Albany County

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Anne Pyburn offers a tribute to two recently deceased local activists in this month’s issue of Chronogram. First, Dara Greenwald taught and curated art exhibits, focusing on visual representations of radical culture. She and her partner Josh Macphee organized a traveling exhibit called “Signs of Change: Social Movement Culture, 1960s to Now,” that premiered at Exit Art, New York in 2008, before traveling to several other venues.

Also, Gale McGovern was active in the gay rights movement in New York in the 1970s. After moving to Ulster County in 1982, she founded several organizations and led others including WEB (Women Escaping Batterers), the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Youth, the Coalition for an Ulster County Human Rights Law, Friends of Comadres, People Against Racism, the Ulster County Global Warming Project. Read more about their lives and work in Chronogram.

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Lisa D. Connell writes in the Register Star that the state’s Office of Children and Family Services has awarded grant funding to two social service agencies in the area. Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth, based in Canaan, and Parsons Child and Family Center of Albany, will share a total of $14.4 million in grant funding made available by the state agency this year. Berkshire received $314,716, to support a family preservation programs to provide at-risk children and families the services and support needed to keep children in their own homes. Parsons received $400,000, as part of the state’s 2011-12 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Prevention (TANF) and Post-Adoption Grants. Berkshire and Parsons were two of the 49 grantees selected from 106 applications submitted. Other regional recipients include: Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany and Northeast Parent and Child Society Inc. Read the full story in the Register Star.

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John Reagan posts on the Lafarge Ravena Facts blog, the information post for the large cement plant, that the new “modernization” of the facility is underway after permits were approved last year. He posts this 26-second field recording video of the new storm water basin at the Lafarge plant.

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Andrea Macko reports in the now-biweekly Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) that Rensselaerville Town Supervisor, Democrat Marie Dermody, quit Jan. 24, citing the “political culture” in the town was making it “impossible” to get anything done. In November elections, Democrats lost control of the Town Board. Deputy Supervisor Victor La Plante also resigned. At an emergency meeting the next day, the board appointed Valerie Lounsbury deputy supervisor. The board will appoint a supervisor, and another election will be held in November to fill the seat. At that meeting, Conservative Robert Bolte ripped the yellow tape line off the floor, where Dermody made anyone speaking to the board stand at meetings.

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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.)

Read the rest of this entry »

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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

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Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Senate Republicans are proposing a new, 63rd Senate district that includes all of Greene County, and much of Albany and Ulster counties. Vielkind writes that, “the seat is envisioned for Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Rotterdam. It’s boundaries were revealed to the Times Union by a state official; the official maps for all Senate districts will be released this week.” The district has about 325,000 residents and has more Democrats than Republicans. President Barack Obama won the proposed district in 2008 by a 55-44 margin. See more for the complete list of towns in the proposed district. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential. Read the rest of this entry »

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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.

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Hilary Hawke in the Ravena News-Herald reports that in Coeymans in Albany County, “a group of local business owners had asked for reconsideration of several issues, among them rezoning parts of [Route] 144 to industrial use.” Hawke does not say what the possible industrial use might be, but does report that Town Supervisor Steve Flach is going to ask attorneys and the planning board how to proceed. Flach is also asking business owners in Coeymans to contact his office about any laws that find unfair. Flach hopes to hold a public hearing on any proposed changes in local laws in February. Read the entire story in the Ravena News-Herald.

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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 Stuyvesant, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts for Thursday in Stuyvesant a slight chance of snow showers after 3 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 29. Thursday night there’s a chance of snow showers, mainly before 5 a.m., with a low around 19. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible. The weekend forecast:
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27, low around 15.
• Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 26, low around 18.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 34, low around 26.
• Monday: A chance of rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Thursday of the month.
ANCRAM Board meeting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CHATHAM Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. Town Hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Safety Committee meeting at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town board meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
GHENT A 6:45 p.m. public hearing before the Ghent Town Board to consider the adoption of Local Law No. 1 of the year 2012 which would amend the Zoning Law in connection with the definition of the word “use.” Also, Town Board meeting at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE IDA The Greene County Industrial Development Agency holds their Board Meeting at 8 a.m. at Greene County IDA Office, 270 Mansion St., Coxsackie. 518-731-5500
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170)

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:19 a.m./ 4:49 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 8:54 p.m. / 9:01 a.m.

Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Golden State Warriors 100 at New Jersey Nets 107, 7:30 p.m. (TV: YES)
NBA: Phoenix Suns 91 at New York Knicks 88
Schedules
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. (TV: TNT)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Jan. 19:
• “Tell It Like It Is,” 10 a.m.: Hosts Christina Malisoff and Kieran Riley will talk to Kathy Manley, Vice President of the New York Civil Liberties Union, about the recently-approved National Defense Authorization Act.
• “69,” 9:30-midnight: The Magic Stranger celebrates Janis Joplin.

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

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Weather right now
Hosts: Please announce the current temperature in Hudson, which is in Studio A in Hudson. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air. The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; the two others are Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.

Please credit the above temperatures: From the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; and from Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.
On the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page, when the computer at Hawthorne Valley is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information live from Harlemville. Check dates and times at bottom of image to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was last turned off. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Kinderhook, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts it will be artly sunny in Kinderhook Tuesday, with a high near 42. Tuesday night it should be mostly clear, with a low around 23. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Overnight, snow developing at 4 a.m., low 33.
• Thursday: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 9 a.m., high near 38. Overnight low 26.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37, overnight low around 18.

Town meetings today
Today is the second Tuesday of the month.
CAIRO The Town of Cairo Planning Board holds a public hearing on the application of Ramakrishnananda Organization to utilize the existing structure for a retreat center and yoga studio at 319 Heart Contents Rd., CR 31, Round Top. Monthly Planning Board meeting follows. 7 p.m. at Acra Community Center, Old County Route 23, Cairo. 518-622-9898
CATSKILL The Town of Catskill Planning Board holds a public hearing to consider a minor two-lot subdivision of land located on Mossy Hill Rd, Catskill, proposed by Rosana Thompson at 7:10 p.m. at Catskill Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill.
CHATHAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COPAKE Board of Ethics, 7 p.m.; Comprehensive Planning Comm., 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234)
COXSACKIE Town board at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
RENSSELAERVILLE Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Rensselaerville Town Hall, 87 Barger Road, Medusa.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:20 a.m./ 4:47 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:38 p.m. / 7:56 a.m.

Sports scores and schedules
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NCAA: LSU Tigers 0 and Alabama Crimson Tide 21, national championship game.
NBA: Atlanta 106 at New Jersey 101
NBA: Charlotte 87 at New York 91
Schedules
NHL: Detroit at NY Islanders, 7 p.m.
NHL: Phoenix at NY Rangers, 7 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. Jan. 10:
• “Social Graces,” 3 p.m.: Chip Seamans, new general manager at Windham Mountain, will be the guest on Nan Marron’s eitiquette radio show.

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 20120128 Post Office Stories

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 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

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Brian Nearing of the Times-Union writes about local farmers worried that warm December weather poses a risk to their crops. Growers say trees, tricked by a warm December after an unusual winter blast in late November, are showing growth at the buds. Ed Miller, the president of 75-acre Gold Orchards, tells the paper there is no going back if an apple tree starts budding off too early. “A tree can decide that it is spring again already and start budding. When it gets cold again, it kills the bud, and you can lose an entire crop,” he said. But Ian Merwin, a professor of horticulture at Cornell University, says it’s too early to tell whether this mild, snowless start to winter will damage the state fruit harvest. He said an oscillation between unusually warm and normally cold temperatures poses the greatest risk, and that such a pattern is predicted in climatic models used to forecast the direction of man-made climate change. “It is not just how cold it gets; it is whether it was unusually warm before that,” Merwin said. Another crop that could be at risk from this winter’s lack of snow is alfalfa, which is prime feed for dairy cattle. Snow acts as an insulating blanket to protect field crops like alfalfa. Temperatures could bottom out to 4 degrees Thursday night before rebounding to overnight lows in the mid-20s for the weekend. Highs are expected to be just below freezing through Saturday, when clouds gather and the mercury hits 46. Sunday could see a combination of rain and snow, with the high near 37, and the low near 21. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.

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Weather right now
Hosts: Please announce the current temperature in Hudson, which is in Studio A in Hudson. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air. The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; the two others are Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.

Please credit the above temperatures: From the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; and from Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.
On the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page, when the computer at Hawthorne Valley is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information live from Harlemville. Check dates and times at bottom of image to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was last turned off. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Hillsdale, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts the deep freeze will lift in Hillsdale, with a partly sunny Thurday, with a high near 30. Thursday night there will be increasing clouds, with a low around 19. The weekend forecast for Hillsdale:
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Overnight low 28.
• Saturday: A slight chance of showers after 1 p.m., otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 42.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Town meetings today
Today is the first Thursday of the month.
ANCRAM At 6 p.m. the Ancram Town Board holds the 2011 Year End and 2012 Organizational meeting. At 7 p.m., the Planning Board meets at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Columbia County Board of Supervisors’ Organizational Meeting at 3 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson.
COPAKE Planning Board meets at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
RENSSELAERVILLE Rensselaerville Hydrofracking Committee Meeting at 7 p.m. at Rensselaerville Town Hall, 87 Barger Road, Medusa.
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:20 a.m./ 4:42 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:45 p.m. / 4:04 a.m.

Sports scores and schedules
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: New Jersey 70 at Boston 89
NBA: Charlotte 118 at New York 110
NCAAFB: West Virginia 70, Clemson 33
Schedules
NHL: Florida at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Jan. 5:
• “The Art of the Hudson Valley,” 2 p.m.: Host Chad Weckler talks with installation and performance artists Michael Asbill, Ryder Cooley, and Matthew Slaats.

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 20120128 Post Office Stories

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 15:05 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 2:55
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 15:05 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 2:55
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 15:05 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 2:55
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 15:05 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 2:55
• 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

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The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) lists the top 11 stories of 2011, though the 11th is about the Sheriff’s jail lieutenant that shot a fellow hunter in 2010. Here are the top ten stories for the paper that covers the northern part of Greene County and southern Albany county:
• 10) “Ex-Durham cop sentenced to prison,” about former police officer Nathan Van Fleet, who got an additional two-year sentence for weapons charges.
• 9) “Police probe Town of Greenville Highway Department,” about an investigation later dropped for, “lack of of witnesses and evidence.”
8) “Slater sells Cairo’s Great American supermarket to Hannaford,” By the end of the year, the Cairo Planning Board approved plans for the 40,000-square foot supermarket to be built.
• 7) “Superintendent Zeh resigns,” about how Gary Zeh left after 18 acrimonious months fighting the town board in Rensselaerville.
• 6) “Direction of hilltown voting is shifting right,” about how Tea Party candidate Deborah Busch defeated Alexander “Sandy” Gordon for the 39th Assembly seat in Albany that represents Westerlo, Rensselaerville, and parts of Berne and Knox.
• 5) “Water park makes waves in Greene,” about proposed Great Wolf water park for New Baltimore with help from the Greene County Industrial Development Agency.
• 4) “Fire, crash claim the lives of two local high school students,” about the deaths of 17-year-old Erika Cook and 18-year-old Samantha Pagan that occurred in a traffic accident as they turned into the Cairo-Durham High School entrance.
• 3) “Frey steps down,” about Durham legislator Sean Frey’s resignation as part of a deal with the Greene County District Attorney’s office.
• 2) “Resignations shakeup the Greene County IDA,” as Alexander “Sandy” Mathes and, later, four board members resigned from the Industrial Development Agency.
• 1) “Irene,” and the storms and flooding associated with that Hurricane that hit Greene County in late August, devastating several towns.

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Western Greene County, Western Albany County, and Western Ulster Counties are all under Wind Advisories from the National Weather Service through this evening. A Wind Advisory means that winds of 31 to 39 mph are possible, with gusts of 46 to 57 mph possible. Winds that strong can make driving difficult.

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Hilary Hawke in Ravena News-Herald reports that an environmental consultant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) told Town of Coeymans Highway Superintendent Albert Deering the town can’t clean out the Hannacroix Creek without the proper permits. In 2007, after flooding, Coeymans won a remediation project grant for the creek that would remove trees and debris from the creek, but has never applied for the proper permits. Now, after more flooding from storms associated with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, folks who live off the creek are complaining the work has not been done. “Even if the town had spent the money on the creek remediation it might not have withstood the 2011 storm and there is no assurance it would have worked,” DEC Environmental Analyst Andy Marcuccio told Hawke. At the end of the story, Hawke finally reveals:

“In a further development, DEC Regional Citizen Participation Specialist Rick Georgeson said during a DEC staff meeting with town officials on Friday, December 16 several trees and piles of debris had been flagged and approved for removal. The DEC extended verbal confirmation of the permit on Monday and will mail copies of the permit as well.”

Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.

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The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for Western Greene County and Eastern Columbia County through 1 p.m., Fri., Dec. 16. The warning also covers all of Albany and Rensselaer counties, and Western Ulster County. Winds of 15 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 40 and 50 mph.

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Weather right now
Hosts: Please announce the current temperature in Hudson, which is in Studio A in Hudson. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Please credit the above temperatures: From the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; and from Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.
On the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page, when the computer at Hawthorne Valley is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information live from Harlemville. Check dates and times at bottom of image to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was last turned off. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Chatham.
The National Weather Service says the weather in Chatham Thursday will be rainy, mainly before 4 p.m., with a high near 46. Thursday night there is a chance of showers, mainly before 11 p.m., with a low around 36. The weekend forecast:
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind between 10 and 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 38.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37.

Town meetings today
This is the third Thursday of the month.
ANCRAM Board meeting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CAIRO Cairo-Durham Board of Education Meeting, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Cairo Elementary School, 424 Main St., Cairo, 518-622-3231.
CHATHAM Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. Town Hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Safety Committee meeting at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Copake Zoning Review Meeting at 7 p.m. This committee will continue to meet on a regular basis on the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the same location at 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE The Village of Coxsackie Planning Board holds a Public Hearing for a minor sub-division for property owned by William and Betty Jane Nevins located in the Village of Coxsackie at 7 p.m. at Coxsackie Town Hall at 16 Reed St., Coxsackie. 518-731-2727
DURHAM Town board meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
GHENT Town Board meeting at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644)
GREENE COUNTY The Greene County Industrial Development Agency holds their board meeting. 8 a.m. at Greene County IDA Office, 270 Mansion St., Coxsackie, 518-731-5500
HUDSON Hudson holds a public hearing on Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 4:00PM in the Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, on the following proposed Local Laws which were adopted by the Common Council on November 30, 2011: Proposed Local Law Introductory No. 4 of 2011 – A Local Law amending the City Zoning Code to implement the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and for other purposes. Proposed Local Law Introductory No. 5 of 2011 – A Local Law amending the City Zoning Code to implement the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program by providing for Local Consistency Review. Proposed Local Law Introductory N0.6 of 2011 – A Local Law amending the City Charter to implement the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program by providing for the appointment of a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Consistency Review Board. Proposed Local Law Introductory No. 7 of 2011 – A Local Law amending the City Charter to provide for the appointment of a Harbor Master in order to implement the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. 4 p.m. at Hudson City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson, 518-828-1030
RENSSELAERVILLE The Rensselaerville Hydrofracking Committee meets at 7 p.m. at Rensselaerville Town Hall, 87 Barger Road, Medusa.
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./ 4:29 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 9:55 p.m. / 10:27 a.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Dec. 15:
• “Between the Lines,” 2 p.m.: Ann Forbes Cooper talks with local authors Randy Treu and Ed Breslin.
• “Radio Theatre,” 3 p.m.: “Involuntary Reception” by Kristin Lucas, and a work by Anna Friz’s “The Clandestine Transmissions of Pirate Jenny.”
• “WGXC Afternoon Show,” 4 p.m.: Hosts Richard Roth and Ellen Thurston talk to local artist Wayne Coe.

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 20111219 CCC Christmas dinner
• A_OFF_PSA_20120127_henriquez_youth_fund.mp3
• A_OFF_PSA_20120301_prescription_drug_help.mp3
• A_OFF_PSA_20120315_probono.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:00 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:14
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:00 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:14
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:00 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:14
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:00 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:14
• 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

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Lafarge North America Inc., one of the largest suppliers of construction materials in the United States and Canada, and four of its U.S. subsidiaries have agreed to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Tue., Nov. 29. The violations include unpermitted discharges of stormwater, and failure to comply with stormwater permits at 21 stone, gravel, sand, asphalt and ready-mix concrete facilities in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, and New York, but not at the Ravena, New York plant. The Lafarge Ravena plant was not part of the settlement, and is about to be upgraded. Lafarge North America Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Va., is the largest diversified supplier of construction materials in the United States and Canada. The company produces and sells cement, ready-mixed concrete, gypsum wallboard, aggregates, asphalt, paving construction, precast solutions and pipe products. The settlement resolves violations at 21 facilities including these in New York.
• Freedom Aggregate Delevan, N.Y.
• River Road Ready Mix Tonawanda, N.Y.
• Genessee Ready Mix Lancaster, N.Y.
• New Road Ready Mix Niagara Falls, N.Y.
• Gasport Aggregate Gasport, N.Y.
• Lockport Aggregate Lockport, N.Y.
• Niagara Falls Aggregate Niagara Falls, N.Y.

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) police officers recently set up “saturation patrols” to target illegal deer shooting using artificial light, a practice commonly known as deer jacking. “The vast majority of hunters pursue and take game legally,” said DEC Law Enforcement Major Tim Duffy. “We work closely with the sporting community to stop individuals from illegally taking game to the detriment of wildlife populations and the legal efforts of honest hunters.” In Columbia County, they charged the following folks:
• On November 10, Todd Hall, 44, of Austerlitz and David Hall, 43, of Chatham were charged with possession of an unsecured firearm in a motor vehicle while spotlighting, a misdemeanor. Both were issued an appearance tickets returnable to Austerlitz Justice Court and face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail.
• On November 24, Dominick Popp, 74, of Gallatin was issued appearance tickets for the illegal taking of deer and shooting over a bait pile. Popp appeared in Gallatin Town Court, apologized for his actions and paid a $750 fine.
In Albany County, DEC recorded 14 incidents of deer jacking, 11 in Rensselaer County, and one in Schenectady County. If you have information regarding illegal hunting activities, please contact the DEC Turn in Poachers & Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-847-TIPP (7332).

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Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency for Greene, Columbia, Albany, Dutchess, Delaware, Rensselaer, and Ulster counties, along with others farther south, because of Saturday’s large snowstorm. Saturday around 10 p.m. there were no major road closures in our area, according to the Governor’s press release.

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Hilary Hawke in The Ravena News-Herald reports that the Coeymans Hollow Post Office may close next year, largely because of a 2006 law passed by a Republican-led Congress that requires the U.S. Postal Service to pre-fund all retiree and pension obligations for the next 75 years, that is causing the postal service to operate at a deficit. Over 50 local residents turned out for an Oct. 13 informational meeting, and most opposed the closure. At a post office closing meeting at the South Bethlehem Post Office on October 11, Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, the Republican in Albany who represents Coeymans, told anyone upset about postal closures to “make noise” and contact their representatives, as he does not believe there is a need to put aside so much pension money now, and would rather local offices remain open. If closed, Coeymans mail would move to the Ravena office. Read the entire story in The Ravena News-Herald.

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A story without a byline in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (the paper without a website) reports that the Town of Rensselaerville is considering raising taxes at budget workshops Oct. 25 and Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. “I am truly hoping we don’t have to vote to override the tax cap,” said Town Supervisor Marie Dermody in the story. The town will lose county sales tax revenue next year, since about 70 fewer people in the town then a decade ago, and the funds are based on census figures. In addition, Albany County’s proposed 2012 budget includes a 19.2 percent tax increase.

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Andrea Macko writes several articles in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) about recovery efforts in Rensselaerville and Preston Hollow in Albany County. Macko reports about an Oct. 4 special meeting of the Rensselaerville Town Board about the flood damage in Preston Hollow. She reports that Town Supervisor Marie Dermody and town council members Gary Chase and John Kudlack defeated a motion by Bob Bolte (and voted for by Marion Cooke) to allow public comment at the crowded meeting. Macko writes residents did get their say a week later at an Oct. 11 meeting, and several complained about being silenced the week before. Medusa resident and Tea Party activist David Bowdish said not allowing public comment at the meeting was not in the spirit of the U.S. Constitution. Supervisor Dermody, meanwhile, had her own complaints: three important state and federal officials could not come or backed out of appearing before the board. Highway Superintendent David Potter estimated it will cost $500,000 to stabilize Catskill Creek in the hamlet. A representative from FEMA did answer questions from the public, but the story makes clear that Rensselaerville and Preston Hollow are not getting the attention they need to recover from Hurricane Irene damage.

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced Tue., Oct. 4, that $1.2 million more in aid from the state’s Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF) will be distributed among 127 farms to help them recover from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Locally those farms in the latest round of aid include:
Greene County Soil & Water District – $69,350
Projects: Debris removal, fence repair, grassed waterway repair.
• Crystal Valley Farm, $9,000
• John Falke Farm, $34,500
• Stoneledge Farm, LLC, $12,500
• John J Farber Farm, $13,350
Columbia County Soil & Water District – $64,000
Projects: Access road, stream crossing, fencing repair, debris removal from crop fields and stream bank stabilization.
• Doyle Mtn. Farm, $26,000
• Klein’s Kill Fruit Farm Corp., $14,500
• Robert Meyer Farm, $10,500
• Buster Creek Farm, $13,000
Albany County Soil & Water District – $34,425
Projects: Reconstruction of access roads, stream crossings, fence repair, and gravel deposition removal.
• Kevin Sisson, $13,200
• Robert Rapp, $8,500
• Windy Hill Farm, $9,725
• Kenneth Crawford, $3,000
Delaware County Soil & Water District – $21,280
Projects: Debris removal; fencing; access road replacement and repair, stream bank stabilization.
• James Hull Farms, $6,000
• Dairy Smith Holsteins, $1,180
• Felice Sulla & Jerry Raeder, $14,100
Dutchess County Soil & Water District – $19,139
Projects: Debris removal from pastures, access road repair, fence repair, downed tree removal and vegetative buffer planting.
• FW Battenfeld and Son, $9,639
• Briggs Hollow Farm, $9,500
Rensselaer County Soil & Water District – $800
Projects: Fence replacement and repair; stream bank stabilization, debris removal, and access road repair.
• Terry Wasielewski Farm, $800
Schoharie County Soil & Water District – $207,950
Projects: Debris removal including gravel piles, whole trees, buildings, fuel and propane tanks in crop fields; milk house waste treatment system replacement; fencing; access road replacement and repair’ stream bank stabilization; cover cropping; field repair, water control structure repair.
• Schoharie Nurseries, $29,200
• Barber Family Farm LLC, $58,000
• John Vanderwerken Farm, $36,250
• James Buzon Farm, $7,000
• Chris Lawton Farm, $8,000
• Fox Valley Vail Farm, $22,500
• Eleanor Reinhart Farm, $2,500
• Rock & Pinkster Farm, $21,500
• River Run Tree Farm, $6,000
• Maurice Downs Farm, $3,000
• Theresa Murphy Farm, $4,000
• Mountain Valley Angus, $10,000
Ulster County Soil & Water District – $102,589
Projects: Stream crossing for equipment repair, critical area seeding, irrigation system repair, fencing, orchard repair, debris removal, access road repair and cover cropping.
• Greiner Bros Farm Inc, $30,860
• Pinegrove Ranch Inc., $1,692
• Woodcrest Farms, $4,734
• Watswyck Farm, $1,170
• J & B Trapani Co Inc, $27,095
• J. A. M. of New Paltz, Inc, $10,736
• Jaway Farm, $25,702
• The Farm, $600

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Nearly 1,000 state layoffs land in Albany County
Jimmy Vielkind reports in Capitol Confidential that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has targeted 3,496 government jobs for elimination, though only eight are in Greene or Columbia counties. Cuomo began the layoffs last week when the Public Employees Federation voted down a tentative contract agreement. The total layoffs per area counties:
• Greene County, 5 jobs
• Columbia County, 3
• Albany County, 998
• Rensselaer County, 49
• Delaware County, 7
• Dutchess County, 115
• Ulster County, 5
Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

High-impact hydraulic fracturing hearing Thursday
While the Department of Environmental Conservation’s public hearings about high-impact hydraulic fracturing will be held farther south away from our area, the New York State Assembly holds a hearing Thursday closer, in Albany. The Assembly’s Committee on Environmental Conservation holds a hearing Thur. Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m. at Hamilton Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor of the Legislative Office Building in the State Capitol. To testify, one needs to fill out a form.

Greene Dems elect new leader
Greene County Democrats changed leaders Monday, Oct. 3, electing Doreen Davis chair, and Terry McSorley vice-chair, and Marie Metzler at Gallagher’s in Cairo. Davis has been the town of Catskill’s Democratic Committee chairwoman and treasurer for the county party. Previously, Tom Poelker was chairman, Brud Miller was vice chair, and Metzler was secretary.

Occupy Albany meets
WGXC’s Jack Ross-Pilkington attended the Occupy Albany meeting Sunday, where organizers of the offshoot protest movement from Occupy Wall Street, planned similar actions. Ross-Pilkington writes: “When I first got there, there were about 20 people, but the number rose to about 150 by the time I left. There was no apparent leader, and took much pride in that. There were lots of proposals (15) such as providing transportation to NYC, creating a video expressing solidarity with Wall St protesters, and researching possible places for an Albany occupation. They have more videos and information at their website, occupyalbany.org.” Wednesday, union organizers are joining the Occupy Wall Street protest, and there a planned student walkout and protest at SUNY Albany at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.

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Durham Elementary location of possible charter school
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) reports that this Tuesday, October 4, the Cairo-Durham Central School District is holding a first meeting to consider turning Durham Elementary into a charter school. Three administrators, four teachers, and six parents have formed a “Parents Choice Charter School” committee to consider the idea. The meeting is at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Cairo-Durham High School, 1301 Route 145, in Durham. The next Cairo-Durham Board of Education meeting is Thu. Oct. 13.

West Nile Virus confirmed in Albany County
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer reports that the Albany County Department of Health says an adult over the age of 60 contracted West Nile Virus in Albany County, the first ever in that county. Mosquitoes deliver the disease to humans, and there are more mosquitoes in our area than usual, as we have excessive rain since before Hurricane Irene blew through.

Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration & Sailing Society becomes non-profit
Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration & Sailing Society Inc., a local group led by Louise E. Bliss that’s attempting to restore the Sloop Eleanor, has been granted official non-profit status, and has a website. Sloop Eleanor is currently protected from the weather at 191 23 B, Hudson. The group will have an information tent set up this Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hudson’s Henry Hudson Waterfront Park, to answer questions about the project.

One month left to register for FEMA aid
The Daily Mail reports that New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Irene have four weeks to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance. Oct. 31, 2011 is the deadline. “Registration keeps open the possibility of a wide range of assistance,” said Philip E. Parr, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer. “If your insurance coverage comes up short, or other damage appears later, you need to be registered for us to help.” To register, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

New York sports
In baseball, the New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers Sunday, bringing their best-of-five playoff series to a one-to-one tie. Game three is tonight in Detroit. In football, the New York Jets were embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens Sunday 34-17. The New York Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-27, and the New England Patriots beat the Oakland Raiders 31-19.

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Cuomo announces $175,000 for Greene farmers; $44,000 for Columbia County
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced $2.4 million from the state’s Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF) to 125 New York farms to help recover from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Specifically, money will go locally to:
Greene County Soil & Water District – $174,650
Projects: Debris removal, fence repair, and grassed waterway repair.
Columbia County Soil & Water District – $44,000
Projects: Access road, stream crossing, fencing repair, debris removal from crop fields, and stream bank stabilization.
Albany County Soil & Water District – $30,250
Projects: Replacement of alternative water supply and reconstruction of an access road, fencing, and gravel deposition removal.
Delaware County Soil & Water District – $101,214
Projects: Debris removal, milk house waste treatment system replacement, fencing, access road replacement and repair, stream bank stabilization.
Dutchess County Soil & Water District – $17,403
Projects: Debris removal from pastures, access road repair, fence repair, downed tree removal, and vegetative buffer planting.
Rensselaer County Soil & Water District – $184,060
Projects: Fence replacement and repair, stream bank stabilization, debris removal, and access road repair.
Ulster County Soil & Water District – $190,252
Projects: Stream crossing for equipment repair, critical area seeding, irrigation system repair, fencing, orchard repair, debris removal, access road repair, and cover cropping.
The Conservation Program is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in consultation with the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Applications for funding will be accepted from County Soil and Water Conservation Districts within the eligible counties.

From DEC.

DEC releases pheasants for 2011 hunting season
Hurricane Irene is taking another victim this fall: pheasant hunters. Greene and Schoharie counties may not get any pheasants released on hunting lands, “due to flooding in some areas and other logistical problems, there are currently no stocking sites in Greene County; however, if conditions improve birds may be released during the regular season,” according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC just announced it is releasing 30,000 adult pheasants on lands open to public hunting for the upcoming Fall pheasant hunting season.
In Columbia County there are four release sites:
• Kinderhook – County Rte. 21 southeast of Dahlgren Rd. (RS)
• New Lebanon – South side of Cemetery Rd., west of Royce Hill Rd. (RS)
• New Lebanon – County Rte. 5A and Old Post Rd.- Ask permission (RS)
• New Lebanon – South side of Rte. 20 east of Old Shaker Rd. Access with limited parking on farm road just east of Stewart’s Shop (RS)
Albany County
• Berne – Partridge Run WMA – See maps at all informational kiosks. (YH, RS)
• Knox – Margaret Burke WMA – west side of Cty Rte 254. (YH, RS)
• New Scotland – West side of Diamond Hill Rd. north of Clipp Rd. (RS)
Delaware County
• Colchester – Bear Spring Mtn. WMA – Trout Brook Rd. (YH, RS)
• Franklin- Off Rt. 357 across from Merrickville Rd. on Town property. Must obtain permission to hunt surrounding private land. (RS)
• Harpersfield – Peters Rd. northwest of Bruce Hill Rd. Park at designated parking sign. Two vehicles maximum. (RS)
• Walton – Bear Spring Mtn. WMA – West Trout Brook Rd. (RS)
Dutchess County
• Amenia – Wassaic Multiple Use Area (RS)
• Milan – Lafayetteville Multiple Use Area (YH, RS)
• Red Hook – Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area (YH, RS)
Rensselaer County
• Nassau – North and south of Jefferson Hill Rd. at the intersection with Middle Rd. – Must ask permission by calling 518-766-4346 after 5 PM. (YH, RS)
Ulster County
• Hurley – Gill’s Farm – Must obtain permission from landowner. (RS)
• Rochester – Davis Farm – Must obtain written permission from landowner. (RS)
• Rochester – Kelder Farm – Must obtain written permission from landowner. (RS)
• Wawarsing – Ver Nooy Kill State Forest (Lundy Estate), access from Lundy Road off 209 (RS)
The pheasant hunting season begins on October 1 in our area.

Gibson: I’m disappointed in [Wednesday] night’s vote
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Rep. Chris Gibson (R, Kinderhook) voted unsuccessfully Wed., Sept. 21 to pass a larger House spending bill directing storm aid to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an agency with open offices in Greene and Columbia counties, and an agency that may run out of money this week. “I was disappointed to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle vote against this CR, which provided critical aid money for FEMA and our district,” Gibson said in a statement. “Helping our communities rebuild is far more important than playing political games. I will continue to advocate for immediate passage of FEMA disaster relief and urge leaders from both parties to come together and get this done. I will vote for any legislation we consider in the House that provides disaster relief funding.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Cuomo announces food stamp benefits for local storm victims
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced The Disaster Food Stamp Benefits Program for residents in counties affected by Hurricane Irene became available as of Thu., Sept. 22. Greene and Columbia county residents affected by the recent storms are covered by the program, as are those living in Albany, Delaware, Dutchess, Schoharie, and Ulster counties. The federal government oversees the Food Stamp Program, which is operated in New York State by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). To qualify for disaster food stamp benefits, applicants:
· Must have lived in one of the designated counties at the time of the disaster. Applicants may be eligible if they are temporarily living outside of the disaster area but within the State at the time of the disaster.
· Must plan on purchasing food during the month of September.
· Must have experienced at least one of the following:
o Loss of food or food stamp benefits.
o Damage to, or the destruction of, the household’s home or self-employment business.
o Disaster-related expenses not expected to be reimbursed during the month of September (e.g. home or business repairs, temporary shelter expenses, etc.).
o Loss or inaccessibility of income including reduction or termination of income, or a delay in receipt of income for half a month.
o Inaccessible liquid resources (e.g. banks are closed due to the disaster).
Call 1-800-342-3009, or contact your local department of social services for more information.

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers to close on Sundays
Lissa Harris in the Watershed Post reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and New York Office of Emergency Management Disaster Recovery Centers operating in New York State will now be open only six days a week. Hours are now Mon-Sat, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at these locations:
Greene County: Main Street, Prattsville.
Delaware County: Sidney Civic Center, 21 Liberty Street, Sidney.
Schoharie County: Cobleskill Fire Department, 610 East Main Street, Cobleskill.
Ulster County: Belleayre Ski Center, Route 28, Highmount.
Read the full story in The Watershed Post.

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Windham Command Center closes
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Facebook page reports that the Windham Command Center — the organizing office for storm recovery in the Greene County town — is closing. They report that the number there (734-4938) is not any good anymore. Calls should now be made to the Windham Town Hall at 518-734-4170. The Windham Command Center on South Street will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. effective Sunday, September 11. Displaced residents in need of housing should call (510) 316-7636. Volunteers to help clean up should call Alyssa at (518) 947-0358.

Farms assess storm’s punch
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that about 150 farms in Columbia County sustained some damage from the winds and rains of Hurricane Irene August 28, but only about 15 were damaged extensively. “Sandra Ferry, executive director of the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Columbia and Greene counties, told The Columbia Paper this week that a monetary estimate of farm damage in the county is still being assessed, but primarily losses were to crops of all varieties and crop land. Little harm came to farm structures and no livestock casualties have been reported, Ms. Ferry said,” Valden writes. Bob Fix at the Fix Brothers Farm in Livingston told Valden they had up to 1,000 apple trees toppled or leaning. “Cherry trees fared well through the storm because the fruit had already been picked, but the apple trees were still heavy-laden. That weight combined with the saturated ground and the wind weakened already shaky root systems particularly on new orchard dwarf trees that require a support network of poles and wires to keep them upright, Valden writes. Andy Szymanowicz of Sol Flower Farm on Wiltsie Bridge Road in Ancramdale estimates they lost 15 percent of their crops. The Kinderhook Creek rose to three feet high in the corn fields on the dairy farm of State Farm Bureau Vice President Eric Ooms. “But my heart breaks for the people in Middleburgh,” said Mr. Ooms in Valden’s story. “They had 20 feet of water in their barns in a matter of minutes, they are burying cows and their house is gone. To get some perspective, we got five-inches of rain, the hill towns got 15. We should feel blessed or lucky or whatever you want to call it.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

More storm recovery updates are below.

Elections on Tuesday
From The Daily Freeman (the Greene County Board of Elections has no information about primaries on its website), here are a list of the contested elections in Greene County Tue., Sept. 13.
ATHENS: Five people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 2. On the ballot are Marilyn Farrell, John P. Farrell Jr., Herbert M. Blasewitz, Fred W. Dedrick II and Anthony T. Paluch.
CAIRO: Six people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 5. On the ballot are Carrie E. Anderson, Tara A. Rumph, David Clark, Barbara L. Koerner Fox, Anthony P. Puorro Jr. and Margaret M. Lawrence. Also, Lewis M. O’Connor and Robert F. Hempstead are seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town highway superintendent; and Monika C. Fabiano is seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town clerk.
108TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT: Five people are vying for four positions as delegates to the 3rd Judicial District Convention on the Independence line. On the ballot are Sean W. Egan, Anthony F. Cornell, David O. Kelly, Sharon Kelly and Walter Simonsmeier. On the ballot to be among four alternates to the convention are Eileen M. Clyne, Julia L. Crawley, Phillip Lajeunesse Noreen Lajeunesse and Deborah Simonsmeier.

Gibson supportive of Obama’s economic rebuilding plans
Marc Heller of the Register-Star’s Johnson News Service attempts to analzye Rep. Chris Gibson’s body language during President Obama’s jobs speech last Thursday evening which was broadcast live on WGXC. “He even rose and clapped when Obama called on Congress to end Washington’s “political circus,” a line that drew blank stares from most of his GOP colleagues,” Heller wrote. Then he cites an interview with Gibson, though he does not say who conducted the interview or where. “I think there’s common ground,” he quotes the Republican Representative from Kinderhook. “I think the president is addressing impediments to growth.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The Power of the Press (or whatever Gossips is)
Carole Osterink’s The Gossips of Rivertown was the first source to report that parking tickets were being issued on Labor Day in Hudson, after city officials previously announced it was one of the holidays on which alternate side of the street parking was suspended. First Ward Alderman Sarah Sterling read the post, and then checked in to why folks were getting parking tickets, and now, sends her this report:

In large measure due to your alert about the parking tickets issued on Labor Day for alternate side of the street violations, and with the assistance of Alderman Sarah Sterling, the matter has been resolved. Hudson Police Department Commissioner Ronald Grant Friday evening informed me that the tickets issued for that infraction were in error and all will be voided. If a ticket has been paid, a refund will be issued. I have expressed my appreciation to the Commissioner and to HPD Chief Richardson for handling the matter professionally and quickly. Last year an agreement was reached with the Common Council to suspend alternate side of the street parking regulations on five holidays. The HPD officers on duty Labor Day were not informed of the suspension of alternate side regulations, the sort of lapse to which we are all subject. The Commissioner has offered his apologies, expressed his appreciation for having the matter called to his attention, and remedied it. For the record, the holidays as conveyed to me by the Commissioner when alternate side parking [regulations] are suspended include: New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve.

Read the entire story at The Gossips of Rivertown.

STORM RECOVERY UPDATES

School closings
• All Greene County schools are closed Mon. Sept. 12. An announcement about when they will open for the year will be made Monday, according to Greene County Emergency Services.
• Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD is tentatively scheduled to open Monday, Sept. 19, according to its website.
• Hunter-Tannersville CSD has not announced any changes from Greene County’s opening schedule on its website.
• Middleburgh Central School opens Monday, Sept. 19, according to its website. They will hold a special Board of Education meeting, at 7 p.m. Mon. Sept. 12, in the elementary school cafeteria.
• Schoharie CSD opens Monday, Sept. 12, according to its website.
• Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD has no transportation to or from Greene County, due to Greene County’s emergency order. Parent transport only, according to its website.

Tetanus clinics
The Greene County Department of Health is sponsoring free tetanus immunization clinics for adults 18 and over at the following locations:
• Monday, September 12 at the FEMA tent in Prattsville from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and also at the Lanesville Firehouse from 3-5 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 13 at the Lexington Municipal Hall in Lexington from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Mental Health personnel will be available to speak with individuals at the same time that immunizations are being offered. You can also contact the Greene County Mental Health’s main line at (518) 622-9163.

New York State Insurance Department Mobile Command Center comes to region
State Senator James L. Seward reports the New York State Insurance Department Mobile Command Center (MCC) will be in Greene County and Schoharie County this week to assist residents and business owners with questions they may have following recent storms and flooding. The mobile command center is a 50-foot long van equipped with high-speed internet access and telephone equipment that is being used to help property owners file claims and contact their insurance companies. Insurance Department personnel will also be available to answer consumers’ questions. Find it:
• Monday, September 12 at 491 County Route 12, in Windham. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (staff will leave at 7 p.m. if no activity).
• Tuesday, September 13 at Main Street, Middleburgh. MCC will park to the left of the NBT Bank and chiropractor’s office and across the street from the post office. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition to the MCC, New Yorkers with questions about insurance are urged to call the New York State Insurance Department’s disaster hotline, 1-800-339-1759, Monday though Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Insurance-related information can also be found on the department’s website, www.ins.state.ny.us.

Emergency agriculture meeting
Cornell Cooperative Extension holds an “emergency” meeting for local farmers at 1 p.m. this Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Agroforestry Resource Center, 6055 NYS Route 23, in Acra. “This meeting is designed to offer farmers the opportunity to access all of the different disaster relief efforts being carried on right now by the different organizations and agencies, and all in one place,” according to their press release. “Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) the Farm Services Agency, (FSA) Farm Bureau, (FB) NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS) Soil and Water Conservation Districts, (SWCD) Farm Net, the Department of Labor, (DOL) the Department of Social Services, (DSS) Crop Insurers, the Watershed Agricultural Council, (WAC) Farm Credit East, and Cornell Cooperative Extension will be on hand to help answer your questions, and help direct you to programs within the disaster relief efforts that can best fit your needs.” WGXC will also be on hand air the meeting live on WGXC 90.7-FM and wgxc.org. For more information, please call the Cornell Cooperative Extension at (518) 622-9820. If you have special needs related to program participation, please contact the Agroforestry Center in advance.

Road open
The New York Department of Transportation reports that Route 145 in the town of Cairo to the Albany County line, is now open to traffic in both directions.

Monday morning sports scores
Football
New York Giants 14
Washington Redskins 28

Dallas Cowboys 24
New York Jets 27

Tonight
New England Patriots at
Miami Dolphins 7 p.m.

Baseball
New York Yankees 6
Los Angeles Angels 5
(The Yankees now lead the Red Sox by 3.5 games for the AL East lead.)

Boston Red Sox 1
Tampa Bay Rays 9
(The Red Sox now lead the Rays by 3.5 games for the AL Wild Card.)

Chicago Cubs 10
New York Mets 6 11 innings

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Latest Greene County storm recovery update
The Greene County Emergency Services office released this statement Tue., Sept. 6:

“By order of the County of Greene, all Greene County school districts are hereby directed to cancel classes for the week of September 6, 2011 through September 9, 2011. This decision is not solely based upon condition of school facilities, but upon road and bridge infrastructure that has not been adequately inspected and may be compromised. The state of emergency in Greene County is still in effect and travel is limited, particularly in the townships of Ashland, Lexington, Windham and Prattsville. This decision to cancel classes is relative to Article IIB of NYS Executive Law. Further information is to follow to all school districts and state education by Thursday afternoon, which will allow for final determination to re-open schools on Monday September 12, 2011.”

Windham-Ashland-Jewett schools say they will not open until Sept. 19.
See complete storm recovery update below.

Locavore Cotler wins Locavore Prize
Lisa D. Connell in the Register-Star reports that Amy Cotler, the founding director of Berkshire Grown, won the second annual Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award. Cotler wrote “The Locavore Way,” and received $1,500 from the award, named for the late journalist and first woman on the board of the Columbia County Agricultural Society. Other nominees included: Liz Beals of Beth’s Farm Kitchen; Anna Dawson of Kinderhook, a cook and commercial food preparator of Harvest Kitchen; Amy Locke, a leader behind the Nassau Cooperative Community Food Compact; Ellen Poggi of Hand Hollow Farm in East Chatham; David Robinson of Chatham, a driving force behind the Columbia County Bounty of the County dinner event; Lori J. Selden, of CEO Mexican Radio Restaurant and Co-Founder, Columbia County Bounty. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Voters settle cops’ fate
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper says Copake voters will decide whether or not to eliminate the seven local part-time police force this fall. After $118,000 in unexpected expenses set the town back in July, some residents hope to offset that with $106,980 in savings from eliminating the police department and relying on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police. There will be a public hearing on the proposed local law at 6:20 p.m. Thu., Sept. 8 at Copake Town Hall, before the regular board meeting. “The board expects to conduct one or more information meetings to provide facts about Police Department services, a cost/benefit analysis and crime rate statistics so voters can make an informed decision. Meeting dates and times will be announced,” Valden writes. Then voters will decide Nov. 8. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Athens FD heads to Schoharie
Athens Fire Department reports on its Facebook feed that it is being deployed to Schoharie County to help with storm recovery. The crew will be deployed on Wed. Sept. 7 and expected to stay for two days.

Greene County bridge closures
• Rte. 23A has alternating one-way traffic over Kaaterskill Creek in Hunter.
• Rte. 42 in Lexington, two bridges over the West kill are closed.
• Rte 23 over Schoharie Creek is closed.
• Rte. 32 over Kaaterskill Creek is closed.

Greene County road closures
• Rte. 23A is open to local traffic only between 296 in Hunter and Rte. 23 in Prattsville.
• Rte. 42 in Lexington is closed from CR 13A to Ulster County Line.
• Rte. 23 is open to local traffic only between Rte. 296 in Windham and Rte. 23A in Prattsville.
• Rte. 23 in Prattsville is closed between Rte. 23 over the Schoharie Creek and Rte. 23A. With no access west of the bridge.
• Rte. 32 in Catskill is closed between Rte. 23A and High Falls Rd.

Albany County road closures
• Rt. 145 and Rt. 81 intersection is shut down, bridge there flooded in Preston Hollow.

Water news
• Boil water order in effect for Windham, Hensonville, and Tannersville.
• The Agroforestry Resource Center, Rt 23 in Acra has water testing kits available. Call 622-9820 for details.

Surveying Greene County
New York State Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Pete Lopez will not tour Prattsville (9:30 a.m., specific location not disclosed), Windham (11:30 a.m., specific location not disclosed), Hunter (1:30 p.m., specific location not disclosed), and Cairo Wednesday, Sept. 7, as excessive rain cancelled their tour.

To donate
There is not much need for food and clothes anymore, but more specific items are needed: batteries of all types, pressure washers, large raincoats, flashlights, tools, and other items. WGXC recommends you call a specific donation collection center and ask what they need, or donate funds to help. The Watershed Post has a Google spread sheet with many different places to donate.)

GREENE COUNTY Greene County has specific requests for reconstruction equipment, such as circular saws, cordless drills, crowbars, hammers, screws, shovels, rubber gloves, work gloves, dust masks, wheelbarrows, extension cords, large fans and more. These items can de dropped off at the former Sawyer Automotive location on Route 9W in Catskill, near the Route 23 interchange, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 6-7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$10,000 MATCHING DONATION Unk Slater grew up in Prattsville. After taking food out there this week, he is being told they have more then enough, what they need is cash. So his Great American supermarket in Cairo is now collecting cash donations, and will match the first $10,000. That makes $20,000 for storm victims in Greene County. Slater’s Great American Marketplace is at 241 Main St., in Cairo. Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon.-Sat.: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
CAIRO Big Top Tent Rentals in Cairo is accepting donations destined for needy folks in Prattsville. They are accepting any common sense items that folks displaced by the storm might need: non-perishable food items, water, batteries, hand sanitizer, baby diapers, wipes, etc. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 88 Grove St., Cairo.

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Repair work on Route 73 near Keene, being repaired Mon. Sept. 5. Photo from NYS Governor's Office.

Enter Tropical Storm Lee
If the storms associated with Hurricane Irene weren’t enough, there were heavy rains late Sunday night and late Monday night, and more rain is expected Wednesday and Thursday as what is left from Tropical Storm Lee dumps more water on overly saturated ground. Last time that happened, with Irene, Western Greene County was devastated, and is still digging mud out, repairing bridges, and assessing unfathomable damage. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for Greene, Columbia, Delaware, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Ulster, and Albany counties through 7 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Greene Grime
Dick May, in his Seeing Greene blog, reports yet another local business has abandoned downtown Catskill. Last Wed., Aug. 25, Jeffrey Meyers closed Café 355 telling May, that “I can’t afford to stay open” and is working in Albany. Read the full story in Seeing Greene.

Hundreds turn out for Republican caucus
Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Greene County News that Greenville Republicans picked justice candidate Jens Lobb, incumbent Town Supervisor Paul Macko, Tax Collector Mary Yeomans and Councilman Greg Davis, town clerk candidate Jackie Park, and incumbents Highway Superintendent Richard Hempstead and Councilman John Bensenat at the Greenville Public Library Monday Aug. 29. Macko, Davis, and Bensen were unopposed. Lobb defeated Walter Schelling 110 to 97. Christine Wickes. For town clerk, Park beat Christine Wickes 120 to 85. Hempstead defeated Joseph Licata 118 to 84 for Highway Superintendent. Read the full story in The Greene County News.

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The bridge in Haines Falls was destroyed in the storm. Photo by Dharma Dailey at 2 p.m. Sun., Aug. 28.

Please tune in to WRIP (97.9-FM) in Windham to hear the most direct vital information about the flooding on the mountaintop from the Hurricane Irene-related storms. Please check the Watershed Post blog for the best information about road closures, shelters, places to make donations, and other vital information. WRIP is taking calls at 734-4747. Here are a number of resources, mostly from those sources, for anyone in need of help in the wake of Hurricane Irene:

Dry ice distribution

Central Hudson will distribute dry ice at the following locations today, Tue., Aug. 30.
• Cairo (Greene County) – Angelo Canna Park, Mountain Ave., Cairo (adjacent to Greene County Office of Emergency Preparedness) .
• Ellenville (Ulster County) – Ellenville Village Hall, 81 North Main St., Ellenville.
• Lake Katrine (Ulster County) – Grace Community Evangelical Church, 160 Seremma Ct, Lake Katrine.
Central Hudson reports that 9,800 folks in Greene County lack power still, with no prediction on when that might change. In Columbia County, 300 lack power, which is expected to return by Wed. Aug. 31.

General bulletins

• A state of emergency has been declared in Greene County due to flooding.
• A boil water order is in effect for Tannersville, Hunter, and the Village of Arkville.
• Dial 211 for local recovery assistance information.
• Access to Village of Margaretville restricted to residents and emergency personnel only.

From Dharma Dailey:
“Word from T-Ville Firehouse this AM: All the bridges out of the Town of Hunter have some damage. Telling people to stay put. Power and net just back.” From Monday, Aug. 29.

Catskill shelters

• First Baptist Church on West Main Street
• Second Baptist Church on Main Street
• Firehouse on Central Ave.

Columbia County shelters

• Stuyvesant Fire House on Route 26A
• New Lebanon Fire House on Route 20
• Churchtown Firehouse

Greene County road closures

Greene County
• Route 23A from CR 18 to Route 32A Town of Hunter, bridge damage
• Rte 23 at Hickory Hill Rd, Town of Windham, due to flooding
• Route 23 at Hickory Hill Rd in Town of Windham, closed due to flooding
• Route 42 in Village of Spruceton, Town of Lexington, bridge washout
• Rte 296 in Town of Hensonville and between Co Rte 23C and Fort Hill Rd
• Rte 145 is closed from Rte 81 to Broome County
• Rte 214 is closed from Hunter to Phoenecia
• Route 81 between Maple Ave and School House Rd, Town of Durham, closed due to trees/wires down
• Route 32 at Route 23A, Catskill, bridge washout
• RTE 23 Closed from Country Rd 4 to RTE 23A in the Town of Prattsville due to Flooding

Albany County road closures

COEYMANS, per WRIP: NY 32 closed north of the Alcove, Town of Coeymans, Albany Co.

Greene County power outages

Central Hudson Electric & Gas: 19416 customers offline (69 percent) as of 10 p.m. Mon. Aug. 29.
New York State Electric & Gas: 2689 customers offline (59 percent) as of 10 p.m. Mon. Aug. 29.

Damage reports and FEMA

Email reports to Liz Higgins at the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program. More info here.

Facebook resources

Hurricane Storys group – Photos and news.
Delaware and surrounding Counties Flooding – Hurricane Irene, August 2011 — Photos and news.
Catskill Flood disaster group — for locating people.
Irene in the Catskills relief coordination group.
Shandaken-Irene Facebook page.
Windham-Irene Facebook page.

Web resources

Flooding Recovery info from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
• From NYS Archives – There are several resources in New York to assist your organization recover from Hurricane Irene. The State Office of Emergency Management provides assistance, including access to products and recovery services. Go to: http://www.dhses.ny.gov/.
• The State Library and State Archives have resources to assist you. Contacts, services, and resources are listed below by your organization type. The State Library and State Archives are also responsible for gathering information about the extent of damage to your building and/or collections as well as recovery costs. Contact Barbara Lilley (blilley@mail.nysed,gov) or Maria Holden (mholden@mail.nysed.gov) to report the impact of the storm on your organization.>

Libraries

• State Library staff are available to provide advice on recovering collections. Contact the State Library at (518) 486-4864. For additional resources, go to http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/cp/index.html.

State agencies

• Archives staff are available to provide advice on recovering damaged records. When agency records are believed to constitute a hazard to human safety or health or to property, the agency records management officer may request authorization from the State Archives to destroy or dispose of such records immediately. Contact the Archives at (518) 474-6926 or (518) 473-4254. For a complete listing of State Archives disaster services and resources, go to: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_disaster.shtml.

Local governments

• The State Archives Regional Advisory Officers are available by phone/email to provide advice on recovering archives and records and to assist you in applying for a recovery grant. Local governments may be eligible for up to $20,000 in disaster recovery funding for damaged records. Contact your Regional Advisory Officer http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/directories/dir_staff.shtml#Advisory or call the Archives at (518) 474-6926 or (518) 473-4254. For a complete listing of State Archives disaster services and resources, go to: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/records/mr_disaster.shtml

The Hudson River spilled over into the Athens Waterfront Park. Photo by Sam Sebren.

Red Cross Needs Immediate Volunteers for Storm Relief

Three opportunities for the four-hour fast-track disaster relief training sessions offered by the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York for those who wish to assist with the current disaster relief efforts throughout Northeastern NY, stretching from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh. Any person interested in responding to disasters caused by Hurricane Irene who: Is 18 years of age or over; Is able to lift at least 35 pounds; Has a valid driver’s license and can travel throughout Eastern New York; Will consent to a background check (free of charge); Is available for several days over the next two to four weeks. Of particular interest are volunteers who may work for the State of New York and are therefore eligible to invoke NY State’s Disaster Leave Law, which may allow them to be released from work for up to three weeks without penalty. Three opportunities for fast-tracked disaster training will be offered by Red Cross staff and volunteers on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Albany, on Thursday, September 1, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Poughkeepsie, and again on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in Poughkeepsie. (Please note: only one training session is required). Following the training, new volunteers will be deployed regionally to the areas in need from Poughkeepsie to Plattsburgh.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
United Way of the Greater Capital Region
1 United Way, Albany, NY

Thursday, September 1, 2011 – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Nubian Directions Building
248 Main Street Poughkeepsie NY

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 – 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Nubian Directions Building
248 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY

The American Red Cross needs many additional volunteers to assist in the response to unprecedented flooding, evacuations and power outages following Hurricane Irene. With more than 35 shelters currently open, and the potential for additional shelters in the coming days, volunteers are needed in shelter operations, feeding, bulk distribution of supplies (comfort kits and cleanup kits, etc.), recovery information distribution, disaster assessment, counseling and emotional support, disaster public affairs, disaster nursing, and many other support areas.
Please call the American Red Cross of Northeastern NY at (518) 458-8111 to register.

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The U.S. Geological Services reports 21 earthquakes an hour north of Greene County in the past week.

The U.S. Geological Service reports 21 earthquakes in the past week near Altamont, NY, about an hour north of Greene County, none greater than a 2.9 magnitude. The 2.9 magnitude quake Saturday caused Governor Andrew Cuomo to have the Gilboa Dam in Schoharie County inspected just before the storms from Hurricane Irene hit the area. All the reported quakes — which might qualify as an “earthquake swarm” — came within four miles of Altamont. Two of the first earthqaukes in Altamont came the same morning as the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia that was felt in Greene and Columbia counties, last Tue. Aug. 22. As far as we can tell, none of the Altamont quakes were strong enough to be noticed locally. The last reported quake was Sun. Aug. 28 at 9:20 a.m.

A USGS map, from the The Earth Institute at Columbia University website.

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WGXC coverage map.


WGXC’s Technical Director Al Davis prepared this map of WGXC’s effective coverage area. We will be beaming signals to the areas above all weekend long, live during Hurricane Irene’s arrival in our area.

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Hurricane Irene may affect New York
Several computer forecast models predict that Hurricane Irene, now a category two storm bearing down on the Bahamas, might bring wind and rain to our area this weekend. The Albany National Weather Service forecast for this Sunday and Monday includes the possibility of a lot of rain for our region. Hurricane behavior is difficult to predict this far in advance, but Irene is expected to strengthen o a category three storm and skirt the Southeastern U.S. In the next few days.

Hogweed, from DEC website.

Hogweed invades Woodstock
Julia Reischel in the Watershed Post reports that CRISP — the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership — says the giant hogweed plant has been discovered in Woodstock. “The invasive weed can grow up to 15 feet tall and its sap causes caustic burns on human skin. It’s been advancing across the Catskills, but hadn’t been found in Ulster County until now,” Reischel writes. From the CRISP press release:
“Giant hogweed, a non-native, noxious weed has been discovered in the Town of Woodstock — the first finding in Ulster County to date. This weed should be taken very seriously because the sap contains toxins that can cause severe skin burns and can even cause blindness. This plant is also very successful at colonizing new areas and crowding out native species. The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) is working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Giant Hogweed Control Program to manage giant hogweed in the Catskills. The Giant Hogweed Control Program has crews throughout the state that are dedicated to removing the plant from public and private property free of charge. The goal is to eradicate giant hogweed from the region and eventually from the state and they are asking the public to help locate all of the plants. If you suspect you have seen this plant use extreme caution, keep children away from it, and report it.”

Visit the NYSDEC Giant Hogweed website http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72766.html to learn how to distinguish giant hogweed from other look-alike plants. To report a giant hogweed sighting or for more information, contact CRISP at mtaylor@catskillcenter.org or 845-586-2611.

Commissioner announces grant to promote local foods
Two local industries — bed and breakfast inns and agriculture — should benefit from a new federal matching grant encouraging bed and breakfast operators to feature locally produced food and agricultural products. $73,824 will be awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). Steve Miller of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County said, “This is a great opportunity for New York producers to have visitors from outside the State, as well as New Yorkers, to be able to taste the high quality foods we have to offer and to be able to bring some of these back home with them. The project stands to benefit both the tourism and agriculture industries.” All producer organizations and B&B owners are encouraged to participate in the project which will begin this Fall. For more information on how to participate: contact Steve Miller at sgm6@cornell.edu 315 684-3001 x127 or Jonathan Thomson at jonathan.thomson@agmkt.state.ny.us.

Greenport boil water advisory lifted
The Register-Star reports the boil water advisory issued Saturday for Greenport was lifted Monday morning, Aug. 22, after a water main break on Healy Blvd. Saturday made drinking water dangerous.

Route 143 upgrade in Coeymans
The New York Department of Transportation began work on repaving Route 143 in Coeymans Monday, Aug. 22, according to a press release from Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R,C-Melrose), who has been clamoring for something to be done about the four-mile stretch of road there. “Route 143 in Coeymans was, without a doubt, one of the most dangerous roads in this part of the state,” said McLaughlin in a press release. “Drivers were forced to cross into oncoming traffic to avoid obstacles, and children were getting tossed around on school buses because the road had literally crumbled in places.”

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Governor Andrew Cuomo launched his Capital Region Regional Economic Development Councils Thu., July 28, setting up regional development groups. Greene and Columbia counties are included in the Capital Region Regional Council, led by Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Michael Castellana, President and CEO of SEFCU, who will serve as Regional Co-Chairs over Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties. Donald E. Gibson, President, CEO & Director, The Bank of Greene County is included on the council, as are spots for the Chairman of Greene County Legislature, which is currently Wayne Speenburgh (R-Coxsackie), and Chairman Columbia Board of Supervisors, which is currently Roy Brown (R-Germantown). “New York can no longer afford one-size-fits-all economic development plans that ignore the unique assets and challenges of the state’s many diverse regions,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. “Today, we are taking a groundbreaking approach that will send a clear message that New York is open for business. With the Regional Councils, we will empower individual areas like Capital Region to chart their own course for economic growth, bringing jobs and investment to New York.” Dutchess and Ulster counties are included in the Mid-Hudson version of the council, while Delaware County is in the Southern Tier.

Capital Region Regional Council Members
Regional Co-Chairs
Michael J. Castellana, President and CEO, SEFCU
Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

General Members
Joseph F. Raccuia, President & CEO, Finch Paper LLC
Gary Dake, President, Stewart’s Shops
Bill Hart, Controller, Irving Tissue Inc.
Victor R. Abate, Vice President, Renewable Energy, General Electric
Peg A. Murphy, Corporate Secretary/Director of Human Resources, Espey Manufacturing &
Electronics Corporation
Omar Usmani, Executive Partner, Aeon Nexus Corporation
Ann C. Moynihan, President, Documentation Strategies Inc.
Linda Davis Pedlar, Owner, LDP Consulting Group, Inc.
Christine Edgerly, President, Adirondack Mechanical Services LLC
Jeff Stark, President, Greater Capital Region Building Trades Council
George M. Phillip, President, University at Albany
Karen Bilowith, President & CEO, The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region
James J. Barba, President & CEO, Albany Medical Center
Todd Erling, Executive Director, Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corporation
F. Michael Tucker, President & CEO, Center for Economic Growth
Dennis Brobston, President, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation
Linda Hillman, President, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Donald E. Gibson, President, CEO & Director, The Bank of Greene County

Elected Officials
Albany County Executive
Chairman of Schenectady County Legislature
Rensselaer County Executive
Chairman Saratoga Board of Supervisors
Chairman Warren Board of Supervisors
Chairman Columbia Board of Supervisors
Chairman of Greene County Legislature
Chairman Washington Board of Supervisors
Mayor of the City of Albany
Mayor of the City of Schenectady
Mayor of the City of Troy
Read the rest of this entry »

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McLaughlin mulls primary, McDonald talks economy
Rick Karlin in the Albany Times-Union’s Capitol Confidential blog reports that, after just being elected to a first term, GOP 198th District Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin is considering a new job, possibly running against fellow Republican, Sen. Roy McDonald, because of the senator’s vote legalizing same-sex marriage. “I wouldn’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind,” said McLaughlin, who represents parts of northern Greene and Columbia counties. The Assemblyman says he’s gotten calls from Republican and Conservative party members in Rensselaer and Saratoga counties. “I’ve heard there is some unrest. And that’s probably why I’m getting the amount of phone calls and e mails I’ve been getting.” He says he will take the guidance of the district’s town and county party committees. “If they support Roy, fine,” said McLaughlin. “That’s going to weigh heavily on anybody’s decision.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Delaware leaders oppose fracking ban in watershed
J. Blake Killin reports in The Daily Mail that the Delaware County Board of Supervisors opposes proposed regulations that would ban gas drilling in watersheds that are located within the county. Proposed DEC regulations would ban the extracting natural gas from shale formations using horizontal drilling and the injection of water, sand and chemicals under extremely high pressure to fracture the rock formation to release the gas from within the New York City watershed. “The Board of Supervisors Chairman James E. Eisel Sr. has written a letter to the Coalition of Watershed Towns seeking its support in opposing any special regulations that rob residents of Delaware County of the mineral rights on their property without due compensation,” Killin wrote. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Basilica Hudson a new temple of contemporary art
Amy Griffin in the Albany Times-Union profiles the new owners of Basilica Hudson, musician and artist Melissa Auf der Maur, filmmaker Tony Stone and his parents, Bill and Nancy Stone, also artists, as the New Art Dealers Alliance, a collective of independent curators and for-profit and nonprofit galleries, comes to the large facility near Hudson’s train station this weekend. “It’s a bit of an experiment, but the response has been great so far, and a lot of people are going to show up. I think it’s going to look really interesting,” says Heather Hubbs, director of NADA. “For us, it’s a dream. Basically, it’s going to showcase the space, this location, this building and all of its potential, probably like no other event we could have, because every single room will be like a maze of art hidden in all of the different wings of our building,” says Auf der Maur. Basilica has a 6,000-square-foot main hall, a small theater, a west wing and a finished art gallery. The story also mentions how, “prominent performance artist Marina Abramovic has also purchased a large building with plans to open an institute for performance art, and The Art Newspaper reports that art collectors Steven Johnson and Walter Sudol have purchased the Charles Williams School, with plans to turn it into an art center, as well,” both also in Hudson. Read the full story in the Times-Union.

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Adam Sichko in the Albany Business Review reports New York state regulators have cleared Lafarge North America Inc. to modernize its aging cement plant in Ravena. Permits have been issued after months of review, draft reports and public comment periods, all conducted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC announced the permits on Thursday. Lafarge says up to 800 workers wil be involved in the construction there, costing a few hundred million dollars. John Reagan, environmental manager for the Ravena plant, told the Business Review he expects Lafarge to break ground this fall. Lafarge calculates the construction project will generate $170 million in wages for construction workers, purchases from local supplies, and other spending. “Environmental watchdog groups and other interest groups have criticized Lafarge’s pollution in the past. Federal data show Lafarge had the fifth-largest mercury emissions of any site in New York in 2009, in any industry,” Sichko writes. and then quotes New York DEC commissioner Joseph Martens saying, “Lafarge has demonstrated its commitment to some of the most rigorous environmental standards in the country. In addition, this new facility will ensure a continued local supply of a critical building material.” Read the full story in the Business Review.

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Habitat designations to shift, expand
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that the NYS Department of State held an informational meeting Monday, July 11 at the Catskill Town Hall, where DOS Natural Resources Management Bureau Chief Fred Andersis how they are updating and expanding the number of Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat designations along the full length of the Hudson River, including the creation of seven new ones, five of which, plus a new combined unit, will be in or near Greene and Columbia county waters. Planck writes:

Five of the new units will include “South Bay Creek and Marsh,” which is within the municipal bounds of the Town of Greenport and the City of Hudson; “Catskill Deepwater,” within the towns of Catskill, Greenport, Germantown, and Livingston; “Stuyvesant Marsh,” within the Town of Stuyvesant; “Smith’s Landing,” within both the Towns and Village of Catskill, plus the Town of Saugerties; and “Brandow Point Marsh and Flats,” within both the Town and Village of Athens and the Town of Greenport. Additionally, the currently separate units of Hannacroix Creek and Coeymans will be combined into one, the “Coeymans Hannacroix Creek Complex,” within both the Towns of New Baltimore and Coeymans and the Village of Ravena. Seven of the 14 units recommended for boundary expansion are also within the area. They include “Roeliff-Jansen Kill,” within the Towns of Germantown, Livingston, and Clermont; “Inbocht Bay and Duck Cove,” within the towns of Catskill and Germantown; “Stockport Creek and Flats,” within the towns of Coxsackie, Greenport, Stockport, and Stuyvesant, and the City of Hudson; “Coxsackie Island Backwater,” within both the Town and Village of Coxsackie, and the towns of New Baltimore and Stuyvesant; “Rogers Island,” within both the Town and Village of Catskill and the Town of Greenport; “Ramshorn Marsh,” within the Town of Catskill; and “Shad and Schermerhorn Islands,” within the towns of Coeymans and Bethlehem. The other six existing units in the area are not expanding, and will see only updated narrative listings to reflect current scientific data and habitat conditions. They are “Catskill Creek,” “Germantown-Clermont Flats,” “Coxsackie Creek,” “Mill Creek Wetlands,” “Vosburgh Swamp and Middle Ground Flats,” and “Schodack and Houghtaling Islands and Schodack Creek.”

The DOS and DEC hold a joint public hearing to for comment on the DEC’s recommendations on July 27, from 6-9 p.m., at the Norrie Point Environmental Education Center, in Dutchess County. Written comment will be accepted through Aug. 15. See: http://www.nyswaterfronts.com. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Hudson in the Art World News
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown blog reports that Hudson, New York is featured as “Up and Coming” in The Art Newspaper, in the July/August 2011 issue. The article mentions Steven Johnson and Walter Sudol, new owners of the Charles Williams School that they will turn into an arts center called The Second Ward and the Marina Abramovic Foundation for Preservation of Performance Art, which is due to open in 2012 in the Community Theater building at Seventh and Columbia streets, and the New Art Dealers Alliance fair at the Basilica Hudson July 30 and 31. “>Read the entire piece in The Art Newspaper.

Take them to their leader… later
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper says the The Town of Ghent and the Village of Chatham planning boards are having trouble solving a big problem: postponed who is lead agency on the Price Chopper supermarket move proposal. The two boards canceled a Wednesday, July 6 hearing of the two boards hosted in Ghent. Jonathan Walters, chairman of the Ghent Planning Board, told Teasdale that the Chatham Planning Board wants lead agency status on the state environmental quality review, or SEQR, the state’s way of evaluating the environmental and economic impacts of proposed development projects. Walters says “90% of the project is in Ghent” and is disputing the designation. “We have no interest in being lead agency,” said Rick Georgeson, a regional public information officer at the DEC told Teasdale. “Calls to the village of Chatham Planning Board were not returned by deadline,” Teadale wrote. Charles Chisholm, a real estate representative for Price Chopper, told Teadale, “Nothing has changed for us with the replacement store,” and that, “We’ll be back in front of the Planning Board.” Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

Rumble in the Catskills boxing show has local punch
A story in The Daily Freeman previews this Saturday’s third annual “Rumble in the Catskills” boxing show Saturday at Catskill Elementary School sponsored by World Class Promotions in Catskill. “Right now, it looks like we have 17 gyms that will bring fighters,” said promoter Ernest Westbrooke. “This is by far the highest level of participation and I think the quality of the fights are going to be well matched.” The first “Rumbles” were held at Catskill High, but repairs there forced the move. Read the whole story in The Daily Freeman.

DiNapoli: ‘Serious questions’ about IDAs
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that New York Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a report on New York State’s Industrial Development Authorities on Tue., July 12. “For four years, I’ve called on IDAs to improve the accuracy of the jobs data,” DiNapoli said. “Taxpayers should know if the projects they’re paying for are creating the jobs that were promised. Year after year, we’ve had serious questions about the effectiveness of IDAs. We need to make sure that the tax breaks given for these projects are promoting job retention and growth. New York has a lot of local economic development entities; developing a regional, coordinated approach is very difficult. We have to fix that.” From the report:

The overlapping nature of these economic development efforts can make the task of establishing a regional, coordinated approach difficult. Moreover, there have been and continue to be persistent problems and questions related to local governments’ use of LDCs, and to IDA performance and accountability. In response, Comptroller DiNapoli recently advanced a reform package that would limit municipal use of LDCs to finance local government operations and the acquisition or improvement of their assets. He has also increased oversight of IDA operations through audits, issuance of an annual performance report and more rigorous review of IDA reports. Presently, if an IDA’s annual audited financial statement is not filed or is found to be incomplete, the IDA’s authority to offer financial assistance which provides exemptions from certain State taxes is suspended.

• IDAs provided total gross tax exemptions of $1.2 billion in 2009. These exemptions were partially offset by the receipt of payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOTs) totaling nearly $700 million, resulting in net tax exemptions of almost $500 million. Net exemptions declined by almost $150 million from 2008 due largely to ongoing adjustments in reporting methods by the New York City IDA. These adjustments also affect the average cost per job gained.
• Projects receiving IDA assistance employed 724,390 full-time equivalent workers in 2009. This represents a cumulative net gain of 204,172 jobs from IDA projects over the life of the projects.

Ida Performance 2011
Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

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Prisons close, but not here
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closing of seven state prisons on Thursday, June 30, and none of the closures were in Greene or Columbia counties. Announced for closure are four minimum-security facilities for men: Buffalo Work Release in Erie County, Camp Georgetown in Madison County, Summit Shock in Schoharie County and Fulton Work Release in Bronx County, and three medium-security facilities for men: Arthur Kill in Richmond County, Mid-Orange in Orange County, and Oneida in Oneida County. Those working at the facilities new such cuts were coming, and they came in the order of 3,800 beds, but not facilities in Coxsackie or Hudson. “The closings of these facilities not only will force “double bunking,” which puts two dangerous criminals in a space designed for one, it will greatly reduce the “step-down” treatment of inmates,” said New York State Public Employees Federation President Ken Brynien.

Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk superintendent resigns after two years
Carol DeMare in the Albany Times-Union reports that Daniel A. Teplesky, superintendent of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District for the last two years, is moving to the Monticello School District in Sullivan County effective Aug. 1. A district press release said that Teplesky steered the district “through unprecedented fiscal pressures” faced by the district “as a result of historic reductions in state aid and a weak economy,” DeMare writes. “I’m proud of the work we have accomplished during the past two years in preparing for the state’s more rigorous learning standards and improving student achievement,” Teplesky said in the article. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.

Here comes the boss?
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that the Columbia County Manager Initiative Subcommittee’s 36-page report, “The Case for a County Manager,” released last week (and available online) makes the case that someone should bottom-line the county’s $150 million budget, its 1,000 employees, the 300 retirees it supports, its 28 operating departments and the four unions it negotiates with on a full-time basis. Supervisor Art Bassin (D-Ancram) served on the subcommittee and told Valden on Tuesday that the committee’s research “led to the conclusion that this county is not well managed.” Twenty-three part-time town supervisors are managing a $150 million annual budget and “it’s not being done very well,” he said. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Empire State Baseball League
13U Coxsackie Owlz 6 – Clifton Park 1
Justin Maldonado threw a complete-game four-hitter to lead the 13U Coxsackie Owlz (10-1, 12-3) over Clifton Park 6-1 on Thursday, June 30. Maldonado allowed one unearned run while walking three and striking out tenand went 2-2 at bat with 2 RBIs. The 13U Owlz finished the regular season tied for second place.

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