Unveiling a New Beat: The Vinyl Room's Exciting Encore on Main Street

Editor’s Note: ALBB’s interest in the relocation of The Vinyl Room from where it started at it’s Beacon location in the now new-ish building on Eliza Street, to where it moved to in the old Nichols Hardware building at 396 Main Street, which then became Tourmaline Home, stems from ALBB’s own interest in buying that building when we decided to leave our former office on Main Street. Having been in the space with our own dreams, we were curious as to how The Vinyl Room indulged in theirs. Writer Kat Merry wrote this piece for us.

By: Kat Merry

When John Kihlmire conceptualized The Vinyl Room (TVR) back in 2017, he was trailblazing a path with a distinctive blend of a craft beer bar and record store.

His idea was kindled during a trip to Colorado where he stumbled upon a quirky shop oozing charm with an abundance of books and records. Yet, something was conspicuously missing — there was no trace of alcohol. This gave rise to his illuminating thought: "What's missing here is beer!" Armed with this inspired vision, John returned to NY, his mind set on weaving this dream into an exhilarating, vibrant reality.

After achieving initial success in Wappinger, John relocated TVR to Beacon, magnetized by its vibrant pulse. Despite the first Beacon location being a short hop from Main Street and the concept being a hit, John felt the fit was slightly askew.

"With our loyal customer base and decent foot traffic, the place had potential," John explains. "But our landlord's constraints were stifling. We needed a space where we could extend our hours and tap into the nightlife potential." And so, he began scouting for a new location that could nurture his expanding vision.

The opportunity knocked in 2021 when an irresistible address on Main Street came up. "The space was beyond amazing—I jumped on it!" John recalls.

Now, The Vinyl Room is proudly located at 396 Main Street, boasting ample square footage. But with more space comes greater responsibility. "Adding a full kitchen and extending operating hours meant I needed a partner," John admits.

This is where Kane Licari enters the picture. John's childhood friend and a long-time night RN, Kane was ready for a new chapter. Joining John in this venture, he is now breathing fresh life into the business.

"I was nearing burnout in nursing and John's opportunity appeared at the perfect time," Kane reveals.

Their friendship, originating from days of peewee baseball at Brinkerhoff Elementary, adds a heartfelt note to the business's evolution. "Our friendship has traversed a lifetime," reflects John. "We transitioned from sharing the baseball field as kids to steering this venture as partners—it's a remarkable full-circle moment."

TVR's new venue now accommodates a full kitchen serving an enticing array of small plates, flatbreads, charcuterie, and handhelds. In the beginning, they had guidance from Chef Adam Sternberg, of The Hog in Wappingers Falls, run by Adam and his wife, who are there every day providing the food Adam is known for. Says Adam: “All the credit for TVR’s menu goes to Chef Greg Demichiel. He’s rocking it.”

Beyond food and beer, John envisages a wider appeal. "We're installing arcade games for patrons to enjoy alongside their food and drinks," he enthuses.

True to its roots, TVR will continue to celebrate the art of turntables, enriched by a lively DJ nightlife. "Owning a DJ business was the precursor to The Vinyl Room," John reminisces. Though his DJ venture thrived, The Vinyl Room will allow him to be more creative and feels more like a passion project than work.

With expansion comes challenges, especially in curating a robust and reliable team of contractors. Both Kane and John have been hands-on, lending their personal touch to the construction and aesthetic.

An exciting addition is the 'Velvet Room'— a cozy, reservation-only alcove marked by a red velvet curtain at the back of the bar. "It's an intimate haven for small groups or romantic dates," John reveals.

"We’ve had a loyal following since 2017, and now being able to expand and fully actualize our original concept is incredibly exciting,” John remarks. "I finally feel like I can spread my wings."

John and Kane's vision celebrates a friendship that spans decades and despite their differences– notably, Kane being a devoted Yankee fan and John, a loyal Cubs supporter– they share an enduring spirit to innovate.

John is all set to leverage his connections and experience in the music industry, featuring talented DJs who will keep the music playing into the early hours. Thankfully, the late-night responsibilities will rest with Kane.

"I am definitely a morning person," laughs John. Kane, nodding in agreement, adds, "And I'm the night owl. My years of working night shifts in nursing have prepared me for this!"

As they gear up to electrify Main Street with The Vinyl Room’s latest makeover, John and Kane are clear—it's more than a business. It's a testament to their enduring friendship and shared dreams, all set to the beat of their favorite vinyl tracks. So, get ready, Beacon—the Vinyl Room is about to drop the needle on a whole new experience.

"Dummy Repellent Spray" And Yellow Paint Applied To Dummy Light To Protect It

The City of Beacon Administrator Chris White reacted swiftly to the latest crash into the Dummy Light on Thanksgiving 2023. Several business owners chimed in on A Little Beacon Blog’s article announcing the recent crunch of the new white truck with out-of-state plates that crashed into the stationery Dummy Light. Witnesses who included business owners said that this left-turning crash was not isolated. In ALBB’s breaking story about the Thanksgiving Dummy Light hit, ALBB posed the question if it should be painted yellow. Answers were majority “Yes” with one “Paint it pink” and a few “Why do we have a Dummy Light?”

Realtor Charlotte Guernsey told A Little Beacon Blog, who has her office on one side of the street, plus her bridal boutique at 1 East Main on the other side of the street: “I saw 2 [crashes] in a row the other week, all 3 of these going the same direction. Must be something about the glare, also they were same time of day.” The famed photographer for magazine food photography, Meghan Spiro, consistently told ALBB and others in social media comments that sun glare may have been a factor: “I saw this one today outside my window. Either it was the glare from the sun or they just didn’t see it.”

An ALBB reader, Stephen Burns, did a Google search for the Dummy Light, and found this photo from the 1990s.

In some olden days of Beacon, the olden days of the 1990s, the Dummy Light did have a yellow base with KEEP RIGHT painted in black. Many people in ALBB’s social media, including the former Mayor of Beacon, Randy Casale, expressed their desire to have the base of the Dummy Light painted yellow again, with the words KEEP RIGHT resurrected on the base. Randy said: “Yes! With big black lettering saying KEEP RIGHT side coming from Verplanck Ave and On East Main side.” Most Beaconites are fans of the Dummy Light, and have created much comedy and product around the Dummy Light.

Can you see the Dummy LIght? It’s in the shadow of the 1 East Main building. In the winter morning of the end of November at 10:30am, the Dummy Light is in the shadows. It was painted a very dark green. So blends into the shadow. This has been the time of day when cars crash into it, according to local business owners who witness the crashes. Cars also hit it at night. Several locals have wondered about the glare, if that makes it hard to see.

To check on the glare, ALBB took this photo at 10:30am in November. Indeed, there was a glare. Which is possibly made worse by the newly paved Main Street. While beautiful, is newly black pavement reflects the sun glare up, while the sun is beating down. Additionally, at that hour, the Dummy Light is in the shadow of the building 1 East Main Street. It is painted a very dark green, so is nearly impossible to see. The Dummy Light in the shadow picture is pictured right. Can you see it?

Local readers on ALBB’s socials blamed the new tourists for not being aware of the Dummy Light. Saying that this never happened when they were growing up. If they were growing up during the 1990s, when the base was painted yellow, this may not have been an issue. Because people could see the Dummy Light when dressed in yellow.

ALBB only knew about this crash because the Dutchess County Scanner Feed reported on it, and a reader tipped us off to their update. Which begs the question: how many crashes into the Dummy Light don’t we know about because we aren’t FOILing for “Dummy Light Crashes” every single day?

City Of Beacon’s Proposed Changes To The Dummy Light

Traffic changes to Beacon City streets are not swift. Usually, there are committee meetings about them, where the Traffic Safety Committee, composed of at least one City of Beacon Police Officer, maybe 2 citizens, and the City’s Assistant at Large, meet once a month to discuss traffic problems, and then maybe present some of those findings them to City Council.

After that, if a recommendation makes it to City Council, which could be months or a year after their initial meeting, the City Council discusses the traffic safety issue, and debates if they should accept the Traffic Committee’s recommendation. Like if they recommend installing a Stop sign somewhere. A legal Resolution is needed for the Stop sign to get cemented into the ground. This leads to an official “Public Comment” session about the traffic safety recommendation.

Sometimes that night, after the “Public Comment” closes, the City Council votes on if the stop sign should get installed. After that, if it is voted in, the safety recommendation needs to be implemented. But, the Stop signs that have been voted in have sometimes taken years to get actually cemented into the ground. Like on Church Street. Maybe 2 years ago those Stop signs were voted in, and they never appeared.

Regarding the Dummy Light, the City Administrator Chris presented what he was going to do to the street one week after ALBB’s article and crash into the light. He did this during the scheduled “Report” section of the City Council Meeting, where Citycouncil Members around the table can contribute whatever they like. He said:

“[Regarding] pavement striping around the Dummy Light this week. We are not taking the Dummy Light down. We are going to better delineate lanes, so that people who have trouble staying in their lane, don't run into the Dummy Light.”

Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair then asked if there had been proposed painting of the street around the Dummy Light in the in the Main Street Accesses Committee recommendations? Which were presented to the City Council and this City Administrator 2 years ago. City Administrator Chris answered yes.

Previously, One of the Main Street Access Committee Members, Stowe Boyd, linked to the coverage on his website Beacon Streets, where it was pointed out that “Three-way Stop signs should be installed near the Dummy Light, where Main Street is excessively wide and drivers often get confused. Trees should be added.” This was 2 years ago.

In answer to Councilmember Dan’s question, City Administrator Chris said: “We took the general principle of that, of narrowing the lanes on both sides, and having somewhat of an island in the middle, so people don't try to cut off left in front of the Dummy Light. [We] had a traffic engineer from Lance and Tully [draw it] to MUTCD standards. I don't even know that acronym is, but we're doing it correctly. If that doesn't work, I'm going to paint the thing bright neon green."

No imagery was presented to the City Council on what this plan would look like that Lance and Tully allegedly drafted. MUTCD stands for Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways.

Before any work was completed, Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou stated during the meeting: "If we're going to take odds, I'm going to bet against the Dummy Light."

Safety Paint Updates To The Dummy Light

Crews put out green cones during yellow street painting work around the Dummy LIght.

Beacon’s Highway Department was out early in the morning of Thursday, November 30th, 2023 to paint something having to do with the Dummy Light. ALBB approached the crew to learn about the plan.

“First,” said one crew member, “we sprayed Dummy Repellent on it.”

“Next, we are going to paint the base.”

What color? ALBB was dying to know.

“Pink.” was the first answer. But a second Highway Department crew member answered with authority: “Yellow. The same yellow as the street paint. With signs that say “KEEP RIGHT.”

They would drill “KEEP RIGHT” signs into the base. None of these plans were mentioned by the City Administrator Chris earlier during Monday’s City Council Meeting. Maybe they were in the draft that Lance and Tully did that was never presented to the City Council. Or maybe the Highway Department went rogue to protect the Dummy Light.

At night, with the yellow base, the Dummy Light seems to be more noticeable, even in the rain.

If you hear reports of the Dummy Light being hit in its yellow version, please let ALBB know. Anonymous tips are welcome. We would get too addicted to the Police scanner, so can’t listen to it each day.

It's December :: Retail Therapy Guide 12/1/2023

Hello, December!

Yes. It is December. The month of darkness and candles and good thoughts and giving. Maybe snow. White snow. Against a gray sky. Before we get into this weekend edition, there's something you need to know. Over at our Instagram, A Little Beacon Blog has come out swinging in defense of Palestinian lives. More of this will reach this newsletter. But we wanted to let you know. You can unsubscribe now if you want. Some of you already have when we simply linked to where you could buy a keffiyah. Or the interview with local business owner Kamel Jamal who is Palestinian. Some of you found the link so offensive after Oct 7, that you unsubscribed. One of you wrote in to demand ALBB apologize to all of Beacon for linking to that podcast.

Well. A lot has happened since then. ALBB loves giving you Retail Therapy on Fridays, and the regular news during the week when we can. But we cannot do it in good conscience when there is an extinction of people going on, that our United States of America is funding.  

Since we have been sharing at Instagram, a lot of discoveries have been made. And even in some unsubscribes of this newsletter. So we are going to set a few things straight, as we proceed down this road of Palestine coverage. We will address some of the comments we have gotten. Largely, the support has been a swell of warmth. It's of course the negative comments that weigh heavy. Here's what some people have said:

  • "I come to ALBB to escape reality."
    ALBB Response: That's nice. We truly are glad we can provide this pleasure! That the businesses we feature can provide for you. However, ALBB was never, not once, created for anyone to escape reality. We are consumed with the craving for "What's going on?" We try to answer that. Takes us a while sometimes. But we get there.
  • "What happened to this accont? You are antisemtic."
    ALBB Response: To speak in support of Palestinian people, who have been occupied for 75 years, is not antisemtic. Anything we say after this sentence will be viewed harshly, so we will leave it at that.
  • "I come here for coffee recommendations. Focus on Beacon. Stop posting about Palestine."
    ALBB Response: You will get no such coffee recommendation anymore, until after we update you on the merciless bombing of children, women, men, families, cats, zoo animals, etc. This comment about killed it for us. Wanted to unpublish everything at ALBB after this comment. We already deal with the guilt that comes with the gentrification issue. That ALBB contributes to the glorification of Beacon, driving up rent prices because of our coverage of great businesses, and great community attributes. No one says anything to us about this. But we know it.

The support of our Palestinian coverage has been good. But the reverse has been eye-opening. It has been mean. It has been relentless. It has been reality-altering. It has felt like someone is taking our two arms, and stuffing them securely against our body, and stuffing us back inside of a box. To perform. As instructed.

  • "You should be providing content as advertised."
    ALBB Response: "As advertised..." What does that mean? Who pays us? Do all of these anti-commenters pay us, and are our bosses? That we are misbehaving for them? This was a dumbfounding comment.
Thankfully, after today's posts on the resuming of bombing, with the deaths of more Palestinian babies, children stranded in non-functioning hospitals, and the separation of romance, we have not heard much from the relentless commenters. We declared some ground rules, and that seems to have sat them down. For now.

We took the hit on breaking the Dummy Light re-painting the street story. We teased it out in our Instagram, but didn't have time to complete the full article. Hopefully you'll still read it when we get to publish it.

Alright. Now that we're all caught up. It's the Holiday Season. There are a lot of Holiday Parties to talk about. Including ALBBs! But we haven't announced ours yet. December 21st, mark your calendar. To come. Or not to come. :)



                                    

THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it!
If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here,
click here for more info >

 

Lit Lit
Day: Friday, December 1, 2023
Time: 7pm-9pm (plan to arrive by 6:30 if you’d like to sign up to read)
Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, NY

Holiday Market
Day: Saturday, December 2, 2023
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Safe Harbors Lobby at the Ritz, 107 Broadway, Newburgh, NY
Farmers Market, Gift and Craft Vendors, Holiday Crafts, Hot Cocoa, Candy Canes, Holiday Music and Performances. This event is free and open to all ages!
Information >

Hometown Holiday Market
Day: Saturday December 2, 2023
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: 2658 E Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
Over 30 curated local artists and talented crafters will showcase their unique creations, making it the perfect opportunity to find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for your loved ones. Don't miss this special occasion to support local artisans and immerse yourself in the holiday spirit.
Information >

March For A Free Palestine
Day: Sunday, December 3, 2023
Time: 2pm
Location: 401 Washington St, Newburgh, NY
Outdoors, rain or shine, masks recommended.
It's being organized by Bard SJP, Mid-Hudson DSA, JVP Hudson Valley, Veterans for Peace, and Mid-Hudson Islamic Commjnity.
Please RSVP here. They want to know how many to expect.
But if you don't RSVP, still come!

Holiday Hunt in the Mansion Family Program!
Day: Sunday, December 3, 2023
Time: 12-4pm
Location: Locust Grove Estate, 2683 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY
A special scavenger hunt for hobbies, toys, and games among decorated trees in the Mansion!
Information >

Pearl Harbor Ceremony
Day: Thursday, December 7, 2023
Time: 11:00am 
Location: Veterans Memorial Bldg, 413 Main St, Beacon, NY



Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!

Beacon Flea Market! Every Fair Weather Sunday from 8am-3pm at Henry Street (next to the Post Office).
 

Check our Calendar and Events Guide regularly for upcoming events
throughout the week!

 
 

HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Website >
Arroz Con Pollo…. (Boneless)
With sweet plantains & cabbage salad... Con maduros I ensalada de repollo. Only at El Nica! 
Queso fresco
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu!
El Nica: Nicaraguan Food
Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar
Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff
Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters 
Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice
Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options.
Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food
Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!

BAJA 328
328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
New food & drink specials at Baja including this pan seared salmon that has us drooling! Stop in for this deliciousness and don't forget to reach out to Baja for their exceptional catering services! Leave the stress of cooking at the front door. Be sure to plan ahead! Saving yourself even more stress... 
Can we talk about how TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja!? $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas! Say no more...
PS: Check out Baja's specials! > 
Check out their specialty drinks > 
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!


CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
424 Main St.
Don't forget, book a spot to have your Holiday Party at Carter’s Restaurant! 🪔 Plenty of room in their front and back rooms. They have a few dates left, so book NOW.
Bring your decorations, and they will provide the delicious food and drinks. Choose your room! Choose your party size. Off-site catering available too!
PS: Happy Hour is from Monday-Friday 2-5!
PPS! Katie James Inc. creates and curates Carter's Instagram, and can for your business too.
Follow Carter's on Instagram >
Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!

BEACON BREAD COMPANY
193-195 Maint Street, Beacon, NY

Blueberry muffins baked fresh and iced coffee because yes, iced coffee is still good in December, especially when it's from BBC who has a full coffee service bar with delicious seasonal flavors! Gingerbread latte anyone? Head on over for a latte and a treat!
PS BBC is open everyday from 8am-6pm except for Wednesday! 
PPS Whole sale, special orders, and events/catering available!
Follow BBC on Instagram >
Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!

ZIATUN
244 Main Street, Beacon, NY
We don't even have any words for this goodness! Authentic Middle Eastern food at Ziatun. Can't get anything like it anywhere else! Grill Kebabs can be made with lamb, chicken or Kofta. Served over rice or hummus and a salad.
PS! Ziatun is open everyday!
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Follow Ziatun on Instagram >
Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
 

 

LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
It's officially the countdown to winter! ☃️ And don't you want to look this good in a new pair of glasses from Luxe?! Luxe continues to bring in new styles to keep things exciting and fresh! Head in and snag a pair for you and treat someone to a pair for the holidays! Best gift ever!
PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > 
BEACON HOURS 
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED 
Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!


BINNACLE BOOKS
321 Main Street, Beacon

SO happy to have Binnacle Books as a sponsor for ALBB! Binnacle specializes in used and new literature, poetry, literary nonfiction, political history, art, drama, philosophy, graphic novels, and children's books. Is there a particular title you're interested in? Let them know. If they don't have it, they'd be happy to order it for you. They're also always looking to acquire used books in excellent condition, especially in their core categories.The bookstore is a collaborative endeavor by four partners, who have collectively been writers, editors, musicians, producers, organizers, teachers, filmmakers, and booksellers. If you love books, they welcome you. If you don't, they'll do their best to convince you otherwise.
Binnacle Books is a Sponsor, thank you!


 
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OPEN!
A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide is one of the biggest draws to this publication. Every store is listed in it for the best experience for our readers. Google rewarded A Little Beacon Blog with a #1 ranking for "boutique shopping beacon ny." Designed to elevate your store from the rest, this advertising campaign is integrated with our Instagram. Show your storefront in the listing, get your business a permanent weekly feature in A Little Beacon Blog's Retail Therapy Newsletter sent on Fridays (see examples here), as well as weekly Instagram features.
More information here >
Yanarella Dance Studio
312 Main St., Beacon, NY

See the performance by the dancers of Yanarella during the 2023 City of Beacon Holiday Tree lighting at Memorial Park!

Reach out for more information & sign up!

See Kids Classes here >
See Adults Classes here > 
Register Online >

Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!


Playmaker U Basketball Winter League
Days: Tryouts are on Friday, December 1, 2023 & Saturday, December 2, 2023.

Registration opens on Sunday, December 3, 2023.
Sessions will run through February 24, 2024

On Friday, Decemeber 1, HS girls will be able to try out from 5:30pm-7pm. HS boys can try out from 7pm-830pm.

On Saturday, 4th-6th grade boys will try out from 10am-11:30am and 7th-8th grade boys from 11:30am-1pm. 4th-6th grade girls will try out from 1pm-2:30pm.

On Saturday, 7th-8th grade girls from 2:30-4pm.
 
Where? 211 Fishkill Ave, Beacon, NY 12508
4th grade thru 12th grade
More Information >
 

Winter League Newburgh Armory United FC Registration NOW OPEN
Winter Season 1 will be kick off on December 5 and run Tuesday Nights from December 5 - February 13. All skill levels welcome!
Information >

BeaconArts 2023 Member Exhibition
Days: Saturdays & Sundays from December 2-December 23
Time: 12-6pm
Location: Beahive, 6 Eliza Street, Beacon, NY
A smallworks holiday show featuring works by 60+ BeaconArts members
 
BeaconArts Holiday Party at the Hudson Valley Brewery!
Join them for the 2023 BeaconArts Holiday Party at the Hudson Valley Brewery (7 E. Main Street, Beacon, NY) There will be a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, and an opportunity to connect with the full BeaconArts community. 

Bonus!: The party will be on the second floor, Hudson Valley Brewery's newly renovated event space

Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >

Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.


PS* NEW Advertising Packages available! See details > 

MEGAN & KENNETH PHOTOGRAPHERS
Weddings & Families

Newly engaged? Book your session with Megan & Kenneth! Capture the beautiful moment... then frame it, get it printed on holiday cards, use it for wedding save-the-dates, and so much more! Capturing the magic of love in the Hudson Valley... name something better! 
Find more information here >
Megan & Kenneth are Sponsors. Thank you!


BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666

At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Beacon Dental is also happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! 
Explore all services >
Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!

                       
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Katie James Inc. is producing the Spirit of Beacon Day website. This destination website was designed to both update people as the year went on, from Sponsorship opportunities, to easy ways to Register for Parade and Vendor tables, to the final product of Parade and Table Maps, and Bathrooms. Katie James Inc. is also producing the social media on Instagram and Facebook for Spirit of Beacon Day. Need these services for your business? Katie James, Inc. works with small and large businesses.


TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle a training platform and community for businesses, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business. Tin Shingle teaches PR, social media and content marketing tactics to regular people to help make their pitching and brand story telling smarter, engaging and more appropriate for the media to consider for article features. Tin Shingle produces weekly webinars called Training TuneUps, which offer free access to niche classes, as well as one-on-one training opportunities.
Learn More >
Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!

BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY


ART > TATTOO
Invisimark (Stretch Mark Tattooing - to make stretch marks disappear)

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES
See them here >

BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR
Tin Shingle
Katie James, Inc.

CATERING > EVENT CATERING
Oui Oui Cuisine 
Dulce Cielo Mx

DENTAL
Beacon Dental

EVENT SPACE > CO-WORK SPACE
The Main Office at Beacon Digital 

HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS
See them here >

HOME IMPROVEMENT > INTERIOR DESIGN
Faust Design Build

HOME IMPROVEMENT > LAWN SERVICES
Blue Green Lawns

MUSIC
Natalia Huang Piano Studio
Miss Vickies Music


PHOTOGRAPHY
Megan & Kenneth

THERAPY
Jessica Mills, LCSW

List Your Business In The Business Directory > 
Read Our Latest Articles
Advertise With Us!
Stay Up To Date With City Meetings



List your job in ALBB's Job Listings > 
BEACON BUSINESSES
ISRAEL & PALESTINE
CITY OF BEACON
DUTCHESS COUNTY
HOMELESSNESS
LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
JOIN THESE ADVERTISERS: We create ad packages that work for different types of businesses. Click here for ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog and accomplish your goals.

We look forward to highlighting your business and show your support!
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
JOIN THESE ADVERTISERS: We create ad packages that work for different types of businesses. Click here for ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog and accomplish your goals.

We look forward to highlighting your business and show your support!

New Location And Tree Planted For Beacon's Christmas Tree Lighting 2023 - Menorah Location Unknown At This Time

The City of Beacon has chosen a new location for the Christmas tree lighting - Memorial Park. If you were wondering where the very tall evergreen tree near the parking lot appeared from, or if it had been there the whole time but you just didn’t remember, Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White confirmed during this week’s City Council Meeting that indeed, such a large tree was recently planted to the left of the parking lot of Memorial Park. An electrical outlet was dug and positioned next to the tree so that power could reach the tree for the lights. City Administrator Chris said that Beacon’s Tree Committee was involved in the tree planting. Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou mentioned in his City Council Report that he attended the event, found it enjoyable, and that eventually, it got cold.

The tree lighting event is usually at Pohill Park, which is at Beacon’s most visible main entrance of Main Street and Wolcott Ave (aka Bank Square and Beacon Creamery). Regarding the new location, one of the organizers, Rhonda Altonen, who is also the leader of Girl Scouts Heart Of The Hudson, Inc., told the Beacon Free Press: “We knew that if the event continued to grow, we would need more space. Construction/renovations of the Lewis Tompkins House [Firehouse] also contributed, as they would need space for equipment.”

The new firehouse is one of Beacon’s largest multi-million dollar construction projects, which is currently overshadowing the Welcome Center at Pohill Park, with fencing to protect the new building and geothermal heating underneath, which has constrained parking for St. Andrews Church, and resulted in the one-way designation of South Avenue for the block off Main Street.

The Beacon Free Press reported that people could expect a few take-aways from the event, including an ornament kit, hot chocolate and a cookie. A stage was set for local performers to shine in their holiday cheer. Performances from Yanarella, Salvation Army, Ballet Arts’ Dutchess Dance Company dancers, and others (please chime in the Comments to identify your group!).

All videos of performances were sent in by ALBB Reader Paula Merlino. Thank you, Paula!

The Dutchess Dance Company dancers from Ballet Arts.

Carolers. We spy with our little eyes, the new Captain for Beacon’s Salvation Army, Captain Jesseyna Wiand on the far left of the microphones.


Short 10-ish Year Historic Path Of The Tree Lightnings In Beacon

Traditionally…and…traditions have always evolved here in Beacon…there was a time in the past 10 or so years where a holiday scene was at Pohill Park at the Main Street entrance of Beacon on the west end of town, near the train. There was a tree sculpture made of illuminated bicycle wheels. Next to it was a menorah sculpture, also made of illuminated bicycle wheels. Usually Santa would be rickshaw-ed down Main Street and visit with people. The organization who produced this was BeaconArts, in conjunction with the City of Beacon, and Ed Benavente was the artist of the tree and menorah. So far, a date for a Menorah lighting has not been announced by the City of Beacon or other group. The last time the bicycle menorah lit was in 2021.

Over time, some Beaconites wanted an evergreen tree to be the lit tree again. BeaconArts went through different reorganizations, and the tree lighting ceremony shifted to a new old group. The bicycle tree and menorah no longer lit up Beacon’s main entrance. A giant evergreen behind the Welcome Center was the new celestial greeting. The City of Beacon organized the Santa sittings, there was hot chocolate and different organizations participated to make the tree lighting a fun night for all. That has now moved to Memorial Park.

The Dummy Light Needs Protection: Alone, Vulnerable - Invisible In Green Paint - Should It Be Yellow?

Beacon’s Dummy Light was hit again, this time on Thanksgiving morning at around 11:30am. Witnesses told A Little Beacon Blog that the sun glare at that hour could have played a factor. “I saw this one today outside my window. Either it was the glare from the sun or they just didn’t see it,” said photographer Meghan Spiro, a famed food photographer here. “I couldn’t get a decent photo from my place (looking in the same direction) because of the glare.”

At her bridal shop on the opposite side of the street, realtor Charlotte Guernsey told A Little Beacon Blog: “I saw two in a row the other week, all three of these going the same direction. Must be something about the glare, also they were same time of day.”

ALBB took a photo at 10:30am the next day from the direction of where the cars driving from before hitting the Dummy Light when they turn left. There are at least three factors to consider from the photo:

  • The photo shows the Dummy Light in the shadow of the renovated factory building at 1 East Main Street.

  • The Dummy Light is super dark Adirondack green [correction: this article first said black], from its base to the light itself, with only one strip of a yellow argyle pattern on it to make it noticeable to drivers. After the light was knocked completely over by a City of Beacon Highway Department truck during milling and paving of Main Street, at which time a dunce cap was placed on it, reflective squares were added to the argyle pattern.

  • The black pavement. Now that roads are getting repaved, the streets are very black. Which looks nice, but there is a reflection coming off the pavement. Driving down recently paved Church street at 8am toward the mountain is effectively blinding through the dashboard.

The fatal left turn in December 2021 that took the life of a Beaconite’s grandmother at the intersection of Teller Avenue and Fishkill Avenue also involved the glare of the sun.

Solutions To Reduce Car Crashes Into The Dummy Light

THe Beacon Dummy Light, when it was yellow in the 1990s. In black, at the base, it reads “KEEP RIGHT”
Photo Credit: Stephen Burns

Does the light need to be painted bright yellow, from the base to the light? Cross-walk signs are yellow, and some have blinking yellow lights and reflective tape. Crossing guards wear yellow vests. The Beacon Highway Department wears bright yellow sweatshirts. Should the Dummy Light be treated with the same safety courtesy?

Citizen Stephen Burns supplied this photo of the Dummy Light from the 1990s, when it was yellow, with KEEP RIGHT painted in black on the base. Some people erroneously drive to the left of it.

Concerned Beaconites For The Dummy Light Say:

Beacon citizens have had several observations and suggestions that they shared on ALBB’s social pages. Some include:

  • “We need a Dummy Light calendar.”

  • Those who sell Dummy Light ornaments warn: “Be careful where you put them.”

  • “The light jumps out at people.”

  • “We need a sign that says ‘___ days since it’s been hit.’”

  • “Put red and yellow balloons on it.”

  • “Marked safe from the Dummy Light”

‘Tis be a pity to remove it all together, and miss these lines, fondness and commerce from the Dummy Light.

If you sell Dummy Light products, please put the link in the comments below.

New Skateboard Shop In Town: Premium Roots New York

Beacon’s tiniest sidewalk sign stopped us in our tracks! Premium Roots New York is Beacon’s newest skate shop, with boards from all over the world and local, including Newburgh and Premium Roots’ own line.

Skateboarder gear is also carried in the store, from thick sweatshirts to corduroy ball caps to those signature wide pants. And shoes! Plus, as a bonus surprise, Salt + Umber is also carried in the store, for that smell good factor. ALBB misses them from when they did the collab with Beacon Mercantile those years ago.

Premium Roots is on the east end of town near the mountain, in the former space of David Reeves Bespoke. Like that bespoke designer, Premium Roots also has a store in Brooklyn (David’s showroom is in NYC). Stop in, say hello to the little dog manager. And when you’re done, get hot chocolate at The Chocolate Studio or tea at Miss Tea!

Find this store and more in A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide!

Marcus Molinaro's Quest For Terror Using Old Lingo From Axis Of Islamaphobic and Racist Rhetoric

From Watson Institute at Brown University: “Afghan villagers sit near the bodies of children who were reported to have been killed during a NATO airstrike in Kunar province on April 7, 2013. (Photo: Reuters)”

This article covers the dangerous, Islamaphobic racist comments by Congressman Marcus Molinaro (NY, Republican, District 19). It looks at the following:

  • Brief intro of Marcus Molinaro, to those new to the area.

  • Amplifies accusations of pro-Palestinian supporters as supporting Hamas, which implies that all Palestinians and those who support them are terrorists, because the United States has designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.

  • Legislation Marcus Molinaro introduced to identify “Hamas sympathizers” in certain Federal government agencies.

  • Marc’s false identification of a vehicle crash on a New York bridge as being an act of terror, contributing to waves of chaos. The drivers were going to a KISS concert, drove too fast, crashed, and perished.

  • Lies about the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

  • Links to Israeli experts calling for an extermination of Palestinians (sources listed below, including the children’s song).

Teenagers from the Iraq War (100,000 Iraq civilians killed by US and allied forces for Weapons of Mass Destruction never found) and Afghanistan War (20 year war killing 70,000 Afghans and Pakistani’s civilians and 243,000 of that population total, to find one man - Osama bin Laden - who orchestrated 9/11) remember that storytelling time well.

Snippets of details cross our minds from time to time. George W. Bush reading the storybook about a goat to elementary school students as the planes hit the towers. His later directive: “You’re either with us, or with The Terrorists.”

Back then, we got our news mainly from the radio in the shower on the local Top-40 station while getting ready for school. The local radio stations would dedicate headline space to the national news of the United States war in the Middle East. We were looking for “Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).” Secretary of State Colin Powell was our trusted leader. He told the U.N. Security Council on public television about the Weapons of Mass Destruction, all of the evidence he had, and recommended war. Some of us called our Arab friends right away to make sure they were OK. It was a scary time.

According to NPR’s review of its past coverage: “A month and a half after the U.N. speech, President Bush ordered air strikes over Baghdad. It marked the beginning of a military operation ‘to disarm Iraq, to free its people, and to defend the world from grave danger,’" Bush said in a televised address to the nation.”

It was the “Axis of Evil” theme, with lots of “Good vs Evil.” The United States was the Captain America hero, and the Middle East, and mainly any Arab who was pictured on TV, was the Evil Terrorist. The war ended in a botched “Mission Accomplished” after no Weapons of Mass Destruction were found, and nothing but death and destruction of people, culture, credibility, commerce and lands was accomplished.

Rhetoric about the Israeli-Palestine War has similar ring tones.

Marcus Molinaro - Who Is He And Why Do We Care About His Islamaphobic Racism?

Marcus Molinaro is Dutchess County’s former County Executive. For those new to A Little Beacon Blog, Beacon is in Dutchess County. Marc saw us through COVID, which was a very trying time for him. He played both sides, accommodated and fought for businesses to stay open, while pushing for people to make safe health decisions of their own choice.

Marc ran for Governor of New York State in 2018, and lost to former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He ran for Congressman of New York’s 19 Congressional District in 2022, and won. His was as the United State’s first youngest Mayor at age 19 of Tivoli.

It should be noted as part of his election story: “On September 21, 2021, Molinaro announced that he would run for New York's 19th district in the United States House of Representatives in 2022. In the special election held on August 23, 2022, Molinaro lost to Democratic nominee Pat Ryan, the Ulster County Executive, 51.2% to 48.8%. Molinaro was the Republican nominee for the same seat in the November 2022 general election, this time defeating Democratic nominee Josh Riley under new district lines. Ryan, who defeated Molinaro in August, was also elected to a full term simultaneously in a neighboring district.” That neighboring District 18 includes Beacon.

Four Palestinian men support carrying one Palestinian child after an Israeli bombing.
Photo Credit: AlJazeera

Neither Marcus Molinaro nor Pat Ryan have seemed to have issued any acknowledgement of the at least 4,800 Palestinian children killed as of November 8th, 2023, with over 14,000 Palestinians dead in total, not including the thousands unaccounted for also dead under the rubble. Both Marc and Pat must have Palestinian refugees, decedents of Palestinian refugees, Arab citizens of any kind, and non-Arab and non-Muslim citizens of any kind in their constituencies who oppose this mass murder of an Indigenous people, but both are silent on Palestinian lives mattering.

Beaconites did organize a protest outside of Congressman Pat Ryan’s office in Poughkeepsie, which you can learn about here.

It should be noted: Jewish, Arab, Palestinian, and Christian lives all have a shared Indigenous history in Palestine. The Romans, from 132-136CE, brutally challenged and defeated the Jews in the Bar Kokhba Revolt. The Bar Kokhba Revolt saw the Jews decimated and banned from their region and religion by the Romans. The events of that revolt are eerily familiar to what Israel is conducting upon Palestine today.

Marcus Molinaro Today - How He Matters To The Israeli - Palestine War

Marcus Molinaro has always been a hot-head toward New York State, with his history of running against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Marc likes to be seen as a fighter.

Today, Marcus Molinaro is a fighter for Israel. Without any form of acknowledgement for Palestinian lives lost, or held hostage (there are over 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, and over 2,000 held in “detentions” which can be renewed indefinately who did not get a trial).

Marc posted about bringing the 240 Israeli hostages home, with no acknowledgment of the death toll of Palestinians as it has climbed to over 14,000 as of this post. The death toll of Israelis, thankfully, stayed relatively the same of 1,200. It was, in fact, reduced from 1,400 when Israel further identified bodies.


Marc’s Dangerous Support Of Calling Pro-Palestinian Supporters Hamas :: Wants To Silence Pro-Palestinian Protest

In his next post, Marc reposted a photo of people wearing keffiyah scarves and carrying Palestinian flags a pro-Palestinian rally at Grand Central Station on November 10, 2023.

Marc amplified Islamaphobic and racist language which also may have been misidentifying the situation. The original poster, known as @amuse, said: “Hamas supporters in NYC have surrounded Grand Central Station and are attempting to breach the outer doors to reach police officers sheltering inside.”

In fact, this was the 2nd attempt to shut down Grand Central. The first time Grand Central was shut down was by Jewish Voices For Peace on October 27th, 2023 at rush-hour. The group got inside and occupied the main lobby.

This time, on November 10th, the police locked the doors of Grand Central to prevent another shutdown. Police were not “sheltering” inside out of fear, they locked it down to prevent a second shut-down. More police then completely lined the outside of the doors, as they tried to move the protesters off the sidewalk without pressing charges, as you can see in this video.

Marc Molinaro’s own caption of that repost was: “This isn’t peaceful and it’s not protected speech. This can’t be acceptable in America. It shouldn’t be tolerated in New York.” For Marc to go along with calling a Palestinian supporter “Hamas” puts that person in danger, as the United States has built mounting fear around the concept of who is a “terrorist".” You can see how loud and energized but peaceful the protest was here in the video.

One Beaconite who was at Grand Central on November 10th at that time was trying to catch the train home. They told ALBB: “People were knocking on the doors trying to figure out when we could go in. The police were locking the doors. When we got inside (through the hotel), the police had barriers blocking from the inside. No one inside was affected at all. The police blocked everyone from getting in. Even business people trying to get home from work.”

A keffiyeh scarf is the Palestinian resistance scarf, advocating for freedom from occupation. It is warn by civilians and militants alike. There has been a sharp rise in violence against people wearing the keffiyeh. Like the woman in Brooklyn who hurled her coffee at the dad wearing the keffiyeh scarf with this son.

She was later outed in her community, identified as Hadasa Bozakkaravani, and arrested. According to NBC: “Hadasa Bozakkaravani, 48, was arrested Tuesday and charged with 9 counts, including 4 hate crimes: assault, assault of a person under 11, reckless endangerment, aggravated harassment and menacing, according to police.” The dad, Ashish Prashar told NBC: “This is post-9/11 again. Like every brown person now is a target."

Unrelated to Marcus Molinaro, but related to why his language is so Islamaphobic racist and endangering to Arabs, is the shooting of 3 Palestinian college students today in Burlington, VT, who were visiting family for Thanksgiving. According to the Press Release issued by the police, “they were confronted by a white man with a handgun. Without speaking, he discharged at least four rounds from the pistol and is believed to have fled on foot,” police said. Two of the three friends were wearing keffiyehs. The indigenous symbols on the keffiyehs are fishnets for catching fish, olives, and trade routs in the sea. Three very important things to a Palestinian that Israel tries to suppress by cutting down their olive trees or destroying their fishing boats in this current war.

In a statement released by the Institute for Middle East Understanding, the students were identified as Hisham Awartani, a student at Brown University in Rhode Island; Kinnan Abdalhamid, a student at Haverford College in Pennsylvania; and Tahseen Ahmad, a student at Trinity College in Connecticut.

According to CNN: “In a joint statement, the victims’ families urged law enforcement to investigate the attack as a hate crime. ‘We will not be comfortable until the shooter is brought to justice,’ they said. ‘No family should ever have to endure this pain and agony. Our children are dedicated students who deserve to be able to focus on their studies and building their futures.’” Read more details on this story at CNN.

Marcus Molinaro has so far not condemned any of the killings in Palestinian, the murder of the little Palestinian-American boy in Chicago, and so far, has not commented on this shooting.


Marc Molinaro Introduces Legislation Identify Certain Federal Employees Who Display Support For Hamas

Around the time of the pro-Palestinian protests shutting down Grand Central, tens of thousands of people arrived in Washington D.C. to show their support for Palestine. One group of about 100 congressional staffers made their own performance and statement, urging their bosses to listen to their constituents who have been calling for a ceasefire.

On November 7, 2023, Marcus Molinaro sponsored and filed US Congress House Bill 6250, which was drafted to: “Require the heads of certain Federal agencies to report to Congress ties of agency employees to Hamas or the display of support for Hamas, and for other purpose.”

In his own Press Release announcing the bill, Marcus Molinaro stated: “We cannot afford to have Hamas sympathizers within our government, especially in roles that manage our crucial relationship with Israel. This bipartisan legislation aims to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency, safeguarding our institutions from any association with terrorist organizations like Hamas. America's support for Israel during its time of need demands that we take decisive action to root out potential threats within our government.”

According to the New York Times, the 100 congressional staffers covered their faces to remain anonymous, and delivered the following during their protest against their bosses:

“The carnations arrived by the wheelbarrow. Blood-red, pink, orange and yellow, more than 10,000 stems were laid on the steps at the base of the Capitol against a clear blue sky.

Congressional aids breaking with their bosses to demand a cease-fire, return of all hostages, and a de-escalation.
Photo Credit: Pete Marovich for the New York Times

“Each was meant to represent a civilian life lost in the Israel-Hamas war one month in, encompassing Israeli and Palestinian people alike. They were brought over by more than 100 congressional staff members, all wearing masks to obscure their identities, for a walkout last week honoring the civilians killed in the conflict and calling for a cease-fire and the release of more than 200 hostages abducted by Hamas.

“‘We are congressional staffers on Capitol Hill, and we are no longer comfortable staying silent,” three of the aides, all of whom declined to give their names, declared, the Capitol dome towering behind them. ‘Our constituents are pleading for a cease-fire, and we are the staffers answering their calls. Most of our bosses on Capitol Hill are not listening to the people they represent. We demand our leaders speak up: Call for a cease-fire, a release of all hostages and an immediate de-escalation now.’

“The walkout was the latest in a series of actions congressional aides have taken, almost all of them anonymously, to publicly urge members of Congress — their own bosses — to call for a cease-fire in Gaza.”


Marcus Molinaro Erroneously Assigns Terror Attack To Vehicle Crash On A New York Bridge

Next in the “War On Terror” playbook is to make New Yorkers think they are under attack and surrounded by terrorists. Marcus Molinaro first tried that by amplifying a social media post identifying New Yorkers wearing keffiyehs and holding Palestinian flags, which was discussed above.

Now he was using a car crash and subsequent explosion on the Rainbow Bridge in Niagra Falls to say an act of terror happened in New York. When it first happened, Marc took to his Instagram to let his followers know that the vehicle explosion was a terrorist attack, and that he would keep his followers informed. Then he deleted it.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul provided an update, stating it was not an act of terror. CBS News reported: “Preliminary federal government assessments and law enforcement sources indicate that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a curb, leading it to crash through a fence and a Customs and Border Protection inspection area, where it caught fire and exploded.” Reuters reported that the driver was a 56-year old man driving with his wife to a KISS concert. The two did not survive the crash.

CBC reported that the Niagara police chief Bryan MacCulloch told the Niagara Region Police Services Board: "We saw an immense amount of misinformation and speculation on both mainstream and social media platforms, which created significant and unnecessary anxiety in the community."


Marcus Molinaro Lies About The Phrase “From The River To The Sea, Palestine Will Be Free”

Marcus Molinaro’s response to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the only Palistian Representative.

Marcus Molinaro lied about the freedom chant: “From river to the sea, Palestine will be free!”

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, was censured by Congress for criticizing Israel, and pointing out that Palestinians “are humans beings” who don’t need to have their flesh “melted to the bone,” in this war. She said: “Palestinian people are not disposable.” Watch her full speech here.

She later posted on Instagram “From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.”

Marc’s response was “This is the Hamas rallying cry to violently exterminate Israel and remove the Jewish people. You can’t possibly expect anyone to believe this and you can’t be any more wrong.”

Marcus Molinaro twisted her words, which is exactly what she warned of before being censured.

This picture of watermelon slices reveals the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” When Elon Musk of Twitter banned the phrase, people started hiding it in plain sight. Watermelon has become a symbol of Palestinian freedom and Resistance.

Some people on social media will also voice this opinion, especially when there are reports of protest marches and people are chanting this phrase. The American Jewish Committee describes the phrase as antisemetic.

Aljazeera provided an analysis, which includes an observation from Nimer Sultany, a lecturer in law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, who focused on the word “free.” He said the adjective expresses “the need for equality for all inhabitants of historic Palestine. Those who support apartheid and Jewish supremacy will find the egalitarian chant objectionable,” Sultany is a Palestinian citizen of Israel.

Palestine was occupied 75 years ago, turned into an apartheid state, and by definition, yearns to be free from the suffering their oppressor has put on them by entangling their lives with hardships to find work, drinkable water, receive the mail, leave their territory, return to their territory, pass through armed checkpoints to get to work, ride in a segregated taxi system, endure terrorizing tactics of night raids by Israeli police to arrest children from homes, and most recently, bomb the land into obliteration, kill over 14,000 Palestinians, arrest and shoot doctors, abandon Palestinian patients in hospitals after annihilating the hospital, and other atrocities and war crimes.

Some Israeli Officials Call For All Palestinians To Leave Forever

See below for a snippet of Israeli experts who explain their intent to remove the Palestinian people, turn it into a “soccer field,” and take advantage of the violent extermination Israel is doing to the Palestinians right now.

Below, is former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked, speaking on Israel’s Channel 13, that Gaza Strip should be turned into a soccer field. She said: “We need two million to leave… that’s the solution for Gaza.” As posted by Middle East Eye: “She said that Khan Younis, located south of the Gaza Strip, would be turned into a ‘soccer field.’ She also said the international community should be pressured to take in refugees from Gaza, and that the ‘solution’ for the besieged strip is for all Palestinians there to leave.” All of her statements are in screenshots below:

Also reported at Middle East Eye, this man supports the forced expulsion of Palestinians a second time. Currently, Israeli forces do shoot at Palestinans walking from north to south, as instructed by Israel. Middle East Eye reports: “In an interview with Channel 12 news, Israeli Minister of Agriculture and former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter described the current displacement and persecution of Palestinians in Gaza as ‘the Nakba of Gaza 2023.’ Dichter has been calling for over a decade to re-occupy Gaza.

“The Nakba, or ‘catastrophe’ as it’s known in English, refers to the ethnic cleansing of some 750,000 Palestinians from their lands and homes in historic Palestine to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948.”


Perhaps Marc will break with Zionists to support people living in the global climate he claims to respect.


In Conclusion, Language Reverses Reality

On November 15, 2023, Bhavani Kunjulakshmi wrote this:

“Your solidarity with Palestine is accused of anti-semitism?
Like your feminism is accused of misandry/man-hating?
Like your anti-racism is accused of reverse racism?
Like your workers rights’ unionism is accused of treachery?
Like your protests are accused of vandalism?

The oppressor will always find ways to appropriate, co-opt and manipulate the language of the oppressed to claim victimhood and to justify their violence as self-defense.”

Recently, this Israeli soldier dedicated an explosion of a building to his 2-year old daughter. You can see the building down the block once he detonates. He and his fellow troupes don’t seem to be threatened by any person around them, to justify the self-defense of another building crumbled. In the video, birds chirp in the background; two dogs scamper across the fallen rubble; a rooster crows.

For one more bit of proof, as there as so many, these children have been taught a song, which was featured in many media sources, including Middle East Eye. The children sing: “Within a year we will annihilate everyone.”

Said Middle East Eye: “An Israeli song about the war in Gaza featuring child singers has sparked outrage in Israel on Sunday after public broadcaster Kan shared it on X, formerly Twitter, before deleting it shortly after. The music video was created by The Civil Front, an organization run by Ofer Rosenbaum, who is known for creating controversial media campaigns. Israelis on social media criticized the video, which features lyrics based on a popular Israeli poem about the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, over its use of children and for creating material ‘to be used by the enemy.’”

One commenter said: “Reminiscent of Hitler’s Youth Choir. This is child abuse.”

In The Season :: Retail Therapy Guide 11/24/2023

If you celebrate Thanksgiving, we hope you had a good one! We hope you have delicious leftovers, but if not, we know plenty of good places that are open and ready for you! All in all, we want to express our gratitude for all of you who are still here with us. Following out stories, posts, ideas, etc. There is no ALBB without you - who is reading this - and we are overwhelmed with gratitude.

It's Black Friday, but tomorrow is Small Business Saturday! Shop small! It's super easy to get busy around the holidays and it's super easy to shop on Amazon... but there is nothing like a gift from a small business... where you can't get the gift anywhere else... so it's that much more special!

PS: Want to see where these storefront windows are? Head over to ALBB's Instagram to find out!

PPS: Toy collections have started:

  • Beacon Volunteer Ambulance (BVAC): "Beacon Volunteer Ambulance is now collecting toys for Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. If you are interested in donating, please message us today to coordinate a drop off.  We will be collecting until December 7 and are coordinating our efforts with the Beacon Elks Lodge #1493."
  • Guardian Self Storage: Collecting for Toys For Tots until December 16th. Drop off at their Beacon location: 629 Route 52.


                                    

THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it!
If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here,
click here for more info >



Shop small! Head in and out of Main Street's amazing small businesses, eat a good brunch, lunch, dinner, and have a good drink! Spend the day HERE on Main Street!



Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!

Beacon Flea Market! Every Fair Weather Sunday from 8am-3pm at Henry Street (next to the Post Office).
 

Check our Calendar and Events Guide regularly for upcoming events
throughout the week!

 
 

HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Website >
Tired of leftovers already? Head on into the HV Food Hall for options including the Chicken Samosa from Tara Fusion! 
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu!
El Nica: Nicaraguan Food
Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar
Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff
Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters 
Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice
Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options.
Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food
Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!

BAJA 328
328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Make your holidays memorable with Baja 328’s exceptional catering services! Leave the stress of cooking at the front door. Be sure to plan ahead! Saving yourself even more stress... 
Can we talk about how TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja!? $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas! Say no more...
PS: Check out Baja's specials! > 
Check out their specialty drinks > 
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!


CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
424 Main St.
New Kitchen hours at Baja! Monday-Thursday from 12-9pm, Friday-Saturday from 12-11pm, mand Sunday from 11-7pm. Don't forget, book a spot to have your Holiday Party at Carter’s Restaurant! 🪔
Bring your decorations, and they will provide the delicious food and drinks. Choose your room! Choose your party size. Off-site catering available too!
PS: Happy Hour is from Monday-Friday 2-5!
PPS! Katie James Inc. creates and curates Carter's Instagram, and can for your business too.
Follow Carter's on Instagram >
Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!

BEACON BREAD COMPANY
193-195 Maint Street, Beacon, NY

Let's hear it for the crossiants! Nothing better than heading into Beacon Bread this weekend, post-Thanksgiving, and indulging and fresh baked goods to kick off the holiday season! Especially because it is all baked fresh each day using King Arthur Baking flour! Full coffee service bar with delicious seasonal flavors. Gingerbread latte anyone? Head on over for a latte and a treat!
PS BBC is open everyday from 8am-6pm except for Wednesday! 
PPS Whole sale, special orders, and events/catering available!
Follow BBC on Instagram >
Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!

ZIATUN
244 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Tired today but dying to get your hands on Ziatun's delicious hummus? Get it to go! Just as fresh & just as good! You deserve a break after Thanksgiving and before Small Business Saturday! Indulge in this goodness while kicking your feet up on the couch! We actually might do the same!
PS! Ziatun is open everyday!
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Follow Ziatun on Instagram >
Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
 

 

LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
It's officially the countdown to winter! ☃️ And don't you want to look this good in a new pair of glasses from Luxe?! Luxe continues to bring in new styles to keep things exciting and fresh! Head in and snag a pair for you and treat someone to a pair for the holidays! Best gift ever!
PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > 
BEACON HOURS 
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED 
Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!


THE STATION
463 Main Street, Beacon

The Station = Beacon's Cannabis Growers Showcase. Safe from local farms. Different forms and options available. 
Friday 4-8pm and
Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm.
PS! The Station is local and a huge part of the Beacon Community!
Follow The Station on Instagram >
The Station is a Sponsor, thank you!


 
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OPEN!
A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide is one of the biggest draws to this publication. Every store is listed in it for the best experience for our readers. Google rewarded A Little Beacon Blog with a #1 ranking for "boutique shopping beacon ny." Designed to elevate your store from the rest, this advertising campaign is integrated with our Instagram. Show your storefront in the listing, get your business a permanent weekly feature in A Little Beacon Blog's Retail Therapy Newsletter sent on Fridays (see examples here), as well as weekly Instagram features.
More information here >
Yanarella Dance Studio
312 Main St., Beacon, NY

For over 60 years, Yanarella Dance has been dedicated to providing an exceptional dance education to the Hudson Valley. Since the day they opened our doors, their philosophy has been that “every child should have the same opportunity to dance, regardless of talent or ability. There is no can’t in dance. There’s only a C-A-N”.

Reach out for more information & sign up!

See Kids Classes here >
See Adults Classes here > 
Register Online >

Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!

Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >

Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.


PS* NEW Advertising Packages available! See details > 

MEGAN & KENNETH PHOTOGRAPHERS
Weddings & Families

Leave it to Megan & Kenneth to capture the essence of confidence one headshot at a time! 📸 If you're in need of a headshot, reach out to Megan and Kenneth Photographers! They will make you feel so comfortable during the shoot which will allow for a genuine and natural headshot like this one! They're the best of the best!
Find more information here >
Megan & Kenneth are Sponsors. Thank you!


BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666

At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Beacon Dental is also happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! 
Explore all services >
Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!

                       
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Katie James Inc. is producing the Spirit of Beacon Day website. This destination website was designed to both update people as the year went on, from Sponsorship opportunities, to easy ways to Register for Parade and Vendor tables, to the final product of Parade and Table Maps, and Bathrooms. Katie James Inc. is also producing the social media on Instagram and Facebook for Spirit of Beacon Day. Need these services for your business? Katie James, Inc. works with small and large businesses.


TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle a training platform and community for businesses, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business. Tin Shingle teaches PR, social media and content marketing tactics to regular people to help make their pitching and brand story telling smarter, engaging and more appropriate for the media to consider for article features. Tin Shingle produces weekly webinars called Training TuneUps, which offer free access to niche classes, as well as one-on-one training opportunities.
Learn More >
Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!

BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY


ART > TATTOO
Invisimark (Stretch Mark Tattooing - to make stretch marks disappear)

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES
See them here >

BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR
Tin Shingle
Katie James, Inc.

CATERING > EVENT CATERING
Oui Oui Cuisine 
Dulce Cielo Mx

DENTAL
Beacon Dental

EVENT SPACE > CO-WORK SPACE
The Main Office at Beacon Digital 

HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS
See them here >

HOME IMPROVEMENT > INTERIOR DESIGN
Faust Design Build

HOME IMPROVEMENT > LAWN SERVICES
Blue Green Lawns

MUSIC
Natalia Huang Piano Studio
Miss Vickies Music


PHOTOGRAPHY
Megan & Kenneth

THERAPY
Jessica Mills, LCSW

List Your Business In The Business Directory > 
Read Our Latest Articles
Advertise With Us!
Stay Up To Date With City Meetings



List your job in ALBB's Job Listings > 
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
JOIN THESE ADVERTISERS: We create ad packages that work for different types of businesses. Click here for ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog and accomplish your goals.

We look forward to highlighting your business and show your support!

Beacon's Famed Dummy Light Hit Again - On Thanksgiving 2023

White truck that hit the Dummy Light on Thanksgiving, 2023.
Photo Credit: Dutchess County Scanner Feed.

White truck that collided with Dummy Light on Thanksgiving 2023. With assistance from Beacon Police.
Photo Credit: Dutchess County Scanner Feed.

Beacon’s Dummy Light stands in the intersection of Main Street and East Main Street. It has a deep history of why it is here. Cars hit it more often than one would think.

Today, in the late morning of Thanksgiving, a white Toyota truck collided with the Dummy Light, as reported by the Dutchess County Scanner Feed. The City of Beacon, Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BVAC) and Beacon Medic 1 priority 3 MVA responded. The truck sustained damage.

According to a neighbor who saw the crash, the driver and their dog were taken away in an ambulance. According to another neighbor who saw the accident, the glare of the sun at that time of day from that direction - 11:30am-ish - could have impacted. The neighbor was trying to get a picture of the crash, but couldn’t because of the glare of the sun from where they were stationed.

The concrete of the Dummy Light seems to have remained in tact. The license plate look to be out of state with blue letters/numbers on white. This could also be a rental car for someone in New York state on a day trip.

Shooting At Washington Ave and Depuyster Ave Early Evening of November 22

The intersection of Washington Ave and Depuyster Ave, the location of the alleged shooting in Beacon on November 22, 2023 at 6:30pm.

Days after an alleged shooting at or near the intersection of Washington Avenue and Depuyster Avenue, which is near the mountain, the City of Beacon Police Department issued a Press Release with some details:

“On November 20, 2023 at approximately 6:30pm the Beacon Police Department responded to the area of Washington Avenue and Depuyster Avenue for a report of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located a crime scene which the Detective Division began processing. A short time later, a local hospital received a male victim with non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He was treated and later released. The department is continuing to investigate and due to the nature of the incident further details are not being released at this time. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that would further the investigation is encouraged to contact the Beacon Police Department Detective Division by calling 845-831-4111.”

Locals listening to the police scanner say that the people involved in the shooting used cars, versus if they had walked there. This area is relatively far from downtown Beacon or the I-84. It is not clear how or why the hospital receiving a male victim with a gunshot wound was connected to this shooting.

Some locals in the area have indicated that they did not see an ambulance, so the victim may have been dropped off at the hospital or taken themselves. It is also not stated which hospital. Sometimes these Press Releases do sometimes include the name of the hospital.

Some locals arriving home after work said they encountered the road being blocked off while the police investigated the crime scene.

In the last Press Release issued by the City of Beacon Police with the attempted entry, they indicated who the person they arrested was. In the Press Release before that for the shooting at Bank Street and Tompkins Avenue, the police did not make any indications on who the shooter was.

Pictured above is the intersection of Washington Avenue and Depuyster Avenue.

Suspect Arrested For Attempting To Make Entry Into Caller's Apartment In Tompkins Terrace

From the City of Beacon Police Department Press Release:

“On November 19, 2023 at approximately 2pm the Beacon Police Department received a call for a male suspect possibly attempting to make entry into the caller's apartment in Tompkins Terrace. Officers responded and located the suspect in the complex. Investigation revealed the the suspect was a two-time convicted felon who was currently wanted on additional Robbery charges out of the City of Newburgh. He was arrested, processed and turned over to the City of Newburgh Police Department.”

There was no mention in this release on if this arrest was connected to the shootings earlier in November 2023 or May 2023. Tompkins Terrace is an affordable housing community where many children, parents and elderly reside.

The Interfaith Vigil For 240 Hostages That Wasn't Interfaith

A candlelight vigil was held in Poughkeepsie at the Christ Episcopal Church on the evening of Thursday, November 16, 2023 in support of the 240 hostages being held by Hamas. Several speakers from different faiths spoke, including a Baptist leader.

“Interfaith” Vigil Did Not Include Imams or Priests

While the event was titled “Interfaith Candlelight Vigil In Solidarity With 240 Hostages Held In Gaza,” there were no Muslim Imams or Catholic Priests in speaking positions. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Jesse Lunin-Pack, president of the Beacon Hebrew Alliance, to see if any Imams or Priests were invited to attend. He responded: “I'm afraid that my only role in planning the event was to request that it happen - so I'm not really sure how the speakers were invited and who was reached out to.”

With Jesse’s help, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to the organizer of the event, Karen Hochhauser, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Dutchess County, with the same question. She did not respond.

The vigil was held in the dark, within a perimeter lined with white paper bags that had a candle inside of them and a name of a hostage printed on each bag. Poughkeepsie police were in attendance to direct parking.

Timing Of The Vigil Was During The Massacre Of Palestinian Civilians, Doctors and Nurses At Al-Shifra Hospital

During the vigil that was dubbed “interfaith,” was no mention of the Palestinians who are being buried under the rubble. This may have been the first vigil in the Hudson Valley region - 41 days after the hostages were taken. The majority of whom are Israeli, but there are other nationalities have been taken as well. It should be noted that 11,000 Palestinian children and adults have been killed as of this writing.

In the Al-Shifra hospital alone, there were 2,000 displaced people, 400 patients and 200 medical professionals. Several doctors and nurses were shot at by IDF in the Al-Shifa hospital. An Israeli spokesperson justified the killing when telling MSBNC, “You see a doctor? Anyone could be a Hamas.” And so now, medical professionals and families leaving the hospital are being targeted with snipers and shot to death.

On this day - November 16, 2023 - the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) confirmed that there were no hostages found in the Al-Shifa hospital, where IDF created mass death. The IDF has as of this writing woken up Al-Ahli Baptist hospital by surrounding it with Israeli tanks. Which is how the murders at the Al-Shifa Hospital started.

Oddly Timed Song Lyrics Read During Vigil

Karen, the organizer, read lyrics from a song, which sat oddly, being that this genocide is being done by one side to the other - Zionist Israeli genocide (funded and supported by the United States and other European nations) to the Palestinians. While she may have meant it as a way to sympathize with Jews, it landed with the opposite interpretation to someone listening who is supporting and defending Palestinian lives and Jewish lives from Zionists.

The lyrics of the song are as follows, and are read at minute 10 of the video below:

“You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”
by
Rogers and Hammerstein in South Pacific. The song was controversial in its time.

You’ve got to be taught to hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught from year to year,
It’s got to be drummed in your dear little ear—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a different shade—
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate—
You’ve got to be carefully taught!
You’ve got to be carefully taught!

I was cheated before
And I’m cheated again
By a mean little world
Of mean little men.
And the one chance for me
Is the life I know best.

To be on an island
And to hell with the rest.
I will cling to this island
Like a tree or a stone,
I will cling to this island
And be free—and alone.

“You've Got to Be Carefully Taught” (Rodgers/Hammerstein II)
© 1949, Copyright Renewed, Williamson Music Company (ASCAP) c/o Concord Music Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Enjoy These Final Days Of Leaf Piles :: Retail Therapy Guide 10/17/2023

Lots of events this weekend in these final days of fallen leaves! You do not want to miss the opportunity to see Finding Nemo - featuring hand-crafted puppets from Adam Izen - from the Beacon Performing Arts Center. A very affordable kid activity as you're enjoying the weekend.

Be sure to scroll down to see a most gorgeous wedding photo from Megan and Kenneth Photographers - and tell us - are they two beautiful swans? Or brides on their happy night.

And do hit up A Little Beacon Blog's Catering section of our Business Directory so that you can place your orders! Oui Oui Cuisine and Dulce Cielo MX will both make your holiday event a stand-out.

Have great weekends!

                                    

THE EVENTS + RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE
Book an Event Promotion Advertising spot here.
You can sponsor this Event Guide with your event, for extra promotion of it!
If you'd like to guarantee to see your entertainment event listed here,
click here for more info >

 



SAVE THE DATE!
Beacon Performing Arts Center Presents Finding Nemo Kids
Days: Thursday, November 16, 2023 - Sunday, November 19, 2023
Times: November 16 at 7:30, November 17 at 7:00
November 18 at 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm, and 5:30pm
November 19 at 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm, and 5:30pm
Location: Beacon High School Theatre. 101 Matteawan Rd, Beacon, NY
Featuring hand-crafted puppets by Beacon local Adam Izen, Beacon Performing Arts Center brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in this story full of family, friendship, and adventure! This magical production will have audiences of all ages captivated by their favorite characters: Nemo, Dory, Marlin, Bruce, Crush the Turtle, and more! The performance runs approximately 45 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are available on the day of the production at the door or in advance at www.beaconperformingartscenter.com/box-office . Adults $10, Students under 18 $5, Seniors $7, Children under 2 are free.
Information >

Free Farm Stand at Memorial Park — FAREGROUND FOOD + COMMUNITY
Day: Friday, November 17, 2023
Time: 2:30-3:30pm
Location: Memorial Field Parking, 61 Robert Cahill Dr, Beacon, NYThis Free Farm Stand is in collaboration with the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. We offer vegetables, fruits, dairy, and other items. 
Information >

Winter Craft Fair
Day: Saturday, November 18, 2023
Time: 10-4pm
Location: 14 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, NY
Over 75 vendors, theme trees that will be raffled off in support of Family Services,  a holiday figure skating show, photos with Santa and friends, holiday performances and festivities, raffles and prizes and more! Admission is Free!
Information >

Family Free Night
Day: Sunday, November 19, 2023
Time: 5:30pm-8pm
Location: Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, 75 N Water St, Poughkeepsie, NY
Information >

November Book Club Meet: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
Day: Sunday, November 19, 2023
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Two Way Brewing Company, 18 W Main St, Beacon, NY
Information >


Beacon Farmers Market! Every Sunday from 10am-3pm at 223 Main Street!

Beacon Flea Market! Every Fair Weather Sunday from 8am-3pm at Henry Street (next to the Post Office).
 

Check our Calendar and Events Guide regularly for upcoming events
throughout the week!

 
 

HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Website >
This is your sign to run into the HV Food Hall for Dulce Cielo Mx tacos! Y U M !!!
Follow HV Food Hall's foodies:
Miz Hattie's BBQ: Southern Style BBQ, from North Carolina. Order ahead via their Toast-app menu!
El Nica: Nicaraguan Food
Roosevelt Bar: Cocktail Bar
Shmuck's Sweet Stuff: Local Ice Cream, Hot Waffles, and Other Sweet Stuff
Hudson Shawarma: Falafels, shawarma, baklava, and platters 
Ciao Chow - Hand made pasta and fried rice
Dulce Cielo Mexico: Authentic Mexican street food with vegetarian and vegan options.
Tara Fusion Cuisine: Fusion cuisine of Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan and Middle Eastern food
Hudson Valley Food Hall is a Sponsor, thank you!

BAJA 328
328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Coffee and cake, the ultimate duo! Stop in this weekend for an espresso martini and tres leches cake! Check out the specials menu for all things seasonal and delicious! 
Don't forget... TACO TUESDAY 🌮 is every Tuesday at Baja! $2 chicken, beef & carnita tacos plus $3 coronas!
PPS: Check out Baja's specials! > 
Check out their specialty drinks > 
BAJA 328 is a Sponsor, thank you!

CARTERS RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
424 Main St.
Host your Holiday Party at Carter’s Restaurant! 🪔
Plenty of room in a warmly lit space. Bring your decorations, and they will provide the delicious food and drinks. With your choice of their front room, or back 2 rooms, you can fit your party comfortably. Large or small. Any gathering will feel intimate at Carters! OH & Carter's also provides off-site catering! Tell your boss. Tell yourself. Reach out!
PS: Carters is open everyday! Kitchen open until 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights, with the bar open until 12:30am!
PPS: Happy Hour is from Monday-Friday 2-5!
PPPS!!! Katie James Inc. creates and curates Carter's Instagram, and can for your business too.
Follow Carter's on Instagram >
Carters Restaurant & Lounge is a Sponsor, thank you!

BEACON BREAD COMPANY
193-195 Maint Street, Beacon, NY

Stop in to BBC for something simple & sweet like this waffle! Homemade with fresh strawberries and local maple syrup. No better way to start the weekend than with this! BBC bakes and cooks fresh each day. Full coffee service bar with delicious seasonal flavors. Head on over for a latte and a treat!
PS BBC is open everyday from 8am-6pm except for Wednesday! 
PPS Whole sale, special orders, and events/catering available!
Follow BBC on Instagram >
Beacon Bread Company is a Sponsor, thank you!

ZIATUN
244 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Ziatuns way of saying they love you with their whole heart? Meet the Habibi Platter. That's how! Loaded with hummus, falafel, grape leaves, feta cheese olives and sliced veggies. Get it there with friends and family (or even yourself) or get it to go! Perhaps as an addition to your holiday gatherings!
PS! Ziatun is open everyday!
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Follow Ziatun on Instagram >
Ziatun is a Sponsor, thank you!
 

 

LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Before you know it, Winter will be here! ☃️ And nothing beats a pair of polarized sunglasses while out in the snow! Luxe continues to bring in new styles to keep things exciting and fresh! So, dodge the old pair, and stop in for a new pair!
PS: Eye doctor appointments available here! > 
BEACON HOURS 
Monday from 10AM–5PM
Tuesday-Saturday from 10AM–6PM
Sunday CLOSED 
Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!


THE STATION
463 Main Street, Beacon

The Station took another Field trip - but this time to @supernaturalsny! They truly are super natural! This farm is beyond organic, it’s full of life and creativity. Fun fact. SuoerNatural is only for sale at C*nnabis Grower Showcases.
Open all weekend long.
Friday 4-8pm and
Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm.
PS! The Station is local and a huge part of the Beacon Community!
Follow The Station on Instagram >
The Station is a Sponsor, thank you!


 
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OPEN!
A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide is one of the biggest draws to this publication. Every store is listed in it for the best experience for our readers. Google rewarded A Little Beacon Blog with a #1 ranking for "boutique shopping beacon ny." Designed to elevate your store from the rest, this advertising campaign is integrated with our Instagram. Show your storefront in the listing, get your business a permanent weekly feature in A Little Beacon Blog's Retail Therapy Newsletter sent on Fridays (see examples here), as well as weekly Instagram features.
More information here >
Yanarella Dance Studio
312 Main St., Beacon, NY

For over 60 years, Yanarella Dance has been dedicated to providing an exceptional dance education to the Hudson Valley. Since the day they opened our doors, their philosophy has been that “every child should have the same opportunity to dance, regardless of talent or ability. There is no can’t in dance. There’s only a C-A-N”.

Reach out for more information & sign up!

See Kids Classes here >
See Adults Classes here > 
Register Online >

Yanarella is a Sponsor, thank you!

Beacon has a growing number of beauty salons and professional pampering to take advantage of - you can even book a transforming appointment at a lash bar! Be it a totally new hair style, or a facial, you have options in Beacon. Plus, one of the most enjoyable gifts you can give to someone is a gift certificate. So we have included links to where you can buy a gift certificate from any of these fine services that offers one. Check out ALBB's Beauty Guide here >

Special Message For Businesses: If you want to advertise in this Guide with a picture, logo and promotions, please click here.


PS* NEW Advertising Packages available! See details > 

MEGAN & KENNETH PHOTOGRAPHERS
Weddings & Families

First comes the engagement then comes the wedding! Nothing like capturing love and forever moments with Megan & Kenneth! Book those engagement sessions & wedding sessions! It's easy to check this one off your list when you have the best of the best photographers!
Find more information here >
Megan & Kenneth are Sponsors. Thank you!


BEACON DENTAL
1020 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY
(845) 838-3666

At Beacon Dental, they are dedicated to providing you and your family with quality dental care tailored to your individual needs. They welcome patients aged 4 and older and provide a full range of dental services to help you achieve and maintain excellent oral health throughout your life. When you visit their dentists and team, you can be certain that your health, comfort and smile are always their highest priorities. Beacon Dental is also happy to announce that they now accept Medicare health insurance! Call them for a free cleaning & check-up and refer your family & friends! 
Explore all services >
Beacon Dental is a Sponsor. Thank you!

                       
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Katie James Inc. is producing the Spirit of Beacon Day website. This destination website was designed to both update people as the year went on, from Sponsorship opportunities, to easy ways to Register for Parade and Vendor tables, to the final product of Parade and Table Maps, and Bathrooms. Katie James Inc. is also producing the social media on Instagram and Facebook for Spirit of Beacon Day. Need these services for your business? Katie James, Inc. works with small and large businesses.


TIN SHINGLE
Tin Shingle a training platform and community for businesses, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business. Tin Shingle teaches PR, social media and content marketing tactics to regular people to help make their pitching and brand story telling smarter, engaging and more appropriate for the media to consider for article features. Tin Shingle produces weekly webinars called Training TuneUps, which offer free access to niche classes, as well as one-on-one training opportunities.
Learn More >
Tin Shingle is a Sponsor. Thank you!

BUSINESSES IN THE BUSINESS DIRECTORY


ART > TATTOO
Invisimark (Stretch Mark Tattooing - to make stretch marks disappear)

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES
See them here >

BRANDING  >  MARKETING & PR
Tin Shingle
Katie James, Inc.

CATERING > EVENT CATERING
Oui Oui Cuisine 
Dulce Cielo Mx

DENTAL
Beacon Dental

EVENT SPACE > CO-WORK SPACE
The Main Office at Beacon Digital 

HISPANIC OWNED BUSINESS
See them here >

HOME IMPROVEMENT > INTERIOR DESIGN
Faust Design Build

HOME IMPROVEMENT > LAWN SERVICES
Blue Green Lawns

MUSIC
Natalia Huang Piano Studio
Miss Vickies Music


PHOTOGRAPHY
Megan & Kenneth

THERAPY
Jessica Mills, LCSW

List Your Business In The Business Directory > 
Read Our Latest Articles
Advertise With Us!
Stay Up To Date With City Meetings



List your job in ALBB's Job Listings > 
SIGN UP FOR THIS NEWSLETTER
JOIN THESE ADVERTISERS: We create ad packages that work for different types of businesses. Click here for ways to advertise on A Little Beacon Blog and accomplish your goals.

We look forward to highlighting your business and show your support!

16-Year-Old Wounded By Gunshot At Tompkins Avenue and Bank Street On November 10th

According to a Press Release from the City of Beacon Police Department, a 16-year-old male was shot near the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Bank Street. This is a neighborhood of ranch-style houses with Victorian houses. This intersection is at the entrance of Tompkins Terrace affordable housing apartment community, and the soon-to-be-completed Edgewater.

This area is known for its bucolic setting, and gun shootings, with at least one resulting in an unsolved murder a few years ago. A more recent incident happened in May 2023, which prompted a resident of the apartment complex, LaStar Gorton, to run for City Council Ward 1. Despite her efforts, LaStar was unable to get onto the ballot after she encountered a series of strange events from Dutchess County Board of Elections and the Chair of the Beacon Democrats.

The Beacon Police Department is seeking information about the shooting. Their Press Release is below:

“On November 10, 2023, at approximately 6pm, the Beacon Police Department received multiple calls for gunshots in the area of Tompkins Avenue and Bank Street near the Tompkins Terrace Apartments. Upon arrival, at the start of the investigation, officers located a crime scene and 16-year-old male victim with a superficial gunshot would to his arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The department is continuing to investigate and due to the nature of the incident further details are not being released at this time. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that would further the investigation is encouraged to contact the Beacon Police Detective Division by calling 845-831-4111.”

Who Is Responsible For Fixing Broken Traffic Lights - After The 9 Day Broken Crosswalk Signal and Light On The First Day Of School

The traffic light and crosswalk signals that went out on the first day of school for Beacon City School District kids at the intersection of Mattaewan and Verplanck, which is where cars cross for pickup and drop-off for Middle and High School, was fixed after 9 days. During that time, the City of Beacon Police Department was at the intersection intermittently to aid traffic during pickup and drop-off.

Who is responsible for fixing the traffic lights in Beacon? Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White explained to ALBB, which included why he said the repair took so long:

“The City has a contract with an electrician who repairs traffic lights when they malfunction. When this light stopped working properly, they investigated and required a new part for the control panel, which has been ordered. Until the part comes in and the light repaired, a police officer or highway department staff will serve as a crossing guard for the intersection during the morning and afternoon peaks for school traffic.”

To read about what it was like discovering the traffic light was broken during the high pique of traffic, read this poem, "Double Red Light Broken :: A Morning Of Kid Drop-off On Repeat, Until..."