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

• Saturday: Rain. High near 53. Breezy, with a northwest wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Low around 36.

• Sunday: A chance of showers before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 61, and a low around 32.

• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68, and a low around 42.

• Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72, and a low around 49.

Sunrise 5:24 a.m.
Sunset 8:20 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 9:04 P.M. 5:51 A.M.
Mercury 6:13 A.M. 9:45 P.M.
Venus 6:19 A.M. 9:35 P.M.
Mars 4:59 A.M. 7:33 P.M.
Jupiter 6:37 A.M. 9:44 P.M.
Saturn 5:38 P.M. 4:25 A.M.
Uranus 3:09 A.M. 3:42 P.M.
Neptune 1:47 A.M. 12:37 P.M.
Pluto 10:40 P.M. 8:17 A.M.

Sky Events
Space.com reports that Sun., May 26, after sunset, three bright planets, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter, form a 2-degree equilateral triangle in the western sky.

WGXC Programming

On Saturdays free103point9 Online Radio airs on WGXC 90.7-FM, bringing transmission arts to the airwaves in the Hudson Valley, in New York. Tune in Sat., May 25:

midnight – 12:05 a.m.: "Radio News: Headlines"
Radio and media headlines.

12:05 a.m. – 4 a.m.: "Radio Stew: Military Radio"
During World War II, a "Ghost Army" created fake radio broadcasts, and played sound effects and used theatre prop tanks to fool the Germans. Now, every U.S. invasion includes immediately setting up pirate radio stations. The military also develops sound weapons for use on the battlefield, and currently uses radio-controlled drones to kill targets around the world. This show looks at military applications of sound and radio, from U.S. Air Force films, military critics, sound artists, and others.

4 a.m. – 5 a.m.: "Truthdig Radio: Radio-Controlled Drones"
IRS Scandal, Drones, Being Gay in Pro-Sports, and a Conversation with Julian Assange. From Pacifica Radio.

5 a.m. – 7 a.m.: "Shortwave Hours: Hamvention 2013 Review"
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"
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, the Voice of Russia, Radio Havana Cuba, Spanish National Radio, and NHK World Radio Japan.
6 a.m.: "Glenn Hauser's World of Radio"
6:30 a.m.: "Amateur Radio Newsline" This week: "Ham radio joins other services in responding to tornadoes in the Great Plains; Israeli hams get limited access to 5 MHz, a distracted driving law that exempts ham radio is signed by Hawaii's governor; a major DXpedition to Heard Island is delayed and an in-depth look at Hamvention 2013."

[caption width="200" align="alignleft"] FDR on the radio. From Wikipedia.[/caption]7 a.m. – 8 a.m.: "Saturday Morning Serial: Wartime Broadcasts"
Listen to Franklin Delano Roosevelt declare war on Japan after Pearl Harbor, Dwight Eisenhower warn of the "military-industrial complex," and a bit of George W. Bush's "Mission Accomplished" speech, and more on a Memorial Day edition of "Saturday Morning Serial." With John Kennedy's speech about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Lyndon Johnson on Vietnam, and Richard Nixon on Cambodia. Also included are Ghandi's "Soldier of Peace" speech, and Albert Einstein speaking about nuclear weapons after WWII. And there's music including, "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by Matthew Shipp with William Parker, "Over There" by George M. Cohan, "Der Fuerher's Face" by Spike Jones, "The Ballad of the Green Berets" by Sgt. Barry Sadler, and "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen.

8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: "Open Air: Memorial Day Weekend"
"Please Assist Us With Transmission." Anyone can contribute to the show in many ways on "Open Air." This is a live transmission art show about local transmissions from the Catskill Community Center. You make up the show with stories, phone calls, messages, requests, further information, and more. Please help be a part of the show. Stop by the Catskill Community Center in person. Call in at 518-291-WGXC. Tweet requests @WGXC. Skype calls at WGXCfm. Talk on Channel 6 on CB radio, we are tuning in. Features include solar weather, shortwave news, and more. Call 518-219-WGXC or Skype calls at WGXCfm to talk on the air. For Memorial Day, Jill Sutton and Harry Matthews host.

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: "Radia: SAKRA!2013"
From Radio Helsinki, "SAKRA!2013," found itself on an acoustic search at St. Andrä Church in Graz/Austria on 1/3/13. The installative composition by Marufura Fufunjiru, Johannes Raggam, Christian F. Schiller, and Nikos Zachariadis was sent via numerous FM transmitters to different radios spread across the church, which led to individual tonal responses. An abstract and concentrated examination of the subject luck/bad luck. http://in-dust.org/SAKRA!2013.html

11 a.m. – noon: "Framework: Raadio Mälu"
This edition, titled "raadio mälu", has been produced in Estonia by your regular host, Patrick McGinley. For more information see http://www.murmerings.com.

[caption width="528" align="alignright"] Proposed building, next door to WGXC (white building at left) Hudson studio. From Marina Abromivic Institute website.[/caption]noon – 12:20 p.m.: "Noon News: Marina Abramović"
Artist Marina Abramović, with Siena Oristaglio, discusses plans for the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI). Interview by Ellen Thurston and Victor Mendolia, from "WGXC Afternoon Show," Thu., May 23, 2013.

12:20 p.m. – 2 p.m.: "Other Music: Vital Weekly"
Weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Vital Weekly 883 and 882. Click on title for track listings. Shows include Saburo Ubukata, Ohanami, Mahler Haze, Raymond Dijkstra, and others.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: "Radius Sketchpad: J. Soliday"
Sketchpad is an ongoing monthly radio program produced for free103point9. free103point9 is a nonprofit arts organization based in New York State that defines and cultivates the genre of Transmission Art by promoting artists who make work with, for, and about the electromagnetic spectrum. The Sketchpad program features a re-broadcast of previous Radius episodes. Each episode is followed by a playlist of works selected by that episode’s artist. The series seeks to highlight the peripheral work that influences the research and production of the episode. This month: J. Soliday.

[caption width="280" align="alignright"] Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson speak to residents of Greene and Columbia counties about wages and labor.[/caption]4 p.m. – 6 p.m.: "Saturday Afternoon Show: Wage/Working Update"
Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson are at Wave Farm this spring as the 2013 season’s first Artists-in-Residence. Hadden and Watson’s project Wage/Working addresses the issues of income inequality and the concept of wage through a time-based transmission installation and a radio broadcast series on free103point9’s WGXC 90.7-FM. During their time in Greene County, these two accomplished radio producers and artists will be collecting stories and interviews with workers in Greene and Columbia counties regarding their jobs and their relationship to their work. This full two-hour show features many interviews with local residents about their jobs, wages, and labor.


6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: "President Obama on Radio-Controlled Drones"
There is no edition of "PiratesWeek" for Memorial Day. Instead, after the Weekly Presidential Radio Address, President Obama speaks on Counterterrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy, and radio-controlled drones. Pres. Obama speaks at the National Defense University on the Administration's counter terrorism policy. In his speech, he discusses broad counter-terrorism efforts, including U.S. military, diplomatic, intelligence and legal efforts. From Thu., May 23, 2013.

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?: IRS"
Paul Fischer hosts weekly news mash-up show with music and soundbites. This week: "Two former heads of the IRS take the route of least disclosure in testifying before a Senate panel...At another Senate hearing, Treasury Secretary Lew takes exception to having his and President Obama's "outrage" characterized as "laughable...the head of the IRS tax exemption department denies doing anything wrong and takes the Fifth Amendment..The White House says President Obama was kept out of the loop to avoid any appearance of coverup...and finally, at least one Senator wonders aloud why the IRS grants tax exemptions at all to groups that secretly spend hundreds of millions dollars in partisan, political pursuits." Via Pacifica Radio.

8 p.m. – 11 p.m.: "Paperhaus, Hand Habits"
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 broadcast live on free103point9 Online Radio and WGXC 90.7-FM.
Paperhaus includes guitarists Alex Tebeleff and Eduardo Rivera, drummer Brandon Moses, and bassist John Di Lascio.
Hand Habits is a noise pop band.

Gail Heinsohn reports in the Register Star Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka (CHAI-kah) has declined to prosecute the first alleged SAFE Act violation in the county. In an appearance in New Lebanon Town Court Thurs., May 23, Czajka dropped the charges lodged against Hopewell Junction resident Gregory Dean Jr., by the New York State Police in May. Dean was charged after he was allegedly found in possession of a loaded magazine containing nice rounds of ammunition, an amount in excess of the seven rounds permitted by the new law. In court Thursday, Czajka said he would “decline to prosecute the unlawful possession of ammunition feed devices.” A number of factors relate to any decision a prosecutor makes, he said, but "given the circumstances of this case, it was my decision to exercise my prosecutorial privilege." Read the full story in the Register Star.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman opponents of the proposed $1.5 billion acquisition of CH Energy Group by Fortis Inc. of Canada said the state Public Service Commission should reject the deal based on Fortis’ track records in Belize and British Columbia. The groups Citizens for Local Power and the Public Utilities Law Project held a press conference Thurs., May 23, asserting Fortis cannot be trusted in the utility regulatory process. Representatives from Belize and British Columbia leveled allegations against Fortis of falsifying documents, failure to comply with court orders and making false promises. A spokesperson for Citizens for Local Power noted that Fortis itself raised the issue of whether it can be trusted to be a good corporate citizen. CH Energy is the parent company of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Brian Hubert reports in The Daily Freeman the town of Cairo is giving serious consideration to solar power for its town buildings. The town is working with solar contractor New York Light Energy to look at ways to install solar panels at the library, the highway garage, Canna Park and the sewage treatment plant. Deputy Town Supervisor Doug Ostrander said, “We’re looking at ways to reduce or eliminate our electric bill." The town would enter into an agreement with New York Light Energy to install the arrays at the company's expense. In return, the company would sell the power to the town at a reduced rate. The Latham-based company specializes in providing solar installations mainly to large commercial clients like businesses and school districts. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 66F; low 43F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 68F; low 46F.[/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, east central New York and southern Vermont, through 8 a.m., Friday. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect. Some of the thunderstorms may produce gusty winds up to 50 mph and very heavy rainfall overnight. Periods of heavy rain are possible Friday into Saturday. Any heavy rain that does not fall in combination with recent heavy rain will increase the threat for potentially more flooding, especially east of the Hudson River Valley.

Today: Showers. Temperature falling to around 56 by 5 p.m. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Showers likely tonight. Cloudy. Low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:

Saturday: Showers likely. Cloudy. High near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Showers likely, Saturday night. Cloudy overnight. Low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Sunday: A chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny. High near 59. Sunday night, partly cloudy. Low around 44.
Monday (Memorial Day): Sunny. High near 68. Monday night, mostly clear. Low around 46.

Sunrise today: 5:25 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:19 p.m.

Length of the day: 14:53 hrs.

Town meetings

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

CLERMONT Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
HUDSON Regular meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission (tentative), 10 a.m. at City Hall, 520 Warrn St., Hudson  (828-1030).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

Midnight to 5:59 a.m.: Free103point9 Transmission Arts overnight

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Headlines From Free Speech Radio News: "Today, President Barack Obama outlined his positions on the legality of 9radio-controlled) drone strikes and targeted killing, his Administration’s aggressive prosecution of some whistleblowers and reporters, and new efforts to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. His remarks came in a major speech that addressed his foreign policy and national security decisions at Washington DC’s National Defense University. The speech comes one day after the Administration admitted in a letter to Congress that it has killed four US citizens since the President took office in 2009, though only one—Anwar al Awlaki—was “specifically targeted.” On Capitol Hill, FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more."
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Gold Sparkle Band Tracks from the Atlanta-via-Brooklyn free jazz band.
1 a.m.: Radio Jazz Compositions and improvisations from live free jazz performances.
5 a.m.: President Obama on Radio-Controlled Drones President Obama on Counterterrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy, and radio-controlled drones. Pres. Obama speaks at the National Defense University on the Administration's counter terrorism policy. In his speech, he discusses broad counter-terrorism efforts, including U.S. military, diplomatic, intelligence and legal efforts. From Thu., May 23, 2013.

6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.: WGXC Hands-On Community Radio

6 a.m.: Al Jazeera English
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Hosted by Philip Grant. Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. 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 continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show." Hosted by Philip Grant.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

Kyle Adams reports in The Daily Mail the Catskill Village Board has approved a plan to purchase new equipment and make repairs to municipal buildings. The cost of the plan was estimated to be $250,000. It includes the purchase of two new medium duty dump trucks, the replacement of the Department of Public Works garage roof and the renovation of the police station lobby. The village will bond the expenses over five years. Village board members supported the measure, calling the repairs "long overdue." Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star on the details of the recent Taconic Hills Board of Education election. Unlike all other school board elections in Columbia County, no names appeared on the Taconic Hills ballot, Tues., May 21. The three-seat race was a write-in vote. The top vote getter was Robert Piper, a carpenter by trade and longtime board meeting attendee, who received 110 votes. Piper estimates he has attended nearly 95 percent of all board meetings held in the past 16 years. He laments the burden placed on the district by what he calls, "unfunded state mandates" and advocates for the elimination of the Regents exams. Board of Education incumbents Kevin Maisenbacher and Donald McComb finished second and third in the race. In all, 47 different people received votes. Of those names, more than 30 were written in just once. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has called for the creation of tax-free zones around school campuses statewide as part of plan to attract potential start-up businesses to upstate New York. The initiative, called "Tax-Free-NY," will allow new businesses the opportunity to operate completely tax-free on a SUNY campus for a decade. The plan was unveiled by Cuomo, Wed., May 22. Under the proposal, all SUNY campuses outside of New York City, and all private colleges located north of Westchester County would be eligible as sites. Cuomo said the initiative will "supercharge" his administration's efforts to support the upstate economy, making the region "a magnet" for new business and new jobs. There are 64 SUNY campuses located throughout the state. Columbia-Greene Community College is part of the State University of New York system.

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 59F.[/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 Hazardous Weather Outlook continues, for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont through Thursday night. Scattered thunderstorms are expected. Some may be severe, producing damaging winds. Heavy rainfall is expected with some storms, which will lead to ponding of water on roadways. Minor flooding of poor drainage and low-lying areas and rises on small streams.

Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 78. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, tonight. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:

Friday: Showers. High near 64. A slight chance of showers, Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. Showers likely Friday night. Cloudy. Low around 46. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.
Saturday: Cloudy. High near 61. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. A chance of showers, Saturday night. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 45.
Sunday: A chance of showers before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 62. Sunday night, partly cloudy. Low around 44.

Sunrise today: 5:26 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:18 p.m.

Length of the day: 14:51 hrs.

Town meetings

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

CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Financial Review Committee at 1 p.m., Budget/Salary Committee at 2:30 p.m. and Salary Review Committee immediately following Budget/Salary, at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
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

Midnight to 5:59 a.m.: Free103point9 Transmission Arts overnight

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Headlines Radio and media news.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Open All Night Bruce Springsteen songs about the night. "Open All Night, "Because the Night," "Night," "Spirit in the Night," "State Trooper," "Jungleland," "Prove It All Night," "Rosalita ("Come Out Tonight)," "Meeting Across the River," "Something in the Night," and "Drive All Night." Most songs contain radio references.
1 a.m.: Selected Songs: No Neck Blues Band Compositions and improvisations from the No Neck Blues Band are featured.
3 a.m.: Mystery Science Radio: The War of the Worlds Jeff Wayne's Rock version of "War of the Worlds." Mystery Science Radio is an improvised low tech homage to B Movies, obscure music, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Cinematic Titanic, Doctor Demento, shortwave radio, Coleman Francis, Ed Wood, lo-fi radio, and of course the Hal Warren cult film "Manos: The Hands of Fate." From radio4all.net
5 a.m.: Resisting Drones Recorded at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton, Binghamton, NY; May 14, 2013. Jim Clune, past president of Broome County Peace Action and just returned from a ten day stay in jail for protesting drones at Hancock airbase in Syracuse, was the featured speaker at Broome County Peace Action's annual meeting. He spoke about the spreading use of Drones (unmanned aircraft) and the growing opposition to their use in conducting illegal warfare.

6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.: WGXC Hands-On Community Radio

6 a.m.: Al Jazeera English
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Hosted by Philip Grant. Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. 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 continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show." Hosted by Philip Grant.
10 a.m.: Prison Voices Project: Restorative Justice How can we address the root causes of crime, repair the harm that has been caused and restore our communities? Restorative justice is a theory of justice which has the goal of bringing together those most affected by the criminal act—the offender, the victim, and community members—in a nonadversarial process to encourage offender accountability and meet the needs of the victims and offender to repair the harms resulting from the crime (more information below). School Officials, and community members in Hudson, NY are searching for alternatives to incarceration of our youth. They are beginning to explore models of Restorative justice as an alternative to suspensions, PINS (persons in need of supervision) and incarceration. Tune in to hear coverage of a panel featuring Hon. Richard Koweek Columbia County Family Court Judge & Mr. Lee Wynn former Director of Office of Children and Families Services Tyron Facility for boys, members of the Staley B. Keith Social Justice Center and other community members as they work from identifying the problems of the school to prison pipeline and begin to move towards a solution: Restorative Justice. This Program also features the voices of Restorative Justice experts Howard Zehr and Dominic Bartle as well as a youth-produced piece by Radio Rootz.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Dark Tales 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. Original stories by David Van Meer. "Girl By the Side of the Road," careful who you pick up at late at night. It could be very dangerous. "Ghost Road," in a dust storm in the desert it is best if you pull over as fast as possible or bad things may happen. From Pacifica Radio.
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: Marina Abramović Marina Abramović, with Siena Oristaglio, discusses plans for the Marina Abramović Institute (MAI), crowd funding and other fundraising, the upcoming MAI prototype and her collaboration with Robert Wilson at the Luminato Festival in Toronto ("The Life and Death of Marina Abramović"), MAI's relationship with the Hudson community and more. Also, Russell Gibson, owner of The Barlow, will be in the studio to discuss the hotel's grand opening, Memorial Day weekend. Plus local news, events, music and more. Ellen Thurston and Victor Mendolia, co-hosts. Listeners are invited to call in during the show and have their say at (518) 828-0290.
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District
Budget passed, 437-177.
Bus purchases, 419-62.
School board: "Earl Barcomb with 417 votes and Joan Adriance with 404 votes. The third open seat on the Board of Education will be filled by Chasity McGivern who received 364 votes. McGivern will be serving until June 2014, which is the remaining term of Maureen Sikule, who resigned from the Board this April."
Report from Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District.

Cairo-Durham Central School District
Budget fails, 598-549.
Library resolution also fails, 631-459.
School board: (Top three win) Gary Warner (921 votes), Peter Byrne (862), Dennis Burke (849), incumbent Beatrice Clappin (360), and incumbent Greg Koerner-Fox (318). Write-in candidate Dean Pectal got six votes.
Report from WNYT.

Catskill Central School District
Budget passed, 378-167.
School board: (Four seats open) Andrew Jones (383), Christine Kirch (342), Sasha Kubicek (319), and Frances McCusker (306).
Report from The Daily Mail.

Chatham Central School District
Budget passed, 331-151.
The proposition to allow a student representative to serve on the board passed, 421-60.
School board: (Four seats open) Muriel Faxon (394), Craig Simmons (355), Melody Spock (330) and Gail Behrens Day (314).
Report from the Register Star.

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District
Budget passed, 563-402.
School board: (Three winners for three seats) Michael Donahue (333) beat Mark Gerrain (327), and Lynda Aucompaugh (203). Beth Tailleur received 621 votes and Septh Garland had 495 votes; both running unopposed.
Report from Coxsackie-Athens School District.

Germantown Central School District
Budget passed, 285-83.
School Board: (One seat open) Tammi Kellenbenz (229) and Donald Coons (138).
Report from Register Star.

Greenville Central School District
Budget passed, 590-383.
Library resolution passed, 474 to 290.
School board: (Top two win) Jennifer Warga Howard (538 votes), Kristin Turon (482), Tom Connolly (358), Duncan Mcpherson (351), and Steven King (185)
Report from Tom Connolly.

Hudson City School District
Budget passed, 614-431
School board: (Top two win) Tiffany Martin Hamilton (506), *Lynn Lee (404), Joseph E. Carr (386), Scott diMonda (273) and Jaclyn Rose Bruntfield (270).
*Note: Although Lee placed second in the voting, because she is an employee of the school district she is ineligible to assume the seat under state law.
Report from Lynn Sloneker.

Ichabod Crane Central School District
Budget passed, 951-703
Voters authorized the purchase of six buses for $376,000 (971-663).
School board: (Top three win) Anthony Welcome (1,202), Tricia Gerkman (953), Kyle Aschenbrenner (908) and Regina Rose (885).
Report from Register Star.

Hunter-Tannersville Central School District
Budget passed, 283-209.
School bus purchase proposition passed, 269-220.
Hunter Public Library fund proposition failed, 236-249.
School board: (One winner) Melissa Glennon (175), Erika Haines (172), and Carl Ruoff (142).
Report from Hunter-Tannersville School District.

New Lebanon Central School District
Budget passed, 231-53.
The $1.2 million bus garage renovation projection was approved (202-74).
School board: (Top three win) Sharon Esposito (175), Tim Lambert (172), Sharon Putnam (172), Raymond Sowalski (121) and Alexis McDonald (97).
Report from the Register Star.

Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District
Budget passed, 1665-622.
Bus passed, 1433-746.
Capital Reserve passed 1417-737
School board: (Top two) Jason Hyslop (1,851), Patrick Brown (1,841), James Latter 1,821.
Report from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District.

Taconic Hils Central School District
Budget passed, 352-101.
Proposition to purchase a transportation vehicle passed (333-107). Proposition to allow a non-voting student representative on the board was passed (352-101).
School board: (Three seats available; all write-in candidates) Robert Piper (110), Kevin Maisenbacher (106) and Donald McComb (69).
Report from the Register Star.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District
Budget passed, 229-75.
School board: Incumbent President Debra Bunce (185), William Lonecke (125).
Report from The Daily Mail.

Joe Gentile reports in the Register Star a tornado was reported 12 miles south of Hudson, near Copake, Tues., May 21. Initial field reports indicated the tornado headed east, toward Great Barrington, Mass., at approximately 35 mph. A spokesperson for Columbia County 911 said no injuries were reported, but power lines and trees were felled by the storm. Quarter-sized hail was reported in Kinderhook and Chatham. National Weather Service investigators are expected to visit Copake in the coming days to survey the damage, and to determine if it was actually the byproduct of the reported tornado. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Casey Seiler reports at Capitol Confidential opponents of the New York SAFE Act gathered on the East Capitol steps to denounce Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders, Tues., May 21. Roughly 400 participants attended the rally, and pressed for passage of Assembly member Steve Katz's measure to repeal the gun control legislation. The event was hosted by the NY2A Grassroots Coalition. The group headed into the Capitol to distribute 400,000 signed postcard-sized slips of paper calling for a vote on Katz's repeal bill. A notice to members of the Legislature distributed at the rally warned, "Any elected person who votes to retain the SAFE Act is not fit to hold office." Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 86F; low 61F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 84F; low 68F.[/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 Hazardous Weather Outlook continues today, for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont through Thursday night. Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and tonight. Some of these thunderstorms may be severe with large hail and damaging winds. The storms will also be accompanied by frequent lightning and heavy rain. Localized urban and small stream flooding is possible in areas where storms train.

Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, hail, damaging winds, heavy rain and frequent lightning. Mostly cloudy. High near 85. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, tonight. Some storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.

Forecast for the next three days:

Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8 a.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 79. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Night showers and thunderstorms. Low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent.
Friday: Showers likely, mainly before 8 a.m. Cloudy. High near 67. A slight chance of showers, Friday night. Low around 47.
Saturday: Partly sunny. High near 65. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 40.

Sunrise today: 5:27 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:17 p.m.

Length of the day: 14:50 hrs.

Town meetings

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

ATHENS Village meeting at 7 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CAIRO Town Board meeting at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee meeting at 6 p.m., 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
HUDSON Common Council Public Works Committee at 5:30 p.m.; Legal Committee meeting at 6:15 p.m., City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Historical Committee meeting at 7 p.m., Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

Midnight to 5:59 a.m.: Free103point9 Transmission Arts overnight

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Headlines Radio and media news.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Whale Radio Anna Friz listens to whales, and thinks they have already set up the utopian radio system that futurists and visionaries have longed for. Excerpts taken from Friz's keynote speech Sun., May 19, 2013 at Trans-X Transmission Art Symposium.
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: If Bwana Episode 881 of weekly experimental new music show, by folks formerly behind Staalplaat. Click here for playlist 881.
2 a.m.: Tabs Out: Food and Beer Food & Beer themed episode of cassette show. Tasty treats from Foodman, Soup Purse, Zach Troxell (from a tape on Pizza Night), Edibles, Spinal Honey, Cow, Sugarm (from the tape “Wasted”), Budweiser Sprite, Rambutan, White Meadows (from the tape “A Time For Drunken Horses”), The Nevari Butchers, Sheldon Siegel (from the tape “Three Euro Breakfast”), Elfenbeinturm (from the tape “1982 – Pizza, Beer, and Smokes”), Workin’ Man Noise Unit (from the tape “Drinkin’ Stella To Make Music To Drink Stella To”), Ghostfood, and an interview with Dan Rizer (Budweiser Sprite). Episode #25.
5 a.m.: Shortwave/Pirates: Hamvention Review Shortwave radio news, and news about FM and shortwave pirates.

6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.: WGXC Hands-On Community Radio

6 a.m.: Al Jazeera English
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Hosted by Philip Grant. Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. 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 continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show." Hosted by Philip Grant.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

UPDATE (5:20 p.m.) NYAlert is reporting a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect in Columbia County until 6 p.m.

The NWS has indicated this severe thunderstorm is capable of producing quarter-inch sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. The storm was located near Copake, or 12 miles southwest of Great Barrington, moving east at 35 mph.

UPDATE #2 (5:34 p.m.) NYAlert is reporting a tornado warning will remain in effect in Columbia County until 6 p.m.
Trained weather spotters reported a tornado near Copake at approximately 5 p.m., 12 miles southeast of Hudson. It is moving east at 35 mph. The tornado will be near Great Barrington by 5:15 p.m.
At 5:29 p.m., NWS doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado six miles southeast of Copake, or 12 miles southwest of Great Barrington.

UPDATE #3 (4:41 p.m.): The National Weather Service in Albany has extended the Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 5:30 p.m. The National Weather Service in Albany issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at 2:34 p.m., effective until 3:15 p.m., for southeastern Albany County and northern Columbia County. This includes Chatham, northeastern Greene County and extreme southwestern Rensselaer County. The NWS has indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter-inch sized hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm is moving southeast at 25 mph. Other locations in the warning include, but are not limited to Coxsackie, Kinderhook, Valatie, Philmont and Austerlitz. Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Move indoors immediately! If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.

John Mason reports in the Register Star Ghent Town Attorney Ted Guterman has rebutted a TCI Inc, spokesman’s recent statement that town officials were told sodium was present in the company's Falls Industrial Road plant prior to the Aug. 1 fire. It had been reported sodium and the subcontractor Power Substation Services were both present at the TCI site six months before the fire. Guterman branded the statement that town officials had full knowledge of TCI's operations, "false." He emphasized the town had no knowledge of either the PSS operation or the presence of sodium. TCI responded, calling the attorney "confused." Both sodium and PSS have been implicated as possible contributors to the disastrous fire. TCI has been widely criticized for not reporting their existence at the plant to authorities. Read the full story in the Register Star.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman CH Energy Group and Fortis Inc. has announced an agreement is imminent that will sway employees into endorsing Fortis's proposed $1.5 billion takeover of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp.'s parent company. A Central Hudson representative announced Mon., May 20, a pending labor agreement will now provide job protection against layoffs through April 30, 2017, and create additional jobs, as well. The IBEW Local 320, which represents the majority of Central Hudson’s employees, has been criticized by Central Hudson and Fortis Inc. officials for requesting evidentiary hearings in the proposed takeover. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Columbia County
Chatham Central School District (392-2400)
Polls open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, in the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School gymnasium.

Germantown Central School District (537-6281)
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., Tuesday, in the Germantown Central School, Main St. Lobby

Hudson City School District (828-4360)
Polls open 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., Tuesday at four locations: John L. Edwards Primary School; Greenport Pumper Company #1; Claverack Fire House; Stockport Town Hall; and, Livingston Town Hall.

Ichabod Crane Central School District (758-7575)
Polls open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday in the Ichabod Crane High School gymnasium.

New Lebanon Central School District (794-7600)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m. in the Walter B. Howard Elementary School gym.

Taconic Hills Central School District (325-2890)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., in the Veterans’ Community Room on the Taconic Hills campus.


Greene County
Cairo-Durham Central School District (622-8534)
Polls open from 12 p.m. (noon) to 9 p.m., in the Cairo-Durham Middle School cafeteria.

Catskill Central School District (943-4696)
Polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the Catskill High School gymnasium.

Coxsackie-Athens Central School District (731-1710)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Coxsackie Elementary and E.J. Arthur Elementary schools.

Greenville Central School District (966-5070)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Scott M. Ellis Elementary School.

Hunter-Tannersville Central School District (589-5400)
Polls open from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Hunter Elementary School.

Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District (734-3400)
Budget voting will take place from 1 to 9 p.m. in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School cafetorium.

For more information on budget referenda and board candidates in districts in both counties, go to WGXC's Guide to the 2013 School Budget Vote and Board Elections.

The National Weather Service in Albany has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont from today through Thursday night. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are possible today, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few storms may become strong to possibly severe. The main threat with any storm is damaging wind gusts in excess of 57 mph. Storms will move from west to east at around 20 to 25 mph.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 84F; low 59F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 86F; low 66F.[/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, east central New York and southern Vermont from today through Thursday night. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are possible today, especially during the afternoon and evening hours. While widespread severe weather is not expected, a few storms may become strong to possibly severe. The main threat with any storm is damaging wind gusts in excess of 57 mph. Storms will move from west to east at around 20 to 25 mph.

Today: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11 a.m. Partly sunny. High near 83. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Tonight, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. Low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.


Forecast for the next three days:

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 84. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, Wednesday night. Mostly cloudy. Low around 64. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Thursday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy. High near 77. Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 54. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Friday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 69. Partly cloudy, Friday night. Low around 43.

Sunrise today: 5:27 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:16 p.m.

Length of the day: 14:48 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the third Tuesday of the month.
(WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.)


COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors County Government Committee meeting, 5 p.m., at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
DURHAM Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
HILLSDALE Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street (325-5073).
HUDSON Finance Committee meeting at 5 p.m.; Regular Common Council meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville (589-6150).
LEXINGTON Town board meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
TAGHKANIC Planning Board workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall on Route 82 in West Taghkanic (851-7638).

ANNUAL BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION AND BUDGET VOTE All districts, statewide. Polls open until 9 p.m. Click here for details on the elections in Columbia and Greene counties.

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

Midnight to 5:59 a.m.: Free103point9 Transmission Arts overnight

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: Headlines Radio and media news.
1 a.m.: Distance Transmissions "Grey Ecologies: Sonic Transfers and Monuments" by Abinadi Meza; and "Distant Touch and a Faraway Feeling" by Samwell Freeman. Live from Trans-X Transmission Art Symposium in Toronto. Also rebroadcast at 1 a.m.. Tue., May 21.
2 a.m.: Steve Bates Keynote Address Keynote address "Radio In Its Place - Here There Nowhere Now" by Steve Bates from Sat., May 18, 2013 Trans-X Transmission Art Symposium.
4 a.m.: Mobile Interventions Rebroadcast from 2:15 p.m., Sun., May 19 broadcast at Trans-X Transmission Art Symposium. "Cellphonia: Toronto SONicGeo" by Steve Bull and Scot Gresham-Lancaster; and "'Be Here Now' - Meaningful Strategies for Embodied Presence at Live Concerts in the Age of Techno-Mediation" by Alexandria Lepinski.
5 a.m.: PCJ Media Network Plus: 20130521 International radio and media show. The show is produced jointly by PCJ in Taiwan and Canada. Producer/Presenter: Keith Perron.
5:30 a.m.: Radio Wonderland Rewind Replay of Joshua Fried's "Trans-X Transmission Arts Symposium" edition of "Radio Wonderland," from May 18, 2013.

6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.: WGXC Hands-On Community Radio

6 a.m.: Al Jazeera English
7 a.m.: WGXC Morning Show Hosted by Philip Grant. Morning news, music, interviews features and agriculture reporting. 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 continues with local news, weather, and events. Call 518-828-0290 to comment during the "WGXC Morning Show." Hosted by Philip Grant.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

Some of the stories that made the news, May 18 through May 20:

Kyle Adams reports in The Daily Mail more than two dozen cars lined up in the Cairo Elementary School parking lot Sun., May 19, to take part in a demonstration. The event was intended to draw attention to the Cairo-Durham Central School District's grade-level realignment plan as voters prepare to go to the polls Tues., May 21, for the annual budget vote and board election. Tim Fisher, an elementary technology teacher and the drive organizer, denied the demonstration was about attempting to influence people on how to vote. However, the budget vote has become a referendum on the realignment plan. Many of those opposed to the plan have vowed to reject any budget based on the plan. A written pledge to that effect has garnered more than 325 signatures, which, according to Fisher’s calculations, means the budget will fail. The 12-mile drive Sunday night was a repeat of an identical demonstration held Dec. 18. Read the full story in The Daily Mail. NOTE: Tim Fisher is a WGXC town recorder. WGXC's full Guide to the 2013 School Budget Votes and Board Elections in Columbia and Greene counties can be found online at newsroom.wgxc.org.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300"] Claverack's Millbrook Bridge over Loomis Creek.
(Courtesy imby.com)[/caption]

Matt Bathrick reported in the Columbia Paper the Claverack Town Board voted to take the next step in the process of replacing the Millbrook Bridge last week, but not before tense debates on how to proceed. The concrete arch bridge on Millbrook Road has been closed for several years because it was deemed unsafe by the state. With the bridge closed, drivers have been using town property by the highway garage as an alternate route. The cost of replacing the historic bridge was estimated at roughly $400,000. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

The Empire State Center for New York State Policy reported last week the average per-pupil spending under pending 2013-14 school budgets will rise at the fastest rate in five years. This, according to the center's analysis of data submitted for the New York State Education Department's annual school property tax report cards. On a regional basis, the largest proposed spending increases are in the Mohawk Valley. Western New York has the lowest increases. The center reported 28 school districts among nearly 700 statewide have proposed budgets that exceed the tax cap. The Empire Center is a project of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a New York-based libertarian think tank.

John Mason reported in the Register Star Columbia-Greene Community College awarded diplomas to 230 members of the Class of 2013, Sat., May 18, on the college's Greenport campus. It was one of the school's most well-attended ceremonies ever. Graduates were addressed by college President James Campion, officials from Columbia and Greene counties and Professor Anita Broast, who advised the now former students, “Your work will fill a large part of your life. The only way you will be satisfied is to do great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Read the full story in the Register Star.