Israel Has Killed The Soul Of Our Soul, Khaled Nabhan, After Killing His Grandchildren (Reem) - Videos Included

Illustration by @folkloren_

Editor’s Note: ALBB publishes on Palestine because American media either does not, or reports misleading information, sometimes on purpose. Locally, coverage has either been misleading (Mid Hudson News), deleted (thanks, Times Union) or not published at all. Only the Chronogram has published any representation of this cause, and that was thanks to ALBB’s vulnerability in the ceasefire movement in Beacon. Therefore, in the spirit of Beacon that is giving, caring, and inclusive, we have expanded coverage.

The soul of our soul was killed yesterday. “Palestinian grandfather Khaled Nabhan, who gained attention around the world through a viral video in which he mourned his granddaughter, Reem, who he tenderly called the ‘soul of my soul,’ was killed by an Israeli strike on Nuseirat camp in central Gaza,” reported @trtworld.

For those who acknowledge the genocide on Palestine by Israel with U.S. support, there are no words after this news broke yesterday. Except as @muslim exclaimed when they posted this illustration of Khaled and Reem with the weeping roses or poppies, (art by @folkloren_ ): “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. 💔 May he be reunited with the “soul of his soul” Within the highest ranks of jannah.”

What is happening is, what the occupation and imperialist powers here in the U.S. don’t realize is, with each kill, our souls run deeper to resist. Methods change. Beauty is incorporated. Stealth mode activated. Because what these occupiers don’t realize is that the ground has been broken. The flowers rising up out of the darkness under the cement sidewalk. Our bodies turned inside out. Muscles and blood exposed, like the chart of the human body when viewed as layers of muscles and veins. Raw. It is not numbness we feel. It is conviction. It is the throwing of dirt onto the fire of fear to smolder the fear out.

What the occupiers don’t realize is that with each kill, we are learning new things. History is re-opened, and we examine histories we glanced over in years past. Syria is re-opened and examined. Like it hasn’t been for years at this level by so many people. Examination and debate about the Middle East is in full view, with details emerging that usually get brushed off as “not my problem,” and “over there.”

The pages are turning so fast now. Invisible ink becoming visible in gold on the page. We don’t know what will happen. Or how it will happen. But the quill is writing the story each day.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah grant mercy.

Videos from @wearthepeace @boutainaazzabi @queenofpalestine @europe.palestine.network @thesunbirdmovement @noor.harazeen

Justice Denied: Jordan Neely and the Cost of America’s Indifference

Alexa Wilkinson (they/them) is an independent Photojournalist living in Newburgh having left Beacon due to the rising rent. Alexa goes on site to cover the Pro-Palestinian movement in Beacon’s Town Hall; at protests in the Hudson Valley; and on campuses in New York City. For this trial, Alexa was in the courtroom as Press for various points of the trial.

Justice Denied: Jordan Neely and the Cost of America’s Indifference
What the trial & verdict of Jordan Neely’s killer, Daniel Penny, can tell us about the dehumanization of people who are unhoused, the healthcare industry, and housing insecurity.

Daniel Penny on the right.
Photo Credit: Alexa B. WIlkinson

On the cold and rainy morning of December 9th at the 100 Centre Street Courthouse, Jordan Neely’s killer, Daniel Penny, was acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide. The lesser charge verdict came after the more serious charge of Manslaughter was dropped last Friday. As the verdict was read, the courtroom erupted in a mixture of applause and anger, perfectly encapsulating the public rhetoric surrounding this case. Protestors outside shouted with signs in tow: “Justice for Jordan Neely!”

The video of Jordan’s death—six agonizing minutes of a chokehold administered by Daniel Penny—circulated widely online, leaving no ambiguity about who ended his life. Yet this verdict raises deeper questions:

• How many systems failed Jordan Neely before Daniel Penny’s fateful encounter?

• What does this mean for Black, unhoused, and medically fragile people in a country that criminalizes poverty?

• Who gets justice in a system designed to punish the vulnerable and protect those with privilege?

Background: Who Was Jordan Neely?

Jordan Neely posting in his Michael Jackson impersonation.

Jordan Neely, a performer known for his Michael Jackson impersonations in New York City subways, was a symbol of both joy and tragedy. As reported by ABC News in an exhaustive feature, Jordan faced significant challenges from a young age. He and his mother, Christie, often struggled with housing insecurity. At age 14, Jordan’s life took a devastating turn when Christie was murdered by her boyfriend, who discarded her body in a suitcase. This loss profoundly impacted Jordan, and his mental health began to deteriorate as he entered adulthood​

Photo Credit: Mildred Mahazu from An ABC article.

Jordan found brief solace in his performances, however, his untreated mental health issues and struggles with housing insecurity overshadowed his life. He became a familiar figure on subway trains, sometimes asking passengers for food or money, as his situation grew more desperate.

Despite being flagged as a “high need” individual by NYC outreach workers, Jordan cycled through shelters, hospitals, and police interactions without receiving consistent or adequate care​.

During the defense’s case, we were given a glimpse of Jordan’s time in these facilities. Calling their expert witness to the stand, Dr. Alexander S. Bardey, MD a forensic psychologist. Dr. Bardey testified to Jordan’s medical history and the cause and effect of schizophrenia paired with self medication of K2/Spice (synthetic cannabinoid). A 50 page extraction of the alleged “thousands of medical records” was entered into evidence, 4 pages of which were shown to the jury and public.

“In these records, the defense attempted to blame the mental and physical state of Jordan (based on outdated records spanning from 2015-2021) for his own death at the hands of Daniel Penny. Framing Jordan as violent, odorous, scary, and unpredictable.”

— Alexa Wilkinson

In these records, the defense attempted to blame the mental and physical state of Jordan (based on outdated records spanning from 2015-2021) for his own death at the hands of Daniel Penny. Framing Jordan as violent, odorous, scary, and unpredictable. In these extractions from his many rotations through the failed NY Medical system, quotes from Jordan were also highlighted in which Jordan said “Tupac told me to change the world” and that he was scared someone was out to get him. When the medical scribe asked who Jordan thought was out to get him, he said “everyone in this hospital”.

On May 1, 2023, on a north bound F train, Jordan began “shouting” and “behaving erratically.” Witnesses reportedly said he claimed he was “hungry and tired of living without food.” Witnesses also stated that Jordan did not physically threaten anyone. Daniel Penny then proceeded to approach Jordan from behind, place him in a tight chokehold, and hold him down for several minutes while two other passengers assisted. Jordan struggled the entire time, until he fell unconscious and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

“On May 1, 2023, on a north bound F train, Jordan began “shouting” and “behaving erratically.” Witnesses reportedly said he claimed he was “hungry and tired of living without food.” ”

— Alexa Wilkinson

The city medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by compression of the neck. While Penny argued that he acted in self-defense, the incident drew widespread condemnation, protests, and debates about the criminalization of homelessness and mental illness. Advocates criticized the failure of social systems that left Jordan vulnerable, ultimately leading to his murder.

A Legacy of Systemic Neglect

Daniel Penny walking in court.
Photo Credit: Alexa Wilkinson

To understand Jordan’s tragic death, one must examine the interconnected failures of the U.S. healthcare system, public housing policy, and the criminal justice apparatus. From 2015 to 2021, Jordan cycled in and out of New York City hospitals, where he was treated as an inconvenience rather than a patient in desperate need of care. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and battling drug addiction (K2), Jordan repeatedly expressed despair: “I’m sick and tired of being homeless,” he told hospital staff.

Yet the institutions tasked with helping individuals like Jordan fell tragically short. Instead of long-term treatment or housing placement, Jordan received the “revolving door” approach common in the American healthcare system. He was stabilized just enough to be discharged, only to land back on the streets—hungry, cold, and struggling to survive.

This is not an isolated case. The U.S. healthcare system routinely prioritizes crisis management over sustained care. For those battling mental illness or substance abuse—particularly if they are unhoused—the barriers to accessing adequate treatment are nearly insurmountable. Even when care is provided, it often comes without follow-up, leaving patients to fend for themselves in environments that exacerbate their conditions.

The Cruel Intersection of Homelessness and Healthcare

“From 2015 to 2021, Jordan cycled in and out of New York City hospitals, where he was treated as an inconvenience rather than a patient in desperate need of care. ”

— Alexa Wilkinson

Homelessness is both a cause and a consequence of inadequate healthcare. Without stable housing, managing chronic conditions becomes nearly impossible. Homeless individuals like Jordan Neely face stigma that dehumanizes them in the eyes of society and the medical community alike. They are not seen as people deserving of empathy but as “problems” to be moved along, ignored, or—too often—criminalized.

Photo Credit: SeastersJones

This dehumanization extends beyond Neely’s case. Just this evening, Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, PA, as a suspect in the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The act was allegedly motivated by frustrations with the insurance industry, amid speculation about denied claims related to Mangione’s back surgery. This juxtaposition is stark and cruel: a man who lashes out at a system profiting from widespread neglect is swiftly met with the full force of the law, while those responsible for the system’s failures face no accountability.

In Jordan’s case, this dehumanization reached its apex when his mental health struggles were weaponized during the trial. The defense painted him as a volatile threat, conveniently ignoring the systemic failures that had abandoned him long before his death. The public’s willingness to accept this narrative speaks volumes about societal perceptions of homelessness and mental illness.

The Role of Housing in Justice

“In Jordan’s case, this dehumanization reached its apex when his mental health struggles were weaponized during the trial. The defense painted him as a volatile threat, conveniently ignoring the systemic failures that had abandoned him long before his death.”

— Alexa Wilkinson

It is impossible to discuss Neely’s death without addressing the broader housing crisis in the U.S. Decades of underfunded public housing programs, rising rents, and a lack of affordable options have left millions without stable shelter. For Black Americans, who are disproportionately affected by homelessness, the situation is even more dire.

Had Neely been housed, his story might have been entirely different. Stable housing provides a foundation for addressing mental health issues, securing employment, and rebuilding one’s life. Instead, Neely was part of a growing population left to navigate a world that increasingly criminalizes their existence. Public spaces become their only refuge, and the consequences are fatal when they encounter individuals who view them as a threat rather than as fellow human beings.

A Justice System Rigged Against the Vulnerable

Daniel Penny’s acquittal sends a chilling message: in America, the lives of the homeless, mentally ill, and marginalized are expendable. The defense’s argument relied not only on demonizing Jordan, but also on appealing to a societal bias that views the unhoused as less deserving of life.

“Daniel Penny’s acquittal sends a chilling message: in America, the lives of the homeless, mentally ill, and marginalized are expendable. ”

— Alexa Wilkinson

But the justice system’s failure is only part of the equation. It is a reflection of larger systemic failures—healthcare policies that prioritize profit over people, housing policies that ignore the basic right to shelter, and a societal framework that devalues the lives of the most vulnerable.

Moving Forward: What Needs to Change

Jordan Neely’s story is not just a cautionary tale; it is a call to action. Addressing the root causes of tragedies like his requires:

• Healthcare Reform: Expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, including long-term care options that prioritize stability over short-term fixes.

• Affordable Housing: Invest in public housing programs and enforce protections for tenants to reduce evictions and homelessness.

• Decriminalization of Poverty: Stop penalizing individuals for being unhoused, mentally ill, or in crisis. Redirect funding from punitive systems to support services.

• Cultural Change: Combat stigma around homelessness and mental illness through education and media representation that humanizes, rather than vilifies, the vulnerable.

Photo Credit: Alexa Wilkinson

Jordan Neely’s death was preventable. The systems designed to protect him failed, and the justice system compounded that failure. His story and the juxtaposition of this case’s outcome to other murders like Jordan’s is a devastating reminder that in America, justice almost always depends on privilege and wealth.

Let us honor Jordan’s memory by demanding better—for him, and for everyone failed by these systems.

Flags Fly at Half Mast For Clara Lou Gould; Leaders Who Worked With Her Share Admiration

Clara Lou Gould, Beacon’s Mayor for 17 years from 1990-2007, passed away on Monday at the age of 97. Clara Lou was active in civic life and contributions in her final years, sometimes making appearances at City Council Meetings to promote the reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July.

“Quality of her term in office is what most people will remember.”

— Former Judge Peter Forman

In 2019, the City of Beacon honored her with a plaque and dedication of a day, declaring August 29th “Clara Lou Gould Day,” as reported by Hudson Valley Press. At the time, then Mayor Randy Casale said of Clara Lou: “Boy, did you make this city better, turning it completely around into a now destination spot. Since you, we have only gone up, and you have been a mentor for me.”

Clara Lou was the first female mayor for the City of Beacon, and the longest serving female mayor in New York State. She was the Tioronda Garden Club President during 1970-1971 and 1974-1975. She established Beacon as a Tree City, which is referred back to today when citizens advocate for green spaces among the development of new buildings.

Clara Lou started the Civic Beautification Program and organized the Greenway Trail Initiative. She is a founding member of the Beacon Patriots Garden. She was avid supporter of the arts, and a long-time member of the Beacon Historical Society. Said the Beacon Historical Society of her passing on their Facebook page: “We deeply mourn the loss of our former mayor (and friend!), Clara Lou Gould -- the longest-serving female mayor in the history of New York State. She was a remarkable visionary who shaped our city's future like no other. Clara Lou was a long-time member of our Society and a generous supporter of our mission. We will miss her devotion, her smile and her kindness. May she rest in peace. Clara Lou was Beacon’s biggest fan. Somehow, 97 years was still not quite enough of her!”

Former Judge Peter Forman came to the 12/2/2024 City Council meeting to thank the Council for recognizing Clara Lou by lowering the flag to half mast, which he said he discussed with City Administrator Chris White. Peter served with Clara Lou for 9 years as Beacon's City Attorney before his election to the County and Family Courts. Peter said of Clara Lou: "Quality of her term in office is what most people will remember. The one thing that will stand out is the Dia citing in 1999 and how much Dia meant to the redevelopment of Beacon. She was very much involved with that. She supported it 100%. There were times we weren't sure it was going to happen. Clara Lou said ‘keep pushing; be persistent.’"

Pam Barrack, who served Dutchess County as Commissioner of Finance for 9 years, presented with Peter, saying this about Clara Lou: "She was very active other than being the Mayor of Beacon. She was quote active in the community before, during and after her tenure as Mayor. We are going to miss her terribly."

Community members in the Beacon, NY Facebook Group remembered her for volunteering at the Highlands Hospital.

“The one thing that will stand out is the Dia citing in 1999 and how much Dia meant to the redevelopment of Beacon. She was very much involved with that. She supported it 100%. There were times we weren’t sure it was going to happen. Clara Lou said ‘keep pushing; be persistent.’”

— Former Judge Peter Forman

Mayor Lee Kyriacou held a moment of silence for Clara Lou during the City Council meeting, and reflected: “Seminal work [by Clara Lou] was done to point this city toward a new vision, and it made a huge difference. I agreed with Peter Forman's remark. Clara Lou did it in a way she didn't feel obliged to lead. It encouraged the entire council to be much more collaborative and much more open to ideas. The consensus that got developed over that period of time crossed political lines; crossed new-comer/old-timer lines. A lot of it had to do with her style. I was very respectful of that. We didn't always agree. She usually figured out the right answer by the end of things. I had a lot of respect for that. She will be missed.”

Former Mayor Randy Casale told A Little Beacon Blog: “Clara Lou was a special person. She loved our city and cared about all the people. She was a great leader to work with and learn under. When she became Mayor, she had a vision for this city and a plan. She followed them both and made this one of the best cities in America. I thank her and may she rest in peace.”

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 9, 2024 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, at 2 Beekman Street. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. Joachim Church, 51 Leonard Street, Beacon. Interment will follow at St. Joachim's Cemetery.

To send a personal condolence please visit www.riverviewbyhalvey.com.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Patrick J. Halvey of Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey, LLC.

Newburgh/Beacon Bridge Railing Too Low - Easy For Jumpers - Pictures And Suicide Prevention Thoughts

Attention: This article contains information about the concept of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, there are ways to get help. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (en español 1-888-628-9454) for free, confidential crisis counseling and referrals available 24/7.

After ALBB published about the most recent loss of life from the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge last week, of the young person who was identified as male who was 21 years old, several readers commented that the railing was too low. That sparked conversation offline. Therefore, this article will take a look at that railing, and why it needs to be raised. This article will show pictures of the railing, and will explore what it feels like to walk across the bridge to get to the railing, if that is indeed where people are jumping from. Because this person was not the first, and this is a problem.

Recognizing that even seeing pictures of the access path and railing may trigger emotions in people to either see for themselves for whatever reason, or if people who knew someone who did go over the railing, I (Katie) will contribute thoughts about how to get around and through hard feelings when they come.

As a jogger, I have run across this bridge several times, often wondering why the railing was so low, and feeling terrified to run across it, simply as a runner, walker or biker, since making one un-returnable choice is so easy to do from this bridge. Those crazy fantasies happen about what if one is flung over the railing, or what if one trips and somehow flips up and over the railing, even though tripping upwards is almost impossible. But, that is what the low height of this railing can do to people of mind who do not intend to jump.

Walking To The Bridge

We do not know how these people got to the spot on the bridge from which they jumped. Did they park on the right side of the bridge (if leaving Beacon), exit their car, and simply step off? Since there is no railing on the north (right) side of the bridge when leaving Beacon? Or did they walk down the path on the south (left) side of the bridge when leaving Beacon? If they came from the Newburgh side, this article does not look at that path.

For this article, I walked the left side to get to the middle, when coming from Beacon. Normally I jog here, but for this article, I parked my car at a friend’s house and walked. In this different head-space, I almost forgot how to get to the walking path that leads to the bridge. By the time I got to the I-84 overpass, I doubted myself as to where I was, since I was so near to the exit ramp. But sure enough, that is where the path is.

Cars whiz by very quickly, and the changing gears of the 18-wheeler trucks produce a large rumbling vibration sound, which has them low-pitched wailing as they get farther away. The current of the interstate traffic is pulsating. There is one sign for cars on the exit ramp: WRONG WAY. That if one were in the end-of-life state of mind, one may hope they would notice this sign and turn around. Next, there is a green sign that says “Life Is Worth Living,” which, if I were in the end-of-life frame of mind, I would want to punch for not understanding me, and carry on. There is one more of those signs later in the walking path. They seem totally useless.

And Now, We Get To The Railings On The Newburgh/Beacon Bridge

There are 2 levels of railings on the south side of the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge, or, the left side if you are leaving Beacon for Newburgh. The first is a set of bars, like a gate, that is taller than most humans. It starts at the beginning of the bridge, and continues over the tree tops, where the earth slants down to the MTA train tracks. The railing starts low, then goes a few feet higher.

The low railing before the taller railing once the ground ends to slope down. One begins to walk above the treetops, and the railing goes up.

The railing/Gate/bars at the beginning of the bridge on the Beacon side. The bars are taller than most humans

The treetops below the bridge on the Beacon side. Blocked by the taller bars.

After one walks over the tree tops, which is a wonderfully curious sensation, like you are flying, or are a drone, the high bars that were protecting you suddenly go lower. The bar of the gate lowers down to a railing that is the same height of many humans. Or, if you’re 5’8.5”, it is shorter than you. The railing has been lowered, presumably, to open up the view to cars to see clearly the mountains and river. As a walker, you can see all of this clearly, since the space between the bars is plenty wide.

Meanwhile, the metal walking path beneath you is shaking. The bridge moves a bit with all of the cars and trucks driving across it at full speed. Walking on the right side feels pretty normal, but walking on the left side next to the railing on the return back to Beacon, feels almost slanted. I didn’t bring my leveler and don’t have a leveler app, but that half of the metal walkway feels tilted. Could just be the sensation, though!

Coupled with a large gap between the end of the railing and the walkway. One feels like their leg might slip through it, and then one’s entire body might slip through and fall off the bridge. Which is of course impossible, but these crazy sensations pull at one’s body when walking that close to the railing. I can’t imagine how it feels for a person who came there with the intention to jump. Since there is this weird pulling sensation just by being there.

“But Katie, People Make The Decision To Die. That’s It. You Know That.”

I don’t know that. And this is not why New York State or Beacon or Newburgh of any of these Hudson Valley municipalities should be OK with this bridge being so accessbile by people who are making a decision that may be momentary, or accurate for a few months, or that they may regret. Unlike a drinking or an ice cream binge, that seems like the right idea at the time, there is no turning back from this. Unlike having sex with that first person seems like the right idea at the time, there is no turning back from smacking down onto the water that becomes like cement from that height if one wants to do that. They can’t undo smacking down on the Hudson River Water cement.

“But Katie, people make the decision to die. That’s it. You know that.” This was said to me by a good-intentioned person who wishes no one to die. This is where I want to talk about deciding to end one’s life. And how that is their decision. And those of us left in the living have to tell ourselves things in order to cope with the loss of them here. I’ve read the phrase “Don’t go, you will be missed,” and I understand that sentiment, but sometimes, if someone is in that state of mind, it’s not about other people. It’s about that person, and what that person feels like they can or can no longer contribute or tolerate in this lifetime.

Decisions Are Moments In Time

A friend once told me, when I was feeling down about what I thought was losing an emotion forever, they told me: “These are feelings for now. Things return.” I decided to believe my friend, even though I was convinced otherwise. Turns out, my friend was right. Years and years later, my friend remains right.

That friend has become my Day Of The Week Friend. We are very different people. We see straight on 95% of things. The other 5% is very, very different. But we appreciate each other as our Safe Space. Where we can tell each other deep emotions without fear of that friend reporting us, judging us, and if they do judge us, we know it is with good intent, and we know we can push back if we feel we need to.

Days of the week are important, because each day can mean different things. Making it through each day can be very hard. My friend started as my Saturday Friend. In my 20s (I am now 47 with 3 young children), I decided not to answer the phone from anyone in my family before 12noon. Too emotionally dangerous/slippery. But this friend, I can answer their call at any time in the morning. Except 5am. I am journaling then, and need the quiet. Unless they are in an emergency.

That friend expanded to Wednesday Friend. For no reason, really. I think they just wanted to check in again. Tuesdays became another day for us. Slurpy Tuesdays. Because Tuesdays can be very emotional, as they tend to have less structure than the Go Go Go energy of a Monday (as a small business owner, I love Monday’s, because I am the only one making it happen, so I got to make the money and be jazzed about it starting on Monday).

I say this because each day and moment are different. What may feel real and permanent in one moment, will not be real and permanent in another. Some things will. Like true love you feel. Or certain ideas you have. But other truths are set in different ways. The Past You may know some truths, and the Future You may know those truths differently, after reality is revealed along the way.

A Quick Guide To Days Of The Week

Not sure about you, but this is how I view the days of the week. Everyone is different in their life experience. I work for myself, so my work hours vary. I don’t commute to a job. My job as a writer and website producer is in my computer, which travels with me everywhere. I also produce client’s social media, so much of my job is in my iPhone.

Monday: Yay!! Monday is here again and I get to start this week again to make money. Money is a huge trigger for me. If I don’t have it - if I can’t buy the groceries my kids need, if I can’t take them to Olive Garden like they ask me, if I can’t pay for the Volleyball registration, I get very, very low. I know this is momentary, and I know what I need to do to get more money. Even though that usually involves emerging from a very scary place.

Tuesday: Slurpy Tuesday. Catch up from Monday, but dangerous because there is less structure here. I try not to answer any phone calls from family on Tuesdays. Especially at holiday time in November/December. This can send me into an emotional tailspin.

Wednesday: Ok, how you doing, Wednesday? This used to be a day that I taught a class. I’ve since abandoned that class, but need to bring it back. Great day for laundry catchup at night to stay ahead.

Thursday: Could be a high or a low day. Usually a high, as people begin opening up to get ready for the weekend. But if no structure, this day can slide to slurpy quickly.

Friday: Wow. It’s Friday. Did I complete everything? No I didn’t. Oh no. Usually am behind on Friday with deadlines. Clients tend to call on this day with website or creative emergencies. Usually my plans go out the window on Fridays. It’s also payday on Friday. If I don’t have the money to make payroll, this is obviously a very depressing day. Usually by Friday Night, I have moved through the Dimming of the Day, which is a peaceful time, but a longing time. I’m usually in a missing mood, and hope that I make it to Saturday.

Saturday: Saturday! Disconnected. Most people are not working or sending business emails. This day is reserved for creative things, bills catchup or bookkeeping. Or Kids Sports of those are in season. If it’s Kids Sports season, then this day is very choppy, difficult and usually exhausting. If a bath with Epson salt didn’t happen Friday night, then it should definitely happen Saturday night.

Sunday: Ugh. Sundays are for Main Street errands, the Farmer’s Market, and purging trash and house clutter. Kids Sports Things if those are in season. Preparing for Monday.

Visual Tricks To Get You Through Hard Moments

I have been going through a divorce for 2 years, and pondering it for years prior. I don’t know what it feels like to “come out” for one’s sexuality, but telling my friends and family that I was pursuing divorce was very difficult for me. I was hiding for a long time, and in my marriage, felt I had disappeared.

Low moments can often happen if one doesn’t feel heard or seen. This can often happen from people who are the most close to us blood-wise, family-wise. This is why people speak of their “chosen family.” Sometimes one must separate from their blood family in order to process and understand their own needs, and then lift themselves from restrictions being placed upon them in various ways. These restrictions can cause one to feel hopeless.

To get through these moments, to protect against the hopeless feeling, I do 2 things:

1. Remember that nothing lasts for ever. Good things or bad. I like to believe that the good things morph into the next version of that good thing. The bad or low moments will pass. Even though in that moment, they feel like forever, which is terrifying.

2. Turn myself into different characters or objects. Here’s what I mean:

Maleficent’s Wings: When I thought that “nesting” was a good idea at the end of my marriage (aka still living together in the same house for financial reasons but are divorced), to be temporary until I bought a different house, my ex-spouse was home more than expected. To survive this, I imagined that Maleficent’s large, black, thick, luscious wings were attached to my back and wrapped around me, shrouding me and protecting me from anything coming my way.

Alice Down A Rabbit Hole: When I’m pursuing an article like this one, I often feel like Alice in Wonderland, gathering pictures and information from places I never expected to be. Meeting new people and learning about their lives.

Cranking A Lawn Mower: During this divorce period, my usual mojo has been off. I can’t get into the groove to produce for my job the way I need to, or know that I can. I often feel like I am pulling on the lawn mower crank thing, and the motor is just not catching. I know it can start, but why. WHY. When it does start, I am very thankful, and I mow the whole lawn without turning it off.

Han Solo Flying The Millennium Falcon: When my motor starts again, I become like a jittery broken ship and a pilot at the same time. According to StarWars.com: “Millennium Falcon is a legend in smuggler circles and is coveted by many for being the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.” When I’m getting back on track, I feel like Han Solo in the pilot seat, working all of the levers and pressing all of the buttons, while some things are springing leaks. He fixes it as he goes, and knows he will be alright, but it’s a scary, yet exciting ride.

Batman and Robin: I don’t have a business partner, but I do, or did, have an employee here at A Little Beacon Blog. During the new time of blogging about Palestine, and how difficult that has been for this publication, thanks to people who are in denial, and to at least 1 stalker who has been walking into businesses demanding that they cut financial ties with my blog, and 1 stalker who takes the time to send a 6 pages letter to over 20 businesses, demanding the same, I had to go rogue. While my employee wanted to stay, I told her that I seem to be driving the plane into the ground, and for her own safety, I must eject her. Oddly, the day before I wrote her this text that I did not send, my body sent me to the hospital with an unexpected attack of Diverticulitis, that I realize know, has been brewing for at last one year. But with the stress of my divorce, these stalkers, and the denial of much of the world who are in power of the murders in Palestine, which bleeds into other genocides and hiding of police brutality and other things, my body couldn’t absorb any more. I may not have wanted to jump off a bridge, but my body sent me to the ER.

Butterfly/Person In Ocean: I have several ocean scenes I embody. On a productive, fast-moving day, I envision myself to be under the water, zipping around the ocean floor, collecting things in my arms. My body travels as fast as a bullet, and can twirl around horizontally while shooting forward. It’s like being a person and a butterfly at the same time.

Sinking To Bottom Of Ocean: I never felt this, but I imagined someone else feeling this way. I let go of them, and they fell slowly into the dark depths of the ocean. They could still breath and see me, but they were gone from me. They were on their own. It was a painful vision for me to have, but necessary for that person to make for themselves.

Treading Water In The Rough Ocean Waves: During my divorce, sometimes I felt like I was bobbing in the cold ocean water in the pitch black night, in angry and busy waves, but staying above water. I was next to a tall ship, where people close to me were in it and watching me, assuming I was fine. “Look how strong she is!” they said. But she/I was treading water as best I could, while cold salt water splashed into my mouth, choking me. The waves kept crashing over my head. I looked up at the people in the ship, and wondered why they thought I was OK and didn’t need help, or a life ring, or a life boat..

I have many more examples of characters or objects you can become. But you get the idea.

And don’t worry, Stalkers. I am exposing you in a few articles to come. You are so proud of your work, so you won’t mind the feature article.

Point Is:

The point is: don’t jump off the bridge. These are moments in time.

Even if someone thinks that jumping off the bridge is a good idea, New York State shouldn’t make it so easy to do. New York State removed the toll booths on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge and cut those jobs in a few months time. They can raise the railing just as quickly.

We are always in traffic on that bridge. So I know we won’t mind the new construction.

Write To Our Elected Officials

Please write to your elected officials to get this railing raised.
Dutchess County Executive: Sue Serino CountyExec@DutchessNY.gov
Assembly Member Jonathan G. Jacobson: jacobsonj@nyassembly.gov

Beacon’s Pink Unicorn Lowers His Horn For The Last Time David Shelly- Passes

Every Saturday, the Pink Unicorn of Beacon would walk down Willow Street to Main Street. He would take a right or a left, and walk down Main Street to encounter people with his joy. Often he hung out outside the Marion Royal Gallery, where other artists gather to relax and talk to each other.

David Shelly and his wife Jill lived in a rental near Main Street, and then moved further back a few blocks. Nothing would deter him to become to the Pink Unicorn when he needed to. When he sponsored the Spirit of Beacon’s comeback in 2022, he wanted to march in the parade as the Pink Unicorn. He marched with several recruits, but not without training first, to make sure he could sustain the breathing and responding to kids while in the suit.

In the fall of 2023, Dave discovered he had a brain tumor that was almost liquid-like. He was biking back from the Farmer’s Market one Sunday, and couldn’t quite make it home. He said it took him 1.5 hours to get home, when usually it took him 10 minutes. He doesn’t remember much of anything, but his wife Jill made him go to the hospital to find explanations.

This fall, Dave was told he had a short time to live. It was shocking to hear. He told ALBB while getting a quesadilla from Dulce Cielo MX at the Hudson Valley Food Hall. It made you want to hug him forever. Because would he not be here tomorrow? What was happening.

Indeed. His wife Jill Quaglino was very shaken. Jill has always been Dave’s supporter. His listener. She’s a nurse by training and profession. So she went into per professional mode after his diagnosis. Dave said she was making him seek radiation. He wanted to, to make her happy.

Beaconites held a Pink Unicorn March for him. Just to celebrate the spirit of him. Who knew how long he had left.

Jill announced via social media that they had arranged for hospice to come to the house. And then he was gone. ALBB waited until Jill posted her own words, for when we posted ours.

Jill said this Friday evening: “A week ago you left for the other side of the rainbow, my best friend, my person, my husband. And I till cannot fathom how this is possible. My heart is broken but full all at once and I also don’t know how this is possible but know I’ll love you forever and no one will ever be able to match you in my eyes.”

Photo Credit: Dave Shelly’s Wife, Jill Quaglino

3 Events Supporting Palestine In Poughkeepsie On Wednesday - Details Here

Three different sets of organizers have put together events in Poughkeepsie on Wednesday 10/25/2023 that support Palestine and a ceasefire. Those details are here:

Ceasefire Now Rally:
Wednesday: 3:45pm, 10/25/2023
From the organizers: “Demand that Pat Ryan sign Ceasefire Resolution”
Meeting at the corner of Raymond Ave & Collegeview Ave.
Details >

End The Genocide:
Wednesday: 3:45pm, 10/25/2023
Outdoor rally at the corner of Raymond Ave & Collegeview Ave, Poughkeepsie NY.
The event is fully outdoors and people are encouraged to bring signs. Both @mhvdsa @jewishvoiceforpeace were tagged by @celebrate.845 who posted it.
Details >

Vigil For The People Facing Genocide In Gaza
Wednesday, 6pm, 10/25/2023
Outdoor gathering, organized by New Paltz Students for Palestine.
From the organizers: “We at New Paltz Students of Palestine are horrified by the ongoing indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, and have decided to hold a vigil to honor those whose lives have been stolen by IDF bombs. The vigil will start at 6 PM in Parker Quad, after which we will silently march to Old Main displaying banners commemorating the fallen. If you’re tired of hearing everyone around you refuse to acknowledge the atrocities unfolding before our eyes, please join us.”
Details and parking information is here.
Details >

A Deceased Male Found in the Woods Near Teller Avenue - Name Not Released

According to people in the area who posted on social media the day it happened when the City of Beacon Police began knocking on doors to learn more information, a deceased person was found near Teller Avenue on New Year’s Day at 12pm. At the end of the day, the Beacon Police issued a Press Release about the person: “On 1/1/2023 at approximately 12pm, the City of Beacon Police responded to the wooded area off of Teller Avenue for a deceased male subject who was in his 50's. The deceased was transported to Dutchess County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. At this time, the investigation is going and no further information will be released pending notification to family members. if anyone has any pertinent information, they are asked to contact the Detective Division.” The press release was submitted by Detective Sergeant Jason Johnson #315.

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Shown in the photos above are a ledge on Teller Avenue next to the sidewalk above the rock-bedded stream that runs through. Locals were saying that the deceased was found near “the creek” which usually implies Fishkill Creek, which is a much larger body of water on that side of town.

This was closer to the street, where there are several exposed rocks on the ground in the stream. A more accurate description may be: “the stream behind the Veterans Memorial Building, which is across from Kennedy Fried Chicken and the old hardware store, and is also across from the Yankee Clipper Diner and Ballet Arts.”

No other Press Releases have been issued, and as of this publishing of this article on January 9, 2023, the name of the deceased has not yet been released. A Little Beacon Blog emailed the Beacon Chief Of Police Sands Frost and City Administrator Chris White to confirm the name, but have not received a response yet.

The Press Release gave no indication of how the person died, but people familiar with the situation say that he may have fallen from a higher point near the sidewalk onto the rocky bed of the stream that runs under Teller Avenue, hence the small bridge with barricade that exists there.

Locally, people in the community have been upset that more information has not been released, and are getting familiar feelings to other deaths that have occurred in the City, including the murder of Rene Vivo “Scout,” a known walker of the streets of Beacon who held different jobs. His death remains unsolved.

Days after this loss of life occurred, the boarding house at 925 Wolcott Avenue was set fire by a former male tenant who had been scheduled to attend an eviction hearing from that property. People in the community began demanding to know more information about man whose body was found in the woods days prior, even though the events may be unrelated. People did this via social media, and by emailing the media like A Little Beacon Blog with their concern.

It is not confirmed if the incidents are related in any way, or if the men knew each other in life.

People are encouraged to submit tips to the Detective Division of the City of Beacon Police. People can also submit tips to ALBB.

Local Beaconite, Tyler S.J. Brzozowski, Recognized By The Public, Passed Away November 2022

Photo Caption: Screenshot from Tyler’s obituary in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

There are many people on the streets of Beacon that locals are familiar with. Could be a person who seems to always be on the same grocery store schedule with you, or a person walking on the sidewalk at different times. Tyler Scott John (S.J.) Brzozowski was such person for many, though those familiar with him may never have known his name.

Tyler could be seen often sitting outside of Beacon Pantry or near the Veterans Memorial Building on Main Street. Sometimes he sat on Wolcott Avenue near the boarding house formerly known as “The Guest House.”

Always friendly and usually quiet, Tyler passed away at home on November 19, 2022 at the age of 38, according to his obituary published in the Poughkeepsie Journal. He was born in Poughkeepsie, NY on February 14, 1984. “Tyler was a graduate from Arlington High School. He enjoyed playing ice hockey and roller hockey. He was an avid fan of the New York Rangers, who also enjoyed cooking and art. He is survived by his mother, Barbara (Ruppenstein) Brzozowski of Poughquag; his brothers, James Brzozowski and his wife Erin of Union Vale, Erik Brzozowski of Camano Island, WA, and Craig Brzozowski and his wife Christin of Union Vale; his nieces and nephews, Paul, Asher, Lucian, Madilyn, and Blake; his aunt, Flo Brzozowski; and many cousins and friends. Tyler was predeceased by his father, Richard E. Brzozowski.”

Tyler’s funeral was at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Kateri Church. He was buried at Clove Cemetery.

The obituary states that donations may be made in memory of Tyler to Mental Health America of Dutchess County.

Beacon Councilmember Paloma Wake Praises Creation of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and Two Spirited Peoples Day

Beacon’s City Councilmember At Large, Paloma Wake, often uses her opportunity to deliver a Report on any topic during the publicly broadcast City Council Meetings every other week to shine awareness on Native American lands, including the land that Beacon is defined as today.

Councilmember Paloma’s full-time job is with Forge Project, a native-woman-led initiative focused on Indigenous art, decolonial education, and supporting native leaders in all fields. The drive of the Forge Project’s mission is to “acknowledge that we are situated on the unceded and ancestral homelands of the Muh-he-con-ne-ok, the Peoples of the Waters that Are Never Still, and to recognize that there is a history to this land that is older than we are and pay honor and respect to this history and to the Elders, past, present, and future.”

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness day

In the spirit of the federal holiday that is Thanksgiving, ALBB is publishing the awareness piece Councilmember Paloma delivered earlier in May 2022 to recognize the newly designated proclamation designating May 5 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day.

At ALBB’s request, Councilmember Paloma’s submitted a lengthier version of her comments to be published here:

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“This week holds a national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Girls and Two Spirited Peoples. A 2018 report from Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) identifies murder as the the third leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls aged 10-24. A 2016 study by the Native Institute of Justice demonstrated that more than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. On some reservations, American Indian and Alaska Native women face murder rates that are more than 10 times the national average.

“On May 4th, 2021 President Biden issued a proclamation designating May 5th as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness day, calling on all Americans and levels of government to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities' efforts to increase awareness of the issue of Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska natives.

“While none of us alive today bear personal responsibility for the actions of our ancestors, I believe we have a greater duty to respect the lives of those whose ancestors stewarded this land that we live on today for thousands of years.

“The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples deserves this national day of awareness.

“Along with sharing this information, I would like to acknowledge that the City of Beacon sits on the ancestral lands of Muh-he-con-ne-ok the Peoples Of The Waters That Are Never Still whose living descendants now reside on federal reservations in Wisconsin as the Stockbridge Munsee Band and in Oklahoma as the Delaware Nation and the Delaware Nation and the Delaware Tribe of Indians.”

Resources Supporting Reform And Recreation Of Laws Supporting Native American Women

Councilperson Paloma provided resources where one can learn more about why this issue exists, and why it is because of existing legislation that there is little accountability.

According to National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: “The crisis of MMIW is a national crime pattern. The complete storyboard for this crime pattern is not two individuals and a crime scene but all of the above--the government, culture, and economics--layered upon the lives of Native women and Indian nations. Understanding the legal and social infrastructure that place Native women in harm’s way are essential to changing this crime story of the last 500 years.

“It also requires reeducation of mainstream America to understand both the past and present truths of American Indian Nations and the women of those Nations. This two-fold process of legal reform and cultural reeducation can direct the changes required at the national, state, and county levels.”

Resources are here:

• The MMIWGT2S NYC+ project by Urban Indigenous Collective

• MMIW: Understanding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis Beyond Individual Acts of Violence

• Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women: MMIWG2S

• U.S. Department of the Interior: Secretary Haaland creates the MMU

• Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls report by the Urban Indian Health Institute

Councilperson Paloma is a fourth generation Japanese American with no ancestral ties to Native Americans.

Open Call To Beaconites To Address Land-Justice In Beacon

Councilmember Paloma is issuing an open-call to anyone in Beacon who would be interested in joining her in a working-group to address land-justice in Beacon. “The group would likely start with a Land Acknowledgement, and address our City welcome signs.” Councilperson Paloma continued: “I am looking to do focus on self-education, research and knowledge-sharing in the first half of the year, and then outreach and public information campaigns leading up to Native American Heritage Month, which is in November.”

For those interested, she can be reached at pwake@beaconny.gov or at 845-418-2452

Jordan "Jae" Jones Is Mourned By The Hudson Valley Community

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When Jordan “Jae” Jones went missing, therapists and friends of his family began spreading the news. According to the information passed in the social media grapevine, Jordan was on the autism spectrum (Aspbergers), was 20 years old, always wore black, and had left his wallet and phone at home.

After days of being missing, Jordan was found deceased. His family posted on their private social media accounts to share intimately.

Jordan was active with The Art Effect. That organization shared the news publicly, to highlight Jordan’s accomplishments and to share information about his funeral: “It is with broken hearts that we share that Jordan ‘Jae’ Jones was found deceased. Jae was an incredible person and talented youth producer and this is a great loss for The Art Effect and our community. Today, the Trolley Barn Gallery will be closed to the public as we provide a safe place for our students and staff to gather and grieve together. 💔 If you are able, please consider making a donation to the family’s GoFundMe to help with funeral arrangements: https://gofund.me/cfb0b2ee”

You can read the sweet comments about Jordan on the GoFundMe page here.

Rene "Scout" Vivo Celebration Of Life/Funeral Details Shared By His Family For Beaconites

“Scout” Rene Vivo (left) pictured with his sister Iris Colon. This wolf flyer designed by his niece Selaine Garcia.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE / FUNERAL
FOR “SCOUT” RENE VIVO
Where: Libby’s Funeral Home, 55 Teller Avenue
When: Sunday, January 9, 2022
Time: 1-4pm and 6-8pm

I never expected to hold part of Rene’s passing of life in my hands. I did not know his family name, nor his neighborhood name until after he died. He was a resolute walker around Beacon - his trail-making keeping time with Beacon as I know it. Without him, without seeing him walking on a regular basis, Beacon would not be what it is.

If he were to disappear - to not be here - a number of things could have happened. Maybe he didn’t live here. Maybe he found a better life somewhere else. Maybe he moved. Maybe he got adopted by some government services somewhere.

But none of those things happened. Instead, the man most people knew as a vision met his end on the streets of Beacon, at the hands of another, in broad daylight on Christmas Day, when not very many people were out. Rumors started. I received a text from a friend days later, asking if I knew anything about a stabbing incident, and that the person may have been Native American. I had not heard, I texted the friend, and went about my unboxing of Xmas gifts. The next day, readers of A Little Beacon Blog wrote in to ask the same question.

I’m not really on Facebook. So any chatter, I had not seen. Sensing something was wrong, I put my coat on and started pounding the pavement. If this happened, I needed to speak to people who may have been familiar with who I thought this may have happened to, if what people were saying was true.

There was no update on the Beacon Police Department Facebook page at the time of ALBB’s original article’s publishing on 12/29/2021. They are newly unresponsive to emails from ALBB anyway, as they were told to direct all questions now to the City Administrator, Chris White, who is also unresponsive - upon his declaration to filter his media responses months ago. On 12/30/2021, the Beacon Police have since put an update on their Facebook saying they are investigating a stabbing on Christmas Day, and to send information to them. Meanwhile, they do have access to video footage from city-owned cameras on Main Street to help in their search.

Upon my inquires, I learned that those who saw Rene on a daily basis had not seen him for days. There were stories of a bottle. Of a knife. Of something happening during the day. And at night. While I was out, another person reached out with information for someone who knew the people who called 911 when they saw Rene laying on the ground in front of their house on South Brett Street.

That would be the last time neighbors saw Rene alive.

Rene had been stabbed, by what the Beacon Police were originally calling a homicide, Mayor Lee Kyriacou confirmed to the Mid Hudson News. But that article has since been deleted, and another one published on a different page that scrubs the Mayor’s name from confirming the situation. However, the article still resides as a shadow in Google search results (pictured below), and the Highlands Current refers to it in their original article.

The Highlands Current reached out to the Mayor for comment when they were writing their article, and reported that they didn’t receive a reply from him. That newspaper usually does receive replies from the Mayor’s Office.

So far, none of the bad news stories that happened in December 2021 are indexing in the search results on the Mid Hudson News website when one does a search for “Beacon.” This would be the train jumper, the bridge jumper, the missing young adult female, the spritely grandmother pedestrian killed by car turning left from Main Street to Teller Avenue, and Rene. Maybe their website is just wonky. It happens. However, the Mid Hudson News is also calling a recent suicide by train as a “trespasser,” when several Beaconites were standing next to him when he jumped. Three suicides that we know about happened in Beacon in December. And one murder.

Who Is “Scout” Rene Vivo”?

Upon publishing my first article of his passing, many people in the community were shook. Some who knew him deeply but did not know his name responded in disbelief. Sadness continued to spread. People who did have a relationship with him began sharing their stories on our social shares and article Comments. Some of those comments have been republished at the bottom of this article.

“Scout” Rene Vivo the man and the soul began emerging. He lived in the apartment complex of Forrestal Heights. He was a Marine. He was a Vietnam Veteran. His family reached out to ALBB. First his niece, Selaine Garcia of Beacon, and then his sister (Selaine’s mother) Iris Colon of Florida. Iris wrote in to say:

“My name is Iris. Rene was my brother. He has 3 sisters that live in the State of Florida! Rene also has nieces and nephews that live right in Beacon. My brother was a person that would help anyone in need, at any time. Rene was a caring, loving person . We are deeply saddened of has happened to him. My family and I are making arrangements which we will share possibly later today. We also will post a picture of my wonderful brother Rene! Thank you! The Vivo family🙏🙏🙏”

Selaine started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Rene’s funeral costs. The family closed the fundraiser after $10,708 was raised. Selaine wrote a note to all of the supporters:

“Good Morning. Today is January 1, 2022. I have been working sleeplessly towards the arrangements for Tio "Scout" Rene. Iris, Ginette (these are my uncles sisters) and I have been working closely with Joe the Funeral Director of Libby Funeral and Cremation Services. Joe has been extremely patient with each one of us in during our time of great pain. We would like to thank each and every one of you. All of you have generously contributed in making this happen. This has not been easy. We had no idea how expensive something like this could be. When making the page, we thought $5,000 would be enough. We quickly found out how wrong we were. We have met the required amount we need to execute the wishes of my uncle, so we are closing the donation part of the GoFundMe page. But, please continue to share your thoughts with me. As I type this to all of you I am crying. I haven't had a chance to grieve the loss of my uncle yet because of how busy I have been concerning these matters. But, Your messages have been a great source of comfort as I read of his walking and nodding. So much being said without even a word. You are allowing me to see my uncle's presence through each of your eyes. Please know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You”

Selaine identified Scout’s presence. Why he was important to so many. So respectful. So deep. You just knew it. If you take anything from this, it is how much people can effect people without even a word. Saying “hi” at the very least to everyone is very meaningful.

You’re Invited: The Celebration Of Life Ceremony For “Scout” Rene Vivo

The family of “Scout” Rene Vivo has shared the details of their brother and uncle to be Sunday, January 9, from 1-4pm and again from 6-8pm at Libby’s Funeral Home at 55 Teller Avenue (near Beacon Daily). His sister, Iris Colon, and her daughter (Rene’s niece) Selaine Garcia have connected with A Little Beacon Blog to help share the news.

Said Selaine in their GoFundMe page: “My Uncle was killed on Dec 25th 2021 in Beacon, New York. He was a Marine Veteran who was beloved in the Beacon Community and embraced our Taino culture. We would like to learn more from you how he touched you and your life. He was a quite gentle man. My family and I loved him dearly. We are devastated at the thought of how he may have spent his final moments. As we prepare for my uncles funeral arrangements we would like to invite all of you Beaconites to come and join us in celebrating his life and the love he shared with all of you.

Many people shared about their experiences with Rene on ALBB. One man, Raymond Clary (ZETUCKALA WASHASHA), shared the singing he used to do with Rene. His comment has been republished here as is, with his own punctuation to show emotion: “I also know Scout from powwows and living in Beacon. Just wanted you to know that i sing sometimes with Red Storm Drum and dance Troupe AT POWWOWS IN THE AREA. I have requested that a veterans song and honer song be songs for him. Also prayer and smoke on the wind for his journey. AHO KOLA (((( SORRY NO WORDS FOR GOOD BY )))))) SO GO EASY MY FRIEND”

ALBB connected Ray with the family, and Ray will be saying or singing a prayer at Rene’s Celebration of Life with no drum. He asks that no pictures be taken, as “they are sung as a thank you to the creator,” Ray said.

UPDATE 1/8/2022: The Highlands Current has since published a 2nd article, written by Jeff Simms that is both parts breakdown of what that newspaper has been able to learn, as well as reflection from Jeff’s sources. Said the newspaper’s editor, Chip Rowe, on Friday to newsletter subscribers: “This week we have news of a homicide on Main Street in Beacon on Christmas Day (and the difficulty we've had getting any information about it from the police).”

According to the article, the Highlands Current submitted a FOIL request and was denied: “On Wednesday (Jan. 5), the department denied a Freedom of Information Law request for the police report on the Dec. 25 assault from The Current 29 minutes after it was submitted.”

The article points out that when the Beacon Police did make a statement 5 days after the stabbing, they did not include the victim’s name or that the stabbing was fatal. It was not until after Rene’s obituary was published by Libby Funeral Home that they confirmed to the Highlands Current on January 5 that Rene was the victim they were referring to.

The article goes on to provide a quote they were able to get from Beacon’s Police Chief Sands Frost acknowledging that little information has been provided. According to the article, no arrests have been “announced” as of Thursday 1/6/2022.

The article highlights reflections from Brenda Sims, co-owner of BJs with her mother, who employed Rene and valued him highly as a person and employee; and David Eberle, a Veteran and quiet philanthropist in the area.

Comments By Community Members About Rene

We are republishing some comments made at ALBB’s article, Instagram and Facebook, so they can be read quietly in one place. Do continue to make your comments wherever you would like.

Michelle Rivas·

Dear Iris, I am so sorry for your family’s loss. As you can see from the outpouring from the community, your brother was cared for here. We all knew him as a kind and gentle person. Rene was a regular visitor at the library and we will miss him.

Leah

Iris, I am terribly sorry to learn of Scout’s untimely passing. He was an amazing presence in Beacon. He would often come to my shop to buy sage, and I always through in extra. A gentle giant with an amazing caring soul. May you and your family know he was much loved by many. He was a peaceful soul and whenever you talking with him, you too, would be more at peace. May his kindness and loving soul be always in everyone’s hearts.
Leah,
Heart and Soul Apothecary

Mike Andrews

I can't imagine anyone stabbing a more gentle soul than Scout. Many years ago in really crappy weather, I offered him a ride. He refused. "Nah, man, I like to keep my feet on the ground. Have a great day!" From that moment on I never failed to beep and wave. I've met him many times in the decades since, and he always shook my hand and asked, "How's it going?" So very, very sad.

Lance formerly of Mail n Ship plus Beacon N.Y.

Rene was a good friend and like a brother to me he was always there anytime when you needed him , loved to help anyone in need he talked about one day saving up enough money to buy some land in the Midwest and turn it into a ranch. He loved his community, helped with mayor elections and watchdog groups. Our scout will truly be missed.

Rhonda

Rhonda (formerly Mail N Ship Plus) I met Rene 'Scout' Vivo a little over 20yrs ago. When he came into my family's business Mail N Ship Plus which was located on Main Street in Beacon. He was helping a friend who was running for the local election under the Green Party. From that point we formed a friendship that turned into him being like a brother. There is nothing that he wouldn't do for a person. He was the kindest person. He was a proud Vet & and very proud of his heritage. Always talked about how he wanted to live the ranch life. Our last indepth conversation over the summer he mention plans that involved him getting closer to that dream. He wanted to make sure he had the right phone numbers for me and my brother. I last saw him briefly a few days before the tragic incident and wished him Happy Holidays. If only I knew that would be the last time I would see him. I extend my deepest sympathy to his Family.

John Callahan, Well Known Gas Station Employee In Beacon, Has Passed

People who frequented the Sunoco gas station at 220 Main Street (near Homespun) got to know John Callahan, who was the cashier during different shifts. Other people may know John better in other capacities or employment situations, and ALBB welcomes those stories to be contributed here in the Comments.

According to those who knew him, a few weeks ago, John had a heart attack while driving, and hit parked cars while driving. According to those who knew him, it was his heart attack that was fatal. The Beacon Police have not responded to ALBB’s request for confirmation, but those who knew him shared these details.

According to those who knew him, his body remains in a morgue and has not been claimed yet by attempted contacts to any family. ALBB is seeking confirmation for this status, and welcomes any leads or developments. Please comment here or email to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.

Peace be with John Callahan.

Police Activity At Long Dock Reportedly Related To Person Who Jumped From Newburgh/Beacon Bridge On Wednesday

On Wednesday morning, while police activity increased for some neighborhoods related to the stabbing of Scout, people also saw police activity down at Long Dock along the Hudson River, where the kayak rental locker stack is, atop the boat load-in ramp area. The dock was marked off with yellow caution tape. Meanwhile, morning commuters on I-84 reported a traffic build-up on the Newburgh Beacon Bridge.

As first reported by Mid Hudson News, a person did jump from the the Newburgh Beacon Bridge from the north span side. According to someone familiar with the event, police do set up a catch location down the river to receive the person if a “talk down” does not work, where professionals will try to talk to the person contemplating jumping.

Mid Hudson News reported that the person did jump, and that their body was recovered by the Newburgh fire boat, who found the person in the river. The article states that the person was brought to the Beacon side of the river, and given to authorities.

ALBB has not confirmed which police entity was at Long Dock. There are several police entities that can patrol or serve Beacon, including the MTA Police, Dutchess County Sherriff’s Department and New York State Troopers.

ALBB Reminder: The Lenape people, who were native to this region, called the river Muhheakunnuk, The River that Runs Both Ways.

Quiet Man Rene Vivo "Scout" Stabbed On Or Near Main Street In Beacon - Died While Walking Towards Home

South Brett Street, where Scout succumbed to his injury.

UPDATE 12/30/2021: A GoFundMe fundraiser has been created for Rene Vivo’s funeral costs by his family. His niece Selaine Garcia has invited the Beacon community to attend his funeral. More details are coming.

Rene Vivo (aka “Scout”) with his sister, Rene Vivo Colon, near his home in Beacon at Forrestal Heights.

Beacon was quiet on Christmas Day, as it usually is. Most shops were closed, and there were not very many walkers or drivers out, according to people who did venture out that day. Within the 3pm hour, the man known as Scout who wears khaki pants and outdoor gear every day, with a variation of a feather or feathers in his atire, was stabbed on or near Main Street in the vicinity of Feeds R Us and Max’s and Amacord, according to people familiar with the incident. After being stabbed, Scout apparently walked down South Brett Street, where he succumbed to his injury on the sidewalk in front of a home. Police were called when a neighbor saw him lying down, according to people familiar with what happened.

Mayor Kyriacou confirmed to Mid Hudson News that the Beacon Police are actively investigating the stabbing. According to the article, the police are treating it as a homicide. Over the past few days, police have been contacting businesses and residents seeking information on the alleged stabber. There are city-owned cameras located on Main Street that the police are able to use in investigations. Archiving data from those cameras is part of the budget of the Beacon Police Department.

According to people who knew him, Scout lived in Forrestal Heights, the tall apartment building located off 9D near the Loopers Plaza basketball court and Beacon Dental. Forrestal Heights is public senior housing run by the City of Beacon Housing Authority. According to a Beaconite, his name was Rene Vivo and he was 65 years old.

Scout was a Vietnam Veteran with the Marines. According to those who knew him, he had a clean record, followed similar walking patterns almost every day, and did laborer jobs now and again. According to those who knew him, he was a proud member of the Taíno people of Puerto Rico.

Neighbors on South Brett Street who saw him every day are shocked and saddened to learn of his death. The police investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 845-831-4111.

If you know any history of Scout’s life, please share it here, to carry on his story, if he would like it told. ALBB is also seeking a photo of him. Most Beaconites have seen him for years and years, but may not have a photo to remember him by.

Quraan Smith Remembered In Poughkeepsie :: 16 Year Old "Gave A Beautiful Energy"

Quraan Smith, holding a basketball at Arlington High School.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of his family’s Go Fund Me Page created by a friend after his death.

My kids and I were at a Beacon Bears flag football game on Saturday, September 18, 2021 in the boiling hot 4pm sun at Memorial Park in Beacon. A press release from the Dutchess County Executive’s Office popped into my inbox, titled “Dutchess County Trauma Team Assisting Arlington Community Following Student Death.”

I didn’t know what they were talking about. I hadn’t read the Poughkeepsie Journal yet about how 16 year old Quraan Smith had been stabbed at around 9pm during a big fight after a big-kid football game on Friday, September 17, 2021, at Arlington High School the night before. As I Googled to find out what was going on, parents around me were talking about it as our boys threw the football, fighting for a successful pass.

Parents were shocked and so sad. “They have made an arrest,” someone said. “How do they know who it was?” another asked. “There were several eye-witnesses. People saw it. They watched it happen.”

And the articles came. Explaining what has been made public so far. Quraan had moved with his family from Poughkeepsie to attend Arlington High School. He wanted to go to the Arlington High School football game that night against Scarsdale High School. Her and Quraan’s mother, Na'tara Smith, re-arranged her schedule so that she could make that happen, according to his family’s Go Fund Me page created by a friend in response to the loss. At some point on Friday evening, a fight broke out, and at 9pm, Quraan was fatally stabbed.

Arlington High School on a map. Poughkeepsie is west, and Beacon is south west.
Photo Credit: Google Maps

An 18 year old named Nestor A. Ortiz-Ocampo of the City of Poughkeepsie has been charged with stabbing Quraan in the chest, according to the felony complaint as reported by the Poughkeepsie Journal. Nestor has so far been charged with first-degree manslaughter, a felony. He was arrested on Saturday and held on $400,000 bail. His court date is October 5, 2021 in LaGrange Town Court.

Nestor was a former student of Arlington High School, according to Arlington Superintendent David Moyer, but did not graduate, and has not been a student this year, according to reporting by the Poughkeepsie Journal. The Superintendent could not confirm why Nestor left the district.

Also according to the newspaper’s reporting, the police said that the two boys knew each other, and that it was an isolated incident. Events for Saturday and Sunday were canceled, said Arlington’s Superintendent.

In a statement, the Superintendent said "Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family and friends." Later, he is quoted to have said: "For the people that are associated with the family, the family and the people on the scene and all of that — it was very, very, very traumatic, difficult and painful," Moyer said. 'It is the type of thing that will never go away. It will be here forever. Nobody that was in any way associated with it will every forget it. It is just a tragedy."

Quraan Remembered In Vigil In Poughkeepsie At Waryas Park

Quraan Smith’s Grandmother, during his vigil in Poughkeepsie in Waryas Park.
Photo Credit: Seth Harrison. Screenshot of Poughkeepsie Journal.

Mi-Rose Smith, the 7 year old sister of Quaaran, was one of hundreds of people who attended the vigil held on Poughkeepsie’s waterfront at Waryas Park later that week on September 26, 2021. His mother, Na’tara Smith cried into the microphone while speaking during the vigil, while being supported physically and emotionally by friends.

Said Na’tara as reported in the Poughkeepsie Journal: "The youth, the children, the young adulthood ... you all have given me the strength each and every day," she said to crowd. "I've been feeling good despite what happened to my son. These young children are reaching out on their own ... these children have done an awesome job with supporting me and my family ... I tell you, they give me strength."

Quraan was not only remembered for being an athlete, but for his many traits. According to the education reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal, Katelyn Cordero, Quraan was known by his friends as Ronny James, a comedian who loved to dance and play sports. He was working on a clothing line after conversations with his father who discussed business with him during the Remote Learning season last year during school. His father found videos and the beginnings of the clothing line after his son’s death.

According to his father, Everton Smith, in the Poughkeepsie Journal: "Coming from an urban community and a poverty-stricken community, he was a legend. He was one year away, he almost made it." Everton said, noting that his son had dreams to play Division I basketball or football on a full scholarship.

Everton continued: “I truly can't believe how many people from the community came. It wasn't even just his athleticism, it was just the person that he was. He was kind, respectful, sentimental. It was the energy that he reflected, when he walked in the room, he gave a beautiful energy."

Everton hoped that the kids would get the emotional support they needed, by saying: "This impacted the children's lives, it's not just that one person that's affected, it impacted the hundreds of children that are going to that school," he said. "Unfortunately, it doesn't just end with a burial. After that, the kids are going to need mental health (support). It's two victims, but all those kids, it's a pain you can't imagine."

Read more reflections from Quraan’s family and friends here.