Improvements and Upgrades to All Beacon City Schools If Dec. 5 Proposal Passes

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At Rombout Middle School, students and parents have long been longing for updates and upgrades, to benefit those who pass through it for two grades after elementary school and before entering the new Beacon High School. Major amenities that many of us take for granted, such as air conditioning and a proper science room, just aren't there. Until now. The Board of Education has included such things in its Capital Project proposal, which is being presented to the public by Dr. Matthew Landahl, Superintendent of Beacon City Schools.

On December 5, 2017, the public can vote for the Capital Project put forth by the Board of Education. It would not involve a new tax increase according to the Board of Education, thanks to a 66.9% reimbursement from New York State, funds remaining from the EXCEL project, a decrease in District debt, and funds in the existing Capital Reserves.

Presentations of the Capital Project have been given this November by Beacon's Superintendent, Dr. Landahl, at all of the regularly scheduled PTA/PTO Meetings, with two additional public meetings at the City of Beacon Parks and Recreation Department, and an upcoming meeting on November 30 at 7 pm at the Beacon High School.

Example of new lockers in the pool area of the Beacon High School.Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.

Example of new lockers in the pool area of the Beacon High School.
Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.

What Is Proposed for the Schools?

Here are the improvements slated for the budget of the project, if Beacon residents vote for the proposal:

Beacon High School

  • Roof Repairs and Overlay
  • Exterior Wall Repairs
  • New Lockers in Pool Locker Room and Scoreboard

Rombout Middle School

  • Upgrade Science Lab
  • Renovate Home & Careers Classroom
  • Install A/C in the West Wing
  • Redesign Bus Loop
  • Replace Wheelchair Lift
  • Exterior and Interior Door Replacements
  • Roof Repairs and Overlay
  • ADA and Fire Safety Upgrades
Proposed new Science Room in Rombout Middle SchoolPhoto Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.

Proposed new Science Room in Rombout Middle School
Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.


Glenham Elementary

  • Replace Carpet With VCT Tile in Four Classrooms
  • Replace Egress Window and Ladder in Classroom
  • Exterior and Interior Door Replacements
  • ADA and Fire Safety Upgrades
Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.

Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.


J.V. Forrestal Elementary

  • Replace Carpet With VCT Tile in Kindergarten Classrooms
  • Bathroom Upgrades
  • Replace Rooftop Ventilation Units
  • Replace Ceilings in Stairs and Ground Floor
  • ADA and Fire Safety Upgrades


Sargent Elementary

  • Replace Carpet with VCT Tile in Six Classrooms
  • Replace Kitchen Air Unit and Rooftop Ventilation Units
  • Exterior and Interior Door Replacements
  • Bathroom Upgrades
  • Replace Selected Ceilings
  • Exterior Masonry Repairs
  • ADA and Fire Safety Upgrades
Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF. 

Photo Credit: Taken from the Capital Project Presentation PDF.
 


South Avenue Elementary

  • Exterior Door Replacements
  • Replace Kitchen Air Unit and Unit Ventilators in Cafeteria
  • Replace remaining VAT tile with VCT tile
  • ADA and Fire Safety Upgrades


Athletics

  • New Artificial Turf Field Behind Beacon High School
  • Repairs to Track at Hammond Field
  • General Repairs to Rosenmeier Field House, Hammond Field House and Press Box

No New Tax Increase

According to literature from the Beacon City School District, with more information here: "To complete this Capital Project, Building Aid funds are currently available from New York State which reimburses 66.9% of the costs.  In addition, a balance of funds remaining from the EXCEL project, funds in Beacon City School District’s Capital Reserves, and a decrease in the District debt, all contribute to allow the project to be funded with no new school tax increases."

Where and When to Vote

Polls will be located at Beacon High School and Glenham Elementary School, and will be open from 7am-9pm. More information, including how to register, can be found here on the Beacon City School District website.

    Where to Eat or Order Specialty Thanksgiving Food in Beacon for 2017

    A reader's question prompted us to call every restaurant on speed-dial to see which spots would be open - if any. Result? It's slim pickins', folks! You had best be cooking in or ordering early from Beacon's amazing specialty stores and picking up by Wednesday. The full list has been updated in A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide, and the results have been listed here as well.

    Keep in mind, most everyone is open before and after Thanksgiving Day - so it will still be a bustling week, except for Thursday which will be quiet! See A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide and Pop-Up Shop Guide for destinations to shop near where you eat!


    OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY:

    • Stock Up, for morning sandwiches and six-packs
    • BJ's Soul Food
    • Beacon Bagel, until 11 am
    • The Lounge at The Roundhouse, with a limited menu (main dining room is closed)

    WHERE TO ORDER SPECIAL THANKSGIVING STUFF FOR HOME:
    All phone numbers are listed in The Restaurant Guide.
    Hurry, Special Ordering has begun and most places have fast-approaching deadlines!

    • Beacon Bread Company
    • Artisan Wine Shop (for wine, obv.)
    • Homespun Foods
    • All You Knead
    • Beacon Natural Market
    • Beacon Pantry
    • Kennedy's Fried Chicken (yes, they like to cook large orders)
    • Stock Up
    • Ella's Bellas
    • Barb's Butchery

    Happening This Weekend - 11/17/2017

    And so it begins! The weekend in Beacon, and it's all yours to enjoy...

    Tell Your Friends:
    Anything they need to know about Beacon, like where to shop, eat or take a class of any kind, can all be found in A Little Beacon's Guides:
    Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.


    Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 4 pm
    Location: The Lofts at Beacon Falls, 52 Leonard St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    “Fill Chill” Annual Food Drive
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 7 to 11 pm
    Location: Chill Wine Bar, 173 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Thom Joyce’s 20th Anniversary Open Mic Night
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 8 pm
    Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    The Beacon Players Presents "Cinderella"
    Day/Time: Friday, Nov. 17, 7 pm; Saturday, Nov. 18, 2 pm; and Sunday, Nov. 19, 2 pm
    Location: Beacon High School Seeger Theater, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
    See Behind the Scenes Photos >

    Little Boxes Art Content 2017
    Day: Saturday, November 18, 2017
    Time: 6 to 9 pm
    Location: Scenic Hudson River Center (Red Barn), Long Dock Road, Beacon, NY
    Information >

    SOUND/PEACE - Seeking Harmony in Dissonant Times
    Day:
    Sunday, November 19, 2017
    Time: 3 pm
    Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
     
     

    iPhoneography Workshop - Level II
    Days: Saturday, November 18, 2017
    Time: 10 am to noon
    Location: RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Contact Dance Workshop
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 7 to 9 pm
    Location: Shambhala Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Inversion Workshop
    Day: Saturday, November 18, 2017
    Time: 1 to 3 pm
    Location: Shambhala Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Intro to Tai Chi & Qigong
    Day: Sunday, November 19, 2017
    Time: 4 to 6 pm
    Location: Shambhala Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Live DJ Yoga Flow with DJ Hyfi
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
    Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Adult Classes Guide.




    Art & Zine Club Meetup
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 3:30 to 5 pm
    Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Rig-ama-jig Builders' Club for K-5th grade
    Day: Friday, November 17, 2017
    Time: 4 to 5:30 pm
    Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Kids Night Out
    Days: Friday, November 17 and December 8, 2017
    Time: 6:30 to 9:30 pm
    Location: All Sport Health & Fitness, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.
     
    The Vault
    446 Main Street

    Off the tapas menu is this dish of savory pan-roasted mushrooms, made with baby spinach, caramelized onions and mascarpone. Looks so delicious... Who is going to feel the warmth?
     
    Where is The Vault? Near Beacon Bath & Bubble.



    Thank you to The Vault and to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!

     
     
    BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END



    Bellus on Main
    181 Main Street

    Holiday Party Season is here! This flattering yet forgiving black dress by Joseph Ribkoff with raglan bell sleeves produces insta-glam. The elasticized neckline can be worn on or off the shoulder, for more or less drama. A subtle keyhole is cut out in front, and the bottom hem is finished with guipure-style lace.

    Where is Bellus? Next door to Luxe Optique.




    Luxe Optique

    183 Main Street
    New frames at Luxe Optique do not disappoint! Just when you thought you'd seen it all in the shapes of frames - well, you haven't seen these yet. Sabine-Be, a brand handmade in France, is known for very wild, funky, different, unique and affordable frames. They're popular in NYC, and Luxe Optique is the only shop carrying them upstate.

    Where is Luxe Optique? Across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company.

     


     

    BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
    PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway to come up to Main!


    Style Storehouse
    484 Main Street

    This long, burnout kimono by On the Road is in Style Storehouse right now, and is another easy glam trick to top an outfit. Great to throw over jeans and a tee to bring a little fun to lounging at home or running errands.

    Where is Style Storehouse? Near Waddle n Swaddle.





    Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
    1 East Main Street, Retail #3

    SAMPLE SALE THIS WEEKEND!
    Sample Sale, up to 75% off! Friday to Sunday, November 17 to 19. Gowns by Justin Alexander, Justin Alexander Signature, Lillian West and Sincerity are on sale at great prices right now at Lambs Hill. Forward this email to your bride friend(s), and get down there!

    Where Is Lambs Hill? In the renovated factory building near the dummy light.


    Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide!  Bellus on Main, Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Style Storehouse.



     

    River Therapeutic Massage
    612 Route 52
    Beacon, NY
    (845) 379-1956

    SAVE THE DATE!
    Black Friday Weekend, River Therapeutic will be announcing different sales for each day throughout the long weekend. Keep a close eye on the Promotions Page on Karen's website, Facebook and Instagram to score a deal on a massage for yourself, or gifts for friends, teachers or clients.
    Book Now >

    Where is River Therapeutic Massage?
    Sharing space with Karen's Place Salon on Route 52.

    Thank you River Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring the Beauty Guide!
     
    SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS

    Rhinebeck Bank

    Beer brewing and craft beer enthusiasts will love this interview with the co-founders of Mill House Brewing Company. Learn about how they started in their basement after purchasing a beer brewing kit, got hooked on the hobby, made too much beer, shared it with others, and the rest is history. At the time of this video in 2016, they had a 20-barrel production facility and employed 47 people at Mill House Brewing Company. When they got new equipment to increase their production, Rhinebeck Bank financed it.
    Watch the video here, and tour the brewery!

    Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency: Renters Insurance

    You just never know what may happen to your rented apartment. Accidents happen - like a bathtub overflowing onto the floor and into the shop below - causing major damage to the store and apartment. Renters insurance can help with this. Contact Antalek & Moore to find out how at (845) 245-6292.

    Beacon Chamber of Commerce
    Please join the Beacon Chamber of Commerce for The Lofts at Beacon Falls Ribbon Cutting as they celebrate the official opening of this apartment community in the heart of Beacon's Historic Factory District. Come and see this gorgeous location and welcome them to the neighborhood! Light refreshments will be served. The Lofts at Beacon Falls are at 52 Leonard Street, which is just up the road from Dogwood and The Roundhouse.

    BeaconArts : Retrospective 15

    BeaconArts is celebrating 15 years of leaving its mark on Beacon. The organization and its supporters treat Beacon as a canvas, delighting, inspiring and challenging residents and visitors alike. A walk-through history is on view at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estatuaries/Clarkson University at 199 Main Street right now, with a timeline that presents what BeaconArts has done and how it has impacted you. One of the best ways to make sure this continues is through a donation to BeaconArts, which you can make right here online.

    A Little Beacon Space :  50Roots Pop-Up Shop Next Weekend!

    Returning to A Little Beacon Space for Black Friday Weekend is 50Roots.com, the online-only shop based in Poughkeepsie that carries only Made in America products. They are bringing their entire inventory into this space for a good old-fashioned shopping experience - with live music and a complimentary Happy Hour. Get an idea for what they have by visiting their website, and put the pop-up shop on your gift-buying schedule for the day after Thanksgiving!

    InHouse Design Media

    SALE ALERT!
    Black Friday Weekend, InHouse Design Media will be discounting services, from Training Sessions to Website Designs. If you know you want to build a website, develop social media strategy, or get overall guidance on how to reach more people online, this will be the time!
    Learn More >

    Tin Shingle : Online Class

    Have you wanted to host a pop-up shop but didn't know where to start? Are you a shop owner on Main Street who wants to throw a pop-up event but can't think of why or how? Then this Training TuneUp is for you! Stream it while you work, and be prepared to write down ideas.
    Learn More >
    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
    We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!"
    Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!

    Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog.

    Until next week!

    Student Produced "Cinderella" Opens at Beacon High School Theatre - 80 Students in Cast and Crew

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    SHOW TIMES
    Friday, November 17 @ 7 pm
    Saturday, November 18 @ 2 pm
    Sunday, November 19 @ 2 pm
     
    Beacon High School Seeger Theatre
    101 Matteawan Road
    Beacon, NY
     
    Tickets: $5 for students/seniors; $12 for adults.
    Available online or at the door (but don't wait!)

    The Beacon High School Seeger Theatre opens to the public this weekend to premiere Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” produced by The Beacon Players. This student-produced production creates an opportunity for more than 80 students to participate in the cast and crew, from making sets and costumes, to running the sound board, to performing in the musical.

    Students work for months on this production, from designing and building the sets, sewing costumes, and rehearsing scenes. The Beacon Players Director, Anthony Scarrone, provides ample opportunities for many students to be involved through workshops over the summer, and during the school year.

    Involvement in Beacon's student theatre challenges students in new ways. Anthony guides the student cast through thoughtful performances, evident in each interview of some of the student actors published this week in the Beacon Free Press. Just like promos with movie stars, the newspaper published interviews with student performers who recalled their interpretation of their characters and how they are played. Elizabeth Cenicola (playing Cinderella) reveals that she plays the star character as a girl with little confidence, who grows to become empowered and believes that she can do anything.

    The Beacon Players aren't afraid to challenge the norm by reinterpreting a story to show and tell it a little differently. The Prince, for instance, played by Alexander Ullian, takes on a dorky personality who isn't filled with bravery. The stepmother, played by Ellery Harvey, eventually shows remorse for hardships she has bestowed upon Cinderella.

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Says actress Elizabeth in the Beacon Free Press, " 'Cinderella' is a story of having strength even when the situation around you may be a difficult one, which is something everyone can relate to. Children will also be inspired by Ella because she doesn't wait around for her dreams to come true. She goes out and makes them come true herself."

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Fundraising Opportunities for The Beacon Players

    Marvel at the showstopping ballgowns and detailed sets, built and designed by The Beacon Players. There is a Princess Luncheon from noon to 1:45 pm before the performances on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18 and 19. Luncheons include visits from princesses, good food, and perhaps an appearance from Cinderella herself. Space for the lunch is limited, with only about 50 tickets available for each day. Tickets for the luncheon are $15 each, and sold separately from show tickets. Update: As of now, the Princess Luncheon is Sold Out! And general admission tickets are about to be, so get your tickets to "Cinderella" now!

    If you want to donate in other ways, you can sponsor a seat here, or become a VIP Member.

    Students can join the Beacon Players by clicking here.

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Photo Credit: Beacon High School Players

    Scenic Hudson Proposes Increased Parking Spots at Mt. Beacon Trailhead

    Photo Credit: Concept rendering of Mount Beacon trailhead parking. Copyright © 2017 Scenic Hudson, Inc., All rights reserved.

    Photo Credit: Concept rendering of Mount Beacon trailhead parking. Copyright © 2017 Scenic Hudson, Inc., All rights reserved.

    If you're a regular visitor to Mount Beacon Park, where you first encounter the steep staircase only to be met with a steep climb up the mountain to breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley, you'll have noted that parking at the base of Mount Beacon is thick. Daily, cars quickly fill up the 39 spaces that are currently available. Scenic Hudson manages Mount Beacon Park, in cooperation with the Mount Beacon Incline Railway Society, and is proposing to increase the number of parking spots from 39 to 77 on the existing surface of the parking lot. (Ie, they don't plan to construct new platforms above or below ground, but to expand at ground level.)

    The plans include constructing universally accessible parking and walkways, enhanced walkways and an emergency access gate, a pedestrian connection to Howland Avenue, and increased landscaping to shield the view of the parking lot.

    In addition to making increased parking spots in the existing parking lot, Scenic Hudson is proposing to add connections to mass transit. "We've provided a pickup/drop-off area for a future trolley or bus stop," says Scenic Hudson’s Senior Park Planner, Meg Rasmussen.

    Beacon's Planning Board is hearing the proposal tonight, Tuesday, November 14, at its regular meeting at the Beacon Municipal Center, 1 Municipal Plaza, and the public is encouraged to attend to voice opinions. The project is filed under 788 Wolcott Avenue. It's a loaded meeting, with several development projects in the agenda. The meeting starts at 7:30 pm, preceded by a training/workshop portion to start at 7 pm. Details about the project have been posted at the City Of Beacon website and can also be found here in our "Easy Access to City Meetings" section. When the video of this meeting posts, we will also add it to this meeting's overview page here at A Little Beacon Blog.

    OPEN! The Made + Given Pop-Up Shop at A Little Beacon Space

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    HOURS
    Find Made and Given at A Little Beacon Space:
    291 Main Street, across from Key Food
    First Floor, First Door.
    Friday 4-7pm
    Saturday 11am-8pm
    Sunday 11am-5pm

    A Little Beacon Space has been transformed again! The chalkboards are wiped and dressed with new chalk art, and even the wall flowers have been changed. There's a pop-up shop in town this weekend, and you only have three days to catch it (well, now two, because today is Saturday). Here's what you'll find inside...

    Rock Dove

    Rock Dove is copper and rock jewelry made by husband-and-wife team Carolyn Baccaro and Mickey Dwyer. Says Carolyn about her style: "My love affair with copper and rocks began when I learned that copper was the first metal to be used in jewelrymaking. It's one of the few elements to occur in nature in its pure, metallic form, and our ancestors have adorned themselves in copper since at least 8,700 B.C. I love using this ancient metal to craft unique jewelry using a modern method."

    PS: If these rock/copper combos look familiar, you might have seen them nearby. They are also sold at one of Beacon's newest shops, Howling at the Edge of Chaos near The Beacon Hotel (head east toward the mountain).

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    The Wednesday Collective

    The Wednesday Collective is a hard-to-find collection of pottery that makes for perfect additions to your ceramics collection, or a great housewarming gift.

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    Black Gold Records

    A record collector who also roasts coffee, Black Gold Records is based in Brooklyn where he spins the black vinyl while roasting beans - both of which you can buy in this pop-up shop. He's also known for this t-shirt, "Record Collecting Ruined My Life."

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    Pop Porcelain

    This is all you, kitsch-lovers. Vintage plates with some not-so-vintage people on them ,from Pop Porcelain. Best of both worlds? You decide, then take a picture and tag us to show us what you picked.

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    FSA Leather Goods

    This is some fine leather designing going on here. FSA Leather Goods has brought their assortment of jewelry, paperweights, and other excuses to make beautiful combinations of fine leather and metalsmithing. In their own words: "FSA Leather Goods has been inspired by the well-worn and dependable tools used by the farmers and migrant workers who endured the Depression and Dust Bowl. Hard work was the only way for these people to pull themselves out of the toughest times that dared to destroy the land. The durable products manufactured during this era were built to last generations. Our mission is to design products with the traditional qualities of simplicity, utility and durability essential to the hard-working people of the Depression Era, whose efforts, and the tools which enabled them, we still respect today."

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    Halmi Co

    And if you wanted a little sparkle with your leather, there is Halmi Co. At this time, Halmi Co. does not sell online (coming soon), so the only way to score their goods is to find them in person.

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    John Defeo

    New to A Little Beacon Space's walls is the artist John Defeo. You can see this art right now for this weekend only, and then it's gone. So if you want to pick up a piece, now is your chance.

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    Moor Berry

    Bow ties and baby booties...that's what you'll find from Moor Berry, who sews a cultural twist into each of her designs.

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    Vintage

    But of course, a pop-up vintage assortment is on the racks from Rock Dove's private collection, with jeans, a few shoes, and coats that you could use today.

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    Teddy's Barkery

    Got a pooch or two? They need a special doggy treat with a message on it from Teddy's Barkery. There are stamped-message cuff bracelets for humans (down at King + Curated on Beacon's east end at 1 East Main), and there are stamped-message doggie treats for dogs in the pop-up shop.

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    Santa's Dirty Workshop

    Rated R cards, so can't show much here. You'll need to go in to see the collection!

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    Where To Go Next

    After, or on your way to, this pop-up shop, check out these Beacon stores that carry a selection of products in the same niche as this one:

    On the West End (toward the train):

    • reMADE
    • Hudson Beacon Glass
    • Dream in Plastic (also sells Kala Style soaps which will be at this pop-up shop)

    In the Center (near this pop-up shop):

    • American Gypsy
    • Hudson Valley Vinyl

    On the East End (near the mountain):

    • Howling at the Edge of Chaos (also sells Rock Dove rings which will be available at this pop-up shop in other styles)
    • Blackbird Attic
    • Shop Reservoir
    • King + Curated

    Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide for November 11, 2017

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    Happy Second Saturday, people of Beacon! This month, we pause to reflect on gratitude. Today especially, gratitude for the artists who, through some kind of alchemy (and a lot of hard work), bring some of our biggest feelings into the visual realm. Thank them in person, if you'd like: See where they'll be and when in our Guide to Second Saturday Art Showings

    Some artsy-tartsy highlights: Gifts galore! Artists often sell their work in gallery openings, but we also have the Beacon Art Market Opening at Catalyst Gallery, the annual holiday show at RiverWinds Gallery, the Made & Given Holiday Pop-Up Shop in our very own Little Beacon Space, and more.

    A giant thank you to BeaconArts for promoting this day in our city for years, and thanks to the sponsors of A Little Beacon Blog, who make it possible for us to share the goings-on around town. Please support the businesses who support us! 

    Happening This Weekend - 11/10/2017

    Happy Second Saturday and Veterans Day Weekend! Below, find where you can observe a moment of silence to pay homage to those who protect us, and a few businesses who are doing something special for those in the military.

    The Galleries are in holiday mode, and you can start your gift collecting early! We know - holiday music shouldn't start until after Thanksgiving, but it's on the radio already, and the greenery and the lights are turning on, so we're going with it! And you can find lots of festive cheer on Main Street. Just follow our Second Saturday Guide.

    Trivia: Can you guess whose ornaments these are? You got that right - the famous blown glass collection being made now at Hudson Beach Glass.

    This weekend includes lots of handmade and local shopping (stop by Utensil to wish them a happy five-year anniversary!!), live performances, and even ghost hunting! We have more Pop-Up shopping fun at A Little Beacon Space as we host Made & Given all weekend starting today!

    Tell Your Friends:
    Anything they need to know about Beacon, like where to shop, eat or take a class of any kind, can all be found in A Little Beacon's Guides:
    Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.


    Made & Given Pop-Up Shop

    Days: Friday to Sunday, November 10-12, 2017
    Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Times: Friday, 4 to 7 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 8 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm
    Learn more about event and the vendors in our Pop-Up Guide.

    Open Mic Night for Kids
    Day: Friday, November 10, 2017
    Time: 7 to 9 pm
    Location: Beacon Performing Arts Center, 327B Main St., Beacon, NY
    Want to jam out to your favorite show tune or pop song, accompanied by acting and musical theater pro Kate Vander Linden? Bring sheet music or choose from the selection at BPAC. 
    Information >

    Veterans Day Ceremony
    Day: Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 11 am
    Location: The Veterans Memorial Building, 413 Main St., Beacon, NY
    The event will be held indoors this year. The public is invited and is encouraged to use the Teller Avenue entrance, according to the Beacon Free Press.

    Grand Opening - Halvey Funeral Home
    Day: Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 11 am to 4 pm
    Location:: Halvey Funeral Home, 2 Beekman St., Beacon, NY
    Read more about the new location on our blog

    Free Mini Maker Faire
    Day: Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 10am to 8 pm
    Location: Barnes & Noble, 2518 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY
    This fundraiser for Sargent Elementary School coincides with the awesome Barnes & Noble Free Mini Maker Faire, to help purchase innovative classroom supplies for all grades. Kids get to create all kinds of cool high-tech models, program robots, and fly drones, while parents get in some early holiday shopping. A portion of your purchase will go toward Sargent's fundraiser.
    Information >

    Utensil's 5th Anniversary Party
    Day: Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 6 to 9 pm
    Location: Utensil Kitchenware, 480 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Kaight's Fall Pop-Up Party
    Day:
    Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 6 to 9:30 pm
    Location: Kaight, 512 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Veterans Day Service
    Day: Sunday, November 12, 2017
    Time: 10:30 am
    Location: Reformed Church of Beacon, 1113 Wolcott Ave. (aka Route 9D), Beacon, NY
    A lunch will follow the worship service, according to the Beacon Free Press.

    Paranormal Investigation of the Old Beacon High School
    Day: Saturday, November 11, 2017
    Time: 7 to 11 pm
    Location: 211 Fishkill Ave., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Veterans Day Freedom Fund Dinner
    Day: Sunday, November 12, 2017
    Time: 4 pm
    Location: Chalet on the Hudson, 3250 Route 9D
    The Southern Dutchess NAACP will hold its 52nd annual Freedom Fund Dinner, "Honoring Those Who Served." Honorees include local U.S. Armed Forces veterans Bascom G. Durham, Walter Patrice, Ta 'Tanisha Powell and John E. Rembert. Live music too, featuring Bosco & The Storm. For information and tickets, call Dorothy Medley at (845) 831-6447, according to the Beacon Free Press.

    Howland Chamber Music Circle Presents Narek Hakhnazaryan, Cello
    Day: Sunday, November 12, 2017
    Time: 4 pm
    Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
     
     
    Cross-Back Apron with Toni Maeck
    Day: Friday, November 10, 2017
    Time: 9 am to 1 pm
    Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Notary Public Licensing Class
    Day: Friday, November 10, 2017
    Time: 5 to 8 pm
    Location: Residence Inn Marriott, 500 Westage Business Drive, Fishkill, NY
    Information >

    iPhoneography Workshop - Level I & II
    Days: Saturdays, November 11 & 18, 2017
    Time: 10 am to noon
    Location: Riverwinds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Meet the Machine with Hilary Oak (Sewing)
    Day: Sunday, November 12, 2017
    Time:: 2 to 5 pm
    Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Adult Classes Guide.




    Cinderella: "On the Way to the Ball"
    Day:
    Friday, November 10, 2017
    Time: 11 am to 12:30 pm
    Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Bakeology 101
    Day:
    Friday, November 10, 2017
    Time: 3:30 to 5 pm
    Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Studio Art: Drawing into Painting
    Taught by Kathy Moss
    Grades: 6-12
    Day: Mondays, November 13 to December 18, 2017
    Time: 5 to 7 pm
    Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.
     
    The Vault
    446 Main Street

    SPECIAL FOR VETERANS DAY: The Vault has created a special cocktail called The Soldier's Toddy. This drink will warm you on the way down, as it's made with cognac, aged rum, fresh lemon juice, apricot bitters and garnished with cloves, orange and cinnamon. Might even clear lightly stuffed sinuses.
    Where is The Vault? Near Beacon Bath & Bubble.



    Thank you to The Vault and to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!

     
     
    BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END



    Bellus on Main
    181 Main Street

    SALE ALERT!
    Soft and warm, these 100% baby alpaca sweaters are made in Peru and are in Bellus on Main in several colors right now. Bonus? They are 35% off for a limited time! So put one on, and head down to The Vault to enjoy that toddy.
    Where is Bellus? Next door to Luxe Optique.






    Luxe Optique

    183 Main Street
    TRUNK SHOW THIS WEEKEND
    The Barton Perreira trunk show is Saturday, November 11, at 3 pm at Luxe Optique. Every frame, every color, every size will be there! Handmade in Japan.
    DEAL ALERT! Mention A Little Beacon Blog and get $75 off!
    Where is Luxe Optique? Across the block from Beacon Bread Company.


     


     

    BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
    PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway to come up to Main Street!


    Style Storehouse
    484 Main Street

    HAPPENING TODAY! (FRIDAY)
    Style Storehouse has packed all of their inventory - boots, leggings, sexy sweatshirts and comfortable tops - from their Beacon location to set up with other shops at Vino at Crew Restaurant at 2290 South Road, Poughkeepsie. Joining them will be handstamped, customized jewelry from King + Curated.
    VETERANS DAY ALERT: Style Storehouse regularly gives a discount to military personnel, and this weekend is giving 15% off to military and veterans.

    Where is Style Storehouse? Near Waddle n Swaddle.





    Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
    1 East Main Street, Retail #3

    SAVE THE DATE! 
    Sample Sale, up to 75% off! Next weekend, Friday, Nov. 17 to Sunday, Nov. 19. Gowns by Justin Alexander, Justin Alexander Signature, Lillian West and Sincerity.
    VETERANS DAY ALERT: Lambs Hill is giving 50% off of accessories to veterans and military personnel this weekend.
    Where Is Lambs Hill? In the renovated factory building near the dummy light.



    Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide!  Bellus on Main, Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Style Storehouse.




    River Therapeutic Massage
    612 Route 52
    Beacon, NY
    (845) 379-1956

    “I recently received a Himalayan Salt Stone Massage and was (again) blown away with how amazing it was. Thank you!”
    - Happy Customer
    From now until December 22, 2017, River Therapeutic Massage is offering the Himalayan Salt Stone Massage as a Spa Mini add-on for only $5. WOW.
    Book Now >
    Where is River Therapeutic Massage?
    Sharing space with Karen's Place Salon on Route 52.

    Thank you River Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring the Beauty Guide!
     
    SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS

    Rhinebeck Bank

    Mark and Michelle interview Rachel Beard, founder of The Harmony Garden School of Music and Kindermusik. Says Mark: “Upon walking in, the first thing I thought was: ‘Kids would love it here.’ It beats Mickey Mouse Club." Hear how Rachel went from playing cello in school, to following her dream of becoming a music teacher, then pursuing her new dream of opening a business to work more closely with children. She loves helping kids wake up parts of their brain through music.
    Watch the Video >

    Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency: Condo Association Insurance

    Condominium association insurance is a unique form of insurance that’s specifically written to meet the needs of condo associations. It’s mainly used to insure common areas of condominium complexes. Depending on the layout and features of a complex, a policy might insure different kinds of common areas, including:
    • walkways and exterior steps
    • foyers and entryways
    • elevators, stairwells and hallways
    • units’ shared walls and buildings’ exterior walls
    • landscaping and fencing
    • amenities, such as pools, community rooms and fitness center

    Beacon Chamber of Commerce
    Join the Beacon Chamber of Commerce as it celebrates the Grand Opening of Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey. The celebration will take place Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, with a Ribbon Cutting by the Beacon Chamber taking place at 12:30 pm. The Chamber hopes to see you there!

    BeaconArts : Retrospective 15

    BeaconArts celebrates 15 years since its founding in November of 2002 with a gallery opening at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estatuaries/Clarkson University, 199 Main St. A private opening takes place Saturday, and then public viewing hours begin on Sunday through March 2018. The exhibit is curated by Kalene Rivers. Different film screenings will take place each Second Saturday. Mark your calendar for January 31, 2018, for the monthly BeaconArts Member Meeting, and the Friendraiser campaign later in March.

    A Little Beacon Space :  OPENING TODAY!

    The day has come! A Little Beacon Space transforms into a shop for three days only this weekend. Friday to Sunday, November 10 to 12, 2017 at 291 Main St., Beacon. Enjoy complimentary beer and wine Friday and Saturday after 5 pm! Here's who you'll find in the shop.
    • Curated records from Black Gold Records
    • Handmade Jewelry by Haimi Co. and Rock Dove
    • Bow Ties and Headscarves for Adults and Babies by Moor Berry
    • Unisex Leather Goods by F&S
    • Artist John Defeo
    • Naughty Holiday Cards from Santa’s Dirty Workshop and more!
    Open Hours:
    Friday, November 10   4 to 7 pm
    Saturday, November 11  11 am to 8 pm
    Sunday, November 12   11 am to 5 pm

    InHouse Design Media

    Need a website design? Or maybe you need a design team to hold your hand while you make updates yourself? InHouse Design Media can help. The design team behind A Little Beacon Blog and Tin Shingle can train you, or do it all for you, whether you're looking for graphic design or glitzy photos for social media.
    Learn More >

    Tin Shingle : Community Membership

    Tin Shingle has a new Community Membership level for those who want to connect over big ideas for getting the word out about your business, and learning what you can do with your business in general. Strength in numbers! Membership includes a private, safe and supportive Facebook Group for faster connection with business owners around the country.
    Learn More >
    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
    We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!"
    Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!

    Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog.

    Until next week!

    Update Made to Shopping Guide: 2 New Stores, 1 Less Store, 1 Moved Store

    Moving and shaking as always on Main Street in Beacon. We have made updates to A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide, and they go like this:

    OPEN:
    Sanctuary
    192 Main St.
    (845) 440-6973
    Opened by Laura Gould, a former Beaconite who moved to Nyack for a while, and is back in Beacon. Laura is also a former board member of BeaconArts. Sanctuary is "a Conscious Living Shop," according to Laura. In the space on the corner that was the longtime home of Beacon Barkery, Laura focuses on hand-made, fair-trade and ethically made goods. Inside, you'll find art, home furnishings, clothing, jewelry, books, wellness and self-care items, ritual and sacred objects, and a beautiful selection of curated gifts. Expect to see in-person gatherings in the shop in the evenings to learn how to use essential oils and other wellness techniques.

    Howling at the Edge of Chaos
    428 Main St
    Located in the sliver of a storefront next to the Beacon Hotel, Howling at the Edge of Chaos is a charmingly fierce shop. Here's how the owner, Valerie Mitchell, describes the store:
    "Life is art. Art is life. Art isn’t just what you put on your walls. It’s what you hold in your hands in the morning sipping coffee, it’s the leather bag you carry on your shoulder everyday, the pin you wear on your jacket expressing your thoughts, the necklace you put on as you walk out the door to meet your girlfriends. You should be surrounded by unique, beautiful wares, pieces that make you smile, laugh, feel strong, empowered, or make you dream. Howling at the Edge of Chaos carries unique finds for those that want to HOWL their TRUTH. Items might include but are not limited to: Jewelry, Pottery, Handbags, Textiles, Paintings, Photographs, Cards, Pins, Patches. Stop by if you’re curious."

    MOVED
    Colorant has moved across the street! Head next door to Mountain Tops to check out their new digs, and for natural-fiber dyeing workshops with NY Textile Lab. From 3 to 7 on Second Saturday, bring your own cotton, wool or silk pieces for indigo-dyeing workshops (sign up here). Once you're finished repurposing, celebrate your new skills with cocktails featuring Beacon's own Drink More Good products.

    CLOSED
    A Classic Couture Fashion Boutique has left the west end Beacon location. This space is now For Rent. But fear not, you will probably be able to access owner Leah's collection in other ways if you were already in touch with her.

    Visit A Little Beacon Blog's complete Shopping Guide for all of the stores on Main Street in Beacon.

    Vote! And Get This Sticker!

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    You too could get this sticker... Vote today! Don’t assume that your vote won't count because you assume your pick will win, or that you’ll be fine with anyone. Head on down to your voting location, vote for your people, flip the ballot and vote for the amendments (easy paragraphs describe what they are), and then ask for a sticker! The stickers might not be in an obvious place, but once you become a Cast Vote, get the sticker. Don't know where to vote or what ward you're in? Find your Beacon polling location here.

    P.S.: The pink leather of this purse came from Lauren & Riley, on Main Street, Beacon. Obviously, we vote yes on pink leather.

    Halvey Funeral Home Replaces Vacant Restaurant on 9D at 2 Beekman Street

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    Former shell of restaurants at 2 Beekman.Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    Former shell of restaurants at 2 Beekman.
    Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    Just up the road from the world famous art museum Dia: Beacon, sat Lucky's (formerly River Terrace), a closed restaurant with an often-chilly patio that occupied a prime location on the Hudson River. For two years it sat vacant, and for the past six years it housed a succession of floundering restaurant business models that failed and fled. The most action the property saw was when the parking lot was used for overflow parking from Rose Hill, the childcare center across the street, during its toddler graduation each spring. For prospective new restaurants, an advertised rent of $7,000/month to fill the space was extremely unattractive, and the former Lucky's sign, long forgotten and broken with exposed, burnt-out fluorescent bulbs, littered 9D as people drove into downtown Beacon.

    A Business Relocation & Expansion

    The Halvey Funeral home at 24 Willow St., soon to relocate to 2 Beekman. The home will be put up for sale on the residential market.Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    The Halvey Funeral home at 24 Willow St., soon to relocate to 2 Beekman. The home will be put up for sale on the residential market.
    Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    Enter Halvey Funeral Home, a third-generation Beacon business established in 1933, currently based at 24 Willow St. in a residential neighborhood. According to Patrick Halvey, the third-generation son who is taking over the family business, locating funeral homes in neighborhoods was historically preferred by grieving families and well-wishers in times past. Times have changed, and the trend of funeral homes being located in actual houses has shifted to their presence in more commercial areas. Halvey Funeral Home is now moving from Willow Street into its new home at 2 Beekman Street. It can be viewed from Route 9D, if one were turning down Beekman to go to Dia or Long Dock Park. The home at 24 Willow St. will be listed for sale in the residential market.

    Location, Location

    The prospect of locating a funeral home on riverfront real estate had some Beacon residents questioning if that was the best use of the property. But the building had been vacant and decrepit for two years. The climate for development and change in Beacon right now is ultra-sensitive; so many projects have green-lit their intentions simultaneously now that there is a population to buy what developers are building. This momentum puts the spotlight on all types of projects being built, as well as on each project's plans for parking, which would be necessary for people to take advantage of whatever business services fill those projects.

    Improvements From Expansion

    The ugly, broken sign touting a former restaurant will be gone now.Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    The ugly, broken sign touting a former restaurant will be gone now.
    Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    Beacon-based architect Aryeh Siegel was hired for the funeral home project to design a building that highlighted the riverfront views to friends and families who came to remember loved ones. Beacon's Planning Board recommended adding landscape design, to cushion the building. At Halvey Funeral Home's Willow Street location, parking was an issue as gatherings grew quite large. More spaces drew Halvey to the Beekman location. "Parking is the main advantage that attracted us to that site," says Joe Guarneri, construction manager of the project. "We have 36 marked spots in the new lot, with room for parking in back and front yielding another 12 spots, for a total of 48 [parking spots]." 

    Planning Board Member Jill Reynolds, who is also co-artist/founder at Ten Willow Studio, a glass design partnership specializing in architectural installations, had recommended that the funeral home extend the sidewalk. She pointed put during a Planning Board meeting that the sidewalk there is incomplete. Regular walkers experience the sidewalk's end, and either walk in the street or on the grass to complete their journey to 9D from the train station area. Halvey agreed to expand the sidewalk. "We are extending the Beekman Street sidewalk on the city-owned lot at the corner of Route 9D and Beekman," Joe confirmed.

    New Life for Halvey Funeral Home

    Opening soon, Halvey Funeral Home will be operating under the new name Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey LLC, under the ownership of third-generation Patrick Halvey. If, on Saturday November 11 from 11 am to 4 pm, you see white doves flying into the sky, know that they have been released during a celebratory, public ribbon-cutting for the new facility. If you hear music or see tents, it may remind you of the sounds emanating from the former restaurants, but it is part of the funeral home's festivities. To celebrate the new riverview patio during the ribbon-cutting party, there will be beer, spirits, soda, coffee, donuts, and food from Beacon merchants.

    The new Riverview Funeral Home on Beekman Street in Beacon, just down the hill from Route 9D.
    Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth Martin

    Editorial Note: Riverview Funeral Home by Halvey LLC has advertised on A Little Beacon Blog, but their ad campaign is separate from this article. Their promotion of their ribbon-cutting is a coincidence to our publishing of this milestone notice for this property in Beacon, which we have been researching for some time. We do appreciate their support!

    Happening This Weekend - 11/3/2017

    Don't put those costumes away just yet! Thanks to some rain last weekend, the Halloween fun has been extended a little bit. To really turn you topsy-turvy, Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday.

    Tell Your Friends:
    Anything they need to know about Beacon, like where to shop or eat, or take a class of any kind, can all be found in A Little Beacon's Guides:
    Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance.

     
    Book Signing w/ Francie Webb
    Day: Friday, November 3, 2017
    Time: 5 to 7:30 pm
    Location: Waddle n Swaddle, 484 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Kindness Rocks Workshop

    Day: Saturday, November 4, 2017
    Time: 11 am to noon
    Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Read more about the Kindness Rocks Project on our blog!

    Carnival featuring Judith Tulloch Band
    Day:
    Saturday, November 4, 2017
    Time: 7:30 pm
    Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >


    "A Very Beacon Halloween" 21st Annual Kids Halloween Parade aka The Hocus Pocus Parade from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce

    Day: Sunday, November 5, 2017 (See our article about it here)
    Line-up Time: 12:30 pm at the Visitors Center
    Parade Marching Time: 1 pm
    Locations: Costumed kids start lining up at Polhill Park (South Avenue/9D and Main Street) for a parade all the way down Main Street stopping at Teller Avenue, trick-or-treating from Main Street businesses.
    After the Parade: The Roundhouse has opened their Patio to marchers to enjoy cider, bottles of water and treats.
    Parade Information >

    Grace Smith Pumpkin Parade
    Day: Sunday, November 5, 2017
    Time: 11 am to 3 pm
    Location: Pulaski Park, 162 Washington St., Poughkeepsie, NY
    Information > 

    Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
     
     
    Stowe Bag with Toni Maeck
    Day: Saturday, November 4, 2017
    Time: 1 to 5 pm
    Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Easy Peazy Pajama Pants with Katy Hope
    Day: Sunday, November 5, 2017
    Time: 1 to 5 pm
    Location: Beetle & Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Adult Classes Guide.




    Game Club
    Day: Friday, November 3, 2017 
    Time: 3 to 5 pm
    Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY
    Information >

    Wee Play Clean Up
    Day: Tuesday, November 7, 2017 
    Time: 7 to 11 am
    Location: Memorial Park, Beacon, NY
    Information >

    For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.
     
     
    BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END



    Bellus on Main
    181 Main Street

    This faux fur coat by Joseph Ribkoff is warm, stylish and ridiculously soft and cozy - we tested it. Detailed with cuffed, full-length sleeves, a button closure on a funnel collar, and front pockets to protect your hands and keep you warm. It's reversible, too!
    Where is Bellus? Next door to Luxe Optique.





    Luxe Optique

    183 Main Street
    You know what you need? Prescription sunglasses. Because now that you are wearing glasses full time, you need some shades. Like these by Christian Roth. The bold, high-fashion, unique design features an ultra-thin custom milled metal inlay with lightweight metal temples, all striking a delicate balance against the frame’s exuberant, angular proportions.
    Where is Luxe Optique? Across the block from Beacon Bread Company.

     


     

    BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
    PARKING HINT: Park behind 1 East Main by the Hudson Valley Brewery and use the back walkway to head up to Main Street!


    Style Storehouse
    484 Main Street

    SAVE THE DATE
    Alert your friends in Poughkeepsie and book a wine date with them for Friday, November 10, from 6 to 10 pm at Vino (the private room at Crew). Style Storehouse is packing all of their inventory from their Beacon location to set up with other shops in Poughkeepsie for one night at this pop-up Holiday Market. Come shop while enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.

    Where is Style Storehouse? Near Waddle n Swaddle.





    Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
    1 East Main Street, Retail #3

    This bridal shop on Beacon's east end has everything to complete your look, including gowns by Lillian West, Justin Alexander (shown), Sincerity and Sweetheart. and a beautiful selection of veils, jewelry, headpieces, shawls and boleros. Lambs Hill is a walk-in friendly shop, so take a peek!
    Where Is Lambs Hill? One of the new boutiques in the renovated factory building near the Dummy Light.



    Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide!  Bellus on Main, Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill, and Style Storehouse.




    River Therapeutic Massage
    612 Route 52
    Beacon, NY
    (845) 379-1956

    What is eco-fin, and why will you love it?
    Eco-fin is a natural, petroleum-free alternative to paraffin. A rich blend of palm, soy, jojoba and organic coconut oils are gently warmed with shea butter, vitamin E and essential oils, then applied to your hands and/or feet with a brush, and covered with heated mitts/booties. When the mitts/booties are removed, the remaining product gets massaged into your skin, leaving it soft and supple.
    This treatment makes a delightful Add-On to any massage.
    Book Now >
    Where is River Therapeutic Massage?
    Sharing space with Karen's Place Salon on Route 52.

    Thank you River Therapeutic Massage for sponsoring the Beauty Guide!
     

     
    The Vault
    446 Main Street

    We are getting into SOUP season! The Vault offers seasonal and fresh soups daily. Pictured is an apple cinnamon butternut squash version. You know what pairs perfectly with this? The Vault's Burrata Cheese. Yum.
    Where is The Vault? Near Beacon Bath & Bubble.



    Thank you to The Vault and to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!
    SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS

    Rhinebeck Bank

    Learn all about First Friday Poughkeepsie on this week's episode of Wake Up with Rhinebeck Bank! See some highlights from last month's San Gennaro event, and watch Michelle's interview with U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney.
    Watch the Video >

    Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency

    As you finalize plans for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays, are you renting a vacation home? If anything happens to the homeowner's property, or to your own property while staying there, would your homeowners insurance policy cover it?
    Get the Answers from Antalek & Moore >

    Beacon Chamber of Commerce
    Join the Beacon Chamber of Commerce on Sunday, November 5, as they celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Lady Gray Bridal! This is one of the oldest bridal shops in Beacon, and is located next to Key Food. The celebration will take place from noon to 2 pm with a Ribbon Cutting by the Beacon Chamber taking place at 12:30 pm. The Chamber hopes to see you there!

    BeaconArts : Windows on Main (WOMS)

    It's your last chance to see the artwork in the Windows on Main exhibit all over Beacon. The art will come out of the windows in a week, so be sure to read up on which artist is where on the interactive WOMS website. Pictured here is the art by Keith Decent in the reMADE shop, and yes, it will make you want ice cream sandwiches.

    A Little Beacon Space :  Next Pop-Up Shops

    It’s November! That means pop-up shop time at A Little Beacon Blog’s Space! Two great ones are prepping their inventory now... Made and Given on Second Saturday Weekend, Friday through Sunday, 11/10-12, and 50 Roots on the Black Friday Weekend, Friday through Sunday, 11/24-26.

    InHouse Design Media

    InHouse Design Media redesigned The Vault's logo and business cards for their evolving image. Have you picked one up yet? InHouse Design Media is the design arm of A Little Beacon Blog, and can redesign your logo and business cards also. And even your website.
    Learn More >

    Tin Shingle : Live TuneUp Interview

    Join us for our first live interview with Jenn Sullivan, founder of Waddle n Swaddle. We will talk to Jenn about expanding her stores to three locations, managing staff, and life as a business owner with three kids. This event is free, but seating is limited.
    RSVP to info@tinshingle.com if coming in person.
    Register for the online Webinar to watch it online.
    NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
    We know what you're thinking: "I want my business featured here!"
    Pictures shown above are from our advertising partners in the Things To Do In Beacon Guides. We can include your most exciting news here too!

    Click here to learn about ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog.

    Until next week!

    "Kindness Rocks" Project Launches at Beacon's Howland Public Library

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    Published as submitted via Press Release from the Howland Public Library in order to get the word out to you faster...

    A little bit of kindness can go a long way. Young people ages 10 and up are invited to The Howland Public Library on Saturday, November 4, to help spread a little kindness in Beacon and beyond via The Kindness Rocks Project.

    You’ve probably seen them popping up all over the place, brightly painted stones with inspirational words on them. The Kindness Rocks Project began in Cape Cod when the project’s creator, Megan Murphy, began leaving messages on stones for people to find on the beach. Her thought, “Sometimes the right message at the right time can change someone’s entire day, outlook, life.” Since then, The Kindness Rocks Project has spread throughout the country and the world.

    Stop by the library on Saturday from 11 am to noon to paint your own Kindness Rocks to share with the community. No experience needed. All supplies will be provided.

    RSVPs are requested to ensure there are enough supplies and rocks. RSVP by contacting Michelle at community@beaconlibrary.org or (845) 831-1134, x101. The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main St., Beacon, NY. To find out more about programs for tweens and teens at the library, go to www.beaconlibrary.org.

    Dear Drivers on Main Street: No U-Turns Please, and Other Safety Suggestions

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    Dear Wonderful Readers:

    It's time to have a heart-to-heart with ourselves about driving, especially on the narrow streets of Beacon. I know that some of you live in Beacon, some in other river towns, and some in NYC. If you live in NYC and are visiting us up in Beacon, your regular city-driving habits may stick with you when you get here. Namely: driving fast (you have to in NYC, otherwise you'd get get eaten by other cars), making U-Turns in the middle of the street, or swerving around cars who are parallel parking or turning left. The thing is, those driving habits don't work in Beacon, and will cause you to crash into another car. It's time to leave this habit on the curb for no one to pick up.

    If you've migrated to Beacon from NYC, and even if you've lived here for 10+ years, those city tendencies may be ingrained in your brain, and the habit is hard to kick. You may have already had spousal or partner fights about this while taking a hard left out of nowhere in order to snag a parking spot. Does. Not. Work. That. Way. In. Beacon. In Beacon, there are lots of one-way streets heading the opposite way for you to go, and you just need to go down one of those roads in order to get back to where you want to be.

    The U-Turn Epidemic - It's Real

    There's been chatter about the growing number of U-turns. I'd heard it, but figured it was nothing more than disgruntled Road Ragers. Normally I avoid driving on Main Street because it's so narrow, and there are so many ways to have accidents: grazing car doors as people open them before looking, hitting jaywalkers who pop out between parked SUVs, or just having a hard time parallel parking, unless you've got skillz (which I do have, I just don't like to use them unless I really really have to). So I don't see the crazy driving on Main Street much. Until I drove a friend to The Dump last Saturday. A very short cruise down Main Street - about 300 feet - was packed with crazy drivers. There's no other way to put it.

    First there was the guy who was driving west down Main Street, saw the free parking lot on Cliff Street, rubbernecked it, and made a U-turn in Cliff Street in order to veer back east into the parking lot (which was full...so little did he know he would be stuck in that parking lot because it's very narrow and hard to get out of once you're in, if you do not score a parking spot). He was so focused on the parking lot, that he didn't see the two cars behind him who had to hit their brakes, fast. Those two cars had just passed me as I turned right out of Willow Street (already a very hard turn because of the way parked cars hamper visibility), so I almost drove into these cars, who were almost driving into the Party Foul U-Turn guy. (If only Party Foul U-Turn Guy had checked our Parking Guide ahead of time for more lot options...)

    This is only one day after a local store's van did the same thing. So it's safe to say that everyone is doing it.

    Driving Around Parallel Parkers - Not OK or Legal

    Next, after the U-Turn Guy, there was a stream of cars driving east around a Parallel Parker down near Bank Square Coffee. These people had driven into the other lane, oncoming traffic - crossing the double yellow line - in order to get around the Parallel Parker. This, coupled with the sharp bend in the road, when they don't see oncoming cars like mine until it's too late.

    A few months ago, I committed a party foul jaywalk on Main Street in front of the Mountain Scout Survival School storefront. I was almost run over by a car driving around another car who was parallel parking. First off, I shouldn't have been jaywalking, I know, but I did so because the crosswalks by Bank Square and by Hudson Beach Glass feel very unsafe to me. One is at a three-way intersection where not everyone stops while coming off of 9D, and the other is on a major bend in the road. So I had been opting to cross on my own without a crosswalk. Needless to say, I don't do that anymore.

    Bad Idea when someone decides to go around a Parallel Parker, and isn't expecting to see a pedestrian, and almost hits them. Yes, if you're reading this, that was me, and you (and I) were wrong, despite you shouting that you did nothing wrong. I called the Beacon Police this morning to ask about the rules on this and here it is:

    If there is a solid yellow line on your side, then you cannot go around a car who is parallel parking.

    Done. So we all just need a little patience. Use the extra few seconds to look around and spy the latest storefront.

    Going Around Cars Turning Left Into Driveways

    Also a bad idea. If a car in front of you has put their blinker on and slowed down to turn left into a driveway, then you also need to stop until they have turned left. It's common sense, as why would you want to drive into a car who will almost certainly drive into you? But it happens. My street is a bit wider than other streets, and when I slow to turn left into my driveway, it inspires the car behind me to go around me on the left. Just odd.

    Patience. Patience. Patience.

    That is what small towns are for. Slowing down, looking around, and being kind to one another. If you don't, then the cops are likely to come out, and take their time Party Fouling everyone for these silly traffic violations that are so easily avoided. You don't want a ticket. Police have better things to do. The tickets really aren't a revenue generator because just think about the number of tickets you haven't paid. It's just an administrative clog. So slow down, and think it out. And that goes for all of us. Me, you, everyone.

    Beacon's 2017 Kid's Halloween Parade Postponed

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    We were just headed to the attic to find backup costumes that we didn't care about getting ruined in the rain, which has been predicted since Friday for Sunday's Kid's Halloween Parade in Beacon. Then the call came in from the Beacon Chamber of Commerce that the Halloween Parade is officially canceled for this Sunday. Says Beacon Chamber President Rick Brownell: "We know this is a fun event for the kids, and we didn't want it to be ruined by the rain. We are going to work with the City of Beacon and the Police Department to reschedule, hopefully [for] next weekend, but we need to work with them on that."

    For today, Sunday, October 29, 2017, the parade is canceled. A Little Beacon Blog will update here as we get confirmation about a future date.