to tell the United States about what you want changed?
What do you want to tell _______ your town in the Hudson Valley about what you want changed? Any wish. What is your greatest wish?
A Description of your artwork.
Selected submissions will be published on A Little Beacon Blog, along with your answers. You can elect to skip giving an answer.
Selected submissions will win grant money if we get sponsors. Of the sponsorship dollars, 100% will be divided among the artists.
Email art file to katie@alittlebeaconblog.com
Deadline: June 23rd. Publish Date: June 26th
100% Of SPONSORSHIP GOES TO PRIZES/GRANTS
We can offer prizes if we have sponsorships. Depending on how many submissions we get, we could award grant money to several people. Therefore, 100% of sponsor dollars will go towards these grants.
To sponsor:
Visit our Reader Support page and select a dollar amount.
In the Comments, please indicate if this is to sponsor this initiative, and we will set it aside. Please also indicate if you want your name or business name listed with the final publishing of all artwork.
Once all sponsorships are in, the dollar amount will be divided evenly among the selected submissions.
HELPING A LITTLE BEACON BLOG CONTINUE
If you want to help A Little Beacon Blog at large continue to run these kinds of initiatives - consider sponsoring ALBB in a sustaining way. Visit our Media Kit for options or contact us. Or, you can send a contribution at any time. A Little Beacon Blog is a business, and we do pay salaries to feed our families, add to our savings accounts, pay student loans, and produce news you love.
PS: Love this logo design? It was designed by Dom (@upstate.creative) for a A Little Beacon Blog.
Beacon City Schools Celebrate Juneteenth 2021 With Letter To Community And Acknowledgement Of 2022 School Holiday
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These 2 cuties were the winners of A Little Beacon Blog’s 1st Juneteenth Art Contest last year. They have since left the district and are enjoying homeschool with their mama, Millenial Matriarch, creator of Village Homeschool.
One day before President Biden signed Juneteenth as a federal holiday - a holiday marking independence and liberation from slavery that has been celebrated by the African American community for over 150 years but generally not taught in public or private schools for the white community to know about or be encouraged to celebrate - Beacon City School District Superintendent Dr. Matthew Landahl sent an email to district families wishing everyone a Happy Juneteenth.
“Next year we are very excited that Juneteenth will be an official BCSD school holiday on our calendar,” he stated. The Beacon City School District has been working on equity and diversity work over the year, despite the shutdown, and he let families know that the work continues this summer.
“The Beacon City School District is partnering with Dutchess BOCES to have our entire administrative team participate in Undoing Racism workshops this summer. Some of our teachers will be participants in professional development workshops on developing a more equitable curriculum in our district. There are other professional development programs that we are putting together as well.”
Dr. Landahl is known to be a communicative leader, as he ended the note with an indication that the district would be kept updated as to developments to that professional work for teachers and administration.
In true educator fashion, Dr. Landahl included resources for people to learn more about Juneteenth, which are included below:
From the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth
Watch this local news link from Houston, TX about Juneteenth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz2ke1a-WiM
An article from National Geographic about Juneteenth:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/juneteenth
An article from the History Channel:
https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth
Juneteenth 2021 Celebrations In Beacon and Newburgh
/If you know of an event not included here, please email it in to us!
Juneteenth Panel
Day: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Time: 6pm - 7:30pm
Register for @newburghlgbtqcenter's Juneteenth panel, and block out your Saturday night! There is a fun evening of black liberation celebration planned, so turn on @beacon4blacklives post notifications and stay tuned!
Register at bit.ly/JuneteenthPanel
Juneteenth At The Sanctuary
Day: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: Crystal Lake, 61 Temple Ave., Newburgh, NY
Information >
“They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.” Ground into the Earth with this JUNETEENTH at the Sanctuary. With so many happenings, let this be the experience that sets the mood for the rest of your day: meditative, joyful, in nature! There will be sowing poems, and prayer, and dance, and LOVE for Our people into the morning. Thank you for rocking with us - see you there!
Juneteenth Celebration
Day: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Time: 7:30pm
Location: The Yard, 4 Hanna Lane, Beacon NY
IT'S HAPPENING! The Beacon 4 Black Lives is Celebrating Black Joy with the theme of Love and Liberation. Enjoy performances by Local Black Artists, dance, eat, paint, heal, and breathe! We're creating a space for Black folx to celebrate ourselves and see the beauty beyond our resilience.
Annual Fish Fry @ Springfield Baptist Church
Day: June 19, 2021
Time: 11 am - 3 pm
Location: Springfield Baptist Church, 8 W Church St., Beacon, NY
Smoking Of Cannabis Can Be Permitted Where Tobacco Is Not; Municipalities Can Adopt Favorable Regulations
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From the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) presentation from Beacon’s retained law firm Keane and Beane, which prompted the report that Beacon was considering banning cannabis, tobacco and vapor in public parks, a note about allowing the smoking of cannabis in locations where smoking tobacco is prohibited was noted in print, but lingered upon as an option for the City Council. The City Administrator Chris White brought the reverse to the Council, for them to consider prohibiting tobacco, vapor and cannabis in Beacon’s public parks. Banning tobacco can be done, however, minus the ban on cannabis.
Since the MRTA legislation is written so favorably towards selling it, growing it and using it, to regulate open air public spaces seems counter-intuitive to the intent. Restricting that amount of land could have the effect of corralling people into tighter locations. It also has the possibility of new laws against smoking cannabis in the open, without fear of charges or judgement, which is again part of why the law was written.
Additionally, while smoking tobacco is banned from trails, City Administrator Chris implied his favor with discretionary application of the regulation, stating that he simply wanted to give people more teeth when asking people next to them to stop smoking at soccer games. He implied that if people were smoking “way up in the woods, we are not going to see,” regarding an action that is now legal, where people can smoke marijuana and be seen.
From Keane and Bean'e’s presentation, here are the guidelines on smoking cannabis effective immediately:
Adults 21 and older can generally smoke cannabis anywhere it is currently legal to use tobacco.
Smoking cannabis is prohibited in schools, workplaces, and in cars.
Municipalities can also adopt regulations to allow the smoking of cannabis in locations where smoking tobacco is prohibited.
Beacon City Council Considers Smoking Ban In Public Parks, As Marijuana Is Legalized (Tobacco Would Be Included In Ban)
/As Beacon’s City Council considers its new obligation from New York State to respect marijuana smoking in public, the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA), a law passed after much delay prior to the racial reckoning of 2020 and into 2021), Beacon, along with all municipalities, is required to decide if it wants to opt out of retail sales tax revenue from Adult-Use Retail Dispensary stores (a store that sells cannabis that a person takes away from the store), or an On-Site Consumption Establishment (like a bar for alcohol that a person consumes on site and cannot take away). When signing the law, New York State declared that it became the “15th state to legalize cannabis with commitment to social equity.” So far, after the 6/14/2021 City Council Workshop meeting discussing the development, Beacon’s City Council is leaning in the direction of remaining opted-in to profiting from revenue from cannabis sales generated from within Beacon’s city limits.
Along with this retail choice, as presented in detail by Beacon’s retained law firm, Keane & Beane from attorney Drew Victoria Gamals, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White brought to the Council the consideration of prohibiting smoking or vaping tobacco and marijuana in public parks to the Council, separate from the state-mandated retail decision. During the meeting, he said doing so was in the name of public health.
However, it should be noted, that in Keane and Beane’s Adult-Use Marijuana presentation, municipalities are able to “adopt regulations to allow the smoking of cannabis in locations where smoking tobacco is prohibited.” This option was not discussed during the Workshop where this topic was first breached.
New York’s lifting of the prohibition of marijuana smoking has brought new aromas to the city, which you may have noticed while walking down the sidewalk where bar patrons gather to smoke outside. Or someone driving in their car in front of you may be openly smoking cannabis while driving (which, according to Drew Victoria Gamils with Keane & Beane is not legal, nor is sitting in your car smoking cannabis while the car is off).
Is It The Aroma That Is Bothersome?
While it is a new aroma for some, it is making others uncomfortable. Yet one thing is known: the Black community is disproportionately penalized for even carrying cannabis, let alone smoking it, as was pointed out by Councilmember Air Nonken Rhodes during the presentation of the ban on smoking in Beacon’s public parks during the meeting.
City Administrator Chris White responded to Air’s concern by stating that “enforcement would need to be closely watched.” Which would require data collection and review of each citation. Something which Beacon’s City Council is new to acquiring in the aftermath of the spotlight on criminal justice. It is also not clear if the City Council or the City Administrator is in the habit of regularly reviewing the data that the City of Beacon Police Department collects.
During this City Council Workshop, City Administrator Chris White equated publicly smoking marijuana to smoking tobacco, as he brought to the council the consideration to ban it from public parks and “soccer games.” Chris stated that on Beacon’s trails, there is a ban on smoking, but he was unclear as to why that was, and not banned in parks. He wondered if it was because people are walking in a “linear” path. In his pursuit of a policy to be able to enforce, he expanded: “If you're way up in the woods, we are not going to see. However if you are at a soccer game, and not being respectful of others, I'm sure you are going to be reminded of that,” he stated, explaining that a person complaining to their fellow parent would have new legislation supporting their complaint to a person sitting next to them.
Not that soccer games need more opportunities for conflict among overly aggressive parents, who continuously need their own refereeing by the professional hired to ref the kids and enforce rules of the game in play.
(The no-smoking rule on trails could be for fire prevention, like that time when Breakneck caught on fire in 2020.)
Soccer Games and Smoking
Having been to many soccer games and practices, as well as those for flag football, I have not encountered folks smoking tobacco or cannabis. While that is a broad statement, people usually step away when smoking, out of respect for others. As for Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, that area is so spacious and windy, most aromas don’t linger - unless it is the regular aroma of charcoal burning for burgers and hot dogs.
Meanwhile, New York State considers cannabis a potential thriving business that it can regulate and profit from, while encouraging agricultural involvement from traditionally oppressed groups. Expanding limitations on where it can be smoked is counter to that intent.
From New York’s new Office of Cannabis Management, the new law “Establishes a robust social and economic equity program to actively encourage members from communities disproportionally impacted by the policies of prohibition to participate in the new industry. … [It] encourages small business and farmers to participate in the cannabis industry with the creation of microbusiness, cooperative and delivery license types.”
Proposed Penalties For Smoking In Beacon’s Public Parks
A majority of Beacon’s City Council leaned toward accepting the sale of cannabis in Beacon, but banning smoking in public parks. The penalties, they agreed on, could be light. The financial penalty by default, City Attorney Drew said, has a maximum fine of $1,000 per day. City Attorney Drew confirmed that the penalty would be settled in Justice Court between the City and the Defendant. City Administrator Chris attempted assurance: “It’s usually much less than the maximum penalty.“
City Attorney Drew added: “If you go to trial, you could get $40,000. Working with the police and the defendant, you might end up settling for $9,000. That's a high example. You might end up settling for $500 in Justice Court.”
Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair requested that the financial penalty be light, so as to not impact anyone’s rent. He and other Councilmembers agreed that jail time would be not ideal, and they would want to specifically exclude that penalty from Beacon’s legislation.
City Attorney Drew recommended that the City Council hear from residents before moving forward with drafting legislation on how to regulate the sale of cannabis in Beacon.
Moraya Seeger DeGeare Reflects On Black Joy Felt From Matcha Thomas - Code Switch Relaxed
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Editor’s Note: After ALBB began producing the first review of Matcha Thomas in a more traditional format, one reader was too excited not to write about Matcha Thomas after going there more than a few times, and especially after experiencing with a friend. She reached out to ALBB asking if she could write about her experience. We encouraged her to lean in, and looked forward to what she wrote. Below please find a review from an experience point of view of Matcha Thomas by Moraya Seeger DeGeare.
Written By Moraya Seeger DeGeare
I want to share with you a moment in time on Main Street. The Black joy that was created as the paths crossed of Black folx all converging in a search of delicately delicious Matcha, to pull up to support Black female business owners. I think a deeper thirst was quenched by having a moment of belonging as we spoke, our unique expressions of Blackness only gave us each deeper connection, instead of divide. If only for a few glorious minutes, instead of feeling othered, we found a place that welcomed us as essential as the air.
“Does she have Celiac also? Seeing gluten free Back folk always excites me. Food allergy people, you know what I’m talking about. ”
I both want to share my rainy afternoon with you and keep it hidden to protect it. I don’t want someone else’s opinion to spoil it. How do you capture Black joy in the written word? Probably the same way you put sunshine in a bottle...You can’t. I can’t capture it because the joy of today was in the simplicity. We are just existing out here having tea nestled between a Black barbershop and gentrification - expensive condos.
I walked down Main Street in Beacon, NY into Matcha Thomas, my five year old hopping, a wiggly, tired baby on my hip, and a dear friend slightly twirling in a purple, iridescent, rain poncho they just got from a new thrift store in town. We awkwardly hold up traffic as we make our way in and start reading the menu aloud. The Black woman who enters with us double checks that everything is gluten free. This is the first moment in my mind when I multi-task talking to my kid and acknowledging my people, a little tingle as I glance around. Does she have Celiac also? Seeing gluten free Back folk always excites me. Food allergy people, you know what I’m talking about.
As we take up space and order, we laugh with these Black women. Our laughter expands and yet that feeling of are we being TOO much never comes. I feel my body brace for the discomfort to happen anyway. It doesn’t. I’m okay. It’s the alertness I always carry for when I need to code switch to be safe, for when I need to tell my Black child to come closer instead of being curious. My brain starts to say that’s not needed here and part of my body doesn’t know what to do with this relaxed feeling. The woman who walked in with us smiles with their eyes behind the mask and shares, “as I was walking behind you down the street, I was like ‘are they going where I’m going?’”
I know those words sound simple, but it was the way she said it. It was the is this happy group of Black humans and giggle kids headed into the same direction as me? As we meet this wonderful, intuitive astrologer and tarot card reader, the energy and excitement only goes up. We laugh. My friend invites her to Beacon’s Juneteenth celebration, saying, “we are having a celebration of Black joy, will you come?” Business cards are exchanged. Yes, let’s gather community and organize on Black joy, not just Black pain and murder. I don’t want to trauma bond. I want to celebrate your existence.
“As we take up space and order, we laugh with these Black women. Our laughter expands and yet that feeling of are we being TOO much never comes. I feel my body brace for the discomfort to happen anyway. It doesn’t. I’m okay. It’s the alertness I always carry for when I need to code switch to be safe, for when I need to tell my Black child to come closer instead of being curious. ”
As we sit outside at an adorable green table and try all the new treats, moment after moment like this roll in with abundance. I turn to my friend genuinely curious: “Is this normal for you? The continual deep connection to strangers?”
We meet Black moms who quickly tell us their stories as they run to get kids from t-ball, about moving to Africa, IG handles are exchanged for future hiking playdates with our Brown children.
It’s not just that I saw the likeness of me reflected here. It’s that I truly, genuinely made new friends even if we connected for just a few moments. I also chuckle now because in the moment it doesn’t cross my mind that who Justice McCray and I are probably does impact the magic that is happening, not just our Blackness. We both love collecting people’s stories: I’m a therapist and Justice is many things including organizer, future city council member, writer, and storyteller. I’m sure our craving for understanding and healing the world around us added to how we befriended strangers, I know it adds to our friendship.
I grew up in Beacon, born at home in a cabin on the mountain my grandparents built in the 50’s. My parents met on the school bus in elementary school. My father, a high school basketball star. Beacon is a town that has had mixed families and kids growing up here for generations. That’s important. My Black grandmother was an artist and worked at Talix (what is now that big building with the Black fist and Pride flag currently). I say this tiny bit of history to say, this is my home town and yet what happened today I had not experienced here before as an adult raising a family here.
Growing up appreciating the closeness and connectedness of small town life, I spent much of my childhood with my grandparents. Grandparents that everyone knew: The Seegers. My childhood experience in Beacon was that everyone knows your family and says hi to you in the Post Office. I think many kids who grew up here would actually say the same, as you walk around town someone knows you or your aunt and they have an eye out for you. For me it was often my proximity to whiteness, to fame that would have someone saying hello. Today at Matcha Thomas, it was my Blackness.
The week before, I read an Instagram Story that Katie from A Little Beacon Blog posted saying, ”an MTA media relations spokesperson I’m speaking with while researching an MTA Police story, who lives in NYC and has visited Beacon as a tourist, responded to my mention of BLM protest marches: ‘There is a Black community in Beacon?’ I didn’t know how to respond execpt by saying ‘Of course there is a Black community here!’”
It truly gave me pause. Wow, this town that was historically, beautifully rich in diversity. I would say Beacon was even known as a Black town, especially compared to the nearby sundown town of Cold Spring. Now it’s known as a place Black people don’t exist? It made my whole body tense. Am I no longer welcome here? Is this not a place for my Brown children?
“For me it was often my proximity to whiteness, to fame that would have someone saying hello. Today at Matcha Thomas, it was my Blackness. ”
So to have this moment of pure joy of Black people just existing and living and clearly craving more connection to each other, I could not help but smile, breathe deeper, even laugh. As I sipped my Mango matcha boba, Brown baby nibbling a cookie, I watched with a deep appreciation as this friend, a queer non-binary Black human talks Juneteenth, Black joy, and running for city council. My 5 year old tucked next to them listening, experiencing the happiness of Blackness in community. It was this moment that I wish was captured on film, so I can go back and savor it.
The owners of Matcha Thomas have intentionally cleansed and called in a deep healing energy. They have cultivated a space that in the most delicious way gives room to celebrate the intersectionality of humans. I inhaled it instantly as I walked in the door.
Later that evening, we strolled down Main Street, my baby now snuggled in a carrier on my back waving and saying hi to folx as we passed. The rain started to mist down on us and my 5 year old son quietly catches raindrops on his face…
Singin' brown skin girl.
Your skin just like pearls.
The best thing in the world.
I never trade you for anybody else.
A Family-Owned, Black-Owned, Vegan And Gluten-Free Wellness Teahouse Opens With A Give-Back Board: Matcha Thomas
/Written by Teslie Andrade
New Matcha Cafe In Town!
Matcha Thomas officially opened their doors on May 21, 2021, for a soft launch featuring iced, creamy matcha lattes, strawberry milk matcha boba, and an assortment of treats (all 100% vegan & gluten-free). Those building their Beacon Business Trivia card deck will remember that this used to be the catering space of Homespun, the cafe of which remains across the street.
How Matcha Thomas Came To Be
Photo credit: MatCHA Thomas
”WE'RE THE "THOMAS" TO OUR "MATCHA"!”
The owners, the Thomas family of 4, have dreamt of this day for as long as they could remember. As avid matcha lovers, they would go around different towns to visit cafes, trying as many different matchas as they could. The 2 daughters, Haile and Nia, even created the concept of Matcha Thomas as a joke on Instagram sharing the matchas they would try. It was the one day that Haile and Nia decided to make their own matcha latte at home and thought “Wow…” Then, the planning for the storefront for Matcha Thomas began!
The Thomas family lives right by Woodbury, NY - where they have been for 5 years after moving from Arizona. They travel about 30 minutes to Beacon simply because they love Beacon so much! “When we first came to Beacon, we just fell in love and thought ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a shop down here?’” said Haile and Nia.
Well, all it took was one evening of picking up dinner on Main Street during the pandemic and spotting a “For Rent” sign at 259 Main Street. As an entrepreneurial family, the planning and collaboration was a success and Matcha Thomas is up & running with many people bustling in and out saying, “We saw what you posted on Instagram today and we want it.”
Why Vegan & Gluten-Free?
“We chose vegan because our entire family is Vegan. We have been for 7 years. It’s been a journey for sure,” said Haile. “After going through health issues with my dad, we all decided on a plant-based diet. With this, we also want to contribute to the world - the ethical & environmental side. Being Vegan and wanting to contribute to the world is also fun. It’s a space where you can be creative.”
Treats are made each morning and recipes are created right at their home. In fact, the delicious brownie recipe was created one night when Haile and Nia wanted brownies but didn’t want to search for a recipe and decided to whip up their own batter! Gluten-free flour/almond flour are used as substitutes for all-purpose flour, and sweeteners are refined sugar-free - coconut sugar, maple syrup, etc. “There’s just so much you can do”, said Haile.
You can also stop in and sample two different teas! The teas are brewed each morning in 9.5 Alkaline Kangen Water for maximum flavor extraction and nutrient absorption. Read more about alkaline here!
What Is the “Matcha For The People” Wall?
“The wall was inspired by the fact that we felt we had space where we could potentially offer an opportunity for people to tap into kindness and really acknowledge and affirm the people around us that make the world go round.”
How Does the “Matcha For The People” Wall Work?
“Basically,” explains Haile, “you come in and buy X for a person (someone struggling with mental health, having a bad day, a single parent, or whoever!) and write it on a sticky note and stick it to our wall. A person who comes in and identifies with a sticky note on the wall can then redeem it and get something free that was paid for by someone else.”
Good Vibes All Around!
When you walk in, a cinnamon scent will envelop you, which immediately makes your heart happy and your taste buds yearn. Matcha Thomas is a minimalist cafe with beautiful fiddle leaf figs in the window and a selenite crystal located on your way out. It’s the little things! The selenite crystal known for having the ability to purify energy - whether you believe in it or not - it feels like a good thing.
Both Haile and Nia lean into the selenite crystal, explaining: “Adding the selenite crystal was an idea from an amazing woman who owns a spiritual shop in Chester, NY. She came in and helped us assess the energy in our space and shared the idea of the stone with us. We loved it!”
The energy in Matcha Thomas is magic.
Pictured: Matcha Thomas - the signature latte! Recipe is a plant milk of your choice (oat, almond, or hemp) blended w/ premium ceremonial-grade matcha and coconut vanilla cream base. It is GOOD.
When Faced With The Choice Of Just One Drink, What Does Matcha Thomas Recommend?
“It depends! If you want a classic experience, definitely our signature Matcha Thomas. If you want to have some fun, any of our boba drinks!”
Always ask for recommendations if you’re torn! Haile and Nia are guaranteed to pick something delicious for you depending on your mood. As a first-timer, I wanted to try one of everything but was eager to try the Matcha Thomas Signature Latte. If I could describe it in three words, it would be, rich, creamy, and decadent. But not so rich that it was heavy. It is a light, creamy feel - a MUST try! Part of what creates the creamy sensation in the non-dairy latte is the matcha green tea itself. Known as a Japanese plant, the green tea leaf is crushed into a powder.
The Matcha Thomas Instagram is run by Haile Thomas who has been in an influencer space for years. Check out their photos but be prepared to drool!
City of Beacon Police Respond With Detail Of New May 25th Incident Involving Mentally Ill Man In Question
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RELATED LINKS:
MTA Responds With Details Of Tasering Of Mentally Ill Man on May 19th, On Main Street In Beacon (5/25/2021)
Coverage Of The Gathering To Speak Against Force Used By MTA Police In Beacon (5/26/2021)
PLEASE NOTE: this article series is discussing 2 different incidents of a man who has been in Beacon for some time, harassing people, which has escalated after he was Tasered on Main Street by MTA Police on May 19, 2021. Later, he was Tasered again on May 25, 2021 by a New York State Trooper. This response from the City of Beacon Police deals with the May 25th incident. It does not address the May 19th incident because the City of Beacon Police Department was not involved.
During the research for the story on the man who was Tasered by MTA Police on Main Street on May 19, 2021, in response to an alleged complaint of threats, ALBB learned that a new incident occurred on Main Street on May 25, 2021 that involved City of Beacon Police and New York State Police. On that day, we reached out to the City of Beacon Police for confirmation and any detail they could provide.
Today, Lt. Figlia from the City of Beacon Police responded to ALBB with detail from the City of Beacon Police. The detail is provided in full below:
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The following message has been written by Lt. Figlia of the Beacon Police:
We believe that the nature of this incident is, at least to some extent, related to the mental health of an individual. In order to protect that individual’s privacy, we will not be releasing any identifying information about the individual, nor will we comment on any incidents that did not involve City of Beacon Police Department members. However, the matter you are inquiring about is of considerable public concern, so we want to provide the public with as much information as we can responsibly share.
On 5/25/21 at approximately 10:48 AM the Beacon Police Department received a call for male, who was identified by name, inside of a business on Main St. screaming, “fuck you bitch” at a female employee and refusing to leave. When officers were dispatched to the call, MTA PD advised BPD over the radio that they had an active warrant for individual. BPD officers then located him on Main St. and took him into custody without incident. He was then transported directly to MTA PD’s Beacon HQ where he was turned over to them. Any questions about the nature of the warrant should be directed to the MTA PD.
At approximately 1:25 PM the same day the Beacon Police Department received three separate calls about the same individual on Main St. yelling at people and being involved in an altercation. BPD officers responded and approached the individual, who was now in need of psychiatric evaluation at a hospital under New York State Mental Hygiene Law, as it had become apparent from his actions that he was presenting a danger to himself and others. As officers approached, the individual fled on foot before they could speak to him. BPD officers pursued him with the intent of taking him into custody for transport to MidHudson Regional Hospital. During that time a passing New York State Trooper observed this and self-initiated joining the pursuit. The trooper utilized a taser on the individual. BPD officers then took the individual into custody without further incident and transported him to MidHudson Regional Hospital for psychiatric treatment. As of approximately 12:30 PM on 5/26/21 the individual was observed to be out of MidHudson Regional and back in Beacon. Any questions about the use of force and the taser should be directed to the New York State Police.
On 5/26/21 someone came into BPD HQ to file charges against the same individual for allegedly threatening to kill them. This year, from 2/28/21 to 5/26/21 the Beacon Police Department has had 42 contacts with the individual in question. Of these contacts, 36 have been due to calls from the public. They have primarily been for threatening or harassing behavior, walking in front of vehicles and very aggressive panhandling. The individual in question has been approached by our co-housed Mental Health America of Dutchess County Behavioral Health Specialist on numerous occasions and has continuously refused many attempts at assistance and services.
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
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