Beacon’s Fourth of July Fireworks will be on Sunday, July 2nd, 2023 at dark, with no rain date, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council meeting this month. Sunset has been around 8:30ish PM of late.
The event will be held in Memorial Park as it normally is. If ALBB learns of more details about what to find at the fireworks, other than fireworks, we will update this article.
Mergers in Beacon. Coming together. That is what Beacon’s community is all about. Lots of ideas. Lots of intentions. Sometimes done before. Sometimes done again. Since the racial reawakening of 2020, there have been 3 Juneteenth celebrations in Beacon organized by Beacon 4 Black Lives. But this year’s is being billed as Beacon’s First Annual Juneteenth. That is because a merger happened between groups who each had the desire and drive to produce the event: Beacon 4 Black Lives and Bosco and the Storm and his niece, Lastar.
For the past 3 years, Beacon 4 Black Lives held Juneteenth events. “The first year was a celebration in the form of a protest,” founding member Justice McCray told A Little Beacon Blog. “The next two years were at a private venue. We were thinking…how can we support somebody’s else’s vision? Something better, something new and something fresh. Something that invites more people in.”
At the end of Spirit of Beacon Day 2022, Michael Faison aka “Bosco” of Bosco and the Storm, who was a Musical Spirit Coordinator and performer for that event, told ALBB of his desire to produce a Juneteenth celebration the following year. Brooke Simmons and Rueben “Yogi” Simmons, the brother/sister duo and co-founders of I Am Beacon assisted Lastar with getting in touch with Justice to help them with permits and organizing, who after leading racial justice protests in the city with Beacon 4 Black Lives, ran and earned a position on Beacon’s City Council.
This year, Bosco told the Highlands Current how the idea came to him to produce a Juneteenth event: “I was actually at home and it just hit me that we need to do a Juneteenth festival. I called my niece, who is good at organizing. It’s going to feature my band and other local bands with Black artists, but it’s not just limited to Black artists, because my band is interracial. We’ll have Black entertainers, comedians, singers, dancers, poets — people doing whatever they do to be a part of the festival. Beacon 4 Black Lives also stepped in to help get the permits and that stuff.
“I never thought we would see this [Juneteenth celebrated as a national holiday] in my lifetime, but I’m glad we can start it here, and then the younger generations can keep it rolling. A lot of the Black folks who were born and raised here moved away, so we tried to reach out to them to come home for a day. And it’s not just for Black folks; it’s for anyone who wants to come have a good time.”
While this is called “Beacon’s Juneteenth,” it’s a city-wide event. “The City of Beacon has been supporting us, but it’s a city-wide event, but not produced by the City of Beacon, but the City gave their support,” said Justice.
Bosco and The Storm (Band)
Cynthia Moore and daughter Maya (Singing Opening Ceremony of the Negro Nation Anthem)
Jaeden Drysdale (Poet)
Ice The God (Hip Hop & R&B Artist)
Jayda Woodall (Poet)
The Moonlight Initiative (Band)
Melody Africa (Performers/Dance)
Common Ground Farm (Vendor)
Faithful Praise (Performers/Gospel Singers)
Born Genius (Hip Hop Artist)
We Got The Juice
A&I Concessions
Cookies Creations
Pat’s Kitchen
Common Ground Farm
Incredible Creations
Cafe Con Amor Jibaro
Essie Mae Water Ice
Luv Y’all Food
We Got The Juice (Vendor)
Broadway Art Gallery (Vendor)
AbuBashir Oils (Vendor)
Howland Public Library (Vendor)
A&I Concessions (Vendor)
Behind The Chair Ministries (Vendor)
Cookies Creations (Vendor)
Beacon High Step Team (Vendor)
Pat's Kitchen (Vendor)
Backies All Natural (Vendor)
The Little Me Boutique (Vendor)
Joce Cova (Vendor)
Community Voices Heard (Vendor)
City on a Hill Clothing Company (Vendor)
5Heart Products (Vendor)
Incredible Creations (Vendor)
Cafe Con Amor Jibaro (Vendor)
Soaps By Tina (Vendor)
Four Winds Jewelry (Vendor)
Newburgh Rowing Club and Beacon Sloop Club will collaborating to offer free Kayaking and boating from 11-2pm
Compass Arts will be offering free activities and a blank canvas for the festival attendees to create a shared artwork.
Justice wanted to get the word out about parking: “Parking not listed as MTA’s Free Parking Day, so unfortunately, it is paid parking at the station - as far as we know.” There is a small parking lot by the park, but the organizers are prioritizing that for the elderly. People are recommended to have a parking drop off spot. Beacon’s building, 1 Municipal Plaza, does have free parking on Monday because the building will be closed.
Parking in the MTA lot is $3.50 at the train. You can also park on side streets and walk a bit down to the river.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2023, during the time of the social uproar at the possibility of the Beacon Post Office closing. While the social panic subsided, the crisis continues for postal carriers and clerks. There is a Town Hall meeting in Rock Tavern, NY on Friday. Beacon’s post office can employ at least 5 clerks. But as part of the Post Master General Louis DeJoy’s plan, is downsizing Beacon’s post office to just 1.5 clerks. Despite a former Beacon Postmaster reassuring Beacon’s City Administrator that Beacon’s Post Office was one of the busiest in the area. So why downsize from 5 clerks to 1.5 clerks if it’s so busy?
The clerks who work behind the front desk at the post office were given notice in late March 2023 that they needed to find new job locations within the USPS, as confirmed by Diana Cline, the president of the clerk’s union American Postal Workers Union. If the clerks did not want to leave Beacon, they could be “pulled” and another job will be chosen for them. At least one clerk is leaving at the end of April. The former Postmaster for Beacon, Colleen Johnson, reportedly recently took another job in Hopewell Junction, and the reportedly temporary Postmaster for Beacon, Jimmy, was on vacation for comment.
When one clerk is working the desk at the Beacon Post Office, and one other clerk is working the back to retrieve packages that are there for pickup, the customer line is very long. Despite the good job the clerks do with each customer.
If at least 200 post offices in the United States and 16 in New York are downsizing to be “spoke” post offices (which means there will be no carriers, but some services will in theory operate out of that building by clerks), as ALBB reported earlier this week, it is unclear how many positions will be available to the Beacon employees looking for new jobs at other post offices. Since the USPS seems to be downsizing nationally, which you can read about in the USPS 10 Year Plan designed by Trump appointed Post Master General Louis DeJoy, who admitted during this panel that he sees very little value in mail or post offices. He sees money in packages and building giant fulfillment centers with billions of dollars given to the USPS from Congress during the pandemic, which you can read about here and here.
By September 2023, according to to the clerk, there will be 1.5 clerks working at the Beacon location: a full-time clerk, and a part-time clerk.
When asked why the Beacon Post Office does not offer the passport service anymore, the clerk explained that the woman who specialized in it had retired.
If the USPS’ plan is to downsize the Beacon Post Office (and other Post Offices), then it does not seem likely that the passport service will be available to Beaconites. The next nearest location is Wappingers.
In a letter dated February 28, 2023, the USPS mailed the APWU (the clerks’ union) to let them know that the Beacon Post Office would be changing in order to cut costs while improving services to residents. It did not state which services would be improving, how how the services would improve with fewer clerks employed. The passport service is not slated to return.
Said James Lloyd, Labor Relations, Policies and Programs for the USPS: “As discussed in our July 29 correspondence the purpose of creating S&DCs is to reduce transportation and mail handling costs, as well as provide Postal customers with additional services. S&DCs will allow for easier standardization and management of operations while improving building and operating conditions for employees.”
The local President from the other union, the NALC for the letter carriers, has confirmed to ALBB that they have not received such letter from the USPS.
Earlier this week, ALBB reported that the Beacon Post Office was under threat of being closed, when it seemed imminent that postal carriers (who are out delivering the mail to your address) were being eliminated from doing this from the Beacon Post Office, and would instead to it from a large facility in Newburgh, known as a Sorting & Delivery Center (S&DC), which are being built out all over the country (see pictures here).
The employees are at the heart of this matter, as well as the location of where people will get services (package pickup, passport service, long lines, etc.). There are at least 2 groups of employees being disrupted - Clerks and Carriers. The Clerks are represented by the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the Carriers are represented by the National Association Of Letter Carriers (NALC).
According to letters to the carrier’s union APWU from the USPS, and implicated by new TV commercials, employment of clerks and carriers is going to shift dramatically with the loss and relocation of jobs. Based on the planned relocating or loss of jobs of all but 1.5 clerk employees in the Beacon Post Office, the planned skeletal staff doesn’t seem to service anyone very well. It is a stress on the clerks, and a source of impatience for the customer.
Of the 10-12 letter carriers that are stationed at the Beacon Post Office, it is possible that all would be relocated to the S&DC in Newburgh, or other centers. As indicated by this letter from the USPS to the APWU, which was obtained and published by SaveThePostOffice.com, Beacon is on the list of post offices scheduled to not have carrier service anymore, but to have carriers retrieve sorted mail it from an S&DC. However, according to the President of carrier’s local union, National Association Of Letter Carriers (NALC), no official notice has been given to the carrier’s union from the USPS concerning this, or how it would work.
The local NALC President said that a threat of this relocating has happened in the past, a little under 2 years ago, which is when the Trump appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy was, and remains, in power and at the helm of these changes. The union president stated that Utica’s transition had started already. SaveThePostOffice.com has been tracking other transformations that have begun, and the loss of jobs that have started.
That, with this new employment information from the clerk, as well as the TV commercials, indicates the new life at the S&DC in Newburgh will become a reality.
Despite what the USPS sources told the City of Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, the planned skeletal staff of clerks at Beacon’s Post Office does not sound like services will be remaining the same for resdients, but will be declining. If suffocated enough, then there won’t be a purpose to keep open the beautiful building, except to hold Post Office Boxes. Which will have to be stuffed by a clerk. But the clerk is also servicing the front counter. With the proposed one full time clerk and one part time clerk, it is unclear how PO Boxes will be stuffed in a timely manner while the clerk is serving on the front desk.
The local petition to stop the removal of mail carriers from the Beacon Post Office.
A petition to stop the removal of mail carriers from the Beacon Post Office is on the front counter of the Beacon Post Office, right under the plexiglass windows that separate the clerk from the customers.
ALBB uses this metal ice bucket to collect daily food waste. It is dumped daily (sometimes 2x daily) into a plastic bucket, which is dumped 1x/week. The pink toaster in the background is a bonus and not related to food composting.
Even though the orange haze has lifted over Beacon and we have the sun and blue skies again - as well as gray clouds and shadows - the wildfires are still burning in Canada. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, blames the climate crisis for the out of control burning. The official who ran the Parks Canada for 23 years, Mark Heathcott, says that Canada needs a better controlled burns of forest system.
Here in Beacon, one way to contribute to helping the climate crisis is by reducing your production of methane gases caused by food waste, by food composting. Which means to put your food waste in a designated bucket, which gets taken by a service or dropped off by you to a food composting collection area available in Beacon.
The food waste is then turned into a nutrient rich soil, called “black gold,” that you would want to spread over your favorite garden growths or flowers.
This article explores both ways.
You’ve heard of the methane gases. That the methane gases formed from decomposing food contribute to the climate crisis. The City of Beacon says that methane gases are formed when food waste is burned. According to the City’s website: “Composting is a great way to reduce the waste burned at the county incinerator, which can contribute to unsafe air conditions because ‘waste incineration creates and/or releases harmful chemicals and pollutants’ (NRDC.org, Burned: Why Waste Incineration Is Harmful).
Here is an example so that you can see and experience it: one day, ALBB found an old banana strawberry smoothie in the car. It was in a sealed container. It was days old. Maybe even weeks old. Once taken inside, the top was unscrewed to clean it, where BAM - the top flew off from the pressure inside of the very old strawberry banana smoothie. The top flew clear across the kitchen and hit a water filter jug and cracked it.
Keep in mind, there are some municipalities who charge for how much trash you throw away. Beacon is not there yet. Hopefully they won’t get there, because we don’t need more fees. But if you removed food from your trash, you are removing a lot of poundage of trash. You could put yourself ahead of the curve, and cut out a lot of harmful product.
There are two ways to compost in Beacon. The free way - using Beacon’s compost drop-off bins, and the paid way via Community Compost. ALBB uses the paid way via Community Compost because we have been with them since Zero2Go launched via KickStarter and eventually was sold twice, the last to Community Compost. If you work in an office, consider organizing a compost collection system where one or some of you rotate dumping the food waste into Beacon’s collection bins. Or pay Community Compost to take it away for you.
Step 1: You collect your food waste at your house or apartment. ALBB uses a metal ice bucket that lives next to the sink, and dumps it daily into a bucket with a lid on the front porch.
Step 2. Once a week, or whenever you want, take your collection of waste to one of 3 different Compost Drop Off Bins. Those are:
Memorial Park, near the Dog Park, at the base of the hill.
Parking lot of Hudson Valley Brewery, all the way in the left corner. This is the Churchill Street parking lot, which is a free municipal parking lot right behind Main Street, near the Fishkill Creek.
The Beacon Recreation Center, at 23 West Center Street.
The rules for what to dump into Beacon’s compost bins are pretty good. You don’t have to be as discerning as you do in other programs.
YES, Dump It
Any food waste can be composted in Beacon’s compost collection bins. You can even use BPI-certified compostable bags for your food scraps. This includes:
Fruits & Vegetables
Meat, bones
Dairy, Eggs
Coffee grounds
Food soiled paper (coffee filters, tea bags, parchment paper, uncoated paper plates, etc.)
Paper towels and napkins
Toilet paper rolls
House plants and cut flowers
Pizza boxes: ripped in half + no wax paper
NO, Don’t Dump It!
Not compostable in Beacon’s compost collection bins:
Plastics
Glass
Plastic and wax coated paper products
Produce stickers
Doggy poo
Pet litter
Pet waste
Metal
Plastic bags
Styrofoam
Where will you put all of this fabulous food? The City of Beacon has gotten discounts on 3 different bins for you. Some of you may do backyard composting. This article does not explore that, but there is a bin for that offered by the city. Click here to see the options. You can order through the City of Beacon’s Recreation Department website, and/or you can walk in to see them at 23 West Center Street to buy your bin that way. Sometimes going to the Beacon Rec Center is easier. But click here to shop online.
Food composting has been discussed for several years in Beacon. Former Councilperson Amber Grant was a recent leader in bringing the City’s attention to this under Mayor Lee Kyriacou’s administration, with management and education done by Climate Smart Beacon, a committee of the City. Learn more about it in this video below.
If you don’t want to make time to dump your compost, you could always hire Community Compost to pick up from your home or office. Click here for details.
Beacon's Memorial Day Service
Day: Monday, May 29, 2023
Time: See below…
Location: See below...
Source: The Program posted on the City of Beacon’s Website
This ceremony is being hosted by the Veterans Memorial Building and led by the Beacon American Legion Post #203.
9:00am: Flags will go to half staff.
10:00am: All will gather at E. Main Street Bridge, Beacon, NY. This will be a service for the Navel forces.
11:00am: The service at the Memorial Building at 432 Main Street will start. The Civilian portion includes pledge of allegiance, an indication, and a speech by a Marine Corp Lieutenant Colonel, BethAnne Canero, LTC. BethAnne is also an officer of the Guardian Revival Colleagues. According to John, the Guardian Revival Colleagues started in Beacon with 5 employees and now has 75 employees. Guardian Revival is a New York State 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization chartered to revive and preserve the mental health and wellbeing of veterans and first responders - our guardians - at no cost to them. They do this through various programs, including Guardian Encore (music program) Another Summit (outdoor adventure program), and Boots and Paws (service and companion dogs matched with a human).
The event will conclude at 12pm after the Laying of the Wreathes, Battlefield Cross, Rifle Salute, and Taps.
“The Benevolent and Protected Order of Elks Lodge will hold their annual Flag Day Ceremony on Sunday, June 11, 2023, beginning at 1 p.m., at the Beacon Lodge, 900 Wolcott Avenue,
Beacon, N.Y.
”The purpose of this service is to honor our country’s flag, to celebrate the anniversary of its birth, and to recall the achievements attained beneath its folds.
”U.S., State, and local elected officials, and area first responders have been invited to the ceremony.
”Keynote speaker will be Mr. Patrick J. Walsh, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran (1958-1961) and a member of the Benevolent and Protected Order of Elks for more than 50 years.
”The Elks prompted President Woodrow Wilson to recognize the Order’s observance of Flag Day for its patriotic expression. But it was not until 1949, when President Harry Truman, himself an Elk, made the proclamation that thereafter June 14 would be a day of national
observance for the symbol of our country.
“The public is invited to attend this rain-or-shine event. A collation will occur in the Elks grill room at the conclusion of the ceremony.”
The annual flushing of hydrants has started in Beacon, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council Meeting on April 24, 2023. “This is yearly maintenance to get sediment through the systems. And to check on hydrants to make sure they are functioning properly.” The process started April 24th and ends the week of May 15th.
The City Administrator addressed complaints regarding wasting water. “It isn't. It is necessary to maintain the system.” He added: “We are not doing all 600 fire hydrants,” he stated.
He gave tips on how to get through the brown water period that may happen to water in the areas where the flushing is happening, which was to run the cold water to let the brown water go through. He also suggested to avoid running a load of laundry at that time.
The location schedule of hydrant flushing can be found on the City’s website here. Residents who still have questions are instructed to call the City of Beacon Water Department at (845) 831-3136.
After almost 2 years of being identified by Beacon’s Tree Advisory Committee as good plots for trees to grown in, the City of Beacon has planted 3 new trees on Main Street, the City Administrator Chris White announced during a City Council Meeting on April 24, 2023, just days before Arbor Day.
“I’d like to thank the Highway Department for planing tress. At Rite Aid, 2 tree wells were filled with old roots. They did an amazing job. [Took] several days work to dig those out.”
Pete Bailey, the Chair of the Tree Committee, said that the plot across from Beacon Reads also received a new tree, but not before a tree stump was dug out first to clear the area.
The Beacon Reads tree was chosen as the location for the City of Beacon to hold its annual Arbor Day event. Because of its designation as a Tree City, the City of Beacon must hold a tree planting event and read the Arbor Day Proclamation, Pete said.
The Tree Committee identified the three plots in a list of other location recommendations back in the fall of 2021, Pete told A Little Beacon Blog. Said the City Administrator during the City Council Meeting: “In addition the one we are doing for Arbor Bay, 20 new trees are being planted. Each year we are trying to ratchet that up a bit.” It has not been announced during a City Council Meeting where or when those 20 new trees are scheduled to be planted.
Pete confirmed to ALBB that the type of tree planted was a Little Leaf Linden. “It is a beautiful spring blooming flowering tree. It doesn't drop any fruit, grows quickly but is more vertical. It is a great tree for Main Street.”
People interested in donating a tree can do so through the City of Beacon’s website. Perhaps if it is being done in memoriam, it will be planted sooner.
The Beacon Free Loop Bus began rolling down Main Street in 2018, the result of a collaboration between BeaconArts, the City of Beacon, and Dutchess County. Former BeaconArts president Kelly Ellenwood helped spearhead the partnership with her artistic conviction that new branding would help the bus increase ridership and help people get around Beacon for free.
Now, the Beacon Free Loop Team is seeking ways to improve the bus to make it more accessible with this online survey, open until the end of April. The study is being conducted by the student-run PR firm out of Marist College, North Road Communications, who was an original partner in the origin of the Free Loop Bus.
A new Free Loop Bus Sign from when the bus first launched.
The big blue bus replaced the G-route from Dutchess County Public Transit, and with help from various funding sources, eliminated the bus fair to make it free. They wrapped the bus in a design based in pale blue, and altered the route so that it included more popular stops in Beacon for people to enter and exit.
Running in alignment with the Beacon train schedule, the new amenity was celebrated in Beacon. It has made changes since then, such as stopping at designated stops, instead of the “Wave and Ride” concept it launched with. According to the organizers, Beacon’s Main Street got too busy for impromptu stopping.
The Loop Bus increased the number of stops in Beacon, but Dutchess County’s bus schedule doesn’t include all of the stops.
According to the bus stop signage, the designated stops include:
Beacon Train Station
Dia: Beacon
Route 9D & Main Street
Main Street & Cliff Street
Main Street & Veterans Place (near the Post Office)
Beacon Theater (the movie theater)
Tioronda Avenue & Route 9D (Wolcott Avenue)
Route 9D (Wolcott Avenue) & Howland Avenue (Mount Beacon parking lot)
Howland Avenue & East Main Street
Main Street & Route 52 (Fishkill Avenue)
W. Center Street & Teller Avenue
Forrestal Heights (apartment complex)
Beacon Street & Wolcott Avenue
Take the online survey now. It’s quick, easy, and has room for your ideas.
Masjid Ar Rashid (the Islamic Teaching Center) led the community of Muslims in and near Beacon in a celebration of Eid ul-Fitr, (“Festival of Breaking Fast”) at the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
The mosque led Takbir at 8:00am and Eid prayer at 9am in Memorial Park. Muslims brought their prayer mats and laid them on a tarp, as the grass was wet. Men, women and children came out to enjoy the sunshine, pray, and see each other.
For a refresher on what is celebrated during Ramadan, read this article from Izdihar Dabashi. If you see someone celebrating the day, it is joyous to say to them “Happy Eid” or “Eid Mubarak.” And remember, if you hear the call to prayer (adhan) from the mosque, this is what it means. Take a moment to take in some peace!
Muslim Women during Eid at Memorial Park.
PHoto Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid.
Muslim Men getting ready to pray during Eid at Memorial Park.
PHoto Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid.
City Of Beacon's Earth Day Cleanup
Days: Saturday April 22, 2023
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Several. Signup for the location you want. But you can also just show up! The locations and meeting points are below:
Location for “East Side Of Creek: Grandview/South Avenu at the Tioranda Bridge”
South Avenue Elementary School: Main Entrance
South Avenue Park: Beacon Recreation Lot (23 West Center Street)
Sargent School: Main Entrance
Rombout Middle School: Memorial Park in the Pavilion Parking Lot
Rocky Glen and Rte. 52: Rte. 52 & Mill Street
Teller Woods: Guardrail on Teller Avenue (opposite from Ballet Arts 107 Teller Avenue)
East Side of Creek: Grandview/ South Avenue at the Tioranda Bridge. Enter from 9D down Grandview, near the Craig House and across from Beacon's University Settlement Camp. ALBB has posted a picture of it on the map here, provided by Green Beacon Coalition.
JV Forrestal School: Playground Entrance
East Side of Beacon: Stone and Liberty Street
12pm - 3pm: Hudson Valley Brewery.
Conservation Advisory Committee program outreach and social.
One free drink ticket will be provided to volunteers 21+ and a discount on Groundlings pizza. Non alcohol beverages also available.
Come to celebrate Beacon and learn about electrification, composting, trail development and pollinator pathways.
Information >
Editorial Note: This article has been updated to include accurate and updated information, terminology, and the latest response from the City of Beacon in their City Council Workshop meeting last night.
The Beacon Post Office is not closing - as of now - despite rumors and two local publications misunderstanding the information (WRRV and ALBB) and who have both issued corrections. However, with the flurry of articles concerning the posts offices in the Mid Hudson area that are slated to undergo a big change, came answers of clarification from the USPS and the City of Beacon. Let’s dive in.
Is Beacon’s Post Office protected as a historic place?
Yes. Thanks to a tip from an anonymous citizen reporter, Beacon’s Post Office is listed on the State and National List Of Historic Places, as identified in Beacon’s Comprehensive Plan on pages 40-41.
Will Glenham’s Post Office be closing?
According to Steve Hutkins of SaveThePostOffice.com, “Haven’t heard anything about Glenham, but it appears to be a small office with no letter carriers, so it wouldn’t be part of the plan. The plan is just about relocating carriers from those post offices that have them.”
According to the new commercials from the USPS, a new super-smart system is coming for mail delivery that involves big coordination for max efficiency, the USPS promotes. The roll-out of this max efficiency has been confusing so far, according to some carriers of the Beacon post office who deliver the mail.
According to the USPS and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) via letter, some local post offices - 16 in the Mid Hudson Region, and 200 post offices across the country are slated to stop having carriers deliver mail from them - but instead will drive to local centers to pick up the mail and drive it back to their local routes.
Carriers will not get the mail from the local post office, like Beacon, but will instead get it from a Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC). According to Steve Hutkins of SaveThePostOffice.com, who also lives in the Hudson Valley, who has been following and reporting on the post office for over 10 years: “Beacon and the other post offices on the list will be giving up their carriers to the Sorting & Delivery Center in the Mid Hudson Newburgh facility.” Residents will still have their mail delivered to their homes by carriers. But the carriers will be driving to and from Newburgh - across the Hudson River on the traffic-prone Newburgh/Beacon Bridge - to do this.
These post offices include Beacon, Fishkill, Wappingers, Newburgh, and several others. They will become “spoke” post offices. To help define the USPS lingo, Steve tells ALBB: “A ‘spoke’ post office is one of the offices giving over its carriers to the S&DC, which is the ‘hub’ of the wheel. This is how USPS refers to them in its presentations, like this one.’”
According to the USPS, the delivery trucks will park at the S&DC (Sorting and Delivery Center), which for Beacon, is in Newburgh.
According to a Beacon postal worker, Beacon employees heard from other postal workers who may have received official notices from their bosses or union at the Post Office that fulfillment and distribution would be done at the processing center in Newburgh. The Newburgh Post Office (different from the processing center) is also slated to stop having mail delivery service from it in September 2023. This has since been confirmed by SaveThePostOffice.com’s publishing of the postal carrier’s union’s letter.
At the time of speaking with ALBB, the postal worker was sitting in their delivery truck, sorting mail for the next block of delivery. Which prompted the question: where will the trucks park? According to a presentation from the USPS in August 2022, parking and commute time was taken into consideration. However, it is not clear if traffic for the commute time for any employee heading over the Newburgh/Beacon bridge was taken into consideration.
The postal worker did not know. Nor did they know how it would work driving in the little truck back and forth across the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. Also not clear was who would be paying for all that gas, and the new tolls the trucks would accumulate.
With Wappingers, Fishkill, Newburgh, Cornwall, Montgomery, New Paltz, Pine Bush, Walden and other nearby Post Offices closing, the USPS says in a presentation that they have factored in parking, if there is enough parking for those delivery trucks. In this new USPS commercial, it looks like the original post office truck is being directed by the airline-looking traffic controller person.
The traffic on the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge can be thick. One accident, bless the people involved in the crash, can stop traffic for 2 hours at times, backing up all the way to Fishkill’s Route 9.
Speculation has been so strong by the public that the Beacon building would close (with the burning hot real estate market going on in Beacon, and the loss of several iconic businesses to new development, this served as a strong foundation for this rumor) WRRV and ALBB first published that the building would close. WRRV was quick to update their initial article, and included this statement: “From the USPS: ‘As we move forward with this initiative, customers will see no changes to their local post office retail operations. No post offices will be closed and PO Box service will not be changed.’"
ALBB emailed Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White days ago to inquire about a possible building closure, and he did not reply. Instead, he updated the community in the final moments of the weekly City Council meeting, as he seems to like breaking his own news on his own time. Special thanks to Councilperson Justice McCray who commented via Instagram that the City of Beacon made an update in the final moments of the meeting.
From the City Administrator’s update, just seconds before the meeting adjourned:
“I have a 2-minute update on the Post Office. Your emails are blowing up. A week to two weeks ago, word spread in Beacon that we were going to loose carriers, and that was a preface to closing down the post office. When we got word of that, we did reach out to Congressman Pat Ryan's office in Kingston. They were doing a call today (Monday) with their Washington Office to ascertain the details on it.
“I did reach out to both the Postmaster who is currently on a different assignment - the Beacon Postmaster is in Hopewell. I did speak to the interim Postmaster. Neither of them believes that closure is at all considered. They thought that was highly unlikely. It had not being discussed.
“What is being discussed is these S&DC centers. The Sorting and Delivery. The carriers that now report for the 13 routes that are done in the 12508 area, would instead report to Newburgh. There were 15 or 16 communities that were going to be moved there. When I talked to the Postmaster, she said that all of the retail functions of the post office are going to remain the same. In fact, there was a similar consolidation of the sorting and delivery a couple of years ago in Eastern Dutchess that Hopewell was part of, and they still remain open.
“We are waiting for a final call back from Congressman Ryan's office. I left messages with the Vice President Of the American Postal Workers Union who I worked with years ago fighting other closures in Sullivan County. It doesn't seem that there is any real threat to close the post office. It would change where the carriers report, but the function day to day, your delivery, your ability to go to the post office, to have a box, to purchase postage, and other items there, would not change."
Mayor Lee Kyriacou clarified: "None of the customer-facing elements are involved in any consideration for change?"
City Administrator Chris responded: "That's correct. And when I said 'Well, do you think this could be a step toward closing?' They said 'No, this is one of our busiest post offices.' If somebody was going to close post offices, this would not be top of the list to close. When we fought this years ago, when I worked in a Congressional office, we were closing very small post offices in towns you would not recognize the names of. Where they had only a few people going in and a few boxes left. And even there we were able to stop it."
From this roll-out, Steve told ALBB that he is waiting to see how more details are addressed, like how a package that cannot be delivered will be handled. Will Beaconites need to drive over the bridge and back to retrieve it?
Editor’s Note: If you are a postal employee in the Mid Hudson region who works in the building for window service and has been impacted by this - where you did see change - please tell ALBB about it. If you were told by a superior that the building may close in the future, please contact us to tell us your source.
Suddenly news in the post office is moving quickly. Steve at SaveThePostOffice.com has been following this closely, and researched the large processing centers being built by the USPS by reviewing lists of processing centers that were released to postal unions. He has not been able to come up with a conclusion as to how they will work. However, he did notice that two of the large processing centers were located in North Carolina. “It’s noteworthy that two of the four new leased facilities will be in North Carolina, the Postmaster General’s adopted home state. DeJoy built his fortune as CEO of New Breed Logistics, based in High Point; he has a home in nearby Greensboro; and his chief logistics officer and executive VP is also a former New Breed executive. They have a lot of experience doing logistics projects in North Carolina, but why develop two new leased RPDCs in the same state, just 110 miles apart?”
Steve has also been tracking who has already been fired at the local post offices. In an article published on April 3, 2023, he followed which “spoke” post offices have been impacted.
Steve reported on April 1, 2023: “According to the impact statements the Postal Service is required to provide the APWU when it excesses employees, at least 40 clerk positions are being excessed at about 30 post offices, some of which aren’t scheduled to lose their carriers until September. [Update, 4/2/2023: The Postal Service has dialed back the S&DC plan yet again. The number of spoke offices sending carriers to the Mid Hudson S&DC is now 7 instead of 16, and the total number of excessed positions is now 8 instead of 23.]”
This is just the beginning of what is sure to be several news reports about this.
What will happen to the Elf in the Beacon Post Office who receives the letters to Santa, and answers each one herself, with candy canes taped onto the envelope? Which magically make it through the sorting machines without getting crushed, or needing a stamp?
Editor’s Note: Any post office worker who wants to contribute to how this will impact them, or how they see this has been handled on the inside, can email ALBB with their anonymous input. We can interview you and not publish your name if you wish.
The travel restriction ends today Tuesday at 8pm, which is earlier than first declared. Dutchess County Government offices will open normally on Wednesday. The Beacon City School District will be open on Wednesday, and will open on a 2-hour delay.
Per the Press Release from Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O'Neil:
Effective 8 p.m. this evening, Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O'Neil will rescind his earlier Executive Order from Monday, March 13th, and there will be no more travel restrictions. County Government offices to resume normal operations on Wed., March 15th
Driving, however, is not advisable until Wednesday morning, as wind gusts have knocked down numerous trees and power lines throughout the county; sub-freezing temperatures overnight will likely lead to icy roads and slippery driving conditions, particularly in the higher elevations, and additional downed trees and lines.
County Executive O'Neil said, "We thank residents throughout Dutchess County for heeding our request to stay off the roads to allow our dedicated Department of Public Works crews to clear those roads. This has been a challenging storm, extending over a long period of time, and we thank residents for their patience and cooperation in helping crews keep our roadways passable."
Dutchess County Government offices are scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, March 15th, operating under normal business hours.
Dutchess County Public Transit (DCPT) will resume normal weekday service on Wednesday, March 15th. For updates on service, bus passengers can visit dutchessny.gov/publictransit or the DCPT mobile app.
Crews from the Dutchess County Department of Public Works (DPW) have been ahead of the storm since its beginning – plowing, treating and salting County roads since 1 a.m. Tuesday; those crews will continue to treat and salt County roads throughout this evening, as icy conditions are expected.
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.
From the Office of the County Executive O’Neil:
Declares State of Emergency
in Anticipation of Season’s Largest Snowstorm
3/13/2023 Press Release Republished:
With significant snowfall amounts forecast for Dutchess County for the next 36 hours, County Executive William F.X. O’Neil has issued a State of Emergency declaration, effective at 8pm tonight, as well as two Executive Orders putting travel restrictions in place effective 4am Tuesday and closing County offices for Tuesday, March 14th from 7am-5pm. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Dutchess County through Wednesday, March 15th, with snowfall expected to arrive tonight, continuing throughout Tuesday and into Wednesday morning. The NWS forecasts the heaviest snow fall between midnight and noon Tuesday, with 1-2 inches per hour expected.
Total accumulation for Dutchess County varies between 6 and 12 inches, according to NWS forecasts. Due to the heavy, wet snow expected in combination with wind gusts as high as 40 mph Tuesday into Wednesday, numerous power outages are anticipated due to downed trees and wires. Tuesday’s morning and evening commutes are expected to be impacted significantly.
County Executive O’Neil said, “Reports indicate this storm is going to give us significant, wet snowfall and winds. We are monitoring the situation carefully and emergency responders are prepared. Only emergency and essential vehicles should be on local roadways during this State of Emergency, allowing public works crews ample opportunity to clear roadways.”
Dutchess County Emergency Response will activate the Emergency Operations Center at 8 p.m. this evening, and it will remain open for the duration of the storm with representatives from New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Police, the County Sheriff’s Office, County departments of Behavioral & Community Health and Public Works, Central Hudson, NYSEG and Red Cross.
County Executive O’Neil will host a conference call with local mayors and supervisors on Tuesday afternoon to review storm conditions and coordinate resources as necessary.
Dutchess 9-1-1 Center and 9-8-8 HELPLINE remains fully staffed and prepared to address residents’ emergency and mental health needs.
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is fully staffed through Wednesday, including activating its ATV and other specialty units to assist residents and emergency responders as needed.
Dutchess County Public Works highway crews have loaded trucks with materials, salt has been applied to County roadways, and crews will be out through the duration of the storm to clear roadways.
Dutchess County Public Transit (DCPT) has suspended all service for Tuesday, March 14th. For updates on service for Wednesday, March 15th, bus passengers can visit www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit or the DCPT mobile app.
Dutchess County Office for the Aging Senior Friendship Centers will be closed on Tuesday, March 14th, and no Home Delivered Meals (HDM) deliveries will be made Tuesday, HDM recipients should use previously provided frozen or shelf stable meal.
Dutchess County Government offices will be closed Tuesday, March 14th. Individuals who have DMV appointments in Poughkeepsie, Wappinger, Beacon or Millbrook will be rescheduled for the same appointment time and location on March 15th. For information on scheduled Road Tests, please go to www.dmv.ny.gov
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.
Hello March!
You do like to keep it exciting, miserable and brutal!
The City of Beacon has issued a notice that beginning at 8:00 pm this evening (Monday), New York State and Dutchess County have announced a State of Emergency due to a pending snowstorm.
Tonight’s City Council meeting and tomorrow’s Planning Board meeting have been postponed, and City Hall offices will be closed on Tuesday March 14th. Please see the City’s website Calendar for updated dates and times.
According to the City of Beacon, Dutchess County is instituting a travel ban throughout the County beginning at 4:00 am on Tuesday March 14th, and which will extend through Wednesday morning, at least.
Said the City via robo-call and email: “Please avoid unnecessary travel during that timeframe to allow City plows and emergency responders to do their work. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Any updates will be posted to the City website and Facebook account.”
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