News & Events

Hi Beacon, 

This is Mayor Lee Kyriacou with a few updates. 

1. COVID-19: The number of COVID-19 cases in Beacon is extremely low – currently just six active cases. The counts have remained very low for months; we used to have more than 100 active cases. This is an amazing achievement, and one being replicated across New York – even more amazing because our economy has been gradually opening up.
   
   Beacon’s success, and New York State’s success, is due to everyone doing their part to maintain social distance, to wear a mask when in public, and to follow other safety protocols. As we continue to take part in more activities, we must maintain our vigilance. Together, we must all do our part to keep everyone safe.
    
2. Police Chief Survey:  As many of you know, there is a search committee to help find a new Police Chief. The committee has a public survey, to learn what is important to you in a new chief.  We want to hear from you.  Surveys can be found and submitted on the city’s website, https://www.cityofbeacon.org/index.php/2020/08/17/city-of-beacon-police-department-community-survey/, and also at City Hall and the Howland Public Library.

Stay well, and enjoy responsibly. 

“FREE GROCERIES CONTINUED” Please feel free to take participate in this program while it last! See information below:

PUBLISHED MON, AUG 24 202011:27 AM EDTWill Feuer@WILLFOIAKEY POINTS

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to hold a briefing Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak as the state moves forward with reopening efforts.
• Earlier this month, Cuomo announced that gyms across the state would be allowed to reopen as soon as Monday, Aug. 24, with some coronavirus safety precautions.
• Also on Monday, museums, aquariums and other cultural centers in New York City are allowed to reopen with modifications. 

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to hold a briefing Monday to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak as the state moves forward with reopening efforts.

Earlier this month, Cuomo announced that gyms across the state would be allowed to reopen as soon as Monday, Aug. 24, with some coronavirus safety precautions. Also on Monday, museums, aquariums and other cultural centers in New York City are allowed to reopen with modifications. Bowling alleys were allowed to reopen earlier this month. 

As the state moves forward with reopening parts of the economy, Cuomo has repeatedly said that epidemiologists and other health officials are closely monitoring the data for signs of a resurgence of the virus. But the number of new cases reported each day and the percent of tests coming back positive have remained low so far even as more businesses reopened.

The situation could become more complicated in the coming months as colder weather sets in, driving people and businesses indoors. The virus appears to spread more easily in crowded, poorly ventilated, in-door environments, various studies have shown. Cuomo warned last week that restaurants in New York City might be forced to close again as the weather turns, especially if local officials are unable to enforce compliance.

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro hosted his latest in a series of virtual Town Hall Forums to inform residents about the latest local developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and answer their questions.

Since mid-March, County Executive Molinaro has hosted more than 30 such online discussions with the community, and an archive of those events is available on the Dutchess County Government YouTube page.

Among the highlight of today’s conversation:

• County Executive Molinaro updated residents on the most current data posted on the Dutchess County COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard:

o 4,704 total confirmed cases
o 113,360 tests completed
o 269 active cases
o 6 hospitalizations
o 153 deaths
o 4,282 recoveries
o 1% infection rate

• As local school districts make final determinations on whether students will return to school or not, Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH) is working diligently with districts to provide guidance and information regarding testing access, reporting protocols, contact tracing and more. Multiple conference calls with district superintendents, principals and other officials have been occurring and DBCH most recently hosted an overview today with school nurses from throughout the county. Additionally, DBCH’s Rapid Response team is ready to assist districts in the event of positive reports.

• Six weeks after the Mid-Hudson region, including Dutchess County, entered Phase 4 of the NY Forward re-opening process, Gov. Andrew Cuomo provided guidance under which bowling alleys, as well as gyms and fitness studios are allowed to open; the former are currently allowed to open, the latter will be able to open, beginning Monday, Aug. 24th.

Bowling alleys must limit capacity to no more than 50 percent, and all patrons must wear a mask or face covering at all times. Among the other guidance, bowling alley staff must rigorously clean and disinfect any rented or shared equipment, such as balls and shoes, between use; parties of players must remain socially distant, at least 6 feet apart from each other; and patrons may only interact with their own playing party at their assigned lane.

In order to open, beginning Monday, Aug. 24th, gyms and fitness studios must maintain no more than 33 percent capacity; all employees and patrons must wear masks or face coverings at all times, complete and pass a health screening and sign in upon entering the facility; patrons and employees must remain socially distant, at least 6 feet apart; and facilities must ensure individuals do not share equipment without cleaning and disinfection between uses.

Earlier this week, the governor updated the list of states from which travelers must quarantine for 14 days, adding Alaska and Delaware to the travel quarantine list. There are now 33 states, in addition to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, on New York’s travel quarantine list.

• In response to the pandemic, and the associated prohibition on large gatherings and need for social distancing, Dutchess County will host a ThinkDIFFERENTLY Drive-Thru Picnic – in lieu of its successful, in-person, annual picnics for residents with disabilities – on Tuesday, September 1st at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Akin to the Office for the Aging’s (OFA) successful drive-through picnics, the mobile ThinkDIFFERENTLY event will offer residents with special needs brief, socially distant interaction with County staff and volunteers while providing them a nutritious bag lunch prepared by a local deli; the ThinkDIFFERENTLY event will take place alongside the OFA’s drive-through picnic at the fairgrounds on September 1st. Space is limited for this rain-or-shine event, and online registration is required by August 26th at dutchessny.gov/picnicrsvp.

• The Office for the Aging (OFA) “Drive-Thru Picnic Series,” held in response to the pandemic and the need for social distancing, remains a rousing success, with more seniors registering for this summer’s 12 drive-through events than last year’s dozen traditional, in-person picnics. Halfway through this year’s schedule, more than 4,000 seniors have registered for the drive-through picnics, compared to the 3,807 seniors who attended OFA picnics in 2019. At its first six drive-through picnics, OFA distributed some 600 pounds of local fresh fruit from Hudson Valley Harvest and more than 130 gallons of local milk from Hudson Valley Fresh.

County Executive Molinaro’s next virtual discussion will take place on Wednesday, August 26th, when he hosts a countywide Tele-Town Hall, which allows residents to call (845) 765-7121 to listen to the dialogue and ask their questions. This event will also be broadcast live on the County’s Facebook page. As with the County Executive’s previous 30 plus virtual forums, American Sign Language interpreters will translate the conversation on Facebook.

With the summer coming to an end, Beacon City School District announced the end of the Summer Meals Program effective 8/19/2020. The School District will be moving forward with a new “Meals Program” which is designed to provide meals to remote learners throughout the school year. Please review the information below for the specifics of this new program:

CONTINUED ACCESS TO FREE GROCERIES

Distribution for free Groceries through Mutual Aid Beacon Will continue based on a schedule available on their website http://www.beaconmutualaid.com/

Distribution from Fairground Foundation will also continue in our local region and more information can be found on their website   Fairground.org.

Greens for Greens SNAP and EBT support programs will continue at the Beacon Farmers market
with information on https://www.beaconfarmersmarket.org/

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Molinaro Announces #ThinkDIFFERENTLY Drive-Through
Picnic for Residents with Special Needs

Free event to be held Sept. 1st at Dutchess County Fairgrounds

Poughkeepsie, NY … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro announced the County will host a free #ThinkDIFFERENTLY drive-through picnic for residents with special needs on Tuesday, September 1st, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6636 Route 9 in Rhinebeck.

Akin to the County’s successful 2020 Office for the Aging (OFA) Drive-Through Senior Picnic Series, the #ThinkDIFFERENTLY drive-through event is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social-distancing; the #ThinkDIFFERENTLY drive-through picnic will be held alongside the OFA’s drive-through event at the fairgrounds on Sept. 1st. Residents with special needs and their families and/or providers will drive to the fairgrounds’ entrance, where they’ll be greeted by #ThinkDIFFERENTLY staff for brief and safely distant socialization, including a guest appearance by Bee Bee the Clown, and receive a bag lunch, including a vegetarian option, prepared by a local deli to take with them. Space is limited for this rain-or-shine event, and online registration is required at dutchessny.gov/picnicrsvp; residents are urged to register promptly before this event reaches capacity.

County Executive Molinaro said, “While the pandemic has impacted us all, perhaps no group has felt more isolated than our friends and neighbors with disabilities. Despite the current challenges, we continue ThinkDIFFERENTLY about how to enhance the lives of residents of every ability. We look forward to welcoming our friends and neighbors of all abilities on September 1st, providing them some much-needed interaction, as well as a free, nutritious lunch, and seeing the many smiling faces we’ve missed for so long.”

The #ThinkDIFFERENTLY Drive-Through Picnic is made possible through the generous sponsorship from Greystone Programs Inc., Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, Blue Path Service Dogs and MidHudson Regional Hospital for their sponsorship, as well as the community our agency partners who will greet attendees at the event.

The drive-through event is the latest embodiment of the County’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, established by County Executive Molinaro in 2015 to foster a welcoming and supportive environment to residents and visitors of all abilities. Since then, more than 100 communities throughout New York State and beyond have adopted “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” resolutions, pledging to accommodate individuals with special needs.

Dutchess County has hosted a free, in-person picnic for residents with special needs in each of the past seven years, attracting hundreds of attendees to each event, in addition to bi-annual, sensory-friendly movie days around the county; a sensory-friendly presentation of the holiday classic ballet, “The Nutcracker” at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in 2019; the Disability, Dream & Do adaptive baseball camp at Dutchess Stadium in 2017-19; ThinkDIFFERENTLY Thursday at the Dutchess County Fair, a sensory-sensitive morning, in 2016-19; and the ThinkDIFFERENTLY Dash throughout the City of Poughkeepsie for participants of every ability in 2016-19, among other events.

Toni-Marie Ciarfella, Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner for Special Needs, said, “Having had to cancel outreach events due to the pandemic, we feel so fortunate and grateful to the Office for the Aging for welcoming us to hold our summer picnic alongside its event. This is a new way to reach out and offer support to the many friends we haven’t seen in so long. Safety is our top priority, and we’ve worked to ensure our drive-through picnic provides enjoyment and a healthy meal to attendees while adhering to pertinent health protocols.”

More information about the County’s efforts to ThinkDIFFERENTLY is available on the initiative’s award-winning website, http://www.ThinkDIFFERENTLY.net.

www.dutchessNY.gov