Edison "Eddie" Irizarry's First Court Appearance At Dutchess County Court - Arraigned On Second-Degree Murder Charge - No Bail

Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog

Edison “Eddie” Irizarry (age 52) appeared in Dutchess County Court today for his arraignment hearing before Judge Jessica Z. Segal. Eddie is accused of murdering his new roommate Casey Cuddy (age 58) last Monday night. That evening, Eddie called 911 saying that he had shot his roommate 3 times, saying that his roommate threatened him with a shotgun. When Beacon Police arrived, they found Casey Cuddy dead inside, detained Eddie, and handed the investigation over to New York State Police, since Eddie is a retired Beacon Police Officer of 17 years, retiring in 2021. The Poughkeepsie Journal reports that investigators determined that Casey was shot with a 9-millimeter semi-automatic Glock pistol. For a background on the night of the shooting, read here.

For his arraignment hearing on this Tuesday morning, Eddie was escorted in and met by Court Officers. He wore the orange jumpsuit with brown leather belt around his waist. He looked smaller, and his short hair disheveled. Representing Eddie is Public Defender Susan Mraz Mungavin.

The indictment of Murder in the Second Degree was handed over, and the plea of Not Guilty entered. Discovery material was discussed as coming from both sides, and that Discovery would be ongoing.

The Prosecutor recommended no bail be set, citing that Eddie is a flight risk and has family in Puerto Rico. Public Defender reserved application, and Judge Segal responded: “Mr Irizarry, given the nature of the charge and the potential for over 20 years in prison, I have concerns about flight risk. Remand without bail.”

Next, the Prosecutor stated that they had additional documents regarding Alibi, a demand for reciprocal Discovery and Witness List. They briefly wanted to be heard for the facts of the case.

The Judge questioned the purpose, since bail had been denied, and then set the date for the next Conference to be September 24th.

After the hearing, both newspapers reported the statement from Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi: "The allegations are both troubling and disappointing, particularly given the fact that the defendant is a former member of law enforcement."

He continued: "My thoughts are with the victim's family as they endure an incredibly painful time. While the defendant is presumed innocent under the law, we will pursue this case with the utmost diligence, fairness and integrity. Our responsibility is to the truth, to due process, and to securing justice for the victim and the community."

Flags Flown At Half-Staff For The Week In Honor Of Amalio Lombardi, Excavation Worker

At Mayor of Beacon Lee Kyriacou’s order, flags will be flown at half-staff for Amalio Lombardi, age 61 of Goshen, who was fatally killed in an accident during excavation of Rte. 52 in Beacon in between Lanks Auto and Hedgewood Home For Adults as part of the Fishkill/Teller Avenues infrastructure projects, as reported by ALBB earlier today. ALBB has learned that Amalio worked for 12 years alongside his co-workers, and was union, according to a source who spoke to ALBB.

In a press release written and published by Beacon Police Chief Tom Figila to the Beacon PD’s Facebook page, and shared on the City of Beacon’s Facebook page, Chief Figlia said as part of his update: “the City's administration extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Lombardi. Mayor Kyriacou ordered that the flags be lowered to half staff for the remainder of the week in honor and memory of Mr. Lombardi.”

When the robo-alert went out to the people of Beacon, the announcement only contained information about the road being opened back up again, and thanked everyone for their patience. In neither robo-call was the fact that someone had succumbed to their injuries in a tragic work-related accident.

After the first robo-call, people of Beacon immediately wondered if an employee of any of Beacon’s departments was injured, and what kind of injury it was (ie: hit by a car on that busy road, fell off the cliff, etc.). Confirmation as to the detail of the accident needed to be reported on.

When Mid-Hudson News announced the fatality, ALBB followed with the detail, and the Beacon Police Department'’s Press Release came after that.

“I was on the other side of the road closure, and had to drive back several miles to get to where I was picking up my child,” one reader told ALBB. “I only learned the gravity of the situation from your article.”

Patrick Moore told ALBB readers: “I drove by maybe 30 seconds after it happened. The worst thing I have ever, ever seen. I worked for 9 years as a firefighter outside of Austin, TX. I have never seen anything like this. So sad and thoughts for family and the workers there yesterday.”

“I was there when they were turning cars around,” another reader told ALBB. “I asked what happened and they told me there had been a death. This must have been what happened.”

This has been an emotionally charged topic for co-workers of the deceased, friends and family. Some in the Beacon community expressed surprise that the work continued after the accidental incident. Said Andrè S Omally at ALBB’s Facebook: “Drove by saw these guys out there working 20mins later; Beacon PD/FD and EMS rushing towards there. smh very sad RIP.”

After Mid-Hudson’s News’ article published, ALBB headed down to get photos of what would be a very basic article documenting the incident. “I was surprised to see an active job site, where the crew was back to work as if nothing happened,” said Katie Hellmuth, writer of the article. “When a neighbor and I saw employees walking by, we were all stunned."

Comments at Facebook about this incident have been wild and unexpected. It seems unimaginable that the driver of the excavator was still driving after this accident, as he must have been very upset and scared. ALBB has not confirmed if it was him, or if someone replaced him. Hopefully he was allowed to stop driving so that he and other employees could seek emotional support about what had just happened.

UPDATE 7/29/2025: A comment has been left below on this article based on the above statement. That comment is republished here for confirmation:

As the spouse of someone on that crew, I'd like to set several records straight!

1) They did NOT continue working "as if nothing happened" - they were absolutely devastated and to make the road usable for the general public again took EVERYTHING in them to do.

2) No....the driver of the machine was NOT expected to keep driving. Someone did, in fact, come from a different job to take his place. The person who took his place was ALSO very upset by this news, and took everything in himself to do what needed to be done.

By the end of the day, the road was filled back in. The excavator had been digging a long hole in the middle of the road. The Beacon community mourns for all of the employees there as well as the deceased. Condolences to their families and friends.

After this article published, the City of Beacon’s Facebook account commented, without confirming the writer’s identity: “The reason the crews stayed and worked after the incident was due to the fact that there was a large hole in the middle of the road that couldn't be left open. Rather than raise questions about the crews working after the incident, you could have interviewed one of them and highlighted the absolute resolve and courage it took them to get back in their machines and close the road responsibly when all of them were traumatized by this.”

The City of Beacon should know that this writer was not about to step into an active construction site with an excavator moving. “One employee spoke and gave their statement,” said Katie. “I was not about to chase him for more.” The name of the excavation company has not been released, so we cannot call to follow up.

Said Jessica Hansen, Traffic Control Supervisor at Local 234 on Facebook: “Don’t you know the public thinks all the work done magically fixes itself and doesn't need crews to fix anything. We are just in their way and an inconvenience.”

So far, ALBB is leaving comments on, and advises people to restrain themselves to sending condolences and prayers. Over the years, our readers have asked that comments be left on so that they can see the true nature of people.

The Unexpected Closing Of Tito Santana Taqueria By The Landlord

Tito Santana Taqueria, days after a Dutchess County Board of Health inspection triggered a Beacon Building Department inspection, resulting in findings of structural damage deemed as “Unsafe Conditions” to floor joists in the basement due to wood-boring insects. The restaurant was ordered to cease by the Beacon Building Department until this violation was remedied by the property owner, Joseph Donovan and his wife, both of Lindley Todd, LLC,. After Tito’s fixed 5 violations that were there responsibility, and before the work to the floor joists started, the landlord Terminated Tito Santana’s lease with a 7 day order to vacate. a “For Lease” sign was up soon after asking for almost double the rent and showed the space to prospective new tenants.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

When news first came in to A Little Beacon Blog about the unexpected closing of Tito Santana Taqueria, it began as a percolation. Multiple readers wrote in to ask if the rumors were true.

Readers had many questions: if Tito’s had closed; was it because of a health department violation that the landlord wouldn’t fix; were the employees getting paid; was it an issue with the flooring; did they spend time in court; were they evicted; was it closed forever.

ALBB requested and was granted an interview with Tito Santana’s owner, Milan, outside on a hot day in June over ice cold cans of ginger key lime soda. The meeting included reviewing photos of the property before this situation, the email sent by the landlord’s property manager, Sean Noble, to Tito Santana, terminating the lease, and other documents for a pending lawsuit that Tito Santana’s was serving the landlord Lindley Todd, LLC the following week.

What Happened? In A Nutshell

Damage to the floor joists under 142 Main Street, formerly Tito Santana, from the wood-boring insects. Owned by Lindley Todd, LLC.
Photo Credit: Tito Santana

A routine surprise inspection by a Dutchess County Health Inspector of Tito Santana occurred on May 6, 2025, where the inspector found the fire panel to be not working properly. This finding triggered the City of Beacon Building Department to inspect the property, who cited 7 violations, which included significant structural damage to joists under the kitchen floor, due to wood-boring insects, according to the “Order To Remedy - Cease Operations” document obtained by ALBB via FOIA.

Specifically: “The floor joist, seen from the basement area, show evidence of severe deterioration due to wood-boring insects.” Additionally, the Order stated that a permit would be required to fix it: “An engineer evaluation of the flooring system is required prior to repair. Permit required for this work.”

The City of Beacon’s Building Department, under Beacon’s current Deputy Building Inspector Cory Wirthmann, thereby ordered the Cease Of Operations of the restaurant until the violations were fixed, but did not mandate that the lease be terminated, as the Beacon Building Department does not have the authority to dictate or interfere with the relationship between landlord and tenant. Tito Santana had 1 year remaining on their current lease, and for the past three years, had been in discussions for signing a new 9 year lease at a higher rate of $2,250 (current lease was less than that amount, Milan told ALBB).

Tito Santana had been asking the landlord for the past 3.5 years to fix the issues like flooding in the basement while working to secure the new lease. With promises of a future extended lease and repairs made to the building, Lindley Todd, LLC told Tito's to pay the higher rent amount of $2,250 than the current lease, which Tito’s did.

Flooding in the basement cellar of 142 Main Street, where Tito Santana’s was. The restaurant owner told ALBB that flooding was a regular occurrence, and not fixed by the property owner, Lindley Todd, LLC. The new rent listing boasts of: “significant basement storage.”
Photo Credit: Tito Santana

Flooding at 142 Main Street, formerly Tito Santana, that would include sewage. The restaurant owner told ALBB that his requests of the property owner, Lindley Todd, LLC to fix it were repeatedly not completed.
Photo Credit: Tito Santana

“Tito's had been paying the higher rent amount for the past 3 years with no signed new contract. Just the original contract we are in now that I inherited when I bought the business that has the lower rate written in,” Milan said. “This was advantageous to Lindley Todd, LLC because we were safe in that we had an active lease, but as he tempted me with the new 9 year lease and promises to fix major problems, wanted me to pay the higher rent amount that would be on our future 9 year lease,” Milan confirmed. “But that day never came. He terminated my lease by email one afternoon after the Beacon Building Department and Dutchess County Health Department cited him on violations, 5 of which I remedied, the 6th of which was dependent upon his structural fix. My lease ended swiftly in termination.”

The picture above shows water overflowing in the bucket from a leak. The basement flooding was reoccurring. The video shows water coming out of the wall. Backflows from pipes result in all the buildings sewage coming into the basement, Milan explained.

Suddenly, Tito Santana’s was “Closed For Repairs”

Tito Santana fixed 5 violations that were their responsibility, with the 6th needing to wait until the floor was repaired. That violation - the 7th and largest violation of the floor joists - resided with Lindley Todd, LLC, Milan told ALBB. "Structural repair is the landlord's responsibility in 99% of the commercial leases and so it was in our lease,” he said. “Everything else is tenant's responsibility for the most part."

Regarding the violations: “Six were my violations. He made me fix and spend the money on his property. Telling me that he's going to fix the structural issues, like the constant flooding in the basement, and then I would have a new lease. The 6 violations fall under my responsibility. I fixed 5 of them (for the 6th, I was waiting on the floor to be repaired by him). And then he sent me the termination. He made me spend the money to fix his place, and then took the place away from me. What is the point of the lease anyway?”

The lease termination email was sent on May 21, 2025 by Property Manager Sean Noble, which mentions New York State’s Good Cause Eviction Law. Sean’s email explaining the termination reads as follows:

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Milan,

Thanks for your patience as you've been waiting for a time to meet with Joe and me to discuss the repairs needed to clear the violations issued by the City of Beacon. While we had intended to meet to go over next steps, Joe has made the decision to move forward with terminating the lease. This decision was based on the terms outlined in the "Fire/Damage" clause of your lease, which gives the landlord the sole right to determine whether the premises are usable due to fire or other damage. In this case, Joe has determined that the premises are not usable in their current condition and has chosen to exercise his option to terminate the lease rather than proceed with repairs.

Attached to this email, you will find the official Notice of Termination. I know this is disappointing news, especially given your willingness to move forward with resolving the violations.

However, it was the City of Beacon Building Department who ordered that the restaurant cease operations until the structural violation was fixed and reviewed by an engineer, in “Violation 305.1.1 - Unsafe conditions. Code Reference: 2020 Property Maintenance Code of New York State November 2019.” The City of Beacon Building Department had no authority to terminate the lease, and did not order such. All violations are listed below in this article.

Lindley Todd’s representative and family member Nick Page, was seen showing the property days later to potential new tenants in the restaurant industry.

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After the termination, the property was listed on the market on LoopNet for $4,000/month, which is 43% higher than what Tito Santana was paying, and without the 7th violation of the wood-boring insect damaged floor joists fixed, or the reason for the constant flooding.

The new property listing boasts of “significant basement storage,” but the basement was still prone to flooding.

“He wanted me out, so I moved out,” Milan said. “He only gave me 7 days to move out. On a restaurant that has been there 15 years. Fast forward a couple weeks, he is trying to lease the space for at least $4,000. Almost twice my rent. I find this baffling.”

The “For Lease” sign up at 142 Main Street, former home of Tito Santana days after Tito Santana was served a termination email on their lease, citing that repairs needed to be made.

After the restaurant closed and people started asking questions, on May 31st 2025, ALBB reached out to the landlord, Joseph Donovan of Lindley Todd, LLC with a list of questions about the types of repairs needed. By June 4th he responded: “Yes, my wife and I are the principals of Lindley Todd, LLC, the property owner. A collection of events led to a detailed inspection of the store and cellar (by the health dept, and bldg. inspector, and ourselves) and the realization that extensive repairs were needed … the scope not feasible with continued occupancy of the retail/restaurant space.”

Tito Santana was started 14 years ago by Kamel Jamal, a restaurateur who has started and owns and co-owns several eateries on Main Street in Beacon. He sold Tito Santana’s to the current owner, Milan, 3.5 years ago in January 2022.

What Were The Violations?

Of the 7 violations, Tito Santana fixed 5 of them that were their responsibility, Milan said. They had already moved necessary items out so that Lindley Todd, LLC could do work on the 7th violation involving the basement and kitchen floor damage from the wood-boring insects, as well as a plumbing issue.

“I moved everything for the kitchen floor. I already took stuff from the kitchen to storage. I would have moved more to storage to fix whatever he needed. We were preparing ourselves for the busy summer season, so had purchased food and drinks. I had to throw away $30,000 worth of food and drinks (cost with receipts, not retail value) when he terminated the lease with 7 days notice and mandated that the space be left in ‘broom clean condition’.”

According to the “Order to Remedy - Cease Operations,” the violations were as follows.

1. 2020 Fire Code of New York State November 2019: "The commercial kitchen exhaust hood and fire suppression system was overdue for the 6 month inspection and cleaning. Expired May 1, 2025"

2. Power supply: "Behind the front counter there were several multi-plug adapters plugged into each other and not plugged directly into a wall receptacle."

3. Unapproved conditions: "In the kitchen area there was a 2 gang floor receptacle that was not properly secured to the wall and the cover plate was not secure to the box, exposing the wires on the inside."

4. Plumbing system hazards: "The DWV vent, an Air Admittance Valve, was located within the umbrella of the kitchen hood at a close proximity to the range top. Physical damage to the pipe has occurred due to radiant heat exposure."

5. Clearance from ignition sources: "The commercial range located under the Type 1 hood is mounted above a wood dolly cart. The wood dolly is a combustible material that is located too close to an ignition source."

6. Extension cords: "An extension cord is being used to power a large walk-in cooler outdoors. Extension cord is (1) not protected from physical damage (2) affixed permanently to the building (3) is routed through a door to the outside (4) is plugged into several multi-plug adapters."

7. This was the largest structural violation that the Beacon Building Department required the property owner, Lindley Todd, LLC to fix:
   This violation was identified as "Unsafe Conditions": "The floor joist, seen from the basement area, show evidence of severe deterioration due to wood-boring insects. An engineer evaluation of the flooring system is required prior to repair. Permit required for this work."
   Violation: 305.1.1 - Unsafe conditions.

   Code Reference: 2020 Property Maintenance Code of New York State November 2019

   Description: The following conditions shall be determined as unsafe and shall be repaired or replaced to comply with the Building Code of New York State or the Existing Building Code of New York State as required for existing buildings as required for existing buildings, or the Residential Code of New York State as applicable:
   1. The nominal strength of any structural member is exceeded by nominal loads, the load effects or the required strength.
   2. The anchorage of the floor or roof to walls or columns, and of walls and columns to foundations is not capable of resisting all nominal loads or load effects.
   3. Structures or components thereof that have reached their limit state.
   4. Structural members are incapable of supporting nominal loads and load effects. 5. Stairs, landings, balconies and all similar walking surfaces, including guards and handrails, are not structurally sound, not properly anchored or are anchored with connections not capable of supporting all nominal loads and resisting all load effects.
   6. Foundation systems that are not firmly supported by footings are not plumb and free from open cracks and breaks, are not properly anchored or are not capable of supporting all nominal loads and resisting all load effects.
   Exceptions: 1. Where substantiated otherwise by an approved method. 2. Demolition of unsafe conditions shall be permitted where approved by the building official.

Reason For The Lease Termination

The reason Lindley Todd, LLC stated in an email terminating the lease, which was emailed by the property manager Sean Noble to Milan, invoked the “Fire/Damage Clause.” But there was no fire or damage from a fire.

There a faulty fire panel, which triggered this cascade of intervention. But this wasn’t the first time the fire panel didn’t work, Tito Santana told ALBB. Multiple issues had been wrong and gone unrepaired for some time, despite numerous requests to fix, and spoken promises to deliver, Tito Santana told ALBB. Several of those exchanges are in emails between the two.

"It's brutal to do something like this to anybody," Milan told ALBB. He had 6-7 employees who worked in the kitchen and in the front serving customers. “I was willing to move out for him to fix the place. He just handed me a termination.”

A boiler inspection log at 142 Main Street, with the last inspection date being 5/12/2015.
Photo Credit: Tito Santana

Milan hired an attorney who began correspondence with Lindley Todd, LLC to discuss how to move forward without ending the business. “They never responded to us on anything. Just to have a conversation,” Milan said. “Probably this week we will end up in court. We have to file a lawsuit. They are not responding. I can't do anything if they don't say anything to me.”

While these violations existed prior to this situation, and business ran as usual, the fire panel worked during other surprise inspections. This time however: “They got caught,” Tito Santana told ALBB. “The City of Beacon Building Department report says what the Dutchess County Health Department saw. Lindley Todd, LLC was made aware of the fire panel issues and other issues in the building for 3 years and never fixed them. They never fix the property.”

There was one fix, however. A Beacon Police Officer Affdecrin Oscar Vargas fell on the stairs that zig-zag up the side of the building when responding to a call. Officer Vargas brought a lawsuit against Lindley Todd, LLC in November 2020 that ended in a settlement on March 22, 2022.

After the lawsuit settlement, on May 19th, 2022, Michael Schreiber, Chief Financial Officer of Hudson River Housing, the company who manages the affordable housing of the properties, emailed Milan to let him know of planned work to the stairs that Officer Vargas fell on. “Regarding the staircase,” Michael wrote, “I just want to let you know, that we will be doing something to patch the top, that is getting worse. We are afraid that it is deteriorating much quicker now, so will be doing something after the weekend to address it.”

Milan went to look for any permit on that exterior work done. “I did a FOIA request for any permits received for the property since 2016. No permits were produced in that FOIA request, indicating they never got permits.”

Background On Property On This West End Of Town

Joseph Donovan owns multiple properties on that west end of town under different business names, including the buildings that contain Bank Square Coffeehouse, Mountain Tops, Colorant, and Beacon Creamery. Under one of their other business names, Hudson Todd, LLC, they are currently building the large commercial/residential building at 2 Cross Street where the sidewalk on Main Street has been extended with the jersey barriers to accommodate the construction.

Most of the properties are not newly renovated. With the exception of Colorant, which was renovated years ago after Joe Donovan required then tenant Miss Vickie’s Music to vacate her Main Street studio while they renovated that property so that a new storefront could move in. Colorant is there now.

Miss Vickie’s Music studio had been the tenant for years, all the way back to when the Piccone family owned most of that property. The Donovan family then purchased most of that property. The companies of Joe Donovan completed in one of the largest property deals in Beacon around April 2017.

When Donovan’s company wanted Miss Vickie out, they moved her down Main Street a few blocks in the then worn down apartments behind Mr. Bell’s Salon, until Mr. Bell’s salon completely burned down near the time that one of Joe Donovan’s companies was selling that property to the current owners, 201-211 Main Street, LLC in July 2023. The fire happened in between the time of their transaction.

The new owners then evicted Mr. Bell and the shoe cobbler John’s Shoe Repair with a 3 days to vacate, citing the Fire Damage clause in their lease. Those new owners posted a notice on the plywood boards titled “Three Day Notice To Cancel Lease,” signed by Lendita Mavraj, Manager of 201-211 Main Street, LLC. After those new owners renovated those storefronts, other beauty salons moved in. B Hair Studio is there now.

Miss Vickie was again evicted, as the new owners cited smoke damage to those apartments in the back. All of Miss Vickie’s neighbors, who included an elderly Veteran, were evicted. That entire property has since been renovated and rent increased. Joe Donovan absorbed his old cobbler tenant into the apartment complex behind Colorant, who remains there to this day.

If you don’t know Miss Vickie, she can be seen outside of the Towne Crier sweeping the sidewalk, shoveling the sidewalk, working the sound board inside, and other duties.

Donovan’s Sales Tax and Mortgage Tax Exemptions For 2 Cross Street

THe Piccone Family sold the Joe Donovan family several properties in 2017. Ronald “Jamie” Piccone is on the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency board who awarded Donovan’s company Hudson ToDD $249,745 in a Sales Tax and Mortgage Tax Exemption for 2 Cross Street new construction. During this application review, no Conflicts of Interest were stated when asked.

Back at the new construction for the large building at 2 Cross Street, another one of Joe Donovan’s companies, Hudson Todd, LLC, applied for and was awarded $249,745 in Sales and Use Tax Exemption and Mortgage Tax Exemption for an approximately $10,384,302 project for the construction of a 24,000 square foot mixed-use commercial facility with affordable residential housing from Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency (DCIDA).

On that board is a Piccone family member, Rondald “Jamie” Piccone II. The Piccone family is who sold Donovan the property where Tito Santana’s and Miss Vickie’s were located.

During the Conflict of Interest portion of the DCIDA application review meeting that ALBB reviewed the document of, no Conflict of Interests were stated: “Chairman Dean asked board members if they had any potential conflicts with any items on the agenda. No potential conflict was noted,” the notes stated.

2 Cross Street has vacillated between the number of affordable units it is offering, as state funding shifted (March 2023), (May 2024), and (June 2024).

Next Steps For Tito Santana

As of 3:35pm on July 7, 2025, Joe Donovan’s property manager, Sean Noble of Lindley Todd, LLC was served with a lawsuit from Tito Santana alleging a Breach of Lease Agreement, Negligence, and Unjust Enrichment.

City of Beacon Permit for 142 Main Street dated 6/20/2025 - 6/20/2027 after the May 2nd violation notice from the City of Beacon Building Department.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

On July 10, 2025, ALBB reached out to Joe Donovan of Lindley Todd, LLC for comment on the lawsuit, and his thoughts on why his decision to “exercise his option to terminate the lease rather than proceed with repairs” made sense, when his company was showing the property to interested new tenants in the restaurant industry just days later at a 43% rent increase.

A new permit is up in the window now, and ALBB asked what the repairs were for, if the landlord’s termination email stated that he would “rather terminate than proceed with repairs.”

Editorial Update 4:45pm 7/11/2025: After this article published, Joe responded: “We looked for ways to perform all of the required work without displacing the tenant, but it just wasn’t feasible. A lot of complexities. Happy to discuss in person if you’d like. There is paper up on the windows but none on the door. If you take a look at what’s going on inside you’ll understand why the space could not be occupied during the required ‘repairs’.”

ALBB responded: “Thank you. Ceasing operation of the restaurant tenant was required by the Order to Remedy. What question remains unanswered is the need for the termination of the lease during the required "repairs.” And the following swift search for a new tenant during "repairs." Any comment as to that?”

How far will this lawsuit go? “Justice costs money,” Milan told ALBB. “But I'm not going to go bankrupt.”

Tito Santana has started a GoFundMe, and is selling their equipment. “If anyone is looking to open a new restaurant - we would be happy to support them. Or if anyone wants to buy for their current operations.”

Milan concluded: “I just want it out there. Anyone who rents will know. That is my mission. To let everyone know that this is what this person does. I don't tell anyone what to do. These are the facts. You make the decision.”

ICE Alert: Newburgh, Tuesday 8am 7/8/2025: Bankard + South Lander; Liberty + Washington

ICE Sighting in Newburgh at the intersection of Bankard + South Lander, which is a residential area. Ice reported to be moving “very fast” and was later seen on Washington + Liberty.

Sources have verified that ICE is active this Tuesday morning (7/8/2025) in Newburgh and are moving “very fast.” This photo of two men with traditional tan ICE vests on and ball caps, who are standing next to a white passenger van, is at the intersection of Bankard and South Lander.

This area is primarily residential apartments and townhouses. The blue building in the background is the Continental, an old hotel that is no longer in business, a source tells ALBB. One block over is Big Mouth Coffee Roasters, where the coffee roaster has a second location (they also have a retail location on Main Street in Beacon). They are unrelated to this ICE Alert, but mentioned for proximity.

ICE was also seen this morning at the intersection of Liberty and Washington which is a mix of retail shops and restaurants and apartments.

On July 1st, there was verification of a person taken from a residential urban street in Middletown. If you know of other verified locations and dates of people taken that you want to amplify, you may submit information to ALBB via our Contact Us page.

Characteristics of ICE Behavior

ICE Activity tends to happen in the morning between 5-8am and again at the end of the work day from 5-8pm. On Sundays, they are known to target churches at 12pm noon time. In Beacon, they struck on Soccer Saturday morning. Video was acquired of an ICE agent identifying himself. Both adult players of pickup soccer were wary, and parents of toddler soccer were on high alert.

Community members are encouraged to keep their eyes out for ICE, and report to their trusted sources. When possible and safe, take photos of ICE agents, their vehicles and license plates. Some ICE agents may be very proud of their work, and may proudly identify themselves to you if you nicely approach them to ask who they are, like this mom did. New York State has a “one-party consent law.” If you are the one consenting, you can record.

Some members of the Beacon community have formed a Signal chat, where photos of possible sightings are submitted and dismissed if they are regular people doing regular things.

Reports of vehicles have included white passenger vans, and dark vehicles with all tinted windows. License plates usually look like normal license plates. ICE agents have usually been white men, but white females have been appearing in ICE raid videos across the country as well.

ICE agents (or people who say they are ICE agents) are usually not affiliated with local police. If you feel threatened or harassed by a person identifying themselves as ICE, you can call your local Beacon Police, and tell them that a person won’t leave you alone, is harassing and stalking you.

If someone comes to your door, looking for you, you are strongly advised not to open the door. Do not run from your home. Stay inside and call your local trusted community member friends. They may be able to mobilize and come to your home to be a loud witness presence outside near the ICE people.

Possibly local police, depending on what municipality you live in. Consider calling the Beacon Police via 911 so that it gets on the public scanner. If you call the Beacon Police directly, your call will not be on the scanner.

Demand to see a judicial warrant. If they have one, tell them to slip it under the door. From there, the judicial warrant must be signed by a judge. If it is signed by a person saying their are an ICE agent, this does not count. If you flee out of your home, the person saying they are ICE may physically grab you without presenting a warrant.

Keep your camera near you and on video at all times. While it is very scary to have someone pounding on your door asking you questions on repeat, stay calm and make your safety phone calls.

Related Links:

How To Verify A Person Circling A Neighborhood Who May Be ICE (How-To Video)

ICE Spotted Again In Beacon On Soccer Saturday - "Community Is Watching," Neighbor States (With Video)

ICE Has Been Questioning Brown People In Beacon At Least 1.5 Months; At Least One Other Person Taken

Details From The Friday, June 20th ICE Raid In Beacon & The Taking Of The Neighbor

Stay safe everyone.

ICE Has Been Questioning Brown People In Beacon At Least 1.5 Months; At Least One Other Person Taken

According to neighbors in Beacon who are residents and employees in Beacon, ICE has been circling the backroads of Beacon and Main Street for at least 1.5 months, questioning people. At least one other person was taken in that time, ALBB was told by people familiar with the situation.

Men Seeming Like ICE In The BACKROADS Questioning Residents

A resident who is Brown in the Spanish community who lives in the backroads of Beacon told ALBB that a white men dressed in the tan vest with yellow POLICE patch on it, wearing a ball cap and large sunglasses, approached them at their home, asking if a woman with a Spanish name (they identified the name) lived in their home. The white man pursued questioning the Beacon resident, asking more than once if the woman lived there, and did the resident know where she was. The resident declined each time saying they did not know her. The white man with the POLICE vest, cap and sunglasses left.

When the resident stepped out of their home to continue on with their day of errands, a car of 4 white men in similar costume of cap, sunglasses, tan vest and yellow POLICE approached the Beacon resident again, asking them more questions. The resident grew a little impatient, as the questioning was making them late to an appointment, and asked if they were free to leave. Eventually the car of white men drove away.

This resident confirmed to ALBB that a man from the Spanish community in Beacon was taken from a different street before the man was taken from North Elm Street. No one can verify where the person was taken.

MAN Questioning Employees On Main Street

Employees who are Brown who were out on the sidewalk on Main Street in the past weeks told ALBB that they were separately spoken to by a white man they did not recognize. The first employee said that the man, who was dressed in non-identifiable clothing, spoke to them in Spanish. However, the employee did not speak Spanish and did not understand him. They asked him to repeat in English, which he did. He told the employee that he wanted to let them know that ICE was in the area, and to be careful. He went on with his thoughts.

The second Brown employee at a different establishment said that they were approached by the same white man, who asked where they were from, how long they were in the country, and how long they were working at the establishment.

Both employees told ALBB that they felt that the questioning was not comforting, and both have decided to refrain from answering questions or warnings about ICE from men they do not recognize who linger around the place of business.

Last Saturday, when ICE was identified as being on North Elm and Wilkes Street in this video, a person on Main Street down by the Dummy Light said they saw a white man in a vest with an FBI patch on it. While this may been a poser, or imposter who ordered an FBI jacket off the Internet and felt like walking around, he was seen, and did not look like a backpacker. The Beacon resident told ALBB: “I saw him wearing beige cargo pants and the dark blue jacket with the 3 FBI letters on the back. He walked down Main Street and turned onto East Main Street, walking extremely fast away, almost in a rushing manner.”

When ALBB asked if they were positive they saw the three letters on the back, the resident said: “FBI jacket for sure.”

While it may not always be possible to verify if a person wearing a FBI jacket or tan POLICE vest is ICE, one can always approach them nicely and ask them. As in this video where the ICE person identified themselves, ICE can identify themselves. Bonus points if they present a badge or some sort of identification. Since they are searching for people with names, they can also state their name when asked.

ICE Spotted Again In Beacon On Soccer Saturday - "Community Is Watching," Neighbor States (With Video)

Saturday morning in Beacon marked the last Soccer Saturday of the season as parents rose early to get ready for Championship Day. Dark vehicles with tinted windows suspected of being U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were parked in a line up North Elm and Wilkes Streets, with possible sightings at Orchard Place, the loop that is the base of East and West Willow Streets known as “The Willows.”

After the first Beacon resident was taken by ICE early Friday morning from their home on North Elm Street, residents in Beacon convened in an emergency meeting Friday night to share resources and connect phones to begin a Neighborhood Watch for ICE spottings in an attempt to distract and delay.

A Little Beacon Blog had just published the first article describing what was known so far about the previous ICE sting operation on North Elm, when a reader commented in ALBB’s Instagram that ICE was possibly at intersection of North Elm and Wilkes again for another hit.

Alex Berke, a local mom and employment lawyer who provides counsel on sexual harassment and discrimination cases, had been alerted via the Neighborhood Watch group, and biked over to seek verification by cautiously approaching one of the vehicles to inquire as to their purpose. “It doesn’t feel as hard for me to do this because I’m white and very comfortable speaking to authority figures,” Alex told ALBB.

When she approached the car, she gave a friendly greeting. “Hi…” she said. When she got no response, she tipped her bike helmet in head-nod to get his attention, and motioned for him to roll down his window.

“We all need to be sand in the gears right now. If you’re comfortable approaching, it’s time to do so. Those who have privilege can use it in these moments.”

— Alex Berke, local Beacon resident and attorney.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” the driver asked. Another Beacon resident rolled up as well to join Alex in the interview. The driver was a white male, bald, wore a dark short-sleeved shirt and had a thick beige vest on with a yellow POLICE patch on the front, similar to what has been the costume in other ICE abduction videos. His New York license plate read LDY-3445.

“Yeah,” she continued. “I’m just a Beacon local, and we are trying to understand where you are from and what’s going on.”

“Um, we have something going on in the area,” he answered. “Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, if you’re wondering that. We have police activity going on in the area, so I’m letting you know that we are here.”

The second Beacon resident asked for clarification on which police were in the area. She asked: “Are you saying that local police are involved?”

“No,” he answered immediately. “Local police are not involved. We work independently. Ok?”

Suddenly his phone rang and chatter picked up on his walkie-talkie. “Is that good?” he asked. “That answers your questions?”

“That answers our questions for now,” Alex answered. “The community is out and we’re going to be watching.”

He told her to stay safe as he rolled his window back up, and she wished him the same. “You got it, thank you,” he said as he began driving away toward Verplanck. Soon after, all the cars were gone.

“We all need to be sand in the gears right now,” Alex told ALBB. “If you’re comfortable approaching, it’s time to do so. Those who have privilege can use it in these moments.”

FAQ: “Is This New? Has ICE Been In The Area?”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) spotted in Newburgh on Sunday, June 22, 2025 on Broadway standing outside of a Hispanic restaurant with possible intent of wanting to get to apartments above.
Photo Credit: Neighborhood Watch Groups in Newburgh

ICE has been targeting people throughout Dutchess and Orange Counties for months, but Friday’s abduction from North Elm Street was the first for Beacon. Video footage and photos of ICE standing outside bodegas and restaurants in the Hudson Valley have flown around group chats in the immigrant community, but verifying them for reporting has been difficult.

For example, this photo of ICE was in Newburgh on Sunday, June 22, 2025 on Broadway standing outside of a Hispanic restaurant. The photo was circulated to share location and also visual identification, as ICE can be wearing different outfits or driving different cars on different days. In this case, these men had possible intent of wanting to get to apartments above.

Beacon’s back-to-back sing operation marked the fist opportunity to cross-confirm developments for verifications and reporting. Prior to the driver identifying himself as ICE in the video above, a Beacon resident who had witnessed Friday’s raid confirmed that it was the same car and license plate returning on Saturday. The Neighborhood watch in Beacon was active again on Sunday, but no sightings that could be verified came in.

“I’m going to park my car in the driveway,” laughed one neighbor who has a similar car to one found in videos of ICE spotted parked on Main Street early Saturday morning. Some residents were ruffled about their parked cars being considered as ICE vehicles, but one resident who noticed activity around her vehicle said she appreciated the watch efforts and was horrified that ICE was in Beacon.

FAQ: “Why Now? Is This Because Of the No Kings Protest 2 Weeks Ago?”

No. In fact, it may have been because most in the Beacon community protest so hard that ICE has not been here, and instead started with low hanging, unprotected fruit in Newburgh, Cornwall and other areas. The Walmart in Fishkill, for instance, was targeted months ago, with flash checkpoints set up outside in the parking lot to question people as they walked in, according to one resident of Beacon whose mother was questioned for papers in such checkpoint.

The list that Dutchess County and Beacon were added to that Mayor Kyriacou and the National Sheriffs Association responded to on June 2nd maybe have been a warning shot to the beginning of raids or attempted raids in Beacon.

Patterns For Identifying ICE

Area experts have said that ICE tends to come in the mornings between 5-8am for the commute to work, and again from 5-8pm for the departure from work. But ICE can wait late at night as well, as shifts get out at different times. This has been known to happen in parts of Newburgh and other municipalities. On Sunday’s, ICE is known to camp out for the church service release at 12pm noon. ICE’s “work” knows no bounds.

There are different levels of involvement and engagement for identifying ICE. If one is to approach a vehicle to seek verification of an ICE agent, it is encouraged that the person inquiring is polite when seeking more information.

Should a raid be about to happen, it has been encouraged to bring a bucket in order to bang on it to make noise. New York is a one-party consent state, in that a conversation can be recorded if one party consents, and that person can be the person recording the conversation.

Juneteenth Festival In Beacon: This Year's Lineup Of Food, Fun, Shopping, and Resources

Juneteenth is today for Beacon! The lineup of performers is action-packed, featuring favorites like DJ King Cyrus, the Marching Cobras, Zumba Sistas (Line Dance Instructor), Bosco and the Storm, and more. Plenty of food options await, including the Number Seven Sandwich Hub, Matcha Thomas, Pat's Kitchen Corp and others. Shopping includes The Little Me Boutique-Crowned Natural Haircare, Allor of Romance, Browngirlz Crafts, Shopping Reveal, LLC, 5HeartProducts, A Little Beacon Blog’s face painting table, and others. Find resources too! Like Self-Care JS Inc. and Sun River Health.

Bonus: There will be a Cowboy Carter themed photo booth with an actual horse! The festivities will be down at the river at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park from 11-5pm. The event is free. Bring your dollars for food and fun. Several vendors accept cash or cards.

Performers:

DJ King Cyrus
Marching Cobras
Jayda Woodall
Bosco and The Storm
Soléya
FunkSway Soul Band
Mya Moore
Zumba Sistas (Line Dance Instructor)

Vendors:

Self-Care JS Inc. nonprofit organization
Spirit of Beacon Day
Allor of Romance
Just A Taste Foods LLC
Number Seven Sandwich Hub
Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail
Haywood Group
AbuBashir Oils
Sun River Health
RMWResources
Jades Collections
A Little Beacon Blog
Howland Public Library
Behind The Chair Ministries/Brandens Safehouse
The Little Me Boutique-Crowned Natural Haircare
Pat's Kitchen Corp
5HeartProducts
Backies All Natural
Browngirlz Crafts
Team Hart at epique realty
Corky ChEV CearTions LLC
The Potluck
Evies Eats
George’s Kitchen
Citwmininc
My Angels Home Care Inc
Shopping Reveal, LLC
Grace Smith House
Loquacitee
The House of Contemporary Art
Matcha Thomas
Kandles N Things, Ellen's Unique Boutique
Indivisible 845
Kappa Eta Eta Chapter, Inc.
Rise Up Project at St. Andrew & St. Luke Episcopal Church (SASLEC)
LesSoeurs Amiable Civic Club
The Love Quest Foundation Inc
Sisters of Salaam
Big Drip Italian Ice
Four Winds Crafts
Desmond Fish Library
Big Apple Concessions
Snack Shack
Incredible Creations
Falafal Vegan Food Truck
Natural Levity LLC
Beacon Historical Society
Queer Family Network
Caricature by Marlene
Baby Schnooks

No Records Found That ICE Has Requested Aiding and Abetting From Beacon's Administrator or Mayor

According to a FOIL request made by A Little Beacon Blog to the City of Beacon asking for any requests made by ICE to the City Administrator Chris White or Mayor Lee Kyriacou about immigration status' or actions taken with regard to immigrants in the City of Beacon, there have been “no records found responsive to this request,” the City of Beacon responded on 6/12/2025.

This request was made after Mayor Lee Kyriacou delivered his statement about the City of Beacon’s response to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) list that targeted cities and counties in New York State, including Dutchess County and Beacon.

In his statement delivered during a City Council Meeting, he said: “While the city has yet to receive any formal communication by the federal government, we remain confident that the City is abiding any all applicable state and federal laws and judicial orders. Our City and our Police Department remain committed to protecting public safety and any statements to the contrary are presumably misleading and inaccurate.”

Beacon's Mayor Kyriacou and National Sheriff's Association Respond To DHS Immigration Letter Targeting Cities and Counties

During last week’s City Council Meeting (6/2/2025), Mayor Kyriacou acknowledged the list issued by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which targeted cities and counties including Beacon as a “sanctuary” that DHS felt were obstructing federal immigration laws during the 47th administration’s commitment to removing as many Brown people with varying immigration status’ as possible.

“While the city has yet to receive any formal communication by the federal government, we remain confident that the City is abiding any all applicable state and federal laws and judicial orders. Our City and our Police Department remain committed to protecting public safety and any statements to the contrary are presumably misleading and inaccurate.”

— Beacon's Mayor Lee Kyriacou

The list, posted by DHS on May 29th and removed 2 days later, according to reporting in the Highlands Current, included 15 counties and 12 cities in New York (out of 500 jurisdictions nation-wide on the list). MidHudson News reported that “according to the DHS, counties identifying as state sanctuary jurisdictions include Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester, but many of the counties strongly disagree. Municipalities with self-identification, according to DHS, include the cities of Beacon, Hudson, Kingston, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie, and the Village of New Paltz.”

According to the Highlands Current, DHS said that the areas mentioned are “deliberately and shamefully obstructing” federal immigration enforcement and protecting “dangerous criminal aliens.” DHS instructed that the areas “immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws,” but told municipalities to “conduct their own evaluation.”

Also according to the article, the Trump administration is attempting to strong-arm support hyper-locally through its 287(g) agreements with local law enforcement agencies. “Those agreements allow agencies to assume some enforcement duties and greatly expand the capabilities of ICE,” reporter Leonard Sparks said.

Active 287(g) agreements in place between ICE and at least one jurisdiction in the states that are green. As of May 13, 2025.

Beacon’s Mayor Kyriacou’s Response To The DHS List

Mayor Kyriacou proclaimed during the meeting: “The Department of Homeland Security issued a list which has apparently been withdrawn, of cities, counties and states that are ‘deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws and endangering American citizens.’ Which list includes the City of Beacon. It is absolutely not the case that the City is deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. While the City has yet to receive any formal communication by the federal government, we remain confident that the City is abiding any all applicable state and federal laws and judicial orders. Our City and our Police Department remain committed to protecting public safety and any statements to the contrary are presumably misleading and inaccurate.”

National Sheriffs’ Association Pressures Federal Government To Withdraw Letter

According to MidHudson News, the list was removed due to pressure from local officials including sheriffs. “The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed a list of ‘sanctuary’ states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from sheriffs’ and elected officials throughout the U.S., including here in the in the Hudson Valley.”

The article continued: “The National Sheriffs’ Association had maintained that a list of “non-compliant” sheriffs could damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement.” The CEO of the National Sheriffs’ Association, Jonathan Thompson, was credited with impacting the withdraw in a memo written to sheriffs’ offices nation-wide:

According to MidHudson News, “The Department of Homeland Security removed its misguided and error-prone sanctuary State, Counties, and Cities list. This happened only after Tom Homan and senior-most White House staff weighed-in directing it be withdrawn until further notice. Suffice to say this is a good first step but more remains to be considered.”

Revisiting Beacon’s “Welcoming City” Resolution

In 2017, Beacon signed legislation declaring it a “Welcoming” city, and elected not to be identified as a “sanctuary” city due to the threat of federal funding being withdrawn should a municipality identify as such. The full resolution can be read here. At the time, this was a highly contested piece of local legislation, with many in the Beacon community divided and packing the City Council meetings to speak for or against.

The resolution that Beacon passed reinforced the laws that already existed, and added more guidelines. A few of those are listed below:

City employees and officials shall not:

(a) Stop, question, interrogate, investigate or arrest an individual based solely on (i) actual or suspected immigration or citizenship status, or (ii) a “civil immigration warrant,” administrative warrant, or an immigration detainer in the individual’s name, including those identified in the National Crime Information Center database;

(b) Inquire about the immigration status of an individual, including a crime victim, a witness, or a person who calls or approaches the police seeking assistance, unless necessary to investigate criminal activity by that individual; or

(c) Perform the functions of a federal immigration officer or otherwise engage in the enforcement of federal immigration law, whether pursuant to 8 U.S.C §1357(g) or any other law, regulation or policy.

2. Detainer Requests. City employees and officials shall decline to respond affirmatively to a “civil immigration detainer” or similar request, unless (a) the request is accompanied by a judicial warrant, or (b) the police chief has determined there is probable cause to believe that the individual either (i) has illegally re-entered the country after a previous removal and has been convicted of a New York Penal Law Class A felony or Class B violent felony (or of an equivalent federal crime or crime under the law of another state); or (ii) has or is engaged in terrorist activity.

3. Information Requests. Subject to the ability of supervisory police officials to exercise their sound judgment as necessary to protect public safety, all City employees and officials shall:

(a) Decline to respond affirmatively to requests from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) for non-public information about an individual unless the request is accompanied by a judicial warrant or has a legitimate law enforcement purpose exclusive of the enforcement of immigration laws; EXCEPT that nothing in this resolution shall restrict any City employee or official from complying with the requirements of 8 U.S.C. § 1373 insofar as (i) sending to, or requesting or receiving from ICE information regarding an individual’s citizenship or immigration status, whether lawful or unlawful, (ii) maintaining such information, (iii) exchanging such information with any other federal, state or local government entity; or (iv) otherwise disclosing information about an individual’s criminal arrests or convictions, or juvenile arrests, delinquency or youthful offender adjudications, where disclosure is otherwise permitted by state law or required pursuant to subpoena or court order;

(b) Limit the information collected from individuals concerning immigration or citizenship status to that necessary to perform agency duties and shall prohibit the use or disclosure of such information in any manner that violates federal, state, or local law; and

(c) Inform the City Administrator of all requests received from ICE or CBP, who shall report on requests to the Mayor and City Council.

6. Local Resources. City employees and officials shall not use city funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce or otherwise assist any federal program requiring registration of individuals on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity or national origin, including but not limited to ICE’s 287(g) program.

Disability Challenge Short Filmed At Key Food - Featured Local Actors and Makeup Artist - Scenes And Interviews With Cast And Crew

The Actor Rachel Handler, on set for “Interview WIth The Vampire,” who wrote and produced “Don’t Take This The WRong Way,” filmed at Key Food.

Bionic Brunette is an award-willing writer and filmmaker who moved to Dutchess County a few years ago, spending her career time between the Hudson Valley and NYC. Her name is Rachel Handler and she wears a glittery golden prosthetic leg.

Rachel’s leg is the extension of her that drove her to write and star in the just over 5 minute short thriller film, “Don’t Take This The Wrong Way” to compete in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, which was filmed at Beacon’s Key Food and in Wappingers Falls with a local cast and crew, which included Beacon-based Twinkle Burke who played “Maria” and makeup and special effects makeup by Jenny Magliano. The local production company Whirligig Pictures provided the crew and equipment.

Rachel’s covered Prosthetic Leg in a scene clipped from “Don’t Take This The Wrong Way,” in an isle of Key Food.

This year’s genre for the film challenge was Thriller. “This film is incredibly suspenseful, as my character completely unravels and loses her sense of self and reality,” Rachel told A Little Beacon Blog. “I've been in a few different TV shows, most recently Interview With The Vampire. But I also love to write, direct and produce. This is my 10th film for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, and this one is all about common microaggressions people with disabilities face on a daily basis.”

“This was an incredibly written film from deep within and thank you for the bravery so many people would love to have. Incredibly done!”

— Makup Artist Jenny Magliano

This film is compact with lead-up detail, coming in just over 5 minutes, so we won’t spoil any seconds for you. ALBB has watched it 6 times already, and a new discovery “ah ha!” moment is revealed with each replay. Like with the handicap sign in the Key Food parking lot, and the intrusive guy taking the photo. Won’t say any more!

“This film is based on my own experiences as a disabled filmmaker and actress. I channel those experiences into my art as a coping mechanism and for catharsis.”

Set in a grocery store because that is one of the main places Rachel as a person with a disability receives micro-aggressive comments about her leg that seem to start with “Don’t take this the wrong way, but…” Rachel told the Highlands Current that when she said she wanted to film it in a grocery store, her Director of Photography, Robert Featherstone, suggested Key Food, saying that he shops there often and would ask the owners.

“This film is based on my own experiences as a disabled filmmaker and actress. I channel those experiences into my art as a coping mechanism and for catharsis.”

— Rachel Handler, Writer, Actor, Producer

“Thank goodness [the owners] said yes,” Rachel told the newspaper. “Shooting in Key Food was such a dream. Everyone was so accommodating and welcoming.” Rachel hopes her film helps disabled people “feel seen and heard.” She told the newspaper that some people - even on her own film crew - didn’t realize they had a disability. “Our director has ADHD [attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder]. She never identified as someone with a disability, but ADHD is covered under the [federal] Americans with Disabilities Act. We’re hoping that more people get comfortable self-identifying so that the perspective shifts to seeing the strengths in disability rather than the flaws.”

Hudson Valley Makeup Artist Jenny Magliano applying the Special FX prosthetic makeup to the throat of Beacon-based actor Twinkle Burke for the short thriller “DOn’t Take This The WRong Way.”

Makeup artist Jenny Magliano did the makeup, and the Special FX prosthetic makeup, for when Twinkle Burke’s character “Maria” had her (trigger warning!) throat slashed after a micro-aggressive question. “Jenny did an incredible job with the slash prosthetic,” Twinkle told ALBB.

“I was thrilled to be asked to work on this film for this cause,” Jenny told ALBB. In her Instagram, Jenny shared: “I had the pleasure of donating my time to work on this amazing film with some of the best in the industry. Thank you Bionic Brunette (Rachel Handler) for having us. This was an incredibly written film from deep within and thank you for the bravery so many people would love to have. Incredibly done!”

Locally, Healthy in Color across the street and down the block granted a discount for the cast and crew’s lunch break.

“Don’t Take This The Wrong Way” is competing in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, and they need your views! View the film right here or on YouTube. Like it, Share it, Comment on it. Deadline is Monday, April 21, 2025! Be like ALBB and watch it a few times to pick up on different details.

"Strings For Spring" Led by Violinist / Composer Gwen Laster :: Fundraiser For Beacon Backyard Kitchen

STRINGS FOR SPRING - Workshop & Performance @ The Yard
Day: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Time: 3pm
Price: $20 Suggested Donation.
Proceeds from this go toward funding food for Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen, which feeds the community in need.
Location: The Yard, 4 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508
Welcome to STRINGS FOR SPRING - Workshop & Performance! Join us at The Yard for a an afternoon filled with music and fun. Led by Violinist / Composer Gwen Laster, “Creative Strings Improvisers Ensemble LLC”, is a music program that teaches life skills through Improvisation, Global Music repertoire and Original Composition.

Not limited to string players, CSIE is a creative laboratory that helps to unleash the individual artist behind the instrument. In this workshop open to the public, Gwen and her fellow music professionals will guide students through improvisation techniques, methodologies using standard repertoire, with the intention of providing “real-time” musical contexts and shifting environments as creative canvases.

Proceeds from this go toward funding food for Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen, which feeds the community in need.

CSIE is fiscally sponsored by BeaconArts. See you there!
Tickets >

Cigar On Main Is Moving From East End To Middle Main Street In Former Dentist Office

The former Prospect Dental office on Main Street, that has been vacant for some time, is getting a new tenant: Cigar On Main. The cigar store opened early last year on the east end of town, with a double-room layout to accompany their walk-in, temperature-controlled cigar cave. Cigar On Main are moving to 288 Main Street where they will now occupy two floors. This is right next door to Hudson Valley Food Hall.

In their new location, which is being completely renovated and built out, they are dedicating a the second floor “to all the cigar smokers in our community to come and interact with each other,” the owner told A Little Beacon Blog.

The ground floor will showcase the products Cigar On Main is known for (see a sampling here on their website). The new location will be open in a few months. During the renovation, Cigar on Main remains open at their current location of 520 Main Street, near the Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co.

Below are photos of what Cigar on Main looks like inside right now, before they head west for the former Prospect Dental spot.

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White People Boycott Target In Mount Vernon, NY Over Its DEI Rollback

News12 reported that people boycotted a Target in Mount Vernon, NY over the weekend, calling for it to reinstate its DEI programs.

Since Target announced their rollback of DEI, a $2 billion investment they made from 2016-2020, multiple Black-owned brands have stated that they have been dropped by Target, as reported by Black Information Network.

Early this March, LikeU Cards owner Kiara Imani announced over TikTok that Target dropped its contract with her business, which is a conversation-starting card game for parents, kids, and friends.

Kiara said in her announcement: "People keep asking my opinion about Target as a Black vendor who used to sell at Target. Don't go there. They dropped us along with a bunch of other Black vendors without a lot of notice."

LikeU is struggling to now sell 20,000 sets of cards through their website, likeucards.com. "There are tons of other creators of colors that had contracts that were dropped," Kiara said.

White people and Black people attended the protest outside of the Target in Mount Vernon, NY, according to News12 footage. Nation-wide, there are

Said Ronnie Lichtman of Neighbors Who Care: "We don't want Target to go out of business. We want them to reinstate their DEI policies. We hope that boycotts speak to them." According to Diversity.com, Target’s stock has gone down at least 12% since the boycotts started.

From as early as 2023, Target faced lawsuits from people challenging its DEI policy, calling it “reverse racism.” On January 21, 2025, the president signed an Executive Order to try to roll back DEI policies.

Target is among many corporate brands who have dropped their DEI policies at the pleasure of the president T, as Forbes reports.

Chinese Restaurant Reopens, and OG Beacon Is Here For It

Left: Owner of the building and Chinese restaurant, Fa Tuan Ni was spotted behind the counter by a previous regular, the artist Teron Wright.
Right: Chinese character painted onto the side of the building: “Strength”

Fa Tuan Ni, owner of building and the Chinese Restaurant known as Xin Xing at 250 Main Street, has fired up the burners again and opened as promised on March 1st, 2025. The Beacon Internet is excited. Beacon-grown basketball player Elijah Hughes said on ALBB’s Instagram: “U can shakeback from anything in life.” Beacon-grown rapper TonyEChandy commented “Best Chinese spot in Beacon.”

Chef Drake KellzyLieu Hall said: "They're not new to this, they're TRUE TO THIS!"

The daughter of the artist Teron Wright who stopped in to the restaurant on opening day after delivering a piece of commissioned art to a collector who lives in Beacon.

On opening day, the Beacon-grown artist Teron Wright declared: “One time for the one time lol…They tried to shut us down but we back like we never left.” Teron had been delivering a commissioned piece of artwork to one of his collectors who lives in Beacon, and “figured why not grab me and my daughter a meal while we was in town,” Teron told ALBB.

“For those asking,” Teron reported on his own Instagram, “OG still behind the counter,” meaning, Teron was impressed and excited to see the familiar face of Fa Tuan Ni.

After a pause, Fa Tuan Ni gradually made changes to his building, which included painting the facade red and adding new characters to it that say “Peace” on the front of the building and “Strength” on the side of the building.

The Chinese character painted onto the front of Fa Tuan Ni’s building: “Peace”

Fa Tuan Ni can be seen on the outdoor fitness circuit, where he jogs up to the Beacon High School track to do calisthenics, or drops and does a few sets of 20 right outside his building on the sidewalk. In case anyone needed a dose of morning motivation.

Re Solicitors: City Administrator Says To "Call The Police;" vs Shut The Front Door

In a post to the City of Beacon’s Facebook page, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White encouraged people to call the police after a person comes to an individual’s residence to sell services, as it is a violation of the City’s Peddling and Soliciting Law instead of simply shutting the front door.

People who come around selling services include local roofing companies, who will tell you they are “just finishing up a job on your street, and we wanted to give you an estimate or give you our card.” You can shut the front door.

Most common are younger people who come around selling alternative energy choices, and ask to see your Central Hudson bill to determine how much money you can save with their company. These people are usually from out of state and hired by those alternative energy companies to go around neighborhoods soliciting. These people are sometimes put up in hotels in Fishkill to do this work. For them, they are doing what they were hired to do. For us, they may be breaking Beacon’s local Peddling and Soliciting Law.

When you ask to see their Peddler’s Permit, they may say: “My manager has it,” or “I didn’t bring it with me.” All you need to do is shut the front door. In 2018, there was a convincing campaign going around for testing the water. The company did apply for an receive a Peddler’s Permit, according to then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, but their marketing was masked, as reported by ALBB. Read about that here.

If your child is home with you, and they see you swiftly deny this person consideration for their services, your child may tone-police you and say: “Mommy, why were you rude to that person?” You can simply say: “It is not rude to deny a person entry to our home, or consideration for their services. If that is rude, then sometimes Mommy is rude.”

No included in the Peddler’s Permit requirement are Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, school groups, and politicians. Former Beacon City Councilmember and current Chair for the Spirit of Beacon Day, Ali T. Muhammad, responded to the Facebook message with this comment: “And this is not a message telling you not to participate in the electoral process of signing someone’s petition to get on the ballot. Support the process. It’ll help you become an informed voter.”

Calling the police is an escalation. Just say no. Or “No thank you, have a nice day.”

During campaign seasons, people seeking to get onto the local ballot are required to get a number of signatures to be considered. Especially if that person is new to politics, this might be a new face.

Message From The City Administrator Chris White:

From the original post, the message reads: “The City has received reports over the past week of solicitors going door to door to sell services. If someone comes to your door, please ask them to show their City of Beacon permit and check the date to make sure it is not expired. All solicitors are required to obtain and carry a "Peddling and Soliciting Permit" under our local law with the exception of local youth (e.g. Scouts, school groups) and political candidates. If they cannot show their Peddler Permit, please call the Police at 845-831-4111 and report them for violating the City's Peddler Law. Also, if you do not want any solicitors at your home, you can either put up signage stating "No Solicitors" or register your address on the City's "No Knock List."