Things To Do In Beacon, NY 📅 9/26/2025
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Retired Beacon Cop Who Killed Roommate Does Not Appear In Court For 2nd Hearing - Attorney Cites Ongoing Mental Health Evaluation
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The second hearing for Eddie Irizarry, the 52-year old retired Beacon Police Officer who called 911 to say that he shot his roommate, Casey Cuddy, after he said that Casey pointed a shotgun at him, but not before posting to his Facebook "You guys got me if I shoot a Petti file," was adjourned today, Wednesday, September 24th. No evidence of a shotgun found at the scene has yet been presented to the public.
After his first appearance during his arraignment on August 5, 2025, where he pleaded Not Guilty to Second Degree Murder, A Little Beacon Blog has learned from a source familiar with the situation that Eddie had allegedly been placed on constant supervision for mental health watch upon entry to the jail.
For today's court appearance, Eddie was not in attendance. The Defense and Prosecuting Attorneys came before the Honorable Judge Jessica Segal to confirm that Eddie was meeting with an expert to evaluate his medical and mental health condition. The Prosecuting Attorney had no response to this, and the Judge proceeded to advise that the Defense's client was still in the process of being evaluated, and would proceed with the process on a doctor's evaluation.
The next court appearance is set for October 22, 2025. The date of November 12th was set for a Reply, and December 10th the Decision. Judge Segal stated that the client Eddie would “need to be produced” on that day, December 10th for the next hearing.
No Bail was set for Eddie during his first hearing, as the Prosecuting Attorney deemed him a flight risk, and Judge Segal agreed.
Eddie had served as a Beacon Police Officer for 17 years before retiring in 2021. He had relocated to North Carolina, and had recently moved back to Beacon. More details in this article.
"Dear ALBB: Yes, I was thinking about her. Hopefully we'll get a positive update soon."
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Bunny and Mike wrote in to ALBB hoping for a positive update on the woman who jumped off the bridge on Saturday. Mike saw it happen and felt helpless, because he said it happened so fast. Bunny was thinking about her. And they aren't alone. Others are hopeful and waiting.
But we may never know, and that's OK. Part of finding peace is disappearing. Healing in disappearance. In those moments, it can feel like one is all alone. Like they are the only one feeling this way.
But the most important thing to know, is that you are not alone. You are not the only one feeling this way. Or that there is not a solution to the problem and that you are doomed.
I know nothing about the person on Saturday. And I don't need to know. But, I will reach into my own experiences to try to identify with the unknown.
When I was divorcing, it felt so raw. So isolating. So angering. I didn't say that - that I felt like the only one - but it felt that way. My female neighbor and friend who also divorced could sense that. She would say to me: "Other people have divorced. You are not the only one." And I would calm down. My mind slowly coming out of spinning.
During that time, I adopted many self-protection habits. And some self-sabatoging habits.
By the time things got really bad, I was fully armored.
As I described the last time I wrote about suicide, which was almost this exact time last year, I talked about how I slipped into metaphors. How I might wrap myself into Malefecent's strong black folded wings around me, and disappear.
Now that I have made it through some of those phases, I am in a blooming phase. I ignored my yard for 2 years because I did not know where I would be; I was so detached. Now, I call it my Unbecoming Phase, in my Blooming Period.
Yet I still have Malifecent's wings when I need them. I will either "Go To The Garden," and mulch, plant and weed a lot. Or fold up into a quiet place to reflect and watch.
In my dark periods of that divorce period, I felt like I was in a coma. I felt dead. When I went to the hospital for diverticulitis and intense bleeding, I felt like my body was killing me, even though I had not made that choice. There were so many thoughts. So many things being said to me. So many responsibilities I had. So much unknown I was walking toward.
But in my coma, I could feel the hands of my friends. And people who I don't even know. I could feel them. Friends. Waiting patiently for me to wake up. They weren't upset with me. They didn't call me names. They were just waiting.
I started writing poetry and sharing it with my personal social. One cousin called my sister to ask if I was going to self-harm. No, I said. I am exploring my emotions and feeling them.
By the time the name-calling started, I was ready. I was ready to respond: "I know you aren't talking to me. I know you are talking to your own past trauma, and you need to let that out. My armor is on, and this moment will pass."
Some phrases (not the worst, but some):
"You're crazy! Crazy! Crazy!"
Yes. And I will keep moving forward to the space that I know I need to live in.
"Are you delusional?"
Yes. Thankfully, my small-business friends have shared memes about needing to be delusional to dream what you want to live inside of.
"Get a job!"
This public comment on FB was from Terry Amoroso Greenough who works at Antalek and Moore Insurance in Beacon on Main Street. When she doesn't like one of my articles, she flings insults. Terry is a Highway and Police Department Super Fan Girl, so any article that discusses them, Terry’s claws come out. Otherwise, she can be seen outside championing their work with a plate of cookies.
The thing is, Terry's employer supplies me with my business insurance that I pay them for. It was a thoughtless comment. In that Antalek and Moore, the co-owner Susan of whom also now makes public FB insulting comments to me provides business insurance to many small businesses in town. My small business is is not a storefront, but it’s a business. I have payroll. At one time for 2 of us, now only me. I am a reporter; a publisher; a website designer; a face painter.; an advocate.
In 2021 when Susan’s husband Judge Timothy Pagones was up for reelection for Beacon City Court Judge, she asked me to design his website. Immigration issues and Black Lives Matter were polarizing at the time, and while I did consider doing the job, I opted not to, deciding not to get involved with politics. This offended Susan very much, and Tim lost the election. Susan since changed her Instagram name go @notinservice12508. Sadly, our relationship has never been the same. Ever since then, the choice of Susan and Terry to represent themselves the way that they do to the local business community so publicly will never cease to amaze me. And I’ll always miss my and Susan’s friendship. The rest of the employees are so nice.
I'm switching business insurance and homeowners insurance away from Antalek and Moore. I have already done so with car insurance to Progressive (my policy lapsed because I had missed payments). I love Progressive. Their app takes such good care of me. Progressive's app is so kind and encouraging.
Sometimes deep emotional feelings aren’t a reaction from statements at all. Sometimes it’s from a regret. I do something in a moment, and then regret it hours or days later. Especially if it hurt someone and I saw their pain. Regret steams from the blood running under my skin. And I can’t imagine how to move forward.
In moments of discontent, of anxiety, of helplessness, of feeling stuck, I make myself look around. I make myself see one of the blessings I was praying for. And then I tell myself: "Remember, you prayed for this moment, and you are living in it right now. This little corner of the experience that is this life, it came true. Take a breath, and just feel it. You worked hard to get here."
I beg myself to feel content. When I still don't have the thing or things I need or think I need, I beg myself to quiet and feel content for the now.
I journal every day. Every day. I rage journal. I calm journal. I sexy journal. I curse. I say terrible things. Doing so helps me work through.
If one does not have quiet, it can be hard to find these moments to hear yourself and recognize yourself. I also listen to music in my headphones often to regulate me. One of the most valuable things one can do for a person is to provide them quiet with no questions asked. No guilt attached.
All this to say. I discovered my version of a truth, and that is that there are many lives in this life. When I meet someone in the next lifetime, it may be in my 50s from departure from my 20s. Rather than an actual new body from a birth and death.
If I harm myself, like eat an entire two layer frosted cake, I know how to get back out. I have to wait of course, for the sugar to exit my body. Eat carrots. Drink water. Go jogging. Sweat. But I have a way out. And then I journal to myself: "Please don't eat the entire cake again. You don't want to lose the next day recovering."
Some days are sunny. Some days are gray. We need the gray days to appreciate the sunny days.
Don't go away. Stay. You really aren't alone. Our hands are under you. You are okay. Proceed.
Carman Says: “South Avenue Needs A Big ‘Right Turn Only’ Arrow;" City Says: “Ok”
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Carman Johnson’s notepad of people who cross Main Street at South Avenue and 9D, one of the most dangerous intersections in Beacon.
Photo Credit: Katie HEllmuth
Carman Johnson has been a Crossing Guard for school children in the City of Beacon for 18 years. Each day, twice a day on her morning and afternoon shifts, she keeps a notepad of who crossed. Each day, she stands outside the Beacon Creamery and stares down every car coming down South Avenue who dares make the illegal left turn. And they do. Lots of them.
“The City could make a lot of money if there was a cop sitting here watching what goes on at this intersection,” Carman told A Little Beacon Blog one afternoon as a car pulled onto the lines indicating No Parking in front of Bank Square Coffee.
“I have asked the City for a big Right Turn Only arrow to be painted on the street 4 times. The people just don’t see these street signs or something.”
Being a Crossing Guard for the City of Beacon is one of Carman’s greatest joys. She is a dedicated volunteer, having offered her services at the Welcome Center, the Spirit of Beacon, the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations over the years.
One of her greatest concerns is the safety of people crossing at the triple intersection of Main Street, Wolcott (9D) and South Avenue. When people whip around onto Main Street from 9D, they are often at high speed and don’t stop at the crosswalk.
“More than once, I have had to pull a child back from a car turning onto Main Street while I am in the middle of the road holding my Stop Sign. Other traffic has stopped and the children are crossing,” Carman told ALBB. “But some of these cars come around so fast, I have had to grab a child and pull them back.”
Numerous traffic safety issues exist at this intersection, but the Right Turn Only arrow painted onto the street is one solution Carman wanted to see. This year, after the road work on Fishkill and Teller Avenue completed and striping began, Carman got her wish for South Avenue. When she showed up to work one day, the painted arrow was there.
“Are you happy now?” ALBB asked Carman.
“Yes. Very,” Carman answered.
To be continued…
STRIPED! Fishkill and Teller Avenues Finally Striped After 20 Years Of Planning And Securing 95% Funding
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Fishkill and Teller Avenues have reached the final phase of “The PRoject” that has been 20 years in the making to upgrade piping and road infrastructure in that area.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
After 20 years of planning, the last year of which drivers in Beacon have been navigating through detours, rough roads and construction crews risking their lives so that people can have smooth, safe roadways in Beacon, the striping has finally begun getting painted onto Fishkill and Teller Avenues, as well as some outlier areas.
In its description of The Project, the City of Beacon reminded the community that this project came through “after more than 20 years of planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and regulatory approvals.” The Project was estimated to be $9 million and was 95% funded through federal and state transportation grants.
It began in June 2024, and encountered a few bumps. Toward the end on July 17th, 2025, the City of Beacon announced: “Approximately 20% of the new sidewalk on Teller and Fishkill Avenues will be torn out and replaced. The concrete used in these sections last fall was substandard and caused the sidewalks to flake and spall even though they were just installed last year. The replacement of these sections is being done by the contractor at NO ADDITIONAL COST to the City. This sidewalk work will take about two weeks. Starting in mid-August, all of Teller Avenue and Fishkill Avenue between Main Street and Blackburn Avenue (across from Memorial Park) will be milled and paved. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we get through this generational upgrade to these critical streets.”
The original project area covered Teller Avenue from Wolcott Avenue (Route 9D) to Main Street and Fishkill Avenue from Main Street to Blackburn Avenue. Improvements included in this project were:
Replacements of all existing sidewalks with new 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalks.
Installing new curbing.
Replacing drainage structures throughout the Project area.
Repaving and re-striping the roadway during its final phase.
Safety enhancements included:
Adding a Leading Pedestrian Interval signaling at the intersection of Teller Avenue/ Fishkill Avenue and Main Street. A woman was killed at that intersection while walking to cross the street. She was a grandmother who was hit by another grandmother driving from school kid pickup.
Installing 2 raised pedestrian crosswalks near Memorial Park (“speed tables”).
Reconfiguring the intersection at Teller Avenue and Wolcott Avenue as a “T” intersection, with the George Washington monument moved to the north side of Teller Avenue.
BONUS: The City was negotiating to extend the sidewalk replacement work further from Blackburn Avenue towards the Town of Fishkill border, if funding allowed.
Woman Jumps From Right (Westbound) Side Of Newburgh/Beacon Bridge On Saturday Afternoon
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Editorial Alert: This article talks about the concept of suicide. The person who jumped was found moving in the water, and recovered onto a boat where CPR was preformed. That is all that has been confirmed at this time.
The call came in to ALBB at 12:47pm on Saturday. “Somebody jumped off the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge on the Beacon side. Don’t know if they found the body yet. Giving you a heads up.” It was sunny with a slight breeze. Perfect weather. Soccer fields were packed at Sargent Elementary. Baseball fields were full at Memorial Park. Main Street felt unusually busy to some who walk early in the morning, but noticed that people had started their Beacon-ing early. I was walking to clean someone’s apartment they were getting ready to rent. When you receive a call like that, everything stops.
This isn’t the first time I got a call from a reader about a person who jumped off a bridge over the Hudson River. It feels like it happens about once a month, between the Newburgh/Beacon and the Bear Mountain Bridges. Last year at this time, on Friday September 17th, 2024, a man jumped from the Newburgh/Beacon bridge. On Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, a woman jumped from the Bear Mountain Bridge. Saturday, August 5th, 2024 a young man was found after jumping the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. The people come from all over. Montgomery, NY. Clinton, NY. And these are those we know about.
The Westbound lane on the right when driving to Newburgh. THis is the side the woman jumped from, and was found moving in the water 100 feet down. The incident happened after 12pm. This night photo is for placement only.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
This past Saturday, it has been confirmed by MidHudson News and Dutchess County Scanner Group that a woman jumped from the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge “just after 12pm,” according to the newspaper. According to witnesses, she jumped from the Westbound side, which is the right side of the bridge if you are driving to Newburgh.
There is no walking path on this side. The barrier is low, like a jersey barrier. The right lane is usually closed except for commuter heavy traffic times. It has not been reported if her car was parked along this lane, or how she got to this spot, since there is no walking path. The drop is 100 feet.
At 12:38pm, Patrick O’Dell from the Dutchess Scanner Group reported that a woman was “observed moving in water” who was brought on board a Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Boat Enforcer 1, MidHudson News explained.
Pictured here is a witness of the incident, a State Trooper, and a NYSBA employee after the incident took place.
PHoto Credit: MidHudson News
“The City of Newburgh Fire Department in Orange County, along with the New Hamburg Fire Department in Dutchess County, and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, launched their marine units in an attempt to recover the woman,” MidHudson News reported. “The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office responded from the Town of Poughkeepsie with Enforcer 1, racing down the river after a report from Beacon Police that the woman was in the water and alive.”
Beacon Fire Department 10-35 was confirmed by the department to have responded. The City of Beacon does not have a marine unit or dive team.
Witnesses on the bridge saw parts of the incident, and traffic was stopped. One female witness got out of her own vehicle to approach the edge of the bridge (as pictured here), and another person took a picture of her doing that with a police officer and New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA) employee. From this picture published by MidHudson News, you can see how low the barrier is. It is also quite windy on the bridge.
Patrick O’Dell of Dutchess Scanner reported that she was transported to the Newburgh Yacht Club, where an ambulance was staged. MidHudson News reported she was given CPR immediately while on the DCSO boat, and delivered into the care of Newburgh first responders.
There has been no further release of information from the responding mutual aid services as to the woman’s condition after she was transported by first responders.
Update 9/24/2025: Readers have since written into ALBB asking for her condition. While we don’t know, and don’t expect to know, we wrote this for you in the meantime.
“ALBB: Didn’t You Report That The Rails Of The Bridge Are Low?”
Yes. In August 2024, we highlighted how low the barriers are. That spotlight was on the Eastbound side, where there is a formal walking path along the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. While there is a high railing, the railing disappears in favor of showing a better view once in the middle of the bridge. One can easily jump over it, or throw someone or something over it.
On the opposite side, which is where the woman jumped from on Saturday, there is no extra railing at all. While that side is less convenient to get to, it is clear that one can drive their car, and stop in the right lane that remains closed to regular traffic.
Is It Time For Beacon To Get A Marine Unit? And For Higher Railings To Be Added?
With this suicide destination of a bridge, is it time the City of Beacon be equipped with a marine response team? The bridge is anchored in and named in part after Beacon, yet the City of Beacon must wait for a boat to rush from Poughkeepsie during a time when every second counts for saving a person.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal or heavy thoughts, dial 988 to talk to a person at the Dutchess County Help Line. Readers of ALBB who have called it say that talking with them was very helpful. Connecting is important.
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Anti-Muslim Alleged Harasser Of Zohran Mamdani, Beacon Bread Company And Other Arab Businesses Charged With 22 Counts Of Making "Terroristic Threats"
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Days after New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, the man who had allegedly been repeatedly threatening Zohran with violent anti-Muslim and anti-Ugandan death threats in June and July 2025, which included calling him names, has been charged with making terroristic threats against Zohran. Jeremy Fistel, age 44 and from Texas, “pleaded not-guilty to a 22-count indictment charging him with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime and other counts,” ABC News reported, the sentence of which is up to 15 years if convicted. Jeremy was released on bail and ordered to appear back in Queens County Criminal Court in November 19th, 2025.
Beacon Bread Company is a Palestinian owned restaurant who was Also harassed by the alleged harasser of NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, who faces 22 counts of “Terroristic Threats”
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
Jeremy also harassed the Palestinian-owned eatery, Beacon Bread Company, located at 193-195 Main Street in Beacon, NY, in 2024, the beginning of the genocide, with repeated phone calls to the restaurant, which the employees fielded. “He looked at business owners with our names and assumed every Arab is a terrorist,” Khitam Jamal Nakhleh told A Little Beacon Blog. Khitam is the sister of Beacon Bread Company’s owner Kamel Jamal, and spoke directly with Jeremy after learning of Jeremy’s harassing phone calls.
“I walked in to Beacon Bread one morning to get my coffee, and the waitress that was working was shook up,” Khitam told ALBB. “I asked her what’s up and she told me some guy has been repeatedly calling over and over, calling them ‘terrorists’ and then asked them if they were Arabs. When they said ‘no’ he asked her: ‘How could you work for a terrorist?’ I then looked at the caller ID and called him back and ripped him a new asshole. I then saved his number and called him every hour on the hour until I believe he either blocked me or changed his number.”
Accused Jeremy Fistel exiting Queens County Criminal Court surrounded by officers after appearing for his 22 counts of “terroristic Threats” made to NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran in June/July 2025. He also is the person identified by Beacon Bread Company as harassing them for being Arab/Muslim in early Genocide 2024.
Photo Credit: Olga Fedorova/AP screenshot from ABC News.
Jeremy’s calls allegedly didn’t stop in Beacon. They allegedly included Yonkers and Yorktown. “He called my nephew Ang his grandfather and harassed them. My nephew reported it to the Yorktown Police and is taking his grandfather to the Yonkers Police.”
When Jeremy allegedly reached NYC for the front-running Mayoral candidate, his terroristic threats made Zohran so uncomfortable, he received approval for a security detail from current Mayor Adams and a flailing Mayoral competitor of Zohran, who said: "There is almost a level of irony to this. Here you have a person who has spent his life bashing the NYPD," Adams told ABC News. "He has a full detail that is moving with him because they were concerned about his life."
According to ABC News, the recorded threats made by Jeremy that are mentioned in the indictment against him include:
June 11, 2025, 11:27 a.m.: Jeremy allegedly left a message on Zohran’s office voicemail that included: "Hey Zohran, you should go back to f------ Uganda before someone shoots you in the f------ head and gets rid of your whole f------ family, too. You piece of s--- Muslims don't belong here."
June 18, 2025, 9:45 a.m., Jeremy allegedly left a message saying: "Go on and start your car. See what happens…yeah, keep an eye on your house and your family. Watch your f------ back every f------ second til you get the f--- out of America.”
July 8, 2025: Jeremy submitted a message through Zohran’s website, that said: "I hope you get terminal cancer and die a painful death very soon. I'd love to see an IDF bullet go through your skull. Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front you before they end your pathetic miserable life…I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself."
When asked about Jeremy’s current charges, Beacon Bread Company owner Kamel Jamal told ALBB: “When justice is served, I feel safe at home. When I feel safe, my team feels safe and they trust that I will protect them. We are all thrilled that justice has proven to be more powerful than we trust it to be. Humanity wins.”
In Beacon, Flags Flown At Half-Staff For 9/11 And CK Assassination School Confirms; City Unconfirmed
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After A Little Beacon Blog published the clip of the reaction from Pastor Howard-John Wesley who is Black, in which the Pastor decried the federal order to lower the American flag to half-staff, several readers of A Little Beacon Blog wrote in asking if Beacon status of the flags really recognized the assassination of CK, or if they were soley for 9/11. Therefore, ALBB reached out to both the Beacon City School District, and to the City of Beacon for their official reasons for lowering the flag to half-staff.
Beacon Superintendent Landahl responded: “The BCSD had flags at half-staff from Thursday-Sunday for 9/11 and the President's order. District/board policy is that flags are flown at half-staff when ordered by President, Governor, or local official.” The BCSD is known to be an inclusive and supportive school of many groups of people, including the LGBTQ community, African American, Hispanic and Asian communities, children who learn differently, emotional learning, etc.
The City of Beacon’s Administrator Chris White did not respond to ALBB’s inquiry. Nor was it posted on their website, Facebook, or sent via robo-call.
On September 10th (Wednesday), The 47th president made a proclamation ordering flags to half-staff for all public buildings until September 14th (Saturday).
Last Friday, after publishing Pastor Wesley’s video to Vimeo, a video platform that lets ALBB embed videos in these articles for you to view right here, Vimeo terminated ALBB’s entire account (not just the video) two minutes after uploading it for guidelines violations. Vimeo has not stated which spoken word violated their guidelines, and have not yet reversed their decision, though ALBB is appealing.
What Did The Pastor and ALBB Say?
This writer commented how it felt uncomfortable driving and walking around Beacon with flags lowered for a man who was so offensive and harmful to several groups of people (African Americans, LGBTQ community, women, etc.) As part of his Sunday sermon after the tragedy, Pastor Wesley preached this, in part, to his congregation:
“CK did not deserve to be assassinated. But I'm overwhelmed. Seeing the flags of the United States of America and Half Staff calling this nation to honor and venerate a man who was an unapologetic racist and spending all of his life sewing seeds of division and hate into this land.
“And hearing people with selective rage who are mad about CK but didn't give a damn about Melissa Hortman and her husband when they were shot down in their home, tell me I ought to have compassion of the death of a man who had no respect for my own life!
“I am sorry, but there is nowhere in Bible where we are taught to honor evil. And how you die does not redeem how you lived. You do not become a hero in your death, when you were a weapon of the enemy in your life.
“I can abhor the violence that took your life. But I don't have to celebrate how you chose to live.
“I. Am. Overwhelmed.”
-Pastor Howard-John Wesley of the Alfred Street Baptist Church
Video originally posted by Etan Thomas. Watch the video here.
Did anyone Ignore the Order?
Yes. The state of New York ignored the order, as well New Jersey, as reported in the New York Post. The New York Post reported: “State officials said New York plans to direct flags to be lowered on the day of Kirk’s funeral, consistent with past practice for other high-profile deaths like Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Corey Comperatore, the Pennsylvania firefighter slain in last year’s Trump rally.”
An official in Iowa refused to follow his governor’s order. As reported in The Guardian, Jon Green, the chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors “I condemn Kirk’s killing, regardless of who pulled the trigger or why,” Green, who is a Democrat, wrote. “But I will not grant Johnson County honors to a man who made it his life’s mission to denigrate so many of the constituents I have sworn an oath to protect – and who did so much to harm not only the marginalized – but also to degrade the fabric of our body politic.” Jon told the Gazette that Iowa did not lower the flag for Melissa Hortman.
Rolling Stone reported that the NFL left the decision to honor up to the teams. Five NFL teams did not have a moment of silence, which included The Vikings, Steelers, Colts, Bengals, Lions, and Ravens. “The Steelers did hold their American flags at half-staff,” Rolling Stone reported, “observing a Trump order about flags on public grounds (which some state and local officials meanwhile ignored). On Monday night, the Houston Texans marked a moment of silence for victims of violence without naming Kirk by name, while the Las Vegas Raiders made no reference, veiled or otherwise, to the assassination.”
Was There A School Shooting At The Time Of CK’s Shooting?
Yes. As reported in The Guardian: “Exactly one minute later, at 12.24pm, about 450 miles (725km) to the east in Colorado, a 911 call came in to first responders in the mountain town of Evergreen. A 16-year-old student had opened fire with a revolver on high school grounds, critically injuring two fellow students before turning the handgun on himself.”
Yet there was no federal order for the flags to be lowered to half-staff for the children. Nor is it regular practice to lower the flags at schools across the country when other students, faculty of staff are murdered in mass school shootings, the defense for which, is practiced regularly at schools.
While the murder of CK happened on a school campus, and another school shooting happened 450 miles away, there has been no debate, proposed new legislation, or call for reduction of accessibility to guns in the United States.
MidHudson News first reported that a Westchester County School Resource Officer (SRO), Tanisha Blanche, was reassigned, as instigated by Somers Superintendent of Schools Adam Bronstein after she allegedly made more than one post on Facebook about the shooting of CK. Police1 reported: “The officer allegedly made several posts, including: ‘Why yall don’t have that same energy for the school shooting that took place yesterday, but yall crying over the man that was ok with gun violence.’” Her second comment can be read at MidHudson News.
Police1 reported that Superintendent Bronstein “said the posts glorified violence and were unacceptable for someone responsible for student safety. He contacted the Westchester County SRO unit, which reassigned the officer.”
Frequently Quoted Quotes By Charlie Kirk:
Hindustan Times gathered quotes that have been referred to after his murder. The Guardian also rounded up quotes.
At a Turning Point USA event, Kirk said, “We must also be real. We must be honest with the population. Having an armed citizenry comes with a price, and that is part of liberty... But I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year, so that we can have the Second Amendment.”
CK dismissed empathy on his podcast. “I can’t stand the word empathy, actually. I think empathy is a made-up, new age term that does a lot of damage.”
This quote illustrates how he characterizes a group of people: “They [Black people] were actually better in the 1940s. It was bad. It was evil. But what happened? Something changed. They committed less crimes… Black America is worse than it has been in the last 80 years.”
On rape and child pregnancy, CK said that this is how he would advise his daughter, should it happen to her: “The answer is yes. The baby would be delivered.”
At a TPUSA event, he compared trans identity to blackface. “A man who calls himself trans is wearing ‘woman face,’ no different than I would wear Black face trying to be a Black person. It’s assuming an identity that isn’t yours.”
On his radio show, he claimed Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Ketanji Brown Jackson were “affirmative action picks.” He said: “Black women do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.”
After Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s announced engagement, he suggested that Taylor be submissive: “Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge.”
Charlie and his changing position on Israel
In the weeks before his life ended, CK was questioning his position on Israel regarding the ethnic cleansing it is conducting in Palestine. CK had been a solid supporter of Israel and its genocide. But in the past few weeks, had been vocalizing questions and frustration. Newsweek wrote about it here. Yahoo News reported that Megyn Kelly and Candace Owens acknowledge and agree with Charlie’s changing discourse about Israel as he became more critical of Israel’s killing.
Charlie and Megyn discuss Israel here on YouTube, where Charlie vocalizes his frustrations with his freedom to speak out critically about Israel. Megyn then agrees and identifies with his experience.
Vimeo.com Deleted ALBB's Entire Account After Publishing This Video In Response Flags At Half Staff
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I did not know who CK was. As I learned about who he was - from his own quotes and spoken word - I was left with several dirty tastes in my mouth. I did not want to step into this issue, as I select very tightly which issues to get involved in - outside of local shopping and coffee choices for Beacon. And murders in town and City of Beacon local government issues. That in and of itself is a lot.
Sunday was a day of sermons. Sunday is a day that I sometimes post a message of someone else’s at the beginning of the day that is of heavier meaning, and then we proceed skipping through the day at the Beacon Farmer’s Market, Beacon Flea Market, and the rest of the mile long Main Street and back road side streets.
I published a brief clip of the sermon delivered by Pastor Howard-John Wesley of the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He opens by saying he is “overwhelmed” at the federal order of having the flags lowered to half staff. He stated that CK should not have been assassinated. And declared CK a racist. He asked how he could be asked to respect a man who did not respect him.
Here’s the transcript:
CK did not deserve to be assassinated. But I'm overwhelmed. Seeing the flags of the United States of America and Half Staff calling this nation to honor and venerate a man who was an unapologetic racist and spending all of his life sewing seeds of division and hate into this land.
And hearing people with selective rage who are mad about CK but didn't give a damn about Melissa Hortman and her husband when they were shot down in their home, tell me I ought to have compassion of the death of a man who had no respect for my own life!
I am sorry, but there is nowhere in Bible where we are taught to honor evil. And how you die does not redeem how you lived. You do not become a hero in your death, when you were a weapon of the enemy in your life.
I can abhor the violence that took your life. But I don't have to celebrate how you chose to live.
I. Am. Overwhelmed.
-Pastor Howard-John Wesley of the Alfred Street Baptist Church
Video originally posted by Etan Thomas.
After posting that, I was thanked by a few people, including the pastor from the Salvation Army, who shared the direction of what she delivered in her sermon that Sunday to her congregation in Beacon.
I was also called a foul name by extended Beacon community member Tracy Eraka Pavlovic. She likes to call me names when I call out ICE or write about race or an injustice. This time, it was “Nice job jackass!!!!!!” with two dark angry emoji faces.
A few readers asked about the flags being lowered to half staff. They assumed they were lowered for 9-11 and not for CK. A few readers gently reached out to ask. I edited my original Instagram post to imply nothing about the flags locally, and deleted the duplicated Facebook post because I could not edit it (technically, if you duplicate Instagram to Facebook, you can edit IG but not FB). While I researched the half mast issue locally and federally, I wanted the wording neutral. Even though I later learned that I was initially correct and did need to have edited. But.
On Monday, after my research, I sat down to write the article. Step 1 is to embed a video I published at Instagram into articles here at this website. I use Vimeo to do this. It’s cozier and less invasive that YouTube, so I have felt comfortable there.
Two minutes - literally 2 minutes - after I published the video to Vimeo, the video platform terminated my entire account. They didn’t just flag the video, or take the individual video down. The entire account disappeared. I emailed them requesting to reinstate it, believing their choice to be extreme and in disagreement even with their flagging on the content.
You see, the Pastor called white man CK “racist.” it is for that reason I believe Vimeo deleted the account.
I have since recorded a response video to this, which you can watch here. To embed the video here to this website, I would need to upgrade on this platform and pay a higher fee. I’ll think about it. I have other bills to pay first, but we’ll see. I could go to YouTube, but I don’t like feeding Google’s Alphabet anymore. But. Maybe.
In the meantime, watch Pastor Howard-John Wesley’s message here. Then watch my response to Vimeo’s action.
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Beacon Resident Shares Family FaceTime From Ramallah, Palestine As Israeli Military Shoots At Storefronts "For Fun"
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Longtime ALBB reader and Beacon resident Khitam Jamal Nakhleh FaceTimed with her family in Ramallah, Palestine in August 2025. This is what she saw in a shopping area:
“She [Khitam’s family member] was hiding inside a retail store while the IOF shot at storefronts, shooting for fun. Right before that, soldiers stormed a money exchange and stole all the cash.”
Khitam also said: “This isn’t something I saw online. This is my family. This is happening right now. Life under occupation means fearing for your life while running errands. It means soldiers can steal, and terrorize and no one holds them accountable. Don’t scroll past this. Share it. Talk about it. Demand better. It’s not just Gaza it’s all of Palestine.”
Khitam always ends each post with: #dontstoptalkingaboutpalestine🇵🇸
Longtime Reader Spotted In The Wild With Palestine T-Shirt From The Yard
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This vision! ♥️💚🖤🤍
Longtime reader @wpattersonacadian wearing his T-shirt from The Yard for his regular shop at Key Food Beacon. The parking lot is one of his favorite spots.
Assistance For Passports, Veterans, Social Security And More Offered By Pat Ryan's Bus At Beacon Farmer's Market
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Photo Credits on this page: Katie Hellmuth
Parked at the Beacon Farmer’s Market this week next to the live music tent was the Representative Pat Ryan C.A.R.E.S. (Constituent Advocacy Resources Empowerment Services). The concept of the van is to help people navigate federal agencies and get attention if they are being neglected. “You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops or navigate bureaucratic red tape to get the assistance you deserve and the federal benefits you earned,” says Rep. Ryan on the program’s website.
Sunday’s van pop-up was staffed by Constituent Advocate Karen DeSimone and District Aide Brandon Gonzalez. There purpose was to answer questions from constituents about accessing federal agencies. They came equipped with Release Forms that once signed, can authorize Rep. Ryan’s staff members to begin taking action for the constituent to get their issue resolved.
If a passport has stalled in process, or Veterans benefits hard to reach, this program helps remove the clog. Said Thomas from Port Jervis on the program website: “I had spent 30 months trying to get my Social Security benefits and had gotten nowhere. After contacting Congressman Ryan's office, I was put in touch with Destiny H., who interceded on my behalf and got me results. I cannot thank her enough and am totally sincere when I say that her help changed my life.”
The program helps with Social Security, Passports, Veteran Benefits, Grant Funding, IRS Help, Flag Requests, and more. On this day in Beacon, Karen and Brandon answered questions about Social Security, and how one could contact the Veteran’s Office.
Said David from Beacon on the program’s website: “The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, a historic Hudson Valley service organization, experienced an unexpected automated action from the IRS that if not resolved quickly, could have had very negative consequences. I immediately contacted Congressman Ryan's office for advice and support. The Congressman's staff promptly responded to our request for assistance, contacted the IRS Tax Advocate Services on our behalf, and advocated for our need to expedite review and resolution with professional skill. We greatly appreciate the response we received. Thank you!”
At market, Karen encouraged people to contact the Representative’s website, or herself or Brandon directly with questions:
Karen DeSimone, Constitute Advocate: karen.desimone@mail.house.gov 845-443-2930
Brandon Gonzalez, District Aid: brandon.gonzalez@mail.house.gov
I Am Beacon Prepares for 14th Annual I Run Beacon 5K and Celebrates 10th Annual Back 2 School Block Party
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I Am Beacon, in partnership with Key Food, proudly hosted the 10th Annual Back 2 School Block Party, a beloved community tradition that serves as both an annual school supply drive and a fundraiser for the Class in a Bag program. Through this initiative, I Am Beacon works directly with the Beacon City School District to ensure students are prepared for their very first day of school.
“This year, thanks to the generosity of the community, I Am Beacon provided 45 fully stocked backpacks through Class in a Bag, serving students in both Beacon and New Windsor.”
This year, thanks to the generosity of the community, I Am Beacon provided 45 fully stocked backpacks through Class in a Bag, serving students in both Beacon and New Windsor. At the Block Party itself, more than 130 drawstring bags with starter supply kits were distributed, ensuring even more children started the school year ready and confident.
Class in a Bag Coordinator, Kenya Gadsden, expressed her gratitude: “Thank you for the personalized backpacks, water bottles, and headphones. It shows the thoughtfulness of our community—treating the children of Beacon with the same care as their own.”
I Am Beacon also proudly collaborated with Fareground, donating supplies for their School Supply Giveaway on August 28th. As Executive Director, Reuben Simmons, shared: “Collaborating is part of our mission, and we believe in working together to maximize impact.”
The Block Party was made possible thanks to the generous support of event sponsors: Staples (Wappingers Falls), Mountainview Dental, Beacon Teachers Association, Stewart’s Shops, Salem Tabernacle Church, Fidelis, The Roundhouse, Joker Inc., Beacon Dental, Yanarella School of Dance, and State Farm (Catlin McVicker).
Special thanks also go to our community partners who helped collect supplies leading up to the event: Key Food Marketplace, Fareground, and the Howland Public Library. A heartfelt thank you to Christ Church United Methodist for their generosity and contributions to the drive.
On the day of the Block Party, community organizations came together to engage and uplift attendees, including: Fareground, Compass Arts, Fidelis, Little Preparatory, Mountainview Dental, Beacon Dental, GEMMS, State Farm, Girl Scouts, Conservation Advisory Committee, Les Soeurs Amiables Civic Club, Rise Up, St. Andrew/St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Astor, South Avenue Elementary, Beacon City School District Nurse’s Unit, and the Beacon City School District Transportation Department.
A special shoutout goes to A Little Beacon Blog and the Beacon Teachers Association for their incredible face painting, and to the Newburgh and Albany teams for joining our Beacon Hoops All-Stars on the court.
Looking Ahead: I Run Beacon 5K
“To date, I Am Beacon has awarded $40,400 in scholarships to 50 students in the Beacon community through this event.”
With the success of the Block Party, I Am Beacon is now in full gear organizing the 14th Annual I Run Beacon 5K Walk/Run Scholarship Fundraiser, taking place on Sunday, September 28th at Memorial Park. To date, I Am Beacon has awarded $40,400 in scholarships to 50 students in the Beacon community through this event.
Registration For The Run
For more information and registration, please visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Beacon/IRunBeacon5KRunWalk.
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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.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.