As sculptor and the creator of Beacon’s whimsical holiday icons Ed Benavente has said, “Bicycles, like communities, are powered by people.” Thank you, Ed, for your dedication and generosity of spirit that makes it all possible. Your bicycle Christmas tree, the bicycle menorah and the New Year’s Bicycle Ball Drop have given our citizens something unique and memorable to look forward to every year.
Indeed, there are so many people who made this year’s holiday light up for our community.
Thank you, Mark Price, director of the Beacon Recreation Department, the Beacon Recreation Commission and the Wee Play Community Project for once again making the bicycle Christmas tree lighting a day to remember for so many. A shout-out to our Beacon High School music department faculty members Susan Wright and Peter Head for bringing the chorus and the band and giving us the gift of music. Thank you to Yanarella School of Dance for their delightful dancing and for leading Santa to the stage. Thanks also to the Beacon Fire Department for bringing Santa to Polhill Park, the Beacon Highway Department for creating a winter wonderland, and LnJ Tech Services for ensuring we were all heard.
Special thanks to the ever-effervescent Emily Ellison for bringing such joy to the stage as the master of ceremonies as we sang in Santa. Emily also encouraged BeaconArts to “adopt” six families from the Beacon City School District, and as a result the generosity of our community provided a brighter holiday for 20 local children ages 18 months to 17 years. This is a new BeaconArts tradition we intend to continue and grow.
As we write this, the Beacon Hebrew Alliance is lighting the seventh candle of the menorah, telling the story that we can hope against all reason and sometimes, we will prevail.
As we ring in a New Year, may you all find comfort and joy in our extraordinary community, knowing that if we work together and strive to understand and celebrate our differences as well as our commonalities, we truly can prevail. Shine on, Beacon!
Dan Rigney, Beacon
Rigney is president of the board of directors of BeaconArts. The eight other members of the board also signed the letter.
