Bryan Rowzee in the Ravena News-Herald reports that the town of Coeymans is consolidating its local dispatch services with the Albany County Communications Center (ACCC). The ACCC will add two transfers from Coeymans, at local expense for a three-year transitional period in the deal. Coeymans Police Chief P.J. McKenna said at the town's May meeting that, “both parties (ACCC and local emergency units) will share data. The data in the system is available to all involved, officers and administrators.” At the meeting, Town Councilman Tom Dolan said the three local fire departments are not thrilled with the plan. Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.

• ELECTRONICS RECYLING The Greene County Highway Department at 67 Scott Lane in Athens accepts household hazardous waste on Sat., June 6. Participants are asked to arrive during these suggested times based on the first letter of their last name: A-G from 8-9 am, H-N from 9-10 am, O-T from 10-11 am, and U-Z from 11 am until noon. This is for Greene County residents only, proof of residency is required. Email SolidWaste@DiscoverGreene.com or call (518) 943-4600 for details on what materials will be accepted.

• LIVE BROADCASTS WGXC (90.7-FM) is currently in its "Radioactive" pledge drive. The station hosts several live broadcasts throughout the area this week:
• Sat., June 6 at Spotty Dog Books & Ale in Hudson 8 p.m. w/Tonic Train
• Tue., June 9 at Catskill Library, 4-6 p.m.
• Sat., June 13 at Hudson Farmers Market, 9-10:30 a.m.
• Sat. June 13 at Art Omi in Ghent 4-7 p.m. w/Todd Colby, Power Animal System and The Schoemer Formation
• Sun., June 14 at Ca'Mea in Hudson 6-8 p.m.

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., June 6. PLAY AUDIO (2:49)

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

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70, and a low around 44.

• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72. A 30 percent chance of showers after 2 a.m. A low around 48 is predicted.

• Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70.

Sunrise 5:19 a.m.
Sunset 8:29 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 11:41 P.M. 9:26 A.M.
Mercury 5:05 A.M. 7:22 P.M.
Venus 8:40 A.M. 11:42 P.M.
Mars 5:27 A.M. 8:39 P.M.
Jupiter 10:12 A.M. 12:24 A.M.
Saturn 6:57 P.M. 4:47 A.M.
Uranus 2:42 A.M. 3:38 P.M.
Neptune 1:13 A.M. 12:15 P.M.
Pluto 10:15 P.M. 7:45 A.M.

WGXC Programming

Moon 11:41 P.M. 9:26 A.M.
Mercury 5:05 A.M. 7:22 P.M.
Venus 8:40 A.M. 11:42 P.M.
Mars 5:27 A.M. 8:39 P.M.
Jupiter 10:12 A.M. 12:24 A.M.
Saturn 6:57 P.M. 4:47 A.M.
Uranus 2:42 A.M. 3:38 P.M.
Neptune 1:13 A.M. 12:15 P.M.
Pluto 10:15 P.M. 7:45 A.M.

Will Brunelle in Capital New York reports that a coalition upstate taxi and for-hire transit operators are denouncing a bill that would legalize taxi app companies inthe area. Kevin Barwell, president of the Limousine, Bus and Taxi Operators of Upstate New York, said June 4 that e-hail companies such as Lyft and Uber should operate under "precisely the model of a traditional taxi company." There's a bill in Albany sponsored by State Senator James Seward, a Republican who formerly represented Greene County, but now his district is slightly north and west of the county, and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, a Democrat from the Hudson Valley, that would legalize the taxi apps here. Earlier in the week at a pro-Lyft press conference, Albany entrepreneurs Vic Christopher and Matt Baumgartner argued that unpredictable and unreliable taxi service in the Capital Region was hurting the tourist industry here, and that competition from the app-fleets would help. Read the full story in Capital New York.

Full audio of the Fri., Jun. 5 headlines and weather (6:11). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

http://data.wavefarm.org/r/tx/ft/51/WGXC%20Daily%20News%20Friday06052015.mp3

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="231"] Columbia County flag from Wikipedia.[/caption]

Siobhan (SHIV-ahn) Barton is reporting in the Register Star Columbia County's debt has hit its highest level in five years, according to a report from the county controller’s office. The debt has more than doubled in two years, to nearly $38 million. “It is quite high,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan. “Given the tax cap and lack of government grants it’s impossible nowadays for county governments not to borrow money.” In the current budget, infrastructure expenses account for a major portion of the county's financial obligation. Bridge updates alone this year this year will total $1.2 million in capital and more than $2.8 million in bonds. According to the statement released with the report, county officials say agreements between 29 towns, villages, the city and school, library and fire districts will result in a savings of $12.8 million over the next three fiscal years. Other major savings cited by the controller include the sale of the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and the Certified Home Health Care Agency. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Ryan Anglim is reporting in the Register Star the Catskill Republican Committee held its caucus Wed., Jun. 3, at the Washington Irving Senior Center. More than 200 registered Republicans attended. The caucus endorsed incumbent Gary Carlson and newcomer Paul Vosburgh to fill two open seats on the Catskill Town Board in the November 3 election. The caucus also endorsed Shawn Beers for highway superintendent. Jim Planck reports in The Daily Mail the Hunter Democratic Committee has chosen to endorse incumbent Town Supervisor Daryl Legg, Council members David Kukle and Raymond Legg, and Greene County Legislator Larry F. Gardner in each of those respective races. Gardner is a 32-year veteran of the county Legislature. The Hunter Democratic caucus was held Wednesday, with more than 50 members in attendance. The Hunter Republican Committee will hold its caucus later in the summer.

The Associated Press is reporting the Environmental Protection Agency said Thu., Jun. 4, hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas has not caused widespread harm to drinking water in the country. But the report also warned of potential contamination of water supplies if safeguards are not maintained. The EPA assessment tracked water used throughout the fracking process, from acquiring the water through to wastewater treatment and disposal. Industry groups hailed the EPA study as proof that fracking is safe. Environmental groups seized on the report’s identification of cases where fracking-related activities polluted drinking water. EPA officials said the report was not intended to prove fracking is safe, but instead was aimed at how state regulators, tribes, local communities and industry can best protect drinking water and reduce the risks of fracking. The report has cost $29 million since 2010, with another $4 million expected this year. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential Sean Eldridge, former Democratic candidate for the 19th Congressional District seat does not intend to run again. Eldridge divulged the news in a recent interview with Vanity Fair magazine. His decision leaves the 2016 race for the seat wide open. The magazine reported Eldridge is focusing on LGBT, campaign-finance reform and liberal-arts education advocacy. Eldridge ran against Republican Rep. Chris Gibson last year. Despite spending heavily, Gibson trounced Eldridge by nearly 60,000 votes. Eldridge told Vanity Fair, “...we didn’t win — we weren’t that close.” Gibson announced in January he will step aside in 2016, at the end of his third, two-year term. It is believed Gibson will seek the GOP nomination for governor in 2018. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Today is Day 2 of the WGXC Radio Active Summer Pledge Drive. Tune in for a full slate of remote broadcasts, and turn out for special events. Your tax-deductible contribution will help sustain WGXC as a public platform for information, experimentation and engagement. Thank you for supporting creative community radio in New York's Greene and Columbia counties. Donate now!

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 74F; low 56F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 74F; low 57F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
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 Catskill, in Greene County:

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for the region, including the eastern Catskills and the Mid-Hudson Valley for Fri., Jun. 5. There is a chance of non-severe thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening ahead of, and along a cold front approaching from the St. Lawrence Valley and lower Great Lakes.

Today: A slight chance of showers. Cloudy. High near 75. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent. Friday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. Low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 74. Saturday night, mostly clear. Low around 43.
Sunday: Sunny. High near 75. Sunday night, a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 50.
Monday: A chance of thunderstorms before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 75. Monday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 62.

Sunrise today: 5:19 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:28 p.m.
Length of the day: 15:08 hrs.

Public meetings
Today is the first Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any recurring public meetings scheduled for today.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO AUDIO VERSION OF THIS REPORT (2:15)

[caption width="330" align="alignright"] A DJI Phantom radio-controlled drone. Photo from Wikipedia.[/caption]Mark Harris in The Guardian reported June 3 that Verizon and NASA are developing an air traffic control network for America's radio-controlled drones, with cell phone towers monitoring the small aircraft. The Guardian obtained documents that say Verizon signed an agreement last year with NASA, “to jointly explore whether cell towers … could support communications and surveillance of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) at low altitudes.” So far there's just a half million dollars invested in the project at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Verizon will use cell coverage for data, navigation, surveillance, and tracking of drones by 2017, with the first tests of unmanned aircraft system traffic management this summer. Currently, drones can fly anywhere, but NASA hopes to “geo-fence” radio-controlled drones to keep them away from military bases, airports, the White House, and other locations. The network would also help drone operators avoid mountains and buildings, and create a priority system in crowded airspaces. Currently, anyone can fly a drone, but in February the Federal Aviation Administration released proposals for regulating commercial drones, with aircraft up to 55lb allowed to fly within sight of their remote pilots during daylight hours at heights below 500 feet and at speeds of less than 100 mph. “The problem is that we really cannot add any more capacity to the regular air traffic control system,” says Missy Cummings, professor of aeronautics at Duke University. “Radar coverage at low altitude is very spotty, and we don’t have the technology or the people to put a tracking device on each drone.” NASA may also use orbiting satellites and cellphone signals to monitor drone locations. “I don’t see a privacy problem with leveraging cell towers,” says Ryan Calo, a law professor at the University of Washington who specializes in robots. “If a centralised place is keeping track of these things, we would have some accountability. I don’t believe anybody thinks we should have anonymous drones the way we should have anonymous web surfing.”

Full audio of the Thu., Jun. 4 headlines and weather (5:20). Produced by Philip Grant.

http://data.wavefarm.org/r/0y/ra/tg/WGXC%20Daily%20News%20Thursday%2006042015.mp3

The Hudson City Democratic Committee announced Wed., Jun. 3, its first round of endorsements for the November election. The committee met Tue., Jun. 2 and endorsed Tiffany Martin Hamilton for mayor, Victor Mendolia for Common Council President and incumbent Heather Campbell for Treasurer. Mendolia is the chair of the city committee. Current Common Council President Don Moore was picked to run for Third Ward Supervisor; incumbent Ellen Thurston will not seek re-election. The committee chose Hamilton over Nick Haddad in his second bid for mayor. It also failed to endorse incumbents Henry Haddad and Rick Scalera in their respective bids for re-election. According to the statement released by Mendolia, the committee will meet again next week, and "may make further endorsements at that time." Ed. note: Mendolia and Thurston are local WGXC programmers.

Politics on the Hudson is reporting a Quinnipiac University poll released Wed., Jun. 3, shows Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s job-approval rating has dropped. Forty-four percent of New York voters surveyed approved of Cuomo’s job performance, compared to 42 percent who disapprove. It was the second term governor’s lowest rating in a Quinnipiac survey since he took office in 2011. Polls conducted by Marist College and Siena College showed similar declines in recent weeks. The poll showed a little more than half of voters disapprove of Cuomo’s efforts to improve ethics in government. When asked if the governor is part of the problem or a part of the solution, 52 percent said he was part of the problem and 32 percent said he was part of the solution. In the same poll, only 26 percent of those surveyed approved of the job the state Legislature is doing; 60 percent disapproved. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

[caption width="300" align="alignleft"] From Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema Facebook page.[/caption]Dwight Grimm and Leigh Van Swall are working to open the Greenville Drive-In movie theater, with a Kickstarter campaign at $10,000 as of June 3. The Greenville Drive-In Outdoor Cinema loaded in movie projectors June 2, according to photos on Facebook. The drive-in was built by Peter Carelas in 1959.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] From Thacher Park website.[/caption]

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced June 2 the groundbreaking of Thacher Park Center, a $3.8 million project at the 2,500-acre park on Albany County’s Helderberg Escarpment. “Thacher State Park is true gem for the Capital Region, and we are committed to making it more accessible for families and visitors,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. The center is at the trailhead and picnic area of the Indian Ladder Trail. State Senator George Amedore, who represents Greene County and the part of Albany County where the park is located, said, "Thacher Park is a jewel within the Capital Region, and the new Visitor Center is a welcome addition that will highlight the expanded recreational facilities the park has to offer and help to attract even more visitors to enjoy this beautiful natural resource.”

Jay Braman, Jr. reports in The Daily Freeman that Hunter, Windham, Cairo, and Lexington were among the towns in the Catskills awarded development grants announced June 2. The Town of Lexington will use $64,425 for the Lexington Waterfront Park Project; the Windham Area Recreation Foundation and the town of Windham will get $50,000 for Windham Path Phase III, from the Hensonville Center to the Maplecrest Center; the Town of Hunter gets $26,131 for the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway Gateway Signage Project; and the Town of Cairo wins $75,000 for the Cairo Main Street Multimodal Pathway Project. “These eight awards, totaling $400,000 for Catskill local governments and not-for-profits, are an investment in the region that will bring sustained economic benefits to the area and help draw visitors to enjoy the Catskills’ magnificent natural resources,” Environmental Commissioner Joe Martens said. “Under Gov. Cuomo’s leadership, New York is working to promote the outstanding Catskill recreational opportunities to the millions of people who are just a short car ride away.” Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Today is Day 1 of the WGXC Radio Active Summer Pledge Drive. Tune in for a full slate of remote broadcasts, and turn out for special events. Your tax-deductible contribution will help sustain WGXC as a public platform for information, experimentation and engagement. Thank you for supporting creative community radio in New York's Greene and Columbia counties. Donate now!

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 74F; low 51F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 73F; low 52F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
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 Catskill, in Greene County:

Today: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny. High near 72. Thursday night, a chance of drizzle after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 52.

Forecast for the next three days:
Friday: A slight chance of showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy. High near 75. Friday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 57.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 75. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 44.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 76. Sunday night, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 53.

Sunrise today: 5:20 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:27 p.m.
Length of the day: 15:07 hrs.

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

ANCRAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ASHLAND Planning Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COPAKE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GHENT Town Board informational planning and working session, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
STUYVESANT Board meeting workshop, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

DOWNLOAD OR PLAY AN AUDIO VERSION OF THIS REPORT (1:44)
John Anderson in DIYmedia.net writes that the Federal Communications Commission may have moved the investigation of, "unlicensed broadasting off a back burner to a spot on the counter adjacent to the stove." Earlier this year, the FCC said it wants to cut two-thirds of its field offices and eliminate nearly one-half of its field agents, from 63 to 33. Instead they would create a roving squad that would swoop in, picking up some equipment already in place, and taking the pirates off the airwaves. Anderson tracks all enforcement activities and writes, "As of the end of April, there’ve been just 35 enforcement actions against 17 stations in four states. There has been no official report of field activity in May. In 2014, there were 52 enforcement actions in the same time-frame." He tracks a considerable slow-down in FCC activity, after 2014 saw the lowest level of enforcement in nearly a decade. Instead of fining any FM radio pirates, there are fines against three amateur radio operators and one illegal CB operator, $49,500 in all, mostly with operators abusing public safety channels. And Anderson also reports the FCC has been using its High-Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) network to track down ships that are using long-distance radio frequencies reserved for aviation.

John Anderson is on Wave Farm's Board.

Full audio of the Wed., Jun. 3 headlines and weather (8:16). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

http://data.wavefarm.org/r/9s/10/hd/WGXC%20Daily%20News%20Thursday%2006032015.mp3