5th Annual For Goodness Bake Sale Benefits Tuition Assistance Fund for Beacon's After School Program

It's here - the most delicious day of the year, when the Beacon community comes out to fundraise for a cause whether you like it or not. How could you not buy the delicious homemade brownies and cupcakes on sale at this year's For Goodness Bake, happening today, Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm at Catalyst Gallery at 137 Main Street?! This year's edition of the sale has already been dubbed "Best spread so far!" by Beacon resident Jennifer Sarah Blakeslee.

The pop-up bake-sale-for-a-cause, For Goodness Bake, has dedicated this year's proceeds to the Tuition Assistance Fund for Beacon's After School Program. The 2016-17 school year marked the first that children and parents of the Beacon City School District had direct access to an after-school program within the schools themselves. That's right. No busing required to get kids into an enriching childcare program, from 3 to 6 pm at their very own schools. Until last fall, of the four elementary schools in Beacon, only one had an in-school after-school program: Glenham Elementary, and it was a joint program with Fishkill.

Thanks to the efforts of the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department, a five-day program was designed to offer themed content for kids, until 6pm. It's a little unbelievable at first, so pay attention to how it works: Planned in quarterly sessions, each day presents a different theme, which might include baking, yoga, bird-watching (yes, really!), theater, filmmaking, martial arts, and more. Speaking from experience, the program has been incredible. Kids learn to use cooking utensils (and may take over salsa-making in your home), and have interviewed city leaders including the Chief of Police during their filmmaking class.

The Tuition Assistance Fund offers 50 percent off of After School Program tuition to families who qualify for the Free Lunch Program in the Beacon City School District. Roughly 51 percent of Beacon families participate in the program, yet of the 175 children enrolled in After School at three Beacon elementary schools (Glenham is not included because it's in Fishkill's budget), only 21 kids used the Tuition Assistance Fund last year. But just over 80 kids would be eligible, according to the Free Lunch Program statistics. Word spread about After School's first year, but not everyone knows about the tuition assistance, which helps working families afford childcare. However, children in families who have stay-at-home parents certainly still benefit from the After School Program's activities.

Who Pays for Tuition Assistance

Right now, according to the Parks and Recreation Department's Assistant Director Nate Smith, the City of Beacon pays for the tuition assistance, and takes it as a loss. The After School Program was designed to fund itself. Tuition for one child to register for five days during one quarterly session is $600. Families eligible for tuition assistance pay $300, which is matched right now by the City of Beacon.

Hence the fundraising effort through For Goodness Bake, which has been known to raise $4,000 or more per sale. Past bake sales have been dedicated to organizations such as the Kids R Kids Feeding Program, Green Teen Beacon, the Beacon Community Kitchen, and the Children's Organ Transplant Association.

On sale at the bake sale for $5 each are works of art produced by kids in Camp @ the Camp, a summer program created by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Photo Credit: For Goodness Bake

Back to the Bake Sale

But really, let's get down to business and discuss what's available at the bake sale. Contributions from talented amateur and professional cooks alike include a wide array of sweet and savory baked treats, confections, and vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free options. Also available is locally roasted coffee from Tas Kafé and hand-crafted sodas from Drink More Good.

The team at For Goodness Bake, Kristen Pratt and Tara Tornello, thanks the following people (and more not mentioned here): "ENORMOUS gratitude goes to these fine folks and establishments: Drink More Good for donating drink syrups, seltzer, and ice; Tas Kafé LLC, Adams Fairacre Farms, Inc. for sponsorship; Viridescent Floral Design for flowers; The Roundhouse for table linens; Beacon Bread Company for to-go containers; The UPS Store 4839 for printing; Catalyst Gallery for the lovely space; City of Beacon Recreation for tables and overall support; the kids of Camp @ the Camp for creating artwork to display; Kit Burke-Smith for hanging the artwork; Diana Vidal for photography; Patti McAlpine for her collection of cake stands and platters; our wonderful volunteers Christopher Dawson, John Fanning, Mary Jean, Ivette Mateiescu, Jessica Nash, Tara D'Andrea, and Maureen Neary and her sweet daughter (and baker extraordinaire) Tallix."

Registering for the Tuition Assistance Fund

To register for tuition assistance, contact Nate Smith at (845) 765-2470 or nsmith@cityofbeacon.org. Registrants fill out one form, keeping the process relatively simple.

My bounty, delivered by a friend from Cold Spring who was dropping off a baby gift after she finished Pilates class at Beacon Pilates. Sweetness all around.

New Climbing Playground at South Avenue Park Designed for Pre-Teens and Little Kids

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

In the spring of 2017, after the snow melted on the sledding hill of South Avenue Park behind the Recreation Center at 23 W. Center Street, Beacon's Parks and Recreation Department finished construction of a new playground. However, the playground equipment isn't your traditional swing-set package. Oh, no. In fact, there isn't a swing to be seen - in the traditional sense at least. The new climbing playground is brought to you from the same people who got the Beacon Pool filled up and thriving after years of neglect, as well as the new After School Program, Beacon's enrichment-based childcare program, as well as Beacon's summer camp program, Camp at the Camp.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

One could surmise that inspiration for the design was taken from a spider. "The entire playground was designed to include climbing and balancing," says Heidi Harrison, Recreation Assistant with the City of Beacon. "Most of the elements used were chosen because they would be interactive for multiple children at one time."

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

South Avenue Park is located in a densely populated residential area, where children from elementary to high school age use the area's basketball courts, tennis courts and green spaces. Just last weekend, the annual community-planned South Avenue Community Cookout, organized and executed every year by Leman Anderson and a team of dedicated volunteers, was held for a large crowd of all ages.

Most parks in Beacon are designed for little ones, but the South Avenue Park opens up new opportunities for older kids. Says Heidi: "The inspiration initially came from watching kids walking and balancing on structures at Riverfront Park. Realizing that traditional playground structures don’t always appeal to or accommodate the pre-teens and teenage kids, this style seemed to be a great option. It suits all ages, as well as parents and caregivers, to play along with their kids. Or by themselves!"

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

The climbing structures take a bit of thought before climbing onto or spinning around. "The kids seem to really enjoy the ability to free play, use their imagination, and cooperate with each other, to bring the structures to life," observes Heidi of how kids have been using the equipment during its first season. "It takes a bit of work and a helping hand for some of the equipment, which brings play, exercise, and learning to help your friend, for the greatest experience."

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Funding for the equipment and installation came from the Recreation Fund, Capital Plan, and City Budget. The Parks Department has been conducting creative ways of fundraising, however, for more direct community support for better budgets to work with. Projects have included the Cannonball Run, as well as being the recipient of the 2017 fundraising effort, For Goodness Bake.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Never a dull moment at West Center Street, the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department has more big plans in the works, including Court resurfacing at Memorial Park, a new pavilion at Riverfront Park, and new retaining walls at South Avenue Park. In development, according to Heidi, is a Skate Park (see a City Council video about it here), Climbing Gym, Reconstruction of Bathrooms & Changing Rooms at The Beacon Pool, and an expansion of Wee Play Tot Park.

Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
 

Spirit of Beacon Day Organizers Changing Hands After 2017

Current organizers of the Spirit of Beacon Day, one of the city's longest running volunteer-based daylong celebrations, are disbanding after this fall's event. Just who will replace them is undecided. Rose Story, chairperson of the event for almost 20 years, says: "We are a very small committee. We’ve been doing this for a very long time, and it’s time to give someone else a chance." Just who that someone else (or someone elses) will be seems to be a decision owned by no one, since the Spirit of Beacon Day is owned by the people of Beacon. "It’s not our decision to say who can do it," Story says, adding, "I will gladly help out with the transition."

Mayor Randy Casale announced this development at the July 17, 2017 City Council Meeting, and made it clear that responsibility for finding the replacement does not reside with the City, encouraging volunteers to come forward. “It’s not the city’s job to run these events," Mayor Casale stated at the meeting. "If people want events, they need to volunteer; they need to organize. They've got to figure out how they are run, and then come to the City to ask what we’ll allow and not allow, and move forward from there.”

Origins of the Spirit of Beacon Day

The Spirit of Beacon Day began in 1977 as a solution to racially driven problems between students of the Beacon City Schools and the community, according to "Celebrating Our Centennial," published by the Beacon Historical Society (buy the book at Beacon Bath & Bubble, across from the Howland Cultural Center). According to the historians, in the winter and early spring of 1977, "racial problems became severe" for several days and nights. Meeting several times to discuss the issues were city leaders and concerned agencies, including a representative from the FBI's Community Relations, Dutchess County Youth Bureau, then-Mayor Robert Cahill, local legislators, City Council, clergy people, and representatives from youth-focused organizations like Beacon City School District, the Howland Public Library, the Beacon Community Center, and others.

It was decided that there would be a Community Day aimed at bringing the people of the City together in order to "get to know one another better, learn what each other liked, [via] conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food." These meetings began in May, and the people scrambled together to hold a Community Day on the last Sunday of September that year. This came to be known as the Spirit of Beacon Day. A committee was formed, and booths featuring food, crafts and exhibits from local organizations and agencies were planned and set up. The Mayor and City Council led the march, but it was declared by the committee at that time that "politicking" not be allowed, and politicians seeking election were not allowed to participate. Additionally, at some point during the parade's history, it was decided that only nonprofit groups could set up booths along Main Street.

Today's Spirit of Beacon Day

Today, and many committee members later, the parade still goes on, and does feature Beacon City Schools and other participants. The Mayor stressed that producing a parade is no small feat, and is a lot of work for anyone involved. "[The organizers] don’t have many volunteers helping them," Mayor Casale said. "It takes a lot of work for people that haven’t done it, to organize a parade the size of that parade, and to organize the whole day’s event which is on Main Street. A lot goes into it."

The Mayor continued, mentioning more recent concerns: "[The organizers] get some grief from business owners, ‘Why do these booths have to be in front of my business during my business day?’ " Originally, the Spirit of Beacon Day originated from the minds of many leaders, with a few on a committee to carry it out. Said the Mayor at the City Council meeting: "I had reached out when they came to me - because I didn’t know if [the organizers] had put it public yet - to the Chamber, to BeaconArts, and to the Parks and Recreation director, and I told them: 'We’re going to have to think about what we’re going to do about the Spirit of Beacon Day next year. It gives us a whole year find out what we plan on doing, how we’re going to do it, and start deciding.' ”

Who Will Carry On The Spirit Of Beacon Day?

According to Kelly Ellenwood, president of BeaconArts, the organizing of it will not fall into their court: "BeaconArts will not be 'running it,' although I'm sure that we would continue to participate as a nonprofit organization as we have before." Michele Williams, board member of Beacon's Chamber of Commerce, confirms that the Chamber is considering taking it on as a project: "We know it’s important to the kids and to the community," said Michele. "We will figure out a way to make everybody happy. We know that students look forward to the parade, and that it's an important event to the people of the City of Beacon. We are discussing it at our next board meeting, including ideas to make everyone in Beacon happy, including business owners. Regarding the tables being nonprofits, that is simply how the organizers had set it up, and does not have to be this way moving forward."

Spirit of Beacon Day 2017 Will March On

The parade will happen on the last Sunday in September as it always has, and according to the Mayor at the July 17, 2017, City Council meeting, it will continue next year. For this year, parade participants can continue to contact Roy Ciancanelli at (845) 831-3027 after 6 pm or email royal_ciancanelli@hotmail.com.

See A Little Beacon Blog's past coverage of Spirit of Beacon Days.

To be continued...

Tonight's Workshop Meeting for City Council Postponed

Notification just went out that tonight's Workshop Meeting for City Council has been postponed due to lack of a quorum. As soon as the City of Beacon releases a new date, we will post it here and on our new "Workshop Meetings" page, which contains Agendas and Videos from meetings that have already been held.

WORKSHOP AGENDA ITEMS

1. Memorial Park Tennis Courts - Softball and Skateboarding
2. Acceptance of Dedication of a Portion of Judson Street
3. Kristy Drive Drainage Replacement
4. Chapter 191 Discussion
5. Milling and Paving Presentation
6. Award Recommendation for the Control and Telemetry Project for the Water Department

Agenda for Regular City Council Meeting Tonight (Monday), and New Section

Tonight is a regular meeting of the City Council for the City of Beacon that begins at 7 pm. It is a public meeting, where anyone can attend. A Little Beacon Blog has begun keeping a dynamic section dedicated to City Council Meetings, Workshops, Zoning Board and Planning Board Meetings on our website to help make it easier for you to stay aware of what is being discussed at the City level. We keep links and past meeting videos in this new section, which you can see here.

On the Agenda for tonight:

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call
Public Comment
Each speaker may have one opportunity to speak for up to three minutes on any subject matter other than those which are the topic of a public hearing tonight. Please sign in at the podium. This segment will last no longer than thirty minutes, with speakers recognized in the order they appear on the sign-in sheet. A second public comment opportunity will be provided later in the meeting for those who do not get to speak during this first segment.

Community Segment

• Kids R Kids Feeding Program - Jackie Bucelot-Mills, Founder
• Rebuilding Together - Christina Boryk, Executive Director

Reports

• Council Member Ali Muhammad
• Council Member Omar Harper
• Council Member Lee Kyriacou
• Council Member George Mansfield
• Council Member Pam Wetherbee
• Council Member Peggy Ross
• City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero
• County Legislators
• Mayor Randy Casale

Local Laws and Resolutions

• Resolution to Appoint Jason Johnson to the Position of Detective Sergeant in the Beacon Police Department
• Resolution to Award the Bid for the Liquid Phase Product Odor Control System
• Resolution to Reject Bids Received for the South Interceptor Sewer Project

Second Opportunity for Public Comments
Each speaker may have one opportunity to speak for up to three minutes on any subject matter other than those which are the topic of a public hearing tonight. This segment will last no longer than thirty minutes. Those who spoke at the first public comment segment are not permitted to speak again.

Adjournment

---

A Little Beacon Blog has been tinkering with this new section, and we have a few new plans for it. Our aim is to help make it easier for you to find out what is being discussed and planned for Beacon. Most information has been pulled from the City's website and presented on A Little Beacon Blog in a way that we hope is easy for you to skim through and reference.

This new section will be Sponsor- and Citizen-supported, and is free for all to read and follow. After we roll out a few more details of this section, we will provide information on how you can support it if you so desire.

Kids Color Blasted For South Avenue Elementary Fundraiser June 10th

Sitting in a PTA meeting at 8 pm in the elementary school cafeteria, hearing from a representative from the kids' library that their budget is about to get cut - again - (did you see what's been going on down there?), you don't feel like there's the brightest of forecasts. Another bummer: hearing at a City Council meeting that the Board of Education is fighting for hundreds of thousands, if not over a million, dollars of unpaid funds that was designated for the Beacon School District from the state, but didn't make it down here to Beacon.

Here in the office of A Little Beacon Blog, we get pitched from time to time about fundraisers that are happening for different schools. From roller rink nights, to this most recent Color-A-Thon from the South Avenue Elementary PTA, parents community-wide are trying to get untraditional with their fundraisers, to go "beyond the bake sale." Often they seem fun, yet we hear about them at the last minute - if we hear about them at all.

So a couple of things: 

• We're going to dedicate a Guide to Beacon City School Fundraisers, to capture these opportunities, and try to illustrate where the money is going. Because that's the exciting part. You get to be a part of long-lasting, sometimes permanent change within the walls of one of the six school buildings in Beacon's school district. If you are such a person who runs a campaign, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com as far in advance as you can, and spread the word to others to email in their dates and where raised funds will go.
• There is a fundraiser going on RIGHT NOW that you can participate in! You get to sponsor little racers who are going to get blasted with colorful powder as they run, and you could even BE a color blaster! This is to raise money for park equipment, landscaping and classroom supplies (like replacing super old books, or upgrading smart boards).

It can be hard knowing what is going on inside the walls of the kids' schools, even if the teachers, administrators and PTA are doing very well with internal promotion of flyers and Morning News Shows inside the walls. But if you hardly go inside the school, you won't see any of it. That's why we at A Little Beacon Blog are trying to bring that from the inside of the schools, out to you.

South Avenue Color-A-Thon Walk/Jog Run
Registration Starts: 9 am (new walkers/runners welcome, $30 Registration)
Race Starts: 10 am
Ends: Noon
Race Route: On neighborhood streets surrounding South Avenue School
Enjoy! Food, music, games!

What Is a Color-A-Thon Fundraiser? 

You may have seen the puffs of color - neon pinks and blues and yellows - rising in the distance through the trees and behind some houses for a cause you vaguely heard about. It's the rising trend of color-a-thons, marathons accompanied by color powder, similar to the holiday Holi celebrated in India. Known as the "festival of colors," it signifies the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Groups are embracing it as a fundraising method to make a big difference in a cause at hand. The Beacon High School just had one, as did the Newburgh Illuminated festival.

The South Avenue Color-A-Thon is a new thing the South Avenue PTA is trying out. They get together with an official Color-A-Thon race program, who then manages the registration bags of running T-shirts, color blaster powder, and prizes. It's important to me that my kids know what they are fundraising for, and aren't just fundraising to get prizes for each dollar level. So with this fundraiser - I knew exactly what we were fundraising for, and it has been a great teachable moment for my kids, as they could see exactly where their fundraising efforts would go - to the park! To the classrooms!

This time, with my awareness of the rising trend in color-a-thons that I know of from A Little Beacon Blog's 5K Race Guide, I knew this could be a highly engaging fundraising effort. Yet for the first year, how many people will turn out? There may be a few sitter-outers who watch the pictures in social media the day of the event, vowing to come next year. Don't be that person! You can make a difference to change that right now.

Fundraising for a New Gazebo on the Playground, With Extra Going to Equipment and Classrooms

South Avenue has a great playground that kids would play on all day long if they had their choice. Over the years, the PTA fundraised for and got a new basketball hoop, swings, and a Buddy Bench. This year, they are aiming for a gazebo or pavilion, a covered structure that has seating on the inside. The kids will be able to take their learning experience in the class outside by going to this pavilion, and also play on it during recess and after school. 

The color bag "blast pack" the racers get includes a t-shirt, bottle of powdered color blast, rainbow wig, and ... a weird emoji thing. 

How You Can Get Involved

Donate to a little racer: So far, I know of the sponsor links for two little racers, and one general South Avenue account if you want to donate at-large and not to one child specifically. YOU can donate to any of these little people. And if you want to add your link for last minute donations, add your link in the comments below and we will put it on this list!

• Little Racer Ruby: http://shop.schoolathon.org/index.asp?PID=377219
• Little Racer Fiona: http://shop.schoolathon.org/index.asp?PID=377070
• All The Little Racers - South Avenue's General Racer: http://shop.schoolathon.org/index.asp?PID=377664

Volunteer!

• Color Thrower: There are spots open for color throwers (you'll get to throw color at the runners!!)
• Games: People are needed to run some games
• Registration table/food table
• Set up/clean up (set up 8 to 9 am and clean up noon to 1 pm)
• And more!! Everyone is welcome to come and help.

Register to Race!

• Kids can register at the event to be racers. Registration starts at 9 am and is $30. Our inside sources says that they may not get an event t-shirt, because almost all of the t-shirts have gone to pre-registered racers, so have your kid wear a white t-shirt, prepared to get blasted with color.

To volunteer, contact Erica Way at way.erica@gmail.com or Cara Heaton at cara_heaton@yahoo.com.

The wig and sunglasses might have come as prizes with our color registration bag. 

Some of the prizes that just showed up include colored shoes - a reminder to get excited about running or walking in this race!

Is Fundraising Still Going On?

Heck yes! With these online donations, you can give money up to event day! If you are a parent whose child is in the race, here are some ideas to meet or surpass your donation goal:

• Take pictures of your child in racing gear (aka tennis shoes and any T-shirt), and add a note from your child about how excited they are.
• Share a link on your Facebook page, asking long-distance friends and family for support.
• Have your child call a donor and thank them personally.
• Email your own people with updates and if you've almost reached your goal.
• Include the link to your child's donation page so that people can easily donate online.

And remember, if you don't know of a child to sponsor, you can sponsor the whole school using the general link above. And know this: This isn't the last you'll hear of color-a-thons. I Am Beacon is having one, and there are more and more for adults. So watch our 5K Races Guide, as well as our future Beacon City School District Fundraising Opportunities Guide. 

Thank you!

2017 Summer Hours at the Beacon Pool & Vendor Opportunity

Photo Credit: City of Beacon Recreation 

Pool Hours

Monday - Friday: 2 pm to 8 pm
Saturday - Sunday: Noon to 7 pm
Sometimes things change based on usage by the people, so please keep an eye on the Beacon Pool Facebook Group for updates 

Tentative Open Date:
Monday, June 26

It's happening again... The Beacon Pool is opening for its third straight year (read here about the big re-opening), and it looks like floaties are allowed in the pool! Club pool-goers know that not all pools allow toys in it, but the fine folks of the Beacon Recreation Department are all about fun. In fact, watching pictures of swimmers having fun was where I first saw the actual swimmable Mermaid Tail...

Open Date and Hours

The projected opening date is Monday, June 26. We are told that if it can happen sooner, it will. For now, plan on hours being Monday to Friday, from 2 to 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 7 pm. In the mornings, the pool accommodates campers from various camps in the region, including the Park and Recreation Department's own new camp, Camp @ The Camp. The pool is located at 742 Wolcott Ave., in the area known as The Settlement Camp.

Pool Passes On Sale Now

Any resident of the state of New York can join or buy day passes to swim in the pool, since it is on state-owned land. Day passes for adults are $4, and children and seniors are $3. The pool is divided into sections based on depth, and does not have a lap lane. The shallow end is 2 feet for waders, deepening to 8 feet for splashers and underwater swimmers.

Pool passes on are sale now, and have sold out in years past. Adult and kid passes are available year-round, so it's not like if you don't get a Family Pass now, you won't be able to go. However, having the Family Pass means that you won't have to scrounge for cash, not something you need to worry about as you're packing up snacks and towels for the pool.

Click here to buy the pass online, or you can visit the Recreation Department in person at 23 West Center St.

Call for Food Trucks and Snack Vendors 

Speaking of food, it has been the dream of Mark Price, the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, to have food trucks and a snack table available to all at the Beacon Pool at the Settlement Camp. If you are such a person who wants to sell their wares, then email him directly at mprice@cityofbeacon.org. 

Any questions regarding pool passes can be directed to Mark Price at mprice@cityofbeacon.org. We are told that they are beginning to start the process of sending them out in the mail, so watch your mailbox!

Summer Work Opportunities

The City of Beacon Parks and Recreation Department are looking for lifeguards, camp counselors, and volunteers. For information about applying, contact Mark Price at mprice@cityofbeacon.org

Beacon Library Hosts Filmmaker Series for Middle Schoolers with Reel Life Film Club

Beacon, Cold Spring and Garrison libraries have teamed up for Reel Life Film Club, a new film series for middle school students. The Reel Life Film Club is an opportunity for middle school students to view award-winning documentary films and talk about them with the filmmakers.
 
The next screening will be in Beacon on June 2 at 6 pm at the Howland Library. The club will be viewing the documentary Racing Dreams (2009). The film follows three young racers as they compete in the World Karting Association's National Pavement Series. Writer and director Marshall Curry will be on hand to talk about his film with the kids. This movie has won Best Documentary at six film festivals.
 
The third film, Spellbound (2002), will be shown on July 7 at 6 pm at Desmond Fish Library in Garrison.
 
Pizza will be served at the events and registration is encouraged: For Racing Dreams, at Howland Library on June 2, call 845-831-1134; For Spellbound at Desmond-Fish on July 7, call 845-424-3020. Like the libraries’ Facebook pages for up-to-date information.
 
For more information, contact Michelle Rivas, Howland Library, community@beaconlibrary.org, or Karen Thompson, Desmond-Fish Library, kat@highlands.com, Maureen McGrath, Butterfield Library, jbl.libraryservices@gmail.com.

Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election - May 18th, 2017

The Howland Public Library will hold the annual budget vote and trustee election on Thursday, May 18, from noon to 8 pm in the library's community room. All registered voters in the Beacon City School District are eligible to vote. Absentee ballots are available at the library. Call Amy at (845) 831-1134, ext. 100, or email Amy at beaconlibrary dot org with any questions.

Board of Trustee Candidates running for Election 2017-2018

There are two seats available on the Library Board, one with a one-year term and one with a five-year term. The candidate receiving the most votes will win the longer term. Here's a bit about the candidates.

Stacy Christensen bought a house in Beacon 10 years ago after being introduced to the city by a friend, and falling in love with all that Beacon has to offer. One of the first things that she did upon moving here was to acquire a library card, and for a few years she volunteered in the evenings and shelved books. Stacy has lived in Putnam Valley, and once worked as clerk at the library there. The first book that she learned to read was "Green Eggs and Ham," and ever since, she has been an avid reader and supporter of all the programs that libraries have to offer. Stacy works as a bookkeeper, and has three grown children and one small granddaughter.

April Farley is a long-time resident, born and raised in the City of Beacon. As parent and community volunteer, she believes that the Howland Public Library has been one of the greatest resources for her family and community over the years and now. Her son has attended youth programs since he was young and as a teen had the opportunity to be part of the Spark Media Project. April says, "It would be a great honor to serve on the board and give back to the library and help the library to continue to bring diverse services to our community, youth and seniors."

Library Budget

If the budget passes, taxpayers will find that the increase in their library tax (appearing on the School Tax Bill) ranges from a low of $2.60 (property assessed at or below $150,000) to an average library tax increase between $4 and $6 for the year.

Click here for annual report to the community and library budget vote information.

Click here to see the "very visual" annual report to the community.

Beacon City Schools Budget Vote and Election of Board Seats May 16, 2017

The Voting Details

WHEN: Tuesday, May 16, 2017
TIME: 7am-9pm
WHERE: Beacon High School for all voters living in Beacon, or Glenham Elementary School for voters residing in the Town of Fishkill or the Town of Wappinger
DETAILS: Find more details about what is in the proposed budget here.

The School Budget Vote and Election will take place on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.  Polls are open from 7 am to 9 pm. Beacon City School District will have four propositions on the ballot. They are as follows in general form, as shared on the BCSD Facebook page and Budget newsletter for May 2017. All tax-paying citizens are eligible to vote.

1. The first proposition is the budget.
2. The second is the proposition to purchase school buses.
3. The third is to have a student board member hold a non-voting seat.
4. The fourth is to authorize the district to transfer money to a capital reserve. The money in a capital reserve would be used for future capital projects. The district is planning a capital project in the near future, and this reserve will be used to help keep the school taxes the same.

Details of what is in the proposed budget can be found here in a newsletter from the Beacon City School District.

There will also be a board election of four seats.
Three Board Members are for running for three-year terms running from July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2020. The candidate who receives the largest number of votes cast will also fill the remainder of a vacant term for six weeks, commencing May 16, 2017, and expiring June 30, 2018. Vote for up to four candidates.

Board Members up for re-election:
Anthony White
Kenya Gadsden
Craig Wolf
Kristan Flynn

Location & Eligibility
Voting takes place at two locations: 

• Beacon High School, for all registered voters who live in the City of Beacon, and
• Glenham Elementary School, for voters who reside in the Town of Fishkill or the Town of Wappinger. 

For help in determining your voting location, please call (845) 838-6900, ext. 2032.

Tax Assessment Grievance Day Is May 24, 2017 - Bring Your Comps!

Your tax assessment letter may have just come in the mail, letting you know how the City of Beacon values your property, and if that value went up or down. Maybe it's higher than Zillow's estimate, maybe it's lower. Whatever it is, if you disagree with it, you can dispute it on Beacon's Tax Assessment Grievance Day on May 24, 2017 at 1 Municipal Plaza (City Hall - Lower Level) at 2 pm (oh joy). The City advises that you bring your "comps" in order to aid in your argument. What are comps, you ask? They're the recent sales prices of homes similar (comparable) to your house in the same area.

This real-life Monopoly card could be a real bummer, or nothing at all. "Be aware that if you put the property on the market via MLS, the tax assessor will value the property at what you value it, namely the sales price that you've put on the property. They actually check MLS!" advises local realtor, Daniel Aubry. "I had that happen to me. I put a highly optimistic price on a house that I owned to test the market. The assessor used that price for the following year's assessment, significantly raising my taxes. I've been stuck with that price ever since!"

Can a high assessment ever be useful? "Any savvy buyer knows that the assessment bears very little relationship with the actual market value. So it can't be counted on for establishing a realistic valuation," says Daniel.

[EDITED 5/21/17] From this writer's limited real estate experience, if the bank appraisal value comes in low when you're ready to sell the home to a buyer who wants to pay more than the appraised price (a different valuation than the City's assessment), the bank will only loan as much as the appraised number, putting the responsibility on your buyer to come up with more cash - or for you to lower the house price.

Hydrant Flushing Starting in Beacon April 24, 2017: Watch For Brown Water

From the Mayor's Desk:

The City of Beacon Water Department will be flushing water mains throughout the City starting April 24, 2017 for a four-week period. The flushing will be conducted from 7 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

Residents may experience periods of discolored water during this time and should refrain from doing laundry until the water runs clear. If your water is discolored, run the cold water taps until the water runs clear. If you have any questions, call the Water Department at (845) 831-3136.

Week 1 – April 24, 2017

Alice Street
Anderson Street
Annan Street
Birch Lane
DePuyster Avenue
East Main Street
Exeter Circle
Helen Court
Green Street
Jackson Street
Linden Drive
Louisa Street
Mountain Lane

Week 2 – May 1, 2017

Barrett Place
Deerfield Place
Delevan Avenue
Dutchess Terrace
Overlook Avenue
Petticoat Lane
Phillips Street
Roundtree Court
Robin Lane
Spring Valley Street
Spruce Street
Summit Street
Westley Avenue
William Street
Wilson Street
Vail Avenue
Fishkill Avenue
Franklin Avenue
Kent Street
Lincoln Avenue
Mackin Avenue
Memorial Park

Week 3 – May 8, 2017

Beskin Place
Coffey Avenue
Ellen Drive
Grandview Avenue
High Goal Lane
John Street
Miller Street
Newlin Mills Road

Week 4 – May 15, 2017

Bayview Avenue
Belleford Lane
Branch Street
Dennings Avenue
Fishkill Landing
Rt. 9D near VanNess Townsend Street
Verplanck Avenue
Paye Street
Rombout Avenue
Simmons Lane
Slocum Road
Sycamore Drive
Wodenethe Drive
Van Dyke Avenue
Victor Road
Long Dock Road
Monell Place
Riverfront Park
Tompkins Avenue
West Main Street

Ree-Play Sale Is On - You Get Deals on Kids Gear, Beacon Gets New Park Equipment and Other Help

Turnout at the 2017 opening day for the Ree-Play sale.

Yesterday was the opening day for the annual Ree-Play sale, a fundraiser for three public parks in Beacon put on by the Wee Play Community Project at the University Settlement Camp at 668 Wolcott Ave.. It's held from Friday to Sunday, 9 am to 1 pm each day. Despite my best intentions to get this article written prior to the sale (yay to those of you who saw this article, which let you know about the opportunity to donate your stuff), I was shopping the sale bright and early Friday morning to score a simple (yet normally pricy) high chair for a deep deal. This is what you can do too, today and tomorrow. Saturday will feature a balloon man to entertain the kids while parents and grandparents shop, and on Sunday, the goods will be half-price. Oh yeah.

Be sure to watch their Facebook page for sneak-peek looks into what is available.

First-Day Success

My own bounty. A simple high chair was high on my list, after living through two hugely bulky high chairs.

Despite the rain, people turned out and filled all parking available in the upper field at the University Settlement Camp, down below at the Beacon Pool, and on the road leading up from the pool to the camp casino building. The line was long, but shoppers stayed focused and it moved fast.

Ringing up their first day, the Wee Play Community Project reported earnings of $6,000 - so far. This is great news for Beacon parks; the last major donation that Wee Play made was three umbrella shade structures. If you are a regular user of the jungle gyms at the parks, you will notice new equipment here and there to spice things up a bit. Go ahead and thank Wee Play for those, too. Maintained entirely by different volunteers each year, this park system is a huge benefit to living in Beacon. The parks can be found down at the water at Riverfront Park, near the mountain at Green Street Park, and the Tot Park at Memorial Park (also near the mountain, but on the river side of Fishkill Creek. You know. By Ron's!) 

Keep Your Eyes Open for Sorted Stuff

There is a. lot. in here, but it is sorted, even down to balls of socks. You'll need to walk slowly, head down, eyes like hawks, to find what you need.

Food and Coffee - Yes.

You need coffee and snacks. And Wee Play has you covered. The people who contribute to the exquisite local, but not your run-of-the-mill bake sales, also bake for this one. You can choose from Confetti Lemon Bars, Small Banana Raisin Bread, Monster Cookies, and more. Warm coffee is also available, as are cheese sticks, juice and yogurt for little protein seekers. 

Good luck in your hunting and gathering!

Calico Ball Now Accepting Ad Sponsorships for Dance Brochure

The Calico Ball, started by the late, great, local legend Pete Seeger 28 years ago, is a dance residency for all third-grade students across the Beacon School District, led by the Vanaver Caravan dancers. Students learn about different cultures around the world and perform in a global dance festival. For the past eight years, BAEF (Beacon Arts and Education Foundation) has sponsored this event, providing joy, amazement and education to hundreds of children. Spaces are open now for business or individual sponsorships to advertise in the dance program. The deadline is May 26, 2017.

Art Programming in Public Schools Diminishing

In order for artistic enrichment to be provided in the Beacon City School District, funding from outside sources is required as state and federal funding have decreased. According to the BAEF website, "In recent years, the amount of state aid has decreased dramatically. Consequently, it has become increasingly difficult to fund innovative educational programs that provide a richness to the educational experience of students."

BAEF’s goal is to support programs and activities that would not otherwise be achievable through available public funds, as well as to encourage the educational development of BCSD students and staff. Their mission is to foster community involvement and partnerships in the public education process. The Calico Ball is paid for with funds that BAEF raises. That money comes from annual fundraisers like the brochure ads and donations from the PTO/PTAs, as well as a grant that Vanaver Caravan researched and applied for, according Anna Bergin, a co-chair of BAEF this year.

Since BAEF's inception in 2004, they have provided over $100,000 to bolster arts education programming in the BCSD. Financial support has paid for:

• new sound equipment in the high school auditorium
• a new kiln for the high school ceramics studio
• teaching artist residencies in the schools, including the I’m Tired Project at Rombout Middle School
• musical instruments
• arts supplies

Business and Individual Sponsorships In The 2017 Calico Ball Program

Businesses and individuals can buy an ad in the Calico Ball program by clicking on this form to find ad sizes and prices, and then making your ad purchase/donation directly through BeaconArts by clicking this link or by sending in a check, which is a fiscal sponsor for BAEF and this project. Support from the community helps the Calico Ball continue year after year, and contribute to the experience that is living in Beacon, NY. The ad deadline is May 26, 2017, so get on it!

Last Days To Donate Kids' Toys, Clothes, Books, Other Stuff to Ree-Play Sale Before Shopping It

These are your last days to donate to the Ree-Play Sale, the biggest annual fundraiser produced by the Wee Play Community Project, set for April 21 to April 23, 2017. The nonprofit organization raises money for children's programs at the Beacon Library, BAEF (Beacon Arts and Education Foundation), and maintains the public parks you see and play in around Beacon, including Memorial Park, Riverfront Park, and Green Street Park.

The success of any great sale is rooted primarily in what it sells. And the Ree-Play Sale gets its gems from locals in the community who are no longer using toys, books, gear, bikes, even some furniture. This week is the final week that Ree-Play is accepting donations from your attic or children's rooms, so clean it out now, load up the car, and head over to the Settlement Camp on Wolcott during the time slots that the Ree-Play volunteers post to their public Facebook Group. Posted hours as of today are:

 Spring break sorting/donation hours:

Monday
12:30-2:30

Tuesday
9-12

Wednesday
10-4

Thursday
9-11

Friday - last day for accepting donations
9-12

Saturday - none posted

Sunday - none posted/Easter

Any questions, including pickup requests, can be directed to Kristen Checkalski VanCott at cactus232@hotmail.com.

Hint: If you bring a lot, do them a favor and sort it when you get there, as in, place the toys in the toy section, boots in the boot section, and clothes in the boxes that are marked with age or size ranges. But if you need to drop-and-dash, you can do that too!

Here's another hint: You may want to bring your kids on this errand, as they will be able to run around the new used toys, gear and clothes, and beg you to walk in the woods, among the frisbee golfers. Currently, there is a  little battery powered jeep just waiting for a lucky new owner, and that's the hardest item to keep curious children from who want to ride it everywhere.

Your Donation of Gently Used Stuff Helps Beacon

Some people save up all year for this sale, keeping their kid's retired clothes, shoes and toys in special boxes in the attic. If you consign, there maybe be some items you save from the consignment store and give instead to the Ree-Play sale as a donation. This fundraiser has raised tens of thousands of dollars for kids in Beacon, as we explored last year.  

Shopping The Ree-Play Sale Helps Beacon Kids and Families

Your one and only chance to shop this big sale is from Friday, April 21st to Sunday, April 23rd from 9am-1pm daily at the University Settlement Camp Theater (Beacon Pool entrance/9D, Beacon). Credit cards are accepted. Clothing deals include a $15 fill-a-bag for the clothing tables. As is every year, a delicious bake sale will be held daily, with fresh baked goods from local parents (have you heard of the #BeaconDessertMafia? OMG). Half-Price Day is Sunday, with a special treat of Balloon Animals form 11am-1pm on Sunday, too!

While we haven't confirmed that these particular oatmeal chocolate chip squares - which sometimes have coconut - will be in the bake sale lineup, you can bet that something will be from this baker, Tessa Dean, a #beacondessertmafia contributor.