Cairo-Durham Superintendent Mary Fassett apologized during the Board of Education meeting, Thurs., Feb. 28, for a letter writing campaign in which district students were instructed to write to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office without first obtaining parental or guardian permission. Fassett said her intention was not political, instead it was an attempt "to call attention to the faces behind the data." A robocall and letter at the district Web site gave parents and guardians a specified time period to request their child's letter not be sent to Albany. PLAY (1:57) -- Galen Joseph-Hunter

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County Young Republican Club recently honored Jim Haggerty, a U.S. Marine Corps. veteran and the founder of the Capital Region Veterans Stand-Down, an initiative to help homeless veterans. Haggerty was presented with the Lincoln Day Award at the 50th annual Lincoln Day Dinner held at Kozel's Restaurant in West Ghent. Haggerty said he was inspired to reach out to the local veterans after reading about the hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans nationwide. Haggerty currently works as the District Veterans Director for U.S. Congressman Chris Gibson. Elizabeth Young of Taghkanic was also honored for her 25 years of service as supervisor. Read the full story in the Register Star.

The third annual U.S. Ski Team Day is at Windham Mountain Sat., March 2, with team members working with local Adaptive Sports youth. The day may contain a few snowflakes, and fireworks will definitely fall from the sky at 6 p.m. Windham Mountain has six lifts over 41 trails with 16"-42" of snow. Hunter Mountain has 18"-60" of snow, with seven of ten lifts open. Catamount Ski in Hillsdale has three of six lifts to 27 of 33 trails open over 20"-38" of snow. Click here to play WGXC Ski Report.
PLAY CLIP (:52)

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 45F; low 27F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 43F; low 30F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today: A slight chance of snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 44. A slight chance of rain showers before 10 p.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., Saturday, then a slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Low around 30.

Forecast for the next three days:

Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 10 a.m. Cloudy. High near 41. A slight chance of rain showers between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers after 9 p.m. Cloudy. Low around 27.
Sunday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 42. A slight chance of snow showers overnight. Mostly cloudy. Low around 26.
Monday: Partly sunny. High near 41. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 27.

Sunrise today: 6:30 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:46 p.m.

Length of the day: 11:16 hrs.

Town meetings

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


On Saturday: Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner hosts an Informational Meeting on the New York State SAFE Act. Scheduled to attend are Congressman Chris Gibson, state Senator Kathy Marchione, and state Assembly member Steve McLaughlin and Pete Lopez, along with representatives of the New York State Police. From 9:30 am to 12 p.m. (noon) at Columbia-Greene Community College, Route 9, Greenport (828-3339 or 828-4181).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

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

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: WBAI Insurance Woes New York City Pacifica Radio station WBAI got locked out of its studio after Hurricane Sandy, but their insurance company, Chubb, won't honor their claim.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: New Music March 2013 New music from Johnny Marr ("I Want the Heartbeat"). Yeah Yeah Yeahs ("Sacrilege"), Dan Friel (of Parts & Labor, "Valedictorian"), Co La ("Melter's Delight"), Matmos, and others.
1 a.m.: Taran's Free Jazz Hour: Evan Parker Episode 03 of 2013 of two-hour free jazz show that airs on eight European radio stations and free103point9 Online Radio and WGXC 90.7-FM in the Hudson Valley, in New York, in the United States. The playlist: loosetorque freeplay: nick stephens, b/ john corbett, tpt, valve tbn, fl/ tony marsh, perc; slam day for night at jack straw: david haney, p/ julian priester, tbn/ buell neidlinger, b + guests; renegade: esmond selwyn, g/ paul sawtell, keyb/ bill coleman, b/ tony richards, dr; aut the exit door leads in: alberto collodel, bcl/ davide lorenzon, as, ss/ ivan pilat, bari sax + guests; electrical landscapes: andrea laino, el g; hotcup slippery rock: mostly other people do the killing; latham fluidity: brian groder, tpt, flghrn/ tonino miano, p; cleanfeed spun tree: michael attias, ralph alessi, matt mitchell, sean conly, tom rainey; union: paradoxical frog umlaut composition no 6: pierre antoine badaroux & co.; emanem one four & two twos: john stevens, paul rutherford, evan parker, barry guy; drip invitation: peggy lee band; peeter uuskyla open secrets: peeter uuskyla, dr/ ove volquartz, ts, bcl.
3 a.m.: Selected Songs: Matthew Shipp Tune in selections from jazz pianist Matthew Shipp's "Greatest Hits" CD released Jan 29, 2013 on the Thirsty Ear label. This show will feature some of those songs, and other "greatest hits" from the pianist.
5 a.m.: The Michael Slate Show: Matthew Shipp From Pacifica Radio, Spet. 9, 2011. Discussion with "avant-garge jazz pianist Matthew Shipp about his music, his life and the ideas behind the universe of music he has brought into being over the last 30 years. Shipp has recorded more than 50 cds over the years in all kinds of formations and reaching across many musical genres from his free jazz base all the way through electronica and hip-hop." With host Michael Slate.

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.
12 p.m. (noon): Movement Debut of the new weekly Friday music program: Two hours of dance music from around the world and from the past to present. Including interviews with local and touring DJ's about what music makes them move inside and out. Hosted by DJ Gio.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News

The Hudson Common Council Legal Committee met Wed., Feb. 27, to consider a local law amendment to ban guns from city property, including parks, buildings and vehicles. The intent of the proposed legislation is "to protect city employees," said Legal Committee Chairman, Third Ward Alderman John Friedman. More than 100 opponents of the regulation turned out, but public comment was limited. Hudson Mayor William H. Hallenbeck Jr., calling himself "pro Second Amendment," told WGXC's Noah Reibel the change under consideration by the Common Council is redundant and could "create lawsuits for the city of Hudson." PLAY Hallenbeck interview (5:00). PLAY interview with Friedman and Common Council President Don Moore (3:22). WGXC's Tanya Blue spoke to one attendee about the ban: PLAY (:37). WGXC's Jim Shields spoke with Nancy Baker, a gun owner who works in Hudson. PLAY (1:29) Early Wednesday, First Ward Alderman David Marston found himself at the center of a firestorm after an email in which he accused gun rights advocates of being “gun toting Tea Party psychotards,” went viral, and the story appeared at dailycaller.com and in the Washington Times. Marston attended the Legal Committee meeting and shared his thoughts on gun control with reporters. (The voice you hear is Joe Gentile of the Register Star.) PLAY (4:10). Two Second Amendment-themed protests organized in response to the recently enacted state gun control legislation will happen in Albany, Thursday. National Rifle and Pistol Association President David Keene is a keynote speaker at one rally. Listen to the full Legal Committee meeting at wgxc.org/archives.

W.T. Eckert reports in The Daily Mail New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito traveled to Cairo’s Public Library Wed., Feb. 27, bringing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's State of the State and budget messages to Greene County. Key elements in presentation included attracting good jobs and economic growth, creating a world-class education system, establishing fiscal integrity and discipline, and restoring New York as the progressive capital of the nation. Destito also walked through the need to increase upstate growth, which has seen a five percent increase in 10 years, compared to New York City’s 16 percent and a statewide increase of 11 percent. County Legislator Harry Lennon expressed appreciation to the governor and his staff for coming to Greene County. Majority Leader Kevin Lewis said he found the presentation to be a good overview. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The Daily Freeman is reporting village election slates in Greene County are taking shape. In Catskill, three candidates are seeking two seats on the Village Board in next month’s election. Incumbent Vincent Seeley, former Trustee Stanley Dushane and Lillian Johnson are vying for the two three-year terms. Also, Village Justice Katherine Izzo will run unopposed for her first full two-year term. She was appointed to the bench on Sept. 17. In Tannersville, three incumbents are running unopposed for re-election. Mayor Lee McGunnigle is seeking his fourth consecutive term. Trustee Greg Landers is seeking his fourth term, while Trustee Christopher Hack is seeking his second. All three positions have two-year terms. The elections will be held March 19. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 46F; low 27F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 50F; low 32F.[/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: The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for black ice across the region this morning, especially in the valleys where temperatures approach freezing with wet roads. Scattered snow showers before 9 a.m., then scattered rain and snow showers between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., then scattered rain showers after 10 a.m. Cloudy. High near 44. Tonight, a chance of rain and snow showers before 11 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers. Cloudy. Low around 30. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Forecast for the next three days:

Friday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 11 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 42. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 29.
Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 1 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 40. A slight chance of snow showers overnight. Mostly cloudy. Low around 26.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy. High near 39. Mostly cloudy. Low around 26.

Sunrise today: 6:32 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:45 p.m.

Length of the day: 11:13 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 Budget/Salary Committee at 2 p.m. 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 cancelled; City of Hudson Planning Commission public hearing (5:30 p.m.) and special meeting (5:45 p.m.), on Holcim (US) preliminary and final applications to subdivide waterfront parcels at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
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: LPFM Webinars Prometheus Radio Project hosts three webinar's for individuals and groups who want to learn more about startering low-power FM radio stations. Webinars will be Wed., Feb. 27, 8 - 9 p.m. ET; Wed., March 27, 8 - 9 p.m. ET; and a Spanish-language webinar Tue., March 5, 2-3 p.m. ET (all times -5 UTC).
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Recent Frequencies New recordings (in this order) from Bunnybrains ("Live at John Doe Jr., Oct. 12, 2012"); Matmos ("Waves"), Nicolas Bernier ("Frequencies (a)"); Christian Marclay, Toshio Kajiwara, DJ Olive ("djTRIO"); Alexander Turnquist ("Like Sunburned Snowflakes"); Godspeed You! Black Emperor ("Their Helicopters Sing"); The Mountain Goats ("Cry for Jesus"); Kronos Quartet ("Tusen Tankar"); Steve Moore ("Tyken's Rift"), Alexander Turnquist ("Grounded"); and others.
1 a.m.: JoAnn Falletta KPFK's Jude McGee presents a two-hour special on JoAnn Falletta, conductor of the Women's Philharmonic. Falletta talks about the great women composers from the baroque period through to contemporary times and her work with the National Women Composers Resource Center. The Women's Philharmonic plays Ellen Zwilich's "Concerto grosso 1985", Marianna Martines' "Sinfonia in C", Camilla de Rossi's "Il sacrificio del Abramo", and excerpts from lisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's cantata "Jonas." From Pacifica Radio Archives "From the Vault."
3 a.m.: Selected Songs: Karlheinz Stockhausen Selected songs and interviews from the composer. Including "Gruppen," "Carré," and an hour-long interview from the Pacifica Radio Archives.
5 a.m.: Off The Hook: FISA Lawsuit 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. Discussion this week about Supreme Court ruled Americans do not have standing to challenge Foreign International Surveillance Act (FISA) law that allows government to spy on foreigners, and Americans talking to foreigners.

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: A Retrospective Tune in to the Prison Voices Project. The program will mark its new time slot by doing a retrospective of some highlights from the past year and a half. Topics will include health in prison, discrimination against formerly incarcerated peoples, legislation to change how Parole works in New York State, economic alternatives to prisons for rural development, the war on drugs, as well as personal interviews and stories.
12 p.m. (noon): Crossroads in Rhythm A special edition hosted by Matt Bua at the Catskill Community Center.
2 p.m.: Art of the Hudson Valley: Tony Fletcher and Jonathan Gould Guests Tony Fletcher and Jonathan Gould talk about their books on music and musicians. Tony Fletcher has written biographies of Keith Moon, R.E.M., The Echo and The Bunnymen, and his recent book is "A Light That Never Goes Out: The enduring Saga of The Smiths." Jonathan Gould's book "Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain and America" takes an in-depth look at the lyrics and music of the Beatles. He is currently writing a biography of Otis Redding. Hosted by Chad Weckler.
3 p.m.: Radio Theatre: Kristin Lucas and Anna Friz Bard College Professor Kristin Lucas' "Involuntary Reception" and Anna Friz's "The Clandestine Transmissions of Pirate Jenny." Two recent radio theatre projects exploring transmission themes. Lucas works in video, digital, performance, web, and installation art. Friz is a Canadian sound and radio artist currently based in Chicago.
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News
9:30 p.m.: 69: John Fahey, Brian Jones Join The Magic Stranger to celebrate the birthdays of the original Rolling Stone shaman, Mr. Brian Jones AND the finger lickin' goodness of John Fahey. Also, special guest Readers may return to the 69th cornner of GXC and continue voicing the Word from Patrick Lundborg's 'Psychedelia' . Tune in, Turn on, Drop out.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="334"] (windhamcountryclub.com)[/caption]

Michael Ryan reports in The Daily Mail the Windham Country Club has been purchased by Windham Mountain. Ski slope Managing Partner J. Randall MacDonald and golf course president Russ Parry announced the transaction in a joint statement, Tues., Feb. 26. The purchase price is reportedly between $1 million and $2 million. The course will remain public. The course sustained significant damage during Tropical Storm Irene in Aug. 2011, when Batavia Kill breached and flooded the club's lower nine holes. The estimated cost for restoring the course range are $6 million and $10 million. Rumors circulated for months that Windham Mountain would take over the club, which was established in 1927. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Ariel Zangla reports in the Daily Freeman Greene County Court Judge George Pulver announced he will retire at the end of the year, and four-term District Attorney Terry Wilhelm declared Tues., Feb. 26, he will run for Pulver's seat. Wilhelm is a Republican. The judgeship, one of two on the county bench, has a 10-year term. Pulver, also a Republican, turns 70 on Nov. 3 and under state law must retire at the end of the year. He has served as county judge since Jan. 1, 1996 and is serving his second term on the bench. Pulver also is an acting state Supreme Court judge. Wilhelm served as Catskill village justice in 1980 and 1981. He became assistant district attorney in 1982 and district attorney on Jan. 1, 2000. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Jon Campbell reports at democratandchronicle.com top Democrats in the state Assembly introduced a bill Tues., Feb. 25, to keep gas companies out of New York’s Marcellus and Utica shales until 2014. Speaker Sheldon Silver and Environmental Conservation Chairman Robert Sweeney are among more than 30 lawmakers signed onto the bill, which would implement a moratorium on drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus and Utica formations until May 14, 2014. The bill is similar to one passed by the Assembly last year, but with some key differences. The new legislation would specifically prohibit the state from issuing permits to drill in the Utica and Marcellus, two formations where high-volume hydraulic fracturing would be used to unlock gas. Read the full story at democratandchronicle.com

The Register Star is reporting Hudson Police Commissioner Gary Graziano is close to appointing a new police chief to replace Ellis Richardson, who retired Mon., Feb. 25. State Police Sgt. Laurence E. Moore of the Troop K Barracks is reportedly a top candidate. Graziano declined to identify candidates under consideration. Mayor William Hallenbeck Jr. said Graziano has been actively seeking a replacement during the past month. The mayor said he has asked the commissioner to make the appointment within the next week. Hallenbeck said he would like the next chief to be active in the community and for the department to expand its community policing efforts. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Government Committee voted Tues., Feb. 26, for the repeal of the NY SAFE Act. The resolution, passed on a vote of 6 to 2, stated the newly enacted gun control legislation will curtail a citizen's Second Amendment right to bear arms, and criticized how the law was approved -- with limited public notice, public debate or review by state lawmakers. The resolution stated the act also “increases the stigma on the mentally ill.” The measure will now move forward to the full board for consideration. According to Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan, the resolution was written by the County Attorney’s Office based on similar resolutions passed by neighboring counties, along with input from Columbia County Human Services Director Michael Cole. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Columbia County

Berkshire Union Free School District / Two-hour delay; staff report by 9:30 a.m.
Chatham Central School District / Two-hour delay.
Chatham Kids Club / Two-hour delay; open at 8:30 a.m.
Columbia-Greene Community College / Opening delayed until 10 a.m.
Germantown Central School District / Two-hour delay.
Hawthorne Valley School / Two-hour delay.
Hudson City School District / Two-hour delay; no morning pre-K; no breakfast; no morning Questar; no tutoring center.
Ichabod Crane Central School District / Two-hour delay.
Mountain Road School / Two-hour delay.
New Lebanon Central School District / Two-hour delay.
O.K. Kids Inc. / Two-hour delay.
Questar III Columbia-Greene Educational Center / Two-hour delay; no morning BOCES.
Taconic Hills Central School District / Two-hour delay.

Greene County

Cairo-Durham Central School District / Two-hour delay; no morning pre-K.
Catskill Central School District / Two-hour delay; no morning pre-K.
Circle Of Friends (Ravena) / Two-hour delay; daycare center open; 2.5-hour morning program closed; 4-hour class has two-hour delay; 2.5-hour afternoon program open.
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District / Two-hour delay; no morning BOCES; no breakfast.
Early Childhood Learning Center / Two-hour delay.
Grapeville Christian School / Closed.
Greenville Central School District / Closed.
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District / Closed.
Questar III, Catskill Academy / Two-hour delay.
Ulster-Greene ARC (Catskill) / Two-hour delay.
UMC Daycare North Hill / Closed; no morning pre-K; no afternoon pre-K.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School District / Closed.

Source: WRGB-TV, Channel 6 CBS

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 43F; low 30F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 43F; 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: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 10 a.m. High near 42. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Overnight, rain, snow and sleet likely before 4 a.m., then rain and snow likely between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m., then snow likely after 5 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 31. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Forecast for the next three days:

Thursday: Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all rain after 10 a.m. Cloudy. High near 44. A chance of rain showers before 8 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers between 8 p.m. and midnight, then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy. Low around 30.
Friday: A slight chance of snow showers before 9 a.m., then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., then a slight chance of rain showers after 11 a.m. Partly sunny. High near 43. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 25.
Saturday: Partly sunny. High near 39. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 22.

Sunrise today: 6:33 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:44 p.m.

Length of the day: 11:11 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 Common Council Public Works Committee meeting at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren St.; NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION: Legal Committee meeting at 6:15 p.m., at the Central Firehouse, 7th St., Hudson (828-1030).
HUDSON Development Corporation Board meeting (tentative) at 2 p.m., 1 North Front St., Hudson (751-1044).
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: Court Rejects FISA Challenge From Free Speech Radio News, a report about the Supreme Court rejecting a challenge to government surveillance powers under FISA.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Sublime Frequencies Thu.March 7, Hisham Mayet of "Sublime Frequencies" screens two films at the Spring Street Gallery, 110 Spring Street in Saratoga Springs, New York. "Sublime Frequencies is a collective of explorers dedicated to acquiring and exposing obscure sights and sounds from modern and traditional urban and rural frontiers via film and video, field recordings, radio and short wave transmissions, international folk and pop music, sound anomalies, and other forms of human and natural expression not documented sufficiently through all channels of academic research, the modern recording industry, media, or corporate foundations." This radio show will sample some Sublime sounds.
1 a.m.: Vital Weekly: Stephan Mathieu Tracklist/timelist for Vital Weekly 870, a weekly experimental new music show, formerly by folks behind Staalplaat:
2 a.m.: Tabs Out: February 2013 Episode #20 of the tape-only show not only includes Dave regaling us with tales from the NBA Jam Wikipedia page, but cassettes from Imperial Topaz (Tranquility), Tad (DNT), Grapefruit (Golden Cup), Belarisk (NNA), Sashash Ulz (Lighten Up Sounds), Special People, Planets Around The Sun (Eiderdown), Henry Dawson (Orange Milk), Gold God (Space Slave), Moth Cock (Hausu Mountain), Drowning The Virgin Silence (Cae-Sur-A), Andrew Scott Young (Baked), and Brian Green (A Giant Fern).
5 a.m.: Shortwave/Pirates: 902 mHz First, from "The RAIN Report": "A look at the little-used 902 mHz ham band with Kent Britain, WA5VJB." Then, from "PiratesWeek": "Select postings from the Free Radio Network, HF Underground and note stations logged per the Free Radio Weekly. You may want to check out Shazam for music identification. Off Air Recordings include the stations of: Blue Ocean Radio, Radio Morania, Rave On Radio, The Big Q, European Music Radio. Keith Peron from PCJ Media talks about last years SWL Winterfest."

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.
12 p.m. (noon): The Schoemer Show Hosted by Karen Schoemer.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show: Fawn Potash from Greene County Council on the Arts will be on hand to discuss the upcoming 3rd Annual Catskill Film & Video Festival, as well as the concurrent "Glow Show" exhibit along Catskill's Main St. Local news, local events, music and more. Hosted by Ron Diamondstein.
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News
7 p.m.: Premiere: All Hopped Up (And Ready to Go) The premiere episode of the new monthly music program, All Hopped Up (And Ready To Go), hosted by Music biographer and Hudson Valley resident Tony Fletcher takes listeners through a tour of his music collection, connecting the dots between genres and generations. Expect music old and new alike, expect vibrant discussion, and expect regular features, from the Childhood Classic to The Greatest Ride of Our Lives, along with a gradual journey through his history of the New York music scene, All Hopped Up (And Ready To Go).

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="252"] Prattsville, Sept. 2011 -- Before and after photos following Tropical Storm Irene.
Photo by Elissa Jun/FEMA[/caption]

Michael Ryan reports in the Windham Journal Prattsville property owners are now learning the results of a recently completed town-wide revaluation. The town board was last week given an update on the property reassessment conducted in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. The Aug. 2011 storm disfigured Main St., leaving 21 structures in the downtown area either ruined or rendered uninhabitable. The purpose of the reval is to make sure the tax burden is spread as fairly and evenly as possible, assessor Kim Cammer told the board. Adding to the challenge, all of the assessor's records were lost in the flood, requiring that office to start from scratch. Notifications, including estimated tax amounts based on the most recent budget, were mailed to property owners last week. Assessors will meet with the public to hear challenges and review data, March 4 to 6. Read the full story in the Windham Journal.

The Associated Press reported the state's largest teachers union and several parents last week sued to overturn the state's property tax cap, alleging it is unconstitutional. The New York State United Teachers contend the tax cap widens the gap between rich and poor districts and interferes with local control of schools. The state Supreme Court case filed in Albany, names Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Education Commissioner John King Jr. and Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. Read the full AP story in the Times Union.

Kyle Adams reports in The Daily Mail Columbia-Greene Community College adopted a policy mandating the reporting of any suspected child sexual abuse, Mon., Feb. 25, following the lead of the State University of New York Board of Trustees. The policy requires that any employee, student or volunteer at the college who witnesses or suspects the sexual abuse of a child on college property or during college-sponsored events has an obligation to report it to a campus security officer. The policy is similar to those already in place statewide for teachers, nurses, doctors and psychologists. The policy is a response to the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal at Penn State University in 2011. In that case several high-level university officials were accused of covering up or failing to report the assistant's coach's sexual abuse of children. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Columbia and Greene counties. A complex storm system is expected to impact the area beginning Tuesday night, possibly lasting into Thursday. There is the potential for snow, rain and even mixed precipitation. The best chance for several inches of snowfall will be north of the Capital region, with the possibility of some freezing rain over the eastern Catskills. Snow is expected to change to rain in most valley locations Wednesday. Any mixed precipitation could change back to snow Wednesday night into Thursday, with the possibility of additional snow accumulations.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 45F; low 32F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 41F; 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: Partly sunny. High near 43. Rain likely before midnight, turning to rain and snow. Low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of one to two inches possible. The National Weather Service has declared a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Tuesday through Sunday. A storm system is expected to impact the area Tuesday night and Wednesday with potentially significant amounts of rain, snow or mixed precipitation.

Forecast for the next three days:

Wednesday: Snow and sleet before 7 a.m., turning to rain after 10 a.m. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. Rain likely Wednesday night, turning to mixed rain and snow after 1 a.m. Cloudy. Low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday: A chance of rain and snow showers before 10 a.m., turning to rain. Cloudy. High near 41. A chance of rain showers turning to rain and snow after 11 p.m. Cloudy. Low around 29.
Friday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. High near 41. Mostly cloudy overnight. Low around 26.

Sunrise today: 6:35 a.m.
Sunset today: 5:42 p.m.

Length of the day: 11:07 hrs.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.
(WGXC suggests you call 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).
COLUMBIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Board meeting, 8:30 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Greenport (828-4718).
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).

The day ahead on 90.7-FM

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

12 a.m. (midnight): Radio News: China Airwave Attacks Reports from Reuters, The New York Times, Der Spiegel, and The Wall Street Journal claim many recent transmission attacks by China on Western interests.
12:05 a.m.: Radio Stew: Telepathy On the occasion of the new Matmos concept album about telepathy, this audio maze through mind-reading is presented."ESP, "Brain Radio," and more, and also songs from Swans ("Telepathy"), Sebadoh ("Mind Reader"), Dave Davies ("Telepathy"), Buzzcocks ("E.S.P."), Modern Lovers ("Astral Plane"), and others.
1 a.m.: Guglielmo Marconi Tune in to Guglielmo Marconi tributes, performances, inventions, and ideas. Tributes include Neptune's "Marconi's Belief," radio dramas starring Marconi as a character, and Marconi-inspired performances.
3 a.m.: Akron/Family Live performance at Rural Route Film Festival at Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan, NY 07.21.05 from free103point9 webcast.
4:30 a.m.: Radia: Béatrice AndréOn the path of a word "Promaja," the draft, is not a draft in the Balkans. This sound is a search, a search made as a draft, a draft running from language to language, from country to country, slapping doors, searching answers in the waves or within the scientific community. Collective and multi-language, a sound experiment by Béatrice André. André made Radia episode 411 for Kanal 103 (Skopje, MK). www.leapromaja.net. Radia is an international network of stations interested in creative ways of making radio. "Radia" airs at 10 a.m. Saturdays on free103point9 Online Radio and WGXC 90.7-FM.
5 a.m.: PCJ Media Network Plus: SWL Winterfest Preview Monthly feature from PCJ Radio that looks at the world of communications both old and new. The show is produced jointly by PCJ in Taiwan and Canada. Producer/Presenter: Keith Perron & Paulette MacQuarrie.

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.: Your Friendly Neighborhood Economist Hosted by Tom Masterson.
11 a.m.: 20th Century Country Music
12 p.m. (noon): Low Tide Hosted by Liv Carrow.
4 p.m.: WGXC Afternoon Show
6 p.m.: Al Jazeera English
6:30 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News