Ten Recipients Selected For Total Of $39,500 In Scholarships For 2025 From Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) and the Hasbrouck Family Association (HFA)

Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) and the Hasbrouck Family Association (HFA) are pleased to announce the ten recipients of a total of $39,500 in scholarships for 2025. Together, the two organizations have now provided over $320,000 to further the education of more than 180 undergraduate and graduate students across the country since 1998.

Six different endowed funds provide support for both Huguenot descendants and individuals doing scholarly work in fields related to Historic Huguenot Street’s mission. For four scholarships, candidates are reviewed, and recipients are selected, by the Historic Huguenot Street Scholarship Committee. The HHS committee includes Dr. April Beisaw, Professor of Anthropology at Vassar College, Mr. A. Rief Kanan, Professor of Accounting (retired), SUNY New Paltz School of Business, Master Cohort Leader, ALPS Leadership, Inc., and Carol A. Johnson, Coordinator of the Haviland-Heidgerd Historical Collection at the Elting Memorial Library.

New in 2025, the Hasbrouck Family Association added a scholarship to honor the late Robert Hasbrouck, Jr., former HFA President. The Robert Wilson Hasbrouck, Jr. Memorial Scholarship spotlights students majoring in Museum Administration or Historic Preservation.

Candidates for this scholarship and the Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship are reviewed, and recipients are awarded by the HFA, including its President, Thad C. Hasbrouck, Vice President, Robert H. Freehill, and Treasurer, Rebecca J. Hasbrouck.

In 2025 the HFA choose one receipt for the Robert Wilson Hasbrouck, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, and six recipients for the Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship. Two of those six awards went to students majoring in Environmental Studies/Science for their scholarship beyond standard towards the preservation of the environment and conserving locations of historical significance.

The 2025 recipients are:

• Samantha Bellman, West Virginia University, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship

• Eden Berry, Quinnipiac University, Charles J. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship

• Ava DiBattista, University of Richmond, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship*

• Kristen Hasbrouck, Western Michigan University, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship*

• Merin Gertler Hemminger, SUNY Oswego, Lucille Stoeppler Baker Memorial Scholarship

• Amelia Howells, Slippery Rock University, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship

• Emi Mohler, Sacramento City College, Dorothy DuBois Walker Beach Scholarship

• Julia Rumsey, Purdue University, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship

• Nina Sanders, St. John Fisher University, Gertrude E. Hasbrouck Memorial Scholarship

• Margaret Young, University of Mary Washington, Dorothy DuBois Walker Beach Scholarship & Robert Wilson Hasbrouck, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

*For students majoring in Environmental Studies/Science for their scholarship beyond standard towards the preservation of the environment and conserving locations of historical significance.

Information about the scholarships provided by Historic Huguenot Street and Hasbrouck Family Association is available here.

About Historic Huguenot Street

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to preserving a pre-Revolutionary Hudson Valley settlement and engaging diverse audiences in the exploration of America's multicultural past, in order to understand the historical forces that have shaped America. As an educational institution founded by the town’s French-speaking Protestant descendants and chartered by the University of the State of New York Department of Education, HHS explores the lives of the early European colonists, honors the region’s Indigenous people, and acknowledges the enslaved and disenfranchised peoples who built this place. Today, HHS is recognized as an innovative museum and community gathering place, providing visitors with an inclusive presentation of our shared past. For more information visit www.huguenotstreet.org.

About the Hasbrouck Family Association

The Hasbrouck Family Association Inc. is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation located in New Paltz, New York. It is a Type B Corporation as defined in subparagraph (a) (5) of Section 102 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York. Founded in 1957, with a membership of over 300, HFA has four primary purposes: 1) To support, preserve, furnish and maintain as a museum, the Abraham and Jean Hasbrouck Houses on Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY, presently administered by Huguenot Historical Society of New Paltz, NY as an example of the Huguenots’ lifestyle and their contributions to early American history, and to assist in the support, preservation, and maintenance of other sites authorized by our charter or certificate of incorporation. 2) To maintain and continue the genealogical and historical records of the family. 3) To publicize, both within the Corporation and publicly, items of interest to family and Corporation members, whether it be historical or current. 4) To foster our Huguenot heritage and ideals in education, freedom of thought, and family life. The Association holds an annual gathering in New Paltz. www.hasbrouckfamily.org

Whistleblower Video & Testimony Shows Physical & Sexual Abuse Of Autistic Teen At Anderson Center For Autism - Lawsuit Launched

From a Press Release issued by Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP that describes multiple documented patterns of physical and sexual abuse of autistic kids at Anderson Center for Autism in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley:

ECBAWM Brings Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Autistic Young Adult Alleging Abuse and Disability Discrimination at Anderson Center for Autism

“Our son went to Anderson Center for Autism because we believed it was a place of safety, expertise, and care. Instead, we learned through a whistleblower’s video that he was subjected to sustained physical and sexual abuse in the very home that was supposed to protect him.”

— Anil Babbar, father of A.B., the autistic teen abused at Anderson Center for Autism

(NEW YORK, NY) — Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP filed a federal civil lawsuit on behalf of Anil Babbar and Shalini Babbar, as guardians of their autistic son, A.B., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Anderson Center for Autism and two individual defendants named in the complaint, Garnet Collins and Nadine Thompson, who were employed by Anderson at all relevant times.

The complaint alleges that while A.B. was a resident in Anderson’s Chestnut House residential program, he was subjected to abuse, neglect, and disability-based mistreatment, and that Anderson failed to take appropriate action despite alleged warning signs and reports.

According to the complaint:

• A.B., an autistic young adult who requires round-the-clock care, lived in Anderson’s Chestnut House residence and attended school through Anderson’s education program;

• on August 11, 2024, A.B.’s mother received a message from a whistleblower reporting alleged abuse and including a video recorded on June 5, 2024 where the non-verbal autistic teenager cried for his mother as his caregiver, Garnet Collins, grabbed A.B. by his genitals and pushed him across a room.

• The whistleblower was interviewed by FOX5NY where he alleges there are other victims who are abused inside of Anderson Center for Autism.

• The whistleblower said that was suspended after repeatedly reporting the abuse. After his employment was suspended, the whistleblower pursued and gained video of the abuse so that they would believe him. The whistleblower told FOX5NY that that “almost everyone” is being abused regarding the kids being housed at Anderson Center for Autism, but that A.B.’s incident “is the only incident he caught on camera” the whistleblower told FOX5NY.

• in the video, the caregiver Garnet Collins grabbed A.B.’s genitals and dragged him into a bedroom. Garnet was later sentenced to 1-3 years of prison;

• the complaint further alleges that this conduct was part of a broader pattern, including alleged food deprivation, physical aggression toward residents, and a hostile environment for individuals with disabilities.

“As a mother, I will never forget the physical and sexual abuse my vulnerable, special-needs son endured at the hands of those entrusted to protect him. The acts were violent, deliberate, and deeply humiliating — a complete violation of his dignity. While the abuser is now behind bars, our fight is far from over. We will not rest until the Anderson Center for Autism is held fully accountable. We are fighting for justice for our son, and for every child who deserves safety, dignity, and true protection,” said Shalini Babbar, mother of A.B.

“Our son went to Anderson Center for Autism because we believed it was a place of safety, expertise, and care. Instead, we learned through a whistleblower’s video that he was subjected to sustained physical and sexual abuse in the very home that was supposed to protect him,” said Anil Babbar, father of A.B. “His dignity was taken from him, his trust in caregivers shattered, and our family’s life was divided into ‘before the video’ and ‘after the video.’ We must hold abusers like Anderson and other institutions responsible for their participation in the criminal ecosystem servicing the special needs community.”

“The total lack of humanity in this case is appalling. This family trusted Anderson to take care of their son. Instead he was abused and mistreated in ways no person should ever experience. We filed this lawsuit to seek justice for A.B. and to help ensure this never happens again,” said Ilann M. Maazel, Partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

“What happened to A.B. in this case is the shocking result of repeated and systematic failures by an institution whose purpose was to protect A.B. and others like him within their care. While A.B.’s disability may have allowed Anderson to cover up its misconduct in the past, we are proud to represent A.B.’s family in bringing the repeated abuse and neglect to light today, and ensuring Anderson is held fully accountable,” said Sara Estela, also of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

The complaint also alleges that supervisory personnel were made aware of concerns prior to the incident, including that Resident Manager Nadine Thompson was allegedly informed of abusive conduct weeks earlier and did not take action.

The caregiver Garnet Collins later pled guilty to the felony of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree and misdemeanor forcible touching.

The Impact on The Autistic Teenager, A.B.

The complaint alleges that after A.B. was removed from Anderson on the same day the family received the whistleblower message, he experienced significant behavioral deterioration, as well as repeated psychiatric crises and hospitalizations beginning in October 2024 and continuing into 2025.

The complaint further states that after his removal, A.B. exhibited trauma-related symptoms including fear, behavioral dysregulation, and repeated references to the alleged abuser, and that treating clinicians observed signs consistent with intrusive or reliving symptoms of trauma. The complaint states that A.B. was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and that the family has incurred substantial costs for around-the-clock behavioral supports and related care in response to the ongoing impact of the alleged abuse.

More Physical Abuse Discovered At and Reported On at Anderson Center For Autism

This lawsuit comes amid longstanding public scrutiny of New York’s disability services system. A 2011 New York Times investigation reported that Jonathan Carey’s parents had previously removed him from the Anderson Center for Autism after discovering written records describing the use of food restriction and extended isolation as behavioral interventions. The New York Times further reported that Carey later died while in care at a state-operated facility, and that public attention to his death helped spur reforms aimed at strengthening oversight, transparency, and accountability in New York’s disability-services system.

In August 2025, the Times Union reported that New York State Police arrested an Anderson employee in Hyde Park after staff reported observing bruising on a residential patient, and authorities alleged the employee restrained the patient while holding a pillow against the patient’s face.

Claims and Relief

The complaint asserts claims under federal and state law, including disability discrimination claims under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as claims for negligence, negligent supervision/training/retention, assault and battery, Fair Housing Act claims, and New York State Human Rights Law claims. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief, and have demanded a jury trial.

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Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP is a nationally-recognized litigation boutique that focuses on civil rights, commercial, criminal, and ethics matters. Our civil rights practice includes wrongful convictions, sexual harassment and assault, police and prison misconduct, children’s and disability rights, housing rights, election law, all forms of discrimination, and class actions. Our commercial practice includes complex commercial litigation, partnership disputes, real estate and land use, investigations, ethics and discipline, and appeals. www.ecbawm.com

Zora Dora's Popsicles Has Left The Building - Closes After 20 Years - Makes Lewd Mara Lago Comment

Zora Dora’s, the micro-batch popsicle company located at 201 Main Street, the last of the affordable storefronts formerly owned by the Piccone’s (Mr. Bell’s Unisex Salon, John’s Shoe Repair) before they sold to new owners who gradually raised the rent on each tenant and displaced residential tenants in the back apartments (Miss Vickie and a veteran), has closed.

Katie from A Little Beacon Blog posing for Zora Dora’s photo shoot for Hudson Valley Magazine in May 2016.

Creator and owner Steven Astorino confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog that he moved out of his shop completely: “Twenty years, and I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve and get to make great fans and friends 🧡.” ALBB’s publisher Katie sat for a feature of Zora Dora’s when Hudson Valley Magazine profiled him in May 2016, when they needed a happy customer sit in the photo.

Steven told 101.5 WPDH that “he was never interested in the business aspect of the store, but rather the joy of having a creative outlet for something that he was good at and truly enjoyed.” He continued: “Once the cost of doing business became less joyful, he knew it was time to move on. The business owner cites monetary issues and personal time as reasons for closing Zora Dora's at the end of the summer [2025].”

During the winter, Zora Dora’s was known to sub-lease the space to other makers who transformed it into pop-up shops. One such shop was Cherry Bomb a decade ago, which brought together many makers who forged relationships for years onward.

Steven fashions his popsicles after the Mexican style called “Paletas,” which are made from fresh fruit or creamy bases. A graduate of the Culinary Institute, he served in “major hotels in NYC and Miami, FL,” according to his website.

While ALBB was covering the protests in Beacon during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, while community members were protesting against police brutality nation-wide after George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis, MN, Steven commented on an article, asking readers: “What do you want the police to do? Give the criminals lollypops?”

Dana Barrett, the Fulton County the Fulton County Commissioner, vowing to stop the raid of the 2020 elections by the federal government. Zora Dora commented on this post: Shut up and comply” followed by “Kinda like mara lago”

Last month, while the federal government raided an election center in Fulton County in Union City, GA, Dana Barrett, the Fulton County Commissioner representing District 3, which includes all of Buckhead and parts of both Sandy Springs and Midtown, published on her Instagram, calling it “political theater at its best,” as she pointed out that the federal government was distracting the nation from illegal and brutal ICE raids. She vowed to do everything in their power to “put a stop to this.”

Zora Dora’s Instagram account commented on her post twice, saying:

“Shut up and comply” followed by: “Kinda like mara lago.” ALBB verified that this @zora_dora account was the same as the Beacon Zora Dora account run by Stephen.

A reader of ALBB sent in a screenshot of the comment to alert us to it, and said: “I thought his statement was crazy. I like the popsicles there, but I’m not going back. It’s so sad.”

VIDEO: Beacon High School Students Walk Out For National "ICE Out" Strike - The. Kids. Are. Not. Having It.

VIDEO: The video of this march on January 30, 2026 National ICE Out Strike by over 100 Beacon High School Students is at the bottom of this article.

Friday, January 30th, 2026 was a national day of action known as “ICE Out,” where many people in the United States demonstrated actions demanding that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) be dismantled and abolished. Student groups at the University of Minnesota including the Somali Student Association and Black Student Union, as well as national groups including Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Black Lives Matter, LA Tenants Union, Palestinian Youth Movement and the ANSWER Coalition, called for a “national shutdown,” which looked like “No Work. No School. No Shopping. Stop Funding ICE.”

In Beacon, NY, Beacon High School (BHS) student discussion of participation in the “ICE Out” allegedly started earlier in the week on Monday with the Beacon High School club Students For Civic Engagement (SCE) organizing. By Thursday day, however, student commitments hadn’t stuck yet.

Some Beacon business owners were only casually thinking about it, when one asked A Little Beacon Blog: “What are your thoughts on the National Strike?” to which ALBB answered: “I feel exhausted. To be quite honest. This is in the hands of the very rich CEOs. This feels like Palestine 2.0. I support anyone who is striking, and I understand for anyone who is not closing but supports humanity and the resistance movement. I don’t know what else to say.”

The Momentum Built For The “ICE Out” Movement in Beacon

The Instagram post published by Students for Civic Engagement (SCE) when they decided to commit to walking out on January 30th, 2026.

Hours later, as the sun set on another day of school and business, Beacon businesses and some in Cold Spring began posting that they were shutting down for January 30th. Witch Hazel declared that they were accepting cash-only to avoid contributing to big banks, and would open their space to anyone who wanted to creatively express. New hair salon Chisel across the street declared they were shutting down (after missing work during the snow storm) and had rescheduled their appointments, to which their clientele agreed.

After investigating where the City of Beacon was putting all of their plowed snow, ALBB took to Instagram to make a quick video to report in that some businesses in Beacon were indeed shutting down to participate in the “ICE Out,” and to stay tuned for a report on where all of the plowed snow is going.

This simple video triggered a hailstorm of responses from Beacon MAGAs, and generated over 22,500 views. More and more businesses starting publishing their closure statuses.

Youth activity picked up in the social media threads of BHS students, where they started deciding if they were going to walk out or not. A social media post was made. Students For Civic Engagement (SCE) published to Instagram that they were walking out. Their only instructions: “WALKOUT TOMORROW!!!! Bring a coat”

It was official. The Beacon High School students were protesting.

The Planning

ALBB received requests from BHS students asking if an announcement could be made about their walkout. ALBB responded that we would seek confirmation first of any security details with Dr. Dwyer before posting anything, and emailed him that evening. Slogans for posters began being made, and chants written.

One parent told ALBB that they told their striking student that they would walk to pick them up instead of drive in order to avoid traffic or unexpected situations. The student responded: “Don’t worry about it. We’re walking to Main Street.” The parent asked: “Where are you going on Main Street?” to which the student replied: “We’re still figuring it out.”

And that was that.

The “Strike Eve” The Night Before

Doubters and supporters of human rights violations were filling online spaces in between, saying they would never shop from the striking businesses again.

Despite negative comments, the students opting to protest stayed strong and grew in numbers. “Some people told us that no one was going to come to our protest,” one student told ALBB. “That this protest wasn’t going to mean anything. Wouldn’t make a difference.”

One parent contacted ALBB, worried about consequences of the walkout action during school hours and debated if they should call the administration to give their child their consent in an excused absence. ALBB reached out to a civil rights expert to get guidance, who said: “The students can exercise their First Amendment right. You don’t need to call the school or say anything for several reasons: first, it may undermine your student’s action; and second, it may contribute to an argument that you made your student do it.”

The Morning Of The “ICE Out” Strike

Hits to the student walkout announcement article reached 4,000, an extremely high number for ALBB reader traffic to one page, indicating the high impact the BHS student was having in the community.

Still more businesses and restaurants were shutting off their burners and going dark for the day. Beacon MAGAs were losing places to eat by the hour.

At 6:30am Friday morning, Dr. Dwyer sent his email to parents, explaining how the school would ensure the safety of the students who were walking out. ALBB turned around to amplify it before the school day started. That article launched another hailstorm of comments (over 690 comments at FB) from parents praising the kids, as well as naysayers. Hits to the article spiked to 4,000 over the course of the day.

This spike was the impact the Beacon High School students were having. This was why they were experiencing such pushback from some in the community. Because their walkout was working.

The Kids Are Not Having It

These Beacon kids are the kids who were shut in during COVID. In their COVID shutdowns, they got comfortable with technology real fast. They maintained connections to each other on social media platforms their parents hadn’t even heard of. Using tricks to track each other to maintain safety and arrival to mutual places of meetings, hang-outs and sporting events.

South Avenue elementary school students marching in the 2017 Spirit of Beacon Day Parade, serving as little reporters asking questions about Beacon’s history. ALBB’s Katie Hellmuth helped co-produce South Avenue’s parade that year, with the theme of roving reporters.

These are these are the kids whose parents marched in Black Lives Matter 2020, and slogged through Sanctuary City status debate meetings at City Council. They built elementary school floats for the Spirit of Beacon day parade, some of which were live-action scenes as live reporters.

These kids fight with each other, and fight for each other. They learned safe space language over the years from different mental heath programs and teachers and staff in the Beacon City School District, and are reminded to try to pull in a friend who is behaving wildly.

The March

“I want to thank everyone for being out here today. I know it’s really cold, and this is really last minute. But this is really important. You all are demonstrating your First Amendment right, and that is very important. Before we begin with anything, I want to take a moment of silence for the lives that have been lost at the hands of the ICE institution and its agents.”

— Melby Scher, co-president of Students for Civic Engagement (SCE), a BHS Club

By 11:45am Friday, BHS Security had assembled at the end of the school driveways as they do when school gets out on a regular day to help the flow of traffic at pickup.

At 12pm, students who opted to walk out did so. Some went to their cars to drive home, shouted “FUCK ICE!” and spun their wheels to burn the rubber of their tires as they waited in the driveway line to exit the school.

A larger number of kids gathered and stayed at the main entrance of the Beacon High School kiosk, while some parents waited to pick them up at the Athletic Department. The kids huddled around the flag pole as different administrators in school leadership came out to check on things.

One of the co-presidents of the Students for Civic Engagement (SCE) club, Melby Scher, gave a speech to fellow students gathered round before they left. She dedicated a moment of silence for those people killed by ICE so far, and who are known about, several of whom have died inside of ICE detention centers shortly after being kidnapped and deposited there. Those names include Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Geraldo Lunas Campos, Víctor Manuel Díaz, Parady La, Renee Nicole Good, Luis Beltrán Yáñez–Cruz, Heber Sánchez Domínguez, and Alex Pretti.

Melby said: “I want to thank everyone for being out here today. I know it’s really cold, and this is really last minute. But this is really important. You all are demonstrating your First Amendment right, and that is very important. Before we begin with anything, I want to take a moment of silence for the lives that have been lost at the hands of the ICE institution and its agents.”

“I want to remind everyone that we are all part of a broader movement right now. The movement of peace, empathy and love for our neighbors against a country that is currently filled with so much hatred. It is so important that you are here today, and I am proud of every single one of you, for being out here in the cold.”

— Melby Scher, co-president of Students for Civic Engagement (SCE), a BHS Club

“Lastly, I want to remind everyone that we are all part of a broader movement right now. The movement of peace, empathy and love for our neighbors against a country that is currently filled with so much hatred. It is so important that you are here today, and I am proud of every single one of you, for being out here in the cold.”

A loud cheer came from the students, and they embarked down the side path of the school, headed down Mattaewan. Parents who were there in cars to pick them up rerouted themselves to follow alongside the student marchers.

When the students reached Verplanck Avenue, they safely crossed onto North Cedar Street and continued down the sidewalk of the one-way street, which is the usual route home for several students. One of the leaders of the Students for Civic Engagement (SCE) club shouted directions to the students, saying “Road Safety!” and guided everyone onto the sidewalk. The students chanted all the way to Main Street, where they landed between Kumon Learning Center and Subway, then proceeded down Main Street all the way to Pohill Park.

During the march, the students defied naysayer comments who had declared: “They are going to go to the mall!” and “This is just another day off for teachers!” The student’s powerful chants carried throughout the City. Their young voices angry as they demanded “ICE OUT!” Cars supporting them with honks flocked around them throughout their descent down Main Street, past stores like Key Food, CareFull MD Urgent Care, Xin Xing, Butterhead Salad, House of Maxx, Witch Hazel, Lily & Marigold, and others. A few silent drivers gave them thumbs down, or stared blankly ahead. One man in a black van shouted his support, saying that he had no horn but wanted to honk.

When Geese Fly

During the beginning of the march, as the students descended down the front lawn of the Beacon High School, a flock of geese launched up out of the back grounds. The geese are on the school grounds every day. The symbolism was not lost with the sudden whoosh of wings as the geese took flight and formed into a pattern with the kids below. It was like nature was with them, guiding them.

As reflection from the day settled, a second symbolism took shape in the memory of the geese flying: the kids took flight, leaving the nest on their own. This was a hands-off protest. The kids were in charge. The parents were watching if they wanted. Honking if they wanted. The kids flew. They spoke. They landed back at the nest. Successfully. Ready for the next time they are needing to be heard. Because this isn’t over until ICE is abolished and brutality with impunity is held accountable.

For those who thought this national day of “ICE Out” action would have no impact…the Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of Epstein files.

Comments After This Article Published

Comments at ALBB’s Facebook after the students protested were mixed. Some people demanded their tax revenue back for the day, and scolded the school for allowing the kids to walk out. Others spoke strongly in support, including some whose students participated. One woman, Sharron Herring, CEO of Herring Sanitation, said: “Kids standing up for injustice. Love it. Stand tall. Remember years from now. You did something. They didn’t miss a lesson, they gave a lesson. Take the time to listen to these young people standing up against aggression and hate.”

Beacon High School Principal Responds To "Student-Organized Planned Walkout" Connected With National "ICE Out Strike"

UPDATE: The video of this march that took place on January 30th has been published here in this article.

A national “ICE Out” strike has been planned for Friday, January 30th, as a peaceful yet powerful protest against ICE violence, demanding the abolishment of the federal agency. As reported by The Guardian: “For the first action on Friday, organizers, led by several student groups at the University of Minnesota, are calling for a ‘national shutdown’, which means: ‘No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.’ The ‘blackout’ day, which many online are referring to as a “general strike”, is an effort to “shut down the economy”, organizers say.”

At least 8 people have been killed by ICE, with many more injured in the streets of their neighborhoods, their homes, and their cars. More injuries and deprivations have occurred in detention centers, where documentation is difficult to obtain. Some brown skin people who have been taken and released are simply dumped on the side of the road, one legal professional told A Little Beacon Blog on conditions of anonymity.

Students of Beacon High School allegedly began organizing a walkout of school in order to support the nation-wide protest. The high school’s Principal Corey Dwyer responded with an email to district families before the start of the school day, saying:

“We have been made aware that some students plan to walk out of school today at Noon as part of a series of protests and walkouts expected to take place around the country.

“As a district, we support our students’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. We do not endorse or oppose, nor do we organize, student walkouts or protests.

“Our top priority is student safety. Students who participate are expected to do so in a calm and orderly manner and without disrupting the educational environment for their classmates. Staff will monitor student movement in the building to help ensure safety. Students leaving campus are no longer under school supervision, and the district cannot monitor off-campus activities.

“Normal attendance rules apply. Students who are not in class will be marked absent; any absence not excused by a parent or guardian in accordance with our attendance policy will be unexcused.

“While peaceful participation in a student-organized walkout will not be subject to disciplinary action, any behavior that violates school rules, endangers safety, or disrupts instruction will result in consequences in accordance with the district's student code of conduct.

“We appreciate your understanding and support.”

VIDEO: Beacon Building A Mini-Glacier To Store The Plowed Snow At Dennings Point Parking Lot

Where is all that plowed snow going of the January 2026 storm? The People of Beacon are asking. Well…Katie took a field trip with a Good Grandma friend of hers, and they found out. It’s going down to Denning’s Point, just past the Transfer Station (aka The Dump).

Said Gregg Houghtalin, whose Facebook profile says he used to work at the City of Beacon, upon learning that the City of Beacon was also dumping snow at the base of the Memorial Park sledding hill in the Beacon Bear’s Parking Lot: “We used to dump the snow outside the shit plant why here 🤔” He is referring to right here at the Dennings Point Parking Lot, which is across from Beacon’s wastewater treatment plant.

Trucks are being filled up with snow at various points in Beacon, and then carting the snow to this parking lot, where an employee of the City of Beacon is pushing it into this giant mound. He (and others like him) have been working for 31 hours straight.

The employee told ALBB he looks forward to a good night’s sleep tonight. He has been snacking on a high calorie diet, which includes avocado, vegetables, and a protein to keep him awake and alert on this assignment.

Cars Need To Move From Public Parking Lots For Snow Removal To Continue - Subject To Towing

Mounds of snow surround the public parking lot on Eliza Street.

Snow removal continues from the combined departments of the City Beacon’s Highway and Water Departments. According to the City of Beacon, 20 city employees have been involved in the effort to clear the roads, fire hydrants and parking lots of snow. Hudson Valley Post reports that Beacon received 17” of snow, sourcing the National Weather Service.

“Thank you again to our dedicated staff for their hard work,” the City said in an announcement on Facebook, “and thank you to their families who had to cover childcare and other demands while our staff came in and persevered through the storm. Job well done!”

Diggers and large snow blowers have been cutting the snow from curbs of Main Street and other areas of town. Snow removal has now prioritized to the public parking lots, with the City ordering all cars be removed from the public lots so that snow can be removed.

The City of Beacon Police have issued directions and a towing warning: “Starting Thursday (1/29) at 9am, we will begin enforcement of overtime parking in the City owned parking lots. Usually, you have 24 hours to move your vehicle after snow ends, however, due to the parking restrictions on Main Street, we have to give more time in those lots. However, if you leave your car in the lot, covered in snow and plowed in, you will likely be towed starting Thursday. If your car has been cleared, moved out and moved back into a space that is not full of snow, then you are okay.”

The City of Beacon has expressed that this is an all hands on deck situation to clear 50 miles of street, stating that the Highway and Water Departments have been working around the clock with little sleep. “City Police coordinated removal of cars blocking the plows, and our Fire Department is out helping to clear fire hydrants.”

City of Beacon Lifts Parking Ban Early; Dutchess County Lifts Travel Ban; Crews Continue Clearing

The City of Beacon has lifted its city-wide street parking ban early, and Dutchess County has lifted its travel ban, allowing parking on City streets and county driving as of 12pm Monday, January 26th.

The City of Beacon has added a No Parking on Main Street ban the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9pm to 9am the subsequent day, to allow for clearing and removal of snow from the area.

As for public parking lots: the City of Beacon said that all vehicles must be removed from municipal parking lots by Thursday morning at 9am to allow for public parking lots to be plowed.

City of Beacon Bans All Street Parking City-Wide; Police Say Cars Will Be Towed

On the Friday before the storm, the City of Beacon issued an emergency snow parking restriction, taking effect from 7:00am Sunday, January 25th, until 7:00pm Monday, January 26th. “During this time, parking on all City streets is prohibited, and any vehicles parked on streets will be towed at the owner’s expense. Cars can be moved to City parking lots.

Beacon Police Chief Thomas Figlia issued a stern warning to anyone in Beacon: “Please read carefully. If you park on the street during a snow emergency, regardless of the time, you are subject to ticketing and towing.” He reported that 10 vehicles were towed as a result of the last snow storm, “including some that left too long in city lots after the storm (more than 24 hours after the snow stops),” he said.

Temporary parking on Main Street is also restricted the evening of Tuesday, January 27th 9pm to Wednesday January 28th 9am. Look for signs to see where applies.

Parking on Main Street is also

Snowstorm Inside The Beacon Bubble: Grocery Shelves Stocked; Travel Ban; School Closed Monday; Police Say Cars Will Be Towed

Snow fell as anticipated on Sunday morning. By now, all 3 local farmers markets had been closed; Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency with cold temperatures and 12”-18” snow predicted for the Hudson Valley; Dutchess County issued a ban on non-essential vehicular traffic from 5am January 25, to 5pm January 26, 2026; the Beacon City School District closed school for Monday due to the travel ban; and the Beacon Police insisted that people not park in the street or they will be towed.

For walking customers, Key Food Beacon was open with shelves stocked, the world-famous HÅKAN Chocolatier was open with shovel ready, Tara Fusion in the Hudson Valley Food Hall was open for people to visit if they got stir-crazy and needed lunch in between snow blowing or sidewalk shoveling.

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National Awareness Piece: ICE's Killing Of The Nurse, Alex Pretti

This will most likely be the only piece A Little Beacon Blog does on lawless federal employment activity in Minnesota, as the execution of the ICU nurse Alex Pretti was widely document in video footage and emerging court documents. Several organizations have commented on it and more continue to. You most likely are seeing accurate coverage. However, if ALBB feels that you are not, we will cover it again. Publishing this is also for our Beacon MAGA readers, of which there are plenty. We want everyone to be on the same page when discussing federal, state and local issues.

Additionally, when we see in Comments (usually Facebook) that people are misunderstanding or willingly misconstruing what happened, we will issue an awareness post.

The First Post:

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Seasters Jones has published easy to read highlights from an affidavit filed to restrict ICE’s use of force in Minnesota. These highlights include a witness description of the shooting of Alex Pretti, the ICU nurse who was shot and died trying to help his neighbors after they got pepper sprayed, as well as a witness account from a medic who offered several times to assess Alex. When he was allowed access, the medic saw that the ICE agents had turned Alex on his side to count bullet holes. The medic said that turning a shooting victim on their side is not standard practice of care.

CBS News reports that a Judge has granted a restraining order against DHS in Minneapolis: "U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud granted a temporary restraining order against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Saturday, barring the department from altering or destroying evidence connected to Pretti's killing."

Also: "The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said DHS representatives blocked them from accessing the scene of the shooting, even though the bureau had obtained a judge's signed search warrant."

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mnd.229758/gov.uscourts.mnd.229758.109.0.pdf

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/reported-shooting-south-minneapolis-federal-agents-protesters/

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According to video footage and witness accounts at the scene, the nurse Alex Pretti was pepper sprayed by an ICE employee after Alex Pretti tried helping his neighbor after they were pepper sprayed. Then an ICE employee removed Alex’s legally acquired and carried handgun (as confirmed by local law enforcement), and as he lay on the ground, another ICE employee shot him. Several ICE employees then ran away from the scene to distance themselves. Then ICE employees were found examining his body to see how many bullet holes they hit him with. Like you might an animal shot in the woods by a hunter. They told a neighbor who was a medical expert that they did not know if he had a pulse. As their hands were on his body.

The American Nurses Association issued a statement saying: “ANA condemns violence in our communities. The seriousness of this incident and others demand transparency and accountability. ANA calls for a full, unencumbered investigation, and urges that findings be shared promptly and clearly so Alex’s loved ones and the public have answers.

“One in four nurses already experience workplace violence. As incidents with federal law enforcement continue to rise across the country, we are deeply concerned for the safety of nurses, both on the job and in the communities they serve.

“Nurses are advocates for the safety and well-being of their communities. They enter this profession to heal, to protect human life, and to show up for people in their most vulnerable moments. ANA remains committed to preventing violence in the workplace and in our communities, and to advancing meaningful protections that safeguard healthcare workers and the public.“

The first photo is from @_strangegang and the second photo is from @innergizer , who said: “Let’s call this what it is: a hostage-style demand from the Trump administration. Attorney General Pam Bondi is tying ICE’s presence in Minnesota to handing over sensitive voter data — and a sitting U.S. Senator has confirmed it. ”
He continued:
“This isn’t enforcement.
This isn’t about public safety.
This is an attempt to coerce a state into giving up control of its elections before 2026 even happens.
Don’t let them gaslight you with talking points. Recognize the strategy:
Threat + leverage = power grab.”

"But What Does This Have To Do With Beacon?" and "But What About..." ALBB's Response To These FAQs

When ALBB first started covering Palestine, “after October 7th,” the reactions that are happening now happened then.

The same strangulations insisting content be withheld.

The same pattern in justifying extreme, unjustifiable violance.

The same questions:

“What does this have to do with Beacon?”

“What about This? What about That? Why don’t you pick XYZ as your cause?”

I’ve learned that none of these questions need answered.

They are distractions.

Spoken by a person who doesn’t want something focused on for some reason.

When the focus does return to Beacon, and an article is written for a topic that someone disagrees with or makes them uncomfortable, they insist: “Mind your business.” And “You’re not a journalist.”

A Little Beacon Blog has shown again and again that it goes beyond this little Beacon bubble. Because we all go beyond this Beacon bubble.

We go on errands outside of Beacon.

We commute outside of Beacon.

We move outside of Beacon when we get priced out.

We visit friends and attend events outside of Beacon.

We open other businesses outside of Beacon.

Other communities watch A Little Beacon Blog to see how to get their word out, and sometimes ask for coverage to dedicate to a cause or event going on. What happens elsewhere eventually tries to happen in Beacon. So it’s best to have the context.

And with that, onto the next. Because this institution of ICE can’t last any longer.

As always, 🇵🇸 Free Palestine. It’s all connected.

"About These Comments." ALBB's Response To Abusive, Distracting Comments

First published in A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram and Facebook, below are two responses that ALBB gave to readers who were insisting that we not publish anything on ICE from different states.

Dear Readers,

Thank you so much for your concern for me Katie during this hail storm of Comments, mainly at FB. One reader asked if an Admin could block them. I want to let you know a few things:

🎵Those of us in Instagram are reading this while listening to a clip of “There’s No Home For You Here” by the White Stripes. I don’t think it carries over into FB. To keep me calm during this deluge of comments, I’ve been cycling through OG Bonnie Raitt from her blues days, 1970s.

1. I’ve blocked in the past, but readers asked to see who their neighbors are. For their own safety, comfort, and where they want to spend their dollar.

2. Us vs Them. Tricky here, because some of the most toxic statements are from readers who will appreciate certain articles. And that’s just fine. That’s what ALBB is here for. To get everyone the information.

3. Troll Groupies. Despite unhappy people saying they are leaving, they tend to not. Some even create fake accounts for ALBB after they are blocked! Or maybe after their bosses or business partners advise them to not engage the way they do. I will be designing a special skull cap and patch for them to buy. For the rest of us, I am bringing back an ALBB skull cap and trucker hat we can all buy.

3. Debilitating. Usually these Comment storms leave me paralyzed. At first, it took 2-3 weeks to recover, and I leave with scars. Sometimes actual eczema scars. Now I view them as battle armor chinks. Pressure makes the 💎 as the say.

4. Profit. One white male commented “Don’t cry poverty in 6 months!” Of course that is the biggest fear. But I learned that if I don’t stand for anything, why am I here. What is my purpose. What are my gifts. To say that to someone causes them to break. That is the intent. But I don’t break. My clients are Bad A$$es that I have the honor of holding partnership with. My donors - the smallest $5 or $1 - I cherish.

5. Prayer. I pray 3-5 times per day. I start with: “I seek refuge with Allāh from Satan the accursed, from his suffocation, his arrogance and his poetry.” My choice is to fight back or resist and celebrate with poetry.

These things bring me comfort. Those who want to be seen - you are indeed seen.

God Bless.

After Years Of Abusive Online Bullying, ALBB Rises Up (Again) To Address Comments

Editorial Note: First published at Instagram and Facebook.

Grown adults who repeatedly harass and bully will be blocked from A Little Beacon Blog’s Facebook page. If we know who you are in Instagram, we will block you there too. If we discover your IP address, we will block you from our entire website.

The only ways you can get back on are:

• Complete a 30 hour class in Online Bullying. Have it signed by the person/people you bullied.

• Write a 3-page paper on what you learned, and how you hurt someone. Chat GPT not accepted. We can tell if you used AI. Grammatical errors are accepted, and we will not make fun of you for it. Everyone makes mistakes in typing, pronunciation, spelling, and grammar.

• You could sneak onto our free newsletter that we might rebrand as being called “Unblocked,” but one Reply to that email inbox with unnecessary commentary, and you’ll be Unsubscribed.

To the adult children of these Grown Grandparent Bullies: please pull your parents home. They are embarrassing themselves, and any legacy(ies) they have named after them in town.

Alright? Alright.

Now get back to work. Tax season is here and 1099s need preparing for business owners and contractors. Books need reconciling before they get sent to the accountant.

Some of the worst offenders may be Retired. We suggest that these Retired Bullies do a crossword puzzle or something. Play Solitaire maybe? No, being with friends is best. Go out for coffee. A snow mobile ride. Climb the mountain. Take dancing lessons. Anything.

To those Grown Adults who are not retired: your job needs you. Go back to work. Stop ruining your online reputation.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The Backstory To This Comment Policy Reaction

ALBB has been subject to online bullying for years. So much so, that it frustrates her when parents insist on offering online bullying classes for youth, because it's usually parents of all classes and ages who do it. The bullying usually happens after an article is published that someone or a group does not like, and then they all pile on.

After the ICE videos, the criticism of ICE from local police chiefs, and call for Hilton to allow franchises to deny ICE employees as customers, the MAGAs of Beacon were outraged. This was no surprise to Katie, as she knows from the years covering BLM and Trump 1.0, any time racism or white supremacy is mentioned or alluded to, some white people in Beacon lose their minds.

So after posting the videos she felt needed to be witnessed after Renee Nicole Good’s killing, she exited the comments, and let the MAGAs of Beacon swarm around her like crows, picking at her flesh until they were done. Only they didn't rest and intensified. One Grandma (ALBB has many Grandma readers - some who protest against injustice, and others who sling the worst curse words insisting on justice for ICE) asked "Can an ALBB Admin please come moderate?" She was taking on the Beacon MAGAs on her own.

So ALBB woke up, took stock of the situation, responded that readers of ALBB have consistently requested that these heinous comments remain in order to help them see who their neighbors are.

After ALBB posted this new Comment Policy on the red oven-mitt, Beacon MAGAs were outraged at the prospect of being blocked for their bullying, and insisted it was "illegal" to block them. Guess they should talk to Facebook about the legality of offering the Block button in the first place?

ALBB wrote new ground rules and observations, which you can read above. A beautiful thing happened after that. New self-appointed bouncers appeared in comments while DMs trickled in from people lending their support. New Testimonials of appreciation were written, and ALBB gained another level of understanding of the wide-ranging readership.

Police Response In Minnesota, Maine and Phili Is Critical Of ICE Attacks And Racial Targeting

This article contains videos ALBB shared with readers as ICE escalated across the country, including Minnesota, Maine and Philadelphia. Beacon MAGAs were quick to call these police chiefs and sheriffs “clowns” on ALBB’s Facebook page, and went so far - but not surprisingly - as slinging racial insults at Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, who is a Black woman.

When ALBB posted this speech from Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, several Beacon MAGA's threw racial insults at her, attempting to drag her down in her position and accomplishment.

However, several ALBB readers gave praise and appreciation for her speech:
Said wearable art designer Selma Karaca: "Thankfully law enforcement is talking the talk!"
Chef Jodi Cummings said: "Omg I love this woman!!!🔥🔥 FINALLY!!"
Kim Ann Hamilton said: "She’s a boss!👏"
@brownskingirl129 said: “👏👏👏👏👏👏👏”

This video clip is from @quadzillahikes . It features Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley speak on behalf of himself and several other police chiefs across the Twin Cities to share their concerns and experiences over racial profiling by federal ICE agents of their off duty officers, all people of color. Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt also said she saw “multiple recent incidents of ICE agents using racial profiling to stop U.S. citizens,” as reported by local station Kare11.

The news station reported that Chief Bruley sad “local law enforcement agencies are receiving endless complaints from U.S. citizens that ICE agents are using racial profiling tactics to single out people of color and demand proof of legality. Bruley said off-duty police officers have also been subjected to this treatment.“

Chief Bruley said in part: “What we’re hearing is they’re being stopped in traffic stops or on the street with no cause and being forced to demand paperwork if they’re here legally. We started hearing from our police officers the same complaints as they fell victim to this while off duty. Every person who has had this happen to them is a person of color.”

Chief Bruley went on to describe a targeting of one of his female officers of color, which he describes in this speech.

Kare11 reported: “Bruley said it has been extremely difficult for him to communicate with ICE leadership about concerns. He said ICE leadership has told him to file complaints online with the names of the involved federal officers, but since ICE agents cover their faces and do not have name tags, it is impossible to know who is responsible.“

This speech was published by @quadzillahikes Jack Jones, who said in his caption: “St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henrv, ioined by local law enforcement leaders, spoke on the surge of federal agents in the Twin Cities and called for “common ground.”

“This comes as the Trump administration is preparing as many as 1,500 troops [active duty soldiers] for mobilization to Minnesota as protests continue amid immigration enforcement operations in the state.”

According to an article in CBS News: “The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska who specialize in operating in arctic conditions to be ready in case of a possible deployment to Minnesota, two defense officials said Sunday. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans, said two infantry battalions of the Army’s 11th Airborne Division have been given prepare-to-deploy orders.

“One defense official said the troops are standing by to deploy to Minnesota should President Donald Trump invoke the Insurrection Act. The rarely used 19th-century law would allow the president to send military troops into Minnesota, where protesters have been confronting federal immigration agents for weeks. He has since backed off the threat, at least for now.“

Local Maine station ABC WMTW8 reported from the Sheriff’s press conference, from Portland, ME: “ The sheriff of Cumberland County held a news conference Thursday afternoon to address the detainment of a corrections recruit by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and criticize the agency’s tactics.

“We’re being told one story, which is totally different than what’s occurring, or what occurred last night,” he said.

Joyce said the recruit was hired in February 2025 after undergoing a rigorous hiring process. The sheriff also said the recruit’s I-9 suggested that he was able to work in the United States until April 2029.

“In this particular case, this is an individual that had permission to be working in the state of Maine. We vetted him,” Joyce said. “Every indication we found is that this was a squeaky-clean individual that really hadn’t done anything at all.”

Joyce said the recruit was in the academy in the fall of 2025 when, in November, he left the academy and went to Texas for a hearing on his immigration status.

“He took the extra step of risking his job to fly to Texas to take care of hearings and for some reason, he was picked up last night,” the sheriff added.

“They left it right on the side of the street. Folks, that’s bush league policing,” Joyce said. “In my world, you wait for a wrecker. You wait for somebody to come pick it up that the individual wants, or you get permission to drive the vehicle into a public parking spot and you lock it up and you give the person their car keys. You don’t leave their personal belongings unsecure along the streets of the city of Portland. It’s not fair to the guy that owns the car. It’s surely not fair to Portland police.”

“This opened the door for me based on the fact, I mean, this is an individual that was trying to do all the right things,” he said. “I guess if you’re not the card-carrying U.S. citizen, then you must be illegal, because that’s what they told me is ‘he’s illegal,’ and he’s definitely not a criminal. So what part of him is illegal? I don’t know.”