January Meeting

The next meeting of the Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee is Tuesday, January 25th, 2011. We will meet at 7pm, in the police training room at 1 Municipal Plaza. Read more about CAC's in other Dutchess County communities on the Cornell University Cooperative Extension page, http://www.ccedutchess.org.

December Meeting

The next meeting is Tuesday, December 28th, 2010. We will meet in the police training room at the Municipal Center at 7pm.

Hazardous Products Usage Tips

If you must use hazardous products, please:

• Take inventory of your current supplies before you start a project.
• Buy the smallest quantity needed to get the job done. More is not always better.
• Use up household cleaners, bug sprays, stains, etc. Place the empty containers in the trash.
• Donate usable leftovers to a friend, neighbor, relative or community group.
• Safely store unwanted hazardous products for household hazardous waste cleanup days.
• Spread the word and help keep hazardous products out of the trash and out of our streams and air.

Courtesy of Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency

Choose Non-Hazardous Products

Avoid Health Hazards in Your Home by Choosing Safer Products

• Use latex paint whenever possible. Look for the nontoxic seal on art and craft supplies.
• Leave grass clippings on the lawn for a natural source of nitrogen.
• Use natural fertilizers and insects (ladybugs, praying mantids) for gardens and plants.
• Use scrapers, heat guns or sand paper instead of solvents to remove old paints and finishes.
• Use borax, a natural mineral cleanser and degreaser, with a damp sponge. Add citrus oil for stubborn grease.
• Use baking soda and water to make a paste as a scouring cleanser.
• Use hydrogen peroxide to bleach food stains and to kill many household germs.
• Use 2 teaspoons tea tree oil and 2 cups water in a spray bottle to eradicate mold.
• Use 1 cup white vinegar in 1 quart water to clean windows. Spray on and rub off with newspaper.
• Boil 1 lemon with water to cover in burned pots and pans. Scrub with the lemon water to make pots glisten.
• Use a drain cleaner and flush drains weekly with boiling water. For clogs, use a plunger or mechanical snake. 
• Use cedar chips to freshen clothes and fabrics. Make dried lavender sachets for drawers and closets.
• Add brewer's yeast or garlic to your pet's diet to keep fleas away.

Courtesy of the Dutchess County Resource Recovery Agency.

Bikeable Beacon - December meeting -Postponed

Bikeable Beacon is a project created to raise awareness of the needs of bicyclists in Beacon. We would also like to encourage bicycling as a mode of transportation in order to reduce traffic congestion along Main Street. And we are planning a community bike ride in honor of National Bike Month in May.

CAC members, local business owners and residents met in October. The participants discussed the need for safe bike routes and bike parking areas. 

The next meeting has been postponed until January. Happy Holidays!

Bikeable Beacon Map

Recycling at Major Retailers

In addition to plastic bags, several of the large stores in our area recycle household items. Look for the kiosks near the entrance or customer service counters.

Home Depot: plastic bags, compact fluorescent light bulbs, rechargeable power tool batteries. This store also offers a lead battery exchange.

Target: plastic bags, MP3 players, ink cartridges, cell phones, and watch batteries.

Lowe's: string lights (Christmas tree lights), batteries, and plastic bags.


Please forward other stores and recycling opportunities to beaconcac@gmail.com.

Donate coats and clothing

Community Coat Drive - Mid Hudson Subaru, 1715 Route 9, Wappingers Falls. Mid Hudson Subaru, Lite FM, Fidelis Care and the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce  are hosting a coat drive for gently used coats to be donated to local families. Coats can be donated through December 18 and will be distributed to Dutchess, Orange and Ulster county agencies. 845-296-1152.

Clothing Drive - Fishkill Church of the Nazarene, 953 Main Street, Fishkill. Clothing drive to benefit the needy. Donations accepted through December 11. Event to give donations will be at the church December 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.


Courtesy of the Poughkeepsie Journal.