UPDATED 3/20/3019: The City of Beacon has since issued a response to our inquiry about the 2019 Cupcake Festival decision. Please see below for that quote from the City Administrator.
K104.7’s annual Cupcake Festival has moved from the Main Streets of Fishkill for a few years, then to Beacon for two years, and now is at the Stormville Airport, which is also known for the Stormville Airport Antique Show and Flea Market. The Cupcake Festival is wildly popular, attracting bakers from all over the state to compete for a chance to be considered at the final judging table to take home a cash prize.
“We were hoping to come back to Beacon this year but given the growing attendance and space/parking constraints, we had to look elsewhere. We’re looking forward to keeping it in the county and growing the festival in new and exciting ways.”
Attendance to the event has been growing, and possibly grew out of Fishkill, triggering the radio station to consider Beacon. For two years, the festival was hosted in downtown Beacon on Main Street, shutting down the street and leading to an elbow-to-elbow sugared-up experience (parents know how difficult it can be to maneuver children past tables and tables of cupcakes and lemonade).
We reached out to Pamal Broadcasting, the hosts of the event and owners of K104.7, to learn more: “We had met with the City [of Beacon], and after discussing all the particulars, it was in the best interest of both parties to change the location. The two years the festival was in Beacon catapulted this event to the next level and we are very grateful for the city and what it had to offer,” said Zach Higgins, Non-Traditional Revenue Director for Pamal Broadcasting.
“The attendance estimates for this year seemed more than the City could handle in parking and safety constraints. We would love to have them back, but wish them continued success and hope to work with them on other projects in the future.”
— Anthony J. Ruggiero, M.P.A. City Administrator
The City of Beacon’s City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, had this to say: “The City had an incredible working relationship with Pamal Broadcasting and their success was our success. However the attendance estimates for this year seemed more than the City could handle in parking and safety constraints. We would love to have them back, but wish them continued success and hope to work with them on other projects in the future.”
How Was The Cupcake Festival In Beacon?
A Little Beacon Blog did a an unscientific economic study of the Cupcake Festival on businesses in town in 2017. Most eateries did extremely well that day, while boutiques reported a mixed experience. One retail store who had been a vocal opponent of the Cupcake Festival in its first year, raved about it the day after the first festival came and went, after the day’s sales came in, calling the day “as good as Christmas," which in retail-sales speak means a very good day.
However, other businesses were not as pleased, including an art gallery owner who found it difficult to keep children away from touchable artwork inside the gallery, and other retail stores who saw lots of lookers, but no buyers. Citizens experienced a deluge of cars parked near their homes, sometimes blocking driveways. To read more about the 2017 cupcake experience, click here. To see pictures from 2018’s cupcakes, click here.
Trash was well-contained for the most part, though residential complaints about overflowing trash cans after most spring/summer weekends with or without events prompted the City to accept the offer from the trash collection company, Royal Carting, to replace the metal trash cans on Main Street, letting go of the two-hole approach for recycling and trash, in favor of a larger hole for all waste.
Now that the recycling market has crashed, and most recycling in this country isn’t getting recycled due to it being dirty (food waste on plastic makes it non-recyclable) or wet (soggy newspapers or cardboard can’t be recycled), this can replacement seems to be containing trash better. A Little Beacon Blog does have an article coming on this, and you can read more about it in the Highlands Current.
Parade-A-Month Keeps Beacon Touchable By Citizens
Beacon is known to have a parade every month from spring to fall, so this is one less event to keep track of on the calendar (well, in town, that is… you could still drive out to Stormville!), but there are new events coming to Beacon at the Riverfront, in addition to the usual annual events and fundraisers that keep the community in Beacon together.
If you need a quick map on where Stormville is, here’s a picture of the map. It’s *that* way! Good luck to any bakers entering the contest, or vendors vending on the big day!
SOME OF THE ART GALLERY OPENINGS IN BEACON, NY, FOR MARCH 2019. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: IN THE GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS AT MOTHER ART GALLERY; STILL STILL MOVING AT THE HOWLAND CULTURAL CENTER; NANCY DREW-INSPIRED GROUP SHOW AT THE HOWLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY; OVER HERE , DUTCHESS COUNTY’S WORLD WAR I STORIES AT BEACON HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND WORKING OVERTIME AT PHOTO BOOK WORKS.
Happy Second Saturday, Beacon!
We know you’ll be kicking off festive spring with the annual Parade of Green, but after that - then what? Galleries, my friend. Gallery openings galore: at regular spots like Dia, Catalyst, the library (Nancy Drew art show - what?) and No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works, but also at once-in-a-while spots like the Beacon Historical Society and an art pop-up at the Beahive in the historic Telephone Building. Check A Little Beacon Blog’s Second Saturday Guide for start times, pictures, and descriptions of the exhibits opening in Beacon.
This month’s Second Saturday Art Gallery Guide is sponsored by No. 3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works, at 469 Main Street, down toward the east end of Main Street near the Beacon Movie Theater, where you’ll find not just rotating exhibits, but cool collections of handmade books that the public is encouraged to peruse.
Busy weekend this weekend! Saturday is double-booked with the highly anticipated Parade of Green, followed by the all-day openings of different exhibits in Beacon's Art Galleries for Second Saturday. However, it is also the start of Maple Fest season, followed by the start of the Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Weekon Monday. Lots to do!
"Working OverTime"
No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works
469 Main Street, Beacon, NY
"Working OverTime," works on paper by Clarence Morgan and David Rich, opens at No. 3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works. The exhibit asks: "What does it mean to make a painting over time? What does devotion to one’s practice extended over a lifetime entail? To painters Clarence Morgan and David Rich, each in their sixth decade, time has become compressed, with a degree of urgency about its limitations and passage."
Beacon's St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green
Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 12 pm Location: Main Street, Beacon, NY Information >
Maple Fest at Randolph School Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 11 am to 3 pm Location: Randolph School, 2467 Route 9D, Wappingers Falls Information >
NY Blood Center Blood Drive
Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 10:30 am to 3 pm Location: Tabernacle of Christ Church, 483 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Movies That Matter presents “Newburgh: Beauty And Tragedy: A Film By Dmitri Kasterine”
Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 6:45 to 10 pm Location: First Presbyterian Church, McKinley Hall, 50 Liberty St., Beacon, NY
Dmitri Kasterine began taking pictures in Newburgh in 1996. It wasn’t the city’s reputation that drew him, but its beauty. His documentary, shot in 2015, consists of a collection of interviews together with glimpses of life and houses in ruins. Incorporating his original portraits and a commentary of what drew him to Newburgh, the film gives voice to those who live perilously, often in uninhabitable houses, in a city where education has faltered and employment is scarce. We hear what is actually happening to the fabric and people of Newburgh as they face another crisis: a determined program of gentrification. Information >
The Beacon Players presents FIRST LOOK
Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 7 pm Location: Richard D. Woolley Auditorium at Spackenkill High School, 112 Spackenkill Road, Poughkeepsie, NY Information >
Live Concert: Miolina - Reclaim the Night
Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 7:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Classics For Kids presents “Tic Toc Choc”
Day: Sunday, March 10, 2019 Time: 12 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Live Concert: Simone Dinnerstein, Piano
Day: Sunday, March 10, 2019 Time: 4 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Get Lit Writer's Group
Day: Sunday, March 10, 2019 Time: 5 pm Location: Oak Vino, 389 Main St., Beacon, NY
Get Lit on Sunday, March 10, features two speakers about award-winning children’s literature power couple James Ransome (illustrator) and Lesa Cline-Ransome (author). Learn more in A Little Beacon Blog's "Writerly Happenings" column. Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in ourEvents Guide.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com SECOND SATURDAY @ LUXE!
Pop open the bubbly! Let the stylists at Luxe Optique teach you about the new collectible line of luxury eyewear from The Leisure Society. Luxe has made it easy for you with champagne, hors d'oeuvres, and Glazed Over Donuts.
SHOPS IN THE MIDDLE
L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street www.lamereclothingandgoods.com
The pot of gold is at La Mère Clothing and Goods this weekend. Be sure to visit this boutique after the parade to stock up on your gold home goods, like the gold pineapple bookends, shimmery slippers, and this not-to-be-missed gold coin pillow with fuchsia on the back.
Binnacle Books 321 Main Street www.binnaclebooks.com Book Club: Wednesday, March 13 | 7 pm
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of "The Daily Show" began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away.
Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother - his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.
Discuss at Dennings Point Distillery on Wednesday Book Club.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the Dummy Light)
A happy bride takes home her gown from Lambs Hill, on the east end of Main Street. Step inside the shop to view their collection of gowns, as well as jewelry and other accessories for the day. Call (845) 765-2900 to schedule an appointment!
Firefly Yoga is hosting a Weekend Immersion with Yoga and Mindfulness teacher Kerry Armstrong. Workshops include:
Hearts & Hips Flow
Day: Friday, March 8, 2019 Time: 5:30 to 7 pm Price: $35 in advance, $40 at the door Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
Learn To Float - Inversion Workshop Day: Saturday, March 9, 2019 Time: 1 to 3 pm Price: $35 in advance, $40 at the door Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
Back Bending Workshop with Kerry Armstrong Day: Sunday, March 10, 2019 Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm Price: $35 in advance, $40 at the door Location: Firefly Yoga, 992 Main St., Fishkill, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, classes during the week, and workshops of all kinds, visit our Adult Classes Guide.
Mixed Media Art - After School
Grades: Kindergarten-5th Days: Fridays, March 8 to April 5, 2019 Time: 4 to 5:30 pm Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
From Gate House Realty: “Clean and bright second-floor apartment in a beautiful Victorian home, in the heart of Cornwall on Hudson. Apartment has an updated bathroom, forced air, ductless A/C unit, new washer and dryer in unit, upgraded appliances and off-street parking for one car. A dog is welcome!”
PRICE: $1,200/month BEDROOMS: 1 BATHROOMS: 1 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
2019 Parade of Green Grand Marshal Fred Antalek Shares His Fondest Beacon Memory - "Rowing Behind Rite Aid"
Born in 1937, Fred Antalek has been in Beacon with his business for a long time. We asked his daughter Susan for his fondest memory of Beacon. "When Fred was 10 years old, he used to row around in a boat on the street behind Rite Aid. This area was always flooded.” This prompted a look back on the blog as to why, which also gave us a glimpse into to the old department store, Schoonmaker's. Get the Full Story >
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One Idea Is All It Takes To Get Featured By The Media
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BeaconArts :: Open Studios
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A Little Beacon Blog's Space is available for private rentals for your meetings, workshops, client parties, or pop-ups. Located in the heart of Beacon at 291 Main Street (inside of the Telephone Building), meeting here is easy, cozy, and inspiring. $275 Half Day $485 Full Day $850 Pop-Up Shop Package See Pictures >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
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You’ve seen this face before - longtime Beacon resident and business owner Fred Antalek. Fred was born in 1937 and still works for his family business, Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency, coming to work “faithfully to keep everyone in check.” On Saturday, March 9, 2019, he’ll be bundling up along with everyone else to serve for his first time as the Grand Marshal in Beacon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green.
To find out how Fred feels about being this year’s Grand Marshal, we reached out to his daughter, Susan Antalek Pagones, who now runs the business with her partner Vince Lemma and their team of staff members. “Fred is quite honored about being the Grand Marshal this year,” Susan replied. “People ask if he is Irish… LOL, he is actually from the Gallagher family, so don’t be fooled!”
Fred’s Fondest Memory of Beacon
Schoonmaker’s, a department store in Beacon. Open from 1929 to 1960. Photo Credit: Beacon Historical Society
Our Beacon elders are filled with fond and important memories. We asked Susan for one of Fred’s: “When Fred was 10 years old, he used to row around in a boat on the street behind Rite Aid,” Susan recalled. That street is also the location of Antalek & Moore’s current Beacon office. “This area was always flooded.”
Flooded? “Yes,” said Fred. “Matteawan Brook is what constantly overflowed. This brook caused major flooding to the back of what is now Rite Aid and the intersection of Church and South Chestnut Street.” Before Rite Aid, the location was the home of Schoonmaker’s.
Schoonmaker's Department Store. Beacon had its first "modern" Department Store when Schoonmaker's opened its doors in the Christmas season of 1929. With "60 departments under one roof" (including "Toyland" in the basement), Schoonmaker's was the first stop for your Christmas shopping on Main Street. Later on, across the street at 341 Main, was the W.T. Grant store (Schoonmaker's biggest competitor), where you could even buy a live parakeet for Christmas! Like so many other good things in Beacon, Schoonmaker's and Grant’s were both gone by the late 1960s.
A map of Beacon from 1876, when the town was known as Fishkill on the Hudson. The Map shows the Matteawan stream.
UPDATE 3/9/2019: Since first publishing this article, a reader wrote in with a picture of a map of Beacon from 1876 when it was known as Fishkill on the Hudson. The stream is also on the 1867 map we covered earlier. The reader, Air Nonken Rhodes, is on the Resources Committee for Beacon, a new committee that is currently compiling all known natural resources in Beacon. Residents who live in that area still experience some flooding, so we asked Air about the stream as it is today:
“They buried the stream circa 1910 - scavenger hunt to find the plaque in Memorial Park commemorating that! The stream-burying was done rather poorly. It was especially challenging since it was swampy ground all around what’s now Rite Aid. That’s a big part of why the center section of Main Street wasn’t developed sooner and more fully. So, flooded basements still today, and not many historic buildings along there.”
More Beacon Business Trivia
Family businesses run deep in Beacon. Fred used to have his office on East Main Street, where Tiko’s Hair is now. “I remember it well,” recalled Susan. “I used to slide along the floor, where the large picture window is. playing with my toys. His sister Mary Ann worked for him.” In the late ’70s/early ’80s, Fred moved to 308 Main Street, where the Darrow Brothers used to have their clothing store. When Fred merged with Pat Moore, the business moved to 340 Main Street, Antalek & Moore’s current location. Fred’s mother worked at Gallagher’s Market, the current location of BAJA.
Continuing in her father’s footsteps, Susan has recently closed on the purchase of their building. She is one of Beacon’s newest female building owners. She’s got her eyes fixed on a new project on their roof involving a light. “We are trying to get the ‘beacon’ light on the roof - look for it the next time you pass by. I think that might be neat to find out the history of that.”
Stay tuned…
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.
Main Street is getting even more shoppable as business owners invest in their websites so that locals - or out-of-towners who have never been here, yet - can easily shop a local store online to buy in advance and reserve at the shop for local pickup.
For La Mère Clothing and Goods, it may be easier for owner April’s clientele (who tend to be women, who sometimes need to have their children tagging along when out and about) to buy in the middle of the night as they are thumbing through La Mère’s very active Instagram feed. This way, April’s customer (or men who buy for partners or their home) has the option of buying something without bringing the whole family inside of the shop to complete the purchase of the coveted pink velvet ballet flats shown here. And yes, those are mine now, purchased on a Sunday night at 10:30 pm, picked up on a Friday morning while I was in the shop taking La Mère’s advertiser photo for our weekend Happening This Weekend newsletter.
Our sister design agency, Katie James, Inc. designed La Mère’s website and fashioned the Free Local Pickup option on the site. Whenever in the shop, I “shoot the shingle” (a term used over at my other training business, Tin Shingle) with most business owners about how business is going, what is working and not working. Turns out, when La Mère’s owner, April, told customers in the store that they could “buy an item online,” they took that to mean that she was giving them permission to go elsewhere and purchase it online, like at Amazon or something (I’m not a fan of Amazon for a myriad of reasons). Turns out, shoppers needed to be educated about La Mère’s own online shop, and that it was OK to shop local that way. The online store was the end result of the sale.
To let shoppers know about the online shopping feature, we came up with this official Local Pickup Pile in the store. April made a sign for it, and she may show it more to her customers via Instagram and a future newsletter to customers. Shoppers can select the Free Local Pickup option at checkout, and then come in when they can, and visit with April! I love getting these personalized pink Post-It notes on the bag!
Up Next:Knot Too Shabby on the other end of Main Street is in the final stages of website redesign for her shop. Stay tuned! There are LOADS of things you’ll find in her store other than the Annie Sloan furniture paint. Which is of course, everyone’s favorite.
PS: I had insider intel that these pink velvet ballet flats - which suddenly went on sale - were only available with one pair left in my size. You know what that means: midnight shopping for local shopping. 🛍
Editor’s Note: This article is a Sponsored Partner Post that A Little Beacon Blog did with Katie James, Inc., which is also part of A Little Beacon Blog and is also run by me - Katie (it’s like owning different restaurants that serve different food). This article a way to show you about our design and consulting services, but it made for a pretty good article regardless, don’t you think? ;) We can do these kind of editorial approved Partner Posts for your business as well. See our Media Kit for details, and reach out if you have a topic that might be appropriate.
Ideally, I’d like you to have heard that “Helloooo” in the voice of Nicole from “Nailed It,” but since that’s not likely we will move on immediately to…
“What Are You Reading?” The Co-Worker Edition
At my new full-time job, I surveyed women I work with, who are surviving working with me, in order to bring you these highly skilled and marketable reading recommendations. To keep their persons anonymous, I have revealed them only by nicknames.
The HBIC sent an email marked with High Importance and instructions not to delete her cosigning of Karen Moning’s “Highlander” series (this co-worker is indeed a fan of all things magic and supernatural and Irish).
The Chorus Line duo is all about jazz hands. One is reading “The Alienist” by Caleb Carr, which combines suspense, historical fiction and justice (what more does one really need?), while the other is feeling the women’s empowerment of “We” by Gillian Anderson and Jennifer Nadel.
“What’s Going On? I’m Losing My Mind In This Weather!”
So what’s going on in the writerly corners of the Hudson Valley that you can get out to, since we are all about to lose our minds in the weather soup that is March?
LOTS OF WRITERLY HAPPENINGS!
GARRISON INSTITUTE A new game in town (at least to me) is the Writer’s Circle at the Garrison Institute on Wednesday, March 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, looking super lovely and free of charge. Bonus round: It includes time for meditation, reflection, writing, and sharing.
BINNACLE BOOKS BOOK CLUB Binnacle Books in Beacon is doing its boozy book club at Denning’s Point Distillery on Wednesday, March 13, and you want to be there. “Born a Crime” by Trevor Noah (of The Daily Show) is what’s on the menu. Get 10% off the book at the store, and $5 cocktails to sip whilst you tilt your head thoughtfully.
P.S. EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you Binnacle Books for becoming a regular sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide! It’s quite an honor to have an independent bookstore show their appreciation and value with a sponsorship!
HUDSON VALLEY WRITER’S WORKSHOP Hudson Valley Writer’s Workshop has their monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 6, and a Facebook page full of other things to investigate.
SPLIT ROCK BOOKS Split Rock Books in Cold Spring is on winter vacation until Monday, March 4, with limited hours until then. I’m personally pleased as punch for any small business owners who take a little time to recharge. And they are going to need it for March, because whatever your book club preference may be (History, Fiction, Graphic Novels, Kids Club) they have you covered this month. Also on tap in March: a drawing night, fermentation workshop, and readings by locals and beyond.
ADULT STORIES AT OAK VINO John Blesso is hosting the second Adult Stories reading series at Oak Vino on Friday, March 8, with a great lineup of writers telling “true stories of an offbeat, edgy, or emotionally-challenging nature told without notes or pages.” $5 and please arrive on time at 7 pm so as not to interrupt. (I’m side-eyeing myself here, if that’s anatomically possible.)
GET LIT AT OAK VINO Get Lit on Sunday, March 10, features two speakers about award-winning children’s literature power couple James Ransome (illustrator) and Lesa Cline-Ransome (author). In addition to their collaborations on books about Serena and Venus Williams, Harriet Tubman, Louis Armstrong and Alvin Ailey, James is also the artist behind the beautiful mural at the Adriance Library in Poughkeepsie.
GET LIT WRITER’S WORKSHOP Lucky us! Get Lit founder Julie Chibbaro is doing a an ongoing writing workshop for teens called “Write Your Own Adventure” for ages 12-15 on four Thursdays (March 7-28), and an adult writing intensive on Saturday, March 30, at the Howland Library in Beacon. Also free! See here for details.
WRITING WORKSHOP AT QUINN’S Stop in to Quinn’s on Tuesday, March 12, and stay a while as readers from Ruth Danon’s Live Writing workshop take to the stage at 7 pm. I am not reading this time, but I will be eating some pickled plum and clapping like mad for them.
THE ARTICHOKE STORYTELLING SERIES Meanwhile, The Artichoke Storytelling Series at the Howland Cultural Center, hosted by Drew Prochaska, is SOLD OUT! It features storytellers from The Moth, Risk! and Story Collider, as well as Comedy Central’s This Is Not Happening. If you were considering moving to Beacon, Fishkill, or Wappingers (anywhere close to the Howland Cultural Center), this new series is a pretty compelling reason!
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH IN TIVOLI On Tuesday, March 26, you can start your National Poetry Month festivities early (move over, St. Paddy’s Day) up in Tivoli with this brilliant mashup of poetry and philosophy at Murray’s Coffeeshop (the coffee is super good there) from Bard College and the Poetry Foundation. “The Words We Live By: Poetry and Philosophy in Conversation” features poet Fred Moten and author Robert Gooding-Williams, and looks to be a deep well. It’s introduced by this quote by Hannah Arendt: “The storehouse of memory is kept and watched over by the poets, whose business it is to find and make the words we live by.”
Phew! That was a lot of must-dos for this month. If you hear of any throughout the year, email me at phoebe@alittlebeaconblog.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Surprise! An Editor’s Note, because we couldn’t just stop writing in the Writerly Happenings section! If you love this Writerly Happening series as much as we do, and if you love helping promote writers and illustrators and books, then consider becoming a regular Supporting Sponsor! You can get your logo published bright and shiny at the top of this article, and each article we publish a month. Or, if you are a regular person with no business but really want to be a Sponsoring Individual, you can! Please see our Media Kit page for details, and other opportunities for sponsorship. All of our sponsoring advertisers help us get the word out, pay our writers, and grow this publication as a self-sustaining, family-friendly business. Thank you!
Nancy Drew Inspired art: At left, Anna West’s “Good Girl”; Top Right, Jean Noack’s “The Secret”; below Right, “Nancy Drew” by Philomena Kiernan Photo Credit: Anna West (left) and Philomena Kiernan (right).
Imagine our delight when A Little Beacon Blog’s Second Saturday Guide editor Catherine Sweet and I received the press release that a group art show opening at the Howland Public Library will showcase works inspired by Nancy Drew in recognition of Women’s History Month.
The Howland Public Library presents “The Mystery of Nancy Drew, a Group Show.” The exhibit will be on view in The Community Room Exhibit Space from Second Saturday, March 9, through Saturday, April 6, 2019. An artists' reception will be held on Saturday, March 9, from 5 to 7 pm.
Nancy Drew Inspired Jean Noack’s “The Secret” Photo Credit: Jean Noack
Nancy Drew As The Inspiration
The first Nancy Drew books were published in 1930 under the pen name Carolyn Keene, and are still in print today (with several different authors publishing under that pen name). The first 23 of the original 30 books were written by Mildred Wirt Benson, who shaped Nancy’s brave and adventurous character.
Mildred was a ghost writer for the series and was not revealed as its author until the 1970s, according to this article at Smithsonian.com. Mildred was the daughter of a doctor who made house calls, and often traveled with him on his work. Keen on being a writer, Mildred was a journalist whose beat was local crimes and city corruption. She hung out at the city courthouse to find most of her stories. To learn a lot more about Mildred, read this article at Smithsonian.com.
Jan Dolan’s entry in the show imagines a “girl sleuth” dream team of Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, and Nancy Drew. Photo Credit: Jan Dolan
Over time, the fictional character of Nancy Drew, the independent girl sleuth, has become a culture icon. The exhibit features artwork by over 20 local women artists inspired by the classic Nancy Drew Mystery Stories.
The exhibit at the library was curated by Jan Dolan and Michelle Rivas of the Howland Public Library. “This show is dedicated to all the real-life independent and creative problem-solving women in our community,” said the curators in their press release.
CoMFY At It Again
The show is the fifth annual exhibit from the group CoMFY, a collective of women artists from the Beacon area. Last year their show was inspired by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The group formed in 2011 when local artists Kat Stoutenborough and Jennifer Blakeslee invited some friends to a local coffee shop to talk. Inspired by their discussions about balancing life and their creative pursuits, the women began meeting on a regular basis. The group has grown and transformed over the years. “While the women do not meet in person as often as they'd like to,” the library’s press release states, “the support network created has endured.”
Find The Show
The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main St., Beacon, NY 12508. The Community Room Exhibit Space is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs. Please consult the library calendar at beaconlibrary.org.
Find The Books In Beacon
You can order almost any Nancy Drew book you want from Beacon’s local bookstore Binnacle Books, or stop into the library’s volunteer-powered bookstore, Beacon Reads, to see if they have any. And of course, check the Howland Public Library to borrow a few.
As the first bulbs of spring start coming up, artists in Beacon are busy preparing for the big day when everyone and anyone is invited to step inside of participating artist studios during Beacon Open Studios. Usually spring has sprung, and you can smell the freshly thawed ground and greening grass as you walk, drive or hop around to different artist studios. This year, the big weekend is Friday to Sunday, May 17 to 19, 2019, and A Little Beacon Blog is a proud sponsor.
Open Studios was the first event that locked in my love for Beacon when I accidentally discovered the studios while out jogging one day. An artist had opened their studio (their garage), had the red balloon tied to their mailbox (the official sign that they are inviting you in) and visitors were encouraged to walk up the driveway to explore inside and meet the artist.
Register! Artists Participate
Artists of all kinds are invited to participate. If you’re in Beacon, and if you are an artist - no matter what your age, tools, art supplies, etc. - you are encouraged to register and help people get to know your art. I’m partial to jewelry designers’ studios because I like looking at their work tables. What kind of art do you make? Pottery? Sculptures? Ephemera? Let’s get you on the map and in the brochure. Register here to participate in Beacon Open Studios 2019.
Sponsor! Help Make It Happen
Artists are often withdrawn with their art - or they are just hard to find. Beacon Open Studios is the initiative that make them approachable by everyone. You never know what kind of inspiration may hit you or your children or friends while visiting one of these studios. This is why A Little Beacon Blog sponsors Beacon Open Studios. It keeps the community churning and ideas accessible.
“Born Ómò Oba (Prince) Adetomiwa A. Gbadebo in Abeokuta, Nigeria; into three royal families: the Gbadebo royal family of Egba Kingdom and the Ademiluyi family of Ilé-Ifè Kingdom, as well as the Oshodi (Tapa) family from Lagos. Òmó Oba (Prince) Gbadebo uses his Yorùbá heritage and life experiences to create his pieces based on emotions and the journey that life stitches; he embodies a spiritual trance while he creates. He does not associate himself with any artistic movement; for it is with the guidance of Olódùmarè that he executes his message.” - from his artist page. Open Studio Destination: 211 Fishkill Ave. (Old Beacon High School) Represented by Ethan Cohen Fine Art (Ethan Cohen Fine Art owns the Old Beacon High School, where several artists have working studios or exhibit space)
To be honest, we don’t know much about Toby - yet. Mystery artists are a favorite. Well, maybe not a mystery to you. But he remains one to us. We’ll fill you in as we learn more - possibly after a visit to his working studio on Rombout Avenue! Open Studio Destination 186 Rombout Ave. Working Studio
Yali Lewis’ jewelry may look familiar to you because… her flagship shop, Lewis & Pine, is in Beacon at 133 Main Street (near Bank Square)! “Lewis & Pine Jewelry and Apothecary are created by New York-based artist Yali Lewis and are inspired by modernist design and natural beauty. Yali creates her jewelry and apothecary collections by hand in her studio in Beacon, NY. The visual and sensory landscape of the Hudson Valley meet the architectural geometry and cultural richness of New York City in Yali's work. Yali has shown in numerous juried craft fairs around the country. Yali’s work has been at the Bryant Park Holiday Village, Columbus Avenue Craft Fair, Renegade Craft Fair, Urban Craft Uprising, and many others.“ - excerpted from her website. Open Studio Destination: Catalyst Gallery, 137 Main Street (an art gallery just a few doors down from Lewis & Pine’s shop)
This is a Guide we created that includes all shops in Beacon (if we missed you, email us!), and businesses have the opportunity to stand out with a Sponsor Spot to show readers photos inside of their shops, and special events.
Supporting Sponsors include Luxe Optique, Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique, Binnacle Books and La Mère Clothing + Goods. Thank you so much! Your ongoing support helps us maintain these Guides, and produce the Happening This Weekend newsletter that everybody loves that comes out on Fridays. We’re busy working on that today!
An exciting weekend is coming up, with Second Saturday and the Parade of Green! You can always visit the Shopping Guide here, that lists all shops with addresses and links. Share with your friends who are visiting! Or use it yourself to go inside the stores! You'll be so happy you did.
The first snowfall of March for 2019 has fallen onto lilac tree buds and hyacinth shoots. Fear not, they have been covered before.
The snow fell heavy and wet onto warm (well, not super-cold) ground, temperate from the Sunday before when the days had just started to warm up a bit.
Schools in New York City are closed, with a Hazardous Travel Advisory issued by NYC, according to WNYC. Most schools in the Hudson Valley are on a two-hour delay, with some schools on a three-hour delay, or a Transportation Delay. Some Hudson Valley Schools are simply closed for the day.
Beacon City Schools are in a two-hour delay, and our delay call came last night, which helps with planning and rescheduling. Delays have become commonplace over the years when snow is expected to be on the ground in the morning. According to Beacon Superintendent Matthew Landahl, a small team from the school’s Transportation Department goes out at 3:30 am to check the roads to make a decision, since buses start their routes at 6 am.
“Since I live here,” says Dr. Landahl, “I sometimes go out and join in on the fun.” If the team finds icy patches where the buses need to drive to transport kids in and out of the district, Landahl is inclined to call a two-hour delay. Robocalls issued by Dr. Landahl have helped to keep everyone informed along the way. This morning, a call was issued to confirm the decision from the night before: that everything was good to go for the planned delay. “See you soon,” he added, and credited the city’s Highway Department and school facility teams for getting the roads clear for everyone. To follow along with other school schedules during weather, check out the list here: http://wpdh.com/snow-closings-delays/
Shoveling!
Well, you know what snowfall means: shoveling. And you know what shoveling means: chocolate chip pancakes! Or deep-dish French toast from Homespun, three-layer cake from BJs, a cheese danish from Beacon Bread Company, a hearty bagel sandwich from Beacon Bagel, or cut to the chase with a bacon egg sandwich from Mr. V’s or Bob’s. Permission granted to totally carb out.
Be safe! Don’t overdo it. Take breaks. And don’t stand under snow-covered heavy branches of snow. OK, that’s a lot to remember. Enjoy!
Bear Mountain Bridge on the morning commute from Beacon to New York City. Photo Credit: David Ray Martin
The east end of Main Street, before the second half of the east end of Main Street beyond Teller Avenue. Photo Credit: David Ray Martin
A few rental apartments have become available in 544 Main Street - the building on the far end of Main Street above the Green Room salon and a free municipal parking lot. This apartment comes with a sun-filled deck outside with a view of Mount Beacon, and is near the Fishkill Creek and Roundhouse.
From Gate House Realty: “One-bedroom apartment in very desirable newer building on the East End of Main Street. Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, and laundry in basement. Approximately 550 sq feet. Pet friendly. Heat and hot water included. Available April 10th.” PRICE: $1,650/month BEDROOMS: 1 BATHROOMS: 1 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
“How To Edit Wikipedia” is an event at the Howland Public Library to encourage women to make edits in Wikipedia, the content producers of which are traditionally men.
WHAT: Art & Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon WHERE: Howland Public Library DAY: Saturday, March 2, 2019 TIME: 11 am to 3 pm
Happening today is the (so far) annual Wikipedia Editing event at the Howland Public Library during Women’s History Month. The class is provided as a means to encourage women especially to come out and edit Wikipedia, the group-sourced encyclopedia of the Internet. This local event is organized by local library advocate, Ms. Rajene Hardeman, as part of the international annual Art+Feminism campaign. As of last year, only 9% of the edits or contributions made to Wikipedia were made by women.
This can change! Half of the battle is probably not knowing where to start with how to edit. This class aims to change that. A tutorial of how to enter Wikipedia to make an edit kicks off the day, and from 12 to 3 pm, an open edit session happens, where people can sit and edit.
All people are encouraged to attend, regardless of gender, and bringing your own laptop is encouraged.
It may keep snowing, but summer planning has indeed started! The Beacon Recreation Department has just launched their online registration ability to sign up for the After School Program (childcare for elementary school students in Beacon's public school system), Camp at the Camp, and the Beacon Pool. Find out why this is a big deal. And did you know that Pool Memberships are already on sale? This year, you can buy them online.
PS: Registration for Beacon's Camp at the Camp opens on Monday, March 11, 2019, and other camps have already started. Readers are using A Little Beacon Blog's Summer Camp Guide right now to make their list of camps. Advertising opportunities on our Weekly Camp Planner and Guide are available, so contact us to get started to help your camp stand out with your logo, pictures and featured dates.
Common Ground Farm presents “Get Picked”
Day: Friday, March 1, 2019 Time: 8-11pm Location: Hudson Valley Brewery, 7 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Opening Reception “Still, Still Moving”
Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Time: 2:30-4:30pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beacon Rising for the Article 20 Network
Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Time: 1pm Location: The Towne Crier Cafe, 379 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
5 Years of Beacon Pantry Celebration
Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Time: 2-5pm Location: Beacon Pantry, 382 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Improv Open Jam
Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Time: 7-9pm Location: Beacon Performing Arts Center, 327B Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Blame It on The Bossa Nova: A Brazilian Cabaret!
Day: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Time: 7:30 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.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com (across the street from Artisan Wine Shop) SAVE THE DATE! March's Second Saturday at Luxe Optique
Spend your second Saturday enjoying champagne, hors d'oeuvres, Glazed Over Donuts and the collectible line of luxury eyewear from The Leisure Society. 😎🍩🍾
Shane Baum, a former designer for Louis Vuitton, built his new eyewear line around the concept that frames are meant to last a lifetime.
Beacon Trivia: The model in this photo (Teya) and the photographer (Ryon) both work at Luxe Optique. The photo was taken right outside the store on Main Street.
BOUTIQUES IN THE MIDDLE
L a M è r e Clothing + Goods 436 Main Street
What warms your heart and makes it do a pitter-patter on cold weekend afternoons? A SALE! Walk to the back of La Mère (across the street from the Beacon Theater), and you'll see the purging of some winter items and these collectible mugs. We've started collecting, and you should too. Don't miss the blue/green cactus mug. It's not pictured here, so you'll need to go inside to check it out in person. Or hit up La Mère's website if you're curious now!
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the historic dummy light)
The silent yet stunning impact of a fitted silhouette is unforgettable. The fit and flare of this newest Justin Alexander gown at Lambs Hill has an exquisitely beaded top for a sparkly take on a classic gown. 💕✨💕 Loving this style? Call (845) 765-2900 to schedule an appointment!
Promote Your Artwork With Instagram
Day: Tuesday, March 5, 2019 Time: 5:45-7:30pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main 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.
Imagination Design House Theater Design
Grades: 3-8 Days: Mondays,March 4 to May 13, 2019 Time: 4:30-5:30pm Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
A few apartments have become available in this building on the far end of Main Street, above the Green Room. (Hot tip: this salon is filled with talented stylists and amazing hair products, including the Moroccan oil hair mask conditioner.) This apartment comes with a sun-filled deck outside, and is near the Fishkill Creek and Roundhouse. From Gate House Realty: “One-bedroom apartment in very desirable newer building on the East End of Main Street. Bright unit with deck with mountain view. Hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, dishwasher, and laundry in basement. Approximately 550 sq feet. Municipal (free) parking lot next to building. Pet friendly. Heat and hot water included. Available April 10th.”
PRICE: $1,650/month BEDROOMS: 1 BATHROOMS: 1 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
It's Responsible Pet Owners Month!
Insuring the health and wellness of your furry friend is important. When it comes to insurance, we often think of our own health, life, home or auto insurance policies. We take extra care to make sure our beloved family members and most valued possessions are covered in the event of an illness, accident or loss. But what about our pets? Pet insurance pays for veterinary treatment of your ill or injured pet. Some policies may pay out if your pet gets into trouble. Details >
Private Social Media Training
Are you staring at your business's Instagram account, not knowing what to do? You see what others are posting, but can't think of one thing you could post that would represent your brand and bring you sales. The visual storytellers at Katie James, Inc. can help you change all that. Schedule A Session >
One Idea Is All It Takes To Get Featured By The Media
Do you dream of getting your business featured by the media? Are you trying to get the word out about a concept or movement? You can do this. We believe in you! It starts with the right idea, packaged into a little formula called a "pitch" to your intended person at the media outlet you want. The formula is: Subject Line + Winning Intro Paragraph + Bullet Points + Picture. Learn More >
BeaconArts :: Open Studios
A Little Beacon Blog just signed on as a proud sponsor of Beacon Open Studios! We are thrilled to support this project, which provides an inside look at artists in Beacon. Reserve Your Spot as a Sponsor! >
A Little Beacon Space
A Little Beacon Blog's Space is available for private rentals for your meetings, workshops, client parties, or pop-ups. Located in the heart of Beacon at 291 Main Street (inside of the Telephone Building), meeting here is easy, cozy, and inspiring. $275 Half Day $485 Full Day $850 Pop-Up Shop Package See Pictures >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce Business Directory
Work with the Beacon Chamber of Commerce to throw a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony if you're new in town, or just opened. It's a great way to meet your neighbors and broadcast your business! Learn More >
MASTHEAD Producers of this newsletter include:
Katie Hellmuth Martin, Publisher, Writer, Designer, Photographer
Marilyn Perez, Managing Editor
Catherine Sweet, Editor of the Second Saturday Guide
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.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of Beacon Recreation’s newsletter announcing the new online registration tool.
One wouldn’t think that the announcement of the City of Beacon Recreation’s new online registration and payment tool would warrant such celebration, but it is an enhancement that saves time for everyone. Several key elements of registration are now available in one place, including payment, emergency contact information, medical information, and more.
Visiting Beacon Rec headquarters is pleasant enough - driving or walking over to the Beacon Recreation Department at 23 West Center Street is always a pleasure, because one gets to see Heidi, Mark, Nate or other employees of the Beacon Rec Department. You might even run into members of Green Teen, who also have an office in the building. But if you, like many parents, are juggling a lot of to-dos, online registration relieves a measurable amount of stress - a worthy trade-off. Plus, you can always head over to the Beacon Recreation building and play at the South Street playground, sled down the hill, or shoot hoops or hit a tennis ball on the courts below.
Pre-Planning Time For Registration Cut In Half
The pre-planning to register is involved, as one needs to fill out emergency contact information for each child when registering them each quarter for the After School Program, a popular childcare program for Beacon’s elementary schools that runs from 3 to 6 pm. To keep up with the paperwork, I’ve actually made several backup emergency contact copies at home with our printer/copier, and I’ve felt quite pleased with myself for the advance prep.
“No need for that anymore,” says Nate Smith, City of Beacon Assistant Recreation Director. “Unless you change something, contact information will be the same. Pick your days of After School Program that you want to sign your children up for, and off you go.” Tuition assistance is available to qualifying families. So do inquire if you need that. Spots do fill up fast, and each quarter is a new signup even if you were already enrolled in the prior session.
For Camp at the Camp, the popular summer program from the Beacon Recreation Department, registration forms once again are involved, and this time they include medical information.” Unlike the contact info, you’ll still need to submit the medical forms each year, Nate says. “The medical forms are purged annually. The BOH requires one dated within the last year.”
Registration for Camp at the Camp opens on Monday, March 11, 2019, and last year, spaces filled up fast. With a keyboard on your side, you’ll get ahead (don’t worry, there are plenty of amazing camp options available for different schedules, themes and ages).
For the Pool Membership, this one is pretty easy. But if you put it off, as I did last year, you might miss out on the ability to have a summer pool membership, and end up limiting yourself (and your family) to the option of buying daily passes. With last year’s seemingly endless thunder rolls, which require everyone to clear the pool for 30 minutes, it can make paying for a day pass disheartening. Thunder can be such bummer if you need to leave the pool right after you paid for your family to get in, then you have to wait 30 minutes to get back in. (BTW, this thunder policy is the same at any pool, including Beacon’s River Pool and All Sport.) Tack on maybe another 30 minutes if another rumble of thunder happens. With the seasonal Pool Membership, no need to scrape together the dollars each time.
The Beacon Recreation Department is here to help if you need it: “If you have any trouble creating an account, or need assistance during this process, please stop by the Recreation Center at 23 West Center Street, Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm and we will help you get your account set up!”
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.
Beacon Rising for the Article 20 Network
