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.

[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

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.

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

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] A house on Main St. (Route 23) in Prattsville Sat., Aug. 25, 2012. Photo by Jess Puglisi.[/caption]

Noah Rosenberg has a feature piece at The New York Times about the slow return of normalcy in Prattsville and other towns dotted across the remote Catskill Mountains landscape which suffered from the effects of Hurricane-turned-Tropical Storm Irene on August 28, 2011. Everyone seems to have a flood story: the generations-old business that washed away; the new trailer that was split in half; the family dog that disappeared; the museum whose collection was practically erased. Increasingly, the story line includes frustration over the money that ran out, but there are also cries of hope, even celebration, as evinced in Prattsville over the weekend. The town held its first Mudfest, a series of fund-raising events that drew hordes of people from beyond this small enclave, whose pre-storm population peaked around 600. Children streaked down slides into mud pits. Bands played at barbecues. And dozens marched to the Schoharie Creek for a Native American blessing of the very body of water that a year ago jumped its banks and devastated the town. Kevin Piccoli, who is chairman of the nonprofit Prattsville Relief Fund and the town’s Economic Development Corporation, said securing aid was tricky. “Every town is going after this one pot of money, so it’s extremely competitive,” he said, noting that the relief fund had raised $310,000 for about 90 families and that he had filed paperwork for up to $3 million in grants. “We’re trying to keep a stiff upper lip and every day just get a little bit further,” he said. The rest of Mr. Rosenberg's report can be found at The New York Times.

New York magazine's Josh Dean also wrote a long account of the storm, focusing on Prattsville, here. His story is called "Please God Stop the Rain: The day, one year ago, that Hurricane Irene nearly drowned Prattsville, New York, population 700."

Jennifer Kabat in Salon writes, "Hurricane Irene, one year later: The Catskills and its thriving community of artists are still struggling to pick up the pieces" about the Prattsville Art Center, and its residency program which has international artists working with local youth.


The Wall Street Journal's Hilke Schellmann traveled to Prattsville, with this report.

Hurricane Irene barreled down on the Catskills Aug. 27, 2011 only as a Tropical Storm, but still packed a wallop, With ground saturated from weeks of rain, as much as 20" of rain fell overnight and into Sunday, Aug. 28, and a flood nearly wiped the town of Prattsville off the map. Other floods came through Hunter, Windham, and other areas in Greene, Schoharie, Delaware, Ulster, and other counties in central New York. Only a few people died, but many faced death, and more faced enormous losses. A few days later, Tropical Storm Lee inflicted more damage.

WGXC will cover the anniversary of the floods in a series of special reports, interviews, features, live events, and other programming. Tune in to WGXC for a recounting of what happened and what will happen next time. We will detail how the community recovered, and worked together in new ways. There will be half-hour and hour-long specials on different subjects, and short reports and interviews each day on the "WGXC Morning Show" and "WGXC Afternoon Show."

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="240"] Catskill, Aug. 28, 2011. Photo by Ann Forbes Cooper.[/caption]

Tue., Aug. 28
3-3:30 p.m.: "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.

Wed., Aug. 29
2-3:30 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,

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Schoharie Creek. Photo from New York Governor's office.[/caption]

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.

Thu., Aug. 30
3-3:30 p.m.: "The Watershed Post"
Dharma Dailey interviews the folks behind the most important source of news during the storm's immediate aftermath, the blog "The Watershed Post." WGXC will also replay parts of their live radio show after the storm with Gov. Andrew Cuomo jumping in during the broadcast.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200"] Athens under the Hudson River Aug. 28, 2011. Photo by Sam Sebren..[/caption]

Fri., Aug. 31
3-3:30 p.m.: "Between the Lines"
Ann Forbes Cooper talks with Professor Robert Titus, known as the "Catskill Geologist," and Carolyn Bennett, historian of the Zadock Pratt Museum in Prattsville and Larry Gambon, a photographer who shot extensive footage of the damage done by the Hurricane Irene, about Prattsville one year on.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="320"] Story's Nursery, Freehold, Aug. 28, 2011. Photo by Alan Pavese.[/caption]

Sun., Sept. 2
7-8 a.m.: tba
9-10 a.m.:tba

Mon. Aug. 3
2-3:00 p.m., "Prattsville Remembers Irene"
Jess Puglisi and Lynn Sloneker talk with residents of Prattsville and Lexington about their experience during the flooding that resulted from Hurricane Irene that obliterated much of their town, along with observations about the first year of recovery. Prattsville, a town of seven-hundred situated at the junction of the Batavia Kill and the Schoharie Creek, was left in ruins after both bodies of water flooded with unanticipated speed and force. Residents interviewed include Beth and Donald Ballard, Michelle Petricini, Frank Hagan, David Murphy, Ronald Jones, Kaitlynn Cross, Melinda Sokoll, and Lynn Byrne.

Wed., Sept. 5
12-2 p.m.: Forum on Flood Coverage
WGXC's Dharma Dailey talks to reporters, citizen journalists, bloggers, Tweeters and Facebook updaters about how they covered the storm. In the hope we can face the next emergency a bit better prepared, we will share our findings in the Forum on Flood Coverage at Scribner Hollow Lodge in Hunter, on Sept. 5. The Forum will be recorded for broadcast on WGXC 90.7-FM 2 p.m., Sept. 13.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Prattsville, after the storm. Photo by Larry Gambon.[/caption]

Items that made the news Aug. 24 to 26:

Susan Campriello reported in The Daily Mail the Mountain Top Historical Society's welcome center in Haines Falls has a new, cement, climate-controlled archive. The society held its annual open house Sat., Aug. 25, and visitors were able to inspect the newly completed space. Among the society's treasures: a scarf belonging to Peter Pan actress Maude Adams, and diaries, photographs and recordings dating from the mid- and early 19th century. The room is named for the society's founding member, Justine L. Hommel, who called the addition "a dream come true." The center is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and weekends. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Kenneth C. Crowe II first reported in the Times Union Thurs., Aug. 23, a former Rensselaer County legislator and state Assembly candidate Keith Hammond was under investigation by Troy police for alleged sexual misconduct with a 20-year-old developmentally disabled woman. By Friday, Crowe reported, the police cleared Hammond, 51 of Averill Park, after determining that nothing illegal had occurred. Detectives determined the woman, a client of the ARC of Rensselaer County, was legally competent. Hammond faces Cheryl Roberts of Spencertown in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary for the 107th Assembly District. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star the Columbia County Independence Party is out in the cold after the state Independence Party Executive Committee recently revoked the power of the county committee and its chairman, John Miller, to endorse local candidates. The move followed the county party’s May endorsement of Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione in the Republican primary race against state Sen. Roy McDonald of Saratoga, for the 43rd Senate District. The state’s executive committee is supporting McDonald in the Sept. 13 primary. The decision will limit the ability of the county committee to endorse local candidates in future races. “They brought the hammer down on me,” Miller said. Read the full story in the Register Star.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="210"] Sea of Tranquility, 1969
(Courtesy NASA)[/caption]

Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, died Sat., Aug. 25, at the age of 82. His family reported death was caused by “complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.” Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He was a graduate of Purdue University and served as a Navy fighter pilot during the Korean conflict. Following the lunar landing in July 1969, Armstrong rarely gave interviews and avoided the spotlight. Buzz Aldren, who accompanied Armstrong on the historic mission, said Saturday, "I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning Neil's passing - a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew." Read Armstrong's obituary in The New York Times. PLAY CLIP OF THE LUNAR LANDING (2:30)

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 81F; low 66F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 79F; low 64F.[/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 8 a.m. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy. High near 80; low near 67.

The outlook for the next three days:


Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before noon, then isolated showers between noon and 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny. High near 83; low near 54.
Wednesday: Sunny. High near 76; low around 53.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 83; low around 58.

Sunrise today: 6:16 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:37 p.m.
Length of the day: 13 hrs., 21 min.

Town meetings

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

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

Two TCI-related meetings will be held tonight:

Columbia County Environmental Management Council 7 p.m. at 401 State Street (First Floor), Hudson. Main topic will be the TCI fire. EMC meetings are open to the public.
County Board of Supervisors 7 p.m. at 401 State Street (BOS chambers), Hudson. Special meeting of the full board to vote on an emergency notification the reverse 911 proposal. Open to the public.

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.
12 p.m. Monday Musical Matinee Special guest Claudia Bruce. Hosted by Sheri Bauer-Mayorga.
4 p.m. WGXC Afternoon Show Report from Mudfest, held in Prattsville this weekend and more. Hosted by Sara Kendall and Melinda Braathen.

"Heart and Soul" from Scanner, unreleased demo for Live_Transmission project with Heritage Orchestra, re-scoring and arranging the music of Joy Division. "This is my early studio demo that was then arranged for the orchestra and live band to be performed on stage at the Brighton Festival in May 2012. It's a twisted take on Joy Division's Heart and Soul," writes Scanner.


Six Organs of Admittance, "Waswasa" from new Ascent (Drag City)


Jim Jarmusch and Jozef Van Wissem with "The Sun of the Natural World is," a short film by Diego Barrera that references mythology, the elements, and symbolism.


Aaron Dilloway and Jason Lescalleet, "Grapes and Snakes" (album preview).


Lee Ranaldo Band with Nels Cline, "Xtina As I Knew Her" video by spannedy on YouTube, recorded at Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Vienna, Virginia, USA, July 17, 2012.


Bob Mould, "The Descent"