OUR ANNUAL REPORT:
THE LAST OF THE MILLENNIUM WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR
| HOME | . |
 Beginning in September 1998, Constantine's Circus, Inc.
teamed up with teachers at Albany High School on a school-to-work program for young
people interested in careers in public safety and criminal justice. And believe us, there
is opportunity in that field -- both for rewarding employment and for the chance to make a difference.The students were thrilled that month when we introduced them to
America's top narcotics enforcement officer, the Honorable Thomas A. Constantine, head
of the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Mr. Constantine was the keynote speaker at the
30th anniversary
banquet for the Rockefeller College School of Criminal Justice,
a prestigious graduate school located in Albany. He was a 1971 graduate of the institution.Not only did the students get to meet and pose for a photo with
Mr. Constantine, but they heard his speech (and witty jokes), met some of the most famous
scholars in the field of criminal justice, enjoyed a good meal and heard the champion
Schenectady Pipe Band play a tune composed in
Mr. Constantine's honor. Click here for the sheet music.
In February, we learned that there had been a burglary at Centennial A.M.E.
Zion Church in East Buffalo. The 3 and 4-year-old children of the congregation had just raised a
record $5000 to support church programs. Every penny was stolen. East Buffalo was the site of
Mr. Constantine's memorable "Operation Crackdown" in August of 1992, an operation that brought
a drug-fueled violent crime wave to a screeching halt. The Board of Directors of Constantine's
Circus, Inc. authorized a contribution of $100 to the church in honor of Mr. Constantine. Pastor
Maceo Freeman and the children later informed us that an out-pouring of donations like ours had
restored and exceeded what was taken.March found us in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach, heart of a thriving
Russian-American community. We were the guests of the
Russian-American Kids' Circus at a command
performance. The circus has pledged to come to Albany to help us put on a community event
with an anti-drug and violence theme for the children of the Capital District. Plans are being
laid for this event in the year 2000.In May, we marched in the Aquidneck Island
National Police Parade in Newport, Rhode Island.
Spectators on the parade route -- an estimated 80,000 of them -- were asking what Constantine's
Circus, Inc. might be. "You'll find out", we told one and all.Later that month, we contributed to the observances for National Crime
Victims' Rights Week by presenting an organizational banner to the newly incorporated
Capital District Coalition for Crime Victims' Rights, Inc. at New York's official ceremony
at the Crime Victims' Memorial in Albany.  Crime Victims' Rights Banner That month, we also received a certificate from the US Office of Victim
Services in Washington. OVS had noted our nomination of Paul A. Richter of Albany, a heroic
New York State Trooper who was shot and paralyzed while on duty in 1973.
In nominating Paul, we cited his exemplary dedication to others injured
by violent crime (The crack wars of the 1980s left hundreds of inner-city victims of gun
violence with paralyzing spinal cord injuries.) and his extraordinary accomplishment in
creating a medical research trust fund to find a cure for spinal cord injury paralysis. He has
shown that there are ways undo some of the damage done by crimes of violence.The Fall of 1999 brought the fortieth annual convention of the
International Narcotic Enforcement Officers' Association to Albany.
Over five hundred working narcotic officers from dozens of countries converged on our city
for training, professional networking and socializing.Albany High School students were hosted by Constantine's Circus, Inc.
at the association's awards ceremony. The students had the memorable opportunity to present
their own awards to individuals representing the Albany County Sheriff's Department Narcotics
Unit, the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, the City of Albany
Police Department (represented by the Worshipful Gerald Jennings, Mayor) and Mr. John Bellizzi,
founder and Executive Director of the association. As the result of the contacts made that day,
internship opportunities were arranged for the students with a number of Capital District criminal
justice agencies.Photos and captions:
Finally, as a year-end gift to the Mid-Hudson Crime Prevention Association, Inc.,
the biggest and strongest community crime prevention organization in New York, based in Middletown,
Orange County, we presented an organizational banner. The banner is dedicated to the memory of
Bob and Shirley Cutler, an elderly couple from Middletown, New York, who had helped get both the
association and the Triad crime against the elderly program going in New York. Bob passed away
in 1995 and Shirley in 1998. They were very special people and we miss them very much. Constantine's Circus, Inc. President Terry O'Neill serves as Master of Ceremonies at the New York State observance of National Crime Victims Rights Week and the annual dedication of memorial bricks at the NYS Crime Victims Memorial at Empire State Plaza. Every year, bricks bearing the names of victims of violent crime are added to the memorial walkway. The color guard was provided by New York State Police Superintendent James W. McMahon. Constantine's Circus, Inc. is an annual participant and supporter of the
Aquidneck Island National Police Parade, hosted by the
Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth Police Departments of Rhode Island, the
most joyful celebration and expression of appreciation for America's law
enforcement officers in the nation.
In July, 2000, we received wonderful news in the form of a letter from Regina Berenchtein of
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Regina, her husband Alexander and her mother Olga Partigul are immigrants from Russia.
In the old country, the couple was associated with the world-famous and much-beloved Moscow Circus. They came
to the United States with the dream of creating a world class circus for kids starring kids. They worked very long and
hard and they have been a great success.Constantine's Circus, Inc. has assisted their Russian-American Kids' Circus in learning how
to approach various levels of government for funding to support their performances, offer scholarships to kids, organize
a daycare program and obtain equipment and other resources. We only met them three years ago, but already the
circus has grown. And like Constantine's Circus, it has begun to perform in more cities and towns than ever before
and it is about to travel to its first foreign country.In Regina's words:Mr. Terry O'Neill, President Constantine's Circus, Inc. Albany, New York Dear Terry: Here we are again thanking Constantine's Circus for the support you never fail to give. The
physical miles of distance has not diminished your fervor for our program, Certainly I know that we have found a true
friend in you. We are encouraged by your trust and confidence in us.As a result of your continued support, we are now at the point of beginning our national tour.
Late in August and early in September we will be at the Epcot Center in Florida. We will be performing as part of "The
Walt Disney Millennium Celebration." From there it will be on to Maryland, Chicago, California, and eventually Canada.We could not do so well were it not for organizations like Constantine's Circus. You are a
precious gem in our treasury of friends.Appreciatively yours, Regina Berenchtein, Executive Director The New Way Circus Center, Inc. 1202 Avenue P Brooklyn, New York 11229 718-266-0202 (Also for FAX) In August 2000, we attended the annual meeting of the New York State
Association of Chiefs of Police in Westchester County. On the second
afternoon of the conference, we were joined by Professor Tom Constantine.
That evening, he led a huge motorcade accross the county as we headed for an
outing at the county-owned amusement park. As the motorcade snaked through
neighborhoods populated with recent immigrants from Mexico, Colombia,
Salvador and Peru, bystanders asked us what was going on. "It's Professor Tom
Constantine home from the war on drugs!" And the crowd went wild.The next morning, the Professor unveiled his important new initiative --
a Leadership Institute for Police Executives, which he will be building in
partnership with the police chiefs and sheriffs of the State of New York and
the learned professors of the State University. Sounds like another home run.
September brought us to our favorite annual event, the Annual Reunion of
the Association of Former New York State Troopers. State Police alumni from
all corners of the state gathered for a weekend of fun and reminiscing at the
Bonnie Castle Resort in Alexandria Bay. President Mike Doney of the Black
Horse Chapter presided over the annual business meeting and a splendid
banquet.
The Superintendent's representative brought us up to date on
Division news. Greg Wildridge of the Niagara Frontier Chapter told everyone
of the happy news of the recent enactment of pension enhancement legislation
-- a cause to which the late Pat O'Reilly devoted so much energy and work.
Greg's attendance, by the way, was of the above and beyond variety -- he had
spent the previous week in the hospital laid up with a painful infection. He
has since fully recovered. Morey Gavin reported on the activities of the
Former Troopers Helping Hands (and everyone got a nice sweatshirt with its
logo). Plans were laid for for the 2001 Fiftieth Anniversary Reunion to be
held in Albany. Constantine's Circus, Inc. will be cooperating with the
Capital District Chapter to make that a very special occasion. We also note
that the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police will be celebrating
its centennial around the same time.
The Aquidneck Island National Police Parade stepped
off again this year on May 6 in Newport Rhode Island -- a picture perfect
day. Constantine's Circus, Inc. was represented in the parade's first
division marching with the Massachusetts contingent of Concerns of Police
Survivors and regional Chaplain Ray "Dad" Payne. We were pleased to spend
some quality time with our old friend Colonel Ed Culhane, now in his 11th
year as Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and looking none the
worse for wear.
Sad news came to us of the death last October of Kurt Hulbert of the
Connecticut State Police. Kurt was the driving force behind the creation of
the Connecticut State Police Pipes and Drums, a truly outstanding musical
organization and a credit to law enforcement. Kurt went in for surgery to
remove a brain tumor last spring, but the operation was not successful. The
Officers and Directors of Constantine's Circus, Inc. have voted a gift to the
pipe band in Kurt's memory and directed that a picture of him be posted on
our web site.
 Questions? E-mail Us! CONSTANTINE'S CIRCUS, INC. PO Box 7223 Capitol Station Albany, NY 12224-0223 518-465-4413 518-465-3200 FAX |
