Moody March :: Retail Therapy Guide 3/3/2023
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Foundation
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Beacon's Parade Of Green Is On - Remember Last Year's Blizzard? Look For ALBB Again!
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Do you remember that blizzard last March 2022? Beacon’s Parade of Green was the first parade out the gate down Main Street after the cancellation of all events due to COVID. The Committee was so excited to be back, that they did not call a weather delay, and marched on.
In fact, it was the Parade of Green in 2020 that was at the root of all parade cancellations back when the pandemic was referred to as “coronavirus,” before even the health crisis was labeled a pandemic. Waiting to hear if the Parade of Green 2020 was canceled or not was one of the first memories of that chaotic time.
Here we are in 2023, and the annual parade will roll again. Pictures are below from 2022.
See you next weekend, Saturday, March 11, 2023! A Little Beacon Blog will be driving in the parade again, handing out stickers.
The Malouf’s Mountain camping bus was front and center. Prepared.
The Parade of Green Committee, staying warm and dry in the Visitor’s Center while organizing people.
The Parade of Green’s Grand Marshall, Tony Lassiter. Tony was also honored for the Beacon of History event later in the year.
Howland Public Library Announces March Exhibit In Honor Of Women’s History Month
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To celebrate Women's History Month, The Howland Public Library presents Balance, a group show. The exhibit will be on view in The Community Room Exhibit Space from March 11th - April 1st, 2023. An Artists' Reception will be held on Saturday, March 11th, from 5pm - 7 pm.
The show is the seventh annual exhibit from the group CoMFY, a collective of women artists from the Beacon area. For this show the group chose the theme of Balance. The notion of balance was one of the founding principles when Kat Stoutenborough and Jennifer Blakeslee founded the women’s group back in 2011. Blakeslee recalls that the initial discussion focused on: “How do we, as women artists, balance everyday responsibilities (jobs, parenting, families, etc.) with being an artist? How can we create a space for ourselves where making art can exist alongside those other needs demanding our attention?”
The women came together to share strategies, bounce ideas, and encourage each other. Their one rule was that they could only talk about those other competing priorities in the context of how they impacted their artistic endeavors. “That focus made it possible for us not just to seek that balance, but find it and put it into practice.”
New members are always welcome to join this informal group. Stop by the exhibit to learn more.
The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508. The Community Room Exhibit Space is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.
Jean Noack
COMFY stephanie fogarty
COMFY Jennifer Blakeslee
Donna Mikkelsen
Erica Hauser
COMFY Anna West
Everyone Is Concerned About the Fencing At The Memorial Building - The Veterans Commenced Upon Repairs
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When the fencing went up at the Veteran’s Memorial Building at 413 Main Street, people had questions. Were they getting a new fence? Was something big happening that would impact access to the Memorial Building and the events the Veterans host there?
Harold G. Delamater of the Veterans Memorial Building Committee was quick to send an email out to the media providing answers. He stated: “Folks have been questioning the recently installed construction fencing in front of the Veterans Memorial Bldg. The Veterans Memorial Building is currently under-going renovations to the front porch and landscaping to the grounds. The bricks from the Carmen Ramputi Detachment Marine Corps League monument will be stored for later placement in front of the Veterans Memorial Building. The project is expected to be completed in late Spring 2023.”
In a followup question from A Little Beacon Blog regarding who was financing this project, Harold answered that the project is being financed by a small grant they anticipate receiving from Senator Skoufis's office. There has been no financial assistance from the City of Beacon. Years ago, the Veterans appealed to the City under Randy Casale’s administration to receive funding for improvements to their building. At that time, some financing was released under then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero.
Herold said that at this time, the City of Beacon has been supportive of the project, but not financially.
The Veterans will be starting a donation campaign to supplement the grant. They will be releasing more information via press release in the following week.
Beacon City Schools On Lock Out After Threat Called In - All Is Well After Investigation
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Friday morning, after students left their homes for their walking or bus commute to Beacon’s High School and Middle Schools, but just before Elementary School students began their journey to school, a robo-call went out from Beacon’s Superintendent Matthew Landahl explaining that a threat had been made to Beacon’s Rombout Middle School, and that students of all schools would be on a “lock out” status with the protection of the Beacon Police.
Said Dr. Landahl: “I am communicating with an important safety message. The Beacon Police Department is working with us to evaluate a threat to Rombout Middle School that was called in. Beacon High School and Rombout Middle School are currently in a lock out which means students are safe in their classes and can move between classes during class changes. Our elementary schools will be operating under the same procedures when they start. There will be law enforcement at each of our buildings for arrival and throughout the day. Our initial evaluation of this is that it is a false threat and we will update you when we know more.”
This is not the first false threat that the Beacon City School District has received. Dr. Landahl is quick to update the district community when threats like this are made. However, it is one of the only ones where the students were in an active lock out that was not a drill.
One parent, when texting their child to find out where exactly they were in the building, was corrected by their child, when they asked the status: “Are you still in the lock down?” the parent asked. “We are in a lock out, Mommy.” Oh.
As Dr. Landahl stated, the students were able to move throughout their class schedule, attending classes. ALBB was told that some students spent part of their class time, in between iReady reading sessions, whispering how they would get out, before being quieted by their teacher for chatting too much and to focus on their classwork. Some sharpened their pencils, to feel safe. Others decided who would throw the class microwave at anyone deemed suspicious and unsafe entering their room.
At South Avenue Elementary, a Beacon Police Officer let in the students, instead of Security Guard Pat Cooper (pictured above). Parents who were late were hopeful that tardy slips would not be given this time. The Police Officer on Front Door duty was not sure on the day’s procedure for tardy slips.
In the case of South Avenue, Police Officer Donovan (pictured above) was stationed there for the entire day. ALBB asked about how he got his lunch, and he said he thankfully had packed, although admin staff offered him take-out. Teachers were noticeably stressed at the release of the children at the end of the day, making sure to get each child to their parent waiting outside. Lots of hugs were received, and the day continued.
All is well thank goodness.
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Local Woman Stabbed In Her Home On Wolcott; Neighbors Say Domestic
/During the news coverage of the arson fire on Wolcott Avenue, and the man found dead in the stream along Teller Avenue near Wolcott (he lived in an apartment house across the street from house that was set on fire on Wolcott), a stabbing injury of a woman in her home also in that area occurred on January 27, 2023. Neighbors familiar with the situation said it was by a man who was known to her, who was possibly emotionally out of balance. The Beacon Police have not confirmed this.
The woman was saved by the Beacon Police and EMS personnel who arrived to treat her. She was taken to a hospital for further treatment and released.
Three days later on January 30, 2023, the Beacon Police Department issued a Press Release stating the condition of the woman, identifying the man, and listing his charges. Sometimes these Press Releases are signed by the publishing officer. This one was not.
The Press Release reads as follows:
“On January 27, 2023, the Beacon Police Department received a call from a female who reported that she had been stabbed in her home on Wolcott Avenue. Officers quickly responded to the scene and located the suspect still inside the home with blood on his clothes. They immediately took him into custody and proceeded inside where they located the victim upstairs.
“She was conscious and alert but bleeding heavily from multiple wouds to her neck area. Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to respond to the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital by EMS where she was treated and later released in stable condition.
“The suspect was … charged with:
Assault in the First Degree (Class B Felony),
Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree,
Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree,
Menacing in the Second Degree and
Criminal Obstruction of Creating (All Class A Misdemeanors).
“Max was arraigned in Beacon City Court and remanded to the Dutchess County Jail.”
While some have asked if crime is up in Beacon, it is important to notice that these stories that are published seem to be connected to each other in terms of timing and location. There is a Police Blotter that has had numerous indications of crime and discomfort, but not all of those items get reported on by local media. Also, not all of the items that go reported in the Police Blotter are released to media outlets who publish them, as A Little Beacon Blog discovered last year while researching the murder of Rene Vivo aka Scout.
In transparency, for the man found dead in the stream, neither A Little Beacon Blog, the Beacon Free Press nor the Highlands Current reported on that until after the raging house fire that happened two days later, when the community waged an outcry for details of his death - which has so far been deemed unrelated to the fire.
But Where Did That Vegan Ice-Cream "Lick The Vegan Stuff" Go?
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Since the announcement of the closing of Végétalien, people have asked: “What happened to that amazing vegan ice-cream that was sold inside of the store?”
That vegan ice-cream was Made In Beacon, in various locations, by the company called Lick The Vegan Stuff. At one point, Lick The Vegan Stuff was inside of The Chocolate Studio, a shop also known for partnering with other businesses to rent a bit of space (ex: Denise Gianna Designs and The Village Jerk - who each graduated and moved into their own Main Street storefronts since).
Lick The Vegan Stuff at one point moved to Végétalien, where they remained until November 2022 (remember that time someone opened her freezer and all of her ice-cream melted and she had to do a mega-come-back in like 4 days of making?).
Now, you can find Lick The Vegan Stuff in her soon to be trailer (!!), in Manhattan, and various other locations like at Obercreek Farm.
Keep up with Lick The Vegan Stuff in her Instagram as she works to secure her trailer licensed. Which would really put this vegan ice-cream on the map if she could drive all over the place. Just think of all of the pop-up events she could do. Maybe delivery to you! Or not. Maybe just dry-ice in a box delivered by a carrier to your door.
If you’re a restaurant in town, order from her now please! So we can enjoy her in Beacon easily as well.
Végétalien Closes. Plant-Based Foodies Are Sad. Remains To Be Seen If Food Stays In That Location
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Vegan options are very popular in Beacon. Most eateries from pizza to burgers to tacos are incorporating both gluten-free and vegan options into their menus. Nevertheless, running a restaurant is hard. Végétalien, the plant-based eatery on the east end of town near the mountain, announced two weeks ago that they are closing.
As explained in their Instagram post: “It is with mixed emotions that we write to post to notify you that Végétalien will be closing its doors permanently. Our last day of business was January 29th, 2023. We have various store equipment, shelving and fixtures that will be available for purchase as well. If you are interested in any of these items, pease email us at vegetalienbeacon@gmail.com. Lastly, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our small business throughout the years. We know that there are many stores in the area to choose from and we are honored that you chose Végétalien above the others. We appreciate all of our loyal customers who have helped our store thrive for the past years! Until we meet again!”
Végétalien was started by restaurateur, Kamel Jamal (currently Beacon Bread, Ziatun, formerly Angelino’s in Cold Spring and Titos in Beacon) whose daughter named it after the french name for vegetarian. Végétalien’s current owner Moises purchased the eatery from Kamel and Lena in 2018.
Over time, the famed Beacon-based vegan ice-cream company, Lick The Vegan Stuff, was also based out of Végétalien. Lick The Vegan Stuff left that location in November 2022.
Prior to Végétalien being in that location, the eatery called Raddish with memorable salads was there. It remains to be seen if a food-based business will remain in that location.
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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925 Wolcott Ave Was Being Renovated To Convert 16 Units to 9 SRO Units, Before Fire
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The former boarding house at 925 Wolcott Avenue that burned down as a result of arson on January 3, 2023, was under renovation to convert 16 units to 9 units that would meet SRO definition (Single Room Occupancy in apartments or residential hotels in which low-income or welfare tenants live in single rooms), according to the permit filed by the owner, Yeshia Berger of 925 Wolcott Ave LLC, which was obtained by A Little Beacon Blog via FOIL request. He acquired the title to the property on July 13, 2022, according to the paperwork.
The front porch of 925 Wolcott Avenue.
According to the Application For The Certificate Of Occupancy Or Certificate Of Compliance filed on December 7, 2022, and had an Issue Date from the City of Beacon of December 12, 2022 signed by Building Inspector Bruce Flowers, each unit would have a bathroom and kitchenette, with all new plumbing and electric. A sprinkler system was also to be installed. The estimated cost of construction was written in as $200,000.
An Application for Building Permit was submitted on August 19, 2022 with an Issue Date dated August 26, 2022 signed by previous Building Inspector David Buckley to get new moldings, floors, and plumbing on the front porch/deck. The contractor was designated Olvin Construction out of Monroe, NY on the permit, who held the Workers Compensation Insurance.
On July 19, 2022, an Application For The Certificate Of Occupancy Or Certificate Of Compliance was filed to “rebuild existing CFP - roof to remain - with patch and paint to the interior with new plumbing fixtures.”
More than a month after the fire on January 3, 2023, pieces of the razed house still sit on the property. The arsonist and former tenant of 925 Wolcott Avenue, Brian P. Atkinson, is due in court later in February, unless the hearing is pushed. Mid Hudson News and ALBB first reported that Brian turned himself in after starting the fire, according to people who were at the scene. The Highlands Current later reported that “Police said he walked to the department and turned himself in immediately after starting the fire,” even though that was not written in the Press Release issued by the Beacon Police.
The owner, Yeshia, also owns the boarding house across the street, 916 Wolcott Avenue. That house was recently in the news as being the residence of the man who died after a fall into the stream under Teller Avenue on New Year’s Day. While the situations remain unconnected, both men did frequent Main Street at the local outdoor sidewalk hangout on Teller and Main Street.
BeaconArt's Piano Themed "Keys To The City" Needs Volunteers for Fall 2023
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It’s been since 2018 since piano notes twinkled from alleyways, gardens and front lawns during BeaconArts’ city-wide installation, “Keys To The City,” a fiscally sponsored project of BeaconArts. The interactive installation is going to happen again in the Fall of 2023, and they need volunteers to help make it happen.
To refresh our memories, “Keys to To The City” is a collection of decorated pianos placed in outdoor spaces throughout the city. People can sit and play at them whenever the mood inspires them.
Writer Izdihar Dabashi captured the mood in the fall of 2018. The last time the pianos were played, she wrote: “Auburn leaves danced in the wind, wisps of hair and tangles of scarves flit about in the cool weather. Softly, Adele’s voice weaves into the moment creating an ambiance that is undoubtedly autumn in New York. As if singing ‘Hello’ to myself isn’t dramatic enough, the universe seems to encourage my bout of melodrama, as evidenced by the several pianos adorning Main Street. I was tempted to ignore the peculiar sights and continue to sonder, but the tinkling sounds of the pianos rang through the air and lured me to their sights.” Read her full article here, and see pictures of the pianos past.
BeaconArts has put out the call for volunteers. They are looking for volunteers to help with project management and piano logistics. People who are interested are instructed to contact Ian Murdoch here.
People with a variety of skills who want to install and monitor pianos during their weeks on display are encouraged to inquire. Even if you are not super technically handy, there might be something you can do, if this is a volunteer opportunity that matches your desires.
Free School Meals For K-12 Tossed Like A Hot Potato By Governor Hochul
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During the height of the pandemic, the federal government allocated funding to feed all students in public schools, regardless of income status, for two years. One need not apply. Caregivers who were on auto-billing for their child’s meals no longer had to worry about if their account had enough money in it to process the re-fill level. Their child just got access to school breakfast and lunch.
After the federal funding for the free meals expired in June 2022, a push began to get the funding back, led in part by Hunger Solutions New York and Community Food Advocates. Lawmakers proposed the “Healthy School Meals for All NY Kids” to Governor Hochul to consider including in New York’s 2023 budget. According to Spectrum News: “That's why lawmakers proposed the Healthy School Meals For All program, asking Gov. Kathy Hochul to commit $200 million to fund free school meals for all students in the next state budget. Sponsor Sen. Michelle Hinchey says that's .01% of the state's total $220 billion budget, and would save families about $140 per school-aged child per month.”
According to their website: “Providing free meals for all students—regardless of income—is a proven strategy to reduce food insecurity, support learning, improve mental and physical health, and bolster educational and economic equity. Yet at the start of this school year, more than 726,000 students in nearly 2,000 schools across the state lost access to free school meals.”
Governor Hochul did not end up including it in the state’s budget, maintaining that the money should continue to come from the federal level. And yet, a spokesperson with the governor's office said in a statement: "In her Executive Budget, Gov. Hochul allocated $34.5 billion in total school aid — the highest level of state aid in history, and fully funded Foundation Aid for the first time." In terms of food, the spokesperson said: "In addition, we are working closely with our federal counterparts and encourage them to reinstate the federal universal meal program that ended last school year,"
With school reaching its 100th day in this academic year, it is unclear what if any effort is being made.
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The original title of this email was "It's Valentine's Day Weekend!" And that was written by ALBB's Retail Editor, Teslie. When ALBB's publisher Katie read it, she cringed and blocked her eyes. Because Teslie is a newlywed and so much in love with her best friend, and Katie is in...a different place.
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Black History Month Reading List From The Beacon Howland Public Library
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The Beacon Howland Public Library has displayed their Black History Month reading list. You can find it front and center in the lobby as you walk through the front doors.
Books in the curated list include:
The Little Devil In America, by Hanif Abdurraqib
A Taste of Power, by Elaine Brown
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning (AGES 12 & UP)) by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Xendi
(perhaps read this one first): Stamped From The Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi
The 1619 Project, created by Nicole Hannah-Jones, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
Chasing Me To My Grave, by Winfred Rembert, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Biography
The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett
Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi
Swing Time, by Zadie Smith
Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward
The Underground Railroad, by Culson Whitehad
I Am A Man, by William R. Ferris
Please note: Most of these books are not linked to Amazon. Usually, the media links to Amazon in order to get a very tiny commission from the Affiliate Link model. ALBB encourages you to order from any other source than Amazon, and if they have Affiliate Links, great, but spread the wealth. ALBB will order from Amazon only during emergency situations, like for last minute party supplies or face painting supplies.
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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.
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