$25 Million Promised For New Youth Center (Formerly YMCA) In Poughkeepsie From Dutchess County

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison are moving forward on the development of a Youth Opportunity Center at the site of the former YMCA on Montgomery Street in Poughkeepsie. The two leaders have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a formal partnership to redevelop the property, with Dutchess County pledging commitment for up to $25 million for the design and construction of a new Youth Opportunity Center at the site, according to a press release issued by Dutchess County today.

This property is not for sale, but partners are being sought in the development is what is available there. Says Colleen Pillus, Communication Director of Dutchess County: “The intent is take the building down and create an open space while design plans are worked on for the construction of the project and community partners are sought. The 35 Montgomery Street Coalition includes partners that could potentially play a role.

Each step of the project – demo, design, construction – will have to bid out.

Where Is The Former YMCA On Montgomery Street?

According to the City of Poughkeepsie’s development page: “This is a high-profile location, situated just south of Downtown Poughkeepsie, easily accessed from Routes 44/55 and 9. The site is adjacent to well used Eastman and Lincoln Parks, Garfield Place Historic District, and is across the street from Soldier’s Fountain, a National Historic Landmark. The site is less than 600 feet from the Adriance Memorial Library on Market Street and is 0.6 miles from Vassar Brothers Medical Center.”

About The Former Dutchess YMCA

The former Dutchess YMCA closed in 2009, but had offered community rooms, a fitness center, gymnasium, indoor track, and a large 25 yard swimming pool among other amenities. It was enjoyed by city and county residents - kids and adults - for decades, according to the development website. Afterschool programs offering academic assistance and physical fitness supported generations of Poughkeepsie youth. Since shutting its doors, the building has been vacant ever since. A a requirement was made on the deed in 1966 by then Common Council requiring educational use for the property, which was promoted when calling for submissions to develop the property. Poughkeepsie’s Common Council had the power to modify or remove the deed.

The Intent For The New Youth Opportunity Center

The MOU outlines the intent and process to build the Youth Opportunity Center, including agreement that the County will have joint ownership of the property with the City of Poughkeepsie. The City took ownership of the YMCA property as part of its anti-blight initiative last year with the goal of using the property to yield significant community benefit.) The County of Dutchess must have an ownership interest in the property in order to finance any construction through a bond under local finance law.

Next steps will include drafting and formalizing an intermunicipal agreement between the City and the County, which Mayor Rolison will submit to the City Council for approval at a future meeting. Following City Council adoption of the agreement, the Dutchess County Legislature will then vote to authorize the agreement. Once the intermunicipal agreement has been authorized by both bodies, County Executive Molinaro will forward a resolution to the County Legislature to finance the demolition of the building and creation of temporary green space, and future construction of the youth center.

Demolition and Green Space At First

With support from the City Council and the Dutchess County Legislature, the process will begin with the demolition of the existing structure due to deterioration and environmental concerns. The site will be transformed into community green space while plans continue for a youth center and other community benefit services on the more than 3-acre site.

County Executive Molinaro said, “The County is eager and determined to move forward with the development of the YMCA site to create a center where the youth of our county can have the support and resources they need from birth through adulthood. The center will serve as a compass for them on the Path to Promise. Though the past six months have tested us like never before, our resolve remains fervent, and we are making the deliberate, thoughtful decision to make this long-term investment in a countywide youth center. It is clear that as we look around us, both nationally and locally, that our society needs such a facility to help youth successfully navigate their path to adulthood and we are excited to take these next steps to bring this much-needed resource to fruition.”

“This is a significant step in our overall vision,” said City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison. “We will bring activities to this site that affirm our commitment to create a community and recreation resource for the public. Taking the building down and creating open space in the interim is a sound, practical move that will benefit the community. We greatly appreciate our partnership with Dutchess County to get this project moving and look forward to future steps that will greatly strengthen our community.”

The City and County will engage with 35 Montgomery Community Coalition, whose vision presentation for the site, which can be viewed at cityofpoughkeepsie.com/35montgomerystreet, involves a multi-use facility that would provide services connected to their respective missions in the community. The coalition, which includes Dutchess County as well as education and health care leaders, has been working together to determine the most appropriate organizational structure to advance the project. The City, County and the coalition will work to secure funding sources in addition to the County’s $25 million commitment.

Chairman of the County Legislature Gregg Pulver voiced his support for the plan saying, “A youth center has been part of our discussions for several years now and it is encouraging to have this clear path laid out. Once the City Council approves the agreement, I look forward this project being adopted in the County’s next Capital Plan.” Chairman Pulver noted he expects the proposal to have overwhelming support in the Legislature as part of the County’s Path to Promise initiative. He also noted Democratic lawmakers on both the Common Council and County Legislature just last week publicly stated support for the County investment, which should allow the process to begin soon.

Dutchess County’s Path to Promise initiative strives to ensure that all young people in Dutchess County – from birth through age 19 – have the assets they need to achieve their full potential as they grow into young adults. The Youth Opportunity Center will be home to many of the activities, programs, and organizations supported by Path to Promise. “It will be the first destination on a path to building a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life for young people. The Center is an investment in our young people, and therefore, an investment in our future,” concluded Molinaro.

Does Beacon Have A Youth Center?

No. Beacon used to, but it closed. It is referred to often in A Little Beacon Blog’s sister podcast, “Wait, What Is That?” Co-host Brandon Lillard grew up in Beacon and used to use the service often. Beacon does have a Recreation Center building at 25 Center Street, but that is mainly small offices with one small playroom that has programming in it sometimes.

Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou expressed interested in using the “shared service” model with Fishkill’s Recreation Center during our podcast with him, which is currently used by many Beaconites who can drive there. But many youth in Beacon do not have cars, or access to be driven to a youth center, making a youth center out of the community hard to access. Public transportation does exist from Beacon to Poughkeepsie. Former City Council Member for Beacon, Ali T. Muhammad, who grew up in Beacon has expressed his vision and priority for a recreation center in Beacon in this podcast.

FOOD: Easy Breakfast/Lunch For All Kids (Toddlers to Teens) From Beacon Schools: New Pickup + Delivery Details

Photo Credit: Top Left and Bottom Right Photos are from Sargent Elementary PTO.

PUBLISHED: 3/23/2020
UPDATED: 4/27/2020

School children registered in the City of Beacon School District are eligible to pick up food packages from two locations: The Beacon High School and South Avenue Elementary. All are welcome to come pick up this food. Social distancing is being practiced. Safe systems are in place to get the food to your hands. Drive your car or walk to pickup. Delivery options are also available and being further developed.

All Kids and Families Are Encouraged To Use The Food - Even You (Yes, You!)

All are encouraged to use the food. Even you if you have a stocked pantry. The food has been rationed for you, and there is plenty of it. In fact, not everyone has been using it. Possibly with the mentality of: “I don’t want to take from someone else - let someone else in need have it.” If that is your mentality, that is a beautiful thought, but go forward with participating in the plan.

If it means you have a little extra, then you’re able to give that to someone in need that you come across directly in your hyper-hyper local neighborhood. Your kids also may be excited to see their old snacks. Even the “alternate lunch” bread of the PB+J. Seems to be that the brown bread of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a particular favorite with my little ones. As are the sugar cereal boxes and apple bags. They are next looking for the pizza. Not sure if that will happen, but so far, the cafeteria staff and the superintendent have been pretty surprising about what food options they are slinging out of there. My cat even likes the turkey and cheese cubes.

New Times and Food Package Pickup

The cafeteria staff is modifying this food distribution plan based on usage and feedback. As of today, it is moving to a two-day pickup schedule. The idea is that you pick up enough meal slots to last between the pickup times. Delivery options exist, and those details are blow.

Pickup Times

MONDAY: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches

WEDNESDAY: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Pickup Locations

10-10:45 am: Beacon High School or South Avenue Elementary

Please pick up from one location only.

Drive or Walk: Says Superintendent Matt Landahl: “A convenient drive-up option is available at both locations, and walk-ups are welcome too. The meals will require some heating up as some items are frozen.”

Frozen meals! Maybe the pizza is coming!

Delivery Options and Sign Up

If you need meal delivery to start on Wednesday (or any day after reading this), you can email the superintendent himself: landahl.m@beaconk12.org or text at 845-372-2286. Please give your address and kids' names. But keep it to this delivery request only. Please do not call. Use his email for other types of correspondence as you normally would.

Says Matt (because honestly, he insists you call him Matt… he has kids in the district too): “You don't need to give a reason, just ask and we will do our best to help. We will confirm before delivery. We are working to increase our delivery and neighborhood drop-offs as well and will notify everyone as we expand.”

Comic Book Shop The Underground Beacon Is Saved - Staying Open! New Partnership Announced

Pictured here are the new co-owners of The Underground Beacon. Albert Mas (front left) and Michael Lioce (front right). Behind them are Violet Mas, Courtney Mas, Ash Lioce, Marvel Anne Lioce, Dom Lioce, and Lita Lioce.
Photo Credit: The Underground Beacon

Beacon’s famed comic book shop, The Underground Beacon, has been saved by a customer, after the shop announced via Instagram that they would be closing due to a terminally ill family member and raising rent on February 16, 2020. That family member was owner Albert Mas’ mother, Anne, who passed on Sunday, February 23, 2020. “She was the true matriarch of the family,” says Albert’s wife, Courtney Mas, of her mother-in-law. Albert and Courtney have a young daughter, Violet Mas, who has grown up with the shop since it opened in June 2018.

According to an article in the Highlands Current, Albert and Courtney had enough money saved to take the shop through 2019, but after holiday sales slowed, and with his mother’s declining health, the boxes of comic books stored in a corner that held $20,000 worth of inventory was daunting as customer tastes change and can make inventory obsolete.

Albert told the Highlands Current that writing the announcement to close was one of the hardest things he has ever done. The flip side, however, of the announcement was how the community came out to help the shop, which warmed Albert’s heart. “I didn’t expect the magnitude of the positivity that I got from people,” he told the Highlands Current. “I was in a dark place, and it changed my whole attitude.” Note that in the announcement post, a somber black-and-white version of the normally colorized version of the shop’s logo was used.

Flip the page to a new chapter, and in walk Michael and Ash Lioce and their 3 children (Marvel Anne, Dom, and Lita), loyal customers of The Underground Beacon. It turns out, Mike, a freelance television editor and comic collector, had a secret dream of owning and running a comic book shop. With the start of his growing family, his children rekindled his desire to collect and explore comic books. In Albert’s announcement to close, he did state he and Courtney were open to a partnership or buy-out. A new dream was born.

How The Partnership Came To Be

Michael and Ash heard about the closing during an event. “We learned about the story from a friend at a toddler’s birthday party. That friend had heard through their social media. Though we follow the store in social, for some reason, it didn’t come up in our feeds,” Michael and Ash told A Little Beacon Blog. “As soon as we found out, we reached out to Albert and Courtney. Our emotions were panic and excitement. We wanted to be involved and wanted it to be a family venture. We are so grateful that the Mas’ were happy to partner with us. It has always been a dream of Michael’s to start a comic book store. He dipped his toes in a couple of times, but timing and money never quite worked out.”

After a few nail-biting days of The Underground Beacon posting hints of a continuation, and that the regular Wednesday comic book release days and Friday “Magic The Gathering” days were still on, The Underground Beacon announced on Sunday that the new partnership is official.

As for the location, are they staying? “Usually comic shops grow into a place this big,” Albert told the Highlands Current. “But when I was looking for spaces, this was the best one for the best price… It’s my dream space.”

Also on Sunday, The Underground Beacon has confirmed to a A Little Beacon Blog that they are staying in their current location at 462 Main Street in Beacon.

Available At The Underground Beacon

The best way to discover what is available is to go in, but there are several ways to use the comic book shop:

• Wednesdays: comic book release days

• Fridays: “Magic The Gathering” days

• Skateboard designs and repairs: A new skateboard vendor is scheduled to come in April to do design and repair.

• Kids’ birthday parties: The shop has a back room where many of the events take place, including kids’ birthday parties. A hit for indoor parties and shared video gaming experiences.

• Toys and collectibles: Everything from collectible action figures to board games to books to cards.

• Video game tournaments, comedy shows, etc.: Events galore at the shop. Keep stopping in to learn about them, and follow on social media. But don’t depend on digital - go inside in person!

Hooray! We’re so glad to see The Underground staying.

The Anti-Bullying Be A Friend/Make A Friend Party At The Howland Public Library Saturday 2/15/2020

Fresh from the Youth Services Desk of the Howland Public Library, a press release for an anti-bullying, Valentine letter-writing event you won’t want to miss:

Beacon… Valentine love is in the air, and what better way to show caring and kindness, than using your words to make someone feel better? Students in grades 1-12 are invited to the Make A Friend/Be A Friend Party at Howland Public Library on Saturday, February 15, from 1 to 3 pm, hosted by the Library and Be A Friend Project. First, be a friend by writing a letter or creating a picture of support for a child who has been bullied. All kids and teens have the power to help a peer heal through empathic words and art.

Being “Friend Strong”

Materials will be supplied to make a card or letter of support for 13-year-old Rachael from North Carolina who needs to know she is “FRIEND STRONG” as she recovers from severe physical, verbal and social bullying. You can make a difference through empathic words and art and let Rachael know that she matters and is important.

About The Be A Friend Project

The national, nonprofit Be A Friend Project sends surprise letters of peer support called “Friend Mail" to young victims of bullying to help them stay strong and know they are not alone. Since its inception in 2015, the Be A Friend Project has delivered over 22,000 letters, bringing transformational peer support to Friend Mail recipients and, at the same time, giving as many school-age writers and artists the opportunity to show off their kindness and build empathy by stepping into the shoes of a peer and offering support.

Make A Dog

Next, make your way into the Youth Room and Make a Friend by stuffing your own plush Dalmatian dog with a heart (while supplies last) to take home with you to love. One will also be sent to our friend Rachael.

Drop-In

This is a drop-in program so no registration is necessary. For information, please contact Ginny at youth@beaconlibrary.org or (845) 831-1134, extension 103. For information on the Be A Friend Project and Rachael’s story, please visit www.beafriendproject.org and "All About Be a Friend Project" on YouTube.

Beacon City School District Elementary School Art Show at Howland Public Library January 18

The Howland Public Library is pleased to present Art is Elementary, the fourth annual exhibition of student artwork from the Beacon City School District elementary schools. A reception for the students and teachers will be held on Saturday, January 18, from 2 to 4 pm. All are welcome. The exhibit will be on view in the Community Room through Saturday, February 1.

One of the library’s most colorful exhibits, Art is Elementary features work from students at J.V. Forrestal, Glenham, Sargent, and South Avenue elementary schools. The annual exhibit is organized in collaboration with art teachers Sallie Farkas, Cathy Pezzo and Susan Wurtz. Eight pieces of art were selected to represent each of the four elementary schools. The exhibit is just a small sample of the wonderful art being done by students of all ages throughout the Beacon City School District. Stop by the reception to show your support for the young artists and see their creative works.

The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main Street in Beacon, N.Y. The Community Room is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs. Please call the library at (845) 831-1134 or consult the library calendar at beaconlibrary.org before planning your visit.

What's New With Kids Classes Guide - Girls Softball Winter Clinic And Wee Play Dates!

Winter Softball Clinic

Beacon Girls Softball (BGS) has announced their 2020 Winter Softball Clinic dates and you can sign up right now! Clinic will be held Tuesday nights, beginning January 14, and continue through April. Beacon Girls Softball has been a long-standing Beacon institution for more than 40 years, educating 4 to 13 year old girls on the skills and rules of fast-pitch softball. This program has given back to the Beacon community by spearheading additions and improvements at Memorial Field, built the concession stand and new field house, added backstops, renovated the bathroom facilities, and has even donated to Beacon’s Independence Day fireworks. They also hold a softball tournament each year that raises thousands of dollars to benefit a local person in need. Learn more about this program by clicking here.

Wee Play Drop Off Dates

Also added to the Kids Classes Guide: more drop-off dates with Wee Play Community Project through the Beacon Recreation Center. You can drop off your child at Beacon Recreation Center, 23 West Center St., Beacon, NY, on Mondays, January 6 or 13, between 9 am and 12 pm. Block Party Fridays are also held at this location, 9:30 to 11 am. When dropping off, please leave a donation with a Wee Play volunteer.

Continue to check our Event Listings, Guides, and Kids Guide for regular updates!

Best 2019 Halloween Costume In Beacon, NY

It was a dark and stormy night. Wind gusts were predicted for up to 50mph, and those who obsessively track the weather a week in advance were convinced that the night would be soaked from an all-day downpour. Some communities canceled their Halloween trick-or-treating nights. Since Beacon’s Halloween night is organized by no one in particular - except us trick-or-treaters! - there was nothing to cancel. You were either going to go out, or you weren’t.

So people went out. And the night was nice and spooky. The evening started early, with little treaters coming out at about 4:30 pm. The wind was gusting, and the temperature perfect. Not too cold, not warm, which meant you didn’t need to wear a winter coat over your costume, which always ruins the effect.

The notorious “Willows,” which are the two streets of houses on East Willow and West Willow, connected by a loop at the prisoners’ cemetery where a witch is rumored to look for trespassers, had visitors, but not the usual amount. Missing this year was the homemade haunted house. Perhaps because it did lightly drizzle all day (almost a mist), dampening the spirits.

The best costume, in this blogger’s opinion, came around at about 8:30 pm. Usually I’m locked inside my house by that point, lights out, lying on the floor biting my nails, afraid of every door knock after 8 pm. Because my kids have gotten older, this year I was still in the game and had company over, so was feeling safe enough to answer the door. Not only was this trick-or-treater not dressed in an all-black track suit, but the costume was so clever! And homemade: an ice cream machine that lit up. Apologies for the blurry picture above - all of the photos from the night were blurry as everyone moved so fast.

I grew up with the homemade costume mentality. As an adult with kids, however, I have very little time to make the costume, nor the skill set to quickly stitch anything up. My sewing machine is surrounded by slime-making materials. My kids are used to going to Party City or Spirit of Halloween to buy a costume in the bag.

This year, the elementary school tried something new by asking our kids to wear a costume as a Very Important Person during their Fall Parade held on Halloween. My daughter immediately expected to buy a new costume. No, no! I immediately costumed one together from the laundry and fabric scraps in the basement. She wasn’t used to this concept, so declined, and opted to wear her Halloween night costume instead (as did several other kids).

Therefore, an award goes to this Ice Cream Machine, which included favorites like ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. Well done!

New Schedule For Sunday Hocus Pocus Kids Halloween Parade For 2019

Two trick-or-treaters from last year’s Hocus Pocus Halloween Parade.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

UPDATE [10/26/2019]: The parade has been canceled due to forecasted rain. Details here.

When organizing big events, there is the intended way something is supposed to go, and there is the actual way something happens. And when kids are involved, you can count on something not going as planned.

This year, the organizers of the Hocus Pocus Parade, aka Beacon’s Kids Halloween Parade, are pulling hard for a safer environment for the little trick-or-treaters, who often dart out of the parade unplanned to trick or treat from Main Street shops during the parade. Not this year, said the organizers. After years of moderating a moving street closure (meaning, Main Street is not officially closed, so by the end of the parade, cars and kids are often both in the middle of the street - yup, we see you, angry man in the red pickup truck!), there is a new schedule, and a new official street closure by the City of Beacon:

• Trick-or-Treating on Main Street, 1 to 3 pm: People can go up and down the sidewalks to visit the shops if they have treat hand-outs. This will be like a regular day out on Main Street, where the street is not closed. You’re just mingling with your community out on the sidewalk, making your way up or down the street. Have lunch, collect candy, that kind of thing.

• Parade, 4 pm (line up at 3:30 pm): People should make their way down to the Visitors Center at Polhill Park (at Main Street and Wolcott Avenue, near Bank Square Coffee and Beacon Creamery) at 3:30 pm for the lineup. At 4 pm, the official Kids Halloween Parade begins. Main Street will be closed until the Dummy Light (at East Main Street) while the kids walk. There’s no trick-or-treating during the parade; kids are displaying their costume only. Parade participants can relax on the patio of The Roundhouse, where they’re offering what has become an annual (virgin) cider sip outside on the patio.

With the new street closure came new costs, which almost broke the Hocus Pocus Parade’s bank. The community heard about it, and a local business, A + W Scrap Metal, donated the $380 to pay for the police street closure, according to this week’s Beacon Free Press.

Event Organizers and Updates

The Hocus Pocus Parade is organized by A Very Beacon Halloween, which is Sheryl Glickman of Notions-N-Potions, Ron Iarossi of Beacon Creamery, and Carmen Johnson, everyone’s favorite crossing guard at South Avenue and Main Street, and a Volunteer Extraordinaire. Visit their Facebook page for updates, and/or the Event page specifically.

Treating Tips

Start at the far end of Main Street, near the mountain. Hit up the shops on that end, like the Chocolate Studio, the new Hyperbole, SallyeAnder (in the 1 East Main renovated factory building). We have not confirmed that they are handing out anything, but simply naming them as location examples. Head west, toward the river, to line up for the parade, then march back to the East End..

Shops that are offering treats will have witches hats displayed outside of their shops. If you are a local business who wants to hand out treats and don’t have your hat yet, you can pick one up from Notions-N-Potions at 173 Main Street, or the Beacon Creamery at 134 Main Street.

Lunching Tips

If you buddy up with friends you meet along the way, there are plenty of restaurants in town that seat large parties. Think of The Vault, Brother’s Trattoria, Towne Crier, and others. See A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant Guide to get more ideas at your fingertips while you’re out.

Rain Date

There is no rain date for the parade portion, but trick-or-treating is encouraged during the 1 to 3 pm time slot, rain or shine. The money raised from the community will be used for the following year’s street closure permit.

Howland Public Library's 2019 Halloween Costume Exchange Is Coming Up

The Howland Public Library always has something up its sleeve! And this time, it could be a witch’s sleeve, as the library hosts an upcoming Costume Exchange happening Thursday to Saturday, October 3 to 5, at the library.

The Costume Exchange

Do you have a Halloween costume from years past in good condition that you have outgrown? Trade it in for one that’s new-to-you for 2019!

Local families are invited to participate in Howland Public Library's Annual Halloween Costume Exchange. Donate a new or clean and gently used children's costume, and take home another costume in exchange.* 

Swap days are Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 from 2 to 5 pm, and Saturday, October 5 from 12 pm to 3 pm. Families can stop by to donate, swap, or pick up during any of those times. 

 For more information, contact Michelle Rivas at community@beaconlibrary.org. The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main St., Beacon, NY. 

*The fine print: Children's costumes only. Library will accept clean costumes with no stains, holes or runs. HPL reserves the right to turn away costumes. We cannot guarantee you will find a suitable costume in the exchange.

Kids + Bus Safety Is Crucial In First Days Of School - Antalek and Moore Gives Tips (Sponsored)

The end of summer vacation comes too quickly and before you know it, it’s that time of year again! School buses are picking up children all around, parents are in a rush to drop their kids off without being late to work, and kids are on their bikes rushing to catch first period. “This can be a dangerous time because children - as well as drivers - are adjusting to back-to-school routines,” says Alex Epstein, director of Transportation Safety for the National Safety Council (NSC). Fortunately, Antalek & Moore has a few key tips to keep our community safe and happy:

BE PATIENT – STOP AND WAIT
Share the road with school buses. We know the first few days take a little longer to get the kids loaded, but be patient! Who doesn't love a good first day back-to-school picture with their kids waving from the bus?  

KIDS IN MOST DANGER NEAR THEIR BUS
According to the National Safety Council, the most dangerous area for children is within 10 feet of their bus. Give them space to load and unload. This is especially true in the first few weeks of school as kids are excited and getting used to this year's routine.
If the bus has its lights on and its stop sign out - it is never safe to pass the bus. This applies to multiple lanes as well, so be aware when traveling on a road like Route 9 as school buses may be traveling in the opposite direction.

WATCH FOR KIDS WALKING TO SCHOOL
We have a good amount of our students who walk to and from school in Beacon. Please be aware of them, especially in a school zone. Be sure to follow posted speed limits, avoid blocking crosswalks when stopped, and keep an eye out for crossing guards. 

Many children nationwide begin and end their days with a trip to and from school, whether that’s by bus, walking or biking. By exercising a little extra care and caution, we can create a happy and safe school zone. Wishing all Beacon City School District students, a happy and safe 2019-2020 school year!

Wee Play's Community Mural Project Needs Kids To Help Paint!

Wee Play Project is excited to collaborate with local artist and educator Joe Pimentel on a community mural at Memorial Park this Summer! For two weeks in August (Monday to Friday, August 12-16 and August 19-23), they will be painting all four sides of the bathroom building located right near the parking lot to the main city park and playground.

Joe has worked with kids on numerous collaborative murals across the Hudson Valley, including recent murals at Glenham Elementary, Sargent Elementary, Rombout Middle, and Beacon High School. Wee Play is thrilled to have the chance to work with Joe and sure hope you can come get creative with them! To learn more about this project and sign up, click here!

Sun & Earth | Farm & Food Festival From Common Ground Farm at Stony Kill This Weekend

Photo Credit: Common Ground Farm

FARM & FOOD FESTIVAL
DATE: Saturday August 3
TIME: 3 to 8 pm
RAIN DATE: Sunday, August 4

The Sun & Earth | Farm & Food Festival, presented by Common Ground Farm, will be a celebration of gratitude for natural resources, from the sun in the sky to the earth; highlighting sustainable agriculture, local food, music, and the supportive community. This happens on Saturday, August 3 from 3 to 8 pm.

Located on the historic Stony Kill property, the Sun & Earth Festival will welcome guests to explore Common Ground Farm, eat delicious local food, enjoy music performances and engage in food and farm activities. The event will highlight multiple activities including yoga, music, children’s activities on the farm and cooking demonstrations with farm-fresh produce. The evening will conclude with a fun outdoor dance party!

Food and Activities From Your Local Favorites

FOOD: Confirmed food vendors include Barb’s Butchery, Las Tres Americas taco truck, Samosa Shack, Zora Dora paletas and Drink More Good.

YOGA: Programs offered include yoga with local instructors Julian Paik and Kyla Wedenko, mindful relaxation with Beacon of Light Wellness, pottery with Newburgh Pottery and a farm activity led by Common Ground’s farm manager, Leah Garrard.

KIDS ACTIVITIES: There will also be children’s activities provided by Compass Arts, and cooking demonstrations and tastings with fresh Common Ground vegetables, led by Chef Sonya Joy Key and Chef Nicholas Leiss. Musical acts include live music from Tony DePaolo and a dance party DJ’ed by Jamie Pabst, aka Miss Behavior Music!

Sponsors who make this event possible include Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, and activity sponsors Allsport Fishkill (yoga), Vassar Brothers Hospital (yoga) and Stop and Shop (cooking demonstrations). Admission is free, with donations accepted to support Common Ground Farm’s efforts in expanding food access throughout the Hudson Valley.

About Common Ground Farm

CGF’s mission is to serve the community as a model for food justice and education for people of all ages and incomes. The organization maintains a 7-acre vegetable farm at the Stony Kill property in Wappingers Falls, runs education programs for children and adults on the farm and in the schools, and operates farmers markets and mobile markets in Beacon and Newburgh. You can find the farm’s produce weekly on Wednesdays at their Common Greens Mobile Market (a partnership with Green Teen Beacon and Cornell Cooperative Extension) at Forrestal Heights and the community health center in Beacon, Saturdays at the Newburgh Farmers Market, and Sundays at the Beacon Farmers Market.

Beacon's Egg Hunt In Memorial Park Canceled Due To Saturday Rain

This image originally appeared in A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram Stories.

This just in from the Beacon Recreation newsletter:

“Egg Hunt at Memorial Park scheduled for Saturday, April 20, WILL BE CANCELLED.

“In keeping participant and volunteer safety and enjoyment our number one priority, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s event due to forecasted weather.

“With no scheduled rain date, it is our hope to raffle bicycles and goodies later this spring at an event to be determined. Stay tuned.

“Happy Easter and Happy Passover.”

To get future updates from Beacon Recreation, you can subscribe to their free newsletter here. Updates include events, classes, After School Program registration notices, and Summer Pool signup alerts.

Color-A-Thon Happening Saturday - Short Run Around Block Raises Money For South Avenue Elementary

DETAILS:
Registration: Starts at 10 am
Bounce House: 10:30 am to 12 pm
Color-a-Thon: Starts at at 12pm.
We will have music, food for sale, and an awesome raffle. Enjoy South Avenue’s playground where we just added a new climbing wall and ten spin!

The moment South Avenue has been waiting for all year is here - The Color-A-Thon (also called the Color Run)! This is South Avenue Elementary School’s big fundraising event organized by the PTA, which helps them buy playground equipment for the school, fund field trips, purchase class supplies, establish a sustainable school link with an Ethiopian partner school, and more.

Color-A-Thon Open To All

The run is open to everyone in the community, not just South Avenue students, and you can register at the event for $15. Some teachers and students have sponsored “student spots” for those who don’t have the registration fee, including teachers like Mrs. Biersack and Mrs. Fabia. Other teachers, including Mrs. Nunez and Principal Cahill, will be at the run throwing color and participating in other ways.

Raffle Prizes

Raffle prizes include fun stuff from Alps Sweet Shop, Beacon Bath & Bubble LLC, Beacon D'Lites, Homespun Foods, Hudson Beach Glass, and Obercreek Farm. Other participating organizations include Wee Play Community Project, with a gift certificate to the Ree Play Sale (last weekend in April!), and Beacon Recreation for donating a 2019 Beacon Pool pass.

How The Color-A-Thon Works

So it’s pretty easy - you wear white and run around the block in the neighborhood next to South Avenue. The streets are blocked for the run, and you can run around as many times as you like. Often there are parents running or walking with the kids, so if you can’t run or walk, your child will most likely join up in a pack with others.

Then, there are color points at each turn, and bright colors are literally thrown onto you! You get covered head to toe in color, and it’s a lot of fun. The color powder is made from cornstarch, and the bright color in it is a mystery. :)

You can register at the event.

TIP: Walk, don’t drive to this event. Your car will get really messy with color when you get back in after the event. Shoes get really messy.

Color-A-Thon Made The “Morning News”

South Avenue Elementary’s librarian, Mr. Burke, produces a morning news show from his library in the basement. He goes throughout the school for different scenes and has recurring characters. Usually played by himself (kind of like how Tyler Perry often plays so many roles in one movie).

Here’s Mr. Burke exploring what would happen if the Color-A-Thon and the State ELA Tests were on the same day (they were the same week this year).

Last Chance To Purge Your Kid Stuff For A Cause: Ree Play Sale Accepting Toys/Clothing/Gear

Photo Credits: Wee Play Community Project

Going on now is prep work for the annual Ree Play Sale, from the Wee Play Community Project, one of the best affordable kid stuff weekend sales around. The best part? Your purchases of kid stuff go directly to funding kid spaces in Beacon, including the playgrounds at the public parks, as well as some programming at the Library and Rec Center by way of the Blue Blocks Project and Lego Club. The Wee Play Project was started many years ago by volunteering parents, and continues today as the torch is passed from graduating parents to younger parents.

Ways To Help: Sort, Bake, Work, Shop

The first way to help and get involved is to donate your stuff. Collection for this yearly event is going on now - so this is your chance. Bring your stuff to the University Settlement Camp: 724 Wolcott Avenue. (This is also the location of the Beacon Pool and Frisbee golf - but up the dirt road, just beyond it.)

If getting your stuff together now is overwhelming, either take the plunge, and then start a pile in your attic or basement that you put things in over the year. This makes getting all of your Ree Play stuff really easy.

If you’ve got nothing to donate, another way you can be involved is to bake, or shop. Shopping is the easiest! But sorting through everything is really important, and the best time to make new friends. The actual sale is Friday to Sunday, April 26, 27, 28.

Trauma Note: To not traumatize your kids that you are now purging all of their old clothes, toys, games, dolls, sports stuff, etc., involve them in the process. “Stuff” can be emotional. Explain where the things are going. Give them the option to donate, or to keep. As they know, the room can fill up, and the only way to make room for new treasures is to give your treasure to someone else, or keep it in a forever place in your house. It might be exciting to think that their old plastic basketball hoop will help buy a new swing at Memorial or Green Street Park.

Great Way To Meet People

New parents often want to meet new people and build their community, and bringing your stuff to the Ree Play sale is a great way to do that. If you have nothing to donate, you could sort. It’s easy, no pressure, sorting clothes into piles, or shoes onto shelves, or games into a lineup. Plus, if you sort, you might get first dibs on purchasing new/old stuff.

Times To Donate

Most of the times to donate or volunteer are announced on Instagram or Facebook. If you’re not on Facebook, then Instagram would be the best way for you to see times that they post. Most donation and sorting times are volunteer-based. In other words, sorting can only happen if someone has volunteered to be there. Maybe that’s you!

Recent Projects Ree Play Has Been Behind

Lots of what you have seen outside in Beacon’s parks has had an injection of Ree Play Sale cash to support it. The most recent project is the Wee Woods. This is a mini woods-within-woods scene behind the playground at Memorial Park, designed by One Nature with community input. There are natural playthings, like logs and willow arches.

Follow Wee Play’s Instagram or Facebook for updates. They do have a newsletter, which you could subscribe to here. If making newsletters is your thing, volunteer to send theirs a bunch!

Don’t wait on this. Donate your stuff today or this week!