Disc Jam Gets Loud
By Doug La Rocque
As was expected, Gardner’s Field was packed with upwards of 4,000 music fans this past Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9 for the annual Disc Jam, a music fest that brings dollars into the Stephentown community, but also some headaches. Some of those headaches were caused by loud music, playing late into the night, beyond the limits of a town ordinance enacted three years ago to address the problem. The music was supposed to go quiet at 11 pm Thursday night, 1 am Friday and Saturday, and 6 pm on Sunday. According to Stephentown Supervisor Larry Eckhardt, the performers blew right by those deadlines, playing late into the night. He tells The Eastwick Press, he could hear the music from his residence at 3 am, and he doesn’t live in the village area where the festival took place.
Drug Arrests Abound
From June 6, through June 10, 2019 members of Troop G and Troop K uniform and BCI, along with the Troop G Violent Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team, conducted an enforcement initiative that was focused on the illegal distribution of controlled substances at the Disc Jam Music Festival in Stephentown.
State Police seized quantities of cocaine, doses of LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, ketamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, MDMA, and concentrated cannabis. The enforcement resulted in the arrests of approximately 68 individuals on offenses ranging from violation to felony drug charges, and driving under the influence. In addition to the arrests, the State Police also seized cash and drug paraphernalia. The vast majority of the arrests were from out of the immediate area.
A Topic of Discussion
The Town Board meets Monday, June 17 at 7 pm, and Supervisor Eckhardt expects there may be some residents in attendance to complain about the event. He said he received quite a few calls over the weekend, and he expects it will be discussed by the Board then.