Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 1A

911 probe may get extension, 3A Fassel catches on with Ravens, 1C Pouahkeepsie 3 our nal FOUNDED IN 1785 NEW YORK STATE'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER EftTCKfH IB9 bbbbH JbHbMbWT rit HiijiyMJJJJH MagarKy details tough season fcoach Dave Magarity talks about the struggles this season for the 514 Marist basketball team including the close losses, the inability to win on the road, the reliance on young players and how his program stacks Up with others in the conference. 1C Local man in coma in Boston Super Bowl reveler hit by SUV By Nik Bonopartls Poughkeepsie Journal Tom and Diana Stack iewicz's world has been upended since they got a call early Monday morning that brought them to a Boston hospital. There they found their son Jason in a coma the tragic result of a Super Bowl celebration that got out of hand. Jason Stackiewicz, 21, remained unconscious in critical condition at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston Wednesday, where he has been recover ing from broken bones and brain damage. Stackiewicz was struck Sunday night by a Toyota Land cruiser while he was celebrating with 1,500 people after the victory by the New England Patriots.

Stackiewicz is an Arlington High School graduate and a junior criminal justice major at Northeastern University. "lie's made remarkable physical improvement over the last couple of days, but not necessarily remarkable neurological progress," Tom Stackiewicz said Wednesday of his son. "There's definitely brain damage. It's going to be a very, very long recovery." A man who was standing next to Jason Stackiewicz, 21 year old James, Grabowski, was killed. Joshua Bersey, a former roommate and good friend of Jason Stackiewicz, was also hit by the driver and was released from the hospital Wednesday.

A fourth victim remained hospitalized. Tom Stackiewicz and his wife, Diana, left for Boston Please see Boston, 5A COAST GUARD ON HUDSON Cutter clears way on frosty days Ice is pulverized, and traffic moves By Dan Shapley Poughkeepsie Journal ON BOARD THE PENOB SCOT BAY Just south of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge Tuesday, a half dozen vessels maneuvered around each o'ther in the Hudson River. Ifs a little noticed choreography that makes surviving a winter in the Northeast possible. A northbound fuel barge, being pushed by one tug boat 'and escorted by another, would tiot have made its delivery if it weren't for the Penobscot Bay, a 140 foot Coast Guard ice breaker that muscled through ice as thick as a foot to widen the navigable channel. The ice breaker turned the thick shelf into a soupy mush of broken ice, which allowed a second enormous barge, laden with 32 containers each the size of a freight train car, to pass safely on its way south to New York Harbor.

"In some ways ice breaking is homeland security," Commanding Officer Lt Jon S. Smithers said referring to the ship's other main duty, "because we're keeping the channel open for home heating oil." Fkiel needs to get through A fuel barge can carry nearly 1.6 million gallons of heating oU, gasoline or other fuel. Last winter, 954 barges made the trip out of New York Harbor up the Hudson with cargo valued at $900 million, according to the CoasJ Guard, It would have taken 143,100 trips to move the same amount of fuel by truck. "It is imperative," Barry Motzkin, CEO of Kingston Oil Supply said of the Coast Guard's work on the Hudson. "We don't operate unless we have the oil here, and through this oil we service not only tens of thousands of homes, but hospitals and the schools, municir palities.

We don't have the Please see Cutter, 2A i tJ "if tJty 9t TIbbVbWb bMIbbIbVbWi.4 iBfVLjP 2flDBflBBBBBBrft B4BBBBBBMIBHBBMf vS a hJ 7F''B97l3'Q2EBnB9E Same sex marriage approved Spencer AlnsleyPoughkeepsle Journal The Penobscot Bay moves south down the Hudson, heading for the Mid Hudson Bridge. Mass. court: Civil unions not enough The Associated Press BOSTON The Massachusetts high court ruled Wednesday that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples rather than civil unions are constitutional, clearing the way for the nation's first same sex marriages as early as May. "The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal," the four justices who ruled in favor of gay marriage wrote in the advisory opinion requested by the state Senate. After seven gay couples sued in 2001, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that gay couples have a constitutional right to marry.

In its 4 3 ruling, the seven member court gave the state Legislature six months to change state laws to make it happen. Split in valley Reaction in the mid HudsonHudson Valley was split. The Rev. Gregg Johnson, pastor of the Mission Church in Holmes, said those who share his beliefs don't have a hatred or dislike fpr homosexuals. They just truly believe that homosexuality is wrong, he said.

"This trend we're seeing not only in Massachusetts but other states, I think! is just a growing indication of how we're getting further and further away from God's ideal for family and community," Johnson said. "I believe for Iflflflfl Gays who adopt take legal hit Three gay couples, including one from Ulster County, lost their lawsuit to get new birth certificates for children they adopted in Virginia. 4B any society to be healthy, there needs to be a definition of right and wrong." However, Hyde Park resident Melvin Tiger said the ruling was long overdue. Homosexuals will now have legal standing if a partner becomes ill or some other kind of emergency occurs. "It gives them the same protection my wife and I have," saidTiger, whose son is gay, "I hope a lot of good comes out of it." But the vague wording of the ruling left lawmakers and advocates on both sides uncertain if Vermont style civil unions would satisfy the court's decision.

The much anticipated opinion sets the stage for next Wednesday's Constitutional convention, where the Legislature will consider an amendment that would legally define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Without the opinioa Senate President Robert Travaglini had said the vote would be delayed. The soonest a constitutional amendment could end up on the ballot would be 2006. Until then, the high court's decision will be Massachusetts law no matter what is decided next week. Journal staff writer Anthony Fanner contributed to this report.

Quest continues to solve 1997 shooting death on 1 84 By Elizabeth lynch Poughkeepsie Journal It's been seven years since Richard Aderson was shot and left for dead along Interstate 84, a victim of road rage. Investigators have been "excited and disappointed" over and over again in their quest to find his killer, New York State Police Senior Investigator Joanne Leorjl said, "I have to hope that the person who did this that somehow, at some point in time, he will be held accountable," said Aderson's wife, Laura. "I think there are more ways for this to be resolved than with somebody being arrested. You get in this world What you give." 'Aderson," an assistant superintendent in the Valley Central School District in Orange County, was shot Feb. 5, 1997, following a fenderfender bender with another motorist in FishkilL The 47 year old left behind a wife, two daughters and a son.

Aderson called police on phone and said the shooter was driving a new green Jeep Cherokee with green and white license plates, possibly from New Hampshire. Aderson was driving east on 1 84 on his way home to LaGrange from work when he was involved in a fender benderbender at about 6 p.m., just west of the Newburgh Beacon Bridge. Near Exit 12 in Fishkill, the two vehicles pulled to the road's shoulder and Aderson and the other driver argued. Then, according to Aderson's 911 call, the man pulled out a gun and shot him. The shooter fled in his vehicle, continuing east on 1 84.

Aderson died en route to Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. Aderson may be gone. But he is far from forgotten police continue to get new leads on the case and each year the Valley Central district presents an award in his honor. Please see Shooting, 2A Police death sketch of suspect In of Richard Aderson INSIDE 'i Business 5B Nationworld 3A Classified 6D Obituaries 4B Comics 3C, 4D Opinion 4A Crossword 4D Our Towns 3B Famfy planner BD Players BC Lite ID Sports 1C Lottery 2A State BA Mid Hudson IB Stocks 7B Movies 3D Television. 3D A Gannett newspaper 219th year.

No. 143 4 sections; 32 pages Printed in part on recycled and recyclable paper PLAYERS Kids learn game The KidzSquash program enables youths from the Catharine Street Community Center to learn, 5C LIFE Competition lives Sports were a big part of a young man's development crTR In ancient Greece, as an 'VV' exhibit of antiquities at the Onassis Cultural Center In New York City shows. ID SPORTS Rlchter honored The New York Rangers retired goaltender Mike Richter's No. 35 jersey. 3C bbbbVNIbHBbV bbbbH BBBBBf BBBBk BBBBH aHLIAI BBBBBBBBM BB BBBBBBBBH "Kyllx with Pentathletes" ls part of Onassis exhibit.

Partly sunny, cool today High 36, low 18 Forecast, 2B BUSINESS Wtlness: Stewart mad over stocks An "extraordinarily upset" Martha Stewart ordered all her ImClone Systems stock sold after she learned the company was dumping his own shares, the prosecution's star witness testified Wednesday at Stewart's trial. SB TOWNS Webutuck leader Is finalist for post Another high level departure may be in the offing for the Webutuck school district after Superintendent Justine Winters has been selected as one of two finalists for the top spot in the Onteora school district in Ulster County. 3B MID HUDSON HI CfAMHKM Kids making music A group of Beacon kindergarteners and their parents are getting a classical education with violin lessons with a professional violinist and teacher. IB USmsTm iiBijiyMUiici mwroiiiquic Bit About rTrriTWiroi Im NRmef WKtibusifKKttttttk IMlUl I "Expect afKaBwtaVv Umela" ROUTE 44 a TAC0NIC PKWY. PLEASANT VALLEY (845)677 9100 mujmTu'jfMmmtsmmsjwi3SMnsMsii WfflmZZT.WB&.