Many people in Beacon double as something else. The owner of Beacon Bread Company, Kamel Jamal, happens to be an extremely creative person, both visually and with phrases. He not only doubles the number of restaurants he creates, but enables others to share their talent as well.
It was no surprise when he commissioned one of his Beacon Bread staff, Shannon J. Ramos, to cover the side of the building he leases with an inviting and celebratory “Greetings From Beacon!” mural. Shannon is a muralist and tattoo artist from Poughkeepsie, who developed this design with her boyfriend and fellow artist, Sean who is from Wappingers Falls.
“We met through art,” said Sean. “She’d go to my art shows, and I’d go to her art shows. I love her art. I was in a grumpy mood this morning, but this changed me today. Being able to paint with her is so much fun.”
After 2 months of working for Beacon Bread as a server, Shannon and Sean began researching the design, and after looking at tons of postcards, went with this rainbow connection that “brings happiness,” Shannon said. Painting on the brick wasn’t so much of a challenge, she felt. Shannon used house paint for the hand/detail work, and Sean’s medium is spray painting.
“Murals are a lot of work” Shannon explained. “So it’s fun to have someone to balance off and bring different aspects of art to it. He’s good at spray paint. I’m good at hand-paint. It’s fun to play off each other.” Sean points out that they enjoy the interactive process of having passer-byers walk past to watch them paint. The flowers were left un-colored so that BEACON could stand out. The entire mural took about one day to complete.
Shannon is a full time restaurant server and artist. She has remained at Beacon Bread after starting there in the Spring of 2021, and was surprised to experience the creatively supportive vibe she got from the management. “I got the job, and then…you know…you want to be as available as possible for hours, but then I could only work certain days, and they were totally cool with that and wanted to make it work. It’s cool about them, as they are cool about flexible schedules, and having me do this mural and highlighting what I like to do.”
And just like that, we're less than a week away from Thanksgiving! During a blip of this week's City Council Meeting, Mayor Lee Kyriacou mentioned that there is a tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 27th at Pohill Park from 4-6pm. We don't know any more details than that, as there don't seem to be any postings about it anywhere online yet.
How we miss the grand and creative bicycle tree and bicycle menorah lighting from Beacon Arts! But alas.
NEWSFLASH! After we sent this blog post as a newsletter to our subscribers, a reader wrote in to let us know that the bicycle menorah lighting is ON! The Beacon Hebrew Alliance is hosting the once annual Illumin8: Lighting The Beacon Bicycle Menorah
What is back for its 4th year is Hop & Shop! Organized by retail elves in shops on Main Street, Hop & Shop was created to encourage people to travel the entire length of the mile-long Main Street to shop from as many stores as possible. And are there a lot of stores! From pottery making to hand-crafted rings to fast fashion for men and women. From stickers to poppets to kitchen-wear, to everything. See our latest article on Hop & Shop for this year. ALBB's Shopping Editor Teslie Andrade put together a few features for you to check out.
And do take the free bus! Beacon's Loop Bus, organized in part by Kelly Ellenwood for Beacon Arts, Dutchess County, and Mayor Casale's administration, the bus can pick you up from designated points on Main Street and other points on its route between the Mount Beacon and the MTA train station.
THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade and Katie Hellmuth Martin
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it! If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here, book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
Intro to Natural Dyeing Workshop
Day: Saturday, November 20, 2021 & Sunday, November 21, 2021 Time: Saturday 9am - 2pm & Sunday 9am - 11am Location: Stony Kill Foundation, Inc., 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
The Great Give Back Stichin' for the Kitchen
Days: October 1 - December 1, 2021 *EXTENDED!
Get out your hooks and needles. Stichin' for the Kitchen is back! As part of the Great Give Back, the Howland Public Library is collecting handmade hats and scarves to donate to Fareground and Beacon Community Kitchen. Crafters can donate a set or individual items. Donations should be placed in individual plastic-zip bags and dropped off in the Big Red Bin at the library. Drop off between October 1st and November 15th. For more information, contact Michelle at community@beaconlibrary.org.
The Bannerman Island Gallery Fine Art Holiday Exhibition
Day: Saturday, November 13, 2021 - Sunday, January 30, 2022 Time: 4pm - 6pm Location: Bannerman Island Gallery, 150 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508
Paintings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and hanging mixed media works will decorate the walls - while ceramics, sculpture and other artistic gift items will fill out the gallery. Many of the works will be Hudson River Valley themed. Visitors to the gallery can expect to see representational landscapes, florals, interiors and still-life works - as well as other works from the imagination. Functional and whimsical ceramics and other gift items will also be featured. All works will be for sale and all proceeds from sales will benefit on-going restoration work on historic Bannerman’s Island. Gallery hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 noon – 5:00pm and most weekday afternoons and early evenings by chance or appointment by calling 845-416-8342.
The Beacon Farmers Market won approval from City Council and the City Administrator to remain open outside all year. They will continue to operate from the DMV parking lot, which has proved an open and accessible place for people to pass through and congregate in during the pandemic where people continue to avoid being indoors if possible. It has allowed the market to accept more vendors, and keep a spacious shopping experience. Read This >
Shake away the Monday blues! We created a list of restaurants in Beacon that are open on Mondays. See it here >
TWO WAY BREWING COMPANY
18 West Main St.
Cheers to the weekend! Stop into Two Way for a refreshing pint, a flight, or some beer to go at their full service taproom! All of their beers are brewed at their in-house brewery located right next to the taproom. PS Really good fall beers from Two Way! And a food menu with goods from The Flying Jib! See beers on tap here > OPEN:
Thursday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday 4:00pm - 11:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 11:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Two Way Brewing Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Get your Eat Church noodle fix at Marbled Meat Shop's (in Coldspring) grab-n-go fridge! Phat Thai + Sesame Noodles pre-packaged, ready to go, just for YOU! Eat Church is a favorite with gluten-free options!
Find Eat Church at more places:
Thursday-Sunday at industrial Arts Brewing
DAILY GrabnGo at Marbled Meat Shop
Sunday at Beacon Farmers Market
So many opportunities to get your hands on this deliciousness! PS Fall Menu is here for the season! Website >
Eat Church is a Sponsor, thank you!
BEACON BREAD COMPANY 193 Main St.
A true NY staple from BBC (obviously - just look at it!) Two fried eggs with cheddar & bacon (can’t forget the avocado) with SPK alllllll on a homemade seeded brioche bun. Open 8-5 this weekend for the brunchy, boozy, and caffeinated treats! Breakfast served all day! PS All Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Sunday, November 21! Give them a call, order in person, or via email. Menu > Order Pick Up or Delivery > Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Is your mouth watering? Because our mouths are watering... MOD only uses the finest ingredients including local food purveyors such as beef from the Hudson Valley, cheese from NY state and produce from local farmers. Their full-service bar features a large selection of NY craft beer, locally produced wine and house-crafted cocktails. In addition to beef burgers, the menu offers chicken, hot dogs and vegan options with multiple toppings and house-made signature sauces, plus hand-cut fries, salads and daily specials. Go on in & take a bite of Beacon! Open Sunday thru Thursday for Food 11:30am - 9pm; Bar until 10pm Friday and Saturday Food 11:30am - 11:00pm; Bar until midnight. Order Now > Meyers Olde Dutch is a Sponsor, thank you!
TITO SANTANA TAQUERIA 142 Main St.
It's the weekend! You know what that means... NACHOS! With pickled onions, pickled radish, cream, black beans, pico, jalapeños, nacho cheese, and the option to add chicken, pork, chorizo, smoked brisket, or chipotle chicken! PS: Dinner takeout special available Monday-Friday from 4pm - 9pm: 4 tacos, + 2 street corn, + 1 chip & salsa, + 1 rice & beans for only $24! PPS: Catering available! PPPS: $3 tacos every Tuesday! #tacotuesday Menu > Catering > Tito Santana Taqueria is a Sponsor, thank you!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Homespun's online beer store! So many options including pale ale, IPA, gose, hard seltzer, stout, lager, and many more! You can even explore the Hudson Valley through beer with Homespun's monthly subscription craft beer service. Each month, subscribers get beer from a brewery located within the Hudson Valley. Homespun is highlighting each brewery in a blog post so that you can learn who are they, when they started, how they are helping their local community, and how their beer highlights the terroir (terrain) of the region. See more here > OPEN HOURS:
Thursday - Monday, 10am - 7pm Order Food > Homespun is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
What're you having for lunch this weekend? Why not a Chocolate brownie sundae from Shmuck's Sweet Stuff (located inside the HV Food Hall)?! We're not judging...
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! Momo Valley: Himalayan Spiced Hand-Crafted MoMo & More El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar in a well-ventilated space with Outdoor Patio! Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Baja's specials menu is constantly changing and you don't want to miss out because you might just miss a really good special like this Roasted Poblano & Potato Soup! PS: Baja wings are a must try. Choice of chipotle-honey glaze, korean bbq, spicy baja sauce, or bleu cheese! PPS: Happy Hour Tues-Fri 4-6pm Check out their specialty drinks > Check out the specials >
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
ZIATUN
244 Main St.
Not sure what to bring this year for Thanksgiving? Surprise your friends and family with a HABIBI PLATTER from Ziatun! Get your orders in now for everyone’s favorite party plate, with their hummus, falafel, Palestinian olives and more all for $49.95. Pick up will be at their sister restaurant, Beacon Bread Company, on Thanksgiving Day! PS: It's Soup Season & Ziatun has you covered with delicious soups! Warm up! Menu > Order Online > Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
BEACON FLEA MARKET OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER - HOPES FOR ALL YEAR
The Beacon Flea Market is a fair weather market with some of the most resilient vendors around. Collectors have returned to market to offer a wide variety of treasures. Owner Emma Dewing is asking the City of Beacon to approve her request to go through the Winter on Henry Street, just like the Farmers Market has at the DMV lot. Watch This Video Shopping Tour! >
DIRTY BACCHUS
380 Main Street, Beacon
Baia Abuladze, Gia Jamberidze, Marina Kuranidze, Mariam Guniava, Nino Chitoshvili
Enek Peterson -10 excellent wines made by 6 amazing women pushing traditions forward and breaking rules in Georgia, and these bottles are just a fraction of Dirty Bacchus' Georgian wine selection! Stop in, get some bottles for the holidays, or as gifts, or for you! Wine works in all ways! Follow @dirtybacchus for all wine reviews! HOURS:
Mon-Wed: 12-6pm
Thur- Sat: 11am-7pm
Sun: 12-5pm Dirty Bacchus is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS
321 Main Street, Beacon Questlove, “Music is History” available at Binnacle!
“Focusing on the years 1971 to the present, Questlove finds the hidden connections in the American tapes- try, whether investigating how the blaxploitation era reshaped Black identity or considering the way disco took an assembly-line approach to Black genius. And these critical inquiries are complemented by his own memories as a music fan, and the way his appetite for pop culture taught him about America. A history of the last half-century and an intimate conversation with one of music’s most influential and original voices, ‘Music Is History’ is a singular look at contemporary America.” Binnacle is *Open daily!
Binnacle Books is a Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE 18 West Main Street, Beacon
Getting your cleaning on for the Holidays? So is Brett’s Hardware. Maybe this is the year for the heavy duty mop pail for your home. More importantly is the reusable wooden handle mop at Brett’s, which has a removable mop head you can wash in the laundry! We’ve tried the Miracle Mop and various other brands. This one has a turn style removal method that makes getting the mop had on and off easier. PS: Get your winter mats & supplies! It's time!
Stop in & check it all out. OPEN
Monday-Friday 7:30am - 7pm
Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Head on into Luxe Optique and find your pawfect frame! Luxe knows the importance of good eye health and has professional doctors of optometry on staff and works out of network with all insurance companies. Luxe Optique is also a DMV approved location for a convenient motor vehicle eye exam. PS: New arrivals are always arriving at Luxe! Stop in or make an appt! PPS *NEW HOURS
Monday 10 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM
Closed on Sundays! They've gone shopping! Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
470 Main Street, Beacon
Now this looks like the cozy gift that almost anyone would want! Even you! Stop into La Mere and check out the new arrivals that pop in weekly! We must warn you... the new arrivals GO quick because, well, obviously! Start your holiday shopping early and never ever forget to treat yourself. #shoplocal
*New Arrivals Weekly / Free Shipping
Download their free app in the iTunes Store PS: Everything is under $100!! PPS: MENS clothing now available!
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
Unlike many other studios, Yanarella's year begins in December and runs all year until their recital in November. They offer classes in all levels and styles (guaranteed to find something you or your kid(s) like!). They offer full year classes as well as Fall Introductory Courses, Winter Camps and Summer Camps. For each additional class there is a multi class/Family discount.
** The 2022 season registration day is this Tuesday 11/23 from 1:00-7:30 pm at the studio. New classes will begin the week of 1/3/22. Anyone can drop in and register. Registration will also be available online! **
Yanarella's facility has three dance rooms, all adjacent to waiting rooms with half walls for observers, instead of observation windows. All rooms are equipped with state of the art sound systems, mounted and standing ballet barres, and full length mirrors. They also have a sprung wooden floor made specifically for dancers.
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Happy Anniversary Teresa Greenough! Congrats to you on 29 years of service and for all you do for Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency as the current Business Insurance Team Lead. Go on in to Antalek & Moore and say hi + find out more about their services. Give Antalek & Moore a call today: 845-831-4300 and visit their website. Latest Announcements > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
A specialty of Katie James, Inc. is to design solutions that work the way you need to work. Some people operate better by texting their big ideas, and letting us run with them. See the latest Website Projects from Katie James: Homespun Foods > Barb’s Butchery > Stanley Lindwasser > Find out more > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
HIRING: Homespun Foods Is Looking For A Lead Server To Join Their Growing Team Details >
HIRING: Maintenance & Packaging Manager At Industrial Arts Brewing Details >
HIRING: Beacon City School District Food Service Department Is Looking For Substitute Food Service Helpers Details >
Featured here: Happy Belly, at the Beacon Farmers Market.
The Beacon Farmers Market was one of the first to pivot hard when the business shutdown happened when COVID-19 was first discovered and declared a global pandemic. They quickly built a extremely robust but temporary well-serving website to connect devoted customers to vendors, and opened outside, withstanding the deep snowfall Beacon experienced last year.
This year, vendors agreed that they prefer to stick it out outside in the DMV parking lot, where there is more space, possibly better internet, and that small-scale live music that helps keep the market moving.
The Shred Foundation, a skateboarding organization serving under-served youth which is Black founded, at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Diana Mae Flowers, a Beacon Farmers Market staple for creative bouquets.
Cooperstown Cheese Company at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Trax, a Beacon local coffee roasters with 3 locations in Beacon, also likes to serve it up at the Beacon Farmers Market.
Eggberts Free Range Farm, another Beacon Farmers Market staple and wonderful source for eggs, beef, lamb and pork.
Advocates for free New York Health Insurance, which would in theory be funded by a payroll tax on New Yorkers. Anna Brady Nuse started a Change.org petition for the cause, and has been pursuing Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou to show support for free New York Health Insurance by putting it on Beacon’s City Council Agenda, where the council can create and vote on a Resolution supporting it. So far the Mayor has not put it on the agenda.
Back for its 4th year of community supported shopping, Hop & Shop is thriving this year in its efforts to support businesses on Main Street during this holiday season. Produced by retail elves on Main Street who do this in addition to running their brick and mortars, Hop & Shop is two nights (Thursday and Friday, 12/2-3) of longer shopping hours in Beacon (recommended closing time is 9pm, which is late for Beacon), plus fun deals or specials to go along with it.
Businesses can sign up here, and shoppers can learn about specials after November 29th, when the holiday shopping season officially kicks into high gear. This will be a great activity after Thanksgiving in that Black Friday slide. For those interested in how this works, see their FAQ page.
Hop & Shop has been doing a fabulous job promoting participating shops on their Instagram, so you should follow along with them here. We have highlighted a few shops below that are either super-new, hard to find, or ones that you just must walk into. To see all of Beacon’s shops, visit ALBB’s Shopping and Restaurant Guides. Follow along with Hop & Shop for more, and see you out and about!
BERTE 500 Main St. Berte is a curated home decor and lifestyle shop in Beacon, NY with a focus on emerging designers and makers who embody their playful, yet calming modern aesthetic. Passionate about “the hunt,” founder Aimée deSimone finds new pieces and brands wherever they emerge – whether that’s abroad or closer to home in New York’s Hudson Valley. She takes great pride in their collaborative relationship with makers (mostly female and BIPOC), who share our commitment to sustainability, equity, and design. TIP: Look for their “wall necklaces” if they still have them.
INGLEWOOD MARKETPLACE 17 E Main St. Established in 2015, Inglenook Marketplace is a home goods, general goods, and candle making brand. They are purveyors of local, fine & sustainable products. They specialize in eco-friendly options, including their very own refillery inside of our Beacon location. You can fill up on Laundry Soap, Body Wash, Shampoo, Dryer Balls, and you can even refill your used Inglenook Marketplace candle! TIP: We tried the grapefruit dish soap, and love it!
WANDERLUX 473 Main St. Suite 2 Wanderlux style provides an exclusive, accessible, and sustainable short term rental (or option of purchase) experience of luxury fashion, shoes, and accessories for both men and women. Luxury items without the hefty price tag, closet space, dry cleaning costs, and waste. TIP: Located where Cold Fit Cryotheraphy used to be, behind the architects storefront office near Wonderbar.
SILICA STUDIO 428 Main St. Silica Studio is a very new and very interactive type of business in Beacon. Take a Pottery Class and learn to make your own piece on the wheel or hand build it yourself with instruction by a skilled potter. Great for date nights or family/friend bonding! Also discover some beautifully unique works of art by local artisans in the front of house mini gallery! Silica Studio is a place to access creativity and fun for all!! TIP: Can’t wait to try this.
HUNCA MUNCAS 145 Main St. For lovers of nature, craft, magic and play. Handmade, sustainable & ethically manufactured gifts for children and the home. TIP: If you were looking for cloth rabbit dolls and looks of a very sweet nature, this is your spot.
This photo was taken 1 week after the graffiti was covered up with paper by a person who wanted to remain anonymous, but wanted to make the vandalism less glaring.
One of the new apartment buildings in Beacon - 249 Main Street - was tagged last weekend. The words “Go Home” were spray painted in white over the building and windows. A person who wished to remain anonymous covered up the graffiti with white paper one day after the incident happened. A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the Beacon Police and to the realtor who represents the property, The Gate House Team at Compass (formerly Gate House Realty), to inquire if the incident had been reported to the police, and if so, if security cameras on Main Street or neighboring businesses had been used to find who did the spray painting. Neither have responded. Baxter built the property.
This is not the first time buildings have been tagged in Beacon by menacing individuals. Last year in January 2020, a handful of businesses were tagged. In that case, 3 New Windsor men and 1 man from Newburgh were taken into custody and charged in relation to vandalism, as reported by the Poughkeepsie Journal, who identified the men after the City of Beacon Police Department shared the information.
Some of the art you see around Beacon on the sides of buildings is a result of covering up unwanted graffiti. Removing the paint is very difficult.
The intent of the message is not clear. Beacon’s real estate has been hot for a while, and is currently pricing out many locals who live here who need to stay in rental units, or want to move from rental units into property they purchase. Some Beaconites are selling directly to each other, and not listing their homes, in order to avoid bidding wars and do their friends a favor to keep their friends in Beacon. One the other hand, some Beaconites are setting the prices very high on their homes, hoping to get cash offers.
Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou has been resisting the City Council’s push to sign into law the Good Cause Eviction Law, as neighboring towns have, including Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston. During the first meeting the City Council had to discuss Good Cause Eviction Law, Beacon’s attorney Nick Ward-Willis of Keane and Beane rushed to silence the discussion and move it to Executive Session, which is when the City Council, Mayor and City Administrator can discuss things in private from the public.
Since then, Councilperson Dan Aymar-Blair has presented a proposal to accept Good Cause Eviction Law, which has the support of many in the public who continuously show up to City Council meetings to voice their support. Mayor Kyriacou, who is a landlord, continues to not support it, saying he defers to the city’s attorney, who is not recommending the law, stating that New York State guidance is needed. However, New York State’s Attorney General Letitia James just stated she supports the law.
Said Letitia in a filmed speech shared with City Limits: “I step before you as someone who was once in poverty…who was once evicted. And so paying the rent — yeah rent is too damn high. So we’ve gotta talk about rent and housing and all the issues that we care about. Yes, we need to pass Good Cause Eviction.”
Airbnb is also a factor in Beacon’s real estate economy. While it is good for some house owners and apartment renters who offer it, it is taking long term rental units and houses off the market. While Beaconites who rent out on Airbnb were deathly afraid of Beacon’s then Building Inspector, Tim Dexter, enforcing code requirements on them and shutting them down under then Mayor Randy Casale’s administration, Beaconites have nothing to fear now. Tim Dexter has since retired, replaced by his then assistant, David Buckley. Under Mayor Kyriacou’s administration, the current Building Inspector took a very different approach to code interpretation, and removed the road-block of fire-safety egress windows or ceiling sprinklers in his interpretation to make offering Airbnb more affordable for homeowners who did not want to invest in such safety features.
Further, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White says that he spoke with David Buckley, and the two discussed how the Airbnb regulation Beacon passed years ago is unenforceable. There seems to be little desire at the administration level to begin enforcement.
If any such enforcement has happened that you would like to share with ALBB, please do so by contacting us.
One week later, the white paper covering the graffiti is still up on the apartment building, albeit ripped and blowing in the wind. Sadly, the graffiti was done at the building’s “promotional” window, that encourages a passer-byer to “tag” the realtor with a selfie photo.
Boosted! Regarding arm soreness and vaccinations: do you hear people complaining this much after they get back from the gym or pilates about their sore legs after their trainer kicked their booties? No…! They go there to get sore on purpose. It’s working!
Pro Tip from the nurse who gave this booster: relax your arm muscles. A tight muscle will be more sore when needle hits it. Deep breaths, and relax.
PS: Coincidence maybe, but my seasonal asthma is feeling better hours after getting this booster. Couldn’t sit inside today masked for scratchy asthma cough. Will report back tomorrow if asthma is still better. But this did happen with the spring asthma. Cleared up after first shot.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has decided to close the Downstate Correctional Facility at 121 Red Schoolhouse Road, along with five other prisons, citing low capacity and the desire to re-imagine helping incarcerated people with mental health and drug treatments services. While this maximum security prison is located in the Town of Fishkill, it is not the Fishkill Correctional Facility that is near Beacon’s high school and middle school that has been in the news lately.
The Times Union reported that Governor Hochul had indicated her desire to close more prisons two or so weeks ago during one of her COVID-19 briefings, stating: “I want to get creative with this,” Hochul said at the end of October. “I don't know if something can be used as a substance abuse treatment center. We don't need as many prisons. The number of people incarcerated has gone down dramatically in our state.”
According to the New York Times, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo “shut 18 prisons during his nearly 11 years in office amid a series of criminal justice reforms that reduced New York’s prison population to its lowest level since 1984.” Although employees apparently found out this week, the Times Union reported that the president of the New York State Correctional Officer Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), Michael Powers, said in a statement that the news “shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone,” who opposes the closing, reported the New York Times.
The closure will take place in March 2022, and moves to transfer employees to other employment positions begin now. The Downstate Correctional Facility is a major employer in the region, employing 644 people, according to the Times Union. The facility has the capacity to imprison 1,221 incarcerated people, and currently imprisons slightly over half of that, at 688 incarcerated people.
According to reporting in the Times Union, who cited a press release from DOCCS, DOCCS does not anticipate layoffs due to the closure, and will focus on “providing staff with opportunities for priority placement via voluntary transfers, as well as priority employment at other facilities or other state agencies,” and will be working with bargaining units to stay within union rules.
Said Chris Moreau, Vice President of the Mid-Hudson Region for New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) to the Times Union: “They will have to put their name in a hat and hope they can be transferred to adjacent facilities in the region. There’s no guarantee that officers who live and work and set up their families around the Downstate area aren’t going to be shipped up north, out west, hours away from their family right before the holiday season.”
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro issued a statement via press release on November 8th, the day of the announced closure: “Today’s announcement about the closure of the Downstate Correctional Facility has taken Dutchess County by surprise. There has been no coordination between the Governor’s Office and Dutchess County on the closure of this large facility, nor a coordinated plan for the future use of the parcel and the hundreds of workers who will be affected. Make no mistake: Inmates at Downstate are not being released; they will simply be transferred to remaining State prisons or to county jails throughout New York. Today's announcement only leaves Dutchess County with more questions than answers.”
According to the Times Union, DOCCS has been evaluating this, and debating about which facilities to choose. As reported in the article: “DOCCS reviewed the operations at its 50 facilities and looked at physical infrastructure, program offerings, facility security level, medical and mental health services, proximity to other facilities, and potential re-use options.”
Governor Hochul’s office has indicated new uses for the buildings that that help this population, and has been quoted as to saying she is open to new ways of benefiting people. Perhaps this re-imagining will include job training for new positions to work with incarcerated people, or people who are not sent into jail, but are heavily guided into programs.
According to a press release from DOCCS, the total number of incarcerated people in New York State is 31,469. The DOCCS press release states that this is over 50% less than what it was in 1999.
Beacon’s Main Street has been getting attention from Mayor Lee Kyriacou’s administration. From real estate zoning overhauls to street signage, some changes have been made. Most recently, the sidewalk “bump-outs” which are the circular extensions into the street that the City Administrator Chris White argues, during recent City Council meetings, will reduce traffic speeds, and act as a benefit to emergency vehicles who can now drive over them when turning a tight corner. Additionally, he said, a car may not be parked so close to the street corner, now that the bump-outs are there, making turning easier, with one less parked vehicle in the way.
Once the cement set on all of the bump-outs, new signage went in. Namely, yellow crosswalk signs. Hurrah! But no new painted cross-walk lines were done, as paving of Main Street was scheduled for October, but was canceled in November.
According to a press release on the City of Beacon’s website: “The City has also been investing in pedestrian and cyclist safety throughout the City. Immediately upon taking office in 2020, Mayor Kyriacou formed a Main Street Access Advisory Committee made up of residents. The Committee was instrumental in the upcoming installation of stop signs and way finding signage along the Main Street corridor.”
It is unknown at this time what project or budget line item the crosswalks were part of, as the Main Street Access Advisory Committee leader Stowe Boyd indicated that these particular crosswalk signs were not part of their first phase of new signage that aims to make finding one’s way around Beacon easier. Their focus was on adding street signs to intersections were no street signs exist, stop signs along Main Street intersections, and better free parking signs for municipal lots.
Colleen Pillus, Communication Director for the Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro confirmed that the bump-outs were federally funded, and could not confirm source of funding for the crosswalk signs. Sometimes sidewalk or street sign projects come from different grant funds from federal or county budgets, and in our reporting, we like to indicate which ones.
Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White did not respond to ALBB’s questions seeking funding or design confirmation on the bump-outs. Perhaps you can find out?
Questions that were sent to City Administrator Chris last week:
1. When and if did Beacon apply for federal funds for the bump-outs?
2. What were the start and end dates of the project?
3. Can you send the final design for the bump-outs that were approved by the City of Beacon and were submitted to the people creating the bump-outs?
4. What if any accessibility expert was used as a resource for designing the bump-outs?
5. Who paved the bump-outs? What company and were any city employees involved in any aspect? If so, which ones?
6. The yellow cross-walk signs that were recently installed: where did that funding come from? What company installed them or were they installed by city employees?
If you have positive or negative experience with crossing Main Street with the new bump-outs and/or yellow crosswalk signs, let us know in the comments below.
Beacon used to have speed bumps in Memorial Park on Robert Cahill Drive and on Wilkes Street (the street that runs along Memorial Park with the row of houses). The speed bumps were placed throughout the park - behind Rombout Middle School; alongside the Memorial Park hill where kids play football and softball; up in the woods where people picnic and down across from the Tot Park. The placement of the speed bumps was indicated by a yellow sign that reads “BUMP.” The speed bumps have not been placed down for a couple of years.
The street signs are still there, but the speed bumps are not. Traditionally, the speed bumps in Beacon were seasonal. The Highway Department would put them down in the Spring, and take them up in the Fall or Winter in preparation for snow plow season, as plowing over them is a nuisance.
The speed bumps kept the traffic speed on Wilkes to a slower pace. The posted speed limit on Wilkes is 15mph. On Robert Cahill Drive, the rest of the road that loops around Memorial Park, the posted speed limit is 10mph. It is unclear why these are different speeds since the road that encircles the park - no matter what it is named - is a continuous loop.
During City Council meetings in years past, when Randy Casale was mayor, the speed bumps were discussed. Randy used to be the Highway Superintendent for 16 years, and recalled the nuisance of the speed bumps and the snow plows. Some citizens wanted more speed bumps in their neighborhoods to reduce traffic on neighborhood streets, but resistance from the administration was felt, and no new speed bumps were added. The speed bumps on Wilkes Street were used as examples of speed bumps on a residential street.
Now the speed bumps on Wilkes Street and Robert Cahill Drive are gone.
Speeding down Robert Cahill Drive is a known joy riding activity. The drive is peaceful for a car ride through a park. But some cars use it to joy ride and speed up and down the hill. In the Spring, when motorcyclists are enthusiastic about firing up their bikes again, dirt bikes and mopeds can be heard ripping up and down that hill. During little kid flag football practice on the field at the base of Memorial Hill, people can watch cars often speeding up and down the hill.
A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Highway Superintendent Michael “Micky” Manzi for comment, and will update this article if a response is returned.
In A Little Beacon Blog’s recent series of articles on selfish, law-breaking driving that includes people crossing the double yellow line, going around school buses, crossing the white line, etc., this bumper sticker was spotted out in the wild. It reads: “Speed GPS Monitored. Thank You For Your PATIENCE”
Note that PATIENCE is in all caps.
At the beginning of the 2021/2022 the school year in September, Mayor Lee Kyriacou along with Police Chief Sands Frost announced that the Beacon Police Department will be implementing a Back-to-School Traffic Safety Campaign through the month of September. The announcement stated that the Police Department will "deploy increased traffic enforcement patrols at key locations to ensure that students of all ages are able to safely travel to and from school."
The announcement stressed that there "will be stepped up patrols, and tickets will be issued for violations including passing buses, speeding, not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks, making U-Turns on Main Street, and not obeying traffic control signal and devices."
School does continue after the initial first month, all the way into June. It is not known if this initiative has been continued into other months. A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the Beacon Police Department to find out, and to see if they keep data on and can release statistics on any enforcement of traffic violations, like U-Turns, crossing over the yellow or white lines, speeding, passing school buses, etc. If we get a response, this article will be updated.
nicole__tori: “Some a-hole crossed the double line today as a mini school bus was coming the opposite way. It was a very close call as they passed over the double yellow played chicken with the school bus and then cut the the driver off in front of them. Small oldish gray car.”
wellnessformakers: “So true, I can’t believe how fast drivers go on Verplanck near the Middle School. Especially while so many students walk to school and have to cross such a busy road at the light without a crossing guard. What’s the rush?”
glassoverboard: “Not just Beacon. This happens every where. I was in Newburgh local road speed 30mph and a car went over the double sided line passed by only to stopped by the red light and I was behind me.”
Of course, with more enforcement comes personal encounters with police and citizens. After 2021's racial reawakening, those encounters have more scrutiny on equal enforcement, and communication style during an encounter.
Finding people’s stories of how some people drive like they are the only people on the road is very easy. Lots of people see impatient maniacs every day. Just today, while driving from Beacon to Glenham at 8:30am on Old Glenham Road, a small SUV was driving the speed limit, followed by a black sedan, who wasn’t having it. The black sedan was tailing the small SUV, who casually just kept driving like a normal person. Presumably to Glenham Elementary school (which, it ended up, was where they were going).
The sedan couldn’t take the 30 mph speed limit, and passed the small SUV by crossing the double yellow line. This was just before passing Laby’s Pizzeria, where the sedan raced to turn right, after passing the small SUV across the double yellow line.
The small SUV also turned right seconds later, albeit calmly. The two vehicles drove down the road, and the sedan had stopped to turn right at the beautiful creek view over the bridge across from Petticoat Lane. The sedan who broke the law had gained no time by passing the small SUV, who by then, turned left down Petticoat Lane, and into the Glenham Elementary kid-drop off, which has its own situation and requires total 100% acceptance of calmness to surrender as cars and buses sit in the road, waiting to advance. Morning coffee of course, makes people a little jumpy. Self-summoned zen-vibes are key to a golden morning.
Common Double Yellow Line Crossing In Beacon
Just don’t. Drivers breaking the law and endangering others are locals and visitors. Here’s what happens on the regular on Main Street. There are often no painted lines on the back-roads and side streets. But this even happens near Sargent Elementary school on soccer mornings as parents rush to get to a game, and drive around each other.
Pedestrian Crossing: A person is crossing the street at a cross-walk. A car has stopped. The car behind it beeps at the car in front of it, angry that the first car is letting the person pass. Sometimes, that second vehicle drives around the first stopped vehicle, and crosses the double yellow line.
School Bus Stops For Kids: The Beacon City School District routes buses to drop off kids at street corners. Could be a group of kids, or one kid. On Cross and Verplanck, at 4:10pm, a bus was approaching one such stop. The bus driver put on the yellow flashers, put out the red stop sign, and a tiny Pre-K kid started to step down the stairs to get off the bus. Two cars drove around the bus as this happened. No cars stopped going the other way. It was chaotic as not one person recognized that the bus was letting out a child. Rather, they recognized, but didn’t care. Normally at that time, a weekday at 4:10pm on Verplanck, the traffic is local.
Parallel Parking: It’s annoying to stop and wait for someone to park. Even worse, it is for the person doing the parallel parking, if they can’t do it. Their nerves are on over-drive, as they feel the pressure from the people waiting behind them, and sometimes in the other oncoming lane if their car is nosing over the double yellow. Which is why passing them - whizzing by them in anger - is even worse. Don’t pass people over the double yellow line when they are parallel parking. Just wait. I know it’s hard. I do it too.
Even WORSE: Is if a person is waiting for the parker to finish parking, and the car behind is so impatient, that they jut around both cars to pass on the double yellow. If you do this, you have a greater chance of hitting a person who took that moment of paused traffic to cross the street. Get patience. Don’t go around stopped cars.
Readers Respond
Some readers have responded with their own stories recently:
nicole__tori: “Some a-hole crossed the double line today as a mini school bus was coming the opposite way. It was a very close call as they passed over the double yellow played chicken with the school bus and then cut the the driver off in front of them. Small oldish gray car.”
wellnessformakers: “So true, I can’t believe how fast drivers go on Verplanck near the Middle School. Especially while so many students walk to school and have to cross such a busy road at the light without a crossing guard. What’s the rush?”
glassoverboard: “Not just Beacon. This happens every where. I was in Newburgh local road speed 30mph and a car went over the double sided line passed by only to stopped by the red light and I was behind me.”
The temperature is rising for people driving in Beacon, as tolerance from those walking, biking, or wheel-chairing is waning as drivers speed and disregard simple traffic rules. Reckless, selfish driving is on the fault of both local Beaconites, those from Hudson Valley communities passing through or doing business here, as well as visitors from further south who have their New York City vibes on when driving. As a former driver and resident of New York City, driving in order to survive the streets of NYC requires speeding and aggression. However, that style does not fly in Beacon or any town.
Locals need to listen up also. Driving from Beacon to Glenham on a daily basis has been an eye opening experience. Driving in Beacon has always been stressful, as people pass on the left (around a double yellow line) as well as around the white line. Crossing the white line is illegal, as confirmed by a Beacon police officer answering intake calls at the desk.
On Business Route 52, just outside of Beacon past the dog park, tire station, and the expansive Healey dealership, passing on the right is common if someone is turning left into the Family Dollar, for instance. However, people commonly walk on the narrow sidewalk or road space in between the white line. These people include senior residents with rolling walkers, senior residents rolling themselves in wheelchairs, students, employees of the Healey dealership, and anyone out for a leisurely stroll along a busy road.
Crossing the white line is illegal. Everyone does it - as it is very apparent on 9D on the way out of Beacon into Wappingers and up to Poughkeepsie. When passing the Chelsea apartments, if someone is turning left anywhere along 9D, people usually cross over the white line to pass.
To not pass a car waiting to turn left usually results in impatient drivers behind one’s vehicle, who will pass the white line from further behind, thereby surprising other stopped vehicles.
It is unknown how to stop this behavior, since usually people don’t blatantly break the law in front of a parked police car stationed there to enforce the law.
The son of a Korean War veteran, John Yoon, approached 3 local veterans organizations with the idea to show appreciation for Korean War Veterans in the Hudson Valley. John’s father, Seung-Kook Yoon, who is 95 years old, was recently honored in Pyung Taek, Korea by the U.S. Army Camp Humphrey with a dedication of the main gate to him, named “Yoon Gate.”
The veteran organizations - Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 666, American Legion Post 203, and Marine Corps League Det. 861 thought having a dinner was a good idea, and hosted one on November 14, 2021 which was open to 100 people who RSVPed.
Said Harold Delamater, Commander of VFW Post 666 to the Beacon Free Press: “Seventy-one years have passed since the Korean War began and only a cease fire has been signed. Those veterans who engaged in combat with North Korea and the veterans who currently protect South Korea mean the difference between freedom and oppression.
As for an experience of a Korean veteran’s experience who served along side U. S. troops, John elaborated on his father to the Beacon Free Press as reported by Kristine Coulter:
“My father Seung-Kook Yoon is 95 years old and fought at the outbreak of the Korean War as a liaison officer with [U.S. troops from] Task Force Smith that had landed on Korean soil. Task Force Smith consisted of 540 soldiers of infantry and artillery, and was the first line of defense at Osan, Korea, and was important in military terms as a primary line of defense to interrupt North Korean troops heading south,” explained Yoon. “I was born in Seoul, Korea in 1961, eight years after the fighting had ended in 1953. Growing up, I remember my father telling me how difficult it was fighting back the North Korean tanks, how close he was of fighting together with the U.S. troops, and of his deep appreciation for the Korean War veterans who came to Korea to fight for its freedom.”
John continued: “As a Korean American living locally in the Hudson Valley, I look forward to the Korean War Veterans Appreciation Dinner as a way to express the deep appreciation we have to the soldiers who came to Korea 70 years ago and sacrificed fighting for the freedom of South Korea. People call the Korean War the ‘Forgotten War,’ but I would like to say it is not forgotten war as we the Korean people and its descendants remember vividly the valuable blood, tears and sacrifice that was made during the war.”
Up Next…
A Veterans lunch is scheduled for Sat November 20th beginning at 1:00pm at the Veterans Memorial Bldg Hall, at 413 Main St, Beacon. Look forward to ribs and all the fixins. Following lunch, at 2:30pm the Ballet Arts Studio dancers will perform in the hall. There is no charge for either event and all Veterans are encouraged to attend. RSVP 845-337-6509 or HGD1025@aol.com
The “Turkey on Every Table” initiative from I Am Beacon, Key Food, and Salem Tabernacle has opened for collection again, hoping to reach families as it did last year. Created in 2014 by I Am Beacon, the three organizations came together last year during the pandemic when soup kitchens could not operate, and pre-packaged and delivered bags of dinner meals for people to cook.
Said Ginger Dandreano, Administrative Assistant for Salem Tabernacle when ALBB asked how the distribution will work: “All the food will come already packaged in a grocery bag. The idea is to make this as easy for people as possible, especially for those who may be walking. The bag will consist of a full Thanksgiving dinner.”
Pickup points will be Salem Tabernacle (7 Delavan Ave), Open Arms Food Pantry (based at Beacon’s Recreation Department at 25 Center Street) in Beacon, NY.
How The Organizations Coordinate The Food Giving
Ginger elaborated to ALBB: “The turkeys are being purchased by Salem Tabernacle. Salem Tabernacle does a yearly fundraiser that raises money for this outreach. So far this year, $5,000 has been raised. Key Food in Beacon also contributes with a fundraiser that helps offset the cost. Salem Tabernacle purchases the food from Key Food at cost. I Am Beacon also promotes the Key Food fundraiser and creates awareness amongst the community. I Am Beacon also has provided the connections with Open Arms Food Pantry and St. Andrews. Key Food is a generous, community oriented store that makes this complicated process much easier. They get the food at cost and also refrigerate the food up until the day of distribution. I Am Beacon and Key Food truly make this possible.”
How People In Need Can Sign Up For The Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Dinner Signup at Salem Tabernacle.
Families or Friends can call Salem Tabernacle at 845-831-0114 Mon-Th from 10am-3:30pm. They can also go to www.salemtabernacle.com and follow the prompts to sign up (or click here directly). You can sign up yourself or sign up a family in need. Available while supplies last, but you must sign up. Their goal is to feed 100 families this year.
This year the drive is heating up again, with collections being made at Key Food at checkout. You can specify that your donation of food or cash/credit card be for this project at the checkout counter. Volunteer opportunities are available with Salem Tabernacle for those looking to pack bags, deliver them to destinations, and facilitate getting them into hands.
Requested Items Include:
Peanut Butter Jars, Jelly Jars, 16-Pack hot Chocolate Mixes, Canned Yams, Mac and Cheese Boxes, Stuffing Boxes, 1LB Rice Bags, 14OZ Canned Vegetables, 3LB Apple Bags, Baked Pies, Reusable Grocery Bags
People Working With The Organizations
I Am Beacon is run by brother and sister Rueben Simmons, Brook Simmons, and Brandon Lillard. Open Arms Food Pantry is managed by Kenya Gadsen, who served on Beacon’s Board of Education years ago and was of the few Black board members serving. Kenya moved to Fishkill, and currently serves as an elected Councilwoman for the Town of Fishkill. Key Food is a franchise run by the Dabashi and Said families.
Shopping and dining took a a turn outdoors when the pandemic hit and fresh air became a top priority in real estate. Outdoor fair weather markets had already been outdoors, but they were still impacted by the shutdown. Through the cold months, shoppers and vendors became more resilient to being outside in almost any weather, hopeful to continue making the sale (vendors) and finding treasures to keep or give as gifts (shoppers).
This November, the Beacon Flea is still open which is unusual, as it tended to end in the Fall. According to the Beacon Flea’s website, the open air, fair weather market will remain open through December.
The Beacon Flea is particular about who can vend, and encourages people to refresh their inventory to keep the treasure hunt fresh. The fee structure is a bit different this year, and is based on the size of the vendor’s car, which now must be parked in the market at the vendor’s spot. This layout has not altered the shopping experience at all, as people still have plenty of room in the isles. If anything, the shopping experience is cozier for each vendor, as more of an environment is created by the vehicle. Those interesting in vending can learn more here, and the Beacon Flea’s founder Emma Dewing will be in touch.
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A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
