Debby Mayer is reporting in the Columbia Paper on changes made by the Germantown Town Board during its reorganization meeting last week. The board changed the date of its regular meeting to the third Tuesday of the month, beginning this month, on January 19. And the board appointed engineering firm Crawford & Associates to handle town code enforcement and building inspection matters. John Fieser, longtime code enforcement officer and building inspector, no longer works for the town in that capacity. Supervisor Joel Craig told the board Crawford has greater resources to offer, with two code enforcement officers on staff. Craig said the firm will provide certified code enforcement officers to provide backup, expanded hours and daytime inspections and meetings with homeowners and contractors. The town is also looking to increase code enforcement as a result of the change. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential high school graduation rates in New York increased by nearly two percent last year, according to data released by the state Education Department on Mon., Jan. 11. The June graduation rate among students who graduated in 2015, was 78.1 percent statewide. That is up from more than 76 percent the previous year, and nearly 75 percent the year before that. The dropout rate last year 6.6 percent. Graduation rates increased for each of Big 5 city school districts — New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers. Capital Region graduation rates were not immediately available in the materials released Monday morning. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in The Daily Mail the new Durham Community Center will open its doors next month. The center will be housed in a portion of the former Durham Elementary School. The town is currently negotiating a lease agreement with the Cairo-Durham Central School District. Town Supervisor Bill Carr, Jr., said the building is very large and well-kept and has everything needed for a municipal building. There is access to high speed Internet service and a kitchen, as well. The facility will serve as a meeting center and perhaps as a program site for the local YMCA, as well. Commission chair Denise Kerrigan said once open, the center will offer classes on various topics including, cooking, knitting, sewing and local history lectures. The first community center committee's organizational meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thu., Jan. 14 at the Durham Town Hall. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential Assembly member Pete Lopez announced early Mon., Jan. 11, that he is suspending his Congressional run. Lopez said he was withdrawing from the 19th Congressional District race in order to care for his father, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The Schoharie Republican will seek re-election to his Assembly seat. In a statement released to the press, Lopez revealed he and his wife, Bridget, are the main caregivers for his father and he is a health proxy for his father. He said key dates in the candidate selection process conflict with the timeline for his father's treatment. Lopez joined the race in late November. Republicans John Faso and Andrew Heaney are considered the frontrunners. Republican Robert Bishop of Delaware County and Democrat John Patrick Kehoe are also running. Over the weekend, Democrat Will Yandik, a farmer and member of the Livingston Town Board, threw his hat into the ring. Zephyr Teachout, the former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is reportedly considering a run. The seat is currently held by Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson. Gibson declared in early 2015 that he would not seek re-election. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.

Local weather forecast

Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:
Today: Snow likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Cloudy. High near 31. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch possible. Tuesday night, a chance of snow showers before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 21. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
Wednesday: A slight chance of snow showers before 2 p.m. Party sunny. High near 26. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 14.
Thursday: Partly sunny. High near 31. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 22.

Sunrise today: 7:22 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:45 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 9:22


PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

CAIRO Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
CATSKILL Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CHATHAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA Economic Development Corporation Audit and Finance Committee meeting, 8:30 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Hudson (828-4718).
COXSACKIE Town board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
HUDSON Planning Board meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
LEXINGTON Planning Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 3542 Rte. 42, Lexington (989-6476).
STOCKPORT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2787 Atlantic Ave., Stottville (828-9389).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Mon., Jan. 11 (6:11). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Jan. 8 through Sun., Jan. 10

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail on the Hunter-Tannersville Board of Education's rejection of optical system machines in favor of old style ballot boxes for the annual board election and budget vote to be held in May. A law passed in 2001 prohibited the continued use of the lever machines. Implementation of the law was subsequently delayed, but the grace period is ending this year. Superintendent Patrick Darfler-Sweeney lamented the loss of the "perfectly working, very reliable machines," but said the district must now be in compliance. Darfler-Sweeney said renting the optical machines from Greene County would cost in excess of $7,000 a year. If the district bought its own machines, the initial investment would up to $12,000, plus an additional $4,000 per year, minimum, which would be cost prohibitive. Darfler-Sweeney said the cheapest and valid option was to choose paper and a locked box. “You can go back in time, but you have to go really far back in time, in order to be compliant,” he said. The number of boxes needed, and whether additional inspectors were necessary must still be determined.

Diane Valden reported in the Columbia Paper Ancram roads chief Jim MacArthur has retired after 20 years of service to the town. As the December Town Board meeting got underway, Supervisor Art Bassin called the gathering “significant” because it was MacArthur’s last meeting as highway superintendent. MacArthur, who was never a fan of the monthly government formalities, said it was his last meeting “period.” MacArthur's successor, Jim Miller, was also serving his last meeting as a Town Board member. In his remarks to the board, MacArthur said the town’s Highway Department is a much better place than it was when he started in 1996, and he said the roads are in much better shape, as well. MacArthur thanked town residents for giving him “the opportunity to work for them for the last 20 years. But now it’s time to retire,” he said. Bassin said he was grateful to MacArthur for getting things done and that his ability to deal with residents was impressive.

Michael Ryan reported in the Windham Journal plans are underway to relocated GNH Lumber from the west end of Main St. in Windham, to the former Police Anchor Camp, on the eastern entrance to town. Nothing is certain at this point, Ryan wrote, but the intention is to get the company out of way of consistent flooding and keep them in the community. The town has submitted an application for a $15,000 grant from the Catskill Watershed Corporation to pay for a feasibility study on the move. The Greene County Industrial Development Agency and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection are potential partners in the project. IDA executive director Rene VanSchaack said, “The hard part is financial, the cost of relocating and what to do with the current facilities. That’s where the DEP would come in as part of their buyout program, so a lot of elements have to blend.” GNH Lumber was named an anchor business in a Local Flood Analysis prepared by the engineering firm of Milone & MacBroom in the aftermath of flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

Jillian Nadiak reported in the Register-Star new Greenport Supervisor Ed Nabozny has chosen not to collect an additional $3,000 in salary as the town's budget officer. Nabozny said the responsibilities of the budget officer are already a part of his job as supervisor, for which he receives an annual salary of $14,500. He said, "There is no need to add a stipend for something that I am already charged with performing." Nabozny said the funds designated for that purpose can now be used for anything. Salaries for all of Greenport's elected officials in 2016 remain the same as last year, while non-union clerical employees received a two percent raise. During the coming year, town board meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of the month, beginning at 7 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall.

The New York Times reported Governor Andrew Cuomo on Sun., Jan. 10, reintroduced his plan for the state to pay for college courses for those incarcerated in the state prison system. The proposal would be paid for using roughly $7.5 million in criminal forfeiture funds from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. An additional $7.5 million will come from private matching funds. The governor's office it hopes to enroll approximately 1,000 individuals statewide in the program over the next five years. Cuomo formally announced the college plan in Harlem, in a speech before the congregation of the Mount Neboh Baptist Church. The initiative is part of a broader criminal justice agenda the governor will revisit on Wed., Jan. 13, when he delivers his annual State of the State address, which will also encompass the 2016 executive budget.

Local weather forecast

Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:
Today: Mostly sunny. High near 30. Monday night, partly cloudy. Low around 19.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
Tuesday: A chance of snow after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 33. Tuesday night, a chance of snow, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 19.
Wednesday: A chance of snow showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 24. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 14.

Sunrise today: 7:22 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:44 p.m.

LENGTH OF THE DAY: 9:21


PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

ASHLAND Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland (734-3636).
CANAAN Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 Co. Rte. 5, Canaan (781-3144).
CATSKILL Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at the Firehouse, 1 Central Ave. (behind Walgreens) (943-3830).
CLAVERACK Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 91 Church St., Mellenville (672-7911).
COPAKE Environmental Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature committee meetings: County Services and Public Works, 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENPORT Town Board special meeting, 5 p.m. at Town Hall, 600 Town Hall Dr., Greenport (828-4656). GREENVILLE Town Board special meeting, 7 p.m. at Greenville Town Hall, 11159 Route 32, Greenville (966-5055).
HUDSON City School District Board of Education budget meeting, 7 p.m. at Hudson High School library, 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson (828-4360).
HUNTER Village Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 7955 Main St., Hudson (263-4020).
NEW BALTIMORE Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 3809 Rt. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
PHILMONT Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
PRATTSVILLE Town meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).

Some of the guests and special shows on WGXC 90.7-FM this week:

• Live broadcast at noon Wed., Jan. 13 of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's 2016 State of the State and Executive Budget Address from Empire Plaza in Albany. Former state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk and host of WGXC's "The Albany Report" and Tom Roe, host of the Wednesday edition of the "WGXC Morning Show," will be in the WGXC Acra Studio at the Wave Farm Study Center in Greene County to provide commentary and analysis leading into the address and then close the program. This presentation is the 2016 State of the State address with the annual state budget presentation included. The governor's presentation begins at 12:30 p.m.

• New York-based composer Marcelo Toledo is a guest on "The Musical Ecologies Radio Hour" at 1 a.m., Thu., Jan. 14.

• DJ Dirty Martini does an all vinyl show: "Where Were You in '92?" in the "Guest DJ" timeslot, 7-9:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 15.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Sun., Jan. 10 (3:45). (Produced by Tom Roe.)

Matthew Hamilton reports on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's latest budget gimmick. Well, it is actually the same "Hunger Games" budget marketing plan where instead of making careful behind-the-scenes decision on what to fund, Cuomo has turned the same process into something with an announcement of winners "American Idol"-style. Upstate airports are the latest to get the treatment, with the Albany International Airport, Columbia County Airport, and Freehold Airport (in Greene County) among the local airports competing to make the "top five" and get $40 million each for improvements. The full list of airports in the "competition" are:

Facility Name—County
ADIRONDACK REGIONAL AIRPORT—FRANKLIN
AKRON AIRPORT—ERIE
ALBANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT—ALBANY
ARGYLE AIRPORT—WASHINGTON
BUFFALO AIRFIELD—ERIE
BUFFALO NIAGARA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT—ERIE
BUFFALO-LANCASTER REGIONAL AIRPORT—ERIE
CAMILLUS AIRPORT—ONONDAGA
CANANDAIGUA AIRPORT—ONTARIO
CATTARAUGUS CO-OLEAN AIRPORT—CATTARAUGUS
CHAUTAUQUA CO/ DUNKIRK AIRPORT—CHAUTAUQUA
CHAUTAUQUA CO/JAMESTOWN AIRPORT—CHAUTAUQUA
COLUMBIA COUNTY AIRPORT—COLUMBIA
COOPERSTOWN-WESTVILLE AIRPORT—OTSEGO
CORNING-PAINTED POST AIRPORT—STEUBEN
CORTLAND CO-CHASE FIELD AIRPORT—CORTLAND
DANSVILLE MUNICIPAL Airport—LIVINGSTON
DUTCHESS COUNTY AIRPORT—DUTCHESS
ELMIRA CORNING REGIONAL AIRPORT—CHEMUNG
FINGER LAKES REGIONAL AIRPORT—SENECA
FLOYD BENNETT MEMORIAL AIRPORT—WARREN
FRANKFORT- HIGHLAND AIRPORT—HERKIMER
FREEHOLD AIRPORT—GREENE
FULTON COUNTY AIRPORT—FULTON
GENESEE COUNTY AIRPORT—GENESEE, NY.
GRANVILLE AIRPORT—WASHINGTON
GREAT VALLEY AIRPORT—CATTARAUGUS
GREATER BINGHAMTON AIRPORT—BROOME
GREATER ROCHESTER INT’L AIRPORT—MONROE
GRIFFISS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT—ONEIDA
HAMBURG INC—ERIE
HAMILTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—MADISON
HORNELL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—STEUBEN
ITHACA TOMPKINS REGIONAL AIRPORT—TOMPKINS
JOSEPH Y RESNICK AIRPORT—ULSTER
KINGSTON-ULSTER AIRPORT—ULSTER
LAKE PLACID AIRPORT—ESSEX
LE ROY AIRPORT—GENESEE
LEDGEDALE AIRPARK—MONROE
LT WARREN E EATON AIRPORT/CHENANGO CO—CHENANGO
MALONE-DUFORT AIRPORT—FRANKLIN
MASSENA INT’L – RICHARDS FIELD—ST LAWRENCE
NIAGARA FALLS INT’L AIRPORT—NIAGARA
NO BUFFALO SUBURBAN AIRPORT—NIAGARA
OGDENSBURG INT’L AIRPORT—ST LAWRENCE
ONEONTA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—OTSEGO
ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT—ORANGE
OSWEGO COUNTY AIRPORT—OSWEGO
PENN YAN-YATES COUNTY AIRPORT—YATES
PERRY-WARSAW AIRPORT—WYOMING
PINE HILL AIRPORT—ORLEANS
PISECO AIRPORT—HAMILTON
PLATTSBURGH INT’L AIRPORT—CLINTON
POTSDAM MUNICIPAL/DAMON FIELD—ST LAWRENCE
RANDALL AIRPORT—ORANGE
ROYALTON AIRPORT—NIAGARA
SARATOGA COUNTY AIRPORT—SARATOGA
SCHENECTADY COUNTY AIRPORT—SCHENECTADY
SCHROON LAKE AIRPORT—ESSEX
SIDNEY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—DELAWARE
SKANEATELES AERO DROME—ONONDAGA
SKY ACRES AIRPORT—DUTCHESS
SOUTH ALBANY AIRPORT—ALBANY
SULLIVAN CO INT’L AIRPORT—SULLIVAN
SYRACUSE HANCOCK INT’L AIRPORT—ONONDAGA
TICONDEROGA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—ESSEX
TRI-CITIES AIRPORT—BROOME
WARWICK MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—ORANGE
WATERTOWN INT’L AIRPORT—JEFFERSON
WELLSVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT—ALLEGANY
WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORT—WESTCHESTER
WHITFORD’S AIRPORT—CAYUGA
WILLIAMSON-SODUS AIRPORT—WAYNE
WURTSBORO-SULLIVAN CO AIRPORT—SULLIVAN

Brendan J. Lyons reports in The Albany Times Union that the New York state prison internal affairs unit, "that investigates misconduct and abuse in state prisons was for years mired in cover-ups, nepotism and unbridled sexual harassment." The story says that anyone in the unit that questioned or reported the corruption, "faced threats of retaliation, including being returned to their prison-guard jobs and marked as 'rats.'" The paper's report is based on court records and investigative reports by the office of state Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott, and by many interviews by Times Union reporters with current and former employees at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The story includes many side trips to the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. One internal affairs unit employee, Mark Miller, is alleged to have been threatened with eliminating his overtime and being sent back to his guard job in Coxsackie if he reported the abuse. The story also focuses on DOCCS' employee Daniel F. Martuscello III, the agency's director of human resources. Miller accusses Martuscello of promoting or securing jobs for female acquaintances and other friends and family members. Martuscello's father is Daniel F. Martuscello Jr., the superintendent of the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.

There is a Wind Advisory from the National Weather Service for 5 a.m. until noon Sun., Jan. 10 for Schoharie County, and the Western portions of Albany, Greene, and Ulster counties, and the eastern portion of Rensselaer and Columbia counties. Winds could gust up to 50 mph.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm are predicted Sunday. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 51, with a chance the rain turns into snow showers before midnight, until 4 a.m., with a low around 23.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers, with a high near 27, and a low around 17.

Tuesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.

Sunrise today: 7:23 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:43 p.m.



New music on Wave Farm Radio and WGXC for Jan. 9, 2016.

+++BEATS BEES LIKE FOR B-BOYS AND B-GIRLS+++ by Erykah She Ill Badu on Mixcloud

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Sat., Jan. 9 (3:40). (Produced by Tom Roe.)

Scott Waldman at Politico New York reports that the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications was approved Jan. 8 by the state Public Service Commission. The PSC approved the merger on the condition that the larger company then will improve broadband internet access throughout the state, especially in rural upstate areas and for low-income customers. Altogether, it is a $70 billion merger of Time Warner, Charter, and Bright House Networks that create's the nation’s second-largest cable company with more than two million of its 24 million customers in New York. Families who qualify for free- or reduced lunches at schools and 50 community centers around the state would receive free Internet under the approval. Read the full story in Politico New York.

Robert Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star state police and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office are cautioning people about two recent phone scams. Greene County Sheriff Greg Seeley warned of callers pretending to be representatives of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Co. In the scheme, the person calling identifies themself as a representative of the company and threatens to cut electrical service if the individual does not provide personal information, such as a Social Security number. The scam often targets the elderly. The sheriff's office received multiple complaints in the last week, Seeley said. “Central Hudson will never call; they will send letters through certified mail,” Seeley said. “Do not, do not, give any info, just hang up the phone.” State police further warned to never provide Social Security numbers, banking information, date of birth, or other personal information to anyone over the phone. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Hilltop Communications, Inc. filed a public notice Jan. 8, for an application for renewal of its cable television franchise in the Town of Clermont. That means anyone has ten days from Jan. 8 to file comments with the Public Service Commission about the quality of Hilltop's service in Clermont. Copies of the application are available from the Public Service Commission or Hilltop Communications, Inc. Comments should be addressed to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Empire State Plaza, Agency Building 3, Albany, New York 12223.

Local weather forecast
The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the region.

Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County: There is a chance of sleet before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain and sleet between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., then a chance of rain after 9 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Rain is also likely Saturday night, with a low around 36.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
Sunday: Rain. High near 52, and a low around 25.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28, and a low around 17.

Sunrise today: 7:23 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:42 p.m.