Kinderhook Republican Supervisor Pat Grattan recently announced he wants to televise local Kinderhook town board meetings, and now that he is also the chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, he wants those meetings on local cable access channels too. During a pre-recorded interview that airs Wed., Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. on “@Issue” with host Victor Mendolia, Grattan said he hoped to make the meetings more transparent for both the public and the supervisors. Click here to listen to an mp3 audio excerpt of the interview with Pat Grattan on “@Issue.” PLAY CLIP
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Tags: local audio, local video, Pat Grattan, town meetings
Watch live streaming video from newyorkstateofficeofthegovernor at livestream.com
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s State of the State Address was streamed live at governor.ny.gov and on the WGXC Newsroom, on Wed., Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. live from Albany’s Empire State Plaza Convention Center. WGXC’s Sam Sebren spoke with many of the protesters outside the center, who were mostly upset about the possibility of high-impact hydraulic fracturing gas drilling starting soon in New York. Click here to play a collage of interviews with protesters Wednesday in Albany. PLAY CLIP 27:00
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, high-impact hydraulic fracturing, local audio, State of the State Address
Finding the Butterfly from alexander turnquist on Vimeo.
Hudson-based 12-string guitarist is on a West Coast tour right now, but posts a new song.
Tags: Alexander Turnquist, local audio, local video, music
The Catskill Cats beat the Greenville Spartans boys varsity basketball team in Catskill Wed., Nov. 30, in a game broadcast live on WGXC 90.7-FM. Catskill won 79-51, and Catskill student Zach Vosburgh called the action on a live video webstream set up by the Catskill High School media department, picked up by WGXC and broadcast on 90.7-FM. WGXC will broadcast other Catskill High School basketball games later this season. On Friday, Dec. 2, the Catskill High webstream will show the Catskill girl’s basketball team take on the Coxscakie-Athens team. (That game will NOT be on WGXC too.)
Tags: basketball, Catskill High School, local audio, local video, Patroon League
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing interviews WGXC programmer Mark Read, who helped create a giant projection on the Verizon building across from the Brooklyn Bridge Thursday evening, during Occupy Wall Street protests in Manhattan. Read co-hosts “To Be Determined,” at 6 p.m. the second Sundays of the month on WGXC. He spoke on the “WGXC Afternoon Show” Friday about creating the projections. Listen to mp3 audio clip of that interview by Sara Kendall, Jack Ross-Pilkington, and Tom Roe here. Later in the evening, Read was interviewed on “The Rachel Maddow Show” on MSNBC (see video above). From Boing Boing:
Earlier this evening, tens of thousands of Occupy Wall Street protesters marched throughout New York City, many making their way on to the Brooklyn Bridge, carrying LED candles and chanting. As Occupiers took the bridge in a seemingly endless sea of people, words in light appeared projected on the iconic Verizon Building nearby:“99% / MIC CHECK! / LOOK AROUND / YOU ARE A PART / OF A GLOBAL UPRISING / WE ARE A CRY / FROM THE HEART / OF THE WORLD / WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE / ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE / HAPPY BIRTHDAY / #OCCUPY MOVEMENT / OCCUPY WALL STREET / list of cities, states and countries / OCCUPY EARTH / WE ARE WINNING / IT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE BEGINNING / DO NOT BE AFRAID / LOVE.”
A few hours later I spoke with Mark Read, the person behind the “bat-signal.” He tells Boing Boing why and how he did this, and what technology he used.
XJ: How did this come together?
Mark Read: It came up at an action coordination meeting. We were talking about what to do on the 17th, about the decentralized way the day would progress, attacking the exchange from different angles. We had a sense that the morning on Wall Street would be forceful and confrontational, and we wanted to not do the same kind of thing in the afternoon. Initial talks focused on having a thousand people taking the bridge in the afternoon, and continuing in a militant mode of activism. But we started thinking about creating a more unifying moment. A celebration of the birthday of Occupy Wall Street. Maybe taking the roadway and having lots of arrests might not be best thing. What if we took the pedestrian walkway, and gave out LED candles? We would give out 10,000 LED tea candles, a river of light streaming over the walkway.
And a guy named Hero, who has been central to a lot of facets of the occupation since the beginning, turns to me and says, “We need a bat signal. The 99%.”
I said, I think I can do that. I know just enough about how the technology works that I think I can pull that off. And for the past two weeks, I’ve worked full time on figuring that out. Read the rest of the story at Boing Boing or beyond the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: local audio, Mark Read, Occupy Wall Street
Candidates for election in Cairo. Photo by Tom Roe.
Candidates present at the forum, from left to right, included Dan Joyce (R, C, town board candidate); Janet Schwarzenegger (I, RC town board incumbent); Richard Lorenz (D, I, town board incumbent); Pat A Byron (D, town board candidate); Monika Fabiano (R, town clerk candidate); Linda Kuever (D, town clerk candidate); Tara A Rumph (C, I, town clerk incumbent); Coleen Ray (D, I, tax collector candidate); Ted Banta (D, I, town supervisor candidate); John Coyne (R, C, town supervisor incumbent); Robert Hempstead (R, C, I, highway supervisor candidate); Lew O’Connor (D, highway supervisor candidate). Not present: Anthony P Puorro, Jr (R, C, town board candidate); and Emily Feeney (R, C, tax collector incumbent). Also, Town Judge candidates, Tanja Sirago (R, C) and David Cannizzaro (I), were not present.
WGXC will also broadcast live the Catskill Candidate Forum Sat., Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Catskill Community Center. Turn out in person to write down questions for the candidates, or listen on the radio at 90.7-FM or online at wgxc.org.
Tags: candidate forum, elections, League of Women Voters, local audio, WGXC
Hudson resident Meshell Ndegeocello‘s new album, the Joe Henry-produced “Weather,” is released Nov. 8. National Public Radio previews the new record here, where you can listen to it in whole or as individual tracks.
Tags: local audio, Meshell Ndegeocello, music
Nick Haddad, left, and William Hallenbeck, right, at the HAALA candidate forum. Photos by Tom Roe.
Candidates for Mayor of Hudson, Republican William Hallenbeck and Democrat Nick Haddad, took the stage at the auditorium in the JLE Primary School to discuss issues facing the city for the Hudson African-American Leadership Alliance. The event was moderated by the Reverand Ronald Grant. The candidates agreed on most everything, except the final two questions of the evening. The final question from an audience member was about whether DSS allotments for housing were large enough.
Haddad: DSS underwrites a reasonable rent.
Audience member: Then why are there so many homeless people?
Haddad: I’m not sure there are a lot of homeless people per se sleeping on the street if that is how homelessness is defined.
When his turn came, Hallenbeck said he thought the city did have a homeless problem:
Hallenbeck: I agree with you in regards to the homeless. We have a homeless issue, and we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we have a homeless issue. And we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we should be looking continuously for homeless shelter.
Hallenbeck then went on to list several possible options, saying, “is rent control one of those?”
The only other major difference came over the city’s waterfront. Hallenbeck supports the city’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) as is, while Haddad feels it needs improvement. “Hallenbeck said he supported the proposed LWRP and that it was time to move forward with developing the waterfront,” Tom Casey reported in the Register-Star. “He said he felt a majority of the city supported it, and that ‘all those people can’t be wrong.’”
“Haddad said that he respected the decision of the council if it passes, however said he did not agree with the proposal, saying he did not believe businesses would want to invest in an area that shared light industry with recreation,” Casey wrote in the Register-Star.
To listen to the full event, or to excerpts broken up by question, go to the WGXC Archives. The full file of the entire debate is there, and the meeting is also broken up into separate questions.
Click on each question to hear an mp3 recording of both candidates answering the questions.
• Opening Statements from William Hallenbeck (first) and Nick Haddad. 10:24
• What qualifies you for the job, and what would you do different from current administration? 6:32
• Given the two-percent property tax cap, how would you protect quality of life? Haddad first.
• The city is nearly 30 percent African-American, what would you do to make town employment rolls reflect that? 8:09 Hallenbeck first.
• How would you make taxes fair? 4:39 Haddad first.
• What would you do to lower water bills? 8:03
• Would you fund the senior center in 2012 and in new building? 7:07 Hallenbeck first.
• For people making less then $25,000 annually, what three quality of life issues are most important? 6:10 Haddad first.
• What have you done with youth in the past, and what is your vision for youth in Hudson? 6:44 Hallenbeck first.
• What book are you reading? 1:02 Haddad first.
• What is your vision for the Hudson waterfront? 6:03 Hallenbeck first.
• What will you do for affordable housing in Hudson? 7:03 Haddad first.
Read Tom Casey’s version of events in the Register-Star.
Tags: elections, local audio, Nick Haddad, William Hallenbeck
The current Cairo grocery store, Slater's Great American, which Hannaford's hopes to replace.
Tags: Cairo Planning Board, Clermont State Historic Site, Glen Koopman, Hannaford, local audio, Peter Biskind, Susan Boudreau, Tim Smith
House to vote on delaying cement plant mercury rule
The Post-Star reports that the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on legislation that would delay the implementation of a new federal Environmental Protection Agency regulation meant to reduce mercury emissions from cement plants. “We’re not striking them. But let’s delay them for 15 months and give the EPA time to repropose and finalize them. And also direct the EPA to make sure that these rules comply with the President’s executive order on regulations,” said Stephanie Valle, a spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook. The Holcim Cement plant in Catskill is in Gibson’s district. H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, would, according to the Post-Star:
• Give the EPA at least 15 months to re-propose and finalize revised rules for cement manufacturing facilities;
• Extend compliance deadlines from three to at least five years to allow facilities time to comply with standards and install new equipment.
In February, Gibson voted for an amendment the House passed to suspend EPA funding for implementation and enforcement of the rule, but the Senate voted the amendment down. This time the House is voting on delaying implementation, but not suspending funding. Read the full story in the Post-Star.
Free Speech Radio News, which airs on WGXC at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, aired a report on this issue on its newscast Wed., Oct. 5. Click here to listen to Free Speech Radio News report from Matt Lazlo. PLAY CLIP
Medicaid spending $173 million less in August
Governor Andrew Cuomo is touting his “Medicaid Redesign Team,” as its measures enacted in the state budget in April resulted in savings in August of $173 million, or 2.5 percent lower. Monthly, New York State spends $6.8 billion on the program. “Governor Cuomo’s initiative to reform Medicaid represents an unprecedented effort to bring the public into the process of improving health care, controlling health care costs, and reforming health care in New York State,” said Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H in a press release. “With the hard work and dedication of the legislature, the industry, and the public, New York is becoming a model for the nation in improving health outcomes while controlling growth.”
GEIS and the ten-day waiting period
Carole Osterink reports in The Gossips of Rivertown that Common Council President Don Moore issued this statement to members of the Council and the press, though not WGXC, at 4:58 this afternoon:
“Regarding the ten day period called for by SEQRA, the City is required to wait ten days after the filing of a completed GEIS before agreeing on a Findings Statement, the summary of findings from the GEIS. The City filed its notice of completion of the GEIS with the involved agencies on October 4. The ten day period will end at the close of business Friday, October 14. During that ten day period, concerned parties may file comments with the City. The City does not have an obligation to reply to the comments as was the case during the official public comment period in early 2010.”
Monday, Sept. 26 Moore and the Common Council passed the GEIS without first allowing the public to speak at a special meeting at the Hudson Central Fire Station. Click here to listen to the entire meeting recorded by Dan Udell. PLAY CLIP
Seward in Catskill
New York State Senator James Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) will attend the Greene County Department for the Aging Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 6 at the First Baptist Church in Catskill. The ceremony is to honor folks in the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program. First Baptist Church is at 20 West Main St. in Catskill.
Mountain Top Arboretum photo contest winners
The Mountain Top Arboretum announced the winners of its photo contest Wed., Oct. 5. Dustin Draffen took first place, Nicholas Spychalsky took second, and Zachary Tripsas won third place.
From left to right in photo provided by Mountain Top Arboretum, Principal of the Hunter-Tannersville Middle/High School Simon Williams, winners Dustin Draffen and Zachary Tripsas, and Executive Director of the Mountain Top Arboretum Joan Kutcher.
THURSDAY AUDIO
Click on titles or PLAY CLIP to listen to mp3 audio clips.
• Wall Street Song
Performed by Chris Neumann. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, cement, Don Moore, GEIS, Holcim, Hudson GEIS, Hudson LWRP, Hudson waterfront, James Seward, Joan Kutcher, local audio, LWRP, Medicaid, mercury, Mountain Top Arboretum, Simon Williams
School officials want to turn Durham Elementary into a charter school
WGXC volunteer Anne Horst recorded the meeting Tue. Oct. 4 in the Cairo High School auditorium about the possibility of turning Durham Elementary into a charter school. School officials said they hoped the school board would vote on the issue at the Oct. 13 meeting. About 40 citizens turned out to hear why the change: Durham Elementary is half empty and costing taxpayers extra to run it half-empty. How would it pay for itself: part of the curriculum would be online, and attract students from around the state. There would be a lottery, first among Durham students, then throughout, and then outside the Cairo-Durham school district. Click here or below on PLAY CLIP to listen to the meeting audio via mp3.
Entire meeting about possible charter school. PLAY CLIP
Bigger burden falling on food pantries
W. T. Eckert reports in the Register-Star that food stamp use in Columbia County is up 11 percent in the past year, with 5,662 Columbia County residents, now receiving benefits. Last August, 5,109 folks in Columbia County needed help with food, according to Columbia County Department of Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman. “Mossman said his department’s overall caseload is up 13 percent, due to a variety of issues, ranging from the increase in food prices, energy costs and housing costs to an increase in health insurance options and prescription medication,” Eckert wrote in the paper. “So people have less and less to spend on food items,” Mossman said, “and what money they do have left probably doesn’t stretch far enough, therefore we do see more people relying on food pantries.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Hunters wanted to help small game count
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) encourages hunters to participate in two surveys for popular game species during this fall’s hunting seasons. Rabbits hunters in Rensselaer, Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam, or Westchester counties are asked to submit the heads of rabbits harvested to help determine the distribution of New England cottontails. Those interested in participating, or for more information, please contact DEC by phone at 518-402-8870 or by e-mail at fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (please type “NE Cottontail” in the subject line). Hunters are also asked to keep logs about hunting ruffed grouse and American woodcock. Those interested in participating can download a hunting log from the DEC website. Detailed instructions can be found with the form. Survey forms can also be obtained by calling (518) 402-8886 or by e-mailing fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (please type “Grouse Log” in the subject line).
State police seek missing Athens man, 71
The Daily Freeman reports that Joseph M. Platt, 71, of Athens, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, has been reported missing, according to state police. He was last seen Monday near Greenlake Road, wearing blue pants, a blue T-shirt and black shoes, and is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs around 220 pounds, accoridng to police, who ask anyone with information to call 518-622-8600. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Occupy Wall Street protests gets labor rally
The Occupy Wall Street protests in Manhattan are joined by several labor groups and sympathy strikes on Wed., Oct. 5. Students at SUNY schools around the state say some will walk out at 1 p.m. Other protests are being held around the country. WGXC correspondent Kelly Benjamin will call in with a report live during the protests on the WGXC Afternoon Show live from the Catskill Community Center every Wednesday.
Tags: Cairo-Durham School District, charter schools, Col. Cty. DSS, Durham Elementary, education, food pantries, food stamps, local audio, Occupy Wall Street, schools, youth
Governors ask for federal disaster aid
Over the weekend the governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina issued a joint, bi-partisan statement pleading for representatives in Congress to put aside their political games and pass money to fund the emergency operations for recovery from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Andrew Cuomo, of New York, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania, and Bev Perdue of North Carolina released this statement:
“Our states have been hit hard by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. While the flood waters have receded and the storms are passed, the damage to communities, businesses and infrastructure remains significant. Billions of dollars in loss and destruction pose a serious threat not only to local and regional economies, but to the nation’s economic recovery. Our states’ governments and our citizens are doing their part to restore and rebuild. The federal government must also do its part. Federal assistance for the victims of storms and floods should be beyond politics. Within 10 days of Hurricane Katrina, Congress passed and the President signed over $60 billion in aid for the Gulf Coast. It’s been 28 days since Irene and Lee started battering our states. We urge this Congress to move swiftly to ensure that disaster aid through FEMA and other federal programs is sufficient to start rebuilding now.”
Storm aid deadline nears for communities
William J. Kemble in The Daily Freeman reports that local governments face a deadline of this Friday, Sept. 30, to apply for federal funds for repairs to roads, bridges, and other public facilities damaged by Tropical Storm Irene. Tropical Storm Lee, which roared through our area a week after Irene, delayed the assessment process for many towns, and some are just overwhelmed with too much to assess, Kemble reports. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Hurricane grant program for nonprofits in Greene and Ulster counties
Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that the Dutchess County-based Dyson Foundation has established two hurricane relief grant programs for nonprofit organizations in several affected counties, including Greene and Ulster. From their press release:
“Nonprofit organizations can apply for emergency funds to assist the organization to recover from Hurricane Irene incurred damages or losses with a one-page narrative describing the uninsured damages or losses and a budget and/or invoice of estimated recovery costs. Applicants are advised to submit these two documents to submissions@dyson.org. The Dyson Foundation will also make grants to nonprofit organizations providing direct services to residents of the Mid-Hudson Valley. These funds are to provide emergency financial assistance to support people impacted by Hurricane Irene. The Foundation will accept applications from organizations with well-established emergency financial assistance programs. These funds are available for qualified nonprofits to distribute to Mid-Hudson Valley residents to cover a broad range of needs resulting from Hurricane Irene. Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply for these funds can submit a one page narrative description of the expected use of the funds and a supporting budget to submissions@dyson.org. Please note that this funding is not being offered directly to individual residents.”
Read the full story in The Watershed Post.
Road reopened
The New York Department of Transportation reports that Route 145 in Greene County between Travis Hill Road and CR 352 in Preston Hollow, is once again fully open. The road had been closed since damage from the storms associated with Hurricane Irene.
Two announcements Monday
Two announcements are expected at local press conferences Monday, Sept. 26:
• An official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will join Scenic Hudson, Dutchess Land Conservancy, state officials, Town of Red Hook officials, other public officials, and local farmers to announce a major initiative to preserve Hudson Valley farms—on highly scenic and prime agricultural acres in Dutchess County and Columbia County. “This initiative provides the farmers with funds they can invest in the viability of their agricultural business operations. The farms supply fresh, healthy produce and meats to consumers via local and New York City greenmarkets and direct sales to homes and restaurants,” according to Scenic Hudson. At 10:30 a.m. at Northwind Farms, 239 West Kerley Corners Rd., Red Hook.
• Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Columbia Economic Development Corporation, and USDA Rural Development host a groundbreaking ceremony of Greenport Crossings, a mixed use development on the site formerly occupied by V & O Press. “This groundbreaking is for Phase One of the larger project. The total project, which is redeveloping a brownfield site, will result in three new separate buildings totaling almost 80,000 square feet and result in the creation of 100 new jobs,” according to the Columbia Economic Development Corporation. With Rep. Chris Gibson, and others. At 12:30 p.m. at Greenport Commons, Fairview Ave., Greenport.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on title or “PLAY CLIP” to listen to mp3 audio recordings.
Photo from Boing Boing.
Produced by Kelly Benjamin for WGXC. 3:10. News report with interviews, live sound of the protests surrounding the lack of regulation on Wall Street, filed late Sunday, Sept. 25. PLAY CLIP
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110926
Produced by Terry Doyle. 4:28 From Terry Doyle’s “Imprint” radio show Sunday nights at 11 p.m. on WGXC, here is Doyle’s roundup of regional music events this week. Doyle previews the “Concert for the Catskills” benefit concert this Sat. Oct. 1 and Sun. Oct. 2 at the Michael J. Quill Center in East Durham. All proceeds go to Community Action of Greene County for those impacted by the recent storms in our area. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Bev Perdue, Chris Christie, development, FEMA, Greenport Commons, Hurricane Irene, local audio, music, Occupy Wall Street, Scenic Hudson, Tom Corbett, Tropical Storm Lee, Wall Street
Task force created to ease flooding never met
Brian Nearing in the Albany Times-Union reports that a high-level state task force created to study flood mitigation after the major New York flood in 2006 never met. The task force never took a single step to prepare for future floods, like the ones that are currently affecting much of New York state. “A Cornell University professor [Susan Rhia, earth sciences] named to the group gave up in frustration after repeatedly asking the state Department of Environmental Conservation when the first meeting would be held,” Nearing writes. That was nearly three years ago and “that was the last I ever heard of it … I have been wondering whatever happened to the task force,” said Rhia, director of the New York State Water Resources Institute. “Spokesmen in DEC and the state Canal Corp., which were among eight state agencies in the task force, had no comment Friday when asked what had happened to the group,” Nearing writes. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Widespread flooding
In Greene County, and much worse farther west and south in New York’s interior, there was widespread flooding Wednesday. The Susquehanna River was expected to exceed the flood stages it reached in 2006, and major parts of Interstate 88 and 90 may still be closed Thursday morning. At midnight the DOT announced:
“The New York State Thruway Authority has announced that due to heavy rain and rising water conditions along the Mohawk River, the Authority anticipates closing the Thruway between Interchange 24 (Albany) and Interchange 33 (Verona) along I-90. Motorists should avoid travel within the Mohawk Valley Region, and seek alternate routes outside of this region, as widespread flooding of area roads is expected. Motorists are advised to visit www.511ny.org to check status the of other roads. Currently, I-88 in Binghamton is closed between Exit 3 and Interstate 81; and I-81 is reduced to one lane, just north of Binghamton, between Exit 6 and Exit 8.”
Other news:
• A small culvert washed out, not a bridge, and has been repaired on CR 10, the alternate way into Prattsville.
• Two teens were rescued from the Hannacroix Creek.
• Greene and Columbia counties Flood Watches were set to end at 6 a.m. Thursday morning, while Albany and Rensselaer counties extends to 6:29 a.m., Ulster to 8:29 a.m., Delaware to 9:16 a.m., and Schoharie until 10:03 a.m.
Boil water orders
• Prattsville: BWO remains in effect. Water restored-temporary line installed not ready to sample.
• Tannersville: BWO remains in effect. Sampling was to begin Sept. 2, no results available yet. Filtered water turbidity levels have been good since late yesterday afternoon. The operator plans to collect bacteria samples from the system on Wed. Sept. 7 and Thu., Sept. 8. If all samples are satisfactory the boil water will be lifted.
• Windham: BWO remains in effect. Water service fully restored, but not ready to sample.
• Hensonville: BWO remains in effect. Water restored but with low pressure, leaks being repaired. Not ready to sample.
School in Greene County?
Previously, Greene County officials said that this afternoon they would announce whether schools there would open on Monday or not. Tue. Sept. 6, Greene County officials delayed opening schools that would have began Wed., Sept. 7. Greene County officials wanted to inspect bridges and roads before making the decision, and since then it has rained more, and flooded more. If Greene County officials do make an announcement WGXC will have that news on the “WGXC Afternoon Show” from 4-6 p.m.
Capital Region Economic Development Council Meeting at Columbia-Greene Community College
WGXC Town Recorder (and Hudson Alderman) Ellen Thurston recorded the public meeting of the of the Capital Region Economic Development Council Tuesday, Sept. 6 at Columbia-Greene Community College. The group — just formed by Gov. Cuomo to spur economic growth regionally — includes Columbia, Greene, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, and Warren counties. They are supposed to create a five-year plan to improve the area’s economy. Thurston recorded the entire meeting and you can play any part of it just by clicking on PLAY CLIP.
Fundraiser fetes GOP same-sex marriage senators
Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times-Union’s Capitol Confidential reports that Republican Senator Steve Saland of Poughkeepsie — who represents Columbia County in Albany — is getting large cash donations because of his vote in favor of same-sex marriage. Saland was the thirty-second senator to announce he would vote for the bill, assuring it would pass. “New York City’s billionaire mayor, Michael Bloomberg, will co-host a fundraiser next month for Republican Senators Steve Saland of Poughkeepsie, Jim Alesi of Rochester, Roy McDonald of Saratoga and Mark Grisanti of Buffalo. Tickets for the Manhattan soiree run as high as $16,800, the maximum amount allowed under the current election law,” Vielkind writes. Hosts for the party include Tim Gill, a software magnate, and Paul E. Singer, the founder of Elliott Management and chairman of the conservative Manhattan Institute as well as gay rights groups Marriage Equality New York, the Gill Action Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. Likewise, the National Organization for Marriage is working to defeat the four senators because of that vote, and campaign spending for his seat will be much larger this campaign. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
One less media voice
Marilyn Bethany and Dan Shaw of the blog Rural Intelligence are shutting down the source for news among the well-monied in Columbia, Dutchess, and Litchfield counties. “Our goal to create an online culture-and-lifestyle magazine that would unite four counties in three states was and remains, as far as we know, unique,” they wrote in their final post last week. “We are proud of the work we’ve done and that we’ve succeeded in fostering a sense of community across state and county lines among full- and part-time residents, as well as visitors.”
Performers announced for storm relief
Performers were announced for the Oct. 1-2 fundraiser for Greene County storm victims at the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural Center in East Durham. The Catskill Glee Club, The Lustre Kings, Michael Packer, Kirsten Thein, Kitty Kelly, Lara Hope & The Champtones, Alexis P. Suter with Connor “The Kidd” Kennedy, Tas Cru, Prof. Louie & The Crowmatix, Phil Brown (of Little Feat) with Rhett Tyler are among the bands Sat., Oct. 1. Solo or duos Saturday include Peter Head, Andrew & Stephanie AKA Lex Ridge, David Kraii, Keith & Joy, Thomas Earl, and Finley & Pagdon. Sunday’s full bands include Michael Farrell School Of Dance, The Michael Louis Band, The Jonny Monster Band, Voodelic, The Five Points Band, Shorty King, John Cerbone, Rhett Tyler Trio, with solo and duos including Abby Lappen, John Holt, Wet Paint, Nick Bukuvalas, Peggy Atwood, and Mike Herman.
Tags: benefit, flooding, floods, fundraiser, Hurricane Irene, local audio, music
There is now a Tropical Storm Watch for Greene and Columbia counties, and local officials have been passing information about Hurricane Irene’s approach. The storm weakened a bit Friday morning, and has since turned east slightly, perhaps lessening its impact in our region. High winds are expected and anywhere between 4″ and a foot of rain is possible. Officials are warning the soil in our area is already saturated, and will flood quickly. WGXC spoke with John Farrell, the Director of Greene County Emergency Services, and Reggie Crowley, the Copake Town Supervisor, about what official plans and preparations the two counties are working on in advance of the storm. (Recordings of the two interviews are below.) In New Baltimore, the fire departments in the town will be open as shelters at 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Ulster County has also opened shelters and declared a state of emergency, but Columbia and Greene counties do not yet have any other planned shelter openings. Governor Andrew Cuomo gave a press conference (above, from the Capitol Confidential blog), where he said all the Hudson River bridges, including the Rip Van Winkle Bridge that links Greene and Columbia counties, will close if sustained winds reach 60 mph. President Obama officially declared a state of emergency in New York, freeing up federal resources for the state’s efforts. The Dutchess County Fair is canceled this weekend, and two New York Mets games are postponed.
• John Farrell, Director of Greene County Emergency Services, talks about Greene County's preparations for Hurricane Irene.
Interview by Tom Roe. PLAY CLIP
• Reggie Crowley, Supervisor of Town of Copake, about Hurricane Irene preparedness.
Interview by Tom Roe. PLAY CLIP
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, John Farrell, local audio, Reggie Crowley, Rip Van Winkle bridge
The National Weather Service predicts Friday will be sunny, with a high near 82. Saturday, should also be sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 74.
Town meetings tonight
HUDSON Historic Preservation Commission at 10 a.m., 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 2:58 p.m./Low, 9:07 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:03 a.m./7:59 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:09 p.m./ 4:52 a.m.
Birthdays
August 12 Erwin Schrodinger, Samuel Fuller, Porter Wagoner, Buck Owens, William Goldman, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Del the Funky Homosapien, and Muqtada al-Sadr.
Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Tom Roe updates of the morning news, and plays local music. 9 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
PURE MOODS Shannekia McIntosh hosts, and Brian Dewan and Otto Hauser are guests. Noon-2 p.m.
QUE COCINARE HOY? Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos host in Spanish. 2 p.m.
ASTROLOGY A.T. Mann hosts, please call in with questions at 518-828-0290. 3 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD Steve Charney is live in the WGXC Hudson studio. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
HOTLINE RADIO L. Dot Dinero and The Guy host. 9:30 p.m.
WEBSTREAM: Nautical Almanac/ Bunnybrains / DJ Jill at Basilica Industria. Webstream will be available at wgxc.org, and if show lasts past midnight will also be on 90.7-FM at that time.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Sunday morning.
Tags: local audio, town meetings
Corruption charge against Pebler reportedly dropped
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail writes the most high-profile story of his short tenure at the paper: He reports that the felony charge against Edward Pebler for falsifying his time sheets at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility, “according to a source with knowledge of private conversations at the maximum-security prison,” Antrim writes. His single source claims workers at the prison, “have bragged about the outcome and say it’s ‘all thanks to [Greene County District Attorney] Terry Wilhelm,’” he writes. The charge was dropped this January, according to Antrim’s source. Neither Wilhem nor Pebler’s attorney, Dennis Schlenker, returned Antrim’s calls about the case. Pebler is still working at the prison, according to Antrim’s source, supervising vehicular and plant maintenance at almost $69,000 per year. An inspector general report showed Pebler claiming to work 13 times when he was actually acting as Coxsackie’s code enforcement officer, and made over 570 phone calls with a town-issued cell phone while on state time. “Earlier this year, the Coxsackie Town Board tabled a resolution to reappoint Pebler, saying it was awaiting DOCS’ decision whether to grant him permission to work for the town,” Antrim writes. Pebler was charged with offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony, the maximum sentence for which is four years in prison. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Valentine case dismissed
Doron Tyler Antrim reports that charges were dropped against Greene County Legislator Keith Valentine, Republican of Catskill, and his wife Cynthia, for violating a law he voted for in the legislature, not allowing adults to serve alcohol to minors. While Antrim, or an editor at the paper, writes he has been cleared of the charges, that does not seem to be the case. The charges, however, have been dropped. “In a written decision, Hunter Town Justice William Simon said, “no useful purpose would be served” by prosecuting the Valentines under a 2007 county law making it a crime for a person in control of a residence to host a open house party at which they knowingly allow[ed] underage drinking,” Antrim writes, and though he twice writes they have been cleared of charges, his detailed explanation says otherwise. “In what’s known as an affirmative defense, a defendant can have the aforementioned charge dropped if they’ve not been convicted of it in the last five years and complete the state Alcohol Training Awareness Program,” Antrim writes. Columbia County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino told Antrim that the Valentines completed that awareness program May 9. Valentine was elected to his third term as a Legislator in 2009 and, according to Antrim, “pushed for the adoption of the house party law,” that he was later charged with violating. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Mt. Merino open again
Audra Jornov in the Register-Star writes that Mount Merino Road is reopened, after being closed since March because of water erosion. The road, which circles the west side of the small mountain just outside of Hudson, connects with Route 9G. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
County seeks town’s OK for cellular tower
W. T. Eckert reports that cell phone reception may improve in Columbia County if the Claverack Zoning Board approves adding a new cell phone tower where a water tank currently stands on the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center property. The water tank currently holds antennae for AT&T and Sprint, and a new tower would be higher, for better reception, and would add Verizon Wireless and possibly another carrier. If approved by the Claverack Zoning Board, the tank would be torn down and the tower would replace it. Columbia County Public Works Commissioner David Robinson said, “The water tank hasn’t been in use for 25 years, maybe longer. The new tower will really give the coverage needed,” he said, claiming that cell coverage drops off to the west and the south, and is “sketchy at best” on the nearby Taconic Parkway. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on the headline or “PLAY CLIP” to hear mp3 audio files.
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110801
Produced by Terry Doyle. Listing of upcoming events, from “Imprint” program Sundays at 11 p.m. on WGXC. PLAY CLIP
Tags: cell phone service, Claverack Zoning Board, Coxsackie Correctional Facility, David Robinson, Edward Pebler, Keith Valentine, local audio, Mount Merino, Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Terry Wilhelm, underage drinking
Glencadia Dog Camp‘s Will Pflaum is still fighting to keep his business open. The Stuyvesant canine retreat was open for several years when a few neighbors began complaining about barking. Since then, Pflaum has been before every board in town, the the town has hired a law firm just to work on his cases. Pflaum selectivly posts audio on his blog Sunshine on the Hudson of his meeting before the Zoning Board Tue., July 19, so some of the context is lost in these mp3 files from the meeting. Will Pflaum talking 1.
Will Pflaum talking 2.
Will Pflaum talking 3.
Martin Roby asks a question.
David R. Everett, the counsel the town hired for the matter, talks..
Zoning enforcement officer Gerry Ennis of the town of Stuyvesant talking 1.
Zoning enforcement officer Gerry Ennis of the town of Stuyvesant talking 2.
Zoning enforcement officer Gerry Ennis of the town of Stuyvesant talking 3.
Zoning enforcement officer Gerry Ennis of the town of Stuyvesant talking 4.
Tags: Gerry Ennis, Glencadia Dog Camp, local audio, Will Pflaum
Known unknowns: New location, buyer for library
Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports the Hudson Area Library has a buyer for its current historic library building at 400 State St. and is close to finalizing a sale and a lease agreement at a new location in the city, according to library officials. In April the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to move out of the historic old stone building which the board recently purchased. The building, built in 1818, has been a homeless shelter, insane asylum, girls academy, a private residence, an orphanage, and a library. Larson writes that the board is considering four locations. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Saugerties drops plans to buy Opus 40
Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that the town of Saugerties has withdrawn a $400,000 grant that would have been used to help buy the Opus 40 property and turn it into a public park. Opus 40 is a giant bluestone sculpture that took Harvey Fite his lifetime to make. Town Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel released a letter Wednesday, July 13 saying the town had withdrawn acceptance of the $400,000 state Environmental Protection Fund grant and is no longer seek ownership of Opus 40. The town wanted to turn the landmark into a museum to attract more tourists, who also visit nearby Dia:Beacon and the Storm King sculpture center. Zangla reports a new proposal would give, “Fite’s studio and the Quarryman’s Museum, both on the grounds of Opus 40, a historic designation.” Lissa Harris in The Watershed Post has links to more information on the story, and mentions that tonight, Monday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. the town’s Historic Preservation Commission holds a informational “conversation” in the Saugerties Town Hall’s Building Department Conference Room at its regular meeting. There is a full public hearing on the matter Aug. 15. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.
Neighbors, conservancy agree: some dog owners misbehave
Chris Simonds in The Columbia Paper reports three residents complained to the Greenport Town Board at its monthly meeting Wednesday, July 6, about dogs making noise early in the morning and running loose at the Columbia Land Conservancy’s Greenport Conservation Area off Daisy Hill Road. There are signs in the area telling folks dogs must be on leashes, but no one enforces that rule. “It is not the case that we invite people to bring their dogs and let them off the leash,” said CLC Executive Director Peter Paden. “We have rules that a dog must be on a leash and cleaned up after.” Town Attorney Carmi Rapport suggested closing a loophole in the existing town leash law all dogs must be on a leash, and the board agreed a public hearing on the matter should be held soon. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Catskill justice resigns
Ariel Zangla reports in The Daily Freeman that Catskill village Justice Charles Adsit left the bench after 15 years Thu. July 14. “Adsit, 68, resigned from his position due to a hearing impairment that it is making it difficult to do the job, he said,” and he will be replaced by attorney Maria Larosa, until an election next year. Before becoming judge in 1996, Adsit was a village police officer for 30 years, retiring a sergeant, and also serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 1965. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on the headlines or “Click here to play” to listen.
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110718
Produced by Terry Doyle, from his “Imprint” show Sundays at 11 p.m. on WGXC. This is a look at music events this week in the Hudson Valley. 4:49
CLICK HERE TO PLAY
• World Listening Day/Week on WGXC 60-Second PSA
Tune in to field recordings, acoustic ecology, sounds of nature, and more after 1 a.m. and all night July 17-23 on 90.7-FM. WGXC will feature composers such as Pauline Oliveros and groups such as the New York Society for Acoustic Ecology with sounds of the air, sea, mountains, airwaves, ice, animals, and others.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY
Tags: Charles Adsit, Columbia Land Conservancy, Greenport Conservation Area, Hudson Library, local audio, Opus 40, town meetings
The Little Town Life blog includes audio clips and these YouTube videos of the Town of Copake’s Thursday, July 14 meeting. The debate covered several budget issues.
Tags: local audio, local video
WGXC’s Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos interview Danielle Riou, who is heading up efforts to bring WLHV 88.1-FM, a radio station for Bard College. The station will launch next summer, and cover much of Ulster and Dutchess counties. Riou is a professor at the school and Director of the Human Rights Project at Bard. Click here to listen to an interview with Riou about the station.
Tags: Bard College, Danielle Riou, local audio, radio, WLHV
Cairo-Durham High School, from website.
The Cairo School Board had one item on its agenda Wed. June 29: Superintendent Sally Sharkey’s contract. But, during the course of the meeting Board President Greg Koerner-Fox revealed that the board had already voted, on Jan. 17, 2011 in executive session, 5-4, not to renew her contract. The board offered few hints of what the problem was, and only one member of the public spoke against renewing Sharkey’s contract at a public hearing during the meeting, and that speaker did not give any specific reasons. Koerner-Fox said it was a personnel matter discussed in executive session, and could not be addressed in public. At one point, Mike Coyne, chairman of the town Democratic Committee and a parent of children in the Cairo schools, began asking Sharkey questions. “I have not been told I did anything wrong,” Sharkey said. Eventually the board re-affirmed their 5-4 vote. [Doron Tyler Antrim reports in The Daily Mail that Greg Koerner-Fox, Bob Criswell, Beatrice Clappin, Pat Ublacker and Carl Kohrs voted to oust Sharkey; Susan Kusminsky, Bill Alfeld, Timothy Hunt, and Tom Plank voting to renew her contract.] A barrage of “why” questions from the crowd preceded the vote. “I voted no because people are not happy about what is going on,” one board member said. “There don’t have to be reasons,” another board member said. “The board is the board. We will take our action based on the input we get and our common sense.” Coyne then remarked that one of the five voting to remove Sharkey just got voted off the board in the May 17 election and would be replaced next month. In that election, Pat Ublacker of South Cairo finished fourth so will lose her seat after this meeting to newcomer Beth Phillips.
Greg Fox, School Board President, from school website.
Koerner-Fox then said that if a new board member came on, “the board could change its mind.” So it is possible Sharkey could be hired back by the new board. WGXC’s Galen Joseph-Hunter recorded the meeting. Click here to hear a mp3 audio recording to the school board meeting. Link to Cairo-Durham School Board meeting agenda.
Tags: Cairo-Durham School District, education, local audio, Sally Sharkey, schools
Town worth its weight
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website for link) reports that census figures mean that Greenville’s representative in the county legislature now has a heavier weighted vote. The recent increase in population in Greenville means representative Kevin Lewis’ vote is now worth 806 points. Catskill’s four representatives are down to 631 points each, Durham has 587, Cairo has 1,438, Coxsackie has 1,325, and New Baltimore has 727.
Town board votes to move clerk’s office
Andrea Macko in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer reports that Greenville, the last town in Greene County with the town clerk operating from home, is moving the office to the Town Hall Jan. 1, 2012. Current Town Clerk Ronnie Campbell has had the office at her home on Ida Smith Lane for 28 years, but she is retiring at the end of the year. Macko writes that no candidates have yet announced to fill the clerk’s office next year.
GOP picks newcomers Hook, Zito over Van Deusen, Jacklin
A staff report in the Register-Star reports that 195 Claverack Republicans choose to endorse several newcomers at a caucus June 21 at the Town Park. Councilman Clifford “Kippy” Weigelt got the nod for one of two seat, but, the chairman of the town’s Planning Board Stephen Hook outpolled longtime Town Board member James Van Deusen, the Columbia County Fire Coordinator, by a two-to-one margin for the second spot. For the two assessor seats, incumbent assessor Jack Race led the caucus, with political newcomer Fred Zito of Philmont outpolling incumbent assessor Ed Jacklin for the other endorsement. “It was a big night in Claverack,” Republican Councilman Mike Johnston, who served as clerk of the caucus, told the Register-Star. “The days of the RINO (Republican-In-Name-Only) are over. In these times of outrageous tax-and-spend policies epitomized by Obama and the Democrat administration, people want real Republicans who are not afraid to stand up and say ‘enough already.’ Claverack may just be a small town, but this is where it all starts.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Ghent Playhouse appoints Lee-Visscher artistic director
Paul Leyden, President of the Ghent Playhouse Board of Directors, announced Friday, June 24 that long-time Board member and Playhouse regular Cathy Lee Visscher is the new Artistic Director, replacing Tom Detwiler, who has served in that role since 2002. Lee-Visscher, who lives in Valatie, has been with the Ghent Playhouse, formerly Columbia Civic Players, since its very inception 36 years ago, and appeared in its very first production, “Sorry, Wrong Number” and has served on its Board at various times. “I believe Tom Detwiler has proven to be a strong Artistic Director for the Ghent Playhouse, and I hope to continue to excite our audiences by choosing challenging and diverse shows and presenting those productions with the same high professional quality for which we have come to be known,” she said in a press release. “I also hope to explore new ways to spark interest in our theatre, in order to bring in members of the community who may not have yet experienced what we have to offer. I am always so proud and impressed by what we produce here at the Ghent Playhouse, and we seem to get better and better each season.”
Football returns to school board’s agenda
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports The Ichabod Crane school board will vote on allowing the booster club to pay for the now-cancelled football program through private fundraising for the 2011-12 year at the next board meeting July 12. At the board’s meeting last Tue., June 21 the board also voted to leave an open seat vacant following the resignation of Edward Harsen earlier this month. “Some board members did not want to spend $3,100 for a special election that can be held no later than August 16, according to Board Clark Mindy Potts,” Teasdale wrote. The board will leave the seat open until the next annual election in May 2012, operating with eight members instead of nine. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Sports scores
Empire State Baseball League
13U Coxsackie Owlz 14 – S. Colonie Raiders 5
Zach Girvin knocked in six runs and picked up the win on the mound as the 13U Coxsackie Owlz (6-1, 8-3) beat the S. Colonie Raiders 14-5 Sat., June 25. Caleb Davies also went 3-4, with an RBI of the Owlz. Girvin, Matt Mitchell, and Davies combined to give up five runs on two hits, 10 walks, and eight strike outs.
Greene County Volunteer Firemens Association’s Drill Day results: Lexington, 42; West Athens, 40; Oak Hill/Durham, 37; Earlton, 31, Cairo, 27; Greenville and Athens (18); and Coxsackie, 16.
Audio clips for Monday, June 27
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110627
Produced by Terry Doyle for Imprint. Imprint is Doyle’s weekly show on WGXC about Hudson Valley music, and this is his weekly calendar of regional events. Click here to play mp3 clip. (4:20)
• New York State Senate audio of vote legalizing same-sex marriage.
Audio from New York State Senate. Clip is 2:10, and last 30 seconds is applause and, finally, chants of “USA, USA.” Click here to listen to mp3 audio clip of the New York State Senate voting to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.
Tags: Cathy Lee Visscher, Clifford Weigelt, Fred Zito, Ghent Playhouse, Jack Race, James Van Deusen, Kevin Lewis, local audio, Mike Johnston, music, Ronnie Campbell, Stephen Hook, Terry Doyle, Tom Detwiler
An anonymous donor’s gift to the Greene County Council on the Arts brought the Evander Quartet — four young musicians from the Eastman School of Music — to Catskill for a series of appearances around Greene, Columbia, and Ulster counties this summer. The sophomores from Syracuse are playing at Sunday brunches at the Catskill Mountain Lodge, which is donating lodging for the group, as well as at many area libraries, the Catskill Community Theater, Beattie-Powers Place, and the Saugerties Farmer’s Market. Last Saturday afternoon they stopped by the Catskill Community Center with Fawn Potash of the arts council, and spoke with Dharma Dailey about their visit to Catskill. Click here to listen to mp3 recording of the interview from the new WGXC studio in the Catskill Community Center. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Evander Quartet, Greene County Council on the Arts, local audio, music
Crane Davis recorded the talk give by Sylvia Hasenkopf, noted Hudson Valley historian, genealogist and columnist, exploring slavery and the long road to freedom for Greene County’s African-American population, Sat. May 21 at Beattie-Powers Place in Catskill. From their Friends of Beattie-Powers website:
In recognition of the 150th anniversary of America’s Civil War, Friends of Beattie-Powers welcomes back Sylvia Hasenkopf, noted Hudson Valley historian, genealogist and columnist, as she explores slavery and the long road to freedom for Greene County’s African-American population.
Click here to listen to mp3 recording Davis made at the Beattie-Powers Place.
Click here to read a story Jim Planck wrote in The Daily Mail about the discussion.
WGXC's new Catskill studio.
WGXC’s new studio in Catskill, in a window along Main St. in the Catskill Community Center, held an official “groundbreaking” Sat. May 21. Catskill artist Matt Bua built the studio’s skeleton, and WGXC broadcast live from the makeshift environs from 1-5 p.m., with performances from Leon Dewan, Bradford Reed, Dharma Dailey, Carmen Borgia, Rob Hervey, and others. WGXC has lots of recordings:
•Recording of all day live from Catskill Community Center of WGXC Catskill Studio Groundbreaking.
1-6 p.m. live from Catskill Community Center. Click here to listen to mp3 recording.
•Paul Keating of Irish Arts Week, interviewed at WGXC Catskill Studio Groundbreaking.
Interview by Galen Joseph-Hunter during WGXC Catskill Studio Groundbreaking.
•Tony Fallon reads a poem about WGXC.
Recorded at WGXC Catskill Studio Groundbreaking.
Tags: Catskill Community Center, local audio, Paul Keating, Tony Fallon, WGXC
WGXC volunteer Kate Blofson interviews Ross Rogers of Turtle Tree Seeds at Camphill Village in Copake about how to save, dry, and store seeds. Click here or on image to listen to the mp3 interview.
Tags: agriculture, farming, farms, interview, local audio, seeds, Turtle Tree Seeds
Catskill artist Matt Bua has organized a stellar lineup of on-air performances and workshops at the WGXC Catskill studio Groundbreaking this Sat. May 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Catskill Community Center. Turn out or tune in on 90.7-FM or at wgxc.org:
•Leon Dewan will give an on air demonstration of the Swarm-a -tron
•Bradford Reed will play a set earlier on his 1st Pencilina.
•Harry Matthews – inventor of the Helmet-o-phone
•Dharma Dailey and Brian will play some folk/blue grass classics and old timee tunes
•Carmen Borgia- Baritone Ukulele Big book of Songs
•Rob Hervey- Didjereedoo drones
•Matt Bua- table top 2×4 prepared guitar
•Peter Krug- Americana Encyclopedic Gems
Tags: Catskill Community Center, local audio, Matt Bua, WGXC
From Cairo public hearing on proposed zoning law at Cairo Elementary. Photo by Tom Roe.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY HELEN CHADDERDON COMMENT AT CAIRO PUBLIC HEARING
CLICK HERE TO PLAY GERRY APREA COMMENT AT PUBLIC HEARING
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO ENTIRE PUBLIC HEARING
Hallenbeck, Delaney get GOP nods
Francesca Olsen reports in the Register-Star that on Tue. Apr. 26, Hudson Republicans announced their endorsements for this fall’s election: current Board of Supervisors Vice-chairman and Fifth Ward supervisor Bart Delaney runs for common council president and William Hallenbeck, the current supervisor in the Third Ward, runs for mayor. Hudson Republican Party Chairman George DeJesus made the announcement to the Register-Star Tuesday. Read Olsen’s story here.
Melissa Auf de Maur
Melissa Auf de Maur, solo artist, former bass player with Hole, and partner in Basilica Hudson, talked with host Dan Seward last night on “Battlefield Earth.” Basilica Hudson, the space down by the Amtrack station, hosts a reading of Rudy Wurlitzer’s novel “Slow Fade” by Will Oldham, this Thu. Apr. 28. Other performances that night come from Ben Chasny, of Six Organs of Admittance, and Elisa Ambrogio, of noise rock band Magik Markers, who will open the evening with her own reading. Wurlitzer’s partner, photographer Lynn Davis, will also have projections during the Wurlizter reading.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW
Joe Ketner
Joe Ketner, from Emerson College, curates the show “Robert Scott Duncanson: The Spiritual Striving of a Freedman’s Son” at the Thomas Cole House in Catskill. The show opens May 1. Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth from WGXC Afternoon Show Tuesday.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW
Peter Feinman
Peter Feinman, from the Institute of History, Archeology, and Education, helped organize the Greene County History Conference this Sat. April 30 at the Catskill Middle School. He discusses the event with Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth from WGXC Afternoon Show Tuesday.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW
Peter O’Hara
Peter O’Hara is a Greene County resident who is volunteering as a host at the “Dining Out for Life” AIDS fundraiser this Thursday, Apr. 28 at a variety of restaurants in Hudson and other New York cities. O’Hara will be at Ca’mea in Hudson. Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth from WGXC Afternoon Show Tuesday.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW
Noe Kidder
Noe Kidder is a Brooklyn-based artist who curated the “American Dream Nightmare” video art festival April 30 from 1-5 p.m. at the Catskill Community Center. This show is part of the “Masters on Main St.” program, filling empty storefronts in Catskill with art. Interview by Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY INTERVIEW
Tags: Basilica Hudson, Cairo zoning law, Catskill Community Center, Gerry Aprea, Helen Chadderdon, Joe Ketner, local audio, local history, Melissa Auf de Maur, Noe Kidder, Peter Feinman, Peter O'Hara, Thomas Cole House
Glencadia Dog Camp, from website.
Tags: Glencadia Dog Camp, local audio, Stuyvesant Planning Board
Tim DeChristopher, from his website.
Tags: local audio, Tim DeChristopher
Cody Mellott, Wes Gillingham, and Mark Ruffalo at Bard College. Photo by Sam Sebren.
A standing-room only crowd of students, faculty, local residents, and activists filled the 350 seat Olin Auditorium at Bard College Thur., March 31 for a screening of the Academy Award-nominated documentary film, “Gasland.” After the movie there was a Q&A session with Wes Gillingham, Program Director of Catskill Mountainkeeper; Mark Ruffalo, actor and activist, and Sullivan County resident; and Cody Mellott, Bard student in their Environmental Studies program whose family in Pennsylvania has leased land to gas drilling companies.
Anti-hydraulic fracturing natural gas drilling activists are ramping up their efforts in advance of a large rally in Albany April 11. There is another screening of “Gasland” locally this week, Thursday night at Catskill High School. Click here to listen to the full recording of the question and answer session.
Tags: hydraulic fracturing, local audio, Mark Ruffalo, Natural Gas, Wes Gillingham
The new Chatham United Party won the biggest victory in the handful of village elections Tue. March 15, with Tom Curran taking over the Chatham Village Mayor role. Curran, a political novice, beat out longtime Mayor Paul Boehme 423 to 231. Curran’s running mate Joanne Delrossi also defeated incumbent trustee Pat Wemitt 422 to 252. The large turnout was the result of the new party’s pushback against a proposed 12 percent spending hike in 2010 that Boehme whittled down to under 5 percent, after pressure from Curran and others. Click here to listen to the interview with Tom Curran Wed. March 16 on the WGXC Afternoon Show, and hear his ideas for Chatham.
Tags: elections, local audio, Paul Boehme, Tom Curran
Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera is now looking to run for the Columbia County Board of Supervisors
Tags: Art Baer, Bart Delaney, Board of Supervisors, local audio, Rick Scalera
WGXC volunteer Tanya Blue interviewed Donna Willliams, who is starting Field Goods, a new business designed to deliver food from area farms directly to local and regional consumers. So far they are working with Otter Hook Farm in Greenville, and Hudson Locale in Hudson. So far the new business only has two drop-off locations, Elliott Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine at 876 Columbia St. in Hudson, and at Sleepy Hollow Lake, just north of the Village of Athens, but they hope to connect with large companies in Albany. Field Goods operates much like any other multi-farm community-supported agriculture farm with drop-off sites, pre-paid shares. Like a CSA, subscription customers receive a delivery each week of fruit and vegetables. The contents of the delivery will vary each week depending on what is in season and crop conditions. Click here to listen to the interview with Williams.
Tags: agriculture, csa, farming, farms, local audio
WGXC Town Recorder Sam Sebren reports from the WGXC aired a live broadcast of the SnowFlow festival at the Full Moon Resort Sat. Feb. 12 in Big Indian, in Ulster County, in the middle of the Catskill park. The event celebrated water, with artist Matt Bua creating a snow house warm enough for him to sleep in for two nights, and others skiing down Belleayre Mountain with no-fracking signs, and all sorts of talks about the Catskills’ water supply. Saturday night’s broadcast was run by WGXC Town Recorder Sam Sebren, and included performances from Kingston’s legendary Pauline Oliveros; Tianna Kennedy and Hannah Marcus; and Bard professor Miguel Frasconi and and former Mercury Rev member Suzanne Thorpe. Frascone and Thorpe literally played with water, with Frascone’s poured into glasses of different amounts, and Thorpe playing a mixture of snow and Pop Rocks in some type of instrument. Click here to listen to a recording of Kennedy and Marcus opening up the show. Click here to listen to Thorpe and Frascone perform. WGXC Town Recorder Sam Sebren also made lots of other recordings of snow, ice, water, and people talking about all those things. Those recordings will be posted in the coming days.
Tags: art, environment, hydraulic fracturing, local audio, music, Pauline Oliveros, snow, SnowFlow, water, watershed
State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) has commented on the property tax cap and mandate relief measures adopted by the state senate on Monday, January 31, saying the legislation, which he co-sponsored, will help families “afford to stay in their homes, assist business owners including farmers struggling to make ends meet, and free local governments and schools from costly state mandates.” Under the property tax cap, tax levy growth would be limited to 2 percent or 120 percent of the annual increase in the consumer price index, whichever is less. The mandate relief provision would require that the state fund any new requirements imposed on local governments or school districts. The measure’s future in the state Assembly, which passed a similar but less severe-on=local-schools-and-municipalities “circuit breaker” form of tax relief last year, is unsure at this point. To hear Seward’s statement, click here.
Tags: James Seward, local audio, property tax cap
Eleanor Kagen interviews participants in the WGXC/Prometheus Barnraising in Hudson Sept. 24-26, 2010.
Eleanor Kagen came to the WGXC/Prometheus Barnraising in Hudson Sept. 24-26 and recorded lots of interviews with organizers and participants. Then she visited the events’ organizers, the Prometheus Radio Project, at their Philadelphia headquarters, and collected more audio stories of community radio. Kagen edited it all together into this piece, “Raising Barns, Raising Voices.” Click on the photo of Kagen recording sounds at the barn raising to hear the mp3 recording.
Tags: local audio, radio, WGXC
Rep. Chris Gibson's swearing-in, from his Facebook page.
NY State Senator James Seward, from his website.
Watch video of Rep. Chris Gibson speaking on House floor during vote to repeal health care bill. Click here to watch wmv video of C-Span clip of.
Listen to audio of State Senator James Seward press release about Job Creation and Taxpayer Protection Act. Click here to listen to audio.
Tags: Chris Gibson, health care, James Seward, Job Creation and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2011, local audio, local video, Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act
Snowmobiles, like other vehicles, can fan flames of road rage, and in the Town of Stuyvesant they can also cause a “scrum” or “fracas” inside too. Those are the words Bob Green used in the Register-Star to describe a part of a town meeting there when a report by the Recreation Committee asked the town to enforce the terms of a conservation easement on a town park held by the Columbia Land Conservancy.
Snowmobiles in Yellowstone Park, from Wikipedia.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2011/01/TownofStuyvesant_snowmobiles_meetingchaos_Jan2011.mp3
Tags: local audio, snowmobiles, town meetings
Martin Roby recorded audio mp3s of the December 30 Stuyvesant town board meeting. Click here to select of the many short mp3s of different topics of the meeting that Roby recorded.
Building lot size changes: Ron Knott talks then Martin Roby ask a question (15M)
Questions on attorney invoices? Who does the Town Attorney work for? Why are the bank records blurred so we can read the checks? First: Martin Roby then Tal Rappleyea, then Will Pflaum, then Valerie Bertram, and last Ronald Knott (25M)
Damage to mail boxes/car from snow plows (3.3M)
Greenway money for garage update; apparently the new agency head wants more information on boat launch turned salt shed. (12M)
december_meeting_room_decoration.mp3 (1.3M)
Assessor report (1.5M)
Town Clerk report (1.6M)
Setting date for budget workshop (4.9M)
Ed Scott no longer on trails (2.8M)
Historian about the book on Stuyvesant (4.4M)
Questions on county resolutions (3.7M)
Rail Road: Ron Knott
Martin Roby: Questions about the Falls Bridge to get painted and Valerie Bertram responds (18M)
pledge.mp3″ (1.3M)
recreation_Lee_Jamison_no_trails.mp3 (6.1M)
Two resign position open on zba and maintainance for the cemetery (9.6M)
zoning_none planning: Charlene Leach and Will Pflaum (3.3M)
Tags: local audio, town meetings
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