Katie Kocijanski is reporting in The Daily Mail Greene County has been declared lead agency in the first steps of the environmental review process for the proposed county jail project. The Legislature's Public Safety Committee received an update on the state environmental review process from Warren Hart, director of the county Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Department at a meeting, Mon., May 16. Hart explained that a mitigation plan for the archeological and animal species must be developed for the proposed jail site located south of the entrance of the Greene Correctional Facility in Coxsackie. Hart said native species of bats, owls and hawks could be impacted by the construction. The state Department of Environmental Conservation will advise the county on a mitigation plan for all species. There is also an investigation underway to determine what areas of the property should be avoided so not to not disturb any historic or archeological resources. The jail committee approved a land use change for the site, as well. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Jordan Carleo-Evangelist is reporting in the Times Union the Albany City Council took action late Mon., May 16, to formally oppose the Pilgrim Pipeline project. The resolution that passed condemned the project as an environmental risk and public health hazard. In so doing, Albany joins more than two dozen other New York communities opposed to the proposed 178-mile double pipeline that would move Bakken crude from the Port of Albany to northern New Jersey, and then send refined crude back north to Albany, largely along the I-87 corridor. The resolution unanimously approved by lawmakers Monday night carries no legal weight. However, environmental advocates coordinating opposition to the Pilgrim project said they were hopeful the vote would send a message to the pipeline's investors that the project was not viable. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Voters statewide go to the polls Tue., May 17, to approve budgets for the 2016-17 school year and to elect Board of Education members. In Columbia and Greene counties, districts are seeking tax levy increases ranging from a .5 [point five] percent decrease in the Coxsackie-Athens district, to a high of 2.15 percent in the Hudson district. The majority of board races in the immediate area are uncontested. At least two districts offer a write-in opportunity for board candidates. Go to WGXC [dot] org, and click on "Newsroom" for more details.
Columbia County
Chatham Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $30.5 million spending plan, including a .8856 percent tax levy increase, for the 2016-17 school year. Three board seats are open. The names of six candidates will appear on the ballot: Craig Simmons, Steve Gilger, Wayne Coe, Muriel Faxon and Melony Spock.
Polls open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Mary E. Dardess Elementary School (50 Woodbridge Ave., Chatham).
Germantown Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $14.8 million spending plan, including a .64 percent tax levy increase, for the 2016-17 school year. Voters are also being asked to approve a second proposition to implement a system of walk-in voter registration on a daily basis at the district offices. Two board seats are open. The names of three candidates will appear on the ballot: Ralph DelPozzo, Lester Olsson and George Sharpe Sr.
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at Germantown Central School Lobby (123 Main St., Germantown).
Hudson City School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $45.5 million spending plan, including a 2.15 percent tax levy increase, for the 2016-17 school year. Three board seats are open: One five-year term, effective May 17; one three-year term, effective June 30; and one partial term seat, effective May 17 through June of 2018. The names of two candidates will appear on the ballot: Sumayyah Shabazz, and Linda Hopkins; Wilette Jones and Thomas DePietro, are pursuing a write-in opportunity. [Ed. note: DePietro is an active WGXC community programmer.]
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at John L. Edwards Primary School (360 State St., Hudson); Greenport Pumpber Company No. 1 Fire House (216 Green St., Hudson); and A.B. Shaw Fire House (67 NY Route 23, Claverack).
Ichabod Crane Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $38.1 million spending plan, including a .67 percent tax levy increase, for the 2016-17 school year. Voters are also being asked to approve a second proposition for the purchase of four school buses at a cost not to exceed $394,000. Three board seats are open. The names of four candidates will appear on the ballot: Michael Stead, Matthew Nelson, Anthony Welcome and Jeffrey Ouellette.
Polls open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Ichabod Crane High School Gymnasium (2910 U.S. 9, Valatie).
New Lebanon Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $12.6 million spending plan, which requires no tax levy increase. Four board seats are open: Three seats are for three-year terms; one seat is for two years to fill an unexpired term. The names of two candidates will appear on the ballot: Timothy Lambert and Sharon Putnam.
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at Walter B. Howard Elementary gymnasium (1478 Route 20, New Lebanon).
Taconic Hills Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $37.2 million spending plan, including a 2 percent tax levy increase. Four board seats are open. The names of five candidates will appear on the ballot: William Arp, Stephen Sanburn, Kevin Maisenbacher, Bonnie Torchia and Christine Perry.
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at Taconic Central School, Vets Room (73 County Route 11A, Craryville).

Greene County
Cairo-Durham Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $29 million spending plan, including a 1.19 percent tax levy increase. Voters will also be asked to approve three other propositions: To authorize the purchase of five school buses at a price not to exceed $443,000; authorize the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund; and, approve the purchase of a parcel of land adjacent to Cairo Elementary School. Three board seats are open, but no published information is available on the candidates.
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. at Cairo-Durham Middle School cafeteria (1301 NY-145, Cairo).
Catskill Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $39.4 million spending plan, including a .2 percent tax levy increase. Three board seats are open. The names of three candidates -- all incumbents -- will appear on the ballot: Andrew Jones, Christine Bower-Kirch and Sasha Kubicek.
Polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Catskill High School gymnasium (343 West Main St., Catskill).
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $30 million spending plan, including a tax levy decrease of .5 percent. Three board seats are open. The names of three candidates will appear on the ballot: Joseph Garland III, Michael Donahue and Maureen Hanse.
Polls open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Coxsackie Elementary School (24 Sunset Blvd., Coxsackie) and E.J. Arthur Elementary School (51 3rd St, Athens).
Greenville Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $29.5 million spending plan, including a tax levy increase of .99 percent. Voters will also be asked to approve two public library proposals, for Greenville Public Library and Rensselaerville Public Library. Two board seats are open. the names of two candidates (both incumbents) will appear on the ballot: Thomas Connolly and Jennifer Howard.
Polls open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Scott M. Ellis Elementary School cafeteria (4976 NY-81, Greenville).
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District
In addition to approving the district's 2016-17 spending plan, voters will be asked to approve the purchase of two school buses at a price not to exceed $90,000. Two board seats are open: One five-year term and one, one-year term, effective May 18.
Voting times not published. Residents vote at Hunter Elementary School (7794 Main Street, Hunter).
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District
Voters are being asked to approve a $11.7 million spending plan, including a tax levy increase of .65 percent. One board seat is open. The name of one candidate will appear on the ballot: Teri Martin .
Polls open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Wyndham-Ashland-Jewett School cafeteria (Main St., Windham).

Julia Reischel is reporting at the Watershed Post a planned motorcycle protest against Islamberg, an African-American Sufi Muslim community in the Catskills, backfired on its organizers this weekend. When protesters showed, they were vastly outnumbered by hundreds of cheering Islamberg supporters, who gathered to defend the Delaware County community from charges that it is an “Islamic jihad training camp.” American Bikers United Against Jihad planned to take a “Ride for National Security” past the community’s entrance and the “Islamberg” sign that flanks it on Sun., May 15.  The purpose of the ride, according to the group's website and Facebook event, was to call on the U.S. State Department to designate Islamberg and its parent organization, The Muslims of America, “an international terrorist organization.” The bikers told the state police to expect 70 riders, but only five motorcyclists and eight other vehicles materialized. Approximately 200 to 300 pro-Islamberg protestors showed and lined both sides of Roods Creek Road in the town of Tompkins. An Islamberg spokesman said the hundreds of people who arrived to support the residents were making history for the small, once isolated community. "We never had the opportunity to reach out to our neighbors like this. There have never been this many guests in Islamberg,” he said. Read the full story at Watershed Post.

Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that Republican candidates in the 19th Congressional District primary John Faso and Andrew Heaney are sniping back and forth in a series of statements in recent days, with State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long also telling Heaney in a letter to “knock it off.” Faso’s campaign first sent a cease-and-desist letter to Heaney May 12, for “knowingly spreading falsehoods” in advertisements and statements. The same day, Long, whose party has endorsed Faso, sent a letter telling Heaney to stop using “dishonest” tactics and saying Faso is a “courageous conservative stalwart.” Heaney's campaign replied, “if anyone should knock it off, it’s John Faso.” The primary election is June 28, with Will Yandik and Zephyr Teachout competing among Democrats. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Ali Stewart at WTEN Albany reports that the 5-month-old zebra missing in Palenville since Thursday was found dead and was buried in nearby woods. The zebra, named Zula, was spooked at the Bailiwick Animal Park and Riding Stables in Catskill, which set off a unique animal hunt on the mountaintop this weekend.

According to the Times Union, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said the young female might have fallen from a steep cliff in the area near state Route 23A between Palenville and Haines Falls that is part of the Kaaterskill Wild Forest Preserve.