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.

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

Since ALBB posted the verification video of the ICE person on North Elm and Wilkes in Beacon last Saturday, “ICE Spotted Again In Beacon On Soccer Saturday - "Community Is Watching," Neighbor States (With Video)” people have asked a few questions:

• “How do I verify ICE?”

• “Can I film them?”

• “Can I go up to a car to ask them who they are?”

Yes you can. To all of these questions. Katie made this video for you, walking you through how to gently approach a vehicle or person who you think is stalking a neighborhood, house or street. Your goal would be to see if they identify themselves as being with ICE, and what kind of work they are doing here.

If you see a vehicle - or a person walking - who you think is ICE - you could nicely approach them to ask: “Hi…What’s going on here? Can you tell me what you’re doing?”

In Beacon, they have been spotted wearing:

• Tan vests on that say POLICE or a blue jacket that says FBI.

• All black (black shirt, black pants) and a black cap with sunglasses. May have something hanging in a covered holster from their waist.

• Their cars won’t always say ICE on them, but ALBB is currently pursuing a lead where such a vehicle was seen near North Walnut Street (if you have any tips, please send them in). Usually these vehicles have been unmarked with all tinted windows.

This video gives suggestions on how to get verification of an ICE person. Once you get that verification - with video if you can - think about who you will share that video with. A trusted journalist source, your local ICE watch group, the City of Beacon Police, or a trusted source of yours who will know what to do with it.

The Mayor of Beacon, Lee Kyriacou, reaffirmed the City’s commitment to being a safe and inclusive city, with this statement after the person taken on June 20th from a neighbor’s backyard was made public: “I want to make clear that at no time leading up to this incident did City staff, including our Police Department, have any notice of or involvement in ICE operations. As a City, we remain committed to our safe, inclusive community policy, to preserving rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and to avoiding any policies which engender fear among law-abiding families.” Click here for his full statement.

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.

Trash Contained: Royal Carting Won't Pick Up Tall Grasses, Tree Branches, Etc.

As yard-work picks up this spring season, some people have been putting tall grasses (ahem), tree branches, and other brush from the yard into their trash cans. Royal Carting has confirmed that they will not pick up such leafy yard waste if placed into the can, as it can become uncontained when going into the truck.

If your garbage can was skipped for this reason, Royal Carting advises to remove the yard waste, and then call them for a pickup or wait until the following week. The number to call is on the trash can, and is 845-896-6000.

If lawn bags are not in your budget at this time, you can use brown paper grocery bags from Key Food or whoever is using brown paper bags. Put those out on the sidewalk like you normally do for the City of Beacon to pick up. If you have lots of tree branches, or even small bags of yard waste, you can call the Beacon Highway Department to be added for their list of pickups. Despite the trucks driving all over, they might be on a mission for something else and cannot stop to pickup yard-work bags unscheduled.

Schedule For Monday's Memorial Day - Plus Pictures Of Renovated Memorial Building

The City's Annual Memorial Day Remembrance and Ceremony is on Monday, May 26th as posted on the City of Beacon’s Facebook. It is outdoors, and is open to the public. The day usually includes a Remembrance at the East Main Street Bridge, followed by a Ceremony at the Memorial Building with the Veterans.

If you have not been inside of the Memorial Building yet, ALBB went on a guided tour in November 2024 after major renovations were completed by the Veterans, including their new kitchen, bathroom, and new offices with Guardian Revival, who also built out and operates a podcasting studio inside. Click here to read the article and see pictures. Programming at the Memorial Building is quite busy.

Schedule For Monday’s Memorial Day:

9:15am: East Main Street Bridge
The Memorial Day Remembrance

11am-11:45am: Memorial Building
The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at the Memorial Building.

12pm: Unveiling of New Historic Marker
The Ceremony will be followed by the unveiling of the new historic marker alongside the Memorial Building.

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Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth

Newburgh/Beacon Ferry Remains Unrepaired: Beacon City Administrator Chris White May Be Harbour Master

The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry remains out of commission due to “extensive damage to the landing in Beacon,” the NY Waterway announced on March 10, 2025. Viewers of the above ground portion of the landing cannot see damage. ALBB has not viewed the landing under water. The docks to either side of it for the Bannerman Ferry and Sloop Clearwater are fully operational and not damaged.

ALBB is told that City Administrator Chris White is the Harbour Master for the landing for the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry. The service is managed by the MTA. When City Administrator Chris gives infrastructure updates during City Council Meetings, there has been no update regarding the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry as of yet.

The ferry is the fastest, cheapest and most climate-friendly way to get to Newburgh and back. It is not clear why the repair is taking so long, when Beacon is known for investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades, especially climate-friendly ones.

Tht MTA has confirmed its status: “The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry is not in operation. This service is managed by the MTA, and when it resumes, updates will be posted on both our website and the MTA’s platform. In the interim, a shuttle service is currently in place. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our service alerts here.”

What Does A Harbour Master Do?

If City Administrator Chris is indeed the Harbour Master for the ferry landing, what are the responsibilities? According to Wikipedia: “A harbourmaster is an official responsible for enforcing the regulations of a particular harbour or port, in order to ensure the safety of navigation, the security of the harbour and the correct operation of the port facilities. Harbourmasters are normally responsible for issuing local safety information sometimes known as notice to mariners. They may also oversee the maintenance and provision of navigational aids within the port, co-ordinate responses to emergencies, inspect vessels and oversee pilotage services.” The International Harbour Masters Association also has information.

The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry used to be privately owned, according to the Hudson River Maritime Museum. “From 1804 until 1835, the Newburgh Ferry changed hands many times. In May, 1835, Thomas Powell bought the system for $80,000 and remained the sole owner until 1850. At that time he deeded the property to his daughter, Mrs Frances E.L. Ramsdell. It remained in the Ramsdell family for 100 years. In 1956 the State of New York purchased the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry from Homer Ramsdell and his sister, Mrs. Herbert R. Odell, and the New York Bridge Authority has been operating it until the completion of the bridge which now spans the river.”

Since the ferry landing is so neglected, perhaps it should be petitioned to be privately owned again.

EMS Community Safety & Education Day 2025 From Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps

Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps presents “EMS Community Safety & Education Day 2025.” This free event is designed to bring the community together for a day of learning, safety, and fun.

WHERE: The Beacon Elk's Lodge, 900 Wolcott Ave. Beacon, NY 12508
WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 2025
TIME: 12 PM to 4 PM, rain or shine

Who Will Be There - Which Services

The City of Beacon Police Department and Nuvance Healthcare
Free car seat inspections, adjustments, and replacements if necessary.

Free installation and hauling off of old car seats included. Please bring your child for proper fitting. Fingerprinting Kits - Available for children to ensure their safety and security. (kits are handed back to the parents)

City of Beacon Fire Department

• Explore a real fire engine and learn about fire safety.

Us Coast Guard Auxiliary

• Engage with representatives and learn about water safety and emergency procedures.

Dutchess County Mental Health

• Resources and information about mental health services available in the community.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County

o Information on volunteer opportunities and emergency preparedness.

Family Services of Dutchess County and The Grace Smith House

• Learn about resources for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.

Town of Fishkill Police Department with Police Cadets

• Meet the cadets and learn about their training and community involvement.

New York State Troopers

• Experience the seat belt rollover demonstration to understand the importance of seat belt safety.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• Check out ATVs and learn about outdoor safety and environmental conservation.

The United States Marine Corps

• Engage with the Marines and learn about their role in community service and national security.

James Grabinski, Health Insurance

"When Is Beacon's City-Wide Yard Sale?" - It Is The Second Saturday In June!

A reader wrote in to ask: “When is Beacon’s City Wide Yard Sale?” It is the 2nd Saturday in June, from 9am-3pm.

“Do I have to register to have my yard sale?” they continued. “I just want to put stuff out in my yard.” You can put stuff out in your yard! You don’t need to register. The only reason to register is if you want your yard address listed on the City of Beacon’s map. Information is below.

City of Beacon’s City-Wide Yard Sale
Days: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Beacon, NY 12508
Shop Beacon’s yards! If you want to be on the City’s map, you’ll need to register here and pay a fee. But you don’t need to register to have a yard sale on this day or any day.
Information >

“Can I advertise my yard sale on A Little Beacon Blog?”
Sure! We created a special ad rate just for you. For $60, you can advertise your yard sale with us. To promote you, we will:

• Create a dedicated page for Yard Sales on Beacon’s City Wide Yard Sale date.

• List any yard address and theme that advertises with us. If you’re having a spread of records, or tools, or vintage, or a mixed bag. Whatever it is.

• Picture of your yard sale when you are set up. We can zoom it up to our Instagram and Facebook. Maybe one of you will do this, maybe none of you will do this. If a lot of you do this, then we could flood ALBB’s Instagram with yard sales that Saturday!

Happy dumpster diving.

Open The Mail: There May Be A $50 Settlement Check In It From Columbia Utilities Power

Opening the mail can be stressful. Like a box of chocolate, you never know what you’re going to get. While our Post Office service is still functioning, there are times when surprise checks of $50 might show up for you, no strings attached. A check in the amount of $40-$50 may be in your mailbox in an otherwise unmarked envelope from “Settlement Distributions” in California. Open it. Cash it. The check expires in July 2025, so don’t delay.

This is a check addressed to you if you stayed in the discounted Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) electricity program the City of Beacon contracted into on your behalf that left everyone confused but with generally lower electricity bills from a green energy source called Columbia Utilities Power. Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is defined here.

In order to offer this discount, New York State required that municipalities needed to create a law to do so. Therefore, the City of Beacon passed their law in 2017.

Skepticism of the program was high. One of Beacon’s current City Councilmembers, Jeffrey (Jeff) Domanski, was integral to bringing Beacon into this arrangement. This term was Councilperson Jeff’s first time holding the office, and he is not seeking re-election (he ran uncontested, as did all of the Councilmembers).

However, participants in the CCA program “collectively saved in excess of $8 million through the program’s fixed electricity supply rate since program renewal in July 2021 -- a savings of between $300-400 for the average household. In addition to savings, the program’s 100% NYS renewable supply has significantly reduced the community’s carbon footprint and advanced the State’s clean energy goals,” said Hudson Valley Community Power in a press release after Columbia backed out of their contract.

The Highlands Current reported the savings this way: “Columbia’s withdrawal meant that residents and businesses who didn’t earlier opt out of the program were transferred back to Central Hudson, where the price for electricity fluctuated from less than $.05 cents per kilowatt-hour in June, to $.17 cents per kilowatt-hour in October.”

On the other hand, the CCA per kilowatt-hour rate was fixed, and did not change.

Later, when Columbia Utility Power, stopped providing the discounted kilowatt hours of green electricity in the CCA program, a lawsuit was brought against them by the Town of Saugerties, Town of New Paltz, Village of New Paltz, City of Beacon, Town of Clinton, Town of Marbletown, City of Poughkeepsie, and Town of Red Hook (collectively known as the "Municipalities" according to the court document obtained by Times Union), Fred Costello, Mayor Tim Rogers of New Paltz, and Joule Assets, Inc. (the management company of the CCA energy program). In an Instagram post, Mayor Tim Rogers said: “The NYS Public Service Commission also intervened in support of the collective action against Columbia.”

The New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) explained: “In 2021, Columbia Utilities Power, LLC, an ESCO, entered into multiple electricity supply contracts with 10 municipalities located in the Hudson Valley — the cities of Beacon and Poughkeepsie, the towns of Clinton, Marbletown, Philipstown, New Paltz, Red Hook, and Saugerties, and the villages of Cold Spring and New Paltz — to support a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) plan sponsored by Joule Assets, Inc. as the CCA administrator.”

Joule contracted with the non-profit to communicate how this would work via an implementation plan. That non-profit was Hudson Valley Energy, which Beacon Councilmember Jeff said he started in 2018 in an ALBB article, In his LinkedIn, he is listed as Executive Director from 2018-2023, before he was a Councilmember in Beacon. Hudson Valley Energy’s website is now gone. Councilmember Jeff was sworn into his Beacon position in January 2024.

NYSPSC continued: “The electricity supply agreements contractually obligated Columbia to provide a fixed price per kilowatt-hour for participating customers within the municipalities for a three-year term: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024.”

NYSPSC described the settlement: “As a result of this legal action, Columbia will pay a total of $1.5 million into a settlement fund that, after the deduction of expenses, will be used for the benefit of affected ratepayers. In exchange for this settlement payment, the Commission and the other parties would agree to resolve all regulatory enforcement actions related to Columbia’s participating in and conduct relating to the CCA program. As a result of this settlement, approximately 25,000 utility customers in the Hudson Valley will share in the financial settlement with Columbia. The payout will range from $40-$50 per affected customer after legal fees.”

Reported by Times Union: “In July 2022, the New York Independent System Operator — the nonprofit tasked with operating and managing New York’s power grid — terminated Columbia’s rights to participate in the state’s market as a result of Columbia’s failure to post approximately $3.5 million in collateral to comply with NYISO’s creditworthiness requirements. Columbia’s customers reverted to Central Hudson at a higher rate, according to the PSC’s release.”

A few months before Columbia was accused of failing to post collateral, Russia bombed Uraine in February 2022, starting the Ukraine war.

“Columbia, which has headquarters in Brooklyn, remains in business in New York State after the settlement. The company has denied that it committed any violation of law or of its contractual obligations, or that it committed any of the wrongful acts alleged in the lawsuit,” the Times Union reported.

Beacon Won’t Join SEcond Chance At The CCA Program

The CCA program has risen again. Returning to be managed again by Joules Assets under Hudson Valley Community Power. This time there are 12 municipalities signed on, but the City of Beacon opted to not. Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White told the Highlands Current that he “received many complaints from residents upset that the city had joined the CCA on their behalf.”

City Administrator Chris also told the newspaper that “city officials were unsure whether the company would be able to find a fixed-rate supplier who could beat Central Hudson’s variable rate, given ongoing global instability.”

The 12 municipalities who signed on to this second version of the CCA opted for the fixed rate renewable electricity supply options as their default electricity supply, Hudson Valley Community Power said. They confirmed that the electricity supply will come from Direct Energy Services, LLC.

The rates for residential and small commercial are:

• HVCP 100% NYS Renewable Fixed Rate: $0.12240 per kWh

• HVCP 50/50 Blend (NYS & National) Fixed Rate: $0.11240 per kWh

• HVCP Standard Fixed Rate: $0.09870 per kWh

The City of Beacon could possibly join the CCA program again to be a 13th municipality if Beacon feels that residents changed their minds and wanted the savings back. The savings was clear.

Residents would need to email their Ward Councilmember and City Administrator Chris White to tell them that they want the City of Beacon to join the CCA program again to lock them into the low fixed electricity rate that is made possible by the bulk purchasing power of the 12 other municipalities.

The Eugene (Gene) Murphy Family Says Thank You :: And An Updated Donation List For Those Who Want To Support

The Community of Beacon has been keeping up with the developments of the Eugene (Gene) Murphy Family, after their tragic loss of everything in their home that they lived in, including their cars. Most importantly, the Murphy family lost their patriarch Gene Murphy, in the fast moving fire that blew through the small house with the high winds that swept through Beacon that early April evening. Read about how the firefighters battled the blaze here.

“Markus - age 15 - his body was burned, including his head, feet and hands. His body is heavily bandaged in the Burn Unit at Westchester Medical Center. His arms are elevated from what looks like stretchy gauze, to help his hands heal. ”

— ALBB

Gene Murphy’s two elder children (in their 50s), a daughter and son who lived in the home, did escape the fire without serious injury. His daughter (Markus’ grandmother) did suffer burns. But his great grandson, Markus Louis, a 10th grader at Beacon High School, was severely burned and was in critical condition at the Westchester Medical Hospital. He has since stabilized, and begun several surgeries to heal his burns.

A family friend, Patrick O'Dell, who is also the moderator and narrator for the Dutchess County Scanner Feed on FB, has been updating the community with donation needs, both financial and specific item requests. Patrick has also been updating about the physical healing progress of Markus. “Somehow he is in good spirits,” Patrick has said. Beacon City School District Superintendent Landahl has also been updating district families with Markus' condition via email.

Since that time, donations continue to come in as new needs arise (those needs have been posted below), which have mainly been published in private Facebook groups. ALBB reached out to Patrick to see how ALBB can help and what we can make public. Patric had expressed: "I did not expect the response to be so fast. People are truly amazing. The extended community have come out to help the family who were living in this home with such love and generosity. Their biggest concern is making sure everyone knows that they cannot be a more emotional, appreciative and thankful beyond words for each and every person who has helped."

Through ALBB and Patrick, the Murphy Family has issued this note of gratitude:

"The Murphy family cannot express how thankful and overwhelmed by the amount of love, support & generosity from everyone who has helped in any way since the tragedy. They wish they could thank each and every one individually but want everyone to know how much it means to them. A special thank you to the many people from the Beacon City School District! Their support of Markus has been amazing!"

Update On Donations

The Howland Public Library has become a connection point for donated items for Markus and the Murphy Family. The library put out their own note of thanks as they continue to collect items:

"Thank you to everyone who has donated clothing items! Your generosity has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated. At this time, the Murphy family is no longer in need of clothing donations. However, we are still collecting gift cards to help support their ongoing needs. Gift cards to stores like Ocean State Job Lot and Wal-Mart are especially helpful and can be dropped off at the front desk of the Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street, Beacon, during regular business hours. Thank you for continuing to support a local family in need. 💛"

Patrick posted the library's OPEN hours:

Monday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Tuesday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Thursday 9:30 AM–8 PM
Friday 9:30 AM–5:30 PM
Saturday 10 AM–4 PM
Sunday 12–4 PM

About the GoFundMe

Patrick has expressed that the family appreciates the GoFundMe drive, but that funds are hard to get at in times of immediate need. The GoFundMe is about to exceed $70,000 (go go go!) Gift Cards are welcome, and can be dropped off at the Beacon Public Library. For people who love GoFundMe and need the convenience of online donating, the link is here: https://gofund.me/ce94d87e

About Markus, age 15, 10th Grade:

Patrick posted pictures of Markus in the hospital, along with an update as to what they need donated to those who wish to donate. These photos are in private Facebook Groups only, and Patrick wishes to keep it that way. The donation update has been shared on Facebook over 520 times. That's just Shared, not even the amount of Likes.

Patrick wishes to keep the photos of Markus in the hospital private at this time (despite the overwhelming amount of 520+ shares), so we will describe them to you, so that people can realize what life is like for a receiving (thank goodness he is alive) teenager. Markus - age 15 - body was burned. Including his head, feet and hands. His body is wrapped in white bandages, and his arms are elevated from what looks like stretchy gauze. His whole body is wrapped in white bandages, and his arms are elevated from what looks like stretchy gauze. To keep his body stable. When the photos were posted, they were accompanied by this descriptive note from Patrick:

"This is Markus. Markus is 15 years old, full of life, loves video games, basketball and school (every employee of the school district loves him) having a normal evening in Beacon on April 15th when a wind-fueled fire tore the house at 6:20pm. Markus lost his great grandfather, his grandmother suffered from a few serious burns & her brother escaped major injury.

Attempting to get out [of the burning house], Markus suffered critical burns mainly to his feet, face & head. Then, the worst are horrible burns to his hands and wrist. He is in Westchester Medical Center Burn Unit. He has had the first of several major surgeries. Somehow he is in good spirits. He is positioned where he cannot move. He will be there for a very long time. Everything in the house was a total loss. In an attempt to make Markus have something, I am asking for help. These items can make a huge difference. If you upgraded [technology in your own life], have anything laying around, maybe your job? If they work and you can generously donate any of them you would be so appreciated & make him so happy!"

“Perhaps, if any car dealerships are reading this, they could donate cars to Markus for when he gets out of the hospital, and to his grandmother. And perhaps repair the black new-ish looking pickup truck that was damaged. ”

— ALBB

Following is a list of requested, and then donated items. While the family requests gift cards to Job Lots and Wal-Mart, you may also consider Best Buy. For technology things. Though that could be purchased at Wal-Mart, along with groceries, one supposes. Perhaps, if any car dealerships are reading this, they could donate cars to Markus for when he gets out of the hospital, and to his grandmother. And perhaps repair the black new-ish looking pickup truck that was damaged. Reach out to Patrick to coordinate, or if you don't have him, ping ALBB and we will connect you.

- DONATED the staff can put him on FaceTime so he can get to communicate especially when no one can be there.

-DONATED AirPods. Markus has all the music he loves stored in the Cloud and can recover it and the staff can set him up.

-A laptop for his grandmother to utilize while she is at the hospital (all the vehicles were also destroyed in the fire). (ALBB thinks a fresh laptop is best, but if you have a potential refurbished laying around).

-DONATED An unlocked iPhone. Grandmother's was lost in the fire and it will also enable her to FaceTime with Markus.

If you have any of these items or can please share to your page and community pages.

ALBB thinks a car or two would be good!! And more technology.

And a house. How can they get a house?

Beacon Firefighters Describe How They Attacked The Fire At 9 Alice Street; Community Responds With Support; Donation Directions

Eugene (Gene) Murphy, who died in the fire at his home of 9 Alice Street, Beacon, NY.

The Beacon Fire Department issued a Press Release describing how they attacked the fire at 9 Alice Street to battle it. ALBB reported on this fire the day after here.

Of the 4 people inside during the fast moving blaze, one was not able to escape. He was identified as 81 year old Eugene (Gene) Murphy, who lived a long life within the City of Beacon, worked for the City of Beacon for 30 years, and served in part as its Highway Department Supervisor. The community of Beacon have been deeply mourning and sharing memories of him on each publishing of this news at any social media post, blog post or newspaper post.

Beacon City School Superintendent Matthew Landahl emailed district families to say that Gene’s great-grandson, Markus Louis (10th grade) lived in the home with Gene, along with Markus’ grandmother (Gene’s daughter), who suffered burns, Patrick O’Dell reported, who is a friend and “Dutchess County Scanner Feed” moderator.

Gene Murphy's 54 year old son who is described as "severely physically handicapped" was also inside, but did escape the blaze without any serious injuries, Patrick said. He also reported that Gene’s 42 year old grandson was living with him to assist family members in the home, but was not in the house during the fire.

The family lost all of their possessions, including their home and car. Markus suffered serious burns all over his body, and remains in the hospital at Westchester Medical, his cousin, Patricia Murphy, confirmed to ALBB. She said that Markus is in critical but stable condition.

Donation Link

A donation link has been started for the family by Patrick, which has so far raised over $50,000. The GoFundMe page is here. Patrick stated that getting the funds from GoFundMe can be slow at first for immediate needs like clothing and hygiene items. Gift Cards dropped to the Beacon Public Library front desk during their open hours. More details on what items of clothing are needed have been posted below. Scroll down for sizes.

How The Firefighters Fought The Blaze

All of the following photos are screenshots from the video made by Ed Heegan, a Peer Support Specialist with Guardian Revival, whose office is located in the Veterans Memorial Building on Main Street. Guardian Revival is a local non-profit improving health & wellness for Military, Veterans & First Responders. Follow Ed at @edwoodstock.

Photo Credit: Ed Heegan

According to the Fire Department’s Press Release, fire was billowing from the front of the house when the Beacon Fire Department arrived. Three vehicles in front of the home were also on fire. Patrick O'Dell said that at least one of those vehicles was the family's main mode of transportation. It was completely destroyed.

At that point, a second alarm was requested for backup mutual aid. Castle Point Fire Department, (Engine Truck), the Village of Fishkill Fire Department (Ladder Truck) headed in. As is protocol to a fire alarm, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BVAC), the City of Beacon Medic 1 (Ambulnz, the private ambulance company the City contracts and pays, unlike volunteer based BVAC who didn't get paid for years), and the City of Beacon Police Department were in pursuit of the fire.

“While fighting the fire, 4 City of Beacon Fire Department members and 2 Castle Point Fire Department members sustained minor injuries.”

— City of Beacon Fire Department

"City of Beacon Engines 33-15 and 33-16 arrived simultaneously and began a transitional attack," the Press Release says. "The deck gun from Engine 33-16 was used to knock down the fire on the front of the house while firefighters stretched an attack line to a door on the porch of the #4 (northeast) side of the structure. Firefighters gained entry into that side door and were met with heavy fire conditions inside."

Photo Credit: Ed Heegan

From the pictures, the right side of the house was not completely charred, but the left side was. "While fighting the fire, 4 City of Beacon Fire Department members and 2 Castle Point Fire Department members sustained minor injuries," according to the Press Release.

Beacon's City Administrator Chris White was on-site the morning after the fire at around 8:15am, and the Press Release states that the City of Beacon Building Department condemned the house at 9 Alice Street. The neighboring house at 15 Alice Street sustained some damage from heat radiating from 9 Alice Street.

Photo Credit: Ed Heegan

During their first search for victims, firefighters did not see anyone on the first floor of the house when they began knocking down the fire. They moved to the second floor to knock down more fire. It was when the Beacon Fire Department and Castle Point Fire Department headed back to the first floor to ventilate it, that they found a deceased person in the living room, who would become known to be Eugene (Gene) Murphy. They covered him with a blanket and tarp while "conducting an overhaul and extinguishing hot spots throughout the structure."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division and City of Beacon Police are investigating with "the assistance of the Fire Department personnel."

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Clothing Needed For the Family

Patrick has been coordinating financial, clothing and hygiene donations.

“Unfortunately, due to physical disabilities, what can be worn by 2 of the family members is pretty limited. I do not want to see so many wonderful & caring people tear through all their clothing for things that cannot be used,” Patrick instructed.

“The GoFundMe is great, but their policies hold the funds from going to the family for several days. Thank you to everyone in advance and for all that has been done. The family cannot thank and show the appreciation of everyone enough.”

The clothing list is below. Please keep in mind that people who have lost everything are in shock. They need casual clothes, but also want to feel good. Lots of underwear and socks would be needed, as doing laundry is hard. Consider giving Visa gift cards of cash to be spent anywhere if you are able. If donating your own clothes, please wash them first.

“They are working on getting everyone into temporary emergency housing hopefully that will happen soon,” Patrick said.

CLOTHING MATCHING WHAT CAN BE UTILIZED LISTED BELOW, GENERAL PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS & GIFT CARDS*** FOR THE MURPHY FAMILY CAN BE DROPPED OFF AT THE:

Howland Public Library
313 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508

Drop during business hours: until 5:30pm today (Friday), 10:00am-4:00pm tomorrow (Saturday) CLOSED Sunday for the holiday. And then the open hours for the following days.

Gift card/Financial can be brought to the front desk. Any are appreciated!
Ocean State Job Lot, Wal-Mart are the best because they have everything. Any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Patrick.

Men's:
-X-Large Pants sweat/jogging
--Large Shirt

Women’s:
***---WOMEN'S size 10 or equivalent undergarments and everyday clothing
****----WOMEN'S size 10 sneakers

Men's:
--Medium athletic type shorts NO jean shorts
--Large Shirt t-shirt/sweatshirt
---Medium underwear
---Men's size 10-WIDE sneakers

Men:
-36x32 Jeans
--X-Large T-shirt/sweatshirt
---Large underwear
----Men's size 11 workboot

***Socks, normal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, towels, wash cloths, laundry detergent), etc. to help get through

Road Ripped Into At Main Street And Fishkill/Teller Avenues For Infrastructure Upgrade

Photo Credit: Ledion Shtanaj

Work to the sidewalk on Fishkill Avenue and Main Street was still underway on Thursday 4/9/2025 5pm, but traffic on Main Street was restored to normal.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Main Street at the intersection of Fishkill/Teller Avenues was ripped into this past week, starting early Monday morning (4/7/2025) and continuing through Thursday. A robo-call from the City that went out to subscribers stated: “The City’s Water and Sewer Department will be partially closing the intersection in order to address necessary manhole excavation and reconstruction work. Work will continue around the clock until very early in the morning on Thursday, April 10th.”

While Fishkill and Teller Avenues underwent infrastructure upgrades to pipes under the sidewalk all last summer, it is not confirmed if this manhole excavation work was planned, or if an event caused for emergency work. There is a rumor as to the price tag, and ALBB is awaiting delivery of the FOIL as to the cost and detail of this project.

The City provided a traffic re-routing plan, and encouraged people to go around. Temporary traffic lights were placed in the middle of the road further up from the main intersection to direct traffic around the roadwork.

On Wednesday 4/9/2025, the City of Beacon issued an updated via Facebook that the work had completed and traffic returned to normal. Work to the sidewalk was still underway as of Thursday 5pm.

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Photo Credits: Ledion Shtanaj

FAQs For Today's HANDS OFF! Protest In Beacon, NY

Protest FAQs

Some readers have submitted questions, so we will answer them here. As always, submit your questions on any topic at any time.

"We are 2 seniors. Where is the best place to park?"
Polhill Park is located in a hilly area, no matter what direction you come from. Free parking is available at the Beacon Police Station, which is across the street (Wolcott Ave.) from Polhill Park. You will need to walk uphill from there to get to Polhill Park. Otherwise, you could park in the back roads on this side of Wolcott, behind South Avenue. Be mindful of people's driveways and fire hydrants. Don't block any. You'll still need to walk downhill a bit.

"Do we need to register?"
No. You can just show up. Registration at that web page was created because this is a nation-wide protest. When this happens, there are registration platforms created so that people can search by zip code to find the nearest protest. In theory, you could protest-hop. Go from one protest to another. But don't tire yourself out :)

“Is registering normal? Why is NATO mentioned in the protest flyer?”
That question has been answered in full here. With contributions from other concerned readers.

"How are the Beacon Police?"
From my experience as a white woman who has covered many protests in Beacon starting in 2020 with Black Lives Matter, the Beacon Police serve as facilitators of a protest. Even if one springs up without advance notice to them, they make their presence at the protest. Sometimes just their presence makes people uncomfortable. This was especially so during 2020 BLM. But as far as I have seen, their presence was there and they did not interfere. In fact, the police chief now, Chief Figlia, spoke at one of the BLM Open Mics, sharing his personal experience and wanting to connect with the community.

At this protest, I personally would not be afraid of Beacon Police. In this climate, however, I would remain alert as to who I can't tell is police in plain clothes, or posing as ICE, or is enforcement from another police agency.

"Should I attend?"
Up to you. Your safety is the most important. If you feel safe attending, I would say to smother yourself in calm vibes. If there are any agitators, or a$$holes, they may try to say things to poke you. Remind yourself to take deep breaths and to not respond. Zip your lips, and keep to any chants if you feel like chanting, or just listen and be present.

“This was removed from the mobilize us website is it still happening in Beacon?”
Interesting. I just called Beacon Police to verify, and as far as they know, it is happening. They said they were planning on checking in a little later in the day before it starts to make sure, but as far as they know, yes. I checked in with a few others with ears to the ground, and they have heard nothing about it being canceled.

UPDATE: A reader sent in this link, that the registration has “Reached Capacity”. It was not removed from the site, but apparently that site has a "capacity." Registering for a protest is never necessary, and personally, ALBB does not recommend registering, as who knows who is getting your data. A protest against a dictatorship and purposeful cratering of an economy can be organized by Zios who may be aligned with a viewpoint of no dictators, but not aligned with leveling Palestine and not caring about Pro-Palestine harassment. So be careful.

"Is this protest for Pro-Palestine? Because if so, I'm not attending."
That's an annoying question. If you're going to fight tariffs and dictatorship, then you might as well absorb a Free Palestine into your life. Because the federal budget did not decrease for sending Made In The USA bombs to kill children, women, men, medics, journalists, scholars, and artists in Palestine. Not to mention completely level cities. If you're pro-gun control but can't bother yourself to be vocal about Palestine, then you might as well start now. Ammunition and blowing things up is big business. It's all connected.

Stay safe.

Protest Details

Day: Saturday, April 5, 2025
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Polhill Park
As part of the Hands OFF! protests being organized around the country, Beacon's will be at Polhill Park (near Bank Square Coffeehouse) from 3pm-5pm.

This protest is inspired by protecting:
Medicaid + Medicare + Social Security + Our Jobs + Our Wallets + Our Bodies + Fair Elections + Personal Data + Public Lands + Beteran Services + Cancer Research + NATO + Consumer Protections + Clean Air + Clean Energy + Schools + Libraries + Free Speech + LGBTQ+ Rights + Immigrants + Courts + More

About this event:
From the Organizers: “Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. We are fighting back!”

“They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and daring the world to stop them. This is a crisis, and the time to act is now.”

🚨 On Saturday, April 5th, we're taking to the streets to fight back with a clear message: Hands off! 🚨

“This mass mobilization day is our message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies. Alongside Americans across the country, we are marching, rallying, and protesting to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country.”

“A core principle behind all Hands Off! events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values.”

Check out handsoff2025.com for more information.

Ferry Dock Remains Unrepaired, Halting Beacon/Newburgh Ferry Service - A Look Back At Other Cuts

The Beacon/Newburgh Ferry has stopped running due to “extensive damage to the landing in Beacon,” the NY Waterway announced on March 10, 2025. According to people familiar with the area at the dock, the landing was removed from the water. People familiar with the area told A Little Beacon Blog that aside from an ongoing small leak, damage to the landing had not been noticed above water, and no one could speak for conditions under the water. Some say it was ice damage.

NY Waterway and MTA have not responded to questions about the details of the damage.

The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry was cut during the initial COVID shutdown in April 2020, and then was restored when a flush of federal funding was made available during the passage of the CARES Act, which then Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney voted for, as reported by ALBB at the time.

In 2011, the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry was suspended for 10 weeks “after one of the worst ice seasons in 6 years,” Times Herold-Record reported. This year in 2025, the landing was removed and cited for damage after the ice season, not before or during. State and federal funding covered $1.3 million of the operational funding in 2011, according to that report.

It was reported this year in March 2025 by LoHud that the Trump administration threatened to withdraw federal funds from the MTA for the subway in NYC unless they improve safety, the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. Trump also rescinded federal approval for NYC’s congestion pricing program.

Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White is the Harbor Master of the dock and has not made an announcement about the ferry closure that ALBB knows of. Please write in a correction if you know different.

The ferry used by Bannerman Castle Trust is not impacted by this, nor is Clearwater. All events scheduled for Bannerman are proceeding and will be on ALBB’s Calendar, and classes and events for Clearwater are continuing and will be in ALBB’s Classes Guide.

Commuting across the river is delayed 20 minutes, as the substitute bus service takes 20 minutes longer, not accounting for unexpected traffic delays on the Newburgh/Beacon bridge, according to the Times Herold-Record in 2011. Also in 2011, ridership would drop from 150 people per day to 100, when the ferry stopped running and went to bus.

On the substitute bus schedule, it is stated that the bus can leave up to 4 or 5 minutes early if all passengers from the train are on board the bus. For people walking or transporting down to the station from Beacon or Newburgh to take the bus (not the train), they would possibly miss the bus if it left early and they did not read the small print on this substitute bus schedule.

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The $250 Fine Has Been Issued To Residents Who Didn't Upgrade Their Water Meter Transistors

Water bills for the past 3 months (January, February, March) have been sent out. Tacked onto some of them is the $250 fine for not upgrading the water meter transistors, as became required since last year to begin tracking water usage in real time, the City of Beacon's Administrator Chris White announced during last night's City Council Meeting.

"People who didn't sign up to have their water meter transistors replaced are getting an automatic fine of $250," he said.

He reported that 85% of residents did have their water meter transistors upgraded, leaving 15%, or "several hundred people" who have not responded and are subject to this fine. He did leave room for "amnesty," as he called it, where residents who did not upgrade have 3 weeks in which to do so. After April 21, that charge will stay, he said.

To reverse the fine, people need to make an appointment by calling Vepo, the company making the switch, at 877-860-8376

"Make an appointment, for late in May or in June, and then the $250 charge fined will be reversed...Set up an appointment, no questions asked," he stressed.

Mayor Kyriacou touted benefits of the new water meter transistors, stating that they track water usage in real time, which people can see by logging in. Additionally, the system will send an alert to people if there is a water leak and usage spikes.

The Mayor explained that water bills are sent every 3 months, so advance warnings of leaks is useful to catch within this new mechanism.