Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's Smart Schools Commission Mon., Oct. 27, released its report on how the $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act should be spent. That bond is one of three proposals on the ballot Nov. 4. The act would permit the state to borrow for schools, primarily spending the money on short-term needs like electronic equipment, such as whiteboards, computer servers and laptop and tablet computers. Opponents of the proposal suggest the money might be better spent on something other than technology, which could soon be obsolete after it is purchased. Among the panel's key findings: Recommendations to embrace and expand online learning, utilize tablets, laptops and interactive whiteboards in the classroom, to connect every school to high-speed broadband and to provide high-quality, continuous professional development to teachers, administrators and staff. The Governor's Office has provided an online calculator of how much each individual school district would be eligible to receive under the act. The awards to districts in Greene and Columbia counties vary, from a high award of $1.7 million to the Hudson City School District, to a low of $148,000 for Windham-Ashland-Jewett. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

 

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 58F; low 41F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 59F; low 40F.[/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: Showers likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy. High near 64. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 40.

Forecast for the next three days:
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 55. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 35.
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 53. Friday night, a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 39.
Saturday: A chance of showers. Cloudy. High near 46. Saturday night, a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 30.

Sunrise today: 7:25 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:52 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:26 hrs.

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

CATSKILL Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. at high school, 341 Main St., Catskill (943-4696).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Thibault Jehanne

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.: Juke in the Back: Richard Berry Richard Berry is one of the unsung heroes of early rhythm & blues and rock 'n' roll. That he wrote and recorded the original version of "Louie Louie" is only scratching the surface of this renaissance man of R&B. Features an interview with Berry conducted by former DJ James Austin from the mid-1980s. In the interview, Berry gives a detailed history of how "Louie Louie" was inspired, written and received.
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 News, weather, local events, music and more. .
10 a.m.: @Issue: Didi Barrett, Howie Hawkins Conversation with Assembly member Didi Barrett, Democrat of Hudson, live in the Hudson studio, followed by an interview with Green Party gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins by telephone. Hawkins will make a campaign appearance in Hudson, Wed., Oct. 27. Hosted by Victor Mendolia and Debora Gilbert. Mendolia is the chairman of the Hudson City Democratic Committee.
11 a.m.: Zooms: Halloween We further our assemblage of the Zooms audio scrapbook, this chapter being a lil' more All Hallow's Eve themed than usual, including some local EVPs, and other ghost searching tactics from the garage. Hosted by Tyson Hauf.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: WGXC Evening News

[caption id="attachment_37111" align="alignright" width="330"] The proposed natural gas Constitution Pipeline (red line) would passes west of the WGXC listening area. Image from Constitution Pipeline website.[/caption]

Scott Waldman in Capital New York reports that on Oct. 24 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said the Constitution Pipeline will cause minimal environmental damage along its 124 miles from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania to Schoharie County. FERC released the final environmental impact statement for the project, saying, "the Projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but these impacts would be reduced to less-than-significant levels.” Williams, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc. and WGL Holdings Inc. Company hope to start building the pipeline next year and have already moved much of the pipe in to New York. Once operational, the 30-inch pipeline could move 650 million cubic feet of natural gas a day, enough to power about six million homes, according to the companies involved. New York state officials now need to approve the project for the pipeline to proceed, and while the administration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a history of dragging its feet on any decision releated in any way to high-impact hydraulic fracturing, in this case Williams has spent more than $100,000 lobbying state officials in the first half of this year in hopes of excavating soon. Read the full story in Capital New York.

[caption id="attachment_2087" align="alignleft" width="225"] Andrew Cuomo glad-handing after campaign kickoff speech at BRIK Gallery in Catskill, July 17, 2010. Photo by Tom Roe.[/caption]

Michael Virtanen is reporting for the Associated Press Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office tightly controls requests for public records on anything controversial and routinely delays or denies their release. Previously, the fulfillment of Freedom of Information Law requests was the responsibility of individual state agencies, but current and former state officials say a year into Cuomo's administration requests began to be routed through the governor's legal counsel. In the story, Travis Proulx (Proo), the former communications director for the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, said the change came after a 2011 New York Times series on abuse of the disabled in state care that was based largely on public records. A Cuomo spokesman, Richard Azzopardi (AZZ-ah-pardee), said state agencies do process information requests, "at times conferring" with the governor's staff, "to ensure consistent and thorough responses.... We strive to complete Freedom of Information Law requests as quickly as possible, taking into account the large number that are received and the fact that some are voluminous and require a thorough legal review process." Azzopardi said they have processed 758 in the three years since the summer of 2011. Read the full Associated Press story in the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

Diane Valden spends 988 words in The Columbia Paper on the history of counting dogs in Ancram in Columbia County. Currently, 1,573 residents there have registered only 40 dogs, and town officials are suspicious they are losing out on license fees. At the Oct. 16 town board meeting, Town Supervisor Art Bassin guessed that there could be as many as 500 unlicensed dogs and said that town Animal Control Officer Wes Powell gave him an estimate of $1,850 to properly count the dogs of Ancram. The town already pays Powell $4,120 to deal with its animal control issues. The town also spends $1,000 annually on fees when lost dogs are taken to the animal shelter. A license for a spayed or neutered dog costs $6 annually, un-neutered dogs, $16. In the story, Valden also recounts the legendary Ancram dog census in the late 1970s by Irene Dietter and her husband, Avery “Prope” Dietter, and another sometime in the 1980s led by Keith Morey, who was the dog warden at the time. Current Dog Control Officer Powell told The Columbia Paper he will come to the Nov. 20 board meeting to give an accounting of his dog enumeration procedures. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 70F; low 53F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 69F; low 51F.[/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 71. Tuesday night, showers likely, mainly after 5 a.m. Increasing clouds. Low around 53. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:
Wednesday: Showers likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 66. Wednesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 41.
Thursday: Partly sunny. High near 57. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 37.
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 52. Friday night, a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 35.

Sunrise today: 7:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:53 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:29 hrs.

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

CANAAN Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1647 Co. Route 5, Canaan (781-3144).
CATSKILL Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CHATHAM CENTRAL Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at high school, 50 Woodbridge Ave., Chatham (392-2400).
COLUMBIA Economic Development Corporation Board meeting, 8:30 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Greenport (828-4718).
COPAKE Agriculture & Farming Protection Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mountain View Rd., Copake (329-1234).
GREENE COUNTY Tourism Advisory Committee meeting, 9:30 a.m. at 411 Main St., Catskill (943-3223).
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
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, weather, local events, music and more. Live from the Hudson studio. Hosted by Mr. "Peetie Pete" Lievense.
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

Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Oct. 24 through Mon., Oct. 27:

Ariel Zangla reported in the Daily Freeman Greene County’s proposed $105 million budget for the coming year would increase the tax levy by 3.55 percent, but remain within the cap set by the state. The proposed 2015 budget will increases spending by more than $2 million, or 2.16 percent. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden called the plan a "status quo budget." No layoffs are called for, and the county would utilize $1.5 million of its unappropriated fund balance to offset expenses. Groden wrote in a budget letter, “...for the fourth consecutive year, the development of the operating budget for Greene County meets the required formulas as dictated by the governor.” The spending plan has now been submitted to legislators. Grodin said a public hearing is expected to be held Nov. 17 at Catskill High School.

John Mason reported in the Register Star the controversy over the development of a four-season resort at the Catamount Ski Area in Copake continues to grow. A conversation about the Berkshire Mountain Club's planned expansion was the subject of a conversation at a meeting of the Copake Zoning Board of Appeals held last week. That discussion ended in a stalemate between the board's chairwoman and attorney. On Sept. 25, the four-person board deadlocked 2-2 on the developer's application for a special use permit. Attorney Ken Down advised the board on Thursday the tie meant the case would remain open for a 62-day period. Others have opined the tie was equivalent to a denial. Board Chairwoman Hilarie Thomas said she wanted Dow replaced by an independent counsel due to what she alleged was a conflict of interest.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens has appointed Keith D. Goertz Director of the department's Region 4 office, located in Rotterdam. Goertz, from Schenectady, has served as Acting Region 4 Director since mid-May. As director he will oversee DEC activities in Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schoharie, and Schenectady counties, with more than 200 employees. Goertz has been employed by the DEC for more than 20 years. Before becoming Acting Region 4 Director, he supervised long-term projects, as well as emergency responses and subsurface investigations and cleanup activities.

Matthew Hamilton and Keshia Clukey are reporting in the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sun., Oct. 26, defended the state's new mandatory quarantine for health care workers who had contact with Ebola patients in West Africa, Cuomo said the policy is legally enforceable. As of Friday, all travelers arriving at Kennedy or Newark airports from West Africa who have had direct contact with Ebola patients must be quarantined for 21 days. At a news conference in Manhattan Sunday night, Cuomo said people can spent the 21-day quarantine in their homes instead of a medical facility. A quarantined person would receive two unannounced visits per day from health officials.

The Greene County Emergency Services Dept. announced last week it will conduct a test of the county's CodeRed System on Wed., Oct. 29. According to information provided by the department, the group test will go to all seniors who use Greene Co. senior services, only. Those seniors will receive a brief telephone message, but no action is required unless the message is received in error.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 58F; low 41F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 59F; low 41F.[/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 59. Monday night, partly cloudy. Low around 42.

Forecast for the next three days:
Tuesday: Partly sunny. High near 70. Tuesday night, scattered showers after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 53.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 63. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 40.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 54. Thursday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 35.

Sunrise today: 7:23 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:55 p.m.
Length of the day: 10:31 hrs.

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

CATSKILL Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at firehouse near Catskill Commons (Walmart) (943-3830).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Environmental Management Council, 7 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Rd., Germantown (537-6687).
HALCOTT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 813 Route 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920).
HUDSON Common Council Police Committee meeting 6 p.m.; Fire Committee meeting, 6:45 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
NEW BALTIMORE Town Board work meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 3809 Co. Route. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
PHILMONT Development Corp meeting, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
TAGHKANIC Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic (851-7638).

The day ahead on WGXC 90.7-FM
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, weather, local events, music and more. Live from the Hudson studio. Hosted by Mr. "Peetie Pete" Lievense.
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

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced Oct. 24 Keith D. Goertz for the agency’s Director of Region 4 office in Rotterdam. Goertz, from Schenectady, has served as Acting Region 4 Director since mid-May, overseeing DEC activities in Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schoharie, and Schenectady counties, with more than 200 employees. Prior to becoming the Acting Director for the Region 4 office, Goertz served as the long-term remediation engineer for the nine-county region, supervising seven staff members and long-term projects, as well as emergency responses and subsurface investigations and cleanup activities.

Kinder Morgan/Tennessee Gas Pipeline wants to put a series of gas pipelines through parts of the WGXC listening area from Albany into Massachusetts and Connecticut, called the Northeast Expansion and Connecticut Expansion Project. The Chaham Courier reports Kinder Morgan meets with Columbia County residents on the proposed Northeast Energy Direct Project to install a gas pipeline from Wright in Schoharie County to Dracut, Massachusetts. The proposed pipeline will go through Canaan, New Lebanon, Malden Bridge, and East Chatham. That meeting is at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at the New Lebanon Firehouse, 523 Route 20, New Lebanon. The day before, at 7 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 29 at the Sandisfield Arts Center, 5 Hammertown Road, in Sandisfield, MA. FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, is holding a ‘scoping meeting” about the environmental and safety impact of the Connecticut Expansion Project.

The Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York are learning radio from WGXC staff Sat., Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Hudson studio. ​A group of 12 ​Cadette-level ​Girl Scouts (​grades 6 to 8; ages 11 to 14, some of which are shown above with WGXC Station Manager Lynn Sloneker) are ​participating in the "Be Heard Broadcasting Series,"​​ Oct. 25, Nov. 1, and Nov. 8​. During the three sessions the girls will learn broadcast basics, make a station ID, and then conduct a live, remote broadcast from the Hudson Farmers' Market​​.

Local News
Local news Click here for news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sun., Oct. 26. PLAY AUDIO (2:24)

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

• Sunday: Scattered showers, mainly before 3 p.m. are possible. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 51, and a low around 40.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54, and a low around 43.

• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Sunrise 7:22 a.m.
Sunset 5:56 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 9:58 A.M. Next Day
Mercury 5:57 A.M. 5:23 P.M.
Venus 7:22 A.M. 6:01 P.M.
Mars 12:13 P.M. 9:01 P.M.
Jupiter 1:05 A.M. 3:06 P.M.
Saturn 9:01 A.M. 7:00 P.M.
Uranus 5:06 P.M. 5:49 A.M.
Neptune 3:38 P.M. 2:30 A.M.
Pluto 12:40 P.M. 10:10 P.M.

WGXC Programming

Radia: Dominique Balaÿ, Suzy Vincens
Oct. 26, 2014: 5 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.
CounterSpin: Harriet Washington, Carl Conetta
Oct. 26, 2014: 5:30 a.m. – 6 a.m.

Screenwriter E. Max Frye discussed his latest film, "Foxcatcher," showing during the FilmColumbia festival at the Crellin Theater in Chatham. "Foxcatcher" is directed by Bennett Miller ("Capote," "Moneyball") and stars Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, and Mark Ruffalo. Frye was interviewed by WGXC's Chris Bishop. Click here to play or download the interview. PLAY AUDIO (7:30)

[caption width="260" align="alignleft"] Debra Granik, from Wikipedia.[/caption]Filmmaker Debra Granik discusses her film, “Stray Dog,” scheduled to be screened as part of FilmColumbia in Hudson, Sat., Oct. 25 on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" on Thu., Oct. 23 with hosts Ellen Thurston and Tom DePietro. The film screens in Hudson at 3 p.m. Sat., Oct. 25. Granik previously made "Winter’s Bone" with Jennifer Lawrence.

[caption width="240" align="alignright"] Mount Greylock, from Wikipedia.[/caption]NOAA Weather Radio WWF-48 Greylock remains off the air. The local weather radio station at 162.525 MHz on Mount Greylock in Western Massachusetts has been off the air since at least Oct. 1, and NOAA guesses it may be back by Oct. 31. There are still other local weather stations, with information on WXM-82 in Egremont, MA, at 162.450 MHz and WXM-68 in Ames Hill, Vermont at 162.425.

Mid-Hudson News reports that The Greene County Emergency Services Department will conduct a test of the county’s CodeRed System on Wed., Oct. 29. Greene County residents who are signed up for the service will receive an automated phone message during the test.

Daniel Mackay, Ian Solomon and Ned Sullivan, of Scenic Hudson, spoke on WAMC (90.3-FM) about the high-voltage transmission lines this week. New York State Electric and Gas Company wants to upgrade power lines to move more electricity to New York City customers. Click here to listen to the hour-long discussion.

Local News
PLAY AUDIO (3:04)

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

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60, and a low around 44.

• Sunday: Isolated showers are possible, otherwise it should be mostly cloudy, with a high near 55, and a low around 38.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunrise 7:12 a.m.
Sunset 6:08 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 8:57 A.M. 7:18 P.M.
Mercury 6:01 A.M. 5:26 P.M.
Venus 7:19 A.M. 6:02 P.M.
Mars 12:13 P.M. 9:01 P.M.
Jupiter 1:09 A.M. 3:10 P.M.
Saturn 9:05 A.M. 7:04 P.M.
Uranus 5:10 P.M. 5:53 A.M.
Neptune 3:42 P.M. 2:34 A.M.
Pluto 12:44 P.M. 10:13 P.M.

WGXC Programming

Amateur Radio Newsline: X Class Solar Flare
Oct. 25, 2014: 6 a.m. – 6:30 a.m.
Off The Hook: Steve Rambam
Oct. 25, 2014: 7 a.m. – 8 a.m.
What's the Frequency, Kenneth?: Ebola Politics
Oct. 25, 2014: 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.
Radius Sketchpad: noise&light
Oct. 25, 2014: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Radia: Dominique Balaÿ, Suzy Vincens
Oct. 25, 2014: 3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Saturday Afternoon Show: Intro to Sound
Oct. 25, 2014: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Framework: Tomer Damsky
Oct. 25, 2014: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday Night Special: Yek Koo
Oct. 25, 2014: 8 p.m. – 11 p.m.

The towns of Coeymans and Catskill are saying goodbye to long-time civil servants as Gregory Darlington and Alfred “Alfie” Beers retired recently as police chief and highway superintendent, respectively. Bryan Rowzee in the Ravena News-Herald reports Darlington worked more than 25 years with the Coeymans Police Department, seven as police chief. He started in August, 1986 as a part-time dispatcher, and said he brought about “a full-time, full-service police department, all while the budget went from $1.5 million to just under $600,000.” In Catskill, Jim Planck reports in The Daily Mail, Beers leaving is more complicated. Superintendent for 16 years and with the Highway Department for 36 years, he sent the town a three-page “retirement agreement” on Mon., Oct. 20, opting to leave a year early, with the retirement effective Dec. 31, 2014. From Oct. 16 through the end of the year, according to the agreement, Beers “will work from his home office,” and that his “primary duties and responsibilities will be the administration of the (town’s) closed landfill, and cooperating with the town comptroller in closing out the books of the Highway Fund for fiscal year 2014," according to the report. Catskill will, “establish the office of Deputy Town Superintendent of Highways,” and Beers agrees not to appoint anyone to it, which allows the town board to make the appointment.

Columbia County is getting one bridge fixed by the federal government, while a Board of Supervisors committee has decided not to fix another. The Town of Claverack will receive $5,580,000 for work on the Route 9H bridge over the Taghkanic Creek, according to a press release from New York Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand Thu., Oct. 23. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), and will fund necessary safety improvements for bridges in high-risk flood areas. Meanwhile, on the border of Livingston and Clermont, Arthur Cusano in the Register-Star reports that the Bingham Mills Road Bridge will not be repaired after structural integrity issues shut it down in 2012. On Wed., Oct. 22 the county Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee voted 5-4 against funding engineering firm Barton & Loguidice, of Albany, to work on plans to repair the bridge. Supervisors Ray Staats (R-Clermont), Jim Guzzi (R-Livingston), Michael Benson (R-New Lebanon), and Joel Craig (R-Germantown), voted in favor of the project, with Supervisors Eric Tyree (R-Taghkanic), Sarah Sterling (D-Hudson), Rick Scalera (D-Hudson), Jeffrey Nayer (R-Copake), and Ronald Knott (R-Stuyvesant), voting against it. The bridge crosses the Roeliff Jansen Kill where Bingham Mills Road meets Mill Road, near Route 9. Bingham Mills Road and Mill Road now both dead-end at the Roeliff Jansen Kill. Read that full story in the Register-Star.

Arthur Cusano is reporting in the Register Star the Ghent and Claverack Planning boards have tentatively chosen Nov. 10 for the joint vote on a proposed expansion to the Ginsberg's Foods facility. The vote is slated to take place at the Claverack Town Court. The state Department of Transportation has now approved the application for a permanent entrance off Route 66 that would include an exit lane. Both the Claverack and Ghent zoning boards of appeals have granted the food distributor three variances for the project, including a variance to allow the proposed building to exceed the town’s maximum building height. The company’s plans call for the construction of a 65,000-square-foot freezer and 8,400-square-foot maintenance building during the first phase of the project. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Max Oppen is reporting in The Daily Mail the proposed town of Hunter nine-month lmoratorium on land-use applications was approved by the town board at a meeting early this week. The moratorium will suspend development of any structure or building larger than 3,500 square feet within the town limits. Town Supervisor Daryl Legg said the moratorium was enacted to support Hunter's Comprehensive Plan, which was created to preserve the environment while supporting economic and social growth. Approval of the temporary building ban calls into question the immediate future for at least two pending ventures, the five-duplex Williamsburg Residential project and Cortina Mountain Estates, a 95-unit subdivision adjacent to the Cortina Mountain Ski Resort. The town currently has moratoria in place to address junkyards and mobile home parks within town limits. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.