• CONFERENCE TALK The Grassroots Radio Conference is being held this weekend at WLPP-LP in Palenville. The Grassroots Radio Conference is an annual gathering of folks from grassroots, volunteer-powered, community radio stations to connect, learn new skills, and discuss radio issues.

• LIVE BROADCASTS WGXC broadcasts live Saturday from the Hyperplace Troy Festival. Tune in at 7:30 p.m. for performances by Ellen Foster, Andrea Williams/Dan Joseph duo, and Michael Century from the Troy Music Hall, and hear a panel with LoVid, Rebecca Wolff, Andrea Williams, and Tom Roe at 1 p.m. live from Troy, NY. More information about the entire Hyperplace Troy festival is available at https://www.facebook.com/hyperplace

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., Sept. 26. PLAY AUDIO (3:36)

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

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66, and a low around 46.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67, and a low around 51.

• Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69.

Sunrise 6:47 a.m.
Sunset 6:45 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 5:57 P.M. 4:47 A.M.
Mercury 7:38 A.M. 6:45 P.M.
Venus 3:22 A.M. 4:47 P.M.
Mars 4:00 A.M. 5:37 P.M.
Jupiter 4:48 A.M. 5:56 P.M.
Saturn 11:38 A.M. 9:21 P.M.
Uranus 7:17 P.M. 8:15 A.M.
Neptune 5:44 P.M. 4:43 A.M.
Pluto 2:48 P.M. 12:14 A.M.

Diane Valden reports in The Columbia Paper that the Copake Town Board banned newspapers being delivered by driveway with an Anti-Littering Local Law passed without dissent Sept. 10. The law stems from complaints about Columbia-Greene Media’s "Shop & Find" publication delivered in driveways in open-ended plastic bags. Town Supervisor Jeff Nayer urged residents to boycott businesses that advertise in the publication. The new law says that “action to eliminate or mitigate” the “increasing litter problem” must not “run afoul of the Constitutional right to free speech, which includes the distribution of communication.” But is also prohibits papers, letters, or flyers from being thrown or placed on lawns, driveways, walkwayss or on the ground. Instead they can be secured on porches, steps, awnings, doorways, vestibules, or "in a receptacle so they won’t be subject to the elements or blown into a water body." Violaters face a $500 fine that rises with additional incidents. The Copake Town Board meets next at 7 p.m. Oct. 8. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

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:

Dead 'Til Dawn Zombie Film Festival
Sep 25, 2015 - Sep 26, 2015
Hi-Way Drive-In, 10769 Route 9Wm Coxsackie
Zombie movie festival over two nights.

Hillrock Distillery Fall Open House
Sep 26, 2015: 12pm - 5pm
Hillrock Distillery, 408 Pooles Hill Rd., Ancram
A Fall Open House to celebrate the release of the 20 Hour Peat Smoke Single Malt. There will be farm and distillery tours, tastings, and bottle signing with Master Distiller Dave Pickerell.

Lower Dens, Abdu Ali, Leverage Models
Sep 27, 2015: 9pm
BSP Lounge, 323 Wall St., Kingston
Three bands perform. Leverage Models include members of Stars Like Fleas.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Fri., Sept. 25 (5:17). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

https://data.wavefarm.org/r/mq/sw/hj/WGXC%20DailyNews09252015.mp3

John Mason is reporting in the Register-Star two write-in candidates, Guy Apicella [App-eh-CHELL-ah] and Kathy Leck Eldridge, defeated the lone candidate on the ballot, incumbent Republican board member Keith Mortefolio [Mortah-FOE-lee-oh], in the Sept. 10, Greenport Independence Party town board primary. Mortefolio's name will appear on the Republican line in November. Edward F. Nabozny [Nah-BAHZ-nee], easily defeated write-in candidate, Republican John Porreca [Poor-EE-kah], the incumbent supervisor, to take the Independence line in the general election. In Hudson, Mason writes, Lauren Scalera has now secured three party lines in her quest to win one of two Fourth Ward seats on the city's Common Council. Her name will appear on the Democrat, Republican and Independence lines in November. A total of four candidates, representing five parties, will face off in that ward in the general election: Scalera, incumbent Alexis Keith, Derrick Smith and Rich Volo. Scalera thanked voters for their support and said her focus is now on the outcome in November. Read both of Mason's stories in the Register-Star.

The Daily Freeman is reporting the Hudson Valley Garlic Festival returns to Cantine Field, Washington Avenue Extension in Saugerties this weekend. The festival begins at 10 a.m., Sat., Sept. 26, and runs through Sun., Sept. 27. Established in 1989, the festival is a celebration of all things garlic. Approximately 50 garlic farmers will be on hand offering nearly every variety available, along with spices, dip mixes and powders. Also on hand will be chefs such as Pat Crocker and Ric Orlando. There will also be lectures from David Stern, Bob Dunkel and others. Food vendors will offer everything from garlic chili to garlic fried dough to deep-fried garlic pickles to garlic ice cream. The musical lineup will include Ian Flanagan, Annie and the Hedonist, Sundad and Mark Rust. Arm-of-the-Sea Theater, which creates works of mask and puppet theater, will present “The Turtle Island Medicine Show.” The Morris Dancers will also perform. General information and a full entertainment schedule can be found at hvgf [dot] org. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Rick Karlin is reporting at Capitol Confidential an appellate court in Rochester early Thu., Sept. 24, rejected a lower court ruling that used an injunction to place the fight over the Women’s Equality Party ballot line in limbo. The case is now headed to the Court of Appeals. This decision leaves wide open the possibility for battles in counties statewide over WEP control. Three groups vying for control of the Women’s Equality Party include allies of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a contingent led by former state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk and a group of Republicans. Tkaczyk said in an email to Karlin that the decision Thursday opens the door for chaos in the run-up to the local elections in November. Lawyer Peter Reese, who represents Tkaczyk, agreed that chaos would ensue, but advised his client to nominate a candidate in every county. A hearing on the Albany County WEP ballot line will be held today (Fri., Sept. 25) in State Supreme Court in Albany County. DISCLOSURE: Tkaczyk is a WGXC programmer. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that the New York State Public Service Commission staff recommends bigger power transmission lines for the area, and called for Boundless Energy to withdraw its application for mostly buried power lines through Greene, Ulster, and Orange counties. "All of the proposals were submitted earlier this year after state officials were met with public objections to three earlier proposals to add a 345-kilovolt electric power line that largely follows an existing corridor from Leeds in Greene County through Columbia County and south through the Dutchess County towns of Milan, Clinton, Hyde Park and Pleasant Valley," Kemble reported. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Parry Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Columbia County Green Party holds their first formal meeting at 10 a.m. Sept. 26 at Time and Space Limited, in Hudson. A state Green Party organizer will make a short presentation and ratify affiliation with the state party. There will also be a discussion of proposed activities, projects, and recruitment. For more information e-mail NYProf@gmail.com or PNRusso17@gmail.com.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 74F; Low 48F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 74F; Low 49F.[/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: Mostly sunny. High near 73. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 47.

Forecast for the next two days:
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 70. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 46.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 71. Sunday night, a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 51.

Sunrise today: 6:46 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:47 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:00

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

CLERMONT Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
HUDSON Historic Preservation Commission meeting (tentative), 10 a.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

Incompetent @RichLowry lost it tonight on @FoxNews. He should not be allowed on TV and the FCC should fine him!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2015

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

Running for the Republican nomination for president, so far Donald Trump has made very few policy proposals, and almost none having to do with communications policy. But on Sept. 23, Trump made a proposal that would change the Federal Communications Commission in a major way. His proposal was for the FCC to regulate speech on cable television. Currently, the FCC regulates speech over the airwaves, with vulgar language relegated to "safe harbor" between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., when children are asleep. But cable television does not use the public airwaves directly to get signals to the public. So the FCC did not tell Comedy Central to bleep Jon Stewart's profanity, they did that (sometimes) on their own, so advertisers would not be upset. Of course, Trump's proposal didn't come in a speech announcing a new idea, but in a veiled threat on Twitter. Trump is currently boycotting Fox News, and Sept. 23 National Review editor Rich Lowry appeared on the channel and, saying how candidate Carly Fiorina beat up on Trump at last week's Republican presidential debate said, "Let's be honest: Carly cut his balls off with the precision of a surgeon — and he knows it," on "The Kelly File." Trump fired back soon after on Twitter with, "Incompetent @RichLowry lost it tonight on @FoxNews. He should not be allowed on TV and the FCC should fine him!" So, perhaps it was not a policy proposal, but the off-the-cuff ramblings of someone who doesn't know what they are talking about. We report, you decide.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Thu., Sept. 24 (6:15). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

https://data.wavefarm.org/r/dt/3h/5h/WGXC%20DailyNews09242015.mp3

Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail the Hunter Town Board will hold public hearings next week on extending the suspension of three land use local laws for an additional three months. Town Land Use Committee Chairman David Kukle told the town board last month more time was needed for the committee to finish its revision of the local land-use laws. This will be the second, three-month extension of the town's ban on land-use applications, initiated in October 2014. The original moratorium was intended to last for nine months. During the moratorium, no applications have been processed by the planning or town boards, no approvals were given, and no action was taken on site plan reviews, subdivision laws and lot-line alterations. The building ban halted at least two pending ventures from moving forward, the five-duplex Williamsburg Residential project and Cortina Mountain Estates, a 95-unit subdivision adjacent to the Cortina Mountain Ski Resort. Hunter Town Supervisor Daryl Legg stressed the hearings next week are being held to consider the extension, not the proposed law changes. Hearings will be held beginning at 6 p.m., Tue., Sept. 29 at town hall in Tannersville. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Keshia Clukey is reporting at Politico New York students in grades 3 through 8 statewide could be completing standardized tests online by the 2016-17 academic year. The state began the push toward computer-based testing in 2012, but is now setting the timeline for implementation as part of its $44-million, five-year contract with Minneapolis-based testing company Questar Assessment, Inc. The education department sent out a memo to all school districts Tue., Sept. 22, soliciting volunteers to have some students complete the math or English language arts field tests online instead of on paper this spring. Districts will have the option of offering online testing for the actual state exams in the 2016-17 school year. The roll-out will be slow so that logistical issues can be worked out, and allow for feedback from districts. Though it will take major planning on the part of the education department, the move to online testing would be beneficial in a number of ways, including allowing teachers to have almost immediate feedback rather than waiting several months for test results. Read the full story at Politico New York.

Gail Heinsohn is reporting in the Chatham Courier the Chatham Planning Board has approved the final details of the PS21 permanent building plan. Chatham town attorney Tal Rappleyea (RAPPLE-yay) made the announcement at a meeting of the Chatham Town Board last week. Rappleyea said the final unresolved piece was the developer's agreement, providing the town with "a little more power" in noise enforcement. The agreement mandates that a designated PS21 staff member be available at the performance venue for neighbors to contact in the event sound levels get too high. Rappleyea said, “If there is an issue, that person will make sure the sound is turned down." He said a limiter will be installed, and sound levels will be measured outside the building at a distance of 10 feet. Those results would then be forwarded to the town zoning officer for follow up. “If this doesn’t work, we have to go back to the drawing board,” Rappleyea said. Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt said the agreement was “a good step forward, but it won’t hurt us to wait a month.” The matter was tabled until October. Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.

Andrea Macko in The Greenville Pioneer reports that over 100 residents in the Bates Hollow area have signed a petition requesting different first responders after several slow responses from emergency services. Dottie Como organized the petition after a Labor Day incident where it took 45 minutes for an ambulance to arrive for her neighbor. Another resident of the area that abuts Preston Hollow in Albany County and Broome in Schoharie County, Mary Leggit, says of a different incident with her daughter, "We would have been better off throwing her in a car and driving ourselves." Emergency response in the area comes from Middleburgh, and the petition asks to have that changed to Rensselaerville, which responded to the area before a 911 system change. Residents say Middleburgh is 18.2 miles away, and Rensselaerville just 8.6 miles away. Como organized a public meeting with the Broome Town Board at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Broome Town Hall on Route 145.

The Greenville Pioneer reports that the Town of Westerlo in southern Albany County will celebrate its 200th anniversary Sept. 25-27, with a series of events, including a look at the Anti-Rent Rebellion freed the area. Albany County began as Rensselaerwyck, 726,000 acres inherited by Stephen Van Rensselaer III from Dutch ancestors. Feudalism reigned over the region until the 1839 rebellion. Singers will retell the story of how, when Rensselaer died and split the land between two sons, and those sons attempted to collect back rent, rebellion ensued, starting from the Helderberg area in Albany County. Besides the concert Sept. 25 at Town Hall, there are fireworks and the grand opening of the Westerlo museum Sept. 26, and a community picnic Sept. 27.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 78F; Low 48F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 77F; Low 51F.[/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: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 76. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 51.

Forecast for the next two days:
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 72. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 49.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 72. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 50.

Sunrise today: 6:45 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:48 p.m.
Length of the day: 12:03

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

CHATHAM Village Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Task Force meeting, 7 p.m., Town Building, 7309 St. Route 81, East Durham (239-8260).
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
GREENVILLE Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. at high school, Route 81, Greenville (966-5070).
HUDSON Community Development and Planning Agency board meeting, 12 p.m. at 1 N. Front St., Hudson (751-1044).
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local headlines and weather for Wed., Sept. 23 (6:21). (Produced by Tom Roe.)

https://data.wavefarm.org/r/ez/ac/20/WGXC_local_news_20150923.mp3