Podcasts about Fishkill

Fishkill wants water, sewer and smaller units New York State is reworking its development plans for the former Downstate Correctional Facility just outside of Beacon, including a 15 percent reduction in housing at the 80-acre site, after negotiations with the Town of Fishkill. Supervisor Ozzy Albra said in an email to residents on May 30 that he and other officials have met with Empire State Development and Conifer Realty twice since the state awarded development rights to the Rochester firm. The result of those meetings, he said, is that the mixed-use development will have about 1,100 housing units, 200 fewer than first reported. The town is also pushing for municipal benefits such as the extension of water and sewer facilities to the site, Albra said. The state development agency announced in June 2024 that Conifer, which has offices in New York, New Jersey and Maryland, had been selected to convert the former maximum-security prison into a residential campus with community space. The project was said to support Gov. Kathy Hochul's campaign to build 15,000 housing units to address a statewide shortage, as well as recommendations made by the Prison Redevelopment Commission, an advisory panel the governor created to consider repurposing closed prisons. The first phase of construction in 2026 was to include 375 housing units, with at least 20 percent set aside for households earning less than 80 percent of the area's annual median income ($97,056). Albra at the time called the idea a "bad deal for the taxpayers" that, if built as proposed, would overwhelm Fishkill. A Conifer representative this week confirmed the reduction in housing units. Muammar Hermanstyne, its vice president of development, said in an email that Conifer had signed a contract with New York State "giving us site control." If a preliminary proposal is approved, he said, Conifer could bring an application to the Fishkill Planning Board as early as this fall. Hermanstyne did not respond when asked who would need to approve the preliminary proposal, writing only that Conifer looks forward "to providing more details as we continue working with the community and local officials." An Empire State Development representative seemed to contradict part of Hermanstyne's statement, calling Conifer the project's "conditional designee." The company is finalizing a development plan with Empire State and the Town of Fishkill, "at which point a binding development agreement can be executed," the spokesperson said. Until them, the state's request for proposals at the site "will continue to be an open procurement." Hermanstyne said Conifer has agreed to limit construction to 2½-story buildings because the nearest fire department, in Glenham, does not have a ladder truck. In a statement released last year, the Glenham Fire District, which for years served Downstate prison through a contract with New York State, said its boundaries would need to be expanded to include the redeveloped site. The department relied on tanker trucks because the surrounding homes use wells for their water, while Beacon provided water and sewer service at the prison. Until Conifer and the state "figure out proper fire coverage," the project "isn't going to go anywhere," Albra said on June 3. In addition to asking New York State to extend municipal water and sewer service to the site, the supervisor said he will advocate specialized housing, such as for seniors or veterans, and smaller units, to keep from overwhelming Glenham Elementary, which is part of the Beacon City School District. In a letter to Hochul last July, the Beacon school board said its four elementary schools, including Glenham, are "already at or near capacity." While the district lost 675 students between the 2012-13 and 2023-24 academic years, according to state data, recent initiatives to reduce class sizes would suffer from a sudden influx of students, officials said. Citing Hochul's support of walkable communities, Fishkill al...

A couple of months ago, a killer started mobilising off the South Australian shore — one that would wipe out marine life, make surfers feel sick, and smother picturesque beaches in thick foam.The culprit? A bloom of tiny organisms called microalgae. We can't see them with the naked eye, but in big enough numbers, they can devastate ecosystems.So what made the South Australian algal bloom so lethal, and can anything be done about blooms like it?

Beacon fifth graders help restock trout If you saw 37 fifth graders marching with fish signs down Churchill Street in Beacon on May 16, they were off to release 60 trout friends into Fishkill Creek. The children, who attend South Avenue Elementary, had given the 3-inch brown trout names like Holiday, Jeremy, Jeff, Billy Bigback, Patricia Felicia Petunia, Little Jim Bob and Li'l Shoddy. It was the culmination of an eight-month school project about trout, their habitat and conservation, and the importance of caring about nature. "Why would you care about the environment if you're not connected to it in any way?" asked Aaron Burke, the school librarian who runs the project. "This is a way to help make that connection. Every time they drive over that bridge, they'll think, 'I wonder if Fred is in there.' " Students in 5,000 schools nationwide and more than 350 in New York are conducting similar releases as part of Trout in the Classroom, a program organized each spring for more than 30 years by the conservation group Trout Unlimited. "The big goal of the program is to create this connection with students in their watershed and their drinking water," said Cecily Nordstrom, the nonprofit's stream education manager. Burke has worked with Trout in the Classroom for five years and starts each fall with a small jar of trout eggs hatched in an aquarium in the school library. He gets the eggs from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC uses the same stock in hatcheries that annually produce 2 million trout to stock streams and lakes. The state adds 6,100 brown trout each spring to Fishkill Creek, which starts in Union Vale and flows 33 miles through Dutchess County before passing through Beacon and emptying into the Hudson River. About 90 percent of those trout are 9-inch yearlings. Starting in 2020, about 10 percent of stocked trout were 13-inch two-year-olds, giving anglers "a shot at catching one of those nice larger fish," said Fred Henson, the DEC's cold water fisheries leader. Photos by Ross Corsair Henson explained that Fishkill Creek is a "put-and-take" fishery, which means the fish are put in the stream and quickly taken out by anglers fishing in places like Madam Brett Park off Tioronda Avenue. Stocked trout rarely survive to reproduce. Without stocking in Fishkill Creek, Henson said, "you wouldn't have a fishery." Development along streams like Fishkill Creek undermines the clean, cold water needed for trout to thrive, he said. As with many waterways in developed areas, stormwater runoff pollutes the creek and fewer trees leads to rising water temperatures. Henson said that the state reduced stocking last year in Beacon's section of Fishkill Creek to 400 trout because fewer property owners allow fishing. Until 2023, the state was stocking the section with 1,100 brown trout, he said. "As more and more large properties are subdivided and development increases in the Hudson Valley and in Dutchess County, we're limited by landowners who are unwilling to let the public access trout streams for recreation," said Henson. The South Avenue Elementary release was at a public greenway behind the Hudson Valley Brewery. Burke had a tabletop model of a watershed to show how development impacts a waterway. Teachers led scavenger hunts while children took turns releasing trout. Mark Jones, a board member of the Mid-Hudson chapter of Trout Unlimited, was there to teach fly casting. While most of its members are anglers, Jones emphasized that his chapter's mission is "to show the importance of stream preservation." On Fishkill Creek, he said the chapter has done clean-ups and tree plantings that reduce bank erosion. April Stark, another member of the Mid-Hudson chapter, demonstrated fly tying and explained that a river with healthy bugs produces healthy trout. "Trout only live in good, clean water," she said. "So, when you see trout who are able to thrive wi...

Waterway runs near Route 9 projects A mining company's proposal to build a cement plant on Route 9 just north of Philipstown is drawing concerns about risks to Clove Creek and the aquifer beneath it, which supplies drinking water to several municipalities. Ted Warren, public policy manager with the Hudson Highlands Land Trust, joined Philipstown residents in expressing reservations to the Fishkill Planning Board during a May 8 public hearing. Century Aggregate wants to add the 8,050-square-foot plant to its 310-acre property at 107 Route 9, as well as 11 parking spaces, a well to supply 10,000 gallons of water daily and an on-site septic system. The portion of the property was formerly occupied by the Snow Valley Campground. The plant would operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, the firm said. Vehicles would use an existing bridge over Clove Creek, a protected waterway that snakes through the property. Along with concerns from residents about truck traffic, noise and dust, and endangered and threatened wildlife such as the timber rattlesnake, Warren said newly paved surfaces risk sending contaminated runoff into the creek, to the detriment of water quality and fish. "Given the increase in extreme precipitation events that we are facing these days, and the fact that the proposed plan is located at the base of steep slopes, the potential for storms to overwhelm the proposed containment and drainage systems during heavy precipitation events should be closely examined," he said. Century Aggregate's daily withdrawal of 10,000 gallons of water could also affect the creek and its underlying aquifer, said Warren. The aquifer parallels Route 9 from East Mountain Road South to the town border with Fishkill. Its groundwater feeds private wells that supply residents and businesses along Route 9, the towns of Fishkill and Wappinger, the Village of Fishkill and Beacon. "The dust and the pollution that's going to come from the operating of that plant is going to definitely have an impact on the environment, the creek and the living conditions of businesses and houses," Carlos Salcedo, a Philipstown resident whose property on Old Albany Post Road borders the creek, told the Planning Board. Clove Creek's waters bisect the front and back parts of another property where a proposed project is raising concerns: 3070 Route 9, whose owner is seeking Planning Board approval to convert the former Automar into a gas station with a convenience store and Dunkin'. Clove Creek flows north toward Fishkill about 50 yards from the front of the property. The owner, Misti's Properties 3070, notified the Philipstown Conservation Board in March that it had decided to revise its proposal. An engineer for Misti's told the board that the owner found "substantial environmental impacts - a lot of earthwork" and other conditions that would make it difficult to construct a planned office building and solar farm. Andy Galler, chair of the Conservation Board, said on Tuesday (May 13) that the previous owner used fill and allowed old vehicles and other debris to accumulate within the 100-foot protective buffer required for watercourses and wetlands. The abandoned vehicles have been cleared, he said, but the fill remains, along with a bridge connecting the front and back sections of the property. The bridge is "not ideal" because it constricts the creek's flow, he said, and could spur a blockage from debris carried during heavy rainstorms. "The ideal situation would be, if somebody is going to develop the front part of the property, that hopefully the giveback is that there is some remediation to put back a flood plain area that would be natural and native," said Galler. Despite continued industrial development along Route 9, the creek is "amazingly intact" and rated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation at "just about the highest standard" for water quality and trout habitat, he said. "It runs clear," said Galler.

Budget and trustee elections in Philipstown, Beacon Voters in the Highlands will go to the polls on Tuesday (May 20) to consider school district budgets for 2025-26 and elect board members. Here's a rundown. Beacon Beacon's $87.7 million budget proposal includes a 5.09 percent tax-levy increase, just under the maximum allowed for the district by New York State. The levy will generate more than $50 million in property taxes. At $31.6 million - an increase of $572,000 (1.9 percent), state aid makes up the bulk of the remaining revenue. The district expects to spend $2.5 million of its savings in 2025-26, an increase of $500,000 over this year. Most of the discussion in recent board meetings has revolved around the tax levy, which stands to increase because of new development in Beacon - meaning the "pie" is divided into more pieces through the addition of taxpaying households - and debt service on a $50 million capital project approved last year by voters. The capital improvements will begin in 2026 and include secure building entrances, creation of cooling centers in schools, air conditioning in up to 50 percent of elementary classrooms, infrastructure upgrades such as roofing, upgrades to the Beacon High School baseball and softball fields and renovations to the theater at the high school. District officials say that, if approved, the budget will allow them to maintain improvements made in recent years, including smaller elementary class sizes, increased mental health support for students and a full-day pre-K program. For the first time, the district plans to launch a summer workshop program for incoming high school students and create an in-school mental health clinic at Rombout Middle School. It will also add teachers for elementary students struggling in math and reading and hire a part-time elementary speech instructor. While the proposed levy increase is more than 5 percent, the addition of new households to the tax rolls means homeowners' bills may not go up by the same percentage. The district estimates that the owner of a $420,200 home (the median value) in Beacon would see their taxes increase by $240 annually. Meredith Heuer and Semra Ercin are running unopposed for re-election to the nine-member school board. Heuer will return for her fourth, 3-year term; Ercin is running for her first full term after being elected in 2023 to complete the final two years of a vacated seat. Alena Kush did not file for a second term and her seat will be filled by a newcomer, Catherine Buscemi, the owner of Belfry Historic Consultants, who is also running unopposed. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beacon residents vote at the high school at 101 Matteawan Road; Fishkill and Wappinger residents vote at Glenham Elementary School, 20 Chase Drive. Haldane Haldane's $30.2 million proposal translates to a 2.8 percent tax-levy increase. Using the state's tax-cap formula, the district could have asked for a 3.38 levy increase. School board members debated this spring whether to go "to cap" but opted to forgo about $132,000 in revenue after voters last year approved an increase of 6.95 percent over three years to pay for $28.4 million in capital improvements. State aid for 2025-26 will be $4.55 million, an increase of $73,000 (1.6 percent). The budget includes funding for a science-of-reading curriculum; software to improve student outcomes; a new pre-K program; special education funding for out-of-district placements; increased field trip spending; a softball field dugout; classroom air conditioners to comply with New York state's maximum temperature requirement; auditorium stage and performing arts equipment; and a transportation system analysis. The district estimates that taxes on a home valued at $500,000 will rise by $197 annually. Board members Sean McNall and Ezra Clementson are running unopposed to retain their seats on the five-member school board. Clementson will seek his second, 3-year term and McNall his third term. ...

Checking in with CEO of Pattern for Progress Pattern for Progress, a nonprofit think tank based in Newburgh, is celebrating its 60th year. We spoke with Adam Bosch, its president and CEO. How did the organization begin? When we were founded in 1965, the Hudson Valley was going through a lot: urban renewal in city centers, people moving from New York City to suburban areas, the beginning of the environmental movement and the seeds of innovation at places like IBM in Poughkeepsie. In addition, the U.S. Army was getting ready to sell Stewart Airbase into private hands. There was a need for an objective, independent research and planning organization. Today, we're again in a period of rapid change. We have a housing crisis in affordability and availability. We have a new wave of technology in the form of AI and remote work, and we have generational investments being made in our downtowns, bringing small cities back to life. And the pandemic drove tens of thousands of residents into the region. Our job is to look at those things, measure them and try to explain their effects on our communities and regionwide. What are you working on in 2025? We're creating community-driven plans for the reuse of buildings or parcels that have been abandoned for decades. We can set up tax credits on parcels that make them more feasible to be redeveloped as housing, mixed-use or as new manufacturing centers. The idea is to create development in our downtowns that provides progress without displacement. With housing, there's an indication that corporate actors are moving into the region. There's not a lot of data, but I'll give you my anecdotal evidence. At my house in Ulster County, I am getting two flyers per month from corporations offering to buy my house - all cash, sight unseen. We're going to trace these LLPs and LLCs to their common corporate owners and be able to quantify the extent of corporate homeownership and how it's changed over the past decade. The governor has proposed that if a company owns 10 or more properties or has $50 million or more in assets, it shouldn't be allowed to bid on a home for the first 72 hours it's on the market. In places like Arizona, Nevada, or down to the Carolinas, there are entire neighborhoods owned by a single corporation that rents homes back to people. We want to understand the effect it has on access and the cost of homeownership. What do you see as the most important issues facing the region? Housing is No. 1. There's not even a close second. We do not have enough homes to sustain the population we have, and the cost of both homeownership and rent have outpaced our growth and wages by a lot. That means housing is gobbling up more and more take-home pay. No. 2 would be workforce. We have awesome training facilities at Dutchess Community College, Orange Community College, Marist and SUNY New Paltz, but the data show our labor pool is getting ready to shrink by about 120,000 people in the next 15 years. It's the size of the workforce that's a concern in the near- and medium-term, along with what I call the "youth crunch." We have seen births - not birth rates - decline over the past two decades by about 25 percent to 35 percent in each of our counties. Dutchess is down by 25 percent. Putnam is down the most of any county. If you look at the population of infants, children and teens now and compare it to a decade ago, we have 40,000 fewer kids in the region. After that, I would say community development in terms of: Are we able to attract and retain jobs to the region? Do they pay a living wage? The other two to mention are childcare businesses shrinking by 40 percent in 15 years and outdated water and sewer infrastructure. The redevelopment of the former Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill and a transit-oriented development at the Beacon train station could add 1,600 housing units in and around Beacon. What does the community need to see from the developers? When we did a report on the adaptiv...

On this Throwback Friday episode of Fishing the DMV, we revisit an impactful conversation with Jeff Kelble and John Odenkirk. Together, we dive into the challenges facing the Shenandoah River and explore the often-overlooked work that happens behind the scenes when a fishery begins to decline.Jeff Kelble brings a wealth of experience to the table. After guiding on the Shenandoah for over six years, he became the Shenandoah Riverkeeper in 2006 when he noticed the river's health deteriorating. In this role, Jeff built strong coalitions of river users, local businesses, government officials, and legal advocates. Through strategic litigation, regulatory reform, and community organizing, he played a key role in addressing dozens of complex pollution issues that once threatened public access and enjoyment of the river.Jeff's success in the Shenandoah led him to serve as President of the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, where he continued defending and restoring our Nation's rivers for another eight years. Today, he runs Ashby Gap Adventures, still deeply connected to the outdoors he works so hard to protect.As anglers, it's easy to focus solely on the catch—but it's just as important to recognize the people working behind the scenes to safeguard these waters for future generations. Watch, listen, and learn—and let us know your thoughts!Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast Fishing the DMV now has a website: https://www.fishingthedmv.com/  If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.com  Virginia DWR website: https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/holston-river-north-fork/ Please checkout our Patreon Sponsors Jake's bait & Tackle website:                                   http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/    Catoctin Creek Custom Rods: https://www.facebook.com/CatoctinCreekCustomRods   Tiger Crankbaits on Facebook!! https://www.facebook.com/tigercrankbaits Fishing the DMV Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Arensbassin/?ref=pages_you_manage Fishing the DMV Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/fishingthedmv/?utm_medium=copy_link   #bassfishing #fishingtheDMV #fishingtips Support the show

Main Street anchor in Beacon opened in 2003 Hudson Beach Glass, a Main Street fixture in Beacon for the past 22 years, has put its building and business at 162 Main St. on the market for $3.75 million. The two couples that own the glassworks hope to retire. Founded in 1987, Hudson Beach Glass opened its Main Street gallery in October 2003, two years after John and Wendy Gilvey and Michael Benzer and Jennifer Smith paid $270,000 to purchase 162 Main from the city. The three-story brick structure, built in 1893 as the Lewis Tompkins Hose Co. firehouse, later was home to the nonprofit Community Action Coalition. When the new owners took over, the structure was "in terrible shape, with plumbing issues and windows falling out," said John Gilvey. But "we knew we were on the precipice of something happening," Smith said - which was the arrival of Dia Beacon, a 240,000-square-foot museum on the waterfront that jumpstarted a cultural renaissance for the city. After buying the building, the couples had $30,000 left. They completed the rehabilitation with a $300,000 federal loan. John Gilvey and Benzer met in 1975, the year Gilvey began making glass. They kept in touch sporadically before running into each other at All Sport Health & Fitness in Fishkill in 1984. "All of the showers were taken, so we're both standing there naked," Benzer recalled. "It was a perfect way to start a business." Gilvey had been taking his creations to trade shows since 1977 and, by 1982, had contracts with major department stores. After graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1982, Benzer began hot-casting glass tiles and custom shapes out of a Maple Street facility that still doubles as his home. Placing an ornamental bowl on a tile-turned-saucer, his work was both decorative and functional, "and it took off - fast," said Gilvey. Benzer and Smith handled manufacturing and shipping while the Gilveys, craft-fair warriors, managed marketing and customer service. In 1999, a college friend called Benzer to alert him that the Dia Art Foundation was negotiating to open its museum in a former Nabisco box factory. "That's when we concentrated all our energy on finding a location" for a glassworks and showroom, Benzer said. They looked on the east end of Main, where Ron Sauers and Doug Berlin were redeveloping brownstones. They considered the building that is now home to Alps Sweet Shop. Eventually they beat out two other bidders for the 6,300-square-foot former firehouse, which had been decommissioned two decades earlier. "It was perfect timing to stop schlepping things around and have people come to us," said Wendy Gilvey. "People came all this way, and when they got up to Main Street, they were happy to find us." On a cold, rainy day in January 2003, Hudson Beach Glass opened its doors for Beacon's first Second Saturday, which was modeled on Philadelphia's First Fridays. Despite having no heat and only a single shelf of glassware, "people actually came and bought stuff," John Gilvey said. "We started bringing in people who wouldn't normally come to a glass studio. That worked for us. When those people needed to buy a wedding gift, they came here." Mayor Lee Kyriacou, who joined the City Council in 1993, said he hopes that similarly creative investors will emerge to purchase the decommissioned Beacon Engine and Mase Hook and Ladder fire stations that the city listed for sale this week. "You're walking up Main Street and it's hard to miss them," he said of Hudson Beach Glass. "You can see how important they are and what a great job they did" rehabbing a high-profile building. Once 162 Main St. is sold, the Gilveys plan to travel with their three children and two grandchildren. One son considered taking over the business but opted instead for Boundless Life, a program that offers a "globally connected education" for families willing to travel. It will take the family this fall to Tuscany for three months, with Japan, Greece and Spain as possible ...

Project near Beacon border faces opposition A Beacon developer proposing to build a self-storage facility on land between Interstate 84 and Van Ness Road has finalized its responses to concerns from city and Fishkill residents about aesthetics, traffic and safety. In an environmental-impact statement submitted on April 10 to the Fishkill Planning Board, 1292 Route 9D LLC said its two story, 26,000-square-foot facility would be a low-visibility, low-traffic project and not "change or diminish" the character of the area or quality of life for people living south of the property, which sits across 9D from the Southern Dutchess Country Club. The 30-foot-high structure would be set back 200 feet, or twice the required distance, from the highway and contain 333 self-storage units (ranging from 24 to 240 square feet), 26 parking spaces and a loading area. The developer, based at 268 Main St. in Beacon, estimates that 37 vehicles (including two trucks) will enter the facility on weekdays and 42 (three trucks) on Saturdays. The vehicles must use a driveway just north of Van Ness Road and can only enter from northbound 9D and turn right when exiting. That "right in/right out" requirement by the state Department of Transportation means southbound drivers visiting the facility will have to go past it and use one of Beacon's residential streets to turn around. In comments submitted in October, Mayor Lee Kyriacou said the use of residential streets for through traffic is "inconsistent with best practice" and would harm the community character of Dutchess Terrace, Rock Hill Road and Verplanck Avenue. To avoid having to continue south to turn around, some drivers may attempt illegal left turns or dangerous U-turns, he said. Fishkill residents living on streets north of Interstate 84, such as Dogwood Lane and Chiappardi Place, expressed concern that drivers exiting onto northbound 9D will use their streets as a turnaround to go south. To prevent visitors from using those streets, 1292 Route 9D LLC said it would require the facility's operator to post online directions for entering and exiting, specifying routes that do not require use of the local streets. The developer also said it would petition GPS providers to dictate routes that avoid residential streets. Because the property is in Fishkill's restricted-business zone, where self-storage facilities are not allowed, the developer needs a special permit from the Planning Board in addition to site-plan approval. Granting a special permit requires a finding from the board, with input from the building inspector, that a project "is substantially similar" to other uses in the district and "consistent with the stated purposes of the district." According to 1292 Route 9D LLC, its project "is consistent with the surrounding land uses and the built environment" because it will generate "minimal traffic, noise and air emissions" and be screened from the view of neighbors. At the board's urging, 1292 Route 9D LLC assessed two alternative projects - a residence and a hotel. It concluded that a hotel would generate more traffic than the storage facility and require more tree clearing and parking spaces. A single-family home would not be "economically viable," according to the developer. Liz Axelson, a senior planner with Clark Patterson Lee and the Planning Board's consultant, said in October that a restaurant, small hotel or bed-and-breakfast would be more appropriate. "The assertion that the proposed self-storage would complement any of the nearby uses is not well supported, in my opinion," she said. According to Clark Patterson Lee, 11 self-storage facilities exist within 5 miles of the proposed site. The Fishkill Town Board in August 2023 approved a one-year moratorium on approvals for self-storage, citing concerns from residents about a flood of applications.

Queenslanders displaced by catastrophic flooding are sitting tight as they wait to return to their homes, but it is already clear that the road to recovery will be long and difficult.

The Mayor flies into eternity Karen Finnegan never expected the bird to have such an impact. Before The Mayor became the unofficial mascot of Beacon, the red hen was a scruffy, squawky stray who had a thing for laying eggs in people's yards. In the spring of 2020, about two months after the pandemic shutdown began, the hen was seen wandering around Harbor Hill Court and Davies Avenue. Neighbors dubbed her the Beacon Hood Chicken. Finnegan already owned chickens, so when she read about the stray online, she drove from her home in Fishkill to rescue it from what surely would have been a lonely, and perhaps short, life on the streets. Once home with her new family, the hen carried herself like she owned the place. She was renamed The Mayor. She would peck at the back door to be let inside. Unintimidated by larger members of the animal kingdom, she drank water from the same dish as the three family dogs. Once, when The Mayor slipped into Finnegan's house, she hopped up on the kitchen table and took a sip from her husband Kevin's coffee. Exasperated, he could only muster: "There's a chicken in here. I need a new coffee." That's the confident, outspoken bird that Finnegan recalled on Tuesday (March 25), a week after The Mayor died quietly in her arms. Finnegan said she doesn't suspect bird flu. "I think it was just old age," perhaps exacerbated by fright from an encounter with a fox, she said. "Before anyone else says it, she was no spring chicken and she was a good egg," Finnegan wrote on Facebook. The Mayor was about 6 years old, an average lifespan for a backyard fowl. After adopting the chicken, Finnegan leaned into The Mayor's unique character, livestreaming the hen's bedtime routine on Facebook. "She was such a funny little animal," Finnegan said. "She was making me laugh, and I wanted to spread that. She was a little bit of joy in a very dark period" of the pandemic. Things snowballed after Halloween in 2020. Desperate to maintain a semblance of normalcy, volunteers collected donations and cleaned out the candy shelves at Walmart so The Mayor - wearing a pink tutu donated by a Beacon seamstress and wheeled in a stroller - could deliver treats to more than 100 houses. The exercise was repeated, only larger, at Christmas and Valentine's Day. By 2021 The Mayor had become a celebrity, attracting a crowd everywhere she went. That spring she met Marc Molinaro, then the Dutchess County executive and later elected to Congress, who proclaimed her the county's Poultry Laureate. Drivers would slow down to say hello when Finnegan walked The Mayor down Main Street. In 2023, the hen threw out the first pitch at a Hudson Valley Renegades baseball game. Something else was happening, too. Assuming The Mayor's persona, Finnegan's voice became amplified. Online and in person, she began to comment on the cultural changes she saw happening during the pandemic, often with a biting sarcasm that she might not have used before. "The Mayor led the charge," said Alexandra Devin, whose 6-year-old daughter, Madelein, participated in a women's march with the chicken and 100 other humans at Memorial Park in 2021. "She was like the face of what Karen wanted to put out into the world." When COVID-19 vaccines were introduced in December 2020, The Mayor and Finnegan, who has an immune-compromised child, hand-delivered cards congratulating people who took the shots. Inevitably, they were criticized by those opposed to the vaccines or the masks that were still commonplace. The Mayor "was able to be political and funny," Finnegan said. If things got too heated, she would remind detractors to "stop arguing with a chicken, jackass." Finnegan also has four children who identify as queer - "I have an L, a G and a B; I don't have a T," she said. In 2022, she founded Defense of Democracy with Laura Leigh Abby, who co-owned a Beacon fitness studio. The organization mobilized around school board elections in Wappingers Falls, opposing candidates endorsed by a conse...

A new baseball season is right around the corner and so let's mark the occasion on this latest Roadcast episode! Dan's guest on the show is Rob Adams, sports director at WGCH radio in Greenwich, CT, and a part-time public address announcer for the High-A minor league Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team in Fishkill, NY. Rob and Dan sat down to break down the MLB landscape division by division, with some emphasis placed on our local New York teams and the major rules changes that are expected to impact the game league-wide this season. If you like roads AND sports, this might be the episode for you!

150 Years Ago (March 1875) Three of the four children in the James Robinson family of Garrison - John (16), Willie (10) and Jennie (19) - died of diphtheria over 10 days. Shortly before she died, Jennie asked for James Meade, her Sunday School teacher: "Tell my young friends to seek the Lord, while he may be found, and meet me in heaven." After a storm, a classified ad appeared in The Cold Spring Recorder offering a reward for a Smith & Wesson seven-shooter with plated barrel and rosewood stock lost in the snow, probably on Main Street between West and Church. Because of the snow, Garden Street was reduced to a single lane, forcing Charley Warren to load one side of his wagon with bystanders to turn around, "like a sailor does the windward gunwale in a gale," according to The Recorder. Mr. VanWinkle complained that a transcript of his lecture on Egypt and the Nile, reprinted in The Recorder, contained many errors, including "some of words altered to others that were not dreamed of when writing." After poultry went missing, Theodore Adams, his father and his brother-in-law found the dead birds buried near the Fishkill line. They set a steel trap and returned to find it gone. They followed the path of bushes where the trap had snagged and branches chewed off to release it. At Kings' Chest Cave, by smoke and bullets and dogs, they drew out and killed a 33-pound wildcat with the trap around its foot. The men had it stuffed and brought it to the village. A burglar broke into the slaughterhouse of Charles Miller and stole $5 [about $150 today] worth of pork, beef and veal. Burglars stole $50 [$1,450] worth of liquor and cigars from Tevan's basement saloon by breaking a window. To add insult to injury, the culprits uncorked and spilled the demijohns and smashed the glass bar backing. The Rock Street door of Baxter's Hardware was jimmied and the money drawer relieved of $4 [$115] in change. In a letter to The Recorder, a resident called for $500 of the $1,000 [$29,000] allocated by the Cold Spring Village Board for streets instead be spent to install kerosene lampposts on every corner to "keep our stores from being plundered night after night." Milton Lawrence's hay and William Odell's red cow were seized for back taxes. A young man who raised alarms when he walked down Main Street at 5:30 p.m. on a Thursday with a bandaged head and bloody clothes said he had been injured working at Miller's slaughterhouse. The Library Association hosted a discussion of the question: "Will the centennial of a republican form of government be celebrated by the United States, as a unit, more than once?" The Glee Club also sang. P. Nichols of Parrott Street said his 17 hens produced 118 eggs in 12 days. Thomas Richards was killed at Croft's Mine in Putnam Valley when he drilled into an unexploded ordnance. A year after Michael O'Brien broke his arm in a fight near the depot, he was finally able to return to his job at the foundry, where a hoist rope broke and a casting crushed his arm. A police officer from Orange County came to Cold Spring to arrest John Wyant on a charge of bastardy. Wyant returned home after posting a $1,000 [$29,000] bail. In Nelsonville, Charles Van Voorhis sold 50 chances at $1 [$30] each to win a scene he crafted with stuffed birds and squirrels. Elijah Warren of North Highlands, at 70, took his first train ride, from Cold Spring to Garrison. He said his daughter told him to keep his head inside the window. "Dear Lord, how we did sail!" he said. "After I got settled, I could have rode clean to [New] York." 125 Years Ago (March 1900) Michael Pendergrast, 48, the brother of George Pendergrast of Cold Spring, was killed in the railroad tunnel south of Anthony's Nose. He was clearing the ceiling of hanging ice when he was struck by a southbound express. Pendergrast had been employed by the railroad for 25 years and left a widow and eight children. Iona Island, the popular picnic resort, was purchased by the federal government to us...

State allows 5.15 percent tax-levy increase The Beacon school district is considering taking advantage of the full 5.15 percent tax-levy increase it has been allowed for 2025-26 by New York State to raise more than $50 million in property taxes. A state tax cap for public school districts and local governments limits annual increases to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. However, other factors in a complicated formula can push the allowable increase well beyond that. At Haldane, the cap for 2025-26 is 3.38 percent and at Garrison, 5.78 percent, although both districts will likely ask voters for less. In Beacon's case, two factors in the formula raised the amount of property taxes the district can collect. First, it is the first budget to include debt service on a $50 million capital project approved by voters in 2024. Second, and more significantly, development added $1.2 million to the levy. Beacon has had the highest tax-base growth in Dutchess County for at least five years. In 2024-25, new construction allowed the district to add $793,795 to its levy. In 2023-24, it added $721,620. The administration has yet to propose its spending plan for 2025-26, but the district will spend $83.9 million in 2024-25. Its revenue this year includes $47.7 million in property taxes, or 3.91 percent more than 2023-24. The school board will continue a discussion of the 2025-26 budget at its March 24 meeting and vote on the plan on April 22. District voters will have their say on May 20. If the budget is approved, worst-case scenario figures provided by the district estimate an average $122 annual tax increase for Beacon homeowners, $159 for district residents in Fishkill and $161 for those in the Town of Wappinger. During the school board's meeting on Monday (March 10), some members questioned whether the district should seek the maximum allowable increase. "It seems a little high at 5 [percent], but I know what we're trying to do," said Eric Schetter. "If we could get it below 5, I would be happier with that. I think it would 'sell' more" to voters. However, Meredith Heuer, who joined the board in 2016, noted that "if we don't use what we can with our levy, we fall behind very quickly." The district chose not to seek the maximum allowable increase during one of her first years as a board member, she said, "and the next thing you know, you're negotiating for a teachers' contract, and there is no money." Superintendent Matt Landahl said Monday that pushing the budget "to cap" would allow the district to potentially expand from eight- to nine-period days at Rombout Middle School, giving students receiving extra academic help more time for electives and expanding class topics beyond core subjects. That change, if implemented, would probably require the district to hire four full-time teachers, he said. Additional reading and math teachers are needed at the elementary level, and the district hopes to expand a reading-support program offered in grades 3-5 to include grades K-2. "This is a lot, and to be real, we probably cannot afford all of this," Landahl said. "But I want to create, at minimum, a two-year plan to get this done. We want to look at multi-year planning for these larger initiatives, to make them affordable, to make them sustainable." Another factor for the board to consider is the unpredictable nature of its state and federal funding. Last year, the district received no increase in state funding, which typically accounts for a third of its revenue. That included foundation aid - state funding without spending restrictions - which was flat from 2023-24 to 2024-25, at about $21 million. Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed 2 percent foundation aid increases for nearly every district in the state, including Beacon, for 2025-26, but "there's concern on our end, in terms of: How long is that going to be the case?" Landahl said. Federal funding makes up far less of the district's budget - about 2 percent - but it pays fo...

No commitments yet as feasibility study continues Although it's not yet known if Dutchess County will commit to a 13-mile rail trail connecting Beacon and Hopewell Junction, a planning firm it hired told the City Council on Monday (March 3) that it has found no major roadblocks. "This is all buildable," Tom Baird, an engineer from Barton & Loguidice, the Albany firm conducting a feasibility study with the county, told the council. "There aren't big obstacles, there aren't major environmental concerns. We don't have any real hazardous materials to worry about, either." Dutchess County released a report on conditions along the Beacon Line, an abandoned rail spur, in November. A final report, with detailed concepts, cost estimates and phasing recommendations, should be finished by the summer. The Monday presentation to the City Council can be viewed at highlandscurrent.org/rail-trail-deck. The proposed trail would begin at the Beacon Metro-North station, a stone's throw from the Hudson River, then wind for 4 miles around the city's southern perimeter before running parallel with Tioronda Avenue and the east end of Main Street. Major crossings would include Churchill Street and East Main Street (at the dummy light). The trail would run underneath Route 9D (at Tioronda Avenue) and hug northbound Route 52 (Fishkill Avenue) to the city line. The trail would connect with the proposed Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail near the bridge at Madam Brett Park, where the planners said a trailhead could be located. Scenic Hudson, which is building the Fjord Trail between Beacon and Cold Spring, is a member of the Beacon-to-Hopewell Trail Advisory Committee. Once the rail trail leaves the city, it would veer back and forth over Fishkill Creek on its way through the Village of Fishkill and the towns of Fishkill and East Fishkill. At Hopewell, it would connect with the Dutchess Rail Trail, the Maybrook Trailway and, overlaying both, the 750-mile Empire State Trail. The abandoned rail line is owned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A year ago, Metro-North, an agency of the MTA, "railbanked" the line, reserving the right to revive service, although an agency representative told The Current in February 2024 that it had no plans to do so. The important takeaway from the conditions study is that "the majority of the corridor is in really good condition," said Chris Hannett, another Barton & Loguidice engineer, on Monday. There are two options for constructing a trail, although one would be a much heavier lift. A "rail-with-trail" conversion, in which the tracks remain in place, would present many challenges, including a 20- to 25-foot buffer required between the tracks and any trail. Bridges in the corridor, which are no longer safe for trains, would have to be rebuilt, adding significant cost and environmental impacts, and right-of-way acquisitions would be required. The second option, a "rail to trail," would permit the reuse of bridges and ballast stones, the rocks used to stabilize the tracks, but the rails would be removed. A rail to trail would minimize environmental impacts, with little and possibly no rights-of-way needed. When the study began, Metro-North's abandonment of the line had not been approved by the federal Surface Transportation Board, so the engineers studied both options. The final report will include both but won't recommend either, instead letting "the engineering and the cost speak for itself, as well as the environmental impacts," Baird said. The planners anticipate a 12-foot-wide path made with a crushed-stone mix or asphalt, depending on the location. It would likely be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and could be lighted because of its proximity to dense urban areas. Baird said the county is conducting the study because funders often consider projects "and some will scratch their heads [and say], 'Can they really do that?' " With a report analyzing environmental impacts and other factors, "it...

Editor's Note: Born in South Carolina, Daniel Pruitt attended school in Brockway, Beacon and Glenham before graduating from Beacon High School in 1965 and earning degrees from SUNY Stony Brook and The New School for Social Research in New York City. Retired from IBM, he lives in Dunedin, Florida. Below are excerpts from an article that Pruitt researched and wrote in response to our five-part series on the history of Black people in the Highlands, Always Present, Never Seen, published in 2022. Pruitt felt the series could have included more about local Black history from 1850 to 1930. "I felt a personal need to connect the present, which I knew, with the past, which I did not," he wrote. "This past history was never present and never seen as such over my lifetime." We printed an earlier installment in August. Both are excerpted from his book, Lost and Found: Beacon's Black Community 1850-1930, which will be published in June. I grew up in Brockway, a company town for a brickyard that didn't roll out its first products until 1888, 50 years late to the brickmaking party in the Hudson Valley. Edwin Brockway earned his reputation for brick manufacturing in Haverstraw; his purchase of William Mortimer's country seat in 1886 in Fishkill was supposedly for retirement, but his sons pushed him to open another brickyard. Likely inspired by what Homer Ramsdell was doing with the excavation, landfill and physical plant construction at Denning's Point, Brockway built a peninsula on 48 acres of Hudson River surface, using New York City garbage as landfill, and topped it with clay pits, brick machines, kilns and drying yards. He likely filled his workforce with seasonal Black sharecroppers and tenant farmers from North Carolina and Virginia. After brickmaking became year-round, he coaxed those workers to work year-round. He limited their interaction with the white residents of Fishkill Landing (which was combined in 1913 with Matteawan to create Beacon) by building a village to house and tend to their basic needs (school, store, post office). Today, nothing remains of Brockway except the railway trestle that once brought excavated clay drawn by a small locomotive (we called it a "dinky") into the brickyard. Brockway's beginning was secretive, its existence plantation-like and its end by bankruptcy a loss for owner and worker alike. My parents came to Beacon in 1946 to work at the Castle Point VA hospital. My dad's parents, losing the family home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to a suspicious fire, joined them shortly after. Brockway provided not only Black jobs but Black housing in those duplexes with small areas to garden for the industrious. Pregnant with me, my mom went back to her home in Helena, South Carolina, in 1947 for my midwife birth and first months of life. When my family arrived, Brockway was full of chamber pots and outhouses where toilets were flushed - not often enough - with lye. Water was gathered by the pail from a pipe protruding from a hill and drank at home from dippers. The main road turned to dirt as it snaked down from Route 9D. Clothes were washed in tubs and hung on lines, leaving them with a pinkish tint from the brick dust. Saturday night baths were taken outside in galvanized tubs, heated with kettle water; showers were taken in the rain with a bar of soap. On my first day of kindergarten, my dad gave me a Mickey Mouse watch that, under no circumstances, was I to take off my wrist. He told me I would be late for school once Mickey's big hand got to the 12 (I was not yet able to tell time). After a playmate asked whether the watch was waterproof, I found myself sticking my arm in the bucket that caught water at the spring that afternoon. Mickey was not waterproof. The school in Brockway was not a one-room schoolhouse, although I thought so for most of my life. There were three rooms manned by three teachers at an earlier time. When I attended, there was only one room in use, overseen by Mrs. Sarah Taylor, fu...

Officials envision replica of lost structure As her finger slowly moved over each face in a 65-year-old photo of 10 children inside a classroom, Maryanne Cavaccini began reeling off names. Her cousin Joanie, Evelyn, Marie, Billy, Peter, Lenny. She named three more before stopping at a little girl in a print dress, a second grader. "Yeah, that's me," she said. Memories, photos, news clippings and an empty lot are all that remain of the Little Red Schoolhouse, which stood for 129 years at Route 9D and Red Schoolhouse Road in Fishkill, just north of Beacon. At the time it closed in 1959, when its veteran teacher retired, the one-room structure held seven grades - "pre-first" to six. Students continued their education in the Beacon school district. The building was torn down in 1971, but there is talk of building a replica - if anyone can figure out who owns the property. A title search by the state in 1977 failed to identify the owner, but the Town of Fishkill has renewed the effort so it can preserve the site for visitors. "The more attractions we have, the more we can celebrate our history," said Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra. The school's history began with its construction in 1830 on property owned by the Verplanck family, large landholders who also donated the property for Stony Kill Farm, which sits across Route 9D. Elizabeth Travis, a Glenham native and Beacon High School graduate , was the teacher for 47 years, from 1912 until it closed in 1959. With children in seven grades occupying one room, Travis called one class at a time to a front bench. "When she was doing a lesson with one grade, we had to be quiet and do our studies," said Cavaccini, then known as Maryanne Greggo. Cavaccini entered as a kindergarten student in 1956, when the Little Red Schoolhouse may have been the only remaining one-room school in Dutchess County. Her brother Frank also attended the school, which drew students from Baxtertown, Red Schoolhouse and Stony Kill roads, as well as Route 9D. On Tuesday (Feb. 25), Cavaccini recalled the DeSoto that her teacher drove, the potbelly stove that provided heat and a swing students hung to fling themselves into a pond. One newspaper report credited Travis with saving the structure from a fire by organizing a bucket brigade of students armed with water from a stream. A truck filled with candy once overturned outside the school, spilling its contents and drawing students outside, said Cavaccini. "We were screaming, 'We got the candy,' " she said. "The teacher came out screaming, 'You can't do that.' Well, we did it." When the school closed, Cavaccini was about to enter the third grade. She transferred to South Avenue Elementary and later graduated from Beacon High School. Her career included stops in the San Francisco area and jobs at Central Hudson, the Stewart Air National Guard Base and the Castle Point VA Medical Center. Five years after the schoolhouse was demolished, Elizabeth Travis attended a ceremony marking the installation of a sign made by students at Glenham Elementary School in Fishkill, which is part of the Beacon district. She died in 1984 at Highland Hospital in Beacon. Last week, a photo posted on Facebook showed students standing outside the school. It drew nearly 100 comments, including from Cavaccini and people whose parents or other relatives attended. Someone remembered their family buying strawberries in the summer from Travis, who ran a farm with her husband. Many of the commenters denounced the decision 54 years ago to demolish the school. "That could have been a historical building," said Cavaccini.

Forrest, Conan Neutron, Kristina Oakes and McKenzie Wilkes of Criterion Connection and Austin Danger Pod talk about Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley's Sing Sing Starring Colman Domingo as falsely convicted playwright and actor Divine G, in this true story of the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program, which helped prisoners at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison in Ossining, NY channel their feelings into THE THEATER The story is by Kwedar and Bentley along with the REAL DIVINE G (John Whitfield, if you want to be boring) and Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin, who also stars as himself in an incredible star turn. Just to make sure to shout them out, David "Dap" Giraudy, Patrick "Preme" Griffin, Mosi Eagle, James "Big E" Williams, Sean "Dino" Johnson, Dario Peña, Miguel Valentin, Jon-Adrian Velazquez, Pedro Cotto, Camillo "Carmine" Lovacco, and Cornell "Nate" Alston all star as themselves.. real members of Rehabilitation Through the Arts. The REAL Divine G has a cameo in one of the first scenes where he has Colman Domingo's "Divine G" sign his book. Also, Paul Raci stars as Brent Buell.. the real Brent Buell is one of the Co-Producers.. and Sean San José stars with the rest of the cast as Mike Mike. #singing #colmandomingo #bestpicture #bestactor #divine #bestoriginalsong #academyawards #prison #jail #hamlet #kinglear #dutchess #dutchesscounty #fishkill Free Divine G from his Wrongful Conviction!!! https://www.change.org/p/free-john-divine-g-whitfield-from-a-wrongful-conviction-now Rehabilitation Through The Arts Website where you can donate or volunteer for the program in the movie!!: https://rta-arts.org Special shout out to the Hudson Valley Film Commission in Woodstock, NY who location scouted the decommissioned Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill 5 minutes away from my dentist and Beacon High School as well as helping to cast all the background actors and helping to hire many of the crew members. https://www.hudsonvalleyfilmcommission.org Conan's former Protonic Reversal cohost Brenna has thryoid cancer and is raising money for her treatment, if you can help please donate https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-brennas-fight-against-thyroid-cancer Join our discord: https://discord.gg/ZHU8W55pnh The Movie Night Extravaganza Patreon helps us keep the show going.. become a Patron and support the show!! https://patreon.com/MovieNightExtra

Democrats endorse newcomers for seats Four of the seven members of the Beacon City Council will not seek re-election in November, and the Beacon Democratic Committee has endorsed four newcomers to fill the seats. Jeff Domanski (Ward 2) and Pam Wetherbee (Ward 3) will not seek re-election; Molly Rhodes (Ward 1) is leaving to run for the Dutchess County Legislature; and George Mansfield (Ward 4), appointed in January to fill a vacancy, is not running to keep the seat. The Democrats have endorsed Lastar Gorton (Ward 1), Zach Smith (Ward 2), Sergei Krasikov (Ward 3) and Carolyn Glauda (Ward 4), as well as incumbents Amber Grant and Paloma Wake for the two at-large seats. The Democrats also endorsed Yvette Valdés Smith for District 16 on the Legislature, which includes Ward 4 in Beacon and parts of Fishkill, and Rhodes for District 18, which includes Wards 1 to 3. The latter is held by Nick Page, who will not seek a fifth term. For the past two elections, Democratic candidates for the City Council have run unopposed. Gorton is a life coach and author who was grand marshal of the 2024 Spirit of Beacon Day parade; Smith is a data scientist who serves on the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail Visitation Data Committee; Krasikov chairs the city Conservation Advisory Committee and co-chairs the Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance; and Glauda is programs and outreach manager for the Southeastern New York Library Resources Council and a member of the city's Traffic Safety Committee. In an email, Mansfield, who previously served seven terms before returning to the council this year, said Thursday that "there were so many good, qualified people stepping up to run that I decided these new voices and perspectives would serve the city well." The Democrats also endorsed Dan Aymar-Blair, a former council member who was elected in November as Dutchess County comptroller. He is serving the final year of a four-year term held by Robin Lois, who resigned to take a state job, and will run in November for a full term. He may face Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the Legislature, who filed to run for the position.

Zoning amendments could nix Beacon drive-thru The Healey family, which for 40 years operated auto dealerships along Fishkill Avenue in Beacon, says the City Council is unfairly targeting its effort to redevelop one of its lots, according to a letter addressed to Mayor Lee Kyriacou and council members. The letter, sent Monday (Feb. 10) on behalf of Dwight Healey and his sons, Jay and Dylan, accuses the mayor and council of expediting "incomplete recommendations" made by the Fishkill Avenue Concepts Committee, a citizen workgroup assembled by Kyriacou to study the corridor. (Jay Healey is a member of the committee.) The recommendations contradict Beacon's comprehensive plan and lack analysis by traffic consultants and other experts contracted by the city, wrote Taylor Palmer, the Healeys' attorney. Kyriacou said Wednesday that he had been away because of a family matter and had not had time to read the letter in full. After purchasing a Ford dealership on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie and constructing a Hyundai facility on Route 52 in Fishkill, the Healey family placed four substantial Fishkill Avenue parcels on the market in 2023. The Planning Board last year approved applications from Carvana, the used-car retailer, and Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist organization, to occupy two of the parcels. In November, the family brought a proposal to the board to convert a building at 420 Fishkill Ave., its former Ford dealership, to a Dunkin' coffeehouse with a drive-thru, three apartments and additional commercial space. At the same time, the council in November asked the Fishkill Avenue committee to develop interim zoning recommendations for the corridor while continuing its work, which includes studying streetscapes and pedestrian accessibility. J.C. Calderon, the committee chair, delivered the recommendations during the council's Jan. 27 workshop: Prohibit self-storage facilities. Prohibit drive-thrus. Reduce the minimum front-yard setback for new development and require parking behind, underneath or to the side of a building. Prohibit gas stations, car washes, auto lots and repair shops, but allow existing auto-related uses to remain as non-conformities. Calderon noted that committee members had not unanimously agreed but said the proposals align with input received during three public "pop-ups" last summer and an online survey. Another public information session is scheduled for March 9 at Industrial Arts Brewing Co. Planning Board members also questioned the committee's recommendations, Calderon said. During a work session before its Dec. 10 meeting, John Gunn, the board chair, said that auto-related uses and drive-thrus "could be considered appropriate" in the Fishkill Avenue corridor while emphasizing traffic-calming and the pedestrian experience "in context of some of these types of uses." The City Council on Monday agreed to send a draft law prohibiting self-storage facilities and drive-thrus to the city and county planning boards for review. Council members said they requested the "quick-fix" measures to preserve the city's vision for a walkable corridor that would complement recreational uses such as biking and hiking before incompatible development is approved. The Planning Board held a public hearing the next night on the Dunkin' proposal. Three residents, one of them the husband of Council Member Pam Wetherbee, opposed the plans. One person favored the project. Thirteen more (eight for, five against) submitted written comments. In the letter from Palmer, the Healeys asked the council members, if they decide to prohibit self-storage and drive-thrus, to exempt their project because it had been proposed beforehand. Rose Hill Manor The owner of Rose Hill Manor Day School, a preschool located for 40 years at 1064 Wolcott Ave., has proposed redeveloping the site as a three-story, 41-room hotel with a gym, spa and 56-seat restaurant. The hotel would be open year-round with the spa open Tuesday through Sunday. The restaurant ...

Beacon committee's plan would prohibit self-storage, drive-thrus The Beacon City Council is expected on Monday (Feb. 10) to begin its review of a draft law that, if approved, would ban new self-storage facilities and businesses with drive-thrus on Fishkill Avenue (Route 52). The proposal is part of a first batch of recommendations for the busy thoroughfare generated by the Fishkill Avenue Concepts Committee, a citizen workgroup assembled by Mayor Lee Kyriacou a year ago. The council in November asked the group to present "quick fixes" while the committee works on more detailed recommendations for the mile-long stretch from Blackburn Avenue to the Town of Fishkill line near the Industrial Arts Brewing Co. The City Council will likely fine-tune the draft on Monday before scheduling a public hearing and sending the proposal to the Dutchess County and Beacon planning boards for review. Existing businesses in the corridor would be exempted. There are no drive-thrus on Fishkill Avenue, but the Planning Board will hold a public hearing the following night (Feb. 11) on a proposal to convert 420-430 Fishkill Ave., the former site of the Healey Brothers Ford dealership, to a Dunkin' coffeehouse with a drive-thru. The building also would have other commercial space and three apartments. If the Planning Board approves the Dunkin' proposal, it would be regulated by whatever zoning is in place when a foundation is poured and "something substantial has come out of the ground," City Attorney Nick Ward-Willis told the council during its workshop on Jan. 27. During that meeting, J.C. Calderon, who chairs the Fishkill Avenue committee, introduced four recommendations, although the law being discussed Feb. 10 will only include the first two: 1. Prohibit self-storage facilities, which provide minimal employment and do not contribute to "vibrant corridors." 2. Prohibit drive-thrus, which are inconsistent with the committee's "pedestrian-scale vision." 3. Reduce the minimum front-yard setback for new development in the corridor from 15 feet to 10 feet, and require parking spaces to be located behind, underneath or to the side of a building. If to the side, parking should be screened by a low wall or landscaping. 4. Prohibit gas stations, car washes, vehicle sales or rental lots and auto-repair shops, while allowing existing auto-related uses in the corridor to remain as non-conformities. The committee is expected to make other recommendations that could include the creation of a Fishkill Avenue zoning district. Calderon noted that the interim suggestions, particularly No. 4, were not unanimous among the nine committee members, although he suggested some of that could be attributed to a misunderstanding about existing businesses being exempt. Natalie Quinn, the city's planning consultant, told the council: "There's a thought that these [gas stations, car washes, car dealers and auto-repair shops] are viable business options that provide services to members of the community, and they have to be located somewhere, and this may be one of the last corridors in the city that allows some of these uses." She said, in some cases, the opposition could be boiled down to: "Many people own a car that needs repair at some point." Beacon Planning Board members have also expressed concern with the fourth recommendation, Quinn said, because auto-related ventures are "what the market is currently providing" for available lots on Fishkill Avenue. Pam Wetherbee, who represents Ward 3, which includes the corridor, said she favors banning drive-thrus because of the emissions and traffic they create. "We're going to have a rail trail," she said, referring to Dutchess County's study of a dormant line along Fishkill Creek, "and to have emissions happening right where people are walking in nature seems to go against itself." But she and Kyriacou each said they would move deliberately on No. 4 because much of the corridor is autocentric. "I don't want to be in the situati...

Project entails 32 units for performers Hudson Valley Shakespeare on Jan. 16 received approval to construct a residential compound for performers and guests that it says will eliminate the expense of housing actors at Fishkill hotels. After a three-month review, the Philipstown Planning Board approved five buildings that will form an L-shaped compound on the 98-acre property off Route 9. HVS anticipates the 32 units will be ready by the summer of 2026, about six months after the anticipated completion of Shakespeare's new open-air theater. Four buildings - two-story cottages totaling 1,000 square feet each - will have two separate bedrooms with a private bath on each floor, a kitchen and living area off the entrance and 100-square-foot porches. An additional 16 one-bedroom units with kitchens and bathrooms will be contained in a "barn" building with a 1,300-square-foot porch and a common kitchen, dining area and laundry. Under town law, performers cannot occupy the units for more than nine consecutive months. They will also be subject to quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., a restriction included in the Planning Board's approval in July of the organization's master plan for the property. During its offseason, HVS can rent the units to guests for stays capped at one month. Adam Stolorow, a representative for the project, said those lodgers would likely be guests attending weddings at Shakespeare's property, which includes a banquet hall, restaurant and eight-room inn. Hudson Valley Shakespeare held a groundbreaking in September for Phase 1 of its master plan, the hub of which is the hilltop Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center that honors the former lighting designer and performing arts patron. That 13,850-square-foot structure will seat 500 and be the first purpose-built theater in the U.S. with platinum certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). It will have a green roof, solar panels and rainwater capture and be constructed of low-carbon materials. Since 2022, the festival has been staging its plays in a seasonal tent elsewhere on the site. Phase I also includes a back-of-house facility for actors and technicians, and concessions and bathroom pavilions. The plan allows for 12 additional housing units in a northeast section of the property. During the September groundbreaking, HVS said $50 million in private and public funding had been raised for the theater, ecological restoration at the property and financial reserves, with an additional $8 million needed for the lodging. A month later, Davis McCallum, HVS's artistic director, said a $10 million state grant for the theater and other funding had closed that gap.

Two hires sworn in but shortage remains The Beacon City Council on Tuesday (Jan. 21) approved the hires of police officers Derek Sherman and Ryan Cross, with Mayor Lee Kyriacou swearing them in moments later. Sherman, 21, and Cross, 31, will report on Feb. 3 to a 21-week training course at the Rockland County Police Academy, followed by three months of field training with Beacon police. If all goes well, both officers will join a Beacon patrol squad before the end of the year. Isabella Nocerino, whose hire was approved by the council in August, will graduate Feb. 6 from the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy. Nocerino, 21, participated as a teenager in the city's Youth Police Academy and, throughout high school, the Town of Fishkill police cadet program. She should be on patrol by summer. Once Nocerino joins the Police Department, which is budgeted for 36 officers, including Chief Tom Figlia, it will have eight openings, with two more patrol officers out with injuries. Like all law enforcement agencies, the Beacon department has long dealt with the comings and goings of officers, but since 2020 the shortage has grown more chronic, and costly. Officers are retiring soon after reaching 20 years of service, City Administrator Chris White said. At the same time, the city in 2024 paid nearly 25 percent more overtime ($1,032,233) than budgeted ($842,233) to meet its contractual agreement with the police union to have at least four officers on each shift. That minimum has been in place since at least 2006, when Figlia was hired as an officer. Beacon officials have implemented several policies aimed at stemming the tide. In 2023, the council approved a plan allowing officers to "sell back" unused vacation days, rather than "burning" them, which often forces other police to work overtime to cover shifts. Kyriacou included $1,000 "retention" raises for all municipal staff, including police, in the city's 2024 budget and, in August, the council authorized additional 5 percent raises for police, an effort to bring their salaries closer to those of neighboring jurisdictions. To boost morale, the city also began renovations Thursday on the police station's locker room and gym, facilities largely unchanged since being constructed in the 1990s. Last month the council approved another measure, a $5,000 signing bonus for officers making lateral transfers from the state police to Beacon. A $5,000 bonus is also available to Beacon officers who refer transfers to the city. The program was authorized for 2025 only but could be renewed if it's successful. "Our thought was: If we establish this incentive, it helps to offset the imbalance in salaries with some of the municipalities that surround us," White told the council in December. According to figures provided by the city, a patrol officer in Poughkeepsie reaches the top pay of $106,414 after four years of service. In the Town of Poughkeepsie, it's $117,266 after five years. In Beacon, a patrol officer would hit the ceiling of $98,553 after six years. Last year's 5 percent raise brought the number to $103,481. It grew to $106,068 this year with increases already in the union contract. "We are in crisis," White said. "Unless we get some more bodies in the door, it's really hard to staff." It's not just Beacon. The New York City Police Benevolent Association reported in 2023 that New York City had 3.5 percent fewer officers than a decade earlier. Statewide, police forces shrank 23 percent, the most in the nation, between 2022 and 2023. Figlia acknowledged this week that the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 by a Minneapolis officer amplified the anti-police sentiment that had been brewing nationwide since at least 2014 due to high-profile killings of Black Americans by police. Figlia began investigating complaints filed against Beacon police in July 2020. In that time, he said he has investigated 32 complaints, the "vast majority" of which involved either discourtesy or improper handling...

Editor's note: Beacon was created in 1913 from Matteawan and Fishkill Landing. 150 Years Ago (January 1875) When a 54-year-old employee of the Glenham Company died, it was discovered he had $8,000 [about $230,000 today] on deposit at five banks in New York City. He left the money to his sister's children in Ireland except for $100 [$2,900] bequeathed to his landlady. Although navigation on the Hudson River stopped on Jan. 4 because of the ice, the ferry was still running between Newburgh and Fishkill Landing. In a single day, Thomas N. Avery & Co. shipped 815,000 paper bags from its factory in Fishkill Landing. The Rev. Jabez Marshall, pastor of the Pilgrim Baptist Church in Matteawan, answered a call to lead the church at Ludingtonville, a hamlet in the Town of Kent. The "arithmetic man" at the Newburgh Journal calculated the distance between the Newburgh dock and Dutchess Junction as 2 miles and 22 feet. The distance between the Dutchess Junction and Fishkill Landing train stations was 1.57 miles. William Morgan, who had been arrested at the Fishkill Landing depot for stealing a $50 government bond, was sentenced to 60 days in jail. Nathaniel Cerine of Matteawan lost his brood of Dorking hens to thieves. The Matteawan Fire Department called a community meeting to explain its need for a steam fire engine. Two factory owners pledged $1,000 [$29,000] and residents raised $800 [$23,000]. Mr. Alden of the rubber works at Wiccopee donated $300 [$8,600] and offered to provide the hose at cost. Justice Barnard refused to sanction a disciplinary plan adopted by the Fishkill school board, saying he objected to sending misbehaving students to jail or the poorhouse but was open to other places of confinement. Diphtheria killed several Matteawan residents. Dewitt Hall was seriously injured while crossing Mountain Lane when he was run down by a sled. An early morning fire at Melham's in Matteawan destroyed $5,000 [$143,000] worth of shoes. Beacon Crossings An exhibit at the Beacon Historical Society that continues through March highlights the city's bridges, including crossings at East Main Street, Churchill Street, Wolcott Avenue, Long Dock Park and Dennings Point, as well as the historic Tioronda and Bridge Street/Groveville bridges and two former railroad bridges at Sucker Falls and Rocky Glen. Shown here are some of the 315 local men who worked during the Great Depression to build the Wolcott Bridge, notable for its Egyptian and Art Deco motifs. Completed in 1933, it was nicknamed the Cooperation Bridge because it required a partnership between the city and state. The historical society, at 61 Leonard St., is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays and 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. See beaconhistorical.org. 125 Years Ago (January 1900) After a three-day trial, a jury ruled that Mrs. Lillian Ash of Fishkill Landing had to pay $15,000 [$564,000] in damages to malvina Prunier of Vermont for alienation of the affections of Frederick Prunier, 32. She had asked for $75,000 [$2.8 million]. According to the Vermont Phoenix, Frederick Prunier was a nurse who cared for William Campbell, a wallpaper manufacturer, during his last days. In his will, Campbell left nearly $1 million [$38 million] to Ash, who had been his housekeeper and whom he had hoped to marry, if he could persuade her husband to divorce her. Prunier was arrested for non-support and allegations he attempted to kidnap one of his children but successfully appealed to Gov. Theodore Roosevelt to avoid extradition to Vermont. Mr. Oakes, the photographer, and his wife welcomed a 12-pound baby girl. According to the Fishkill Standard, August Dondero, a "relic hunter" in Matteawan, purchased a black walnut and brass piano from James McIlravy of Cold Spring. Made by J.H. & M. Leib of New Haven and New York around 1785, it was formerly located in the Longfield House on Market Street in Cold Spring. Inside the piano, Dondero found a photo of Mr. Longfield and a page of sheet music from 1819 ...

Fins, Fur and Feathers: Winter Fish Kill K-State Swine Profitability Conference Reviewing Dairy Programs   00:01:05 – Fins, Fur and Feathers: Winter Fish Kill: Starting today's show is K-State's Drew Ricketts and Joe Gerken on another episode of Fins, Fur and Feathers. In this episode, the pair explain winter fish kill and its positives and negatives. Fins, Fur and Feathers Wildlife.k-state.edu   00:12:05 – K-State Swine Profitability Conference: Joel DeRouchey, K-State swine Extension specialist, continues the show previewing the 35th annual Swine Profitability Conference. He notes the speakers and their topics.  Swine Profitability Conference - KSUSwine.org   00:23:05 – Reviewing Dairy Programs: K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk ends today's show encouraging dairy farmers to review their nutrition and breeding programs to see if they can increase milk components.       Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan

Alliance backs designation as 'inland waterway' Sergei Krasikov's laps across Fishkill Creek come with caveats. After a rainstorm, wait several days for the runoff carrying potential pollutants to clear before swimming. Protect your nose and eyes, and shower afterward. Back on land, Krasikov is co-chair of the Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance and part of a movement to protect the creek not only for flora and fauna but as a place of respite and recreation. The creek extends for 33.5 miles between Union Vale in northeast Dutchess County and the Hudson River. Featuring gorges and waterfalls, it is the main branch of a 193-mile watershed that spans 14 municipalities in Dutchess and Putnam counties. Born in July 2023 from a collaboration between conservation advisory committees in Beacon and East Fishkill, the alliance's first major project is getting the creek designated by the state as an "inland waterway," said Krasikov, who chairs Beacon's committee. If legislation sponsored by state Sen. Rob Rolison, whose district includes Beacon, becomes law, Beacon and other municipalities through which the creek passes would become eligible for funding through the state's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) and the Environmental Protection Fund. The programs provide grants for planning, design, land acquisition and other waterfront projects for designated coastal water bodies, such as the Hudson River, and inland waterways. Beacon adopted a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program for its riverfront and Fishkill Creek in 1992 and updated it in 2011, but the creek lacks designation as an inland waterway. "This designation opens the door for the towns along the Fishkill Creek and its tributaries to access vital resources," Rolison said. Along Beacon's portion of the creek, several sections of its Greenway and Heritage Trail have already opened. Along the Beacon Line, an unused railroad line envisioned as the route for a rail trail between Beacon and Hopewell Junction, several vacant parcels have been identified, Krasikov said. For 2 miles, the rail line follows Fishkill Creek, where the alliance envisions places to kayak, swim or relax. "There is a potential for pocket parks - connecting two together and giving people a chance to experience being by the water and enjoying the beautiful creek," he said. New York's designated inland waterways include Wappinger Creek in Dutchess County and Lake Carmel, Lake Mahopac and Lake Nimham in Putnam. With the Hudson River designated as a coastal waterbody, Beacon has used LWRP grants on such riverfront projects as the kayak deck at Long Dock Park. Other beneficiaries include the City of Poughkeepsie, which received a $765,000 grant in 2023 to develop strategies to improve biodiversity, water quality and public space along the Fall Kill Creek. That same year, Nyack received $417,000 to install an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant shoreline walkway and to buttress its waterfront against storm surge and other impacts of climate change. In December, Kingston received $167,000 to update its 1992 waterfront plan and earlier was awarded $552,000 to demolish two condemned, city-owned houses in a flood zone and build a parking lot, boardwalk and pier. With "lingering concerns" about water quality, one of the goals of the Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance is to study the lower creek's health, said Krasikov. The alliance successfully lobbied to have the middle and upper segments included in an ongoing state water-quality study that covers "everything, from agricultural runoff to biological markers to industrial pollutants," he said. Additional tests for the creek are being designed in partnership with faculty at Bard and Vassar colleges, and Riverkeeper is interested in collaborating with the alliance to measure bacteria indicating fecal matter from sewage, said Krasikov. The alliance is also collaborating on a "watershed characterization" study with Clarkson University's Beacon Institute for...

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Editor's note: Beacon was created in 1913 from Matteawan and Fishkill Landing. 150 Years Ago (December 1874) John McCabe was carting cook stoves to Matteawan when his horses were frightened by an approaching locomotive. The horses raced along the track and a stove fell off the wagon in front of the engine, which demolished it. Lewis Tompkins, of the Fishkill Landing Hat Works, put down one of his prized brown mares after it broke its leg in the stable. It was valued at $700 [about $19,000 today]. Patrick Murphy, who worked at the Gowdy brickyard near Dutchess Junction, was arrested on assault charges. Murphy was absent when John Gowdy distributed wages and later demanded his $28 [$775]. Gowdy said he did not have the cash on him and Patrick, who was drunk, attempted to take Gowdy's horse. When Gowdy resisted, Murphy punched him. Murphy was fined $25, which he had Gowdy take from his pay, leaving him with $3 [$83]. The Matteawan Manufacturing Co. was making 200 dozen ladies' jockeys every day but was still 150 cases behind filling orders. Two sheep owned by Jacob VanWyck near Fishkill were slaughtered in his field and the meat carried off. James Pettigrove moved from Cold Spring to Fishkill Landing to operate Traver's hotel, which had been damaged by fire on Sept. 3 but restored. Several young men in Matteawan formed a gymnasium society. W.H. Mase of Fishkill Landing sold his trotting horse Mountaineer for $6,000 [$166,000]. A Fishkill Landing milkman said he would sell milk through the winter at summer prices of 6 cents [$1.66] a quart. A Matteawan Free School teacher found in an old history book a handwritten copy of a Thanksgiving sermon preached by the Rev. Samuel Prime on Nov. 23, 1833. [In 1840, the young Presbyterian minister left the village for New York City to become an editor at a Christian newspaper where he worked for the next 45 years.] The Seamless Manufacturing Co. of Matteawan received an order for thousands of skirts, in variety of sizes, including what were thought to be the largest ever made in the U.S.: 5 feet, 7 inches long; 5 feet, 1 inch around the waist; 10 inches around the hip; and 16 inches at the bottom. Mr. and Mrs. David Kniffen, of Fishkill, lost two children - their 5-year-old daughter and 2½-year-old son - in the same week to diphtheria. Their third child, an infant, was not expected to survive. When the Albany Post reported that "Aunt Betty," the last known person enslaved in New York state, had died in Cayuga County at age 99, the Poughkeepsie Press reported that an inmate at the Dutchess County poorhouse was older. He recalled being traded for a barrel of rum. [According to research by the New York State Archives, a woman named Sophy, who died in November 1876 in Cornwall, was likely the last surviving person who had been enslaved in New York.] On a late Saturday night train, a passenger refused to pay the fare. The conductor ordered him off at New Hamburg, but the passenger retreated to the toilet and sat with his back against the door. At Poughkeepsie, a police officer ripped off the door with a crowbar. At 3 a.m. on a Saturday, a fire at John Gerow's brick building in Matteawan destroyed everything inside, including the stock of the Noel & Smith clothing store, Hatche's cigar store and Vosburgh's printing office. Frank Timoney, the brick manufacturer, and an employee, William Doyle, were struck by an express train south of Dutchess Junction. Doyle was killed and Timoney was not expected to survive. [Timoney lived another 29 years.] 125 Years Ago (December 1899) A man who missed the last train at Fishkill Landing for Cold Spring hired a wagon. According to the Matteawan Journal, the driver had been on duty for hours and the passenger had not slept for two days, so both fell sound asleep on the journey along the river road. When the horse reached a trough in the village, it took a drink, turned around and returned to Fishkill Landing. There, the passenger and driver awoke and, confused, ...

When it comes to disability etiquette, I was a lousy role model. My brother-in-law, John Costa, struggled most of his life with schizophrenia. He was a groomsman at my wedding 36 years ago at The Bird & Bottle Inn in Philipstown. But John scared the hell out of me with his brooding look and his tendency to lecture on topics that didn't make much sense. I couldn't see past his disability. So I avoided him. I thought about John on Dec. 6 while attending the eighth annual Dutchess County Think Differently Conference at the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park. The topic was disability etiquette, and the lineup of speakers provided a primer. The takeaway: Treat people with disabilities like people, not like people with disabilities. To do otherwise makes them feel like "the other." "I do not consider myself disabled or handicapped or whatever word," explained Shadei Williams, who lives in Fishkill. She has cerebral palsy and was one of five participants in a morning panel. "We all find a way to do the same things, whether in a wheelchair, walking or teaching ourselves how to do things. We're still getting the job done. It might take a little bit more time. But to label us like we're not people, that's where the hurt comes." The recommendation is to use "person-first" language. Instead of saying someone is "disabled," say she is "a person with a disability," "a person with limb loss" or "a person who uses a wheelchair." Avoid outdated and hurtful words such as crippled, lame, handicapped, crazy or retarded, which the moderator referred to as "The R word." Etiquette is also about being respectful. Never touch someone's wheelchair or guide dog unless invited. Identify yourself for people who are blind. When serving as a sighted guide, offer your arm rather than grabbing and pushing. And give people space. "Don't assume that they're dependent or need help," said Lisa Tarricone, executive director of Taconic Resources for Independence, which advocates for civil rights for people with disabilities in Dutchess County, including Beacon. Tarricone, who uses a wheelchair, has been out shopping and had strangers grab packages from her lap and insist on taking them to her car, "as if I can't do it myself," she said. When dealing with people who are disabled, she said, "the best practice is not to look at them as the other. They're just like you. They just move differently. Somebody with a speech impediment speaks a little more slowly. You know, they're just different, that's it." Disability Etiquette: A Starting Guide MOBILITY DISABILITIES Do not touch a person's mobility equipment. During physical contact, be considerate of possible pain, balance or post-traumatic stress concerns. Select a location where you can converse comfortably that reduces distance between you. DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING Get the person's attention before starting a conversation. If the individual uses a sign-language interpreter, speak directly to the person, not the interpreter; keep your eyes on the individual. Speak in normal tones. BLIND OR LOW VISION Identify yourself when starting a conversation and announce when you leave. When acting as a guide, offer your arm or shoulder rather than grabbing or pushing the person. Describe the setting, environment, written material and obstacles. Resist the temptation to pet or talk to a service animal. SPEECH DISABILITIES If you do not understand what the person is saying, ask the person to repeat what they said and repeat it back to ensure you understood. Do not speak for the person or attempt to finish sentences. Source: DisabilityIN.org My kids got that. They saw past John's disability and just approached him as an uncle. Benjamin, my oldest, who is a software engineer, talked programming languages with John, who was a math and science standout at Spackenkill High School in Poughkeepsie. My second child, Elliott, would talk to John about dogs and cars, especially self-driving technology. Annie, my youngest, would discuss ...

Comment period opens on environmental review After several years of work, the state parks department on Dec. 4 released a draft of its environmental review of the proposed Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail. The 709-page Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement considers the effects the proposed trail could have on the Highlands in 14 areas, including land use, emergency services, traffic and transportation, biological resources and community character. It also lists suggested mitigation efforts for HHFT to receive permits for the project, such as limiting construction in certain areas to specific times of year to avoid disturbing threatened and endangered wildlife, and replacing invasive species with native plants. The Fjord Trail is a 7.5-mile trail for pedestrians and cyclists that would function as a linear park connecting Beacon to Cold Spring. It would also include 5 miles of narrower, pedestrian-only meanders, spurs and loops branching off from the main trail. When the trail was conceived in 2006, it was imagined as a simple walking path. But after Breakneck Ridge became one of the most popular hiking trails in the country, the project underwent a significant expansion and redesign that was unveiled in 2020. The goal was to address the throngs of hikers and cars along Route 9D; the lack of safe access to the Hudson River; Main Street in Cold Spring becoming overrun with visitors on weekends; the need for public restrooms; a dearth of accessible recreational activities; and the threat to riverside attractions from projected sea-level rise because of climate change. Last year, HHFT announced that it was pausing some of the "destination" amenities included in the 2020 plan, such as an outdoor classroom, a play area, a swimming area at Little Stony Point with a floating dock, and a meander that would have led to a secluded wooded area with hammocks. Those amenities do not appear in the environmental impact report. If HHFT adds them later, they would be subject to a new environmental review. The report is online at dub.sh/hhft-report, along with information about how to register for two virtual public hearings scheduled for Jan. 14, and how to submit comments. Physical copies are also available at local libraries, the Cold Spring and Nelsonville village halls, Philipstown Town Hall, Beacon City Hall and the HHFT office at 14 Coris Lane in Beacon. Comments will be accepted through Feb. 2, although some elected officials have called on the state to extend the deadline. Public comments will be addressed in the final environmental report, scheduled for release over the summer. Amy Kacala, the HHFT executive director, said none of the mitigation measures were "a huge surprise" to the nonprofit. "We've been going back and forth with state parks for several years, so we've already had a chance to think through how we would avoid certain areas or shrink the footprint in other areas," she said. The report splits the trail into two sections: The 5.5-mile Fjord Trail North begins in Beacon's Long Dock Park and heads south, and the 2-mile Fjord Trail South begins at the state-owned Dockside Park in Cold Spring and heads north. The Breakneck Connector and Bridge that connects the two, which is under construction, had a separate environmental review released in 2022. The former Dutchess Manor on Route 9D, which the HHFT plans to convert into its headquarters by 2027, is also not part of the current environmental review because the site is under the jurisdiction of the Town of Fishkill rather than the state. The report does include a proposed 90-space lot across from Dutchess Manor, as well as an 80-space lot on Route 9D just north of Melzingah Reservoir Road and the expansion of the lot across from the entrance to Little Stony Point from 49 to 96 spaces. The report discusses alternate routes for the trail, concluding that none balance the environmental impact as well as the chosen route, although the report says further study is needed o...

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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. 

Tue, Sep 3 5:20 PM → 10:19 PM httpsmidhudsonnews.com20240903breaking-hopewell-gas-explosion-sends-flames-sky-high-residents-to-shelter-in-place Radio Systems: - Dutchess County and City of Poughkeepsie Fire Communications Orange County NY Fire Dispatch and City of Newburgh Dispatch

This week, Patsy and Ashes discuss their adventures in Fishkill, NY at the Hudson Valley Horror Fest! From the many guests, vendors, and panels to the amazing food from the I-84 Diner, they discuss the whole weekend! They give some great recommendations, talk about their experiences, and discuss their new friends! All this and a preview of what's coming up in the next few episodes! Find out more at https://throwdown-thursday.pinecast.co Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/throwdown-thursday/c0646c73-e167-4c35-a69a-8b0b2d5a9656

Here's a look at the top headlines from around the Northland for Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Stories featured in this episode: Duluth says it released drinking water before Tischer Creek fish kill Mike Sertich, legendary UMD men's hockey coach, dies at 77  Best Bets: Big week at Earth Rider Northlandia: Tom's Burned Down Cafe is 'clubhouse' of Madeline Island The Duluth News Tribune Minute is a product of Forum Communications Company and is brought to you by reporters at the Duluth News Tribune, Superior Telegram and Cloquet Pine Journal. Find more news throughout the day at duluthnewstribune.com. If you enjoy this podcast, please consider supporting our work with a subscription at duluthnewstribune.news/podcast. Your support allows us to continue providing the local news and content you want.

The poisonous and foul tasting pufferfish, bird eating hedgehogs, sea creatures with an anus for a mouth, and the ocean's largest herbivore. On this episode of World's Wildest, Maya & Connor talk through our world's roundest animals. ✨ BONUS CONTENT ✨  Patreon - https://patreon.com/WorldsWildestPodcast

The RSPCA reports a dramatic increase in reports of starving livestock across South Australia, Vietnam emerges as a potentially significant market for Australian wool, and a call for action as thousands of dead fish rot away in the Coorong's South Lagoon.

Coorong fisherman say an estimated 200 tonnes of fish are rotting in the wetland's South Lagoon after a recent fish kill.

Fish kills and distress reports at the uMhlanga Lagoon have led to concerns about pollution and calls for a thorough investigation. Website

Colleen Drummond and Holly Kayson, both 13 years old, were murdered in Fishkill, NY, in 1984. The case is either 100% solved, or 100% not.

A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Missouri's new presidential primary; Iowa's massive fertilizer spill; Hawley signals some break with Trump on Jan 6th; Missouri town paying big for open record violation; Texas immigration law seesaw; Sustainability in St. Louis; Turns out, young white republicans at turning point events MIGHT be a bit racistSOURCES - river front times, missouri independent, missouri democrats.org, nbc news, newsweek, and WOWT Ohama channel 6 newsMissouri democratic primary TOMORROW - March 23Details: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/mdp-primary-information-2024Back to the poopy water in Iowahttps://www.wowt.com/2024/03/19/experts-detail-environmental-impact-fertilizer-spill-southwest-iowa/Experts detail environmental impact of fertilizer spill in southwest IowaDNR experts are still examining the environmental impacts of a massive 1,500-ton liquid nitrogen fertilizer spill near Red Oak, Iowa caused by a New Cooperative valve that was left open last Monday.They know liquid nitrogen fertilizer traveled along the East Nishnabotna River in Iowa for 50 miles down to the state of Missouri where it's estimated to have traveled at least another 10 miles.“(It's) probably the longest fishkill that we've experienced in this area,” said Brent Marten, an environmental specialist for the Iowa DNR.As the fertilizer plume swept through the water, the home of aquatic wildlife soon became their grave. Native species of varying sizes were found dead ashore and floating in the water.“Just acute toxicity basically burned tissue on the outside and if they ingested it, on the inside of the fish,” said Lorenzen.Water testing showed that where the spill happened, nitrogen levels were at least 60 times higher than they should've been.Josh Hawley (drop) says Trump Shouldn't Issue Blanket Pardon for Jan 6thhttps://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article286871930.htmlIn a rare showing of a possible spine in the face of Trump's crazy, Missouri's soon to be one term senator Joshua “Yes these are my boots” Hawley breaks with Trump and suggests that CRIMINALS WHO ATTACKED THE GOVERNMENT might be best to be left as criminals, real novel takeMissouri Town who abused open records law drops appeal of penaltyhttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/15/phelps-county-town-drops-appeal-of-80000-missouri-sunshine-law-judgment/Rebecca Varney sued after Edgar Springs banned her from visiting city hall to see records or attend town board meetingsEdgar Springs, a town of 200 in southern Phelps County, must now pay Rebecca Varney $750, plus almost $80,000 in attorney fees, to satisfy a November court decision that found it violated Varney's First Amendment rights and the Missouri Sunshine Law.Circuit Judge John Beger ruled that the city's violations began in 2018 when it barred Varney from entering city hall to view records open to the public under the Sunshine Law. The initial order allowed her to attend meetings of the town's Board of Aldermen but was expanded in 2019 to bar her from entering city hall at any time after she questioned whether a gathering that included several town officials was an unposted meeting.“Our rights are worth it,” Varney said. “It's been hard but I go to city council meetings, I get to sit down just like everybody else. And they have to treat everybody that way.”In her lawsuit, Varney asked for only nominal damages in addition to legal vindication. Berger's ruling gave Varney $100 for the constitutional violation, $650 for the Sunshine Law violation and $78,966 for litigation costs and attorney fees. Interest is accruing at the rate of 9% per year.“This was not a close case,” said Dave Roland, the attorney who represented Varney. “They should have seen from the very outset, it was going to be a loser and they were going to be on the hook for both their attorneys fees and ours.”Roland runs the Freedom Center of Missouri, providing pro bono Sunshine Law legal services for people unable to afford an attorney. Money gained from rulings like the one against Edgar Springs is used to support other litigation. Texas Immigration Law Back On Hold After Multiple Court Rulings In Last Weekshttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/appeals-court-blocks-texas-immigration-law-supreme-court-action-rcna144193The decision comes just hours after the Supreme Court said the measure, known as SB 4, could go into effect while litigation continues.A three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals split 2-1 in saying in a brief order that the measure, known as Senate Bill 4, should be blocked. The same court is hearing arguments on the issue Wednesday morning.The state law would allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the border from Mexico and impose criminal penalties. It would also empower state judges to order people to be deported to Mexico.Meet Me In (Sustainable) St. Louieeeehttps://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/bloomberg-taps-st-louis-as-1-of-25-american-sustainable-cities-42136549The City of St. Louis has been selected as one of Bloomberg Philanthropies' 25 sustainable American cities and will receive resources to combat climate change locally.The three-year program will utilize federal funding in the area to “proactively build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities,” according to a news release from Bloomberg. St. Louis was chosen to take part in the program based on the city's leadership and ambition, according to the St. Louis Development Corporation. Black Gay Republican Says Missouri Republican Heckled Him at MAGA Evenhttps://www.newsweek.com/black-gay-republican-says-missouri-republican-heckled-him-maga-event-1879832Rob Smith (conservative commenter) accused a state legislator from Missouri of being among the individuals who allegedly heckled him at a MAGA event in December.Smith, a Republican who is Black and gay, alleged that Missouri State Representative Chris Lonsdale joined a group of conservatives accused of heckling him while attending a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix in December 2023.Video sent by Smith to Newsweek appears to show Lonsdale near a crowd that heckled and chanted a homophobic slur against Smith. Lonsdale was seen pointing his finger toward Smith. However, the video was taken from behind the lawmaker, and it remained unclear whether he was among the individuals chanting the slur."One of the individuals is a Republican elected official named Chris Lonsdale, a State Rep for MO district 38," Smith wrote in an X message to Newsweek. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

A flyover from this weeks top heartland stories including:Missouri's new presidential primary; Iowa's massive fertilizer spill; Hawley signals some break with Trump on Jan 6th; Missouri town paying big for open record violation; Texas immigration law seesaw; Sustainability in St. Louis; Turns out, young white republicans at turning point events MIGHT be a bit racistSOURCES - river front times, missouri independent, missouri democrats.org, nbc news, newsweek, and WOWT Ohama channel 6 newsMissouri democratic primary TOMORROW - March 23Details: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/mdp-primary-information-2024Back to the poopy water in Iowahttps://www.wowt.com/2024/03/19/experts-detail-environmental-impact-fertilizer-spill-southwest-iowa/Experts detail environmental impact of fertilizer spill in southwest IowaDNR experts are still examining the environmental impacts of a massive 1,500-ton liquid nitrogen fertilizer spill near Red Oak, Iowa caused by a New Cooperative valve that was left open last Monday.They know liquid nitrogen fertilizer traveled along the East Nishnabotna River in Iowa for 50 miles down to the state of Missouri where it's estimated to have traveled at least another 10 miles.“(It's) probably the longest fishkill that we've experienced in this area,” said Brent Marten, an environmental specialist for the Iowa DNR.As the fertilizer plume swept through the water, the home of aquatic wildlife soon became their grave. Native species of varying sizes were found dead ashore and floating in the water.“Just acute toxicity basically burned tissue on the outside and if they ingested it, on the inside of the fish,” said Lorenzen.Water testing showed that where the spill happened, nitrogen levels were at least 60 times higher than they should've been.Josh Hawley (drop) says Trump Shouldn't Issue Blanket Pardon for Jan 6thhttps://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article286871930.htmlIn a rare showing of a possible spine in the face of Trump's crazy, Missouri's soon to be one term senator Joshua “Yes these are my boots” Hawley breaks with Trump and suggests that CRIMINALS WHO ATTACKED THE GOVERNMENT might be best to be left as criminals, real novel takeMissouri Town who abused open records law drops appeal of penaltyhttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/15/phelps-county-town-drops-appeal-of-80000-missouri-sunshine-law-judgment/Rebecca Varney sued after Edgar Springs banned her from visiting city hall to see records or attend town board meetingsEdgar Springs, a town of 200 in southern Phelps County, must now pay Rebecca Varney $750, plus almost $80,000 in attorney fees, to satisfy a November court decision that found it violated Varney's First Amendment rights and the Missouri Sunshine Law.Circuit Judge John Beger ruled that the city's violations began in 2018 when it barred Varney from entering city hall to view records open to the public under the Sunshine Law. The initial order allowed her to attend meetings of the town's Board of Aldermen but was expanded in 2019 to bar her from entering city hall at any time after she questioned whether a gathering that included several town officials was an unposted meeting.“Our rights are worth it,” Varney said. “It's been hard but I go to city council meetings, I get to sit down just like everybody else. And they have to treat everybody that way.”In her lawsuit, Varney asked for only nominal damages in addition to legal vindication. Berger's ruling gave Varney $100 for the constitutional violation, $650 for the Sunshine Law violation and $78,966 for litigation costs and attorney fees. Interest is accruing at the rate of 9% per year.“This was not a close case,” said Dave Roland, the attorney who represented Varney. “They should have seen from the very outset, it was going to be a loser and they were going to be on the hook for both their attorneys fees and ours.”Roland runs the Freedom Center of Missouri, providing pro bono Sunshine Law legal services for people unable to afford an attorney. Money gained from rulings like the one against Edgar Springs is used to support other litigation. Texas Immigration Law Back On Hold After Multiple Court Rulings In Last Weekshttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/appeals-court-blocks-texas-immigration-law-supreme-court-action-rcna144193The decision comes just hours after the Supreme Court said the measure, known as SB 4, could go into effect while litigation continues.A three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals split 2-1 in saying in a brief order that the measure, known as Senate Bill 4, should be blocked. The same court is hearing arguments on the issue Wednesday morning.The state law would allow police to arrest migrants who illegally cross the border from Mexico and impose criminal penalties. It would also empower state judges to order people to be deported to Mexico.Meet Me In (Sustainable) St. Louieeeehttps://www.riverfronttimes.com/news/bloomberg-taps-st-louis-as-1-of-25-american-sustainable-cities-42136549The City of St. Louis has been selected as one of Bloomberg Philanthropies' 25 sustainable American cities and will receive resources to combat climate change locally.The three-year program will utilize federal funding in the area to “proactively build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities,” according to a news release from Bloomberg. St. Louis was chosen to take part in the program based on the city's leadership and ambition, according to the St. Louis Development Corporation. Black Gay Republican Says Missouri Republican Heckled Him at MAGA Evenhttps://www.newsweek.com/black-gay-republican-says-missouri-republican-heckled-him-maga-event-1879832Rob Smith (conservative commenter) accused a state legislator from Missouri of being among the individuals who allegedly heckled him at a MAGA event in December.Smith, a Republican who is Black and gay, alleged that Missouri State Representative Chris Lonsdale joined a group of conservatives accused of heckling him while attending a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix in December 2023.Video sent by Smith to Newsweek appears to show Lonsdale near a crowd that heckled and chanted a homophobic slur against Smith. Lonsdale was seen pointing his finger toward Smith. However, the video was taken from behind the lawmaker, and it remained unclear whether he was among the individuals chanting the slur."One of the individuals is a Republican elected official named Chris Lonsdale, a State Rep for MO district 38," Smith wrote in an X message to Newsweek. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

Some of you may recall the devastating fish kill that occurred last May on the Ballymacraven River in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. It is estimated that in excess of 2000 fish were killed in this incident.  This culminated in a court case on February the 16th, taken by the I.F.I. where Uisce Éireann admitted liability for this event and were fined over €15,000.  Tom spoke to Jane Gilleran who is an Environmental Fisheries Officer with the I.F.I. and represented them in these proceedings to find out about the background to the case and what is being done to prevent similar fish kills in the future. Don't forget you can call 0818 34 74 24 to report illegal fishing, water pollution or invasive species.Rate, review and follow the show to keep up to date with all the latest Ireland on the Fly episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   Plus you can sign up for our newsletter on IrelandontheFly.com and get regular updates on Instagram.com/IrelandontheFly. 

This weekend's 1 in 36 guest is Maggie Reilly. Maggie is the program coordinator for the East Fishkill TOPSoccer program. TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training program for all athletes with intellectual, emotional, and or physical disabilities. The program strives to provide opportunities for players to develop at their own pace in a safe, fun, and supportive/inclusive environment. Registration is FREE and always open! Tune in to learn more about Maggie and this inclusive program, or visit: https://efsc.net/intramural/special-needs-tops

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Intro: 5-10m   Prizes and consolation prizes-have everyone except Kevin.  Kevin get a hold of me love your bit on reel arrogance!   I am on it   FITN:  Klamath River Dam Removal https://apnews.com/article/klamath-dam-california-removal-restoration-473a570024584c2e02837434e05693da https://calmatters.org/environment/2023/08/klamath-river-dams-demolition/#:~:text=But%20now%20these%20vestiges%20of,state%20line%20will%20be%20gone. Teen Arrested For Taping Fish To ATMs: KSL says a Provo, Utah teen was recently charged for taping fish to ATMs around town. The teen's Instagram account, "fish_bandit84," gained a following of 52,000 people. Police believe his fish videos were meant as a joke and to gain followers. The teenager once taped a fish to a Provo police car. He caused minimal damage.  Wisconsin Free Fishing Weekend: https://www.onfocus.news/free-fishing-weekend-jan-20-21/ totoba Fish Laundering:   https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-12-07/advocates-say-a-mexican-startup-is-illegally-selling-a-health-drink-from-an-endangered-fish Below is a wikipedia entry about totoaba and why it is an endangered species.  The damming and overuse of the Colorado River has changed the salinity of the totoaba spawning grounds.  That is severely affecting the totoaba population.  They are a slow growing fish that does not spawn until it is 6-7 years old. Also, the Chinese use totoaba bladders in “traditional medicine” which can sell for 20,000 each. Their own related species the bahaba is in very short supply so they have switched to totaba. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totoaba Doc and the Fish Kill Boys:  1. More information about fish kill causes can be found at: https:/ /ksoutdoors.com/Fishing/Special-Fishing-Programs-for-You/Pond- Management-Program/ Producing-Fish-and-Wildlife-in-Kansas-Ponds 2. If there appears to be a harmful algal bloom (HAB) present at an HOA or private owner pond information can be found at the Small Business Environmental Compliance Assistance page posted by the K-State University Pollution Prevention Institute at: https:// www.sbeap.org/ 3. If a citizen suspects a harmful algal bloom is present on a public water body (creek, river, pond, or lake), HABs can be reported to KDHE via an ArcIS survey123 survey found on KDHE's HAB webpage at: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/777 /Harmful-Algal-Blooms 4. Fish kills can be reported to the 1 of the 6 District Office. Contacts for KDHE can be found at the KDHE webpage, google KDHE AND district offices: https://www.kdheks.gov/288/District-Offices Rex's Bluefish Story Music for Fish Kill Boys-Audionautix “Heavy Action” with comic lyric by John “Crappie Hippie” King “Fish Kill, Fish Kill, the Rainbow Fish was murdered by industrial swill, No D.O., Nowhere to go, suffocated, belly up, they'll swim no more, Fish Kill, what if you had gills? We sow our own destruction Fish Kill!” (big explosion, black confetti rains down)  

This week, the Ryans bring New York State Assemblyman Anil Beephan Jr. onto the podcast - the first state lawmaker on the DMGS Back in Session Podcast! They discuss Asm. Beephan's experience in his first year in office, what it was like serving as a local elected official before being elected to the state Assembly, and some of the issues he's fighting for in Albany on behalf of his constituents in the 105th legislative district.About Assemblyman Anil Beephan:Anil Beephan Jr. was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 8, 2022. His district is comprised of parts of Dutchess County including the towns of Amenia, Beekman, Dover, East Fishkill, Fishkill, LaGrange, Pawling, Union Vale, and Wappinger.As an Assemblyman, Anil utilizes his experience as a town councilman to focus on the important issues facing the residents of Dutchess County including support for policies that seek to make New York State energy independent. He seeks increased domestic energy production while also holding public utility companies accountable to customers. Anil is ready to fight for our environmental needs and to protect our ecosystem for future generations. Further, he will push to reduce the wasteful spending habits of Albany and ease the heavy tax burden shouldered by New York's small businesses and residents. Anil believes in smarter spending and greater resources for schools, infrastructure projects, and emergency services. Additionally, he will support the needs of law enforcement and changes to the state's bail reform measures to directly address safety issues in our communities.Anil completed his undergraduate degree at Arcadia University and later earned his master's degree in Management at Harvard University. He previously served in various legislative roles for state Sen. Sue Serino before embarking on a career as a client-driven public relations and marketing strategist. Prior to being elected Assemblyman, Anil served as a councilman for the Town of East Fishkill.Anil is a long-time resident of East Fishkill and served his community as a volunteer firefighter. He is also a private pilot.Learn more: https://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Anil-Beephan-Jr/bio/

A developer named Domenic Broccoli wanted to build an IHOP in Fishkill, New York. But after it was discovered that the plot of land he was planning to build on may have been a Revolutionary War grave site, he became embroiled in a war of his own.  You can read Reeves Wiedeman's New York Magazine story “The Battle of Fishkill” here: https://www.curbed.com/article/ihop-fishkill-ny-domenic-broccoli-revolutionary-war.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.