Video Recaps Of Gold Nuggets From City Council Meeting 10/14/2025: Budget 2026, Commnity Fridge Removal, Etc.

Tuesday Night’s City Council Workshop Meeting for 10/14/2025 covered:

• Budget Presentations from Police and Fire Chiefs, and Parks and Rec Director Mark Price. Overview of South Avenue Park improvement to Loopers Basketball Court in time for Beacon Hoops kids community basketball program. The price reduction of the summer pool from $100/household to $20. The Skate Park upgrade. More.

• Finance Director Susan Tucker’s note about the 3 largest areas of the budget that are fixed.

• Housing discussed. Intricacies brought up as to why it’s so hard to afford Beacon, like FICO scores. Mayor open to face making Short Terms illegal to increase housing stock for long term rentals.

• Community Refrigerator discussion led by Heidi Harrison and Mark Price, illustrating their 5 years of being involved with the one at the Parks and Rec building that is not owned by the City, even though people accessing the fridge often think it is. Heidi maintained that people who use the fridge are like family to them, but that the current management system is not working. Well intentioned, but something else is needed with management. She stressed how quickly the fridge can degrade in quality and dignity even within a few hours of a drop off of donated food. City Administrator Chris White stressed how the food labels and health regulations that restaurants follow were not applied to the fridge. He proposed buying people WIC and suggested the organizations should fundraise (they fundraise a lot as it is). This is an ongoing discussion.

Special Portion Dedicated To The City of Beacon’s Abrupt, Unannounced Removal Of The Community Refrigerator At The Park and Recreation Building

This is a clip of the video recap of Tuesday’s City Council Workshop Meeting that recaps the discussion the City Council had with Parks and Recs Director Mark Price and Assistant Recreation Director Heidi Harrison.

They delivered a presentation with photos of the refrigerator at the Park’s and Recreation Department Building over the past 5 years, at the request of City Administrator Chris White, who ordered the removal of the refrigerator, citing zoning code violations and liability issues for the City of Beacon.

The full presentation is available in the City’s YouTube or Vimeo, so one should watch that for all points covered. Assistant Director Heidi stressed that this was not a criticism of organizations involved with filling and managing the fridges, but that the 24/7 access was too difficult to monitor.

City Administrator Chris had other choice words like that the food was not preferred, that his own mother would have rejected it, and that the food spoils. Both were concerned about marking the food with ingredients for allergens, and Heidi and Mark provided examples of half eaten pizza slices or sandwiches that well-intentioned people placed into the fridge thinking someone might eat. Mark mentioned a pie that someone took a bite of, that might be delivered nicely wrapped, but was a scoop-n-go for someone else.

City Administrator Chris said that a refrigerator on private property would need to be in an enclosed shed. He pointed out that there were many distribution sites available, and that maybe they should be consolidated.

As a person who has both used and contributed to these locations, ALBB can say:

• Each location is its own community and vibe. Which is a pleasant thing to mix community feeling. Consolidating locations would be a loss to nurturing corners of the community.

• Hours of operation are limited. Picking up from Wednesday Distribution requires that a person be available with a car in the morning on select days. Some people are at work. Or on a bus to work. ALBB worked remotely from her car with laptop while waiting in that line.

Everyone agreed that more communication and coordination was needed.

Rent Stabilization For All Of New York Again Trying To Be Expanded From Current Limitations With (REST) Act

On Tuesday, the New York Assembly Standing Committee on Housing held a hearing on expanding rent stabilization outside of New York City. Tenants from across Upstate New York joined Housing Justice for All, For the Many, and United Tenants of Albany to highlight the need for the passage of Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants (REST) Act (S04659 Kavanagh / A04877 Shrestha) to protect Upstate tenants from unnecessary rent hikes.

The REST Act, sponsored by Senate Housing Chair Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, would make rent affordable across New York by allowing communities to adopt rent stabilization and decide who is covered. Rent stabilization protects tenants from excessive rent hikes by setting reasonable annual limits on rent increases.

As per Senator Kavanagh’s announcement: “The bill provides for an alternative method for localities other than New York City to opt in to rent regulation and expands the range of rental housing that can be covered.”

To qualify, municipalities must currently:

• Conduct a survey of rental housing they propose to regulate and demonstrate that the vacancy rate is below 5%.

  “This bill leaves that option in place, but creates an alternative method whereby local governments would be able to consider a variety of factors in declaring a housing emergency and use publicly available data, rather than conducting their own vacancy survey” Senator Kavanagh said.

• The bill would also allow localities to choose to regulate housing units in buildings with fewer than the current minimum of 6 units.

• Finally, the bill would provide that in localities that provide for rent regulation, buildings built or substantially rehabbed within the past 15 years would be exempt from rent regulation.
  Currently under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA), buildings built before 1974 are exempt unless they are regulated pursuant to another law or regulation.

In Beacon, rent stabilization has been brought up by different City Council Members, most notably Councilperson Terry Nelson during his tenure in 2019. During that time, A Little Beacon Blog reported: “In the Before Times, during the pre-pandemic days, and during the former administration under Mayor Randy Casale, rents were already on the rise in Beacon. Former Councilmember Terry Nelson suggested pursuing the Emergency Tenants Protection Act of 2019. During that administration, where Lee Kyriacou was then a Councilmember, the common response by then Mayor Casale and some Councilmembers to Councilmember Terry’s urging was that rents would self regulate under market conditions.”

Market conditions did not self-regulate Beacon’s rental market or house purchasing markets, and many families have since moved out of Beacon, experiencing rent hikes by their landlords.

Years later, residents of Beacon pushed for rent stabilization. Councilperson Lee since won his election to become Mayor, and consistently discouraged rent stabilization. That year, ALBB reported: “On Monday, March 7, 2022, Beacon’s entire City Council voted to pass a law prohibiting residential evictions without good cause, known to some as the “Good Cause Eviction Law.” Mayor Lee Kyriacou, who is a landlord, voted against the law. The press release prepared by Beacon’s City Council [was published in that article].”

Mayor Lee would invite real estate experts in to educate the Council and public on why Beacon cannot adopt rent stabilization. One of the largest hurdles is the 1974 rule, where buildings built before then are exempt, but most older buildings in Beacon were (conveniently) bulldozed down during Urban Renewal in the 1960s and 1970s.

Now, in October 2025, New York citizens continue to push for rent stabilization as the housing crisis - fueled by numerous factors including rent hikes, evictions that happen too fast for regular citizens to fight in court despite assistance from Legal Services, large sums of money demanded up front for new leases by landlords and realtors, high FICO scores, and denial of co-borrowers on leases - new legislation is again being introduced to remove the barrier to rent hike regulation.

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Statement From Housing Justice For All

Published below is the full press release from Housing Justice For All, describing how new legislation might enable Beacon to pass rent regulation to save families and businesses from being evicted or bullied into new higher rents:

Right now, outdated state law makes it expensive and difficult for communities to adopt rent stabilization – and when they try, landlords sue to overturn the protection. Cities like Kingston, Poughkeepsie, Albany, Newburgh, and Nyack have all been blocked from protecting their tenants. The REST Act would clear away legal barriers and shield cities from frivolous landlord lawsuits.

The bill would also expand protections by bringing buildings built in the last 15 years into rent stabilization and giving localities control over which building sizes are covered.

During the hearing, while tenants testified to struggling to afford the rent, landlord representative Rich Lanzarone, Executive Director of Housing Providers of New York State, testified that his lobby group has spent $150,000 suing municipalities to stop rent stabilization.

Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha also pressed Lanzarone on his previous statements, asking him why he had testified at a 2022 rent stabilization hearing that tenant struggles “made [him] want to puke.”

Local elected officials such as Syracuse City Auditor Alexander Marion and the Mayor of Hudson, NY, Kamal Johnson also spoke about how the REST Act would benefit local governments. Legal services providers and policy experts such as Marcie Kobak, Director of Litigation at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley; Jason May, Hudson Valley Justice Center Executive Director; and Oksana Mironova, Senior Policy Analyst at the Community Service Society.

Housing affordability has become a defining issue for voters – statewide polling shows an overwhelming majority of voters, 68%, would be more likely to support a candidate who backs rent stabilization. Pro-tenant candidates won decisively in the NYC and Syracuse mayoral primaries.

“The testimony we heard at today's Housing Committee hearing from local governments, community organizations and stakeholders from around the state painted a clear picture of the affordable housing emergency facing our communities,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF - Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “With passage of the HSTPA in 2019, the Legislature sought to empower localities to opt in to rent stabilization to help manage their local housing emergency. Local governments should not be forced to empty their municipal coffers just to demonstrate the housing emergency they are seeing each day. As we prepare for the next legislative session, I am eager to continue these conversations and examine legislative solutions, like the REST Act, that will ease the burden on local governments and keep people in their communities.”

"Despite an obvious ongoing housing emergency, including in my district in the Hudson Valley, our localities have not been able to adequately protect residents with the rent stabilization laws we expanded in 2019,” said Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, lead Assembly sponsor of the REST Act. “This was a timely hearing we needed desperately. It was compelling to hear directly from local electeds as well as tenants, lawyers, and advocates on why New York needs a tool to protect all of its tenants from price-gouging, not just a few. I am hopeful that the state will do the right thing and pass our bill, the REST Act, to ensure local electeds are given the power they need to pass an effective rent stabilization local law that will protect their constituents."

“Tenants are half the state and the majority in every major city – and we are demanding rent stabilization across the state. Right now, tenants are working multiple jobs, struggling to afford necessities like medicine, groceries, and child care while our landlords get richer and richer. The REST Act would make rents affordable and give us the housing stability we deserve. Elected officials need to choose: stand with tenants or keep protecting landlord profits,” said Cea Weaver, Housing Justice for All director.

"Hudson has one of the toughest housing markets in the region, and too many people are being priced out of the place they call home. The REST Act helps address that by opening doors for returning citizens and those struggling to find affordable housing. When we make housing more accessible, we make Hudson stronger and fairer for everyone,” said Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson.

“Our research shows that skyrocketing rents are causing housing instability, evictions, and homelessness for tenants across the state. The Community Service Society of New York (CSS) strongly supports Senator Kavanagh’s and Assemblymember Shrestha’s Rent Emergency Stabilization (REST) Act (S4659A/A4877A) as a rapid, low-cost method for expanding housing security and affordability” said David R. Jones, President and CEO of the Community Service Society of New York.

"Municipalities are looking for ways to address the affordability crisis for their constituencies, the majority of which are tenants. Annually, we are seeing rents in the Capital Region increase by approximately 10%, while Average Median Income actually decreased between 2024-2025," said Canyon Ryan, Executive Director of United Tenants of Albany. "Rent stabilization is one major tool to address this crisis, and it has been systematically denied to municipalities via landlord led lawfare and arcane study requirements that fail to incorporate any tenant perspectives in the process."

"There is a housing crisis across New York State. Half of New Yorkers are renters, and rising rents are making renter households vulnerable to displacement and eviction. Removing barriers to municipalities enacting rent stabilization laws is a crucial policy tool to address this crisis. We know from the research who is most affected by the housing crisis: families. Children under eighteen face the highest risk of eviction, and experiencing eviction during childhood is associated with profound lifelong impairment of health and educational outcomes,” said Brian Calacci, Open Markets Institute Chief Economist. “Thankfully, there are policy tools to address the crisis. Rent stabilization works: it is effective in protecting tenants and allowing families to stay at their addresses longer. Most importantly, far from the hard rent caps often invoked by critics, modern rent stabilization of the type enabled by the REST Act is a sophisticated tool. It is designed to facilitate new housing construction by exempting newly built units. Moreover, rent stabilization attempts to balance the interests of landlords and tenants, rather than strongly favoring one side over the other. The REST Act would give municipalities a crucial tool to fight the housing crisis. Its time has come."

“Tenants make up half the state, but New York’s rent regulation laws are written as if New York City is the only place where renters live. Upstate tenants also deserve protections that come from rent stabilization to fight back against predatory rent hikes and de facto evictions. But, under current state laws, it is all but impossible for Upstate towns and cities to provide that,” said Xaver Kandler, Political Director at For the Many and Co-Chair of the Housing Justice for All Coalition. “The REST Act is a commonsense solution that would remove arbitrary, outdated barriers to rent stabilization, giving local governments meaningful tools to address a burgeoning housing crisis and protect more tenants. As rents continue to skyrocket across the Hudson Valley, outpacing wages and causing sharp increases in homelessness, the REST Act would untie the hands of municipalities from Newburgh to Hudson and allow our members to rest easier knowing that they aren't one missed paycheck away from losing their homes.

“We are all aware that our community is facing a housing affordability crisis. While there are many ways to measure the severity of this issue, current law relies on just one indicator—the vacancy rate—to determine whether a housing emergency exists,” said Albany Common Councilmember and small landlord Owusu Anane. “This legislation would modernize that approach by allowing additional factors and data points to be considered. It gives cities like Albany greater flexibility to declare a housing emergency when conditions warrant it—and, more importantly, equips us with the tools we need to respond more effectively to the crisis at hand.”

“We did everything right in Poughkeepsie — and still got sued for trying to keep people in their homes,” said Evan Menist, Poughkeepsie City Common Councilmember. “The REST Act cuts through the red tape so local governments can finally make rent affordable and stop families from being priced out. Everyone deserves a stable home and a fair shot at building the life they dream of.”

“Rent stabilization has provided essential safeguards for tenants in Kingston against soaring rents and potential displacement. However, the current Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) excludes 80% of renters in our city. It's vital that we implement a more inclusive form of rent stabilization that shields a larger number of tenants and isn't reliant on costly and often flawed vacancy studies that landlords frequently challenge,” said Michele Hirsch, Kingston Common Council. “The REST Act presents a valuable chance to broaden these protections for tenants across the state and ensure they remain intact.”

“As someone who has spent years organizing tenants in the Hudson Valley, I’ve seen firsthand how tenants are getting displaced by skyrocketing rents. Kingston has been a lone bright spot: rent stabilized tenants are staying put because the municipality was able to opt into ETPA. Sadly, only about 20% of the city’s renters are protected by rent stabilization, even though tenants make up more than half of Kingston,” said Jenna Goldstein, Ulster County Community Organizer at For the Many. “The REST Act would finally make rent stabilization a tool strong enough to combat the crisis we’re facing, by making it simpler for municipalities to opt in and cover more households. Until we pass this law and expand rent stabilization to Upstate New York and Long Island, rents will rise and people will continue to lose their homes.”

“Tenants in the Hudson Valley are desperate for rent stabilization, which would allow us to live our lives without the constant fear of disruption and displacement that defines our day-to-day,” said June Nemon, a tenant organizer with the Hudson Valley Tenants Union. “Many upstate communities have tried to stabilize rents, but the NYC real estate lobby has stopped at nothing to prevent us from living lives of dignity. The REST Act would allow cities and towns throughout New York to provide basic protections for their residents without being dragged into endless, costly lawsuits that give landlords plenty of time to exact revenge against their tenants for the crime of wanting a basic sense of stability.”

"If we expand rent stabilization, I could finally afford the stability I’ve been working so hard for, not just for myself, but for my son. I could give him a room of his own. I could afford to take him out more than once a month. I could stop living paycheck to paycheck and start planning for our future,” said Bebhinn Francis, United Tenants of Albany Tenant Organizer. “That’s what rent stabilization means to me, a stable home, a real chance to build the life I dream of."

“About half of Buffalo tenants spend most of their income on rent and these apartments are often unsafe or uninhabitable. With nearly 30% of residents living in poverty, our communities can’t afford to wait any longer,” said Janayia Capers, Organizer for Housing Justice at PUSH Buffalo. “Rent stabilization is a real and necessary solution to bring stability and affordability to Buffalonians. Elected officials must make a choice: stand with tenants or continue to protect landlords that profit off of our communities.”

"When the state legislature passed the Housing Stability and Tenant Act (HSPTA) of 2019 their intention was to expand rent stabilization to Upstate New York and so all New Yorkers could have a chance at a livable future. By passing the REST Act, that intention will become a reality and the whole state can finally have a chance at the housing stability we all deserve,” said Ryan Acuff, City-Wide Tenant Union of Rochester, NY.

Citizens Question Why No Crosswalk Was Added After New Striping On Fishkill Ave By Ron’s Ice Cream

After A Little Beacon Blog’s article published highlighting the mainly federal and state funded infrastructure upgrades below the sidewalks on Fishkill Avenue, resulting in new sidewalks, paving and striping, readers expressed surprise that no crosswalk had been painted across from Memorial Park and Ron’s Ice Cream (Fishkill and Blackburn Avenues), a popular destination for kids and adults of all ages.

A new turning lane had been added to turn from Fishkill Avenue onto Blackburn Avenue, but no crosswalk initially at this popular intersection (a temporary one has since been added after publication). ALBB was asked by readers to look into the safety of that new turning lane, as pedestrian, bike and vehicle crossing felt less safe, readers said.

Some citizens reported that they thought they heard that a crosswalk was coming soon, while one citizen reporter, who gave ALBB permission to publish their correspondence with the City but preferred to remain anonymous, received this answer: “I emailed my Council member in Ward 3 [Councilperson Pam Weatherbee] and she said: ‘Unfortunately there is a delay in the installation of these two crosswalks as they were planning on being raised crosswalks for additional safety in the future but now delayed due to design adjustments needed as water ponding would occur with these raised crosswalks.

“‘They are now going to install two regular crosswalks with speed tables separated from them on either side rather than raised crosswalks. I am told this project should be completed in the coming weeks. I know the safety of our community, especially children, is important and we hope the final design makes this area even safer.’”

At the following City Council Meeting, several citizens attended to speak during Public Comment, including a grandmother and other parents. City Administrator Chris White responded that the overall planning for this infrastructure and street upgrade was 20 years old, and that he would authorize the painting of a temporary crosswalk the following day while the re-planning of the approved one was finalized.

The next day, the City of Beacon did paint the temporary crosswalk in two locations: at Wilkes Street and at Blackburn Avenue (Ron’s Ice Cream).

However, citizens remain highly concerned about the new turning lane, saying it blocks the view of pedestrians trying to cross and is not safe for bikers, with one non-existent sidewalk on the Hanna Lane side. More on that in the next article.

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Things To Do In Beacon, NY 📅 10/18/2025

Everyone knows that T is a murderous psychopath. And that the Rubios around him are evil people. Like - proof that evilness actually exists. Israeli military already proved that to us in this lifetime. It's been proved before in earlier lifetimes and chapters within this one.  Important specifics to protest are the allowance of Holtec International dumping of 45,000 gallons of radioactive wastewater into the Mahicannituk (currently called the Hudson River before European occupation...Mahicannituk is the Mohikan name for the river, and is translated as 'the river that flows both ways,' or 'the waters that are never still.'). Meanwhile...the big weekend is here!! It's time for Roll Out later today Saturday at The Yard (the big print project where local artists and 3rd-5th graders have made massive woodblocks to be press printed by steamrollers) and the Beacon Sloop Club's Pumpkin Festival on Sunday. Read on. BOOK YOUR EVENT PROMOTION Single purchases of Event Promotions are available. Membership for discounted recurring events are available. EVENTS ROLL OUT @ The Yard Day: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 12-pm Roll Out's 3rd Annual Community Print and Steamroll Event is October 18th (raindate 10/19). Our free community event includes: Steamroll printing of massive woodblocks by 25 local artists. Steamroll printing of collaborative carvings created by ALL of the 5th graders at South Ave Elementary School and JV Forrestal Elementary School Steamroll printing of carvings created by Beacon High School's Art Club Portable press printing smaller works by community artists and carvings by participants in Roll Out's free community workshops Pop up printmaking studios for all ages Live DJ, music and refreshments A print exhibit that will be added to throughout the day with an opening celebration on 10/18 6-8pm and closing 10/19 5:00-7:00 Made possible with support from: The Yard Beacon Arts Arts Mid-Hudson The City Of Beacon School District Information > No Kings Rally & March Day: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 12-4pm Chronogram via their The River has linked to several No Kings rallies in the region. They noted that Beacon's rally requires registration to get the address. The website providing details about this rally does say that the event location is "private." ALBB does not recommend that you register with any protest. As Amanda Seals said this week about the No Kings rally: "Registration should not even be suggested." In the "Accessibility" section of that registration page, the Organizers said: "The speakers will start at 12:15 at Henry St/Veterans Place/Main Street. The roads will be closed. The march will start after the speakers are done. Est. 1:30pm for line up. March ends at Pohil Park and 9D. We will have info tables etc and live music along with a possible surprise speaker. Also sign line-up space to protest on the corners. Pumpkin Festival from the Beacon Sloop Club Day: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Time: 12-5pm Price: Free Admission (support food, art and retail vendors with cash or card) Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park Beacon, NY 12508 Join the Beacon Sloop Club for their annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, October 10th from 12-5pm at Pete + Toshi Seeger Park in Beacon for a day of delicious Hudson Valley pumpkins, pie, food and craft vendors, kids activities, 2 solar stages of live music and more! A Little Beacon Blog will be there at our face painting table. Information > Protest Against Israel Breaking Ceasefire Date: Every Sunday Time: 12pm-1pm Location: 450 NY-211, Middletown, NY From the Organizers: "The fight for Gaza isn’t over — the genocide continues. Palestinians are still dying from starvation, disease, and lack of medical care after two years under relentless assault. Families have no homes, no hospitals, no food, and no safety — trapped in a cage of death. "Despite the October ceasefire, Israel has continued to violate its terms; cutting aid, restricting fuel, and carrying out deadly attacks across Gaza and the West Bank. "We’re keeping our Sunday rallies going to continue building momentum, and to hold the line in demanding accountability from U.S. and Israeli politicians like Trump and Netanyahu for their role in the genocide in Gaza. "We encourage folks to bring any art supplies: large markers, canvases, cardboard, paint and brushes, or anything else you have — so we can create new protest signs on the spot." Information > 4th Annual Gala Fundraiser for Foundation For Beacon Schools Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 Time: 7-10 PM Location: The Roundhouse, 2 East Main Street, Beacon, NY Celebrate our public schools and help us to sustain and grow the Foundation for Beacon. Proceeds will fund a new round of educator grants to help more Beacon find and cultivate their talents.  Eat, drink, and enjoy as we award three teachers for innovation in education. New for this year:  we'll give our first ever Community Award to the founders of Beacon Hoops! And...the "Bottle Pull" returns for 2025! Information > It Takes A Village To Redefine Mental Health Date: Thursday, October 23 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Howland Cultural Center, Beacon, NY We invite you to join us for a free and timely panel discussion hosted by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. Together, we’ll explore how communities can come together to reduce stigma, expand access, and build sustainable, wraparound support systems for mental health. In a recent report from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, mental health was identified as the second-most pressing issue for residents. Your presence and voice in this conversation are critical—because it truly takes a village to redefine mental health. Panelists: Heather Ann Lee-Pitcher, NYCPS – The Brain and Body Coalition Tara McDonald, LMSW, MPA – Ulster County Department of Mental Health Brandon del Pozo, PhD, MPH – Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub / Brown University Moderator: Rebecca Pearsall, MSW – Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub This is more than an event—it’s an opportunity to show support, learn, and stand together as powerful agents of change. Information > *** SAVE THE DATES *** Beacon's Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 3PM Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Information > Features from our Sponsors. Is your business on the menu? JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon NY It's unbelievable to ALBB that people in Beacon still have never tried - let alone heard of - a Mango Lassi. This is a refreshing and filling drink from India made with blended mangos, yogurt, milk, and sweetner. Tara Fusion uses all natural ingredients, and sometimes, throws boiled rose petals over top as a garnish. Get one today or any day of the week Tara is open. The People of Beacon are very lucky that Tara Fusion is based here. Follow HV Food Hall's Chefs: Nami Yum Yum Roosevelt Bar Tara Fusion Cuisine Old Dhaka Coffee House Five Pennies Creamery Palmetto Burger Co. Oui Oui HV Taco Al Dente Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor! BAGEL-ISH 226 Main Street, Beacon NY In this week’s episode of “ALBB’s Video With Bagel-ish“ Katie shows Beth her new orange 🧡running 🏃🏼‍♀️ shoes - that are *not* Katie’s color! But they are her price of $35 from Plato’s Closet in Wappinger’s, and they *are* Beth’s color! Beth was overcome and wanted the shoes right off Katie’s feet, and then voila! Katie had a surprise for Beth (hint… Saucony from Mountaintops Outfitters) Meanwhile, we got to see Yvette4ny in person!! Who says she’s “a reg(ular)” of Bagel-ish thanks to these videos 🤗 Yvette had just come from touring CommonGround Farm , who is devoted to food justice. Take a look at Beth’s reaction! Instagram > Bagel-ish is a Sponsor! CARTER'S RESTAURANT Main Street, Beacon NY Holidays are coming, and Carter's is available to host your event gathering for friends, family or work. Easiest party you may ever host. Call them for details. 845-743-6527 🍁 Open Late ‘till 11pm Fri/Sat ‘till 9pm every other night But Sunday (8pm) Catering and Private Parties available. Instagram > Carter's is a Sponsor! JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES Eggbert’s Free Range Farm 🦃 LAST CHANCE! Turkey Orders have started at Eggbert's! These get reserved fast, so DM them or catch them Saturday at Cold Spring Farmers Market and Sunday at Beacon Farmers Market. Information >   FARMERS MARKETS: Wednesdays: Cornwall Farmer's Market: 11am-5pm Saturdays: Cold Spring Farmer's Market 10am-1pm Sundays: Beacon Farmer's Market 10am - 2pm SHOP ONLINE: Online ordering is available 24/7. DELIVERY: 🚚 Delivering to Cold Spring, Cornwall, New Windsor, Newburgh, Beacon, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls. Website > Instagram > Eggbert's Free Range Farm is a Sponsor! The Blushery 528 Main Street, Beacon NY We love a good brow re-shape. Just look at those lines. The Blushery are perfectionists. Book Now through the their website or link in their Instagram Bio. Book Online > JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY ART > ANTIQUES Hudson Valley Auctioneers > AUTOMOTIVE > TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Luxury Taxi Service, AQ Services, Inc from Luther Lopez > BEAUTY The Luminous Bride >  Makeup By Jenny Magliano > BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES See them here > BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR Tin Shingle Katie James, Inc. DAYCARE PlayTivity DENTAL Beacon Dental HEALTH AND WELLNESS > MASSAGE CareFull, MD (Urgent Care or Walk-In Doctor) Kristen Verge, LCSW River Therapeutic Massage  HOME IMPROVEMENT > APPLIANCE REPAIR Shelter Air HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS See them here > MUSIC Miss Vickie's Music REAL ESTATE Hudson Upstate Team at eXp Realty ADVERTISE IN ALBB'S BUSINESS DIRECTORY Free Breakfast Program Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Time: 6:30am-8:30am Location: 12 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 They have a Wish List of food items! If you're in the mood to donate, find the list here. Information > FRIDAYS: Fareground's Free Community Dinner Day/Time: Fridays, 5:30pm-7:30pm Location: First Presbyterian, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Information > Volunteer > Donate > ARTICLES SPONSOR

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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.

Things To Do In Beacon, NY 📅 10/11/2025

October's events have been updated in ALBB's Calendar. There are two ways to get included in our calendar: Free: Community events that are free for the community or are a fundraiser will be considered for gratis listings. Not all submissions are included. Submit here. Paid: If you're cooking up a really great event to promote your business, then please consider ALBB's Event Promotion Package. Said Topher Kage of Savage Wonder when they purchased a listing: "The Actors Nightmare listing was amazing!" And then before purchasing their next listing: "Continuing on everything awesome you've done for us..." Hearing this from reader customers is simply amazing, thank you. Free for Sponsors: Subscribing Sponsors (Restaurants, Shops, Beauty Destinations) of ALBB get their events listed free! See our Things To Do In Beacon Guides in our Media Kit for pricing and details. Now by popular demand, ALBB is working on a Places To Be Guide, which lists annual events and festivals that vendors want to participate in, but need to contact organizations in advance for tabling and sponsor information. If your business would like to sponsor that page with your logo, please contact us for details. Your target audience would be fellow businesses of all kinds looking to it as a resource. BOOK YOUR EVENT PROMOTION Single purchases of Event Promotions are available. Membership for discounted recurring events are available. EVENTS Cirque du Creep Fright Night Market @ The Yard Day: Saturday, October 11th 2025 Time: 5-11pm Price: $15; Kids Free! Location: 4 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 See and get access to lots of hard to find vendors, like glass blower artist Zeinab Manesh @glassqueenz (see video of her blowing her cutie pumpkin here). 50+ Vendors; Live Music; Food & Photo Opps; Flash Tattoos; Sideshow; Costume Contest Information > Beacon's Fall City Wide Yard Sale Day: Saturday, October 11th 2025 Time: 9am-3pm Location: Everywhere, Beacon, NY 12508 Good luck! Happy treasure hunting. Information > Beacon Flow: A Free Community Music + Wellness Festival Day: Saturday, October 11th, 2025 Time: 11:30am-5pm Location: University Settlement Camp Information > Free Palestine Protest Date: Every Sunday Time: 12pm-1pm Location: 450 NY-211, Middletown, NY From the Organizers: "We’re out here every week speaking out against 🇮🇱’s war crimes, as they deliberately starve over a million children by blocking aid and through fueling a man-made famine. Palestine will be talked about for the rest of our lives. When the world looks back on this moment, will you be able to say you stood up or will you pretend you did while having stayed silent? Information > *** SAVE THE DATES *** ROLL OUT @ The Yard Day: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 12-pm Roll Out's 3rd Annual Community Print and Steamroll Event is October 18th (raindate 10/19). Our free community event includes: Steamroll printing of massive woodblocks by 25 local artists. Steamroll printing of collaborative carvings created by ALL of the 5th graders at South Ave Elementary School and JV Forrestal Elementary School Steamroll printing of carvings created by Beacon High School's Art Club Portable press printing smaller works by community artists and carvings by participants in Roll Out's free community workshops Pop up printmaking studios for all ages Live DJ, music and refreshments A print exhibit that will be added to throughout the day with an opening celebration on 10/18 6-8pm and closing 10/19 5:00-7:00 Made possible with support from: The Yard Beacon Arts Arts Mid-Hudson The City Of Beacon School District Information > Pumpkin Festival from the Beacon Sloop Club Day: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Time: 12-5pm Price: Free Admission (support food, art and retail vendors with cash or card) Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park Beacon, NY 12508 Join the Beacon Sloop Club for their annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, October 10th from 12-5pm at Pete + Toshi Seeger Park in Beacon for a day of delicious Hudson Valley pumpkins, pie, food and craft vendors, kids activities, 2 solar stages of live music and more! A Little Beacon Blog will be there at our face painting table. Information > It Takes A Village To Redefine Mental Health Date: Thursday, October 23 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Howland Cultural Center, Beacon, NY We invite you to join us for a free and timely panel discussion hosted by the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley. Together, we’ll explore how communities can come together to reduce stigma, expand access, and build sustainable, wraparound support systems for mental health. In a recent report from the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, mental health was identified as the second-most pressing issue for residents. Your presence and voice in this conversation are critical—because it truly takes a village to redefine mental health. Panelists: Heather Ann Lee-Pitcher, NYCPS – The Brain and Body Coalition Tara McDonald, LMSW, MPA – Ulster County Department of Mental Health Brandon del Pozo, PhD, MPH – Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub / Brown University Moderator: Rebecca Pearsall, MSW – Philipstown Behavioral Health Hub This is more than an event—it’s an opportunity to show support, learn, and stand together as powerful agents of change. Information > 4th Annual Gala Fundraiser for Foundation For Beacon Schools Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 Time: 7-10 PM Location: The Roundhouse, 2 East Main Street, Beacon, NY Celebrate our public schools and help us to sustain and grow the Foundation for Beacon. Proceeds will fund a new round of educator grants to help more Beacon find and cultivate their talents.  Eat, drink, and enjoy as we award three teachers for innovation in education. New for this year:  we'll give our first ever Community Award to the founders of Beacon Hoops! And...the "Bottle Pull" returns for 2025! Information > Beacon's Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 3PM Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Information > Features from our Sponsors. Is your business on the menu? JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon NY Your dreams of a pesto breakfast sandwich have been answered! Oui Oui's Caprese Croissant is made with a croissant that is baked fresh daily, mozzarella cheese, tomato and pesto. The croissant is lightly toasted, letting the pesto melt through the entire croissant. Would you like one? Oui oui!! Follow HV Food Hall's Chefs: Nami Yum Yum Roosevelt Bar Tara Fusion Cuisine Old Dhaka Coffee House Five Pennies Creamery Palmetto Burger Co. Oui Oui HV Taco Al Dente Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor! BAGEL-ISH 226 Main Street, Beacon NY You've seen then outside of Bagel-ish - the Samplers. The employees who stand outside offering you free bits of nourishing sourdough bagel. Now, these Samplers take you behind the sceneds in their "Day In The Life Sampling at Bagel-ish in Beacon." Watch it here :)  > Instagram > Bagel-ish is a Sponsor! CARTER'S RESTAURANT Main Street, Beacon NY Thanksgiving is coming, and Carter's is avilable to host your event gathering for friends, family or work. Call them for details. 845-743-6527 🍁 Open Late ‘till 11pm Fri/Sat ‘till 9pm every other night But Sunday (8pm) Catering and Private Parties available. Instagram > Carter's is a Sponsor! JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES Eggbert’s Free Range Farm 🦃 Turkey Orders have started at Eggbert's! These get reserved fast, so DM them or catch them Saturday at Cold Spring Farmers Market and Sunday at Beacon Farmers Market. Information >   FARMERS MARKETS: Wednesdays: Cornwall Farmer's Market: 11am-5pm Saturdays: Cold Spring Farmer's Market 10am-1pm Sundays: Beacon Farmer's Market 10am - 2pm SHOP ONLINE: Online ordering is available 24/7. DELIVERY: 🚚 Delivering to Cold Spring, Cornwall, New Windsor, Newburgh, Beacon, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls. Website > Instagram > Eggbert's Free Range Farm is a Sponsor! The Blushery 528 Main Street, Beacon NY The Blushery is celebrating 10 years in business at the same location across from the Dummy Light! Watch this video montage owner Stephanie produced that captures so many memories of the business and her family as they both grew. Now go book your Laser Hair Removal, Brow Shaping, Makeup, Spray Tan, and more via their easy scheduler via their link in Bio! Book Online > JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY ART > ANTIQUES Hudson Valley Auctioneers > AUTOMOTIVE > TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Luxury Taxi Service, AQ Services, Inc from Luther Lopez > BEAUTY The Luminous Bride >  Makeup By Jenny Magliano > BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES See them here > BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR Tin Shingle Katie James, Inc. DAYCARE PlayTivity DENTAL Beacon Dental HEALTH AND WELLNESS > MASSAGE CareFull, MD (Urgent Care or Walk-In Doctor) Kristen Verge, LCSW River Therapeutic Massage  HOME IMPROVEMENT > APPLIANCE REPAIR Shelter Air HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS See them here > MUSIC Miss Vickie's Music REAL ESTATE Hudson Upstate Team at eXp Realty ADVERTISE IN ALBB'S BUSINESS DIRECTORY Free Breakfast Program Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Time: 6:30am-8:30am Location: 12 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 They have a Wish List of food items! If you're in the mood to donate, find the list here. Information > FRIDAYS: Fareground's Free Community Dinner Day/Time: Fridays, 5:30pm-7:30pm Location: First Presbyterian, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Information > Volunteer > Donate > ARTICLES SPONSOR

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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

Things To Do In Beacon, NY 📅 10/03/2025

BOOK YOUR EVENT PROMOTION Single purchases of Event Promotions are available. Membership for discounted recurring events are available. EVENTS Lit Lit at the Howland Cultural Center Day: Every 1st Friday Time: 7pm Location: 477 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508 A monthly literary open mic series. Hosted by Donna Minkowitz. Donna says: “Folks are welcome to read their own writing of any genre, of up to five minutes in length. If you’d like to read, please arrive by 6:30 to sign up at the Howland Cultural Center. Or just, and listen :-) The Howland asks that everyone donate $5 to help keep the lights on, more if you can, less if you can’t. Soft drinks, beer and wine, and snacks are also available. Come hang out and be with your Lit Lit family!” Sign Up To Read > Beacon Record & CD Fest Day: Saturday, October 4th Time: 9pm-5pm Price: 8am Early Admission $5, Regular Admission $3, kids 12 & under free!!!! Location: VFW Memorial Building, 413 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 20+ great vendors from the Tri-State area and beyond - 30+ tables with vinyl LPs, 45s, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, concert posters, music magazines and books!! Vendors bringing the best of psych, punk, post punk, hardcore, metal, power pop, prog, garage, funk, soul, jazz, reggae, world, blues, folk, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, hot rod, surf, lounge, electronic, industrial, goth and new wave!!! Records from the 50's to the present!!!! AND...DJ spinning the best soul, funk, mod, punk, power pop, rock 'n' roll, reggae, garage!! Information > Harvest Fest @ Stoney Kill Farm Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025 Time: 11am-3pm Price: Free Parking; $5 Suggested Donation Location: 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY 🎤 11 - 12:30pm - Music by Lauren and Friends 🎼 1 - 2pm - Music by Beacon Rising Choir 🐑 2 - 3pm - Stony Ground 4H Shepherds Sheep Show in the Ring 😃 11am - 3pm - Hay Rides, Blacksmith Demos, Candlemaking, Milking Devon Demos, Crafts, Livestock and Guest Animal Visits, Smokey Bear, Games, Food Trucks, Artisan Vendors, Raffles, Homemade Soups by Verplanck Garden Club, and Bake Sales. Parking and admission are free with a suggested donation of $5 at our Welcome Tent to help support our community events and stewardship of Stony Kill Farm.  Information > Archtober Date: October 3-5, 2025 Time: Times Vary Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Archtober Newburgh is an annual festival of 25+ free events that celebrates the city's rich architectural heritage, connects people to resources and promotes local initiatives in the community.   The festival, presented by The Fullerton in partnership with AIA Westchester Hudson Valley and part of @Archtober, NYC's annual architecture and design festival, engages our local community and draws regional visitors to learn more about their built environment. Information > Free Palestine Protest Date: Every Sunday Time: 12pm-1pm Location: 450 NY-211, Middletown, NY From the Organizers: "We’re out here every week speaking out against 🇮🇱’s war crimes, as they deliberately starve over a million children by blocking aid and through fueling a man-made famine. Palestine will be talked about for the rest of our lives. When the world looks back on this moment, will you be able to say you stood up or will you pretend you did while having stayed silent? Information > Beacon Litfest Presents: “Queer from There to Here” Day: Thursday, October 9, 2025 Time: 7pm-8:30pm Price: $10 Location: Savage Wonder, 139 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 The Beacon Litfest and Live Writing are thrilled to bring you two outstanding works in our 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. We'll 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. Information > *** SAVE THE DATES *** ROLL OUT @ The Yard Day: Saturday, October 18, 2025 Time: 12-pm Roll Out's 3rd Annual Community Print and Steamroll Event is October 18th (raindate 10/19). Our free community event includes: Steamroll printing of massive woodblocks by 25 local artists. Steamroll printing of collaborative carvings created by ALL of the 5th graders at South Ave Elementary School and JV Forrestal Elementary School Steamroll printing of carvings created by Beacon High School's Art Club Portable press printing smaller works by community artists and carvings by participants in Roll Out's free community workshops Pop up printmaking studios for all ages Live DJ, music and refreshments A print exhibit that will be added to throughout the day with an opening celebration on 10/18 6-8pm and closing 10/19 5:00-7:00 Made possible with support from: The Yard Beacon Arts Arts Mid-Hudson The City Of Beacon School District Information > Pumpkin Festival from the Beacon Sloop Club Day: Sunday, October 19, 2025 Time: 12-5pm Price: Free Admission (support food, art and retail vendors with cash or card) Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park Beacon, NY 12508 Join the Beacon Sloop Club for their annual Pumpkin Festival on Sunday, October 10th from 12-5pm at Pete + Toshi Seeger Park in Beacon for a day of delicious Hudson Valley pumpkins, pie, food and craft vendors, kids activities, 2 solar stages of live music and more! A Little Beacon Blog will be there at our face painting table. Information > Features from our Sponsors. Is your business on the menu? JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon NY The double Smash Burger with grilled onions at West Palmetto Burger inside of the HV Food Hall. Order the combo with half tater tots and onion rings that comes with the three signature sauces. It's that easy. Follow HV Food Hall's Chefs: Nami Yum Yum Roosevelt Bar Tara Fusion Cuisine Old Dhaka Coffee House Five Pennies Creamery Palmetto Burger Co. Oui Oui HV Taco Al Dente Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor! BAGEL-ISH 226 Main Street, Beacon NY Baguettes are IN at Bagel-ish. They have been working on the recipe to keep this baguette as a sourdough base, as is unique to this bagelry. Get in early, as they are made in limited batches, as they share tabletop space with the bagels in the back. Only so much dough can be rolled at once.  Instagram > Bagel-ish is a Sponsor! CARTER'S RESTAURANT Main Street, Beacon NY Live at Carter's: Devin Daversa is back in Beacon! 🎶 Friday night from 8pm - 11pm playing an eclectic mix of tunes! The kitchen is open until late night so you can enjoy amazing food during the music on this beautiful October fall night 🍁 Open Late ‘till 11pm Fri/Sat ‘till 9pm every other night But Sunday (8pm) Catering and Private Parties available. Instagram > Carter's is a Sponsor! JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES Eggbert’s Free Range Farm Breakfast or Dinner, the Apple Maple Chicken Sausage cooks up nice for a sandwich on a brioche bun covered in melted Havarti dill. Pick up at any of the farmers markets, or order online for free delivery. Information >   FARMERS MARKETS: Wednesdays: Cornwall Farmer's Market: 11am-5pm Saturdays: Cold Spring Farmer's Market 10am-1pm Sundays: Beacon Farmer's Market 10am - 2pm SHOP ONLINE: Online ordering is available 24/7. DELIVERY: 🚚 Delivering to Cold Spring, Cornwall, New Windsor, Newburgh, Beacon, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls. Website > Instagram > Eggbert's Free Range Farm is a Sponsor! The Blushery 528 Main Street, Beacon NY Laser Hair Removal at The Blushery can cover all areas. Feet. Back. Arms. Legs. Bikini. Listening to calm music during the ⚡️⚡️⚡️ can help ensure a swift session. Book online or through the link in their IG bio. Watch this video to see the laser! Book Online > JOIN ALBB'S BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP FOR FEATURES BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY ART > ANTIQUES Hudson Valley Auctioneers > AUTOMOTIVE > TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Luxury Taxi Service, AQ Services, Inc from Luther Lopez > BEAUTY The Luminous Bride >  Makeup By Jenny Magliano > BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES See them here > BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR Tin Shingle Katie James, Inc. DAYCARE PlayTivity DENTAL Beacon Dental HEALTH AND WELLNESS > MASSAGE CareFull, MD (Urgent Care or Walk-In Doctor) Kristen Verge, LCSW River Therapeutic Massage  HOME IMPROVEMENT > APPLIANCE REPAIR Shelter Air HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS See them here > MUSIC Miss Vickie's Music REAL ESTATE Hudson Upstate Team at eXp Realty ADVERTISE IN ALBB'S BUSINESS DIRECTORY Free Breakfast Program Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Time: 6:30am-8:30am Location: 12 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508 They have a Wish List of food items! If you're in the mood to donate, find the list here. Information > FRIDAYS: Fareground's Free Community Dinner Day/Time: Fridays, 5:30pm-7:30pm Location: First Presbyterian, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Information > Volunteer > Donate > ARTICLES SPONSOR

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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.