There are plenty of good reasons to hope for a more bikeable Beacon. To name a few: 1) Improved safety (for drivers and pedestrians as well as for cyclists) 2) Reduced traffic congestion 3) Greater equity for people who can’t afford a car or don’t want to drive around for small errands. 4) Bikes are fun :) In this interview, Meg Lazaros, one of the founders of the Beacon Bicycle Coalition, discusses the work being done to improve Beacon’s roads for bike use. Beacon Bicycle Coation was founded to advocate for bike infrastructure, including both short-term improvements and changes to our comprehensive plan that could enshrine a cycling ethos in Beacon’s vision for its own future. They also organize fun group rides on the last Thursday of every month. Shining through this discussion of “the issues” is the pure joy Meg gets from riding bikes. Learn more about Beacon Bicycle Colation and sign the petition at https://bikebeacon.org/. And, follow them on Instagram for information on group rides and other events: https://www.instagram.com/beacon.bicycle.coalition/ Related: New York recently granted $100,000 to study the viability of a bike-sharing program that would connect Beacon and Newburgh. One of the recipients of that grant is Thomas Wright, a leading voice for biking and sustainability (and a former Beaconites guest). You can help this effort by taking their survey. Visit https://tally.so/r/nW1XZP
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Gen X women are not done, with Lena Rizkallah
Lena Rizkallah has carved out a niche giving financial advice to women in their 40s and 50s, often helping them navigate transitional moments in their lives. For these clients — who may be going through a divorce, starting a businesses or taking on a new creative project — Lena helps frame out a financial plan that can enable the vision. “Money equals freedom,” she says. Born to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the US and raised in a suburb of Washington D.C., Lena followed a winding path to Beacon. In this interview, we talk about: The Gaza catastrophe through the eyes of a second-generation Palestinian immigrant Lena’s decision to give up a career as an Immigration lawyer to work in finance Her “moving to Beacon” story as a single woman, and why she kept her NYC apartment Her panels and speakeasies focused on women and female business owners What Gen X women have in common; common money mistakes; "Think big" The current investment climate; why economic doomerism is wrong Lena's website: https://www.lenarizkallah.com/ Photo by Michael Isabell: https://www.michaelisabell.com/ Beaconites is recorded at Beacon AV Lab: https://www.beaconavlab.com/
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How Sergei Krasikov turned his love of nature into a civic purpose
Our interview with Sergei Krasikov is a must-listen if you’re into trails, open spaces, water sheds and being outside in any weather. Originally from Belarus, Sergei has made Beacon his home in every sense. He is a community builder and civic volunteer with a special focus on land conservation. As the chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee and founder of the Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance, he has advanced a city-wide composting program, trail clearing, a water testing program and more. Right now he’s focused on an inventory of open spaces that could eventually be adopted into the city’s comprehensive plan. On top of all that, Sergei is running for City Council for the consequential 2026-2028 term. City business aside, it’ll come as no surprise that Sergei is an active outdoorsman – a trail runner, swimmer and cross-country skier. We spent a chunk of this interview talking about things listeners can do outside in Beacon and surrounding areas. Links and further reading: Earth Day cleanup. The CAC is organizing its annual Sat April 26 Earth Day clean up, trail clearing & riparian buffer planting followed by a Green Fair at Hudson Valley Brewery. More info at: https://www.greenbeaconcoalition.org Water testing. The Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance, in partnership with Bard College Community Science Lab, Riverkeeper and Beacon Institute, is starting a community water quality testing program throughout the watershed this May. They're currently seeking volunteers to help collect samples that will be tested for metals, chemicals, biological markers and more. More info at https://www.fishkillwatershed.org Photo by Michael Isabell: https://www.michaelisabell.com/ Beaconites is recorded at Beacon AV Lab: https://www.beaconavlab.com/
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Paulette Myers-Rich's art book collaborations
Paulette Myers-Rich has partnered with dozens of artists and writers during an accomplished career in fine art printing. In this interview we talk about many of those collaborations - including a series of books featuring Irish poets produced jointly with the Center for Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas. Paulette moved to Beacon in her fifties, choosing it in part because it visually echoed her industrial river city home of St. Paul, Minnesota. Once here, she continued to produce letterpress printed works under her imprint, Traffic Street Press, and opened the No. 3 Reading Room exhibition space. In our interview, Paulette talks about her creative partnerships with artists and writers, the setbacks of Covid, and the importance of fine art books today.
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Raising animals builds compassion, with Kim Pennock
Kim Pennock is an educator and the poultry lead at the Stony Kill educational farm and 4H club. Stony Kill has chickens, cows, sheep, rabbits and bees, with a focus on heritage breeds. Each August, its 4H youth are represented at the Dutchess County Fair, and some go on to participate in the youth livestock sale. They come away with useful skills, friendships and a commitment to raising animals ethically and humanely. In this interview, Kim discusses how 4H teaches young people about agriculture, animal husbandry, gardening, art and more. And she provides an overview of her work at Stony Kill, what children and adults experience through the educational programs there and more.
Beaconites! is a podcast about Beacon, New York and the people who live here. Interviews with artists, business owners, educators, students and other local figures provide a window on Beacon and a point of entry for listeners to get involved.
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