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
Bokonon at the Nippertown! blog posted this video of Steve Earle performing at Club Helsinki in Hudson this past Sunday, Jan. 8. The song may be called, “I’m Thinking ‘Bout Burning the Wal-Mart Down.” Earle, who lives part-time in Ulster County, is also an actor, who starred in “The Wire” and “Treme” on HBO. Read the full review in Nippertown!
Tags: local video, Steve Earle
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
WGXC volunteer Elaine Fernandez, on her blog WiThePeople.com, talks regularly with folks affected by the weak economy. Here, she speaks with Justin Palmer, of Tannersville, and Rebecca Zindell, of Catskill, at Columbia-Greene Community College, where the local department of labor’s one-stop career center is located. Palmer was there in response to an unemployment mandate; Zindell is a student. Palmer lost his job about two months ago and receives unemployment insurance benefits. He is 33-years-old and he said he’s never had a problem finding work, until now. Zindell talks about her financial situation. Fernandez’s show “What’s Going On” with an interview with the founder of the proposed Acres Food Co-Op in Hudson, Peter Pehrson, airs at 3 p.m. today, Tue., Nov. 15 on WGXC 90.7-FM. Read the full story at WiThePeople.com.
Tags: Columbia-Greene Community College, education, local video, unemployment
#Occupy Delhi NY – October 29, 2011 from VeccVideography on Vimeo.
Lissa Harris from The Watershed Post links to this video from filmmaker Jessica Vecchione about the Occupy Delhi Sat., Oct. 29 protest at Courthouse Square in Delhi in Delaware County.
“Around the 1:45 mark, Andes resident Bill Piervincenzi explains why he’s occupying Delhi: ‘Students who can’t pay their loans, veterans who can’t get a job, homeowners who are losing the value of their homes, the callousness of people making policy, corruption because of money in the election process. There’s just so many things, and maybe the cumulative effect of all of them is what’s making me stand here today in the cold.’”
“Pet the Lights” Shot video by Kenji and Miles Vidor; directed, produced, and edited by Young Paris featuring Young Paris and Lady Moon, both from Hudson, New York. The song is from Young Paris’ forthcoming “Black n Gold” album, due next year. The video includes scenes of Hudson.
Tags: local video
Columbia County-based folk musician Abby Lappen has several new videos posted to YouTube this week. The first, above, is actually a year old, but The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy, New York, just put up this of Lappen singing “Revolution 102″ there last October. A newer video, below, shows Lappen performing in East Durham two weekends back, at the benefit concert at the Michael J. Quill Irish Center for Greene County victims of the recent storms.
Tags: Abby Lappen, local video, music
Hudson-based band Yassou Benedict performed “No Lights” with Young Paris at Helsinki Hudson on September 2, 2011, and recorded this video. Below, the official “No Lights” video produced by Steve Durand, “shot in three hours at an abandoned school in Upstate New York,” and an official selection of the 2011 Woodstock Film Festival.
Tags: local video, Woodtsock Film Festival, Yassou Benedict, Young Paris
Liv Carrow’s last three songs tonight at Spotty Dog, from a live Twitcast video webcast via iPhone from the Spotty Dog Books & Ale in Hudson.
Greene County:
Catskill webcam: Thomas Cole House Claude Mirror
Nearby:
Tags: local video, webcams
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
Windham Mountain Bike World Cup Festival
Julia Reischel in the Watershed Post reports on the abundance of bicycles in Greene County this weekend:
One of the biggest mountain biking events in the world will be happening in Greene County this weekend: The 2011 Mountain Bike UCI World Cup. The most formidable bikers from around the globe will gather at Windham Mountain Saturday and Sunday to jockey down rocky slopes and blow through mud puddles. The race — the 7th in the 2011 World Cup series — is the core of a four days of biking events, including a block party, a concert, and a race for kids. If you can’t make it in person, you can watch the races live on the Race Windham website right from your couch. Windham NY 2011 Mountain Bike World Cup Festival, July 7 – July 10, Windham Mountain, Windham, NY. www.racewindham.com.
Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Hinchey, Gillibrand renew effort to get national park designation for region
The Daily Freeman staff reports that U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who represents the Hudson River Valley just south of the WGXC listening area, and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand have reintroduced legislation to make the “Hudson River Valley” part of the National Park system. “Under such a distinction, the region would benefit from greater national attention, additional federal resources to support and preserve heritage sites and increased regional tourism, all of which would contribute to job creation and economic growth, the congressman and senator said in a joint press release issued by Hinchey’s office,” the Freeman story says. “The Hudson River Valley is truly one of America’s richest treasures,” Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said in the statement. “From the Adirondacks to the busy ports of New York City, the Hudson River fuels our economy, inspires our artists, and provides New Yorkers with miles of adventure and endless recreation.” Areas along the Hudson River in Columbia and Greene counties are included in the proposal. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Cement plant clears first important hurdle
Hilary Hawke in The Daily Mail reports that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has accepted the Final Environmental Impact Statement from the Lafarge Cement Plant in Ravena as complete. After a ten-day waiting period, the DEC can release a “Findings Statement,” and according to Hawke’s story Lafarge is eager to get started on the plant modernization if approved. The story suggests “project construction which could start as early as fall of 2011 with grounds preparation, grading and drainage.” Hawke outlines the timeline in the company’s efforts to modernize the plant:
• Aug. 2008: DEC accepted the Lafarge Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
• Nov. 2010: Public comment and a legislative hearing was held in January, 2011.
• Jan. 2011: Legislative hearing.
• April, 2011: DEC sent the document to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a mandatory 45-day review, which ended in mid-June. According to a Lafarge Environmental Manager John Reagan, the EPA provided no further comments.
The new plant’s production would increase from roughly 1.7 million tons currently to 2.8 million tons each year. The article also provides links to Lafarge and DEC documents on the matter, but failed to link to CASE, the local environmental watchdog group that has often been critical of the company. Read the story in The Daily Mail.
Village may find water’s cost hard to swallow
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports that Chatham Village is about to get a $2.3-million sewer upgrade that will cost residents $90 more a year on their water bill. At the town’s Public Works committee meeting last week, Teasdale also reports that the village reservoir leaks about 50,000 gallons of water a day, according the Pat Prendergrast, the village engineer. And the water tower leaks. Prendergrast suggested to the committee that the village close the reservoir. He asked village officials to look at “your long term plan for your 48-year-old water tower and your reservoir that nobody likes.” Water and Sewer Commissioner George Grant defended the reservoir, saying, “This reservoir had been good to us since 1907,” and then weighed in on the tower: “If we maintain it and coat it every 10 years like we were supposed to it would last for another 30 to 40 years,” he said. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Claverack skate park
The Town of Claverack wants to build a skate park in the town on an already installed foundation. Anyone who wants to make a bid on the project can contact the town (518-672-7911) for more details, but must have four printed copies and a PDF at Town offices at 91 Church St. in Mellenville, by 10 a.m. July 22.
Tags: bicycles, DEC, Hudson River, Kirsten Gillibrand, Lafarge, local video, Maurice Hinchey, mountain bikes, Pat Prendergrast, skate park, water, Windham Mountain Bike World Cup Festival
The Independent Film Channel has posted the video for “Hallway of Mirrors,” the title track from the new album by Hudson-based 12-string guitarist Alexander Turnquist of the same name. The video was created by Otto Stockmeier and Derek Van Gorder, shot on location in both Hudson NY, and Berlin Germany.
Tags: Alexander Turnquist, local video, music
New York State Senator James Seward, who represents Greene County in Albany, released this official video through the New York State Senate’s YouTube channel, explains what he thinks the legislature accomplished this year. Below, Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County, talks about his disappointment in the legislature’s failure to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. Below that, Saland generally comments on the legislative session. Below that, Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County, talks about his work on the Regional Education and Property Tax Reform Committees.
Tags: James Seward, local video, Pete Lopez, Steve Saland
Columbia County’s State Senator Steve Saland became the 32nd senator to announce his support of the same-sex marriage bill, which passed in a vote Friday night in Albany. Buffalo’s Mark Grisanti, also a Republican, also voted for the bill, which passed 33-29. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill and it becomes state law in 30 days. Saland was the only locally elected representative who voted for the bill: Senator Jim Seward, who represents Greene County, voted against the bill, as did Assemblymen Pete Lopez (Greene County) and Marc Molinaro (Dutchess County).
• Click here to play an mp3 recording of the New York State Senate voting to legalize same-sex marriage. (2:10)
Tags: James Seward, local video, Marc Molinaro, Pete Lopez, same-sex marriage, Steve Saland
nysenate on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
Tags: local video
The new museum that is in the works for Hudson — the Marina Abramović Institute for Long Duration Performance — will likely do more for local arts and tourism than any other single entity in the region. Abramović is a world-renowned performance artist whose work is highly regarded in the press and in worldwide exhibits. Above is a sneak peek inside the former Community Tennis Court building that is at the corner of Columbia and Seventh St. in Hudson, where workers have been busy lately making the first improvements for an opening that is still a few years away. An Oct. 10 Guardian U.K. article says she is also recently created the Marina Abramovic Institute in San Francisco and is currently raising money to open the Marina Abramovic Foundation for Preservation of Performance Art in downtown Manhattan. Here is the perspective of fly16x9.com, which posted this YouTube clip showing Abramović in the building sorting through her works, props, and other things that an artist packs away until some undetermined future date.
In preparation for her [Museum of Modern Art] show, Marina Abramović goes through a life-time of her art works and memorabilia in her warehouse in Hudson New York. The work is an accumulation of everything she has done since graduating high school in Belgrade in the 1960′s. She talks about her plans for the retrospective, The Artist Is Present, her performances, her outlook on pain and death and her plans for the Marina Abramović Institute for Long Duration Performance to be housed in this warehouse. This video is presented by fly16x9.com on their arts channel.
Tags: local video, Marina Abramović, Marina Abramović Institute for Long Duration Performance, performance art
Slow Fade: An Evening Reading from Basilica Hudson on Vimeo.
The folks at Basilica Hudson uploaded this video from the recent reading of Hudson writer Rudy Wurlitzer’s “Slow Fade” by WiIl Oldham for the Drag City record label.
Tags: Basilica Hudson, local video, Rudy Wurlitzer
Hudson’s Bunnybrains performing a few weeks ago at the WHPK Summer Breeze concert in Chicago This video is from a Chicago cable access show.
Tags: Bunnybrains, local video, music
Lance Wheeler made this YouTube video of the crash of a glider near the Freehold Airport on Sat. May 28, and sent it to several local news organizations, including WGXC.
Tags: Freehold Airport, local video
(IF YOU PLAY VIDEO SAY COURTESY OF CBS6.)
Lynn Sloneker’s Unmuffled blog’s Twitter feed reports that Peter Merante switched his vote, and a reworked 2011-2012 Hudson schools budget will go back to the voters. At Mon. May 23′s Hudson School Board meeting the board reversed last week’s 4-3 school board vote to set aside voter’s wishes and accept the proposed budget. Last Tuesday voters rejected the budget 1249 to 424, but moments after the polls closed Merante, Emil Meister, Jeff Otty, and Mary Daly voted to accept the budget anyway. Merante switched his vote tonight, siding with Peter Meyer, Elizabeth Fout, and Jeri Chapman (Meister was absent for the second vote). The proposed budget included an almost ten-percent tax increase that also eliminated more jobs than other area districts. The local media, online commentariat, and photoshoppers all protested the board’s initial decision to ignore the public’s vote. Sloneker’s Twitter feed reports a budget meeting will be held at 6 p.m., this Wed. May 25 in the Hudson High cafeteria. A new public hearing will be held June 14, and a new vote June 21.
Tags: education, Hudson schools, local video, Peter Merante, schools, youth
Bard College professor Marina Rosenfeld performed with George Lewis Fri., May 20 at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, and the folks from Innova Records were there to record it.
Tags: local video, Marina Rosenfeld
Copake planners wrestle with tower details
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that the Copake Planning Board is considering whether there is currently adequate cell phone coverage in the Columbia County town. If not, then Mariner Tower, II, may be allowed to build a 150-foot lattice tower on the West Copake farm of Ezra J. Link, Jr., at 3124 County Route 7 with the tower east of Route 7 between Pumpkin Hollow Roads North and South. Radio experts may fly a literal trial balloon to determine where the tower would be seen from if allowed. The farmer and tower company are asking for variances for the proposed tower as 125 feet is the town’s maximum height, and a 1,500-foot setback from residences is required, but this tower has about 1,200 feet of setback from two residences. The applicants have to appear before both the Planning Board for site plan review and the Zoning Board of Appeals for the variances, and the Planning Board will next discuss the issue June 2. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Graduations
Both local colleges hold graduations Saturday: Columbia-Greene Community College at 10 a.m. in the gym, and Bard College at 1 p.m. with a live webstream here.
Board resigns
There’s this from the Public Notices in the Register-Star about the Catskill gym where Mike Tyson learned to fight: “The Board of Directors of the Cus D’amatos Boxing Gym have resigned from their positions as members of the board. The board is no longer responsible for any activity in the gym or any indebtedness.”
At Home on the Farm and in E-Books
Julie Bosman in The New York Times profiles Columbia County writer Susan Orlean in the Thu. May 19 edition, around the publication of her new e-book “Animalish,” about the animals on her 55-acre spread. They include one dog, three cats, eight chickens, four turkeys, six guinea fowl, one fish, two snow-white ducks, and 12 Black Angus cattle. Orlean, who writes for The New Yorker, published “Animalish,” as an e-book Thursday exclusively by Amazon as a “Kindle Single,” one of their excerpts of original, long-form writing. Read the entire story in The New York Times.
Windham’s Zipline construction begins
Windham Mountain’s Facebook page says that construction has begun on a Zipline there. From a post: “2 race at a time. I leg goes from the top of the Adventure Park lodge down to a tower by the berm on the snowtubing park; 2nd leg goes to a tower by the skating rink; then a rope bridge back to the Lodge.” Hunter Mountain has the longest and highest zipline in North America, with four miles of the hanging rides.
Rebecca Anderson, a member of the new student garden club at Columbia-Greene Community College, readies the soil for planting. From CGCC.
Twelve students are taking turns tending to a garden on campus at Columbia-Greene Community College through the new student garden club. Students are growing corn, sweet peas, kale, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes, wild strawberries, and basil, according to one of the club’s founders, Lizzy Winig. The students may get the food they grow served in the college’s cafeteria. “The student garden is dedicated to growing green this summer, working with the land to produce a healthy variety of vegetables,” says club member Rebecca Anderson. “We students are also hoping to donate a good portion of our harvest to the local food pantry and college cafeteria, keeping the impact on the environment light, and the impact on the community powerful.” Assistant Professor of History Ted Hilscher is the club’s advisor.
Tags: agriculture, Bard College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Cus D'Amato, garden, Hunter Mountain, local video, Susan Orlean, Windham Mountain, zipline
Cheddie: Not Rodgers’ neighborhood
John Mason in the Register-Star reports that Hudson First Ward Alderwoman Geeta Cheddie filed a complaint with the Hudson Police Department against Timothy Rodgers and Victor Mendolia for filing false information with the City Clerk’s Office. In applying to be a city commissioner of deeds, Rodgers stated that he lived at 15 Allen St., and Mendolia notarized that statement, Cheddie said. From the story:
Rodgers has been endorsed by the city Democratic Party to run for First Ward alderman; although he has been working in Hudson for two years, he lives in Greene County. Mendolia is the city Democratic Party chairman. Cheddie, who lives in Hudson, was not endorsed by the party. On April 19, Rodgers was nominated to be a commissioner of deeds at the regular meeting of the Common Council. Cheddie abstained from voting on the basis that Rodgers’ listed address of 15 Allen St. was not where he was currently residing. The council voted to amend the appointment resolution to remove Rodgers’ name. Subsequently, according to Cheddie, City Attorney John Connor Jr. was asked to investigate. He sent a letter to Rodgers at the listed address, and the Post Office returned the letter with the envelope marked “Vacant.”
“I believed the information filed with the city clerk was incorrect, and I’d like something to be done about it,” Cheddie said Tuesday to Mason. “I don’t think it’s OK for people to knowingly file false documents with the Common Council and pass law from it.” Mendolia is a host of @Issue at 10 a.m. Wednesdays on WGXC, and has told WGXC he has no comment yet on this story, and that he may be arraigned today. He did not get back to Mason in time for his story, so Cheddie gets the last word here: “The commissioner of deeds is a serious responsibility,” she said. “I am a commissioner of deeds. You witness signatures. You swear to tell the truth, that the person standing before you is who they say they are and that they live at that address.” Read the entire story in the Register-Star.
Safety panel approves 3 bridge jobs
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports the Public Safety Committee of the Greene County Legislature approved three bridge construction projects Monday May 9. Legislators agreed to replace the Caniff Road bridge over the Jan de Bakkers Kill, off County Route 41 in Cairo, for $130,444, with Wm. J. Keller & Sons Construction Corp., of Castleton. The same company gets $156,822. for the rehabilitation of the bridge on County Route 12 in Windham that crosses the Batavia Kill just before Route 23 and the repair of the bridge on Scribner Hollow Road over the East Kill, before the road joins County Route 23C in East Jewett. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Local State Senators busy
On Tuesday, May 10, S697, sponsored by Sen. Steve Saland (who represents Columbia County in Albany) passed 61-0. The bill would create, “a state trooper highway memorial task force to develop and establish guidelines for recognition of members of the division of state police who have died in the line of duty; such recognition shall be by means of dedicating a portion of the state highway system, or the placement of a memorial plaque or marker along a state highway.”… State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta), who represents Greene County will meet with seniors in Mr. Dave Carlson’s “Participation in Government” class at Coxsackie-Athens High School today, Wed. May 11 at 12:50 p.m.
The Felice Brothers release new album
The Felice Brothers new album “Celebration, Florida” was released Tue. May 10, and the Hudson Valley band will be on-air on WDST 100.1-FM next Tuesday May 17. The band recorded the new album in the gymnasium and theater of Beacon, NY’s old high school. The “unofficial” video for the song “Fire at the Pageant” from the new album is on YouTube (below).
DAILY AUDIO
Ian Stewart, the chair of Claverack Historic Preservation Society.
Interview about Historic Hamlet Walk in Claverack Sat. May 14 that begins at 10 a.m. At A.B. Shaw Firehouse in Claverack. Interviewed by Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper.
Bryan Hunter, owner of new Catskill bike shop, interviewed on WGXC Afternoon Show.
Hunter just opened Catskill Cycles last weekend in Catskill, where he sells new bikes and repairs older rides. Interviewed by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth.
Kevin Dorn of Jazz 72 interviewed on WGXC Afternoon Show.
Drummer for the band Jazz 72 that is performing in Greenville May 13 through the All Arts Matters arts organization. Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth.
Agie Seife from Temple Israel in Catskill.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth on WGXC Afternoon Show, about the temples latest public events and activities.
Tags: Catskill Cycles, Geeta Cheddie, James Seward, local video, Steve Saland, The Felice Brothers, Timothy Rodgers, Victor Mendolia
The Sunshine on the Hudson blog has video from the Mon. May 9 meeting in Stuyvesant with Robert Freeman of the Committee on Open Government. Freeman offers opinions on New York’s FOIL law, Open Meetings law, and takes questions from folks gathered at Town Hall.
Untitled from glencadia on Vimeo.
Untitled from glencadia on Vimeo.
Untitled from glencadia on Vimeo.
Tags: local video, Robert Freeman
Former Irish Museum to host summer events
Michael Ryan in the Windham Journal reports the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre (ICSC) in East Durham will replace the recently departed Irish Heritage Cultural Museum there with a lineup of concerts and other events this summer. The special events include a concert from singer Ronan Tynan on July 23, fireworks on July 2, a farmer’s market and flea market in July and August, and telecasts of Gaelic football in September. A few weeks ago, the Irish Heritage Cultural Museum announced it was leaving East Durham for Albany. Read the whole story in the Windham Journal.
Town imposes spending freeze
Hilary Hawke in The Ravena News-Herald reports the Town of Coeymans passed a spending freeze on all town departments at a recent board meeting. Town Supervisor Jim Youmans blames a $212,000 deficit on census figures, which show the town lost 733 residents between 2000 and 2010. “Albany County notified the town about the projected decrease in sales tax revenue distribution based on the 2010 census numbers,” Youmans said in the weekly newspaper. “$212,000 represents a big chunk of our revenues for the year.” Read the entire story in The Ravena News-Herald.
Space360 applies for liquor license
The Daily Mail Public Notices say that, “360 Warren Street, LLC (DBA – Space 360) applied for a license to sell beer, wine and liquor at retail in a catering establishment under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 360 Warren Street, Hudson, Columbia County, for on premises consumption.”
Hudson Farmer's Market Flag Day entry 2008, from Hudson Farmer's Market website.
The Hudson Farmer’s Market returns to the parking lot at the corner of 6th and Columbia Sts. Saturday at 9 a.m. and runs weekly through Nov. 19. There won’t be quite as many vendors until June, and this season’s vendors include: Berkshire Mountian Bakery; Blue Star Farm; Cedar Flower Farm; Coach Farm Dairy; Crosswinds Farm; Don Baker Fruit Farm; Good Fight Herb Co.; Flowering Heart Farm; Fog & Thistle Farm; Herb’s Greenhouse; Hudson-Chatham Winery; Hudson Valley Homestead; Loaf; Maple Bee Farm; Martin Farm; Milt’s Coffee; Muffins and More/Perfecto Pesto; Northern Star Farm; Pigasso Farm; The Red Barn; Red Oak Farm; Running Creek Farm Greenhouses; Samascott; Scarecrow Farm’ The Farm at Miller’s Crossing; Tierra Farm; and Triform Gardens.
Owners re-build Blackthorn Resort
WTEN in Albany reports that eight months after the Blackthorn Resort in East Durham burned down from a propane leak, it has rebuilt in time for the summer tourist season. “Right after the fire, it was unbelievable how many couples would come by and tell us stories of how they met here 50 years ago,” says Jennifer Handel, of the family that owns the resort. “We said, how do you not put this building back up?” The video above is also from WTEN.
Tags: Blackthorn Resort, Hudson Farmers Market, Irish Heritage Cultural Museum, local video, Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre
Columbia County Judge Paul Czajka submitted his resignation Wednesday, stepping down from the bench after 16-years to attempt to become county district attorney again. Czajka was county DA from 1987 to 1994, before being elected judge. “My resignation is a decision I did not take lightly,” he said in a press release. “I fervently believe, however, that I can better serve the unfortunate victims of crimes, our citizens, and the taxpayers of Columbia County as our district attorney…. If I’ve learned nothing else during my career in law enforcement and the judicial systems of Columbia County, it is that the single most important position in the county for implementation of justice is that of district attorney.” Judge Czajka will seek the endorsement of the Columbia County Republican Committee, the Columbia County Independence Party Committee, and the Columbia County Conservative Party Committee for the November 8 election. The judge, who has nearly four years remaining on his second 10-year judicial term, says he wants to cut waste in the district attorney’s office with a smaller staff, and improved training and communication. “Simply put,” Judge Czajka said, “if I am elected, I will personally investigate crime and assist police officers in their investigations, personally go to court, and personally prosecute crimes. All of my assistant DAs will do so as well. This will result in greater leadership, accountability and responsibility that, with hard work, will spread throughout the county.” Czajka lives on a dairy farm in Livingston. Website forums, which typically have skeptical views of judges, contain negative reviews for the Judge here and here. Someone working for the Judge provided the YouTube video above from the Judge’s announcement this morning, Thu. May 5 in front of the Columbia County Courthouse. Andrew Amelinckx, who attended the press conference, reports in the Register-Star that, “the current DA, Beth Cozzolino, announced her intention to seek reelection in January, around the same time that another former DA, Eugene Keeler, also announced. With Czajka gone, Judge Jonathan Nichols, himself running for the Supreme Court in New York’s Third Judicial Department, is the only county judge. Gov. Andrew Cuomo can appoint a judge to the position until next January, when an elected judge would then step in.”
Tags: local video, Paul Czajka
User vfanarjian and biz311 uploaded several videos from the Copake Bicycle Auction and other cycling activities Apr. 15-17 in Copake.
(H/T Columbia County News.)
Tags: bicycles, local video
A little WGXC studio dancing on Thu., Apr. 28, on Allan Skerrett’s “Crossroads” show, with a little help from Joan Geitz.
Tags: Allan Skerrett, Joan Geitz, local video, 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
Andrew Cuomo gladhanding after campaign kickoff speech at BRIK Gallery in Catskill, 071710. Photo by Tom Roe/WGXC.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, local video
From NYCourts website:
The Court of Appeals will hear oral argument on Monday in a pair of related election proceedings, Matter of Johnson v Martins and Matter of Jacobs v Nassau County Board of Elections, arising from the November 2 election for the office of State Senator for the 7th Senatorial District. Craig M. Johnson, the Democratic incumbent, and Jay Jacobs, chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, are appealing an order and decision of the Appellate Division, Second Department that denied their petitions for a manual recount of paper ballots. On December 6, Supreme Court certified Republican Jack M. Martins as the winner of the election by 451 votes. The argument will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 20, at Court of Appeals Hall, 20 Eagle Street, Albany. An audio-visual feed will be provided for broadcast media at the court house. A live webcast of the session will be available.
Decisions in these cases will impact the final resolution of the New York State Senate.
Coxsackie-Athens Community Band got a big ovation at their Christmas concert at the Reformed Church in Athens. Photo by Sam Sebren.
From Sam Sebren, WGXC volunteer:
On Saturday, Dec. 11 the Coxsackie-Athens Community Band, under director Ann Clapper, gave their annual Christmas concert at the Reformed Church in Athens. Close to a hundred people enjoyed the beautiful holiday music and were treated to several new arrangements this year. Also performing was the Reformed Church Choir under director Kathy Boyer. The beautiful voices of the choir were wonderful on the festive song, “Goin’ on a Sleigh Ride.” This concert was in conjunction with the newly revived, annual Athens Victorian Stroll which took place all day, all over Athens. The recording below starts with the CACband performing “A Christmas Flourish,” “A Most Wonderful Christmas,” “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,” “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “Happy Holiday,” and “White Christmas.” Next is the Reformed Church Choir singing “Noel, Noel,” “Lullaby,” and “Goin’ On a Sleigh Ride.” The CAC band returned to finish the evening with “A Fireside Christmas,” “On This Day Earth Shall Ring,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Christmas ‘Pop’ Sing-Along,” and “A Christmas Festival.” To listen to mp3 audio recording of the performances click here, or paste the the following url into your computer’s media player:
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/12/CACB_RFC_WGXC_121110.mp3
The Athens' Reformed Church Choir performed a holiday concert at the church. Photo by Sam Sebren.
Tags: Athens' Reformed Church Choir, Coxsackie Athens Community Band, local audio, local video, music
Perry picked for Taconic Hills school board
Christine Perry was chosen to fill the vacant seat on the Taconic Hills School Board at a meeting last Wednesday, according to the board’s website. Perry becomes a replacement for John Mastropolo, who resigned in September. Usually, voters decide on school board officials, but this time the board took over the entire process, making all decisions in executive session. The board picked between Perry, Sally Williamson, and Joan Spencer. In a story about this issue, John Mason in the Register-Star writes, “According to Robert Freeman of the state Committee on Open Government, the only court decision dealing with how school boards may select new members found that such decisions should be made in open, not closed, session.” Perry’s seat will be decided by voters again in May 2011.
Ravitch has low opinion of Capitol press coverage
Casey Seiler in Capitol Confidential reports on the interview between host Susan Arbetter of the “The Capitol Pressroom” (which will air live Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. on WGXC) and Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch. The outgoing Lt. Gov. told Arbetter that too much coverage of state government was devoted to scandals and “gotcha” journalism, at the cost of a more complete look at pressing problems such as infrastructure decay and the fiscal troubles affecting the state and nation. Ravitch, for instance, said more ink/bytes had been devoted to former Sen. Hiram Monserrate’s antics than to the actual state budget. “What the media does by putting so much emphasis on the misdeeds of very few is to create a culture in which going into politics isn’t attractive,” he said.
Central Hudson cleanup video
Albany-based television station YNN is hosting a video from Central Hudson showing their experiments in cleaning the Hudson River. From YNN, but sounding like it came straight from a press release: “Crews were hard a work using a crane to pull the two ton mats off the river floor. Central Hudson says the mats have been in the river for more than a year and says they are testing them to see how well the mats trap contaminants that have made it into the river from the company’s old Manufactured Gas Plant site. The plant closed in 1972 and the site is on the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The company says they expect the project to last until the end of the month.”
Skiing this weekend?
WGXC reported Friday that Windham Mountain began making snow last weekend, and both Hunter Mountain and Catamount Ski in Hillsdale in Columbia County report they will begin snowmaking after this week’s rain passes. Hunter and Windham hope to be open this weekend.
Birthdays
Nov. 30 birthdays include Mark Twain, G. Gordon Liddy, and Abbie Hoffman.
Tags: Catamount Ski, Central Hudson, Christine Perry, environment, Hudson River, Hunter Mountain, local video, schools, skiing, snow, Taconic Hills School Board, Windham Mountain
Former President Bill Clinton came to Saratoga this morning to support the re-election campaign of Rep. Scott Murphy, who polls have losing tomorrow to Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson. Capitol Confidential, via Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS, provides this video of Bill Clinton from this morning’s rally.
this video of Clinton’s appearance for Murphy.
Tags: Chris Gibson, elections, local video, Scott Murphy
Taghkanic Neighbors posted this video of the last ten minutes of the October 6, 2010 meeting of the Taghkanic Town Council. Supervisor Betty Young had intended this to be an “executive session” because of a “personnel” issue, as she says as the video begins. Watch video to see what the town board thought they needed to keep out of public view about issues about the town’s highway department. Taghkanic Neighbors, a community group in the town, also released a PDF of their Fall newsletter here.
Tags: Betty Young, local video, town meetings
Hudson-based band Bunny Brains performed at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn Aug. 29, 2010 with film projections by noted film artist Martha Colburn (who also recorded and uploaded this video). There is a longer video here.
Tags: Bunny Brains, local video, music
A music video made from the WGXC/Prometheus Radio Project Station Barnraising in Hudson, NY, Sept. 25, 2010. Screen shot above includes Sakura Saunders of Prometheus Radio Project working in the new WGXC Hudson studio.
Tags: local video, radio, WGXC
On The Air
WGXC is on 90.7-FM now, at full-power, 3300 watts. We cover all parts of Greene County except parts of the mountaintop, and all of Columbia County except for a bit of Western Columbia County south of Germantown. WGXC also covers a large part of southern Albany County. We have heard reports that the signal is getting from Delaware County to Great Barrington, from Selkirk to Saugerties, from Pine Plains to the I-90 extension.
Local weather/webcams
National Weather Service, Albany
Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page
When the computer is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information in Harlemville. Check dates and times to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was turned off.
Greene County webcams:
Catskill webcam: Thomas Cole House Claude Mirror
Nearby webcams:
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