Columbia County

Chatham Kids Club | Closed.
COARC Adult Transportation | Closed.
Columbia County Senior Meals | Closed. Staff report.
Columbia County Healthcare Consortium | Open. No transportation.
Hudson City School District | Closed. No private school buses. All offices closed.
Hudson Day Care Center | Closed.
Ichabod Crane Central School District | Closed.
O.K. Kids Inc. | Closed.

Greene County

Cairo-Durham Central School District | School grounds and offices are closed due to severe weather. School classes closed due to recess. District office closed.
Greene County Nutrition Program | Closed. All Greene County sites closed.
Ulster-Greene ARC (Catskill) | No transportation.
UMC Daycare Norton Hill | Closed.

Source: Times Union and Fox23 Albany

A Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Albany is in effect for the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, eastern Catskills, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson Valley, Taconics, southern Vermont, Berkshires and Litchfield Hills, through 10 a.m., Fri., Jan. 3. Heavy snow is expected, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible, with locally up to 15 inches across the eastern Catskills, southern Green Mountains and northern Berkshires. The snow will fall at a rate of one inch per hour. A steady light snow will continue through the day Thursday and continue into Thursday night. The snow will become steadier and heavier across the entire region Thursday night, then taper off around sunrise, Friday. North winds of 5 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph are expected across the region. Temperatures will hover in the single digits and teens Thursday, falling to a range of 10 to -10 degrees, Thursday night. The wind chill values are expected to be between -10 and -25 into Friday morning.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 13F; low 3F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 15F; low 3F.[/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 Winter Storm Watch issued by the National Weather Service in Albany remains in effect for the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, eastern Catskills, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson Valley, Taconics, southern Vermont, Berkshires and Litchfield Hills, through 10 a.m., Fri., Jan. 3. Heavy snow is expected, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches possible, with locally up to 15 inches across the eastern Catskills, southern Green Mountains and northern Berkshires. The snow will fall at a rate of one inch per hour. A steady light snow will continue through the day Thursday and continue into Thursday night. The snow will become steadier and heavier across the entire region Thursday night, then taper off around sunrise, Friday. North winds of 5 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph are expected across the region. Temperatures will hover in the single digits and teens Thursday, falling to a range of 10 to -10 degrees, Thursday night. The wind chill values are expected to be between -10 and -25 into Friday morning.

Today: Snow. High near 15. Wind chill values as low as -1. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Thursday night, snow with areas of blowing snow. Low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -15. North wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Forecast for the next three days:
Friday: Snow showers likely with areas of blowing snow before 10 a.m., then areas of blowing snow and a slight chance of snow showers between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing. High near 12. Wind chill values as low as -17. North wind around 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around -9.
Saturday: Sunny. High near 21. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 16.
Sunday: A chance of rain, snow and sleet between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of rain after 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 38. Sunday night, rain likely. Cloudy. Low around 36.

Sunrise today: 7:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:35 p.m.

Length of the day: 9:11 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the first Thursday of the month.
WGXC recommends calling ahead to confirm time and location.


ANCRAM Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
COPAKE Planning Board meets at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Headlines Radio news about radio.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Bo Diddley Music of the late Bo Diddley is featured.
1 a.m.: Tabs Out: Stare Case Cassette show, Episode #37. A brief chat about the #TripMetal scandal that rocked the nation, plus some tape jamage from Stare Case, dSCI, John Carpenter & Alan Howarth, Kevolych, Raising Holy Sparks, Decimus, William Clay Martin, Esther Chlorine, Trabajo, ???, Brian Green, Jason Zeh, Stag Hare, Horselover Fats, and Givan Lötz.
4 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Artificial Memory Trace Vital Weekly 912
5 a.m.: Kurt Opsahl From Stellar Wind to PRISM, Boundless Informant to EvilOlive, the NSA spying programs are shrouded in secrecy and rubber-stamped by secret opinions from a court that meets in a faraday cage. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Kurt Opsahl explains the known facts about how the programs operate and the laws and regulations the U.S. government asserts allows the NSA to spy on you.

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 Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Hosted by Phil Grant. Call in with your views at 518-828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The Morning Show continues with local news, weather and events.
10 a.m.: We the People: Premiere After substituting as guest host of "@Issue," Tom DePietro returns with a new show devoted to local politics. "We the People," will air the first, third and fifth Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. The first episode is devoted to the December 27 subcommittee meeting on the proposed alterations to the Columbia County Airport located in Ghent. Patti Metheney and Michael Schrom of GhentCANN (Ghent Citizens Against Noise Nuisance) will be DePietro's guests.
11 a.m.: One Size Fits All: 20140102 An hour-long investigation into the idea of amplified sound with your host beginning with Kate Bush and concluding with Joanna Newsom. www.facebook.com/OneSizeWGXC
2 p.m.: The Art of the Hudson Valley: Gretchen Kelly, Tim Ebneth Discussion with Columbia County multidisciplinary artists Gretchen Kelly and Tim Ebneth. Hosted by Chad Weckler.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Sjamback From Radio Theater Project, an anthology series of dramas and comedies for radio. Produced at KSVR Studios at the radio station KSVR-FM in Mount Vernon, Washington. The actors are from the Skagit Radio Repertory Company. The producer is Joseph C McGuire. Made possible by grant from the Corporation for the Public Broadcasting and KSVR Studios. "Sjambak": Written by Jack Vance; adapted for radio by Perry Whittle. "Sjambak" a story written in 1953 by Jack Vance. A thoughtful writer of science fiction who writes about the human condition rather than technology. Here is an earlier story about a planet settled by Muslims and a tabloid reporter whose supposed to exploit them. From A-Infos Radio Project.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="740"] Catskill Point was identified as an area of particular interest by casino developers during a tour of Catskill in December. (Courtesy clui.org)[/caption]

Kyle Adams is reporting in The Daily Mail Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley met in early December with representatives of a casino developer to discuss the possibility of building a casino in the village or town. The visit was an early step toward fulfilling Greene County’s intention to establish a casino in the county. In November, voters in New York approved the construction of four casinos on upstate, non-Indian lands. Seeley said he could not reveal the name of the developer, but said the company has developed casinos and other major commercial projects throughout the country. Seeley told the paper the company's three representatives looked at properties that could provide a minimum of 40 contiguous acres. They were particularly interested in the land opposite Anthony's Banquet Hall on Route 23B and Catskill Point. A second meeting is scheduled for January. At that time the developer’s architect will present some rudimentary sketches. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Associated Press is reporting a federal judge Tues., Dec. 31, upheld most of New York's new gun control law, rejecting arguments that its bans on large-capacity magazines and the sale of some semi-automatic rifles violate Second Amendment rights. U.S. District Court Judge William Skretny in Buffalo said those provisions are constitutional because they are related to achieving an “important governmental interest” in public safety. He said those two features make guns more lethal. The New York law was adopted following the December 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The suit was filed by the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, sportsmen's groups, firearms businesses and gun owners.

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, eastern Catskills, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson Valley, Taconics, southern Vermont, Berkshires and Litchfield Hills, effective late Wed., Jan. 1 to early Fri., Jan. 3. Heavy snow is expected, with accumulations of more than nine inches possible. Light snow will begin to fall Wednesday night, become steadier during the day Thursday and continue into Thursday night. The snow will taper off around sunrise, Friday. Northeast winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph are expected across the region. Temperatures will hover in the single digits and teens Wednesday and Thursday, falling to a range of 10F to -5F, Thursday night.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 25F; low 11F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 25F; low 12F.[/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 Winter Storm Watch for the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys, eastern Catskills, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson Valley, Taconics, southern Vermont, Berkshires and Litchfield Hills, effective late Wed., Jan. 1 to early Fri., Jan. 3. Heavy snow is expected, with accumulations of more than nine inches possible. Light snow will begin to fall Wednesday night, become steadier during the day Thursday and continue into Thursday night. The snow will taper off around sunrise, Friday. Northeast winds of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph are expected across the region. Temperatures will hover in the single digits and teens Wednesday and Thursday, falling to a range of 10F to -5F, Thursday night.

Today (New Year's Day): Mostly cloudy. High near 26. Wednesday night, snow likely, mainly after 10 p.m. Cloudy. Low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Forecast for the next three days:

Thursday: Snow. High near 20. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Thursday night, snow. Low around 4. Wind chill values as low as -15. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
Friday: Snow showers, mainly before 8 a.m. High near 10. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around -5.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 18. Saturday night, partly cloudy. Low around 11.

Sunrise today: 7:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:34 p.m.

Length of the day: 9:10 hrs.

Town meetings

New Year’s Day
All nonessential federal, state, county and local municipalities are closed. Post offices, banks and school districts are also closed today.

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

2 a.m.: Tabs Out: Stare Case Cassette show, Episode #37. A brief chat about the #TripMetal scandal that rocked the nation, plus some tape jamage from Stare Case, dSCI, John Carpenter & Alan Howarth, Kevolych, Raising Holy Sparks, Decimus, William Clay Martin, Esther Chlorine, Trabajo, ???, Brian Green, Jason Zeh, Stag Hare, Horselover Fats, and Givan Lötz.
5 a.m.: Shortwave/Pirates: Hap Holly/KC9RP RAIN's Hap Holly/KC9RP talks about what drove him to produce ham radio programming 30 years ago; and more.

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 Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Hosted by Phil Grant. Call in with your views at 518-828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The Morning Show continues with local news, weather and events.
12 p.m. (noon): The Schoemer Show: Schoemer Returns! Karen Schoemer returns to the airwaves following a four-month hiatus. Live from the Hudson studio.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting in The Daily Mail the Coxsackie Village Board has approved the purchase of 14 River Street, for $60,000. The 2,500-square-foot historic building, located near Riverside Park, was once home to the George H. Scott Hook and Ladder Company. It is currently in a state of disrepair. The village will renovate the building to be used as a community meeting location, office space for the Coxsackie Farmer's Market and other village-sponsored groups. The estimated cost of renovation could top $100,000. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Associated Press is reporting New York officials say they are launching a project to train and employ former inmates using $13.5 million raised from businesses and foundations as investors. Under a contract with Social Finance Inc., the state will pay those investors based on measured employment increases and reductions in recidivism. State officials say it should reach 2,000 ex-inmates soon after their release, connecting them to job training and placement services over four years in Rochester and New York City. Read the full AP story in the Daily Freeman.

Senate Democrats have proposed moving the 2014 Primary Election day for state offices to June from September. The state Senate Democratic Conference announced in a statement released Mon., Dec. 30, it has introduced a bill to hold a single primary election for both state and federal offices on the same day. The bill would save state and local governments an estimated $50 million, according to Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk (KAT-chik), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Elections Committee, said requiring local governments to pay for two separate primary elections is "an unconscionable and wasteful mandate." The proposed legislation would also bring the state into compliance with the federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act. That law enacted certain requirements for federal elections to accommodate service members overseas and other Americans living abroad.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 28F; low 10F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 30F; low 7F.[/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 northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, southern Vermont and all of east central New York, except for Herkimer County, Wed., Jan. 1 through Mon., Jan. 6. A moderate to significant snowfall is possible late Wednesday night into Friday morning. Bitter cold air will be ushered into the region later in the week with life-threatening wind chill possible Thursday night into Saturday morning. Wind child advisories and warnings will likely need to be issued.

Today: A chance of snow showers, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 28. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Tuesday night, a slight chance of snow showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy. Low around 12. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:

Wednesday (New Year's Day): A slight chance of snow showers after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 27. Wednesday night, snow likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy. Low around 15.
Thursday: Snow. High near 15. Thursday night, snow. Cloudy. Low around 9.
Friday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 12. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around -7.

Sunrise today: 7:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:33 p.m.

Length of the day: 9:09 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fifth Tuesday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any regular, scheduled town meetings.


The day ahead on 90.7-FM

12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: 2013 in Review The year in radio art, experimental sound, and more.
5 a.m.: PCJ Media Network Plus: 20131231 International radio and media show. The show is produced jointly by PCJ in Taiwan and Canada. Producer/Presenter: Keith Perron.

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 Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Hosted by Phil Grant. Call in with your views at 518-828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The Morning Show continues with local news, weather and events.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show

Some of the stories that made the news, Dec. 27 to Dec. 30:

Arthur Cusano reported in the Register Star warehouse personnel and drivers at food service distributor Ginsberg's in Hudson will vote Jan. 30, on a proposal to unionize. Ginsberg's employees have been without union representation since 2002, when they voted to declassify the union. A representative of Teamsters Local 294 in Albany declined to elaborate on why the 125 eligible employees reached out to the union for representation, but told the paper he believed the workers are seeking better working conditions. Ginberg's, the largest independent food service distributor in the Capital Region, recently announced plans to expand its operation in Claverack, including the addition of more than 50 new jobs.

The Daily Freeman reported the former American Thermostat site on county Route 23B in Cairo has been reclassified by the state as no longer presenting a significant threat to public health or the environment. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said hazardous waste disposed of at the site was addressed and the site was properly remediated. The location does require ongoing site management, according to the state agency. Additional information about the site is available online in the state’s Environmental Site Remediation Database at dec [dot[ ny [dot] gov.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="272"] Stoneledge Farm in South Cairo
(Courtesy stoneledgefarmny.com)[/caption]

Jessica Mosier reported in The Daily Mail the Cairo Town Board recently passed a Right to Farm Law. The law recognizes farming as an essential enterprise and an important industry, which enhances the economic base, natural environment and quality of life in Cairo. Going forward it will be town policy to encourage agriculture and foster an understanding of the necessary day-to-day operations involved in farming and to encourage residents' cooperation with those practices. The law also creates a three-member committee to handle conflicts or disagreements between farmers and their neighbors. The idea for the Right to Farm Law came about during recent reviews of the town's zoning laws.

Diana Louise Carter reported in the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester the record-breaking apple crop this year left many New York growers with fruit still on the trees and not enough storage space after the harvest. Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, told the paper the bountiful 2013 growing season left many growers without enough workers to harvest the apples, not enough bins to place them in and not enough cold-storage capacity. The crop is expected to eventually top 34 million bushels, nearly double last year's harvest.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 31F; low 3F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 31F; low 10F.[/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: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny. Temperature falling to around 21 by 5 p.m. Monday night, partly cloudy. Low around 9.

Forecast for the next three days:

Tuesday: A chance of snow showers, mainly after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 28. Tuesday night, a slight chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy. Low around 16.
Wednesday (New Year's Day): A slight chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny. High near 27. Wednesday night, a chance of snow. Cloudy. Low around 13.
Thursday: Snow likely. Cloudy. High near 20. Thursday night, snow likely. Cloudy. Low around 7.

Sunrise today: 7:24 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:32 p.m.

Length of the day: 9:08 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fifth Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any regular, scheduled town meetings.


The day ahead on 90.7-FM

12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Fela From Wikipedia: "Fela Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) also known as Fela Anikulapo Kuti or simply Fela ([feˈlæ]), was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician and composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rights activist, and political maverick." His work is featured here.
3 a.m.: Radio, Radio Songs on the theme of transmission are featured.

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 Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Hosted by Phil Grant. Call in with your views at 518-828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show The Morning Show continues with local news, weather and events.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show

Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Daily Mail that five different energy companies are attempting to set up business transmitting electricity to New York City through the town of Athens, and some locals there have formed the Athens Citizens Development Committee to voice concern about the various projects’ impact on issues such as "safety, traffic, health, property values, and aesthetics." West Point Partners, North American Transmission, NextEra Energy Transmission, New York Transmission Owners, and Boundless Energy all have proposals capitalizing on Athens' proximity to the Leeds transfer station and the Hudson River. The community group seems most concerned with the West Point Partners project, which would run underground power cables down Vernon St. The Town Council and the Village Board have expressed similar concerns, according to Lekocevic, and have also filed for “intervener funding” available to communities impacted by the project. Town Supervisor Lee Allen Palmateer said at a recent council meeting that “I don’t think Athens will have the clout to stop this entirely, but bringing in a converter station should help with the tax base. We need to have a backbone and a brain so we don’t give away the ship,” Palmateer said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that Robin Hood Radio in Connecticut may come to the rescue of Kingston Community Radio, buying WGHQ (920-AM) from Pamal Broadcasting. Bruce Feniger, general manager of Pamal Broadcasting Hudson Valley, announced last week he was shutting down WGHQ Dec. 31 to focus on the company’s other Kingston-based radio station, WBPM (92.9-FM). "In a Facebook posting Monday afternoon, Kingston Community Radio founder Walter Maxwell wrote, 'WHDD (Robin Hood Radio) is working with Pamal Broadcasting to purchase WGHQ. This would keep KCR (Kingston Community Radio) on the air and provide new programming to WGHQ listeners outside the KCR time slot. A lot of work has to be done to get all the ducks lined up to make this happen. We applaud Robin Hood Radio for taking the effort to provide a home for KCR and at the same time provide new programming for the Kingston area,'" Zangla wrote in the Daily Freeman. Kingston Community Radio has local volunteer hosts talking about the Kingston area on the air. According to Zangla, WGHQ first signed on the air in 1955, first known as WSKN 1 and licensed to Saugerties with 1,000 watts of power, daytime only. Its transmitters and studio were in Saugerties, but in March 1960, the station’s call letters were changed to WGHQ and the station was moved to Kingston. The call letters stood for “General Headquarters.” Pamal Broadcasting purchased the station from Clear Channel on Feb. 1, 2007. WGHQ was simulcast with WLNA (1420-AM), and WBNR (1260-AM), without the Kingston Community Radio programming. Robin Hood Radio does business as Tri State Public Communications, running WHDD (91.9-FM), WBSL (91.7-FM), WLHV (88.1-FM) and WHDD-AM (AM-1020), in Northwest Connecticut, and the Hudson Valley, and Massachussets.

[caption width="291" align="alignleft"] Christine Spero Group plays at Hunter Mountain Sun., Dec. 29.[/caption]Local ski resorts are hoping this holiday weekend, with New Year's Eve Tuesday, goes better then last weekend's rainy run-up to Christmas. While no major snowfall is forecast, temperatures should be low enough for snow-making. Hunter Mountain already has 10-54" of snow on 45 trails serviced by ten lifts. Hunter hosts Tas Cru on Saturday night, The Christine Spero Group on Sunday night and cover band 5Zero on New Year's Eve, when fireworks go off after the Torchlight Parade. At Windham Mountain there are 20 groomed trails open, with eight lifts over 178 acres of 6-44" of snow. The Amish Outlaws and DJ Brian play New Year's Eve after the fireworks at 9 p.m. Catamount Ski in Hillsdale is open holiday hours, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. through January 1. They have 22 of 34 trails, and five of six lifts running over 8-24" of snow. Click here to listen to the WGXC Ski Report. PLAY CLIP (1:22)

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sun., Dec. 29. PLAY AUDIO (4:03)

Ski Report
WGXC Ski Report: Resorts have holiday plans and hours this week. PLAY AUDIO (1:22)

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

• Sunday: A slight chance of rain and snow before noon, then rain. High near 40. Sunday night rain and snow, becoming all snow after 9 p.m. Low around 25. 1 to 3 inches of snow possible.

• Monday: A chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 27. Low around 8 Monday night.

• Tuesday: A slight chance of snow showers after 1 p.m.

Sunrise 7:23 a.m.
Sunset 4:31 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 2:54 A.M. 1:22 P.M.
Mercury 7:32 A.M. 4:21 P.M.
Venus 8:35 A.M. 6:15 P.M.
Mars 12:12 A.M. 12:02 P.M.
Jupiter 5:05 P.M. 8:11 A.M.
Saturn 3:36 A.M. 1:43 P.M.
Uranus 11:46 A.M. 12:14 A.M.
Neptune 10:25 A.M. 9:09 P.M.
Pluto 7:29 A.M. 4:58 P.M.

WGXC Programming

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Charles Swain at the Catamount Museum in Catskill, 2010.
(Courtesy bobcathouse.blogspot.com)[/caption]

Kyle Adams is reporting in The Daily Mail long-time Greene County Minorities Historian Charles B. Swain has died. Swain, 73, passed away Sun., Dec. 22, from complications following a stroke. He served Greene County for nearly 40 years. Swain is remembered as a passionate historian who worked hard to shine light on the contributions of minorities countywide. The Catskill native was appointed to the position in 1975, the first minorities historian in New York state. Swain was a 26-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and worked in the New York State Department of Corrections and the National Parks Service. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Millspaugh Camerato Funeral Home in Catskill. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Here are two recent WGXC interviews with Swain about Catskill history:

Feb. 18, 2012 interview click here. PLAY CLIP
Charles Swain, Greene County Minority Historian, discusses local lore.

Interview by Matt Bua and Laura Nancy Anderson about Catskill history click here. Recorded for Catamount People's Museum. PLAY CLIP

Local News
Local news from Wave Farm‘s WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, New York for Sat., Dec. 28. PLAY AUDIO (4:46)

Ski Report
WGXC Ski Report: Resorts have holiday plans and hours this week. PLAY AUDIO (1:22)

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

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42, and a low around 26.

• Sunday: A chance of freezing rain before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Sunday night there is a 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23.

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30.

Sunrise 7:23 a.m.
Sunset 4:31 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 2:54 A.M. 1:22 P.M.
Mercury 7:32 A.M. 4:21 P.M.
Venus 8:35 A.M. 6:15 P.M.
Mars 12:12 A.M. 12:02 P.M.
Jupiter 5:05 P.M. 8:11 A.M.
Saturn 3:36 A.M. 1:43 P.M.
Uranus 11:46 A.M. 12:14 A.M.
Neptune 10:25 A.M. 9:09 P.M.
Pluto 7:29 A.M. 4:58 P.M.

WGXC Programming

A boil-water advisory is in effect for the village of Valatie due to a water main break at 10:45 a.m., Friday. The advisory will remain in place until further notice. The advisory is for anyone using municipal water. For information, valatievillage.com.