Fancy Food Truck: The Beacon Bite Delights for Sit Down or Take-Away

If you are an avid reader of the Fancy Nancy series, you should know that "fancy", when used to describe The Beacon Bite's ever-changing menu, is a fancy word for "delicious, exciting, unexpected."

The bright red food truck named The Beacon Bite, took over the empty corner lot at 416 Main Street with its full-menu mobile food business concept. It put out a few picnic tables with brightly colored umbrellas to shelter people on foot who have not been deterred by this season's rain. Speaking of rain, the rain is adding to the lush menu of The Beacon Bite, who sources produce and meat from neighboring farms like Sprout Creek for hanger steak and Common Ground for dill and nasturtiums, and businesses like Drink More Good for the purest sugar and herb soda. 

The Beacon Bite, the big red food truck.

Driving by the big red truck with white lights creating ambiance was totally different than sitting down at a picnic table eating our selections. A Pandora or Spotify list of Leonard Cohen calm but deeply inspired music permeates from the speakers somewhere inside the truck, making the dining experience all the more artful.

Delightful dining experience in the parking lot. Just like if you were ordering from a lot in Maine.

So let's get to the food: first of all, I ordered for myself and two of my small kids. It was 5:30pm and we had just come from the Beacon Pool and we were very hungry and not functioning at full capacity. The menu is a foodie's paradise, which for kids can be tricky. We went with the potatoe wedge fries (total hit, should have ordered two), fried chicken (another hit after I told the kids it was chicken tenders), and the cabbage wraps which my daughter faked me out on, claiming for 2 weeks that she now likes salad. I ate them all.

Some of the best fries in Beacon. Big chunks of salt. BYOK. Bring Your Own Ketchup, if you're into that.

If you are a clean eater, you will love The Beacon Bite. If you are a vegetarian or a carnivore, you will also love Beacon Bite. The menu keeps you on your toes not only because it is fresh, but because it changes weekly. True to the name, the portions are bite-sized. The fried chicken, for example, was served sliced into several thin pieces with chopsticks.

Fried chicken served with chopsticks. If ordering for kids, tell them it's chicken nuggets.

Drink-wise, you'll need to wait for your beer or wine and have it later at Draught or Oak Vino, as there is no beer here. But there is Drink More Good soda root beer and other flavors like lemon lime, made fresh on the spot just for you. If you are a ketchup lover, you will need to BYOK (bring your own ketchup). Living in a foodie town has started to mean that restaurants who value real food also don't offer ketchup, or they make it themselves (The Hop), which for kids is a little...different. So pack some ketchup packets in your purse or pocket.

Mama ate all 3 of these cabbage rolls.

And yes, there is a pie woman selling pies out of an ice cream bicycle stand in the corner of the lot near the side walk called Beacon Pie Company. More on that to come...(just needed to buy another slice of salted honey butter pie for pictures).

Otherwise, enjoy your meal with freshly cut flowers from a local farm and "lettuce" know what you loved! Generally, Beacon Bite is open from Thursday - Sunday, and you should check their Facebook page for current hours, as they vary per day.

4th Of July In Beacon 2015! Things To Do This Weekend!

The 4th of July Holiday Weekend has started! While it may be hot and humid for the Friday, the first day of the long weekend, July 4th itself may be a little rainy, followed by sunshine again on Sunday. So think extra sunny thoughts to keep those clouds away! This roundup is an enhancement of the weekend events that are also listed in A Little Beacon Blog's Annual Events Guide, which is part of the Things To Do In Beacon Guide.

Here's a breakdown of things to do in and around Beacon this July 4th weekend:

FIREWORKS - JULY 3
Looks like someone read the Farmer's Almanac and decided to have Fireworks on the 3rd, which is nice for those who like to double-dip in nights with sparklers. There is a whole big fireworks list at 101.5 WPDH of where you can see fireworks on Friday and Saturday nights up and down the Hudson River. If you're in or near Beacon, you may want to hit up:

Fishkill
Day: Friday July 3rd at Dusk
Where: East Fishkill Recreation Park, New York 82 & New York 376 Hopewell Junction, NY 12533
Time: Starts at 7 p.m. with an oldies concert featuring Adam & the NewHearts. Fireworks will go off at 9:15 p.m.
Free

Wallkill
Day: Friday July 3rd at Dusk
Time: Starts at 6 p.m.
Where: Town of Wallkill Golf Club, 40 Sands Road, Middletown, NY 10940
Free


FIREWORKS - JULY 4

Beacon!
Day: Saturday July 4th at Dusk
Where: Memorial Park, 7 Robert Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY 12508
Time: 3pm till dark.
What: Presented once again by a collaborative community effort by the City of Beacon, Beacon-Fishkill Kwanis Club, The Costellos and I Am Beacon. Bring the whole family to enjoy! Fireworks begin at dusk. A ceremonial reading of the Declaration of Independence happens at 11am at City Hall.
Free

Mohonk Mountain House
Address: 1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz, NY 12561
Admission Price: Call (855) 883-3798 for reservations.
Details: Mohonk Mountain House’s 4th of July weekend will include demonstrations at the Firehouse, a carnival at its Kids’ Club, a log roll and porch dive, and a parade. Mohonk will hold its Illumination of the Mountain fireworks display on July 4th. The weekend events also include a live performance by Cathi Lou and Roger Thorpe and a ceremonial reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Poughkeepsie
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Address: Waryas Park, 1 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Admission Price: Free for a view from a public place, and $12.50 at Walkway Over the Hudson; Free at Waryas Park
Details: A bit of a drive, but the views are pretty great. The City of Poughkeepsie’s annual fireworks spectacular on July 4th can be viewed either from Waryas Park (free of charge) or from up on the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park).
More details

West Point
Time: 8 p.m.
Address: Trophy Point, West Point NY
Details: People who want to feel deeply historic often enjoy fireworks at West Point. Additionally, The West Point Band will present its annual Independence Day celebration with music followed by a fireworks display over the Hudson River. It's kind of emotional.


POOLS & COOLING OFF
Stay hot, please! If you need to cool off and take a dip, you have several options!

Beacon's New Community Pool - Friday, 3pm
Pool Party on Friday at 3pm! The pool is open for the first time in 6 years, and there is a party for it. The pool is easy to get to and swim in, with a shallow end of 2ft deep that gradually gets deeper to 8ft. Plenty of picnic green space surrounds the pool. See our article about it here, and get thee to the pool. Day passes are available if you don't have a season pass yet. Located at the University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Avenue aka 9D.

Splash Down Water Park
If you've been longing for the days of your childhood when you climbed tall towers with an inner tube to slide down a really big slide, then Splash Down is for you. If you want to float down their Lazy River with your family, then Splash Down is for you. If you even wanted to rent a private cabana situation with waiter service and pretend you are on a beach when you are actually lounging next to Rt. 9, you could even do that too. Located on 16 Old Route 9 West in Fishkill, just off Rt. 9.
www.splashdownbeach.com

Sprinklers at Bowdain Park. Free.

Bowdoin Park
Perhaps one of the most beautiful public parks in the Hudson Valley, Bowdoin Park offers a sprinkler water system to run through (kids and adults!), a giant rock that kids love to climb, and an impressive set of jungle gym setups, donated by various businesses in the region. Pack a watermelon, snacks, and even a full picnic to grill out on grills in the picnic areas. Located at 85 Sheafe Rd.
Learn more

Beacon River Pool in the Hudson River
The Beacon River Pool is a circular pool that floats on the Hudson River and is connected to the shore. River pools were common in early New York history, and experiencing one is very special. There are benches all around and the floor is a thick net. It's a little odd at first, but very relaxing. Even if you are swimming with kids. It's free, so take a dip!
Learn more

All Sport's 3 Pools
If you don't feel like packing a lunch and you'd like to order some grill food and a beer, then the All Sport Pool is a fit for you. They have a kiddie pool, a family pool, and a pool dedicated to older adults who love to play water volleyball and other water sports. Day passes are available.
Learn more
Editorial Note: All Sport is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, but this mention is not sponsored and is an editorial recommendation.

PICNICS

Artisan Wine shared their summer wine picks for different occasions.

WINE!
Pack wine and beer, and revisit our Summer Wine Picks with recommendations from Artisan Wine! This list is from last year, but if you go in this year they may have different brands for you to try depending on the type of picnic or BBQ you are having.

FOODIES!
No time to pack a picnic from scratch? Pick up cheeses, pre-made odds and ends or order to go! Here are a few recommendations:

BJs: Deep fried chicken and mac cheese. Also get collared greens and other soul food selections. Across the street from the M&T bank.

Beacon Bite Food Truck: Order a to-go basket of very fine fare. Recently off the grill have been chilled poached squid, charred chilli cabbage, nasturtium dill butter, and jalapeño. Woa. Located at 416 Main Street just past the middle of town.

Beacon Bite is in the middle section of Main Street and in the same lot as Beacon Pie Company's bike stand.

Raddish: A clean-eater's delight! With meat! Raddish is obsessed with...raddishes, lettus and green things from the ground. Order grilled chicken or tuna to top your salad. NOTE: Closed early on Saturday July 4th at 2pm. Located at 505 Main Street, at the far east end near the mountain.

Tito Santana Taqueria: A great space for easy ordering of fresh, cilantro based corn salads, tacos, quesadias, chips, and summer beer. Has a large outdoor space with plenty of picnic tables for indoor or outdoor eating.

Harry's Hot Sandwiches: Beacon's newest sandwich shop! A great take-away option. Look for serious sandwiches like the Chimichurri Roast Beast, and soups like a Black Bean Arepa. Loated at 449 Main Street, right next to the very large Beacon Theatre.

PIE + DESSERT!
BJ's also scores big points for having lots of mini-pies on demand. These are your basic pies, like apple, cherry, and sweet potato. We blogged about BJ's pies a few summers ago.

Beacon Pie Company: And then an official pie company came to town and they even deliver pie on bikes! Otherwise you can find them parked next to Beacon Bites, and sometimes there are a few pies in Barb's Butchery. You'll find flavors like Salted Honey Butter, and Chocolate Lavendar from their sweet list, and also pot pies, quiches, and shepherd’s pie on their savory menu.


HIKING
Will you be hiking this weekend? Do read our special hiking series for Family Friendly Hikes from the Cronins with your little people, and the Historical Hikes from Dylan Price to inspire your history hungry mind as you hike!

A walk to Earl's Chimney with the Cronin Family.

The view from Mt. Beacon. Dylan Price remembers a history you can walk through.

WINNER! of the "Where Is This" Photo Contest: Hint: "Sit, dog."

We have a winner!

Majolie of Beacon guessed this mystery photo correctly as the chair inside the door of Dogwood! Definitely check out Dogwood if you haven't yet for delicious food with both meat and vegan options, and hit-the-spot beer and signature cocktails.

Majolie is the winner of this lovely basket of Summer Soaps from SallyeAnder!

Thank you to our sponsor StudioPixelated who helps small businesses with their digital marketing needs in social media, Google, and website design direction! See their Monthly Tip here.

This week's prize is from SallyeAnder and is a Summer Basket of Sallye Sunshine, Gardener's Hand, No Bite Me Cream, No Bite Me Bar, and Lakeshore.

"Where Is This Photo?" Guess The Mystery Photo and Win a Prize! Hint: "Sit, dog."

[EDITED 7/1/15 5:30pm] We have a Winner! A reader named Majolie correctly identified the photo and the photo of what this actually is can be found here!

WHAT is this a picture of and WHERE was it taken? Answer both of these questions right and you can win the prize of amazing soap made right here in Beacon from SallyeAnder! See the rules below before you submit your answer! Keep guessing until you get it right!

This week's prize is from SallyeAnder and is a Summer Basket of Sallye Sunshine, Gardener's Hand, No Bite Me Cream, No Bite Me Bar, and Lakeshore.

HINT #1
"Sit, dog."

RULES
- The Winning Entry must be made in the Comments below, and not at any social media channel.
- You must identify WHERE this picture was taken, and WHAT the picture is.
- First right answer wins!
- Prize must be picked up by the winner within two weeks of winning.
- Winners must wait 30 days before entering another contest.

Be the sponsor of the next contest!

Click here for details...

Studio Pixelated: A Boutique Digital Marketing and Website Planning Agency (Sponsor)

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Services include Digital Marketing Strategy Consulting For Small Businesses, with the options to get Private or Group Sessions (same price, just with a friend!). 

Please visit www.studiopixelated.com and email katie@studiopixelated.com to get started.

SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM STUDIOPIXELATED

As a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, StudioPixelated looks forward to sharing important messages with you as you plan and grow your marketing campaigns and design your website.

INSTAGRAM
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Fill 'Er Up! The Beacon Pool at the Settlement Camp is Happening!

UPDATE [5/17/16]: The Beacon Public Pool at the Settlement Camp is opening for the 2016 Season!

UPDATE: The pool is full of water! Day and Season Passes are selling, and the Pool Party on July 3rd was fun!

The Beacon Pool drained, clean and being filled with fresh water. New black fencing has been installed.

Rumors of the resurgence of the Beacon Pool at the Settlement Camp have been swirling for years, and even in the month of June 2015, the projected opening date of the pool, people were still asking: "Is the pool really opening?"

To find our own answers, we sent a camera crew out to the site one weekend, unannounced, to see if the pool was really on track. Note: the camera crew was myself and my sleeping son in his car seat, with Frisbee disk gamers barely noticing our unexpected activity near the course.

Over the years, various individuals tried to help it make a comeback with deflated attempts and membership price-points, so you can imagine everyone's skepticism at it really happening. However, we discovered a major clue that the pool was on track: new picnic benches, freshly cut and bolted, were lined up side by side, awaiting placement.

New picnic benches at the Beacon Pool to accommodate large crowds who can bring their own food.

So I got on the phone with Mark Price, the City of Beacon's Recreation Director, and asked him my tough reporter question: "Is there any chance that the pool won't open?" Mark was giddy in his answer. "It's opening! On Monday, June 29th it will be open! We need to wait to drain the pool until closer to the open date, but we are replacing the fence and dusting everything off."

Beacon's pool has quite the courtyard wrapping around it and almost feels like you're at an English estate or in the woods in an Alice in Wonderland scene with strange creatures lurking under mossy stones. In fact, you may encounter a snake or two, as young teenagers have recalled to me from their early days of going to the pool in the summer and loving it. To add to the pastoral experience, The Green Teen Team has planted 200 sunflowers on the uphill side of the property, near the Maintenance Building.

The courtyard at the Beacon Pool immediately in front of the pool.

The picture above is the courtyard immediately in front of the pool. There is another courtyard to the left of the pool, and all of that is available to the public to enjoy. You can bring your own food and drink, and Mark has dreams of hosting food trucks. In fact, Mark has given us permission to tell you that he has visions of a "juried showcase" of different food vendors, and to contact him if you're interested. Which is really exciting because the food scene in Beacon is so good!

Don't you want to stroll down this yard in English attire? Or play rugby or croquet?

So why this year for the pool? Mark credits the healthy economy. "Municipal budgets have recovered, so purse strings got loser. As a country, things are coming back a bit." As noted by Mayor Casale in a recent press release, the opening of the pool is happening because of joint efforts by the City Council and other city departments working together.

A picture of the pool in Spring 2015...making us wonder if it would open. Weeks later, that murky water was gone, the pool cleaned, weeds picked, and fence was replaced.

This year the pool has filled up so to speak, with a lot of registered interest. As of early June, 120 families had registered, and various kid camps had signed on to host a day or two a week at the pool. "It has been heartbreaking to watch the pool not being used." Which is all about to change this Summer of 2015. The Beacon Riverfest is also hosting a concert there on July 11th for an official "Pool Party" with the band PONTOON playing.

Lying under the trees, floating by on the water, this is your view when you look up at the sky, relaxed.

Pool season passes are $50 for adults, $30 for children, and $100 for the family, with day passes available for $3 for adults and $2 for children and seniors. The registration form is here for download. The Beacon Pool is located at the Park at University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Avenue. The pool itself is 140 feet by 50 feet and progresses in depth from 2 feet to 8 feet deep making it perfect for swimmers and water lovers of all ages. There will not be a lap lane, just a "have fun pool". On Friday, July 3rd, 2015 at 12:00 noon there will be a Big Splash Pool Opening Celebration. Take pictures of your fun times and share them with us on Instagram! Tag @alittlebeacon and use the hashtag #beaconnypool.

Keep your eyes peeled for the "Entrance" sign for the Beacon Pool on 9D! The entrance is just one dirt road in the middle of the woods.

[UPDATED 7/6/15]

The Hours of the Beacon Pool are:
MONDAY: CLOSED
TUESDAY: 12pm to 7pm
WEDNESDAY: 3pm to 7pm
THURSDAY: 3pm to 7pm
FRIDAY: 12pm to 7pm
SATURDAY: 12pm to 7pm
SUNDAY: 12pm to 7pm

PS: The title of this post was inspired in part by Dan Aymar-Blair.

An Interview with Melissa McGill, Artist Behind "Constellation" on Bannerman Island

Bannerman Castle has been a point of mystery for everyone who passes it on the Metro-North's Hudson Line train on their way through the Hudson Valley, or by those on boat or kayak. It’s a personal discovery for each person who gazes unbelievably at what seems to be a sinking castle on an island.

And what is this island? Indeed its history is just as exciting, and involves usage by tribes, patriots, prostitutes, fisherman, bootleggers, and vandals. In the early 1900’s, Francis Bannerman, a Scottish-born business man from Brooklyn who at a young age began collecting scrap from the harbor which was then filled with ships, made a business of buying and selling surplus stock from government auctions. He moved his arms collection from Manhattan to Pollepel (or Polopel) Island, forced out of the city due to laws on ammunition storage. He went north to build a Scottish-inspired castle, Bannerman Castle, to hold his arms collection, the ammunition room of which blew up in 1920. In the 1970s, a fire with flames 20 feet high devoured Bannerman’s warehouse, leaving the castle ruins we pass by today, the dramatic view of which was increased after a partial collapse in 2009 (there is an organization dedicated to preserving the castle by creating events and gardens should you wish to donate).

Local artist Melissa McGill was captivated by the location and the history. In her career as an artist, Melissa explores what is and what is absent. She wanted to apply this study to the island, the castle, and pieces of the castle that no longer exist. She envisioned that points of light could glow above pieces of the castle that are now missing. Melissa is the most recent architect on this island - an architect of light and space - stars - that shine above the castle as a new constellation starting at dusk of every evening.

Even though Melissa makes art of all kinds - paint, sculpture, sound installations - this project could be the largest and most visual representation of her fascination of what is and is not in the spaces in between absence and presence. She became a director and producer of the project, working with other local artists like Niche Modern to build the lights, and worked with The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to secure what was needed to make this project a reality for launch in June 2015.

Intrigued by her role as an artist in this project, we thought Melissa a great role model for children and adults who yearn to be artist but don't know how, or who need to give themselves permission to be their own type of artist. Melissa was kind enough to answer some questions about her captivating Constellation project in this interview with us below.

Why did this idea occur to you? To build the stars?
Like so many who travel and live along the Hudson River, I’ve had a long fascination with the mysterious castle ruin and this island.  As I investigated its history and re-imagined its present, I was moved to create a project that continues my work exploring the space between absence and presence, bringing to light the overlooked, hidden, or lost aspects of architecture, found objects, and places. The sculptural poles of Constellation reference the lines of the castle ruin and through the star-like points of lights hovering above, a new constellation is created conceptually connecting our world with others. I look up at the stars for inspiration, for a sense of reality, to remember how small we are in the universe, and to feel how we are all one under these stars.

I wanted to ask you about your type of artistic medium, and how as an artist, you are directing a project and don't necessarily touch everything that is being made by hand. I loved seeing the pictures of the glass blowers making the stars. So for budding artists, it's an example to show them and their parents the different types of artistry that can exist. So I suppose the question is - in this project, are you an artist who is not physically making things, but you are leading the construction of an idea?
My work involves an interdisciplinary process, primarily incorporating drawing, sculpture, and sound. I make a lot of work in my studio. When ideas require specific expertise that I don't have, I work with others who have that expertise so the work may be realized. Regarding the glassblowing...While I do have some experience with glass blowing and have made other work in blown glass, the globes that house the LED's had to be very high quality and luckily Niche Modern here in Beacon specializes in exactly what I needed. They were amazing to work with and they very generously donated the globes for the project. A project the size of Constellation requires a lot of expert experience in many areas…fabricators, architects, engineers, installers, lighting designers…the list goes on. Almost every single person on the Constellation team lives in this area and I am involved in every step of the process.

What did you need to go through legally to get this done, and how long did that take?
Pollepel Island with the Bannerman Castle ruin is located in the Hudson Highlands State Park so I worked closely with NYSOPRHP (New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation throughout Constellation's 3 year process). Constellation had a full environmental assessment through NY State, a NY State Archaeological Review, and NYSOPRHP executed a permit.

Financially, did this come together through different grants and/or donations? How did you approach and accomplish that?
I raised the funding independently through many channels- by crowdfunding, applying for grants and being persistent. A number of wonderful supporters taught me a lot about fundraising. Fractured Atlas is my fiscal sponsor and this is a non-profit public art work and so all donations are tax- deductible. I am so deeply grateful to Constellation's generous supporters. They have helped transform this project from a dream to reality. I still have quite a bit to raise to close the funding gap to cover installation and production. It's an on-going process and donations of support are appreciated!

The project is set to launch this weekend, June 28th. Boat tours will be offered to those curious enough for an up-close experience of this new magical constellation. Watch the video about the project here or follow along on the project's Facebook page for news and updates.

Constellation from Melissa McGill on Vimeo.

Sugarloaf Hill: Family-Friendly Hike in Garrison

Please welcome back our contributors: Brian PJ Cronin, editor of Hudson Valley Parent magazine and local writer extraordinaire, shares his writing talents in focusing on family-friendly hikes for our Hiking Series. The beautiful photography is by Kristen Cronin, local do-gooder and co-founder of For Goodness Bake. Enjoy!

Today’s hike takes us to Sugarloaf Hill in Garrison. Not to be confused with Sugarloaf Mountain in Cold Spring or the Sugarloaf Mountain ski resort in Maine or the Hudson Valley town of Sugarloaf over in Orange County or the approximately 14,000 other things in the Northeast named “Sugarloaf.” It’s a bit of a common name. Until the late 19th century, before granulated sugar became a thing, refined sugar was processed via conical molds. Once the process was done, the sugar came out of the mold in a tall, mountainous shape, called a sugarloaf. And since early Colonial settlers were too busy trying not to die of starvation and/or dysentery to be creative, they pretty much named every other mountain they saw “Sugarloaf.” So when your kids ask what a sugarloaf is, now you know what to tell them! You can leave out the dysentery part, though.

The parking lot and trailhead are across from the Garrison Institute on Route 9D.

1. From the parking lot, backtrack the way you drove up and hang a left. Keep following the dirt road as it heads towards the hills and then bears right at another gate. You’ll start to notice red trail markers, which are the markers you’ll be following all the way to the top.
2. Take a left into a big, beautiful meadow of tall grass and wildflowers. From here the trail is usually mowed into the grass. As you begin to ascend through the meadow, look back and you’ll get a fantastic view of West Point. Keep in mind though, as you’re all getting your Andrew Wyeth vibes on, that if you’re hiking this trail between May and July that you’re basically walking through tick-alapooza. So stick to the mowed parts, use a good tick repellent from the knees down, and do thorough tick checks on the whole family when you get home. (I should add that in the five or so times we’ve done this hike we’ve never found a tick on us, but better safe than sorry.)
   
   
   
   
3. Partway through the meadow, the trail splits. Head straight, into the woods, and you’ll come across a wooden gazebo. Turn right, into the woods, for a small shortcut. Both paths shortly meet up again, so take either one.
4. After crossing a small brook, the trail begins to wind up the hill. Keep an eye out for those red trail markers. There’s plenty of unmarked trails that branch off and lead to private property. On your way up, look for a large climbing boulder, a cairn atop a stone pillar, and a frog pond.
   
5. Shortly after the pond you’ll come to a junction. The blue trail begins here and continues straight ahead. There’s another wooden gazebo just up ahead, if you’ve got a bit of time and want to check it out. Otherwise, hang a right to follow the red trail as it ascends. This is the only steep part of the hike, so littler hikers may need a hand here. Fortunately, the ascent is short and you’re almost to the top.
   
6. In a few minutes you’ll top out at the ridge. Keep following the trail along the ridge until you reach the end point, with scenic views facing south on the Hudson River. Look around a bit and you’ll find a very rare sight for the Hudson Valley - wild cacti growing near the rocks. Yes, cacti can grow this far north, but the conditions have to be just right. And Sugarloaf Hill is one of those very special places in the Valley that’s got just the right mixture of rockiness, access to open sunlight, and ample drainage within the soil to make that happen.
   
7. Backtrack down the hill to return to the parking lot. And check for ticks!

Round-trip distance: 3.1 miles

Where to park: To get to the parking lot, look for the stone gate across from the Garrison Institute on Route 9D. Above the gate, you’ll see a brown DEC sign with yellow letters that reads “Castle Rock Unique Area.” The gate says “Wing & Wing” on it. Bear left on the dirt road, and follow the signs to the lot.

What to pack for the kids:

• Snacks and water
• First aid kit
• Sunscreen and hat (You’ll only need these for the beginning; once you get past the field the rest of the hike is pretty shaded.)
• Tick repellent
• Tick key or tweezers
• Map (See the “East Hudson Trails” map #101 of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Series, which is sold at Mountain Tops.)

Tragic Crash on Mt. Beacon is Remembered During Path Through History Weekend

The history in this region is inspiring, and at times tremendously sad. This weekend on June 20th, 2015 as part of

Path Through History Weekend at I Love New York, a hike will commence up Mt. Beacon at 10am to remember the six Navy personnel who were killed thirty minutes after leaving Wright Caldwell Airport in Caldwell, NJ en-route back to the Quonset Air Naval Base in Quonset, RI after their Navy Beechcraft Twin Engine Transport plane crashed near the northwest ridge of Mt. Beacon in the Town of Fishkill, NY. The hike will end at the crash site.

The Friends of the Mt. Beacon Eight are responsible for organizing this walk to remember the men who died in the crash, which happened on November 11, 1945, just two years before November 11th officially became Veterans Day, in addition to already being Armistice Day, the official end of World War 1. The mission of The Friends of Mt. Beacon Six is to remember all of the men who died that day.

The plane crash happened at noon on a foggy day with "swirling rain," according to a recent article in the Poughkeepsie Journal, right after the pilots had radioed the Stewart Airfield in Newburgh as they flew over, asking for directions and weather conditions. If you have seen Mt. Beacon on a rainy or foggy day, you know it can be quite thick up there.

The crash killed all 6 men on board immediately as it was engulfed in flames and black smoke. The fog was so thick, that it took searchers 15 hours to find the wreckage. When night fell, the dying fires from the crash illuminated the location.

John Ferro's article in the Poughkeepsie Journal has a very detailed account of the crash.

The article also highlighted one man, Commodore Dixie Keifer, who was not from this area but had been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Beacon native James V. Forrestal, who was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense. Forrestal also once served as city editor of the Poughkeepsie News Press, a predecessor of the Poughkeepsie Journal. The article explores Dixie's service, heroism, and incredible threshold for pain while saving others during times of suicide plane attacks on his navel carrier and other crucial moments of survival. His life ended instantly here, after serving in World War II and rising up the ranks past captain to become commodore. His muddy cap is depicted in the picture above, which was published at the Poughkeepsie Journal.

The other men are mentioned in the story, and I'll repeat them here to help with the Friends of the Mt. Beacon Eight's mission of remembrance:

• Lt. Cmdr. Dr. Ignatius Zielinski, 45, of Salem, Massachusetts. Zielinski was assistant medical officer at Quonset and a medical examiner in Salem County prior to entering the service.

• Lt. Lloyd P. Heinzen, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Heinzen was the senior pilot of the plane. During eight months of combat in the Pacific, he shot down eight Japanese planes, earning the title of "ace."

• Lt. Hans K. Kohler, 25, of Garfield, New Jersey, the plane's co-pilot.

• Clarence Hooper, 23, an aviation machinist's mate third-class from Greensboro, North Carolina.

• David O. Wood, 23, a seaman first-class from North Franklin, Connecticut.

This is one more reason to gaze at the mountain in awe and appreciation for this land, what others have given for our country, and the moments we live in now. Hikers are meeting at the Scenic Hudson Fishkill Ridge Parking lot at 10:00am to commence up Mt. Beacon to the crash site.

Beacon Riverfest in the Parks Lineup This Summer - Mark the Dates for Summer Concerts 2015!

The Beacon Riverfest concert series that happens in partnership with BeaconArts that has always been a highlight in summertime, as it's a time when people pack their wagonfs full of food, kids and lawn blankets and walk or drive to listen to live music along the scenic Hudson River. This year, Beacon Riverfest got even more ambitious by hosting the concerts in different parks around town, including a pool party at the Beacon Pool which opens later in June! They have also created the all-day Food & Music Festival, where there is no need to bring a picnic because the celebration of food is as big as the musical lineup. A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor of this series along with other great businesses including the main sponsor Beacon Natural Market. We hope that everyone has a wonderful time!

JUNE

GREEN STREET PARK
Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: Green Street Park (on the other side of Fishkill Creek, this is a park located in the base of a sloping hill)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The bands are "Bad Mother Factory" and "Knock Yourself Out."

RIVERFRONT PARK
Beacon Riverfest Music & Food Festival
Tickets: $15 early-bird, $25 door price (kids under 10 are free)
Sunday, June 28th, 2015
Noon to 8pm
Location: Riverfront Park (on the other side of the train station)
An entire day of live music and food! A large lineup of bands are playing on 3 stages in Riverfront Park. Kids under 10 get in free, and tickets are available for purchase for adults. Enjoy music, food and crafts. The bands include Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Tracy Bonham, Sidewalk Chalk, Schwervon, Decora, Gato Loco, Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents, What Moon Things, Breakfast In Fur, Shana Falana, M Shanghai String Band, and Simi Stone.
Information >
Buy Tickets >

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JULY


THE BEACON POOL - SETTLEMENT CAMP
Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Saturday July 11th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: The Beacon Pool - POOL PARTY! (at the Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "PONTOON."






SOUTH AVENUE PARK
Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Thursday July 16th, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: South Avenue Park
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "Jeremy Baum Trio."








LONG DOCK PARK
Beacon Riverfest In The Parks Series (Free)
Thursday July 23rd, 2015
6pm to 8pm
Location: Long Dock Park (near the train station, but far to the left near paths for Denning's Point)
Bring a picnic and make sure you're wearing your dance shoes! The band is "The Stacks."

Mail Carrier Aided By Beacon Community

 

In the late weeks of Spring, one of Beacon's friendliest mail carriers was badly injured on the job in a dog vs mail carrier scenario. The irony of the situation was thick, as she was one of the most pet-friendly mail carriers on Beacon's West side of town. Word spread quickly on Facebook, and an offer was made by a member of the community to collect donations. Ideas fluttered around which included meal trains and gift cards to restaurants for all of the takeout the mail carrier was going to need to feed her young family. When asked how she would like donations to be made, the mail carrier suggested that donations be made to animal shelters. 

People's minds were made up, and in one weekend, over $350 in cash was collected, with more contained in sealed envelopes, making the total tally unknown, but much appreciated by the mail collector who could use the donations as she wished.

While this story is a sad one for everyone involved, the swiftness of the community coming together for one of their own is heart-warming and is a testament to the beat that makes Beacon what it is, and what it has been since its earliest residents lived here.

The Things To Do In Beacon Guides - Your Organized and Curated Life In Beacon, NY

When you wake up on a Saturday, or any day of the week here in the Hudson Valley, do you think: "There is so much to do today! Where should I start!?" Us too! That's why we produced specialty Guides for you to filter your life in and around Beacon, NY. With so many creative minds creating so many events, shops, dining experiences, and specialty services, you can turn to A Little Beacon Blog for a local life more organized.  

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Advertising Opportunities in The Things to Do In Beacon Guides At A Little Beacon Blog

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Mount Beacon: Historical Hike

Please welcome contributor Dylan Price, a writer/filmmaker and avid outdoorsman who moved to Beacon with his wife from Washington D.C. They were attracted to Beacon for the unique mix of nature, art and food. Dylan will explore and share the more historical aspects of our local trails for our Hiking Series.

Hiking Mount Beacon
Forever peering over her town, Mount Beacon is perhaps the first trail in the conversation of where to hike around Beacon. The day hike offers many a chance to take in much of the beauty and bounty of this area, in one spot. 
 

Beautiful Views

The Nuts and Bolts of the Mount Beacon Hike
The trailhead begins in the parking lot off the intersection of Route 9D and Howland Avenue. It is a good day hike, if not strenuous at times, so remember to bring water and snacks. If you happen to forget, Bob’s Corner Store is just across the street. After parking, it is a short quarter mile amble past a creek and wooded area, where at dawn or dusk, you’ll often find deer, woodpeckers, flycatchers, passer birds cutting between the flagging hawks, falcons, and eagles. The hike begins at the ruins of the old incline railway, a specter of the past glory of Beacon running up the mountain like an old rusty back-brace of the bygone city. Climb the metal stairs to your first restful panorama and head up the trail from there following the red burn Casino trail markers.

Mount Beacon is a hike full of switchbacks and graceful views from various plateaus as you make your way up the 1000 plus vertical ascent. Early on in the hike, a spur off a connecting switchback leads you to a small outcrop observation deck built by volunteers. Much of the hike is covered under a canopy of various deciduous and coniferous trees. As you reach the summit, the topography gets a bit more rocky and open. The summit of Mount Beacon is certainly a pay-off with viewpoints of almost the entirety of the region.

Allow around three hours for the out-and-back on just the mountain itself, and on a nice day, expect company on the trail (including dogs). The hike is sometimes strenuous, but it is certainly rewarding. During the fall and early spring, views are expansive and follow you up the mountain when the leaves are down and the crowds aren’t as great. 

The Incline in its heyday

The History of Mount Beacon
Standing on the foundation of the old Mountain Top casino and Beacon Crest hotel (both having succumbed to fire), your views are limitless and awe-inspiring. History surely unfolds in a panorama at this point. The Daughters of the American Revolution, in 1900, dedicated a monument here for the soldiers of the continental army who lit bonfires (beacons) to warn of British troop and ship advances. Vernon Benjamin, in his great book “The History of the Hudson River Valley: From Wilderness to the Civil War,” discussed certain…crafty European businessmen who, during the colonial era, purchased the land from the Wappinger Indian tribe in the area. They made a deal that they could buy all the land they could see, and after agreeing to those terms, promptly hiked Mount Beacon and claimed their lands. Standing there, you can appreciate the cunningness of these men and the vast beauty of the Hudson Valley. When you reach the top, you really get a sense of the vastness and history of the valley. Explore the uneven summit and the various relics of the past up here, but don’t forget to take in the panoramic views reaching far across to the Catskills and bending along the river, as Mount Beacon is the highest peak in the Hudson Highlands.

Thousands would flock on grand ferry's up the much-traversed Hudson, or take a long train ride into Beacon or Newburgh. Combo-tickets were sold by the hotel for travel by ferry via Newburgh, to the trolley on the other side of the river which took them to the incline, then bringing them up a 65% graded rail to the top. The incline opened on Memorial Day, 1902. The first year alone, 60,000 people came. Life atop the mountain was grand, packed with party-goers, the cool breezes lifted people from the sweltering heat in Beacon and Newburgh, and attendees to the hotel and casino enjoyed long walks around the park, spring-fed aquifers and plenty of games, food and dancing, all while dressed to the nines. Some would stay for weeks at a time. The casino held many big-band dances, some of the most famous names at the time performing there, and every Saturday during the summer grand parties were held. At one point during its golden age, the entire incline was fully illuminated, and the lights leading up to the summit could be seen from miles away. Cottages were built scattered along the mountainside for summer retreats, and a popular radio station was broadcasted from the top as well called "The voice from the clouds."

In its heyday, with the casino and hotel garnering hundreds of thousands of tourists, Hollywood stepped in to utilize the natural beauty of the mountain. The top of Mount Beacon was used for several silent movies in the 1920's including a popular Western silent film, D.W. Griffith’s “The Red Man's View” which was meant to depict a long march in the rugged western lands.

In 1927, a year after the summit attained its most visitors in one year, a midnight fire in the casino burnt the complex down. They began new construction the following year, but the nation fell into the Great Depression and it went unfinished. In the following decades, the incline remained in operation, but business fell off despite the steady flow, and touristy-draw of being the world’s steepest incline railway at the time. Fire struck three more times, once in 1934 destroying part of the track, and again in 1967, this time burning the lower station and rail car. The last fire, in 1983, finally took the great railway down for good.

The historic mountain, which is depicted on the New York State flag, has seen many changes come its way throughout the centuries. Take your time exploring, appreciating, and conserving the beauty and history of this hike.  There is an active group restoring the incline railway, which you can learn more about via their website, and the conservation group (and owners of the land), Scenic Hudson.

Extend Your Stay on the Trail…
Expand the 2.4-mile out and back hike by pressing on to the old fire tower, which offers even more impressive views and further seclusion. When you are at the summit of Mount Beacon, turn from the river to look at North and South Beacon Mountains. The tower is set on the southern mountain, which you can see from there. The hike to the tower will almost double your outing, and allow you to ascend another 500 plus feet over the extra mile out. On a clear day, you can see all the way from Manhattan up to Albany.

If you are after an even longer hike, try for the Beacon Reservoir nearby, which sunders Mount Beacon and Scofield Ridge in Putnam County. And even farther yet, the connecting Fishkill Ridge via Wilkinson Memorial trail, which connects to the mountain via yellow burns. This will tack on another 3 plus miles and over 1,000 feet more in vertical ascent, but will give you an ecological study of nearly the entirety of the Hudson Highlands. For now though, allow the scripting vultures and eagles to mark this long ridgeline for you from atop Mount Beacon as you rest and refuel for the trip back.

Meet The Team Who Is Making A Little Beacon Blog

Hello!

As part of our new redesign, we spiffied up the About page so that you can get a glimpse of and learn more about how A Little Beacon Blog gets made. Right now we have me (Katie), Eli and Ali running the day to day with article production, story research, photo making, social posting, logo designing, and that sort of thing.

Over the years, I've written all of the articles, but now we are bringing more voices to the blog, starting with Brian PJ Cronin, who you've read in the Chronogram, Philipstown.info, and more local publications. The lovely Kristen Cronin is on photography for their family-friendly hiking series, and many of you may have already spotted her amazing photos in her Instagram feed. She is also a partner in the delicious For Goodness Bake that is about to happen this weekend. And finally meet Dylan Price who you may have bought home brew supplies from in Beacon Homebrew, but who is really a writer and filmmaker of a YouTube channel called Uncomfortable Couch. He is also writing a hiking series, but from a historical point of view as he researches this region and what took place on the ground you are hiking through.

Writing and designing is what we do here, so we are supported by our awesome advertisers! Be they in the Guides, as a Featured Business in the side column, or in a sponsored article. Thank you for supporting the businesses who support us! As always, you can pitch your story ideas to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.