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.

Trevor Alford reports in the Register Star the Ghent Planning Board approved the site and subdivision plans for the proposed 7.08-acre Price Chopper site at 2595 Route 66 during a special meeting, Tues., May 29. The site plan was approved after multiple overhauls; however, the approval was made conditional pending endorsement by a state licensed surveyor. The proposal will now go before the Chatham Planning Board for consideration. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Hudson Valley Traveler reports on the ongoing construction on NY State Hwy 9H in Hudson - Claverack in Columbia county. On Wed. May 30, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., one lane will be blocked between County Route 27 and State Hwy 82 according to the state DOT.

The New York Times and others report that guitar legend Doc Watson died, Tue., May 29. "Mr. Watson, who had been blind since he was a baby, died in a hospital after recently undergoing abdominal surgery, The Associated Press quoted a hospital spokesman as saying. On Thursday his daughter, Nancy Ellen Watson, said he had been hospitalized after falling at his home in Deep Gap, N.C., adding that he did not break any bones but was very ill," The New York Times reported. He was born March 3, 1923. Read the full story in The New York Times, and watch the "Deep River Blues" YouTube video above.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 81F; low 54F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 77F; 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, isolated showers, then scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 85; low around 56. The National Weather Service has declared a hazardous weather outlook for the region, including northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, east central New York and southern Vermont. However, the threat for hazardous weather is low at this time.

The forecast for the next three days:

Thursday: Sunny, high near 80; low around 50.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 75; low around 55.
Saturday: Showers likely early in the day. Cloudy, high near 71; low around 52.

Sunrise today: 5:22 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:24 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 2 min.

Town meetings
Today is the fifth Wednesday of the month.

No meetings scheduled.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Photo by Larry Gambon, from Zadock Pratt Museum, taken shortly after Hurricane Irene."][/caption]WGXC's Jess Puglisi recorded interviews and live audio from the Memorial Day Civil War Commemoration in Prattsville, NY, Sat., May 26 at the Zadock Pratt Museum. Includes an interview with John Quinn, board member of the Pratt Museum and an organizer of the event. The Pratt Museum and most of Prattsville were hit hard by the storms associated with Hurricane Irene last August. Listen here to Puglisi's report.

PLAY CLIP 5:29

Casey Seiler from the Albany Times-Union's Capitol Confidential blog reports about another protest to raise the state minimum wage, Tue., May 29 at the capitol in Albany. Mike Kink, from 99 Percent NY, spoke to protesters aligned with Occupy Albany, Citizen Action, other groups, or representing themselves. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

New York is one of 19 states now permitted flexibility from key provisions of the No Child Left Behind legislation by the federal government. The announcement was made by U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan during an event held in Hartford, Conn., Tues., May 29. In exchange, New York must implement college and career readiness standards and a fair, transparent and rigorous teacher evaluation system. Duncan explained states with waivers are permitted greater flexibility with federal funds and "relief from NCLB's one-size-fits-all" mandates, as a way to encourage the development of local solutions to community-specific challenges. "The waiver lets New York move away from NCLB requirements that were unproductive or unrealistic," said Dr. John B. King Jr., New York Commissioner of Education in a statement released Tuesday. "We're making a new set of promises to our students. Now we have to live up to those promises." NCLB, or the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was due for renewal in 2007, and although lawmakers agree changes are needed, a consensus has not been reached on specifics. Waivers are intended as a temporary fix at the state level until the law is reauthorized by Congress.