William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that the Saugerties beach on the Esopus Creek got more than $300,000 worth of improvements for summer visitors to enjoy. The New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program aids communities hit by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee in 2011, and funded the installation of two new docks and a new section of sand. “These improvements will help make Saugerties stronger," said village of Saugerties Mayor William Murphy. “They will add to our quality of life and appeal of our community to visitors, which helps support this local economy.” Saugerties will see other planned improvements including a bulkhead replacement at Tina Chorvas Park, replacing 127-year-old pilings at the Saugerties Lighthouse, dredging at the Saugerties Reservoir in Blue Mountain, and making improvements to the water treatment plant. The Saugerties Beach, 43 Partition St., opened June 30 with lifeguards. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.