Beacon Considers Airbnb Short-Term Rental Legislation - Here Are (Some Of The) Issues Being Considered

Pictured here is Beacon's Building Inspector, Timothy Dexter, speaking to the City Council during a Workshop meeting of proposed legislation for short-term rentals, often listed on websites like Airbnb.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of the Workshop meeting. Video produced by Peter Skorewicz.

UPDATE: The Public Hearing took place. Here is a summation of the resulting draft of legislation, which the City Council will discuss at the next Workshop on Monday, April 9, 2018.

This Monday, April 2, 2018, the City of Beacon's City Council will hear from the public about new legislation for Airbnb hosts, which are technically called "short-term rentals." The Airbnb market in Beacon is booming, bringing people from all over the country - and probably the world - into Beacon. A search for "Beacon" on Airbnb brings up over 300 results of places you can rent, from luxury lofts to secluded houses in the woods to charming cottages just steps from Main Street. It's a real estate dabbler's dream.

Personally, I don't Airbnb, but do like to have the option if I needed or wanted it. I do rent space in my business office, so I'm familiar with the work involved in managing a short-term rental on a daytime level. The idea has occurred to me to invest in a second home in Beacon, as a way to supplement my parents having a home here when they visit us as they get older. But Airbnbing can have some hiccups. I had some folks from California searching for a key in the mailbox on my front porch because they had the wrong house. No biggie, they were plenty friendly. I have also received a pizza delivery for what is probably that same Airbnb, who gave the wrong street type - is it Street or Lane?

According to Beacon Mayor Randy Casale at a 1/29/2018 City Council meeting, "There are no rules and regulations [for Airbnb], and by rights, they are really illegal." Yet if you talk to the Building Inspector, Timothy Dexter, at a 2/13/2018 Workshop meeting: "They’re not necessarily illegal by zoning. … They are probably all in violation of a zoning ordinance if they start to rent out a room or two." The building inspector encourages a "path to compliance," so that rentals who do violate code could make changes to be within code and become legal. But those requirements are often expensive, involving installation of sprinkler systems, particular windows, and other fire safety investments. From councilperson George Mansfield, who tries to find a guiding line through the thick nuances of the booming short-term rental market, where the landscape is a little bit undefined, unregulated Wild West, "We have to make them align with New York State Code."

If you moved to Beacon looking to own a home and not be beholden to a homeowners association like you might in an apartment building or condo complex, here's the memo you missed: Your homeowners association is actually several people on three boards (City Council, Zoning Board and the Planning Board), members of the public who attend the City Council meeting to voice their opinions, and New York state law. All of the people on these boards make up the rules of what you can and cannot do. Surprise!

Why Now?

This is not the first time the city has considered legislation around residences. Mayor Casale mentioned during the 1/29/2018 meeting that he has been discussing it since 2014, and a law was drafted in 2015, but was abandoned when consensus could not be reached. People from the community forced this issue back onto the table after the new owner of the house at 51 Orchard Place cut down over a dozen trees without a permit. That incident alone sparked a revisiting of legislation and fines that a property owner could be faced with.

The property owner, David Allis, is a resident of Beacon and purchased 51 Orchard Place as an investment property, not a primary residence. When he let the property's neighbors know of his intentions to list it on Airbnb, those neighbors came before the City Council to voice their opposition, stating that they wanted a family living there, not many people who come and go. David's property had been listed on Airbnb in 2018, but at this publishing date, the listing had been removed.

According to the Mayor's comments during a 2/13/2018 Workshop meeting on Airbnbs, he has received an uptick of emails asking him to enforce any law about short-term rentals. “I feel helpless," said Mayor Casale. "People call me and complain every day: ‘All these Airbnbs in Beacon are illegal - what are you doing about it? Honestly, we’re not doing anything about it because I’m being told it can’t be enforced unless you can prove that somebody stayed there. You just can’t go on advertisement. So I tried to get a law so we could say, 'If you’re advertising, we know you’re doing it.’ I don’t care if they are legal or illegal. As I sit here as the mayor, if they are illegal, and people are calling me asking why aren’t you enforcing it, I need to have a mechanism where I can enforce it."

What's The Big Deal With Short-Term Rentals?

The business model of a short-term rental is very enticing. You open your home to a renter for a night or several, you collect rent money, they experience a nice new place, and you're all happy. The regulation of such a business transaction happening in a residential neighborhood, however, is gridlocked with nuances and variables. 

Some of those nuances have been discussed by Beacon's City Council. Here's a simple summation of some of the issues.

• Owner Occupied: Should these short-term rentals need to be owned as a primary residence by the homeowner? And not as an investment property, being used solely for short-term rental and not the regular long-term (over 30 days) rental? Meaning, you need to live in the house that you are renting on a short-term basis, and not other houses that you own. From the draft of the proposed legislation: "Owner-occupancy. It shall be unlawful to use, establish, maintain, operate, occupy, rent or lease any property as a short-term rental if the property is not owner-occupied. The property used as a short-term rental shall be the principal residence of the owner at all times during the term of the permit."
• Fire Safety + New York State Law: State law requires places who rent as "transient" rentals to comply with fire codes. According to the Building Inspector, these are typically defined as boarding houses, hotels and motels. But the designation for people's personal homes has not been defined.
• Inspections: Should these homes and apartments be inspected? Mayor Casale suggests "at least once per year like any other public place" as a possibility.
• Neighborly Conduct: Will transient guests take care of a home and neighborhood? Or trash the place? Will owners of investment properties who live out of state - or out of Beacon at all - be less invested in the community?
• Home Price Increases with Investment Properties: As homes are taken off the market in order to be short-term rental units, Beacon's City Planner suggests that this impacts the price of homes in general, making it harder for families to purchase in neighborhoods.
• Neighborhoods - the Definition of a Neighborhood: If investment properties for short-term rentals increase, what does that do to a neighborhood? Who would kids play with if most of the houses around them are Airbnbs, if investors are buying them and not occupying them as a family who rents out from time to time? Airbnb is hoping that investment properties do increase and has introduced out new services for hosts to be Manager Hosts, who manage people's listings. Running a short-term rental isn't always easy in practice. Accidents happen, oil leaks on driveways, fences break, paint chips, windows crack, homes need to be cleaned, beds stripped, nice soaps put out, etc.
• Insurance: How would that work? Antalek & Moore explained some of it here, and Airbnb does offer coverage for listings through them, but nothing is black and white.
• Permit: Should these homes and apartments be registered and permitted?
• Violations of Permit: Violate too many times, you get your permit pulled.
• Enforcement of Regulations: How can a city enforce the rules they set up?

Fire Safety - A Driving Force in the Proposed Law

Homes and apartments that make themselves available as short-term rentals fall into the zone of R1, according to Beacon's Building Inspector. In his letter prepared for tonight's meeting, he explains that a large motivation of the code is written for fire safety. He argues that people who are not familiar with a home vs traditional layout of a commercial building with expected fire exits, kits, sprinklers, etc. are more prone to getting hurt. In his words from his 3/22/2018 memo addressed to the City Council:

"Short-term rentals by their very nature are transient occupancies which in the International Building Code are considered an R1 use group. Typical transient occupancies are boarding houses, hotels, and motels. We have to apply the appropriate regulations for the individual use group which will tell us when and where fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, exit signage, emergency lighting, and other life safety provisions need to be provided.

Authors of the International Building and Fire Code recognize as people are less familiar with their surroundings as transient guests there is a need for a higher level of fire protection."

Background Reading for Airbnb Legislation for Short-Term Rentals

The April 2 City Council Meeting marks the first Public Hearing on the matter, which means that the public is invited and encouraged to come to the City Council meeting to voice their opinions to the council members. The City Council meetings are held at 1 Municipal Plaza, which is the white building on 9D (aka Wolcott Avenue) that also houses the Police Department. The background prep work to read before the meeting to help you follow along better is here: Consideration of a Proposed Local Law to Create Section 223-26.4 in the City Code Concerning Short-Term Rentals. It includes:

• Letter from Beacon's Building Inspector, Timothy Dexter, about Building Code Provisions.
• Definitions of what is currently in building code.
• The latest proposed local law (aka "PPL"). There have been a few of these.

Beacon's City Council has met twice in 2018 about this matter: once as a regular City Council Meeting, and once during a Workshop where they focus on ideas about what to do about this issue. April 2, 2018, marks the first Public Hearing about it, where the public can give their perspectives and opinions.

2/13/2018 Workshop

1/29/2018 Regular City Council Meeting

Highlands Current article by Jeff Simms

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Harry's Hot Sandwiches Closes Location in Beacon Theater - The Response Has Been Intense

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

To start, this article announcing the closure of Harry's Hot Sandwiches is titled "Harry's Hot Sandwiches Closes Location in Beacon Theater," as opposed to just saying "closes," and leaving it at that. This article title leaves open the possibility/prediction: This isn't the end of Harry's Hot Sandwiches. It just may be the end of Harry's Hot Sandwiches in this location. Because here's the thing: Running a small business isn't business as usual. There is no such thing as business as usual for small business owners. There's always a story behind it.

When a business in Beacon announces that it is closing, usually something different happens; best-case scenario is the owner is presented with a possible solution, and more possibilities reveal themselves for the business to stay open. Like when the boutique Lauren and Riley announced that they were closing, only to re-announce that they changed their minds and would stay open with a move to the other end of town. (PS: Lauren and Riley are having a big Moving Sale, so run - don't walk - to help them clear out inventory in advance of their big move!)

So let's back it up for a moment to explore Harry's Hot Sandwiches, now that he has announced on Instagram that he is closing. He cited a rent increase as the reason for closing, which sparked a social media outrage against landlords and rent in Beacon in general.

Who is Harry?

Harrison Manning opened Harry's Hot Sandwiches after working in many eateries in Beacon. Many knew him from his days working the coffee counter at Bank Square. Then they delighted to see him serving up delicious dishes from The Hop. (The Hop has since closed due to its own inner workings.) One of Harrison's fellow workers from The Hop, John-Anthony Gargiulo, opened Hudson Valley Brewery down behind 1 East Main, and some familiar faces can be seen behind the bar there.

When Harrison opened Harry's Hot Sandwiches in The Beacon Theater in 2015, it was during the period when his dad, Patrick Manning, a partner in 4th Wall Theatrical Productions, had taken over the theater in 2011 in order to revive it as a working theater after it had been closed for 50 years. Before Harrison opened his sandwich shop, the space had been home to a coffee shop, and then to an ice cream parlor from the same people who run the Beacon Creamery on the west end of town (across from Bank Square). Both the ice cream parlor and coffee shop were short-lived and closed quickly.

The planned theater renovation did not come to be, and by 2015, the property was purchased by a construction company run by the McAlpine family, who had done the construction on that theater after renovating and running The Roundhouse. According to an article by Brian PJ Cronin in the Highlands Current, the McAlpines donated their work to the restoration: "For the next few years, McAlpine Construction donated time, materials and work in order to help restore the theater’s facade and lobby, and build out two commercial spaces on either side of the lobby."

Those commercial spaces became Harry's Hot Sandwiches and the alteration shop, By A Thin Thread. Brendan McAlpine became the new owner in 2015, and inherited Harry's Hot Sandwiches as a tenant. Brendan continued the major renovation of the Beacon Theater, announcing the availability of residential apartments and some office space, as well as a movie theater (click here for an inside look at the plans for that movie theater).

The Announcement - The Rent

Rent is a delicate subject. It can make or break a business from staying in a location. It can be the basis for the pricing a business owner gives their customers. A rent increase can be the catalyst for the business owner to close, or to move down to a neighboring storefront. Or, the business can pivot to accommodate the rent increase and retain customers. Sometimes, the landlord can be very present, and sometimes the landlord can live out of town and no one can reach them should a storefront be flooded from an overflowing bathtub in the apartment upstairs. (Click on those links to read - yes, real - examples.)

In Harry's case, his landlord is quite present in Beacon. We reached out to Brendan for comment in response to the rent increase mentioned in Harry's closure announcement. Here is what he said:

"Harry's rent has been held so low over the years, that even doubling it keeps it several hundred dollars a month below market. We always worked together on good terms during his lease, and I was disappointed he was leaving. I inherited him as a tenant, but worked with Harry to keep his business moving forward the last couple of years.

"Without going into detail, necessary upgrades needed to be made to his space for life safety and health code reasons. While I told him that I would need to start getting closer to market rent and need the upgrades made, I told him we would work toward it over 6 months to a year to allow him to ease into it. With the movie theater opening soon in this building, he should have no shortage of business. We offered to rent him just the kitchen as a vendor for the theater as another possibility, which would make his rent even lower than he currently pays, but he was not interested. I will miss Harry and genuinely wish him well."

Surely the Sammies Will Still Be Available Some How, Some Way

When Harry's Hot Sandwiches opened, it was an instant hit, and currently has nearly five-star ratings everywhere. The eatery was a media darling, loved by The Valley Table, Visit Vortex, and adored by professional photographers like Meredith Heuer. Our prediction is that we haven't tasted the last sandwich from Harrison Manning. He's too creative to sit still. Maybe you'll see him in a new location in Beacon. Maybe you'll see him in Newburgh. We just don't know yet... Hopefully he will still have the bike delivery option!

Happening This Weekend 3/30/2018

This weekend kicks off the official start of the outdoor event season! Memorial Park opens up with the Egg Hunt & Spring Fling, followed by the Beacon Barks Parade and Beacon Open Studios later in April. Exciting times! Plus, we have a new Event Submission Page, and we're working on a new, much-requested Business Directory! If you want to get in on early-bird pricing for listing in the Business Directory, please contact us. PSA: If you're of the NYC mind and are driving around Beacon this weekend, please skip the habit of doing U-Turns in the middle of the road! It's normal down there in the city, but not the norm here! Within 20 minutes of writing this newsletter, we have seen two random U-turns made in front of our building. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Spring Break Family Movie “WONDER” Day: Friday, March 30, 2018  Time: 4 to 6 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Egg Hunt & Spring Fling in Memorial Park Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 11 am to 2 pm Location: Memorial Park, Beacon, NY Information > National Stop The Bleed Day Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 9 am Location: Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, One Arquilla Drive, Beacon, NY Read more about it in our article. Live Concert: James Brandon Lewis & Chad Taylor Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.     Thank you to Beacon Pilates for sponsoring the Classes for Adults Guide! Chalk Paint 101® - The Annie Sloan Method Days: Friday, March 30, 3018  Time: 4 to 7 pm Location: Knot Too Shabby, 155 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Relax & Restore Acupuncture/Essential Oils with Erika Forsell, L.Ac Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 2 to 4 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.              Beacon Junior Baseball Registration Open Day: Now! Location: Games take place at Memorial Park Registration information > Thank you, Beacon Junior Baseball, for sponsoring this Kids Classes Guide! Easter Bunny Cake Class Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 2 to 4 pm Location: The Cakery, 1004 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide. Vintage Pop-Up Shop Head to the old high school to find vintage clothing and accessories from Psychedelic Sunset Vintage, who you've also seen at the Beacon Flea. She's unloading inventory to make room for more. Day: Saturday, March 31, 2018 Time: 5 to 9 pm Location: The Old Beacon High School, Studio PSV, 211 Fishkill Ave., Beacon, NY Visit our Pop-Up Guide for more information. Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! Harry's Hot Sandwiches Announces Closure Sad news to report: Harry's Hot Sandwiches will be closing due to a rent increase, now that the Beacon Theater is operational by way of renting its new apartment and office units. Read Harrison's full letter announcing the closure on Instagram.                                 BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com Sunglasses! Spring is finally here, treat yourself to a new pair of shades. You'll find lots of variety on the shelves at Luxe Optique. The two styles pictured here are by Anne & Valentin and Thom Browne. Go in and try some on! INSIDER TIP: The eye doctor is in at Luxe Optique almost every day, including weekends! Not on Thursdays, though.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway entrance! Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Did you know that you can buy designer wedding gowns from Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique - like this one from Lillian West - and you can also get married up on Mt. Beacon at the Venue at Lambs Hill? Check out a video of this equestrian bride. Wares Shop 2 Tioronda Avenue www.warestheshop.com Congratulations to one of Beacon's newest shops, Wares, which offers a curated selection of independent designers. For lovers of small-batch, handmade and one-of-a-kind. Stop by their ribbon cutting! Day: Tuesday, April 3 Time: 5:30 pm Location: 2 Tioronda Avenue (just off Main Street near the Howland Cultural Center) Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide - Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Wares! Where can you get your hair done in Beacon? Or take in a beard trim? Find out in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! TIP: Amy's Hair has moved a few blocks down! Now ypu;; find the biz near the car wash on Main Street. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency If you're one of the over 300 homes or bedrooms in Beacon, NY, listed on Airbnb, have you given any thought to your homeowners insurance and what it covers? Airbnb offers its own coverage, but it doesn't always kick in. This is new territory for insurance and cities. Susan Antalek Pagones and Vince Lemma, partners at Antalek & Moore, weigh in with their guidance. Go to the full article > Rhinebeck Bank Keeping people in their community is important to Rhinebeck Bank. Part of keeping that connection is helping people meet the loan officers who handle a loan. Meet Susan Utter, a lender who recently helped a family purchase their grandmother's home. Here's what she says about the recent home purchase: "What’s more exciting then a customer purchasing a new home? Answer: buying a home that has been in your family for generations! Celeste and Leslie recently purchased the home of Celeste‘s grandmother. The house was originally built by Celeste’s great-great-grandfather and has been in the family ever since. They were so excited to be able to continue the family tradition and to have a new home of their own to enjoy! Congratulations, ladies – it was a pleasure to help you realize your dream!" Apply for a loan with Rhinebeck Bank online > BeaconArts Beacon Open Studios is in one month! Mark your calendar for the weekend of April 27 to 29. During that weekend, you will be able to experience a citywide art gallery walk, and get to enter some of the private studios of artists that are not normally open to the public! A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor. Get more information here. InHouse Design Media The photographers and designers at InHouse Design Media can help you take amazing pictures to pump up your Instagram presence. This four-week private workshop is like an amazing fitness class, but for your photo skills. Details > Tin Shingle When a business opens their doors and hangs their shingle, they need to work hard to be noticed by their customers - even by people who already love them! Tin Shingle puts the power of PR, Social Media, SEO, and Design directly into the hands of business owners, makers and artists by way of a custom-designed DIY PR subscription membership platform that includes education, training, directories and media insight. Learn more about it here > Beacon Chamber of Commerce RIBBON CUTTING! The Beacon Chamber of Commerce celebrates the opening of the new boutique, Wares! Then the meeting will move into the Chamber of Commerce's regular Member Meeting. You don't need to be a member to attend and you can invite a guest! Day: Tuesday, April 3 Time: 5:30 pm Location: 2 Tioronda Avenue (just off Main Street, near the Howland Cultural Center) A Little Beacon Space The time is right to host your workshop, now you just need a venue. A Little Beacon Space is the perfect spot to fit your audience, and it's conveniently located in the heart of Beacon. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog 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! Sponsors make the local media go round. Reach our readers and support our publication at the same time. Advertising with A Little Beacon Blog is effective because we design ways to make it work for you. See our Media Kit for ideas! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

To B or Not to B: Insurance Implications for Airbnb Short-Term Home Rentals (Sponsored)

People converting their houses and apartments into Airbnb rental units (technically known as “short-term rentals”) has become common all over the world, thanks in part to listing giants and industry disruptors like Airbnb. Just take a look at their website or newsletter subscriptions, and you'll see friendly and enticing homes you could stay in, from Alaska to Zimbabwe and plenty of places in between. 

The legality of renting your house or apartment, however, is a different story, and is currently gridlocked in many cities and towns across the world. Here in Beacon, the City Council has been pondering the issue in recent meetings and workshops. In fact, a public hearing about it is scheduled for Monday, April 2, 2018 so that the council can hear from the public as members consider different levels of legislation.  

While it’s fun to spruce your house up and make money while you’re not there, what are the insurance implications if something happens to people or your property while renters are there? Airbnb does offer what they call Host Protection Insurance, but that doesn’t always save the day. We reached out to our sponsor partners Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency to get some advice.

In this article, Susan Antalek Pagones and Vince Lemma weigh in with their industry insight. Susan, Vince, and the rest of the Antalek & Moore team are insurance agents, which means that they shop around for the best coverage and rates for different types of insurance you need (home, boat, RV, that sort of thing). They also go to bat for you when you need to file a claim.

Susan and Vince will take it from here with their guidance on the short-term rental insurance issue with Airbnb or any listing service:

Short-Term Rental Insurance is Not Black and White

From Susan Antalek Pagones, partner at Antalek & Moore:

This is such a complex issue that is not black or white, so it cannot have one single answer. All situations are different, and all insurance companies have different guidelines on short-term rental insurance.

Beacon typically has the one-room, one- to two-night stay situation. As opposed to a house on the beach, where beach rentals are usually weekly. In our pool of insurance companies we work with and recommend to clients, we have some insurance companies that have not addressed this difference as far as homeowners insurance coverage goes.   

If there is an existing policy in force before the homeowner decided to Airbnb, or list their house or apartment as a short-term rental on any listing site, some insurance companies have not determined if there is or is not homeowners coverage. You would definitely want to call your insurance company to see what is covered. If something happens while you are not home - like if the renter starts a kitchen fire, or if someone visiting the renter slips and falls and tries to place a liability claim, or if a renter’s dog bites someone - you could be faced with a problem.   

If a homeowner is searching for a brand new insurance policy, and if that homeowner offers a short-term room rental, we have insurance companies that will not entertain that risk. If the insurance companies do allow for it, they may have limitations on the amount of time the homeowner can rent annually.

Other factors come into play regarding insurance. Is there a pool or pond on premises? Will food be served? These sorts of questions will be asked by insurance companies considering taking on the additional risk of short-term rentals.

Homeowners Insurance Really is for Natural Disaster Coverage, Not Short-Term Rentals

Vince Lemma, partner at Antalek & Moore, weighs in regarding coverage beyond what is typically covered in a homeowners insurance policy. Here is what Vince says:

Homeowners insurance was originally designed to protect your home against natural disasters, like a fire. Homeowners can get additional liability protection insurance if someone is injured on your property. While Airbnb does offer its own insurance, we have had a client who was still sued by a renter and their homeowners insurance paid, not Airbnb’s.

If an insurance company will entertain the idea of a homeowner renting their home on a short-term basis, then they may require notification before the renter comes in if it is not a regular occurrence. The insurance company may require you to purchase a special policy, in the form of an Endorsement to cover the rental time, which could be added onto your baseline homeowners insurance policy for that one-time event.

There is case law that gives the insurance company the opportunity to deny the claim if the policy is written as a Homeowners Policy with no Endorsements to reflect the change in exposure. For instance, in the case of the kitchen fire above, if a renter is cooking and a fire happens on the stove, the insurance company might not accept that claim.

Do Your Research

Talk to your insurance company about whether short-term renting is included in your coverage. If it is not, and if the company finds out that you have been regularly renting out the house, the status could jeopardize any claims you need to make should an accident happen while renters are in your home.

Antalek & Moore can help you in this research, by finding out what policies would work for your situation to help guide you in future decisions. Call them at (845) 831-4300 with any questions. Visit their office on Main Street, at 340 Main St., just steps away from Beacon Natural Market and across the street from the Post Office.

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Antalek & Moore is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight article program. It is with the support of businesses like theirs 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.

NEW Events Added to ALBB's Event Calendar: Fun with Science Returns; and Women's Work

Fun with Science returns to Beacon's Main Street, and is seeking businesses with storefronts in Beacon to participate. Meanwhile at the Howland Cultural Center, catch "Women's Work: A Stitch in Time" with musical notables. These events and more can be found in A Little Beacon Blog's Event Calendar.

Women's Work: A Stitch in Time
Hosted by Lydia Adams Davis and featuring Lara Herscovitch, Amy Soucy, Colleen Kattau, Bev Grant, Goldee Greene, Lindsey Wilson and more!
Day: Sunday, April 15, 2018
Time: 3 pm
Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY

Fun with Science!
Day: Throughout April
Time: Stores' usual business hours
Location: Main Street, Beacon. Go inside stores to see their unique displays, and learn how science relates to their business!
Fun with Science is a super-science community event for all ages that will be held along Beacon's Main Street during April. Science is everywhere - artists, chefs, candy-makers, glass blowers, environmentalists, architects, etc. all use principals of science in their respective crafts. An itinerary of businesses and organizations that will be doing activities, programs, demos, and displays will be available inside the library. Businesses or organizations interested in participating can contact missvickiemusic@gmail.com.

Happening This Weekend 3/23/2018

Here is our suggestion for proceeding to leave your house this weekend: Just do it. Don't look at your weather app. Just go. Many stores in Beacon have stayed open while it is snowing, so go out and enjoy the weather, and reward those shops! Many seasonal activities are happening this weekend, from maple syrup fests to egg hunts that you don't want to miss... PS: Beacon Businesses who are along the path of people walking down Main Street for the sweet festival in May: Vendor booths have filled up. So start preparing for this year's event! Beacon storefronts within the Cupcake Festival boundaries are encouraged to put out tables on the sidewalk. Remember last year? Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Spring Break Pajama Party Ages: 5-12 Day: Friday, March 23, 2018 Time: 6 to 8:30 pm Location: Beacon Performing Arts Center, 327B Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Movies That Matter presents “Making a Killing: Guns, Greed and the NRA” Day: Friday, March 23, 2018 Time: 7 pm (doors), 7:30 pm (start time) Location: First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, 50 Liberty St. in McKinley Hall, Beacon, NY Information > Easter Egg-Stravaganza Day: Saturday, March 24, 2018 (rain date March 25) Time: 10 am to 4 pm Location: Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY Information > Art+Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon Day: Saturday, March 24, 2018 Time: 11 am to 3 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Sugar Maple Celebration Day: Saturday, March 24, 2018 Time: 10 am to 4 pm Location: Sharpe Reservation Camp, Camp Hidden Valley, 436 Van Wyck Lake Road, Fishkill, NY Information > March For Our Lives - Hudson Valley Day: Saturday, March 24, 2018 Time: 11 am to 1 pm Location: Walkway Over the Hudson, 61 Parker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY Information > Educational Presentation: Drug & Alcohol Prevention Day: Sunday, March 25, 2018 Time: 2 to 3 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Carnival of the Animals Day: Sunday, March 25, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.     Thank you to Beacon Pilates for sponsoring the Classes for Adults Guide! Defensive Driving Course Day: Saturday, March 24, 2018 Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm Location: Antalek & Moore, 340 Main St., Beacon, NY Enrollment for this class is full, but sign up for the next one in April! Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.              Beacon Junior Baseball Registration Day: Registration is open now! Location: Games are held at Memorial Park Registration Information > Thank you, Beacon Junior Baseball, for sponsoring this Kids' Classes Guide! Sewing: Wrist Warmers Ages: 8+ Day: Sunday, March 25, 2018 Time: 2 to 3:30 pm Location Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids' Classes Guide.   Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Days: March 12-25, 2018 Have you been meaning to try several restaurants in Beacon? Don't miss this great opportunity for a $32.95 dinner at these participating restaurants: Beacon Hotel and Restaurant, Cafe Amarcord, The Roundhouse, The Pandorica, and Kitchen Sink Food & Drink. Full list of HVRW restaurants > Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!     BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com DEAL ALERT Luxe Optique prides itself on providing the best eyewear - that includes frames as well as premium lenses. Luxe Optique is offering a special, called the Ultimate Lens Package, on their new state-of-the-art Varilux X lenses. These lenses have patented technology to perform with the greatest clarity, vision, and protection. Purchase an Ultimate Lens Package and get a second pair of qualifying lenses FREE (with unlimited options, including sunglass lenses) - a value of up to $1,000!   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway entrance! Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Add this to your wedding style list: the crepe jumpsuit with V-neck illusion lace bodice by Justin Alexander. The fabric is incredibly soft and comfortable! You can see it - and feel it! - now at Lambs Hill boutique. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide!  Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Wares! Where can you get your hair done in Beacon? Or have a beard trim? Find out in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! TIP: Amy's Hair has moved a few blocks down! Find the salon near the car wash on Main Street. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Susan's Defensive Driving Class fills up fast! The next one is in April. Want to improve your driving and lower your car insurance premium? You won't want to miss this class! Check the next date > Rhinebeck Bank Banking local can make you feel less like a number, and more like a valued community member, especially when you work with lenders who know the community. Watch this video that portrays a couple moving from an apartment to a house in Beacon. Call Rhinebeck Bank or come to the Beacon branch, near Dutchess Stadium (across from the Family Dollar), to speak with someone about your options. BeaconArts The Beacon All-Star Lip Sync Battle was an "amazing success," says Kelly Ellenwood, Ex-Officio of BeaconArts. Here is a link to the "highlight" reel if you want to see some real talent from some of your favorite people around the neighborhood! InHouse Design Media The photographers and designers with InHouse Design Media can help you take amazing pictures to beef up your Instagram feed. This four-week private workshop is like an amazing fitness class, but for your photos. Details > Tin Shingle Business and artist members of Tin Shingle will discuss their marketing and PR ideas at the next member meeting. It's held on the last Monday of the month (March 26, 2018) at noon in Tin Shingle's office in the Telephone Building, at 291 Main Street. Membership at the Community Level 1 is required. On the agenda: The Cupcake Festival is coming! Are you ready? We will be discussing business strategies. Facebook Marketing Backup Plan: Facebook's privacy profiteering may be coming to an end, which could change Facebook ads, as well as how often people are on Facebook. What's your backup plan for reaching people quickly? Beacon Chamber of Commerce The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new Treasurer for 2018. Are you the right person for the job? Reach out to the Chamber with your credentials if interested. Email kate@katerabe.com. See all Board Members > A Little Beacon Space The time is right to host your workshop, now you just need a venue. A Little Beacon's Space, conveniently located in the heart of Beacon, is a perfect spot to fit your audience. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog 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! Sponsors make the local media go round. Reach our readers and support our publication at the same time. Advertising with A Little Beacon Blog is effective because we design ways to make it work for you. See our Media Kit for ideas! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

NEW in the Beacon Public School Fundraising Guide: The Color-A-Thon Returns to South Ave!

South Avenue Elementary's Color-A-Thon is the latest event added to A Little Beacon Blog's collection of fundraising efforts by public school PTO/As.

Get your running shoes on!

Registration is going on now for the second annual Color-A-Thon, bursting into action at South Avenue Elementary School. And the best part is - aside from raising money for new playground equipment for the school, as well as other needs designated by the teachers - is that this race is open to everyone! You don't need to go to South Avenue to participate. And it's really not a race - it's a run through bright powder blasts of color, thrown on you by teachers and friends positioned at designated color points.

Deadlines:
Registration: Friday, March 23, 2018
The Big Day of the Color-A-Thon: Saturday, April 14, 2018

This is one of the newest opportunities added recently to A Little Beacon Blog's Guide for Beacon Public School Fundraising opportunities.

'Tis the Season for Running and Funding

This race marks also the warming up of A Little Beacon Blog's 5K Race Guide, even though this run is only one block long! You just run or walk it three times! Seriously. I did it pregnant last year. Ok, I did not walk the block, but I did throw color on walkers and runners. Most people didn't even realize that they ran around the block three times, and some people kept running until they cleared six circuits - talk about getting some energy out!

Beacon Bulldog Swag

The Beacon Bulldogs are raising money for the Beacon High School Football Department. T-shirts and more are on sale now, but the order deadline is Sunday, April 8, at midnight sharp. Get your swag for the season!

Get all of these details at A Little Beacon Blog's Public School Fundraising Guide! Do you or your business love Beacon City Schools? Show your school pride and sponsor this Guide! Be part of making our Guides possible. Details here in A Little Beacon Blog's Media Kit.

Wikipedia Is Written By Mostly Men - Beacon Library Aims to Change That With Edit-A-Thon Event

Consider this a call to action.

WHAT: Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
WHERE: Howland Public Library
DAY: Saturday, March 24,
TIME: 11am - 3pm
RSVP here

You've read Wikipedia, right?

You've been in the car, in a restaurant, at a Trivia Night, sneaking views on Wikipedia to quickly answer a Very Big Question, like: "Were women really not allowed to own property?" Answer: You are correct! They weren't, until the Married Women's Property Act in 1939, when men needed to protect or hide their property from debt collectors during an economic crisis, and put their property into the name of their wives. Thanks Wikipedia for that info.

Wikipedia gets its info from the public - it's crowd-sourced - so random people contribute their knowledge with links and citations to back it up, thus creating this ever-growing encyclopedia.

Trouble is, according to a 2011 study, only 9% of these public editors are women. Editors can be anyone, but most of them are men.

Seeking: Women Editors on Wikipedia

Two librarians from the Beacon library are spearheading a local effort to better represent women on Wikipedia. As part of an Art+Feminism Edit-A-Thon, Rajene Hardeman and Gina Shelton are calling for people - of all gender identities and expressions - to participate in the daylong event on Saturday, March 24, at the Howland Public Library. The goal, in honor of Women's History Month, is to improve coverage of gender, feminism, and the arts on Wikipedia. Beginner Wikipedians are welcome! According to organizers, Art+Feminism Edit-A-Thons across the world have created and improved more than 11,000 articles since 2014.

Women make up about half of the population, so you’d think they’d (we’d) be represented equally on Wikipedia, right? Well, no, not so much. There are wayyyy fewer articles about women, and traditionally feminine topics, on Wikipedia according to this article, "Gender bias on Wikipedia" on Wikipedia. The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit group behind Wikipedia and other public-information-focused sites, did a survey in 2010 to learn more about who pitches in to this colossal encyclopedia. It showed that less than 13 percent of contributors to Wikipedia's English-language pages were women. The 2011 survey showed the number had fallen further, to about 9 percent. Wikipedia author Sarah Stierch informally surveyed more than 300 other female contributors to dive into the “whys” behind women’s participation.

Survey says... A Supportive Community Can Help Narrow the Online Gender Gap

Stierch asked about women’s experiences participating in the author/editor process at the massive behind-the-scenes Wikipedia community. Most of the people who answered the survey said they enjoyed contributing, calling it fun and empowering. Some survey respondents talked about name-calling, harassment, racist/homophobic/sexist bias, argumentative behavior, and other forms of generally exhausting hassle - sometimes gender-based, sometimes not. But one response stood out: "I don't see how having a majority male editor population has harmed me, or any other women. I don't see how changing it will benefit me. I don't think the lack of equal representation is driven by anything other than failure to show up and help.”

astronauts Dr. Jan Davis (left) and Dr. Mae Jemison working on the space shuttle endeavor in 1992. They were among the first american women in space.
Photo credit: Nasa/wikimedia commons

Here's the thing: The lack of equal representation is itself harmful! Don’t historic women deserve the same equal representation? Of course they do! And current and future women - and men! - suffer the consequences of that lack of equal representation. People of all genders can have a hard time envisioning women in certain fields - because there’s not as much high-quality coverage and visibility. It’s time for that to change. Remember, 9% of the edits made on Wikipedia according to that survey in 2011 were made by women. Wikipedia is nothing but edits. The whole entire thing is edits.

Ready... Set... Edit Wikipedia! Here's How:

So. Are you fired up? Ready to go? Join the Edit-A-Thon on Saturday, March 24, at the Howland Library from 11am - 3pm. Organizers request that you bring your laptop, power cord, and ideas for entries that need updating or creation. New to this whole Wiki-editing thing? Fear not: The edit-a-thon will include tutorials for the beginner Wikipedian, ongoing editing support, reference materials, and refreshments. Don’t forget to RSVP - gotta make sure there are enough refreshments, right?

If you can’t make it to this event, there are other ways to pitch in. Event organizer Art+Feminism is a great place to start. The Women in Red WikiProject is another group working on bringing Wikipedia up to parity. Get involved when and how you can. That’s the great thing about the Internet. 24/7. Ready when you are. Even on snow days.

Happening This Weekend 3/16/2018

☀️☀️☀️ Hey, Sunshine! It's a great weekend to get out there - how many crocuses do you see popping up in people's yards? Take a picture and tag us in it on Instagram! Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Hula Hoop Party! Day: Friday, March 16, 2018 Time: 6:30 to 7:30 pm Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information > Reel Life Film Club presents  “First Position” Day: Friday, March 16, 2018 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Wine & Irish Cheese Pairing Event Day: Saturday, March 17, 2018 Time: 1 pm and 3 pm Location: Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, 26 Wing Road, Millbrook, NY Information > Live Concert: Kofi & Sankofa Day: Saturday, March 17, 2018 Time: 7:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Crown Maple Weekend Days: Saturday and Sunday, March 17 & 18, 24 & 25, 2018 Time: All day Location: The Crown Maple Estate, 47 McCourt Road, Dover Plains, NY Information > “Move It Baby, Move It” Family Dance Party Fundraiser Day: Sunday, March 18, 2018 Time: 3 to 6:30 pm Location: Quinn’s, 330 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Jason Vieaux, Guitar Day: Sunday, March 18, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.     Thank you to Beacon Pilates for sponsoring the Classes for Adults Guide! Breastfeeding Essentials Day: Friday, March 16, 2018 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Waddle n Swaddle, 484 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Birth Prep 101 Day: Saturday, March 17, 2018 Time: 12:30 to 6:30 pm Location: Waddle n Swaddle, 484 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Hawaiian Appliqué Made Modern with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill Day: Sunday, March 18, 2018 Time: 12 to 3 pm Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.              Beacon Junior Baseball Registration Open Day: Now! Location: Games are held at Memorial Park Registration Information > Thank you to Beacon Junior Baseball for sponsoring this Kids' Classes Guide! Art & Zine Club Meetup Day: Friday, March 16, 2018 Time: 3:30 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.   Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Days: March 12-25, 2018 If you've been meaning to try several restaurants in Beacon, don't miss the limited opportunity for a $32.95 dinner at these participating restaurants: Beacon Hotel and Restaurant, Cafe Amarcord, The Roundhouse, The Pandorica, and Kitchen Sink Food & Drink. Full list of HVRW restaurants > Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!     BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Do these cat-eye sunglasses seem a touch rebellious to you? You're right - they are. These Christian Roth 'Kardo' specs feature lens-in-lens technology. They come in an assortment of finishes, including a metallic version. Made in Italy, but you don't have to travel far to pick up a pair - they're available at Luxe Optique right now. SCHEDULE ALERT: Luxe Optique is closed Sunday, March 18, to attend their Annual Vision Conference. Always getting smarter, they are!   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway entrance! Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) SALE ALERT! Save the Date! Lambs Hill's first sample sale of the spring is Friday to Sunday, April 20-22! Gather your girls around, and come on down. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide!  Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Wares! Where can you get your hair done in Beacon? Or have a beard trim? Find out in A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! TIP: Amy's Hair has moved a few blocks down! These days, find the salon near the car wash on Main Street. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Do you rent out your house as a short-term rental on Airbnb? Your homeowner's insurance coverage might not be as straightforward as you'd hope in that situation. Don't get stuck footing the bill for something unexpected. Call Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency today for a consultation, at (845) 831-4300. Rhinebeck Bank Banking local can make you feel less like a number, as you work with lenders who know the community. Watch this video that portrays a couple moving from an apartment to a house in Beacon. Recognize anyone in the community? Call Rhinebeck Bank or come to the Beacon branch near Dutchess Stadium (across from the Family Dollar on Route 9D) to speak with someone about your options, close to home. BeaconArts BeaconArts is connected to just about everything there is to do and know in Beacon. Have you joined their membership yet, to connect with other artists and promote your business? InHouse Design Media The photographers and designers of InHouse Design Media can help you take amazing pictures to pump up your Instagram profile. This four-week private workshop is like an amazing fitness class, but for your photos. Details > Tin Shingle Tin Shingle is an empowerment zone for business owners, artists and makers who need to survive and thrive. Join at our Community Level Membership to ask questions about marketing, PR, Google, and more in a safe space in our online groups, and in person at our meeting on the last Monday of every month. See Tin Shingle's owner and digital marketer, Katie, deliver a fun social media presentation to Hudson Valley Women in Business members. Beacon Chamber of Commerce The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is looking for a new treasurer for 2018. Is this you? Reach out to them with your credentials if interested. Email kate@katerabe.com. See all current board members > A Little Beacon Space The time is right to host your workshop, now you just need a venue. A Little Beacon's Space, conveniently right in the heart of Beacon, is a perfect location to fit your audience. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog 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! Sponsors make the local media go round. Reach our readers and support our publication at the same time. Advertising with A Little Beacon Blog is effective because we design ways to make it work for you. See our Media Kit for ideas! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

Beacon Ambulance Corps Hosts Life Saving Training in Stopping Bleeding on March 31

The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be participating in National Stop The Bleed Day on Saturday, March 31, 2018. The Stop The Bleed Program is designed to teach the general public how to control severe bleeding.

The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps will be holding a series of one-hour classes throughout the day beginning at 9 am. Training will be at their headquarters located at One Arquilla Drive, Beacon, NY. If you would like to attend one of these valuable training sessions, please call (845) 831-4540, then at the prompt, choose option 5 and leave a message. One of Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps' instructors will call you back. You can also send a message to stopthebleed@beaconvac.org and they will get back to you.

Bring a Stop the Bleed Instructor to Train Your Organization

Instructors who train in how to stop bleeding are available at any time to provide this training to your club, scouting group, organization or to your employees. Please contact them using one of the above methods if you are interested in training for your group. There is no charge for this training.

City Council Holds Special Meeting on March 14th to Hear Updates on Water Supply

You may not have known this, with all of the scaffolding around newly demolished buildings, but Beacon has been under a six-month building moratorium, whereby the city is not granting permission to build new projects. Special exemptions exist, such as if a residential application was being proposed that used less than 330 gallons of water per day, or a non-residential application resulting in more than 2,000 gallons of water per day (both as determined by the city engineer), but for the most part, everything new has been halted. However, everything that already was proposed and approved before July 25 before remains in full swing.

But what does water have to do with anything? Why does water come into play with these building exemptions? Because the City of Beacon felt that although it had encouraged residential and commercial development over the years, and that dream did come true, perhaps it was a bit too soon. The water supply was estimated to accommodate 17,800 people. As part of new residential projects recently approved to develop Beacon, 1,027 new units are on their way. According to the moratorium legislation passed on September 19, 2017,  however, the current population is reaching that limit quicker than expected, thus creating a hunt for more water. "The City is concerned that such a large number of housing in such a short time will stress the City's water supply," reads the approved legislation document forwarded to us by City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero. "The City's vision was that development would be more gradual and take place over a period of years. The accelerated development of housing within the City will lead to greatly increased consumption of services and resources."

The Water Supply Plan, Presented on March 14, 2018

In the past, the City hired Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc (LBG) to look into the development of a new well on the existing Water Treatment Plant property, the location of which was found to be unsuitable for potable water because the location did not have enough water to yield. Therefore, evaluations continue regarding the system's existing capacity and potential for future needs. A review of the capacity of the existing sources (groundwater and surface water) will continue, and they'll review how water has been collected in the past, up until today. "The water system evaluation will include a review of available 'finished' water storage capacity, and a review of existing water treatment methods and capacity."

That presentation of findings is being delivered tonight, Wednesday, March 14, at 7 pm, by LG Hydrogeologic Engineering Services, PC at 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY. The meeting is open to the public to listen, but not participate.

Here's How Beacon Students Are Participating in WALKOUT on March 14th in Response to Gun Violence

A national walkout is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14, to acknowledge the tragic shooting in Parkland, FL. The Beacon City Schools have decided to participate in this movement, and have formed a plan with an administrative team, teachers and student leaders at the high school, according to Beacon's Superintendent Matt Landahl on his Superintendent Update blog.

All of Beacon's public schools - the elementary, middle and high school - will observe a moment of silence at 10 am. During that time, the elementary schools will be encouraged to "think about ways to spread kindness and love in our school, community and the world,” according to Matt. At the elementary level, the planning team was more comfortable keeping the kids in their regular routines, yet bringing awareness. There will be no walkout at this youngster level.

At the middle school and high school, students in social studies classes "will be taught ways to communicate with their local, state, and national representatives on issues important to them. We will not espouse any particular political views with this sharing but instead discuss the importance of elected representatives hearing from all of their constituents," according to Matt. Over the next few weeks, students will have the opportunity to create cards to be sent to the families of victims.

Students in the high school can attend a momentary moment of silence, and can spend it outside at designated areas on campus, which will be monitored by school staff. The Beacon Police Department will also have a presence at the secondary schools to help ensure safety.

At this time, Beacon City Schools has no plans to participate in other memorial activities on Friday, April 20, and all kids are encouraged to respect the Student Code of Conduct any time they leave school (with permission of their parents).

Groups for Writers Proliferate in Beacon

It’s a good time to be a writer in Beacon! If you are an aspiring wordsmith, an accomplished author, or looking to find a supportive literary community to help you work though a current project, there are so many resources for you right now. Here’s a rundown of some of what’s currently on tap.

Get Lit Beacon

This fabulous new literary salon, started by talented local author Julie Chibbaro (National Jewish Book Award winner for Deadly, a Junior Library Guild Selection for Into the Dangerous World, and American Book Award winner for Redemption), meets on the second Sunday of each month at Oak Vino Wine Bar at 389 Main St. You can find out more on the group's Facebook Page, but the idea is that it’s a casual gathering where published and aspiring adult writers of any genre can hang out, have a glass of wine and share their work. Feeling like expressing yourself? There’s a sign-up sheet at the door if you want to read aloud. Chibbaro reveals the genesis of the group: “I started this event because I often hear about other writers in my town, but since I’m a homebody, I don’t get to meet them. This is a way for me to invite them out and hear their work.”

There have been two Get Lit salon events so far, and they were both inspiring and well-attended. The next one, scheduled for Sunday, March 11, will feature a reading by novelist and children’s book author Jennifer Castle.

High School Writing Lab & Zine Club

Are you a teen and a writer? Beacon has you covered, too. The Howland Library has a writing group for teens designed to provide support, assistance, and encouragement for students in grades 9-12 who are working on school or creative writing projects and college essays. There’s also a Zine Club for writers, artists, and photographers (the next meeting is Friday, March 16, from 3 to 5 pm). More info about this and other great library offerings for teens can be found here on the Howland Public LIbrary's website (the top says February but it is March's events). In the past, the library has offered help sessions for writers in high school.

Other Goings-On for Writers at the Howland Public Library

Also at the library is an ongoing Book Club, an upcoming book launch for Judith Filc (Thursday, April 12). The Howland Library just hosted (on Saturday, March 3) a memoir-writing workshop for adults with Donna Minkowitz, the author of two memoirs, Ferocious Romance (a Lambda Literary Award winner) and Growing Up Golem (a finalist for both a Lambda Literary Award and the Judy Grahn Nonfiction Award). Donna became known for her coverage of gay and lesbian politics and culture in The Village Voice from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, for which she won a GLAAD Media Award. She is a former feature writer for the Village Voice, and has also written for New York magazine, Ms., The Collagist, The Advocate, and Newsday. She teaches with the New York Writers Workshop and independently - sometimes in Beacon!

The Artist’s Way – A Creative Cluster

For folks who want to reflect on their own creative process, or tap into something that needs unclogged, this Creative Cluster is an exciting and creative group that meets at A Little Beacon Space on Sundays. It loosely follows the classic book, The Artist's Way, created and written by Julia Cameron. The group is being “lightly led” by Katie Hellmuth Martin. According to the event page's description, this is a “gentle group, where people who are reading the book and going through their journey can share their thoughts and connect with others.” Artists, Non-Artists, Regular People, and People Who Want To Be An Artist But Think They Are Far From Being An Artist are welcome. This session runs from March to May and is full, but check back for info about the next session. Lots of answers to all of your questions about participating can be found here.

Classes, Readings and Book Clubs

Around town, several writing groups who would like to remain anonymous meet regularly at various watering holes and other locations. At their meetings, more active or professional writers workshop their projects and critique one another’s work. There's even a secret writers' group who won't reveal their details, but we can tell you that they meet inside of The Telephone Building, which is also the location of A Little Beacon Blog's office. They are so elusive and quiet as they hide behind their laptops, that we can only tell you that it’s for writers who have been published in national magazines and so forth.

If you are interested in small writers workshops or classes, poets Ruth Danon will soon be offering some in Beacon, while Jeffrey McDaniel offers workshops in Cold Spring. And Julie Chibbaro, of Get Lit Salon fame, also offers a writing workshop that is mostly for fiction and non-fiction writers.

On Facebook, there are a few Book Clubs, like The Beacon Book Club, and The Beacon Moms Book Club.

Finally, we can’t pass up a chance to big-up Binnacle Books at 321 Main St., Beacon, NY. They offer an impressive selection of books, a willingness to order anything we want as long as it’s available, and a number of great readings, events and book club meetings.

Plus, see here for the great lengths gone to by Beacon Reads, the little bookstore next to the Howland Public Library. Proceeds from their book sales (of donations and retired library books) go toward the Howland Public Library. In this photo below, a volunteer from Beacon Reads hand-delivered a copy of The Artist's Way to the first meeting of the creative cluster.

A volunteer from Beacon Reads (left) hand-delivered a copy of The Artist's Way to a study group participant, Martha P. Humphreys (right).
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

CoMFY Art Collective Explores "The Yellow Wallpaper," Women, and Mental Discomfort

Get out of your comfort zone and into CoMFY’s zone this weekend: The Beacon-based CoMFY art collective presents the 4th annual group show at the Howland Public Library. Yellow Wallpaper Revisited showcases artwork by nearly 30 Hudson Valley women, drawing inspiration from a controversial short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, written in 1892 by early feminist Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The show opens with a reception on March 10, part of can’t-miss Second Saturday festivities in Beacon. 

Michelle Rivas, the exhibit’s coordinator and an artist in the show, describes the groundbreaking source material: “The Yellow Wallpaper tells the story of a young woman's descent into madness while confined to a room with yellow wallpaper. With no other stimulation, she begins to obsess about the wallpaper's pattern until she imagines there are many women trapped inside the design.” According to Wikipedia, "Gilman wrote this story to change people's minds about the role of women in society, illustrating how women's lack of autonomy is detrimental to their mental, emotional, and even physical well-being.

Feminism and Artistic Identity, Spanning Two Centuries

Delving into the inner emotional lives of women, especially mothers, Gilman once claimed that The Yellow Wallpaper was "not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked." Making art - whether with paint, ceramics, drawing, fabric, fiber, photos, voice, or dance - is an outlet by which people may plant a flag, declare identity, and save themselves from being driven crazy.

Gilman’s art - writing - was a revolutionary act of expressing identity. She explored the limitations imposed on 19th-century women, as well as what happens when prisons get created in our own minds after we take advice from supposedly well-meaning but clueless authority figures (often men, especially 126 years ago...remember that time when married women couldn't open bank accounts or own property?).

As women’s voices and powerful stories have been amplified over the past year or two in the United States, Gilman's early feminist work has seen new light, and struck a nerve. This exhibition is an ideal place to check in with the creative identities of women based in the Beacon area.

What or Who is CoMFY? Beacon Women’s Balancing Act

Many of the presenting artists will be familiar to longtime fans of Beacon-based art, and anyone who has been paying attention at Beacon Open Studios and other local events for the past decade and a half. All of the artists belong to CoMFY, which stands for Creatives, Mamas, Friends and Yahoos.

"After the Yellow Wallpaper" by Anna Bergin

"So Begins The End" by Mary Ann Glass

"Yellow Box" by Margot Kingon

"Unheard of Contradictions" by Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee

"Kiss Me Deadly" by Anna West

Way back in the fall of 2011, a few Beacon women got together over coffee for a conversation about the challenges of balancing life and creative endeavors. Kat Stoughtenborough and Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee used the momentum to get a group going in a more organized, though informal, way. (Kat was no stranger to gathering artists for cool events. She was the heart and muscle behind CherryBomb, one of Beacon’s first holiday shopping pop-up dreamscapes. It showcased the work of both male and female artists, transforming the Zora Dora’s paletaria space into a winter wonderland.) Though the group’s members don’t meet up as often as they’d like, they say, they’re proud that the supportive network has endured.

Mixed Media piece by Jennifer Blakeslee, on display as part of CoMFY exhibit.

Yellow Wallpaper's themes resonate easily with women, those who have kids and those who don't. Blakeslee, who has been diagnosed with clinical depression, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder and is an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and therapy, made an especially personal connection between her piece and the short story. “I’ve never done anything like this before, where I use another medium alongside a photograph. ... It feels good to break out of my comfort zone, too, especially about a story that explores the terrifying, twisty tunnels of mental illness.”

Yellow Wallpaper Revisited's participating artists include Maria Amor, Anna Bergin, Jennifer Blakeslee, Holly Bogdanffy-Kriegh, Lily Burana, Kit Burke-Smith, Arabella Champaq, Caiming Cheung, Dana Devine O'Malley, Jan Dolan, Mary Ann Glass, Theresa Gooby, Cindy Gould, Philomena Kiernan, Margot Kingon, Margaux Lange, Lori Merhige, Jean Noack, Virginia Piazza, Jaime Pivar, Michelle Rivas, Keely Sheehan, Christine Seymour Price, Jennifer Smith, Bekah Starr, Kat Stoutenborough, Anna West, and Regina Williams.

Yellow Wallpaper Revisited opens Saturday, March 10, and runs through Friday, April 6. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, March 10 - Beacon’s Second Saturday! - from 5 to 7 pm. Otherwise, the Community Room Exhibit Space is open during regular library hours; find them at the Beacon library’s website.