"Where Is This?" Mystery Photo Contest. First To Identify Wins a Prize!

PHOTO & HINT

Do you know what this photo is of, and where it was taken? First to correctly identify this wins the prize of a BJ's Sweet Potato Pie! This contest is sponsored by Gate House Realty, who is now showing a new loft at 11 Creek Drive in Beacon, NY. Once the correct answer is identified, we will post a reveal article that shows the full location of this photo, and more about its location.

Hint: It's not where or what you think, but it's exactly where it says.

Winner! Matt Clifton was the first to correctly identify the what and where of this photo. See the reveal photo here, and a bit of history about the location!

RULES

• The right answer must include what this is, and where it is.
• Guesses can only be made in the Comments on this website blog. Comments made at Facebook, Instagram or Twitter will not be counted. So don't get too excited and give it away there! Comment here.
• A Note About Comments: We have to approve them before they get published, so if you don't see your comment right away, you will soon. We have to do this to prevent random robot spam.
• Guess as many times as you like until you get it right.
• The Winner will be identified in the Comments below.
• To redeem your prize, you'll need to pick up this signed business card from A Little Beacon Blog's headquarters at 291 Main Street and bring it into BJ's at 213 Main Street.

PRIZE

BJ's has graciously donated one of their famous mini-sweet potato pies to the winner of this contest. Winner must present this business card from the picture to redeem the pie.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR

Big thanks to the sponsor for this mystery photo contest, Gate House Realty, who knows every corner of Beacon very well. Right now, they have the chance for a lucky homeowner to get a beautiful, newly renovated loft at 11 Creek Drive in historic Beacon, NY, which includes a private outdoor patio and 20ft balcony for private entertaining, large open kitchen, a gorgeous bathroom, exposed brick, and other lovely details you can see in this video that walks you through the entire loft. Pass it on to a friend who is looking for a luxury loft apartment with lots of natural light and views overlooking the Fishkill Creek.

Line Dancing at Poughkeepsie Nissan to Support Anderson Center for Autism (Sponsored)

Tonight from 7-10pm, Poughkeepsie Nissan hosts another big line dancing fundraising event at their BIG store, this time to support Anderson Center for Autism, a New York based organization that promotes and provides lifelong learning for those with autism. Poughkeepsie Nissan is located in Wappingers Falls, near Adams Fairacre Farms and across the street from Hannaford. From Beacon, you can take the back road of 9D to get there, or zoom all the way up Route 9.

Earlier this summer, Poughkeepsie Nissan hosted this event for Grace Smith House, an open door for victims of domestic violence. Says Poughkeepsie Nissan's IT and Event Manager, Johnny Kellerman, "We received a lot of donations from people for Grace Smith House and we hope to do the same for our friends at Anderson Center for Autism. That night, over 180 people came out to dance, have fun, and support a great cause."

We sent A Little Beacon Blog's designer Allie Bopp to attend the dance, being that she's an avid dancer when not graphic designing, and she snapped a few pictures! Help make Poughkeepsie Nissan's fundraiser equally fun and successful by getting your boots on and heading up to their lot! Located in Wappinger Falls just up the road from Adam's Fairacre Farms and across the street from Hannaford. Will you be there tonight? Stay tuned to Poughkeepsie Nissan's Facebook page and to their sponsor page here at A Little Beacon Blog to see when their next event is.

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A line dancing teacher led the crowd in some early steps.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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Getting the music ready for line dancing into the night!
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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Poughkeepsie Nissan is known for their BIG Lot of new and used cars of many makes and models, but this night, the lot is turned into an outdoor dance floor.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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Generous donations were made in support of Grace Smith House. Poughkeepsie Nissan hopes to do the same for Anderson Center for Autism tonight.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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A fundraising event like this is a great way to raise awareness for the work that these organizations do for others in need.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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Johnny Kellerman, IT and Event Manager at Poughkeepie Nissan, keeping everyone hydrated and fed.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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 A Little Beacon Blog's own Allie Bopp on the lot! She's got her country boots on.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

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Dancing the night away. Will you be there tonight? Stay tuned to Poughkeepsie Nissan's Facebook page and to their sponsor page here at A Little Beacon Blog to see when their next event is.
Photo Credit: Allie Bopp, A Little Beacon Blog

Thank you for supporting businesses who sponsor A Little Beacon Blog as Spotlight Sponsors for our articles. All of our advertisers help make this publication possible. If your business is interested in sponsoring an article, please click here.

Postcards From Beacon: What's In A Name? Word Play - Origins and Meanings of Local Names in Beacon

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A vintage postcard from Beacon, illustrated with pictures of what made Beacon Beacon at the time of printing.
Photo Credit: Published with permission from The Beacon Historical Society.

"Postcards From Beacon" is an original series on A Little Beacon Blog in partnership with the Beacon Historical Society to continue keep the history and stories of Beacon alive, known and talked about. Trustee Diane Lapis is the author of this series. This series is presented by our sponsor, Accuprint Pac 'N Ship, located at 242 Main Street near Homespun and Isamu, who can ship the smallest postcard or envelope to the largest box. They are happy to pack it for you, and even serve as a drop-off location for your pre-paid shipping, like returns from online ordering.

Melzingah, Fishkill, Matteawan, Tioronda, and Beacon are familiar names to Beaconites… but how did these names come to be?

Melzingah Was Almost the Original Name of Beacon

Prior to 1913, our city, before it was called Beacon, was comprised of two separate river village entities: Fishkill Landing, near the Hudson River and its busy ports, which incorporated as a village in 1864; and Matteawan, an industrial hub located near the Fishkill Creek, which incorporated in 1886.  These two villages shared common interests and a growing population: schools, police, fire companies, and Main Street. After nearly 25 years of operating independently, a formal Charter Committee met in 1910 to discuss joining forces. 

The original Charter Committee favored the name Melzingah, an old Native American name well known in the area. According to Double Dutched: The Puzzling State of New York’s Native American Place Names, by Evan Pritchard, the Wappinger Indians held council fires on the small island they named Maysingweh, or "tree-place spirit," in what is now Madam Brett Park.  “Tree-place spirit” is quite a perfect description of what is now that park, don’t you think? If you haven’t walked there, A Little Beacon Blog’s Historical Hiking contributor Dylan Price wrote you a guided tour, and the Highlands Current wrote an in depth description of why an island there was once called Fairy Island.

This series is presented by our sponsor, Accuprint Pac 'N Ship, located at 242 Main Street near Homespun and Isamu, who can conveniently ship the smallest postcard or envelope to the largest box. They are happy to pack it for you, and even serve as a drop-off location for your pre-paid shipping, like returns from online ordering.

Other members of the Committee suggested Mt. Beacon, Tioronda and Dutchess City.  When word of the name Melzingah leaked out, the press had a field day.  The committee decided to drop the “h” so that “any fool could spell it”.  Here is what the Wappingers Chronicle had to say about the name:  “Melzingah may sound well to the Fishkill-Matteawanite but to the outside world it has a flavor of the Arabian Nights mixed with a nightmare dream after a feast of welsh rarebit, mince pie, cream cake, and hard cider.  A brand new city, taking its first toddling steps among its sisters and neighbors in the race for preference should not have been compelled to carry a handicap like Melzinga”.

On May 15, 1913, nearly three years after the original meeting to join the two villages, legislation was passed to merge the two river villages into one city with the name of Beacon, a name that came from the signal fire built atop Mount Beacon during the American Revolution. If you are wondering where the dividing line between Matteawan and Fishkill Landing was, stand on the corner of North and South Chestnut Avenue and Main Street by Rite Aid, the old Schoonmaker’s Department Store.

The old Schoonmaker’s Department Store on the corner of of North and South Chestnut Avenue and Main Street by Rite Aid.

The Name Melzingah Lives On

The name Melzingah was not to be forgotten!  When a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) formed at the Madam Brett House in 1896, who immediately took measures to mark local historical sites, members choose the name Melzingah, as it was "the most pleasing to the ear and also associated with the old tradition of the place."  In Beacon, a road, a dam, and a reservoir still hold this name today.

Madam Brett's house, the location for the meeting of a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) when meeting to select their chapter name. Katherine Wolcott Verplanck was a founding member.
Photo Credit: Published with permission from The Beacon Historical Society.

The Origins of the Name Matteawan

According to Mr. Pritchard, Matteawan is derived from a name given by the Munsee tribe who coexisted with the Wappinger Indians in what is now Beacon.  It’s original name Mettawan, meaning, “trout stream,” was changed to Matteawan or “humble little stream”.  The Munsee were poking fun of another tribe, the Kitchewank, located further south, who lived near a larger stream and called themselves “People of the Great River”.

The Origins of the Name Fishkill and Tioronda

Whether you pronounce it “crick” or “creek”, there are a few stories of how Fishkill Creek got its name.  The Dutch settlers called it “Vis Kill” or “fish creek” due to the abundant amount fish in the stream. “Vis” is the Dutch word for “fish,” and “kill” is the Dutch word for “creek”  So, when you say Fishkill Creek, the word Creek is essentially redundant: “Fish(creek) Creek”!  The creek was also known as Tioronda, named by the Iroquois tribes of the area, translating to "little stream that flows into big water".  

Another local legend attributes the naming of the creek by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, a Native American historian, and expert on Indian languages and customs.  According to this story, Henry was walking along the creek in 1845 with Charles Fenno Hoffman, author, poet and editor.  Henry suggested an Indian name “Tioronda” meaning “meeting of the waters."

The Mill Bridge Dam, Fishkill Creek in Beacon, NY.
Photo Credit: Published with permission from The Beacon Historical Society.

The ancient lands comprising our community, named by the Native Americans centuries ago, still maintains its tree-spirit and scenic meeting of the waters, while paying homage to our western history and culture.

Glossary Recap

Tioronda:

"little stream that flows into big water": named by Iroquois tribes of the area
“meeting of the waters": named by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft

Fishkill

“Vis Kill” or “fish creek”: named by the Dutch due to the abundant amount fish in the stream

Matteawan

Originally called Mettawan, meaning, “trout stream.”
Changed to Matteawan or “humble little stream.”

Melzingah

Inspired by the name Maysingweh for an island at Madam Brett Park where the Wappinger Indians held council fires and felt the spirits of little people, fairies, or "tree-place spirit."

Beacon

Named for signal fire built atop Mount Beacon during the American Revolution. The town was named for the mountain beneath which it sits.
 

About the Beacon Historical Society

To learn more about the history of Beacon, please visit the Beacon Historical Society at the Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street in Beacon, NY on Thursdays from 10-12 pm and Saturdays 1-3 pm.  For more information, check out www.beaconhistorical.org, on Facebook, or email us at beaconhistorical@gmail.com. Join us at 7pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month for interesting presentations about Beacon’s history.

Latest Additions to the Things To Do In Beacon Guides 8/28/16

5K Marathons

CAPE 5K Color Blaze happens on Saturday, September 10th, 2016. There will be color packets.

Mutts on the Mountain 5K and Fun Run added to the 5K Marathon Guide.

I Run Beacon 5K Race is on September 25th and is dedicated to the Make a Difference Scholarship awarded to a graduating senior.

Get all of the details >

Kids Classes

Toddler and Big Kid Karate Classes from Beacon Karate for Fall added to Kids Classes Guide

Mommy and Me classes as well as Toddler and Teen classes updated for Yanarella School of Dance.

Get all of the details >

Adult Classes

Kickboxing for ages 13years and up from Beacon Karate added to Adult Classes.

A new business workshop from Kate Rabe focusing on growing profits in September added to Adult Classes.

Get all of the details >

Upcoming Events

The Friends of the Howland Public Library Fundraiser is happening September 10th from 1-5pm.

Spirit of Beacon Day is just around the corner, on September 25, 2016!

The City of Beacon is holding a Public Workshop to discuss the Comprehensive Plan Update and invites all who live and work in Beacon to attend.

Get all of the details >

The Happening This Weekend In Beacon Email Is Out! (8/28/16)

Hello! For your scheduling pleasure, here is a quick summary of places and goings on you may want to participate in over the weekend. These are weekend dates pulled from some of our 10 Things To Do In Beacon Guides, so be sure to check them during the week. P.S.: We made it onto the air! Radio Woodstock was broadcasting live from Beacon on their nine-city Radio Tour, devoting their day to being "Radio Beacon." So many groups got to go on the air and talk about their projects and upcoming events. A Little Beacon Blog's publisher Katie talked to MK about the rich Things To Do In Beacon Guides, our upcoming original article series like  "Postcards from Beacon," and our new stickers. Stickers! If you are a business with a storefront, you are most likely featured in one of these Guides. Stop by our new office to pick up an "As Featured In!" sticker! It's better than any Yelp sticker.

Sponsored by Antalek and Moore for car & RV insurance. Elks Lounge Dance Night Day: Saturday, August 27, 2016 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Beacon Elks Lodge, 900 Wolcott Ave, Beacon, NY Information > Dutchess County Fair Days: August 23rd - 28th, 2016 Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds | Rhinebeck, NY 12572 Information > Live Concert with Bellissime  Day: Friday, August 26, 2016 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St, Beacon, NY Day: Friday, September 2, 2016 Time: 8:00 pm Location: The Chapel Restoration, 45 Market St, Cold Spring, NY Information > Beacon 3D Day: Going on now all around you on Main Street Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Information > Be sure to visit this Annual & Upcoming Events Guide to see other great events that are coming up!           Babysitters Trainers Course Day: August 27, 2016  Time: 11am-3pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St, Beacon, NY Information > Teens Night Out: French Desserts Day: Friday, August 26, 2016  Time: 6:30 pm Location: Beacon Pantry - 382 Main Street, Beacon, NY Information >          Aqua Zumba with Linda Thomas Dates: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 Location: The Beacon Pool - 724 Wolcott Ave, Beacon, NY Information > The Tiramisu Cupcake from Get Frosted Cupcakery. It goes a little something like this: Cream mascarpone cheese frosting, swirled on a vanilla cake with chocolate espresso beans from the alps and infused w coffee and dusted with cocoa. This is an easy choice during your workweek, The Vault's $12 Lunch Menu. And they deliver in Beacon. Make it a burger night from Barb's Butchery. To save you time, call ahead to have them pack a few patties for you: 845-831-8050 BAJA 328 hosted Radio Woodstock for their 12-2pm lunch slot for Thursday's live broadcast. BAJA owner Gasper tells MK about The Vault's upcoming 1 year anniversary party in October. Our Restaurant Guide has all of your options - even eateries you didn't know about! Keep it open on your phone because phone numbers and websites are listed for so that you can easily tap-to-call!                   Oh jeans weather, how we love thee. White washed, ripped, crop jeans at Style Storehouse, because they share your jeans obsession. What do you do on Sundays? If you hit up Brunch in Beacon very often, then you can sport this shirt from The Pfotoshop. Also note: it goes well with above white jeans. #justsaying All shops in Beacon are listed in this Shopping Guide, from Home Decor to Kids Fashion to Vintage and more. Keep it open on your phone as you're walking around shopping!           River Therapeutic Massage's Signature Combo lets you experience true Inner Peace as you enjoy a Custom Therapeutic Massage followed by an Aromatherapy Facial Massage! You can feel stress leave the room as your back and shoulder muscles loosen and relax on the heated table - then refresh your outlook with a balancing and revitalizing Aromatherapy Facial Massage ... it's like a mini-vacay! Approx 2 hours. Book now. From the hairs on your head to the toes on your feet, there are many  ways to pamper yourself and your pet in our Beauty Guide.            We Know What You're Thinking..."I want my business featured here!" Pictures shown here are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. If you run a business on Main Street, it's in a Guide, like Shopping, Restaurant or Beauty.  Upgrade it to the "Stand Out" promotional program. We include your most exciting news here in the weekend newsletter. THINK ABOUT IT OVER THE WEEKEND... Our Spotlight Sponsors have a lot to offer you! We partner with businesses who will make great fits with your lives, and have written about each of them. ART Fine artist Jeffrey Terreson went to Beacon Bath & Bubble this week to pick out his wood hat silhouette for the Beacon Historical Society's "Hats Off To Beacon" fundraiser. Over 35 participants are making hats in the theme of Beacon's Past or Present. Jeffrey returned to his studio behind his gallery TERRESON: BEACON to start visualizing his concept. All hats will be auctioned off at a live auction at the Howland Cultural Center in November. Will you be throwing your hat into the auctioning ring to make a bid? BEACONARTS Another successful member meeting from BeaconArts held at the Marion Royael Gallery. Not only did the meeting include home waffles, but was a great opportunity to interact with artists and businesses, as well as learn about upcoming art events. NOTE: Beacon Open Studios is looking for a new Director. Please see here for more information about Open Studios. BUSINESS TO BUSINESS Antalek & Moore Pat Moore, partner at Antalek & Moore (left) and Rick Brownell of Freedom Ford and president of the Beacon Chamber (right) teamed up to bring Beacon businesses and initiatives on the air when Radio Woodstock broadcasted live. Pictured in the center is Shah from the Mobile Gas Station, who was in the lineup for being on the air to talk about the day in the life of running the gas station. He knows everyone in town and everyone is his cousin. Tin Shingle Tin Shingle trains you in how to get the word out about your business, and gives you the strength and motivation to go big with it. Get training videos (aka TuneUps), and their weekly email to learn promotional strategies you had never thought of before. InHouse Design Media Need help with your Squarespace website? Can't quite get it to look right? Not sure how to organize it? We can help make it look great - and make it easier for people to buy from you. FUN & FITNESS All Sport Health & Fitness You have until August 31st to purchase your 4-weeks of Unlimited SGT Sessions for $99! Have the freedom to take as many SGT Sessions as you want. Your 4-week duration starts from the date of purchase. CARS Poughkeepsie Nissan Labor Day is just around the corner, and  Poughkeepsie Nissan started their Sales Event at the BIG Store. Save BIG with Labor Day lease specials and financing options available. Only at Poughkeepsie Nissan, home of the lifetime powertrain warranty. Drive up 9D or Rte 9 and you'll find them in Wappingers, about 15 from Beacon. EVENT SPACE A Little Beacon Space The headquarters of A Little Beacon Blog is available for private bookings for classes, workshops, photo shoots, video shoots, and many different types of projects you may be looking for, located in the middle of Main Street, (some are calling it Central Beacon). Drop us a line if you're interested! Be sure to check out our latest additions to The Things To Do In Beacon Guides on Sundays to see what events and have been added for the upcoming weeks and months so you can plan ahead! We sleuth around and add activities, eateries and shops all week! If you know of something, send it to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com or tag us in your flyer in Instagram @alittlebeacon NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Was this email forwarded to you by a friend or family member?   Sign up now to receive these emails right to your inbox and be one of the firsts to find out what is going on in Beacon and beyond this weekend! Until next week!

Radio Woodstock Broadcasts Live from Beacon Thursday (and A Little Beacon Blog is in The Lineup!)

Radio Woodstock broadcasts from, well, Woodstock up in the Catskill Mountains, but they are coming down to Beacon to broadcast live from three different eateries on Thursday as part of their Road Tour of nine cities this summer: Bank Square, BAJA 328, and Max's on Main. The Radio Woodstock DJs have been interviewing business owners about the highlights of what is going on in each town. Set up in a format of 2 to 3 hourlong intervals of meet-and-greets, music will still be played throughout the day in between interviews.

You can listen to Radio Woodstock any time on the actual FM dial at 100.1 WDST or by clicking here to listen on the Internet. How modern!

As you're out and about, see if you notice the radio crew at any of these locations and times with the following organizations and businesses being interviewed. (We may update this list to include more, but this is the lineup information we received as of the publishing of this article):

7-9am Coffee at Bank Square Coffeehouse

• Rob Rutigliano of the Rutigliano Group, Paris on the Hudson
• Mayor Randy Casale
• Megan Mattingly of Dia
• Katy Behney of Bank Square Coffee House and Mountain Tops to talk about hiking and kayaking in Beacon

12-2pm BAJA 328 for Lunch

• Shah of the Mobile Gas Station across from BAJA 328 to discuss the people of Beacon
• Melaine Rottkamp of Dutchess Country Tourism to talk about Fireball Run coming to Beacon on September 28th. Fireball Run is an adventure-travel television series and live action adventurally® competition. It is the real story of 40 teams of adventurers, taking the road less traveled in an epic quest for America's most obscure and historic artifacts. Fireball Run supports the Missing Child Network. Every driving team is assigned a child missing from their home of origin, and they are provided 1,000 missing child flyers to distribute along the 2,000 mile journey. This campaign has aided in the recovery of 44 missing children.
• Jeff McHugh of the Beacon Incline Railway Project to Bring it Back
• Katie Hellmuth Martin of A Little Beacon Blog (hey, that's me!) on Beacon blogging

4-6pm at Max's on Main for the End of the Day

• Mayor Randy Casale
• Dan Rigney, President of BeaconArts
• Pat Moore, Partner at Antalek and Moore Insurance or Carl Oken of Beacon Elks Club to discuss the Annual Car Show in Beacon
• Richie Kaplan of Max's on Main to discuss the Parade of Green

Rick Brownell, current president of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce and owner of Freedom Ford at 420 Fishkill Ave. learned of the opportunity while he was recording one of his frequent radio commercials to air on independently owned Radio Woodstock, a media outlet he is passionate about supporting. "Sometimes when I'm done recording a commercial, the DJs will say to me 'Hey Rick, come up on the air with me and tell everyone what is going on in Beacon.'” Rick made a point to connect more businesses with this opportunity by working through Beacon's Chamber of Commerce.

Radio Woodstock "is proud to be one of the remaining independently owned and locally operated radio stations in the country.  Billboard Magazine has named Radio Woodstock 100.1 'Best Station' many times." The station is owned by Gary Chetkof, founder of Mountain Jam. "They are pretty cool people, fun people," Rick says. "Many who work there have kids and live in the area, so their lives are invested in the area."

We at A Little Beacon Blog have been included in the initial lineup of interviews, and will be at BAJA 328 during the 12 to 2pm slot! being that we are used to writing very deliberately and can hit delete buttons to edit run-on sentences, we have begun practicing what amazing points we will try to hit about Beacon (if we make the cut to get on the air!).

Yay, Beacon, and yay, radio!

Having said that, we must go investigate the internet radio lab The Ground, which broadcasts different community shows from the old Beacon High School. Oh man, even the #ClubDraw group has a radio show about "interesting people drawing and listening to dope music" that is broadcast from Quinn's the first Tuesday of the month.

Off to investigate!

Moths on the Mountain - Bag Worms and Gypsy Moths In Beacon and In Your Yard

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Screenshot from live-action bag worms on an evergreen bush.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Confession: I have a slight obsession with moths, and I may or may not have created a sleeper of a YouTube playlist called #TheMothHunter to document moth invasions and removals from homes. This is why I am attending tonight's workshop at the Howland Public Library: "Gypsy Moth Outbreak: An Informative Discussion on the Causes and Environmental Impact of Gypsy Moths in our Forests." The workshop, from 6 to 8pm this evening (August 23, 2016), features ecologist Clive G. Jones, D.Phil, Emeritus Senior Scientist, from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies.

According to the event hosts, Beacon, Fishkill and other areas in the Hudson Valley are in the midst of the East Coast's worst gypsy moth invasion in more than 20 years. Earlier this spring, you may have noticed lots of fluttering brown moths in your yard, around the tailpipe of your car, or even around your body as they searched for spots to alight. Due to my own front-yard invasion of bag worms, a larva that descends down silk and grows into a large hairy brown moth, I can identify some types of moths, but these moths this spring didn't look like bag worms to me, as they weren't as hairy. I am anxious to find out tonight if they were indeed gypsy moths who were searching for places to do things that cause deforestation, which is what you see now on Mount Beacon and the Fishkill Ridge. Brown patches. Leafless holes in trees.

Becoming Moth Hunters

Once you experience moths destroying your bushes, trees, clothes, shoes, bags, and food, you too may become a Moth Hunter. You too may learn what they look like when they are teeny tiny eggs, and what they look like when they hatch, and when it is too late to spray them, and when it's too late to kill the fluttering ones because if there are moths visible to your eye, there are multitudes of tiny eggs you don't see, just waiting to hatch and start the cycle all over again.

My preoccupation with moths started when I moved to Beacon and watched pantry moths fly around my closet ceiling, and the kitchen ceiling of my friend, and witnessed these horrid things wiggling around on my bushes outside, stealing pine needles to build their cocoons, only to read in my midnight research that they were bag worms and cause deforestation. Watch this video below to see wiggling bag worms. These are different than gypsy moth caterpillars, but all are eggs and flying things we don't want in our trees or bushes.

Bag worms and gypsy moths cause deforestation. Once you recognize them, you'll see hundreds, maybe thousands of tiny eggs in one infected bush or tree. Watch this video again and you'll see the young larvae that have just hatched. They start from an egg. When they hatch, they come down a single strand of silk, and start collecting pine needles one by one. You'll see single pine needles hanging from the bush. For years, I thought these were pine needles hanging from furry dog hair after my dog brushed against them to itch her back. But now I realize that she probably carried the little larvae into the house on her back (gag...moving on). As the worms get bigger, they pull lots of pine needles around them, resembling pine cones. Which is what I thought they were for years. But pine cones don't move by themselves, as these do.

Killing and Preventing Bag Worms

During my midnight research, when I wasn't torturing my friends with pictures and videos of bag worms, I learned that the only way to kill bag worms was to burn or drown them. Natural predators include assassin bugs who, according to this pest control company, can insert a long needle into the cocoon, as well as the Ichneumonid wasp and tiny types of spiders that build almost solid-looking webs across bushes to catch dropping, unsuspecting larvae. But the infestation had outnumbered the natural predators, and my scissors, pruning shears, and I needed to get involved.

When the bag worms were still too much and started moving over into my cosmo flowers and other evergreen bushes, I called in local landscaper Kristen VanCott, of Spring Water Landscaping, to remove the most infested bush, and spray the other two with neem oil to prevent the bag worms from spreading to the other bushes. This worked last year, and I neglected to treat them this year. I didn't realize I needed to... Until I saw all of the tiny larvae dangling, and bigger ones getting fatter and fatter as the spring went on. Home Depot or Amazon, here I come to order neem oil, depending on what new information I learn from tonight's workshop. Bag worms or gypsy moths,  I'm eager to learn about and implement whichever treatment plan will keep the creepy-crawlies to a minimum. See you there!

Moth prevention, at least at the pantry and food moth level, is pretty preventable. You remove the food source. You change the way you store your grains. (No, putting them in plastic bags isn't enough and may even create an environment that pantry moths seek out because plastic bags can make things moist and moisture is what moth larvae seek out. Maybe that's why spices in plastic jars seem more prone to moth infestations than those in glass jars, but that's just my theory.)

Gypsy moths, bag worms, pantry moths, food moths, they are all no good to the things we need. Maybe for birds who eat them, or spiders who live for building webs beneath the dropping larvae, but sometimes those natural predators have too much food, and overpopulation of moths can cause problems.

Check out how many bag worms this guy got in this video...

Under and Within a Lightning Storm in Beacon, NY

Lightning striking and brightening the sky with white.
Photo Credit: Marjorie Tarter @majolie126

Watching a storm heading our way via a quick Google search for "weather beacon ny" and being in one are two very different experiences. Plus, sometimes, you're in a pocket that the storm misses. Last week, Beacon, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie and other areas in the Hudson Valley were in the belly of the storm, electricity striking down, injuring some, and reminding us to have a lightning protocol: what to do when you're surrounded by the zapping white lights.

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Watching First Responders drive down the street during the thunder and lightning storm.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

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Lightning bolts coming down near Main Street light up the evening sky.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

More lightning, different shades of white within milliseconds.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Friday Afternoon's Lightning Bolt at 4:06pm

Not to be confused with the other dangerous storm, a single bolt of lightning struck in Poughkeepsie at Mansion Square Park, penetrating through five people seated at a park bench, details of which can be found in this New York Times article. While at a weekend pool party, a person who works in Hopewell Junction spoke of a brownout, or dimming of the lights, that happened around the same time that the lightning bolt struck in Poughkeepsie.

The Takeaway?

Lightning is serious, so if it's heading toward you, get somewhere safe - usually the basement. However, with the recent flash flooding in the area, water has gotten into many homeowners' basements. Being that electricity travels through water, be mindful of water in your basement, even puddles! In our house, we just stayed in a hallway that had no windows, because practically every room in our house does have windows, and our basement has had water trickling in from the heavy rains. (Note to self: Get gutters... We actually don't have any.) Staying safe can be tricky, but you're worth it!

The Happening This Weekend Email is Here!

The "Happening This Weekend" email is out and in inboxes! Highlights include the Ribbon Cutting for the new furniture painting shop, Knot Too Shabby (where you'll find coveted Annie Sloan paint), Jazz in the Valley, the Chronogram Block Party, the Couples Massage Workshop from Terra Firma Massage, and more. Check it out, and get signed up to it to get the scoop!

Annie Sloan Stockist, Knot Too Shabby, Opens in Beacon at 155 Main Street

The wait is over... We have had hints of furniture painting stores moving into Beacon before, most notably when Hudson Gold held a pop-up shop last December. (They are currently located on the east end of Main Street, next to the Chocolate Studio.)

Now, on August 20th at 10am, the Beacon Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new shop in town, Knot Too Shabby from proprietress Jessica Cole, an official stockist of cult favorite Annie Sloan decorative paint.

Annie Sloan furniture painting brushes, carried in Knot Too Shabby.
Photo Credit: Knot Too Shabby

The store is already stocked with coveted brushes that can help any novice painter get professional-looking results. You'll also find the famous Annie Sloan waxes that get applied on top of the paint using different techniques. And if those techniques intimidate you, don't worry, there are workshops at Knot Too Shabby!

Though there are Annie Sloan stockists in several cities and towns in New York state, having one in your own city is lucky for two reasons:

• Education: The shop owner, like Jessica, is trained in the painting techniques and usually teaches you how to do it.
• Shipping: Annie Sloan has removed shipping from their own website in order to fully support their local locations. While driving to other towns is adventurous, you can now just walk, roll or drive down Main Street to pick up the color of your choice, or Jessica can order it for you!

Warning: Knot Too Shabby is located near the newly expanded store ReMade (in the former Clay Wood & Cotton space), which carries artful creations for your home and jewelry collections, so if you come out of ReMade inspired by your custom-designed purchase, you can go to Knot Too Shabby to make that happen.

OMG, let the projects begin.

New This Fall - After School Program At All Sport Health & Fitness (Sponsored)

After-school options for kids are getting pretty good around these parts. All Sport's new After School Program has been modeled around the success of their Summer Camp Program, Camp FIT. Where once you could only get planned activities in art and sports during the Vacation Camp days or Kids Night Out at All Sport, now parents can sign up their kids for regular afternoons of after-school programming that includes swimming on some days. All Sport's Kids Club is still an option, and is unchanged from what you are used to (aka the childcare room at the club), but the After School Program has more programming and planned hands-on activities with the kids. Unlike with Kids Club, registration with the After School Program means you can leave the club and do errands in the area.

Morning and afternoon care are both options, and busing is available for children in the Wappingers school district. But Beacon parents have an opportunity here to create a check-and-balance for their own fitness schedule. Here are the benefits to signing up for a couple of days of All Sport's After School Program:

Swimming Lessons and Planned Swimming Activity

You and your children may be veterans of All Sport's group or private swimming lessons, where you have gone - no matter the weather - to make strong swimmers. If you coordinate an After School Day with the swimming lessons, the staff at All Sport's After School Program can walk your child to their swimming lessons. And where might you be?

Working Out, Massages, and Errands Around
All Sport

While this After School Program is open to all children and not just members of All Sport, if you were a member, kids could be looked after while you take advantage of the club, locking in a workout with yourself. It might look like this:

• Cardio on the treadmill or elliptical, or running outside around All Sport's Outdoor Park.
• Toning on the circuit machines with a free, personalized plan of what setting and weight work for you on the machines.
• Scheduling a Pilates session with Beacon Pilates' outpost studio, located upstairs at All Sport (not included with membership, but a convenient way to utilize Beacon Pilates if you have children).
• Relaxation in the sauna with a quick shower after.
• Or... Use this time to relax for an hour, in a massage upstairs.

Space is limited in this After School Program, so reserve your days now. Be sure to ask which days have swimming as an activity, and see if you can cross-coordinate with when you schedule swimming lessons (registration for which is going on now and books fast, so call 845-896-5678 to register for swim lessons).

All Sport's decorations in their front lobby show how excited they're getting about their new After School Program!

P.S.: All Sport's Camp FIT runs all the way until the start of school, so weeks starting August 22nd and August 29th have a few spots left for campers. You can call 845-896-5678 to register, or visit this page for more details.
 
Thank you for supporting businesses who sponsor A Little Beacon Blog as Spotlight Sponsors for our articles. All of our advertisers help make this publication possible. If your business is interested in sponsoring an article, please click here.

New Series, "Postcards from Beacon" Gets First Headline Sponsor: Accuprint Pack 'N Ship

Signing with Accuprint's New Tablet/Flashlight Pen.

We are so pleased to announce that the local printing and shipping company on Main Street, Accuprint Pack 'N Ship, has signed on to be the first Headline Sponsor of our new series, "Postcards from Beacon," in partnership with the Beacon Historical Society. This monthly series will be penned by Diane Lapis, a trustee of the Beacon Historical Society. Diane is bursting at the seams, ready to write several! Though this series will start as once a month, we may not be able to contain her, or you, as we all soak up more history about Beacon and the surrounding Hudson Valley area.

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Diane Lapis brings her book of preserved postcards, bits of inspiration for our new "Postcards from Beacon" series.

Accuprint is a great partner for this series because... drumroll, please... You can mail postcards, letters and packages from the shop! Or buy a book of stamps! People also love the ability to drop off packages from Amazon or Zappos with pre-paid return postage. It's just so easy. The mother/daughter duo, Denise and Byrdie, will gladly take your packages. But that's not all... Ask about their laminator services, or as my daughter calls it, "The Lamilator." Several of your business friends do a lot of color printing and faxing at Accuprint, 242 Main St., as well.

Does your business love the history of Beacon, and is sharing it in this way important to your clients and customers? Your business can also be a Sponsor of this Postcards from Beacon Series at one of two levels. Click here for details!

It is because of businesses who sponsor any media - print, radio, TV, digital - that we can produce the news and entertainment you like. Advertisers do not influence our content, and each sponsor is approved by us to have placement. Thank you for your support! And thank you for supporting businesses who support us!

The "Happening This Weekend" Email is Out! Weekend of August 12, 2016

The "Happening This Weekend" email is out! This was a biggie because it's Second Saturday in Beacon this weekend, so Guide Editor Catherine Sweet pulled an all-nighter to sleuth around for as many art gallery events as we could find.

This weekend email is a curated list of things to do organized by Guide, complete with specialty photos from our Main Street Guide Sponsors. Like, did you know The PfotoShop is re-opening tomorrow for wine, shopping and fun in the Pfoto booth? That Barb's Butchery has Chicken Cordon Bleu sausage right now? Or that the magnificent Hairdressers Ball Charity Hair Show is this weekend? View the full newsletter here. Huge thanks to our Keeper of the Things To Do In Beacon Guides and the producer of this Friday newsletter, Marilyn Perez!

August's Second Saturday Guide for Beacon Art Showings

SECOND SATURDAY HAPPENINGS FOR AUGUST 13, 2016!

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Keep your eyes glued to this space, and refresh often! We're constantly updating the Guide as we hear about new events and openings. 

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BEACON ARTS' OFFICIAL #2SAT LOGO

"Second Saturday" is a lively day into night in Beacon, and is a celebration of Beacon's galleries, restaurants and other businesses arts on the second Saturday of every month. According to Dan Rigney, current president of BeaconArts, the organization who encouraged this movement to happen over a decade ago and heavily promotes the events, says: "Back then, Beacon was one of the last places people outside of town thought to go on a Saturday night. Now Second Saturday has become a part of the fabric of Beacon. It's such a part of it, many galleries have their opening events on other Saturdays, so that they get two big crowds each month." Second Saturday is a great reason to "walk" Main Street and beyond and explore the events going on around town. It's always a pleasure eating and drinking your way through Beacon, so this guide will help you know where to eat and drink as you explore special exhibits and happenings.

What to Know About This Guide:

• This Guide includes gallery and art showings that may be hosted in a gallery or in a shop or restaurant. 
• Many of these shows run through the current month, so check back often if you are on an art hunt.
• Closing times posted here are for Second Saturdays only, and may not reflect regular Saturdays. Always call an establishment directly for current hours, offerings, or any other questions.
• Parking can be found on side streets, on Main Street, and in municipal lots. Click here for A Little Beacon Blog's Free Public Parking Guide, with pictures and cross streets!
• Live-tweet your way through Second Saturday by using the hashtag created by BeaconArts: #2SAT, and tack on #beaconny or #SecondSaturday if you have room in your tweets or Instagram postings.
• If you are a gallery and have something special to add, please email editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. 

Late-Night (After 9pm) Spots to Eat and Drink: 

After you walk the galleries, you'll be hungry and need (another) drink! See our full list of restaurants who are open prior to 9pm in our Restaurant Guide. 

• Bank Square 129 Main St.
• Chill Wine Bar 173 Main St.
• Poppy's Burger and Fries 184 Main St.
• Max's On Main 246 Main St.
• Baja 328 328 Main St.
• Quinn's 330 Main St.
• The Towne Crier (bar only) 379 Main St.
• Oak Vino Wine Bar 389 Main St. (Call first to see if cheese plates and dessert are still being served!)
• Draught Industries 394 Main St.
• The Vault 446 Main St.
• Joe's Irish Pub 455 Main St.
• The Hop 554 Main St. (It's a good idea to have reservations if you hope to order food.)
• Roundhouse 2 East Main St.
• Dogwood 47 East Main St.

Leave all Guides open on your phone because they include addresses and phone numbers. Tap on a phone number to call anyone.

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NEAR THE TRAIN, BEFORE MAIN STREET

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DIA:BEACON

Dia:Beacon
3 Beekman St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0100
Special for Second Saturday: Gallery Talk: Susan Thompson on Louise Lawler. Thompson, an assistant curator at the Guggenheim, will discuss Lawler's body of work. Known mainly for her photographic portraits of others' work, Lawler has at Dia:Beacon a sound installation, Birdcalls (1972/2008). Come learn why an art critic once nicknamed the piece "Patriarchal Roll Call." Gallery Talks at Dia:Beacon take place the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. Focusing on the work of a single artist on view at Dia:Beacon, these one-hour walk-throughs are led by curators, art historians, and writers. Free with admission to the museum. (Don't forget: Beacon residents get in free on weekends!)
More details at Dia:Beacon.
Hours: 11 am to 6 pm

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THE WEST END
(Close to the train station)

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CATALYST GALLERY

Catalyst Gallery 
137 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 204-3844
The intention of this artist-run space is to create an opportunity for individual artists or groups to show and sell work in a vibrant community that supports the arts.
Special for Second Saturday: An installment of Third Stall Collective's fine art, fashion, furnishings, and books pops up right here in Beacon. It continues through Aug. 28, but before you pop in, check the website to make sure they'll be there!
Hours: 7 pm to 9 pm

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RICK PRICE AT COLORANT

Colorant
145 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: Rick Price is one of those artists who has contributed so much to Beacon, it seems he's been here forever. You might not know his name, but if you've spent any time wandering Beacon looking at colorful Main Street exteriors, you'd recognize his work. (He's the artist behind the huge "River Beacon" mural on the side of the building at Cross and Main streets, as well as the book tree mural at the Howland Public Library.) See a more subdued but no less detailed side of Rick Price's art at Colorant, as he exhibits Walnut-Ink Watercolors. ... He made the pigment from walnuts growing in his own backyard! (How's that for local and artisanal?) He'll be painting portraits, too. Get in line to get yours!  
Hours: 6 pm to 8 pm

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THEO GANZ STUDIO

Theo Ganz Studio
149 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(917) 318-2239
Theo Ganz Studio, the little gallery with the big windows in Beacon's west end, was founded by artist Eleni Smolen as a venue for contemporary artists working in all media. Recognizing the importance of exhibitions in an artist's career, Smolen concentrates on presenting actively engaged emerging and mid-career professionals in either solo or group exhibitions.
Second Saturday: Joseph Pimentel's Ancient Civilizations. Pimentel, who has lived in Newburgh since he was 8, recently visited Peru, and channels those scenes into his intricate watercolor and ink drawings. 
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 8 pm

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MARION ROYAEL GALLERY

Marion Royael Gallery
159 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: "Underground" takes a look at various subterranean visual perspectives. "Underground" in the gallery space is presented as a complement to the project out back, "Mr. Yard Presents the Knock Knock Underground Emoji." Gallery owners say you'll just have to stop by, if you want to learn more about the doors...
Hours: Noon to 7 pm

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HUDSON BEACH GLASS

Hudson Beach Glass / Fovea
162 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-0068
A glass studio casting functional and sculptural objects for over 20 years. A truly special establishment to have in Beacon. Stop in to find blown-glass objects of all kinds, from lights to bowls to wind chimes. Sometimes on Second Saturday you can watch them blow glass.
Special for Second Saturday: "Fire Clay Paint" brings together four ceramicists (Roger Baumann, Scott Bartolomei Edmonds, Deborah Heid, and Joel Brown) and one painter (Linda Winters). The group show takes place in the upstairs gallery. 
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

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CLUTTER MAGAZINE GALLERY

Clutter Magazine Gallery
163 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(212) 255-2505
The Clutter Gallery is a branch of the Clutter Media Group family, and is focused on showing quality work by both established and emerging artists in the fields of toy design and customization, as well as modern pop and lowbrow art. Clutter Gallery's exhibitions are open to the public and free of charge. Works are a variety of sizes.
Second Saturday: "Kaleidoscope of Kyoot" is all about the cute designer toys! As always, a plethora of artists will be shown. Among them: Cat Rabbit, Chernyachi, Claymate Creatures, Crowded Teeth, Cuddly Rigor Mortis, El Hooligan, Flat Bonnie, Fluffy House, Gail CC, Gretchen Lewis, Grumble Toy, Hanjipan Designs, Hiroshi Yoshii, Horrible Adorables, Hungry Ghost, Joe Scarano, Josh Mayhem, Kyle Kirwan, Lisa Rae Hansen, Lolle, Maddy Norval, Melodreama, Misfit Menagerie, MJ Hsu, Odd Fauna (her #terrabeast is pictured here!), One-Eyed Girl, Seulgie, Silk and Thistle, Stitch of Whimsy, Sugar Fueled, Tomodachi Island, twelveDot, Uamou, Valency Genis, Wesker Zhan, Yoji, and more!  
Also opening and not to be missed: "Cryptic Creatures," a solo show of The Bots' new works!
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

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RIVERWINDS GALLERY

RiverWinds Gallery
172 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-2880
RiverWinds Gallery features Hudson Valley artists. Work includes fine art paintings and photography, plus contemporary crafts including ceramics, jewelry, fiber arts and more.
Special for Second Saturday: "Odyssey," a group show, celebrates RiverWinds Gallery's 13 years of sharing art with Beacon. Last month, "Odyssey" celebrated painting; this time photographers get the spotlight. Many of the photographers will be attending, so come with questions and be ready to ask the pros. Who knows? Your work might be in the show next year!
Hours: Opening reception, 5 pm to 8 pm

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DREAM IN PLASTIC

Dream in Plastic
177 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 632-3383
Special for Second Saturday: Ecologie, a nature-based photography exhibition by Jenny Zuko. She coaxes beautiful imagery out of the ol' iPhone. Don't quote us on this, but in the past, Dream in Plastic has been known to offer cupcakes and coffee at openings! It's nice to change it up from the wine and cheese every once in a while.
Hours: 11 am to 7 pm; opening reception 6 pm to 9 pm

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BEACON INSTITUTE

Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries
199 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-1600
This historic brick storefront houses the Institute’s gallery, Hudson River bookstore and gift shop, and its administrative headquarters. The gallery showcases river and environmentally themed art and educational exhibits. Events feature talks by artists and regional Hudson Valley authors.
Special for Second Saturday: The historic Mount Beacon Incline Railway gets a spotlight in this exhibit, which features large-format photography, digital renderings, animations, and infographics, all exploring the Incline Railway's early origins in shaping Beacon. The exhibition delves into the initiative to bring back the Incline Railway, through the lenses of a historic narrative and an eye toward the future. 
Click here for more event details.
Hours: 11 am to 3 pm

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THE MIDDLE & "MARKET SQUARE"

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THE START OF THE MIDDLE, AKA "MARKET SQUARE"

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BINNACLE BOOKS

Binnacle Books
321 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 838-6191
Special for Second Saturday: Binnacle Books hosts a book release party, including a reading, signing, and musical performance. All this, to celebrate the arrival of Franz Nicolay's The Humorless Ladies of Border Control: Touring the Punk Underground from Belgrade to Ulaanbaatar. Read more about Nicolay and the book in this Highlands Current article. 
Hours: Noon to 7 pm 

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OAK VINO WINE BAR

Oak Vino Wine Bar
389 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-2400
Special for Second Saturday: Erica Hauser shows new work. Each of her paintings shows off familiar scenes of Americana, such as her "Dotted Dream Scenic Byway" (at right), in a new way. Sit back with a tasty appetizer and thirst-quenching glass of wine, and take it all in. 
Hours: 3 pm to 11 pm 

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THE EAST END & BEYOND
(Closer to the mountain)

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THE START OF THE EAST END OF MAIN STREET - AND BEYOND!

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THE BEACON HOTEL GALLERY

The Beacon Hotel Gallery
424 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Special for Second Saturday: This month in the former Wanderlust space, you'll find a pop-up gallery from artist Pascal Demeester. In "Behind the Leaves the World" contemporary land artist Pascal Demeester shares drawing, sculpture, photography and video. The native of Belgium recently moved to Beacon. Give him a warm welcome to town by visiting his show!
Hours: 3 pm to 9 pm

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MATTEAWAN GALLERY

Matteawan Gallery
436 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7901
Matteawan Gallery specializes in contemporary art with an emphasis on works on paper by emerging and mid-career artists.
Special for Second Saturday:  Susan English's "Pourous Light" opens. English uses a unique process to build color and texture, pouring layer after layer of polymer onto panels to create paintings that reveal an influence of the natural environment. The panels' orientation (horizontal or vertical), finish (matte or glossy), and composition always demonstrate a relationship with the light in the space they're being viewed.
Hours: Opening reception, 6 pm to 9 pm

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MORPHICISM

Morphicism
444 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-3092
Moveable art in frames - art you must see and experience.
Hours: Call first

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TERRESON:BEACON

TERRESON:BEACON
475 Main St.
Beacon, NY
Jeffrey Terreson's paintings are in the collections of various Fortune 500 companies, as well as the United Nations. His work is inspired by 20th-century post-war masters such as Julian Schnabel, Jasper Johns, Mark Rothko and Joan Snyder. 
Special for Second Saturday: Bedford native Jeffrey Terreson has also recently moved his studio to Beacon, and is overcome with what he has found here. For August's Second Saturday, he is unveiling new paintings. Enjoy wine (from Artisan Wine Shop) and tasty morsels (from Beacon Pantry). Check out his new work that just went up, and let his enthusiasm be contagious! Follow him on Instagram (@jeffreyterreson_fineart) to make sure you don't miss any news. Can this Second Saturday top what he called a "crazy good" last month? Stop by the party and find out... 
Hours: Noon to 9 pm or later, Second Saturday party starts at 4, party-dependent (don't let him down, Beacon)

Blue Break
Oils on canvas
48"x48"

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December
Impasto on wood
48"x48"

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Whisper
Oils on wax
40"x40"

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Heart of the Emperor's Blue
Oils on wood panel
6"x6"

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HOWLAND CULTURAL CENTER

Howland Cultural Center
477 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 831-4988
Beacon's Howland Cultural Center is not just another arts organization. Its beautiful home is a Victorian building that was born specifically to serve the community as a cultural resource.
Special for Second Saturday: The Portraits Show, including works from 17 artists around the Hudson Valley. Presenting artists include: Rosanne Cerbo, Russell Cusick, Michael D'Antuono, Alan Dingman, Stacie Flint, Claudia Gorman, Cynthia Harris-Pagano, Emilie Houssart, Helen Lang, Raphael Lopez, Nestor Madalengoitia, Joe Radoccia, Richard Taddei, Donald Whitely, Scott Wohlberg, David Yawman, and Bob Zahn. 
Hours: 1 pm to 5 pm

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BAU GALLERY

BAU Gallery
506 Main St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 440-7584
bau (Beacon Artist Union) is a platform for members and artists to grow, present and market their work and collaborative curatorial projects, while hosting events of related disciplines: performances, talks, film and music. BAU builds a vital link between the activities at bau and the community.
Special for Second Saturday: Bau 140! In the Main Gallery, come see Melissa Robin's "Alchemy" before she moves across the country. Her amazing photography (occasionally featuring familiar Beacon faces!) will be for sale. In the Beacon Room, "Stick & Stones" by Yali Lewis, winner of Windows on Main.
Hours: Noon to 6 pm; reception from 6 pm to 9 pm

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BEACON near RT. 52
(Beacon's part of Rt. 52 that heads into and out of town)

LOFTS AT BEACON GALLERY

The Lofts at Beacon Gallery
18 Front St.
Beacon, NY
(845) 202-7211
The Lofts at Beacon brought back to life a 19th-century brick mill that once made textiles in the Hudson Valley, located by the Fishkill Creek and situated near the Hudson River in the artists' haven town of Beacon. The Lofts have been completely remodeled into beautiful spaces, providing excellent loft rental units for the working artist.
Special for Second Saturday: Juan Manuel Alvarez-Ossa - born in Colombia, raised in New York, longtime Parisian with a recent move to Switzerland - shows a unique perspective with his "Of American Perceptions: Studies," works on canvas and paper. 
Hours: 9 am to 4 pm 

BEACON MUSIC FACTORY

Beacon Music Factory
629 Route 52
Beacon, NY
(845) 765-0472
Special for Second Saturday: The Hootenanny roars on. Head just a little out of town - not even to Route 9! - for this Family Hootenanny! Kids (babies to age 10) and their caregivers are welcome to bring their own instruments for this merry-making and singalong with Beacon Music Factory's Emily Ellison. An added bonus: You get to say "hootenanny." (Go on, say it out loud. That's like music unto itself!) $5, no reservations necessary.
Hours: 10 am to 11 am

Don't forget to check out our constantly updated Pop-Up Shop Guide and the Shopping Guide as well, as you mix and match dates and events for your weekend entertainment!

Exhibit of the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry Now Open - But First, Did You Take the Ferry Yet?

PLANNING FOR THE NEWBURGH FERRY EXHIBIT:
“This Way to the Ferry” Exhibit
Sundays 1-4 pm, through Dec. 31, 2016
$5 suggested donation
The Crawford House
189 Montgomery Street, Newburgh
845-561-2585; www.newburghhistoricalsociety.com

Many locals are likely aware of the cute blue and white ferry that chugs back and forth between Beacon and Newburgh multiple times each weekday. It's the official Newburgh-Beacon Ferry that roared back to life in 2005 after being taken out of the water when the Newburgh-Beacon bridge was built, and it is in the spotlight right now at the Newburgh Historical Society, who has the ferry's history on display at their headquarters at The Crawford House.

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The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry as it approaches the Beacon dock from Newburgh. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Most of the ferry riders are commuters from the west side of the Hudson River who have opted out of driving to New York City. Instead of driving over the bridge and trying to snag a coveted parking spot at the Beacon Metro-North train station, they hop on the ferry and arrive on the Beacon side, just steps from the local and express trains that will whisk them into New York City for work.

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Any seat on the ferry has a view. The upper deck will get you unobstructed views of rolling hills and mountains. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

Still, savvy adventure-seekers are also discovering that the quick river jaunt (it’s about six to eight minutes) makes for a fun and affordable outing. Whether it’s a romantic rendezvous, capped off with cocktails on the Newburgh waterfront, or just a breezy boat ride with the kids, taking the ferry is a cool way to explore the region. 

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The boarding dock on the Newburgh side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

A one-way fare for an adult is an easy $1.75, and kids under 5 ride for free. Children ages 6 to 11 as well as seniors 62 and older are only $1. The last trip from Newburgh to Beacon is around 8:20pm (always check the train schedule), so plan for an early night if hitting the Newburgh waterfront.

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A ferrygoer, verifying the last ferry time, making sure to not miss the boat.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The Newburgh-Beacon Ferry runs on the weekdays only, so this is one trip you want to plan during the week. Keep in mind, however, that the ferry schedule is related to the peak-train schedule. The last ferry of the morning/day departs Newburgh at 8:04am, and then pauses for the day. The ferry starts up again with a departure out of Beacon at 5:42pm, and the last ferry returning from Newburgh at 8:24pm. Perhaps if the NY Waterway knew that more passengers wanted to ride the ferry during the day, they would expand their schedule (let them know here). Can you imagine, avoiding all of that bridge traffic to get to Newburgh, and enjoying an easy, breezy ride on the water for six minutes of relaxation? Don't believe me? Watch this video footage from our investigation (and wave to the captain):

“Whenever somebody comes to visit, the first thing that I do is take them down to the ferry,” says Mary McTamaney, the Newburgh City historian. “People are always amazed at how beautiful it is here and they get to see the scope of the river and Newburgh, perched up on the hill.”

The current ferry began service in October 2005, mainly to deal with the overcrowding at the Beacon train station parking lot. But the Newburgh-Beacon ferry actually has a long and storied history as one of the first, and longest-lasting, ferry routes in the country. First established with a charter from King George II in 1743, ferry service continued for 220 years until 1963, when the completion of the Newburgh-Beacon bridge made the ferry obsolete. ... Or so people thought.

Now, the new exhibit at the Crawford House Historical Museum in Newburgh uses photos, paintings, documents, videos, and other memorabilia to bring to life the story of the ferries that were such an integral part of transforming both Newburgh and Beacon into bustling industrial hubs.

What You'll Find at the Exhibit

The one-room exhibit, which is jointly sponsored by the Historical Society of the Newburgh Bay and the Highlands as well as the Beacon Historical Society, covers a lot of ground. It begins with the early days when the first ferries were powered by oars and then horses. Even George Washington and his troops rode the ferries frequently during the War of Independence!

But the bulk of the exhibit focuses on the early part of the 20th century, with intriguing photos of the three main ferry boats of this era: the Orange, the Dutchess, and the Beacon, all of which could carry up to 30 cars (the current ferry only transports people).

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Photo Credit: NewburGh historical Society

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The Dutchess ferry, carrying cars
Photo Credit: NewburGh historical Society

By the early part of the 20th century, both Newburgh and Beacon had bustling waterfronts. Situated halfway between New York City and Albany, Newburgh was a transportation hub on the river and had dozens of waterside factories producing everything from bricks to lawnmowers to ships. Both the Dutchess and the Orange were built in a Newburgh shipyard.  Workers crisscrossed the river via the ferries constantly — either to work in Newburgh or in one of the many Beacon factories that produced hats, bricks, and other wares.

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The Ferry at Fishkill Landing. Photo Credit: Newburgh historical Society

The ferry was also a popular river crossing for travelers in the Northeast, as well a social outlet for people of all ages. “Teenagers, families, everybody loved to ride the ferry,” says McTamaney.

The boarding dock today near Long Dock on the Beacon side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

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The rose-lined walking path to the boarding dock on the Newburgh side.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The exhibit highlights lots of fun facts. When the Dutchess made its maiden voyage in 1910, there were separate entrances for men and women. Fares in 1953? Car: 60 cents. Large truck: $2.50. Pedestrians, bikes, baby carriage: 15 cents. By the 1950s, the ferries were running 24 hours a day, and one man recalls spending the entire night in the middle of the river when the Orange became encased in ice: “The boat departed the Newburgh slip at 11:30 pm … Five minutes later and close to mid-stream we really slammed into something which gave us a sudden jolt. We couldn’t see too well but the ice seemed to have piled up almost level with some of the windows.”  

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Photo Credit: Newburgh Historical Society

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Photo Credit: Newburgh Historical Society

Several photos and newspaper articles highlight the historic last day of ferry service: November 3, 1963 — one day after the opening of the Newburgh-Beacon bridge. The Dutchess and the Orange famously saluted each other mid-river on their final run. Captain William Atkins had been a ferry pilot for 41 years and recalls his last trip: “Twenty cars and a handful of passengers, many intent only on getting to Beacon, rode the Dutchess. The ferry’s smoke blew toward the Dutchess County shore. The slip rumbled as the engines started and the boat’s whistle sent up a forlorn goodbye to Newburgh.” The closure of the ferry is reminiscent of how The Little Red Lighthouse felt when the bridge got built above it, but this fear of becoming obsolete became a reality for decades. The resurgence of the ferry since 2005 has corrected that, thanks to the demand from commuters, and perhaps now people seeking an easier way to get to Newburgh than by car. Who knows, maybe with enough requests it will open on the weekend, or even return to running 24 hours a day!

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In addition to the exhibit, the Crawford House itself is a must-see. This grand 1830 Neoclassical home simply oozes with historic (albeit musty) charm, featuring stunning river views and an impressive collection of Hudson River School paintings. It was built for Captain David Crawford, a maritime entrepreneur, who played a key role in turning Newburgh into a major shipping and industrial city. Architectural highlights include 40-foot iconic columns, front and rear Palladian windows, and exquisite woodcarvings throughout. In 1958, the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands purchased the house to prevent its demolition for a planned parking lot.

One kink in the perfect planning of going to the ferry exhibit: Visitors cannot take the ferry itself there, as the ferry only runs on weekdays, and this exhibit is open on Sundays from 1 to 4pm until December 31, 2016.