Beer Blotter: Week of August 30, 2009
Amsterdam lets “beer bike” ride on
The beer bike will ride on in Amsterdam.
The outsized bikes, seating groups of people around a central bar, are something of a fixture in the city’s centre. But two accidents within two months prompted the city councillor responsible for transport to launch an investigation in June.
Following that review the city has decided to allow the bikes to carry on riding, a city spokesman said today.
They will, however, need permits from the various city boroughs, and those permits are likely to come with restrictions on hours of operation and requirements for a sober driver.
While non-drinkers already typically steer the bikes, their size has also been an issue in some cases on the city centre’s narrow streets. One of the better-known operators,
PartyFiets.nl, offers two-hour tours on bikes that seat up to 22 people and carry 30 litres of beer.
Fairfield bocce players make pitch for beer
FAIRFIELD — Bocce and beer are apparently a winning combination for a longtime group of aficionados, but park officials are concerned if they grant the bocce league permission, it will open the taps for others.
The Fairfield Bocce League asked the Parks & Recreation Commission this week if it can get some sort of permit to allow for a beer keg at its weekly games in Veteran’s Park. The panel put off a decision on the request until February.
Giselle Maguire, a former president of the bocce group and currently its secretary and treasurer, made her appeal Wednesday to the commission. She added, however, that if the commission does not grant an exception to its policy banning alcohol in parks, it’s not a big deal to the bocce players.
There is a $75 fine for violating the town’s ban on possession of alcohol on public property.
Several weeks ago, police were dispatched to Veteran’s Park to investigate to a complaint about the keg, Maguire said. “We’ve been doing this for the better part of 30 years with no incidents,” but when police asked, she said, they immediately removed the keg. “It’s not necessary for the bocce league to have a keg of beer,” she said, “it’s just been a tradition.”
Alcohol is not allowed in any of Fairfield’s parks, and there is a large sign outlining the do’s and don’ts in the parking lot at Veteran’s Park, near the restrooms and bocce courts.
After the police visit that one week, Maguire said, players brought cans and bottles of beer, but kept it low key. “If they can’t have beer, that’s OK,” she said.
Maguire said there are about 100 members in the league, and the membership spans three and four generations. Play starts in May and ends at the end of August. The team that is not playing on a particular Monday brings the food and drinks.
And they’re not just there to play bocce and eat and drink, Maguire said. “We do a lot to help maintain the bocce courts,” she said, adding she sees more and more people using the six courts outside of league play.
“I understand it’s a wonderful league,” commission Chairman Ellery Plotkin said. “The bigger issue is if we allow it for one group, we have softball leagues, tennis, all the other activities that go on” and could also ask for similar consideration.
“You don’t have the same 30-year tradition of kegs on the softball fields,” commission member Brian Nerreau said. Some softball players, commission members acknowledged, often bring beer to drink after their games.
“The rule is no alcoholic beverages in the parks,” Recreation Director Gerald Lombardo said. “The police control it and we haven’t had an issue. It’s a little bit different than softball because it’s only one evening and not on several different fields. That being said, once we do it for one, we’ll probably be asked for others.”
He said he believes the impetus behind the no-alcohol rule was to prevent underage drinking at the parks.
Another thing to consider, Lombardo said, is the liability issue if the town were to issue a permit to the league allowing alcohol in public parks. “I think it’s something the commission may want to discuss over the next few months,” he said.
“I don’t see how we can even consider it,” said commission member Alvin Prusoff. “It’s just crazy.”
The commission decided to table the request and revisit it next February.
Cops: Woman, 20, hits bar patron in head with beer glass
A Merrick woman was arrested Friday morning after she flung a beer glass at a patron in an East Meadow bar during a fight, hitting him in the head, police said.
Sarah Lewis, 20, was at RC Dugan’s Bar, at 2316 Hempstead Tpke., at 3:15 a.m. when her unidentified boyfriend got involved in an altercation with a large group of men, including the 30-year-old victim, Nassau police said.
The altercation escalated when the 30-year-old told the group to calm down, a request that apparently set off Lewis, police said.
“Lewis picked up a glass and threw it at the victim,” hitting hit him in the head and causing a cut, a Friday news release said.
The victim was taken to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was treated and released.
Lewis, of 1445 Midian St., was charged with second-degree assault. A sergeant at First District Court in Hempstead said Lewis would be arraigned Saturday.
As is standard department procedure following an incident at a bar, RC Dugan’s would be referred to the State Liquor Authority, said police spokesman Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone.
Jay Dugan of RC Dugan’s said Friday that Lewis must have used a bogus ID to get into the bar.
