Maryann Lee from Spencertown Academy previewed the Seventh Annual Festival of Books with "WGXC Afternoon Show" hosts Richard Roth and Ellen Thurston. Click here to listen to the interview about the book sale and the arts academy in Columbia County.

Executive Director Brian Kehoe talks about the New York Bicycle Coalition's campaign to secure bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding in New York. Ron Diamondstein talked with Kehoe about the issue on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" at the Catskill Community Center.
Click here to play the interview with Kehoe.

The New York State AFL-CIO, a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state representing 2.5 million members, have announced their endorsements for this year's congressional elections in New York. Current U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) was issued support for her re-election bid, while in our newly drawn 19th Congressional district, Julian Schreibman(D, WP) got the nod over incumbent Rep. Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook). Additionally, endorsements were offered for candidates running for State Senate and Assembly. No endorsements were offered for our area's newly made Districts 41, 43 or 46. As for local Assembly Districts,   Kevin Cahill (D, I, WF) was tapped for the 103rd, Frank Skartadatos (D, I, WF)  was chosen for the 104th, and Didi Barrett (D, I, WF) earned the endorsement for her new 106th district. You can access new district maps here.

Republican David Byrne kicked off his campaign to represent the 106th Assembly District, on Wed., Aug. 29. Byrne spoke to local officials, volunteers and supporters during an event held at his campaign headquarters in Hyde Park (Dutchess Co.). In a statement released by his campaign Tuesday, Byrne said, "New York...is at a crossroads. We can continue to be one of the highest taxed states in the nation, with one of the worst business climates, or we can lower these burdens on our families and businesses and make this state great once again." This is Byrne's first run for statewide office. A resident of Milan, he runs a real estate business and is a former member of the Milan Town Board; he is a West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran. Byrne received endorsements from Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner, former Assembly Minority Leader John Faso, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and State Senator Steve Saland. Byrne will face Democrat Didi Barrett in the November general election. The new 106th AD includes parts of Columbia and Dutchess counties.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="375"]Prattsville, after the flood. Photo by Larry Gambon.[/caption]Dharma Dailey interviews the folks behind the most important source of news during the storm's immediate aftermath, the blog The Watershed Post. Their liveblog became the shared source of news for the local mainstream media, and a place where anyone could contribute information. WGXC will also replay parts of their live radio show after the storm with Gov. Andrew Cuomo jumping in during the show.
Click here to play Julia Reischel from The Watershed Post with update on storm aftermath in the Catskills and Greene County in particular on Aug. 31, 2011.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="240"]Lissa Harris. Photo by Julia Reischel from The Watershed Post.[/caption]Click here to listen to Lissa Harris discusses The Watershed Post and its coverage of Hurricane Irene from April 4, 2012.
Click here to listen to the full show "After the Flood: The Watershed Post" 28:10

Casey Seiler reports at Capitol Confidential Gov. Andrew Cuomo has appointed Marie Howe to serve as the State Poet and Alison Lurieas the State Author. Both are the 10th to hold the two-year titles, which were established under the administration of Cuomo’s father, Gov. Mario Cuomo. Howe is the author of three books of poetry and is co-editor of a highly-praised anthology of writing on AIDS. Her poetry is widely admired for seeking answers to metaphysical questions in ordinary day-to-day experience. Howe succeeds Jean Valentine as NYS Poet.

Alison Lurie is the author of ten novels, a short story collection, and several children’s books and works on nonfiction. She is widely regarded as the Jane Austen of contemporary American letters for her nuanced understanding and lifelike portrayal of social customs and the relationship between the sexes. Lurie succeeds Mary Gordon as NYS Author. The State Poet and Author are selected for two-year terms by the NYS Writers Institute, located at the University at Albany, SUNY. The choice is based on a substantial body of work of notable literary merit. Hudson resident John Ashbery served as State Poet from 2001 to 2003. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 84F; low 5F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 84F; low 63F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today: Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 84; low around 57.

The outlook through the weekend:


Friday: Sunny. High near 90; low around 60.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 82; low around 57.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. High near 78; low around 60.

Sunrise today: 6:19 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:32 p.m.
Length of the day: 13 hrs., 13 min.

Town meetings

Today is the fifth Thursday of the month.
WGXC is unaware of any regular town meetings scheduled for today.

The day ahead at WGXC: Programming notes

8 a.m. Democracy Now! Breaking with Convention: War, Peace and the Presidency An expanded two-hour broadcast all this week during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now! crew will travel to Tampa Bay, to report from the streets, to the suites, to the convention floor.
10 a.m. Tell it Like it Is Host Christina Malisoff will be joined by Kathleen Nolan, Regional Director for the High Peaks Catskill Mountainkeeper from Woodstock. They will discuss hydro-fracking in the state of New York.
3 p.m. "The Watershed Post" Dharma Dailey interviews the folks behind the most important source of news during the storm's immediate aftermath, the blod "The Watershed Post." WGXC will also replay parts of their live radio show after the storm with Gov. Andrew Cuomo jumping in during the show.
4 p.m. WGXC Afternoon Show We will replay some of what happened on the Thurs., Sept. 1, 2011, "WGXC Afternoon Show," days after the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene flooded the area. Also, singer-songwriter Spencer Day, who is teaching a songwriting workshop at Stageworks, will be in the Hudson studio, and Maryann Lee from Spencertown Academy will talk about the Seventh Annual Festival of Books. Ellen Thurston and Richard Roth host, Tom Roe engineers.

Nelson D. Schwartz is reporting in The New York Times the state Attorney General's Office has subpoenaed three large makers of so-called energy drinks as part of an investigation into allegations the companies mislead consumers about the amount of caffeine the drinks contain and the health risks the drinks might pose. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is also looking at whether the companies — Monster Beverage, PepsiCo and Living Essentials — violated federal law in promoting the drinks as dietary supplements rather than as foods, which are subject to stricter regulation. Energy drinks have surged in popularity in recent years, especially among high school and college students, Schwartz writes. They have been a source of growth for beverage companies,  even as demand for more traditional drinks like soda has diminished. Read the full story in The New York Times.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="350"] Inside Zadock Pratt Museum, Prattsville, July 2012. Photo by Jess Puglisi.[/caption]

In the immediate aftermath of the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene last summer, local journalist Paul Smart drove around the Greene County towns most affected, calling in reports on WGXC. A year later, he makes the same drive again. WGXC's Dharma Dailey interviews the media members who covered the flood (The Daily Mail declined to participate), and WGXC also recalls other interviews around issues around the storm over the past year. Tune in for a tour of the devastation in Greene County and the Catskills. This show will look area immediately after the storm, and one year later, with a report on the differences. WGXC will also replay other reports in the first days after the storm, including rumors that the Gilboa Dam was going to burst, and reports of fake charities in the wake of the storm. Dharma Dailey talks to the folks behind "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" that formed out of the storm's aftermath. "The Water Recedes" contains WGXC's coverage of Sen. Kristen Gillibrand and Rep. Chris Gibson touring the flood-damaged businesses along the Catskill Creek in Catskill, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in Prattsville days after the storm. WGXC also asks Greene County Legislator Chairman Wayne Speenburgh why dry ice was slow to get to the mountaintop, and State Assmeblyman Pete Lopez about his family's losses in Schoharie County. Finally, this show poses the question what can be done better, or different next time, as the experts we ask say there will be a next time.
PLAY CLIP OF STATE ASSEMBLYMAN PETE LOPEZ (R-SCHOHARIE) DESCRIBING HOW THE STORM AFFECTED HIM PERSONALLY
PLAY EXCERPT WITH PAUL SMART TALKING ABOUT GREENE COUNTY'S INFORMATION RESPONSE TO THE STORM
PLAY INTERVIEW WITH DONNA SICILLIANO OF JUST KIDS IN CATSKILL BY ANN FORBES COOPES

Rick Karlin is reporting in the Times Union good government groups are hailing a new set of disclosure guidelines they believe will shed more light on the relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists, as well as lobbyist's clients. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics Tues., Aug. 28, approved the new guidelines, which mandate lobbyists or entities employing them to report "business relationships" with state lawmakers, other officials and even state employees if that relationship is worth more than $1,000. The requirements were called straightforward and reasonable by watchdog groups Citizens Union and Common Cause NY, although a cautionary note was sounded: Lawmakers themselves are not required to disclose the relationships, and there are exemptions for lawmakers or state employees who are not proprietors, or who own less than 10 percent of firms that are being paid. Read the full story in the Times Union.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="134"] Jay Cahalan
(courtesy Columbia Memorial Hospital)[/caption]

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star Jay Cahalan was named the new CEO of Columbia Memorial Hospital, Tues., Aug. 28. Cahalan currently serves as the hospital's Chief Operating Officer. He will replace Jane Ehrlich, whose contract will expire Dec. 31. The hospital board chairman, James Warren, said Cahalan was “heads and shoulders above the other possibilities.” Ehlich reported the hospital was in sound financial shape and would remain a stand alone hospital for the foreseeable future. Over the past 10 years, the hospital reported spending more than $50 million on facilities and technology.Both Cahalan and Ehrlich have been with Columbia Memorial since 1994. The CMH main campus is located in Hudson, with satellite offices throughout Columbia and Greene counties, and a care center in Red Hook. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Jim Planck reports in the Daily Mail, the plan for a consolidated fire district to serve both the Village of Catskill and that part of the Town of Catskill currently served under contract to the village was rejected by voters, Tues., Aug. 28. While the referendum to create the Catskill Joint Fire Protection District was approved by voters in the village 121-111, the plan was rejected by town voters, 117-77. The referendum required approval from both voting blocks to carry. The proposal would have created a single district, independent of either village or town, and governed by five elected fire commissioners, with an autonomous budget. Read the full story in the Daily Mail.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 75F; low 48F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 75F; low 54F.[/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 will be sunny. The high will be 77; low around 50.

The outlook for the next three days:


Thursday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 84; low around 59.
Friday: Sunny. High near 90; low around 65.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 86; low around 62.

Sunrise today: 6:18 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:34 p.m.
Length of the day: 13 hrs., 16 min.

Town meetings

Today is the fifth Wednesday of the month.

WGXC is unaware of any regular town meetings scheduled for today.

The day ahead at WGXC: Programming notes

8 a.m. Democracy Now! Breaking with Convention: War, Peace and the Presidency An expanded two-hour broadcast all this week during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now! crew will travel to Tampa Bay, to report from the streets, to the suites, to the convention floor.
2 p.m. "The Water Recedes" Paul Smart drives around the area immediately after the storm, and one year later, with a report on the differences. WGXC will also replay other reports in the first days after the storm, including rumors that the Gilboa Dam was going to open, fake charity scams, and an quick network of individuals and groups banding together to help their neighbors. Dharma Dailey talks to the folks behind "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" that formed out of the storm's aftermath. We will interview many other local residents one year later.
4 p.m. WGXC Afternoon Show Brian Kehoe, Executive Director of the New York Bicycling Coalition, will be on hand to talk about NYBC's campaign to secure bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure funding in the state. Also, Catskill clips from WGXC's "After the Flood" series about one year after the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene. Plus, news, event previews, music and more with Jill Sutton, Peter Krug, and Ron Diamondstein operating the controls from the Catskill Community Center.

From the Fruit Growers Network:

"Jake Samascott of Samascott Orchards in Kinderhook, talks about how his family has diversified its crop base as it has focused on selling at multiple farmers markets both a couple of hours away in New York City as well as in communities closer to Kinderhook. The farm also offers u-pick for all of its produce and runs a market on the farm as well as a store a short distance away in town."

"We will not have any tree fruit available for picking this season. The warm temperatures in March caused the blossoms to open earlier than normal. Followed by the cold temperatures in May killing the blossoms that would have been the fruit. Therefore we will be closing for the season after Labor Day weekend. Please check out our new retail store located at 65 Chatham St, Kinderhook, NY. The store is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m."

John Mason reports in the Register Star fire inspection standards for the TCI of NY facility in West Ghent remain unclear, nearly a month after the facility burned to the ground, Aug. 1. Columbia County Fire Coordinator John Howe told the paper there is no law in place to require the county or fire companies to inspect the property. West Ghent Fire Chief James Cestermino said his company toured the recycling plant in January or February, following an earlier fire at the site. And while the fire company received TCI's hazardous chemical inventory, it was not informed there was sodium on site for use in recycling transformer oil. Firemen learned of the sodium by chance from a TCI employee on the night of the fire. Sodium reacts violently with water and becomes explosive, producing hydrogen gas. Because TCI was considered a factory, a fire safety inspection was required just once every five years, according to Ghent Building Inspector Walt Simonsmeier, and he was due to pay the plant a visit this fall. He was unaware of the sodium on site, Simonsmeier added. Read the full story in the Register Star. In other TCI-related news, Nathan Mayberg reported at a special meeting Mon., Aug. 27, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the Emergency Communications Network to provide an emergency notification system. The system, known as CodeRed, will serve as the county's primary method of communication with residents about future emergencies, such as the TCI fire. A reverse 911 The CodeRed system will be created for landline users; mobile phone users will be asked to register to receive messages. Informational materials to explain the system will be produced and made available to county residents. Read the full story in the Register Star.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="350"]Catskill, Sun., Aug., 28, 2011. Photo by Ann Forbes-Cooper.[/caption]WGXC recounts the moments before the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene tore through the Catskills. "The Storm Breaks" begins on Fri., Aug. 25, with WGXC pre-storm interviews with Greene County Emergency Services director John Farrell, and Copake town supervisor Reggie Crowley. They pass along predictions of storm totals, that turn out to be underestimations of how much rain would fall. WGXC replays reports and sound checks from Philip Grant and Tom Roe overnight as the first rain fell Sat., Aug. 27, 2011, until WGXC lost electric power (the station needs $15,000 for a back-up generator) early Sun., Aug. 28, 2011 at 7:50 a.m. during Chris Lawlor's "Challenging Christianity" show. This show also listens to interviews WGXC's Dharma Dailey conducted with WGXC's Sara Kendall, and The Watershed Post's Andrea Girolamo. The Watershed Post's liveblog -- also embedded into The Daily Freeman and WGXC websites -- was a crowd-sourced information font that was the fastest and most accurate way to vet rumors and facts. This show ends as WGXC gets back on the air Tue., Aug. 30 shortly after noon. "The Storm Breaks" airs at 3 p.m., Tue., Aug. 28, 2012 on WGXC 90.7-FM. Click here to listen to the full show. (28:11)
PLAY INTERVIEW WITH JOHN FARRELL, GREENE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES, FRI. AUG. 25, 2011. 6:41
PLAY MIDNIGHT HURRICANE IRENE UPDATE FROM PHILIP GRANT 3:15
PLAY 1:25 A.M. SUN. AUG. 28, 2011 AIR CHECK 1:37

Cathleen F. Crowley reports in the Times Union a fire broke out on a conveyor belt at the Lafarge cement plant in Ravena, Mon., Aug. 27. The fire started around 2 p.m. and took about 90 minutes to douse. Firemen were challenged in their efforts because of the height of the fire and getting water to it. The burning conveyor belt created heavy black smoke. No injuries were reported. Read the full story in the Times Union.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="220"]From Wikipedia.[/caption]Vocalist, educator, and 2012 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award recipient Sheila Jordan sits down for an interview with WGXC's Cheryl K. on "The Jazz Disturbance" Thu., Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Ms. Jordan will be performing at Main Street Jazz at Gallagher's Banquet Hall in Cairo, on Fri., Sept. 7, with her show "Bebop to Freebop." Ms. Jordan’s life story will soon be available in the movie "Jazz Child: The Sheila Jordan Story," partially funded through a Kickstarter campaign at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SJ6cmFOcog The NEA Jazz Masters award is the highest federally-supported award for jazz artistry. Those recognized receive a $25,000 grant and an opportunity to perform nationwide. The NEA recognized five individuals this year: Jordan, drummer Jack DeJohnette, saxophonist Von Freeman (who passed on August 11, 2012), bassist Charlie Haden, and trumpeter and composer/arranger Jimmy Owens, who received the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy for helping to establish housing and emergency assistance for musicians.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 82F; low 52F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 82F; low 55F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today showers are likely, mainly before 10 a.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing. High near 84; low near 50.

The outlook for the next three days:


Wednesday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 75; low around 50.
Thursday: Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny. High near 85; low around 57.
Friday: Sunny. High near 90; low around 63.

Sunrise today: 6:17 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:35 p.m.
Length of the day: 13 hrs., 18 min.

Town meetings

Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.
(WGXC 90.7-FM suggests you call ahead to confirm meeting time and location.)

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).

School board meeting

HUDSON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m., Hudson High School library, 215 Fairview Ave., Hudson (828-4360). Meeting begins with administrative goals workshop.

The day ahead at WGXC: Programming notes

8 a.m. Democracy Now! Breaking with Convention: War, Peace and the Presidency An expanded two-hour broadcast all this week during the 2012 Republican National Convention. Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now! crew will travel to Tampa Bay, to report from the streets, to the suites, to the convention floor.
3:30 p.m. After the Flood: The Storm Breaks WGXC recounts its pre-storm interview with Greene County Emergency Services director John Farrell, Copake town supervisor Reggie Crowly, and replays WGXC reports from Philip Grant and Tom Roe as the first rain fell Sat., Aug. 27, 2011, until WGXC lost power early Sun., Aug. 28, 2011.
4 p.m. WGXC Afternoon Show On the one-year anniversary of the storms surrounding Hurricane Irene, hosts Peter Krug and Tom Roe recount stories of the floods, and play recordings of various interviews about the storms and their aftermath. Also, Greene County events, news, music, and more, live from WGXC's Wave Farm studio in Acra.

[caption id="attachment_22372" align="alignleft" width="300"] Margo Mullein and "Darlene" performing a water blessing of Schoharie Creek, Sat., Aug. 25, 2012. Photo by Jess Puglisi.[/caption]

WGXC's Jess Puglisi reports Prattsville's MudFest began Saturday afternoon with a preview version of "Water Water Everywhere," intended to be a youth theater production, which will debut later this year, or early next. The subject is the reaction to and aftermath of Prattsville's travails from Irene's flooding. Three youth and three adults participated. Margo Mullein directed and coordinated, and Andy Reed, tour guide at the Zadock Pratt Museum, also participated. The performance took place at Young's Agway in Prattsville, and attendance was in excess of 50, close to 100. At the conclusion, Mullein invited members of the public to make flags from sticks and fabric, arrayed on a table. The flags would be offerings during the water blessings ceremony, which began at 5 p.m. in the town square. Most of the audience of the play, plus more people, joined in the square while the auxiliary tent prepared a barbeque. A "multi-indigenous" group of representatives gathered, and introduced their spiritual traditions to the onlookers. A procession formed, and about two dozen people walked down Route 23 to the Schoharie Creek, near the popular swim hole, and blessed the water in the manner dictated by their various traditions. Click here to listen to Jess Puglisi's audio report on the day's events in Prattsville, nearly one year after the floods of the storms associated with Tropical Storm Irene ravaged the town.
PLAY JESS PUGLISI'S NEWS REPORT FROM PRATTSVILLE 11:06