Beacon's Parade Of Green 2017 On A Chilly Main Street in March

Madeleine Ouellette of King Family Chiropractic helps the Beacon Chamber of Commerce sell green headbands.
Photo Credit: Beacon Chamber of Commerce and Kate Rabe

It was a chilly day in Beacon last Saturday, March 22, 2017, for the 2nd Annual Parade of Green, but that did not stop the floats from promenading down Main Street. Over thirty organizations participated (several can be seen here). Although the turnout to cheer them on was a little lighter than last year, there were still many members of the community who did bundle up and come out to watch.  

The marching was kicked off by the Parade of Green committee, who greeted all of us with a smile and a wave. Without the committee, none of this wonderful new tradition would be possible. They were followed by various groups from our community, including kids from the Boy Scouts of America, Beacon’s Pop Warner teams, Yanarella School of Dance, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, various fire departments from the area and even an impressive float from the McElduff Family.  

Stinson's Hub, a pub on Fishkill Avenue, was out with flying colors.
Photo Credit: Beacon Chamber of Commerce and Kate Rabe

Businesses along Main Street participated as well, coming out onto the sidewalks to hand out some St. Paddy’s Day goodies. Bank Square kicked off the day with a great Keg & Eggs event, making over five dozen eggs! Antalek & Moore had a popcorn machine running throughout the morning to hand out treats to spectators and the marchers. 

The parade took a new route this year, ending at the East of Main near the dummy light. But the day's festivities did not stop there. Multiple bars and restaurants - from Joe’s Irish Pub to The Elks Club to Max’s - opened their doors to welcome everyone with a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Even The Vault was dressed up for the occasion, renamed “McVaulty’s Irish Pub." Stinson’s Hub also featured Irish step dancers and a pipe and drum band.

The Vault turned into McVaulty's Irish Pub for two weeks to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Photo Credit: The Vault

Although we missed the warm sunshine that graced the parade last year, it was still a memorable event that brought Beacon together. We're all looking forward to celebrating the 3rd annual parade next year!

Photo Credit: Beacon Chamber of Commerce and Kate Rabe

About This Citizen Blogger: Kate Rabe was born and raised in Beacon, NY. Her mother works for Antalek & Moore, and Kate holds a newly elected position as a Director with the Beacon Chamber of Commerce. Kate is a certified business coach, helping corporations and small businesses navigate and implement their HR needs.  

Beacon Lifts State of Emergency Order

As emailed from the Mayor's Office moments ago, Mayor Randy Casale has lifted the State of Emergency Order for Beacon, NY.

From his desk:

WITHDRAWAL OF EMERGENCY ORDER

"A state of emergency was declared in the City of Beacon effective at 12:00 a.m., midnight on March 14, 2017.  This state of emergency was declared due to the forecasted blizzard that occurred all day on March 14, 2017 and threatened public safety. 

"I, Randy Casale, Mayor of the City of Beacon, hereby rescind the State of Emergency issued effective 12:00 a.m. on March 14, 2017 and all emergency orders issued thereunder effective immediately."

Dated: March 17, 2017

Click here to read the full order >

To see the state of Beacon in pictures, see A Little Beacon's article "National Guard and Bulldozers Are Booked For Beacon's #Digout 2017"

Happening This Weekend - 3/17/2017

If you kept thinking yesterday was Monday, and you didn't know what day it was or where the week went, you're not alone. This storm really threw everything out of whack. So... Now it's the weekend. Today is Friday. There's a dance party you should go to. Lots of other weekend dates have been pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.

There is more parking than you think! Especially the large free lots on the East End of town, near the mountain. We've got pictures. Sponsored by Antalek and Moore for car insurance. Hudson Valley Restaurant Week (LAST CHANCE!) Days: March 6-19, 2017 Information > Dance Distilled Returns to Denning's Point Distillery  Day: Friday, March 17, 2017 Time: 8pm Location: 10 N. Chestnut St. (on the side street across from Rite Aid, in the garage) Information > Sugar Maple Celebration Day: March 18, 2017 Time: 10am to 4pm Location: Sharpe Reservation Camp, Camp Hidden Valley, 436 Van Wyck Lake Road, Fishkill, NY Information > Family Free Night Day: Saturday, March 18, 2017 Time: 5-8pm Location: Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY Information > Jasper String Quartet w/ Gilles Vonsattel, Piano Day: Sunday, March 19, 2017 Time: 4pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Movie Screening - Do The Right Thing Day: Sunday, March 19, 2017 Time: 7:30pm (doors), 8pm (movie) Location: More Good, 383 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Jasper Quartet with Gilles Vonsattel, Piano Day: March 19, 2017 Time: 4pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Zine Meetup @ Z!ne Club Ages: 10- to 14-year-olds Days: Friday, March 17, 2017 (Third Friday every month) Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Saturday Morning Makers Ages: 10+ Day: Saturday, March 18, 2017 Time: 11am-12:30pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Starlab: What’s That Constellation Day: Friday, March 17, 2017 Time: 4pm Location: Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, 71 North Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY Information > Prenatal 5-Week Yoga Series Day: Friday, March 17, 2017 Time: 5:30-6:30pm Location: beBhakti Yoga Center, 89 Dewindt St., Beacon, NY Information > Terrarium-Making Workshop Day: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Time: 6:30-8pm Location: Raven Rose, 474 Main St., Beacon, NY Two options: 1. Bring your own container: $45 per terrarium 2. Container provided: $55 per terrarium *You can bring a guest to help, but please limit to just one RSVP: (845) 765-8660     reMade 133 Main Street Calendars are never around when you need them - and when you finally decide you do need them is now, right around mid-March when you've slowed down enough from the whirlwind of the New Year and are looking to head into summer. reMADE has a calendar for you typeface and art lovers who want a little pretty on the wall. Bellus on Main 181 Main Street Alright you day-trippers, if you've been looking for the perfect bag, you very well might find it in Bellus on Main, who pride themselves on selecting the best quality - down to the very stitch - in all of the products carried in their store. This backpack is one of a few choices you have if you are looking to coordinate your look with something sharp yet casual. TIP: Ask if their Winter Sale of 40% off is still going on... Luxe Optique 183 Main Street Paul Smith is a British fashion designer known for his "classics with a twist" tailoring  style, and his stripes. You'll get his signature stripes on the inside arm of a few frames, which are handmade in Italy, at Luxe Optique. Raven Rose 474 Main Street Snow has been cleared and a path for easy access has emeerged in front of the high-end floral and gift boutique Raven Rose! Come in if you haven't yet to see her dried flower display, and inquire about the new lineup of workshops! You'll be in a bright and inspiring atmosphere to get your creative on. Need to send flowers? Call Raven Rose directly to save and make an arrangement at (845) 765-8660. Style Storehouse 484 Main Street Spring is arriving rack-by-rack to Style Storehouse, with an entire collection of long stretchy short-sleeve shirts that are forgiving after this winter. The sidewalk is clear over here, and the good people at Hudson Valley Fitness dug a path from the street so that you can walk along these storefronts with a bit more freedom! River Therapeutic Massage 612 Rt. 52 (at Karen's Place Salon) ☘️ SHAMROCK SPECIAL - Today only! Book an hour (or longer) appointment before the end of March and experience a free hot stone mini with my new Corestones! ☘️ Mention Corestones when booking! (No Gift Certificates; cannot be combined with other offers) Book your appointment. Do it!    The Vault 446 Main Street All plowed! Warm up at The Vault with a hot toddy and our Parmesan corn fritters. We have customer parking in our lot and the walkway is clear! Barb's Butchery 69 Spring Street Barb is featured on Feastly for their #GirlsWithKnives Spotlight! Learn Barb's backstory: how she got into the culinary field, and about her life as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Get the Scoop >   Visit our Restaurant Guide for a complete list of eateries in Beacon. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Antalek & Moore is a new sponsor of K104.7's Cupcake Festival 2017, happening in Beacon this year! Says Antalek & Moore COO Susan Pagones: "It is a great cause and something we wanted to commit to. We hope to have a booth there that day also, so look for us!" Daniel Aubry Realty Are you in a Lone Star state of mind? Maybe this house at 39 Catherine Street in Beacon is for you. Check it out in Daniel Aubry's listings. Atelier Room 205 New artists are joining the studio, The Atelier Room 205! Owner Maria Amor welcomes Paul W. McCormack, Devin Cecil-Wishing, and Richard Thomas Scott. Stay tuned for their schedules, and follow The Atelier Room 205's Facebook page for upcoming workshop announcements. Contact her to book the space by calling (646) 705-3833 or emailing AtelierRoom205@gmail.com. BeaconArts The March Member Meetup for BeaconArts is at The Atelier Room 205! You get to experience this artist studio firsthand. Are you a member of BeaconArts yet? It's very worthwhile if you are an artists, business owner or friend of the arts. Click here for membership details > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Look at these cuties from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce participating in last week's Parade of Green, before the official St. Patrick's Day holiday. See more pictures from the parade >                                  Tin Shingle Trying to get the word out about your business? Did you just realize your biz should be on Twitter and Instagram? Tin Shingle can help. They have over 250 webinars, called Training TuneUps, that you can stream on snow days. InHouse Design Media Do you think you can bow out of Facebook? As tempting as that might be, if you have a business, you're going to want to keep at least one foot in that door by having a free Facebook Business Page. There are ways to do it without getting swallowed by the other distractions of Facebook. Book a Private Training Session with us to come up with a plan. Now Mini-Sessions start at $75! A Little Beacon Space 291 Main Street Meetings, workshops, gatherings - they can all be booked and hosted by you at A Little Beacon Space at 291 Main Street, in the heart of Beacon. Click here for more details and to book online. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!" Pictures shown above are from our Guide advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

National Guard and Bulldozers Are Booked For Beacon's Big #Digout2017

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A true snowpocalypse, this blizzard of March 2017 will seal the deal that we can't expect winter's end in the Hudson Valley until April. Remember when we had those Summer Numbers during the nice Presidents Day long weekend? How the shops were wrapping it up with Winter Clearance sales? Reflecting on how they made it through the winter? Hopefully you heeded our advice and stocked up on winter clothes and boots then, because then this storm happened, leaving 2 to 3 feet of snow covering Beacon. With cold temperatures locked in, the barricades of snow corralling people trying to get somewhere via sidewalk might not melt away anytime soon, especially as a new snowfall is forecast for Saturday. This snow state has happened in the past, when barricades of snow lasted for what felt like weeks.

How is the snow affecting life in Beacon? Let's take a look in pictures...

The National Guard is called to Beacon to help remove snow.

The National Guard Removes Snow

The National Guard was called in to remove snow from designated areas. We emailed the Mayor's Office to get a definitive answer on what the National Guard's instructions were, as to what areas they were told to dig out first - which sidewalks, streets or parking lots - but have not received a response as of the publishing of this article. The Mayor's Office did, however, send us the alert about the State of Emergency, and the subsequent Modification. Troops could be seen up 9D on both sides of the street, and on side streets connected to 9D. If you saw them elsewhere in the City, please chime in below in the Comments.

Beacon runs out of places to put the snow after plowing city streets. Beacon City School buses are running as of Thursday.

The snow started falling early Monday morning, and continued all day Tuesday, letting up around 6 pm. Shoveling midway through the storm seemed pointless, as so much more was expected to fall. People began digging out their homes on Monday night, before it turned into an all-day affair on Tuesday. Many people took a snow day from work and school to just dig out of their houses - literally, needing to shovel off the porch to even get to the driveway. Snow responders, including people who drive contracted tow trucks and snow plows, or people with snow blowers, had to first get out of their homes in order to get to work - removing snow from elsewhere.

Commuters who normally travel to New York City had nowhere to go, as New York City was also buried and Metro-North and other commuter trains were shut down. Beacon's State of Emergency kept cars and people off the streets in Beacon. In the street was not somewhere you wanted to be, anyway, as snow plow trucks rumbled through trying to get to different neighborhoods. Trash was picked up as usual, but a lot of people couldn't get to their garbage cans (unless they were sharp thinkers like Beacon resident Arie Bram, who pulled his cans out before the storm hit).

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Unless you pulled out your trash cans the night before, they weren't going anywhere. Trash pickup did commence the day after the storm.

Paths in the snow proved to be hard to come by, as some sidewalks - residential, business and public-owned - were not cleared completely. Some hadn't been touched at all by Thursday, since such a massive amount of snow needed immediate clearing, making it difficult for first responders to get into a building. Keep in mind, even though several sidewalks had been cleared by snowblower and shovel, one doesn't realize how dependent one is upon so many sidewalks on both sides of the streets - until one suddenly can't use them. Just a single property owner not clearing 100% of a sidewalk impacts basic accessibility on an entire route to the train station, for example.

The public parking lot on Henry Street needs several trucks to cart away snow.

Bulldozers Booked By City And Private Business To Remove Snow

When you run out of room to push snow into corners, you call in the bulldozers and dump trucks to cart it away. Plowing of municipal lots started on Wednesday, with heavy work continuing on Thursday. The lot pictured above on Henry Street is a double lot. One side of it is attached to local businesses like Towne Crier and LocoMotive Crossfit, and the other side primarily serves patients of the Beacon Health Center. According to employees who work in this area, the business parking lot was plowed on Wednesday, and the health facility plowed on Thursday, with work starting overnight. On Wednesday, the Health Center was open to patients, including seniors, children, pregnant women and disabled people.

The public parking lot next to Beacon Bread Company gets the bulldozer treatment.

Citizens who do not have driveways or a place to park their cars sought spots in the public parking lots, for which the 24-hour limit remained in effect. But with so much snow, there was nowhere to move the cars. Residents visited the lots at night to shovel their cars out and lot-hop to avoid the ticket for exceeding the 24-hour rule. Pictured above is the public parking lot next to Beacon Bread Company on Thursday, as a bulldozer lifted snow out.

Those who could not get to lots, or already had a car in a lot and needed placement for another car, borrowed friends' driveways, as Jesse Meyer of Pergamena, a tannery based in Montgomery, did. He had one car at the lot next to Beacon Bread Company, and another in a neighbor's driveway. He is pictured here digging out the first of two vehicles on Tuesday night.

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A man with no driveway borrows a neighbor's before heading to a public lot to shovel out two cars.

Some private businesses, such as Halvey Funeral Home, plowed early Thursday morning, completely clearing their sidewalks and street parking, a benefit to their clients as well as residents. Other establishments, like St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on South Avenue, had completely cleared sidewalks, which was helpful for their congregation as well as kids walking to the elementary school just one block down the road. But plenty of homes, which might have elderly residents or even be abandoned, had not shoveled yet, making it difficult to walk to school, as kids and parents were forced to walk in the street.

HaLvey Funeral Home completely cleared its sidewalks and street parking with a bulldozer.

The orange No Parking signs moved throughout the City all week.

No Parking on City Streets

The orange signs started going up on Wednesday (according to eyewitnesses; we have not confirmed with the city), reinforcing the parking ban on city streets, but definitely acting to clear the way for any quickie parking jobs from people who were running into a store or apartment to get something. Wednesday was a fully open day, as the post office, all grocery stores, banks, etc. reopened, as people started emerging to run errands like getting food, signing corporate tax documents (a major corporate tax deadline was March 15, sending accountants into a panic when clients couldn't come in to sign paperwork) and conduct other business as usual.

Despite the five-day parking ban on city streets, people did park on Main Street and side streets. Because of that, plowed snow couldn't be removed completely from the street, and thereby spilled into and further narrowed the streets. With cars parallel-parked farther away from the sidewalk, driving down Main Street mainly consisted of driving in the middle of the road.

With Thursday being the new Monday as schools and more businesses reopened, many people were out and about, making driving a very slow and careful experience. However, toward the afternoon when the sky was blue and the sun was shining, some people began to drive a little faster, turning quickly out of side streets and almost ramming oncoming traffic, which was inching slowly among other cars. Driving in Beacon was not fun on Thursday.

A pathway was cleared for gymgoers to Hudson Valley Fitness and other neighboring shops.

Stores on Main Street and side streets did their best to clear the sidewalk, and make a path to the street itself so that potential customers could get from their cars through the thick wall of snow. Clearly, Hudson Valley Fitness (above) made sure their members had no excuse to miss getting to a fitness class. Parking on the East End of town is actually possible, what with the free parking lot located down the street from the "P for Parking" sign in this picture. Just head down Church Street to the large lot near Hudson Valley Brewing. See A Little Beacon Blog's Free Parking Guide for pictures and cross streets.

School's Out For Summer! Just Kidding - For Pre-Spring Break

Beacon City Schools shut down Tuesday during the storm, and Wednesday during the digout. Thursday was a 2-hour delay, which means families had to get their kids to school at 10:30am instead of 8:30am (earlier for the high school). Not all roads and sidewalks were 100% clear by the opening or the delayed opening, so the 2-hour delay did not make sense to some parents who have questioned other 2-hour delays (sometimes called when no weather is happening at all, except for a chilly temperature of 20 degrees or blowing wind).

The plowed parking lot of Beacon High School.

The plowed parking lot of Rombout Middle School.

While Beacon City Schools had plowed parking lots in time for school to start, that act alone didn't guarantee access to the schools. Several sidewalks from residential and private properties were not yet cleared, making parents take convoluted paths while walking kiddos to school. Some plowed snow remained in the street, making two-way traffic during kid drop-offs very congested.

A Proposed Alternative to the 2-Hour School Delay

Quite possibly the most controversial topic that parents discuss amongst themselves and with administrators is the justified or unjustified calling of a snow day or 2-hour delay. In Beacon, the formula for such calls has not been clearly stated by the current superintendent or Board of Education president; instead, the broad "child safety" is cited. Nothing specific has been made available to parents (including this one) who have emailed to ask why, or for more specific details so that we can know when to expect a 2-hour delay on clear, sunny days.

Two years ago during a normal snowfall, all districts around Beacon closed - except Beacon - really throwing a wrench into the logic. During a meeting with the superintendent, I was told that those schools were fulfilling a contractual day off for teachers that had been negotiated by the teachers' union and the schools were looking for a day in the schedule to grant it. Beacon, at that particular time, did not want to go that route. Despite the argument that school is not childcare, school in fact offers parents and kids a solid schedule, and when that schedule is disrupted, adjustments need to be made quickly and at times those changes may jeopardize jobs or important medical appointments.

The trouble with 2-hour delays in the morning is that at times, it is not safer. It did not feel safer during this week as the entire district poured out in the late morning to walk and drive children to school. If walking, pedestrians headed for the middle of the street when a clear sidewalk wasn't available. If driving, cars headed to the middle of the street to detour around walkers and parked cars. Where roads were closed by the National Guard to clear sidewalks or streets, it took much longer to get more than one child to more than one school. A drive that normally takes five minutes took over half an hour. (Beacon doesn't have busing for all kids, so some children walk to school in the morning, either with their friends, alone, or with a parent.)

A safer alternative may be to wave the late penalty, and open schools at the usual time, but allow kids and parents two hours to get there. This could stagger the time people leave (assuming everyone doesn't leave five minutes before the delayed-open time, as they do during 2-hour delays) in order to give everyone more time to dig out, slowly back down driveways, get unstuck from driveways, pick up unplanned carpool pals, and get through alternate routes to school.

That's not a sidewalk those boots are standing on, it's 2.5 feet of snow on top of the berm of the sidewalk. For some parents, drop-off is on the other side of the sidewalk, so getting the child over the mound was the challenge once getting through traffic to school. But at least there was a clear path in front of the school!

Mostly unintentional blockages of sidewalks happened throughout the city. If you are not a frequent walker, then you might not be used to using sidewalks. First and foremost on most people's minds is getting to their cars in order to get to work or to the store. Some people shoveled a path from their door to the driveway, without shoveling the other side of the door. Or if neighbors didn't want to step on each other's shoveling, they left an unshoveled no man's land of a barrier of snow, like when you're sharing dessert with someone and neither of you wants to take the last bite. Mini-barricades like this were all over the city, which pushed more people into the streets as they tried to take what is normally a straightforward walk. 

Shoveling in front of fences was actually dangerous, as the removal of the snow unbalanced the gate, causing sounds of buckling. So be careful walking past those fences!

Watch for buckling fences pushed by unbalanced yards full of snow.

All in all, Beacon is getting cleared pretty systematically. Especially considering that we don't often receive this much snow at once, there aren't many protocols to follow. At least the weather didn't jump up to 40 degrees after a snowfall, as it has in the past, causing flooding. So we'll take the bright sun and colder temperatures to let the snow gradually melt into the ground and fill the reservoirs for a replenished water supply.

Be Ready for DOT

And listen - don't park your car out on the street at night if your road hasn't been snow-sucked! You never know when those heroes from the Department of Transportation are going to swing by. Signs for the snow removal pictured below went up at possibly 1 am, and the trucks came by at 6 am to clear the snow from this side of the street on this block. I was awake at 1 am (because that's my new pregnancy thing - waking in the middle of the night) so I saw the trucks getting ready.

Once the morning officially started for me at 6 am to make a dent in this article (I don't write at night because I fall asleep while typing), while I was making coffee and stirring cat food (they like it soupy), I heard the trucks again, this time in blower mode. Little did I know my husband had parked the car in front of the house, and it was face to face with a giant DOT truck. I put on my cap and boots and dashed outside to move it, only to not notice when the prized glasses the hubs got for Christmas (from Luxe Optique, such a treat!) fell out of the car and subsequently under my tires as I toggled between Drive and Reverse to get around the mounds of snow, and into our shared driveway, which already had five cars in it.

A casualty of the storm, this glasses case is pretty impressive, in that the glasses didn't completely flatten and the lenses shatter. A man in the DOT truck saw the whole thing happen, and got out of his truck to pick up the crushed glasses case and hand it to me in the wee, dark hours of the morning. Someone has hawk eyes and had his glasses on!

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Photo Credit: All photos pictured here were taken by Katie Hellmuth Martin.

Modification of Emergency Order - You Can Drive But Not Park on City Streets in Beacon, NY

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From the City of Beacon Mayor's Office, sent at 8:55pm, Tuesday, March 14, as issued by Mayor Randy Casale:

MODIFICATION OF EMERGENCY ORDER

"A State of Emergency was declared in the City of Beacon effective at 12:00 a.m., midnight on March 14, 2017.  This state of emergency was declared due to the forecasted blizzard that occurred all day on March 14, 2017 and threatened public safety. 

"The State of Emergency remains in effect, but I am rescinding the Emergency Order which banned travel on City Streets effective at 4:00 am on Wednesday March 15, 2017. The Emergency Order banning parking on City streets remains in effect."

Dated March 14, 2017, sent by Anthony Ruggiero, City Administrator for the City of Beacon

More Public Updates

Additional public updates seem to be on this page of the City of Beacon website. Refresh your screen often to find the most recent important information related to Beacon city business, including meeting cancellation updates.

Guide To Where To Find Free Municipal Parking Lots In Beacon, NY

Find the free, municipal parking lots in Beacon, NY, here in our Guide. According to this State of Emergency, the 24-hour rule is still in place. 

Made for TV Film, "Dancing on Broadway" By Katie Fforde Filmed In Beacon, Airs In Germany

See that yarn bomb on the light pole behind the piano? Does it look familiar? It's an extra in "Dancing on Broadway," a movie from writer Katie Fforde that was filmed in Beacon, was made for German TV, and is airing now online for anyone to watch. See local favorites like Dream in Plastic, Notions-n-Potions, Classic Couture Boutique, Hudson Beach Glass, and others.

Set in Poughkeepsie, Beacon and other Hudson Valley locations, this story follows that of a dancer, Skye Rhodan, as she struggles to find her footing in her dancing career while she's torn between two men - her ex, Ryan, and her new dance partner and widower with two children, Michael.

Stream it here >

"Homeland" Episode 8 Season 6 With Quinn Airs, Starring Key Food Beacon

Photo Credit: Key Food Beacon

The much-buzzed about episode of "Homeland" filmed in Beacon, Season 6 Episode 8, titled "Alt.Truth" has finally hit TV and streaming computer screens on March 12, 2017. In this episode, Quinn fans get their fill of the actor as he meanders through the meat section of Key Food, past Beacon's own local celebrity and Key Food co-owner/manager, JB, and onto spotting a suspicious man at checkout.

Watch it here on Showtime.

Watch episode 8 season six @sho_homeland to see our @keyfoodbeacon #homeland #showtime #homelandseason6 #keyfoodinhomland #keyfood #keyfoodbeacon #beacon #beaconny #ny

A post shared by Junior Zayed (@junior_zayed) on Mar 12, 2017 at 8:18pm PDT

[Updated] State of Emergency Declared in Beacon & Parking Restrictions

UPDATE 3/14/17: The Mayor's Office has issued a modification to the Emergency Order, allowing cars to drive on city streets, but not park, effective 4am, Wednesday, March 15, 2017. View the update here.

From the office of Randy Casale, Mayor - City of Beacon, as written by the Mayor, dated March 13, 2017:

STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION & EMERGENCY ORDER

"A state of emergency is hereby declared in the City of Beacon effective at 12:00 am, midnight on March 14, 2017. The state of emergency has been declared due to the forecasted blizzard which is expected to occur all day on March 14, 2017, and bring heavy accumulation of snow and high winds during the storm. This situation threatens the public safety. This state of emergency will remain in effect for five (5) days or until rescinded by the subsequent order. 

"As the Chief Executive of the City of Beacon, I Randy Casale, exercise the authority given to me under Section 24 of the New York State Executive Law, to preserve the public safety and hereby render all required and available assistance vital to the security, well-being and health of the citizens of this municipality. I hereby direct all departments and agencies of the City of Beacon to take whatever steps are necessary to protect life and property, public infrastructure and provide such emergency assistance deemed necessary.

"Pursuant to my authority and consistent with my Declaration of a State of Emergency, I am hereby ordering 1) that all vehicles are prohibited from traveling on City Streets and 2) no vehicles are permitted to be parked on City Streets and all City Code provisions inconsistent with this Emergency Order are hereby suspended. I will issue further Emergency Orders as are necessary and consistent with this State of Emergency Declaration. "

Read full declaration here.

24-Hour Parking Limit

See all of the free municipal parking lots here in A Little Beacon Blog's Free Parking Lot Guide.

§211-19.5. Twenty-four-hour parking limit. [Added 4-2-2001 by L.L. No. 4-2001; amended 5-19-2014 by L.L. No. 5-2014]

"Unless otherwise restricted by an appropriate sign, all City-owned parking lots shall be limited to twenty-four-hour parking. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the parking of commercial and recreational vehicles, as defined in §211-15.1 of this chapter, overnight in municipal parking lots is prohibited. Signs shall set forth the following language: "24-Hour Parking — Except for Commercial and Recreational Vehicles - All City-owned Parking Lots unless otherwise marked - Section 211-19.5."

24-Hour Parking Restriction and Municipal Parking Lots

Guide to Free and Easy Parking Lots In Beacon

Happening This Weekend - 3/10/2017

Sponsored Event
Save The Date:
Dance Distilled Returns to Denning's Point Distillery
Day: Friday, March 17, 2017
Time: 8 pm
Location: 10 N. Chestnut St.
(on the side street across from Rite Aid, in the garage)
Music is by DJs Zesto Q and Freefall, with Guest DJ Mikey Alva. Groove to Rock & Soul, Funk, Latin, Disco, House, Hip Hop, Jazz & World. 
RSVP Now >

It's Second Saturday in Beacon! Your full guide for the day/night is here!

Get out there and enjoy the snow! Don't let a little snow dusting keep you inside! We've been telling you about the Winter Clearance sales happening on Main Street, so surely you are prepared with your winter-best to be warm and snuggly as you venture out to experience all that the artists and businesses have in store for you. Here are this weekend's dates, all pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's Things To Do In Beacon Guides, . Be sure to check them throughout the week!

Your full Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide for Beacon. Find out what is happening in each gallery in Beacon so that you can plan your day. Always available at www.alittlebeaconblog.com/second-saturday, with past months archived. There is more parking than you think! Especially in the large free lots on the East End of town, near the mountain. We've got pictures. Sponsored by Antalek and Moore for car insurance. The Upcoming Events Guide is proudly sponsored by King Family Chiropractic, located in Beacon and ready to serve you. Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Days: March 6-19, 2017 Information > The Hudson Valley Poets Poetry Night Day: Friday, March 10, 2017 Time: 7pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Beacon's Parade Of Green Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time: 11am Location: Main Street - Starts at South Avenue, ends at Tioronda Avenue Information > Maple Fest Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time: Pancake breakfast, 11 am to 1 pm; festival 1 to 4 pm Location: Randolph School, 2467 Rt 9D, Wappingers Falls, NY Information > A Common Thread - Group Show Reception Dinner Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time: 5-7pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Stock Up First Anniversary Party Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time:  6-11pm Location: Stock Up, 29 Teller Ave., Beacon, NY Information > Square Dance Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time: 8-10:30pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Movie Screening - To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar Day: Sunday, March 12, 2017 Time: 7:30pm (doors), 8pm (movie) Location: More Good, 383 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > YAC Meeting Day: Friday, March 10, 2017 Time: 3:15-4:15pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Vinyl Records Pop-Up Show Days: March 10-12, 2017 Time: Friday, 3-8pm, Saturday, 10am-8pm, Sunday, 11am-5pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Second Saturday Weekend Featuring: Rama Records (Beacon) Record Hunter (Stormville) Sound Shack (Beacon) Vinyl Pit (Fishkill) Vinyl Salvage Co. (Fishkill) Get Awesome Records (Brooklyn). Read more about this event in our article. Local Artisan Market Pop-Up with CREATE Community Day: Saturday, March 11, 2017 Time: 10am-4pm Location: CREATE Community, 11 Peekskill Road, Cold Spring Information >     Bellus on Main 181 Main Street You've been warned that Bellus on Main is offering 40% off on their Winter stock, which includes creatively cool leather boots like the ones at right. Word of the sale has gotten around, so supplies are now limited. Don't miss a deal - be sure to go in and look on all of the shelves, behind all of the tables, for something to treat yourself with.   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street Kicking off our "Frames on the Faces of Beacon" series for Luxe Optique, meet Irma, co-owner of Bellus (and mother of Fabhaus!) who is wearing glasses from Luxe. These are an Alain Mikli frame, handmade in France. The frame is a perfect fit for Irma because the uplifted shape of the frame matches the curve of her face and her vibrant personality. The colors perfectly complement the combination of her eye color, hair, and skin tone. The light tortoiseshell color accented with white highlights make this frame extremely versatile and feminine. It is a beautiful frame for a beautiful lady! Raven Rose 474 Main Street Come and get your hands dirty with Raven Rose's Terrarium Making Workshop! This floral boutique will provide everything from soil, succulents, and decorative elements needed to create your own miniature garden. They will walk you through the process of building a healthy terrarium and provide tips on how to maintain it once you go home.   Two options: 1. Bring your own container: $45 per terrarium 2. Container provided: $55 per terrarium *You can bring a guest to help, but please limit to just one Date: Wednesday, March 22, 6:30-8pm RSVP: (845) 765-8660 Style Storehouse 484 Main Street For a romantic look that goes perfectly with boots during this blustery entrance to Spring, find this Somedays Lovin' dress at Style Storehouse (100% viscose for a shapely fit) and pick up a long gold necklace to match while you are there.   River Therapeutic Massage 612 Rt. 52 (at Karen's Place Salon) The offer to include Hot Stone Mini into your regular massage service has been extended through the month of March. Experience the stones' comforting warmth and muscle-melting power.  Book your appointment. Do it!    Barb's Butchery 69 Spring Street "Anything can turn into loaded fries," says Barb’s Butchery. These pulled pork loaded fries at right were one of the Lunch Specials in weeks past. To see what Barb's is loading up for the week, always follow the butchery's social media, with specials posted on their Facebook and Instagram. Get the Scoop > Visit our Restaurant Guide for a complete list of eateries in Beacon. SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Antalek & Moore is a new sponsor of K104.7's Cupcake Festival 2017, now happening in Beacon this year! Says the insurance company's COO Susan Pagones: "It is a great cause and something we wanted to commit to. We hope to have a booth there that day also, so look for us!" Daniel Aubry Daniel Aubry knows a good location when he sees one. The best eyes in real estate know to invest in an area before it has a tipping point, and before it becomes hot. Case in point with Daniel's career as a real estate agent, and his specialized selection in Beacon. His real estate office, which doubles as his photo gallery, is located in what is now becoming the heart of the East End of Beacon. See his new Dedicated Sponsor Page at A Little Beacon Blog! Atelier Room 205 The Atelier Room 205 is a teaching studio, open to artists who are teaching workshops to reserve and use. The Atelier Room 205 is well-equipped for teaching art workshops and is run by artist Maria Amor. Contact her to book the space, by calling (646) 705-3833 or emailing AtelierRoom205@gmail.com. BeaconArts Beacon Open Studios, a fiscal project sponsored through BeaconArts, just sounded Last Call on their Sponsorship opportunity for their brochures that will be distributed all over the city of Beacon and beyond. This is a great exposure opportunity for your business, and a way to support many artists at once! Click here for details and to reserve your spot. Beacon Chamber of Commerce The Beacon Chamber of Commerce held a great meeting at Drink More Good. It included a tour and update of Jason and Scott's upcoming renovations. Be sure to attend BeaconArts' next Member Meeting in April, and sign up to be a member here!                                  Tin Shingle When your business gets attention, or media exposure, are you a Shy Fox? Or a Stand Up Straight Fox? When your business gets press, there are many ways you can get more mileage and validation out of it. Tin Shingle tells you how in this Training TuneUp Webinar. It's a great listen on a snow day! InHouse Design Media Do you think you can bow out of Facebook? As tempting as that is, if you have a business, you're going to want to keep at least one foot in that door by having a free Facebook Business Page. There are ways to do it without getting swallowed by the other distractions of Facebook. Book a Private Training Session with us to come up with a plan. Now mini-sessions start at $75! A Little Beacon Space 291 Main Street Meetings, workshops, gatherings - they can all be booked by you at A Little Beacon Space. Click here for more details and to book online. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP We know what you're thinking... "I want my business featured here!" Pictures shown above are from our Guide advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

Sound Shack Beacon Pops Up For Vinyl Record Show at A Little Beacon Space

Just when you were thinking of slipping into vinyl record withdrawal after the loss of Audioccult on Main Street, there's about to be a flurry of tunes and album covers for you to indulge in starting this weekend. The pop-up shop takeover by Sound Shack and their crew of collectors from all over the Hudson Valley will be closely followed by the highly anticipated opening of the permanent storefront replacing Audioccult, called Hudson Valley Vinyl. And then Record Store Day is April 22! This is like Christmas and Hanukkah combined for a month of even more reasons to go out record collecting.

Vinyl Record Show Pop-Up at A Little Beacon Space - March 10, 11, 12

For three days only, Sound Shack Beacon is hosting a Vinyl Record Show Pop-Up Shop during Second Saturday in March. Over the weekend of March 10 through 12, 2017, A Little Beacon Space will feature seven record collectors hailing from Beacon to Peekskill to Fishkill to Brooklyn. Thousands of records, 45s, CDs, and more will be for sale! 

Details Please!

Ready to go crate diving? You will find records in Classic Rock, Psychedelic, Prog, Garage, British Invasion, Heavy Metal, Punk, and New Wave/'80s. And that's not all... There's also Electronic, Goth, Power Pop, Underground Garage, Jazz, Soul, Funk, R&B, and Hip Hop. But that's not all! Check out Reggae, Blues, Folk, Country, Southern Rock, Surf, Hot Rod, Lounge, Soundtracks, Sealed Records!!!! LPs priced from $1 to $300!!!! Turntables for sale, and we've heard a rumor that there may be posters. Sound Shack is also coming into some unusual CDs.

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Photo Credit: Jim Annicchiarico

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Photo Credit: Jim Annicchiarico

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Photo Credit: Jim Annicchiarico

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Photo Credit: Jim Annicchiarico

About These Record Vendors

Big Jim’s Records from Buchanan/Peekskill: Big Jim has been in the music biz for 30 years. He has one of the best selections of rare and collectible music memorabilia in New York.

Sound Shack Beacon Is located just across the river at the Newburgh Vintage Emporium, selling vintage vinyl and other music-related items such as books, pictures, and more. Pictured here are Sound Shack's boxes of records, getting ready for the big move-in to set up shop in A Little Beacon Space.

Vinyl Pit from Fishkill is set up every weekend at the Dutchess Marketplace in Fishkill with a wide selection of records including Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical, Disco, R&B, and much more.

Vinyl Savage Co. from Fishkill is a private collector that has 2,000 to 3,000 LPs and 45s for sale! Contact them with your want list and they will be happy to help find what you are looking for.

Also included are Get Awesome Records coming up from Brooklyn, Rama Records from Beacon, and Record Hunter from Stormville.

Admission is FREE! You can start shopping as early as Friday, March 10 from 3-8pm, continuing Saturday, March 11 from 10am-8pm, and Sunday, March 12 from 11am-5pm.

To host your pop-up experience at A Little Beacon Space, see here for more details.

ZipCar Adds Two Car Rental Spots at Beacon Train Station, Bringing Total to Four

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Two more ZipCars have arrived in Beacon. Find them parked at the Metro-North Train Station.
illustration Credit: ZipCar, from their home page. 

ZipCar, a car-sharing program that is available worldwide, has added two additional cars that are available in Beacon. The first two cars arrived here in May 2016, and live in permanent parking spots on Henry Street and near City Hall. The latest two spots are at the Metro-North Train Station, as announced by Governor Cuomo this month, through a separate partnership between Metro-North and ZipCar. The ZipCars taking up permanent residence at the train station, which are given personal names by ZipCar, is a Crosstrek is named Cala, and a Honda Civic named Amanecer.

ZipCar's partnership with the City of Beacon for the spots on Henry Street and at City Hall yields Beacon a monthly fee for use of the two street spots, with the money going into a dedicated fund for parking issues. Metro-North has its own arrangement with ZipCar for the spots at Beacon's and other train stations. "We have been very happy [with having ZipCar available], and believe it is another component of attracting business, tourism and people to the City," says Anthony J. Ruggiero, M.P.A., City Administrator for the City of Beacon.

During the city Workshop meeting on March 14, 2016, about ZipCar first launching in Beacon, Mayor Randy Casale suggested that developers on private property consider making spots in their parking lots available for ZipCar parking spots for additional cars. The access to a car-share could be pitched as a perk to prospective residents of those housing or apartment complexes. Such arrangements could be a third category of ZipCar locations in Beacon in the coming years.

As for the nitty-gritty details of dealing with snow or cases of theft: ZipCar makes arrangements for cars to be unlocked and moved by snow plow drivers. If a ZipCar is stolen, it can be immediately shut down remotely, stopping the vehicle in its tracks.

How ZipCar Works

A person joins ZipCar as a member for about $95. ZipCar pays for gas and insurance, and 180 miles are included with your rental for each day you've booked the car. From that point, an hourly rental or day rate of about $8 to $10 per hour applies.

Reserving in advance is important, as more people are becoming familiar with using ZipCar. Reserving is easy and done via app for iPhone or Android, so these cars can get going quickly. 

Once booked, people can drive it anywhere during their rental period, and must return it to the same parking spot where they picked it up. ZipCar vehicles are locked via a scanning mechanism. ZipCar members use a special card or the app to unlock the car, rendering it drivable. Residents of Beacon who may find it useful are people who don't own a car, or share one car in a busy family, but need to drive to Target or Sunny Gardens for errands.

Outside of our little city, ZipCar might appeal to people traveling to other areas of the country - or world - who want to hop in a car to go somewhere for a few hours or a day. Maybe you're in Paris and want to head to Versailles for the day, but don't want to deal with a train, tour bus, or taxi. Road trip! 

As for the future of ZipCar in Beacon as the program expands, perhaps self-driving ZipCars will play a role. It could be handy if a car could get itself from a parking spot at the train station to a member on the East End of town, who, say, has kids and can't hoof on foot  everyone to the car for a necessary Target trip. Options could increase when and if self-driving cars become the norm... Stay tuned!

Happening This Weekend (3/3/2017)

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Sponsored Event
Save The Date:
Dance Distilled Returns to Denning's Point Distillery
Day: Friday, March 17, 2017
Time: 8 pm
Location: 10 N. Chestnut St.
(on the side street of Rite Aid in the garage)
Music is by DJs Zesto Q and Freefall, with Guest DJ Mikey Alva. Groove to Rock & Soul, Funk, Latin, Disco, House, Hip Hop, Jazz & World. 
RSVP Now >

Your full guide for the day/night is here!

Here are this weekend's dates, pulled from some of A Little Beacon Blog's Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week.

There is more parking than you think! Especially in the large free lots on the East End of town, near the mountain. We've got pictures. Sponsored by Antalek and Moore for car insurance. The Upcoming Events Guide is proudly sponsored by King Family Chiropractic, located in Beacon and ready to serve you. Movie Screening - Life Is Beautiful Day: Sunday, March 5, 2017 Time: 7:30 pm doors, 8 pm movie Location: More Good, 383 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Days: March 6-19, 2017 Information > Baking with Jac - Pies and Tarts Day: Saturday, March 4, 2017 Time: 10 am Location: Beacon Pantry, 382 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Indoor and Outdoor Rowing - Seaplane 500 Day: Saturday, March 4, 2017 Time: 3 pm Location: Cortland Community Rowing, 3 Memorial Drive, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (near Metro-North station) Information > Rowing Club Info Meeting and Registration Day: Sunday, March 5, 2017 Time: 10 am Location: Cortland Community Rowing, 3 Memorial Drive, Croton-on-Hudson, NY (near Metro-North train station) Information > Postpartum Workshop With Moonsway Birth & Baby and Homeopath Rebekah Azzarelli CANCELED Day: Sunday, March 5, 2017 Time: 12:30 to 2:30 pm Location: Shambhala Yoga Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information > reMADE 133 Main Street Why yes, that is a faucet lamp! And there are many more inventive lamps like that in reMADE right now, from Hopewell Junction-based artist Anthony Pietropaoli. Walk past the storefront window, and you'll notice a Nikon camera lamp, a Singer sewing machine lamp, and many other vintage-inspired light sources. Bellus on Main 181 Main Street It's still chilly in Beacon, and Bellus on Main is awaiting their Spring collections. Lucky for you, all Winter items like this unusually shaped 100% wool vest from Portugal are 40% off. So if you needed a little retail therapy and would love to pay the sale price, Bellus should be on your list for sure. Note: Ask them to direct you to their leather BOOTS - also on sale. Luxe Optique 183 Main Street It's time! The Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith party at Luxe Optique is set for this Saturday, March 4, from 3 to 7 pm. The entire collection will be on display, accompanied by champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Try on everything. Style Storehouse 484 Main Street Hand-painted signs from an artist in the Hudson Valley at Style Storehouse will definitely inspire you for tomorrow. Stop in and see their collection. River Therapeutic Massage 612 Rt. 52 (at Karen's Place Salon) Karen Meyer, LMT, founder of River Therapeutic Massage, recently appeared as a guest expert on stress relief in this broadcast with Dr. Lori at Women's Health on the Go. Watch it now.> The Vault 446 Main Street What has been going on at The Vault? Same great food, more little kids spotted at dinner, more craft beer, and a change in staff, from the kitchen to the front of house. First to debut on The Vault's Facebook page to meet his customers is owner Tony DiSarro, a civilian professor of Constitutional Law and Business Law at the US Military Academy at West Point. Learn more about him.> Barb's Butchery 69 Spring Street Congratulations to Barb’s Butchery, who had a great Third Annual Sausage Fest, which was featured in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Get the scoop!> Visit our Restaurant Guide for a complete list of eateries in Beacon. SAVE THE DATE Vinyl Records Show Friday to Sunday, March 10 to 12, 2017 Second Saturday Weekend Featuring: Rama Records (Beacon) Record Hunter (Stormville) Sound Shack (Beacon) Vinyl Pit (Fishkill) Vinyl Salvage Co. (Fishkill) Get Awesome Records (Brooklyn) Live Music from Beacon Music Factory SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Antalek & Moore Business insurance can be hard to navigate, but Antalek & Moore can do it with you and find you a plan that works. From Contractors to Day Care Centers to Nonprofits, see what Antalek & Moore can do for you. Daniel Aubry Did you know that the Pleasant Ridge II & Restaurant building is for sale? Daniel Aubry does, and he can talk to you about it should you be looking for an investment on Main Street. See www.danielaubryrealty.com for recent listings. Atelier Room 205 The Atelier Room 205 is a teaching studio, open to artists who are teaching workshops to reserve and use. The Atelier Room 205 is a well-equipped studio for teaching art workshops and is run by artist Maria Amor. Contact her to book the space by calling (646) 705-3833 or emailing AtelierRoom205@gmail.com. BeaconArts Beacon Open Studios, a fiscal project sponsored through BeaconArts, is looking for sponsors of their annual, citywide show running May 13 and 14, 2017. Sponsors get exposure in the printed program that is distributed in stores all over Beacon, and used by everyone who wants to know which galleries to find - including those secret galleries and studios in people's homes that are only open to the public during this art-filled weekend. Get information here. Beacon Chamber of Commerce The next Beacon Chamber of Commerce Member Meeting is March 7 (the first Tuesday of every month) and will be held at Drink Moore Good on Main Street. An update will be given from the Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Project about their work. You can join or renew your Chamber membership here online, or at the meeting! Tin Shingle When your business gets attention, or media exposure, are you a Shy Fox? Or a Stand Up Straight Fox? When your business gets press, there are many ways you can get more mileage and validation out of it. Tin Shingle tells you how in this Training TuneUp Webinar. InHouse Design Media Do you sometimes think of bowing out of Facebook? As tempting as that is, if you have a business, you're going to want to keep at least one foot in that door by having a free Facebook Business Page. There are ways to do it without getting swallowed by the other distractions of Facebook. Book a Private Training Session with us to come up with a plan. Now, mini-sessions start at $75! A Little Beacon Space 291 Main Street Meetings, workshops, gatherings - they can all be booked by you at A Little Beacon Space. Click here for more details and to book online. NEWSLETTER SIGNUP We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!" Pictures shown above are from our Guide advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too! Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog. Until next week!

FEATURE YOUR BUSINESS! Do you want to add your business as an official Sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog? This publication reaches the Beacon community, surrounding towns, and even into New York City as people research moving to Beacon or visiting for the day. Click the Advertising & Partners tab at the top of this website for details. We look forward to working with you to highlight your business and show your support! Share Tweet Forward Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

K104.7 Features ALBB's Free Parking Lot Guide On Their Cupcake Festival Page

Big News!

The Cupcake Festival that is normally in Fishkill is now coming to Beacon. We have so much to tell you about that, including the Beacon Chamber of Commerce's effort to move the Main Street event further along down Main Street so that the East End of town could benefit - but more about that is coming soon in a full article.

Meanwhile, K104.7 reached out to us to ask permission to feature A Little Beacon Blog's Free Municipal Parking Lot Guide on their official Cupcake Festival Page, this year in Beacon.

Ever since developing that Guide and taking pictures of every free municipal lot in Beacon, I myself have become more aware of places to park that are not on Main Street or on a side street. This is especially helpful down on the East End of town (and maybe a part will be called Theater Square again?), with the large free parking lot on Churchill Street, down the hill near the Fishkill Creek. It's not conducive to people who use wheelchairs or have any trouble walking, but it is an option for those who can walk up a short hill.

Anyway, more to come on the Cupcake Festival.

Movie Theater Coming Soon To Beacon In A Historic Building Near You

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UPDATE 2/28/2019: The Beacon Theater has opened! Click here for A Little Beacon Blog’s feature article.

The construction office of Highview Development Corporation is covered in layers of white pages of blueprints, dusty artifacts collected from the project on the other side of the door, and yellow sawdust blown in from the demolition going on just beyond that door. The room has the feeling of a temporary office setup, one you might see in a portable trailer parked alongside a construction site. But the wall opposite the room's door is lined in windows that overlook Main Street, as this office is on the second floor of the dilapidated Beacon Theatre, at 445 Main Street. 

Rumors have been circulating about the fate of this historic building, which sits in the heart of what was apparently known as "Theatre Square." [3/6/17 Edit: The name "Theatre Square" is referenced to in Wikipedia at the time of the research period for this article, the week of 2/20/17, and still needs to be validated.]

Though it survived bulldozers of urban renewal, the building closed as a full-time theater in 1968. Tenants over the years have included a church group - who painted the walls purple and installed purple seats - as well as a company offering private rentals to store roofing materials, and for a moment, an actual theater company. That company, 4th Wall Theatrical Productions, initially bought the theater from then-holder, The Ehrlich Company, who previously owned several other buildings in Beacon including The Roundhouse and One East Main.

When restoration costs became too high for the theater company, 4th Wall approached one of its board members, Robert McAlpine, who owned the construction company doing the renovation work on the Beacon Theatre, to see if he was interested in buying it. Robert's son Brendan McAlpine, a lawyer turned developer hailing from Long Island, DC, NYC and now Beacon, stepped in to put together a financing deal to purchase the building from the theater company. The revamped vision for the historic site included new apartments. Some Beacon residents were resistant to such a plan. 

After months of Planning Board meetings and expansive revisions to initial plans, the dust has cleared a bit. What has emerged is a mixed-use project made up of a movie theater, a concession stand serving delicious beer and wine (movie ticket not required), and rental apartments. Harry's Hot Sandwiches and By A Thin Thread will remain tenants in the building's street-level storefronts. One could surmise that Brendan was consumed so much by the history of the building while working in the office, that the building dust got into his blood, leading him to change course on his renovation plans and more deeply incorporate a restoration of sorts on the theater, which once showed "photo-plays" in the 1930s.

The Players

There are four partners in this movie theater project: Brendan McAlpine, Mike Burdge, Jason Schuler and Scott Brenner, each bringing different expertise to the table. After I met with them last week to get a hard-hat tour of the building, I had a few follow-up questions for Brendan. His reply: "I’m happy to talk all day about this exciting project."

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Mike Burdge,
Story Screen
Photo Credit: Story Screen

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Jason Schuler, Drink More Good
Photo Credit:
Drink More Good

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Scott Brenner, Drink More Good
Photo Credit: The Molecule Project

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Brendan McAlpine, Highview Development Corporation
Photo Credit: HVDC

Brendan's first concepts of the building's renovation included apartments, as well as a space to be used in a variety of ways. "A big part of the building hasn’t been in real use in a long time," says Brendan. "When I looked at the project, it was important to me to keep it an arts or community space. But it was vital that the project didn’t fail." Brendan looked into theater business models, and found that, "Generally speaking, entities that are theaters tend to not have cash flow and support loans. Pretty much, any theater you see has a public component of financing for it. Those that do not, tend to not last very long. The way to make it work was to shrink it down and have the other components to it. That’s why we came to this mixed-use approach with the rental apartments and event space."

At the end of the day, Brendan wanted to bring in movie and food professionals to partner on the project - namely Mike Burdge, Jason Schuler and Scott Brenner - who know the performance and food spaces well. Each currently runs his own business: Mike, from Beacon, started Story Screen; Jason, a native of Hopewell Junction, founded Drink More Good; and Scott, who descended from Plainview, NY, is a partner at Drink More Good. 

Pop-Up Movie Theater Gets Permanent Home

Over the past few years, you may have caught wind of Story Screen, the pop-up movie experience started by Mike Burdge. It first took place in his apartment, then in other people's homes, then at Jason Schuler and Scott Brenner's Drink More Good storefront on Main Street. Most recently, you may have caught a show at other restaurants, like Stock Up and Oak Vino. Story Screen will now have a permanent home at The Beacon Theatre, supported by a creative concession stand and bar in the main lobby. You can expect to find Drink More Good's Root Beer there, along with other signature cocktails and must-have popcorn.

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The Big Tease...Story Screen confirms rumors and unveils concept.
Photo Credit: Story Screen

Says Mike about the pop-up movie model: "I would take over a restaurant's space after business hours, license the films, and turn the space into a make-shift theater for one night." Mike's initial movie night showed "Groundhog Day" and was hosted at The Main Squeeze, a juice bar he managed just off of Main Street. Next he did a Beacon Horror Show, and a few screenings at Drink More Good. "Those went over so well, that we decided to do a Christmas one, and those did so well, that we set up a screen and a better sound system." Jason and Scott felt the movie experience fit with their brand. "We saw the importance of this nomadic pop-up theater, and we incorporated it into our space (Drink More Good) to bring it a permanent home," says Jason. 

“To be a part of its renovation now, to bring it back to life, that’s a really cool, cool, cool, cool thing. I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it.”

— Mike Burdge, Story Screen

When Brendan reached out to the trio to consider a renovated theater with a big screen and stadium seating, the movie experience makers said yes. "I’m from Beacon," says Mike. "The Beacon Theater has never been open and operational in the way that it could be since I've lived here. I am a huge movie buff. I love stories. To have a gigantic theater that is just sitting there and not doing anything was really sad. My friends used to own the coffee shop that is now the After Eden antique shop, and we would watch movies behind the shop out back in the parking lot. We could see the inside of the theater while we watched movies outside. It was just weird. I thought about using the theater, but then I found out how much money it would take to renovate it. To be a part of its renovation now, to bring it back to life, that’s a really cool, cool, cool, cool thing. I’m getting goosebumps just talking about it."

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Blueprints and visions for the marquee of The Beacon Theatre.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Places! Places!

Initially, the theater was set to be on the second floor of the building. However, it kept feeling "not quite right" to the partners. How would there be a movie theater upstairs, and an amazing concession area downstairs? As the partners mulled it over, it became clear that the only way to proceed was to put the theater on the first floor. It was pricey, and involved a 17-foot excavation of the ground beneath the theater. "It meant we had to pour concrete walls, beams, soundproof walls to a crazy degree," says Brendan. "Costs did go up, but in the end, I think we will all be much happier with the results."

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The decision left the partners with more than just a better flow of foot traffic, it legitimized the theater. "What became clear was, when the theater is on the first floor, it has legacy. What we have gained is the historical purpose," exclaims Jason. "We worked really hard to keep the community aspect in the model, and this flow of how people will come in will help ensure that."

History of The Beacon Theatre

The site for the theater was originally known as the Dibble House (as explored in A Little Beacon Blog's Beacon Restaurant and Bar article) which included a roller skating rink in 1886. According to Wikipedia and the Beacon Historical Society, the Dibble House "was torn down in 1927 with plans to construct a new and modernized theater that would be large enough to accommodate larger crowds for the rise of films, known then as 'photo-plays.' "

Brendan Mcalpine holds a poster that had been lifted out of a wall of the Theater during demolition. The Wonder Bar was a well-known jazz bar on the second floor of the theater.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The Great Depression stuck, and stalled the development for six years. The theater reopened in 1934 and was an immediate hotspot, serving moviegoers, performers, and regulars of the Wonder Bar, a favorite night spot of World War II soldiers stationed at the Army Air Corps Base at Stewart Field.

The soldiers took the ferry across from Newburgh and hopped on a bus up Main Street to listen to jazz bands perform out on the marquee, according to an article from the Beacon Free Press. Dated June 12, 1985, the profile piece captures memories from Ann McCabe Hanlon, whose father co-opened the Wonder Bar. "Many romances started there," recalls Hanlon in the article. The space's interior was a red coral, had a dance floor in the center, and a bar that curled around the room in an L-shape. The chef, named Wong, was even imported from New York City. The restaurant was open until 1950. 

The Scene and Screens 

The next incarnation of The Beacon Theatre includes plans for three screens. Two of those will have stadium seating, with "plush and cushy" chairs. One will have 85 seats, and a small screening room next to it will seat 25. An open floor-plan private screening room that can hold 50 people will not have chairs fixed to the floor, and will be available as a rentable event space to be used for various purposes: birthday parties, yoga classes, a big meeting, anything.

The movies you can expect to see at The Beacon Theatre will be ones you can catch at a Regal Cinema, and indie movies as well. The lobby/bar area will be the upscale concession stand that serves cocktails, beer and wine. In fact, the partners intend for patrons to be able to hang there without ever seeing a movie. This is Jason's area of expertise, being a professional barkeeper and cocktail designer, as well as a creator of after-hours experiences. (Most notably to Beaconites, he produced Ella's After Hours, which boasted delicious flatbread pizzas, other appetizers and creative cocktails at Ella's Bellas.) 

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renovation work includes refurbishing these Lights and original sconces from the walls of the Beacon Theatre. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Says Mike about the availability of movies in Beacon: "There are tons of music and art galleries. Those areas have been created and preserved here, but not films." While the increasing number of moviemakers who live in the Hudson Valley and in Beacon has prompted such business creations as the rental house and production studio CineHub and The Beacon Independent Film Festival, there was no permanent home for a big movie screen. 

Speaking of preservation, some elements of the original theater are being refurbished, while others no longer exist. Among objects being restored are the light sconces, which will be cleaned up and returned to their original elegant state. A sconce hangs on the wall in the picture below, ready to illuminate the ornate details.

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Old and older clash: Original sconces from the theater remain on the purple walls, which were painted by tenants running a church. they also installed purple chairs.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

"When businesses open up in Beacon, they are expected to bring something community-based, artisanal-based," says Mike. Scott chimes in: "We are all community-oriented people, which is how this project came together in the first place." Before we head downstairs to tour the raw excavation and leveled dirt that is currently the stadium seating, Jason offers a final reflection on the project: "Anything that opens in Beacon needs to be raising the bar. Our focus is on what [the community can] expect from the theater."

Nailing down an opening date is always tricky with construction projects, so keep your eye on this one, and think spring or summer. The partners won't reveal an exact open date, but Brendan is sure of one thing: "We have a couple of cool surprises that we want people to discover."

When you smell the popcorn as you walk by, you'll know they are ready.

Sanctuary City Status Requested By Beacon Citizens - Workshop To Discuss Monday, February 27, 2017

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Several Beacon citizens, including religious leaders, delivered statements requesting Beacon adopt Sanctuary City Status at the February 21, 2017 City Council Meeting. A workshop to discuss is tonight, Monday, February 27, 2017. Pictured here are religious leaders from different faiths practicing in Beacon.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon Video screenshot of City Council Meeting

In a City Council Meeting on the evening of February 21, 2017, several citizens of the City of Beacon delivered prepared statements asking the City Council to consider adopting Sanctuary City Status to protect immigrants. Beacon has a large Hispanic population, and in the Beacon City School District, 28% of students are Hispanic, according to Student Diversity Demographics from the Beacon City School District.

The statements from citizens were delivered during the Public Comment portion of Tuesday's meeting, during which members of the public were allowed to speak at the podium for up to 5 minutes per person, for a total of 30 minutes per session. The followup to that discussion will be this evening, Monday, February 27, at a Workshop at 7 pm at 1 Municipal Plaza, during which Sanctuary City is on the Workshop's Agenda of topics to discuss. Six other issues will be covered, including the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department's Summer Camp, and a renewed contract for the Beacon Flea. All Agendas can be found here on the City's website.

Background of Local Immigration Issues and Sanctuary Cities

The day of the City Council meeting, the federal Department of Homeland Security released new rules that detail how the department plans to enforce the president's executive orders on immigration and border security. In those rules is a program that goes by the name 287(g), that, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website, is "one of ICE's top partnership initiatives, allows a state or local law enforcement entity to enter into a partnership with ICE, under a joint Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), in order to receive delegated authority for immigration enforcement within their jurisdictions."

In addition, according to the ICE website, "This authorizes the Director of ICE to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, permitting designated officers to perform immigration law enforcement functions, provided that the local law enforcement officers receive appropriate training and function under the supervision of ICE officers." 

According to an NPR report on the new rules: “These rules specifically exempt DACA (aka Dreamers) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. So the Dreamers have gotten a reprieve here, but it appears that their parents and potentially millions of others have not,” says the NPR report.

Clarification on intended enforcement has been difficult, especially since the White House’s Spanish website was taken down when the new president was inaugurated. (According to Sean Spicer, White House Press Secretary, it was taken down temporarily so that it could be updated.)

Sanctuary Status vs Safety Resolution

The president, during his campaign, made a promise to cancel federal funding made to Sanctuary Cities in his signed "Contract With The American Voter" PDF, indicating there will be future implications for officially designated Sanctuary Cities. As of 2015, according to CNN, there are 200 state and local jurisdictions that have policies calling for "not honoring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention requests," according to then-director of ICE Sarah Saldana in a CNN article. Examples of federal funding can be seen here at CivilRights.org.

Beacon citizens requested Sanctuary City Status, with one citizen requesting that a resolution be made, if an official status is not passed. The citizen alluded to Ithaca, NY, that voted to designate itself a Safe City in a resolution. 

According to an article in IthacaVoice.com, the resolution would "reaffirm Ithaca as a 'safe city' and extend protections already provided to refugees to people who are undocumented 'so that all may live without fear that forcible deportation may result from everyday interactions with City law enforcement, staff, committee members or elected officials, allowing all to live fully and productively as members of the Ithaca community.'"

Beacon Police Department's Message of Reassurance

During the City Council meeting, Mayor Casale read a statement from the Police Department's Chief of Police. That statement can be found in its entirety here as a link from the February 27th Workshop's Agenda. The statement includes this portion:

"It is not the practice of the Beacon Police Department to inquire as to one’s immigration status or engage in activities solely for the purpose of enforcing immigration laws. The Beacon Police Department does not have the authority nor the desire to stop or arrest individuals based on their immigration status.

"While the Beacon Police Department interacts, and cooperates with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on a regular basis, interactions with agencies such as ICE have been few and far between. Presence of immigration enforcement in the City of Beacon has been limited to merely a few instances in decades. That being said, based on current events, the administration of the Beacon Police Department recognizes the sensitivity of this issue and any requests by immigration authorities for information or assistance will be thoroughly vetted."

Monday Night Workshop to Discuss Beacon's Sanctuary City Possibility

While a Workshop is open to the public to attend, the public cannot participate in it, unless called on by the City Council. The Workshop will meet at 7 pm at 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY.

Helpful Documents For This Article:

City Council Meeting, February 21, 2017
Agenda for Workshop, February 27, 2017
Statement from Beacon Police Department (attached to Agenda)