The 27th Annual Woodstock Film Festival (WFF) running October 14-18, 2026 has officially opened submissions for this year. Named by Moviemaker Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee,” WFF is an Oscar®-qualifying festival in Live Action Short, Animated Short, and Documentary Short categories.
Ethan Hawke calls it “a festival that isn't trying to sell you anything, but simply and beautifully celebrating the art & craft of filmmaking.”
This year introduces a new regional category — Made in the Hudson Valley — spotlighting films shot or produced in the region.
In keeping with Woodstock’s legacy rooted in art, music, activism, and creative experimentation—submitted films may also be considered for Woodstock Legacy Programming.
If the film explores themes of art or artists (in any medium), music or music videos, experimental work, activism, or environmentalism, the festival asks filmmakers to note this in their application for special consideration.
Film Categories Include:
Narrative Feature – Documentary Feature Short Narrative – Short Documentary – Animated Short Student Short – Student Short Animation
Across a range of juried competitive categories, the Woodstock Film Festival offers prizes including:
Best Narrative Feature* Best Documentary Feature Ultra Indie Award* Changemaker Award* Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography Best Narrative Short Best Documentary Short Best Student Short Best Animated Short Best Editing Award for Narrative & Doc Features Audience Award for Narrative & Doc Features
*Eligible to receive cash prices.
For more information, please visit our FilmFreeway page: filmfreeway.com/WoodstockFilmFestival.
Different people have begun producing lists of things to do in Beacon. The newest resource has been created by the people who are posting flyers to the empty Rite Aid windows, as it sits dormant waiting for its new tenant. People can be seen casually walking by the flyers, taking stock of different classes they can take, or dances they can attend.
HUDSY, a nonprofit film production company dedicated to educating and connecting communities through independent filmmaking, is launching their of 250 Acts of Positive Change, a year-long community-led movement and documentary film project inspired by the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Through their 250 Acts of Positive Change project, HUDSY will spotlight what is happening right now: the everyday people strengthening their communities through service, creativity, healing, justice, and connection.
About The Mini-Documentaries
Throughout the year, HUDSY will document and showcase 250 tangible acts of positive change taking place across the region. Each act, whether large or small, will be captured in a short 1-3 minute film and shared publicly through HUDSY’s website, YouTube channel, and social platforms, creating a living archive of local impact. The films will be produced by HUDSY’s professional production team alongside the eight participants in its paid seven-month Filmmaker Apprenticeship Program, providing hands-on workforce training while documenting stories that strengthen the region.
“In a time when division often dominates headlines, we want to turn the camera toward the helpers, the artists, the organizers, the healers, the people quietly doing uplifting and impactful work,” said Laura Kandel, Executive Director of Operations at HUDSY. “This project is our way of asking: What if celebrating our country meant celebrating the people actively making it better?”
How To Apply
Tell HUDSY how you or someone you recommend makes an impact in the areas of service, creativity, healing, justice, or connection. Include pictures if you have, and/or links to samples of you on film doing this.
HUDSY is inviting Hudson Valley residents to help shape the movement by:
Recommending themselves and sharing their own act of positive change
Recommending individuals, groups, or organizations making a difference
Joining HUDSY at regional filming locations to share short interview stories
Selected acts will be filmed as part of the official series, with additional on-the-spot interviews recorded throughout the region at locations that will be periodically announced through HUDSY’s newsletter and social media channels.
“Positive change doesn’t have to be large-scale to be meaningful,” said Angel Gates Fonseca, Executive Director of Production at HUDSY. “Sometimes it’s a neighbor organizing meals, a teacher starting a creative program, or a volunteer showing up week after week. These stories matter. They deserve to be documented and shared.”
By shifting the focus of the 250th anniversary toward the good happening now, HUDSY hopes to create a time capsule of what community leadership looks like today and inspire others to take action.
To recommend an act of positive change or learn more, visit: hudsy.org/250acts
About HUDSY
HUDSY is a nonprofit film production company founded in 2017 with a mission to educate and connect communities through the power of independent filmmaking. We bring people together around stories that matter by making films that create positive change, running a paid seven-month Filmmaker Apprentice Program, and hosting community events. www.hudsy.org
Residential trash pickup is running on a 1-day delayed schedule as a result of Monday’s snowstorm, Royal Carting, which is now a division of Casella Sanitation, confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog on Tuesday.
Pictures of snow covered fire hydrants, provided by the Beacon Fire Department, showing what a properly dug out hydrant looks like. They ask the community to help dig them out.
Fire hydrants will also need dug out again by community members to help the Beacon Fire Department. While the Fire Department dug out several fire hydrants last snowstorm, the public was asked to help dig. There are 600 public fire hydrants in the City of Beacon.
“We once again ask City residents to please shovel and remove snow away from hydrants in or close to your property!” the City of Beacon Fire Department said via their Facebook page.
“…If you can’t see the hydrant, that means we can’t either! This will save us valuable time that may save your life in the event of a fire!”
For those who have dug out, good job. Space is running out for where to put the snow in residential areas. One foot is expected again for next week. Get some Epsom salt for your bath soak.
It’s snowing again in Beacon, and the local Internet is not having it. A Little Beacon Blog didn’t even feel like opening up the screen door to get a photo. Most vendors at the Beacon Farmer’s Market called out Sunday morning as light sleet fell intermittently, not wanting to chance the return home should more precipitation have arrived. Lines at the cashier at Key Food at 10:30am were winding back into the isles; not with a panic vibe, but people were getting what people were getting.
New York’s Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency for Dutchess and surrounding counties. Dutchess County banned all non-essential road travel beginning Sunday evening. Beacon City School’s called for a school closure for Monday, and kids began planning their sleepover nights.
The flower shop Flora’s response to the snow on Sunday.
The City Of Beacon robo-called everyone to remind the public not to park on any street when over 2” of snow falls so that plows can get through. Both Beacon’s Highway and Water Departments were out by at least 11pm plowing, and then again in the early hours, as snow continued to fall as predicted.
By sunrise, the City of Beacon robo-called again to let the public know that Dutchess County had extended the weather travel ban to 4pm Monday, that Town Hall and the Recreation Center would be closed, and there would be no bus service.
As the people of Beacon rolled out of bed, they began posting their response feelings to Instagram. The flower shop Flora had posted last evening, nearly throwing in the towel on the winter retail season.
“The Melody of Melting” poem by Katie Hellmuth.
When the first dumping of two feet of snow started melting, A Little Beacon Blog wrote a poem about what it sounded like, called “The Melody Of Melting.” It was an encouraging time. Nothing like the resulting dehydrated snow that has been slowly evaporating under gray skies in below freezing temperatures, resembling leftover Dairy Queen ice-cream cake that mysteriously does not melt.
Another reader posted a twinkling picture of her shed, followed by a quietly snowy poem by Mary Oliver about an owl, and then reported in that she’d measured 8” so far in her Beacon backyard.
Meanwhile, kissing videos and interviews with Wuthering Heights stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi are flooding the Instagram, so we have plenty to watch.
Meanwhile…for those of us following The Epst Files, with a side dish of the tragic and possibly distractionary kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, The Nurses are filling in our little group text on tho topic. In these times, it’s important to have a tight group of fellow information collectors and analysts, as ALBB does with two local readers on this topic. One reader works in the medical field, so is among nurses who keep a pulse on everything.
The Drey Dossier is also someone to follow for this, who connects a lot of dots and weaves a lot of threads. Meanwhile, here are some videos to catch you up on our leads.
A few weeks ago, Katie went into Mountain Stream Budo for an intro to swordsmanship. After that session, she really wanted to kick the bag. Indeed!
Noah shows Katie how to roundhouse kick the bag for the first time, in what was a satisfying session consisting of many attempts to get the right form. As with any movement art, positioning of the hips is key but tricky to get! Consistent practice will result in a solid kick soon.
Enroll today in Mountain Stream Budo’s karate program or in any of the other arts offered at the school! Choose from karate, kobudo (weapons art), jujitsu, and iaido (swordsmanship).
Contact them today for more information: (845) 526-BUDO info@MountainStreamBudo.com
Located next to the newly opened Oui Oui HV and across the street from Beacon Mercantile Coffee.! For dual movement, they are right next to Reform Pilates.
Mountain Stream Budo is a Member of A Little Beacon Blog’s Business Blog Squad 🥋
Spring is coming, promise. But in the meantime, heaters are on as we hunker in. Shelter Air services all types of heating systems. From old boilers still kicking in the basement, to oil-based heat constantly getting filled back up, to newer systems with smart-elements to them. Shelter Air’s priority is your comfort and stability. Call them today for HVAC (heating/cooling) service needs.
Shelter Air is an independent, locally and woman-owned HVAC services company.
A mystery snow eater machine has eaten one half of the snow at the Skate Park at Memorial Park. The Skate Park was not plowed after the two feet of snow fell.
Snow had been pushed up in front of it, along with other snow mounds that were partially turned into snow tunnels. The giant mound that was in front of the Skate Park disappeared one day, presumably hauled to the Mini Mount Memorial Park at the Beacon Bears Football Field, but that is not confirmed. This week, part of the Skate Park was cleared by what seems to be a machine with tracks, but no snow from being snow blown can be seen. With the rain and sun toward the end of this week, the blacktop is now exposed and ready for wheels. But with Sunday’s snow, this may be covered again. 🛹🩶
Single purchases of Event Promotions are available. Membership for discounted recurring events are available.
"Peekskill Riots" Documentary Screened On The Site Of The Peekskill Riots Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: 2pm Location: 297 Locust Ave, Cortland, NY
A rare opportunity to watch the documentary on Civil Rights champion, Paul Robeson and the Peekskill Riots at the seen. Says the filmmaker, Jon Bennett: "The Vancourtlandville Historical Society and I will be screening the documentary with a Q+A session between me and the audience immediately afterwards. I hope to see you here this Saturday as we discus this important part of American history." Information >
Beacon Spring Celebration Of Light Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: 5:30pm-8pm Location: Polhill Park - Main St. - The Yard
This is the centerpiece of the festival. The big day! Free and open to all! 5:30pm - GATHER - Polhill Park - Main Street & South Ave Bring lanterns, illuminate our light, line up and kick off the walk! 6:00pm - PARADE - We have a rolling street closure so we’ll be in the middle of Main Street! Walk the length of Main Street with light and music and cheer! 6:30pm - CELEBRATE - The Yard - 4 Hanna Lane
Display lanterns, drink tea and eat tasty morsels around the fire with tunes to dance to and more! Information >
East Asian Spring Festival Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: Doors open 2:30pm, performance begins at 3:30pm. Performances include Taiko, Music, Lion Dance, Tai Chi Price: $15 Advance, $20 at door, $5 Kids Location: Industrial Arts Brewing: 511 Fishkill Ave, Beacon, NY 12508
The Hudson East Asian Culture Club, based in Beacon celebrates the Lunar New Year (of the Horse!), the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and East Asian culture in general. Tickets >
Beacon’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Green Day: Sunday March 14th, 2026 Time: Noon Location: Main Street, beginning at
For sponsorship opportunity and participation information, email: beaconnyparadeofgreen@gmail.com
Features from our Sponsors. Is your business on the menu?
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon NY
The tater tots at the South Carolina inspired West Palmetto Burger Co. cannot be replicated or replaced. Also served with chicken tenders if you so order! Of course the smash burgers are always ready.
BAGEL-ISH
226 Main Street, Beacon NY
Those nails. That cinnamon raisin bagel. Rare combination that is available sometimes at Bagel-ish. Stop in to see what varieties they have on the shelves this weekend. And ask about the house-made cream cheeses! Instagram > Bagel-ish is a Sponsor!
CARTER'S RESTAURANT Main Street, Beacon NY
Special Features at Carter's include dishes like this. Not available all the time, but go tonight and see what they have!
Pan-Seared Red Snapper.
Tomato Puttanesca 🍅🫒
Creamy Polenta ✨
Finished with Fresh Herbs 🌿
Bold Italian flavors, perfectly balanced with silky polenta—
elevated, comforting, unforgettable. Catering and Private Parties available. Call them for details. 845-743-6527 Instagram > Carter's is a Sponsor!
Eggbert’s Free Range Farm
Eggbert’s frozen raw pet food is always available at both Farmer’s Markets and on their website for delivery! Order ahead online and select Free Pickup at whichever market, or select Free Delivery and we will drive to you. Varieties include:
Beef
Beef Tripe
Chicken
Pork
Rabbit (perfect for pets allergic to chicken, which is in most everything) www.eggbertsfreerangefarm.com FARMERS MARKETS: Wednesdays: Cornwall Farmer's Market: 11am-3pm Saturdays: Cold Spring Farmer's Market 9am-1pm Sundays:Beacon Farmer's Market 10am - 2pm SHOP ONLINE:Online ordering is available 24/7. DELIVERY: 🚚 Delivering to Cold Spring, Cornwall, New Windsor, Newburgh, Beacon, Fishkill, and Wappingers Falls. Website > Instagram > Eggbert's Free Range Farm is a Sponsor!
Mountain Stream Budo 340 Main Street, Beacon NY
(door is on Eliza Street, near Citizens Bank)
The Self Defense class you need, right here in Beacon, taught by a sought-after martial arts expert, Noah Mitchell, who has over 40 years of experience. No martial arts experience necessary.
Pictured here is a recent group of the Women's Self Defense Seminar, which consisted of Beacon residents. Seminars will include self defense theory and concepts as well as practical experience, including:
Releases, controls, striking
Pressure points, joint locks
Defenses against mugs, grabs, chokes
Defenses against armed attackers
Sexual Assault situations & more
Call or email today to learn more.
(845) 526-BUDO
info@MountainStreamBudo.com Class Schedule & Signup >
Mental Health First Aid Training When: Thursday, March 5, 2026 Time: 9:30am-6pm Price: Free. Pre-Registration is Required
Join Nuvance Health for a free Adult Mental Health First Aid training, open to the public and staff. This skills-based course teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health and substance use challenges. Learners will complete a short prereading assignment online before the class session, then practice skills through discussion and activities. Topics include risk factors and warning signs, information on depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and addiction disorders, and a 5-step action plan to help someone in crisis. Upon successful completion of all requirements, participants will receive a certificate from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Register >
Murder She Wrote: Crime Fiction Writing Workshop When: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm Price: $52.79 (tickets include food, beverages, writing, materials and more.
Cynthia Weiner has had a long career writing and teaching fiction. Her short stories have been published in Ploughshares, The Sun, and Epiphany, and her story, "Boyfriends," was awarded a Pushcart Prize. And her 2025 novel, A Gorgeous Excitement, became an instant NYT bestseller. She is also the assistant director of The Writers Studio in New York City and a top notch writing instructor. Get your ticket soon for our upcoming Crime Writing intensive (and dinner!). Your attendence helps support our mission and bring our June 2026 Litfest to life! Last time we featured Author Cynthia Weiner of NY Writers Studio, the workshop sold out! This is a reprise with ALL NEW MATERIAL! Buy Tickets >
Mountain Stream Budo 340 Main Street, Beacon NY
Li’l Dragons Karate class (ages 4-6) meets 3 times per week:
Tuesdays and Fridays at 5:00pm & Thursdays at 5:30pm.
Email Noah at info@MountainStreamBudo for more info and to schedule your free trial class! Class Schedule & Signup >
Explore Music, Art, and Astronomy with Gustav Holst’s The Planets! Day: Saturday, February 28, 2026 Time: 5:30pm Price: Children FREE / Adults $15 Location: Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Join the Howland Chamber Music Circle’s Classics for Kids series for a vibrant performance of Holst’s The Planets, arranged for six brass players and piano. Planet lanterns created by local children through Compass Arts will brighten the space, and the program will be narrated with fun facts about each planet.
This engaging event brings together music, creativity, and science—perfect for inspiring curiosity in audiences of all ages.
Please Note: Segments of the program are expected to be loud. We encourage you to consider the needs of children with related sensitivities. Tickets >
Free Breakfast Program Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Time: 6:30am-8:30am Location: 12 Hanna Lane, Beacon, NY 12508
They have a Wish List of food items! If you're in the mood to donate, find the list here. Information >
FRIDAYS: Fareground's Free Community Dinner Day/Time: Fridays, 5:30pm-7:30pm Location: First Presbyterian, 50 Liberty Street, Beacon, NY 12508 Information > Volunteer > Donate >
"Peekskill Riots" Documentary Screened On The Site Of The Peekskill Riots Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026 Time: 2pm Location: 297 Locust Ave, Cortland, NY A rare opportunity to watch the documentary on Civil Rights champion, Paul Robeson and the Peekskill Riots at the seen. Says the filmmaker, Jon Bennett: "The Vancourtlandville Historical Society and I will be screening the documentary with a Q+A session between me and the audience immediately afterwards. I hope to see you here this Saturday as we discus this important part of American history." Information >
“I have never separated my work as an artist from my work as a human being. I’ve always put it more strongly. To me, my art is always a weapon.”
In July, 2025, Tito's Santana, formerly located at 145 Main Street, filed a lawsuit in Supreme Court of the State of New York against their landlord, Lindley Todd, LLC, alleging that the landlord was in Breach of Lease Agreement, engaged in Negligence and Unjust Enrichment, as reported by A Little Beacon Blog at the time. In January 2026, Judge Christi Acker dismissed the case based on a technicality, ruling that the Summons and Compliant were not served to a member of the LLC. The lawsuit was served to Sean Noble, a property manager for the company, but not a member of the LLC. Joseph Donovan and his wife are the principles of Lindley Todd, Joseph told ALBB last June.
The new building at 2 Cross Street is also owned by Joseph Donovan under Hudson Todd, LLC. The focus of Tito Santana’s lawsuit from 145 Main Street is with Joseph’s other firm,, Lindley Todd, LLC.
"The lawsuit was dismissed due to technicality, but not substance," Tito's owner Milan Nigam told ALBB on February 12, 2026. "We are in the process of refiling the case." The lawsuit demands a judgment of $400,000 plus statutory interests, costs, disbursements, expenses and attorney's fees.
Another one of Joseph’s entities is also developing the new building up the street at 2 Cross Street and Main Street, which will offer commercial and residential units, under Hudson Todd, LLC.
What Is Tito’s Alleging?
The lawsuit covers three Cause of Actions against Lindley Todd, LLC, according to the Summons and Complaint:
Breach of Lease Agreement: Tito's is challenging Lindley Todd, LLC's invoking of a Fire/Damage Clause in the lease, naming the severe structural damage found in the basement during the City of Beacon’s inspection that resulted in Tito’s being ordered to cease operations until the severe structural damage in the basement due to wood-boring insects was repaired.
Upon receiving the Order to Remedy, Lindley Todd, LLC terminated the lease with Tito’s, giving them 10 days to vacate, citing a Fire Damage clause from their lease as grounds for termination. Joseph Donovan told ALBB: “A collection of events led to a detailed inspection of the store and cellar (by the [Dutchess County] Health Department, and [City of Beacon] Building Inspector, and ourselves) and the realization that extensive repairs were needed … the scope not feasible with continued occupancy of the retail/restaurant space.”
Loopnet listing of 146 Main Street of at least $4,000/month after terminating lease with Tito’s on a clause in their lease. tito’s alleges in their lawsuit this was an 80% increase.
Two weeks later, Lindley Todd, LLC listed the property for at least $4,000, which was 80% more than what Tito's was currently paying in rent, Tito’s alleges in the Summons and Compliant. Tito’s argues that this was a "wrongful termination of the lease" causing a "loss of inventory, relocation costs, and loss of goodwill."
Negligence: Tito's alleges in the Summons and Compliant that pursuant to their lease agreement, Lindley Todd, LLC "…had a duty to maintain the property in good repair. The Landlord failed to do so resulting in floor joists decay, wood-boring insects and water damage."
According the documentation that ALBB has seen, Tito’s had emailed Lindley Todd, LLC notices about disrepair and basement flooding before the City of Beacon’s inspection that resulted in an Order to Remedy.
Unjust Enrichment: Tito's alleges that Lindley Todd, LLC "charged and collected rent from [Tito's] knowing that the Leased Premises suffered from violations and serious structural defects. [Lindley Todd, LLC] collected additional rent pursuant to negotiated potential new Lease. [Tito's] demanded refund of the overcharged rent," but was never reimbursed.
After the lawsuit was first filed in July 2025, the Highlands Current reported that Lindley Todd, LLC asked the judge that the lawsuit be dismissed, stating in an article: "The company said that six of the seven violations cited by the city were due to [Milan] Nigam’s 'actions or inactions in violation of the lease.'” However, ALBB reported last July, five of those violations were fixed by Tito’s owner Milan, with the sixth on hold until the severe structural damage in the basement from wood-boring insects was repaired by the landlord, as per the City of Beacon’s Order to Remedy.
According to Lindley Todd’s property manager, Sean Noble, instead of the landlord repairing, the lease would be terminated. Sean’s email to Tito’s reads: “In this case, Joe has determined that the premises are not usable in their current condition and has chosen to exercise his option to terminate the lease rather than proceed with repairs. Attached to this email, you will find the official Notice of Termination. I know this is disappointing news, especially given your willingness to move forward with resolving the violations.”
Tito’s lease was terminated on May 21, 2025 with a demand that Tito's move out 10 days later by May 31, 2025, or face "judicial action or proceeding," according to the lease termination notice that ALBB has seen.
What Were The Violations?
All violations have been listed by ALBB in the previous article. The main violation from the City of Beacon which was used to terminate the lease early was severe structural damage to the floor joist in the basement, showing "evidence of severe deterioration due to wood-boring insects," according to the Order to Remedy - Cease Operations filed by the City of Beacon's Deputy Building Inspector Cory Wirthmann.
Six other violations were listed in that order, five of which Tito's had fixed when their lease was terminated, ALBB reported previously. The sixth violation that Tito’s agreed to repair was dependent upon Lindley Todd, LLC fixing the basement that was the seventh violation.
Did the City of Beacon Demand Tito’s Lease Be Terminated?
No. After the inspection, the City of Beacon said that due to the "Unsafe Conditions," Tito's could not operate until the floor joists were repaired. Regarding whose responsibility it was to repair the floor joists, Tito’s owner Milan told ALBB: "Structural repair is the landlord's responsibility in 99% of the commercial leases, and so it was in our lease.”
Weeks after Lindley Todd, LLC stated they would rather “terminate the lease rather than proceed with repairs,” for Tito’s, Lindley Todd, LLC raised the rent and entertained different prospects for the space.
The time has come to tweak the logo again at A Little Beacon Blog. As ALBB publishes harder news stories and communicates with Communication Directors and Crisis Manager PR firms hired by companies we may write articles about, ALBB needed to make sure the logo is locked in to handle the responses from readers, companies and municipalities.
While maintaining the friendly, fresh air feel ALBB is known for. Might debate the word “friendly,” since people who don’t like certain articles will turn around that word to demand ALBB be more “nice.” Since ALBB has picked up the nickname La Diabla Blanca after this article, we’ll stick with “breath of fresh air.”
Plus, people request ALBB’s Media Kit. Which is a respectable and professional thing to do. We’ve just always had advertising pricing on the Media Kit web page. But people want it in a PDF. Like a book. Therefore. This has resulted in a pause in writing in order for visual thinking to take over and get this done.
Hyper Focus Mode Activated
Some who know me (Katie) behind the scenes know that I have been working on this Media Kit for years and years. There is a weird mental block to finishing it. “Hyper Focus Mode” means that everything else pauses. All article writing stops (except for emergencies, like snow plowing or water main breaks). Blaze Gomez over at News 12 has it covered in the ICE facility in Chester, NY, so we will run a catch-up article on the nonsense in Chester, NY (Orange County) that has been transpiring there.
It is very frustrating to not write the articles, because you want The Beacon News. And so do we. Additionally, ALBB clients want their ideas for advertising messages delivered to you in a way that you love and value. Bouncing around creative corners of my mind is my specialty. It is a trait I have embraced as a gift. To pour into everyone. Other people’s success does bring me such joy.
But the time has come to fill my own cup. To secure my own self financially. And that begins in branding.
Therefore…To Instagram! “Readers: What Do You Think!?”
I took it to Instagram. Uploading a video of WIP (Work In Progress) is instantaneous at Instagram. First thoughts go there sometimes.
First step was to address the cursive in the logo. I love cursive. I write in cursive. Cursive is a dying script in this country, leaving it unreadable to many. I find this a benefit. If I write in cursive, it can be my secret language.
The logo currently uses the font called Very Berry. Which is very “cutesy". While A Little Beacon Blog’s logo originated in extreme cutesy, it graduated to be primarily black, via use of a chalkboard black, to sync with chalkboard signs out on the sidewalks that businesses use. More of a sophisticated look.
In the present time, I am keeping this base of black. And the name. But I took to change the font. Which generated some reader response (scroll down):
One longtime reader, after seeing the above video at Instagram, wrote in moments later to cling to the original font. “There will be chaos!!” they said. “Why fix what ain’t broke?”
Point taken. But is it working? Are the logo and fonts working? Now that we are swimming with more sharks? Now that a newspaper (Times Union) actually refused to publish (and deleted!) the article about how some anonymous letter writer targeted 20+ businesses in Beacon, demanding they protest A Little Beacon Blog after we started covering Palestine?
(If you didn’t know about this, no worries…I didn’t publish it…I was too afraid of too many things to publish it…but this article will be published soon…)
The main takeaway from the reader’s warning of the font change was…Wow. The readers do care, and do feel that A Little Beacon Blog’s brand identity is part of their own. This is a heart-moving moment.
A Little Beacon Blog’s Original Logo Circa 2011 - Baby Blocks and Chickens
To ease the fear of the transition, I realized it is time to remind current readers of A Little Beacon Blog’s original logo. Only my mother may remember this logo, and when I wanted to change it, believe me, she lamented the change. This is back when A Little Beacon Blog was based in Blogger, which was Google’s free blog platform. When I changed the logo, I also changed the platform to Squarespace. We ported the content from Blogger to Squarespace and continued on.
The original logo was inspired by the blocks of art down by the Beacon train station that welcomed people leaving the train station. I was mildly obsessed with the letter blocks at the time.
A Little Beacon Blog took inspiration from those art blocks, to create baby blocks (pictured below). I had just had my first baby. Baby Brain was in full swing, and I was surrounded by gorgeously illustrated baby books.
The letter blocks sat on undeveloped property owned by a friend of then Councilperson George Mansfield. Through that arrangement, an art installation of the blocks was created. But when the developer was ready to build what is now the townhouse apartments on that land, the art blocks were removed.
As you can see from the video below of the original logo, the font was quite sophisticated. A sharp serif for the letters in the blocks, and a grown-up script that you might find on a fancy menu for the letters outside of the blocks.
I reassured the reader that I was not changing the name, but was tweaking the font.
“The font must be legible.”
True. True. However. People have taken A Little Beacon Blog to be their own. They have abbreviated it. Some called it “Little Beacon Blog” or “LBB.” This is an acronym I never imagined. People for years have been calling it “The Beacon Blog.” Which is an amazing honor, because how can we be The One!
One reader said, when the tipping point just began several years ago: “I guess you won’t be so little anymore.” I took that to heart, because while A Little Beacon Blog might and does grow, my fascination with little details that lead into big things remains.
Therefore, a question: does the word “little” have significance here? Would people miss it if the word “little” was omitted? I mean. I go back and forth on this. I love the word “little” in here. But. It does undermine the blog. I invites people to beat it up. On the other hand, that can serve advantageous as people underestimate it.
Therefore. The name will not change.
However, part of the name may hide in the cursive font for those of us who know what it says.
Another longtime ALBB reader responded to this video and wrote in: “I don’t remember this logo.” The reader is a formerly quoted reader who’s blog name is Citizen Cowboy. “Were there always chickens?”
Yes. There were always chickens in ALBB’s logo. There were always chickens because upon first moving here, when looking at houses, roosters could be heard in the distance. “People have backyard chickens,” the realtor said upon entering one of the houses for sale as a rooster crowed in the distance.
Backyard chickens seemed neat. I currently still get farm fresh eggs from someone who became a website and advertising client years after I first met her. So the chickens stay in the logo.
“The letter blocks look like your house,” Citizen Cowboy continued.
“It’s true,” I replied. “I painted my first baby’s room the robins egg blue with the brown scallops. I was putting scallops on everything.”
So that’s it. That’s the Origin Story of A Little Beacon Blog’s logo evolution.
What is super new in this logo is the addition of the green highway sign that is a nod to the Old Exit 11. Still pondering if that fits or not.
The Cornwall Farmers’ Market has thrown in the snow shovel on their first attempt of offering a Winter market for the 2025/2026 season. After canceling numerous Wednesday markets due to snow, ice or cold temperatures, they have told their vendors that they have canceled their Winter Farmers’ Market for the season. Speaking what is on the mind of most people who would like to cancel Winter right now, the Cornwall Farmers’ Market will return in the spring, with an opening date of May 6, 2026.
Several vendors at this market also participate at the Cold Spring Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, and the Beacon Farmers’ Market on Sundays. Vendors have been encouraging their customers to order from their websites during times of closure between in-person pickups.
Vendors like Eggbert’s Free Range Farm say they will continue to deliver for free to customers in Cornwall and nearby areas, to continue making it easy to buy farm fresh food and support local farmers.
Tonight’s City Council Meeting has ended. It was in the new format that combined the regular City Council Meeting with Public Comment, with the Workshop which is discussion about topics or proposed legislation. This report covers a few Gold Nugget items that transpired during the meeting.
During Public Comment, one citizen speculated on the replacement of David Ross on the Board Of Assessment Review, after the discovery of his years long email and friendship with disgraced pedophile and sex trafficer Jeffrey Epstein from the Epstein Files, and his subsequent resignation from his position as chair of the MFA art practice program at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), as reported by ARTNews after they broke the story.
Another citizen made a Public Comment demanding safety measures such as street lighting be put into place after the attack of the woman on Tioronda Avenue in January. An attack which remains unsolved.
The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
