When the Fishkill Correctional Facility first told the Beacon City School District that it would be partially closing their portion of Matteawan Road to the public, that included school buses of the Beacon City School District (BCSD). There are 6 schools in the district, where kids as young as Pre-K can go to Glenham elementary but live in the South Avenue Elementary district, as well as middle schoolers and high schoolers living in the far corners of Beacon when it bleeds into Fishkill or Glenham. That road was a pass-through, and without it, major re-routes would need to take place, which could lead to delays in afternoon drop-offs and morning pickups.

Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, whose district includes Dutchess County (Beacon, Fishkill, etc.) and Orange County (Newburgh) was in contact with Department Of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) immediately after Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White and BCSD’s Superintendent Matt Landahl were notified by DOCCS of the closure in two weeks time.

Said Assemblyman Jacobson’s office to A Little Beacon Blog: “We facilitated an agreement to allow school buses to continue using the DOCCS-owned stretch of Matteawan. We believe that the exemption is permanent.”

As to to the reason for the closure, Assemblyman Jacobson’s office elaborated: “Our understanding is that there have been numerous trespasses, which triggered the Fishkill Correctional Superintendent to order the closure. The land has technically always been closed off to public access, but DOCCS did not have the budget to post someone there to guard the road. We don't have any documented info on when the guard was pulled from that duty, but think it was at least 5 years ago. Traffic being what it is in Beacon, folks just started using that road more and more. We understand that new signage was posted 1-1/2 years ago saying that it's private property, but folks just ignored it.”

Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) has announced “Pop-up Office Hours” in Beacon on Tuesday, September 17, from 6 to 8 pm at the Howland Public Library, 313 Main St.

Jacobson said in a press release, “Most people work 9-5 Monday through Friday and can’t take time off their jobs to visit my offices with issues or concerns they might have. I want the residents of the 104th to know that my staff and I are here to help them.”

Jacobson has two district offices: 47 Grand Street in Newburgh and One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101 in Poughkeepsie.

Both offices offer free notary public and Spanish language assistance by appointment. To make an appointment to meet with the Assemblymember in Beacon, please call his Newburgh office at (845) 562-0888.

Lately, his issues have been with traffic, and easing up congestion on 9D at the entrance of the Beacon/Newburgh Bridge.

What will your questions/concerns be?

We’ve been wondering about sales tax. Beacon, along with Poughkeepsie, has a long-standing agreement with Dutchess County to have sales tax issued here be collected by Dutchess County. Beacon then gets a check for a flat rate, per their agreement with the county. So how much is Beacon bringing in? With all of these new stores moving in and out and being bought and sold?

So far, we’ve been unable to get that number. From anyone. Article to come. Being business owners, we are used to knowing exactly how much sales tax we generate - no matter if that sales tax is issued through the door of a brick and mortar, or via online sales where products may ship out of Beacon.

Maybe we’ll ask!