Brian Tumulty of the Politics on the Hudson blog writes that Rep. Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook), "broke with other Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee Wed., July 11, by supporting a failed Democratic amendment to trim the proposed cuts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as food stamps. Gibson supported an amendment from Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon) under which the House would match the reductions contained in the Farm Bill that passed the Senate last month, according to Gibson’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Valle." The Senate bill reduces spending on the program by $4.5 billion over 10 years, cutting benefits to an estimated 500,000 people, including 300,000 New Yorkers. The House bill would reduce the growth of SNAP by $16.5 billion over 10 years, eliminating food assistance to an estimated 2 million to 3 million people. Also on Wed., July 11, Gibson reported his campaign raised $405,851.23 in the second quarter, bringing his cash on hand to $1,191,549. Since retiring from the Army in 2010, the Congressman has received over 7,200 individual contributions, 74 percent of which are from individuals in "and around," the Congressman's district. (This is defined as all counties in the current 20th District, the new 19th District, and any contiguous county.) Forty-six percent of all total contributions have come from individuals in and around the Congressman's district. In the Democratic primary, Gibson's November opponent Julian Schreibman was criticized for the percentage of money his campaign raised from outside the district, and Gibson, by releasing this information, intends to make it an issue this fall too.

From Free Speech Radio News:

"As lawmakers in Washington, DC continue to debate the 2012 Farm Bill, small and organic farmers across the nation are hoping for a more level playing field. They’re vying for a bigger share of federal dollars to help support a flourishing sector of the farming industry. The Senate has already passed its version, and the House agriculture committee is working on their bill Wed., July 11, but sustainable farming activists say the bill shuts out small farmers, while favoring agribusiness. FSRN’s Vic Bedoian reports from Fresno."

W.T. Eckert reports in The Daily Mail a committee established two years ago to raise money, design, and erect a Greene County Emergency Services Memorial Wall is still trying to raise the funds needed to complete the project. A marker located between Mountain Ave. and the Greene County Emergency Services Building in Cairo indicates the site for the memorial, which will consist of three large, standing stones displaying the names of deceased Greene County firefighters, law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. An additional $5,000 is left to be raised. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Jimmy Vielkind is reporting in the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo now intends to turn his focus on reforming the state's campaign finance system. Cuomo said Tues., July 10, he would begin touring the state to argue for a system of public matching funds to blunt the influence wealthy donors have on the political system. The governor said his push will likely coincide with this year's presidential election, and may result in legislation before lawmakers return to Albany in January for the next scheduled session. A pay boost for legislators may be considered after the fall election and, according to Vielkind, Cuomo may use it as a bargaining chip to get campaign finance reform through the Legislature. Read the full story in the Times Union.

ABOVE: Constitution Pipeline Company's YouTube video about its proposed 120-mile pipeline passing through Schoharie and Delaware counties.

New York State Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R,C,I-Schoharie) announced his support for the Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Project that passes through Schoharie and Delaware counties within the Interstate 88 (I-88) corridor. Lopez, in a Tue., July 10 in a press release, supported the project of Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation (headquartered in Houston, Texas) and Williams (an energy infrastructure company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma) for the 120-mile pipeline from Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna County to the Town of Wright in Schoharie County, New York, to connect natural gas supplies in northern Pennsylvania with northeastern markets by 2015. “I believe that siting the pipeline along Interstate 88 is the most practical, expeditious and least controversial option, especially considering that Williams and Cabot already are looking to bring the project very close to this thoroughfare,” said Assemblyman Lopez. “Thoughtful use of the I-88 corridor makes the most sense for all involved, and sets a positive example for further infrastructure investment (i.e. fiber optic placement) along our interstates.” So far no public hearings are planned, but the Constitution Pipeline Company will host a series of informal, open houses where "Pipeline staff, representing a variety of disciplines, are present to listen to landowners, public officials, and other interested stakeholders who attend the meetings," according to Lopez's press release.
Locally they are:
• July 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Delaware County at Franklin Central School, 26 Institute Street, Franklin.
• July 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Schoharie County at Best Western Cobleskill, 121 Burgin Drive, Cobleskill.

UPDATE (July 11): Pamela Badila has announced a celebration of Elombe's life and work will be held Sat., July 14 in Hudson. People are urged to gather in Seventh Street Park beginning at 7 6:30 p.m. The group will later proceed down Warren St. to Promenade Park, to celebrate the sunset and honor Elombe's life with words and music. Everyone is invited to bring a drum and join the circle.

Elombe Badila, patriarch of the Badila family of Hudson, passed away the morning of Tue., July 10, after struggling with a severe case of pneumonia which led to complications of the heart and liver. Elombe, or Andre as he was also known, is second to left in the video above of the Diata Diata International Folkloric Theatre, the music and art organization the Badila family founded. The video was published on YouTube May 1. He is survived by his wife Pamela Badila, who is on the WGXC Radio Council on one of the seat's elected by WGXC membership. Click here to listen to an entire (23:48) Diata Diata recording made by WGXC in 2009 at the Cannonball Factory.
PLAY EXCERPT 1:21

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 86F; low 63F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 86F 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, temperatures are forecast to be nearly the same as yesterday. Mostly sunny. High near 86; low around 57.

The outlook for the next three days:

Thursday: Mostly sunny. High near 90; low around 60.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 91; low around 67.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. High near 88; low around 66. Chance of showers and thunderstorms, Saturday night.

Sunrise today: 5:29 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:32 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 3 min.

Town meetings

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

VILLAGE OF ATHENS Board meets at 6:30 p.m at the Athens Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CLERMONT Planning Board meets at Town Hall at 7 p.m. at 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COLUMBIA COUNTY holds a full Board of Supervisors meeting at 7:30 p.m. at 401 State St. in Hudson.
COPAKE Resource Advisory Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board Application meeting and Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. both at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Planning Committee meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
JEWETT Town meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal Bldg. 3547 Co. Rt. 23C (263-4626).
KINDERHOOK Town’s 9 & 9H Corridor Committee meets at 7 p.m. at at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
KINDERHOOK Village Board meeting and budget hearing, 7 p.m. at 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook (758-9882).

Hudson Common Council president Don Moore announced to some of the local media on Tue., July 10 that the Common Council will hold a "Special Meeting," Thu., July 12 at 6 p.m., "to consider a Resolution of support for an an application for funding by the Hudson Opera House for its planned elevator under the New York State Consolidated Funding Program."

Tom Casey reports in the Register Star Hudson Mayor William Hallenbeck addressed the Common Council Mon., July 9, on the subject of the pending eviction of the North Dock Tin Boat Association from the land it occupies at the edge of the Hudson River. One week remains before the Association must vacate. Hallenbeck defended the city's legal position on the eviction. “I will submit to you that I have racked my brain everyday for over a month as to the future of the Tin Boat Association and all roads lead back to having to vacate the land and the shacks having to be removed for liability reasons,” he said. “Tell me how it is possible to do anything different other than what has been concluded by corporate counsel, Common Council President (Don) Moore and myself about the future (of the boat club).” Read the full story in the Register Star.

Mayor Bill Hallenbeck speaking about shutting down the Furgary Boat Club during a meeting of the Hudson Common Council, Mon., July 9. Click here to listen. Recorded by Noah Reibel. Below, the final minute of the speech.
PLAY EXCERPT 1:15

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="2592"]Flood damage from Hurricane Irene at the Zadock Pratt Museum is evident on the bottom half of the walls; Larry Gambon's photographs of the flood damage from Hurricane Irene are on the top. The photography exhibition is on display through October 30, 2012. Photo by Jess Puglisi.[/caption]WGXC's Jess Puglisi spoke to Larry Gambon, Andrew Reid, and Janelle Maurer last weekend at the Zadock Pratt Museum in Prattsville about the flood devastation and recovery efforts in from the storms associated with Hurricane Irene. Prattsville was the hardest hit local community, with scores of residents deserting the wrecked town in the months since the storm. Gambon's photographs from the aftermath of the flood in Prattsville are on display through October 30 in the Museum. Click here to listen to Jess Puglisi's entire report. (28:45) Click here to hear an excerpt of the report, talking to Andrew Reid, a five-year Prattsville resident who leads tours at the museum, and Janelle Maurer, who owns the Prattsville Diner.
PLAY EXCERPT 2:41

The Galvan Foundation announced Mon., July 9, the recipients of the foundation's first round of grant-making, at the consolidated firehouse on 7th St. in Hudson. The announcement was made by Galvan Executive Director Tom Swope and Rick Scalera, Special Advisor to the foundation. Funding was committed to 16 groups or organizations that provide services to the Hudson community. Among the recipients: Perfect 10, for continued support of programs for at-risk girls; Time & Space Limited, for general support of its year-round youth programs; Operation Unite, in support of a school arts programs; the Hudson City School District for the purchase of musical instruments and supplies; and the Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation, to establish a comprehensive art therapy program for local children who are the victims of abuse and extreme neglect. The Galvan Foundation was founded by T. Eric Galloway and Henry van Ameringen, and it began operations in January 2012. Galvan makes single-year grants in the range of $5,000 to $50,000.

The Town of Greenville unanimously approved a renewal contract with Mid-Hudson Cable on Thu., June 29 that Greene County-based activist group Concerned Citizens for Better Broadband says the 15-year-agreement wires 11 more miles for digital cable, telephone, and internet access services. Kathleen Whitley-Harm and Rosemary O’Brien, of CCBBGC, say they worked with Supervisor Paul Macko who says, when the build-out is completed, 90 percent of the homes and businesses in Greenville will have access to Mid-Hudson, with some also having other choices of service providers. “This is a victory for Greenville residents and rural communities like ours throughout New York”, said Whitley-Harm. Mid-Hudson Cable is an underwriter of WGXC.

Peter Applebome writes in the New York Times on efforts by various groups, including the Central Catskills Chamber of Commerce, the Great Northern Catskills Chamber of Commerce and the newly formed Catskill Park Resource Foundation, to use creative marketing to revive the economic fortunes of the four-county Catskill region. The Catskill area was arguably the country’s first tourism destination, Applebome writes. But the image of the Catskills is still defined by its southern edges and the vanished borscht belt hotels of Sullivan County in the rolling hills closest to New York City. The challenge is now to make people think of the Catskills as trout fishing, artisanal cheese and Zen retreats. Read the full story in the New York Times.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 86F; low 59F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 84F low 59F.[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today, temperatures are forecast to be nearly the same as yesterday. Mostly sunny. High near 84; low around 58.

The outlook for the next three days:

Wednesday: Sunny. High near 88; low around 64.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 86; low around 64.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 92; low around 64.

Sunrise today: 5:29 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:33 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 4 min.

Town meetings

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

CHATHAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COPAKE Board of Ethics, 7 p.m.; Comprehensive Planning Comm., 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234)
COXSACKIE Town board at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).

Stories that made the news July 6 to July 8, 2012:

Melanie Lekocevic reported in The Daily Mail to safeguard against the threat of contamination or a takeover of the water supply system, the Department of Homeland Security has decided the Village of Athens water filtration plant needs a new computer system. The federal agency proposed the village install two separate computers, one to run the plant and a second to secure records and for general office needs. Some village funds may be available for the purchase of one work station, but additional money will have to be raised for the second. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail Town of Hunter officials are concerned with ongoing congestion, sanitation and trash problems along a popular four-mile section of State Route 23A through Kaaterskill Clove, running from Palenville to Haines Falls. The road, which partially follows the path of Kaaterskill Creek, is known for its scenic beauty and several swimming holes. “It is being overused and underappreciated,” Hunter Town Supervisor Daryl Legg told the paper. The town reached out to the property's owner, the state of New York, to help with the problems with a plan to enforce a "no parking" zone along the winding road. The issue will be discussed at a special meeting, 5 p.m., Thur., July 12 at the town hall. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

W.T. Eckert reported in The Daily Mail Greene County District Attorney Terry Wilhelm will use forefeited funds to underwrite the cost of a new special investigator to focus on drug-related crimes. Wilhelm recently hired retired Catskill Police Lt. Greg Sager for the job. The funding was approved by the county Legislature, June 20. Greene County is one of an unspecified number of counties statewide without a special investigator, according to Greene County Sheriff Greg Seeley, Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star Columbia County's district attorney and its two county judges were recently granted raises of more than $20,000, effective April 1. The raises were approved by the county Board of Supervisors Finance Committee last week, based on the findings of a statewide judicial compensation commission published in August 2011. The salaries will increase 27 percent over a three-year period. State law requires the salaries of district attorneys and county judges be equal. Read the full stories in The Daily Mail and the Register Star.

The Register Star reported Hudson officials have identified the perpetrators in a rash of recent flag thefts in the Grand Army of the Republic section of Cedar Park Cemetery in Hudson. Mayor Bill Hallenbeck confirmed Sat., July 7, woodchucks were responsible for removing the flags reported missing from Civil War graves. The culprits were caught in the act on a motion-activated camera, and the stolen flags were later found stashed inside their burrows. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128"] Cairo: High 86F; low 59F.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125"] Catskill: High 82F low 57F.[/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, temperatures forecast to be cooler than yesterday. Sunny. High near 84; low around 56.

The outlook for the next three days:

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunnny. High near 84; low around 60.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High near 84; low around 58.
Thursday: Sunny. High near 86; low around 62.

Sunrise today: 5:28 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:33 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 5 min.

Town meetings

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

ASHLAND Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland (734-3636).
CATSKILL Village meeting at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse, 1 Central Ave. (behind Walgreens) (943-3830).
COPAKE Environmental Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE COUNTY LEGISLATURE holds Buildings & Grounds, Conservation, Public Safety, Highway, Government Operations, and Finance committee meetings at 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Informal meeting of Common Council at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren St., Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Village meeting at 8 p.m. at Village Hall, 7955 Main St., Hunter
NEW BALTIMORE Town meeting at 7:30 p.m. at 3809 Rt. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671)/
PRATTSVILLE Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).

William J. Kemble in The Daily Freeman reports often in the Town of Catskill about corporations suing to lower their property assessments. Usually, no matter the strength of the argument, the town settles because it is cheaper then litigation to just give the corporations their way. The Price Chopper Plaza on Route 9W in Catskill is the latest to employ this tactic. "At a Town Board meeting Tue. [July 3], officials said the assessment will be reduced to $5,496,200 for the years 2012 through 2014," down from the original assessment of $5,696,200. In 2010, Catskill gave Wal-Mart a $1.67 million assessment reduction in a similar settlement, Kemble had previously reported. The settling-litigation-for-a-discount practice is so common, Kemble writes, "The town has an agreement with the Catskill school district to share the cost of defending assessment challenges. Earlier this year, the town received $26,112 toward $43,134 in legal costs associated with 11 assessment challenges during 2011." Kemble explains that, "Town Supervisor Joseph Leggio said it’s important to avoid lengthy court proceedings over the assessment. He said he is hopeful that other cases can be settled easily." One other case he might be referring to was mentioned at the Town meeting Tuesday. Town Assessor Nancy McCoy reported that the just-closed Holcim Cement plant is seeking to reduce its $10.14 million assessment to $3.36 million for the years 2008 through 2011, when it was still open for business. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

In Greene County, the July 4 holiday extends into the weekend, with the following events Sat., July 7:

Catskill: Patriot Day in Catskill begins with a children’s parade at 2:30 p.m., Sat., July 7 from Church and Main streets and proceeding to Cone-E Island Ice Cream. Events in the village later in the day will include a magic show, an ice cream-eating contest, music by Conehead Buddha and fireworks.
East Durham: East Durham also celebrates independence this year on Sat., July 7 with a parade at 11 a.m. on Route 145 that heads to the Irish Cultural center grounds for a day of family fun. Fireworks at dusk.
Hunter: The Bear Creek Landing Restaurant will host a fireworks display at nightfall on Saturday.

Thomas Lail stopped by WGXC's Wave Farm studio in Acra Fri., July 6 to preview two shows. Lail is opening "Notes for the Future" at Art Omi in Ghent Sat., July 7, and is hosting a four-band experimental music bill at his Valatie soundBarn location Thu., July 12. Valerie Kuehne, Joey Molinaro, Albany's Century Plants, and soundBarn, Lail's duo with Patrick Weklar all perform there at 8 p.m. Click here to listen to the entire interview and Thomas Lail's sound compositions "Memorial" and "Gunpowder" from the "WGXC Morning Show" with Tom Roe.
PLAY CLIP 27:45

Thomas Lail: Notes for the Future opening Art Omi July 7 1-4 p.m. EDT

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Photo by Noah Reibel.[/caption]Facing a demolishing deadline of July 16, Joe Gallo, president of the North Dock Tin Boat Association talked about the Furgary Boat Club on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" Thu., July 5, speaking with Richard Roth and Tom Roe. An "eccentric sportsmen squatter community," according to one Register-Star reporter, the Furgary Boat Club by all accounts has been an off-the-grid encampment with docks, between the Hudson River and the train tracks. Gallo seemed resigned on the radio to end days for the hunters, trappers, and fisherman who enjoy the use of the public land there. In 2012, Jamie Larson wrote in the Register-Star, that, "in August of 2009... while performing a deed search, the Columbia Land Conservancy discovered the land, and the adjacent waste water treatmant plant property, belonged to the state, which promptly traded it for property under the river owned by the city. Now that Hudson knows they own the land officials see development potential for the riverfront property." On the radio, Gallo said the Furgarians had run out of legal options after the group's last-ditch "squatter's rights" case was time-barred because it had not been filed within four months of a recent court ruling. He said the club is holding an open house for the public Sat., July 7, but he also said, contrary to complaints of others, that the Boat Club property is accessible to the public at all times. On "WGXC Afternoon Show" Mon., July 9, Noah Reibel will have many more interviews and stories about the Furgary Boat Club. Click here to listen to the interview.

PLAY CLIP 15:28