HUDSON VALLEY — It’s been 30 years since she first donned that red nose, and Jackie Reynolds — best known as “Bee Bee the Clown” — said she’s been blessed and honored to have a career spanning three decades that’s brought happiness to so many throughout the Hudson Valley.
From Sunday, Aug. 1, through Saturday, Aug. 7, area residents will be seeing even more of Bee Bee, as she embarks on a multi-stop tour around the region to celebrate both her anniversary and International Clown Week.
A resident of Milan, Reynolds left her career as a chemical engineer at Polaroid and was staying at home with her three small children when the idea for Bee Bee first developed.
As her children grew, Reynolds said she wanted a job that balanced the responsibilities of motherhood and was fun. At the time, she was volunteering on the Milan Recreation Committee, hosting Easter, Christmas and Halloween parties.
Between her committee work, her organizational and communication skills, Reynolds said she realized as an entertainer she could have control of her schedule. As surprising as it seemed, she said becoming a clown was a natural choice for her — thus, Bee Bee was born.
“I always think that Bee Bee the Clown is just a little bit more of who I am,” Reynolds said, “because I don’t change my own personality but I have the liberty of just being, I’d say, more exuberant or more of who I am because it’s not different from who I am… I think it gives me the liberty to be brave in approaching life.”
Throughout the last three decades, Reynolds has entertained countless children — and their parents — with her clowning around, magic tricks, ventriloquism and balloon artistry.
Much of that time was spent at the Amenia Free Library, where she entertained hundreds of young children over the years. Former Library Director Miriam Devine was an ardent supporter who often engaged Bee Bee in her programming.
“Miriam was very instrumental in my work in the Amenia area,” remembered Reynolds.
Asked how she keeps her act fresh after 30 years, she said her secret is being authentic.
“Even if I’ve done the same performance material, each time [I] present it, it’s new,” she said.
She also learns new skills for her acts. Just recently, she learned to juggle clubs for a funny drop routine she wants to try.
When asked if she has a favorite type of crowd, Reynolds said she enjoys when audience members are of “a cynical age” — which can range from children age 10 up to grandfathers — and she appreciates those who consider her act a success.
One of her proudest moments occurred when both her sons invited her to entertain them and their friends at college.
With International Clown Week on the horizon, Reynolds will be touring the Hudson Valley — including Milan, Red Hook, Germantown, Pine Plains and Poughkeepsie. She’s also traveling to Maryland. She’s ordered more than 100 dozen clown noses to give away on her stops, which can be found online at www.beebeetheclown.com.
As she takes part in this celebration, Reynolds will gather fan photos to create a memory album. The album will be submitted for the “best album” honor, also known as the Clowns Have A Real Love in Everyone (CHARLIE) Award, which will awarded by Clowns of America International next year.
“It’s sort of a surprise blessing,” Reynolds said of her lengthy career. “I did not grow up to be a clown. I did not expect that this was what I was going to do, but I am more than blessed and honored that this is what I am doing… It’s an intangible career but incredibly valuable in the joy that it brings.”
AMENIA — The first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School went smoothly, with teachers enthusiastically greeting the eager young students disembarking from buses. Excitement was measurable, with only a few tears from parents, but school began anyway.
Ready for her first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Webutuck Elementary School, Liliana Cawley, 7, would soon join her second grade class, but first she posed for a photo to mark the occasion.Photo by Leila Hawken
AMENIA — While the courage and perseverance of Revolutionary era patriots is well understood and celebrated, the stories of the fate of British loyalists in New York are not as clear.
Seen as the initial event in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Amenia Historical Society will present a talk titled, “The Plight of a Loyalist in Revolutionary New York,” examining the journal of Cadwallader Colden, Jr., spanning the period of 1777-1779. The speaker will be noted author, genealogist and historian Jay Campbell.
The talk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Presbyterian Church in Amenia. The handicapped-accessible church is located at 656 Smithfield Valley Road. Refreshments will be served.
Colden was the son of a New York Lieutenant Governor. He was a surveyor, farmer and mercantilist, serving as a judge in Ulster County. His fortunes changed dramatically with the dawn of the Revolutionary War when he remained loyal to the British Crown. His arrest came in 1776, just before the start of his journal.
Campbell is a historian specializing in Hudson Valley history, and the regional stories of Revolutionary era families.
Erin Rollins of Millbrook in the Fashion Feed booth, open year round, at the Millbrook Antiques Mall. All proceeds from Fashion Feeds go to the Food of Life Pantry. As an interior designer by trade, Rollins designed this booth to evoke a high-end department store to align with the designer brands she carries.
MILLERTON — The Townscape 50/50 raffle drawing has collected a pot of more than $7,000.
That raffle drawing will take place this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Veteran’s Park. The moment is not just about picking a winner, but also about reflecting on how far Townscape has come since its humble beginnings in 1998, when founder Catherine Fenn — alongside Renee Vollen and Jan Gilmor — first set out to beautify her beloved village.
Fenn’s connection to Millerton runs deep. “I moved here from the Bronx when I was eight years old and fell in love with the place, even as a child,” she recalled, remembering camping trips at Rudd Pond and enjoying the quiet pace of life.
At 15, her family relocated to southern Connecticut. “My dad didn’t think there was much here for us, so we moved. I left kicking and screaming, literally, and I said, ‘Someday I’m coming back.’”
Years later, after marrying, divorcing, and raising children, Fenn kept that promise. She returned to Millerton and married a childhood friend who was very involved in the fire department. After his passing, Fenn threw herself into her own way of giving back.
“I care about this village deeply. Townscape is my way of helping Millerton be the best it can be,” she said.
What began as an informal effort to gather volunteers and plant flowers eventually blossomed into something larger. “We started with flowers up and down Main Street — barrels of them everywhere. Then it grew into benches, tables, trees and even events. It was such a fun world, a really wonderful organization with so many people involved.”
Fenn’s service to the community extends beyond beautification. She spent roughly two decades on the Planning Board, served as Town Supervisor and worked with the county housing authority. Still, her passion for flowers, trees and landscapes has left the most visible mark on Millerton — shaping not only how the village looks, but how it feels.
In 2006, Townscape became a nonprofit organization. But beautification, Fenn admits, isn’t always the easiest cause to fund. “We’re just putting flowers out — and I shouldn’t say ‘just,’ because to me it’s really important. The trees, the benches, all of it matters. But it’s not high on most people’s list when they think about charitable donations. Still, people have been wonderfully generous over the years.”
This Saturday’s raffle drawing is one way neighbors can show their support. The winner does not have to be present to claim the prize, but those who stop by can enjoy cookies, lemonade and artwork by local creators on display in the park.
MILLBROOK — Local crows should prepare to become highly spooked as planners of Millbrook Community Day, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 20, have announced that a Scarecrow Contest will be part of the festivities.
Residents are invited to get creative and devise their own renditions of a scarecrow from traditional to whatever imagination might come up with.
Judging criteria will include creativity, including originality, new ideas, or perhaps whether the scarecrow tells a story. Design criteria include the creator’s technique, materials — recycled materials are emphatically a plus — and durability.
Rules include that scarecrows be free-standing, able to stand on their own or with minimal support. No scarecrow can be store-bought. Entries must be able to fit within a 6 x 6 foot space once assembled. A stand is available upon request. Scarecrows must be non-political, family friendly, and in a good-natured spirit.
Entrants are responsible for set-up, scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. on Sept. 20, location to be assigned the week before. Judging will begin at 1 p.m. Winners will be announced at 2 p.m.
For more information and to register to participate, email mba@millbrooknewyork.com or go to www.millbrooknewyork.com/community-day-2025
