Beacon Dispatch

Dean Supporters Focus on Getting Out the Vote

There will be no monthly Dean Meetup in Beacon this week. Instead, some local Dean supporters have turned their attention to forming alliances with other local organizations to get out the vote in November. In a recent email to supporters, Howard Dean did not back Ralph Nader, instead asking his supporters to support the eventual Democratic nominee. He's also encouraging local Meetups to continue, in part to raise money to eliminate campaign debt, but also to support local candidates who share his vision.

While I have to take issue with Dean asking for more money to help pay off debt (they burned through $40 million like a crew of drunken sailors, why should I give more?), I have to support the effort to get every last registered Democrat into the voting booth in November. This election is going to be decided by voter turnout (hence Bush's appeal to his base with the ban on gay marriage), so the Dean network could play a crucial role. Let's hope the local Meetups come back, even without Howard Dean, to help everyone stay foused on the real goal in November...

A Cross or a Smudge?

It takes a day like Ash Wednesday to realize how many Catholics you're around at any given time. Every year I'm surprised at how many smudged foreheads I see. I haven't been to Mass in years, but I'd insist that my priest give me a proper cross on my dome. Note to Vatican: Please send a memo to your priests instructing them on the proper art of ash annointments, eh?

photo copyright Augusta Chronicle

Pete Seeger & The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The Tokens' version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" has been a personal favorite since I was in high school. Now it's my 3-year-old son, Ben's top request. Little did I know that local resident, and folk legend, Pete Seeger was responsible for making the song a hit with his group The Weavers in 1952. According to The Kingston Trio Liner Notes, Seeger and Alan Lomax first heard the song as part of a collection of 78's from South Africa, and immediatly fell in love with it. Originally known as "Mbube" (Zulu for "The Lion"), the song was written by Zulu singer Solomon Linda, who recorded it with his vocal group, the Evening Birds, in a studio in South Africa in 1939. In addition to The Weavers, The Kinston Trio recorded versions of the song, and finally, The Tokens, made it a hit in 1961.

Thr original Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds recording of "Mbube" can be heard on the Rounder CD, "Crocodiles, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Solomon Linda & The Evening Birds & Others: Mbube Roots--Zulu Choral Music from South Africa, 1930s-1960s".

Endeavour to respond urgently...

So a few weeks ago I placed an ad in the the Beacon Free Press and Pennysaver to sell my Jeep. I've had two responses that are bizarrely similar, and I'm trying to figure out what the scam is. The first was from an allegedly deaf person, so the phone operator had to mediate, typing what I had to say and reading his responses. He wanted to send me a certified check for $5000 (I'm asking $2100), and asked me to cash the check and give the difference to a "handler" who would come and pick up the Jeep. The extra money would be used to ship my Jeep and several other vehicles to an undisclosed international location. I declined the offer. Then, I got this in my email box from Pennysaver.com:

Hello, I am Engr Slimgee from New zealand, i saw your advert while i was surfing on the internet so i come about your advert car forsale so i was intrested in buying it for my personal use so pls get back to me with your last price and let me know if you are willing to sell to sell it to New zealand cos i am willing to handle the shippment my self. Endeavour to respond urgently to let me know if it is still available for sale.Expecting your soonest reply with your last price and let me know if you are okay with a cashier's check. Thanks and regards, Engr Slimgee....

Clearly this is a scam. But of what kind? Would I be helping some gangster launder money via the certified check? Would they show up at my door demanding all the money, but not take the car? I'm certainly not going to give them the keys to the car until I have cash in hand. What's the deal here?

New Outdoor Outfitter Opens in Beacon

In case you haven't noticed, the old costume warehouse on the corner of 9D & Beekman Ave is now home to Hudson Valley Pack & Paddle. Yesterday I visited the store and spent a few minutes looking around. They have a huge selection of paddling and hiking gear, though I wish they had more hiking boots to choose from (they're only stocking 2 models of Asolos right now.) But this is a really good alternative to EMS, and it's right in your back yard! They're still weighing the options as far as renting out cayaks to individuals, but they do plenty of organized tours. Reason #47 to look forward to Spring...

New Gallery: On the Commute

Over the past few months I've been taking some pictures on the commute to/from work on the MTA. See more here.

Beacon is Bumpin'!

I just got back from a spin down Main Street, and it's positively abuzz! Maybe it's the first weekend day above 40 degrees, or the opening of the Rivers & Estuaries center. Either way, I got a pound of coffee at Cthonic Clash, checked out the latest show at the Van Brunt gallery, and inhaled a smoothy at Juicy (where I hear you can also get excellent sandwiches), and every place I walked by was bustling with activity. Can't wait until Spring, Bandini...

Second Saturday; Opening of Rivers & Estuaries HQ

It's a beautifuil day for Second Saturday. Lots going on around town. In addition to The Mammals playing at 7pm at the Cthonic Clash Coffee House, there's an open house for the opening of the Rivers & Estuaries headquarters from 10-6 today at 199 Main Street. The opening features an exhibit by photographer Joseph Squillante: The Hudson River: A Visual Voyage.

Gun Locks for Kids; Police Dogs as X-ing Guards

A couple of items caught my eye in the latest edition of the Beacon Free Press. First, the headline "Police offer gun locks, bicycle helmets for kids". Says BPD Sergeant Brian Sewing, "This is just a sensible and easy way for the police department to assist anyone who needs a gun lock." Reporter Tyese Leavers describes the scene:

"Less than a stone's throw away from the gun locks, a large box filled with bicycle helmets sits in the lobby of police headquarters."

Are guns so ubiquitous in our town that we're handing out gun locks to our kids to keep them safe? I think not.

Meanwhile, concerned citizen Susan Clary writes a letter to the editor in which she applaudes Beacon's police dogs for doing a job usually reserved for Boy Scouts:

"During the week of January 25...I spotted the four K-9 officers and dogs walking down Main Street...As all four dogs remained flawlessly in a down-stay position, one of the officers escorted and crossed an elderly woman across the street! It was great to witness this training exercise that the dogs were given. As a property owner I am extremely pleased to see my tax dollars spent to keep all four K-9 dogs on the Beacon Police force!"

Now, I'm all for helping the elderly cross the street, but that's something we can probably accomplish without the supervision of drug-sniffing police dogs.

Frozen Waterfall at Madame Brett Park