The Howland Public Library in Beacon will hold its annual budget and trustee vote on Thursday (April 30) at the library.

Voters in the Beacon City School District will be asked to approve a proposed $1.56 million budget for 2026-27 and to fill three open seats on the nine-member board. The polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. in the Community Room at 313 Main St. See beaconlibrary.org/vote for more details.

One seat is for a five-year term, and two others will fill vacancies for one- and three-year terms. The terms will be determined by the vote count.

The candidates are incumbent Kathy Furfey and newcomers Henry Breed, Toni Maeck and Pia Ruisi-Besares. They each provided statements to the library, which are republished below in alphabetical order by last name.

Henry Breed

The history, culture and natural beauty of our region have been major, vibrant forces in my life since my earliest childhood, and they drew me back to it and to Beacon nearly five years ago, after I completed a career of nearly 30 years at the United Nations that focused on educational and cultural issues.

My increasing involvement in the Howland library — as a frequent and significant contributor to Beacon Reads, as someone with deep and broad experience in strategic planning for cultural organizations, and as someone who has always loved reading — has been very exciting and enjoyable for me. The library has great potential and is poised to take some very important moves to realize it, and I would be glad to contribute the experience and perspective I've acquired to help it optimize them.

As a former council member of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), I have chaired its strategic planning committee and served on its governmental liaison, performing arts and visual arts committees. I have also served as an expert panelist on music and on international exchange at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). And, as a political advisor in the United Nations General Assembly, where I led the team that covered and analyzed debates on the full range of issues before it, I focused particularly on issues of culture, education, human rights, sustainable development and organizational reform.

Earlier, while still a graduate student, I worked as a consulting editor for the UNESCO Courier, which champions worldwide efforts in education, literacy and cultural preservation. At a very personal level, there is one other tie that links me closely to the library and the pursuit of its best interests and future: I am a descendant of General Joseph Howland, its founder.

Kathleen Furfey

I have had the privilege of being a trustee on the board of the Howland Public Library. I am asking you to help me continue in that role.

This is an exciting time for our library. We have been working diligently with meetings and questionnaires to gather as much information as possible on how this library can meet the needs of all members of our community. All that input helps us to move on with our long-range plans. Committees have been in session to revise policies and bylaws. New services require new policies and procedures. Facility options are being explored.

I am firmly committed to the role of our library as the heart of our community, and I want to continue working to provide inclusivity and availability to all.

My experience as a board member, my background as a teacher, my commitment to volunteerism and social responsibility will help me to serve you as we move forward.

Anotina (Toni) Maeck

I live in Glenham with my partner and dog, and I've been grateful to call Beacon and Fishkill home for the past 12 years.

The Howland Library has been a constant in my adult life. It has been a cool place to work on a hot day, a source of books and audiobooks that have nourished my spirit, and a place where I've learned from amazing local speakers. As a trustee, I would work hard to ensure that everyone can rely on the library as a welcoming and protective place at the heart of ...