The Greenville Pioneer reports that the Columbia-Greene Humane Society has opened a satellite Pet Food Bank in Catskill. The group currently runs a food bank for pets in Claverack, and the Catsill location opened March 14 at 8 West Bridge Street, across from the Cone-E Island ice cream stand, and will be open Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The group helps provide animal fed to economically disadvantaged pet owners, providing 34,000 pounds of food last year. They also take donations of food, in unopened bags, at both locations. Email info@cghs.org or call 518-828-6044 for more information.

More than 150 sites across the state celebrate Maple Syrup Weekend, with a little leftover winter cold making tapping trees easier. Sap flows better when temperatures are above freezing during the day, and below freezing at night, which is the forecast this weekend. Cornell Cooperative Extension's Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra holds a syrup-themed event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. March 19 with demonstrations on maple syrup making. Maple Leaf Sugaring in Ghent shows off their new timber-frame sugarhouse March 19. Mountain Winds Farm in Berne also hosts a pancake breakfast March 19.

The first day of spring this year might bring the first major snow storm of the winter. The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for the possibility of a major snow storm Sunday evening, March 20 into Monday, March 21. "There remains considerable uncertainty regarding how far west this storm tracks," the NWS warning says. "A more westward track would bring significant snowfall to the Albany forecast area." WGXC will continue to update listeners as the storm nears the area.

Click here to play or download an audio version of this report.

Andrea Sears reports from New York News Connection for Public News Service that transportation safety advocates are applauding the Assembly budget bill for dedicating $20 million to improving safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Five years ago, the state passed "Complete Streets," a measure intended to help communities build walking and cycling infrastructure, such as sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use trails.

Bill Ferris, New York state Legislative representative of AARP, says that was a good first step, and the dedicated funding will help fix what still is a major problem.

"New York state had the third highest pedestrian death rate of people 65 and older, and New York state ranked worst in the nation for pedestrian/bicycle safety," says Ferris.

Twenty-seven percent of all traffic fatalities in New York are pedestrians or bicyclists.

The Senate's proposed budget does not contain the dedicated funding but advocates are hopeful it could be included in the final budget that is due April 1.

Pedestrian safety is a big issue for seniors. Ferris points to a 2014 AARP survey that found many New Yorkers age 50 and older cite traffic safety issues as problems in their communities.

"We think this money will go a long way toward making communities more livable," says Ferris. "Especially with designing roads and sidewalks to help people navigate in their own community."

Governor Andrew Cuomo has not weighed in on the proposed budget allocation, but AARP believes it would be consistent with his strong support for improving infrastructure across the state.

Debby Mayer in The Columbia Paper reports that public officials in Germantown want to protect themselves with a new law for, “the defense and indemnification of officers and officials,” that will be debated at a March 22 Public Hearing. “The law is in response to concerns voiced by some of our Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members,” Supervisor Joel Craig explained in an email. “Most towns already have a similar law in place, but after research, the town attorney found we had not adopted such a law.” Mayer doesn't explain exactly what the law is protecting elected officials from, but writes, "The Planning Board is considering an application by Primax Properties to build a Dollar General retail store on Route 9G just north of County Route 8 / Main Street. The ZBA has before it a longtime dispute among neighbors on Route 9G and County Route 8 west of Route 9G." Read the full story in The Columbia Paper. The Public Hearing immediately precedes the regular Town Board meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road.

Local weather forecast

Today: Scattered rain and snow showers are predicted before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43, and a low around 19.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
SATURDAY: Sunny, with a high near 35, and a low around 19.
SUNDAY: A chance of snow, mainly after 2 p.m., continuing into the evening, with a high near 31, and a low around 25.

Sunrise today: 6:59 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:06 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 12:07

The monthly Catskill Town Meeting was held March 16 at Catskill Town Hall, with a live webcast through a partnership with the town and WGXC. (Click here to download or play a recording of the entire meeting.) The town board, previously on the record unanimously opposing the Pilgrim Pipeline as currently proposed, discussed making additional statements as the SEQR comment period will open soon. Catskill Town Attorney Michael Smith attended a meeting of towns along the pipeline organized be leaders in New Paltz and Rosendale March 14 at the Rosendale Community Center. Catskill Town Board Supervisor Doreen Davis got each department to identify local impacts of the pipeline to include in future public comments. (Click here to play or download a brief clip of Davis from this part of the meeting.) There was also talk of the highway budget at the meeting, and a tentative date was set for Town Cleanup day, for 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Sat., June 25. The meeting ended with a long presentation from Good Energy, about local energy options.

Click here to hear the part of discussion at the March 16 Catskill Town Board meeting about the Pilgrim Pipeline. (7:00)

The monthly Catskill Town Board meeting audio recorded March 16 in cooperation with WGXC and the Town of Catskill is available here. (1:06:01)

John Mason is reporting in the Register-Star the Redburn Development proposal to build a 55-room hotel in Hudson's southern waterfront district was unanimously granted a use variance by the city's Zoning Board of Appeals, Wed., Mar. 16. This makes the zoning change moved forward by Common Council earlier this week unnecessary for this project. During the public hearing before the ZBA vote Wednesday, Redburn's John Blackburn discussed project details. He said the renovation the building would maintain the historic character of the 150-year-old former factory, and would not include any large branding signs. The smallest rooms will measure 350 square feet. Limited services will be offered and the hotel will not have a restaurant. The proposed design includes a rooftop, enclosed-glass patio. Mike Tucker, interim director of the Columbia Economic Development Corp., said the hotel would contribute to tourism and “create a critical mass to enable other businesses to create opportunities.” The project now advances to the city Planning Board for site plan approval in April. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Lorna Cherot Littleway is reporting in the Columbia Paper Hillsdale Town Highway Superintendent Richard Briggs advised the Town Board this week that the state will begin work in late April on two bridges in Hillsdale. One of the spans is on state Route 22 just south of County Route 7D. During the work on that bridge traffic on Route 22 will be reduced to one lane. The other bridge is located on county Route 21, a quarter mile from the intersection with Route 22. That bridge will be completely closed. The work on the county Route 21 bridge will cause a 15-mile detour through Spencertown. Briggs expects that some of that traffic will divert to Hunt and Dawson roads to save time. The bridge replacement work will continue through the summer. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Matthew Hamilton in Capitol Confidential reports that in New York, a Long Island special election for the 9th Senate district will be more important then the presidential poll on April 19. The Long Island election will decide who rules the State Senate in Albany. The seat was vacated when Republican Dean Skelos, the Senate majority leader, was convicted of corruption charges in December. A Siena College poll out March 15 has Democratic Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky leading 47-45 over Republican Chris McGrath. That's well within the 4.5 percent margin of error of the poll, and with turnout possibly surging because of the presidential campaign, this contest may be difficult to predict. If Kaminsky wins though, Democrats would have a 32-31 majority in the Senate, though currently several Democrats caucus with Republicans. See the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Now through June the state Department of Conservation is re-stocking trout in local waterways, with brown and rainbow trout being added. In Greene County, just brown trout are being added to Basic Creek, Batavia Kill, Catskill Creek, Colgate Lake, East Kill, Greens Lake, Kaaterskill Creek, Schoharie Creek, and West Kill. In Columbia County, brown and rainbow trout are being added to Claverack Creek, Kinderhook Creek, Kline Kill, Ore Pit Pond, Queechy Lake, Roeliff Jansen Kill, Taghkanic Creek, and Weed Mines Pond. A DEC website lists the specific amounts of the types of trout being put in local waters this spring, including in Albany, Rensselaer, Schoharie, and Delaware counties.

Local weather forecast

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the region through Thu., Mar. 17. An upper level disturbance will produce isolated thunderstorms, mainly Friday afternoon through early evening. Thunderstorms that occur will be capable of producing locally strong gusty winds and small hail. Thunderstorms should move from west to east at 35 to 45 mph.

Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny. High near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Thursday night, scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
FRIDAY: A chance of rain and snow showers before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain showers between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 47. Friday afternoon, mostly clear. Low around 22.
SATURDAY: Sunny, high near 40. Saturday night, mostly clear. Low around 22.

Sunrise today: 7:01 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:05 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 12:04

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).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
GHENT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
STUYVESANT Joint Zoning Law workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Wed., Mar. 16 (6:39). (Produced by Philip Grant.)