News & Events

TODAY’S DAILY QUOTE – ROBERT FROST

August 17, 2021 | by

On his 80th birthday, Robert Frost was asked, “In all your years and all your travels, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?” You would think someone like Frost, who won the Pulitzer Prize four times, would give a colorful and poetic response, but his abridged reply was just as moving in its simplicity: “It goes on.” While Frost’s work is widely celebrated, his personal life was marked with tragedy. He lost both his parents at a young age, and outlived four of his six children before losing his wife. Yet still, life went on, and Frost found more opportunities for love and laughter. Regardless of the pain we may face, it is always possible that the best is yet to come.

NYS Coronavirus Update: Thank You For Reading

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In March of last year, we created this newsletter in order to keep New Yorkers informed of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to give you the facts directly. After 18 months, New York has gone from the highest infection rate in the country to one of the lowest. Millions of New Yorkers have been vaccinated with more getting vaccinated every day. The work of getting shots in arms and responding to COVID will continue, but tonight’s Coronavirus Update will be the last. I want to thank you for reading—and for your individual actions, big or small, that helped your fellow New Yorkers throughout this unprecedented pandemic. You can continue to monitor the State’s progress on ny.gov.

Protect those you love
Image of the Day: The vaccines are available to all New Yorkers age 12 and up. Find a provider near you at vaccines.gov and follow the @VaccinateNY Instagram for trusted content and information about the vaccine.  

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:  
1. COVID hospitalizations are at 1,772. Of the 99,005 tests reported yesterday, 3,575, or 3.61 percent, were positive. The 7-day positivity average was 3.09 percent. There were 362 patients in ICU yesterday, up seven from the previous day. Of them, 134 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 11 New Yorkers to the virus.   
2. As of 11am this morning, 77.6 percent of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose, per the CDC. Over the past 24 hours, 32,309 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 22,932,286 total doses with 69.9 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State’s Vaccine Tracker.  
3. The State Department of Health has authorized a third COVID-19 vaccine dose for New Yorkers with compromised immune systems. Following the CDC’s recommendation, eligible New Yorkers can receive their third vaccine dose 28 days after the completion of their two-dose vaccine series, effective immediately.  
4. All health care workers in New York State will be required to be vaccinated by Monday, September 27. This includes staff at hospitals and long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, adult care, and other congregate care settings. Limited medical and religious exemptions will be allowed.  

Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: A new world record was set at Nardin Academy in Buffalo, New York, last week. Basketball players from all across the region came together to play what is now the world’s longest basketball game. The game, which lasted five days, one minute and seven seconds, was organized to raise money for mental health resources in the Buffalo area.    

Ever Upward,  
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

TODAY’S DAILY QUOTE – OSCAR WILDE

August 16, 2021 | by

Legendary Irish writer Oscar Wilde was a vibrant figure of late-19th-century society. He was a member of the Aesthetic movement, which upheld “art for art’s sake.” He was known as a finely dressed, decadent, and outspoken man who never tried to blend in with the crowd. Along with famous one-liners like this one, he’s well known for his books such as “The Portrait of Dorian Gray” and satirical plays such as “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Through these comedies, Wilde mocked the hypocrisies of high society, and let his sharp wit run wild, as it were. Wilde married a woman and became a father, but also had relationships with men, and was famously imprisoned for homosexuality for two years. He lived as his fullest self and openly shared his loves, tastes, and opinions, regardless of what others thought. When we validate and love ourselves, we find we have a true companion for life.

NYS Coronavirus Update 8/12/21: 62 Million Tests Conducted

August 13, 2021 | by

New York has come so far in its fight against COVID and we need to ensure we are doing everything we can to prevent the state from slipping backward. The answer here is simple: Get vaccinated. It’s never been easier and I am urging those who are eligible and have not received their vaccine yet to do so as soon as possible. The vaccine is safe, accessible and free—it is the best tool we have to keep ourselves and our communities safe.  

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Monday, August 16, will be the final edition of this newsletter in its current format. I thank you deeply for being readers, for staying informed, and for your individual actions that helped the State as a whole respond to COVID and get millions of New Yorkers vaccinated. Thank you.

Protect those you love
Image of the Day: It’s about protecting yourself but it’s also about protecting others. Find a provider at vaccines.gov.  

Here’s what else you need to know tonight:  
1. COVID hospitalizations are at 1,448. Of the 153,925 tests reported yesterday, 4,701, or 3.05 percent, were positive. The 7-day positivity average was 3.05 percent. There were 289 patients in ICU yesterday, up one from the previous day. Of them, 118 are intubated. Sadly, we lost 16 New Yorkers to the virus.   
2. As of 11am this morning, 77.0 of adult New Yorkers have completed at least one vaccine dose, per the CDC. Over the past 24 hours, 53,818 total doses have been administered. To date, New York has administered 22,756,366 total doses with 69.5 percent of adult New Yorkers completing their vaccine series. See additional data on the State’s Vaccine Tracker.  
3. To date, New York has conducted over 62 million tests. Getting tested for COVID regularly is a great way to ensure your health and the health of those around you. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID or believe you may have been exposed to the virus, get tested. Find a testing site near you. You can also call 1-888-364-3065 to make a free appointment at a New York State-run testing location.  
4. Follow VaccinateNY’s Instagram for trusted information and content about the COVID-19 vaccines. To help New Yorkers stay informed about the COVID vaccines and help kids get ready to go back to school safely, the State and the NYS Department of Health launched a new Instagram account to encourage everyone eligible to get vaccinated.  
Tonight’s “Deep Breath Moment”: The Hudson Valley is filled with a host of outdoor travel destinations. Among them is a mysterious ruin of the Cornish Estate. Part of Hudson Highlands State Park, this site is a popular hiking attraction for many, and Peekskill resident Thom Johnson is leading an effort to learn more about the structure. With the help of a $20,000 grant from Parks and Trails New York, the Northgate Project hopes to uncover more about the estate’s history and uncover more of New York’s past.   

Ever Upward,  
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

INFORMATION ON THE BHA COOLING CENTERS

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ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF BEACON HOUSING AUTHORITY … COOLING CENTERS ARE OPEN

This is a just a reminder to confirm that the Community Rooms in both Forrestal Heights and Hamilton Fish Plaza will be used as Cooling Centers this summer.

Forrestal Height’s Community Room will be accessible from 9am – 2:30pm Monday through Friday. The Community Room in Forrestal Heights will be open to both residents and the general public.

Hamilton Fish’s Community Room will be accessible from 8am- 3:30pm Monday through Friday. The Cooling Center in Hamilton Fish Plaza will be open to residents only. 

BHA is asking all residents to be kind and treat each other with respect and dignity. 

Thank you. 

TODAY’S DAILY QUOTE – Patti Smith

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Pratt Institute’s class of 2010 had a kindred spirit in their commencement speaker. Punk troubadour Patti Smith was about the Brooklyn art school graduates’ age in 1967 when, like them, she moved to New York City to be an artist. Smith succeeded by refusing to confine herself to a single medium, and by interlacing her work with activism. Today, she’s a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an award-winning author, and a visual artist whose drawings, silkscreens, and photographs have exhibited on three continents. Yet her humble (and humorous) parting advice underscores the importance of pure motives. “Pac[e] the floor because your muse is burning inside of you,” she said. “You don’t want to be pacing because you need a damn root canal.”

TODAYS DAILY QUOTE – Phoebe Bridgers

August 11, 2021 | by

Singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers is known for her insightful lyrics, which often put existential questions in conversational context. She frequently waxes on themes of nostalgia, reaching for memories rather than the present moment. But these lyrics, from the track “Garden Song” off the 2020 album “Punisher,” offer a rare exception. Bridgers calls out her own distraction by technology, something many of us can likely relate to. Her words warn us not to get so lost in our screens that we miss what’s actually happening, and invite us to choose being present in order to live more fully.

FREE FOOD COMING TO BEACON TODAY … WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11, 2021

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TODAY’S INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE – MADELEINE L’ENGLE

August 9, 2021 | by

Writer Madeleine L’Engle wasn’t limited by getting older: In fact, she didn’t publish her Newbery Medal-winning book “A Wrinkle in Time” until age 44. She always maintained that her diverse life experiences helped inform not just her writing career but also her personal life and philosophy. L’Engle’s quote above reminds us that we don’t have to dread aging. Though society often glorifies youth, getting older is actually an advantage, because every day adds to our collected experience, growing our confidence, intelligence, and wisdom.

FAREGROUND IS BRINGING FREE GROCERIES TO RESIDENTS AT FORRESTAL HEIGHTS

August 6, 2021 | by

The Fareground organization will be at Forrestal Heights on Saturday August 7th from 11:00am to 12:00pm. Fareground will have their Tiny Pantry and will be distributing groceries to residents of Forrestal Heights.

Please feel free to come and participate in this event. Please wear MASKS and practice social distancing.

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WEATHER POLICY

The BHA office does close due to inclement weather and dangerous driving conditions. We recommend that you call ahead if you have an appointment and the weather is questionable.

The City of Beacon Housing Authority
One Forrestal Heights / Beacon, NY 12508
845.831.1289
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