WGXC Newsroom

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:23:00 +0000

The Town of Copake is currently $7,200 in the hole, and may face a $160,000 deficit, according to The Columbia Paper. The story lists several reasons for the shortfall in revenue, but this is the most startling: "Fines and forfeiture revenues for the year were expected to come in around $105,000, but halfway through the year only $11,220 has been received, with an $82,000 shortfall expected by the end of the year." Huh?....The Register-Star reports that Republican and Conservative John Porreca will face Democrat Donald Moore to replace Hudson Common Council President John Cody, who is not seeking re-election....The Shamrock House of East Durham may face be auctioned off due to a foreclosure caused by the sub-prime mortgage crisis, Dick May reports in his Seeing Greene blog....Greene County may lose $700,000 in tax revenue they have already budgeted because of the New York State's Senate's continued play-acting, according to The Daily Mail. Instead of doing any actual work on Friday, the Senate worked together for a few minutes Friday to wish one of their own Senators, Owen Johnson, a happy 80th birthday, according to Capitol Confidential.

LIVE TONIGHT:

Angus Martin 9 p.m. at the Black Swan 66 Broadway in Tivoli, 845-757-3777.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:17:00 +0000

Nearly two decades after the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Columbia County Courthouse in Hudson still is not accessible, reports The Register-Star. Judge George Cerisia, the chief administrative judge for the Third Judicial District, threatened county supervisors and officials with the state fixing the building. This comes after a physically disabled reporter recently crawled up the stairs to cover the murder retrial of Warren Powell....Former Athens village trustee Chris Pfister, a Democrat, will challenge Ray Brooks, R-Athens, for his seat on the Greene County Legislature, according to The Daily Mail....Meanwhile in Albany, the State Senate continues to play pretend senate. Capitol Confidential says Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is looking into withholding senators pay until they start acting like senators. CCScoop reports that Columbia County and its municipalities will lose more than $7.5 million in sales tax collections if the State Senate cannot resolve its leadership squabble, though the story does not say when this loss of revenue will begin.....Karen Feldman, a Columbia County lawyer and political activist, is among 60 New Yorkers that sent a letter to the U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney warning her against a “divisive primary fight which forces voters to choose between two tremendously capable, hard-working women,” Capitol Confidential reports. Maloney just announced she will challenge U.S. Senator Kirstin Gillibrand next year....The New York Times reviews New York artist Rachel Harrison's “Consider the Lobster” show at The Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:02:00 +0000

NYC Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is officially challenging Senator Kristin Gillibrand in the 2010 Democratic primary, according to The Daily News. Politicker NY reports that Joe Trippi (in 2004, he was National Campaign Manager for Howard Dean’s presidential campaign) will be her chief strategist and media consultant....Capitol Confidential reports that Gov. David Paterson has called the New York State Senate into extraordinary sessions through the holiday weekend until July 6. The blog also says the Senate held another one of its pretend sessions on Wednesday....Chronogram Magazine's July issue is out, with reviews of exhibits this summer at Art Omi and the “Ahoy: Where Lies Henry Hudson?” at the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild....Catskill Republicans endorsed incumbent Councilman Robert Antonelli and former councilman Joseph Leggio to run for positions on the Town Board, and Town Justice Robert Carl according to The Daily Mail....The Salvation Army soup kitchen, on Third Street in Hudson, has been serving 2,000 meals a month recently, according to The Register-Star.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:03:00 +0000

Once again, the New York State Senate failed to do the people's business today, according to Capitol Confidential. The Times-Union's excellent blog also reports that the Supreme Court Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department has issued a decision that vacates the statutory stay pending appeal. This means that Governor Paterson can keep ordering extraordinary sessions while the Republicans appeal a judge's ruling that all 62 Senators must meet....The unmuffled blog has reports on the salaries of Hudson High sports coaches, extra-curricular advisors, and other news....Hudson Republicans endorse Geeta Cheedie, a democrat, in the First Ward, Tracy Decker for supervisor in the Second Ward, William Hollenbeck in the Third Ward, Samuel Santiago in the Fourth Ward, Richard Goetz as alderman and Bart Delaney as supervisor, and Mayor Richard Scalera, who is also being endorsed by the Democrats, according to The Register-Star....Coxsackie approved the Small Wind Energy Facility Law Monday, allowing personal wind systems that generate up to 100 kilowatts with a $150 building permit, according to The Daily Mail.

National Call-In Radio Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:29:00 +0000

The Prometheus Radio Project is among the organizers of the day to help bring low-power FM to communities throughout the United States. Join people from across the country to tell Congress to open up the airwaves for more community media!

TAKE ACTION - Tell your Congressional Representative to support HR 1147.

1. Look up your Congressional Representative at Congress.org

2. Find out if they have already supported the Local Community Radio Act.
See a list of cosponsors at govtrack.us and search for Bill number HR 1147.

3. Call the Congressional Switchboard at: (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative's office.

If your representative is not a cosponsor tell he/she to support expanding Low Power FM all across the country and cosponsor the bill.

If your representative is a cosponsor ask him/her to reach out to Congressional Leadership to let them know that this is an important priority around the country.

Background:
In 2000, the FCC established Low Power FM radio service and the same year Congress acted to limit LPFM, pending the results of an interference study. This study was released in 2003, after an expenditure of $2.2 million in taxpayer dollars, and proved that LPFM would not provide interference to existing stations. There are currently over 800 LPFM stations operated by schools, churches, civic groups, and other nonprofit organizations across the country. However, it's time, as the authors of this study and the FCC recommended, to expand LPFM to its intended service parameters. The Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147/S592) would expand Low Power FM radio stations and open the airwaves up to potentially tens of thousands of new community radio stations across the country.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:45:00 +0000

New York Senator Kristin Gillibrand will have more than one challenger in the democratic primary next year. Manhattan's Jonathan Tasini and Ithaca oral surgeon Scott Noren have already declared, The Star-Gazette reports. Tasini is a labor activist, and won 16 percent of the vote against Hillary Clinton in the 2006 primary. Noren says he's a Democratic version of Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and will focus on health care and campaign finance reform. Nine-term Long Island House member Carolyn Maloney is attacking Gillibrand in a way that makes everyone think she will run, and Suffolk County legislator Jon Cooper has formed an exploratory committee, and may attempt to be the first openly gay U.S. Senator....A WAMC caller today called the New York State Senate a "Confederacy of Dunces" for their continuing efforts to not do the business of the people of New York. Monday, Judge Joseph Teresi ordered all 62 senators must report into the Senate chamber, at the same time, for extraordinary session at 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to Capitol Confidential. Teresi said, some could reach the conclusion that lawmakers placed, “their own interests ahead of all other citizens of this state to the benefit of their own personal and selfish interests, that those same people may also find that conduct as rude, inconsistent and egotistical.”...The Register-Star reports that Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale and Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera have formed the City/County Homeless/Transitional Committee to study the homeless problem in Hudson and Columbia County. Baer has chosen Director of Social Services Paul Mossman, Richard Keaveney, R-Canaan, Columbia Opportunities Executive Director Tina Sharpe, Lynn Kutrki who works on homeless issues for the Department of Social Services, and Fran Reiter, who lives part-time in Columbia County and was deputy mayor for Planning and Community Relations in New York City during the first Guiliani administration. Mayor Scalera, Alderman Wanda Pertilla, D-2nd, Supervisor Rev. Edward Cross, D-Hudson 2nd, Supervisor William Hughes, D-Hudson 4th, and the citizen member, Linda Mussmann, owner of the Time and Space Limited Warehouse, and local community activist, make up the Hudson half....The Greenville Press (no web site) reports that Cairo town officials are naming scapegoats to explain why they didn't get any of the Federal stimulus money to fix their sewers. The story features the sort of finger pointing that seems to prove that Cairo is seen by other government officials as a dysfunctional town, with board members accusing each other of incompetence and meddling. The story also mentions the several lawsuits the town is facing for various actions, as well as a Comptroller's Office audit that shows, "a roughly 90 percent error rate." The sewers in Cairo have been broken for more than eight years, so the blame, it would seem, could be spread among many current and past officials.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:44:00 +0000

The New York State Senate continued to pretend to play Senate on Sunday, instead of doing an actual work for the people of New York, according to Capitol Confidential....WAMC's Alan Chartock interviews many members of Congress inside the station's listening area, but brought in NYC Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney last week on his "Congressional Corner" show. Maloney has been blasting New York Senator Kirstin Gillibrand ahead of an expected primary challenge. Listen to the interview here. Devtob from The Albany Project said of the Maloney chat that, "the [Congressional Corner] interviews are generally slow-pitch softball, but Maloney's was worse that that -- it was as if Chartock and she were on the same team and he was tossing batting practice." Maloney does not attack Gillibrand much -- devtob speculates it is because WAMC covers her former Congressional district, the NY-20, which includes Greene and Columbia counties -- but Chartock talks about the importance of primary elections. Chartock previously supported John Sweeney against Gillibrand in 2006, and (though he now claims he supported Maloney) Caroline Kennedy rather than Gillibrand to fill Senator Hillary Clinton's Senate seat....Mid-Hudson News has an unbylined story about a State Supreme Court ruling dismissing Entergy’s petition to overturn a decision by the State Department of Environmental Conservation that said that Indian Point’s cooling water intake system causes adverse environmental impacts on Hudson River fish. The story quotes an Entergy spokesman, and another pro-Indian Point group, but not Riverkeeper or any Hudson River advocacy groups....The Greene County Local Courier (no web site) reports that Greenville Republicans have nominated Paul Macko for Supervisor, Richard Baer and Kenneth Stern for council, Richard Hempstead for Highway Superintendent, Ronnie Campbell for Town Clerk, Mary Yeomans for Tax Collector, and Richard Schreiber for Justice. Current Town Supervisor Kevin Lewis is running for the Greene County Legislature seat that Ken Dudley is leaving. The paper also reports that Coxsackie hired Jason Shaw as village attorney and Laurel Mann as code enforcement officer.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:30:00 +0000

The New York State Senate played pretend Senate again yesterday, according to Capitol Confidential (the Albany Times-Union's political blog)....Art Baer, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman (R-Hillsdale), told The Columbia Paper that the Greenport School on Route 66, which will be vacant at the end of this school year, may also be a viable option to house the homeless instead of the St. Charles Hotel in Hudson. The county recently proposed moving a transitional housing facility for homeless women and families, and a Department of Social Services satellite station into the 139-year-old hotel....The Rural Intelligence blog is reporting that the Preservation League of New York State is conducting a members-only tour (you can sign up on the spot) of two of their “Seven to Save,” both in Columbia County—the Plumb-Bronson House in Hudson (above) and the Jan Van Hoesen House in Claverack today. The tour departs at 1 p.m. from the Plumb-Bronson House, on the grounds of the Hudson Corrections Facility (enter through gate south of Hudson on Worth Avenue/Route 9). Admission is free for members; non-members may join for a $35. The tour will be followed by a Historic Hudson Lecture at 4 p.m. at Stair Galleries, 549 Warren St. in Hudson, for $10.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:28:00 +0000

New Congressman Scott Murphy (D-NY20) voted for H.R.2454 (the American Clean Energy and Security Act) Friday, which passed the House 219 to 212. It was the first time Murphy's vote mattered, as 44 Democrats voted against the measure that works to slow the pace of global warming. Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth also opposed the measure, saying it didn't begin to solve the earth's problems. The bill sets a limit on emissions of heat-trapping gases while allowing emitters to trade pollution permits, or allowances, among themselves....The New York State Senate again failed Thursday to act on any items important to the people of New York. Senate democrats, however, did manage to hold a moment of silence for Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett....Austerlitz adopted zoning regulations, according to ccScoop. Anyone who would like to serve a five-year term on the town's new Zoning Board of Appeals, should send applications to the Town of Austerlitz, P.O. Box 238, Spencertown, NY 12165 by July 9.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:25:00 +0000

Baer says St. Charles off the table, for now
http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/06/26/news/news01.txt

HUDSON - Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, said Thursday that the county would no longer consider moving a transitional housing facility for homeless women and families, and a Department of Social Services satellite station into the 139-year-old St. Charles Hotel. Instead, the county will try to move the homeless facility to the former Charles Williams School in Hudson, which Baer, and County Commissioner of Social Services Paul Mossmann, Supervisors The Rev. Edward Cross, D-Hudson 2nd, William Hughes, D-4th, Richard Keaveney, R-Canaan, toured Thursday morning.

Local school graduation levels lower in Greene
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/06/25/news/doc4a42f8f283f80989196276.txt

GREENE COUNTY - The percentage of students finishing high school in the traditional four years rose in exactly half of the region’s 18 districts last year and fell in the other half, according to data released this week by the state Education Department. In Ulster County, the 2004 cohort — students who were freshmen in the fall of that year — had a better four-year graduation rate than the 2003 cohort in six of the nine school districts. But there were declines in three of the four Greene County school districts, and a significant rise only in the Germantown school district in southern Columbia County.

Republicans select Coyne, Suttmeier, Ostrander, Miller and Feeney
http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2009/06/26/news/news3.txt

CAIRO - Cairo Republicans selected Town Supervisor John Coyne, Councilman Raymond Suttmeier and Tax Collector Emily Feeney and Douglas Ostrander Sr. (for town council), and Leland Miller for Town Justice. Councilwoman Alice Tunison and current Justice Thomas Baldwin are not seeking re-election.

Senate squabble jeopardizes Austerlitz land sale
http://www.ccscoop.com/news/09june/25-landsale/landsale.html

AUSTRLITZ - The State Assembly on Tuesday approved the sale of two acres of park land in the Town of Austerlitz to the Austerlitz Fire Company, but the chaotic battle for power between Republicans and Democrats in the State Senate has put the issue on hold. The land would be used to construct a new Austerlitz fire station.

New York State Senate fails to act again
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/16151/senate-democrats-pile-on-paterson/

ALBANY - The New York State Senate continues its failure to do anything, again not passing any legislation Thursday. Gov. Paterson threatened to not pay the Senators. But one Senator bragged that he was getting paid more for not working for the people of New York. "Each day spent in Albany, every Senator is paid an additional stipend of $160.00, which is paid by the people of New York," said Democratic/Republican Sen. Ruben Diaz, Sr. Instead of passing bills, State Senator Kevin Parker, an indicted Brooklyn Democrat, told reporters Paterson is a "coke snorting, staff-banging governor." Rudy Guiliani may be running for the Republican nomination for governor.

Molinaro to hold public meetings
Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,I,C–Red Hook) and staff will host mobile office hours throughout his district this summer. The schedule for Assemblyman Marc Molinaro’s summer 2009 mobile office hours in Columbia County is as follows: Hillsdale Town Hall, July 7, 9-11 a.m., Main Street; Austerlitz Town Hall, July 7, 12-2 p.m., Route 203; Ghent Town Hall, July 9, 9-11 a.m., 2306 State Route 66; Stockport Town Hall, July 9, 12-2 p.m., 2787 Atlantic Avenue; Philmont Village Hall, August 4, 9-11 a.m., 124 Main Street; Greenport Town Hall, August 6, 9-11 a.m., 600 Town Hall Drive.

LIVE TONIGHT:

"Cats the Musical" at Columbia-Greene Community College, Main Building, Dining Room, Fri-Sat, 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Adults $12, Seniors $9, Juniors $8, Under 6, free. For reservations call 731-3340.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:06:00 +0000

The 12534 blog shows off an image of the St. Charles Hotel, from an old postcard. Columbia County officials are trying to turn the 139-year-old hotel into a homeless shelter and Department of Social Services satellite office.

With contentious debate, Taghkanic ZBA signs off on Wilzig proposal
http://www.ccscoop.com/news/09june/24-wilzig/ZBA.html

TAGHKANIC - The Taghkanic Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday voted 3-1 that the controversial sporting course/racetrack proposed by Alan Wilzig is a recreational use permitted by the town zoning code, with Moisha Blechman as lone dissenter. "The majority of the ZBA... finds the recreational sporting course proposal qualifies as a recreational use.... The findings are complete and will be forwarded to the Town Clerk,” said board Chairman James Romaine.

Camadine bid sets up challenge at GOP caucus
http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2009/06/24/news/news3.txt

CAIRO - Former Greene County lawmaker Michael Camadine will challenge incumbent John Coyne for the Republican nomination for Cairo town supervisor at the party's caucus tonight. Camadine lost to Democrat Harry Lennon in the 2006 race for county legislature.

Tivoli Day
http://tivolitype.blogspot.com/2009/06/tivoli-day.html

TIVOLI - Due to a lack of ... ahh ... preparation, Tivoli Day has been rescheduled for Saturday, August 1. Do not despair. It will be worth the wait. As details are dreamed up, we'll keep you posted.

Gillibrand proposes milk price plans for farmers
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/June09/24/milk_price-24Jun09.html

It costs dairy farmers $17.58 to produce a hundredweight of milk yet at the present time, the market is paying only $13.33 and Senator Kristen Gillibrand wants to do something to aid Hudson Valley dairy farmers and those around the rest of the state. Gillibrand is proposing legislation that would double the amount of money farmers get from the MILC program retroactive to the low point of the crisis in March. She will also introduce legislation that would index the MILC rate of $16.94 to inflation. Westtown, NY dairy farmer Brian Ford said Gillibrand’s proposals are a start. “What she’s doing is a band aid, help for now, but we’re running into big company manipulation,” he said. “Two companies have 80 percent of the (milk processing) market share so where do we stand. There are government regulations, but these big companies get around that but we saw that with Wall Street. Who’s watching whom?”

State Senate Mess Deepens
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=813062

ALBANY -- After more than two weeks of deadlock, all 62 members of the state Senate showed up in the chamber Tuesday in response to Gov. David Paterson's call for a special session. At the end of a frenzied day that included dueling sessions in the same chamber, it was unclear if any of the legislation passed by either faction would stand up to legal scrutiny. "I've been a public servant here for over 20 years," Paterson said in a news conference about an hour after both sides stood at ease, "and what I've seen in the last two weeks in the Senate disgusts me. The Senate's inaction is a dereliction of duty. They've clearly forgotten who they serve."

State appraisal rules contributing to housing slump?
http://blog.timesunion.com/business/realtors-association-askes-for-delay-of-appraisal-rules/13916/

That's what the National Association of Realtors thinks. It is asking Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to delay the implementation of new appraisal rules, because it believes the changes are having a detrimental effect on the housing market.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:56:00 +0000

Hudson and Baer continue squabble over DSS, homeless
The city of Hudson continues its battle with Columbia County Board of Supervisors chairman Art Baer. Last night, according to The Register-Star, the Hudson City Common Council voted unanimously to enact a new local law establishing a one year moratorium on the “expansion of existing, and the creation of new, transitional housing and homeless shelters, in excess of four units, within the city.” The vote was meant to trump a recent effort by county officials to convert the historic St. Charles Hotel, on Park Place in Hudson, into a transitional housing facility and Department of Social Services satellite station. The new law now faces a public hearing, and then a likely disapproval from the Columbia County Planning Board, that would then require a super majority vote of the Common Council. And Schoolhouse Rock would then have to turn the whole thing into a song. Members of the Common Council told The Register-Star they would scrap the whole thing if they get a good deal from Baer to use the Charles Williams school, on the corner of Robinson and Second streets, for the homeless shelter. Before he called such negotiations blackmail, but now Baer is chirping about this idea. “(Charles Williams) is a breakthrough, no question about it," Baer said in The Register-Star. "We are not interested in any solution, that in any way, would detract from the viability of the city of Hudson.” The day before, again in The Register-Star, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce officially opposed the hotel plan. And, also in The Register-Star, Columbia County building and facilities Chairman Roy Brown announced that an “Opinion of Cost” solicitation for a Department of Social Services center is being prepared for both the renovation of the former Ockawamick School building and a new, 40,000-square-foot office building and parking garage at Columbia Street and Fourth Street in Hudson. And Brown met with Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney met with Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera about a potential purchase of the One City Center property. Finally, The Register-Star is reporting that Baer is facing something of an insurrection in his home town of Hillsdale, where 85 residents signed a petition to put Baer's bid to buy the former Hillsdale library building for the town up to a vote.

State releases grad data; HCSD four-year rate up
http://educationinhudson.blogspot.com/2009/06/hcsd-grad-rate-up-still-below-statewide.html

Unmuffled reports that the the Hudson City School District's graduation rate was 66 percent, up seven percent, but still lowest in Columbia County. Other rates: Chatham Central School District, 85 percent; Germantown Central School District, 92 percent; Ichabod Crane Central School District, 82 percent; New Lebanon Central School District, 87 percent; Taconic Hills Central School District, 81 percent. The statewide average was 70.9 percent, according to the New York State Education Department.

Copake expects to become shining example
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/the-news/312-by-diane-valden

The Copake Town Board will install solar panels on the Town Hall roof offsetting 1,246,256 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years. Planting 129 acres of trees would have the same effect.

Live Tonight:

Black History Curriculum Guide Unveiled. "Been Laborin' Here All These Long Years and Fruits of Our Labor" will be introduced in the auditorium of Montgomery C. Smith Middle School at noon.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:39:00 +0000

Comments Sought On County Mitigation Plan for Hazards
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/06/22/news/doc4a3ee06fa3308319822587.txt

CATSKILL — Greene County is seeking comments on a draft hazard mitigation plan that would make the county and its towns and villages eligible for federal aid to lessen the impact of disasters. Warren Hart, the director of the county’s Economic Development and Planning Office, said comments will be incorporated into a final draft before the proposed All-Hazards Mitigation Plan is adopted by participating municipalities. Each municipality will adopt an annex, a portion of the countywide plan that specifically deals with that municipality’s area. The county will adopt the overall plan, he said.

Greene County Names New Historian
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/06/21/news/doc4a3db29369062082871403.txt

CATSKILL — David C. Dorpfeld of Coxsackie has been appointed Greene County historian to replace Raymond Beecher, who died last year. Dorpfeld will be paid a salary rate of $1,800 per year for a term that will expire at the end of 2009. “We’re never going to replace Mr. Beecher, but I think Dave will do a very outstanding job because he’s passionate about history,” said county Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, R-Coxsackie. Speenburgh said Dorpfeld is retired from a state job and has been a part of the Greene County Historical Society for more than 30 years. He described Dorpfeld is a “very nice man” who volunteers two days a week at the Vedder Memorial Library in Coxsackie.

Senate GOP goes ahead with 3 p.m. session
http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/15870/senate-gop-goes-ahead-with-3-pm-session/

ALBANY – According to a press release, the New York State Senate plans to take up 74 bills today at 3 p.m., including a revenue extender affecting Greene County.

Senators look into rising gas prices
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/June09/22/gasprice_sens-22Jun09.html

MID-HUDSON – Prices at the pump have risen by as much as 60 cents per gallon in the last two months and New York’s two U.S. senators want to look into it. On the one hand, it could be the annual summertime spike in prices, but there could be another factor, said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

WGXC news

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:18:00 +0000

(WGXC volunteers meet with Prometheus Radio group members in Haines Falls. Left-to-right, Tom Roe, Galen Joseph-Hunter, Echo Roe, Maka Munoz, Kaya Weidman, Dharma Dailey, Sharp, Andalusia Knoll, Jake, Steve Pearce, Quinn Dailey, Dee Dee Halleck, Pete Tridish, Sakura Saunders.)

What's new with WGXC?

WGXC may not have a huge public profile at the moment, but many things are going on behind the scenes so we can launch a new community radio station on 90.7-FM next year. Folks are working on policy manuals, financial plans, and the new WGXC Newsroom blog. We are getting closer to announcing a studio in the city of Hudson, and are working with the Catskill Community Center to put a studio in Greene County. A permanent, multi-page WGXC web site is under construction and will be revealed soon with an events calendar, audio and video archives, and more. Designers have created a logo, a slogan ("hands-on radio"), and will produce a brochure soon. We will learn whether we get the PTFP grant (which pays for 50 percent of new equipment for non-commercial radio stations) in September instead of October. And this past weekend, several folks from the Prometheus Radio Group in Philadelphia spent time in Germantown, Acra, and Haines Falls talking about radio with WGXC volunteers.

WGXC summer events:

Sun. July 5, 6-9 p.m. Annea Lockwood and NYSAE at Catskill Point. Join free103point9 for an evening of listening at Catskill's Historic Catskill Point on the Hudson River. Sound Mapping will feature a live performance from members of the New York Society of Acoustic Ecology (NYSAE), a conversation between artists Alexis Bhagat and Annea Lockwood, and Annea Lockwood's canonical work "A Sound Map of the Hudson River." Free admission. This event is presented in conjunction with WGXC-FM, a project of free103point9. Catskill Point, 1 Main St. at Hudson River, Catskill, NY.

Fri. July 17, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. "RIP: A Remix Manifesto" film/Eclectic Method performance. Screening of remix documentary film "RIP: A Remix Manifesto" and performance from Eclectic Method - London natives Jonny Wilson, Ian Edgar and Geoff Gamlen - who make audio-visual mash-ups featuring television, film, music and video game footage sliced and diced into blistering, post-modern dance- floor performances. Live web stream on WGXC Online Radio. At Jason's Upstairs Bar, 521 Warren St., Hudson, NY. 518-828-UPUP.

Thu. July 23-Sun. July 26 WGXC at Greene County Youth Fair. Presented by the Greene County Agricultural Society, with cows, goats, dogs, chickens, horses, and more. Live performances, workshops, and speakers. WGXC will record performances and interviews, and hopefully create a live online radio stream of the event. WGXC is looking for youth to host the event, interview participants, and run the radio show. A complete schedule of events, performers, speakers, and more will be announced soon. Live from Cairo Town Park.

Sun. Aug. 16 at Rip Van Winkle Wacky Raft Race Sponsored by the Greene County Economic Development, Tourism and Planning to benefit Community Action of Greene County. WGXC is looking for hosts for the event, to interview participants, and run a radio show. Live from Dutchman's Landing in Catskill.

Please let us know if you would like to help organize, set-up, be an on-air personality, clean-up, work with youth, or otherwise volunteer at any of theses events.

Please let us know if you would like to organize any fundraisers for WGXC.

E-mail info@WGXC.org to volunteer or for more information.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:19:00 +0000

Mid-Hudson Cable will air a recording of the community workshop held at Shiloh Baptist Church in Hudson on June 3 about the potential move of the Department of Social Services out of that city. The recording, by Dan Udell, will air at 8 p.m. tonight, and on Monday, June 29 and Monday, July 6 on the cable provider's Ch. 11 public access channel, according to a press release from Linda Mussmann of TSL and the Bottom Line Party. Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, Supervisor Ed Cross (D-Hudson2), Supervisor Bill Hughes (D-Hudson4), Supervisor Roy Brown (R-Germantown), Supervisor Joe Finn (D-Hudson3), Supervisor Bart Delaney (R-Hudson5), and Columbia County Public Works Commissioner Dave Robinson appear at the workshop. Mussmann also has created a web site about the move, http://dsswatch.blogspot.com, will help organize a protest rally at 6:30 p.m. before the next Board of Supervisors meeting will be Wednesday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m....A public hearing on the revised Ancram Comprehensive Plan will take place tonight at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, according to ccScoop. This is the second public hearing after 40-50 comments earlier this year....The Kinderhook Democrats choose their slate for this fall's election, according to The Register-Star, with incumbent Natalie Kolb, Town Justice; newcomer Todd DiGrigoli, Town Board; incumbent John Ruchel, Highway Superintendent; newcomer Helen Schneider, Town Board And incumbent Doug McGivney for Town Supervisor.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:16:00 +0000

Art Baer, the chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, sat down with The Register-Star after taking a lot of heat in that paper the last few months without much comment. Baer, R-Hillsdale, generally continued his fight with politicians in Hudson in the 90-minute interview, blaming the criticism on meetings being held in that city, and saying that Hudson officials think only of themselves. Baer has been criticized for proposing the county move the Department of Social Services from Hudson to Ockawamick and close and relocate the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center from Philmont. Just this week he stirred up another storm by advocating moving homeless people into the 139-year-old St. Charles Hotel in Hudson. "His major frustration has been his inability to communicate with the public," The Register-Star wrote. “We don’t have media, we don’t have coverage,” Baer said to the media.....The Daily Mail reports that Catskill's revised subdivision law will be available for public review next week, with a public hearing soon after....The Austerlitz Town Board adopted a zoning law Thursday, according to The Register-Star. Town Supervisor George P. Jahn also said that the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont should not be moved to Kinderhook at the town's meeting....The Town of Durham wants to put a cell phone antenna at 44 McAfferty Road, according to The Daily Mail. Some residents, who probably put cell phones next to their brains occasionally, say the 90-foot-high tower will give them cancer. The town kept the public hearing open until June 30.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 03:44:00 +0000

Time to end name game
The Greenville Press, no web site, no links

RENSSELAERVILLE - Linda Fenoff reports in The Greenville Press that 40 members of the Chase family hold elected, appointed, or paid positions in Rensselaerville. The town's Budget Committee wants a job description for all appointed town positions. A nepotism law failed there last year, but the code of ethics was updated. The budget committee has also recommended that the Town Board use a zero-base budget, starting each budget proposal from zero rather than basing each year's budget on the past year.

Greene Rooms
http://seeinggreene.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

GREENE COUNTY - Dick May's Seeing Greene blog digs deeper into one of his favorite subjects, the Friar Tuck Resort on Route 32. Friar Tuck recently filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and, according to May, owes, "Ulster Savings Bank ($3.1 million), tax authorities ($400,000), a fuel supplier ($266,000), and food providers." May uses the story to troll Trip Advisor for consumer reviews of local resorts. He finds that Friar Tuck, Catskill's Quality Inn, and Hunter's Kaatskill Mountain Club get bad reviews, while Freehold's Sunny Hill; Acra's Lange’s Grove Side and Acra Manor; Windham's Catskill Lodge, Catskill Maison, Hotel Vienna, and Thompson House; Hunter's Hunter Inn and Scribner Hollow Lodge all get glowing notices.

Central Hudson Raising Rates
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/06/19/news/doc4a3b0de85bb6a375184110.txt

POUGHKEEPSIE — Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. won permission from the state Public Service Commission on Thursday to raise the rate it charges for electricity delivery by 8.5 percent and the rate it charges for natural gas delivery by 23.5 percent. The rate hikes, which take effect July 1, were approved in a unanimous vote by commissioners, who agreed with the recommendations of state Administrative Law Judges David Prestemon and Jeffrey Stockholm that Central Hudson be allowed to raise its revenue projections by $38 million for electricity delivery and $13.6 million for natural gas delivery.

Unemployment Down In Greene County
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/06/19/news/doc4a3b0c0387195406564277.txt

ALBANY — New York’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in May, up from 7.7 percent in April, the state Labor Department announced on Thursday. The may rate is the state’s highest since February 1993. Locally, the unemployment rates rose from April to May in Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, Orange and Sullivan counties. Joblessness decreased slightly in Greene and Delaware counties. In New York City, the May unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, an increase from 7.8 in April 2009 and a significant jump from 4.8 percent in May 2008. The highest rate outside New York City — 9.7 percent — was in Steuben County. The lowest unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in Tompkins County.

LIVE TONIGHT:

First Gay Pride Festival in Greene County, all day, Catskill with Chrissy Budzinski, Anthony Michael, Nedra Johnson, Cantinero, The Young Brothers, Amy Serrago, and others.

Downtown Ensemble with Brian Dewan, accordian, Bill Hellerman, voice, Yvette Perez, vocals/keyboard, and Peter Zummo, trombone, 8 p.m. at Hudson Opera House. $15.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:15:00 +0000

Register-Star reporter Jamie Larson claims Columbia County Board of Supervisor Chairman Art Baer, "asked the Register-Star to get [Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera] to sit down with him today to reopen the discussion about [using the] Charles Williams [School] or other sites as possibilities." The story begins with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce holding an emergency economic forum Thursday at Hudson’s Stageworks Theater. Larson gets Baer on the phone to comment on all the outrage from the Hudson business community about his plan to move the homeless into the city's St. Charles Hotel. "Baer said St. Charles wouldn’t be on the table if Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera hadn’t 'stiff-armed' talks two years ago to use the old Charles Williams School as a homeless shelter," the story says. Scalera, reached by the reporter, agrees to meet Baer anytime. Scalera says talks to use the Charles Williams School for the homeless broke down when Baer began pushing for the Department of Social Services to move out of Hudson to the Ockawamick school in Claverack. Baer then calls this typical political dealing "blackmail," clearly raising an even bigger fight instead of trying to solve an issue. Linda Mussmann from TSL and the Bottom Line Party says Baer's actions are, "the dismantling of Hudson as the county seat.”... Baer also visited Washington D.C., according to the Register-Star, to lobby New York representatives for federal stimulus funding for $4 million in improvements to the museum and visitor center at the Olana State Historic Site; $3 million for an emergency communications system; $9 million for the Greenport water and sewer system; $200,000 to study a countywide broadband initiative; and $1 million to extend wastewater and sewer systems to Hudson Park on Route 23 in Livingston.... U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy put in a $15 million federal funding request on behalf of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency for “transportation infrastructure improvements to State Route 9W” and an “expansion of Exit 21B/New York State Thruway, a flyover Bridge connecting 9W, and an internal public road system connecting the flyover bridge and Kalkberg Commerce Park,” according to the Daily Mail.... The Kinderhook Republicans endorsed Patrick Grattan as town supervisor, Patsy Leader and Glenn Smith for seats on the Town Board, and Lisa Mills for town justice and cross-endorsed Democrat incumbent Highway Superintendent John Ruchel Jr. for a second term in office, according to the Register-Star....While the New York State Senate Republicans and Democrats can't agree on anything else to start working, they can agree to keep taking your money. From the Albany Times-Union's Capitol Confidential blog, Marissa Shorenstein, spokeswoman to Gov. David Paterson is quoted:

“The Governor’s office earlier today looked into the question of whether or not members of the Senate are eligible to receive their salaries with no presiding officer agreed upon to authorize payment. It turns out that both conferences have come together and signed appropriate documentation to continue receiving their salaries. So there is a power sharing agreement — but it only includes getting paid. If the leadership of the Senate can agree on a way to keep getting paid, they can reach an agreement to get back to work for the people of New York.”

LIVE TONIGHT:

Multimedia work by Fawn Potash and Pat Horner at Oriole 9, 17 Tinker Street, Woodstock, 5-7 p.m.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:06:00 +0000

Town meetings to air on public access channel
CAIRO - The Cairo Town Board extended Mid-Hudson Cable's contract at their regular board meeting last night. At the public hearing about renewing the company's franchise agreement before the board meeting, Cairo Supervisor John M. Coyne and council member Janet Schwarzenegger both advocated recording town meetings for Mid-Hudson's public access channel. Schwarzenegger said Mid-Hudson recently gave the town a camera to record any meetings, and Coyne said, "We would like to have somebody volunteer to run that camera so that these meetings can be videotaped and can be played on their public-access channel" and a man in the audience volunteered.

Columbia County Conservative Party backs candidates
http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/06/18/news/news03.txt

County-wide — Sheriff, David W. Harrison Jr.; Coroner, Angelo M. Nero.
Ancram — Supervisor, Thomas R. Dias.
Austerlitz — Supervisor, Jeffrey Braley Sr.; Town Council, Matthew Verenazi and Carol Pinto; Clerk, Sue Haag; Highway Superintendent, Robert Meehan, Jr.
Canaan — Supervisor, Richard Keaveny; Town Council, David Patzwahl; Clerk/Tax Collector, Charlotte L. Cowan; Highway Superintendent, Bernhard Meyer.
Town of Chatham — Highway Superintendent, Joseph M. Rickert.
Claverack — Supervisor, James Keegan; Town Council, James S. Folz and Michael S. Johnston; Clerk/Tax Collector, Mary J. Hoose.
Clermont — Highway Superintendent, James Potts Jr.’ Clerk, Mary Helen Shannon.
Gallatin — Supervisor, Peter Arnone
Ghent — Supervisor, Larry Andrews; Town Council, Larry Van Brunt and Linda Schlegel-Hess; Clerk, Rose Elliot; Highway Superintendent, Michael E. Losa; Town Justice, David W. Harrison Sr.
Germantown — Highway Superintendent, Richard Jennings.
Greenport — Supervisor, Edward Nabozny; Town Council, Glen Graziano; Town Justice, Robert Brenzel; Highway Superintendent, Richard Otty; Clerk, Sharon Zempko.
Town of Kinderhook — Supervisor, Patrick Grattan; Town Council, Patrice Leader; Town Justice, Lisa Mills.
Hudson — Mayor, Richard Scalera; Supervisor (1st Ward), John Musall; Supervisor (2nd Ward), Tracy Decker; Supervisor (3rd Ward), William Hallenbeck Jr.; Supervisor (4th Ward), Samuel Santiago; Supervisor (5th Ward), Bart F. Delaney Jr.; Alderman (1st Ward), Geeta Cheddie; Alderman (5th Ward), Richard Goetz
Livingston — Supervisor, David Fingar; Town Council, James Guzzi and Joseph Leto; Town Justice, Robert Moore; Highway Superintendent, David Lyons.
Stockport — Town Council, Joseph Salvatore.
Stuyvesant — Supervisor, Valerie Bertram; Town Council, Brian Chittenden and Edward Scott; Clerk, Melissa Naegeli; Town Justice, Joseph Bruno; Town Justice, Carrie O’Hare; Highway Superintendent, Bernie Kowalski.
Taghkanic — Supervisor, Elizabeth Young; Clerk, Cheryl Rogers; Highway Superintendent, Edward Waldron.

Regional Economics Better Than Most
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=810991

A new study released today by the Brookings Institution says this region is faring better than most of the nation's metropolitan areas during the downturn. Foreclosures? We barely have them. The Brookings report says the Capital Region has the second-lowest percentage (0.58 percent) of homes owned by banks. Only Syracuse is better, among the nation's 100 largest metros. Dramatic job cuts? Not here. Brookings says the Capital Region lost 0.5 percent of its employment base during the first three months of 2009. That doesn't sound great, but it's 14th best. (Detroit, by contrast, lost 3 percent of its jobs, the worst rate.)

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:48:00 +0000

The papers are full of stories of outrage over the Columbia County Board of Supervisors attempt to put homeless housing and Department of Social Services satellite station in the St. Charles Hotel in Hudson. The Register Star reports that the Hudson Common Council voted to send the BOS a letter opposing the plan. “I think it’s about time the city of Hudson says it doesn’t want to be stepped on anymore,” Alderman Richard Goetz, R-5th Ward, said, adding, “we want to be consulted. It’s like Iran.” And Department of Public Works Supervisor Robert Perry says the plan would have to go before the Zoning Board of Appeals. Another Register-Star story rounded-up reaction, and showed opposition to the plan will make for odd bedfellows. Tim Shook of the Hudson Valley Economic and Environmental Coalition (the group devoted to supporting St. Lawrence Cement plant a few years ago), is calling for BOS chief Art Baer's resignation; Chamber of Commerce President David Colby has "concerns;" and Columbia Opportunities Director Tina Sharpe said she was “not on board and not opposed.” CCscoop quoted Don Moore, Democratic candidate for Hudson Common Council President, saying, “It’s easy to read this — they are attacking the city.” In The Columbia Paper, Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera asks, "Wouldn’t it be a good idea to include some Hudson officials?”. Linda Mussmann from TSL and the Bottom Line Party is at Columbia County Common Sense reminding everyone how the the Columbia County Human Services committee voted: Chair---Betty Young of Taconic Yes; Dep. Chair---Lynda Scheer of Gallatin Yes; Roy Brown----Germantown Yes; Jesse DeGroodt---Chatham Yes; Ed Cross----Hudson No; Bart Delany---Hudson No; Bill Hughes----Hudson No; Ray Staats----Clermont Yes. Mussmann also reports the proposal next goes to the Finance Committee and then the full board of supervisors....CCscoop has a story about a proposed 100-unit housing project in Stockport between Route 9 and Chester Avenue in the hamlet of Stottville....Union College is reporting that Tivoli's Bard College athletics are joining the Liberty League.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:50:00 +0000

While Hudson city officials and activist continue to fight to keep the Department of Social Services in the city, Board of Supervisors chairman Art Baer has a new plan to move the main DSS offices to Ockawamick, The Register-Star reports. Yesterday the Board of Supervisors' Human Services Committee approved a plan to put homeless housing and a satellite DSS office in the 139-year-old St. Charles Hotel on 16 Park Place. The arrangement could save the county $400,000 a year, Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman said. In the Register-Star, Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera criticized the county for "deliberating and negotiating over something that's going to take place in the city without including city officials. It isn't done anywhere."...The Daily Mail reports that Catskill town planners approved an "Concept Site Plan" for urgent care center medical facility, Urgent Medical Care, for 10 Grandview Ave. A public hearing for the Site Plan is set for 7 p.m. July 6....The unmuffled blog reports that Hudson City schools New York State Education Department test scores dropped in 2006-07 and 2007-08:

According to the recently released data, mean scores increased modestly for students in grades three through six, while scores for seventh and eighth grades increased by 10 and 18 points, respectively (see below). [Students are graded on a scale from the 400's to the upper 700's; 650 is the cut-off between Level 2 and Level 3 (meeting the learning the standards).]

Republicans press for judicial ruling
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=810313&category=REGION

ALBANY - The battle for the state Senate entered a new phase Monday after Sen. Hiram Monserrate officially returned to the Democratic fold, leaving the chamber deadlocked, 31-31, with less than one week left in the scheduled legislative session. After a long day of back-and-forth at the Capitol and the state Supreme Court, both sides sat down to discuss the notion of power sharing -- only to emerge less than a hour later with Republicans insisting that no progress could be made until a judge had decided whether last week's dramatic coup on the Senate floor had been legal and binding. "I have always been clear about my loyalty to the Democratic party," Monserrate said at a midday news conference, where he was joined by Senate Democrats. It came a week after he joined breakaway Democrat Pedro Espada Jr. and the 30-member Republican conference in a shocking coup that ousted the Democrats from their brief majority. Senate Democratic Leader Malcolm Smith began the news conference by introducing Brooklyn's John Sampson as the new "conference leader" who will run its day-to-day operations. While Smith will retain his current title, Sampson is widely acknowledged as the new leader of the Senate Democrats.

TU employees reject company offer
http://albanyguild.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/tu-employees-reject-company-offer/

ALBANY - By a more than three-to-one margin, employees of the Times Union voted today to reject a contract offer that would have given the company the power to outsource any and all jobs and lay off employees regardless of how long they had worked at the newspaper. Publisher George Hearst had insisted on the vote and strongly encouraged members to participate. The members rejected the proposal by a vote of 125 to 35. “Had the membership approved the company’s proposal, we would have respected their decision and been bound by it,” said Guild President Tim O’Brien. “The publisher sought this vote, told members how important it was to him that they vote and he needs to respect their decision. Our members were quite clear on what they found unacceptable in the company’s offer and they have been telling us what changes would make it acceptable. We intend to seek new bargaining dates and to go forward with a renewed spirit of flexibility.”

Central Hudson cuts back, files austerity plan
http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2009/June09/16/CH_aust-16Jun09.html

POUGHKEEPSIE - Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation Monday filed a mandated austerity plan with the New York State Public Service Commission. The agency in May ordered all utilities to present cost cutting plans. The plan outlines cost cuts proposed by Central Hudson through reduced capital expenditures and operating expenses that will provide savings to customers without causing immediate impacts to service, safety or reliability. Measures include temporarily postponing approximately $20 million, or 20 percent, of planned capital expenditures for the year to reduce the associated carrying charges; lowering research and development expenses by $350,000; and freezing executive base salaries.

LIVE TONIGHT:

Informational meeting about Task Force on Student Academic Performance 6 p.m. in the Hudson High School Library.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:03:00 +0000

Linda Mussmann from TSL in Hudson and the Bottom Line Party is organizing a rally at the County Supervisors Building at 401 State Street, Hudson, at 10:30 a.m. today. Mussmann says there will be an announcement from the County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer regarding the Human/Social Services in Columbia County. Baer has been trying to move the Department of Social Services six miles out of Hudson, even though 65 percent of folks who visit DSS live in Hudson....Former Cairo Town Supervisor Joseph Calcavecchia and former Deputy Supervisor Gerard Aprea are in the Daily Mail today defending their past administration after a recent Comptroller's Office audit. They say they asked for the state audit in 2004, though it didn't happen until 2007. They also seem to blame Cairo Town Clerk Tara Rumph. Rumph does charge WGXC reporters different amounts for the same Freedom of Information Act requests....The Daily Freeman reports that the New York State and federal monies are funding ferry service across the Hudson River between Tivoli and Saugerties, as well as replacing a railroad overpass and a 2.5 acre park along the Hudson near Tivoli. The story hints that there is still talk of high speed rail on both sides of the river.

Today's local headlines

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:54:00 +0000

The Greenville Press (no website, no links) reports that Elsie Allan is seeking the Republican nomination to unseat Democrat Sean Frey for the Durham seat in the Greene County Legislature. Les Armstrong, editor Linda L. Fenoff guesses, may also seek the nomination. Fenoff also reports that Greenville legislator Ken Dudley is stepping down, and Republican Greenville Town Supervisor Kevin Lewis will seek his seat.

LIVE TONIGHT:

"The Unbroken Circle of Broken Things" by TrutheaterTheater 7 p.m. Sun. June 14 live from Germantown Tune in radio theater from this Providence, RI group. TrutheaterTheater presents a tale about the unbreakable spirit of love. The company mixes shadows, puppets, song, and dance with live and pre-recorded sound to create a captivating 40-minute journey beyond time and space. A cold soul wanders through a desolate land and encounters a tree. She sees the tree as firewood and proceeds with the intention of cutting it down but stops when three spirits awaken from within the tree: a thief, an alchemist, and an albatross. The three ghosts engage the wanderer with tales of times past and yet to come. Each tale unveils a new plane of reality for the wanderer to enter and leave her worries behind. At Germantown Community Farm, 4872 State Route 9G, Germantown, NY. Listen free on WGXC Online Radio, or donations accepted at the farm.

OPEN CALL: Grant for Columbia County-based artists

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:49:00 +0000

The Boschen Fund For Artists, which supports visual and performing artists and arts groups in the tri-state area, is accepting grant applications through July 1. Applicants must live in Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County, NY; northeast Dutchess County, NY; or northwest Litchfield County, CT.

The Boschen Fund for Artists supports artists working alone or in collaboration, as they advance to the next level of their development or in the presentation of their work in innovative ways. The fund, which was established by photographer Martha Boschen Porter of Salisbury, CT in 1987, accepts applications from visual artists, writers, craftspeople, installation, new media and performance artists, as well as interpretive artists working in dance, music and other areas of performance. Applicants must have been full-time residents of the Berkshire Taconic region for two years prior to applying or demonstrate significant connection to the area.

The Boschen Fund is a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Guidelines and applications are available online at www.berkshiretaconic.org/grantseekers or by calling 413.528.8039.

Catskill's silent radio station doing its yearly soundcheck

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Roe) — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:57:00 +0000

Catskill has its own silent radio station, though once a year it turns on the transmitter for a brief time just so the Federal Communications Commission doesn't take away its license. For the last few weeks, WCKL (560 AM) played a looped Quiet Riot CD and Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" over and over and over again just to avoid being off the air for a full year, beating the FCC's regulations with a technicality.

How does a radio station get to this point?

WCKL broadcasts 1,000 watts during the day and 43 watts at night from Albany to Kingston. The Black United Fund of New York, a nonprofit organization that promotes the social and economic development of the African-American community, bought the station from Concord Media Inc. of Tampa, Fla. for $100,000.

Then-New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer was already investigating the Black United Fund for financial irregularities when they bought the station. “Its investments in real estate have caused it to fall behind in honoring its financial commitments to designated grantees (the employee payroll-selected charities) that are directly supported by payroll contributions from federal, state, municipal, city and corporate employees,” a press release from Spitzer's office said in 2003.

Spitzer replaced the BUF board, and the radio station became less and less of a priority. Eventually, the non-profit group failed to pay rent on its Catskill studios, and its equipment was tossed in the rain.

(At right: WCKL studios in Oct. 2006 on Route 23 in Catskill, after the landlord through the equipment out for non-payment of rent.)

There were reports in 2007 that the FCC had taken away the station's license. From the Northeast Radio Watch:

Stick a figurative fork in WCKL (560 Catskill); after several years in which the station has been silent except for a brief return to the air each June, the FCC has cancelled WCKL's license. (NERW wonders if WCKL's licensee, Black United Fund of New York, didn't let the FCC know that the station made its annual return from the dead last June.)

But the FCC's web site still lists BUF as the station's owner, and still lists WCKL as a radio station. WCKL's license comes up for renewal June 1, 2014.

And since WCKL is silent for most of the year, someone in the listening area might think that is a waste of a public frequency. "Certainly when the station's license comes up for renewal, it should be trivially easy to show that the station is not meeting its responsibility to serve the public interest," wrote "Brett Allan" on NY Radio Message Board.