Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Awarded $47K For Rescue UTV For Mountanous Terrain and Large Events

The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (BVAC) has been awarded $47,000 from Dutchess County’s Municipal Investment Grant (MIG) Program, as was announced today. Said Said Nick Scarchilli, Chief of Operations: "BVAC will use the investment to locate, treat and transport lost and/or injured hikers along the Hudson Highlands and Mount Beacon trails, as well as at large-scale public events, which will help to expedite response times for emergency medical calls.”

Photo Credit: Deborah Cortes, EMT-B, for Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

BVAC will purchase a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and accessories for mountain rescue operations and large-scale community events. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B and head of Public Relations for BVAC told A Little Beacon Blog: “It is the intention that we will purchase the unit as soon as possible. The UTV is a resourceful unit to assist in the extraction of injured hikers off of Mount Beacon by allowing our crews to safety navigate through the rough terrain of the mountain. Future plans include continuing to respond to mountain calls, standbys, and training personnel for efficient operations.”

BVAC has had to make rescues on Mount Beacon before, like the one pictured here in 2019. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B for BVAC remembers the scene like this: “This rescue started in the dark hours of the evening, ending in the early morning hours. We do go up in the daytime and continue to train but, we need better. ESPECIALLY when we go up the mountains this late at night lasting hours long.”

At that time, BVAC described the situation as this: “At around 20:40 p.m last night The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Mobile Life Ambulance was dispatched to a call on Mt. Beacon for a lost and injured hiker experiencing shortness of breath. The BVAC ATV rode up with 2 BVAC EMT's, Mobile life paramedic and NYS Park Police as far as possible near the fire tower. 1 crew member remained with the polaris while the rest of the crew departed on foot to meet up with lost & injured. The hikers were safely brought down to an awaiting ambulance on the bottom of the mountain where the injured was reassessed. All equipment was back in service shortly before midnight. ** BVAC EMT's & Mobile Life Medic were in touch with the hikers via cell phone the whole time while attempting to make contact closely monitoring the injured hikers condition.”

Antony Tseng, Program Director with BVAC, recalls these situations where the UTV was needed:

• We have deployed the UTV for a search of a patient at University Settlement where there was no access road for vehicles.

• During one of the ice storms, where we could not climb up a sloped driveway, we were able to use the UTV gain access to the patient.

• We used the UTV to support the marathon on the Walkway Over The Hudson (Poughkeepsie) in 2015.

• We helped bring up tools to the Mt. Beacon Fire Tower with the UTV when it was being restored before its grand reopening in 2013.

BVAC is its own entity. The City of Beacon only started funding it in recent years, after the City Of Beacon hired a for-profit ambulance service to service the city. During that time, BVAC advocated very vocally to Beacon’s City Council and City Administrator Chris White for funding after years of volunteering to serve the city and making their own investments through fundraisers.

Donate to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps. at any time by clicking here. According to their website: “BVAC is the only volunteer ambulance service operating in Dutchess County. Seven BVAC employees and 35 volunteers respond to approximately 247 calls per month. BVAC depends on fundraisers and contributions of any size at any time. BVAC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.”

Artwork Deadline September 1 For Beacon Bus Shelters From BeaconArts

BeaconArts is the group behind the changing art on the bus shelters in Beacon, and the time has come to change the art again. After a recent round of fundraising which included a benefit concert, BeaconArts raised the funds needed to refresh the artwork on 5 bus shelters located throughout the city.

Artwork needs to be submitted by Friday, September 1st via this link. Submissions need to be from BeaconArts members (you can join here - membership starts at $100/year).

Artists will be asked to submit digital files that will be printed on vinyl and displayed on the shelter panels.

Submission guidelines:

• All applicants must be BeaconArts members.

• BeaconArts is looking for artwork that has a strong graphic quality and can be viewed from a distance.

• The final artwork will consist of two 50" w x 60" h panels.

• The artwork selected should fit within the proportions of the bus shelter panels

• Submissions must be jpg files, 1000 x 1200 pixels at 72dpi

• If selected, artwork must be delivered as high resolution files, 50 x 60 inches at 300 dpi

Vinyl printing and installation are provided by BeaconArts at no charge to the artist.

Beacon Back 2 School Block Party Invites Community To Celebrate & Prepare For School

South Avenue Park at Loopers Plaza is firing it up again with the Beacon Back 2 School Event from I Am Beacon and Key Food on Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 12-3pm. This event is known for signalling the final days of summer with a cookout in the park, accompanied by several vendors at tables providing information to kids, parents and caregivers, as well as basketball games being played down below at Loopers Court.

Co-founder of I Am Beacon, Reuben Simmons told the Beacon Free Press this week: “Although we host with Key Food, this event is a true collaboration in every sense of the word. Beacon Recreation Department, Beacon City School District, and the Beacon Hoops Summer Basketball program. I enjoy providing a platform for so many of our community organizations to come out and share their information.”

Participating Organizations

Participating organizations this year include: Girl Scouts of the Hudson Valley, Cub Scouts Pack 1, Boy Scouts Troop #41, Brain and Body Coalition, Tradition Christmas Tree Lighting, Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, St Andrews & St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Growing & Empowering Myself and My Sisters (GEMMS), A Little Beacon Blog, Beacon Elks Lodge #1493, Salem Tabernacle, Tara’s Mission| Flip !t 4 Human Rights, Highlands Current, Conservation Advisory Committee, Staples, Beacon Climate Action Now, City of Beacon Police, Beacon Dental, and Contender eSports Gaming Center Hudson Valley.

Food and Entertainment

Key Food will be providing burgers, hot dogs and drinks for sale or by donation but is not required for those in need. HOPE Church is bringing the grill. “It takes a village!” co-founder Brooke Simmons told A Little Beacon Blog. Proceeds from the sale of food will go to I Am Beacon’s Class in a Bag program, which provides full backpacks and school supplies to students in need in the Beacon City School District grades K-12.

All Star Games from the Beacon Hoops Summer program start at 10am and go through the morning.

School supplies will be collected throughout the day. A small bus will be on-site, and attendees are encouraged to help "stuff the bus" with donated school supplies. DJ King Cyrus will be playing music throughout the event, which will end with a raffle draw.

A Little Beacon Blog will be offering face painting. A portion of the sales will be donated to I Am Beacon, and the rest helps us publish this publication. Donation recommended but not required. We will paint anyone.

How It Works

To get a free bag of school supplies, students will be given a “Student Passport,” and are required to collect “stamps” from each vendor’s booth. Cards will only be handed out for the number of bags available.

South Avenue Park | South Avenue Park is located at 9D and South Avenue. The address is 98 South Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508. The event takes place in the open area between the tennis court and basketball court, and below the climbing playground and Beacon Recreation Center.

Free Citizenship Workshop At Beacon's Public Library For N-400 Application; El Taller de Ciudadanía Organizado por Citizenshipworks Sera Realizado en Howland Public Library

As New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams continues his calls for federal assistance to house immigrants in New York City, saying that shelters are overwhelmed, some immigrants are being moved to the Hudson Valley for better room and board accommodations. Once in the United States, immigrants try getting employment, but the path to citizenship is difficult.

The The Howland Public Library is offering a Citizen Workshop for help with the N-400 application on Saturday, August 19th. This Citizenship Workshop is from Citizenshipworks in partnership with the Office of New Americans and GMHC. Form N-400 is an application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Says the Howland Public Library in a press release: “If you're looking to become a U.S. citizen, this workshop is designed to assist you in completing the N-400 application and provide a free legal review of your application. A team of experts will guide you through the process, answer your questions, and ensure that you have all the necessary information and documents. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to receive expert guidance and support on your path to citizenship. There will be no appointment times. People who register can come by anytime between 11-3 during the Citizenship workshop. To reserve a spot, register at www.beaconlibrary.org/citizenshipworks.”

¡Únase a Howland Public Library, el sábado 19 de agosto, para un taller de ciudadanía organizado por Citizenshipworks en asociación con Office of New Americans y GMHC! Si desea convertirse en ciudadano estadounidense, este taller está diseñado para ayudarlo a completar la solicitud N-400 y proporcionar una revisión legal gratis de su solicitud. Un equipo de expertos lo guiará a través del proceso, responderá sus preguntas y se asegurará de que tenga toda la información y los documentos necesarios. No pierda esta oportunidad de recibir orientación y apoyo de expertos en su camino hacia la ciudadanía. 

Beacon's Fireworks Rescheduled To Thursday, July 6...To Be Continued...

Where there once was no rain date, there is now a Rescheduled Date of Beacon’s Fireworks to Thursday, July 6th at Dark. This waterlogged week of rain has been great for the plants, but has become a nail-biter for firework shows. Much to the chagrin of dog lovers and those who end up in neighborly fights when firework amateur hour on the street results in fireworks going over or onto neighbor’s roofs.

Fireworks were even reportedly canceled on the Jersey Shore when a bit of thunder rolled by, according to some student reporters who left Beacon to visit.

Tune in Thursday to see what happens…

Hope you’re having a good holiday week!

Fourth Of July In Beacon Is On July 2, 2023

Beacon’s Fourth of July Fireworks will be on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023 at dark, with no rain date, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council meeting this month. Sunset has been around 8:30ish PM of late.

The event will be held in Memorial Park as it normally is. If ALBB learns of more details about what to find at the fireworks, other than fireworks, we will update this article.

Details About Beacon's First Annual Juneteenth From Bosco and the Storm, and Beacon 4 Black Lives - Get The Music and Vendor Lineup Here

Mergers in Beacon. Coming together. That is what Beacon’s community is all about. Lots of ideas. Lots of intentions. Sometimes done before. Sometimes done again. Since the racial reawakening of 2020, there have been 3 Juneteenth celebrations in Beacon organized by Beacon 4 Black Lives. But this year’s is being billed as Beacon’s First Annual Juneteenth. That is because a merger happened between groups who each had the desire and drive to produce the event: Beacon 4 Black Lives and Bosco and the Storm and his niece, Lastar.

For the past 3 years, Beacon 4 Black Lives held Juneteenth events. “The first year was a celebration in the form of a protest,” founding member Justice McCray told A Little Beacon Blog. “The next two years were at a private venue. We were thinking…how can we support somebody’s else’s vision? Something better, something new and something fresh. Something that invites more people in.”

At the end of Spirit of Beacon Day 2022, Michael Faison aka “Bosco” of Bosco and the Storm, who was a Musical Spirit Coordinator and performer for that event, told ALBB of his desire to produce a Juneteenth celebration the following year. Brooke Simmons and Rueben “Yogi” Simmons, the brother/sister duo and co-founders of I Am Beacon assisted Lastar with getting in touch with Justice to help them with permits and organizing, who after leading racial justice protests in the city with Beacon 4 Black Lives, ran and earned a position on Beacon’s City Council.

This year, Bosco told the Highlands Current how the idea came to him to produce a Juneteenth event: “I was actually at home and it just hit me that we need to do a Juneteenth festival. I called my niece, who is good at organizing. It’s going to feature my band and other local bands with Black artists, but it’s not just limited to Black artists, because my band is interracial. We’ll have Black entertainers, comedians, singers, dancers, poets — people doing whatever they do to be a part of the festival. Beacon 4 Black Lives also stepped in to help get the permits and that stuff.

“I never thought we would see this [Juneteenth celebrated as a national holiday] in my lifetime, but I’m glad we can start it here, and then the younger generations can keep it rolling. A lot of the Black folks who were born and raised here moved away, so we tried to reach out to them to come home for a day. And it’s not just for Black folks; it’s for anyone who wants to come have a good time.”

While this is called “Beacon’s Juneteenth,” it’s a city-wide event. “The City of Beacon has been supporting us, but it’s a city-wide event, but not produced by the City of Beacon, but the City gave their support,” said Justice.

Juneteenth Musical Lineup

• Bosco and The Storm (Band)

• Cynthia Moore and daughter Maya (Singing Opening Ceremony of the Negro Nation Anthem)

• Jaeden Drysdale (Poet)

• Ice The God (Hip Hop & R&B Artist)

• Jayda Woodall (Poet)

• The Moonlight Initiative (Band)

• Melody Africa (Performers/Dance)

• Common Ground Farm (Vendor)

• Faithful Praise (Performers/Gospel Singers)

• Born Genius (Hip Hop Artist)

Juneteenth Food Lineup

• We Got The Juice

• A&I Concessions

• Cookies Creations

• Pat’s Kitchen

• Common Ground Farm

• Incredible Creations

• Cafe Con Amor Jibaro

• Essie Mae Water Ice

• Luv Y’all Food

Juneteenth Vendor Lineup

• We Got The Juice (Vendor)

• Broadway Art Gallery (Vendor)

• AbuBashir Oils (Vendor)

• Howland Public Library (Vendor)

• A&I Concessions (Vendor)

• Behind The Chair Ministries (Vendor)

• Cookies Creations (Vendor)

• Beacon High Step Team (Vendor)

• Pat's Kitchen (Vendor)

• Backies All Natural (Vendor)

• The Little Me Boutique (Vendor)

• Joce Cova (Vendor)

• Community Voices Heard (Vendor)

• City on a Hill Clothing Company (Vendor)

• 5Heart Products (Vendor)

• Incredible Creations (Vendor)

• Cafe Con Amor Jibaro (Vendor)

• Soaps By Tina (Vendor)

• Four Winds Jewelry (Vendor)

• Newburgh Rowing Club and Beacon Sloop Club will collaborating to offer free Kayaking and boating from 11-2pm

• Compass Arts will be offering free activities and a blank canvas for the festival attendees to create a shared artwork.

Juneteenth Parking

Justice wanted to get the word out about parking: “Parking not listed as MTA’s Free Parking Day, so unfortunately, it is paid parking at the station - as far as we know.” There is a small parking lot by the park, but the organizers are prioritizing that for the elderly. People are recommended to have a parking drop off spot. Beacon’s building, 1 Municipal Plaza, does have free parking on Monday because the building will be closed.

Parking in the MTA lot is $3.50 at the train. You can also park on side streets and walk a bit down to the river.

Beacon Post Office Clerks Given Notice To Find New Locations - 1.5 Clerks To Remain At Beacon PO

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2023, during the time of the social uproar at the possibility of the Beacon Post Office closing. While the social panic subsided, the crisis continues for postal carriers and clerks. There is a Town Hall meeting in Rock Tavern, NY on Friday. Beacon’s post office can employ at least 5 clerks. But as part of the Post Master General Louis DeJoy’s plan, is downsizing Beacon’s post office to just 1.5 clerks. Despite a former Beacon Postmaster reassuring Beacon’s City Administrator that Beacon’s Post Office was one of the busiest in the area. So why downsize from 5 clerks to 1.5 clerks if it’s so busy?

The clerks who work behind the front desk at the post office were given notice in late March 2023 that they needed to find new job locations within the USPS, as confirmed by Diana Cline, the president of the clerk’s union American Postal Workers Union. If the clerks did not want to leave Beacon, they could be “pulled” and another job will be chosen for them. At least one clerk is leaving at the end of April. The former Postmaster for Beacon, Colleen Johnson, reportedly recently took another job in Hopewell Junction, and the reportedly temporary Postmaster for Beacon, Jimmy, was on vacation for comment.

When one clerk is working the desk at the Beacon Post Office, and one other clerk is working the back to retrieve packages that are there for pickup, the customer line is very long. Despite the good job the clerks do with each customer.

If at least 200 post offices in the United States and 16 in New York are downsizing to be “spoke” post offices (which means there will be no carriers, but some services will in theory operate out of that building by clerks), as ALBB reported earlier this week, it is unclear how many positions will be available to the Beacon employees looking for new jobs at other post offices. Since the USPS seems to be downsizing nationally, which you can read about in the USPS 10 Year Plan designed by Trump appointed Post Master General Louis DeJoy, who admitted during this panel that he sees very little value in mail or post offices. He sees money in packages and building giant fulfillment centers with billions of dollars given to the USPS from Congress during the pandemic, which you can read about here and here.

By September 2023, according to to the clerk, there will be 1.5 clerks working at the Beacon location: a full-time clerk, and a part-time clerk.

Why Doesn’t Beacon Offer Passport Service Anymore?

When asked why the Beacon Post Office does not offer the passport service anymore, the clerk explained that the woman who specialized in it had retired.

If the USPS’ plan is to downsize the Beacon Post Office (and other Post Offices), then it does not seem likely that the passport service will be available to Beaconites. The next nearest location is Wappingers.

In a letter dated February 28, 2023, the USPS mailed the APWU (the clerks’ union) to let them know that the Beacon Post Office would be changing in order to cut costs while improving services to residents. It did not state which services would be improving, how how the services would improve with fewer clerks employed. The passport service is not slated to return.

Said James Lloyd, Labor Relations, Policies and Programs for the USPS: “As discussed in our July 29 correspondence the purpose of creating S&DCs is to reduce transportation and mail handling costs, as well as provide Postal customers with additional services. S&DCs will allow for easier standardization and management of operations while improving building and operating conditions for employees.”

The local President from the other union, the NALC for the letter carriers, has confirmed to ALBB that they have not received such letter from the USPS.

What Is An S&DC? And How Does It Impact Beacon’s Post Office And Letter Carriers?

Earlier this week, ALBB reported that the Beacon Post Office was under threat of being closed, when it seemed imminent that postal carriers (who are out delivering the mail to your address) were being eliminated from doing this from the Beacon Post Office, and would instead to it from a large facility in Newburgh, known as a Sorting & Delivery Center (S&DC), which are being built out all over the country (see pictures here).

2 Different Unions Representing Carriers and Clerks

The employees are at the heart of this matter, as well as the location of where people will get services (package pickup, passport service, long lines, etc.). There are at least 2 groups of employees being disrupted - Clerks and Carriers. The Clerks are represented by the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the Carriers are represented by the National Association Of Letter Carriers (NALC).

According to letters to the carrier’s union APWU from the USPS, and implicated by new TV commercials, employment of clerks and carriers is going to shift dramatically with the loss and relocation of jobs. Based on the planned relocating or loss of jobs of all but 1.5 clerk employees in the Beacon Post Office, the planned skeletal staff doesn’t seem to service anyone very well. It is a stress on the clerks, and a source of impatience for the customer.

Of the 10-12 letter carriers that are stationed at the Beacon Post Office, it is possible that all would be relocated to the S&DC in Newburgh, or other centers. As indicated by this letter from the USPS to the APWU, which was obtained and published by SaveThePostOffice.com, Beacon is on the list of post offices scheduled to not have carrier service anymore, but to have carriers retrieve sorted mail it from an S&DC. However, according to the President of carrier’s local union, National Association Of Letter Carriers (NALC), no official notice has been given to the carrier’s union from the USPS concerning this, or how it would work.

The local NALC President said that a threat of this relocating has happened in the past, a little under 2 years ago, which is when the Trump appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was, and remains, in power and at the helm of these changes. The union president stated that Utica’s transition had started already. SaveThePostOffice.com has been tracking other transformations that have begun, and the loss of jobs that have started.

That, with this new employment information from the clerk, as well as the TV commercials, indicates the new life at the S&DC in Newburgh will become a reality.

Despite what the USPS sources told the City of Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, the planned skeletal staff of clerks at Beacon’s Post Office does not sound like services will be remaining the same for resdients, but will be declining. If suffocated enough, then there won’t be a purpose to keep open the beautiful building, except to hold Post Office Boxes. Which will have to be stuffed by a clerk. But the clerk is also servicing the front counter. With the proposed one full time clerk and one part time clerk, it is unclear how PO Boxes will be stuffed in a timely manner while the clerk is serving on the front desk.

The local petition to stop the removal of mail carriers from the Beacon Post Office.

The Employment Petition At The Beacon Post Office

A petition to stop the removal of mail carriers from the Beacon Post Office is on the front counter of the Beacon Post Office, right under the plexiglass windows that separate the clerk from the customers.

The World Is (Still) Burning - Let's Start Composting! It's So Easy...Those Food Gases Are Explosive

ALBB uses this metal ice bucket to collect daily food waste. It is dumped daily (sometimes 2x daily) into a plastic bucket, which is dumped 1x/week. The pink toaster in the background is a bonus and not related to food composting.

Even though the orange haze has lifted over Beacon and we have the sun and blue skies again - as well as gray clouds and shadows - the wildfires are still burning in Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, blames the climate crisis for the out of control burning. The official who ran the Parks Canada for 23 years, Mark Heathcott, says that Canada needs a better controlled burns of forest system.

Here in Beacon, one way to contribute to helping the climate crisis is by reducing your production of methane gases caused by food waste, by food composting. Which means to put your food waste in a designated bucket, which gets taken by a service or dropped off by you to a food composting collection area available in Beacon.

The food waste is then turned into a nutrient rich soil, called “black gold,” that you would want to spread over your favorite garden growths or flowers.

This article explores both ways.

But First - Why Compost? The Yogurt Smoothie Example

You’ve heard of the methane gases. That the methane gases formed from decomposing food contribute to the climate crisis. The City of Beacon says that methane gases are formed when food waste is burned. According to the City’s website: “Composting is a great way to reduce the waste burned at the county incinerator, which can contribute to unsafe air conditions because ‘waste incineration creates and/or releases harmful chemicals and pollutants’ (NRDC.org, Burned: Why Waste Incineration Is Harmful).

Here is an example so that you can see and experience it: one day, ALBB found an old banana strawberry smoothie in the car. It was in a sealed container. It was days old. Maybe even weeks old. Once taken inside, the top was unscrewed to clean it, where BAM - the top flew off from the pressure inside of the very old strawberry banana smoothie. The top flew clear across the kitchen and hit a water filter jug and cracked it.

Easy Ways To Compost In Beacon

Keep in mind, there are some municipalities who charge for how much trash you throw away. Beacon is not there yet. Hopefully they won’t get there, because we don’t need more fees. But if you removed food from your trash, you are removing a lot of poundage of trash. You could put yourself ahead of the curve, and cut out a lot of harmful product.

There are two ways to compost in Beacon. The free way - using Beacon’s compost drop-off bins, and the paid way via Community Compost. ALBB uses the paid way via Community Compost because we have been with them since Zero2Go launched via KickStarter and eventually was sold twice, the last to Community Compost. If you work in an office, consider organizing a compost collection system where one or some of you rotate dumping the food waste into Beacon’s collection bins. Or pay Community Compost to take it away for you.

Beacon’s Free Compost Collection Bins

Step 1: You collect your food waste at your house or apartment. ALBB uses a metal ice bucket that lives next to the sink, and dumps it daily into a bucket with a lid on the front porch.

Step 2. Once a week, or whenever you want, take your collection of waste to one of 3 different Compost Drop Off Bins. Those are:

• Memorial Park, near the Dog Park, at the base of the hill.

• Parking lot of Hudson Valley Brewery, all the way in the left corner. This is the Churchill Street parking lot, which is a free municipal parking lot right behind Main Street, near the Fishkill Creek.

• The Beacon Recreation Center, at 23 West Center Street.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The rules for what to dump into Beacon’s compost bins are pretty good. You don’t have to be as discerning as you do in other programs.

---

YES, Dump It
Any food waste can be composted in Beacon’s compost collection bins. You can even use BPI-certified compostable bags for your food scraps. This includes:

• Fruits & Vegetables

• Meat, bones

• Dairy, Eggs

• Coffee grounds

• Food soiled paper (coffee filters, tea bags, parchment paper, uncoated paper plates, etc.)

• Paper towels and napkins

• Toilet paper rolls

• House plants and cut flowers

• Pizza boxes: ripped in half + no wax paper

NO, Don’t Dump It!
Not compostable in Beacon’s compost collection bins:

• Plastics

• Glass

• Plastic and wax coated paper products

• Produce stickers

• Doggy poo

• Pet litter

• Pet waste

• Metal

• Plastic bags

• Styrofoam

Where will you put all of this fabulous food? The City of Beacon has gotten discounts on 3 different bins for you. Some of you may do backyard composting. This article does not explore that, but there is a bin for that offered by the city. Click here to see the options. You can order through the City of Beacon’s Recreation Department website, and/or you can walk in to see them at 23 West Center Street to buy your bin that way. Sometimes going to the Beacon Rec Center is easier. But click here to shop online.

---

Food composting has been discussed for several years in Beacon. Former Councilperson Amber Grant was a recent leader in bringing the City’s attention to this under Mayor Lee Kyriacou’s administration, with management and education done by Climate Smart Beacon, a committee of the City. Learn more about it in this video below.

If you don’t want to make time to dump your compost, you could always hire Community Compost to pick up from your home or office. Click here for details.

Beacon's Memorial Day Service 2023 at Memorial Building and Bridge

Beacon's Memorial Day Service
Day: Monday, May 29, 2023
Time: See below…
Location: See below...
Source: The Program posted on the City of Beacon’s Website
This ceremony is being hosted by the Veterans Memorial Building and led by the Beacon American Legion Post #203.

9:00am: Flags will go to half staff.

10:00am: All will gather at E. Main Street Bridge, Beacon, NY. This will be a service for the Navel forces.

11:00am: The service at the Memorial Building at 432 Main Street will start. The Civilian portion includes pledge of allegiance, an indication, and a speech by a Marine Corp Lieutenant Colonel,  BethAnne Canero, LTC. BethAnne is also an officer of the Guardian Revival Colleagues. According to John, the Guardian Revival Colleagues started in Beacon with 5 employees and now has 75 employees. Guardian Revival is a New York State 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered to revive and preserve the mental health and wellbeing of veterans and first responders - our guardians - at no cost to them. They do this through various programs, including Guardian Encore (music program) Another Summit (outdoor adventure program), and Boots and Paws (service and companion dogs matched with a human).

The event will conclude at 12pm after the Laying of the Wreathes, Battlefield Cross, Rifle Salute, and Taps.

Beacon Elks Lodge To Hold Flag Day Ceremony

From a press release sent by the Beacon Elk’s Lodge:

“The Benevolent and Protected Order of Elks Lodge will hold their annual Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday, June 11, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m., at the Beacon Lodge, 900 Wolcott Avenue,
Beacon, N.Y.

”The purpose of this service is to honor our country’s flag, to celebrate the anniversary of its birth, and to recall the achievements attained beneath its folds.

”U.S., State, and local elected officials, and area first responders have been invited to the ceremony.

”Keynote speaker will be Mr. Patrick J. Walsh, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran (1958-1961) and a member of the Benevolent and Protected Order of Elks for more than 50 years.

”The Elks prompted President Woodrow Wilson to recognize the Order’s observance of Flag Day for its patriotic expression. But it was not until 1949, when President Harry Truman, himself an Elk, made the proclamation that thereafter June 14 would be a day of national
observance for the symbol of our country.

“The public is invited to attend this rain-or-shine event. A collation will occur in the Elks grill room at the conclusion of the ceremony.”

Hydrant Flushing Has Started In Beacon - Here’s Why It Happens - And the Schedule

The annual flushing of hydrants has started in Beacon, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council Meeting on April 24, 2023. “This is yearly maintenance to get sediment through the systems. And to check on hydrants to make sure they are functioning properly.” The process started April 24th and ends the week of May 15th.

The City Administrator addressed complaints regarding wasting water. “It isn't. It is necessary to maintain the system.” He added: “We are not doing all 600 fire hydrants,” he stated.

He gave tips on how to get through the brown water period that may happen to water in the areas where the flushing is happening, which was to run the cold water to let the brown water go through. He also suggested to avoid running a load of laundry at that time.

The location schedule of hydrant flushing can be found on the City’s website here. Residents who still have questions are instructed to call the City of Beacon Water Department at (845) 831-3136.

3 New Trees Grow In Beacon - "A Tree City" :: Planted In Time For Arbor Day

After almost 2 years of being identified by Beacon’s Tree Advisory Committee as good plots for trees to grown in, the City of Beacon has planted 3 new trees on Main Street, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council Meeting on April 24, 2023, just days before Arbor Day.

“I’d like to thank the Highway Department for planing tress. At Rite Aid, 2 tree wells were filled with old roots. They did an amazing job. [Took] several days work to dig those out.”

Pete Bailey, the Chair of the Tree Committee, said that the plot across from Beacon Reads also received a new tree, but not before a tree stump was dug out first to clear the area.

The Beacon Reads tree was chosen as the location for the City of Beacon to hold its annual Arbor Day event. Because of its designation as a Tree City, the City of Beacon must hold a tree planting event and read the Arbor Day Proclamation, Pete said.

The Tree Committee identified the three plots in a list of other location recommendations back in the fall of 2021, Pete told A Little Beacon Blog. Said the City Administrator during the City Council Meeting: “In addition the one we are doing for Arbor Bay, 20 new trees are being planted. Each year we are trying to ratchet that up a bit.” It has not been announced during a City Council Meeting where or when those 20 new trees are scheduled to be planted.

Pete confirmed to ALBB that the type of tree planted was a Little Leaf Linden. “It is a beautiful spring blooming flowering tree. It doesn't drop any fruit, grows quickly but is more vertical. It is a great tree for Main Street.”

People interested in donating a tree can do so through the City of Beacon’s website. Perhaps if it is being done in memoriam, it will be planted sooner.

Beacon Free Loop Bus Seeks Feedback From Community - Marist Student Run - Study Seeks Change

The Beacon Free Loop Bus began rolling down Main Street in 2018, the result of a collaboration between BeaconArts, the City of Beacon, and Dutchess County. Former BeaconArts president Kelly Ellenwood helped spearhead the partnership with her artistic conviction that new branding would help the bus increase ridership and help people get around Beacon for free.

Now, the Beacon Free Loop Team is seeking ways to improve the bus to make it more accessible with this online survey, open until the end of April. The study is being conducted by the student-run PR firm out of Marist College, North Road Communications, who was an original partner in the origin of the Free Loop Bus.

View fullsize

A new Free Loop Bus Sign from when the bus first launched.

The big blue bus replaced the G-route from Dutchess County Public Transit, and with help from various funding sources, eliminated the bus fair to make it free. They wrapped the bus in a design based in pale blue, and altered the route so that it included more popular stops in Beacon for people to enter and exit.

Running in alignment with the Beacon train schedule, the new amenity was celebrated in Beacon. It has made changes since then, such as stopping at designated stops, instead of the “Wave and Ride” concept it launched with. According to the organizers, Beacon’s Main Street got too busy for impromptu stopping.

Free Loop Bus Schedule

The Loop Bus increased the number of stops in Beacon, but Dutchess County’s bus schedule doesn’t include all of the stops.

According to the bus stop signage, the designated stops include:

• Beacon Train Station

• Dia: Beacon

• Route 9D & Main Street

• Main Street & Cliff Street

• Main Street & Veterans Place (near the Post Office)

• Beacon Theater (the movie theater)

• Tioronda Avenue & Route 9D (Wolcott Avenue)

• Route 9D (Wolcott Avenue) & Howland Avenue (Mount Beacon parking lot)

• Howland Avenue & East Main Street

• Main Street & Route 52 (Fishkill Avenue)

• W. Center Street & Teller Avenue

• Forrestal Heights (apartment complex)

• Beacon Street & Wolcott Avenue

Take the online survey now. It’s quick, easy, and has room for your ideas.

Muslims In Beacon Celebrate Eid ul-Fitr At Memorial Park To Complete Ramadan

Masjid Ar Rashid (the Islamic Teaching Center) led the community of Muslims in and near Beacon in a celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, (“Festival of Breaking Fast”) at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The mosque led Takbir at 8:00am and Eid prayer at 9am in Memorial Park. Muslims brought their prayer mats and laid them on a tarp, as the grass was wet. Men, women and children came out to enjoy the sunshine, pray, and see each other.

For a refresher on what is celebrated during Ramadan, read this article from Izdihar Dabashi. If you see someone celebrating the day, it is joyous to say to them “Happy Eid” or “Eid Mubarak.” And remember, if you hear the call to prayer (adhan) from the mosque, this is what it means. Take a moment to take in some peace!

View fullsize

Muslim Women during Eid at Memorial Park.
PHoto Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid.

View fullsize

Muslim Men getting ready to pray during Eid at Memorial Park.
PHoto Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid.