Dutchess County Legislature Passes Partial Gas Tax Holiday

On April 13, 2026, the Dutchess County Legislature voted unanimously to pass a temporary and partial gas tax reduction at the pump. Effective June 1, 2026, sales tax on gasoline and highway diesel will be capped at $3/gallon. This means that the portion of the price of gas that exceeds $3 will not be taxed. For example: if gas is $3.50/gallon, then the first $3 will be taxed, but the remaining $.50 will not be. A deadline for this partial tax reduction was not included in the press release published by Dutchess County Chair Yvette Valdés Smith (D - Fishkill and Beacon). Legislator Michael Polasek (R-LaGrange) confirmed to ALBB that this gas tax reduction expires December 1, 2026..

In 2022, a similar temporary gas tax reduction was granted under a different administration. Introduced by then County Executive Marcus Molinaro (R), the cap was set to $2 and expired December 1, 2022, as per New York State Law. The law also requires that local taxes on gas be collected and cannot be eliminated, Molinaro explained in his press release at that time.

According to New York State’s March 2025 Local Sales and Use Tax Rates on Qualified Motor Fuel Highway Diesel Motor Fuel, and B20 Biodiesel, the New York State sales tax on gas is 8% (it is 8.75% on New York State MCTD). Of that, each county decides which percentage or cents per gallon it takes from this tax. Most counties use percentage, and most counties take 4% or above from that tax. Erie and Suffolk Counties, for instance, take 4.75%. Dutchess County takes below that at 3.75%. At this time, ALBB has not yet pursued why it is advantageous to residents of Dutchess County to take less than it is entitled from the state collected tax the county is required to collect.

Said Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature, Yvette Valdés Smith (D), who was the Minority Leader during the 2022 tax cap of $2 which was made in the name of fighting inflation: “As gasoline prices continue to surge as a consequence of the war in the Middle East, members of the Dutchess County Legislature are putting forward a resolution to cap the County's sales tax on gasoline and highway diesel at $3 per gallon. The proposal would prevent Dutchess County from collecting windfall tax revenue from residents who have seen gas prices rise more than 25% in recent weeks.”

The 2022 temporary gas tax cap was also voted on in April, taking effect June 1, and ending December 1 of that same year. That is because, as explained in former County Executive Molinaro’s press release: “New York State law states local sales tax enactments of this kind can take effect only on March, June, September or December 1st of any year and a certified copy of the local enacted resolution must be transmitted to the State at least 90 days prior to the effective date.”

After the Legislature met to vote to advance the gas tax reduction, Dutchess County Legislator Chair Yvette said: “The hardworking people of Dutchess County are hurting. The leadership of the Republican federal administration has been a disaster for everyone who’s not a millionaire or a billionaire. Whether it’s tariffs driving up the cost of goods, disastrous energy and environmental policies skyrocketing our energy and utility bills, or irresponsible and downright dangerous foreign policy like the War in Iran, which has caused our gas prices to go up more than a dollar in barely a month. This Legislature cannot allow the County to profit off of the people’s pain.”

Several Democrats were quoted in the 2026 press release, but no Republicans were quoted, nor was current County Executive Sue Serino (R). As a Senator, Serino consistently resisted taxes on gas and other driving mechanisms such as registrations and licenses. In fact, in 2021, Serino led a campaign to “Trash The Gas Tax.”

“Suspending the gas tax could save average New Yorkers hundreds of dollars each year,” said Senator Serino in 2021. “For too long, state government has turned a blind eye and put blame squarely on the shoulders of the federal government when it comes to increased costs on necessities like gas and home heating oil, but the reality is there are steps the state can take to provide immediate relief to hardworking New Yorkers who are being charged more just to get to work, take their children to school or daycare, or operate their businesses. It is far past time for the politicians in Albany to hear the concerns of their constituents and do what they can to provide relief now.”

Sounds like both sides of the isle are saying the same thing on the gas tax.

Back to present, County Legislator Emma Arnoff (D-LaGrange) stated of the 2026 temporary $3 gas cap: “Out-of-control gas prices are crushing constituents who are already struggling with rising electricity costs, rent, and interest rates.”

This morning, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to every Republican Legislator, as well as County Executive Sue Serino for comment. So far, Michael Polasek (R-LaGrange), Minority Leader responded: “We supported the gas tax holiday as a starting point, because even modest relief matters to families who are struggling with rising costs. But we also believe we need to have serious discussions about more meaningful affordability measures that could provide greater impact for residents. That’s why it was disappointing that the proposal supporting a utility tax and surcharge holiday was not placed on this month’s agenda for consideration. At a time when families are feeling real pressure from energy costs, every reasonable idea deserves an open discussion.”

Library Vote Is Live! Thursday Vote The Budget And Trustees From 12-8pm. More About Programs and Usage Statistics

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

The Beacon Public Library's Annual Budget Vote & Trustee Election is today, Thursday, April 30, 2026 from 12-8pm in the Community Room in the back.

If you haven't been in the library recently, now is a GREAT time to go inside, as it has been renovated and flipped around with really nice bathrooms for all genders. The librarians are also very good at making friendly to read signs about upcoming events and programs they offer to inspire you on what you could be using for free with your library card (like the language learning app, free moving watching from your computer at home, visiting other museums, borrowing pieces of technology, etc.)

They have big plans on the horizon, which includes maintaining their regular level of accessibility and extending their hours on Monday-Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday/Sunday 10am-4pm.

Recent Status of Increased Usage by Community Members:

20% increase in Circulation
7% increase in library cardholders
23% of the circulation is now in digital items
Over 760 events and programs offered
Over 50,000 child/teen materials borrowed
11 hotspots donated and added to the collection
25% increase in eAudiobook downloads
48% increase in eMagazine readership (woohoo!!!)
130 Passport Applications made (they are a location for submitting your application)
Free movie watching at home (36.7% increase in streaming videos)
Extensive dedicated seating just for teens to gather among themselves
Comfortable chairs and tables for working, reading, thinking.
Free Community food fridge was added! In partnership with Fareground.

More info on this year's vote is here. It contains FAQs like:

• How is the Howland Public Library funded?

• Why does the library need to hold a vote?

• Didn’t you just go out for a vote?

• I don’t use the library, why should I support it?

• What happens if the vote passes?

• What happens if the vote fails?

• Where does the money go?

• Where and when do I vote?
  

The vote will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Howland Public Library 313 Main Street from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Opinion: City of Beacon Should Announce All Terminations, Resignations, Retirements and Publish Current Employee Names and Photos

The City of Beacon only publicly announces when a person is hired or promoted in the City of Beacon because it requires a formal vote and Resolution from the City Council. From time to time, a high-profile retirement or resignation is announced publicly. For example, if a department head, like a Building Inspector, resigns, that is usually announced because it is a department head position.

A resignation or termination for Motor Equipment Operator for the Highway Department, for instance, is not generally announced. Nor are resignation letters read publicly, if an employee writes one with the hopes of being heard to better the employment situation as a whole. As Ed McNair did when he resigned from his position in the Highway Department before James Cottrell was hired to fill the open position.

After writing articles about employment issues and employment positions in the City of Beacon, it is the opinion of this blog that the City of Beacon should publish the names and photos of all employees of the City of Beacon.

The City should continue on its promise of not only publishing all current Police Officers positions, as Mayor Lee Kyriacou vowed to do during the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020 and did start one, updated it in January 2022, and updated again in 2024. There may be other updates, but those would be buried in Google, as there is no direct link to the current staff of Police from the Police Department page, or any department page, including Highway, Water and Sewers, Wastewater, Transfer Station (aka “The Dump”), Fire, etc. The Parks and Recreation Department has the most names who are not department heads published on their page of current employees.

For all of the praise that civil service employees of the City of Beacon receive, it would be helpful knowing who they are. This is also important for accountability.

Terminations and Resignations Generally Not Released

Also not shared with citizens of the City of Beacon who pay their salaries are when these employees are no longer working for the City of Beacon. Aside from select individuals who are praised at their retirements (not all employees are offered public farewells), the people of the City of Beacon, are not told when a person has been terminated, has resigned, or has retired.

For each new hire, the City Council is presented with the proposed candidate by the department head, who will describe the qualifications of the potential employee. The City Council then must take a vote on hiring that person. The Resolution for that person’s hire is published on the City’s website in the “Agenda Packet” that is published with each City Council Meeting.

The only way the people of the City of Beacon would know that a new employee had quit 3 weeks after being hired, for example, would be by word of mouth.

Unpaid Administrative Leave Also Not Announced - Employee Discipline Dollars Required For Budget

Also not published is when an employee is placed on Administrative Leave - Paid or Unpaid. For example, when Reuben Simmons was placed on Unpaid Leave in January 2021, just days after City Administrator Chris White’s first days on the job after replacing Anthony Ruggiero who resigned his position in Beacon to work for the Department of Behavioral and Community Health of Dutchess County, the people of Beacon did not know that in an official release from the City of Beacon.

Beacon’s first Human Resources (HR) Director, Gina Basile, resigned after 1.5 years on the job in January 2022. During one of her presentations after meeting with city employees, she stated: “I have heard employee concerns about discrimination, inequality, and growing tensions,” Gina stated in a printed presentation. “We need to address these issues head-on, and policies and procedures are only the beginning. We need a long-term plan on how to address these issues.”

Employment Issues Are Discovered During Arbitration Hearings

Also not disclosed was the amount of tax dollars spent on trying to terminate Reuben during that time, for example. Only people who were following the story very closely could surmise that the City Council was being briefed on Reuben’s various Arbitration Hearings during the City Council’s private “Executive Sessions” after the public City Council Meeting ended.

City Administrator Chris tried terminating Reuben since Chris entered his job in Beacon. However, Reuben had elected to go to Arbitration, which means that he contested the reasons he was being fired. During that time, City Administrator Chris requested and was authorized the release of funds. This was written about here at ALBB: “Over $111,000 Unplanned City of Beacon Dollars Spent On "Employee Discipline" Matter(s) - What's Going On?”

Specifically: “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.’”

ALBB also reported during that time: “The second noted proposed transfer tonight of $45,900 to ‘Employee Discipline’ is being transferred from ‘In REM Sale of Property.’”

Therefore, ALBB sees it valuable and necessary to publish the hires, fires, resignations and retirements of each employee in a published log that does not disappear and does not discriminate against length of time - no matter how short or long a person worked for the City of Beacon. Each employee should have their own timelines since their time of interning, to official hiring, subsequent promotions, and exits.

Additionally, this publication asked if the City of Beacon conducts Exit Interviews with exiting employees, and if those interviews are made public.

Recap Of 4/6/2026 City Council Meeting: Chris White's Retirement Addressed; Successor Named; Termination Of Highway Department Reflected On In This Broadcast

This recap of the 4/6/2026 City Council Meeting first published on A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram, but is 23 minutes, so was cut off, could not include sub titles because of the great length, and was split into two videos. After receiving interest in this video, it is being published here for you to listen to while ALBB works on the articles that coincide with it. The most important thing is for you to have this information.

During this meeting, the successor to City Administrator Chris White was voted on. We don’t know why Chris White retired after 5 years on the job. He said during this meeting that he wanted to “hike the Appalachian Trail,” and that he hoped to make a “cameo appearance” as the person who gets to cut off people speaking Public Comment when they have 15 seconds left.

Employees of the City of Beacon usually try to stay as long as they can. This recap includes analysis of an issue going on in the Highway Department right now that ALBB will publish on.

Topics covered here:

• The Highway Department employee, James Cottrell (aka Jim or Jimmy) who was terminated on January 7, 2026, one day after he filed a complaint for targeted harassment on January 6, 2026. ALBB has the paperwork of this employee’s multiple complaints and experiences, and is working on publishing those. This is a long story, so this video will give you a brief overview.

• The Highway Department employee Reuben Simmons, (aka Coach Yogi) and his job title as Highway Superintendent dissolving, causing his resulting demotion, and the promotion of current Superintendent of Streets Mickey Manzi into that position of being the department head. After Mickey admitted to writing at least one anonymous letter to the City Council during Mickey’s alleged campaign to discredit Reuben to push him out of the City Service job and eventually replace him. Reuben has been relegated to the Street Sweeper ever since. According to several employees of the Highway Department, including James Cottrell, they were instructed by their boss, Mickey, not to speak to Reuben. However, two employees tell ALBB, once they did speak to Reuben, they found him to be a nice person, and then began to feel retaliation from their boss.

• The resignation of Eddie McNair, who identifies as African American and alleged complaints of racist behavior condoned around him in his Letter of Resignation. James Cottrell was hired to replace him.

• The gun that was allegedly brought to work by a co-worker and friend of Mickey, Steve Bechtold, during the campaign to get Reuben out of the position of department head.

• Alleged video recording via Meta-type glasses of Highway Department employees by another employee.

• The complete (yet polite) shredding of an affordable housing survey by the City Council, namely Lastar Gorton, Paloma Wake, Zach Smith and some questions by Carolyn Bennett Glauda.

Am on deadline for client projects, so will circle back with more articles in this series. Meanwhile, please do listen to this broadcast in full for context as this story gets told. It is a difficult one to tell because of disrespect for people, pettiness, and Civil Service rules that can be used to either side’s advantage.

---

One Last Thing…

Listening to the City Council Members and Mayor Kyriacou and City Administrator Chris White (with the expectation of new Councilmember Lastar Gorton who sharply questioned process which has been lax on this appointment) explain why the newly created position of Deputy City Administrator for Ben Swanson, who is now being appointed to be City Administrator without a public search for that position.

While ALBB also agrees Deputy City Administrator Ben Swanson is very qualified for the position with a lot of hands-in, boots on the ground experience, from a Civil Service point of view, watching this uncontested, non-public appointment is extremely frustrating in terms of a fairness perspective to how others in other departments have been treated under this City Administrator Chris White (see above).

More to come once meeting is done. As Mayor Kyriacou continues to “beg” for other board appointments without making board appointments very public, if at all public. Hence the last Board of Assessment Review Board non-published appointment (hint: an Epstein Files resignation).

CLASS: Boat America: Learn From The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: Part Of Requirements Of Certificate

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla from Verplanck, NY will host a "Boat America" Responsible Boating Course on Saturday, April,18, 2026, from 9am - 5:30pm in the Community Room in the Fishkill Police Department offices at 801 NY-52, Fishkill, NY 12524

This is the course that is necessary to obtain your State of New York Boating Safety Certificate. Starting in 2025, this Certificate is necessary for anybody to operate on the waterways of New York.

Coast Guard Auxiliarists teach the course. The session will cover the rules of navigating, equipment use, boating emergency management, environmentally friendly boating and water safety for all ages.

Registration costs $45 per person. Children under 17 can attend for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

More Information and Register >

Seasonal Kayak Lottery Open For Docking At Long Dock Park, Via Scenic Hudson

Photo Credit: Robert Rodriguez Jr.

Scenic Hudson has announced their annual lottery for keeping kayak’s at Long Dock Park has opened. They say via press release:

“The Hudson River paddling season is beginning soon, and Scenic Hudson is pleased to reopen the kayak storage pavilion at Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park in Beacon. Storage slips for 32 boats will be available from May 9 to October 31. The 2026 seasonal fee is $225.

“If you are age 18 or older and are interested in storing your kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board, please complete this online application form by April 19.

“NOTE: Due to the limited number of available storage slots, filling out the form will enter your information into our lottery system. We can't guarantee you'll be selected from the lottery, but we're rooting for you!”

If your name is selected from the lottery, you will receive an email notice from Scenic Hudson with additional instructions by Wednesday, April 22.

Please direction questions to Scenic Hudson Parks Team at parks@scenichudson.org.

Backyard Tree Discount Sale Extended Through Weekend Via City Of Beacon

The City of Beacon has announced that they have a few trees left and are extended the Discount Sale through the weekend. “We would love for them to find a backyard here in Beacon.”

Tree Species Still Available:

Sweet Gum

A sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a tall tree, typically reaching 60–100 feet at maturity, known for its star-shaped leaves that turn vibrant red, orange, yellow, and purple in fall. It has ridged bark and produces spiky, round seed pods. It is native to the eastern and southeastern United States, extending into parts of Mexico and Central America, and is especially valued for its striking autumn color.

Eastern Red Maple

An eastern red maple (Acer rubrum) is a medium to tall tree, typically reaching 40–70 feet at maturity, known for its three- to five-lobed leaves that turn brilliant red (and sometimes orange or yellow) in the fall. It has smooth gray bark when young that becomes darker and slightly furrowed with age, and produces small red flowers and winged seeds in early spring. It is native to the eastern United States and parts of Canada, and is especially valued for its striking autumn color.

White Oak

A white oak (Quercus alba) is a large, long-lived tree, typically reaching 60–100 feet at maturity, known for its rounded-lobed leaves that turn shades of red to burgundy in the fall. It has light gray, scaly bark and produces acorns that are an important food source for wildlife. It is native to the eastern and central United States, and is especially valued for its strength, durability, and classic form, as well as its attractive autumn color.

Orders can be made online here >

City of Beacon Water Filtration Plant Leaked Aluminum Sulfate Into The Fishkill Creek

Photo Credit: City of Beacon

On Monday, March 30th at 3:21pm, the City of Beacon announced via Facebook with a photo that the City of Beacon Water Filtration Plant on Liberty Street had “experienced a leak into the Fishkill Creek of Aluminum Sulfate (or ‘Alum’), which is a coagulant used in the water filtration process.” The photo that they shared showed the water just downstream of the Groveville Hydroelectric Dam, where there are several residential apartments. While Comments were open at first, the City of Beacon shut Comments down shortly after posting the announcement.

The City of Beacon did not robo-call residents to alert them of this leak, which did cause the water in the Fishkill Creek to “appear milky,” their announcement described. The City did not mention the drinking water status, but did state that “there is no threat to human health and safety, and a full review will be done to understand better how the chemical made its way into the Creek.”

In their announcement, the City of Beacon also stated that “the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has been working with our staff to confirm that the leak has stopped and monitor the Fishkill Creek for fish impacts.”

Trout season officially opens Wednesday, April 1st. Two sets of yearling trout were stocked into the Fishkill Creek the 3rd week of March: 360 Brown Trout (9"-10") and 40 Brown Trout (12"-15"), according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The librarian of South Avenue Elementary School, Mr. Aaron Burke, usually releases his hatchery of trout in May. He raises his trout as a group educational project with the 5th graders of South Avenue.

Update 4/3/2026: Dylan Hetrick told ALBB readers via Facebook:

Brown Trout fished and caught after the spill.
Photo Credit: Dylan Hetrick

1. Brown Trout were stocked above Jean Van Pelt Park in Glenham.
2. The Texaco Dam and The Groveville Dam are above the spill and the trout stocking site, it's highly unlikely the trout were affected.
3. What about the other wildlife impacted, like Smallmouth Bass, Panfish, Invertebrates, herring, and aquatic plants?
4. Having fished Fishkill Creek for years, I've seen no change in the Brown Trout's behavior this year.

Last Day To Order Trees Through City of Beacon Discount - Delivered To Your House

The City of Beacon repeated their tree purchasing program based upon the success of last year. The program offers six varieties of trees at close to 50% off retail and will be delivered directly to your home. Tree varieties include Dogwood, Red Maple, Serviceberry, Sweetgum, Tulip, and White Oak. Some are already sold out.

How It Works

From the City’s website: “All trees listed would be delivered to the homeowner in 15-gallon pots (unless indicated below). Average tree height would be 5’ to 10’ with a trunk caliper of 1.25”-1.75”. All trees will be delivered to your home in April 2026 before Arbor Day. Please note that the homeowner will be responsible for planting and caring for the trees delivered. Please consider purchasing a TreeGator® with each tree. Treegator® Slow Release Watering Bags are the fastest, easiest, and most efficient way to effectively water a newly planted tree or shrub.”

Deadline: Order Trees Until April 1, 2026

Click here to order directly from the Parks and Recreation page.

VIDEO: Beacon City Council Meeting Recap 3-16-2026: Bike Lane Coming To Beekman Street; Sidewalk Survey To Come

Tonight’s City Council Meeting has ended, coming in at only 1hour long, which was nice for my breaking of fast for Ramadan with a date and cup of the Chocolate & Mushroom Elixir from 4 Wall Farm with milk from Hudson Valley Fresh. A sufficient appetizer to hold me over until dinner/Iftar of a cheeseburger made from the patties from Eggberts Free Range Farm.

Several tidbits made it into this meeting, but the large projects discussed were:

• Parade of Green: Generally hailed as perhaps the best parade in years by Mayor Lee, but the cars parked on Main Street and the shorter ending at Fishkill Avenue was criticized by the public. This is not the first parade that was cut short - the Halloween Hocus Pocus was also cut short, those organizers said, even though they requested to go longer. Businesses look forward to certain parades bringing them business or foot traffic, and this Parade of Green ending at Fishkill Avenue (the Yankee Clipper Diner) may have hurt some businesses. During Public Comment, a resident, Theresa Kraft, said that people were lined up on the other side of Fishkill Ave. waiting for the parade, but saw no parade. City Administrator Chris White said that the reason for the shorted route was due to short staffing of Police, that they still have 3 positions open, with two out on Medical, and one out on Paternity leave. He said he could not find enough officers to do the overtime. But in the future, he would consider the route going to Memorial Park, as Dummy Light exit is “chaotic.” But has been done before for years.

• Beekman Street Rehabilitation Project: The first phase to authorize this project moving forward was tonight. Expect a topic of discussion to be the new bike lane on that street, and if it will be one-way or two-way. It is slated for one-way now.

• Sidewalk Study is coming. To determine where the City of Beacon should focus on adding or replacing sidewalk that is not within income qualifying areas. Public input is wanted. Speak at the podium to request your sidewalk block, in addition to sending email to your ward representative and the Mayor and City Administrator.

The rest is in the video. Dinnertime now.

Trash Pickup Delayed 1 Day; Fire Hydrants Need Help Digging-Out Again

Residential trash pickup is running on a 1-day delayed schedule as a result of Monday’s snowstorm, Royal Carting, which is now a division of Casella Sanitation, confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog on Tuesday.

Pictures of snow covered fire hydrants, provided by the Beacon Fire Department, showing what a properly dug out hydrant looks like. They ask the community to help dig them out.

Fire hydrants will also need dug out again by community members to help the Beacon Fire Department. While the Fire Department dug out several fire hydrants last snowstorm, the public was asked to help dig. There are 600 public fire hydrants in the City of Beacon.

“We once again ask City residents to please shovel and remove snow away from hydrants in or close to your property!” the City of Beacon Fire Department said via their Facebook page.

“…If you can’t see the hydrant, that means we can’t either! This will save us valuable time that may save your life in the event of a fire!”

For those who have dug out, good job. Space is running out for where to put the snow in residential areas. One foot is expected again for next week. Get some Epsom salt for your bath soak.

ALBB Goes Into Hyper Focus Mode To Fine-Tune Branding; From Baby Blocks to Chickens to Fonts

The time has come to tweak the logo again at A Little Beacon Blog. As ALBB publishes harder news stories and communicates with Communication Directors and Crisis Manager PR firms hired by companies we may write articles about, ALBB needed to make sure the logo is locked in to handle the responses from readers, companies and municipalities.

While maintaining the friendly, fresh air feel ALBB is known for. Might debate the word “friendly,” since people who don’t like certain articles will turn around that word to demand ALBB be more “nice.” Since ALBB has picked up the nickname La Diabla Blanca after this article, we’ll stick with “breath of fresh air.”

Plus, people request ALBB’s Media Kit. Which is a respectable and professional thing to do. We’ve just always had advertising pricing on the Media Kit web page. But people want it in a PDF. Like a book. Therefore. This has resulted in a pause in writing in order for visual thinking to take over and get this done.

Hyper Focus Mode Activated

Some who know me (Katie) behind the scenes know that I have been working on this Media Kit for years and years. There is a weird mental block to finishing it. “Hyper Focus Mode” means that everything else pauses. All article writing stops (except for emergencies, like snow plowing or water main breaks). Blaze Gomez over at News 12 has it covered in the ICE facility in Chester, NY, so we will run a catch-up article on the nonsense in Chester, NY (Orange County) that has been transpiring there.

It is very frustrating to not write the articles, because you want The Beacon News. And so do we. Additionally, ALBB clients want their ideas for advertising messages delivered to you in a way that you love and value. Bouncing around creative corners of my mind is my specialty. It is a trait I have embraced as a gift. To pour into everyone. Other people’s success does bring me such joy.

But the time has come to fill my own cup. To secure my own self financially. And that begins in branding.

Therefore…To Instagram! “Readers: What Do You Think!?”

I took it to Instagram. Uploading a video of WIP (Work In Progress) is instantaneous at Instagram. First thoughts go there sometimes.

First step was to address the cursive in the logo. I love cursive. I write in cursive. Cursive is a dying script in this country, leaving it unreadable to many. I find this a benefit. If I write in cursive, it can be my secret language.

The logo currently uses the font called Very Berry. Which is very “cutesy". While A Little Beacon Blog’s logo originated in extreme cutesy, it graduated to be primarily black, via use of a chalkboard black, to sync with chalkboard signs out on the sidewalks that businesses use. More of a sophisticated look.

In the present time, I am keeping this base of black. And the name. But I took to change the font. Which generated some reader response (scroll down):

One longtime reader, after seeing the above video at Instagram, wrote in moments later to cling to the original font. “There will be chaos!!” they said. “Why fix what ain’t broke?”

Point taken. But is it working? Are the logo and fonts working? Now that we are swimming with more sharks? Now that a newspaper (Times Union) actually refused to publish (and deleted!) the article about how some anonymous letter writer targeted 20+ businesses in Beacon, demanding they protest A Little Beacon Blog after we started covering Palestine?

(If you didn’t know about this, no worries…I didn’t publish it…I was too afraid of too many things to publish it…but this article will be published soon…)

The main takeaway from the reader’s warning of the font change was…Wow. The readers do care, and do feel that A Little Beacon Blog’s brand identity is part of their own. This is a heart-moving moment.

A Little Beacon Blog’s Original Logo Circa 2011 - Baby Blocks and Chickens

To ease the fear of the transition, I realized it is time to remind current readers of A Little Beacon Blog’s original logo. Only my mother may remember this logo, and when I wanted to change it, believe me, she lamented the change. This is back when A Little Beacon Blog was based in Blogger, which was Google’s free blog platform. When I changed the logo, I also changed the platform to Squarespace. We ported the content from Blogger to Squarespace and continued on.

The original logo was inspired by the blocks of art down by the Beacon train station that welcomed people leaving the train station. I was mildly obsessed with the letter blocks at the time.

A Little Beacon Blog took inspiration from those art blocks, to create baby blocks (pictured below). I had just had my first baby. Baby Brain was in full swing, and I was surrounded by gorgeously illustrated baby books.

The letter blocks sat on undeveloped property owned by a friend of then Councilperson George Mansfield. Through that arrangement, an art installation of the blocks was created. But when the developer was ready to build what is now the townhouse apartments on that land, the art blocks were removed.

As you can see from the video below of the original logo, the font was quite sophisticated. A sharp serif for the letters in the blocks, and a grown-up script that you might find on a fancy menu for the letters outside of the blocks.

I reassured the reader that I was not changing the name, but was tweaking the font.

“The font must be legible.”

True. True. However. People have taken A Little Beacon Blog to be their own. They have abbreviated it. Some called it “Little Beacon Blog” or “LBB.” This is an acronym I never imagined. People for years have been calling it “The Beacon Blog.” Which is an amazing honor, because how can we be The One!

One reader said, when the tipping point just began several years ago: “I guess you won’t be so little anymore.” I took that to heart, because while A Little Beacon Blog might and does grow, my fascination with little details that lead into big things remains.

Therefore, a question: does the word “little” have significance here? Would people miss it if the word “little” was omitted? I mean. I go back and forth on this. I love the word “little” in here. But. It does undermine the blog. I invites people to beat it up. On the other hand, that can serve advantageous as people underestimate it.

Therefore. The name will not change.

However, part of the name may hide in the cursive font for those of us who know what it says.

Another longtime ALBB reader responded to this video and wrote in: “I don’t remember this logo.” The reader is a formerly quoted reader who’s blog name is Citizen Cowboy. “Were there always chickens?”

Yes. There were always chickens in ALBB’s logo. There were always chickens because upon first moving here, when looking at houses, roosters could be heard in the distance. “People have backyard chickens,” the realtor said upon entering one of the houses for sale as a rooster crowed in the distance.

Backyard chickens seemed neat. I currently still get farm fresh eggs from someone who became a website and advertising client years after I first met her. So the chickens stay in the logo.

“The letter blocks look like your house,” Citizen Cowboy continued.

“It’s true,” I replied. “I painted my first baby’s room the robins egg blue with the brown scallops. I was putting scallops on everything.”

So that’s it. That’s the Origin Story of A Little Beacon Blog’s logo evolution.

What is super new in this logo is the addition of the green highway sign that is a nod to the Old Exit 11. Still pondering if that fits or not.

Onward to the tweaking of other elements of it.

VIDEO: City Council Meeting Recap 2/17/2026: David Ross Board of Assessment Speculation; Tioronda Attack Public Comment

Tonight’s City Council Meeting has ended. It was in the new format that combined the regular City Council Meeting with Public Comment, with the Workshop which is discussion about topics or proposed legislation. This report covers a few Gold Nugget items that transpired during the meeting.

During Public Comment, one citizen speculated on the replacement of David Ross on the Board Of Assessment Review, after the discovery of his years long email and friendship with disgraced pedophile and sex trafficer Jeffrey Epstein from the Epstein Files, and his subsequent resignation from his position as chair of the MFA art practice program at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), as reported by ARTNews after they broke the story.

Another citizen made a Public Comment demanding safety measures such as street lighting be put into place after the attack of the woman on Tioronda Avenue in January. An attack which remains unsolved.

Beacon High School Principal Responds To "Student-Organized Planned Walkout" Connected With National "ICE Out Strike"

UPDATE: The video of this march that took place on January 30th has been published here in this article.

A national “ICE Out” strike has been planned for Friday, January 30th, as a peaceful yet powerful protest against ICE violence, demanding the abolishment of the federal agency. As reported by The Guardian: “For the first action on Friday, organizers, led by several student groups at the University of Minnesota, are calling for a ‘national shutdown’, which means: ‘No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.’ The ‘blackout’ day, which many online are referring to as a “general strike”, is an effort to “shut down the economy”, organizers say.”

At least 8 people have been killed by ICE, with many more injured in the streets of their neighborhoods, their homes, and their cars. More injuries and deprivations have occurred in detention centers, where documentation is difficult to obtain. Some brown skin people who have been taken and released are simply dumped on the side of the road, one legal professional told A Little Beacon Blog on conditions of anonymity.

Students of Beacon High School allegedly began organizing a walkout of school in order to support the nation-wide protest. The high school’s Principal Corey Dwyer responded with an email to district families before the start of the school day, saying:

“We have been made aware that some students plan to walk out of school today at Noon as part of a series of protests and walkouts expected to take place around the country.

“As a district, we support our students’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. We do not endorse or oppose, nor do we organize, student walkouts or protests.

“Our top priority is student safety. Students who participate are expected to do so in a calm and orderly manner and without disrupting the educational environment for their classmates. Staff will monitor student movement in the building to help ensure safety. Students leaving campus are no longer under school supervision, and the district cannot monitor off-campus activities.

“Normal attendance rules apply. Students who are not in class will be marked absent; any absence not excused by a parent or guardian in accordance with our attendance policy will be unexcused.

“While peaceful participation in a student-organized walkout will not be subject to disciplinary action, any behavior that violates school rules, endangers safety, or disrupts instruction will result in consequences in accordance with the district's student code of conduct.

“We appreciate your understanding and support.”

Cars Need To Move From Public Parking Lots For Snow Removal To Continue - Subject To Towing

Mounds of snow surround the public parking lot on Eliza Street.

Snow removal continues from the combined departments of the City Beacon’s Highway and Water Departments. According to the City of Beacon, 20 city employees have been involved in the effort to clear the roads, fire hydrants and parking lots of snow. Hudson Valley Post reports that Beacon received 17” of snow, sourcing the National Weather Service.

“Thank you again to our dedicated staff for their hard work,” the City said in an announcement on Facebook, “and thank you to their families who had to cover childcare and other demands while our staff came in and persevered through the storm. Job well done!”

Diggers and large snow blowers have been cutting the snow from curbs of Main Street and other areas of town. Snow removal has now prioritized to the public parking lots, with the City ordering all cars be removed from the public lots so that snow can be removed.

The City of Beacon Police have issued directions and a towing warning: “Starting Thursday (1/29) at 9am, we will begin enforcement of overtime parking in the City owned parking lots. Usually, you have 24 hours to move your vehicle after snow ends, however, due to the parking restrictions on Main Street, we have to give more time in those lots. However, if you leave your car in the lot, covered in snow and plowed in, you will likely be towed starting Thursday. If your car has been cleared, moved out and moved back into a space that is not full of snow, then you are okay.”

The City of Beacon has expressed that this is an all hands on deck situation to clear 50 miles of street, stating that the Highway and Water Departments have been working around the clock with little sleep. “City Police coordinated removal of cars blocking the plows, and our Fire Department is out helping to clear fire hydrants.”