Saturdays 12:30pm Elting Library, New Paltz, NY Women in Black. Outdoos on thin busy sidewalk. Areas to sit. Street parking metered, free on side streets (past the library parking lot). No chants, very chill! Ignore counter protestors.
Sundays 12:30pm Woodstock, NY Outdoors on sidewalk near Stone Park
Sundays 12:30pm Newburgh, NY Outdoors with chants on flat pavement by busy road. Park at Downing Park!
Sundays 1pm Nanuet Outdoors with chants on wide sidewalks by busy road. Park at Shake Shack.
WEEKLY MONDAY BOYCOTTS: do all you can to disrupt the machine. Nothing is too small.
ALL DAYS: Go add to the community altar on the fence at Hasbrouck Park, New Patz
Some people in the Jewish community in Beacon organized a menorah lighting on the final night of Hanukkah in front of Congressman Pat Ryan’s office in Newburgh, to help him hear them demand an immediate ceasefire.
The artist Mimi Fortunato designed a menorah cape specifically for this occasion. Photo Credit: Mimi Fortunato
From the organizers: “Please come to Rep Pat Ryan’s office this Thursday 12/14 at 4pm-5pm (605 Broadway in Newburgh) to demand that Rep Ryan call for an immediate ceasefire. Bring a sign, light a menorah for the last night of Hanukkah. All are welcome! 🕊️”
Judging by the artistic style of this sign, especially the glitter tape and adhesive bling, and knowing what we know about Beaconites, it is quite possible that this sign was designed by children. Who most likely will be at the menorah lighting.
The first protest held in front of Pat Ryan’s office in Poughkeepsie with over 150 Jewish and Palestinian allies were in attendance was in October, which you can read about here.
Beloveds, it’s been a long, long time since we last met here; I hope you are all well and surviving if not all the way to thriving. So there’s much to catch up on. What did you read and love this summer? My summer reading favorites were: Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans (who is an extremely talented writer), Interior, Chinatown by Charles Yu (innovative structure for a novel-as-screenplay), and The Porpoise by Mark Haddon (trigger warning in an Ancient Greek kind of way).
I just finished The Matrix by Lauren Groff, which, oh my goodness, knocked my socks off and also made me feel slightly self-conscious that I was reading about nun sex in a public place. Currently reading Fault Lines by Emily Itami which may veer too far into the sad mommy genre, but also delivers whoppers like “It’s hard to remember who you are without people who know you that way.”
I took an amazing field trip over the summer to Hobart, NY – the used bookstore lover’s dream. Made me incredibly grateful we have Binnacle Books here in Beacon with their used book selection, but how great would it be if there were, say seven more used bookstores?
So what’s happening this month in the world of literary pursuits?
The Howland Library has a great program set up for October: Stop by at any time starting Friday, October 15th to pick up a cookbook titled, "Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors" by famed chef and author, Andrea Nguyen. FREE! 2021 Big Read's chosen title is the graphic novel memoir "The Best We Could Do" by Thi Bui. The memoir follows a family's journey from Vietnam to America and is being discussed on October 20th outside in Memorial Park.
Split Rock Books in Cold Spring has a couple of great events lined up this fall, as well as their graphic novel and fiction book clubs which meet at the end of the month. Their fiction pick is one that has been on my list: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead: A Novel by Olga Tokarczuk, and translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones.
Over the bridge in our sister city is the Newburgh Literary Festival at the end of the month. I’m so happy to see this event return, it was so fantastic the first year it happened. The festival will begin Saturday, October 30 at 11am with a full day of readings, interviews, and conversations with eight featured writers. Sunday, October 31, will feature a series of in-person writing workshops with award-winning, Hudson Valley-based authors and artists. The Saturday event, which has been curated by writers Ruth Danon and Belinda McKeon, will include paired readings and moderated conversations and will feature an in-conversation event with Joe Donahue, host of The Book Show and The Round Table on WAMC, Northeast Public Radio. We stan for Joe Donahue!
Here in Beacon, our very own Donna Minkowitz is putting on Lit Lit, a monthly writer’s salon at Homespun Foods on Main Street. This month the reading is October 7th, from 7-9pm, and going forward will meet the first Thursday of every month, with Friday as the rain date. Writers can read their own writing of any genre, up to five minutes in length.
Zoom Readings?!
If you want to attend some killer zoom readings with famous authors, may I suggest The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence, who has some heavy hitters booked for later this month and November. If you want to take a workshop, The Poetry Project in NYC has some really far-out offerings coming up. The Hudson Valley Writer’s Center has a number of readings and workshops, including a Legend of Sleepy Hollow family storytelling workshop on October 17th that looks like a lot of fun.
Here’s to cozy reading and blue skies and bright leaves for the next little longer, friends. I promise not to let it be so long before we meet again.
The dock to the NY Waterway Ferry for the Newburg/Beacon ferry. As of July 2021, it has been closed since April 2020.
Several readers have reached out to see if the Newburg/Beacon Ferry is running. This week on Thursday 6/30/2021, ALBB confirmed with the NY Waterway, by way of the Marketing Manager Bernice Ramos, that the ferry is not running. We asked for more details as to why it is not running, and have not heard back yet. This article will be updated if a response comes in.
At the height of the pandemic, while subways in New York City were shut down and people were not commuting into work due to the shutdown, the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry suspended service on April 13, 2020, according to Mid Hudson News. The Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry was also suspended. Both were replaced with bus service.
However, bus service was also discontinued, as reported on May 25, 2020 by Mid Hudson News, citing low ridership. Dutchess County has been promoting its bus service, using it as a free resource for people getting COVID-19 tests, and are considering increasing service for those who need public transportation and don’t have cars.
A marketing message on the NY Waterway website, encouraging people to use the ferry. However, the ferry has been closed for over a year. No signage is posted down at the dock, or on the website.
No Signage or Website Message To Indicate Ferry Is Not Running
Currently, heavy construction is being done to the Newburgh/Beacon bridge, creating the usual traffic to cross over and through the toll lines. The ferry service continues to the most pleasant, and arguably most COVID-friendly way to cross the river, as it is in open air.
The only marketing message stand at the NY Waterway Ferry. The schedule for the ferry is from 2020.
There is no signage at the dock that the ferry is not running. People who wander down to the dock looking to take he ferry ask others who are waiting for the Bannerman Island Boat Tour ferry, which is running, if anyone knows anything about the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry. There is also no message on the NY Waterway website, except that there is no schedule posted. Which to be honest, is par for the course, and not a strong enough indication that the service has stopped.
Heavy Interest In Reviving The Newburgh/Beacon Ferry In 2019 With Pilot Weekend Service Initiative
Prior to the pandemic, investment was made into the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry, with great fanfare around the increased service - to run on the weekend. Since 1963, when the Newburgh/Beacon bridge was built, the weekend service was cut. The announcement of the weekend service trial was made in September 2019, with both Beacon and Newburgh working with Dutchess County and Orange County to make this happen. At that time, the weekend service wasn’t even using the NY Waterway Ferry vessel. It was using a boat from the Hudson River Maritime Museum. It is unknown at this time why the weekend service wouldn’t use the NY Waterway boat.
The NY Waterway Ferry Launched Free Service To IKEA In Brooklyn In Partnership With IKEA
As reported by NBC New York on 7/1/2021, NY Waterway partnered with IKEA in Red Hook (Brooklyn) to launch a new free weekend service to help people get to the Brooklyn store. The service had been offered before, but was halted during the pandemic.
According to the article, beginning on July 3, 2021, service “will run on weekends for the rest of the summer. Customers can board the ferry from Pier 79/Midtown Ferry Terminal, Brookfield Place/Battery Park City or at Pier 11/Wall Street. Those from New Jersey looking fto take advantage can connect from cross-Hudson ferries by transferring at any terminal in Manhattan.” The ferries run power up from 11am- 7pm. On July 4,, service will go from 9:25am to 4pm.
Social distancing will be encouraged, and masks are still required inside ferry terminals, and inside the cabins and shuttles. However, masks are not required on the open-air top decks, the NY Waterway said.
Why the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry has remained anchored at port-side (or out of the water) is unknown at this time. If you have information, please reach out to ALBB.
Back when the pandemic was declared a pandemic, Ahmaud Arbery was killed - shot - hunted down - by two white men in a pickup truck near Brunswick, GA. I watched the video on Twitter. Unfiltered. Un-”Graphic Warning.” I followed the local GA news for legal developments. Events happened to other Black people that did not make it to social media, but then George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. Also video taped by many people as it happened. Everyone video taping stayed in their corners as events played out. That’s what we are used to - staying in our places in our corners. Thankfully these images made it to our newsfeeds, so that we could experience how Black people are seen, not seen.
Most people watching the social revolution/re-awakening of 2020 experienced deep feelings, and some people who are not Black wanted to do something. Black people started shouting: “Silence is Violence, Speak!” mainly to the white people in the room who have been bred to be mainly silent. To stay safe. To keep the place. The ground started shaking, and white people wanted to speak. White people wanted to support. But how?
The designer of ALBB’s Black Owned Business Directory logo, Perry Crosson (right), of the Hyacinth Group, a digital design firm founded and directed by Lauren Johnson (left).
Media across the country started making Black Owned Business Directories. Readers were writing in to ALBB: “Where can we support? Who can we support? What Black owned businesses can we support?” Here at A Little Beacon Blog, our fingers started typing. Writer Izdihar DaBashi feverishly emailed: “Are you making a Black Owned Business Directory? I want to make one - can we make one?” Designer Allie Bopp heard this, and said: “It needs a logo - I can make a logo!”
So we started on this Black Owned Business Directory. Right before I emailed Allie to brainstorm the logo, I realized: “Wait. We need to talk to someone who is Black, who experiences being an artist and business owner as a Black person. They are going to feel this, and this logo needs to be theirs. We need to find them to design the logo. Sadly, it has just occurred to me that I don’t know any Black graphic designers in Beacon, and I’m sure there are quire a few.”
ALBB Put Out The Call For A Logo Designer From The Black Community
Black owned businesses are here, they just aren’t always seen. Stereotypes could get in the way, blocking the vision of what is true. When I spoke to Perry to give him direction for the logo, my only direction was: “It could include many shades of color, to show different racial identities, but whatever strikes you. Take it and own it.”
Perry ruminated in it. As he developed it, his mother asked him what he was working on, and he told her. She suggested that he use the Alsdorf building in Newburgh as inspiration. It was a no-brainer for her. The building was built in 1915 as the Alsdorf School of Music and Dancing, a business started started in 1849 by Professor Dubois Alsdorf, formerly a slave in Ulster County who (acquired, gained, earned, was granted….what is the word here?) manumission. Manumission is something that frees a person from slavery. According to NewburghNY.org, George Alsdorf and his wife Caroline headed to Newburgh “within 20 years of his manumission) at 260-262 Washington Street.
Perry’s curiosity was piqued. He pursued it, dove into the research, looked into the rights of the building to make sure he could use it as a logo, and delivered. Perry’s background is in architecture, so this subject matter was even more up his ally.
Black people owning property is a big deal. They were written out of property ownership - and voting rights - in the United States Constitution and had to work themselves into the Bill of Rights over many years. Undocumented practices that excluded Black people from property ownership (vague deterrences, suggestions to take education classes before owning property, things that white people do not usually get recommended to do) may not have been written into laws, were conducted that simply made it hard for Black people to acquire the title to property. A recent example: maybe the date of a contract to close on the home was 30 days, but suddenly move to 20 days (just happened to my Black friend in December 2020). Nothing that can be proven as racist, but something that keeps a friend who is Black out of almost owning her home in Poughkeepsie. When she appealed to the homeowner to have patience with the all of the documents they needed to file, his response was “It’s not me! It’s the bank!” And the hot potato hops around the room. Thankfully, she closed on the house.
The concept of “Generational Wealth” - is a term that is new to me, but is one that is common in my white community as “old money.” People in the Black community tend to speak of “Generational Wealth” as the goal of what needs acquired in order to help their children’s paths to security be more…secure.
“Old money” takes less effort, is usually something stepped into, is sometimes squandered, and is possibly not understood, if finances are not discussed in the open within families.
A Little Beacon Blog is always eager to hear from Black Owned Businesses to add to this directory - in any capacity - from construction to baking - so tell us about yourself. Other sections of the Business Directory are paid (we really appreciate and rely on the support!) but the Black Owned section is not.
Juneteenth is a critical time in Black History as it commemorates the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy in 1865 - two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was formally issued. Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black people since the 1800s when it was referred to as “Jubilee Day” but the name changed to Juneteenth in 1890. Juneteenth is also known as Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Juneteenth Independence Day or Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
In his daily press conference Wednesday, Governor Cuomo announced he's proposing to make Juneteenth a paid NY State holiday beginning 2021. There are currently 46 states that recognize Juneteenth as a holiday including Texas, the first state to pass this into law in 1979. At the June 15th City Council Meeting in Beacon, Mayor Lee Karyiacou declared Juneteenth official in Beacon.
Happening This Friday & Saturday
This weekend there will be several events to join your community and learn about the history of this date that is not often discussed in school.
See the fliers below, all designed by Beacon resident Justice McCray, from the group Beacon 4 BlackLives (@beacon4blacklives on Instagram). Here are the following events taking place in the lower and mid-Hudson Valley this weekend:
Beacon, NY
Juneteenth Celebration March/Protest Day: Friday, June 19, 2020 Time: 6:30pm Location: Meet at Pohill Park, Beacon, NY An opportunity for community. March from Pohill Park to Memorial Park in Beacon.
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Croton Black Lives Matter Protest Day: Friday, June 19, 2020 Time: 3pm Location: Vasallo Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY Organized by The Black Student Activists of Croton.
Newburgh, NY
March For Justice Day: Friday, June 19, 2020 Time: 5-7pm Location: Downing Park, Newburgh, NY (North side South St & 9W) The members of the Youth Arts Group of Rural & Migrant Ministry, Inc. will lead a marchin support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. The march will start at Downing Park and it will at City Hall at 7pm.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Juneteenth Cookout Celebrating Freedom Day: Friday, June 19, 2020 Time: 5:30pm Location: Tubman Park, Poughkeepsie, NY An opportunity to learn more about African American History. Any and all donations welcome - from food, silverware, plates, drinks, DJs, etc.
White Plains, NY
March For Justice & Change Day: Saturday, June 20, 2020 Time: 6pm Location: Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Ave, White Plains, NY Coming together for a peaceful protest. Wear masks, bring signs, bring water, social distance.
After that shooting, a riot broke out on First Street and Carpenter Avenue. Back in Beacon, it was a regular Friday afternoon, and those who work in Newburgh came home after work to tell the story as they knew it.
After the work day ended, trash burned in the street long into the night. According to News12, the city brought in mutual aid from the state and county police. Many pictures of the night from photojournalist Allyse Pulliam were published for the Record Online.
One week later, Newburgh’s Police Chief, Doug Solomon, was suspended “after allegedly failing to report for duty during last week's riots,” according to News12.
One month later, on April 30, 2020, Chief Solomon resigned. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, Mayor Harvey “could not share details of the resignation because it is a personnel issue.” Lt. Kevin Lahar remains the “officer in charge” of the department.
Fast forward to last weekend in Beacon during the 3rd anti-police brutality protest in Beacon, the Newburgh shooting was alluded to by protest participants, with protestors bitterly mentioning that they knew of an “incident” about the shooting, but so far, no details have emerged.
Chief Solomon was the Chief of Police for Beacon, before leaving to take the position in Newburgh. At the time, then Mayor Randy Casale had no prior news of the departure, and learned about it on the radio, he said during a public City Council meeting. At the time of accepting the job in Newburgh, Chief Solomon had also been the Mayor of the Village of Monticello. He later resigned from the position of Mayor, citing time conflicts and being over-committed. He had previously served as the Police Chief for Monticello, according to the Record Online.
Then Captain Kevin Junjulas for Beacon was promoted by Mayor Casale to be Chief of Police for Beacon. The transition was dramatic, and you can read about the announcement of that appointment here in the Highlands Current. According to the article, Chief Junjulas was a then 23-year veteran of the police department, and resides in Cold Spring.
Chief Solomon was on the original committee for Beacon Speaks Out a community-based group that “was born out of a meeting called on and facilitated by Mayor Casale,” recalls Brooke Simmons, co-founder of the non-profit Beacon Speaks Out. According to Brooke, through the beginning of 2015, residents of Beacon, NY had been “meeting to discuss their hopes and ambitions for police/community relations in their city. What emerged is a clear desire for closer ties between the police and the community they serve and protect.”
That's right folks...An old phrase has been added to our subject line: "Happening" Because things are Happening! This week was a big week. And it's not over yet.
Last Saturday: A gentle protest was held in Beacon by Southern Dutchess Resist. Details >
Monday: A large peaceful protest was organized by these young people: Xavier Mayo, Ciarda Hall, and Stefon Seward was held in Beacon. Police provided an escort by way of moving street closure for protection, and two of Beacon's highest ranking police officers were granted permission to join. A Little Beacon Blog was there and covered it. See this article to get a feel for the experience, watch 2 videos of chanting in the beginning, and 1 video of the entire march, from inside the march. This article includes responses from the Chief of Police Kevin Junjulas and Mayor Kyriacou to A Little Beacon Blog's questions. Get The Story >
Tuesday: Tuesday turned into Blackout Tuesday. With many white people learning and unlearning themselves, and black people asking white people to speak, there was a lot of words and social media flying around. This became a day of silence and reflection. A Little Beacon Blog was honored to get a call by Terry Nelson, Beacon's City Councilmember for Ward 1. He was at the march, and we reached out to fact check his daughter's name for an article. We came away with an incredible interview with Terry's experience when a member of the NYPD putting a gun to his face when he was 17, and how he lives as a black man in America today. Details >
Wednesday: Wednesday turned into a day of heaviness. When the reflection started, and vital sharing continued, many black and brown friends released their personal experiences of growing up black in America, and they were very sad and tired. Tired because they have been living with this for all of their years as a normal part of their lives, and now, some white people, were finally beginning to hear and see it. You may have received business emails from black owned businesses who don't normally talk about race in their marketing material, but on this day, they did.
Also on this day, Beacon's Patrolmans Benevolent Association issued a letter in response to George Floyd's killing. Signed by Officer Michael Confield, they referred to the death as an "unconscionable death."
Friday: That's today! See below for what's in store... PS: Yes, we have started a comprehensive list of black owned businesses in the Hudson Valley and we wanted to release it to you today, but it's still being formatted and linked up.
Absentee Ballots Arrive - Vote
Ballot box locations have been posted by the Beacon City School District. You only have until Tuesday, June 9pm at 5pm to get these in, and at their scheduled times. Learn where the ballot boxes are. Details Here >
Beacon City School District Virtual Art Show
Day: Happening Now
Location: Beacon Public Library's website
The show must go on! It's time for the Howland Library's annual Beacon City School District Art Show. Every year, students, teachers, and library staff look forward to seeing the colorful and vibrant art of our community's young artist. Starting June 1st, we'll be having a Virtual Exhibit celebrating these talented young people and their hardworking teachers! While we may not be able to see the work in person, we hope you will be able to experience the energy of their creativity through this virtual exhibit. Information >
Postcards From A Pandemic
Day: Friday, June 5, 2020 Time: 7pm Location: Instagram Live
Garrison Art Center is pleased to announce an ongoing worldwide exhibition of postcard art entitled Postcards From A Pandemic. This exhibition invites artists from near and far to mail a postcard to the Art Center that reflects their thoughts and creative expressions during this troubled time of social distancing and gallery closures due to COVID-19. Information >
Black Lives Matter Protest - Pohill Park to Pete + Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
Day: Saturday, June 6, 2020 Time: 2:45pm Location: Pohill Park, Beacon, NY
This protest is organized by Ciarda Hall, Stefon Seward and Xavier Mayo (Monday's protest), and is backed by the Southern Dutchess Resist, (organized Saturday's), I Am Beacon, and several other groups in Dutchess County. The Mayor of Beacon as well as other local government officials will be speaking.
Story Screen Virtual Night
Day: Saturday, June 6, 2020 Time: 7:30-10pm Location: ZOOM Story Screen Trivia returns for yet another series of movie related questions and categories, with your favorite brainy movie nerds: Bernadette Gorman-White and Mike Burdge. And now they're using satellites to ask questions! Information >
Virtual Hudson Valley Pride Festival
Day: Sunday, June 7, 2020 Time: 4-6pm Location: Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/hvlgbtqcenter/
Join the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center on Facebook Live on Hudson Valley Pride Sunday for amazing performances by local performers Denise Parent, Nia & Ness, Ryan Cassata, and Salem Corwin! Information >
The Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Virtual 5K Run & Walk
Days: Now through June 17, 2020 Time: At Your Own Pace Location: Favorite trail, your neighborhood, the park, your treadmill!
Complete a 5 Kilometer run and/or walk (5K kilometers = 3.1 miles) in the comfort of your own neighborhood or on a treadmill between May 17th and June 17th, 2020. You choose the date, the time and location. Registration ends June 10th! Information >
Beacon's Police Chief Will Attend Monday Night City Council Meeting For Conversation (Meeting via Zoom/YouTube)
On Monday night, June 8th, the City of Beacon Police Chief, Kevin Junjulas, will join the City Council for a conversation on best practices and training for the Beacon Police Department. If you wish to listen in on conversation, an invitation to the virtual meeting is below. Also please see this link to a video from June 1st of City Councilmembers commenting on the protests https://vimeo.com/425223009 YouTube: You can watch the meeting live on the City's YouTube channel. Zoom: You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Jun 8, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: City Council Workshop
Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82201559958?pwd=eHdHNjlNTXM1S0xueWRZYWRESmJyQT09
Password: 027050
INDUSTRIAL ARTS BREWING
As we begin Pride Month 2020, this year’s design from Industrial Arts Brewing has added a brown stripe to show their solidarity with POC everywhere. These are now available in their web store and would make a nice addition to your beer order, but no other purchase is necessary. 100% of proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go to @rocklandcountypridecenter and @dutchesspride. Information >
EAT CHURCH
This weekend special is going to hit the spot: It's the “Mission Style Burrito:” Black beans, yellow rice, queso, avocado, salsa, crema, hots. Old school vegetarian. $10. For those of you who have picky eaters, you will love the Bang Bang Spring Rolls. The easiest eatery to social distance in, as it is surrounded by parking lot, with a straight-on view of Mount Beacon. Order Now > Eat Church is a ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328
¡Salud! Baja 328 has made it to the final round of Hudson Valley Magazine's "Best Margarita"! There is still time to get your votes in! Visit this voting page to support your local canteen! Cast Your Vote! > Baja 328 is a ALBB Sponsor!
I AM BEACON
To shop local has never been more important as it is today. The beauty of the Beacon community has many wonderful qualities - our small businesses being one of them! It is often said, charity begins at home- the pride of Beacon lies in our dedication and support of one another. Pick up your I Am Beacon Strong T-shirt at Key Food to be entered in to win a $100 gift card to a local shop! Add this to your collection of other I Am Beacon t-shirts. Information >
BINNACLE BOOKS
Looking for literature related to Black History and educate yourself further on the issue of civil rights in this county? Binnacle Books has many titles to choose from such as:
- Jabari Asim, “We Can’t Breathe: On Black Lives, White Lies, and the Art of Survival”
- Ibrahim X. Kendi, “How To Be An Antiracist”
- “Chronicles of Black Protest” ed. Bradford Chambers
If those concepts are new to you - or you've seen them before but didn't want to engage - engage now. Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
It's getting too hot outside to wear your glasses and exercise at the same time. For those of you who are daily glasses wearers, you may need to open a new box of contacts! Luxe Optique is shipping contacts, and working on a new online ordering system. Deals:
Get $25 off all year supplies of contacts + free shipping
Get $10 off 6 month supplies + FREE SHIPPING
FREE SHIPPING FOR ALL DIRECT SHIP CONTACT LENS ORDERS
Your order might also be eligible for a manufactures rebate of up to $150! Order: Text 845-838-2020 or email at info@luxeoptique.com Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
PTACEK HOME
Your indoor plant collection has been growing, we get it, it's happening in our Managing Editor Marilyn's home as we speak! Look at these beautiful Sustain Planters with heart pine from PTACEK Home. Beautiful. OMG. Shop Now > PTACEK Home is a Sponsor, thank you!
COLD FIT CRYOTHERAPY Cold Fit Cryotherapy is thrilled to announce that they will re-open on Wednesday, June 10th! "All NYS requirements for sanitation will be strictly followed!" they say. They look forward to “freezing” with you soon!
ANTALEK & MOORE
Scheduling a Zoom call with Antalek & Moore is a convenient, safe and easy way to talk to any of their agents.
Contact your insurance representative or email them at info@antalek-moore.com to schedule your call today. They miss you! And did you see Terry's bike for National Bike Day? Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle is a resource and empowerment platform for business owners, artists and makers to get the word out about their business. This is done through webinars (called "TuneUps") to be watched on replay any time; an online safe-space forum to ask questions and get answers and support; and in-person opportunities to bounce ideas off experts in a live video format. Learn More >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Couture branding boutique, Katie James, Inc. designed the website for Beacon-based Knot Too Shabby in Shopify last year. Designed with the shop owner in mind, this website features various types of products, including paint, stencils, furniture, and classes. Katie James, Inc. can design your website too, or consult with you as you build it.
We got a suggestion in from a reader, who wanted to know how to send A Little Beacon Blog financial support to help us continue to produce. Even just $5. First of all: THANK YOU to that reader for wanting to do this! Support Here >
People Who Have Given Reading your comments of what ALBB means to your life has been humbling and keeps us going. Thank you. See Who Supported >
Of the counties that A Little Beacon Blog tracks for these reports - Orange and Putnam - both matched Google results with the number of deceased. Dutchess County’s was always lower: say 36 in Dutchess County’s Tracker vs 70 in Google’s Tracker.
The New York State Department of Health has authority and oversight over many of the facilities reporting case data, including hospitals and nursing homes. These facilities are not required to report to local health departments, including the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health (DBCH). While DBCH does communicate regularly with each of the individual facilities and has been getting some of the data from them, it is difficult to reconcile on a daily basis with the state data and creates confusion for the public. Additionally, State data can include presumed positive cases in fatality numbers, unlike the data reported by local health departments.
DBCH was recently provided access to the New York State Health Emergency Reporting Data System (HERDS), however, the data is reported in the aggregate and does not provide the necessary specificity for county reporting.
Active case data, which are the cases that DBCH are currently monitoring, will continue to be reported by DBCH as well as the breakdown by municipality and number of recoveries...Dutchess County’s COVID-19 Community Impact Data Dashboard will continue to be updated daily, following NYSDOH data updates.
Beacon’s number of Active COVID-19 cases was rising as of 5/10/2020. This last report on 5/10/2020 was at 146. The last time we recorded it in our spreadsheet was 5/4/2020 and the number of active cases was 137. Not a huge difference, but a consistent increase nonetheless.
One might argue: “Well, the number of people tested is going up, so that must be the reason.” And that may be. However, the daily percentage of those who test positive for COVID-19 for the day - of those tested - has remained consistent. We track that number also. The percentage of people who test positive from those tested per day has been at 8%-9% in the last few days. Additionally, the number of tests issued in Dutchess County, according to the tracker, has remained consistent, averaging in the 400s tests given per day.
While some “low-risk” business types can open state-wide in New York on Friday (drive-in movie theaters, landscaping/gardening, tennis) Dutchess County has 3 more criteria to hit before meeting the 7 state requirements to begin reopening, which are:
14-Day Decline in Hospital Deaths OR fewer than 5 deaths (3-day average).
New Hospitalizations (under 2 per 100k residents - 3 day rolling average.
The last time we published reporting on these numbers was 5/1/2020. This gap of 11 days is for no other reason that Distance Learning started in our home, and while we get into that rhythm of that schooling, finishing articles got a little tricky. We have several unpublished drafts, though!
Sources: New York State Tracker: Updated daily. Dutchess County Tracker:Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes. Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2-3 days, according to their Source notes. Putnam County Tracker: Updated daily. Google via Wikipedia Testing is limited, which implies that people testing positive for COVID-19 is not total, as many people are not tested.
DUTCHESS COUNTY 5/10/2020
How Many People Tested In Dutchess County: 18,964 (last week 15,558 via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE As Of This Day: 3,359 (last week, 3,049, via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested This Day: 471 (last week 473, via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE This Day: 47 (last week 48, via New York State Tracker) Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day: 56 (last week 69, via Dutchess County Tracker) How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day: 101 (last week 38, via Dutchess County Tracker, but Google shows 84 (previous 73)
BEACON Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon On This Day: 146 (last week 134, via Dutchess County Tracker)
FISHKILL Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill On This Day: 174 (last week 175, via Dutchess County Tracker) Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill On This Day: 153 (last week 151, via Dutchess County Tracker)
WAPPINGERS Active COVID-19 Cases In Town of Wappingers On This Day: 136 (last week 163, via Dutchess County Tracker) Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village On This Day: 40 (last week 45, via Dutchess County Tracker)
ORANGE COUNTY 5/10/2020
How Many People Tested In Orange County: 34,404 (last week 28,848, via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE In Total: 9,543 (last week 8,910, via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested On This Day: 535 (last week 839, via New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE On This Day: 57 (last week 159, via New York State Tracker) Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 As Of This Day: 99 (last week 147) (via Orange County Tracker) How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths As Of This Day: 367 (last week 329, via Orange County Tracker)
NEWBURGH Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh On This Day: 645 (last week 587, via Orange County Tracker) Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh On This Day: 1,314 (last week 1,165, via Orange County Tracker)
PUTNAM COUNTY 5/10/2020
Did not grab data in time for this report.
PHILIPSTOWN Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Total In Philipstown As Of This Day:
Numbers for Dutchess County have decreased since yesterday’s report. The number of tests decreased, and the number of people from the testing group testing positive decreased. So far, the number of deaths remains at 36, and the number of hospitalized decreased to 77 (previously 79).
In Orange County, the number of deaths increased from 299 to 310, and the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Orange County decreased by almost the same amount. The number of tests in Orange County increased yesterday.
Sources: New York State COVID-19 Tracker, Dutchess County COVID-19 Tracker, Orange County COVID-19 Tracker Dutchess County Tracker: Updated daily, but there could be lags, according to their Source notes. Orange County Tracker: Updated daily, with the exception of municipality information which is updated every 2 to 3 days, according to their Source notes. New York State Tracker: Updated daily. Testing is limited.
DUTCHESS COUNTY 4/27/2020
How Many People Tested In Dutchess County: 13,649 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Positive So Far: 2,817 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Today: 223 (previous day 389) (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today: 24 (previous day 64) (New York State Tracker) Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now: 77 (yesterday 79) (Dutchess County Tracker) How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far: 36 (no change reported) (Dutchess County Tracker)
BEACON Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon As Of Today: 114 (yesterday 117) (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Beacon? 4.04%
FISHKILL Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill As Of Today: 174 (yesterday 181) (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Fishkill? 6.18% Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill As Of Today: 155 (yesterday 163) (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In East Fishkill? 5.5%
WAPPINGERS Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers As Of Today: 155 (yesterday 157) (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers? 5.5% Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village As Of Today: 43 (yesterday 46) (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers Falls Village? 1.53%
ORANGE COUNTY 4/27/2020
How Many People Tested In Orange County: 25,740 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Positive So Far: 8,374 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Today: 645 (previously 587) (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today: 136 (previously 132) (New York State Tracker Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now: 168 (yesterday 183) (Orange County Tracker) How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far: 310 (yesterday 299) (Orange County Tracker)
NEWBURGH Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh As Of Today: 534 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In Newburgh? 6.48% Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh As Of Today: 1,044 (no change reported) (Orange County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In City of Newburgh? 12.67%
As Governor Cuomo talks about a gradual reopening of New York, he imagines a regional approach between counties in New York State, as well as with other states neighboring New York, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, since many people commute from state to state, and county to county to work and live. During several briefings, and succinctly by tweet, the governor has stated: “We are taking a regional approach to safely reopening NYS. Each region is facing its own set of facts. Protecting public health comes first and all decisions will be data-driven.”
New York State has its COVID-19 tracker that includes county data. Several counties have made their own daily trackers public, including Dutchess and Orange Counties, that do show some statistics for communities within the counties.
As the CDC’s guidelines have recommended a 14-day decline, with the White House’s recommendation here, realizing the numbers in this region is relevant. A Little Beacon Blog will present select numbers from the state and county trackers as a way to help you have a snapshot view of what is happening, and what happened yesterday and last week. Having context to these numbers going up and down is important.
Keep in mind, testing is limited. There is the base number of how many people are tested, but there is a limited number of tests, which limits the types of people who can get tested. Almost daily, the public and health officials are learning about the coronavirus that may impact how data is collected. Decisions won’t be based on simple numbers either. Communities will be aware of what is happening within their borders.
All numbers have been taken from the Dutchess County Tracker, and the New York State Tracker. Each have their own stipulations as to how they collect data. As of now, the number of deaths per municipality (i.e.town/city/village) is not included in Dutchess nor Orange County trackers. A Little Beacon Blog has confirmed on 4/27/2020 with Dutchess County by way of Colleen T. Pillus, the Communication Director for Dutchess County, that they do have the number of deceased for each municipality, but will not be releasing it at this time.
How Many People Tested Positive So Far: 2,793 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Today: 389 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today: 64 (New York State Tracker) Percentage of Today’s People Testing Positive: 16.45%
How Many People Tested In Dutchess County: 13,464 (New York State Tracker) Percentage Of People Testing Positive - Of Those Tested - In Dutchess County: 20.74%
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far: 36 (Dutchess County Tracker) Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now: 79 (Dutchess County Tracker)
BEACON Active COVID-19 Cases In Beacon As Of Today: 117 (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Beacon? 4.19%
FISHKILL Active COVID-19 Cases In Fishkill As Of Today: 181 (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Fishkill? 6.48% Active COVID-19 Cases In East Fishkill As Of Today: 163 (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In East Fishkill? 5.84%
WAPPINGERS Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers As Of Today: 157 (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers? 5.62% Active COVID-19 Cases In Wappingers Falls Village As Of Today: 46 (Dutchess County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Dutchess County, How Many In Wappingers Falls Village? 1.65%
ORANGE COUNTY 4/26/2020
How Many People Tested Positive So Far: 8,238 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested Today: 587 (New York State Tracker) How Many People Tested POSITIVE Today: 132 (New York State Tracker) Percentage of Today’s People Testing Positive: 22.49%
How Many People Tested In Orange County: 25,095 (New York State Tracker) Percentage Of People Testing Positive - Of Those Tested - In Orange County: 32.83%
How Many COVID-19 Related Deaths So Far: 277 (Orange County Tracker) Note: This number has already changed to 299 by 10 pm tonight 4/27/2020 as we were double-checking numbers before sharing. ALBB will update this once per day in the afternoon, knowing that numbers are updated at these trackers at different times of the day. Number Of People Hospitalized For COVID-19 Right Now: 183 (Orange County Tracker)
NEWBURGH Active COVID-19 Cases In Newburgh As Of Today: 543 (Orange County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In Newburgh? 6.48% Active COVID-19 Cases In City of Newburgh As Of Today: 1,044 (Orange County Tracker) Of the Positive Cases In Orange County, How Many In City of Newburgh? 12.67%
A screenshot of the White House-supported guidelines of reopening America, as of 4/27/2020. Things change daily, and this text on the White House website could also change. Photo Credit: The White House website
This New Year’s Eve, people using Lyft to get to or from a destination in Newburgh can get $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride, thanks to an initiative put together by local officials and Lyft. Newburgh is one of three areas across New York State engaged in the effort, according to a press release issued today by Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson’s office.
According to the press release: “Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh), and City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey partnered with Lyft to provide discounted rides on New Year’s Eve to ensure riders in the City of Newburgh can access affordable, reliable transportation. The initiative is part of a shared commitment to reduce impaired driving as people celebrate the holiday season.”
How To Use The Lyft/Newburgh Discount
The discount is good from Tuesday, December 31, 2019, to Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Riders can use the promo code NEWBURGHNYE to receive $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride. The code will work as long as one of the locations, drop-off or pick-up, is in the City of Newburgh. A rider must have the Lyft app installed on their phone, which they can get from their phone’s app store for free.
What Officials Are Saying About It
In the press release, Mayor Torrance Harvey said: “Senator Skoufis, Assemblyman Jacobson and I agree that public safety is Newburgh’s #1 priority and we thank Lyft for offering a great discount to our residents to ride on New Year’s Eve. We don’t want people drinking and driving. Celebrate smart!”
"Our community's safety, both on and off the road, is of the utmost importance to me," said Senator James Skoufis."That's why I was grateful to partner with Lyft to establish two discounted rides for anyone traveling to and from Newburgh on New Year's Eve. I hope our community takes advantage of this and everyone celebrating the new year with their loved ones has a safe and warm ride home."
"New Year's Eve should be fun, but safe,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.“I applaud Lyft for encouraging people not to drink and drive. The discount they are offering will help keep the roads safer for everyone.”’
“We are grateful to Senator Skoufis, Assemblymember Jacobson and Mayor Harvey for their partnership on this important initiative,” said Jen Hensley, director of public policy at Lyft.“Since 2017, Lyft has provided affordable and reliable transportation throughout Newburgh, helping people to get to work, school, and home responsibly after a night out. This New Year’s Eve, we are proud to work together with thoughtful leaders to ensure Lyft riders celebrating in Newburgh have no excuse to drive impaired.”
To honor the passage of bright summer days into the crisp academia of autumn, I decided to talk to Beaconite and Exceptionally Smart Person Sarah Uzelac about her summer reading list that she always posts on Facebook. All these other exceptionally Smart Women respond to it, and then I crib the whole thing and work on it all year long.
Sarah! I love your summer reading list posts! Do other people talk to you about it or is it one of those weird Facebook things that you don’t talk about in real life?
Other people totally talk to me about this in real life and it is one of my favorite uses of social media. It makes me feel super connected to people to know we share a love (or hate) for a text - even if we can’t ever meet up IRL to discuss it.
What were some of the highlights of this year’s summer reading? Did you try anything you expected to not like and love it?
I’ve been on a real nonfiction jag this year and I can’t seem to step away from it for long. Usually I’m all fiction all the time, but I think maybe, given the state of our country at the moment, I’m subconsciously hungry for truth and information and super smart people telling me stuff? This summer I really loved The Furious Hours, by Casey Cep and the grief memoir Tell Me More, by Kelly Corrigan, and my favorite fiction from this summer was Fleishman Is In Trouble, by Taffy Brodesser-Akner. I just realized those are all women authors - I think that might be another unconscious theme for me these days: Enough with the dudes, already.
(I’m so with you. Enough, already. Grab your pom poms and warm the bench.)
What are you reading right now?
Right now I’m reading Edith Wharton for the first time ever (even though my husband has been trying to get her on my radar for like 10+ years). We took a little visit to her estate (The Mount) in upstate NY this summer - seeing her space and learning more about her life is what tipped the scale for me. I started with a couple of short stories (Xingu and Roman Fever) and they blew my mind with the perfectness of her descriptions and how incredibly dead on and absolutely CUTTING the social interactions were.
So right now I’m about a third of the way into House of Mirth and am loving it. And if you’ve never made the trip up to The Mount - do it this fall! Have a glass of Prosecco on her amazing terrace overlooking her incredible gardens and wander through her beautiful home and see for yourself what a genius she was.
[Editor’s Note: Sarah is married to NY Times Magazine staff writer Sam Anderson, whose most recent book Boom Town is available at Binnacle Books in Beacon, where he read earlier this year.]
What’s next?
I’m not sure - what are YOU reading??
I just borrowed The Flick from my Mom and read it in one night. It’s by one of my favorite playwrights, Annie Baker. And I just discovered, amazingly, that it’s being put on at Vassar on Wednesday to Saturday, October 9-12. Thanks, Hudson Valley. Keep it local, babies.
Speaking of Vassar College, I’m ashamed to admit I have never investigated their Elizabeth Bishop collection and am adding that to my Fall Goals checklist along with this Edith Wharton jaunt.
Ok, so, back to Sarah… Who has lived in Beacon for a hot minute (over 10 years) and so of course I want to know what is your favorite new spot in town? What old spot do you miss?
We moved to Beacon in 2005 back when there was only *one* coffee shop and the Mountain Tops shop and that was basically it! I love this town so much. I love the new connections through town to the Madam Brett walking path along Fishkill Creek, I love Big Mouth Coffee, and the Himalayan stall in the new food hall, and the Beacon Yoga Center (because they have hatha and hatha is the best yoga). I miss the unobstructed view of the mountain while walking down Main Street and the comedy shows David Rees and Sam used to host – those were the good old days.
[Author’s Note: An Aside: Those comedy shows were as spectacular as the view of the mountain! But things change like the leaves, which lets me transition gracefully into our official Writerly Happenings round up for September…]
Writerly Things To Do
Speaking of recommendations, I discovered that Binnacle Books has this super sweet matchmaking feature on their website and you can order up a custom Binnacle Book match!
How was the Artichoke??? We are so sorry to have missed it on the 14th. I’m guessing the next one will be in November. There’s still so much glowing Fall weather in between [fingers crossed].
On Saturday, September 21, we’ll see you at the Spring Street Reading Series at Atlas in Newburgh, which is dreamily titled “The Exile’s Child is Also an Exile” in which Faisal Mohyuddin, Natania Rosenfeld, Ruth Danon and Edwin Torres “explore the ways in which the children of the displaced carry the experience of exile into the next generation.” I mean. That doesn’t resonate or anything.
Split Rock Books in Cold Spring is keeping it pretty chill as we all settle in to Back to School land, but their graphic novel book club on the 23rd looks pretty spectacular. Kingdom by Jon McNaught portrays the realness of a family’s summer vacation. On Sunday, October 6, from 10:15 to 10:45 am they are having a storytime for little ones and award-winning author and illustrator, Elisha Cooper, will be reading from River - as in, our very own Hudson.
Want to do some of your own writing? Writer (and Artichoke storyteller) Donna Minkowitz’s fall workshop will begin September 25 from 7 to 9 pm, and goes for eight Wednesdays. Participants in the small workshops will “work on writing about our lives using the senses, emotion, lyricism, critical insight, and storytelling come to create profound and relatable works of personal writing.” Email her for more info at minkowitz46@gmail.com.
And Ruth Danon is starting up live writing in October, so you should check her website for more details. But only if you like doing experiential, improvisational writing to generate unexpected results and language in the company of really interesting and talented people and getting lots of insightful feedback. You don’t want that.
Then get your head out of that notebook on Sunday, October 13, and head down to Oak Vino for monthly literary salon Get Lit, featuring Matt and Emily Clifton. Matt and Emily wrote the beautiful Cork and Knife (locally profiled to an extreme extent on Published Local on A Little Beacon Blog, written by yours truly). If you aren’t yet getting the email newsletter, previewing articles from A Little Beacon Blog, you must get on that. Fall goals! Check!
Go fight your way through an apple orchard on a Saturday if you must, but treat yourself to some writerly nourishment afterwards. Don’t anyone talk to me about pumpkin-flavored anything, though. We’ll see you back here to jump in some leaves before Halloween…
A reader wrote in, asking us if we had more job listings. She said she'd rather look on A Little Beacon Blog than on Indeed or LinkedIn. Yay! We wanted to make it easier for businesses to list, so we’ve adjusted our Job Listing pricing. We’ve received a few great opportunities that you should know about, and tell your friends about.
But also, there are some art opportunities as well! See below for some open application opportunities.
3 Jobs From ViaHero, a Beacon/NYC-Based Travel/Tech Startup
ViaHero is an exciting new travel company that helps people design their travel plans around local favorites, travel independently, and see a place through a local's eyes. The concept is: Locals Plan. You Travel. ViaHero matches you with a like-minded local. They plan everything you need for your trip. You travel how you want, without missing a thing. ViaHero has been featured in The New York Times, Travel + Leisure and others. Learn more about ViaHero here.
Develop and execute the marketing strategy across all ViaHero channels including content marketing, affiliate partner marketing, customer referral marketing and performance marketing (email, retargeting ads, prospecting ads).
Craft a marketing plan that accelerates momentum and evangelism among our 20,000 paying travelers.
$60-85k/annual salary; competitive salary based on experience, with stock options and bonuses; awesome health insurance benefits
City Of Newburgh Industrial Development Agency (IDA) Hiring Administrative Positions - PART TIME
The City of Newburgh Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has two positions available in its office. The positions can be combined or remain separate. The first position is for bookkeeping, and the second position is for secretarial services to assist the Executive Director. A background in modified accrual accounting is required for the bookkeeping position. Candidates with PARIS and/or IDA work experience will be given preference, but experience is not necessary.
Luxe Optique is searching for an optometrist to join a growing team and recently expanded practice. We are a well-established full-service optical practice in Beacon, NY, providing the best eyewear and eyecare experience to our flourishing clientele. Applicants should:
Be licensed to practice optometry in New York State.
Have a passion for providing excellent patient care.
Be knowledgeable and confident working with pediatric and adult patients.
Perform routine comprehensive eye exams and vision care procedures.
Provide extreme attention to detail and thorough examinations.
Administer special testing as needed.
Customize patient treatment based on individual needs in order to improve or correct vision.
Listen, it’s summer and we are keeping it loose. This edition of Writerly Happenings is being brought to you by “Spontaneity and All The Popsicles,” and may contain happenings in both July and August.
Katie’s Summer Reading List - no shame. #SaveTheMagazines
On The Nightstands…
In that same spirit, this edition of What Are We Reading is keeping it real and not worried about intellectual heft. Our fearless leader Katie confesses that she went to Rite Aid and bought all of the rag magazines and a Clive Cussler book for summer reading. She is on a quest to save the magazines. Right now, you’ll find all of them at big box stores. So, people need to buy them. You can pick up your favorites at Rite Aid too. And Vogel Pharmacy, if you’re out near Leo’s.
Managing Editor Marilyn Perez is reading “Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life” by Charlotte Bell for the third time! She comes back to it every couple years, and I can only assume it helps to inform her excellent yoga teaching at Firefly Yoga in Fishkill.
As for me, I’m staying informed about local events and maintaining a very low overhead by enjoying the Chronogram and Edible Hudson Valley (yay, Weed Issue!) and the award-winning Highlands Current.
So then, what’s happening all around us?
Writerly Happenings Around Town
Split Rock Books has this pretty incredible offsite event with author Benjamin Dreyer, discussing his book at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival on Friday, July 12. I’ve heard a lot of great things about his book, “Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style.”
Saturday, July 20, competes for your heart and mine with an intergalactic event at BAU. Matt Clifton and Larry Sansone are organizing a reading alongside an exhibition of Sam Beste and Elizabeth Arnold’s artwork. The subject is space exploration (in tandem with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission) and the fragility of life on earth.
Also that night, there’s another Spring Street Reading Series over at Atlas Studios in Newburgh. “Women and their Bonding,” from 7 to 8:30 pm, features writers Laura Brown and Idra Novey and is curated by Ruth Danon.
On Sunday, July 28, you could take a workshop with Donna Minkowitz, who will also be reading at Get Lit on Sunday, July 14, at Oak Vino. In the Beacon Summer Memoir Intensive, participants “write about our lives using the five senses, lyricism, emotion, critical thinking, and the art of storytelling." Then on Saturday, August 24, she is offering Writing From the Body at Wyld Womyn. This is a memoir workshop for all who identify as women, nonbinary or trans, and want to write about their “lives, sensations, pains, pleasures, and feelings of all kinds.”
Also I saw a very pretty picture of some lucky writer working away at the Kingston Writer’s Studio and felt such envy! They are all booked up for members, but you can get a day pass and write all the things.
So then, if you Writerly Types can put down your magazine and climb out of the hammock, come join us. There will be air conditioning and no judgment about your summer trash-reading game. We’ll be tailgating out front with a popsicle.
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A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
