On Friday, August 6, 2021, at approximately 2:45pm according to a witness, there was a car accident on Main Street at South Brett Street, in between the restaurants Enoteca Ama and Café Amacord, where at least one person was placed onto a stretcher.
Of the two cars involved pictured here, the front left side of the BMW small SUV was collided into. The front of the GMC small SUV was collided into, and its trunk is bent.
Two cars from a car accident on August 6, 2021. The front left side of the BMW pictured has been collided into. Photo Credit: Jean Noack
Two cars from a car accident on August 6, 2021. The front of the GMC pictured has been collided into, and the hood is bent. Photo Credit: Jean Noack
Neither restaurant has parklets (outdoor dining areas barricaded by water-filled orange barricades which are very heavy), though there is one up the street at the Royal Crepes. There are no new sidewalk “bump-outs,” which are wheelchair accessible ramps designed to go into the street to help pedestrians be seen safely while trying to cross the street. The City of Beacon has been experiencing the installation of the bump-outs at various intersections on Main Street all summer, funded by Dutchess County.
This intersection is known to be a difficult one for pedestrians and vehicles turning in either direction from South Brett Street onto Main Street.
This is not the first accident on Main Street this year, but is the second one A Little Beacon Blog has written about. An earlier accident happened on Mother’s Day Sunday afternoon 2021, where two vehicles collided into each other, and spun around to hit parked cars, land on a 6 year old child, and knock down his grandmother, who were walking on the sidewalk in front of Subway.
Beacon Police vehicles have been seen parked at various spots on Main Street including in the driveway of the apartment complex behind Mountain Tops, as well as in the Mobile gas station across Eliza Street at the 344 Main Street building. A pair of Beacon Police Officers have also been seen regularly walking Main Street.
ALBB has emailed and phoned the Beacon Police Department regarding this accident and is awaiting details. This article will be updated should those details arrive.
Beacon Police, Fire Department and EMT responders working at the scene of the car accident on Main Street at South Brett, near Mr. V’s Deli. Photo Credit: Jean Noack
Lots to think about as we enter into the final month of summer! Firstly, Beacon restaurants are feeling it with the nation-wide difficulty in hiring people who don't want to return to work in the hospitality industry, or at least under prior conditions. Listen to this New York Times podcast, The Daily, for a few reasons why. Those include intolerance for customer-behavior (when customers are rude when being served - so please be extra mindful of your own behavior to include more appreciation).
SPIRIT OF BEACON DAY
Secondly, while some traditional Fall events are coming back to in-person status (see Save The Dates below), Beacon's decades-old celebration of the youth and culture, Spirit of Beacon Day, will not be returning to in-person status this year. The organizers, spearheaded by Gwenno James, went to great length to reach out and interview leaders and participants to find out if a traditional parade with activity tables was what they wanted as the Delta variant surges. Several agreed, including PTOs representing the parents in schools who produce school floats, that September is stressful enough with back-to-school, with the added stress of the pandemic and children under 12 not being vaccinated, that the public, in-person parade will go on pause for a second year. The organizers felt it too difficult to adhere to New York State Guidelines to keep people socially distanced during an event that is normally, joyously, packed shoulder to shoulder. Listen to their presentation to City Council last week.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Fourthly, check out which Beacon-business was featured on Good Morning America! A Sponsor of ALBB's Business Directory, Malouf's Mountain was selected by Yelp editors to be featured as one of the best hike-in camping spots in New York.
SECOND SATURDAY SPONSOR OPPORTUNITIES
And finally, Second Saturday is coming up next week! A Little Beacon Blog needs sponsors to keep it going. There are so many galleries, we can no longer list new openings every month or week. We do list all existing galleries, however. Please consider Sponsoring this Art Gallery Guide to guarantee your opening gets promotion! A huge thanks to No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Books Works who asked to be a sponsor years ago, and stayed on even while closed during the pandemic. Heartwarming.
THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade and Katie Hellmuth Martin
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it! If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here, book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
Summer Onstage Program With Beacon Players Session 3: August 9th Time: 9am - 12pm Location: The Theater at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
Open to BCSD Students Grades 7-12. Each day will bring more and more excitement as we build to performance. Step by step we will develop all the elements that will bring us to a successful and satisfying production. Information >
10th Anniversary Putnam County Wine & Food Festival
Days: Saturday & Sunday, August 7-8, 2021 Time: Saturday 11 am to 6 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm Location: Mayor’s Park, 61 Fair Street, Cold Spring, NY
The two-day festival will highlight renowned cider, spirits and wine producers from Hudson Valley and beyond and will feature food, arts and crafts, a beer tent plus local and international bands. Information >
Beacon Chamber Ensemble Free Summer Outdoor Concert Series: Mostly Bach & Mozart
Day: August 8, 2021 Time: 12 pm - 2 pm Location: Corner of Cross St. & Main St., Beacon, NY
SAVE THE DATE: Back2School Block Party from I Am Beacon
Day: August 21, 2021 Time: 12 pm - 4 pm Location: South Avenue Park (by Loopers Basketball Court) Information >
SAVE THE DATE: Butterflies & Blooms
Day: August 14-21, 2021 Location: 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls, NY) Information >
TWO WAY BREWING COMPANY
18 West Main St.
Two Way will also have live music this Sunday, August 8th! The T McCann band will have a trio performing from 3-6. You can check out the band here. Stop in & enjoy while you sip on a Zen - a crisp and clean Pilsner that’s almost as refreshing as this glorious break in crazy weather 4-packs available! OPEN:
Thursday 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Two Way Brewing Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
This is what the Eat Church food truck looks like, parked and powered up at Industrial Arts on Rte. 52 just past the John Deere lot. The coolest food truck there ever was! Eat Church functions as an arena for creating opportunities to bring eating and drinking experiences to new communities in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Chef Mark explains that Eat Church is both a noun (place), an eat church; as well as a verb (command), as in eat the church. PS. Eat Church grab-n-go available daily at the Marbled Meat Shop. Thursday-Sunday at Industrial Arts Brewing and Sundays at the Beacon Farmers Market! Website >
Eat Church is a Sponsor!, thank you!
BEACON BREAD COMPANY 193 Main St.
Chicken & waffles?! Yes please! Fried chicken breast over a thin waffle, with sausage gravy & a poached egg? Yes please. Plenty of other options, including vegan, too! NOM NOM. PS. BBC Open 8 am-5 pm daily! Brunch options as well. PPS: House-made flavored syrups for their delicious coffee as well. Menu > Order Pick Up or Delivery > Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Hotdogs from MOD >>>
Add chili and slaw for only $4! You'll also want to add the dirty fries - topped with beef chili, pimento cheese & coleslaw - because who can get enough of chili and slaw?
Be sure to ask about this weekend's specials!
Open Sunday thru Thursday for Food 11:30 am until 9 pm; bar until 10 pm; Friday and Saturday Food 11:30 am until 11:00 pm; bar until midnight. Order Now > Meyers Olde Dutch is a Sponsor, thank you!
TITO SANTANA TAQUERIA 142 Main St.
Plenty of outdoor seating at Tito Santana! The only way to eat street food! Wrap up the weekend with this crunch wrap > Thank us later! PS: Dinner takeout special available Monday-Friday from 4pm - 9pm: 4 tacos, + 2 street corn, + 1 chip & salsa, + 1 rice & beans for only $22! PPS: Catering is available at Tito Santana! Make life easy. Menu > Catering > Tito Santana Taqueria is a Sponsor, thank you!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
You must follow Homepun Foods on Instagram to stay up-to-date on their specials! Because you REALLY don't want to miss out. Pictured here is the Ham & Swiss melt with ham, melted Swiss, rosemary honey mustard, dill pickles on a toasted pretzel bun. But also check out a previous special - Smoked Salmon w/ chive cream cheese, rye crumble pickled red onion, dill & flowers. The specials are too good to miss out on! PS: Order cutoff for Farm Kits is Tuesday at 5pm, and pick up will be at Homespun on Friday, anytime between 10am-7pm. Find more Farm Kit Info Here > OPEN HOURS:
Thursday - Monday, 10am - 7pm Order Food > Homespun is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Does it feel like Frose kind of day to anyone else? Because it does to us... & only a frose from the one and only The Roosevelt Bar located inside of the HV Food hall! Cocktails, beers, and wines!
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! Momo Valley: Himalayan Spiced Hand-Crafted MoMo & More Barb's Fry Works: Gourmet, small-batch-loaded fries. And salads. El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar in a well-ventilated space with Outdoor Patio! Schmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
It's always a good day when you have tacos from Baja! So fresh / beyond delicious and SO many different flavors and options for all! We like to start with the cheese nachos (adding jalapeno and fajita chicken), followed by the steak & chorizo taco (YUM), and a side of tater tots because why not?! PS Happy Hour Tues-Fri 4-6 pm Check out their specialty drinks > Check out the specials >
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
ZIATUN
244 Main St.
Where can you get this "resistance" watermelon t-shirt? Plus a recipe for a watermeon salad inspired by Ziatun? Right here. Plus, find out more behind the watermelon.
Open all weekend from 12-8! PS: Reserve their space for your next private event! RiverValleyRestaurants@gmail.com. Menu > Order Online > Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
DIRTY BACCHUS
380 Main Street, Beacon
Good red wine & a good label! >>>
Naboso / Ritual 2017 - an earthy funk with a deeply satisfying expression of Blaufränkisch from a tiny 2-hectare vineyard along the Little Carpathian mountain range in Slovakia. It has a deep smoky aroma arising from dark fruits, black cherry, and black plum, embraced by wafts of ancient old logs, like stepping into a long-abandoned log shelter in the woods, and dense forest floor. The palate is both fresh and densely structured, balancing the flowing dark fruits already mentioned plus a bit of red currant with an equal measure of rocky, earthy minerality. The tannins are gripping and the acid slowly rises to an unmistakable prominence in the finish, suggesting this might benefit from another five months or so on its side. Only a few of these vintage remaining in stock! Only $42. HOURS:
Mon-Wed: 12-6
Thur- Sat: 11-7
Sun: 12-5 Dirty Bacchus is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS
321 Main Street, Beacon New York Times Bestsellers are always available at Binnacle!
James Rebanks, “The Shepherd’s Life” -
"It's bloody marvelous." - Helen Macdonald, New York Times bestselling author of “H is for Hawk”
“Captivating... A book about continuity and roots and a sense of belonging in an age that's increasingly about mobility and self-invention. Hugely compelling." - Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times.
Go on in and pick up the next book that you won't want to put down!
Binnacle Books is a Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE 18 West Main Street, Beacon
Summer is not over yet! Get outside, enjoy the warm weather, and pick up some fun outdoor activities at Brett's Hardware! You can literally find anything & everything here! Outdoor activities, garden supplies, air conditioning, grills, cabinet knobs and handles (you may want new ones...), fans, swim goggles and vests, and much more! Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
NEW Anne & Valentin has officially ARRIVED! at Luxe! These are freakin' fabulous.
Luxe is a full-service optical store and an Optometrist is always on-site for eye exams. Stop in today to see the new collection in store!
Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Tues-Sat:10 AM–6 PM
Sunday: Closed Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
470 Main Street, Beacon
In case you haven't heard... La Mere now has a men's line! Now available in-store! Also, never underestimate the power of a good accessory! Men's sneakers, hats, and sunglasses - in-store! And, outfits like this > PS Everything is under $100!! PPS: Check out the sale section! So many good items. Snag them while you can.
No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works Second Saturday Outdoor Event: Time: Location: 469 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
For the month of July into August, re-scaled reproductions of Zachary Skinner’s original paintings will be on display in No. 3 Reading Room's storefront windows as an outdoor exhibit. Information > No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works is a Sponsor, thank you!
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Antalek & Moroe is a Main Street agency providing excellent service to Beacon and beyond. They've made insurance and risk-based management their #1 passion since 1853. Personal Insurance, Business Insurance, Life Insurance, Tips, and More! Reach out, say hello, and request a quote! Give Antalek & Moore a call today: 845-831-4300 and visit their website. Latest Announcements > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor. Thank you!
TIN SHINGLE Instant access to Community, Classes, and Media Outlet Ideas make your business more relevant.
Getting publicity is an art, and anyone can do it using the right methods. Business owners, artists, and makers benefit from the fresh ideas and supportive approach Tin Shingle's Media Kit Membership offers. Designed for long or short-term memberships, flexibility is built in to fit the goals and budgets go businesses small and large. Find out more > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Our latest website design for Artist, Cynthia Sparrenberger is definitely one of our favorites! The colors, simplicity, and minimalism. We wanted to bring Cynthia's art to life through this online platform and believe we did just that! A lot of trial and error - a website isn't as easy as it looks! So many notes, thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc. Your website is your most solid footprint for people to know what you do. The designers, and lead producer, Katie Hellmuth Martin, can guide you through this process and design you a website that both looks stunning, and works well to help people do what you need them to at your website. See This Website > Help Me With MY Website, Please! > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
HIRING: Social Media Leaf At The Hyacinth Group Details >
HIRING: River Pool At Beacon Is Looking For A NYS-Certified Lifeguard Details >
HIRING: Daycare Teacher & Assistant Wanted At Care 4 Me, Inc. Details >
HIRING: Beacon City School District Food Service Department Is Looking For Substitute Food Service Helpers Details >
HIRING: Sous-Chef Position At Homespun Foods Details >
HIRING: Part-Time Production Assistant At SallyeAnder Details >
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Malouf's Mountain featured on Good Morning America!
Malouf’s Mountain Sunset Campground is nestled on the foothills of the Fishkill Ridge. The trails that lead to the campground are owned and operated by the NY-NJ Trail Conference who maintain the trails and trailheads.
You can find Malouf’s Mountain on the NY-NJ trail map, East Hudson Trails, Map 102.
When you reach the campground, you will notice how close to nature it is. You will find your campsite nestled into the mountain terrain and the sites are well spaced for your privacy.
ALBB's Business Directory is a Deep Dive List of services you need right now in Beacon and the Hudson Valley. There is a lot of talent here in the 12508 and beyond and we want to highlight all of them. Check out the Business Directory HERE.
One of the biggest fundraisers for Stony Kill Farm is happening in person this year: The Butterfly Festival. This year will have days of events, so you can mark your calendar for which you want to participate in. Events include opportunities for adults and kids.
STONY KILL FOUNDATION PRESENTS: BUTTERFLIES AND BLOOMS
August 14 – 21, 2021 at Stony Kill Farm (79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls
Butterflies & Blooms is a week-long festival of art, music, workshops, & family activities celebrating the beauty and ecology of local pollinators.
Activity highlights include Yoga with beBhakti Yoga, a Pollinator Plant Sale with the Verplanck Garden Club, butterfly, bird, and garden walks, and art and nature workshops for all ages. The festival culminates in an afternoon of hayrides and an outdoor concert featuring a local jazz orchestra, Big Band Sound.
For full descriptions of scheduled programs and to register for ticketed workshops visit Butterfly.Stonykill.org
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Advance registration is requested for all ticketed events. All activities will be held at locations at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls). Locations are subject to change based on weather.
Saturday, August 14th - 10 am - 12 pm
Butterfly Discovery Walk with Barry Haydasz from the Cary Institute
All ages | $5 | Meets at the Verplanck Garden by the Manor House
Saturday, August 14th - 3 - 5 pm
Centerpiece Flower Arrangement for Beginners Workshop with Rebecca Cossa, NYS Certified Agriculture Teacher and NYBG certified floral designer
Ages 12+ | $25 | Meets at the picnic tables by the Manor House
Saturday, August 14th - 6 - 7 pm
Yoga by the Garden with Lauren Magarelli from beBhakti Yoga Center
Ages 16+ | $10 | Meets by the Verplanck Garden by the Manor House | Bring a mat and water bottle
Sunday, August 15th - 9 am
Wings on the Farm Bird Walk with Olivia Castenada and Conor Quinn
All ages | $5 | Meets at Stony Kill's big red livestock barn
Sunday, August 15th - 10 am - 1 pm
Pollinator Plant Sale & Farm Shop with the Verplanck Garden Club
All ages | Located at Stony Kill's big red livestock barn
Sunday, August 15th - 11 am
Pollinator Garden Walk with Adrienne Papazian
Ages 16+ | $5 | Meets at the Verplanck Garden by the Manor House
Tuesday, August 17th - 10 - 11 am
The Art of Papermaking Youth Workshop with Stacey Lynch Adnams
Ages 5+ (under 7 accompanied by adult) | $5 | Meets at the Verplanck Garden by the Manor House
Wednesday, August 18th - 10 - 11 am
Paper Quilling Workshop with Naflah Mohammed
Ages 10+ | $5 | Meets at the picnic tables by the Manor House
Thursday, August 19th - 6 - 7:30 pm
Introduction to Beekeeping with Andrew Buckland, Beekeeper, and Educator
Ages 8+ | $5 | Meets at the Learning Center by the Manor House
Friday, August 20th - 8:30 pm
After-Dark Moth Walk with Margaret Maruschak
All ages | $5 | Meets at the Verplanck Garden by the Manor House
Saturday, August 21st - 10 am
How Butterflies Get Their Names Family Workshop with Tara O'Grady, Butterfly Coach, Author, and Educator
Ages K-12 (children accompanied by an adult) | $5 | Meets at the picnic tables by the Manor House
Saturday, August 21st - 2 - 4 pm
Butterfly Wagon Decorating
All ages | Free | Meets at the picnic tables by the Manor House
Saturday, August 21st - 4 - 6 pm
Hay Rides in the Butterfly Wagon
All ages | Free | Rides leave from in front of the Manor House
Saturday, August 21st - 6 pm
Concert on the Lawn featuring The Big Band Sound
All ages | Free | On the Lawn in front of the Manor House | Rain date Aug 22
Stony Kill Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate the public and cultivate environmental stewardship through the interpretation of the rich historical, environmental, and agricultural heritage of Stony Kill Farm.
For more information about the festival and workshops and events, contact Stacey Lynch Adnams at 845-831-3800 or stacey@stonykill.org.
UPDATE 8/12/2021: Photos from the day of the protest. Photo Credit: Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Inc. issued a press release, advising the region of an on-the-water protest from the Stop Danskammer Coalition scheduled for August 4, 2021.
Activists to Hold Hudson River Flotilla Protest Against the Danskammer Fracked Gas Plant Expansion
”The proposed Danskammer expansion threatens public health, water, and air quality, plus locks New York into a fossil fuel future,” reads the press release.
On Wednesday, August 4th, 2021, activists representing Food & Water Watch, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, and other members of the Stop Danskammer Coalition will take to the water to protest the proposed Danskammer fracked gas plant expansion currently under review by the New York State Siting Board.
Activists will hold an on-the-water protest consisting of the sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie, kayaks, and canoes, accompanied by an on-land press conference and rally to be held at the Town of Wappinger public dock in Chelsea, across the river from the Danskammer site. Speakers will voice concerns over the proposal’s threats to public health, water, and air quality, as well as prolonging fossil fuel use in New York. Contrary to New York’s much needed and widely supported Climate Act, the Danskammer expansion would exacerbate the global climate crisis.
According to The Highlands Current, “Elected officials in Beacon, Newburgh, Cold Spring, and Philipstown (as well as a proposed resolution from Ulster County legislature) have also opposed a full-time plant, saying it doesn’t fit with the state’s goal over the next 30 years to replace technologies that burn fossil fuels, which contributes to global warming. Nevertheless, the Siting Board on Feb. 26 declared Danskammer’s application to be complete.”
“We are confident that our efforts to incorporate and eventually convert to a hydrogen power generation facility are well within the state’s mandates,” Michelle Hook, a spokesperson for Danskammer, said on Thursday (March 18, 2020). “We are committed to immediately lower emissions by upgrading existing equipment and then phase in hydrogen so that we can help the state meets its climate goals.”
On-The-Water Protest And Press Conference, Wednesday, August 4th, 2021
A press conference against the backdrop of a Hudson River flotilla, protesting the proposal to expand the Danskammer fracked gas plant. Interviews with speakers and activists will be available after the press conference. Photo opportunities will include imagery of the Danskammer plant with press conference speakers, the iconic sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie, kayakers, and paddlers on the river with banners and signs in front of the Danskammer site.
Speakers Planned To Attend
Press conference speakers to include Hudson Valley elected officials, a representative of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, and activists representing the following organizations: Food & Water Watch, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Newburgh Clean Water Project, Orange Residents Against Pilgrim Pipelines, Ulster Activists and other members of the Stop Danskammer Coalition.
Press Conference Time and Location
The press conference will start at 1 PM ET on Wednesday, August 4th. The press conference will take place at the Town of Wappinger Public Dock, located at 3 Front Street in Chelsea (adjacent to the Chelsea Yacht Club). Free parking is available at Hidden Rose Catering, located at 33 Chelsea Rd in Wappingers Falls.
About Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Launched in 1969 by legendary folk singer and activist Pete Seeger, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater has been at the forefront of the environmental movement as champions of the Hudson River. To date, more than half a million people have experienced their first real look at an estuary’s ecosystem aboard the sloop Clearwater. Clearwater has become the grassroots model for producing positive changes to protect our planet. For more information, visit www.clearwater.org.
About Food & Water Watch Food & Water Watch mobilizes people to build political power to move bold and uncompromised solutions to the most pressing food, water, and climate problems of our time. We work to protect people’s health, communities, and democracy from the growing destructive power of the most powerful economic interests. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org/.
During a shortened summer schedule of City Council Meetings with various council members and the City Administrator being out on vacations, the City Council will meet tonight (8/2/2021) for a combo-meeting. First will be a Workshop meeting to discuss the possibility of adopting laws or making decisions followed by a regular City Council Meeting, where that which was discussed can be voted upon.
Seeking Public Comment On Proposed Beacon Law To Make It Illegal To Smoke Cannabis, Tobacco or Vape In Beacon’s Public Parks.
Proposed by the City Administrator Chris White, this law would make it illegal to smoke tobacco, cannabis or vapor anywhere in Beacon’s City Parks. During his first proposal of the law, Administrator Chris pointed out that smoking tobacco is illegal on Beacon’s trails, but not in the parks, and is not strongly enforced on the trails. He told Council that he wants to give the public more “teeth” when asking people to stop smoking.
This, after the State of New York made smoking cannabis legal in order to remove room for racial discrimination to happen when law enforcement is out enforcing laws. New York State has written the law in a cannabis-friendly way, so as not to make it easy to be discriminated against when using cannabis.
The anti-smoking law could distinguish between smoking tobacco and cannabis, where smoking tobacco is illegal, but smoking cannabis is legal. But neither the Administrator or the City’s Attorney Drew spoke about that aspect in their presentation of the law. Attorney Drew did include it in her Power Point presentation of the proposed law. Read past coverage of this topic on A Little Beacon Blog here.
In order to pass the law, the City of Beacon needs to hear from the public first. Call in with your opinion, write in to your council representative, or go down to City Hall at 7pm to deliver your opinion in person. Calling and speaking in person is the best way to make sure your voice is heard. Not every email is read allowed, and not every email is published to the public record, as humans make errors.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City of Beacon City Council will be holding the City Council Workshop and Meeting of August 2, 2021 in the Courtroom at 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY 12508. The meeting will simultaneously be streamed via Zoom. The public can attend in the Courtroom, or access the meeting via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88375353313?pwd=ZUNRTkkzdXJpbU5uQWlXeTlvSytKQT09
Webinar ID: 883 7535 3313 Passcode: 544508. To the extent internet access is not available, the public can attend and comment via telephone by dialing + 1 929 205 6099 and entering the Webinar ID: 883 7535 3313 Passcode: 544508.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the City Council Meeting of August 2, 2021 at 7:00 pm can be accessed live at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvPpigGwZDeR7WYmw-SuDxg
Beacon To Sign Parking Lease For 24 Spots In Free Municipal Parking Lot With 344 Main Street
The City of Beacon aims to sign a lease tonight that puts it into contract with 344 Main Street to lease 24 spaces in the free municipal parking lot next to 344 Main Street - which is the free public parking lot behind Rite Aid. The building, 344 Main Street (new Citizens Bank location), is a 4 story building in Beacon that has been tracked as the example of how not to build in Beacon. After its parking agreement with adversary developer and owner of 364 Main Street (old Citizens Bank location) fell apart.
The spaces are proposed by be leased for $50/month, and require tenants to move their cars every 24 hours in accordance with the public parking rules. Without this lease, 344 Main Street would be in violation of its parking requirement by the City of Beacon, and could loose its Certificate of Occupancy, which is required to lease to tenants. Get caught up with this issue via the Highlands Current.
City Council Poised To Override Local Building Owners’ Objections To Properties Being Designated Historic
For the past few years, Beacon has been reshaping its zoning laws in order to better control how development was designed in Beacon. The 4 story buildings such as 344 Main Street were a driver in this effort. Designating a building as historic not only protects the building itself from being demolished and replaced with a new design, but acts as pawn in development decisions. A building with historic designation has some rights over its neighboring properties, where if a building next door wants to build up or out, the property owner of the historic building can object. Read more about this at A Little Beacon Blog here.
A New Food Truck Servicing Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
The City of Beacon aims to sign into a license agreement with a new food truck in town to service park-goers down at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park. They City says they put out an RFP and that only 1 business answered: Mecca on Hudson.
And just like that, it's about to be August! Summer, slow down!
Another much-loved destination is once again turning on the lights of their stage - Quinn's. Starting in September, Quinn's is hosting performances on Saturdays and Monday's. For the month of November, the theme of Monday is Joe, where all performances are done by people named Joe, aka "Joevember." Get the details here!
Lucky you - it's Live Acoustic Night at Meyers Olde Dutch! Starting at 7pm Friday, enjoy local artist Edward Stanton. Meyers has not one, but two outdoor eating options (back patio and parklet) as well as brand new air filtration system.
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade and Katie Hellmuth Martin THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Brick Pan Alley HCC Music Pop-Up Day: Saturday, July 31, 2021 Time: 11am - 5pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St, Beacon, NY Information >
F+S Mini MRKTs
Days: August 1, 2021 Time: 10 am - 4 pm Location: Uptown Shopping District, Kingston, NY *Enter at the corner of Crown & John Street
F+S Mini MRKTs convene artisans and designers from the Hudson Valley and beyond for a weekly market offering a curated selection of handmade and carefully crafted products. An extension of Field + Supply, a biannual maker fair held in Kingston, NY, and shoppable website, F+S Mini MRKTs are free and open to the public. Learn more at fieldandsupply.com.
Taste of Girl Scouts - Friendly, Helpful, Considerate & Caring: Caring Carnival Day: August 4, 2021 Time: 6pm - 8pm Location: 1 John Street Beacon, NY 12508
Join the Girl Scouts at their "Caring Carnival." At this Caring Carnival girls move through stations that highlight the Girl Scout Leadership Experience: STEM, outdoor skills, life skills, and entrepreneurship. Said the organizers: "The girls will think they are just having fun playing games and watching skits, but they will also be exercising their friendly, helpful, considerate and caring muscles." Social Distancing Specifications: All GSHH events follow CDC, NYS, and local guidelines. Full COVID-19 guidelines can be found here > Information >
Summer Onstage Program With Beacon Players Days: 3 Day Sessions Session 2: August 2nd Session 3: August 9th Time: 9am - 12pm Location: The Theater at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
Open to BCSD Students Grades 7-12. Each day will bring more and more excitement as we build to performance. Step by step we will develop all the elements that will bring us to a successful and satisfying production. Information >
TWO WAY BREWING COMPANY
18 West Main St.
7.31 is the LAST DAY to enter Two Way Brewing's [GIVEAWAY] on Instagram >
To celebrate summer and the opening of The Flying Jib at Two Way Brewing, they're hosting a giveaway! One lucky winner will have the chance to experience all the deliciousness of Oak & Reed, The Flying Jib, and Two Way Brewing with:
$50 gift card to Oak And Reed Downtown
$25 gift card to The Flying Jib
Two (2) crowlers of winner’s choice from Two Way Brewing
To enter:
Follow @TheFlyingJibBeacon, @OakAndReedDowntown, and @TwoWayBrewing on Instagram
Tag a friend in the comments (on their page)
The giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Must be 21+ to enter and resident of US. Giveaway runs 7.23 through 11:59 PM EST on 7.31. The winner will be announced on 8.2.21.
GO GO GO!
Thursdays: Trivia next Thursday, July 29 at 7pm OPEN:
Thursday 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Two Way Brewing Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Vegan Summer Rolls from Eat Church's grab-n-go fridge (located at the Marbled Meat Shop in Coldspring) is the perfect light lunch on these hot summer days - available daily! So you never have to worry about missing out. This & more goodies! Eat Church is also available at Industrial Arts Brewing Thursdays-Sundays. You can order online on their website now! You'll definitely want to add the dirty disco fries to your order - Fries with cheeze whiz, bacon bits, and spring onion. Let’s dance! PS. Eat Church grab-n-go available daily at the Marbled Meat Shop. Thursday-Sunday at Industrial Arts Brewing and Sundays at the Beacon Farmers Market! Website >
Eat Church is a Sponsor!, thank you!
BEACON BREAD COMPANY 193 Main St.
Beacon Bread Company does stock their bread shelf and pastry counter full every morning with their fresh, micro-batch specialties for customers to enjoy! Every. Day. But there is much more being made behind the counter. The breakfast & brunch sandwiches are out of this world. Plus, you can enjoy your favorite, homestyle breakfast dishes any time of day! PS. BBC Open 8 am-5 pm daily! Menu > Order Pick Up or Delivery > Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
MOD's burgers and sandwiches constantly have us drooling... and there are so many options! Choose from the New York State Special, Doube Dutch, Chili Burger, Pork & Bacon BBQ Burger, Veggie Dutch, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, AND hotdogs, a BYOB (Build Your Own Burger), Chicken Tenders, Dirty Fries, Meyers Salad, Simple Salad, Coleslaw, and MORE - including specials! Nom nom nom.
Open Sunday thru Thursday for Food 11:30 am until 9 pm; bar until 10 pm; Friday and Saturday Food 11:30 am until 11:00 pm; bar until midnight. Order Now > Meyers Olde Dutch is a Sponsor, thank you!
TITO SANTANA TAQUERIA 142 Main St.
Tacos with a side of tacos, please!
Every day is Taco Tuesday when you have Tito Santana in town! Fresh delicious tacos with fresh delicious ingredients. PS: Dinner takeout special available Monday-Friday from 4pm - 9pm: 4 tacos, + 2 street corn, + 1 chip & salsa, + 1 rice & beans for only $22! PPS: Catering is available at Tito Santana! Make life easy. Menu > Catering > Tito Santana Taqueria is a Sponsor, thank you!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
New to Dia Beacon Café and Homespun Foods (drumroll please!) @singlecutbeer ‘Trip’ Hard Seltzer w/ Grapefruit & Tangerine Terpenes @paradoxbrewery ‘Love Potion #4’ with Peaches & @artifactcider ‘Slow Down’ Craft Cider. Wooohoo! PS Order cutoff for Farm Kits is Tuesday at 5pm, and pick up will be at Homespun on Friday, anytime between 10am-7pm. Find more Farm Kit Info Here > OPEN HOURS:
Thursday - Monday, 10am - 7pm Order Food > Homespun is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Have you tried Shmuck's Sweet Stuff yet?! Located inside of the HV Food Hall. If not, you MUST! And if this OOEY GOOEY ICE CREAM SANDWICH that is MADE TO ORDER doesn't make your mouth water then we don't know...
Pick your favorite flavor and watch Shmuck's smash it between two freshly baked cookies
We'll see you there!
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! Momo Valley: Himalayan Spiced Hand-Crafted MoMo & More Barb's Fry Works: Gourmet, small-batch-loaded fries. And salads. El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar in a well-ventilated space with Outdoor Patio! Schmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Thank you Baja for displaying your Restaurant Guide from A Little Beacon Blog on your door! Quite an honor, as window space is prime! Right next to this door is the usually open garage door that allows a breeze to pass through the entire restaurant, while you enjoy lunch or dinner. Our fave? The chicken quesadilla with extra guacamole. Check out their specialty drinks > Check out the specials >
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
ZIATUN
244 Main St.
Complete nutrition in a bowl over at Ziatun! Order in or grab some take out today. We highly recommend ordering the Indian Eggplant too. Mouthwatering, delicious, and nutritious. Open all weekend from 12-8! Menu > Order Online > Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
DIRTY BACCHUS
380 Main Street, Beacon
Julie Balagny / Le 249 Présente Minouche 2019 VDF - from Dirty Bacchuhs. According To Steve (Owner of Dirty Bacchus), this wine is at once flowing and juicy and richly mineral, both nimble and serious. Seeded berry fruits and stoney minerality combine to deliver a pure and clean but richly textured and satisfying wine. Pick this up for only $38! HOURS:
Mon-Wed: 12-6
Thur- Sat: 11-7
Sun: 12-5 Dirty Bacchus is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS
321 Main Street, Beacon Ok, this is not a joke. There is ANOTHER copy of this here - at Binnacle Books. Please, someone, go buy it before we & Binnacle Books get all worked up about it!
“RE/Search #13: Angry Women” Utterly cool and hard to find. “Sixteen cutting-edge performance artists discuss a wide range of topics—from menstruation, masturbation, vibrators, S&M and spanking to racism, failed Utopias and the death of the Sixties ...”
Binnacle Books is a Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE 18 West Main Street, Beacon
Igloo Coolers in all different sizes are available at Bretts Hardware - wheels or no wheels, 1 handle or 2 - choose what you want! Bretts has it all to keep you prepared and ready this summer. You can literally find anything & everything here! Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
It's always so exciting when Luxe Optique brings in new styles! Especially because they're Handmade, affordable, unique, and must-haves! Stop in to see the new styles from Anne & Ealentin today. Luxe is a full-service optical store and an Optometrist is always on site for eye exams
Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Tues-Sat:10 AM–6 PM
Sunday: Closed Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
470 Main Street, Beacon
The heart wants what it wants and it wants these Printed Flares + Chain Shoulder Bag + Eyelet Tube Top from La Mere! New arrivals every day! Pop in. PS Everything is under $100!! PPS: Check out the sale section! So many good items. Snag them while you can.
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
Look at those smiles! You can see the excitement behind the mask! Annabel and Lily, who are dancers at Yanarella, purchased their first pair of pointe shoes Congratulations!
Yanarella offers a variety of classes! From pointe, ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap to hip-hop, tumbling, combination classes, mommy & me, and dancing with baby! Fall Classes are being published online now.
Contact them to schedule a FREE trial class—they'll be here dancing all summer!
BEACON MERCANTILE'S BOTTLE REFILL SERVICE:
Beacon Mercantile now offers an in-store bottle refill service for Beacon Mercantile skincare, perfumes, candles, home fragrance + select apothecary goods! Simply bring in your clean, sanitized Beacon Mercantile bottle/vessel and we will refill it for you, plus you will receive a 10% discount on your purchase. Can't make it to the shop? All packaging that we use is 100% recyclable to help keep our planet green and your scene clean.
No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works Second Saturday Outdoor Event: Time: Location: 469 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
For the month of July into August, re-scaled reproductions of Zachary Skinner’s original paintings will be on display in No. 3 Reading Room's storefront windows as an outdoor exhibit. Information > No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works is a Sponsor, thank you!
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Not only is Antalek & Moore helpful with all things insurance - they're also helpful with sharing some of the best things to do in Beacon on the weekends! A solid list of 6 - visiting art galleries, strolling through Main Street (lots of food + lots of shopping = perfect day!), exploring Bannerman Castle, shopping at the Beacon Farmers Market on Sundays, wandering the parks, and enjoying the Story Screen Beacon Theatre! Look for Antalek and Moore's logo in the next movie you see at Story Screen! They are a sponsor! Thank you Antalek & Moore for always supporting the Beacon community. Give Antalek & Moore a call today: 845-831-4300 and visit their website. Latest Announcements > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor. Thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle is an Idea Center for many who want to be featured in social and news media. We are always tweaking things under the hood, and have some new looks coming for you in our Media Contact Idea Center, courtesy of our Media Contacts Boss, Kat Stoutenberg, who is a maker herself, and quite obsessed with databases. Find out more > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC.
You need help when you need it. Flexibility is key for a small business, and we created a 'Pay As You Go' plan for it. You can send us your Honey-do List Of Things To Do, and we’ll get started on it. Pick the hours you need, in the discount bracket you like, and let’s get started! Learn More > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
HIRING: Sous-Chef Position At Homespun Foods Details >
HIRING: Part-Time Production Assistant At SallyeAnder Details >
ALBB's Business Directory is a Deep Dive List of services you need right now in Beacon and the Hudson Valley. There is a lot of talent here in the 12508 and beyond and we want to highlight all of them. Check out the Business Directory HERE.
Quinn’s opened under new ownership 8 years ago, keeping the decor and much-loved vibe of the diner-like eatery, but changed the focus to be a destination for jazz music and live performances. The menu also changed to offer renowned Japanese homestyle cuisine, a case of craft beers, sakes, whiskies and much more. When the pandemic shut them down, the music scene stopped as well, starving musicians from the live audience they crave.
Until now….Starting on Saturday, September 11th, Quinn’s is turning on the lights and setting up the stage for an fully stocked musical lineup on Saturdays and Mondays Jazz Sessions, with a sprinkling of performances on those days by people named Joe. Quinn’s is dubbing that “Joevember”
Kicking it off on Saturday, September 11th at 9am will be Beacon punk band Ate Bit, featuring the long-running Hudson Valley band Social Standards opening. The following Monday, September 13th at 8:30pm, the first Monday Jazz Session will be alto saxophonist Mike Dopazo, leading a trio featuring Adam Coté on bass, and Dave Berger on drums.
Quinn’s Is A Destination In The Jazz World & Other Genres
Quinn’s is one of the premier live music venues in the Hudson Valley. Beaconites may not realize what jazz gem is located behind that iconic brown brick wall decorated with pictures of Ramen dishes. To help you realize, we went to one of the - if not the - top jazz critic in the country - Nate Chinen. Nate is a former Beaconite who left this place for Philadelphia in order to have better commute to his radio job as Director of Editorial Content for WBGO 88.3FM, as well as a bigger yard for his family and pandemic dog.
To give you a background on Nate, so that his quote has context: Nate was a music critic for The New York Timesfor 12 years, and helmed a long-running column for JazzTimes. In addition to his editorial work for WBGO, Nate works with the multiplatform program Jazz Night in America and contributes a range of coverage to NPR Music. He is author of Playing Changes: Jazz For the New Century (buy it at Binnacle Books in Beacon! they can order any book for you), published in hardcover by Pantheon in 2018, and in paperback by Vintage in 2019. Hailed as one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, GQ, Billboard, and JazzTimes, it's a chronicle of jazz in our time, and an argument for the music's continuing relevance. It has also been published internationally, in Italian and Spanish editions.
Nate is coauthor of Myself Among Others: A Life in Music, the 2003 autobiography of festival impresario and producer George Wein, which earned the JJA’s award for Best Book About Jazz.
And while we're gushing, Nate is a 13-time winner of the Helen Dance–Robert Palmer Award for Excellence in Writing, presented by the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as a co-host for the podcast Jazz United for WBGO. Here’s what he had to say to ALBB about Quinn’s reopening for live music:
“I moved to Beacon from the West Village in 2009, and assumed that my days of walking down the street to a world-class jazz gig were over. I got here just in time to catch the tail end of Quinn’s as a diner (great blueberry pancakes!) — and then, after a dormant period, it reopened as a music venue. To my great and pleasant surprise, it became a go-to stop for improvised music, often featuring the very same artists I would see in the city, like Mary Halvorson, Matt Wilson and Joe McPhee.
“Beyond the extraordinary quality of the booking, Quinn’s is remarkable for its atmosphere — what’s probably best described as a “vibe.” The no-cover policy means that anyone can enjoy the music, and it creates a festive feeling in the room. If every American city the size of Beacon had a room like this, you wouldn’t hear so much about the plight of jazz in our culture. I wish the best to the club as it reopens, and look forward to my next hang there.”
Other artists who have performed at Quinn’s include: “Wilco guitarist Nels Cline to Japanese pop-punk icons Shonen Knife; from the Malian Tuareg rockers Mdou Moctar to Czech avant-garde violinist/vocalist Iva Bittová; from psychedelic free guitar freak Eugene Chadbourne to MacArthur ‘genius’ grantee Mary Halvorson; from Captain Beefheart/Jeff Buckley guitarist Gary Lucas to Downtown jazz legend William Parker; from otherworldly power trio Sun of Goldfinger (Tim Berne/David Torn/Ches Smith) to the Colossus of Poughkeepsie himself, multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee, among many other outstanding artists. Mike Faloon's celebrated book The Other Night at Quinn's details many of these unforgettable performances.”
COVID-19 Cautions: Quinn’s Is Monitoring
While we are in Year 2 of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and some people vaccinated, restaurants are trying to avoid shutdowns, and their customers are just as eager to have the option to continue to dine and dance inside. They state in their press release: “Please note: we are closely monitoring the ongoing COVID Pandemic and, based on guidance from the CDC and state health authorities, may be forced to revise our schedule without notice.”
Keep up with their changes and announcements, as well as food features at Instagram and Facebook.
The Musical Lineup
Quinn's is located at 330 Main St. in Beacon, NY and its phone number is (845) 202-7447. All listed concerts are no cover, but donations for the artists are requested and greatly appreciated. Bring cash, as the artists walk around to collect from everyone in attendance.
As of today, Quinn’s schedule is as follows:
SATURDAY CONCERTS: 9/11: Ate Bit/Social Standards 9/25: Knock Yourself Out — final KYO performance (!!!) 10/2: 100 and Zero/Wall of Ego 11/13: KYO Surfers — Butthole Surfers tribute w/ former Knock Yourself Out members + special guests
MONDAY JAZZ SESSIONS: 9/13: Mike Dopazo Trio — w/ Adam Coté and Dave Berger 9/20: Eric Person's Music of Ronald Shannon Jackson Project — w/ Neil Alexander, Robert Kopec + Dean Sharp 10/4: Two Sisters, Inc. — w/ Claire Daly, Dave Sewelson, Dave Hofstra + Michael Sarin 10/18: Pete Levin Trio — w/ Mike DiMicco + Jeff "Siege" Siegel (the last musicians to play Quinn's in March 2020!) 10/25: Adam Lane Trio — w/ Nick Lyons and Vijay Anderson 12/6: Matt Pavolka Band w/ Ben Monder, Santiago Leibson + Allan Mednard 12/13: Ted Daniel's International Brass + Membrane Corps — w/ Charles Burnham, Joe Daley and Newman Taylor Baker 12/20: Karl Berger Group
JOEVEMBER!!! All Mondays in November to be led by musicians named Joe, including: 11/1: Joe McPhee 82nd Birthday Celebration 11/8: Joe Giardullo 11/15: Joe Daley Exploratory Project 11/22: Joe Fiedler's Open Sesame — w/ Jeff Lederer, Sean Conly + Michael Sarin 11/29: Joe Hertenstein
Other Live Music Venues In Beacon
Other established eateries have turned on the microphones as well. Towne Crier Cafe has reopened their famous stage for live music, and on the other side of town, the stage is also lit at Dogwood. Open Mic Nights are abound, including on the back patio of Beacon Bread Company.
In Beacon, Wednesdays have become a big day for Free Food Pickup. Depending on if you have kids, if you want fresh produce in your life (yes, say yes!) and pre-bagged groceries, Beacon has your back. And Wednesdays aren’t all for people in need. Learn about more opportunities in A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen Guide.
A reader asked a question about how to donate produce from their garden. You might consider the Community ‘Fridge located behind Binnacle Books. You might also consider volunteering to clean it every now and then. It is not advisable to put fresh produce in the Tiny Food Pantries, as bears and raccoons will come, as will flies and ants. Non-perishable packages are best for those drop-off donation locations. You can also double up on your discount days at Key Food, and donate to their food bin in the front of the store. That food gets distributed to food pantries as well.
The Beacon Recreation Department in conjunction with Mutual Aid Beacon who organizes volunteers, have been distributing pre-bagged groceries from Memorial Park on Wednesdays from 9am-10am and from the Beacon Recreation building at 23 West Center Street from 9:30am-10:30am.
The Memorial Street location welcomes cars to line up and grocery bags are placed in the trunk. The Beacon Recreation location asks that people walk up, and do not drive. In theory, you could drive in and park on a nearby side street to carry those groceries home.
This free food distribution was funded in large part the Hudson Valley Food Bank distribution, and individual donations via Mutual Aid Beacon. The City of Beacon was awarded $25,000 in grocery money from CDBG funding managed through Dutchess County. According to Beacon Recreation Director Mark Price back in April 2021, the groceries were approved to be purchased through a “local food distributor.” It is unknown at this time if the entire $25,000 has been spent, or is lasting over time.
The Green Teens are back to offer people in need access to a Free Farm Stand on Wednesdays from 5-6pm at the Beacon Recreation Center at 23 West Center Street. This program will run from July through September, and is made possible by Common Ground Farm.
Also at the Beacon Recreation on Wednesdays from 9:30am-10:30am is a Free Groceries distribution. Groceries come pre-bagged, and volunteers ask that people come on foot as pedestrians. They ask for no cars.
Cars, however, can pull up to Memorial Park on Wednesdays from 9am-10am for the same pre-bagged grocery program.
Free Summer Meal Program from the Beacon City School District. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
What got canceled a year before the pandemic thanks to changing percentages in Beacon that measure what districts qualify for free summer meals, got restarted during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: The Free Summer Meals program through the Beacon City School District.
The program is back for the Summer of 2021 and includes 5 days of breakfast and lunch meals. The program runs from July 14th through August 11th, and parents can pick up for all children in their household. Signup is not required.
Pickups are on Wednesdays at 10am-10:45am at the Beacon High School Athletic Entrance (this is after the 9am Free Grocery Pickup at Memorial Park, and before the 5pm Free Farm Stand at the Beacon Recreation Center).
First come first serve. Food is ready to heat or eat packaged meals, which include 5 breakfast and 5 lunch meals. Packaged with fruits and vegetables with a focus on fresh local produce and milk. Hot meals can include pizza, chicken nuggets, and chips and cheese sauce.
Energy in our lives is simple - you flip on a light switch and the lights turn on.
Managing that energy and where it comes from is not as simple, especially as residents get marketed to on their front porches, and get letters in the mail from sources like:
Central Hudson, the company who makes sure our energy gets to our homes.
City of Beacon to tell residents about any changes.
Third-party energy agents who want customers to leave an energy supply arrangement with Central Hudson and hook up with their company, which could be a renewable energy company, or just an energy company promising discounts - in exchange for a contract with a length of time coupled with a fine if the customer decides to leave the billing arrangement early. Sometimes these companies come door to door, promising cash sign-on bonuses if you give them your bill right there on the spot.
Cautionary Note: Be very, very careful about showing your utility bills to anyone. You should protect your Central Hudson account number like you (should) protect you Social Security Number.
The Confusing Central Hudson Letter Of June 2021
In May 2021, residents of Beacon received a package from the City of Beacon explaining that the energy supplier of renewable energy (in this case, 100% hydropower) from the group purchasing partnership the city belongs to, Hudson Valley Community Power, was changing from Direct Energy to Columbia Utilities Power, LLC. No change would be needed by the resident customer, but as required by the program, a rectangular opt-out card with self-addressed envelope was included with the package for people who wanted to opt-out of the program they had been in for 2 years or for people who were newly offered participation in the program, for those who newly moved into a CCA community. Same program, new contract with different renewable energy supplier, which triggered the package to be sent.
Following that letter, in June 2021, Central Hudson sent out a similar letter, but one that led to much confusion, causing some residents to think that they had been duped by a peddler or scam, that their energy switched to a different company without them realizing it. Part of the letter from Central Hudson read: “If this change is unauthorized by you, you must contract Central Hudson within 1 business day prior to the effective date; otherwise your account will be transferred as stated above.”
During the spring of 2021, marketing peddlers of other energy companies had recently swept Beacon in a door-to-door energy switch marketing campaign, iPads in hand ready to switch people in minutes, which may have been a coincidence contributing to the confusion of when the letters arrived. A person could have thought: “Wait, did I authorize something with that young person promising me a rebate, hitting up all the houses with their iPad? Did they get into my account? Did my partner authorize something? Did my elderly parent sign something?”
Basically, nothing changed, everything is fine (unless you signed with the iPad peddlers). But let’s back up to remember what the City of Beacon agreed to on the behalf of residents - along with 9 other municipalities - 2 years ago in order to get 90% of Beaconites on renewable energy at the same or lower rate than what is currently traditional fossil fuel energy direct from Central Hudson, which is what this letter was all about.
It All Comes Down To Community Choice Aggregation (CAA) - What The Heck Is That?
After energy de-regulated in the 1990’s, companies could solicit energy supply relationships with consumers (though nothing would interfere with their delivery arrangement with Central Hudson - Central Hudson would always deliver the chosen supply). You may have seen these energy companies at farmers markets, where they try to entice you to sign up for solar power (not solar panels on your roof, but through your regular energy bill). Sometimes it was more expensive to sign up with these companies at farmers markets or on your front porch.
Then in 2016, New York State created legislation to allow for buying renewable energy in bulk, thereby discounting it, called Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), a policy which basically allows for cities, towns, villages and other local governments to buy renewable energy in a discounted rate in a buying club structure. According to Jeff Domanski, founder of the Beacon-based non-profit Hudson Valley Energy, there are so far 8 states who offer this, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, and Rhode Island. He says the law “is like a Swiss Army knife for getting renewable energy into homes.”
“The CCA Order came about for a number of reasons, but in simple terms, the win-win-win opportunity to:
promote renewable energy in New York,
in a cost-effective, and possibly cost-saving way for utility customers (counter to what everyone has expected prior to CCA, and
consumer empowerment/protection.
“Because of the numerous consumer protection/empowerment aspects inspiring and baked-into the CCA Order and programs,” Jeffrey continued to ALBB, “including empowering folks who never thought of supporting renewable energy to address the Climate Crisis because it was a more expensive prospect and because navigating the opportunities can be overwhelming for most folks – made worse by the many bad actors out there - the CCA program in communities is an easy way to contribute to the environment and save money on the electric bill.”
City of Beacon Agrees To Move Beaconites Into 100% Renewable Energy On Their Central Hudson Bills
A series of steps needed to be taken In order for this to be available in Beacon:
1. Beacon Law: A law needed to be passed in Beacon to pursue this. New York State required that each municipality needs to set a law to pursue it. Beacon passed a law in 2017.
2. An Administering Body: Beacon needed to choose how the program would be administered in line with New York’s order. New York’s order includes consumer protections, including sourcing renewable energy from New York suppliers, not locking customers into timed contracts, and not charging customers hidden fees. The municipality needed to pick an approved administrator. The administrator who emerged was (and is) called Joule Community Power. According to Joule, their mission is to empower municipalities (like a city or village) in the energy market: “We are shifting NY State’s energy dependency from a utility-controlled, fossil fuel model to a municipally-controlled clean, renewable energy model for thousands of households at a time. By designing and implementing community choice aggregation programs, we empower municipalities to make energy decisions for their own communities thereby enabling local decision-making and transferring control away from the State.”
3. Who Administers? The administrator, (Joule) needed to supply an implementation plan of hundreds of pages describing how this would work. Part of this implementation plan was educating and outreaching to the residents in the municipalities who signed into this. Joule would outsource this education and outreach via a non-profit. The non-profit selected to do this outreach is Hudson Valley Energy, a non-profit started by local Beaconite Jeffrey Domanski.
In 2019, after hearing presentations from Joule and Hudson Valley Energy, the City of Beacon agreed to be one of 10 municipalities to source this energy. The other municipalities included Fishkill, Philipstown, Cold Spring, City of Poughkeepsie, Town of Red Hook, Town of Clinton, Marveltown in Ulster, and the Town and Village of New Paltz. In the 2 years since this started, Fishkill has since exited the arrangement when the new Town Supervisor, Ozzy Albra, was elected and replaced Robert LaColla. According to Jeffrey of Hudson Valley Energy, Fishkill did not like the idea of the opt-out nature of the program, where the default was to be in the program, and one needed to take action to opt-out if they so desired. Replacing Fishkill to keep the group number at 10 is Saugerties. More municipalities can always join in.
4. The Bulk-Buy Program: With the municipalities signed on, this created a new group partnership program name called Hudson Valley Community Power. The Program administered by Joule, and locally managed by Hudson Valley Energy for customer service inquiries and education (not for power outages…Central Hudson remains the delivery/repair/billing company and go-to source for all of those calls). The power source for the Program is currently 100% hydropower. But things will change over time to include more New York-based solar and wind power sources, Jeffrey said.
Neither Joule nor Hudson Valley Energy go door to door with education materials or billing changes. “We very, very, very much do not go door to door,” Jeffrey told ALBB. “Community Solar companies in particular are going out.”
5. Lights…Camera…Action! Now that the players and names have been settled, the supplier of energy must be selected. From 2019 - 2021, that supplier was Direct Energy for a 2 year contract at a fixed rate. In this buying club, if people do not opt-out, the rate does not change thanks to negotiations locking it in. The opt-out rate has been about 10%, said Jeffrey, which was expected. After the energy supply contract expired, Joule sent out a RFP (Request For Proposal) for a new supplier. Six companies bid, including Direct Energy, but a different company won for the lowest bid: Columbia Utilities Power. They will be the supplier for 3 years, from 2021 - 2024.
Hence The Letter From Central Hudson…
When the new contract was signed with Columbia Utilities Power, the letters to Beaconties went out, introducing customers to Columbia Utilities Power. But the letter from Central Hudson was very confusing, scaring some customers into calling customer service numbers immediately, and was signed with an acronym matching none of the above: “Very truly yours, Customer Choice Program”
The nation-wide program is called “Community Choice Aggregation,” which sounds similar to “Customer Choice Program,” the name signed at the bottom of the Central Hudson Letter. Nowhere in the letter was mentioned the national program “Community Choice Aggregation” and the letter instructed people to call Columbia Utilities Power LLC with pricing questions, which is not in line with how the regional program is or has been run.
The company to call with pricing information is Hudson Valley Energy, who works with Joule, to service the New York State initiative complying with Community Choice Aggregation.
The company to call with billing questions, smelling a gas leak, reporting a power outage, and safety concerns remains Central Hudson, whether you are in the Community Choice Aggregation program or not.
Whew! So Now What? Are We Saving Money And Saving The Planet?
Educator Jeffrey from Hudson Valley Energy says that we are. There are a lot of useful charts, rates and data at the Hudson Valley Energy website FAQ page (which is also available in Spanish). Now that two years of data has been collected, one can compare the rates in detail.
Rates from 2019-2021 in the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. Photo Credit: Hudson Valley Energy
To further understand the numbers, ALBB asked Jeffrey some clarifying questions:
ALBB: Regarding the chart above: if I opt out of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), and I get my energy from Central Hudson’s sources, am I in the Central Hudson Standard Mix? And of that energy, is it fossil fuel?
JEFFREY: “If you opt-out of the Program, Central Hudson will make your supply decision each month. The rate will vary and the sourcing will be predominately fossil-based. The sourcing mix of the Hudson Valley Community Power Program’s ‘Standard’ rate is similar, but is fixed (i.e., folks in the communities can choose to stay in the Program and choose one of the two rates).”"
ALBB: If I did nothing 2 years ago, and nothing this year, which color label am I in from the chart? Hudson Valley Community Power 100% Renewable (Fixed Rate)?
JEFFREY: “Yes – the 100% Renewable Rate option is the default (no-action required) choice in all of our partner-communities.”
Ok…So What Is Community Solar?
Add to the mix are the solar farms being developed and coming online for energy production referred to as “Community Solar.” Many of them are out marketing door-to-door to get consumers to switch. Jeffrey says that they aren’t necessarily a bad thing, and that consumers can actually have both. “It's not a bad service necessarily that Community Solar is offering,” stated Jeffrey. “It is the 2nd tool in the Swiss Army knife of tools that is Community Choice Aggregation. People who opt-in on their billing can be a virtual owner of a solar field. Thereby letting the owner meet their requirements to let them drive a discount on energy. People should look into Community Solar to save 10% on their electric. It's a parallel thing. You can do neither, either or, or both.”
ALBB: When my neighbor says he is opting into to Community Solar, is he leaving the Hudson Valley Community Power partnership?
JEFFREY: “In brief, no. Community Solar is a parallel opportunity to the fixed rate ‘electricity supply’ aspect of CCA we’ve been mostly talking about.”
“To further the distinction, the fixed electricity supply rate ($/kWh) is multiplied by the amount of electricity a customer uses each month (kWh). Nearly all Community Solar programs I know are a symbiotic relationship between the customer and the owner of the solar field, whereby the customer’s subscribing to be a virtual owner of a portion of the solar field allows the project to proceed as a ‘community project.’ In return, the customer receives a monetary discount off their entire electricity charges, which is targeted to result in a 10% savings for each year of the agreement. Note: the credit received each month is not based on the customer’s usage that month.”
However, Jeffrey wanted to stress: “Community Solar is NOT a customer’s supply source.”
ALBB: If I opt-into a Community Solar company, am I leaving the Hudson Valley Community Power Program - our region’s CCA?
JEFFREY: “Subscribing to a Community Solar project does not conflict with the Electricity Supply component of a CCA Program. The Electricity Supply component of CCA provides a fixed rate which is directly tied to a customer’s monthly electricity usage. Nearly all Community Solar subscription programs assign a portion of a solar field to a customer to generate (in the Community Solar developer/owner’s business model) a monetary credit which targets 10% off a customer’s total electric charges (averaged over a year).
ALBB: Regarding the rate: Is it cheaper than being in regular Central Hudson?
JEFFREY: “Yes – it currently is, and we believe will be cheaper over the life of the Program, though there will be months when Central Hudson’s supply rate is lower than the Program’s fixed rate. The Program rate for 100% renewable-sourced electricity (from New York producers) is $0.06573/kWh. Central Hudson’s comparable rate is $0.0697/kWh.”
###
That concludes today’s lesson in a few data points in the energy supply market for communities. In another article, Jeffrey can explain how CCA’s have been enabled to support Community Solar “and talk about the evolving ways that’s happened and will be happening,” Jeffrey told ALBB. “Suffice to say, CCA is a dynamic, powerful tool which enables cities, towns, and villages to help the customers through localizing energy decision-making.”
While everyone is headed to the pool or for a hike or for a vacation, Beacon’s City Council is also taking some time off. In the middle of July, when the corn was knee high, the City of Beacon posted their reduced meeting summer schedule for regular Monday meetings, with some Mondays merging both a City Council Meeting with a Workshop. A City Council Meeting is when the public can participate with comments at the beginning or end of the meeting, or to comment during an official Public Comment Hearing. The Workshop is when the City Council members discuss amongst themselves different topics on their agenda without public input, but in front of the public.
Since New York State lifted its Emergency Status for the pandemic, council meetings have begun meeting in person again at City Hall. Mayor Kyraicou has stated during recent meetings that they are considering trying to continue both the live meeting via video for those to attend and call in who cannot attend the meeting in person. Currently, public meetings are broadcast live on YouTube and Zoom, and during the last couple of meetings, council members met at City Hall with an open door to the public.
Agendas for the public City Council Meeting/Workshop combos have not yet been posted.
Summer Schedule:
July 19th: No Workshop/Meeting
July 26th: No Workshop/Meeting
August 2nd: Workshop followed by Council Meeting
August 9th: No Workshop/Meeting
August 16th: Workshop followed by Council Meeting
August 23rd: No Workshop/Meeting
August 30th: Workshop
Assistant to the Mayor Collin Milone has confirmed with ALBB that No Workshop/Meeting does mean that there is No Workshop and No Meeting for that date. The night is completely off.
Do you want to know about a very relaxing spot for lunch, with beef, chicken and vegan options? Check out where we went today. Meanwhile, the MTA heard our prayers and questions, and has opened the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry, beginning August 30th! Read all about it here.
Don't miss live music tonight near the Hudson River (ignore these on-again off-again rain showers!) at Two-Way Brewing! See below for details.
Edited and Written By Teslie Andrade and Katie Hellmuth Martin THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
River Pool At Beacon - The 2021 Swim, The 17th Cross-River Swim Days: Saturday, July 24 (rain date July 25). Time: 12pm - 6pm
Now is your chance! The River Pool's biggest fundraiser started - where you can sponsor a swimmer (see this list) who is courageously swimming across the Hudson River this weekend. Swimming it is 1 mile in the open water, with volunteer kayakers and others accompanying the swimmers. The best way you can support is to sponsor a swimmer, or donate in general to the River Pool right now. Your funds help them pay their lifeguards, pay for testing of the water, pay for upkeep of the unique water pool that they wish others had as well, and more.
River Pool is back! Tuesday-Sunday, July-Labor Day, weather permitting. Information >
Summer Onstage Program With Beacon Players Days: 3 Day Sessions Session 1: July 26th Session 2: August 2nd Session 3: August 9th Time: 9am - 12pm Location: The Theater at Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
Open to BCSD Students Grades 7-12. Each day will bring more and more excitement as we build to performance. Step by step we will develop all the elements that will bring us to a successful and satisfying production. Information >
TWO WAY BREWING COMPANY
18 West Main St.
Oh boy! Two Way released a new beer & you do not want to miss out! It's a 7% India Pale Lager brewed with oatmeal and honey malt (YUM), and hopped with Mosaic and Eukanot, and fermented with a checz lager strain of yeast. Refreshing, to say the least. Stop in & try it out! Pints, flights, & beers to-go! Thursdays: Trivia next Thursday, July 29 at 7pm Fridays: Live Music at 7:30pm. This Week: Glenn Echo (music is inside, but you can also hear it on the patio outside) OPEN:
Thursday 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Two Way Brewing Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Vegan Summer Rolls from Eat Church's mini-fridge )available at Marbled Meat Shop in Coldspring, NY) never looked so good! The perfect light lunch on a sweltering day. All the yums ON THE GO! Available daily.
PS. Check out Eat Church Thursday-Sunday at Industrial Arts Brewing and Sundays at the Beacon Farmers Market! Website >
Eat Church is a Sponsor!, thank you!
BEACON BREAD COMPANY 193 Main St.
Now that's what we're talking about! BBC! There truly is a no better way to start or end the week than with this 🤤 So many breakfast & lunch options - chicken cutlet BLT, 2 eggs on a roll, chicken & waffle, breakfast tacos, waffle house special, western omelets, and SO much more! Over 5 options for a vegan breakfast & lunch too! Pair one of these meals with a delicious complement, like the loaded potato tots or a yogurt parfait. Open 8 am-5 pm daily! Menu > Order Pick Up or Delivery > Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Now, that's how you do it! Meyers Olde Dutch takes fresh watermelons purée & makes the most fantastic ice cubes and then spikes a classic mojito to the recipe with a little @mariebrizardusa watermelon! Watermelon mojitos for the WIN! Especially on hot summer days.
Open Sunday thru Thursday for Food 11:30 am until 9 pm; bar until 10 pm; Friday and Saturday Food 11:30 am until 11:00 pm; bar until midnight. Order Now > Meyers Olde Dutch is a Sponsor, thank you!
TITO SANTANA TAQUERIA 142 Main St.
Wrap up your weekend with a Crunch Wrap from Tito Santana! Delivery orders through Uber Eats are available as well! Why would you want to cook when you have Tito Santana? PS: Dinner takeout special available Monday-Friday from 4pm - 9pm: 4 tacos, + 2 street corn, + 1 chip & salsa, + 1 rice & beans for only $22! PPS: Tacos are only $2 on Tuesdays! Easy Kid Dinner! Menu > Catering > Tito Santana Taqueria is a Sponsor, thank you!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
For the second year in a row, Homespun is proud to offer local Farm Kits from Common Ground Farm. Common Ground Farm is a non-profit organization with a mission to serve our community as a model for food justice and education for people of all ages and incomes. Each week, for the remainder of the growing season, Homespun will offer a 'Farm Kit' full of local, seasonal produce grown right here in Beacon. Each week will be a little different, and this is a wonderful way to truly eat with the seasons. Local organic produce, harvested fresh and ready for pick up each Friday at Homespun Foods. The weekly harvest is a seasonal surprise. Order cutoff is Tuesday at 5pm, and pick up will be at Homespun on Friday, anytime between 10am-7pm. Find more Farm Kit Info Here > SAVE THE DATE: A new literary group is meeting at Homespun on Thursdays called "Lit Lit." Learn more about it here. OPEN HOURS:
Thursday - Monday, 10am - 7pm Order Food > Homespun is a Sponsor, thank you!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Momo Valley (located inside of the HVFH) offers Himalayan style dumplings called MoMo, a native & staple dish of Nepal, Tibet, & Bhutan. Their assortment of MoMo is made from locally thoughtfully sourced ingredients, followed by their family recipes for an authentic and unique taste! These protein-packed, more than a bite-size MoMo are served with signature homemade sauces. Their additional selections from the menu are all authentic Himalayan dishes prepared fresh from scratch with the secret ingredient called LOVE. Stop in! Check them out! They're delish!
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu! Momo Valley: Himalayan Spiced Hand-Crafted MoMo & More Barb's Fry Works: Gourmet, small-batch-loaded fries. And salads. El Nica: Nicaraguan Food Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar in a well-ventilated space with Outdoor Patio! Schmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Margarita pitchers from Baja 328? Oh sure! You can get pitchers of a classic margarita, "blue-violet", spicy cucumber margarita, "Chupacabra’s Blood", watermelon mint, strawberry jalapeno margarita, "Bajarita", Baja Signature Margarita, and a seasonal margarita! So many pitchers. Options for everyone. Pitchers + @baja328 food = a great day. Check out their specialty drinks > Check out the specials >
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!
ZIATUN
244 Main St.
Looking for delicious vegan food but want to avoid processed ingredients? Look no further! This is what authentic meat-free Palestinian food looks like. 100% vegan, traditional, and healthy. Similiar amazing/delicious non-vegan foods are available here as well! Open all weekend from 12-8! Menu > Order Online > Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
DIRTY BACCHUS
380 Main Street, Beacon
The small allocation of this scrumptious gluggable chillable red sold out in a week last summer! This year, Dirty Bacchus was able to get their hands on twice as much, but of course, two times small is still small - don’t hesitate! Act fast! And get yours! Organic, carbonic, dry-farmed, unfined, unfiltered, minimally sulfured, this gem from Oregon is your remedy for heat and humidity! Plus, only $28! PS you can shop online! > HOURS:
Mon-Wed: 12-6
Thur- Sat: 11-7
Sun: 12-5 Dirty Bacchus is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS
321 Main Street, Beacon Leslie Marmon Silko, “Almanac of the Dead” from Binnacle Books. This doesn’t come through that often, for whatever reason. It’s an extraordinary, sprawling world of a novel! @Binnacle Books carries many gems like this! Stop in & check it out. Interested in a quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities? See that here. Binnacle has it all!
Binnacle Books is a Sponsor, thank you!
BRETT'S HARDWARE 18 West Main Street, Beacon
"Weeding for Littles" thanks to Brett's Hardware! Everyone needs their own gloves. Especially little kids. Find truck gloves, Paw Patrol, plain colors, and more. For those who need the extra skin coverage for weeding once those weeds scrape you (so itchy!), Brett's Hardware has Rose Picker gloves. Smart. You can literally find anything & everything here! Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Next up in Luxe's "Meet The Luxe Family" series is Crissy! Crissy Dawson is Luxe's Customer Experience Coordinator, and is a Northern California native. She embarked on her modeling career while attending San Diego State University studying Journalism, Media, and Advertising. She has been published in British Vogue, Vogue Italia & Ellements, and walked in 4 seasons of NYFW shows (while also planning & styling shoots off-season!). Her previous experience also includes marketing, retail buying, and hospitality. This makes Crissy a wonderful & key part of the team. Help Luxe Optique officially welcome Crissy to the team!
Monday: 10 AM–5 PM
Tues-Sat:10 AM–6 PM
Sunday: Closed Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you! LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
470 Main Street, Beacon
"It’s you. It’s you. It’s always been you. " **New** Fuzzy Wrap Crop is available at La Mere! If this doesn't scream, MUST HAVE, then it must scream, NEED NOW! Shop new arrivals every week & shop fast! La Mere Clothing & Goods is so good that they sell out so fast! You don't wanna miss out. EVER. PS Everything is under $100!!
Yanarella Dance Studio 312 Main St., Beacon, NY
What better way to kick off summer break than with trying a new dance class at Yanarella Dance?! They offer classes in tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and tumbling. New students of all ages are always welcome!
Contact them to schedule a FREE trial class—they'll be here dancing all summer!
PS - Island Adventures Summer Dance Camp is starting! Days: Monday, July 26, 2021 - Friday, July 30, 2021 Times: 9am - 11am (Ages 3-5) & 9am - 1pm (Ages 6-12) Register here >
PPS - New sessions of Mommy & Me happening on 7/26 10 am - 10:30 am. $10 per class to drop in or $27 for the 3-week session.
This is Beacon: Youth Podcast Workshop Day: Only one Friday left!, July 30 2021 Time: 4:30pm - 6pm Location: Beacon Recreation, 23 West Center Street
Grades 7 -12 - Registration is required, and is still open! This podcast workshop is led by Brandon Lillard of This Is Beacon and ALBB's Wait What Is That? podcasts. A great opportunity to expose teenagers to the vast world of podcasting.
For more information, email Michelle at community@beaconlibrary.org.
BEACON MERCANTILE'S BOTTLE REFILL SERVICE:
Beacon Mercantile now offers an in-store bottle refill service for Beacon Mercantile skincare, perfumes, candles, home fragrance + select apothecary goods! Simply bring in your clean, sanitized Beacon Mercantile bottle/vessel and we will refill it for you, plus you will receive a 10% discount on your purchase. Can't make it to the shop? All packaging that we use is 100% recyclable to help keep our planet green and your scene clean.
No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works Second Saturday Outdoor Event: Time: Location: 469 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
For the month of July into August, re-scaled reproductions of Zachary Skinner’s original paintings will be on display in No. 3 Reading Room's storefront windows as an outdoor exhibit. Information > No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works is a Sponsor, thank you!
“La Finca” Vieques, PR...A memoir of LOVE, LOSS & LAUNDRY
Day: Saturday, July 24, 2021 Time: 3pm Location: Marion Royael Gallery, 159 Main St, Beacon, NY
Corky Parker will be reading from her new illustrated memoir, LA FINCA, Love Loss and Laundry on a Tiny Puerto Rican Island. The book is about finding and running her inn, La Finca Caribe, for over 20 years. So whether you’re interested in travel, alternative businesses ,rustic tropical living, chasing dreams or rebooting your life, chances are you’ll find something that moves you. Hope to see you there! Information >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Running a successful business comes with its challenges, but having the right protection doesn't have to be one of them. Luckily Antalek & Moore always has your back & makes sure that your business is properly insured for a secure future! Give Antalek & Moore a call today: 845-831-4300 and visit their website. Latest Announcements > Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor. Thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle’s Training Opportunities - Every Wednesday
Connecting is one of the most important ways of learning, growing, and succeeding as you seek exposure in social, digital, and print media. Tin Shingle’s TuneUps are live broadcasts of a webinar that takes a deep dive into a trending topic or a big picture strategy. Tuneups & Office Hours happen on Wednesdays at 1pm EST. The TuneUp will either be open to the public to watch (then are published to Tin Shingle’s archives for members to stream anytime), or for Tin Shingle Members only to participate in. Find out more > Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!
KATIE JAMES, INC. Homespun Foods has brought back their Farm Kits - a creation during the early pandemic days when they needed to survive during the shutdown. Katie James Inc. Was able to create this new Grocery section for them on Homespun's Squarespace website, with Farm Kits being the first product. Katie James, Inc. opted to create an eCommerce section called “Grocery,” where all food products can go in, and auto-populate. Homespun staff will be trained in how to create a Grocery product so that the section can build itself. Of course, Katie James, Inc. can do it for them in our Pay As You Go program if they get too busy in the kitchen. Learn More > Katie James Inc. is a sponsor. Thank you!
HIRING: Sous-Chef Position At Homespun Foods Details >
HIRING: Part-Time Production Assistant At SallyeAnder Details >
ALBB's Business Directory is a Deep Dive List of services you need right now in Beacon and the Hudson Valley. There is a lot of talent here in the 12508 and beyond and we want to highlight all of them. Check out the Business Directory HERE.
UPDATE: The opening night of 6/29/2021 is canceled due to forcasted heavy rain. Said the organizer: “Because it is going to rain pretty steadily tonight, we are cancelling Lit Lit in the interests of safety, because I think our crowd will be too large for the indoor dining room at Homespun. But no worries, we have rescheduled for NEXT Thursday, August 5 at 7 PM, when the weather forecast is no rain and we can read in the garden!”
The literary scene in Beacon was bubbling softly like a nice glass of effervescent wine before the pandemic hit. But all that went flat when the shutdown happened. Literary events were usually held in restaurants, like the Get Lit event in Oak Vino before that wine bar closed, sold, and has since reopened as a new delicious eatery.
Homespun was a restaurant who had newly shifted under new ownership, and was promptly shut down while New York State got a handle on the virus. New owner Joe Robitallie was new to owning a restaurant, but not to the written word, having earned his Masters of Fine Art in Poetry from Brooklyn College. While studying word rhythm, he worked as a sommelier in the city before starting a family and moving to Beacon.
Enter Donna Minkowitz, a writer based in Beacon, formerly of Brooklyn, who has organized a new literary open mic night for literary folks to gather to read pieces, perform their ideas, and connect with one another for growth that will happen once a month on Thursdays. "Beacon's writers and readers have been wanting to gather again for awhile,” Donna told ALBB. “As things have started to open up again, I thought the time was now (as long as we exercise reasonable caution).” As for any relation to the Get Lit group, Donna confirms: “We are not related to the former series Get Lit at Oak Vino, except that we take them as an inspiration, because we loved them!”
People are invited to tell stories or “perform” their work (playwriting, spoken word) if that applies to their genre. People are encouraged to sign up to be a reader by filling out this form, or can go to simply listen and experience. Signups are closed right now so as to make room for signups the night of the event. Some of the published authors who are expected to read at the first event are poet Ruth Danon, food writer Matt Clifton, playwright, fiction writer, and poet Peter Ullian (who was Beacon's poet laureate from 2019-2020), and Donna (the author of two memoirs, and a former writer for the Village Voice and the Nation).
The first Lit Lit will be Thursday, July 29 at 7pm in Homespun‘s back patio garden. Homespun is located at 232 Main Street. In the event of rain, the group can move inside.
Lit Lit will give a reason for Homespun to turn on the twinkle lights in the back patio and tend bar at the new Beer bar. Photo Credit: Homespun Foods
Joe spoke with ALBB to answer why he is looking forward to this new event: “It signals a return to normalcy and groups gathering outside to express their common interests. I am excited because we always imagined that we’d be able to use Homespun as a meeting place for the community, that it would be a safe space for people to gather and build community around their interests. I am excited to hear neighbors read their writing and find inspiration in one another. How writing communities work is always so fascinating, with people sharing through reading and how ideas get pushed forward. Finally I’m excited because it gives us a nice chance at Homespun to turn on the lights in the backyard, and have people enjoy an evening out there. Homespun: the Bar, for an evening.”
Homespun’s wine, beer, soft drinks, and perhaps some snacks will be available for purchase.
Editorial Note: Homespun is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, but this article was done independently of that partnship.
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.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
Summer Onstage Program With Beacon Players
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
