Ground is breaking on the latest expansion project for the children's playground located at Memorial Park, officially known as the Wee Play Tot Park. The park is undergoing an imaginatively ambitious project rooted in, literally, trees. The plan involves 50 new trees that would be planted on the lower end of the existing locust forest to the immediate left of the swing sets at the base of the Memorial Park hill, and fundraising efforts have begun alongside construction endeavors.
The new poplar trees, specifically Eastern Cottonwoods, will be known as the Wee Forest. In the center of the grove will be a shaded sandbox, surrounded by a path of willow trees that will be trained to grow in an arch over the bordering path, making for a natural tunnel.
The Wee Play Community Project has allocated funds raised through their annual Ree Play Sale to pay for the labor of the project, and the City of Beacon, through the Parks and Recreation budget, has agreed to fund material and mulch, details of which can be read in the coversheet proposal here.
When presenting the project to the City Council, Parks and Recreation Director Mark Price described the desire to incorporate the large swath of mystical forest that exists above the park, as a way for older kids to experience the park. The idea occurred to him after the 2017 Easter Egg hunt, which was held in the trees of the locust forest instead of the great lawn. He and several others realized that the wooded area has been underutilized, even though it is just steps away from the park. By adding the 50 new trees, "it informs people that this is a play area. Some folks need a little more coaxing to [go up and play,]" explained Mark to the City Council during a Workshop on September 25, 2017.
The Big Picture
Volunteer organizers have big plans for the park, and envision structures being added around the existing playground. In her proposal letter to the City Council, Wee Play Community Project Board Member Lori Merhige discussed the findings of a survey that the group sent out to the community, which set the stage for who wanted the new approach to the playground and why:
Our survey yielded many opinions on what are the most treasured as well as the least favorite aspects of the playground. One piece of feedback we heard repeatedly is that people were tired of all the plastic - the riding toys and the play structures. When asked what parents would like to see at the park, the majority of replies included having more natural play elements, areas for climbing, and free, unstructured nature play.
As we know, the popular metal and plastic playground play structures of today can cost tens of thousands of dollars each, they don't always hold kids' attention for very long, and older children often don't find them engaging. The beauty of designing a natural playground is that it utilizes many available resources that we already have, as well as fostering imaginative play in children of all ages.
Natural playgrounds are surprisingly simple, safe, and affordable, and research shows that there are many benefits to kids playing creatively in nature.
A nature-based playground could involve a simple ropes course, wooden balance beams/bridges, boulders for jumping (carefully!), additional swings, and other ideas that are built as living things, or with living things, much like the nearby Hudson Highlands Nature Museum. Acting as project architect with a donation of time and ideas is Bryan Quinn from One Nature, who has designed and built nature-based playgrounds before, with a most recent one opening at Safe Harbors in Newburgh. The trees serve as strategically planted connection points for such structures to be built, or for kids to easily run through.
Sand Not Playing Nice In The Sandbox
A catalyst for this big change was the sand in the sandbox in the corner of the existing Tot Park. While people have mixed feelings about outdoor sandboxes - that they can turn into giant kitty litter boxes or encourage bugs - many families love them. However, the "rogue sand" coming from the sandbox was damaging the surface of the playground, Mark said, making it irreparable until the sandbox was gone. In the new plan, the sandbox will be in the middle of the Wee Forest, surrounded by mulch and other natural elements, hurting nothing when sand spills over, and not being a large issue if the sandbox needs to be replaced by something else.
About the Wee Play Tot Park
The public park is enjoyed by all people for free (even those who venture in from beyond Beacon) and maintained by volunteers of the Wee Play Community Project, in partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department and the City of Beacon. If you've been following A Little Beacon Blog's coverage of the park's expansion, you'll know that something is always going on over there, from community cleanups to new projects.
You've seen the magazine cover–inspired flyer around town and on Instagram. Now you can attend "Pink Kiss," the fashion-forward event from Beacon-based Lorraine Tyne Bridal & Sparkle My Head Scarves. The fashion show promotes Breast Cancer Awareness while highlighting cancer survivors on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 6 pm at Atlas Studios, 11 Spring St., Newburgh.
To celebrate its fifth year, the group is hosting a Benefit Fashion Show and honoring local area cancer survivors - at any stage of treatment - with recognition and gifts. Local hospitals have nominated cancer survivors from St. Luke's Hospital, Mid Hudson Regional, and NY Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital, as well as patients from the Hudson Valley community.
Beacon's Draught Industries is donating the prosecco, and models from Couture Modeling of Wappingers Falls will be showing gowns. A portion of the night's proceeds will be donated to local nonprofit Sparrow's Nest, who delivers home-cooked meals to families and caregivers of cancer patients.
The movie is "A Quiet Place," starring real-life married couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. You might know John, who's also directing "A Quiet Place," from his role as Jim on TV's "The Office," and Emily from dozens of film roles, including the assistant Emily in "The Devil Wears Prada." The real-life couple were both in the movie "The Muppets," though they did not appear on screen together. In this movie, however, they will act together.
According to The Internet, the plot is being kept hush-hush, but a simple Google search indicates that it's a horror movie. Blunt is no stranger to gory scenes, with her incredible work in the science fiction movie, "The Edge of Tomorrow" with Tom Cruise, in which she plays the best and most feared warrior against aliens that have invaded Earth. That role was in stark contrast to her mega-assistant role in The "Devil Wears Prada" starring Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. Currently, Blunt is wrapping production on "Mary Poppins" (in which Blunt plays the title role), set to release at the end of December 2018. Streep is also in that movie, playing Topsy. Gosh, should make for a good season of holiday movies next year!
It's one of the last weekends to decorate for Halloween! In between hanging ghosts, consider this list of things to do. Meanwhile, we'll be Instagramming a live shopping tour of where to buy or make Halloween in Beacon!
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Anything they need to know about Beacon, like where to shop, eat or take a class of any kind, can all be found in A Little Beacon's Guides:
Howland Public Library's Thrills and Chills
Day: Friday, October 20, 2017 Time: 4 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Movies That Matter: “Cries From Syria” Day: Friday, October 20, 2017 Time: 7 pm Location: First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, McKinley Hall, 50 Liberty St., Beacon, NY Information >
Catoberfest 2017 Day: Friday, October 20, 2017 Time: 6 to 10 pm Location: Hudson Valley Brewery, 2 Churchill St., Beacon, NY Information >
New York State Sheep & Wool Festival Day: Saturday & Sunday, October 21-22, 2017 Time: Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm; Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck, NY Information >
5th Annual "Pink Kiss" Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Event Day: Saturday, October 21, 2017 Time: 6 pm Location: Atlas Studios, 11 Spring St., Newburgh, NY See A Little Beacon Blog's Article >
Baba Andrew Lamb Trio Day: Saturday, October 21, 2017 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Pumpkin Carving Party Day: Sunday, October 22, 2017 Time: Families in afternoon; adults-only in the evening Location: 2 Way Brewing Company, 18 West Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Dover Quartet Day: Sunday, October 22, 2017 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Story Screen presents "Child's Play" Day: Sunday, October 22, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm doors, 8 pm movie Location: Quinn's, 330 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Poughkeepsie Nissan's Line Dance For a Cause Day: Monday, October 23, 2017 Time: 7:30 to 10:30 pm Location: Poughkeepsie Nissan, 1445 Route 9, Wappingers Falls, NY
Get your boots and join the fun! Join Poughkeepsie Nissan and Grace Smith House for a night of line dancing! All proceeds go to Grace Smith House in Poughkeepsie.
Environmental Citizen Soapbox Day: Monday, October 23, 2017 Time: 6:30 to 9 pm Location: First Presbyterian Church, Beacon, NY Information >
Pumpkins in the Park Jack-o'-Lantern Lighting Event Day: Monday to Friday, Oct. 23-27, 2017 Time: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 6 pm, pumpkin carving; Friday, 6 to 8 pm, jack-o'-lantern lighting and display Location: Scenic Hudson River Center, 8 Long Dock Road, Beacon, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
RiverWinds Gallery Day of the Dead Altar Day: Saturday, October 21, 2017 Time: 2 to 4 pm Location:: 172 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
The Anatomy of Yoga Day: Saturday & Sunday, October 21-22, 2017 Time: 8 am to 6 pm Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
FREE WEEK of Yoga Day: October 23-27, 2017 Time: Visit website for schedule. Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
Ballet Arts Studio's New Modern Dance Teacher!
Chelsea Acree joins Ballet Arts Studio as our new Modern Dance teacher, hailing from New York where she studied with many great dancers, and was a member of the Mark Morris Dance Group. She taught ballet, modern dance and creative movement to children of all ages, as well as adults and pre-professional and professional dancers, at the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn for 11 years. She has also taught children with physical and developmental disabilities. Visit Beacon Arts Studio's Schedule of Classes >
Where is Ballet Arts Studio? On the corner of Henry Street and Teller, opposite the back of the Yankee Clipper Diner.
reMADE
133 Main Street
Layering season is upon us! The least bulky fabric you could use to stay warm is silk, and reMADE has sweet scarves made by Patty Villanova of Silkworth in Cold Spring, NY. Lots of patterns and designs available, including this fish.
Where is reMADE? Across from Tito Santana's, next to Bank Square Coffee.
Bellus on Main
181 Main Street
If you have seen these rings in the window of Bellus, go in now and slip them on your finger. Beautiful, sophisticated and unique, these rings by Andronike, a New York-based designer jewelry brand, are inspired by art, contemporary design and architecture, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and enduring quality.
Where is Bellus? Next door to Luxe Optique.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street
Watch out - if you're on the street wearing your frames from Luxe Optique, we just may snap a picture! Spotting artistic frames in Beacon has become a thing now, thanks to Luxe for transforming the way many wear glasses. Got Luxe frames? Please take a selfie of yourself and email it to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com, or tag us on Instagram!
Where is Luxe Optique? Across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company, and across Main Street from Beacon Barkery.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway entrance up to Main Street!
Style Storehouse
484 Main Street
The weather is still indecisive enough to wear this Florence Mini Dress by MinkPink. It is fully lined, and features neck cut-outs, elastic waist, button sleeves and back keyhole with button closure. Wear with tall boots, jeans or leggings!
Where is Style Storehouse? Near Waddle n Swaddle.
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 TRUNK SHOW NOW
The Justin Alexander Trunk Show is this weekend - October 20-22. The Justin Alexander company is showing its entire line of the Spring/Summer 2018 collection at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique. Special discounts are available for purchases made this weekend. Walk-ins welcome!
Where Is Lambs Hill? Next to King + Curated!
Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! reMADE, Bellus on Main, Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Style Storehouse.
River Therapeutic Massage 612 Route 52
Beacon, NY
(845) 379-1956
Autumn is in full swing at River Therapeutic Massage because... You can book a Pumpkin Spice Coffee Foot Scrub! She has other flavor-themed services, too, but they are limited in availability. See these options so you can customize your Spa Treatment.*
Pumpkin Spice Latte (warm and spicy)
Spiced Orange (refreshing)
Vanilla Spice (sweetly soothing)
Autumn Breeze (bright and uplifting)
*available for massage, salt, or sugar scrubs
Snuggle up on the heated table, take a deep breath in, and let. it. all. go! Book Now >
Where is River Therapeutic Massage?
Sharing space with Karen's Place Salon on Route 52.
Thank you River Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring the Beauty Guide!
The Vault
446 Main Street
Here's a healthy way to help you eat clean(er) at The Vault on your weekend: the Seared Scallop Salad with grilled seasonal vegetables, goat cheese and balsamic reduction over a bed of fresh arugula. Enjoy!
Where is The Vault? Near Beacon Bath & Bubble.
Thank you to The Vault and to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!
Rhinebeck Bank
Did you know that Rhinebeck Bank has one of the best local morning shows in town, Wake Up With Rhinebeck Bank? Michelle and Mark interview guests from the local community, including business owners, community leaders, local political figures and Rhinebeck Bank employees. On this episode, Angela Pless and Donna Harris from the US Postal Inspection Service are interviewed. This agency is one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country. It supports and protects the Postal Service from criminal attack. First established in the early 1700s when stagecoaches carrying mail were attacked by outlaws, early horseback-riding “good guys” were the precursors to current day Postal Inspectors. Fascinating. To submit to be a guest on the show, email PR@RhinebeckBank.com. Watch the Interview >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce and the Beacon Chamber of Commerce are hosting a joint mixer. On Thursday, October 26, they invite you to come meet your business neighbors at the Dutchess Manor (263 Route 9D, Beacon) from 6 to 8 pm. There will be a chance to talk to fellow “Main Street” business owners and brainstorm around how Cold Spring and Beacon can grow from day trip visits to longer weekend destinations. Tickets are required for this event ($20 for members, $30 for non-members). Hors d'oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Tickets can be purchased online here.
BeaconArts
The last Wednesday (and sometimes the fourth Wednesday) of every month is the monthly BeaconArts Member Meet Up. This month, they'll be meeting at the Inn and Spa at Beacon, hosted by its proprietor Roger Greenwald. This beautifully realized establishment also houses the Anamario Hernandez Gallery. If the weather is good, attendees may even get to lounge on the fabulous rooftop terrace! Must be a BeaconArts member to attend (join online here).
A Little Beacon Space
Next Pop-Up Shop: Made & Given
Curated records from Black Gold Records, handmade jewelry by Haimi Co and Rock Dove, sustainable soaps and hand-poured candles by Kala Style, Bowties and headscarves for adults and babies by Moor Berry, Unisex Leather Goods by F&S, and Naughty Holiday Cards from Santa’s Dirty Workshop and more! Check in via FB to say you're going to stop by! >
InHouse Design Media
Private training sessions are available to businesses who want to produce their own newsletters, make website changes, or jump-start social media campaigns, but need guidance. Make an appointment with InHouse Design Media, who can make house-calls to businesses located in Beacon. Book Now >
Tin Shingle
Do you want to connect with someone right now about ways to get the word out about your business or art? Tin Shingle's Training TuneUps are just that - videos you can watch in the quietness of your own home or office. You'll come away with instant ideas and confidence to see them through. Click Here to Start Browsing >
We know what you're thinking... "I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!
If you have a thought to share about the environment, you can do it from a soapbox on Monday, October 23, from 7 to 9 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty St. Hosted by the Green Beacon Coalition, anyone is invited to attend and/or speak about their views, concerns, and visions in order to "work toward creating a more environmentally conscious city," according to Green Beacon Coalition's event page.
This isn't the first such "soapbox"-inspired event at the First Presbyterian Church of Beacon. Past events have included the Springtime Citizen Soapbox, which was an open forum to hear people's hopes for the future of the Beacon community.
Anyone can sign up to speak at the soapbox, and speaking opportunities run for a maximum of "a couple of minutes." Interested speakers and attendees can sign up here at the Green Beacon Coalition website.
In January of 2015, Beacon Mayor Randy Casale invited government and civic leaders to discuss growing tensions between police and communities around the country and to help Beacon's various groups set a course of improvement with one another. Following the meeting, "Beacon Speaks Out" (or BSO) was formed by Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon and Rabbi Brent Spodek of Beacon Hebrew Alliance and moderator of Better Together, The Beacon Interfaith Clergy Group. The first meeting was held in May of that year. Participants developed eight initiatives that the Beacon Police Department intended to work on. The BSO would set follow-up meetings to discuss progress; the next one was planned for February 2016.
"Beacon Speaks Out" returns tonight, Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at The Telephone Building from 7 to 8 pm for a third meeting that is open to the public. Participants will include citizens, Mayor Randy Casale, City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, and city Police Chief Douglas Solomon. The meeting will cover two of the eight initiatives conceived at the first meeting (specifically the fourth and seventh). All initiatives are posted below.
Initiative 4
"We’d like for the police to be better equipped to deal with Beacon’s diverse populations."
Initiative 7
"We’d like data on crimes, arrests, and convictions to be publicized, as well as police policies and procedures."
In the years since the original meeting, improvements have been made that have resulted in satisfaction on both sides - the Police Department and the community. Thanks to a grant, body cameras were given to police officers to be used with the cameras already on police vehicles, which according to an article in the Highlands Current, helped police prove how situations unfolded when challenged. Training for crisis intervention and mediation was increased, as well as hiring to strengthen and diversify the police force. Though for hiring, Chief Solomon encourages those who are students now to get interested in pursuing civil service careers, as he reports a challenge in finding recruits from minority populations.
Agenda
The agenda is as follows:
Setting Expectations Performance Tracking Training Effectiveness Publicizing Police Procedures & Policies Community Engagement Quality of Life Issues (Defined) • Ignoring rules of the road • Driving around police and other caution barriers • Driving the wrong way down one-way streets • Speeding down side streets • Illegal parking • Skateboarding on streets and sidewalks • Bicycling on sidewalks • Ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks • Pedestrians who aggressively cross into traffic • Panhandling • Loud Noise • Loitering • Littering • Trespassing • Vandalism to public and private property • Graffiti • Spitting • Urination • Defecation • Prostitution • Drug dealing • Drug using
The Eight Initiatives of "Beacon Speaks Out"
1. We’d like the police/community relationship to move from a place of intimidation, suspicion, and superiority to a place of kindness, calm, and respect. 2. We’d like for the police to develop positive relations with the youth of Beacon. 3. We’d like for the police to have more face-to-face contact with the community. Adopt Best Practices to Improve Community Safety 4. We’d like for the police to be better equipped to deal with Beacon’s diverse populations. 5. We’d like a more diverse police force. 6. We’d like for the police to work together with the community to develop a progressive strategy for dealing with Beacon’s drug problem, especially heroin. Strengthen and Expand Community Communication 7. We’d like data on crimes, arrests, and convictions to be publicized, as well as police policies and procedures. 8. We’d like the Human Relations Committee to be publicized and strengthened.
Editor's Note: This article was pushed to the front of our editorial calendar the day that Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., withdrew his name from consideration as drug czar for the Trump administration. A report by The Washington Post and "60 Minutes" found that Marino was part of sponsoring legislation passed in 2016 that made it difficult for the Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) to go after drug companies who failed to report suspicious behavior - which included making large orders - of narcotics. According to the report, the DEA had been trying to block this proposed legislation for years, but in 2016 lost. Learn more about that in this NPR article.
You may have heard the chatter - "There's an opioid drug crisis in the Philipstown area." Two things may have happened after that - you might not have known what an opioid was, so the problem wasn't visible or urgent. Then, Philipstown isn't Beacon, so another removal from the situation occurs. When you read stories, however, of high school students who got addicted to opioids at age 14 after taking prescription painkillers for an ACL injury, or a sunburned foot, and then dying in a motel room in Newburgh, or almost dying after a long and frightening struggle with addiction from how the chemicals in the drug hook into the brain, "opioid" takes on a different meaning.
A recent New York Times article featured a medical examiner who is quitting his job after analyzing so many opioid-overdosed bodies, where he first sees white foam seep out of the lungs when he cuts them open, but has to analyze the entire body in order to give an official overdose verdict. The medical examiner wants to reach people before they get to his autopsy table - while they are living. He wants to be a minister. His church? Hiking trails. He wants to serve as a chaplain for the Boy Scouts of America, and wants to join the Appalachian Trail Chaplaincy of the United Methodist Church so he can minister on the the hiking trails that cross New Hampshire and its White Mountains.
Opioid Deaths and Help in the Hudson Valley
After publishing more than a few drug overdose obituaries, The Highlands Current, the newspaper based in Cold Spring that covers Phillipstown and Beacon, dedicated a lot of ink (aka space in the newspaper) to the epidemic, called Special Report: Fighting Back the Opioid Crisis. What compelled The Highlands Current to dedicate its staff and printing to such a cause? In the words of Christine Bockelmann, Chair of the Board of The Highlands Current:
“The opioid crisis is one of the most urgent of national issues, but where it is felt most acutely is on the local level — when a neighbor goes into treatment, a family member gets addicted, a teenager dies. The Highlands Current decided it was important to look at how this national crisis is playing out in our communities because that is where those receiving care and those giving care cope on a day-to-day basis. We wanted to understand the treatments supported by our care centers, our law enforcement officials, our courts, and we wanted to know their thoughts as well as those of addicts in recovery and of parents in mourning on the best approaches to "fighting back" in this crisis. In the middle of all the words devoted to this critical issue there may be information to help someone pull through, an idea for a more effective treatment, or just hope that educating more on this crisis will help bring it to an end."
The Four Components of the Special Report
The report is broken down into four easy-to-follow sections.
Part 1: Stories Max Max is the son of Teri Barr, owner of Hudson Valley Outfitters on Main Street in Cold Spring. One summer when he was 14, he got a bad sunburn on the tops of his feet while boating. The doctor prescribed an opioid painkiller. When the prescription ran out, they got another prescription. The rest of Max's story is in The Highlands Current's Special Report, and it involves a private boarding school rife with drugs, addiction, withdrawals, relapses, incarcerations, court appearances, a mother's constant battle to protect her son from himself, and what happened next. Read Max's story
Sasha Alexander “Sasha” Matero, of Garrison, developed an opioid addiction while he was 14 years old as a student at Haldane High School in 2007. He injured his ACL, a knee ligament, in an accident and had it surgically repaired. He was prescribed opioid painkillers by his doctor during recovery from surgery. According to the article, the pills “flipped the switch,” his mother said. “The painkillers worked. They made the pain go away.” Sasha struggled with addiction to the painkillers for years after that. Despite open communication with his parents about his addiction, and with Sasha actively seeking help, he died in a hotel room in Newburgh on his 25th birthday in 2014. Read Sasha's story
Part 2: Role of Law Enforcement and the Courts in Battling the Epidemic Two Highlands Current reporters were assigned to cover the courts and police officers. Michael Turton looked at the work of the Putnam County Drug Court, while Jeff Simms (a Beacon resident) spent time with Beacon and Dutchess County police officers who battle the opioid crisis daily.
From his "A Day in Drug Court" piece, Michael recalls a conversation he heard, as the judge delivered opening remarks.
After the 30 or so defendants file into the courtroom, [Judge James] Reitz asks anyone to stand who knows a woman named Samantha who had appeared in court the previous week.
A few stand. “She was doing well,” Reitz says. “She told me, ‘How can life not be great? I’m clean and sober and working. I’m getting my degree. I’m doing great.’ ” Her most recent court-ordered drug test, three days earlier, had come up negative.
Part 3: Treatment Options The Special Report explores different treatment and education options available, and new facilities that are being built. The Hudson Valley has hundreds of thousands of dollars available for building facilities that prevent death and try to get a person away from an addicted state. The following are explored in the articles:
Dutchess County Stabilization
Arms Acres
CoveCare
St. Christopher’s Inn
What Does It Cost?
Part 4: Voices and Shared Thoughts to Fight Problem The Highlands Current explores "thoughts of specialists, counselors, doctors and those struggling with addiction about what they feel should take priority in addressing the problem."
Before you dive into the Highlands Current's local spotlight on opioids, you'll want to know what they are. In the words of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, here is what they are:
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others. These drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused (taken in a different way or in a larger quantity than prescribed, or taken without a doctor’s prescription). Regular use — even as prescribed by a doctor — can lead to dependence and, when misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to overdose incidents and deaths. — National Institute on Drug Abuse
Erin and Leigh are back at A Little Beacon Space! They have taken over our office for a pop-up shop event this weekend only, and they have brought their entire inventory with them. To see inventory that's normally only available during certain times in their private Facebook group, anyone can come into A Little Beacon Blog's Space to shop Erin and Leigh's collection of leggings, dresses, denim(!), tops, and more on Friday from 3 to 7 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. A Little Beacon Blog's Space is at 291 Main St., across from Key Food, and down the block from the library.
LuLaRoe is a brand of clothing known for its soft fabrics and unique prints and color combinations, founded by a woman who wanted to build a business that worked around her family's needs and schedule. LuLaRoe has grown into a nationwide brand, with associates like Erin and Leigh stationed in everyone's neighborhood. Beacon has several associates, some of whom you may have seen at school fundraising events, or maybe you've shopped at their homes (see who else is in Beacon). As the company is family-based and always eager to support the community, give a LuLaRoe pal a try if you haven't yet.
Accessories - Where to Find Jewelry to Go With These Outfits
Oh yes, you'll need accessories, and you'll find them at several shops along Main Street. Good places to start include (on the West End of town, near the train) reMADE for uniquely made artisan jewelry, Bellus on Main for a finely curated collection of jewelry, Nella's Bellas for insta-bling at a friendly price-point, and Hudson Beach Glass for more artisan jewelry. On the East End of town, stop into Style Storehouse (also having a solo jam session on Saturday with Sasha Dobson, who is in a band with Norah Jones), echo boutique, Waddle n Swaddle for nursing-friendly jewelry, Vintage Beacon, Lauren and Riley, Shop Reservoir, Kaight, King + Curated, and others.
On Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 12 pm, the City of Beacon will dedicate the East Main Bridge, near the Dummy Light, in between The Roundhouse and the newest row of boutiques at 1 East Main, to Ron and Ronnie Sauers. The couple has been dubbed "early pioneers" - really early - of Beacon's renaissance during the 1980s, by just about every Beaconite who knows about the visionary pair.
To set the scene for why they were so relevant, take a read of this passage from "Celebrating Our Centennial, Beacon at 100," published by the Beacon Historical Society:
"Since its incorporation, the city of Beacon relied on its factories and on trade from the Hudson River for its well-being. But as the river's commercial viability failed, and the factories gradually closed, the city began a slow, inexorable slide to decline. And nowhere was the decay more apparent than on the East End of Main Street.
Enter Ron and Ronnie Sauers. Long-time residents of New York City, the Sauers made their living in television - she as a video editor, and he as a designer and builder of video and sound studios. By the mid-1980s, they turned their vision north, and set about finding an upstate community in need of revitalization. After briefly considering several options, they chose Beacon, and set their creative sights on three burned-out buildings on the city's East End. Buoyed by the enthusiastic support of the city government, they purchased the charred shells, and designed storefronts and high-end apartments that combined historically accurate facades with elegant modern interiors. The finished buildings marked the beginning of Beacon's rebirth.
A reception is to follow at Dogwood, featuring a slide show of the buildings they worked on from the 1980s. Says council member and organizer of the event, George Mansfield, during a City Council meeting on October 2, 2017: "The slide show gives us all a good sense of reference as to where we were, and where we are." Also involved are Polich Tallix foundry, who donated the bronze plaque (side note: they are now casting the Oscar statues!), and Rabe & Co., who donated the graphic design.
Happy Second Saturday, people of Beacon! Dive into autumn this weekend, via spooky celebration or life-affirming art. We've got it all covered for you!
Some highlights: In addition to the slate of Beacon's art gallery openings (a harvest for which we are ever-thankful), a handful of literary/art collaborations are happening today: A photobook pop-up on East Main, a painting-poetry jam in Beacon's newest storefront, and an author/illustrator reading at good ol' Binnacle. Also, a fundraiser for Mid Hudson Animal Aid at the Howland Public Library features art from Beaconites. Community Free Day at Dia:Beacon means extra tours and programs, not least of which is end-of-day beer from the fine folks at 2 Way Brewing. In case you haven't seen it yet, swim quickly to Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries for the waning days of their historic photo exhibit.
A giant thank you to BeaconArts for promoting this day in our city for years, and thanks to the sponsors of A Little Beacon Blog, who make it possible for us to share the goings-on around town. Please support the businesses who support us!
It's Second Saturday, y'all! This one is the most action-packed of the year so far. Thankfully, the weather has dipped down into the 60s, so get your Fall on and make a plan!
All Second Saturday Art Listings are in A Little Beacon Blog's Second Saturday Guide.
Pro Tip: Keep the following Guides, and this email, open on your phone at all times. It's just like having an app of Beacon - but it's on your phone. Each Guide and Calendar at A Little Beacon Blog is mobile-friendly. You will instantly know where to go and what's going on.
Pop-Up Shop: LuLaRoe w/ Erin & Leigh Day: Open Friday to Sunday, October 13 to 15, 2017 Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Times: Friday: 3 to 7 pm Saturday: 10 am to 8 pm Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm Information >
City of Beacon Dedicates the East Main Bridge to Ron and Ronnie Sauers Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: Noon Location: East Main Bridge, near the dummy light, in between The Roundhouse and the row of boutiques at 1 East Main. Reception to follow at Dogwood, featuring a slide show of the buildings they worked on from the 1980s. Says city council member George Mansfield: "The slide show gives us all a good sense of reference as to where we were, and where we are." Information >
Dia:Beacon Community Free Day Day: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: 11 am to 6 pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information >
Book Reading & Signing with Thyra Heder: Alfie Day: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: 10:30 am Location: Binnacle Books, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Wappingers Falls 4th Annual Halloween Parade & Festival Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: 11 am to 4 pm Location: Mesier Park, Wappingers Falls, NY Information >
Niche Modern Semi-Annual Factory Sale Day: Saturday & Sunday, October 14 & 15, 2017 Time: 10 am to 6 pm Location: Niche Modern, 311 Fishkill Ave. #11, Beacon, NY Information >
Sasha Dobson of Puss N Boots Plays at Style Storehouse Day: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: 6:30 to 9 pm Location: Style Storehouse, 484 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
STEADY ON: Celebrating Lilith Fair at 20 Day: Friday, October 13, 2017 Time: 8:30 pm Location: Towne Crier, 379 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
6th Annual Classic Car Show In Beacon
Presented by Beacon's Chamber of Commerce and Dutchess Cruisers
Day: Sunday, October 15, 2017 Time: 9 am to 4 pm Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Information >
Story Screen Presents "Horror Shorts Vol. 3" Day: Sunday, October 15, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm doors, 8 pm movie Location: Dogwood, 47 E. Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beacon Sloop Club Annual Pumpkin Festival Day: Sunday, October 15, 2017 Time: Noon to 5 pm Location: Pete & Toshi Seeger Park, 1 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
Fall Foliage Half Marathon & 5K Day: Saturday, October 15, 2017 Time: 10:20 am start time Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave., Rhinebeck, NY Information >
Plan ahead and find upcoming races the in Hudson Valley in our 5K Races Guide.
Defensive Driving Course Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm Location: Antalek & Moore, 340 Main St., Beacon NY Information >
Beetle + Fred Sewing School - Beginners with Katy Hope (4 sessions) Day: Saturdays, October 14, 2017 Time: 9 am to noon Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Ballet Arts Studio Classes
Registration is open for all classes at Ballet Arts Studio. From the Musical Theatre Class to Ballet, students can sign up and get started! REGISTER: Call (845) 831-1870 or email info@balletartsstudio.com Visit Beacon Arts Studio's Schedule of Classes >
Where is Ballet Arts Studio? On the corner of Henry Street and Teller, opposite the back of the Yankee Clipper Diner.
Rig-ama-jig Builders' Club for K-5th grade Day: Friday, October 13, 2017 Time: 4 to 5:30 pm Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
reMADE
133 Main Street
These two dainty necklaces made by Marlo Richards of Groovy Chick Jewelry out of Elmsford, N.Y., would look perfect on you or your lady friend. If you need ideas on how to display your jewelry at home, see this idea (or pick up another unique design, also at reMADE).
Where is reMADE? Across from Tito Santana's, next to Bank Square Coffee.
Bellus on Main
181 Main Street Where's he going? This little frog is one of several delicate pieces of jewelry carried in Bellus on Main. From large hoop earrings to recycled glass from bottles of spirits, you'll want to pick up something new soon. Pro Tip: Bellus often has sales, so you just might get lucky.
Where is Bellus? Next door to Luxe Optique.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street
Congratulations to Luxe Optique for winning Best High-End Eyewear in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine! Read more about it here! Where is Luxe Optique? Across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company, and across Main Street from Beacon Barkery.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main, by the Hudson Valley Brewery, and use the back walkway entrance up to Main Street!
Sasha Dobson at Style Storehouse
484 Main Street
Sasha Dobson is back! She'll be performing live in the store this Saturday from 6:30 to 9 pm. Style Storehouse will also be debuting their new styles of shoes! Special discounts will be available during Sasha's performance. She started as a jazz songstress, but has transitioned to country and beyond, teaming up with Norah Jones and Catherine Popper to form the band Puss N Boots.
Where is Style Storehouse? Near Waddle n Swaddle.
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main St., Retail #3 SAVE THE DATE
Get ready to experience a Justin Alexander Trunk Show next weekend - October 20-22. The Justin Alexander company will be bringing its entire line of the Spring/Summer 2018 collection, which is not yet in stores. Special discounts will be available for purchases made that weekend. Meanwhile, pictured here is a Justin Alexander gown with copious amounts of lace. Don't miss an early peek at this dress!
Where Is Lambs Hill? Next to King + Curated.
King + Curated
1 East Main St., Retail #2
When you're down on the East End of town this weekend for the Sasha Dobson show or the dedication of the East Main Bridge, stop into King + Curated to see the photos of Madam Brett Park that you may want to add to your collection. Photo Credit: Alicia King
Where is King + Curated? Near the dummy light, just down from the old train tracks in the renovated factory.
Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! reMADE, Bellus on Main, Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, King + Curated, and Style Storehouse.
River Therapeutic Massage 612 Route 52
Beacon, NY
(845) 379-1956
Take care of yourself and enjoy these October specials from River Therapeutic Massage:
Aromatherapy facial massage* $50 (regularly $75)
Intensive foot treatment* $50 (regularly $70)
Hand and/or foot massage* with eco-fin $50 (regularly $70) *cannot be combined with any other offer; no coupons or gift certificates.
Where is River Therapeutic Massage?
Sharing space with Karen's Place Salon on Route 52.
Thank you River Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring the Beauty Guide!
The Vault
446 Main Street
A classic Old Fashioned made with muddled orange, cherry and sugar and mixed with their very own Beacon bourbon and a dash of bitters. Can't go wrong. Enjoy it outside in the (hopefully) crisp air.
Where is The Vault? Near Beacon Bath & Bubble.
Thank you to The Vault and to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Join Susan Pagones as she guides you through a Defensive Driving class. You want to lower your auto insurance rates, right? Taking this class is one way to do it. And it will make you a safer driver. A win-win. Date: Saturday, October 14 Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm Location: Antalek & Moore Office, 340 Main St., Beacon NY RSVP: Register with Thomasine Supple, (845) 831-4300 or tsupple@antalek-moore.com
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Rhinebeck Bank
The Beacon branch of Rhinebeck Bank is now accepting artists' submissions to the bank's art program, to hang from the walls of the bank. Click here for details. Featured now is Stanley Lindwasser, a renowned painter who has shown in dozens of exhibits, including several at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jersey City Museum. Read more about the current show here.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Car Show is this Sunday! Get your walking shoes on and bring a camera. See pictures from years past. You will have lots of food options, from the Beacon Farmers Market to restaurants and cafes. Have A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide open on your phone to help you make an informed choice.
BeaconArts
Please consider making a contribution to Beacon 3D, Beacon's Main Street public art sculpture project. Soon most of the sculptures will be de-installed, gone from view, until next season, when new work and some old favorites will be back to engage and inspire us. "Mounting this project every year takes an enormous amount of coordination, energy and time," says BeaconArts president, Kelly Ellenwood. Your contribution in any amount will make a difference! Click here to make an online, tax-deductible contribution.
A Little Beacon Space
OPEN TODAY! LuLaRoe Pop-Up Shop
The shop opens today! The Pop-Up Shop, LuLaRoe with Erin and Leigh is upon us! Friday the 13th is your lucky day to update your wardrobe with some of the softest leggings around. If you've not worn this line of clothing before, you need to come into the shop to at least feel the fabrics, and then you'll see why everyone is wearing them. Find dresses, tops, skirts and more. Friday, October 13, to Sunday, October 15 Get Details >
InHouse Design Media
Private training sessions are available to businesses who want to produce their own newsletters, make website changes, or jump-start social media campaigns, but need guidance. Make an appointment with InHouse Design Media, who can make house-calls to businesses located in Beacon. Book Now >
Tin Shingle
This is Stanley Lindwasser. Stanley is an artist. He enjoys being in his studio painting and marveling at the Hudson Valley sunsets as they inspire his work. But he's also a go-getter. This is a picture of him as he passes out flyers he made to promote his most recent show, and he's dropping one off at Tin Shingle's office in A Little Beacon Space. He also hired Tin Shingle to write and distribute his press release to a select group of local media. Tin Shingle has a DIY promotion membership platform, but they can also be hired guns. We call them Buzz Builders.
We know what you're thinking... "I want my business featured here!"
Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!
Stanley Lindwasser wandered into our office one day last December with his little dog, Rembrandt, who he takes everywhere. Wearing his signature winter fur hat, Stanley looked around our place, wondering what it was. Where had he stumbled into? A Little Beacon Blog? Tin Shingle? "What are these things?" he asked. And with that began a beautiful friendship of us helping him complete his website design, and most recently, writing a press release for him to announce his first gallery showing in Beacon at Rhinebeck Bank's new Art Program, which he found out about through BeaconArts. The show is up now through November 3, with a reception on Thursday, October 12, from 5 to 6:15 pm at the Rhinebeck Bank's Beacon Branch (1476 NY-9D, Wappingers Falls, NY, across from the Family Dollar). (Shhh, don't tell anyone it's not in Beacon!) In keeping with this new program, all of the artwork is for sale. Get a feel for Stanley's artwork on his website here.
Stanley had just moved here with his wife Helen after decades of splitting their time between Forest Hills, Queens, and Hoboken, New Jersey. He had just joined BeaconArts and was preparing his new studio for Beacon Open Studios. Stanley spends most days painting in a pre-fab studio in the backyard. “It’s really nice; I had them put in skylights and glass doors,” says the artist, adding that the famous beauty of the Hudson Valley is inspiring his work. “The light here has certainly interested me. The skies are fantastic and the sunsets over Newburgh are really amazing.”
Color captivates Stanley, as you can see from his paintings. “My mother told me that my kindergarten teacher praised my finger painting, and it just took off from there. I’ve been painting very seriously virtually every day since I was around 12 years old,” recalls Stanley.
Enjoy the show now before it's gone. And if you see Stanley walking around town - you'll recognize him with little Rembrandt - say hi. He'd love to talk to you. :)
For those who like to find tucked away events that may fly past your radar, then the book signing (dare I call it a pop-up book signing?) by renowned photographer Ronnie Farley is for you. It takes place over October's Second Saturday weekend, Saturday, October 14, and Sunday, October 15, from noon to 8 pm. The storefront space is that of the designer Gwenno James, and is across from The Roundhouse, and down the street from Dogwood.
Ronnie has just released a new photo book "documenting the 'chemtrails' (albedo modification) and other geoengineering effects on the atmosphere in the lower Hudson Valley in New York," according to her website. Books, prints, paintings and T-shirts by Ronnie will be available. This is your chance to get art that is otherwise hard to find. You'll also get exposure to a special performance by Craig Chin of Errant Space: Ambient Soundscapes from 5 to 7 pm.
Ronnie Farley is an award-winning fine art and editorial photographer. Ronnie's books include Women of the Native Struggle: Portraits and Testimony of Native American Women (Crown), Cowgirls: Contemporary Portraits of the American West (Crown/ Thunder’s Mouth Press), Diary of a Pedestrian: A New York Photo Memoir (Third Eye Press), New York Water Towers (KMW Studio) and the latest, Ghost Plane (Third Eye Press).
Ronnie's work has been shown both nationally and internationally, and has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Huffington Post. Her work is also in the permanent collections of the Museum of the City of New York, The National Museum of the American Indian in New York City, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, The Nicolaysen Museum (Casper, Wyoming), and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (Fort Worth, Texas). Her images have appeared in Rolling Stone, USA Today, Sierra Magazine, Western Horseman and The Sunday Times of London.
In addition to her own photography, Ronnie Farley’s career includes working for the Associated Press in New York City over a span of 20 years as a photographer, a photo librarian, and a national photo editor.
Building up and across is booming all around us in Beacon, making the most recent show at Matteawan Gallery all the more relevant. Björn Meyer-Ebrecht, born in Germany, was the debut artist for Matteawan Gallery back when it opened in 2013, and he has returned for this show that runs through November 5, with a reception on October's Second Saturday.
"The title of the show, Fragments Remnants Leftovers," says the gallery's owner Karlyn Benson, "refers to the end of major cultural and political eras, such as modernism or the Cold War. Meyer-Ebrecht’s drawings approach architecture solely as material. As artifact this material carries over historic knowledge into our present time and the specific place of the gallery."
To illustrate this, the artist has built a wall in the middle of the gallery, dividing the room into two spaces, connected by a passageway. The back of the wall reveals its structure and consists of unpainted wood, Masonite panels and metal studs. "Meyer-Ebrecht sees this work as both an abstract painting and as a utilitarian object," says Karlyn. "As the viewer passes from one side to the other, the painting reveals itself as functional architecture: as a room divider. The shapes painted on the wall refer to geometric abstract painting, flags, political symbols, billboards, and film or theater sets."
Meyer-Ebrecht’s ink drawings are made on separate sheets of paper joined with transparent tape. The construction of the drawings relates to the building processes they illustrate, but it is also a device to bring the drawing out of the illusionistic into the actual space. Colored ink is applied over some of the black-and-white drawings, creating a layer of artifice and what the artist describes as “looking at history through the proverbial rose-colored glasses."
Experience the wall in its final form and the art meshed into one gallery, on weekends or by appointment. For more information, contact Karlyn Benson at info@matteawan.com or (845) 440-7901.
Eager to support its local community, Rhinebeck Bank has dedicated the lobby of its Beacon and Rhinebeck branches to feature the art of local artists for six- to eight-week exhibitions, a program they have re-launched to include more artists.
The first artist to be featured in the Beacon branch, at 1476 NY-9D (technically in Wappingers Falls, across the street from the Dollar General) is Stanley Lindwasser, a new Beacon resident from Forest Hills, Queens, and Hoboken, New Jersey. Stanley spent decades teaching in the New York City public school system, and relocated to Beacon with his wife Helen and little dog Rembrandt last year. This is his first opportunity showing in a gallery in Beacon, albeit a comfortable waiting lounge for customers of the bank.
"Because we are a community bank," says Michelle Barone-Lepore, Vice President of Marketing for Rhinebeck Bank, "it's important for us to stay connected to art and the artists in the community. Supporting the community is very important to us, and this is one way in which we do so." As for participating in Beacon's Second Saturday with their new gallery, the Beacon branch is open on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Stanley Lindwasser's paintings will be on display for October's Second Saturday, and will remain up through November 3.
Artists who are accepted into the program and have shows in the gallery reap the benefit of Rhinebeck Bank's social media reach, as well as an Opening Reception put on by the bank. How has the reaction been received by the public? "They love it," says Michelle. "For some artists, we hold receptions after-hours for people to come view their artwork. We had a reception for the artist Harvey Silver. He had over 50 people attend his artwork reception and he auctioned off a framed print to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas."
How to Apply to Rhinebeck Bank's Art Program
Interested artists can email artwork@rhinebeckbank.com or call (845) 454-8555. Include one or a few photos of your artwork so that the deciders can have an immediate frame of reference for your work. Artwork may be displayed for six to eight weeks in either the Rhinebeck or Beacon branch locations. Artwork may be listed for sale if desired, but that is not a requirement. Rhinebeck Bank does not make a commission from sales of artwork, and there is no fee to display.
Rhinebeck Bank is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like this, that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of news, local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor or Community Partner, please click here for more information.
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.