Margaret Roach at the “Away to Garden” blog reports on the new USDA Hardiness Map, and half of the nation’s 80 million gardeners are now a half-zone warmer in the first update since 1990. The new “Plant Hardiness Zone Map” uses a different set of data in its long-range calculations. “The increase in our computing power today allows the research team to build into their algorithms things they knew were important factors in 1990, but couldn’t include,” said Catherine Woteki, Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics for the USDA, in an interview yesterday. Factors such as elevation, the slope of land, or how close to a body of water a location is, can cause sharp variation despite close adjacencies. “Taking those into account now provides a lot more detail,” Woteki said, “and people will be able to see islands of heat, and also cool ones, on the new map. As a scientist and a home gardener, I love seeing this so much more clearly.” Read the full story at Away to Garden.
Mountain conditions
All three mountains got a little snow this week. Catamount Ski in Columbia County was closed Friday because of the rain, but reopens Saturday with 16-36″ of snow. Windham Mountain has a snow base between 16″ and 48″ on 40 trails with five lifts open. Hunter Mountain‘s snowtubing is closed Friday, but back open Saturday. The mountain has up to 18″ to 72″ of snow on 45 trails with six lifts.
Tags: Catamount Ski, Hunter Mountain, snow, Windham Mountain
Ivan Lajara at The Daily Freeman thinks it is no joke that LAFTOR is the acronym for the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment. Their “proposals are laughable” according to Lajara’s headline in the paper, over a story about the redistricting proposals released Thu., Jan. 26. Common Cause/NY Executive Director Susan Lerner said, “These maps appear to continue the long tradition of partisan gerrymandering we’ve come to expect. There are major demographic changes that are simply not reflected on these maps.” Governor Andrew Cuomo has vowed to veto any redistricting that is not created by an independent body. This plan was created by the the legislators themselves, so, as almost everyone is pointing out, they have drawn the lines to ensure their own re-election. Republican-leaning districts, now lean more. Democrat-heavy districts are heavier. They have created a new 63rd Senate seat, pairing Greene County with Albany and other points north in Senate District 46. Lajara quotes an AP news account and says, “The story continues, ‘The added Senate district would include part of Ulster County (including the city of Kingston), all of Greene County and parts of Albany, Schenectady and Montgomery counties.’ So imagine my surprise when a total of zero public meetings were scheduled in the area.”
Local effects
• Ulster County may be in the worst situation in the entire state. The proposal cuts the county into four Senate Districts, up from two. The people of Ulster County will have almost no representation in the Senate, as those four politicians will care little about its collective well-being, and not even cater much to the few voters they will have there, focusing on their majorities elsewhere.
• Greene County would see much change. Republican James Seward would, under the plan, not be Greene County’s senator anymore, but would retain a very safe seat to the west. The new seat includes all of Greene and Montgomery counties, and most of Albany and Schenectady counties, and several towns in Ulster County to the south. In the Assembly Greene is being split into two separate districts. Assemblyman Pete Lopez would continue to represent Ashland, Windham, Durham, Greenville, New Baltimore, Coxsackie, and Cairo in the proposed 102 District which now also includes Coeymans, Westerlo, and Rensselaerville in Albany County, all of Schoharie County, and towns in Otsego, Herkimer, and Oneida counties in what will continue to be a very safe district for him. The southern half of Greene County — Athens, Catskill, Hunter, Jewett, Lexington, Halcott, and Prattsville — would be in the proposed 101st Assembly District, which also includes much of eastern Delaware County, four Ulster County towns, and two Orange County towns, and Germantown and Clermont in Columbia County. 
• In Columbia County, the Senate District used to be dominated by Dutchess County, as Poughkeepsie Steve Saland currently represents the area in Albany. In this proposal, Columbia County moves to Senate District 43, paired with all of Rensselaer County and parts of Washington and Saratoga counties to the north. In the Assembly, most of Columbia County is represented by the 106th District including Stuyvesant, Stockport, Hudson, Greenport, Ghent, Claverack, Livingston, Taghkanic, Copake, Ancram, and Gallatin. Millbrook in Dutchess County, interestingly, is no longer in the district, and the candidates (Republican Richard Wager and Democrat Didi Barrett) trying to replace Marc Molinaro for the 103rd Assembly, which is similar to the proposed 106th, live in Millbrook. So while they may fight for the seat in March, they may be in 105th District election in the fall. As mentioned before, Germantown and Clermont join the proposed 101st District, stretching across southern Greene County to parts of Delaware, and Ulster and Orange counties. The rest of Columbia County — Kinderhook, Chatham, Hillsdale, Austerlitz, Canaan, and New Lebanon — join most of Rensselaer County and two Washington County towns in the proposed 107th district, which is similar to the area Republican Steve McLaughlin represents, though without any of the Greene County towns it used to include. 
Public hearings
No public hearings between Albany and New York City. The closest public hearing to our area is this Mon., Jan. 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building, Second Floor in the Hearing Room. (See the complete list of all public hearings after the link below.)
Tags: Didi Barrett, elections, James Seward, LAFTOR, Marc Molinaro, New York State legislators, Pete Lopez, redistricting, Richard Wager, Steve Saland
Weather right now
READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.
Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Maplecrest, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Western Greene County, and Eastern Columbia County, through 7 a.m. Higher elevations can expect up to three inches of snow, or ice and freezing rain. It should all turn to rain in the morning and continue until 2 p.m. High near 48. Friday night there is a slight chance of showers before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. The weekend forecast is colder:
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39, low around 18.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37, low around 12.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 28.
Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Friday of the month. We do not know about any town meetings today.
The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:11 a.m./ 5:06 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 9:03 a.m. / 9:58 p.m.
Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Boston Celtics 91 at Orlando Magic 83, Paul Pierce 24 points.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. (TV: ESPN)
WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Fri. Jan. 27:
• “WGXC Morning Show,” 9-10 a.m.: Regional band The Wiyos will play a few songs, and talk about their new album and performance Saturday at Helsinki Hudson.
• “Guest DJ,” 7-9:30 p.m.: Shelley Weiner is in to play music tonight.
Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
Audio clips to play
New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20120210 Coop Ext – Maple Syrup workshop
• A_OFF_PSA_20120313_irene_lee_flood_grants
Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
LATFOR will release a map with the state’s new district lines for assembly and senate districts Thu., Jan. 26, with Greene County rumoured to be split into a new, 63rd Senate district with some other Albany County, and northern areas. The maps were due Wed., Jan. 25. According to the Times-Union, the delay was caused by an ongoing discussion about a constitutional amendment that would allow for a more independent redistricting process. Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned on the promise of a more independent process. The paper reports that several parties — Cuomo, Assembly Democrats, and Senate Republicans — are hoping to pair the release with first-passage of the constitutional amendment required to change the process. Read about the release of new district maps in the Times-Union.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, LATFOR, redistricting
Eric Schneiderman, from Wikipedia.
Tags: banks, Barack Obama, Eric Scheiderman, mortgage fraud
A rusty blackbird, from Wikipedia.
Tags: birds, mercury levels, power plant pollution, rusty blackbirds, saltmarsh sparrows, wood thrush
Frederick Edwin Church, from Wikipedia.
The Register Star reports that unemployment rates in Columbia County rose slightly at the end of last year. The New York State Department of Labor figures released on Tue., Jan. 24, reported that unemployment rose to 7.2 percent in December, up from 6.9 in November. The numbers in Greene County also rose slightly, with the unemployment rate up from 8.4 percent to 8.8 percent and total number of unemployed from 1,900 to 2,100 from November to December. Read the article in the Register-Star.
Tags: jobs, NYSDOL, unemployment rates
Weather right now
READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.
Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Ancram, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts Ancram has a 40 percent chance of rain before 4 p.m., then a chance of rain and sleet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Thursday night there will be rain and sleet, becoming all rain after midnight. Low around 34. The weekend forecast:
• Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 48, a low around 23.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41, a low around 26.
• Sunday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Thursday of the month.
ATHENS Athens The Town of Athens Planning Board holds a public hearing for an application for a commercial site plan review for propane bulk storage and filling on the lands of Cippitelli Brothers Realty Corp., located on Route 9W, Athens. A regular meeting of the Town of Athens Planning Board follows the public hearing for any other business which may come before the Board. 7 p.m. at Athens Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens, NY 12015
CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Budget/Salary Committee at 10:00 a.m.
Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GERMANTOWN The Germantown Planning Board holds a Public Hearing on proposed subdivision by boundary line adjustment of Matthew Daly, Jr. of 311 Northern Blvd. Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
HUDSON Historic Preservation Committee at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
RENSSELAERVILLE Rensselaerville Hydrofracking Committee meets at 7 p.m. at Rensselaerville Town Hall, 87 Barger Road, Medusa, NY 12120
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).
The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:12 a.m./ 5:05 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 8:37 a.m. / 8:58 p.m.
Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: New York Knicks 81 at Cleveland Cavaliers 91, Amare Stoudemire 19 points, 14 rebounds.
NBA: New Jersey Nets 97 at Philadelphia 90, Deron Williams 34 points.
Schedules
NBA: Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic, 8 p.m. (TV: TNT)
WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Jan. 26:
• “Tell It Like It Is,” 10 a.m.: Judith Brink from the Prison Action Network discusses parole reform with host Christina Malisoff, and McKenzie Schoonmaker, the staff attorney for Riverkeeper, reports on Monday’s anti=fracking rally in Albany.
• “Sound Forms,” 2 p.m.: Peter Wetzler visits with Woodstock musician Fredo Viola.
• “The Jazz Disturbance,” 7-9:30 p.m.: Host Cheryl K. talks with baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan.
Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
Audio clips to play
New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120312_fishmap.mp3
Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
Tags: town meetings
The 2nd Annual New York Shout OUT! youth media festival took place on April 30, 2011 at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy. Over 40 young media makers from across New York State came together, including WGXC youth producers from the “Radio Explosion” show (Weds., 3:30 p.m.) and the Catskill Community Center. New York Shout OUT! was a day filled with hands-on media workshops and an evening youth film festival featuring the best short films produced by youth from all over the state. Please click on this link to see the “Message In A Minute” short videos produced during New York Shout OUT!: tinyurl.com/3lh3yfq WGXC’s youth producers will be participating at this year’s NY Shout Out, in April. If you would like to participate with WGXC in this youth media festival, contact sara@wgxc.org
“Main St. market encore favored” is the unfortunate headline on Doron Tyler Antrim’s story in The Daily Mail about how Catskill officials, for the third year in a row, are going to spend a lot of time talking about where the Farmer’s Market should be located. Antrim quotes only one official, Trustee Brian Kehoe, saying he wants the market to move back to Main St., where it was in 2010. He also quotes Trustee Jim Chewens, who says the businesses in Catskill do not want it there. He also quotes Village President Vincent Seeley, who says it did not work well at its 2011 location, a parking lot adjacent to Church Street. The long public argument over the location may be cut short early this year, as the Catskill Region Farmers Association meets Thursday to discuss the market’s future. They may not want to come back to a town that moves the market to a different location each year. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Tags: Brian Kehoe, Catskill Farmers' Market, Jim Chewens, Vincent Seeley
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Rep. Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) raised $245,395 in the last fundraising quarter, and now has $702,022.21 cash on hand to fight off opponents, according to the latest Federal Elections Commission filing. Senior employees of Elliott Associates and Elliott Management, a hedge fund founded by Paul Singer, the chairman of the board of the conservative Manhattan Institute think tank, gave the most. The Congressman, who represents both Greene and Columbia counties, also received $4,000 from the PAC controlled by Goldman Sachs investment firm. Vielkind then relates an old Gibson campaign press releases from his 2010 campaign, when he complained that then-Congressman Scott Murphy accepted money from “Wall Street special interest donors” including Goldman. Gibson’s spokeswoman Stephanie Valle focused on the other half of Gibson’s war chest. “We’re fortunate to receive over half of our contributions from individuals, who include seniors, small business owners, farmers and many others from all walks of life,” she told Vielkind. So far, only Dutchess County legislator, Democrat Joel Tyner, has announced an interest in taking on Gibson in the fall. Read the entire story in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: campaign donations, Chris Gibson, Goldman Sachs, Joel Tyner, Paul SInger
Prattsville is indeed rebuilding, after the devastating floods associated with Hurricane Irene last August. This March 3 the town is bringing in government, non-profit organizations, green building groups, mortgage lenders, historic preservationists, architects, real estate agencies, housing specialists, landscapers, and contractors in building, painting, electrical, plumbing, and masonry for a “Housing Expo & Home Improvement Show.” A Housing Resource Center will open early to mid-spring to provide ongoing assistance to local homeowners. Annie Hull, the Committee Chairperson says, “the Expo will be a tremendous benefit for homeowners at all phases of rebuilding,” as, “homeowners will benefit by being able to meet and discuss projects with many vendors at one time.” The Housing Expo & Home Improvement Show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 3. For more information, contact Annie Hull, Prattsville Housing Committee Chair at 518-299-3278 or email her at dadmhull@aol.com.
Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that Greene County is paying an Leisure Business Advisors of Richmond, Va. something less than $10,000 of taxpayer money to audit financial prospects for the proposed Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park in New Baltimore. County Administrator Shaun Groden told Zangla that he should have a report Feb. 3 on the prospects for $115-million 400-room hotel and 80,000-square-foot indoor water park, restaurant and lounge, large conference center, arcade, and gift shop. The Greene County Industrial Development Agency wants to borrow up to $15.6 million to pay for infrastructure improvements for the Kalkberg Commerce Park in New Baltimore, where the water park would be one of many businesses. That loan would be repaid through a fee on room rentals and sales tax at the hotel. The owners of Zoom Flume, the outdoor water park in Durham, are among the projects critics. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.
Barbara J. Robinson of Red Apple Realty in Claverack.
Tags: Barbara Robinson, Columbia-Greene Board of Realtors, Ted Banta
Weather right now
READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.
Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Earlton, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts Earlton will be partly sunny, with a high near 38 on Wednesday. Wednesday night should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Thursday: A slight chance of rain after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 41, low around 35.
• Friday: Rain likely, mainly before 9 a.m., with a high near 45, low around 28.
• Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41, low around 27.
• Sunday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.
Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Wednesday of the month.
ATHENS Village meeting at 7 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CATSKILL Board of Education meeting 7 p.m. in in Catskill High School library, 341 West Main St. Catskill.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
HUDSON Department of Public Works Committee meeting at 6 p.m.; Legal Committee meeting starts at 6:45 p.m at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Historical Committee meeting at 7 p.m., Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:13 a.m./ 5:03 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 8:10 a.m. / 7:57 p.m.
Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: New York Knicks 111 at Charlotte Bobcats 78, Tyson Chandler had 20 points, and 17 rebounds.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 7 p.m. (TV: MSG)
NBA: New Jersey Nets at Philadelphia, 7 p.m. (TV: YES)
WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Wed. Jan. 25:
• “The Schoemer Show,” Noon-2 p.m.: All sorts of music from former Newsweek and New York Times music critic Karen Schoemer.
• “WGXC Afternoon Show,” 4-6 p.m.: Live from the Catskill Community Center with Ron Diamondstein, Matt Bua, Peter Krug, Jillian Sutton, and others.
Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
Audio clips to play
New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120312_fishmap.mp3
Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 7:22 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 7:22 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 7:22 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 7:22 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
Tags: town meetings
Joe Temperly and Gary Smulyan, from Wikipedia.
Tags: Gary Smulyan, WGXC
Two anonymous donors helped the Hudson School District meet a goal to raise $100,000 to create an endowment for the Hudson Schools Arts and Humanities Fund. The fund is one of six such funds the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation launched over the last ten years. The Foundation received an anonymous check for $25,000 in December topping off a fundraising effort that had been underway for over a year. Berkshire Taconic’s consultant Jeffrey Levitsky, who administers the fund, said the check was a terrific vote of confidence, “in the power of the arts and humanities to bring inspiration and hope to the students of the Hudson public schools.” For more information on the program, to apply for a grant, or make a donation to the fund visit the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s webpage: www.berkshiretaconic.org
Tags: Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Hudson School District
Michael Winerip argues that Obama’s “Race To The Top” initiative creates a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy in the schools for a minimal investment from the Federal government. Writing in The New York Times education blog, he questions whether the Federal government’s education reform program will produce any dividends in the schools. The article describes the efforts of one school administrator in Long Island to create an assessment system for music and band teachers that will comply with the new standards. Paul R. Infante, the director of fine and applied arts for the Commack School District on Long Island, tells Winerip implementing an arbitrary system will, “take so much time away from instruction to focus on the assessment.” He also says he can’t tell whether the state will be rigorous in its oversight, or do just enough to satisfy federal regulations. He feels certain about one thing: “A considerable amount of time will be spent creating a significant amount of mandated paperwork.” The article also traces the chronology of the current dispute between the state and the teachers’ unions over teacher assessments. Read Winerip’s critique of Race To The Top in the New York Times.
Tags: NYSUT, Race to the Top, teachers union
John Mason writes in the Register Star about about the Regents Reform Agenda, a plan financed through a federal grant awarded from the Race to the Top initiative. New York is one of 47 or 48 states that are moving to adopt national standards, including higher benchmarks in math and English Language Arts. Questar III administrators visited the Taconic Hills School Board last week to discuss the reform plan. Questar Superintendent James Baldwin described a four-part plan to improve the schools. The program calls for the adoption of the higher standards which it calls Common Core Standards. The second element is the incorporation of improved data systems, which will track students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The third focuses on teacher certification, making sure teachers are qualified to teach their subject area. The fourth element is a push to improve low achieving schools and hold them accountable if they fail. The state has had an accountability system in place for over a decade, but Baldwin said a lack of enforcement allowed low-performing schools to fall through the cracks. “Schools have been failing to meet the targets established for them,” Baldwin said, “the state has not responded by closing them or forcing them to reconfigure. There will be much greater scrutiny.” Questar III is the local Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, and oversees the 23 school districts in Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties for the state Education Department. Read about the BOCES school reform initiative in the Register Star.
Tags: BOCES, schools, Taconic Hills School Board
Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times-Union reports that State Senate Republicans have a cash advantage of nearly five to one as they try to hold their slight majority later this year. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee has $4,914,003.82, compared with $305,556.71 for the Democrats. The New York Public Research Interest Group combined those central campaign committees with the accounts of individual candidates, subtracted debt, and pegged the GOP edge at $15,041,583.91 to $3,226,155.62. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Tags: campaign cash, elections, New York Public Research Interest Group
An anti-high-impact hydraulic fracturing protest drew over 500 opponents of the controversial gas drilling method to Albany today, according to the Times Union. Protestors gathered this morning in the Well of the Legislative Office Building chanting “no fracking way.” Rebecca Melnitsky describes some notable moments in the Times-Union’s Capitol Confidential blog. They include: Julia Walsh and Claire Sandberg from Frack Action, who brought a gallon of greenish-water from hydrofracked Dimock, Pennsylvania; protestors pointing out that Bulgaria has banned hydrofracking; farmers in the rally holding locally made bread as everyone marched to the legislative offices; and Josh Fox, the director of the anti-fracking documentary “Gasland,” who told protestors that every time he comes to Albany, “there’s more of you and the weather is worse.” Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Tags: high-impact hydraulic fracturing, hydrofracking, Natural Gas
Paul Davies criticizes Gov. Andrew Cuomo for embracing casino gambling in an opinion column in The New York Times. Davies is a journalist and a fellow at the Institute for American Values, a socially conservative think tank. Davies writes that, if New York follows the blueprint of other states that have allowed casinos, then they’ll be located in rural and working-class towns and cities that cater mainly to low rollers, not James Bond-type jet-setters. He calls state run casinos, “a regressive tax that extracts wealth from the very citizens who can least afford it.” Davies also points to studies that show that, while casinos may create some jobs and generate revenue, they also produce little to no economic spinoff and in fact divert spending away from surrounding businesses like restaurants, movie theaters, and live entertainment. Read Davies Op-ed in The New York Times.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, casinos
Weather right now
READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.
Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Livingston, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts Livingston Monday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Tuesday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 25. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39, low around 23.
• Thursday: A slight chance of rain after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 41, low around 31.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44.
Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.
CAIRO Planning Board workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at Acra Community Center, Old County Route 23, Cairo. 518-622-9898
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:14 a.m./ 5:02 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:41 a.m. / 6:53 p.m.
Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: New Jersey Nets 95 at Chicago Bulls 110; Jordan Farmar, Richard Hamilton, 22 points each.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at Charlotte Bobcats, 7 p.m. (TV: MSG)
WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. Jan. 24:
• “4th Tuesday Opera Scene,” Noon-2 p.m.: Ed Beaty catches listeners up with opera.
Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
Audio clips to play
New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120312_fishmap.mp3
Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
The Fri., Jan. 20 Chatham Courier included a tribute to local musician Walter Bauer, whose body was found in a creek downstream from the Normans Kill Bridge in Delmar, Wednesday. He was 45-years-old. Police located a stranded vehicle off to the side of the bridge’s roadway, and traced it back to Bauer’s residence in Chatham. When Chatham police officers arrived at his home they found a disturbing message, which led them to believe he committed suicide. Bauer belonged to many bands and performing groups, including Conehead Buddha, Chatham Airplane, and the PantoLoons of the Ghent Playhouse. Rob Caldwell, owner of Musica in Hudson, was a long time friend of Bauer’s. He spoke to the Courier’s Audra Jornov about the man and his music. “He approached every genre of music with reverence … it was sacred to him,” said Caldwell. Friends and employers also mourned the loss of a talented artist and a reliable worker. Bauer was a chocolatier and beekeeper at Tierra Farm in Valatie and a yogurt producer at the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company. Bauer’s sister, Sheri Bauer-Mayorga, hosts a radio show “What is Music?” every other Sunday at 9 a.m. on WGXC. Read the tribute to Walter Bauer in the Chatham Courier and Caldwell wrote about Bauer and his music in a holiday column in the Register Star in December.
Tags: Chatham, Sheri Bauer-Mayorga, suicide, Walter Bauer
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association hopes Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to end the Combined Ballistic Identification System (CoBIS) passes the state legislature. The program inventories spent shell casings at an estimated cost of nearly $44 million since March, 2001, and the gun lobby, NYSRPA, says no crimes have been solved because of the information collected. Dick Nelson, in the Register-Star, reports, “records show that it only documented 1,150 matches of ballistic evidence between multiple crime scenes out of nearly 168,000 bullets and casings which were entered nationwide.” The state legislature is currently considering A-1131/S-459 bills.
Tags: Combined Ballistic Identification System, guns, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association
There’s another major rally against high-impact hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in Albany Mon., Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. at The Well at the Legislative Office Building. Actress Debra Winger is the celebrity du jour, and Josh Fox, the director of the Oscar-nominated “Gasland” film about the subject, will be there too, as will as all sorts of regional and national organizartons such as Catskill Mountainkeeper, Riverkeeper, New York Public Interest Research Group, the Sierra Club, and others.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed an amendment to the state constitution to legalize casino gambling “regulated by the state.” The Times-Union posted a copy of the bill on its Capitol Confidential blog. Read about the proposed law at Capitol Confidential.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, casinos, gambling
New York’s Senator Kirsten Gillibrand backed away from the Protect Intellectual Property Act legislation she co-sponsored in what Rebecca Melnitsky called “an especially appropriate manner” in her article in the Times-Union. The Senator used Facebook to acknowledge that her office had been deluged with concerns about the bill and wrote, “I agree there are real concerns with the current legislation and I’m working to make important changes to the bill.” The measure would prosecute websites that “engage in, enable, or facilitate” copyright infringement. Several tech companies shut down their websites last week to protest PIPA and its House counterpart, the Stop Online Piracy Act, out of concern they would stymie the growth and development of online businesses. The Senator acknowledged the, “outpouring of democracy in action,” around the law. In a statement released by her office she said, “It is time for Congress to take a step back and start over with both sides bringing their solutions to the table to find common ground towards solving this problem.” Locally, New York Sens. Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer initially supported the bill while Republican Congressman Chris Gibson opposed the measures. Read Melnitsky’s article in the Times-Union.
Tags: Chris Gibson, Chuck Schumer, Internet, internet freedom, Kirsten Gillibrand, PIPA, SOPA
Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in The Albany Times-Union that, faced with a federal lawsuit later this week with the New York Civil Liberties Union, the city of Troy settled with The Sanctuary for Independent Media in their lawsuit accusing the city of shutting them down for code violations for free speech reasons. Then Troy Public Works Commissioner Robert Mirch, now a Rensselear County Legislator, got upset about the political content of an art show and led pickets outside the media center March 10, 2008. The next day, as Public Works Commisssioner, he closed the center for a few code violations. The Sanctuary for Independent Media had agreed to host an art installation by Iraqi-American artist Wafaa Bilal, after Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cancelled the show there due to complaints. While Mirch delayed the show temporarily, now his actions are causing the city to establish a fund for programming there involving the city and the media group. “We’re looking forward to moving forward in a positive way with the (city’s) new administration,” said Steve Pierce, executive director of the Sanctuary for Independent Media. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.
Tags: Robert Mirch, Steve Pearce, The Sanctuary for Indendent Media, Wafaa Bilal
The Mid-Hudson News Network reports in The Daily Freeman that employment rose 1.4 percent in Columbia County in 2011, and fell 3.9 percent in Greene County. Ulster County gained 2.6 percent in employment last year. Statewide employment grew 1.3 percent, with 90,100 new jobs. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
The New York Giants beat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17 in overtime Sun., Jan. 22. The play the New England Patriots in two weeks in Indianapolis. In 2007, the two teams played in the Super Bowl, and the Giants defeated the the Patriots to win the title that year.
Tags: New York Giants
The National Weather Service issued a Freezing Rain Advisory for all counties in the WGXC listening area from midnight until noon Mon., Jan. 23. Temperatures in the upper 20s overnight will turn to the mid-30s in the morning, and roads could be icy or very slick. Watch for possible opening delays Monday morning.
Tags: Freezing Rain Advisory, weather
Weather right now
READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.
Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Climax, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts a general warming trend this week. Monday in Climax there is an 80 percent chance of rain or freezing rain before 1 p.m., then rain. High near 42. Monday night rain is likely, mainly before 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 43, low around 24.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38, low around 22.
• Thursday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39, low around 25.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.
Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Monday of the month.
CATSKILL Village board meeting at 7 p.m. at Firehouse near Catskill Commons (Wal Mart) (943-3830).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development/Planning/Tourism/Agriculture/Transportation Committee Meeting, 5 p.m at 401 State St., Hudson.
GERMANTOWN A public hearing on a new, comprehensive parking law. Regular meeting follows, postponed a week due to the Martin Luther King holiday at 6:30 p.m. at Germantown Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, 518-537-6687.
HALCOTT Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 813 Route 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920)
HUDSON Common Council Police Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall; Fire Committee Meeting at 6:45 p.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
PHILMONT Local Development Corp meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:14 a.m./ 5:01 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:08 a.m. / 5:48 p.m.
New Moon: 2:40 a.m.
Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NFL SUN: Baltimore Ravens 20 at New England Patriots 23. The Ravens missed a last-minute field goal that would have tied the game.
NFL SUN: New York Giants 20 at San Francisco 49ers 17. The Giants play the Patriots in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
Schedules
NBA: New Jersey Nets at Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. (TV: YES)
WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mon. Jan. 23:
• “WGXC Morning Show,” 10 a.m.: Philip Grant hosts an hour-long tribute to Etta James.
• “Monday Musical Matinee,” Noon-2 p.m.: Lincoln Mayorga’s mostly classical, musical tour.
Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.
Audio clips to play
New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions
Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
Tags: town meetings
Newt Gingrich handily won the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina Sat., Jan. 21. Mitt Romney finished second, Ron Santorum third, Ron Paul fourth, Herman Cain (who dropped out, but who let comedian Stephen Colbert run under his name) fifth, and Rick Perry, who dropped out earlier in the week, sixth. In the only vote that matters, the delegate count it is now a tie according to The New York Times, with Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich both with 19 delegates; Rick Santorum has twelve; Ron Paul, 3; and since-out Jon Huntsman has two. CNN has a different delegate count: Romney 31; Gingrich, 26 Paul, 10; Santorum, 8. They both agree it takes 1144 to win, and many of those come from party insiders, sitting politicians, and others, and not just primary and caucuses results. South Carolina was winner-take-all, but most states this year split delegates proportionally. New York voters go to the polls April 24.
Tags: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul
Via Boing Boing, a tribute to Etta James, above. WGXC’s Philip Grant hosts a tribute at 10 a.m. on WGXC 90.7-FM. Also Johnny Otis just passed away too. See below.
Tags: Etta James, Johnny Otis, Philip Grant
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all areas south of Greene and Columbia counties. Delaware, Ulster, Dutchess, and points south may get hit with up to eight inches of snow tonight, while the forecast for Greene and Columbia counties is just an inch or two.
Tags: snow, Winter Weather Advisory
On The Air
WGXC is on 90.7-FM now, at full-power, 3300 watts. We cover all parts of Greene County except parts of the mountaintop, and all of Columbia County except for a bit of Western Columbia County south of Germantown. WGXC also covers a large part of southern Albany County. We have heard reports that the signal is getting from Delaware County to Great Barrington, from Selkirk to Saugerties, from Pine Plains to the I-90 extension.
Local weather/webcams
National Weather Service, Albany
Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page
When the computer is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information in Harlemville. Check dates and times to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was turned off.
Greene County webcams:
Catskill webcam: Thomas Cole House Claude Mirror
Nearby webcams:
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