Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 66F; Low 47F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 67F; Low 48F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:

Today: Showers likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Increasing clouds. High near 67. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Tuesday night, a chance of showers, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers after 10 a.m. Mostly sunny. High near 62. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 41.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 60. Thursday night, a chance of showers, mainly after 3 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 42.

Sunrise today: 7:06 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:16 p.m.
Length of the day: 11:10

Public meetings
Today is the second Tuesday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
(All telephone numbers are in the 518 area code except where noted.)

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).
COPAKE Land Use Review Committee, 7 p.m.; Board of Ethics, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234)
COXSACKIE Town board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature County Services and Public Works Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Common Council informal meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
LEXINGTON Planning Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 3542 Rte. 42, Lexington (989-6476).
STUYVESANT Trails Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).

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

The New York Times reported Oct. 10 that Apple disabled its news app in China. The new app debuted in June in the U.S., with testing in England and Australia. Users find it works overseas but not in China, with instead an error message: “Can’t refresh right now. News isn’t supported in your current region.” Larry Salibra, who founded software testing service Pay4Bugs, said on Reddit last week, “They’re censoring news content that I downloaded and stored on my device purchased in the USA, before I even enter China just because my phone happens to connect to a Chinese signal floating over the border.” Salibra proved Apple isn’t using location tracking and geofencing to shut down the News App, but is basing shutdowns on the mobile network where the phone is connected. Apple also disables the Apple Maps this way in favor of a Beijing-approved map service. Salibra says the concern here is that is if Apple is using watching real-time cell network data to make changes to a device even if location services are disabled in their privacy settings.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Mon., Oct. 12 (4:55). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

https://data.wavefarm.org/r/9f/cg/zw/WeekendinReview20151012.mp3

Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Oct. 9 through Sun., Oct. 11

Claire Hughes reported in the Times Union a state Health Department committee has approved a request from Columbia Memorial Hospital to make Albany Medical Center its new parent. The decision of the Public Health and Health Planning Council is the final regulatory hurdle for the plan. In making the proposal, CMH asserted the move would make the delivery of health services in the region more efficient and stable, while also saving costs. The plan involves no exchange of cash or assets. Medical services at the 192-bed Hudson hospital and its satellite clinics would not change. The proposal will now undergo a review by the hospitals' lawyers.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail, registered voters in Coxsackie will go to the polls Tue., Oct. 13 to approve the Heermance Memorial Library's annual budget and to fill three open seats on the library board. The proposed 2016 budget totals $232,579, a spending increase of 2.7 percent. The budget does not include a tax increase for homeowners. Most of the increased spending stems from maintenance and repairs to the library building. The three candidates for library trustee are Claudine Serazio-West, Tom Silvious and Eileen West. The election will be held at the library from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday.

Keshia Clukey reported at Politico New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s Common Core Task Force will meet for the first time this week in New York City. The exact day and time of the meeting have not been released. The executive session will be closed to the public, but task force members are expected to discuss and plan future public sessions to be held statewide. The commission is headed by Richard Parsons, a senior adviser at Providence Equity Partners and former Citigroup board chair. Parsons chaired the governor’s education reform commission in 2012. The 15-member panel includes educators, lawmakers and business leaders. It has been charged with reviewing the standards, the state's curriculum guidance, the quality of the tests, and the current moratorium on using Common Core test scores on student records.

John Mason reported in the Register-Star representatives of CaroVail came before the Kinderhook Planning Board last week to answer questions about the company's proposed expansion. The CaroVail plant, located on County Route 28 in Niverville, is a processing and distribution point for CaroVail fertilizers in bag and bulk. The company plans to purchase an adjacent property west of the plant and build a new 4,800-square-foot building. Engineer George Schmitt of Morris Associates, speaking for CaroVail, told the board the new building would allow the company to divide its operations between bagged and bulk. The bulk fertilizer would be managed through the new building, while the bagging operation would remain in the existing building. The main ingredients come on rail cars, and are unloaded at the rear of the building into an underground chamber. After being blended inside, the bulk fertilizer is loaded onto a conveyor and taken to trucks, which then carry the product to farms. Concerns raised by opponents to the expansion include excessive dust, light pollution, the presence of toxic chemicals on site, and an increase in truck traffic. There were also complaints about trains sitting and idling. Schmitt pointed out the trains belong to CSX, not CaroVail. He said, "What CSX does along those tracks is out of our control.” Board member Chris Simonsen said the site presents a “drainage challenge … should something occur. Whatever might spill heads straight to water.” The Valatie Kill is very near the site and Kinderhook Lake is not far. The public hearing on the matter was adjourned until this week. It will reconvene Thu., Oct. 15, at Kinderhook Town Hall.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 75F; Low 50F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 74F; Low 52F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today’s forecast is specific to Cairo, in Greene County:

Today: Sunny. High near 76. Monday night, a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds. Low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 71. Tuesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 46.
Wednesday: Partly sunny. High near 60. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 41.

Sunrise today: 7:05 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:18 p.m.
Length of the day: 11:12

Public meetings
Columbus Day observed. All nonessential federal, state, county and local municipalities are closed. Post offices, banks and school districts are also closed today. However, some village and town boards are scheduled to meet (see below).

WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
(All telephone numbers are in the 518 area code except where noted.)

ASHLAND Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland (734-3636).
CANAAN Town Board meeting, 7 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).
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).
TAGHKANIC Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).

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

Kevin Goldberg reports in the Communications Law Blog that webcasting rates for 2016-2020 may be set soon, and he writes webcasters have reasons for optimism. The Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) is concluding its Webcasting IV proceeding, and has issued two orders so far, and the Register of Copyrights has issued a separate ruling. The CRB has adopted a settlement agreement between SoundExchange and College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) with approved terms applying to “Noncommercial Educational Webcasters." That agreement comes with one exception that works in webcasters favor. The CRB has also adopted a partial settlement, negotiated by both SoundExchange and National Public Radio, for public radio broadcasters. Commercial webcasters lack the lobby power of the other groups, and have not made and settlement with the CRB yet. But the Register of Copyrights recently issued a memorandum saying direct licensing agreements between webcasters and record labels can be entered into evidence and considered by the CRB to decide rates. "I’m guessing that CRB’s final decision won’t appear until mid-December," Goldberg writes, basing his prediction on when the CRB acted in 2010. Read complete details about the agreements so far at the Comm Law Blog.

Guests coming into WGXC studios this week include:

• Peter Head was born in Catskill and lives in Palenville, and currently plays in Elephant Graveyard, Sonic Soul Band, and Crow Bones, as well as performing and recording solo. Tune in 6-8 p.m. with host Sam Sebren.

• League of Women Voters Meet the Candidates Forum at 6:30 p.m. Mon., Oct. 12 live from Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill. During the 90-minute event, candidates will each have three minutes for introductory remarks, two minutes to respond to questions from the audience, and three minutes for closing statements. Candidates for county sheriff, clerk, coroner and Legislature; Catskill town supervisor, councilman, clerk, Superintendent of Highways and tax collector; and Durham candidates for county Legislature have been invited to participate.

• Lincoln Mayorga live from the Blue Plate Restaurant in Chatham on a live version of "The Jazz Disturbance" Thu., Oct. 15 hosted by Cheryl K.

Other guests to be announced.

The Daily Freeman reports about closings Monday for Columbus Day. Here’s are some of the local closings:
Amtrak: Regular schedule
Banks: Closed
County offices: Closed
Federal offices: Closed
Financial markets: Open
Greene County Transit: No service
Mail delivery: None
Metro-North: Regular schedule
Schools: Closed
State offices: Closed
Trailways: Regular schedule

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sun., Oct. 11 PLAY AUDIO (2:06)

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Acra, in Greene County.

• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67, and a low around 48.

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 71. There's a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m., with a low around 48.

• Tuesday: There's a 40 percent chance of showers after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61.

Sunrise 7:04 a.m.
Sunset 6:19 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 5:39 A.M. 5:51 P.M.
Mercury 5:38 A.M. 5:46 P.M.
Venus 3:15 A.M. 4:27 P.M.
Mars 3:49 A.M. 5:00 P.M.
Jupiter 4:05 A.M. 5:05 P.M.
Saturn 10:46 A.M. 8:27 P.M.
Uranus 6:17 P.M. 7:13 A.M.
Neptune 4:45 P.M. 3:43 A.M.
Pluto 1:50 P.M. 11:12 P.M.

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

Andrea Sears at Public News Service reports that climate activists say the answer to global climate change is blowing in the wind - right off New York's shores. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced a four-point plan to fight climate change, but Mark Dunlea, who chairs the Green Education and Legal Fund, said the governor has overlooked a report that outlines how the state could get all its power from renewable sources in just 15 years. "That envisioned that 40 percent of the power would come from offshore wind," Dunlea said, "and there have been a number of studies showing that that's more than feasible." Renewable-energy advocates want Cuomo to commit the state to a long-term contract to purchase 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2025 and double that by 2030. According to Dunlea, the potential for offshore power here is huge. "Long Island, New York City is the gold mine for offshore wind," he said. "University of Delaware believes that we could develop about 23 gigawatts of power." That University of Delaware report criticized the United States for failing to develop offshore power, saying it's essential for avoiding the worst effects of climate change. Only one small offshore wind installation currently operates on the East Coast. Dunlea said a large project here also would have a big economic impact. "The first big one is going to attract the shipping and the factories that are needed, and that will control the development of offshore wind along the East Coast," he said. "You're talking hundreds of thousands of jobs, potentially." The Green Education Legal Fund supports some of Cuomo's plan to combat climate change, but says the plan still depends too much on fossil fuels when there are better alternatives. More information is online at udel.edu.

• ON AIR WAMC's fall pledge drive continues through Oct. 15. As of Oct. 9, they had raised over three-fourths of their $1 million goal.

• DEAD AIR WGXC's "Dead Air" October pledge drive begins Oct. 15 and runs through Oct. 30, with a Halloween theme this year.

• HALLOWEEN RADIO The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival presents "Suspense! Halloween Radio" at the Boscobel Mansion in Garrison, New York Oct. 28 through 31 and Nov. 4 through 8. Adaptations of the Lucille Fletcher radio dramas "The Hitchhiker" and "Sorry, Wrong Number" will be directed by Mike Donahue. Purchase tickets online at hvshakespeare.org/whats-playing/buy-tickets.html or by calling the box office at (845) 265-9575.

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., Oct. 10. PLAY AUDIO (3:05)

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Acra, in Greene County.

• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56, and a low around 38.

• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 66, and a low around 47.

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 69.

Sunrise 7:03 a.m.
Sunset 6:21 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 4:43 A.M. 5:23 P.M.
Mercury 5:41 A.M. 5:48 P.M.
Venus 3:15 A.M. 4:28 P.M.
Mars 3:50 A.M. 5:03 P.M.
Jupiter 4:08 A.M. 5:08 P.M.
Saturn 10:49 A.M. 8:30 P.M.
Uranus 6:21 P.M. 7:17 A.M.
Neptune 4:49 P.M. 3:47 A.M.
Pluto 1:54 P.M. 11:15 P.M.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="500"] Holly Tanner, Tiffany Martin Hamilton, Justin Weaver, and William Hallenbeck, Jr. at WGXC's Hudson studio.[/caption]

John Mason in the Register-Star reports that Oct. 7 mayoral candidates William H. Hallenbeck Jr., the incumbent Republican, and Tiffany Martin Hamilton, the Democratic challenger, "spoke cordially but differed on a range of topics," on a on-air discussion on the “Something to Talk About” show hosted by County Clerk Holly Tanner and Justin Weaver on WGXC (90.7-FM). The two canidates discussed parking, the waterfront, taxes, activities for youth, and other issues. The paper reports there are debates between the two scheduled for Oct. 14 and Oct. 28. WGXC recorded the broadcast, and anyone can download or listen here.

Rick Karlin reports in Capitol Confidential that Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $1.4 million in grants for farmers to make their operations more energy efficient, and more resilient in the face of climate-related challenges. So flood-ravaged farms can apply to take actions that work for the environment and their business. “This first-ever grant program addresses the need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of farms, while also enhancing the ability of those farms to recover after severe weather events which have become an all too frequent reality," Cuomo said in a statement. Applicants for the Climate Resilient Farming grant program must submit proposals by 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2015. through the Grants Gateway system at https://www.grantsgateway.ny.gov. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.

Anyone can add an event to the WGXC Community Calendar, and have their local listing read on the radio and around the world at wgxc.org. Some events from the WGXC Community Calendar this week:

Cairo Apple Harvest Festival
Oct. 10-Oct 11 at Angelo Canna Park, Cairo.
Annual event in town park.

Derek Warfield & The Young Wolftones, Celtic Cross Band, Canny Brother’s, Kitty Kelly Band, Jimmy Walsh, Susan and Gerard
Oct. 10-11 at Gavin's Irish Country Inn, East Durham.
8th annual Guinness Festival.

Mad House
Oct. 10, 3 p.m. at Clermont State Historic Site, Germantown.
Author Michael Keene of "The Hidden History of Insane Asylums in 19th-Century New York."

Here Come the Videofreex
Oct 10, 7:15 p.m. at Greenville Drive-In
“Here Come the Videofreex!” tells the story of the most radical video collective of the 1960’s and 70’s at the Greenville Drive-In. They created the first pirate television station in the U.S., in Lanesville TV in Greene County in the early 1970s.

Linear Elements and Reframing Nature
Oct 11, 1:30-4 p.m. at Omi International Arts Center, Ghent.
Opening reception for two exhibitions.

Sixth Occasional Short Film & Video Festival
Oct 11, 5 p.m. at The Spotty Dog Books & Ale, Hudson.
An evening of original short films by local artists and filmmakers, including: Sam Sebren, FX Schram, Evan Curtis, Ray Harryhausen, James Raymond, Karen Keats, Alan Coon, Vita Rabinovich, Patrick Stephenson, Matt Moorman, the Peter Davis 2000, M Sean McManus, Noah Reibel, Brian Russo, Schmitty the anorexic cat, 10pin, the gelatin twins, and others.

League of Women Voters Meet the Candidates Forum
Oct 12, 6:30-8 p.m. on WGXC 90.7-FM and at Bridge Street Theatre, Catskill.
A special live broadcast of the League of Women Voters Meet the Candidates Forum at the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill. During the 90-minute event, candidates will each have three minutes for introductory remarks, two minutes to respond to questions from the audience, and three minutes for closing statements. Candidates for county sheriff, clerk, coroner and Legislature; Catskill town supervisor, councilman, clerk, Superintendent of Highways and tax collector; and Durham candidates for county Legislature have been invited to participate.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Fri., Oct. 9 (6:38). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

https://data.wavefarm.org/r/zh/ce/rr/WGXC%20DailyNews20151009.mp3

Jim Planck is reporting for The Daily Mail the land transfer for the new Greene County jail has been approved. County administrator Shaun Groden announced at a special meeting of the county Legislature Wed., Oct. 7, that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo had signed the legislation to authorize the transfer of approximately 50 acres of state land in Coxsackie to the county. The transaction was previously approved by the state Senate and Assembly, and must now make its way through the Office of General Services before Greene County takes title to the parcel. The property adjoins the southern side of the medium-security Greene Correctional Facility and borders on Route 9W. If the county does not build the jail, the land will revert back to the state. The county has retained Delaware Engineering to manage the jail project. And Delaware has retained the Capital District cultural resource consulting firm, Hartgen Archaeological Associates, of Rensselaer, to conduct an archaeological survey, the next step in the process. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register-Star the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors has chosen Jim Mackerer as its new chairman. Acting chairman Sidney Richter will now serve as vice chairman. Both men are retired bankers. Bob Galluscio, of Shallo, Galluscio Bianchi & Fucito, will continue as treasurer and Hudson Supervisor Sarah Sterling will serve as secretary. All four officers will serve through the end of the year and a new slate will be elected in January, said F. Michael Tucker, interim executive director for the Columbia Economic Development Corporation. At the same meeting, the board also adopted its 2016 budget. Among the increases in the spending plan: Application fees paid to the agency for projects will be raised to $3,000, and administrative fees will nearly triple to $36,000. Tucker also reported contract negotiations with Columbia County continue. If that agreement is approved by the county Board of Supervisors, funding to the agency will be restored. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

[caption width="117" align="alignleft"] Photo of Pete Lopez from Wikipedia.[/caption]Joe Mahoney in the Daily Star reports that Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R-Schoharie) told The Daily Star Oct. 8 that he will be run for New York's 19th Congressional District seat held by retiring Rep. Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook). Lopez, 54, represents the 102nd Assembly District in the New York State Assembly which includes all of Schoharie County and portions of Chenango, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Otsego, and Ulster counties. John Faso, a Republican from Columbia County who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2006, and Andrew Heaney, a Dutchess County oil company executive who raised some $643,256 in the quarter ending Sept. 30, have both also announced for the election. Read the full story in The Daily Star.

Robert Cairns in the Watershed Post reports that Delaware County Economic Development Director Glenn Nealis said in Delhi Oct. 5 that on Oct. 14 Delaware County supervisors will consider a two-percent hotel occupancy tax with a public hearing likely Oct. 28. The tax would go to tourism promotion. Delaware County currently spends $95,000 per year on tourism, with some neighboring counties spending ten times as much. With $9.7 million spent on lodging in 2012, the county would receive $192,000 if the "bed tax" was in effect. Read the full story in the Watershed Post.