WGXC Newsroom

Thursday, February 23, 2012 local almanac

Staff — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:42:41 +0000

Most local schools are on winter break now, and closed all week.

Weather right now

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Earlton, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts Earlton has a chance of rain and snow showers before 9 a.m. Thursday. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Thursday night there is chance of rain before 2 a.m., then rain and sleet likely. Increasing clouds, with a low around 33. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Friday: Rain and sleet, becoming all rain after 10 a.m. High near 48, rain, and perhaps a little snow Friday night, with a low around 30.
• Saturday: A slight chance of snow, mixing with rain after 10 a.m., then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a high near 38, a low around 17.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 36.

Town meetings today
Today is the fourth Thursday of the month.
CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Budget/Salary Committee at 10:00 a.m.
Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
HUDSON Historic Preservation Committee at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
href=”http://www.townofwindham.com”>WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:40 a.m./ 5:39 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:05 a.m. / 7:45 p.m.

Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Atlanta Hawks 82 at New York Knicks 99; Jeremy Lin led Knicks with 17 points and eight assists.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at Miami Heat, 7 p.m. (TV: TNT)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Feb. 23:
• “Sound Forms,” 2 p.m.: Peter Wetzler speaks with Hudson Valley singer/songwriter and activist Rebecca Martin and bassist Larry Grenadier, back from his tour with Pat Metheny.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play
play Shearwater songs in Campcaster

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20120226 WGXC First Year Membership
• A OFF PSA 20120226 WGXC BIRTHDAY PARTY.mp3
• A OFF_PSA _20120226_WGXC ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY .mp3Pamela Badilla Produced By Shannekia McIntosh
• A OFF PSA 20120224_WGXC_1_YR_DANCE PARTY 20120224.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:04 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:04 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:04 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:04 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport

Athens fire causes major service outage

Lynn Sloneker — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:03:03 +0000

An early morning structure fire in Athens caused a major service outage for Mid-Hudson Cablevision customers in Columbia County, Wed., Feb. 22. Cable, Internet and phone service was interrupted at approximately 6 a.m., and fully restored by mid-afternoon, according to a statement released by the company. Claude Haton is reporting in The Daily Mail Slice of Athens on Washington Ave. in the village was gutted. The remains of the structure were later leveled by the Department of Public Works. Owner Donna Passaretti said she was told the fire was caused by an electrical short in a freezer unit. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Court upholds Dryden hydrofracking ban

Lynn Sloneker — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:41:26 +0000

Mireya Navarro writes in The New York Times a New York state judge ruled Tues., Feb. 21, the town of Dryden in Tompkins County can ban natural gas drilling within its boundaries. It is the first ruling in New York to affirm local powers in the ongoing controversy over the process commonly known as hydrofracking. In August, Dryden used its zoning laws to ban the process within the town limits. A month after the ban went into effect, Colorado-based driller Anschutz Exploration filed a lawsuit, arguing the town lacked the authority to ban or regulate gas drilling. Anschultz has 22,000 acres under lease in Dryden. In the decision, Justice Phillip R. Rumsey of the State Supreme Court said state law “does not preclude a municipality from using its power to regular land use to ban oil and natural gas production.” Read the full story in The New York Times.

Ichabod Crane facing $1.2 million budget gap

Lynn Sloneker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:28:19 +0000

Emilia Teasdale writes in the Columbia Paper about the Ichabod Crane Board of Education’s discussion on how to resolve a projected $1.2 million budget gap for the 2012-13 school year. The board’s recently held third budget forum focused on sports and extracurricular activities, but the topic shifted to state aid cuts and how the district should address the shortfall, Teasdale reported. Ichabod Crane is currently projecting a 3.25 percent tax levy increase for the coming year. Unlike other county districts, Ichabod Crane’s state aid is expected to decrease, Superintendent Lee Bordick said. “It’s not a problem of expenditures, it’s a problem of revenues,” Bordick said. Potential reductions were discussed, but no decisions were made. The board’s next budget discussion on Feb. 28, will focus on Special Education. The board plans to approve its 2012-13 spending plan in early April. The annual budget and school board election is May 15. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Catskill food pantry on the move

Lynn Sloneker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:45:36 +0000

Doron Tyler Antrim reports in The Daily Mail Matthew 25 Food Pantry is moving, and asking for donations of money and labor to repair its new space in a vacant former county office building on Union Street in Catskill. This will be the pantry’s third location since it was founded in 2009. It is currently located at 298 Main Street. The pantry will enter into a 10-year lease with Greene County for the new location at the cost of $1 per year. In an interview with Antrim, pantry Executive Director Patti Dushane said the new space is “a mess,” but expects to transition into the Union Street space by June 1. In addition to food, Matthew 25 offers clothing, outerwear, shoes and has a book exchange. It is open 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Flood-damaged properties may qualify for buyout

Lynn Sloneker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:29:21 +0000

Jim Planck writes in The Daily Mail owners of catastrophically damaged properties in Catskill can now qualify to participate in a federally funded buyout program as the result of action taken by the Greene County Legislature. The program allows owners of property irreparably damaged during last summer’s tropical storms to sell their property to the Town of Catskill for up to 75 percent of its appraised value. The property title is transferred to the town and must remain as open space or park land. Catskill Councilman Kevin Lennon said 13 sites potentially qualify. The program was designed to relocate people from flood-prone areas. The Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning, and the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District will administer the flood-prone property acquisition program. Funding is through the federal Hazard Mitigation Grants Program. Applications are available at the town hall, and must be completed and received by Greene County Soil and Water by Thurs., Feb. 23. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Police discuss break-ins with county residents

Noah Reibel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:07:42 +0000

The Columbia Paper’s Emilia Teasdale reports in the Feb. 16 edition of the paper, a standing room only crowd filled the Tri-Village Firehouse in Chatham recently to hear state troopers, sheriff’s deputies and Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka discuss recent burglaries in Columbia County. The incidents discussed included an alleged burglary at a Route 17 residence, and another in Stuyvesant. Suspects in both cases were arrested, but authorities acknowledged a “rash of burglaries” have occurred, many in Kinderhook. State Police Captain Scott Brown said he has increased the police presence in the northern part of Columbia County. Residents asked about alarms, dogs and guns, and sought advice on the most effective prevention strategy. Czajka reminded attendees that state law prohibits the use of deadly force by a civilian if the person can retreat from the situation. Tim Jackson, a state trooper stationed in Kinderhook, advised weekenders to make a residence look occupied, with lights and a parked car in the driveway. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

HSBC acquisition nearly complete

Lynn Sloneker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:05:56 +0000

Jim Planck writes in The Daily Mail the acquisition of HSBC Bank by First Niagara is nearly complete. On Fri., Feb. 17, First Niagara announced it will close 35 locations statewide, including the HCBC branch on Main Street in Catskill. First Niagara expects the takeover to be complete by mid-May and most branches identified for closure will remain open until mid-June. Five First Niagara banks located in Albany, Clifton Park, Rotterdam, Troy and Brunswick, will be shuttered May 18. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

NYPD watching Muslim students statewide

Noah Reibel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:04:33 +0000

Chris Hawley writes for the Associated Press that New York City Police Department surveillance of Muslim students was far more widespread than previously known. City police monitored Web sites from Buffalo and Albany to Syracuse and Stony Brook, and student names were recorded for reports submitted to city Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Documents obtained by the Associated Press show police placed undercover officers at Muslim student associations at colleges within the city limits, and also used a student informant in Syracuse. Muslim student organizations in Syracuse, Clarkson University and SUNY campuses in Buffalo, Albany, Stony Brook and Potsdam were monitored on a daily basis. Kelly and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said police only follow legitimate leads about suspected criminal activity. Read the full AP story.

Judge Roger J. Miner dead at 77

Lynn Sloneker — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:03:07 +0000

Roger J. Miner, senior judge of the federal appeals court, died Sat., Feb. 18, at his Greenport home. He was 77 years old. Miner graduated from New York Law School and in 1959, joined his father, Abram Miner, in private practice in Hudson. He was attorney for the city of Hudson from 1961 to 1964, and served as Columbia County District Attorney from 1968 to 1975. Miner was appointed to the federal district court by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and elevated to the appeals court in 1985. In 1987, Miner was one of the top candidates considered for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Miner’s wife, Jacqueline told the Associated Press, her husband was not chosen for the Supreme Court after he disclosed to the administration he supported a woman’s right to have an abortion. According to Mrs. Miner, her husband later said he chose to answer the question directly because “his reputation was too big a price to pay for a seat on the Supreme Court.” Tom Casey reports in the Register Star, Hudson Mayor Bill Hallenbeck ordered all flags in the city be flown at half-staff in the judge’s honor. Read Miner’s full obituary online.

The chefs behind the Crimson Sparrow

Noah Reibel — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:02:46 +0000

Crimson Sparrow from Jamie Larson on Vimeo.

Jamie Larson’s interview with chefs Ben Freemole and John McCarthy appears in the Feb. 21 edition of the Register Star. The chefs honed their skills at Wylie Dufresne’s WD-50, the restaurant that brought “molecular gastronomy” to Manhattan’s LES. In this video, Larson accompanies the chefs as they tour the site of their future restaurant in Hudson’s Keystone building. Read the full interview in the Register Star.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 local almanac

Staff — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:01:34 +0000

In addition, most local schools are on winter break this week, and closed all week.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Germantown, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts Germantown will be mostly sunny, with a high near 45 on Tuesday. Tuesday night there is a chance of rain showers before 2 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 34. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers. Wednesday night there is a chance of rain showers before 4 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
• Thursday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 7 a.m., then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 53, low around 36.
• Friday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 54, low around 33.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Tuesday of the month.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Health and Medical Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. at 401 State St. in Hudson.
DURHAM Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
GERMANTOWN Town of Germantown Town Board Meeting: Proposed Town Board Monthly Meeting Agenda. • Town Attorney – Ratify agreement to continue old business with Whiteman, Osterman Hanna LLC; • National Grid – Removal from demand meter and demand rate; • Sewer Issue with Peter Fingar Property – Estimate to scope line to determine needs and mapping. • Karol Harlow – Removal of synthetic marijuana and paraphernalia from local store shelves; G-Tel – Presentation; Gerald Smith – Request to add Mr. Smith to History Advisory Committee. 7 p.m. at Germantown Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown, 518-537-6687.
HILLSDALE Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street (325-5073).
HUDSON 5 p.m. Finance Committee meeting; 7 p.m. Regular Common Council meeting at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville (589-6150).
LEXINGTON Town board meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
TAGHKANIC Planning Board workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall on Route 82 in West Taghkanic (851-7638).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:43 a.m./ 5:36 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:10 a.m. / 5:42 p.m.
New Moon: 5:36 p.m.

Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: New Jersey Nets 100 at New York Knicks 92; Deron Williams, 38 points.
Schedules
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. Feb. 21:
• “WGXC Afternoon Show,” 4-6 p.m.: Hosted by Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play
play Shearwater songs in Campcaster

Important local meetings this week

Tom Roe — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:48:09 +0000

Town meetings of note this week:

MONDAY
Greenville Public Hearing
Feb. 20, 2012: 7:30 p.m.
At Greenville Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Greenville. 518-966-5055
Public hearing on changes to the dog ordinance. Followed by the regular town board meeting.

TUESDAY
Germantown Board Meeting
Feb. 21, 2012: 7 p.m.
At Germantown Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown. 518-537-6687
Proposed Town Board agenda includes:
• Town Attorney – Ratify agreement to continue old business with Whiteman, Osterman Hanna LLC;
• National Grid – Removal from demand meter and demand rate;
• Sewer Issue with Peter Fingar Property – Estimate to scope line to determine needs and mapping.
• Karol Harlow – Removal of synthetic marijuana and paraphernalia from local store shelves;
• G-Tel – Presentation;
• Gerald Smith – Request to add Mr. Smith to History Advisory Committee.

WEDNESDAY
Cairo Special Meeting
Feb. 22, 2012: 4 p.m.
At Cairo Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo, 518-622-3120.
The Town Board of Cairo holds a special meeting with the Highway Department in Executive Session to discuss labor matters. In October, during this season’s only snowstorm, several highway department employees were unavailable to plow, because their contract had not been resolved. A regular general town board meeting follows at 7 p.m., with a guest speaker from the Park Task Force to discuss the progress and vision for Angelo Canna Park.

also

Taghkanic Special Meeting
Feb. 22, 2012: 6 p.m.
At Taghkanic Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic, 518-851-7638.
The Taghkanic Town Board holds a special meeting to discuss appointments and personnel as a joint meeting with the Town Board and Building Committee to discuss the procedural list outlining the committee’s approved Highway Department Facility Proposed Improvement program.

SATURDAY
Farming Our Future
Feb. 25, 2012: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
At Taconic Hills High School, 73 County Rt. 11A, Craryville, 518-325-0390
“Growing Food, Farms and Community” is the subtitle of this series of workshops. The First Annual “Farming Our Future” will engage the agriculture community to think about its work in the context of a rapidly changing local, regional, and global food system. Just as the Hudson Valley sits at the crossroads of the consumer market positioned between the New York Metro area and New England, area farmers sit at the crossroads of the future of agriculture. See wgxc.org/events for full list of speakers.

also

Kinderhook Workshop Meeting
Feb. 25, 2012: 9 a.m.
At Philmont Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont, 518-672-7032.
The Town of Kinderhook Town Board holds a workshop meeting to discuss the Martin H. Glynn building acquisition.

DEC eyes Catskill Creek fishing change

Noah Reibel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:48:25 +0000

A walleye, from Wikipedia.

Lissa Harris in the Waterhed Post reports that the DEC is recommending several changes that could affect fishing in local streams, including the Esopus and Catskill Creeks. The agency announced Friday that it is proposing a ban on fishing in Catskill Creek from the Route 9W bridge upstream to the dam in Leeds from March 16 through the first Saturday in May, to protect spawning walleye. The Walleye season officially opens in May but early poaching has been an ongoing problem on Catskill Creek, and some local anglers have called on officials close the creek to all fishing in early spring. The DEC is also proposing limiting the number of trout caught in a stretch of the Esopus from the Shandaken Tunnel to the Ashokan Reservoir. The agency is proposing a daily catch of five fish, with no more than two trout longer than 12 inches. Read the DEC’s proposed changes to Freshwater fishing rules in NY.

Future of Catskill Farmers Market in jeopardy

Lynn Sloneker — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:06:40 +0000

In a letter to the editor of The Daily Mail, on Wed., Feb. 15, the Catskill Farmers Market vendors’ organization announced the majority of members will decline to participate in the market during the upcoming season. The decision was made after Village Trustees chose to move the market away from downtown to the west side of Catskill, for the second year in a row. In the letter, Donna Bonville, President, and Barbara Fox, Treasurer of the group, said vendors met with the Trustees Thurs., Feb. 9, to discuss a compromise to move the market to one side of Main Street. But the Trustees did not budge. The vendors expressed disappointment in the decision, and regret that vendors can no longer bring locally grown products to the community. Contacted by phone Mon., Feb. 20, Bonville reported the vendors have heard nothing further from the Trustees, and there has been no change in the group’s position. Read the full letter in The Daily Mail.

DEC moves to clean Hudson waterfront

Tom Roe — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:02:37 +0000

Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) plans to dredge and cleanup a section of the Hudson waterfront, and is seeking public comment on their plans. The DEC holds a public hearing at the Hudson Area Library at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 to discuss its “proposed remedial action plan” to excavate/dredge and dispose of contaminants at the Water Street Manufactured Gas Plant site in Hudson. National Grid needs to remediate the site “to a level that is protective of public health and the environment” to the satisfaction of the DEC and New York Department of Health. National Grid and its predecessor companies contaminated the site operating the gas manufacturing plant through heating coal from 1853 to 1949. The DEC is also accepting written public comments through March 19. Questions can be directed to Project Manager Anthony Karwiel at 518-402-9662 and site-related health questions to Maureen Schuck of the state Department of Health at 518-402-1860. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Monday, February 20, 2012 local almanac

Staff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:01:25 +0000

Today is President’s Day. The Daily Freeman rounds up the local closings:
• Amtrak: Sunday schedule
• Banks: Closed
• County offices: Closed
• Federal offices: Closed
• Financial markets: Closed
• Greene County Transit: No service
• Mail delivery: None
• Metro-North: Saturday schedule
• Schools: Closed
• Trailways: Holiday schedule

In addition, most local schools are on winter break this week, and closed all week.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Purling, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts Purling will be sunny Monday, with a high near 40, low around 19. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Tuesday night there is a chance of showers before 1 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
• Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers, a chance of rain before 1 a.m., then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 30.
• Thursday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48, low around 33.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 47.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Monday of the month.
ATHENS Town meeting at 6:45 p.m. at Town Hall, 2 First Street, Athens (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Comprehensive plan meeting at 7 p.m., at 812 Route 203, Austerlitz (392-3260).
CANAAN Planning board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1647 Route 5 South, Canaan (781-3144).
GREENE COUNTY 6 p.m. meetings of Government Ops and Finance committees, plus party caucuses at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENVILLE Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Offices, corner of routes 32 and 81, Greenville (966-8276).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:45 a.m./ 5:35.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 5:40 a.m. / 4:39 p.m.

Last night/Today’s big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Dallas Mavericks 97 at New York Knicks 104; Jeremy Lin, 28 points.
Schedules
NBA: New Jersey Nets at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (TV: YES/MSG)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mom. Feb. 20:
• “Roots, Runners, Rhizomes,” 3 p.m.: Call in with health questions at 518-828-0290.
• “WGXC Afternoon Show,” 4-6 p.m.: Hosts Sara Kendall and Noah Reibel step outside Greene and Columbia counties to talk about international issues.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play
play Shearwater songs in Campcaster

Shearwater at Helsinki Sunday for WGXC

Tom Roe — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 15:01:43 +0000

Shearwater perform Sun., Feb. 26 at Helsinki Hudson, in a partial fundraiser for WGXC. From Wikipedia:

“Shearwater is an American indie rock band formed in Austin, Texas in 1999[2] by Okkervil River members Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, although Sheff is no longer with Shearwater.

Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, who began their collaboration as members of the critically lauded Okkervil River, founded Shearwater in 2001 as an outlet for quieter songs on which the two were working. The band’s name comes from the shearwater, a tribe of seabirds related to petrels and albatrosses. Meiburg, who holds a master’s degree in geography with a focus on ornithology, picked the name mostly for the sound of the word.

Shearwater’s debut, The Dissolving Room, introduced Meiburg’s now ex-wife Kim Burke on upright bass; shortly after, drummer and vibraphonist Thor Harris joined the band.

The addition of multi-instrumentalist Howard Draper plus tours and support dates with The Mountain Goats, Akron/Family and Blonde Redhead brought them exposure. Shearwater developed their music through several initial albums such as Everybody Makes Mistakes and Winged Life, as well as the Thieves EP.

In May 2006, Shearwater released their fourth full-length album, Palo Santo, to much acclaim from critics and fans. On April 10, 2007, Shearwater, then signed on Matador Records, re-released a 2-disc edition of Palo Santo with bonus and re-recorded tracks from the original album.

Matador Records released the album Rook on June 3, 2008. On the tour that followed, Shearwater opened for Clinic and later Coldplay. Additional touring accompanists were added at that time: Jordan Geiger of Hospital Ships and Minus Story(on cornet, synthesizer, and percussion) and Kevin Schneider of Black Before Red (on keyboard, bass, and guitar) replaced Howard Draper.

On February 23, 2010, they released their sixth album, The Golden Archipelago, which the band produced with John Congleton. The band toured extensively behind the record in 2010, with an international tours in the spring (with Wye Oak and Hospital Ships opening) and additional U.S. dates in the fall (with special guest Damien Jurado). Longtime live accompanists Geiger and Schneider notably did not come along on this tour.

On November 6, 2010, the band released an instrumental album, Shearwater is Enron, via their BandCamp site. The album was recorded in the spring of 2010 and includes live material recorded at a performance under the pseudonym “Enron.” It introduces some textures not traditionally associated with the band, such as electronic drum tracks and squalling guitar rock. Members of Wye Oak and Hospital Ships assist on the live tracks.

The band recorded a new album in 2011, released as Animal Joy on February 14, 2012.”

airlab.AM at Savoia for WGXC Friday

Tom Roe — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:56:46 +0000

Here is some audio for airlab.AM, who are part of the DJ Dance Party Fri., Feb. 24 at Savoia in Hudson, to celebrate WGXC’s one-year anniversary on the air. The show will be broadcast live at WGXC 90.7-FM and wgxc.org. Saturday, Feb. 18 from noon to 2 p.m., WGXC will preview the performers at the three WGXC one-year anniversary shows next weekend, including airlab.AM.

Hallenbeck explains his new job as Hudson Mayor

Tom Roe — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 06:21:20 +0000

Hudson Mayor Bill Hallenbeck with WGXC's Jack Ross-Pilkington Feb. 17, 2012. Photo by Tom Roe.

On the “WGXC Afternoon Show,” new Hudson Mayor Bill Hallenbeck joined host Jack Ross-Pilkington and Samir AlyGad for a lively discussion of his first 40 days in office, and a few of the Mayor’s favorite Elvis Costello songs. Some of the topics included the Hudson waterfront, the announcement that architect Rem Koolhaus will be working on the proposed performance art museum in Hudson, and what has surprised him most about the job. Click here to listen to the excerpt from the “WGXC Afternoon Show.” PLAY CLIP