Beacon Bits -- A Tree Grows in Beacon (Brooklyn)

As many Beaconites have discovered already, there is quite a strong association between Beacon and Brooklyn other than the letter B; store owners commute from Brooklyn to Beacon, residents have moved to Beacon via Brooklyn from their place of birth across the U.S., and there are those that were raised in Brooklyn, like myself, who kept moving up river to the Hudson Valley region. I glimpsed another aspect of this Brooklyn-Beacon connection at May's

Second Saturday when I attended the opening of a new gallery, Theo Ganz, at 149 Main Street. Large paintings of trees found in Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

created by Swedish-born Anders Knutsson are placed in juxtaposition with metal sculpture, including a six foot tree by local Korean-born artist, InSun Kim, bringing us to another connection: the multicultural aspect of both Brooklyn and Beacon. The light in the gallery complemented the refurbished space where Clay Wood Cotton had recently vacated for their new location; the warmth of the early May evening was mirrored in the hospitality and comestibles provided by Canadian-born gallery owner and artist, Eleni Smolen, who also moved to Beacon via Brooklyn. The cool crisp lines of the compact space with the soft feelings of Anders' life-like representation of boughs and trunks of old tree spirits and the hard copper and silver-toned carpenter's nails, sheet metal and found objects in InSun's sculptures are an open invitation to "Segue" (as the title of the show intends) for all the gallery browsers who helped make the inaugural opening feel so special. Its' close proximity to Fovea, (where Rob Penner's photos depicting "Beacons of Music" can be seen indoors, as well as outdoors on the facade of the factory building next to the Roundhouse, which I made sure to see since I had missed the April 14th opening), will make Theo Ganz a special stop on the monthly Second Saturday circuit. Both exhibits will be ongoing through June, so additional visits are possible for a first or second look to relish the respective shows.


Speaking of special, Homespun's candelight atmosphere for a light, but filling, supper of wonderful crabcakes evoking memories of Maryland for anyone who has indulged during a trip south. And what more perfect ending for the evening could there be but a Zora Dora gourmet popsicle treat.

Some food for thought:  Enjoyable routines are a welcome relief for the day-to-day stressors and hassles that we bear. The relaxed exploration and novelty that Second Saturday events offer Beacon's community are exceptional opportunities to unwind with friends, or to enjoy while traveling solo. The evening can be as simple or complex, as fast-paced or slow, as long or shirt, as inexpensive or not, but it will always be guaranteed to deliver inspiration and reduce stress. It's a monthly routine you shouldn't resist; it's a habit worth developing.

Top 3 Zora Dora 'paletas' (a.k.a. ice pops) -- so far this season

Orange Lavender (milk-based)

Kiwi Lime

Red Ruby Grapefruit, Ginger Honey

Beacon Bits -- Pete's Rainbow Race

What do 40,000 Norwegians and the members of the Beacon Sloop Club (BSC) have in common? A love of Pete Seeger's song, "My Rainbow Race". On April 26, 2012, in response to two mothers tweeting a meet-up to sing the Norwegian lyrics of the song ('Barne Av Regnbuen') as translated by Norwegian 'folk singer' Lillebjorn Nielsen, throngs of people gravitated to the streets of Oslo outside the courtroom where Anders Behring Breivik's trial was being held. Breivik had announced that the "Marxist" song was being used to "brainwash" small children and that he detested it. The Norwegian response was to "irritate" him by their choral singing as a sign of unity for the 77 victims of Breivik's massacre on 7-22-11 and for their families and friends. The song was sung by groups of citizens across cities and towns in Norway and the people felt they "won" the confrontation peacefully.

On Friday, 5-4-12, the members of the BSC gathered for its monthly business meeting, potluck dinner and celebration of Pete's 93rd birthday, which was May 3rd. During the circle of song, the musicians played "My Rainbow Race", as I had requested during the announcements, to join in the sentiments expressed by the Norwegian people: that hope for the future of the world resides in multi-racial-ethnic harmony, unity and peaceful coexistence under "one blue sky above us." As you can see in the YouTube video posted by the secretary of the BSC (Vane Lashua), Pete Seeger's presence and active leadership still makes a small group of  people unify to sound better and stronger than ever, making it a very special event to witness.

As a testament to Beacon's global connections, the link and story about the singing of Rainbow Race on this side of the Atlantic was published by NRK in Norway.

My Rainbow Race

[Chorus]

One blue sky above us

One ocean lapping all our shore

One earth so green and round

Who could ask for more

And because I love you

I’ll give it one more try

To show my rainbow race

It’s too soon to die.

Some folks want to be like an ostrich,

Bury their heads in the sand.

Some hope that plastic dreams

Can unclench all those greedy hands.

Some hope to take the easy way;

Poisons, bombs. They think we need ‘em.

Don’t you know you can’t kill all the unbelievers?
There’s no shortcut to freedom.

[Chorus]

Go tell, go tell all the little children.

Tell all the mothers and fathers too.

Now’s our last chance to learn to share

What’s been given to me and you.

[Chorus]

Some food for thought:  A simple and implicit connection between the hearts of the people at the BSC,  and those in Norway, occurred along the banks of the Hudson River, just slightly north of the "Storm King Fjord", when voices lifted up "My Rainbow Race" in song. The natural surrounds of Beacon and the sensibility of a community striving for "mindful" living in this beautiful world fraught with unnecessary violence echoed across the Atlantic to the Oslo Fjord and reverberated with empathy and understanding about the grace and healing found in Pete Seeger's timeless song and ageless mission of peace.

Rainbow Potluck Medley

This is a sweet and sour grain medley that is easy to make and serves about 8-10 people at a potluck.

It is vegan-vegetarian, but not gluten-free

Follow the directions on the package to prepare 1 cup uncooked quinoa and 12 oz. farro. Set aside to cool. Blanch 1 crown of broccoli and cut into small pieces. Cut 1/2 to 1/2 fresh, ripe pineapple into small cubes. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 2-3 tbs. fig-infused vinegar, 2 tbs. local honey, 2 springs fresh rosemary and 3-4 springs of parsley; add salt and pepper to taste and blend thoroughly. When grains are cool, blend them together, add pineapple and broccoli. Chill for 1 hr. then add oil mixture and chill for 1-2 hrs. before serving.  (White canneloni beans can be added or substituted for broccoli and/or pineapple.)

Beacon Bits -- Embrace Your Community

After trying to schedule a Saturday evening outing to the Gospel Cafe at the Howland Cultural Center for over a year, my weary soul could wait no longer and I finally showed up at the door on Saturday 4/29/12. The evening's theme was Apollo Night, like the iconic people's choice competition in NYC.

The MC, Deacon  Alvin Bell, proprietor of the hair salon at 211 Main Street, opened the evening with his rendition of "Victory is Mine", a rousing song with his signature

notes. (I've seen him belt this upbeat number out at other community events such as the MLK celebrations at the Howland with as much heart and soul. I've also run into Deacon Bell, an ex-boxing champ, at the local bank; I love to listen to his stories about Main Street pre-Dia Beacon. He's a willing ranconteur and runs a friendly and energetic barber shop where our very own Pete Seeger gets his hair cut and the buzz about town is always ongoing as a recent visit revealed.

The entrance fee for the Gospel Cafe included a comfortable seat with tables set up cabaret style and a tasty homemade dinner replete with baked chicken, stringbeans, macaroni and cheese and biscuit. Since it was the 4th anniversary of these monthly community gospel celebrations, a generous serving of strawberry-filled chocolate cake was passed around during the intermission.

Four diverse choirs performed during the course of the evening.  My favorite, the Brothers of Gideon representing Beulah Baptist Church, reminded me of The Dixie Hummingbirds, but to my disappointment, was not the choir selected as the evening's winner.

The most unusual group, Souls United, spearheaded by the local Baha'i's, sang more contemporary songs with soulful messages of unity, peace and harmony. A rousing performance of one song included the phrase, "embrace your race", which denoted the multiracial aspect of this group and the universal message of the Baha'i faith. It was no surprise to see local performer Chis Ruhe as part of the group; he is a troubador for social justice and action-oriented causes like anti-fracking.

Overall, the evening was a winner, just like the Balm in Gilead that heals the sin sick soul.

Some food for thought:  While gospel might not be every Beaconite's choice of music, the Gospel Cafe venue affords the opportunity to mingle beyond the usual racial divide and serves as a chance to cross multicultural boundaries within our community. (If you've noticed up to this point, there isn't much diversity represented in some of the areas along Main Street or even within this blog.)  As a white person in attendance, I was frequently reminded about being in a minority role. Some of the regular attendees appeared a bit skeptical about my presence initially until the music touched us all; then I was greeted several times with the query, "are you having a good time?" One local couple told me to stop in their church, Star of Bethlehem, located in the converted bank building a few doors up from Bank Square, "anytime." I think I might just do that. I've heard their choir singing some Sunday mornings when passing through town and they've been quite uplifting and it will be good to keep crossing the invisible lines of segregation found in Beacon's community. To do so will further expand one's comfort zone and to enrich one's connecteness with all neighbors.

Gospel Cafe meets at 7pm on the 4th Saturday of the month at the Howland Cultural Center. Souls United will perform on June 2, 2012 at the Howland Cultural Center.

"Change-It-Up" Macaroni & Cheese

A white girl's blend of healthy and traditional

1 tbs. butter

2 tbs. flour

1/2 cup skim milk

4 oz. aged white Vermont cheddar cheese, grated

1 tsp. Grey Poupon Country Dijon Mustard

2 tbs. Hudson Valley Fresh sour cream

2 cups uncooked 100% Whole Wheat Chiocciole

(Bionature Organic available at Beacon Natural Market)

Unseasoned breadcrumbs

Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Heat the butter in a saucepan and incorporate the flour , then add the milk and  continually stir to blend thoroughly. (You are essentially making a bechamel sauce or as we called it growing up a 'hvit sus', white sauce, that can be used for 'creaming' any vegetable.) Add the cheese gradually until melted. Then add the mustard and sour cream. Add the sauce to the cooked macaroni. Place into a buttered casserole dish and sprinkle the top with the breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minute. Makes 4 side servings.

You can bring the fat down with low fat cheese and sour cream or you can bring the fat up with dots of butter on top of the bread crumb topping for extra crispy crumbs.

Beacon Bits -- A Few Good Women

While you might have missed the recent art show (Some) Girls of Beacon at the Howland Cultural Center, there's still plenty of time to catch a few of the notable "Women of Beacon" as you traverse Main Street. During the last year, I've met many of the women who own successful business operations and who have brought vitality to the storefronts by offering good conversation while sharing their expertise and proffering a variety of products and/or services such as art restoration (Kathleen of Studio Antiques), bread and comestibles (Simone of All You Knead) pilates (Juliet Harvey of Beacon Pilates) or dance classes (Angela of Yanerella's) and guesthouse accomodations (Shirley of Botsford Briar Bed & Breakfast) among many others (Homespun, Beacon Natural Market, Echo, Lauren & Riley, Korean Deli Seoul Food, Dance Bag, Gianetta's, RiverWinds, Beacon Barkery, Cup and Saucer Tea Room, Ella's Bellas). I have a few favorites that are worth pursuing for their diversity and staying power, sophistication and groundedness; let me introduce you to Jaqueline, Seed to Fruit, and Clay, Wood, & Cotton.



Jaqueline Weissner, proprietor of Jaqueline, opened her retail store in Beacon in 1999. You could call her a pioneer settling on the East End of town after closing her successful international wholesale hat business that ran for 16 years. Her women's haberdashery harkened back to the history of Beacon as the 'hatmaking capital of the U.S.'. She dedicated herself to educating the public about Beacon's history by instituting Beacon's 1st Hat Parade in 2006, an annual event over 5 years time. The last parade was May 2010; the recent moratorium is a result of the lack of community support for organizing and doing the 'grunt work' that such fun events require, so hats off to Jaqueline for producing the past events! Perhaps some new Beaconites will find time and energy to resurrect this worthwhile project and make it an annual institution again -- otherwise, you'd be tempted to say that Beacon's parades have gone to the dogs.

In the meantime, don't worry, you can still find the most stylish hats and beautiful women's accessories north of Manhattan at #478 Main Street, Beacon. One of the most endearing things about shopping at Jaqueline's, other than fantasizing about the power and allure of a well-chosen hat, is the romantic, warm, and welcoming atmostphere....and a chance to be greeted by Zack! 

When you can finally pull yourself away from all the accessories at Jaqueline's, turn the corner and walk over to Seed to Fruit , #528 Main, where you will meet proprietor Nicole Mora, a former Glynwood resident, who will enchant you with her unique flower selection that seems to be freshly picked from an English country cottage garden that you just might not have at your own disposal, but that you can find in Beacon's very own backyard.

Nicole has been in business in Beacon since 2008 and from the start made an impression with artistic holiday window decorations, floral designs for weddings and other events, garden design and installations, holiday wreathmaking workshops, fresh cut flowers, and home delivery service with a personal touch. The nicest thing about shopping at Seed to Fruit is that special requests can be accomodated when Nicole heads to market for weekly purchases, hence, the arrival of flowering quince I had my heart set on, straight to my doorstep.

As a local resident, you'll notice Nicole's presence at community events, recognize her one-of-a-kind special order arrangements in town (e.g., while shopping at Artisan Wine Shop) and hope to win her gift certificate donations at the various charitable auctions (like Fovea's in December 2011.) Nicole has truly bloomed where she is planted and with her talent and artistic eye for detail, she'll be blooming in Beacon for years to come!

Now that you're visually stimulated with nature's beauty, head west on Main to the other end of town to feast on handmade crafts that satisfy the soul at Clay, Wood & Cotton in its new location at 133 Main Street, with co-owners, Kristen and Kristy, who will be happy to greet you.

Kristy (above), a Beacon resident, turns scraps from her husband's woodshop into 'Beacon Bookmarks' and Kristen (below), who dwells in Brooklyn and studied

textile design, turns secondhand fabrics into home accessories for her Cakehouse line. This crafty duo met, connected, and have fulfilled the vision of their partnership by starting their internet business, opening their 1st shop in September 2009 and jumping on the chance to expand into their new 'prestigious' location next to Bank Square this past winter.

The shop is home to a multitude of handmade items, many made by local Hudson Valley artists such as ModCraft, Virginia Piazza, Wicked Mint and Erica Hauser of Beacon, who create practical but pretty household items (bowls, mugs, wooden cutting boards made by Krista's husband, linens, hats and notecards.) The most exciting expansion of items since moving to their larger location has been quality yarns from Cascade, Noro, Malbrigo, Ella Rae, Jill Draper, and Blue Sky Alpacas, all of which will be appreciated by the knitters, crocheters and weavers who have been craving a local yarn supplier since the closing of Knittingsmith in Cold Spring!

The variety of colors, textures, prints, kits (remember potholder looms), pottery and stationery will keep you in their loop for personal and gift purchases on a frequent basis. If there was a category for 'Most Charming Craft Store' in the Hudson Valley magazine annual vote, Clay, Wood & Cotton would be a hands-down winner for sure!

Some food for thought:  As I considered the "Women of Beacon", I couldn't help thinking of the role of women in developing countries (see Nicholas Kristof and WuDunns Half the Sky). It's been said that women are the best bet for investing in the future: they are hardworking, creative, give wholeheartedly to their communities, and as a result, their efforts are beneficial to all. While I'm not implying that the plight of Beacon after the demise of manufacturing spurred 'suburban' flight from the factories of the river towns along the Hudson could ever match the global challenges of developing nations, I would say that the predominant presence of women business owners in Beacon just might not be coincidental. Just take note of Beacon's re-development and fourishing storefronts -- you may just want to thank a 'few good women'!

Check out the National Women's History Museum website for further inspiration about women.

Beacon Bits--Tasting the Good Life

While local breweries are proliferating in the Hudson Valley, wine bars and wine shops are still holding on. Beacon can toast one of its own, the Artisan Wine Shop, established in 2006.

Proprietors Tim Buzinski and Mei Ying So, both Culinary Institute graduates, are an integral part of the community; you might run into Tim at Beacon Pilates or you'll see Mei at the Common Ground Farm weekly pick up. You'll also notice their generous presence with gift certificate donations at various fundraisers and auctions for local groups. Since arriving in Beacon, it's been my go-to wine store for gifts and preparation for the occasional brunch or dinner party; I even knew about the store before relocating up river from its numerous citations as the "Best" of its kind in Hudson Valley Magazine for several years in a row. My limited knowledge of wine is never scoffed at, nor is my inability to recall names when I request a bottle for purchase by describing the label since I rely on my strong visual memory. This becomes a problem when a label changes, which they sometimes do to my dismay. Once Tim graciously reminded me to keep receipts, which always include the name of the wine purchased for future reference, but since I've recently purchased an iPhone app, Memorable Wines, a great $1.99 investment, I hope I've finally overcome this snafu. (I especially like the app since you can store a photo of the label as well as a written and recorded description of the wine.) But, at Artisan, I'm most impressed with Tim and Mei's expert recommendations when I've recited my menu and offered my personal preferences; they've always been spot on, even when matching a wine to my unusual, annual Scandinavian tradition of salted cod for Christmas eve dinner! Weekly tastings on Friday and Saturday have also been a learning opportunity and offer a chance to expand one's repertoire and range of "labels" with the added incentive of a discounted savings. However, Artisan's greatest gift for the naive or well-versed wine lover is the range of courses they offer from Tasting 101 to a focused introduction to  a specific wine region to wine-food pairings. I knew the classes existed but there had been a hiatus and so to my delight, I was able to secure the last ticket for a recent Sunday evening event that focused on the Italian wines of the Piedmont region.

We received a color coded map of the region, which explained the Italian wine classification system from table wine to the controlled and guaranteed top-of-the-line "DOCG" selection, a marked placemat and separate list for notes regarding our filled glasses--2 white (Gavi di Gavi, Roero Arneis) and 4 red (Barbera d'Alba, Dogliani, Barbaresco, Barolo) with a price range in the high teens to the fifties. With plates of bread and water nearby to help cleanse the palate, the class proceeded with more information than I could process, but others in the group demonstrated their familiarity with the region, and impressions of the appearance, aroma, taste and finish of each wine. While Tim filled us in on the attributes of each wine and their potential food pairings, we tasted and tested and took our personal notes -- from the citrus/acid of Gavi to the smokiness of Arneis to the cherry-earthy Barbera and musty Dogliani and deep floral Barbaresco and 'cognac warmth' (my words) of my favorite, Barolo.

All the while, Mei and the apprentice/CIA student, Anna, were busy preparing an assorted plate of cheese (available from Homepsun Foods) and toasted hazelnuts so that our second round of tastings would be paired with food. I had my "ah-ha" moment when I realized that my palate shifted to include all of the wines vs. the only one favored (Barolo) without the food accompaniment. I couldn't then resist ordering 3 of the 6 bottles at the reduced rate offered during the class so that they will become treasures for future guests on special occasions.

Some food for thought: There's always an opportunity to learn something new in Beacon. The older we get, the more we need to reach out for life long learning about 'new pastures' that we can be passionate about. I learned that wine is about the food. I always heard that, but finally 'got it' in one evening's tasting. When you take one established interest(being a foodie) with a new one (wine enthusiast), the motivation to expand knowledge and hunger for more information and skill is enhanced. I'd say a class or two at the Artisan Wine Shop should be on every one's "bucket list". If you go with "beginner's mind", you'll be amazed at how much you will learn.

Future Pairings

Artisan                &            Homespun

Picollo Ernesto, Gavi di Gavi DOCG, "Rovereto" 2011 [Cortese] / Toma Piemontese DOP, cow's milk, aged, semi-firm

Reverdito, Barbera d'Alba DOC, Butti 2008                                    / La Tur, cow, sheep & goat's milks, aged, soft, delicate

Brovio, Barolo DOCG, Garblet Sue 2005 [Nebbiolo]                      /  Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, cow's milk, aged, soft, creamy



Beacon Bits--Hop to It!

Spring has officially arrived with the vernal equinox but it has been in the air for a couple of weeks. In the midst of all this balmy weather in Beacon, with the earliest arrival of daffodils, forsythia, magnolias and cherry blossoms that I've ever witnessed, there are several venues worthy of checking out: Hop, the new brew-oriented foodie hot spot across from the Howland Cultural Center and Gallery 508, where the featured artist, Christine Hartman, opened on 2nd Saturday in March. Both destinations are conveniently located on the East End of town with another new store, La Bella Rosa, in Russ Cusick's old gallery location. La Bella Rosa has the old feel of a traditional florist and knick-knack gift shop. Janette, the proprietor, is a friendly and knowledgeable, veteran florist who seems happy to have arrived in Beacon. The juxtaposition of La Bella Rosa amidst the row of funky and forward fashions found at Echo, Jacqueline,  and Lauren & Riley, the good eats at Beacon Falls Cafe and the Beacon Bagel, and the health-oriented Beacon Yoga, creates a time warp in the Beacon we all expect and love.

Hop -- aptly named since anyone trying to gain access at a pub crawl pace would be out-of-luck since it has had packed-to-capacity seating since its opening on March 1st. (Hop apparently will have an official opening on April 7th, so like spring, it seems to have arrived a month early!) Hop has a variety of local brews on tap, as well as bottled, international craft beers and food that can be eaten "in" (soups, cheese plates, beef jerky, pates) or items featuring Hemlock Hill Farm products and vinegars from a local monastery to be taken "out". The overall feel of the establishment is upbeat, casual and depending on when you arrive, a bit frenetic, even bordering on chaotic. It's definitely a meeting place for the younger (or young-at-heart) set in town.

For a more sedate excursion, be sure to stop by Gallery 508, owned by Jens Bille, who hails from Denmark and worked as a designer for Georg Jensen. The collection of his own artwork and  jewelry designs, as well as, antique collectibles, black-and-white photographs, and Japanese wood prints, is showcased with a featured artist who is local Beacon artist, Christine Hartman through the end of April. Hartman's still life oil paintings bring traditional and carefully placed household objects and even a cat or two on practically full-size canvases that make her art a tromp l'oeil of all that you stand before in the midst of in this well-appointed gallery. The color palate is soothing and inviting so you'll just have to pull up a chair (before it is sold) and gain your composure from all the activity that is ready to burst into being with upcoming spring and summer festivities in this soon-to-be Roundhouse section of town. Check out the progress of the Roundhouse, recently noted in Hudson Valley Magazine to be the second best thing for Beacon's development after the Dia's opening in 2003.

Some food for thought: For perspective, one has to acknowledge that Beacon has had many more seminal events in its recent history other than the conversion of two factories into a world-renowned art museum and a restaurant/conference center/loft space on either end of town respectively. It's all of Beacon's past, present and future that one finds along the full extent of Main Street -- from Bank Square to Hudson Beach Glass to Artisan Wine Shop to Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries to Seed to Fruit...and everything sandwiched in between. All of Beacon is getting ready to 'hop' to it as this glorious spring leads to summer surprises along the way. With the arrival of Hop, it is a reminder that 'imitation is the best form of flattery' since the food and gourmet local goodies-to-go will remind Beaconites of the popular Homespun and the fact that it became the forerunner of Frost & Justice, the local Kingston brewery that has been in partnership with the Beacon Theatre across the street. Good ideas are easily replicated. When a community can hold more than one venue featuring the same goods or services, it is a sign that demand is dictating supply; friendly competition never hurts anyone. It just offers more choices for the consumer who wants to buy and stay local.

Beacon Bits--Winter's Thaw

This may go down as the winter that never happened in the Hudson Highlands, especially when compared with last year's, but during the coldest week in January, multiple events in Beacon helped sustain me until my bronchitis cleared and the days started to lengthen into what will most likely be an early spring.  I still revel in the sights and sounds of the talents of the world-renowned Jeremy Denk who played Mozart sonatas on an impeccably tuned piano for the Howland Chamber Circle classical concert series at the Howland Cultural Center (on January 15th and then again on February 12th) and the iconic Pete Seeger who was joined by his friends, the Rivertown Kids, Sara Underhill, David and Jacob Bernz, Guy Davis and drummers Figueroa and Haynes, among others, to continue the legacy of Martin Luther King's call for social and economic justice at the MLK celebration (on January 16th). Pete spoke about the March on Selma and the bombing of King's home and led everyone in singing "Follow the Drinking Gourd" with fellow banjoist Travers. A rousing duo, Emma's Revolution, sang out about "occupy" and contemporary issues of inequality and injustice in our country, which finally answered my burning question of who will follow in Pete's footsteps to "raise their voice."

Sitting in the audience for the two disparate events in the same venue, I mused how this felt like the epitome of freedom of choice and diversity. And to think it's happening in one small river town community and in one 135 year old historic building continues to fascinate me. And I didn't even mention that the visual art complimenting this auditory smorgasbord was a photojournalist Ronnie Farley's exhibit of cowgirls, which opened January 7th and ran through January 29th. Ms. Farley, a Beaconite, traveled the west in the 1990's and chronicled the rodeo women, cow hands and sheep herders who happened to be female, with informative text and black and white silver gelatin prints from her travels. The juxtaposition of these portraits of women who coraled the audience and were serenaded by Jeremy and rallied to act by Pete and friends was another testament to the local talent and genius in our midst.

From the east side of Main Street, we are connected to the museum-quality photography gallery, Fovea, on the west side of Main Street, where Ms.Farley is a member. Fovea rocked Second Saturday events in January with a 2-1/2 hour panel presentation about the exhibit, "Gays in the Military". Vince Cianni, the photographer, was joined by four of the gay men he interviewed for his project documenting the effects of "Don's Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT). The servicemen--one still active, two discharged under DADT and one who was allowed to retire-- were joined by a local psychiatrist who edits a journal about gay and lesbian issues for the American Psychiatric Association. The level of authentic and honest sharing by the would-be victims of DADT clearly underscored that their resilience and use of available social support allowed them to be survivors who continue to thrive as they reach out to others who were diminshed by DADT. The photos, along with extensive personal narrative transcriptions and audio recordings taken from the interviews were at the gallery through the first week in February but thereafter will reside in archival storage at Duke University. (Fovea's current show documents the Occcupy Movement: another testimony to its cutting edge vision and mission.)

Topping off that memorable week in January was a visit to the Beacon Sloop Club for its Friday night lecture series featuring Jessica DuLong, author of My River Chronicles: Rediscovering America on the Hudson, a memoir of a dot.com entrepreneur turned marine engineer whose hands-on learning occurred on the John J. Harvey fireboat while cruising up and down the Hudson River. Her new book will document the rescue of citizens during the frenzy of 9/11 by a variety of boats, ships and vessels from lower Manhattan.

Some food for thought: Beaconites have the privilege of residing in a community-oriented town at a time when culture, intellect, emotion, and process intersect with the ordinary lives of some extraordinary individuals who share their visions and otherwise take risks to put themselves "out there". Participation in the varied opportunities does not seem optional; you can choose to take an active role as a witness or be inspired to find where your own talents lead you. But the time is now; spring is on its way.