"Free Speech Radio News," a show that included freelance audio journalism from around the world and aired on WGXC 90.7-FM at 6:30 p.m., and more lately, 6 p.m., will air its final show Fri., Sept. 27. The show ends because of a financial struggle. "Our major funder Pacifica has not been able to pay us and its past-due balance to FSRN is about $198,000," the show's board of directors said in a letter (printed in full below).



Dear FSRN listeners,

We write to you with some extremely sad news. Last Friday, FSRN’s Board of Directors issued a two-week layoff notice to all staff, with our last daily program scheduled for Friday, September 27th.

Our Board took this action because as of September 13th, FSRN had $32,000 in the bank. We project that in order to close up shop and meet our financial and legal responsibilities, it will cost $29,000.

FSRN is currently carrying just over $200,000 in accounts receivable. For much of the year, our major funder Pacifica has not been able to pay us and its past-due balance to FSRN is about $198,000.

Many of you have supported FSRN during our struggles to make ends meet. Over the years we have made significant cutbacks to respond to a shrinking budget and weathered several financial crises that nearly brought us to the brink of closure. Most recently, funds ran dangerously low this past Spring, but with your help, we raised more than $100,000 from more than 1300 people like you to keep FSRN on the air.

Today, we once again find ourselves in crisis.

For those of you unfamiliar with FSRN’s operating costs and revenue, we’d like to share a few details. Your grassroots support has been vital to FSRN. Our production currently costs about $36,000 per month. Until recently, your dollars supplemented a $25,000 per month contract with our major donor, the Pacifica Foundation. But our current contract is for just $10,000 per month, which is not enough to sustain daily production at current levels.

If we receive a payment from Pacifica, FSRN’s Board will decide how the organization will proceed. Depending on the size of the payment, we may have several options. We are discussing the possibility of transforming FSRN into something new, more digitally-centered and financially sustainable, but still focused on bringing under-represented issues and voices about peace and social justice issues to a global audience. We are currently working hard to develop a sustainable business plan that will take FSRN into the next phase and we hope we can count on you for your support when the time is right.

Together with hundreds of reporters in communities around the globe, we have brought you more than 3,400 programs and specials, featuring 20,000+ reporter headlines & features. On more than 100 stations across the US, you have heard stories documenting wrongdoing, repression and corruption, and highlighting the individuals, campaigns and movements that work everyday to bring about a more just and equitable society. We know this work has educated and inspired countless people, and contributed to a growing trend of media outlets that focus on news that serves the public interest.

We are so grateful to all of our supporters, past and present, for all your contributions. We will keep you informed on FSRN’s future and how you can play a role in any potential transformation. And if you know of any major donors who would be interested in investing in FSRN’s future, please let us know.

In solidarity,

FSRN Staff & Steering Committee

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 59F; low 39F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 61F; 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: Sunny. High near 63. Monday night, clear. Low around 39.

Forecast for the next three days:

Tuesday: Sunny. High near 68. Tuesday night, patchy fog after 2 a.m. Otherwise, clear. Low around 42.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 71. Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 47.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 71. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 49.

Sunrise today: 6:45 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:49 p.m.

Length of the day: 12:04 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Monday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.

CATSKILL Village board meeting at 7 p.m. at Firehouse near Catskill Commons (Wal Mart) (943-3830).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development/Planning Committee Meeting, 5 p.m at 401 State St., Hudson.
HALCOTT Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 813 Route 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920)
HUDSON Common Council Police Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall; Fire Committee Meeting at 6:45 p.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
PHILMONT Local Development Corp meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Free Speech Radio News Ends "Free Speech Radio News," a show that included freelance audio journalism from around the world and aired on WGXC 90.7-FM at 6:30 p.m., and more lately, 6 p.m., will air its final show Fri., Sept. 27. The show ends because of a financial struggle. "Our major funder Pacifica has not been able to pay us and its past-due balance to FSRN is about $198,000," the show's board of directors said in a letter.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Groundswell Excerpts of recordings of the "Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell" show Sept. 22 at Olana State Historic Site.
1 a.m.: Bob's Slacktime Funhouse: Jim Ratts Jim Ratts is an obsessive audiocollage technician who has spent a lifetime tweaking and retooling his magnum opus "Those Fabulous Sixties," which got extensive airplay of BSTF. Spanning two ceedees (and thousands of Ratts-hours in the studio), TFS's hundreds of classic songbits and mixmaster editing created the finest platform for earworms ever heard. But it turns out that TFS is only *part* of this sonic maniac's incredible output! What "Those Fabulous Sixties" does to classic rock and unknown freak oddities, "Radioland" does to radio theater! Spanning decades of recorded bulldada, Jim Ratts slices, dices, and entices your palate with a cascading audio melange of familiar voices and routines that interweave through time and space in a coruscating froth of earworm- worthy nostalgia and intriguing kicks. Damn!!! It wraps up with Jim and wife Salli Ratts' band RUNAWAY EXPRESS doing a number. Jim can be reached at his website www.runawayexpress.com regarding TFS and RADIOLAND. It's also possible to snag copies of these two masterpieces--they're not for sale, but there are ways of getting yourself set up with his tasty well-simmered sonic stews. Credits: Originally broadcast by 91.1 WREK Atlanta, the voice of Georgia Tech. http://www.wrek.org. From Pacifica Radio.
2 a.m.: Night Transmissions: Blue Moon Night Transmissions is a 120-minute show featuring vintage radio shows. In this show... Julie London Blue Moon (1955) Chad & Jeremy Yesterday's Gone (1964) Richard Harris MacArthur Park (1968) Loreena Mckennitt - The Lark In The Clear Air (1985) More at http://www.nighttransmissions.com/
4 a.m.: Project Censored: Banned Books Week A collection of conversations about Banned Books Week, with representatives of the National Coalition Against Censorship, the American Library Association and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, plus four Illinois public school students resisting censorship of books in school. From Pacifica Radio.
5 a.m.: This Week in Radio News: 20130923 Reports from "Amateur Radio Newsline," and "Free Speech Radio News," and a report about how "Free Speech Radio News" is ending.

6 a.m.: Gary Null Show
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Also local news, previews of events in Greene and Columbia counties, music, and more. Call in to have your say at (518) 828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

The U.S. House of Representatives voted 230-189 Fri., Sept. 20 to fund the government through the rest of the year by defunding the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. It is a bill that will surely be voted down in the Senate, and also certainly vetoed by President Barack Obama. Nevertheless, representatives such as Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) voted for the bill, even while noting the futility of the effort. "While this continuing resolution will not be the final package, a ‘yes’ vote on this bill moves the process forward and will allow for negotiations with the Senate," said Gibson in a prepared statement. "This is necessary to keep the government running." In The Albany Times-Union, New York Senator Chuck Schumer was quoted saying, "I have never seen such an extreme group of people adopt such an insane policy." Gibson will be local this weekend, at the OlanaFest at 5:30 p.m. Sat., Sept. 21, and then at 6:30 p.m. at Greenport Community Day at the Greenport Town Park, on Joslen Blvd. On Sunday, Sept. 22, Gibson attends the Hillsdale Arts Festival at 2 p.m. at Hamlet Park.

The Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption holds a public hearing on Tue., Sept. 24, in Albany with a webcast. This hearing will focus on campaign finance, outside income of state elected officials, and political party housekeeping accounts, and speakers include: Brian Paul, Research and Policy Manager, Common Cause New York; Bill Mahoney, Research Coordinator, New York Public Interest Research Group; Karen Scharff, Executive Director, and Jessica Wisneski, Legislative Campaigns Director, Citizen Action of New York; and Dick Dadey, Executive Director and Rachael Fauss, Research and Policy Manager, Citizen Union. The meeting, from 6-9 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza Concourse, is in Meeting Room 6. There are no details about the webcast posted yet, check here for more information.

[caption width="256" align="alignright"] Photo by Beth Schneck.[/caption]Artists from Greenville, Hudson, Kingston, Cairo, and other Hudson Valley towns will converge on the Olana State Historic Site Sun. Sept. 22 for "Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell," from The Olana Partnership and Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM. Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell features site-specific works in sound, text, installation, and movement. Over a dozen artists will reflect on and react to Olana as an ambitious and early environmental work.

Installation, performance, and participation from: DJ Spooky, Pauline Oliveros (Kingston), Japanther, Eteam (Cairo), robbinschilds, Bobby Previte (Columbia County), Maximilian Goldfarb (Hudson), Greg Fox (Bard College graduate), Nadja Verena Marcin, David Kermani, Archie Rand, Nancy Shaver, Beth Schneck (Greenville), and Cara Turett (Hudson).

Olana’s 250-acre landscape was originally designed in response to its integral views— the “Olana Viewshed”— by Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. Groundswell audiences will explore the property’s undiscovered roads and naturalistic scenes as they encounter each project site.

Below, audio and video of participating artists, and related sound:

• DJ Spooky discusses his upcoming performance at "Framing the Viewshed: Goundswell" at the Olana State Historic Site on WGXC interview with Tom DePietro. Click here to play or download. (12:18)

• Pauline Oliveros at Olana talks about "Groundswell" performance there Sept. 22 on WGXC interview by Tom Roe. Click here to play or download. (4:39)

• Beth Schneck discusses "Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell" on WGXC interview with Peter Krug. Click here to play or download. (10:22)

• eTeam and Bobby Previte discuss their performances at "Groundswell" Sept. 22 at Olana State Historic Site from WGXC interview by Tom Roe. Click here to play or download. (29:57)

• Galen Joseph-Hunter from Wave Farm's WGXC and Mark Prezorski from Olana discuss "Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell." Prezorski is the Landscape Curator of Olana State Historic Site. From WGXC interview. Click here to play or download.


Marc Cohn, "Olana"


Bobby Previte, "Diorama"


Pauline Oliveros, "Bottoms Up 1"


DJ Spooky, "Anansi Abstrakt"


Greg Fox + Kid Millions (Oneida) "At 285 Kent Ave."

Local News
Click here to listen to audio report with local news from WGXC Newsroom. PLAY CLIP (3:34)

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

• Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 63, and a low around 39.

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 60, and a low around 38.

• Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 65.

Sunrise 6:43 a.m.
Sunset 6:51 p.m.
Fall begins at 4:44 p.m. ET
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 8:36 P.M. 10:06 A.M.
Mercury 8:33 A.M. 7:33 P.M.
Venus 10:31 A.M. 8:27 P.M.
Mars 2:56 A.M. 5:12 P.M.
Jupiter 12:35 A.M. 3:34 P.M.
Saturn 10:02 A.M. 8:34 P.M.
Uranus 7:13 P.M. 7:47 A.M.
Neptune 5:47 P.M. 4:35 A.M.
Pluto 2:41 P.M. 12:15 A.M.

WGXC Programming



Sept. 21, 2013: 11 p.m. – Sept. 22, 2013: 2 a.m.: Tabs Out: Prism House
Cassette tape show. Some technical bungles and tapes from Unguent, Pink Chunk Jazz Band, Bitchin Bajas, Baculum, Sensum and Clunch, Airsports, Prism House, Embarker, Gareth Flowers, Hering und seine sieben Sachen, Shredderghost, Kösmonaut, and Oxykitten.
5:30 a.m. – 6 a.m.: CounterSpin: Mike Konczal, Hugh MacMillan
This is the 20th year of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting's media analysis radio show, hosted by Janine Jackson, Steve Rendall, and Peter Hart. This week: "Mike Konczal on economic crisis, Hugh MacMillan on fracking study."

IN PERSON/NOT ON RADIO

Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell
Sept. 22, 2013: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Olana State Historic Site
5720 Route 9G
Hudson, NY 12534
518-828-0135

Admission: $20 in advance ($30 day of); 12 & under: free
Tickets: groundswell.brownpapertickets.com
All proceeds benefit The Olana Partnership and WGXC Hands-on Radio.

The Olana Partnership and Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM are pleased to announce Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell, a groundbreaking event, which features site-specific works in sound, text, installation, and movement. Over a dozen artists will reflect on and react to Olana as an ambitious and early environmental work.

Installation, performance, and participation from: DJ Spooky, Pauline Oliveros, Japanther, Eteam, robbinschilds, Bobby Previte, Maximilian Goldfarb, Greg Fox, Nadja Verena Marcin, David Kermani, Archie Rand, Nancy Shaver, Beth Schneck, and Cara Turett.

Olana’s 250-acre landscape was originally designed in response to its integral views— the “Olana Viewshed”— by Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. Groundswell audiences will explore the property’s undiscovered roads and naturalistic scenes as they encounter each project site.

Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell is co-organized by The Olana Partnership and Wave Farm’s WGXC 90.7-FM, and is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts' Electronic Media and Film Presentation Funds grant program, administered by the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes; as well as individual contributors including David Kermani. Photo: Beth Schneck Photography

Brian Hubert in The Daily Mail reports Dan King of the Greene County Emergency Management Services told folks at the Sept. 16 Greenville town board meeting about the Code Red Emergency Alert System. Anyone who opts into the service gets phone, email, social media outlets, or text message alerts in weather emergencies, and other disasters. “It used to be everyone listened to the radio,” King told the board. “Today it’s much more fragmented, with some people seeking out information online, others using cell phones, and others using landline phones.” Officials can tailor messages to individual towns, neighborhoods, or single houses. King said anyone with a traditional landline is already signed up, and others need to sign up at the Greene County website at http://greenegovernment.com/ scroll to the bottom and click the Code Red banner at the bottom, or call Greene County Emergency Management Services at 518-622-3643. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Kyle Adams in The Daily Mail reports that Greene County lawmakers are considering a new telecommunication tower on Windham Mountain, in the town of Jewett, for a microwave communication system for emergency communication between nearby counties. The tower would be part of a network of about 12 in the county, creating a reliable emergency communication system among all the Greene County towns. “During [Tropical Storm Irene], the phone lines were out, we couldn’t communicate with anyone on the Mountaintop from the valley, where our EOC [emergency operations center] is,” said Greene County Legislator and Chairman of the Public Safety Committee William Lawrence, a Republican (and WGXC volunteer programmer) from Cairo, where the emergency operations center is located. “So we had to actually send Sheriff’s patrols up with written messages to talk to people in those village towns,” he said. “Which was a real pain, so we decided we had to do something about our communications towers.” A $890,000 New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services grant would fund project on the Windham Mountain ski resort. Windham Mountain has already granted the county permission to install the tower, and the town of Jewett agreed to transfer the parcel of land, which will hold the 135-foot tower and equipment shelter in a 50- by 50-foot fenced compound, to the county at no cost. The town also granted an exemption from local zoning law and the communications tower local law that calls for new towers to be combined with existing towers whenever possible. The plan still needs Federal Aviation Administration approval, Federal Communications Commission licensing, and a New York State Department of State building permit. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Bryan Rowzee in The Ravena News-Herald reports that Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk schools are bidding out a solar project to lower power bills. Interim District Superintendent Dr. Alan McCartney said, at a Sept. 10 meeting, "We are in the preliminary stages of (investigating) using solar power. We would place solar panels on the buildings through a power purchase agreement... Essentially, we would buy some energy the old-fashioned way and buy some electricity that is provided by (our) solar array (provider) at a lower cost. The outlay cost to the district would essentially (be) $0," he continued. The district could be installing panels on all buildings and garages later this year, and McCartney hopes RCS schools are making their own energy by later in the 2013-2014 school year. Read the full story in The Ravena News-Herald.

Local News
Click here to listen to audio report with local news from WGXC Newsroom. PLAY CLIP (4:16)

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

• Saturday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Saturday night showers and possibly a thunderstorm are forecast before 3 a.m., then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 54.

• Sunday: A chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63, with a low around 41.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Sunrise 6:42 a.m.
Sunset 6:53 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 7:59 P.M. 9:03 A.M.
Mercury 8:29 A.M. 7:35 P.M.
Venus 10:29 A.M. 8:28 P.M.
Mars 2:57 A.M. 5:15 P.M.
Jupiter 12:38 A.M. 3:37 P.M.
Saturn 10:05 A.M. 8:38 P.M.
Uranus 7:17 P.M. 7:52 A.M.
Neptune 5:51 P.M. 4:39 A.M.
Pluto 2:45 P.M. 12:19 A.M.

WGXC Programming

Midnight - 12:05 a.m.: Radio News
12:05 a.m. - 2 a.m.: Kath Bloom, Linda Draper
Live webstream for this, and most, shows at Spotty Dog Books & Ale available from free103point9 and WGXC at http://comm.free103point9.org:8000/spottydog.mp3.m3u. This show will be rebroadcast on free103point9 Online Radio and live on WGXC 90.7-FM at midnight, after the show, Saturday morning, Sept. 21.
5 a.m. – 7 a.m.: Shortwave Hours: Wayne Green, W2NSD
Two hours of shortwave radio-oriented programming, starting with solar weather, news on meteor showers and ham radio, and other reports. Other reports include:
5:15 a.m.: "The RAIN Report" Hosted from Chicago by Hap Holly, KC9RP. This week: "Radio historian Scott Childers/W9CHI relates a short history of "the Big 89," WLS."
5:30 a.m., "The Shortwave Report" with host Dan Roberts and international news via shortwave radio. This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, Radio Havana Cuba, the Voice of Russia, NHK World Radio Japan, and Spanish National Radio.
6 a.m.: "Glenn Hauser's World of Radio" DX and station news countries all over the world.
6:30 a.m.: "Amateur Radio Newsline" This week: "Ham radio responds as flooding ravages parts of Colorado; China and the Philippines at loggerheads over the fate of Scarborough Reef; UK hams set a new record at 76 Gigahertz; Portugal takes legal action to combat widespread unlicensed operation and ham radio says a final goodbye to 73 Magazine founder Wayne Green, W2NSD."
7 a.m. – 8 a.m.: Saturday Morning Serial: Stingers
Stingers are short, interstitial sound files used in radio, in this case assembled in an hour-long collage.
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.: Open Air
Live from Catskill Community Center.
10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: Radia: Luc Kerleo
Radia Show 442: "Cueillette" by Luc Kerleo for Jet FM "Radia" is an international netwrok of radio stations interested in creative and forgotten ways of making radio. Each week, one station makes a show for all the others. Jet FM asked Luc Kerleo to invade her studios.
11 a.m. – noon: What's the Frequency, Kenneth?: Skepticism
Skepticism and Sarcasm are useful mainstays of newsrooms and journalism. Cynicism isn't. Coverage of recent news events may help demonstrate why. Mash-up of the news by Paul Fischer, writer/host. From Pacifica Radio.
Noon - 12:05 p.m.: Local News
12:05 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Other Music: Groundswell
Interviews with DJ Spooky, Pauline Oliveros, Beth Shneck, Bobby Previte, eTeam, and others involved in the "Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell" show at Olana State Historic Site Sun., Sept. 22.
2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Distract and Disable: September 2013
3 p.m. - 4 p.m.: Human Machine
Hosted by Max Goldfarb.
4 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Saturday Afternoon Show: Hethre Contant
Hethre Contant is the current artist-in-resident at Wave Farm in Acra, NY, and will host this program live, featuring work made during her residency. During her residency Contant will further develop a performance for radio based on research about transmission during The Weimar Republic. This research was compiled in her Master’s thesis, which received The Distinguished Thesis Award from The New School’s Media Studies Department in 2012. Over 90 pages of historical, technical, and theoretical writing addresses a lacuna in media scholarship about the importance of this radio epoch. However, in its academic form, Contant realizes that her research remains limited to a small, rather specific community. A public performance and archival documentation of her proposed performance, makes Contant’s research accessible to a wider public audience.
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: PiratesWeek: Radio Gallifrey Intergalactic
After the Weekly Presidential Radio Address, and Republican Response, Ragnar Daneskjold hosts this overview of shortwave and FM pirate radio activity. This week: "No pirates in the news this week but we do take a look at the FCC Activities. ‭Select postings from the Free Radio Network, HF Underground and note stations logged per the Free Radio Weekly. ‭Off Air Recordings include the stations of: Boards of Canada, Radio Ice Cream, Radio Casablanca, Radio Gallifrey Intergalactic, BlackCat Radio, and a very special clip from Radio Free Whatever. International Radio Report brings news of the demise of the Voice of Russia."
7 p.m. – 8 p.m.: Framework: Sawako
"This regular edition of framework features works by MUfi.re, Taavi Suisalu, Sawako, Jez Riley French, Hiroki Sasajima, Una Lee, Sleepersecond, Emmanuel Mieville, Artificial Memory Trace, and a framework intro recorded in the UK by Joe Stevens."
8 p.m. – 11 p.m.: Nat Baldwin, Jordan Morton
Live broadcast, with DJ Dizzy back in the WGXC studio DJing between sets (only on radio, not at venue). Nat Baldwin also plays bass for Dirty Projectors. Jordan Morton opens.
11 p.m. – Sept. 22, 2013: 2 a.m.: Tabs Out: Prism House
Cassette tape show. Some technical bungles and tapes from Unguent, Pink Chunk Jazz Band, Bitchin Bajas, Baculum, Sensum and Clunch, Airsports, Prism House, Embarker, Gareth Flowers, Hering und seine sieben Sachen, Shredderghost, Kösmonaut, and Oxykitten.

Nathan Mayberg is reporting in the Register Star Town of Claverack Planning Board member Nathan Chess could be removed from his seat by the town board. Supervisor Robin Andrews called for his removal in a letter addressed to Chess on September 7. Chess was critical and outspoken about the approval process for the Big Up Festival, held for the first time in Claverack this summer. A public hearing has been scheduled for Tues., Sept. 24, at the Philmont Village Hall, at which time both sides will have the opportunity to present their cases. The hearing will be overseen by town of Ancram Supervisor Art Bassin. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Eric Anderson is reporting in the Times Union Amtrak and state officials are racing to meet an Oct. 1 deadline on a cost-sharing agreement required to avert a rail shutdown in New York. Amtrak this week began notifying employees in New York and other states without agreements that service could end on some routes and that their jobs could be abolished. The cost-sharing agreement is required by legislation Congress passed five years ago. Known as the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, states and Amtrak are required to jointly develop a method to share costs for trains on routes of up to 750 miles. Amtrak has more than 1,600 employees in New York state and operates a maintenance facility at Rensselaer. The passenger railroad said it set an all-time record for ridership in July, up nearly five percent from July 2012. The route between the Capital Region and New York City, one of the busiest, carried just under 100,000 passengers in July. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Kinderhook-based conservative Chris Gibson was one of just 15 Republicans voting against $40 billion in food stamps cuts over ten years that passed the U.S House on Thu., Sept. 19, 217-210. No Democrats voted for Roll Call 476. "According to the Congressional Budget Office, nearly 4 million people would be removed from the food stamp program under the House bill starting next year. The budget office said after that, about 3 million a year would be cut off from the program," according to The New York Times. Part of the Farm Bill that expires Oct. 1, the bill moves next to the U.S. Senate. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat, released this statement after the vote:

"The House GOP has decided to pass a bill that cuts $40 billion from food stamps, directly punishing the hungry. Millions more won’t be able to put food on the table if this draconian legislation were to become law. I will urge my Senate colleagues to stand together and fight these cuts in conference.”

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 77F; low 54F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 77F; low 55F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.

FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Catskill, in Greene County:

Today: Patchy dense fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing. High near 80. Friday night, patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, mostly clear. Low around 55.

Forecast for the next three days:

Saturday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. High near 73. Saturday night, showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59.
Sunday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 70. Sunday night, partly cloudy. Low around 47.
Monday: Mostly sunny. High near 66. Monday night, mostly clear. Low around 43.

Sunrise today: 6:41 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:55 p.m.

Length of the day: 12:13 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the third Friday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any scheduled town meetings today.

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: FCC Oct. 3 LPFM Webinar The Federal Communications Commission holds an online "webinar" to help potential applicants for the low-power FM licences available in October for non-profit groups.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Harvest Moon The night's harvest moon, and food stamp cuts, are considered.
1 a.m.: Solar Motel Band Performance from Sept. 13, 2013 at LIttle Berlin, Philadelphia. Chris Forsyth: guitar, vocal; Paul Sukeena: guitar; Peter Kerlin: bass guitar ;Steven Urgo: drums.
2 a.m.: Radio Noise Bunnybrains, People Like Us, and Carlos Giffoni's "Live Inside the Radio" are featured.
3 a.m.: Shadows Shadows from Scanner, Abbott and Costello, and others
4 a.m.: Some Assembly Required: Bernard Parmegiani Mash-up show from Jon Nelson.
5 a.m.: Off The Hook: 20130920 Do not call during rebroadcast. Off The Hook, from the hacker zine 2600, airs every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET in New York City on WBAI 99.5 FM, and is rebroadcast the next morning at either 5 a.m. (second/fourth/fifth weeks) on WGXC and free103point9 Online Radio, and at 10 a.m. (first and third weeks) on WGXC. It is simulcast online via streaming MP3 and via shortwave on WBCQ The Planet at 5110 KHz. Join #offthehook on irc.2600.net to chat during the show. Email show at oth [at] 2600.com Do not call during the rebroadcast.

6 a.m.: Gary Null Show
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Also local news, previews of events in Greene and Columbia counties, music, and more. Call in to have your say at (518) 828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show.
10 a.m.: ¿Qué cocinaré hoy?: Jonas Telson The story of Jonas Telson, a Woodstock resident, who has spent the last six years of his life training to become a doctor in La Habana, Cuba. Because medical school costs in the U.S. tend to be very high, he accomplished the American dream in reverse, and went to Cuba to get his degree. Hosted by Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="167"] Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden[/caption]

Kyle Adams is reporting in The Daily Mail the Greene County Legislature reappointed county Administrator Shaun Groden to a second three-year term, Wed., Sept. 18. The reappointment is effective Jan. 1, and will run through 2016. Greene County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh said, “I can’t say enough [about] how lucky we are to have him in Greene County. I wouldn’t want anybody else.” Groden's contract will remain the same with two exceptions: He will have three more days of paid time off per year and has chosen a lower priced healthcare plan. Speenburgh said the appointment was made early to “get it out of the way," thereby allowing Groden the time to focus on preparation of next year's budget. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Hudson mayoral candidate Victor Mendolia has challenged his opponent, incumbent Mayor William H. Hallenbeck Jr., to a series of debates in advance of the November election. Mendolia, a Democrat, proposed a series of town hall meetings to be held in each of the city's five wards. In a statement released Wed., Sept. 18, Mendolia said, "Each ward has its own unique problems and concerns, both candidates should hear those concerns and have a chance to present their plans to address them." The challenge included a citywide debate, as well. Contacted by the Register Star Wednesday, Hallenbeck, a Republican, declined to commit to a debate at this time. Mendolia was a guest on WGXC, Wednesday, and discussed the decision to seek elective office and his vision for Hudson's future. The full interview can be accessed online at wgxc.org/archives. Note: Mendolia is the regular host of @Issue, but is currently on hiatus through the November election.

The Columbia Paper is reporting the Gallatin Democrats have selected Steven Sorman and Joseph Grabarz as candidates for Town Board in the November election. Sorman is an artist and served a previous two terms on the Gallatin Town Board. Grabarz represents college and university professors and other worker groups in Connecticut. The caucus also nominated incumbents Lisa DeLeeuw for town clerk and Fred Schultz for town justice. A statement released by the Democrats said the committee's candidates "have promised a spirited and forceful campaign." Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

Paving projects on Route 85 and Route 9W in Albany County began Wed., Sept. 18. Road work on Route 85 began at the Berne-Westerlo town line and runs seven miles east to the intersection of Route 85 and Route 157 in the Town of New Scotland. Work also started on Route 9W at the Albany County-Greene County line in Ravena, north on Route 9W for roughly 3.6 miles, through the Village of Ravena to the intersection of Miller Road in the Town of Coeymans. Expect temporary and moving single lane closures controlled by flaggers at various points. The NYSDOT did not predict when the work will be complete and recommends checking visit www.511NY.org for updates.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 70F; low 39F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 75F; low 48F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.

FAR LEFT: The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Catskill, in Greene County:

Today: Patchy dense fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 77. Thursday night, patchy dense fog after midnight. Otherwise, clear. Low around 49.

Forecast for the next three days:

Friday: Sunny. High near 78. Friday night, mostly clear. Low around 57.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 75. Saturday night, showers and thunderstorms likely. A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., then showers likely after 8 p.m. Cloudy. Low around 60.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 70. Sunday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 52.

Sunrise today: 6:40 a.m.
Sunset today: 6:56 p.m.

Length of the day: 12:16 hrs.

Town meetings

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

ANCRAM Board meeting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CHATHAM Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. Town Hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Safety Committee meeting at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town board meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
GHENT Town Board meeting at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. 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: ACLU Report on U.S. Surveillance From "Free Speech Radio News": "Civil liberties advocates continue their push for the Obama administration to reign in government surveillance after the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court released an order justifying the mass collection of telephone metadata. Groups are also calling for limits to FBI surveillance, after a new report documented many years of abuses, including the widespread monitoring of activists and communities of color. In Washington, FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more."
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Groundswell Compositions Works from the performers at the Sept. 22 "Groundswell" show from WGXC and the Olana State Historic Site on the grounds at Olana.
5 a.m.: In Other News: Magnetic Fields WBAI alternate news talk show. This episode: "Our past guest Dr J. Marvin Herndon a geophysicist discussed his theory about the Earth's core and its relationship to the Earth's magnetic field. The shield that protects our planet's animal and plant life from the sun's radiation. Dr. Herndon wrote an article titled The Corruption of Science, and relays disturbing evidence of how the National Science Foundation and other institutional structures have created an oppressed environment for scientists effecting the free exchange of ideas. Dr. Herndon suggests in his theory that the Earth's magnetic field could be emanating from a glowing atomic sphere inside the Earth, about 24 kilometers in diameter. From Pacifica Radio.

6 a.m.: Gary Null Show
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. Also local news, previews of events in Greene and Columbia counties, music, and more. Call in to have your say at (518) 828-0290.
8 a.m.: Democracy Now! hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
9 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show.
11 a.m.: One Size Fits All: 20130919 An hour-long investigation into the idea of amplified sound with Your Host. We will begin with "Don't Be A Stranger" and conclude with Rudresh Mahanthappa. A full playlist can be found at: facebook.com/OneSizeWGXC.
2 p.m.: Between the Lines: Steve Crohn, Debby Mayer, John Lees The September episode features three interviews investigating the relationship between mortality and creativity. Ann Forbes Cooper memorializes the late Steve Crohn, the man "who could not catch AIDS," whose mysterious immunity to the disease he witnessed from earliest appearances of the disease. Crohn took his own life earlier this month. Debby Mayer, local journalist with "The Columbia Paper," discusses her memoir, "Riptides & Solaces Unforeseen," and the how she has turned the horrors of dealing with loss of her late partner to brain cancer into something healing. And finally, the painter's painter John Lees, who opens a solo exhibit at John Davis Gallery in Hudson, October 12, discusses the ways in which time, mortality and the primacy of paint itself work together in his art. Music is by Sara Barreilles, Pablo Casals playing Johannes Sebastian Bach, and Ben Webster. Produced by guest host Paul Smart.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Radio Station "The Abbott & Costello Show" episode "Radio Station." With Bud Abbott and Lou Costello with guest Alan Ladd. From March 30, 1944.
3:30 p.m.: Kids' Brain Radio Live from the Catskill Community Center. Hosted by Matt Bua and Sam Sebren.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show: Groundswell, Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky), Nadja Verena Marcin Host Tom DePietro and Mark Prezorski, Landscape Curator of the Olana State Historic Site, talk with Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky) about his performance at Framing the Viewshed: Groundswell Sun., Sept. 22. Miller holds the distinction of being the Metropolitan Museum of Art's first artist-in-residence and will give the valedictory Groundswell performance with a performance of John Cage's 1939 piece "Imaginary Landscape No. 1" at 5 p.m. on the East Lawn. The performance will employ a sonic arrangement, utilizing two variable speed phono turntables, frequency recordings, muted piano and cymbal. Nadja Verena Marcin, also participating in Groundswell, discusses her piece "The Last Mohican." Plus local news, weather, music, and events.
6 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News