Do you own a business, have made investments to adhere to COVID-19 safety guidelines, but people aren’t coming in yet? There are a few easy things you could do to turn this around.
A Little Beacon Blog has two sister companies: Tin Shingle and Katie James Inc. Both specialize in digital marketing. From a business perspective, with the right education, people can stay safe during a pandemic, and still shop and see people. Businesses and institutions can stay open - as long as their practices are safe - and their messaging is safe.
This article is written with our marketing hats on, from both Tin Shingle and Katie James Inc. Methods that we have used for years and years, that can work - if you are actively engaging in safe measures and acknowledging the pandemic.
Share How Your Business Is Being Safe By Providing Social Distancing
If your business has been closed since forever, and now it’s open, YAY. Now you need to share how it is being safe. If you don’t do this regularly, you may be missing out on a lot of business.
GOOGLING: When people Google your business, they are getting a few options: Phone to call, and Website to click. They are going to call first. If you don’t feel like answering the phone, or if you have a a voicemail answer for you with directions on what numbers to press to get to a person, then include this entire message of safety on that voicemail. If you don’t, customers who are watching that Dashboard of active COVID-19 cases might not come. Because you didn’t make them feel safe. This is your responsibility in these times.
VOICEMAILS: When a customer calls your place of business, your voicemail or auto-answering service needs to tell them how your business is being safe. Don’t assume people know what regulations you needed to follow. People like to hear the reassurances.
Are your doors open for ventilation? Did you invest in air-purifiers? Do you use fans? Does your staff wear masks? Do your customers need to wear masks? Do you have reduced % capacity? If so, state what that is. Do you have a waiting policy? Do your customers need to wait in the parking lot for when their turn is ready? Do you have a deep-clean system? Great! State all of this. Yes, it’s a huge pain for you as a business to do this. But your customers do want to hear it. They will feel reassured, and most likely will come to your place of business.
WEBSITE: All of your COVID-19 safety measures need to be stated on your website in a special section called COVID-19. Not sure it this is required by an Executive Order of any kind, but for regular people searching to feel good and safe, this is required if you want them to walk through your doors. Sure, you may think: “My customers feel safe no matter what.” Well, there are plenty of other customers who are not coming in because they don’t know your drill. If you have a drill. You have a drill, right? : )
SOCIAL MEDIA: Fill your social feed on Instagram, Facebook and/or TikTok with pictures of your safety moves. Make them fun! Safety is sexy! If you don’t have time to do this, hire someone to do it for you. Visit A Little Beacon Blog’s Business Directory in the Branding or Social Media sections. Or hire Katie James, Inc. to do it for you! We are great ghost writers and visionaries with photos. We can write in your brand’s style and personality.
NEWSLETTERS: The most feared marketing tool that a small business has, and the most effective. Sending your customers newsletters - as well as random people who signed up for your newsletters - is so important. The personal inbox has always been, and remains to be, a sacred space. Use it. Your people want to hear from you.
THE MEDIA: Yes, the media is looking for COVID-19 stories. Did you make a big investment in equipment to make your business more safe? Did you make a big pivot move? Did you save your staff? Did you not take PPP money because you told your staff to stay on unemployment to get the extra Pandemic Insurance? Did you close for the winter, with hopes of opening back up in the spring?
Any special thing you are doing because of the pandemic - pitch it to the media. Tin Shingle educates business owners on how to pitch the media (ahem…publicists…you should follow along as well, because we see lots of pitches from publicists that are not on the mark…you must get creative, timely and very on target!).
You got this, businesses! We got you. We want to buy from you. Keep going. Put the messaging of safety and what you need out there.
This weekend, locals on the street were exchanging numbers: “Did you know there are 100 active cases in Beacon?” one man said to another. So we thought we’d take a look. Here at A Little Beacon Blog, we don’t refresh the numbers every day. That said, the numbers have taken quite a jump over time. Surrounding communities have been posted below.
Today (Sunday), the Beacon City School District robo-called called district families with 2 new cases in the district that do require the impacted school buildings to go Remote tomorrow (Tuesday) after today’s MLK Day holiday. South Avenue Elementary School and Rombout Middle School have a new case each, and this time, will require a switch to Remote. A move which has been rare among the 6 district school buildings, as most new cases at different school buildings have included a student or staff member who had already been isolating at home, or were in the 100% Remote program already.
COVID-19 Active Case Numbers By Neighboring Communities
Active COVID-19 Cases around our region as of 1/18/2021 are as follows: To give perspective, in April 28 2020, these were numbers were this. Beacon was at least 100 active cases then, and continued even until May. In the summer, Beacon’s numbers lowered into the two digits, hitting 47 or into the 20s.
Now we are back up into the 100s. Could be that more people are getting themselves tested. Whatever the reason, people’s personal stories exist, of the near-play-date encounter of a family who all of a sudden got it, and a grandparent died. Or of COVID Long Haulers. For those looking at numbers, the numbers we also consider at ALBB are the hospital bed numbers across the country, as we work to keep local hospital numbers down. Poor L.A. County in CA. Heartbreaking over there.
Mayor Kyriacou on 1/11/2021 at the beginning of a Workshop meeting, said this about Beacon’s confirmed cases: “Cases are up of COVID. I know it’s getting hard for everyone because the numbers are up. Our New York numbers are up bove where they were in March in terms of confirmed cases. The silver lining in that is that we have learned a lot. The hospitalizations and death rates are significantly lower given those numbers. And that’s exaactly what I think the Governor and the CDC and others were hoping for. That we could whether this without totally shutting down our economy. By getting enough prevention for those that are most at risk. I think we’ve managed that. I know the numbers are scary. I will point out that the Beacon numbers are consistently better than the County. I think that means that you all in the community are doing our part, and we need to keep doing that. We are exposed more than than other parts of the County for those who need to commute to the city (NYC).”
The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be observed on Monday, January 18, 2021. During this time where you may have more down time, here is a suggested way you can observe Martin Luther King Day: with a book. By Martin Luther King, Jr. ALBB provided a book list with links here. You can always buy from our local book store, Binnacle Books, or borrow from the Howland Public Library.
If you have never read a book by Martin Luther King, Jr., this is a great time to start! If you have read a book or all of his books, you might already be turning the cover for another deep dive read.
The light is not out for the annual MLK Day Parade presented by the Springfield Baptist Church and the Beacon Sloop Club (via Pete Seeger before his passing)! Instead, you can participate from home for the "Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Zoom Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 11am - 1pm. The theme is "Keep The Flame Alive" and all are welcome.
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
MLK Day Of Service
Springfield Baptist Church & Beacon Sloop Club Present: "Keep The Flame Alive"
Dates: Monday, January 18, 2021 Time: 11am-1pm
From the presenters: "Join us for a fun-filled morning of Civil Rights, Gospel & Inspirational Music, Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a message from Rev. Dr. Ronald O. Perry, Sr., Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church. All attendees are welcome!" Information >
The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River Webinar Series
Dates: See below Time: 7:30pm
Clearwater will be celebrating the publication of the 3rd edition of The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River with a four-part webinar series. "Please join us for a fun and illuminating exploration of this river we all love." Cost: FREE for Clearwater Members, $7 per night for non-members.
The webinars will take place over the course of four consecutive Wednesdays at 7:30pm:
1/20/21: Roger Panetta
1/27/21: Brian Forist
2/3/21: Maija Niemisto
Cooking For A Cause - Fundraiser For 5 Non-Profits via Live Cooking Shows
Dates: On Tuesdays from January 12 - mid February, 2012 Time: 9am
HudsonValleyEats.com, the restaurant-focused food insecurity platform, has brought together 4 of the Hudson Valley's top chefs for a fundraising cooking event beginning January 12, 2021, called "Cooking For A Cause," to give 100% of the net profits to 4 local non-profits who specialize in getting food directly to locals in need. For those who love cooking shows and want to experience cooking with a chef on a screen in their home - while directly investing in local non-profits, this is the perfect multi-evening opportunity! Tickets & Information >
Beacon's City Council Votes On Resolution Condemning the Attack On January 6, 2021, of the U.S. Capitol and Congress
Date: Monday, January 19, 2021 Time: 7:00pm Watch:Subscribe to the City Of Beacon's YouTube Channel for easy live viewing
The City of Beacon has issued a Resolution condemning the attacks on the Capitol Building and Congress, and will vote on it with other Agenda items on Monday evening. The Resolution begins with:
"WHEREAS, on January 6, 2021, there was a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol and on the U.S. Congress, described succinctly by USA Today: “As a shocked nation watched..., a pro-Trump mob battled police, broke into the U.S. Capitol, and sent members of Congress fleeing as lawmakers were counting Electoral College votes.... Now, five people are dead, including a U.S. Capitol police officer.” And
WHEREAS, this attack on the U.S. Capitol and Congress was caused by the current President, as stated by third-ranking House Republican Liz Cheney, “The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing.... There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.” And... Read the Rest Of The Resolution Here >
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Eat Church has a NEW MENU debuting this week, the Collective Era Revue! They are back and ready to serve you with their truck set up at @marbledmeatshop 3091 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY Friday and Saturday from 4-8pm. Have you not placed your online order yet? What are you waiting for? Visit www.eatchurch.com today! Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Start your week off right with a roasted beet salad! Roasted beets, feta, savory hazelnut trail mix.
Don't forget, Meyers Olde Dutch is undergoing construction to build an outdoor patio at their 184 Main Street location, you can still order from their menu for take out and delivery only at their sister location, @kitchensinkny across the street at 157 Main Street. You can order online by clicking here or call them at 845.440.6900. Ordering delivery is the easiest thing you could do for yourself! Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Daily Specials listed on Homespun Foods website each day! Pictured here is a Pork Ginger Rice Bowl w/ jasmine rice, peppers, basil, pickled chiles, and cashews 📸 : @hbarr18
Take-Out Available. Go to homespunfoods.com to see what's going on in their kitchen and the cellar. View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
This. Picture.
Need we say more?
Mizz Hattie's Mac and Cheese in a pan. ALBB does not do "Best Of"s or make recommendations, but this mac and cheese is one of the best in Beacon, and is on our Top 10 List Of Best Mac 'n Cheeses. Plus, you have the Roosevelt Bar inside of the Hudson Valley Food Hall for a beer, plus other foodie options to answer the needs of all of your friends. Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Baja 328 releases fun specials regularly. Have you tried their Roasted Poblano & Potato Soup seen here? We a good, hearty soup especially this time or year! Stop by and see more is on the menu. Baja 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
SALLYE ANDER
133 Main Street, Beacon
You got that right! SallyeAnder is opening their factory store again this weekend on Saturday only (Friday as well, but you're getting this in the evening). Located on toward the train, near Brett's Hardware and Two Way Brewing! Mask required. If you missed the pop-ups during the holiday season, now is your chance again. PROMOTION
Buy one, get one FREE on all essential soaps! A special just for the pop-up shoppers.
LEWIS & PINE
133 Main Street, Beacon
Continuing to draw inspiration from nature, Lewis & Pine has their Botanical collection which includes earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. They would gather fallen twigs while on a hike and then use the lost-wax casting method to create the exact image of each twig in precious metal. Stop by and see more examples from this collection of nature recreated in metal. Shop Now > Lewis & Pine is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Live Light Travel Often (LLTO)
464 Main Street, Beacon
Live Light Travel Often (LLTO) has for you the perfect bandana. It's soft hand blocked goodness supporting slow fashion! Pick one up at LLTO shop or find em online @ www.livelighttraveloften.com. Bandanas created to @maeludesigns.
LAST CHANCE ALERT!
This is LLTO's last pop-up weekend in their current space. They will be open Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 11am-6pm, and Sunday 11am-5pm. Stay tuned as they will be popping up in Beacon again soon! In the meantime, you can shop LLTO online 24/7 at www.livelighttraveloften.com. LLTO is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
PTACEK Home
464 Main Street, Beacon
Last chance to shop from PTACEK Home in person before they pop out of the little pop-up they are sharing with LLTO down by the Beacon Bagel Shoppe. Don't miss your chance to see samplings of this furniture in person, and remember, you can visit PTACEK's website to see what else they offer, as well as reach out to them for a custom design for your home or office. Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon UPGRADE ALERT!
Brett's Hardware now carries Benjamin Moore paint! With you in your house all of the time,
this is the perfect mood to get a little experimental with your wall colors! Now in stock at Brett's Hardware - Find the perfect paint colors and products for that project you've been delaying. Information > Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Exceptional eyewear is Luxe Optique's specialty. There is no better feeling when a patient finds the perfect frame to reflect their personal style. "We always say your vision is our first priority and your style comes in a close second," says Luxe Optique. ALBB can personally attest that style comes in a very close second, as they fuss over the fit of your glasses as well as the style. Long after you purchase. Need an adjustment? Bring it in. Your frames can get adjusted in their workshop in the back of the store. These frames are by @haffmansneumeister
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
Quite a timely book recommendation, when, according to Buzz Feed News, "the acting leader of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement abruptly resigned on Wednesday, just two weeks into the job after the agency’s previous director also stepped down unexpectedly in December, according to a source with knowledge of the situation."
Copies of Natascha Elena Uhlmann, “Abolish ICE” now available at Binnacle Books. Written with passion and eloquence, this concise philippic provides moving examples of the abuses that occur under the cold eye of ICE and sets out convincing arguments for getting rid of it. "Perhaps the greatest value of history is that it reveals to us how contingent so much of the world really is. Institutions that seem unyielding and hierarchies that seem immutable reveal themselves to be products of chance or ideology."
Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
Did you know you could be shopping on La Mére's app from bed right now? Download the La Mére app now! It is available for iOS users and coming soon for Android users. Download our NEW app now and receive 10% off your first in app purchase. Apply code 10OFFAPP in checkout to receive the discount. Visit https://lamereclothingandgoods.com/ to download.
Reminder: La Mere is in a new location on Main Street, just a few blocks down in the former Echo storefront. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
KIDS CLASSES
Howland Library Teen Podcast Workshop Information Session
Grades: 7-12 Day: Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Time: 6pm Location: Zoom
Calling all teen podcasters! Speak Out and Be Heard! Did you ever wonder what it takes to create your own podcast? The Howland Public Library in Beacon has teamed up with Brandon Lillard host of the This is Beacon podcast for a 6 session podcast workshop for students in grade 7 and up. Information >
Compass Arts Saturday Art Series Dates: January 16-March 20, 2021
The Saturday Arts Series will be a 10 week series of online arts workshops and performances held during the coldest days of winter, from January 16th - March 20th. With grants and donations, we expect to offer a tiered pricing structure, from free to $25 per participant, allowing members of the community to benefit from the arts regardless of their ability to pay. Information >
ADULT CLASSES Howland Public LibrarySocrates Cafe Online
Day: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Time: 4pm
Cafe is now online. If interested in joining, please email Adult Services Librarian, Alison Herrero, at adults@beaconlibrary.org and she will email to you the invitation link. Information >
Howland Public Library presents Know the 10 Signs of Alzheimer's Disease
Day: Thursday, January 21, 2021 Time: 1pm
Join Community Engagement Manager, Alzheimer's Association - Hudson Valley Chapter, Joan Carl, for an informative online talk titled, "Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters." This online program for adults is free. To register, call the Alzheimer's Association directly at 1-800-272-3900. Information >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
January is Mentor Month and Antalek & Moore is celebrating it! Several members of the Antalek & Moore family serve as mentors throughout the community. This week, they featured partner Vince Lemma, who is a lacrosse champ. Vince has been a coach for various youth lacrosse teams over the years, and is grateful that he is able to work with kids who share the same passion as he does being on the field. Vince is pictured here with his 2019 Champion Team. Read ALBB's feature article with Vince, where he talks about coaching and how it helps him lead in business. Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
"How can businesses answer the current state of #allthefeels during this time of racial discomfort?" Or is the better question, "Should businesses be making statements? Or will it alienate their audience or customer base?" Pete Seeger fans will enjoy this interview with his granddaughter, Moraya Seeger DeGreare, who speaks with Tin Shingle's owner and A Little Beacon Blog publisher Katie, to wade through that discomfort to discuss the issues. Moraya is a person who has been a gentle but firm voice during the time of the protests. If you haven't put anything about the civil rights messages in your business branding, then this would be a great TuneUp webinar for you to listen to as you debate that. Moraya and Katie are fun and fresh - bubbly as ever! It's a safe space for you to check out. Watch 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? >
The light is not out for the annual MLK Day Parade in Beacon presented by the Springfield Baptist Church and the Beacon Sloop Club (via Pete Seeger before his passing)!
In lieu of the parade, you can participate from home for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Virtual Zoom Celebration on Monday, January 18, 2021 from 11am - 1pm. The theme is "Keep The Flame Alive" and all are welcome.
From the presenters: "Join us for a fun-filled morning of Civil Rights, Gospel & Inspirational Music, Quotes from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a message from Rev. Dr. Ronald O. Perry, Sr., Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church. All attendees are welcome!"
MLK Day Of Service Springfield Baptist Church & Beacon Sloop Club Present: "Keep The Flame Alive" Dates: Monday, January 18, 2021 Time: 11am-1pm How To Log On: The Webinar ID, Passcode and Phone Number are in the flyer above.
Dinner delivery. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Restaurants who are still open almost a year into the pandemic, after having been forced to shut down, and then open up with limited capacity, and now must close at 10pm, are relying on delivery and pickup in order to stay in business. Some restaurants have incorporated 3rd party apps like GrubHub and DoorDash, like Max’s on Main, Sukhothai, Isamu and Heritage. The apps can be a quick fix for a restaurant not needing to manage their own drivers or pay additional commercial auto insurance, but the quick fix can come with a price, to the tune of 30% of an upcharge as well as changing of the price on the app’s version of the menu, according to Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, a Republican, who just signed into emergency temporary law that that upcharge must be lowered.
Homespun, Meyers Olde Dutch (MOD) and Eat Church are using their own websites and POS systems (point of service) to publish their menus on, and avoided the 3rd delivery apps, partially based on avoiding the high take.
As Molinaro has been working to help struggling businesses throughout the pandemic, he took a highly targeted action today that regulates the business models of these technology companies by temporarily limiting how much money they can make off of the restaurant. A Little Beacon Blog is inquiring as to how this will be enforced, and if the change is showing up on the apps already.
The measure was encouraged by Beacon based Dutchess County Legislator, Nick Page (Democrat) . The press release issued by the County Executive’s office describing the action and reasoning behind this bipartisan move is in its entirety is below:
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today signed Local Emergency Order No. 13, which supports local restaurants by temporarily capping service fees charged by third-party food delivery companies to no more than 15 percent of the cost of the food order.
Third-party food delivery companies, such as Grubhub and Door Dash, among others, provide customers with easy-to-use apps for ordering food online. These apps are vital for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are more reliant than ever on takeout and delivery orders. However, fee structures used by these companies, which can be as much as 30 percent for delivery orders, are cutting into local restaurants’ profits during this time of hardship for the entire food services and hospitality industry.
The Executive Order also prohibits third-party delivery services from publishing restaurants’ menus on the services’ apps and increasing the price of a food item to include an delivery fee – an additional concern that was brought to the County’s attention.
County Executive Molinaro said, “The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many industries, but none more so than the foodservice and hospitality industry. By temporarily capping the fees to no more than 15 percent, the Emergency Order will provide much-needed relief to struggling local businesses and help ensure the survival of our local restaurants. I thank Legislator Nick Page for bringing this important issue to our attention.”
Between November 2019 and November 2020, employment in the leisure and hospitality industry dipped by more than 25 percent in the Dutchess-Putnam counties region; this was the largest drop in employment in the region among all of the tracked sectors. The struggles facing this region are indicative of a national crisis for the industry. A recent survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association found on average, sales were down nearly 30 percent, and 81 percent of respondents reporting staffing levels remain below normal levels. As of December 2020, 17 percent of restaurants nationwide – or over 110,000 establishments – had closed.
Gregg Pulver, Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature, said, “The misrepresentation of small businesses by third-party apps is a disruption of carefully curated business strategies. We support local entrepreneurs and will do everything we can to ensure a level playing field. I’m pleased the County Executive is exercising his authority to place local restaurants back in charge of their own products. As this is likely a statewide issue, Albany must act effectively and quickly to enact a permanent resolution.”
During the Local Emergency Order, the County will work with the restaurant industry and our local delivery drivers to manage any unintended consequences and ensure the best outcome for our community and our economy.
Assistant Minority Leader of the County Legislator Nick Page said, “I applaud the County Executive for enacting my caucus’ initiative to prioritize the survival of local restaurants in their time of crisis. Acting together, we can best weather the storm.”
In addition to the latest Emergency Order, Dutchess County Government has taken active steps to support local restaurants and other small businesses. In December, it was announced Dutchess County partnered with Community Capital New York (CCNY) to provide $430,000 to assist microenterprise businesses negatively affected by COVID-19. In June, the County Executive issued an order waiving local regulations and requirements to expedite the opening of outdoor dining. Throughout the last year, County staff has provided guidance on State requirements, advocated for support for small businesses from the Federal government, and worked with New York State officials to help provide foodservice establishments with flexibility and relief from onerous mandates.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Our local restaurants are part of the fabric of this community — they employ thousands, support local charities and organizations, and add to the character of our County — and we cannot sit by and do nothing as they struggle. We will continue to support small businesses in any way we can, whether it is working to find solutions on the local level, to provide flexibility to serve their customers in creative ways, provide direct support, or advocate for them at the State and Federal level.”
The Administration Building of the Beacon City School District. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Superintendent Matthew Landahl addressed families in the district Wednesday evening via webinar call about how the district would be moving forward in the second half of the 2020/2021 school year. Beacon has been one of the only districts in the region to begin and remain on a Hybrid model, which means that kids can chose to either be Hybrid (attending school 2 days per week on a Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday rotation), or be 100% Remote. Students with Special Needs are in school 4 days per week. All students are home on Wednesdays for Remote Learning.
The part-time in-person model for Hybrid was decided upon in order to comply with social distancing requirements set by the state. With the school’s population, as compared with other smaller, sometimes private schools, this needed to be done, Dr. Landahl has said consistently throughout the school year.
Dr. Landahl discussed the latest on staff vaccinations; Dutchess County guidance on changes in what is required to quarantine should a student or staff member test positive for COVID-19; decisions on when schools go remote temporarily; and the introduction of the voluntarily testing program intended to get a read on positivity rate in the district for asymptomatic students or staff.
Teacher & Staff Vaccinations
Dr. Landahl said that unlike another vaccination situation he worked through as the Principal of Greer Elementary School in Charlottesville, VA during the H1N1 period, vaccination are selective and not made possible through school roll-outs.
He told A Little Beacon Blog: “They did mass vaccinations by school at the time. The current vaccine is not set up for children. The vaccine right now is definitely being distributed on a very individual basis for 1B people, meaning every individual has to set up their own appointments. I dont have the ability to organize a vaccination event in the district for district staff and faculty. Vaccinations will be administered to staff in medical facilities when staff makes an appointment at such a facility.”
Governor Cuomo announced on Monday (1-11-2021) that teachers (along with other group types of people) are able to be vaccinated now, in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s prioritized roll-out he designed. However, according to the Governor, due to federal supply levels, New York State does not have that many vaccine doses, so the opportunity to get vaccinated may be slow. All people are instructed to call their health care provider to get their vaccine, or select pharmacies who offer it, like CVS, and appointments are required.
When A Required Quarantine Is Needed If Exposure To Student or Staff
When a student or staff tests positive, the district communicates directly with the person to find out if they were already isolating, or if they were in a school building. Dr. Landahl said that based on feedback from these contact tracing learnings, most students were already isolating at home, or were already 100% Remote. If the parents or caregivers were aware of someone else in the house who tested positive, families for a large part kept their children home.
Dr. Landahl indicated that based on feedback from families throughout the results of contact tracing the last half of the year, settings such as being in a gym class together, or other wide space, might be too broad and should not trigger a quarantine for people near the positive person. Dutchess County, it seems, has relaxed its guidance, which Dr. Landahl included during his presentation:
“Dutchess County Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) will work with schools to determine the specific exposures within the classroom and school settings by identifying only those individuals who must be considered ‘close contacts’ as subject to the mandatory precautionary quarantine. The definition of close contact includes spending 10 minutes or more with a confirmed COVID-19 case while standing within 6 feet of the individual. Wearing cloth masks does not impact exposure.”
Dr. Landahl clarified that simply wearing a mask while standing within 6 feet of someone did not excuse a person from needing to quarantine if they were within 6 feet of the individual for 10 minutes or more.
Dutchess County guidance continued: “DBCH may consider other factors including virus strain, as part of the case investigation to determine the risk of exposure on the particular circumstances of the exposure. DBCH and/or New York State Department Of Health (NYSDOH) reserve right to issue and enforce mandatory quarantine orders for classroom-based exposure incidents when necessary.”
BSCD’s Goal Is To Stay Open - Uses These Factors To Decide On Going Temporarily Remote
Feedback from parents and caregivers during the meeting via the chat session in Zoom was mixed between wantingthe district to close and go Remote only; fearingthat the district would close and go Remote only; liking and approving of the current system; and wanting the district to open for more days during the week.
Dr. Landahl emphasized that in New York State, the decision to close temporarily or full is up to each district. There is no formula for closure. While Governor Cuomo had been using color codes before, Dr. Landahl said, the Governor had not been referring to them lately. Dr. Landahl said that the state and the county do look at hospitalization rates to indicate a direction, and that Dutchess County may have other information that may trigger guidance to a particular district. Otherwise, there is no formula or requirement for closure.
From the presentation, factors that impact the decision to go remote include:
Time needed to conduct contact tracing. If the knowledge of a positive case happens late and night, and there is indication that exposed people are involved, a temporary closure could happen, simply to give time the next day to reach out to individuals, and reduce risk of further unknown/known exposure.
Number of people quarantining. If a large number of staff is quarantining, for instance, it would be impossible to keep a building open to function.
"Most of the confirmed cases we get now, the individual has been out of school for a number of days,” Dr. Landahl stated in his (these) bullet points.
Department of Health. If the county issues guidance based on information they have.
State guidance or regulations. If New York State issues guidance.
Voluntary Testing
The Beacon City School District has voluntarily signed up to participate in the ability for staff and students to get tested for free at a location at one of the buildings, the first may be at the Beacon High School. This is a voluntary offering and not required by students to undergo. Parents will be able to be with their children during the test. The first students to be offered it will be Hybrid students, who go into school buildings, and then depending on usage of the tests, may be expanded to Remote, Dr. Landahl said.
The purpose of the testing is to get a better picture of if there is an asymptomatic positive cases in the buildings. These tests will be the “rapid” tests, which have been talked about as not being as accurate as the PCR lab tests. Dr. Landahl said that from his reading, the rapid tests are more prone to give false negatives, and that if it delivers a positive response, he said, the result will be taken into consideration.
This may start the week of January 25, 2021, targeting the days of Mondays and Wednesdays as testing opportunities, which would be open to all ages from the Hybrid in-person group. A testing center may be set up at Beacon High School, either inside or outside. A Virtual Consent form will be sent out next week, and FAQs and a video as well, said Dr. Landahl, to help people understand the offering.
Dr. Landahl mentioned how long the line was at Pulse MD when he got tested one day, which has been consistent with A Little Beacon Blog’s findings as well, since before Thanksgiving, which is when lines at several urgent cares filled up with people who wanted to merge households over the holidays. The closet location to get a free test for Beaconites is Bear Mountain, despite the marketing that that Governor Cuomo does that indicates getting a free test is easy.
A Little Beacon Blog doesn’t usually make recommendations, but in our experience, PM Pediatrics continues to be the best choice for testing kids (adults who accompany them can also get tested; walk-ins accepted), Caremount for adult testing, and patients of Sun River Health System (previously HRH Health Care on Henry Street in Beacon) offers testing to their patients only (no walk-ins, and appointments are needed).
Local District Response To Closures - Up To Districts, Not To State Standardized
Chatter amoung some parents in social media has been that the school will be forced to close for some reason. Dr. Landahl answered that as of now, and as of the whole time during the pandemic after the schools opened for the new 2020/2021 year, the decision to close has been at each district level, which indicates that local communities can know how things are working, and make safe decisions. He stated that he appreciated that local decision ability.
Most Cases Are Coming From Home, Not School
A question from a participant on the call was if the students were safer doing 100% Remote Only. Dr. Landahl stated that he believes the opposite to be true, that children are safer in the schools where social distancing is enforced, from their classroom to the cafeteria to gym to recess. At home, parents and caregivers can get lax.
This writer can attest - as a person who got COVID-19 - it walked through my front door at home - not from the school, but from us not recognizing the symptoms of an achy back - where it could have been picked up from a number of places (office building, gas station, who knows).
Fortunately. My husband is tested regularly for free by his job, and that is how we knew we had positive cases in the house. When we learned of his positive result, I kept my children home and out of school, even before they got tested. Once they got tested and one positive result came back for 1 of my 3 children, they had already been isolating, and our case did not warrant a closure of the school. It did trigger a robo-call from Dr. Landahl, however :) (no one’s names are ever mentioned, but we knew it was us - we made the robo-call!).
The school nurse called to check on us regularly, and did the math on our quarantine release date, if our symptoms had stopped, which they did.
Guaranteed Comprehensive Healthcare for All New Yorkers is Closer Than You Think is a free, virtual event, open to the public, organized by Hudson Valley Demands New York Health, and hosted by the Newburgh Free Library and the Desmond-Fish Public Library, on Thursday, January 28th, 7pm. Attendees will learn about the bill, its legislative trajectory and why it is important for New Yorkers to demand its passage in 2021. The panel discussion will focus on how the bill would affect various aspects of the healthcare system, including patients and healthcare providers, as well as the cost to municipalities. The keynote speaker will be NYS Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, followed by a panel discussion including Dr. Reena Agarwal (MD, MPH, FACP), Darius Shahinfar (Albany City Treasurer), and Lynn Esteban (patient/healthcare activist), and moderated by Jess Robie (RN). The event will be facilitated by Jeff Mikkelson (Co-Founder, HVDNYH). Registration for the event is required to attend: bit.ly/NYHealthActJan28.
Affordable, accessible, healthcare is an important issue for many Americans. Although most New Yorkers have health insurance, many people have long struggled to afford premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and the high cost of prescription drugs. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed the dysfunction and inadequacy, as well as the racial and class inequality, of our current healthcare system.
If passed, the New York Health Act would guarantee comprehensive health coverage to every New Yorker while eliminating premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, and would help address the structural inequalities of our current system. It would also save money for individuals, local governments and New York State.
This public education event is organized by Hudson Valley Demands New York Health (HVDNYH), a coalition of grassroots groups and individuals working to guarantee comprehensive healthcare for all New Yorkers by passing the New York Health Act (NYHA).
WHAT: Guaranteed Comprehensive Healthcare for All New Yorkers is Closer Than You Think: A Virtual Town Hall on the New York Health Act WHERE: Virtual Event, Register Here: bit.ly/NYHealthActJan28 WHEN: Thursday, January 28, 2021 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Speaker Bios
Jessica Gonźalez-Rojas, NYS Assembly Member Jessica Gonźalez-Rojas was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 to represent the 34th Assembly district, which encompasses several diverse communities in Queens. She has been an unapologetic leader for social justice on the national and local level for over two decades. For 13 years Jessica served in the leadership at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. She has fought for immigrant rights, racial justice, and gender equity. Prior to running for the Assembly, Jessica served as a community liaison for Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez. As a long time leader in community and electoral politics, Jessica has received numerous proclamations for her advocacy work.
Reena Agarwal, MD, MPH, FACP Dr. Agarwal is a primary care physician trained in Internal Medicine. She completed her residency in Social Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and a residency in Public Health/Preventive Medicine at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She also has an extensive background in quality improvement. She has spent her career working in New York Hospitals and Community Health Centers where her focus has been on providing care for the underserved as well as teaching resident physicians.
Darius Shahinfar, Albany City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar is the elected Treasurer and Chief Fiscal Officer of the City of Albany.
His work as City Treasurer led him to research the effect of health care financing on municipal budgets and local property taxes. He has testified on this subject to the NYS Legislature and has spoken on these issues to numerous organizations. He believes strongly, not only in the moral imperative of universal health care coverage, but also that single payer will result in dramatic tax and cost savings. He is a graduate of Bates College, and Albany Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review.
Lynn Esteban, Patient/healthcare activist Lynn Esteban is an artist and activist who lives in Poughkeepsie with her family. A bout of Mono (Epstein Barr virus) in 2011 triggered a chronic illness, the severity of which has left her unable to work. She has had a protracted and challenging battle with the healthcare system to reach a correct diagnosis and effective treatment. Lynn is a disability activist and volunteer with MEAction, an international advocacy organization that educates physicians and the public about managing post-viral conditions.
Beacon City School District’s Superintendent Landahl will host a digital Town Hall on Tuesday, January 13, 2021 at 7pm on the latest strategies moving forward for the second half of the school year, as the district maintains its Open status via a Hybrid/Remote model.
For the entire school year so far, students have been able to elect if they want to attend school 2 days per week, or to remain at home remotely 100%. For everyone, Wednesday is an at-home day, where a longer day of programming delivered via Google Class Rooms is planned.
There have been several COVID-19 cases of students in the district, namely at the high school and middle school, with a few at the elementary schools. For the most part, students who test positive for COVID-19 had already been isolating, and some were already in the Remote program, so were never at the school. Buildings have rarely closed, but if the student or staff had been at school near other people, then a Remote model takes place for a select number of days, announced by the Superintendent.
Dr. Landahl has emailed the district families with, what seems to be, each case reported into the school, and the decision to keep that particular building open or closed. That call seems to come in within a day or two of when the district learns about the case, as per Dr. Landahl’s framing of the message.
During tonight’s Town Hall, Dr. Landahl will address the following interest areas, as well as attempt to take questions via Chat in the Zoom setup. The link to the Zoom call has been emailed to parents, and the latest correct link is on his email dated today, 1/13/2021.
Latest on staff vaccinations
County guidance on close contacts/contact tracing/quarantining
UPDATE: The Replay of this has been posted, and can be viewed HERE.
The Dutchess Business Notification Network sent out an alert today (Wednesday) to a webinar happening tomorrow (Thursday) for venues who shuttered because of the pandemic, to possibly receive grant money. Details about how the grant works are sparse, and if it is anything like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which started off as a “forgivable” loan, could change over time. Businesses currently need to apply to be forgiven the PPP loan that was granted to them, and details on how to apply and who can apply and when to apply for PPP loan forgiveness have been shifting. Reports are coming out that indicate small businesses have started to be forgiven the loan if they meet the criteria.
Webinar: Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Webinar
Details: An overview of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program included in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020. Eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to receive up to a $10 million grant under the program. In total, the Economic Aid Act allocates $15 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants. This webinar will provide introductory information about the grants, who can apply, how potential organizations can prepare, and other detail re: eligibility and applications. This webinar will be recorded. Host: U.S. Small Business Administration Date: January 14, 2021, at 3PM Register: HERE
Webinar: The New Relief Package, PPP Loans, and More
Panelists: We will be joined by panelists from RBT and the Small Business Development Center, discussing topics including:
Eligibility for increased funding
Expanded forgiveness guidance
New debt relief information
Important tax advantages
There will be an opportunity for questions and answers, and the presentation will be recorded for viewing on demand. Host: Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce Date: January 15, 2021, at 9AM Sponsor: RBT CPAs and KeyBank Register: HERE
Beacon’s Highway Department’s Garage. If you lose something in the fields, the Highway Department combs the fields to clean them, and the item may end up inside of this building.
The City of Beacon issued a robo-call to announce that the Highway Department is in quarantine and the Transfer Station (aka “The Dump”) is closed until January 19, 2021. This is the second known quarantine for the Highway Department, and limits their ability to conduct otherwise day to day activities, like picking up Christmas trees.
City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero said during this week’s City Council Workshop that the Highway Department employees are dubbed Essential Workers, and should a snow storm or related event happen, that they could come out to work. He also indicated that the department is reviewing protocol to improve its chances of exposure.
There was no indication on where any individual was exposed to COVID, if it was on the job or during personal life.
Wishing everyone health as the virus passes through.
The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be observed on Monday, January 18. While the annual parade is unable to happen, there is still a deep way you can observe Martin Luther King Day: with a book. By Martin Luther King, Jr.
During this time while we are trying to come together - even if we were together before - we can be more deeply together now. Through perspectives. One way to share perspectives is to read who a community of people have been reading for decades: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself.
"I have attended the Martin Luther King Day Parade at the Springfield Baptist Church every year," says A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie Hellmuth Martin. "But I never felt really connected. I always knew I was missing education. This year, I read my first book by Martin Luther King, Jr., 'Why We Can't Wait,' and it helped inform my perspective of what my Black and Brown neighbors have been saying. It has helped me have conversations with people I've always talked to and loved, but I started understanding what they were saying to me differently. Malcolm X is next on my list, but I'm in the middle of a work of fiction by Octavia E. Butler right now."
While there is never a bad time to read Dr. King’s books, now is an especially a good time to deeply reflect on Dr. King’s message and converse with those around us to emphasize the important values and messages he shared - racial equality.
Racism and colorism is a social disease that is affecting people all around the world - and is hard to pinpoint and define. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for racism - an invasive disease that can strike any one at any time.
Committing to social awareness can keep racism in check. This means becoming self aware - reading books, having those tough conversations (yes, with family members too), and standing up and supporting our local community organizers. Sometimes we will agree with leaders, sometimes we won't. It might depend on the specific cause, or way that cause is being carried out. You'll find out more about that in Dr. King's books!
Below is a list of books by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help you start picking one you want to pick up for the first time, or again for a fresh read. We encourage you to shop from Binnacle Books, who is a local, independent bookstore in Beacon, and a sponsor and supporter of ALBB.
I Have a Dream (Book & CD)
“From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: “My father’s dream continues to live on from generation to generation, and this beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his world-changing "I Have a Dream" speech brings his inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us—those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone.”
“Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington, a major civil rights demonstration. King references the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which declared that America would be a land of freedom where all men are created equal.”
Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (King Legacy #2)
“In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., isolated himself from the demands of the civil rights movement, rented a house in Jamaica with no telephone, and labored over his final manuscript. In this prophetic work, which has been unavailable for more than ten years, he lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for America's future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education. With a universal message of hope that continues to resonate, King demanded an end to global suffering, asserting that humankind-for the first time-has the resources and technology to eradicate poverty.”
“Martin Luther King’s classic exploration of the events and forces behind the Civil Rights Movement—including his Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.
“There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.”
In 1963, Birmingham, Alabama, was perhaps the most racially segregated city in the United States. The campaign launched by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights movement on the segregated streets of Birmingham demonstrated to the world the power of nonviolent direct action.
In this remarkable book—winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—Dr. King recounts the story of Birmingham in vivid detail, tracing the history of the struggle for civil rights back to its beginnings three centuries ago and looking to the future, assessing the work to be done beyond Birmingham to bring about full equality for African Americans. Above all, Dr. King offers an eloquent and penetrating analysis of the events and pressures that propelled the Civil Rights movement from lunch counter sit-ins and prayer marches to the forefront of American consciousness.
Since its publication in the 1960s, Why We Can’t Wait has become an indisputable classic. Now, more than ever, it is an enduring testament to the wise and courageous vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Includes photographs and an Afterword by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.”
"“If there is one book Martin Luther King, Jr. has written that people consistently tell me has changed their lives, it is Strength to Love."
So wrote Coretta Scott King. She continued: "I believe it is because this book best explains the central element of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence: His belief in a divine, loving presence that binds all life." That insight, luminously conveyed in this classic text, here presented in a new and attractive edition, hints at the personal transformation at the root of social justice: "By reaching into and beyond ourselves and tapping the transcendent moral ethic of love, we shall overcome these evils."
In these short meditative and sermonic pieces, some of them composed in jails and all of them crafted during the tumultuous years of the civil rights struggle, Dr. King articulated and espoused in a deeply personal compelling way his commitment to justice and to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual conversion that makes his work as much a blueprint today for Christian discipleship as it was then.
Individual readers, as well as church groups and students will find in this work a challenging yet energizing vision of God and redemptive love.”
A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches
"“We've got some difficult days ahead," civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., told a crowd gathered at Memphis's Clayborn Temple on April 3, 1968. "But it really doesn't matter to me now because I've been to the mountaintop. . . . And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."
These prophetic words, uttered the day before his assassination, challenged those he left behind to see that his "promised land" of racial equality became a reality; a reality to which King devoted the last twelve years of his life.
These words and others are commemorated here in the only major one-volume collection of this seminal twentieth-century American prophet's writings, speeches, interviews, and autobiographical reflections. A Testament of Hope contains Martin Luther King, Jr.'s essential thoughts on nonviolence, social policy, integration, black nationalism, the ethics of love and hope, and more.”
I Have a Dream - Special Anniversary Edition: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World
"“His life informed us, his dreams sustain us yet."*
On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial looking out over thousands of troubled Americans who had gathered in the name of civil rights and uttered his now famous words, "I have a dream . . ." It was a speech that changed the course of history.
This fortieth-anniversary edition honors Martin Luther King Jr.'s courageous dream and his immeasurable contribution by presenting his most memorable words in a concise and convenient edition. As Coretta Scott King says in her foreword, "This collection includes many of what I consider to be my husband's most important writings and orations." In addition to the famed keynote address of the 1963 march on Washington, the renowned civil rights leader's most influential words included here are the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," the essay "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence," and his last sermon, "I See the Promised Land," preached the day before he was assassinated.
Editor James M. Washington arranged the selections chronologically, providing headnotes for each selection that give a running history of the civil rights movement and related events. In his introduction, Washington assesses King's times and significance.
*From the citation of the posthumous award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., July 4, 1977”
“A revealing collection that restores Dr. King as being every bit as radical as Malcolm X”
“The radical King was a democratic socialist who sided with poor and working people in the class struggle taking place in capitalist societies. . . . The response of the radical King to our catastrophic moment can be put in one word: revolution—a revolution in our priorities, a reevaluation of our values, a reinvigoration of our public life, and a fundamental transformation of our way of thinking and living that promotes a transfer of power from oligarchs and plutocrats to everyday people and ordinary citizens. . . . Could it be that we know so little of the radical King because such courage defies our market-driven world?” —Cornel West, from the Introduction
Every year, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is celebrated as one of the greatest orators in US history, an ambassador for nonviolence who became perhaps the most recognizable leader of the civil rights movement. But after more than forty years, few people appreciate how truly radical he was.
Arranged thematically in four parts, The Radical King includes twenty-three selections, curated and introduced by Dr. Cornel West, that illustrate King’s revolutionary vision, underscoring his identification with the poor, his unapologetic opposition to the Vietnam War, and his crusade against global imperialism. As West writes, “Although much of America did not know the radical King—and too few know today—the FBI and US government did. They called him ‘the most dangerous man in America.’ . . . This book unearths a radical King that we can no longer sanitize.”
The New Paltz Climate Action Coalition is hosting their free online event, Warm Up To Winter: An Energy Showcase, on Thursday, January 14th, 6-7:30pm, on ways to efficiently heat your home this winter. The event is open to all homeowners and renters in the mid-Hudson region. It will include speakers from New Paltz Climate Action Coalition, Interfaith Earth Action, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess & Sullivan Counties.
This session will provide valuable resources to save money on your heating and utility bills this winter as well as the environment. Topics will include:
free energy audits to help you find ways to save $ on heating bills & electricity
grant programs/funding for renters, low & moderate income households
low-interest financing & tax incentives for households looking to switch to renewable energy, do energy upgrades, & more
renewable energy- community solar (great for renters), home solar power installations, heat pumps, geothermal & more!
DIY weatherization, winterization & energy efficiency techniques, programs, and companies
Renters and landlords are especially encouraged to join us- there are specific programs we'd love to link you to that are vetted and will help you save both money on your bills AND will help the environment!
To receive the Zoom for the showcase, click here to register and join on Thursday, January 14, 2020 6-7:30pm!
Federal money was made available through the CARES Act for communities to apply for and be awarded money to spend on food security and/or ensuring safety for seniors at local senior centers. Dutchess County manages this money, and in a press release sent 12/22/2020, announced that all of the municipalities who applied for the money were awarded money, which was “based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) income guidelines, for efforts to promote food security and safety at local senior centers to enable them to be open for seniors.”
Beacon applied for and was awarded $25,000 “for assistance to a local food bank to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income households,” according to the press release. Beacon’s Director for Parks and Recreation, Mark Price, is the point person for the spending of this money, and says that spending the grant money is not so simple.
Because the money is federal, they require an “income survey” in order to prove the need a municipality says they have in their population. Says Mark: “The County was willing to fund a food purchase only, for moderate to low income families in Beacon. We have to give assurance to them that they are giving us money and we're using it for the population we say we are. Because we are using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, there is usually a map that identifies the low to moderate areas (Editor’s Note: like with the small business Microenterprise Stabilization Grants currently available). When you use Block Grant monies, you are to use those to those areas. That map is slowly shrinking in Beacon. However, COVID funding doesn't use a map.”
How Does A Municipality Find The People To Prove The Need?
For this article, we asked Mark how he is going to find the people for the survey that identifies low to moderate income households. “We are hopeful that our Wednesday 9am free food distribution at Memorial Park, which serves 150-200 cars per week, in addition to our Wednesday 9:30am Beacon Recreation Center distribution to 75 families, will be a one-shot way to survey the need.”
The number of organizations who are offering food security services to people in need in Beacon has increased since the pandemic started in March 2020. “Of the groups in Beacon who work in food security, everyone would need to give assurance. They would each need to do an income survey. At this point, we are thinking that this one distribution location could be the most efficient way of getting a good sampling for the income survey. Some independent food security groups may need to do sampling for a month to get a good sampling.”
How Other Municipalities Proposed To Spend Money
Other municipalities made proposals for federal CARES Act funding based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money guidlines, and were awarded. Ideas differed, and are included below:
City of Beacon: $25,000 for assistance to a local food bank to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income households.
Town of Beekman: $20,000 for touchless bathroom fixtures for the Town’s senior program
Town of Dover: $17,200 award for substantive meals and home-keeping necessities for homebound seniors.
Town of East Fishkill: $20,000 award for HEPA sterilization units and UV air purifiers at the senior center.
Town of Hyde Park: $29,500 award for plexiglass partitions, air purifiers and UV-C lights, Wi-Fi network upgrades and 7 laptops at the senior center, as well as tent for outdoor programming.
Town of Poughkeepsie: $15,950 award for plexi-glass barriers, hand sanitizing stations, wall-mounted thermometers, HEPA filter, air purifiers, gloves/wipes/masks for the senior center.
Town of Pine Plains: $26,542 award for support to Willow Roots food pantry to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income families.
Hello, It's the weekend in Beacon, which may make for the perfect timeline refresh in your social media. Get fresh air, let Beacon's restaurants do the cooking for you, treat yourself to some bling for your keychain. Now is the time when retail therapy helps your neighbors stay in their homes and their storefronts more than ever before. So have fun! And fill up a food pantry when there are 2 for 1 sales on your favorite items.
Attention Beacon Storefronts: ALBB is making a Gift Guide: "Favorite Things For $25" Not a penny more or less.
Please email submissions to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River Webinar Series
Dates: See below Time: 7:30pm
Clearwater will be celebrating the publication of the 3rd edition of The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River with a four-part webinar series. Please join us for a fun and illuminating exploration of this river we all love.
Cost: FREE for Clearwater Members, $7 per night for non-members.
The webinars will take place over the course of four consecutive Wednesdays at 7:30pm:
1/13/21: Steve Stanne
1/20/21: Roger Panetta
1/27/21: Brian Forist
2/3/21: Maija Niemisto
Cooking For A Cause
Dates: On Tuesdays from January 12 - mid February, 2012 Time: 9am
HudsonValleyEats.com, the restaurant-focused food insecurity platform, has brought together 4 of the Hudson Valley's top chefs for a fundraising cooking event beginning January 12, 2021, called "Cooking For A Cause," to give 100% of the net profits to 4 local non-profits who specialize in getting food directly to locals in need. For those who love cooking shows and want to experience cooking with a chef on a screen in their home - while directly investing in local non-profits, this is the perfect multi-evening opportunity! Tickets & Information >
SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!
Annual Great Newburgh To Beacon Swim
Dates: July 24, 2021 Time: 9am
Clearwater will be celebrating the publication of the 3rd edition of The Hudson: An Illustrated Guide to the Living River with a four-part webinar series. Please join us for a fun and illuminating exploration Information >
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Now available for a limited time, Eat Church has collaborated with local artist @mkinneyny and @weartogether_community to come up with this cool t-shirt design. Get your Orders in! This Shirt is only available to order between January 4th and January 18th and will print and ship around January 29th. You can place your order on their website www.eatchurch.com. Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
While Meyers Olde Dutch is undergoing construction to build an outdoor patio at their 184 Main Street location, you can still order from their menu for take out and delivery only at their sister location, @kitchensinkny across the street at 157 Main Street. You can order online by clicking here or call them at 845.440.6900. Ordering delivery is the easiest thing you could do for yourself! Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Food Food Food! Now on the website for Homespun Foods, you can find daily specials that are updated. Simply go to homespunfoods.com to see what's going on in their kitchen and the cellar. View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
The Hudson Valley Food Hall is one of the most spacious restaurants in town, as it's designed like a food court! You'll find: Loaded French Fries, Specialty Salads, Dumplings, Himalayan Bowls, Homemade Soups, Southern BBQ, Fried Shrimp, Fish & Chips, Mac & Cheese, Custom Cocktails & Wine!! (High Ceilings, Socially Distanced Indoor/Outdoor Seating & To-Go Options Galore) Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
New year, new look for Baja 328! Come check out the newly remodeled Baja328. With the same Great food and Drinks as always! Celebrating 5 years in Beacon we’d like to thank the great customers for your continued patronage. Baja 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
LEWIS & PINE
133 Main Street, Beacon
The Fjellvant fragrance will remind you of taking a winter hike at Minnewaska, surrounded by evergreen trees and rough granite, stopping to breathe the cool, fresh air as you look out over the valley. Grab this natural wax candle or scented diffuser at Lewis & Pine today! Shop Now > Lewis & Pine is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Live Light Travel Often (LLTO)
464 Main Street, Beacon
Have you been getting into a Project Zone? Time to treat yourself to upgrading your game! This toolbox is a surprising find at LLTO, but not too surprising, since owner Tamara is quite resourceful and only settles for very perfect things. This metal toolbox has a smooth open where levels of the drawers are revealed. Dividers come with this box, which you can arrange in a way you need to. See it in person, or Shop Now > LLTO is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
PTACEK Home
464 Main Street, Beacon Need some shelving for those special finds you've been collecting from LLTO and other boutiques in Beacon? Take these home! PTACEK Home designed these shelves from reclaimed wood, and can do the same for your space. Perfect for opening up a room. Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon For when you get a new toy, and you can't find the hardware that came with it, you go to Brett's! Plus, the helpful staff at Brett's can decipher directions illustrations and coded numbers of screws and bolts, to get you just what you need. Information > Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Kick off 2021 in style with these frames from Leisure Society available at Luxe Optique. Leisure Society is dedicated to heirloom design by creating an object once with the intention of having it last forever. Collections are made with only the most luxurious components like titanium frame, 12/18/24K gold plating, diamonds and buffalo horn.
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
We'd like to share this message recently posted by our friends at @binnaclebooks : Despite the celebrations and the optimistic aphorisms and memes, these are not easy days. The needs we are trying to meet for each other, the responsibilities we have to ourselves, the fears and the struggles, are as present today as they were six months ago, two weeks ago, yesterday. We don’t intend to tell you how to do what you need to do, but don’t forget that our problems, however dire, are not new. And so the solutions don’t come quick. And the solutions are often anything but direct. You might find reassurance in the slowness of a book, the delicate complexity of a narrative, the oblique suggestion of a poem. You might find resolve in these things. We simply have to keep working and taking care of ourselves in each other. Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
We all know about work-from-home outfits at A Little Beacon Blog. This outfit put together by La Mére is calling our name with a washed jogger pant, cami top, and cozy Taylor cardigan. Also with what we can imagine is something hot and yummy in the mug too!
Reminder: La Mere is in a new location on Main Street, just a few blocks down in the former Echo storefront. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
NEW BEAUTY DESTINATION! My Zen Den
1 East Main Street
My Zen Den’s amenities include an infrared sauna, full-body red light therapy and a meditation nook. Information >
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 8 - 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
January is Mentor Month and Antalek & Moore is celebrating it! Several members of the Antalek & Moore family serve as mentors throughout the community. This week, they featured partner Vince Lemma, who is a lacrosse champ. Vince has been a coach for various youth lacrosse teams over the years, and is grateful that he is able to work with kids who share the same passion as he does being on the field. Vince is pictured here with his 2019 Champion Team. Read ALBB's feature article with Vince, where he talks about coaching and how it helps him lead in business. 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? >
Hudson Valley Eats (www.hudsonvalleyeats.com), the restaurant-focused food insecurity platform, has brought together 4 of the Hudson Valley's top chefs for a fundraising cooking event beginning January 12, 2021, called "Cooking For A Cause," to give 100% of the net profits to 4 local non-profits who specialize in getting food directly to locals in need,
For those who love cooking shows and want to experience cooking with a chef on a screen in their home - while directly investing in local non-profits, this is the perfect multi-evening opportunity! "Cooking For A Cause" pairs 4 chefs with 4 non-profits to broadcast online cooking classes every Tuesday from January 12 to February 2nd, 2021 from 6pm-7:30pm. Tickets are $50, and for each class ticket sold, 100% of the net profits go to the dedicated non-profit paired with that class.
The founder of this give-back cooking series and of HudsonValleyEats.com, Janet Irizarry, leads by her mother's motto: "If you are going to be part of the community, you need to find something you can do that will make a difference." Janet's specialty is in restaurant and food management, having consulted with numerous successful restaurants, and teaches at the Culinary Institute of America. She brings together local talent in the culinary world for everyone to experience and benefit from.
How Cooking For A Cause Works
Participants will be sent a shopping list for ingredients in advance, and a Zoom link for the live cooking show. People can start cooking along with the chef, or just watch and drink wine, thinking about cooking! Anyone can ask the chef questions along the way.
Tickets are $50/class, start on January 12th, 2021, and run from 6pm-7:30pm on Tuesdays. People can buy a ticket to each class, which directly benefits the non-profit associated with the chef.
- Dutchess Outreach (1/12/2021):Chef Rebecca Carucci, cooking plant-based recipes with Frances Gonzalez, a specialist in vegan wines. Chef Carucci is going to demonstrate how to cook Mexican Style Stuffed Sweet Potatoes. It is chockfull of omega 3, protein, iron, B12s and is guaranteed to satisfy your hunger for winter comfort food.
- People's Place (1/19/2021):Chef Agnes Devereaux, owner of The Village Tea Room Restaurant & Bake Shop in New Paltz, will teach how to make Pan Seared Hudson Valley Steelhead Trout with escargot butter and butternut squash with onions, sage and grapes.
- Feeding Westchester (1/26/2021):Chef Leslie Lampert is converting your fridge rejects (wilted, shriveled veggies, bruised fruits, gently expired yogurt, cottage cheese, tomato paste, forgotten frozen meats), to pantry pariahs (a leftover handful of rice, a half-cup pasta, that almond flour you bought for one recipe), Leslie, The Scrappy Chef, will teach you how to transform your neglected leftovers to create healthful, delicious meals that prevent food waste!
- Meals on Wheels (2/2/2021): Chef Chef Whitton is the owner of Pier 701 in Piermont and recently opened Autumn, a fine fining French cuisine restaurant in Sparkill, New York. Enjoy an evening in Paris with Chef Whitton as he shows how to prepare a classic Coq a Vin with mixed vegetables and mashed potatoes.
About The Founder
Janet Irizarry is an Adjunct Professor at the Culinary Institute of America, and a Managing Partner of the Hospitality Alliance which brings to gather business professionals who directly service the regions' restaurants, hotels, B&Bs and hospitals, with large-scale food and beverage operations in the Hudson Valley. She is the Editor of HudsonValley Eats.com, a website and Facebook Group that connects everyone in the Hudson Valley with food, not just those who can afford it. Janet was a Contributing Columnist for Hudson Valley News Network for the Food, Wine & Spirits beat, and is the owner of JI Restaurant Consulting.
About Each Non-Profit
Dutchess Outreach: Dutchess Outreach acts as a catalyst for community revitalization and exists in Dutchess County as an advocate and provider of hunger and relief services in order to ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has access to fresh, healthy food, and the support they need.
People's Place: People's Place is a not-for-profit organization feeding, clothing and responding to the needs of the people in Ulster County with kindness, compassion and the preservation of human dignity since 1972. People's Place operates a high quality Thrift Store as their primary economic engine, which is closed during the pandemic. They rely on donations and volunteers from the community, and conduct fundraisers, which were also impacted due to the pandemic.
Feeding Westchester: Their mission is to end hunger in Westchester County. As the heart of a network of nearly 300 community partners, they source and distribute food and other resources to towns across Westchester County, helping to ensure that none of their neighbors are hungry.
Meals on Wheels: Since being founded in 1974 Meals on Wheels has delivered more than eight million meals, often making the difference between a recipient being able to remain at home, and living independently, or being placed in a health care of nursing home. In 2011 volunteers will deliver more than 122,000 meals to homebound Rockland residents who are unable to shop or prepare their own food due to advancing age, illness or physical disability. Over 900 meals are prepared in the central commissary daily to support the programs and contracts of the agency.
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.
KIDS CLASSES
