Beacon Dispatch

Update on the Master Plan

by Sara Pasti

Two master planning information forums were held in Beacon in December 2004 and January 2005 to set the stage for community involvement in Beacon’s upcoming Master Planning process. The impact of recent developments such as the DIA:Beacon Museum, the announcement of the Rivers & Estuaries Center to be located on Dennings Point, a large influx of new homeowners to the city and increased residential development all point to the need for a strategic plan for the future of the city. It is also important to remember and focus on the many strategic benefits Beacon has at its disposal. County planner John Clarke described Beacon as being “regionally blessed,” both ecologically, in terms of its geographic location at the crossroads of the Hudson River and Hudson Highlands, and economically, by virtue of its location at the intersection of Route 84, the NYS Thruway and Stewart Airport, across the river. He indicated the importance that Beacon will have as a regional railroad hub, connecting Metro-North Railroad passengers to other forms of transportation and to communities in all directions.

Pressing the Question

South Avenue Journalists Create Their Own Publication

By: Nate Morgan

Have you read the South Avenue News? This local newspaper, published by the students of South Avenue Elementary School, asks questions and offers information to South Avenue School students on a variety of topics. The newspaper provides these students with information on subjects ranging from jigsaw puzzles and the flu to pandas and political issues. While the articles are all written in a similar style, the topics seem to reflect the interests of each individual student journalist. Posing questions and then quickly getting to the meat of their article, the students have created a fun read.

Art, Nature, History

Forrestal Elementary School Students Create a Habitat for Learning and Link to a Vision From the Past

By: Gina Masullo

J.V. Forrestal Elementary School on Beacon’s Liberty Street is the kind of place where a student walking down any of its narrow, low-ceilinged hallways will be greeted by each teacher she passes. It’s the kind of place where the principal wanders out of his office to check on the goings-on several times a day; where, in the teacher’s lounge, staff sits together and talks about ideas for next quarter.

It’s this kind of close-knit feeling that fostered the school’s ambitious, ongoing project, The Habitat at J.V. Forrestal. With the help of local artist Thom Joyce, the entire fourth grade last year embarked on a year-long mission to research, design and create a series of bronze plaques that will be placed along pathways on the school’s extensive grounds.

A Passion For The Hudson’s Heritage

Fisheries Trust Brings the River to the People

by Nate Binzen

Look through the plate-glass window at 197 Main Street, and what you’ll see is a work in progress: a lovingly crafted, handmade 18-and-a-half foot rowboat taking shape. It’s an elegant design that would have been familiar to anyone who spent time on the shores of the Hudson River 150 years ago, when many similar “Whitehall” workboats plied the waves.

But the Hudson River shad boat under construction in the storefront home of the Hudson Fisheries Trust will be one-of-a-kind when it launches in Beacon harbor this spring. The craft is the fruit of extensive research into the history of such working boats. It is being handcrafted by master boat builder Bob Gainer and Hudson Fisheries Trust Executive Director Courtland Herbert.

East Main Mills Developers Change Architects

The developers of the abandoned East Main Mills factory space at 1 East Main St have changed architectural firms. According to Alan Marks, co-owner of the property, the decision was made last month to stop working with local architect Jay Hibbs in favor of New York City-based Liebman Melting Partners, who specialize in multi-family housing and parking facilities on small pieces of land. Hibbs is Chairman of the Beacon Planning Board.

“We were very happy with the work that Jay Hibbs did for us,” said Marks. “We will work with him again.” Hibbs has been asked to join the project as a consultant, but as of press time he hadn’t indicated if he would take the position.

Beacon Voices: Julann Cobb, Director, Wee Play Children's Park

by Michael Daecher

The voice on the other end of the phone was jubilant. It was Julann Cobb, and the Beacon Recreation Commission had just voted to fund her idea for Wee Play, the first playground in Beacon for children under 6. It’s been a long time coming. Beacon has several playgrounds for older kids, but none for toddlers. If you’re a parent with young kids, the closest option is in Cold Spring at the Tiny Tots Play Park. This is where I met Julann, her husband John, and their two sons, Ethan, 12, and Miles, 19 months. I recently sat down with her at her home in Beacon to talk about Wee Play, how she made the decision to get involved, and why New Jersey sand is superior to sand from Long Island.