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Email joe@homespunfoods.com
Beacon local authors and cooks Emily Clifton and Matt Clifton have done it again, with the release of their second cookbook, The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot, published by Page Street Publishing and available at Binnacle Books, Split Rock Books, and other incredible places books are sold. This topic of perfecting cooking in the Dutch oven could not have come at a better time - during a pandemic - when people want creative and flavorful dinners at home with no-fuss.
All photos of the food have been taken by the Beacon-based authors, who live within the foothills of Mount Beacon, surrounded by their yard garden, where they develop the recipes.
If you could only pick one kitchen tool to use for the rest of the time what would it be? A shallow frying pan? Probably not. A cookie sheet? Meh. A versatile, long-lasting Dutch oven? Ding ding ding! We have a winner. As every home cook knows, Dutch ovens are the ultimate cooking tool, and as one of the most reliable vessels in your kitchen arsenal, the recipe options are endless.
Under Emily and Matt’s tutelage, who began their cooking and food photography careers with the blog Nerds with Knives, readers will find this cookbook to be the perfect compendium of tried-and-true Dutch oven favorites combined with some very unique recipes for making the most of your favorite tool.
One of the best parts of cooking with a Dutch oven is it’s almost a set-it-and-forget-it option, making it perfect for creating easy weeknight dinners with layers of flavor. The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot has 7 chapters and 60 recipes. Your mouth will be watering at the delicious possibilities!
Traditional favorite recipes such as “Soy and Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs with Pickled Red Cabbage” will make a scrumptious dinner one night, and then you can spice it up with “Indian-Chinese Sweet and Spicy Fried Cauliflower” the next.
Wild allium is indigenous to the yards of Beacon, and can be used in the “Creamy Chicken Stew with Chive Dumplings” recipe in Beaconites Emily and Matt Clifton’s new cookbook, The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook: The Best Recipes on the Planet for Everyone's Favorite Pot.
Are you a bread lover? With a whole chapter dedicated to bread baking, Emily and Matt have pulled out all the stops, showcasing exactly how the Dutch oven can do it all. Emily and Matt have shared a recipe with A Little Beacon Blog readers: “Chicken And Dumplings,” and we are so excited to try it - with some indigenous chives that come up every year in the yard. At least, we thought they were chives…
Matt chimed in to clarify: "Most often, when you see those chive-like clumps start coming up in spring, you’re seeing field garlic, a very common wild allium. The leaves are absolutely interchangeable for chives, and are a great forage provided you know the soil is not chemically-treated. Use them in our Creamy Chicken Stew with Chive Dumplings!"
Say Emily and Matt: “Our version of this classic recipe results in tender chicken; a rich and creamy broth; and chive-flecked, light-as-air dumplings. While not traditional, popping the pot under the broiler for a few minutes gives the dumplings a beautiful golden-brown crust, a great contrast to their pillowy center. This is Southern fine dining.”
FOR THE STEW
4 tbsp (56 g) unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, as needed
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups (1.4 L) Golden Chicken Stock (page 84) or store-bought stock
1 tsp minced fresh thyme leaves
1 bay leaf
3 lbs (1.4 kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
6 tbsp (48 g) all-purpose flour
1 (12-oz [355-ml]) can evaporated milk
4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, room temperature, cut into cubes
FOR THE DUMPLINGS
1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
2 tsp (6 g) baking powder
1⁄4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
1⁄4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1⁄2 cup plus 2 tbsp (150 g) buttermilk
3 tbsp (45 ml) melted unsalted butter, cooled
1⁄4 cup (12 g) finely minced fresh chives, plus more for garnish
DIRECTIONS
To make the stew, melt the butter in a large Dutch oven set over medium heat.
Add the onion, celery, and carrots, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are softened but not browned, 8 minutes.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.
Add the stock, thyme, bay leaf, and chicken, making sure all the chicken pieces are submerged. Bring the liquid to a full boil, cover the pot, turn the heat down to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and let the chicken continue to poach in the hot broth for 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it sit until cool enough to handle. Shred the meat and cover it with foil to keep it warm. Set it aside.
Add the flour to a small bowl and whisk in the evaporated milk until the mixture is completely smooth. Turn the heat under the Dutch oven back to low and slowly pour the milk-flour mixture into the chicken stock, whisking constantly. Add the cream cheese, stirring until it melts. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, while you make the dumpling dough.
HOW TO MAKE THE DUMPLINGS
To make the dumplings, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper.
In a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk, butter, and chives.
Slowly pour the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients, stirring just until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overmix it, or the dumplings will be tough.
Drop tablespoon-sized (15-g) dollops of dumpling dough on top of the stew, leaving a little room between each one. Cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.
The dumplings should have grown in size by roughly fivefold, and the interior should look like a soft dinner roll. If they’re not fully cooked, cover and cook for 2 minutes more.
If you like browned dumplings like we do, preheat your broiler while the dumplings are poaching. Once the dumplings are puffed, place the pot in the oven, uncovered, and broil until their tops are golden brown, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on your broiler.
Divide the chicken stew and dumplings among bowls, and top with more chives, if desired.
Reprinted with permission from The Ultimate Dutch Oven Cookbook by Emily and Matt Clifton, Page Street Publishing Co. 2021. Photo credit: Emily and Matt Clifton
The weather is getting warmer and you know what that means… it’s time for ICE-CREAM (although we are truly big fans all year round)! A reader already wrote to us about it on Thursday: “Urgent question: When is Ron’s opening?” By Friday afternoon, the Beacon Creamery had happy patrons sitting outside of it on their carved wooden bear bench.
People are gearing up to stand in socially distant lines (remember, don’t over-crowd!) to begin practicing how to order ahead from an ice cream shop, if they offer it. It is time to revisit Beacon’s ice-cream shops, as the spring weather has everyone itching to get outside in the sunshine.
Pictured: Mocha Crunch
Photo Credit: Beacon Creamery via Yelp
The Beacon Creamery is located at 134 Main St in Beacon, NY and they have mouth-watering flavors that you need to try now! Some include, “New York, New York” which includes cappuccino Kahlua, hot fudge, whipped cream, and raspberry sauce. They also have floats, ice cream sundaes, specialties, tipsy shakes, and regular ice cream with an option to add WINE ice cream for $2.00!
Pictured: Blue Panda
Ron’s Ice Cream is located at 298 Fishkill Ave in Beacon, NY and they have all of the fun flavors you want like Birthday Cake or Cookies and Cream. And always sprinkles. Some special flavors include Chocolate Moose Tracks, Graham Central Station, Crazy Vanilla, Cookies n Cream, and many more! They also carry sundaes, specialty sundaes, flurries, milkshakes, slushies, and more. Oh, plus, they have hotdogs, burgers, snacks, sandwiches, and sides!
The parking lot is small for line crowding during a pandemic. Last year, Ron’s initiated a call-in service with no walk-up service. ALBB does not have word yet on how they will do it this year. Stay tuned!
Zora Dora’s Micro Batch Ice Cream And Paletas is located at 201 Main St in Beacon, NY, and makes ice creams and sorbets in the form of paletas! If you don’t know what a paleta is, it’s a frozen treat on a stick! Their handmade products are produced in small batches every day and they source and handpick the freshest seasonal ingredients available. They also offer catering and cart rentals!
Pictured: Vegan Chocolate Orange
The Chocolate Studio doesn’t only have delicious chocolates and signature treats, but they also have ice cream! Vegan flavors too. You can pick-up vegan and gluten-free treats (or nonvegan/gluten-free) OR they ship nationwide! Sadly, ice-cream is excluded from the shipping part so you will have to stop in the store for that! But you’ll want to! So many flavors, you might have to get a few.
You can also stop in the Yankee Clipper Diner for ice-cream! They have a few sundaes on their menu, including the Waffle Sundae, which is a freshly baked Belgian waffle with 2 scoops of ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles, walnuts, and a cherry on top! I mean, this could be your breakfast! Add additional toppings for only $1.
“We at MAGGIE & EASE are committed to preparing great food and providing a remarkable and enriching experience through bold flavor and savory delights made generously with love.” Try their desserts at Dia: Beacon art museum & Homespun Foods on Main. St.
Sound Asleep Media is a production company in Beacon, NY offering photography & videography services including parties, portraits, family photos, and events.
A charming and cozy salon studio with a good energy and vibe. A rustic/chic boutique decor. It’s not just a hair appointment, it’s an experience!
A Coffee Lounge located in Newburgh, NY with an experience that serves old-world passion evoking a strong sense of community. “Blacc Vanilla may not be an industry leader in the café business, but they have consistently been very active within the city community: hosting community and political events, providing relief for folks during disasters, and creating a business, as well as a community partnership.”
“Whether you’re new to Pilates or at an advanced level, at APG Pilates we work with each person individually and in small groups to help you achieve your personal goals. Pilates is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.” Located in Newburgh, NY, APR Pilates is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.
Are you in the Black community and run a business in the Hudson Valley? Let us know about you! Listings in the Black Owned Business category are free. All other categories can sign on as sponsors for a listing.
Picture of pre-packed food prepared by the Beacon City School District Food Services Department. Example of free food distribution happening in Beacon since the pandemic, due to federal funding to all public school districts regardless of proving moderate or low income thresholds.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
While this Valentine’s Day was an extra heavy one to bear, being that the pandemic continues and there was report of one little friend in an elementary school who did not bring classmates Valentine’s cards because both parents lost their jobs, the safety net for food insecurity showed signs of strengthening in Beacon, while affordable housing in a booming real estate market remains a threat to those looking to stay here.
During Monday’s City Council Meeting, after which the council discussed once again and voted on a years long recurring agenda item of viewsheds (ie what constitutes as a protected view when a developer or property owner is looking to build upon their land), as well as other items, the $25,000 CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) that Beacon was awarded from the CARES ACT via Dutchess County in December 2020, made its debut as a planned talking point for the City Council.
Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair, who is an advocate for affordable housing and community services, asked the new City Administrator, Chris White, for an update on any progress made to get a study created and funded in order to see what kind of needs the people want for an expanded Recreation Department and possible new public building for activities and services. It was discussed during Budget Season (October-December) that a study on the Recreation Department could range from $25K-$50K. Another study on Digital Broadband access was also considered.
Chris White responded by saying: “We are trying to work through all of the budget initiatives that you put into the 2021 budget, for now we had prioritized the Mental Health Worker, and we are then trying to do the Food Program. Mark Price from our Recreation Department is trying to figure out a mechanism for doing that, and for meeting the CBDG guidelines. I’ve talked to Mark about doing the Recreation Plan next, and both that and the Broadband study I think should come back to Workshop so that we can get our goals and what you envisioned there…I do want to get the Food Program off the ground first.”
Pictured here is City Administrator Chris White, and below him, Councilperson Dan Aymar-Blair.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of City of Beacon council 2/16/2021 meeting.
Dan said that he had forgotten about the grant, and applauded Chris for taking it. Chris added: “We [Chris and Mark] were trying to think ‘What can we do, and what makes a difference?’”
The Community of Beacon and the Beacon City School District have been pulling together to provide free food to people as easily as possible. For example, the Beacon City School District designed a system to deliver pre-prepped or made cafeteria food via their Remote Bus Delivery to any registered child in the District.
When that federally funded food service was started, it was pick-up only. Many families did not go to pick up, as they were working at home on digital meetings, or weren’t home. Community members volunteered to pick up for each other. Some families who were scarce in emergency savings felt like they didn’t deserve the food and didn’t want to take from others who needed it more, yet they themselves had lost their jobs. Delivery made a difference for food reaching people.
Groups such as Fareground, Beacon’s Salvation Army by way of Captain Leilani Rodríguez-Alarcón who used to actually cook and deliver food to children years ago when Beacon lost qualification for its Free Summer Meals Program, I Am Beacon (see their Thanksgiving story) and others have been working together to continue to circulate food to the community.
Back in December 2020 when this grant was awarded, A Little Beacon Blog followed up with Mark to inquire as to any movement on the spending of the grant. At the time, he spoke of a time consumption of organizing the required income survey.
“Of the groups in Beacon who work in food security, everyone would need to give assurance. They would each need to do an income survey.” When asked by A Little Beacon Blog if this grant’s required documentation of proof of need made it difficult to spend, Chris expanded: “Grant funds are to be utilized for low to medium income families, like all CDBG funding. There is no proof of need that has to be validated. We will have to administer a income survey to insure the appropriate population is being served.”
While this may not account for families newly unemployed or economically stressed who would otherwise not fall into the low to medium income bracket on paper yet, Mark and Chris hope to use the existing food distribution point on Wednesdays at Memorial Park to collect information before the funds can be distributed. Said Chris to A Little Beacon Blog: “We plan to focus the funds on expanding food provided at the Wednesday food distributions so that we can simplify implementing the necessary income survey.”
A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Fareground to see if they had been approached about assisting in this grant. While they had not directly, co-founder Kara Dean-Assael, DSW said that their members do participate on regular calls with other food groups. Kara also provided guidance on how to implement a survey, stating:
“Our recommendation is to not make our community members 'prove that they are in need of food. The scarcity mentality or the thinking that people may take advantage is not something we want to support. However, i do understand that bureaucratic processes often require 'evidence' and so if it's truly required, we recommend these 2 questions which have been proven to indicate food insecurity:
To easily assess for FI, Hager et al. (2010) recommend the use of a 2-item screen that utilizes questions 1 and 2 of the Household Food Security Scale (HFSS), asking:
“Within the past 12 months, we worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more” and
“Within the past 12 months the food we bought just didn’t last and we didn’t have money to get more.”
Kara continued: “Of late, this screen is used more often than the lengthy HFSS to assess FI risk (Garcia-Silva, Handler, & Wolfe, 2017; Helton, Cross, Vaughn, & Gochez-Kerr, 2018; Makelarski, Thorngren, & Lindau, 2015).”
Mark confirmed earlier that the Wednesday distribution at the Memorial Park location serves 150-200 cars per week, with the 9:30am Beacon Recreation Center distribution serving 75 families. Distribution lasts until the food runs out, which is early.
How does Mark envision the funding being used? “I would like to see it utilized to supplement and enhance the work already in place.” In terms of boots-on-the-ground knowledge of how people are needing the food, and best ways of getting it to them, Chris confirmed: “Mark participates in a bimonthly call with lots of the folks doing the work here in Beacon.”
Dinner delivery.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Restaurants who are still open almost a year into the pandemic, after having been forced to shut down, and then open up with limited capacity, and now must close at 10pm, are relying on delivery and pickup in order to stay in business. Some restaurants have incorporated 3rd party apps like GrubHub and DoorDash, like Max’s on Main, Sukhothai, Isamu and Heritage. The apps can be a quick fix for a restaurant not needing to manage their own drivers or pay additional commercial auto insurance, but the quick fix can come with a price, to the tune of 30% of an upcharge as well as changing of the price on the app’s version of the menu, according to Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, a Republican, who just signed into emergency temporary law that that upcharge must be lowered.
Homespun, Meyers Olde Dutch (MOD) and Eat Church are using their own websites and POS systems (point of service) to publish their menus on, and avoided the 3rd delivery apps, partially based on avoiding the high take.
As Molinaro has been working to help struggling businesses throughout the pandemic, he took a highly targeted action today that regulates the business models of these technology companies by temporarily limiting how much money they can make off of the restaurant. A Little Beacon Blog is inquiring as to how this will be enforced, and if the change is showing up on the apps already.
The measure was encouraged by Beacon based Dutchess County Legislator, Nick Page (Democrat) . The press release issued by the County Executive’s office describing the action and reasoning behind this bipartisan move is in its entirety is below:
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today signed Local Emergency Order No. 13, which supports local restaurants by temporarily capping service fees charged by third-party food delivery companies to no more than 15 percent of the cost of the food order.
Third-party food delivery companies, such as Grubhub and Door Dash, among others, provide customers with easy-to-use apps for ordering food online. These apps are vital for restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they are more reliant than ever on takeout and delivery orders. However, fee structures used by these companies, which can be as much as 30 percent for delivery orders, are cutting into local restaurants’ profits during this time of hardship for the entire food services and hospitality industry.
The Executive Order also prohibits third-party delivery services from publishing restaurants’ menus on the services’ apps and increasing the price of a food item to include an delivery fee – an additional concern that was brought to the County’s attention.
County Executive Molinaro said, “The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted many industries, but none more so than the foodservice and hospitality industry. By temporarily capping the fees to no more than 15 percent, the Emergency Order will provide much-needed relief to struggling local businesses and help ensure the survival of our local restaurants. I thank Legislator Nick Page for bringing this important issue to our attention.”
Between November 2019 and November 2020, employment in the leisure and hospitality industry dipped by more than 25 percent in the Dutchess-Putnam counties region; this was the largest drop in employment in the region among all of the tracked sectors. The struggles facing this region are indicative of a national crisis for the industry. A recent survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association found on average, sales were down nearly 30 percent, and 81 percent of respondents reporting staffing levels remain below normal levels. As of December 2020, 17 percent of restaurants nationwide – or over 110,000 establishments – had closed.
Gregg Pulver, Chair of the Dutchess County Legislature, said, “The misrepresentation of small businesses by third-party apps is a disruption of carefully curated business strategies. We support local entrepreneurs and will do everything we can to ensure a level playing field. I’m pleased the County Executive is exercising his authority to place local restaurants back in charge of their own products. As this is likely a statewide issue, Albany must act effectively and quickly to enact a permanent resolution.”
During the Local Emergency Order, the County will work with the restaurant industry and our local delivery drivers to manage any unintended consequences and ensure the best outcome for our community and our economy.
Assistant Minority Leader of the County Legislator Nick Page said, “I applaud the County Executive for enacting my caucus’ initiative to prioritize the survival of local restaurants in their time of crisis. Acting together, we can best weather the storm.”
In addition to the latest Emergency Order, Dutchess County Government has taken active steps to support local restaurants and other small businesses. In December, it was announced Dutchess County partnered with Community Capital New York (CCNY) to provide $430,000 to assist microenterprise businesses negatively affected by COVID-19. In June, the County Executive issued an order waiving local regulations and requirements to expedite the opening of outdoor dining. Throughout the last year, County staff has provided guidance on State requirements, advocated for support for small businesses from the Federal government, and worked with New York State officials to help provide foodservice establishments with flexibility and relief from onerous mandates.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Our local restaurants are part of the fabric of this community — they employ thousands, support local charities and organizations, and add to the character of our County — and we cannot sit by and do nothing as they struggle. We will continue to support small businesses in any way we can, whether it is working to find solutions on the local level, to provide flexibility to serve their customers in creative ways, provide direct support, or advocate for them at the State and Federal level.”
Federal money was made available through the CARES Act for communities to apply for and be awarded money to spend on food security and/or ensuring safety for seniors at local senior centers. Dutchess County manages this money, and in a press release sent 12/22/2020, announced that all of the municipalities who applied for the money were awarded money, which was “based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) income guidelines, for efforts to promote food security and safety at local senior centers to enable them to be open for seniors.”
Beacon applied for and was awarded $25,000 “for assistance to a local food bank to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income households,” according to the press release. Beacon’s Director for Parks and Recreation, Mark Price, is the point person for the spending of this money, and says that spending the grant money is not so simple.
Because the money is federal, they require an “income survey” in order to prove the need a municipality says they have in their population. Says Mark: “The County was willing to fund a food purchase only, for moderate to low income families in Beacon. We have to give assurance to them that they are giving us money and we're using it for the population we say we are. Because we are using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money, there is usually a map that identifies the low to moderate areas (Editor’s Note: like with the small business Microenterprise Stabilization Grants currently available). When you use Block Grant monies, you are to use those to those areas. That map is slowly shrinking in Beacon. However, COVID funding doesn't use a map.”
For this article, we asked Mark how he is going to find the people for the survey that identifies low to moderate income households. “We are hopeful that our Wednesday 9am free food distribution at Memorial Park, which serves 150-200 cars per week, in addition to our Wednesday 9:30am Beacon Recreation Center distribution to 75 families, will be a one-shot way to survey the need.”
The number of organizations who are offering food security services to people in need in Beacon has increased since the pandemic started in March 2020. “Of the groups in Beacon who work in food security, everyone would need to give assurance. They would each need to do an income survey. At this point, we are thinking that this one distribution location could be the most efficient way of getting a good sampling for the income survey. Some independent food security groups may need to do sampling for a month to get a good sampling.”
Other municipalities made proposals for federal CARES Act funding based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money guidlines, and were awarded. Ideas differed, and are included below:
City of Beacon: $25,000 for assistance to a local food bank to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income households.
Town of Beekman: $20,000 for touchless bathroom fixtures for the Town’s senior program
Town of Dover: $17,200 award for substantive meals and home-keeping necessities for homebound seniors.
Town of East Fishkill: $20,000 award for HEPA sterilization units and UV air purifiers at the senior center.
Town of Hyde Park: $29,500 award for plexiglass partitions, air purifiers and UV-C lights, Wi-Fi network upgrades and 7 laptops at the senior center, as well as tent for outdoor programming.
Town of Poughkeepsie: $15,950 award for plexi-glass barriers, hand sanitizing stations, wall-mounted thermometers, HEPA filter, air purifiers, gloves/wipes/masks for the senior center.
Town of Pine Plains: $26,542 award for support to Willow Roots food pantry to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income families.
When you see a 2 for 1 sale on your favorite item, buy it, and then give the free one to a food pantry! The best food is food you yourself love, and want others to have also (Ok, Entenmann’s Raspberry Danish Twist Coffee Cake may not be the healthiest choice, but it’s a spot-hitter and a crave-worthy option).
Word on the street is that Key Food, located in Beacon, gets new sales in on items on Fridays. This is where you might see those incredible 3 for 1 sales on Thomas English muffins (our fave).
Now you can also donate fruits and veggies thanks to the Tiny Food Pantry Community Fridge made possible by Binnacle Books and Beacon 4 Black Lives. Read all about it HERE.
If those sale items are off at the cash register, keep calm. There are a lot of sales and a lot of codes that go into a computer and signage. If something rings up wrong, consider yourself helping your fellow shoppers by asking about it without raising your voice, waving your arms, and making a stink. We see you, Big Guy, when you do that and we are standing behind you in line. It’s best if you remove that aggression by doing cardio outside and getting fresh air to get your perspective and compassion back 😊
Plus, Key Food stores are franchises (like Subway is), owned by real life families in your neighborhood. Key Food Beacon is owned by a Yemini family, who owns stores in other communities as well. Their employees are like family.
Find a list of Food Pantries to give to right now at A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry Guide. The Tiny Food Pantries are ones you can literally place food into any day, any time. Other Food Pantries have designated times that are indicated in that Guide, or Gift Card Wish Lists like with Beacon Community Kitchen or the Castle Point Veterans.
PS: Of course for your own budget needs, use the sales for yourself and your family.
When the pandemic started, the focus on food - how people would get food in quarantine, and/or pay for food - took a front seat. This fear of lack of food access is known as food insecurity. People in communities all over the country started getting together to figure out how to bring food to people who, for whatever reason, have a hard time leaving their house to get to food, either to pay for it at a grocery store or to collect it at a food pantry.
In Beacon, a few organizations started new, or got stronger. In addition to the church-based food pantries that have been serving the region for years, new organizations include Mutual Aid Beacon and Beacon4BlackLives, who started during the pandemic and protests, and Fareground, who was established earlier as a pop-up cafe, and found their calling connecting food to people in these extreme times. Fareground has had their hand in several social projects, and they’ve only just gotten started.
Fareground was co-founded by Kara Dean-Assael in 2012. The intention was to be a “pay what you can” cafe “but this shifted due to issues securing space in town,” Kara told A Little Beacon Blog. So they had pop-up cafes around town, with several pop-up cafes at the Beacon Recreation Center in 2014-2015.
Fareground is behind the Tiny Food Pantries around town in public spaces, and most recently in low-income housing communities. The concept here is that anyone can leave food inside of the Tiny Food Pantry house, and anyone can take what they need, when they need it.
The first Tiny Food Pantry went up in the summer of 2016 at the Beacon Recreation Center in the front lawn near the parking lot. The next one was inside of the Howland Public Library. Next came Binnacle Books, and Tompkins Terrace. There are 2 Tiny Food Pantries in Wappingers Falls.
The Tiny Food Pantry in Tompkins Terrace, which is a residential community, is managed by a designated manager at Tompkins Terrace. Fareground visits once per month - sometimes twice per month - to drop off food and hold a free marketplace for all residents. In November 2020, Fareground launched the first “community fridge” in Beacon, in partnership with Binnacle Books and Becon4BlackLives.
Fareground is donation-based and applies for grants. People either donate money to them, or supply food. Says Kara: “We have been filling our Tiny Food Pantries on a regular basis. This happens in a number of ways and we have 'managers' to help. People often pick up food from my porch, food from our Key Food bin, or food form our Fareground home at 12 Hanna Lane.” Hanna Lane is home to LNJ Tech, which is an event production facility and location that has been connecting Fareground and other organizations when things they need like supplying sound equipment and set-up, space, etc.
Fareground has been on the organizing end of getting food to families in the Beacon City School District, and has been distributing food themselves. During the first school shutdown, “we packed 'to go dinner' bags from March-September and dropped them off with the school lunch distributions and deliveries. We also helped the school and Common Ground Farm this fall by purchasing a few things for their Meal Kits.”
Fareground has weekly distributions where they go to different low-income housing areas, which include South Davies, Tompkins Terrace, Meadow Ridge, Forrestal Heights, and. Hamilton Fish on a rotating basis. Fareground sets up a free marketplace on location, and anyone can join to select what they like. “We work with the different housing managers to send out flyers to all residents,” says Kara. “We received a grant from the related foundation to support our work at Tompkins Terrace. This afforded us to drop off 95 turkey kits last Friday (before Thanksgiving) in rolling bags for people to use at our future distributions!” Having a easy to pack-and-carry bag is key to collecting food from any food pantry.
For the December holidays, Fareground has given away 30 meals with more to come. They include donations of Chicken from Murray’s Family Farm.
However, sometimes distribution needs are select. Says Karen: “We also get phone calls from different people in need and respond to them ASAP, usually by dropping off a box of food and connecting them to a food pantry or distribution site. Our board president, Karen George, lives in Wappnigers Falls and has about 15 families she brings food to every week. So, we are really focused on increasing access to food NOW. in both micro and macro ways.”
Fareground is committed to using all the food, and to not see food wasted. Recently, a group donated untouched food from an event. Kara had this to say to Fareground’s Instagram following: “It was one of the biggest food donations we’ve received, aside from our trips to the Hudson Valley Food Bank, thanks to @akapsales ! She made this happen and we’re so grateful! Don’t throw food away! We’ll find homes for it‼️”
Contact Fareground if you have such events, and want to donate the untouched food.
Donating to Fareground, either with cash or by sending food, can be done here.
The tiny fridge, behind Binnacle Books and the Tiny Food Pantry found there. Organized by Fareground, Beacon4BlackLives, and Binnacle Books.
Photo Credit: Beacon4BlackLives
“Community fridges” have been established all over the country, as reported by the Today Show, with more and more appearing after this past spring. The holiday season has sprung upon us, and the pandemic is relentless, leaving plenty of families and individuals to still worry about food on their table.
Beacon’s first community fridge was unveiled in the last week of November 2020, as a fully functioning refrigerator sheltered by a wooden house built by Bryan Faubus with materials donated by Kevin Byrne. The community fridge is a collaboration project between Fareground, Beacon4BlackLives, and Binnacle Books; with advice and moral support provided by the Fridge Girls of NYC and the Kingston Community Fridges organization. You can easily find the self-stock refrigerator located behind Binnacle Books where a food pantry of nonperishable goods can also be easily accessed.
Produce and fresh food is accepted into the fridge, maintained by Binnacle Books.
Photo Credit: Beacon4BlackLives
The first meeting about the fridge project occurred in late September 2020. By November 25th, 2020, the fridge was plugged in and fully stocked by several members of the Beacon community. A need for direct aid in the community was evident back in April 2020 amidst the beginning of the pandemic.
Since Binnacle Books was closed to the public during the shutdown, they decided to convert their outdoor “dollar bookshelf” into a Tiny Food Pantry in collaboration with Fareground. By July 2020, the makeshift food pantry was upgraded to a permanent food pantry with a design uniform to the others that Fareground has established across Wappingers Falls, Beacon, and Fishkill.
Binnacle Books had to restock the shelf several times a week using donated funds to buy groceries, food provided by Fareground and Keyfood’s Donation Bin. In addition to these accessible food sources, several members of the community stop by to leave food on the shelves, and just as many people stop by to collect what they need. The pantry is still constantly cycling from full to empty every day, a clear sign indicating the dire need for direct aid for the Beacon Community, especially during these tough times. Any person can stock the refrigerator at any time with new, fresh, unopened items. Produce is accepted.
Binnacle Books, at 321 Main Street, Beacon, NY. The first home of the fridge.
Photo Credit: Beacon4BlackLives
Maintenance of the fridge has been tended by organizers from Beacon4BlackLives, Fareground, and Mark of Binnacle Books. A schedule of volunteers is being organized as the fridge will need cleaning and upkeep moving forward. Members of the community can get involved by simply swinging by to put food in the fridge or take what they need for themselves or to provide for others.
A Venmo is also set up to accept funds used to buy groceries, non-perishables, toiletries, tampons/pads, as well as cleaning supplies. Says Binnacle in their directions on Instagram: “the money will be used in one of a few ways: 1) to cover ~$20 / month to keep the fridge plugged in, 2) to keep the fridge stocked and clean, and 3) to keep the tiny food pantry out front stocked with non-perishables, toiletries, etc.”
The Venmo handle is @binnaclefoodjustice.
As for plans for future installations, there are no announcements yet, but there is definite interest in expanding the project. The City of Beacon has been discussing adding food security to their budget and discussions in 2021.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro announced via press release on December 22, 2020, that more than $150,000 has been allocated for local municipal projects promoting food security and safety for seniors.’ Beacon was a municipality that applied for and was awarded CARES funding, based on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) income guidelines, for efforts to promote food security and safety at local senior centers to enable them to be open for seniors.
Beacon was awarded $25,000 “for assistance to a local food bank to purchase food for distribution to low- and moderate-income households.” A Little Beacon Blog is following up on the destination of that allocation.
For more information about Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens in Beacon, see A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry and Soup Kitchens Guide.
Thanksgiving 2020 was here all of a sudden, and many people were making their usual rounds to hit the grocery stores, as well as food pantries. In non-pandemic times, soup kitchens tend to cook a meal for a designated group of people, like seniors that the Salvation Army of Beacon usually cooks for, but could not host anyone this year, but still managed to help families get meals for Thanksgiving. They will do so again for Christmas (donations for that effort can be accessed by texting rescuechristmas to 91999, where Captain Leilani Rodríguez-Alarcón, Corps Officer / Pastor is in receipt of the donations, or contact Leilani.Alarcon@use.salvationarmy.org).
At the food pantry at St. Andrews Church, who collects and distributes non-perishable items, an unexpected call came from this united group of 3 organizations to donate 25 turkeys to the regular participants of that church’s pantry. I Am Beacon, Key Food Beacon, and Salem Tabernacle teamed up to raise money and distribute the turkeys to families using their local channels, with a goal of reaching 100 families.
Starting in 2014, I Am Beacon started doing the program called Turkey On Every Table to use their community connections to find those in need, and raise the money to deliver. Large organizations are important, but often local, grass-roots organizations have boots on the ground with friends and relatives getting first-hand information on what people need during any time - pandemic or not.
This year, the three organizations teamed up. Says I Am Beacon’s founder, Reuben Simmons: “We worked in a collaborative effort on raising money for the food asked for on our list, packing the bags, and making the deliveries. Salem Tabernacle scheduled a pick-up at their church.”
Pat Lassiter, longtime Food Pantry Manager for St. Andrews Church that opens its doors to residents of Beacon on Saturday mornings, was pleased when she received a call from Reuben, that the group would be donating 25 turkeys to people who come to get food from St. Andrews Food Pantry that Saturday.
Some members in the group who organized the Turkey on Every Table: I Am Beacon, Key Food Beacon, Salem Tabernacle.
Photo Credit: Key Food Beacon
Says Reuben: “I Am Beacon used their network to identify a couple of outlets to also distribute the program through. We worked with Mrs. Lassiter from St. Andrews pantry located on South Avenue, and Kenya Gadsen to distribute to families through Opens Arms Ministry at the Beacon Recreation Center at 23 West Center’s Food Pantry.” Due to state funding requirements, St. Andrews needs to limit giving to Beaconites only, and the Open Arms Ministry at Beacon Recreation Center is open to anyone, regardless of residency.
After hearing of Pat’s appreciation for the gift of turkeys, Reuben replied: “I am happy to hear it all worked out that day. She has been doing an amazing job for many, many years with so many amazing volunteers.”
To get involved with any of these organizations, you can donate to food donations bins periodically at Key Food, and follow along on a more personal level with I Am Beacon’s podcast on Spotify. I Am Beacon will be gearing up for Membership 2021, and will be moving forward to a non-voting membership organization in 2021.
To get familiar with all of the Food Pantries in Beacon and how they work, see A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen Guide. There are volunteer opportunities with several organizations listed there. You can call them directly for inquiries, or see their websites (if they have one) for published volunteer opportunities. Directions on how to donate to them are published in that Guide as well.
Updates in the world of Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens are ongoing. The main focus happens at the end of the year, starting at Thanksgiving, but their use happens 365. As do opportunities to donate to them, and changes to how one gets food and hygiene products from them. A Little Beacon Blog has made a big update to our years old Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens Guide, as new people are in place, new organizations have been created, and changes have been made to accommodate the pandemic.
The thing about Food Pantries, is that some of them are really hard to figure out how to donate to, or to use. For instance: finding the correct door of a building to access or drop off food. Knowing what kind of identification to bring - if any. What kind of money to donate - Gift Cards or Checks or Venmo or PayPal?
A Little Beacon Blog has always wanted to make knowing how to access the food and to donate super easy. Years ago we compiled this Food Pantry & Soup Kitchens Guide, which is available to anyone online 24/7.
We are hoping to dedicate an editor to the Food Pantry Guide order to keep it updated more frequently. In order to do so, we need longtime sponsors for that Guide. Sponsorship of this Guide comes in a bundle pack that also sponsors the Beacon City School District Fundraising Opportunity Page (ie. events from PTOs, etc.), and the Kids Sports Page (when there are sports, promotes registration openings, etc.). You would be promoting 3 Guides at once.
Sponsorship is monthly, and 5% of the sales from this sponsorship will be donated to a Food Pantry or Soup Kitchen in the list. Please click here if interested in being a sustaining sponsor of the Food Pantry Guide.
And just like that, Thanksgiving is one week away! Although it might look a little different this year, the Hudson Valley is filled with the best places to get the most delicious pies. Plus, what a better time than now to shop small & support locals! Right?!
See below for the list of businesses near Beacon that are selling pies! Some places already closed their pre-order window. Pies are going fast! Can ya blame people?
If we missed you, please email teslie@alittlebeaconblog with your hot tip :)
Beacon, NY
Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
Email beaconbread@gmail.com for an order form if you can’t make it to the shop!
Beacon, NY
Small Pies
BJ’s does sell pies (apple, cherry, yam, and others) as well as cheese cake. Your best bet is to call or walk in. (845) 831-1221
Beacon, NY
Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
You can also place an order for Thanksgiving meals!
More details HERE.
Beacon, NY
Pre-order until Saturday 11/21!
You can also place an order for Appetizers & Side Dishes!
More details HERE.
Beacon, NY
Pre-order until TONIGHT 11/20 or inquire to see if you can be squeezed in ;)
More details HERE.
Wappingers Falls, NY
Pre-order until Sunday 11/22!
Message to order or email oheavenlycake@gmail.com
Poughkeepsie, Kingston, Newburgh and Wappingers
See Holiday Catering Info HERE.
Key Food does sell pies, and carries different brands from time to time. They have been known to carry Junior’s Cheesecake, so give them a try.
Frozen pies including apple pie and others!
We called around to some usual suspects, and they either passed their deadline, or aren’t doing it this year. These include:
Fishkill Farms
The Beacon Daily
Homespun Foods
Blend Smoother and Salad Bar on Main Street, near Lewis & Pine.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Shopping and eating healthily just got a little easier on the west end of Main Street (the end near-ish the train station) with the opening of the new smoothie and salad shop, Blend. Just up the block from long-standing Bank Square Coffeehouse, and in between and across the street from incredibly niche boutiques (Lewis & Pine, a new pottery shop, Colorant, among other retail destinations), eating to-go acai and smoothie bowls, avocado toast paninis, and blended fruits and vegetables just got easier.
But wait - have you seen Blend before in other towns? Yes you have. Blend owners Alaina James and José Medina are from New Windsor, NY, where they opened their first Blend, located at 357 Old Forge Hill Rd. Other locations include Middletown, Monroe, Mohegan Lake (inside of ShopRite), “Blend is not a franchise as many think we are,” says Emily Dolan who works at the Beacon location via email with A Little Beacon Blog. ”Our goal is to make the Hudson Valley a healthier place and we are doing so by expanding locally within different regions of Hudson Valley.”
Why Beacon? ”Blend has always wanted to have a location in Beacon,” says Emily. “It's a small city that is filled with fun, culture, authenticity and diversity. When it comes to eating healthly this is what it's all about; food that's eclectic and great for the body.”
Beacon is not hard-pressed for healthy eating options, as many sit-down eateries offer creative menus with Hudson Valley farm fresh food, including Kitchen Sink (farm fresh rotating menu), Meyers Olde Dutch (burgers), Zaitun (Palestinian), Homespun, Vegetalien (on the east end of town) and many others. Beacon Natural mixes smoothies and offers pre-made menu items, and Studio Beacon has a fresh smoothie and bowl bar.
However, a specialty store just for fresh smoothies, salads and acai bowls is new to Beacon. Emily told ALBB: "We cater to all of our customers individual needs. We care about what we are putting into peoples bodies. All of our fruits and vegetables that we use are 100% fresh and we do not add any sugar or added substitutes. People come into Blend with cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and just want to know what is best for them and that’s why we are here. Not only to make delicious smoothies but also to help our community become a healthy and more health knowledgeable place."
Fresh flavors are available on this menu of both solid food and juiced. Here’s a sampling:
AVOCADO & TOAST SAMPLINGS:
The Tuscan
Mashed Avocado •Spinach •Tomatoes •Parmesan •Grilled Chicken
Zesty Pesto
Mashed Avocado •Spinach •Pesto •Mozzarella
Green Krunch
Mashed Avocado •Mixed Nuts •Craisins •Chia Seeds
SMOOTHIE SAMPLINGS:
Banana Berry
Strawberry •Banana •Nonfat Vanilla Yogurt
Peanut Butter Delight
Peanut Butter •Apple •Banana •Strawberry •Almond Milk
JUICES & SHOTS
Stress Minimizer
Spinach •Apple •Honey •Banana •Green Tea
Daily Detox
Carrot •Cucumber •Apple •Ginger •Lemon
Fat Burner
Cucumber •Celery •Apple •Ginger •Lemon
ACAI & SMOOTHIE BOWLS SAMPLINGS
Tropical
Granola •Pineapple •Coconut Flakes •Banana •Honey
If you’re a local who wants a quick and healthy bite, a run down to Blend is quick, easy and worth it. If you’re visiting on the weekend and find yourself waiting in line to enter a boutique who is observing social distancing requirements, then you now have a new place to snack and stay fueled up for your Beacon shopping, day to day living, and early voting!
Right now, Blend is aiming to be open into the night, so that evening commuters walking up from the train can grab a snack before dinner. Morning hours start at 7pm or 8am depending on the day. Hours change frequently for stores in Beacon, so always check their website or Instagram first.
According to a press release from the City of Beacon, Mayor Lee Kyriacou announced that the City of Beacon – as a result of an anonymous donation – is distributing over $1,000 in Key Food Gift Cards by way of various local non-profit groups and the Beacon City School District.
The gift cards, issued at Beacon’s Key Food grocery store, will be redistributed to local families going through financial difficulties during the current health crisis and economic downturn. The city was able to provide gift cards to local religious institutions, non-profit groups and the Beacon City School District.
Mayor Lee Kyriacou said, “From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the generous Beacon resident who sought anonymously to help others during these unpredictable economic times. Many families are in need of this donation and I am happy that the City of Beacon could assist.”
Pastor John Perez from the Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, whose church is located on North Cedar Street, said: “In these difficult times, it is truly a blessing for those in need.”
For those who need to visit a Food Pantry, find a guide at A Little Beacon Blog’s Food Pantry Guide.
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