Beacon Dispatch

Don't Forget Beacon Farmer's Market

Every Sunday from 10am - 2pm you'll find fresh fruits and vegetables, bread and baked goods, potted plants, fresh flowers, hand-made artisanal cheese, wine, meats, and other goodies from around the Hudson Valley at the Beacon Farmer's Market. You'll find the market at Veteran's Plaza, next to the Main Street Post Office, and parking is free of charge. The market is held come rain or shine, so come down and get a taste of the Hudson Valley's finest.

August Issue of Beacon Dispatch to Hit Newsstands

The second issue of the Beacon Dispatch newspaper will be available at newsstands, book stores, and coffee shops around Beacon on Monday. This month's issue features a whole new look and feel, courtesy of Randall Martin Design. Inside you'll find an update on Bulldog Studios, the artists cooperative housed in the old Beacon High School; an interview with Patrick Freeman, Director of the University Settlement Camp; a report on Common Grounds Farm; the first in a series of favorite hiking routes; and an up-to-date events calendar, which you can also find here on the Dispatch Online.

As always, the Dispatch is free of charge, all of which is made possible by the generous support we've received from local merchants and businesses. Before you head out to Route 9 for your shopping, be sure you take a look at the local shops first!

Clean Water Advocate Finishes 8-Week, 315-Mile Swim Down Hudson River

Yesterday Chris Swain became the first person to swim the full 315 miles of the Hudon River, from its origins at Lake Tear of Clouds in the Adirondacks, to its end at the Verrazano Bridge. The goal of the swim is a pristine Hudson River, a river that is drinkable all the way to Troy, and swimmable all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, every day of the year. Along the way, Swain met with families, local schools, community organizations, farmers, environmental groups, and community leaders during the swim to hear their stories and suggest actions they could take to protect the river.

That's all well and good, but what really caught my attention from the press release was this: "Swain swam through everything from Class IV rapids to pesticides to raw sewage before stroking past Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and out into the Atlantic Ocean today."

Brave guy. Too bad we didn't get a chance to chat with him when he passed Beacon...

8 Days 'til Liftoff

New and improved! (Wait, wasn't the last issue new too?)

We're currently working on the final edits for the August issue of the Beacon Dispatch, which will be on newsstands by Sunday August 1. Needless to say we're very proud! The latest issue will, thanks to the layout work of Randall Martin Design, be more than twice the size, double the pages, and visually beautiful. We can't wait to get the latest issue into your hands and we greatly appreciate the support we've felt from the entire community!

Enjoy!

Gosh darn! Waterslides are fun!

If you're looking for a break from the dog days of summer, Splashdown Water Park in Fishkill is a great little water park. Good for kids and adults, the water is not too heavily chlorinated, the lines aren't too long, especially if you avoid the day camps and go on the weekend, and the three biggest slides are a real gas. The park is open every day from 10am - 7pm, from June 12 to Labor Day. Admission is a bit pricey, but the day you spend in the water will be well worth it.

Adults & Children over 46" -- $20.95
Children 36"- 46" -- $16.95
Under 36" -- $ 9.50
Infants FREE

Great Newburgh to Beacon Swim

Want to raise money for a worthy cause and prove you're fit as a steam-driven ferry? On August 15, you can swim the one-mile (about 72 pool lengths) from Newburgh to Beacon to help raise money for the River Pool at Beacon, a wood-framed pool that would sit in the Hudson River and be open to the public.

Swimmers will gather in Newburgh at 8:00 on the 15th, and start swimming at 8:30. Each volunteer is asked to raise $100 from friends and family to sponsor the swim. As they say in their press release, "That is $10 from 10 folks! If you raise more—great." The contribution is tax deductible. August 2 is the registration deadline. In addition there is a $35.00 application fee, to help cover mailing costs and give each swimmer an “I swam across the Hudson River!!” T-shirt.

According to the release, "we'll have the US Coast Guard Auxiliary on hand. The channel has been closed to traffic for the duration of the swim. We'll have a flotilla of kayaks and other boats available as safety vessels. And when your reach Beacon—the annual Beacon Sloop Club Sweet Corn festival at the Riverfront Park will be in full swing. This will include music, food and more information about their efforts to create a prototype of a swimming pool that we hope to see replicated up and down the Hudson River.

Much of the Hudson River is clean enough to swim in and we are working to keep it that way."

The event is limited to 100 swimmers maximum, so contact Karen Frillman at 845-838-0691 asap if you're interested.

Mayor to Transfer Powers to City Administrator?

Below is a bulletin announcing a public hearing on Monday, July 19 to determine whether Mayor Gould will transfer supervision of all city departments to an unelected official. Seems like a bad idea to me.

CITY OF BEACON
CITY COUNCIL
 
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
 
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the City Council of the City of Beacon will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 19, 2004 at the City of Beacon Municipal Center, One Municipal Plaza, Beacon, New York at 7:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter is reached on the agenda, to consider a proposed local law amending Section 3.02 B.a. of the Beacon City Charter entitled “City Administrator” to read as follows:
 
B.    The City Administrator shall, as directed by the Mayor:
a.      Supervise the operations of all departments and units of city government. As the Supervisor of all department heads, the City Administrator has the authority to discipline any department head for cause up to but not including termination.
 
The local law would take effect immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State. Complete copies of the proposed local law are available at the Municipal Center for inspection during regular business hours.
 
All interested persons and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposals at the date, time and place aforesaid.  
 
                                                                                               By order of the City Council,
                                                                                               Carla P. Eylers, City Clerk
Dated: July 8, 2004

Red or Blue -- Which Are You?

Check out this quiz from Slate.com:

"If you're a blue-stater, you might happen to have learned how often Rush Limbaugh is on the air, but if you're a red-stater, chances are you know it off the top of your head. That instinctual knowledge is what this quiz intends to judge, not how smart you are about the other side. And there are many people who are purple—neither red nor blue, or both red and blue."

Hudson Valley Fringe Festival Kicks Off Here in Beacon

The first Hudson Valley Fringe Festival runs through July 11 at the theater at the University Settlement. Performances include two full-length productions (a retelling of the Canterbury Tale "The Gypsy Wife" and an absurdist comedy "Ed the Fourth,"), one-woman shows, one-acts and shows for the family. Tickets are $12, a 5-pack is $50. Reservations are suggested. For tickets, schedules and reservations, call 914-962-3431. For questions or to volunteer, send email to HudsonValleyFringeFestival@hotmail.com.

July 4 Fireworks at Riverfront Park

From the City of Beacon Web site:

Bussing-start at 6:30 pm
from High School, Rombout, Memorial Park, & behind P.O.
Drop off/pick up River & W. Main
Handicapped parking-W side of Metro N.