The Executive Committee of the Beacon Democratic Committee issued a statement to the media, announcing their position on Wednesday’s insurrection and attempted blocking of the electoral college certification. As a group, they have not had the opportunity yet to meet to get the vote of all of their committee members on this statement.
The Beacon Democrats are representatives of the Democratic party in Dutchess County. Their local Beacon meetings are open to the public on the second Saturday of the month at 9:30 a.m., previously at Beahive and now via Zoom.
Their statement is below:
The Executive Committee of the Beacon Democratic Committee condemns President Trump and the insurrection he incited on January 6, 2021. Mob violence has no place in our democracy. We support the Constitution and the rule of law.
We also condemn the unequal, unfair, and un-American practices of law enforcement agencies, who allowed acts of violence and destruction to unfold in our nation's capital. This was white supremacy taken to its logical conclusion and was particularly shameful in light of the extreme tactics regularly used against protesters in support of Black lives.
We call on elected officials of all parties to also condemn the President and his accomplices, and we urge all appointed officials to uphold the rule of law and defend against any attempt to subvert peaceful self-governance.
Beacon Democrat’s Executive Committee: Chair: Lisa Jessup First Vice Chair: Pam Wetherbee Second Vice Chair: Peggy Ross Treasurer: James Cotter Corresponding Secretary: Amber Grant (current City Councilmember At Large) Recording Secretary: Adam McKible
During the Remote Learning life of the pandemic, many kids of all ages are at home with parents or a caregiver, and were home during Wednesday’s storming of the U.S. Capitol Building, and watched the events happen in real time. Videos from inside of the Capitol from people participating in the swarming were also circulated.
Parents needed to speak with their children about events and meanings of symbols as they happened. Beacon City School’s Superintendent Matt Landahl sent an email to the community the following day, offering encouragement to parents and caregivers that the district community was there to give support.
His email statement is below:
Dear Beacon Community:
The events yesterday in our nation’s capital were disturbing, to say the least. We are open and ready today for students in-person and online. Knowing that many of our youngest students may not even be aware of the events that took place, we will emphasize safety and community today and always. Thanks again to our educators and staff for doing this every day.
Images have been widely circulated on social media and television of the confederate flag and clothing celebrating the Holocaust being brandished in our Capitol building yesterday. It has always been our practice to not allow these images in school and it was put officially into our Code of Conduct by the Board of Education last year. We want to reassure a sense of safety on that level as well because of how disturbing these images were to us all.
If you have any specific concerns for your child, please contact your child’s teacher, principal or guidance counselor. We are prepared to offer support to everyone who needs it.
I wish I could be more eloquent in times like this and words often fail me. I know our school community will continue to offer strong support for our students during what has been an incredibly challenging year. As I often say, I am inspired on a daily basis by the resilience and strength of our staff, families, and students this year. Thanks as always for your support.
After the sun went down on the blocked Election Certification attempt at the nation’s Capitol, Beacon4Black Lives organized an impromptu and peaceful vigil at Pohill Park, Beacon’s destination for public gatherings. They brought a projector and screen to project the news onto a screen. Stefon Seward, one of the original members of Beacon4Black Lives and current committee member on Beacon’s Police Chief Search, was one of the first to speak about the difference between the white people storming the Capitol who seemed to do it with ease and no punishment, versus Black people who get shot in the back sometimes in front of their children.
A handful of speakers spoke, including Xavier Mayo, a founding member of Beacon4Black Lives, sharing a story of him getting pulled over yesterday twice for a tail light being out, and of the two different emotional experiences he went through when pulled over by two different police officers. The experience with the first officer was normal and helpful as to how to fix a tail light, yet the second experience invoked fear as the officer smirked and laughed at Xavier when the he said he felt afraid.
Justice McCray, who is also a founding member of Beacon4Black Lives, spoke about how Black people are treated differently and how basic needs for some Beaconites are not being met, and how the Black community in Beacon does not feel safe with police. Justice is connected to several food insecurity initiatives like the Community Fridge, and is an advocate for community safety in new ways. “We’re here to build something better. What’s happening now is not OK, and is a slap in the face of democracy.”
Other speakers included former regular participants of past protest marches down Main Street over the summer in favor of Black lives mattering more, as well as the protest of the Beacon 2021 budget.
One speaker was new to the group, after moving to Beacon recently. He said that having been down in the dumps earlier, he turned to his wife and they agreed to come down to the vigil. He expressed happiness that he came, and sadness at the new life navigations he needed to make with his family who are Trump supporters and he is not. He expressed dismay at not being able to communicate with them because of their political differences, which was a choice he made, after not being able to tolerate tolerance any longer.
Beacon Councilperson for Ward 4, Dan Aymar-Blair, spoke about his experience during the day with his child at home who was asking questions about democracy. Dan has a BA in Political Science and Government and stated that while watching the events unfold, he expressed desire to explore his own relationship with democracy, as he tried to answer his son’s question.
The day seemed to have launched a deep dive for many as events developed. Listen to all of the stories and speeches at the vigil here at Beacon4Black Lives Instagram.
During the holiday season of December, 2020, the Desmond-Fish Public Library in Garrison held a month-long bake off contest for kids, who could bake at home and submit their entries. The submissions would be presented in a video montage Awards Ceremony on January 2nd, 2021, where participants could gather on a Zoom call, hosted by Justice McCray, a well known lover of books and creative programming, having worked at Beacon’s Howland Public Library, and currently works at the Desmond-Fish Public Library, as well as Split Rock Books in Cold Spring. Justice is also an emerging local activist in the social revolution to make Black lives matter more, and has been a leader in most of the protest marches down Beacon’s Main Street and educational story circles held at Memorial Park and Pete & Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.
The bake-off program was well marketed in advance across social media channels and in the local press. As the program got started, with eager children, parents and caregivers on the call to look at delightful attempts at baking, the The Great Desmond-Fish Public Library Bake Off award ceremony was interrupted by people or a person masquerading as participants on the call - using participants’ names like a wolf in sheep’s clothing - typing words such as the N-word dozens of times in all caps across the screen. The Desmond-Fish Public Library Director Jen McCreery confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog: “The interloper appropriated the identities of several program participants, which is how they were able to access the program through the waiting room.”
The program had been “hacked by one or more interlopers who used the platform to spread racist and sexist messages” the library director explained in an email press release sent soon after the incident, and on the library’s Facebook page, in a message from the library’s Board of Directors, posted 2 days after the event, and after the authorities had been notified, and participants began to process what had happened. As to if the library or Justice himself were targeted, Jen emphasized: “I do want to clarify that we have no way of knowing whether this was a targeted or random attack on the library and Justice specifically.”
The program’s host, Justice McCray, expressed in his social media that he wasn’t sure what to do after the targeted incident. He has since co-hosted an evening vigil at Pohil Park in Beacon, in honor of finishing the Election Certification that was derailed at the Capitol yesterday (1/6/2021) by people, some of whom were armed, climbing the building and breaking windows to get inside to sit in offices and put their feet up on the desks of people who had evacuated.
This was the first time that the Desmond-Fish Public Library had ever been Zoom Bombed, Jen confirmed. Library staff was able to handle the breach “as quickly as possible in the moment, but, sadly, the Zoom participants were exposed to this hateful and illegal behavior,” Jen told A Little Beacon Blog. In their message to the public, the library Board expressed: “The Library Staff and our Board of Trustees are horrified that a program created as a positive and joyful celebration of our community was derailed by one hateful individual, We are especially sorry that this attack was witnessed by children. No family should have to encounter such hate speech.”
According to Jen in response to A Little Beacon Blog’s questions, the library notified Putnam County Sheriff's Department. “They have taken our full report and it's my understanding they are looking into what charges might be brought against the perpetrators.”
In terms of moving forward, “we are looking into alternate online platforms as well as additional security measures we can take for future online events,” Jen told A Little Beacon Blog.
Jen also expressed: “Everyone at the library is grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support we've received from local organizations and families and we hope that, going forward, we can channel that support into creating programs and educational resources to help our community members come together in addressing the larger systemic issues that contributed to this incident.”
Justice McCray told A Little Beacon Blog in response to an email asking him if he had comments he wanted to share regarding his and this experience: “This was a traumatic incident for me. There’s no way for me to not take this personal. To be the first Black staff member at my job to host an event and to have this happen cuts deeper than I can explain. I’m glad the library and community aren’t sweeping this incident under the rug. It’s necessary to center to voices and needs of those most impacted by this event. It’s also equally necessary not to center them in a way that amplifies the trauma.
“The work ahead is as vital as it is difficult and painful. Now is a necessary time for or communities, especially Philipstown, to reflect on the impact its history of racism has on its dreamed future of inclusivity. The next questions that need to be asked are not “how can we improve security on our events to prevent this from happening?“ but rather, “How is this something that can happen in our communitiy? What behaviors have we dismissed or ignored that led to this escalation? How can we create a community where harm like this doesn’t continue?”
On Wednesday, January 6, while the Capitol Building of the United States of America was being stormed by supporters of President Trump, where 5 people died including one police officer, and other police officers were wounded, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, a Republican, issued a statement via press release at 4:48pm. It reads:
Statement from Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro Following the events occurring in Washington, D.C.
“This mayhem must stop, and it must stop now. America doesn’t resort to chaos or violence, and we don’t encourage or invite it. Every leader, in every office, from every corner of this country must call for this to end and disperse immediately.
“The events unfolding at the U.S. Capitol this afternoon do not represent who we are as an American people. While we would never suppress vigorous debate and the right to protest – our country, after all, was founded on the right of its citizens to voice their opinions – the violence witnessed today is wrong and unacceptable, and it must come to an end.”
Today, the Beacon City School District, by way of Food Services Director Karen Pagano, announced that breakfast and lunch meals will continue to be free for the rest of the school year. The first time this happened was made possible from funding from the USDA.
For Remote families (both Hybrid and 100% Remote), there are 2 ways to get the meals: Delivery and Pickup. Both require signup, but if families are already signed up, they do not need to re-enroll. There have been benefits to being signed, including partnerships with outside organizations, like Fareground, who use the bus delivery and pickup service to get programming materials such as Meal Kits to students.
Parents and caregivers who work from home are encouraged to sign up for Delivery or Pickup. If they think they can pickup, but in reality missed pickups due to work, parents should signup for Delivery. Many parents have reported having work meetings scheduled during their official pickup times, making it difficult to get the food. The bus system has worked well, and requires advance coordination and a person at home to receive the meals. Sign up for Delivery or Pickup here at the Beacon City School’s website.
A whole lot of Unemployment Insurance was released at the start of the pandemic when businesses were shut down or furloughed. For New Yorkers, people could receive up to $504/week (depending on how much they earned during the year), plus an additional $600/week for a limited period of time of Pandemic Insurance regardless of yearly earnings. The number of weeks a person could receive Unemployment Benefits within the year was also extended, and on December 29, 2020, was extended again into 2021.
Receiving Unemployment Insurance proved difficult, as so many people were applying at one time, and many for the first time. The New York Department of Labor’s website crashed regularly, and calling in to a person was nearly impossible, according to Gothamist and other publications. New York State partnered with Google to fix the state’s website and increase the servers powering the website from 4 servers to 50, according to Syracuse.com.
According to data analyzed by lohud.com, unemployment claims in the Hudson Valley totaled 149,134 for the time period of March 14 through April 25, 2020. The previous year during the same time was 9,344 claims. That is an increase of 1,496%.
As of today, after the passage of 2 pandemic stimulus packages, Unemployment Insurance remains taxable, as it is viewed as income, which means that if you received Unemployment Insurance, you need to either check a box that you want taxes withheld from your unemployment benefit check, or “put aside 20% federal and 6% NYS,” advises Arthur DeDominicis, a local CPA in Fishkill.
Recipients of the benefit will receive a 1099-G from New York State. Other unexpected income tax situations can include large payouts from things like Travelers Insurance. If you bought Travelers Insurance on a plane ticket, then got delayed and were reimbursed for your hotel, clothing and food, a 1099 will also arrive in the mail to be included in the year end tax filing, and added to your overall income.
Six states do not charge their citizens income tax on benefits, according to Experian.com, and those include: Alabama, California, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Seven states do not charge income tax at all, and those include: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
Unemployment Insurance was extended for 2021, with legislation signed by Governor Cuomo on December 29, 2020, that outlines how additional weeks of benefits will work, including an additional $300/week supplement for those who meet the requirements. There is a new compensation opportunity for self-employed people called the “Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation” program (MEUC), which is defined as: “benefits are provided for individuals who earned at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income but are disqualified from receiving more substantial PUA benefits because they may be eligible for traditional state UI,” according to a press release by the governor.
Might New York State wave collecting tax on Unemployment Insurance? Might the new federal administration wave charging federal income taxes on Unemployment Insurance this year? Unlikely, but maybe if you ask…
When you see a 2 for 1 sale on your favorite item, buy it, and then give the free one to a food pantry! The best food is food you yourself love, and want others to have also (Ok, Entenmann’s Raspberry Danish Twist Coffee Cake may not be the healthiest choice, but it’s a spot-hitter and a crave-worthy option).
Word on the street is that Key Food, located in Beacon, gets new sales in on items on Fridays. This is where you might see those incredible 3 for 1 sales on Thomas English muffins (our fave).
Now you can also donate fruits and veggies thanks to the Tiny Food Pantry Community Fridge made possible by Binnacle Books and Beacon 4 Black Lives. Read all about it HERE.
Double Pro Tip
If those sale items are off at the cash register, keep calm. There are a lot of sales and a lot of codes that go into a computer and signage. If something rings up wrong, consider yourself helping your fellow shoppers by asking about it without raising your voice, waving your arms, and making a stink. We see you, Big Guy, when you do that and we are standing behind you in line. It’s best if you remove that aggression by doing cardio outside and getting fresh air to get your perspective and compassion back 😊
Plus, Key Food stores are franchises (like Subway is), owned by real life families in your neighborhood. Key Food Beacon is owned by a Yemini family, who owns stores in other communities as well. Their employees are like family.
Find a list of Food Pantries to give to right now at A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry Guide. The Tiny Food Pantries are ones you can literally place food into any day, any time. Other Food Pantries have designated times that are indicated in that Guide, or Gift Card Wish Lists like with Beacon Community Kitchen or the Castle Point Veterans.
PS: Of course for your own budget needs, use the sales for yourself and your family.
From our homes to yours, thank you for supporting A Little Beacon Blog throughout the year. We appreciate the support - both financial and your nice notes - we continue to receive from the community and do our best to keep you in the loop with what's happening in our city.
As we wind down and kiss 2020 goodbye (with masks on ), let's look ahead to 2021 for new beginnings, opportunities, deeper relationships, and new connections.
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY We'll let Eat Church speak to you in their own words today: "Thank you for all of your support this year. Even better things to come in 2021! Wishing all a safe and restful holiday.
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"Super special thanks to those that bought us out of our New Year’s Eve Peking Duck Special! Eat, drink and be good to each other. 🏻" Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
You've cooked enough.Take a break this weekend and let Meyers Olde Dutch do the work for you. Indulge yourself a little bit longer before you get back to work. Delivery and Online Ordering is super easy! Trust us. We did it today. Order online for take out and delivery. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Did you pop enough bubbly yet? Cheers to you if you are still going strong. A message from Homespun, "Thank you for all of the support this year, your encouragement and goodwill has helped pull us through some tough days this year, and we appreciate you so much." View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
It's a New Years Day Pajama party at Hudson Valley Food Hall! Beginning at 12:00pm, stop by and fill your bellies with some tasty food! Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Open on New Year's Day (and usually all the time), warm up at BAJA with a cocktail, mocktail, and something with melted cheese and fresh guac! Baja 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
LEWIS & PINE
133 Main Street, Beacon Lewis & Pine the shop is taking a mid-winter’s nap and will be closed this weekend, but open next weekend! Online orders and even Free Local Delivery are still happening! Get 15% off your order when you use the coupon code on the latest Lewis & Pine Instagram post :) Shop Now > Lewis & Pine is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Live Light Travel Often (LLTO)
464 Main Street, Beacon
In the window, you can't miss these glass pieces from Live Light Travel Often (LLTO). Use to drink a sip of wine out of or keep by your bedside for fancy water pours. See it in person, or Shop Now > LLTO is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
PTACEK Home
464 Main Street, Beacon
This year, add some custom reclaimed wood pieces to your home. This is the year to make more mindful selections about your decor. Pick up something from PTACEK Home right now in their pop-up shop with LLTO, or reach out for something custom designed. Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
You Guys: You do not want to wait until the next snowfall to upgrade your car snow brush situation. In stock now are these "Telescoping" brushes, that have a rubber scraper, and extend out for a longer reach. Brett's has other brushes in stock as well (even pink ones), so go in now to be prepared. Information > Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Your vision and the health of your eyes is the top priority for Luxe Optique. If you're needing an eye exam, make a booking with one of their Optometrists via this link. Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS 321 Main Street, Beacon
Nothing like a good book & a cup of coffee. And now that you’ve been gifted @binnaclebooks gift cards, you can place special orders directly through their website. This works even if you want to read something that is not in the shop! They've got you covered. Just go to www.binnaclebooks.com and select “SHOP ONLINE.” From there you have access to any book that @binnaclebooks has access to.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
For kicking off your dance shoes from New Year’s Eve...(that dance 🏽 Party in your house) and give your footsies a little rest today. #selfcareday
Reminder: La Mere is in a location on Main Street, just a few blocks down in the former Echo storefront. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Mother Nature & Me - Enrichment Program
Grades: Pre-K to 8 Homeschool Groups Day/Time: To be determined after kids sign up, and will be coordinated by Brigette Wlash (click below for flier) Information >
Clarkson University's Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries is now offering enrichment programs for Pre-K through 8th-grade homeschool groups at our Dennings Point Water Ecology Center. Each group will explore Dennings Point State Park through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) and nature-based learning activities.
Spanish Lessons For Children (10 lessons)
Grades: K-2 Days: Wednesdays & Fridays, January 6 - February 5, 2021 Time: 2pm
For more info contact Ileana Cardona at ileanacrdn@gmail.com Information >
Gyms and boutique studios safely remain open with new guidelines, settings, and more digital offerings for at home wellness:
Zoned Fitness launched their virtual studio December 1st.
beBhakti Yoga Center is offering more virtual options.
Firefly Power Yoga will launching a new virtual studio & membership offerings in the new year.
Beacon Pilates has On-Demand classes as well as in person sessions in both studio locations.
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Antalek & Moore is wishing you a Happy and Health 2021! Give Them A Clap > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle is an education and empowerment platform for businesses and creators who are getting the word out about their business. Tin Shingle is the sister company of A Little Beacon Blog, and teaches people how to pitch the media. You are in control of what can get published about your company, and the support system at Tin Shingle can guide you. Every Wednesday at 1pm EST, there is a connection opportunity. Connect during the live, members-only Office Hours, or during a pre-recorded webinar TuneUp. Read All About It >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Eggberts Farm Fresh Eggs is preparing for the winter with a new website. Owner Carrie Sabins wants to reach her customers in case there is another shutdown or if her customers need delivery because they need to isolate. Katie James, Inc. a long-time customer of Eggberts Farm Fresh Eggs via the Beacon Farmer's Market. The branding agency is building Eggberts a website in Shopify, for easy pre-orders of eggs and meat, as well as pickup and select delivery options. Do You Need A Website Too? >
There is no greater gift in life than the gift of tea… can’t figure out what to gift your life-long friend? Tea. Your friend who just became a new mom? Tea. Your thrice removed cousin? Tea. Your greatest nemesis? Tea, so they are always forced to remember you for your exquisite taste. Tea can carry an intimate sentiment or remain as a neutral gift.
You can ring in the new year just right with blooming teas or marvelous options in loose-leaf varieties. Forget the champagne and sparkles, there’s nothing quite as fancy as the perfect cup of tea… I wouldn’t know though because I simply refuse to drink tea unless it’s out of an oversized themed mug (this month it’s in the form of a thermal-changing Vangogh mug).
Therefore, it is with a thank goodness that a new tea shop opened in Beacon, Misstea, a tea shop offering organic loose leaf teas, herbal infusions and other plant based wellness goodies handcrafted in New York, from owners and best friends: Mor Tzivoni and Revital Shoua. They settled the shop into Main Street on the east end of town near Mount Beacon right by the waterfall and blinking traffic light known as the Dummy Light. Founded by two best friends, Mor Tzivoni and Revital Shoua, who over the course of 5 years traveled trips around the world sampling tea from all over such as chai from India and green tea from Japan.
Misstea has long established roots in New York City prior to a permanent residence in Beacon. In 2008, Misstea began as a pop-up booth at the Union Square Holiday Market. Despite the Recession, the right place, time, opportunity, and partner appeared - a moment Mor Tzivoni refers to as “serendipity”. Mor and Revital were attracted to what they describe as Beacon’s “diverse and warm community” especially as this small city mirrors Brooklyn’s liveliness but offers a chance to appreciate the surrounding nature.
Original Tea Blends Are Made At Misstea
The teas and herbs come from all over the world with blenders that work with Misstea’s recipes before being packed at the Beacon shop. Initially, Misstea began with 15 different teas and have since expanded to 40. The first tea flavor produced was a relaxing herbal infusion, appropriately named “Serenitea”. Misstea wanted to provide New Yorkers with a natural way of relaxing at the end of busy days. A quick glance at their collection confirms their specialty remains in herbal infusions.
Grand Opening To Come…(But Is Already Open!)
Misstea hopes to create a lively and cozy atmosphere where people can “enjoy the view, the scents, the flavor, and give a great memory for every customer.” Though the shop opened on October 7th 2020, a grand opening still exists on the horizon. The beginning of the pandemic certainly postponed a grand opening and caused adjustments in planning events and weekend brunches, but never formed a doubt in opening the shop in Beacon. As for concerns of a second wave, Misstea reassures us that with 12 years of experience in making tea, they are not worried about going anywhere as “tea is timeless”. Plus, there is always an option to order online through their shop or select a pick-up in store option.
The tea shop plans to serve pastries, gluten-free snacks, and pairings with different teas… a surprise Misstea promises we can look forward to experiencing. We can expect information on the benefits of tea, teapots served at tables and sets ready-made for special events and holidays. Information on the benefits of their tea as well as products they sell can easily be found on their website here.
It’s always a perfect time to treat yourself with a little self-care tea package. Aren’t sure what to purchase? You’re in luck because Misstea offers daily different samples and the owners are incredibly helpful in narrowing down your search. I left the shop with blooming teas to gift my loved ones, bark tea, their Beautitea, and aspirations to go back for their enigmatic white blossom tea.
Sent via press release this morning, Dutchess County has reduced its quarantine time for exposed individuals from 14 days to 10 days. While strictly isolating at home is extremely difficult, both emotionally and logistically, please note the concern that remains while in the quarantine to if you have symptoms:
From Dutchess County Press Release 12/30/2020:
“Though the quarantine period is now shorter, individuals exposed to COVID-19 should remain vigilant. Anyone who develops symptoms while under quarantine OR through day 14 from the last date of exposure, should assume they are infectious and immediately isolate themselves and seek a diagnostic test.”
— Dr. Anil Vaidian, DBCH Commissioner
Following a guidance change for COVID quarantine requirements from the New York State Department of Health, the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) has amended the quarantine time period for individuals exposed to COVID-19 from 14 days to 10 days following the last exposure if no symptoms are reported during the quarantine. This change is effective immediately.
Quarantine for individuals exposed to COVID-19 ends after 10 days, without a test required, IF there are no symptoms reported during the quarantine period. Additionally, exposed individuals must:
Continue daily symptom monitoring through Day 14
Continue to strict adherence to prevention measures – use of face coverings, hand washing and physical distancing.
If any symptoms develop, IMMEDIATELY self-isolate and should seek testing. A list of testing sites in Dutchess County is available at www.dutchessny.gov/coronavirustesting
An “exposed” individual, or “close contact” are individuals who were within six feet of a person who tested positive for COVID -19 for 10 minutes or more total in a 24-hour period when the person was contagious. Contagious is defined as 2 days before symptoms began (or 2 days before positive test if there are no symptoms).
“This is an important change that aligns New York State guidance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance and will help end confusion on quarantine timelines,” said Dr. Anil Vaidian, DBCH Commissioner.
“Though the quarantine period is now shorter, individuals exposed to COVID-19 should remain vigilant. Anyone who develops symptoms while under quarantine OR through day 14 from the last date of exposure, should assume they are infectious and immediately isolate themselves and seek a diagnostic test,” said Dr. Vaidian noted.
The New York State DOH’s updated guidance can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/12/covid19-health-advisory-updated-quarantine-guidance-12.26.20.pdf)
Quarantine documents and other information on the Dutchess County Government website will be updated this week. New York State and local contact tracers are also being advised of the guidance change
During the testing process for COVID-19, we needed to become one with the Patient Portals that medical facilities make available to you to see your lab results, request a refill, etc. Doctors offices also call with lab results, so if you’re one of these people who avoid logging into to new accounts, and are satisfied with talking to someone on the phone to get your test results or order refills, then you may not have viewed how test results are presented.
In our case, they caused miscommunication and a wrong diagnosis. An easy mistake that thankfully was easy to sort out, but here is how it happened, and why it pays to stay on top of the medical professionals in your life, and trust yourself to keep pursuing what you know you need to.
The Most Obvious Word Left Out Of Positive Result: “Positive”
Nobody likes bad news. Nobody likes delivering bad news. To avoid delivering bad news, or saying “No” to someone, a person might speak around the issue, and not say the words necessary to deliver the answer clearly. Words might get hidden between the lines. In the Midwest, we call this “passive” and in some cases when you’re being critical or oppressive, this hidden language is called “passive aggression.”
Such was the case with the test results from the Urgent Care for my son. The call came in from the Urgent Care that he tested Positive, and had the virus. No phone call came for my daughter, and I was told that the office is not calling people who test Negative. I logged into both of their Patient Portals, and saw the following easy-to-read results:
“Negative” for my daughter.
“Results discussed with parent” for my son.
Dig into the results one step, and you’ll see the words “Detected” highlighted in red for the COVID-19 result. What is not stated anywhere on the page is the term “positive,” which is what most people are familiar with.
As a courtesy, our pediatrician had their nurse also call us with the results. The nurse said that my son was “Negative.” I questioned the nurse, asking where they got the information, and the answer was: “I am just the messenger.” COVID-19 is a hot potato. Understandable. I pursued, in order to find out where the miscommunication was, and it resided in the language of this lab result (see screenshots below).
In following up with the Urgent Care, it was learned that the ordering physician of the test is able to type in the brief description that appears on the Homepage/Dashboard, which is what a patient sees when refreshing the Lab Results page. The word “Positive” could have been typed in, but wasn’t. Instead, the following phrase was typed: “Results discussed with parent.” Being that it is bad news, it could have been an unintentional avoidance of the result, so that no one had to look at an unpleasant word.
Fast forward to a new test now that we are better (thank goodness!) - the Antibody test - from a different facility. Those results have appeared in my Patient Portal from another medical facility. First word in the description area: “positive” (not capitalized, for the grammar enthusiasts in the room). Clicking into the lat results, more details are discussed, and the word “positive” does appear in the details. The word “Detected” is still the lead word in defining a positive result, but in this case, was not highlighted red. Keep in mind, the word “positive” was nowhere in the positive lab result lingo for COVID-19.
In the case of the Antibody test, those antibodies are something that someone wants (though it comes with a price…the possible weakened or altered organs that the virus left behind). The word “Positive” in this case is something that you want, and was front and center in the Dashboard home page.
As we proceed with more medical tests and conversations than we are used to having in the medical world, this serves as a reminder to keep your wits about you. And as feedback to medical professionals as to how their notes are interpreted if the simple declarative words are not used.
During the beginning of the pandemic, at the end of March 2020, the topic of having a will, or estate plan, became serious. You probably have a will, but some people do not, Further, some married women I have come into contact with have thought that they did not need a will at all if they were married. Some married men have assumed that the will would be a joint document between the couple, yet who are two individuals.
Talking about a will is known to be hard, and people who have had parents pass away unexpectedly have spoken on the challenges of even locating the will. Maybe it’s buried beneath a marble tile in the sun-room, or maybe it’s under a floor board in the attic.
Transparency can help children know what to do to settle an estate, and it doesn’t need to be depressing, if parents lead the way by presenting it as preparation. During the writing of this article, and the scheduling of forcing myself to make a will, my own children were asking why I was talking about it. I let them know where to find the Death Binder of Passwords in my closet, which is 4” thick, and maybe it needs a new name, but will help them a lot when settling accounts when (if!) I die.
As a starting place when dealing with wills for this article, I started with family: my sister. She lived in Chicago at the time, and works for a law firm called Seyfarth Shaw, LLP as their Manager of Pro Bono & Philanthropy. She directed me to Caroline Manley, an Illinois-licensed attorney and the Executive Director at the Center for Disability & Elder Law in Chicago, IL.
Caroline answered a few questions about the basics in estate planning. Before diving in, you should know that Caroline includes this disclaimer: “This content for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. Individuals should consult with an attorney licensed in their own state.”
Caroline takes it away below:
“Completing an estate plan is an important task. Like all legal matters, consulting with an attorney who is licensed in your state is very important. Laws differ between states, but the same basic concepts apply throughout the country.“
1. What happens if I do not have a will?
“Every state has intestate succession laws. These laws are the default rules for what happens if a person dies without an estate plan, and the laws have a hierarchy for who takes according to closest living relatives. Knowing your state's default plan is important, because it very well may NOT be who you would want to take, or might not be the best plan for you depending on your individual circumstances.”
2. Can't I just write a will myself?
“While most states allow you to write your own will without the assistance of an attorney, it is not recommended. Neither are online programs or templates where you will not get a plan that is specific to your individual circumstances. A lawyer will learn about your total assets and goals, and then explain the best estate planning tool. These tools may include a will, transfer on death instrument or deed, or trust. Having an experienced attorney help you is especially important for families with children under the age of 18 and for anyone who wants to leave their assets to a person with disabilities who receives, or is expected to need, public benefits.“
3. I'm especially worried about getting this taken care of because of COVID-19. Can I still find an attorney if I am under a shelter in place order?
“Yes! Most estate planning attorneys are small businesses or solo practitioners. You can get your estate plan completed AND help a small business. Attorneys can meet with you via phone or video conferencing in order to conduct your client interview. Once completed, the documents can be emailed to you for printing or sent in the mail. Your attorney will let you know specific requirements for how to execute the documents.”
It's like a second Christmas Opening...two ALBB newsletters in one day! Santa's tiny reindeer stirred up quite a wind and rain storm on Christmas Eve, bringing winds of up to 50 mph in some areas. Several Beaconites were without power, with a total of 14,095 customers without power in Dutchess County as of 10am Friday morning. Wishing you warmth and light during this time.
From our homes to your, thank you for supporting A Little Beacon Blog throughout the year. We appreciate the support - both financial and your nice notes - we continue to receive from the community and do our best to keep you in the loop with what's happening in our city.
As we wind down and kiss 2020 goodbye (with masks on ), let's look ahead to 2021 for new beginnings, opportunities, deeper relationships, and new connections.
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Did you miss the special from Eat Church offering Peking Duck Kits for New Year's Eve? Kits include a Peking style roast duck (HV farm-sourced/house-roasted), bao steam buns, flour tortillas, pickled cucumber and radish, crisp spring onion, hoisin sauce, and apple and pear chutney.
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Pick up between 12PM - 3PM New Year's Eve 12/31 at @marbledmeatshop. Their pop-ups will be back in the new year! Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Now can you think of a better meal to warm you up on a chilly day? There's a new special over at Meyers Olde Dutch....
Loaded chili with house baked corn bread!
Their scratch made beef chili topped with pimento cheese, coleslaw, pickles, and pickled jalapeños will do the trick. Order online for take out and delivery. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Speaking of yummy food to make you feel warm and cozy, @homespunfoods offers a rich Butternut Squash Soup with Moroccan Spices, Crema and Pumpkin Seeds which you can get to go!
Photo by @chaysenwylde_art View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Cheers to you! The Hudson Valley Food Hall has it all! Swing by for some eats, drinks, culture, and style. Open on Christmas Day!
Friday (12/25): 3-9:59pm (Bar Only)
Saturday (12/26): 12-9:59pm (Food & Bar)
"Happy Holidays to you & yours from all of us!!!" Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Come get in the holiday spirit with Baja 328's specialty drinks: The Christmas Mule & Peppermint Margarita. Baja 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
LEWIS & PINE
133 Main Street, Beacon
Lewis & Pine will be open this weekend:
Saturday 11am-6pm
Sunday 11am-5pm
If you are not in Beacon, you can purchase a gift card from their website. Shop Now > Lewis & Pine is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Live Light Travel Often (LLTO)
464 Main Street, Beacon
More cuteness added to Live Light Travel Often (LLTO) like these soft terry lined handkerchiefs made in Japan. Hours this weekend:
12/26 Sat 11-6pm
12/27 Sun 11-5pm See it in person, or Shop Now > LLTO is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
PTACEK Home
464 Main Street, Beacon
PTACEK Home salvaged White Oak wood from a pond to maybe possible use in making some amazing tables and chairs. @ptacekhome is one-of-a-kind!
Reach out for more information!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
ALBB is following a story, and has now become part of it, of a Black business friend and client of our Business Directory, Bluegreen Lawns, who was looking for a loan for a commercial purchase of a snow blower or truck, could not get such a loan because of how lenders view credit history, and was out of luck during the first snow storm when their snow blower blew. For a company who does snow removal, snow is money. They started a GoFundMe, and ALBB chipped in. And then we shared it to our community. And you - the community - pulled through! They raised just over $1,000 so far. Brett's reached out to them to find a good deal on a snow blower, and the purchase was made. Stay tuned for the big reveal after the machine ships! Information > Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
"Red-y for the holidays. "
These chic red frames add a pop of color to take you through the holidays and beyond. Shop Now > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS 321 Main Street, Beacon
You never know what hidden treasures you may find at Binnacle Books. Check out this discovery! This book is signed by Edward Gorey, as are two others in the shop right now. They have been authenticated. They will surely be gone in a hurry if not already by the time you read this newsletter. Keep an eye out!
Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
We love shiny things at ALBB, and La Mére Clothing & Goods knows how to bring the shiny! Start prepping your New Year's Eve outfit with a little bit of bling, even if your partying at home or on Zoom, it's still a great excuse to get dolled up!🍾 Information > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Mother Nature & Me - Enrichment Program
Grades: Pre-K to 8 Homeschool Groups Day/Time: To be determined after kids sign up, and will be coordinated by Brigette Wlash (click below for flier) Information >
Clarkson University's Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries is now offering enrichment programs for Pre-K through 8th-grade homeschool groups at our Dennings Point Water Ecology Center. Each group will explore Dennings Point State Park through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) and nature-based learning activities.
Spanish Lessons For Children (10 lessons)
Grades: K-2 Days: Wednesdays & Fridays, January 6 - February 5, 2021 Time: 2pm
For more info contact Ileana Cardona at ileanacrdn@gmail.com Information >
Gyms and boutique studios safely remain open with new guidelines, settings, and more digital offerings for at home wellness:
Zoned Fitness launched their virtual studio December 1st.
beBhakti Yoga Center is offering more virtual options.
Firefly Power Yoga will launching a new virtual studio & membership offerings in the new year.
Beacon Pilates has On-Demand classes as well as in person sessions in both studio locations.
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Antalek & Moore is not one to miss a good window decorating opportunity, or the year-long wait to bring out their abominable snowman poster! Give Them A Clap > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle is an education and empowerment platform for businesses and creators who are getting the word out about their business. Tin Shingle is the sister company of A Little Beacon Blog, and teaches people how to pitch the media. You are in control of what can get published about your company, and the support system at Tin Shingle can guide you. Every Wednesday at 1pm EST, there is a connection opportunity. Connect during the live, members-only Office Hours, or during a pre-recorded webinar TuneUp. Read All About It >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Eggberts Farm Fresh Eggs is preparing for the winter with a new website. Owner Carrie Sabins wants to reach her customers in case there is another shutdown or if her customers need delivery because they need to isolate. Katie James, Inc. a long-time customer of Eggberts Farm Fresh Eggs via the Beacon Farmer's Market. The branding agency is building Eggberts a website in Shopify, for easy pre-orders of eggs and meat, as well as pickup and select delivery options. Do You Need A Website Too? >
Winds of up to 50 mph in some areas were barreling through drafty windows of homes in the region on Thursday evening, Christmas Eve, into the early hours of Christmas morning. Anyone who was still wrapping presents at 2:45am felt the windows shake, while some felt their entire houses shake. Little children snug in their beds may have woken up early from the sound of their bedroom doors shivering in their doorknob latches, as the wind whipped through the house. New homeowners in the area may have awoken to new attic leaks that they knew nothing about, or basement flooding, shed flooding, and/or a power outage.
As reported by Central Hudson, the power company’s repair crews “are working throughout the service area to restore power to customers after heavy rains and wind gusts of more than 50 mph in some areas toppled limbs and trees, causing widespread outages. More than 36,000 homes and businesses within Central Hudson’s service area and nearly 300,000 customers in the northeast were impacted by the storm.”
In Dutchess County, 14,095 customers were without power as of 10am Friday morning. As of 1:30pm that number was 13,700. Ryan Hawthorne, Assistant Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations, outlined how mutual aid has come in to help this area with additional workers. “We have a compliment of 320 line and tree professionals working to restore our customers’ power with 26 more line workers from Vermont expected to arrive later today. Yesterday, mutual aid assistance from Michigan, Indiana and Iowa arrived, and we have retained our local contractors to assist in the repair of nearly 650 damage locations. In addition, hundreds of employees are working in support roles throughout the holiday to expedite restorations. We aim to restore power to approximately half of our customers by end of day Friday.”
Central Hudson will be distributing dry ice on Friday from noon to 5 p.m. at these locations:
Home Depot, Fishkill – 450 Route 9, Fishkill, NY 12524
Rosendale Recreation Center – 1055 Route 32, Rosendale, NY 12472
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
