Beaconites!

Sergio is a teacher, artist, drummer and parent to two young kids. He talks about coming down with COVID-19 and life under lockdown. 

Barbara Fisher is the owner and operator of Barb’s Butchery, a local butcher shop that sources all its meat from local producers within about 60 miles of Beacon. Barb's is reopening this Friday after shutting down during the first phase of the COVID-19. 

Lifelong gardener Cary Baker shares her horticultural experiences and the challenge of running a garden design business during a virus outbreak. And she offers advice and tips for Beacon's amateur gardeners, including local sources for seeds, vegetable starts and berry bushes.   

Robert Rodriguez Jr is a photographer and teacher whose landscapes of the Hudson Valley have appeared in the New York Times and been featured by Scenic Hudson. He talks about Hudson Valley light and weather and his creative mindset. 

Dara Silverman is the organizer of Mutual Aid Beacon, a decentralized network of volunteers who are helping people in need during the coronavirus outbreak. These folks (250 and counting) are delivering groceries, running errands, providing emotional support and assembling neighborhood pods to care for those Beaconites who are struggling as the shutdown grinds on into its second month. 

Beacon's kids are hugely affected by the outbreak. Being home all the time is a fun escape for some and a heartbreak for others, especially those with an uncertain or dangerous situation at home. Superintendent Matt Landahl talks about what the schools are doing to support students and what the coronavirus impact could mean for the district long-term. 

Lee Kyriacou has lived in Beacon almost 30 years and served nine terms on the city council. He started his first term as mayor in January, just before the coronavirus brought one of the greatest challenges the city has faced in recent memory.

Food security is a big concern in Beacon right now, with sudden unemployment and social isolation. In this episode Kara Dean-Assael and Karen George talk about how their non-profit Fareground Community Kitchen is getting healthy and affordable meals to people in need.  

A word from Jonny Taylor of Beacon AV Lab on how we plan to keep producing Beaconites! during this season of social distancing. 

Kamel Jamal owns three restaurants in Beacon - Tito Santana, Ziatun and Beacon Bread Company - as well as Angelina’s in Cold Spring. He is trying to keep some of his places open for curb service during the Coronavirus, even as the state bans on-premise food service.