Howland Public Library's 2019 Halloween Costume Exchange Is Coming Up

The Howland Public Library always has something up its sleeve! And this time, it could be a witch’s sleeve, as the library hosts an upcoming Costume Exchange happening Thursday to Saturday, October 3 to 5, at the library.

The Costume Exchange

Do you have a Halloween costume from years past in good condition that you have outgrown? Trade it in for one that’s new-to-you for 2019!

Local families are invited to participate in Howland Public Library's Annual Halloween Costume Exchange. Donate a new or clean and gently used children's costume, and take home another costume in exchange.* 

Swap days are Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 from 2 to 5 pm, and Saturday, October 5 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Families can stop by to donate, swap, or pick up during any of those times. 

 For more information, contact Michelle Rivas at community@beaconlibrary.org. The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main St., Beacon, NY. 

*The fine print: Children's costumes only. Library will accept clean costumes with no stains, holes or runs. HPL reserves the right to turn away costumes. We cannot guarantee you will find a suitable costume in the exchange.

Political Pop-Up Office At The Library With Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson

Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) has announced “Pop-up Office Hours” in Beacon on Tuesday, September 17, from 6 to 8 pm at the Howland Public Library, 313 Main St.

Jacobson said in a press release, “Most people work 9-5 Monday through Friday and can’t take time off their jobs to visit my offices with issues or concerns they might have. I want the residents of the 104th to know that my staff and I are here to help them.”

Jacobson has two district offices: 47 Grand Street in Newburgh and One Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101 in Poughkeepsie.

Both offices offer free notary public and Spanish language assistance by appointment. To make an appointment to meet with the Assemblymember in Beacon, please call his Newburgh office at (845) 562-0888.

Lately, his issues have been with traffic, and easing up congestion on 9D at the entrance of the Beacon/Newburgh Bridge.

What will your questions/concerns be?

We’ve been wondering about sales tax. Beacon, along with Poughkeepsie, has a long-standing agreement with Dutchess County to have sales tax issued here be collected by Dutchess County. Beacon then gets a check for a flat rate, per their agreement with the county. So how much is Beacon bringing in? With all of these new stores moving in and out and being bought and sold?

So far, we’ve been unable to get that number. From anyone. Article to come. Being business owners, we are used to knowing exactly how much sales tax we generate - no matter if that sales tax is issued through the door of a brick and mortar, or via online sales where products may ship out of Beacon.

Maybe we’ll ask!

Kids + Bus Safety Is Crucial In First Days Of School - Antalek and Moore Gives Tips (Sponsored)

The end of summer vacation comes too quickly and before you know it, it’s that time of year again! School buses are picking up children all around, parents are in a rush to drop their kids off without being late to work, and kids are on their bikes rushing to catch first period. “This can be a dangerous time because children - as well as drivers - are adjusting to back-to-school routines,” says Alex Epstein, director of Transportation Safety for the National Safety Council (NSC). Fortunately, Antalek & Moore has a few key tips to keep our community safe and happy:

BE PATIENT – STOP AND WAIT
Share the road with school buses. We know the first few days take a little longer to get the kids loaded, but be patient! Who doesn't love a good first day back-to-school picture with their kids waving from the bus?  

KIDS IN MOST DANGER NEAR THEIR BUS
According to the National Safety Council, the most dangerous area for children is within 10 feet of their bus. Give them space to load and unload. This is especially true in the first few weeks of school as kids are excited and getting used to this year's routine.
If the bus has its lights on and its stop sign out - it is never safe to pass the bus. This applies to multiple lanes as well, so be aware when traveling on a road like Route 9 as school buses may be traveling in the opposite direction.

WATCH FOR KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL
We have a good amount of our students who walk to and from school in Beacon. Please be aware of them, especially in a school zone. Be sure to follow posted speed limits, avoid blocking crosswalks when stopped, and keep an eye out for crossing guards. 

Many children nationwide begin and end their days with a trip to and from school, whether that’s by bus, walking or biking. By exercising a little extra care and caution, we can create a happy and safe school zone. Wishing all Beacon City School District students, a happy and safe 2019-2020 school year!

How To Participate In The Spirit Of Beacon Day Parade - As A Marcher Or Table

A few readers have written in with questions about how to participate in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade and street celebration. The parade is always on the last Sunday in September, which this year is September 29, and runs from Wolcott Ave./Polhill Park at the beginning of Main Street (near Bank Square) all the way to Tioranda Avenue (just past the Howland Cultural Center). Participants in the parade usually include the Beacon city schools, nonprofits, businesses, and others.

Learn more about the Spirit of Beacon Day here in our article about the new leadership, as well as the event’s history.

After the parade, people return to the middle of Main Street to enjoy the tables set up by different groups to come together with the community. If you are thinking of marching/rolling in the parade, or if you want a table, here are some guidelines from the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee, as posted on their new website:

Who Can Register For A Table At The Event?

Local nonprofits, community groups, schools, churches and Main Street businesses. Space is limited: The nonprofit groups get registered first (since this has been the tradition), and additional spaces will be available to Main Street businesses.

How To Register For A Table

1) Local nonprofits, community groups, schools and churches register first, during July/August. If you would like to register your community organization, contact spiritofbeacon@gmail.com.

2) Any additional spaces available after August are offered to Main Street businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact spiritofbeacon@gmail.com.

Who Marches In The Parade?

Local schools, churches, not-for-profit organizations, veterans, community groups, local businesses, Beacon’s City Council and first responders (like police, firefighters, etc).

How To Participate In The Parade As A Marcher

A registration letter is sent out in July and will be also available online. Contact spiritofbeacon@gmail.com.

Spirit Of Beacon Photo Exhibit At Howland Public Library

Over 30 people submitted the best of their Beacon photos to the second annual Spirit of Beacon Photo Exhibit, produced by the The Howland Public Library (HPL) and the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee. The artistic challenge was to find the best photo that captures the essence of the "Spirit of Beacon." Is it the people, the connection to the river, the historical buildings, the beautiful mountains, all of the above, or something else?

The photos have been chosen and will be on display starting opening night, (Second) Saturday, September 14, from 5 to 7 pm. The exhibit, curated by Michelle Rivas and Jennifer Blakeslee, will be on display through Sunday, October 6.

Stop by the library on opening night to see the annual community “portrait” of the City of Beacon. 

The Howland Public Library is centrally located at 313 Main Street in Beacon, NY. For more information, go to beaconlibrary.org.

Photo by Cindy Gould

Photo by Jennifer Blakeslee

Photo by Dylan Wood

Photo by Kevin Bertholf

Photo by Bill Winter

Photo by Rick Rogers

Photo by Carolyn Glauda

Photo by Kelly Ellenwood

Photo by Cynthia Careccia

Photo Uncredited

Photo by Philomena Kiernan

Photo by Ross Corsair

Yes, There Is A Kids Halloween Parade In Beacon And It's...

You all are getting ready for Halloween already, and are writing in to ask us if there is a Kids Halloween Parade this year. Yes, there is! Always check A Little Beacon Blog’s Events Calendar for yearly events.

The Kids Halloween Parade will be Sunday, October 27, 2019. We are getting details on this year’s start time and parade route. As of now, it is the same day as the rain date for the Beacon Car Show, which is Sunday, October 20. Hopefully the weather will be great that day, with no need for a rain date.

Read more about what to expect from this Halloween Parade in our article about it.

New Stop Sign For Elm and Oak Streets, Making It A Four-Way Stop In The Land Of One-Way Streets

The intersection of Elm and Oak Streets is about to get a fourth stop sign, after a unanimous vote by Beacon’s City Council this week (9/3/2019), completing this intersection as a four-way stop. Located in a neighborhood featuring several one-way streets and hedges that swell into the sidewalk, peeking around the corner to see who is coming or zooming through can be difficult.

Several intersections in this area of town, which generally stretches from behind Rite Aid to Max’s on Main, do not have four-way stops. Knowing whether you need to come to a complete stop is not obvious, as sometimes there is no stop sign where you think there would be one, causing the driver to slow down, which might cause the opposite driver at the actual stop sign to consider going. It’s just all confusing.

Note to selves: Let this stop sign installation be an inspiration to moving forward with your dreams of encouraging improvements on streets around you. If you wish something were so, go on down to a City Council meeting and ask for it - with logic informing you and in a gentle tone (some folks can be quite feisty, but kindness helps… You also might start by emailing your council representative). For instance, there are vanishing sidewalks and crosswalks to nowhere at Verplanck and Willow Street, making crossing safely at any of the four corners unsafe, and actually impossible if you are rolling in a wheelchair or pushing a stroller.

Electric wheelchair traffic is common in Beacon. Broken or non-existent sidewalks are a barrier to travel, leaving lots of pedestrians and electric rollers to travel in the street.

Mayor Issues Warning About Aggressive Driving In Beacon - Police Are Ticketing!

During a recent City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 3, Mayor Casale issued a warning to everyone driving that the police are out looking for aggressive driving, and are ready to give tickets. During their meetings this summer, the City Council has been talking about parking issues, possibilities of bike lanes, and traffic congestion in general.

“Police have been on Main Street to watch for this aggressive driving. I sat in a storefront and saw seven U-turns. This is your warning. If you get a ticket, don't call me. Be aware of the law.”

As Main Street fills up with vehicle traffic from tourists and locals, so has reckless driving, especially as the weekend approaches. Illegal U-turns are commonplace, passing on the double yellow line while a car is parking is becoming normal (it’s not legal and is super dangerous… it’s easy to flatten a pedestrian you don’t see crossing while a car is parallel parking), young kids on bikes are doing wheelies while taunting traffic, and other mischievous fun.

The double yellow lines just started getting their seasonal repaint job this week, as announced by the City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero.

Wee Play's Community Mural Project Needs Kids To Help Paint!

Wee Play Project is excited to collaborate with local artist and educator Joe Pimentel on a community mural at Memorial Park this Summer! For two weeks in August (Monday to Friday, August 12-16 and August 19-23), they will be painting all four sides of the bathroom building located right near the parking lot to the main city park and playground.

Joe has worked with kids on numerous collaborative murals across the Hudson Valley, including recent murals at Glenham Elementary, Sargent Elementary, Rombout Middle, and Beacon High School. Wee Play is thrilled to have the chance to work with Joe and sure hope you can come get creative with them! To learn more about this project and sign up, click here!

Accepting Photos: Spirit Of Beacon Day 2019 Juried Photo Exhibit

Photo Credit: Howland Public Library

The Howland Public Library Calls For Photography:
Show Us The Spirit of Beacon!

The Spirit of Beacon Day is a citywide celebration for the community of Beacon, NY, held annually since 1977 on the last Sunday of September. The parade and festival highlight local community groups, volunteer organizations and schools, all joining together with local businesses on Beacon's vibrant Main Street. A day to bring the city together, especially the children and youth. Members of the community should get to know one another better, learn to know what each other likes through conversation, feelings, entertainment, education, and food.

The Howland Public Library wants to know: “What does The Spirit of Beacon mean to you?”

The Howland Public Library and the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee are looking for photographs that best capture the essence of The Spirit of Beacon. What makes our community so unique? Can you capture it in an image? Is it the beautiful mountains, the historic architecture, the connection to the river, the vibrant community, all of the above, or something else? Share your vision with us! Photographers of ALL ages and skill levels are invited to submit their original photos.

Selected photos will be exhibited in the Community Room Exhibit Space at the Howland Public Library in Beacon, NY, during the month of September as part of the Spirit of Beacon celebration. A reception for the community will be held on Second Saturday, September 14.

How to Enter

• Email up to three of your photos that you feel best capture the Spirit of Beacon for consideration to communityart@beaconlibrary.org.

• Images should be in jpeg format. Maximum file size 1MB. Name your files as follows: Last Name + First name + underscore + title.jpg. Example: SmithJohn_MountBeacon.jpg.

• In your email, please include the following information for each photo, 1) the title, 2) location and 3) year taken (approximate.)

Deadline

All entries must be received by Thursday, August 1.

Selection

The winning entries will be selected by a committee and all photographers will be notified by Saturday, August 10, if one of their photos has been accepted into the show.

Delivery

Photographs (unframed, prints only) must be dropped off at the Howland Public Library between Friday, September 6 and Sunday, September 8. All photos should be printed 8” x 10” or 8” x 8” for square images.

If you need help printing your photo, reach out to Accuprint on Main Street, next to Isamu Sushi.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Notification of Acceptance: No later than Wednesday, August 7.
Accepted Photos Delivered to Howland Public Library: Friday, September 6 to Sunday, September 8.
Exhibition Dates: Saturday, September 14, to Saturday, October 5.
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 14, 5 to 7 pm.

City of Beacon Hosts Citizen Preparedness Training Class - Thursday, August 8, 2019

With severe weather events becoming more frequent and more extreme, it is more important than ever that New Yorkers are prepared for disasters. Remember the macroburst storms that came through the area last year? How can we forget! The NY Citizen Preparedness Corps Training Program teaches residents to have the tools and resources ready to go, to prepare for any type of disaster, respond accordingly and recover as quickly as possible to get back to pre-disaster conditions. The City of Beacon will be hosting a Citizen Preparedness Training Class on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 6:30 pm.

The class will cover training for natural and human-made disasters, and will include active shooter training. Participants will be advised on how to properly prepare for any disaster, including developing a family emergency plan and stocking up on emergency supplies.

Training will take place at the Lewis Tompkins Hose, 13 South Avenue in Beacon. To RSVP, contact Collin Milone at (845) 838-5010 or email cityofbeacon@cityofbeacon.org. For more information about this training and other training events, visit prepare.ny.gov/.

Tampons and Pads Are In The Budget As Normal Bathroom Needs In New York State

Photo Credit: Kayleigh Metviner

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, whose district includes the Hudson Highlands, personally spent $37.16 of his own money to supply restrooms at his office with tampons, as reported by the Highlands Current. However, the first time he submitted that $37.16 as an expense for reimbursement, he was denied. According to the article, the Committee on House Administration told Maloney “that tampons were not office supplies but personal-care items that did not qualify for reimbursement.”

“Recognizing that [pads and tampons] are just another bathroom supply is recognizing that women’s needs are human needs. ”

— Kayleigh (Metviner) Zaloga

That was in July of 2018. In February 2019, after an election changed the balance in the U.S. House of Representatives, Maloney challenged this logic, resubmitted the expense, and won. Members of the U.S. House can now purchase feminine hygiene products for their offices. The House Office Supply Store will also stock the feminine hygiene supplies.

According to a quote in that Highlands Current article, Maloney stated: “I want to make sure every office on the Hill is welcoming to female staff and visitors — and thanks to the generosity of the American people, they will be,” the Democrat said in a statement. “This issue is part of a much larger discussion about women’s rights in the workplace and the way women’s needs are treated.”

“We're Lucky That Men Sometimes Need Toilet Paper.”

While Maloney’s move is at the federal level, we reached out to a state worker and writer for A Little Beacon Blog, Kayleigh (Metviner) Zaloga, who added that pads and tampons had also been added to state offices this year as well. She provided the photos used in this article as proof that the feminine hygiene products had arrived and had been set up.

“I think it's an important step in the march toward gender equality,” said Kayleigh. “Sounds dramatic, I know, but the need for feminine hygiene products is simply non-negotiable, so recognizing that they are just another bathroom supply is recognizing that women's needs are human needs. If men needed pads and tampons, we wouldn't even be discussing whether or not they were included in the category of bathroom supplies. We're lucky that men sometimes need toilet paper, so it's been stocked in all bathrooms by default.”

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New York School Districts Required To Supply Free Feminine Hygiene Products In Bathrooms

In July 2018, New York State law required school districts to supply feminine hygiene products for free in schools serving grades six to twelve. This was part of Governor Cuomo’s Women's Opportunity Agenda.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today reminded school leaders of a new law requiring all school districts, serving students grades six through twelve, to provide free feminine hygiene products in restrooms. As the school year begins, this new law will ensure all young women across the State have equal access to these essential products.

The governor sees this as “a step in addressing the issue of inequality and stigma. As the school year begins, we're reminding school districts to make sure that these items are provided to students.” Additionally mentioned in the governor’s press release reminding schools to supply these resources: “Research from the World Bank demonstrates that girls' inability to manage their menstrual hygiene in school results in absenteeism, which in turn has severe economic costs on their lives.”

It should be noted that even teachers and staff need feminine hygiene products just as much as they do toilet paper and paper towels to wipe hands after washing. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s move to make these products normal in the bathrooms of politicians’ offices may have a normalizing effect in many other areas.

Schedule For Beacon's Cooling Centers This Weekend During The Heat Wave

The City of Beacon has put out a schedule of Designated Cooling Centers for this weekend, July 19 to July 21. The list is below.

If you see someone who needs assistance, possibly point them in the direction of the nearest Cooling Center, or call the Beacon Police to get assistance to help move them there. We have encountered people in electric wheelchairs that have dead batteries, and were thankful when the Beacon Police intervened to help to move this person to a better place.

Be mindful of dogs in cars, people in cars (overheating in a car can happen fast during heat waves, so be careful), dogs outside, hot pavement, etc.

Howland Public Library
313 Main Street
Friday: 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm
Sunday: 12 pm to 4 pm

Salvation Army
372 Main Street
Friday: 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday: NA
Sunday: 9 am to 1 pm and 5 to 9 pm

Beacon Recreation Center
23 West Center Street
Friday: 2 to 4 pm

Beacon Housing Authority
Monday to Thursday 10 am to 2 pm, seniors only
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Residents only

Mase Hook and Ladder
435 Main Street
Friday to Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm

Beacon Engine
57 East Main Street
Friday to Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm

Lewis Tompkins
13 South Avenue
Friday to Sunday: 11 am to 4 pm

If You Hear An Air Raid Horn... Test Alarm Sounding At 2 pm For Beaconites

Maybe you got the memo (translation: text/email/phone call) from the City of Beacon that the Groveville Hydroelectric Project will be testing its alarm system during the dam’s rehabilitation. “Tomorrow [Wednesday], July 17 at 2 pm you will hear a test alarm from the Groveville Hydroelectric Project. This is simply a step in the dam’s rehabilitation. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

We reached out to the City of Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, to find out what it might sound like. He thought it might sound “closer to an air raid horn.”

Sound up!

The Mobile Farmers Market From Common Greens Opens Wednesdays At 2 Community Locations

The Common Green Mobile Farmers Market, open Wednesdays from July - September, 2019.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

COMMON GREENS MOBILE MARKET TIMES

Beacon’s Community Health Center on Henry Street
Wednesdays, 11 am to 12:30 pm

Forrestal Heights, in Parking Lot #2
Next to the Senior Friendship Center
Wednesdays, 1 to 2 pm

July - September 2019

The green bus of Common Greens’ Mobile Farmers Market has been seen powering up and down Beacon’s streets, making its way to its two parking lot destinations every Wednesday from July to September! The program’s mission is to reach low-income families in the City of Beacon with farm-fresh produce directly from Common Ground’s farm located on Route 9D.

The two locations are Beacon’s Community Health Center parking lot on Henry Street (Wednesdays, 11 am to 12:30 pm), and Forrestal Heights, in Parking Lot #2, next to the Senior Friendship Center (Wednesdays, 1 to 2 pm). The Common Greens Mobile Farmers Market accepts WIC, FMNP, EBT/SNAP, and Greens 4 Greens. The currency known as Greens 4 Greens is also accepted at the Beacon Farmers Market on Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm at Veterans Place.

According to Common Ground’s website, their produce is reaching the low-income families it is targeting: “In 2017, a combined total of over 2,000 pounds of produce from Common Ground and the Green Teen gardens was sold at the Common Greens market, and 61% of mobile market sales were made using some form of food benefit, which is an indication that the market is reaching our target population.”

Common Greens Mobile Farmers Market was created in partnership with Green Teen Community Gardening Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County. The County of Dutchess partially funds Cooperative Extension in Dutchess County.