Beacon Dispatch

Hat Parade a Hit

Saturday's Hat Parade brought out quite a crowd and hats ranging from basic baseball caps to the absolutely outrageous.

Look here for more photos.

Hat parade today at 11:30

Be sure to check out the Hat Parade today at 11:30. The parade starts at the west end of Main Street and continues down through the east end. You can see some photos of last year's parade here.

If it rains, the parade will happen tomorrow at 1. See the BACA site for more details of the day's festivities...

Special School Board Meeting Set for Tonight

The Beacon School Board has a special public meeting planned for 8:30 this evening at the High School. Up for discussion are whether or not cuts should be made to the budget and what, if any, services should be eliminated in the 2006-7 school year and whether or not the budget should be put to a second vote sometime in June.

To put this into some kind of perspective, as of this year with a budget that passed last May, the district elementary schools had to make cutbacks and share several teachers between schools. Phys Ed., Instrumental, and Choral Music teachers have spent the year rotating between all the elementary schools. During the last school year these same teachers were working full-time at one district school, giving students more comprehensive Phys Ed. and Music educations.

Debate over school taxes

Over at the Beacon, NY discussion board, folks are discussing today's editorial in the Poughkeepsie Journal about the shellacking (sp?) school budgets took in yesterday's elections. According to PoJo, Dutchess County had the highest rate of rejection in the state. Here's a snippet of one comment:

"School spending is increasing close to 10% in this years budget but yet none of that is going into new programs for students. The new spending is almost exclusively needed to pay for the increased cost of benefits and pensions for teachers. The Journal is correct in that local school boards need to negotiate contracts that will increase the amount that teachers are asked to contribute for the cost of their benefits. They are also correct in that the Pension system needs reform and action needs to be taken in Albany to bring that about. Teachers need to be asked to contribute more across the board for the cost of their pensions and benefits. As stated in the editorial this morning those of us who work in the private sector are already contributing heavily to support our benefits and pensions and certainly at a level that far exceeds the level of contribution by teachers. The union leadership and in particular NYSUT does not want to hear this and will turn a deaf ear to this argument but they have to face the reality of the times. Taxpayers can no longer afford the luxury of generous benefit and pension packages for teachers."

School Budget Sent Packing

Howland Library's Budget Voted Down as Well

Yesterday's school budget was defeated by a 13% margin (1399 No votes to 1077 Yes votes). Beacon residents also voted down the district's appropriation of funds for new buses.

The Howland Public Library, which was asking for a reasonably small 3.5% increase over last year's budget, was voted down by a 25% margin. (1521 No votes to 921 Yes votes.)

All running school and library board members were voted into office as there were only enough candidates running to fill the empty seats.

Percentages have been rounded.

The "Actor-vist" Gets An Obie

Edwin Lee Gibson Recieves Award for his Role in The Seven

Take a look at the cover of the latest Village Voice and what you'll see is the visage of Beacon's own Edwin Lee Gibson. Gibson, who we featured as a Beacon Voice a few months ago, received a great review in the NY Times and has how received an Obie for his performance in Will Power's The Seven. The Obies are awards that honor performances in Off-Broadway productions.

Congratulations Edwin! You've done us proud.

Read the VV article and see Edwin receiving the award here.

Video of East Main Street demolition

Found on YouTube.com...

Is Spitzer playing politics with the Beacon Institute?

Dan Shapley has an interesting piece in today's Poughkeepsie Journal about the Beacon Institute. When asked about state support for the Beacon Institute (formerly known as the Rivers & Estuaries Center), a spokesperson for Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer said:

"Attorney General Spitzer has been a strong advocate for cleaning up the Hudson River and will be evaluating the various tools that the state can use to ensure a cleaner, more vibrant river for the future. Many existing organizations are currently doing essential research on the Hudson River and we will evaluate whether or not money should be appropriated to the Beacon Institute as we would with any other state spending. The key thing is that there be accountability and transparency if state dollars are being used."

Not exactly a strong endorsement. Could this mean an end to eight years of state support Beacon has enjoyed under George Pataki? Will the Democrat, Spitzer, see the Beacon Institute as political pork in a traditionally Republican county?

Court Dismisses Sassi, Jr. Defamation Claim

But states that COB nepotism law is invalid for civil service positions and may be invalid in other instances as well

The Federal Court for the Southern District of New York has dismissed Richard Sassi, Jr.'s defamation claim stating that, in the context of the complaint, the claim had no merit. At the same time Judge Brieant stated that the City's nepotism law was invalid with regard to civil service positions and that the law may be invalid in other instances as well.

Richard Sassi, Jr's suit alleged that Councilman Kyriacou conspired with the Mayor, City Administrator, and all members of the City Council to terminate his father's employment with the City and, failing in that effort, created a new nepotism law in order to, "...retaliate against the Plaintiff by prohibiting his promotion within the Police Department so long as his father remained the Chief of Police." The suit also stated that the sole target of the new nepotism law was Richard Sassi, Jr., and that, on various occasions, Councilman Kyriacou attempted to defame Sassi, Jr. with the intent of harming his police career.

The judge ruled that, while the nepotism law was invalid, the Council, with regard to statements made about Sassi, Jr., was, "...acting within its legislative function...," and that Sassi, Jr. is not entitled to any monetary compensation from any of the council members, the Mayor, administrator, or the City as a result of their actions. But the judge’s ruling does state that Sassi Jr.’s claims are still valid with regard to the nepotism law itself, which may, at some future point, require the nepotism law to be rescinded.

Court's ruling available here.

Thanks to TDH for untangling the legalese.

People Powered Plowing

This past Saturday the Stony Kill Foundation and the Hudson Valley Draft Horse Association sponsored a day of farming to remind us what life was like before there were tractors. It was quite a spectacle -- I never knew mules were so huge. And apparently not so bright -- but I guess you don't have to be to pull a plow in a straight line. Check out this photo gallery for some shots of the day.

Two New Lawsuits Filed Against City

Latest suits highlight animosity between police and City officials

by Jeffery Battersby

On March 3, 2006 and March 17, 2006 Beacon residents Sandra Tabone and Shannon and Manley Finch filed two separate lawsuits against the City of Beacon and City Administrator Joseph Braun. In the suits, the plaintiffs allege that Braun and the City of Beacon issued memos that, “…purposefully and effectively deprived Plaintiffs, their family and members of their household of all police emergency services, leaving them at personal risk as potential victims of crime, as potential subjects of medical emergencies, and… as resident/citizens who potentially will require but be denied other police and/or emergency services.”

These two suits are the 7th and 8th to be filed against the City of Beacon that have a direct tie to the Beacon Police Department. They also highlight the combative nature of the relationship between the Chief of Police, Richard Sassi, Sr. and City Administrator Joseph Braun, underscoring the effect this relationship may be having on the citizens of this community. All of these suits are ultimately being fought at the taxpayer’s expense.

Download related documents here:

• Braun / Sassi Memos
• Tabone Complaint
• Finch Complaint

Editorial: All Politics Are Local

So many thoughts go through your head on a typical day in Beacon. Why are we still at war in Iraq? What happens if the price of oil goes too high? Why are school taxes going up? Is the police chief good for Beacon? Who is accountable? And none of these questions have simple answers.

Bruce Springsteen just released an album of Pete Seeger covers, and one of the songs is an Irish anti-war ballad first written in 1815. In it a son comes back from war with his two legs missing. His mother laments the loss of her son wailing:

"All foreign wars I do proclaim
Live on blood and
a mother's pain
I'd rather have my son
as he used to be
Than the King of America
And his whole Navy!"

This song is just one example of the songs that Pete Seeger continues to sing at elementary schools, river festivals, and other gatherings around Beacon.

School Budget and Library Vote Set for May 16th

Proposed school budget marks an 8.87% increase over last year’s double-digit increase

by Jeffery Battersby

After last year’s double-digit tax increase for the 2005-6 school year, the City of Beacon School District, for 2006-7, is proposing a budget increase of 8.87% or roughly $3.97 million dollars over the last school year. The new budget sees a $535,000 increase in administration expenditures, a $935,000 increase in capital expenditures, and nearly $2.5 million in instructional expenditures. As a percentage increase year-over-year, administrative expenses in the new budget will increase 13.32%, capital expenses will increase 12.74%, and instructional expenses will increase 7.49%. A separate item on the ballot this year will be a referendum for the purchase of a bus, which, if passed, would add an additional $75,000 to the budget.

Beacon Voices: Irina Mozyleva, Opera Singer

by Michael Daecher

The first time I saw Irina Mozyleva sing was a few years ago at the Alagash coffee house on Main Street here in Beacon. A friend and I saw her perform a recital of traditional Russian folk songs for an audience of about 25-30 people. I could fit the amount I know about opera into a Dixie cup, but talent like hers moves you fundamentally. As comfortable covering American musical numbers as she is belting out Shostakovich, Irina has made Beacon her home.

Over the next few months she’s planning several performances as part of her “History Through Song” series, the first of which will be on Saturday, May 7, at the Howland Cultural Center. It seems fitting that Beacon, which has become home to so many great visual artists, can also accommodate great musical talent. The Howland Center has become one of Irina’s favorite places to perform in the world. The songs she chooses to perform tell the story of her life growing up in Russia and also reflect her experience as an American immigrant. As an independent artist Irena has found a way to balance her work with her family, which includes her husband, architect Aryeh Siegel, and their 7-year-old daughter Lia. In articulate but heavily accented English, she tells an extraordinary story of growing up in the Soviet Union and making her way to America through song. 

Book Review: The $64 Tomato

How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune,and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden

by Meredith Heuer

I opened William Alexander’s $64 Tomato reluctantly.  After finally purchasing my first home, I was about to achieve my long held dream of having my own little patch and I was afraid that this garden memoir that concludes how incredibly unprofitable a home garden can be would squash some of my enthusiasm.  On the other hand, I had to know.  My desire to grow my own food was for purely financial reasons; I liked the idea of growing organic, watching the whole process and being able to teach my son where food comes from, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain if it saved me a few dollars along the way.  Both afraid and intrigued, I took a peak.

Beacon Police Blotter

edited by Michael Daecher

This month’s police blotter covers the period of March 25 to April 23. During the month the Beacon Police Department responded to 1164 total calls, 229 of which were traffic stops. A total of 63 arrests were made.

Why is the blotter edited? Why not show all calls?

The blotter has to be transcribed by hand, so only the calls that are relevant to the greatest amount of people are reported. For instance, traffic stops are not detailed, nor are false alarms or car accidents.

What’s the difference between larceny, burglary, and robbery?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, larceny is the unlawful taking of personal property with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently; burglary is the act of breaking and entering a dwelling at night to commit a felony (as theft); and robbery is larceny from the person or presence of another by violence or threat.

Date    Location    Type of Call
3/25/06    Delavan Ave    Burglary
3/25/06    Dennings Point    Criminal Mischief
3/26/06    Rombout Ave    Criminal Mischief
3/26/06    Wodenethe Dr    Larceny

Spring Means Fresh Produce

Recipes for a perfect lunch or dinner

by Bruce Beaty

Spring is my favorite season for cooking, if only for the arrival of beautiful, bright new produce after the long winter drought of verdant goodies. It's out with root vegetables, slow-braises and stews, and in with lighter, cleaner flavors, and simpler cooking. There is an old Italian adage that goes, "Prudent shopping is 80% of a good meal." Sage advice for any time of year. There is no greater charm to the advent of spring than the display of English peas, artichokes, ramps, rhubarb and of course, regal asparagus in the market.

But Spring is a fickle gal, and one warm, sun-bathed day can give way to a string of cold, blustery days that can delay the arrival, compromise the quality and raise the price of these long-awaited vegetables. It's often best not to jump the gun when buying spring's first offerings. As the season progresses, quality increases, more locally grown produce is available, and prices drop.

Highland Wanderer: Adriatic Sea Expedition

by Ray Fusco & Shane Braddock

Shane Braddock is an Australian of Croatian descent and he would be my partner on the first ever unsupported crossing of the Adriatic Sea by kayak.  Our friendship stems back several years ago when Shane and I guided sea kayak trips together in the New York harbor.  I had vacation time and wanted to paddle with a friend in a beautiful foreign land.  I chose Croatia because my friend Shane lived in Split, Croatia.  After several emails and telephone calls my simple vacation turned into a real expedition and would take us on a wonderful journey.

May Issue of Dispatch on the Streets

The first Saturday of the month came late in May, but the latest issue is finally available at finer locations around town. This month we feature opera singer and Beacon resident Irina Mozyleva, provide copies of the documents at the heart of recent BPD lawsuits, and welcome a new writer to the Dispatch: Bruce Beaty, Executive Chef of Le Madeleine in Manhattan, will be sharing his expertise every month in the recipe column. Bon appetit!

City Wide Garage Sale May 13

The City of Beacon Recreation Department is organizing a city-wide yard sale for Saturday, May 13.  Organizers say this event will save people the hassle of setting up yardsales and publicizing on their own. It will also give shoppers the ability to see a wider variety of goods in one location.

To participate in the city-wide yard sale, sellers will pay a $10.00 listing fee to be included on the sale map.  The fees collected will be put towards advertising the event.  Maps will be available free of charge on the day of the sale at various locations throughout the city.

Sellers may sign up to include their yard sale on the map at City Hall or by contacting Beacon Recreation at 838-5024, or email beaconrecreation@yahoo.com. The deadline for listing is Wednesday, May 10.

Continued Wrangling Between City Hall and PD

During latest hearing, Administrator Braun accuses Chief Sassi of insubordination, misconduct, and incompetence

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports today that in a hearing yesterday, City of Beacon Chief of Police Richard Sassi, Sr., has not complied with recommendations set down in a Department of Justice report last year. Chief Sassi claims that the City has not provided the legal guidance or financial resources to be able to comply with the DOJ directives. Sassi states simply that the City, "...want(s) me out, and they're willing to try to destroy the department to get me out."