Artists And Their Studios Wanted: Registration For Beacon Open Studios 2020 Going On Now

Registration for Beacon Open Studios (BOS) 2020 is now open and you can sign up as an artist for this year. BOS 2020 will take place the weekend of May 15-17, 2020, which is not Second Saturday weekend, for those keeping track. This gives the city-wide art exploration event its own space to stretch without competing with the prior weekend’s schedule. This event is open to everyone. Some participating artists are professionals in other fields who commute to other cities and towns during the week, and only show off their passionate works in their studios here in Beacon.

In other words, this could be your only chance all year to see the work of these artists. And see behind the curtain. Registration closes April 8, 2020. A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor once again of this event.

What Is Beacon Open Studios?

Once a year, artists of Beacon, New York, open their art studios to the public. This free, city-wide, weekend-long event has become one of the largest of its kind in the Hudson Valley. This year marks their 12th Anniversary! This event is an opportunity for the public to see how local artists’ art gets made.

In the past, spaces have included garages, sheds, apartments, offices, and other nontraditional venues of viewing art. It’s a fun way to get connected with your community and learn more about local artists, some of whom are famous nation- or even worldwide. You can pick up a map at various locations. Identify an open studio by a large red dot on a yard sign out in the lawn.

Register As An Artist

If you are interested in participating this year, register by clicking the link here.

Become A Sponsor

Not an artist but still want to get involved and show support? You can become a sponsor too by clicking here! A Little Beacon Blog has been a sponsor for this popular annual event for the last few years and is glad to be back again this year.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Opens Tickets For Fundraiser At The Garrison - Spirit of the Hudson Gala - March 1st

Hot off our desks at A Little Beacon Blog, please find this press release from Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.

Tickets are now available for this year’s Clearwater’s 5th Annual Spirit of the Hudson Gala, Sunday, March 1, 2020, from 3 to 7 pm. The event will also honor Tom Chapin with the Spirit of the Hudson Award and celebrate his 75th birthday. The Gala will include food, music, auction items, and more. You can purchase your tickets online.

"I’ve performed with Pete (Seeger), played the Revival, and supported Clearwater in many ways over the decades,” said Chapin. “Now I feel blessed to celebrate my 75th birthday among the wonderful people who, like me, want to ensure the protection and preservation of our mighty Hudson River. I hope you will join us on March 1st at The Garrison."

For over 50 years, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champion of the Hudson River, working to pass landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act, and providing innovative educational programs, environmental advocacy, and musical celebrations, including the renowned annual Clearwater Festival, to inspire, educate, and activate millions of people. Musician and activist Pete Seeger along with several friends had a vision to build a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries, that would bring people to the river where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the organization began with the launch of the sloop Clearwater in 1969 —a majestic 106-foot-long replica vessel that is recognized today as America’s Environmental Flagship.

Gala funds support Clearwater’s environmental advocacy and education programs on the Hudson River. The event will be held at The Garrison (2015 US Route 9, Garrison, NY) and tickets can be purchased online by clicking here.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, member-supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River, its tributaries and related bodies of water. 

The Underground Beacon Comic Book Shop Announces Closure - Is A Sequel In Their Future?

After nearly two years in business, the Main Street comic book shop The Underground Beacon has announced that they are closing due to a rent increase and a terminally ill family member. This month will be their last, as they decline renewing their lease. Yet they aren’t going down without a fight, stating that they are open to new opportunities. From their Instagram post on Sunday, February 16, 2020:

“It's been nearly 2yrs in business, in that time we've met and served great people! Some of which we've become friends with. Which is why it saddens us to say that due to raising rent costs and a terminally ill family member, that we will not be able to renew our lease. Although we are open to suggestions or help such as getting investors, or taking on partners or even selling the business. As it stands now we will be closing our doors for good as early as the end of the month. We love you all and thank you, it has been a great pleasure being Beacon's comic shop!”

The Underground Beacon offered new comics, board games, card games, action figures, RPGs, weekly events and tournaments, and even skateboards. They were busy bees and launched the business with a new baby in an exersaucer behind the counter (who is walking by now).

The Underground Beacon replaced a clothing boutique, Lauren & Riley, who also announced a closure, but within days announced that the boutique would indeed stay open, but move to the other side of town, after a new landlord from the other end reached out with a new lease opportunity. The second rising of Lauren & Riley has since passed (replaced by Beacon Tintype, a mysterious photo creation studio), and L&R’s owner has moved on to focusing on her candle business, Beacon Candle Company.

Meanwhile, two days after The Underground Beacon’s closure post was published, a new post has emerged to promote their usual Wednesday release of new comic books. In it, followers are encouraged to keep it tuned to their Instagram for updates about the future of the store.

Were they approached by an investor?

Does a local comic book enthusiast have a vision that can keep the shop alive and thriving?

The lives of small businesses are always a page turner. Nothing is black and white. Business is personal. And sometimes, a pivot in the right direction changes everything.

Stay tuned…will this book release a sequel or new edition?

Most importantly, our thoughts are with them as their family enters this new phase of caring for loved ones.

Happening This Weekend - 2/14/2020

Happy Valentine's Day! Main Street has plenty of places to pick up flowers, and some really unique flowers at that. A Little Beacon Blog has a list of the local florists on Main Street in our Shopping Guide, so click here quick to see where you want to go! And remember: Don't wait for someone to buy you the perfect flower. Buy yourself the bouquet or single stem you want! Do something unexpected for someone you love. Be that person, little or big. Simply stop into any shop on Main Street in Beacon to really delight someone. Promise. Treat yourself, too! See A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide for all of the ideas. GET THE SHOPPING GUIDE Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Got an event? Submit your event here for consideration.   Anti-Bullying Be a Friend/Make a Friend Party Day: Saturday, February 15, 2020 Time: 1 to 3 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Conversation With Jenny Offill On Her New Book "Weather" Day: Saturday, February 15, 2020 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Binnacle Books, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Sweetheart Princess Breakfast Day: Sunday, February 16, 2020 Time: 8:30am & 9:30am Location: Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY Information > Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Piano Festival with Zoltán Fejérvári Days: Sunday, February 16, 2020 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.   BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END     Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com Dear Valentine... You need red in your wardrobe. If not as a sweater, then as a pair of glasses. Luxe Optique has all sorts of options, as you can see here. Be experimental, and try them on. This collection is from sabine be, always a favorite if you want to go outside your comfort zone, and create a new comfort zone that represents your personality.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main St., Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Don't forget to vote for Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique for #bestofhudsonvalley2020! Visit www.hvmag.com and vote for Best Bridal Shop (#7) Type in "Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique" in Beacon. ⠀ SAVE THE DATE! Allure Couture Trunk Show coming next month! Shop their entire Summer Spring 2020 collection in our boutique for one weekend only, Friday to Sunday, February 21-23. ⠀ Call (845) 765-2900 or book your appointment online through their website!  Be sure to check A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide for all of our sponsors! You don't want to miss great discoveries like PTACEK Home and LLTO (Live Light Travel Often).   Thank you to Barb's Butchery, Eat Church, and BAJA 328 for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!   Coloring Books for Adults Day: Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Time: 6 to 7:30 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Adult Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here.                                   For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here. Cold FIt Cryotherapy 473 Main Street, Suite 4 www.coldfitcryotherapy.com Two for One! ⠀ Get TWO Whole-Body Cryotherapy Treatments for the single treatment price of $65. Redeemable tomorrow, Saturday 2/15 only. ⠀⠀ Space is becoming limited, but the benefits are not! ⠀⠀ Call or text (845) 842-8085 to reserve your spot. 💞💝💘 HEADLINE NEWS FROM OUR SPONSORS   Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency How can you donate a dollar on a ❤️ heart to the American ❤️ Heart Association at Antalek & Moore? It's easy! Susan and Vince show you how in this video. Tin Shingle If you follow retail store trends, and if you are a regular (or even infrequent) visitor to the Papyrus store in Grand Central, you should know that it and all Papyrus stores are closing. There is a “retail apocalypse” going on in big-box stores; will it - or has it already - hit Main Streets? Or is the small experience strong enough to survive? Perhaps signs are stronger that thoughtful experience thrives, as with the opening of the Frank Gehry for Louis Vuitton retail shop in Seoul? Learn More >     Katie James, Inc. Couture branding for businesses. Crafting of social media plans, website designs, and newsletter plans to keep your customer base warm. Learn More > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. Learn More > MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include: Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way. Learn More > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

The Anti-Bullying Be A Friend/Make A Friend Party At The Howland Public Library Saturday 2/15/2020

Fresh from the Youth Services Desk of the Howland Public Library, a press release for an anti-bullying, Valentine letter-writing event you won’t want to miss:

Beacon… Valentine love is in the air, and what better way to show caring and kindness, than using your words to make someone feel better? Students in grades 1-12 are invited to the Make A Friend/Be A Friend Party at Howland Public Library on Saturday, February 15, from 1 to 3 pm, hosted by the Library and Be A Friend Project. First, be a friend by writing a letter or creating a picture of support for a child who has been bullied. All kids and teens have the power to help a peer heal through empathic words and art.

Being “Friend Strong”

Materials will be supplied to make a card or letter of support for 13-year-old Rachael from North Carolina who needs to know she is “FRIEND STRONG” as she recovers from severe physical, verbal and social bullying. You can make a difference through empathic words and art and let Rachael know that she matters and is important.

About The Be A Friend Project

The national, nonprofit Be A Friend Project sends surprise letters of peer support called “Friend Mail" to young victims of bullying to help them stay strong and know they are not alone. Since its inception in 2015, the Be A Friend Project has delivered over 22,000 letters, bringing transformational peer support to Friend Mail recipients and, at the same time, giving as many school-age writers and artists the opportunity to show off their kindness and build empathy by stepping into the shoes of a peer and offering support.

Make A Dog

Next, make your way into the Youth Room and Make a Friend by stuffing your own plush Dalmatian dog with a heart (while supplies last) to take home with you to love. One will also be sent to our friend Rachael.

Drop-In

This is a drop-in program so no registration is necessary. For information, please contact Ginny at youth@beaconlibrary.org or (845) 831-1134, extension 103. For information on the Be A Friend Project and Rachael’s story, please visit www.beafriendproject.org and "All About Be a Friend Project" on YouTube.

How To Predict School Closures and Delays Due To Weather And Snow In Beacon

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The past few years in Beacon have seen relatively frequent school closures, but this year, not so much. In past years, by February, parents would be on edge with any prediction of snow, having their work disrupted, kids’ routines wrinkled, or figuring out how to get home from New York City on a train in time for an unexpected early pickup due to canceled programming.

A Little Beacon Blog took to examining the source of how school closures and delays are called in Beacon. On a personal note, I have exited out of all group predictions and penny bets in social media, as the stakes are too high; I need to preserve my adrenaline for issues that are more important. On a positive note, from our research last year for this article, I have been able to devise a private prediction system that you may benefit from.

By the time this article was written in 2019, the season of school closures had blissfully ended, so the post remained in Drafts. We are publishing it now - post Groundhog Day 2020, while spring bulbs have sprung in February - just in case you need a quick reference to make a prediction.

How The Beacon City School District Predicts A Closure Or Delay

The superintendent makes the call on whether there is a closure or delay. In years and superintendents past, this may have included foggy conditions. It also included a double early dismissal - which means an early dismissal is called, and then a few moments later, an even earlier dismissal is called. This can make life unsettling for commuting parents who have limited backup plans and little or no family in the area to retrieve their children.

This is how current Superintendent Matthew Landahl makes the call, as told to A Little Beacon Blog when we reached out to him last February during a particularly bad winter season:

On a regular school day, we have bus runs in-district and out-of-district that run from about 6 am until the last elementary student is dropped off around 4 pm. We actually have a couple of runs that start before 6 am and sometimes we don't wrap up until after 4 pm.

We start checking roads at about 3:30 am in the morning. A small team from our Transportation Department does this. Since I live here in Beacon, sometimes I join in on the fun. For instance, this morning (back in February 2019) we found a lot of areas still icy where our buses go, causing our own vehicles to slip around, thus causing a call for a delay.

Our main concern on any day is whether we can run buses safely between 6 am and 4 pm (this does not include after school/evening activities).

Calls based on forecasts are usually much tougher and are much more open to criticism or feedback from folks. The decision is mine alone and entirely based on whether we feel our buses can run safely. We subscribe to a very good weather service and I look at other forecasts, but in the end, it is my call with input from the Transportation Department.

I totally understand that my decisions cause inconvenience at best for everyone (including my family). It is definitely a no-win part of the job, but I always focus on travel safety with my decision-making.

How The City Of Beacon Plows and Salts The Streets

So now you might be wondering how the streets are plowed by the City of Beacon. What time do they start? We wondered the same thing. Here’s what Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony J. Ruggiero, M.P.A., told ALBB:

That is a tough one to answer, and there is no easy answer.

There are a lot of factors that go into responding to a snow storm:

• time of day

• temperatures

• the type of precipitation (snow, or mix of snow and ice)

• and amounts predicted

No two storms are alike. With storms that start overnight, the Highway Department will be dispatched by the Police. Generally speaking, it is at this point that 5 trucks with sanders/salters are assigned areas citywide and treat roads with salt.

Typically for larger storms, all roads are treated with one application of material to help snow and ice bonding to blacktop. Once snow accumulates to about an inch, all plows are sent to designated areas (typically 24 vehicles, including large trucks with plows and sanders and small trucks with plows) to scrape the roads. This continues until the snow stops and then everything will be treated with one final application of salt. For smaller storms, it may be just salting, possibly followed by a scraping if necessary.

The City of Beacon Highway employees have always taken great pride in the way snow removal and servicing the residents of the City is conducted to assure roads are safe.

How This Writer Tests The Weather To Determine Freezing Streets

If slippage at 3:30 am is a main issue, then one must determine if the roads will be frozen at 3:30 am, possibly before plows or salt trucks are out. This year, in February 2020, there has been very little snow, but a lot of rain. Last week, a few snow flakes showed up in weather apps on smart phones, yet with a 39 degree prediction. Parents starting making backup plans and predictions for a two-hour delay. This writer came up with the following test:

• Ask yourself, has the ground been frozen for a long time? Or has it been over 35 degrees for many days?

• Step outside. Wave your arms in the air to feel the degree of coldness for yourself.

• If it feels kind of cold, but mainly warm and wet, and if the ground has not been frozen for days or weeks, and if the little bulbs have been popping out of the ground, then chances are, the snowflakes we’re seeing in the weather app will not accumulate or freeze when the prediction is 39 degrees, thus causing little to no slippage (though be careful on your front porch steps).

• If it has been under 32 degrees for days, and if there is a little snowflake icon in your weather app, and the percentage of precipitation is above 50% in the early morning hours (between 12 am and 4 am), then you can gauge a 70% chance of a school delay (unless it’s a storm with constant snow into the morning and afternoon).

• PLEASE NOTE: This is a very unsophisticated, nontechnical method that does not employ the weather tracking system that the District uses, but has been effective in making unprofessional predictions.

On this particular night last week, using this test method, the prediction of no two-hour delay was correct.

Hopefully this helps you plan and understand how calls are made. Keeping your blood pressure down, and your mood up. If there is a delay, that just means you’ve got time to make chocolate chip pancakes!

UPDATE: EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM FOR BEACON WEBSITE

Last year we reported the new Opt-In requirement for cellphone notifications from the Emergency Alert System. There has now been another update to the website itself.

Visit, then bookmark, the city’s new link for Public Safety Alerts:

www.cityofbeacon.org/index.php/public-safety-alerts/

What Happened To NOW 97.7? An Overnight Switch To Country From Top 40

Did y’all notice that NOW 97.7 stopped playing Top 40 and started playing Country? You probably listen to Spotify, and this radio business is too old-school for you, but I for one do love listening to local radio in my car. The flipping around the stations for catching random songs cannot be beat. However, my kids are the boss of what we listen to (usually) and if it’s not Kidz Bop, it is/was 97.7. The raging debate for a while was if it was pronounced 97 “point” 7, or just plain 977 with no hyphen or dot. Apparently it was the latter!

But then, 97.7 as we know it disappeared. Country songs started coming out of those call letters in the first days of January 2020. This discovery was made in my older car, which has questionable, imprecise radio frequency, so I blamed it on that. Days later, I verified in my newer car, that indeed, country music was coming out of 97.7. Not that I don’t like country music. I like to line dance! But this was our Top 40 go-to spot on the FM dial.

Next, I verified the change with the 97.7 app. Yup. There, too, was the country. And now articles covering country celebrity gossip were in the news feed! As well as Hudson Valley headlines. The 97.7 app was still good for Hudson Valley headlines (as depressing as they could be, like when human remains are found behind a diner), which are now associated with the Hudson Valley Post. (Another not-great story that showed up when I looked at the station’s news: this one about New Paltz drinking water being contaminated.) It’s a less overwhelming place to go for headlines than Google News, though do keep going to your Google News, folks, as that source picks up A Little Beacon Blog headlines as well!

But finally, Wikipedia confirms the change, another step in the long and interesting history of WCZX 97.7. What this change really means for my family is… that I finally get to listen to K104.7 and WALL Radio - a move my son has protested against each time. But now we get to hear the celebrity headlines in the morning, and the mid-morning mashup of ‘90s songs. WALL Radio reads all of the political headlines. I’ll miss PopCrush Nights with Lisa Paige (hadn’t heard Kayla aka “KT” yet) that I would catch during Kid Pickup. Not sure where to find them again. I’ll still keep the 97.7 app on my phone for the quick scroll of local headlines, but I’m glad for the freedom in radio tunes on my dial.

Only 529 Tickets Available For Clearwater's The Great Hudson River Revival 2020 After Required Downsizing

Clearwater’s The Great Hudson River Revival will be produced on a much smaller, intimate scale as compared to years past, with tickets for 529 attendees only. Normally a million-dollar event, last year’s festival suffered a financial loss of $190K due to a rainy forecast, according to the organizers. The organization has been working its way out of that loss since June 2019.

For many years, The Great Hudson River Revival was Clearwater’s most important annual fundraiser. It has since grown into the country's oldest music and environmental festival, uniquely spreading environmental awareness, education and activism. With no corporate sponsorship, this loss made a big impact on the organization.

“The Great Hudson River Revival was a major success last year, in the sense that thousands of people joined us to celebrate the Hudson River through music, dance, volunteerism, education and activism,” said Clearwater Executive Director Greg Williams in a press release. “Due to many factors, including a wet weather forecast and rain on Sunday causing low attendance, the festival suffered a financial loss of approximately $190K. Since June, we have been working to keep the organization stable, while paying down our debt to festival vendors, and we are grateful for their patience. It would be irresponsible of Clearwater to move forward with replicating another million-dollar Clearwater Festival in 2020 without having addressed the financial loss we incurred in 2019. We expect that these steps, with the public’s ongoing support, will put us in the best position to return with Revival in 2021."

Williams continued in the press release: "We hope that our transparency will give the public some confidence that we keep our mission close at heart; to continue the work that we do year-round on the Hudson, educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.”

The Community Celebration for June 2020 will be a unique and intimate event for 529 attendees. Attendance will be very limited due to venue space capacity, but will provide a familiar welcoming weekend of unity, action, education, food, music, crafts, and merrymaking.

Details about the 2020 Great Hudson River Revival will be announced soon. Clearwater expects to return to a full-scale event in 2021, re-envisioned as a sustainable, less-commercial event, according to the press release.

For 2020, a Clearwater Community Celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21, on the festival’s traditional Father’s Day Weekend on a smaller portion of Croton Point Park, in Croton-on-Hudson, NY.

Other Ways To Donate In The Meantime

To contribute to Clearwater’s ability to continue to hold festivals, and/or other programming, you can ​click here​. You can choose whether to have your donation committed to a specific program, or to be used where it is most needed.

You can ​sail on ​Clearwater ​​this sailing season, ​volunteer on the sloop​, help
out with ​winter maintenance​, attend one of their ​events​ this year, or make a donation.​

New Book "Weather" by Jenny Offill Available Now - Author Conversation At Binnacle Books On Saturday

Tuesday was the day! Jenny Offill’s new book, Weather, is being released by Penguin Random House and on Saturday the Syracuse resident is blessing us downstate babies with a reading for free at Binnacle Books from 7 to 9 pm at 321 Main Street. Yes, the very same Jenny Offill that wrote the amazing Dept. of Speculation, Last Things, and Sparky - a book for children that is very beloved in my house.

Binnacle made these beautiful posters for the event and promises that “wine and literary wit and beauty will be served.” The book’s main character is a librarian (swoon), and there’s a family member with addiction issues (love), and a podcast that is bringing together left-wingers and right-wingers who are all afraid the end is nigh. So it sounds very timely, does it not?

Even more exciting is that the evening is framed by a conversation between Jenny Offill and local author Lynn Steger Strong. A Little Beacon Blog was able to ask her some questions about what to expect Saturday night and also about her own forthcoming book.

ALBB: I always start my article with what some vaguely linked assortment of people I know are reading. What are you reading and loving right now? Or what’s topping your reading list for 2020?

LYNN STEGER STRONG: I'm re-reading Iris Murdoch's The Bell for a class that I'm teaching ,as well as Deszló Kosztolányi's Skylark, and Willem Frederik Hermans' The Untouched House. I also just finished Rufi Thorpe's extraordinary new novel The Knockout Queen, which comes out in April.

JENNY OFFILL: I am reading the new novel by Eimear McBride, Strange Hotel.

ALBB: So, Saturday night! What do you think you’ll be talking about? Is there anything in particular that you hope to be able to discuss or have Jenny elaborate on? Have you gotten an advance copy of Weather to read ahead of time?

LYNN STEGER STRONG: I have read Weather, and think, like Jenny's previous novel, Department of Speculation, it is an extraordinary exploration both of the intricacies of daily life as well as an engagement with some of the largest and most daunting questions and issues of today. I think I'll ask her about this combination. How, in such a short span, in these sometimes paragraph-long missives, she is able to crystallize the specific wants and fears and anxieties of our daily lives in ways we've not yet seen or thought them right next to and in congress with the anxieties and wants we feel globally. I want to ask her about precision and acuity and how she achieves it, as I feel like her books are informed as much by what they include as in this extraordinary ability to leave almost everything but the absolute most important details out.

ALBB: Are there stylistic or narrative threads that you feel connect your novels (and maybe even your children’s books? Sparky is quite deep, in my opinion)?

JENNY OFFILL: I think I write a lot about loneliness. And Sparky is about a particular kind of loneliness you feel as a child when your grand plans don't work out. Dept. of Speculation is about the loneliness that can exist even within a good marriage. Weather is about a wider kind of loneliness, the loneliness of humans having cut ourselves off and placed ourselves above the other creatures of the world.

ALBB: Also, let’s talk about how it feels to have so many double letters in a row in your first and last name. Do you think that’s contributed, along with your intensely awesome use of language and interesting writing perspective, to your success? Lynn Steger Strong also has a double letter in her name, so I think this event will be something really special. 

JENNY OFFILL: Maybe it's lucky! I have certainly had a lot of good luck lately. When I was younger, I heard that my last name was Welsh and came from of the field, but now I have an aunt who is really into genealogy who says we are not Welsh, so who knows?

ALBB: Lynn, would you like to tell us something about your own forthcoming novel, Want? When is that being published?

LYNN STEGER STRONG: Want takes place over a period of a few months in the life of a mother and teacher who, along with her husband, is declaring bankruptcy, and, in this process and during the gradual unraveling that follows, she decides to reach out to her oldest, now estranged, friend, who also happens to be in an extreme moment of flux. It comes out in July and attempts to explore topics of womanhood, motherhood, friendship, privilege, anger, and downward mobility. 

ALBB: We can’t wait to read that one. Unraveling and flux are never not-timely.

And there you have it, friends. See you Saturday night for Jenny Offill at Binnacle. We are betting it is going to be crowded. I need to find a babysitter ASAP!

Reader Question: Where To Park In City Parking Lots During Snow Plowing

A reader wrote in via Comment in A Little Beacon Blog’s Free Parking Guide to inquire where to park cars that would normally be parked on the street during a snowfall, while the City of Beacon trucks are plowing.

According to the City of Beacon, when the City is plowing and salting the streets, residents can park in the free lots if there is a spot. But the 24-hour rule still applies, and you must move your car when time is up. Which also means digging it out. There is otherwise no designated overflow lot for cars avoiding street snow removal.

Bespoke (aka Custom) Suit Tailoring From David Reeves Popping Up At Luxe Optique This Saturday

It’s not often that haute couture or bespoke tailoring is available to Beaconites in Beacon on Main Street. But its time has come this Saturday, February 8, 2020, when bespoke suit tailor David Reeves (who himself is a Beaconite and has a studio in Union Square in NYC) will be popping up at Luxe Optique during their trunk show for Jacques Marie Mage, an eyewear designer of rare frames.

David will be on hand to show his style and fabric recommendations for men’s and women’s suits. Also, look at his fabric swatches for linings that serve as a pop of color, personality and uniqueness to complement the custom-tailored suit. See the video below to get a better idea.

Luxe Optique is in Beacon, NY, at 181-183 Main Street. David’s favorite eyewear designer is Jacques Marie Mage, who will also be having a trunk show at Luxe Optique the same day. This is an amazing opportunity to experience custom design in Beacon at your fingertips.

Second Saturday! Beacon Art Gallery Openings for February 2020

Clockwise from top right: Alex Bradley Cohen at Parts & Labor, Cinda Sparling at Bau, Rochleigh Wholfe at the Howland Cultural Center, Rosaire Appel at No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works, and the collection of the Southern Dutchess NAACP at the Howland Public Library.

Happy Second Saturday weekend, Beacon! In between the many musical events happening this weekend, take some time to pause and reflect on the quieter arts. Get comprehensive Beacon gallery listings in one place in our handy Guide right here.

February is Black History Month, and two exhibitions honor that. At the Howland Public Library, the Southern Dutchess NAACP is showcasing historical art, and ties local figures with the ongoing civil rights movement. At the Howland Cultural Center, check out art in a variety of media by African American artists from around the Hudson Valley. Elsewhere, new exhibitions are opening at Parts & Labor, Clutter Magazine Gallery, RiverWinds Gallery, No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works, and Bau Gallery. Two talks today at Dia:Beacon include the artists themselves: Barry Le Va and Mel Bochner. This isn’t scheduled again until Friday, February 14, but is notable and worth seeking out by appointment: Theo Ganz Studio’s exhibition of Inuit stonecut prints. Find detailed descriptions of these shows and so many more in our Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide!

Thank you to No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works for sponsoring this Guide. Thank you to BeaconArts for promoting the arts and our little city for more than 15 years. Big, big thanks to the sponsors of A Little Beacon Blog, who make all of this possible! And thank you, readers, for supporting the businesses that support us.

See you strolling!

Happening This Weekend - 2/7/2020

We're here! On the eve of February's Second Saturday! Which is one weekend away from the long weekend of Valentine's Day. This means we get double the opportunity to share with you feel-good stories. The picture of our new P.O. Box got a great response in our Instagram. This prompted us to want to hear more stories from readers about their Beacon P.O. Boxes. Please share yours in the Comments section of this article! SPONSORED BY:  No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works WRITTEN BY: Catherine Sweet   Samples Of Opening Exhibits: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St. The Southern Dutchess NAACP Black History Month exhibit returns. In celebration of Black History Month, the HPL will be exhibiting historical memorabilia in the library’s Community Room during the month of February. Organized by Barbara McCaskill, local resident and NAACP member, the display features historical items from the personal collections of NAACP members including original art, prints, photographs, political posters and historical ephemera. The Beacon Historical Society is also contributing information to the exhibit about some of the historical figures featured in the exhibit and their connection to Beacon, NY.   TheoGanz Studio, 4 DeWindt St. Welcome the brilliant curating work of TheoGanz Studio back to our gallery opening roundup. Eleni Smolen is pleased to present Stonecuts from Cape Dorset. Stonecut printing is unique to the Canadian Arctic. The techniques were borrowed from the Japanese practice of woodblock printing. Instead of wood, the printmakers of Canada’s north work with the same indigenous stone used for carving sculptures. Additionally, several lithographs and etchings will be on view. Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St. The Howland Cultural Center presents its 26th annual celebration of African American History Month, featuring African American artists of the Hudson Valley. Painting and mixed media works by so many talents, including Jean Benoit, Ronald E. Brown, Rhonda Green-Phillips, Arnold Hayes, Ondie Thomas James, Richard Outlaw, Symantha Outlaw, Oliver Spearman, Gina Waters, Donald Whitely and Rochleigh Wholfe. No.3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works, 469 Main St. No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works’ director Paulette Myers-Rich has done it again, spotlighting an artist whose work might otherwise be unimaginable to many of us. In this case, the gallery is devoting the next two months to Rosaire Appel’s Reach, a selection of drawings and artist’s books. In Paulette’s words, “Her prolific and imaginative works encompass the acts of listening, seeing and notating sensory experiences, translated into untranslatable pages that defy conventional reading. Appel is a well-known and respected practitioner of Asemic writing, which, simply put, is ‘writing’ or a script that has no discernible content or meaning, which is left to the viewer to determine.” GET THE ENTIRE SECOND SATURDAY GUIDE Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Got an event? Submit your event here for consideration.   Matilda The Musical Days: Friday to Sunday, February 7-9, 2020 Time: See below Location: The Theatre at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY Friday, February 7 at 7 pm - Honey Cast Saturday, February 8 at 1 pm - Honey Cast Saturday, February 8 at 7 pm - Telly Cast Sunday, February 9 at 1 pm - Telly Cast Information > Spot Bald Eagles at Boscobel - Teatown Hudson River EagleFest Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 9 am to 3 pm Location: Boscobel House & Gardens, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY Information > Saturday Studio for Kids Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 10:30 am to 12 pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St., Beacon, NY Information > Southern Dutchess NAACP Black History Month Exhibit Reception Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 1 to 3:30 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > The Beacon Rising Choir - A Fundraiser For Many Local Causes Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 1 pm Location: Towne Crier, 379 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Artist Talk with Helena Hernmarck Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Whispers From The Castle Keep Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 2 pm Location: Beacon Historical Society, 17 South Ave., Beacon, NY Information > Love Songs by Locals Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 Time: 7 to 8 pm Location: LLTO & PTACEK Home Store, 146 #2 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > 9 Horses EP Release Party Day: Saturday, February 8, 2020 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.     Pop-Up: Valentine Love Potions Day: Sunday, February 9, 2020 Time: 1 to 4 pm Location: Hyperbole, 484 Main St., Beacon, NY A merging of two shops on Main Street: Beacon Mercantile for the perfumes, rollers, candles and balms. All made in Beacon. Information >   BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END     Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com TRUNK SHOW: The entire collection of Jacques Marie Mage will be in Luxe Optique on Saturday for you to see, touch and try on. This is an eyewear collection that is rare, as several of the frames only come in limited edition and are numbered. For instance, there may only be 100 of one frame made in the world. Period. Drinks and snacks will be served. BONUS: A Beacon-based designer of men's and women's suits will also be in Luxe Optique on Saturday. David Reeves, who specializes in modern English tailoring, will be in with fabric samples for suits, stunning linings, and ideas.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) There are new arrivals always coming to Lambs Hill Bridal, such as this gown from @sinceritybridal. SAVE THE DATE! Allure Couture Trunk Show is coming next month! Shop their entire Summer Spring 2020 collection in our boutique, for one weekend only, Friday, February 21 to Sunday, February 23. ⠀ Call (845) 765-2900 or book your appointment online through their website!  Be sure to check A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide for all of our sponsors! You don't want to miss great discoveries like PTACEK Home and LLTO (Live Light Travel Often).   Thank you to Barb's Butchery, Eat Church, and BAJA 328 for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!   Go Red For Women Heart Opening Yoga Practice Day: Friday, February 7, 2020 Time: 7 pm Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY $10 donation (cash or check to American Heart Association) Join Marilyn Perez (Managing Editor for A Little Beacon Blog) as she leads a special Heart Opening Vinyasa Yoga practice at Firefly Yoga in Fishkill. Friday, February 7, is National Wear Red Day, and proceeds for the class will go towards to the American Heart Association. Open for all levels, we encourage you to wear red! Reserve your spot at fireflyfishkill.com or use the MINDBODY app. Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Adult Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here.                                   Sensory Story Time Day: Monday, February 10, 2020 Time: 4 to 4:45 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide. Submission Guidelines for classes you'd like us to consider adding to these guides can be found here.   HEADLINE NEWS FROM OUR SPONSORS   Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency In 1998, Lee Ann Antalek was 57 years old when she died suddenly. She was a wife, mother of four, grandmother of three at the time (with many more to follow). She was a Mother. Sister. Friend. Lee Ann complained of being tired and having heartburn that wouldn’t go away. These were her only signs of heart disease. Signs she missed. It is for that reason her daughter, Susan Pagones, Chair of the 2020 Go Red for Women campaign here in Dutchess County, has decided to educate other women on their #1 health threat, heart disease! Throughout the month of February, Antalek & Moore will be one of the local businesses on Main Street to help you show your support. When you purchase a heart, you support the work of the American Heart Association to get the word out! Let’s help change that statistic! ❤️ Do it in memory of Lee Ann, do it for yourself, your Mother. Sister. Friend! ❤️ Learn how to donate a heart here in this video with Susan and Vince! Tin Shingle Beacon local Patti Devine is a guest expert on this Tin Shingle TuneUp speaking about how to use the confusing world of Facebook Ads, should you want to. This TuneUp webinar is available for you to watch for free for limited time. Simply visit the page and press play! Learn More >     Katie James, Inc. Couture branding for businesses. Crafting of social media strategies, website designs, and newsletter plans to keep your customer base fired up. Learn More > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. Learn More > MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include: Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community in a meaningful way. Learn More > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Stories From The P.O. Box in Beacon, NY - Got Any?

When I posted my first picture of the Beacon P.O. Boxes, while checking in on my new post office box, the reception from readers was really good. An unexpected story came in, and this prompted us to want to hear more. My reflection was that I am so happy to be part of a new community of P.O. Box checkers, as I begin to see some of the same faces across the counter, and other regulars walking in and out of the post office doors.

One reader from @hhacademytoddlers (Hudson Hills Academy) shared her story: “My favorite thing about Beacon when we first moved here was that my kids knew Pete Seeger just as ‘the man at the post office’ because of our mail getting overlapped. The post office brings everyone together!”

Another reader, @gildedtwig (art conservator Deborah Bigelow), shared her feeling: “I really like your photo of the boxes. I used to have one and enjoyed going to the PO, too.”

Do you have a story to share about your experience with your P.O. Box? A pen pal? A love note? Letters crossed, intended for a different P.O. that resulted in something good? A new venture? Please share it with us here in the Comments section of this article.