This is a job alert for Tin Shingle, a national company that shares an office and a brain with A Little Beacon Blog. It would be really fun to find someone in Beacon for this job, even though it is a work-from-home-or-wherever job. There are a few requirements (like being a strong typer and someone who likes to do deep-dive research), so take a read and see if it’s a fit for you or someone you know!
ABOUT TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle is a training center and community for business owners, artists and makers who are promoting their brands. Tin Shingle puts the power of PR, social media, SEO, eNewsletter and design theory directly into the hands of creators, along with resources they can tap into any time. Crafted by business owners for business owners, Tin Shingle's programming trains people in how to get publicity, how to have sha-zam! social media streams, and how to master newsletter marketing. Tin Shingle offers a subscription membership where people can access different resources to improve their outreach. You can learn about that here.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The person who is the right fit for this assignment loves to dig online, research who‘s writing what in the media, and can’t help but get sparked with article ideas from the research. If you don’t know what an Editorial Calendar is, but you want to learn, that is great.
This Research Assistant position will be hunting and gathering for two of Tin Shingle’s resource databases, made available to our business and artist members who are pitching the media with article and story ideas:. The databases? Editorial Calendars and Media Contacts.
Editorial Calendars: These are PDFs put out by magazines that present what a magazine will be generally about for each issue. It’s a great way to know when a magazine will be doing their Back to School issue, or the big Gear Guide, or The Innovator Issue. The Research Assistant Googles and finds these PDFs online (usually found in Media Kits), or emails sales reps in the advertising department of a magazine to ask for the latest plans. Monthly themes are then typed up by the Research Assistant and imported into Tin Shingle’s database.
Media Contacts: Basic contact information for people who work in magazines, TV, podcasts, radio and blogs are available for Tin Shingle’s members to search through. We start our research in a bigger media database called Meltwater, and then whittle down that list by our own cross-checking research to make sure a person still works there, or works in a different capacity (maybe a top editor moved from a full-time position to a part-time contributing writer at a publication). Job assignments will be to take a deep dive into a media outlet (Vogue) or a subject (Spirituality) to gather or update fresh information.
Please Note: This is a not a free ride into Meltwater for a PR professional looking for contacts for their own clients. This is a research position that involves cross-checking and communication with Tin Shingle’s owner Katie to make sure we are updating people correctly. If you are a PR professional who really wants this gig, you can apply, but know that there are deliverables for each assignment and you won’t be pitching the media for this.
Skill Sets Needed for This Job:
Fast Typer: You will be copying and pasting a lot, and may be re-writing in order for Tin Shingle’s members to get a better read on a person or magazine theme.
Fluid In Social Media: While researching a media contact, you will know how to Google and search to verify where someone is working, and what they tend to write about.
Excel Nerd: Everything we do at Tin Shingle is in Excel. Information you find is typed into Excel spreadsheets, and uploaded into Tin Shingle’s database by you (don’t worry - we have step-by-step directions!). A guide to our systems, to keep track of when a media outlet was updated, is also in Excel in Google Drive so that we can stay coordinated and work together from the same document.
Communicator: You will be working directly with the owner of Tin Shingle, Katie, giving updates on what you are finding, and any questions or judgment calls you have along the way.
Location
This position is work-from-home (or wherever). You can live in Beacon or California or Colorado or Georgia. Tin Shingle does share an office with A Little Beacon Blog on Beacon’s Main Street, but our Open Hours are irregular. So it’s work-from-wherever to start.
TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter and résumé to katie@tinshingle.com addressed to Katie Hellmuth Martin. Email is best - no need to telephone in.
Pumpkins at Sunny 😎 Gardens...always a festive sight on Route 9D on the way to or from Poughkeepsie or Wappingers Falls. The main goal for this visit is to pick up bales of hay for mulching before the winter, to hopefully slow weed growth come spring (it should technically be straw but we’re going the hay route). Two years ago I tried leaf mulch and that produced great soil, but resulted in stray leaves all over the snow.
Keep your eyes peeled for Sunny Gardens’ light-lined rows of Christmas Trees 🌲 in the winter!
Tonight is the night Cat Lovers have been waiting for! It's the annual CATOBEREST held at The Hudson Valley Brewery benefiting Mid Hudson Animal Aid (MHAA), the no-kill cat shelter in Beacon. Along with some of our favorite Harvest Festivals happening this weekend, Fall is definitely in the air!
Catoberfest - Fundraiser for Mid Hudson Animal Aid at Hudson Valley Brewery Day: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 6-10pm Location: Hudson Valley Brewery, 2 Churchill St, Beacon, NY Information >
Catoberfest is in its 7th year, but this may be its last. As described in this Highlands Current article, Mid Hudson Animal Aid is in a "severe financial crisis" and may close their doors next year. If you can't come to the evening, consider donating to their GoFundMe campaign.
Here's what you can expect at Catoberfest: a celebration of foods, refreshments, a raffle with many prizes, and music. Barb's Butchery will serve their famous German style menu all day long along with a great selection of beverages and the Brewery. Hudson Valley Brewery will generously make a donation for every beer sold. Barb's Butchery will donate a portion of each meal sold to Mid Hudson Animal Aid during Catoberfest. Quinn's will kindly be providing dessert with each Fancy Feast meal you purchase (Fancy Feast meals are currently sold out)!
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” Opening Reception
Day: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 5pm Location: Art Centro, 485 Main St, Poughkeepsie, NY
Local Artist Elizabeth Phelps Meyer Connects Hudson Valley to Standing Rock’s Native American Water Protectors. “Each Day, Water” is the umbrella title for series of advocacy events Oct. 2-27 Information >
‘The Unsilent Picture’ at Philipsburg Manor
Day: October 5-7, 2018 Time: 6:15, 7:15, 8:15, and 9:15pm Location: Philipsburg Manor, 381 North Broadway (Route 9), Sleepy Hollow, NY
Historic Hudson Valley commissioned the film, which is based on the Washington Irving short story, “The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture.” The short film explores what happens when a man of science has a brush with the possibility of the supernatural. Information >
Heritage Applefest
Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 (Rain Date October 13) Time: 9am-4pm Location: Boscobel House & Gardens, 1601 Route 9D, Garrison, NY Information >
The Inaugural Catskills Wine & Food Festival
Days: Saturday & Sunday, October 6-7, 2018 Time:View website for event schedule Location: Echo Campgrounds, Bloomingburg, NY Information >
Beacon Historical Society Ghost Tours on Main Street
Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Time: 7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9pm, 9:30pm Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Building, 413 Main Street, Beacon NY Information >
Live Concert: Tani Tabbal Trio
Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Time: 8pm Location: The Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St, Beacon, NY Information >
Harvest Fest 2018 Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Time: 10:00-3:00 pm Location: Stone Barn Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Rd, Pocantico Hills, New York 10591
Beautiful, with very good food. Worth the drive! Information >
Harvest Festival
Days: Saturday-Monday, October 6-9, 2018 Time: 9am-6pm Location: Barton Orchards, 63 Appletree Lane, Poughquag, NY Information >
DiaTalks presents Bonnie Baxter and Jaimi Butler on Robert Smithson
Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Time: 2pm Location: Dia:Beacon, 3 Beekman St, Beacon, NY Free admission on Saturdays and Sundays for City of Beacon residents (including the adjacent Hudson Valley communities of Chelsea, Fishkill, and Glenham). Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
Newburgh-Beacon Bridge 5 Mile Run Day: Sunday, October 7, 2018 Time: 11:00-1:00 pm Location: St. Patrick's School, 156 Broadway, Newburgh, NY Information >
Defensive Driving Course
Day: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Time: 9am to 3pm Location: Faith Temple Church, 22 N. Cedar St, Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Dungeons & Dragons Day: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 3-5pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St, Beacon, NY Information >
Magic: The Gatherine
Day: Friday, October 5, 2018 Time: 4-7pm Location: The Underground Beacon, 462 Main St, Beacon, NY The former location of the boutique Lauren and Riley. Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across the block from Beacon Bread Company)
Look no further than Beacon's Main Street for your next comprehensive eye exam! Luxe Optique has two doctors of Optometry who can evaluate you for a prescription for glasses or contacts. Got a tricky prescription? They can handle it. Walk-in or visit their website to book an appointment.
Jake's Main Street Music Celebrates 5 Years in Beacon
393 Main Street (near Towne Crier Cafe)
You've seen them play at festivals in Beacon and they've played with Pete Seeger many times. In fact, Jake's father, David Bernz is a Grammy-winning producer, having produced an album with some never-before recorded songs from Pete Seeger, "Pete Seeger At 89."
Jake's Main Street Music is celebrating 5 years in business in Beacon starting this weekend for the entire month of October with sales and events. They are having a sale on some new guitars, as well as vintage vinyl. You can also find used instruments in the shop. Don't know how to play, or want to play better? They do offer kids and adults guitar classes as well. Day: Saturday, October 6th Time: 4pm What: Free Guild Workshop. A Guild Guitar presentation with giveaways.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the Dummy Light)
Did not even realize this dress by Lillian West at Lambs Hill Bridal was the same dress, with different colored lining. Color contrast lovers will like the beige to help the lace pop, while purists will love the white on white lace. Which would you pick?
BeaconArts
Another piano spotted! This one debuted in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade and landed in front of Town Hall, in the Municipal Building where the City Council, Zoning Board and Planning Boards have their meetings. Artist Donna Mikkelsen is responsible for the artwork on this piano, which is a part of the larger project, Keys to Beacon.
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency Antalek & Moore Recommends This Guide: "A guide to organizing a family meeting to create a caregiving plan, avoid family disagreements, handle a medical crisis and agree on caregiver roles." Get the Guidance >
Rhinebeck Bank | Fall Home-Buying Tips Year-End Tax Credits*
We've got a fall home-buying tip from Rhinebeck Bank! "Even if a home owner closes on the last day of the year, they may be able to apply the property taxes paid on a home purchase to offset income for the year. This could have a positive effect on homeowners come tax season of the following year." *Please consult your tax advisor regarding your property tax credit eligibility.
Rhinebeck Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. More Information >
Spooktacular Halloween Pop-Up Shop - Next Weekend!
It's getting closer! The Hudson Valley’s Queen of Halloween is flying in on her broomstick to take over A Little Beacon Space with her first Halloween Pop-Up Shopping Experience. You may have read about Donna Davies, last year in the Poughkeepsie Journal.
Tin Shingle, based in Beacon, NY, is a training center and community for business owners, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business. Training TuneUp classes available online to learn tricks of the trade and get inspired anytime. Learn More >
Katie James, Inc.
Looking for ideas of what to take pictures of to brand your business in Instagram? The designers at Katie James, Inc. can help you see the beauty that is all around you - and the little details that will make a big impact on your future or current customers. Applies to both service providers and retail with product. Learn More >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
Joining the Beacon Chamber of Commerce is a great way to show support for the business community. Learn More >
Advertise With A Little Beacon Blog
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 in a meaningful way.
Meet Allie Bopp. She’s a graphic designer behind some of A Little Beacon Blog’s designs, and sometimes is Event Space Manager when our office in the Telephone Building is rented for a pop-up shop.
I first discovered Allie Bopp in a Beacon bus stop on Main Street. A new babysitter had canceled on me - a second time in a row! - and I was down in the dumps about it because I was supposed to teach a class for Tin Shingle and couldn’t make it. So my kids and I took a walk, and they had always wanted to sit in the bus stop just to sit. So we sat. Taped to the glass, behind my head, was a flyer with the cutest designs. It was black with rainbow fireworks or stars all over, advertising for a babysitter. I took the number and called. Was I crazy? Calling a random phone number from a bus stop? Turned out, it was Allie Bopp, from Wappingers (she’s a Beaconite now). You can see her work at her website, and she also does work for me at my design shop, Katie James, Inc.
Allie is amazing and in addition to staffing A Little Beacon Blog’s table while I marched in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade with South Avenue Elementary, she rocked ALBB’s table by setting it up with our new totes (!!!) and meeting the wonderfully different people who wander up to the table to ask questions and sign up for the newsletter.
Pictured above is her boyfriend, posing as a signer-upper. (I’m told he really did sign up!) The best question we got of the day was: “Are you going to keep covering the storms?” When we did the story on the macrobursts, it made quite an impression on someone who really wanted more information on the local weather and its aftermath. That meant a lot! We are going to try. When there are big repercussions from big weather events, we do try to produce an article for it to help get information out.
During the research for that article, we became aware of some great sources for confirmations of weather events, so we’ll pursue those when something happens. Great sources found at the time included Hudson Valley Weather’s Facebook and Central Hudson’s Twitter. You can always email pictures of damage or something incredible to Editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.
The mums at our table were from Key Food next door, purchased that morning for about $5 each! A passerby told us that we could plant them in the ground and they’d come back for years if we cut them back at the end of each fall. Will try!
If you missed this event last year, you have another chance to enter your kid to win a ride in a fire truck! Each $5 ticket into Rombout’s Raffle helps raise money for the eighth-grade Washington DC trip. This raffle’s grand prize is a ride to school in a fire truck driven by the City of Beacon Fire Department and Slater Chemical Fire Company. Your child could be picked up at home - in a fire truck - and driven to school!
One kid from each of the four elementary schools in the Beacon City School District (South Avenue, Glenham, J. V. Forrestal and Sargent) will be selected as winners. Flyers went home in the little kids’ folders, so fill those out and send in money with your tickets - $5 per ticket or 3 tickets for $10! There is no limit to how many tickets you can buy.
If you want to buy several raffle tickets and need to print more raffle forms/tickets, you can print out the raffle form tickets here and keep sending them in, just in case riding to school in a fire truck sounds TOO COOL and you really want to increase your chances.
This is a highlight from A Little Beacon Blog’s School Opportunities Guide. There are more special events listed there, plus ways you can effortlessly donate to one of the schools in our district, through glass bottle collection, box tops, and other easy ways.
Everyone has their first Spirit of Beacon Day experience. If you moved here recently and didn’t know about it before, you may have woken up on Sunday morning to a lot of excited commotion, with a frenzy of people setting up tables and coordinating with one another on Main Street.
The Spirit of Beacon Day is one of the biggest efforts put on by the people of Beacon to strengthen the community of Beacon. If you just moved here from another place that didn’t really have a strong sense of community, then this feeling might be new for you, and you will most likely love it. The spell of the community is part of what you felt when you visited Beacon for the first time, and fell so unexpectedly in love with it.
Pictures of the Spirit of Beacon Day are below. But first, a brief history for those who have newly moved here or are newly interested in Beacon -because I hear the FAQs, and “What is the Spirit of Beacon Day” is an FAQ I hear often!
What Is The Spirit of Beacon Day?
The Spirit of Beacon Day festivities started in Beacon in 1977 as a call to mend a broken relationship between the youth of Beacon, and the schools and surrounding community. Well documented by the Beacon Historical Society’s book titled "Celebrating Our Centennial," in the winter and early spring of 1977, "racial problems became severe" for several days and nights. City leaders decided to meet several times to discuss the issues that were causing unrest. Organizers included a representative from the FBI's Community Relations office, Dutchess County Youth Bureau, then-Mayor Robert Cahill, local legislators, City Council, local churches, and representatives from youth-focused organizations like Beacon City School District, the Howland Public Library, the Beacon Community Center, and others.
It was decided that there would be a Community Day aimed at bringing the people of the city together in order to "get to know one another better, learn what each other liked, [via] conversation, feelings, entertainment, education and food." And so the Spirit of Beacon Day was born. Here are some pictures from over the years.
2018 Marked a New Year for Spirit of Beacon Day
This is an event put on by the people, and not an official sponsored City of Beacon event. The organizers usually were behind the scenes, sought very little recognition, and for the most part, the majority of Beaconites didn’t know who they were. That is, until the longtime organizers decided to retire from the role in 2017 (don’t worry - they didn’t really retire).
This prompted a new group to say: “Wait! What? No! The Spirit must go on! We will help!” And so the Spirit of Beacon Day has continued, under new leadership, with the help of the former leaders. The Spirit of Beacon Day has a new website to help get the word out, new megaphones, and new T-shirts to help people know what’s going on during the day. This year, the motto on the T-shirts was: “Without Unity There Is No Community!”
Your Spirit of Beacon Day 2018 In Pictures
There are so many photographable moments. Here are a few we found or captured. As for the schools, the PTA/PTO/PTSO is usually behind the production of designing and building each school’s parade contribution. It’s a challenging job to come back to, just after summer break - to dive into a big float-making project! But they do it each year (I’ve been a part of it for the past two years with South Avenue).
South Avenue Elementary School
Representing the parade theme of “Celebrating Unity” by celebrating our differences and beauty in the the moments when we become one, together, despite our differences. The Hudson River flows in two opposite directions, yet is one river. The fish and other wildlife make up one ecosystem, just as we do in Beacon!
These cutie pies from J. V. Forrestal Elementary all got together on Family Fun Nights at the school to make an underwater world, full of jellyfish and flowing lace.
The kids of Glenham Elementary drew their pictures, cut out their handprints, and hung them together to symbolize togetherness rooted in the world.
Walking down Main Street after the parade, the street was alive with options. The Spirit of Beacon Day is the perfect opportunity to learn more about the various community organizations, so you and/or your kids can get involved.
Let’s take a look at a few scenes from the day!
The Beacon Players, which is the theatre club of the Beacon High School. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Highlands Current, a local newspaper based in Cold Spring that is devoted to covering Beacon as well. Beacon beat reporter Jeff Simms usually writes the Beacon articles and this day is representing at the newspaper’s table. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Beacon Historical Society. Without them, we wouldn’t know the many iterations of what Beacon’s community has been like, as it changes over generations as different people migrate to and from here, from all over. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Beacon Fire Department. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Beacon Police Department. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Beacon Elks Club. It’s that brick building on Wolcott Ave. that Frequently offers line dancing and car shows!
The Mt. Beacon Eight. A group dedicated to sharing the story of the eight veterans who died when their plane crashed into Mt. Beacon, after they had survived many war battles. A Little Beacon Blog wrote about them here.
Animal Rescue Foundation, located along the Fishkill Creek, off of Wolcott avenue as you head out of town. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The Salvation Army, located near Beacon Pantry. Photo Credit: The Salvation Army Beacon
The Sisters of Strength S.O.S. They are an outreach ministry affiliated with the Springfield Baptist Church, making a difference for other organizations like the Salvation Army Beacon and others.
Main Street is aflutter with people setting up for Spirit of Beacon Day! The official theme of this year is “Celebrating Unity!” Official parade volunteers are wearing white shirts that celebrate unity and community.
Here are two South Avenue Elementary PTA moms, Ryan and Juliet (Juliet owns Beacon Pilates) picking up balloons 🎈 for the South Ave. marchers. The balloons are by the wonderful Junko at Flowers and Gifts, near All You Knead bakery (who is open and smells delicious!) . 🙌🙌
Disclaimer: I’m with them! I was part of this year’s float-making with the kids and parents. Look for so many other floats and presentations from other Beacon schools and local organizations.
J. V. Forrestal Elementary is having a water theme with little fishies - look for jellyfish or anything constructed with individual wagons. The kids got together on Family Fun Nights to unite in their creativity.
More pictures will be added here during the day, so keep checking back and refreshing this page!
We’re setting up the spooky lights in the office ... After seeing orange, purple and pink Halloween 🎃 lights going up already on front porches of Beacon, we had to join in the spooky spirit!
Usually Home Depot has the glorious spread of Halloween yard decorations, but this year, Rite Aid in Beacon has enough choices on the shelves to do in a pinch. Brett’s Hardware, down on West Main, has the mums (flowers, not mummies!) and some other colored lights.
This year’s table experience is going to be a little different. For the first time, Main Street businesses are allowed to have a table. Normally the vendor opportunity was reserved for nonprofits, since the genesis of Spirit of Beacon Day was rooted in community organizations and schools coming together to create dialogue and improve relations.
A Little Beacon Blog has a table near our office at 291 Main Street. Come by and say “Hi!” We will be handing out stickers, and selling our first-ever tote bag for $25. We will donate $5 of every bag sold to ARF and the Beacon Historical Society. These two organizations are participating orgs in this year’s Spirit of Beacon Day. Without the Beacon Historical Society, we would not know as much as we do about the many iterations of Beacon. ARF matches homeless dogs and cats with their furever human families. We have 100 totes. So that could be pretty good!
But first, I’ll be marching with South Avenue Elementary in the parade, as I helped out with making the float.
Our first listing in Newburgh! Realtor Sarah Beckham Hooff reached out to us to share some very creative listings. For the past few years, people and businesses have been relocating to Newburgh after finding commercial or residential properties to fix up. This multi-or-single family home is $159,900 and has lots of original detail to play with, like tin ceilings.
If you are an organizer of a float or presentation that is participating in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade, we would like to hear from you about the meaning of your float in keeping with this year's theme. If you would like to provide a statement about how your organization is showing how it is "Celebrating Unity," please email your statement to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.
Congratulations on making it through September! One of Beacon’s biggest events is Sunday, so get ready to fill yourself with Beacon spirit. The kids and parents of the Beacon City Schools, as well as many nonprofit organizations which you can see here have been working hard to present their interpretations of this year’s parade theme: “Celebrating Unity.”
SEEKING STATEMENTS FOR ARTICLE:
If you are an organizer of a float or presentation that is participating in the Spirit of Beacon Day Parade, we would like to hear from you about the meaning of your float in keeping with this year's theme. If you would like to provide a statement about how your organization is showing how it is "Celebrating Unity," please email your statement to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com.
September is wrapping up with a bang, with popular yearly events like the Spirit of Beacon Day, the Garlic Festival in Saugerties, and the I Run Beacon 5K Run/Walk - there may still be time to sign up for the run, so get there early!
L. Nichols' “FLOCKS” Reading and Signing
Day: Friday, September 28, 2018 Time: 7 pm Location: Binnacle Books, 321 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
Days: Saturday & Sunday, September 29-30, 2018 Time: 10 am to 5 pm Location: Cantine Field, Washington Ave. Extension, Saugerties, NY Photo Credit: From the Kiwanis Club of Saugerties website Information >
Dances of Universal Peace
Day: Saturday, September 29, 2018 Time: 10 am to 11:30 am Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Story Slam at the Beacon Sukkah Day: Saturday, September 29, 2018 Time: 7 to 9 pm Location: Polhill Park, at the intersection of Main Street and Route 9D, Beacon, NY Information >
Live Concert: The Fred Zepplin Band
Day: Saturday, September 29, 2018 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Spirit of Beacon Day Day: Sunday, September 30, 2018 (always the last Sunday in September) Overall Time: Noon, info tables open Parade Time: 1 pm, the Parade starts Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY
This highly anticipated parade celebrates Beacon and its community. The theme this year is "Celebrating Unity." Parade route is from River to Mountain: starting at City Hall (the end of Main Street on Route 9D), to Tioronda Avenue (Howland Cultural Center). The event runs until 4 pm, with music and food from different organizations. Walking the length of Main Street is a great way to learn about the variety of activities and groups Beacon has to offer. Look for A Little Beacon Blog's booth at this year's Spirit of Beacon Day and say "Hello!" Our location is in front of our office at 291 Main Street. We got stickers and totes! Information >
Howland Chamber Music Circle presents Telegraph Quartet with James Austin Smith Day: Sunday, September 30, 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.
I RUN BEACON 5K Run/Walk
Day: Sunday, September 30, 2018 Time: Last-call registration, 8 am; race, 9 am Location: Memorial Park, Beacon, NY Information >
Meanwhile, during the week...
Be sure to check the Classes for Adults Guide for opportunities mid-week!
Make & Take Workshop
Day: Friday, September 28, 2018 Time: 6 to 8 pm Location: Knot Too Shabby, 155 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Beginning this week at COMPASS ARTS - 395 Main St., Beacon, NY
Studio Art I: Foundational Skills with Kathy Moss
Grades:2nd-5th Days: Wednesdays, October 3-December 5, 2018 (no class 10/31 & 11/21) Time: 4 to 5:15 pm
Studio Art II: Drawing into Painting with Kathy Moss
Grades: 6th-12th Days: Wednesdays, October 3-December 5, 2018 (no class 10/31 and 11/21) Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Luxe Optique 183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across Cliff Street from Beacon Bread Company)
It’s the last week of September and that means it’s the last chance for FREE comprehensive eye exams for kids in grades K-12! Luxe Optique has one of the best vision centers around, so you can feel assured that your children's eyes are getting well-tested for their prescription. Walk in, or visit Luxe Optique's website to book an appointment.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light)
Colors are going deep this fall, and Lambs Hill has the selection. This wine-colored dress pairs well with yellow Black-Eyed Susans, which bloom in September. Come in to the shop to see the open-back detailing on this Hayley Paige gown.
Our first listing in Newburgh! Realtor Sarah Beckham Hooff reached out with very creative listings she has. Over the past few years, there's been a trend of people and businesses relocating to Newburgh, with an eye on commercial or residential properties to fix up. This multi- or single-family home is $159,900 and has lots of original details to play with, like tin ceilings. Pictures and Our Favorite Parts >
BeaconArts
Found it! The tiniest piano in the outdoor public art experience, Keys to Beacon. This piano is from Miss Vickie's Music and is outside of the Towne Crier. Have you spotted any pianos? Take a pic and tag us in Instagram! @alittlebeacon and @keystobeacon
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
According to the independent insurance agents at Antalek & Moore, if you have a condo in Beacon, you'll need personal insurance for it. Even though it is your home, homeowners insurance is insufficient. Therefore, you may think that you need a renters insurance policy - but unfortunately that would leave coverage gaps as well, despite some similarities. Let Antalek & Moore break it down for you. Get the Scoop >
Rhinebeck Bank | Back to School Tips
In collaboration with Guardian Self Storage and Dutchess Outreach, Rhinebeck Bank will once again be participating in this year's Susan DeKeukelaere Memorial Coat Drive. During October, adult and children’s winter coats and jackets that are clean and in good condition can be dropped off at any Rhinebeck Bank location. The Beacon Branch is on Route 9D, across from the Dollar General and Vogel Pharmacy near Dutchess Stadium.
A Little Beacon Space can be booked for public or private events. It's perfect for a photo session, work retreat, a workshop you are hosting, or even a client presentation. See our Schedule of Upcoming Events, and consider having yours here! Details >
Tin Shingle, based in Beacon, NY, is a training center and community for business owners, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business. Training TuneUp classes are available online to learn tricks of the trade. Get inspired anytime with these videos at your fingertips! Learn More >
Katie James, Inc.
Looking for ideas of what to take pictures of to brand your business on Instagram? The designers at Katie James, Inc. can help you see the beauty that is all around you - and the little details that will make a big impact on your future or current customers. Applies to both service providers and retailers with products to move. Learn More >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce
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Vogel Pharmacy relocates to 1475 NY-9D, in between Leo’s and the Dollar General, after the building housing its longtime Beacon location was sold to new owners. Pictured above is owner Anthony Valicenti waving from behind his new counter, and a staff member Audra. Photo Credits: Katie Hellmuth Martin
The former location of longtime Beacon business Vogel Pharmacy, on Main Street in Beacon, NY. Vogel has since moved 10 minutes away to the plaza across from Dutchess Stadium, 1475 NY-9D, now serving old and new customers. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
In what is quickly becoming a new series on this blog - perhaps we’ll call it something like “Where did that shop go?” - we’ve been following which Beacon shops are moving where. They are often swapping ends of Main Street, or moving slightly off of Main Street.
We tracked down Vogel Pharmacy, owned by Anthony Valicent. For months, the pharmacy was in the process of moving from its longtime location at 234 Main Street (in the middle of Main Street near Homespun) after the building containing the storefront space they leased was purchased by new owners.
We are longtime customers of Vogel, preferring to get prescriptions filled with a local pharmacy that has deep roots in the community. Not to say we don’t high-five our friends who work at Rite Aid (love that nail polish bar and greeting card section … and remember that time Rite Aid got a total makeover and sliding front doors?), but having a local pharmacy keeps it real.
So Why Did Vogel Leave Downtown Beacon?
The building at 234 Main Street that housed Vogel Pharmacy was for sale earlier this year. Anthony told us that he considered buying it, but knew the building well, and knew it was in bad shape. When the building did sell to new owners, they had other plans for it that did not include it being occupied for the next bit.
Vogel Pharmacy had been in downtown Beacon for decades. Vogel was one of our “Where Is This?” contest locations when we featured their vintage wall with the original beaker wallpaper. Anthony had worked for Vogel when he was an up and coming pharmacist, and for last 16 years has owned Vogel Pharmacy himself.
The New Vogel - Is The Same! With Gobs More Parking!
VOGEL’S CONTACT INFO: 1475 NY-9D Wappingers Falls by 12590 Same Phone Number: 845-831-3784 If you call after hours and don’t hear a voice mail, don’t worry. Simply call during their Open hours.
Silver linings are everywhere in this relocation story. For starters, the parking. Vogel serves everyone including the elderly, veterans, kids, and irregular cold and flu patients. The downtown Beacon Main Street location did not have much parking, and walking there has become even more difficult, now that the building is dwarfed by scaffolding to the right of it, and directly across the street, as two multistory buildings are built from the ground up. Homespun has had to put up a sidewalk sign at the end of the block encouraging people to keep walking through the scaffolding to find them.
Now when you drive to Vogel in their new location, you have sooooo much parking. You need a disabled spot? You got it! Is Leo’s busy that night? Is there a sale on detergent at the Dollar General? No problem! There is parking in the back of Vogel or on the other side of the VIP front row parking spots. Already, new customers who live in the area are coming in, thankful for the new pharmacy.
Everything Is Just As It Was At The Old Vogel - Kids Toys, Vaporizers, Eye-Glasses Donation Box
Inside of Vogel, the aisles are just as they were, and the phone number is the same. Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Don’t worry, all of your old favorites at Vogel are still there. Even Vogel’s phone number is the same. The Melissa & Doug toys (that are so often marked down) that you can buy your kids when they come with you to pick up a prescription. The eye-glasses donation box. The magazines. Vogel is where I get my monthly issues of Family Circle and Better Homes & Gardens, conveniently placed right next to the cash register, under the Blow Pops.
Anthony waves from his new perch while filling prescriptions.
Anthony himself is there as usual at the end of the aisles, either filling prescriptions or on the phone. The famous Rx sign hangs outside on Vogel’s new brick wall, just as it did at the other location.
I don’t mind driving down 9D. I look forward to it when I visit Stony Kill Farm, and I even drive my car payment to Rhinebeck Bank’s Beacon Branch - by choice.
Vogel isn’t the only Beacon business I’ve followed after they relocated. I followed my hair dresser Josh Boos to Newburgh from the Green Room (the salon near the mountain across from The Roundhouse). His new digs are in The Atlas Building in Newburgh so that he can manufacture his hair color organizer invention. So cool over there! I’ll be one of the voices encouraging the Newburgh/Beacon Ferry to ramp up its schedule, because it’s going to need to with all of this spread.
Look for Vogel at the Spirit of Beacon Day!
Vogel got a table this year at the Spirit of Beacon Day, so go say hi! This is the first year the Spirit of Beacon folks considered allowing businesses to have vendor tables (traditionally, only nonprofit organizations had tables). Regardless, Vogel’s move is so big, they probably would have been approved for a table anyway.
Congratulations to Anthony and his staff for making the move and making it through uncomfortable times in a business transition. The new location really does come with perks, and I’ll enjoy filling my family’s prescriptions there.
The fashion pop-up with friendly thrifty prices is open in A Little Beacon Space! Find fashion labels you know like Elie Tahari, Line & Dot, and ark & co. Some labels you may not know (yet) because they were purchased overseas in Japan and Germany. There is a range of dresses, skirts, shirts and jackets. Mainly small sizes are left. But you never know!
Prices start at $5 and go to $50 (with exceptions for Prada heels and a D&G bag at $100). It's a two-day only sale on Saturday and Sunday, so come in! 291 Main Street, Beacon, NY, in the Telephone Building.
Handbags and accessories are in the shop as well. Are you feeling the vintage momentum? Hit up the other vintage shops in town like American Gypsy Vintage, which is very nearly next door a block down. Closer to the mountain you'll find Blackbird Attic and Vintage:Beacon, all vintage shops you must duck into. Of course, you'll be checking out the Beacon Flea on Sunday for a few more chances at finding deals on racks. Visit A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide for addresses!
WHERE: 291 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508, First Floor, First Door WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, September 22-23 Saturday: 10 am to 6 pm Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
Take pics if you play dress-up or buy something! Share them with our Instagram, @alittlebeacon
Dehumidifiers and HEPA air filters have been installed, and cleanup continues after mold surfaced at the beginning of the school year at J. V. Forrestal Elementary and Beacon High School. The elementary school passed inspection with a “Satisfactory” air quality grade, and now Beacon High School has received a “Satisfactory” air quality grade as well. Meanwhile, cleanup will continue in the high school’s theater. Beacon’s Superintendent, Matthew Landahl, issued an update to the Beacon City Schools Website, which was emailed to parents on Friday, September 21, 2018:
“Adaptive Environmental Consulting tested seven different locations, either hallways or classrooms, throughout Beacon High School on Monday, September 17 and then repeated the testing on Wednesday, September 19. All results came back with low amounts of mold and a Satisfactory air quality rating. ServPro will continue to clean the theater in the high school and we will update you when that work is complete. Again, thanks for your patience and support as we work through this.”
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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.
Magic: The Gatherine
Hudson Valley Garlic Festival
