Newly Repaired Dummy Light Pops Up - Beaconites Cheer

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After being accidentally hit by a City of Beacon vehicle during the highly anticipated and appreciated milling of paving of Main Street this spring 2022, Beacon’s iconic Dummy Light hardware has been repaired by the City of Beacon’s Highway Department, financed by the City. The re-painting was commissioned to artist Erica Hauser to refresh the re-paint job she voluntarily did years prior (ALBB covered it in 2015), that had since gotten chipped from various vehicle collisions.

City of Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou hugs the Dummy Light after its restoration of parts and paint, after a City of Beacon employee accidentally hit it during milling and paving this spring.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon

During this week’s 8/15/2022 City Council Meeting, Mayor Kyriacou announced the restoration: "You may have heard this, the Dummy Light is back where it is." Mayor Kyriacou is known for his adherence toward historic preservation. Read the City’s full press release here.

During that meeting, City Administrator Chris White said: "I just want to thank Micky Manzie (Beacon’s Superintendent of Streets) for such a terrific job in locating all of the pieces of the light. And thank Dave Way and Sean Duturo for doing a fabulous job for putting it back."

After the unfortunate incident took place, City Administrator Chris told A Little Beacon Blog during a rally at Pohil Park for preserving abortion rights: “The employee who it hit is one of our best, and they felt so badly after it happened.”

Financing For The Dummy Light Repair

During City Council Meetings in weeks prior, City Administrator Chris mentioned that some funding for the acquisition of parts to repair this Dummy Light had been allocated from film fees generated from film projects being filmed in Beacon, like the recent regular, Poker Face.

Statement From The Artist Who Re-Painted The Dummy Light, Erica Hauser

After hearing City Administrator Chris note that a person was paid this time to repaint the Dummy Light, A Little Beacon Blog remembered that the person not paid prior was the local artist Erica Hauser, formerly of Catalyst Gallery, that has since closed during the pandemic (but her art lives on and on). ALBB reached out to Erica to learn more about the commission. Here is a brief interview with her:

ALBB: I thought I heard during a City Council meeting that someone was commissioned to recently repaint the Dummy Light during its repair. If true, was it to you?

“Yes it was me! Mark Price at Beacon Recreation called me after he heard that I had carefully low-key repainted it in 2012 - which was inspired low-key by Dan Weise, after I'd done a painting and shirt of the light in 2009 - and touched it up in 2015.

“I'd been thinking it needed a repaint anyway, even before it was hit in April by the paving truck. But it was nicer this time to be employed and paid by the City - or by the Beacon Recreation Department - to do it!

“I did it in early July, meant to coincide with the re-installation of the repaired light, but as we know that just happened last week, to great jubilation by all. Well maybe not by those who are worried about people hitting it.

“As for the paint job itself: these were the original colors and design circa 2006 when I first saw the thing. So in 2012 I wanted to match it. The yellow diamonds were actually faded peeling reflective stickers, so I just sanded it clean and painted yellow diamonds instead.

“I don't know how long ago the base was yellow, but people on the Beacon page surely know. I asked Mark if he wanted me to paint it all yellow, but he said no, it should be as it has been most recently. I'm saying this, because I had doubted it after some people were blaming the dark green color for the accidents!

“I was worried that they thought some artist had made the decision, which I would never take it on myself to do, in fact, I had meticulously matched the dark green and historic red!”

Thank you, Erica, for sharing these painting details. For Beacon history enthusiasts, you can add these details to your trivia cards.

Dummy Light In Pictures

According to Brian of @SpandexandSprinkles, the Dummy Light was in the last episode of “Severance,” which filmed in Beacon in March, 2021. ALBB has not fact checked this yet, as we need to check our subscription to Apple TV, but if you can confirm, let us know.

Dummy Light Safety Discussions

The paving collision prompted discussions about safety and the Dummy Light. Located at the intersection of Main Street and East Main (near Dogwood), the Dummy Light was supposed to replace a traffic cop decades ago near the train tracks. At this point, it is an obstacle in an already very unclear intersection which involves a hill and inconsistent crosswalks.

People in social media have suggested some sort of roundabout be created. Beacon’s City Planner John Clark has indicated that something be done to improve traffic and walking flow there. And Beacon’s City Administrator Chris has indicated that other vehicles have hit the cement base since the toppling of the Dummy Light during milling and paving of spring 2022.

It seems as if the campaign to Save Beacon’s Dummy Light is not quite over…

Literary Group "Lit Lit” Moves Back To In-Person Meeting At Howland Cultural Center

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After taking a hiatus to Zoom to duck the latest COVID spread, Lit Lit is back to in-person meeting at the Howland Cultural Center.

Says the creator of the group, Donna Minkowitz: “The September Lit Lit is ON and IN PERSON and all ready for you to sign up to read! Everyone can read their own writing of any genre, for up to five minutes--until we run out of time!”

The reading is Friday, September 2 at the Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St. in Beacon. Soft drinks, wine, beer, and snacks will be available by donation. Masks are required (you can take them off when you're at the podium).

Sidewalk Being Replaced On South Avenue For $185K Estimate, Funded By Dutchess County CDBG Money Announced Today

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Dutchess County announced the awarding of funding of 18 projects throughout the county including a South Avenue sidewalk, for a total of more than $1.85 million allocated to all of the projects. Funding is through the Dutchess County’s 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment partnership programs. County Executive Marc Molinaro said: “The funded projects will improve accessibility, address critical community needs and expand affordable housing options throughout Dutchess County.”

Included in the CDBG grant is Beacon’s own partial sidewalk on the east side of South Avenue that borders Loopers Court between Wolcott (near Beacon Dental and Sal’s Pizza) and West Center Street (near South Avenue Elementary).

The City of Beacon has been working on this sidewalk funding since at least last year. Announced at the 11/15/2021 City Council Meeting by City Administrator Chris White, the application to allocate some of the CDBG money was submitted.

City Administrator Chris announced that the bid of the sidewalk replacement had been awarded to the lowest bidder, Precise Enterprises II LTD. The City Administrator said: “$185K was estimate. It’s great considering volatility of commodities and labor.” He said that the project would move forward in late August or September. The project has started by early August, as seen in the picture above.

Origins Of The CDBG and HOME Program Funding

CDBG and HOME program funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address locally identified community development and housing needs. According to the press release, CDBG funding supports community development projects and activities that benefit low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, populations and communities; while the HOME Investment program creates affordable housing options for low-income households.

CDBG Infrastructure Projects - Totaling $1,128,740

City of Beacon – South Avenue Sidewalk Replacement – $177,588
Improve pedestrian safety and accessibility by removing the existing sidewalk which is in disrepair and installing a new 5-foot-wide accessible sidewalk with monolithic curbing on the east side of South Avenue from West Center Street to Wolcott Avenue.

Town of Clinton – Creek Meeting House Accessibility Enhancements – $100,000
Installation of handicapped-accessible parking spaces, a walkway, ramp and entrance, as well as bathroom upgrades to eliminate barriers and improve accessibility for senior citizens.

Town of Dover - Boyce Park Multi-Purpose ADA-Compliant Recreation Facility – $150,000
Enhance recreational opportunities by constructing a new 94-foot-by-50-foot, multi-purpose, prefabricated steel and insulated recreational facility that includes a regulation-sized basketball court with retractable bleachers and room dividers to accommodate an array of activities for people of all ages and abilities.

Town of Hyde Park – Beck Park Improvement Project – $100,000
Enhance opportunity, safety and accessibility for residents by enlarging the basketball court, relocating the existing playground equipment and soccer fields, and adding a safe and accessible parking area.

Hyde Park Supervisor Al Torreggiani said, “All Hyde Park residents should have access to their town’s facilities, and we thank Dutchess County for this grant, which will make our popular Beck Park even more accessible to those of every ability. County Executive Marc Molinaro has long championed those of all abilities, and our town looks forward to future collaborations with the County that continue to benefit Hyde Park residents.”

Town of Poughkeepsie – Jones Street Sidewalk Improvements – $100,000
Promote pedestrian safety along Jones Street by removing and replacing the existing narrow sidewalk with a fully accessible sidewalk, including curb ramps and a newly painted crosswalk at the intersection of Jones Street and Main Street.

Village of Millbrook – Franklin Avenue Accessibility Enhancements – $100,000
Promote accessibility for senior citizens and people of all abilities by replacing curb ramps and existing sidewalk panels heaved by tree roots, including the removal and replacement of trees with invasive roots, using structured soil which will promote healthy tree growth.

Village of Millerton – Eddie Collins Memorial Park Swimming Pool and Bath House – $150,000
Design and construction of an accessible pool and bathhouse at Eddie Collins Memorial Park, a 17-acre recreational site, which will advance the community’s quality of life while expanding recreational opportunities for residents.

Village of Rhinebeck – Pedestrian Accessibility Enhancements – $100,000
Improve accessibility for senior citizens and people of all abilities by resetting blue stone sidewalks, constructing curb ramps with tactile warning strips and adding a crosswalk.

Village of Tivoli – Broadway Sidewalk Phase 4 – $150,000
Improve pedestrian safety by replacing approximately 460 linear feet of dilapidated blue stone sidewalk from 104 Broadway to Kaatsbaan Road, including a curb ramp near the western terminus at the Kaatsbaan driveway.

CDBG Public Service Projects – Totaling $150,000

Catholic Charities - Homeless Prevention Case Management Program – $25,000
Emergency rent assistance and limited utilities assistance to approximately 50 low-income Dutchess County residents to help stabilize housing. Case management assists clients in independently sustaining their household needs.

Friends of Seniors - Senior Transportation and Support Services – $25,000
Provide county residents age 60+ with basic support services, including transportation to non-emergency medical appointments, grocery shopping, visiting services, telephone reassurance and respite to primary caregivers.

Hudson River Housing - Housing First Support Services – $25,000
Case management services under the Housing First Program help high-risk, vulnerable homeless adults secure and maintain stable housing.

Hudson River Housing - River Haven Homeless Youth Program – $25,000
Crisis services, emergency housing, counseling, case management and youth development programming for runaway, homeless and at-risk youth ages 10-17. River Haven Independent Living Program provides services for older homeless and at-risk youth transitioning towards self-sufficiency. River Haven Transitional Living Community provides 17- to 25-year-old homeless youth safe housing as they work towards independence within two years.

Mental Health America of Dutchess County - Substance Abuse Residential Recovery Services – $25,000
A comprehensive continuum of services offering the promise of recovery to chemically dependent individuals. MARC offers emergency housing, non-hospital-based detox and treatment referral, community residences, supportive housing, counseling, life skill training, vocational development, sober supported apartments, tenant counseling and rent subsidies.

Northeast Community Council - Youth Development: Teen Team and CPSB – $25,000
Teen Team is a peer support group that provides educational, recreational, and community service opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged youth ages 14-18. The Community Partnership with Schools and Business (CPSB) offers workforce development and intern opportunities in local businesses for youth ages 14-21.

HOME Projects – Totaling $572,969

Annex at Snow Terrace, 28 Snow Terrace, Poughkeepsie – $91,870
Rehabilitation of former Webster House emergency shelter into six permanent one-bedroom units for the homeless/formerly homeless.

The Woods at Pawling, Castagna Drive, Pawling – $350,000
New construction of 80 units of affordable housing in five buildings. Project will be composed of 20 one-bedroom, 40 two-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom apartments.

South Grand Avenue, Poughkeepsie – $131,099
New construction of a single four-bedroom ADA-accessible home on the southside of the City of Poughkeepsie.

Central Hudson Adds Surcharge Onto Customer Bills To Partly Cover Arrears Reduction Program

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Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation will add a surcharge to the “Miscellaneous component” of each customer’s bill beginning August 1, 2022 in order to “recover costs of the Electric & Gas Bill Relief Program targeted to assist low income families who experienced hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to their ad published in the Poughkeepsie Journal, as first Instagrammed by BLMHudsonValley. Customers with low income who are enrolled in EAP and are in arrears will see their unpaid bill changed by August 1, 2022, according to a press release by Governor Kathy Hochul.

Central Hudson confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog that the surcharge will be collected for one year, and is in the amount of one-half of one percent on the “total bill” for each customer. Central Hudson will receive approximately $2.85 million in New York State funding recently announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, and approximately $3 million from the customer surcharge.

Immediate reaction from people in the Instagram post was confusion at what the rate of the surcharge would be. People expressed feeling heavy with additional charges being added after the snafu with Central Hudson’s rollout of the new billing system earlier this year, and the recent removal of the fixed rate for supply of electricity due to the breaking of the CCA contract made by a supplier who contracted with several municipalities including Beacon. The PSC recently opened an investigation in March 2022 into Central Hudson at the request of Ulster County’s County Executive Pat Ryan for Central Hudson’s flawed billing system rollout that impacted customers including Dutchess County residents.

Central Hudson confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog that the ad ran in Poughkeepsie Journal, Kingston Daily Freeman, Catskill Daily Mail, and Times Herald Record on July 6, 13, 20 and 27. It ran in the Putnam County Courier July 6, 13, 20 and 27. Central Hudson noted that publishing a notice of the addition of the surcharge is a regulatory requirement by the Public Service Commission (PSC), but publishing when it falls off in a year is not required.

According to Governor Hochul’s 6/16/2022 announcement: “Under the bill credit program, the PSC is leveraging the $250 million from the FY 2023 Enacted State Budget to require utilities to provide a one-time credit to customers enrolled in the Energy Affordability Program (EAP) that will eliminate unpaid utility bills that have accrued through May 1, 2022. The program also authorizes the same relief for any eligible low-income customers that enroll in EAP by December 31, 2022.”

Joseph Jenkins, Associate Director of Media Relations stated: “The measure received support from consumer advocacy groups like AARP and the Public Utility Law Project.” When asked if that support included the customer surcharge, Joseph responded: “The surcharge is how all utilities across the state are funding the program and was part of the program that the PSC approved back in June, so it’s difficult to separate the two. The how this program would be funded was one of the items that the working group that created it had to come to an agreement on.”

According to Governor Hochul’s press release, this one-time, low-income utility bill credit will be applied to affected customers' bills requires no action by existing low-income customers enrolled in the EAP to receive the benefit.

The Spirit Of Beacon Day Is OPEN!

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Everyone!!

The "Spirit of Beacon Day is alive an well," said former Chair Gwenno James to the City Council during a meeting back in July, during her final appearance as Chair. She was there to present the new Board who volunteered after she put out the call across different channels, which was also published by A Little Beacon Blog.

A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie Hellmuth Martin, felt the role a natural fit for her, being that she had produced 2 floats for South Avenue Elementary School (and decorated 1 drive-by car in the parade during the pandemic), as well as her experience hosting pop-up shops and other community events in her former office space on Main Street.

Junior (Zayed) Dabashi of Key Food had also volunteered to serve, with his experience running many community events for Key Food's family grocery stores in Beacon and in Milford, PA, including car shows (one of his favorites), and open-to-the-community cookouts at the Mosque in Beacon.

Ali T. Muhammad volunteered as well, and as a Beaconite who served on Beacon's City Council, his commitment to Beacon runs deep. You'll see him on the day of the event with a microphone in his hand, serving as a Board Member and MC.

Nickeya Allen pulled in as Treasurer, eager to serve, as her two young children had attended the parade and festival in year's past, and she has participated with ALBB before via Juneteenth.

The reaction from friends and community members has been consistent, and in two forms:
1. "You are crazy!"
2. "Amazing, thank you!! You might be crazy!"

It is true. Anyone who steps into these roles knows that they have a marathon ahead of them. The difference is this is a group marathon where many in the community want to also dive in, get creative, and express what is Beacon.


This Year's Theme: "The Origin Story"

The theme of this year's Spirit of Beacon Day is: "The Origin Story," and here's why:

Event organization wasn't the only reason the role felt right to Katie. In her introductory speech at City Council for the public to hear, she stated: "When the pandemic blossomed into the racial reawakening across the United States and even in Beacon, NY, I started covering the protests down Main Street that marched to Memorial Park and Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park to listen to people's stories during the open mike sessions.

"As a reporter, I got out of my comfort zone and spoke with neighbors I had never spoken to before, heard their stories about their lives in Beacon, and reflected. In 2020, when September rolled around, I thought the Spirit of Beacon Day was the perfect time to kaleidoscope this. To shine the light on the origins of why the Spirit of Beacon Day was created in 1977." But the pandemic happened, and squashed all in-person events. Gwenno and her committee did all they could to produce a virtual version of the day to keep the spirit alive.

According to an article in the Beacon Evening News from 1985: "For a number of years, the students from the Beacon School System and the community were having some problems that had racial overtones. It was during the winter and early spring of 1977 that, for several days and nights, racial problems became severe. The Sheriff’s department was called into the community to help bring the situation under control. A community meeting was held at the Howland Library."

During that meeting, a solution arose: a community day to bring the people together to better understand each other. This day was called The Spirit of Beacon Day.


The 45th Year For The Spirit Of Beacon Day

In early Committee discussions, the Board members expressed the importance of opening up the day to new organizations to participate. The Committee is so excited to dive into this project to bring it to you, with you. We encourage all of you to apply for a Table and/or to participate in the parade. if you have developed something in the last few years, let's see it! Show it to the people so that more young people can experience it. If you have had something for decades, but never considered participating in this day, please do so now!


Let's Gooooooooo!

Below are all of the ways you can help. Thank you Highlands Current and Beacon Free Press for covering the initial change in leadership! Please follow Spirit of Beacon Day on Instagram for latest announcements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

VOLUNTEERS
Yes, we need so many Volunteers! Volunteering can include helping parade floats and marchers get lined up the day of the parade, helping vendor tables get set up, connecting with non-profits, speaking to Main Street business owners, putting out yard signs in advance, going to collect those yard signs once the day is over, emailing businesses for sponsorship opportunities, producing Instagram art and posts, running the Facebook page, etc.
Learn More >

GOFUNDME FOR SPIRIT OF BEACON DAY!
The Spirit of Beacon Day now has a GoFundMe drive! Producing this event does cost a bit. Our goal is to raise funds needed for the essentials, and have stipends that we can offer to the schools for decorating their floats, as well as a few other ideas. We do want a cushion so that we are not starting with a low balance at the start of the planning phase. Due to time, we are not having a Fundraising Event this year because August is when everyone goes on vacation, and September is Float Building Time!! All hands on deck.
PS! If you are a business wanting to give, please see our Sponsorship option to get promotion .
Donate Now >

SPONSORS FOR SPIRIT OF BEACON DAY!
Businesses in Beacon are one of the keys to holding the community together. They provide employment, enjoyment, and entertainment. This year, the Committee has developed Sponsor Levels that include logos on T-Shirts, yard signs, bathroom signs (yes! we are encouraging people to use our porta-potties rather than the bathrooms inside of businesses!), and more.
Learn About Sponsor Levels >

TABLE APPLICATIONS
The Spirit of Beacon Day is everything with its vendor tables and experiences. Which non-profits and social entities making a difference can the community reach out to and meet at a table? Vendor tables are limited, and we are keeping it to non-profit and social groups or entities only. Application required, and if accepted, a $35 Table Fee is needed to secure the spot. Food businesses are encouraged to reach out to partner with a non-profit if they want to offer food. We are encouraging After School Clubs to apply to represent at a table, and other groups not normally seen but need the exposure to reach our young people. Non-profits and groups can serve/sell food as usual! Otherwise, we encourage everyone to also visit our brick and mortar restaurants in Beacon, in addition to the rare street food you'll find from the organizations.
Apply Now >

PARADE APPLICATIONS
The Parade for the Spirit of Beacon Day is everything! Open to both Beacon businesses and organizations, this parade does require application so that we can keep track of everyone, and curate the lineup. Consider marching, rolling or both! Show your colors.
Apply Now >

PERFORMANCE APPLICATIONS
We want to hear you play! We want to watch you dance! If you have never performed at the Spirit of Beacon Day before, please apply now. Past and future performers are encouraged to apply. The event is known to attract 3,000 people.
Apply Now >

CRAFTS & ENTERTAINMENT APPLICATIONS
The Spirit of Beacon Day is looking for activities for Kids we will curate throughout Main Street. This includes face painting, hair braiding, hula-hooping, whatever you got going on. The Salvation Army has graciously donated their space again for a Kids Section setting, and we have a few other places in mind for Pop-Up Experiences.
Apply Now >

KEY FOOD FIRST SPONSOR AS "BEACON OF LIGHT SPONSOR"
In addition to being a Board Member, Junior Dabashi surprised the Committee with a Sponsorship as our first "Beacon Of Light Sponsor" ($2,000) Sponsor. Key Food Beacon is a longtime participant in the Spirit of Beacon Day as a donor and table participant. This capital enabled the Committee to secure the porta-potties - with an extra ADA compliant unit that fits wheelchairs. We were also able to begin securing a bagpipe band. Thank you JB Said and Junior Dabashi!
Learn About Sponsor Levels >

LAST OUTPOST SUPPORTS AS FIRST "SPIRIT SPONSOR"
As Junior and Katie were walking around Main Street, saying hello to business owners and touching base with them, the Last Outpost store voiced their strong support for the Spirit of Beacon Day, and came on as our first "Spirit Level Sponsor" ($250)! They carry amazingly rugged things in there, and do check out their custom Beacon made merch.
Learn About Sponsor Levels >

ROUNDHOUSE SUPPORTS AS "BEACON OF LIGHT SPONSOR"
One of the most historic buildings in Beacon, and a longtime major sponsor of the Spirit of Beacon Day, the Roundhouse has signed on as a "Beacon Of Light Sponsor" ($2,000)!
Learn About Sponsor Levels >

LOGO DESIGN CONTEST FOR SPIRIT OF BEACON DAY
The Committee for the Spirit of Beacon Day is launching a Logo Design Contest for the design of the Spirit of Beacon Day logo, now celebrating its 45th year. The winning logo will be awarded $300, and be used on all signage, website, social media, merchandise, etc. All entries will be published for viewing, so that everyone can see the range of ideas.
Get Design Direction >

 

Guides To Beacon

When you come to Beacon for the Spirit of Beacon Day, use A Little Beacon Blog's all-inclusive Restaurant and Shopping Guides to prepare you for where to shop and eat. You will buy food from the organizations in the festival who are serving up their own fundraising-based food, but you will also be walking into restaurants for more delicious dishes you don't want to miss. And the shopping....oh the shopping in Beacon is so good!

Green Teens And Common Ground Farm Are Back With Free Farm Stand- Wednesdays At Beacon Recreation

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The Green Teens are back to offer people in need access to a Free Farm Stand on Wednesdays from 5-6pm at the Beacon Recreation Center at 23 West Center Street. This program will run from July through September, and is made possible by Common Ground Farm.

Also at the Beacon Recreation on Wednesdays from 9:30am-10:30am is a Free Groceries distribution.

How to receive groceries

Beacon Recreation groceries come pre-bagged, and volunteers ask that people come on foot as pedestrians. They ask for no cars.

Cars, however, can pull up to Memorial Park on Wednesdays from 9am-10am for the same pre-bagged grocery program.

Beacon Open Studios Is Back! This Weekend! July 22-24th - Events All Weekend

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If you're new to town, you may not have experienced Beacon Open Studios, an always evolving interactive art experience that happens once a year. It is the one time that you get to wander around Beacon to find yourself inside of an artist's studio. You get to see their tools, smell their mixtures, and maybe see some artists in action.

Beacon Open Studios took quite a blow during the shutdown of the pandemic. As with all things wonderful in Beacon, this is a volunteer effort, where leadership can change from time to time. New energy came in this year to produce this event for you, led by artist  Darya Golubina.

Her preferred medium is oil paint or graphite but some of you may know her as “the hand," handling tiny little masterpieces in the photos she takes for Beacon’s Tiniest Gallery. The miniature gallery is a project she helped start with her friends when the isolation of the pandemic took over and they craved connection to their community. When she’s not painting or documenting the gallery’s newest acquisition, she photographs life-size humans at a studio she manages in NYC. Born in the Ukraine; raised in Brooklyn; graduated from SVA. Darya says Beacon, "feels like home."

Bringing back Beacon Open Studios certainly helps Beacon feel like home to all who live here.

HOW TO EXPERIENCE BEACON OPEN STUDIOS
From July 22, 2022 - July 24, 2022, you can join Beacon Open Studios for an exciting self-guided tour of Beacon’s artists studios. Including 60+ artists, multiple group shows and their music artists showcase.

7.23 - 7.24 - Artist Open Studios (see here for locations) from 12-6pm. Go visit over 60 artists.

7.22 - Opening Reception at The Landmark from 6-9pm

7.23 Music Artist Showcase at Reserva Wine Bar from 4-7pm

7.9-8.7 Beacon Open Studios Artist Group Show (month long exhibit) at Hudson Beach Glass Gallery from 12-6pm

A Little Beacon Blog is a happy and proud media sponsor of Beacon Open Studios.

A Sampling Of Artists You Can Visit During Beacon Open Studios

A few artists are displayed below of who you can go visit their studios. But don’t miss out on all 60 of the artists you can visit.

New York State Lawmakers Revive & Pass Equal Rights Amendment To Protect Right To Abortion In State Constitution, Advancing To Next Step

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The New York State Senate and Assembly advanced the first passage of an amendment, S.51002, to codify the right to an abortion and the right to contraception in the New York State Constitution. After this first step of passing this resolution, it “must be passed by two successive legislatures, and supported by a majority of voters in a public referendum,” said Senator Anna Kaplan, a co-sponsor, with the earliest for a referendum coming to a vote being November 2023.

The Resolution that passed on July 1, 2022 would codify the right to an abortion and the right to contraception, in addition to protecting New Yorkers from various forms of discrimination, as well as protecting from future action by the Supreme Court dismantling rights for LGBTQ+ people, according to a press release by Senator Kaplan. "The resolution expands equal protection under the law to several new identity classes, including on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and sex,” she said. “Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, reproductive healthcare and autonomy."

The lead sponsor is Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Is Modifying The State Constitution To Protect Abortion Rights, Women, Girls, And All Birthing People New?

According to the New York Times, 15 states including California are seeking to amend their state constitutions to protect the right to save the life of the woman, girl or birthing person for any reason, including financial, wrong time in life, wrong potential partner, and mental and physical health. New York State had tried this before, but failed. During the creation of that effort back then, the lead sponsor, Senator Liz Krueger, said they learned many things while drafting it.

Back in February 2022, The Times Union reported on that earlier proposal that the "inclusive Equal Rights Amendment" is different than the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) at the federal level. Said Senator Krueger then, it was very different than the 45-year-old federal effort, because the state-level amendment "would expand on the federal ERA language to include protections for race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and pregnancy."

According to reporting in Politico, the earlier version of the proposal stalled because over disagreements of recognition based on religion. Politico pointed out that this version was “modified to address critics’ concerns over potential effects on religious freedom.”

The Assembly passed broad state Equal Rights Amendment with 98-43 vote Friday evening, and the Senate “hours earlier swiftly approved the resolution on a 49-14 vote after just minutes of floor discussion,” reported Politico. “The amendment would add explicit protections for New Yorkers to access abortion care,” as well as the right to contraception.

Why Now?

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for a special session after the Supreme Court struck down New York's open-carry gun law. The Supreme Court then struck down Roe V. Wade, and New York's Equal Rights amendment was added to the agenda for the special session shortly thereafter.

As reported by Politico, the lead sponsor of this version of the bill, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins “told reporters that the Supreme Court’s ruling last week ratcheted up lawmakers’ urgency to finally move the proposal after years of debate in Albany. She noted that Friday’s vote came on the anniversary when New York’s abortion law took effect more than 50 years ago.”

After the extraordinary session on Friday called by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to address New York’s gun laws and abortion, she told reporters: “It’s part of our fighting back to protect women’s reproductive freedoms here in the state of New York. That [amendment] is going to protect reproductive health in the state of New York for generations to come.”

In defense of both votes, Governor Hochul said: “We're not going backwards. They may think that they can change our lives with the stroke of a pen. But we have pens, too," as reported by The Poughkeepsie Journal.

Abortion Rights Protection At The Federal Level In The Constitution

The Times Union interviewed Wilfred Codrington, an assistant professor at Brooklyn Law School and a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, to discover more about the federal effort to add an equal rights amendment for women to the U.S. Constitution. According to him, it has been in the works since the 1920s.

Codrington said "the Constitution doesn't require women be treated equally." He explained that "if there’s nothing permanent and enshrined in the Constitution protecting those values, a number of statutes we’re seeing being contested in the courts and eviscerated or struck down that also were meant to be enduring."

Senator Krueger was starting with New York state by attempting a broader reach than just women, which "would make New York state, I believe, the first in the nation to recognize that all of our populations should have nondiscrimination protections within our Constitution ... (for) a broader universe of categories of humans and for a broader range of issues than gender," she said as reported by The Times Union.

With Senator Krueger’s bill “There's all kinds of precedent that we need to make sure we have the language correctly on, that we are not impeding one right by protecting another right. So I have found that attempting a complex change in a Constitution is a much more difficult assignment than I had originally hoped for," Krueger said.

That was then. This is now.

Supreme Court Stripped New York Of Its Gun Protection; NY Democrats Pushed Back By Signing New Regulations

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In special session called by New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday, after the Supreme Court voted to neuter New York of protections in its open carry gun law, the Democratic-led Legislature gathered to enact new restrictions on carrying guns in public, as reported in the Poughkeepsie Journal. The New York law that Justice Thomas and the other justices struck down cast doubt on lawmaker’s ability to restrict carrying guns in public places. A Little Beacon Blog first explored this law when it reported on this truck with the pistol mounted to the flagpole.

According to SCOTUS Blog: “Thomas rebuffed New York’s effort to justify its proper-cause requirement as an effort to regulate guns in ‘sensitive places’ – specifically, crowded urban areas, like Manhattan, where people are likely to gather. Thomas agreed that, as a historical matter, there have long been laws restricting guns in places like courthouses and polling places. Moreover, he continued, restrictions that apply to the modern versions of ‘sensitive places’ may also pass constitutional muster. Although Thomas left open exactly what might qualify as a ‘sensitive place,’ he made clear that urban areas do not meet that definition. The state’s ‘argument would in effect exempt cities from the Second Amendment and would eviscerate the general right to publicly carry arms for self-defense,’ Thomas concluded.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul Responded To Justice Thomas With More Defined Restrictions

The pistol mounted to the flagpole of this truck prompts the question of if it is legal, and if it being real or decorative matters. Read more here.

While Justice Clarence Thomas felt that any person had a right to bear arms outside of the home, without needing to prove anything including the need for self-defense, Governor Hochul and many New Yorkers disagreed. When signing the law, the Governor “warned that easing restrictions on carrying guns would endanger New Yorkers by multiplying the number of hidden guns being carried in public places,” the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.

The new law signed Friday in New York, after the Supreme Court made its alteration, identifies gun-free zones that includes houses of worship, schools and colleges, stadiums, theaters, parks and playgrounds. “That prohibition applies to all types of firearms - rifles and shotguns in addition to handguns - and covers private properties unless a business owner posts a sign saying that they are allowed, or a homeowner grants permission. Those caught carrying guns in prohibited places could be charged with a felony,” reported the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Additional restrictions in New York’s new gun law include (as reported by the Poughkeepsie Journal):

  • “Applicants for concealed-carry licenses must undergo 16 hours of training and pass a proficiency test.”

  • “Guns must be locked up in vehicles as state law already requires for those in homes with children.”

  • “The state will do monthly checks of license holders for criminal convictions and other disqualifying acts.”

There are exemptions to who can carry firearms in public in the listed location types, which include retired police officers, on-duty security guards and military service members.

In terms of votes, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported that the” Senate voted 43-20 on the gun bill, with Democrats in support and Republicans in opposition. Several hours later, the Assembly approved the measure in a 91-51 vote after holding its own marathon debate with a stark partisan contrast. Hochul signed the bill shortly afterward. It's to take effect Sept. 1.”

Car Lit On Fire In Madam Brett Park, "Could Have Taken Woods," Beacon Police Allegedly Say

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UPDATE 8/1/2022: The Beacon Police have released their report about this car fire. Read about it here.

On Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 in the early morning hours, a car was driven or drove into Madam Brett Park, turned left into the parking lot, continued onto the walking path along Fishkill Creek, and then was consumed in fire accompanied by loud explosion sounds. Madam Brett Park is managed by Scenic Hudson, and this part of it is in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police. Both agencies have been contacted for comment by ALBB, but neither have responded yet. Should they, this article will be updated.

Tree tops at Madam Brett Park scorched by fire of the car that was parked and on fire on the walking path at 4am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

While that area is densely wooded, there are residential houses that overlook the scenic area. At least one resident was woken up by the the sounds of the burning car, overcome with the feeling like their bed was shaking. They said that the explosive sounds sounded like someone was throwing bricks in a dumpster, or gunshots. Smoke billowed up to the tree tops, scorching the tree tops.

The Beacon Police were called at 4:11am and they arrived by approximately 4:20am along with the 3 trucks of the Beacon Fire Department, who worked to put out the fire. A Beacon Police Officer told a resident that the gunshot sounds heard were the windows and tires of the vehicle exploding. When the resident called the next day to follow up, an officer reiterated that the sounds were the exploding windows and tires.

According to a witness, by 5am, the first responders were allegedly still down on the path dealing with the aftermath of the fire as smoke was still being produced.

One resident asked a Beacon Police Officer if this car fire was the work of the “kids who hang out up the path.” Apparently kids hang out further up the path, and an occasional housing-challenged person who sleeps under a structure. According to the resident, the police officer said: “This wasn’t kids.”

In the past, the resident has been told that the area where the kids hang out is not in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police.

According to the resident, the police officer thanked the resident for calling them, stating that he was concerned that the fire may have spread in the woods.

At approximately 6:35am, a tow truck came to take what the resident described as a “carcass” of a car. They said that the car was unidentifiable at that point, but resembled a medium SUV perhaps in the Jeep family. By 7am, there was water on the ground allegedly from the from fire trucks.

As of this article publishing, the Beacon Police have not responded to ALBB for comment, or posted a press release with further information to their Facebook page, as they do from time to time. It is unknown at this time if an investigation is being conducted into the cause of the fire.

According to a sign at Madam Brett Park, this park and Long Doc Park, buth managed by Scenic Hudson, have been victim to vandalism recently.

Back in 2017, one of the old factories caught on fire in the early morning hours after an explosion was heard, and was consumed in flames. The City of Beacon Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Glenham and the Village of Fishkill, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. It is unknown if the cause of the fire from the investigation was ever discovered or released.

Anyone with information is directed to call the Beacon Police Department 845-831-4111 with any tips.

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Resident’s Brother Was Shot & Killed At Forrestal Heights Beacon Housing Authority

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The parking lot off West Center Street in the Beacon Housing Authority’s Forrestal Heights apartment complex. This is the second parking lot, around the bend from the first, where people familiar with the shooting say it happened.

The first parking lot off West Center Street in the Beacon Housing Authority’s Forrestal Heights apartment complex.

According to neighbors and the Beacon Police, a man named Lionell Pittman, age 32, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Forrestal Heights affordable housing apartment community on West Center Street, which is managed by Beacon Housing Authority, on early Saturday evening while people were coming home from busy Saturday days of kids sports, shopping, day tripping, and returning from work.

According to their press release from Detective Jason Johnson, the Beacon Police got a call for shots fired at 6:50pm. The Beacon Detective Division is asking anyone with information to contact the City of Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111 with any tips.

According to people who heard the shots, commotion could be heard from the second parking lot around the bend from the first parking lot on West Center Street. The parking lot and the apartment units are located next door to the Beacon Recreation Center and across the street and next door to houses owned by homeowners.

According to those who heard the shots, there was a motorcycle driving around which popped off its exhaust, and sounded like gunshots, which apparently is a common sound in that neighborhood, and is definitely a common sound on Main Street and other side streets around Beacon.

Moments or seconds later, a second series of shots were heard that occurred in a period of one or two seconds. These were the gunshots that killed Lionell. According to one person, 18 shots were released in 1 or 2 seconds. Three of these shots allegedly landed in Lionell, one allegedly to his head and two in his chest. Another person reported hearing 7 shots in 1 second.

According to reporting by Bill Beale for K104.7 and Midhudson News, Lionell received CPR in the ambulance while being taken to the hospital but did not survive the gunshot wounds.

According to someone who spoke to a resident, Lionell was a brother of someone who lives in the apartment units. They felt like the shooting was a targeted event. A Little Beacon Blog is seeking confirmation on if Lionell lived there, and if a funeral will be announced for him.

At that time of the shooting, the sun was still shining and residents were pulling in and out of the parking lot. After the shots, residents apparently came out of their apartments, visibly distraught. At a later time, Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou was seen by some to be walking to houses located on the opposite side of the street to reassure homeowners that everything was safe, and that Beacon Police were investigating the crime. The suspect remains at large.

It is not known if Mayor Kyriacou went into the Forrestal Heights community where the murder occurred to visit with residents in apartments to relay the same message. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Mayor Kyriacou and City Administrator Chris White for comment, but has not received a reply by the time of this publishing. Administrator Chris insists that all inquiries from A Little Beacon Blog for all department heads and staff go through him. Should a response come, this article will be updated.

A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the Beacon Housing Authority’s ross coordinator, Noah Hargett, to confirm the location of the parking lot, the residential status of Lionell, and how is family is coping. Should we get a response, this article will be updated. ALBB has also reached out to the Beacon Police to confirm the parking lot location, and will update here should a response come in.

According to people familiar with the area, no news reporters have visited the scene to learn more information, which surprised them. This report showing a picture of a different parking lot is totally incorrect. Different affordable housing apartment complex.

The Christmas Day murder of Rene “Scout” Vivo, who also lived in the Forrestal Heights apartment units, remains unsolved. Rene was stabbed on Main Street, and died while walking in the direction of his home at Forrestal Heights.

Yes, There Is A "Bans Off Our Bodies" Pro-Abortion Justice Rally In Beacon Saturday

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Wooo! Like you needed another thing to do this Saturday! Nation-wide, women, men and theys will be gathering to fight to keep government’s legislation off our bodies. No, this is not related for one second to the mandating of vaccinations. This is a life-changing event that men have almost no responsibility in when they impregnate a women. Girls who are just getting their periods for the first time are already being educated by their mothers that their rights to freedom and smart choices about when to start a family are being snatched from from them, in order to possibly snatch the baby in order to put it up for adoption or enter into foster care, both money-making situations.

Beacon
Day: Saturday, May 14, 2022
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Location: Polhill Park, Main St & South Ave, Beacon, NY 12508
More Information >

Yes, this is a bias article, and yes, we hope to see you there, or at other rallies in the Hudson Valley. Read Katie’s speech here to learn how she really feels.

Painting Is Striped On Newly Paved Main Street - Order Slowly Restoring

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The past two planned weeks of fully paving Beacon’s mile-long Main Street overall went very well it seems, with the exception of the hitting of the Dummy Light, of which “the driver felt so badly…he is one of our best,” Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White told ALBB last week at the abortion rights rally. A handful of people enjoyed driving down the middle of the milled road, meandering down Main Street without parked cars or much oncoming traffic. Some store owners noted that they suffered a bit in sales as car traffic and parking was down.

Today (Thursday), the double yellow stripes are painted, as are several street parking spots and the “Abbey Road” style crosswalks. The City Administrator Chris could be seen marching up and down Main Street in his crisp office shirt as workers sprayed the pavement with markings before the paint went down.

Sunny springtime Wednesday traffic is back in action, with cars parked on both sides of the roads and both lanes of traffic narrowly gliding by each other, with skateboarders popping out from between parked cars, and shoppers hurrying to open and close their vehicles. A regular day in Beacon again.

This crosswalk matches the new yellow crosswalk signs across from Citizens Bank and the Mobile gas station.

The newly painted crosswalk near Antalek and Moore’s building.

Workers spray temporary markings for parking in front of Beacon Bread Company.

Bike symbols were kept, like this one outside of Amacord.

Man Pursues Woman On Main Street; She Runs For Help To Sunoco; A Man Arrested On Willow Street

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In at least the second incident this week involving the Sunoco gas station that A Little Beacon Blog knows about, a woman was chased by a man on Main Street on Friday morning near the Sunoco gas station. According to someone who saw it but does not know exact details, the man was allegedly trying to get the woman into a car. The woman was wearing pink, may have been Puerto Rican, and may have been in her 40s. The person familiar with the incident thought the car may have been hers, and that she and the man pursuing her knew each other. These details have not been confirmed by Beacon Police.

According to one ALBB reader in Instagram comments, “There was a man dragging a woman in the parking lot and she was yelling that he was violating her and didn’t want him to hit her again. I asked her from my car if she needed help and she shook her head. He gave me dirty looks and I bounced because I had my kid with me and she said she didn’t need help.” A very brave thing for a mother to do - shout from her car to increase attention to the situation.

According to a witness, as the man pursued her, the woman ran from him into the Sunoco gas station seeking help. The man grabbed her at the door and threw her back onto the ground, according to a witness. Beacon Police were called and came right away. The man apparently ran away, with police in pursuit.

A Little Beacon Blog has left a voicemail with Detective Johnson of the Beacon Police. Should he respond with details, this article will be updated. ALBB will also submit a FOIL for the Police Report, and is assuming that it will take some time before it is available, if the report remains open during the investigation, as the reports are typically not released to FOIL requests before they are closed.

A Man Arrested On Willow Street

Sidewalk where the man in the tan shirt and black backpack was arrested.

In a possibly unrelated matter but during the same morning, at about 8:45am-ish, a bald man in a tan shirt and black backpack was pursued and arrested on Willow Street, according to witnesses. Just before his arrest, neighbors could hear yelling on Oak Street and Willow Street, where backyards intersect.

Willow Street is behind and a few short blocks away from the Sunoco gas station. Several police officers were at the scene. Some officers searched the area after the man was taken into the police car in handcuffs.

After the man was in the police car, a different person on a bike peddled up to a police officer to give the officer a small black pouch, and left.

Beacon Police Initiative Attempts To Aid In De-Escalating Domestic Calls: "Let Us Know" Program

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Last year, the Beacon Police Department launched a new initiative called the “Let Us Know” program, spearheaded by Lieutenant Tom Figlia, encouraging people with delicate situations at home to call the police in advance with character information about a family member that could help police officers answering a call know the person they are about to encounter a bit better.

In an announcement made last year, the program works as follows: “As Police Officers, we know that mental health status is fluid. We also know that we may be called to respond to incidents involving your loved ones who are experiencing health or age-related changes to their mental health. We want to make sure that calls like this are handled as safely as possible for everyone involved. If you have a loved one experiencing these changes and you’re comfortable doing so, you can now contact us so we can discuss the situation and find out things like what tends to escalate or de-escalate the person, who their emergency contacts are, etc. before we get a call. We’ll put this information into our database and if an officer is called to respond to your loved one and we know who it is, we can update the officers on their way. There is no way to prevent every stressful situation, but as a department, we’ve learned that we see the safest, most positive outcomes when we know the backgrounds of the people we’re interacting with.”

Lt. Figlia gave an example to ALBB about how the program could work: “If someone was concerned that a loved one’s mental health was deteriorating to a point where there may be police involvement, it could be helpful for everyone for us to know some things before we get there. We often spend a lot of time talking to the people who we were called on, so it could make all the difference in the world for us to know if, for example, the person loves to talk about baseball but gets very upset if you mention their step son.”

De-escalation seems to be the main objective with this program. “We want to be able to de-escalate individuals who are escalated and keep calm individuals who already are. It is also very helpful for us to have emergency contact information for people who may find themselves in crisis or suffering from ailments like dementia.”

Having the information before arriving to a scene is the priority, said Lt. Figlia. “While there are unlimited factors which contribute to the outcome of a situation, we would prefer to have that information before we get called, so that no one is scrambling to figure it out when every second counts.”