During an attempted Car Nap for ALBB’s smallest child, we were able to grab photos of some of the decorated houses. If you have a photo of your house you would like published, you can email it in to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com

New Partial Block Closure For West Willow / Orchard Place

On this Halloween Night 2023, something new is brewing…a partial street closure in “The Willows,” the area of Beacon that traditionally has a lot of house participation in terms of candy, fire-pit fires and usually a haunted house. Willow Street itself connects to Main Street and Verplanck. Once on the other side of Verplanck, Willow Street duplicates into East Willow and West Willow, connected by a looping portion of Orchard Place. Many, many children go to this destination both with and without adults. It’s a right of passage for when the young child can “go to The Willows” on their own, without their parent.

This year, some neighbors in the area organized to request that some blocks be closed in order to increase safety of kids and adults walking for the night, as car traffic can be unexpected as people wander in the middle of the street. Cars are known to drive by, as they carpool people through different areas of town.

After submitting signatures in support of a permit for some street closure, the City of Beacon did agree to close Orchard Street between West Willow and Cross Street. The original request was for the full Willow loop to be closed, all the way to Deerfield, but this compromise was a start. The permit request came in the form of a “block party.”

This closure was first mentioned by Councilmember Molly Rhodes during a City Council Meeting on October 24, who voiced her support for the road closure when it was requested. Said Molly: “I’m pleased that the neighbors are looking for ways to make these blocks as safe as possible for everyone who wants to come out. I look forward to continuing to support them in future years.

Also being promoted as a free event is a free front-porch screening of Orson Welles video and radio play from 7-9pm on the corner of Judson and Robinson (near the mountain) from Ben Williams and Victor Morales . Says Ben: “It’s a crazy multimedia take on The Hitchhiker by Orson Welles.”

ALBB received this submission from a neighbor at 16 Overlook Drive, who go all out each year to make it spooky for the neighborhood.