No Fireworks Display In Beacon This July 4th, 2021

Several readers have contacted A Little Beacon Blog to ask if there are fireworks in Beacon, and we got a tip froma citizen reporter who reached out to the Mayor’s Assistant, Collin Milone, that there will be no fireworks this year in Beacon at Memorial Park, as there have been in years past.

Last year during the high cases of COVID-19 during the pandemic when New York was under a State of Emergency, the fireworks were “postponed,” then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiaro said. The hope was to light them later in the summer or for the Spirit of Beacon Day. Both of which did not happen.

New York’s State of Emergency has been lifted, as have several COVID-19 restrictions, but requirements for large scale gatherings remain for event venues. It is unknown at this time if this is the reason for no fireworks in Beacon. As New York State hit the 70% first-shot vaccinated milestone, Governor Cuomo scheduled fireworks at locations around the state.

See Hudson Valley Magazine’s roundup of where to watch fireworks, including Fishkill, Cornwall, and Dutchess Stadium.

A Brief Historical Refresh on Beacon’s Fireworks

The City of Beacon does not fund or organize the city’s fireworks, but they do need to approve the use of Memorial Park. Traditionally, the firework show was undertaken by volunteers with Kiwanis Club of Beacon, who disbanded in 2018, and some organizing from I Am Beacon. When the Kiwanis Club disbanded, there was no formal passing down of the organizing of the fireworks. When this was realized, the people of Beacon began to chatter, and LT Sherpa, owner of Beacon Natural, stepped up to fill the shoes.

LT put the word out seeking funding, and businesses in Beacon stepped up to pitch in. You can read all about it here. This year, according to his wife, Kitty Sherpa, LT had reached out to ask the City of Beacon for permission to hold the event again. LT waited for an answer, and eventually “got a hard no from the City, who said that they were not going to hold the fireworks,” Kitty said. LT was prepared to do the fundraising again for 2021, but is not for this year.

Other Events The City Wants To Greenlight

The first event that the City of Beacon approved was called the Modern Makers Market from Hops on the Hudson down at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park in May 2021. That event encountered some resistance from City Council, as people were still wary of coming out for a public event. While the event promised masks would be worn by vendors and ticketed guests, several were not, as seen in the Highlands Current. Masks were still mandated at the time.

The park was also stated by Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White at the 5/24/2021 to be open to the public, or “not fully closed” and open to people who people who want to walk along to go fishing, but there was a police barricade at the park entrance, and public access was not easy, if it was possible. The markers market was a ticketed event, as mandated by state requirements at the time.

At its 5/24/2021 Workshop Meeting, the City of Beacon’s City Council discussed potential upcoming events that were to be considered, including a Brew Fest, the Beacon Sloop Club Strawberry Festival (but the organizers stated they did not want to have it), Taco Festival, Family Fun Day at Springfield Baptist Church, Beacon Sloop Club Corn Festival, Spirit of Beacon Day, Bike Safety Day on Catherine Street, and other events.

The 4th of July Fireworks at Memorial Park were not on that list.

Annual Reading of Declaration of Independence To Be Read On July 4th

Dennis Pavlov, host and organizer of the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence for the past 11 years in Beacon, announced during a Community Segment at the 6/21/2021 City Council Meeting that the reading would take place at the usual time of 11am at 1 Municipal Plaza.

Said Dennis: “I started it in Steve Gold's administration. Why did I start it? There is more to these patriotic holidays than parades, fireworks, cookouts and BBQs. Our forefathers, I don't believe, should be left out. That's the reason I started doing it. Regardless of what is said and how it is said, the forefathers are some of my heroes. July 4th looked different last year, maybe we will have more people this year because of different circumstances.”

This year, Dennis stated, there is no longer a committee, refreshments or copies of Declaration of Independence handed out. Former Mayor Clara Lou Gould had also served on the committee.

Fireworks Postponed In Beacon This Year - 3 Alternative Dutchess County Drive-In Experiences Planned (And A Note About Juneteenth)

The City of Beacon has decided to postpone the fireworks this year, opting to wait until later. Says Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero during a recent City Council meeting and via email to A Little Beacon Blog: “We are looking to schedule them for either later in the summer or for the Spirit of Beacon Day.” The fireworks display is usually funded by individual fundraisers in Beacon, and is not a full city-funded event.

The Spirit of Beacon Day is a large outdoor street event, which involves a parade from each of Beacon’s six schools, plus churches, non-profits, and businesses. It was created in the 1970s in response to racially based riots between Beacon and Cold Spring. You can read all about it here.

September is the beginning of the school season, which also launches the sick season to follow from October to March. October usually kicks off the germy season with upsets tummies from Halloween candy, and coincidental stomach bugs that follow. Valentine’s Day in February tends to launch the same thing with the candy disbursed to friends in class. Several families with young kids are usually sick for family holiday events in December.

Pair that with COVID, and one should have a delightful school season, if school is back in session, which every parent wishes it is, but knows that it may be with several restrictions, like half-class sizes or a class rotation of some kids going on AB days, and other kids going on CD days. Maybe Fridays will be off. Who knows! Totally made that up, don’t quote us.

Fireworks At 3 Alternative Dutchess County Drive-Thru Experiences Planned

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced Dutchess County Government, in partnership with the Hudson Valley Renegades, Silo Ridge Field Club, the Dutchess County Fairgrounds and iHeartMedia of the Hudson Valley, will host “Dutchess County Goes Renegade,” 3 free, socially distant fireworks displays around the County, open to all residents on Saturday, July 4th.

County Executive Molinaro said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has robbed us all of so much, but nothing will stop Dutchess County from honoring the birth of our nation. Our residents deserve the chance to celebrate this most American of holidays – even as we remain safely and socially distant – and our County is proud to collaborate with our community partners to present a patriotic observance worthy of our country, as we strive every day to fulfill the radical undeniable truth, that all are created equal endowed with certain unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I urge residents to join Dutchess County and honor those first renegades who battled tyranny and founded our beloved United States, all while we savor a nighttime spectacle that will light up the sky!”

2 Independance Days: Juneteenth (June 19) vs “The 4th Of July”

The celebration of Juneteenth in 2020 woke up many white people that the holiday of Juneteenth existed at all: the holiday of emancipation and Independence for black people from enslavement and ownership as property by white people. This year, Juneteenth was a joyous day celebrated in many backyards and public parks. When Juneteenth was first created, black people were not allowed to celebrate it in public parks because of state-sponsored segregation, inspiring a small group in Texas to buy their own property and invite people to come on down. When the 4th of July celebration started in 1777, black people were still slaves.

Emancipation was signed in 1863, yet African-Americans not granted residency until 1868 when the 14th Amendment was ratified. Since the citizenship of black people was not recognized, they feared being removed from their homes, and colonized, as their Indians had been onto reservations.

Indeed, in Beacon, there was a colonized community of African-Americans in the Bank Square area, which is where Mattie Cooper first began her church on near South Avenue and Academy Street and Rombout Avenue (send in a correction if you know it!). Her church was bulldozed down during Urban Renewal in the 1960s, where African-Americans were paid to relocated to other areas of the city. My neighbor’s mother was paid $27,000 to move from the Bank Square to buy a home further into Beacon.

It should also be noted that when early Americans were battling tyranny, like during the Boston Tea Party, some did so in disguise as Native American Indians. Thereby framing a race of people when they were protesting taxation. In theory, those Americans were not represented as they were hiding behind costumes.

The 3 Dutchess County approved venues are:

• Dutchess Stadium, 1500 Route 9D, Wappinger (500 cars)

• Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9, Rhinebeck (3,000 cars)

• Silo Ridge Field Club Equestrian Center (Keane Stud), 217 Depot Hill Road, Amenia (300 cars)

Arrival: Gates will open to vehicles at each location at 7:30 p.m.

Start Time: 9:30pm at each site. iHeartMedia of the Hudson Valley will host live remotes from each of the sites, broadcasting on several of its stations, and will synchronize patriotic music to the fireworks.

Social Distancing: According to the county’s press release, vehicles will be properly spaced to conform to social distancing.

Food? Yes, bring your own.

Drink? No alcohol is permitted in any venue.

Bathrooms? None. Go before you leave!

BAM!! Beacon's Fireworks Are Happening... But They Almost Didn't

Photo Credit: Betsy Biggar Hellmuth

BEACON'S FIREWORKS
Date: Sunday, July 1, 2018
Location: Memorial Park, Robert Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY
Time: Music starts at 5 pm. Fireworks begin at 9 pm.
Entertainment: There will be live music, and vendors selling food.

"When are Beacon's fireworks this year?"

It's a simple question. One that normally has an answer without a second thought. When annual events or things happen - like hanging baskets of petunias on Main Street - one doesn't normally question how or why they happen, only that they do happen.

So when chatter started about Beacon's fireworks not happening for 2018, ears perked up in disbelief. Rather than accept that Beacon wouldn't have fireworks, Beaconites took it upon themselves to make it happen.

The City of Beacon itself is not involved in the production of most of the annual events scheduled throughout the year. These commemorative and festive events have drawn renewed interest and involvement from community members, though:

The Spirit of Beacon Day Parade almost didn't happen in 2018 when its organizers disbanded (but then it did happen, as new organizers stepped in!). The Memorial Day Parade, which is organized by veterans who live in Beacon, did not happen in 2018, but will return in 2019, as announced by a veteran during last month's Memorial Day service at the Memorial Building. They expressed how humbled they were by the public's strong turnout to this year's ceremony.

Another group of Beacon citizens has organized a reading of the Declaration of Independence set to happen on Wednesday, July 4, at 11 am.

As for Beacon's fireworks show, it's really an event produced by the people of Beacon. There are many involved who are putting together a big fireworks display for 2018. Here's what we know so far:

A Changing of the Guard for Beacon's Fireworks

You may not have realized that historically, the Kiwanis Club of Beacon did the fundraising for the fireworks. Additionally, the organization known as "I Am Beacon" used to play a part in organizing events that began in the afternoon and ran into the night. Sometimes things change, however, and unfortunately, the Kiwanis Club disbanded this year with no clear guideline in place for passing the firework fundraising torch (irresistible pun intended).

Enter LT Sherpa, owner of Beacon Natural Market. He was overcome with shock when he heard that there would be no fireworks in Beacon. "You can't have the Fourth of July without fireworks," he said to himself, and then to me while interviewing him for this story.

Beacon Natural, Verplanck Auto, and Beacon Recreation Department Step Up to Produce Celebration

"I decided that the Beacon Natural Market would offer to sponsor the fireworks," LT continued. "After speaking to the mayor and discovering that the cost was a little more than what the market could do alone, I spearheaded a donation drive from Beacon businesses to hold the fireworks. Beacon has been good to businesses, and I want us to give back.” LT is working with Mark Price, director of Beacon's Recreation Department, who has usually facilitated the production of Beacon's Fourth of July celebration in years past.

DONATING TO THE FIREWORKS
If you would like to donate to the event, please contact LT or Kitty Sherpa:
Call: Beacon Natural Market, (845) 838-1288
Email: beacon348@verizon.net
Donate in person: Beacon Natural Market, 348 Main St., Beacon, NY
Checks: Make payable to the City of Beacon.

No matter what LT and his wife Kitty raise during the donation drive, LT has assured the City that he is writing a check for the full amount of the fireworks. The fireworks will commence on Sunday, July 1, 2018, and there is no rain date.

All donations for the fireworks can be made out to the City of Beacon, and can be dropped off at Beacon Natural Market.

Live Music for Beacon's Fireworks

Some of you know Manny from Verplanck Auto, and some of you have your cars in his lot right now being repaired. Said Manny when being interviewed for this story: "I spoke to Mark Price on a chance meeting about this event. I wanted to help. My son, who will be a high school senior this year, Zack Taylor, has been performing at the Fourth of July celebration for the past three to four years with his band, Seal the Deal."

Manny and LT are working with Mark from the Recreation Department, who is orchestrating the programming for the entire day. "People are coming out of the woodwork to help out," said Manny. "L+J is donating the sound equipment, and many others are donating time and such to the whole process," said Manny.

Musical Lineup Before the Fireworks

The festival will be at Memorial Park on Sunday, July 1. There will be vendors selling food as well as live music. The music starts at 5 pm, and will be done by the time the fireworks begin at 9 pm.

This musical lineup was sent to us by Zack Kotzias, who is known for performing in interesting venues around Beacon:

5-5:30 pm Brian Daniel (R&B)
5:45-6:15 pm Jeremy Torres (Acoustic)
6:30-7 pm Backseat Lover (Rock)
7:15-7:45 pm Seal the Deal (Rock)
8-8:15 pm Tony E (Hip Hop)
8:20-9 pm Decora (Hip Hop)

If you are involved with this year's production or if you have already donated, go ahead and give yourself a shout-out and pat on the back in the Comments below!

Business Donors So Far

M&T Bank, John Car Realty, Homespun, Dominic Penzetta, Dogwood, Drink More Good, Hudson, Valley Auctioneers, Greg Zabel, Hudson Beach Glass, Artisan Wine Store, Hudson Valley Brewery, Mobile Gas Station, Quinns, Quinns Employees, Keyfood, Antalek & Moore, Mountain Tops, Kitchen Sink, Hudson Valley Zoned, Luxe Optical, Law Office of Dennis Vetrano, Gate House Realty, Kiwanis Club, Roundhouse, Melzingah Tap House, Poppy’s, Beacon Natural Market, and Thundercut.