Things To Do In Beacon, NY 📅 10/18/2025
/|
|
|
|
Beacon's Chase Bank Branch On Main Street Is Closing On December 10, 2025
/
Following a trend in Beacon, another large building will be empty as new residential/commercial buildings are being built: the Chase Bank at 404 Main Street will close on December 10th, 2025, according to a letter sent in the snail mail to Chase Bank customers and people who have visited the branch.
The letter encourages those who bank with Chase to visit their Fishkill, NY location at 15 Merritt Blvd. Some employees of the Beacon location will continue serving customers in the Fishkill location. Chase has announced closures all over the country as recently as July 2025.
A few blocks west, the Rite Aid that closed during its second round of bankruptcy remains without a new tenant, as big-box pharmacies are closing locations. Walgreens announced earlier this year that it is closing locations in what it calls “Footprint Optimization Program” - a program to reduce footprints into its stores across the country.
Newsweek reported: “In October, the company [Walgreens] said it would be closing about 1,200 stores over the next three years, including 500 in the current fiscal year that ends on August 31.
Declining sales of non-pharmacy items due to online delivery shopping contributed to Walgreens’ revenue loss. “In October 2024, Walgreens announced that it would be closing 1,200 stores over the next three years after reporting a net loss of $3 billion in its fourth quarter,” Newsweek reported. “This compared to a net loss of $180 million the year prior and primarily reflected charges relating to opioid lawsuits from previous years.”
Opioid lawsuits by individuals and municipalities seemed to have drained the pharmacy industry.
Two of Beacon’s original firehouses have been for sale, with one that went into contract in July 25, 2025: Mase Hook and Ladder at 425 Main Street, nearly across the street from Chase Bank. Around the corner on East Main Street, the historic firehouse Beacon Engine Company No 1. Firehouse remains for sale after the City of Beacon evicted the retired volunteer firefighters who used it as their community center, and is being presented as a historic Victorian property, as it was added to the National Registrar of Historic Places in 2004.
As the people of Beacon lose their patience with the unaffordable real estate situation in Beacon, ALBB Readers Reactions have included:
Randy Casale
"A drug store should be there and use the drive through also."
Jay Nicholas
"To make way for an artisanal toothpick shop."
Chris Troy
"Nice building… be a shame if someone didn’t put a coffee shop inside it."
Michael Vierra
"Maybe Tacos or Coffee?...WE NEED MORE TACOS & COFFEE!"
Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade Returns 2025 As All-Day Afair: Schedule of Events
/
This Main Street Halloween Parade has grown in recent years to be a higher concept seek-and-find for kids and families to expand their exposure from simply a parade route going down the middle of Main Street, to a reason to go into stores to explore. Costume Contests have been added, and an 21+ Adult party at the end. Therefore, an itinerary has been developed with a prize system. Organizers are The Gate House Team at Compass Realty. Any questions should go to them. ALBB is not an organizer of this event. Here’s how it works, according to their flyer:
Saturday, October 25, 2025. Beacon’s Main Street
Full Day Hocus Pocus: 11am-6pm
Each business with an orange pumpkin in the window will have a Black Cat hidden in their store. Find the Black Cat and get your passport stamped. Passports are available at participating stores during normal business hours. Businesses wishing to get involved should contact Gate House Team at Compass Realty.
Win a Grab Bag for every 15 stamps collected. Depending on how many businesses are participating, maybe a child can get more than one Grab Bag! Beacon’s Main Street is 1 miles long.
Grab Bag Locations:
The Gate House Team at Compass Realty (490 Main Street, down near the mountain, on the way to Chocolate Studio for their ice-cream.)
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hudson Valley Properties (226 Main Street, Ste 1, on the way to Bagel-ish)
Parade TIme: 3-3:30pm
Lineup is at 2:30pm at Pohill Park (near Bank Square Coffee and Savage Wonder)
Parade kicks off at 3pm and ends at Veterans Place (the Post Office and Towne Crier).
Trunk or Treat from First Responders: 3-6pm
Enjoy a Trunk or Treat at Veterans Place (where the parade ends) with your favorite First Responders (Beacon Volunteer Ambulance (BVAC) and others)
Costume Competition from Happy Valley: 12-7pm
An all-day Family Friendly Halloween Celebration will be happening at Happy Valley from 12-7pm. Happy Valley has old-school arcade style video games inside, as well as beer and drinks.
Costume Contest: 5-5:30pm
A Family Friendly Halloween Costume Contest will commence with prizes for various categories: Best Family Group Costume; Best Costume For Kids (8-12 yo); Best Costume for Teens (13-17 yo)
Halloween Party for Adults 21+: 8pm-1:30am
Another celebration will commence, but this one is for Adults. The Costume Contest for this round is from 10-10:30pm.
Have fun! Get plenty of rest after for the actual night of Halloween.
"Native New Yorkers" By Marist Professor Evan T. Pritchard Is A Good Read For Indigenous People's Day Or Any Day
/
Reading book descriptions of books that describe the history of Brown and Indigenous people as "forgotten" or as a "blueprint" can lull the reader into a sleep of acceptance; of preserving a chisel mark of history; making future violent occupations and genocides acceptable, as this one is currently in Palestine before our blinking eyes.
Native New Yorkers: The Legacy of the Algonquin People of New York is a book by Evan T. Pritchard, who is a professor of Native American history at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, where he also teaches ethics and philosophy, according to his author bio at the Chicago Review Press. Evan is a descendant of the Micmac people (part of the Algonquin nations) and is the founder of the Center for Algonquin Culture.
The book is an enchanting read. Once devoured, you will never be able to walk over Manhattan again the way you once might have. The cement and sidewalks will feel too foreign and invasive, once you have been shown how lush the land was with flowering trees and people then.
The Chicago Review describes the book simply: "A comprehensive and fascinating account of the graceful Algonquin civilization that once flourished in the area that is now New York."
Google Books describes Native New Yorkers this way: "When Giovanni da Verrazzano sailed into the New York Harbor in 1524, he climbed a hill and beheld 'campfires as plentiful as stars, as far as the eye can see.' Native New Yorkers reveals the city beneath The City, telling the fascinating story of the ancient Algonquin culture that maintained a thriving civilization in the greater New York area that is now a bustling metropolis. This book draws on a wide range of historical sources as well as extensive interviews with living Algonquin elders; exhaustively traces ancient trails, villages, burial grounds, and sacred sites and is supplemented with maps, a timeline of New York's Algonquin history, a glossary of Algonquin words, and a transcript of Giovanni da Verrazzano's letter to King Francis I of France describing his first glimpses of people of New York in 1524."
While Amazon describes the book this way: "'To be stewards of the earth, not owners': this was the way of the Lenape. Considering themselves sacred land keepers, they walked gently; they preserved the world they inhabited. Drawing on a wide range of historical sources, interviews with living Algonquin elders, and first-hand explorations of the ancient trails, burial grounds, and sacred sites, Native New Yorkers offers a rare glimpse into the civilization that served as the blueprint for modern New York. A fascinating history, supplemented with maps, timelines, and a glossary of Algonquin words, this book is an important and timely celebration of a forgotten people."
Even to call it a "celebration of forgotten people," blesses the occupiers who claimed to "discover" it.
Evan also authored Henry Hudson and the Algonquins of New York and No Word for Time: The Way of the Algonquin People, and other books.
Chapters from Native New Yorkers include:
How GREEN WAS MANHATTAN
A PARADISE FOR THE LIVING
A WALK AROUND OLD MANHATTAN
EXPLORING THE ANCIENT CITY The Bronx Brooklyn Queens and Staten Island
VERRAZZANO AND HIS LEGACY
WE BELONG TO THE EARTH
THE TWOCOLORED SNAKE A History of the Dutch Occupation of New York
THE WORLD OF THE LENAPE
SWEET AND FULL OF MEANING The Languages of Manhattan
PART II THE LEGENDARY HUDSON VALLEY
THE HEAD OF THE WOLF Orange and Ulster Counties
A WALK DOWN THE MINISINK TRAIL
NATIVE NEW YORKERS OF STONY COUNTRY Rockland County
NATIVE NEW YORKERS OF THE NORTH THE MOHICAN Dutchess Columbia Rensselaer Washington Saratoga Schenectady Albany and Greene
PART III LONG ISLAND LONG AGO
THE THIRTEEN TRIBES OF LONG ISLAND
CONCLUSION
EPILOGUE
MUNSEE VOCABULARY
TWELVE LEVELS OF ALGONQUIN HISTORY IN NEW YORK STATE
THE VERRAZZANO DIARY LETTER TO FRANCIS I OF FRANCE
TIME LINE OF LENAPE HISTORY
Buy this book locally in Beacon from Binnacle Books or Stanza Books. Each can special order it if not in stock. Stop into the independent book shops to see what else they have, like journals, stationery and cards.
In Cold Spring, visit Split Rock Books, and “in so-called Kingston,” visit Blackbird Infoshop & Café.
A Reminder Of The Name Of "The Hudson River" Before European Occupation
According to the Hudson River Valley Institute: "This region was a river valley long before the river was named for Henry Hudson. At the time of contact with European explorers and colonists, the Mohicans who lived in the region referred to it as the Mahicannituk, often translated as 'the river that flows both ways,' or 'the waters that are never still.'
"When researching the Native American history of a region, it is important to remember the context in which that history was recorded. Nearly all the first-hand accounts which have survived were written by Europeans who were, by definition, foreign to the lifeways of America’s original inhabitants. Even in the best circumstances with sympathetic explorers, missionaries, or colonists, whatever aspects of indigenous culture and history were captured had been seen through the lens of European culture by an individual who was participating to some extent in some phase of colonization."
The Hudson River Valley Institute reminds us of which groups were living in the Hudson River Valley before Europeans came: "Today the Hudson River Valley encompasses lands that, prior to colonization, were occupied by five groups: the Munsee Lenape, Wappinger, Schaghticoke, Mohican, and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Their boundaries overlapped and changed prior to and after the arrival of the colonists, but they maintain a connection to lands in the region. The following pages provide overviews of those five groups as well as bibliographies and online resources.
|
|
Assessment Review Board Vacancy Not Promoted; Discussion of Ethics Complaints; Both Appointees Confirmed
/
Beacon’s City Council reviewing the two appointments to the Board of Assessment Review, where they confirmed that the appointment opportunities were not promoted to the public, and discussed the Ethics Complaints process of Board Members, or lack there of.
The Beacon City Council has appointed two people to the five person Board of Assessment Review: David Ross, a new appointee to the Board who replaces Ron Donofrio, a realtor. David is the former director of the San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Whitney Museum, and others. Michele Rios is a reappointment for a third term to the Board. Michele is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. This board is one of three boards that is statutory, meaning it is required by law to be filled.
Upon being questioned by A Little Beacon Blog on the uncontested nature of Michele’s third reappointment, and a general question of if the Board of Assessment Review should be stacked with three of the five seats being realtors, Michele publicly replied to this reporter by insulting, threatening and shaming this reporter: “I am not sure who you are or why you have it in for me but this is exactly why the professionals are on these committees and not people who pretend to be real. You are going to hear from my attorney and I will ADVERTISE IT in the Beacon Blog and see how you like it. You are a horrible unstable individual who needs helps. There are places for you to go to get help. This is now harassment for no reason and I you are put on notice. For the City of Beacon to allow you to use their name is an injustice. This coming from a woman who lives in a garage most of the time. I am pressing harassment charges on you, maybe then you'll stay away.”
To clarify clarify Michele’s comment on the garage before reporting what the City Council discussed prior to voting on these appointments, this reporter does not have a garage, but does have a shed, which has been decorated into a studio. This reporter works in that studio shed, and enjoys spending time there as part of the back yard to the rest of her property that includes a house, front and back yard, and shared driveway.
Deep Dive Into October 2025’s Appointment Discussion
The City Council’s complete discussion about these appointments and the process has been made available as a transcript below so that all details and considerations can be seen.
Appointments to most boards in Beacon are sleepers, but especially so with the Assessment Review Board, being that the concept of property assessments is myriad in complexities. However, this Board is one of the most personal, as it can impact people’s property assessments, which is connected to how much property tax they pay.
The discussion below brought to light new information:
Beacon’s Board of Ethics: That Beacon has no Board of Ethics anymore, should anyone have a complaint about a Board Member on a committee.
Dutchess County Board of Ethics: It was recommended by the Mayor for complaints to be made to the Dutchess County Board of Ethics. However, Beacon’s Assessor, Kathy (Kathleen) Martin, who Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review answers to, is a Board Member on Dutchess County’s Board of Ethics.
The two types of qualities Mayor Lee looks for in an appointee: real estate experience, and experience with financial numbers.
That Mayor Lee approached David Ross to fill the financial numbers role, but a Councilmember wanted to know more about his finance background beyond art curation, despite David being the Director of several art museums.
Mayor Lee started the conversation with an overall explanation of what this board does: "So, [Councilperson] Pam and [Councilperson] George, I just have a comment, which is, the Board of Assessment Review. There's two skill sets that are relevant for a Board Member. Just so you know what they do: they only review grievances in May, and that's their kind of only job.”
He went further into detail: "The two skill set areas, which you know I know from having run the Property Tax Agency, is either: you know something about real estate and real estate assessments; or you know something about numbers.
"The first person I'm appointing is in the real estate business. You want that expertise. It has no effect on assessments. The person doesn't get referrals. The person doesn't selling anything. But the person does know something about the market, and what assessments might be.
"The second person I'm appointing actually knows about numbers. And Amber, you will recall, when we added people to the the… (City Administrator Chris fills in: “Data Committee,”) the the Fjord Trail Committee, you know, I needed people who actually understood numbers because there were people on the other side who had no idea, and were just making stuff up. So that's the basic skill set.
"The alternative, which I used to see years ago, is you just appoint, you know, some people who don't know much, and one of two things happens: either they do whatever the Assessor tells them, or they favor their friends. Neither which I wanted as a response. So I just want you to know that. Any comments on the first one which is Michele?"
The Conversation Moved To the Concept Of Beacon’s Ethics Committee
Councilperson Paloma Wake paused the discussion on anyone in particular, to focus on what people should do if they have a complaint about person serving on a Committee for the City of Beacon. Mayor Lee provided a circular answer.
Councilperson Paloma asked "I don't have a comment on Michele or David in particular. But on if there is an ethics complaint about any of our Committee Members, where does that go? I know we don't have an Ethics Committee anymore. I believe it disbanded several years ago. So I want to understand where complaints or concerns should go."
Maybe Lee answered: "Yeah, we almost never have had one," meaning a complaint. "If we ever do [have a complaint about a Board Member],” he continued, “we can form one [an Ethics Committee]. But I think the alternative would be to ask [Dutchess] County to do it because the County has an Ethics Committee. In fact, one of our citizens is on that now. So that might be another approach."
Mayor Lee did not name which citizen of Beacon is on Dutchess County’s Ethics Committee, but as of this publishing, Hon. Peter Forman is on the Dutchess County Ethics Committee. Peter served as a Judge in Dutchess County in Family Court, County Court, and Acting Justice of the Supreme Court for 20 years until his retirement in 2020, where he went on as counsel at the law firm of Cuddy and Fedder, who often goes up against the City of Beacon when representing commercial property developers.
Kathleen (Kathy) Martin is also listed as a Board Member of the Dutchess County Ethics Committee. Kathleen, who goes by Kathy on Beacon’s Assessor page, is the longtime Assessor for the City of Beacon who recommended Michele Rios to Beacon's Assessment Review Board, the Board Member of this evening's reappointment vote. Kathleen also serves at the Mayor of the Village of Fishkill since 2021, and was appointed as the Assessor to Pleasant Valley in 1995. In 2006, she was appointed Assessor to the Town of East Fishkill and the City of Beacon, where each municipality shares in paying her fee for that service.
The City's Attorney Nick Ward-Willis of the law firm Keane & Beane contributed to the Mayor’s instruction on point of contact for ethics complaints: "Our office would also get involved and try to facilitate a resolution, provide advice and guidance. But you're right, there are other resources available."
Mayor Lee finalized to close the topic: "Yeah. But thank you for asking that,"
However, Councilperson Paloma persisted: "So, someone, if they had a concern, they should go to the [Dutchess] County Ethics Board."
Mayor Lee responded: "Well, they can come here and then I think I would refer them to Nick and Nick might suggest that or offer something else."
Attorney Nick answered: "Correct."
Councilperson Pam Weatherbee raised another question: "Is it ethics for the position that they're volunteering for? Or is it for their personal life or business?"
Mayor Lee answered: "Well, so it would have to be that somehow there's some conflict with respect to their position, right? And the Board of Assessment Review again, I don't think has any, you know, conflict. But that's that's how you go about it. Okay?"
Councilperson Pam wanted to understand the board meeting process a little more: "And the Board meets as a group? It's not just whoever shows up that day? It's a group."
Mayor Lee answered: "It's 5 [people]. And it's done in May during Grievance Period and then they review grievances, with attorney advice and the Assessor." Mayor Lee looked to Attorney Nick for clarification, to which Attorney Nick responded: "Right. And they receive training as well. There's state mandatory training."
Councilperson Paloma continued: "And is there sort of a standard in particular with the Board of Assessment Review? Is there a standard Conflict of Interest Disclosure or process that they have to go through?"
Attorney Nick answered: "I can't speak to it, but…I can't speak to their process."
Mayor Lee continued: "Now, again, unless you're the Assessor of Beacon, I don't think there's any conflicts at all because the role is to if someone has a grievance, you - the Assessor - provides data of adjacent homes or like homes [aka "comps"] and you look at those relative to the assessment of the particular home that's being grieved. I don't see what there could possibly..."
City Administrator Chris White chimed in: "Well, if it was if it was your property, you'd have to recuse yourself."
Attorney Nick brought up occurrences "in other communities where someone has grieved their own assessment." Mayor Lee agreed, and elaborated: "Yes. Right. So, you know, if somebody, you know, say somebody owned a bunch of properties, and were on it [the Assessment Review Board], that that might create a conflict for your particular one, but only your particular one." Attorney Nick confirmed: "Correct."
Mayor Lee continued with the reappointment: "I'll also point out this candidate's been on the Board of Assessment Review for 15 years -" to which Administrator Chris corrected him: "I think ten." Mayor Lee continued: "Oh, this is the third 5 year term...And um you know, our Assessor [Kathy Martin] actually says person [Michele Rios] does a really good job and would be happy to have her do it again."
The Mayor then brought it to a vote, and all Councilmembers voted in favor of appointing Michele Rios to the Board of Assessment Review.
The First Time Appointment Of David Ross
The second appointment was to fill a vacancy on the Board of Assessment with a new appointee, David Ross, who Mayor Lee hand-picked to bring to the City Council. For this appointment, Mayor Lee indicated that this selection was based on filling the "numbers" seat, where he wanted a person very familiar with numbers, as he explained at the beginning of the meeting. During this point in the meeting, the Council also pressed about how the vacancy and term ending were promoted, if at all. It was discovered that these vacancies were not promoted at all by anyone in the City of Beacon administration.
"I think many of you know who David Ross is," Mayor Lee began. "He actually has a good numerical background and he was very gracious enough to say he would do it. We always struggle to fill this one. So. Any other comments on David?" He is the former director of the San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Whitney Museum, and other art museums.
Councilperson Molly Rhodes asked for explanation on vacancy promotion: "Yeah, not on David, but just on the point you just said about struggling to fill this particular position. Can you say a little bit more for the community? I know these are 5-year terms, so there might not be a vacancy for this particular one, but just how these are kind of advertised or shared, so community members who might have relevant experience know they can put their name in the hat for things like this."
Mayor Lee did not answer the question, but provided fog around the concept of the Committee, which as he pointed out, is one of the only municipal boards required by law to exist. "Yeah, I think the primary issue is it's an arcane committee, right?" Arcane is defined by Oxford Languages as meaning "understood by few; mysterious or secret."
Mayor Lee continued: "Only a data geek who's interested in property assessments like, you know, your Mayor when he ran the Agency, has some interest in this area. So, it's hard to take on people." This indicates a reluctance to open the vacancy to public awareness in order to preserve personal working relationships.
Mayor Lee continued: "Again, it's helpful to have a background in real estate. You could be an assessor, an appraiser, various other roles. It's uh other otherwise relevant to have a numerical background because you're presented with data that are looking at comps for homes that are being grieved."
He then considered the promotion of the vacancy: "So, we can certainly advertise it. There are only three statutorily [required by law] required committees in the state: the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, and the Board of Assessment Review. It's just important we fill this one quickly. Okay."
Councilperson Paloma pressed on about promotion of the vacancy: "How would you advertise it? You just said that we could advertise it. I guess I'm asking about all of our committees and generally I think we've asked a couple...it comes up every couple of months. You know, how do people know when there are vacancies on the committee, and there's never a full answer. "
One of the most recent examples was the reemergence of Councilperson George Mansfield onto the City Council after he retired and did not seek reelection. After the unanticipated resignation of Councilperson Wren Longo, the Council seat was filled via appointment by Mayor Lee, who approached individuals to consider coming onto council. With pressure, an open call was made, but candidates who put their hats into the ring - if any - were not presented to the public.
Mayor Lee answered: "Well, so we can post, but again, this one...I just figured nobody in their right mind would be interested to solicit."
City Administrator Chris interjected: "But we do accept applications any time. If you go on the website and you have an interest, somebody moves to Beacon, somebody decides they've retired, they want they want to contribute some time, you can go to our website and you can submit an application. The kind of default here is when somebody's term is coming up, if they've done a a good job and they show up at meetings, we reappoint them generally."
City Administrator Chris introduced a new claim: "We had one [Assessment Review Board Member] who did not show up, and we were asked by the Assessor [Kathy Martin] to consider a different candidate who would actually make a commitment to being there." While he did not mention who the Board Member was, the only Board Member to have his name vanish off the website during the publication of this article series was Ron Donofrio, who serves many roles professionally, including being a realtor. His term expiration and reappointment opportunity would have been in October 2025.
City Administrator Chris continued: "We didn't have a lot of time either on this one. This is a little unique from the other, but we went back; we had no expressions of interest; no applications. We didn't go out and publicize it. Ben [Secretary to the Mayor] and I realized a few weeks before this was going to expire, that it was expiring in October rather than December. So we said to Lee, 'Do you...can you figure out somebody to do this?' We also did ask the Assessor and she didn't have any recommendations other than [saying] 'Michele has been great to work with. I'd like to renew her.' So, we did that."
Councilperson Jeff Domanski had a new question about the proposed new candidate, David: "You said a few times, Lee, that Mr. Ross knows numbers, but you look at his resume, it's all art curatorship. Can you speak to that just for a few minutes?"
Mayor Lee responded: "He happens to be the finance person for the Country Club and a few other things." According to the Southern Dutchess Country Club website, David Ross is on the board.
Mayor Lee continued: "Somewhere along the way, he learned numbers probably from running budgets of uh, uh, museums, right? Cuz I talked to him about it, and he was he was comfortable because I had to explain the role. He was more concerned about it being too much time, but once he heard it was a fixed amount of time in the month of May, he was willing to do it."
Councilperson Pam circled back to attendance requirements, which resulted in new information being presented: "Is there attendance requirements for positions...type of positions?"
City Administrator Chris answered: "In this case it's just one meeting a year. So if you don't show up to that for 2 years of your 5 year term, it's a problem."
Councilperson Pam reinforced her agreement: "It's a real problem."
While it was not stated who the Board Member was who did not show up for a meeting, Ron Donofrio was the only name suddenly no longer on the City of Beacon's website as of the publishing of this article series, whose term was up for renewal in October 2025. Ron confirmed with ALBB that he missed one meeting for personal reasons, but not two years of meetings. ALBB has reached out to Assessor Kathy for her comment, but she was out of the office the week of this publishing.
City Administrator Chris concluded: "Again, we don't really have any other attendance standards with any of the other committees. They manage their own committees. If they have an issue, they would relay it to us. And that, again, would be most pertinent to the other two committees that is statutory: the ZBA [Zoning Board] and the Planning Board."
The Mayor then set the vote appointing David Ross to the Board of Assessment Review. All were in favor, and David was appointed. Mayor Lee concluded: "I'll tell David he has to sharpen his mathematical pencil. But he's good at it. Okay. Anyone opposed? Not hearing any. That's done."
2 Vacancies On Beacon's Assessment Review Board; 3 of 5 Members Are Realtors; Mayor Set To Reappoint Realtor Tonight
/
Update 10/9/2025: “Assessment Review Board Vacancy Not Promoted; Discussion of Ethics Complaints; Both Appointees Confirmed”
Two vacancies have opened on one of the most important boards in the City of Beacon that impacts property owners and their potential property taxes: the Board of Assessment Review. A well publicized open call for those vacancies has not been made by the City of Beacon, and it was not declared who was not returning to the board. A reappointment of a board member whose is a realtor, the profession of which is a debatable conflict of interest and is discussed in guidance provided by New York’s Department of Taxation and Finance, is on the table for an appointment by Mayor Kyriacou at tonight’s City Council Meeting, which will be passed by the Mayor if there is no objection from City Council.
According to the presentation made by Ben Swanson at last week’s Workshop Meeting, there are 2 appointees up, one of whom is on the board already. Ben stated: “Michele Rios [of Berkshire Hathaway] has served 2 terms. This would be her 3rd term. She has been on the board 10 years starting in 2014. She has a long real estate career as a licensed agent and broker spanning 20 years or thereabouts. So, she has a a great background for this board.”
Ben continued with the second appointee, David Ross: “David has a distinguished career in fine arts management. He's worked throughout the country in executive administrative roles with various art institutions. We think he's a very impressive candidate and he's willing to spend the time on this board as well. We're excited to bring his application to your attention as well.”
What Does The Board Of Assessment Review Do?
Mayor Kyriacou explained during last week’s 9/29/2025 City Council Workshop that the Board of Assessment Review “is one of the three statutory required ones [Boards]: The Planning Board, the Zoning Board, and the Board of Assessment Review.”
He continued: “Their job is is mostly focused around May when you have the new assessments come out and there's a grievance process and they will hear grievances. That's the non-litigation process that the City does. And then if it ever goes past that, it goes past it. But their job is primarily in that month of May. And I'm just appreciative that we've got people willing to do it.”
When people challenge their assessments to commercial or residential property and win, the City of Beacon will at times pay them back the difference. Property assessments are based on many factors, including related “comps,” which are the most recent prices of properties sold near the property in question. With the hot market in Beacon, having bidding wars is common, as well as offers of cash coming to disrupt a buying process. Some realtors are more aggressive than others at navigating this phase which can result in driving up property prices.
The Board has 5 positions on it, and 3 of them are realtors.
Who Else Is On The Board?
According to a screenshot taken by the WayBack Machine, a public database of years of archived screenshots, the realtor Ron Donofrio was the fifth name on the Assessment Review Board that has been removed. Ron was appointed in October 2020 for a 5 year term.
It was announced that there were 2 vacancies on this board. However, it was not disclosed as to who was stepping off the board, or whose term was ending or up for reappointment. Last week, A Little Beacon Blog emailed Mayor Kyriacou, his secretary Ben, and Council Member Molly Rhodes asking who was leaving the board, but none of them responded.
Ron Donofrio is also listed at the Highlands Current website as a current Assessment Review Board Member with the current City Council as of October 2025.
Checking the Board of Assessment Review page today Monday, there are 4 names listed. Prior, there were 5 names listed. According to the WayBackMachine, as of May 15, 2025, Ron Donofrio was the 5th name that is no longer listed on the City of Beacon’s website as of today. Ron is a realtor in Beacon and was appointed on October 19, 2020 by Mayor Kyriacou.
Other Board Members include:
John Stella, Board Chair
According to a memorandum presented by Ben, Secretary to the Mayor, on December 14, 2022 in favor of John Stella's reappointment, John "retired from IBM and then worked as a Realtor in the area. John spent the past 15 years on the Board of Assessment Review, 12 of which were as Chair. He also served as Chair to the City's Parking and Traffic Safety Committee for 14 years. Additionally, he served as Vice President of the Beacon Board of Education. He also served as an Volunteer Firefighter for 60 years "and is now exempt," according to the memorandum.
John Berry
According to a memorandum presented by Ben, Secretary to the Mayor, on January 3, 2024 in favor of John Berry's reappointment: “Mr. Berry is a resident of the City of Beacon and is currently retired. He has a lengthy background of community service to Beacon, specifically in previously having served as a pack leader for a local Boy Scout Troop, previously having served as Chair of the Beacon Democratic Committee, running for Mayor in 2003, and by currently continuing his long-standing service on Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review.”
Robert Palisi
Robert Palisi’s memorandum for recommendation cannot be found online at this moment, but he was recognized as the Grand Marshall of the Parade of Green in 2023. According to his Grand Marshall recognition, Robert is a lifelong resident of the City of Beacon who started his career at Shaw Motors (then became Healey) with his father. He then worked for Ward's Auto Body, and then Secor Auto Body. In 1979, he started his own family business, Palisi Auto Body & Auto Glass on Main Street in Beacon, which moved to a "newly constructed state-of-the-art auto body shop on West Main Street," in 1984 says the parade flyer.
"Bobby is also a partner in Fulton Avenue Realty Restoration Company, which over the last 28 years, has done a multitude of building renovations and constructed several new houses in and around the City of Beacon."
Michele Rios
Michele Rios is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. When this article surfaced, encouraging the City Council to pause her reappointment in order to reconsider having realtors on the board, Michele responded via Facebook Comments with insults and a threat to ALBB.
She also stated that there were 2 realtors on the board. However, there were 3 realtors on the Board, when Ron Donofrio was within his term, which may have ended October 2025.
Comments Of Interest
The Assessment Review Board is one where people in the community must appeal to fellow members of the community for financial matters. Fear of retaliation should not be a factor, but for some is.
To show an example of character, the comments of the language and logic used by this board member up for reappointment are below in the order of their publishing:
According to the bios presented above, there were 3 realtors on Beacon’s 5-member Board of Assessment Review as of this year: John Stella (Chair), Ron Donofrio, and Michele Rios.
Questions Raised From These Proposed Appointments
Should realtors be on the Assessment Review Board?
Should Beacon have a Board to hear grievances about realtors in the buying/selling process in residential or commercial property transactions?
According to Guidance provided by the New York State’s Department of Taxation and Finance, the issue of real estate agents or brokers being on assessment review boards is taken into consideration as a potential conflict of interest. While it does not prohibit it, the guidance does suggest a ratio of 1 to 3.
“Section 1524 specifically requires that persons appointed by the legislative body of a local government to the board of assessment review have a knowledge of property values in the local jurisdiction. In most instances, a real estate broker would certainly meet this requirement. It has been and continues to be the opinion of this office that there is no incompatibility arising from the appointment of 1 real estate broker to a 3 member or assessment review.
“The obvious intent of section 1524 is to provide property owners with an opportunity to obtain an independent review of their assessments by a body which did not participate in the assessment in the first instance and which consists of members knowledgeable in real property values. However, care should be taken with respect to the overall balance in the composition of the board of assessment review.”
How To Voice Your Opinion About A Mayor’s Appointment
While the Mayor makes an appointment, the City Council must support it. If they do not, then more consideration is given. To make sure your voice is heard or seen, email each City Council Member and the Mayor. One should not fear retaliation if they are a commercial or residential property owner.
MOLLY RHODES
Councilmember, Ward One
Pronouns: she, her, hers
mrhodes@beaconny.gov
JEFFREY DOMANSKI
Councilmember, Ward Two
Pronouns: he, him, his
jdomanski@beaconny.gov
PAM WETHERBEE
Councilmember, Ward Three
pwetherbee@beaconny.gov
GEORGE MANSFIELD
Councilmember, Ward Four
gmansfield@beaconny.gov
AMBER GRANT
Councilmember, At-Large
Pronouns: she, her, hers
agrant@beaconny.gov
PALOMA WAKE
Councilmember, At-Large
Pronouns: she, her, hers
pwake@beaconny.gov
Lee Kyriacou, Mayor
mayor@beaconny.gov
Ben Swanson, Secretary to the City Mayor
cityofbeacon@beaconny.gov
|
|
Recap: City Council Gold Nuggets From 9/29/2025 Meeting: Vacancy On Board of Assessment Review; Settlement Camp; Real Estate
/
Gold Nuggets From Monday’s City Council Workshop
Commercial vs Residential Building Requirements In Zones
The City Council heard from President and CEO Adam Bosch of Hudson Valley Patterns for Progress about the state of Main Streets in our area as the Council debates on if they should lift the requirement to build Commercial in the Fishkill Creek Development Zone.
The developer of 248 Tioronda has stated several times to Council that he cannot fill the Commercial property he is mandated to build (City Council created that mandate a few years ago) and wants to build Residential, but needs their permission, which they are reluctant to give. Adam from Patterns for Progress presented several yellow caution flags to building more Commercial properties near Beacon’s Main Street, and stressed the need for housing, humans and students to fill schools.
Re-Appointment of Realtor Michele Rios To Board of Assessment Review
The presumed re-appointment of realtor Michele Rios to Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review was on the agenda to prepare for a vote next week. Michele has displayed questionable ethics in ALBB’s limited exposure to her, and would benefit from soap in her mouth. Mayor Lee Kyriacou explained what this board does, but a public broadcast for the mentioned 2 vacancies was not made. City Council should consider opening the appointment to others. The vote would be next week, so anyone opposed to this re-appointment would need to write to all City Council members and the Mayor to voice their opinion before Monday. Find their emails here.
Settlement Camp Announcement
A major Settlement Camp announcement was made that would pave way for capital improvements in years to come. 🌊🌲🚽 The State of New York is open to transferring ownership to the City of Beacon, which the City currently leases from the state. This means that any financial investment the City of Beacon makes into the property would remain in Beacon.
Vimeo.com Restored ALBB's Account After 2 Appeals and Social Media Bumps
/
After 2 appeals and several Instagram mentions calling out Vimeo's reliance on AI to terminate years of content without any human review, Vimeo responded positively to ALBB's appeal requests. Vimeo not only restored our account, but restored the video with the message from Pastor Howard-John Wesley. As a refresh, Vimeo is a video-sharing platform that ALBB uses as an alternative to YouTube in order to bring you videos that can be embedded in articles, but in a less invasive way than YouTube does.
Vimeo’s appeal email said:
Hello,
We're writing to inform you that after receiving your appeal, our team conducted a second review of Pastor Howard-John Wesley's Response To Federal Order of Flags Half Staff For Charlie Kirk and have determined it did not violate our Acceptable Use Policy. Therefore, the content has been restored.
We appreciate your patience throughout this process, and will use this decision to improve this experience for others.
ALBB’s initial response to the restoration was published on Instagram: “Thank you Vimeo . There is light and hope in this world. Thank you for taking the time to have a human review the content that got my entire account banned within 2 minutes by AI. Thank you for your second look. Appreciated. 🎥📸”
Video Features From ALBB's Beauty Guide: The Blushery (Laser Hair Removal) and Sant De La Rosa (Hair Layers)
/
A Little Beacon Blog takes you inside of some of the beauty destinations in town, as listed in our exclusive Beauty Guide. Today we enjoy Laser Hair Removal from The Blushery. Best investment we have ever made. Our journey in laser hair removal began over 20 years ago in NYC, and continues in Beacon. Blushery owner Stephanie is well trained in the service, and offers two different laser heads for your treatment. Pricing and scheduling is on their website and can be booked from the link in their Instagram.
Erica Ricotilli, owner of SANT-de-la Rosa Hair Collective on Beacon’s East End of town, has some of the sharpest sheers in town. No one does layers like she can, or bangs. Book now with her or any of the other stunning stylists at the salon. Booking is also possible via their Instagram.
When ALBB "Goes To The Garden"...She Asks: "WTF Is Going On."
/
Hello, dear Reader.
It’s become apparent that sometimes ALBB disappears in articles. We don’t churn out PR-friendly articles like a machine. Our articles are organic, based on feeling and what is going on in the neighborhoods of Beacon.
Sometimes, in covering these articles, things can get heavy. When that happens, it seems that we, and by “we” we mean Katie, retreats into the space that is not publishing, but is researching, pausing, and publishing content very selectively.
Being that ALBB has advertisers on board with us. we are mindful of when sponsor content happens. Unlike other publications which may show a flash-ad at any time, without caring what you see or how your reading experience is interrupted.
We are also mindful of your triggers and what upsets you. But. This can get in the way of getting you the real news of what you want and need to know now.
So know this, dear Reader. Katie may disappear sometimes into the garden. After publishing this blog for 14 years, sometimes she takes a pause to ask: “WTF is going on,” when evaluating our audience. Thank you for being here, as always. This video was made on August 16, 2025 and shared to ALBB’s IG. We are working on amplifying more videos we share there to the blog so that you can see too.
The Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival Returns This November 2025 After Hiatus
/
After a sold-out 2023 season and a year-long hiatus, the Hudson Valley’s most vibrant celebration of creativity is back: the Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival will return for its third edition, November 5–9, 2025.
More than a festival, Beacon Bonfire is a five-day takeover of the city - transforming streets, breweries, galleries, and unexpected corners of town into stages and canvases. Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Burning Man, Bonfire blends grassroots energy with Beacon’s unique history, drawing artists and audiences from across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
“The Bonfire is about igniting the spark that happens when art and community collide,” said Kelly Ellenwood, co-founder of the festival. “Beacon has always been a place where creativity burns bright - this festival is our way of stoking that fire for everyone, and creating the space and support that artists of all disciplines need to explore new ideas and projects.”
What’s New for 2025
“Buy One / Give One” Ticketing: In partnership with the Beacon Unicorn Fund, every festival pass purchased can fund a pass for a community member who may not otherwise attend.
Expanded Main Street Takeover: On Saturday, November 8, the full mile of Main Street will pulse with music, dance, and street performance—from the historic Fishkill Landing (West End) to Matteawan (East).
Beacon Bonfire Film Festival @ Industrial Arts Brewing (Nov. 6–7): A cinematic spotlight featuring screenings, pop-up events, and filmmaker talks.
Opening Night Ceremony (Nov. 5): “Syncretic Liturgy in Service to the Bonfire” at Prophecy Hall, the landmark former Dutch Reformed Church.
10K Firetower Run (Nov. 8): Start the day with a race to Beacon’s iconic firetower.
Sunday Reprise (Nov. 9): A family-friendly finale of community art, fire dancers, and the beloved Beacon Drum Circle.
Community Roots + Regional Impact
Since its inception, Beacon Bonfire has drawn thousands of visitors to the Hudson Valley, providing a platform for local artists and boosting the regional economy. Dozens of past participating artists have chosen to relocate to Beacon, inspired by the festival’s spirit of collaboration and its promise of what organizers call the city’s “indefinable magic.”
Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, Dutchess County, Destination Dutchess, and Arts Mid-Hudson, Beacon Bonfire continues to grow as a premier cultural destination while staying true to its grassroots origins.
How to Get Involved
Volunteer & Earn a Pass: a 4 - 5 hour shift earns volunteers a festival pass! Sign up on our website here.
Stay Car-Free: The festival is designed for walking, biking, and public transit. The Beacon Free Loop now runs Sundays, making it easy to experience the full festival footprint.
Tickets available at beaconbonfire.com
About the Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival
The Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival is co-produced by the BonfireWORKS Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists and fostering community through creativity. Learn more at bonfireworksfoundation.org.
The 2025 Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
The 2025 Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival is made possible, in part, through funding from the County of Dutchess and Destination Dutchess (formerly Dutchess Tourism, Inc.) and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.
The 2025 Beacon Bonfire Music + Art Festival gratefully thanks BeaconArts and the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts for their support. beaconarts.org
Photo Credits For Images:
1. Skyla Schreter, "Phase Space" at the Landmark (now Savage Wonder). Photo Credit Darya Golubina, 2025
2. Watson, at the B House stage, 2025
3. Jeezmo, at the Masonic Lodge, 2025
4. Syncretic Liturgy Crew, before they processed to Prophecy Hall, 2025
5. Samantha Palmeri, 364 Main Community Mural, 2025
6. Veteran's Place S'mores, 2025
Beacon Litfest Presents: “Queer from There to Here” at Savage Wonder
/
he Beacon Litfest and Live Writing are thrilled to bring you two outstanding works in their intimate event "Queer from There to Here," on Oct 9 at Savage Wonder Salon room. Featuring Ned Asta of The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions and Dawn Lundy of Instructions for The Lovers.
Audiences will hear from the 40th anniversary edition of the classic 1970's "fable manifesto," The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions by Larry Mitchell and illustrated by Ned Asta, featuring additional new essays and archival material.
Also featured will be the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist, Instructions for The Lovers, by poet and activist Dawn Lundy Martin. Implementing "... vulnerability and virtuosity, Martin constructs moments of pleasure, humor, and sexiness woven with grief..."
Asta and Lundy Martin will read and join in conversation with Nightboat's Publisher and Director, Stephen Motika. Supported in part by Poets & Writers, and the assistance of Live Writing.
Beacon Litfest Presents: “Queer from There to Here”
Day: Thurs Oct 9,
Time: 7-8:30pm
Price: $10
Location: Savage Wonder, 139 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
More Info >
Spirit of Beacon Day 2025 Committee Announces Theme, Parade and Vendor Table Lineups!
/
The 2025 Spirit of Beacon Committee Chair Ali T. Muhammad announced to the City of Beacon’s City Council the theme of this year’s Spirit of Beacon Day: “This year we're focused on the youth. Every year the spirit of Beacon Day is focused in the spirit of youth development, youth growth. Forty eight years ago when they started this, we know that there was a lot of tension in this community. People came together to ease that tension.”
Crediting inspiration to Whitney Houston’s song, the theme is: “Children Are The Future; Let Them Lead The Way.” Don’t be surprised if this song is in your head for the rest of the day. That is, until the school marching bands and the Marching Cobra’s knock it out with their beats!
The Vendor Table Lineup has been announced, and it’s fresh with new businesses, a collection of faith-based groups at the Salvation Army yard this year, and new food vendors, including Chocolate Studio (making an appearance up-block from their storefront near the Dummy Light), Big Vinny’s Bakery, Midnight Ferry from Newburgh, Pat’s Kitchen, Candi Cloud Confections, Brie & Boujee and others. St. Rocco’s and the Masjid Ur Rashid will be cooking as usual from their home-bases, and other organizations may be selling food from their tables as fundraisers.
The Parade Lineup has been announced as well.
Any updated Vendor or Parade Lineups will be re-published here at at Spirit of Beacon website as they happen. Tap on either lineup photo to enlarge it.
10am Streets blocked off in Spirit of Beacon Table Perimeter.
11am Spirit of Beacon Day Opens! Vendor Tables Open.
11:30am Volunteers of the Year Ceremony
12pm Parade lineup (those in the parade go to Rte. 52 (Yankee Clipper Diner).
1-2pm Parade starts!
5pm Spirit of Beacon Day ends.
A Little Beacon Blog
SEARCH & FIND
Recent Articles
BLOG RSS FEED:
ALBB IS A MEDIA SPONSOR FOR:
Categories
- A Little Beacon Space
- ALBB Merch
- Art
- Artists
- Beacon City Schools
- Beauty
- Beauty Guide
- Behind the Scenes
- Black and Brown Community
- Business Directory
- Business in Beacon
- City Council Meetings
- Classes
- Classified Ads
- Come In!
- Community Announcements
- Development
- Donations
- Dutchess County
- Environmental
- Events
- Farming
- Film & Television
- Fitness
- Food
- Fundraisers
- Galleries
- Happening This Weekend
- Health and Wellness
- Hiking & Biking
- History of Beacon
- Holiday
- Hudson River
- Hudson Valley
- Human Rights
- In The News
- Job Listing
- Kids Classes
- Kids Events
- LGBTQ
- Letter To The Editor
- Loss Of Life
- Money
- Movies
- Music
- New York
- Newburgh
- Parking
- Pets
- Podcasts
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.