Beaconites!

Marika Blossfeldt has written two books on nutrition that are also books about living well. Her latest, "Cooking with Marika: Clean Cuisine from an Estonian Farm" provides a framework for eating wisely and maintaining gut health.

Beacon's high school theater productions are amazingly good. Program director Anthony Scarrone talks about the close community of cast, crew and families that have put on shows ranging from Peter Pan to A Chorus Line. And he describes staging Godspell against all odds in the middle of a pandemic. "It's just a beautiful show that embraces love. And it also made a statement that even in the worst of times, if you seek a way to do something, nothing is impossible."

David Ross was the director of SF MOMA, The Whitney Museum of American Art and other museums. In this episode he talks about Covid's impact on the art world, Beacon's evolving character and other topics. "I am less concerned about the art market than I am about art schools. Art schools are in real trouble right now."

John-Anthony left LA and a career in film to return to his native Hudson Valley and start up a brewing operation that has developed a passionate following.

Karen Smythe is running for New York Senate in the 41st district, challenging Sue Serino who has held the seat since 2014. She talks about health care, the economy, climate change, Black Lives Matter and other issues.

VanBuren is a five-term president of the Beacon Historical Society and current president general of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has written two books on Beacon's history and is working on a third, a collection of writings by beloved local historian Bob Murphy, who passed away recently. She talks about Bob's legacy, the dozens of "hat shops" that operated here and the incline railway.

This week, Beacon Prison Action founder Laurie Dick talks about the lives of incarcerated people at Fishkill Correctional and Green Haven Correctional. She is joined by Priscilla (last name withheld), who comes up regularly to visit her husband at Green Haven. Beacon Prison Action has resumed its program offering free transportation to the families of inmates.

The Artichoke storytelling series is preparing for the return of live shows. Organizers Drew Prochaska and John Blesso describe their addiction to storytelling, their desperate efforts to keep performing during the pandemic and what comes next.

Beacon's Green Teen program provides young people with hands-on experiences in farming and gardening, health and nutrition, and entrepreneurship. Our guests this week are Helanna Bratman, who organizes and runs Green Teen, and crew leader Jeremiah Long, who is in the 10th grade at Beacon High School.

Alyia and Meghan are the founders of Wyld Womyn Birth & Postpartum, a collective of doulas operating out of Beacon. They talk about expecting parents' changing mindsets during the pandemic and break down some common misconceptions about doulas.