Every January for the past four years, Matteawan Gallery owner Karlyn Benson has turned her gallery space over to an artist for a guest Winter Residency Program. According to Karlyn, "The goal of the Winter Residency is to give artists the space to create a new body of work or to continue working on an ongoing project in a new environment. The Residency focuses on work that has a social, performative, or participatory component."
To kick off 2017, Beacon-based Zachary Skinner presents his Geo-Co-Lab, a collaborative installation that explores whether art can spark effective social and ecological change. And he's not alone. As with past Residency projects at Matteawan Gallery, the public is invited to come in off the street, to collaborate and participate in making the art.
Photo Credit: Matteawan Gallery
Handmade chalkboards hang on the gallery walls, where people are invited to come in and write on them about a theme that explores the concept of whether art can spark effective social and ecological change. The result, as Skinner sees it, is a constantly multiplying collection of thoughts in a collective mind.
A tent structure (Wisdom Tent) is designed to be a contemplative and reflective space as well as a nomadic shelter. Photo Credit: Matteawan Gallery
In addition to an artist talk at the end of the Residency, two free art workshops covering Acrylic Transfer and Handmade Egg Tempura Painting were built into the project. The trade for students was to give their finished work to Skinner, to be included in his exhibit.
Beacon resident Greg Slick contributes to the installation. Photo Credit: Matteawan Gallery
Children participating in past installations. Photo Credit: Zachary Skinner
Skinner works in the gallery most days of the week, with regular hours on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. There will be a closing reception on Sunday, January 22, with a talk by the artist at 3 pm. Past artist residencies in this program include Jean-Marc Superville Sovak’s I Draw & You Talk in 2016, Mollie McKinley’s Cabin Fever in 2015, and Angelika Rhinnhofer’s a priori in 2014.
About Matteawan Gallery
Matteawan Gallery opened in March 2013 at 464 Main Street in Beacon, NY, and moved to a larger space at 436 Main Street in September 2015. The gallery specializes in contemporary art by mid-career and emerging artists, often with a focus on process and materials.
Gallery Director Karlyn Benson has over 20 years of experience working in museums and galleries. For six years she worked in the Registrar Department at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Previously, she was the gallery manager at Candace Perich Gallery, a contemporary photography gallery in Katonah, NY. Karlyn received an MA in Art History from the University of Texas, Austin and a BA in Art History from SUNY Purchase. She recently curated the exhibition Chemistry at Garrison Art Center, Garrison, NY.
It is Second Saturday this weekend! Your full guide for the day/night is here!
Here is your easy access to planning. These are weekend dates pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.
There is more parking in Beacon than you might think!
Especially in the large, free lots on the East End of town (near the mountain). We've got pictures. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.
Second Saturday is a celebratory day in Beacon started in part by visionaries at BeaconArts and other folks years ago as a way to promote art galleries. Events and opportunities happen throughout the day.
Each month, A Little Beacon Blog complies a Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide that has even more Event Listings than you see below of the art showings at galleries, churches, outdoor events, and anywhere else where and art show is happening.
The Upcoming Events Guide is proudly sponsored by King Family Chiropractic, located in Beacon and ready to serve you.
The Hudson Valley Poets Poetry Night Day: Friday, January 13, 2017 Time: 8pm-10pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St, Beacon, NY Information >
Dia:Beacon Community Free Day Day: Saturday, January 14, 2017 Time: 11am-4pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St, Beacon, NY Information >
Raw Dance-A Freestyle Dance Experience Day: Sunday, January 15, 2017 Time: 2-4pm Location: Be Bahakti Yoga, 89 Dewindt St, Beacon, NY Information >
Martin Luther King Day Singing March, Breakfast, Lunch, Children’s Essays, Celebration Day: Monday, January 16, 2017 Time: Free Breakfast at 8am, Parade Lineup at 9:30am, Parade Starts 10am, Speakers and Essays Read at 11am Location: Springfield Baptist Church, 8 Church Street
Annual Martin Luther King Day Singing Parade and honorary day. Events at Springfield Baptist Church include Breakfast, Lunch, speaking by politicians, a march/parade, essays written by kids of all ages, and singing. Day starts at 8am, Parade lineup starts at 9:30. Come honor Dr. King's life and work and support the community. More Details Here >
Barb's Butchery
69 Spring Street
Those fries...Those house-made potato chips...Those two sides alone are enough to make any lunch enthusiast head over to Barb’s Butcheryfor their weekly specials. Always find a burger, but the specials change ever week, like Barb's G-Ma Goulash: her grandmother's recipe of ground beef, elbow macaroni, and diced tomatoes cooked in special spices.
Visit our Restaurant Guide for a complete list of eateries in Beacon.
SHOPS ON THE WEST END (TRAIN) reMADE
133 Main Street
It feels like Spring this week, and these wall hanging planters in reMADE beg for some greenery to pop out from them. Designed by Dana Anders, buy it at reMADE then visit Flora to see what little plants would fit in them.
Mountain Tops
144 Main Street
Wet and wet, that is what it will be in Beacon for a bit. These Kamik boots are waterproof from top to toe, and are incredibly warm and cozy. Available at Mountain Tops of course! #alwaysprepared. Because there will be another snow dumping this season, you'll see! PS: Exciting renovations happening at their sister shop, Bank Square Coffee House!
Bellus on Main
181 Main Street
Trick flowers - these are DRIED ROSES - only available at Bellus on Main. These dried flowers take 5 years to dry this way - and retain enough moisture to be still be bendable like a fresh flower. Bellus is still having their Grand Opening Sale, so you can take 20% off this bouquet that will last you forever.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street
Hold up - let's talk about your contacts, and how you clean them. Turns out, this old-school container of bubbling solution of hydrogen peroxide is the best way to effortlessly clean your contacts - even if you wear disposables like 2 week or 1 month lenses. Available at Luxe Optique, they will tell you about the chemistry behind this solution, and why it may add more moisture to your soft contacts. We have nerded out over this so much, we made a video of the bubbles for you.
SHOPS ON THE EAST END 'ROUND THE TURN (MOUNTAIN)
Style Storehouse
484 Main Street
The shops are getting Valentine's ready! Stop into Style Storehouse for a cute outfit. They are open most days and are just around the corner from Utensil and Waddle and Swaddle. Plus, shop the Winter items at 50%-75% off.
Find phone numbers and addresses for all shops in our Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more.
River Therapeutic Massage
612 Rt. 52 (near Karen's Place)
BeaconArts
In December 2016, The “I’m Tired” Project co-founder Paula Akpan and Teaching Artist/Project Coordinator, Donna Mikkelsen conducted workshops on micro-aggressions, stereotypes and assumptions with the entire student body at Beacon’s Rombout Middle School. Each of the 600+ students were invited to write their own statement and accompanying explanation on paper. The statements were then written on the students’ hands and photographed. The photographs have been on view at the middle school through the holidays, and will now also be on view at the Center for Creative Education at 464 Main Street, Beacon. Find this exhibit and more in A Little Beacon Blog's Second Saturday Art Guide.
The project was funded in part by the Beacon Arts and Education Foundation and the Rombout Middle School PTO. Visit the project for an opening reception to from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at the Center for Creative Education. Students, families and the community are all welcome to attend.
Tin Shingle
Looking for classes in SEO and Social Media? How about a class and swift kick in the pants for sending out your company's newsletter? In-person classes are coming to Beacon from Tin Shingle, but in the meantime, you can stream several here.
InHouse Design Media
Need help with social media? How is that newsletter coming? Have you sent one to your customers/clients lately? InHouse Design Media are the makers behind the design and social media of A Little Beacon Blog, and can help you make a plan.
All Sport Health & Fitness
Today (Friday) is the LAST DAY to sign up for All Sport's Transformation Challenge! This includes nutrition seminars, their new tracking tool to watch your progress, and unlimited Small Group Training Sessions! Are you in?
A Little Beacon Space
291 Main Street
There are all kinds of reasons you'll love hosting your event in A Little Beacon Space, from our location in the heart of Beacon, to the warm light. Click here for more details and to book online.
You’re Invited, Don’t Miss These Events!
A Lovely Little Pop-Up February 11-12, 2017 The designers have begun their newest creations for this Valentine's Day Pop-Up Shop! Stay tuned for news from Kit Burke-Smith, Margeaux Lange, 5Hens and Diana Cowdrey. It will be lovely!
We Know What You're Thinking..."I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our Guide advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!
Back when a few businesses were closing in Beacon, chatter started about People's Bicycle also leaving town. People's Bicycle was originally opened by Jon Miles, who renovated the shop space. Prior to that, there was one other bike shop in Beacon, on the other side of Main Street. It closed a few years ago when the owner, Tom Cerchiara, decided to put all of his efforts into his then-growing land surveying business, TEC Land Surveying PC.
People's Bicycle became the only bike shop in Beacon, and was known for building cargo bikes like the ones you see Zero To Go riding around as they pick up food waste for compost. People's Bicycle conducted regular repairs and tune-ups, and sold Kona mountain bikes. Speaking of mountain bikes, there is quite a scene of sponsored mountain bike riders - gals and guys - in Beacon, in addition to regular riders who like to go up and down the mountain. Would the town be at a loss without a bike shop?
Tim Schopen thought so. In fact, he believed in the need for a bike shop so much that he purchased People's Bicycle from Jon, and has been preparing for his grand re-opening this weekend, Saturday, January 14. "I have worked in a few different bike shops with the dream to own my own sometime," says Tim. "Bike brands we will carry in the shop are Kona for now, with more to come. There are both mountain and road cyclists in this area, with hopefully more cyclists to come when the Rail Trail comes to town, or the Fjord Trail in a few years."
Trailblazers continue to make new bike paths to make it easier - or more challenging, but in a good way! - to ride around or above Beacon. Tom Cerchiara may now be hooked into his land surveying day job, but he's still on the bike, forging new trails, literally. He's clearing a trail from Gordons Brook Notch up to the Red Casino Trail, between the fire tower and casino ruins. A second, singletrack trail will run along the north side of the access road, and will give cyclists the opportunity to make a quick ride, about 45 minutes to an hour long. That route will also function as an exit trail for rides that run onto the Fishkill Ridge.
With Beacon's (so far) manageable snowfall and population of bike enthusiasts, there is sure to be a need for winter repairs and tune-ups. People should keep the new business in mind as they keep rolling on two wheels instead of four!
A Pop-Up Shop is back at A Little Beacon Space! Our planning meeting is complete for the Valentine's Day Pop-Up Shop, happening the weekend before Valentine's Day, which is also February's Second Saturday. Some of your favorite makers in jewelry, flowers, yummy baked goods, and mayyyybe print, if the letterpress company signs on. Cute name for this pop-up shop to come, but makers include: Kit Burke-Smith @kitburkesmithjewelry Margaux Lange @margauxlangejewelry @redheadmidge Dana Devine O'Malley @five_hens_baked_goods Diana Cowdery, Diana Mae Flowers @dianamaeflowers Martha P Humphreys Third Muse Metal Arts @mphumphreys
EDITOR’S NOTE: The staff has since changed at this establishment. Described here is who the restaurant launched with.
The wind whistled through the newly installed windows on the third floor of The Beacon Hotel last Wednesday afternoon under clouds threatening snow. Down on the first floor, newly hired staff buzzed busily around The Beacon Hotel Restaurant, hustling to get ready for their first dinner service, set to start Friday evening at 5 pm. It will be the first time the hotel has been renovated and open to the public in decades.
This massive project is another feather in the cap of Beacon development visionaries like the Sauers, the McAlpines, and so many others. Business owners in this city have a long tradition of renting once-shoddy storefronts and building them out: Beacon Bread Company (remodeled a dilapidated diner), Beacon Dental (outfitted offices in questionable neighborhood), Giannetta Salon & Spa, and so many more. They breathe fresh air into the city by transforming once-forgotten buildings and giving them new life for the people of the Hudson Valley - and a longer life for the history books.
Most people around town know this hotel as the location of SRO (single-room occupancy) apartments on the East End of Main Street, contributing to a kind of "no-man's land" feeling of limited business activity in the area. That has gradually decreased as businesses and real estate pioneers have moved in and renovated buildings throughout Beacon.
Originally built in the 1870s, this hotel is no stranger to entrepreneurial visionaries. Warren S. Dibble bought the property in 1877, creating 75 rooms; amenities included a horse stable. Across the street he built a roller rink, which he turned into The Dibble Opera House, as illustrated in the book Historic Beacon. "Some of the most famous actors of the nineteenth century entertained Matteawan's elite and Mr. Dibble's hotel guests," according to Celebrating Our Centennial, Beacon at 100, the historical reference book published by the Beacon Historical Society. In fact, rumor has it that there is a secret passageway under Main Street connecting the hotel to the theater, so that actors could quickly get from one place to the other. The Beacon Theatre that stands today is currently being renovated into luxury apartments. The entertainment scene has changed considerably since the heyday of the theater and Mount Beacon's Incline Railway. (The railway carried 3.5 million people to the top of Mount Beacon during its years of operation, according to Celebrating Our Centennial.)
Local Entrepreneurs Bring Back The Beacon Hotel and Restaurant
Enter the new owners: Alla Kormilitsyna, a renovator of townhouses in New York City, and Greg and Evey Trautman, veteran renovators of restaurants around the corner from their previous home in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn (Olmsted and Plan B). They, with another partner, purchased the hotel from the estate of Ritchie Rogers after he passed in 2014. For Greg and Evey, who have since moved to Beacon, having a comfortable restaurant around the corner is important: "We loved having a local restaurant near where we lived and contributing to the community." After moving to Beacon, they got the itch to dive into restaurant renovation again. "We loved the history of Beacon and the fact that the hotel was the oldest running hotel in Beacon, dating back to the Dibble House. With Alla's construction knowledge and get-it-done spirit, we knew we [would be] able to reinvent the space to bring back its glory."
CO-OWNER EVEY TRAUTMAN SITS IN THE NEWLY LIT BOOTH OF THE BEACON HOTEL RESTAURANT, ONE OF MANY PROJECTS HEADED FOR A SWIFT FINISH DAYS BEFORE THE RESTAURANT'S GRAND OPENING. PHOTO CREDITS: KATIE HELLMUTH MARTIN
The Food - Get To The Food Part!
The kitchen team at The Beacon Hotel Restaurant, preparing for the weekend's opening. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Right - so, as you know, eating in Beacon is getting more delicious by the month. (We track it here in ALBB's Restaurant Guide). Those who were missing the creative culinary creations of Matt Hutchins, former co-owner and original executive chef of The Hop, can order from his carefully crafted menu once again. His dishes delighted critics from the neighborhood to The New York Times, while his commitment to feeding the cravings of community strengthened his relationship with the people of Beacon: "I love to play with food, but more importantly I love how it can bring people together," he says.
Executive Chef Matt Hutchins is back in the kitchen in Beacon, creating dishes you'll remember forever. Photo Credit: Evey Trautman
Matt studied in Berkeley, CA, "where 'California-Mediterranean' is a thing," he says, and attended the Culinary Institute of America. He calls his culinary style partially “Hudson Valley-Mediterranean.” Having grown up in North Florida, Matt says those roots deeply influence him as well. In Florida, he says, "many cultures come into play, from Mexican to Caribbean, Deep South to Cajun. I have been passionate about locality in food sourcing, and nose-to-tail cooking, for I strive to utilize every part of an animal I can to honor that animal’s life (and death)."
From the menu, you can expect to see dishes that will change with the seasons. This season, look for Pork Belly and Scallops, Beet Tartare, and Cuttlefish and Clams. For your main dish, look for the Grilled Duck Breast, Beef Tenderloin, Chestnut Lasagne, among others. And save room, of course, for the Peanut Butter Pie and New York Apple Beignets.
The Decor - What Will It Look Like?
Beautiful. Industrial. Like you'll want to settle in and stay all night. The team was inspired by Beacon's history and mandated that the atmosphere reflect it. They tapped local architect Aryeh Siegel, well-known for creating the uplifting look of Main Street Beacon through his work on several buildings including The Roundhouse, the Beacon Lofts, pieces of the galleries in Dia: Beacon, and other residential and business projects.
As for the interior direction, the team approached Clodagh Design, a design firm based in New York City, yet calls Beacon home. "When owners Alla and Greg selected our studio to capture the spirit of Beacon in their Beacon Hotel Bar and Restaurant, we jumped on the opportunity with huge enthusiasm," Clodagh says. "My love affair with Beacon started over 14 years ago after purchasing property in Beacon in 2003 with my husband Daniel Aubry, Beacon artist and realtor. The wonderfully tight community and necklace of fabulous restaurants and music venues makes it a great place for a quiet night dining or out on the town, with each establishment offering different experiences."
In keeping with the instinct to tie the look to Beacon's past and manufacturing history, Clodagh designed using a reclaimed and industrial theme. The tables were crafted by After the Barn, using joists found in the original hotel, and several decorative objects were sourced from the Beacon Flea and local antiques shops. Effort was made to join the space in the front - the storefront windows are bi-fold and will be open in the spring and summer months - with the garage door in the back of the restaurant, to encourage a breeze all the way through the restaurant. Add to that a double fireplace between the back patio and inside party room, to supply cozy ambiance inside and out.
BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS OF THE RESTAURANT AS EVERYONE PREPARED DAYS BEFORE THE OPENING. PHOTO CREDITS: ALL BY KATIE HELLMUTH MARTIN, EXCEPT THE LOWER RIGHT WITH DINERS (PHOTO CREDIT: KIMBERLY COCCAGNIA)
Behind the Scenes of a Restaurant and Hotel Renovation and Build
This scene could be one from a musical about the makings of a restaurant, but it is co-owner Alla wiping shelves in preparation for a walk-through by people who were getting sneak peeks of the restaurant before it opened. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
If you're a longtime reader of A Little Beacon Blog, you know that we live for behind-the-scene stories. We want to see the prep work and learn how people got to be doing what they are doing. Co-owner Alla met with me days before the opening to answer a few questions for this article. "Come!" she said. "Let's meet in the bathroom. It's quiet." Every single aspect of this restaurant is brand-new, so it's not like a management office is ready yet, and there were people literally in every corner - bartenders arranging bottles of wine and spirits, electricians in closets I didn't even notice until I saw their flashlights moving, her partner Greg outside ripping off the white plastic coating from the new front doors, and Matt and the kitchen staff breaking down large boxes once they were unpacked.
The space for the hotel was completely gutted to become what visitors see today. The upstairs hotel rooms, accessible only by stairs winding through the towers (the ultimate walk-up!), remain under construction. Phase 1 is slated to open with 12 rooms, one of which, "Hikers Haven," will offer bunk beds and is aimed at being a comfortable resting spot for locals and day-trippers who want an inspiring night on the town.
ROOM WITH VIEWS. LEFT: THE START TO THE TOTAL RENOVATION OF WHAT WILL SOON BE A HOTEL ROOM OVERLOOKING MAIN STREET. RIGHT: VIEW OF MOUNT BEACON AND THE BEACON THEATRE FROM MAIN STREET-FACING ROOMS IN THE HOTEL'S TOWERS. PHOTO CREDIT: KATIE HELLMUTH MARTIN
Says Alla, a master renovator of townhouses: "The facade was restored to the original state, and extreme measures were taken to structurally reinforce the building. We did create an entirely new facade of the first-floor restaurant, with the bi-fold windows in the front that will be open during the spring and summer."
When asked about the unexpected challenges of restoring this building, Alla mentioned several: "Site-work to take care of the storm water, running electrical and gas lines. The sprinkler and fire alarm system were very difficult. The Ansul system, which carries the smoke from the stovetop out of the kitchen, was very difficult to run out of the kitchen to the rooftop. You can see the Ansul running up the back brick wall of the patio."
If you've driven past any of these renovation projects (another hotel and spa is currently under construction on the West End of town, near the clothing boutique Nella's Bellas), you will see that they involve a lot of people, and if everything is going smoothly, the site always has something going on. We asked Alla what it's like having a renovation project as your full-time job: "It is all-consuming and takes over your life. Given the complexity of the project, you are on-call 24/7. There is constant managing of construction workers, buying supplies, and creating your timeline to open. Essentially, this is three projects in one: the construction of the hotel rooms, the restaurant, and the creation of the business."
The restaurant will be open for dinner only on most days (check their website for updates), and at some point soon will include a Sunday brunch. We wish everyone involved the best moving forward, and we look forward to cozying into one of the tables to order culinary happiness.
Here is your easy access to planning. These are weekend dates pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.
The Upcoming Events Guide is proudly sponsored by King Family Chiropractic, located in Beacon and ready to serve you.
"Trees" Photography Exhibit Days: January 7-29, 2017 Opening Reception: Sunday, January 8, 2017 Time: 3pm-5pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Holiday Open Barn Day: Saturday, January 7, 2017 Time: 3pm-6:00pm Location: Stony Kill Barn, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY Information >
A Tribute to Cat Stevens & Neil Young Day: Saturday, January 7, 2017 Time: 8pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Get in the Game! Game Club Day: Friday, January 6, 2017 Time: 3-5pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Improv is Back in January! Dates: Six Saturdays, January 7, 2017 to February 18, 2017 Time: 1:30-2:30pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Crafty Mama & Me with Keely Sheehan Ages: 20 months to 4 years old Days: January 9, 2017 (new session starts) Time: 10:45-11:30 am Location: Fishkill Recreation, 792 Route 52, Fishkill, NY Information >
Things are changing in Beacon restaurants this week! A few of your favorites, such as Oak Vino, Ella's Bellas, and The Vault, are on a winter break, so call ahead before you head out.
The long-decrepit hotel on the east end of Main Street, now known as The Beacon Hotel, is opening this weekend with a full restaurant renovation for dinner. That's right! A Little Beacon Blog has an article on it with the full scoop - including picture and menu highlights - shortly.
Barb's Butchery
69 Spring Street
Broth, broth and more broth. Put a lot of salt in it, and nurse yourself back to health by sipping Barb’s Butcherygrass-finished beef broth or chicken stock.
Visit our Restaurant Guide for a complete list of eateries in Beacon.
SHOPS ON THE WEST END (NEAR THE TRAIN) reMADE
133 Main Street
Find these concrete flower and succulent holders in reMADE, from the designer RStudioDesign. They were wildly popular in our Instagram when we shared a sneak peek after collecting the photo for this weekend's email issue.
Mountain Tops
144 Main Street
Warm. Fuzzy. Prana. Yours. You'll find this fully-lined, fuzzy, hooded sweatshirt at Mountain Tops in the Men's section, but ladies, you'll want to borrow it.
Bellus on Main
181 Main Street
We can say with almost certainty that you do not have hand-punched lamps like this in your home. However, Bellus on Main found them for you. They're in the store now, part of their highly curated collection of style.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street
The tortoiseshell frame is a winner on any face. Try this pair at Luxe Optique, and you just may have the same good experience that Lynn Slater Miller had: "After many tries and a thorough re-examination, I finally have glasses that I can see out of!! Wow! The caring service provided by the staff here is top notch! Can't recommend them highly enough."
SHOPS ON THE EAST END 'ROUND THE TURN (MOUNTAIN)
Raven Rose
474 Main Street
Wedding season has officially started at Raven Rose. They're taking orders from brides and wedding planners who are in search of the perfect bouquet, floral crowns, and other special adornments crafted with unusual flowers.
Style Storehouse
484 Main Street
This hot little number will look AH-MAZING on your date night out for Valentine's Day. Find it at Style Storehouse, where the Semi-Annual Clearance Sale is still going on. Score a deal at 50%-75% off!
Find phone numbers and addresses for all shops in our Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more.
River Therapeutic Massage
612 Rt. 52 (near Karen's Place)
Hot Stone Massage is River Therapeutic's #1 request in the winter, and there is a reason: Your body will thank you. Book it here. You can still exchange your gift cards to other stores as cash - but only for one more week! See RTM's Special Message about that in our Beauty Guide here.
Find phone numbers and addresses for all Beauty locations in our Beauty Guide.
BeaconArts
You have the power to donate to any of the projects that BeaconArts is a fiscal sponsor of, including Beacon Film Festival, Beacon Arts and Education Foundation, Beacon 3D, and many more. This is your opportunity to make a difference for Beacon via a number of these popular cultural events and causes.
Tin Shingle
Looking for classes in SEO and Social Media? How about a class and swift kick in the pants for sending out your company's newsletter? In-person classes are coming to Beacon from Tin Shingle, but in the meantime, you can stream several here.
InHouse Design Media
Need help with social media? How is that newsletter coming? Have you sent one to your customers/clients lately? InHouse Design Media are the makers behind the design and social media of A Little Beacon Blog, and can help you make a plan.
All Sport Health & Fitness
All Sport's Transformation Challenge starts January 9. Are you in?
A Little Beacon Space
291 Main Street
A Little Beacon Space is now available to rent by the hour for group meetings. Includes a pull-down screen for projecting from your computer. Click here for more details and to book online.
You’re Invited: Don’t Miss These Events!
February 11-12, 2017: The designers have begun their newest creations for this Valentine's Day Pop-Up Sale! Stay tuned for news from Kit Burke-Smith, Margeaux Lange, 5Hens Baked Goods and Diana Cowdery. It will be heaven.
We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our Guide advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!
Susan Pagones started selling insurance part-time in 1985, leaning in further with kids into a full-time role with the insurance agency in 1989. When Susan was defining what kind of agent she'd be in her career, she made the move to set up a nursery for her young children in the office, defining her role as a working parent and aligning her family priorities with her professional ones. "In those days, you could do that. I had to. Working from home was not an option."
Commitment to children is a thread that has remained constant throughout her career. In addition to the numerous ways Antalek & Moore has donated to the community over the years, the business is one of the first to step in to aid in school functions and fundraisers. When asked about what makes selling insurance at a local level so special, Susan's first response is: "Schools. When we donate to school organizations, sports, spaghetti dinners, and things like that, it lets us give directly to people in need. My kids have gone through all of Beacon schools, and we try to donate back to the great foundation that all of the educators have made."
Providing insurance directly at the local level brings Susan and the entire staff at Antalek & Moore closer to the community at large. That connection enables them to act quickly to bring people together. "Because we're all local, we all depend on each other. When Addy started school years ago, there was a fundraiser for National Fire Safety Month, to educate the students about fire safety. To add fun to the event, we were able to donate the fire hats that were handed out. Through knowing the people in the community, we were able to ask the right people to come."
Susan's Current Passion - Fighting Distracted Driving
When she first started out, Susan specialized in Personal and Auto insurance. When she became partner and COO at Antalek & Moore, she contributed her strength in an administrative role, bringing everything together. Recently, Susan added Certified Defensive Driving Instructor to her list of qualifications, as distracted driving (and walking!) has become an epidemic.
Starting in 2017, Antalek & Moore will offer discounted classes to clients as a way to increase awareness about distracted driving, as well as to lower clients' premiums. Partner Pat Moore wasn't too shy to put himself out there as an actor for the Distracted Driver role in one of the video campaigns Antalek & Moore produced, staring Susan's daughter, Addy. "Distracted driving is a big problem right now, and that’s what I’ll be focused on," Susan reiterates. "Putting on makeup, food, phones, and with inexperienced operators, forget it. I say to parents: 'Set the example. As soon as you get in the car, put it away. Put the phone away.' "
It's that time... 'tis the season to clean your house from the holidays, and take down the Christmas tree. You may be one of those who leaves the decorations up for the entire month of January. And that's fine — as long as you don't want to miss the free Christmas tree pickup that the City of Beacon provides. It starts on January 5, 2017, and concludes at the end of January.
How to Prepare Your Christmas Tree for Pickup
Yes, there is a best way, as well as a worst way, to get your Christmas tree outside for the garbage pickup. Here is the advice from Beacon's Highway Department:
Lie the Christmas tree down flat. Standing Christmas trees that lean up against a fence could get overlooked by the Highway Department while they drive by looking for Christmas trees to pick up.
If you see a red truck in your neighborhood, get your tree curbside - quick!
The Highway Department gets assigned to a grid of the city each day. When they are not super busy with other projects, assigned trucks will drive around a grid of town for the day. So if you see a truck in your area, get on it and get that tree outside. If you don't see a truck in your area, get the tree outside anyway, and it will most likely get picked up soon.
Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in 2013 while burning after a train carrying oil derailed and rolled down a mountain into the town, wiping out more than 30 buildings and killing 47 people. Photo credit: Photo from a police helicopter, published at Wikipedia
One year after New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman filed a petition for rulemaking to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) that would require all crude oil transported by rail train in the U.S. to achieve a vapor pressure of less than 9.0 pounds per square inch (psi), PHMSA announced in December 2016 that it will “seek comment on vapor pressure thresholds, and will evaluate the potential safety benefits of utilizing a threshold in regulating the transport of crude oil and other dangerous materials."
For those who are not science nerds, vapor pressure is a key driver of oil’s explosiveness and flammability in the event that a train car transporting it derails. The most cited example of increased flammability caused by high vapor pressure is the derailed train in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec in 2013, where a derailed train burst into flames, destroying the downtown area by wiping out over 30 buildings, and killing 47 people. More examples can be found on this page that tracks accidents involving "bomb trains," which carry dangerous materials.
Attorney General Schneiderman points out that the level of vapor pressure is not regulated in the United States, and calls it a loophole that currently allows highly flammable crude oil to be routinely shipped by rail through communities in New York and across the country. He also notes that the vapor pressure of the crude involved in train accidents is frequently not disclosed, according to his government website that published his statement applauding PHMSA’s announcement to seek public comment in 2017. He is seeking for the vapor pressure to be less than 9.0 pounds per square inch (psi). His comment in full:
“I applaud the federal government for recognizing the need to address the danger that crude oil shipments pose to communities across New York State. In New York, trains carrying millions of gallons of crude oil routinely travel through our cities and towns without any limit on its explosiveness or flammability — which makes crude oil more likely to catch fire and explode in train accidents. The federal government’s commitment to initiate a rulemaking marks a long overdue first step towards reducing the danger to residents in harm’s way of oil trains in New York and across the country.”
Even though PHMSA announced that the public comment would open December 30, 2016, and go until February 28, 2017, the public comment page at regulations.gov has not been published yet as of January 3, 2017. The comment page is seeking feedback on the vapor pressure limit only, not on trains coming through towns in general. When called by A Little Beacon Blog to confirm location of the comment page, a customer service representative at regulations.gov confirmed that the docket had been created at regulations.gov, but had not been published yet, and was awaiting rulemaking before being published. Several calls to associated offices made by A Little Beacon Blog yielded no definitive answer on when the comment page would be made live. When the comment page becomes available, it will apparently be available at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=PHMSA-2016-0077
We will continue to refresh our Internet browsers.
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
