[caption id="attachment_37878" align="alignright" width="350"] The cake for the Cairo Library's 50th anniversary.[/caption]

The Cairo Library celebrated its 50th anniversary at a "Golden Jubilee" event there Thu., Nov. 20. State Assemblyman Pete Lopez, Greene County Legislators from Cairo William Lawrence and Harry Lennon, and Cairo Town Supervisor Ted Banta were among the politicians in attendance, with about 50 locals attending and students from Cairo-Durham Middle School performing music. Maureen Forrester, a longtime supporter of the library, was honored, and past volunteers were remembered. Speakers also recalled Cairo's first library in the 1960s along the town creek, and how it moved into the then-new town hall in 1979. Dorothy True, another longtime library supporter and current Library Board of Trustees Treasurer, read her "The Little Town That Could" poem at the event, an epic tale about the story of the latest Cairo Library building, which opened in 2012 in a spacious new building across from the Town Hall.

Click here to hear a tribute to Maureen Forrester and her 25 years of work at the Cairo Library from Cathy Start, Debra Kamecke, and William Lawrence. PLAY AUDIO (3:20)

Click here to hear Dorothy True reads her poem "The Little Town That Could" at the Cairo Library Golden Jubilee. PLAY AUDIO (2:19)

Click here to hear an interview with Rep. Pete Lopez about libraries and the next legislative session in Albany. PLAY AUDIO (11:15)

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="250"] Steve Coogan, from Wikipedia.[/caption]

William J. Kemble, reports in The Daily Freeman that a company called Possible Productions will start filming in Woodstock for the pilot of a planned Showtime TV series called “Happyish” in December. Paul Eskenazi, the project’s assistant location manager, said if the series is picked up, “we would be based out of Manhattan and Brooklyn filming, [but] we would have every intention on coming to Woodstock for a couple days every episode or every other episode to get some exterior shots.” Part of the pilot will be shot in the Byrdcliffe Art Colony and the show’s producers are looking for an additional location in the area, and may shoot the “Welcome to Woodstock” sign on state Route 212, Taco Juan’s, the Golden Notebook and the Woodstock Library. Philip Seymour Hoffman, before his suicide earlier this year, was to play the lead, which has now gone to Steve Coogan, according to Variety. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 31F; low 20F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 31F; low 20F.[/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: Mostly sunny. High near 36. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 17.

Forecast for the next three days:
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 39. Saturday night, a chance of rain, freezing rain, and sleet before 1 a.m., then a chance of freezing rain between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m., then a slight chance of rain after 4 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 31.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers before 9 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 50. Sunday night, rain likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 39.
Monday: Showers likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy. High near 61. Monday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 44.

Sunrise today: 6:52 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:29 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:36 hrs.

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

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
1 a.m.: Taran's Free Jazz Hour: Spontaneous Music Ensemble Episode 31 of 2014 of two-hour free jazz show that airs on eight European radio stations and Wave Farm Radio and WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, in New York, in the United States. Click on title to access the playlist.

6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show: Tom Fucito, Julia Kent, Cathy Start, Maureen Forrester, Pete Lopez Local interviews, local news, regional events, music and more, live from Wave Farm in Acra in Greene County. "Democracy Now!" interrupts the local proceedings live at 8 a.m., with international news from Manhattan and Amy Goodman. At 9:30 a.m., host Tom Roe is joined by Certified Public Accountant, Tom Fucito. Based in Cairo, New York (Greene County), Fucito will discuss year-end financial planning for both small businesses and individuals, including taxes and charitable giving. Email your questions in advance to tom@wgxc.org or call in live during the show to WGXC's Acra studio at 518-622-2598. Also, cellist Julia Kent calls in ahead of her performance Nov. 23 at Helsinki Hudson with Alexander Turnquist and Sontag Shogun. Also, interviews and speeches from the Cairo Library's 50th Anniversary Golden Jubillee Thu., Nov. 20 with Cathy Start, Maureen Forrester, and Pete Lopez. Also new local music from Elvis Perkins, Liv Carrow, and others are featured.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News: Pete Lopez Local headlines, weather, listings of local public meetings and more. Also, an interview with New York Assemblymember Pete Lopez about libraries and the next legislative session at the Cairo Library Golden Jubilee.
7 p.m.: Guest DJ: Jeff Monkash Special about jazz pianist Bud Powell.

Arthur Cusano of the Register-Star is reporting that incumbent Didi Barrett's slight edge over Republican Mike Kelsey in the 106th Assembly race has increased during the vote count Thu., Nov. 20. Barrett was ahead by just 139 votes after election night. So far, the Dutchess County-based Democrat picked up 83 votes in in here home county. Ballot counting is still ongoing in Columbia County, Cusano reports, with Barrett winning the absentees there 277 to 147 for Kelsey, a Salt Point-based attorney. Reportedly, 126 ballots have been set aside due to objections from the candidates: 108 from Kelsey, 15 from Barrett, and three by both sides. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

[caption id="attachment_37858" align="alignright" width="300"] The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 was signed into law Wednesday by President Barack Obama, marking the first congressional reauthorization in more than 18 years. New York advocates say they now need to push for funding to implement parts of the law. Photo credit: Ethan Hein/Flckr [/caption]Mark Scheerer of New York News Connection reports for Public News Service that after 18 years of no congressional action, the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) finally has been signed into law. The measure revises the block grant to include basic provisions to improve the quality of child care around the country. President Barack Obama signed the legislation Wed., Nov. 19 after a Senate vote of 88-to-1 on Mon., Nov. 17. Janet Walerstein, executive director of the Child Care Council of Suffolk, says she has been working toward this moment for more than 18 years. "We're thrilled," she says. "I mean, I'm thrilled. I was - tears came to my eyes when it went to the Senate and passed. "So, yes, I'm over the moon. Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray." However, Walerstein and other advocates point out that the funding increases authorized in the bill fall short of what is needed to support implementation of new provisions and to reduce a decline in enrollment in the CCDBG program. The bill authorizes $5.3 billion in federal child care assistance annually. Walerstein says Congress will have to approve funding for implementation. "It strengthens the health and safety requirements, so with that comes cost," she stresses. "And then, it's supposed to improve access to child care by expanding eligibility. That also will need support." The only no vote was cast by Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah. Bipartisan support for the child care legislation would seem to augur well for further agreement on implantation funding, according to Walerstein. "It would seem to me that that would be in the offing, that there are probably ways in which we can get together and really make this happen as a really great move for quality in child care," she says. In Washington, Michelle McCready, director of public policy with Child Care Aware of America, says "now the hard work has to be done," but believes the spirit of bipartisanship will prevail. "The measures in the bill are very commonsense and very near and dear to anybody who's representing people in the United States or their district," she says. States will have to conduct background checks on all child care providers receiving the grants and carry out at least one annual inspection of licensed CCDBG providers. States also are permitted to use some of the federal funds to promote nutritional and physical education for children in the program.
PLAY AS AUDIO REPORT (2:18)

Ryan Anglim is reporting in The Daily Mail the Greene County Legislature Wed., Nov. 19, voted to adopt the county's 2015 budget, totaling $105 million. The plan calls for an additional $2 million in spending over last year and contains a tax levy increase of 3.55 percent. The lone dissenter on the vote was Democrat Vincent Seeley of Catskill. Seeley objected to the spending plan for three reasons: The tax increase, the Legislature's failure to privatize some non-mandated services and functions, and what he said are overly optimistic sales tax estimates. Seeley said if the county does not make the projected sales tax revenue, funds will have to come from another portion of the budget to fill the gap, or services will have to be cut. Seeley said the plan is "more reactive, than proactive." He said, “I don’t think it’s a horrible budget, but I don’t think it’s an aggressive enough budget.” Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said a major increase to the budget is a $1 million increase in healthcare. Among the budget provisions is the relocation and improvement of the county's veterans' office, which is currently located in the Jefferson Heights Medical Arts building. Read the full story in The Daily Mail. Programming note: Seeley will be a guest on WGXC's "We the People," beginning at 10 a.m. [Thurs., Nov. 20].

Tobiah Black is reporting in The Columbia Paper New Lebanon Town Board member Bruce Baldwin has taken issue with the unauthorized use of his name on emails circulated by Supervisor Michael Benson. Baldwin said at a board meeting last week “a couple of e-mails” circulated by Benson included Baldwin's name, but he had neither seen nor approved of the messages. Baldwin said the inclusion of his, and other town board members' names, implied the message was coming from the full board. The email in question was budget-related, expressing Benson's position on New Lebanon's tax rates, town employee salaries and a list of what he believes are vital services to be preserved. Baldwin noted that he was out of the country when Benson sent the messages. When asked, Benson said "some" of the other Town Board members were made aware of the emails before they were sent. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

The Daily Freeman reports that Maybelle’s Restaurant opened at 355 Main St. in Catskill on Thu., Nov. 13. Maybelle’s is owned by Executive Chef Matthew Smallwood and Jamie Parry, the chef and owner of Another Fork in the Road in Milan. Serving breakfast and lunch from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. of “farm to fork, refined comfort food,” according to Smallwood. The menu now includes vegetarian and gluten-free options, and beer and wine will be coming soon. Smallwood is an Army veteran who attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park and worked at Blue Hill/Stone Barns in Tarrytown, the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club, Swoon Kitchenbar in Hudson, and Another Fork in the Road. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Paula Ann Mitchell is reporting in the Daily Freeman the man facing a felony charge for operating an aerial drone equipped with a video camera in close proximity to a medical facility rejected an offer Tues., Nov. 18, to plead guilty to the misdemeanor attempted surveillance. David P. Beesmer, of Lake Katrine, Ulster Co., was arrested by state police in July and charged with felony unlawful surveillance. At the time of his arrest, police said Beesmer positioned the drone to within 10 to 15 feet of the windows of examining rooms at the new Mid-Hudson Medical Group building on U.S. Route 9W. The incident captured national headlines amid the debate about how to regulate similar unmanned aircraft. In Ulster Town Court on Tuesday, Beesmer’s attorney declined the plea deal offered by the Ulster County District Attorney's office. Schneider said, “I’m convinced my client’s actions were not criminal. I sincerely believe he is innocent." Following his arrest, Beemser posted on Facebook that he made a “huge error in judgment” and that he merely intended to capture footage of the new building. The town justice adjourned the case until Dec. 9. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 36F; low 21F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 36F; low 22F.[/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: Mostly sunny. High near 39. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 21.

Forecast for the next three days:
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 39. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 16.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 40. Saturday night, a chance of snow showers before 3 a.m., then a chance of rain showers between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., then a chance of snow showers after 5 a.m. Low around 32.
Sunday: A chance of snow showers before 8 a.m., then a chance of rain showers between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 51. Sunday night, rain likely. Cloudy. Low around 40.

Sunrise today: 6:52 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:29 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:36 hrs.

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

ANCRAM Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CHATHAM Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
COXSACKIE-ATHENS Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at high school, 24 Sunset Blvd., Coxsackie (731-1800).
COPAKE Land Use Review Committee meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-6122).
GHENT Town Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting is cancelled.
KINDERHOOK Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
12:05 a.m.: Taina Asili, Monica McIntyre Recorded live performance at the Spotty Dog in Hudson, Wed., Nov. 19.

6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show News, events, weather and more.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
10 a.m.: We the People: Vincent Seeley Vincent Seeley will be the guest for the hour. Seeley, a Democrat, is a member of the Village of Catskill Board; he has served as a member for 10 yrs, eight of them as its president. He also represents District 1 on the Greene County Legislature. He was born, raised and educated in Catskill. Seeley will discuss the future of the village and town; the ongoing revitalization efforts and more. Call-ins are welcome and encouraged. Call (518) 828-0290 to be on the air and pose your questions to Seeley, or simply have your say. Hosted by Tom DePietro.
11 a.m.: One Size Fits All: 20141120 An hour-long investigation into the idea of amplified sound, beginning with jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley and concluding with jazz trombonist and bandleader Miff Mole's Little Molers. Produced by Your Host. The full playlist can be found at www.Facebook.com/OneSizeWGXC.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: I Thought Turkeys Could Fly Radio Thanksgiving traditions such as playing Rush Limbaugh's "The True Story of Thanksgiving," and dropping live turkeys from helicopters continue to this day. Dan Seward also contributes a local Thanksgiving story, Andy Griffith's "What It Was, Was Football" comedy routine joins the show, and Ray Davies contributes a holiday song.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News
7 p.m.: The Jazz Disturbance: Karen Mantler, Sam Sebren Composer Karen Mantler and longtime friend and WGXC programmer Sam Sebren will be in the studio. Sebren and Mantler, along with David Middleton and Paul Johnson, formed the experimental no-genre band Splotch in New York City from 1993 to 1999. Mantler has a new record, "Business Is Bad" on XtraWATT/ECM, with her trio featuring clarinetist Doug Wieselman and bassist Kato Hideki. In addition to songs from "Business is Bad," Mantler will play examples of her other work over the years. Hosted by Cheryl K.

The Daily Mail has video of David Gabrielsen, a middle infielder on the Cairo-Durham baseball team, signing a letter of intent this week to play baseball at Robert Morris University in Chicago, Illinois. The 5'10" right-hander graduates this spring.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="256"] The former Durham Elementary School.[/caption]

Ryan Anglim is reporting in The Daily Mail a public meeting was held Tues., Nov. 18, at Durham Town Hall to determine the level of community interest and support for establishing a community center or reading room, and perhaps a branch of the YMCA. Among the locations under consideration: The Becker building, the Hans and Gretel building, and now the former Durham Elementary School. Members of the Durham School Building Use Committee, a representative of the Greene Co. branch of the Capital District YMCA and the Cairo-Durham school district met last week to discuss the Y's interest in locating a branch in the recently closed school. The site is thought to be ideal since the building already contains a gym, has ample parking, an elevator and is set up with WiFi. Other YMCA branches are more than 30 minutes away, including the recently opened site in Coxsackie. The town's proposed community center facility is expected to occupy between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet in a rented or leased property on Route 145. Preliminary plans call for a facility with high speed internet access and terminals for use by students and residents. It will also include a meeting area with audio visual equipment, rest rooms and a kitchen to support use by civic groups. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Rick Karlin in Capitol Confidential reports that the Maetreum of Cybele group in Palenville can keep their tax exemption from Catskill property taxes, the state Court of Appeals ruled on Tue., Nov. 18. The pagan group’s home, a converted vacation/boarding house, and surrounding property is used primarily for religious and charitable purposes, the court said. "Petitioner adequately established its entitlement to the RPTL 420-a exemption, as the proof at the trial established that petitioner "exclusively" utilized the property in furtherance of its religious and charitable purposes," the ruling said, agreeing with the Internal Revenue Service, and a previous court ruling. Five women live on the property, which used to be known as The Central House. Last winter the Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit to the Maetreum of Cybele, Magna Mater, Inc., who hope to put WLPP-LP on 102.9-FM in Palenville. The group has until Jan. 27, 2017 to get on the air. The group claims their new signal will cover Catskill, Saugerties, and parts of Columbia County. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential. See the court's decision below.

Maetreum

The Associated Press is reporting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wants to increase fares and tolls by approximately 4 percent over the next two years. The increases, to take effect next March, would affect riders of Metro-North commuter trains, the Long Island Rail Road and New York City subways and buses. Public hearings are planned for December. The MTA says its board may modify the proposals before voting on them in January. The MTA says it has cut more than $1 billion from its annual spending and plans to do more.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 32F; low 23F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 31F; low 24F.[/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: Mostly sunny. High near 31. Wednesday night, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy. Low around 21.

Forecast for the next three days:
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 39. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 20.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 39. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 22.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 40. Saturday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 31.

Sunrise today: 6:51 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:30 p.m.
Length of the day: 9:38 hrs.

Public meetings
Today is the third Wednesday 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 Town Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Human Services Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
GHENT Planning Board, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature meeting and special Finance Committee meeting, both listed for 6:30 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Zoning Board of Appeals public hearing, 6 p.m.; regular meeting, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
STUYVESANT Zoning Revision Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant (758-6248).
TACONIC town meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Rte. 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).
TACONIC HILLS Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Central Office boardroom, 73 Co. Rte. 11A, Craryville (325-2800).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Mail Call Letters to DJs, gods, and others are heard out, from The Box Tops, Marvelettes, Flaming Lips, XTC, Hole, Dolly Parton, Johnny Horton, R.B. Greaves, Burning Spear, Lightnin' Hopkins, The Ink Spots, Freddie and the Dreamers, Allan Sherman, Buckethead, Tom Jones, and David Bowie.
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Eisuke Oooka Episode 956 of weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Click on title for playlist 956.

6 a.m.: Background Briefing with Ian Masters Inside breaking international and national news. A radio program featuring international and national news, expert guests, policy makers and critics with analysis and insight on national security, foreign and domestic policy, political, cultural and social issues. This program goes far beyond the headlines and deep under the radar to bring forward truths unheard in the American media.
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show News, events, weather and more.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. National, daily, independent, award-winning news program providing audiences with access to people and perspectives rarely heard in the U.S. corporate-sponsored media.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues.
12 p.m. (noon): The Bedazzled Radio Show: Duane Allman An homage to the late Duane Allman without a single Allman Brothers or Eric Clapton track! Howard Duane Allman (Nov. 20, 1946 to Oct. 29, 1971) was an American guitarist, session musician, co-founder and leader of the The Allman Brothers Band until his death in a motorcycle accident in 1971 at the age of 24. The show will feature tracks by pre-Allman Brothers bands The Escorts, The Allman Joys, The Hour Glass and The 31st Of February, as well as songs featuring Allman's guitar playing by Clarence Carter, King Curtis, Aretha Franklin, Laura Nyro, Wilson Pickett, Otis Rush and jazz flautist Herbie Mann. Produced by Spike Priggen.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News: Jeff O'Neil Local headlines, weather, listings of local public meetings and more. Plus an interview with Peekskill Brewery Brewmaster Jeff O'Neil by Ken Landin of Crossroads Brewery in Athens about local beer.  

[caption width="250" align="alignright"] The Peekskill Brewery. From Trip Advisor.com[/caption]On "The Hudson Valley Tap Show" Tue., Nov. 18 on WGXC, Peekskill Brewery Brewmaster Jeff O'Neil talked with host Ken Landin of Crossroads Brewery in Athens about local beer.

Click here to listen to the entire episode of "The Hudson Valley Tap Show." PLAY AUDIO (58:30)

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="450"] The Pilgrim Pipeline route.
(Courtesy frackfreecatskills.org)[/caption]

William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman opponents of the proposed 178-mile long Pilgrim Pipeline are developing a base for their plans to keep the lines for Bakkan crude oil and refined material from being laid along the state Thruway. Speakers from Riverkeeper, Earthworks, and Citizens for Local Power last week drew approximately 120 people to a meeting at SUNY New Paltz. The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate political action and outline the reasons for preventing the project from moving forward. Pilgrim Pipeline officials want to lay lines from Albany to Linden, New Jersey, with one pipe taking Bakken crude oil south to refineries. The other pipe would send refined gas and diesel north. Opposition groups encouraged audience members to write to the state Thruway Authority, state Department of Transportation, state Department of Environmental Conservation and elected representatives to voice opposition to the pipeline. In an email exchange with the Freeman following the meeting, a Pilgrim Pipeline spokesman said the positions taken by the opponents did not represent any new arguments. "There doesn't seem [to be] anything new from what the Sierra Club and other anti-fossil fuel groups say about any pipeline anywhere in the United States," he wrote. The New Paltz Town Board on Wed., Nov. 19, will be asked to pass a resolution in opposition to the pipelines. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Ariel Zangla is reporting in the Daily Freeman Greene County government employees spoke out Mon., Nov. 17, about the lack of raises during a public hearing on pay increases for the sheriff and county clerk. The workers said the proposed $10,000 pay hikes were unfair to union employees who had not received a pay increase in more than six years and questioned why they were not afforded the same consideration. Several county employees who are part of CSEA Local 7000 addressed county legislators during the hearing, speaking about how the union workers have not received a raise despite increases in the cost of living. The employees also spoke about how comparable counties pay their employees more for the same kind of work. If the proposed raises are approved by the county Legislature, the sheriff’s salary would increase from $75,000 per year to $85,000, while the clerk’s would increase from $59,000 to $69,000. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the state Board of Regents was set to consider Mon., Nov. 17, a proposal to solidify a requirement that schools participate in field tests. Field tests help test developers improve future standardized tests for students in grades 3 through 12. As the Regents met, New York State United Teachers slammed the state Department of Education’s stance on mandating standardized field testing. “NYSUT has been clear that students should not be subjected to over-testing or burdened with field tests that are conducted for the main purpose of benefiting test makers,” the union said in a statement. The policy clarification before the Regents would make explicit the requirement that all schools administer field tests. The amendment under consideration is expected to be voted on at the Regents' February meeting. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Max Oppen is reporting in The Daily Mail Edward I. Kaplan has been appointed Greene County Attorney, effective Dec. 1. Kaplan will succeed Carol Stevens. Stevens, who held the position since 2001, will retire Nov. 30. Kaplan was chosen over seven other applicants for the position by a six-member committee headed by Legislator Linda Overbaugh of Catskill. Kaplan has been an attorney since 2002; he specialized in matrimonial, civil and real estate law. He has served as deputy county attorney for 11 months. County Administrator Shaun Groden said Kaplan's experience distinguished him from the other applicants. “At the end of the day it was his personal experience...That was important. We needed a good litigator, and he has extensive litigation experience," Groden said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.