Clearwater's Community Response To COVID-19

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, March 18, 2020

This is a message from Greg Williams, Executive Director of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

In the spirit of Clearwater’s founding mission, to protect the happiness and health of the Hudson River, we feel that it is just as pertinent to take precautions to promote safety and health within our community. 

As you are well aware, due to the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, health officials have cautioned against large gatherings to reduce any further spreading of the disease. 

Clearwater is adapting and responding, so that we can continue our important work of protecting the Hudson River and advocating for a just, clean energy future.

First, we're prioritizing the health of our volunteers, activists, staff, crew and entire community. The COVID-19 pandemic is a social and economic justice issue, as well as a health crisis. and we recognize that each of us have a social responsibility to be good actors in keeping others safe, too.

Our hope is that the country’s collective participation will help change the outcome of what COVID-19 brings to the human race; and prove that together, we can do even greater things for our environment.

Here are some specific steps that Clearwater is taking: 

• To support students spending time at home and teachers working diligently to keep their students engaged and energized, we are developing online education opportunities that allow students to explore and experience the Hudson River and the Sloop from afar. 

• We anticipate that many of our upcoming education programs (Tideline, Sailing Classroom, and In-School) will be affected as we implement necessary social distancing measures to protect our community. We will be in touch directly with the groups who scheduled for upcoming programs.

• We are canceling our Clearwater Community Celebration scheduled for June 20 and 21 at Croton Point Park. Due to caution against travel, ticket sales and travel arrangements for the Community Celebration will be severely impacted. We understand the disappointment that our Clearwater family may feel in lieu of this unprecedented situation, and appreciate your understanding. 

• We are requiring office staff to work from home until further notice. You can still reach our staff by email or phone, (845) 265-8080. 

We will be happy to hear from you.

Ways To Support

Spring is a financially challenging season for Clearwater even in our best years. For an organization designed to bring people together, isolation and social distance are especially difficult. The prospect of cutting back our events and education programs for weeks or months presents a new and perhaps greater threat than Clearwater has ever faced. To make it through this, we need your support.

Call To Action

While we are taking this time to step back from public gatherings, we will continue our efforts to keep our waters protected in the digital world. A meaningful step that you can take today to protect the Hudson and surrounding communities, is to submit comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Committee against the sale of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant to an unqualified, untrustworthy company called Holtec. 

Digital Communities

While we may not be able to meet in public, we are continuing to build a strong community online. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram or YouTube to stay connected. You can also visit our website, Clearwater.org.

We would like to express our gratitude for your continued support, and partnership in our mission toward protecting the health and wellness of both our beloved Hudson River, and our community. 

Stay Connected - Sign Up For Beacon's Emergency Alert Phone/Email System

Published Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Did you get the call today from the City of Beacon? The one where the mayor called to tell you about some COVID-19 information?

If you did not, then you are not hooked in to the City of Beacon’s Emergency Alert System.

You need to get on this now.

If you decide to opt out later when things get back to normal, you can.

But get signed up now:

A Little Beacon Blog made directions for you here.

First City Council Meeting Took Place Since CoronaCrisis Awakening - COVID-19 Update Released

Published Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Last week, the City of Beacon announced via press release that their regular Monday meeting would meet at a larger space to allow for social distancing, so that people could sit apart from one another. Similar measures have taken place in New York City for Governor Cuomo’s press conferences; after one day the governor’s meetings were the usual shoulder-to-shoulder arrangement, and then the next day there was an awkward array of seating.

The City of Beacon set up teleconferencing so that City Council members who were not comfortable or able to attend could call in and participate. Councilpeople Terry Nelson, Amber Grant, Jodi McCredo and Air Rhodes were dialed in on the line, which came in loud and clear. George Mansfield, Dan Aymar-Blair and Mayor Lee Kyriacou attended in person at the table. The City Attorney, Nick Ward-Willis, also attended in person, as did City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero. “I think you can all agree, we are certainly at appropriate distances right now,” he said.

Teleconferencing was set up in a day, as mentioned by Mayor Kyriacou. Participation for the public is also possible via teleconferencing, or the public can attend in person, provided that there is enough space between people. The mayor read the press release that was issued last week, which stated how several procedures will work for the foreseeable future. Read that press release (including a helpful fact sheet of COVID-19 symptoms) on the City of Beacon’s website, or right here.

All leaders were concerned about the coronavirus/COVID-19 and its impact on the Beacon community. Mayor Kyriacou urged people to check on their neighbors. To do so casually, or to let them know you want to check in on them. He also urged people to order out from their restaurant friends, and to continue to support those businesses.

Councilperson George Mansfield owns a bar/restaurant, Dogwood, and had this to say: “As a bar owner who was forced to be shut down by the state yesterday, I believe that it is the right and prudent thing to do. Hundreds of people have lost their jobs today... Maybe people live paycheck-to-paycheck, and now are without that paycheck.”

Councilperson Dan Aymar-Blair informed the public about Mutual Aid, a new group that has organized quickly in order to help people. There are “limits to what the state and county can do,” Dan said, “and we rely on each other.” The group is for the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and anyone who needs to quarantine. “This group is here for you,” said Dan. Call (845) 206-9836 or email mutualaidbeacon@gmail.com. They are on Facebook here, where you can see direct requests as they come in, and offer to help for each one.

Don’t be shy. Especially if you are a solo parent or person living without someone at home often. Call if you are not able to get out to get what you need.

Councilperson Jodi McCredo proposed to initiate a resolution to get local aid directly to Beacon. Mayor Kyriacou contributed insight he has from nearly all-day meetings: that Dutchess County was aware and working on directions. The following day (today) the mayor shared a press release about the low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). It is a low-interest federal disaster loan for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to that press release: “SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on March 15, 2020.” Actions like this from neighboring states continue, as the states work together regionally to plan and protect.

Additionally:

• Evictions have been halted statewide with no end date as of yet (after the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office did agree to halt them for two weeks to start, and was open to a lengthier period). Evictions are now suspended until further notice.

• Seven-day waiting period for unemployment was waived (Governor’s Executive Order)

• State Aid Penalty waived for schools closing (Governor’s Executive Order)

• Utilities are not to be shut off, as directed by the Governor to the Department of Public Service.

• Source: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/after-weeks-demanding-approval-governor-cuomo-announces-fda-gives-new-york-state-authority

Councilpersons Jodi McCredo and Amber Grant both encouraged people to give elderly people physical space - especially in the grocery store. Councilperson Grant encouraged people to shop and help Beacon businesses and to take the 2020 U.S. Census! Letters are arriving in the mail now. Don’t miss that opportunity. Filling that out is how communities get approved for grants. Money. Federal funding for many things you see - and want to see - around you.

The press release from the City of Beacon is below:

---

The City of Beacon is working closely with Dutchess County and New York State to ensure public health and safety in connection with COVID-19, and wants to inform the community of the following current information and actions.

Public Information

The City of Beacon recognizes that the best statewide health expertise is provided by New York State, and the best local health expertise lies with the Dutchess County Health Department. Accordingly, the City will where possible promptly re-communicate relevant, accurate information provided by these sources, whether electronically on the Beacon Public Access Channel (Channel 22) , the City of Beacon website (http://www.CityofBeacon.org), links in documents, or in printed form. The primary objective of the actions being taken by public health officials is to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19, to “flatten the curve” as many describe, so as to avoid exceeding the capacity of our hospital services.

City Preparedness

The City is working closely with expert state and county governmental partners, participating in multiple daily calls and meetings involving communities throughout the region. Information is passed on to all city staff, including police, fire and other departments, and the community, and the City is taking the appropriate recommended actions to properly inform to safeguard our community, including actions and recommendations to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19.

Limiting Gatherings

Today (Monday, March 16), the Governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut announced a lower crowd capacity limit of 50 people for recreational and social gatherings (e.g., theaters, sporting events; but not e.g., libraries, retail establishments), effective at 8:00 PM tonight. This follows an earlier order from last Friday (March 13) with an initial limit, which was the lesser of 500 persons or 50% of venue capacity. Today the Governors also announced that restaurants and bars will close for on-premise service (but still allow take-out and delivery service), and the temporary closing of movie theaters, gyms and casinos. Dutchess County and the City of Beacon collectively have the authority to enforce this limitation through our police, fire and building departments, and will promptly begin doing so.

Schools

All school districts in Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties were closed for regular classes starting today (Monday, March 16). The Beacon City School District is closed for two weeks. The City’s school-based recreation programs are also closed.

State & Local Government Workforce

Today (Monday, March 16), the Governor announced that 50% of non-essential state employees should not report to work, and if feasible may work from home, and called for local governments to do the same (we understand this will become an executive order by the end of the day). The City of Beacon will implement this directive beginning tomorrow. We have identified executive, police, fire, water and sewer departments, and code enforcement officers, as essential employees. Other employees will be working for the most part on an every-other-day schedule.

City Facilities & Services

The following changes have been made regarding city facilities, board meetings and activities.

• Essential Services: Beacon Police and Fire Departments are unaffected by any mandated reduction in staffing; these departments have their own protocols with respect to staffing in emergency situations and interacting with the public. Water and Sewer Departments are unaffected, and trash collection is handled by a private contractor and is on schedule. The roles of Mayor, City Council and City Administrator are unaffected.

• City Hall: The window in the front entrance of our Municipal Building will remain open during regular hours for in-person service. Note that this window will as needed service in-person interactions with City departments located in the lower level of the building. Municipal buildings are being cleaned twice a day, and are safe for the public. Residents are encouraged to contact the City by phone or e-mail, where you will receive excellent customer service.

• Board Meetings: Meetings of the Beacon City Council, as well as other regular and ad hoc board meetings will continue to meet on schedule, with a change of location on a trial basis, from the Court Room at the Municipal Building to the much larger public meeting room across Route 9D at the Lewis Tompkins Hose Meeting Room located at 13 South Avenue. This will allow for appropriate “social distancing” in a larger venue; the City will monitor and limit public attendance as necessary. The City will continue to televise City Council and other board meetings, and has installed teleconferencing for meetings. Board members are of course free to make individual choices regarding attendance specific to their individual circumstances.

• Recreation Programs: The City has already discontinued after-school programs consistent with the school district decision. Other City-sponsored recreational activities are already seeing reduced attendance, and the City will discontinue all recreation programming.

• Transfer Station: The City’s recycling and transfer facility on Dennings Avenue will be open for some services, with details to be determined.

Some Accurate Sources of Information

Below are some links to accurate and up-to- date local information on health and safety. Take care to find and rely on accurate official sources, and not unofficial, informal or uninformed ones.

• Dutchess County Coronavirus Information Hotline: 845-486-3555
• NYS DOH Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
• NYS Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065
• Dutchess County State of Emergency: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Executive/Dutchess-County-Announces-State-of-Emergency.htm
• Dutchess County Department of Health: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm
• Dutchess County Mental Health Services: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/Mental-Health-Services.htm

Public Health Reminders

The City of Beacon wishes to repeat some official common-sense public health guidelines including personal hygiene, social distancing, and avoiding large public gatherings and events. These come from the Dutchess County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Please see attached COVID-19/Coronavirus Fact Sheet.

Gov. Cuomo Aggressively Pushes Trump For Army Corps of Engineers To Build Hospitals For NY

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

In yesterday’s press conference, Governor Cuomo urged President Trump to send in the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing buildings like SUNY to serve as temporary hospitals. He anticipates the need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, which include ventilators, to be in high demand very quickly, all at once.

Governor Cuomo set the stage for why with a picture of a tsunami wave crashing over a hospital, referring to the “curve” as more of a “wave.”

“If you have too high a number of people sick at the same time, when they descend on the hospital system, you will overwhelm the hospital system. That’s the issue here. Overwhelming the capacity of the hospital system,” Governor Cuomo said.

“I’m a governor,” he continued. “I am focused on what I need today, to prepare for tomorrow. That’s what everyone should be focused on.”

“We are looking at a new war that no one has seen before.”

— Governor Cuomo

“We are looking at a new war that no one has seen before. This is a case of first impression. We have never fought a virus like this, with this potential consequence,” he stated.

And then he shared ideas: “So, plan forward. You see that wave? Try to reduce the size of the wave. Assume you can’t reduce the size of the wave. Assume the wave breaks on a higher level than the hospital system can accommodate. That’s what I believe is going to happen.”

The Governor explained that current ICU beds are 80% occupied (there are 3,000 ICU beds total in New York state). Only several hundred ICU beds are available. “They [the ICU beds] need the ventilators. They need the machines that breathe for them. Those are the ventilators, and those are with the ICU beds. The overwhelming crush will be on the ICU beds.”

He contrasted the ICU beds with the “normal” hospital beds, of which there are 53,000. Those are “basically going to be filled with people recovering with what feels like the flu,” where hospital staff are checking your vitals, hydrating you, feeding you, he described.

Governor Cuomo wants to build more hospitals and find more staff. He wants more staff because “hospital workers will get sick,” he said. He wants to recruit medical staff who are on reserve, from retirement, etc.. Another option is to reduce or pause elective surgeries. Ohio canceled elective surgeries several days ago. And you know that thing about Ohio (ALBB founder Katie is a native Ohioan) - the weather that happens in Ohio happens in New York one or two days later.

Governor Cuomo wrote an open letter to President Trump, published in The New York Times, to ask for the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit existing buildings into hospitals. The governor said that anyoptions in the private sector are not there.

In response, President Trump denied this request, telling Governor Cuomo to do more. “This can’t be a national policy of every state does its own thing,” Governor Cuomo said yesterday, before the president declined his request for builders. “You can’t have a patchwork quilt of policy. New York state closes stores. OK, New Jersey doesn’t. What did I do? I sent thousands of vehicles over to New Jersey.”

Today, Governor Cuomo mandated that all gyms, casinos, movie theaters, bars and restaurants close (takeout and delivery only for bars/restaurants), and reduced the crowd mandate to 50.

Not only that, but states neighboring: CT and NJ also did the same. These states agreed to also close so as to avoid overflow when people leave one state to do something in another state. Same thing could happen at a micro level - and even shorter distance level - at the county or city level. People from New York City escaping to Beacon, which is what happened on St. Paddy’s Day weekend, and could continue if people wanted to flee their sheltering restrictions in NYC. In fact, there is an entire blog dedicated to just this concept (we love Escape Brooklyn, but you get the point - for now, stay home)!

As For More ICU Hospital Beds

“We know what is going to happen. We have the data and the projection. Look at China. Look at South Korea. Look at Italy. And just plot the numbers. You know the curve. ”

— Governor Cuomo

“We know what is going to happen. We have the data and the projection. Look at China. Look at South Korea. Look at Italy. And just plot the numbers. You know the curve. You know how effective you are at flattening the curve. And we are now looking at a wave… Do everything you can to reduce the wave. We are. It’s still a wave. It’s going to be a wave. And it is going to be a wave that at any of these projections, will overwhelm the healthcare system.”

Governor Cuomo asked the president for three things:

1. FDA to get out of the way for automated testing.

2. Federal government to give guidance to states.

3. More hospital facilities. Cuomo wants the Army Corps of Engineers to construct or retrofit buildings and acquire thousands of pieces of equipment to build quickly.

“I don’t have the physical capacity,” he urged. “There’s only one workforce that can do that: The Army Corps of Engineers and the military assets. They build bridges. They build camps. They have equipment, excavators, purchasing power. Use them to come in right now. Identify existing facilities that can be retrofitted.”

“China built dozens of hospitals in literally a month. How? The Chinese government came in and said ‘We’re going to do this.’ You can’t leave this to the states… I’m an aggressive governor. I push very hard. But there’s no way that we could manage this undertaking.”

President Trump’s response today: “Cuomo of New York has to do more.” (See the deleted Tweet here)

And then Governor Cuomo’s response, saying he was happy to do the president’s job.

Dutchess County and Chamber of Commerce Initiating A Communication Channel For Businesses

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Ron Hicks, Assistant County Executive for Dutchess County, along with Frank Castella, President of the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce, have initiated a communication channel to hear and respond to questions from businesses. As you can imagine, there are a lot of them coming in. Dutchess County and the Dutchess Chamber of Commerce are making a new platform and newsletter to distribute and take in information.

THE GOAL:
Dutchess County aims to issue updates to business owners every day at 3 pm. This is the goal, so have patience with expectations as they hammer out this new system.

HOW YOU GET IT:
Sign up here for the Dutchess Business Notification Network.

What Dutchess County and Dutchess Chamber Of Commerce are Working On

Based on questions from businesses, the following agenda has been compiled. This is a changing list, and is directly from Ron Hicks’ desk, published here to give you a taste of where they are headed:

COMMUNICATION:
In partnership with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce (DCRCOC), Dutchess County created a special platform and database to communicate as one with the business community (still being built). DCRCOC, Think Dutchess (DCIDA, DCLDC), Dutchess Tourism, Council of Industry, DC WIB, WEDC and DCC are partnering under the Alliance for Business and merging the databases into a special list for this event.

Dutchess County’s plan is to push out an update to the business community on a daily basis at 3 pm. Dutchess County hopes this will provide its administration with a tool to communicate to businesses, and businesses to communicate to the administration.

ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE:
- On Thursday, March 12, Dutchess County asked the state to waive the seven-day waiting period for affected workers applying for Unemployment Insurance (UI). The governor announced the waiver on Friday, March 13.
- Dutchess County has asked the state to waive the in-person visit required within two weeks of applying for UI.
- Dutchess County has asked the NYS Department of Labor to provide guidance on in-person visits to the career center and Unemployment Insurance applicants.
- Dutchess County has asked the state to request Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the federal government so that businesses can apply for loans through SBA.
- Dutchess County plans to ask banks Monday to extend a grace period for loans and mortgages.
- Dutchess County plans to ask the state Monday to extend a grace period for small businesses’ sales tax receipts.

NEEDS/RESOURCES:
Frank Castella and Ron Hicks are collecting needs and requests from businesses in order to push protective medical resources to the appropriate work group in EOC.

Dutchess County is assembling a panel of businesses to come up with innovative ways to stay in business or redirect employees (i.g. LCS may need workers to clean and maybe the Grandview, who needs to close, can shift its workers to LCS).

Dutchess County has a call at 3 pm with a group of employers laying people off and a group who need workers.

NY, CT, NJ Close Gyms, Movie Theaters, Casinos; Bars/Restaurants Takeout Only. Regional Cooperation Stressed

From Governor Cuomo via Twitter from his press conference today, where his messaging was consistent with that of past press conference. Governor Cuomo has been asking the federal government to have a countrywide mandate on restrictions. His fear is that shutting down New York state bars, for example, results in, “Everybody drives to New Jersey to drink,” for example. Or to the movies, or to go out to dinner. Or go to the movies.

Cuomo’s fear is that when he shuts something down in New York, people will go elsewhere to get it. He said this yesterday (Sunday) and again today (Monday). If something is shut down in New York City, people might come to Beacon to do it instead.

In backing up his strategy, he said:

“I don’t remember this happening, period.”

“This pre-empts what any mayor or any county executive anywhere said. You can’t close bars in Manhattan but leave them open in Nassau. Because now everybody drives to Nassau to drink.”

“In an emergency situation, there is a protocol that makes sense. Local governments can make rules, the state can override those rules, and the federal government can override those rules.”

“They are counter to common sense, and they are counter to public safety and public health.”

With regards to public schools, Cuomo indicated he would have a statewide policy on school closures as well.

Authorities are considering a recommendation to stop elective surgeries for now.

From Governor Cuomo’s Twitter:

“NY, CT and NJ are taking joint regional action to reduce the spread of #COVID19:”

Effective 8pm TONIGHT (Monday):
-Crowd capacity reduced to 50.
-Restaurants/bars will be takeout/delivery ONLY.
-Gyms closed.
-Movie theaters closed.
-Casinos closed.

UPDATE! Residential and Commercial Evictions Are Banned Statewide Until Further Notice

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Update! This just in from Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson’s office: The ban on evictions has been put into effect statewide, has no time limit at this time, and includes commercial evictions.

Read all about it here at TheRealDeal.com (a real estate news website).

According to the article: “The decision to halt evictions comes amid calls from officials and community organizers from all over the state to implement an immediate ban on evictions — including a letter signed by two dozen state senators, followed by a similar letter from the state Assembly.”

Keep the tips coming in!

Parents: Avoid Each Other At Lesson Pickup. Resist Bringing Kids (I Know - Hard!) Or Keep Them And You In The Car

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Hi everyone,

Today is the first day of lesson pickup for the kids to learn at home (or, let’s face it - pretend that we have some semblance of something normal for now).

This is amazing that the teachers have created these alternative learning tools for us.

The most natural feeling for all of us as we go to pickup is to want to see each other and catch up. Our kids are pining for each other. Totally normal. We may forget to social distance, and hug or stand next to each other, thinking that we are immune.

Please, don’t do this. Delete this temptation by figuring out a plan to not bring your kids to pickup, and to not get close to each other at pickup. All of us could be carriers and show no symptoms. If you must bring your kids to pickup - if you are solo - keep them in the car. It’s too hard to control them when they get excited and want to see each other.

If you are feeling symptoms - even the slightest ones - consider asking a neighbor to pick up your lessons for you. If you have coronavirus/COVID-19, chances are your entire house does too. Even though they may not feel symptoms ever, or they may feel mild symptoms.

If you had a mystery cold last week, or the week before, consider really isolating. It’s also allergy season, so add that to the list of “Am I feeling a symptom?” circumstances. It’s OK. Just keep taking your temp. Call your doctor with questions. It’s all good.

I woke up with ever-slight asthma this morning. Totally normal for me during the spring. I always get a bad cold in April. Just check my doctor records! But it’s upped our game plan of “just in case.”

Our plan is to ask a neighbor to pick up our materials, or send one of us in the car and make a grab dash. Our teacher also emailed a PDF of things. If you are a single parent, and you are practicing “just in case,” just skip it altogether and ask a neighbor to bring it home for you if you want to. Stay healthy. Stay rested. Stay positive. Do what is best for you to take care of your family.

This isn’t forever. Our kids will learn. They will not be stunted. This will be OK.

Let’s just flatten the curve.

xoxo

NYC Schools Close Until April 20 - Possibly Longer - And NYC Isn't Alone

Published Date: Monday, March 16, 2020

Photo Credit: Beacon Moms Facebook Group (amazing group!)

On Sunday evening, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that New York City would shut down schools until April 20, 2020, possibly longer. The mayor and Governor Cuomo have both been resistant to closing schools because so many depend on the structure of school as childcare. “I am distraught at having to take this action, but I became convinced over the course of the day there was no other choice,” DeBlasio said.

In Ohio, where only a few cases have been reported, their governor, Mike DeWine, is listening to experts who are telling him that 100,000 cases probably exist. “We can’t stop it, but we can slow it down,” he told a local FOX station. New York’s Governor Cuomo has consistently said during press conferences that as testing increases, confirmed cases will be found and numbers will continue to go up. Kansas also has a handful of confirmed cases at the moment, and has shut down districts for two weeks. DC, Michigan and Oregon have also closed schools to slow the spread.

Schools in NYC will be open for grab-and-go meals for breakfasts and lunches, which is also happening for Beacon kids. However, Beacon kids are picking up meals in the parking lots of South Avenue Elementary and Beacon High School. NYC will try to keep on bus drivers and cafeteria workers to try to distribute food.

New York City will have remote learning in a way that has never been done before. According to the Gothamist article where this has been reported, they highlighted a message on the website for the new materials: “These materials do not replace what your child has been learning at school, but during this unusual time it is important that students continue to read, write, do social studies and science activities, and work on math problems."

Beacon City School kids have received robocalls from their principals this evening (Sunday) with instructions on how to pick up learning materials. Those instructions did include to be mindful of keeping a social distance of 6 feet between each other, which is hard for adults to do, and really hard for little ones to do. But it will be a welcome opportunity to see each other.

Depending on the teacher, parents may already communicate with their teacher via app, and some may use Google Classroom in a way to connect remotely to the plan and get guidance from the teacher. Perhaps we will eventually meet in a field with enough social distance, for teaching by megaphone so that we can see our teachers? Or YouTube or Vimeo?

The prediction of this blogger is that new ideas will develop (if not already in the works) on how to connect with and teach our kids. The first note we’ve received from our teacher said that she misses the students.

As for how long this two-week break for Beacon will turn out to be, if NYC just went to April 20? Ohio has already projected till the end of the school year. Said Governor DeWine: “Look, the projections - and I’m just going by what medical experts are telling us - is that this may not peak until the latter part of April or May. We’ve just informed superintendents, while we’ve closed schools for three weeks, that the odds are that this is going to go on a lot longer. and it would not surprise me if all the schools did not open again this year.”

As for Mayor de Blasio: He also said that there is a real possibility that the schools may remain closed for the rest of the year.

Meanwhile, Governor Cuomo today shared in a press conference that he wrote an open letter to President Trump, asking him to assign the Army Corps of Engineers to retrofit buildings to be hospitals, as he anticipates more ICU beds are needed for ventilators for the critically ill patients with coronavirus. Listening to the governor ask for this during the press conference is actually a lot more reassuring than reading about it here in words. He is doing prep work, but is convinced they will be needed. That the wave of care will hit the healthcare system in New York. People - off the record in texts - who work in hospitals outside of New York have indicated that their lives caring for patients have become already quite busy.

Time to get that schedule together.

Takeout Is Trending As Beaconites Stay Home and Self-Quarantine

Published Date: Sunday, March 15, 2020

Photo Credit: Governor Cuomo’s Twitter

Take out before a hike outside.
Photo Credit: Lisa Marie Martinez

We love our small businesses here in Beacon. LOVE THEM. We love free enterprise, and the ability for businesses to make decisions without regulation strangling them. But we are in a pandemic here, and the numbers all around Beacon keep. going. up. All of us have had to work very hard to keep our blood pressure down, and make calm, smart choices.

Please remember that as you read this article. It is asking you to do take out. Have a picnic in your car of the lovely open faced croissant sandwich that Beacon Pantry made for you. Get that burger and fries from Barb’s and take a hike (in town, I don’t mean leave - just walk down the old train tracks or the Fishkill Creek or something and eat the burger there).

Beacon Businesses Are Doing Takeout

If you are from NYC and you have come to Beacon to get away from the pandemic that is filling ICU hospital beds needed for ventilators (Governor Cuomo’s words), please stay home. We do need your business, eventually. But all of us, probably in the whole country at this point, need to stay home and focus on our own health, eating well, taking breaks from coronavirus updates, and not standing near each other. In a bar. In a coffee shop. In a restaurant.

When A Little Beacon Blog asked Mayor Kyriacou about social distancing and the community, he sad:

“All the experts say that the most important thing that we can do is slow the transmission of COVID-19 ("flatten the curve"), so that our emergency services are not inundated. What that means in practice is canceling large crowd events, and practicing "social distancing." It does not mean shutting everything down.

”For example, the City of Beacon is shifting our board meetings to the much larger public space at the Tompkins Hose Firehouse across Route 9D from City Hall, spacing out our seating, monitoring for size of crowd, creating the option of teleconferencing, and giving board members the option of making individual personal decisions as to whether to attend in person or by teleconference.”

Beacon business in retail have been contemplating closing all weekend. Here are examples:

Temporary Beacon Business Closures:

In light of both the 50 percent occupancy reduction mandate by Governor Cuomo, many restaurants have taken measures to reduce tables. Fitness studios have limited number of guests. Whether this is being enforced is another question. Locally, on St. Patrick’s Day, bars were packed as Spain and France completely shut down their countries, and mandated that bars close, and that restaurants could do take-out. Grocery stores and petrol stations and other essential stores could stay open.

Obama’s Medicare boss issued a most dire warning.

The Bagel Shoppe in Fishkill. Patrons can eat inside, but curbside service is now a thing for them.
Photo Credit: Brianne McDowell

Echo Beacon will close to follow the school schedule and idea of social distancing. Business was busy this weekend as people got wind of the last chance to stock up. Maybe she will do pickup, however, and do something creative to shop for people while from inside.

Hudson Beach Glass was going to have their Second Saturday gallery opening, but postponed at the last minute, and temporarily closed its doors for two weeks to the public.

Binnacle Books: Has temporarily closed their Main Street doors to the public, but are still taking special orders (we order all of our books through them, no matter who the author). Their online order form is so. easy. You can also get a yearly membership for 10 percent off every purchase.

King + Curated, the custom jewelry shop that allows customers in to handle and buy jewelry, closed for two weeks and is taking custom orders via FaceTime for client meetings. Online ordering remains possible, and they plan to run sales!

Beetle and Fred canceled most of their classes, and may make other adjustments. Curbside delivery is now available for people to pick up their fabric if they want to - if they don’t want to come in.

Beacon Pantry: Same thing. To-go items are being prepped, and the pantry side of the store may start making deliveries. The eatery remains open. They do have a back parking lot to make quick, easy pickup of to-go orders.

Yankee Clipper Diner is making curbside pickup available, in addition to being open.

Beacon Bread and Tito Santana Taqueria have limited their total number of people to 20 at once, and have outside tables.

River Therapeutic Massage closed for now and canceled all massage appointments.

Barb’s Butchery is open for walk-in meat orders, but is doing take-out only for the meals. You can always call ahead.

Some restaurants are wishing that Hudson Valley Restaurant Week had been postponed, since participating in the event is a financial investment that they made.

The galleries were the first to close, with almost all of them postponing shows. The Howland Cultural Center has had almost every event cancel.

Even New York Times writer Charlie Warzel told his New Yorkers to not go to brunch right now. He got slammed in his Twitter and with emails from angry bar owners. But please. Governor Cuomo is pleading for hospital beds and for retired medical professionals to come out of retirement as he prepares for an unprecedented impact on the hospital system that the number of people needing care at the same time will have.

A Little Beacon Blog is going to be doing a big edit to our Shopping and Restaurant Guides to make it easy for you to see how to alternatively shop and eat.

Please. New Yorkers: Stay in NYC. Just stay inside of your apartments. Open the windows. Get fresh air.

Beaconites: Order takeout. Buy gift cards. Ask a store owner to bring you that package of pens that you need (I need some new pens from Zakka Joy! She is open). Beacon Barkery will deliver cat food to your porch. He did it to mine today.

Dutchess County Sheriff‘s Office Suspends Enforcement of Evictions For 2 Weeks

Published Date: Sunday, March 15, 2020

The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has suspended enforcement of evictions for two weeks. This has been announced on the Democratic Caucus of the Dutchess County Legislator page on social media.

Says Legislator Hannah Black in the announcement:

“New information has been provided in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for our County’s residents: The Dutchess County’s Sheriff’s Office will suspend evictions for 14 days beginning Monday, March 16th. This plan to suspend evictions, will be revisited after 2 weeks to determine whether or not the suspension should be extended.

”I hope this information proves helpful and provides our residents with some ease of mind knowing that they will be able to remain in their homes while they may have to be out of work for 2 weeks due to the need to close schools. Once the legislators are given a memo on this suspension, we will be able to share that information with more detail.”

To shed light on how the process works, according to the City of Beacon’s Chief of Police, Kevin Junjulas, police officers in Beacon are not directly involved with evictions when at an address within Beacon. “Evictions are a civil process and all done through the Sheriffs Office Civil Division,” he told A Little Beacon Blog.

Pressure to make these types of types of allowances seems to be increasing. Gothamist reported that “a petition circulated by Housing Justice for All garnered more than 10,000 signatures before the moratorium [in NYC] was announced.” Some larger property owners have pledged a 90-day moratorium. From the article: “Some top property owners with the Real Estate Board of New York said they would stay evictions for the next 90 days, with an exception for ‘criminal or negligent behavior that jeopardizes the life, health or safety of other residents.’ The property owners represent more than 150,000 rental units across [NYC].”

Beacon Residents and Rent

Residents have been responding to Dutchess County’s eviction news with a brief sigh of relief, accompanied by a skeptical: “That’s not enough, but OK. Haha. Rent is due in two weeks. What if I don’t have it?”

City Council Member Terry Nelson: “I hope that gets extended because two weeks is not even close to being a sufficient amount of time.” From Legislator Hannah Black’s announcement above, it sounds like there is an open door to revisiting: “This plan to suspend evictions, will be revisited after 2 weeks to determine whether or not the suspension should be extended.”

While this legislation is a good sign for tenants, it is at the enforcement level, and does not impact if a landlord can decide to break a lease with a tenant if they cannot pay their rent due to wage loss from the pandemic-related States of Emergency in New York City and Dutchess County that encourage social distancing. Logic would indicate that breaking a lease with a long-term tenant would be a bad idea, as there would most likely be other residents with lower savings accounts as well.

When asked what message he had for the landlords, Mayor Lee Kyriacou told A Little Beacon Blog: “Be kind if at all possible; work it out. For example, consider allowing tenants to split monthly rent in two, in effect deferring half for two weeks (we've done that for years for two of our four Beacon tenants); or consider using some of the deposit for current rent (again, we've done that in the past). Obviously, landlords have their own mortgages and obligations, so there needs to be kindness and understanding in both directions at times.”

Several Beacon Residents Commute To Jobs In NYC That Are Being Temporarily Cut

Several Beacon residents commute into New York City to work in different industries, such as hospitality and film and television. Both sectors have been severely impacted by the coronavirus/COVID-19. Most film and television production in New York City, Los Angeles and other cities like Richmond, Virginia and Cleveland, Ohio have been halted for at least two weeks. You won’t be seeing any new broadcasts of late-night shows or Wendy Williams, and some news broadcasts have had to move locations because of CBS and other media outlets closing to deep clean, courtesy of staff exposure to coronavirus.

Not all film productions have indicated they will pay those gig-based employees to retain them for two weeks, but some have. A top showrunner of “Mythic Quest” has challenged studios to pay their crew while shows are shuttered, according to Deadline. In hospitality, those working for hotels have seen their shifts slashed and they are told not to come to work, but to use their paid vacation days instead. Restaurant workers who rely on hefty tips at major NYC restaurants and bars may not even have paid vacation or sick days to work with, and must file for unemployment right away.

Dutchess County Legislator Nick Page told A Little Beacon Blog via email that there is no talk yet of restricting landlords from breaking leases if a tenant cannot pay due to the pandemic, nor the reverse (a tenant breaking lease if they cannot pay).

Family Movies Streaming Now - Recommended By This Beacon-Based Entertainment Journalist

Spirits rose in the coronavirus-self-isolating world when Disney announced that it would release Frozen 2 early on its streaming service, Disney+. It was one of the first announcements that gave parents and caregivers hope that someone somewhere was thinking of us, and would help make our lives easier as we were home from school for at least two weeks. While I had zero intention of subscribing to Disney+ before, that changes tomorrow (Sunday).

Suggestions were flying Saturday morning around The Beacon Moms Group on Facebook with suggestions on anything from how to create a daily schedule to how to limit screen time (while valuing screen time as a tool as well).

Gwynne Watkins is a mom in the group, and is a entertainment and culture journalist. You can find her analysis at media outlets like Yahoo Entertainment, Vulture, Elle Magazine, and GQ magazine. Here’s a quick rundown of the kinds of articles you can find from her, such as: “How Prison Theater Is Changing Lives” and “33 Best TV Couples Of All Time.” You can also find her on Twitter for all her latest thoughts.

I asked Gwynne for her recommendations for what to stream now with the family. Personally, my family and I are streaming Lost In Space (modern-day Swiss Family Robinson - fighting for their very survival… much like us maybe in 10 days?), and we really loved Raising Dion. Both have been picked up again to make another season.

Here are Gwynne’s movie recommendations - presented by streaming service! She did some research for you on what movies are available now, and where. Oftentimes, show series with episodes (as opposed to movies) move around the streaming services. Like, one day Odd Squad will be on Netflix, and then it disappears for while because Amazon Prime bought it, and it’s over there for a price.

“My kids are 4 and 12,” Gwynne prefaces. “So I did two categories: one for younger and one for older kids.”

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY:

• Netflix - Mary Poppins Returns, Coraline, Hugo, The Little Prince, The Croods, Chicken Little, Stuart Little, Space Jam, Adventures of TinTin, Princess and the Frog, Tarzan, Incredibles 2, Ralph Wrecks the Internet, A Little Princess (1995), Bolt, Boy and the World

• Hulu - Chicken Run, The Polar Express, Dr. Seuss: The Cat in the Hat, Curious George, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Charlotte's Web (1973), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Note: many of these are also on Prime)

• Amazon Prime - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, My Little Pony: The Movie, The Court Jester, Odd Squad: The Movie, Sleeping Beauty (Royal Ballet)

KIDS 8-10 AND UP:

• Netflix - Groundhog Day, Hairspray (2007), A Wrinkle in Time, Karate Kid, Monster House, National Treasure, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Miracle, Spy Kids, To All The Boys I've Loved Before

• Hulu - Fighting With My Family, Bumblebee, Rango (Note: many of these are also on Prime)

• Prime - Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, True Grit

What do you like? Tell us in the Comments below.

Beacon Cancels or Postpones Easter At Memorial Park, Beacon Barks Parade, Easter Sunrise Service, and Good Friday Procession

Published Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020

In keeping with State and County directives to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the City of Beacon is canceling or postponing public-supported events involving large attendance scheduled between now and the end of April. That includes Easter at Memorial Park, Beacon Barks Parade, Easter Sunrise Service, and Good Friday Procession.

What To Do Instead

Easter at Memorial Park: Let’s be real here. This is really just a big candy fest, and a highly stressful event for parents with young kids who like to run off. So, there is a chance that parents are breathing a sigh of relief with this cancellation.

Beacon Barks Parade: We will check in with Libby and Nanci, who are (were) taking back their bigger role as parade organizers this year. They had stepped away after selling their shop, Beacon Barkery, to Donald and his son John. Donald has been recovering from an illness, and John just launched the shop’s brand new website, where you can order online! You may even get delivery of pet food from John at the Beacon Barkery, if you call the store to see if he’s available to do so. Back to the parade: We’ll circle back with an update, and ways to support adopting cats and dogs.

Religious Services: If any of your religious services are canceled during this Holy Week time, there may be creative ways of connecting. Consider going outside during the peaceful dawn hours, and perhaps your religious group has recorded a video of a service and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, and you can play/watch/listen to it while you take some time to honor the moment. †

City of Beacon's Message To Residents Regarding Coronavirus Procedures and Upcoming Plans

Issued by the City of Beacon via press release on March 13, 2020:

The City of Beacon is working closely with Dutchess County and New York State to ensure public health and safety in connection with COVID-19, and wants to inform the community of the following current information and actions.

Public Information:

The City of Beacon recognizes that the best local health expertise lies with the Dutchess County Health Department, and that best overall information is provided by way of collaboration with Dutchess County and New York State. Accordingly, the City is promptly re-communicating relevant, accurate information provided by the best sources, whether electronically on the Beacon Public Access Channel (Channel 22) , the City of Beacon website (http://www.CityofBeacon.org), links in documents, or in printed form.

City Preparedness:

The City is working closely with expert state and county partners, participating in multiple daily calls and meetings involving communities throughout the region. Information is passed on to all city staff, including police, fire and other departments, and the community, and the city is taking the appropriate recommended actions to properly inform to safeguard our community, including actions and recommendations to reduce the pace of transmission of COVID-19.

Large Public Events:

As State and County directives recognize, the major risk of COVID-19 transmission involves large public events. Accordingly, the City is canceling or postponing public-supported events involving large attendance scheduled between now and the end of April – including the Parade of Green, Good Friday Procession, Easter at Memorial Park, Easter Sunrise Service and the Beacon Barks Parade.

Beacon Recreation Programs:

The City is following the lead of the Beacon City School District, and discontinuing programming consistent with the school district schedule. Other City-sponsored recreational activity involving small groups in large enough venues will continue, with City staff monitoring and ensuring allowance for “social distancing.”

Public Board Meetings:

Meetings of the Beacon City Council, Planning and Zoning Boards, and other regular and ad hoc city board meetings – will continue to meet on schedule, with a change of location from the Court Room at the Municipal Building to the much larger public meeting room across Route 9D at the Lewis Tompkins Hose Meeting Room located at 13 South Avenue. This will allow for appropriate “social distancing” in a much larger venue; if necessary, the City will monitor and limit public attendance appropriate to venue size. The City will continue to televise City Council and other board meetings, and is working on installation of teleconferencing for meetings. Board members are or course free to make individual choices regarding attendance specific to their individual circumstances.

City Hall & Municipal Buildings:

Our City Hall at One Municipal Plaza and all other public municipal facilities remain open. Municipal buildings are being cleaned twice a day, and are safe for the public. Residents are encouraged to contact the City by phone or e-mail, where you will receive excellent customer service.

Some Accurate Sources of Information:

Below are some links to accurate and up-to-date local information on health and safety. Take care to find and rely on accurate official sources, and not unofficial, informal or uninformed ones.

• Dutchess County Coronavirus Information Hotline: 845-486-3555

• NYS DOH Novel Coronavirus Hotline: 1-888-364-3065

• Dutchess County State of Emergency: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/County-Executive/Dutchess-County-Announces-State-of-Emergency.htm

• Dutchess County Department of Health: https://www.dutchessny.gov/Departments/DBCH/2019-Novel-Coronavirus.htm

• NYS DOH Website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/
  

Public Health Reminders:

The City of Beacon wishes to repeat some official common-sense public health guidelines including personal hygiene, social distancing, and avoiding large public gatherings and events. These come from the Dutchess County Department of Health and the New York State and the New York State Department of Health.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Stay home when you are sick.

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

From The Dutchess County COVID-19/Coronavirus Fact Sheet

What Are The Symptoms Of Coronavirus COVID-19?

COVID-19 symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

What If I Am Sick?

If you believe you have contacted COVID-19, call ahead to your primary care doctor or urgent care so that they can take necessary precautions upon your arrival. Do NOT go directly to the hospital unless you are in distress.

Photo Credit: Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health Facet Sheet, as circulated by the City of Beacon.

Food Pantry At Beacon Recreation Remains Open On Saturdays - Precautions Being Taken

Published Date: Saturday, March 14, 2020

The food pantry at the Beacon Recreation Center will remain open during the coronavirus voluntary self-quarantine mode, and is serving people one-by-one on Saturday mornings. The food pantry is run by the New Vision Church of Deliverance and is located at 23 West Center Street, around the corner from South Avenue Elementary and near-ish to the Beacon Housing Authority.

“Precautions are being taken. We will give out numbers and have people come in one at a time. [There will be] hand-washing, then obtaining food,” said Kenya Gadsden, who represents the church’s food pantry.

Donating Food To This Food Pantry

Usually, Trader Joe’s and ShopRite have donated the food to the New Vision Church of Deliverance’s food pantry at the Beacon Recreation Center. According to Kenya, that has become more difficult during the past few weeks.

Anyone wanting to donate can drop off a bag(s) at 9:30 am on Saturdays to 23 West Center Street. Or, you can drop it off at the church, New Vision Church of Deliverance, 831 Route 52, Fishkill, NY.

Also located on the property of the Recreation Center is the Tiny Food Pantry, which is a grab-and-go style food pantry that people can place food into whenever they want, and people can take whenever they want. Expired food is not accepted, and ALBB recommends that you place in it whatever you would buy for yourself or your family. If you like it, someone else who can’t buy it probably does too! Toiletries and hygiene products like are pads also accepted.