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 :)