Beacon Dispatch

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.