William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that the Department of Environmental Conservation and Thruway Authority declared Sept. 14 that the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline project will have a “potentially significant impact on the environment.” The dual pipeline is proposed to run through Albany, Greene, and Ulster counties near I-87, carrying natural gas into New Jersey, and refined oil back to Albany. The DEC and Thruway Authority declaration means the proposal will undergo an extensive review under the the State Environmental Quality Review Act, with a required public comment period. The agencies cited 20 areas of concern, including the potential impact on agriculture and the possible contamination of water sources. “We’re encouraged by a decision ... that opens the door to a more thorough public review of the proposed Pilgrim Pipelines project, which, if allowed to proceed, could turn the Hudson Valley into a superhighway for transporting crude oil and other petrochemicals,” the Poughkeepsie-based group Scenic Hudson said Sept. 15. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Time Warner Cable News reports that the Rensselaer County Legislature unanimously approved three resolutions Sept. 14 for residents in Hoosick Falls, Petersburgh and other communities dealing with the PFOA contamination in their water. The resolutions request a federal income tax credit for affected residents, a national PFOA standard from the EPA, and to create a public information site for local residents. "We are part of the process here. We are involved in our community. We are here looking out for our constituents so we feel their pain just as well as they do,” said Stan Brownell, the chair of the legislature. New York’s congressional members will be sent the resolutions for review. Read the full story in Time Warner Cable News.

Chris Bragg in The Albany Times Union's Capitol Confidential blog reports that, "Last year in at least two instances, the Cuomo administration speedily filled requests for emails between any of the 200 or so people that work in the governor’s office and specified individuals outside the government. But this week — with a federal probe swirling — the administration said it lacks the technological capacity to fulfill the same kind of requests." The Times Union has requested emails between any Executive Chamber official and the four people with tangential connections to Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s investigation into the Cuomo administration’s upstate development deals. Cuomo records access officer Mongthu Zago said Sept. 12 that requests for emails between the four men and the Executive officials did not “reasonably describe” the records sought. “Unlike the previous requests you referenced, the information you’re seeking covers two long time employees of the administration with communications potentially covering a wide variety of individuals and subject areas. This is an overly broad request as stated in our response,” Zago said. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Jimmy Vielkind reports for Politico New York that while Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticizes Andrew Cuomo, the New York governor, never one to back down from a fight, can hardly muster a bad word about Trump. When Robin Schimminger, a fellow Democrat and the fourth-most senior member of the New York State Assembly, criticized Cuomo and the state’s Start-Up New York program, Cuomo denounced him as an “Albany politician” who should “get in touch with reality” and said he should be “ashamed” for trying to “get a headline.” When Trump criticized the same program for only creating 408 jobs, Cuomo said, “What we’re about is promoting economic development, promoting job growth, and we want to make sure that businesses come to New York and locate in New York.... We want the public to know that. And obviously the message is effective, because the last time I checked, Donald Trump is located in the state of New York.” Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that on Sept. 15, Trump called in to Albany radio station Talk 1300’s “Live from the State Capitol” show, and had more to say about Cuomo. Trump would not directly answer a question about whether Cuomo secretly wants Trump to win so he can run against him for president in 2020. Trump also claimed he got along “very well” with Cuomo, and said that at the 9/11 Memorial event in Manhattan this week, “We had a long talk. We were actually talking to each other for a long while." What about? “Just the weather,” Trump said. “We were just talking about how nice and cool it was. It was actually a beautiful day.”

Local weather forecast:

Today: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise sunny. High near 74. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 50.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 75. Saturday night, a chance of showers. Cloudy. Low around 62. SUNDAY: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy. High near 77. Sunday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 62.

Sunrise today: 6:37 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:01 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 12:23 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the third Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any recurring public meetings scheduled for today.

There's a Rip Van Winkle mural being painted by South African artist Justin Badenhorst, on the Tannersville Antique Center, 6045 Main St. in the mountain town. Photo from Hunter Foundation Facebook page. (You must click on "more details" to see image.)

The forum is no longer available at the WNYT website.

Congressional candidates John Faso and Zephyr Teachout spoke at a candidate forum Sept. 15 in Albany for WAMC and WNYT. The panel of journalists asking questions did not ask follow-up questions, and candidates did not address each other, and no opening or closing statements were allowed. Watch video on the WGXC Newsroom (above). WGXC reached out to both candidates and both media outlets for comment, and spokespersons for Faso and Teachout both claimed WAMC set the rules. Eric Hoppel, the News Director of NewsChannel 13, disputed that, though, writing in e-mail, "the rules were set by representatives of WAMC and the two campaigns." Faso and Teachout are campaigning to replace Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) in the 19th Congressional District that covers the WGXC listening area, and several other counties.

Katie Kocijanski and Greg Hudson are reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia Memorial Health announced Wed., Sept. 14, the Greene Medical Arts Center in Catskill will undergo a four [point] two million dollar renovation in the coming months. Columbia Memorial press director William Van Slyke said the renovations are part of a larger renovation plan that began when the building was purchased in 2013. Van Slyke said a majority of the work to be undertaken will be structural, but there will be an investment in digital infrastructure, as well. Columbia Memorial Health CEO Jay P. Cahalan said earlier this year the health care provider has invested more than $62 million in facilities and equipment since 2008. Van Slyke said this new renovation project will see the hospital’s investment in Greene Medical Arts Center surpass $20 million. He said the investment will make for a more efficient facility, and a "...more efficient facility means more patients receive the care they need. That’s always the goal for the hospital and all the facilities we operate." Read the full story in both the Register-Star and The Daily Mail.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting in The Daily Mail on the impact of the sewer replacement project on some residents of Jefferson Heights. Complaints include torn up sidewalks, a broken flagpole, excessive dirt, lack of notice about the project and traffic challenges. The construction is necessary because the town of Catskill is under consent order for discharging waste into the Catskill Creek. Catskill Town Supervisor Doreen Davis said project contractors went door to door beginning in mid-August, talking with residents and handing out flyers. Information about the project, along with a series of frequently asked questions are posted on the town's Facebook page and website. And a representative of Delaware Engineering will regularly attend upcoming town board meetings and be available for questions, Davis said. She acknowledged the construction will be disruptive, but said the town will benefit when the project is completed. Davis said any damage done to a resident's property would be put right. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star 19th Congressional District candidate Zephyr Teachout and her supporters rallied in front of opponent John Faso’s campaign office in Greenport, Wed., Sept. 14, protesting his position on abortion and other women’s health issues. Democrat Teachout spoke at the rally, criticizing Faso's record. Citing comments about the legalization of abortion made by Faso in the late 1980s, Teachout called his views on abortion extreme and out of touch with the district he wants to represent. Contacted by phone, Faso called the rally a stunt and said, "We can expect more of the same," Faso said he is pro-life, "but I'm no campaigning for Congress to change the law," he said. The rally lasted approximately 20 minutes. Near the end of the event, counter protesters emerged from Faso's office, holding signs and yelling at the assembly. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The Daily Freeman reports that Sara W. McGinty beat Sharon Graff, 2,129-1,856, in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary election for Ulster County Surrogate Court judge. McGinty has been town justice in Rosendale for eight years and has served as a hearing officer for the Kingston Housing Authority since 2010. Graff, also lives in Rosendale and practices law in Kingston. The story does not say who McGinty faces in November and that the current judge, Mary Work, is retiring, having reached the state’s mandatory judicial retirement age of 70. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Cider donuts from Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont.

Indian Ladder Farms in Albany County celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The farm in Altamont, owned by the Ten Eyck Family, is known for its cider donuts, and recently added the Indian Ladder Farmstead Cidery and Brewery using hops and malting barley they grow. When Indian Ladder Farms opened, the Environmental Protection Fund reports, there were more than 60 commercial fruit farms in Albany County, but not there are only two. The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, the Open Space Institute, New York's Farmland Protection Program have bought the farms development rights, so the 317 acres will continue to be farmland.

Steve Eder reports in The New York Times that New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman said Sept. 13 that his office will investigate presidential candidate Donald Trump’s nonprofit Trump Foundation. Schneiderman is looking at a political donation the foundation made to the Florida attorney general just before she declined to investigate Trump University. Trump paid a $2,500 penalty to the Internal Revenue Service because that 2013 contribution violated tax regulations. “We have been concerned that the Trump Foundation may have engaged in some improprieties,” Schneiderman said. The Trump campaign fought back, with Jason Miller, a senior aide, saying, “Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is a partisan hack who has turned a blind eye to the Clinton Foundation for years and has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.” Three years ago, Schneiderman sued Trump and Trump University, saying that students had been defrauded out of thousands of dollars. Trump also denies those charges, and that case is pending. Trump also contributed $12,500 to Schneiderman’s 2010 campaign in 2010, then filed an ethics complaint against him that the state ethics panel declined to pursue. Read the full story in The New York Times.

Photo from Vroman's Nose Preservation Corporation Facebook page.

Timothy Knight reports in The Watershed Post that twice this summer hikers have fallen off the cliffs of Vroman's Nose, a popular hiking mountain in Schoharie County, and now a local fire chief wants something done. The latest fall, in August, involved emergency responders from the Canajoharie, Conesville, Huntersland, Middleburgh, and Rural Grove Fire Departments. Middleburgh Fire Chief Michael Devlin has asked the committee that operates Vroman’s Nose to consider safety changes to the trails that run along the 600-foot cliffs. The Vroman's Nose Preservation Corporation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1983, owns and runs the attraction. Devlin wants better signage and larger paths, but a representative of the Vroman's Nose Preservation Corporation declined to comment. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.

Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that a man who days ago committed suicide and was under investigation for fraud won an election to go back to the State Assembly on Sept. 13. Republican Assemblyman Bill Nojay won the primary election against the live Rick Milne, the mayor of Honeoye Falls, but, because Nojay is dead, he will not face Democrat Barbara Baer in November. Instead, the county Republican chairmen from the 133rd district in the Finger Lakes will choose the live body that will face Baer in November. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Dan Udell recorded the Hudson Common Council meeting Sept. 12, and uploaded it to YouTube.

Local weather forecast:

Today: Sunny. High near 70. Thursday night, patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear. Low around 47.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
FRIDAY: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 76.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Saturday night, a chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 62.

Sunrise today: 6:36 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:03 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 12:26 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Today is the third Thursday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

AUSTERLITZ Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COXSACKIE-ATHENS Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at middle school, 24 Sunset Boulevard, Coxsackie (731-1850).
GHENT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors meeting, 8 a.m. at IDA Office, 270 Mansion Street, Coxsackie (741-5500).
GREENE County Fire Advisor Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Greene County Emergency Control and Training Center, 25 Volunteer Drive, Cairo (622-3548).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 3211 Church St., Kinderhook (784-2233). STUYVESANT Joint Zoning Law workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Planning Board public hearing on site plan review application for Crown Fuels, 7:10 p.m. at Town Hall, Main St., Hensonville (734-4170).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news headlines for Wed., Sept. 14 (6:16). (Produced by Philip Grant.)