Pictured here are the new co-owners of The Underground Beacon. Albert Mas (front left) and Michael Lioce (front right). Behind them are Violet Mas, Courtney Mas, Ash Lioce, Marvel Anne Lioce, Dom Lioce, and Lita Lioce. Photo Credit: The Underground Beacon
Beacon’s famed comic book shop, The Underground Beacon, has been saved by a customer, after the shop announced via Instagram that they would be closing due to a terminally ill family member and raising rent on February 16, 2020. That family member was owner Albert Mas’ mother, Anne, who passed on Sunday, February 23, 2020. “She was the true matriarch of the family,” says Albert’s wife, Courtney Mas, of her mother-in-law. Albert and Courtney have a young daughter, Violet Mas, who has grown up with the shop since it opened in June 2018.
According to an article in the Highlands Current, Albert and Courtney had enough money saved to take the shop through 2019, but after holiday sales slowed, and with his mother’s declining health, the boxes of comic books stored in a corner that held $20,000 worth of inventory was daunting as customer tastes change and can make inventory obsolete.
Albert told the Highlands Current that writing the announcement to close was one of the hardest things he has ever done. The flip side, however, of the announcement was how the community came out to help the shop, which warmed Albert’s heart. “I didn’t expect the magnitude of the positivity that I got from people,” he told the Highlands Current. “I was in a dark place, and it changed my whole attitude.” Note that in the announcement post, a somber black-and-white version of the normally colorized version of the shop’s logo was used.
Flip the page to a new chapter, and in walk Michael and Ash Lioce and their 3 children (Marvel Anne, Dom, and Lita), loyal customers of The Underground Beacon. It turns out, Mike, a freelance television editor and comic collector, had a secret dream of owning and running a comic book shop. With the start of his growing family, his children rekindled his desire to collect and explore comic books. In Albert’s announcement to close, he did state he and Courtney were open to a partnership or buy-out. A new dream was born.
How The Partnership Came To Be
Michael and Ash heard about the closing during an event. “We learned about the story from a friend at a toddler’s birthday party. That friend had heard through their social media. Though we follow the store in social, for some reason, it didn’t come up in our feeds,” Michael and Ash told A Little Beacon Blog. “As soon as we found out, we reached out to Albert and Courtney. Our emotions were panic and excitement. We wanted to be involved and wanted it to be a family venture. We are so grateful that the Mas’ were happy to partner with us. It has always been a dream of Michael’s to start a comic book store. He dipped his toes in a couple of times, but timing and money never quite worked out.”
After a few nail-biting days of The Underground Beacon posting hints of a continuation, and that the regular Wednesday comic book release days and Friday “Magic The Gathering” days were still on, The Underground Beacon announced on Sunday that the new partnership is official.
As for the location, are they staying? “Usually comic shops grow into a place this big,” Albert told the Highlands Current. “But when I was looking for spaces, this was the best one for the best price… It’s my dream space.”
Also on Sunday, The Underground Beacon has confirmed to a A Little Beacon Blog that they are staying in their current location at 462 Main Street in Beacon.
Available At The Underground Beacon
The best way to discover what is available is to go in, but there are several ways to use the comic book shop:
Wednesdays: comic book release days
Fridays: “Magic The Gathering” days
Skateboard designs and repairs: A new skateboard vendor is scheduled to come in April to do design and repair.
Kids’ birthday parties: The shop has a back room where many of the events take place, including kids’ birthday parties. A hit for indoor parties and shared video gaming experiences.
Toys and collectibles: Everything from collectible action figures to board games to books to cards.
Video game tournaments, comedy shows, etc.: Events galore at the shop. Keep stopping in to learn about them, and follow on social media. But don’t depend on digital - go inside in person!
Hooray! We’re so glad to see The Underground staying.
The second of two community forums held by Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou happens today, Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 10 am in the Memorial Building at 413 Main Street (same location as Beacon Farmers Market in the winter). Mayor Lee and the City Council surrounding him ran on campaigns to alter and steer the course of development in Beacon, which is currently booming as a result of approvals made years ago for new commercial and residential buildings.
For the past several years, residents of Beacon who have attended City Council meetings as members of the public have called for easier ways of understanding how development works in Beacon, and at large. People have wished for glossaries to explain acronyms that are used during development presentations by City Council members, the City Planner, the City Attorney, or any person presenting on a piece of land and how it will be used.
Over the course of those years during the previous administration under Mayor Randy Casale, the City Council made a number of changes to alter how development is done in Beacon, from changing legislation, to acquiring control over certain areas of the broad process that developers must go through in order to get various approvals on small and large decisions.
The easiest way to keep up with these changes has been to watch City Council meetings on the city’s public access channel, or the Vimeo account where they are posted. It feels a like a lot of homework at first, but homework is how acronyms are learned, and how the inner workings of the process are conducted. This forum is one way that the administration has created to connect directly with the community to teach the background of Beacon and how it came to be in this moment.
As you’ll see when you start listening to these presentations, major shifts can happen within a simple year of each other. If you wonder why one building looks one way, and another looks completely different, it is usually because rules changed somewhere in between the years of them being built or renovated.
A Little Beacon Blog does republish City Council meeting videos in our City Government section, to make it easy for you to get meeting agendas and the videos in one place. In-person events like this can help you follow along in the reporting of major decisions that are made, and how they impact the landscape or the ability to do something.
If you missed this event, A Little Beacon Blog will be publishing notes that the City Planner has been presenting to the council (they are fascinating!) or watch the video below.
The weekend is here, and with it, two major events that you can't catch again anytime soon: the Maker Film Festival at Story Screen, and the Concert For Recovery at Towne Crier. The concert is held in honor of Towne Crier's owners, Phil and Mary Ciganer's son Greyson, who was lost to opioid addiction. Details on that are below.
The Maker Film Festival is the brainchild of a Beacon-based author who is a big influence in the world of publishing and makers: Melanie Falick. A Little Beacon Blog interviewed Melanie to learn more about how she got the book published, what inspired her to grow it into a film festival, and what we can expect to see on the screen this weekend in terms of short and long films exploring people making with their hands.
Howland Playhouse presents “Why The Child Is Cooking In The Polenta”
Day: Friday, February 28, 2020 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Movies That Matter presents Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin
Day: Friday, February 28, 2020 Time: 7 to 10 pm Location: McKinley Hall, 50 Liberty St., Beacon, NY Information >
Maker Film Festival
Days: Saturday & Sunday, February 29-March 1, 2020 Time: 1 to 8 pm Location: Story Screen Beacon Theater, 445 Main St., Beacon, NY
It's the debut of Makers Film Festival, which has a lineup of films featuring makers and mediums from all over the world, including both full-length and short films, panel discussions, a maker market, and more. Learn more about this new festival in our article. Information >
Clearwater’s Annual Gala, to Celebrate Folk Musician Tom Chapin’s 75th Birthday
Day: Sunday, March 1, 2020 Time: 3 pm Location: The Garrison, 2015 Route 9, Garrison, NY Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Piano Festival with Lincoln Trio Day: Sunday, March 1, 2020 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Concert For Recovery:
Phil And Mary Ciganer Of The Towne Crier Lose Son Greyson To Opioid Addiction -
Hosting A Benefit Concert To Transform Personal Tragedy Into Call For Action Day: Sunday, March 1, 2020 Time: 4 pm Location: Towne Crier, 372 Main St., Beacon, NY Information & Interview With Phil >
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
Baby have you seen her... This is Lizzi Conley, a fashion Instagram influencer seen on the streets of Beacon, and right here in Luxe Optique's new chic cozy corner. This corner of Luxe has shown off bespoke (aka custom-made) suits by a Beacon designer, as well as hand-painted glasses. Check it out, as you'll always find something different inside of Luxe Optique.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) SAVE THE DATE!
Madison James Trunk Show Coming Up Friday and Saturday, March 6 and 7. The Madison James collection blurs the lines between modern and vintage, appealing to a sense of whimsy and romance. Shop their latest collection at the boutique, for one weekend only.⠀
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 the town of Beacon. ⠀
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).
Tina Vaitkus is a heart survivor. After participating in the American Heart Association's #BetterU program, and improving her health, she had a heart attack and almost died while her teenage son watched and did what he could. Tina didn't die, as her life was saved in time. This is her story. This was her keynote speech, but she gave an intimate reading of it at the Antalek & Moore offices on Main Street in Beacon one Friday afternoon. A Little Beacon Blog was fortunate enough to be stopping by that afternoon, and listened in person. Watch This 5-Minute Story >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Now on Instagram!
Do you follow @beaconchamber on Instagram? They have some new pictures flowing! Stay up to date with the Beacon Chamber of Commerce promoting businesses, events, and giving recognition to those who make Beacon so great.
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join today. Learn More >
Katie James, Inc.
Couture branding for businesses. Crafting of social media strategies, website designs, and newsletter plans to keep your customer base engaged. 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.
Photo Credits: From “Making A Life” by Melanie Falick.
It’s not often that the concept of a book is brought to life in the form of a collection of long and short films screened at a local theater. But that is what is happening this weekend, Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1, 2020. Local author and revered publisher Melanie Falick has published her book, “Making A Life” after three years in the works. The book’s arrival onto shelves in 2019 wasn’t the end of that journey. Ideas for a film festival percolated and came to life at Story Screen Beacon with the cooperation of the theater’s founder, programmer and co-owner, Mike Burdge.
What follows below is an interview with Melanie, to find out how a book author, dedicated to a life of making things, co-curated a film festival that brings Beaconites and visitors to our city/town a taste of well-known makers in some specific fields, but mostly unknown to the rest of us.
Poster for the Maker Film Festival at Story Screen. Feb. 29 and Mar 1, 2020.
Most exciting (to this writer), aside from exploring the unknown makers and methods that will be lighting up the screen, is one of the films with a focus on Natalie Chanin, of the fashion and lifestyle line Alabama Chanin (see ALBB’s article for the list of films). Natalie was known for employing women and quilters in Alabama to stitch T-shirts with hand-made flowers and other details you’d pine for.
This writer’s discovery of Alabama Chanin was during my indie designer days when I was producing accessories. I’d been working with a stitcher in the Garment District of New York City. When he closed up shop to open a Chinese restaurant, I somehow discovered Reita Posey, a one-time stitcher for Alabama Chanin, before that phase of the fashion label disbanded for a bit (they are back now). I’d send Reita my fabric and pattern, and she’d send back my inventory.
I valued Reita’s work so much, even though I was not doing the work myself. Something I internally struggled with, and actually had me not sell my things in the Etsy world, because I did not physically stitch each one (something which the Etsy community/rules have moved beyond now).
Working with one’s hands is key to getting in touch with oneself, even if you’re not a professional and even if you don’t know what you’re doing. I just special-ordered my copy of “Making A Life” at Binnacle Books (they have a super easy online form!) and there are now signed copies at the Raven Rose shop on Main Street (near the mountain, across from the Howland Cultural Center) and copies will be available at Story Screen during the festival.
ALBB: Had you always known you wanted to produce a film festival to fuel the makers movement/lifestyle you are encouraging in your book? How did this come about?
Photo Credit: From “Making A Life” by Melanie Falick.
After I finished writing “Making a Life” but before it came out, I started talking to a few friends at the dog park here in Beacon about a maker film festival (the dog park being the place in town where I regularly socialize). Everyone there seemed excited about the idea, including Marjorie Tarter, who also happens to be one of the owners of Story Screen Beacon Theater. She introduced me to Mike Burdge, another owner and the person who runs the theater, and he was enthusiastic from the get-go.
I wrote “Making a Life” as a way of sharing my belief that making by hand is part of what makes us human and that it can play a key role in our personal wellness as well as the wellness of our communities, culture, and environment. After I finished writing, I knew that I wanted the book to be a springboard for generating conversation and affecting positive change. I also knew that I wanted to get more involved in what is going on locally. The film festival is ticking all of those boxes.
Can you take us into the process of making your book? How long did it take you? From concept to pitching it to making it?
I came up with the idea and submitted a proposal for “Making a Life” at the end of 2015 and began working on it in spring 2016. It was published in October 2019, so the process took a little over three years. However, much of my adult life, both personally and professionally, has revolved around making by hand. It has guided how and where I live, who I spend time with, the work I do, and the places to which I choose to travel.
ALBB: How did you pitch your book? You have a comfort level from your career working in book publishing. Did this help?
Lia Ronnen, the publisher at Artisan, and I had started talking about the possibility of working together in Spring 2015, after I left my job as a publishing director at Abrams (I had my own imprint there called STC Craft / Melanie Falick Books). When I came up with the idea for “Making a Life,” I told her about it on the phone, then quickly wrote a short proposal.
At that point I had been working in publishing for more than two decades—as an author, editor, and publisher—so I definitely had an advantage when it came to understanding the process and what a publisher is looking for. I also had an advantage because Lia was familiar with my body of work, including two books I wrote that were published by Artisan in the late 1990s (Knitting in America and Kids Knitting) and sold very well.
ALBB: How did you discover these films shown in the Maker Film Festival at Story Screen Beacon? Why have you selected this list?
Curating the films for a festival was a new challenge for me. The fact that Mike, who has put on many festivals, was confident in me and could answer my questions, helped a lot. I started by asking maker friends and acquaintances if they had any recommendations, then I began hunting around on the internet, finding new leads, and following them. I watched a lot of films in order to come up with the selection we are offering, which feels relevant to my experience writing “Making a Life” and to the role making by hand plays in modern living.
For example, I chose films about Oaxacan weavers (Woven Lives, Saturday, 3 pm) and Rajasthani block printers (Rediscovering Jajam, Sunday 4 pm) because I visited Mexico and India while researching my book and wanted to share some of what I learned and was inspired by there. I chose The True Cost (Sunday, 1 pm) because what I call the DIY Renaissance (a growing interest in making by hand) is, in part, a reaction to the dangerous fast-fashion practices that this film reveals. The New Bauhaus shows how handwork, art, design, and industry are interconnected.
Some of the shorts (which run in two chunks, starting at 5 pm on Saturday and 4 pm on Sunday) are about or made by makers featured in my book, including slow-fashion pioneer Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin and weaver Jessica Green of A Little Weather.
ALBB: Tell us more about “fast fashion” vs “slow fashion.”
Fast fashion is a buzzword for the practice of having trendy, inexpensive clothing made by cheap labor sources, sometimes in unhealthy and unfair conditions. This clothing is not meant to stay in style or last but, instead to be thrown away and replaced by the next fashion trend. The slow-fashion movement—which includes both making and mending clothing—reflects a growing sensitivity about the social, economic, and environmental impact of the fast fashion process.
ALBB: Is Natalie Chanin still producing? I worked with one of her stitchers when I was having my own designs produced.
Natalie Chanin remains at the helm of Alabama Chanin. Her Florence, Alabama-based company has several different arms, including handsewn couture collections made by artisans in and around Florence; machine-made collections designed and manufactured on site; and the School of Making, through which they educate makers and sell DIY supplies.
ALBB: Thank you, Melanie, for your answers! Tell us about a few quick moments in some of the films that we should keep our eye out for.
—There is a short on Saturday about the artist Ann Hamilton. In it she is shown working on an interactive installation in an old industrial space that makes me think of all of the potential spaces for interactive artwork in the old buildings in Beacon.
—In Oaxaca, Mexico, culture, community, cuisine, landscape, handwork, and history come together in such natural ways. I visited there when I began my research for “Making a Life” and I can’t wait to go back, but for now I can watch Woven Lives and travel there in my mind. I hope viewers will enjoy the journey as much as me.
—I hope The New Bauhaus and a short we’re showing about Black Mountain College on Sunday will inspire viewers to talk about the value of hands-on, experiential, interdisciplinary learning with art at its core. A lot of people are talking about STEM education these days. I just read an article about integrating art into it so that we have STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math).
A reader wrote in to ask about the work being done to the overpass at the Beacon Train Station and why the stairs had been blocked off since late January 2020. According to a flyer posted in the MTA box, the stairs were closed on January 28, 2020, with an ETA of reopening in April 2020. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to the mayor’s office and learned that Beacon had been informed of the work, but not told in detail what it was, said Anthony J. Ruggiero, city administrator for the city of Beacon.
We reached out to the press office of the MTA, and learned that the MTA is fully replacing the entire staircase, from the parking lot to the pedestrian overpass. “The concrete has been completely removed and new steel is currently being installed,” answered Meredith Daniels, spokesperson with the State of New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “We expect the steel work to be completed by mid-March and new concrete stairs will then be poured. The new stairs are anticipated to open by early April.“
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
PS: Getting these pictures today was actually tricky, with the strong gusts of wind whipping across the platform! I had to brace myself to the trash cans to avoid being blown away. Be careful out there!
Do you ever think about who manages the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge as you pass by it, or pay its tolls? Hudson Valley lawmakers and area leaders are up in arms about a potential management switch proposed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in his budget, released in January 2020, to merge the New York State Bridge Authority into the New York State Thruway Authority. What's the main difference? One deals with Hudson Valley local bridges.
“The Assembly and Senate are fighting to have the proposed merger taken out of the budget. The deadline for the final budget is April 1, 2020.”
— Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson's Office
Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson (D-104) organized a rally on February 20, 2020, bringing together Assemblymember Sandy Galef (D-95) and other area leaders to express their opposition to Governor Cuomo’s proposed merger of the New York State Bridge Authority into the New York State Thruway Authority, which could impact tolls and improvements made to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Leaders expressed their fears that residents of the Hudson Valley would suffer from toll increases and a decline in bridge maintenance should this merger happen, according to Assemblymember Jacobson's press release.
According to Assemblymember Jacobson’s office, “The Assembly and Senate are fighting to have the proposed merger taken out of the budget. The deadline for the final budget is April 1, 2020.”
Anthony Adamo, President of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), said, “The hardworking men and women who work every day to keep the bridges safe and well-maintained should not be sacrificed for a bureaucratic plan hatched in Albany.”
“ To date, no-one has been able to give us a concrete answer as to how much—if any—money this proposed consolidation may actually save New Yorkers. ”
— Senetor Sue Serino
Established in the 1930s, the Bridge Authority is responsible for the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, the Mid-Hudson Bridge, the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge, and the Bear Mountain Bridge. Tolls are kept the same for each bridge and are currently $1.25 with EZ-PASS and $1.50 cash. The proposed 2020 increase to $1.65 EZ-PASS/$2.15 cash will still be the lowest in New York State. The Thruway Authority currently charges $4.75 to motorists crossing the Mario G. Cuomo Bridge (formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge) with a proposed 2020 increase to $5.75.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106) wrote to say, “This is a true case of ‘if it’s not broken, why fix it.’ The Bridge Authority was established in 1932 by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to ensure smooth and affordable travel across the Hudson River and to keep these bridges independent and locally operated. Tens of thousands of residents use these bridges each day as local roads, not highways, and the Governor's proposal threatens to change that dynamic. Abolishing the Bridge Authority runs a real risk of increased tolls for drivers and a seriously negative impact on our Hudson Valley economy and communities.”
Assemblymember Jacobson said, “The proposed plan is nothing more than a solution in search of a problem. This merger would have a detrimental impact on both the economy and the overall quality of life in this region. Our fear is simple:
First, that tolls generated in the Hudson Valley will be diverted to fund the new Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
Second, that the Thruway Authority will raise tolls on these bridges while simultaneously allowing their condition to deteriorate.
"This merger is unnecessary, ill advised, and unfair. It is also just plain wrong. Wrong for the bridges, wrong for the communities, and wrong for the residents of the Hudson Valley,” Assemblymember Jacobson said.
State lawmakers and leaders made their statements in front of the Bridge Authority Headquarters in Highland, where they were joined by:
Anthony Adamo, President of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA)
Richard Gerentine, Chair of the Bridge Authority Board
Frank Castella, President of the Dutchess County Chamber of Commerce
Senator Sue Serino
Representatives of Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and Assemblymember Kevin Cahill
Town of Lloyd Board Member Mike Guerriero
Bridge Authority Board members Roger Higgins, Roderick Dressel, Diane Jablonski, and Henry Stanton.
“The Bridge Authority was established in 1932 by Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt to ensure smooth and affordable travel across the Hudson River and to keep these bridges independent and locally operated. Tens of thousands of residents use these bridges each day as local roads, not highways, and the Governor’s proposal threatens to change that dynamic.”
— Assemblymember Didi Barrett
Richard Gerentine, Chair of the Bridge Authority, said, “The Bridge Authority is run by a board of local volunteers who have always championed efficiency, maintenance, and safety. We already collaborate with the State to find savings on purchases, so there is nothing to be gained and everything to lose.”
Assemblymember Aileen Gunther (D-100) wrote to say, “We need to be keeping our money in the Hudson Valley. The Bridge Authority is one of those avenues that allows us to keep our money local. We shouldn’t be fixing something that isn’t broken.”
Senator Serino (R-41) said, “Our communities have always been wary of mega-authorities because of our experience with the MTA, a situation where our community is barely given a voice and where our residents are treated as nothing more than a piggybank and an afterthought. To date, no one has been able to give us a concrete answer as to how much—if any—money this proposed consolidation may actually save New Yorkers. We also have not gotten guarantees that the tolls on our bridges won't rise, or that tolls paid on our bridges won’t ultimately be used to subsidize the Thruway, or that these local jobs our residents depend on would be protected. Additionally, I do not see any reason why the two Authorities can't already share services to keep costs down... I have yet to see how this proposal would directly benefit the residents that we serve, which is why I am urging my Legislative colleagues to reject this proposal."
Assemblymember Galef said, “The Bridge Authority has, for decades, successfully ensured that the five major bridges in the Hudson Valley region remain safe and usable, and they have done so for decades while keeping costs low. These bridges have, in turn, allowed Hudson Valley residents to easily cross the Hudson River to work, shop, and [take part in] a great many other activities that have stimulated our local economies. I fear that by dissolving this Authority, constituents that live and work in the Great Hudson Valley region will experience higher tolls and a potential decline in road conditions.”
Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-103) added: "The Bridge Authority works and works well. The Thruway Authority works and works well. Both are highly efficient operations."
If you have been wanting to make a bigger difference at Beacon’s Howland Public Library, this may be your chance. The Howland Public Library Board of Trustees Elections are coming up on Thursday, April 30, 2020, and there are five trustee positions available (three people are up for re-election, and two seats are completely open). There are nine members total on the library’s Board of Trustees. Terms served will vary from one to five years.
“Our goal is to reach a broad demographic of the Beacon Community,” said Arabella Droullard, a current trustee and current secretary of the board, via press release. To qualify, candidates must meet the following criteria:
Be 18 years or older.
Be a U.S. citizen.
Resident of the State of New York and the Beacon City School District for 30 days preceding the election.
Pick up a petition packet at the library at 313 Main St., Beacon, NY, during normal business hours.
Get the required 25 signatures. Get a few more, recommends Arabella, “just in case of illegible signatures or disqualified signatures.”
Have the petition notarized and return to the library election clerk by Monday, March 30, 2020 at 5 pm, as specified in the legal notice.
Current trustees include:
Jan Dolan Tom Rigney Kathleen Furfey Diane Landau-Flayter Karen Twohig Darlene Resling Arabella Champaq Droullard
Darlene Resling, Karen Twohig, and Tom Rigney are up for re-election this spring. This list includes seven people, not the full slate of nine, because one person relocated and another needed to resign for personal family reasons.
Phil Ciganer, proprietor of the Towne Crier Cafe on Main Street in Beacon, and his wife Mary Ciganer, who is a pastry chef for the restaurant, have lost their son, Greyson, to opioid addiction. He was 26 years old. Some of you may know Greyson, having met him as your server at some point at Towne Crier. One night as our server, Greyson told us of his own birth story, which was very beautiful. It was while we were trying to decide on what to order for dessert (there were 13 options) and he was delighting in his mother’s cooking. A private gathering was held today (Sunday, February 23) to emotionally support Phil and Mary by those who know them.
“Greyson was involved with the Towne Crier for just about his entire life,” Phil told A Little Beacon Blog. “From a young age, he was interacting with and charming customers, and helping out any way he could - first as a busboy, then as a waiter.” Does Mary still make the desserts for the Towne Crier? We weren’t sure if she was still the one after all of these years. Phil confirmed: “Mary will continue to make her legendary desserts for the Towne Crier.”
Phil and Mary want to turn their grief into awareness, and have announced a benefit concert to combat opioid addiction, to be held at the Towne Crier on March 1, 2020. They want to “transform their tragedy into a call for action,” according to their press release sent out on Sunday evening. There is no cost for entry, but donation is suggested.
Phil also answered some delicate questions for this article, in order to help others:
ALBB: Do you have thoughts/advice for those of us who have kids, on how to spot any signs that the children are addicted? ”There are behavioral clues - such as obvious manipulations (‘I need money for gas,’ etc.) - that can alert parents/caregivers to a potential problem. I would recommend checking out some of the valuable resources put out by various organizations - including Drug Crisis in Our Backyard and other nonprofits that will be represented at the event on Sunday.”
ALBB: Do you have any words of advice or reflection for those of us with children or grandchildren or nieces and nephews? ”I think we - as communities, and as a country - should concentrate more on the opioid epidemic that is devastating thousands of people every day - those who are addicted, as well as the people who love them. It's a problem that has been escalating, and changes (for the better) are being made too slowly. Progress needs to be brought to the forefront. Our mission is to raise awareness of this scourge, and to support the groups that are providing critical resources for dealing with it. That’s why we’re hosting this concert.”
The press release is below:
###
“Following the recent loss of their 26-year-old son, Greyson, to opioid addiction, Phil and wife Mary are reaching out to the community with the "Concert for Recovery," featuring local and regional talent on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at 4 pm. Donations are suggested, with proceeds benefiting Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families in the Hudson Valley who are struggling with addiction.
The lineup for "Concert for Recovery" includes:
The Slambovian Underground
Kathleen Pemble
The Costellos
Jerry Lee, Boom Kat
Carla Springer & Russ St. George
Chihoe Hahn, and others
“Come hear some of the finest talent in the area while contributing to a worthy cause, and learn about the opioid abuse epidemic that is devastating individuals and families on the local and national level.
”If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction and needs help, visit www.drugcrisisinourbackyard.org or reach out to the HopeLine at 877-846-7369.”
About Drug Crisis in Our Backyard
Susan and Steve Salomone and Carol Christiansen are the Executive Board of Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering education and action-oriented opportunities for families and individuals struggling with addiction. The organization was originally started in 2012 by Susan and Steve Salomone, and Carol and Lou Christiansen after the loss of their sons to a battle against heroin.
After news of their loss reached the community, they realized that they were not alone, that millions of others struggle in silence without any idea of the treatment options or support that is available. Seeking to reduce the stigma associated with addiction, and to help families that are still struggling, they created Drug Crisis in Our Backyard in order to promote awareness about drug use, assist addicted and at-risk individuals and their families, and implement measures, including legislation, that hold accountable organizations and medical institutions that perpetuate drug use through overprescription of opiates and other drugs.
The condos at 226 Main Street are open. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Holland House/Hotel in Beacon around 1925. Photo Credit: Cardcow.com
The seven new condo apartments and three retail condos (meaning, you could buy the storefront space) on Main Street in the newly built 226 Main Street, designed using an inspiration from the Holland House that had been located just a few blocks up the street, are open. They arguably offer some of the most comfortable features available in today’s new construction apartment market in Beacon.
Architected by Aryeh Siegel, who is based in Beacon and has designed several well-known and defining projects including The Roundhouse (renovation of a 19th-century mill building), Niche Modern glass shop, Starn Studio & Gallery, Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon Lofts, Beacon Hotel, Beacon Theater, Ama Pizza, and BJ’s Soul Food Restaurant. (Did you notice their fancy facelift? Congrats to restaurant and building owner Barbara!) This building is a new addition to Main Street on what was formerly an auto mechanic’s yard (if you’re looking for a garage, you can still find Ed’s Auto Repair a few blocks away on South Chestnut). Important to the developers, Gary Joseph and Tim Owen, according to Aryeh, was the type of brick and real mortar used on the exterior, to add to the quality of the building from the outset.
Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes
The ceiling fan in the penthouse. Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade
Included In All Condos
Polished concrete floors with radiant heat throughout
Instant hot water dispenser
Central heating
Elevator access
Brand-new construction
Floating, ventless fireplace
Gourmet kitchen with Wolf stove
Appliances including central vacuum, kitchen sink trash compactor, Sub-Zero refrigerator
Vintage hand-hewed wood beam accents
Walk to shops, cafes and restaurants
The condos in the tower allow for an open, circular living room, with the crown jewel of the building - the fourth floor penthouse - benefiting from the added accent of an oversized ceiling fan.
Prices range for these condos, starting at $299,900* for the 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom. There are two penthouse lofts, one of which offers a walk-out deck over Main Street. Both penthouses have access to a private roof deck. The penthouse with the soon-to-be-famous fan loft is asking $949,000* for a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms. A condo just below it, for slightly more square footage with the circular living room, is asking $749,500* for 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. And you can find a condo for $549,900*. *These are the prices listed as of this publishing.
Looking in person is worth it, but here is a look-see to explore the details before you go inside during one of the many Open Houses for the building, or by appointment.
Staging for this condo was done by local designer Denise Gianna Designs. Find her store on the far end of Main Street. Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes
The penthouse balcony view. Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade
The Industrial Feel In A Brand-New Building
The project had design input from local realtor Charlotte Guernsey of Gate House Realty, who has designed several of her own spaces, including Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique and Venue. She is known for a rustic yet modern style. “We wanted it to feel like an industrial reclaimed building, but be warm and inviting with all the conveniences and efficiency of new construction,” she told A Little Beacon Blog.
Her guidance led to lights from Niche Modern, pipe knobs in the kitchen, discerning cabinet choices, and Wolf stoves.
Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes
The Soundproofing
No matter how many luxury details a space might have, noise remains an important consideration when living in an apartment with neighbors above, below and beside you. That level of detail was considered for these condos. Says Aryeh of the soundproofing: “We hired an acoustic engineer to specify soundproofing details between floors and between apartments, so the unit owners will have acoustic privacy. The mechanical systems are top-of-the-line as well. This extra attention to the details below the surface add to the value of these condos.”
Photo Credit of this and all bedrooms: Maksim with Digital Homes
The Exposed Brick
When the Little Beacon Blog team first walked through the apartments, the exposed brick in the bedrooms was striking. The first thought we shared was, “I’m so glad they dug in and exposed the original brick!” But then we remembered - this is the original brick and it was never covered because this building is brand new. Sounds silly, but that is how good the application of the brick is, using real mortar, as opposed to other buildings that go with more of an imitation brick.
A succulent nestled into a reclaimed wood beam. Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade
The Reclaimed Wood
The most surprising element was the reclaimed wood beams throughout the apartments. You’ll also see this detail in the renovated factory building condos of 1 East Main on the other end of town.
Aryeh confirmed this tactic: “The accents of old wood timbers and interior brick do give an extra sense of detail not generally found in other interiors.” Using the wood brings that warm element to the apartments that otherwise have cold elements throughout, like the concrete floors. But surprise! The concrete floors in these condos all have radiant heat. So coziness is guaranteed around the highly modern floating ventless fireplaces that are also in each condo.
Before we move on to the next aspect of these spaces, we are going to give a moment to the windowsill. While the building hallways are adorned with traditionally thick and glossy crown molding, the windowsills inside the condos each have the vintage wood. A detail not seen often in homes.
The pipe knobs used in the kitchens. Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade
All The Kitchens
The pipe knobs used in the kitchens are just one of the many details that make these kitchens stand out. In the seven units, the kitchen layouts are different, ranging between an open layout, to a cozy corner wraparound for an in-the-kitchen feel.
The exposed wood windowsills continue into the kitchen, making for a spectacular match with the quartzite counters that look like marble. “Marble looks great, but it stains and the upkeep is unrealistic. That’s why I go with a highly polished quartzite,” says Charlotte.
The Wolf stove with hood and spacious refrigerators will make it super easy to cook with many of the farm-fresh and gourmet ingredients sourced from Main Street.
Photo Credit for all kitchen shots: Maksim with Digital Homes.
Readers who have been following the blog closely will recognize what is becoming one of Charlotte’s signature styles: the herringbone. She’s taken her impulse for the pattern and applied it to two of the bathrooms, while the other bathrooms use different materials.
Photo Credit for all bathroom shots: Maksim with Digital Homes.
Call Gate House Realty at (845) 831-9550 for showings of any of these seven condos. Or walk in one weekend when the Open House sign is out on the sidewalk, just steps away from Homespun, Isamu, Ziatun and Max’s On Main, where you’ll find delicious snacks.
Video Credit: Vivo Creative.
Sponsored Post
This article was produced in partnership with Gate House Realty, who is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. We thank them for their support of local media, and thank you for supporting businesses who support us.
It's a grand weekend in Beacon, with the sun predicted to shine. Keep A Little Beacon Blog's guides open on your phone at all times: Restaurant Guide and Shopping Guide if you're out walking. We update them with changes, new photos, etc., so all you need to do is hit refresh!
Coming Soon: ALBB's Business Directory - for all businesses who want to reach our readers with their amazing services. It's live now actually, waiting for your listing. Fill it up!
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Day: Saturday & Sunday, February 22-23, 2020 Time: 3 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beacon Open Studios Fundraiser!
"Back To The Twenties"
Day: Saturday, February 22, 2020 Time: 6 to 9 pm Location: St. Rocco's Society, 26 N. Chestnut St. Beacon, NY Information >
Get your dancing shoes ready, it’s a Roaring '20s Costume and Fundraiser Ball for Beacon Open Studios. Tickets are $35 online, and increase the day of at the door. Read more about it on our blog by clicking here!
Intro To Beekeeping Class at Stony Kill Farm
Day: Saturday, February 22, 2020 Time: 10 am to 3 pm Location: 78 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY
(just outside of Beacon, along Route 9D)
Tickets are $45/student ages 12 and older. Email foundation@stonykill.org to register. Information >
Soup4Greens 2020 Fundraiser
Day: Sunday, February 23, 2020 Time: 10 am to 2 pm Location: Beacon Farmers Market, Veterans Place, Beacon, NY
This event is in support of Greens4Greens - a food benefit incentive program that creates greater food access for shoppers at the Beacon Farmers Market. Read more about it in our article. Information >
By God's Grace Ministries On Main Street Celebrates 23 Years and Black History Month Celebration
Day: Sunday, February 23, 2020 Time: 11:15 am Location: 230 Main St., Beacon, NY
As first reported by the Beacon Free Press, By God's Grace Ministries, the church in a storefront on Main Street near Mr. Alvin Bell's Barber Shop, is celebrating 23 years in Beacon. Senior Pastor Dr. Audrey E. Giles will celebrate during the service. African attire will be worn as part of the celebration. Read More >
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
It's time we feature Leisure Society, the stately line of frames in Luxe Optique. Leisure Society is dedicated to heirloom design; creating an object once with the intention of having it last forever. The collection is made with only the most luxurious of components: titanium frames, 12, 18, and 24k gold plating, and diamonds.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) THIS WEEKEND!
Check out the Allure Couture Trunk Show to shop their entire Summer Spring 2020 collection in our boutique for one weekend only. Friday to Sunday, February 21 to 23!
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 the town of Beacon. ⠀
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).
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.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Now on Instagram!
Do you follow @beaconchamber on Instagram? They have some new pictures flowing! Stay up to date with the Beacon Chamber of Commerce promoting businesses and events, and giving recognition to those who make Beacon so great.
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join today. Learn More >
Katie James, Inc.
Couture branding for businesses. Crafting of social media strategies, website designs, and newsletter plans to keep your customer base engaged. 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.
UPDATE 2/22/2020: This article has been edited from its original version to reflect the fact that Ella’s Bellas as a brand remains with founder Carley Franklin Hughes. She sold the Beacon location of the eatery to new owners. The brand Ella’s Bellas, however, lives on.
With the first pictures of food just being posted to Kitchen & Coffee’s new Instagram account, the Internet is pretty excited about what is being tested for their new menu. Like this Shakshuka Tahini Hummus bowl. The restaurant will remain 100 percent gluten-free and is vegetarian.
By God’s Grace Ministries, the little but mighty church you may not have realized was there at 203 Main Street - there is no store sign hanging out front - is celebrating 23 years in the Beacon community this Sunday, in conjunction with Black History Month, as first reported by the Beacon Free Press.
If you’re not a regular member of this church’s community, the only clue you may have that this storefront is a church is the boisterous music that comes through the windows and blinds each Sunday. Located in the same block as BJ’s Soul Food and Mr. Bell’s Main Street Beauty Salon, it is also within walking distance to the Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church at 139 Main Street (near Bank Square Coffee), and Springfield Baptist Church on Mattie Cooper.
The celebration will begin at 11:15 am, led by Senior Pastor Dr. Audrey E. Giles. According to the article, Dr. Giles expressed: “This is where God led me 23 years ago and I love Beacon and it’s wonderful to serve the community. We will be celebrating our 23rd Church Anniversary as well as our Black History Month. Also we will be wearing our African attire.”
From the beginning, Story Screen Beacon Theater had visions of hosting film festivals and events. That vision has been achieved, and continues in the form of new film festivals, especially ones that may be a new concept for the area, or anywhere.
On Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1, 2020, the Makers Film Festival debuts and includes a lineup of films featuring makers and mediums from all over the world. It will include both full-length and short films, panel discussions, a maker market, and more.
In Melanie’s travels across continents, she met quilters and potters, weavers and painters, metalsmiths, printmakers, woodworkers, and more, and uncovered truths about making objects by hand that have been speaking to us for millennia, yet feel urgently relevant today. “Much of my adult life, both personally and professionally,” Melanie reflected to A Little Beacon Blog, “has revolved around making by hand. It has guided how and where I live, who I spend time with, the work I do, and the places to which I choose to travel.” (Did you spy the same little detail we did? Note the use of pencil in the title on the book cover.)
According to Story Screen Beacon’s press release: “This Maker Film Festival is focused on ‘making by hand,’ and the power it has to give our lives authenticity and meaning… Films were chosen to foster discussion about making by hand and artistic expression, and why they remain vital and valuable in the modern world. Making helps us to slow down, express ourselves, develop competence, and connect with and develop empathy for others, past and present, near and far, similar and different.”
Mike Burdge, the founder, programmer and co-owner of Story Screen Beacon curated the selection of films with Melanie. “For me, the festival is all about diversifying the type of films that we get to show at the theater, utilizing an engagement event to set up a personalized film curation that goes beyond what we typically show,” Mike told A Little Beacon Blog. “We really think this is the start of an awesome new age of festivals and curations at the theater, and working with Melanie on this selection of worldwide films has been a blast and we really think the public is going to love everything about it.”
Film screenings will be held Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1. A pop-up Maker Market, featuring local artisan makers, will be held on Sunday, March 1 from 1 to 5 pm in the Story Screen Beacon Theater lobby. Tickets for screenings may be purchased at the Story Screen box office or online at storyscreenbeacon.com.
About The Films: Schedule and Descriptions
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020:
1 pm: Yarn the Movie 1 hour 16 minutes
Starting in Iceland, this quirky and thought-provoking film takes us on a colorful, global journey as we discover how knitting, crochet, and other forms of yarn manipulations connect us all. “A fanciful art doc for the craft-y among us.” –The Hollywood Reporter
3 pm: Woven Lives: Contemporary Textiles from Ancient Oaxacan Traditions 1 hour 16 minutes
Woven Lives traces the development of weaving traditions among the Zapotec communities in Oaxaca, Mexico, demonstrating the vibrant, important role textile-making continues to play in their identity and daily living.
5 pm: Assorted Short Films 1 hour total
Six short films featuring makers whose stories are included in the book Making a Life, as well as the artists who inspire them. Among those featured are weaver Jessica Green, slow-fashion pioneer Natalie Chanin, and multidisciplinary artists Louise Bourgeois, Ann Hamilton, and Tanya Aquinga.
Viewers are invited to stay afterward to talk about the films and the role of making by hand in our own lives. Bring some handwork if you like!
7 pm: Wax Print
Nigerian-British filmmaker and fashion designer Aiwan Obinyan takes us across the globe to trace the 200-year history of African wax print (also known as batik) fabric. Traveling from West African sewing schools and North American cotton fields, to fabric mills in the Netherlands and bustling markets in Ghana, Obinyan tells the story of how the iconic fabric came to symbolize a continent, its people, and their struggle for freedom.
Official Selection 2019 African Film Festival New Zealand, Official Selection 2019 Pan African Film Festival, Official Selection 2019 San Francisco Black Film Festival
SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2020:
1 pm to 5 pm: Pop-up Maker Market in the Story Screen Beacon Theater lobby featuring local artisan makers.
1 pm: The True Cost 1 hour 32 minutes
The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs of production have grown dramatically. The True Cost is a groundbreaking documentary, filmed in countries all over the world, about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and the impact the clothing industry is having on our world. “A sweeping, heartbreaking, and damning survey of the clothing economy.” -CNN
After the Screening: We will follow our screening of The True Cost with a Ted Talk about creating regenerative, distributive economies that support human and environmental health, plus a panel discussion with local makers involved in the slow-fashion movement: a growing force focused on countering the destructive fast-fashion economy by making and mending their own clothing, minimizing consumption, and tracking the sources of their purchases
4 pm: Assorted Short Films 1 hour 50 minutes total
Six short films featuring makers around the world, including Rediscovering Jajam, in which Rajasthani craftsmen share their stories about block-printing large, traditional textiles on which community members traditionally gather, and Stitch, in which northwest Alabamans talk about old-time quilting in their region.
Viewers are invited to stay after the screening to talk about the films and the role of making by hand in our own lives. Bring some handwork if you like!
6:30 pm: The New Bauhaus 1 hour 29 minutes
A documentary about Hungarian-born artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, one of the instructors at the Bauhaus in Germany, who emigrated to the United States to escape the Nazis, and the impact he made on design, photography, and arts education through his emphasis on experiential learning in the schools he founded in America.
Official Selection 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival/ Official Selection 2019 Chicago International Film Festival
Tickets for screenings may be purchased in person at the Story Screen box office or online at storyscreenbeacon.com.
This Sunday, February 23, from 10 am to 2 pm, the Beacon Farmers Market is hosting Soup4Greens, where 100% of the proceeds goes toward their Greens4Greensinitiative.
Come purchase bowls of soup donated by local restaurants or perhaps made by your neighbor during one of their Community Cooking Sessions! Bonus points if you get your soup in one of the gorgeous handmade bowls crafted by local artisans.
It will be a day celebrating fun, food, and community! If you are on Facebook, you can RSVP to their event here. The Beacon Farmers Market is located at Veterans Place on Main Street in Beacon, NY.
What Is Greens4Greens?
Greens4Greensis a unique food access program jointly run by Common Ground Farm and the Green Teen Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Dutchess County.Greens4Greensis a food benefit incentive program that creates greater food access for shoppers at the Beacon Farmers’ Market, the Newburgh Farmers’ Market, and the Common Greens Mobile Market.
Since 2016, eligible state-funded food benefits are matched dollar for dollar through $4 Greens4Greens coupons, making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible to a wider base of consumers. For every EBT/SNAP purchase, and/or $4 that a family spends using federal assistance programs, such as the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, they receive a Greens4Greenscoupon for $4 that can be used to purchase more fruits and vegetables, doubling their buying power!
Get your dancing shoes ready, it’s a Roaring ‘20s Costume and Fundraiser Ball for Beacon Open Studios! Join in with the art project on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at St. Rocco’s Society at 26 S. Chestnut St. for Back To The Twenties as they travel back in time to the 1920s. The fundraiser is to help raise money for this year’s Beacon Open Studios annual event this coming May. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online here. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but at a higher price. Get the deal price now!
Throw on your favorite 1920s outfit, put on your dancing shoes, enjoy some delicious food and drinks, swinging music and great company!
Beacon Open Studios is a fiscally sponsored project through Beacon Arts. It is also made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. Beacon Open Studios also receives monies through fundraisers like this, and sponsorships.
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
