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Sixty years ago political divisions in the United States ran even deeper than today's name-calling showdowns between the left and right. Back then, to call someone a communist was to threaten that person's career, family, freedom, and, sometimes, life itself. Hysteria about the \"red menace\" mushroomed as the Soviet Union tightened its grip on Eastern Europe, Mao Zedong rose to power in China, and the atomic arms race accelerated. Spy scandals fanned the flames, and headlines warned of sleeper cells in the nation's midst--just as it does today with the \"War on Terror.\" In his new book,The Fear Within, Scott Martelle takes dramatic aim at one pivotal moment of that era. On the afternoon of July 20, 1948, FBI agents began rounding up twelve men in New York City, Chicago, and Detroit whom the U.S. government believed posed a grave threat to the nation--the leadership of the Communist Party-USA. After a series of delays, eleven of the twelve \"top Reds\" went on trial in Manhattan's Foley Square in January 1949. The proceedings captivated the nation, but the trial quickly dissolved into farce. The eleven defendants were charged under the 1940 Smith Act with conspiring to teach the necessity of overthrowing the U.S. government based on their roles as party leaders and their distribution of books and pamphlets. In essence, they were on trial for their libraries and political beliefs, not for overt acts threatening national security. Despite the clear conflict with the First Amendment, the men were convicted and their appeals denied by the U.S. Supreme Court in a decision that gave the green light to federal persecution of Communist Party leaders--a decision the court effectively reversed six years later. But by then, the damage was done. So rancorous was the trial the presiding judge sentenced the defense attorneys to prison terms, too, chilling future defendants' access to qualified counsel. Martelle's story is a compelling look at how American society, both general and political, reacts to stress and, incongruously, clamps down in times of crisis on the very beliefs it holds dear: the freedoms of speech and political belief. At different points in our history, the executive branch, Congress, and the courts have subtly or more drastically eroded a pillar of American society for the politics of the moment. It is not surprising, then, thatThe Fear Withintakes on added resonance in today's environment of suspicion and the decline of civil rights under the U.S. Patriot Act.

The Peekskill Brewery 55 Hudson Avenue Peekskill (914) 734-2337 thepeekskillbrewery.com GOOD THE SPACE A sophisticated but cozy dining room with historic photos of Peekskill on the walls and comfortable banquette seating in the back. WHAT WE LIKED Crispy oysters, Belgian ale mussels, braised pork belly, lump crab and avocado salad, lentil soup; fish and chips, bratwurst and knackwurst, steak frites, sliders; orange ginger creme brulee, peaches-and-cream bread pudding, cookie and brownie plate.\\n

Steamed clams in a broth of garlic, white wine and butter was delicious, even if the toasted garlic bread that came with it tasted stale. [...] the pappardelle in a pork, beef and lamb ragu had some complexity.

IN these days of economic hubris, the Zephses Victoria at the stove and her brother Michael managing out front -- can offer a lesson in humility to other small family concerns. For almost 10 years this team has consistently pleased customers by following a simple, yet elegant plan of nonexpansion. Too many small gems compromise success by overreaching, but this restaurant has clearly decided to delight the discerning few. Where less particular restaurateurs would pack in six more tables in Zephs' space, not more than a comfortably spaced baker's dozen offer seating. Although only a handful of appetizers and entrees are offered, they are reinvented frequently and always executed with care. And what the menu describes is what the diner receives. If a touch of roasted pumpkin seed or black olive is promised, it is delivered. Another pleasure brought a Korean-style scallion pancake (gool pa ju) topped with a raw oyster enhanced by sesame sauce, which also gently moistened the pancake. And judging by mushroom and herb soup -- its texture pleasantly bumpy with an abundance of ground mushrooms -- the fresh seasonal soup of the evening also demanded consideration. For all their intriguing filling of ricotta, pumpkin and nuts, pumpkin cannelloni seemed bland. Nor did sparks fly with a Greek-style tart, the excellent rounds of puff pastry topped with shrimps, feta and black olives, each fine on its own, but the combination failed to meld.

Crowding the winding streets of this cliff-top piece of Peekskill are old and new coffee shops, art galleries, boho craft and clothing shops, an old-fashioned tea room, a used-bookstore (the kind that once lined Fourth Avenue in downtown Manhattan) and the popular restored Paramount theater.

Heat is something of a theme at the Firehouse Grille, which offers spicy fries, several hot chilis, a house-made horseradish dipping sauce for onion rings, and jalapenos as a sandwich topping.

THE dining demands of this city's burgeoning artistic community seem to keep an increasing number of diverse eating spots bustling, particularly on weekends. And Division Street is claiming its share. One of the cheeriest restaurants on the street is Susan's, which has held its ground for more than a dozen years. In the last six, as chef and new owner, Evan Thompson has been transforming the place, phasing out the bar and concentrating on food. The current menu leaves no fear of having a chilblain attack after dining here. Diners sup on honest, rib-sticking food, and they certainly get their money's worth in the sheer quantity delivered on every plate. The generosity, however, seemed out of control, as was the slow, addled service. And although it deserved points for its enthusiasm and use of fresh ingredients, the kitchen could not always deliver successfully all the items on a menu overambitious in its length. It, like the portions, needed serious trimming. Sure bets here were to be found among the starters, pastas and desserts. Spring rolls were usually offered, and both Thai shrimp rolls with mild peanut sauce and curried chicken rolls were light and crunchy without being greasy. With flavor as substantial as meat, grilled portobello mushrooms and sweet roasted peppers would have been as satisfying without the bit of goat cheese, appreciated nonetheless. Where one would have sufficed, two hefty cakes packed with fresh salmon came with good mustard dipping sauce.

''At all costs, this site needed to be preserved,'' Mr. [John G. Testa] said. ''To have 40 acres preserved in one deal is very significant for a city of our size.'' ''We are a city that likes to determine its own outcomes and not have anything dictated to us,'' Mr. Testa said. ''In particular, we are very sensitive to our preservation needs.'' ''We have to be very pragmatic about our city and choose developers who are willing to take an environmental approach,'' he explained. ''We are hoping other cities are inspired by us.''

Frank LaVardera, a principal with Clough Harbour & Associates, an engineering and consulting firm in Albany that has been hired by the developer, said the project was helped by the fact that the landfill is flat. ''It's not your classic characteristic large mound that you see in most landfills,'' he said. ''In this case, the topographic configuration lends itself to what we're planning.'' CB Richard Ellis, a global real estate services firm, has been hired to lure companies to the northern part of the county. Paul Hoffmann, a vice president for the CB Richard Ellis's offices in Stamford, described Peekskill as an ''untapped market,'' conveniently located near the Bear Mountain Bridge and Route 9, a major north-south road. There is also rail service to Grand Central Terminal on the Metro-North Hudson line. ''That deal will take another old problem from the middle of the last century off our hands,'' he said. ''It's a natural to think about more commercial development, and not just more housing, up here.''