Beacon Bits -- Who Moved My Cheese?

I attended a cheese class featuring seven European cheeses with unique wine pairings at Beacon Food Pantry earlier this month. I had heard how wonderful the classes have been and felt lucky to nab one of the last slots for the well-attended (22-seat) event. I sat amidst couples and small groups of family and friends who were ready for an educational, yet social, and what turned out to be a quite lovely evening. (I'd say there was a moment of spontaneous combustion occurring mid-cheese/wine #3 and #4!)

Clockwise from '12" at the top:

Valencay, Brie Fermier/Ile de France, St. Nectaire, Taleggio, Ford Farm Coastal Cheddar,

Parmigiano-Reggiano vs. Pecorino Romano Fulvi, and Cabrales

I learned how Beacon Pantry categorizes their cheese (e.g., fresh, bloomy, semi-soft, washed, firm, hard, and blue) and how to use these groupings to inform purchases (e.g., "I'd like a cow's milk semi-soft cheese a little bit of stink" or "I'd like a hard cheese that is grainy and not too salty.")

The best part of the evening was the banter occurring between Stacy (the owner) and her knowledgeable and comedic assistant whose commentary was informative and joy-filled. The second best was the flow of the tasting itself with its range of flavors and excellent pairings that led to a crescendo as the symphonic notes of the evening came to its stirring completion; I was left wanting more. Always a good sign that the palate, as well as the soul were nourished in such a 'cultured' environment.

At the end of the evening, the question of one's favorite of the seven diverse cheeses was posed. I re-framed the question to 'if I had to live with only one of these cheeses, which one would that be?' My personal choice would be the Ford Farm Coastal Cheddar from the United Kingdom, which I purchased with discount on my way out the door, and ate to my heart's content throughout the course of a week.

All types of classes and food presentations will be ongoing in the coming months at the Beacon Pantry: from butchering to meal prep to raw fish and kids' brunch, offered by the pantry's favorite foodies and experts from the Beacon Community. Check out the calendar.

Food for thought: With all this cheese on my mind, I recalled reading a NY Times bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life,  written by Spencer Johnson in 1998. The premise of the book was anticipating how change, the kind of change which is out of one's control, impacts an individual and the kind of response it elicits. It reminds me of all the changes occurring now in Beacon that will continue as the weather gets warmer and more visitors descend on Main Street looking for parking, occupying favorite tables at the local restaurants, shopping in the diverse and unique boutiques, traversing the congested roads lined with hikers and eagerly exploring the new real estate market that is experiencing a mini-boom in a short span of time. In other words, a lot of change. A lot of change imposed on a community with one major road (Route 9D), dense housing, an old infrastructure, a school system fraught with recent upheavals, and a lot of beautiful open natural space that extends from the river, to the mountains and into the sky. It is a bit overwhelming to think of what this changing horizon might look like. It is reassuring to know that the Beacon community does not always want to be passively moved. As Pete would have us singing: 'just like a tree that's planted by the water, we shall not be moved." 

Using the advice of Spencer Johnson, it might be helpful to remember:

Change Happens: they keep moving the cheese

Anticipate Change: get ready for the cheese to move

Monitor Change: smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old

Adapt to Change Quickly: the quicker you let go of old cheese,

the sooner you can enjoy new cheese

Change: move with the cheese

Enjoy Change: savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese!

Be Ready to Change Quickly and Enjoy It Again: they keep moving the cheese

In the meantime, enjoy all the cheese

that you can taste and savor at Beacon Pantry!

Beacon Bits -- Sweet Tweets

#alpssweetshop: Marzipan gone! Jellybeans galore. Milk and dark chocolate eggs, bunnies, lambs, chicks and truffles—who could ask for more?

#alpssweetshop: Easter sweets. Gifts for friends. Treats for children. Munchies for all. So many choices for one day alone. Happy to know it’s here year long.

#alpssweetshop: Hollow. Solid. Filled. With nuts or not. Bite size. Large size. Baskets, boxes, plastic sleeves, tissue paper. Waiting to unwrap one at a time. 

It was another busy morning for my annual pilgrimage to Alps Sweet Shop, a family-owned Beacon business since 1922. It's the closest thing to "Seebode's", a German chocolatier and ice cream parlor in Sunset Park Brooklyn that I remember from childhood. While photos are not allowed to be taken within the Alps' store (what a shame), the website captures all of the varieties of hand-made delights that are available seasonally and for other special occasions. It's certainly a case when a picture is worth a thousand words!

Food for thought: Old fashioned traditions emerge with the crocus and daffodils at this time of the year. Chocolates and eggs. An interesting balance of protein and carbs. But what would we do without the rituals and traditions that warm our heart, bring forth sweet memories, and allow us to indulge once again in the little treats that become associated with each passing season. It's a blessing to have the opportunities to explore new venues that evoke the places that only exist in our long-term memories. It's another chance to greet the community as they seek their own perfect treats to celebrate renewal and rebirth of spring.

Dyeing Easter Eggs with Natural Materials

Collect onion skins throughout the year. Place skins into a pot, nestle the white eggs amidst them and cover with water. Boil and allow to cool in the pot before removing. The longer they sit, the darker the color. Transformative.

Blessed Easter!

Beacon Bits -- First Sign of Spring

Yes, it's the first day of spring. And yes, there is going to be throwback winter weather with heavy, wet snowflakes falling throughout the night, which will hopefully not interfere with the budding trees that may be vulnerable to frost since they are ahead of schedule due to the mild winter. Confusing. Not really, because there really is global warming with notable changes in weather patterns, melting glaciers and disappearing permafrost and krill. But I say, bring on the white stuff. No, not the snow, but the first soft ice cream that has been resurrected in time for the spring holidays. It's my first sign of spring! Not the impending opening day of baseball season, March Madness, or dash for the play-off teams for the Stanley Cup. It's always been the soft ice cream cone that appears before the heat of summer. And I can never resist its temptation.

Medium vanilla soft ice cream, $2.50

So Beacon is lucky to have its own family-run business, Ron's Ice Cream, on the corner of Route 52 (Fishkill Avenue) and Brayburn Avenue, conveniently located across from Memorial Park and children's playground and the dog park. Ron's is 'pre-Dia' and while it is a little ways off the beaten path, it has been in business since 2000. On the surface it appears, unassuming and plain. But it is classic Americana with a very basic offering; an offering that is always a crowd pleaser, capable of gathering families, and individuals from cross-cultural and multi-generational backgrounds to convene at the same place and same time. It's where the 99% and 1% can actually meet; an increasingly important event in our communities.

An early start means there is no waiting, no lines

Food for thought: In confusing times, it is always good to have something basic to return to for a touchstone. In this election year, we may want to meet and greet friends over ice cream to avoid some of the tense conversations about all things political. It may be a good alternative for cooling down the inevitable heated debates in the coming month with the New York primary on its way on April 19th. Choosing between cone and cup, soft or hand-packed, large or small, may be the perfect antidote to some of the choices that maybe be so difficult that some people may opt out. It's never good to opt out.....of ice cream and choice.

Another choice on the way --  Zora Dora opens the weekend of April 2nd-3rd!

There's something for everyone.

Beacon's Signature Dish@Max's-on-Main

What better night than "Fat Tuesday" to head to Max's-on-Main for my very first time in search of a supper worthy of the feast before the fast. I had walked by Max's many times throughout the last six years and always felt intimidated by the crowded, pub-like atmosphere. Yet, all of my friends who are 'regulars' would tell me the food was great and the ambiance friendly enough to venture in at anytime, reminding me about Tuesday's Trivia Night and Wednesday Ladies' Night for extra enticement. 

Max's has two sides - the bar with its TV screen, bistro tables and dark wood paneled walls that are warm and inviting to join in and feel like part of the set for a re-run of Cheers. The other side is filled with small tables adorned with white butcher paper and cups of crayons with posters and photos on the wall reminding one of the west village music scene in the days of Fillmore east. I chose the latter and felt welcomed by a cheerful and down-to-earth waitress, Karissa, who was available to chat since the usual Tuesday Trivia crowd hadn't arrived yet. She assured me that my choice of pierogies was indeed one of the popular signature dishes at Max's. The pierogies, filled with potatoes and cheddar cheese and served as an appetizer, were plentiful on a plate adorned with salsa and sour cream over some greens, and covered with caramelized onions and fresh scallions. The dish was a welcome sight to behold and surely fit the bill to have just the right amount of fat since they were sauteed in browned butter. 

The pierogies brought back the sought after memories of Pearl, my Czechoslovakian neighbor in Brooklyn, who would call me in to watch as she stood in her kitchen and rolled dough and filled them with the variety of fillings of cabbage and potatoes and cheese, placed them in a rolling pot of water, and then served up a plate with just enough butter to match my salivating lips. That's what growing up in Brooklyn was all about. And to find a place in Beacon that meets expectations from those childhood memories is endearing. Thanks to Harvey and Richie Kaplan for believing in Beacon in 2006; you've had a great run and will continue to thrive as you bring together many former Brooklynites, native and transplanted ones, to a corner of the world at 246 Main Street in Beacon!

Food for thought:  Comfort found in mundane places where community gathers is one of the best ingredients for a good meal and deep conversation. Memories are always associated with our tastes and palate. Every time we mix and stir together our favorite recipe and offer our prepared food to our friends and family, we plant a solid memory that will be evoked time and time again, no matter where or when they find us. I found my memories of Pearl and all of my immigrant neighbors who shared their finest cuisine, the peasant food of their lands left behind, with generosity and grace; a wonderful memory to sustain anyone in lean times that keeps you hungry for more.

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How about making Monday nights pierogie nights at Max's with diners' suggestions for the next variation on a pierogie plate to be voted on and offered on a rotating basis? My own version for an updated version would be to serve the pierogies covered with bacon crisps and a side of caramelized apples and honey drizzled Greek yogurt.

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Beacon Bits -- Makers and Shakers

This year, January, known as the month of new beginnings, felt longer than usual with five weekends to explore Main Street, which was virtually untouched by snow and sunnier than the recent years past. Second Saturdays are exploding with music and art, as per Beacon Arts listings. Diners have more choices for breakfast with Homespun now serving on weekends. And hikers have continued to traverse the Fishkill Ridge and learn about the Mt. Beacon Incline Railway at the exhibit found at the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries. However, this year, it seemed more natural to begin the year with some spiritual renewal and a meditation retreat with a good read of the book, Befriending Silence; a trip to the Dia Beacon with a service-dog-in-training in tow for its natural light and sculptural creations; and the purchase of some new yarn for practical projects worth effort and time spent in knitting. So I found it curious that my propensity towards interiority won out despite the call of the mild weather to walk about town on Sunday afternoons. But to my delight, on one such outing, I came across the Hudson Valley Maker and Artisan Cooperative located in Clay, Wood, Cotton at 133 Main Street. Filled with eclectic and diverse creations, this artisan space highlights the 'maker movement', with its hands on, innovative design using raw materials and recycled artifacts to make objects that are both whimsical and functional.

I had a nice conversation with one of the makers, Chris Faroe, and was not at all surprised to learn of his Scandinavian background since many of the creations in the store that are made of wood evoke cabinetry and woodworking made by craftsmen through the ages from the north countries. Fellow makers, Keith Decent and Rob Hughes also demonstrate their innovative design and talent in lamp fixtures, tables, refinished wood pieces, and metal adornments. I look forward to arranging a custom handmade object fashioned by one of the makers that will blend with a unique mix of modern and shabby chic.

Food for thought:  It's a relief to know that our faster Internet speeds for downloads and uploads are being balanced with an eye on renewable construction from scratch materials leading to curious creations that Rube Goldberg would surely appreciate. Add the maker movement to the slow food movement and we can stand still in time. Or go back in time when the Hudson River Valley was home to the Shakers and their own movement of utilitarian furniture; 'tis truly a gift to be simple. And simple is always a great way to start the new year.

 A Simple Knitted Head Band

CO 26 sts. Knit one row across.

Repeat Pattern

R1: K4, P18, K4

R2: K3, P1, K18, P1, K3

R3: K4, P18, K4

R4: K3, P1, (C6B)x3, P1, K3

R5: K4, P18, K4

R6: K3, P1, K18, P1, K3

R7: K4, P18, K4

R8: K3, P1, K3 (C6F)x2, K3, P1, K3

C6B - Slip 3 sts onto cable needle. Hold in back. Knit 3 from left, knit 3 from cable. 

For C6F, hold 3 sts on cable in front.

Ella Rae Chunky Lace Merino, purchased on sale at Clay Wood Cotton, knitted with size 4 needles

Beacon Bits -- A Giving Community

Beacon is a giving community. The town could be a poster child for Peter Singer's "effective altruism" movement.  Just this past month alone, Common Ground Farm held its annual auction and raised monies towards it 'Grow a Row' project that feeds hungry families with fresh produce throughout the growing season. And the Beacon Sloop Club sponsored a Cajun dance with Krew de la Rue, which raised $1000 towards the food pantries and feeding programs of St. Andrew's/St. Luke's Food Pantry and InCare of Multi-Service Inc. Not to mention the month-long initiative, 'Month of Generosity', with a series of events held at More Good, which targeted raising monies for clean water in 42,000 people in Haiti, Uganda, and Ghana.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg since Beacon's music and art scene give to its residents and visitors on a daily basis and the level of volunteer-led organizations and not-for-profits lead the way with a variety of activities throughout the year. So now during the holiday season, it's a particular joyous time to celebrate that Beacon is a Giving Community!

It just proves that shopping locally isn't the only way to celebrate Christmas. Recognizing and experiencing a sense of abundance leads the way to giving that doesn't require a shopping list or credit card. I'm reminded about a recent broadcast on public radio about parenting issues. One family has a rule about holiday purchases that mandates no more than four gifts per person: a want, a need, something to wear, something to read. Another family set a rule that supports recycling material stuff by requiring that for every new thing one brings home, one thing must go ('one in/one out'). And a third family honors the sentiment that 'much is asked to whom much is given', so they look for ways to adopt a family (e.g., The Angel Tree project) and then spend holiday preparation time focusing on decisions about shopping for members of the family in need rather than focusing on themselves. All of these ideas support the viewpoint that a TV commercial I recently saw would suggest -- that it would be nice if the four-letter word most associated with Christmas is L-O-V-E instead of S-A-L-E.

Food for thought: There's still time to consider a new rule to implement this holiday season, or better yet, to contemplate a New Year's resolution that will support our very own giving movement in Beacon. Volunteer at one of the food pantries or feeding programs. (Stop by St. Andrew's on Saturdays or First Presbyterian on Friday or Saturday to inquire about how to lending a helping hand.) Support a local organization by renewing your 'friend' status or becoming a new friend. (More friends of the Beacon Sloop Club will get the the people's sloop, the Woody Guthrie, back into the Hudson to set sail for the public.) Donate a CD or book to Beacon Reads when you make your next purchase. Find out about the local prisons (Fishkill and Downstate Correctional Facilities) and opportunities to engage in encounters with those who are marginalized. (Check out the Puppies Behind Bars website for more information.) Get ready to join in the annual MLK parade on Main Street on Monday, January 18th, commencing at Springfield Baptist Church. Or just pick up a piece of litter/trash the way Pete Seeger would do as he walked along Main Street. Everyone benefits by each person who gives more, but it's especially heartwarming and rewarding for the person who gives well. Wishing you all a very special Giving Christmas this year!

This blog was also inspired by a recent visit to the Afya Foundation in Yonkers, NY -- a non-profit foundation that aims to collect surplus medical supplies, hospital equipment and humanitarian provisions for acute and ongoing health crises worldwide. Current projects are focused on the Syrian refugee crisis in Greece, Luggage for Life, and Haiti Rehab. Arrange a visit with family or friends to help sort supplies in the warehouse for a unique holiday outing and non-traditional way of giving. You'll be amazed with the scope of work and accomplishments of this small foundation that is a model for innovative social entrepreneurship and 'effective altruism.' Kudos to its award winning founder, Danielle Butin.

Beacon Bits -- Bountiful Books

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."    

                                            - Charles Caleb Colton

It is a welcome sight to have yet another empty storefront on Main Street be occupied with a newly formed business for Beaconites and the ever-growing number of 'out-of-towners'. The multiple bakeries (All You Knead, Ellas Belllas, Beacon Bread Company, Get Frosted) and restaurants in town (see the recent post on A Little Beacon Blog for our great places to eat) both informal and formal, family-priced and upscale, slow and slower, local and global, are all proof that variations on a theme and more than one venue of its kind can be fiscally viable. And so it is very good to see that another book store, Binnacle Books, has opened its doors joining the ranks of the Howland Public Library and its neighboring book store, Beacon Reads, which opened its doors in 2000. Once can never have enough opportunity for enhancing literacy for Beaconites of all ages, but especially for the children, books need to be in our midst.

Binnacle Books

Beacon Reads

In addition to being known for its diverse selection of second hand books in excellent condition, Beacon Reads is probably the pioneer social entrepreneurial venture established in Beacon. Founded by the Friends of the Library, a 501(3)c affiliate of the library, it is a grass-roots, volunteer-run organization with the purpose of raising additional funds for the library budget. 

Marcia Frahman, President of the Friends of the Library & Co-Manager of Beacon Reads

In just the past two years, the Friends of the Library, filling its coffers mostly with book sales at Beacon Reads, has  purchased vouchers to the American Museum of Natural History, the Mid-Hudson Children's Museum, and Boscobel, which are available for library card holders at the circulation desk. In addition, monies for free music downloads and streaming, $1200 transportation money for the annual Teen Battle of the Books, $12,000 matching funds for the recent construction grant for the library, and $2,400 of technological equipment for the children's room, have been provided. That's a lot of book sales!

Beacon Reads is staffed by 11 volunteers and the store is open 7 days/week. Beacon Reads has been located next to the library for 15 years; it is well known in the community for Beacon's oldies and newcomers alike, to mingle, meet, converse, and hang out with neighbors, while browsing the shelves and searching for the perfect book to take home or give as a gift. Stop by sometime, you'll never know who you might meet!!

Zelda, a Puppies Behind Bars service-dog-in-training, visits Beacon Reads

Food for thought: It is a blessing to be able to read the written word. Concerns about literacy rates in the US is ongoing, with almost 25% of adults reading below a 5th grade level, 20% of HS graduates unable to read, and 70% of inmates in American prisons not being able to read above the 4th grade level (April 2013, US Department of Education.) It will take more than a bounty of books to turn these trends around. But having access to books - be they borrowed or bought -- is an important environmental support in every community. Just knowing that there are 2 bookstores and 1 public library within 2 blocks of each other in Beacon is a cultural statement that Beacon does indeed read!!

"To Do List"

Donate your unwanted books to Beacon Reads -- all the dollars earned are given right back into your hands with unique funding initiatives for the library.

Update your library card.

Browse the shelves of our local independent bookseller.

Become a member of the Friends of the Howland Public Library.

Bring a child along to buy, lend or donate a book to Beacon Reads.

Volunteer to read to children at a local school.

Pick up a book instead of the remote or the laptop.

Support groups like Reach Out and Read with its aim of giving children a book during pediatric visits from birth to age 5, which reinforces the concept that literacy takes root in infancy and toddler hood, a campaign that the American Pediatric Association supports.