Beacon Dispatch

Correction: Expanding Offline

Thanks to those of you who commented on the blog and sent well-wishes via email, but the Beacon Dispatch isn't going anywhere. We're just expanding to publish a monthly newsletter in addition to the online column. You'll still find the same updates and commentary right here at beacon.blogs.com. Stay tuned for more great things both online and off!

Going Offline

I've been working with some friends on a new print publication here in Beacon. We're still debating the name (there's nothing quite like consensus decision making), but we're leaning towards the "Beacon Dispatch", and hope to make this online column its sister publication. If all goes well, that would mean additional voices besides mine in this space, helping to cover news and events of interest to people living in, and visiting Beacon.

Our first issue is devoted to Mt. Beacon, and features a piece by Jeff Battersby, who lives on the mountain, and investigates the illegal use of ATVs and off road vehicles up there. We're also running an interview with folk legend Pete Seeger, the man responsible for Riverfront Park and promoting interest in the common good for more than 50 years. There will be poetry from local poet Philip Bramm. And we'll have an events calendar to promote council meetings, concerts, book readings, gallery openings, and anything else happening in the greater Beacon area.

From these modest beginnings we hope to create something that gives ordinary citizens like you and me the tools we need to get involved in running the town. Whether it be writing a letter to the editor, attending a city council meeting, or volunteering your time to a worthy cause, as Pete Seeger says, it will be the little things that save this world.

The "Dispatch" will be available at stores and public spaces around town, and will of course be free of charge. The first publish date will be Second Saturday, June 12. We look forward to hearing from you once you give it a read.

~ Mike Daecher

Book Reading Tonight

At 7:30, World’s End Books & Music & chThonic Clash Coffeehouse are hosting Four Hudson Valley Writers reading and talking about selected short fiction from their book, PRIMA MATERIA, Vol 3, Stories We Tell Ourselves: Writings from the Hudson Valley.

Cicadas Are the Truffles of the Insect World

So says this article in the Baltimore Sun. Somehow, I'm not ready to start munching away just yet...

2005 School Budget Passes

According to the Beacon School District Website, the increased budget for 2005 was passed in yesterday's election. Measures to add onto Rombout Middle School and purchase new school buses were also approved by Beacon voters.

Has Beacon Benefitted From the Dia?

It's one year since the opening of Dia:Beacon. Has the world famous museum helped local businesses? The Poughkeepsie Journal interviews some local merchants...

Follow the Money

Curious who the biggest political donors are in Beacon, and where their money is going? Check out the Open Secrets site, which lists the top donors in town.

You can also see who's getting the lion's share of the money...

Don't Forget to Vote Tomorrow

Polls are open from 9am to 9pm. The main item on the ballot is the approval of the 2004-05 budget for the Beacon school district, which comes in 4.6% higher than current year. The increase is needed to cover the costs of the expansion of Rombout Middle School and new school buses. So get out there and cast your vote.

Juicy Hosts Monthly Book Club

This just arrived in my Inbox, and it sounds pretty interesting. (In the interests of full disclosure, I'm working with some friends on a new publication for Beacon, which includes the Community Calendar.)

"A few words about the book club that gathers at Juicy.  It was launched by C.J. of Allagash (some of you may remember it).  After Allagash had closed, we migrated to Juicy at 502 Main Street, where the book club is still alive and well.  Our next meeting is on May 20, the book is Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake.  I realize that it may be too late for this month, but for those of you who are interested in joining in the future, here is the info. 

We usually meet monthly, on a 3rd Thursday around 7:15.  To give you an idea of what we have been reading and discussing, here is a few of the books from the past months: Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran, Journey by Moonlight by Antal Szerb, A Cool Million by Nathaniel West, Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee, Tishomingo Blues by Elmore Leonard, and Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian. 

If you are interested, stop by Juicy to find out what our read is for June.   You are welcome to join us next Thursday, May 20 at 7:15.  Also, I will be updating the book club info in the newly created Beacon Community Calendar, which will be a great help in our growing and happening community.  Hope to see you if not next week, then next month. "

Loretta Lynn's "Van Lear Rose"

Back in the early 1990's, Johnny Cash took an unexpected career turn and recorded a series of albums with Def Jam producer Rick Rubin, then best known for his work with the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Cash never sounded better. Whether he was covering Soundgarden or a folk standard, the production always took a back seat to the Man in Black. Sadly, the same can't be said of Loretta Lynn's latest, "Van Lear Rose."

Lynn's latest album is produced by Jack White of the White Stripes, one of most electrifying rock bands in recent memory. White's intentions may have been in the right place, but he makes an unforgivable mistake: on songs like "Have Mercy" and "Mrs. Leroy Brown", he lets the music and production overwhelm the vocals. The result: moments of brilliance, with some annoying distractions in between.

I'd really like to know how Lynn feels about this record. I can understand how she'd want a more contemporary sound – Nashville is not known for its experimental ways, and she's certainly earned the right to go in a new direction. But the percussion on a number of these tracks is simply too high in the mix. When a solid pedal steel solo is needed, we get a feedback soaked guitar instead. It often feels like a White Stripes record with Loretta Lynn on guest vocals.

There are some incredible songs on this album – enough to recommend it. But I'd love to give Lynn another shot at recording these tunes with a producer who knows how to feature talent like Lynn's at the expense of his own ego.