Scripts and sounds for WGXC radio hosts to play on the WGXC Morning Show or WGXC Afternoon Show. Breaking news, features, local audio, video, analysis, music, links to events in Greene and Columbia counties, NY. www.wgxc.org
Baby Atlantic sturgeon, which could grow to as much as 14 feet and 800 pounds over 60 years. From Hudson Riverkeeper Facebook page.
Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post reports that the Atlantic sturgeon made the endangered species list Wed., Feb. 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service listed the New York Bight, Chesapeake Bay, Carolina, and South Atlantic populations as endangered, and the Gulf of Maine population as threatened. Hudson Riverkeeper’s Facebook page says there are under 1,000 of the endangered species left in the Hudson River:
“Riverkeeper commends the National Marine Fisheries Service for taking this critical step to protect one of the Hudson River’s iconic species. Atlantic sturgeon are magnificent, long-lived creatures which have been an integral part of the Hudson River ecosystem for millennia, but have suffered terribly from overfishing, habitat destruction and power plant intakes, decimating their numbers.”
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.)
Drivers can expect higher tolls on five Hudson River bridges, according to several reports (including this one in today’s Times Herald Record. The New York State Bridge Authority holds a public hearing at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 15 at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel; Lobby Fl., 40 Civic Center Plaza, Poughkeepsie, about the plan and, barring any significant objection, will adopt it the following Thursday, Dec. 22. The toll hike, from $1 to $1.25 with E-Z Pass, and $1.50 with cash on the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and four other Hudson River crossings, would go into effect Jan. 30. For more info on the plan, the public hearing and the bridges where tolls are going to rise, visit the Bridge Authority’s website: http://www.nysba.state.ny.us/
Steady sales in Greene, Columbia counties
Chris Churchill in the Albany Times-Union reports that real estate sales in Greene and Columbia counties were similar for the first half of both 2010 and 2011, in both volume and price. Two more homes were sold in both counties then the year before, according to the New York Association of Realtors, 159 in Greene County and 171 in Columbia. “The median sale price in Greene County increased from $155,000 to $159,000, a 3.2 percent increase, while the median price dropped 5.5 percent in Columbia County, from $200,000 in the first half of 2010 to $189,000 for the same period in 2011,” Churchill writes. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Verizon strikers back to work
Striking Verizon workers return to work Tuesday, Aug. 23, even though they have not come to an agreement with the company. “We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured,” said Mike Salvia, CWA 1120 President, in a released statement. “Major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.” WGXC makes its connection with our transmitter through Verizon, and since Friday have had several problems that have knocked WGXC off the air for periods of time this past weekend.
Catskill district hires Woodstock firm for office facelift
The Daily Freeman reports that the Woodstock company J.O.B. was awarded a $74,000 contract to repaint the exterior of the School Superintendent Kathleen Farrell’s offices at the Catskill school district, during a special meeting last Wednesday. “The firm would start as soon as possible and would also make some minor repairs to the entry area of the business office,” the story reports. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
DEP: Ashland sewer plant completed
The Daily Mail reports that the New York Department of Environmental Protection completed installing a new wastewater treatment plant and sewer and stormwater system for the hamlet of Ashland in Greene County. The 14,642-square-foot wastewater treatment plant has 8 new pumping stations and approximately 2.4 miles of sewer mains to serve 90 residential and commercial properties in Ashland, and can treat up to 26,000 gallons of wastewater a day. DEP funded the $7.7 million project, and will help pay for some of the operating costs. “Residents and businesses are expected to begin hooking up to the new sewer system this summer,” the story says. Read the complete story in The Daily Mail.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS Click on “PLAY CLIP” to hear mp3 audio file.
A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110822
Produced by Terry Doyle. Calendar segment of Hudson Valley music events from Terry Doyle’s “Imprint” program Sundays at 11 p.m. on WGXC. PLAY CLIP
Williamsburg on the Hudson
Peter Applebome in The New York Times wrote a large story about former New York City residents now populating the Hudson Valley. One section of the story has caused considerable snarky Twittering and Facebook posting throughout the Hudson Valley:
“There is a parlor game people sometimes play, comparing Hudson Valley towns with New York neighborhoods, said Sari Botton, a freelance writer in Rosendale. For instance, Rhinebeck might be the Upper East Side, Woodstock the West Village, New Paltz the Upper West Side, Beacon the East Village, Rosendale and High Falls different parts of Williamsburg. Tivoli could be compared to Greenpoint, Hudson to Chelsea, Catskill to Bushwick, Kingston to a mix of Fort Greene and Carroll Gardens.”
Among all the internet chatter, the blog Gawker went after Hudson’s Melissa Auf der Maur, of Basilica Hudson, in particular:
“Towns like Hudson offer ‘the feel of SoHo decades ago,’ as former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur describes it. Auf der Maur is from Montreal and too young to have experienced SoHo in its heyday, but perhaps she just knows. More from Auf der Maur: ‘There’s the sense that it’s manageable, it’s beautiful, it has infrastructure that can inspire you and facilitate your needs and get you to feel like you’re part of a moment of discovery.’ You can have still have moments of discovery in Williamsburg, but they’re expensive and someone drunk will probably puke on your shoes at some point.”
Greene goners
Dick May, on his “Seeing Greene” blog, uses the occasion of Cairo-Durham schools Superintendent Sally Sharkey’s departure to compare salaries of Greene County school chiefs.
“According to State Department of Education figures… [Sharkey's] salary of $135,523 plus a benefits package valued at $41,127 is second-lowest among GreeneLand school superintendents. The lowest salary goes to the superintendent in the smallest (in population) district: Hunter-Tannersville, at $126,838 plus a benefits package valued at $42,244. The other figures are $138,030 plus $59,760 (Windham-Ashland-Jewett—and that benefits packages is the fattest of the six); $140,057 plus $34,316 (Greenville); $143,000 plus $10,940 (Coxsackie-Athens, and a remarkably small benefits package); and $162,081 plus $44,729 (Catskill).”
Ex-NY Gov. Hugh Carey dies at 92
The Daily Freeman reports that former New York Gov. Hugh Carey died Sunday. He was 92. “Declaring that the days of wine and roses were over, Governor Carey looked to statesmanship and compromise, rather than partisanship or parochialism, to get the state’s fiscal house in order,” current Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. “He called for shared sacrifice and asked all New Yorkers to come together. New Yorkers across the state heard the governor’s call to action, followed his lead, and the ship was righted.” The Democrat Carey served two terms as governor from 1975 to 1982, after seven terms as a congressman from Brooklyn. He may be best known for launching the “I Love New York” ad campaign during his years in office. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS Click on headline or “PLAY CLIP” to listen to mp3 recording.
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110808
Produced by Terry Doyle. This is a segment from Doyle’s weekly show on WGXC, “Imprint,” which looks at Hudson Valley music Sundays at 11 p.m. This is a calendar of musical events this week in the Hudson Valley. PLAY CLIP
Hudson Valley-based bassist Michael Bisio will be interviewed on WGXC on Thursday, August 11, on “The Jazz Disturbance” from 7-9:30 p.m., in conjunction with WGXC’s “Local Music Week.” Bisio invariably astounds audiences with the beauty of his tone and the intensity of his very personal musical language. As a recording artist he appears on over fifty CDs, and is leader on ten CDs and co-leads seven duet recordings. In 2009 he recorded 14 releases including two Michael Bisio Quartet CDs for CIMP and Not Two, two CDs by Tomas Ulrich’s Cargo Cult, and “Old Dog, By Any Other Name” (Porter Records). Releases this year include Bisio’s first solo effort “Travel Music” (MJB) and the highly-lauded Matthew Shipp Trio recording “The Art of the Improviser” (Thirsty Ear) recorded in Troy.
New HUD money for six area homeless programs
Mid Hudson News Network reports on a half dozen programs throughout the Hudson Valley that will be receiving federal Housing and Urban Development funds for new homeless programs over the coming year. Among the agencies getting grants are Community Action of Greene County, based in Catskill, which will receive $88,350; the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, based in Hudson, which will receive $29,932, and Gateway Community Industries, based in Kingston, which will receive $49,876. “The funds will be used primarily to assist these local organizations in providing housing, rental assistance, services such as mental health counseling, job training, educational assistance, substance abuse treatment and child care,” said HUD Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrion. “This comes at a time when we’ve seen this severe downturn in our economy and the impact of foreclosures on families, the loss of jobs leading to the inability to pay rent.” Read the whole story in Mid Hudson News Network.
Senate bill slows consolidation
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports on a state legislative wrinkle to a movement that was beginning to have repercussions in the consolidation of town and village courts, and talk of further shared services, in Columbia and Greene counties. “Even before he was governor, Andrew Cuomo pushed for government consolidation. As attorney general, he championed a law making it easier for residents of taxing entities — ranging from villages to sewer districts — to consolidate or dissolve them,” Karlin writes. “But earlier this week, the state Senate quietly passed a proposal that would restrict Cuomo’s consolidation law, sparking a potential fight with the governor.” The new bill, he goes on to explain, would place time limits on citizen-initiated consolidation efforts by forcing petitions to be completed in 60 days. Furthermore, it would mean that there would be a four-year moratorium on consolidation efforts should a vote fail. “One of the primary reasons New Yorkers have had to endure massive increases in their property taxes is the fact that there are 10,000 local governments in this state,” Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said in reaction to the new bill, which Albany-watchers are saying will likely not move in the state Assembly. “The governor believes that we can bring down property taxes by consolidating local governments, and this legislation will make it much harder to do just that.” Locally, village courts have consilidated with surrounding town courts in Athens and Valatie over the last few months.Read the whole story at The Times Union.
Bill seeks to keep ‘millionaires tax’ through 2012
Adam Sichko reports in the Albany Business Review that the “millionaire’s tax” surcharge for those making over $250,000 a year – a key element in the March budget battles that included several protests and public discussions within the WGXC listening area — has resurfaced as a Senate bill, with the Assembly likely to bring up a measure as well. “Sen. Tony Avella, a first-term Democrat from Queens, wants to keep the tax going through 2012,” Sichko writes. “Avella wants to limit the tax to only affect actual millionaires, taxing their income at 8.97 percent… Doing so would generate an extra $4.2 billion for the state.” Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican representing much of the Catskills and Mid-Hudson Valley, has previously said he, too, would support extending a tax surcharge on filers making $1 million or more, increasing the new law’s chances for passage in both houses. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver supports such a move in his chamber of the legislature. “More than six weeks remain in the scheduled legislative session, so there’s still plenty of time for a bill to pass,” Sichko concludes. “Even as part of a broader package of legislation. Read the whole story at Albany Business Review.
Region’s Hudson River bridge tolls may rise
William Kemble has a story in the Daily Freeman about possible toll increases for the five Hudson River bridges operated by the New York State Bridge Authority. He quotes Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero stating that the amount of the toll increase, needed to pay for deck replacement on the Beacon-Newburgh span, will depend on a fiscal analysis conducted during the next four months. I can’t say to you it’s a quarter or 50 cents,” Ruggiero said. “I don’t know that yet.” “The current $1 toll for eastbound passenger vehicles has been in place since 2000, when a 25-cent increase took effect,” Kemble writes. “Ruggiero said public hearings must be held before a toll increase is voted on by the Bridge Authority’s board. Read the whole story at the Daily Freeman.
Alyssa Sunkin in the Times Herald-Record says this spring’s rainy weather might be a little much for Hudson Valley farmers. “For the last few weeks, a southeasterly wind emanating from high pressure sitting off the New England coast has been picking up moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, bringing us sprinkles, clouds and chilly daytime temperatures,” she writes. “This week we have to contend with a stalled front that will bring warmer weather to the region, but carries the risk of showers and thunderstorms every day until Thursday.” She quotes several farmers who all say the downpours mean they are behind schedule with their crops. Cheryl Rogowski of Rogowski Farm in Pine Island is a month behind schedule. Pete Taliaferro is 11 days late, and planted lettuces, spinach, beets, and carrots that sprouted their baby leaves but then stopped growing, according to Sunkin. In Ulster County, the bloom period for orchards may be two or three days late this year, according Mike Fargione, an educator and commercial fruit-tree specialist with the cooperative extension in Ulster. Read the full story in the Times Herald-Record.
Robinson residents: Leave our street alone
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star on the April 21 Hudson Historic Preservation Commission public hearing on a proposal to declare Robinson Street in the Second Ward an historic district. Local residents came out en masse, according to Larson, to put forth their belief that the designation would drive the many low income, aging, longtime homeowners and renters from their homes. “Many stated the burden of having to maintain their houses to the historical standards of the commission would make maintaining their homes impossible,” Larson writes. “Residents from and around Robinson Street in Hudson spoke out with skepticism, disapproval and at times anger against a plan proposed by the non profit preservation group Historic Hudson to designate their neighborhood a new historic district.” Supervisor and Robinson Street resident Rev. Edward Cross, D-Second Ward, has taken a hard line on the issue, saying that he believes this is the first step in a conscious effort by Hudson’s upper class to push the poor out of the Second Ward so they can gain access to the quiet, out of the way Robinson neighborhood and eventually the properties overlooking the river where the majority of the city’s low income residents live in project housing. To create a new historic district the HPC would have to make an official recommendation to the Common Council and the aldermen would have to approve it. If approved, residents would have to get certificates of appropriateness from the HPC if they wanted to get a building permit from the zoning enforcement officer for things like putting up siding, changing windows, additions to the front or the restoration of a visible roof. The HPC does not approve plans for putting up vinyl siding but does make determinations about the appropriateness of paint color choice The next meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission is May 13.
Watershed towns race to shift hamlet boundaries
Blake Killin reports in the Daily Mail on the ramifications of a June 22 deadline within the New York City Watershed, which includes all of Greene County’s Mountaintop towns, for making changes to town’s official hamlet boundaries. Lands within such designations are exempt from New York City land acquisition policies and some of its watershed regulations. The towns are notifying affected property owners and conducting public hearings explaining the proposed changes and how they might affect property owners. “Under the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement, NYC was permitted to avoid having to filter the water from the West of Hudson Watershed by imposing regulations designed to protect the water supply of some nine million New Yorkers,” Killin writes. “Part of that agreement allowed NYC to purchase environmentally sensitive vacant land from willing sellers at fair market price.” When a Filtration Avoidance Determination came up for renewal before the federal Environmental Protection Agency last decade, NYC was told to increase the amount of money dedicated to land acquisition to $300 million.
Home improvement forecast not good for contractors
The Albany Business Review has a story about the longterm forecast for home improvement spending following an expected burst of activity this spring. According to a report released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University,contractors, hardware stores and material suppliers are facing trouble ahead. The Joint Center points to a slow recovery in the housing market and concern over the pace of economic growth nationally as reasons why home improvement spending will be tempered. Such spending dropped sharply during the recession, bottoming out at $112 billion during the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There was a mild recovery last year. But spending is forecast to fall in the second half of the year, dropping to $115.2 billion in the fourth quarter.
Cell towers on the rise
Diane Valden writes in The Columbia Paper that Mariner Tower of Maine is seeking approval for a new higher-than-usual cell tower from the Copake Planning Board. Mariner has an existing tower at the Catamount Ski Area on the New York side of the border and has just wrapped up approvals for a new 140-foot tower on the Egremont, MA, side, also at Catamount. The company is also currently building a new tower on the southwest side of Route 23 between the Martindale Xtra Mart and the Martindale Diner, just east of the Taconic State Parkway in Claverack. And the company is “actively pursuing” an appropriate cell tower site in Ancram. Mariner agent Christopher Ciolfi told The Columbia Paper this week that the company calls its communications towers “neutral hosts” that benefit the community by letting emergency services use the facility rent free, while leasing tower space to multiple users to minimize the number of towers in an area. “Four or five providers use one tower, rather than each one having their own tower,” said Mr. Ciolfi. The Copake Planning Board will take up the proposed cell tower at its Thursday, May 5 meeting.
Athens village contemplates 3.38% tax hike
Melanie Lekocevic writes in the Greene County News about a sparesely-attended Athens Village Board public hearing to gauge public reaction to a tentative budget for the coming year which includes a 3.38 percent tax rate increase. While some questioned cuts to the community’s growing cultural center, which offers art classes and numerous performances and events, Mayor Andrea Smallwood noted, “We are going to try to get that down… This is a draft budget – we are still reviewing it.”
Highway super says this winter one of ‘roughest’
John Mason writes in the Register-Star that Kinderhook Town Highway Superintendent John Ruchel has noted that his highway crew is about two weeks behind on spring tasks such as brush pickup and road cleaning. “This winter was huge,” he said. “The snow never left the ground after December. Every week there were potential weather threats.” Meanwhile, meteorologist Thomas Wasula of the National Weather Service in Albany said that this winter’s 87.2 inches of snow, measured at Albany Airport, is 14th on the all-time list, which goes back to 1885. It was 25 inches above the average snowfall of 62.7 inches. It was the heaviest snowfall since the 105.4 inches recorded in 2002-2003, and not far behind the 94.2 inches that fell in 1992-1993.
Police plan ‘Move Over Act’ enforcement detail
Andrew Amelinckx reports in the Register-Star that New York State Police will be out in force, beginning Saturday, April 16, looking for drivers who are not obeying the new Ambrose-Searles “Move Over Act” that requires drivers to use “due care” when approaching an emergency vehicle that has its emergency lights on and is parked, stopped or standing on the shoulder of a road or highway. Drivers must reduce their speed and if they are on parkways, interstates or other roadways that have multiple lanes, they must move from the lane adjacent to where the emergency vehicle is located, if they can do so safely.
Greene officials test the water
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in the Daily Mail about the fact-finding mission Greene County officials made on April 15 to the Poconos to learn about its indoor water park and hotel — a resort that a developer wants to replicate along the New York State Thruway in New Baltimore. Under a plan announced last June, the Greene County Industrial Development Agency has agreed to sell its option on an expansive property south of Exit 21B in New Baltimore to developer MAR Holdings (of Medusa, in Albany County) for the purpose of building a resort of the same size and scope as the one visited. Specifically, the plan calls for an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park, 400 hotel rooms, 25,000-square-feet of meeting space, two restaurants, an arcade and other amenities. Details of the transactions, which were reported as a “deal” awaiting Greene County approval now in an April 15 Albany Business Review story, will be outlined in the coming weeks. Reportedly, over $110 million in investments, a future outlet store mall, and about 1500 jobs are entailed.
Attack victim: Spare the bear
Bryan Fitzgerald follows up on his own story in the Times Union with an update about how the victim in the Greene County bear attack is asking that any bears caught in a trap by her Round Top home NOT be euthanized immediately. “Joy Bayer-Mozynski’s northern Catskills home is smeared with sweet-scented syrup and lined with yellow snack cakes. A plastic jug half-filled with honey is tied to a rod in the back that, when pulled hard, will trigger a front door to fall, sealing the cylindrical trap,” reads the story. “Bayer-Mozynski thought she would die when a bear pinned her down in her driveway Wednesday, but she said she doesn’t want the animal killed by state environmental officials, who said there is no way to know if any bear caught is the one that injured the 53-year-old mother of five.” “I don’t want it killed. I don’t know why they can’t take it out into the wilderness. It’s just another one of God’s creatures,” she said Friday, shortly before leaving Albany Medical Center Hospital. “It was just hungry, looking for food.” Bayer-Mozynski was picking up spilled trash — possibly upended by the hungry bear — when the creature approached her, pushed her to the ground and pinned her with a paw. She said the animal held her down while it snatched a white bag of trash. “There wasn’t one second where I thought I was going to live. I begged to God and my guardian angel that my daughters would still have their mother,” she said to Fitzgerald.
Three more months to buy a dirty outdoor wood boiler
Julia Reischel reports in the Watershed Post that the New York Department of Environmental Conservation just gave a small reprieve to anyone who sells outdoor wood boilers, the controversial home heating furnaces known as OWBs. As of April 15, sellers have three more months to sell any old OWBs that don’t meet the state’s new emission standards. The department made the announcement in a press release.
Gtown School budget passes with 2.48 percent increase
The Register-Star reports that the Germantown Central School District Board of Education adopted a 2011-2012 proposed budget with a 5-1-0 vote tally. Shortly after the April 13 budget vote, the board voted to approve an agreement between the district and the Germantown Administrators Association which provided for approximately $49,000 in gift backs to the district over the next two years. It was stressed that as a result of staff reductions over the last two years he and the Board of Education did not want to reduce faculty and staff again this year. In the end they chose to deplete reserves a little more rather than cut into programs and services that would equate to fewer opportunities for students.
HTC adopts $13.2 million budget
Jim Planck reports in the Daily Mail that the Hunter-Tannersville School District has approved a $13,224,338 budget for fiscal year 2011-12, a decrease in total funds of $24,374, or .18 percent, from the current year’s budget of $13,248,712. The tax levy will see an increase of 1.49 percent from 2010-11, for a total of $9,647,540 to be raised by taxes. The administration set a goal for its tax levy amounts and dropped administrative and program expenses while upping capital funds somewhat.
Round Top woman attacked by bear
Colin DeVries reports in the Daily Mail that a 53-year-old Round Top woman was attacked by a bear Wednesday afternoon, April 13. The woman told police she was knocked down by a black bear in her driveway on Alpine Drive. A garbage container was knocked over and trash was strewn about into a wooded area near the home. The woman was transported by Cairo Ambulance to Albany Medical Center for treatment. Environmental conservation officers could not locate the animal when they arrived on the scene.
Supervisors split on filling, creating positions
Francesca Olsen writes in the Register-Star on how the April 13 meeting of the full Columbia County Board of Supervisors dissolved into a series of roll call votes, all pertaining to newly-created positions or the filling of now-empty administrative ones. Usually such decisions are made by acclimation. “The controversy began when Supervisor Pat Grattan, R-Kinderhook, moved to table a resolution that would have granted county Human Resources Director John Rutkey Jr. a deputy with a $60,000 salary,” Olsen writes. “The vote was split almost evenly between the supervisors, which is a rarity for a full board meeting. In the end, it was tabled.” Five other paid positions were approved by the board in other roll call votes, not including the HR deputy, which did not make it to a vote. The meeting began 15 minutes late because of a delayed Republican caucus.
Job fair to highlight 1,200 positions
The Albany Business Journal reports that a job fair scheduled for April 14, this morning, will feature more than 1,200 jobs. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Career Fair at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany will have more than 90 businesses present, including Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corp./Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, CDPHP, Time Warner Cable, GlobalFoundries and Albany Medical Center. The event runs from 12:30-4 p.m. Two workshops are scheduled before the job fair begins, at 11 a.m. The job fair is free to the public. For more information, call (888) 469-7365 or visit http://www.labor.ny.gov.
Seven Catskill teaching positions eliminated
Jim Planck reports in the Daily Mail that the Catskill Central School District adopted its $37 million budget for 2011-12 Wednesday night, April 13, with a 6-3 vote. The budget reduces district employment by 10.3 positions, seven from the teaching staff and 3.3 from support staff, despite protests against the cuts by the Catskill Teachers Association, district parents, and students. The positions that will be eliminated are one art teacher, one music teacher, one foreign language teacher, one science teacher, two social studies teachers, one social worker, one business office administrative assistant, a library teaching assistant, a CHOICES teaching assistant, and a .3 full time equivalent of a monitor. The budget represents a spending increase of $511,147, or a 1.39-percent increase. $480,000 will be taken from the district’s unappropriated fund balance of $2.2 million, which will then reduce the tax levy by another 3 percent, dropping it to $182,564, or a 1.14-percent increase to the tax levy.
UPDATE: 900 Columbia Street
Carole Osterink reports in her Gossips of Rivertown about what happened to the 652 signature Save 900 Columbia Street petition she helped organize and deliver to the executive director and board of the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties and to the commissioner at the New York State Office of Mental Health. She notes that it’s been “three weeks since a group of advocates for the house met with Jeffrey Rovitz, executive director of MHA, and Susan Cody, who directs MHA’s residential division, to explore how MHA could achieve its goals without demolishing a historic house.” Going on, she writes that, “Not surprisingly, the responses to our questions explained why our idea was not possible and showed little willingness to alter the plans in order to save the historic house. MHA did, however, offer to give the house to Historic Hudson so that the organization could move it to another site ‘in a timely fashion’ after the new facility had been built and the residents moved into the new building. The problem with this idea is that the house is an important element in a surviving historic streetscape, and its location, at the intersection of Columbia and Union turnpikes, contributes greatly to its significance. Moving such a monumental brick structure would not only be a daunting undertaking, but it would diminish the building’s historic importance.” Finally, Osterink reports that, “The ad hoc group suggested that MHA speak directly with the State Historic Preservation Office about their project. Earlier this week it was learned that MHA had contacted SHPO and now understood their obligations under Section 14.09 of the State Historic Preservation Act. SHPO has also been in touch with the cultural resource person at the Office of Mental Health. The future of 900 Columbia Street, it seems, is now being determined at the state level.”
Registry to chart gas-drilling chemicals
The Ithaca Journal reports that a pair of state groups has launched a registry for chemicals used in extracting natural gas through hydraulic fracturing. The on-line registry makes it easier for the public to find out what chemicals are being used to extract natural gas in nearby wells. But participating drillers will continue to withhold information about chemicals they consider proprietary. The process known as “fracking” unlocks reserves of natural gas trapped in deep rock formations using the high-pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals to break up rock and release the natural gas. Twenty-four drillers have volunteered to also post that data on the registry, called FracFocus.org, so the public can find information about most of the chemicals used in nearby wells, excepting those termed “trade secrets.” The fluids used in the process were exempted from federal oversight by a 2005 law. There are proposals in congress to give the Environmental Protection Agency authority to regulate the fluids and require drillers to disclose all of the chemicals used. The EPA is conducting a study of the process. Initial results are expected to be released by the end of 2012.
White paper says government efficiency is the name of the game in the Hudson Valley
Mid Hudson News Network has a story about a new Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress white paper on government efficiency that suggests that consolidation is not necessarily an answer to Hudson Valley governmental inefficiencies. The white paper suggests a spectrum of options including shared services, collaborations and possible consolidations. It also notes that New York City, with over 8 million people, has one mayor, one police department and one fire department. In the Hudson Valley, meanwhile, there are nine counties, 13 cities, 137 towns, 88 villages, 123 school districts, 220 fire districts, 53 drainage districts, 114 fire protection districts, 227 lighting districts, 32 park districts, 24 refuse and garbage districts, 329 sewer districts, 238 water districts, and another 102 miscellaneous districts. That totals 1,709 units of government and special districts for a population of 2.4 million. Got that all?
Suicide prevention efforts on the rise after recent spike in suicides
CCScoop’s Mike McCagg writes about the apparent rise in Columbia County suicides over the past year, and a study begun in 2008 – when a record 20 such tragedies occurred — that is now nearing completion. “There is a list of 15 recommendations that will be made (in that report) and to the extent that we have resources, we are going to systematically implement them,” said Michael Cole of the Columbia County Department of Mental Health. “It will make an impact to have decentralized services, to have resources available to where people live. If you look at it, a third of the population of Columbia County lives within five miles of Valatie. If we can have a clinic there, that would be significant.”
Tax cap finger pointing
Rick Karlin reports in the Times Union on the new wars regarding a proposed property tax cap, suggesting that Senate Republicans jumped a bit early into blaming Assembly Democrats for killing any plans for the foreseeable future. The Senate, along with the state Association of Realtors and other lobbying groups, are pushing Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to bring the issue to the Assembly floor for a vote, even though it doesn’t have needed support. The fuel? Cap supporters are saying greater school budget cuts are needed to save people from still-high taxes.
Police: Slew of violent domestic incidents in Hudson
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star notes that the Hudson Police Department has made a number of arrests within the past week stemming from domestic incidents, then charts the basic details of each case. The situations involved men breaking women’s fingers and arms, smashing vodka bottles in lovers’ faces, and use of knives and threats. All the incidents were reported by the Hudson Police Department in one release on April 11.
The Watershed Post reports on the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program‘s annual Ashokan Watershed Conference held Saturday, April 9 and its region-wide subject: “Flood Resilience for Towns, Businesses and Landowners.” Julia Reischel focuses on talk of the effects of climate change on weather, “extreme precipitation events,” and flooding. “Storms are getting more severe, rainfall is getting heavier, droughts are getting dryer, and flooding is getting worse,” she summarizes a speech by Dan Zarrow, a meteorologist at Cornell University’s Northeast Regional Climate Center seen in the above video. “The northeast US is the most sensitive region of the country to climate-change induced-extreme precipitation increases,” according to Zarrow. He added that the Climate Center’s new interactive website, www.precip.net, says that “100-year-storms” now happen about once every 50 years.
Meanwhile, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County will be hosting a Science and Management Forum on Regional Freshwater Issues, on Saturday, April 16 from 9am to noon. Attendees will be provided with insight into the state of our groundwater supplies, ways of protecting sensitive wetlands, and pressures that threaten freshwater ecosystems, including pollution, development practices, and invasive species. Special attention will be given to green infrastructure and stormwater management, as well as some of the same climate change issues that came up at the Ashokan Conference. The forum is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required. Participants can register online at www.caryinstitute.org/freshwater.html or call (845) 677-7600 x171. The last two Science and Management Forums filled to capacity; early registration is recommended.
Nomad market finds home on Church St.
Doron Tyler Antrimreports in the Daily Mail that the Catskill Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday, April 11 to relocate the community’s seasonal farmers market to the county parking lot along Church Street, perpendicular to where it was last year. The move is a change of opinion since Saturday, when village officials met and agreed the market would remain on Main Street this year, although with a new look. It was decided it would be unsafe to have traffic and kids events simultaneously. The proposal now needs approval from the Greene County Legislature.
Word from the BOE Meeting
Carole Osterink of Gossips of Rivertown was the first to report on the June 11 Hudson City School District Board of Education meeting, noting how they voted to accept the proposed budget, “which at $41,249,180 involves the elimination of 26 positions and a 9.8 increase in the tax levy.” Four board members–Emil Meister, Jeffrey Otty, Mary Daly, and Peter Merante–voted to accept the budget; three–Peter Meyer, Elizabeth Fout, and Peter Rice–voted against accepting it. “When asked by an audience member what would happen if the voters rejected the budget, three options were explained: (1) the BOE could propose the same budget for a second vote; (2) the BOE could further reduce the budget and propose a new budget; (3) the BOE could go directly to contingency, which would mean that the budget now proposed would be the budget, since a 9.8 percent increase is within the parameters allowed bu the state for a contingency budget.” We will have more from this event, with audio, in the coming hours.
Lawsuit could slow Greenport Crossings project
John Mason of the Register-Star reports that despite receiving an unprecedented 20-year tax abatement agreement from the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency,the Greenport Crossing complex is facing a $1.5 million lawsuit. “Developer Harbalwant Singh, in the midst of a brownfield cleanup, said he has decided to forgive both the parties named in the suit and will be dropping it,” Mason writes. Singh sued the man he bought the property from for allegedly lying to him about environmental factors on the property. He now says he will forgive the lie and drop his lawsuit so development can proceed.
Drilling foes make point
Brian Nearing reports on the April 11 anti-fracking rally in Albany in the Times Union, noting that “several hundred people descended on the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to reject horizontal hydrofracking, which delivers a high-pressure mix of water, chemicals and sand to free natural gas trapped in shale formations deep underground.” He observed the presence of Josh Fox, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Gasland,” among a crowd of about 450 people who had signed up to lobby lawmakers against horizontal hydrofracking. The drilling technique remains under study by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. A decision on rules to control the practice could be released sometime this summer after about three years of study… “Also Monday, the gas industry — which defends the process as safe — wrote to the governor to ask that he speed up the DEC review,” Nearing continues. “The state, the industry says, is missing revenue available in states that allow the process, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.” “New York cannot afford to allow protests rooted in misinformation to halt the tremendous economic development activity that awaits our state,” wrote Brad Gill, executive director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, which represents about 400 energy companies. Also, several Democratic state lawmakers on Monday announced a package of proposals, from an outright ban on hydrofracking to strict controls on the chemicals, some toxic, used in the process as well the large amounts of tainted wastewater that hydrofracking creates.
Gibson calls economy a bipartisan problem
Michael Ryan reports in the Daily Mail that U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson of Kinderhook, R-20th, called the economy “a bipartisan problem” during his town hall meeting in Windham on April 11, where he was joined by State Senator James Seward, R-Milford. Asked to respond to the nuclear power plant emergency in earthquake ravaged Japan and the role of nuclear power in America, the congressman reiterated that he remains a proponent of nuclear power… “when it is done right.” “I strongly support all renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geo-thermal but at the end of the day, when you realistically look at what we consume as a nation, I say let the science go forward,” he said. “If a community doesn’t want nuclear, it shouldn’t be forced on them. There are communities that will want it.”
Gasoline prices continue upward surge
The Daily Freeman notes what we all have noticed: average retail gasoline prices in New York have risen 8.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.92 per gallon on April 10. This compares with the national average, which increased 7.7 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.74, according to gasoline price websiteNewYorkStateGasPrices.com. Including the change in gas prices in New York during the past week, prices April 10 were 95.4 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 18.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 21 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 87.2 cents per gallon higher than this day a year ago.
Close the creek?
Following up on his own story, Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail writes that area sportsmen have called for a 45-day stay on fishing the Catskill Creek in order to save the fish’s sensitive spawning habitat. Six men were charged with illegally catching walleye there earlier this month and Walter Bennett, president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Greene County, addressed county lawmakers on April 11, urging support to close a section of Catskill Creek from March 16 to April 30. Walleye season is from the first Saturday in May through March 15 of the following year.
Hannacroix Creek dumper caught
Colin DeVries reports in the Daily Mail that a 79-year-old Coxsackie man was charged with illegally dumping into the Hannacroix Creek on Saturday, April 9, state police said after a report of a suspicious person dumping household garbage into the creek was reported to them. Lawrence J. Burke was found traveling in his vehicle on County Route 61 and ticketed by police. Police said Burke had dumped a bag of household garbage, containing rancid meat, into the creek. The bag was located and returned to Burke, who was ordered to properly dispose of the refuse.
NYSP makes arrest in underage drinking investigation
The Register-Star reports that a 19-year-old has been charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration, a misdemeanor, after the New York State Police at Livingston arrested him April 8 following an investigation March 18 by the State Police at Kinderhook, who looked into a report of an underage drinking party being held at a private Kinderhook residence. Troopers located an 18-year-old female described as “obviously intoxicated” and turned her over to her parent. Continued investigation into the incident led to the Friday arrest, with police alleging that Pinkowski intentionally interfered with the troopers’ official duties. He was arraigned in the village of Kinderhook court and released, pending court appearance on April 19.
Goodbye, but not forever
Andrew Amelinckx reports on a ritualistic walking of a labyrinth on Sunday, April 10,to honor Benedicta Bertau, the co-artistic director of Hudson’s Walking the Dog Theater. Bertau, who is originally from Germany, is leaving the country for an unknown amount of time while her immigration status is determined. She and fellow Walking the Dog Theater director David Anderson created the labyrinth on the Philmont Village Green two years ago. “Friends came out to say good-bye to Bertau and help clean up the labyrinth, raking leaves and twigs off the stone structure,” Amelinckx writes. “While Bertau is gone—she said it could be up to a year—WTD will continue to produce shows.” Bertau has been in the U.S. for six years working with WTD under a H1-B visa, a non-immigrant visa that allows non-residents to work in specialty areas. A lawyer is trying to help her secure a green card, but while the process unfolds she will have to be outside the country.
Greene County ski season officially ends
Colin DeVries writes in the Daily Mail about the end of the ski season up at Hunter Mountain, who called it quits for the snow on Sunday, April 10, with ski center reps calling the past year “fantastic.” Hunter Mountain ended its 2010-11 ski season with some mud-skimming revelry a week after Windham Mountain closed on April 3. Also closing on April 10 was state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort in Ulster County, which faced major state budget cuts and accompanying job losses earlier in the season. Catamount, located in Massachusetts between Hillsdale, NY and Egremont, MA, closed in late March.
Farmers market to stay on Main, but look will change
Doron Tyler Antrim reports on the latest iteration of the Catskill’s farmers market, which now seems poised to will remain on Main Street with traffic flowing through it. The decision — which is not finalized, but was generally agreed to during a discussion among village officials and several business owners on Saturday, April 8, — will see vendors moved to the parking spots on the west side of the road with traffic cones or barriers placed in the road. Board action is expected at an official village meeting on Monday evening, April 11.
More charges for alleged burglar
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star reports that the case of an alleged Columbia County burglar keeps growing, with new charges being added to those already filed against the HIllsdale man behind bars since October. Authorities now believe Samuel Sampson, 39, is responsible for as many as 50 area break-ins, going back to 2009. He was originally arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 29, the result of a two-year investigation with the New York State Police in Livingston into a series of break-ins in Hillsdale, Austerlitz, Philmont, Claverack and across the border in Massachusetts. Sampson was initially charged with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property and second-degree assault, both class D felonies. Amongst his loot were four long guns, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Making food available for bears will lead to problems, state warns
The Daily Freeman is running a state Department of Environmental Conservation reminder discouraging human encounters with black bears. “Typically, black bears are timid and will avoid all contact with humans,” said Willie Janeway, the agency’s Region 3 director who lives in Columbia County. “However, bears will become a nuisance and can cause significant damage if they believe they can obtain an easy meal from bird feeders, garbage cans, Dumpsters, barbecue grills, tents, vehicles, out-buildings or houses. Taking preventative action early and consistently is crucial to avoid chronic bear problems.”
South Bay Dumping Update
Carole Osterink updates her own Gossips of Rivertown report by noting that the trucks seen dumping leftover cement in South Bay Friday were located, then reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Hudson Police Department. At about 5:30 on Friday afternoon, April 8, Gossips received a report that “two men with pickup trucks, pickaxes, and shovels” were removing the cement from the marsh. Way to go!
Hudson Valley farmers face development pressure
Bill Fallon of HV Biz writes about a new study that reveals that the Hudson Valley is faced with intense development pressure that is pressuring its agricultural heritage. “Farming endures, according to the data, despite a 10 percent loss of farmland in a five-year period, with a corresponding 21 percent increase in the cost of food production,” Fallon writes about “The State of Agriculture in the Hudson Valley,” a report by Glynwood, a Cold Spring-based organization devoted to saving Hudson Valley farming. “Perhaps the greatest impediment to small- and mid-size farm viability is the absence of processing and distribution infrastructure necessary for farmers to get their products to market, according to the report. It also documents how the industry is changing as farmers adapt to a shifting economy and to different market opportunities.” Yet there are some bright lights on the horizon, according to Glynwood, notably the diversity of markets in the region and the region’s proximity to major urban areas:
The new state budget has already meant one change for anyone fishing for striped bass on the Hudson River: you no longer need a license. Fri., April 8, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that, “a recreational marine fishing license is no longer required to fish in the marine district of New York, including fishing for migratory fish from the sea (e.g. striped bass) on the Hudson River below the Troy Dam.” Anglers no longer need to purchase licenses through DECALS, the online license sales system. Legislation included in the final state budget directs DEC to establish a no-fee registry to take the place of the marine license, but that won’t be in place until June. The DEC will also provide refunds to holders of lifetime recreational marine fishing licenses later this year, with an announcement about that process coming soon.
Grocery store, zoning collide
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in the Daily Mail that plans for a new Hannafords in Cairo are running up against the town’s first comprehensive plan. “Although some parts of the company’s plan are likely to be tweaked as it begins the planning board approval process, Hannaford representatives say one critical aspect is non-negotiable,” Antrim writes. “They say the company is unwilling to build its grocery store closer to the road and have the parking lot in the rear of the property, which is a requirement in the zoning law for new commercial development on Main Street.” Hannaford could seek a waiver of any zoning rules before the Zoning Board of Appeals, a five-member body that will not be appointed by the town until after the law’s passage.
Teachers’ union, district at impasse
Andrew Amelinckx writes that the Hudson City School District’s teacher’s union and its board of education have come to an impasse on contract negotiations.The teachers union and board have met on three occasions over the past three months trying to negotiate a new deal before a current contract expires July 1. According to Jack Howe, the district’s superintendent, if the contract expires it could result in “an additional $900,000 per year” or a 4.7 percent per year increase in the district’s budget for teacher salaries and benefits. According to the teachers’ union, the district asked the union to agree to “no salary increase and no movement on the salary schedule for the 2011-12 school year.” The HTA countered by asking how many faculty positions would be saved and was told it would be five of 22 jobs set to be cut. The union rejected the proposal and proposed its own plan, which the board and Howe have denigrated in public. The HTA’s proposal involved the creation of a loan of sorts, with each teacher deferring one day of pay from one paycheck a month for 10 months. The district would hold the salary and pay it out at a later date. The union estimated that this would be around $696,000, which the district could then use to pay a step increment increase, plus a 1 percent raise to all teachers. The board is expected to vote on their budget on Monday, April 11, and include the elimination of 20 teaching positions. Everyone’s expecting a contentious meeting.
Catskill appeals judge’s ruling in pagan case
Julia Reischel writes in The Watershed Post that Judge George Pulver of Greene County has set a date for a bench trial in a tax status case that has slipped into discrimination charges. The Maetreum of Cybele, a pagan group from Palenville, are claiming that the Town of Catskill has discriminated against them by refusing to grant them a religious property tax exemption. According the the Greene County Clerk’s Office, a notice of appeal was filed on March 28 in the tax case against the Assessor of the Town of Catskill. The town appears to be asking for a higher court to review a tough-talking February ruling from Greene County Supreme Court Judge Pulver, which the judge denied Catskill’s request to dismiss the case. Pulver will hear evidence in the case and rule on it himself on July 20.
County leaders accuse state of adopting “smoke and mirrors” budget
Mid Hudson News Network reports that top county officials from across the Hudson Valley are calling the newly adopted state budget “smoke and mirrors.” In a discussion among regional business executives on April 7 at the annual Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress Presidents’ Day Breakfast in Poughkeepsie, the Executive Director of the New York State Association of Counties, Stephen Acquario, complained that the state was passing off its bills to counties and towns. “When the state mandates that the counties must pick up the tab on various services, it destroys their autonomy and siphons significant dollar amounts out of the communities that need that money the most,” he said.
Supes mileage cost $17K in 2010
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star and WGXC’s @ Issue news show reports that Columbia County paid out $17,506.55 to the Board of Supervisors for mileage reimbursement in 2010. Sixteen supervisors received mileage reimbursement, mostly for traveling to Hudson for county committee meetings. They were reimbursed at 50 cents per mile, at an average of $1,094 each. “The county’s current vehicle use policy does not lay out specific mileage-logging requirements for supervisors and the supervisors queried for this story were not aware of a BOS-specific policy,” Olsen writes. “A new policy… is expected to be adopted in the next few months.” She adds that Board of Supervisors Chairman Roy Brown, R-Germantown, did not log mileage because he has his own county-issued vehicle.
Locally, the need for slaughterhouses to process local meat has often been discussed in agricultural and business circles. Yesterday, regional and national media also covered the story. In the Watershed Post blog — which covers the Catskills including Greene County — Lissa Harris posted an interview with Chris Harmon, the director of the Oneonta-based Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (CADE), was posted Thu., Apr. 7 about the need for more slaughterhouses. In the video above, Harmon explains how his group has been working with Larry’s Custom Meats, a meat processor based in Hartwick (in Otsego County, west of Greene County), to build a new USDA-certified slaughterhouse. In The New York Times Thursday, the lack of slaughterhouses in a rural, agricultural setting is not unique to the Hudson Valley. David Ferry in The Times writes about the San Francisco area where, “Only one slaughterhouse remains… in Petaluma, and there are just a smattering of them in all of Northern California. Ranchers must often truck their grass-fed cattle hundreds of miles to the nearest plant, and they face backlogs in the busy season that can lead to waits lasting many months. This means fewer — and more expensive — local skirt steaks at the butcher shop, and more carbon with that grass-fed burger.” In 2009 in the Register-Star, Andrew Amelinkcx reported, “There are two USDA certified slaughterhouses in Columbia County, Van Wie in Stockport and Hilltown Pork, Inc.,” and he talks with Robert Beckwith, co-owner of Hilltown Pork, who says they were at full capacity, and anyone who wanted an animal slaughtered would have to join a waiting list. Last year, Ecklund’s Farm in Delaware County added a mobile slaughterhouse because of the demand in the area.
Deficient bridges in region on par with state percentage
Mid Hudson News Network has an update of where we stand in terms of our state’s crumbling bridge infrastructure. They report that of 17,365 bridges in the State of New York, 12 percent are structurally deficient. Columbia County has the largest number of deficient bridges in the region at 18 percent. Ulster County is at 14 percent, Dutchess has 13 percent, and Greene is at about 12 percent. “Structurally deficient means they are in need of immediate attention. They need to be monitored more closely because they are starting to deteriorate in ways that could become critical,” said Transportation for America organization spokesman David Goldberg. “It doesn’t mean they will fall down tomorrow, but it does mean that if they are not taken care of, then they will be weight restricted, heavy vehicles won’t be allowed to go across them. Then they usually narrow it down to maybe only one lane of traffic at a time can go across and then ultimately they close the bridge.” The average life of a bridge is 50 years; New York’s bridges average 46 years old.
Hannaford unveils sketch plan for market
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in the Daily Mail that Hannaford made its first appearance before the Cairo planning board on Wednesday, April 6, introducing a sketch plan and other details of its proposed new supermarket. Representatives unveiled the company’s plan for a 36,000-square-foot store and pharmacy and 6,000-square-foot retail center to be built in the Great American plaza, whose owner, Ellsworth “Unk” Slater, has agreed to a buyout. The company’s plan calls for subdividing the roughly seven-acre parcel and carrying out a two-phased construction effort, eventually replacing the current Great American plaza.
Ichabod whittles tax hike to 3.9 %
John Mason writes in the Register-Star about the latest development in the budget process at Ichabod Crane School District in Kinderhook, which has already seen a decision to close two elementary schools and trim staff by 32.5 positions. Now the projected tax levy hike for the coming school year is at 3.9 percent and Superintendent Lee Bordick said that’s partly because of state aid figures being better than expected, and partly because he originally overestimated expenses. He added, however, that he didn’t see rehiring of staff or keeping schools open. Those decisions were based on declining enrollment, he adds, and not budget considerations.
Will a Robin Hood save Nottingham timeshare?
Cathy Woodruff of the Times Union has a piece about the bankruptcy of Catskills’s Friar Tuck Resort in terms of its time share owners at Nottingham Village. She focuses on one couple who used their timeshare apartment to trade/rent for vacations they would take elsewhere. For a $300 yearly maintenance fee, plus a $150 exchange fee each year; apartment owners could rent their spaces or trade for use of similar timeshares in other locations. But now that the Friar Tuck is in bankruptcy, it is unclear whether hundreds who bought into Nottingham Village will have anything to show for their money when the Chapter 7 liquidation process is done. Two attempted bankruptcy sales of the resort complex by Ulster Savings Bank, which foreclosed on a $3.5 million Friar Tuck mortgage last September, have failed. In both cases, winning bidders walked away after a closer look at the property.
This Just In
Gossips of Rivertown was the first to have the story that there has been a court decision in favor of the City of Hudson in a lawsuit filed by the “North Dock Tin Boat Association, Inc.,” which sought to stop the transfer of the land on which the Furgary Boat Club is located from the State of New York to the City of Hudson. The Register Star goes deeper into the matter, including questions about what happens now to the century-old shacks, many with electricity, located by the city’s sewer plant and beloved by many as a funky remembrance of Hudson’s older societal structure.
Baseball back at G’port park
Daniel Weissner reports in the Register-Star about a Hudson City School District Board of Education decision this week to rescind its prohibition against having Hudson High School baseball teams from playing home games at Greenport Town Park. “The district has been working to clean up its athletic fields, which were marred by potholes and flooded with water, for four years,” Weissner writes of an April 4 meeting that saw more people addressing ballfield issues than funding cuts and rising class sizes. “The district does not pay to use the Greenport park…”
Awareness key to progress against sexual violence
The Daily Freeman has a story about a presentation given by Dutchess County Family Services where it was acknowledged that many abuse victims still never report the crime and that creating greater awareness of what’s involved in sexual abuse may get more victims to step forward. District Attorney William Grady said a big step forward is more humane treatment of the victim, who should no longer traumatized by having to wait in a public emergency room with a police officer. Local hospitals, he added, are finally starting to set up private ways of treating such patients. The event was attended by law enforcement and social services officials. Also announced was an upcoming “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event, in which men literally walk a mile in women’s shoes to raise awareness about sexual assault and support survivors. The event is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 30 at Marist College in Poughkeepsie.
Ulster starts ball rolling to form inter-county emergency communications system
Mid Hudson News Network reports that the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee of the Ulster County Legislature has approved the first step toward joining other Hudson Valley counties in the formation of an emergency communications consortium. The six-county group is working towards fulfilling a state directive to address communications with a regional approach. The goal is to enable emergency services agencies to communicate on the same radio channels in the counties of Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester. Maybe Columbia and Greene should start a similar effort?
Redistricting reforms constitutional, group says
Stephanie Lee of the Times Union writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s call for a nonpartisan redistricting system has been deemed constitutional… by leaders of a redistricting reform campaign. “Organizers of ReShapeNY presented a legal memo from Weil, Gotshal and Manges LLP that defends the constitutionality of the governor’s proposed bipartisan legislative committee, which would draw redistricting lines without consideration to political advantage,” Lee writes. “ReShapeNY is organized by good-government groups that include Citizens Union, the New York Public Interest Group and the League of Women Voters.” Cuomo’s plan is backed by 89 members of the Assembly, where Democrats hold the majority of the seats. The challenge to his plan’s constitutionality comes from Senate Republicans, who have proposed to create a redistricting panel that wouldn’t draw lines until 2022. New lines will be drawn in 2012, in wake of the just-released census data.
Albany NanoTech awarded $57.5M for solar research
Robin K. Cooper of the Albany Business Journal reports that the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering will receive $57.5 million in federal money for solar-cell research and development. The U.S. Department of Energy announced the award on April 5. SUNY Albany will use the same technology it uses for computer-chip innovation to help make New York a hub for photovoltaic research, the university says. Sen. Charles Schumer had pushed for $100 million in federal funds to help form a Photovoltaic Manufacturing Consortium with more than 80 corporate and university partners, which mirrors similar efforts in the Mid-Hudson Valley being pushed by Congressman Maurice Hinchey.
The Times Herald Record reports that approximately 1,000 showed up in the Newburgh area on Monday, April 4, for a pro-union rally designed to coincide with the day that Martin Luther King was assassinated while leading efforts to unionize garbage workers in Memphis, Tennesse in 1968. “The strains of ‘Power to the People’ and ‘I Won’t Back Down’ blared from loudspeakers on a hill above the intersection,” reads the story by Michael Randall. “In between tunes, labor union members and their supporters put those sentiments into practice as they rallied in support of their brothers and sisters whose very right to bargain is being challenged elsewhere in the United States… This rally was bigger and more informal than one held about a month ago a few miles to the west, but its message was just as clear.”
“We’re here because the American worker is under attack,” the story quotes Sam Fratto, senior assistant business manager for Local 363 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. “The middle class is under attack. Somebody needs to stand up for the workers. The unions are going to stand up for the workers.”
The recent labor rallies, Randall notes, have come in response to efforts by some in government to strip union workers of their right to collective bargaining in states such as Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. The event was organized by the 10-year old the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation, which represents 113,000 union families across Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties. The above video was uploaded onto YouTube by jbatt1234.
Main Street to be open on market days
Doron Tyler Antrim reports on the two hour-plus public meeting on the fate of the Catskill Farmer’s Market on Monday night, March 28, Village trustees on Monday voted in favor of reopening Main Street during the hours of the market, by highlighting the remaining confusion following a 4-1 board decision to keep Main Street open on Saturdays whether the market stays there or not, which he terms “an apparent victory for business owners who argued the road’s closure resulted in lost revenue.” Tyler notes that the firehouse meeting room where the discussion took place was packed, and that two competing petitions were presented to trustees. One included signatures from 22 business owners seeking to have Main Street reopened, while the other, with signatures from more than 60 merchants and villagers, liked the closed street market. Trustee Brian Kehoe supported the closed-street Catskill Regional Farmers and Artisans Market, held on Saturday mornings June through October. A final decision on market placement will be made at a future meeting.
Parking ticket procrastinators may soon be getting a ‘boot’
John Mason writes in the Register-Star that Hudson Police Chief Ellis Richardson told the city’s Police Committee that he’d like to institute a program of booting tires on cars with three or four outstanding parking tickets. The boot would be locked into place on a tire of the car, immobilizing it until the offending motorist has paid up, at which time the boot would be removed. Richardson said there are $37,500 worth of outstanding parking tickets, which, with late fees and surcharges, comes out to $164,000. Currently, he said, there are 339 vehicles eligible for scofflaw designation.
Powerline Project Shifts Course; Clears Another Hurdle
CCscoop’s Mike McCagg reports on a proposed 350-mile power transmission line slated to be buried beneath the Hudson River, noting that while the Canada-to NYC line “has cleared another regulatory hurdle,” the planned route of the four, five-inch-diameter high-voltage direct current cables has been moved away from Columbia County’s residence-dominated shoreline to Greene County land, re-entering the Hudson River in the town of Catskill –across the river from the Germantown/Livingston/Greenport border. Dozens of agencies and organizations have secured stake-holder status in the review of the proposal, including Scenic Hudson Inc., Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, National Grid, Natural Resources Defense Council and New York State Council of Trout Unlimited. While Columbia County apparently has not sought status in the project, Greene County on March 21 submitted a request to be added to the stakeholder list.
New York AG files petition against Indian Point
Mid Hudson News Network reports that State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a petition with the federal NRC urging it to take enforcement action against the Indian Point nuclear power plant for what he said was its failure to comply with fire safety regulations. Schneiderman wrote that compliance with fire safety requirements was necessary to ensure that the facility would be able to safely shut down during and after an emergency. The nuclear facility at the top end of the Tappen Zee, within 25 miles of NYC, is seeking more than 100 exemptions from regulations, with spokespeople saying that its operators are trained and drilled in the use of actions “to mitigate potential impact from a variety of postulated fires at the site.”
Sounds of silence, fury at cuts
Rick Karlin of the Times Union writes about the reaction to this week’s agreement on a new state budget defined by its cuts to education, heath and other benefits. “With just $272 million restored from nearly $1.5 billion in education cuts, members of the state’s vast education lobby on Monday issued a raft of complaints, dire warnings and vows to fight on,” he observes. And he quotes state School Boards Association spokesman Tim Kremer saying that, “The cuts will translate into mass layoffs, larger classes, depletion of reserve funds, school closings and, unfortunately, (property) tax increases,” while groups such as New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, the Alliance for Quality Education and New York State United Teachers said they would keep pushing to get the so-called millionaires’ tax extended, over Cuomo’s objections, to boost school funding. A large education funding rally is planned for Wednesday, March 30, when lawmakers may vote on at least part of the final budget. By contrast, Karlin adds, “health care interests have been almost silent, despite the more than $2 billion they are losing from Medicaid.”
Business groups pleased with budget deal
Adam Sichko of the Albany Business Journal reports on how business lobbies have been gushing over the state budget agreement announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders of both parties. The Business Council of New York State Inc., which endorsed Cuomo’s candidacy, called the budget “truly historic.”
C-D offers slate of new budget data
Miguel Madera of the Daily Mail writes that the Cairo-Durham school board presented new budget data before a large audience in the school auditorium this week, focusing on cuts and new revenue sources. A special public meeting will take place on April 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the high school when a majority of the school’s budget will be discussed. More details before that date…
Cuomo, leaders announce $132.5 billion budget deal
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state’s legislative leaders — plus a handful of rank-and-file lawmakers — appeared in the state capitol’s Red Room Sunday afternoon, March 27, to announce an agreement on the 2011-12 budget that lays out a roughly $132.5 billion spending plan for the state. The adjusted plan, after miscellaneous other cuts and additions, offers a net increase from the budget proposal of about $250 million and represents a 2 percent cut in spending over the current fiscal year. The major changes from the governor’s budget proposal include $272 million in restorations for education. Karlin adds that, “there’s a long list of things left out of the budget that certain groups would like to see put in: no millionaires tax; and no New York City rent-control extensions or expansions. Expect further heated discussions in each house as ratification proceeds…
Catskill Creek Watershed organization mulls microbe study
Colin DeVries reports that a study on precisely how many dangerous microbes may exist in the Catskill Creek, which provides water for the village, is being considered. “The grassroots Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project committee met last week to discuss sampling areas of Greene County’s primary watershed for enterococcus organisms,” DeVries reports on New York Riverkeeper’s presentation of preliminary logistical and financial information on the study that showed difficult results. “In March 2008, the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation performed a dye and video camera inspection of the storm drainage systems after reports of contamination in the Catskill Creek near Leeds. The inspection revealed that harmful contaminants from the septic leachate in the area had been infiltrating the creek, prompting review of a public sewer system through the hamlet.”
Valatie man jumps from Route 203 bridge
The Register-Star reports that a 45-year-old man jumped from the Route 203 bridge in Valatie on Sunday morning, March 27 at around 11 a.m. He was transported by Life-Net helicopter to Albany Medical Center shortly after noon for evaluation. According to a press release from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the man was found standing on the shore with no visible injuries.
Schools in region to make up for extra snow days
The Daily Freeman has a rundown of what seems to be left in terms of upcoming April school vacations in the area. In Greene County, some school officials were still deciding how to make up snow days. April 18-22 was the originally scheduled break period. Catskill students will have a spring vacation from April 20-22 but lost April 18 and 19 as days off. The Coxsackie-Athens school district’s spring break remains intact from April 18 to 22. Hunter-Tannersville students are on vacation from April 18 to 22 but lost April 25. Cairo-Durham’s spring break is from April 18 to 22, though this is subject to change. In Germantown, April 18 and 19 will be made up for snow days. In Hudson and at Taconic Hills School Districts, schools will be open and classes will be in session on Wednesday, April 20, and Thursday, April 21, as snow day make-up dates. In Chatham, a make-up day will occur on April 21 during a week otherwise taken up with vacation days. In Northern Dutchess, the Red Hook school district used seven snow days when eight were budgeted, and the makeup day will be May 27, which also seems to be the case at Ichabod Crane Central Schools in Kinderhook. The Pine Plains school district used nine snow days when six were budgeted, resulting in a scheduled half day on April 15 now being a full day.
UAlbany turns three majors into minors
The Albany Business Journal has a piece about how graduate studies in several languages, plus classics, are being dropped because of budget considerations. Goodbye French and Russian, plus theater.
ICC board raises no objection to closing two schools
Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the administration at Ichabod Crane schools in Kinderhook have made an official recommendation to close both the Martin Van Buren and Martin H. Glynn elementary schools, moving all students to the main campus on Route 9. It seems that busing for those who live within a two-mile radius from the schools will be continued, along with full day kindergarten. A full budget will be presented on Tuesday, March 29, when a final decision to close the elementary schools will also be made.
Public Hearing on Union and First
Carole Osterlink of The Gossips of Rivertown reports on the standing room only March 24 Hudson Historic Preservation Commission public hearing on the issue of a construction project being proposed by the Galvan Partners for Union and First streets in the city’s First Ward, held at City Hall. Comments ranged from those who characterized the neighborhood as becoming nicer to those who complained about continuing problems at the site in question, as well as the developers’ other unfilled projects. The lawyer for the developers, it seems, lectured both the Commission and several members of the public about what could be discussed and not. The Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on theproject on April 20.
Town signs contract with Pace to develop Climate Action Plan
The Register-Star is running a piece about how officials in the Northern Dutchess County Town of Red Hook recently signed a contract with Pace Law School’s Energy and Climate Center (PECC) to develop and implement a Climate Action Plan, and has begun taking stock of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases it emits. The PECC consultants will set a greenhouse gas reduction target for Red Hook, and develop an action plan to achieve that goal. Similar actions have started taking place in communities throughout Westchester County, while discussion has also started in Ulster County and elsewhere around the nation.
$1 million grant to fight Ulster obesity
Mid Hudson News Network reports on the awarding of a $1.01 million grant for a new Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play initiative to combat obesity and obesity related health issues starting with three communities in Ulster County. The monies, coming through Cornell Cooperative Extension with a match form Ulster County, will be used to effect a shift away from informational campaigns and towards “creating environments, in schools for example, that facilitate healthy living styles.”
Hein said that the best way to create healthy places in every community is by impacting the people. The three communities to be focused on will be Ellenville, Phoenicia, and Kingston. Pay attention, local legislators.
Cuomo: Prisons among the sticking points
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that Gov. Andrea Cuomo spoke on FRiday, March 25 about the budget process some thought would be completed this week, saying that there was still a lot of disagreement about how to slim down the state’s prison system. “When you close down prisons in many communities these are the economic engines,” he said. “Don’t underestimate the economic impact that closing prisons would have.” Cuomo went on to repeat that if there is no April 1 budget, he’ll put in the extender bill. If lawmakers reject, then there is a government shutdown. The battles, they do continue…
C-A slashes budget to bone
Melanie Lekocevic of the Register-Star reports that Interim District Superintendent Annemarie Barkman from the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District has presented the Board of Education with a trimmed to the bone budget that meets projected state figures for the 2011-2012 school year. The cuts are in response to reductions in state aid the district is expecting once the state budget is passed, and increases in expenses, primarily negotiated salary increases, employee benefits, transportation and BOCES. Should the budget be kept the same as last year, without any cuts to programs or staffing, the increase in the tax levy would be hefty – 12.77 percent. Most of what’s being proposed involved the teaching staff, and planned retirements, which led some in the audience to ask why the administrative staff isn’t taking the brunt of any of the budget difficulties.
Park would greet city, town visitors
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star writes about ongoing plans for a new pocket park to be built at the sharply angled intersection of Columbia Turnpike and Green Street in Greenport, right on the border of the city of Hudson, where a county-owned but abandoned home now stands. A group of local residents have proposed demolishing the building and replacing it with the Greenport-Hudson Gateway Park, which would include an archway with the word “WELCOME”, signs on either side saying “This way to Hudson” and “This way to Greenport” respectively, and hardy plants and flowers that could withstand the proximity to the road.
2010 CENSUS: Population up in local counties, state
The Daily Freeman, and other local papers, leads with a story on the release of new 2010 cenus information, finding that the region’s population grew by 5.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, and only one local county – Delaware – had a decline in residents during that period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Greene County had a population of 49,221, up from 48,195 in 2000, a gain of 2.1 percent; Columbia had 63,096, a gain of just two people from 63,094 in 2000; Dutchess County had 297,448, up from 280,150 in 2000, a gain of 6.2 percent; Ulster had 182,493, up from 177,749 in 2000, a gain of 2.7 percent. Delaware County lost 75 people, for a total of 47,980, similar to losses in the Mohawk Valley and Western New York. The City of Hudson lost 811 people, or almost 11 percent, for a current total of 6.713. The Town of Catskill lost 74 people for a current total of 11,775. The state’s population in 2010 was 19,378,102, a gain of 2.1 percent from 2000’s 18,976,457, the Census Bureau said. More on this info in the coming weeks…
Legislators optimistic of budget deal Friday
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that legislative leaders in Albany emerged from a closed-door meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo late on Thursday, March 24 optimistic that a budget agreement could be announced Friday, March 25… a week before its April 1 due date. The millionaire’s tax seems to have disappeared from talks, along with any renewal of New York City rent stabilization laws or a property tax cap. But that’s also with Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos taking the media lead, and longstanding Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressing some caution on pronouncements for the moment and the Governor staying mum for a day.
Report: Albany area loses 4,900 jobs
The Albany Business Journal reports that government job losses continue to choke the Capital Region’s economy, according to new state data. While area businesses continue to add jobs, albeit at a slower clip than most other areas of the state, job cuts in the public sector keeps overwhelming any of that growth. For the third month in a row, the core Capital Region had the largest job losses of the 13 metro areas in the state, when combining government and private-sector jobs. Right now, the fastest-growing job market in the state is in Kingston.
BOE looks to slim down
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star writes that the county Board of Elections is planning to consolidate some of its 58 election districts and it will end up with around 51, according to the county’s election commissioners. “While no countywide plan has been finalized, the commissioners have a pretty good idea of what they’d like to do, and will be visiting town board meetings in the coming months to explain their plan to residents and officials,” Olsen reports. “The plan to consolidate districts will save around $32,000 annually, said Republican Commissioner Jason Nastke. That’s $3,750 for every district that’s eliminated and $1,000 for every poll site that’s eliminated. It will also give the BOE an opportunity to address accessibility issues at its poll sites.” The changes should be in place by Primary Day, September 13.
2 C-H trucks up in flames
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports how an electrical fire destroyed two Central Hudson pickup trucks on March 24. He writes that Catskill Fire Chief Jonathan Dees said one of the two charred trucks had not been used for over a week and recently had its electrical system repaired, and that the fire likely originated from a short in the electrical wiring. The vehicle was eventually completely engulfed at the power company’s substation off Route 9W outside the village of Catskill. The fire from the first truck, which was a Dodge Ram, then spread to the Chevrolet pickup truck beside it.
Chatham police chief retires after 35 years
Emilia Teasdale of The Columbia Paper reports that Village Police Chief Kevin Boehme has retired after 35 years on the force. His retirement became official as of 3 p.m. on Monday March 21 even though Boehme filed the paperwork to retire last fall, said Village Clerk/Treasurer Carol Simmons. No one knows whether there will be a new chief. The department has a deputy chief, Mark Leggett, who will stay in that position. Boehme’s older brother, Paul, is the current mayor of the village and will hold that post until the first Monday in April.
Holcim advisory panel goes on the shelf
Doron Tyler Antrim of the Daily Mail reports that with the recent announcement that Holcim Cement will close its plant in Catskill come June, the future of its Community Advisory Committee — a regular gathering of local leaders and other interested parties sponsored by the company and used by plant management to report on the goings-on at the facility — is in question. The meetings have led to greater awareness of key issues, committee members say, and even yielded dividends for local residents — namely the donation in 2009 of a 10-acre plant-owned parcel on Embought Road to the Catskill Soccer Club for use as fields. But given last week’s announcement, Holcim and the communications firm that facilitates the monthly meetings say no future gatherings are planned at this time.
Officials not so hot on PILOT for new hotel
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star reports from the public hearing held March 23 by the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency on a possible 20-year tax break requested by the developers of a proposed hotel, entertainment and retail complex in Greenport. The meeting saw lots of support for the possibility of a hotel coming to the area, but not so much for a two-decade long tax credit. Greenport Crossroads, Amelinckx writes, is a three-stage development at the old V & O Press site on Route 66 in Greenport that will include an 81-room Comfort Suites hotel with an indoor pool and fitness center; an entertainment facility with an 18-lane bowling alley, a sports bar and grill, laser tag, a rope course, a rock climbing wall, an arcade and a party room, among other features; and a retail space. The first phase of construction would be for the retail area that would include a proposed six-pump, 12-car Mobil service station, a drive-thru A&W restaurant and a liquor store. The corporation is asking for a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, from the IDA that would release them from paying mortgage recording taxes; deed transfer taxes on any real-estate transfers; exemption on sales tax related to the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the project facility; and real property taxation.
Texas-based order puts priest from this area on leave amid alleged sexual affairs, drugs
The Times Union’s Robert Gavin has a story about how the Rev. John Corapi, a Hudson native who became a major figure on religious television, has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of affairs with women and drug use. His Texas-based order, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, announced the action March 18. Corapi, 63, went from Green Beret to millionaire in Las Vegas. He had a mansion in Malibu, a Ferrari and a yacht — then lost it all with drug abuse that left him homeless in Los Angeles. In 1991, at the age of 44, Corapi was ordained by Pope John Paul II. “His story has been one of redemption — until now,” Gavin writes.
Cuomo doubts property tax cap will be in budget
Adam Sechko of the Albany Business Journal writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on March 23 that he doesn’t think the final state budget will include a plan to limit the growth of New York’s notoriously high property taxes. Cuomo also said in a prerecorded address, available elsewhere on this news blog, that he has no problem forcing legislators to choose between approving his budget plan or shutting down the government—if a deal can’t be reached before April 1, the start of the state’s next fiscal year. Top legislative leaders have replied that a government shutdown won’t be necessary.
MOD comes to Front Street
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star reports on a Catskill restaurant reopening in Hudson this week on the corner of Front and Union streets. “Transplanting and expanding their smaller MOD Cafe from Catskill to Hudson, chefs and partners Mary DiStefano and Dana Wegener (The MO and the D respectively) are now serving dinner as well as lunch and weekend brunch at their totally remodeled restaurant,” Larson writes. “A selection of wines and beers are coming soon as well to their recently installed bar.”
WAJ sets special meeting to discuss proposed Pre-K
Michael Ryan of the Windham Journal reports that the question of whether or not there should be a pre-kindergarten program instituted at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central will very likely be left up to district taxpayers. School administrators are holding a special meeting on Monday, March 28, to continue discussing the 2011-12 budget. Will an aging population approve of education for the very young? Stay tuned…
The National Weather Service has announced a Winter Storm Warning to remain in effect primarily for Greene and Ulster counties until N12 noon on Thursday, March 24. Heavy wet now with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are expected for the Catskill Mountains and environs into Thursday morning, although impacts into more snow and poor visibility will make for dangerous travel and roads in the mountains will become snow covered and very slippery. Heavy wet snow may cause some isolated downed tree limbs and power lines resulting in power outages. Strong winds are also possible. For Columbia County and the Hudson Valley, the forecast is for two to four inches of similar wet, heavy snow, with clearing expected by noon tomorrow. School closings for tomorrow are already being announced for most area educational institutions.
Coxsackie bike races draws 245
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports that more than 200 people and their support teams raced in the Trooper Brinkerhoff Memorial Spring Series bicycle race in Coxsackie on Saturday, March 19. Sponsored by the Capital Bicycle Racing Club, the race — which features three levels of competitiveness — seeks to not only train racers for the upcoming spring and summer circuit but also raise funds for the Trooper David Brinkerhoff Scholarship fund, named in honor of a Coxsackie native who was tragically killed April 25, 2007 while in pursuit of an armed fugitive. Saturday’s race was the first in a three-race series which will continue March 26 and April 2.
Hudson Pride announces 2011 programs
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star reports that The Hudson Pride Foundation, a local nonprofit citizens group that promotes and plans events and initiatives in support of greater tolerance for people of all sexual orientations (and ages), announced its programs for 2011 at a private gala event on Saturday in Hudson. This year the Hudson Pride Parade will become the Hudson Pride Weekend, lasting from June 17 to 19, with two boat cruises on the Hudson River Friday, the Parade Saturday and “Family Pride” events Sunday. IN addition, HPF has reached out to all seven high schools in Columbia County to offer their assistance with issues that impact LGBT youths. Beginning April 3, the HPF will begin holding a Youth Outreach Discussion Group Program at the First Reformed Church at 52 Green St. The discussion group, supporting young people from 16 to 23, will meet the first Sunday of every month.
Millions spent in battle over budget
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union writes about how millions are being spent by groups on both sides of the Cuomo budget cut issue as the governor seeks to close a $10 billion deficit with spending reductions and no new taxes. The Committee to Save New York, a collection of monied real estate and business groups, as well as a coalition of private-sector labor unions spent $2,593,854, for public relations consultants, research, canvassing, phone banks, print and broadcast ads and mailings. A review of records filed last week with the Commission on Public Integrity shows the principal groups opposing Cuomo’s budget have spent less — $1,882,770.
More about Union and First
Carole Osterink of Gossips of Rivertown has a comprehensive overview of last week’s Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on a proposed series of houses in historic Hudson, including a focus on discourse regarding current zoning laws establishment of “suburban standards” now inappropriate for reviving towns and cities, and much talk about what constitutes compatibility with a neighborhood’s character. Alleys, setbacks, and the jumble of architectural styles that have invaded our aesthetic in recent decades all come into play, along with some interesting conjectures and opinions on the author’s part.
Jefferson Heights streetscaping contract approved
A $1.89 million contract for a Jefferson Heights streetscaping project along Route 23B was approved by county lawmakers last week, with two Democrats objecting based on the winning contractor’s past performance on similar jobs in the Town of Catskill. Colin DeVries reports in the Daily Mail that the monies will go towards creation of a sidewalk along County Route 23B, improving handicapped accessibility, adding a pocket park and adding a bicycle lane along the roadway. Construction will be funded 80 percent by the federal Department of Transportation Highway Administration, 15 percent by the state DOT’s Marchiselli program, and a 5 percent local match by Greene County, about $100,000. The Greene County Legislature awarded the contract to Merritt Construction, Inc. of Saugerties, who also handled similar work on Grandview Avenue in Catskill in the past decade.
Supervisors are divided on closed meetings
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star follows up on her story about groups of county supervisors meeting outside the public eye in Chatham on a regular basis that gauges board opinion on the matter. Legally, she writes, state OPen Meetings Laws says a quorum can be two things: a simple majority of supervisors — 13, in the case of Columbia County’s Board of Supervisors — or it can be a weighted vote that equals out to just over half of county representation (1,768 votes out of a total of 3,535). According to supervisors who have been at the meetings to talk about county and regional issues, there has never been either sort of quorum — and they’re careful about making sure of that. The real rub, it turns out, is that a handful of supervisors, at least four, haven’t been invited, and even though the meeting supervisors say that wasn’t intentional, those who haven’t gone consider the meetings unethical.
Handel appointed Durham lawmaker
Greene County Legislatures Republicans increased their majority to 9-5 yesterday after appointing 48-year old businesswoman Patricia Handel as the county’s 14th legislator representing Durham on Wednesday night, filling the seat vacated by former Legislator Sean Frey. According to Colin Devries of the Daily Mail, Handel operates the Blackthorne Resort with her husband Roy and manages the Supersonic Speedway, both East Durham businesses. Frey resigned his position after winning two elections because of what he called “an endless investigation” by county powers into mileage reimbursals dating back several years. Frey was a Democrat in this largely Irish, fairly Democratic district.
Quilt stuck in UPS limbo
Cathy Woodruff of The Advocate has a great piece on Coxsackie resident Janet Atkins’ month-long vigil to get her unique, prize-winning quilt, entitled Kaaterskill, out of UPS limbo, where it’s been since getting mailed out of the Golden, CO offices of Quilters Newsletter after a photo shoot on February 16.. The coverlet was to be shipped via two-day air, which should have ensured delivery to her Coxsackie studio by Friday, Feb. 18. But it’s apparently lost in the system…and someone else has filed a claim for it.
Catholic Charities grant splits Council
The Register-Star’s Jamie Larson reports on Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting in Hudson, where “what was easily the most contentious split vote seen in City Hall since Donald Moore was elected Council President” centered on acceptance of a $4,100 grant from Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties to pay for the continued enforcement of underage drinking laws in the city by the Hudson Police Department. “The issue has been simmering with divergent opinions since a Dec. 23 sting operation, also carried out by funding from a Catholic Charities grant, which caught eight out of nine restaurants selling alcohol to an underage informant,” Larson writes. “Business owners and a contingent of council members including Moore and Police Committee Chairman Alderman Christopher Wagoner, D-3rd Ward, have discussed in committee that they would like to see more educational prevention than punishment.” Local businesses caught in the sting, all along Warren Street, said they aren’t the sort of places that attract underage drinkers, because of cost and demographic considerations, making the busts appear that much more like harassment.
Scenic Hudson embraces EPA’s proposed national standard for mercury pollution from power plants
The US EPA has proposed the first-ever national standards for mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollution from power plants in a move that Congressional Republicans are fighting vociferously. The federal agency was under a court deadline to develop the standards, announced Tuesday. Ned Sullivan, president of Poughkeepsie-based Scenic Hudson, announced yesterday that the new laws, once approved, will have environmental and economic impacts for the better, and help the healthiness of the Hudson Valley.
Prisons: Why not sell Sing Sing?
A Times Union report on the March 16 meeting of the Public Protection joint budget committee, which discussed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plans to lose 3,500 prison beds statewide over the coming year, yielded two items that could save Columbia and Greene county prisons, which are seen as key local employment centers. First, many talked about the “saleability” or marketability of mothballed prisons. Then there was the growing belief that it’s better to house prisoners closer to their homes, for better re-entry and less recidivism odds, which given New York City’s record, could work well for the Hudson and Coxsackie facilities. Cuomo has yet to name the 16 members of a commission he has called for to make final prison recommendations.
Village elections in Columbia and Greene counties
Four Columbia County and five Greene County villages hold elections today, from 11:00 am or noon to 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. Most races have no challengers, but look for action as candidates face off in Chatham, Philmont and Tannersville.
Replacement for Frey could be named
The Daily Mail’s Colin DeVries reports that Greene County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh is saying that a new Greene County legislator for Durham could be appointed at the legislature’s meeting on Wednesday, March 16. The county legislature’s District 9 seat has been vacant since former legislator Sean Frey resigned effective Jan 31. Any appointment is contingent on approval by the full legislature, which currently holds an 8-5 Republican majority after Frey’s resignation, and will be up for a special election in November.
In wake of Japanese nuclear crisis, Riverkeeper calls for shut down of Indian Point
Mid Hudson News Network writes that Hudson Riverkeeper Paul Gallay told a special session of the Westchester County Legislature’s Environment and Energy Committee on March 14 that the Indian Point nuclear power plant should be shut down until it can be scientifically proven that it could withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The session was called in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant explosions in Japan that began last Friday. Gallay said more study must be done immediately into the “what if’s” at Indian Point.
Gibson maintains support of nuclear power
The Register-Star is running a story about a conference call on March 14 where Congressman Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, told reporters that he remains a big promoter of nuclear energy, even as Japan struggles with radiation releases from plants crippled by last week’s earthquake and tsunami. “I want this done and I want it done safely,” Gibson said of his push to build more nuclear facilities in the United States. “We’re not looking at building your father’s nuclear power plant.” Gibson is proposing two new nuclear plants for the Hudson Valley, one north of Albany and the other in Greene County south of Catskill.
Schools bank, spend more of reserves
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that Capital Region schools districts, including those in Columbia and Greene Counties, have more money in their reserve accounts than the state average, but more of them are raiding their reserve funds than other districts in the state. The comptroller’s survey found Capital Region schools — in Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Columbia, Greene, Warren and Washington counties — have an average of 11.7 percent of their overall budget in reserve. The statewide average was 10.8 percent, the report found. But Capital Region schools tapped their reserves last year at a higher-than-average rate. The reserve figure went down in 23.2 percent of local districts, compared with 20.5 percent statewide. DiNapoli’s report concluded that, examining 22 indicators of fiscal health, Capital Region schools fared better than others around the state. Because of a more precipitous decline in property tax values, districts on Long Island and in the mid-Hudson Valley were hit hardest.
Greene lawmakers consider delinquent tax installment plan
Ariel Zangla Girard of the Daily FReeman reports that Greene County lawmakers are considering a proposal allowing eligible property owners to pay their delinquent taxes in installments over a two-year period, but only after signing an installment agreement to avoid foreclosure. Under the agreement, taxpyers would be required to pay 25 percent of the total bill up front and make quarterly payments on the balance of the delinquent amount. Additionally, property owners would be required to remain current on all new taxes assessed on the property or the county would begin the foreclosure process again. Interest charges would also be included…
Police continue search for missing Catskill woman
The Daily Mail reports that Catskill Police are continuing to search for a missing person, Paula E. Werenczak, 22, who left her residence at 65 West Bridge St. in the village on Wednesday, March 9 around 5 p.m. She was reportedly on foot wearing a light colored T-shirt, dark pants and no shoes or socks. She was last seen walking east. She has not been seen since.
Helsinki Hudson takes home the prize
The Register-Star reported on Saturday that the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce gave its most coveted business award, the Crystal Apple, to the newly moved Club Helsinki on Columbia Street in Catskill. The award was given out Friday night at the Columbia Golf and Country Club in Claverack.
Proposal for Union and First Streets
Carole Osterink has comprehensive coverage of the long-standing but little notice (until lately) plan for new construction of three buildings in a 19th century style on the corner of Union and First streets at a meeting of the Hudson Preservation Commission on Friday, March 11. The revised plans seems to gain much favor, despite some concerns regarding materials and the ensuring public review process, which the developers lawyers said was largely unnecessary, given previous approvals gained for the project. The project is scheduled to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals for an area variance on Wednesday, March 16. The ZBA granted an area variance to the project four years ago, but, like the certificate of appropriateness, it has expired. The ZBA meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall. A public hearing on the project will be held before the Historic Preservation Commission on Friday, March 25, at 10 a.m.–the HPC’s regular meeting time.
Demolition Opposition Update
Osterink’s Gossips also has an update on the petition drive to force the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties to reconsider plans to raze an unofficially historic 19th century brick building for new housing for its clientele, wherein she runs a letter from the MHA sent to two other local blogs, Rural Intelligence and Scott Baldinger’s reglar blog, defending its actions in terms of larger picture ideals. The odd thing… they didn’t send their missive to Gossips, which has been key in the drive to save the classic structure.
Minor flooding reported around Capitol Region
The Times Union sums up the thankfully less-than-predicted weather of the past week’s end and how it played out in Columbia and Greene counties, which the Daily Mail, Daily Freeman and Watershed Post also covered. The worst rains came in the Catskills, where approximately five inches fell THursday and Friday, leading to a number of closed roads. Worst damage may have been in Kiskatom and Leeds, in Greene County. At least a lot of the snow’s now melted…
There have been a number of stories updating everyone on the village elections coming this Tuesday, March 15, which we will copver more extensively in our Monday Newsroom and radio broadcasts, with analysis.
There have also been some school board and staff skerfuffles around the listening area as local school boards start working towards bu\dget proposals, which we’ll also be covering with Newsroom stories and longer brodcasts over the coming week.
Flooding remains a concern in region
The Daily Freeman is looking hard at the weather, noting that sunny skies aren’t expected until Monday. They highlight flood warnings in along the Wallkill River in New Paltz, and planned water releases from the Ashokan reservoir into the Esopus Creek… as well as a wind advisory for western Ulster and western Greene counties that would affect mostly the higher terrains, with winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts up to 45 to 55 mph predicted overnight in the Catskill Mountains. A state of emergency has been declared in Shandaken. Roads flooded on Monday in Columbia County are also expecvted to get repeat flooding today and tomorrow.
Dealing with the fallout of flooding
The Register-Star has a story about the things one should be aware of when surviving floods, from the avoidance of contaminated water and food to turning the power off in one’s basement before evacuating a house, clean-up tips, and ensuring that one stays attentive to cleaning any minor wounds because of the threat of infection from flood waters.
Cuts in state aid hit C-A district hard
Melanie Lekocevic reports in the Daily Mail that the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District is looking for ways it can trim down its budget, facing rising costs for salaries, which will increase by $610,000, employee benefits, which will rise by $680,000, transportation, and a BOCES’ increase in addition to sliced aid. This is THE topic of the year, and possibly our younger generation…
We just didn’t salt away enough
The Times Union has a story about how Capital Region communities have scraped the bottoms of their salt barrels to clear away the 83.6 inches of snow and ice that have piled up this winter.
USDA: Let’s revise lunch
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star has been asking around to see how local school districts in Columbia County are reacting to the recent proposal by the United States Department of Agriculture to change the way school children eat, and has found that while many are enthusiastic about offering more fresh fruits and vegetables, they are also worrying we may not be able to afford such healthiness.
Assembly proposing a bona fide millionaire’s tax
The Times Union’s Capitol Confidential notes that the state Assembly is drafting a budget plan to be introduced next week with an actual millionaire’s tax, meaning that people at seven figures of income and above would be assessed an additional surcharge above the rest of taxpayers. The measure dovetails with similar calls from the GOP-dominated State Senate, and may work to whittle away the state deficit via revenue, despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s state opposition to renewing such taxes on the wealthy.
NY among country’s healthiest states
Need some good news? The Albany Business Journal reports that a new Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index report says 25 percent—one-in-four—of New York residents are obese, putting it below the national average of 26.6 percent. The state with the lowest obesity rate was Colorado, where 20 percent of its residents are obese. The south and upper Midwest have the worst obesity rates, at present.
Deadline set for town to accept DEP’s largesse
Michael Ryan of The Daily Mail writes that the New York City Department of Environmental Protection is giving the Greene County Town of Lexington until May 6 to move forward on a $9.1 million wastewater treatment project to be paid for by the City and administered by the Catskill Watershed Corporation, which oversees water and development issues for the city’s massive watershed holdings in the Catskills. Like neighboring Phoenicia, in Ulster County, the town is split on whether to take the city’s largesse or hold out for more, worrying that they might have to pay for Operations and Maintenance in the future, instead of just relying on private septic systems, as the town does now. Over the past 13 years, the DEP and CWC have overseen the construction of dozens of such sewer systems throughout the region as a means of protecting the city’s water without it having to build a multi-billion dollar filtration plant.
County eyes eliminating some polling sites
Mike McCagg of ccscoop reports that the county Board of Elections is studying the potential of consolidating or eliminating voting sites and election districts. The county of approximately 60,000 residents currently boasts 42 polling sites and 58 election districts and the study is looking to eliminate polling sites that are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act… as well as “to save county taxpayers money.”
City to examine Youth Department’s efficiency
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star talked with Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera about the city’s plans to evaluate the cost and programmatic effectiveness of the city Youth Department as a possible area for savings. The current budget for the department is over $450,000. “Any one who watches the news knows youth centers are in jeopardy. We know we need it… I’m not looking at this as taking anything away from our youths, but doing it for a lower dollar amount and not being redundant.”
Cyberbullying: What every parent needs to know
The Times Union has a story about an upcoming panel discussion on cyberbullying to take place on Tuesday, March 15, at the College of Saint Rose, featuring a number of local educators, journalists,police officers, educators and James Preller, author of more than 80 children’s books including his most recent novel, ‘Bystander,’ which tells the story of bullying from multiple perspectives. The event takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Touhey Forum, Lally Building, on the St. Rose campus.
NEW: Burglars steal cigarettes from Getty Station
The Chatham Courier reports that their town’s police department is investigating a burglary that occurred at 2 a.m. on Thursday morning, March 10, at the Getty Station on Hudson Avenue in Chatham where someone threw a cement block through the west side entrance glass door and then entered the store, went took approximately 25 cartons of cigarettes.
Hudson, The Frenetic City
Uber-blogger Sam Pratt has a rundown on all the talk around the coming November races in the Columbia County seat, with nods to the chief candidates for mayor of Hudson going to former Mayor Dick Tracy on the GOP side and electrical supply business owner and native Nick Haddad eying a Democratic nomination.
Chambers of Commerce weigh in on biz climate
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star reports on the 25th annual business climate survey, which polls the members of area Chambers of Commerce in the Capital Region, including the Columbia County Chamber. The survey, put together by Marvin and Company, P.C., and the University at Albany School of Business, finds that the Columbia Chamber seems optimistic about the future, with 52% of respondents believing their businesses would “remain stable” in 2011, 37% saying they believed their business would increase and 11 percent saying they thought business would decrease. Only 6.7 percent, meanwhile, saw their employment levels dipping in any way.
Peckham to expand with Greene IDA help
Mid Hudson News Network has a story about how Peckham Industries will lease and redevelop more property in the Town of Athens, with the aid of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency. The transaction will provide for the expansion of the existing Peckham material business and its facilities and creation of five new jobs. Now to see what happens with the proposals in terms of local planning reviews and public hearings…
Redistricting debate roils Senate
The Times Union ports on yelling and threats in the state Senate this week as Senate Republicans rejected the Democratic minority’s attempt to push for a public hearing on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s redistricting bill, which would create a nonpartisan commission to draw new district lines based on recent census figures, instead of leaving such matters to existing majorities and incumbents, with the GOP is saying is the only way to do things now, legally.
Flood watch is issued
The Daily Freeman has passed on a flood watch from the National Weather Service in Albany for the region from Thursday morning through Friday afternoon. The combination of 1 to 4 inches of rain expected, snow melt due to warmer temperatures, poor drainage from blocked storm drains, and lack of rainfall infiltration due to a frozen ground could result in flooding. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
State job cuts negate private-sector gains
The Albany Business Journal has a story in which it is noted that losses of government jobs in the Capital Region swelled at the start of 2011, easily negating private-sector gains, according to new data. The Albany-Schenectady-Troy metro area, covering five counties, had a net gain of 1,000 private-sector jobs from January 2010 to January 2011. The health care sector led the way, along with one covering scientific, engineering and technical jobs. But the region had a net loss of 6,400 jobs over the 12-month span, a drop of 1.5 percent. No other metro market came anywhere close to that decline. “There’s just so much government here, it’s hard for the private sector to outweigh those losses,” said James Ross, an analyst with the state.
Where to find shelter, supplies
The Register-Star reports that the Red Cross Shelter at the Taconic Hills High School on County Route 11 in Craryville will close at 8 a.m. today so school can resume there, with a two hour delay. Two new shelters will be opening at the Taghkanic Fire Company on Route 82 in Taghkanic and the second one will be at the Copake Community Building located at the Copake Town Park on Mountain View Drive. Additionally, dry ice and water will be available at the Copake Fire Department located at 390 County Route 7A Copake or the Ancram Firehouse at 1306 County Route 7 Ancram. Several thousand are still without power in the area and local fire companies have been going door to door in the northeastern portion of Columbia County to check that folks are alright.
School officials look into future of employment
Colin DeVries of The Daily Mail reports that a delegation of Greene County school officials and economic developers toured the $4.6 billion GlobalFoundries semiconductor manufacturing facility being constructed north of Albany, getting a first-hand look at “the future of employment in the region.” GlobalFoundries, an international computer chip producer, will be hiring about 1,400 people by the end of 2012, many of whom will be educated at community colleges, receiving two-year degrees in electronics, science and semiconductor manufacturing. The Greene County Industrial Development Agency accompanied officials and school board members from Cairo-Durham Central School District, Coxsackie-Athens Central School District, Greenville Central School District, and BOCES Questar III.
Dems fire first volley at Molinaro
Mid Hudson News Network notes that regional Democrats have started firing shots at the just-announced candidacy of State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro for Dutchess County executive, with that county’s party chairwoman, Elisa Sumner, saying Molinaro is “unfit” to be county executive. Sumner pointed to an audit of the Village of Tivoli, where Molinaro served as mayor for 11 years after first being elected to the village board at the age of 18, noting the state comptroller’s office was critical of the municipality’s “financial condition.” She added that a few potential candidates have expressed interest in running for the county’s top job, some in government and others in business. New York State Bridge Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero and Beekman Town Supervisor Daniel French have been mentioned as possible candidates on the Democratic ticket.
More snow days might mean canceled days off for schools
The Times Union looks into the situation regarding weather days in the Capitol District… as we’ve known here, none are left… meaning special days off are gone for the remainder of the year, with the probability growing that we’ll be pushing the 2011 school year up to its end-of-June legal limit this year.
Union, TH board relations deteriorate
John Mason of the Register-Star reports that relations between Taconic Hills school officials and its employee unions, already strained, took a turn for the worse last week when a board member claimed he was being personally attacked by the union, and a union president said he was physically threatened by the board member. On Friday, March 4, many teachers wore orange to school to signify “anti-bullying,” after Faculty Association President Kevin Reis filed a complaint with the police and the district alleging Board Vice-President George Lagonia Jr. had threatened him. The chain of events began with union officials filing a petition with the board seeking the removal of three Taconic Hills school board members for being employed by the district as sports coaches, or having siblings also on the board… citing State Education Law that stipulates that board members cannot be employed by the school board they belong to, and that no more than one family member shall be a member of the same board of education.
Changes seen for Farmers’ Market
The Daily Mail reports on a recent discussion about the coming Catskill Farmers Market by village officials, including the possible appointment of a market manager, which market participants don’t see the need of, and prospects of opening the market to those receiving federal assistance for food purchases.
Cops look for flasher
The Register-Star reports that New York State Police at Livingston are looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself to minor children while inside the Walmart department store at Greenport Commons on Feb. 24 between the hours of 7 and 8 p.m. The man was observed, authorities said, driving a red or maroon medium sized hatchback or small SUV style vehicle.
Shelter to remain open
The Register-Star reports that Columbia County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman Roy Brown and Emergency Management Director William Black announced that the Red Cross Shelter at the Taconic Hills High School in Craryville will remain open through Wednesday, March 9 for anyone who has lost power and needs assistance. There will be sleeping areas and food available for anyone who needs these services… just don’t bring pets, officvials are asking. For further information call the American Red Cross at 518-458-8111. If someone is need of transportation to the shelter and have no other way to get there please call 518-828-1212.
Nine Curves health clubs to reimburse prepaid memberships in region
Mid Hudson News Network reports that Hudson Valley residents who prepaid memberships for Curves fitness clubs will be reimbursed under an agreement announced Tuesday by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The agreement was reached with Curves International, the franchisor of the local clubs. Statewide, 60 such closed shuttered their doors that year, according to the attorney general’s office.
Historic site closures questioned
The Times Union reports that a bipartisan group of six state legislators, including Sen. James Seward, have said they are “deeply concerned” by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation’s decision to close four historic sites around the state, a move they say is unprecedented. They are principally concerned about Herkimer Home State Historic Site in the Mohawk Valley, the Colonial abode of a Revolutionary War hero for whom Herkimer County is named. “It is troubling that your office has apparently interpreted that the Legislature’s conveyance of significant power to the commissioner to care for state park lands was also meant to enable him or her to act in a harmful way toward those same public assets,” the group wrote. “We believe that neither closing a site nor removing its collection objects is authorized in the language of the existing statute.”
Board debates fee for using Canna park
Cairo officials are debating charging a fee for use of Angelo Canna Town Park and Acra Community Center, a first for the town. Key in the discussion… how much revenue WOULD be brought in by such a move, and how would it effect those groups renting the facilities now.
$100,000 study would look at pollution, hydrology of South Bay
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star reports that the Army Corps of Engineers may soon be coming to Hudson to undertake a $100,000 fully funded environmental study of the South Bay wetlands. A resolution was moved forward for the city to become a “local non-federal sponsor” of a congressional bill authorizing the funding for the ACE study at the informal meeting of the Hudson Common Council Monday. If approved by Congress the study would not need matching funds from the city, as some grants do, and would not require the approval of the land’s owner, the Holcim Cement Company. Key to the study is a proposal by Holcim to put a road in across the wetlands to “divert” truck traffic.
NY lobbyists see record year in 2010
The Albany Business Journal reports that lobby groups spent about $211 million in 2010 to influence legislators on bills they were facing in the state. New York Public Interest Research Group says the biggest campaign—$12.9 million—was spent by soft-drink companies such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi to try to quash a soda tax.
Flooding, outages strike the county
The Register-Star reports, with text and plenty of images, on the weather damage caused by raging creeks, ice, and nearly six inches of snow in some areas. Over 11,000 were without power on Monday afternoon, March 7, with states of emergency declared in Ancram and Livingston. For those remaining without power Monday night and today, “warming centers” were opened at the Kinderhook Fire Station and Niverville Fire Station 1, and a Red Cross station set up at Taconic Hills School in Copake. Roads, which were blocked off into Hudson from most directions at one point, were being cleared for today as much as risen creeks would allow. Those who require more information about the Red Cross shelters should call 518-458-8111. Residents who need transportation to a shelter can call 518-828-1212.
Ice, snow, flooding batter Greene
The Daily Mail’s storm report is a simple photo of a car pulled over on the side of a road. Travel was difficult but, at least in valley towns, no power was lost, or major flooding reported.
Storm leaves outages, flooding; 2 rescued in New Paltz
The Daily Freeman highlighted downed trees and power lines in northern Dutchess and southern Columbia counties, as well as closed roads and a car rescue outside of New Paltz, in its storm coverage. About 6,500 were without power in Dutchess County, and two in Ulster. The worst part? They quote a meteorologist who notes that, ““Coming in Wednesday night through Thursday, another complicated storm, possibly becoming a Nor’easter. It could be another significant one.”
Thousands go to bed in the dark
The Times Union adds on to the power outage news, reporting National Grid’s estimate of hundreds of homes without power Monday evening, March 7, in Rensselear, Saratoga and Washington counties, as well as Columbia. NYSEG noted another 7,300 without power and suggested some might not get their lights back on until Wednesday.
Agency head raps release of Catskill man who later killed wife, cop
The Daily Freeman reports that Michele McKeon, chief executive officer of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is saying that the Catskill man who fatally shot his wife and a Poughkeepsie city police officer before killing himself last month should not have been released on bail after he violated a court order mandating him to stay away from his spouse. More focus needs to be placed on perpetrators of domestic violence crimes and on holding them accountable for their actions, McKeon said, noting that as it stands now, more emphasis is placed on the victim and what they did to possibly cause violence or fail to escape from an abusive situation. The legal system tells the victim what they have to do to keep themselves and their children safe in such situations, but in no other crime do people look at the victim and ask them why they stayed or what buttons they pushed to cause the violence. “I think the systems involved need to take domestic violence much more seriously,” McKeon said, adding that proposed cuts to domestic abuse programs in Gov. Cuomo’s budget proposal could prove disastrous.
Kohl’s grand opening slated
John Mason of the Register-Star reports that Kohl’s Department Store, the newest store in Greenport Commons, will hold its grand opening Wednesday. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, with Kohl’s executives and local officials, will be at 7:45 a.m., followed by the official store opening at 8 a.m. The 64,000 square foot store is located next to the Lowe’s Home Improvement store.
Financial troubles may force choices
The Daily Mail has a story about how Cornell Cooperative Extension has combined its Columbia and Greene county offices to save money as a key means to keeping its ambitious Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra afloat. “It’s challenging times for all of us,” said Andrew Turner, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene counties, noting that things are no different the academic organization devoted to providing agricultural, environmental, health and youth programming to communities around the state, which has seen a $13 million decrease in the organization’s $100 million statewide budget over the past two years.
As we embark on Mardis Gras 2011, we thought it key to share this preview of a film by WGXC-FM friend Gillian Farrell of Woodstock, who has been following Hudson Valley piano technician and salesman Adam Markowitz of Adam’s Pianos to New Orleans in the years following Hurricane Katrina as he delivers pianos, free, to deserving churches, schools and individuals as a one-person crusade to keep the Crescent City’s musical heritage alive. A few years back, this reporter followed Adam’s trail to Louisiana and looked up the pianos in their homes, where all were being treated with special care, and the joy brought by the man’s largesse still brings tears to the eyes of all touched by this unique endeavor. Click here to help with this project as it continues…
Firefighting at 90
The Daily Mail’s Colin DeVries has a story about Kiskatom Fire Company member Jim Katt, who joined the company a year after it started and celebrated hisr 57th year as a fireman along with his 90th birthday recently.
Chatham Co-op kicks off Friday Feasts
Paul Crossman writes in the Register-Star about how nearly 40 people showed up at the Chatham Real Food Co-op for the first of three First Friday Feasts on March 4, a series of benefit dinners to help raise money for the educational initiative “Chatham Chickens,” a collective of seven young adults in their late teens and early 20s who are starting an enterprise to raise heritage breed chickens for organic, free-running and pastured egg production.
Ulster lawmakers plan hearings on hydrofracking
The Daily Freeman reports that Ulster County hearings on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas are being planned for May to help county lawmakers gather information about impacts of the controversial process, put together by County Legislature Government Operations and Environmental Services Committee Chairman Brian Shapiro of Woodstock. Shapiro said a date will be set after determining the availability of state Department of Environmental Conservation officials, and expects the sessions will take place at Ulster County Community College.
Get ready for more flooding
Lyssa Harris at Watershed Post reports on flooding in the Catskills, which is at its worst in Delaware County and downstream below the Ashokan Reservoir in Ulster County. In Greene and Columbia counties, ice and snow abated the flooding, although high waters have been reported on a number of back roads where flooding usually occurs.
State health care oversight lacking bids
The Times Union concludes a weeks-long inquiry with a report on the no-bid situation surrounding most state health insurance, with no one knowing exactly how or why the situation ended up this way, “suggesting the contracts are sort of evergreens that are extended without review.” The Office of the State Comptroller official said that major parts of state insurer United Healthcare’s deals “never got passed on for approval, contrary to what is supposed to happen.”
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