Reader-Supported News for Philipstown and Beacon ELECTION GUIDE Page 9 OCTOBER 23, 2020 Celebrating 10 Years! Support us at highlandscurrent.org/join FOLLOW THE LEADER — Members of Girl Scout Troop 2032 and Brownie Troop 1091 helped collect and bag trash at Little Stony Point, just outside Cold Spring, on Saturday (Oct. 17) as part of the ninth annual Riverkeeper Sweep. The Scouts are shown here practicing their wilderness dexterity by crawling along a fallen tree trunk — or just having some fun. For more photos, see Page 20. Photo by Ross Corsair Nelsonville Protestors Gather Outside Serino, Smythe Residents Sue Beacon Mayor’s Home Again Battle for Over Cell Tower But city says police funding perceived increase to the Police Depart- State Senate ment budget. Name village, Homeland, increase not what it seems The mayor’s 2021 funding proposal, Race in 2018 decided by which was introduced to the City Coun- By Jeff Simms Verizon in federal suit cil on Oct. 5, includes about $5.9 million 688 votes of 118,000 cast By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong bout 25 demonstrators gathered for the department, which is $352,000 (6 By Leonard Sparks outside the home of Beacon Mayor percent) more than last year. ighteen residents, most from A Lee Kyriacou on Monday (Oct. 19), However, during the council meeting, City tate Sen. Sue Serino, whose 41st Nelsonville, last week filed a federal while the mayor conducted a City Council Administrator Anthony Ruggiero said the district includes the Highlands, E lawsuit against the village and two meeting by videoconference inside, shout- 2020 budget did not include current salary S used overwhelming margins on the telecommunications companies that plan ing and chanting their displeasure with a (Continued on Page 24) Conservative, Independence and Reform to construct a cell tower off Rockledge Party lines in 2018 to edge her Democratic Road, above the Cold Spring Cemetery. challenger, Karen Smythe, by 688 votes of They claim a litigation settlement 118,180 cast. reached between Nelsonville and the On Nov. 3, they companies over the tower violates state face each other and federal environmental laws and again. Both candi- undermines local authority. dates were contacted The lawsuit asks that a judge invalidate to discuss their the agreement, which ended an expen- positions; Serino’s sive and complex 19-month legal battle campaign did not between the village and Homeland Towers respond to two and its partner, Verizon Wireless, over the emails or a phone Karen Smythe construction of the cell tower on a 9.6-acre message requesting an interview. Smythe’s wooded site. The Nelsonville Village responses to questions posed by The Current Board ratified the settlement on Jan. 21. Protestors, including Justice McCray of Beacon 4 Black Lives, gathered outside the follow. If Serino responds, we will post her The companies sued Nelsonville in home of Mayor Lee Kyriacou on Monday (Oct. 19) to protest a perceived increase in answers online. (Continued on Page 24) police funding in the city's proposed 2021 budget. Photo by Natasha Scully (Continued on Page 15) 2 OCTOBER 23, 2020 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.org FIVE QUESTIONS: NICOLE POLIZZI By Jeff Simms and we’re going to disinfect constantly, including the dressing rooms. It may be a By Michael Turton icole Polizzi, best known as “Snooki” little crazy at the grand opening, because on the MTV reality show Jersey I know a lot of people are excited to come, Shore, plans next month to open How do you feel N but we may only be able to fit about 10 The Snooki Shop at 508 Main St. in Beacon. people at a time safely. about turning back Why Beacon? Will you be in the shop often? the clocks on Nov. 1? I’ve always wanted to open a store in the I’m in the store [in New Jersey] all the area where I grew up [Marlboro]. I always time. I do VIP events where we’re closed to went out with friends in Beacon, or at the public and people buy tickets. I’m there the waterfront in Newburgh, and we had for an hour–and–a-half with the fans, shop- I’d prefer the extra cheerleading competitions at Beacon High ping with them, kind of like their personal daylight in the School. For six summers I worked at Rene- shopper, and we have Champagne and afternoon. I hike and gades Stadium at one of the concessions hors d’oeuvres. It’s like a girls’ day out. But stands. That was one of my favorite jobs. I with COVID, I only pop in here and there, there’s so little time. felt Beacon was such a beautiful place; we because I’m around a lot of older family always went to the wine bar there. I was members. So I’m being cautious when it looking at New Paltz and Cold Spring, but I comes to being around people. feel like Beacon is the more up-and-coming, more popular town in the area, with people How is your life different from 10 coming in and out of the city. Beacon also years ago, when you were on Jersey reminds me of Madison [New Jersey], Shore? where I have my first store. Not only is my sories like hats, slippers, bags. I try to have I’m a totally different person. I was 21 — I family nearby — so my dad can run over if items for ages 16 to 65, because in Madison wanted to party and I had no worries. Now we ever have an emergency — but I have a I have a wide range of customers. A ton of I’m a mother of three and married. I still ton of friends in town and my best friend my mom’s friends want to shop there, so I’ll have my fun side, but it’s not like how I was is going to run the shop. I’m excited that I be catering to everyone. at 21 on the show. could keep it tight-knit and family oriented. ~ Erin Livingston, Beacon How will you handle COVID restric- What will you sell? tions? Visit highlandscurrent.org for news We have clothing for women, plus acces- No one will be able shop without a mask updates and latest information. There should be one standard time; no changing the clocks. ~ Dan Rayner, Cold Spring Selling organic More information produce every Lori Adams Photo is needed re: the Saturday at the rationale. There’s an Cold Spring Open Studio* argument either way. Farmers Market. 10/17-18 & 10/24-25 Now accepting online 11 am - 5 pm preorders for safe and 15 Hosner Mtn. Rd. easy market shopping. Hopewell Jct., NY 12533 www.loriadamsphoto.com Order online and www.arteastdutchess.com pickup at market. * the studio tour is following COVID-19 guildelines My Cuppa Scilla Overfilla...My Scilla Will Thrilla...A Lilla Scilla Won’t Killa fourwindsfarmny.com (archival photograph) ~Frank Haggerty, Cold Spring highlandscurrent.org The Highlands Current OCTOBER 23, 2020 3 4 OCTOBER 23, 2020 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.org Tell us what you think PUBLISHER Highlands Current Inc. he Current welcomes letters to the editor on its coverage and local issues. Submissions are selected by the 142 Main St. T editor to provide a variety of opinions and voices, and all are subject to editing for accuracy, clarity and length. Cold Spring, NY 10516-2819 We ask that writers remain civil and avoid personal attacks. Letters may be emailed to [email protected] 291 Main St., Beacon NY 12508 or mailed to Editor, The Highlands Current, 142 Main St., Cold Spring, NY 10516. The writer’s full name, village or city, and email or phone number must be included, but only the name and village or city will be published. FOUNDER Gordon Stewart (1939 - 2014) EDITOR LETTERS AND COMMENTS Chip Rowe By locking out representatives of diverse [email protected] Police panel Indian Brook incident Your article “Putnam Police Panel Invites communities, the county is putting much- Can you ask Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong SENIOR EDITOR Feedback” (Oct. 13) quotes a news release needed funding in jeopardy. to check her facts (“Fracas at Indian Brook Leonard Sparks by Putnam County that said the county is Dwight Arthur, Mahopac Prompts Calls for Action,” Oct. 16)? Shame seeking participation from various and Editor’s note: An emergency order by on her and shame on Legislator Nancy BEACON EDITOR diverse groups about the police reform plan Gov. Andrew Cuomo in March — which he Montgomery for being guilty of the same. Jeff Simms it must create by April 1. has extended seven times, and which now Shame on Amanda Ricken Simonetta and Representatives of several diverse groups is in effect until at least Nov. 3 — allows The Felix Organization for not speaking ARTS EDITOR government panels to hold meetings by Alison Rooney submitted comments and offers of partici- with the residents involved. It sounds like conference call without public input. [email protected] pation to the county executive well before another entirely divisive accusation. this process started, and to the panel’s What is worse about this one was includ- SENIOR CORRESPONDENT email box over the past month. As far as I Envelope snafu ing race bias, which was clearly not the case Michael Turton can tell, no one has received any response. My husband and I applied for absentee as you listen to not just one side of what Meanwhile, the Police Policy Review ballots, and I picked them up in person actually occurred. Shame on you, The High- REPORTERS Panel, an all-white, mostly male body, from the Putnam County Board of Elec- lands Current, for publishing such trash! Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong continues to hold closed meetings in tions.