Christmas In July 6 Month Holiday Advertising Sale With A Little Beacon Blog

ATTN Main Street Storefronts!

Winter is the hardest time for all of us. It’s a time when businesses need to get the word out the most, but budgets are low as tourist traffic dies down and snow shovels are out.

ALBB is offering a Christmas In July sale on advertising! For Main Street Businesses only.

Lock in 6 months of advertising now and enjoy the promotion onward. Partner with us each week to get the exact message out you want.

WEEKLY AD PRICING

REGULAR $200/month
HOLIDAY SALE! $170/month
BEST DEAL $150/month (Discounted Sponsor Subscription program auto-billing)

INCLUDED

Storefront Photo
A square photo (your choice) of your business placed in the shopping guide + Logo.

Photo Gallery
A few pictures of your establishment.

Event Listings
List any and all of your events, and get them listed in ALBB’s Things To Do weekend newsletter.

Newsletter Weekend Feature
Guaranteed placement in our weekend newsletter, known as the “Things To Do In Beacon Guide” or “Retail Therapy Guide.”

Weekly Instagram Post
We will pull a photo from your Instagram every week & re-share it to our Instagram! Sometimes, we will come in & take photos of things we love & share them with our readers as well. *If you have a photo & specific writing that you want us to share, please email it to us by Wednesday of each week.*

Member Meetups
A monthly member networking meeting (optional)

“Did She Get Hit By A Bus Finally?” ALBB Goes To The Hospital

Years ago when Katie first started the blog, and later pursued advertisers, she landed her first car dealership client. But before they said yes to investing their money into an advertising campaign, the manager asked Katie: “What happens if you get hit by a bus?” Bloggers are thought to be solo-workers, but one can’t run this blog alone. Needs a team, and I had one. While I am replaceable ;) I am not alone, I told him. I have team members. Fast forward to today, I’ve upgraded our “contract workers” status to employee. ALBB employs 2 people (Katie and Teslie) on payroll, as this is our full time job.

And then it happened. I disappeared.

The night of the 4th of July, Katie went to the hospital with stomach pain of 13 (between 1-10). A piercing side cramp with a side of mystery menstrual behavior made for a perfect storm of a surprise attack of Diverticulitis, as diagnosed by Peekskill’s NY Presbyterian (the best). After several blasts of 3 different antibiotics during an overnight hospital stay, Katie was released and went to the wonderful Women’s Center at Sun River Health, where she was told that the two were linked: a brewing intestinal infection can trigger menstrual movement and get everything out of whack. For months prior!

While on the ER bed, Katie texted her ALBB Co-pilot, Teslie, to hold it down. Katie also did some thinking. Things need to change. It’s been horrifying watching the trauma. Absorbing it, knowing that Israel’s treatment of Palestine has been going on for over 76 without most people (including Katie) saying anything. Watching the lies. Watching people turn their heads.

But not saying anything is worse. Personal life and professional. A person can only absorb so much without speaking. Or, when speaking, getting insulted, lied to, stalkers who sabotage, etc.

Therefore, here is what’s changing:

• Donation Campaigns:
  ALBB will be having regular donation drives for ourselves (click here to donate online). This money goes to the business of ALBB. It’s why Teslie is here. It’s how Katie is here. We need your help all the time. Support independent media. Keep our voices free. Not free from charging you. Free from being held back from speaking.

• Palestinian content:
  Will adapt again. To be turned into articles to tie locally when possible. We won’t let it disappear from our platform while big media is complicit in this genocide. But we need your help.

• Beacon Local:
  Reporting locally is actually harder than Palestine. Because it’s small town living. But Palestine has cured Katie of this fear. Expect more hard news stories. But they require childcare! They take hours and days to research and write. And childcare costs.

Donate online or in person. Katie can meet you for a check, mail it, or you can donate here >

Deepest Thank Yous,
Katie and Teslie

Howland Public Library Presents: Special Screening of "The Peekskill Riots" Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest”

Special Screening of "The Peekskill Riots" Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest” and Q&A with local Filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett**

The Howland Public Library is pleased to announce a special screening on Thursday, May 23rd at 6 PM of Episode One of the docu-series "The Peekskill Riots," followed by a Q&A session with Hudson Valley filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett.

The docu-series will shed light on the historic events of August and September 1949, when violence erupted at benefit concerts for the Civil Right Congress outside Peekskill, NY, featuring actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson. Citizens of Peekskill, galvanized by racist and anti-Semitic sentiments and disdain for Robeson’s left-wing views and campaign for civil rights, started two riots that resulted in hundreds of injuries, made national news, and unofficially marked the beginning of the McCarthy era, which would nearly erase Robeson from the public consciousness.  

Through compelling storytelling and archival footage, Episode One serves as an introduction to Robeson's life and activism and the events leading up to the Peekskill concerts. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Bennett in a thought-provoking Q&A session following the screening.

Join for an evening of education, reflection, and dialogue.

Film Screening, The Peekskill Riots, Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest
Day: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 6pm
Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
RSVP here >

New To The Restaurant Guide! Bagelish & Nilufers Home Kitchen Plus The New Ice Cream Spot Located Inside The HV Food Hall

ALBB’s Restaurant Guide has been updated! This list changes daily. As restaurants open and close, try new menus, & new methods. We monitor their social media, but if you know of something different than what is on this list, please let us know!

Bagelish & Nilufer Home Kitchen have recently opened right here on Main St in Beacon and added to the Restaurant Guide.

Bagelish

“Experience the Extra-Ordinary”… bagels are produced with a unique process using specially milled flour with no bleaching agents or bromides. When possible, they source locally produced flour, butter, bacon, salmon, and coffee. For their ethnically diverse offerings, they source ingredients from around the globe, including Lebanese extra virgin olive oil, Lebanese za’atar, Irish cheddar, Korean and Portuguese sea salts.

Located at 226 Main St.

Nilufer Home Kitchen

Executive Chef, Numerologist, Life Coach, EFT Therapist… a Turkish table offering breakfast and lighter fare prevail.

Five Pennies Creamery

And incase you missed it on our Instagram… Five Pennies Creamery has opened up in the Hudson Valley Food Hall!

Beacon’s newest family-owned business. We’ve all been waiting. Overheard at the new countertop: “We heard you were coming to Beacon! We have been waiting ever since!”

Owner Dan the Ice-cream Man makes the icecream in the Food Hall. That’s right - 100 flavors made right here on Main Street. What are the flavors? Well, there are many didferent variations of chocolate ice-cream, for instance. Several variations of coconut icecream. Not all at once, but in rotation. There’s a chance there will be different flavors each time you come. Flavors like Toasted Coconut, Cookie Dough, pralines & Cream, Smurfs, Cookies & Cream, Banana Pudding, Chocolate, Vanilla, and others are ready to be scooped. Waffle cones are available. Chunky ice-cream is the norm. Swirls of flavor are prominent.

Hudson Valley Food Hall is a sponsor of ALBB’s Restaurant Guide! Making features like this possible. With sprinkles on top.

ALBB Talks On 91.3 FM Independent Radio About The Shutdown Of The Newburgh Beacon Bridge On April 15, 2024

Thank you to the Trova & Mas Show and Carolina on 91.3FM, Independent Radio at Vassar College, for having us on to talk about the shutdown of the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge on April 15, Tax Day for the Economic Blockade from 8-9am organized nationwide to send a message to federal and local governments to Free Palestine and to stop investing in (aka divest from) Israel’s killing of so many Palestinians (which is bleeding into Lebanon). ALBB did not organize that and didn’t even know about it! But we did report on it.

Co-host Carolina asked what points we wanted to cover, and some of these points were made:

• Participating protesters on the bridge included Palestinians, Jews, Arabs, Non-Arabs, Muslims, Non-Muslims, Whites, and other allies.

• Protests in have been held on sidewalks in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston.

• Pat Ryan was demonstrated against in Beacon at the City Council Swearing In Ceremony at the Memorial Building by demonstrators who wanted a silent protest with a banner that said Ceasefire, but Beacon’s City Administrator and some managing Veterans blocked the banner and physically touched the demonstrators, causing the event to escalate and get loud.

• The first demonstration to Pat Ryan was at his Poughkeepsie office near Vassar College.

• Some Beacon Jewish citizens organized their 8th night of Chanukah lighting at his Newburgh office.

• Ceasefire Resolutions were passed in Beacon and Newburgh. A ceasefire resolution still needs to pass in Poughkeepsie. Poughkeepsie needs to show up!

• A woman from Poughkeepsie is from Palestine and lost at least 20 of her family members in Gaza from Israeli bombardment.

Trova asked what final message we wanted to get out, and we said that while this is a global issue, we see how our United States Government is treating Brown people in Palestine, at a very shocking level by allowing this to happen and is in part funding it, and that translates back here to our local communities. Systems aren’t broken, they are working as designed. Those systems need to change.

Pro-Palestine Protestors Shut Down Westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh Beacon Bridge As Part Of An International Coordinated Economic Blockade On Tax Day

HAPPY MONEY MONDAY!! That’s what we celebrate at ALBB’s sister business, the media resource Tin Shingle (hey Anonymous, Cowardly Letter Sender! You missed one of my businesses!! And it won’t by my last!!)

Happy Tax Day Economic Shutdown Day. Free Palestine.

Repost @hv4freepalestine :
BREAKING: Pro-Palestine protestors have shut down the westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh Beacon Bridge as part of an international coordinated economic blockade on Tax Day with @a15actions to compel the U.S. government to divest from the genocide happening in Palestine. Hudson Valley organizers join over 50 cities around the world in disrupting the global economy in response to a call from Gaza to fight for a liberated Palestine.

From the Hudson Valley organizers: “Tax Day is a reminder that the Biden administration has made over 100 transfers of taxpayer dollars in military assistance to Israel since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. We refuse to allow business as usual to continue while Palestinians are murdered by Israel using American weaponry and tax dollars. Those committed to Palestinian freedom in the Hudson Valley have tried many tactics—we’ve demonstrated, we’ve lobbied our representatives, Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro, for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we’ve visited their offices, we’ve educated the public. Those on the highway today are done waiting on congressional representatives. We are committed to keeping up the pressure until the genocide ends and Palestine is free.”

Ceasefire Resolution Passes In Beacon

Ceasefire Resolution passed in Beacon! The entire night was dedicated to hearing from the public (except for the decision on what fencing company to award the bid to for Wee Play Tot Park, and the Fire Department Volunteer Members who Qualify for Length of Service Award Program Contribution for 2023.)

The council then debated from 10:30-11pm on a different draft of what was made available to the public, and then voted.

Councilmember Molly Rhodes: Yes
Councilmember Jeffrey Domanski: Abstain
Councilmember Amber Grant: Yes
Mayor Lee Kyriacou: Abstain
Councilmember Paloma Wake: Yes
Councilmember Pam Wetherbee: Yes (after a long think)
Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair: Yes

Public Comments Pushing For A Ceasefire Resolution By Beacon Community Members

Below are some of the 3 Public Comments pushing for a Ceasefire Resolution by Beacon (which the council did pass that night), the Mayor Lee Kyriacou gave the gravel when we broke “The Process”. This is what it looks like when you are breaking up through the pavement. Cracking the sidewalk. Cement is hard to break. Our soft bodies cannot do it alone. But know this: the cement is breaking. 2 Mondays ago Melody’s (1st in this series) soft spoken voice spoke of “selectively empathetic”. Mayor Lee gave a harsh gravel to when she went over time. Why did she go over time? Because she was hot and took her jacket off.

Katie, owner of A Little Beacon Blog, (second in series) went over time. No big excuse except that Katie did insert an extra 3 sentences into her opening and didn’t want to cut her poem or not say her call for hostage release or Israeli kids being put in jail for resisting serving in IDF military. The 3rd speaker tried to finish her speech clearly outlined and limited in her phone, but the City Administrator Chris White unplugged her microphone, and called the police on her. Meanwhile, the Mayor Lee himself left his table to come around and took his list of Public Comment names to walk up to her to read away her presence. As if he could stand and state another’s name, so that she would vanish. She will not vanish.

Free Palestine. End the Occupation.

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ALSO NOTE: The actions of the Mayor banging the gravel caused drama (and actually a good rhythm for her to continue), and the action of the City Administrator pulling the mic chord to turn off the mic actually made speakeNeesee need to speak louder. Actions cause reactions. Which is what we are discussing with Palestine/Israel. Played out right here in the City of Beacon Courtroom.

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The man speaking, ALBB could not hear his name, compared Israel’s response to the armed resistance of Hamas to Newburgh one day deciding to bomb Beacon, and then people asking for a ceasefire from that. This statement did not acknowledge that Israel is the occupier of Palestine, and has suppressed any right a Palestinian has to do most things. Worse than America’s segregation that the Civil Rights movement had to buck hard with sacrifices to break. This is why Israel is called “an apartheid state.” He referred to Hamas when saying: “People who are terrorizing their own citizens are here tonight in this room on their [Hamas] behalf asking you for a ceasefire resolution.” At that point, the man was interrupted by Khitam Jamal Nakhleh, who is Palestinian, where she pointed out that the man had just called everyone asking for a ceasefire “terrorists.”

Mayor Lee Kyriacou did not tone the man down or call out the man’s incorrect accusation, but did reprimand the audience. Mayor Lee reset the man’s time, and then allowed the man to go over his 3 minutes without hitting the gravel. Unlike many speakers, the man did not have a prepared speech. A prepared speech indicates an end. A speaker following this man, Neesee @palipaltz , used her time to point out what had just happened, which lengthened her time to speak for the prepared speech she read from her phone. Her speech is in the prior slide.

Spirit Of Beacon Day Announces Change Of Leadership: Ali T. Muhammad To Be Next Chair

The Spirit of Beacon Day has announced a change in leadership moving forward: Katie Hellmuth will step aside, and Board Member Ali T. Muhammad will step up into the Chair position. Said Katie in their announcement: “I am thrilled to announce that Ali T. Muhammad has stepped up and into the Chair position, with Junior, Jeana and Jen continuing to serve on the Board committee. Ali is a born and raised Beaconite, a natural leader, a proven leader in Beacon during his time serving on Beacon’s City Council years ago, and now in his organizing capacities in Newburgh for Next Step Hudson Valley and Melanin Unchained.”

Said Katie to ALBB: “I am so honored to have served with this Committee. Jeana stepped in like she was already here. She came with minutes prepped, took over the vendor table mapping with her landscape architecture background, and pushed us into meetings. Jen flew right in to administer the details that needed to get done on time, and negotiate our contracts. Junior made sure we hit deadlines on time with his optimism.”

In their announcement, Katie said: “I am so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what Ali produces this year. He is a visionary, gifted with seeing the big picture, and rallying those around him into action. Look for possible changes, and continued spirit.”

The entire announcement has been published in full below:

Written by Katie Hellmuth:

Living in Beacon for me has meant learning what community service really means. I do what I do at A Little Beacon Blog because I want to find information, and I want to be sure those around me have access to that information. Unintentionally, this became my community service.

Through my coverage as a blogger of the Spirit of Beacon Day over the years, and as a citizen experiencing the day, I saw the schools and organizations who I only read about, out on the street. The people in those organizations - the people of whom change all the time as they need to in their lives - those people did everyday volunteer work without needing of acknowledgment. They were people who paid attention and wanted to impact how life is lived here in Beacon.

The Spirit of Beacon Day was a day to see the people making social change out on the streets. Their spirits would come out however they wanted to show it. Vendor tables were reserved for non-profits and service organizations. This was and remains their day to shine.

As a blogger, I have covered 2 instances where the Spirit of Beacon Day almost ceased to happen, when the chair and committee needed to step aside in order to fulfill commitments in their personal lives. The Spirit of Beacon is its own entity. It is not a committee of the City of Beacon, and for a long time, it did not receive money from the city. It did receive complimentary police overtime.

“I am so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what Ali produces this year. He is a visionary, gifted with seeing the big picture, and rallying those around him into action. ”

— Katie Hellmuth

Both of the times the Spirit of Beacon committee needed to cease, there was a releasing of the torch because no one would or could step up. The second time was two years ago, and with only months to spare to produce this huge event that so many people relied upon. I didn't have the time to lead this effort, but I knew that I could do it. I knew I had all of the contacts in my phone, I owned a branding agency who could voluntarily design what was needed. Everyone that could do anything was one text away.

I threw my hat into the ring. But I wasn't the only one. Longtime community members Ali T. Muhammad and Junior Dabashi also threw their hats into the ring. It was decided that I would lead the Spirit of Beacon Day as its Chair and Ali and Junior would serve as Board members. Weeks later, Jeana Pearl Fletcher and Jennifer Garfield-Abrams also came on to serve on the Board to make this event happen. As a Committee, we produced two Spirit of Beacon Days together.

The time has come for me to step aside so that I can get back to blogging and running my businesses to produce for my family so that I can continue to afford living in Beacon.

I am thrilled to announce that Ali T. Muhammad has stepped up and into the Chair position, with Junior, Jeana and Jen continuing to serve on the Board committee. Ali is a born and raised Beaconite, a natural leader, a proven leader in Beacon during his time serving on Beacon’s City Council years ago, and now in his organizing capacities in Newburgh for Next Step Hudson Valley and Melanin Unchained.

I will step off the board and continue to support by giving my Institutional Memory as guidance. My branding agency, Katie James, Inc., will continue to provide volunteer services to the website. A Little Beacon Blog will continue as Media Sponsor in order to get the word out for the Spirit of Beacon Day as needed.

I am so looking forward to seeing and experiencing what Ali produces this year. He is a visionary, gifted with seeing the big picture, and rallying those around him into action. Look for possible changes, and continued spirit.

To the People of Beacon: Thank you for having me.

Anyone interested in joining or rejoining the Committee or volunteering in any capacity (big or small), please email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com with your interest.

$1 Million In Infrastructure Improvements Awarded To 6 Agency Partner Grants From Dutchess County

Grants totaling $1 million have been awarded for six projects through the Dutchess County Agency Partner Grant (APG): Infrastructure Program. The special funding was allocated by the Dutchess County Legislature in the 2023 Dutchess County Budget to provide support to agencies currently funded through the traditional APG program to implement capital infrastructure initiatives. The APG: Infrastructure Program awards have been given to local 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies to implement capital and/or operating infrastructure initiatives, providing resources that allow them to address service gaps and needs throughout Dutchess County.

When asked by A Little Beacon Blog when the notice of applications was, Sean McMann of Dutchess County Executive’s office responded: “The application was released on March 15, 2023; the deadline to submit applications was May 3, 2023. This year’s program was only open to 501(c)(3) non-profit agencies funded under the 2023 traditional APG program, and the Department of Planning and Development sent an announcement to those specific agencies only. The County will not be accepting applications for APG: Infrastructure funds for the remainder of 2023.”

The special funding was allocated by the Dutchess County Legislature in the 2023 Dutchess County Budget to provide support to agencies currently funded through the traditional capital infrastructure initiatives.

Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil said, “These grants will support these community partner agencies to make critical infrastructure improvements.  We are grateful to the County Legislature for allocating this one-time funding to help these agencies make investments that can have a positive impact on those directly served through their programming.”

Projects awarded Agency Partner Grant: Infrastructure funding include: 

• Community Based Services, Inc. – $130,000 to renovate the main barn at Cultivating Dreams Farm, a 10-acre satellite facility located in the Town of Beekman; the project will include full weatherization and installation of heating and cooling systems in the barn, which will allow for year-round indoor programming for individuals with special needs.

• Dutchess Outreach, Inc. – $28,000 for equipment purchases, including a “grab-and-go” cooler, shed and hoop house-style greenhouse to expand access to local produce and healthy food options for low-income, food-insecure individuals and families throughout Dutchess County. 

• Exodus Transitional Community, Inc. – $44,100 to replace the roof and gutters on the organization’s two-family house, which is used to provide community-based, re-entry services and transitional housing for individuals affected by the justice system.

• Family Services, Inc. – $523,621 for the continuation of safety and accessibility improvements at the Family Partnership Center in the City of Poughkeepsie, including renovations to the sidewalks and driveway, replacement of doors and windows, improvements to signage and wayfinding, and requisite finish upgrades to common area corridors. Rehabilitation and enhancements to the facility will provide long-term stability to numerous local human service organizations that regularly use the building for programming and events. 

• Poughkeepsie Farm Project, Inc. – $24,279 to support accessibility and inclusivity upgrades throughout the farm, including the creation and installation of bilingual directional and educational signage, as well as an outdoor mural-style welcome sign.

• The Art Effect – $250,000 for the continued construction build-out of The Trolley Barn, which hosts youth-led exhibitions and performances showcasing students’ artwork, including renovations to several areas of the building to be used for studio space, galleries, administrative offices, and event support. Renovations to the building will allow the organization to fulfill its mission of empowering young people to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. 

The APG: Infrastructure Program provided funding opportunities for Dutchess County non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) designation. Funding was awarded to organizations on a competitive basis, based on the ability to demonstrate a capital and/or operating infrastructure project need which will provide organizations with the resources needed to fulfill community needs.

New Day/Time!! "SOON IS NOW," Lovers Of Long Dock Park Will Love This Immersive Multi-Performance Curated Around Climate And Eco On Oct. 1

SOON IS NOW, the climate and eco art & live performance festival in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park is happening on a new date an time, due to last week’s weather. Fitting, being that this performance is all about the climate! This year, it is on the same day as Spirit of Beacon Day, so you have quite a collection of things to do this Sunday.

Important Things You Need To Know:

IMMERSIVE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Resistance Revival Chorus, coming to Beacon for “Soon Is Now” at Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park. On October 1 at 3pm.

SOON IS NOW is from 12pm-3:30pm. Multiple performances happen throughout the nature in the park, ending with the finale of the famous The Resistance Revival Chorus performing at 3pm. Tours take people through the different performances and run every half hour starting at: 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm. If you miss the start of a tour, you could wander around the park and fall into a group.

Lovers of Long Dock Park will get to experience it in a way they have never experienced it before. Located along the Hudson River, this park is mainly covered in tall grasses with winding paths cut through, surrounded by dunes of other grasses, shaded by trees and rocky beach along the water.

WHAT PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE ON THE TOURS

Tours will start at the River Center (big Red Barn). Walk straight to the dancers on the berm ahead of the River Center. Walk through the native grasses and the aster and sunflowers currently in bloom, and continue to the shore of the Hudson River. Performances will be seen all along the rocky beach - 3 performances in total. At the edge of the beach is a performance in a bog in the wetlands. The wetlands! The group will then go to the Outdoor Classroom, which is a mini concrete amphitheater located down low in what feels like a sunken part of the tall grasses. People will experience theater in this spot. People will make their way back across the park, past the kayak shelter to go straight ahead to meet a dancer again where they dance with 5 trees.

WHO YOU WILL SEE

Come to the park to see the visual arts exhibition in the River Center (Big Red Barn) with work by Camille Seaman, Jaanika Peerna and Jean Brennan. Meet climate activists from Beacon Climate Action Now and Climate Reality, and sign up for a tour.

This event is FREE of charge and open to the public and there are so many wonderful artists (many from Beacon) participating: Edwin Torres, Andrew Brehm, Elise Knudson, Elisa Santiago, Twinkle Burke and more. Click here for more details >

3PM: THE RESISTANCE REVIVAL CHORUS

Beaconites and those located nearby are in luck, as they get to experience The Resistance Revival Chorus up from NYC to sing a closing concert at 3pm. The Number Seven Sandwich Food Truck located near the River Center in Long Dock Park will have food for sale.

PARKING & DRIVING NOTES

The 46th annual Spirit of Beacon Day is happening up the hill on Beacon’s’ Main Street. A few notes for parking and driving down to Long Dock Park:

12pm-1:30pm Wolcott Avenue will be closed from Beekman Street (Giannetta’s Salon Spa) to Beekman Street (Rose Hill Manor Day Care), as Spirit of Beacon Parade participants will be lining up there. If coming from the south (Cold Spring), take 9D all the way, or if in Beacon, take Teller Avenue down to Beekman (Rose Hill Manor Day Care) and take a left on Beekman, which will take you past the Dia and to the park.

If coming from the north (1-84) take Wolcott/9D to Beekman (Giannetta’s Salon Spa) and take a right on Beekman. Pass Two Way Brewery and Brett’s Hardware all the way around until Long Dock Park.

Free parking is at the Metro North Beacon Train Station. The Spirit of Beacon Day will have a special FREE Dutchess County Bus that is shuttling people from the train up to Main Street from 11am-4:40pm. You can take it to help you experience both events.

Main Street in Beacon will be blocked from Key Food to the Yankee Clipper Diner, so take Henry Street if you want to go around Main Street for any reason.

Darryl's Leaves Beacon - Staying In Rhinbeck and NYC

Darryl’s clothing boutique moved to Beacon years ago. Owned by Darryl and Ed, who ALBB publisher Katie declared to be her adopted grandma, Darryl’s dug into the Beacon community as best they could. They hosted artists on Second Saturday, and advertised with A Little Beacon Blog.

Seasoned stylists and shop owners, Darryl’s had established boutiques in New York City and in Rhinebeck before they opened their store in Beacon. Because of their advertising relationship with A Little Beacon Blog, Katie was in the store quite often to photograph clothing to feature in the weekend newsletter and Instagram. As is what happens with sustaining sponsors, Katie has a few statement pieces in her closet now from Darryl’s that she wore to a Beacon Historical Society fundraiser at the Roundhouse, and upgraded her bathing suite coverup game to Splashdown.

When A Little Beacon Blog asked why they were moving out, Ed stated that it was because of a rent increase that was too much, and that they could not sustain. Ed confirmed that they are keeping their stores in New York City and Rhinebeck.

The space already has a replacement: the tattoo artist and art gallery Distortion Society, which is currently located somewhat across the street in the old Riverwinds Gallery location. That location is about to go vacant for the moment because the owners of that property are finally building their building, after years of presentations to Beacon’s Planning and Zoning Boards.

Darryl’s was located near Blend on the west end of Main Street near the Hudson River and train station, which also just closed their location for juicier pastures Newburgh.

SOON IS NOW - A Festival Of Climate And Eco Art, Performance And Activism - Here In Beacon - September 23, 2023

SOON IS NOW is an afternoon of art and live performance about climate change and the ecological in Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, a former industrial site and brownfield transformed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and others, into a sustainable park on the Hudson River in Beacon, NY. This site is on the unceded land of the Wappinger, in a region with a vital history of environmentalism rooted in Scenic Hudson’s fight to save Storm King Mountain from industry and Pete Seeger’s fight for an unpolluted Hudson River.

Twinkle Burke, What We Give Back, by Madeline Sayet, photo by Lucas Millard 

Audience walking to the next performance, photo by Flynn Larsen

Part reverence for the River, part cry for what is lost to climate chaos, part response to the pollution and rejuvenation of the park's ecosystem, SOON IS NOW places art in conversation with the landscape and brings audiences into an immersive experience with original works. 

Actors, dancers, musicians, performance and visual artists are curated throughout the park (many of them Beacon-based): Edwin Torres, Alex Waterman, Raven Chacon, Bob Bellerue, Koyoltzintli, Elise Knudson, Elisa Santiago, Randy Burd, Cecilia Fontanesi, Tom King, Jim Fletcher, Jaanika Peerna, Twinkle Burke, Jojo Gonzalez, Camille Seaman, Andrew Brehm and Jean Brennan.

Edwin Torres, Water’s Way: A Poet’s Choir for the Hudson River with E.J. McDonald, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Tamalyn Miller, Kristin Prevallet, Urayoán Noel, Jayden Featherstone. photo by Flynn Larsen  

The Resistance Revival Chorus will be performing a special concert at 5pm including a new song about climate change. 

The Resistance Revival Chorus, photo by Ginny Suss

On SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 2pm the day starts at the River Center (the red barn) in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park with a visual arts exhibition. Meet activists including Beacon Climate Action Now, Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and Fareground, and learn what you can do. Sign up for an 80 minute tour of performances throughout the park that start at 2:30, 3pm and 3:30pm, first come, first served. Even if you don't get on a tour you will be able to experience performance, visual art in the River Center and the concert by The Resistance Revival Chorus at 5pm. Poppy's Farm 2 Trailer food truck will be at the event selling tacos. Parking at Long Dock Park is limited. Park at the Metro North Beacon Train Station where all parking spots are free on the weekends, a short walk to the event. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and HV Climate Solutions Week. Part of Climate Change Theatre Action's 2023 season. Funded by Arts Mid-Hudson, the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts administered by Beacon Arts, and many local businesses and individuals. 

Tom King, photo by Lucas Millard

Jaanika Peerna, Glacier Elegy, photo by Flynn Larsen

Liz Zito, Eric Magnus, Andrew Brehm, The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, photo by Lucas Millard

Elise Knudson, Sentinels, photo by Flynn Larsen

For more information: soonisnow.org or contact evemorgenstern@gmail.com.

About Eve Morgenstern:

Eve Morgenstern, Director/Founder/Producer is a photographer and filmmaker. She has been awarded artist residencies at The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace and MacDowell, and grants for her work from The New York State Council on the Arts, Chicken and Egg Pictures, The George Gund Foundation, The Park Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson. Her environmental film Cheshire, Ohio has screened in festivals in the US, Canada and Asia and is distributed by Bullfrog Films and ovid.tv . Her photographic project Facades of Crises had its solo Museum premiere at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden. Eve is also co-chair of her Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills chapter. She lives in Beacon, NY with her daughter Chloe and her beloved mutt Amber. “This started as an experiment to produce plays from Climate Change Theatre Action, a project that uses storytelling and live performance to foster dialogue about our global climate crisis. The project grew to include visual art and original live performance created in dialogue with the site. The idea to curate works throughout Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park as a tour for audiences is intentional and meaningful as this site was once a brownfield, remediated and revisioned into a beautiful climate resilient public park on the Hudson River.”

CREDITS SOON IS NOW:

Eve Morgenstern, Founder, Director

Connie Hall, Producer

Brian Mendes, Producer

ALBB is a Media Sponsor of this event, and is proud to partner to help get the word out.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event to be Held September 30, 2023

The Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management will hold its next Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event on Saturday, Sept. 30th from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Dutchess County of Public Works Facility, located at 626 Dutchess Turnpike in the Town of Poughkeepsie; residents can access the event by taking Route 44 East to Burnett Boulevard. The collection is open to Dutchess County residents only.

This popular event is first-come, first-served, and residents should expect to experience wait times when they arrive at the location on Sept. 30th. Registration is limited to the first 400 households; pre-registration is required for this event, and there is a $10 registration fee; registration often reaches capacity quickly, so residents are encouraged to register promptly. Beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 30th, residents can register online or by calling (845) 463-6020. The registration fee can be paid online using a credit card or paid by check. Checks should be made payable to “Dutchess County Commissioner of Finance” and mailed to or dropped off to the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management at 96 Sand Dock Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. 

This will be the final of Dutchess County’s three 2023 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events, which provide residents with a safe and responsible way to discard a diverse range of household items that cannot be disposed of through regular recycling or garbage bins. Acceptable items include television sets, computer monitors, telephones, pesticides, pool chemicals, and more. A complete list of acceptable items to bring to this disposal day is included below. Hazardous waste in containers larger than 10 gallons will not be accepted.

More information about the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management’s Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events is available online.

Acceptable Items:

 Product Containers Marked: “Warning,” “Hazardous,” “Flammable,” “Poisonous,” “Corrosive” 

 Lead based paints (NO latex or oil based!), photo chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, pool chemicals, creosote, kerosene, flammable liquids, metal polish, turpentine, strippers, thinners, gasoline/oil mixture, brake fluid, antifreeze, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, adhesives, resins, solvents, fluorescent tubes (tape together or put in box to prevent breakage), propane tanks, mercury containing devices,  computer monitors, CPU’s, fax machines, printers, TV’s, stereos, telephones, lithium & sealed lead acid batteries (no automotive!).

Do Not Bring:

latex or oil based paints, stains, varnishes, ammunition or explosives, asbestos products, latex driveway sealer &, building or construction debris, tires, furniture, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, air conditioners, radioactive materials, scrap metal, metal drums or empty containers, motor oil, car batteries, alkaline or rechargeable batteries.

The Beacon Sloop Club 2023 Corn Festival - Another Year Successful

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The annual Corn Festival from the Beacon Sloop Club happened last Sunday, with so much help from all of the volunteers of the Sloop Club. A Little Beacon Blog was there as a vendor for the first time, offering our face painting services, which we have been accustomed to doing because what else are you going to do at a blogging table except type or talk? So we zen out over kids (and adults) who sit in the chair wanting their faces painted their spirit animals or visions. If we’re on point, usually the kids fall into a light trance nap in the chair as we finish painting their faces.

This year at the Corn Festival, there were quite a few visitors who stopped by our table who were not from Beacon. People from Brooklyn, Cold Spring, and other areas. They were curious about what is a “sloop” (it’s a one-masted sailboat). Despite having this festival for years and years, it looks like the Beacon Sloop Club still has a big purpose and mission to educate the new people coming to Beacon who want to enjoy Beacon’s beauty, and keep it as it is. But these new people need to understand what Beacon is first.

FAQ: What Is A SLOOP? What Is Beacon Sloop Club?

Let’s revisit briefly: The Beacon Sloop Club was founded by folk singer and activist, Pete Seeger. They are a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, protection and restoration of the Hudson River and surrounding waterways through advocacy, education and celebration. When you’re from NYC, you tend to think of the Hudson River as a barrier in the subway system between NYC and Hoboken, NJ, for instance. Here, we look at it as a waterway with ecosystems, one that used to have another name before Dutch settlers renamed it.

The Hudson River’s name before the Dutch renamed it was Muhheakunnuk. According to Riverkeeper: “Henry Hudson 'discovered' what the Lenape called Muhheakunnuk, ‘The River that Runs Both Ways.’ People have lived along the shores of the Hudson River since the last ice age, bathing in its waters, living off its bounty, caring for its future. The Lenape tribe balanced the needs of man and the needs of fish and fowl, plant and animal.”

The Beacon Sloop Club’s mission is to carry out that treatment. As part of their mission, the Beacon Sloop Club provides free river access through free sails and sail training on the ferry sloop Woody Guthrie, a replica of the 18th and 19th century sloops that once plied the Hudson River. The Beacon Sloop Club offers free seasonal music festivals to the people of the river, as well as other events, lectures and classes throughout the year.” Donate to them at any time. Like right now.

FAQ: Why Beacon For Pete Seeger?

This is a great question that I was asked. One I did not know. He’s such an embedded celebrity in Beacon, but I hadn’t considered his origin story as to why Beacon. So I reached out to his granddaughter, Moraya Seeger DeGeare to find out. She confirmed with her brother, and this is what they said: “He and my grandma (Toshi Seeger) lived in Greenwich Village and could not afford $100/month rent controlled apartment. So he came up to Beacon. Hiked the mountain. Climbed a tree and had a dream of building a cabin to raise his kids in. He climbed down. Went into town. Called Grandma and said: “Toshi, I found the place.”

You can next catch the Beacon Sloop Club at the Pumpkin Festival on October 15th, 2023. ALBB will be there too, with face paint! We take cash or card, and a portion is donated back to the Beacon Sloop Club. The rest helps us live our lives here in Beacon and produce this blog.