Spotted New Shop: The Square Foot

Spotted! New store on the east end of Main Street, near the mountain (and in the old Matteawan train station!), The Square Foot! Inside you’ll find jewelry made by Connie Verrusio, designer and store owner, who stocks other “interesting things.” Ask her what’s behind her shop’s name. Hurry, she’s only open on Saturdays and Sundays. This space used to be occupied by Hair Haven, and The Pfotoshop.

Find this shop and more in A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide! Read all about each shop before or after you visit them! Look up in the top navigation, and click the Things To Do In Beacon tab.

Spotted! Pop-Up Shop Within a Shop at Beetle and Fred

Spotted! A Pop-Up Shop, within a shop. Vintage collection from Psychedelic Sunset Vintage and antiques from Majestic Beast Antiques, all inside of the fabric, trimming and tools store Beetle & Fred, on the west end of Main Street going toward the train! A Little Beacon Blog loves spotting unique pop-up shopping experiences in Beacon. See our Things To Do In Beacon Guides for all the shops and eateries!

Happening This Weekend 6/29/2018

It's official! Humidity and Summer have arrived in the Hudson Valley. We have your list of things to do while you're out enjoying the summer days into night. PS: If you need instant access to a backyard pool, you may need to shop Main Street to grab one from the shelves, bring it home, and fill it up for a quick dip. Here's our suggestion. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. “With Love and Light” Benefit Day: Friday, June 29, 2018 Time: 7:30 to 10 pm Location: Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY Information > Cirque de la Lune Day: Friday, June 29, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Beer, Bourbon & Bacon! Day: Saturday, June 30, 2018 Time: 1 to 6 pm Location: Barton Orchards, 63 Appletree Lane, Poughquag, NY Information > Why The LGBTQ+ Center Now? A community conversation Day: Saturday, June 30, 2018 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Black Vanilla, 197 South St., Newburgh, NY Information > Circus @ The Howland & Acrobats Inc. presents “Piccolo Circus” Day: Sunday, July 1, 2018 Time: 2 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Beacon’s 4th of July Fireworks Celebration Day: Sunday, July 1, 2018 Time: 5 pm to dusk Location: Memorial Park, Beacon, NY Food by: Empire Concessions and Poppy’s Fun from: Southwest Entertainment - Bounce fun, games, henna and tattoos. RAMP: Stop by the RAMP tent to learn more about the new skate park coming to Memorial Park! 🎆 Fireworks would not be possible without the fundraising efforts of Beacon Natural Market, and financial support received from the following businesses and individuals. THANK YOU TO: M&T Bank, JonCar Realty, Homespun Foods, Dominic Penzetta, Dogwood, Drink More Good, Hudson Valley Auctioneers, Greg Zabel, Hudson Beach Glass, Artisan Wine Shop, Hudson Valley Brewery, Mobile Gas Station, Quinn's, Quinn's Employees, Keyfood, Antalek & Moore, Mountain Tops, Kitchen Sink Food & Drink, Hudson Valley Zoned, Luxe Optical, Law Office of Dennis Vetrano, Gate House Realty, Kiwanis Club, Roundhouse, Melzingah Tap House, Poppy’s, Beacon Natural Market, and Thundercut Details here > Read the story behind this year's fireworks > Reading of the Declaration of Independence Day: Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Time: 11 am Location: City Hall, 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY Read our article for more details on this event.  Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.   SAVE THE DATE! 2nd Annual Cannonball Run Day: Saturday, July 7, 2018 Time: 9:30 am to noon Location: University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY A Little Beacon Blog is proud to be the Media Sponsor for this event! Click here to get all the details.     Four-Season Vegetable Gardening Workshop with Sarah Simon from Common Ground Farm Day: Saturday, June 30, 2018 Time: 10 am to 11:30 am Location: One Nature Garden Center, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. Registration Open: Tiny Book Show from The Creativity Caravan SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY The Creativity Caravan is coming to Beacon! On Saturday, July 14, Maya Stein and Amy Tingle are hitting the road and bringing their Tiny Book Show and Workshop to the Howland Public Library. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to make their very own miniature books. Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.     Ballet Arts Studio Summer Classes Register For: Ballet Intensive Week Taught by former New York City Ballet dancer Miriam Mahdaviani, mornings will be devoted to warm-up and technique. In the afternoons, dancers will do pointe work and practice Variations, as well as study character dance, dance history, nutrition and injury prevention. The intensive will culminate with a studio performance on Friday. Get Details Here > Thank you to Ballet Arts Studio for sponsoring A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide, where you'll find even more busy-kid ideas!        BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Luxe Optique quickly became known around Beacon as the eyeglasses shop where they'd fit a frame to a person's personality. Meet Cutie Chloe, who found her perfect pair from the summer collection inside the shop now. Stop in to see what you'll discover!   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Oh wow... talk about a tuxedo dress that redefines the heart neckline! The dress and gloves are from Justin Alexander, and are at Lambs Hill now for you to take a look. The clean lines with a vintage touch ensure an hourglass figure. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill.   Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! There are new barbers in town, and we're catching up on all of it. A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Check account balances, locate branches and ATMs, pay bills and so much more on the Rhinebeck Bank Mobile Banking app!  Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Is your deck ready for the summer sun? Checking your deck for possible deterioration and safety hazards can help you enjoy your summertime parties. Find more summer home maintenance tips here. #ThinkSafe. Visit Antalek & Moore in their 340 Main Street office, or call them at 845-831-4300 to learn more.          A Little Beacon Space Will you host your pop-up shop or experience in A Little Beacon Space? We are showing it this Saturday to those interested in booking a date. The space comes with built-in promotion, because we know that pop-up shops need fast buzz! Contact us to set up an appointment > Tin Shingle Tin Shingle is interviewing the Beacon-based painter Anna West to learn how she has been successfully using Instagram for a year to sell her paintings, both here and abroad (learn how she sold two while painting in Florence, Italy). This live broadcast is free, so save your "seat" and watch from home! Register > Katie James, Inc. Well-crafted photos of your art, studio, place of business and staff can make such a difference when you are promoting or selling. Professional photographers from Katie James, Inc. can come to your place of business and take pictures, to showcase your work the way it should be shown - beautifully. See a few photo examples here, and contact us for details and pricing. BeaconArts Enjoy this musical production, “1776,” on Bannerman Island at the Bannerman Residence, a stage experience that is only open for special occasions. The show stars Broadway veterans Craig Schulman and Kelly Ellenwood, and features Russell Cusick, Doug DeMarco, Asher Pacht, Fay Gerbes Pacht, Alexander Ullian, and Glen Macken. Tickets: $65/adult. Call for reservations: 855-256-4007 Beacon Chamber of Commerce Looking to bring people into your location? Host a Beacon Chamber of Commerce meeting. Details Here > Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog A Little Beacon Blog draws more than 21,500 views per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps ensure that local news gets produced. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community. We have designed the most integrated advertising packages in the Hudson Valley to work for your business. Click here to reach our readers > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Backyard Pool for Heat Wave - Blow It Up

Call it a heat wave, or just call it summer in the Humid Hudson Valley. Either way, you're going to need water to dip into. If you are too dazed to get down to the River Pool in the Hudson River, then head to Rite Aid to get this big blowup pool. Adults can fit into it, as well as small mermaids. Mermaid tails aren't included, but you can get an actual one here. Swim for free in your backyard, or in the River Pool.

Be sure to pick up an air pump at Brett's True Value down on West Main Street (on the way to the Metro-North train station). The pump will make it a breeze to inflate the backyard pool!

Get Your Sneakers & Bathing Suit - The 2nd Annual Cannonball Run Fundraiser is July 7, 2018

The Race That Runs The Trails, and Ends IN The Pool!

CANNONBALL RUN
RACE DETAILS
When: Saturday, July 7, 2018
Time: Registration, 9:30 am; first heats start at 10:15 am
Where: The Beacon Pool at the University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY
Donation/Price: $20 for 5K; $5 for 1 Mile

The Beacon Recreation Department is producing their 2nd Annual Cannonball Run, a 5K and 1-mile race through the trails of the University Settlement Camp, located on Wolcott Avenue on your way out of town toward Cold Spring on Saturday, July 7, 2018.

This is a race with an extra splash of fun - you get to start at the Beacon Pool, and end with a jump into the pool. Says Nate Smith, assistant director of the Beacon Recreation Department: "You can walk, stroll, jog, sprint, however you want to participate. We just want you to have fun. Though this is a trail run, so there will be some hills. Just to make it more exciting."

If you don't feel like running, you can still enjoy the event by taking part in a huge raffle. On offer: plenty of prizes from your favorite local businesses, including the Beacon Creamery, Trax Espresso Bar, Meyer's Olde Dutch Food & Such, Artisan Wine Shop, and many others. Bagels are being donated by Beacon Bagel for early registrants, and Sal's Pizza is pitching in a few pizza pies for after the race. The South Avenue PTO Collaborative will be selling ice pops and water. So bring your bathing suit, and be ready for a great Saturday morning.

Fundraiser for the Beacon After School Programs

The run itself is awesome, but the main reason for the event is to raise funds for Beacon's After School Programs, which have been instrumental in hugely improving the public school experience in Beacon. See our article here from when the program first launched in the elementary schools.

If enough money is raised during this event, funding will go toward a new middle-school After School Program - it's the trickle-up effect! Fundraising efforts will help the Beacon Recreation Department secure the funds they need to start that program.

The five-day program, which runs from 3 to 6 pm on school days, started in the elementary schools, allowing enrolled kids to stay at school and engage in different themed activities each day, such as Yoga, Martial Arts, Spanish, and more. Local businesspeople are involved and serve as the instructors. "It has been a win-win for everyone," says Nate.

A Little Beacon Blog is a proud media sponsor of this Cannonball Run, as we have first-hand experience of how wonderful the After School Program is - including instructors, caregivers and programming. We give this event a double-high five!

About The Cannonball Run

Participants have the choice of doing a 5K (just over 3 miles) or a 1-mile trail run. The race begins at the pool and ends IN the pool. Registration begins at 9:30 am and the suggested donation is $20 for the 5K, $5 for the 1-mile. You can also pre-register at the City of Beacon Recreation Department's Facebook Page.

Win Some Of The Best Prizes Around!

There will be prizes for the following categories from the following businesses:

• Fastest 5K Male
• Fastest 5K Female
• Fastest Mile (Male, under 12)
• Fastest Mile (Female, under 12)
• Best Costumes
• Raffles

Sponsoring Businesses:

• Nella Bellas Boutique
• Mountain Tops
• Trax Espresso Bar & Coffee Roasters
• Bank Square Coffeehouse
• Fishkill Farms
• Hudson Valley Renegades
• Beacon Bagel
• Barb's Butchery
• Garrison Art Center
• Beacon Creamery
• Bounce! Trampoline Sports
• beBhakti Yoga
• SHRED Foundation
• BCSD PTO Collaborative
• A Little Beacon Blog
• Beacon Arts & Education Foundation
• Girls Inc.
• Keyfood Beacon
• Meyer's Olde Dutch Food & Such
• Artisan Wine Shop
• Play Toys and Gifts
• Beetle and Fred
• Fishkill Bowl
• Mr. V's Deli
• Sal's Pizza & Pasta

You can RSVP on Facebook here! 

See you there! We are training...

Happening This Weekend 6/22/2018

Happy weekend! Don't you worry about a little drizzle - we know of plenty of places for you to duck inside and maybe even find some cute rain gear. Use our Shopping Guide to get acquainted with Beacon before you head out! PS: Have you seen this cute street sign yet? It's a new one, designed to inspire people to keep walking - heading right down Tioronda, to find the new boutique Wares, or left toward the waterfall and such delights as The Chocolate Studio, which serves Moo Moo's ice cream, all the way around the bend near Fishkill Creek. Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Car Seat Safety Check! Day: Saturday, June 23, 2018 Time: 9 am to 3 pm Location: 1 Arquilla Drive, Beacon, NY Information > Renewable Highlands CCA  - Public Forum Da:y Saturday, June 23, 2018 Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Live Concert - Sleeping Bee Day: Saturday, June 23, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Rhinebeck Craft Festival Days: Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, 2018 Time: Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm Location: Dutchess County Fairgrounds, 6550 Spring Brook Ave. (Route 9), Rhinebeck, NY Information > The Ride for Mental Health Day: Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, 2018 Time: 8:30 to 10 am start times Location: Hasbrouck Park, Mohonk Avenue, New Paltz, NY Information > Hudson River Exchange 6th Annual Summer Market Days: Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, 2018 Time: Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm Location: Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Hudson, NY Information > Family Fun Balancing Day Day: Sundays, June 24, 2018 Time: 1 to 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. SAVE THE DATE! 2nd Annual Cannonball Run Day: Saturday, July 7, 2018 Time: 9:30 am to noon Location: University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY A Little Beacon Blog is proud to be a Sponsor of this event! Click here to get all the details.     Spiritual Development: Understanding Energy Day: Saturday, June 23, 2018 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Riverwinds Gallery, 172 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. Seeking Students for Battle of the Books 2018 Days for Middle School Students: Thursdays, June 28 to August 30 Days for High School Students: FULL! This has started. Time: 5 to 7 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY The Howland Public Library is currently recruiting students to participate in the 14th Annual Middle School Battle of the Books, and students to participate in the 3rd Annual High School Battle of the Books. Information > Registration Open: Tiny Book Show from The Creativity Caravan SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY The Creativity Caravan is coming to Beacon! On Saturday, July 14, Maya Stein and Amy Tingle are hitting the road and bringing their Tiny Book Show and Workshop to the Howland Public Library. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to make their very own miniature books. Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.     Ballet Arts Studio Summer Classes You Don't Want To Miss These! Dance Exploration Week Theater Dance Intensive Week Ballet Intensive Week Ballet Intensive Get Details Here > Thank you to Ballet Arts Studio for sponsoring A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide, where you can find more activity ideas!        BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Still searching for that perfect summer frame? Let's be honest, why would you want just one? Luxe Optique just received more than 200 new designer frames from Anne & Valentin and the selection is stunning. Collectors will be rushing in. Come in to see what the fuss is about.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) The experience of shopping bridal in Beacon is breathtaking! The chic-rustic design of Lambs Hill Bridal will put you and your girls at ease while you try on the gowns. Call (845) 765-2900 to book your appointment! Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill.   Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! There are new barbers in town, and we're catching our readers up on all of the latest places to primp and preen. A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Rhinebeck Bank This just in from a happy Rhinebeck Bank customer, Brian Dewey: "The staff is what makes this bank different than the rest. We love Rhinebeck Bank." Visit any Rhinebeck Bank location to experience the difference for yourself. You can find Beacon's branch on Route 9D near Dutchess Stadium, where the Hudson Valley Renegades just opened their baseball season. Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency What is General Liability? Sometimes things might come up in your home or your business which may not be covered by your other insurance policies - things such as help covering costs for medical fees, attorney fees, or other monetary damages. Insurance can help. Visit Antalek & Moore's office at 340 Main St., Beacon, or call them at (845) 831-4300 to learn more.          A Little Beacon Space The new OPEN sign is in the window of A Little Beacon Space! See the behind-the-scenes of Marcelo Home Improvements installing it. Now, when you host a public event here like a Pop-Up Shop, you’ll get to flick on the lights of the vintage OPEN sign to let people know there is something amazing inside for them to experience! Details About Booking The Space > Tin Shingle Tin Shingle is interviewing a Beacon-based painter, Anna West, to learn how she has been successfully using Instagram for a year to sell her paintings, both here and abroad (learn how she sold two while painting in Florence, Italy). This live broadcast is free, so save your "seat" and watch from home! Register > Katie James, Inc. Photos of your art, studio, place of business and staff can make such a difference when you are promoting or selling. Professional photographers from Katie James, Inc. can come to your place of business to take pictures of these things, to showcase them the way they should be shown - beautifully. See a few photo examples here, and contact us for details and pricing. BeaconArts Your membership with BeaconArts directle benefits the community, providing funding, support and expertise for achieving BeaconArts’ vision and mission. You will be the first to learn about events, exhibit opportunities, member-to-member opportunities, and more. Join Today! > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Beacon Chamber of Commerce praises Beacon Natural Market for fully sponsoring Beacon's fireworks this year! The market has started a donation drive to help them offset the cost, if other Beacon businesses and residents want to give back to the community. See A Little Beacon Blog's article here for details. Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog A Little Beacon Blog snags more than 21,500 views per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps us produce local news. You can be part of making that happen, and get your business in front of the community. We have designed the most integrated advertising packages in the Hudson Valley to work for your business. Click here to reach our readers > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Declaration of Independence Reading on Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Going on its eighth year, a committee of people will be reading the Declaration of Independence at Beacon's City Hall (aka the Municipal Building and police station building off of Wolcott Ave. on your way down to the train station) on Wednesday, July 4, at 11 am.

Dennis Pavlock as Chairperson, will be joined by other committee members including former Beacon Mayor Clara Lou Gould as Vice Chairperson. This is your chance to hear the Declaration of Independence read to you, in the same way that George Washington read it to his troops in July of 1776 while he was out defending New York against the British.

July Fourth was the day that Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, which was signed later by representatives of each state. Have you read the entirety of the Declaration of Independence lately (or ever)? It declares the different reasons that the people who migrated to the United States wanted to dissolve their political relationship with the King of England and his government. You can read it here as a sneak peek to the July Fourth performance.

During his promotion of the event during a Public Comment portion of a City Council meeting, Dennis reiterated that this is not a city-sponsored event: "Not one $0.10," he said. Clara Lou Gould also spoke, encouraging people to attend and know what the Declaration of Independence is, that it is a declaration of government by the people, for the people. She continued to encourage people to call into governments with their suggestions.

There Will Be Cake - And Bagels! - And a Candy Jar

"Get a piece of history, get a piece of cake," encouraged Dennis. Kelly the Cake Lady will be providing cake, and the Beacon Bagel will be providing bagels. Dunkin' Donuts is on board, as is BJs Wholesale Club as a sponsor. There will be two candy jars for kids to guess how much is in each jar. So let them eat cake! And bagels and donuts and candy. It's for a good cause, after all.

BAM!! Beacon's Fireworks Are Happening... But They Almost Didn't

Photo Credit: Betsy Biggar Hellmuth

BEACON'S FIREWORKS
Date: Sunday, July 1, 2018
Location: Memorial Park, Robert Cahill Drive, Beacon, NY
Time: Music starts at 5 pm. Fireworks begin at 9 pm.
Entertainment: There will be live music, and vendors selling food.

"When are Beacon's fireworks this year?"

It's a simple question. One that normally has an answer without a second thought. When annual events or things happen - like hanging baskets of petunias on Main Street - one doesn't normally question how or why they happen, only that they do happen.

So when chatter started about Beacon's fireworks not happening for 2018, ears perked up in disbelief. Rather than accept that Beacon wouldn't have fireworks, Beaconites took it upon themselves to make it happen.

The City of Beacon itself is not involved in the production of most of the annual events scheduled throughout the year. These commemorative and festive events have drawn renewed interest and involvement from community members, though:

The Spirit of Beacon Day Parade almost didn't happen in 2018 when its organizers disbanded (but then it did happen, as new organizers stepped in!). The Memorial Day Parade, which is organized by veterans who live in Beacon, did not happen in 2018, but will return in 2019, as announced by a veteran during last month's Memorial Day service at the Memorial Building. They expressed how humbled they were by the public's strong turnout to this year's ceremony.

Another group of Beacon citizens has organized a reading of the Declaration of Independence set to happen on Wednesday, July 4, at 11 am.

As for Beacon's fireworks show, it's really an event produced by the people of Beacon. There are many involved who are putting together a big fireworks display for 2018. Here's what we know so far:

A Changing of the Guard for Beacon's Fireworks

You may not have realized that historically, the Kiwanis Club of Beacon did the fundraising for the fireworks. Additionally, the organization known as "I Am Beacon" used to play a part in organizing events that began in the afternoon and ran into the night. Sometimes things change, however, and unfortunately, the Kiwanis Club disbanded this year with no clear guideline in place for passing the firework fundraising torch (irresistible pun intended).

Enter LT Sherpa, owner of Beacon Natural Market. He was overcome with shock when he heard that there would be no fireworks in Beacon. "You can't have the Fourth of July without fireworks," he said to himself, and then to me while interviewing him for this story.

Beacon Natural, Verplanck Auto, and Beacon Recreation Department Step Up to Produce Celebration

"I decided that the Beacon Natural Market would offer to sponsor the fireworks," LT continued. "After speaking to the mayor and discovering that the cost was a little more than what the market could do alone, I spearheaded a donation drive from Beacon businesses to hold the fireworks. Beacon has been good to businesses, and I want us to give back.” LT is working with Mark Price, director of Beacon's Recreation Department, who has usually facilitated the production of Beacon's Fourth of July celebration in years past.

DONATING TO THE FIREWORKS
If you would like to donate to the event, please contact LT or Kitty Sherpa:
Call: Beacon Natural Market, (845) 838-1288
Email: beacon348@verizon.net
Donate in person: Beacon Natural Market, 348 Main St., Beacon, NY
Checks: Make payable to the City of Beacon.

No matter what LT and his wife Kitty raise during the donation drive, LT has assured the City that he is writing a check for the full amount of the fireworks. The fireworks will commence on Sunday, July 1, 2018, and there is no rain date.

All donations for the fireworks can be made out to the City of Beacon, and can be dropped off at Beacon Natural Market.

Live Music for Beacon's Fireworks

Some of you know Manny from Verplanck Auto, and some of you have your cars in his lot right now being repaired. Said Manny when being interviewed for this story: "I spoke to Mark Price on a chance meeting about this event. I wanted to help. My son, who will be a high school senior this year, Zack Taylor, has been performing at the Fourth of July celebration for the past three to four years with his band, Seal the Deal."

Manny and LT are working with Mark from the Recreation Department, who is orchestrating the programming for the entire day. "People are coming out of the woodwork to help out," said Manny. "L+J is donating the sound equipment, and many others are donating time and such to the whole process," said Manny.

Musical Lineup Before the Fireworks

The festival will be at Memorial Park on Sunday, July 1. There will be vendors selling food as well as live music. The music starts at 5 pm, and will be done by the time the fireworks begin at 9 pm.

This musical lineup was sent to us by Zack Kotzias, who is known for performing in interesting venues around Beacon:

5-5:30 pm Brian Daniel (R&B)
5:45-6:15 pm Jeremy Torres (Acoustic)
6:30-7 pm Backseat Lover (Rock)
7:15-7:45 pm Seal the Deal (Rock)
8-8:15 pm Tony E (Hip Hop)
8:20-9 pm Decora (Hip Hop)

If you are involved with this year's production or if you have already donated, go ahead and give yourself a shout-out and pat on the back in the Comments below!

Business Donors So Far

M&T Bank, John Car Realty, Homespun, Dominic Penzetta, Dogwood, Drink More Good, Hudson, Valley Auctioneers, Greg Zabel, Hudson Beach Glass, Artisan Wine Store, Hudson Valley Brewery, Mobile Gas Station, Quinns, Quinns Employees, Keyfood, Antalek & Moore, Mountain Tops, Kitchen Sink, Hudson Valley Zoned, Luxe Optical, Law Office of Dennis Vetrano, Gate House Realty, Kiwanis Club, Roundhouse, Melzingah Tap House, Poppy’s, Beacon Natural Market, and Thundercut.

Hanging Baskets of Petunias Have Arrived on Main Street - How They Got There

Quick - what's the prettiest way to tell what season it is in Beacon? Look up, to Main Street's lampposts, and see what's hanging as the seasons change. In the winter, it's wreaths and illuminated stars. In the spring and summer, it's the petunias. But these petunias don't water themselves. And where do they come from, anyway?

The Hanging Petunia Baskets Are A Community Effort

The Tioronda Garden Club pays for the hanging baskets, and Sunny Garden Greenhouses, the nursery north on Route 9D past Stony Kill Farm, makes the hanging baskets. Mayor Randy Casale and former councilperson Sam Way water the baskets in the early morning, and have done so ever since the baskets were removed from the City's budget years ago.

Fundraisers are put on each year by the Tioronda Garden Club for the hanging baskets (we covered it last year), so watch for your chance to help! And just look at the Tioronda Garden Club's new website, with all of their events listed! This is a great way to connect with other gardening enthusiasts. You could even possibly be one of these secret gardeners on Main Street, if you wanted to join the Tioronda Garden Club.

This year, my photo of the petunias is from inside A Little Beacon office at 291 Main Street, in the Telephone Building. I don't recall seeing the hanging baskets last year outside my window, but I'm so happy to see it daily now!

Musical Performance Fundraiser for Robin Testerman at Beacon High School

Photo Credit: Beacon High School

WITH LOVE & LIGHT
Date: Friday, June 29, 2018
Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Beacon High School Seeger Theater
101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY
 Price*: Admission: $10 at the door. Children under 5 are free
*All proceeds benefit Robin Testerman, to help pay mounting medical bills for cancer treatment.

From the desks of Lori LaDue and Anthony Scarrone of Beacon High School:

Song and dance will take the stage at Beacon High School as the extended performing arts community—including John Jay Proscenium Alumni, The Beacon Players, Spackenkill High School’s Spack Onstage, and Beacon Performing Arts Center—pool their talents to benefit local champion of theater Robin Testerman.

With the goal of offsetting Robin’s mounting medical bills due to cancer treatment, the area’s best and brightest present an evening of Broadway hits, including selections from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Footloose, West Side Story, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line, Aida, Jekyll & Hyde, The Little Mermaid,  Phantom of the Opera, and so much more.
 
Special guest Ryan Dutcher, a nationally known illusionist, will provide fast-paced magical entertainment, cutting-edge comedy, and opportunities for audience participation in his mesmerizing act.

Before the show and during intermission, enjoy light refreshments while you browse the silent auction, offering tantalizing experiences and wares. More special appearances may be happening (perhaps a Broadway star or two?) at this can’t-miss musical event of the year.

Watch for Giant Turtles Crossing - What Do They Do On The Other Side?

In last weekend’s edition of the Highlands Current, the reporting was turned on Beacon beat reporter Jeff Simms, who normally writes up Beacon news for the newspaper. His animal-rescue experience landed him front-page treatment. Normally, his own article would be in this spot. Last week, however, he himself was in ink (not the ink on his arm, but on the page).

While riding his bike down Route 9D from Beacon to Cold Spring on his way to the Current's production meeting, Jeff spotted this snapping turtle gradually making his way across the road. According to the article, Jeff pulled his bike over and attempted to encourage the turtle to go faster or move away from the busy road.

May and June is prime time to see snapping turtles, which are one of 11 species native to New York. In the late spring and early summer, they're on the move, laying their eggs in sandy areas or loose soil, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC issued an advisory last year reminding motorists to watch out for migrating turtles, whose populations are declining. "The reptiles lay just one small clutch of eggs each year, which means the loss of a breeding female can have a significant effect on the local turtle population," according to the advisory. Suffice to say, the turtle that Jeff spotted was on a mission and would not be deterred.

But its slow progress left it vulnerable, so Jeff’s next move was to call in the professionals: Mark Price, Beacon’s own director of the parks and recreation department. Together, they moved the turtle by lifting it by either side of its shell, the method DEC recommends if you need to move one (see the DEC's full recommendation on how to move a turtle to safety).

Exciting times for this Tree City! Beacon is an official Tree City, as designated by New York State’s Urban Forestry Program, which “fosters comprehensive planning, management and education throughout New York to create a healthy urban and community forest and enhance quality of life,” as stated in their mission. Spotting snapping turtles is a reminder that we are surrounded by an an ecosystem of fauna and flora, turtles to treetops, and it's good to keep them healthy!

Happening This Weekend 6/15/2018

Happy Father's Day Weekend! Could we have asked for a more perfect weekend for the Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival and strolling down Main Street Beacon? Let's see what else is going on this weekend... Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Circle the Sun, with Rompatom & Imagination Playhouse Day: Friday, June 15, 2018 Time: 6 to 7:30 pm Location: Compass Arts, 211 Fishkill Ave., Beacon, NY Information > Fishkill Farms Strawberry Jammin' Festival Day: Saturday, June 16, 2018 Time: 10 am to 4 pm Location: 9 Fishkill Farm Road, Hopewell Junction, NY Crystal Lake Ribbon Cutting Day: Saturday, June 16, 2018 Time: 10 am to noon Location: Crystal Lake, 100 Temple Ave., Newburgh, NY Information > Coffee & Shop at Wares Day: Saturday, June 16, 2018 Time: 11 am to 4 pm Location: Wares, 2 Tioronda Ave., Beacon, NY Visit our friends at one of Beacon's newest boutiques, Wares, as they host a coffee shop with fellow local Big Mouth Coffee Roasters! Happening at the Wares shop, next to the cool silos. Go explore! Information > Thank you Wares for advertising in A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide! Artists Talk - Circus Day: Saturday, June 16, 2018 Time: 2 to 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival Days: Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17, 2018 Time: 9 am to 9 pm Location: Croton Point Park, 1A Croton Point Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY Information > Kofi & Sankofa - Live Concert Day: Saturday, June 16, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Concert & Record Release Party, “Savoir Faire to Spare” Day: Sunday, June 17, 2018 Time: 5 to 9 pm Location: Quinn’s, 330 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide. Easy Peazy Pajama Pants with Katy Hope Day: Satuday, June 16, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Level: Confident Beginner Location: Beetle and Fred, 171 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. Art & Zine Club Meetup Day: Friday, June 15, 2018 Time: 3:30 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Seeking Students for Battle of the Books 2018 Days for Middle School Students: Thursdays, June 28 through August 30 Days for High School Students: Tuesdays, June 19 through August 14 Time: 5 to 7 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY The Howland Public Library is currently recruiting students to participate in the 14th annual Middle School Battle of the Books, and students to participate in the Third Annual High School Battle of the Books. Information > Registration Open: Tiny Book Show from The Creativity Caravan SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY The Creativity Caravan is coming to Beacon! On Saturday, July 14, Maya Stein and Amy Tingle are hitting the road and bringing their Tiny Book Show and Workshop to the Howland Public Library. Participants will have the opportunity to learn how to make their very own miniature books. Information > For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide. Registration Is Open & Summer Classes Have Started! Dates and age ranges vary, so click here to see what is offered for each week! Weekly themes: Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Theater Dance Technique Pre-Ballet & Lower School I Ballet Beginning Tap Dance Exploration Week Theater Dance Intensive Week Ballet Intensive Week To Register: Call (845) 831-1870 or email info@balletartsstudio.com Thank you to Ballet Arts Studio for sponsoring A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide! View A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide for more ideas! Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide! BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) The frames you see here are are designed by Jacques Marie Mage, and are number 55 of 400 in the world. Yes, that's right. The frames with a signature side shield are a limited edition. Crafted in titanium with a heavy gold plating (higher than a Cartier frame), it’s the ultimate in luxury sunwear with the highest quality of manufacturing and design. Available at Luxe Optique now. BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) This beachy Lillian West gown is perfect for a destination wedding to someplace on the water, or maybe on a boat This gorgeous photo was taken at the Lambs Hill Venue by our friend Alicia King Photo, whose studio you can find next door to Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique down at 1 East Main Street. Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill. The next big update is happening to the Beauty Guide! There are new barbers in town, and we're catching up on all of it. A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Rhinebeck Bank Vote for Rhinebeck Bank in the Times Herald-Record Readers Choice Awards! Find Rhinebeck Bank in the Professional Services category, and then in the "Bank" section. Good luck, Rhinebeck Bank! Place Your Vote > Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency When was the last time you connected with your agent? Has it been at least two years? Two years is a valuable time in establishing a life insurance plan. Have your beneficiaries or life goals changed? Meet with the Antalek & Moore team to find a plan that protects your future. Visit them in their office at 340 Main St., or call them at (845) 831-4300. Tin Shingle Listen to Tin Shingle's next live Training TuneUp, "Digital Marketing as Circuit Training" on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 3 pm EDT. This was first delivered at the East Fishkill Library for SCORE of Dutchess County. This is your chance to get the presentation from your own home or office. Register > Katie James, Inc. Photos of your art, studio, place of business and staff can make such a difference when you are promoting or selling your work. Professional photographers from Katie James Inc. can come to your place of business and take pictures of these things, to showcase them the way they should be shown - beautifully. See a few photo examples here, then contact us for details and pricing. Book your next private or public event or workshop at A Little Beacon Space! We're located in the middle of Main Street in Beacon, with storefront windows and inspiring indoor lighting. Learn more here. BeaconArts Membership in BeaconArts provides funding, support and expertise to help BeaconArts achieve its vision and mission. You will be among the first to learn about events, exhibit opportunities, member-to-member opportunities and more. Join Today! > Beacon Chamber of Commerce The Beacon Chamber of Commerce has been busy with ribbon-cuttings for new businesses in town, like this one with Lucky Cut! Are you a new business, or are you an existing business who just refreshed or launched a new service? Contact them today about scheduling a ribbon-cutting! Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog A Little Beacon Blog receives more than 21,500 views per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps produce local news. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community. We have designed the most integrated advertising packages in the Hudson Valley to work for your business. Click here to reach our readers > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Beacon Booming With Literary Opportunities For Writers and Readers!

Last time we wrote about the literary goings-on in Beacon, we were shocked that there was SO MUCH GOING ON. Just a few months later and THERE’S EVEN MORE HAPPENING. If you are a writer, or you like the company of writers, or you're a reader or listener, our town (and slightly beyond its limits) is absolutely bursting into bloom right now for you.

Readings

The Sunset Reading Series at the Chapel Restoration in Cold Spring features extremely talented and famous writers in an incomparably beautiful venue. On Sunday, June 24, Benjamin Taylor will read, presumably from his new family memoir “The Hue and Cry at Our House.”  

On Wednesday, June 20, Calling All Poets (CAPS) and The Vinyl Room deliver you a super chill event with open mic and spoken word, with vinyl jazz accompaniment. Suggested donation is $3, and BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl). CAPS has loads of other upcoming events to check out as well.

Community

The Howland Library in Beacon has an upcoming Author Talk with Carol Lynn Lustgarten on Thursday, June 14. The poet, author and artist “will read selections from her three books, as well as share her experience in self-publishing. The event will end with a bit of fun, participatory improv that Ms. Lustgarten will do. Her books will be available for sale and signing." Titles include "Stormy Sky," "Who Needs a Boyfriend? Life, Happiness and Other Thoughts," and "I Don't Like Getting Old.” The event is free!

Get Lit Beacon is in full swing and we are eagerly awaiting their next Get Lit Salon at Oak Vino in July. Until then, their blog tides us over with literary-minded interviews and articles by members Flora Stadler and Kristen Holt Browning, among others.

Workshops and Classes

Speaking of Get Lit Beacon, organizer and author Julie Chibbaro is currently offering one-on-on workshops for fiction and creative nonfiction writers.

Poet Ruth Danon has a fantastic and free demonstration class on Wednesday, June 13, focusing on improvisational writing and craft study. By the end of the session you will determine a schedule and make plans for a sequence of six sessions of poetry classes in Beacon, NY. She also offers one-on-one consultations and workshops for poets.

Short on time for a regular thing? Memoir writer Donna Minkowitz is offering a one-day workshop on Saturday, July 21, from 2 to 5 pm, with a price break for local residents. Her weekly workshops will resume in late September.

Bookstores

On Saturday, June 16, Split Rock Books in Cold Spring will open its doors from 10 am to 7 pm to give everyone a peek at what’s been going on behind that newspaper in the windows. Their website describes the bookstore’s mission as: “An independent bookstore carrying a curated selection of new books with a focus on literary fiction and nonfiction, bestsellers, and children’s books. We will also be able to order books by request. Our events will include children's and family programming, book clubs, readings, signings and discussions.”  More bookstores cannot be a bad thing, in our humble opinion. 

You are of course familiar with the stupendous Binnacle Books in Beacon, and their readings and book release parties in their backyard garden, but don’t forget to check back in to see what’s on tap for upcoming events and book club meetings hosted by Denning's Point Distillery. Speaking of the backyard – One Nature Garden Center now boasts a lovely area for kids to hang out, in addition to native plants, and seems like a perfect place to read a new book you may have just bought next door.

Happening This Weekend 6/8/2018

It's here! The Annual 🍓 Strawberry Festival from The Beacon Sloop Club is this Sunday. It will be a nice way to relax and take it easy after buying (or selling) at the citywide Beacon Yard Sale on Saturday. This will be a good weekend to be out in the community, say "Hello!" to your neighbors and enjoy some dry weather! Let's see what else is going on this weekend... Sponsored by Antalek & Moore for car insurance. Beacon's Second Saturday is happening! The galleries are ready to share their art with you, so see A Little Beacon Blog's full walking tour Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide to see which art is in each gallery. We even have when untraditional galleries like churches or shops have dedicated their walls to an artist, so learn about who is where here! Beacon's Citywide Yard Sale Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: 9 am to 3 pm Location: Beacon, NY Information > Clean Water Forum Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: 10 am to noon Location: Cold Spring Dock, corner of Main Street and West Street, Cold Spring, NY Information > Tarot Card Readings with Robert Alvarez Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: Noon to 6:30 pm Location: Notions-N-Potions, 175 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Voxare String Quartet Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 447 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > The Beacon Sloop Club Annual Strawberry Festival Day: Sunday, June 10, 2018 Time: Noon to 5 pm Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, 1 Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY Information > Hudson Valley Hullabaloo Spring Market Day: Saturday & Sunday, June 9 & 10, 2018 Time: Opens 10 am Saturday, 11 am Sunday Location: Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center, 467 Broadway, Kingston, NY Information > Family Dance Party - The Beacon Boulder Project Fundraiser Day: Sunday, June 10, 2018 Time: 3 to 6 pm Location: Quinn’s, 330 Main St., Beacon, NY A new initiative to build a climbing gym at the University Settlement Camp. Construction has already begun, so they are fundraising for Phase 2, which you can learn about here, then boogie on down on Sunday during their fundraiser. Information > Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide. Run the Runway 2M Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: 10:30 am Location: Stormville Airport, 428 Route 216, Stormville, NY Information > Learn about more upcoming races in our 5K Races Guide.   Chalk Paint 101 - The Annie Sloan Method Day: Sunday June 10, 2018 Time: 9 am to noon Location: Knot Too Shabby, 155 Main St., Beacon, NY Information > Native Plants and Their Pollinators with Native Beeology Day: Saturday, June 9, 2018 Time: 10 to 11:30 am Location: One Nature Garden Center, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >  For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide. For a full list of upcoming classes, visit our Kids Classes Guide.   Registration for Ballet Arts Studio Camp is open! Dates and age ranges vary, so click here to see what is offered for each week! The first session starts Monday, June 11, 2018. To register, please call Ballet Arts Studio at (845) 831-1870 or email info@balletartsstudio.com. Choose from these themes: Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Theater Dance Technique Pre-Ballet & Lower School I Ballet Beginning Tap Dance Exploration Week Theater Dance Intensive Week Ballet Intensive Week Thank you to Ballet Arts Studio for sponsoring A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide! View A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide for more ideas!     Thank you to BAJA for sponsoring the Restaurant Guide!     BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END   Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company) Look at this guy in his shades! Those glasses are "transitions," where the lens darkens and lightens on its own in response to light. Ryon of Luxe Optique is holding color samples you can choose from, to design your own transitions. Did you want a green tint, or orange, or classic? Stop in to check out your choices.   BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique 1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light) Lambs Hill was bursting at the seams with excitement when this new gown came in: "Holy Matrimoji! Hayley Paige is in the house! Our first Hayley Paige wedding gown 'Londyn' has arrived!" Thank you to the following shops for sponsoring our Shopping Guide! Wares, Luxe Optique, and Lambs Hill. The next big update is happening to the Beauty Guide! There are new barbers in town, and we're catching up on all of it. A Little Beacon Blog's Beauty Guide! SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR HIGHLIGHTS Rhinebeck Bank Dreaming of a new kitchen? Yeah, we are too. The recipe for a successful remodel is research, and Rhinebeck Bank is sharing theirs with you. Attend their Kitchen Remodeling event on Thursday, June 14, at Page Lumber. This seminar will feature financing options, kitchen trends, and how to hire a contractor - all ingredients needed to avoid stress and make for success! Event Information > Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency The insurance agents at Antalek & Moore want young people to re-think their approach to health insurance. "Some young adults think that health insurance is too expensive to purchase, but they can actually save money by purchasing it. Health insurance acts like a discount program for medical services, so those without insurance pay significantly more for medical services than those with it." Want to learn more? Visit Antalek & Moore in their office at 340 Main St., or call them at (845) 831-4300. Tin Shingle When you're trying to get the media to write about your business, social media can be a great way to get in front of editors who are looking for what you're saying. Do this by using the best hashtags. Tin Shingle keeps a Hashtag Cheat Sheet for members at Community Level 1 and above to access any time! Start a membership online now, and start getting new ideas! Katie James, Inc. Photos of your art, studio, place of business and staff can make such a difference when you are promoting or selling your work. Professional photographers from Katie James, Inc. can come to your place of business and take pictures of these things, to showcase them the way they should be shown - beautifully. Contact us for details and pricing. Book your next private or public event or workshop at A Little Beacon Space! Located in the middle of Main Street in Beacon, our space features storefront windows with inspiring lighting inside. Learn more here. BeaconArts BeaconArts is always trying to get the word out about art in Beacon. Recently, they were at the Dutchess Tourism awards breakfast and were swapping brochures, which list all BeaconArts members on their famous map. Are you on it? Join Today! > Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business friends from inside and outside Beacon are joining Beacon's Chamber of Commerce. Recent member meetings have been at invigorating businesses like the new shop, Wyld Womyn, and and old gem, Max's On Main, with a ribbon-cutting at A Lucky Cut. Are you a member yet? Join in! Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog A Little Beacon Blog draws more than 21,500 views per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, as well as 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps produce local news. You can be part of making it happen, and get your business in front of the community. We have designed the most integrated advertising packages in the Hudson Valley to work for your business. Click here to reach our readers > NEWSLETTER SIGNUP Until next week!

Little Pink Slip Re Water Test On Your Door - Not From the City

You know that little pink slip that was hung on your front door last week, with a little vial in it requesting a water sample? It might surprise you to know it's not from the City of Beacon. It is from a private company called Hudson Valley Water Consultants, who pretty much just want to sell you a water filtration system of some kind. Which, maybe you want a water filtration system! But this has nothing to do with the City of Beacon - just in case you got confused.

Mailings or other distributed materials like this (this one was hand-delivered) often tend to look official, and sometimes are even designed to look like they came from a city or official government agency - like when you get those fake IRS notices or fake Trademark Renewal letters in the mail from attorneys trying to trick you into thinking something is wrong with your trademark.

What - you've never gotten those?

This solicitation was a questionnaire that asked for personal information about your household, including how many children you may have, pets, or if you rent or own your home. Beacon's City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, did announce during a City Council Meeting on June 4, 2018, that the company did legally obtain a Peddler's Permit from the City of Beacon to solicit, but he clarified that it is not a city-sponsored campaign.

"We [the City of Beacon] do testing [of the water], but this is not how we do it," said Anthony during the meeting, letting people know that the little pink slip in the bag with the water vial is nothing city-related and not a test that anyone needs to partake in. Even though the company name is stated on the advertisement, if you skimmed it or just read the parts in bold, you might have gotten the wrong impression.

Which Reminds Us...

Back in late February, some people were going around house-to-house soliciting FIOS for Verizon, trying to sell Internet and Triple Play packages. At that time, Anthony reminded everyone during a February 20, 2018, City Council Meeting that you have the right to be placed on a Do-Not-Knock list, which comes with a sticker for your door! Entities applying for a Peddler's Permit have access to this list and are instructed to respect it.

Said Anthony at that time: "You can call City Hall to be put on the Do-Not-Knock list. They [the peddler] will get the list. The law is on the books. Always ask people knocking door-to-door if they have the Peddler's Permit. Ask to see the permit. If they don't have it, politely close the door and call the police department. Exempt from that law are Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and politicians. If you don't want politicians, put a No Trespassing sign on your door (smiley face)."