New Facts: Hudson River Regularly Floods Long Dock and Train Station Parking Lots In Heavy Rains

The morning after the wild winds and rain blew through Beacon all night, knocking porch swings around, tossing trash cans, and keeping sub-pumps on overdrive, the high tide of the Hudson River once again rose into the parking lots of Lock Dock Park and the Beacon Train Station. Cars were parked at Long Dock, and at least one of them was floating. Beacon Police were called when some hikers who returned from hiking through Madame Brett Park came to see that their cars at Long Dock were surrounded by water.

“I didn’t want to open my door so I opened my window by pressing and holding down my unlock button,” one hiker told ALBB. “I climbed through the window, turned on the car, and drove it here,” recalled the hiker at the base of Long Dock Road, squeezing out their socks and putting their shoes back on as they sat in the back of their Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup truck.

Another hiker, parked behind them with all doors open, was also able to get into their car by crawling through the window and driving it through the water. In the Subaru, which is lower to the ground than the pickup truck, water did get into the vehicle. Further down the parking lot, another hiker’s car was floating. The plan for that car was to wait until the water went out with the tide.

Neither the Beacon Police nor the hikers could confirm what time the water came in. One Beacon Police Officer said they had put up a barricade down at the train station at 11am, where the water had completely blocked off access to Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park and consumed the parking lot. It was around 12:45pm when the police, fire and ambulance were called to the scene of the flooded cars at Long Dock.

One hiker said that they did see twigs and other debris on the ground when they parked and left for Madame Brett Park, but didn’t think anything of it. Now they realized those were remnants of the river as it went back out with the tide. The parking lot could have been flooded throughout the night.

Parking Lot Flooded Again at Beacon Train Station

Once again, the Welcome to Beacon sign was surrounded by water and rows of parking spots were under water. Access to Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park was completely blocked by the Hudson River, which had the current moving through it as if it weren’t disturbing anything, just doing its tide thing.

As this tidal rise becomes a regular occurrence after heavy rains, compounded with melted snow, signs will need to be put up throughout both parking lots, warning of High Tide Flooding, as other coastal towns do.

RELATED LINK: 12/18/2023 “Hudson River Rises During Storm: Flooding In Homes, The Middle School, And The Wastewater Treatment Plant”

Hudson River Rises During Storm: Flooding In Homes, The Middle School, And The Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Hudson River rose into Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, filling the walking paths and encircling trees.

Heavy winds and rain had been blowing all Sunday night, leaving yards flooded and trash cans spilled over. Students got ready for school as the rain continued to pound, but being December, it felt like, should this be a blizzard, there would be no school. That’s when the call came in from Beacon City School District Superintendent Matt Landahl that Rombout Middle School was flooded, and that students who who already arrived would be dismissed early at 9:30am. Anyone else should not come, and all other schools were open.

In email correspondence, he stated: “This morning we had water coming in from the outside in the art hallway and the science hallway. We made much effort to clean up but we could not operate safely today. I want to give a special thanks to our staff who helped us get through today, especially our building maintenance teams, grounds maintenance teams, and our transportation department and drivers who helped us navigate the day.”

The Weather Channel described the east coast storm as intensifying “in the eastern Gulf of Mexico early on Sunday, Dec. 17, then raced along the East Coast into Monday, Dec. 18, with a combination of flooding rain, coastal flooding and high winds from Florida to Maine.” Fox Weather has reported river rising in Boston, and vehicles getting swept away when trying to cross through the water.

In Beacon, the grasslands, kayak dock and parking lot were engulfed by the Hudson River, which rose so high with the tied, its strong currents could be felt over the pavement.

To those not familiar with this parking lot at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, this picture looks like a rocky beach, but it is the Hudson River washing into the parking lot. This is not the first time. At least as close as September 24, 2023, during Spirit of Beacon Day and coincidentally during the Soon Is Now, an immersive art experience depicting the overflow of the Hudson River, a tropical storm grew in strength and pushed both events to postpone to their rain dates.

The water was rushing in over the MTA Beacon train station. About one foot of water rose around parked cars. The current crested further in toward Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park where the geese and mallard ducks usually swim. The Welcome To Beacon sign and landing were completely covered by the river. Normally, there are picnic tables positioned for the Number Seven Food truck to serve their steak sandwiches and mozzarella sticks.

The Devil’s Horns, a seed pod of an Oriental aquatic plant that cover this area, were left behind further up the road, as the river tide receded. For those who are captivated by the invasive seed that is hard and hurts feet, you can find stunning jewelry here by this local artist.

Cars drove up to the water’s edge to take photos, risking a chance of dipping a tire into the current that could have swept them out. Water like that may look neat to touch, but the reminder that even shallow water, especially the Hudson River which flows both ways, could sweep away small children or unsuspecting adults.

Fire trucks were buzzing around all day, going into people’s homes to pump water out of flooded basements. During last evening’s City Council Meeting, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White reported that at least 19 basements were assisted in being pumped out by the City of Beacon. “Thank you to our Fire Department and Waste Water Treatment Department,” he said. “The Treatment Plant was inundated by more an 4" of rain. We avoided significant damage because of how much water was pumped out,” he concluded.

New Day/Time!! "SOON IS NOW," Lovers Of Long Dock Park Will Love This Immersive Multi-Performance Curated Around Climate And Eco On Oct. 1

SOON IS NOW, the climate and eco art & live performance festival in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park is happening on a new date an time, due to last week’s weather. Fitting, being that this performance is all about the climate! This year, it is on the same day as Spirit of Beacon Day, so you have quite a collection of things to do this Sunday.

Important Things You Need To Know:

IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Resistance Revival Chorus, coming to Beacon for “Soon Is Now” at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park. On October 1 at 3pm.

SOON IS NOW is from 12pm-3:30pm. Multiple performances happen throughout the nature in the park, ending with the finale of the famous The Resistance Revival Chorus performing at 3pm. Tours take people through the different performances and run every half hour starting at: 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm. If you miss the start of a tour, you could wander around the park and fall into a group.

Lovers of Long Dock Park will get to experience it in a way they have never experienced it before. Located along the Hudson River, this park is mainly covered in tall grasses with winding paths cut through, surrounded by dunes of other grasses, shaded by trees and rocky beach along the water.

WHAT PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE ON THE TOURS

Tours will start at the River Center (big Red Barn). Walk straight to the dancers on the berm ahead of the River Center. Walk through the native grasses and the aster and sunflowers currently in bloom, and continue to the shore of the Hudson River. Performances will be seen all along the rocky beach - 3 performances in total. At the edge of the beach is a performance in a bog in the wetlands. The wetlands! The group will then go to the Outdoor Classroom, which is a mini concrete amphitheater located down low in what feels like a sunken part of the tall grasses. People will experience theater in this spot. People will make their way back across the park, past the kayak shelter to go straight ahead to meet a dancer again where they dance with 5 trees.




WHO YOU WILL SEE

Come to the park to see the visual arts exhibition in the River Center (Big Red Barn) with work by Camille Seaman, Jaanika Peerna and Jean Brennan. Meet climate activists from Beacon Climate Action Now and Climate Reality, and sign up for a tour.

This event is FREE of charge and open to the public and there are so many wonderful artists (many from Beacon) participating: Edwin Torres, Andrew Brehm, Elise Knudson, Elisa Santiago, Twinkle Burke and more. Click here for more details >

3PM: THE RESISTANCE REVIVAL CHORUS

Beaconites and those located nearby are in luck, as they get to experience The Resistance Revival Chorus up from NYC to sing a closing concert at 3pm. The Number Seven Sandwich Food Truck located near the River Center in Long Dock Park will have food for sale.

PARKING & DRIVING NOTES

The 46th annual Spirit of Beacon Day is happening up the hill on Beacon’s’ Main Street. A few notes for parking and driving down to Long Dock Park:

12pm-1:30pm Wolcott Avenue will be closed from Beekman Street (Giannetta’s Salon Spa) to Beekman Street (Rose Hill Manor Day Care), as Spirit of Beacon Parade participants will be lining up there. If coming from the south (Cold Spring), take 9D all the way, or if in Beacon, take Teller Avenue down to Beekman (Rose Hill Manor Day Care) and take a left on Beekman, which will take you past the Dia and to the park.

If coming from the north (1-84) take Wolcott/9D to Beekman (Giannetta’s Salon Spa) and take a right on Beekman. Pass Two Way Brewery and Brett’s Hardware all the way around until Long Dock Park.

Free parking is at the Metro North Beacon Train Station. The Spirit of Beacon Day will have a special FREE Dutchess County Bus that is shuttling people from the train up to Main Street from 11am-4:40pm. You can take it to help you experience both events.

Main Street in Beacon will be blocked from Key Food to the Yankee Clipper Diner, so take Henry Street if you want to go around Main Street for any reason.

SOON IS NOW - A Festival Of Climate And Eco Art, Performance And Activism - Here In Beacon - September 23, 2023

SOON IS NOW is an afternoon of art and live performance about climate change and the ecological in Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, a former industrial site and brownfield transformed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and others, into a sustainable park on the Hudson River in Beacon, NY. This site is on the unceded land of the Wappinger, in a region with a vital history of environmentalism rooted in Scenic Hudson’s fight to save Storm King Mountain from industry and Pete Seeger’s fight for an unpolluted Hudson River.

Twinkle Burke, What We Give Back, by Madeline Sayet, photo by Lucas Millard 

Audience walking to the next performance, photo by Flynn Larsen

Part reverence for the River, part cry for what is lost to climate chaos, part response to the pollution and rejuvenation of the park's ecosystem, SOON IS NOW places art in conversation with the landscape and brings audiences into an immersive experience with original works. 

Actors, dancers, musicians, performance and visual artists are curated throughout the park (many of them Beacon-based): Edwin TorresAlex WatermanRaven ChaconBob BellerueKoyoltzintliElise Knudson, Elisa Santiago, Randy Burd, Cecilia Fontanesi, Tom King, Jim FletcherJaanika PeernaTwinkle BurkeJojo GonzalezCamille SeamanAndrew Brehm and Jean Brennan.

Edwin Torres, Water’s Way: A Poet’s Choir for the Hudson River with E.J. McDonald, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Tamalyn Miller, Kristin Prevallet, Urayoán Noel, Jayden Featherstone. photo by Flynn Larsen  

The Resistance Revival Chorus will be performing a special concert at 5pm including a new song about climate change. 

The Resistance Revival Chorus, photo by Ginny Suss

On SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 2pm the day starts at the River Center (the red barn) in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park with a visual arts exhibition. Meet activists including Beacon Climate Action Now, Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and Fareground, and learn what you can do. Sign up for an 80 minute tour of performances throughout the park that start at 2:30, 3pm and 3:30pm, first come, first served. Even if you don't get on a tour you will be able to experience performance, visual art in the River Center and the concert by The Resistance Revival Chorus at 5pm. Poppy's Farm 2 Trailer food truck will be at the event selling tacos. Parking at Long Dock Park is limited. Park at the Metro North Beacon Train Station where all parking spots are free on the weekends, a short walk to the event. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and HV Climate Solutions Week. Part of Climate Change Theatre Action's 2023 season. Funded by Arts Mid-Hudson, the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts administered by Beacon Arts, and many local businesses and individuals. 

Tom King, photo by Lucas Millard

Jaanika Peerna, Glacier Elegy, photo by Flynn Larsen

Liz Zito, Eric Magnus, Andrew Brehm, The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, photo by Lucas Millard

Elise Knudson, Sentinels, photo by Flynn Larsen

For more information: soonisnow.org or contact evemorgenstern@gmail.com.

About Eve Morgenstern:

Eve Morgenstern, Director/Founder/Producer is a photographer and filmmaker. She has been awarded artist residencies at The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace and MacDowell, and grants for her work from The New York State Council on the Arts, Chicken and Egg Pictures, The George Gund Foundation, The Park Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson. Her environmental film Cheshire, Ohio has screened in festivals in the US, Canada and Asia and is distributed by Bullfrog Films and ovid.tv . Her photographic project Facades of Crises had its solo Museum premiere at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden. Eve is also co-chair of her Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills chapter. She lives in Beacon, NY with her daughter Chloe and her beloved mutt Amber. “This started as an experiment to produce plays from Climate Change Theatre Action, a project that uses storytelling and live performance to foster dialogue about our global climate crisis. The project grew to include visual art and original live performance created in dialogue with the site. The idea to curate works throughout Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park as a tour for audiences is intentional and meaningful as this site was once a brownfield, remediated and revisioned into a beautiful climate resilient public park on the Hudson River.”

CREDITS SOON IS NOW:

Eve Morgenstern, Founder, Director

Connie Hall, Producer

Brian Mendes, Producer

ALBB is a Media Sponsor of this event, and is proud to partner to help get the word out.

River Pool At Beacon Is Refreshing; Annual Beacon Swim Across The Hudson Happens Soon

Never underestimate the healing powers of the calm part of the Hudson River where the River Pool at Beacon is anchored. A pastime from the 19th Century, riverpools were established as a free way for New Yorkers to cool off in the water. At one point, health advocates called for municipally owned baths, according to NYC Parks.

Once the Hudson River got contaminated by businesses dumping waste into it, the riverpools were lifted out starting in the 1920s, with the last one leaving near 1940. Thanks to the work of local advocate and world-wide star musician Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi, the Hudson River in our parts underwent a major cleaning. The work still continues, as do blockades of no more waste being dumped into it (see Holtec’s continued attempts to dump radioactive waste into the Hudson River, and the people’s strong and consistent fight to keep that from happening…just follow press releases from River Keeper and get involved).

About The Riverpool At Beacon

It’s fun to go to the Riverpool at Beacon because it is so shallow. You’ll be sitting with the vegetation in the Hudson River. Will you feel fish? Maybe, but probably not. According to the Riverpool at Beacon’s organizers: “The pool is secured to the river bottom by elastic hawsers that allow the pool to rise and fall with the tide so that it maintains a constant depth of 24 to 30 inches.” It has a net bottom, so your feet will be touching knotted ropes.

“The pool bottom is made of a high-strength Dyneema netting that allows people to safely walk on the pool floor without contacting the river bottom or vegetation.” Adults will find themselves waste-deep in this water. Tall kids will be able to walk around. It’s a great experience for kids to acclimate to water depth with a colorful bench nearby.

The pool is free! And does not require any reservations. Says one young person who has been trying to find a public pool: “When you come in, you don’t have to give the people your cards.” True. You can just walk down to the Beacon Riverpool and step in. There is a lifeguard on duty. The pool is closed when there is no lifeguard.

The Riverpool at Beacon is located at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. To help this all continue, donate to the Beacon Riverpool today.

The Newburgh to Beacon Swim - Fundraiser for Riverpool at Beacon

The River Swim, the great annual swimming event from Newburgh to Beacon, is a anticipated challenge for many each year. Several have wanted to attempt it, and some have actually committed to it. As one of the Riverpool’s fundraisers, swimmers register for a fee, and then raise sponsorships to support them.

The River Swim is on Saturday, August 5, 2023, with a Rain date of Sunday, Aug 6, 2023. Learn more about it here.

Dutchess County's Transportation Council Launches the "Resilient Ways Forward" Study to Assess & Plan for Resilient Transportation as the Climate Changes

###From the Press Release of Dutchess County’s Mark Debald, Transportation Program Administrator###

Public Input Sought at June 21st Meeting, Online Survey

Poughkeepsie—On June 12, 2023, the Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC) announced the launch of Resilient Ways Forward, an assessment of climate change and its impact on transportation in Dutchess County.

Resilient Ways Forward will identify where Dutchess County’s transportation system is most vulnerable to weather impacts, such as flooding, extreme temperatures, snow and ice, and wind. The assessment will also recommend ways to adapt to or reduce the adverse impacts of these events on the transportation system – which includes roads and bridges, buses and trains, sidewalks, rail trails, and other strategic transportation assets. These impacts extend to state, regional, county, and local agencies alike.

Resilient Ways Forward begins with an analysis of climate data to better understand how the climate is changing in Dutchess County, following three steps:

Data collection

  • Gathering climate and transportation data

  • Assessing future climate scenarios

Analysis

  • Understanding the risks of climate hazards for transportation assets at the system level

  • Identifying priority locations for adaption investments at the asset level

Recommendations

  • Developing a toolbox of adaption options, including design guidelines

  • Recommending policy-based actions

  • Implementing and monitoring the recommendations

The DCTC encourages the public to visit the website at www.ResilientWaysForward.com to learn more and provide input through the on-line interactive Map Survey about where extreme weather events have affected their ability to get around Dutchess County.

A virtual public meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 21st at noon. This meeting is an opportunity for the public to learn about Resilient Ways Forward and provide feedback about where the transportation system is vulnerable to extreme weather events. Registration is required: https://bit.ly/RWFVirtualMtg. Feedback gathered from the public meeting will help inform the project team as they develop a toolbox of prioritized adaptation strategies to reduce the transportation system’s climate vulnerability.

Resilient Ways Forward is one of several planning initiatives underway by Dutchess County to better understand and address current and future environmental issues in the county. Though focused on the impacts of extreme weather on the transportation system, the data and analysis done for Resilient Ways Forward will also support the development of the County’s Natural Resource Inventory, as well as Hazard Mitigation Plan, which are also underway.

DCTC Transportation Program Administrator Mark Debald said, “Our goal is to create a more resilient transportation system that minimizes disruptions and better prepares us to meet the uncertainties of a changing climate. Resilient Ways Forward will provide decision-makers and agencies with the needed information to help prioritize how and where we can build resiliency – both countywide and pinpointed more locally, depending on specific need.”

About The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC)

The Dutchess County Transportation Council (DCTC) serves as the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Dutchess County. Federal statutes require that urbanized areas with over 50,000 people be represented by an MPO. The main duty of an MPO is to ensure that federal transportation funds are committed through a locally driven, comprehensive planning process. Since 1982, the DCTC have provided a forum for state and local government to solve transportation issues and reach consensus on federally supported transportation plans and projects in Dutchess County and across the Mid-Hudson Valley.

The World Is (Still) Burning - Let's Start Composting! It's So Easy...Those Food Gases Are Explosive

ALBB uses this metal ice bucket to collect daily food waste. It is dumped daily (sometimes 2x daily) into a plastic bucket, which is dumped 1x/week. The pink toaster in the background is a bonus and not related to food composting.

Even though the orange haze has lifted over Beacon and we have the sun and blue skies again - as well as gray clouds and shadows - the wildfires are still burning in Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, blames the climate crisis for the out of control burning. The official who ran the Parks Canada for 23 years, Mark Heathcott, says that Canada needs a better controlled burns of forest system.

Here in Beacon, one way to contribute to helping the climate crisis is by reducing your production of methane gases caused by food waste, by food composting. Which means to put your food waste in a designated bucket, which gets taken by a service or dropped off by you to a food composting collection area available in Beacon.

The food waste is then turned into a nutrient rich soil, called “black gold,” that you would want to spread over your favorite garden growths or flowers.

This article explores both ways.

But First - Why Compost? The Yogurt Smoothie Example

You’ve heard of the methane gases. That the methane gases formed from decomposing food contribute to the climate crisis. The City of Beacon says that methane gases are formed when food waste is burned. According to the City’s website: “Composting is a great way to reduce the waste burned at the county incinerator, which can contribute to unsafe air conditions because ‘waste incineration creates and/or releases harmful chemicals and pollutants’ (NRDC.org, Burned: Why Waste Incineration Is Harmful).

Here is an example so that you can see and experience it: one day, ALBB found an old banana strawberry smoothie in the car. It was in a sealed container. It was days old. Maybe even weeks old. Once taken inside, the top was unscrewed to clean it, where BAM - the top flew off from the pressure inside of the very old strawberry banana smoothie. The top flew clear across the kitchen and hit a water filter jug and cracked it.

Easy Ways To Compost In Beacon

Keep in mind, there are some municipalities who charge for how much trash you throw away. Beacon is not there yet. Hopefully they won’t get there, because we don’t need more fees. But if you removed food from your trash, you are removing a lot of poundage of trash. You could put yourself ahead of the curve, and cut out a lot of harmful product.

There are two ways to compost in Beacon. The free way - using Beacon’s compost drop-off bins, and the paid way via Community Compost. ALBB uses the paid way via Community Compost because we have been with them since Zero2Go launched via KickStarter and eventually was sold twice, the last to Community Compost. If you work in an office, consider organizing a compost collection system where one or some of you rotate dumping the food waste into Beacon’s collection bins. Or pay Community Compost to take it away for you.

Beacon’s Free Compost Collection Bins

Step 1: You collect your food waste at your house or apartment. ALBB uses a metal ice bucket that lives next to the sink, and dumps it daily into a bucket with a lid on the front porch.

Step 2. Once a week, or whenever you want, take your collection of waste to one of 3 different Compost Drop Off Bins. Those are:

  • Memorial Park, near the Dog Park, at the base of the hill.

  • Parking lot of Hudson Valley Brewery, all the way in the left corner. This is the Churchill Street parking lot, which is a free municipal parking lot right behind Main Street, near the Fishkill Creek.

  • The Beacon Recreation Center, at 23 West Center Street.

The rules for what to dump into Beacon’s compost bins are pretty good. You don’t have to be as discerning as you do in other programs.


YES, Dump It
Any food waste can be composted in Beacon’s compost collection bins. You can even use BPI-certified compostable bags for your food scraps. This includes:

  • Fruits & Vegetables

  • Meat, bones

  • Dairy, Eggs

  • Coffee grounds

  • Food soiled paper (coffee filters, tea bags, parchment paper, uncoated paper plates, etc.)

  • Paper towels and napkins

  • Toilet paper rolls

  • House plants and cut flowers

  • Pizza boxes: ripped in half + no wax paper

NO, Don’t Dump It!
Not compostable in Beacon’s compost collection bins:

  • Plastics

  • Glass

  • Plastic and wax coated paper products

  • Produce stickers

  • Doggy poo

  • Pet litter

  • Pet waste

  • Metal

  • Plastic bags

  • Styrofoam

Where will you put all of this fabulous food? The City of Beacon has gotten discounts on 3 different bins for you. Some of you may do backyard composting. This article does not explore that, but there is a bin for that offered by the city. Click here to see the options. You can order through the City of Beacon’s Recreation Department website, and/or you can walk in to see them at 23 West Center Street to buy your bin that way. Sometimes going to the Beacon Rec Center is easier. But click here to shop online.


Food composting has been discussed for several years in Beacon. Former Councilperson Amber Grant was a recent leader in bringing the City’s attention to this under Mayor Lee Kyriacou’s administration, with management and education done by Climate Smart Beacon, a committee of the City. Learn more about it in this video below.

If you don’t want to make time to dump your compost, you could always hire Community Compost to pick up from your home or office. Click here for details.

Pictures From The Unhealthy Air Quality In Beacon From The Canadian Wildfires Fires

A completely smokey view from Mount Beacon. Normally, one would see blue sky and the City of Beacon down below.
Photo Credit: David Martin

Related Link: The Reason Behind The Blood Orange Sun and Air Quality Alert in Beacon

The fires still rage in Canada, which means that the smoke is still in Beacon. For a second day, the Beacon City School District canceled evening events and activities. Children are being encouraged in school to stay indoors. In one elementary school, air ventilation vents went on, which ended up blowing smoke inside from the outside. According to one child, the suggestion was to open the window. And then they all remembered that opening the window would cause the same problem.

Flashbacks of the COVID shutdown are starting, as events are canceling. In New York City, where the orange sky and smoke smothered the city, making it unrecognizable, Broadway and Off Broadway shows canceled, including “Hamilton,” “Camelot” and Shakespeare in the Park. The Writers Strike that is keeping late night shows on repeat as writers fight for more streaming money from big distributors like Netflix canceled their scheduled pickets of film productions, both according to Deadline.

Meanwhile in Beacon, residents could smell the smoke on Wednesday, where the light remained stubbornly orange. Residents in California were probably thinking: “Yes, this is what it looks like. Now you know how we feel.”

The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, the educational platform and advocacy icon founded by legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi Seeger was in New York City on Wednesday, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 342. In Toronto Canada, it was 160. Sloop Clearwater documented this view and experience on Wednesday, and shared with A Little Beacon Blog. Photo Credits attributed to the Clearwater crew: Chloe Smith on the photo of the boat’s mast, and Guevara-Prip on the picture of the boat in full. The other two photos are screenshots of an AQI measurement tool and EarthCam.

“Clearwater and her crew are currently in New York City, where the air quality has plunged today to the worst of major cities worldwide. Climate change IS the defining issue of our time and due to hundreds of uncontrolled wildfires across Canada, more than 800miles away, we’re all at risk. Our education programs were cancelled today from NYC all the way up to Beacon, restricting access to the river and waterfront parks for our most vulnerable students. It’s time for our leaders to take action on the leading causes of climate change. Thank you @nycparks and @hudsonsailing for helping our crew shelter in place during this dangerous time. Gift goggles, KN95 masks, gloves and other protective gear to the crew from the Captains wishlist at the link in our bio. Stay safe Hudson Valley!”

Chris Sanders provided this side-by-side comparison of the Hudson River at different times:

Comparative view of the Hudson River during the smoke.
Photo Credit: Chris Sanders

Buffey Maria also shared a comparative view:

Now What?

THursday morning started off worse than Wednesday morning same time. The afternoon continues to be 167 AQI, an “Unhealthy” designation.

The fires are still burning. President Biden sent 600 American firefighters to Canada to help. The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, called for all to wake up to the need for climate protection in his news briefing to discuss the unhealthy air quality coming from Canada: “Climate change has accelerated these conditions and we must continue to draw down emissions, improve air quality, and build resiliency.”

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also blamed the fires on the climate. However, reports from Canada are indicating that Canada did not have an effective strategy for creating controlled burns of forest which is done to clear flammable tinder like young trees, dry shrubs and grass in a controlled setting. According to the Daily Mail UK: “Parks Canada had only scheduled 23 controlled burns this year. By comparison, there were 150,000 in America in 2019.”

Also reported by the Daily Mail UK: “In 2016, Mark Heathcott, who ran the Parks Canada burns division for 23 years, said Canada was 'way behind American counterparts' when it came to controlled fires. 'A lot of lip service is paid to it but very few agencies do it. People don’t understand the benefit of fire,' he said.”

The Reason Behind The Blood Orange Sun and Air Quality Alert In Beacon

Related Link: Pictures From The Unhealthy Air Quality In Beacon From The Canadian Wildfires

While we just experienced the Strawberry Moon with last week’s full moon, this orange sun in Beacon, the Hudson Valley and New York City is a result of the wildfires burning in an “out of control” state in the Canadian province of Québec, according to many news reports including NPR. Other neighboring states are also effected, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as southern states including North Carolina.

Locally, the Beacon City School District canceled any outdoor activities for Tuesday, including daytime recess for children. Field Days, the anticipated water sport and Bouncy House days scheduled for the end of the year each year, are being rescheduled, according to correspondence from Superintendent, Dr. Landahl. Some sports leagues, including Travel Soccer, who play on school property, made the voluntary decision to cancel practices.

According to NPR, the Canadian wildfire season has been particularly bad. In the report, according to Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair, 2,214 wildfires have burned across Canada this year alone, charring 8 million acres. The country is currently battling 413 wildfires, 249 of which are categorized as out of control, and an estimated 26,000 people remain evacuated from their homes.

Across Québec, more than 150 fires are raging, many of which are burning out of control, according to the province's forest protection service. Patch reports that 110 of them are out of control. Québec City is 450 miles from Beacon.

Why The Air Quality Alert?

While some say that it looks like dusk or apocalyptic all day, with the sunlight tainting orange through the hazy clouds, there are physical reasons for the quality of the air being compromised from the Canadian smoke.

According to Patch: “Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as “PM 2.5” — which can irritate the lungs.” The media outlet quoted Dr. David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association's National Board of Directors: “We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses,” he said. “When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them.”

The smell of smoke has been more noticeable in Beacon on Wednesday than prior days, and the wind is blowing. As reported by Patch, “the atmospheric conditions in the upper Midwest creating dry, warm weather made it possible for small particulates to travel hundreds of miles from the Canadian wildfires and linger for days,” according to Trent Ford, the state climatologist in Illinois.

“It’s a good example of how complex the climate system is but also how connected it is,” Trent said.

Safety Recommendations During This Wildfire-Based Air Quality Alert

  • Wear a mask if you are doing yard-work. Consider not sweeping the driveway.

  • Skip the leaf blowing and weed whacking part of lawn-care, as the particles will add to the other particles from the fires.

  • Wear an N95 mask if you’re more comfortable.

  • Ask your doctor if now is a good time to take your inhaler, and renew your prescription.

  • Watch for signs to nebulize your children, if they are having mystery coughs. Ask your pediatrician if nebulizing them is a good idea for any possible asthma cough.

  • Stay inside in air conditioning that is recirculating if possible.

  • Now is a good time to re-consider getting an HVAC system if you haven’t yet.

  • Live in a pro-active way to protect and respect the environment to reduce the reasons we are having extreme swings in heat. Start composting!

  • Encourage other countries to send personnel and technology to put out the fires.

  • Pray for rain in Canada.


Locations For Beacon's Earth Day Cleanup: 9-12pm: Walk-Ins Welcome!

City Of Beacon's Earth Day Cleanup
Days: Saturday April 22, 2023
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Several. Signup for the location you want. But you can also just show up! The locations and meeting points are below:

Location for “East Side Of Creek: Grandview/South Avenu at the Tioranda Bridge”

  • South Avenue Elementary School: Main Entrance

  • South Avenue Park: Beacon Recreation Lot (23 West Center Street)

  • Sargent School: Main Entrance

  • Rombout Middle School: Memorial Park in the Pavilion Parking Lot

  • Rocky Glen and Rte. 52: Rte. 52 & Mill Street

  • Teller Woods: Guardrail on Teller Avenue (opposite from Ballet Arts 107 Teller Avenue)

  • East Side of Creek: Grandview/ South Avenue at the Tioranda Bridge. Enter from 9D down Grandview, near the Craig House and across from Beacon's University Settlement Camp. ALBB has posted a picture of it on the map here, provided by Green Beacon Coalition.

  • JV Forrestal School: Playground Entrance

  • East Side of Beacon: Stone and Liberty Street

12pm - 3pm: Hudson Valley Brewery.  
Conservation Advisory Committee program outreach and social.
One free drink ticket will be provided to volunteers 21+ and a discount on Groundlings pizza.  Non alcohol beverages also available.
Come to celebrate Beacon and learn about electrification, composting, trail development and pollinator pathways.
Information >

There's A Bear Over There - Where? Crossing Main Street On A Weeknight

On a quiet Tuesday or Wednesday evening at 10:30pm in Beacon (10/25/2022 or 10/26/2022), just before Halloween night, a driver stopped their car after they said they saw a bear crossing Main Street from Binnacle Books to the Flowers ‘N Gifts near Happy Valley Arcade. Apparently a second driver also stopped as the bear crossed. This hour is generally considered late late night in Beacon.

The driver called the Beacon Police, who the driver felt may not have believed them. Then the driver called their friend, who often walks at all hours of the day and night,. The driver was concerned for their friend as they wanted the friend to be aware of a bear at night in town. The friend is a reader of A Little Beacon Blog, and told us the story.

Reportedly, the driver did not know the color of the bear, or the size, but was certain that it was a bear, and not a overly large NYC size racoon. The driver did not indicate any signs of aggression, or that the bear had anything in its mouth or paws.

A Little Beacon Blog followed up with Happy Valley and with Binnacle Books, who both said they had not heard anything. ALBB did not yet file a FOIL to see if there was a Police Report filed for the call.

What Does Beacon’s Mountain Scout Say About The Bear?

ALBB reached out to Shane Hobel, founder of The Mountain Scout Survival School, to check in on his thoughts about a bear sighting in an urban area. Shane has provided expertise for media outlets including The New York Times, Urban Daddy, Fox News, and others.

“I’ve heard some people see a black bear around. It’s to be expected. If you look at the town from an eagle's perspective, is a big open plain between a mountain and a river. What used to be that corridor is now filled with city. It still has an avenue going from the mountain to the river. We are surrounded by woods, in Beacon. So, we're going to have a visitor."

Shane continued: “It's also a little bit of a confusing time with unseasonably warm temperatures. As people prepare for winter, bears are doing ther same. If there is a trail of smells, of course, the bear will follow.”

Shane answered a few more questions from ALBB:

Do people need to be afraid if they see a bear on Main Street? Or in a grassy area near their home or school?
“Black bears are pretty timid. Very shy. Docile. Easily scared if shooed off. Like a big raccoon looking for food. It’s Mama you need to be a little concerned about when near her cubs.”

What should one do if they see a bear crossing the street?
”Let the bear cross first.”

What if you are carrying a lunch box, and you see a black bear? What should you do?
”If you are that close and you are holding food, best thing to do is to put the food down and walk away slowly.”

“When you look at bear shit, here on the east coast, they eat nuts and berries. When you go out west, it’s the grizzly bear. You look at the bear shit there, you see bells and whistles.”

As in…they will eat you?
”Yes. Out west, they don't care what you are trying to scare them with. They will eat you anyway. Out here, no. The black bears here are shy.”

Next Waste Disposal For Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Is 9/17/2022 And Open For Registration

Registration Open for Sept. 17th Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event

Paint no longer accepted, can now be disposed of at local retailers year-round

Registration has begun for the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management’s next Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchess County Department of Public Works, located at 626 Dutchess Turnpike in the Town of Poughkeepsie; residents can access the event by taking Route 44 East to Burnett Boulevard. The collection is open to Dutchess County residents only.

Residents can register online or by calling (845) 463-6020. Registration is limited to the first 380 households; pre-registration is required for this event, and there is a $10 registration fee. The fee can be paid online using a credit card or paid by check; registration often reaches capacity quickly, so residents are encouraged to register promptly. Checks should be made payable to “Dutchess County Commissioner of Finance” and mailed to or dropped off at the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management at 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. This popular event is first-come, first-served, and residents should expect to experience wait times when they arrive at the location due to high demand.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Dutchess County’s popular Household Hazardous Waste Disposal and Electronics Recycling Events give residents an easy opportunity to make an impact on our environment – a responsibility in which we all play a vital role. Dutchess County is proud to offer these events, which help us preserve our planet for future generations, and we encourage residents to register to join us on Sept. 17th.”

This will be the final of Dutchess County’s three 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events, which provide residents with a safe and responsible way to discard a diverse range of household items that cannot be disposed of through regular recycling or garbage bins. Acceptable items include television sets, computer monitors, telephones, pesticides, pool chemicals, and more. A complete list of acceptable items to bring to this disposal day is included below. Hazardous waste in containers larger than 10 gallons will not be accepted.

Dutchess County will no longer be accepting paint at its Household Hazardous Waste Events, as paint can now be recycled year-round at local participating retailers through New York’s PaintCare program. Residents can learn more at paintcare.org/states/new-york.

More information about the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events is available here >

Acceptable Items:

Product Containers Marked: “Warning,” “Hazardous,” “Flammable,” “Poisonous,” “Corrosive”

Photo chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, pool chemicals, creosote, kerosene, flammable liquids, metal polish, turpentine, strippers, thinners, lead based paint, gasoline/oil mixture, brake fluid, antifreeze, auto fluids, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, adhesives, resins, solvents, propane tanks, mercury containing devices, button cell batteries for watches & hearing aids, computer monitors, CPUs, fax machines, printers, TVs, stereos, telephones, lithium & sealed lead acid batteries, fluorescent tubes (please tape together or put in box to prevent breakage)

Do Not Bring:

Ammunition or explosives, asbestos products, latex driveway sealer & latex paint, oil- or latex-based paint, stains, varnishes, building or construction debris, tires, furniture, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, air conditioners, radioactive materials, smoke detectors, scrap metal, metal drums or empty containers, motor oil, car batteries, alkaline or rechargeable batteries

Car Lit On Fire In Madam Brett Park, "Could Have Taken Woods," Beacon Police Allegedly Say

UPDATE 8/1/2022: The Beacon Police have released their report about this car fire. Read about it here.

On Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 in the early morning hours, a car was driven or drove into Madam Brett Park, turned left into the parking lot, continued onto the walking path along Fishkill Creek, and then was consumed in fire accompanied by loud explosion sounds. Madam Brett Park is managed by Scenic Hudson, and this part of it is in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police. Both agencies have been contacted for comment by ALBB, but neither have responded yet. Should they, this article will be updated.

Tree tops at Madam Brett Park scorched by fire of the car that was parked and on fire on the walking path at 4am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.

While that area is densely wooded, there are residential houses that overlook the scenic area. At least one resident was woken up by the the sounds of the burning car, overcome with the feeling like their bed was shaking. They said that the explosive sounds sounded like someone was throwing bricks in a dumpster, or gunshots. Smoke billowed up to the tree tops, scorching the tree tops.

The Beacon Police were called at 4:11am and they arrived by approximately 4:20am along with the 3 trucks of the Beacon Fire Department, who worked to put out the fire. A Beacon Police Officer told a resident that the gunshot sounds heard were the windows and tires of the vehicle exploding. When the resident called the next day to follow up, an officer reiterated that the sounds were the exploding windows and tires.

According to a witness, by 5am, the first responders were allegedly still down on the path dealing with the aftermath of the fire as smoke was still being produced.

One resident asked a Beacon Police Officer if this car fire was the work of the “kids who hang out up the path.” Apparently kids hang out further up the path, and an occasional housing-challenged person who sleeps under a structure. According to the resident, the police officer said: “This wasn’t kids.”

In the past, the resident has been told that the area where the kids hang out is not in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police.

According to the resident, the police officer thanked the resident for calling them, stating that he was concerned that the fire may have spread in the woods.

At approximately 6:35am, a tow truck came to take what the resident described as a “carcass” of a car. They said that the car was unidentifiable at that point, but resembled a medium SUV perhaps in the Jeep family. By 7am, there was water on the ground allegedly from the from fire trucks.

As of this article publishing, the Beacon Police have not responded to ALBB for comment, or posted a press release with further information to their Facebook page, as they do from time to time. It is unknown at this time if an investigation is being conducted into the cause of the fire.

According to a sign at Madam Brett Park, this park and Long Doc Park, buth managed by Scenic Hudson, have been victim to vandalism recently.

Back in 2017, one of the old factories caught on fire in the early morning hours after an explosion was heard, and was consumed in flames. The City of Beacon Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Glenham and the Village of Fishkill, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. It is unknown if the cause of the fire from the investigation was ever discovered or released.

Anyone with information is directed to call the Beacon Police Department 845-831-4111 with any tips.

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"Flawed and Disturbing" Is What Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro Calls Central Hudson's Roll Out Of New Billing System

Central Hudson, the area’s deliverer of energy and gas, announced that they launched a new “customer information system” on September 1, 2021. As a result, some people did not receive a bill for months, according to complaints voiced on social media and submitted to A Little Beacon Blog. Some people received an “Estimated” bill for 4 months in a row, which according to New York State law, is not within regulation. Central Hudson’s Media Relations Director, John Maserjian, explained that regulation to A Little Beacon Blog:

“The reason Central Hudson reads meters every other month is due to a requirement in 2016 by utility regulators. Prior to 2016, Central Hudson billed every two months with actual meter readings. The state then required Central Hudson to bill monthly, however we were unable to read meters every month without raising rates. The state agreed to allow for estimates every other month, which we have been providing since then. We are now looking into alternatives that would allow for more consistent actual meter readings.”

On February 10, 2022, Central Hudson issued a press release alerting customers to rising electric and gas rates, citing various reasons for the spike, including colder weather this winter, the closure of Indian Point, and a shortage of liquefied natural gas in Europe as the United States is one of the main exporters of liquefied natural gas to Europe, in addition to Qatar and Russia (pre-Russian invasion of Ukraine).

Delivery Dollars In The Details

Residents across the region opened their eyes to how they were being billed by Central Hudson, and started complaining. Especially if they were used to a bill for $500 and received one for $2,500 after receiving no bill for 4 months. According to some customers who shared their experiences with A Little Beacon Blog, they were not offered a payment plan unless they called Central Hudson, usually in a panic about their bill.

According to a letter posted on customers’ February bills, only 5% of customers were effected. According to the wave of complaints in social media, that number seemed higher. Hearing the complaints, The City of Beacon’s Councilmember George Mansfield brought up the confusion he was hearing from residents, which prompted a meeting to be scheduled with Central Hudson and the City of Beacon to present to Beacon residents during a City Council Meeting.

The meeting was scheduled but postponed after the last blizzard caused extreme electricity outages in Ulster County, which Central Hudson worked hard to restore. High level employees of Central Hudson did present to Beacon’s City Council weeks later on February 22, 2022.

Days earlier, on February 16, 2022, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro issued a statement via press release stating his discontent with Central Hudson’s treatment of billing customers. His statement in full is below:

“Central Hudson‘s roll out of a new billing system and failure to communicate effectively with our residents in anticipation of increased energy costs is flawed and disturbing. 

“Gas prices globally have spiked, and nationally we are experiencing an unbearable rate of inflation. Locally, New York State’s decision to close Indian Point shifted the region from a reliance on steady, stable and affordable energy to an unstable commodity*. Bitter cold temperatures have further exacerbated the situation by increasing demand. 

“Some of what we’re experiencing can be attributed to bad decisions and bad policy in Albany and Washington, but Central Hudson bears much responsibility here. They knew a rate increase was imminent. They have absolute control over their operations and communications. It is clear based on the countless individuals who have communicated with my office that Central Hudson’s outreach efforts have failed.  

“The shocking utility bills our residents are receiving adds insult to the injury from last year‘s flawed rollout of their new billing system. Central Hudson has an obligation to keep our community informed about the cost of the energy they deliver. 

“Too many families living paycheck to paycheck cannot bear the weight of inflation. Add to that a confusing and shocking utility bill increase and we have a recipe for disaster.

“Central Hudson must do better. They can do better. It’s time they provide assistance and relief to our residents.”

What Is The “Unstable Commodity” Marcus Molinaro Referred To?

In his statement above, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro referred to an “unstable commodity.” A Little Beacon Blog followed up to see which commodity he was referring to. His response:

“The unstable commodity is natural gas. The reference to ‘unstable’ relates to the short and long term instability that are often exhibited with raw materials, such as oil or natural gas, due to sudden changes in market conditions that affect supply and demand.

“Indian Point was not a raw material energy producer – the plant had a consistent output that did not fluctuate due to resource availability. It provided approximately 13% of the state’s electricity serving more than 2 million homes.

“To offset the power to provide electricity, New York State permitted three natural gas fired power plants. These plants are subject to the ‘instability’ of fluctuations in natural gas pricing which we are experiencing. The natural gas (commodity) needed for these three plants is not generated locally.

“Demand for natural gas has increased globally—spikes in frigid temperatures and the demand for electric vehicles have further increased the demand on natural gas as a significant amount of the state’s energy comes from natural gas-fired plants. At the same time, the banning of certain ways to source natural gas and the termination of projects or infrastructure to transport gas to the states have reduced supply.”

Reasons For Rising Rate Repeatedly Left Out Of Communications

Despite the closing of Indian Point, residents of Beacon and neighboring municipalities had the opportunity to opt-in to a fixed rate on their energy bill of .06361/kwh (kilowatt hour), which was in a locally legislated deal known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) structured and organized by Hudson Valley Energy in July 2019.

After a change in energy supplier (Direct Energy to Columbia Utilities) that rate was renegotiated to $.06572/kwh, far lower than what Central Hudson’s current rate for electricity is ($.21 for February 2022). The rate that Central Hudson charges for electricity is a variable rate, which means that it can change, and is not locked in, like Beacon’s rate is. Central Hudson’s new rate will reach $.21/kwh, as you can see in their chart of monthly rates here.

The source of the lower-priced rate negotiated by Hudson Valley Energy is 100% renewable energy. Usually that does not sit well with proponents of power plants like Indian Point. Currently, the 100% renewable energy is in a fixed, stable rate, and energy and gas prices are variable and spiking.

When the new, locked-in Beacon rate became available in 2019, about 10% of Beaconites opted out, according the Jeffrey Domanski of Hudson Valley Energy, a Beaconite who manages the group-rate fixed rate for Hudson Valley Energy. That was then. Currently, he says that 15% of Beaconites have opted out, with 70% of Beaconties enrolled in the locked-in rate.

Beaconites and any resident of one of the municipalities enrolled in this program can opt-in at any time by contacting Jeffrey directly at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org. Those municipalities currently include the City of Beacon, Town of Clinton, Village of Cold Spring, Town of Marbletown, Town of New Paltz, Village of New Paltz, Town of Philipstown, City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Red Hook, and the Town of Saugerties. Learn more about the program here.

Why Isn’t The Lower Locked-In Rate From Beacon’s CCA Headline News?

Why isn’t every Beaconite opted in to the lower locked in rate? Because messaging on it has been confusing from Central Hudson from the beginning. A Little Beacon Blog reported on that confusing letter from Central Hudson years ago, and the confusing messaging hasn’t stopped. Customer service representatives at Central Hudson claim to barely know about it, despite it being signed into legislation by Beacon’s City Council. Messaging from door-to-door peddlers of solar panels have also sown confusion and doubt about the program, according to this writer’s own experience with 2 of them.

At its core, the locked-in energy rate is drawing from 100% renewable energy. Which in and of itself, can draw skepticism from people. Couple that with the solar panel sales people who come door to door (illegally, by the way, as they should not do that without a Peddler’s Permit which they never show - they show their photo ID from their employer but that’s not the same thing as a Peddler’s Permit. they prey on people, especially the elderly who will fall for their very well-crafted sales pitches).

How To Get The Locked-In Rate

This is a developing story. A Little Beacon Blog has more reporting to share with you on it. Know this: If you want to opt-in to the fixed energy rate for Beacon, which is $.06361/kwh instead of the $0.21995 Central Hudson’s variable rate is now up to, email Jeffrey directly at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org.

The locked-in rate is not guaranteed to be lower at all times, as the rest of the market fluctuates. Since its start in 2019, it has outperformed the variable fossil-fuel market rate.

For questions about the fixed rate for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), do not email or call Columbia Utilities, as Central Hudson has instructed you to do. As this is a legislated agreement with several municipalities, it is odd that Central Hudson’s customer service representatives, as well as printed letters from Central Hudson’s marketing department, would divulge such little information about how to get in touch with the point person of the many municipal-wide Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program that is written into Beacon’s city code.

The point person to hook you up for free to this locked in rate is Jeffrey Domanski of Hudson Valley Energy at cca@hudsonvalleyenergy.org.

NOTE: This locked in rate is not the Budget Billing plan that Central Hudson encourages customers to start. There is much skepticism about that Budget Billing plan, and if it is based on Actual readings, and how many customers have gotten money back if they used less energy and gas then Central Hudson projected for them.

To be continued…

Recycling Opportunity: Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Events - Registration Required

Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management announced 2022 dates for their Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events. Registration opens March 9, 2022, and is limited to a first come first served basis. Only 380 households will be served! Open to Dutchess County residents only, and is partially funded by New York State. The actual event is April 9, 2022. There will be a couple more opportunities again later in the year.

Residents should expect to experience wait times when they arrive at the location due to high demand, advised Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro. Registration is limited to the first 380 households; pre-registration is required for this event, and there is a $10 registration fee; registration often reaches capacity quickly, so residents are encouraged to register promptly.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We can all take an active part in preserving our planet for future generations, and Dutchess County’s upcoming Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Event is the perfect opportunity for residents to get a jump on spring cleaning and help the environment. We appreciate our residents’ desire to keep Dutchess County clean, and we urge residents to register promptly.”

Recycling Event Dates: April 9, 2022, May 21, 2022, and September 17, 2022
Pre-Registration is a MUST.
Location: 626 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, NY
(access off of Route 44 to Burnett Boulevard)
Registration Fee: Registration and $10 Prepayment Required.
1. Pay online at this registration link, or
2. Call (845) 463-6020, or
3. Pay by check
If paying by check:
Make payable to “Dutchess County Commissioner of Finance”
Mail to:
Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management
96 Sand Dock Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Acceptable Hazardous Waste Items:

Product Containers Marked: “Warning”, “Hazardous”, “Flammable”, “Poisonous”, “Corrosive”

Photo chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, pool chemicals, creosote, kerosene, flammable liquids, metal polish, turpentine, stains, varnishes, strippers, thinners, gasoline/oil mixture, brake fluid, antifreeze, auto fluids, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, adhesives, resins, solvents, oil & lead based paints (no latex), mercury containing devices, button cell batteries for watches & hearing aids, computer monitors, CPUs, fax machines, printers, TVs, stereos, telephones, lithium & sealed lead acid batteries, fluorescent tubes.

Do Not Bring (Not For Hazardous Waste)

Ammunition or explosives, asbestos products, latex driveway sealer & latex paint, building or construction debris, tires, furniture, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, propane or other flammable gas cylinders, radioactive materials, scrap metal, metal drums or empty containers, motor oil, car batteries, alkaline or rechargeable batteries.

Find more information here >

Every Week Recycling Opportunities In Beacon’s Transfer Station

While this event is where you can offload hazardous materials, some of these items may also be dropped of at Beacon’s Transfer Station, including TVs and tires. There may be a fee for some electronic items, but the price is not stated on the City of Beacon’s website at this time. Guess you’ll find out when you go! Bring a check or cash. Click here to see what you can recycle at the City of Beacon’s Transfer Station any week of the year.