Filmmaker Jon Nealon has a Kickstarter campaign to finish a documentary about the group Videofreex. The group was first based in Manhattan, and funded by both corporate CBS television and Abbie Hoffman. Then, en masse, the video collective moved to Lanesville (in the Town of Hunter, near the Ulster County border) in Greene County in the early 1970s. There, they started "Lanesville TV," what they claim is the first pirate television station. The group included Parry Teasdale, now the editor of The Columbia Paper, and formerly of The Independent. Nolan says the group plans a fall reunion, when the film may be completed. Click here to listen to the complete interview with Jon Nealon, conducted by Tom Roe.
PLAY ENTIRE INTERVIEW 15:48

Click here to listen to a brief report, introduced by Tom Roe, with a short clip from the Videofreex documentary movie trailer, and an excerpt of the interview with Jon Nealon.
PLAY CLIP 5:48



From Wikipedia:
The Videofreex were a pioneering video collective who used the Sony Portapak for counter-cultural video projects from 1969 to 1978. They were founded in 1969 by David Cort, Curtis Ratcliff and Parry Teasdale, after Cort and Teasdale met each other at the Woodstock Music Festival. They were based out of a 17 bedroom house in the Catskill Mountains named the Maple Tree Farm. Michael Shamberg, author of Guerrilla Television and founding member of TVTV remarked that “The Freex are the most production oriented of the video groups […] in terms of finished, cleanly edited, high quality tape, which is generally quite entertaining, the Videofreex are clearly the best.” Mirroring the beliefs outlined in Guerrilla Television they believed they could turn the medium of television, at the time dominated by The "Big Three" Television Networks, into a more democratic medium and in 1972 they launched the first pirate TV station, Lanesville TV, using a transmitter given to them by Abbie Hoffman. The Videofreex Archive, containing more than 1,500 original tapes, is housed at the Video Data Bank (http://vdb.org). Work is underway to preserve important titles from the Archive and make them available through distribution. Samples of the group's work is available on the Videofreex YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/videofreex)

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will wage a U.S. Senate floor fight to restore food stamp funding, as debate begins this week on the Farm Bill, several sources reported Tue., June 5. Willie Vogt at Farm Futures reports Gillibrand's office says the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the proposed food stamp losses would result in an average benefit cut of $90 per month, or 32 percent for a half-million households. Instead, Gillibrand will present an amendment with the $4.5 billion in cuts restored by reducing federal subsidies for crop insurance companies "who already make huge profits every year," she says. Read the full story at Farm Futures.

Free Speech Radio News’s Matthew Petrillo reports from a national perspective on the Farm Bill and the proposed food stamp cuts.
LINK TO AUDIO CLIP 3:25

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 72F; low 39F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 70F; low 45F."][/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 much warmer than yesterday. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 70; low near 50.

The outlook for the next three days:
Thursday: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 76; low around 51.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 77; low around 55.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy. High near 78; low around 61.

Sunrise today: 5:19 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:29 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 10 min.

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

CAIRO Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main Street, Cairo (622-3120).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, P.O. Box 98, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Meetings for Human Services, Health, and Education Committees at 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENPORT Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, 600 Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
HUDSON Hudson Common Council Youth & Aging Committee meeting, 6 p.m., and Arts, Entertainment & Tourism Committee meeting at 6:45 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
LIVINGSTON Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Dale Baker of the Don Baker Farm in Columbia County. Photo from farm's website."][/caption]While state legislators consider help, Dale Baker from Don Baker Farms in Hudson knows his crop has been hurt by this spring's weather including a major late frost. In an interview with Noah Reibel on the "WGXC Afternoon Show." Baker also discusses the changing weather this past decade, and what that has meant to his apple and pear trees. A bill in the New York State Senate, the “Family Farmers and Apple Growers Relief Act,” would establish a tax credit for farmers to claim 35 percent of their losses due to the frost this spring. Click here to listen to the full interview between Baker and Reibel from Mon., June 4, 2012.
PLAY FULL INTERVIEW 14:58

Click here to listen to an excerpt of the interview, about how the weather has affected Don Baker Farm this year and the past decade.
PLAY CLIP 2:45

Claverack Supervisor Robin Andrews has declared her intention to seek the 43rd State Senate District currently held by Roy McDonald, and Cheryl Roberts, city of Hudson attorney and former Austerlitz town judge, will challenge incumbent Steve McLaughlin for the 107th Assembly District seat, Nathan Mayberg writes in the Register Star. Both women were recently endorsed by the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee, and they are looking to get the nod from the Columbia County Democrats, Thurs., June 7. In addition to her work for the city of Hudson, Roberts is an environmental lawyer. As a member of the Rapport Meyers firm she has successfully litigated to preserve home rule on the issue of hydro-fracking. McLaughlin, a Republican from Melrose, is a supporter of the hydro-fracking industry. As a member of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Andrews has played a significant role in plans to build a new Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She  is also a former village of Philmont trustee. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Melanie Lekocevic, writing in the The Ravena News-Herald, reports Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District board president John Vadney was arrested and charged with aggravated harassment, May 27. Vadney allegedly engaged in a verbal altercation with the father of fellow board member, Josephine O'Connor. Both men were arrested. District Superintendent Elizabeth R. Smith was notified of the arrest May 29. “While this charge is disturbing if true, and the situation may be unsettling to the RCS community, it is important to remember that it is only an allegation at this time,” Smith said in a statement. RCS is a district of 1,900 students, located in Albany County. Read the full story in the The Ravena News-Herald.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="224" caption="NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, left, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo."][/caption]

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Mon., June 4, proposed legislation to make the penalties for private and public possession of small amounts of marijuana the same. Under the current law anyone in possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana, which is open to public view, can be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, while private possession of the same amount is a finable offense, subject to a maximum fine of $100. Cuomo's proposal will decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana across the board. "Today's announcement is about creating fairness and consistency in our laws...," Cuomo said. "This is an issue that disproportionately affects young people -- they wind up with a permanent stain on their record for something that would otherwise be a violation." Among those arrested in New York last year, more than 50 percent were under 25 years of age, and 82 percent were either black or Hispanic. Listen to the Governor's Monday afternoon press conference.

Click here to listen to an excerpt of the press conference, first Counsel Mylan Denerstein explaining the specifics of the policy reform, and then Gov. Cuomo commenting on the reason for the proposed change.
PLAY CLIP 1:47

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 64F; low 39F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 64F; low 41F."][/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 much the same as yesterday. Scattered showers, mainly after 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 68; low around 48.

The outlook for the next three days:
Wednesday: Isolated showers between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy. High near 74; low around 50.
Thursday: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Partly sunny. High near 76; low around 51.
Friday: Mostly sunny. High near 77; low around 55.

Sunrise today: 5:20 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:29 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 9 min.

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

CATSKILL Town Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COPAKE Park Commission meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
LIVINGSTON Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Finance Committee meets at 5 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State St., Hudson.

Bryan Fitzgerald reports in the Times Union legislation that would grant tax breaks to farmers who lost crops to paralyzing frosts was introduced in the state Senate Fri., June 1, and is expected to be brought to the Assembly later today. The Republican-backed bill, known as the "Family Farmers and Apple Growers Relief Act," would establish a tax credit to allow farmers to claim 35 percent of their losses due to the frosts. Fitzgerald cites recently released data that estimates approximately 50 percent of the state's apple crop was wiped out by the March frosts. Forty to 50 percent of grapes are gone, as well as 90 percent of the state's peach crop; the frost is believed to have killed nearly all of New York's cherries. New York is the second largest apple producer in the nation, behind only Washington. The state's apple industry generates $233 million each year, and employs more than 10,000 people, Fitzgerald writes. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Stories from Columbia and Greene counties in the news, May 30 through June 3:

W.T. Eckert reported in The Daily Mail the Greene County Democratic Committee endorsed former Albany Police Dept. spokesman James Miller in the race against Assemblyman Peter Lopez in the newly formed 102nd Assembly District. Republican Lopez has run unopposed the past two terms. Miller grew up in Round Top and now resides in Albany. Miller told the paper his campaign will center on the economic revitalization of Greene County. The committee also endorsed Cecilia Tkaczyk of Duanesburg for the new 46th Senate District, and Kevin Lennon, Joe Kozloski, Larry Gardner, James Van Slyke and Harry Lennon for Greene County Legislature. Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley, having failed to get the GOP nod, received the committee's unanimous endorsement for the District 1 seat.  Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Melanie Lekocevic reported in The Daily Mail the Village of Athens' recycling center has a new home. The village board recently voted to permanently locate the facility at the brush dump, adjacent to the firehouse on Third Street, The center was formerly located next to the sewer plant and was moved to the Third Street location during the recent sewer upgrade, now nearly complete. Mayor Andrea Smallwood told the board she supported leaving the center at the brush dump. “I don't think we should mix the sewer and recycling,” she said. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star Columbia County Court Judge Richard Koweek has disqualified District Attorney Paul Czajka from handling a criminal prosecution. Koweek ordered Czajka removed as prosecutor of a criminal weapons possession case, which he presided over as judge. Koweek appointed Greene County District Attorney Terry Wilhelm as Special District Attorney in the matter. Czajka has appealed the May 25 decision to the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division. The ruling could have a ripple effect, causing the DA's office to be removed from dozens of other cases Czajka reviewed as a county judge. Czajka resigned from the bench in May 2011 to run for DA; he was elected in November. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors has requested representatives from all telecommunications companies serving the county appear to discuss various complaints over the quality and availability of internet service. The companies involved include, Verizon, Mid-Hudson Cable, Charter Internet, Time Warner, GTel Teleconnections and Fairpoint Communications. Planning and Economic Development Commissioner Ken Flood said a previous attempt to get Verizon to cooperate was unsuccessful. The consensus among the Supervisors is, the lack of access and the poor quality of internet service are an economic liability to new and existing businesses throughout the county. No word on when the meeting will take place. Read the full story in the Register Star.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="250" caption="The Chatham softball title already won the Patroon Conference championship. Photo from Chatham High website."][/caption]

Conor Reilly reports in The Daily Mail that the Chatham high school softball team beat Ichabod Crane 5-1 Fri., June 1 at Veeder Park in Colonie, to win the Section II, Class B softball championship for the first time in school history. Lady Panthers’ Hannah Gregg got Chatham on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI single, one of three hits and RBIs for her Friday. In other local sporting news:

The website www.section2harrier.com, reports action from the Fri., June 1 Section II track and field State Qualifiers at Knox Field in Johnstown, with the following local atheletes going on to the NYS Track and Field Championships in Cicero:
• Jennifer Receveur (Ichabod Crane) qualified in the girls Pole Vault with a height of 9 feet, 9 inches
• Seth Bulich (Catskill) qualified in the 800, placing third (1:57.47), and the Catskill Cats 4x400 team of Bulich, Zack Berzal, Nick Goffredo, and Zack Vosburgh (3:29.14) also qualified.
• Ross Wightman (Chatham) qualified in the Steeplechase, placing second (9:36.02). The Chatham Panthers 4x100 team of Raphael Joseph, Billy Whitbeck, Sam Mackerer and Tyler Rivera (45.37) placed first and qualified as well.
• Gavin Clark-Gartner (Ichabod Crane) qualified in the 110H (15.52) and 400H (56.35) and ICC Riders’ Isaiah Turek qualified in the High Jump (6-2) and Long Jump (21-4 1/2).
• Mike Chiudina (Coxsackie-Athens) qualified in the Discus (152-9).

The Daily Mail also reports the Patroon Conference baseball all-stars:
MVP:
• Mavist Frederick, Hudson
FIRST TEAM:
•Cameron Overbaugh, Catskill
• Ryan Cooke, Greenville
• Cody Hall, Chatham
• Cole Gleason, Chatham
• Spencer Winters, Taconic Hills
• Joe Swinehart, Chatham
• Nick Shaw, Chatham
• Dustin Conte, Hudson
• Michael Carl, Taconic Hills
• Joe Wagner, Greenville
SECOND TEAM:
• Connor LaClair, Coxsackie-Athens
• Michael Bowes, Hudson
• Brian Ostrander, Taconic Hills
• Manny Folds, Hudson
• Kyle Hall, Maple Hill
• Shameer Peterson, Catskill
• Mike Verschelden, Chatham
• Jordan Brantley, Catskill
• Darren Conte, Hudson

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 63F; low 43F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 59F; low 46F."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today, Much cooler than yesterday. Areas of drizzle before 8 a.m,, then showers likely. Cloudy, high near 61; low around 48.

The forecast for the next three days:

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, high near 67; low around 49.
Wednesday: Isolated showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, high near 69; low around 52.
Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, high near 72; low around 52.

Sunrise today: 5:20 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:28 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 8 min.

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

ANCRAM Conservation Advisory Council at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
ATHENS Town meeting at 7 p.m. at 2 First Street, Athens (734-3636).
CLAVERACK Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Church Street, Mellenville (672-7911).
CLERMONT Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
TAGHKANIC Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, Route 82,West Taghkanic (851-7638).

(WGXC 90.7-FM suggests you call ahead to confirm meeting time and location.)

Photographer Peter Aaron discussed his show "Olana's Dynamic Landscape," up now through Oct. 31 in Olana's Coachman House, in this interview with Richard Roth, Ellen Thurston, and Peter Krug on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" Thu., May 31. Aaron received a BA in physics from Bard College and an MFA from the New York University Institute of Film and Television. He worked as a film cameraman, then turned to architectural photography, serving as Ezra Stoller's assistant. After two years of apprenticeship he adapted his mentor's techniques, and began integrating dramatic camera angles with theatrical lighting. He is a contributing photographer with Architectural Digest and his images also frequently appear in other books and magazines.
PLAY FULL INTERVIEW 13:29



Olana's Dynamic Landscape
photographs by Peter Aaron
May 19-October 31, 2012 | Olana Coachman's House
Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Casey Seiler at Capitol Confidential links to video from Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS, of a protest in favor of an increase in the minimum wage Thu., May 31, inside the office entry to the Senate GOP’s conference room in Albany. There is a shoving match between protesters and Senate sergeants-at-arms at the 1:30 mark, and arrests around 11:00. See the full story in Capitol Confidential.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="250" caption="Philip Stearns' "Deluge.""][/caption]
WGXC's parent organization, free103point9, closes its show "Transmittal," at the Greene County Council on the Arts gallery at 398 Main St. in Catskill, Sat., June 2. Thu., May 31, "Michelle" from New York City arrived by bus to see the transmission art, or, radio art, show before it closed, but instead wandered into the live youth radio show that Matt Bua was orchestrating at WGXC's Catskill Community Center studio. Listen here to hear the results.
PLAY CLIP 2:18

Click here to listen to an interview with Philip Stearns about his work "Deluge" in the "Transmittal" show by WGXC"s Galen Joseph-Hunter.
PLAY CLIP 3:47

Judge Patrick McGrath ruled in favor of the Glencadia Dog Camp May 21 on an Article 78 case, in the ongoing battle between that small business and the town of Stuyvesant. "Ordered and adjudged that the petition is granted without costs to the extent that the [ZBA's] determination is annulled and the permit to operate as a Class 2 home Occupation shall be restored: and it is further ordered and adjudged that the matter is hereby remitted to the respondent ZBA for a review and determination on the narrow issue of the notice of violation dated August 9. 201O, consistent with this decision. This shall constitute the Decision, Order and Judgment of the Court." Glencadia owner Will Pflaum comments on his blog: "Well, $300,000 later, that suit is done. Four more to go." Sam Pratt, at his blog, outlines the four cases:
• "Pflaum v. Stuyvesant, a Federal case in which he alleges “assessment fraud, invoice fraud criminal activity, embezzlement, [and] fraud” (March 2011);
• Pflaum v. Narzynski, an “equal protection” case involving zoning, which argues that “the ZBA secretary is running a business forbidden by the ordinance” (Feb. 2012);
• Pflaum v. Naegeli, A Freedom of Information Law case, arguing that the Town is “hiding information” (Feb. 2012); and
• Pflaum v. Knott, another “equal protection” case about zoning, arguing that “the Town Supervisor needs a permit for his business” (Apr. 2012)."

Brian Tumulty, of the Poughkeepsie Journal's Washington bureau, has an in-depth profile of Congressman Chris Gibson and the challenges he faces as he tries to retain his seat in the U. S. House in a newly redrawn 19th district. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has noted the reconfigured district could go either way in November, with many communities currently represented by retiring Democratic Congressman Maurice Hinchey. One notable take-away from the piece: Representative Gibson has no plans to fulfill more than 4 terms, believing that serving in Congress should not be a lifelong endeavor. Two Democrats running in the June 26 primary — attorney Julian Schreibman of Stone Ridge and Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner of Clinton — are vying for the chance to accelerate Gibson’s departure. Hugh Reynolds in the Kingston Times profiles the two Democrats here. The piece can be seen in it's entirety at the Poughkeepsie Journal website. The Gibson video starts with an advertisement. Please do not put that on the air.

Casey Seiler reports on the Times Union Capitol Confidential blog the Innocence Project and state Bar Association are calling for two pretrial reforms to criminal procedure. Barry Scheck of the Innocence Project kicked off the press conference at the Capitol, Thurs., May 30. The reforms, as described:

• To prevent false confessions, they are calling for legislation requiring police to videotape interrogations in full so that there is a complete record of the interrogation that can be shown in court.


• To prevent eyewitness misidentifications, they are seeking approval of a bill mandating that police identification procedures be conducted in a double-blind fashion, meaning that the officer who conducts the lineup does not know the identity of the suspect. This will ensure that the eyewitness is not influenced by clues delivered either directly or indirectly by police.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 77F; low 48F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 79F; low 52F."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Today, Sunny. High near 79; low around 50.

The forecast for the weekend:
Friday: Scattered showers, mainly after 5p.m. Mostly sunny; high near 76; low around 55.
Saturday: Showers likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy; high near 74; low around 51.
Sunday: Scattered showers after noon. Mostly sunny; high near 75; low around 52.

Sunrise today: 5:22 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:25 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 3 min.

Town meetings
Today is the fifth Thursday of the month.

No meetings scheduled.

W.T. Eckert reports in The Daily Mail the Catskill Town Republican Committee has chosen four candidates to run for District 1 seats on the Greene County Legislature in the November election. The committee chose incumbents Joseph Izzo and Karen Deyo, along with business owner Paul Brown and Linda Overbaugh, Executive Director of The Heart of Catskill Association. Republicans hold the majority in the 28-member legislature. Current Majority Leader Keith Valentine is not seeking re-election. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.