CONNECTING: How To Listen To Gov. Cuomo For His Daily Briefings - And Why They Are So Awesome

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When my “woke” state on this pandemic really started, I was getting updates from Deadline.com, as all of the film and TV jobs and movie premieres and movie theaters shut down in China. Then texts from my Mom in Ohio started coming in as Ohio prepared for the coronavirus. Their Governor, Mike DeWine, was giving daily briefings, and the numbers were startling. While Ohio’s test cases remain lower than New York’s (New York’s are as of today at 25,665 positive cases. N.J. has 2,844 cases, California has 2,240 cases, Washington state has 2,101 cases, and Ohio has 564 cases; they are at 60% hospital bed occupancy as of today, and are retrofitting their hospitals.

Then blips of Gov. Cuomo began coming across my radar. Not being a political publication, following politicians closely is not our beat or of particular interest, unless it manifests into something where action needs to be taken. We don’t accept political advertising on this blog, and don’t include political fundraisers in our Event Guide. Even if they are at really fun places. (OK, if it’s an over-the-top amazing event, we’ll consider it.)

Point is, we’ve been blogging a lot about Gov. Cuomo lately, and I wanted to set the record straight that it isn’t because of any feeling about him - I really know nothing about him. I’m from Ohio. Lived in New York for 18 years (seven in NYC and 11 in Beacon), and since moving to Beacon, have felt like a Beaconite. But now with this pandemic, and Cuomo’s insistence that this is a state issue, and not an upstate/downstate issue, I am rallying as a New Yorker.

How To Catch Governor Cuomo’s Daily Press Conferences

In Work From Home With Kids Life, one needs to plan around these daily press conferences. Drinking BBQ sauce from the bottle is deemed acceptable.

In Work From Home With Kids Life, one needs to plan around these daily press conferences. Drinking BBQ sauce from the bottle is deemed acceptable.

We here at A Little Beacon Blog listen to the governor’s press conferences every day. They start at about 10:45 am or 11 am. We take notes and decide how to slice and dice them into smaller articles for you. But, there are shortcuts to knowing what happened in them: Twitter.

Twitter will tell you when the governor is starting, when you follow his twitter: @NYGovCuomo. Just have that open on your phone and refresh the screen to see when the live stream is starting. He has a “pinned tweet” at the top - usually about something he needs right now. Like medical supplies, or retired medical professionals.

You can stream it on Twitter. However, his press conferences have become so game-changing for the rest of the day and what the president decides to talk about that afternoon, that the national news stations have begun broadcasting Cuomo. That, and the national news stations are also located in New York City, so they are really eager to learn how Gov. Cuomo is going to fight this war against the pandemic virus. Step 1: Getting all of us to practice social distancing.

Also on Twitter are the play-by-play tweets. So if you need a quote, stat, or to just catch up quick, most likely it has been sliced and diced on Cuomo’s Twitter.

The Church Of Cuomo

Listening to his press conferences is very necessary. Not only for the facts - he loves telling you about the numbers, what current needs are, why he needs it, and when he’s not getting it. But he leads you through the scary part, and then presents the Life After The Pandemic part, helping you (all of us) through the mental difficulty of this. He usually ends each briefing with basically a sermon.

Today’s briefing was pretty impactful. He was mad. A mad dad. He was protecting all of the people after the president indicated that he wanted to open the economy, have everyone not touch the subway railings, and to not kill the economy for some deaths. The Lieutenant Governor of Texas was on Tucker Carlson on Fox, who literally said: “And those of us who are 70-plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country.”

That left grandparents everywhere that night really confused. My mom was flipping channels, trying to figure out what was going on. She heard the president allude to wanting to open things back up soon, and it caused mild panic. She lives with bronchitis always at bay.

Enter Cuomo today. Fighting for all Americans, saying that Americans are not expendable. That he named New York’s stay-at-home status (he refuses to call it a shelter-in-place) “Matilda’s Law,” after his mother. To protect her. While the New York State On PAUSE executive order is designed to protect all of us in New York, this is where this governor is coming from.

So. Touch base with Cuomo’s press conferences. You will know the facts much sooner, and will be able to make it through any news you read or listen to during the day. You will be able to separate fact from fiction during the president’s press conferences. And you will have the sermons at the end, to bring you back to center.

Governor Cuomo’s Outfits

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Also fun to do: Guess what kind of day it’s going to be by Governor Cuomo’s shirt. I know this is looked down upon when talking about women, and to be honest, I don’t know why this is. Women tend to wear different outfits, color and style their hair so differently, wear very different makeup, and love shoes and accessories. Men - in politics - tend to wear suits and have short hair. There’s not much to work with.

When there is a change, observations can start. Regardless if the person is he/she/them. Normally during the briefings, the governor wears a suit. Very sharp. On Saturday, he wore a khaki polo shirt. It had a different feel for the day, which frankly, was welcome. He was going out scouting that day to look at the Javits Center and other locations for the hospitals. He also went to see for himself the New Yorkers not social distancing in the parks. You don’t want the Mean Dad version of Gov. Cuomo coming after you!

Today, he was in a windbreaker, zipped up all the way. With a giant seal on it. And he was mad.

Noted.

CONNECTING: Beacon's Mayor Kyriacou Issues Regular Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates Via Email And Phone

Photo Credit: Screencap from City Of Beacon’s website.

Photo Credit: Screencap from City Of Beacon’s website.

Beacon’s Mayor Kyriacou has begun calling and emailing the community regularly via the city’s robo-call service (sign up here). Archives of each message can be found at the City’s website here.

Should you wish to receive the email-only version of it, you can. But hearing someone’s voice can make all the difference in a message.

A new COVID-19 link has been added to the top navigation of the website, that contains updates on the pandemic. Those resources can be found directly here. You’ll be able to refresh the page as city officials update it.

SHELTER: Homeless Shelter Is Set Up At Previously Empty Dutchess County Law Enforcement Center and Jail

Announced on Saturday, March 20, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro issued an emergency order allowing the previously vacant temporary housing units (PODs) at the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Center and Jail campus to be repurposed as emergency shelters for those in need. The usage started Saturday night.

This decision is in line with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s search for more buildings to retrofit into hospitals, which currently include Javits Convention Center, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Westbury, and Westchester Convention Center.

According to the press release issued by Dutchess County on 3/20/2020:

County Executive Molinaro said, “We are repurposing the vacant PODs at the Law Enforcement Center and Jail campus to be used as shelters for the homeless. We are utilizing every resource at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively to this rapidly evolving health situation. Since social distancing is almost impossible at most homeless shelters, we can use the dormitory-style PODs to help create necessary space to help prevent the further spread of this illness and increase our ability to respond to cases within the homeless population as needed. We are grateful to Andrew O’Grady at Mental Health America, Christa Hines at Hudson River Housing, and Brian Riddell at Dutchess Outreach for making this need come to fruition and to Sheriff Butch Anderson for his swift action to open the PODs to the community during this emergency.”

Dutchess County has partnered with Hudson River Housing (HRH) and Mental Health America (MHA) to operate one of the two modular, dormitory-style buildings, which will be divided into male and female sections, allowing for more social distancing among the shelter clients. The facility has a capacity for up to 100 individuals, including 48 female beds and 52 male beds. The County has also partnered with Dutchess Outreach to provide food service.

There is a separate entrance to the property for shelter clients and staff, with physical barriers between the shelter and the jail for additional security. If needed, an additional POD will be opened as an alternate care facility should any homeless individual need treatment or care.

This executive order follows the County Executive’s recent State of Emergency declaration, which allows for the designation of emergency shelters, medical shelters, and community-based care centers.

Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson said, “We believe in treating others the way we would like to be treated. The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is proud to help support our community, especially during this difficult time.”

The PODs were opened in 2015 to temporarily house inmates previously boarded in other counties as a cost-saving measure. The PODs have been vacant since early January following the County’s significant work to reduce the population at the jail through restorative justice programs and the implementation of the State’s bail reform legislation.

PETS: Consider Fostering A Dog Or Cat If Someone Gets Too Sick To Care For Them

Photo Credit: DSPCA. Pictured here is Horace: He is 2 years old, and available for adoption.

Photo Credit: DSPCA. Pictured here is Horace: He is 2 years old, and available for adoption.

Looking around us today, we do not personally see a lot of people out super sick. But do you? Do you know if someone is inside their home, too sick to care for their pet? Animal enthusiasts are trying to spread the word to encourage people to foster a cat or dog, in the unlikely or unplanned event that their human owner cannot take care of them while they are healing.

Animal shelters are deemed as necessary businesses under New York State’s PAUSE Plan, and not closing, but they have put emergency plans into place. DSPCA is closed to the public for adoptions, yet are taking adoptions by appointment). DSPCA is only accepting emergency intakes only, according to their website. They are highly encouraging fostering if many people at once cannot care for their animal while they are infected and healing.

Form From DSPCA If You Want To Foster: Apply Here

Recommendations from the ASPCA On How To Prepare Your Pet Life: Get Ideas Here

Adopting Through ARF of Beacon (the place near the cat sanctuary … yes, they have dogs): Learn how to adopt here

NEED YOUR HELP NOTE: ARF, a no-kill shelter here in Beacon, was in the midst of promoting their annual fundraiser for this year when this shutdown happened. Consider donating to ARF now, as this was supposed to be a time of fundraising for them.

PUBLIC HEALTH: Domestic Abuse In The Time Of Isolation. Awareness For Local Sources To Call

I am sharing this from the Beacon Mom’s Group. The person who posted it put it pretty directly, so the words can speak for themselves. If you are a person in your home and feel stuck, or if you know of a person in their home who may be feeling or is stuck, reach out. Reach out to them. Help them make a call to get help.

As stated by the Beacon Mom: “Cannot be shared enough. Isolation is not an excuse for abuse or violence. Please know you will find support. No questions. No one here is alone. Please [hear] me. I also recommend writing this number down or adding [to] your phone if possible. If you or someone you know needs help:”

National Domestic Violence hotline (text or call): 1-800-799-7233

To read context of this situation, see this article at Time.com: “As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look for a Way Out”


Family Services - Center For Victim Safety and Support

familyservicesny.org

Safe Homes of Orange County (Newburgh)
Their 24/7 hotline: (845) 562-5340
fearlesshv.org


Hudson Valley House of Hope (Wappingers Falls)
Their 24/7 hotline: (845) 765-0294
hudsonvalleyhouseofhope.org


Grace Smith House (Poughkeepsie)
Their 24/7 hotline: (845) 471-3033
gracesmithhouse.org


Domestic Violence Services of Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, part of Family Services)
Contact Us page
familyservicesny.org

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Beacon Announces Reduced Public Transit Bus Service Schedule

PUBLISHED: 3/23/2020

In a recent announcement from Dutchess County Transit and the City of Beacon: effective Tuesday, March 24, Public Transit will reduce service.

ONLY the following routes will operate: E, J, K and L From 7 am to 4 pm.

That list does not include the G line, which is the free bus line that runs from the Metro-North train station up and around the Main Street area of Beacon. The G line has paused for now, as we are in the PAUSE Plan as issued for the whole state by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

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Beyond thankful for our readers and their support. YOU are the reason we keep going!

Your support helps us continue to produce the articles, social media & newsletters you have come to enjoy and rely on. We love YOU for your support! Thank you so much.

Readers reached out and wanted to know how to show their support. If you want to, you can too by selecting the amount you want HERE.

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FOOD: Easy Breakfast/Lunch For All Kids (Toddlers to Teens) From Beacon Schools: New Pickup + Delivery Details

Photo Credit: Top Left and Bottom Right Photos are from Sargent Elementary PTO.

Photo Credit: Top Left and Bottom Right Photos are from Sargent Elementary PTO.

PUBLISHED: 3/23/2020
UPDATED: 4/27/2020

School children registered in the City of Beacon School District are eligible to pick up food packages from two locations: The Beacon High School and South Avenue Elementary. All are welcome to come pick up this food. Social distancing is being practiced. Safe systems are in place to get the food to your hands. Drive your car or walk to pickup. Delivery options are also available and being further developed.

All Kids and Families Are Encouraged To Use The Food - Even You (Yes, You!)

All are encouraged to use the food. Even you if you have a stocked pantry. The food has been rationed for you, and there is plenty of it. In fact, not everyone has been using it. Possibly with the mentality of: “I don’t want to take from someone else - let someone else in need have it.” If that is your mentality, that is a beautiful thought, but go forward with participating in the plan.

If it means you have a little extra, then you’re able to give that to someone in need that you come across directly in your hyper-hyper local neighborhood. Your kids also may be excited to see their old snacks. Even the “alternate lunch” bread of the PB+J. Seems to be that the brown bread of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a particular favorite with my little ones. As are the sugar cereal boxes and apple bags. They are next looking for the pizza. Not sure if that will happen, but so far, the cafeteria staff and the superintendent have been pretty surprising about what food options they are slinging out of there. My cat even likes the turkey and cheese cubes.

New Times and Food Package Pickup

The cafeteria staff is modifying this food distribution plan based on usage and feedback. As of today, it is moving to a two-day pickup schedule. The idea is that you pick up enough meal slots to last between the pickup times. Delivery options exist, and those details are blow.

Pickup Times

MONDAY: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches

WEDNESDAY: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Pickup Locations

10-10:45 am: Beacon High School or South Avenue Elementary

Please pick up from one location only.

Drive or Walk: Says Superintendent Matt Landahl: “A convenient drive-up option is available at both locations, and walk-ups are welcome too. The meals will require some heating up as some items are frozen.”

Frozen meals! Maybe the pizza is coming!

Delivery Options and Sign Up

If you need meal delivery to start on Wednesday (or any day after reading this), you can email the superintendent himself: landahl.m@beaconk12.org or text at 845-372-2286. Please give your address and kids' names. But keep it to this delivery request only. Please do not call. Use his email for other types of correspondence as you normally would.

Says Matt (because honestly, he insists you call him Matt… he has kids in the district too): “You don't need to give a reason, just ask and we will do our best to help. We will confirm before delivery. We are working to increase our delivery and neighborhood drop-offs as well and will notify everyone as we expand.”

First COVID-19 Related Death Confirmed By Dutchess County

On Sunday morning, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) sent out a notification via its list-serve that Dutchess County has experienced its first known death relating to COVID-19. The person was a 69-year-old male, and details about his condition are below in the complete press release. Said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro: “We have lost a neighbor and extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. We are grateful to the compassionate healthcare professionals on the front line today caring for patients across our community. This is a stark reminder of the challenge and toll we all face as we come together to respond to this emergency.”

There are currently more than 60 positive cases of COVID-19 and the numbers are expected to increase as more testing becomes available this week. Staying home is critical to stop the spread of COVID-19 to flatten the curve.
— Dutchess County Press Release, 3/22/2020

Perspective: COVID-19 Cases & Testing

As Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been consistently saying during his daily press conferences, cases of COVID-19 will increase as testing increases. Gov. Cuomo has been successful in aggressively fighting for and getting more testing for the state of New York. See here for an example on March 18, 2020, where Gov. Cuomo said: “Last night we tested over 7,500 New Yorkers and found 1,769 new positive cases.” It is key that people remain 6 feet apart from one another, even when socially distancing together in a park, field, track, hiking, etc. Group sports like soccer and basketball where there is physical contact are discouraged.

Preparation For COVID-19 Care

Currently Gov. Cuomo is scouting locations in New York to retrofit as hospitals. Yesterday (Saturday) he was looking at locations for additional hospital beds. The governor said via tweet: “Today we are traveling the state looking at locations for the Army Corps of Engineers to build new beds.” Locations he listed in the tweet were Javits Convention Center, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY Westbury, and Westchester Convention Center.

From Dutchess County’s press release:

Poughkeepsie… The Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has confirmed the first death relating to COVID-19 in Dutchess County. While specific information cannot be provided for privacy reasons, it was confirmed the individual was a 69-year-old male who developed respiratory distress and went directly to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital where he was treated, but died on Friday, March 20, 2020. The individual had not been screened or monitored by DBCH prior to hospitalization.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We have lost a neighbor and extend our sincerest thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. We are grateful to the compassionate healthcare professionals on the front line today caring for patients across our community. This is a stark reminder of the challenge and toll we all face as we come together to respond to this emergency.”

Behavioral & Community Health Commissioner Dr. Anil Vaidian said, “We offer our deepest condolences to the family. We have been in touch with the family for necessary screening as well as support during this very difficult time. Our entire team continues to work aggressively to fight this battle against COVID-19 and we implore every individual to do their part in the fight by staying home and helping to stop the spread.”

There are currently more than 60 positive cases of COVID-19 in Dutchess and the numbers are expected to increase as more testing becomes available this week. Staying home is critical to stop the spread of COVID-19 to flatten the curve.

Most Current Coronavirus Information Locally

Dutchess County Government continues to provide residents the most current information and guidance on the following channels:

Beacon Trivia: Did You Hear That Siren Too? Totally Normal... Here's What It Is (hint: it's a normal fire alarm from across the river)

PUBLISHED: Sunday, March 22, 2020

Living in Beacon means you get used to certain sounds. Like you would get used to sounds anywhere you live. In Beacon, that means sounds from the train whooshing by on the tracks, and its long whistle blow. It also means, for some people, the evening patio crowd enjoying themselves to music on the waterfront over in Newburgh, across the Hudson River. Depending on where you live, and on weather, sounds carry, especially from the river.

If you have lived in Beacon for a while, but you commute to New York City or elsewhere, you may not be here during the day. Or, you may be here all day every day, but work from inside your home or your office, and you normally don’t go outside as much as you’ve been going outside lately.

So you may be hearing new sounds. One of those sounds is a long siren that sounds like those long sirens in the movies during war time when something is signaled. If you hear this siren for the first time, and if it is during a moment where, let’s say, there is a lot of news coming out about a lot of different coronavirus-related things at once, for instance:

  • California announces for the first time that their residents must shelter in place last Thursday night.

  • Italy has its worst day in deaths (there have been new worse days since)

  • All non-essential business in New York must temporarily close.

…the siren sound might sound a lot different during that part of the morning when you hear it. It might sound like an actual siren from the movies, announcing that you need to act quickly to do … something.

Good News: It’s An Old-Fashioned Fire Alarm!

Good news: It’s a totally normal siren! It is the fire alarm siren from the Middle Hope Fire Department across the river. Says Beacon’s Fire Chief Gary VanVoorhis: “During a particularly humid day, as we had on Friday, sound travels across the water of the Hudson River more.”

The fire chief says that Beacon does not have an old-fashioned siren like that because the city uses modern technological methods to mobilize their volunteer and professional firefighters. For those who like adding to their Beacon Trivia, there is another siren that is used by a private dam, says Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero.

PS: Auto Accidents “Drastically Down” In Beacon At Moment

By the way, the fire chief added that there has been a drop in auto accidents, since people are staying home. “Auto accidents are drastically down,” he told A Little Beacon Blog last week. Calls for an ambulance are also down. People who are feeling coronavirus symptoms are strongly encouraged to call their health care professional or urgent care first before coming in. This is to protect the workers and other patients in these medical centers.

The City of Beacon has been so responsive to all of our questions here at A Little Beacon Blog as we pursue articles, even while we know that all government officials are in meetings constantly regarding local responses to managing coronavirus. As we work on different articles here, we reach out to verify procedures and ask how things work. We appreciate their responses so much. Very comforting.

Main Street Businesses Mourn Closure Order - While Supporting It For Public Health Social Good

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Storefronts on Main Street in Beacon have been preparing for pandemic protection for the week prior to the shutdown of all non-essential businesses mandated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday, to go into effect on Sunday night (March 22, 2020) at 8 pm.

If you are vising Beacon this weekend - or any day, now that every day could be a weekend day depending on what industry you work in - you won’t find a shopping experience. We are social distancing, walking past closed shops, longing to go inside, our faces pressed up against the storefront glass. We are walking as families, as dog owners, as solo people. We are trying to stay in our spheres - meaning that tight-knit group of people you live with - to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

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The people we pass on the street might be two or four friends getting out of New York City for the day to get fresh air. Totally understandable. But you have got to get it. You have got to sphere-up. You have got to not walk so close to your friends. Seriously. It’s awkward. Every single celebrity is telling you to do it. Every single celebrity in California and New York are out of work because their production literally has been shut down, or their huge concert canceled.

We HAVE to spread out from one another and stay in out sphere if we want this thing to end and for shops to re-open and for movies to come back into the theaters.

The First Round Of Closures

The first round of closures, with the 50% occupancy mandate, was pretty shocking. Then the mandate of movie theaters and gym closures came. That was devastating to those industries. In one day, everyone got to know the Zoom app (what is this thing?!) when kids started using it for digital playdates, and the parents were using it for work meetings, therapy sessions, and now yoga and Pilates classes to retain an ounce of normalcy.

Can The Internet Hold It All?

The Internet started breaking. Gov. Cuomo mandated that data providers provide more data to customers regardless of what plan they purchased (this is a different problem than all of the bandwidth being sucked up… although it’s a freebie solution that may or may not be possible as infinite data is sucked down into smartphones everywhere).

Netflix throttled streaming in Europe, and today, Disney+ took similar action by limiting streaming by 25% in a move requested by European government. “[Disney+] said Thursday it will limit the streaming quality of its content for the next 30 days for users in Europe to relax the strain on communications networks caused by the coronavirus lockdown,” according to an article in Deadline.

Businesses in Beacon

Businesses in Beacon quickly shifted to online shopping. If some had been doing it only a little bit, they jumped in with both feet to figure out how to make it work.

A Little Beacon Blog is tracking it all in our Shopping Guide. Visit that Guide and refresh it on your phone. As we learn of updates and changes to what shops are delivering, how they are offering contact-less payment, etc. the shop’s information will be updated in the Shopping Guide and Restaurant Guide.

This Tearful (Temporary) Goodbye (But Available For Pick-Up!) From Flora Good Times

This Saturday morning, the saddest Instagram post came up. Sad but truthful and appreciated. It’s from Flora Good Times. Owner Corinne Bryson bought the shop from the former Mary Fris (read her interview with ALBB here after that transition). Within the year she has been told to shut her new business, a move she supports in the name of public health, but one that is not without deep struggle and hardship.

We will leave you with Flora Good Times’s temporary goodbye post. Read it, and then go back and buy from her. She does pickup, and you’ll want to experience whatever energy you can from that sweet shop.


 

From Flora Good Times via her post on Instagram:

“I know the news is changing so quickly it feels like whiplash these days.

”A few things have changed for us over here today. Previously posted that we would be open tomorrow and Sunday. This is partially true, but only Saturday and only for curbside pickups or pre-orders! Our little store is not easy to socially distance within, so for the next while, only appointments/pickups allowed inside the shop. Sunday we will be closed.

”Secondly, I posted today that I wasn't sure about curbside pickups next week and moving forward. I think we will make it happen for you. I'll take orders Sunday-Tuesday for Wednesday and Friday pickup at designated times. What we have available is on our highlights, but please ask if you're looking for something you might not see. The store is full of treasures!

”Finally, I will not be focusing on flowers until I can properly reopen. We have cleaned out the fresh flower area as it's typically the part of our business running on the smallest margins with the most physical loss. We do have dried flowers available, or if you are looking for fresh flowers, I am happy to turn you to a handful of wonderful local florists who are slinging flowers however they can.

”Today has been weird. No shame in saying I've cried in the grocery store every time I've been in it this week. But, I've also spent a lot of time remembering that this pandemic is really teaching us something that I've been told all along -- health is the most important thing. And I'm grateful that I am healthy and those that I love are healthy. I hope you are also healthy and surrounding yourself with light in whatever way you can ♥️ Last thing, I heard a lovely Norwegian proverb today that I'm holding with me for the foreseeable future: "It will either go well or it will pass." Either sound great to me right about now.”

 

Wishing all of our Main Street business friends the very best as we soldier through this. Please continue to make your life happy by ordering the treasures you find inside. How fun to shop differently now: by gazing through the storefront window, and the shop owner brings you something.

Beacon's Mayor Lee Kyriacou Communicates With City Via Robo Call Saturday Afternoon

Photo Credit: Screenshot of City of Beacon’s Website

Photo Credit: Screenshot of City of Beacon’s Website

On Saturday afternoon at 5 pm, just as the day shifts into evening and instincts to socially gather kick into higher gear, Mayor Kyriacou issued a friendly reminder about Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s current emergency orders.

Here is the transcript of what he said (did you not get this call? Click here to sign up for Beacon’s Robo-Call System). Robo-messages from the City of Beacon can also be emailed to you.


“I will regularly communicate official information on COVID-19, as well as about its impacts on our lives here in Beacon.

”Please rely on New York State and Dutchess County as official sources. The experts are focused on ‘flattening the curve’ of transmission – to protect at-risk individuals and prevent an overload of our healthcare system.

”The current emergency orders from the Governor include:

  • Non-essential private workers must stay home after Sunday 8 pm

  • Non-essential gatherings of any size are temporarily banned;

  • The closure of non-essential stores is extended to retail malls and personal care services – takeout/delivery is okay for food establishments.

    ”Go to state and county websites for information – you can sign up to receive emails from them:

    https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home
    https://www.dutchessny.gov/ and click on the COVID-19 link

    ”Go to Channel 22 or the City of Beacon website (www.cityofbeacon.org) for local information.

    ”We need to look out for each other.

    ”Thank you.”


SallyeAnder's "Heavy Duty Hand Therapy Moisturizing Balm" Really Works For Dry, Painful Hands

With all the hand-washing going on, your hands are a wreck. Fortunately for you, Beacon is filled with people who make the most amazing creams and balms. SallyeAnder Soaps is a brand you see in a lot of shops in Beacon, and you’ve seen it online or in other shops in other states as well. It’s a major brand that is manufactured right here in Beacon, in the same building as Brett’s Hardware, Beacon Pilates, CineHub, BCAP, and a few others whose names aren’t coming to the forefront at moment.

This blogger’s hands were dry from the hand-washing, which triggered eczema flare-ups across the whole back of the hand. If you’ve never had eczema, it’s quite annoying because it can feel differently at different times. Sometimes it makes for scaly skin on a certain area of the finger, for example. This first happened to this blogger while being a dishwasher in a French cafe.

These days, the eczema can cause cracks that split like paper cuts. When a sensation of stress happens, the stress feels can spread across the entire hand in a burning sensation.

Enter in: SallyeAnder’s “Heavy Duty Hand Therapy Moisturizing Balm.” Put a little dab on the dry area, and begin feeling the sensation. SallyeAnder was started by a dad, Gary Austin, who was trying with his wife Karen to heal his son’s eczema as a baby; the company is now run by his daughter. That was back in 1982. Now their daughter, Sallye, runs the soap manufacturing business here in Beacon.

Want some soaps to switch off from what you normally use every now and then? Try the best selling soaps: Milk & Mint and Lavender Moon. Says their project manager (and megastar food photographer) Eva Deitch about the balm: “All of our soaps are safe and effective to use for severely dry or eczema-prone skin and won't contribute to drying your hands with constant washing. This is because we use an olive oil base for our soaps.”

Find this cream at Beacon Pantry, Brett’s Hardware or Mountain Tops. Order any time online from SallyeAnder’s website. As of today (3/21/2020, hardware stores (Brett’s), and food establishments for carry-out (Beacon Pantry) are deemed as “essential businesses” and are able to remain open. Always check the Essential Business List at the New York State COVID-19 website.

Happening Today 3/20/2020 Edition - COVID-19 + Shopping + Restaurant Edition

Hi,

This week was a little rough. It was the first Learn From Home Week for parents, the Internet got glitchy, and last night, California did go on a "Don't Leave Your House This Evening" drill (they've already been living in a Stay At Home state). That was the first time most of us saw something like that happen. At least lately, LOL. The national media has woken up to coronavirus, possibly in part because their offices have been shut down for COVID-19 prevention, and their coverage has gone wild. It is helpful to have the information, but it's a lot all at once.

This morning while outside, a long siren sounded. ALBB has gotten questions about it in the past, but we never pursued it. So today, we pursued it. People walking around, who might normally be at work in New York City but are housebound now, might have been little spooked to hear that old-fashioned sound. Turns out, it's just a regular old fire announcement siren from across the river that traveled here especially loudly because of the humid, foggy day, according to Beacon's fire chief. The sirens are used to alert volunteer firefighters to the call of duty. Beacon does not have sirens, says the chief, because the fire department uses other technology to mobilize their force. Awesome to know this bit of Beacon trivia.

Beacon businesses have been preparing for a 100% closure of non-essential businesses all week. In one week, we saw statewide mandates for bars to close, movie theaters, gyms, casinos, and others. The mandate to close barber shops and salons came next, and shortly after that, the 100% just-close-everything-that-is-non-essential.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been stressing the importance of regional cooperation, so that states next to us don't get flooded with people seeking what they need. Therefore, Connecticut and New Jersey are working together to make the same policies as New York. Ohio is also a few days ahead of us in policies that New York eventually makes. So policies are spreading and catching on. Just like Social Distancing.

Gov. Cuomo has been reassuring to listen to during this crisis, mind-bending as it is. But we need a leader. A general. As he describes it, we are in a war fighting this pandemic. In one week, we are at war mentality. One of the best things he has done is providing context to his announcements. He leads us down the path of what he needs (ventilators, ICU beds, buildings to put those beds in, etc.), and then delivers a dramatic mandate to help slow the spread in order to give him time to get this preparation work done.

A Little Beacon Blog is going to take that cause-based approach in our article production as we cover coronavirus. Headlines alone can be shocking. We need to know the why behind the headline, and why now. We are going to do our best to deliver to you timely information. But we are only publishing articles after we listen to a press conference, grab a significant amount of quotes, and present what just happened.

HOW A LITTLE BEACON BLOG IS DOING
Good. Katie will always tell you "good," but ALBB will provide preparation-type articles that may sometimes be uncomfortable to face.

TEAM: A Little Beacon Blog is paying our people in place. That is a little wobbly, because our business is based on advertisers, many of whose businesses have just been cut. In this time, Team ALBB has never been more at-the-ready to jump in and make something happen. Team ALBB will get paid as long as we can hold out! One of our revenue streams is website production, and we did have a client pull out from the VC medical device world, but we are getting requests for other projects, so we shall see.

We are stretching everything we can to bring on more writers to bring you developments in a more timely fashion. You may hear something on national news, but it can be a lot to take in at once. We are going to cover it with an angle on how it impacts Beaconites.

Katie's spouse works in the film industry, and they are completely shut down for at least two months, but are not going down without a fight. As you may have seen, Savannah Guthrie of the TODAY Show has COVID-19 symptoms, and filmed from her home basement, and Conan O'Brien announced he will record his show on his iPhone while his crew works from home. Love this resilience.

ADVERTISERS & SPONSORS: As we are seeing, businesses are responding in new ways to still get their product to their clients and customers. Business people are some of the most resilient and creative people we've met. A Little Beacon Blog is super-focused on their needs, and will help promote whatever they are doing when they need it. If now is the time you want to get a permanent spot in our promotion, do it. We're ecstatic to have you, and to get your message to the people eager to help you and buy from you.
HELPING BEACON BUSINESSES
A Little Beacon Blog has further enhanced our Restaurant and Shopping Guides. Both Guides rank No. 1 in Google when people search for where to shop or eat in Beacon, so repurposing these into a Coronavirus Cheat Sheet is the most efficient way we can show people how to reach our Main Street businesses right now.

This includes updates for ALL of the Restaurants and Shops on Main Street. We look through their social media, and take insider tips as well. The basic update is done at no cost to the business. The support from our current advertisers of A Little Beacon Blog (see below) are how we make this happen, and we are able to show you more of what our sponsors are doing through their regular placements. If you would like to show more of what you offer, you can look into that here for Restaurants, and here for Shopping. Other types of businesses (fitness, beauty, etc) can look into our Business Directory.
EAT CHURCH (Closed For Now)
While the food truck has powered down for now, they are posting recipes! This one is for the Pumpkin Chutney. It is called the ISOLATION RECIPE.
Get the details here >
BARB'S BUTCHERY
Thank gosh for essential businesses. Meat has been flying out of Barb's Butchery. Watch her Instagram for food announcements and reserve your order ahead for curbside pickup. The grill has powered down for menu items; the shop is taking meat orders only.
Get details >
LUXE OPTIQUE
Don't think the Luxe Optique team isn't here for you. If you need something for your frames or eyes, you can contact them to make a special arrangement.
Help them now by voting Best Of Hudson Valley!
LAMBS HILL BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
The gorgeous boutique is closed for now, but the staff is ready to help with online viewing and ordering!
Browse dresses >
BINNACLE BOOKS
Jenny Odell's “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy” - well, if that isn't more fitting for these times... Order via Binnacle's super easy order form! Pickup or Delivery.
Get Details >
PTACEK Home
When not in the store, PTACEK Home is in their happy place building and designing furniture from reclaimed wood. They could even design you a bathroom vanity and have it delivered...
Get Details >
LLTO (LIVE LIGHT TRAVEL OFTEN)
The WiFi Pillow. An essential for any person right now connecting with others online. Block-printed indigo by hand and perfectly designed, understated modern beauty.
Buy Online! >
COLD FIT CRYOTHERAPY
The essential treatment for pain, and even a little weight loss. We have heard from some of you who've tried it, and you're hooked.
Buy A Gift Certificate Online! >
BUSINESS DIRECTORY FEATURES
ANTALEK & MOORE
Ever the planners, Antalek & Moore is telling you to plan ahead. In this case, it's a short budget exercise.
Do It >
TIN SHINGLE
Katie from ALBB also runs Tin Shingle, an empowerment and education platform for businesses to get the word out. She has started daily Morning Messages as we walk through this time together. They are short, like two minutes. Watch and learn!
Find On Instagram >
COVID-19 FINANCIAL
GOV. CUOMO ISSUES DIRECTIVE TO NEW YORK STATE MORTGAGE COMPANIES TO PAUSE BILLING FOR 90 DAYS
ALBB was chasing this story all week. Emailing local banks. We were getting receptive answers, but nothing concrete. And then Gov. Cuomo made that choice for them. Those of us still using Big Banks still need to fend for ourselves. Maybe the Fed will issue something...
Get The Article >
ANTALEK & MOORE CONFIRMS PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE IS OPEN TO FLEXIBILITY
Another crack in the world of big bills. Will this work more broadly? Who knows! But it's nice to know that options are opening.
Get The Article >
COVID-19 LOCAL
BEACON'S CITY COUNCIL MET FOR FIRST TIME - SOCIALLY DISTANCED
Calling in to ask your questions during the City Council meetings is possible, and the phone number will be available soon. Meanwhile, this article gives a brief recap of the CoronaCoverage during the meeting.
Get The Article >
COVID-19 LIFESTYLE
THE INTERNET IS GETTING OVERLOADED - NETFLIX LIMITS BANDWIDTH IN EUROPE
With all of our kids learning online (OK, that's a theory, and let's face it, they are all just having digital playdates at this point), and fitness centers doing their routines via Zoom, the Internet is getting a workout.
Get The Article >
KEY FOOD ONE OF FIRST GROCERY STORES TO RESERVE 7-8AM FOR SENIORS-ONLY SHOPPING
This article talks about the trend in custom shopping, and includes tips for helping your older neighbors keep themselves safe.
Get The Article >
LIST OF LINKS ALBB USES FOR ARTICLES
ALBB made this List of Links to easily reference major websites, as you follow health changes and legislative updates. We update our list as new resources become available.
Get The List >
COVID-19 ART
A MESSAGE FROM HOWLAND CULTURAL CENTER
Art In The Time Of Coronavirus
Get The Article >
EVEN MORE HEADLINES AT ALBB
We're telling you, we were busy this week!! Hopefully we will send you shorter emails as we get into the groove of CoronaCoverage.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
We got a suggestion from a reader, who wanted to know how to send A Little Beacon Blog financial support to help us continue to produce. Even just $5. First of all: THANK YOU to that reader for wanting to do this!

If you are feeling like you want to send ALBB anything as a reader (different from advertising programs, we do have those!) then visit the new link in the ABOUT tab, called: “I Want To Support ALBB!” Different amounts are available, starting at $5. Click here or the graphic above to learn more on how you can help!
Support Here! >

READERS WHO SUPPORTED THIS WEEK:
Ellen Verdibello - “Thanks for all you do to keep Beacon informed!”

Marissa Howlett

Deborah Bigelow - "@gildedtwig thanks Katie and the entire ALBB team for continuing to publish informative posts, as well as personal and business updates on Instagram. Your work is supporting readers - even in far-flung burbs like Somers, NY - to find community and a bit of humor in this hard time. Thank you!!!"

THANK YOU, Readers!
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
JOIN THESE ADVERTISERS: We create ad packages that work for different types of businesses. Click here for ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog and accomplish your goals.

We look forward to highlighting your business and show your support!

35 Homes and Buildings Considered For Historic Designation In Beacon

As the City of Beacon Works to define and clarify its zoning to standards that work for today’s community, one zoning tool includes working with and around historic buildings. The project of identifying properties that would be warrent historic designation was an active project in the administration prior to this, under Mayor Randy Casale when he and now Mayor Lee Kyriacou, would walk Beacon’s streets together to identify properties. Since then, 35 homes and commercial buildings were identified as having met a certain set of criteria that would qualify a local historic designation.

[UPDATE: The properties were presented in a Public Hearing, and several property owners came out to protest their homes and buildings having the historic designation.]

Implications For Neighboring, Non-Historic Buildings

ALBB asked Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark, about the implications for homes or buildings located next door to or nearby a home or building that has been designated historic by the City of Beacon. He answered: “Positive implications for neighboring properties include that the character of adjacent historic structures will be protected and that any alteration or new construction in the Historic District and Landmark Overlay (HDLO) must be compatible with surrounding historic properties and the neighborhood, consistent with the standards in Section 134-7.”

“The only direct implications for neighboring properties is in the Central Main Street district, where any Special Permit request for a 4th story on a parcel abutting a property in the HDLO zone must be approved by the City Council, not the Planning Board. The Council may reduce a permitted building height to be no more than six feet higher than an existing building on an adjoining HDLO parcel for a distance of 30 feet along the frontage from the historic structure (see 223-41.18 E(7)).”

“The Council is also currently considering changes to the CMS district to extend the above Special Permit requirements for both 4th stories and corner towers to properties directly across the street from an HDLO parcel.”

What Are The Criteria?

According to the Historic District and Landmark Overlay Zone (HDLO) proposal, the properties must meet a certain set of criteria. Proposed nominations are subject to the criteria in the Historic Preservation Chapter, Section 134-4 B Designation of landmarks or historic districts:

  1. Distinguishing architectural characteristics of period or style;

  2. Special value as part of the cultural or social history of the community;

  3. Eligible for State or National Register of Historic Places

Looking for an example, ALBB asked John Clark about the recognizable yellow house with the tower on Mattie Cooper by the Springfield Baptist Church that is not in a historic district. ALBB asked John to explain how that house, if designated historic, would conform to new zoning, if it was “spot-zoning,” and it the property would get additional usage rights, like being able to operate as bed and breakfast.

John’s answer: “If a parcel, like the house with the tower, was to be designated as a historic building, it would have to comply with the standards of two zones - the underlying district and the Historic District and Landmark Overlay (HDLO) zone. The HDLO overlay zone is not spot zoning. It just adds an extra layer of protections and requirements for multiple parcels across the City for a legally enabled public purpose.”

“Under Zoning Section 223-24.7, an HDLO parcel is allowed additional uses if granted a Special Permit by the City Council. Uses, with certain size limitations, include an artist studio, antique shop, restaurant, bed and breakfast, professional office, multifamily residential, and artist live/work space.”

Why The Desire To Designate These Buildings Now?

During the building boom, Beaconites grew uncomfortable with buildings that were growing taller - to 4 floors. The lightening rod of a building was 344 Main Street, which for a variety of reasons that were noted mistakes for the City, zoning changes became a priority of Mayor Kyriacou (then City Council Member). Mayor Kyriacou is also a property owner of residential and commercial property in Beacon, some of which is already in a Historic zone, and his wife is a realtor.

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4 Cross St.
- 2-story brick building
- Arched brick lintels
- Stone sills
- Two bricked-in windows
- Newer windows
- Green

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11 Digger Phelps Ct.
- Wood frame building
- Original Porch
- Scalloped details
- Newer windows
- Green

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9 Mattie Cooper Sq.
- Wood Frame building
- Original porch
- Bay windows
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Newer windows
- Green

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11 North Elm St.
- Wood frame building
- Intact Arts & Crafts house
- Chain link fencing
- Green

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4 North Elm St.
- Brick and stucco building
- Intact Second Empire
- Green

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27 Church St.
- Wood frame building
- Wraparound porch
- Replacement asbestos siding
- Newer windows
- Green

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232 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Historic-quality storefront
- Red

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250 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Arched brick lintels
- Historic-quality storefront
- Bricked-up side windows
- Red

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257 Main St.
- 2-story brick building
- Brick projecting cornice
- Stone sills
- Historic-quality storefronts
- Green

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274 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Stone sills and lintels
- Side bay window
- Non-historic storefront
- Green

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159 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Complex roof, arched dormers
- Corner bay, bracketed cornice
- Elaborately ornamented porch
- Red

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189 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Front bay window
- Birthplace of James Forrestal, Sec. of Navy and Defense
- Loss of all original details
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Green

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194 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Multiple porches
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Newer windows
- Green

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19 Commerce St.
- Wood frame building
- Decorated verge board
- Detailed front porch
- Side bay window
- Asphalt and vinyl siding
- Green

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11 Commerce St.
- 2-story brick building
- Wide frieze cornice
- Stone lintels and sills
- Side bay window
- Porch looks newer
- Green

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26 South Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Elaborate verge board
- Front bay window
- Detailed wraparound porch
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Frontage chain link fence
- Green

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30 South Ave.
- 2-story building
- Bracketed cornices
- South bay window
- Newer side addition
- Frontage chain link fence
- Green

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