#TBT: Howland Cultural Center as The Howland Circulating Library

The Howland Cultural Center, Beacon's current hub for all kinds of classes and events, was built initially as the Howland Circulating Library when it opened its doors for the first time in August 1872. The then library was the brain child of Civil War General Joseph Howland "and several prominent men of the area, names which are still familiar today: Brett, Mackin, Brinckerhoff, Mase, Van Buren, plus others," according to the Howland Cultural Center's website.

Howland was a son of a New York City merchant family who grew wealthy from the China trade. Howland, with his wife, Eliza Newton Woolsey, moved from New York City to their estate Tioronda, (today called Craig house). Eliza embarked on a sanitary mission to feed and care for soldiers fighting in the Civil War, which you should definitely read about here.

General Joseph Howland commissioned his brother-in-law, Richard Morris Hunt, a sought after architect, to design the library. The design was conceived in a Norwegian Tudor style with 6 gabled roofs and was one of the last libraries designed to use natural light. More description about the design is here at the Howland Cultural Center's website. After Hunt designed this building, the architect went on to design a wing of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the base of the Statue of Liberty, the renowned “Breakers” in Newport, Rhode Island, and the entrance and lobby of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and more.

The Howland Circulating Library was intended as a circulating library among a paying membership, and its original 2,200 volumes grew quickly. In 1929, it was one of two subscription-based libraries in the state of New York. A bequest was made by a donor, with a condition that the library be made public, which it was. It remained a library until 1976 when its rapidly expanding requirements compelled a move to larger quarters.

Today the Howland Cultural Center is a center for the community, a hub for the arts, and a local historical treasure.

Tulip Spotting on Main Street - Secret Gardener Vicki Is At It Again

A newly planted tulip near Hudson Valley Beach Glass, will return next year with other perennials planted there.

While you were strolling down Main Street this weekend, you may have noticed the rogue tulips and pansies at the base of trees along the sidewalks. It's the work of one of Main Street's secret gardeners, Miss Vicki Raabin. We covered her streetscape project last year, and it looks like residents and visitors will be treated to even more glorious mini-gardens in the tree plots. 

Donations from Key Food, Bell Landscaping and others have started rolling in. If you're interested in donating, you can stop by Miss Vicki's Music studio on the West End of Main Street near Mountain Tops, or stop her on the street! Refresh your memory about her project here.

Ages 3-14 Summer Day Camps Guide for Beacon and Hudson Valley Kids

Being that the Hudson Valley and Beacon in particular are so rich in the arts, agriculture and a great outdoors scene, options for summer day camps are plentiful. Most camps offer weekly themes with daily projects and activities that reinforce that theme. You can definitely give your child a well-rounded summer that not only keeps them entertained, but very busy. Ages and times will vary throughout the summer, and several camps are offering early drop off and late pick up for working parents, or for families with more than one child going to different camps. The tough part will be making a decision between themes and pulling the trigger! With roughly 10 weeks of summer, you can use this Summer Day Camps Guide to mix and match for your family's schedule. If you know of a camp that you think would fit within this list, email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. If you want to enhance your listing with an advertising package, click here for details.

Let's start with what you'll need for most every camp:

• Medical forms
• Packed lunch (fun with lunch boxes! Play has a bunch of cute metal ones)
• Water shoes
• Bathing suit and towel 
• Sunscreen
• Big Bag to pack all of this stuff in

We've started the Guide with summer day camps that offer the longest option of hours per day, followed by more niche camps with shorter days.
 

Rose Hill Manor Summer Day Camp

One of the most active summer camps and known for its daily adventures off-campus into the Hudson Valley. Every day is a designated type of day which includes a trip to the Bronx Zoo, Bear Mountain State Park, Bowdoin State Park, Memorial Park, Jump'n Jake's, Splashdown, and more. Friday's are down-time back at the school for crafts and projects. This year, the camp is also going to Beacon's new summer pool! Children are bussed to all off-campus activities. Field trip fees are required for attending certain destinations like Splashdown, etc.

Great For: Parents love field trips and activities with friends.
Swimming? Yes. Kids will play in the water at Beacon's summer pool at the Settlement Camp, at Splash Down and at various state park. All children are supervised and swimming lessons are not required.
Ages: 5-12 years old
Dates: Weeks Starting June 29th - August 24th
Times: Full Day: 9am - 5pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Yes
Price: $190/week
Extra Fees? Yes, for field trips
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

All Sport Summer Day Camp (Camp FIT & Tennis Camp)

This fitness club has an Outdoor Park that is loaded with activities. There are three pools, a basketball court for little and big kids, soccer, tennis courts, and a scenic area for exploring and picnics. Kids stay on the premises during the day, but there is plenty to do, including jumping in a bouncy house slide, and entertainment from magicians, etc. Kids are divided into age groups. All Sport's day camp also includes the option of Tennis Camp and a special Teen Camp. Teen Camp includes 2 field trips per week to Bear Mountain Zoo, Splashdown, and more locations. Add Ons are available for extra hours of care ($40/week), swim lessons ($35/week) and lunch from their grill if you don't want to pack your own ($35/week).

Great For: Kids who love moving to the next activity and learning new skills. Plus, you could tack on swim lessons during the day.
Swimming? Yes. For small kids, the kiddie pool is used, and for older kids, the regular pools. There is an option of additional swim lessons for $35.
Ages: 4-14 years old
Dates Camp FIT: Weeks Starting June 29th - August 31st (the final camp day is September 4th)
Dates Teen Camp: Weeks Starting July 13th - August 3rd
Dates Tennis Camp: Weeks Starting June 29th - July 13th
Times: Full Day: 9am - 4pm    Half Day: 9am - 12pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Yes
Price Camp FIT: Full Day: Member $215, Non-Member $245  Half Day: Member $115, Non-Member: $145
Price Tennis Camp: Members $245, Non-Member $275
Price Teen Camp: Members $265, Non-Member $295
Extra Fees? Not really. Field trips are not extensive here. Fees come into play for swim lessons and early/late care.
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want. If you are commitment-phobic and don't want to sign up for a week, you can call ahead to select and schedule days. But you need to commit to those :)
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Kids Place Summer Day Camp

Kids Place is known for their ability to accommodate different schedules, and for their activities. The children enjoy a wide array of traditional camp offerings including group games, arts and crafts, sports, drama presentations, cooking, and Theme Days. Each week of camp follows a theme that carries through in the activities offered during the week. The children attend weekly field trips as well as swimming and water fun. Kids Place Summer Day Camp Tuition is all inclusive. There are no additional fees for trips or swimming. Previous summer camp trips include Fun Central, Jump’n Jake’s, Stony Kill Farm, and a sail on the sloop Woody Guthrie. When the children are not on trips or out swimming, they enjoy activities in the center’s air conditioned rooms or full-sized gymnasium!

Great For: Parents who love field trips and activities with friends.
Water Play? Yes
Ages: 5-12 years old
Dates: Not posted on website yet
Times: Full Day: 9am - 5pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Yes
Price 5-12 year olds Liberty Street: $185/week with options for 4 day and 3 day weeks.
Price Grades 1st-5th West Center Street: $100/week (no field trips)
Price Grades 1st-5th West Center Street: $175/week
Extra Fees? No, field trips are included with camp tuition
Flexibility: Yes. Sign up for the weeks you want at the number of days you want (shorter weeks available for the 5-12 year old age group only)
Click for Registration & Camp Details >


Mill Street Loft Dutchess Arts Day Camp Beacon at Scenic Hudson

If you want your child to think big, paint big, act big, all while enjoying the outdoors at Riverfront Park on the bank of the Hudson River, than this is the camp for you. Mill Street's camp should help in deciding your schedule because it's only offered for 2 weeks. With Full Day and Half Day options, you have schedule and price differences to consider. The age range is wide, and the children are divided into age groups and are engaged in different projects for their level.

Great For: Artistic children who love the visual and theatrical arts as well as being near the Hudson River
Water Play? No
Ages: 4-12 years old
Dates: Weeks of July 13th and July 20 (2 sessions total)
Times: Full Day: 9am - 4:30pm   Half Day: 9am - 1pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Yes
Price: Full Day: $350  Half Day: $190 (but call first, as the website may not have correct price listed when purchasing) 
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Sign up for either week you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Tinkergarden - Long Dock Park
Tinkergarten® provides the best early childhood education in the great outdoors. They match families with leaders in their local community who offer activity-based kids classes that help them develop the skills that matter most—all while having fun!
Great For: Kids who like the outdoors and parents who like an established progressive program in a small setting
Swimming? No
Ages: 18mos - 5yrs years old
Dates: Wednesdays from July 8th - August 26th (one time per week)
Times: 10-11:30am
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: Full Day: $160
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Commit to the session
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Randolf School Summer Day Camp Program

The Randolph Summer Program is designed to offer a diverse group of creative, fun and educational activities for children ages 3-11. The camps focus on exciting new themes each week and are an extension of the progressive education that occurs all year. A playful, cooperative work environment is created in which each child experiences a sense of accomplishment and a love of learning. Most of the week-long workshops culminate in an end-of-the-week exhibition or presentation.

Great For: Parents who like a progressive program for their children
Swimming? No, but kids do play in water
Ages: 3-11 years old
Dates: Weeks Starting June 22nd - August 3rd
Times: Full Day: 8:30am - 4pm   Half Day: 8:30am - 12:30pm (ages 3-5 only)
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Call for info
Price: Full Day: $300  Half Day: $200
Extra Fees? Yes, for older kids, $20 for rocket materials
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >


Common Ground Farm Day Camp
(at Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls)

Give your child the experience of being down on the farm. If they love books and TV programs about barnyard animals, they may love this camp. There is a strong focus on the soil, trees, sun and water and how they work together to grow food. Kids' lunches are bring-your-own, but will be supplemented with harvested vegetables. Sessions for older kids include making a cookbook. Each week has a different theme that teaches different skill-sets. Your child just may come home and teach you about composting!

Great For: Kids who love dirt, animals, rivers, and planting and tending to gardens
Swimming? No, but kids do play in water
Ages: 3-12 years old
Dates: Weeks Starting July 6th - August 10th
Times: Full Day: 9am - 3pm   Half Day: 9am - 1pm (ages 3-6 only)
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: Full Day: $250  Half Day: $200
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

BCAP (Be As Creative As Possible) Day Camp

This popular PreK program does what it says - provides creative activities for young children. Their program room looks and feels like a children's museum with different activity stations to immediately occupy young minds. Has your child ever painted while lying down, like Michael Angelo did? Well they just might get under a table to simulate the experience while at BCAP. 
Great For: Kids who love dirt, animals, rivers, and planting and tending to gardens
Swimming? No, but kids do play in water
Ages: 3-6 years old
Dates: Weeks Starting June 29th - July 13th (3 sessions total)
Times: 9am - 3pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: $250
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Hudson Hills Montessori Day Camp Program

Summer Camp at Hudson Hills Beacon campus will be a challenging and fun experience for campers. Their morning will be spent in the Montessori classroom. Current Primary students will continue to receive new lessons on Montessori materials and have the opportunity to practice lessons they have already been taught. This will allow the children to progress in all the areas of the Montessori classroom throughout the five week summer camp. New students will be introduced to the first introductory lessons that will lay the foundation for their time in the Montessori classroom.

Great For: Parents who love the Montessori approach, and naps for 3 year olds
Swimming? No, but kids do play in water
Ages: 3-6 years old (call to confirm)
Dates: Weeks Starting June 29th - July 27th
Times: Full Day: 9am - 3pm   Half Day: 9am - 12pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? NA
Price: Full Day: $275  Half Day: $225 with options for 4 day, 3 day, and 2 day weeks.
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Yes. Sign up for the weeks you want at the number of days you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >


Tri-Arts Summer Workshop from Compass Arts

Throughout the week, children will explore a folk tale through music, creative movement, art and yoga, then share their creation with their families at the end of the week.

Great For: Children who love music, movement and naps after class
Swimming? No
Ages: 3-6 years old
Dates: Weeks of June 29th and August 24th (2 sessions total)
Times: 9am - 12pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: Half Day: $155
Extra Fees? No
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want.
Registration & Camp Details >

Playground Program at Memorial Park
The City of Beacon Recreation Department offers counselors and activities for kids 6-12 at Memorial Park in Beacon most days of the week with an extra field trip activity and pool on Wednesdays.

Playground Days:  Activities include arts & crafts, games, organized sports and much more for children ages 6-12. Get the kids out of the house for a few hours of fresh air and friendship. Counselors will be at the park Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday weather permitting. Note: On rainy days the park program will be closed Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Registration deadline is June 19th, 2015.
Great For: Beacon residents! Beacon residents pay a discounted fee.
Swimming? Not during Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday park days.
Ages: 6-12 years old
Dates: Weeks Starting July 8 - August 12th (Except Wednesdays)
Times: 8:30am - 2:30pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: Beacon resident: $80 per week Non Resident: $100 per week (For park days only)
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Kids on the Go:  A fun filled break in the week, scheduled field trips leave Memorial Park Wednesdays and return to the Park at USC for an afternoon dip in the newly reopened Beacon Pool. Every child will receive a t-shirt that must be worn on Wednesday field trips and are required to pack swim wear and a towel. Field trips include bowling, Splashdown and Regal Cinemas and more. Includes admission and either snack or lunch, depending on the activity.

Great For: Beacon residents! Beacon residents pay a discounted fee.
Swimming? Yes
Ages: 6-12 years old
Dates: Wednesdays the weeks Starting July 8 - August 12th
Times: 8:30am - 2:30pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: Beacon resident: $40 Non Resident: $60 (Wednesdays only)
Flexibility: Sign up for the weeks/days you want.
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Beacon Art Studios Summer Camp

Beacon Art Studios, located in the old Beacon High School, offers two camps this year for older kids: Project Funway and A Puppet Show.

A Puppet Show: Camp starts with a 'mini' puppet show and concludes with a camper performance for parents and siblings. Kids will make a mouthed Muppet rod puppet and few surprises along the way. In three days the campers will put together a short puppet show. They will create a story make the puppets and put on a puppet show for family and friends. Each camper will take home his puppet to make many more shows. 

Ages: 6-10 years old for A Puppet Show, and 9-16 for Project Funway
Dates: Week of July 27th
Times: 9:30am - 2:30pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: $250
Extra Fees? No. All materials included in tuition
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Project Funway Summer Sewing Camp: Fashion designers-in-training will spend the week testing their fashion design skills in daily challenges, designing their own fashion line through sketches, putting a new spin on old and creating unique clothing and accessory items by using their newly acquired skills of upcycling and reusing for the end of the week fashion show!

Ages: 9-16 years old for A Puppet Show, and 9-16 for Project Funway
Dates: June 19th - August 14th
Times: 9:30am - 2:30pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? No
Price: $250
Extra Fees? No. All materials included in tuition
Click for Registration & Camp Details >

Stony Kill Farm Summer Camps

Stony Kill Farm in Wappingers Falls offers two camps for, both exploring the farm and nature: Summer Explorers Camp and Nature's Theater Camp.

Summer Explorers Camp: Kids will get to experience all Stony Kill Farm has to offer. Learn about animals, history, farming, habitats, and nature. Games, crafts, and more! A full week of fun and discovery.

Ages: 6-10 or kids entering grades 1-5
Dates: August 17th - August 21st
Times: 9am - 3pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Call for info
Price: $175
Email foundation@stonykill.org for Registration & Camp Details >

Nature's Theatre Camp: This amazing camp will explore problems affecting nature and the environment . Through the guided creative process a play will be developed that will be preformed on the last day of camp, Costumes props, and scenery will be made. Every day our campers will hike, visit the farm animals, and partake in group activities . This will be a innovative,creative, and fun week

Ages: 8-11 or kids entering grades 3-6
Dates: August 24th - August 28th
Times: 9am - 3pm
Early Drop Off and Late Pickup Available? Call for info
Price: $175
Email foundation@stonykill.org for Registration & Camp Details> 


Beacon's Howland Public Library
Beacon's public library offers so many great events throughout the year, and summer is no exception! Join in on fun activities for babies, toddlers and middle school kids. Sessions include Come & Play Wednesday, Battle of the Books, Summer Reading Performers, Brain Games, and more. Some activities do require pre-registration with a simple form, so be sure to visit the library's website first.
Price: Free
Dates: Vary by event
Times: Vary by event
Click for Registration & Library Events >

Happy Easter and Passover 2015!

Happy Easter and Passover Beacon and the Hudson Valley! Giving thanks for the rebirth of the land and the people!

#TBT: Dia:Beacon Museum Skylights Once Showered Natural Light on Package Printing Process for Nabisco

Our first Throwback Thursday for the blog! Beacon's history is very rich and deep, and we want to remember it and feel its roots.

Taken from the very first chapter of the book Beacon Revisited, by Robert J. Murphy and Denise Doring VanBuren, this throwback goes to the authors' pointing out of how the overhead skylights in the 300,000 square foot space for what is now the contemporary art museum Dia:Beacon, once provided natural light "necessary to ensure uniformity in the package-printing process" when the building was a former Nabisco cardboard box-printing plant. These pictures show the skylights, and the uniform light in which this pressman inspects labels for saltine crackers.

Find Beacon Revisited at Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, or on Amazon.

Beacon Barks Parade, April 25, 2015 - A Celebration of Animal Love

Beacon Barks marks the coming of Spring and bringing animal friends and people in the community together. This year, the parade is on April 25, 2015, and everything begins at 10am and goes until 3pm. Beacon Barks is in its 9th season of animal love and glory parading down Main Street.  In 2015 Beacon Barks opened an Instagram account, the photos of which we blogged about here.

Sponsored and created by Beacon Barkery, our most delicious and nutritious pet store, and the Dutchess County SPCA, proceeds have helped support numerous animal welfare initiatives, including the opening of Beacon’s Dog Park along with supporting the great work of area shelter and animal rescue groups. It’s just as true today as it was all those years ago – Beacon Barks is the largest celebration of animal shelters and rescue groups in our area.

The full schedule of events is at Beacon Barks website, but it all starts at 10am with Opening Ceremonies and lining up of everyone in the parade. If you're driving, get here early to find parking on side streets. Follow along Beacon Barks' Instagram account for cute dog photos 

Here's what you can expect during the day:

• A lot of fun.
• A lot of sun (hopefully!!).
• A lot of happy dogs, some in costume.
• A lot of dog enthusiasts and kids who love dogs.
• A lot of walking and shopping from a market of vendors you may not have seen before, and the shops on Main Street.
• A lot of food! This is your chance to eat your way down Main Street, between the vendors and the shops, you will be happy.

More annual events are coming up, don't miss them! See A Little Beacon Blog's Annual Events Calendar for several don't-miss events.

Beacon's City Wide Yard Sale - June 13, 2015

Beacon's City Wide Yard Sale is Saturday, June 13th, 2015 from 9am - 3pm. It's one of my favorite weekends in Beacon because I am a trash picker and love collecting things from people yards. So to have an official day for it is beyond exciting. This is one event that you will want to drive, because you will be collecting unimaginables from around the city, and you won't be able to take them home. Parking in front of people's yard sales usually isn't a problem because people are yard hopping constantly, moving from one yard sale to the next.

Participating in the yard sale can happen one of two ways - you can register your address as an official yard sale and get on the map (try calling the City of Beacon at (845) 838-5000), or just put stuff out on your yard and tag it. People will surly be driving by and will stop. Some families get really into it, and are letting their inner antique shop out, or are professional flea market vendors who happen to live in the neighborhood. This year, the City of Beacon Recreation Department is opening up the Recreation Center at 23 West Center Street to host yard sales from individuals who don't have yards or enough stuff to fill a yard yet want to sell during the yard sale. More information about the flea market style yard sale is here in their newsletter archives.

Finding yard sales is as easy as just driving around Beacon. The City does put out an official map, and will most likely be in the windows of shops on Main Street.

Items You're Likely to Find:

• Tools. I found a great table saw for $5!
• Bikes
• Baby and Kid items.
• Patio Furniture
• Books
• Trinkets
• Weight Lifting Things
• Whatever you need, it's probably sitting in someone's front yard...

Tips for Running a Successful Yard Sale:

• Put up signs a block away from your house that have arrows and your address.
• Tag everything with prices, or have tables that are different prices. Make it easy for the shopper to pick something up and know the price.
• Serve lemonade or something easy and fun to keep your shoppers hydrated and happy.

You can always get your fix of vintage and estate sale type shopping at Beacon Flea Market every Sunday on Henry Street in the back parking lot, behind the Yankee Clipper Diner.

Kayak Storage Locker at Long Dock Rental Lottery From Scenic Hudson

The kayak pavilion at Long Dock Park prior to rental season.

Kayak season in the Hudson Valley begins in the spring, and kicking it off is the seasonal renting out of the kayak storage lockers in the pavilion at Long Dock Park where many kayak rental companies including Mountain Tops launch their paddling tours.

Come spring, these metal slots will be filled with colorful kayaks.

Did you ever wonder how you could score a kayak locker for seasonal kayak storage in the new pavilion so that you could leave your kayak locked on the bank of the Hudson River without hauling it back and forth each trip? The only way to do it is by entering into a lottery organized by Scenic Hudson, who will send info about the lottery signup the week of March 30th 2015

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Scenic Hudson sent their newsletter, and the form is here on their website). 

People will have until April 17, 2015 to enter. Entries are chosen at random with no special attention given to partners or households entering. There are 34 spots available. Each unit is $175 for the season, which ends October 31, 2015.

To be informed of this signup date in the future, go to Scenic Hudson's website and sign up for their email newsletter. They will send the announcement with directions on how to enter yourself during the week of March 30, 2015. Otherwise, click here for the lottery signup form.

Good luck! If you don't get picked, thank goodness you hopefully have a shed in your yard to store your kayak!

Zero to Go's Compost Project Will Strike Black Gold in the Hudson Valley

A food waste sundae that could become compost in Zero to Go's new pickup program.

Recycling wasn't a thing in our house until our local trash company, Royal Carting, put a new orange-topped trashcan in our driveway. Pangs of guilt would hit me each time I tossed a metal lid of cat food into the trash, or stuffed a plastic or cardboard egg carton into the rest of the waste. Until researching this article, I did not realize that recycling was mandatory by law for Dutchess County enacted in 1990. Around 2012, Dutchess Country went "single stream", which means that consumers can put mixed items of recycling into one trash can, which is when Royal Carting dropped off the orange-lidded can for single-stream recycling pickup and changed our waste habits for good.

When recycling pickup in Beacon became official, and Royal Carting picked it up every other week, we sprang for a new dual side trash can to separate the trash from the recycling, and now I gladly fill up the recycling side to the brim. Now that so many materials can be recycled, we have more recylcing in our smaller trash can than we do the larger trash can. What's left on the trash side? Mainly food. And being a Backyard Farmer, I wanted to compost the food, but there's too much city-girl in me to deal with the flies. So it's the food I now look at with longing - longing to turn it into compost - the black gold of soil.

Enter Zero to Go. The education-based waste management company who's been literally sweeping the Hudson Valley to separate trash, recycling and compostable material since 2013. Zero to Go has handled 18 events throughout the Hudson Valley and Manhattan, including the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, The Peekskill Hop and Harvest Festival, Beacon’s Riverfest with Local 845, the Iron Pour, benefits for Common Ground Farm and other local events. And now Zero to Go's founder, Sarah Womer, wants to collect it from your home or business.

The Compost Project is the newest initiative from Zero to Go that held its first Town Hall Meeting about it last week, and hosts its second Town Hall Meeting today, Saturday, at 11am. The pilot program is designed run on business and residential investment and donations. Only 30 residential slots and 4 business slots are available in the pilot program, and as of this morning, 18 of those have been filled! The application to sign up to be one of the first in the project is here.

Participants in the pilot program will be given a special trash can to hold food waste (those who sign up in later phases can buy the trash can). The can will be collected weekly - by bike - by Zero to Go. If you're an avid recycler, you'll know that the every-other-week pickup for recycling could easily be converted into weekly for your own needs.

During this first phase, the food waste will be carted to network of industrial compost sites and farms in the Hudson Valley. This is where it will turn into "black gold" as Sarah calls it, to be used to make the soil even more nutrient rich for farming, backyard gardening, and even Main Street flower tending.

Zero to Go is hosting a Kickstarter campaign to fund-raise for the bins they need to begin collecting material from the first 34 customers. Compost material will be used by sources in the Hudson Valley. In order to deliver it back to Beaconites, Zero to Go will need to build its own infrastructure, which it plans to begin fundraising and grant seeking for in 2016.

CSA and Local Produce Round-up for 2015 Season

Happy Equinox! Ignore that snow out there and let's turn our minds towards Spring. This is the perfect time to sign up for your 2015 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture group). You pay at the beginning of the season and receive a weekly box of fresh, local produce. Below are not only some local produce options including the traditional CSA, but you can now try a new flexible CSA subscription program, an educational U-Pick option, and of course the local Farmer's market we all know and love. Click on each option to learn more about the farms involved, growing practices, and the types of produce offered.

	Common Ground Farm Common Ground Farm is a farm project that serves our community as an educational model for people of all ages to learn how foods grow. With education in mind, Common Ground doesn't offer the traditional CSA delivery, but offers the U-PICK program and the experience of picking your own own herbs, veggies, and flowers! This summer's U-Pick plot will include sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, scallions, carrots, lettuce, arugula, peppers, beans, herbs (including dill, cilantro, and basil) husk cherries, and more. The season is June 20th to September 8th, with a discount if you sign up by April 1st. U-PICK SIGN UP HERE
	Fishkill Farms Their CSA runs weekly, June through mid-November with two CSA pickup locations: at Farm Store in East Fishkill, NY, and at the Old Stone House in Brooklyn. Members picking up at the Farm Store will receive weekly bonus pick-your-own items! You can expect a variety of fruits and vegetables from the farm. Fruits may include berries, peaches, nectarines, plums, pears & apples. Vegetables may be greens, tomatoes, squash, beans, onions, potatoes, garlic & broccoli. SIGN UP HERE
	Glynwood Glynwood CSA members enjoy more than 40 different types of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables during a 24 week season. You will receive a weekly newsletter with information about the share that week, including preparation tips and recipes from Glynwood's Executive Chef. If you pickup at Glynwood’s Farm Store, you can check out their pasture-raised meat and eggs in addition to a handful of other local products. SIGN UP HERE Obercreek Farm Obercreek grows chemical-free, winter greens over in Hughsonville, NY. Using passive-solar greenhouses they cultivate carefully crafted greens mixes 52 weeks a year (that's year-round!). This summer they are partnering with Common Ground Farm & Hearty Roots Farm to bring you a Summer CSA Share (22 weeks of local, organic, seasonal vegetables!). Get a discounted share if you sign up before the end of March. SIGN UP HERE Field Goods NY based Field Goods offers weekly deliveries of local produce from a variety of area farms in three sizes of fruit and vegetable subscriptions. Rather than buying an entire season's share at once in the spring, subscriptions can be started anytime and can be easily cancelled or placed on hold. They also provide an email with what to expect in your delivery along with cooking tips. Local pick-up at Beacon Pantry (a great place to round-out your delivery with eggs,cheese, meat and pasta!). Personally recommended as a flexible, winter stop-gap for local produce. SIGN UP HERE Beacon Farmers' Market You can find the produce of many of the above farms and more at the Beacon Farmers' Market. They are open every Sunday down at the Riverfront during the summer and at the Scenic Hudson building during the winter. This year they will be back at the waterfront on April 12th. No subscription needed, buy when you like!

Katie of A Little Beacon Blog to Speak at Ladies Night for The Chocolate Studio

Let's meet!

If you know me, you'll know I do many digital things online - social media and blogging being one of them. I also work with and celebrate small businesses via this blog, and my other venture, Tin Shingle.  This Thursday, I get to be part of the delicious Ladies Night at The Chocolate Studio, formerly Gourmetables, that shop down by the falls that smells of melting butter and caramel corn when you walk by in the summer.

I'll be the entertainment (crazy!) talking about why social media is your friend if you run a business or if you're nurturing a passion project. I'll talk about how you can easily and enjoyably make this part of your day to reach people in this community and other communities, but most importantly, why using social media is imperative to your business - no matter if you're a retail store, a service provider, or a regular person who loves making things.

There will be chocolate bliss and other chocolate treats and coffee. So come! It's from 6-8pm at The Chocolate Studio - 494 Main Street Beacon NY.

13 Desserts and Friday the 13th at Towne Crier Cafe

When we took our visiting family out for Valentine's Day, which this year was on February's Second Saturday, we happily landed in the Towne Crier Cafe. As promised in a glowing New York Times review, the dessert case welcomed us as we walked in, promising a selection of 13 desserts for a ravishing end of the evening. At least, 13 desserts were available that night. Their norm is 12 desserts, and every so often, they offer a special pastry.

It was from our waiter that we learned that the Towne Crier's pastry chef, Mary Ciganer, was his mother and is part of the foundation of the restaurant with her husband and founder, Phil Ciganer. He didn't mention that Mary had formerly been at New York's legendary Le Cirque, but by then, we had ordered the Apple Walnut Danish with Chocolate Chips and were totally intent on trying her dessert. It was a hard choice, as we could have ordered the Chocolate Truffle Torte, or the Sour Cream Plum Coffee Cake, or my other favorite, the simple but deadly Carrot Cake, or the friendlier Poppyseed Cake made with out dairy, sugar or eggs.

Here's how the Apple Walnut Danish with Chocolate Chips went over at our table:

Apple Walnut Danish with Chocolate Chips with a mandatory scoop of vanilla ice cream. All forks on deck.

The sweet sauce is quickly wiped up by my neighboring father who leaves no evidence of his swoop.

Forks are beginning to fend for themselves, and we are wishing for spoons for bigger scoops.

Elbows are out. The photo is blurry because things have surpassed getting serious.

The end.

Beacon's Universal Pre-K and Kindergarten Programs and Satellite Classrooms

Pre-Kindergarten used to be a concept that parents could sign their 3 and 4 year olds up for if there was a program run by a business or a church in their area. The hours were short, but the experience was invaluable to the child by way of reaching their spongy brains at an early age. These days, spreading across the nation is Universal Pre-Kindergarten which is a federally funded program recently encouraged by the Obama Administration by way of a $10 billion investment over 10 years in public preschool programs that states have to apply for. However, local school districts within those states need to also apply for the grant and be awarded, and not all districts in New York state have been awarded a grant. 

One little in-school assignment to learn numbers.

Beacon City School District is one such district that has offered the Universal Pre-K program to 4 year olds for a number of years for a half day of learning, either in a morning program or an afternoon group. In 2014, A total of $340 million was awarded to 81 school districts and Community Based Organizations in New York. In fact, Newburgh is the largest recipient of Pre-K funding outside of New York City. The reality of school as a form of child care is a real issue, and is becoming more recognized at the federal and state levels, especially with this passage of $794 million to "provide working families with affordable child care" by Governor Andrew Cuomo in August 2014.

SATELLITE CLASSROOMS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Not as talked about is the participation of daycare or child care programs in Universal Pre-K, which offers a small price break for parents as well as a consistent day of coverage for the child. For five years, Rose Hill Manor on Wolcott Avenue has been a satellite classroom, offering half-day morning Pre-K  from 8:30-11:30am for free for those who enroll with the district and Rose Hill in time before their allotted seats fill up. This includes the paid option of a full day of "wrap around care" until 5:30pm which is especially good for parents who have difficulty getting their children from Pre-K or Kindergarten due to work or other obligations. This includes lunch, nap, snack and more structured play/learning time.  

As of 2014, Rose Hill has been the only center who year after year took on the requirements and paperwork required to offer the program. Astor Services for Children and Families had offered it  before the school district itself took it on, but has not offered it in recent years. Acceptance into the program means that a school must have a certified teacher on board, and must "meet or exceed" public school requirements, and weave these requirements into their own curriculum. Schools including the Randolf School, Hudson Hills, BCAP, Astor, or Kids Place do not offer the program, reasons usually being that the paperwork is too overwhelming, or that they don't want to be held to public requirements.
[UPDATE 1-21-16]: Cedar Street Daycare is also a satellite option for the 2016-2017 year, in addition to Rose Hill Manor. 

To get into a satellite program, parents must apply with the public school at the start of Pre-K registration, usually in February of each year, and tell the public school administrator that they intend to be in the program at a satellite school.

Images of heart-health with food choices and activities.

SNOW DAYS - CANCELLATIONS AND WEATHER DELAYS

A real issue for parents are snow days. The pattern in Beacon is to have a 2-hour delay of school or a cancellation entirely if snow falls on a school-night for the next day. Children enrolled in the morning program of Pre-K often have their day of school canceled if there is a 2-hour weather delay. Those enrolled in the afternoon program at their public school are not as impacted by the weather delays, but still miss school on an early dismissal or school closure.

A benefit of enrolling a child in the satellite program of a school like Rose Hill is that they operate as a business, and are open 95% of the time. So if school is closed, children enrolled in the full day wrap around care at Rose Hill are the only ones in town still going to school that day for a full day of engagement versus the alternative of Netflix, videos, and desperate Pinterest searches for crafty projects while a working parent's day of meetings and deadlines got cut like a paper snowflake.
Note: this option is only available to kids who are additionally enrolled in full time daycare with Rose Hill.

BUSING & GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL

Another issue for working parents is busing. Beacon City Schools offers busing to kids who live 1.5 miles away from their elementary school. For Pre-K, this includes one-way transportation. For morning classes, students are transported to school; for afternoon classes, they are transportation home from school. Hudson Hills offers one-way transportation, as does Rose Hill. For kindergartners, for example, if parents need to be at work before the bus picks up from their house, they can drop kids off at Rose Hill, who then accepts bus-loads of "big kids" in their after-school program starting at 3:30pm.

The schedules of children is no joke, and fitting this in with grocery shopping and work schedules is a tricky puzzle figured out daily. Thanks to the growing number of families moving to this area, parents are experiencing a greater number of options for their priorities and budgets.

Barb's Butchery - The Back Story of the Farm Fresh Butcher Who Sold You a Rump

Barb, founder of Barb's Butchery.

Barb is a math nerd whose thoughts crystallize into Ven diagrams. She is also your freshest local butcher, who sees meat as "a giant puzzle". The puzzle for Barb isn't just how the steer fits together or comes apart, it's how people want to buy it,  when they want to buy it, and how much they want to pay for it. But she hasn't always had visions of poultry and pork. In fact, Barb was a math teacher before she decided to learn how to become a butcher and open Beacon's first butchery in December 2014, Barb's Butchery at 69 Spring Street. Well, Beacon's first butchery during these times. Perhaps twenty years ago there was a butcher, but for those living here now, word on the street was that Beacon needed a butcher.

NOT JUST ANY BUTCHER
People are wanting a butcher who can cut local meat that is heavily researched and approved of by a person they trust. They want to know that the chickens are actually running around a farm like one hopes they would, not the horror stories from links that go viral with disturbing pictures. Farms Barb sources from include include Fazzios for chicken, Meiller Farms for beef, pork and lamb, and Dashing Star Farms for lamb. And if you don't feel like cooking your own, Barb's Butchery is a supplier to Poppy's for burgers, and Dogwood for the burgers, lamb, sausages and "pub grub", and Quinn's for pork and sometimes pork bellies. Barb's Butchery has also started serving lunch and dinner - albeit in limited hours. Dinner is from 5pm - 7:30pm so you better get there quick so as not to miss the hand cut and fries and beer battered onion rings.

THE KID CONNECTION
Barb's 3 year old daughter was her biggest connection to her first customers. A lot of the parents of little friends of Lila were craving local meat where they knew where it came from and how it was treated.  Trendy in Beacon is to "buy a cow". If you don't live here, that sounds odd, but people really do go in on buying a cow together from a local farm, and are given cut or ground pieces to store in a giant freezer in their basements. So friends of little Lila were in a Facebook group to put in their requests of what kind of meat they wanted Barb to cut for them when she want on a buying spree. Before she opened the shop, Barb had a loyal clientele.

"I see overlaps in math, it's terrible."
Barb states this like it's a nuisance, but it's wonderful for business. Barb is in tune with with people's needs, and knows that they need meat fresh, fast and for dinner. But they can't always get out to get it. She can calculate her costs and profits quickly, so she is constantly whipping up different deals and meals that people can buy. Like the February Special that can include 2 5oz filets, 2 6oz sirloin steaks, 4 bone in pork chops, 1 whole chicken, 6 all beef hot dogs or 4 fresh sausages, and 2 Beacon Pie Company Hand Pies (your choice of Apple, Blueberry or Cherry), all for about $49.99 (for the grain finished version). Dinner for the week…DONE.

BUSINESS IS GROWING, PLANS TO MOVE?
Businesses in Beacon are hard to pin down. They either open up shop, and don't catch the vibe of Beacon needed to stay. Or they open up shop, business booms, and they move to a larger location down the street. Just look at Beacon Bubble, Beacon Pantry, The Hop, and Ellas Bellas who expanded next door almost immediately. Will Barb's Butchery move? Probably not. Barb and her husband bought the building they opened the store in, and totally renovated it before opening. Under a dual loan - one for the business of owning a building and another loan for the business of a butchery - they are all in. And sure enough, Barb is already needing more space to store meat as their sales increase.

HAVE TRUCK WILL TRAVEL…AND DELIVER
Refrigerated truck to the rescue! Barb has a truck that can store meat, which makes it more convenient for her to actually purchase more meat directly from farms and skip the step of farms taking it elsewhere for storage.

More importantly for the rest of us, Barb's Butchery is going to deliver - if you want it. For those of us in Fresh Direct Withdrawal, Barb's Butchery can drive up to your house in their big truck to deliver your meat order of $50 or more, within a 10 mile radius of the store, and east of the Hudson River. Do you want it? Let her know - seriously - by going to her Facebook page to tell her. For a more in-depth look at how Barb funded the butchery - and the building its housed in - see this article.

And now...for pictures.

This is Porkchop. Yup, Barb called his references and that really is his name. He's trying to make it legal.

This is your sausage maker. Making lots and lots of sausage for Sausage Fest 2015, a kielbasi filled day on 2/28/15 Barb cooked up to introduce more than 21 sausage varieties.

 

A doodle on tile in Sharpie marker by Porkshop in the kitchen.

Teamwork. There are 7 employees total.

My lunch of a roast beef sandwich with swiss cheese. I ate all of the fries before I remembered to take a picture. Also pictured here is my trusty pink glitter notebook for notes that made its debut on a treadmill.

Congratulations, Barb! And thanks for opening!

St. Patty's Day in a Can for Dogs: Food at Beacon Barkery

Merrick's "Kiss Me I'm Irish Stew" dog food at Beacon Barkery for limited time.

Because you always get your dog a treat for St. Patty's Day, right? Merrick brand dog food has always had the best looking canned dog food that you really could serve the family and they may not know it's Beef Stew for dogs. Just look at the ingredients, and you'll find most of them are the real food that you eat too, like sweet potato, duck, lamb, and more. From actual bratwurst, to Thanksgiving Day Dinner there are a lot of entrees to choose from. This late winter season, Merrick releases their Kiss Me I'm Irish Stew, the grain free stew made with Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, and more yummy that Beacon Barkery co-owner Nancy Pate has admitted to trying - herself. Pick up a can and delicious doggie cookie with icing at Beacon Barkery. The new pet food and live bait store mid-Main Street also carries Merrick, but we have not confirmed this seasonal favorite.