MAZEL TOV! — Gabe Lunin-Pack spent a year preparing for his bar mitzvah at Beacon Hebrew Alliance and was determined to go forward with it, even after the March 28 ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions. With his parents, Jesse Lunin-Pack and Elisabeth Neuberg, and his brother, Seth, in the sanctuary, and Rabbi Brent Spodek and Cantor Ellen Gersh participating from their homes, the family sent out a Zoom meeting invite. About 200 guests signed on from around the world — “more people than could have safely fit in the sanctuary,” noted Jesse Lunin-Pack. “Everyone who was a part of it was amazed at what a moving and meaningful experience it turned out to be.”

MEDICAL OUTPOST — As part of a national effort to provide housing for medical personnel who are working with COVID-19 patients and must remain isolated from their families, Joe Volk of Beacon set up his camper outside his home. “While flipping through the TV channels one evening. I noticed someone was sleeping in their garage to self-isolate from their family,” Volk said. “I figured someone could use my truck camper instead of an unheated garage.” Volk also posted his offer at RVs4MDs at facebook.com/groups/rvs4mds.

GROUP HUG — Teacher aides at the Garrison School organized a message for students that was posted on Facebook.

FOOD DELIVERIES — This past week, Beacon firefighters and police officers delivered lunch to the doctors, nurses and clinic workers at the HRHCare Health Center facility …

… while firefighters from Slater Chemical Fire Co. in Glenham prepared and delivered meals to first responders, including those at the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the intensive-care unit at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. Slater purchased the food with proceeds from Slaterpalooza, its annual music festival.

Photos provided

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Articles attributed to "staff" are written by the editor or a senior editor. This is typically because they are brief items based on a single source, such as a press release, or there are multiple contributors, such as a collection of photos.