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City and Dutchess, Putnam counties allocate funds The Beacon City Council voted Monday (Nov. 3) to spend $50,000 to provide grocery gift cards to city residents who have lost federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. At the same time, the Trump administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, for November following two court orders. The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze payments starting Nov. 1 because of the federal government shutdown. The program costs $8 billion monthly, but the White House said an emergency fund it will use has $4.65 billion, or enough to cover about half the normal benefits. It's not clear exactly how much beneficiaries will receive, nor how quickly they will see value show up on the debit cards they use to buy groceries. November payments have already been delayed for millions of people. In Dutchess County, 17,152 people rely on food stamps (including 640 households in Beacon); in Putnam County, it's 2,885 people. In Beacon, beginning Thursday (Nov. 6), $50 gift cards to either Key Food (268 Main St.) or the Beacon Natural Market (348 Main St.) or $60 in coupons for the Beacon Farmers' Market (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 223 Main Street parking lot) will be distributed at the city's Recreation Center at 23 West Center St. Cards and coupons will be available Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beacon residents enrolled in the SNAP program must provide photo identification, proof of residency (such as mail) and their SNAP card. Options are limited to one per SNAP recipient. Additional times will be added as needed. The council has set no end date for the program; it will be determined based on demand for the cards, the use of funding, and the resumption of federal benefits or the implementation of a comparable state program. Updates will be posted at beaconny.gov. Mayor Lee Kyriacou asked city staff to develop the program last week, when it became apparent that federal benefits were at risk of lapsing. The grocery stores and the farmers' market, which is operated by Common Ground Farm, provided the cards to the city at a substantial discount, Kyriacou said. The city opted for a direct transfer of cash-like gift cards because it was the quickest and easiest program to control, given the tight deadline, he said. "We wanted to get assistance to people so that they could use and decide what they want," City Administrator Chris White said. The city will conduct online outreach and distribute flyers in both English and Spanish at low-income apartment complexes to inform residents about the program. Funding for the Beacon program was drawn from a $75,000 allotment in the 2025 budget for planning studies. White noted that "this is only a patch. The federal government needs to step up and maintain its commitment to people." Dutchess County announced it would commit $150,000 per week to support local food pantries, for up to 10 weeks, pending approval by the Legislature at its Tuesday (Nov. 6) meeting. The county said the amount was determined after consulting with Renee Fillette-Miccio, who chairs the Dutchess County Food Security Council. In Putnam, County Executive Kevin Byrne approved a request by legislators to provide $150,000 to fund food pantries. The Associated Press contributed reporting. Local Food Assistance Beacon's Backyard Kitchen The group serves a hot breakfast at 12 Hanna Lane in Beacon on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and a to-go lunch until 10:30 a.m. See instagram.com/beaconsbackyard. Beacon Farmers Market SNAP benefits are doubled through Greens4Greens, a partnership with Common Ground Farm in Wappingers Falls. To redeem benefits, visit the manager's tent, where the benefit card can be charged any amount in exchange for $1 tokens. For every $2 processed, customers will receive a $2 voucher, up to $50. As of Nov. 2, managers are distributing ...

Includes more sales-tax revenue for Beacon The budget proposed by the Dutchess County executive for 2026 would lower the property tax rate and provide more sales tax revenue to Beacon. Sue Serino's proposal to the Legislature includes $651 million in spending. Among its provisions, it would eliminate 10 vacant jobs and leave 17 unfilled. (See dutchessny.gov.) Despite those changes, spending would rise by 1.8 percent, Serino said on Oct. 29 in an address to the Legislature. She cited a $6.7 million increase in "state mandates," primarily for daycare, early intervention, and special-education programs, as well as higher costs for salaries and benefits. Revenues would come from $273.8 million in sales taxes, $106 million in property taxes and $23 million in general-fund reserves, or savings. The tax levy would be $224,000 below a state-mandated cap, and the rate assessed on property owners would fall from $2.17 to $2.10 per $1,000 of assessed value. Serino said she anticipates $5.4 million in additional sales tax revenue by allowing an exemption from Dutchess' portion of the sales tax (3.75 percent) for clothing and shoes costing less than $110 to lapse on March 1. (The 8.125 percent sales tax includes 4 percent for the state and 0.375 percent for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority). Beacon's share of sales taxes, which totaled $6.1 million, will rise from 2.35 percent to 2.45 percent in 2026, or an additional $268,000. According to Serino, ending the clothing and shoe exemption would yield an extra $133,000 for Beacon. Democrats criticized the decision to end the exemption, which took effect in 2022. Legislator Yvette Valdés Smith, who represents Ward 4 in Beacon and part of Fishkill and is the Legislature's minority leader, called it a "rash decision" that will hurt working families. "The Republican-led county government's mismanagement of funds - including a luxury clubhouse at the baseball stadium, mindboggling pay raises and failed litigation against New York State - has necessitated this tax increase," Valdés Smith said in a statement. Republicans, who hold 15 of 25 seats on the Legislature, faced criticism for funding upgrades at Heritage Financial Park in Wappingers Falls, the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, the New York Yankees' High-A affiliate. They also authorized spending up to $100,000 to sue the state over a state law requiring most local elections to be held in even years, but no funds were spent, according to the county. The state Court of Appeals upheld the law in October, but a new lawsuit challenging its legality has been filed in federal court. Smith said the budget "fails to properly address the EMS [emergency medical services] crisis" and "contains no meaningful funds for our efforts to deal with the housing crisis." In her budget address, Serino highlighted $2 million in funding for supplemental ambulance service to address shortages that have led to long wait times, along with $2.5 million for youth programs and $1 million for the county's Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing projects. Her budget would fund two school resource officers, a Drone as First Responder Program for the county's Real-Time Crime Center and a new Elder Justice Task Force. That collaboration with the Office for the Aging and the district attorney and sheriff's offices "will investigate, identify, pursue and prosecute those who exploit older adults through abuse, fraud or neglect," according to Serino.

Topics range from affordability to bikes and firefighters In a repeat of last year's budget deliberations, Beacon City Council members on Monday (Oct. 27) debated with Mayor Lee Kyriacou and City Administrator Chris White whether the city has done enough to advance affordable housing. Each year, after the mayor introduces his budget proposal in October, department heads present their spending plans. Their proposals typically review accomplishments, notable projects scheduled for the following year and any changes in spending. This week, after presentations on the highway, water and sewer and wastewater departments, the discussion turned to "council priorities." A year ago, council members sparred with Kyriacou and White over affordability before adding $75,000 to the 2025 budget for a communications plan and studies on affordable housing and non-vehicular transportation. The money had not been spent, Finance Director Susan Tucker said on Monday. This year's discussion centered around a proposal to create a director of housing solutions. Kingston and Hudson have hired similar staff, while Beacon officials have suggested that Ben Swanson, who has been Kyriacou's assistant for four years and will become the deputy city administrator in 2026, could work on housing. Kyriacou said on Monday that he believes Swanson, who has a law degree from New York University, has "far better qualifications" than anyone the city could hire. Instead of bringing in someone new, "I'd rather start with expertise," the mayor said. In addition, Beacon's planning consultant, Natalie Quinn, who worked for the Poughkeepsie Planning & Zoning Department from 2018 to 2022, could be a resource, he said. That led Paloma Wake, who, along with Amber Grant, will return to the council next year, to argue that housing has not gotten enough attention. "We've been stuck in the same place" on the city's requirement of 10 percent below-market rate units in new developments of 10 or more for four years, she said. "We've been hearing that the Housing Authority has the potential to build more [subsidized housing] for a while," Wake said. "There is a need to be even more proactive. What I really want to see out of this budget cycle is a clear commitment to resourcing this issue." The city's 10 percent affordable (or "inclusionary zoning") policy is an outlier in the region because it demands something of developers without a giveback, such as added density or reduced application fees, Kyriacou said. The council has been reluctant to consider a giveback for a higher affordable percentage, but "I am more than willing to go there," he said. He noted that Beacon accounts for 20 percent of the affordable housing stock in Dutchess, although the city comprises only 5 percent of the county's population. But with yearslong waiting lists at subsidized complexes in Beacon, we "still need to be doing everything we can to be ambitious enough to meet the need," Wake said. The council agreed to put inclusionary zoning and the effect of short-term rentals on the housing market on a workshop agenda. From there, Molly Rhodes, who is leaving the council to become a Dutchess County legislator, inquired about the cost of conducting a bike study. Earlier this month, members of the Beacon Bicycle Coalition presented the council with a petition signed by 1,000 people requesting a study on bike lanes and other infrastructure. Beacon does not have the resources to do that immediately, said White, but an agreement with the county Transportation Council for an inventory and gap analysis of sidewalks could lead to a report on bikes. Some council members appeared frustrated. "Every time we discuss [priorities]," the administration's response is: 'What do you not want to do? You're asking for too much,' " said Pam Wetherbee. "We know in our own lives that if we do one thing, it precludes us from doing another," said White, who added that the city has received funding commitments to repair sidewalks, ...

Meet Saw and Brittany Naing — the husband-and-wife team behind Ojai's new rock-and-roll-tinged barbecue spot, Joplin's, and the culinary force you already know from The Dutchess. Saw is executive chef and partner at The Dutchess, where his Burmese-Indian roots shape one of Ojai's most celebrated menus; at Joplin's, he channels that same precision into brisket and ribs, leaning on good cuts, time, and low, slow heat.Brittany runs the front of house at Joplin's, setting the tone for a room that's equal parts hospitality, comfort food, and guitar-amp energy. Instagram+4The Dutchess+4Saveur+4We talk about the juggle — how you staff and multi-task across two restaurants — and why culture beats chaos in a busy kitchen. Saw traces his path from Bouchon and Tallula's to becoming chef-partner at The Dutchess, and, yes, his years as a guitarist (with a soft spot for nu-metal like Korn) before kitchens became his stage. Brittany shares how the couple met working in LA restaurants, and why Joplin's leans into “food, drinks, and rock & roll” without losing sight of the essentials.Plus: why Niman Ranch ribs, a dialed-in brisket, and a FOH that truly sees guests are the secret to Ojai's newest staple. Instagram+6Variety+6Eater LA+6We talked about the daily grind, weightlifting and superior sides. We did not talk about Mickey Mantle's off-the-field antics, bauxite production in Western Australia or the Flying Dutchman.Learn more at https://www.joplinsojai.com/ or https://www.thedutchessojai.com/

In Dutchess comptroller race, incumbent faces challenge from legislative chair When Dan Aymar-Blair, the Dutchess County comptroller, first told his mother he was running for the position, she responded: "I'm so proud of you, honey. What is that?" The anecdote got a laugh from a dozen residents gathered at a Hyde Park library town hall last month, but it also captures the central challenge for Aymar-Blair, a Beacon resident and former City Council member, in winning re-election to a full term as comptroller: persuading voters to care about an office so little-understood that even his mother needed an explanation. His Republican opponent, Will Truitt, the 30-year-old chair of the Dutchess County Legislature, faces a different challenge. To win the race, he must mobilize a GOP political machine that has enabled Republicans to control Dutchess - the Legislature, the county executive's seat, the sheriff's office - for nearly all of the past three decades. The vote should be close. Although there are about 20,000 more registered Democrats in the county than Republicans (75,000 to 56,000), another 12,000 voters are enrolled in smaller parties and 60,000 have no declared party affiliation. Control of the office has repeatedly flipped between parties. But Republicans have historically been more effective at turning out voters in off-year elections like this one. In recent presidential years, Democratic turnout in the county is around 70 percent; in recent off-year local elections, that drops to below 45 percent, according to data from the county Board of Elections. "It's a truly purple county," said Michael Dupree, who chairs the Dutchess County Democratic Committee. Aymar-Blair won in November by fewer than 1,000 votes in a special election held during a presidential election year, a contest that occurred because Democrat Robin Lois resigned to become deputy comptroller of local government and school accountability in Albany. Gregg Pulver, a Republican who had chaired the Legislature but lost his seat, was appointed to the role. The narrow margin meant the outcome hinged on absentee ballots. When it comes to the question Aymar-Blair's mother asked, however, the two candidates have very different answers. "This office is an essential part of checks and balances," Aymar-Blair told the group in Hyde Park, part of a series of non-campaign events he has held in libraries to explain what his office does. The comptroller, he told the group, serves as an independent watchdog responsible for scrutinizing budgets, contracts and capital projects. Truitt, who was elected to the Legislature when he was 20, frames the job differently. To him, the comptroller is akin to a chief financial officer, someone who works in step with the county executive and Legislature, keeping the government "one united team." "Anyone here who's ever worked in small business knows if you have a CFO [chief financial officer] - a comptroller - who's working to undermine the rest of the team, you are going to fail," he told supporters at a fundraiser at a donor's home in Fishkill last month. A self-described "Energizer Bunny," Truitt bounded through the crowd of 170 supporters and more than two dozen Republican elected officials, giving hugs, shaking hands and pausing for quick huddles with campaign aides. The event, advertised as offering "$250 hot dogs, $500 burgers and $1,000 steaks," delivered on its promise of red meat on the grill and in speeches. Speakers at the fundraiser railed against the brainwashing of the young in academic institutions and warned of growing Christian religious persecution across the country. The crowd paused for a moment of silence for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, assassinated days earlier, and Truitt vowed to uphold the political firebrand's legacy. Dutchess GOP Vice Chair Doug McCool whipped up the crowd: "Truitt!" he called. "Will do it!" the crowd bellowed back. Truitt hopes these officials, donors and rank-and-file Republicans wi...

Quality of life, public safety at stake Before firefighters in Cicero in Onondaga County could battle the blaze that engulfed a residence in August, they first had to overcome a "buildup of everything," according to Chief Jim Perrin. Boxes, papers and "old stuff, new stuff" prevented their attempt to enter through the front door, and they confronted more clutter while fighting their way through the garage, he told The Post-Standard in Syracuse. "There was only a narrow path," said Perrin, whose firefighters found the deceased resident between the kitchen and living room. "Everything else was piled from floor to ceiling." That is the kind of tragedy Dutchess County officials are hoping to prevent with an initiative to help people overcome hoarding problems. Officials with the county's Health and Social Services departments recognized that "there are quite a few people hoarding" in Dutchess and proposed doing something to support them, said Jean-Marie Niebuhr, the county's mental health commissioner. Working with a consultant, a task force that included those two departments and the Office for Aging designed a program that begins with an in-home assessment. Hoarders who want help are paired with an "interventionist" from the Department of Mental Health who seeks to ease their discomfort, or even distress, about discarding stuff. They also help people set interim goals, such as clearing a path to a particular part of the residence. Convincing someone to accept help can be difficult, especially because hoarders can be driven by shame to isolation, but Dutchess has had some successes, said Niebuhr. "It's even prevented homelessness, because sometimes these situations get so bad that an individual could be evicted from their place of residence or the fire inspector might say this place is uninhabitable," she said. Someone driven to that extreme is considered to have a disorder that is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, "the Bible of diagnoses in the world of mental illnesses," said Niebuhr. The problem affects about 2.6 percent of the population, but the rates are higher for people over age 60 and those with mental-health diagnoses such as depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Hoarders are not just rabid collectors or poor housekeepers, but people so unable to discard stuff that their living space, and sometimes their porches and lawns, fill up. "It gets to the point where a person's home is so full of stuff that you might not be able to cook on the stove, sleep on the bed or sit on the couch because there's stuff everywhere," Niebuhr said. What people hoard can vary, ranging from newspapers to furniture, cars and animals, and the repercussions extend to family and neighbors living next to junk-filled properties. Firefighters in Beacon have encountered hoarding and are trained in how to adjust to the problems it presents, said Chief Tom Lucchesi. Those problems go beyond restricting access during emergencies, he said. Hoarding "increases the fire load, causing fires to burn hotter and spread more rapidly," said Lucchesi. "In addition, pathways are often blocked, which can complicate both rescue and evacuation efforts, while also increasing the risk of injury or entrapment for responders." Earlier this month, more than 200 animals were found at the home of a wildlife rehabilitator on Long Island, where authorities discovered a 95-year-old woman who they say was essentially trapped in her room due to clutter. Cats, dogs, parrots, roosters, hedgehogs, chinchillas, guinea pigs, voles and flying squirrels were among the 206 animals found Oct. 1 at the home in Suffolk County. The residence was infested with insects and cluttered with debris, garbage and household waste, making certain areas impassable, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. Dutchess has organized training sessions for staff at community organizations who may encounter people with the problem. Alon...

Send us a textHeidi Ramsey retired after 23 years with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, serving in various operational and administrative capacities during her tenure.  During this time, she was responsible for creating SIGNAL, a preparation course for troopers seeking promotion to sergeant; the Public Safety Leadership Academy, a 10-week leadership course for mid-level police supervisors; and Ohio ASSIST, a three-day post critical incident seminar for first responders dealing with the aftermath of traumatic events.  She also held assignments at the Academy, Labor Relations, Legal Services, and Human Resources prior to her retirement in 2018. Currently, Mrs. Ramsey serves as an instructor at the FBI National Academy, a 10-week leadership course for law enforcement executives from around the world.  Her primary course of instruction is Leading At-Risk Employees, which provides resources and strategies for managers to deal with employees who are suffering from substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress, suicide, and depression.  She also teaches Navigating Internal Leadership Crises, which deals with strategies for managing crisis situations considering tactics, policy, communication, and wellness issues. Mrs. Ramsey graduated from the FBI National Academy in December 2016 and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Capital University, and a Juris Doctorate degree with a concentration in Employment Law from Capital University Law School.  She is a certified attorney in the State of Ohio and resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, Mike, and their two dogs, Dutchess and Star.Find Heidi RamseyInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/heidiramsey222/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/heidi.marshall.524Find The Suffering PodcastThe Suffering Podcast InstagramKevin Donaldson InstagramTom Flynn InstagramApple PodcastSpotifyYouTubeThe Suffering Podcast FamilySherri AllsupSupport the showThe Suffering Podcast Instagram Kevin Donaldson Instagram TikTok YouTube

Putnam also considers lower premiums for employees A consultant is recommending salary increases for Putnam County public health nurses and other positions. At the same time, the Legislature took up a proposal to dramatically reduce the amounts employees contribute to their health coverage. Julia Culkin-Jacobia of Catapult Executive Consulting presented to the Legislature's Personnel Committee on Sept. 18 the results of her review of the salaries paid to employees covered by the Civil Service Employees Association, the county's largest union. The committee also reviewed a draft agreement between County Executive Kevin Byrne and labor unions that would cap the employee share of their health insurance premiums at 17 percent, instead of the current maximum of 30 percent. The six nursing jobs in the Department of Health were the original focus of the study, but it expanded to include other positions as Putnam seeks to improve recruitment and retention. For nurses, Culkin-Jacobia suggests that Putnam boost the starting rate from $72,269 to $75,770 by reassigning them to a higher CSEA pay scale, Grade 19 instead of Grade 18. The starting salary would then be closer to the average of $74,153 in seven "peer counties," including Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Westchester. Kathy Percacciolo, the nursing supervisor for the Health Department, said that many counties and hospitals used pandemic relief funds to raise the salaries of public health nurses, but in Putnam, "the COVID money was not used for that reason, which set us back." Putnam has had a "real struggle" to fill the nursing positions, said Paul Eldridge, the county personnel officer. Five of the six positions are now filled, but three were open as recently as August, he said. To entice new hires, the county is offering starting pay at the higher end of Grade 18, but that leaves little room for raises. Reclassifying the positions to Grade 19 allows the county to offer higher starting pay while retaining the "ability to use the other steps" of the higher grade, he said. Culkin-Jacobia also suggested changes for management positions, ranging from confidential secretaries and directors to assistant district attorneys and the county executive's staff, that do not have salary scales. She recommended a 12-grade scale "to help manage costs and also have a guideline for administration to make salary decisions." Each grade would have a minimum salary ranging from $62,080 to $177,121, as well as maximums ($80,960 to $230,988). Culkin-Jacobia identified several management positions for raises, including the county auditor (7 to 10 percent), the two elections commissioners (5 percent), an IT systems specialist (28 percent) and the park superintendent (5 percent). "With the labor shortage over the last two to three years, especially, there's been a lot of retention issues, especially as people were retiring from the county," she said. The challenge of recruiting and retaining employees also prompted Byrne to create a committee to review the amount that workers must contribute to their health insurance premiums. Many new hires pay 30 percent, which falls as they accrue time, Eldridge said. Putnam's rate is significantly higher than the cap in Dutchess and Westchester (20 percent each) and Orange (16 percent) counties. Under the proposal, the 30 percent contributions would be reduced to 17 percent under an agreement between Byrne, the CSEA and the three other unions that represent Putnam employees: the Putnam County Sheriff's Employee Association (jail guards and staff), the Putnam Management Association and the Sheriff's PBA (deputies). The committee also calculated the costs if the county changed the maximum to 20 percent, 18 percent or 15 percent, but Byrne, in a letter to the Personnel Committee, called the 17 percent cap "reasonable, fiscally informed, fair and regionally competitive." Eldridge said that 225 Putnam employees would benefit. The plan would add $865,000 to the $11.5 milli...

Federal government settles over land claims In a settlement with the federal government, eight Dutchess and Putnam County landowners, including five in Beacon, were awarded $1.06 million in compensation for property taken for a proposed 13-mile rail trail - apparently the first resolution in a slew of similar lawsuits. Metro-North, which acquired the dormant Beacon Line in 1995, is negotiating to relinquish the tracks to the state for a Beacon-to-Hopewell Junction trail. It would wind from Beacon's train station for 4 miles around the city's southern perimeter before running parallel with Tioronda Avenue and the east end of Main Street. The entire Beacon Line is 41 miles long and stretches to the Connecticut border. The eight plaintiffs are represented by Lewis Rice, a law firm in St. Louis that specializes in rail trail "takings" cases. Four own homes on Tioronda Avenue and another is the limited-liability company behind the condos at 1 East Main St. The property under and adjacent to the tracks was seized in February 2024 under the National Trails System Act, which allows abandoned railroad lines to be converted to parks. A feasibility study commissioned by Dutchess County and released in August recommended tearing out the unused tracks between Beacon and Hopewell for $46 million to $56 million rather than installing a path alongside them. Landowners adjoining the corridor can claim swaths of land likely lost in the 19th century, when railroads that needed the corridors purchased or condemned the land or acquired easements, according to Steve Wald of Stewart, Wald & Smith, another St. Louis law firm specializing in rail-trail property cases. The firms argue that modern owners are "predecessors in title" who "have the same rights as the original landowners." The plaintiffs in this case and similar ones elsewhere in the country say that, in the event of a conversion of use to something other than rail access, they should receive "full possession and control" or be compensated. If a court agrees, appraisers determine the amount of land lost, as well as any damages related to loss of privacy and/or security from the trail construction. More than 80 abandoned railroad lines in New York state have been converted to trails, including the 13-mile Dutchess Rail Trail that stretches from Hopewell Junction to the Walkway Over the Hudson and the 12-mile Putnam County Trailway between Baldwin Place and Brewster. More lawsuits are pending. Stewart, Wald & Smith has at least three outstanding cases that name 260 landowners. In Beacon, their clients include the Elks, Lank's Automotive, Lori Joseph Builders, Levi Reavey Sr. and Whitefield Properties. On Aug. 21, Lewis Rice filed a lawsuit on behalf of G.P. Beacon LLC at 578 Main St. and property owners in Fishkill and Pawling. On Sept. 17, Stewart, Wald & Smith filed a claim for owners in Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Pawling and Poughquag.

Editor's note: Beacon was created in 1913 from Matteawan and Fishkill Landing. 150 Years Ago (September 1875) Ten residents armed with revolvers formed a "vigilance committee" in Matteawan to "protect persons and property from prowling tramps and other marauders." The roof of the Fishkill Landing Machine Works caught fire from a spark from the chimney. The Dutchess County Citizen, which covered Matteawan, Fishkill and Pine Plains, closed and its publisher left town. When the ticket agent for the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad Co. went upstairs at the depot on a Monday afternoon to retrieve some papers, he left behind his vest, which had $30 [$880] in cash in the pockets. Two boys on the platform testified that James McGinnis, 18, took the money and promised them 50 cents [$15] each to say nothing. The judge set bail at $200 [$6,000]. George Kittridge, while hunting with Henry Alden on a Thursday morning, accidentally shot his companion in the knee. The limb had to be amputated, and Alden died that afternoon. Judge Ornshee of Matteawan ruled that Ada Ray, 14, Minnie Ray, 7, and Willie Ray, 5, had been abandoned by their mother, Olive, and sent them to the House of Refuge at Randall's Island. 125 Years Ago (September 1900) At a Democratic meeting held at Fishkill, John Gracey, a Republican produce vendor, threw ripe fruit at one of the speakers, Col. John Dougherty. "Arrests were made," according to The Cold Spring Recorder. The lineup was released for the firemen's parade at Fishkill and Matteawan: local and visiting fire chiefs, Flocton's Band (Peekskill), Cortland Hook and Ladder (Peekskill), Keink's Band (New York City), Phoenix Hose (Poughkeepsie), Fishkill and Matteawan Military Band (30 pieces), Lewis Tompkins Hose (Fishkill Landing), Nineteenth Separate Drum Corps (Poughkeepsie), Davy Crockett Hook and Ladder (Poughkeepsie), 90th Regiment Band (Kingston), W.H. Mase Hook and Ladder (Matteawan), Middletown Drum Corps, Eagle Hose (Middletown), Rifton Glen Band, Weiner Hose (Kingston), Wheeler & Wilson Band (Bridgeport) and Beacon Engine (Matteawan). Belle Archer, one of the most photographed actors and singers of the 1890s, performed her new Western-themed play, "Jess of the Bar Z," at Fishkill Landing on Sept. 4 as part of a statewide tour. [Two weeks later, Archer tripped at a train station south of Buffalo and hit her head, causing a fatal brain bleed. She was 41.] According to a newspaper account, Mrs. Winthrop Sargent of Matteawan had for nine years operated a school for housekeepers from her home, which included a model kitchen garden. "The pupils do all the work, undertaking for a term of three weeks at a time the duties, now of one servant, now of another, until they thoroughly understand all," it said. The Rev. J. McGrath of St. John's Church admonished his congregation during a sermon for not wearing hats to Mass. He also warned the men that they could not attend services dressed in then-fashionable "shirtwaists" that resembled blouses. Marguerite Upton, 8, who lived in the Timothyville brickyard settlement, was shot in the arm, which had to be amputated. She said she had found a loaded .48-caliber revolver in a drawer. However, a week later, she confessed to a nurse that her cousin, Frank Kilpatrick, 17, had shot her accidentally after coming into the room and playfully telling her, "Throw up your hands!" The Matteawan coroner identified remains found in an abandoned well at a farm near Stormville as Charles Brower, a laborer who had disappeared 14 years earlier. According to witnesses, he and Peter Austin, who owned the farm, left the Austin house together, but only Austin returned. A search party found nothing. In 1898 Austin sold the farm, and the new owner discovered the skeleton. Investigators learned that Austin owed Brower $300 [$11,500], and Mrs. Austin said she was "tricked" by police into admitting her husband had confessed to her. Edward Selek, a Russian making his way to New York City, was struck...

White House seeks control of state elections Dutchess and Putnam are among a handful of New York counties where election boards recently have received unusual federal subpoenas for information on registered voters as the administration of President Donald Trump pursues more control over state elections. Lisa Jessup, the Democratic commissioner for the Dutchess County Board of Elections, said on Tuesday (Sept. 16) that in a subpoena received on Sept. 4, the Department of Homeland Security requested information on a single voter who registered to vote as a Republican in 2023 through the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The person has never voted, she said. Two more subpoenas were sent to the Putnam Board of Elections, one in June and another on Sept. 9, said Catherine Croft, the Democratic commissioner, and Kelly Primavera, the Republican commissioner. Primavera said it is not unusual to respond to requests from state or local police, but could not recall having ever gotten a subpoena from the federal government. Homeland Security also subpoenaed records for three voters in Saratoga County and an Ellenville resident in Ulster County who registered through the DMV, according to the Times Union in Albany. A Homeland Security agent contacted by the Daily Freeman in Kingston about the Ulster County request said the subpoena was "related to potential voter fraud," but declined further comment, citing an ongoing investigation, according to the paper. Shadowing the requests is the Trump administration's campaign against alleged widespread voting by non-citizens, despite laws that already prevent them from voting in state and federal elections and a lack of evidence. New York is among at least 27 states where election boards have received requests from the Department of Justice to turn over their databases of registered voters, including driver's license numbers and the last four digits of Social Security numbers, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. The letter to New York officials, dated June 30, asked them to detail how the state complies with the Help America Vote Act, including processes for identifying ineligible voters, such as non-citizens and people registered in other states. At least 11 states responded by sending publicly available files, leading to a second round of letters in August requesting the entire databases, according to an analysis by Eileen O'Connor, a senior counsel with the Brennan Center. "The executive branch has no authority to run our elections, nor any authority to compile a massive database of voters' personal information," she said. In March, Trump issued a sweeping executive order that included directing the attorney general and Justice Department to prioritize the prosecution of election crimes, although they appear to be rare. A database maintained by the conservative Heritage Foundation lists 1,276 election-fraud cases nationwide over the past 20 years, including 26 in New York for charges ranging from misusing absentee ballots to voting twice in the same election and forging petition signatures. There were 85 cases involving non-citizens accused of registering to vote or casting ballots during that period, and none in New York state. Heritage's database lists no cases nationally for 2020, when more than 155 million people cast votes in the presidential election that Trump lost to Joe Biden. On Sept. 4, Louisiana's Republican secretary of state, Nancy Landry, announced that an investigation involving voter rolls as far back as the 1980s found 390 non-citizens registered to vote, with 79 having voted in at least one election. "Noncitizens illegally registering or voting is not a systemic problem in Louisiana," she said. "In fact, our voter-list maintenance procedures are a key reason why Louisiana is ranked No. 3 in the nation for election integrity." In June, New York and 18 other states that sued the Trump administration over his executive order won a preliminary injunction against some...

Climate change is supercharging the frequency and severity of storms and flooding. At the same time, the White House is gutting disaster management. Can the Highlands take care of itself? Four years ago this month, the remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed into the Highlands, dumping 5½ inches of rain. Basements flooded, trains shut down and roads were washed out. Dry Brook on Mount Beacon overflowed, sending debris down the mountain and into Jessen Pond. "That's the area off Violet Drive where Dry Brook comes down from the mountain, and all the cobble and the waste came pouring down and filled it in," said Beacon City Administrator Chris White. Ida came at the tail end of an especially wet summer in the Highlands; a month later a nor'easter dropped another 3 inches of water in two days. If Jessen Pond hadn't been cleared before that storm, the neighborhood around it probably would have flooded. Fortunately, then-President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration in Dutchess and Putnam counties, making them eligible for funding and help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "We spent weeks cleaning out that pond," said White. "FEMA paid the bill," which was $60,000 to $70,000. However, the next time a hurricane or nor'easter affects the Highlands, Beacon and Philipstown may be on their own. FEMA was created in 1979 after years of governors complaining that the U.S. lacked a comprehensive emergency management policy and that some disasters were so costly and destructive that no state could recover from them alone. Like many federal agencies, it has found itself in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump's effort to shrink the size of the government. FEMA's workforce, already short-staffed before this year, has been reduced by more than 10 percent since January, and Trump has spoken about eliminating the agency. Last week the Government Accountability Office released a report warning that because of staffing cuts, FEMA no longer has the resources to respond to multiple disasters in a short period of time, such as in 2011 when Tropical Storm Lee hit the Hudson Valley weeks after Hurricane Irene. In response, the White House blamed Biden for making too many emergency declarations, "burning through FEMA's budget on so-called 'climate change' and DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] pet projects." The turmoil at FEMA comes as the effects of climate change are being increasingly felt across the country, leading to costlier and deadlier disasters. New York State has spent at least $5 billion over the past five years on disaster recovery, and the number of disasters that cause at least $1 billion in damage is increasing. However, that may become harder to track. Recently, the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that "in alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates and staffing changes," it would no longer be updating its database. "Many states had already braced themselves for having to continue the fight against climate change, in terms of mitigation and adaptation, without help from the federal government when Trump was re-elected," said Amanda Stevens of the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). "This is not an either/or situation. We do need to continue to reduce greenhouse gases. Reducing our emissions will reduce the severity of climate change and the severity of the impacts, but we will still experience impact." With FEMA being diminished and possibly eliminated, municipalities in New York and the Highlands will have to shoulder the burden of those impacts. "Who's going to respond to tornadoes and floods and heat emergencies and fires?" asked White. "People need help getting on their feet again. We don't have the capacity to do that as a city." Bracing for impact A report released last year by NYSERDA outlined how climate change may affect the Hudson Valley: more days above 90 degrees, more humidity, more droughts, more deluges and more ...

You thought they might be finished with OSF just because they wrapped up Suits? Hardly. They're just getting started. As they bridge the gap to their new launch coming soon, they had to stay true to their Suits Roots™ and review Meghan Markle Rachel Sussex (who knew?)'s new show. To say they have been influenced by the Dutchess is an understatmenet. Amanda and Maggie were so smitten with the show they both jumped up and made egg dishes because Meghan makes it look that easy.  Next week: With Love, Meghan-Season 2   

Layout reconfigured at Fjord Trail hub Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Inc. has reconfigured the parking layout at Dutchess Manor, which it plans to restore as a visitor's center and staff offices, in response to concerns from neighbors about views from their properties. Amy Kacala, HHFT's executive director, presented the revisions to the Town of Fishkill Planning Board at its Aug. 14 meeting. The number of parking spaces planned will remain at 181, including spaces at a nearby building at 14 Coris Lane. But the revised plan calls for focusing expansion on the existing lot and replacing paved space proposed to the south with gravel and grass. Those areas will be limited to occasional overflow parking, and a buffer of vegetation along the lawn will shield a private home at 20 Coris Lane. The overflow area will be gated and should "keep most of the parking further away from the neighbors, most of the year," she said. In addition, standalone restrooms for the estimated 36,000 annual visitors to the center will be relocated to a sunken courtyard on the south side of the main building. Kacala said HHFT had been "struggling with, from a design perspective, the resthouse and how you add a building next to the historic building without those two things fighting." The restrooms will be "earth-sheltered" on three sides and capped with a green roof, she said. Visitors will use a stairway to access an event lawn behind Dutchess Manor or to enter the building from the rear. Introduced in July 2024, the Dutchess Manor project involves the demolition of structures added when the property served as an event and catering venue, and the restoration of historical features that have been effaced since its construction in 1868 as a home for merchant James Wade and his wife, Louisa. Frank Timoney, an Irish immigrant who grew wealthy operating three brickyards at Dennings Point, bought the property in 1889. According to the Beacon Historical Society, George Coris, a furrier from New York City, purchased the property at a tax sale in 1944. His family operated it as a hotel, restaurant and bar and event space until the pandemic. In addition to approvals for its site plan and a special-use permit, HHFT wants to rezone 14 Coris Lane. It plans to revive the structure's original slate roof and rear patio, remove paint to expose brickwork and rebuild trim. Inside, HHFT would create first-floor spaces for a welcome desk and exhibits, upper-floor offices and meeting space and install an elevator. Along with the 14,530-square-foot lawn for events and picnicking, HHFT plans a drop-off area for buses shuttling hikers between the center, trailheads and parking areas planned for Route 9D, along with electric-vehicle charging stations and new landscaping and lighting. A traffic study did not identify any significant impacts, HHFT said, but was updated to include a left-turn lane for northbound vehicles that would need to be approved by the state Department of Transportation.

Must be at least 65 and meet income criteria With funding from the state's Cooling Assistance Program depleted, Dutchess County has allocated $35,000 to provide window air-conditioning units to eligible residents. The program is available to residents who are 65 years or older or have a medical condition worsened by heat; don't already have an air conditioner in their home; and meet income eligibility requirements (for example, about $40,000 annually or less per month for a household with one person, or about $52,000 for a household with two people). For information, contact the Office for the Aging at 845-486-2555 or dub.sh/dutchess-aging. The program is being coordinated by the Office for the Aging and the Department of Community and Family Services and implemented by the Community Action Partnership for Dutchess County.

State increases renewables projection, finalizes all-electric law Two months after declaring its intention to build a nuclear plant to provide at least 1 gigawatt of power, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) has another ambitious initiative. The draft of the agency's updated strategic plan calls for wind, solar and battery storage projects to provide 7 gigawatts - enough to power between 5 million and 7 million homes - built by the NYPA or private developers. The plan is online at bit.ly/NYPA2025 and the authority will hold virtual public hearings on Aug. 19 and Aug. 20. See nypa.gov/public-hearings to register. Although none of the proposed projects are in Dutchess or Putnam counties, the number of renewable energy projects is more than double that in the NYPA's strategic plan released just eight months ago. NYPA credits the boom to funding from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which included subsidies and incentives for renewable energy projects. "The last few years have seen a massive growth, not only in the wind and solar that we're adding to our system, but our ability to manufacture and train so that we have a workforce and a system that is ready to meet growing demand," said Amanda Levin, director of policy analysis for the Natural Resources Defense Council. In March, NYPA announced that it would be taking ownership of a solar energy project outside of Glens Falls. A month later, NYPA and the City of Albany announced a plan to develop a solar project on a capped landfill. That project will also be the first to participate in an NYPA program in which power is sold to low- and moderate-income families at reduced rates. But federal actions are threatening to delay the state renewables boom. The budget signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4 ended the Inflation Reduction Act's incentives for renewables, except for batteries. A series of executive orders imposed additional restrictions on renewables, including penalties for importing materials from China, a leading manufacturer of renewable energy equipment. This month, the Department of the Interior announced plans to subject wind and solar projects, including some already approved, to "further review." Due to the federal changes, Christopher Hutson, the NYPA's senior vice president of development, warned at a July 29 board meeting of the possibility that not all of NYPA's renewable projects will come to fruition, although some "may progress on their own." The IRA's tax credits for renewables won't end immediately; wind and solar projects that begin construction by July 2026 or begin service by Dec. 31, 2027, can still claim them. Hutson said the state could begin construction of some projects ahead of schedule to meet those deadlines. "Every developer in the country right now is seeking to rapidly procure equipment," he said. "It will be critical to move fast." The NYPA announcement wasn't the only big step New York took last week toward its long-term climate goals. The 2023 All-Electric Buildings Act cleared a hurdle when the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council approved required changes. The law will take effect at the end of the year, making New York the first state to require that all new buildings be powered with electricity instead of oil and gas. Existing buildings are not required to switch, even if renovated, and certain buildings, such as restaurants and crematoriums, are exempt. The law also only applies to buildings up to seven stories high. (Taller buildings have until 2028.) In 2023, Beacon passed a law banning fossil fuels in new construction projects, before the state law. About a third of New York state's greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings, according to a December report issued by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. James Hartford, co-owner of River Architects in Cold Spring, doesn't expect the law to change much for his business. As the founder of the New York chapter of the Passive House Alliance, ...

Requests include people without conviction Requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold immigrants detained in the Dutchess County jail and other Hudson Valley lockups have accelerated this year and largely target people without convictions, according to data released in July. The Deportation Data Project, a team of academics and attorneys, sued ICE under the federal Freedom of Information Act to obtain the data, which covers September 2023 through June 26. After receiving 20 "detainers" - requests to hold inmates for up to 48 hours past their release date so ICE could re-arrest them - in 2024, Dutchess has received 19 already this year, with two detainees taken into ICE custody. Nearly all the 17 men and two women - most of whom are from Ecuador, Guatemala and Mexico - had pending charges but no convictions. Two were categorized as an "other immigration violator," meaning they had no convictions or charges. While federal officials have said they are pursuing people who have committed "serious" crimes, "everything we've seen about the way this administration operates tells us that they are not targeting people in any particular way," said Zachary Ahmad, senior policy counsel with the New York Civil Liberties Union. "They're, in fact, sweeping very broadly to arrest and detain as many immigrants as they possibly can." Twenty of the 51 people sought by ICE from the Orange County jail since January had criminal convictions, with driving while intoxicated being the most common serious offense, followed by two larceny convictions. Just six of the people sought by ICE from the Westchester County jail had criminal convictions - two for larceny, two for rape and the others for robbery and a traffic offense - while 37 had pending charges and two had no criminal records. The ICE requests led to four inmates held by the Putnam County jail being taken into federal custody, along with 12 from Orange and six from Westchester, according to the data. ICE issues detainers based on final deportation orders, pending deportations, fingerprint matches with Department of Homeland Security records or a person's admission to an immigration official that they are here without authorization. Fingerprints shared with the FBI enable the agency to locate people in local jails. County jails in New York state are not legally obligated to notify ICE that a prisoner will be released from custody or to honor its detainer requests, according to guidance issued in January by the state Attorney General's Office. Requests are often accompanied by an administrative warrant issued by immigration authorities, which local police are prohibited from honoring under a 2018 state court decision in a lawsuit filed by the NYCLU on behalf Susai Francis, a native of India. Attorney General Letitia James recommends that local jails only honor detainers when ICE presents a warrant signed by a federal judge. Such warrants are "something that ICE is not in the practice of providing," instead relying primarily on administrative warrants, said Ahmad. "ICE just sends the detainers, and then it's the local law enforcement that decides what to do with them," he said. "Under the Francis decision, they're not permitted to hold a person beyond their release date." William Moore, the superintendent for the Dutchess County jail, did not respond to a request for comment. Capt. Michael Grossi of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said in January that ICE is notified when detainees sought by the agency are scheduled for release, but that the jail will not hold them longer unless a federal judge signs a warrant. He said that has been the policy for at least 10 years, and under two previous sheriffs.

Owner seeks more time for approvals The long-awaited demolition and reconstruction of the dilapidated Dutchess Mall building along Route 9 in Fishkill will have to wait at least six more months. On July 10, the Fishkill Planning Board approved two new 90-day extensions requested by Hudson Properties LLC as it works to meet conditions imposed more than two years ago, in February 2023, in the board's preliminary approval of the project. Hudson Properties would like to demolish the mall's remnants and construct a 350,000-square-foot distribution facility. After getting a 90-day extension in March, Hudson Properties completed the requirements of the board's conditional approval to subdivide the property, said Christopher Fisher, an attorney for the project, in a June 25 letter to the board. With that extension expiring on July 28, the company had not completed a set of conditions from its site plan, including a stormwater-management agreement with the town and a letter of credit for $15 million in site work, such as grading, erosion control and sidewalks. Hudson Properties, which initially had until February 2024 to obtain a building permit, has been "working diligently" on the remaining conditions, said Fisher. "We look forward to getting that project underway," Jonathan Kanter, the Planning Board chair, said on July 10 after its members approved the latest extension. As approved, Hudson Properties' plan called for partnering with commercial developer Crow Holdings Industrial to build the warehouse on 28.9 acres of a 39.3-acre parcel along the south side of Home Depot. The facility would include 209 standard parking spaces, 78 loading docks and parking for 30 tractor-trailers. Under the partnership, Hudson Properties would retain ownership of the remaining 10.4-acre lot, which fronts the property on Route 9. The board required that Hudson Properties, by August 2023, obtain approvals from the state Department of Transportation for a new entrance and other upgrades along Route 9; the Dutchess County Department of Health for sewer and water upgrades; and the state Department of Environmental Conservation to build near wetlands. As that date approached, Hudson Properties notified the board that Crow Holdings had backed out and requested the first of what would become multiple extensions. Redeveloping the property has been a priority for the town. Dutchess Mall opened in 1974 as the county's first indoor shopping center. Tenants included Jamesway, Lucky Platt and Mays department stores, RadioShack and Waldenbooks. But the opening of the Poughkeepsie Galleria and other retail centers along Route 9 siphoned customers, and the mall closed in 2001. Home Depot opened in 2006. Seven years later, Dutchess Marketplace, an indoor/outdoor flea market, opened in the former department store space north of Home Depot but shut down in 2019. Two years later, Dutchess Community College opened its Fishkill campus in the building.

Could a utility owned by the public, rather than Central Hudson, deliver lower electricity costs? Many people believe it would, and last year, two state legislators introduced a proposal to make it happen by creating the Hudson Valley Power Authority. The bill outlines the process by which the state would create a "democratically governed" nonprofit corporation that would provide "low rates, reliable service, correct and easy to understand bills, clean energy, community benefits and environmental justice." The goal would be to keep residential electric bills from exceeding 6 percent of household income. It would not be the first public utility, even in New York. Along with the state-owned New York Power Authority and the Long Island Power Authority, there are at least 50 municipal utilities in New York, mostly in rural areas. For the rest of the state, the delivery of electricity is monopolized by six investor-owned utilities such as Central Hudson, which has been owned since 2013 by Fortis, a Canadian holding company. In return for their monopolies, these utilities are regulated by the Public Service Commission, which must approve rate hikes and capital projects. Establishing the Hudson Valley Power Authority would not only lower rates but coordinate with the state's long-term climate goals while protecting Central Hudson's 1,130 employees, according to the two Democratic legislators who introduced the proposal, Sen. Michelle Hinchey (whose district includes parts of Dutchess and Putnam counties) and Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha (whose district includes the northwest corner of Dutchess). "I don't think the role of government is to empower the private sector," Shrestha said. "This would put public goods back in the hands of the public." How it could happen Shrestha and Hinchey's legislation calls for the Hudson Valley Power Authority to purchase Central Hudson and take control of a system with 315,000 electric customers and 90,000 natural gas customers in parts of nine counties, including Dutchess and Putnam. If Central Hudson refused to sell, the legislation suggests authorities could use a legal process called eminent domain to compel a sale. Tom Konrad, a chartered financial analyst who is the chair of the Marbletown Environmental Conservation Commission, is leading a plan in the Ulster County town - the Hudson Valley's first - to transition to 100 percent renewable energy. He estimates that it would cost between $2.2 billion and $3.6 billion to acquire Central Hudson, including its $1.4 billion in debt. The Hudson Valley Power Authority (HVPA) would be overseen by a nine-member board appointed by the governor and the Legislature, which would also include the business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 320, the union representing about 700 Central Hudson employees. In addition, an independent "observatory" modeled after the Paris Water Authority and composed of elected representatives and members of academic institutions would help the board with "community participation, transparency, research and accountability," Shrestha said. The newly formed utility would retain Central Hudson employees represented by labor unions and assume those agreements, including retirement benefits. After buying Central Hudson, the HVPA would be obligated to bargain "in good faith" with union representatives. The bill also aligns the HVPA with the goals of the state's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, directing the utility to procure 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent renewable electricity by 2040, provided the supply is available. At least 35 percent of the benefits of clean energy and efficiency programs, such as reduced pollution through the phasing out of fossil fuel-burning plants, would be allocated to disadvantaged communities within the service area. Shrestha doesn't expect either Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins or Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie ...

Scheduled for June 28 at John Jay High School Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican whose district includes Philipstown and parts of Dutchess County (not including Beacon, which is represented by Rep. Pat Ryan), has scheduled a town hall for Saturday (June 28) at John Jay High School in Hopewell Junction. It is the fourth of four town halls he said he would hold, following those in Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties. Tickets are available online at eventbrite.com. The event begins at 6 p.m. In the list of conditions for ticket requests, Lawler's office writes: "Unfortunately, due to security concerns and threats made against the congressman, his family and our staff, there will be additional security measures put in place to ensure everyone's safety…. If our office has information indicating that you are actively planning to disrupt the Town Hall, or if you have disrupted prior Town Halls, you may be denied entry." According to the other terms, attendees may be asked to provide proof of residency in District 17; no bags, signs, noisemakers, bullhorns, megaphones or face coverings will be allowed; questions can only be asked by the person whose ticket is called and must be limited to 30 seconds; and except for members of the press, no flash photography or audio or video recording will be allowed.

From Romance to Red Flags: Dutchess Dior's chilling relationship with her baby daddy EXPOSED on FB

Another list includes Dutchess, Putnam counties The U.S. government's list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" that includes hundreds of communities, both red and blue, is confounding critics. They have noticed the list - which includes Beacon, Dutchess County and Putnam County - included misspellings, communities with small immigrant populations and those with strong support for cooperation with federal authorities. Jessica Vaughan is director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors anti-sanctuary policies and started publishing a list of sanctuary jurisdictions 10 years ago. The CIS list is different from the government's but includes Dutchess and Putnam counties. The center says its list, most recently updated on May 30, includes "cities, counties, and states have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] - either by refusing to or prohibiting agencies from complying with ICE detainers, imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer acceptance, denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens, or otherwise impeding communication or information exchanges between their personnel and federal immigration officers." "That's one thing that I feel is missing from the [government's] list is some documentation as to why they're appearing on the list," Vaughan said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) list is part of the Trump administration's efforts to target communities, states and jurisdictions that it says aren't doing enough to help its immigration enforcement agenda and the promises the president made to deport more than 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal authorization. What are the stakes? The DHS and the U.S. attorney general said they will send official notice to the 500 jurisdictions "regarding its defiance of federal immigration law enforcement and any potential violations of federal criminal law," according to an executive order from President Donald Trump. The list could be updated when the administration receives new information, but those that remain on the list could face serious financial consequences, including suspended or terminated federal grants and contracts by the Office of Management and Budget. It is not clear what legal actions the government will pursue. How was the list made? In response to questions, DHS reiterated that it was compiled using a number of factors, including whether the localities identified themselves as sanctuary jurisdictions, how much they complied with federal officials enforcing immigration laws, if they had restrictions on sharing information with immigration enforcement or had any legal protections for people in the country illegally. The agency noted in an email that the list will be updated regularly. But experts said it was difficult to understand the criteria. "It seems quite arbitrary because not all of these states or specific jurisdictions have a policy that limits cooperation with ICE," said Nithya Nathan-Pineau, an attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. How did communities that support Trump's policies end up on the list? Several communities said they have been outspoken supporters of the president and his stringent immigration policies and do not understand why they have been included. Among them: Shawano County, Wisconsin; Alexandria, Virginia; and Huntington Beach, California. Jim Davel, administrator for Shawano County, thinks the administration may have confused the county's vote in 2021 to become a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County" that prohibits gun control measures with it being a safe haven for immigrants. He said the county has approved no immigration sanctuary policies. What is a sanctuary city? It is generally understood to apply to state and local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. DHS said it considered "factors like complianc...

County executives dispute federal designation Officials from Dutchess and Putnam counties say they should not be listed with New York State and other localities, including Beacon, on a roster of jurisdictions the Department of Homeland Security accuses of "obstructing" the Trump administration's effort to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. The list, released on Thursday (May 29) to comply with a presidential order, includes more than 500 jurisdictions, including New York state, 15 of its counties and 12 of its cities, identifying them as "sanctuaries" for immigrants who live in the country without authorization. [Update: the list was removed by DHS as of June 1 but is archived here.] Those states and municipalities, including Orange and Westchester counties and Newburgh and Poughkeepsie, are accused by the DHS of "deliberately and shamefully obstructing" federal immigration enforcement and protecting "dangerous criminal aliens." The agency demands that they "immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws," but also cautions that the list is subject to change and "no one should act on this information without conducting their own evaluation" of the municipalities. Many municipalities have disputed their inclusion on the list, including Putnam and Dutchess counties. On Friday (May 30), Kevin Byrne, the Putnam executive, said: "Let's set the record straight: Putnam County is not a sanctuary county and never will be on my watch as county executive. We have consistently worked with our partners in law enforcement and encourage the continued collaboration and sharing of information with all federal, state and local law enforcement." Despite Putnam being named by DHS as a sanctuary jurisdiction, Byrne also on Friday posted on Facebook a video in which he accuses "liberal journalists at the Wall Street Journal," which published a story about the agency's announcement, of "inaccurately" adding Putnam to the list "before gathering all the facts." He added that "the bias media is wrong and needs to get the facts straight." In Dutchess, County Executive Sue Serino said on Friday that the county has contacted its federal representatives - Sens. Kirsten Gillebrand and Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan - "for further clarity" and help getting the county removed from the list. "It is unclear how this list was developed, as DHS has not contacted us with any concerns, and the Dutchess County Legislature has never adopted any resolution relating to sanctuary jurisdiction," said Serino. On Monday (June 2), Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou read a statement at the City Council meeting: "It is absolutely not the case that the city is deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. While the city has yet to receive any formal communication from the federal government, we remain confident the city is abiding by all applicable state and federal laws and judicial orders. Our city and our Police Department remain committed to protecting public safety, and any statements to the contrary are misleading and inaccurate." Neither Dutchess or Putnam has approved policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities, and Dutchess sued New York City in 2023 when it began contracting with hotels in the Hudson Valley to house immigrants. That same year, Byrne and the Putnam Legislature adopted a resolution declaring the county a "rule of law" jurisdiction and pledging cooperation with federal immigration officers to identify "arrested felons and gang-associated" individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Beacon restricted its role in immigration enforcement during the first Trump administration, when the City Council in April 2017 unanimously passed a resolution declaring the city to be "welcoming, safe and inclusive." Its resolution deliberately avoided the word sanctuary (Trump had threatened to withhold funding from "sanctuary cities") but said that city employees and...

This month we will bring you the 2 other existing episodes of RR, plays of Shakespeare's contemporaries. Next up: The Dutchess Of Malfi Check out booksboys.com for links to our social media, merchandise, music, etc, as well as patreon.com/booksboys for the latest episodes of Playboys Extra, Darkplace Dreamers, Film Fellows, Animation Adventurers and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey yo! There has been enough shade thrown WrestleMania's way, so we are going to talk about what we LIKED about the biggest event of the year! We also chat about some of the other events that occurred over the past week including a couple of great shows from AEW. In our retro timeline we are covering the go home Smackdown to Backlash '01. Do we find out what the rules are for a "Dutchess of Queensbury" match? Guess you will have to listen to find out! Enjoy!

Empire Training Center for the Arts is a new vocational venture operating out of The Chance Theatre on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, New York.Their first major fundraising event in Poughkeepsie is coming up on March 15. The Dirty Dutchess: An Evening of Vaudeville, Burlesque and Broadway is directed by Peter Flynn. Flynn is a New York based director, writer and educator and he joins us now - along with Empire Training Center for the Arts Co-Founder and Executive Director Trish Santini.

Did a live stream and was joined by Dutchess from the Boomer Bunker podcast. We had a lovely chat, and now you can listen to it if you missed the stream.

This album review contains material that may be unsuitable for children under 17 years old - but so does every episode, honestly.That Rihanna Reign just won't let up!!!!!!Happy Birthday Rihanna!!!! We - and by "we" we mean the world - can't get enough of you and your impact. Dutchess of Done, Mother of Mug, Countess of Cunt, and not to mention A HITMAKER!!!!!!!!Get ready to get RATED R... Listen in as we recant the time, place, and state of emotion we and Rih all were in when Rated R dropped. The year was 2009... it was a dark and stormy night, and... anyway press play!!!!!Watch us on The Psyce' s Youtube channel and Follow us everywhere @thepsycepodcast.

Cat is missing from her cradle, leaving the motley shocked. The Dutchess charges the group with her safe return, and Rowan as her champion in this task. Can they find her in time?

In this week's episode I am joined by Owen Brayson. Owen had a humble beginning with a neighborhood squirrel dog that turned into so much more many years later. Even when he went looking to get into squirrel dogs he stumbled a bit and was finally given some direction that put him on the right path. That path was a River Run Feist, and Dutchess was her name. She was the start of many successful years in the squirrel dog business. Unfortunatly Hurricane Katrina made squirrel hunting almost impossible and Owen was forced to get rid of his beloved squirrel dogs. Luckily he was able to pick up without missing a beat when he retired and is back at it once again. He is even hosting a number of UKC Squirrel Hunts.   Sponsors: https://conkeysoutdoors.com  Promo Code TREETALKINTIME5 https://fullcrymag.com https://www.southernhoundhunting.com  Merch: https://treetalkin.com/collections  Social Media: https://www.patreon.com/treetalkintime https://www.instagram.com/treetalkinmedia https://www.facebook.com/treetalkinmedia

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde chapter 17, narrated by Isaac Birchall Subscribe on YT or Join the Book Club on Patreon and support me as an independent creator :D https://ko-fi.com/theessentialreads https://www.patreon.com/theessentialreads https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOFfvo05ElM96CmfsGsu3g/join SUMMARY: A week later, Dorian is entertaining guests at his home, Selby. He talks with Lord Henry, the Dutchess of Monmouth, and her husband about the nature and importance of beauty, and other matters. The duchess criticises Lord Henry for placing too much importance on beauty. When the conversation turns to love, Lord Henry maintains that love, like life, depends on repeating great experiences over and over again. Dorian agrees as usual with Lord Henry and excuses himself. The guests hear a groan and a thud from the other side of the room, and rush over to find Dorian laying on the ground. At supper, Dorian has sudden chills, and thinks about what caused him to fall. He was certain that he saw the face of James Vane at the window.

With the freehold holding an event for the Dutchess' arrival, a strange series of sounds draws the motley outside where the dark streets hold more than they expect.  

For the last episode of the year I decided to do something different. I did a live stream and brought some friends along for the ride. It was supposed to be a recap of 2024, but was really more of a BS session between friends. There will probably be a more standard ranty episode later this week. Guests include Mike & Tabby of the Grays Taproom, The Undercover Brother from the Bromigos Podcast Matty Mysh, John and the Dutchess from the Boomer Bunker podcast, and Jason of the Weather'd View and HorribleDesigns.com

HERE YE HEAR YE! The Grande Dame of Potomac, the Dutchess of Surry County, Mrs. Black Bill Gates, the SHE-EO of the House of Huger herself has been found guilty of being an absolute hot mess and in her own words "LIT" while driving! Naturally a gathering of DMV Divas to cover this breaking news needed to happen! Aarti and Taria discuss this mess that Karen has gotten herself into and a full week of Bravo! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therealityispod/support

Rowan and Erin work to prepare Kelly as The Dutchess arrives at the freehold. Edie is quite surprised by an offer she receives. Dark tidings wrap the four together before the evening relents. 

49ers are 4 plays away from a very different season. They're not a bad team, they're a good team having a bad year.0:45: The 49ers aren't as bad as you think3:26: The 4 plays that would have turned the 49ers into a 10-win team:11:26: The stat that explains the Brock Purdy drop-off:19:39: John Lynch has missed on a ton of top picks and that needs to change in the next draft36:19: Holy shit. Have you read this Jets story?42:51: Nick Nash — the best Bay Area football player you've absolutely never heard of53:58: Today in history:55:46: The Dutchess joins the showSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Pella Yearbook Editor Ella Van Arendonk and current Editor Saige DeJong discuss recent recognition for the Dutchess from the Iowa High School Press Association.

Episode:  E956 PERSONAL PODCAST – Chicken Soup for the Dog    Description:  Kelly gets a triggering notice from the Doctor and Dutchess is having a hard time.    Coupled with Chaos full episodes and bonus content subscriptions are available here:  Premium Content, including Additional 90 Day Fiancé episodes, coverage of other TLC and A&E shows and even some crime news along with more personal podcast episodes are available by subscription at:    Supercast: https://coupledwithchaosnetwork.supercast.tech/    Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/coupledwithchaos    Apple: Coupled with Chaos Channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/coupled-with-chaos/id6442522170    Contacts us:  Email: Coupledwithchaos@gmail.com    Web site: https://coupledwithchaos.com    Facebook: @Coupledwithchaos    Instagram: @Coupledwithchaos    Twitter: @CoupledwChaos 

Episode: E956 PERSONAL PODCAST – Chicken Soup for the Dog  Description: Kelly gets a triggering notice from the Doctor and Dutchess is having a hard time.  Coupled with Chaos full episodes and bonus content subscriptions are available here: Premium Content, including Additional 90 Day Fiancé episodes, coverage of other TLC and A&E shows and even some crime news along with more personal podcast episodes are available by subscription at:  Supercast: https://coupledwithchaosnetwork.supercast.tech/  Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/coupledwithchaos  Apple: Coupled with Chaos Channel: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/coupled-with-chaos/id6442522170  Contacts us: Email: Coupledwithchaos@gmail.com  Web site: https://coupledwithchaos.com  Facebook: @Coupledwithchaos  Instagram: @Coupledwithchaos  Twitter: @CoupledwChaos 

In this episode the boys welcome The Dutchess of New Jersey and discuss the differences in the generations, recalling the way things "used to be". Sam talks about failing footwear as well as his affinity for black label porn. And we find out that the Jersey Shore really isn't all that. So, sit back put the earbuds in and have a slice.....Catch the Dutchess on The Boomer Bunker Podcast wherever you download your favorite shows!!Wanna join in on the fun and submit questions and interact with the show? Then follow us on Facebook and after you check us out and give us a like.  Ask us for an invite to Get After...The T&A Podcast.... our NEW private Facebook group!!Want some T&A??? Of course you do...everyone does !! Check out our merch here..https://www.zazzle.com/store/ta_podcastCheck us out everywhere we are by using our linktree.CLICK HERE...https://linktr.ee/tandapodcastCammo Comedy Show Podcase Military shenanigans, pranks & mistakes! Subscribe to Cammo Comedy! On all platforms!Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Yvette Valdes-Smith knows firsthand how spiraling housing costs have made Beacon unaffordable to many. Yvette and her husband rented in Beacon for years, but moved to Fishkill when they realized they couldn't afford to buy a home here.  “We shouldn't have to struggle with paying our utility bills, our rent and our mortgages,” she says in our interview. “Affordability is critical to me and to pretty much every voter I've spoken to. And housing is a huge issue. It's going to require us not being NIMBY about things. We have to increase housing stock.”   Raised in Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, Yvette went to college in New York, became a public school teacher and started a family before winning a seat on the Dutchess County Legislature, where she is Minority Leader. Now she's running for NY State Senate District 39 on the Democratic ticket.  In addition to housing affordability, her campaign is focused on issues like abortion rights, gender-affirming care, gun safety and youth services.  “We need more youth services,” she says. “I'm a mom. I've experienced the lack of childcare in this county. I've experienced youth programs closing or not being available. Think about summer camps, how they'll go online and they'll be gone in three seconds.”  But winning won't be easy. The current State Senator in the seat she's running for, Republican Rob Rolison, is a seasoned pol who won the spot by about 7,000 votes two years ago. In this episode, she talks about what it will take to beat him – including lots and lots of canvassing in purple and red areas of the district.  Senate District encompasses Beacon along with parts of Putnam, Dutchess and Orange counties. 

Leadership by AllDavid Zeman is Chief Strategy Officer at ENT and Allergy Associates... THE Nation's Largest ENT, Allergy & Audiology Practice.He shares the incredible story of a hospital system that was struggling. Everything was chaotic until one leader introduced a simple but powerful mantra that changed everything. It united the staff work and the hospital became much better place for both the employees and the patients. You'll hear how this powerful approach redefined leadership and inspired lasting change.......now you can use this with your team.What You'll Discover in this Episode:A Challenge that Sparked Empowered Leadership.Three Steps to Foster an Engaged Team.An AI Strategy Enhance Communication and Workflow.The Connection between Hearing Loss and Dementia.How to Make Tough Leadership Decisinos.Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dzeman22/Learn more about ENT and Allergy Associates: https://www.entandallergy.com/------ENT and Allergy Associates see over 150,000 patients every month with over 300 clinicians in 50+ office locations in Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island, New York City, northern New Jersey.-------Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

Join Branden Brown at our Dutchess location for the conclusion to their Summer at Grace series!

Continue in our Summer at Grace series at Dutchess with Pastor Branden Brown!

Join us for our Summer at Grace series with Larry Dauer at our Dutchess location!

Team Alpha had stayed back to investigate Troggleshythe when the alarm bells rang, now they must hurry back to help protect the Dutchess in a way that is sufficiently spectactular to impress the cameras. You can learn more about Trilogy at https://trilogy-rpg.com

In this conversation, Big Bank and Erica Dutchess discuss her comedy career, divorce, and the disconnect between men and women.  Erica shares her perspective on relationships, her experiences with marriage, the difficulties of navigating relationships in the modern world.  Erica emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself and not getting caught up in societal expectations, the impact of social media and the addictive nature of seeking validation online. Erica discusses her experience with a man who didn't believe in her dreams and even suggested she become a bus driver. Tune in and join the conversation in the socials below. Rate, subscribe, comment and share. Follow Perspektives With Bank on IG @perspektiveswithbank @bigbankatl @EricaDuchessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Celebrity gossip, Kate Middleton's diagnosis, The dodgy Dutchess' latest money-making scheme, and more! Later, we're joined by Marshall Levy, one of our faves, who returns to take us through his CPOP (Customer Point Of Possibilities) exercise. Want to improve your own coaching business? Check out Mitchell's Coaching Fest (link below). Our Bougie Bible picks include a chic Santa Monica hotel and affordable attire.☎️ LEAVE A VOICEMAIL: +1 239-300-7276 ☎️

On this Episode of The Real Talk Pill Talk Podcast we talk about Steamy StoryTimes! College is Overrated? White Toes, Get Chose! and more.... Special Guest: Wes Wes, Dutchess and Stephanie Follow me too: Tpindell & RealTalkPillTalkSupport the show

For part two of our Black Eyed Peas series, writer and critic Julianne Escobedo Shepherd returns to Pop Pantheon to dissect the brief but remarkable reign of the Duchess of Pop, Fergie. Louie and Julianne break down Fergie's brushes with child stardom via Peanuts and Kids Incorporated and her failed 90s girl group, Wild Orchid. Then they explore the sonic melange of her debut solo album,  2006's The Dutchess, which traded in everything from camp pop-rap to 80s hip house, mid-century pop-soul and A/C rock. Next they tackle Fergie's follow-up more than a decade later, 2017's Double Dutchess, her disappearance from pop, her ongoing presence as a meme queen and, finally, rank Fergie in the Official Pop Pantheon.Listen to Pop Pantheon's Black Eyed Peas Essentials Playlist on SpotifyJoin Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and MoreShop Merch in Pop Pantheon's StoreCome to Gorgeous Gorgeous NYC on 2/3 at Sultan RoomCome to Gorgeous Gorgeous LA on 2/17 at Los GlobosFollow Julianne Escobedo Shepherd on TwitterFollow DJ Louie XIV on InstagramFollow DJ Louie XIV on TwitterFollow Pop Pantheon on InstagramFollow Pop Pantheon on Twitter