SOON IS NOW - A Festival Of Climate And Eco Art, Performance And Activism - Here In Beacon - September 23, 2023

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SOON IS NOW is an afternoon of art and live performance about climate change and the ecological in Scenic Hudson’s Long Dock Park, a former industrial site and brownfield transformed by Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architects, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and others, into a sustainable park on the Hudson River in Beacon, NY. This site is on the unceded land of the Wappinger, in a region with a vital history of environmentalism rooted in Scenic Hudson’s fight to save Storm King Mountain from industry and Pete Seeger’s fight for an unpolluted Hudson River.

Twinkle Burke, What We Give Back, by Madeline Sayet, photo by Lucas Millard 

Audience walking to the next performance, photo by Flynn Larsen

Part reverence for the River, part cry for what is lost to climate chaos, part response to the pollution and rejuvenation of the park's ecosystem, SOON IS NOW places art in conversation with the landscape and brings audiences into an immersive experience with original works. 

Actors, dancers, musicians, performance and visual artists are curated throughout the park (many of them Beacon-based): Edwin Torres, Alex Waterman, Raven Chacon, Bob Bellerue, Koyoltzintli, Elise Knudson, Elisa Santiago, Randy Burd, Cecilia Fontanesi, Tom King, Jim Fletcher, Jaanika Peerna, Twinkle Burke, Jojo Gonzalez, Camille Seaman, Andrew Brehm and Jean Brennan.

Edwin Torres, Water’s Way: A Poet’s Choir for the Hudson River with E.J. McDonald, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs, Tamalyn Miller, Kristin Prevallet, Urayoán Noel, Jayden Featherstone. photo by Flynn Larsen  

The Resistance Revival Chorus will be performing a special concert at 5pm including a new song about climate change. 

The Resistance Revival Chorus, photo by Ginny Suss

On SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd at 2pm the day starts at the River Center (the red barn) in Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park with a visual arts exhibition. Meet activists including Beacon Climate Action Now, Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and Fareground, and learn what you can do. Sign up for an 80 minute tour of performances throughout the park that start at 2:30, 3pm and 3:30pm, first come, first served. Even if you don't get on a tour you will be able to experience performance, visual art in the River Center and the concert by The Resistance Revival Chorus at 5pm. Poppy's Farm 2 Trailer food truck will be at the event selling tacos. Parking at Long Dock Park is limited. Park at the Metro North Beacon Train Station where all parking spots are free on the weekends, a short walk to the event. Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills and HV Climate Solutions Week. Part of Climate Change Theatre Action's 2023 season. Funded by Arts Mid-Hudson, the Clara Lou Gould Fund for the Arts administered by Beacon Arts, and many local businesses and individuals. 

Tom King, photo by Lucas Millard

Jaanika Peerna, Glacier Elegy, photo by Flynn Larsen

Liz Zito, Eric Magnus, Andrew Brehm, The Oysters, by Miranda Rose Hall, photo by Lucas Millard

Elise Knudson, Sentinels, photo by Flynn Larsen

For more information: soonisnow.org or contact evemorgenstern@gmail.com.

About Eve Morgenstern:

Eve Morgenstern, Director/Founder/Producer is a photographer and filmmaker. She has been awarded artist residencies at The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace and MacDowell, and grants for her work from The New York State Council on the Arts, Chicken and Egg Pictures, The George Gund Foundation, The Park Foundation and Arts Mid-Hudson. Her environmental film Cheshire, Ohio has screened in festivals in the US, Canada and Asia and is distributed by Bullfrog Films and ovid.tv . Her photographic project Facades of Crises had its solo Museum premiere at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden. Eve is also co-chair of her Climate Reality Hudson Valley & Catskills chapter. She lives in Beacon, NY with her daughter Chloe and her beloved mutt Amber. “This started as an experiment to produce plays from Climate Change Theatre Action, a project that uses storytelling and live performance to foster dialogue about our global climate crisis. The project grew to include visual art and original live performance created in dialogue with the site. The idea to curate works throughout Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park as a tour for audiences is intentional and meaningful as this site was once a brownfield, remediated and revisioned into a beautiful climate resilient public park on the Hudson River.”

CREDITS SOON IS NOW:

Eve Morgenstern, Founder, Director

Connie Hall, Producer

Brian Mendes, Producer

ALBB is a Media Sponsor of this event, and is proud to partner to help get the word out.

The Beacon Sloop Club 2023 Corn Festival - Another Year Successful

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The annual Corn Festival from the Beacon Sloop Club happened last Sunday, with so much help from all of the volunteers of the Sloop Club. A Little Beacon Blog was there as a vendor for the first time, offering our face painting services, which we have been accustomed to doing because what else are you going to do at a blogging table except type or talk? So we zen out over kids (and adults) who sit in the chair wanting their faces painted their spirit animals or visions. If we’re on point, usually the kids fall into a light trance nap in the chair as we finish painting their faces.

This year at the Corn Festival, there were quite a few visitors who stopped by our table who were not from Beacon. People from Brooklyn, Cold Spring, and other areas. They were curious about what is a “sloop” (it’s a one-masted sailboat). Despite having this festival for years and years, it looks like the Beacon Sloop Club still has a big purpose and mission to educate the new people coming to Beacon who want to enjoy Beacon’s beauty, and keep it as it is. But these new people need to understand what Beacon is first.

FAQ: What Is A SLOOP? What Is Beacon Sloop Club?

Let’s revisit briefly: The Beacon Sloop Club was founded by folk singer and activist, Pete Seeger. They are a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, protection and restoration of the Hudson River and surrounding waterways through advocacy, education and celebration. When you’re from NYC, you tend to think of the Hudson River as a barrier in the subway system between NYC and Hoboken, NJ, for instance. Here, we look at it as a waterway with ecosystems, one that used to have another name before Dutch settlers renamed it.

The Hudson River’s name before the Dutch renamed it was Muhheakunnuk. According to Riverkeeper: “Henry Hudson 'discovered' what the Lenape called Muhheakunnuk, ‘The River that Runs Both Ways.’ People have lived along the shores of the Hudson River since the last ice age, bathing in its waters, living off its bounty, caring for its future. The Lenape tribe balanced the needs of man and the needs of fish and fowl, plant and animal.”

The Beacon Sloop Club’s mission is to carry out that treatment. As part of their mission, the Beacon Sloop Club provides free river access through free sails and sail training on the ferry sloop Woody Guthrie, a replica of the 18th and 19th century sloops that once plied the Hudson River. The Beacon Sloop Club offers free seasonal music festivals to the people of the river, as well as other events, lectures and classes throughout the year.” Donate to them at any time. Like right now.

FAQ: Why Beacon For Pete Seeger?

This is a great question that I was asked. One I did not know. He’s such an embedded celebrity in Beacon, but I hadn’t considered his origin story as to why Beacon. So I reached out to his granddaughter, Moraya Seeger DeGeare to find out. She confirmed with her brother, and this is what they said: “He and my grandma (Toshi Seeger) lived in Greenwich Village and could not afford $100/month rent controlled apartment. So he came up to Beacon. Hiked the mountain. Climbed a tree and had a dream of building a cabin to raise his kids in. He climbed down. Went into town. Called Grandma and said: “Toshi, I found the place.”

You can next catch the Beacon Sloop Club at the Pumpkin Festival on October 15th, 2023. ALBB will be there too, with face paint! We take cash or card, and a portion is donated back to the Beacon Sloop Club. The rest helps us live our lives here in Beacon and produce this blog.

I Am Beacon Hosts Mixer & Opens Membership To Gain Access To Volunteer Opportunities

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The non-profit group, I Am Beacon, has opened a membership program for the first time after serving the the community of the City of Beacon for a number of years in a wide-ranging list of efforts, which include producing the Back To School Block Party, and many years ago, organizing the city’s 4th of July event. To celebrate and grow the new membership, I Am Beacon is hosting a Mixer on May 17 at Two Way Brewing Co. The mixer is open to the public, and the ticket price is discounted for members and for sale online here.

When launching the membership, I Am Beacon said in a press release: “In today’s world, it is more important than ever to foster community connections. At I Am Beacon, we understand the importance of building strong relationships with our neighbors and are committed to creating opportunities for people to come together and learn from one another.”

To date, I Am Beacon has awarded $31,000 in scholarships, run 3,113 miles for charity, held more than 50 community events, gotten more than 700 supply kits to students, and distributed 327 turkeys in their annual Turkey on Every Table collection, according to their website. Hear them directly in their “This Is Beacon” podcast.

Reuben Simmons shared about the new membership: ”For the past two years we have piloted a membership program with great success! I am happy to get to this point where we can offer membership to all.” Benefits include volunteer opportunities, discounts on Thursdays at Key Food, and discounted tuition at Marist College for active volunteers.

Board member and branding designer for all of I Am Beacon’s materials, Brianna Rascoe, had this to say about her commitment to I Am Beacon: "Becoming a board member at I Am Beacon has helped me engage with my community in an intuitive way. The organization has fostered collaboration in a way that provides ample opportunity to give back in any capacity, from a helping hand to bringing our outside skill sets together to catalyze both our longtime events and the creation of new youth programming."

Tickets to the mixer are $30 for members, and $40 for non-members. Two Way Brewing is located at 18 West Center Street, next to Brett’s Hardware. The event is Wednesday, May 17th from 6-8pm. Tickets include one free drink and a chance to win a door prize. Buy tickets online here.

Interview With Junior Zayed Dabashi About The Call To Prayer Spoken From The Mosque Speakers and the Eid al-Adha Community BBQ

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Mo Dabashi, for Eid, where the first prayer started at 9am.
PHoto Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid

Women at the Eid al-Adha Community BBQ.
Photo Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid

As foot traffic picks up on the sidewalks of Beacon’s Main Street, more people are walking by and entering the Masjid Ar Rashid Islamic Teaching Center, next to Beacon Natural and across from the Post Office. Some people are looking at their phones saying: “I found it! The mosque is right here. Let’s go in.” Other people, when they hear the Arabic coming from the speakers on the outside of the building say: “What is that sound?” if they don’t speak Arabic.

To answer that question, ALBB interviewed Junior Zayed Dabashi in July 2022 after a community BBQ at the mosque for the the 2nd Eid al-Adha. Junior is on the board of the mosque.

Photo Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid

ALBB: When we hear a voice coming from the speaker, what is its meaning? What is he saying?

It is the call to prayer (adhan). Muslims pray 5 times a day, and it is a reminder to leave everything be and pray.

They are calling people to prayers by saying:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is the greatest, God is the greatest)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

(God is the greatest, God is the greatest)

Ash-hadu an’ la ilaha ill Allah,

(I bear witness that there is no God but Allah)

Ash-hadu an’ la ilaha ill Allah,

(I bear witness that there is no God but Allah)

Ash-hadu ana Muhammadan Rasoolallah,

(I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah)

Ash-hadu ana Muhammadan Rasoolallah,

(I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah)

Hayya ‘alas-Salah,

(Rush to prayer)

Hayya ‘alas-Salah,

(Rush to prayer)

Hayya ‘alal Falah,

(Rush to success)

Hayya ‘alal Falah,

(Rush to success)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is the greatest, God is the greatest)

La illaha ill Allah

(There is no God but Allah)

ALBB: At today’s community BBQ, I chatted with a girl who was in the area for business. She was looking for something to do, heard about today’s BBQ at the mosque, and had her taxi driver drive her here. Are you noticing an increase in new visitors?

Yes.

ALBB: What was today’s community BBQ celebrating? Was it open to all?

Junior Zayed Dabashi and Kamel Jamal at the cookout.
Photo Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid

Today we celebrated Eid al-Adha, which is also called the "Festival of the Sacrifice.” It is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated. During Eid, we do Eid prayers, animal sacrifice, charity, social gatherings, festive meals, gift-giving. Anyone can come. It is open to all.

ALBB: Is lamb traditionally served?

Yes. Lamb or cow. There are other ways you can help the less fortunate with paying for their lamb or cow, and you don’t have to do it for your home. It’s a nice chance for a family gathering.

Kids playing in the bouncy house placed in the parking lot of the mosque.
Photo Credit: Masjid Ar Rashid

ALBB: Is sharing with family and friends encouraged?

Yes, but you don’t have too. Most Muslims get together with family.

ALBB: How many Imams are leading the mosque? I didn’t realize Mo is a Imam!

We have 2. Mo helps outs when needed.

You can read about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr from Junior’s niece Izdihar Dabashi here at ALBB.




Beacon Is The Pot Of Gold During Parade Of Green 2023 - For Most Who Still Live Here

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A Text between Parade of Green ComMittee Member Richie Kaplan and ALBB.

Beacon’s Parade of Green 2023 was a great success, said most people who came out to support and cheer from the sidewalk, as well as those participating in the parade in cars or walking. With a threat of weather, Parade Committee Member Richie Kaplan said that of the 50 parade participants who signed up, only 5 canceled for fear of snowflakes.

Snow dust melted in Beacon by 12pm, and the sun was shining. Groups gathered on Wolcott Avenue to begin the journey down Main Street, which for this parade, went completely around the bend and ended at the Dummy Light, giving exposure to several businesses and art galleries on that end of town. Usually, parades end earlier at Tioronda Avenue (Howland Cultural Center).

Before we get to the gold nugget photos of the day, A Little Beacon Blog must pay homage to the friends and neighbors who no longer live in Beacon who would usually attend the Parade of Green. Several of them casualties of new landlords - both local to Beacon and from other counties - who buy property and increase the rent dramatically on current tenants.

Parade of Green Committee Members Reuben Simmons and Richie Kaplan.

More than once over the years, A Little Beacon Blog has heard from readers who lament that they cannot live here anymore. Maybe they work in the service industry in restaurants. Maybe they are nurses. Maybe they are artists. Maybe they are young families who live in apartments who cannot move out of them because homes in their price ranges - $350K - are being purchased for cash by local and out of town house flippers who beautifully make over the house and sell it for $550K. Which is above the price range of a young family.

A Beacon Police Officer at the end of the Parade of Green, making sure the Parade cars exit correctly.

Not of a young family from Beacon. Maybe a young family from NYC. No offense to NYC. Welcome! Many of you love this city town and love digging into the community. Beacon is just in a rocky road right now of originals who can’t afford to stay or return. But some returned yesterday just for the parade.

That Said - The Sidewalk Audience Makes The Parade! OG Beacon Turned Out!

Mount Beacon dusted in snow, with Beaconites down below coming out for the parade.

If you have a parade in the street and nobody comes, does it make a sound? Beacon came out and showed up at this 2023 Parade of Green! Another thing A Little Beacon Blog has heard over the years from OG Beaconites is: “I walk around, and I don’t know anyone anymore.” That is true on the weekend, when the sidewalks are packed with different destination visitors. It is not as true during the week, when several of us are out on errands.

But yesterday (Saturday), the sidewalks were overrun with neighbors who dug down to find their green, and cheer on local businesses and organizations who got out to represent. So many cheers from both sides - the cars and the people. Richie said that the highlight of his entire busy day was when one of the Boy Scouts rolled down their window from their parent’s car on their way home to say: “Thank you.”

A Jeeper from the Beacon Jeep Club, getting ready to pull out as the parade steps off.

The Parade of Green has represented many things. Recently, it represented the first parade to be shut down by the City of Beacon for the pandemic. Next it was the first parade to be permitted to ride again. Now, it is representing Beacon neighbors coming out to see each other, some for only once per year.

Lots of candy was thrown. A Little Beacon Blog handed out stickers and next year we will tape Tootsie Rolls to them so that they fly.

The Jeeps were there. Malouf’s Mountain Campground. The Bottini truck was a hit. Key Food with all of the kids. The Beacon Dog Park. Kearns Electric, Inc., where they have that alternative spelling of quality on their trucks, with a phrase like “If it starts with a K, you know it’s Kwality.” At the very least, it’s an interesting word puzzle to figure out when you’re stopped at a light on Rte. 9 headed to Poughkeepsie. Kilowatt Kwuality? Something to think about.

Grand Marshal Bobby Palisi

Bobby (Robert) Palisi was born in St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie in 1955 and is a lifelong resident of the City of Beacon. He attended grade school at St. Joachim’s and went on to graduate from Beacon High School in 1973.

Bobby started his career working for Shaw Motors (currently Healey) with this father when he got out of St. Joachim’s in 1969. From 1975 to 1977 Bobby worked for Ward’s Auto Body until he joined the crew at Secor Auto Body from 1977 to 1979.

In 1979, he started his family business, Palisi Auto Body & Auto Glass on Main Street in Beacon, which in 1984, moved to a newly constructed state-of-the-art auto body shop on West Main Street. He has been performing high-quality vehicle repairs for over 40 years at that same location. Bobby continues to proudly own and operate this business today.

Bobby is also a partner in Fulton Avenue Realty Restoration Company, which over the last 28 years, has done a multitude of building renovations and constructed several new houses in and around the City of Beacon.

In his early years, Bobby was the drummer with the band “Spiral” that provided fun, local entertainment for over 32 years.

For over 26 years and to this day, Bobby’s passion truly lies in his active role with Beacon Girls Softball. This organization’s goal is to build character using the sport of softball as a tool to improve girl’s self-esteem and confidence.

Beacon Girls Softball (BGS) educates 4-18 year-old girls on the skills and rules of softball. It imparts life lessons that include working as a team, spirit of giving, camaraderie and good sportsmanship. He is pivotal in running both the Recreation League, and Travel League known as “Beacon Extreme.” Bobby works endlessly on raising funds, recruiting team members, running practices, and organizing tournaments each season. This includes an annual fund raising tournament whose proceeds are dedicated to a local family in need.

In addition to this, Bobby has been a volunteer member of Beacon’s Board of Assessment Review for 10 years. This board meets once a year to hear residents’ challenges to tax assessments and requires training from the New York Real Property Services.

Bobby is a 50-year member of Beacon’s Mase Hook & Ladder Fire Company, 37-year member of the Beacon Elk's Club Lodge #1493, and over 30-year member of the Beacon Knights of Columbus Chapter #445.

Bobby’s loyalty and dedication to the Girls Softball organization and endless volunteer hours he donates makes him one of Beacon’s brightest.

Beacon's Parade Of Green Is On - Remember Last Year's Blizzard? Look For ALBB Again!

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Do you remember that blizzard last March 2022? Beacon’s Parade of Green was the first parade out the gate down Main Street after the cancellation of all events due to COVID. The Committee was so excited to be back, that they did not call a weather delay, and marched on.

In fact, it was the Parade of Green in 2020 that was at the root of all parade cancellations back when the pandemic was referred to as “coronavirus,” before even the health crisis was labeled a pandemic. Waiting to hear if the Parade of Green 2020 was canceled or not was one of the first memories of that chaotic time.

Here we are in 2023, and the annual parade will roll again. Pictures are below from 2022.

See you next weekend, Saturday, March 11, 2023! A Little Beacon Blog will be driving in the parade again, handing out stickers.

The Malouf’s Mountain camping bus was front and center. Prepared.

The Parade of Green Committee, staying warm and dry in the Visitor’s Center while organizing people.

The Parade of Green’s Grand Marshall, Tony Lassiter. Tony was also honored for the Beacon of History event later in the year.

Howland Public Library Announces March Exhibit In Honor Of Women’s History Month

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To celebrate Women's History Month, The Howland Public Library presents Balance, a group show. The exhibit will be on view in The Community Room Exhibit Space from March 11th - April 1st, 2023. An Artists' Reception will be held on Saturday, March 11th, from 5pm - 7 pm.

The show is the seventh annual exhibit from the group CoMFY, a collective of women artists from the Beacon area. For this show the group chose the theme of Balance. The notion of balance was one of the founding principles when Kat Stoutenborough and Jennifer Blakeslee founded the women’s group back in 2011. Blakeslee recalls that the initial discussion focused on: “How do we, as women artists, balance everyday responsibilities (jobs, parenting, families, etc.) with being an artist? How can we create a space for ourselves where making art can exist alongside those other needs demanding our attention?”

The women came together to share strategies, bounce ideas, and encourage each other. Their one rule was that they could only talk about those other competing priorities in the context of how they impacted their artistic endeavors. “That focus made it possible for us not just to seek that balance, but find it and put it into practice.”

New members are always welcome to join this informal group. Stop by the exhibit to learn more. 

The Howland Public Library is located at 313 Main Street, Beacon NY 12508. The Community Room Exhibit Space is open during regular library hours. Please note the gallery may not be accessible during some library programs.

Jean Noack

Jean Noack

COMFY Stephanie Fogarty

COMFY stephanie fogarty

COMFY Jennifer Blakeslee

COMFY Jennifer Blakeslee

Donna Mikkelsen

Donna Mikkelsen

Erica Hauser

Erica Hauser

COMFY Anna West

COMFY Anna West

Spirit Of Beacon Day Opens Web Shop For T-Shirts & Hats As They Come Out Of Hibernation

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The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee has been a little quiet since the whirlwind event production that was the Spirit of Beacon’s 45th Day last September 25th, 2022. Doing all they could to coordinate the day so that it wouldn’t crack, the Committee immediately went back to their jobs in teaching, designing, grocery storing, coaching, writing, and everything else free spirits do to pay the bills in Beacon and beyond.

With Shipping and Free Pickup now in place, the Spirit of Beacon Committee has opened their web shop for online orders of the t-shirts and hats - while supplies last! Free Pickup is an option for locals. In true Beacon fashion for a new business or enterprise, the Open Hours for pickup are selective and read like an Onion article: “Hours for pickup are varied and not consistent. Generally range from 12-2pm on the weekday, and sometimes on the weekend. For Free Pickup, please email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com after you order to see when Katie (the Spirit of Beacon Committee President) is at the co-work desk to give you your order. Alternatively, she will email you. Or find your place of residence to put it in your mailbox and disappear.”

The logo was designed by Kim Dei Dolori, and t-shirts designed by Allie Bopp. Design direction for all from Katie James, Inc. The hats were produced by Joker Ink, and the shirts produced by Remark Printing.

Will the t-shirts be a new color this year? Who knows! Only you can get the original design now. And sport that hat. Click here to shop now.

You're Invited! ALBB's Holiday Pop-Up Party At Main Office's Co-Space - Bring Your Cheer, Enjoy Wine and Cheese

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Details about the party are below, but first…

Everyone!

A Little Beacon Blog used to have an office on Main Street back in The Before Times - before the pandemic - known as A Little Beacon Space. We hosted community events, Vision Boarding sessions, and everyone’s favorite, Pop-Up Shops. Some of you popped up in our space, and it was a way for us shoppers to reach those artists and creators who otherwise were hard to find.

One of the things we did was rent out our space for business retreats and client parties. One of our first clients was Beacon Digital, the local digital marketing firm doing work for clients all over the nation. The owner, Whitney Parker Mitchell, booked The Space, as we called it, for her client party.

Soon after, Whitney expanded onto Main Street by moving into the renovated space that used to be Vogel Pharmacy next to Homespun. You’ve walked past it a zillion times, but may not have noticed it. Until. Now. Have you seen our holiday tree?!

Post-pandemic, with everyone working remotely, Whitney craved the community, and opened her space to a co-work model called Main Office. She advertised in A Little Beacon Blog’s Business Directory, and that is how we found out about her newly opened co-work space.

Even though ALBB works remotely now, by working out of our shed and living room, we needed a clean and inviting space to get back out there on Main Street. We missed it! So we joined Main Office as a regular co-worker.

Holiday Pop-Up Party - You’re Invited!

Whitney of Main Office and Beacon Digital has partnered with A Little Beacon Blog as a co-sponsor of this event, and agreed to open up her space to all of you - the entire Beacon community. And some visitors if you’re here on a Thursday! And of course you if you’re in Newburgh and Fishkill and Wappingers. And what the heck, Poughkeepsie, come on down!

This is a Holiday Pop-Up Party because we decided to do it last minute. Amid your other holiday parties, work parties, friend parties, family travel prep. All of the things we have not been able to do for two years.

It is also a pop-up party because we hope to have vendors you can shop from! If you have a store, or only appear at markets, then please come be a vendor. Past and present advertisers of A Little Beacon Blog can have a vendor table for free. As well as past pop-up shop clients. Details on vendor tables and sponsorships are below.

WHEN: Thursday, December 15th, 2022
TIME: 5pm-8pm
WHERE: Main Office, 234 Main Street (next to Homespun)
BRING: Yourself! Yourself and a friend if you wish!
PHOTO WALL: There will be a festive photo wall with props for you to take photos with yourself and/or friends.
FREE: Thanks to the generous co-sponsorship of Main Office and Beacon Digital, this event is free. Kindly RSVP here.
SWAG: There will be swag bags! Free Khiel’s skincare product for the first 30 attendees. Khiel’s apothecary skincare is some of the finest around.
FOOD & DRINK: Enjoy catering from Homespun, Pastries from Newburgh Flour Shop, and Wine and Local Craft Beer (until it runs out!).
RSVP: Kindly RSVP here so that we know you might be coming! We know your night is busy, so RSVP to give us an idea, even if your plans change.

Vendor Tables and Sponsorships

You may purchase a vendor table or sponsorship directly from this page. See details and cart button below. Tables and sponsorships are limited.

Holiday Pop-Up Shop Vendor Table
$50.00 $150.00

Set up shop in A Little Beacon Blog’s Holiday Pop-Up Shop Party! Open to the community. Open from 5pm-8pm. Setup is 4pm. If you are a past or present advertiser of A Little Beacon Blog, this table is free for you this time. If you have done a past pop-up shop with us, this Holiday Pop-Up is also free for you this time.

Quantity:
Add To Cart
2-for-1 Sponsor: January Business Bash + Holiday Pop-Up Party
$850.00 $1,200.00

Sponsors of this event make it possible to be open to the community for free. This is an opportunity for people to come together to network and mingle, for whatever their needs are during this long winter season.

INCLUDED:
This sponsorship is a 2-for-1 holiday special: We are having a Business Bash Networking Event in January, where your business will be a lead sponsor. When you buy this sponsorship, you will also be promoted at this holiday event.

  • Photo Selfie Backdrop: Logo on our Photo selfie backdrop at January and December events. Guests can take their own photos for free with fun props. Guests can keep their photos and share on social media.

  • Flyer: Logo on event flyer to be posted in Beacon.

  • Speech: Opportunity to address the guests for the January Business Bash to share about your business and how you can serve them.

  • Vendor Table: Free vendor table. ($150 value)

  • Article: A dedicated article published on A Little Beacon Blog about your business to translate the message you gave at the event. ($2,600 value)

This package is on sale now for the December Holiday event, and will go to regular price after.

Quantity:
Add To Cart

Wait, What Is That Bonfire In Beacon? Exploring The First Beacon Bonfire Festival

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Co-Organizer Tim Parsaca sets up the bonfire area at Veterans Place, in preparation for the live music and performances playing there on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Warm November wind swirled crunchy leaves between parked cars on Main Street as the sun came out through the morning fog once again in Beacon, NY, creating the perfect Saturday scene for the first Beacon Bonfire Festival. Starting Friday and erupting Saturday (November 4 and 5) is a schedule of 100 live performers and artists in 14 venues and galleries.

All of Main Street was open, while Veterans Place (side street between Post Office and Towne Crier and across from Masjid Ar-Rashid Islamic Teaching Center) was closed so that people could enjoy dancing, sitting in patio couches around a fire pit, and watching performances. The casual setting, however, made it feel like Main Street was closed as people slowed down to walk, watch and listen.

This big concept idea is being described as an “immersive music and arts exploration” by its organizers, who include a collection of performers, including Kelly Ellenwood, who is behind some of Beacon’s longest lasting initiatives, including Wee Play, the Beacon Free Loop, and busy time served for BeaconArts.

An aerialist performs during the first Beacon Bonfire as the first band at the Veterans Place stage starts.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

Starting from the embers of bonfires made during the height of the COVID pandemic, when everyone was separated and could not gather indoors, a group of Beaconites gathered outside around a bonfire in locations that were sometimes not announced until the day of the bonfire. Co-organizers Christian and America Olivo Campbell told the Highlands Current that they started the bonfires as a way to make it through the pandemic. The first one had 20 people, and it grew from there as more dates were put into the calendar spread via group texts. Jeremy Schonfeld came on board to organize the music from his connections in the Beacon music scene, and Kelly’s husband Tim Parsaca, who worked for Madison Square Garden for decades building or “unbuilding” sets, as Christian puts it.

Venues Participating In The Beacon Bonfire

Venues for this festival include the main stage at Veterans Place, which has patio couches set up around fire pits, Reserva Wine Bar, Bank Square, Lotus Works Gallery, Dennings Point Distillery, Quinn’s, Found Space 364, B House, Towne Crier, the Beacon Building, Silica Studio, Masonic Lodge, KuBe Art Center (aka The Old Beacon High School), Howland Cultural Center, Maria Lago Studio, and Dogwood.

Performers Performing During The Beacon Bonfire

Beaconites will recognize several names, and see a few new ones including of the spoken word. Lena Rizkallah who ALBB’s sister company Tin Shingle has written about and is normally associated with financial advice and education, will be storytelling with Bridget O’Neill’s group at the Masonic Lodge. You can find Nina Day and Friends, the Wynotte Sisters, the Whispering Tree, Toybox with Rinde Eckert and Friends, The Costellos, Tara O’Grady, Stephen Clair Band, Spilled Milk, and many others.

Find the full schedule and map here.

“Wait, What Is That?” Podcast Interviews

Brandon Lillard and Katie Hellmuth were able to interview two of the performers before the Saturday got rolling: The Costellos and Beacon Performing Arts Center. The Costellos shared two songs with the podcast, that was live streamed on A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram. The first song gave serious beach vibes, and the second was a dreamy love note between the two, written during a seven week stint that they were away from each other.

Listen to the full interview at Wait What Is That? when it gets published next week.

Local Events Happening This Month - Listed In ALBB's Event's Guide

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A Little Beacon Blog shares events happening in and around Beacon all the time! We are constantly updating our list & featuring it in our newsletter to keep you in the loop!

Here’s what we JUST updated and added to our events to fill your October with the best festivities:

Serious. Comedy Theatre Presents Open Mic Stand Up Show
Day: Friday, October 14, 2022
Time: 8pm
Location: 22 Kent Street, Room #109, Beacon, NY 12508 (Old Beacon High School)
Information >
Serious. Comedy Theatre is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. Thank you!!

Haunted Huguenot Street
Days: Friday & Saturday Nights (October 14, 2022 - October 29, 2022)
Time: 5pm-9pm
Location: 81 Huguenot St, New Paltz, NY, 12561
Haunted Huguenot Street will run from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday nights, from October 14th-October 29th. The cost for pre-registered tickets will be $25 for general admission and $20 for discounted admission (for HHS members, seniors, students, active and retired military personnel, and children under 13). Children under 6 will receive free admission. Those expecting to register upon arrival on the evening of the tour will be charged a flat fee of $30 per registrant, space permitting.
Information >

Serious. Comedy Theatre Presents Fire Sale! Comedy Show
Day: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Time: 8pm
Location: 22 Kent Street, Room #109, Beacon, NY 12508 (Old Beacon High School)
Information >
Serious. Comedy Theatre is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. Thank you!!

Complimentary Screening of Pixar hit “Inside Out”
Day: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
Time: 11am
Location: Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY
Seating is limited; registration is required and can be completed here >

The Beacon Sloop Club Annual Pumpkin Festival
Day: Sunday, October 16, 2022
Time: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Location: Pete and Toshi Seeger Park, 1 Flynn Dr. Beacon, NY
Hudson Valley Pumpkins all sizes & shapes! Fresh homemade baked pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream, cider, and other delights. Food and craft vendors, children's activities, environmental displays. Free sails on the Sloop Woody Guthrie. Two solar powered music stages. Performers include Betty and the Baby Boomers, The B2’s, Rick and Donna Nestler David & Jacob Bernz, The Judith Tulloch Band, Last Minute Soulmates, Spirit of Thunderheart, Beacon High School Chorus Singers, Beacon Songsmiths, Cosby Gibson and Tom Staudle, Bindlestick Bill, Pat Jones & Laurie Siegel, The Neverly Brothers, Lydia Adams Davis At Pete and Toshi Seeger Park, 2 Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY Free Admission.
Information >

BeaconArts - Now accepting artist submissions for our 2022 Member Exhibition [Must be a current Artist Member to apply]
Deadline: October 20, 2022
Days: Saturdays & Sundays - November 5-27
Time: 12pm-6pm
Location: KuBe Art Center, 3rd fl. Gallery, 211 Fishkill Ave. Beacon, New York
Opening reception & performance: Nov. 5, 4-6 p.m. Second Saturday Meet the Artist reception: Nov. 12, 4-6 p.m.

Beacon Film Society presents... BATTLEGROUND
Day: Thursday, October 20, 2022
Time: 7pm (doors at 6:30pm)
Location: StoryScreen Theater, 445 Main St. Beacon, NY 12508
‘Battleground’ is an urgently timely window into the intersection of abortion and politics in America, following three women who lead formidable anti-abortion organizations to witness the enormous influence they wield. As the nation faces the end of Roe, the film also depicts those on the front lines of the fierce fight to maintain access.
Information >

Serious. Comedy Theatre Presents Improv Witchy Jam
Day: Friday, October 21, 2022
Time: 7:30pm
Location: 22 Kent Street, Room #109, Beacon, NY 12508 (Old Beacon High School)
Information >
Serious. Comedy Theatre is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. Thank you!!

Hocus Pocus Parade
Day: Saturday, October 29, 2022 (Rain date Oct. 30th)
Time: 2:00pm — line up begins at 1:30pm
Location: Bank Square, Beacon, NY
All are welcome to join in costume and walk down Main St. to the Dummy Light. Trick or Treating at participating stores along the way. Beacon School of Rock will have a band playing Halloween music at the Roundhouse Patio at the end of the parade.

Murder Mystery Night
Day: Saturday, October 29, 2022
Time: 6pm
Location: Veterans Memorial Bldg, 413 Main St, Beacon, NY
Tickets are $40 per person. Free snacks and refreshments available. Proceeds benefit Castle Point VA Wheelchair games. Call 203 at 845-831-7750 for tickets or visit below link for more information.
Information >

Harvest Festival
Day: Saturday, October 29, 2022
Time: 3pm-5pm
Location: Memorial Park Pavilion
All are welcome to this free event at Memorial Park hosted by Goodwill Church Beacon! Join us for games, refreshments, face painting, hot chocolate, and more
Information >

 

If you have an event you'd like to submit for consideration, please fill out the Event Submission Form. If you would like to sponsor this guide, or upgrade your event promotion, please click here for details. *Please note, we are a mighty small team and receive multiple emails a day for event submissions. We may not be able to list them all, but you can guarantee a listing by purchasing here >

If you have multiple listings a month, you can subscribe as an advertiser and share a photo/flyer of your events.

Panel Discussion Following Screening Of Film Documenting Injustice Of Parole Release Hearings - Story Screen Theater - Happening Tonight

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THE FILM, WHICH FEATURES FORMERLY INCARCERATED ADVOCATES AND FORMER PAROLE COMMISSIONERS WHO EXPOSE THE BOARD’S LAWLESS ADDICTION TO PUNISHMENT, MAKES THE CASE FOR REFORM 

WHAT: A screening of “The Interview”, a short film exposing the injustices of parole release hearings, followed by a panel featuring people directly impacted by New York’s prison system and unjust Parole Board. The film features members of the Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign, and other formerly incarcerated advocates, who each faced as many as ten parole denials despite having transformed their lives while behind bars many years earlier. In addition, two Parole Commissioners appear in the film and, in very different ways, articulate how the Parole Board makes decisions about the release of people based solely on the nature of their crime, even after they have already served a minimum sentence.   

The Q&A after the film will feature panelists who have been directly impacted by incarceration and the parole process in New York. 

WHERE: Story Screen Theater, 445 Main St, Beacon, NY 12508

WHEN: Thursday, September 29th at 7pm

HOW TO GET TICKETS: Click here >

WHO: The screening is hosted by Beacon Prison Rides Program and Beacon Prison Books Project, in partnership with the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign and the People’s Campaign for Parole Justice. Panelists include RAPP Executive Director Jose Saldana, RAPP Westchester Community Leader Greg Mingo, Beacon Prison Rides member, Ms. John, and After Incarceration Co-Director, Jose Pineda. 

The Beacon Prison Rides Project is a volunteer-run organization providing free rides for families between the Beacon train station and Beacon-area prisons. Since November 2017, Beacon Prison Rides has provided an alternative to costly taxis or prison vans, providing more than 1,800 rides for more than 200 people visiting their incarcerated loved ones. Find out more about the project and about how to request rides, volunteer, or donate here >

The Beacon Prison Books Project is an organization that provides books to incarcerated persons throughout New York State, by request. People who are incarcerated in NYS use free postcards or simply write to us at our P.O. Box to request books or book recommendations. Then we order the books, connect with individual sponsors, pack up the books, and send them to the person who made the request. Most of this activity happens through Binnacle Books in Beacon, NY. Learn more here >

The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice is a new, statewide, grassroots campaign pushing for parole reform in New York State. The campaign platform is supported by over 350 organizations across New York State and led by a coalition of the state’s biggest and most influential social justice and criminal justice groups, including the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, Citizen Action, New Hour for Women and Children, NY Communities for Change, Center for Community Alternatives, Osborne Association, NYCLU, FWD.us, #HALTsolitary Campaign, Legal Aid Society, Center for Justice at Columbia, CUNY Law Defenders Clinic, and NYU Law's Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law. 

BACKGROUND:
Nearly 1 in 4 people from Dutchess county incarcerated in New York State prisons is over the age of 50, which many departments of corrections across the country define as “older” due to accelerated aging behind bars. About 63 percent are people of color, even though people of color only make up 23 percent of the general population of Dutchess county, and many are serving long sentences with few opportunities for release based on their rehabilitation and current readiness for release. Without parole reform, many will never make it out of prison.

Racism infects the parole release system just as it does every element of the criminal legal system. A white person in a New York prison is significantly more likely on average to be released on parole than a Black or Latinx person and the disparity widened in 2020, according to a Times Union analysis of the nearly 19,000 parole board decisions over the last two years. The data, which spans October 2018 through October 2020, shows the Parole Board granted parole release to 41 percent of white people, compared to 34 percent of Black people and 33 percent of Latinx people. Importantly, these racial disparities are not new. In 2016, the New York Times conducted an investigation of parole release data and similarly found Black and Latinx people were significantly less likely to be released than their white counterparts.

The People’s Campaign for Parole Justice is calling on lawmakers in Albany to pass two bills that will address this pandemic behind bars and prevent similar tragedies in the future: 

Elder Parole (S.15/A.3475) would allow the State Board of Parole to provide an evaluation for potential parole release to incarcerated people aged 55 and older who have already served 15 or more years, including some of the state’s oldest and sickest incarcerated people. 

Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415/A.4231) would provide more meaningful parole reviews for incarcerated people who are already parole-eligible. 

The Campaign is also calling on Governor Hochul to fully staff the Parole Board with 19 Commissioners who come from communities that have been directly affected by mass incarceration and who have professional and clinical backgrounds in areas such as social work, nursing, reentry services, and other fields that allow them to evaluate incarcerated people for who they are today. The Board currently has three vacancies.

From the film:
Former Parole Commissioner Carol Shapiro said, “The research is so clear on this, and has been for years,” regarding low reincarceration rates in New York State among people convicted of murder who are subsequently released on parole. Keeping people incarcerated for decades—well into old age—has changed the very nature of prisons, she says: “We are running geriatric institutions in America right now.”

Dutchess County to Host ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ Sensory-Friendly Movie Day

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Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro invites residents of all abilities and their families to a free sensory-sensitive screening of Pixar’s Academy Award-winning film, “Inside Out,” on Saturday, Oct. 15th, at the Bardavon Opera House, 35 Market Street in Poughkeepsie. As part of this special “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” event, the theater will adjust both the lighting and sound to make the experience more enjoyable for those on the autism spectrum or who experience sensory issues. Individuals, families and support agencies are all invited to this free event.

County Executive Molinaro said, “It can be a challenge for individuals with disabilities and their families to enjoy what may seem like a simple outing to some, like going to the movies. We wanted to give all families an opportunity to have fun and take part in a movie experience. Dutchess County is thrilled to partner with the Bardavon to host this movie event, where everyone can relax and enjoy this award-winning movie.”
For additional details, residents can view the event flyer online.

The movie event is the first of three ThinkDIFFERENTLY events the County is sponsoring at the Bardavon in the coming months: “Talking Birds and Golden Fish: A Collection of Global Animal Tales” with David Gonzalez will take place on Nov. 10th, as well as an hour-long, sensory-sensitive performance of “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 9th.

Established in 2015, the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative seeks to change the way individuals, businesses, organizations and communities relate to individuals with special needs. Following Dutchess County’s example, more than 100 municipalities throughout New York State have passed ThinkDIFFERENTLY resolutions, committing to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals of all abilities.

Dutchess County remains committed to providing events to those of all abilities, hosting several such events in 2022, including ThinkDIFFERENTLY Thursday at the Dutchess County Fair – which gives individuals of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy the fair without the drawbacks that lights, sounds and crowds can cause – and ThinkDIFFERENTLY Fitness & Field Day at Bowdoin Park, highlighting health and nutrition for people of every ability.

Complimentary Screening of Pixar hit “Inside Out”
Day: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
Time: 11am
Location: Bardavon 1869 Opera House, 35 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY
Seating is limited; registration is required and can be completed here >

To learn more about how to ThinkDIFFERENTLY, click here >

SOON IS NOW Is Back For A Second Season At Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park

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SOON IS NOW is back for a second season at Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park on Saturday, September, 24th from 2pm-5pm.

This will be a beautiful afternoon of climate theater, art and activism held in a spot that was transformed from a hazardous dumping site into a gorgeous sustainable park by Reed-Hilderbrand landscape architects and Scenic Hudson.

There is a great slate of participants programmed for the day: Jaanika Peerna with Coco Karol performing Glacier Elegy; Twinkle Burke and Stephanie Anuwe performing "how to hold water: a spell for adaptive living" by Erika Dickerson-Despenza; Edwin Torres conducting a poet's orchestra of 6 performers titled "Water's Way: A Poet's Choir for The Hudson River" with: Latasha Diggs, Jayden Featherstone, E.J. McAdams, Urayoán Noel, Kristin Prevallet and Tamalyn Miller; Elise Knudson, Randy Burd and Ava Heller performing a new dance piece on George Trakas's Beacon Point; Connie Hall performing The Penguin by Nicholas Billon, cellist Alex Waterman performing an original composition, Tom King and Katiana Rangel performing "Ode to Extinct Birds"; and FRUIT&ROT, an imprint that designs and publishes printed matter on the intersection of art and ecology, will have items for sale. Local environmental groups will be at the event providing actions, info and workshops.

Come see Fareground, Beacon Conservation Advisory Committee, New Yorkers for Clean Power, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Outdoor Promise, Climate Reality Hudson Valley and Catskills, Sunrise Movement Westchester and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater and take action on climate!

Environmental group presentations & actions start at 2pm and sign ups for the 3 performance tours open at 2pm and start at 3pm and run every 20 minutes (first come first served). A 4th tour will be added if needed. There is something here for everyone! This event is part of Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week.

Contact evemorgenstern@gmail.com or go to this link for more details. Free and open to the public but the project appreciates contributions to help pay the artists. You can make a tax deductible pledge here at SOON IS NOW and thank you! We encourage using public transportation, carpooling and walking because parking is limited at Long Dock Park. Overflow parking is available a short walk away at the Beacon Metro North train station where parking is free on the weekends.

This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.

Donations For US Army Needed - Being Collected By Antelak and Moore - Here’s Your Shopping List!

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This is for the weekend shoppers! To gather their things now over the weekend during their errands, and bring it in this week to Antalek and Moore, who is passionate about hosting a donation drive in support of the U.S. ARMY Destroyer Company from the 10th Mountain Division.

The company is made up of about 80 men and women, and we are looking for supply donations to lift their spirits! Please bring your donations to our office at 340 Main Street in Beacon. See full list of supplies below:

FOOD AND DRINK

  • Mio Energy

  • Protein Bars

  • Granola Bars

  • Beef Jerky

  • Candy

  • Fruit Snacks

  • Gum

  • Trail Mix

  • On-The-Go Snacks

PERSONAL CARE

  • Baby Wipes

  • Graphic T-Shirts

  • Baseball Caps

  • Hand Lotion

  • Hand Sanitizer

  • Chapstick

  • Soap

  • Razors

  • Shaving Cream

OTHER ITEMS

  • Appropriate Magazines

  • Playing Cards

  • A Note

  • Matchbox Cars (to hand out to children they come across while on mission)