In an urban climate currently defined by building growth in Beacon, Mayor Randy Casale, Beacon’s two-term mayor for the last eight years, was out-seated by current City Council Member, Lee Kyriacou. Mayor Casale served in public service in Beacon for a total of 40 years, most notably (besides his mayor gig) as the Highway Superintendent, and possibly most memorably as a City Council member until he ran for election and won two terms in a row.
Lee ran on a platform of cautious development and rezoning of Beacon’s rules and regulations that allow buildings to be designed in a certain way, and for a certain use. Over the years, several building projects made their way through Zoning Board, Planning Board, and City Council meetings. Several that were granted approval after required modifications are being built right now, including three four-story buildings on Main Street, which has become a hot topic for many residents of Beacon. Zoning restriction such as this was one of Lee’s main campaign points.
Mayoral Homework
Mayor Casale’s institutional memory goes deep. His involvement in many decisions rolls through several City Council administrations, such as the years-long discussed Tioronda Bridge rebuild (controversial for how close to its original state it can get, versus functionality) to the equally lengthy debate across several years and studies about the three firehouses in Beacon, and if they should be consolidated into two or one.
After covering City Council meetings for articles such as this, it has become clear that issues spread over years of council administration turnovers, require additional funding for new studies to be made for new councilperson requests, and new angles to be considered for the same project. Mayor Casale kept up with all of it.
Running a Meeting
Mayors guide decisions and vote on resolutions, but they also run a meeting. Mayor Casale ran an efficient meeting, giving people a chance to speak, signaling that he acknowledged a complaint, but firing back if speaking got too aggressive. Mayor Casale’s reputation for where he stood on every issue preceded him. Several city leaders in neighboring towns have said: “Well, you always know where Randy stands,” which could be in reference to his sometimes stern yet always outspoken manner.
Standing Ovation
During this year’s Beacon Historical Society Friendraiser held at The Roundhouse, which jointly honored its former longtime president and voice, Robert Murphy, as well as the Tioronda Garden Club, Mayor Casale was on-hand to present. Mayor Casale is an honorary member of the Tioronda Garden Club, and is best-known for his daily watering of the pink petunia baskets on Main Street every spring and summer. During a low-budget period of Beacon’s history, the watering of the Main Street flower baskets was removed from the budget. Mayor Casale replaced the responsibility by watering them himself with the watering truck
As he reached the podium, the room moved to a standing ovation. He deflected the appreciation back to the people of the City of Beacon, stating it is their will, volunteerism, and spirit that has kept Beacon on its path, to the point that other cities are trying to emulate it. Mayor Casale also revealed that he knew he wouldn’t always be the mayor, and made sure to put back the watering of the flowers back into the budget. He ended his speech by wishing the new administration well and support.
Next Steps For Mayor Casale
What are the next steps for Mayor Casale? A Little Beacon Blog reached out for comment: “Right now I am going to look at whatever options come my way and decide what the next chapter will be. I will be available if someone wants to ask questions or if I can assist.”
Will he run for mayor again? “Option’s always open,” he replied.
Carley’s chocolate chip cookies had just the right amount of rock salt on top. Available at Bank Square Coffee House, they were easily this blogger’s first favorite chocolate chip cookie on Main Street in Beacon. Carley delivered her cookies by stroller to the coffee house, as well as other wholesale accounts she developed as a young mother cooking from her certified home kitchen. Ella’s Bellas is named after her daughter, who has a gluten allergy.
Carley wasn’t the only one in Beacon to have a certified home kitchen. There were and are several off-the-radar professional bakers and cooks. But she is one of the few who has moved out of her home kitchen to open a storefront in Beacon, pop up in other cafés with outposts in Cold Spring and elsewhere, and open another storefront in the Catskills.
Eight years later, Carley is stepping aside as the proprietor of Ella’s Bellas at 418-420 Main Street, handing over the reins to new owners. During tonight’s City Council meeting, when it came time to give his weekly report, council member Terry Nelson thanked Carley for her service to the community.
EDIT 2/22/2020: Carley retains ownership and recipes of Ella’s Bellas as a brand, and “may do something down the road,” she tells A Little Beacon Blog. The new owners “purchased the building, equipment, and kickass staff,” Carley confirmed.
Carley is one of those business owners who experiments. She experiments with giving - she donated a consumer refrigerator to the Beacon Community Kitchen when they first opened a handful of years ago. She experiments with marketing ideas, like the oyster-filled dance parties she used to have with Drink More Good. And of course, she experiments with baking and has the most delicious gluten-free shop one could ever ask for. And I’m not even gluten-free, but I could order anything from her menu and be totally satisfied.
Announced on her personal @dogsofellas Instagram page, while simultaneously the shop account gave a 10-year birthday nod to the biz (the Beacon brick-and-mortar shop has been open for eight years), Carley illuminated the reason behind her decision:
At some point I started to slow down... For years I rushed and stressed and focused on the needs of the people working for Ella’s, the building, my customers, and how to best provide for them. In the beginning, it was fulfilling and brought me great joy. I was living the strong working mom dream. I put my family and myself somewhere in the background and pushed to make the business grow and shine, but at some point I started to get tired, and I started seeking joy in the quiet and nature instead of crowds and excitement and the high of a busy day. I started to think of a life that focused on things other than the business, and my journey started to shift to where I am now…
Tomorrow will be my last day as proprietor of 418-420 Main St. Ella’s Bellas will still live in a familiar state for a few months while the new owners finalize their plans and I’ll still be around to help with this transition phase. Then I have no plans, and I’m really excited to just be.
I’ll be at the shop finishing up soup and various odds and ends tomorrow (Monday 11/18). Come by or leave me a song to add to the soundtrack of my last day as “boss lady.”
Formerly Unpublished Interview With Carley About Business and Family Life
About a year ago I was working on a story and reached out to Carley with a bunch of questions. I never published the story (only about 5 percent of my stories actually make it to these blog pages). Parts of the story had undertones of what she has just announced. Now that Carley has reached the end of her business life-cycle - or this business life-cycle, anyway - let’s read about the transition of her business from her home to Main Street, and maintaining its growth:
ALBB: Tell us about your early business life when you were delivering to local bakeries.
I started delivering almost 10 years ago to Bank Square Coffee House when [my daughter] Ella was around 14 months old. It was a family affair. My home kitchen was certified and I would bake when Ella napped or was down for the night. My husband would do dishes and late-night deliveries and Ella and I would walk the rest over in the stroller.
ALBB: Were you doing this before she was born?
No, I took time off of working to be at home with Ella. My previous career was in theater admin and production. I had worked in food service, but not as a trained baker.
ALBB: Did having a child help and/or slow your growth into opening your own shop?
Ella and many other factors contributed into the need to move the business out of the house and into a storefront. I would say that as we both get older, I find myself concentrating less on the growth of the business and more on making myself available to Ella and my family. That has definitely had an affect on our rate and amount of growth.
ALBB: Did having a child actually make you make decisions that grew your business faster? Like hiring employees, so that you could accommodate your child and family life?
Yes, having a child makes me have a more controlled work day and set schedule. I try to keep my work to her school hours (or camp hours) and I would often work after her bedtime or before she’s up in the morning. It meant that although I was responsible for creating and building many of the elements of Ella’s, once they were established, it was best for me to have a staff member take over that responsibility so I could concentrate on business growth and family.
In the early days, that meant adding staff. It’s also made it difficult to keep as many layers of the business operating. I can’t always jump back into the kitchen or behind the counter at this point, so we’ve gone from a large staff with a general manager to a smaller staff and smaller menu.
ALBB: When you opened the second location in the Catskills, was that business as usual by that point? Or did you need to make adjustments to your child and family life?
When I opened the business in the Catskills, I had a wonderful manager in place at Ella’s Bellas, so I basically spent several months bouncing back and forth and dragging my family along to help and keep me company. My husband has his own company and they did the renovations to the Catskills building. Ella’s Bellas was running with limited day-to-day needs from me at that point.
ALBB: How many years after opening your first location did you open your second?
Just under six years to opening, but we had been working on the project for eight months when it opened. So it’s really closer to five [years].
ALBB: Do you have family in town who helps you with childcare?
My mother-in-law is in town part-time, so that can be really helpful if we schedule it correctly. We were really lucky to have a wonderful former bakery employee turn into childcare help off and on over the years. She and Ella are still great friends and she's now a successful businesswoman and mother, too!
At the time of this interview, Ella’s Bellas was in several locations. The brand was available at all the Pantry locations, The Taste of NY at Todd Hill, Fresh in Hopewell Junction and their sister shop in the Catskills.
Business Advice From Carley:
I’ve learned that it’s easy to get wrapped up in growing organically, but that can distract from the core of your business. Never lose sight of what you want the business to become.
The people want to know and we want to tell them! If you’re a caterer in the area or know a caterer in the area, let us know! A Little Beacon Blog is now featuring a Business Directory to share all of the awesome things YOU do! Starting at only $55/listing/month.
Business categories we are launching include: automotive, branding, catering, dental, event planning, event spaces, health and wellness, home improvement, legal, medical, photography and real estate.
Don’t see a category that fits your business? Let us know! We can create it if you want to start a subscription!
Pictured here is the 2018 toy collection at Beacon Pilates. Photo Credit: Beacon Pilates and A Little Beacon Blog
Last Updated: 12/5/2019
Every year, community organizations fire up toy drives to help donate to kids in need. If you’re looking to donate toys to these drives, it’s best to mark your calendar for just before Thanksgiving, as that’s when these opportunities start opening up - some are even as early as October, like Toys for Tots. It’s good to get an early start too with Adopt-a-Family programs, which require more attention to detail in terms of what kind of toys you are purchasing for which family member. So mark your calendar for mid-November to return to this list to get a head start! And subscribe to our newsletter to get early advance notice.
If you missed a toy deadline and really want to give, consider a donation to the organization the toy is being collected for instead.
Things to know about Toy Drive Collections:
Wish Lists: Generally, the organization provides guidance on what type of gift to give. They know their kids and what they need or want.
New: Toys need to be new and in original packaging.
Usually Unwrapped: Usually the Wish List will ask for unwrapped toys.
No Guns or Other Violent Toys: Even if your kids love it, there is extra sensitivity for these kids.
BEACON PILATES
Beacon Pilates is collecting new toys for Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie. Kids: 80 kids live in 11 facilities, ages newborn to 21 years Wish List:Click here for the wish list and gift guidance. Juliet, the owner of Beacon Pilates, also has a list of individual wish list items. Email info@beaconpilates.com for more specific recommendations. Location Drop-Off: Beacon Pilates, 18 West Main St., Beacon, NY (near Brett’s Hardware) Times: 9 am to 9 pm Deadline: Monday, December 16, 2019 The Children’s Home is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment that improves lives and empowers at-risk children and families in the Hudson Valley and surrounding communities. The Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie provides residential care on the main campus in Poughkeepsie, in agency boarding homes or group homes off campus and apartments in the community. On any given day, over 90 children receive services in one of the home’s programs.
The STUDIO @ BEACON
The Studio @ Beacon is collecting new toys for Toys For Tots. Location Drop-Off: The Studio @ Beacon, 301 Main St., Beacon, NY (next to Royal Crepes) Deadline: Go now! The basic mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The primary goal of Marine Toys for Tots is, through the gift of a new toy, help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to America's less fortunate children. In order to better execute the program, in 1991 the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation was created at the behest of the Marine Corps.
BEACON’S SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army of Beacon is collecting toys via their “Angel Tree” at two locations with Wish Tags. Says Captain Leilani Alarcon: “We have toy wishes, and usually also like to get a couple of warm outfits, since most of the kids that participate are needy and their parents can’t afford to buy coats and boots, and such. Everything desired is on the tag. Wherever the tag is picked up, is a drop-off location, or people can bring them directly to our location in Beacon - the church. My email and cell information are on the tags for people to arrange drop-offs at our building.” Kids: Captain Leilani Alarcon described to us the types of children they reach with this toy drive: “Most of the kids for our toy drive are from low-income housing (Tompkins Terrace), as well as needy families that have come all the way from Hopewell and Poughkeepsie because they missed sign-in dates at the Poughkeepsie Salvation Army. Kids also are sent from Social Services or from our Food Pantry Assistance for Families here in the church as well. We have decided not to set an age range, since most older children get forgotten by most programs, so we have kids from 0 to 16.“ Wish List: Select a tag from the Angel Tree. It will have an exact gif suggestion. Location Drop-Offs: Planet Fitness in Wappingers Falls: 1572 U.S. 9, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Hilton Garden at Fishkill: 25 Westage Drive, Fishkill, NY 12524 Salvation Army Church in Beacon: 372 Main St., Beacon, NY (drop-off only, the Angel Trees are at the above locations). The main entrance of the church is actually behind it, by their parking lot off of Fishkill Avenue. Tuesdays and Thursdays are best for dropping off toys or bringing a donation to their Food Pantry (even year-round), as that is when their receptionist is there. Or, you can email Captain Leilani Alarcon at Leilani.Alarcon@USE.SalvationArmy.Org to make arrangements for other days. Deadline: TBA
LIBBY FUNERAL HOME
Libby Funeral Home is collecting stuffed stockings for Stockings For Soldiers. Location Drop-Off: Libby Funeral Home, 55 Teller Ave., Beacon, NY Deadline: TBA If filling stockings brings you joy during the holiday season, and so does giving the stockings to someone who isn’t expecting them, then this holiday initiative is for you. Libby Funeral Home has set up a free stocking for you to take home, decorate and stuff to the brim with holiday cheer. You will receive a list of recommended items along with the stocking. Libby Funeral & Cremation Services will ship the stockings (at their expense) to troops abroad in time for the holidays. Details >
GRACE SMITH HOUSE
Grace Smith House organizes an annual Adopt-A-Family program. Deadline: TBA During the holiday season, Grace Smith House opens its doors to countless survivors of domestic violence and their families. They need your help to provide holiday joy to the families who shelter serve. They are seeking items such as baby monitors (new), women's robes, women’s pajamas (all sizes), grocery store gift cards, gas gift cards, underwear (women, girls, boys), jewelry, makeup, shampoos and conditioners, body wash and spray, and more. Details >
ALL SPORT HEALTH + FITNESS
All Sport Health + Fitness is collecting select gifts via a wish-list tree. To participate, go to the fitness center and take a wish off the tree. Fulfill the wish, and bring it back! Location Drop-Off: All Sport, 17 Old Main St., Fishkill, NY 12524 Deadline: Go now!
LOVE HOLDS LIFE AT LEWIS TOMPKINS HOSE CO. #1 OF THE BEACON FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fifth annual Toy Giveaway in Honor of Carmen Viruet-Senato is being hosted with the help of Love Holds Life Children’s Cancer Foundation. They are collecting new and unwrapped toys for children ages 2 to 14 years old, to be distributed on Saturday, December 15, with Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at Lewis Tompkins Hose Co. #1. According to Southern Dutchess News, the event is in honor of Carmen Viruet-Senato, co-founder of LHL. The event is in memory of Leticia Dos Santos. Richard Senato, founder of LHL, said Leticia was 16 years old when she passed from Stage 4 bone cancer. She created the Cookies and Cocoa event with Senato and Viruet-Senato five years ago. Location Drop-Off: 13 South Ave., Beacon, NY Deadline: Donation deadline is Friday, December 7. Event for any child to receive a free toy is Saturday, December 15 from 10 am to 1 pm. All are invited. Love Holds Life helps children and their families financially battling cancer, on a national level from their offices located in New York's Hudson Valley region. Love Holds Life provides financial support for their medical treatments and expenses not covered by insurance. LHL’s ultimate mission is to ensure children with love and life. Their financial program consists of funding a child’s medical deductible, co-payment, co-insurance and prescriptions, along with travel reimbursement to and from treatment. Donations received from individuals, foundations, corporations and other local organizations help to fund each child and their family. NOTE: To be a drop-off location for Love Holds Life, please contact their office at (845) 592-4544
GUARDIAN SELF-STORAGE
Location Drop-Off: 14 collection locations in Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties Deadline: November 1-December 13 Donations will go towards Toys For Tots.
As we hear of more Toy Drive Collections, we will update this list. Keep refreshing the page!
How to Submit
If you are running a toy drive, please email details in the format matching the above listings to editorial@alittlebeaconblog.com. Thanks!
Do you know what to do when your bones are cold? Put on your mittens and head outside for a nice walk down Main Street. Hop on the free public Beacon Bus and get off at Barb's Butchery, where you can pick up one of her new lavender-scented candles made from beef tallow. What butcher makes candles? Only the most resourceful ones, maybe only in Beacon. We track discoveries like this in A Little Beacon Blog's Restaurant Guide, Shopping Guide and Classes Guides, where our advertisers like Barb's Butchery have photo galleries to show you neat things while you decide where to eat! Thank you to all of our sponsors.
Beacon Players presents “Rock of Ages”
Day: Friday to Sunday, November 15-17, 2019 Time: See below Location: Beacon High School, 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY Information >
International Film Night: "Ashes of Time Redux"
Day: Friday, November 15, 2019 Time: 7 pm Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Live Concert: Jason Kao Hwang: Sing House
Day: Saturday, November 16, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Beacon Zombie Outbreak
Days: Saturday and Sunday, November 16-17, 2019 Time: 1 pm to 2 am Location: 47 East Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Jasper String Quartet with flutist Mimi Stillman
Day: Sunday, November 17, 2019 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.
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
"Every single time I wear a piece I bought at Darryl's, be it a sweater or bolero, I get a compliment on it. Could be from my hubby - who thinks he saw it for the first time but it's really the third compliment he's given to the same sweater (the camouflage one with half hoodie and lacing up the back) - or from someone on the sidewalk." - Katie Hellmuth Martin, publisher of A Little Beacon Blog.
Darryl's has a wide collection of designer sweaters in the shop right now. Open seven days, come in and see which sweater you like!
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
Good news! Luxe Optique has Firi frames available for 30% off! They also have a selection of handmade frames on sale from 30% to 50% off.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light)
Look at the detail in Lambs Hill's Dress of The Week! Walk down the aisle in this elegant beaded A-Line gown from @signaturebyja. She's called "Hazel," and features a sequined tulle with a stunning feather-detailed train. The off-the-shoulder neckline makes the style elegant and unique.
Book your appointment today to try it on! Book online with Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique today or call them at (845) 765-2900!
Eat Church Food Truck 511 Fishkill Avenue
at Industrial Arts Brewing (past Auto Zone and the Barking Frog)
This week began Eat Church's test kitchen for the New Seasonal Menu/ReVue. Any dishes or flavors you would like to try? They want to hear from you! Visit the food truck at Industrial Arts Brewing, on Route 52.
Barb's Butchery
69 Spring Street
It’s that time! Please place your Thanksgiving orders with Barb's Butchery by Sunday, November 17! Information >
Ayurveda Workshop
Day: Saturday, November 16, 2019 Time: 1 to 4 pm Location: beBhakti Yoga, 89 DeWindt St., Beacon, NY Information >
The Crafty Hammer
4 South Chestnut St., Beacon, NY
(845) 834-9665 (WOOD) @thecraftyhammerllc
This just in! Black Friday shopping just got easier because The Crafty Hammer is having a Children's Fun Day while you hit the Black Friday deals! A 10 am and 2 pm Children's Workshop is available. This is a drop-off event for kids 6 to 10 years old, and includes food. Book now online, and enjoy shopping!
Parents Night Out
Day: Saturday, November 16, 2019 Time: 5 to 7:30 pm Location: Compass Arts, 395 Main St., Beacon, NY For parents with children 6 years or older Information >
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
4802 Ridgecrest Drive, Fishkill, NY 2 Bedrooms, 2 Bathroom From Gate House Realty: "Beautiful and bright end-unit townhouse in Holly Ridge." Rent: $2,350/month Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency
Event planning includes a lot of details. Antalek & Moore makes the insurance part easy. Let them do the homework and find you the best rate for the coverage you need. Learn More
A Little Beacon Space :: Pop-Up Shop Venue
You can have an instant shop at A Little Beacon Space! Display shelves, tables and racks are provided to make your weekend pop-up shop easier. Plus, promotion is included on A Little Beacon Blog. We have the system down to make your pop-up shop go smoothly. Check Pricing & Availability >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce :: Business Directory
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. 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.
Apparently parking rate hikes at Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s Metro-North (MTA) train stations were to be voted in today, according to a press release issued by Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104). According to the release, Jacobson and 11 of his legislative colleagues learned about the proposal to increase the daily and yearly parking rate, and to add a new charge for otherwise free parking on Saturdays, via regular local media when it was reported on this past Saturday, November 9, “in the middle of a long holiday weekend,” according to Jacobson’s press release. The proposal was to be voted upon today.
What Parking Prices Were Going To Increase?
The MTA’s proposal would increase daily, monthly, and annual parking rates as well as implement charges on Saturdays, when parking is currently free.
The proposed fee hike would increase the daily parking rate in Poughkeepsie from $3.75 to $4.50 and the annual rate from $358 to $394. In Beacon, the daily rate would increase from $3.50 to $4.25 and the annual rate from $298 to $328 for residents and from $358 to $394 for nonresidents.
“Charging parking fees on Saturday will also hurt riverfront tourism and depress attendance at many of Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s riverfront festivals, since most attendees park in MTA lots,” noted Jacobson.
Had There Been Talk Of A Parking Increase Before?
On November 1, Jacobson attended a meeting between Metro-North leadership and members of the Assembly, but the proposed increases were never mentioned by Metro-North.
After learning about the rate increase via local news, Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104) issued a joint statement with 11 of his legislative colleagues opposing the MTA’s proposed parking fee hikes at dozens of train stations, including Beacon and Poughkeepsie.
“The new charges are penny wise and pound foolish,” said Jacobson. “Instead of encouraging more people to use the trains, this proposal encourages people to drive to Manhattan, especially on Saturdays.”
The Vote To Increase The Parking Rate Hike Was Delayed
“I am happy to report that due to the outrage expressed by me and my colleagues, any decision on these parking fee increases has been delayed to December at the earliest,” said Jacobson.
The Arts & Crafted artisan pop-up shop continues in A Little Beacon Space through Sunday, and then poof! It’s gone like a pumpkin!
Shop from artists you can only find in pop-up opportunities like this (unless you find them via retail boutique options, which is always great!).
Artists include Anna West, a prolific painter who’s usually accessible by Instagram; Caiming Cheung, a metalsmith and jewelry designer known for her symbolic shapes; Kat Stoughtenborough, a fiber artist who right now is exploring shrunken wool wreaths; and Virginia Piazza, one of Beacon’s best-known potters.
Caiming Cheung is one artist I personally have been following ever since she cast a design of Beacon’s Dummy Light, which was included in Beacon Open Studios one year. She has a necklace in the shop now that is a fine twig on which a rose is placed. While I thought the chain would be too short for me, it fit perfectly. I’m bringing in my people in today to claim it for a Christmas wish. Each year I try to collect at least one piece from a metalsmith. I better get there before you, though! Just kidding, don’t worry: Caiming has more than one of these necklaces. She designs the mold, then sends it out to get cast in the metal, and voilà. The finished product sits in A Little Beacon Space right now. Find rings, earrings and bracelets also on her table.
Anna West is another I need to start my collection with. She has several inspiring themes, including chairs and shadows. Currently I’m leaning towards the chairs with shadow collection.
Virginia is someone whose work I have in my cupboards now, with a sugar bowl and garlic bowl. But I don’t have a robin’s-egg blue mug - yet… Also, do discover the smooth finish she has on some of the ribbed bowls she has on her table.
Kat designed a blue wool fabric wreath for Tin Shingle’s new co-working space downstairs. (Go check it out! We’ve opened the door for you to take a peek.) My daughter spied a small pink or purple wreath she coveted, so in we go with the Christmas wish list. Would make a great stocking popper (you know, something soft popping out of the top of a stuffed stocking).
The pop-up closes at 5pm today, so get in while you can!
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, King + Curated, the custom design shop for fine jewelry, moved from its original location at 1 East Main (over with Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique, Trax and SallyeAnder), across the street and tricky dummy light intersection to land in the spot that formerly housed the Russell Cusick Gallery. And it was a blink of an eye, as they did the move in a 24-hour sprint so as not to lose a day.
Inside, you will still find bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings that you can buy on the spot, like hand-stamped pieces. Some with precious stones, and some without. Be sure to ask for the earrings that weave through multiple ear piercings.
King + Curated now works with artists to hang art on their walls during Beacon’s Second Saturday. Read about it in A Little Beacon Blog’s Second Saturday Guide. The first artist to debut there - and anywhere, because somehow it’s her first show ever - is Jo Rigol, with 12 pieces from her Las Lloronas (“weeping women”) series.
FUN FACT: The name “King + Curated” originated as a combination of two different businesses. Husband-and-wife design team Todd and Lauren are the jewelry side. Wedding photographer Alicia King went in on the original space together with them. When it came time to move out of the original storefront location, the two businesses agreed that King + Curated was a great name for the jewelry brand, and it stuck. The original signage for the storefront now hangs behind the counter inside of the shop.
Russell Cusick’s gallery was a Main Street staple on the far end of town near the mountain. By far end of town, we mean following Main Street all the way around the curve, beyond Tioronda and the Howland Cultural Center, to where Main Street runs parallel with the old train tracks and Fishkill Creek across from The Roundhouse.
Russell could often be seen working on his art outside, propping it up on sawhorses and chatting with passers-by. He was passionate about that end of town, often exclaiming that it was the most beautiful part of Main Street with the least amount of foot traffic. A mystery that business and gallery owners down there are still trying to solve.
Russell has closed his gallery doors on Main Street, but his art business continues. He is well-known in Beacon for his gritty personhole covers about Beacon, and lately, hats and swag. However, he is a photographer, painter, and classically trained operatic baritone (awarded a full scholarship to Juilliard School!).
Like most businesses on Main Street, especially the East End, foot traffic alone does not sustain the business. Says Russ: “I am currently doing a WHOLE LOT of wholesale-ing from my home studio/workshop. I wholesale my work locally, to Mohonk Mountain House... West Point Military Academy... Bannerman Island Trust... and also in NYC and the Gulf Coast of Florida!!!”
You can buy his hats and sweatshirts from the Beacon Falls Cafe, located up the block, and soon, on Russell’s website, www.reflectionsonthehudson.com.
Some of Beacon’s art gallery openings for November 2019 Second Saturday, clockwise from top right: Jeffrey Terreson Fine Art; Beacon Photography Group’s Vintage show at the Howland Public Library; Ryan Cronin’s 30 Days in Senegal at Hudson Beach Glass; Jo Rigol’s Las Lloronas at King + Curated; and No.3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works’ cozy reading salon.
Happy Second Saturday weekend, Beacon! We're diving head-first into the cozy, bundled-up season. Keep warm by moving briskly among the art galleries! Up and down Main Street, and points beyond, get inspired by at least 17 openings (and a gallery closing - but you can bring home a piece from there!). Get all the details in Beacon's most comprehensive Second Saturday Guide.
Jeffrey Terreson Fine Art, who opened a gallery in Beacon in 2016, has decided to move it closer to his home in Westchester. Beacon's loss is potentially your gain; he's trying to move as little inventory as possible, so there's a big sale at the gallery this weekend. While you're on that end of town, wrap yourself in the warm words of No.3 Reading Room and Photo Book Works right next door.
A new art spot in Beacon is live, with Jo Rigol's work at King + Curated! Closing soon: The Beacon Photography Group's Vintage exhibition is in its last days at the Howland Public Library, and Global Art Museum's first show, Eustatia, is wrapping up soon, so make sure you at least see these!
Thanks to BeaconArts for all the work that goes into producing Second Saturday. And thanks to the galleries and shops that host art! Even more thanks to the sponsors of A Little Beacon Blog, for supporting local news and information, and to our readers who support those businesses. We couldn't do it without you! #grouphug
This weekend is November's Second Saturday in Beacon, and it is going to be another great one.
PRO TIP: Second Saturday happens all day. Openings generally end at 9 pm. If you go out later, you may miss a lot. So do the art walking in the afternoon, at least as darkness falls. We have a list of eateries who are open into the night in our Second Saturday Guide, so check it out as you plan.
Top Left: Jeffrey Terreson is moving out of his Beacon gallery in order to settle into his new gallery in Katonah. To lighten his load, he is having a huge Moving Sale, Saturday and Sunday only. We have the scoop.
Top Right: November at No.3 Reading Room & Photo Book Works brings new and rare poetry and photography books for you to peruse. Just the right cozy escape for these early, dark evenings. Open weekends only, so this is your only chance. Located near Jeffrey Terreson's gallery, so hit them up at the same time.
Bottom Left: Larry Fitzpatrick's Monopoly Shoe in the Beacon Photography Group's Vintage show, closing soon (November 16) at the Howland Public Library.
Bottom Right: Jo Rigol's Las Lloronas series is the inaugural "art wall" at King + Curated's shop on the East End of town.
Arts & Crafted Pop-Up Market
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 12 pm to 8 pm Day: Sunday, November 10, 2019 Time: 10 am to 5 pm Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
The Wheels On The Bus
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 11 am & 12:30 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
TERRESON BEACON Moving Sale
Day: Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10, 2019 Time: 11 am to 9 pm Location: TERRESON Beacon Gallery, 475 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
This is a wonderful opportunity to collect originals and prints. This opportunity applies ONLY to art work on premises. Come into the gallery, but you can text Jeffrey at (914) 772-6570 to secure something. Interest has started coming in. First come, first serve. Shipping available.
Open House at Cold Fit Cryotherapy
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 12 to 4 pm Location: Cold Fit Cryotherapy, 473 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Pop-Up Concert: Contrapunctus Amongst Us
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 4 pm Location: Beacon Music Factory, 333 Fishkill Ave., Beacon, NY Information >
PTACEK Home and LLTO (Live Light Travel Often) Grand Opening
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 6 to 9 pm Location: 146 Main Street #2, Beacon NY Information >
The Artichoke Storytelling Series
Day: Saturday, November 9, 2019 Time: 8 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Binnacle Books' "Books For Prisoners" Fundraiser
Featuring Josh MacPhee: Reading & DJing
Day: Sunday, November 10, 2019 Time: 6 pm Location: Quinn’s, 330 Main St., Beacon, NY
Read all about it in the Highlands Current. Information >
On The Exhale
Day: Sunday, November 10, 2019 Time: 7 pm Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
Veterans Day Ceremony
Day: Monday, November 11, 2019 Time: 11 am Location: Veterans Memorial Building, 413 Main St., Beacon, NY
Keynote Speaker: U.S. Army Reserve Captain Marikay Satryano Information >
Plan ahead and check out what's coming up this month in our Events Guide.
Arts & Crafted Pop-Up Market
Day: Saturday & Sunday, November 9 & 10, 2019 Location: A Little Beacon Space, 291 Main St., Beacon, NY Information >
BOUTIQUES ON THE WEST END
Darryl's Women's Clothing Boutique
155 Main Street www.darrylsny.com
Wrap yourself in style with this sweater blanket - it will be perfect for walking Main Street on Second Saturday with a cup of coffee from Trax or Bank Square. This designer line, Aldomartins, is designed and made in Barcelona, and available right here in Beacon for you at Darryl's. Try it on to see how cozy it is with skinny jeans and ankle boots or tall boots.
Luxe Optique
183 Main Street www.luxeoptique.com
Drop-dead gorgeous, right? We're talking about the Rigards frames (winky face)! Teya, a local model and stylist at Luxe, is wearing these unusual frames that have a clip-on feature. You must go in to try them on.
BOUTIQUES ON THE EAST END
Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique
1 East Main Street, Retail #3 www.lambshillbridalboutique.com (near the dummy light)
This weekend, Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique is having a @Signature by JaTrunkShow. Book your appointment while they still have limited availability! Take the opportunity to try on Signature by Justin Alexander's spring/summer 2020 line! Plus enjoy a 10% discount on any Signature gown. November Friday to Monday, November 8-11 only! ⠀
Eat Church Food Truck 511 Fishkill Avenue
at Industrial Arts Brewing (past Auto Zone and the Barking Frog)
This week began Eat Church's test kitchen for the New Seasonal Menu/ReVue. Any dishes or flavors you would like to try? They want to hear from you! Visit the food truck at Industrial Arts Brewing, on Route 52.
The Crafty Hammer
4 South Chestnut Street, Beacon, NY
(845) 834-9665 (WOOD) @thecraftyhammerllc
Always keeping it DIY at The Crafty Hammer. Check out their new Tool Depot! The Crafty Hammer will be closed for some tiny renovations, but will be open in a week or two. Make sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram for up-to-date info!
For a full list of upcoming classes, visit A Little Beacon Blog's Kids Classes Guide.
1 Oak Road, Fishkill, NY 12508 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom From Gate House Realty: "Great split-level-style home, with great light, on large corner lot. Open-concept living on first floor." Price: $299,000 Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550 Details + Pictures >
Antalek & Moore
Susan Antalek Pagones did a tremendous job as a Passion Speaker during Friday’s Go Red lunch to help women support women in getting heart-healthy. Susan told the audience about the night her mother passed from heart disease. How she got the call to come to her parents' house. She thought it was for her father. But it was for her mother, who passed before Susan could say goodbye, from heart disease. Read more.
A Little Beacon Space :: Event Venue
An event venue for board meetings, company retreats, video presentations, sales meetings, pop-up shops, photo shoots, and more. Details >
Beacon Chamber of Commerce ::
Business Directory
Is your business in the Business Directory of the Beacon Chamber of Commerce yet? It should be. Join here today. 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
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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.
Remember that time when the artist Jeffrey Terreson moved to Beacon? Into 475 Main Street, the building next to the Howland Cultural Center that is currently for sale? He brought to us sculpture-like paintings that Ralph Lauren, Joseph Abboud, major interior designers, architects, and others collected. After this weekend, he is completing his move to Katonah, but before he does, he’s having a major, MAJOR art sale to make that load easier for him.
Classified as a fine artist, Jeffrey wonders why people restrict themselves to a brush in the fine art world. He uses a knife to carve the textured material he sometimes includes in his work, like sand. Or a blow-torch to melt the wax he mixes in with paint. His paintings are layered with history of his vision as it gets covered up by new layers and vision and carved into to tell new secrets.
As Jeffrey closes out his Beacon chapter, he is not doing so quietly. He is having a MAJOR MOVING SALE. Yeah, we said it in all-caps. Because it’s huge. And let’s be honest, it is unusual for an artist to do. But again, let’s be honest. Jeffrey is an unusual artist.
Months ago, Jeffrey opened a new gallery in Katonah, called Forward Contemporary. He has been very busy securing his art in respected realms for a fine artist, and has written you a letter about it in this article below.
Sale For Two Days Only - Up To 80% Off Prints (Some Enhanced) and 50% Off Originals
Believe it. If you pined for Jeffrey’s art before, or worse - if you put it off because you thought you could buy it at any time, this is your time. It’s not the last time you can buy Jeffrey Terreson, of course. He is alive and well. And you can find his new gallery in Katonah. But this is the only time for this kind of sale.
There might even be bidding wars. The large white piece that some of you know so well - several have chirped up for it. So don’t wait. Text Jeffrey at (914) 772-6570. Secure the piece you want, however, with your credit card or cash. This is a first-come, first-get sale.
First-Come, First-Get. Saturday and Sunday Only!
Here’s how this is going to work. You need to go into the gallery at 475 Main Street in Beacon, NY on Second Saturday and Sunday: November 9 and 10. Talk to Jeffrey. Get the price. Lock it in and walk away with an incredible piece of art, or make an offer and wait. The gallery is located next to the Howland Cultural Center, across from Echo.
This sale includes originals, prints, enhanced prints (meaning, Jeffrey painted on them), and other surprises you’ll find out about when you go.
Out Of Town? No Problem. Shipping Works.
OK, fine - if you’re out of town, you can still be in on this sale. Secure a work with your credit card, and give your shipping address. It’s that simple.
Letter From Jeffrey Terreson: “Dear Beaconites…“
In his own words, here is a parting letter from Jeffrey. You can see his take on the art industry at the moment, and his latest accomplishments. You can always visit his website at www.jeffreyterreson.com and Instagram at @jeffreyterreson_fineart.
Beacon has the best people, great friends. I love Beacon.
We are taking this wonderful experience and moving it closer to my home, in Bedford, NY. To our new space in Katonah. It is 5 miles from my home. I was up in Beacon 352 days last year. Gas alone ends up being half my rent in the new gallery. So economics played a big role in my decision to move out of the Beacon gallery.
This year has been great on several fronts. Recently, I have been working on major project with architects from San Francisco and West Palm Beach. Really exciting!
On the museum front, I have a piece juried in by the curator from Museum of Fine Art in Boston, as guest juror, into the Katonah Museum of Art, for “Sound.”
I also had a piece called “Weathered White” chosen by the curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver for their Gala show! It was an amazing gala. I am also in discussion with the Parrish Museum about a cool project. TBA. Sign up for my newsletter and you’ll get the info.
SIDE NOTE FOR ARTISTS: One goal for all artists who take the more serious fine art path over the commercial path is to garner museum credentials. It is a complete risk. 100%. Plus the audience for sales is smaller. The work has has to be noticed.
But I know if I stop, I will never get there. So my role as an artist is to keep painting when no one is looking. When they do see, I will have the equity in my work to engage the opportunity. You just cannot wait for opportunity to show and not be prepared. We are what we manifest. It is a full-time commitment.
The future for me holds more China engagement, some art fairs and bringing new artists to the gallery in Katonah. The Katonah space is really special. Please come and visit. I invite all to stop by. Of course we are on Instagram, which is really becoming the “website “ for our industry. Visit us at @forwardcontemporary on Instagram.
But come see me on November’s Second Saturday in Beacon.
—Jeffrey Terreson
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Terreson
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Terreson
Editorial Sponsor Note: Y’all. We at A Little Beacon Blog are going to miss Jeffrey very much. From before the day he stepped foot in Beacon, he became a financial supporter of A Little Beacon Blog by way of sponsoring his announcement article. Getting to know his story was so awesome, we even published a behind-the-scenes article on the building and gallery. He has now sponsored this Moving Sale article. We thank him so much for respecting the craft of writing and getting the word out. Honestly, it’s an art to do what we do. To build a relationship with you. Jeffrey recognizes that, and we appreciate it. Thank you for supporting him!
Meghan Spiro’s exhibit for October’s Second Saturday was pretty powerful.
The first I learned of it was in the grocery store checkout line, which is where most important information is traded and discussed. What stuck with me was not the subject matter, but the responses Meghan said she got from women she told about the project, which was an autobiographical visual and poetic exploration of the physical abuse she suffered during her marriage.
Therefore, we are lifting some of her photos from the show and publishing them here for more to see. At least one of them, “A Bloody, Beautiful Blooming” shown here, was featured in February 2019 at the local gallery Catalyst during their “Cycles” exhibit.
In order to help others who may harbor similar feelings Meghan experienced, this article not only displays select images of the art, but includes a deep dive into how she created the art.
About “Without Fear And Full Of Love”
“Without Fear And Full Of Love” is an autobiographical piece about surviving domestic violence and Meghan’s journey into healing, as told through photos, paintings and poetry. It debuted at BAU (Beacon Artist Union) in October 2019 and was curated by Russ Ritell, Meghan’s fellow artist and partner, who is a member at BAU Gallery.
“One in four women have been a victim of severe physical violence with an intimate partner in their lifetime, and I am one of them. For years, I spent my life in silence about the abuse, as it happened and in my attempts to recover. I found myself ill-equipped to handle my PTSD, my addictions, and my self-loathing. It wasn’t until I signed up to write this story and manifest these self-portraits that I actually began my deeper healing, transmuting my suffering into wisdom and my loathing into love. These poems and artwork are my truth that I bare to all who have suffered in silence over their abuse. It’s time to face our shadows in full honesty and rise above our pain in full embrace of our totality so that we may finally live without fear and full of love.”
— Meghan Spiro
About The Creative Process To Create The Art
“The Victim, The Vigilant, The Virtuous” Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
The artwork included in the show was mixed-media, to say the least. It includes photography, painting, gold leaf, wings, snow, fire, so much. For the rest of this article, we’re going to let Meghan explain in her own words how she produced it:
The Origin Of “Without Fear And Full Of Love”
Meghan:
“This is a story about my first marriage that ended nearly 10 years ago. I felt so much shame after surviving domestic violence; I didn't tell many people. I quietly suffered with my PTSD and panic attack for years. Three years ago, I decided to confront my traumas head-first, so I did ayahuasca, a visionary hallucinogenic medicine that's said to be similar to 30 therapy sessions in one night. It was then that my heart cracked open, and I saw the roots of my panic attacks and PTSD, and so began my deeper healing.
“At the same time, I made a commitment to honor my healing and journey as a series of self portraits and poetry. Sometimes the images would come first, sometimes the poetry. Some images are unhinged from any writing. I'm making a book out of it, which is nearly done, but the show provides the highlights of the story.
“My fellow artist and partner Russ Ritell, who is a member at BAU Gallery, decided to curate my show for October, which coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I feel deeply honored to have this opportunity, and I dedicate this show to him. He has been a healing presence since I met him nearly four years ago. He encouraged me to tell the story through art in the first place.”
About The Self-Portraiture - Taking And Conceiving Of Images
Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
Meghan:
“All of my artwork for this series are self portraits. The domestic violence artwork is about what actually happened. The piece that has a wound painted on my rib, for example, is actually about him breaking my rib. In the healing pieces, they are still realistic to my healing messages more symbolic.
"The Victim, The Vigilant, The Virtuous" is about the mindset shift I experienced in my ayahuasca journey. I aimed for each piece to be seen as a visual poem, reflective of my writing that often accompanies the artwork.
A behind-the-scenes photo taken with a drone in the making of “It’s gone. I’m gone.” Photo Credit: Mark Westin
“Some of my self portraits were set on a timer with a tripod, while others had the assistance of friends. I would work out the concepts ahead of time, set the lighting, backdrops, wardrobe, make-up, and a tripod or a mark for the angle. Usually the friend who was helping me would be my test model. I would fully compose the shot with them, then we would switch so I would then be the model and they would simply click the shutter.
“As far as thinking up the concepts, they would just come to me when I was working out struggle of the lesson. Some images would come together in an afternoon, while others would take months. It depended on the setups, costumes, and compositing and digital work. There is a piece about microdosing on mushrooms that was a full collaboration with a good friend, Caren Charles. The background painting took months to manifest, and her body painting, the day of the shoot, took nearly four hours to complete. ‘A Bloody, Beautiful Blooming’ took only an afternoon, containing a simple self portrait and a still life that I did in my home.
“I digitally enhance my photos. Some of them are simply combining exposures, while others involve special effects. I'm a commercial photographer and great retoucher, so I put my commercial skills into my art for this series.”
The Use Of Gold Leaf In “Without Fear And Full Of Love”
“Mend With Gold” Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
Meghan:
“The gold leaf was used on a few of the photographs. The first one is called ‘Mend with Gold,’ an image about covering up the abuse. There's a Japanese method of mending pottery called Kintsugi. I always appreciated the sentiment of mending the broken to be beautiful again, and I felt like that was what I was doing to cover up the abuse. Before going out in public, I would spend an hour putting on makeup to hide all the marks. There was so much shame I felt about the abuse then. I was afraid to tell anyone. We carried on in public like it didn’t exist.
“There's a couple more pieces with gold leaf, photo transfers on marble. These two pieces call in animal medicine, the bull and the owl. The bull piece is called ‘Stubborn Resilience,’ and it's really about cutting through the victim mentality to see that resiliency is the touchstone to connecting with your third eye again. I adorned the third eye in the piece with gold leaf sacred geometry.
“Stubborn Resilience” Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
“Letting Go Is Not A Slow Slide Down; It’s A Free-Fall Until You Fly.” Photo transfer on marble with gold leaf, 16x20 Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
“The owl piece is called ‘Letting Go is Not a Slow Slide Down; It's a Freefall Until You Fly,’ named for the poem that it connects to. Last spring, I accidentally killed an owl while driving, and I honored her by photographing and burying her, but before I did, I clipped and cured her wings. Her medicine was to truly teach me that lesson, whether it was circumstances, perceptions, or people who no longer served me. The image has wings behind my head where I close my eyes in surrender, while a small figure falls to my third eye.
“Mastery of Presence” Photo Credit: Meghan Spiro
“The final piece that has gold leaf is ‘Mastery of Presence,’ where I'm meditating in front of a ring of fire and I'm covered in gold leaf. For the photo shoot, I covered myself in coconut oil and attached gold leaf to my face, chest, and arms then sat in front of a floral ring lit on fire in the snow. The gold here is all about celebrating my inner journey outward. I was called to these lyrics from Martin Gore that really embody the realization (more so than the poem that accompanies this piece). "Wisdom of ages, rush over me. Heighten my senses, enlighten me. Lead me on, eternally. The spirit of love is rising within me, talking to you now, telling you clearly, the fire still burns. "
“There are other threads throughout the work beyond the gold. Fire, water, and blood come up multiple times.”
Background On “A Bloody, Beautiful Blooming”
Let’s bring the focus back to the piece shown at the beginning of this article, “A Bloody, Beautiful Blooming.” A poem accompanies it that we wanted to connect you with, during this time of second looks at accepting women’s cycles as normal and celebrated, rather than hidden.
December 2018, I did a womb meditation guided by my close friend Melissa Robin, then I journaled, wrote a poem, then created this artwork. One of the key visions I received from the womb meditation was the rooting that occurs on a woman’s moon, and that we all hold our trauma and ancestral trauma in the womb. Menstruation gives us the opportunity to release the energies of lovers, the traumas from miscarriages, pregnancies and abuse; it taps us into the current to our emotional and spiritual realm, as we women are channelers between the spiritual and physical realms through our wombs, and our ability to channel life.
This poem and artwork was featured in the show “Cycles” presented by CelebrateWomxn845 at Catalyst Gallery in Beacon, NY in February of 2019. Read the poem in full here.
Where To Find “Without Fear And Full Of Love” And Meghan Next
Meghan is finishing a book for “Without Fear And Full Of Love.” You can experience the gallery show inside of its pages. She is head-down focusing on it now. When it publishes, we’ll feature it in our Writerly Happenings series. Follow the show’s Instagram, @withoutfearandfulloflove for updates, artwork and poetry, as well as her personal Instagram, @meghanspiro.
Also follow Meghan through her Philasophia. For instance, Philasophia Cinema Series is presenting FRIDA at Story Screen on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7 pm.
Susan Antalek Pagones lost her mother to heart disease when her mother was 57. Susan was just 31 and had two small children, who were used to seeing their grandmother regularly.
“I still can turn my life around and take control, I am here and my mom is not. I am now her voice to advocate and educate.”
— Susan Antalk Pagones
Today, Susan is 52 and it only just hit her that she is almost the same age as her mother when she died.
As many Beaconites know, Susan and her insurance firm Antalek & Moore are deeply committed to and involved in the community. As such, Susan had signed on to the leadership team for Go Red, an initiative from the American Heart Association. Not only that, she was accepted into the BetterU program, an intense fitness program based in education to improve heart health.
Susan will speak about her BetterU experience at the 2019 Dutchess-Ulster Go Red For Women Luncheon this Friday, November 8, 2019. Tickets are still available, and you’re invited! The keynote speaker is Mara Schiavocampo, a correspondent on Dr. Oz, who will speak about her heart-healthy changes after the birth of her first child.
ALBB: What has been your biggest takeaway thus far from the BetterU program?
Susan:
“It could happen to me. Until I was asked to be on the leadership team for Go Red, I never thought about this happening to me. Now I am four years away from the age my mother was when she passed. The BetterU program is a jump start to push me in the right direction to become heart-healthy.
“You have to commit to at least three times a week working out, but they give you a gym membership plus small group training so you can meet the others who are participating and have company at the gym.”
ALBB: Walk us through a workout at Golds Gym.
Susan:
Susan Antalek Pagones, working out at Golds Gym in Fishkill as part of the BetterU Challenge from the American Heart Association. Photo Credit: Susan Antalek Pagones
“Once a week I have a private lesson with a trainer. Once a week I have small-group training with other participants to work out. Then I sign up for other classes offered at the gym or I just go and do my workout on my own. The personal trainer knows issues with me, my limitations etc. He right now knows we only have three weeks left, so yesterday he kicked my ass. 😊 Tonight I was going to do a workout on my own, but think I will go to the track instead.”
ALBB: Walk us through the Heart Healthy Meeting. What are they teaching you?
Susan:
“Once a week, the BetterU participants meet in some way. We have met at Adams to do a walk-around and look at healthy foods. We met one night at Essies in Poughkeepsie, where the chef let us in his kitchen and taught us how to cook healthy meals.
“We met in Poughkeepsie at a studio and had a class doing yoga. We have met with doctors to learn about healthy numbers. This week we are meeting with a nutritionist. Last week we met to discuss psychosocial approaches to a healthy heart (meditation, etc).”
ALBB: What are some new awarenesses you have about heart health and your life?
Susan:
“I guess I never really sat and thought about how EVERYTHING ties into healthy living. Food, exercise, stress, all parts of your body etc. How the mind can really play a role in this. Right down to how and where you eat your food. If you are sitting at a table with no distractions eating ice cream, you will enjoy it more because you are focusing on what you are eating, vs. you sitting in the dark on the couch watching TV and eating it. Your satisfaction is different, as your mind is not just focusing on the ice cream, but all other things around you.
“I have learned not to make excuses, but really take some time out for me. I have attended every seminar offered so far. I put it on my calendar. I have started to put a workout on my calendar so I have no excuse not to go.”
ALBB: Regarding your mother: did you see early warnings signs?
Susan:
“My mother did not have many warning signs. If she did, she was not educated to know what they meant.
“My takeaway has been: ‘It could happen to me.’ Until I was asked to be on the leadership team for the Go Red, I never thought about this happening to me. Now I am four years away from the age my mother was when she passed.”
— Susan Antalek Pagones
“That is the true message I am trying to get out there. My mom was tired. She also started to have heartburn. These are warning signs that I am not sure we in this day and age would still associate with having heart disease.
“BUT if we start to take the time out more, eat healthy, have regular doctor appointments and not cheat ourselves, maybe, just maybe we can avoid any serious issues. I am looking at this as a proactive approach, not reactive. I still can turn my life around and take control; I am here and my mom is not. I am now her voice to advocate and educate.”
ALBB: Tell us about the lunch on November 8 - what can we expect if we go?
Susan:
“There is a great speaker and all the participants will be there wearing red!! There will be two personal speakers to give their story. One is the Pawenski family. They will show a video of their story. The other is myself speaking about my mom and her story.
“There is a “Personality” auction. Bags are donated which are filled with the personally of the person who has donated the bags. I know last year there were some Michael Kors bags filled with goodies. I am going to donate a bag filled with yarn, embroidery, etc and will give a lesson if wanted.
“Like I said, until I was asked to be on the committee, I did not realize how close I was to the age of my mom when she died. I actually said, ‘Oh shit!’ - really. I better stop and think about myself while I can. This is starting to become a passion in my life for my Mom - to advocate and educate.”
Learn More About The November 8 Lunch
You can learn more about the lunch here at this link. The lunch, which is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, is on Friday, November 8, 2019, at the The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY. You can purchase tickets here.
Editorial Note: This article was sponsored by Susan Antalek Pagones of Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency. She is committed to getting the word out. Thank you for supporting businesses and individuals who support us.
The votes were rolling in and updating until about 11:30 pm the night of Tuesday’s election. As of 6:57 am Wednesday, some results have not changed, and the Dutchess County Board of Elections website still marks the results as Unofficial.
So far, here is how it is looking:
BEACON MAYOR Lee Kyriacou (DEM, WOR, GRE) 2,161 57.02% Randy J Casale (REP, IND) 1,474 38.89% Lee has served on Beacon City Council for a number of years, impacting zoning law to tighten regulations on what can be built. Historic preservation is also important to him. He ran his platform on this.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 1 Terry Nelson (DEM, WOR, GRE) 735 99.19% Terry ran unopposed. Rent control is one of his key areas on his agenda.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 2 Air Rhodes (DEM, WOR, GRE) 684 99.42% Air is on the Conservation Committee for the City of Beacon, and ran unopposed. Air is the Development Director & Assistant Executive Director at Hudson Valley Seed and cites social justice values and the environment as core to the platform. Air replaces John Rembert, who did not seek re-election. John’s platform issues were serving youth and seniors, affordable housing and overdevelopment. You’ll still see John around, as he is a military veteran who is active with the American Legion, and is an Ordained Minister of the Star Bethlehem Baptist Church.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 3 Jodi McCredo (DEM, WOR) 592 68.12% Andrew E Gauzza IV (REP, CON, IND) 276 31.76% Jodi is currently the Councilperson for Ward 3. Several issues are key to her platform, including overdevelopment and parking.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 4 Dan Aymar-Blair (DEM, WOR, GRE) 651 67.39% Kelly A Ellenwood (IND) 314 32.51% Dan has been a large presence in resisting overdevelopment and organizing others through information about Planning and Zoning issues. Kelly has served as a founding volunteer for many community programs around town, and was with BeaconArts for a number of years. One of her latest projects included getting the free Beacon Bus Loop - the G Line - off the ground and happening.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AT LARGE George Mansfield (DEM, WOR) 2,689 42.62% Amber Grant (DEM, WOR) 2,769 43.89% Estefano Rendon (REP) 812 12.87% George and Amber return to City Council for additional terms. George is a longtime councilmember, local business owner of Dogwood, and is in the construction industry. Key to Amber’s platform are the environment and Beacon’s new Municipal ID program.
COUNTY LEGISLATOR DISTRICT 16 Frits Zernike (DEM, WOR) 1,676 54.15% Theoni S Salotto (REP, CON, IND) 1,418 45.82% Frits is the current County Legislator for District 16 and represents Beacon. One of his projects has included extending the open hours for wine and liquor stores to be open past 7 pm until 9 pm. This was an issue that had been defeated for years.
COUNTY LEGISLATOR DISTRICT 18 Nick Page (DEM, WOR, GRE) 1,950 72.12% Michael B Justice (REP, CON) 657 24.30% Nick is the current County Legislator for District 18 and represents Beacon. One of his issues is uncovering more about Beacon’s sales tax, which is collected by Dutchess County and distributed out to Beacon by the County in a flat rate. The actual amount of sales tax generated in Beacon has yet to be disclosed. Article from A Little Beacon Blog to come on that.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE Marcus J Molinaro (REP, CON, IND) 39,871 58.53% Joseph Ruggiero (DEM, WOR) 28,235 41.45% Marcus is the current County Executive.
COUNTY CLERK Bradford Kendall (REP, CON, IND) 36,260 54.77% Kenya Gadsden (DEM, WOR) 29,936 45.22% Kenya has served on Beacon’s Board of Education for a number of years, seeing it through one of its dark periods when Beacon’s Superintendent position turned over nearly every year for nine years. She was on the Board when the search was conducted for Beacon’s current superintendent, Matthew Landahl, who has been a good fit with the district and community.
CITY OF NEWBURGH MAYOR Torrance R. Harvey (DEM, WOR, LIB) 1,569 74.54% Ali T. Muhammad (IND) 529 25.13% Beacon’s neighboring city across the Hudson River. Torrance is the current Mayor of Newburgh, who initially came in to replace Mayor Judy Kennedy at her request in April 2018. Torrance is a history teacher. Ali grew up in Beacon and had served as a Councilperson in Beacon. (source)
CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE MAYOR Rob Rolison (REP, CON, IND) 2,835 52.87% Joash Ward (DEM, WOR) 2,523 47.05% Rob is the current Mayor of Poughkeepsie. Beacon is tied to Poughkeepsie in a lot of ways, with shared municipal services.
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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.
