Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail the Nature Conservancy announced it has purchased a 70-acre parcel on the north side of Platte Clove in Hunter, connecting the lands of the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development on the west with those of the New York State Forest Preserve on the north and east. It encompasses a portion of the Long Path, the 357-mile roundabout hiking trail that runs from New York City up to John Boyd Thacher State Park, near Albany. The parcel was one of only a few at the head of the Clove that remained in private hands. It was acquired from Platte Clove resident Viera Bolcek, whose family has owned it for more than three decades. Bolcek said, “I am so pleased that the Nature Conservancy helped me to protect the land, and that it will always remain undeveloped. It’s a great comfort to know that this beautiful land will be protected for generations to come." Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register-Star newly appointed Columbia Economic Development Corporation CEO and President F. Michael Tucker discussed active economic development projects at a public meeting, Tue., May 24. Tucker said the county Industrial Development Agency has been helping Chicago-based speciality concrete manufacturer Architectural Cast Stone, Inc. with the purchase and expansion of a property in the Gerald R. Simmons Commerce Park in Ghent. The architectural firm produces various concrete features for buildings. Tucker said a total of 28 jobs will be created during the company's first year of operation. It is requesting sales and mortgage tax exemptions from the county. A special board meeting will be held Thu., May 26, to consider the application and set a public hearing for sometime in early June. Other pending CEDC projects include a senior housing development in Claverack, and a distillery in the Routes 9H and 66 corridor. Tucker also updated the board on the $6 million sewer expansion project planned for that same part of the county. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The Daily Freeman is reporting unemployment rates in Mid-Hudson and Catskills counties were lower in April 2016, than last year, the state Department of Labor reported Tue., May 24. Columbia County had the region’s lowest jobless rate last month at 3.7 percent, a reduction of one-half of a percentage point since 2015. Columbia's rate was the second lowest in the state. Greene County's jobless rate was 5.7 percent last month, down from 6.2 percent the previous year. Unemployment declined in Delaware, Dutchess, Sullivan and Ulster counties, as well. The statewide unemployment rate last month was 4.6 percent. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential advocates for a state-level single-payer health care system are stepping up their calls for legislative action before the end of the current session on June 16. While the Assembly passed a bill last year, approval by the Republican-controlled state Senate is unlikely. Assembly member and Health Committee chairman Richard Gottfried said at a rally in Albany, Tue., May 24, under single-payer all state residents “...would be entitled to full, complete health coverage — better health coverage than you or I or anybody in New York has today.” The call for a "Medicare for all" system was not without its detractors. A representative of the fiscally conservative Empire Center said the state's high Medicaid and workers compensation costs should be addressed by improving those programs, not with the adoption of a single-payer health care system. And the New York Health Plan Association accused single-payer supporters for having a “utopian view” of the issue. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential,

Time-Warner Cable reports Kinder Morgan officially withdrew its federal application to build the Northeast Energy Direct pipeline on May 23. The company said a few weeks ago that the market for natural gas meant building the pipeline from Schoharie County across Albany and Rensselaer counties into Massachusetts was not economically viable. Currently, the proposed Constitution Pipeline along I-88 did not get permits from the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Pilgrim Pipeline, proposed largely along I-87, is in the first stages of permit seeking. read the full story at Time-Warner Cable.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is holding field meetings on hay and small grain management throughout the area, including a May 26 workshop on pest management and agronomy of rye, wheat, barley and malting barley, oats at Kukon Brothers LLC, 2329 US Route 9, in Livingston. Lower corn prices mean many farmers are switching to hay, which is why the meetings are focusing on small grains and hay. The meetings are meant for both new and veteran farmers and details are at https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events.cfm
A complete listing of all the meetings is on the WGXC Newsroom.



Thursday, May 26, 6:30 pm—8:30 pm, FIELD MEETING - Late-May Small Grain Management – Pest management and agronomy of rye, wheat, barley and malting barley, oats. Hosted by Kukon Brothers LLC, 2329 US Route 9, Livingston, Columbia Co., NY. 2 DEC credits.

Thursday, June 16, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, FIELD MEETING - Mid-June Small Grain Management – Pest management and agronomy of malting barley, barley, rye, wheat, and oats. Hosted by Dietrich Gehring, Indian Ladder Farm, 342 Altamont Rd. (Altamont/Voorheesville), NY.

Monday, July 11, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – FIELD MEETING and GRAIN HANDLING TOUR – Small Grain Harvesting and Cleaning Management – Hosted by Ben Dobson, Stone House Farm, 3161 US Route 9, Livingston, Columbia Co., NY. A look and discussion of harvest machinery and grain cleaning equipment.

Hay Management
Wednesday, May 11, 6 pm— 8 PM, FIELD MEETING - Rejuvenating and Renovating Hay Fields, hosted by Rick Ketterer, meet at 4268 Frederick Rd. Altamont, Albany Co., NY. Improving hayfields and a discussion about managing native tall fescue.

Wednesday, June 15, 6:30 pm—8:30 pm, Machinery for Bale Handling and June Field Management – Hosted by Mark Flach, F & M Farms, meet at 128 Hamilton Rd., Athens, Greene County., NY.

Wednesday, July 20, 6:30 pm—8:30 pm, FIELD MEETING - Surface Drainage and Summer Hay Management (including weeds) – Hosted by Richard Apple, Apple Tree Farm, 989 Pattersonville Rynex Corner Rd., Princetown (Schenectady), NY.

Put on by Aaron Gabriel, Cornell Cooperative Extension. RSVP appreciated, online at https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events.cfm or Tove Ford at 518-765-3518, tff24@cornell.edu. Questions to Aaron Gabriel, 518-380-1496 or adg12@cornell.edu.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the United States Environmental Protection Agency to add Wappinger Creek in Dutchess County to the Superfund National Priorities List in a letter May 23. The designation would allow for a remedial investigation and feasibility study to proceed, and would make the Dutchess County site eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanup operations on the creek that was polluted by an industrial park used for textile dyeing, manufactured gas plant operations, metal plating, ammunition production, and chemical manufacturing for 180 years with mercury and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons realesed into the creek. “Adding Wappinger Creek to the Superfund National Priorities List would allow the EPA to take the necessary action to build a comprehensive plan to clean the creek. This designation needs to be expedited to help protect the public health and mitigate the damage done to the environment in Dutchess County,” Gillibrand said in a press release. “In the interim, the EPA should also use the comment period as an opportunity to give the community updates on the current situation, and answer questions regarding public health and safety concerns.”


The full text of the Senator’s letter to the EPA is included below:

The Honorable Gina McCarthy
Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460

Dear Administrator McCarthy,
I write in support of adding Wappinger Creek to the National Priorities List of the country’s most hazardous waste sites, making it eligible for remediation under the federal Superfund program. This designation would enable the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct long-term cleanups on the creek.

Located in the village of Wappingers Falls and the towns of Poughkeepsie and Wappinger, Wappinger Creek is a popular Dutchess County fishing and recreation location. However, for over 180 years, an industrial park used for textile dyeing, metal plating, chemical manufacturing, gas plant operations and other activities, remained along the creek. These industries contaminated the water and neighboring communities with mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other hazardous waste. While investigations and cleanups have occurred within the industrial park, contamination remains a risk to the water and local community.

Adding Wappinger Creek to the National Priorities List allows the EPA to take action in order to clean the creek, and protect public health and the environment. With this designation, Wappinger Creek would be eligible for comprehensive contamination cleanups in order to mitigate present harm.

Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senator

Jordan Carleo-Evangelist reports in The Albany Times-Union that Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple and Bart Johnson, head of TSA security operations at upstate airports, want to make it a crime to refuse additional security screening at Albany International Airport. But the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany's Commission on Peace and Justice, and a coalition of local mental health professionals have objected to the proposed law, saying there could be many reasons innocent people might need to leave a screening line. The article says those involved believe this would be the first law of its kind adopted in the United States. The executive board of the Capital District Branch of the New York State Psychiatric Association sent a letter to Albany County legislators saying the law would, "put our patients at unnecessary risk of harm without adding significantly to the safety at the airport." Currently, the proposal is in the legislature's Public Safety Committee. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.

Local weather forecast

Today: Patchy fog before 7 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 84. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 61.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
THURSDAY Mostly sunny. High near 83. Thursday night, isolated showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 61.
FRIDAY: Isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny. High near 88. Friday night, a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 65.

Sunrise today: 5:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:20 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 14:55 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

ATHENS Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CATSKILL Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. at high school, 341 Main St., Catskill (943-4696).
CATSKILL Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill (943-1343).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors Airport Sub-committee meeting, 4 p.m.; Public Works Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Hamlet Revitalization Task Force meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake (329-1234).
HUDSON Common Council Public Works Committee meeting, 5:30 p.m., Legal Committee, 6:15 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
PHILMONT Village Board Workshop meeting, 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).

Science Daily reports that researchers from the University of Stuttgart and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF used radio transmission to send the contents of a conventional DVD in under ten seconds, setting a new world record in wireless data transmission. The transmission was clocked at 6 Gigabits per second over 37 kilometers between Cologne and the town of Wachtberg at 71-76 GHz in the so-called E band, regulated for terrestrial and satellite broadcasting. The researchers said they needed to use the millimeter waves of those frequencies to send the data so fast. The group used a highly directive parabolic antenna to send the signals, and say there are several applications for the technology. It could be used offload data from earth observation satellites down to earth, or the terrestrial radio transmissions in the E-band expand rural broadband, and has can be set up quickly for emergency broadcasts. Read the full story in Science Daily.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Tue., May 24 (3:15). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)