April 15, 2024

Newburgh-Beacon Bridge Shutdown During National A15 Economic Blockade For A Free Palestine

April 15, 2024/ Katie Hellmuth

The Newburgh/Beacon Bridge was shut down today, April 15, 2024, at 8am in coordination with at least 65 other cities across the United States who designated April 15th Tax Day to be A15 Economic Blockade to Free Palestine. Organized by a15actions, the mission states: “75 years and 182 days into this US backed genocide we must take collective risk beyond symbolic acts of solidarity. On April 15th, we will block logistical hubs to stop the flow of capital worldwide. This is just the beginning. We will not cooperate with the police. If a blockade in one city faces repression, we will respond in solidarity in other cities. Join us in organizing towards our collective liberation.” See the shutdown in Oakland, CA, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Texts from a reader showing Local radio station K104 was Reporting on Sheriff messages about terrorism, and not about the cause of the shutdown, which was A15 Economic Blockade for a Free Palestine.

@HV4FreePalestine was the first to cover the true nature of this blockade. The radio station K104 focused on parroting messages from Sheriff Offices like Putnam County, to perpetuate fear via the terrorist narrative that this country has accepted as normal with anything related to “the Middle East.”

Reported HV4FreePalestine:

“This morning at 8am, over a dozen Palestinians, Jews and allies blockaded the westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh-Beacon bridge for over an hour, stopping traffic on I-84 for miles at the peak of rush hour. The action, part of the April 15 Economic Blockade for Palestine taking place in 65 cities across the globe, ended at 9am with 15 arrests.

“Organizer Abdallah Qotate states: ‘As a Palestinian, I wake up everyday worrying whether my best friend in Gaza will live to see another day. I’m forced to be in the street because our elected government refuses to listen to us. How many Palestinians have to die before our government will stop sending our tax dollars to Israel to fund this genocide?’

“As a Palestinian, I wake up everyday worrying whether my best friend in Gaza will live to see another day. I’m forced to be in the street because our elected government refuses to listen to us. How many Palestinians have to die before our government will stop sending our tax dollars to Israel to fund this genocide?”

— Abdalla Qotate

In a non-violent act of civil disobedience, protestors highlighted the federal government and US economy’s role in Israel's genocidal siege against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Activists blocked all westbound lanes of traffic on the bridge for nearly one hour, amidst the busiest time on the bridge, over which 65,000 commuters and 6012 transport trucks travel daily.

During the protest, New York State Police assaulted, pushed and threatened peaceful demonstrators with a baton. In a tweet removed later, the New York Department of Transport for the Hudson Valley reported that as of 8:44am, one lane remained closed during police intervention.

Shutting down a key artery of commerce and commuter transport during one of the busiest hours of morning traffic, demonstrators were part of a global movement shutting down commerce to end the genocide.

“During the protest, New York State Police assaulted, pushed and threatened peaceful demonstrators with a baton.”

— @HV4FreePalestine

Grace Collins, one of the participants, concludes “Months of pleading to my representatives has not slowed the genocide in Palestine. Disrupting traffic to get our message across is a natural next step. If the constituents wont be heard through government channels then we will get our message across in nonviolent ways however we can.”

“From the Hudson Valley organizers: ‘Tax Day is a reminder that the Biden administration has made over 100 transfers of taxpayer dollars in military assistance to Israel since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. We refuse to allow business as usual to continue while Palestinians are murdered by Israel using American weaponry and tax dollars. Those committed to Palestinian freedom in the Hudson Valley have tried many tactics—we’ve demonstrated, we’ve lobbied our representatives, Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro, for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we’ve visited their offices, we’ve educated the public. Those on the highway today are done waiting on congressional representatives. We are committed to keeping up the pressure until the genocide ends and Palestine is free.”

Citizen Reporter @bryanne_af reported that she was happy to learn she had been stuck in traffic for a cause during her Kid School Drop-off morning, telling her Instagram friends: “Hudson Valley shut down the westbound Newburgh Beacon bridge for Palestine today!!! 😭🇵🇸😭 I had no idea what was going on and had to drive over an hour to get home from dropping my kids off to school - so happy and proud to discover it was comrades doing worthy and noble work! So very thankful for their bravery and that I got to bear witness to the incredible impact they had on the Hudson Valley this morning - the blockade here went for six miles beyond the bridge, toward Fishkill [down 9D passing Stonykill Farm and the Heritage Financial Stadium] - if this inconvenienced you, just IMAGINE how Gaza suffers from what our tax dollars are doing in blocking their food, their medicine, their freedom to live! From the river to the sea!!! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

Another reader, Citizen Reporter Cowboy, responded to the news of the shutdown by telling ALBB: “I gotta go check Whacker Wire to see if my Mom was arrested today.” Their mom has been arrested 4 times during this extermination of Palestine, including once at Grand Central Station.

October 05, 2023

3 Artistic Groups Honored By Orange County Arts Council Including Ralf M’Vore

October 05, 2023/ Katie Hellmuth

Orange County NY Arts Council is thrilled to announce the 2023 OC Art Awards to be presented at the Art Affair, with this year’s whimsical theme, “Wonderland.” The event will take place on Saturday, November 18 from 6 - 10 p.m., at Villa Venezia, 2257 Goshen Tpke, Middletown, NY 10941.

The 2023 Art Affair Wonderland Honorees will be celebrated for their achievements and contributions to Orange County’s diverse artistic community. This year’s honorees are renowned visionaries: Ted Doering & Jean Lara, Ralph M’Vore, and Wickham Works with special recognition to Melissa Shaw-Smith.

Ted Doering & Jean Lara are visionaries in the world of business and community enrichment with decades-long record of supporting art and cultural initiatives throughout our region. Ted Doering founded Umbra of Newburgh in 2011, becoming the first turnkey soundstage production facility in the Hudson Valley and founded V-Twin Manufacturing, Ted Cycle Shed, The Motorcyclepedia Museum and the Velocipede Museum, all located in Newburgh. Ted and Lara have been long-time advocates for Newburgh, having aided City Hall’s revitalization efforts and making opportunities to bring added jobs and revenue to the city in thanks for its embracing of the motorcycle community. Ted and Jean will be honored for their continuous contribution to the progress and sustainability of arts and creative practice in Orange County. ⁠
Ralph M’Vore is a lifelong resident, multi-talented entrepreneur, and social creative powerhouse in the City of Newburgh. For over two decades, Ralph has been beloved by his community and known for his talent, positive attitude, and willingness to educate and serve. Artistically, Ralph is a Recording Artist, Songwriter, Music Producer, Choreographer, Composer, Director, and Producer. His leadership includes being the Founder/Artistic⁠ Director of MVORE INC. ⁠Ralph is Safe Harbors of the Hudson’s first performing Artist-in-Residence for 2023 and curated a week-long series of arts, education, and community enrichment programming focused on the needs of the City of Newburgh’s artist community. MVORE INC has performed as a previous featured artist at the OC Arts Council’s Art Affair, the Black Renaissance Festival, Soul Under The Stars, and Newburgh Illuminated Fashion Show Stage on Safe Harbors Green.
Wickham Works was founded in 2016 to connect and develop the nascent Warwick arts scene. Over the years, the organization has led the community by producing workshops, maker markets, festivals, and parades, designed to support artists and makers in and around Orange County. Wickham Works focuses their efforts on providing human connection through art to the community, while bolstering the arts economy in Orange County. At the heart of Wickham Works serves Melissa Shaw-Smith, who has nurtured the vision of an inclusive, vibrant, and creative community. Starting from a simple workshop, it has grown into the leading arts organization responsible for organizing and supporting hundreds of events reaching thousands of people in the Warwick Community. Melissa and all the artists, volunteers, and organizers at Wickham Works will be honored for their critical role in bringing together the arts in our county.

All proceeds from The Art Affair: Wonderland directly support programs and cultural events such as Hudson Valley Creative Impact, The Student Arts Showcase, Arts Outreach initiatives, and Community Arts Grants. The OCNY Arts Council is only able to provide these programs and cultural events with your generosity.

This event SOLD OUT last year. Tickets are now on sale for The Art Affair: Wonderland. Individual tickets start at $205, and a group 4-pack is available for $800. In addition, there is a Sponsor An Artist ticket which will allow an artist from the community to attend the event free of charge. Orange County NY Arts Council members will receive a ten percent discount. Email info@ocartscouncil for member discount code. Tickets are available at Eventbrite and on the website here >

Sponsorship packages and volunteering opportunities are also available. Please email info@ocartscouncil.org for more information or visit www.ocartscouncil.org for more information.

About the Orange County Arts Council (OCAC):

The Orange County Arts Council is a private, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for local arts advocacy and serving as a county-wide arts resource. A diverse Board of Directors made up of community leaders, business leaders, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists oversees the Orange County Arts Council. Many of OCAC programs are designed and implemented by volunteers serving on various committees.

Orange County Arts Council supports and empowers artists, fosters diverse forms of expression and promotes access to the arts through educational programs, cultural events, public projects and participation that is integral to the economic development and collective well-being of our community. To learn more, visit: https://ocartscouncil.org/ or call 845-202-0140.

September 07, 2023

USPS Hosts An "Open House" For Beacon's Mail To Visit Newburgh Facility, But Beacon Bridge Traffic Is Too Bad To Get There - What Does This Mean For Beacon's Mail?

September 07, 2023/ Katie Hellmuth

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has decided to pull mail operations from several Post Offices across the country, including Beacon, NY.

The Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, who was appointed by Trump, has declared that this decision is in the name of cutting costs, in his 10 year plan. You can hear DeJoy describe this plan in his own words in this forum, which shows DeJoy’s lust for package delivery, and dismissal for mail/letter delivery. Highly recommend the listen, as you may not usually hear DeJoy speak in the news. He speaks plainly here, including how he was “spooned” COVID money, which he used to build this 10 year plan to slow the mail (but not packages).

At the heart of this plan, is to pull mail carriers (the people who deliver your mail to your mailbox at your house or apartment) from their local Post Offices, and have them go to a large facility that several other municipalities (communities) will also report to now. This facility will most likely be far from the zip code where the mail is being delivered to. For Beacon, this means that all mail carriers are going to Newburgh each morning to pick up the mail, then drive to Beacon, then drive back to Newburgh to park their trucks and do it all again the next day.

When this news first hit Beacon, people feared that Beacon’s Post Office might close. They were reassured by Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, who was reassured by a local post master, that Beacon’s Post Office would indeed not be closed because it was such a high-volume location.

However, the clerks who work the desk at Beacon’s Post Office have since taken jobs elsewhere - as enforced by the USPS - reducing the Beacon Post Office to 1.5 clerk workers. One regular clerk for Beacon was recently in a bad accident, according to the clerk’s Union president Diana Cline, so the clerks Beaconites are seeing now are new to the community.

These clerks are PTF aka “Part Time Flexible Career” staff, says Diana. “Now, Jackie is still there until Saturday, but then she gets excessed to Peekskill,” Diana told ALBB. “Beacon has been borrowing PTF’s. Not sure how many hours Saturday. I heard PTF from Germantown and Gardener will be there. Neither knows the office or PO Box customer names." If someone in their home office calls out Saturday, they would have to be there instead of home hours rule.”

When ALBB checked in at Beacon’s Post Office this week to confirm the union’s speculation, we met one new worker, who was young white man, who said he’d most likely be there indefinitely most likely after next week. The next day, a different man was working the desk, who was an older Indian man. Right before closing, two older white women who were enjoying the air conditioning of the building while holding their purse dog, were upset when the employee promptly shut the service metal window at 5pm. While the women had been talking casually for several minutes, they shouted at the older employee after he closed the window: “Can’t you look one more time?!?” When he finished closing the window, they proceeded to call him an “asshole” twice.

The women may not be familiar with union rules, whereby at 5pm, the Post Office closes. And the metal window shuts, and no one is an asshole for following their worker rules.

Tonight’s “Open House” To The Newburgh Mail Facility Was Hard To Get To - What Does That Mean For Regular Mail?

ALBB has driven to the Newburgh mail facility before: (“Over The River, Across The Bridge, Through The Woods - This Will Be The New Commute That Beacon Mail Carriers Will Drive If Proposal Happens (Already Happening Elsewhere)"). We wanted to see what the drive was like for the local mail carriers. In their rickety mail trucks that go about 40mph across the bridge, because they haven’t been given new trucks or vans. No union president or employee has been able to confirm to ALBB if newer trucks are being provided. DeJoy was awarded eco trucks from his COVID money, but it’s not clear if that includes any mail trucks in Beacon, NY.

Starting next week, the Beacon mail carriers will drive to Newburgh indefinitely. As for the PO Box mail, Diana warned: “The PO Box mail won’t get there until the window is already open, so clerks have to wait on customers and put mail away at the same time.”

It’s Not The Post Office Employees Fault - It’s Federal - It’s Louis DeJoy’s Design

The most important thing to keep in mind during these Post Office changes is that it is not the employees fault for things to be hard. The employees are being shipped to different locations and are bound by tight union rules. If one thinks that the mail is slow, there is a reason. By design, the mail is slow. One should not take it out on the employee. Take it up with Louis DeJoy who is designing this atmosphere to kill the mail, and compete against “frenemies” like Amazon (his words) for package delivery (listen to him say “frenemies” it in that forum).

Zero letter/package carriers will report from the Beacon building. Only 1.5 clerks will be working there, and they may be rotating and different. No business would make this decision for a thriving retail business on Main Street. Unless they were trying to torture and kill their business in a slow death.

The truck parking lot behind the Beacon Post Office will hold….we aren’t sure. Since all of the little rickety mail trucks will be going back and forth over the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge at least twice per day.

PS: Tonight - the power went out in Newburgh because of the severe thunderstorm watch that was also noted in the traffic app. Not only was there an accident on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge, there was a thunderstorm on the other end in Newburgh.

Before you complain to your Beacon mail carrier about anything you are unsatisfied with about the mail, consider instead taking it up with federal carrier unions, Loius DeJoy, and Joe Biden for allowing DeJoy to still hold the Post Master General position.

Yes, this was a bias article. Sorry not sorry. Will get back to neutral fact reporting in the next one. But for now, this Post Office mail issue is so difficult to report on, namely because it is so absurd, that we have to state issues the way they are stated.

Pictured below are ALBB flashbacks of traffic in Beacon before even getting to the bridge for tonight’s 6pm “Open House.” ALBB didn’t go, and instead, wrote this article. Hopefully pictures of the rare opportunity to go into the Newburgh mail facility will be sent in.

May 24, 2023

Orange County Arts Council OCAC Announced $25k For Artists

May 24, 2023/ Katie Hellmuth

Call For Artists and Community Arts Grants

Orange County NY Arts Council announces two locally-funded opportunities representing $25,000 of available grant awards to go directly to artists in Orange County. The 2023 Community Arts Grants and the Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists are both locally funded opportunities created specifically with the needs of the local arts community in mind. Individual artists and arts organizations are encouraged to apply for both opportunities. Applications can be found under “Grants” in the “Resources” tab found here or through OCAC’s links on social media platforms.

Since 2017, the Community Arts Grants have provided funding to local artists through a generous contribution of the Wesley-Kruger Family Foundation. Applications for $1,000 grants are now being accepted through June 15. All artists and arts organizations living in or serving Orange County, NY are encouraged to apply. This will be the last year of this program in its current form, as an updated Community Arts Program will be announced later this year.

The Orange County Arts Council fundraiser, the Art Affair, sold out the 2022 presentation which featured over 50 artists presenting and performing their work during the black-tie suggested, creative attire required, evening. The Art Affair is designed to showcase Orange County's art scene by creating an immersive event where guests can interact and experience art in many forms through installations and performances while enjoying curated food and themed beverages. Submissions for this year’s theme, Wonderland, are now being accepted and will be presented in November. Artists can receive up to $3,000 in funding for participation in this event by applying by June 15th.

Additional information:

Both applications will close June 15, 2023 at 11:59pm.

Community Arts Grants

Applicants MUST read the guidelines prior to submitting. Guidelines linked here.
Deadline: June 15th 2023 11:59pm
The Community Arts Grants will be administered by the Orange County Arts Council (the “Arts Council”) and funded through individual donations made to the Arts Council from donors and sponsors, including a generous gift from the Wesley-Krueger Family Foundation. The work of the Arts Council is made possible in part by generous support of Orange County, NY and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Art Affair 2023 Call for Artists

Selected projects will be integrated into the evening's experience as designed by the OCAC Executive Director, the Gala Chair, and Gala Committee Members. Artists maintain all rights to their work and give Orange County Arts Council permission to use photo, audio, and video recordings of the work for promotional purposes.
Projects will be presented at the Art Affair, Saturday, November 18th, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
All applicants must reside in Orange County NY or show significant participation in the Orange County Arts Community outside this opportunity.
The Art Affair serves as its major fundraiser and provides exposure to the general public to artists and their work throughout Orange County. The Gala strives to elevate and bring together art and business and public.

Submissions requested:

Live Performance. Not to exceed 10 minutes in length. Dance, Theatre, Performance Art, Music, Readings, etc.
Art displays and installations. Our venue is large and we wish to fill the space with art. Submissions may include: practical builds (stage, drink bar, check-in table), internal or external installations or displays, immersive experience moments, AV installations, etc.