When you live in the big city, you tend to not think about community banks. You may have heard about the financial benefits of banking with credit unions in financial books you’ve read. However, the concept of a “community bank” is one that shows up mostly in movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” where community banker Jimmy Stewart is saved by his community after years of his independent bank helping people during their own financial challenges.
What what does "community bank" mean in your real life out here in Beacon and the Hudson Valley region? When banking with a community bank like Rhinebeck Bank?
At Rhinebeck Bank, "Your Success Is Our Success"
“Your success is our success.” I’ve heard this statement spoken by the bankers at Rhinebeck Bank. Their involvement in the community through sponsoring events and elevating awareness puts them in the middle of everyday life. Finances of a community bank are directly connected to the people and the businesses in that same community. If a business who has a loan with Rhinebeck Bank fails, then the bank is impacted as well. Big banks that are too big to fail and have branches all over the world don’t feel that loss in quite the same way.
Listening To Customers
Stacey Schindler is the newest branch manager at Rhinebeck Bank’s Beacon Branch, located on 9D just before the Renegades Stadium. “I have been in banking for 21 years and it was always my dream to become a Branch Manager,” says Stacey. “One of the reasons is due to one of my all-time favorite movies, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I LOVE that you referenced it in this article.” (PS: I gave Stacey a sneak peek of this article before going to publication.)
"The connections and relationships that are made with the people in our community and businesses here at Rhinebeck Bank have the same nostalgic feel of that movie. Here at Rhinebeck Bank, we connect with local people and help them realize their dreams through education, active listening, and genuinely caring about helping them find the best financial solutions,” says Stacey.
History Matters
Rhinebeck Bank, one of the only independent banks in the Hudson Valley, opened in 1861 and has made community involvement its top priority ever since. Many of your favorite organizations and businesses do business with Rhinebeck Bank, including The Art Effect (formerly Spark Media Project), and Mill House Brewing Company.
Plugging Into The Community
Dedicated to bringing people together to help business flourish, Rhinebeck Bank has sponsored hundreds of events over the years, working closely with entities including BeaconArts here in Beacon, and municipalities like the City of Poughkeepsie.
“At Rhinebeck Bank, we not only take pride in knowing the value of helping our community, but being a part of that community,” says Rhinebeck Bank’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Michelle Barone-Lepore. “As a good neighbor, that means making a real difference and striving to create a positive impact on as many lives as possible, beyond just writing a check. Rhinebeck Bank has and will continue to always be a part of the fabric of the communities we not only serve, but embed ourselves in.”
Watch Rhinebeck Bank’s Show on TV!
Rhinebeck Bank also produces an interview series, called “Wake Up with Rhinebeck Bank” that features their business clients. Binge-watch it, because you’ll learn all sorts of things about the origins and special business challenges of big and small local businesses around you.
To learn about how Rhinebeck Bank can help you realize your business dreams, schedule a call with Beacon’s Branch Manager, Stacey, at (845) 831-0300, or visit one of Rhinebeck Bank’s many other qualified business bankers.
Rhinebeck Bank, Member FDIC
Rhinebeck Bank is a proud sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like theirs that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of news, local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor or Community Partner, please click here for more information.
Artists and Businesses Merge to Make Main Street the Gallery
On Second Saturday, August 11, Beacon’s 1.5 mile long Main Street becomes a 24-hour, 7-day a week gallery space for the next month! Running through September 8, 2018, site-specific art installations are revealed in 26 Main Street storefront windows taking part in the public art exhibit, Windows on Main Street (WOMS). As you're walking around, do you notice that certain storefront windows are filled with something extra special?
“Artists are paired with local businesses, and together they create a site-specific work of art,” says WOMS 2018 director Diana Currie, who is also a participating artist with a window this year (you may remember her “yarn bombing” work of Beacon’s iconic Dummy Light in 2015, which triggered a public response to the yarn cozy knitted around the Dummy Light for days after the initial setup). Now in its 13th year, WOMS is a project of BeaconArts, the organization dedicated to organizing, promoting and nurturing the city’s multifaceted arts community.
“Windows on Main Street is a fantastic way for local artists - both newcomers and established - to really get more involved in our arts community, and in our community in general,” said Currie.
How to Find the Artists and Windows
A list of this year’s participants, locations, and artist statements can be found at www.windowsonmainstreet.com. Maps of the event are available around town at various locations, including Beacon’s Visitors Center, and participating businesses. You can read about each artist from the Windows on Main Street website when you click on their location. In fact, you should read about the installation "In Memory of Anthony Marra Jr." put on by his sister Catherine E. Marra at Mountain Tops.
The Windows on Main headquarters and “Tiny Windows” exhibit is located at Oak Vino Wine Bar, 389 Main St. Oak Vino and Windows on Main Street will host an opening celebration on August 11, starting at 6 pm. In addition to the “Tiny Windows" exhibit, there will be a live drawing/auction by artist Donna Mikkelsen, a DJ, and complimentary food. Windows on Main Street shirts and totes will also be available for purchase to benefit the project.
Funding Provided By...
This monthlong public art event is a project of BeaconArts, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster and encourage the advancement of the City of Beacon as a center for arts and culture. This means that Windows on Main is supported by BeaconArts' membership income, in addition to any fundraisers and sponsorships that the WOMS team organizes. BeaconArts' Ex-Officio and past president Kelly Ellenwood further explains: "It also means that BeaconArts will always support the event - both financially, and with deeper volunteer commitment."
Windows on Main Street 2018 was also made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a re-grant program of the New York State Council on the Arts (with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature) and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson. Sponsorships are also possible for businesses who want to directly sponsor the event. A Little Beacon Blog is a proud media sponsor!
Look for These Windows
Tag us in photos you see, and use the hashtag #WOMS2018 to light up Instagram with the art and add to that hashtag collection. Here's what we have found so far, courtesy of Instagrammers:
Window: The Chocolate Studio, 494 Main Street Artist: Jan Dolan Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Big Mouth Coffee Roasters, 387 Main Street Artist: Sarah J. Berman Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Vegetalien, 504 Main Street Artist: Kat Stoutenborough Photo Credit: Kat Stoutenborough
Window: Meyer's Olde Dutch (MOD), 184 Main Street Artist: Erica Hauser Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: NFP (New Form Perspective), 504 Main Street Artist: Kristen J. Macauley Photo Credit: Windows on Main
Window: Oak Vino, 389 Main Street Artist: Donna Mikkelsen Photo Credit: BeaconArts
Window: Ella's Bellas, 418 Main Street Artist: Judith Kepner Rose Photo Credit: Judith Kepner Rose Sculpture
Conversations between people have been going something like this:
"Looks like it's going to rain any minute!"
"Oh wait, no it's not. The sun is out, scorching me, let's go get Moo Moo's Ice Cream at the Chocolate Studio!"
Get in car, or hoof on foot and...
"Did we bring an umbrella? It's pouring! Quick, duck into Beacon Bath and Bubble. Oh look! Bath bombs!"
Moral of the story? Despite So. Much. Rain. Just get out there! Let's see what's going on in the neighborhood...
Post-It Note Art Making at Library for Windows on Main
Day: Now through Saturday, August 11, 2018 Time: Regular library hours Location: 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
2nd Annual O+ Poughkeepsie Festival
Days: Friday & Saturday, August 3 & 4, 2018 Time: Kicks off at 6:30 pm Friday; noon to 8:30 pm Saturday Location:View map for locations Information >
LongReach Arts in “NICHES” Opening Reception
Day: Saturday, August 4, 2018 Time: 3 to 5 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Concert: Howland Wolves
Day: Saturday, August 4, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Club Draw Picnic Fundraiser for Ramps at the Skate Park at Memorial Park
Day: Sunday, August 5, 2018 Time: Noon to 7 pm Location: University Settlement Camp, 724 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY
Ramps at Memorial Park Information >
NEW Corn Bread Contest for the 2018 Corn Festival
Get out the recipe card for your best corn bread, because this year, the Beacon Sloop Club is adding a Corn Bread Contest to their highly anticipated Corn Festival! Contest Details Here >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
Do check it during the week - you may have missed the latest learning opportunity, like the iPhone Workshop that was yesterday (Thursday)!
For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
RECENTLY ADDED:
New Theater Dance Classes at Ballet Arts Studio.
There are activities for older kids, like Sketchbook for Teens, which resumes in October at the library, and workshops from Hudson Valley Young Painters.
REGISTRATION OPEN Ballet Intensive Week Dates: Monday to Friday, August 13-17, 2018 Ages/Time/Price: Ages 12+, 10 am to 4 pm, $375 per week
In-studio performance on Friday at 6 pm. During this five-day program, 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 work on Variations, as well as study character dance, dance history, nutrition and injury prevention. The intensive will culminate with a studio performance on Friday. Register: Call (845) 831-1870 or email them info@balletartsstudio.com to register.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
Get the eyes checked before school starts! August is National Eye Exam Month 👀 For the month of August, Luxe Optique is offering FREE comprehensive eye exams for students in kindergarten through high school! Walk-in or visit their website to book an appointment.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light)
The selection of flower girl dresses at Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique is unbelievably adorable. Go inside the shop to see the La Petite Hayley Paige collection. These flower girl dresses are now available to order!
Rhinebeck Bank
When purchasing a new home, there are pros and cons to working with big national banks, and working with local banks. Do your research to see who you're the most comfortable with, and start by calling Rhinebeck Bank. Learn about this home-buying experience >
REAL ESTATE LISTINGS GUIDE
Designed for people who want to get cozy in (or near) Beacon. Shop for homes by picture, or by must-have details, like "Big Yard" or even "3-Car Garage." If a garage is a mandatory requirement for your house search, we made it easy to find. Go Home Shopping >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
When the Big Storm of May 2018 hit the Hudson Valley, bringing down huge trees onto people's homes, agents of Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency were there to represent their clients, pushing for them to get advancement on claims. We interviewed Susan Antalek Pagones to get the full story. Read it here >
BeaconArts Schedule Change Alert!
Starting Saturday, August 4, The G Line bus (the big buses that say Dutchess County on the side of them) will operate an expanded schedule in Beacon, from 5:30 am through 9:15 pm Monday through Saturday, to help people get to different ends of town earlier and later. Another change is, soon, the G Line will be Free for All, and one of the buses will be wrapped in a new bright blue color. We are told that the Free fares on the new G Line will happen in late August or early September. Keep an eye on this space for updates on those changes.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce COMING UP: Tuesday, August 7, 5 to 7 pm
Join the Beacon Chamber of Commerce, along with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, for their joint meeting at Dutchess Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades. Networking will take place from 5 to 7 pm. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. All attendees receive a complimentary ticket to the game that night! The evening is courtesy of Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency. Details & RSVP >
A Little Beacon Space | Private Bookings
Host a client meeting or presentation, or a company retreat from this quiet, private setting located in the middle of Beacon in the historic Telephone Building. Convenient to everything - hotels, train, and parking - you can focus on your day and host in style.
$250 Half Day (up to 4 hours)
$485 Full Day (up to 8 hours) Discount available to those who host quarterly meetings or workshops!
$950 3-Day Pop-Up Shop Package (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
$1,450 3-Day Pop-Up Shop Package with Flyer Design and Distribution Details >
Katie James, Inc. NEW WEBSITE + BRAND LAUNCH: This Spring, Katie James, Inc. helped rebrand the little studio in Cold Spring known as On The Fly, into its new life as Cold Spring Fitness, from private trainer and owner Dawn Scanga. The couture branding project included a new logo, website, business cards, gift cards, and desk-sheets. The website is designed in Squarespace, uses a MailChimp newsletter, and relies heavily on MindBody to manage class signups and subscriptions. Katie James, Inc. was able to work directly with the client to dive deeply into MindBody to make it work much easier for customers. Learn More >
Tin Shingle
Need to get the word out about what you do? Tin Shingle teaches you how to do that using PR, Social Media, and SEO (aka Google). All you need is to think big and free your mind. Tin Shingle can help by giving you the training, empowerment and skills to get this done. Tin Shingle is also owned by A Little Beacon Blog's publisher, and specializes in training and empowerment for business owners, artists and makers. Sign up for their free newsletter >
JOB POSTINGS
Are you looking for great talent in the Hudson Valley? You'll find several hidden gems of people with diverse skill sets in the Hudson Valley. List your job on A Little Beacon Blog and reach our broad audience of readers who are looking for opportunities! Post Your Job >
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, and 1,100 newsletter subscribers. The support from every advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog helps make local news get 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.
Photo Credit: Howland Public Library, used to give an idea of how the wall could look. Pictured is a Giant Robot Post-it Note Art Wall for illustration purposes.
Do drop into the Howland Public Library most anytime, now through Saturday, August 11, to make your piece of Post-It Note Art for the library's Post-It Note Community Art Wall. The Community Art Wall is part of this year's Windows on Main Street public art installation, in which the Howland Public Library is participating. People of all ages are invited to create a Post-It Note sized creation for the Community Art Wall.
Windows on Main Street is an annual exhibition that pairs artists with storefronts along Beacon's Main Street. This year, 26 Main Street businesses are participating, and for the library's exhibit, you're invited to be one of the contributing artists. The exhibit will be up for one month.
A rainbow of sticky notes and a ton of art supplies will be available at the library to inspire you. This is a great impromptu summer activity as you're looking for free things to do in Beacon on Main Street. Please note, the Post-it Note art maker station may not be open during some programs at the library.
The library is located in the middle of Beacon's downtown at 313 Main St., near Glazed Over Donuts.
CORN FESTIVAL When: Sunday, August 12, 2018 Time: Noon to 5 pm Price: Free Ages: Family-friendly
This year, enjoy a new flavor at the Beacon Sloop Club's Corn Festival, down at the Pete and Toshi Seeger Park (Riverfront Park) in Beacon, NY, on Sunday, August 12, 2018 from noon to 5 pm. The event is rain or shine, so pack a poncho just in case!
How To Enter the Corn Bread Contest
1. Anyone can enter. The only rule is that the corn bread must be made from scratch. 2. Prize for first place is $25. 3. To enter, bring your corn bread to the Contest Tent before 2 pm. Bring your corn bread on a dish or plate, along with a card with your name, phone number, and recipe. Besides the name of your recipe, please include the ingredients used. Attach the card to the plate. If you would like your plate returned, please note that on the card. 4. The judging will start about 2:15 pm and consider such aspects as taste, appearance, and texture. 5. Winners will be announced from the tent at 3 pm.
About the Corn Festival
Fresh picked, ready‐to‐eat, local‐grown sweet corn on the cob is the feature of this festival down at Riverfront Park, now known as the Pete and Toshi Seeger Park for their decades of work to improve and protect the Hudson River. Enjoy cold drinks and other summer treats. Environmental displays will be set up, and fun activities for all ages will be available.
The sloop Woody Guthrie will give free public sails (weather permitting), and there will be lots of craft and food vendors. Two solar music stages will feature great sounds. Free admission.
Music on the Main Stage:
April Mae and the June Bugs
Caroline Doctorow
Cosby Gibson
Hank Woji
Spook Handy
The Offshoots
The Roadhouse Roosters.
Music on the Children's Stage:
Bindlestick Bill
Lydia Adams Davis
Miss Vickie
Solar Sound
The Hudson Valley Troubadors
The Quahog Quire
Vendor Opportunities
Those interested in vending can email rmthomas99@yahoo.com or call (845) 463-4660. For more information, check out the Beacon Sloop Club's website - www.beaconsloopclub.org.
When you see the words "insurance agency" or "independent insurance agent," what does that mean to you? Do they sell insurance? Are they the insurance company? No. Independent insurance agents are your personal liaisons, your personal agents of change when it comes to getting what you want and need out of the insurance policy that you buy with the big-name insurance companies, like Progressive, Travelers, and many others. Your local insurance agent knows the distinct differences between each of them. The agents know where a lower price indicates savings, and where it means a dip in quality. They do the homework; you do the living.
We are used to doing things ourselves. But with insurance, we don't have to do it alone. We can have a helping hand. To show you what this means, we asked Susan Antalek Pagones, a Partner at Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency, to give us a few examples of real-life situations where insurance is a must. If all goes well, all you do is pay a policy. But if something happens, you get to know the claims process real quick. Susan enlightens us a bit:
When Insurance Goes From a Quarterly Bill, to a Policy Claim
Susan recalls some of the tougher cases they have handled. “We had an insured family that had a fire and lost the whole house. We met them on the scene on the day after with a large basket filled with everyday essentials we take for granted - shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks - all toiletries you could think of, plus some gift cards to go shopping and to get clothes to put on their backs.”
“Our customers become our family. In the time of need, you always help out family. ”
— Susan Antalek Pagones, Partner, Antalek & Moore
This is the kind of detail and personal touch that continues to draw people to Antalek & Moore. They go above and beyond to stay on top of their insured customers. When Beacon and a good part of the mid-Hudson Valley lost power after the huge storm in May 2018, Antalek & Moore stayed open.
“We stayed open at the office running on jetpacks and laptops. I gave my cell number to any insured customer who wanted it, to call me after-hours with any questions they may have had. We asked adjusters to give our customers advancements on claims. This means that we asked them to cut a check for a certain amount right on the spot so that our customers could start the process of normality."
Antalek & Moore Advocates on Behalf of Their Customers
Susan explains what their mindset is at Antalek & Moore, what drives them to produce the kind of personal service that they provide: "Our customers become our family. In the time of need, you always help out family."
Sometimes problems can arise during claim-submission process after an accident or unexpected incident. Says Susan: "Sometimes the company may not always agree on certain things that should be paid at the time of a claim. We are the voice of the customer if we feel things should be covered, and we get right in there with the insurance company to advocate on behalf of our customer if there is a problem."
Lots of people in the Hudson Valley had major tree and house damage after the big storm in May. "We had a customer that had a HUGE tree fall on their house. The customer had previous plans to go away to visit Texas. We made sure that she did go, as her house was not livable. We worked closely with her son to help get the claim settled. There were many hiccups along the way. I was also on a planned trip, but kept in touch constantly by cell with our customer to help. I am not saying it was smooth sailing trying to get this customer back up and running in their home, but whenever they reached out to us, morning or night, weekday or weekend, we always made sure we were there to help out."
Going Local With Insurance Can Make Life Easier
Whether it's buying a home or starting a small business, you need insurance. With so many options available, shopping for insurance can be overwhelming. A Little Beacon Blog's Managing Editor, Marilyn Perez, used Antalek & Moore when she purchased her condo a year ago and was so happy having established that relationship with a local insurance broker to narrow down the best option for her.
Antalek & Moore is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and this article was created with them as part of our Sponsor Spotlight program. It is with the support of businesses like theirs that A Little Beacon Blog can bring you coverage of news, local happenings and events. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to become a Sponsor or Community Partner, please click here for more information.
New paint job for beBhakti Yoga Center. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Matching marketing cards make it easy to find the business! Photo Credit: beBhakti Yoga Center
Bright colors on the outside of a building pretty much always signify that you'll find something interesting on the inside. Storefronts in any setting, city or town, must compete heavily for the attention of people walking by. That's especially the case when the business is not located on a beaten path, but on a nearby backroad instead. Such is the case for beBhakti Yoga Center, where founder Lauren Magarelli makes it easy to spot beBhakti-backed events and offerings with her signature blue on postcards, and now the building and fence posts! Look for it at 89 DeWindt Street in Beacon, which runs parallel to Main Street.
"There has been a wonderful community response to our yoga offerings, as well as the vibrant color of the logo," Lauren reflected when we reached out to learn about the inspiration for the blue. "We wanted the building to reflect these two positive energies and encapsulate that feeling of warmth and brightness while also being distinguishable. We hope the new paint will catch people's eyes and stir a curiosity to come in." The color was certainly a welcome hue after such a long, dreary winter.
Colorful Buildings in Beacon
beBhakti isn't the only Beacon building painted in vibrant colors. Homespun Foods has long been known for its signature red and orange, and the inside does not disappoint, with an artistic menu board on the wall, and more healthful illustrations throughout. Just down the street from Homespun is Ziatun, which added the color olive and a subtle amount of a bold eggplant purple to its palette when it first opened. And you know how we feel about petunias (thanks, Max's on Main!).
Marketing in a small city/town isn't easy, so using these boldly colorful moves can be a winning strategy, while making Beacon a more visually exciting place to live.
Just follow the blue cards, and you'll get to yoga in the studio or down at Long Dock!
At the request of people visiting Beacon who use A Little Beacon Blog to find out about our area, and with the insistence of local real estate agents, we have been creating a Real Estate 🏡 Listings Guide! Now you can browse for residential homes or commercial properties from the comfort of your reading chair within A Little Beacon Blog!
Special Search Features
Here at A Little Beacon Blog, we learn about the property and highlight our favorite parts to help with your research. We have also added search-friendly filters, like “Old Homes” or “Big Back Yard.” As we get more listings, you may want to start browsing by your favorite features. P.S.: If you're like us, you may experience urges to move into several of these listings - even if you had no prior plans to move!
Open Houses!
Realtors will have the option to list on the website when they are throwing an Open House. There's one today (Sunday, July 29) from Claire Browne at Gate House Realty!
Oh bother, these rain showers. They are just preparing us to be little black rain clouds looking for the honey tree before the upcoming Christopher Robin movie! Speaking of movies, there's a $1 Movie Alert and a $2 Movie Tip below in this newsletter... See if you can find them!
15th Annual Great Newburgh to Beacon Hudson River Swim
Day: Saturday, July 28, 2018 (rain date Sunday, July 29)
A benefit for the River Pool at Beacon, this annual swim is one to aspire to if you want to swim in the river and have people support you! There is still time to support any swimmer in this fundraiser. Their goal is $40,000 and they have raised over $20,000 so far! Help keep the River Pool free and updated for everyone! Information >
BOOK READINGS from Colin Dickey & Jenny Offill Day: Saturday, June 28, 2018 Time: 7 pm Location: Binnacle Books, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
Jensen Artists Hiring an Administrative Assistant
Jensen Artists is dedicated to developing the careers and telling the stories of today's most vibrant classical musicians. They are looking for an Administrative Assistant. Forward this to a friend who might make a great fit. Related Industries: Public Relations (PR), Music Details >
Post Your Job: By request, A Little Beacon Blog is now offering Job Listings! If you have a special job that you want to get in front of a special audience, click here for details on how to list it. We love helping people get hired!
For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Summer 2018 Painting Workshops Days: Monday, July 23; Tuesday, July 24; Wednesday, July 25, and Friday, July 27, 2018 Time: 9 to 11 am or 2 to 4 pm Location Hudson Valley Young Painters, Sebatos Studio, 6 Stewart Ave., Beacon, NY Information >
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
Are these sunglasses? Are they regular glasses that tint when you're outside (aka "transitions")? Who knows!? That's because Luxe Optique can do almost anything with glasses. You can even get a purple or green tint to your glasses. Pictured here are some of the 🔥 hottest frames of summer for Luxe Optique, by @oliverpeoples. Go browse!
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) SAMPLE SALE ALERT! Day: Sample sale from Saturday, July 21, to Saturday, July 28, at the boutique!
There is still time left! Tell your friends right now. Forward this info to them. Come into Beacon, drive to one of the most romantic bridal boutiques in Beacon, and enjoy the day of shopping. Grab a delicious soap or the famous "No Bite Me" Cream from SallyeAnder while you're there!
Rhinebeck Bank
This week we had A Little Beacon Sponsor Sighting of the Rhinebeck Bank branch right across from the $2 Tuesdays movie theater in the Short Hills Mall near Chuck E. Cheese's on our way up to Target in Poughkeepsie! Rhinebeck Bank is a longtime sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog, and a supporter of the arts and so many events here in the Hudson Valley. We are very appreciative! And appreciative of their New England-style landscaping at most branches. Find a Rhinebeck Bank Branch Near You > PS: A $1 Movie Alert has surfaced! Regal is offering the Summer Movie Express - family-friendly movies all summer long on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 am. Get the lineup of which movies are playing here.
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Look for a great article next week on A Little Beacon Blog that highlights what it means to be an independent insurance agent, and why it becomes especially important in a local community. Meanwhile, see all of the insurance-related articles we have produced with Antalek & Moore, including why it's a good idea to have renters insurance for an apartment above a retail store (don't find out the hard way).
BeaconArts
Beginning next Saturday, August 4, 2018, the rebranded Beacon Free Loop public bus will be driving up and down Beacon - from the mountain to the river - dressed in a new blue logo and name! Formerly the G Loop - which not very many people could understand - the bus is now called the FREE Loop! BeaconArts, Dutchess County Transit and the City of Beacon have joined together to transform this bus line into something hopefully everyone will hail when they need it, where they need it, for free. To make going up and down the mile of Beacon's Main Street and beyond to the train easier. We're working on an article to bring you more info. But until then, listen to this Broadway musician sing while taking a free ride on the bus.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce SAVE THE DATE! Tuesday, August 7 from 5 to 7 pm
Join the Beacon Chamber of Commerce along with the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce for their joint meeting at Dutchess Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades! Networking will take place from 5 to 7 pm. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. All attendees receive a complimentary ticket to the game that night! The evening is courtesy of Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency. Details & RSVP >
A Little Beacon Space | Private Bookings
Host your company retreat, workshop, or cocktail party in A Little Beacon Space! Located in the middle of Main Street with plenty of food options at local eateries. Plus, when you book with A Little Beacon Space, you get built-in promotion on A Little Beacon Blog's website. Reserve Your Spot!
Katie James, Inc.
For the latest Squarespace website designed by Katie James, Inc. for TEC Land Surveying, the design team totally repurposed the blogging tool available in Squarespace in order to showcase the many client projects TEC has completed in different specialty fields for their industry. Based on a special need from the client, Katie James, Inc. made each project dynamic so that a picture, link and project title automatically displays in the corresponding section of the website. For example, when the client adds a new completed project like "Bulls Head Road Bridge Replacement" to the Utility Mapping section, the project will be grouped automatically with other Utility Mapping projects and automatically update the page. It's a huge time-saver trick! Take a look at how it works. How can Katie James, Inc., solve your branding needs? >
Tin Shingle
Need to get the word out about what you do? Tin Shingle teaches you how to do that using PR, Social Media, and SEO (aka Google). All you need is to think big and free your mind. Tin Shingle can help by giving you the training, empowerment, and skills to get this done. Tin Shingle is also owned by A Little Beacon Blog's publisher and specializes in training and empowerment for business owners, artists, and makers. Sign up for their free newsletter >
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, and another 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.
Founded in 2007 as Christina Jensen PR, the company expanded in 2015 to include artist management services and was renamed Jensen Artists. Jensen Artists is dedicated to developing the careers and telling the stories of today's most vibrant classical musicians. We are motivated by a desire to illustrate the abundance and appeal of today’s classical music world by sharing our clients’ personalities, creativity, and art with the public.
Job description:
Jensen Artists seeks a career-minded individual with a working knowledge of classical music and the classical music industry to fill an administrative assistant position. Some prior experience working, interning, or completing coursework related to public relations or the classical music industry is preferred for this entry-level position. Attention to detail, promptness, strong organizational skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
Duties include but are not limited to:
• Monitoring press clips and routing to artists, presenters, managers and label representatives
• Preparing press reports
• Posting event listings on a variety of online calendars and websites
• Researching new press contacts and publications
• Updating artists’ individual accounts and concert calendars on a variety of online resources (Spotify, Bands in Town, and others)
• Updating the Jensen Artists website as directed using the Wix platform
• Assembling materials for industry conferences and meetings
• Scheduling meetings and phone calls
• Attending artists’ performances in the New York area
• General office management – mailing, filing, copying, ordering supplies, renewing subscriptions, running errands, etc.
• A variety of tasks as directed
This position is 20 hours per week. The ideal schedule is 10 am to 2 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday working from the Beacon, NY area, and 10 am to 6 pm on Tuesday at Jensen Artists’ Manhattan office. Competitive hourly wage. Position is available in early September 2018.
To apply:
Please send cover letter, résumé, and three writing samples (preferably press releases or pitch letters) to christina@jensenartists.com addressed to Christina Jensen. No phone calls please.
Looking for someone amazing in Beacon or the Hudson Valley to come work for you and make your business that much better? List your job position at A Little Beacon Blog. It will be shared right here as an article, in our Instagram and Facebook feeds, and featured once in our Happening This Weekend newsletter. We'll use this image you see here, and can even put your logo on it!
There are so many talented people in this area. We know, because we've listed jobs here for A Little Beacon Blog, and heard from applicants we had no idea about!
PHOTO CONTEST Submission Deadline: August 1st, 2018 Exhibition Dates: September 8 – October 6th, 2018 Submission Rules & Details >
The Spirit of Beacon Day has been a part of the community since 1977, always held on the last Sunday of September. Over the past year, they have gone through a lot of changes - including a new website! The event is organized and run by a volunteer committee with help and donations by local citizens and businesses, alongside the support of the City of Beacon. The Spirit of Beacon Day is set for Sunday, September 30, with a rain date of Sunday, October 7.
Spirit of Beacon Photography Contest
This year, the Howland Public Library and the Spirit of Beacon Day Committee are looking for photographs that best capture the essence of The Spirit of Beacon. They are looking for images capturing what makes the community so unique. Is it the mountainous backdrop? Our connection to the Hudson River? The historic architecture? The colorful, vibrant, and diverse community? The backyard gardens and/or chickens? What makes Beacon Beacon, in your eye?
How to Enter the Photo Contest
Photographers of ALL ages and skill levels are invited to submit their original photos by the deadline of Wednesday, August 1. Photos should be submitted with a certain format and naming structure. Read more about the submission requirements here.
Selected photos will be displayed in the Community Room Exhibit Space at the Howland Public Library during the month of September as part of the Spirit of Beacon celebration. A reception for the community will be held on (Second) Saturday, September 8.
You can get more details and information on how to register at the library's website.
Are you a local filmmaker? Do you have a short film, documentary, or music video you want to premiere?
New Paltz Shorts is calling all short films that have either been made by a filmmaker who lives in New Paltz, or have been shot in New Paltz, for a night of screenings on Monday, August 20 at the Water Street Market. Come see local films projected on a 40-foot screen, and support the growing talent pool in the Hudson Valley.
There is NO FEE to enter and the deadline is Wednesday, August 1, 2018. You can learn more about this event on their Facebook event page.
Special thanks to The Cinehub for passing along this information. To keep up with what is going on in the film industry within the Hudson Valley, sign up for their newsletter!
You're in the thick of summer here in Beacon! Just because we are already getting pitched for fall-ish events (a Corn Bread Contest may be coming...) doesn't mean that this sunny weather is even close to being over. Enjoy the pools, enjoy the hiking, enjoy the shopping, enjoy the eating.
Family Barbecue - Fundraiser for the Spirit of Beacon Day
Day: Saturday, July 21, 2018 Time: Noon to 4 pm Location: Elks Lodge, 900 Wolcott Ave., Beacon, NY Information >
Live Concert with Hudson Valley Sally
Day: Saturday, July 21, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Hudson Valley Shakespeare at Boscobel House and Gardens
Since 1988, the highly acclaimed Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival has performed under their open-air Theater Tent on Boscobel’s Great Lawn – with Boscobel’s stunning vista of the Hudson River Valley as the backdrop. Bring a bottle of wine or buy a pre-packed picnic from them (our vote!) Just order two days before the show so that they can pack it. Day: Saturday, July 21, "The Heart of Robin Hood" Day: Sunday, July 22, "Richard II" Times: 7:30 pm Information >
Broadway In Beacon - "Kiss Me, Kate"
Day: Sunday, July 22, 2018 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.
Women's Healing Moon Circle - Womb Meditation w/ Cacao Ceremony
Day: Friday, July 20, 2018 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Beacon of Light Wellness Center, 4 S. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information >
One-Day Memoir Workshop with Donna Minkowitz Day: Saturday, July 21, 2018 Time: 2 to 5 pm Location: Email minkowitz46@gmail.com for location. Information >
Picnic Petals with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill
Day: Sunday, July 22, 2018 Time: Noon to 3 pm Level: Intermediate Location:: Beetle & 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, July 20, 2018 Time: 3:30 to 5 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Summer 2018 Painting Workshops Days: Monday to Wednesday, and Friday, July 23-25 and July 27, 2018 Time: 9 to 11 am or 2 to 4 pm Location: Hudson Valley Young Painters, Sebatos Studio, 6 Stewart Ave., Beacon, NY Information >
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
A good pair of sunglasses is a must-have for a weekend getaway. Luxe Optique has the latest trendy designer brands, as well as a few old-trusties you are used to, like these Ray-Bans. Go in, and pick your pair...
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light) SAMPLE SALE ALERT! Day: Weeklong Sample Sale from July 21-28 at the boutique!
Tell your friends right now. Forward this email to them. Come into Beacon, drive to one of the most romantic bridal boutiques in Beacon, and enjoy a full day of shopping. Grab an espresso from Trax while you're there! The coffee shop is right next door.
The Bird and Bottle Inn
1123 Old Albany Post Road (Route 9)
Garrison, NY (in the woods)
Recognize this path? It's the revived side-yard of the Bird and Bottle Inn just off of Route 9 in a quaint and quiet little spot. They have recently re-opened under new management, and are open Wednesday to Sunday. It's a serious meat-and-potatoes kind of place - with steak, burgers, and gnocchi - and Adirondack chairs positioned near a rock landscaped fountain.
Rhinebeck Bank Rhinebeck Bank has been committed to the home-purchasing experience in the Hudson Valley for decades. This happy couple worked with Susan Utter when buying their home and "she calmed the wild mortgage jungles with grace, patience, and expertise, helping us navigate through the financial waters." Read more about buying a home through a local bank here!
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Learn the differences between insurance you purchase for a stand-alone home, and insurance you buy for a condo. Visit Antalek & Moore in their office at 340 Main St. in Beacon, or call them at (845) 831-4300 to learn more.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Beacon Chamber of Commerce wants your business to succeed. Did you know that their leaders volunteer to run the Visitors Center down across from the Beacon Creamery (on South Ave. and Wolcott Ave.), and are happy to accept your business brochures to share with visitors? Join Today >
Keys to Beacon is a community project to promote access to the arts and music for all citizens. Pianos will be installed in public spaces around the City of Beacon. Check out their new website, designed by Beacon local Timothy Delaney.
Tin Shingle FREEBIE ALERT!
Do you know the painter Anna West? She was the star of this week's Tin Shingle Training TuneUp to discuss her strategies for selling her paintings on Instagram. She has so much insight and experience. You can stream it now for free for the next 24 hours. No need to log in or anything. (Best viewed using Firefox.) Go Go Go!
A Little Beacon Space | Private Bookings
Host your company retreat, workshop or cocktail party in A Little Beacon Space! Located in the middle of Main Street with plenty of food options at local eateries. Plus, when you book with A Little Beacon Space, you get built-in promotion on A Little Beacon Blog's website. Reserve Your Spot!
Advertise in A Little Beacon Blog
A Little Beacon Blog receives more than 21,500 hits per month, with over 3,100 followers at Facebook and 2,700 at Instagram, and another 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.
This weekend is Second Saturday, and there is plenty of accessible art for you to walk to and participate in. From a live art performance on 9D (aka Wolcott aka the busy road near Bank Square) to the old Beacon High School, as Ethan Cohen's KuBe comes to life on Verplanck Avenue.
Get your sunscreen and walking hat (and superdope shades from Luxe Optique), and tag us in your photos as you explore!
The Reel Life Film Club presents “Dogtown and Z Boys”
Day: Friday, July 13, 2018 Time: 6 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 377 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Vintage Postcards, Books, & Ephemera Show and Sale
Day: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Time: 11 am to 4 pm Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Building, 413 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Opening on Beacon's Second Saturday
at ETHAN COHEN KuBe
(the old Beacon High School) Day: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Symposium Time: 1:30 to 3:30 pm Opening Reception Time: 4 to 7 pm
Ethan Cohen Fine Arts is pleased to present Yu Han Yu: Force of Nature, The Power of the Brush, a solo exhibition co-curated by Gan Yu and Ethan Cohen. The exhibition will be held at Ethan Cohen Kunsthalle (KuBe) in Beacon, New York from Saturday, July 14 to Sunday, September 2, 2018. A performance by Yu Han Yu and Yin Mei and Sharp Lines, Soft Nature, a symposium about the converging histories of Chinese ink tradition and the trading history of China, will take place on Saturday, July 14. Symposium participants include Boon Hui Tan, Yu Hanyu, Professor Eugene Wang, Yin Mei, Melik Kaylan, Ethan Cohen, Isaac Aden, and Gan Yu. Thank you to KuBe for sponsoring this month's Second Saturday Guide!
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
Wood Type, Chromatic Wood Type and Its History
Day: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Time: 9 to 10 am; 10:30 to 11:30 am Location: No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works, 469 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Bellydance Workshop
Day: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Time: 1 to 5 pm Reserve spot: redmuise@hotmail.com Location Dennings Point Distillery, 10 N. Chestnut St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Tiny Book Show and Workshop
Day: Saturday, July 14, 2018 Time: Noon to 3 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
SIGN UP NOW:
Ballet Intensive Week | Monday to Friday, August 13-17, 2018
In a weeklong intensive taught by former New York City Ballet dancer Miriam Mahdaviani at Ballet Arts Studio, mornings will be devoted to warm-up and technique. In the afternoons, dancers will do pointework 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. Call them today at (845) 831-1870 to save your child's spot. Get Details Here >
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
One of Luxe Optique's recent happy clients, Travie McCoy in his new sabine be eyewear frames. He #gotluxed and raved: "My favorite pair thus far-❤️™️"
Here's the thing - you can #getluxed too. There is a perfect frame waiting for you inside. The question is... Which one will you choose?
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light)
Gowns found in Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique can be customized to each bride, like this one here! Planning several months in advance is a sure way to guarantee you'll be able to pick up the dress in time. Brides need the perfect fit, and will be fitted in the beautiful boutique that is Lambs Hill, at the base of Mount Beacon.
Rhinebeck Bank
This recent episode of "Wake Up with Rhinebeck Bank" features author Randi Zinn, owner of Beyond Mom. Find out the inspiration behind her book "Going Beyond Mom," how to activate your mind, body, and business after having a baby. READ IT!
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Learn the difference between insurance you purchase for a standalone home, and insurance you buy for a condo. Visit Antalek & Moore in their office at 340 Main St. office, or call them at (845) 831-4300 to learn more.
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
The Beacon Chamber of Commerce is printing a Business Guide! This Guide will run for two years and the first printing will be about 5,000 copies. Advertising space is limited, and will be available for Beacon Chamber members first. If you would like to reserve a spot, please send an email to Beaconguide2017@gmail.com This is an 8 1/2 x 11 book in full color. Ad sizes range from Business Card, to quarter- or half-pages, and full page. Join Today >
A Little Beacon Space | Private Bookings
Host your company retreat, workshop or cocktail party in A Little Beacon Space! Located in the middle of Main Street with plenty of food options at local eateries. Plus, when you book with A Little Beacon Space, you get built-in promotion on A Little Beacon Blog's website. Reserve Your Spot!
BeaconArts Days: Saturday and Sunday, July 14 and 15, 2018 Time: 6 pm Location: Bannerman Island, by way of Beacon Dock, 1 Red Flynn Drive
Enjoy this musical production, “1776,” on Bannerman Island at the Bannerman Residence, a stage that is only open for special occasions. The show stars Broadway veterans Craig Schulman and Kelly Ellenwood. Featuring Russell Cusick, Doug DeMarco, Asher Pacht, Fay Gerbes Pacht, Alexander Ullian, and Glen Macken. Adult tickets, $65. Call for reservations: (855) 256-4007
Tin Shingle
Tin Shingle is interviewing 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 >
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 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.
Support for this publication comes in part from these businesses. We have highlighted what makes them special on their own dedicated pages. Want your business listed here? See the "Sponsor Spotlight" or "Event Promotion" option in our Advertising Page.
A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
NEW Corn Bread Contest for the 2018 Corn Festival
Family Barbecue - Fundraiser for the Spirit of Beacon Day
