Beacon’s Parade of Green 2023 was a great success, said most people who came out to support and cheer from the sidewalk, as well as those participating in the parade in cars or walking. With a threat of weather, Parade Committee Member Richie Kaplan said that of the 50 parade participants who signed up, only 5 canceled for fear of snowflakes.

Snow dust melted in Beacon by 12pm, and the sun was shining. Groups gathered on Wolcott Avenue to begin the journey down Main Street, which for this parade, went completely around the bend and ended at the Dummy Light, giving exposure to several businesses and art galleries on that end of town. Usually, parades end earlier at Tioronda Avenue (Howland Cultural Center).

Before we get to the gold nugget photos of the day, A Little Beacon Blog must pay homage to the friends and neighbors who no longer live in Beacon who would usually attend the Parade of Green. Several of them casualties of new landlords - both local to Beacon and from other counties - who buy property and increase the rent dramatically on current tenants.

More than once over the years, A Little Beacon Blog has heard from readers who lament that they cannot live here anymore. Maybe they work in the service industry in restaurants. Maybe they are nurses. Maybe they are artists. Maybe they are young families who live in apartments who cannot move out of them because homes in their price ranges - $350K - are being purchased for cash by local and out of town house flippers who beautifully make over the house and sell it for $550K. Which is above the price range of a young family.

Not of a young family from Beacon. Maybe a young family from NYC. No offense to NYC. Welcome! Many of you love this city town and love digging into the community. Beacon is just in a rocky road right now of originals who can’t afford to stay or return. But some returned yesterday just for the parade.

That Said - The Sidewalk Audience Makes The Parade! OG Beacon Turned Out!

If you have a parade in the street and nobody comes, does it make a sound? Beacon came out and showed up at this 2023 Parade of Green! Another thing A Little Beacon Blog has heard over the years from OG Beaconites is: “I walk around, and I don’t know anyone anymore.” That is true on the weekend, when the sidewalks are packed with different destination visitors. It is not as true during the week, when several of us are out on errands.

But yesterday (Saturday), the sidewalks were overrun with neighbors who dug down to find their green, and cheer on local businesses and organizations who got out to represent. So many cheers from both sides - the cars and the people. Richie said that the highlight of his entire busy day was when one of the Boy Scouts rolled down their window from their parent’s car on their way home to say: “Thank you.”

The Parade of Green has represented many things. Recently, it represented the first parade to be shut down by the City of Beacon for the pandemic. Next it was the first parade to be permitted to ride again. Now, it is representing Beacon neighbors coming out to see each other, some for only once per year.

Lots of candy was thrown. A Little Beacon Blog handed out stickers and next year we will tape Tootsie Rolls to them so that they fly.

The Jeeps were there. Malouf’s Mountain Campground. The Bottini truck was a hit. Key Food with all of the kids. The Beacon Dog Park. Kearns Electric, Inc., where they have that alternative spelling of quality on their trucks, with a phrase like “If it starts with a K, you know it’s Kwality.” At the very least, it’s an interesting word puzzle to figure out when you’re stopped at a light on Rte. 9 headed to Poughkeepsie. Kilowatt Kwuality? Something to think about.

Grand Marshal Bobby Palisi

Bobby (Robert) Palisi was born in St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie in 1955 and is a lifelong resident of the City of Beacon. He attended grade school at St. Joachim’s and went on to graduate from Beacon High School in 1973.

Bobby started his career working for Shaw Motors (currently Healey) with this father when he got out of St. Joachim’s in 1969. From 1975 to 1977 Bobby worked for Ward’s Auto Body until he joined the crew at Secor Auto Body from 1977 to 1979.

In 1979, he started his family business, Palisi Auto Body & Auto Glass on Main Street in Beacon, which in 1984, moved to a newly constructed state-of-the-art auto body shop on West Main Street. He has been performing high-quality vehicle repairs for over 40 years at that same location. Bobby continues to proudly own and operate this business today.

Bobby is also a partner in Fulton Avenue Realty Restoration Company, which over the last 28 years, has done a multitude of building renovations and constructed several new houses in and around the City of Beacon.

In his early years, Bobby was the drummer with the band “Spiral” that provided fun, local entertainment for over 32 years.

For over 26 years and to this day, Bobby’s passion truly lies in his active role with Beacon Girls Softball. This organization’s goal is to build character using the sport of softball as a tool to improve girl’s self-esteem and confidence.

Beacon Girls Softball (BGS) educates 4-18 year-old girls on the skills and rules of softball. It imparts life lessons that include working as a team, spirit of giving, camaraderie and good sportsmanship. He is pivotal in running both the Recreation League, and Travel League known as “Beacon Extreme.” Bobby works endlessly on raising funds, recruiting team members, running practices, and organizing tournaments each season. This includes an annual fund raising tournament whose proceeds are dedicated to a local family in need.

In addition to this, Bobby has been a volunteer member of Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review for 10 years. This board meets once a year to hear residents’ challenges to tax assessments and requires training from the New York Real Property Services.

Bobby is a 50-year member of Beacon’s Mase Hook & Ladder Fire Company, 37-year member of the Beacon Elk's Club Lodge #1493, and over 30-year member of the Beacon Knights of Columbus Chapter #445.

Bobby’s loyalty and dedication to the Girls Softball organization and endless volunteer hours he donates makes him one of Beacon’s brightest.