As the national discussion begins about re-opening schools, Beacon City School District discusses how to open more. Federally and in New York State, schools have had some autonomy in how they open, making choices based on how Beacon teachers are feeling about being in-person, voluntary testing of students and staff, and other safety measures. Today (2/9/2021), Beacon’s Superintendent Dr. Matthew Landahl announced intentions to increase days and hours spent in the classroom, if families wanted it.
Beacon started as “the largest district in Dutchess County to open for in-person instruction for our students with our hybrid model,” stated Dr. Landahl to district families via email today (2/9/2021), when he introduced tentative plans to inch forward with adding hours and days to student’s in-person learning opportunities safely during the pandemic in the coming months.
“We have safely maintained our Hybrid and Remote models through many challenges the past many months without a long term closure of any of our schools. None of this would have been accomplished without the efforts of everyone in our district and our community.”
Citing decreasing case rates and hospitalizations in Beacon and Dutchess County, Dr. Landahl put weight on the early process of District staff members being vaccinated, saying: “slowly but surely starting to get vaccinated through state or county programs.”
The First Step To Expanded Opening
The first step would be with Beacon High School, who, it is proposed, would be starting a full 8-period day for its Hybrid and Remote students on March 1, 2021.
The expansion to a 4-day in-person week is being studied, with the Remote option still being available to those who choose it. “While I cannot make promises that this will be possible for us,” Dr. Landahl stated in the email, “we are working to develop a plan that would start with Elementary students and then move up to Middle and possibly High School. We would need to maintain safety standards and will work with Health Department officials to see what’s possible.”
A Potential Timeline To Expanded School Opening
Dr. Landahl presented a timeline, which includes levels of communicating with families first, before choices are made:
Late February: Town Halls and other communications with details of the plan.
Late February/Early March: Families decide on in-person programming vs remote.
Late March/Early April: Students begin to return to an in-person 4-day a week instructional model starting with Elementary students.
The Beacon City School District was “the largest district in Dutchess County to open for in-person instruction for our students with our Hybrid model,” according to Beacon’s Superintendent Landahl to District families on Tuesday afternoon (2/9/2021), after a Snow Day Switcheroonie to avoid an actual Snow Day with no class meets at all.
Dr. Landahl continued: “We have safely maintained our Hybrid and Remote models through many challenges the past many months without a long term closure of any of our schools.”
Part of why this has been possible has been the District’s nimble and flexible Remote Learning Model that has been a work in progress since the first weeks that schools closed in 2020 for COVID-19. Normally correspondence like this is kept to District parents, who sludge through the day with their kids, nose to the grindstone.
This type of Snow Day Change is being shared it here in order to bring awareness to other districts who are researching how to swing in and out of in-person instruction as needed, as well as to employers so that they can see what life is like for their working parent employees who need to accommodate their children at the drop of a snowflake.
As background, since COVID-19, students are divided into two groups who go to school on different days: Blue Group and Gold Group. On Wednesdays, everyone stays home and does more Google Meets with their teachers (usually…this may depend on the teacher). On an actual Snow-Day-Not-A-Snow-Day, kids may also do “Specials” at home, like Gym, Music, Art, etc. This means that the house may sound like a stampede during remote “Gym” class, and crayons will suddenly be needed during “Art” class. Yay. All for this action versus no plan and staring at the wall or YouTube on a TV on the wall.
This time ‘round, we had a Snow-Day-Wednesday on a Tuesday. Plus, in order to help the Blue Group kids be in school as much as possible, who it sounds like have had Snow Days be on their schedule the most, they were granted permission to come in on a Wednesday.
It sounds head-spinning, and it is. But the Beacon community has been all-in to do our best to stay safe and healthy, and to use opportunities to learn in-person for those who are comfortable doing so.
The email from Dr. Landahl announcing the Tuesday schedule is as follows:
Due to expected winter weather tomorrow, the Beacon City School District will be shifting its schedule this week. Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9th, the district will operate on a Remote Wednesday schedule with buildings closed and district and school offices operating remotely as well. There will be no out of district transportation tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 10th, the district will operate on a Blue Hybrid In-Person Schedule. Meal delivery and the COVID-19 Surveillance testing will still take place on Wednesday as well.
We would not normally make a weather call this early but we wanted to let people know about this schedule change as early as possible and we were concerned about our Blue Hybrid students missing so much in-person time lately.
Everyone!
Are you dug out? That snowfall was intense! Maybe you are following the snow-removal methods of your old-timer neighbors now. When once they looked suspect: "What is he doing with that ice-pick? Did we move to Tom Hanks 'The Burbs'?"
No, Friends, this is you getting smarter with your snow-removal method by removing while the sun is out, before the 2' feet of snow becomes ice, or the slush becomes ice (the Slush Method has been tried before, and fails because it freezes in place like that).
Thank you for your patience on this weekend newsletter. We delayed because we have been working on a feature story on a new Black business in Beacon and Poughkeepsie since before Christmas, and wanted to get this to you on a Saturday.
Saturday nights scan be magical for business stories, and this is a good one. YOU helped this business raise $1,000 in one weekend when their only asset - an old snow blower - broke. ALBB readers did that!
Every local and national bank they went to denied them. But you didn't Beacon Community. It was unexpected and incredible. Because of you, Blue Green Lawns bought a snow blower from Brett's Hardware, and cleared snow for at least 10 families in Beacon. They are planning for the next storm. Bank lending to Black family businesses may be hard, and this article explores why - to see if systemic racism or oppression is involved for how the Black community can gain access to credit. Read about their denial journey, and their future plans.
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
Howland Public Library presents The Roots Of Black Music In America
Days: February 7-20, 2021 Location: Vimeo
Join Karlus Trapp for a 100 year journey back through time to hear, experience and learn about the music of America’s Black musical giants. While the show is geared towards children and teens, it can be enjoyed by all ages.This joyful show encourages singing and dancing!
The Vimeo link and password will be posted on the library's Facebook page, and the show can be enjoyed at your own convenience Feb. 7th - 20th. Information >
African American Art Show at the Howland Cultural Center
Dates: Opens February 6th-28th Time: 1pm-5pm Saturdays and Sundays
The Howland Cultural Center presents is annual African American Art Show. Featured artists include Jean Benoit, Ronald Brown, Rhonda Green-Phillips, Arnold Hayes, Kyra Husbands, Corey Lightfoot, Thelma Lightfoot, Marline A. Martin, Richard Outlaw, Symantha Outlaw, Myles Pinkney, Sandi Pinkney, James Earl Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Eddison Romeo, Oliver Spearman, and Donald Whitely. Information >
Food Drive For Pantry At Beacon Rec Center - Operated By Open Arms Christian Ministries
Dates: Right Now Time: Open Hours of Key Food (268 Main Street) or Barb's Butchery (69 Spring Street)
Key Food and Barb's Butchery have teamed up to collect donated food for the Open Arms Christian Ministries, which runs the Food Pantry each Saturday at the Beacon Recreation Center. See the large donation bin at Key Food checkout, and ask about Barb's while you're there. Non-expired, non-perishables please. Food items you would also eat!
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 >
Blood Drive - American Legion Post 203
Dates: Friday, February 19, 2021 Time: 10am - 3pm Location: 413 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
The next pop-up for the Eat Church food truck is TBD! We know...you're just as anxious as we are. But trust us, the pop-ups are worth the wait! Pictured here: Vegetarian dish Kimchi pancake w/ fried duck egg, watercress, and spiked soy. If you're wondering, yes, we are drooling too. We'll keep you posted on their next pop-up! Or, follow them & find out as soon as they post!⠀⠀ Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
MOD has got all your super bowl needs covered! Buffalo everything - chicken tenders, crispy cauliflower and chicken sandwiches, Nachos, Spicy burger special and chicken spice fries! Everything from scratch as usual. MOD is running this special menu all weekend - click here and order for takeout or delivery whenever you’re ready!
PS: Wait - is that a Juice Bomb we see in the backround? Usually we get that at Beacon Craft Beer Shoppe, and they just ran out (they usually have bunches). Another secret source at MOD.
You can order online by clicking here or call them at 845.440.6900. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Look who was recently featured in @beaconites_podcast - Sommelier and owner of Homespun Foots, Joe Robitaille (@josephonograph ). They talk about the experience of going from Sommelier to restaurant owner in the midst of the pandemic. You can listen to it >>here<<.
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
OMG lemon pound cake from Miz Hattie's BBQ (located inside of HV Food Hall) is what you need right now. Super fresh & super delish. Have a slice (or the whole thing). Trust us. You can now order from Miz Hattie's online! Just tap and go for BBQ.
Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
BAJA is always the place to be for a game weekend. They will package you up a fresh to-go meal for you and your tight pod for this weekend's football. Drinks to go as well! BAJA 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
Blue Green Lawns got their snow blower from Brett's Hardware, and so can you! The best part? If you have questions about how to work your snow blower, the friendly staff at Brett'scan answer.Also find what you need for the snow blower, like keys and oil. Find you snow removal accessories, likeshovels, salt, and ALBB's favorite, the rubber wiper blade snow brush. Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Look at that glow! The tint, the shape, the chain - perfection! The Solana frames from Leisure Society have never looked better. Leisure Society brings you California Heirloom Designs by Shane Baum.
Have you made an appointment with @luxeoptique to find you the perfect pair? What are you waiting for!? Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS 321 Main Street, Beacon
Tamara Winfrey Harris, “The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America”
“Tamara Winfrey Harris delves into marriage, motherhood, health, sexuality, beauty, and more, taking sharp aim at pervasive stereotypes about black women. She counters warped prejudices with the straight-up truth about being a black woman in America. ‘We have facets like diamonds,’ she writes. ‘The trouble is the people who refuse to see us sparkling.’”Grab your copy at @binnaclebooks today! Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
More than just fun fashion, La Mére Clothing and Goods also have gift ideas for that special someone - who very well might be yourself! The "Eyelash" Glass Coffee mug is a perfect gift or inspirational addition to your home.
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. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
HIRING: SEO Copywriter At Local Digital Agency, Hyacinth Group
The Hyacinth Group is looking to add a talented SEO Copywriter to our team. The position is part-time, but will ideally grow into a full-time position in the future. Details >
NEW CATEGORY! CHILDBIRTH
ALBB has added a new category to our Business Directory: Childbirth!
In it, find "Classes," "Midwives," "Doulas," "Feeding," and "Sleeping." The first sponsor of this category is Jennifer Polk, founder of Juniper Empowered Birth. Jennifer is a Labor & Delivery RN, Certified Lactation Consultant, and Evidence Based Birth® Instructor. She offers classes and private sessions that you or a friend may want to take. Details >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Closing out Mentor Month at Antalek & Moore would not be complete without this highlight of this mentor!
Today we feature Susan Antalek Pagones. Susan serves at the Chair of the Go Red for Women event for Dutchess County as well as an Executive Leader for the American Red Cross Eastern New York
Susan is pictured here with fellow members of her #HVBetterU class of 2019.
Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Do you need to send a press release? Of course you do! You can send a press release about anything. It's a great way to start the process that is building buzz about your business. Tin Shingle offers a Press Release Writing service, and works with two publishing industry stars who live in Beacon to get this written for you! Beth McDonough, former publisher of Traditional Home, and Olivia Abel, former editor-in-chief of Hudson Valley Magazine. Don't you want those publishing brains behind your brand? Learn More >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
After many years of eating Miz Hattie's Southern Style soul food, Katie James, Inc. is so excited to welcome Miz Hattie's BBQ as a website client! Located inside of the Hudson Valley Food Hall, the customers of Miz Hattie's wanted to tap and order online, and they couldn't. Well they can now! Miz Hattie's jumped into the Toast online ordering platform, and Katie James Inc. designed the main website in Squarespace where you can order online, with room for more photos, catering inquiries, and future ecommerce options for swag, bottled sauce, and more. Final tweaks of the menu and organization of sides and your favorite things are underway. Twist our arm to hang out at this BBQ spot more often! Do you have favorite food pics from Miz Hattie's? Tag her in Instagram and she might repost them! Do You Need A Website Too? >
Trending on Spectrum Local News is that Key Food has switched disinfecting solutions to a “clean” technology, in its ongoing effort to kill viral particles as customers go in and out and touch products. Now, the grocery store is using "electrolyzed water," also known as a “hypochlorus acid” which can be sprayed from a something like a proton pack, supplied by a company called Pure Spaces.
According to this study in by the NIH, the technology is good for spaces that have nooks and crannies, and are not conducive to manual wiping of everything. The solution can be left on the product and not wiped away.
According to Pure Spaces: “Hypochlorous acid can also be produced through a process called electrolysis. Electrolysis is a technique that uses a direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction. Specifically engineered elecrolysis cells can generate a solution of free chlorine species by running electricity through NaCl (table salt) and water. The oxidants hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite (OCl-) are formed at the anode. If the pH of the solution is weakly acidic to neutral, the free chlorine solution will be dominated by hypochlorous acid.”
Spectrum interviewed the Key Food Deli clerk, Shirley Price, who wipes the pre-made food after customers handle it, and she seemed impressed that the spray could be “misted into tight areas, requires no wiping, and does not leave streaks.” According to the article, Pure Spaces has been providing this service to nursing homes and the food industry on larger scale via parent company Viking.
According to the NIH study, achieving a no-residue effect takes a careful balance: “higher sodium hypochlorite concentrations often leave a residue,” the study observed. There is a certain amount of time that the solution is left on the product in order to be effective.
To use this product, Key Food entered into an agreement with Pure Spaces. Said Key Food owner Mo DaBashi to A Little Beacon Blog, employees can use the product in their cleaning of the store as needed. “The product will be delivered to us every 2 weeks to a month. They will pick up the old product and give us knew ones every time to ensure it is fresh electrolyzed water and have a big effect while sanitizing and killing any viruses or anything like that.”
Editor’s Note: If your business is using a new technology or interesting method to disinfect or ensure safety of the virus, please send in your Tip to ALBB.
Shoveling Tip: Carve a place out for your trash cans to sit at the end of the street. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The past 2 snow storms have hit on a Monday. How do I know? Because trash pickup for our neighborhood is on a Tuesday, and after the first snow storm, I forgot to carve a place in the snow for Trash and Recycling cans, and needed to leave the cans at the end of the driveway. Don’t assume that garbage pickup is canceled just because of a major snowfall. Those collection trucks from Royal Carting, the trash company contracted with the City of Beacon to remove your trash and recycling weekly, usually ventures out in the worst of weather.
However, if your cans are wedged into the snow during a storm and cannot be easily lifted out, the Garbage collectors might move on. They do need the cans to be easy to access. If you carefully carved out a place in the snow for your cans, and then dragged your cans to the end of the driveway the night before, only to find them boxed in by new snow heaps from the snow plows overnight, there is a chance that your garbage won’t get picked up.
Fear not. You can call Royal Carting directly and request to be put on their “list” of a pickup, possibly the day you call if you call early enough. You’ll need to have your cans back out by the street and easy to access for when the collection truck swings by again. However, if your cans aren’t back out in time, they will keep on driving by.
During his first presentation to families of the Beacon City School District, Superintendent Landahl announced that the Beacon City School District had entered into a voluntary program with New York State to offer free rapid COVID-19 tests to students and staff who want them. This is in an effort to get a better read of how many or who is positive with the virus but are asymptomatic.
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. The District is using Avid Diagnostic Binax NOW tests that the New York State Department of Health has provided. “They require a quick nasal swab with something like a Q-tip,” Dr. Landahl described, and are not PCR tests.
Dates Of Availability For Testing
Testing will occur on Sundays and Wednesdays. “We do not want to interrupt in-person school to do this program, so we are targeting Sunday afternoons and Wednesdays for testing,” Dr. Landahl said in an email to the District. Parents will be with their children when they are tested. Testing was to begin on January 27 or 31, and may be delayed with the school closures and blizzard.
How To Sign Up For The COVID-19 Rapid Testing
This testing is only for healthy individuals showing no symptoms. This means, you could sign your child up for a test for any or no reason. School nursing staff will be conducting the testing. Results will be shared on the day of the test. If you are interested in participating in this program, the District needs your consent.
The Beacon City School District will create a random sample from the people who want to participate and who voluntarily signed up. Registrants will be contacted to set up a time.
Snowfall accumulation in Beacon is up to 22” inches in places by Monday night, and is not over yet. The winter storm warning is in effect until Tuesday, with snow predicted to continue falling. The Beacon Highway Department was out plowing since 5:30am Monday morning, said Beacon’s new City Administrator, Chris White during the weekly City Council Meeting Monday evening. He noted that this is one of the longest runs they will do, running plows continuously throughout the day and overnight in attempts to keep up with the falling snow.
Dutchess County at large is also having trouble keeping up with clearing the snow, as Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro said on Monday afternoon via press release: “Our Public Works Highway crews have been out all day, and will continue through the night, plowing roadways. However, the rate of snowfall is making work very challenging and road conditions are poor. Please avoid traveling to let crews do their work safely. Stay home and stay safe.”
Governor Cuomo declared a State of Emergency for 44 counties, and included the Hudson Valley in that, according to a press release sent by the Dutchess County Executive. While there are no specific travel bans at this time, the Governor’s announcements notes portions of key roadways, including I-84, may face travel bans if snowfall rate reaches between 2” -3” inches per hour.”
The Beacon City School District remains closed on Tuesday, with no Remote Learning taking place, as buildings are closed (and teachers have kids too! that would be really hard for a teacher to have a full Remote Learning day with kids at home).
Public bus transpiration remains closed until at least 12pm Tuesday, as do DMV and other Dutchess County offices. On Monday, Metro-North suspended services this afternoon, with the final trains leaving Grand Central Terminal at 3pm. Dutchess County 911 Communications Center call volume has been within normal limits throughout the day, according to the press release sent by the County Executive.
Dutchess County Government offices will be on a delayed opening Tuesday. Offices are scheduled to open at noon. If Dutchess County residents had a DMV appointment for Tuesday morning, those appointments will honored on Thursday, February 4th at the same time and location.
Dutchess County Public Transit Service is expected to resume full route service Tuesday, February 2nd starting at noon. Bus passengers can check for updates at www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit, on the DCPT mobile app, or call 845-473-8424, TDD/TTY: 711.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office reports only a small increase in the number of auto related accidents or disabled vehicles as motorists heed guidance to avoid travel, as reported by the press release.
Main Street In Beacon - Closed Early If Open At All
Normally Beacon’s Main Street is very resilient. Many stores usually dig out and wedge their sidewalk signs into the mounds of plowed snow. but even Beacon’s long haulers could not sustain the snowfall, and closed early to help their employees go home safely. Citizens Bank was closed on Monday, but Artisan Wine Shop dug out and was open for win re-stocks.
Digging Out - Did You Start?
Depending on when you started shoveling, you may not have even made a dent. Snow blowers powered up in the early afternoon, and stayed on into the evening, with neighbors removing snow in different shifts. Fortunately for shovelers, the snow was light and powdery. Sometimes if you wait too long, the snow begins to melt and gets heavy. People had different strategies:
Said @mdhairstylist: “🙋🏽♀️For the sake of cardio, we shoveled out our cars- just as an excuse to come inside and eat our snow-day snacks!😂”
@mattaewan was taking a different approach: “I plan to wait and let the snow release my car naturally, like a pressure cooker.”
@yaya_love_312 hedges her bets on tomorrow: “My strategy is to do it tomorrow 🤷🏾♀️”
A whole new dig-out will happen for Tuesday, despite massive efforts made by people on Monday. Will check in again then.
Digging Out Tips this round:
Leave your gate open. The show will pile up on either side of it, making it very hard to open. Your mail person would really like for that fence to not be jammed.
Dig a place for your trash cans, if your garbage/recycling collection is the next day after a blizzard.
With sideways snowfall starting already in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC and parts of Virginia, which is part of a storm system headed to New York, Connecticut, and all the way up the east coast, Dutchess County is staying ahead of it by announcing emergency actions on Sunday evening, prior to the predicted time of snowfall.
The Beacon City School System has called a full school closure, which means that the Remote Learning plan will not be activated. Beacon Superintendent Landahl has made it clear at Board of Education Meetings and in community correspondences, that he - and his own young children who are in the district - want “good old fashioned snow days” during this new remote learning life.
The snow in Beacon is excepted to start on Monday morning at approximately 4am and continue into Tuesday. High accumulations and wind gusts are expected (see below for Dutchess County predictions). Wind gusts typically cause power outages in the Beacon area, so have everything charged, and turn your heat on overnight. Do not use propane heaters or leave them unattended, as those are a fire-hazard.
Cars must be off the street after 2” inches of snow, so that plows can come through. When shoveling, try to shovel the snow into your yard and not the street, as the snow plows will simply plow it back onto your sidewalk. Of course, if your neighbor kindly snow blows your sidewalk for you as a favor, and blows the snow into the street, #whatareyougoingtodo.
According to a press release issued Sunday evening by Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, he has activated several steps to help keep the county safe:
Snow Warning + Weather Forecast From Dutchess County
According to the press release: “The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning effective now through Tuesday, February 2nd. Snowfall is expected to arrive very early Monday morning, continuing into Tuesday until approximately 10pm. Prediction models vary widely for this storm with heavy snow fall expected between 9”-18'“ inches, with 12”-15” inches likely, and wind gusts as high as 25mph during the day Monday, and 30mph Monday evening. Both morning and evening commutes on Monday are expected to be impacted significantly, and motorists are reminded to allow extra time and exercise caution on the roadways.”
County Executive Molinaro said, “Reports indicate this storm is going to give us significant snowfall and winds. We are monitoring the situation carefully and emergency responders are prepared. We want all residents to be safe and avoid travel if possible. If you must travel, recognize that you'll need to allocate extra time for safety purposes, as crews work to clear roadways.”
Dutchess County To Activate Emergency Operations Center, 7am Monday
Dutchess County Emergency Response will activate the Emergency Operations Center at 7am Monday with representatives from County Public Works, NYS DOT, New York State Police, County Sheriff, County Behavioral & Community Health, Central Hudson, NYSEG, and Red Cross for the duration of the storm.
Previously Scheduled Weekly Call With Mayors and Supervisors To Review Storm Conditions
County Executive Molinaro will host a previously scheduled weekly conference call with local Mayors and Supervisors on Monday afternoon to review storm conditions and coordinate resources as necessary.
Dutchess County Public Works highway crews have loaded trucks with materials, salt will be applied to County roadways as the storm begins, and crews will be out through the duration of the storm to clear roadways.
Dutchess County Public Transit Suspended Monday
Dutchess County Public Transit Service will be suspended Monday, February 1st. Bus passengers can check for updates at www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit, on the DCPT mobile app, or call 845-473-8424, TDD/TTY: 711.
Home Delivered Meals For Seniors Suspended Monday
Dutchess County Office for the Aging has suspended Home Delivered Meals delivery for Monday, February 1st. Recipients should utilize previously provided frozen or shelf stable meals.
Dutchess County Offices Closed Monday
Dutchess County Government offices will be closed Monday, February 1st. If Dutchess County residents had a DMV appointment for Monday, February 1st, it will be honored on Wednesday, February 3rd at the same time and location.
The City of Beacon’s offices will also be closed to the public on Monday, but the regular City Council Meeting will continue, as they have been remote since the pandemic.
Residents can stay up-to-date on the County’s storm response online at dutchessny.gov or on the County’s social media pages on Facebook or Twitter.
Warming Centers are open in Beacon at the Salvation Army church and the Beacon Recreation Center for the polar vortex the region is currently experiencing. These are open during the day, and we are keeping our ears open to what is available for overnight Warming Centers as the wind chill dips to zero or below.
The Howland Public Library building remains closed to the public as they repair water damage that occurred the weekend of January 16th. The Library book return box will be open 24 hours 7 days a week while we are closed.Their virtual programs will continue as scheduled. The Library has been and will continue to update the community as soon as they know when they can reopen safely.
For those in need of Childcare tuition assistance, Dutchess County is once again promoting their Childcare Scholarship. While this has been available since 2020, Beacon's Recreation Department Director Mark Price has been surprised that the scholarships didn't "go like hot cakes." There could be a few reasons for that.
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: 2/3/21: Maija Niemisto 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.
Food Drive For Pantry At Beacon Rec Center - Operated By Open Arms Christian Ministries
Dates: Right Now Time: Open Hours of Key Food (268 Main Street) or Barb's Butchery (69 Spring Street)
Key Food and Barb's Butchery have teamed up to collect donated food for the Open Arms Christian Ministries, which runs the Food Pantry each Saturday at the Beacon Recreation Center. See the large donation bin at Key Food checkout, and ask about Barb's while you're there. Non-expired, non-perishables please. Food items you would also eat!
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 >
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Eat Church is back this Friday and Saturday with one more round of their Collective Era Revue menu at @marbledmeatshop 3091 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY. They will be set up both days 4-8pm. Enjoy dishes like Vegetarian dish Kimchi pancake w/ fried duck egg, watercress, and spiked soy? Don’t forget to pre-order as pickup time slots are limited! Visit www.eatchurch.com today! Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Soup! You need soup! Get it with MOD's pesto veggie burger and a cup of butternut squash soup. House made veggie patty topped with basil and almond pesto, baby kale and sun-dried tomato and feta spread.
Even though MOD's sister-restaurant, Kitchen Sink, is closed for now, MOD moved right in to take over the kitchen while the burger joint's building is under construction. This means that sometimes you get Kitchen Sink inspired dishes on their online-ordering menu! They use Toast, and tapping to order is super easy. Delivery is available.
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon Breaking News: Homespun now has mac 'n cheese back! As well as the daily quiche. Homespun loyalists take note: this mac 'n cheese is different than the original mac. It is the home recipe of Homespun's new chef, who also specializes in baking. Yes, you are having the best of both worlds coming from Homespun's kitchen. Which you can easily order online from now! And do visit their $20 Wine Table for exquisite wines! Take-Out Available. View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Miz Hattie’s Smoked Cheesesteak Sandwich 🧀
Chef Eric spent an entire day slow smoking Prime Rib & we are HERE FOR IT!! The steak is sliced & stacked high on a Brioche bun with Caramelized Onions & Smoked Gouda Cheese (comes with a side of Fries & house made Coleslaw). Make sure you grab some extra napkins while you're at it! Breaking News:Miz Hattie's has a new website! That you can tap to order from! Beacon's restaurants are all upping their games to keep serving you easily. Order from them! Take Out Available. Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
BAJA is always offering new specials, and being TexMex, the flavor is fresh. Find grilled shrimp or chicken options on the menu. And a cocktail of course! Order a flight of apps to go for enjoying a home this cold, wintry weekend. BAJA 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
NOURISH NATURAL SOAP COMPANY
263 Main Street, Beacon
There's a new soap shop in town...Nourish Natural Soap Company opened in the space that was formerly occupied by the vintage company and early social media influencer, American Gypsy. Nourish was founded by Sage and John Papanicolaou, who started gifting their soaps to friends and family for special occasions. The feedback was immediate, and with the encouragement and support of their close-knit tribe, the Nourish Natural Soap Company was born. Each bar of soap is handcrafted locally in Beacon. Information >
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
You didn't happen to break your shovel or scraper during our mid-week snow fall did you? No worries! Brett's Hardware has everything you need from brushes, scrapers, shovels and more and they come in different colors! They might come in handy again early next week. Plus, did you see our test run of this new brush-less rubber wiper scraper that we found at Brett's? It's dreamy! Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Timeless and elegant.
Handcrafted in Japan, these @jacquesmariemage frames are part of a limited production batch of only 300 frames. We are going to need to see these collection in person this weekend. Join us? Socially distanced, of course.
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 @binnaclebooks has a wonderful collection of used & new literature, poetry, literary nonfiction, political history, art, drama, philosophy, graphic novels, and children's books. If they don't have a specific book you're interested in, they're more than happy to order it for you. Make an appt online to browse the shop safely! Visit their website. Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
We're loving these new (faux) Croc Skin Boots
Shop online now - Get em while you can They will go quick! And here's a tip - if you're afraid of white shoes because of scuffing, a magic eraser will wipe it right off!
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!
MY ZEN DEN
1 East Main Street, Beacon
What is so warm and wonderful during a polar vortex? An infrared sauna. Right in Beacon! In the newly opened My Zen Den, located in between Lambs Hill and Trax in the big 1 East Main building. A Little Beacon Blog's Managing Editor Marilyn took herself on a day trip, from Fishkill to Beacon! A day of self-care, shopping, etc. Follow her journey via these pictures, and then follow the breadcrumbs. Be careful not to slip on the ice! Information >
HIRING: SEO Copywriter At Local Digital Agency, Hyacinth Group
The Hyacinth Group is looking to add a talented SEO Copywriter to our team. The position is part-time, but will ideally grow into a full-time position in the future. Details >
NEW CATEGORY! CHILDBIRTH
ALBB has added a new category to our Business Directory: Childbirth!
In it, find "Classes," "Midwives," "Doulas," "Feeding," and "Sleeping." The first sponsor of this category is Jennifer Polk, founder of Juniper Empowered Birth. Jennifer is a Labor & Delivery RN, Certified Lactation Consultant, and Evidence Based Birth® Instructor. She offers classes and private sessions that you or a friend may want to take. Details >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
January continues to be Mentor Month and Antalek & Moore celebrates Amy Rastadt! Amy is a member of the Putnam Chorale which serves Putnam County and beyond performing classical to contemporary style concerts.
Amy is pictured here with fellow members of her choir in 2019.
Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Have you been following the GameStop stock drama that started with people at the online forum destination Reddit banding together to buy it and drive the price up 300%? Thereby impacting investors who were normally shorting (betting against) the stock? The strategy trickled over to AMC, the movie theater chain that was sinking during the pandemic, raised some money through debt, and now may have some cash from the suddenly soaring stock to erase some debt. One of their investors sold the stock, netting AMC $600 million. Some investor types are not pleased; some media covering finance is confused and concerned. How do you feel? Also, check out these funny tweets/memes coming out of this episode. And we don't recommend buying this stock. Just following the story. Do your research always and seek guidance before investing. Read More >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
After many years of eating Miz Hattie's Southern Style soul food, Katie James, Inc. is so excited to welcome Miz Hattie's BBQ as a website client! Located inside of the Hudson Valley Food Hall, the customers of Miz Hattie's wanted to tap and order online, and they couldn't. Well they can now! Miz Hattie's jumped into the Toast online ordering platform, and Katie James Inc. designed the main website in Squarespace where you can order online, with room for more photos, catering inquiries, and future ecommerce options for swag, bottled sauce, and more. Final tweaks of the menu and organization of sides and your favorite things are underway. Twist our arm to hang out at this BBQ spot more often! Do you have favorite food pics from Miz Hattie's? Tag her in Instagram and she might repost them! Do You Need A Website Too? >
Dutchess County has made available a Childcare Scholarship Grant to residents since 2020, and is promoting it again in 2021. There are requirements and limitations of the scholarships, which limit the application pool. According to the Beacon Recreation Director, Mark Price, who runs Beacon’s After School Program in Beacon’s 4 elementary schools, users of this scholarship have been slim. “I thought this would go like hot cakes, but it hasn’t.”
Beacon’s After School Program launched a few years ago, and has been a wild success. South Avenue Elementary has seen the most participation, and is also the school associated with the most families considered in a lower income bracket.
Last year, South Avenue’s After School Program had 25 kids. This year, it has 2. During the time of the mysterious sickness that had many people out sick in January - March 2020, before the pandemic was declared - South Avenue’s program easily had 7 of 25 kids out a day, with sick kids also in attendance. As a parent in the program, it was a rotating mess of sick kids and siblings.
This year, with school on a Hybrid schedule (2 days in school, 3 days at home), and with kids split between attending on Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday combos, the number of children in one room at the After School Program is significantly lower.
Is this reduction by family safety choice? Or is it for economic reasons? This answer is unknown. The Dutchess County scholarship is designed for families in the lower income bracket. However, families in (or formerly in) a higher income may also be squeezed financially, and cannot apply.
Additionally, the scholarship requires that the parents be working, or looking for work. This seems to exclude parents who are not working by choice or circumstance, but are overcome with children at home, which can contribute to mental health declines. Dual parent families at times make the choice early on to have one parent not work, as they don’t want to spend the childcare, which can contribute to a mental health decline for the parent staying at home.
Some Trips To Applying For The Childcare Scholarship, Or Childcare In General, During A Pandemic And Economic Squeeze
There is $180,000 allocated to all of Dutchess County, not including the City of Poughkeepsie. The City of Poughkeepsie has its own $90,000 to work with, according to the Dutchess County website.
Scholarship stipulations from Dutchess County include:
1. Parent(s) or guardian(s) must be working, looking for work or in school to be eligible, unless there are extenuating circumstances and a demonstrated COVID related need for childcare despite not meeting this criterion.
2. The child cannot be receiving any other childcare subsidy or scholarship (i.e., DCFS subsidy or Dyson Scholarship. If eligible for a subsidy from the DCFS, applicants must apply for funding from that program.
3. The child must be currently enrolled in a regulated childcare facility within Dutchess County.
This last bullet of #3 is in bold on the Dutchess County website. When people sign up for a childcare program, it is presumably because they can pay for it. For Beacon’s After School Program, people sign up online (this was at first a milestone, and now is a hurdle for if the website works, and becomes a race for who can operate the Internet and their registration system fast enough - I have bee known to simply drive to the building when the website opens). This year, however, for example, there are 2 kids (out of 25) in the South Avenue Program. So there is no race.
However, in signing up, the online message is very clear in the online sales process, that one must pay the tuition in full. For a family even in a higher income bracket during a pandemic, paying over $1,000 up front for 2 kids for one semester is difficult. It takes a personal phone call to ask the people at the Beacon Rec Center if a payment plan can be worked out. And the answer is: “Of course! We just want your kids in the program!”
People who are afraid or embarrassed to ask for a payment plan or payment deferral may not make this phone call. And thus not register for the program, and not apply. And then maybe not apply for this scholarship from Dutchess County. Dutchess County requires that kids are already enrolled in a daycare program. If the family can’t pay initially, they won’t be enrolled in the childcare program.
As for requirement #1: this seems to exclude families or single parent families where the main caregiver is not working. Unknown how this works for a single parent family who would then need to prove that the other parent is looking for work. At times, communication breakdowns can happen between parents, making this a daunting task.
Dutchess County is aggressive on creating mental health initiatives. Primary caregivers who are not working and not eligible for this program may be suffering at home, under the weight of their children suddenly at home all day with very little outside stimulation provided by programs such as childcare facilities who are required to follow strict safety guidelines, which parents trust.
How Dutchess County’s Scholarship Works
Beacon’s After School Program is promoting the scholarships. Their email to previously enrolled families was:
“Scholarships are being awarded for the balance of the academic calendar year by a random selection process to low and moderate-income families. The funds will cover 75% of the tuition for each child, paid directly to the childcare facility. Families will be responsible for 25% of the tuition. Low- and moderate-income Dutchess County families with children enrolled in a regulated childcare program are eligible to apply.”
Some of Dutchess County’s language on the application is as follows:
“Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie received funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These CDBG COVID (CV) funds are to be used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
“With schools not opening in their traditional formats, families have been challenged with the unprecedented need for childcare for their school aged children to allow parents and guardians the ability to work, look for work or attend school. The intent of this scholarship fund is to fill the gap between the number of days students will be in school and those days where students are not in school. Families are encouraged to consider their natural resources and supports and to request the minimal number of days needed so this funding can be maximized”
The City of Beacon issued a press release with the times and locations of 2 Warming Centers for the next 4 days of cold weather, where high wind gusts of up to 30mph are predicted for Friday evening. Wind chill values at night, according to The National Weather Service, are predicted to fall into the negatives.
These Warming Centers are open for limited time during different periods of the day, and coordinate with when volunteers can be in the locations.
Salvation Army: 372 Main Street 1/29: From 3pm-6pm 1/30: From 9am-4pm 1/31: From 10am - 1pm The main contact at Beacon’s Salvation Army is Captain Leilani Rodríguez-Alarcón, Corps Commanding Officer / Pastor. She also the contact for their Food Pantry.
Beacon Recreation Center: 23 West Center Street (near South Avenue Elementary School) 1/30: From 9am-12pm A Food Pantry is also open at the Beacon Recreation Center on Saturdays. Made possible by Open Arms Christian Ministries (contact is Kenya Gadsden, former School Board Member for the City Of Beacon). A Food Drive for this Food Pantry is going on now via an effort with KeyFood and Barb’s Butchery. Food can be donated to either Key Food or Barb’s Butchery. Remember: When there is a sale on your favorite products at Key Food, take advantage and double up for donation!
There is a Tiny Food Pantry located outside of the Beacon Recreation Center that you could fill up. A Tiny Food Pantry is also at Binnacle Books and at Tompkins Terrace.
May this one be busy and bustling for our business friends, and for you entertainment and enrichment enthusiasts.
Bernie showed up in Beacon while the Internet reset after the Inauguration and memes of him popped up all over, like this one of Bernie in front of the man in the tumbler hat (in the building a block down from Yanarella School Of Dance). Community member Michelle Rivas created it, and ALBB reader Brianne McDowell sent it in as a Reader Tip. Michelle is a librarian at Beacon's Howland Public Library, and being the dutiful resource that she is, let us know that anyone can create a Bernie meme here!
Poet Amanda Gorman reciting captivated everyone this Inauguration, with several lines and phrases impacting people differently. We will leave you with one of our favorites, that speaks to the take-away from the past year, the take-away of which continues.
We've braved the belly of the beast,
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace,
and the norms and notions
of what just is
isn't always just-ice.
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it.
Somehow we do it.
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn't broken,
but simply unfinished.
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:
1/20/21: 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 >
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Eat Church is back this Friday and Saturday with their Collective Era Revue menu at @marbledmeatshop 3091 Route 9, Cold Spring, NY. They will be set up both days 4-8pm. You can place your order online by visiting www.eatchurch.com today! Information > Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Pictured here is a Salmon burger that is a Limited Time item menu for Meyers Old Dutch. Watch ALBB's and MOD's Instagram for when these limited edition specials are posted! It sold out in hours. Even though MOD's sister-restaurant, Kitchen Sink, is closed for now, MOD moved right in to take over the kitchen while the burger joint's building is under construction. This means that sometimes you get Kitchen Sink inspired dishes on their online-ordering menu! They use Toast, and tapping to order is super easy. Delivery is available.
You can order online by clicking here or call them at 845.440.6900. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Homespun had a Website Refresh! Ordering online is super easy now, from the Home Page or their Instagram bio. Using the Toast order platform, you can order their Quiche of the Day (ham, fontina, mushroom, caramelized onion), salads, and sandwiches (avocado and turkey?). Take-Out Available. View Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Warm up with a Dumpling Soup, Pan Fried Mixed MoMos, Lentil Soup and Chicken Noodle Soup from MoMo Valley. Then top it off with Vodka soda & Espresso Martini from The Roosevelt Bar. Yummmm. Information > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
While Baja 328 releases fun specials regularly, you can always go back to a favorite and mix it up with tacos made with all natural ingredients. Stop by this weekend for a bite! Baja 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
You need all the water bottles you can get in this pandemic! From kids taking them to school (a safety-inspired limit on disposable cups), to working in your car, to hiking trails in the Hudson Valley, to just walking around under that mask. You need to stay hydrated! Brett's always has new styles of water bottles, coffee mugs, and other shapes. Go in and pick up a new one. Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Cool frames for cool kids.
Did you know that we offer a wide selection of children's frames? Our Optometrists on staff are wonderful with children - book your appointment by clicking the link below!
Pictured here are frames from @sabinebelife
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
Thank you to everyone who sponsored books this week for the BEACON PRISON BOOKS PROJECT. A bunch of books were sent off last week. With all your new sponsorships through the week, they cleared the shelf yesterday, and those dozen+ will go out shortly. And owing to the constant flow of requests, they quickly re-stocked the shelf, so come through this week. (Or send a DM Binnacle if you can’t make it in.)
Have a question about the BEACON PRISON BOOKS PROJECT? Reach out through their Instagram @binnaclebooks or on their website. Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
Artisan soy wax candles topped with genuine crystals and real flowers. Available in all Zodiac signs! What's your sign?
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 Free online poetry workshop for middle and high school students with Poet Gold Day: Saturdays, January 23 & 30, 2021 Time: 4-5:30pm Information >
HIRING: SEO Copywriter At Local Digital Agency, Hyacinth Group
The Hyacinth Group is looking to add a talented SEO Copywriter to our team. The position is part-time, but will ideally grow into a full-time position in the future. Details >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
January continues to be Mentor Month and Antalek & Moore is here for it! This week we feature Terry Amoroso Williams! Terry has served as a mentor for The Chamber Foundation, Inc.'s Leadership Dutchess and Youth Leadership Program. Here Terry is pictured with some of her Youth Leadership mentees in 2017.
Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
These days...in a pandemic, racial reckoning, and time of social and legislative change, staying silent as a business is a move you may not want to make. Because tensions got pushed so far (Capitol Building), to not say anything at this point, is saying something. At this point, silence as a business from a branding perspective and as a business individual, is saying a lot. Louder than you think. This interview with Beacon-based Moraya Seeger DeGeare, a light-skinned woman who identifies as Black, and is a grandaughter of Pete and Toshi Seeger, answers many questions you may have, but were too quiet to ask. This conversation is gentle, fun, and revealing. Moraya reflected: "If there's no acknowledgement...I'm talking just a simple re-share...so I'm not talking big statements here...that says to me that I'm not welcome there." Watch It >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Katie James, Inc. is so pleased to welcome Homespun Foods as a website client! Tasked with improving the layout of some of their pages, and getting unstuck from mysterious gray boxes blocking the view, Katie James, Inc. was able to dive in and streamline the look more, creating more opportunities for visitors to click on their new ORDER ONLINE option for faster access to immediate take-out from Homespun! They are keeping us hungry...Watch for more changes! Do You Need A Website Too? >
A Little Beacon Blog does not follow police blotters, as local print publications like the Beacon Free Press and the Highlands Current usually do. The City of Beacon has begun publishing the results of its own police blotter (it’s a slimmed down version, so no competition to the more detailed notes the papers publish), as a result of police reform moves that started after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis which erupted a movement in favor of better treatment of Black people and the BIOPIC community across the nation.
When the Beacon resident, William Pepe, was charged by the FBI, and placed on a “Seeking Information” page by the FBI, several people wrote in to A Little Beacon Blog, looking for an article here. While the article was covered by both local (Highlands Current) and national newspapers (New York Times) as well as international (The Daily Mail), readers were looking for a version here as well, perhaps for historical purposes. But, as we reached out to locals who are regular readers of A Little Beacon Blog, they still hadn’t heard of these local arrests or affiliations. To our surprise. So, we will include a version here as well. Our version will take a look at a sampling of local people who have been written about in the media who contributed to the beliefs of why people stormed the U.S. Capitol.
William Pepe
According to reporting from the Daily Mail, the New York Times and the Highlands Current, William Pepe attended the storming of the U.S. Capitol, now known as an insurrection, and posted a selfie of himself to his social media. The FBI arrested him on Tuesday, (1-12-2020) and he was federally charged with remaining in a restricted government building, and also faces charges of disrupting orderly conduct of government, according to the Daily Mail.
William has worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for 7 years, and was working at the Brewster yard in White Plains when he was arrested in a bank parking lot, according to the Highlands Current, and has been suspended from his $73K/year job without pay. As an employee for the MTA, he is a federal employee and is under the protection of its union, Local 30 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, the president of which said they were “disappointed” in his behavior, according to the article. According to an MTA spokesperson quoted in the article, the MTA is considering firing William, and any action “will be disciplined in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement pending an investigation,” said the spokesperson. That spokesperson went on to say: “'This alleged conduct is abhorrent and goes against the values of Metro-North, New York and the nation.”
According to the MTA, William had called in sick on January 6, 2021, which the MTA said is a “false use of sick leave,” according to the Daily Mail. The spokesperson went on to say: 'Those who attacked that symbol of American democracy disqualified themselves from working for the people of New York,' in the article.
William appeared in court last Wednesday (1-13-2021), where he was released on $10,000 bond, and must hand over his shotgun and hunting knife, according to the article. He must wear a GPS monitoring device, and abide by a nighttime curfew.
If William is convicted, he faces one year in jail for this federal offense. “If it is found that he used or carried a deadly weapon or firearm at the time, he could face 10 years,” according to the Daily Mail.
FIT Student From Staten Island Arrested For Attack On Capitol Building
A student, Nicolas Moncada, who attended FIT was arrested in his home in Staten Island after posting social media selfies of himself “storming the Capitol” as he stated in his social media, according to Gothamist. He stated he was "Outside Pelosi's office," according to the federal complaint reported by Gothamist. According to the article, fellow students and staff identified him.
According to a photo posted by Nicolas, he attended “a protest at Mac's Public House, the Staten Island bar that defied COVID restrictions, where he held up a T-shirt reading "Stop the Steal," a reference to the baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged,” according to Gothamist. The owner of that bar was arrested for allegedly ramming into a Deputy Sheriff with his car who was trying to stop him from operating his bar illegally. Allegedly, that bar owner drove with the Deputy Sherrif hanging onto the hood of his car for 100 yards. The officer was hospitalized for his injuries, and the video of the officer being driven on top of the car of Mac’s Public House was posted on the New York Post.
Hopewell Man, Dan Scavino, Runs Trump’s Twitter Account
Dan Scavino, who hails from Hopewell Junction, was hired to run Donald’s Trump Twitter account, before it was banned in 2021. Dan started as golf caddie for Trump since at least 2010, worked for the golf course renamed Trump National Golf Course Hudson Valley (unknown why “national” and the local name is there), when Trump purchased the course previously named Branton Woods Golf Course.
Dan has been loyal to Trump’s voice via Twitter, and Dan’s own personal Twitter account, since working for him while in the White House. You can read more about Dan at the Times Herold-Record Online, and through other Google searches.
Just days after the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol, Beacon’s City Council met for its regularly scheduled Workshop, where they would discuss regularly scheduled items like if the new building owner of the Kitchen and Sink building that was formerly Ella’s Bellas could build a 4th floor if he created enough public outdoor space for the public in exchange; or the debate on what is a viewshed; or how investment tools that the City uses are invested, Mayor Lee Kyriacou addressed the insurrection on January 6, 2021 with a moment of silence for the fallen officer of the Capitol Police, who died during the riot while defending the Capitol.
Mayor Kyriacou went on to give his memories of his time at the U.S. Capitol building, as a college student studying law. At time, his voice wavered, possibly pushed with emotion, or just with seasonal wavering. His full remarks are at the beginning of the replay of the meeting here in this video, and some are quoted below.
“My visit to the Capitol at that time did what it does to every 20-year old going there for this first time….It leaves you in awe. It gives you this incredible sense of the power of democracy, and the importance of that symbol.
“I was a History Major, and also an Economics Major. As a History Major I studied 20th Century World History, in particular, the period between the two World Wars.
“The Big Lie in Nazi Germany was that Germany had not lost WWI; that it was due to the betrayal of the leadership and the military leaders, and of course, the conspiracy of the Jews. That lie just kept on going. And built up steam, and eventually brought those to power. Which led to about 4 weeks after the installation of Chancellor…of the National Socialist Party, the Burning of the Reichstag, which was the German equivalent of the Capitol Building. I was reminded of that in the last week.
“I’m not going to go any further. I think we have all watched somewhat in amazement and with obviously many many different reactions. Mine is still the same, which is my belief in democracy is unchanged. I think there are enough people in this country who put democracy first, and our constitutional obligations that all of us as elected officials swore allegiance to. And I think we go on. I don’t want to be making political calls, as much as pointing out those are the things that have happened. They do have historical precedence, and I do think our democracy held.”
Today, Tuesday, January 19, 2021, Beacon’s City Council will vote on a Resolution officially “Condemning The Attack On January 6 Of The U.S. Capitol and Congress,” which they will vote upon during tonight’s regularly scheduled City Council Meeting, which is a public meeting that meets on Zoom and YouTube, where members of the public can speak for up to 3 minutes on any topic during the first 30 minutes of the meeting, and last 30 minutes of the meeting.
During last week’s City Council Workshop meeting on January 11, 2021, Mayor Lee Kyriacou contributed comments to the January 6th event that were historically based on his studies in college as a History Major on the time period between the two Word Wars. You can read some of those comments here.
While some police officers in departments around the country (NPR) and within the Capitol Police itself (CNN) are being reported as to having participated in the riot, A Little Beacon Blog has inquired last week with the City of Beacon by way of the Mayor, City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero and new HR Director Gina Basile to see if the Police and Fire Chiefs have issued a statement describing if they have looked within their own departments for any participants, or if they have held team meetings to have group talks about the event, and how it makes everyone feel. Inquiry has been made again today. Should a response be received, this article will be updated.
CITY OF BEACON CITY COUNCIL Resolution No. of 2021 RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON JANUARY 6 OF THE U.S. CAPITOL AND CONGRESS
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
WHEREAS this attack on the U.S. Capitol and Congress followed the November national election with more than 150 million Americans exercising their constitutional right to vote, and thereafter by the counting and certification of votes by state election officials, as well as the meeting and voting by the Electoral College, and also by the adjudication of many dozens of court challenges by the current President that affirmed all the election results; and
WHEREAS, this attack on the U.S. Capital also followed months of assertions without proof by the current President that elections in states where the President lost were somehow unfair, which were repeated and amplified by the current President, culminating in and repeated at a White House rally immediately preceding the attack on the U.S. Capitol, which attack was largely perpetrated by individuals attending that rally; and
WHEREAS, the practical demonstration of a true democracy is the peaceful transfer of power from outgoing to incoming officials, which for President and Vice President of the United States has occurred peacefully and as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution after every national election since 1788 – until now; and
WHEREAS, each elected representative of the City of Beacon takes an oath of office, which includes supporting the Constitution of the United States;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Beacon condemns the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol and Congress, and supports all actions to ensure accountability for those inciting and conducting the attack.
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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.
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Then, Bernie came to the mats! The yoga mats of ALBB's Managing Editor Marilyn Perez, promoting her "Digital Slow Flow" and "Digital Power Beats" yoga class on Fridays for 
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