Some of the stories that made the news April 26 to 28:

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="138"] Mike Winnie[/caption]

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star the Columbia County Democratic Committee has endorsed retired Albany County Sheriff's Department sergeant and former Stockport Police Department Chief Mike Winnie in his bid for Columbia County Sheriff. The Stuyvesant resident last ran for Sheriff in 2001, losing to former Sheriff Walter Shook. Winnie said he supports increased diversity in the department. He also declared his intention to bring accountability to the office, if elected. The committee chose Winnie over former Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Captain and Chatham Police Department Deputy Chief Mark Leggett and a second, unidentified candidate. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail the mother of a Catskill High School senior suspended for 45 days for consuming alcohol on school grounds told the Board of Education at a recent meeting she felt the punishment was selectively excessive. She also questioned the propriety of school officials’ actions on the day of the incident. The parent said she was never notified or called when her son was summoned to the high school principal's office from a senior barbeque being held in the school parking lot, Mar. 28. She also said school officials did nothing to prevent her son from driving his vehicle when he was dismissed from school later that same day. Board President Michael Bulich said the board would review the parent's allegations. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Merry Sheils reported in the Columbia Paper the town of New Lebanon has a tentative deal to officially close the county’s only remaining landfill, one of only 12 left in the state. The news was reported to the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee, Tues., Apr. 23. New Lebanon is under a consent order with the state Department of Environmental Conservation to close, or decommission, the landfill. The site opened in 1981 and has been closed to solid waste since 1986. The cost to the county for closing the landfill is $625,000, to be paid in annual installments over five years. The town must monitor and maintain the site for 30 years. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="336"] "Landscape, New Hampshire" (1858) by Albert Bierstadt[/caption]

Kyle Adams reports in The Daily Mail visitors packed the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Temple Israel in Catskill, Sun., Apr. 28, for the opening of  “Albert Bierstadt in New York and New England.”  “It was standing room only,” said Elizabeth Jacks, the site's executive director. “I’ve never seen the Temple packed like that. It was unbelievable.” Bierstadt is one of the best-known 19th century landscape painters, renowned for his sweeping western scenes. This exhibition collects Bierstadt’s lesser-known East Coast paintings. It is the 10th annual exhibition of 19th century landscape paintings at the Cole House. It will run through Nov. 3. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 66F; low 45F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 66F; 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:

Today: A chance of showers, mainly after 11 a.m. Cloudy. High near 69. Tonight, a chance of showers, mainly before 2 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 46.

Forecast for the next three days:

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers before 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 67. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 39.
Wednesday: Partly sunny. High near 72. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 42.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 71. Mostly clear, Thurs. night. Low around 44.

Sunrise today: 5:52 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:53 p.m.

Length of the day: 14:01 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fifth Monday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any meetings scheduled for today.


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 headlines.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Winds Measure Recordings 2011 MixMix mp3 from Winds Measure Recordings label.
1 a.m.: Mbanna Kantako Operating since 1987 without a license, Mbanna Kantako is considered the grandfather of microradio. His home was raided on Sept. 29, 2000. Radio4all.org has several interviews with Kantako about the history of Human Rights Radio, its raids by the FCC and other microradio stories..
4 a.m.: Working Wage Part One Part one of Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson's interviews with residents of Greene and Columbia counties in New York, and wages and working. Recorded from "Saturday Afternoon Show" April 27, 2013.
5 a.m.: The Week in Radio News: 20130429 Stories about saving AM radio, radio-controlled drones, email security, FCC reconsiders indencency, and more.

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, events, music and more, with host Philip Grant.
10 a.m.: Law and Disorder: How Conservatives Took the Law Back from Liberals Has the Department of Justice been taken over by a conservative organization little known to the average citizen? In the recently published book titled The Federalist Society: How Conservatives Took the Law Back from Liberals authored by attorney Michael Avery and Danielle McLaughlin track the movements of a small group of conservative law students and their influence. The Federalist Society has lawyer chapters in every major city in the United States and student chapters in every accredited law school. Members include economic conservatives, social conservatives, Christian conservatives, and libertarians. They all differ with each other on significant issues, but cooperate in advancing a broad conservative agenda.
11 a.m.: The Bedazzled Radio Hour: Cheap Trick 1975-1977 This week the Bedazzled Radio Hour pays tribute to one of the best known American rock bands of the last 35 years, Cheap Trick. We will focus on their first two LPs (with special attention to the first self-titled album), as well as some early live, demo and other rare recordings.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

[caption width="200" align="alignright"] PBInc Resource Center and Pocket Park. From Philmont Beautification website.[/caption]Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation's Green Pastures Fund awarded $18,000 in grants to 14 nonprofits in the Berkshire Taconic region, including several in Columbia County. The Green Pastures Fund was established at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation in 1999 by an anonymous donor to preserve and encourage small, community-based agricultural ventures which might include, but are not limited to: community-supported agriculture; local farmers’ markets; urban garden programs; agricultural scholarships; cooperative programming; internships; grantwriting; and marketing. Local grantees:

• Coarc: $500 for a farm habilitation program, which seeks to provide a farming experience to individuals with developmental disabilities in Columbia County.
• Columbia County Soil and Water Conservation District: $2,000 to create a Right-to-Farm Awareness brochure to improve landowner and farm relations. The brochure will outline farmer’s legal rights and provide resources to neighboring landowners who feel that a farm is not operating in an environmentally responsible manner.
• Philmont Beautification Committee/Village of Philmont: $1,000 to create a strategic plan to further integrate local farmers and food ventures into Philmont.
• The Nature Institute, Inc.: $1,000 to offer professional development programs for farmers, gardeners, and apprentices working in small-scale agriculture from the Ghent-based group.

Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) will be at two Chatham events Sunday, April 28. At noon, Gibson will pound the pavement at Sean’s Run, a 5K race that starts at Chatham High School. Sean’s Run was created after the death of Sean Patrick French, a 17-year old Chatham High School junior, honor roll student, community volunteer, and athlete who lost his life on January 1, 2002 as a passenger in a drunk-driving car crash. Another passenger, 17-year old Ian Moore, sustained paralyzing injuries and is now a paraplegic. At 2 p.m., Gibson will discuss H.R. 1094, the Safeguard American Food Exports Act (SAFE Act), and take questions, at the 2013 Equine Summit at the Human Education Center, Equine Advocates Rescue and Sanctuary, 3212 Route 66, Chatham.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 28F; low 19F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 25F; low 18F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Acra, in Greene County:
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 71, with a low around 42.
Monday: Scattered showers, mainly after 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 64, and a low around 44.
Tuesday Isolated showers, with a high near 66, and a low around 40.

Sunrise today: 5:53 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:52 p.m.

WGXC Programming

12:05 a.m. – 5 a.m.: "Radio Stew: Ghosts in the Radio"
Telepathy, animals from outer space, ghost stories from Greene County, shortwave messages, and more.
free103point9 Transmission Art Event, free103point9 Online Radio Event, WGXC: Hands-on Radio (90.7-FM) Event

5 a.m. – 5:30 a.m.: "Sea Change Radio: Ceres Conference Preview"
The Ceres Conference is an annual gathering where organizations as different as the Sierra Club and Shell come together to discuss ways to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. On the eve of the conference which takes place May 1st and 2nd in San Francisco this year, we thought it would be worthwhile to get a sneak peek at some of the Ceres speakers.

5:30 a.m. – 6 a.m.: "CounterSpin: Beau Grosscup, Hugh Kaufman"
Beau Grosscup on terrorism; Hugh Kaufman on West Fertilizer Co. explosion.

Not On The Radio
In Person WGXC Event

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: "Capturing Community Voices Workshop"
Cairo Public Library
15 Railroad Ave
Cairo, NY
518-622-9864
Join Wave Farm Artist-in-residence Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson for this public workshop focused on the concept of vox populi in association with WGXC's Town Recorder initiative. Pre-registration is required, and limited to 12 participants, for this free workshop. Email Galen Joseph-Hunter gjh [at] free103point9.org, or call (518) 622-2598 to secure your spot.

The "Capturing Community Voices Workshop" will assist participants in collaboratively designing and producing a short radio segment featuring interviews with members of the local community edited into a collage of voices responding to a common question. Participants will learn how to formulate questions, conduct interviews, and be guided through computer tutorials and techniques that enable them, with facilitator support, to edit their own segments.

About Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson:
Hadden and Watson were cited in 2011 by the International Documentary Challenge in the Best Film and Best Directing categories for a previous joint project, Matthew 24:14. The collaborators have a diverse history working in documentary film and radio. Laura Hadden is an independent media producer who spent the last three years producing projects for the storytelling organization The Moth in New York City. Before that, she facilitated workshops at The Center for Digital Storytelling and was an apprentice and community media producer at KPFA in Berkeley, CA. Tennessee Watson is a multimedia producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to moving to NY, she spent four years at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University producing documentaries, instructing courses and coordinating Youth Noise Network, a radio project for teens in Durham, North Carolina.

This workshop is presented in conjunction with AIR’s Live Interactive Residency Program, which is made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which believes that a great nation deserves great art. Special thanks to Debra Kamecke and the Cairo Public Library for hosting workshop participants.

(Video via Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS.com)
Casey Seiler at the Albany Times-Union reports that Prattsville, the Greene County town almost wiped off the map by the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene in 2011, may get up to $3 million in additional aid. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York Senator Chuck Schumer announced the aid, part $1.7 billion in community development block grant funding, at a press conference Fri., April 26 (see above). Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 28F; low 19F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 25F; low 18F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Acra, in Greene County

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69, and a low around 36.

• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73, and a low around 41.

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 64, and a low around 44.

• Tuesday Partly sunny, high near 61.

Sunrise 5:54 a.m.
Sunset 7:51 p.m.
Other celestial rises/sets
Moon 10:19 P.M. 7:11 A.M.
Mercury 5:30 A.M. 6:28 P.M.
Venus 6:21 A.M. 8:28 P.M.
Mars 5:54 A.M. 7:37 P.M.
Jupiter 8:04 A.M. 11:05 P.M.
Saturn 7:38 P.M. 6:20 A.M.
Uranus 4:56 A.M. 5:25 P.M.
Neptune 3:36 A.M. 2:25 P.M.
Pluto 12:35 A.M. 10:09 A.M.

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., April 27:

midnight – 12:05 a.m.: "Radio News: Mbanna Kantako"
Radio Survivor looks at the 25th anniversary of Human Rights Radio, and we dig out an old interview with its founder Mbanna Kantako, from radio4all.org.

12:05 a.m. – 2 a.m.: "Hip Hop Radio"
Rap songs about the radio from LL Cool J, Run DMC, and many others. Some lyrical content may be offensive to some listeners.

2 a.m. – 3 a.m.: "Some Assembly Required: Jason Forrest"
Episode 141 of mash-up show from Jon Nelson. Featuring work by Coldcut, DJ Danger Mouse, Diplo, The Evolution Control Committee, Jason Forrest, Go Home Productions, Lecture On Nothing, General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners, DJ Prince, Raymond Scott, David Shea, Silica Gel and Think Tank.

3 a.m. – 4 a.m.: "Spectral"
Australian sound artist Joyce Hinterding's hour-long work.

4 a.m. – 5 a.m.: "The Wringer: Ozonotherapy"
Dr. Phil Mollica , MS, DMD, NMD. He is Professor Emeritus from the Departments of Dentistry and Integrative Medicine at Capital University of Integrative Medicine, Washington, D.C. He holds Ozone Therapy in Dentistry courses 25 to 30 times per year and is the director at Wellville Institute for Advanced Oxygen Studies. Dr. Mollica explains that ozone is the only gas that carries a negative charge. Inflammation an infections are positively charged. When a decayed area is bathed in ozone gas it creates a negative charge in that area so that minerals in the body which carry a positive charge can be attracted to the area and re-mineralize the site of decay.

5 a.m. – 7 a.m.: "Shortwave Hours: Ed Mitchel KB6VFR"
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: "Ed Mitchel/KB6VFR speakingn on Airborne ATV Video Review"

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, NHK World Radio Japan, the Voice of Russia, Radio Havana Cuba, and Spanish National Radio.

6 a.m.: "Glenn Hauser's World of Radio"

6:30 a.m.: "Amateur Radio Newsline" This week: "Ham radio rallyes to assist in the wake of a killer quake that hits China; another loss in the ongoing fight against B-P-L; a number of new hamsats are now on-orbit; the latest news on Hamvention 2013; a new D-Star repeater where few might expect it and a new book to interest the new ham and non ham alike."

8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: "Open Air: 20130427"
"Please Assist Us With Transmission." Anyone can contribute to the show in many ways on "Open Air." Matt Bua hosts 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.

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: "Radia: Johnny Chang"
"Radia" show from Radio One 91FM. Dunedin, New Zealand, "Taiwan Old-New Times" by Johnny Chang. In the gentlest and least signposted of ‘city symphonies’, albeit one which transfigures the field recording toward the overheard musicality of the everyday, Berlin based composer Johnny Chang takes us on an extended soundwalk around the changed urbanscape of his Taiwan childhood. As Johnny says of the piece: “Field recordings captured in Taiwan, from immediate vicinity of childhood home in the city to the countryside. (in order of appearance) : Street market vendors chatter and canned pop music punctuate. Traffic sounds originate from the intersection directly at the corner of my family home – pretty much a constant background sound. Ebb and flow of Kaohsiung city. Repetition of life – signified by various type of drones surrounding us.”

11 a.m. – noon: "Framework: Insects"
This edition, titled "Insects", has been produced in Germany by regular framework contributor D.L. Lutz.

12:10 p.m. – 2 p.m.: "Other Music: George Jones"
Country singer George Jones died April 26, 2013. He ranked with Williams, Cline, Parton, Cash, and few other great singers.

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: "Radius Sketchpad: Best of Sketchpad"
Radius Sketchpad presents a special "Best of Sketchpad" to celebrate the two-year anniversary of the program. The playlist for April 2013 contains tracks selected from previous Sketchpad programs. Sketchpad is an ongoing monthly radio program produced specifically 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.

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.: "Saturday Afternoon Show: Working Wage 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. They will be on at 5 p.m. Also, radio news, space weather, radio art, and more.

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.: "PiratesWeek: Rave on Radio"
After the Weekly Presidential Radio Address, "PiratesWeek," a look at the FCC activities in the United States against pirate broadcasters. ‭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: Rave on Radio. BPL story from the International Radio Report.

7 p.m. – 8 p.m.: "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?: News Quiz"
This episode tests knowledge of prospects for immigration overhaul after Boston, what happened to gun safety legislation, and more.

8 p.m.: "Pony in the Pancake, Christina Abbott, Bear Grass"
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.
Pony in the Pancake is an Albany-based surf-rock/psychedelic quintet. Christina Abbott was half of the electronic-acid jazz-dub project called Hot B*tch Arsenal from 2003-2009, now solo. Bear Grass are from Albany.

Casey Seiler reports in the Times Union the state Department of Taxation and Finance announced Thurs., Apr. 25, the arrests of 10 people in raids of 12 cigarette shops throughout the Capital Region and Hudson Valley where pre-rolled, untaxed cigarettes were allegedly sold. W.T. Eckert reports in The Daily Mail the Tobacco House of Jin, located at 320 West Bridge St. in Catskill was one of the shops targeted in the investigation. The raid at House of Jin resulted in one arrest and the seizure of a roll-your-own machine, a computer, 34 cartons of untaxed cigarettes and $5,000 in cash. Roll-your-own shops attempt to use a legal loophole in tax law by providing loose tobacco for customers to roll themselves. The raids were conducted by the Tax Department, the State Police, the Department of Homeland Security and local police departments following undercover purchases of untaxed cigarettes earlier this year.

Debby Mayer is reporting in the Columbia Paper the Germantown Town Board has unanimously approved the purchase of two Bushmaster Patrol Rifles for the town's Police Department. The weapons were described at a recent Town Board meeting as AR-15 style rifles. Supervisor Roy Brown said the town's police officers currently carry two shotguns when on patrol, locked in the trunk of the patrol car, in addition to the pistols they carry. The town's five part-time police officers will be trained by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in the use of the new weapons. Three of the four town board members present for the vote, despite expressing support for the police department, had reservations about the upgrade to semiautomatic rifles, but ultimately agreed to approve the request. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

William J, Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman land preservation groups statewide were awarded $1.4 million in statewide conservation funding, Thurs., Apr. 25. The grants were announced by the Department of Environmental Conservation, which said 57 nonprofit land trusts across the state would receive financial assistance through the Conservation Partnership Program. The grants announced included more than $50,000 for Columbia County groups and $15,400 for Greene County groups. Scenic Hudson was awarded $38,000 to work with land trusts in Ulster and Columbia counties on trail enhancements. The money is to be used in conjunction with funding  provided by the land conservancies. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 59F; low 32F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 64F; low 36F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in Studio A.
FAR LEFT:The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page.
MIDDLE TEMP: Cairo from Weather Underground page.
FAR RIGHT: Catskill from Weather Underground page.

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

Today: Mostly sunny. High near 62. Tonight, mostly clear. Low around 34.

Forecast for the next three days:

Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 68. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 41.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 71. Mostly clear overnight. Low around 43.
Monday: Sunny. High near 68. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 45.

Sunrise today: 5:56 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:50 p.m.

Length of the day: 13:53 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Thursday of the month.
(WGXC suggests you call 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 Warren 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 Radio and media headlines.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Thelonious Monk The jazz pianist's work is explored.
1 a.m.: Video Game Sounds Sounds from video games, and songs inspired by video games. From Seth Price and others.
3 a.m.: Spectral Australian sound artist Joyce Hinterding's hour-long work.
4 a.m.: Bob's Slacktime Funhouse: Terror Kicked off by the immortal and clichéed words by FDR, there is music by Oingo Boingo, Art, the Funky Bardos, Bob from "Sesame Street," Klaus Flouride (that's the way he spells it), Ed's Redeeming Qualities, the Flying Lizards, Elements of Style, Magazine, Ultravox, the Art of Noise, the Misfits, Guadalcanal Diary, the cabaret-act duo Joe & Eddie, Mark Stewart & The Maffia (ditto on that spelling, too), and a duet between Lydia Lunch and Clint Ruin on "Don't Fear the Reaper," this show is chock full of timely weirdness. Add a dollop of mind-blowingly dark topicality by MisteRogers (of all people!) and rants by Jack Van Impe, Garner Ted Armstrong, Bob Tilton, the lisping Peter Barkhuisen, and Jimmy Swaggart raving about "that black night in Massa-two-shitts!", and mix it all with background sounds like quirky movie themes by Laika & the Cosmonauts and sweeping cinematic textures from Pink Floyd's underrated "Atom Heart Mother" suite
5 a.m.: Sea Change Radio: Ceres Conference Preview The Ceres Conference is an annual gathering where organizations as different as the Sierra Club and Shell come together to discuss ways to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. On the eve of the conference which takes place May 1st and 2nd in San Francisco this year, we thought it would be worthwhile to get a sneak peek at some of the Ceres speakers.
5:30 a.m.: Robert McChesney on Digital Disconnect McChesney speaks about his new book, "Digital Disconnect: How Capitalism is Turning Internet Against Democracy" (New Press), explaining how the political economy has impacted the internet and punctured earlier illusions; how rather than empowering people, the corporate internet giants with their monopolies are collaborating with the government to know everything about our private lives while increasing their profit margins. He cites role of social media and demise of the traditional media, suggesting public investments be made to develop new, trained, internet journalists. Interviewed by Jeff Blankfort, via Pacifica Radio Network.

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, events, music and more, with host 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 village of Catskill has drafted its 2013-14 budget. The total spending plan comes in at nearly $6.5 million, and requires a 1.8 percent tax levy increase, resulting in five-cent increase in the tax rate. Some of the largest spending increases come from employee benefits and salaries. Village President Vincent Seeley credits the village’s ability to keep taxes down to responsible spending, aggressive debt reduction and some lucky development. Appearing on the WGXC Afternoon Show, Wed., Apr. 23, Seeley discussed the budget process and the importance of investing tax dollars wisely. PLAY clip (1:38). The village budget will be presented to the public May 14. Ron Diamondstein's full interview with Seeley can be found online at wgxc.org/archives.

W.T. Eckert reports in The Daily Mail suspended Cairo Police Chief Christopher Sprague was back in Hunter Town Court with his attorney for a brief conference, Wed., Apr. 24. Hunter Town Judge William M. Simon said it was his understanding the case could be presented to a grand jury, but there is also a possibility the charge may be reduced and disposed of in town court with a plea. Sprague's legal counsel declined comment. The parties will appear in court again, June 5. Sprague was arrested last month on charges of tampering with evidence and filing false reports. The case was moved to Hunter Town Court and the Schoharie County District Attorney’s office was appointed special prosecutor due to conflicts of interest. Sprague is currently free on his own recognizance. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Kyle Adams reports in the Chatham Courier Mark Vinciguerra, former director of circulation at the Albany Times Union, has been named publisher of Hudson-Catskill Newspapers. He will step into the position sometime in May. “I think that we’re very lucky to get someone of Mark’s caliber to join the team,” said John B. Johnson, general manager of the Johnson Newspaper Company, which owns Hudson-Catskill Newspapers. “He has a wonderful track record at the Times Union of putting the customer and client first...." As publisher, Vinciguerra will oversee the Register-Star and The Daily Mail, both dailies, plus weeklies Chatham Courier, Windham Journal, The Mountain Eagle, Ravena News-Herald and Greene County News. Vinciguerra will fill the vacancy created following the December death of Roger F. Coleman. Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 61F; low 34F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 64F; low 37F.[/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 62. A slight chance of rain showers after 1 a.m., mixing with snow after 4 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 35.

Forecast for the next three days:

Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 62. Mostly clear, Friday night. Low around 33.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 69. Mostly clear overnight. Low around 41.
Sunday: Sunny. High near 72. Partly cloudy overnight. Low around 42.

Sunrise today: 5:57 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:48 p.m.

Length of the day: 13:51 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Thursday of the month.
(WGXC suggests you call 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).
HUDSON HCDPA meeting (tentative) at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (571-1044).
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: Saving AM Radio While the United Kingdom considers eliminating AM radio, in the U.S. the Federal Communications Commission is considering several option to save AM radio. David Oxenford at the Broadcast Law blog has a report about AM radio's possible revival.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: New Music April 2013 New sounds from Godspeed You Black Emperor! and others.
1 a.m.: Selected Songs: John Cage Hours of John Cage talking, performing, and being.
5 a.m.: Off the Hook: Surveillance After Boston 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 5 a.m. on WGXC and free103point9 Online Radio. 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 5 a.m. rebroadcast. This week: After the Boston bombings, there seems to be a new embrace of the surveillance state.

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, events, music and more, with host Philip Grant.
10 a.m.: Prison Voices Project: Prison Bus Tune in to hear about an exciting new initiative to brings together food justice and prison justice. Wassaic Community Farm is launching their Prison Bus CSA. After years of collaborating with Political Prisoner, Herman Bell -- young farmers and activists are growing food for family members of those incarcerated in Sullivan, Eastern, and Woodbourne Correctional Facilities. Family members pay $50 for a box of organic produce (which they can pay for on EBT/food stamps) and they get a free trip from New York city to visit their loved ones in prison (on a bus, soon-to-be-converted to run off of veggie oil). Farmers and organizers Erika Bruner and Jalal Sabur speak about their project and the show also features audio from the freedom archives on Herman Bell.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

Hudson schools Superintendent Maria J. Suttmeier has announced the creation of the Columbia-Greene Partnership Academy. The academy -- also known as "The Bridge" -- will be the product of a collaboration between the Hudson City, Catskill Central and Berkshire Union Free school districts. Suttmeier made the announcement at the Hudson Board of Education meeting, Tues., Apr. 23. Berkshire Superintendent Bruce Potter was in attendance for the announcement. According to a statement released following the meeting, The Bridge "will focus on students who could benefit from more individual attention and creative approaches to learning." The alternative learning program is expected to accommodate 50 students. It will be staffed by teachers holding dual certifications in general and special education. The academy will not be housed on existing school property, but it will be located within the city of Hudson. Suttmeier reported she is in conversation with the Galvan Foundation to secure space in one of its buildings. The program is projected to launch in September.

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County Supervisors are considering a policy change to allow supervisors, some elected officials and county officials with pistol permits to carry handguns on county property. County employees are currently prohibited from carrying most weapons on county property. The County Government Committee voted Tues., Apr. 23, to approve the policy change. Hudson Supervisor Ed Cross was the lone dissenter. “I have mixed feelings about it,” Cross said. The issue now goes to the full board for consideration. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Thomas Kaplan reports in The New York Times in the aftermath of two New York State legislators being charged in two separate, unrelated corruption scandals this month, more than 80 percent of voters say they believe additional lawmakers are likely to be accused of ethical wrongdoing in the near future. According to a poll by Siena College, released Mon., Apr. 22, voters polled had a high level of suspicion about state government. Roughly one in three said they believed it was likely their own state senator could be arrested on corruption charges, and about the same number of voters believed it was likely their assembly member could be arrested. More than half of voters surveyed said they were distrustful of, and cynical about New York politics. Steven A. Greenberg, a Siena pollster, said, “Clearly, the recent arrests have eroded confidence in the Legislature.” Read the full story in The New York Times.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 72F; low 37F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 72F; low 39F.[/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 the region today and tonight. There is a slight chance of non-severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening associated with a cold front. Any thunderstorms that form will move from west to east at 30 to 35 mph. Some wind gusts around 40 mph may occur with the thunderstorms.

Today: Mostly sunny. High near 70. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, turning to showers between midnight and 3 a.m. Low around 43. 

Forecast for the next three days:

Thursday: Sunny. High near 62. A slight chance of rain showers after 2 a.m., mixing with snow after 5 a.m. Partly cloudy. Low around 34.
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 63. Mostly clear, Friday night. Low around 35.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 66. Mostly clear overnight. Low around 39.

Sunrise today: 5:59 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:47 p.m.

Length of the day: 13:48 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Wednesday of the month.
(WGXC suggests you call 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 Development Corporation Board meeting (tentative) at 2 p.m., at 1 North Front St., Hudson (751-1044). 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: Senate Radio-Controlled Drone Hearing Highlights of the U.S. Senate hearing on radio-controlled drones.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Computer Malfunctions The sounds of error are tuned in.
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Machinefabriek Vital Weekly 878:
2 a.m.: Solar Cells/Solar Connectors Works from Conrad Schnitzler.
3 a.m.: Noise from Providence Classic radio with Ginger Rogers. Show airs on WBAI in New York City, via Pacifica Radio Network.
5 a.m.: Shortwave/Pirates: Rave on Radio From "PiratesWeek," a look at the FCC activities in the United States against pirate broadcasters. ‭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: Rave on Radio. BPL story from the International Radio Report. Then, from "The RAIN Report," Ed Mitchel/KB6VFR speaking on Airborne ATV Video Review.

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, events, music and more, with host Philip Grant.
10 a.m.: The Right Opinion: Hudson Mayor William H. Hallenbeck Jr. Hudson Mayor William H. Hallenbeck Jr. will join host Ed Fertik to discuss issues of importance to the city of Hudson and Columbia County, and the importance of small cities to our society. Plus a tribute to country music performer Alan Jackson. Like all shows on WGXC, listeners are urged to call in with a question or comment. Call (518) 828-0290 or Skype wgxc90.7 to ask the mayor a question.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show: Vincent Seeley Greene County Legislator and Catskill Village Board Trustee Vincent Seeley will be in the studio to discuss a number of topics of interest. We will have a rundown of local news and events, plus a song or two. Hosted by Ron Diamondstein at the Catskill Community Center.
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News