August 03, 2021

On-The-Water Protest With Boats Against Danskammer Fracked Gas Plant Expansion Scheduled August 4, 2021

August 03, 2021/ Teslie Andrade

*Photo Credit: Screenshot of the educational video from The Stop Danskammer Coalition*

UPDATE 8/12/2021: Photos from the day of the protest.
Photo Credit: Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. issued a press release, advising the region of an on-the-water protest from the Stop Danskammer Coalition scheduled for August 4, 2021.

Activists to Hold Hudson River Flotilla Protest Against the Danskammer Fracked Gas Plant Expansion

”The proposed Danskammer expansion threatens public health, water, and air quality, plus locks New York into a fossil fuel future,” reads the press release.

On Wednesday, August 4th, 2021, activists representing Food & Water Watch, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and other members of the Stop Danskammer Coalition will take to the water to protest the proposed Danskammer fracked gas plant expansion currently under review by the New York State Siting Board.

Activists will hold an on-the-water protest consisting of the sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie, kayaks, and canoes, accompanied by an on-land press conference and rally to be held at the Town of Wappinger public dock in Chelsea, across the river from the Danskammer site. Speakers will voice concerns over the proposal’s threats to public health, water, and air quality, as well as prolonging fossil fuel use in New York. Contrary to New York’s much needed and widely supported Climate Act, the Danskammer expansion would exacerbate the global climate crisis.

According to The Highlands Current, “Elected officials in Beacon, Newburgh, Cold Spring, and Philipstown (as well as a proposed resolution from Ulster County legislature) have also opposed a full-time plant, saying it doesn’t fit with the state’s goal over the next 30 years to replace technologies that burn fossil fuels, which contributes to global warming. Nevertheless, the Siting Board on Feb. 26 declared Danskammer’s application to be complete.”

“We are confident that our efforts to incorporate and eventually convert to a hydrogen power generation facility are well within the state’s mandates,” Michelle Hook, a spokesperson for Danskammer, said on Thursday (March 18, 2020). “We are committed to immediately lower emissions by upgrading existing equipment and then phase in hydrogen so that we can help the state meets its climate goals.”

On-The-Water Protest And Press Conference, Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

A press conference against the backdrop of a Hudson River flotilla, protesting the proposal to expand the Danskammer fracked gas plant. Interviews with speakers and activists will be available after the press conference. Photo opportunities will include imagery of the Danskammer plant with press conference speakers, the iconic sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie, kayakers, and paddlers on the river with banners and signs in front of the Danskammer site.

Speakers Planned To Attend

Press conference speakers to include Hudson Valley elected officials, a representative of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, and activists representing the following organizations: Food & Water Watch, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Newburgh Clean Water Project, Orange Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines, Ulster Activists and other members of the Stop Danskammer Coalition.

Press Conference Time and Location

The press conference will start at 1 PM ET on Wednesday, August 4th. The press conference will take place at the Town of Wappinger Public Dock, located at 3 Front Street in Chelsea (adjacent to the Chelsea Yacht Club). Free parking is available at Hidden Rose Catering, located at 33 Chelsea Rd in Wappingers Falls.

About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River. To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater. Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org.

About Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Watch mobilizes people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people’s health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org/.

June 10, 2021

A Family-Owned, Black-Owned, Vegan And Gluten-Free Wellness Teahouse Opens With A Give-Back Board: Matcha Thomas

June 10, 2021/ Teslie Andrade

Written by Teslie Andrade

New Matcha Cafe In Town!

Matcha Thomas officially opened their doors on May 21, 2021, for a soft launch featuring iced, creamy matcha lattes, strawberry milk matcha boba, and an assortment of treats (all 100% vegan & gluten-free). Those building their Beacon Business Trivia card deck will remember that this used to be the catering space of Homespun, the cafe of which remains across the street.

How Matcha Thomas Came To Be

Photo credit: MatCHA Thomas ”WE'RE THE "THOMAS" TO OUR "MATCHA"!” — Photo credit: MatCHA Thomas
”WE'RE THE "THOMAS" TO OUR "MATCHA"!”

The owners, the Thomas family of 4, have dreamt of this day for as long as they could remember. As avid matcha lovers, they would go around different towns to visit cafes, trying as many different matchas as they could. The 2 daughters, Haile and Nia, even created the concept of Matcha Thomas as a joke on Instagram sharing the matchas they would try. It was the one day that Haile and Nia decided to make their own matcha latte at home and thought “Wow…” Then, the planning for the storefront for Matcha Thomas began!

The Thomas family lives right by Woodbury, NY - where they have been for 5 years after moving from Arizona. They travel about 30 minutes to Beacon simply because they love Beacon so much! “When we first came to Beacon, we just fell in love and thought ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a shop down here?’” said Haile and Nia.

Well, all it took was one evening of picking up dinner on Main Street during the pandemic and spotting a “For Rent” sign at 259 Main Street. As an entrepreneurial family, the planning and collaboration was a success and Matcha Thomas is up & running with many people bustling in and out saying, “We saw what you posted on Instagram today and we want it.”

Why Vegan & Gluten-Free?

“We chose vegan because our entire family is Vegan. We have been for 7 years. It’s been a journey for sure,” said Haile. “After going through health issues with my dad, we all decided on a plant-based diet. With this, we also want to contribute to the world - the ethical & environmental side. Being Vegan and wanting to contribute to the world is also fun. It’s a space where you can be creative.”

Treats are made each morning and recipes are created right at their home. In fact, the delicious brownie recipe was created one night when Haile and Nia wanted brownies but didn’t want to search for a recipe and decided to whip up their own batter! Gluten-free flour/almond flour are used as substitutes for all-purpose flour, and sweeteners are refined sugar-free - coconut sugar, maple syrup, etc. “There’s just so much you can do”, said Haile.

You can also stop in and sample two different teas! The teas are brewed each morning in 9.5 Alkaline Kangen Water for maximum flavor extraction and nutrient absorption. Read more about alkaline here!

What Is the “Matcha For The People” Wall?

“The wall was inspired by the fact that we felt we had space where we could potentially offer an opportunity for people to tap into kindness and really acknowledge and affirm the people around us that make the world go round.”

How Does the “Matcha For The People” Wall Work?

“Basically,” explains Haile, “you come in and buy X for a person (someone struggling with mental health, having a bad day, a single parent, or whoever!) and write it on a sticky note and stick it to our wall. A person who comes in and identifies with a sticky note on the wall can then redeem it and get something free that was paid for by someone else.”

Good Vibes All Around!

When you walk in, a cinnamon scent will envelop you, which immediately makes your heart happy and your taste buds yearn. Matcha Thomas is a minimalist cafe with beautiful fiddle leaf figs in the window and a selenite crystal located on your way out. It’s the little things! The selenite crystal known for having the ability to purify energy - whether you believe in it or not - it feels like a good thing.

Both Haile and Nia lean into the selenite crystal, explaining: “Adding the selenite crystal was an idea from an amazing woman who owns a spiritual shop in Chester, NY. She came in and helped us assess the energy in our space and shared the idea of the stone with us. We loved it!”

The energy in Matcha Thomas is magic.

*Pictured: Matcha Thomas - the signature latte! Recipe is a plant milk of your choice (oat, almond, or hemp) blended w/ premium ceremonial-grade matcha and coconut vanilla cream base. It is GOOD.*

When Faced With The Choice Of Just One Drink, What Does Matcha Thomas Recommend?

“It depends! If you want a classic experience, definitely our signature Matcha Thomas. If you want to have some fun, any of our boba drinks!”

Always ask for recommendations if you’re torn! Haile and Nia are guaranteed to pick something delicious for you depending on your mood. As a first-timer, I wanted to try one of everything but was eager to try the Matcha Thomas Signature Latte. If I could describe it in three words, it would be, rich, creamy, and decadent. But not so rich that it was heavy. It is a light, creamy feel - a MUST try! Part of what creates the creamy sensation in the non-dairy latte is the matcha green tea itself. Known as a Japanese plant, the green tea leaf is crushed into a powder.

The Matcha Thomas Instagram is run by Haile Thomas who has been in an influencer space for years. Check out their photos but be prepared to drool!

May 02, 2021

Recipe For Mystery Chives From Your Yard Featured In New Cookbook Authored By Beaconites Emily and Matt Clifton

May 02, 2021/ Teslie Andrade

Beacon local authors and cooks Emily Clifton and Matt Clifton have done it again, with the release of their second cookbook, The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot, published by Page Street Publishing and available at Binnacle Books, Split Rock Books, and other incredible places books are sold. This topic of perfecting cooking in the Dutch oven could not have come at a better time - during a pandemic - when people want creative and flavorful dinners at home with no-fuss.

All photos of the food have been taken by the Beacon-based authors, who live within the foothills of Mount Beacon, surrounded by their yard garden, where they develop the recipes.

The Dutch Oven Provides For Layers Of Flavor

If you could only pick one kitchen tool to use for the rest of the time what would it be? A shallow frying pan? Probably not. A cookie sheet? Meh. A versatile, long-lasting Dutch oven? Ding ding ding! We have a winner. As every home cook knows, Dutch ovens are the ultimate cooking tool, and as one of the most reliable vessels in your kitchen arsenal, the recipe options are endless.

Under Emily and Matt’s tutelage, who began their cooking and food photography careers with the blog Nerds with Knives, readers will find this cookbook to be the perfect compendium of tried-and-true Dutch oven favorites combined with some very unique recipes for making the most of your favorite tool.

One of the best parts of cooking with a Dutch oven is it’s almost a set-it-and-forget-it option, making it perfect for creating easy weeknight dinners with layers of flavor. The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot has 7 chapters and 60 recipes. Your mouth will be watering at the delicious possibilities!

Traditional favorite recipes such as “Soy and Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs with Pickled Red Cabbage” will make a scrumptious dinner one night, and then you can spice it up with “Indian-Chinese Sweet and Spicy Fried Cauliflower” the next.

Wild allium is indigenous to the yards of Beacon, and can be used in the “Creamy Chicken Stew with Chive Dumplings” recipe in Beaconites Emily and Matt Clifton’s new cookbook, The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot. — Wild allium is indigenous to the yards of Beacon, and can be used in the “Creamy Chicken Stew with Chive Dumplings” recipe in Beaconites Emily and Matt Clifton’s new cookbook, *The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot*.

Are you a bread lover? With a whole chapter dedicated to bread baking, Emily and Matt have pulled out all the stops, showcasing exactly how the Dutch oven can do it all. Emily and Matt have shared a recipe with A Little Beacon Blog readers: “Chicken And Dumplings,” and we are so excited to try it - with some indigenous chives that come up every year in the yard. At least, we thought they were chives…

Matt chimed in to clarify: "Most often, when you see those chive-like clumps start coming up in spring, you’re seeing field garlic, a very common wild allium. The leaves are absolutely interchangeable for chives, and are a great forage provided you know the soil is not chemically-treated. Use them in our Creamy Chicken Stew with Chive Dumplings!"

Creamy Chicken Stew With Chive Dumplings Recipe

Say Emily and Matt: “Our version of this classic recipe results in tender chicken; a rich and creamy broth; and chive-flecked, light-as-air dumplings. While not traditional, popping the pot under the broiler for a few minutes gives the dumplings a beautiful golden-brown crust, a great contrast to their pillowy center. This is Southern fine dining.”

FOR THE STEW

4 tbsp (56 g) unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups (1.4 L) Golden Chicken Stock (page 84) or store-bought stock
1 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
3 lbs (1.4 kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
6 tbsp (48 g) all-purpose flour
1 (12-oz [355-ml]) can evaporated milk
4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, room temperature, cut into cubes

FOR THE DUMPLINGS

1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (6 g) baking powder
1⁄4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp (150 g) buttermilk
3 tbsp (45 ml) melted unsalted butter, cooled
1⁄4 cup (12 g) finely minced fresh chives, plus more for garnish

DIRECTIONS

To make the stew, melt the butter in a large Dutch oven set over medium heat.

Add the onion, celery, and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened but not browned, 8 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.

Add the stock, thyme, bay leaf, and chicken, making sure all the chicken pieces are submerged. Bring the liquid to a full boil, cover the pot, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 10 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let the chicken continue to poach in the hot broth for 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it sit until cool enough to handle. Shred the meat and cover it with foil to keep it warm. Set it aside.

Add the flour to a small bowl and whisk in the evaporated milk until the mixture is completely smooth. Turn the heat under the Dutch oven back to low and slowly pour the milk-flour mixture into the chicken stock, whisking constantly. Add the cream cheese, stirring until it melts. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, while you make the dumpling dough.

HOW TO MAKE THE DUMPLINGS

To make the dumplings, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper.

In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk, butter, and chives.

Slowly pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix it, or the dumplings will be tough.

Drop tablespoon-sized (15-g) dollops of dumpling dough on top of the stew, leaving a little room between each one. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.

The dumplings should have grown in size by roughly fivefold, and the interior should look like a soft dinner roll. If they’re not fully cooked, cover and cook for 2 minutes more.

If you like browned dumplings like we do, preheat your broiler while the dumplings are poaching. Once the dumplings are puffed, place the pot in the oven, uncovered, and broil until their tops are golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on your broiler.

Divide the chicken stew and dumplings among bowls, and top with more chives, if desired.

Reprinted with permission from The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook by Emily and Matt Clifton, Page Street Publishing Co. 2021. Photo credit: Emily and Matt Clifton

January 12, 2021

A Great Way To Spend Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day

January 12, 2021/ Teslie Andrade

The life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. will be observed on Monday, January 18. While the annual parade is unable to happen, there is still a deep way you can observe Martin Luther King Day: with a book. By Martin Luther King, Jr.

During this time while we are trying to come together - even if we were together before - we can be more deeply together now. Through perspectives. One way to share perspectives is to read who a community of people have been reading for decades: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself.

"I have attended the Martin Luther King Day Parade at the Springfield Baptist Church every year," says A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, Katie Hellmuth Martin. "But I never felt really connected. I always knew I was missing education. This year, I read my first book by Martin Luther King, Jr., 'Why We Can't Wait,' and it helped inform my perspective of what my Black and Brown neighbors have been saying. It has helped me have conversations with people I've always talked to and loved, but I started understanding what they were saying to me differently. Malcolm X is next on my list, but I'm in the middle of a work of fiction by Octavia E. Butler right now."

While there is never a bad time to read Dr. King’s books, now is an especially a good time to deeply reflect on Dr. King’s message and converse with those around us to emphasize the important values and messages he shared - racial equality.

Racism and colorism is a social disease that is affecting people all around the world - and is hard to pinpoint and define. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for racism - an invasive disease that can strike any one at any time.

Committing to social awareness can keep racism in check. This means becoming self aware - reading books, having those tough conversations (yes, with family members too), and standing up and supporting our local community organizers. Sometimes we will agree with leaders, sometimes we won't. It might depend on the specific cause, or way that cause is being carried out. You'll find out more about that in Dr. King's books!

Below is a list of books by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to help you start picking one you want to pick up for the first time, or again for a fresh read. We encourage you to shop from Binnacle Books, who is a local, independent bookstore in Beacon, and a sponsor and supporter of ALBB.

I Have a Dream (Book & CD)

“From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: “My father’s dream continues to live on from generation to generation, and this beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his world-changing "I Have a Dream" speech brings his inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us—those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone.”

Buy Now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.41.22 AM.png

I Have a Dream/Letter from Birmingham Jail

“Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington, a major civil rights demonstration. King references the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which declared that America would be a land of freedom where all men are created equal.”

buy now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.43.53 AM.png

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (King Legacy #2)

“In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., isolated himself from the demands of the civil rights movement, rented a house in Jamaica with no telephone, and labored over his final manuscript. In this prophetic work, which has been unavailable for more than ten years, he lays out his thoughts, plans, and dreams for America's future, including the need for better jobs, higher wages, decent housing, and quality education. With a universal message of hope that continues to resonate, King demanded an end to global suffering, asserting that humankind-for the first time-has the resources and technology to eradicate poverty.”

buy now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.46.06 AM.png

Why We Can't Wait

“Martin Luther King’s classic exploration of the events and forces behind the Civil Rights Movement—including his Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963.

“There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair.”

In 1963, Birmingham, Alabama, was perhaps the most racially segregated city in the United States. The campaign launched by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Civil Rights movement on the segregated streets of Birmingham demonstrated to the world the power of nonviolent direct action.

In this remarkable book—winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—Dr. King recounts the story of Birmingham in vivid detail, tracing the history of the struggle for civil rights back to its beginnings three centuries ago and looking to the future, assessing the work to be done beyond Birmingham to bring about full equality for African Americans. Above all, Dr. King offers an eloquent and penetrating analysis of the events and pressures that propelled the Civil Rights movement from lunch counter sit-ins and prayer marches to the forefront of American consciousness.

Since its publication in the 1960s, Why We Can’t Wait has become an indisputable classic. Now, more than ever, it is an enduring testament to the wise and courageous vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Includes photographs and an Afterword by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.”

buy now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.48.41 AM.png

Strength to Love

"“If there is one book Martin Luther King, Jr. has written that people consistently tell me has changed their lives, it is Strength to Love."

So wrote Coretta Scott King. She continued: "I believe it is because this book best explains the central element of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolence: His belief in a divine, loving presence that binds all life." That insight, luminously conveyed in this classic text, here presented in a new and attractive edition, hints at the personal transformation at the root of social justice: "By reaching into and beyond ourselves and tapping the transcendent moral ethic of love, we shall overcome these evils."

In these short meditative and sermonic pieces, some of them composed in jails and all of them crafted during the tumultuous years of the civil rights struggle, Dr. King articulated and espoused in a deeply personal compelling way his commitment to justice and to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual conversion that makes his work as much a blueprint today for Christian discipleship as it was then.

Individual readers, as well as church groups and students will find in this work a challenging yet energizing vision of God and redemptive love.”

buy now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.51.11 AM.png

A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

"“We've got some difficult days ahead," civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., told a crowd gathered at Memphis's Clayborn Temple on April 3, 1968. "But it really doesn't matter to me now because I've been to the mountaintop. . . . And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land."

These prophetic words, uttered the day before his assassination, challenged those he left behind to see that his "promised land" of racial equality became a reality; a reality to which King devoted the last twelve years of his life.

These words and others are commemorated here in the only major one-volume collection of this seminal twentieth-century American prophet's writings, speeches, interviews, and autobiographical reflections. A Testament of Hope contains Martin Luther King, Jr.'s essential thoughts on nonviolence, social policy, integration, black nationalism, the ethics of love and hope, and more.”

buy now

Screen Shot 2021-01-12 at 11.52.28 AM.png

I Have a Dream - Special Anniversary Edition: Writings and Speeches That Changed the World

"“His life informed us, his dreams sustain us yet."*

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial looking out over thousands of troubled Americans who had gathered in the name of civil rights and uttered his now famous words, "I have a dream . . ." It was a speech that changed the course of history.

This fortieth-anniversary edition honors Martin Luther King Jr.'s courageous dream and his immeasurable contribution by presenting his most memorable words in a concise and convenient edition. As Coretta Scott King says in her foreword, "This collection includes many of what I consider to be my husband's most important writings and orations." In addition to the famed keynote address of the 1963 march on Washington, the renowned civil rights leader's most influential words included here are the "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," the essay "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence," and his last sermon, "I See the Promised Land," preached the day before he was assassinated.

Editor James M. Washington arranged the selections chronologically, providing headnotes for each selection that give a running history of the civil rights movement and related events. In his introduction, Washington assesses King's times and significance.

*From the citation of the posthumous award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., July 4, 1977”

buy now

The Radical King (King Legacy #11)

“A revealing collection that restores Dr. King as being every bit as radical as Malcolm X”

“The radical King was a democratic socialist who sided with poor and working people in the class struggle taking place in capitalist societies. . . . The response of the radical King to our catastrophic moment can be put in one word: revolution—a revolution in our priorities, a reevaluation of our values, a reinvigoration of our public life, and a fundamental transformation of our way of thinking and living that promotes a transfer of power from oligarchs and plutocrats to everyday people and ordinary citizens. . . . Could it be that we know so little of the radical King because such courage defies our market-driven world?” —Cornel West, from the Introduction

Every year, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is celebrated as one of the greatest orators in US history, an ambassador for nonviolence who became perhaps the most recognizable leader of the civil rights movement. But after more than forty years, few people appreciate how truly radical he was.

Arranged thematically in four parts, The Radical King includes twenty-three selections, curated and introduced by Dr. Cornel West, that illustrate King’s revolutionary vision, underscoring his identification with the poor, his unapologetic opposition to the Vietnam War, and his crusade against global imperialism. As West writes, “Although much of America did not know the radical King—and too few know today—the FBI and US government did. They called him ‘the most dangerous man in America.’ . . . This book unearths a radical King that we can no longer sanitize.”

buy now

November 19, 2020

Where To Buy Thanksgiving Pies Near Beacon!

November 19, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

And just like that, Thanksgiving is one week away! Although it might look a little different this year, the Hudson Valley is filled with the best places to get the most delicious pies. Plus, what a better time than now to shop small & support locals! Right?!

See below for the list of businesses near Beacon that are selling pies! Some places already closed their pre-order window. Pies are going fast! Can ya blame people?

If we missed you, please email teslie@alittlebeaconblog with your hot tip :)

BEACON

Beacon Bread Company

Beacon, NY

Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
Email beaconbread@gmail.com for an order form if you can’t make it to the shop!

Beacon, NY

Pre-order until TONIGHT 11/20 or inquire to see if you can be squeezed in ;)
More details HERE.

NEWBURGH

Newburgh Flour Shop

Newburgh, NY

Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
More details HERE.

WAPPINGERS FALLS

Sweet Bakes Cafe

Wappingers Falls, NY

More details HERE.

O’ Heavenly Cake

Wappingers Falls, NY

Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
Message to order or email oheavenlycake@gmail.com

FISHKILL

The Cakery

Fishkill, NY

Pre-orders extended until TONIGHT 11/19

More details HERE.

COLDSPRING

Screen Shot 2020-11-19 at 2.35.38 PM.png

Hudson Hil’s

Coldspring, NY

Call 844-265-9471 or email hudsonhils@gmail.com

Coldspring Coffeehouse

Coldspring, NY

Pre-order until Tuesday 11/24

More details HERE.

OTHER

Adams Fairacre Farms

Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Newburgh and Wappingers

See Holiday Catering Info HERE.

Key Food Beacon

Key Food does sell pies, and carries different brands from time to time. They have been known to carry Junior’s Cheesecake, so give them a try.

Beacon Natural Market

Frozen pies including apple pie and others!

ALL DONE OR NOT OFFERING

We called around to some usual suspects, and they either passed their deadline, or aren’t doing it this year. These include:

Fishkill Farms
The Beacon Daily
Homespun Foods

November 11, 2020

Reminder From Beacon Arts To Apply for Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts Grants

November 11, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

*From Beacon Arts: Gwen Laster and Creative Strings Improvisers Orchestra, 2019 Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts Grant Recipient.*

Reminder: Applications now being accepted for the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts 2020 Grants

Deadline: November 15, 2020

The goal of the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts is to fund Beacon projects not generally supported by other area arts organizations, including individual artist’s projects, unique exhibition, performance or public art projects, arts education programs, and community projects that promote area artists and arts activities and that draw attention to the valuable role of arts and culture in our community.

To honor Clara Lou Gould upon the occasion of her retirement after 18 years of service as Beacon’s Mayor, and in recognition of her support of arts and culture in Beacon, BeaconArts created a special Fund for the Arts named for Beacon’s former Mayor. Because Mayor Gould was born and raised in Cold Spring but spent most of her adult life in Beacon, the arts fund is designed to support arts and cultural projects and activities in the Greater Beacon community, including projects that may be initiated outside Beacon but benefit the arts community in the Beacon area of New York.

The Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County.

The 2020 round of applications for the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts is now open, for projects taking place between December 1, 2020-November 30, 2021.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or be fiscally sponsored by one. If you would like information about fiscal sponsorship through BeaconArts, please visit Beacon Arts website.

Application deadline: November 15, 2020

Apply Online Now

August 28, 2020

Best Sidewalk Sign of the Week and MOD Is Delivering!

August 28, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

You read that right! Meyer’s Olde Dutch, sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, is now offering delivery through door dash!

Not only is the food beyond delicious, but they use the finest ingredients including local food purveyors such as beef from the Hudson Valley, cheese from NY State and produce from local farmers.

In addition to beef burgers, the menu offers chicken, hot dogs and vegan options with multiple toppings and house-made signature sauces, plus hand-cut fries, salads and daily specials. Their full-service bar features a large selection of NY craft beer, locally produced wine and house-crafted cocktails.

All items are available via counter service and serviced in open seating and a back open-air patio.

Also, did you know Meyer’s Old Dutch is named after Chef/Owner Brian Arnoff’s great grandfather Meyer, who once owned and operated Old Dutch Grocery across the river in Middletown, NY? Brian also owns Kitchen Sink Food & Drink, a casual, fine dining restaurant in Beacon.

Head on in and take a bite of Beacon! OR OR OR, order for DELIVERY!

become a sponsor here!

August 27, 2020

A Little Retail Therapy For Getting You Through Your Wednesday!

August 27, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Getting you through your Wednesday hump day! You need a little retail therapy right? Us too! That’s why we took the walk down to Raven Rose, whose storefront window is so alluring, and the decorative walls inside with her dried flowers hanging from antique ladders will have your creative wheels turning.

They bring together a variety of small makers to create an assortment of minimally designed goods for you and your home. In addition to the gift items, Raven Rose offers local flower delivery in Beacon and carry an array of houseplants and gardening items. For more flower delivery shops in Beacon, see A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide!

Need wedding flowers for your upcoming wedding that was maybe postponed? Raven Rose is your go-to! Their flowers have a unique character and beauty that can make your wedding yours! They will also work closely with you to create florals that reflect your style and personality.

Raven Rose is open Monday-Saturday from 11AM-6PM and Sunday 11AM-5PM. Hours are subject to change! Call to confirm 845-765-8660 - check to see if Milo is there too! Either in his dog bed or in further into the store. You don’t want to miss him…

August 25, 2020

Running for Human Rights: Beacon Woman, Tara Simmons Aims to Inspire Others by Running 100 miles This October in Pursuit of Crossing The Country in 2024

August 25, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Starting Saturday afternoon on October 3rd, Tara Simmons will begin a 100mile journey from Albany to Beacon. She plans to run through the night in order to complete the race on Sunday afternoon, October 4th at approximately 4PM, finishing at Beacon Riverfront.

Who is Tara?

A Beacon native, Tara has been running since the 7th grade when she joined her middle school cross country team has since gone on to complete 5 marathons, and 2 half iron woman.

Tara decided she would use running across America to achieve her dream to raise awareness of Human Rights, calling her race FLIP IT 4 RESPECT. She said her run will be all about “educating, empowering and encouraging ALL people of the importance of receiving and giving respect to ALL, in each moment, because we ALL deserve it.”

Running Against Domestic Violence

For Tara, October is symbolic of her journey in discovering her own Human Rights. Tara said, “October is domestic violence awareness month. Domestic violence is part of my story, but today I stand strong. I am running this October to pay tribute to a local organization, Grace Smith House, for their help in my journey, for helping me regain my strength. I’m more than my past, I’m stronger than my past, I’m excited for the future. I want others to know their right for respect.”

Tara plans to raise awareness of human rights by encouraging others to complete the United For Human Rights, free online e-course found at www.humanrights.com She will also be spreading the message through educational guides and conducting live workshops beginning this fall.

The Flip It 4 Respect run strives to bring attention to this message, across the country, one step, one kilometer, at a time. Her ultimate goal is to run from Death Valley, California by traveling a 100K a day, to Beacon, New York. She will tackle her goal of running across country while raising awareness by completing milestone races over the next few years. This race in October, will mark her first milestone for in the journey.

Along the way, Tara will be accompanied by a dedicated team of friends and family that will be on hand to support her with fuel for 100-mile journey. Among the crew will be Tara’s 3 children(ages 19, 14 and 11), who are among her most enthusiastic supporters. Her brother Rueben Simmons of Beacon’s Highway Department will also be running, cheered on by her sister Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon.

While spending most of her time and energy planning her journey, Tara is also a middle school teacher and local fitness coach. She plans on sharing her experience with her students and hopes to inspire them to continue setting and reaching extraordinary goals. Tara hopes everyone takes her message of “Hope, Choice, Love. This 100-mile is a demonstration to myself and others, I’m more than the story I wrap myself in. If I can do it, you can too!”

Join Tara!

For anyone who would like to join in her efforts or to find out more about Simmons’ run, visit www.FlipIt4Life.com or find her on Facebook at Flip It 4 Life.

Contact Info:

Tara Simmons | 845.702.6273 | flipit4life@gmail.com

Flip It 4 Respect – Running for Human Rights

www.flipit4life.com | www.facebook.com/Flip-It-4-Life

August 10, 2020

Announcing New Podcast From A Little Beacon Blog: "Wait, What Is That?"

August 10, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Hello!

The inspiration for A Little Beacon Blog came from not knowing about things in Beacon. Could be the timing of a Spring Egg Hunt, or it could be why the Spirit of Beacon Day started (answer: after youth inspired racial riots decades ago!).

As the City of Beacon began growing with development of apartment buildings, a reader lamented one day: "A Little Beacon Blog isn't going to be so little anymore." And here's the truth: A Little Beacon Blog has the word "little" in it for 2 reasons:

1. The assumption was that there would be a lot of blogs about Beacon. Turns out, that manifested in the form of Instagram accounts, which are awesome.

2. ALBB always focuses on the little details. Could be a rose, could be a tree, could be an honoree, could be a bench, could a wrench.

In The Beginning...

At the beginning of the pandemic, people starting recording more videos. Disconnect people from each other, and we break out of comfort zones into new mediums in order to connect. This happened at A Little Beacon Blog too, in the form of a podcast. We set up a studio in Katie's shed, which is ventilated with 2 doors, a fan and an air conditioner, and we wear masks during interviews. Plexiglass is next.

About The Co-Hosts...

Brandon Lillard is the co-host of this podcast, and the recording producer. Raised in the City of Beacon, some of you may remember him from that time he attended Beacon High School and created a character for himself: Mr. Beacon High. This was his way of working with many different people. Brandon went on to become a community organizer, youth mentor and podcast producer with Youth Podcast Program, and is a board member for I Am Beacon. Brandon had nudged ALBB's publisher Katie for a while (ok, 5 years) to start a podcast. When in a pandemic, she said yes.

We are so excited to announce to you today the start of the podcast extension of A Little Beacon Blog, called "Wait, What Is That?" It's a podcast dedicated to finding out the answers behind simple and hard questions. Sometimes during our interviews, we discover more questions, and pursue new topics to dig deeper. This could be about donuts made in Connecticut but named after Brooklyn, or the Federal Investigation of the Beacon Police Department many years ago.

We have 5 episodes to start you out with. Do carve the time out of your day during your commute to nowhere, or your gardening time, or your outdoor fitness time.

Many of these episodes will serve you well in your homework for issues going on right now in Beacon.

episodes

EPISODE 1: The Beginning
Brandon and Katie record their first podcast. Not sure what they were going to talk about. And then Brandon brought the Brooklyn Baking Company Donuts. Which are from Connecticut. And go…

go listen

EPISODE 2: Let's Do This
Because sometimes you just need a cup of coffee and a Popsicle. In discovering their voices, Brandon and Katie take a deep dive into that house on the corner of Cross Street that is a storefront window. Brandon remembers when it was a deli and he went there daily on his way to and from the old Beacon High School.

go listen

EPISODE 3: Former Mayor Randy Casale
Well HELLO. Our first interview is with the former Mayor of Beacon for 2 terms: Randy Casale. A born and bread Beaconite who knows everything about everything Beacon. Everything.

We interviewed Randy when he was fresh out of his political silence, during the debate about his stepson's bench and if it should be removed or moved. The original interview was 3 hours.

At the recommendation of his attorney, the podcast was edited down to 39 minutes. The bench issue has been settled for now, so he did not want to reignite.

We talk to him about his experience with the Beacon Police Department, his insistence on and fight for body cameras, and the Federal Investigation of the Beacon PD years ago.

He also discusses with us about the demotion of a Highway Superintendent, Reuben Simmons, who was demoted back down to a worker position, how a mysterious letter dis-crediting Reuben was hand-delivered to a council person's porch, how Civil Service rules worked to legally let it all happen, and if the City of Beacon had an opportunity to keep Reuben in his job, but did not take that route. Even though Randy voted for the appointment of the current Highway Superintendent, Randy said Reuben having the position be taken from him was one of his biggest regrets.

go listen

EPISODE 4: Mayor Lee Kyriacou
BAM. Our next interview was with current Mayor Lee Kyriacou. During Randy’s interview, and during the 1st biggest BLM protest in Beacon, we learned that Lee spearheaded the look-see into Beacon’s Police Department in the early 2000s, which resulted in a Federal Investigation. We wanted to learn more about that.

go listen

EPISODE 5: Reuben Simmons
Following up on what we learned earlier, we interviewed Reuben about how and why he no longer has the position of Highway Superintendent, after 1 year of serving in it. Katie worked with Reuben when he created the Rock Out For Mental Health music event last year. Many service agencies came together at one community event, which impacted a lot of people.

When Katie wrote the article about Reuben's inspiration for the event, she went to confirm his job title, which had been Highway Superintendent. Reuben worked for the Highway Department since 2002, and she was proud of his promotion. But LinkedIn showed a job descension: where he once was the Highway Superintendent, he was now Maintenance Worker. What happened?

Reuben couldn't answer at the time, as he was filing a complaint about the experience. One year later, at the first BLM sound stage, Reuben spoke out about it. Reuben walks us through the chess match of Civil Service rules which determine how a city can hire, fire, demote, and discipline employees.

Reuben says he did not know about the mystery letter until much later. A Little Beacon Blog has a copy of it, and published it with this podcast so that you can read it. Additionally, we have published the City Council Meeting from February 2019 where each City Council Member voted to appoint Reuben's co-worker to the job under a technicality. During that meeting, many from the Highway Department were in the audience (except for the 3 Black workers in the Highway Department, including Reuben, who say they were not told about the date of the appointment). The staff from the Highway Department can be heard hooting and hollering during the vote. Many on the Council laughed with them.

Reuben continues his work every day for the City, but has this to say on why he speaks out now: "I have experienced unfair treatment, harassment, and retaliation in the Highway Department that has continued after my efforts to bring a number of issues to the attention of city management and leadership. I share my story as a response to the many narratives and rumors spread by childish individuals and because I don’t want it happening to anyone else."

The letter, the public City Council meeting with the laughter, and a timeline of events have been published with this podcast. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to the City Administrator for confirmation of the timeline, and was responded to with an invitation to talk to the City's labor lawyer. While we don't need a conversation, we are awaiting an email response to our questions.

If you're following Police news with any hiring of positions, you'll want to listen to this podcast to get familiar with Civil Service chess. If you want to learn about how someone gets safely removed from a job without legal ramifications, you'll want to listen to this podcast.

go listen

EPISODE 6: Ali T. Muhammad
Ali T. Muhammad was born and raised in Beacon, NY, walking every day down a literal pathway between prison and public school, as his home was on the grounds. He walked the “school to prison pipeline” (and tells us about what that means on this podcast). His father was incarcerated for 12 years, and upon getting released, became the Chaplin for Fishkill Correctional Facility. Ali’s mother was a teacher at Rombout Middle School (and was Brandon’s teacher!).

Ali lived the life of a Black youth in Beacon, and continues to as a Black man in America. As a way to keep himself occupied and on a straight path, he began getting involved with local politics, getting elected as a Council Member for Ward 4 at an early age.

Ali served on Beacon's City Council years ago, and after a period bucking his own Democratic party, wasn't elected back. He was known to stay focused on issues of inequality for Black and poor communities, but was often dismissed. His concerns are coming back to make sense now to more people during this racial revolution. Katie and Brandon talk to Ali about those issues, including how to build a WeePlay Tot Park at Davies Terrace and other low income housing projects that are owned by private, large, wealthy real estate companies. Lots of times kids in the low income housing projects don't have access to transportation to get to city parks, and depend on taxis to get to the Beacon Pool - if they can afford the ride. We discuss this and more.

go listen

on deck

Next Up: We interview Katie's son, Cole, who wanted to talk about his feelings upon hearing that Paw Patrol might be canceled, and then fact checking the White House who in late July said it was canceled, but was in fact not. Cole tells us what he values about Paw Patrol.

Then: We'll meet our sometimes 3rd co-host, Blake Daniel Leslie, a musician, artist, actor and podcaster. And Brandon's best friend. You might recognize Blake from his days with the cover-band Skin and Bones who used to play around town.

And a few more: We have a few more interviews on deck. We interview on Wednesdays, and will release as they are produced.

July 21, 2020

New Sustainably Farmed And Vegan Wine Store 'Dirty Bacchus' Opens On Main Street

July 21, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Photo Credit: Dirty Bacchus — *Photo Credit:* *Dirty Bacchus*

You read that right! There’s a new wine store on Main Street specializing in wines that are low-intervention, organic or biodynamic, sustainably farmed and vegan.

On Saturday, June 27, Dirty Bacchus officially opened the doors on Main Street right next to The Beacon Pantry. Yes, an artisan cheese & charcuterie shop now conveniently placed next to a sustainable wine store- talk about a one stop shop! Whether you enjoy a fancy red, a cool white or a refreshing rosé, Dirty Bacchus has it all. The shop will soon carry Sake, Cider and Mead as well. I (Teslie) had the chance to interact with owner Steve Ventura, and immediately noticed his passion for fine wines and knowledge of his products.

He was gracious enough to share his story on “The How and Why of Dirty Bacchus” below:

So… I’ve been into wine for over four decades. In the late ‘90s and ‘00s I detoured into bourbon and then scotch and finally, very specifically, into independently bottled single malt scotch, about which, for years, I maintained a blog called The Maltfreak. Soon after moving from Southeastern Massachusetts to Beacon, I was contacted by someone opening a boutique wine and liquor store who wanted me to help choose his inventory of brown liquors. Once there, I was hired to clerk in the store and to consult on buying both liquor and wine. It was then, dealing with the reps from the different importers and wine vendors, that I started getting more deeply into natural wines - they were only a casual interest before that. Soon after, another buyer was hired at the store and she had an even stronger predilection for natural wines. I learned a great deal from her and, before long, I was drinking natural wines at home almost exclusively.

Then utterly exclusively!

As a co-owner of Quinn’s, I was never able to indulge my taste for natural wines because, well, it just never made sense to stock them in a beer-and-saki-centered rock and jazz club with a very small stock room and a Japanese menu.

One day in July last year, I was talking to a friend and Beacon business owner who was in the beginning stages of opening a small wine store at 380 Main Street - the address of Dirty Bacchus. She had run into some snags and, well, life itself, and could no longer deal with all the work and money and time involved in opening a new business. Her plate was more than full. Did I want to take over the lease and open the wine store myself, she asked? Right next to an amazing cheese shop? The landlords are friends of mine, so that was good. I told her I’d let her know in 24 hours. I talked to my wife Sue about it that night and we decided that such a project was worth the risk and might even be fun. By August 22, my application had been submitted to the State Liquor Authority and, a mere ten months later (!!!), with a global plague and an economic implosion intervening, my license was approved. It took about six or eight weeks to taste with dozens of wine reps, to decide on inventory - much of which I already knew I wanted to stock - and to open the store. My first day open to the public was June 27, 2020.

Walk-ins are limited to two customers at at time and they must wear masks and use the provided hand sanitizer before touching the bottles. Beacon being Beacon, nobody, so far, has had a problem with those restrictions.

There are three main reasons I decided to focus the store exclusively on natural, organic or biodynamic, vegan, low-intervention, sustainably farmed, non-commercial wines and wine makers. The first, of course, is the wine. The variety of textures, of gustatory surprises and pleasures, of fascinating and compelling aromas and tastes, seems endless in the category of natural wines. And to me, it just tastes better, more alive, fresher, more quenching, a beverage it is easy to imagine people drinking with their meals throughout the centuries - after all, the synthetic chemical agriculture so prevalent today is only 70 to 90 years old. Before that, all wine was organic and even, to some extent, biodynamic due to the ecological diversity of most farms before monocultural farming became commonplace.

But the second reason for the store’s narrow focus is the future. The future of the planet. My moment of utter conversion to natural wines came at the intersection of a bottle of biodynamic, zero sulfur Gamay wine made in Burgundy, France by vigneron François Ecot, and the book I was reading when I uncorked it - Cultural Insurrection: A Manifesto for the Arts, Agriculture and Natural Wine by Jonathan Nossiter. Combined, those two influences stripped wine of the exclusivity, arrogance and class pretensions that so often accompany it and revealed it for what is really is, an agricultural product, a very human product intended for common conviviality, one that must, like so much else, be made in the most sustainable manner possible if humanity is going to survive much longer on this planet. Natural wine making is a compelling, in-motion, working example of the changes in habit, materials and scale that must, as soon as possible, be applied universally.

As I state on our website (www.dirtybacchus.com): “We see Dirty Bacchus as a farm stand, as a place where farmers who devote themselves to the arduous hands-on cultivation of flourishing vineyards, and where winemakers who devote themselves to the transformation of those vineyards’ robust grapes into wine, get to display and sell the products of their toil and care.”

Which brings us to the third and final reason for the store’s focus: The types of people who are making natural wine. Nearly all of them are some combination of rock star, sage, poet, scholar and the coolest parents you knew of growing up. There are so many women, so many young people, so many husbands and wives and joyous eccentrics working together in the realms of organic and biodynamic agriculture and of natural winemaking - it is just so inspiring that it fills me with hope for the future. And hope for the future is something truly precious right now.

To end, I would like to thank all the people who have helped and inspired me, but especially these three: My wife Sue, who heard every wild idea I had for the store and patiently guided me to the ideas we could actually afford and put into place, and two of the best friends any man could have - Rob Penner (www.beaconfineartprinting.com), art photographer and printer extraordinaire, and David Smolen, artist and finest of fine woodworkers. Without their skills, their tireless work, their patience and their generosity, I could never have realized the dream come true that is now Dirty Bacchus.

July 02, 2020

Restaurants Open On Main Street For The 4th Of July

July 02, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Open For Takeout & Indoor Dining

menu here

Draught Industries

Open For Outdoor Dining & Takeout

menu here

Joe's Irish Pub

Open For Indoor Dining & Takeout

Chill Wine Bar

Open For Take Out & Dine-In With Limited Spacious Seating. Outdoor Seating Available (very limited)

menu here

Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co

Open 12-4 on Saturday (4th of July) for all of your last minute S’mores-making supplies!

Info here

The Roundhouse

Patio 11:30am - 10pm
Smoke on the Water BBQ restaurant 11:30am - 10pm

menu here

PENDING CONFIRMATION

The Pandorica

Tito Santana

The Towne Crier Cafe

Big Mouth Coffee Roasters

Oak Vino Wine Bar

The Beacon Hotel Restaurant

CLOSED

Melzingah Tap Room

Roma Nova

Baja 328

Eat Church ( Closed Saturday & Sunday)

Wonderbar

June 11, 2020

But First, We Break For Cookies. To Refuel.

June 11, 2020/ Teslie Andrade

Cookies. Batches of cookies. And sermons. Then coffee… (maybe…but it’s too hot.) While we are blogging about police brutality, exposures of racism, and racial targeting of black people by the police, the Phase 2 Reopening is happening, which has business friends on Main Street very excited. Chocolate chip cookies are very important fuel for the Phase 2 Reopening Weekend.

A Little Beacon Blog has been updating our Restaurant Guide with new offerings and ways of working for the restaurants. In the works are more outside dining opportunities, that the City of Beacon and Dutchess County have been clearing red tape on to make it easier on restaurants to spread out more safely.

By the way: Kitchen Sink Provisions is live. They have products to help make your weekend meals more Kitchen Sink-y. They also have a number of prepared foods coming online later today (6/11), including their famous brisket grilled cheese.

Weekend meal planning has started.