Ryan Holdridge with his English teachers, Mrs. Erin Murphy, left, and Mrs. Donna Howell.
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Tags: Cairo-Durham School District, education, Ryan Holdridge, schools
John Mason writes in the Register Star about about the Regents Reform Agenda, a plan financed through a federal grant awarded from the Race to the Top initiative. New York is one of 47 or 48 states that are moving to adopt national standards, including higher benchmarks in math and English Language Arts. Questar III administrators visited the Taconic Hills School Board last week to discuss the reform plan. Questar Superintendent James Baldwin described a four-part plan to improve the schools. The program calls for the adoption of the higher standards which it calls Common Core Standards. The second element is the incorporation of improved data systems, which will track students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The third focuses on teacher certification, making sure teachers are qualified to teach their subject area. The fourth element is a push to improve low achieving schools and hold them accountable if they fail. The state has had an accountability system in place for over a decade, but Baldwin said a lack of enforcement allowed low-performing schools to fall through the cracks. “Schools have been failing to meet the targets established for them,” Baldwin said, “the state has not responded by closing them or forcing them to reconfigure. There will be much greater scrutiny.” Questar III is the local Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, and oversees the 23 school districts in Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer counties for the state Education Department. Read about the BOCES school reform initiative in the Register Star.
Tags: BOCES, schools, Taconic Hills School Board
A staff report in The Daily Mail says a third bullet was found at a local school in recent weeks on Thursday, this one at the Cairo-Durham Middle and High School. Superintendent Sally Sharkey told the newspaper there is information leading officials to believe it is a copycat of the incidents at both Catskill and Coxsackie-Athens Central School. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Tags: Cairo-Durham High School, Catskill High School, Coxsackie-Athens High School, schools
Governor Andrew Cuomo used his budget address on Tue., Jan. 17, to unveil a series of non-budget related proposals, including a five-year plan to take over increases in Medicaid from counties, a new pension tier including a 401(k)-style option and making additional school funding contingent on adopting a teacher evaluation system — threatening that a failure to do so would jeopardize federal funding. “The equation is simple at the end of the day. No evaluation, no money, period,” Cuomo said. Carl Korn, of the New York State teachers’ union NYSUT, spoke to WGXC’s on Monday about the teacher evaluation dispute. Korn said politicians are blaming the unions for holding up the process, even though the state is appealing a court decision that went the unions’ way. Click here to listen to an interview WGXC’s Noah Reibel conducted with Korn. PLAY CLIP 8:13
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Carl Korn, education, NYSUT, schools, teachers
Andrea Macko in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) reports that three students in Greenville High School’s paid internship program with Ulster County’s C2 Biotechnologies discovered a polymer, “with the potential to produce biodegradable plastic.” Local officials, such as State Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R/C/I-Schoharie), and Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook), were at the high school Wed., Jan. 11 to tout the program. “We went through real-world biotechnical experiments,” says Travis Chicocki, one of the three students. “Activities were actually relevant to the real world.” Read the full story in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer.
Tags: C2 Biotechnologies, Chris Gibson, education, internships, schools
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that New York schools are in for significant changes to the annual state assessment tests. There will more questions on both the English Language Arts (ELA) and the math tests and more time will be set aside for them. The tests will now be administered over a three-day period and the districts are now mandated to set aside nintey minutes for each session. The new tests also feature “field test” questions that don’t count, and are only there to help the state get a better feel for designing future tests. The ELA tests will also be scored differently. Writing mechanics such as spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and usage, will now count, though specific details of how much they will factor in to scores will be in a forthcoming document from the State’s Education Dept. Read about new school assessment tests in The Daily Mail. The ELA tests will be given from April 17-19, and the math ones from April 25-27. The changes are bound to play into an ongoing debate about how much time students and schools devote to standardized assessment tests. Read the Gotham Schools blog on testing for more information on the issue.
Tags: assessment tests, education, New York State Education Department, schools, testing
Fernanda Santos in The New York Times reports that New York is one of three states the federal government has added to a watch list because it has not complied with goals it set when applying for financial assistance through the federal “Race to the Top” funding program. U.S. Education secretary Arne Duncan said that despite “significant progress,” New York had “hit a roadblock” in recent months, failing to track student records across school districts and failing to adopt a new system to evaluate the work of teachers and principals. “In the short term, I call on the State Department of Education, local school districts and the union leadership to expedite their negotiations on a teacher evaluation system to prevent the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press release. “Over the long term, we need to overhaul the system and change the law on the books. The Assembly-led legislation in 2010 protected the teachers union at the expense of the students and instituted a system that was destined to fail.” Read the full story in The New York Times.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, education, Race to the Top, school funding, schools
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports that the Ichabod Crane School Board holds a series of public forums in the coming months:
• Jan. 10: Budget projections will be presented for one-bell and two-bell busing systems. The proposals for these systems would reduce the number of bus runs each day.
• Jan. 24: Discussion about high school electives and full-day or half-day kindergarten with the public, and what to do with the elementary schools in Valatie and Kinderhook the board shuttered last year.
• A February forum about sports and special education.
The story says the board is in negotiation with the Village of Valatie and the Town of Kinderhook to lease the Martin H. Glynn School in Valatie for offices. There may be a referendum on the May ballot with the annual school district budget vote about the leasing or sale of the building. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
John Mason of The Register-Star reports on ongoing contract negotiations in the Taconic Hills School District. Taconic Hills teachers have been working under an expired contract for three-and-a-half years, since June 2008. Taconic Hills outgoing Superintendent Mark Sposato told the paper the teachers were asking for too much. “They want more money every year,” he said. “… Even though we’re going broke, they want a $35,000 retirement incentive.” According to Sposato’s email, the teachers were seeking raises of five percent per year for the next seven years. Mason also reports that Taconic Hills is dropping some popular “manual arts” or “shop” electives, following the retirement of two veteran teachers. Shop class at Taconic Hills Central School featured a section on house construction where students learned how to build a model frame strong enough to hold their weight without collapsing. Sandra Gardner, the school’s Director of Instruction and Staff Development, told the paper the district is trying to be reflective of the changing realities of the job market. “We’re going to more of a pre-engineering curriculum,” Gardner said, citing a new computer lab. Gardner said high school students wishing to take shop classes can go to Questar III. Read that story in the Register-Star.
Tags: education, schools, Taconic Hills School Board, Taconic Hills School District, unions
The Register-Star reports that Taconic Hills Superintendent Mark Sposato announced his retirement at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting. The Star’s John Mason says the announcement came as a surprise since Sposato is only three years into a five-year contract. He told the board his wife has taken a job Florida and so his family is moving. His contract requires he give two-months notice. Sposato says he will finish out the school year and his retirement will be effective September 8, 2012. Read the article in The Register-Star.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded the Hudson City School District a $400,000 “Promise Neighborhoods” grant recentkly. The program aims to improve educational outcomes for students in distressed urban and rural neighborhoods. The Federal program was based on The Harlem Children’s Zone, a national model that ties social service programs and educational institutions into a supportive web designed to carry children in poverty from “cradle to college.” Non-profit Organizations, including faith based organizations, are eligible for the grants. Scott Waldman in the Times-Union reports that the Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany will head a group of community organizations working with the Hudson city school district to determine where services overlap. More than 230 groups across the country competed for the grants. Only 20 of them were awarded funds on Monday. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Tags: Dept. of Education, education, grants, Hudson schools, schools
From WelcometoCatskill.com
Tags: Catskill Elementary, elections, schools
Lynn Sloneker at Unmuffled reports how the Audra Jornov-penned story in the Register-Star posted Monday evening falsely reports that a Hudson principal’s racial discrimination complaint against the Hudson City School District and its Board of Education was “unfounded” according to the New York State Division of Human Rights. “In fact, the Division of Human Rights rendered no such opinion, and the process of adjudicating the complaint has barely begun — the district has yet to file a formal answer to Spicer’s allegations, according to statements made by HCSD Superintendent John F. Howe, Monday,” Sloneker reports. The report that Jurnov says comes from the Division of Human Rights is actually from Delmar attorney Ira Lobel. “Lobel was contracted November 14, upon the recommendation of the district’s labor attorney, Stuart S. Waxman, of Donoghue, Thomas, Auslander & Drohan of Hopewell Junction,” Sloneker writes. “He was brought in to sort through the ongoing dispute between district administrators that led to allegations of racial discrimination, and the filing of a formal complaint with the Division of Human Rights…. At the [school] board meeting Monday [Dec. 12], Howe acknowledged the report was completed. He said Lobel’s findings would be ‘incorporated into the board’s formal response [to Spicer's complaint]….’ and subsequently filed with the Division. The district has until Friday to file that response, Howe said,” Sloneker writes. So, the district is clearly still preparing a response to the lawsuit. In the Register-Star, Spicer is quoted saying: “With the exception of the pay issue and the district’s response to my receiving offensive e-mails, the report did not deny that any of the acts of discrimination happened. Mr. Lobel, the writer of the report just found the acts more of a result of ‘sloppy administration,’ than racially motivated discrimination,” Spicer wrote in an e-mail with Jornov, reported in the original story, which WGXC reported first without Sloneker’s corrections. Read the the Register-Star story here and Unmuffled’s correction here.
UPDATE: At 11:42 a.m. Tuesday the Register-Star retracted the story:
“EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of this story stated that New York State Division of Human Rights declared Steven Spicer’s complaint of racial discrimination unfounded. This is incorrect. It was the Hudson City School District’s internal investigation that was completed. The results of that investigation were that Spicer’s complaints were unfounded. The state’s investigation is still ongoing. We apologize for the error.”
The newspaper has kept the original, incorrect story online for Google searches to find.
Tags: education, Hudson schools, Jack Howe, Peter Merante, schools, Steven Spicer
John Mason of the Register-Star reports on the Germantown School District’s “dire” financial picture. School Superintendent Patrick Gabriel said the new state-mandated two-percent limit on tax levy increases has the business office projecting a $2 million deficit in 2013-2014, and a $4.6 million deficit in 2014-2015. Gabriel said he may recommend to the board a five percent tax levy hike. That would require a supermajority — 60 percent of voters at the polls in May under state law. Read Mason’s article about Germantown school district’s budget gap.
Tags: Germantown School District, school budgets, schools, two-percent tax cap
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force announced Monday in Windham that they are indeed giving the Town of Windham a five-year, no-interest loan of $882,000. Last week voters in Windham approved the town taking out a million dollar loan to fix the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school damaged by the flooding associated with Hurricane Irene. At the meeting, Governor Cuomo also announced that he has asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for FEMA to cover 90 percent of the recovery costs instead of the normal 75 percent. Many local towns including Windham and Prattsville are facing enormous clean-up bills if FEMA only covers 75 percent of the costs, and are wondering how they will ever raise enough to clean up all the damage. Cuomo also announced $1.5 million in grants to help small businesses in nine municipalities in three counties in the first round of awards from the $3 million Main Street Fund to help local businesses recover. Other items from the Upstate Storm and Recovery Task Force meeting in Windham:
• Main Street Fund
Greene, Schoharie, and Delaware counties are each receiving $500,000 through the New York State Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund to provide money to Main Street businesses money to rehabilitate buildings for commercial and main street residential use, repair and replace permanent fixtures and equipment, as well as for inventory and working capital. In Greene County: Prattsville, Hunter, Windham, and Catskill will get funds; in Schoharie County: Middleburgh and Schoharie; in Delaware County: Margaretville, Fleischmanns and Sidney.
• Highway Repairs
More than 400 road segments and bridges were closed on the state highway system after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit the area last summer. As of November 28, three highways and three bridges remain closed.
• Assistance for New York Farms
The State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued contracts to 25 Conservation Districts for over 353 awarded farms ($4,519,817) using the $15 million Agricultural Community Recovery Fund. Construction and farmland restoration is underway on many if not all of the most devastated farms. The program also has a farm operations component to aid farmers who lost feed in the flood and farmers who have continued operation of their farm stands, farmers’ markets efforts and CSAs. For this program, 196 applications have been submitted, and grants will be distributed in the near future. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Hurricane Irene, schools, Tropical Storm Lee, Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District
Michael Ryan in The Daily Mail reports voters in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett school district approved a measure 213-50 Tue. Nov. 22 to get $4 million in loans to pay for repairs after Hurricane Irene-associated flooding this past August. FEMA and New York State should pay back 87.5 percent of those costs, which, hopefully, will turn out to be less then $4 million. “The school library has not yet reopened and floors in the cafetorium and gymnasium need restoration. Rehabilitation of the athletic fields, which were buried under tons of stream silt and rock, will be completed gradually while stormwater drainage and flood mitigation efforts simultaneously unfold,” Ryan writes. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Tags: elections, Hurricane Irene, schools, Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School district holds a referendum on Tue., Nov. 22 that would authorize or not the district to borrow up to $4 million to pay for storm damage clean-up and repairs from Hurricane Irene-related flooding while waiting for money from FEMA and other sources to be disbursed. Voting will take place in the school cafetorium from 1-9 p.m. Below, WTEN television had a recent report about the election.
Tags: elections, Hurricane Irene, schools
WGXC Town Recorder Anne Horst attended the Cairo-Durham School Board meeting Thu., Nov. 17 at Cairo Elementary School. The discussions of turning Durham Elementary into a charter school continued, and many budget items were discussed. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of the meeting that begins with public discussion. PLAY CLIP 1 hour, 13 min.
Tags: Cairo Elementary, Cairo-Durham schools, charter schools, Durham Elementary, education, schools
Lynn Sloneker reports in her Unmuffled blog that Carrie Sigler Otty was appointed to the Hudson City Board of Education, Monday, Nov. 14. “Otty was appointed to fill a vacancy created following the death of her husband, Jeffrey. He succumbed to illness in Sept., three months after he was elected BoE president,” Sloneker wrote. Four other candidates came forward, three in person Monday, for the temporary appointment that comes up for election in May. Michael C. Clark, Craig Jaufmann, Martin Nayowith, and Carrie Haddad are profiled in depth in Sloneker’s post. Read the full story at Unmuffled.
Tags: Carrie Otty, Hudson schools, Jeff Otty, schools
New York state education officials just released the list of schools added this year to the “needs improvement” list in the “No Child Left Behind” program.
In Greene County:
• Cairo-Durham Middle School
• Catskill Middle School
• Greenville Middle School
• Greenville Scott M. Ellis Elementary School
(Catskill Elementary and Coxsackie-Athens Middle School remain on the “improvement” list.)
In Columbia County:
• Chatham Middle School
• Germantown Central School
• Kinderhook Ichabod Crane Middle School
• Taconic Hills Middle School
(Hudson’s Jr./Sr. High School and Montgomery C. Smith School remain on the “improvement” list.)
Tags: education, needs improvement, No Child Left Behind, schools
Lynn Sloneker in her Unmuffled blog reports that John L. Edwards Primary School principal Steven Spicer alleges “unlawful discriminatory actions” against the Hudson City School District and its Board of Education. “In a complaint filed with the New York State Division of Human Rights, dated Oct. 28, Spicer alleged he is ‘being subjected to disparate treatment for unlawful discriminatory reasons relating to’ his race. Spicer is the only African-American administrator employed by the school district.” Board president Peter Merante would not comment to Sloneker on Wednesday. “I haven’t had the chance to read it [the complaint] yet,” Merante told the reporter. “I don’t want to say anything until I’ve had a chance to look at it.” Spicer alleges:
• He was subjected to harassing, “disparaging” emails from Hudson High School principal Thomas Gavin where Gavin accused Spicer of professional misconduct. Specifically, “…corrupting state Regents exams and knowingly assisting teachers and students in cheating on the state assessments.” Spicer complains that Superintendent John F. Howe failed stop the harassment.
• Howe reprimanded Spicer via email several times, copying those emails to other staff members.
• Spicer did not receive an annual performance review in 2010-11. “The meeting occurred for all the other building principals, except me. No appointment was made and no reason was given,” according to the complaint. Spicer also says he was not given a raise per his contract.
• Spicer claims he was denied a key to the administrative offices that every other administrator has.
“The complaint was filed against the HCSD and its board, but Spicer specified Howe as the individual responsible for the discrimination. He said the most recent act occurred Oct. 14,” Sloneker reports. Read the full story in Unmuffled.
Tags: education, Hudson schools, John L. Edwards Primary School, schools, Steven Spicer
Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Ichabod Crane and Schodack School Boards met Tuesday, October 11, and will meet again at 6 p.m. October 24 at the Maple Hill School Library in Schodack to consider merging school districts to save money. The districts are conducting a “Functional Consolidation Study” and began outlining the possible timeline:
“To merge the two districts, both boards would have to agree, make formal motions and hold public hearings. They would hold a non-binding “straw vote” in their communities as well. If the straw vote is in favor of merger in both communities there would have to be a binding vote. In the time line presented to the board this week, a binding vote could be held as early as the fall of 2012. If voters approve a merger, consolidation could take place as soon as July 2013,” Teasdale wrote.
Tags: budget cuts, education, schools
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett school district has posted this public notice, announcing a Nov. 22 special election:
The Windham-Ashland-Jewett School building, maintenance buildings, athletic fields and site sustained substantial damage as a result of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (the “District”) that a special meeting of the qualified voters of the District be and the same is hereby called to be held in the Cafetorium of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett School, Main Street, Windham, New York on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. prevailing time for the purpose of voting on the following proposition:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education is hereby authorized to (1) reconstruct various District buildings, perform site work thereat (including reconstruction of athletic fields) and acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such reconstructed buildings and athletic fields are to be used (the “Project”), at a maximum cost of $4,000,000, (2) expend such sum for such purpose, (3) transfer $120,000 from the Bus Purchase Capital Reserve Fund to the 2004 Capital Reserve Fund, (4) expend $129,133 from the Capital Reserve Fund for the classroom reconstruction portion of the Project, (5) levy the necessary tax therefor taking into account state and federal aid and insurance proceeds received and the amount expended from the 2004 Capital Reserve Fund, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, and (6) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $3,870,867, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due.
The vote upon such proposition shall be by machine or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 9:00 p.m. to cast their ballots.
Personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall vote whose name does not appear on the register of the District. Any person registered to vote under the provisions of Article 5 of the Election Law is entitled to vote and their names shall be placed upon the register of the District. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this meeting. All other persons who wish to vote must register.
The Board of Registration shall meet in The District Office on November 15, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m . to prepare the register of voters of the District. Any person shall be entitled to have his or her name placed on the register provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting for which such register is prepared.
The register prepared by the Board of Registration shall be filed in the office of the District Clerk and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. prevailing time on each of the five days prior to the vote, except Sunday, November 20, 2011.
Absentee ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. Applications for absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or on or prior to November 21, 2011, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on November 22, 2011. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk during regular office hours until the day of the vote. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for the challenge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the District Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish a notice of such meeting in two newspapers of general circulation within the District, four (4) times within the seven (7) weeks next preceding such School District meeting, the first publication to be at least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the meeting.
Tags: education, elections, schools, Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District
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
Durham Elementary location of possible charter school
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) reports that this Tuesday, October 4, the Cairo-Durham Central School District is holding a first meeting to consider turning Durham Elementary into a charter school. Three administrators, four teachers, and six parents have formed a “Parents Choice Charter School” committee to consider the idea. The meeting is at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Cairo-Durham High School, 1301 Route 145, in Durham. The next Cairo-Durham Board of Education meeting is Thu. Oct. 13.
West Nile Virus confirmed in Albany County
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer reports that the Albany County Department of Health says an adult over the age of 60 contracted West Nile Virus in Albany County, the first ever in that county. Mosquitoes deliver the disease to humans, and there are more mosquitoes in our area than usual, as we have excessive rain since before Hurricane Irene blew through.
Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration & Sailing Society becomes non-profit
Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration & Sailing Society Inc., a local group led by Louise E. Bliss that’s attempting to restore the Sloop Eleanor, has been granted official non-profit status, and has a website. Sloop Eleanor is currently protected from the weather at 191 23 B, Hudson. The group will have an information tent set up this Saturday, Oct. 8, at Hudson’s Henry Hudson Waterfront Park, to answer questions about the project.
One month left to register for FEMA aid
The Daily Mail reports that New Yorkers affected by Hurricane Irene have four weeks to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance. Oct. 31, 2011 is the deadline. “Registration keeps open the possibility of a wide range of assistance,” said Philip E. Parr, FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer. “If your insurance coverage comes up short, or other damage appears later, you need to be registered for us to help.” To register, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
New York sports
In baseball, the New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers Sunday, bringing their best-of-five playoff series to a one-to-one tie. Game three is tonight in Detroit. In football, the New York Jets were embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens Sunday 34-17. The New York Giants beat the Arizona Cardinals 31-27, and the New England Patriots beat the Oakland Raiders 31-19.
Tags: charter schools, education, FEMA, Hudson River, Hurricane Irene, mosquitoes, schools, Sloop Eleanor, West Nile Virus
Greene County schools open
After being delayed almost a week because of recent severe weather, Greene County schools open today, Tuesday, Sept. 13. Windham-Ashland-Jewett schools, however, remain closed through Mon. Sept. 19. From their website:
“Professional restoration teams are working on a 3-shift basis to remove the mud debris and moisture from the first floor of our main building and basement. The basement has been pumped and rinsed by environmental cleanup experts. They are currently working on all first floor classrooms and office spaces. It is very probable that first floor carpets, wood flooring, and some tile will need to be removed and replaced. Many cabinets, sheet-rock walls, paper supplies, and materials have been removed and will be replaced at a later date. The time requirements for ordering and manufacturing some of these products means that a few of the most significantly impacted rooms may not have all the final finishes when school reopens later this month. Regardless of the amount of water and mud cleaned from each room, which varied from a few centimeters to several inches, all rooms will be treated with environmentally-safe products that will prevent and or destroy any possible contaminates.”
ELECTION DAY
Greene County
From The Daily Freeman and The Daily Mail (the Greene County Board of Elections has no information about primaries on its website), here are a list of the contested elections in Greene County Tue., Sept. 13.
• ATHENS Five people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 2. On the ballot are Marilyn Farrell, John P. Farrell Jr., Herbert M. Blasewitz, Fred W. Dedrick II and Anthony T. Paluch.
• CAIRO Six people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 5. On the ballot are Carrie E. Anderson, Tara A. Rumph, David Clark, Barbara L. Koerner Fox, Anthony P. Puorro Jr. and Margaret M. Lawrence. Also, Lewis M. O’Connor and Robert F. Hempstead are seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town highway superintendent; and Monika C. Fabiano is seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town clerk. Voting at the Resurrection Lutheran Church between noon and 9 p.m.
• NEW BALTIMORE
Election District 1, Six candidates vying for four seats: Eleanore Alfeld; Jeffrey Schoenig; Kathleen Rundberg; Michael Meredith; Jeffrey Ruso; and Patrick Linger. Voting at the New Baltimore firehouse on Gill Road from noon to 9 p.m.
Election District 2, Five candidates vying for four seats: Barbara Finke; Eric Hoglund; Alma Flegel; Lauren Hallock; and Alan VanWormer. Voting at the New Baltimore Town Hall on County Route 51 from noon to 9 p.m.
Election District 3, Five candidates vying for four seats: Edward Barber; Jean Horn; Robert Krasney; Richard Marino; and Lisa Benway. Voting at the Medway-Grapeville Firehouse on County Route 51 between noon and 9 p.m.
Election District 4, Seven candidates vying for four seats: Bernard Jones; Christopher Norris; Arthur Byas; John Weidel; Donald Ogden; Denis Jordan; and Diane Jordan. Voting at the town hall from noon until 9 p.m.
• 108TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Five people are vying for four positions as delegates to the 3rd Judicial District Convention on the Independence line. On the ballot are Sean W. Egan, Anthony F. Cornell, David O. Kelly, Sharon Kelly and Walter Simonsmeier. On the ballot to be among four alternates to the convention are Eileen M. Clyne, Julia L. Crawley, Phillip Lajeunesse Noreen Lajeunesse and Deborah Simonsmeier. Voting at the commissoner’s building on Schoharie Turnpike between noon and 9 p.m.
Columbia County
• CHATHAM Town-wide redistricting reduced the number of election districts from four to three. Most residents in the Village of Chatham and those on White Mills Road and Merwin Road now vote at the Chatham Elementary School gymnasium, 50 Woodbridge Ave. Most residents that used to vote at the community center in Malden Bridge now vote at the new Tri-Village Fire House in Old Chatham at 111 County Route 13. Others will vote at Town Hall at 488 State Route 295, including residents living on Route 66 and on Rock City and Highland roads.
• CLAVERACK Residents that used to vote at the Grange Hall in Mellenville now vote at the Claverack Town Hall, 836 State Route 217.
• COPAKE A second poll site, so not all voting will be done at Town Hall. Voters who live on the south side of Pumpkin Hollow Road North, Sky Farm Road, Twin Bridges Road, and Route 344 now vote at the Copake Recreation Center at 301 Mountain View Road.
• GHENT Election districts numbers one and two were combined to form one district. This includes all residents in Chatham Village and those who live north of the area defined by the intersection of Kline Kill Creek and County Route 9. Voters in this district will now vote at the Chatham Elementary School gymnasium, 50 Woodbridge Ave.
• GREENPORT All residents except those in the southern portion of the town that vote at Becraft Fire Department now vote at the Questar III Educational Facility located at 131 Union Turnpike (State Route 66).
• HUDSON Residents that used to vote at the American Legion Hall will now vote at the Hudson Central Fire Station, 77 North 7th Street. The other sites are the same: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ward Residents vote at St. Mary’s Academy on Allen Street. 4th Ward Residents vote at the County Building at 401 State Street. 5th Ward Residents vote at the Central Fire Station at 77 North 7th St.
• KINDERHOOK All residents that used to vote at the Kinderhook Town Hall now vote at the Ichabod Crane High School gymnasium at 2910 Route 9.
• LIVINGSTON The number of poll sites was reduced from three to two. Residents who live on the north side of Hermitage Road, Walkers Mill Road and County Route 10 and those on the east side of County Route 19 to the north side of Scuderhook Road now vote at the Livingston Town Hall, 119 County Route 19. All other voters will vote at the Elizaville Fire House, 1575 County Route 19.
• STOCKPORT All voters now vote at the St. John the Evangelist Church at 107 County Route 25 in Stockport.
• STUYVESANT All voters now vote at the Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive.
The Board of Elections urges anyone who may live on or near a road which is mentioned as a boundary line in the above listings to call the Board ahead of time to confirm their polling location. Voters should also have received two postcards from the Board which indicates their polling location. The Board of Elections phone number is 828-3115. Updated election-district maps will be posted on the Board’s website at columbiacountyny.com/depts/elections/districts.html.
Windham Command Center closes
The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Facebook page reports that the Windham Command Center — the organizing office for storm recovery in the Greene County town — is closing. They report that the number there (734-4938) is not any good anymore. Calls should now be made to the Windham Town Hall at 518-734-4170. The Windham Command Center on South Street will only be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. effective Sunday, September 11. Displaced residents in need of housing should call (510) 316-7636. Volunteers to help clean up should call Alyssa at (518) 947-0358.
Farms assess storm’s punch
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that about 150 farms in Columbia County sustained some damage from the winds and rains of Hurricane Irene August 28, but only about 15 were damaged extensively. “Sandra Ferry, executive director of the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Columbia and Greene counties, told The Columbia Paper this week that a monetary estimate of farm damage in the county is still being assessed, but primarily losses were to crops of all varieties and crop land. Little harm came to farm structures and no livestock casualties have been reported, Ms. Ferry said,” Valden writes. Bob Fix at the Fix Brothers Farm in Livingston told Valden they had up to 1,000 apple trees toppled or leaning. “Cherry trees fared well through the storm because the fruit had already been picked, but the apple trees were still heavy-laden. That weight combined with the saturated ground and the wind weakened already shaky root systems particularly on new orchard dwarf trees that require a support network of poles and wires to keep them upright, Valden writes. Andy Szymanowicz of Sol Flower Farm on Wiltsie Bridge Road in Ancramdale estimates they lost 15 percent of their crops. The Kinderhook Creek rose to three feet high in the corn fields on the dairy farm of State Farm Bureau Vice President Eric Ooms. “But my heart breaks for the people in Middleburgh,” said Mr. Ooms in Valden’s story. “They had 20 feet of water in their barns in a matter of minutes, they are burying cows and their house is gone. To get some perspective, we got five-inches of rain, the hill towns got 15. We should feel blessed or lucky or whatever you want to call it.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
More storm recovery updates are below.
Elections on Tuesday
From The Daily Freeman (the Greene County Board of Elections has no information about primaries on its website), here are a list of the contested elections in Greene County Tue., Sept. 13.
• ATHENS: Five people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 2. On the ballot are Marilyn Farrell, John P. Farrell Jr., Herbert M. Blasewitz, Fred W. Dedrick II and Anthony T. Paluch.
• CAIRO: Six people are vying for four Republican Committee seats in District 5. On the ballot are Carrie E. Anderson, Tara A. Rumph, David Clark, Barbara L. Koerner Fox, Anthony P. Puorro Jr. and Margaret M. Lawrence. Also, Lewis M. O’Connor and Robert F. Hempstead are seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town highway superintendent; and Monika C. Fabiano is seeking the Independence Party line in the race for town clerk.
• 108TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT: Five people are vying for four positions as delegates to the 3rd Judicial District Convention on the Independence line. On the ballot are Sean W. Egan, Anthony F. Cornell, David O. Kelly, Sharon Kelly and Walter Simonsmeier. On the ballot to be among four alternates to the convention are Eileen M. Clyne, Julia L. Crawley, Phillip Lajeunesse Noreen Lajeunesse and Deborah Simonsmeier.
Gibson supportive of Obama’s economic rebuilding plans
Marc Heller of the Register-Star’s Johnson News Service attempts to analzye Rep. Chris Gibson’s body language during President Obama’s jobs speech last Thursday evening which was broadcast live on WGXC. “He even rose and clapped when Obama called on Congress to end Washington’s “political circus,” a line that drew blank stares from most of his GOP colleagues,” Heller wrote. Then he cites an interview with Gibson, though he does not say who conducted the interview or where. “I think there’s common ground,” he quotes the Republican Representative from Kinderhook. “I think the president is addressing impediments to growth.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.
The Power of the Press (or whatever Gossips is)
Carole Osterink’s The Gossips of Rivertown was the first source to report that parking tickets were being issued on Labor Day in Hudson, after city officials previously announced it was one of the holidays on which alternate side of the street parking was suspended. First Ward Alderman Sarah Sterling read the post, and then checked in to why folks were getting parking tickets, and now, sends her this report:
In large measure due to your alert about the parking tickets issued on Labor Day for alternate side of the street violations, and with the assistance of Alderman Sarah Sterling, the matter has been resolved. Hudson Police Department Commissioner Ronald Grant Friday evening informed me that the tickets issued for that infraction were in error and all will be voided. If a ticket has been paid, a refund will be issued. I have expressed my appreciation to the Commissioner and to HPD Chief Richardson for handling the matter professionally and quickly. Last year an agreement was reached with the Common Council to suspend alternate side of the street parking regulations on five holidays. The HPD officers on duty Labor Day were not informed of the suspension of alternate side regulations, the sort of lapse to which we are all subject. The Commissioner has offered his apologies, expressed his appreciation for having the matter called to his attention, and remedied it. For the record, the holidays as conveyed to me by the Commissioner when alternate side parking [regulations] are suspended include: New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve.
Read the entire story at The Gossips of Rivertown.
STORM RECOVERY UPDATES
School closings
• All Greene County schools are closed Mon. Sept. 12. An announcement about when they will open for the year will be made Monday, according to Greene County Emergency Services.
• Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD is tentatively scheduled to open Monday, Sept. 19, according to its website.
• Hunter-Tannersville CSD has not announced any changes from Greene County’s opening schedule on its website.
• Middleburgh Central School opens Monday, Sept. 19, according to its website. They will hold a special Board of Education meeting, at 7 p.m. Mon. Sept. 12, in the elementary school cafeteria.
• Schoharie CSD opens Monday, Sept. 12, according to its website.
• Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk CSD has no transportation to or from Greene County, due to Greene County’s emergency order. Parent transport only, according to its website.
Tetanus clinics
The Greene County Department of Health is sponsoring free tetanus immunization clinics for adults 18 and over at the following locations:
• Monday, September 12 at the FEMA tent in Prattsville from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and also at the Lanesville Firehouse from 3-5 p.m.
• Tuesday, September 13 at the Lexington Municipal Hall in Lexington from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Mental Health personnel will be available to speak with individuals at the same time that immunizations are being offered. You can also contact the Greene County Mental Health’s main line at (518) 622-9163.
New York State Insurance Department Mobile Command Center comes to region
State Senator James L. Seward reports the New York State Insurance Department Mobile Command Center (MCC) will be in Greene County and Schoharie County this week to assist residents and business owners with questions they may have following recent storms and flooding. The mobile command center is a 50-foot long van equipped with high-speed internet access and telephone equipment that is being used to help property owners file claims and contact their insurance companies. Insurance Department personnel will also be available to answer consumers’ questions. Find it:
• Monday, September 12 at 491 County Route 12, in Windham. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (staff will leave at 7 p.m. if no activity).
• Tuesday, September 13 at Main Street, Middleburgh. MCC will park to the left of the NBT Bank and chiropractor’s office and across the street from the post office. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In addition to the MCC, New Yorkers with questions about insurance are urged to call the New York State Insurance Department’s disaster hotline, 1-800-339-1759, Monday though Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Insurance-related information can also be found on the department’s website, www.ins.state.ny.us.
Emergency agriculture meeting
Cornell Cooperative Extension holds an “emergency” meeting for local farmers at 1 p.m. this Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Agroforestry Resource Center, 6055 NYS Route 23, in Acra. “This meeting is designed to offer farmers the opportunity to access all of the different disaster relief efforts being carried on right now by the different organizations and agencies, and all in one place,” according to their press release. “Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) the Farm Services Agency, (FSA) Farm Bureau, (FB) NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS) Soil and Water Conservation Districts, (SWCD) Farm Net, the Department of Labor, (DOL) the Department of Social Services, (DSS) Crop Insurers, the Watershed Agricultural Council, (WAC) Farm Credit East, and Cornell Cooperative Extension will be on hand to help answer your questions, and help direct you to programs within the disaster relief efforts that can best fit your needs.” WGXC will also be on hand air the meeting live on WGXC 90.7-FM and wgxc.org. For more information, please call the Cornell Cooperative Extension at (518) 622-9820. If you have special needs related to program participation, please contact the Agroforestry Center in advance.
Road open
The New York Department of Transportation reports that Route 145 in the town of Cairo to the Albany County line, is now open to traffic in both directions.
Monday morning sports scores
Football
New York Giants 14
Washington Redskins 28
Dallas Cowboys 24
New York Jets 27
Tonight
New England Patriots at
Miami Dolphins 7 p.m.
Baseball
New York Yankees 6
Los Angeles Angels 5
(The Yankees now lead the Red Sox by 3.5 games for the AL East lead.)
Boston Red Sox 1
Tampa Bay Rays 9
(The Red Sox now lead the Rays by 3.5 games for the AL Wild Card.)
Chicago Cubs 10
New York Mets 6 11 innings
Tags: Andy Szymanowicz, Barack Obama, Chris Gibson, elections, Eric Ooms, Fix Brothers Farm, insurance, roads, Sandra Ferry, schools, Sol Flower Farm, tetanus
From Greene County Emergency Services:
“By order of the County of Greene, all Greene County school districts are hereby directed to remain closed through Monday, September 12, 2011 and possibly through Tuesday, September 13, 2011. The possibility for re-opening on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 will be based upon district specific road and bridge conditions. Final decision regarding re-opening will be announced Monday afternoon, September 12, 2011, thereby allowing district discretion to re-open either Tuesday or Wednesday. The state of emergency in Greene County is still in effect and travel is limited, particularly in the townships of Ashland, Lexington, Windham, and Prattsville. This decision to extend school closure remains relative to Article IIB of NYS Executive Law.”
Tags: education, Hurricane Irene, schools
Latest Greene County storm recovery update
The Greene County Emergency Services office released this statement Tue., Sept. 6:
“By order of the County of Greene, all Greene County school districts are hereby directed to cancel classes for the week of September 6, 2011 through September 9, 2011. This decision is not solely based upon condition of school facilities, but upon road and bridge infrastructure that has not been adequately inspected and may be compromised. The state of emergency in Greene County is still in effect and travel is limited, particularly in the townships of Ashland, Lexington, Windham and Prattsville. This decision to cancel classes is relative to Article IIB of NYS Executive Law. Further information is to follow to all school districts and state education by Thursday afternoon, which will allow for final determination to re-open schools on Monday September 12, 2011.”
• Windham-Ashland-Jewett schools say they will not open until Sept. 19.
See complete storm recovery update below.
Locavore Cotler wins Locavore Prize
Lisa D. Connell in the Register-Star reports that Amy Cotler, the founding director of Berkshire Grown, won the second annual Victoria A. Simons Locavore Award. Cotler wrote “The Locavore Way,” and received $1,500 from the award, named for the late journalist and first woman on the board of the Columbia County Agricultural Society. Other nominees included: Liz Beals of Beth’s Farm Kitchen; Anna Dawson of Kinderhook, a cook and commercial food preparator of Harvest Kitchen; Amy Locke, a leader behind the Nassau Cooperative Community Food Compact; Ellen Poggi of Hand Hollow Farm in East Chatham; David Robinson of Chatham, a driving force behind the Columbia County Bounty of the County dinner event; Lori J. Selden, of CEO Mexican Radio Restaurant and Co-Founder, Columbia County Bounty. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Voters settle cops’ fate
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper says Copake voters will decide whether or not to eliminate the seven local part-time police force this fall. After $118,000 in unexpected expenses set the town back in July, some residents hope to offset that with $106,980 in savings from eliminating the police department and relying on the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police. There will be a public hearing on the proposed local law at 6:20 p.m. Thu., Sept. 8 at Copake Town Hall, before the regular board meeting. “The board expects to conduct one or more information meetings to provide facts about Police Department services, a cost/benefit analysis and crime rate statistics so voters can make an informed decision. Meeting dates and times will be announced,” Valden writes. Then voters will decide Nov. 8. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Athens FD heads to Schoharie
Athens Fire Department reports on its Facebook feed that it is being deployed to Schoharie County to help with storm recovery. The crew will be deployed on Wed. Sept. 7 and expected to stay for two days.
Greene County bridge closures
• Rte. 23A has alternating one-way traffic over Kaaterskill Creek in Hunter.
• Rte. 42 in Lexington, two bridges over the West kill are closed.
• Rte 23 over Schoharie Creek is closed.
• Rte. 32 over Kaaterskill Creek is closed.
Greene County road closures
• Rte. 23A is open to local traffic only between 296 in Hunter and Rte. 23 in Prattsville.
• Rte. 42 in Lexington is closed from CR 13A to Ulster County Line.
• Rte. 23 is open to local traffic only between Rte. 296 in Windham and Rte. 23A in Prattsville.
• Rte. 23 in Prattsville is closed between Rte. 23 over the Schoharie Creek and Rte. 23A. With no access west of the bridge.
• Rte. 32 in Catskill is closed between Rte. 23A and High Falls Rd.
Albany County road closures
• Rt. 145 and Rt. 81 intersection is shut down, bridge there flooded in Preston Hollow.
Water news
• Boil water order in effect for Windham, Hensonville, and Tannersville.
• The Agroforestry Resource Center, Rt 23 in Acra has water testing kits available. Call 622-9820 for details.
Surveying Greene County
New York State Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Pete Lopez will not tour Prattsville (9:30 a.m., specific location not disclosed), Windham (11:30 a.m., specific location not disclosed), Hunter (1:30 p.m., specific location not disclosed), and Cairo Wednesday, Sept. 7, as excessive rain cancelled their tour.
To donate
There is not much need for food and clothes anymore, but more specific items are needed: batteries of all types, pressure washers, large raincoats, flashlights, tools, and other items. WGXC recommends you call a specific donation collection center and ask what they need, or donate funds to help. The Watershed Post has a Google spread sheet with many different places to donate.)
• GREENE COUNTY Greene County has specific requests for reconstruction equipment, such as circular saws, cordless drills, crowbars, hammers, screws, shovels, rubber gloves, work gloves, dust masks, wheelbarrows, extension cords, large fans and more. These items can de dropped off at the former Sawyer Automotive location on Route 9W in Catskill, near the Route 23 interchange, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 6-7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• $10,000 MATCHING DONATION Unk Slater grew up in Prattsville. After taking food out there this week, he is being told they have more then enough, what they need is cash. So his Great American supermarket in Cairo is now collecting cash donations, and will match the first $10,000. That makes $20,000 for storm victims in Greene County. Slater’s Great American Marketplace is at 241 Main St., in Cairo. Sunday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Mon.-Sat.: 7 a.m.-11 p.m.
• CAIRO Big Top Tent Rentals in Cairo is accepting donations destined for needy folks in Prattsville. They are accepting any common sense items that folks displaced by the storm might need: non-perishable food items, water, batteries, hand sanitizer, baby diapers, wipes, etc. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 88 Grove St., Cairo.
Tags: bridges out, education, Greene County schools, Hurricane Irene, road closings, schools
The Daily Freeman reports Greene County schools will not open this week, and county emergency officials will announce Thursday, Sept. 8 if they will open next week. The Greene County Department of Emergency Services announced that schools in Greene County are not opening as scheduled due to an inadequate inspection of roads and bridges, which “may be compromised.” Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Tags: schools
Steady sales in Greene, Columbia counties
Chris Churchill in the Albany Times-Union reports that real estate sales in Greene and Columbia counties were similar for the first half of both 2010 and 2011, in both volume and price. Two more homes were sold in both counties then the year before, according to the New York Association of Realtors, 159 in Greene County and 171 in Columbia. “The median sale price in Greene County increased from $155,000 to $159,000, a 3.2 percent increase, while the median price dropped 5.5 percent in Columbia County, from $200,000 in the first half of 2010 to $189,000 for the same period in 2011,” Churchill writes. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Verizon strikers back to work
Striking Verizon workers return to work Tuesday, Aug. 23, even though they have not come to an agreement with the company. “We have reached agreement with Verizon on how bargaining will proceed and how it will be restructured,” said Mike Salvia, CWA 1120 President, in a released statement. “Major issues remain to be discussed, but overall, issues now are focused and narrowed.” WGXC makes its connection with our transmitter through Verizon, and since Friday have had several problems that have knocked WGXC off the air for periods of time this past weekend.
Catskill district hires Woodstock firm for office facelift
The Daily Freeman reports that the Woodstock company J.O.B. was awarded a $74,000 contract to repaint the exterior of the School Superintendent Kathleen Farrell’s offices at the Catskill school district, during a special meeting last Wednesday. “The firm would start as soon as possible and would also make some minor repairs to the entry area of the business office,” the story reports. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
DEP: Ashland sewer plant completed
The Daily Mail reports that the New York Department of Environmental Protection completed installing a new wastewater treatment plant and sewer and stormwater system for the hamlet of Ashland in Greene County. The 14,642-square-foot wastewater treatment plant has 8 new pumping stations and approximately 2.4 miles of sewer mains to serve 90 residential and commercial properties in Ashland, and can treat up to 26,000 gallons of wastewater a day. DEP funded the $7.7 million project, and will help pay for some of the operating costs. “Residents and businesses are expected to begin hooking up to the new sewer system this summer,” the story says. Read the complete story in The Daily Mail.
Greenport boil water advisory lifted
The Register-Star reports the boil water advisory issued Saturday for Greenport was lifted Monday morning, Aug. 22, after a water main break on Healy Blvd. Saturday made drinking water dangerous.
MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on “PLAY CLIP” to hear mp3 audio file.
A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110822
Produced by Terry Doyle. Calendar segment of Hudson Valley music events from Terry Doyle’s “Imprint” program Sundays at 11 p.m. on WGXC. PLAY CLIP
Tags: boil water advisory, Catskill schools, education, Kathleen Farrell, real estate sales, schools, sewer, strike, Verizon
Stuyvesant votes for highway bond
Stuyvesant voters approved a $845,000 bond 253 to 170 at a special election Tue., Aug. 16. The bond will repair a highway garage and construct two salt sheds at the highway department storage area on Sharptown Road.
New York flags at half-staff today
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed that flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Wednesday, August 17 in honor of five Fort Drum soldiers who died in Kandahar province, Afghanistan on August 11. Army Sergeant Edward J. Frank II, of Yonkers, NY, Army Specialist Jameel T. Freeman, of Baltimore, MD, Army Specialist Patrick L. Lay II, of Fletcher, NC, Army Private 1st Class Rueben J. Lopez, of Williams, CA, and Army Specialist Jordan M. Morris, of Stillwater, OK died recently of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle. The soldiers were all assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, stationed at Fort Drum, NY. Ira Stoll in Reason writes: “According to the iCasualties.org Web site, whose count more or less tracks that of other sites devoted to these statistics, 630 American soldiers died in the Afghanistan operation in the years 2001 through 2008, when Mr. Bush was president, while 1097 American soldiers have died in the years 2009, 2010, and 2011.”
Hannaford moves forward in New Lebanon
A Public Notice in the Register-Star indicates the planned Hannaford grocery store in New Lebanon is moving forward. “The Department [of Environmental Conservation] has made a tentative determination to issue a new/revised SPDES permit to allow for the discharge of 7,000 gallons per day of sanitary wastewater to a tributary of the Wyomanock Creek from existing Valley Plaza. The applicant is proposing to modify an existing SPDES permit to allow for the redevelopment of the plaza which will include the addition of a new Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy…. As a tentative determination, the Department seeks comments on the proposed regulated activity prior to making a final decision on permit issuance and as such, does not signify Department approval for or endorsement of the activity for which a permit is sought or for the overall proposed project. The facility is located at the northeast corner of US Route 20 and County Route 5A in the Town of New Lebanon. A draft permit us available for review and comment at the NYSDEC Region 4 office. Comment on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later than Sept. 9″:
Contact Person
MICHAEL T HIGGINS
NYSDEC
1130 NORTH WESTCOTT RD SCHENECTADY, NY 12306 (518) 357-2069
Ichabod Crane football season saved by donations
CBS6 Staff reports the Ichabod Crane Board of Education officially approved money raised for the football team Tuesday night can be used for the team. The program wasn’t part of the school’s slashed budget, but a booster club got permission from the board to fund the program, if they could raise enough money by August 15. The football team has been self-funded since its first season in 2008, according to the television station’s report. Read the story at CBS6.
Gibson: ‘Ron Paul is a friend of mine’
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential has a post about local Congressional representative Chris Gibson’s fondness for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul. Paul, finished a close second in the straw poll of Iowa Republicans last weekend, and Gibson, R-Kinderhook, brought him up as he discussed cutting back military commitments overseas with the Albany Times Union editorial board:
“As I look right now, at all the presidential candidates, I don’t feel we have anyone who articulates what needs to be said on these matters — bureaucratic reform of the national security establishment. You get a glimmer of it here and there. I’ll tell ya: Ron Paul is a friend of mine. We sit together often. I find him very friendly and funny. I agree with him on some things he says. I think we should audit the Fed, you know, I think he’s got something to say as far as that $1.6 trillion that we owe to the Fed, we owe to ourselves, not obligated to anything. I think he’s got some good ideas, so I enjoy my relationship with him.”“On this whole debt ceiling thing, he’s the only one I thought was virtuous — even though I was utterly in disagreement with him — he was virtuous because he said that we default, and we should go into bankruptcy and come out of it stronger. I didn’t go to Washington to do that, let me be clear. If that’s it, I’m not the guy to do that. If you’ve got a plane and two engines are down, have a soft landing, fix the plane and get back up again. I didn’t come to crash the plane. But I will give you this: Ron Paul’s at least virtuous in that he’ll explain his vote. Where does that go? I communicate to my constituents.”
“Ron Paul at least makes an argument. I disagree with it. But Michele Bachmann — has she explained her no vote? But I want to bring that up because Ron Paul is a guy who has enunciations as far as a more modest foreign policy. There are some things that he says that I think fit within what I’m talking about, but I haven’t seen a full blossoming of that in terms of how it would relate to the full reform, and then how we, as a country, then move forward.”
“I haven’t seen anybody else tackling that. Have I missed it?”
Tags: Chris Gibson, elections, football, Fort Drum, Hannaford, high school football, Ron Paul, schools
The State of Education in Hudson
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown breaks down standardized test scores for the Hudson City School District, and finds them, “mediocre at best.” She sums up another story:
Think about the lackluster performance of HCSD students when you read Audra Jornov’s report in the Register-Star on the continuing stalemate with the Hudson Teachers’ Association: “HCSD board: Speed up talks.” The teachers’ contract expired on June 30, and the teachers’ union has not agreed to schedule a meeting to resume contract talks until October 12. In May, the HTA rejected a salary freeze that could have saved five or six teaching positions. In a report released in June by the Albany Business Review, HCSD ranked 10th highest in teacher pay among the 93 school districts included in the study, with a median salary of $60,997.
Read the full post at The Gossips of Rivertown.
Catskill to teach Mandarin Chinese
Jim Planck reports in The Daily Mail that Catskill High School will soon offer Mandarin Chinese language instruction. “Catskill has been invited to participate in a New York State initiative to bring native speakers to New York to teach high school students Mandarin,” Catskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell said to The Daily Mail, “and to introduce the language to middle and elementary school students…. The State Education Department will accredit Chinese teachers so high school students will earn course credit, and may use Mandarin to meet foreign language requirements for graduation.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Riverkeeper warns of sewage pollution, swimming risks in the Hudson
The Daily Freeman reports that environmental group Riverkeeper says that swimming in the Hudson River is unsafe 21 percent of the time because of pollution from sewage, and the section of the river between Catskill and Bear Mountain was cited as particularly problematic. Riverkeeper released a report based on water samples from the Hudson River. The report said that most of the time the river is relatively clean. “That would certainly not have been the case a few years ago,” said Andrew Jule of Columbia University, one of two scientists who took part in the study. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.
Cuomo talks to reporters
Governor Cuomo spoke to reporters Wed., Aug. 10 in this video, courtesy of Kyle Hughes at NYSNYS.com, about proposed Port Authority toll hikes, and the CSEA contract vote, and other issues.
Tags: Andrew Cuomo, Catskill High School, education, environment, Hudson River, Hudson schools, schools
Student test scores drop statewide
Scott Waldman in Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times-Union’s political blog, reports that the state Education Department standardized test scores results showed New York’s students scored worse on English exams this year, and about the same on math scores statewide. Waldman cherry-picks these items from the results:
• 52.8% of grade 3-8 students across the state met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard (a decrease from 53.2% last year); 63.3% met or exceeded the standard in math (up from 61% last year).
• Statewide results for black students reveal the persistence of the achievement gap: 35% of black students across grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard (compared with 52.8% for all students and 64.2% for white students); 44% met or exceeded the standard in math (compared with 63.3% for all students and 73.3% for white students)
• The percentage of students scoring at Level 4 in both ELA and math decreased statewide. On the ELA exam, 3.5% of students across grades 3-8 combined scored at Level 4 (down from 10.2% last year). In math, 23% scored at Level 4 (down from 24.7% last year).
Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
Cairo traffic report
There is no parking in the Cairo Town Hall parking lot through Labor Day due to construction of the new library, behind the Town Hall. Main Street in Cairo will be closed to parking and traffic from Wednesday, August 10 at 7 a.m. through Thursday, August 11 at 3:30 p.m. due to that construction. There will be a detour through the Town Park to Mountain Avenue.
Haddad team prevails
Sam Pratt at sampratt.com reports that Judge Christian Hummel ruled Mon., Aug. 8 that Republicans filing a protest over a technicality of the Democrats do not have standing to protest because of a technicality. No one has yet detailed the cost to taxpayers, but both leaders of the Hudson Democrats and Hudson Republicans now have made public mistakes in this campaign. There will be a open write-in Democratic primary vote in the city of Hudson Sept. 13. Read the entire post at sampratt.com.
Tags: Cairo Library, Christian Hummel, education, schools, traffic, youth
Prisons close, but not here
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the closing of seven state prisons on Thursday, June 30, and none of the closures were in Greene or Columbia counties. Announced for closure are four minimum-security facilities for men: Buffalo Work Release in Erie County, Camp Georgetown in Madison County, Summit Shock in Schoharie County and Fulton Work Release in Bronx County, and three medium-security facilities for men: Arthur Kill in Richmond County, Mid-Orange in Orange County, and Oneida in Oneida County. Those working at the facilities new such cuts were coming, and they came in the order of 3,800 beds, but not facilities in Coxsackie or Hudson. “The closings of these facilities not only will force “double bunking,” which puts two dangerous criminals in a space designed for one, it will greatly reduce the “step-down” treatment of inmates,” said New York State Public Employees Federation President Ken Brynien.
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk superintendent resigns after two years
Carol DeMare in the Albany Times-Union reports that Daniel A. Teplesky, superintendent of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District for the last two years, is moving to the Monticello School District in Sullivan County effective Aug. 1. A district press release said that Teplesky steered the district “through unprecedented fiscal pressures” faced by the district “as a result of historic reductions in state aid and a weak economy,” DeMare writes. “I’m proud of the work we have accomplished during the past two years in preparing for the state’s more rigorous learning standards and improving student achievement,” Teplesky said in the article. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Here comes the boss?
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that the Columbia County Manager Initiative Subcommittee’s 36-page report, “The Case for a County Manager,” released last week (and available online) makes the case that someone should bottom-line the county’s $150 million budget, its 1,000 employees, the 300 retirees it supports, its 28 operating departments and the four unions it negotiates with on a full-time basis. Supervisor Art Bassin (D-Ancram) served on the subcommittee and told Valden on Tuesday that the committee’s research “led to the conclusion that this county is not well managed.” Twenty-three part-time town supervisors are managing a $150 million annual budget and “it’s not being done very well,” he said. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Empire State Baseball League
13U Coxsackie Owlz 6 – Clifton Park 1
Justin Maldonado threw a complete-game four-hitter to lead the 13U Coxsackie Owlz (10-1, 12-3) over Clifton Park 6-1 on Thursday, June 30. Maldonado allowed one unearned run while walking three and striking out tenand went 2-2 at bat with 2 RBIs. The 13U Owlz finished the regular season tied for second place.
Tags: Art Bassin, Columbia County Manager, Daniel A. Teplesky, education, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Natural Gas, prisons, schools
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
Cuomo says SSM, big ugly, will wait
Capitol Confidential links to the video above from Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s press conference Wednesday, June 22, explaining what progress has been made at the end of the legislative session, and where the New York State Senate is with the proposed same-sex marriage bill. The other video above is also from Capitol Confidential links to the video above from Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver speaking to the media after emerging from a 90-minute meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Legislators will attempt today to wrap up the session, finalizing rent control, the property tax cap, and other outstanding measures. No one is positive if Senate Republicans will allow the same-sex marriage bill to reach the floor for a vote. If so, several news organizations are reporting there may be at least one other Republican State Senator willing to vote for the measure, which would give it the needed 32 votes to pass. It is sure to be a busy day in the capitol, with the continuing singing contest between the pro- and anti- same-sex marriage forces, and a planned 2 p.m. protest by groups against natural gas hydraulic fracturing extraction, disappointed by the lack on their bills that would stop the practice in New York.
State’s new deer plan aims to recruit young hunters, protect young bucks
Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that last week New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation released its new Deer Management plan. The new hunting guidelines for deer make several changes:
* Include an index of deer impact on forests when setting deer population objectives;
* Establish deer management focus areas with liberalized antlerless harvest rules in areas with overabundant deer;
* Establish a special youth deer hunting weekend in early October for junior hunters to aid in the recruitment of new deer hunters;
* Open the bowhunting season in the Southern Zone on October 1, rather than the current opening in mid-October; and
* Continue the mandatory antler restriction program in wildlife management units (WMUs) 3C, 3H, 3J, and 3K, and expand antler restrictions to seven additional wildlife management units (WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W) in southeastern New York.
Some hunters, according to the Daily Mail, oppose the new regulations:
Chuck Parker, a retiree from northern New York who hunts in the Tug Hill region, said the big game youth hunting license is a great idea but a special youth weekend is unnecessary and would cut into field time for small game and waterfowl hunters because landowners commonly deny them access during the deer season. Parker, who is first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, also opposes the DEC’s proposal to open the bow hunting season in the southern zone on Oct. 1 rather than the current opening in mid-October. “Generally, bow hunters already enjoy a high-quality hunting time to be in the woods,” said Parker, who’s from Mexico, in Oswego County. “Giving them additional time will only lessen the opportunity of success for those that hunt during the regular gun season.”
The DEC is accepting public comments on the draft Deer Management plan until July 28. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.
Meeting erupts as school board appoints Garland to vacant seat
Melanie Lekocevic in The Daily Mail reports that at the Tuesday, June 21 meeting of the Coxsackie Board of Education outgoing President Joseph “Seph” Garland was appointed back on the board to the seat vacated by Vice President Mark Gerrain, after he lost his seat in May elections, which caused board member Stephen Oliveira to throw down his papers, resign, and storm out of the room. Gerrain resigned because professional commitments required him to be out of town often over the next couple of years Outgoing president Garland then said, “The board has three options – leave the slot unfilled until the next election in May, hold a special election, or appoint a person to fill that spot,” Lekocevic quotes him at the meeting. Board member Carroll Mercer then suggested they appoint the person with the next highest number of votes from the recent board elections, which would be Garland. “My feeling is that I am uncomfortable with an eight-member board. I recommend we appoint someone for a one-year term, and we take the person with the next highest number of votes in the last election,” Mercer, and board member Maureen Hanse agreed. “You are going against what the people voted for. You should wait to hear what the people have to say. We need a special election,” Oliveira said as some in the audience applauded. “You are saying, ‘Let’s not listen to what the people said.’ I think this is totally wrong.” He noted that voters rejected three incumbents for three newcomers, saying they wanted different voices on the board. But he was the only vote against bringing Garland back on board. “I resign,” Oliveira said. “You people are not doing this correctly. I am not doing this anymore.” Lekocevic writes that, “the board decided not to accept Oliveira’s resignation, saying it was done in anger and was not in writing. It remains to be seen if he will return.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.
Wurster pushes for permit fee hikes
Jamie Larson in the Register Star reports that Hudson Code Enforcement Officer Peter Wurster wants to raise the cost of fees and permits issued by his departments. Before the city Finance Committee Tuesday, June 21, Wurster suggested building permits go from $35 to $50, plumbing permits raised to $50 for the first four fixtures, annual plumbing permits increased from $100 to $150, and non-residential permits lowered to one $300 permit rather than two that currently cost $350. Wurster guessed the department takes in about $35,000 in fees and $35,000 in fines annually, but that the city does not keep specific records of that income. “Regardless of what people are thinking, Hudson has maintained a high level of activity,” Wurster said in the story, “All those young entrepreneurs coming in, it’s a good thing.” Read the entire story in the Register-Star.
Coach Friedman to retire after 25 years
Billy Shannon in The Daily Mail writes that Hunter-Tannersville Wildcats varsity baseball coach Jeff Friedman will retire from coaching, after 25 years at the school. “Beginning as an assistant coach of the varsity baseball team in 1986 and taking over as head coach in 1990, Friedman also coached girls varsity basketball from 2004-11, girls modified soccer from 2003-05 and boys modified soccer in 2006-07,” Shannon writes in the newspaper. “My kids are all graduated now,” Friedman told the reporter. “And (with my contracting business) it was just starting to get very difficult to put in the proper time to do a good job at coaching.” Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.
Tags: DEC, hunting, Jeff Friedman, Joseph Garland, Peter Wurster, same-sex marriage, schools, Stephen Oliveira
On heels of a defeat at the polls, district budget goes to a revote
Hilary Hawke in the Ravena News-Herald reports that voters in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district return to the polls today to decide on a new budget. Voters rejected a budget with a 3.39 percent tax levy increase on May 17, and the budget up for approval today pares that down to a 2.5 percent increase, a cut of $100,000 in spending. If voters reject the budget, a contigency budget with a 2.5 percent contingency budget increase goes into effect, so the vote today is largely symbolic. Only a half dozen residents June 13 budget hearing about the budget, which board members Tracey Traver, Jeff Sorensen, Chris Pennock and Josephine O’Connor did not attend. The vote today is from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at RCS High School. Read the entire story in The Ravena News-Herald.
C-GCC passes budget with 5.6% tuition hike
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports that Monday June 20 Columbia-Greene Community College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $16.25 million budget for the 2011-2012 school year, a $450,000 increase. , The budget includes a 5.6 percent tuition increase, $96. No staff cuts were needed. “Student enrollment, which was at an all-time high last fall at about 2,000, is expected to decline slightly this September as the number of graduates from area high schools decreases,” Antrim writes. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.
Higher rent subsidies sought
John Mason in the Register-Star reports that Columbia County Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman wants to increase rent subsidies for persons in the Safety Net Program, which he says will save about $1 million a year. The program provides rent assistance to single individuals and childless couples, with the typical shelter allowance for a single person $191; Mossman asked for an increase to $511. For a childless couple, the allowance is $221, and he asked to up it to $541. “We want to take Safety Net individuals and locate more permanent housing,” Mossman told the Human Services Committee last Wed. June 15. The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has approved Mossman’s request; it needs approval from the state Division of the Budget, Mason reports. The department has budgeted 43 people in this category, though currently the number of homeless in the program is down to 38. Mossman says much more would be saved through if individuals could be moved into apartments and out of hotel rooms, which can cost around $2,100 a month. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Powerboat wins Hudson majors title
The Register-Star reports that Derek DeLamater tossed a no-hitter for Powerboat’s 12-1 victory Monday, June 20 to complete a two-game sweep of S&F Technologies Monday to win the Hudson Little League majors championship for the second year in a row. Powerboat previously downed S&F 14-4 on Thursday, and Monday’s game was a mercy-rule shortened four innings. DeLamater struck out 10 batters and walked two, and hit a three-run homer, a double, and a single. Powerboat finished the season with a 16-2 record. Last week Hudson Little League announced its 2011 All-Stars rosters. The 9-10-year-old squad, managed by Joe Cefaliello, includes Matthew Cowan, Lavon Fernandez, Chris Gardener, Maison Goldstien, Charles Goodermote, Dayquan Griffin, Ben Huston, Hakeem Martin, Jackson Moon, Patrick Spencer, Mark Tomaso and Corey Topple. The 10-11 team, managed by Bill Glasser, includes Gabrielle Barrientos, Tyler Bleau, Stephen Bowes, Antonio Fisher, A.J. Glasser, Michael Green, Chris Keator, Connor McCagg, Chris Meano, Ethan Peters, Stephen Renault and Zach Wilburn. The 11-12 team, managed by Chip Moon, includes Jordan Bain, Jeremy Cramer, Derek DeLamater, Tyler Drahushuk, Daniel Folds, Connor Graziano, Joshua Moon, Jeremy Ramirez, Joshua Ramirez, Jacob Rivette, Matthew Sweet and Willie Walker. Read the entire report in The Register-Star.
Tags: Columbia-Greene Community College, education, homeless, Hudson Little League, Little League, Paul Mossman, schools, youth
Bill would give farmers break on tolls
Senate bill S742A-2011 is on the Floor Calendar in Albany for Tue. May 24 and would, “Provide that farmers shall receive an exemption from tolls when transporting product to N.Y. city for consumption in the city.” The bill is sponsored by Catherine Young (R, C, I-57th), who represents an area south of Buffalo. The bill says, Farmers are stressed with the price of gas to transport their products to the city for consumption to make little profit after the cost of gas and tolls are included. To help offset these expenses, farmers should be exempt from tolls when transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city.”
Ichabod adopts budget — minus football
John Mason in the Register-Star reports the Ichabod Crane Board of Education voted Mon., May 23 to approve a contingency budget of $33,795,494, after voters rejected their original proposal of $33,837,503 in May 17 school elections. The $42,009 savings comes from cutting football ($31,000) and other items mandated by contingency budget rules ($11,009). When voters reject a budget, boards can pass a contingency budget that is equal to or lower than the cost of living increase, or Consumer Price Index. The board already trimmed $3.9 million from the 2011-2012 budget by closing two elementary schools and cutting staff and programs. “On April 12, the board passed its budget, but in a 5-3 vote added $31,000 for football,” Mason writes. “Football had been funded for the past three years by the Booster Club in a pilot program.” Community members asked at the meeting Monday if football could remain funded by the booster club, and the board punted, postponing that decision until a later meeting, Mason reports. Read the full story in the Register-Star.
Vitaliy Bobkov's proposal to turn the Friar Tuck Resort into a magical place.
Vitaliy Bobkov of the B&B Lounge in Catskill is floating a proposal on his website and a Facebook page to turn the now-vacant Friar Tuck Resort into a magic theme park. Bobkov’s business is a little north of the empty Friar Tuck on Rt. 32 in Greene County, and his proposal hopes to also revive the Catskill Game Farm and Carson City attractions in the same area.
Details: Hudson River School Art Trail and Catskill, N.Y.
Becky Krystal in The Washington Post last Thursday has a thin travel piece about Catskill and the local “art trail.” She visits the Thomas Cole House in Catskill and Olana just across the Hudson River, as well as Catskill’s The Post Cottage, Bell’s Cafe, and Village Pizza II. Read the entire story in The Washington Post.
Saugerties comedian on NPR
Jimmy Fallon, who grew up in Saugerties, was interviewed on National Public Radio by Fresh Air’s Terry Gross on Mon., May 23. On May 11 he gave a shout-out to Woodstock radio station WDST on his Twitter feed: “Listening to 100.1 WDST Woodstock Radio. Good morning guys!”
Tags: agriculture, Bell's Cafe, farm, farms, Friar Tuck Resort, Ichabod Crane School District, Olana, schools, The Post Cottage, Thomas Cole House, Village Pizza II
(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
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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