A Silent Night Getting Closer :: Retail Therapy Guide 12/17/2021
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Active Cases Of COVID-19 High At Holiday Time - 1,487 (almost double the summer high of 800s)
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In case you hadn’t checked he Dutchess County COVID-19 Dashboard lately, the number of Active Cases of the virus has almost doubled since the summer, when alarm bells were sounding and mask recommendations were coming back. The number of Active Cases in Dutchess County as of today is 1,487 with a percentage of 6.02%, which is comparatively a higher percentage than officials have been comfortable with.
There are currently 68 hospitalizations, which is a relatively high number for Dutchess County. As for Active Cases in Beacon, there are 65. Again, a high number historically for Beacon. In East Fishkill, there are 213.
A Beaconite’s Experience Testing Positive
A family of 4 who got COVID-19 a few weeks ago (two vaccinated adults who were not boosted yet and two children under age 11 who had not received vaccination yet) took a home test to confirm results. They called Dutchess County to report in the numbers, and were told by Dutchess County that the county would not be counting them in the Dashboard. The reasoning, the Beaconite says the county representative gave them, was because the diagnosis may limit what kind of medical attention they could seek, aside from the ER. Unclear why that recommendation was made, since telehealth appointments are available when one has COVID-19, and prescriptions can be delivered by local pharmacies like Vogel or Beacon Wellness. Unless Dutchess County is referring to unrelated medical appointments, in which case that would indicate that the county may be OK with people testing positive visiting medical centers in an active state of COVID-19.
That means this family of 4 would not be in Beacon’s count.
State Of Active Cases In Beacon City Schools
Active cases of students and staff in the Beacon City School District continues daily, with about 6-8 cases reported to district families each day. Beacon has not shut down schools, but does contact trace people connected to those who test positive. According to one family of a student who was in the contact tracing lineage twice in the same week by two different exposures, and who is vaccinated and was not showing symptoms, the district advised them not to get tested. The Beacon City School District does offer the Test To Stay Program, which provides free rapid testing to those needing to quarantine, to let them return to school sooner. The free testing kit program is federally funded and administered through Dutchess County.
A few weeks before Governor Hochul declared her indoor mask mandate for all spaces that do not require proof of vaccination, Board of Education Member Anthony White asked to have a consideration about reducing the mask mandate in schools during a recent Board of Education Meeting. The current mask mandate in schools remains, and is a New York State requirement, as Beacon’s Superintendent commonly reminds parents and teachers who are against the mask mandate and present their opinions during Board of Education meetings.
How Is Dutchess County Responding To The Governor’s Renewed Mask Mandate?
Dutchess County is not enforcing Governor Hoschul’s mask mandate, as reported by the Highlands Current. Nor is Putnam County (Cold Spring). Both County Executives are Republican. According to the article, Molinaro said on Facebook that the “requirement is ‘unenforceable’ and ‘will become confrontational.’ The county will not ‘escalate tension or conflict or further burden our local small businesses.’” Dutchess County continues to promote vaccine and booster clinics, in addition to testing locations. Follow their Facebook page for notices.
According to the Highlands Current: “New York reported 18,000 new cases on Wednesday (Dec. 15), nearly 9x the 2,143 from Aug. 1. Although upstate counties are seeing the most infections, cases have also increased significantly in Dutchess, Putnam and other Mid-Hudson counties as the cold weather drives people indoors. Dutchess County’s 231 cases on Wednesday was its highest one-day total since Jan. 11, and Putnam County’s 84 cases on Dec. 10 its highest tally since Jan. 23.”
COVID-19 In Sports
The NFL is having an outbreak, despite it’s apparent 95% vaccination rate. Unknown if that statistic includes any recent boosters that need administered. According to a Washington Post article, a majority of players testing positive are asymptomatic.
Booster Cycles
The Beacon City School District has offered a second vaccination clinic, which offers pediatric vaccinations and boosters for those on cycle.
To learn where to get a booster for yourself, visit vaccines.gov and type in your zip code for an easy and local location. Beacon Wellness and Drug World in Cold Spring are locally owned vaccination locations. Sun River Health on Henry Street is also offering, as is Walmart and other big stores.
Over $111,000 Unplanned City of Beacon Dollars Spent On "Employee Discipline" Matter(s) - What's Going On?
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According to locals living in Beacon for decades, the City of Beacon is not known for firing city employees. When the you, you might find out by clicking refresh on the latest FOILs that were published by the City of Beacon. You certainly will hear about new hires and promotions by the City of Beacon during their weekly City Council Meetings, where City Councilmembers usually need to vote on a hire or promotion.
But if anyone is being fired, you will not hear about it. Such decisions are made in private during something called “Executive Session” which is a private meeting with the City Council that the public has no access to.
To seek information, just ask several people who know people who have worked for the City of Beacon over the past few decades. In these stories, you may hear stories of a white employee(s) testing positive for marijuana before it was legal to smoke in public or banned in Beacon’s public parks. You may hear stories of a vehicle accident that was never reported. Or of a gun casually being brought into a department destination before Beacon banned personal guns from being brought onto city property during work hours last year. You might see bent metal on the garage door of new Highway Garage, indicating that a vehicle backed or rammed into it, but that a collision report never made it into the books. On background, ALBB has seen a few photos, and heard from people with knowledge of such examples.
During the 12/13/2021 Monday Night Workshop Meeting, the City Administrator Chris White put forth to the City Council an approval to move $45,900 more dollars from an unrelated area of the budget - a real estate area of the budget - into a legal section of the budget to cover “associated employee discipline beyond the budget to date,” as noted in the proposal included in the Agenda packet for the City Council to review for the record.
This is not the first transfer of thousands of unplanned dollars for “Employee Discipline” during the pandemic, which has resulted in a nation-wide labor shortage and highlight of poor working conditions that may include emotional abuse in several industries. The first noted transfer of unplanned dollars was $66,418 to “Employee Discipline” from “CSEA Union Matters/FIRE IAFF Union Matters,” which ALBB wrote about here. This brings the total of unplanned spending on “Employee Discipline” to over $111,000 by the City of Beacon for 2021 alone.
The second noted proposed transfer tonight of $45,900 to “Employee Discipline” is being transferred from “In REM Sale of Property.”
What is an REM Sale of Property? An “REM Sale of Property” means, as City Administrator Chris White explained during the meeting, that when the City of Beacon takes control of a property in Beacon usually due to inability to pay, the City of Beacon can then resell that property and keep the profit. In 2020, there was a handful of those properties. In 2021, Chris noted, there was one such property. Therefore, they had real estate cash sitting that apparently had not been earmarked yet.
Who Or What Is The Employee Discipline Of Over $111,000 In 2021 For?
Reuben Simmons, former Highway Superintendent and current employee of the City of Beacon in the Highway Department.
Photo Credit: LinkedIn
The City of Beacon will not answer this question if ALBB were to ask, as they have a blanket policy of not answering to “personnel matters.” However, there is at least one employee who has had at least 8 Employee Discipline Hearings this year, and has been on forced paid and unpaid leave for the entirety of 2021: Reuben Simmons. ALBB sat in on at least one of those hearings.
Reuben Simmons, longtime employee in the Highway Department since 2002, and a Beaconite who is an involved member of the community, was Beacon’s former Highway Superintendent (ie lead position in that department, listen to ALBB’s podcast about it here) and has been the subject of Employee Discipline for quite some time. Starting in 2018, his case has taken unusual twists and turns. Including the dissolving of his job as Highway Superintendent based on a Civil Service technicality of the incorrect job title.
Beacon’s current head of the Highway Department, Superintendent of Streets Michael “Mickey” Manzi, who used to serve under Reuben as a staff member, replaced Reuben as head of the department after Reuben’s job title dissolved. According to documents that ALBB has seen, Michael “Mickey” Manzi continues to find fault in Reuben’s past work performance, and writes him up on charges that the City Administrator Chris White justifies for Reuben’s paid or unpaid leave status.
Those charges resulted in at least two 30-day periods of unpaid leave in 2021. Otherwise, Reuben has been kept on paid leave, but according to a letter sent to him by City Administrator Chris White, cannot come to public spaces in Beacon or talk to fellow employees within the working hours of the work day, until his disciplinary hearings are done. ALBB has attended one such hearing at the invitation of Reuben and received the Zoom link from the mediation attorney Jay Siegel, Esq., but was asked to leave when the City of Beacon objected to any reporters or members of the public attending.
What Are These “Charges” Justifying Unpaid Leave, Paid Leave, and Over $111,000 In Unplanned “Employee Discipline” Money?
Labor Attorney for the City of Beacon, Lance Klein, who is going against city employee Reuben Simmons.
Photo Credit: Keane and Beane
ALBB has seen the documentation of charges sent to Reuben, attempting to justify the “discipline,” which ALBB has learned amounts to accusations of things like talking to people for too long outside while on the job, or taking too long of a lunch.
Lunch for the Highway Department employees, ALBB is told, is 30 minutes. Which really just gives enough time to order and go from Mr. V’s and eat it in a Highway Department truck.
Witnesses have been called to at least 8 hearings deliberating Reuben’s case, where the City’s attorney Lance Klein of Keane and Beane questions those people included in the charges. Some of those witnesses have denied the charges and length of time that Reuben has spoken to them while outside on the job, or the logistics of a long lunch time that deserves penalty.
Current Beacon Superintendent of Streets, Michael “Mickey” Manzi. Writes up charges against Reuben resulting in new Unpaid Leave statuses for Reuben as Reuben’s hearings to defend himself progress.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon
One example of a disputed charge against Reuben is allegedly talking to a member of the public in Memorial Park (which is also the location of a Highway Department shed) for 2 hours. The witness for this charge allegedly denied it during the hearing when questioned by Lance the attorney.
If Reuben and this member of the public did speak for any number of moments, then a policy of any Highway Department employee speaking to any member of the public while out on public city streets, sidewalks, or parks would be in violation of some policy in the City of Beacon, would seem odd, counter-intuitive of an inclusive community and unproductive. Members of the public are not allowed to speak to city employees while on the job? Or risk getting written up if on the wrong side of a supervisor? Those supervisors being Michael “Mickey” Manzi and David Way.
In addition to speaking to members of the public in public, Reuben has also been accused of taking an extended lunch break. Lunch breaks for the City of Beacon are 30 minutes. Any moment after that due to long lunch lines or traffic could qualify as a violation equal to this treatment.
Members Of The Public Begin Speaking Out
City of Beacon Employee for the Highway Department, Reuben Simmons, speaks out about his communication with the City of Beacon. Reuben is currently on a rotation of forced unpaid and paid leave by the City of Beacon as they hold “Employee Discipline” hearings against him. There have been at last 8 Employee Discpline hearings so far, and a total of $111,000 of unplanned city budget money transfered in the City of Beacon budget to cover unplanned “Employee Discipline” legal expenses.
After years of silence, Reuben spoke out at a recent City Council meeting, addressing the elephant in the room - himself. He spoke directly and was well spoken in his thoughts, as he was when presenting city street status updates to the public and City Council during his time as Highway Superintendent from 2017-2018.
The City Council often meets in private Executive Sessions discussing “Personnel” and “Litigation” and have the legal protection of not disclosing who or what they are talking about.
Reuben - who is Black and is one of the few Black employees in the public works departments - has also been accused of speaking loudly to his supervisor Michael “Mickey” Manzi while voluntarily reporting an accident Reuben had in a City vehicle. According to multiple sources, Mickey, the Highway Department’s Superintendent of Streets who used to be Reuben’s employee years ago, found Reuben’s tone uncomfortable. Therefore, Mickey added the tone to the charges justifying unpaid leave.
This issue with “tone” is despite rumors from multiple people - in a generational age range - that several in the Beacon public works departments speak gruffly to each other on a regular basis, possibly even using racial slurs. Those direct mentions have not yet come to light yet in any public confessions.
It is notable that when Reuben was first placed on unpaid leave in January 2021 for the pursuit of these charges, the City of Beacon unveiled it’s Diversity Statement months prior in October 2020, where Beacon’s newly hired HR Director, Gina Basile, noted there was tension in the Highway Department.
During the City Council Meeting on December 6, 2021, longtime hawk of city government and regular participant in Public Comment, Theresa Kraft, spoke up. Not naming names, she made allusions: “Beacon is a strong, supportive community. It always has been, and always will be. We watch out for our neighbors. But enforcement is key [referencing to the spike in unlawful driving in Beacon and the recent death on Main Street and Teller Avenue]. I question how much the city wasted on litigation of an employee who took too long of a lunch break. I see at the end of tonight's agenda there is an executive Session for Personal and Litigation. Perhaps that alone could have paid to ease the food insecurity throughout Beacon for a few years. Holding a grudge is holding all Beacon residents hostage.” You can listen to her full speech here.
Background On Reuben’s Unpaid/Paid Leave - An Additional Expense To The City Of Beacon
Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White, who authorized Reuben’s first round of 30-days of paid leave on Chris’ first week on the job.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon
Starting in January 2021, Reuben was placed on unpaid leave for more than one session of a 30-day unpaid leave status by City Administrator Chris White. Unpaid leave is difficult at any time, but for a Highway Department employee, January is the gravy month. It is the month they make overtime pay in plowing days during blizzards.
When not on unpaid leave, Reuben remains on paid leave. Unless new charges are filed against him, and he gets a new letter from City Administrator Chris White stating that he is on unpaid leave again.
The Union protecting and advocating for Highway Department Employees is CSEA. In January, Beacon’s representative and president was Paula Becker, who works as an employee in the Finance Department for the City of Beacon with Susan Tucker, Beacon’s Finance Director who signs off on these budget recommendations. Paula recently received a promotion and raise from the City of Beacon.
When ALBB called Paula to confirm Reuben’s unpaid status back when it started in January 2021, City Administrator Chris White emailed ALBB to say that ALBB should not contact any staff with questions, and to only address him. After publishing an article on this matter, City Administrator Chris White declined to answer any more questions from ALBB on any matter.
Listen to Reuben explain the start of his employment situation on ALBB’s podcast recorded in July 2020 here. His employment disputes started in 2018.
Cameras Coming To Some School Buses - Dutchess County Launches Big Push To Ticket Drivers Using Camera Footage
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Dutchess County is tired of people defying traffic safety laws as locals and tourists drive around a school bus, or don’t stop at all if coming from the opposite direction. County Executive Marcus Molinaro’s Office sent out a press release this week stating that Dutchess County had launched a “School Bus Safety Program,” which is a codified partnership with a company, BusPatrol, who mounts cameras and GPS trackers onto several angles of a school bus in order to see which car is breaking the law. A photo is taken and a ticket is mailed to the owner of the vehicle by BusPatrol. “The program is entirely funded by violators over a five-year term” according to the press release.
“ If you illegally pass a school bus, risking children’s safety, be prepared to pay the penalty.”
“Passing a stopped school bus is more than illegal, it’s dangerous and threatens the lives of young students every day,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. “Dutchess County will not tolerate such reckless conduct, and today’s partnership with BusPatrol codifies our intent to keep students safe: If you illegally pass a school bus, risking children’s safety, be prepared to pay the penalty.”
50,000 Drivers Illegally Drive Around Stopped School Buses Every Day In NY State
According to the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, an estimated 50,000 motorists illegally pass stopped school buses every day in New York State, putting the lives and safety of children at risk, according to the press release.
In Beacon, groups of children or a single child is dropped off at locations around town organized by the school district’s Transportation Department. This means that rather than dropping a child off at their home, the buses make group drop offs at designated intersections around town.
A Little Beacon Blog researched one bus stop for Beacon City School children on Verplanck Avenue and Cross Street to observe vehicle behavior around the school bus stopping at this intersection. During that first attempt, as the large school bus approached the intersection to let off a child on Verplanck Avenue, the bus driver put on their blinking yellow lights and red bus sign to make a very large presence on Verplanck Avenue. Didn’t matter. At least 2 cars whizzed around the bus, despite the bus stopping at a stop sign. This means, that the drivers would have had to drive around the bus, and then not be able to encounter the stop sign, as the bus was stopped at it.
Several other cars from the oncoming direction never even slowed down. Picking up a toddler from the bus was chaotic, dangerous and windy from rushing cars. The bus driver looked extremely concerned as the child departed the bus into the arms of the parent.
Crossing Verplanck Avenue to get back to the resident’s home was a different difficult experience, as there is not a lot of space between the sidewalk and Verplanck Avenue, putting people and cars very close together on that street. Kids like to skip around after school, excited to be released from the classroom. Controlling a toddler on Verplanck Avenue is an undertaking.
When Will Ticketing Start?
The program is starting in the Pine Plains school district at first. The Pine Plains Central School District is the first in Dutchess County to implement the program across its entire fleet of 38 school buses; several other local districts are expected to join the program in the coming year.
Dr. Martin Handler, Pine Plains Schools Superintendent, said, “The safety of our students is a top priority, and the Pine Plains Central School District is eager to protect students from motorists who flout the law and illegally drive around a stopped school bus. Pine Plains is proud to be the first local school district to take part in the County’s partnership with BusPatrol and take an active role in protecting our students. We are certain this partnership will improve student safety, and it has the potential to save lives.”
Dutchess County says that ticketing will commence with an initial warning period: Effective December 13, 2021, motorists who illegally pass a stopped Pine Plains school bus equipped with these cameras will receive a warning until Jan. 12, 2022, said the County Executive’s Office. Starting Jan. 13, 2022, drivers who do so will receive a citation and fine in the mail. If your spouse or partner frequently defies traffic laws in your car, it may be time to not let them drive your car anymore, if the title is in your name. Tickets are issued by camera, checked by BusPatrol, and mailed to the title owner.
How Many Buses Are Getting The Cameras?
According to the press release, more than 1,000 school buses across Dutchess County have access to advanced safety technology at zero cost to local taxpayers, including stop-arm cameras to help enforce traffic laws and educate motorists on the dangers of passing school buses.
In terms of the Beacon City School District opting in, Dutchess County responded to ALBB’s questions gauging Beacon’s interest: “The County sent an email to the district superintendent in Beacon on November 8, 2021. Prior to that, the Deputy County Executive talked with the Beacon superintendent about the program. The Beacon City School District is interested, but has not yet opted into the program.”
How The Camera System Works For Traffic Safety
In addition to stop-arm cameras, school districts have access to additional safety technology including:
Cloud-managed, 360-degree safety cameras (interior, windshield, rearview and sideload) to provide a full view of activity surrounding the school bus;
Emergency response solutions to enable student transportation, school, and law enforcement officials to respond immediately; and
GPS, routing and telemetry solutions to see where buses are located at any given time.
The technology, installation and maintenance of all hardware and software included in the BusPatrol Student Safety Platform are provided at no cost to the school district and taxpayers. The program is entirely funded by violators over a five-year term.
Jean Souliere, CEO and Founder of BusPatrol, said in the press release, “Our safety programs are helping to promote a safer driving culture across the state of New York. We want to create a reflex in drivers, so that every time they see a big yellow bus on the road, they slow down and prepare to stop. That simple action could help save the life of a child.”.
Volunteers Needed For Vaccination Clinic From Beacon City Schools Thursday 12/16/2021
/The Beacon City School District is hosting another COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic on Thursday, December 16th, 2021 from 4-6pm in the Beacon High School. The district has once again partnered with the team from Village Apothecary.
The pediatric vaccine and all other doses and boosters (including the booster for 16+) for students and adults will be available. Parents are instructed to bring proof of age paperwork for their child.
Attendees can sign up here: https://hipaa.jotform.com/213463662501147
Volunteers Needed
During a Board of Education Meeting in November 2021, Superintendent Landahl said that the district would like to offer more vaccination clinics, but getting volunteers was difficult.
Volunteers would help people with the paperwork and help keep things moving, he stated in an email to the district. Volunteers need to come to the Beacon High School by 3:45 if possible.
If you are interested in volunteering, email Vickie Jackson at jackson.v@beaconk12.org and she will confirm back to you via email. If you cannot make this one, email her to be added to an interest list for future vaccination clinics.
UPDATE: Crosswalk Signal At Teller/Fishkill Avenue Does Show WALK Sign, But Not STOP; Button Push Required
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UPDATE: The white WALK signal does show up, if the button is pressed to activate it. However, the red STOP hand does not display, nor do the countdown numbers.
After publishing the article that the crosswalk signal was out at Teller/Fishkill Avenue and Main Street, which is across the street from where a woman was killed by a Jeep Wrangler turning left while correctly crossing that intersection, a mini-ALBB reporter pounded the pavement with her mama to run different tests on the crosswalk signal, to see how it was behaving on a Sunday shopping day.
Different test scenarios revealed that the white WALK signal did display if the button was pushed on the crosswalk signal box located on a post several feet behind the sidewalk curb. The red STOP hand did not display at all, nor did the red countdown numbers. The verbal indicator voice did work at the signal cross box, signalling the person to WAIT! or to walk.
The video below shows the behavior of the crosswalk signal, as the mini-ALBB reporter explains how it is supposed to work. The editor has made a note not to cut off her daughter while speaking.
Beacon Recreation's Hoodies For Good Features Leman's Truck - Interview WIth Leman
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The City of Beacon Recreation Department, led by Director Mark Price and support staff Heidi Harrison and Nate Smith, started a hoodie fundraiser last year, and has kicked off its second year this month. Proceeds will go to the Rombout Middle School Washington DC Trip Scholarship Fund.
This year, the Recreation Department wanted to get a little wild with it. Instead of featuring their city logo on the hoodies, they decided to pursue the style that features something iconic in Beacon. They chose longtime Beacon local Leman, driver of the truck with a seemingly homemade metal container on the back that is very identifiable in Beacon, and is usually in the right place of need at the right time. The Recreation Department partnered with Beacon local artist Daniel Weise, who has produced such art before for fundraisers.
Said the Beacon Recreation Department: “This truck and its owner are known to spread the good wherever they go!! It's been rolling the streets of Beacon for decades and in that time, helped countless people with every turn of the wheel.”
The hoodies start at $47, and $10 of each sale will be donated to the Rombout Middle School Washinton DC Trip scholarship fund. The Recreation Department printed a very limited run, some sizes of which have already sold out, despite a December 17th cutoff given by the Recreation Department's Director Mark Price, who goes by BugChucker76 in Instagram, who was reporting in the inventory count as it happened.
Leman driving his truck, “Snoopy,” which he uses for work helping people haul and move things as they need it.
About Leman And His Truck, “Snoopy”
Leman can be seen everywhere, from neighborhood streets to the Transfer Station to Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverside Park for Beacon Hoops camp, and more. He says that the department approached him for permission to use his truck’s iconic likeness for the fundraiser. Surprised, he said he wasn’t expecting it, and said he is “happy to along with it” to help out. He said he is looking forward to seeing the sweatshirts.
Leman showing a snoopy card he received from someone. He ponders where to put it in or on his truck, which has named “Snoopy.”
Did Leman build the truck himself? Turns out he bought it from his brother-in-law, who insisted he call it “Snoopy.” To this day, people leave random Snoopy trinkets in or on his truck as gestures of good-will. His truck is the vehicle for his business, which is helping people move and haul things. All business is conducted through his flip phone, and he prefers no email and prefers no texts. If you need him, you can flag him down, or call once you get his number and into his rotation. He also prefers to only go by his first name.
Leman’s Message For Safe Driving
Being in Beacon’s streets often, Leman wanted to be sure to get the word out about a few traffic safety issues:
Reduce Speed Limit On Main Street to 25mph. “We went down to City Hall to ask them to reduce the speed limit from 30mph to 25mph,” he told ALBB while interviewing for this story. He and others think the speed limit is too fast. While answers at the City Hall level indicate that this issue is at the state level, with the 30mph limit not being able to change. Councilmembers Dan Amar-Blair and Terry Nelson are passionate about lowering the speed limit, and Councilmember Dan has continued raising legal reasons to be able lower the speed limit, stating that the “state allows surgical decisions.” During City Court Judge Timothy Pagones’ reelection campaign, Leman donated his truck to be used as a moving billboard for the relection effort. Leman recalls talking to Judge Pagones about the speed limit: “Judge Pagones said that he has been getting a lot of complaints about it.”
Pedestrians Have The Right Of Way at Intersections and Crosswalks. Leman sees people all of the time crossing the street. According to New York State, the pedestrian has the right of way to cross at an intersection, even if there is no marked crosswalk. When he is driving, he is known to stop for people to cross, and encourages people who are standing and waiting to cross. If there is no marked crosswalk, New York State says: “If there are no crosswalks, the safest place for pedestrians to cross the road is at an intersection. Motorists have the right of way at all locations other than intersections and marked crosswalks.”
Learn more about how to participate in this year’s Hoodies For Good featuring Leman’s truck, fundraising for Rombout Middle School’s Washington DC Trip here.
As for learning how to hire Leman, you’ll just need to flag him down safely :)
Indeed, Crosswalk Signal Has Been Out Across From Intersection Of Recent Pedestrian Death On Main Street
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A woman was struck and killed by a car at the opposite side of this intersection - Teller Avenue and Main Street. Pictured here is the opposite side of the street - Fishkill Avenue and Main Street, where readers of ALBB have reported that they have noticed the crosswalk sign being out for at least a week, perhaps longer.
UPDATE 12/12/2021 3:30pm: The red hand STOP light seems to be out. However, the white WALK person does turn on *if* you press the crosswalk button. But the button for this location is not at the corner as it is at other corners. To access this signal button, one must back up quite a few feet if they walked past it. So, if a person doesn’t know to back up and press that button, the crosswalk WALK won’t turn on. Thus, the red countdown numbers won’t turn on, if they only initiate when the white WALK signal is showing. Read the update here and see the video of how the signal is behaving.
After the woman died of her injuries while crossing Teller Avenue near the Yankee Clipper Diner in accordance with the crosswalk signal after being hit by a Jeep Wrangler turning left from Main Street onto Teller Avenue, readers wrote into A Little Beacon Blog via public Instagram comments that the crosswalk signal on the opposite side of Main Street, which would be Fishkill Avenue near the Valero gas station, has been out for some time. Their comments were made 5 days ago, and still the light is out, with no markings or indications that it is broken.
Additionally, the audio crosswalk signal sign that accompanies this signal - which speaks “Wait!” and names the road that the person is signaled to cross - indicates that the pedestrian is signaled to cross Teller Avenue. However, on that side of Main Street, the road is called Fishkill Avenue. The green street sign says Fishkill Avenue. A pedestrian unfamiliar with this nuance and common renaming of a road seemingly arbitrarily all over Beacon might be confused if they are relying on the audio call-out of a street name, if they knew they were standing at Fishkill Avenue and Main Street. ALBB has not tested the audio in the past, if this sign indeed speaks Teller or Fishkill. In writing, the white signal sign says Teller.
Who Is Responsible For Identifying A Broken Crosswalk Signal?
Often times, when items that need attention are brought up during public City Council Meetings, after months or years of neglect, councilmembers are known to say: “You must tell us, or we don’t know.”
They City of Beacon has what is called a Traffic Safety Committee. According to the city’s website: “The City of Beacon Traffic Safety Committee studies traffic conditions on streets and highways within the City. The Committee analyzes reports of accidents and recommends to the appropriate legislative bodies, departments or commissions such changes in roles, orders, regulations and existing law as the Committee may deem advisable.”
Who serves on that committee? According to the City’s website: “The Committee is comprised of five members: the Chief of Police, a Planning Board representative and three members appointed by the Mayor.”
According to Minutes posted for the monthly meetings of the Traffic Safety Committee, the following people make repeat appearances as attendees of the meeting:
Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis
Police Lieutenant Jason Walden
Superintendent of Streets Michael “Mickey” Manzi (this is the Highway Department)
Planning Board Representative Jill Reynolds (an artist who is a glassblower)
Beacon Resident Carolyn Glauda Bennett (a resident who wanted to be on the Traffic Safety Committee after witnessing at least 2 pedestrian accidents)
Traffic Safety Committee Secretary Collin Milone (this is the executive assistant to the Mayor)
Members of the public who have been approved to discuss a request that they made may be invited to present their case to the committee. A recent attendee has also been Stowe Boyde, representative of the Main Street Access Advisory Committee.
The Highway Department drives around on the streets of Beacon often, and is at times tasked with installing street signs, paving, clearing debris from storms, installing LED lights into city-owned light poles, etc. The Highway Department is led by Michael (Mickey) Manzi, in the position title known as Superintendent of Streets.
A person could try the following contact avenues to report in a signal outage:
Superintendent of Streets: mmanzi@beaconny.gov
Beacon’s current City Administrator Chris White: cwhite@beaconny.gov
Your Ward Representative: To find out which City Council Member represents you, click here.
Once you report something to any of these contacts, do keep a paper trail of it so that you can see if your message was relayed, and what was done. For instance, if you tell your City Councilmember about a traffic issue, the City Councilmember may report it to the Traffic Safety Committee, which may then be indicated in the meeting notes posted here. At that point, it is up to the Traffic Safety Committee to discuss it, and if appropriate, make a recommendation to the City Council to then discuss it and implement it.
Additionally, different roads are owned by different government entities. New York State may own a part of a road, the City of Beacon may own a part of a road, the Town of Fishkill may own part of a road. At times, a seemingly simple request can be tossed around like a hot potato.
Or a bad “how many ___ does it take to change a light bulb?” joke.
Bottom line: the signal is out, and someone died on the opposite corner while crossing the street for a signal that worked.
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Gift Wrapping Fundraiser From Greystone Features Designs From People With Autism - 12/11/2021
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People purchasing gifts from Beacon’s bustling boutique districts (see A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide here!), from the mountain to the river, have the opportunity to have them gift wrapped with specially designed gift wrap from individuals served by Greystone Programs, Inc., an organization “dedicated to supporting children, adults and families living with autism and other developmental disabilities,” according to their mission statement.
On Saturday, December 11th, from 11am-5pm at the Bank, the former Star of Bethlehem Church (who sold the building due to limited parking for their congregation) next to Bank Square Coffee House. The gift wrapping event is a fundraiser for Greystone, where people can pay to have their gifts wrapped in this designer paper, as well as browse artwork on the walls also created by individuals Greystone serves.
Other fundraising opportunities will be available, including a raffle, opportunities to experience the art on the walls, and donations made in any amount. Music will be playing, and light refreshments will be available.
Person Jumps In Front Of Train At Beacon Station Early Tuesday Afternoon 12/7/2021
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Picture of the train tracks along the Hudson River, formerly named the Muhheakunnuk by the Lenape.
Photo Credit: Twinkle
A Beaconite who needed to take the train to New York City for an audition was waiting at the bus stop for the free LOOP Bus at the Dummy Light on Beacon’s east end, which circles Beacon and a surrounding area from the train station, but the bus was late. She called the dispatcher to inquire and was told that the bus was being detained by the police at the Beacon train station. “There was a train partially in the station and a lot of police activity on the platform. Someone had jumped in front of the train,” the Beaconite told her Instagram family.
Texts began bubbling up as word spread about a person whose life ended on Tuesday early afternoon. Unconfirmed local sources who said they were standing near the person who jumped shared their experiences with each other in a local Facebook group. One train traveler who was waiting on the platform nearby to the person who jumped said that they saw the person, who they said looked like a young man with tattoo markings on his face, put something that looked like a passport onto the platform before jumping in front of the oncoming train. This detail is not confirmed.
UPDATE 11:25am 12/9/2021: MTA Media Relations has released the person’s name to A Little Beacon Blog as Douglas Drucker, age 36, from Ossining, NY.
The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp. (BVAC) confirmed on their Facebook page that they had responded to an emergency at the train station, saying: “Earlier today The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance was dispatched to a train vs pedestrian. Mental illness is a very serious disease. We just want you to know if you are feeling alone, you are not alone.”
A media spokesperson for the MTA Police confirmed the fatality of the individual, stating to ALBB: “At 1pm, the 12:40pm [train] from Poughkeepsie fatally struck an unauthorized male at the Beacon station.” The train was delayed for approximately 1 hour, and passengers transferred to the other platform to catch the next train, the spokesperson said.
The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp. (BVAC) wanted people to try to remember: “If you’re having a psychiatric emergency we urge you to please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Reach out to a friend or family member to assist you in seeking help. Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 or contact the Dutchess County Department of Mental Health & Hygiene. These are all 24 hours a day 365 days a year of help. Please, save and share this information. ** Your safety is important to us and we do care. But please know that this page is not consistently monitored. If you need immediate help, please call 911 or contact the numbers listed above. **”
Blessings to the individual and their family. And blessings to you if you are feeling extra troubled at this time. Go easy on yourself, and reach out to the hotlines and/or to someone you trust.
Friends & Businesses Report Drivers Defying Basic Driving Laws By Going Around Stopped Cars At Crosswalks
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The crosswalk at Zora Dora’s and Flora Good Times, where drivers headed eastbound (toward the mountain) increasingly go around cars in front of them who are stopped at the crosswalk to let a person pass.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
For this article, I am breaking the 4th wall and writing in the first person because this latest experience regarded my 9 year old son, but I know that business owners encounter their own near death experiences in Main Street daily. Therefore, two business contacts have been interviewed for this article, which you can read below.
Chronic Anti-Crosswalk Double Yellow Line Crossing Drivers
Willow Street and Main Street has become a regular spot for cars to do illegal U-Turns in, and now is a regular spot for people to drive around cars stopped at the crosswalk across from Zora Dora’s.
Cars coming from this direction (eastbound, toward the mountain) are increasingly going around cars in front of them who have stopped to let pedestrians cross the crosswalks.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Last Friday, a friend called to tell me that they had seen my son almost get hit by a car who had sped around them as they stopped at the crosswalk at Zora Dora’s to let my son cross. This behavior has increased at Willow Street and Main Street, which is where M+T Bank is.
My son was on his bike in the crosswalk at Zora Dora’s. He was correctly inched into the crosswalk on his bike to be seen. My friend stopped for him. The car behind my friend decided that he did not want to wait for a car who had stopped at a crosswalk, and he went around the law-abiding car on the left, crossing over the double yellow line illegally.
“He sped around me,” the good driver said. “Like, not even slowing down to pass with a blinker or anything. I put my arm out and blew my horn. The oncoming car went through the crosswalk too as your son was waiting to cross.”
Businesses Speak Out About “Reckless Free Range Drivers”
Not all drivers in Beacon are bad. Not all reckless drivers are tourists. Some are locals. We see you! Whoever you are, business owners see you too, as they try to do their jobs, and…live.
Beacon Bread is located at the end of Willow Street, and has a front row seat to constant U-Turning, and double yellow line crossing for impatient drivers. Kerry Soeller is the manager at Beacon Bread and Ziatun, and had this to say about her daily experience walking on Main Street to service both restaurants:
“Getting hit by a person passing a stopped car happens often to me at the Willow crosswalk and the Elm crosswalks SEVERAL times a day (I’m not joking, it’s excessive). ”
“Getting hit by a person passing a stopped car happens often to me at the Willow crosswalk and the Elm crosswalks SEVERAL times a day (I’m not joking, it’s excessive).
“I thought the new signage would help, but I think it takes eyes off the road, where people are trying to pop out slowly behind cars because one step out and you can get clipped regardless. I am even a nervous driver anticipating that step out by pedestrians.
“I can’t speak much for the rest of my team, but I walk between Beacon Bread and Ziatun sometimes 10 times a day. More by Ziatun, I’ve experienced a handful of passing cars that almost hit me while I’m crossing over the last two years. Not sure if they think the cars that stopped for me originally were maybe trying to parallel park. And that’s really frightening, especially if I am carrying food or equipment back and forth.
“I’m all for marking the crosswalks bolder/brighter so when you’re looking at the road in front of you, it’s visible someone may be crossing on a CROSSWALK lol.”
The City of Beacon was scheduled to repaint the crosswalks on Main Street, but canceled in October, citing rain. They had wanted to repave Main Street and repaint at the same time.
Corinne Bryson, the owner of Flora Good Times, is another example of someone who is on foot a lot, and encounters near misses. Just last month, as I was pulling out of Willow Street to turn left onto Main Street (always nerve wracking because it’s hard to time with cars coming in both directions, plus pedestrians in the crosswalk when turning left), I saw Corinne start to cross the street as I was pulling out. I stopped and waited for her, but she was giving serious side-eye to another vehicle. I thought her sight was set on me, so I reached out to apologize. Her response: “I was actually peeved the the person behind the eastbound car that stopped for me to cross. The car behind began honking at the car in front that stopped for me to cross. So rude!”
Just to make sure we’re clear - what has been happening is when vechicles stop at crosswalks, sometimes the vehicle behind them honks impatiently, and are mad that the stopped vehicle is following the law. Or being a nice person. It’s really embarrassing when it happens, especially when I stop for parallel parkers, to give them space and patience. The car behind me will beep at me. I fear that the parker thinks it’s me beeping at them.
Ah well. Guess you don’t want to drive behind me, because I stop a lot! I also sometimes don’t see people if they are behind a parked car at the crosswalk corner. Additionally, I have to remember to go slow. I do like to drive, and it’s easy to step on it once the car starts and good music is playing.
Broadly, there are a lot of courteous drivers out there. If anything, hopefully this article and others in ALBB’s Traffic series serves as awareness nuggets to help keep all of our awarenesses sharp.
Woman Dies After Being Hit By Car While Crossing Teller Avenue at Main Street
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Last week, the worst fear for any driver and any pedestrian happened, when a car turning left through a crosswalk hit a person in the crosswalk. Any driver knows that they can have a blind spot in their car for that angle, or the sun can be shining in their eyes at that time of day, or a number of other factors. Pedestrians want to be able to cross the street according to signals and traffic law, but have grown to become defensive walkers as traffic becomes unpredictable in Beacon.
The Beacon Police Department issued a press release stating that a woman was hit by a car on Teller Avenue while in the cross walk at Main Street, where she later died of her injury(ies). This intersection is near the Yankee Clipper Diner, gas station, Kennedy Fried Chicken, Beacon Pantry, and the Veterans Memorial Building. The road is called Teller Avenue when headed to Wolcott/9D, and is called Fishkill Avenue when headed further out in Beacon and becomes Rte. 52 after Memorial Park. The Highlands Current was the first to report it.
As stated in the press release written by Detective Jason Johnson:
On Wednesday December 1, 2021 at approximately 03:15pm, the City of Beacon Police responded to the intersection of Main Street and Teller Avenue for an accident involving a Vehicle vs Pedestrian. The female pedestrian was treated on scene by the City of Beacon Fire Department and transported to St. Luke's Hospital by Mobile Life. She was later transferred to Westchester Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a Jeep Wrangler was stopped for a red light on Main Street facing Westbound. The pedestrian was standing on the corner of Main Street and Teller Avenue waiting to cross the street Eastbound. When the traffic light turned green, the pedestrian began crossing the street in the crosswalk and the operator of the Jeep made a left hand turn from Main Street onto Teller Avenue striking the pedestrian in the roadway.
An investigation determined that neither impairment nor speed was a factor. No further information will be released at this time.
To giver perspective, this means that the Jeep Wrangler was headed westbound toward the river when turning left, and the walker was headed eastbound toward the mountain, on the side of the street as the Yankee Clipper Diner. There are electronic crosswalk signals at that intersection, which beep and talk, telling a person when the lights change and it is their turn to start walking. The street name is announced when the light changes and the crosswalk is programmed to indicate it is safe to cross. When a pedestrian is crossing the road, a vehicle needs to stop and wait to let them cross.
Also stated when publishing their press release to Facebook, the department added a note: “The Beacon Police Department asks that you keep both families in your thoughts during this extremely difficult time.”
On Friday, ALBB has asked Detective Johnson and Lieutenant Figlia of the the Beacon Police Department for any data they have on pedestrians being hit by cars in the last few years in Beacon; if the driver of the Jeep stopped after hitting the person, which is implied in the press release, but not confirmed; and what usually happens after an accident. Should we get a response, this article will be updated.
UPDATE 4:30pm 12/6/2021: Readers have commented in Instagram with comments that may be useful here:
@lizziert: “So terrible. I hope the city will roll out Leading Pedestrian Intervals (lights programmed to give pedestrians 3-7 second head start when crossing) and other pedestrian safety solutions.”
@firstrun: “Ah, my sister was seriously injured when she was hit by a car at the same intersection.”
So awful!! Sending healing thoughts to everyone reeling from this tragedy.
@janetmelissa: “So awful!! Sending healing thoughts to everyone reeling from this tragedy. Just FYI…the pedestrian lights were out at that intersection for some time. Idk if they’ve recently been repaired…but that makes an already dangerous crosswalk even more difficult for pedestrians to safely navigate! I would also love to see lights or an all-way stop put in at the intersection btwn Teller, 9D, and Sargent. It’s a death trap and kids cross there from school!”
@vaclavs_hovel: “This is terrible. The other day I used a crosswalk as one is supposed to, and someone drove behind me anyway as I crossed and called me an asshole. Don’t know if they are old beacon, new beacon, or visitors, it is just wrong to ignore these rules.”
@brianne_mcd11: “I just witnessed someone waiting to turn left into Memorial Park and the person behind them was so impatient that they pulled onto the sidewalk to pass them.”
@jax.yoon “😢 TBH, speed bumps are the only effective solution here. Leave no choice but to slow down.”
Below are pictures of the intersection of Teller Ave/Fishkill Ave and Main Street.
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Blood Drive Hosted By Senator Sue Serino & The American Red Cross
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Sudden Storm And Fallen Tree Brings Power Outage To Some Beaconites; Closes Beekman Street
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UPDATE 1:30pm 12/3/2021: Central Hudson has responded with what caused the power outage. Please see below for the full explanation.
On the 5th night of Hanukkah, while candles were still burning and lights were glowing in homes, the power went out. From outside their windows of newly darkened rooms, some Beaconites saw flickering flashes of white light across the dark western sky, reminiscent of distant summer fireworks or lightening. The night was windy. Not all Beaconites even realized there was a storm until the power went out and some heard a loud explosion and saw the white lights.
Had the aliens finally landed? Was it happening? “I saw the white light and definitely thought alien invasion,” said one reader @laur1025. “Sigh. I’d welcome aliens at this point,” said another reader, @devaw. “Power still out in what has truly become an alternate universe,” said @scottxny, after the day closed with news from the Supreme Court making quite a few people upset.
The Source Of The White Lights
One reader saw two fire trucks arrive to the scene. One of A Little Beacon Blog’s citizen reporters, Brianne McDowell, was on the case moments after the explosion to find the source. She found the downed tree and pole on Beekman Street where High Street comes into it. High Street is the first street off Beekman as you’re headed to the train station, with the Victorian homes lining the steep hill, across the street from Spire Studios and Ron English’s PopMart. The picture of the down pole and tree on Thursday night is below.
Down power line across High Street. Down tree across Beekman Street. Both across from the Beacon Police Station and the new apartment buildings, The View on Thursday, December 2, 2021.
Photo Credit: Brianne McDowell
Moments after the flash, at least one pole was down on the ground, blocking High Street, across from the Beacon Police Station. A large tree had broken at the base and fallen across Beekman Street.
Thursday evening, one reader @jackoflackoflames, saw “crews out there working on the exploded transformer/tree now. Road still closed.”
By Friday morning, Beekman Street remained closed to cars, but pedestrians could continue walking to the MTA train station on the grass. Beacon’s Highway Department was on the scene Friday morning, cutting the fallen tree to remove it from the road. By Friday morning, the downed power line was gone, and power had been restored to several customers near Main Street.
The traffic light at 9D and Main Street was out, as were the crosswalk signals (there are new electric crosswalk signals that improve accessibility by beeping a signal calling the person to “Wait!” and then verbally announces which street one can cross).
Homes on High Street. The fallen power line and tree were at the base of High Street, across from the Police Station.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The flash storm took many by surprise. Usually Central Hudson and Optimum send emails warning about an upcoming storm that may cause a power outage. Neither had sent an email this time. “The rain was horizontal. I couldn’t believe it,” said reader @call.me.ella.mar. Murphy’s Law prevailed once again for an unexpected storm in Beacon. The last was remnants of Hurricane Ida, resulting in federal aid through FEMA.
Another reader, Patti Devine, wondered if the new construction being built in that area, which has eliminated several trees and replaced with solid structures, caused a wind vortex. Wind vortexes whip through building blocks in New York City. “My friend on High Street right there has had 2 trees fall on her house in the last couple of years,” Patti said. “Anyone think that maybe all the buildings there has caused a [wind] vortex in that area? Take down all those trees, and the storm has a new path to follow.”
ALBB is seeking confirmation on if the source of the fall is known. If it was lightening, a microburst, a tiny tornado, or other known weather condition.
The morning after the power line was cleared by Central Hudson. The City of Beacon’s Highway Department works to cut the tree in the middle of Beekman Street.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
About 4,300 Power Outages Throughout Central Hudson Service Area
According to John Maserjian, Media Relations Director for Central Hudson, several people were impacted by the storm. Upon responding to ALBB to confirm details, John said: “As of now, there are currently about 4,300 outages throughout Central Hudson’s service area, mostly on the west side of the Hudson River, caused by high winds and trees.”
John responded with an explanation of what caused the power outage: “Our electric line foreman reports that a burst if wind toppled a tree onto the pole on Beekman street, breaking the pole and causing it to fall. There was no transformer on the pole, rather there was mechanical piece of equipment called an Automatic Load Transfer (ALT) device (this device automatically re-routes power when needed to reduce the duration of outages, for example during storms). The flash of light was not an explosion, rather arcing wires as they fell. This highlights why it’s very important to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, as they may still be energized.
“The pole was replaced and repairs made last night/early morning. A new ALT will be re-installed in one to two weeks. The majority of the outages in Beacon was due to this fallen pole. Upon their arrival, crews first manually re-routed power to restore service to most of households as quickly as possible, and then went to work to replace the pole.”
According to the Beacon Police Department, the storm went from west to east in Beacon, with residents feeling the effects over on Red School House Road. The Beacon Police Department does have a generator that can kick in when the power goes out. They noted that power went out down 9D and Verplanck, Beekman, and possibly down to Matteawan (near the Beacon High School track).
Serious Comedy Theatre performers in the Old Beacon High School on the corner of Fishkill Avenue and Verplanck wrote in to say that their building did have power, but that their home near the mountain had lost power overnight.
This is a developing story. Updates will be made to this article, or a new article depending.
Stay safe!
A Little Beacon Blog
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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.
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