[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.

The National Weather Service in Albany issued a Tornado Watch for Greene, Columbia, Rensselear, Schoharie, and Albany counties through 9 p.m. this evening. There is also a Hazardous Weather Outlook and a Special Weather Statement for the entire WGXC listening area, including Dutchess, Ulster, and Delaware counties, and Western Mass., through 9 p.m., warning of the possibility of high winds, heavy rain, and hail. At 1:40 p.m., a storm the NWS said is capable of producing a tornado was spotted 10 miles northeast of Warrensburg, more than an hour north of the WGXC listening area. See the NWS website.

Susan Campriello reports in The Daily Mail on the change in leadership of the Cairo-Durham Central School District. Interim superintendent Gregg Sanik took over the reigns of the 1,400-student district May 14, from Sally Sharkey. Sharkey was appointed to the district's top spot in 2005, and the Board of Education opted to not renew her contract last year. Sanik told the paper the coming school year will be one of change, and that he intends to help the school community focus on common priorities while it works to cut costs and maintain the quality of its programs. As for what he's observed so far he said, “I’ve been overly impressed by what’s going on in these buildings.” Sanik signed on as interim superintendent through the end of the 2012-13 school year. He will be paid $550 per day and receive no benefits. Sanik, 59, recently retired after 32 years with the Stamford Central School District in Delaware County. Capital Region BOCES will begin the search for Sharkey's permanent successor after the board reorganization in July. The next Cairo-Durham school board meeting, scheduled for May 31, has been canceled. The board meets next at 7 p.m. June 7, in the MS cafeteria. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Nathan Mayberg writes in the Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors is expected to ink a five-year contract with the Vermont contractor, Casella Recycling LLC next month. Casella will collect a broader range of recyclable materials and provide the county with a greater revenue sharing percentage on the sale of the waste. The company will also lower the county's per tonnage cost from $30 per ton to $22 per ton. County recycling policy can now include most plastics, as well as grocery bags, straws, shrink wrap, yogurt containers, cups, and ketchup bottles. In a separate decision, the county will now levy a charge of $25 per ton for all yard waste brought to the Greenport transfer station, and a minimum charge of $2 for non-weighable yard waste. The disposal of yard waste was previously free. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Julia Reischel reports in the Watershed Post recreational boats are now allowed on the Pepacton, the Schoharie and the Neversink reservoirs. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which runs the reservoirs, held three separate opening ceremonies at the three city-owned lakes in the Catskills. Before this week, only metal rowboats were allowed and boaters were required to have proper fishing licenses. The new rules open the waters to canoes, kayaks, sculls and small sailboats. Reischel writes "the most glorious waterscapes of the Catskills have been off-limits for generations." The region is the home to most of New York City's drinking water supply, which is stored in six man-made reservoirs built during the last century. To build the reservoirs, entire towns were wiped off the map, their residents relocated and their streets flooded. To learn more about where to get a boat, where to launch and how to comply with DEP rules and regulations go to the department's Web site. Read the full story online at the Watershed Post.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 86F; low 64F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 88F; low 68F."][/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 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. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Partly sunny, high near 85; low around 65.

The forecast for the next three days:

Wednesday: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, high near 83; low around 55.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 72; low around 47.
Friday: Mostly sunny, high near 75; low around 55.

Sunrise today: 5:23 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:24 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs., 1 min.

Town meetings
Today is the fifth Tuesday of the month.

No meetings scheduled.

Stories in Columbia and Greene counties that made the news, May 24 through May 27.

Barbara Reina reported in the Register Star Assemblyman Peter Lopez announced his plan to seek re-election, Fri., May 25. The announcement was made at the Hydroelectric Station in Stuyvesant Falls. The Schoharie Republican is seeking to represent the newly formed 102nd District, comprised of all of Greene and Schoharie counties, parts of Albany, Delaware and Otsego counties, the towns of Stuyvesant and Stockport in Columbia County, plus the town of Saugerties in Ulster County, according to Reina. Among Lopez's priorities: Tax relief for families; support of farms and small businesses, job growth, ending unfunded mandates and promoting quality public education. Read the full story in the Register Star. W.T. Eckert reported in The Daily Mail, Lopez and fellow Republican Assemblyman George Amedore were endorsed by the Greene County GOP at its unofficial convention, Thurs., May 24. Amedore, of Rotterdam, is hoping to win a seat in the state Senate representing the newly drawn 46th district, which encompasses Greene County and part of Ulster County. Read the full story in the Daily Mail.

Nathan Mayberg reported in the Register Star the building located at 25 Railroad Ave. in Hudson has received a clean bill of health. A report issued by the environmental consulting firm Nelson, Pope & Voorhis, commissioned by the United Public Service Employees Union, found the site contains "no immediate or existing threat to human health.” Earlier this month, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the building, which houses the Department of Social Services, at the cost of nearly $1.3 million. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail the Haines Falls Free Library was recently awarded $55,747 in construction funds from a major New York state grant program. The funds will be used to renovate the former Marion Center, to be known as the Mountaintop Library, in Tannersville. Haines Falls was one of 192 public libraries chosen statewide. Haines Falls is part of the Mid-Hudson Library System. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

W.T. Eckert reported in The Daily Mail the Dragon Garden restaurant of West Coxsackie is facing charges of poaching fish from the Hudson River after a raid by the state Department of Environmental Conservation last week. Following a weeklong investigation, DEC Police charged and ticketed Dragon Garden's owner with illegal possession of untagged striped bass in a restaurant and illegal commercialization. More than 40 pounds of a variety of fish allegedly taken from Hudson River and Coxsackie Reservoir were found on the premises. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

John Mason writes in the Register Star Dr. Neil Howard Jr. was recently named Taconic Hills Central School District superintendent. Howard has served as principal of Taconic Hills Middle School since 2008. He will succeed Mark Sposato as superintendent, effective in September. Howard is a resident of Churchtown and the son of retired Hudson City superintendent Neil Howard Sr. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Trevor Alford reports in the Register Star the Chatham Central School District Board of Education is now accepting letters from individuals interested in filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Francis Iaconetti in April. A candidate must be a resident of the district, be at least 18 years of age and be able to read and write. Letters will be accepted at the district central office through the close of business, June 14. Interviews will be held during an open meeting, June 26. The successful candidate will be chosen that night and serve for one year. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Finally, John Mason reported in the Register Star the Germantown Central School District Board of Education agreed to amend its 2012-13 budget proposal and reduce the proposed tax levy increase to 1.75 percent, well within the limits of the state mandated property tax cap. Voters will return to the polls June 19 for a second vote, following the defeat of the board's first spending plan, May 15. Germantown was one of 24 budgets defeated statewide, according to the New York State United Teachers. The appropriations and expenditures details of the new budget are forthcoming, as the result of a number of staffing adjustments made by the board this week, Mason writes. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 88F; low 68F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 90F; low 70F."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

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 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. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Areas of fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, partly sunny and high near 88; low around 67.

The forecast for the next three days:

Tuesday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, high near 85; low around 63.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, high near 81;  low around 54.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 74; low around 49.


Sunrise today: 5:23 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:23 p.m.
Length of the day: 15 hrs.,

Town meetings

Memorial Day observed
All nonessential federal, state, county and local municipalities are closed. Post offices, banks and school districts are also closed today.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="Mark Haven's "Rest Stop." From Davis Orton Gallery website."][/caption]Mark Haven and Remi Thornton's photography shows went up last weekend at the Davis Orton Gallery on Warren St. in Hudson, and are on view until June 24. Haven was a guest on "BlindSpot Radio" on WGXC with host David La Spina, and explained about his past, and this new show. The Davis Orton Gallery is at 114 Warren St. in Hudson. More information is available at 518-697-0266.

Click here to hear excerpt for David La Spina's interview with photographer Mark Haven:
PLAY CLIP

Entire episode, with full interview:
http://www.wgxc.org/archives/4394

Melanie Lekocevic writes in The Daily Mail river ferry service between Columbia and Greene counties will be re-established this summer. After decades without the availability of direct transport across the Hudson, Captain Guy Falkenheimer recently told the Athens Village Board the Hudson-Athens ferry is expected to begin full operations in June. The “Little Spirit,” an 18-passenger, 33-foot twin engine vessel, will run from Riverfront Park in Athens to Hudson and back every Friday and Saturday, through the end of August, and perhaps into the fall. The schedule may be expanded to Sunday, as well, depending on demand. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

A garden party fundraiser Sat. May 19, at the home of Jim Zarroli and Bart Ziegler, raised over $4,000 to build a park next to Hillsdale’s Town Hall. “This puts us a major step on the way toward building the new Town Hall Park. Thanks to everyone who attended,” said Lynda Brenner, chair of Hillsdale Gardeners, the local group behind the park initiative. The event was held at the home and gardens of Jim Zarroli and Bart Ziegler, who writes the Weekend Gardener column for The Wall Street Journal website. The group plans bluestone paving, benches, and a central obelisk, surrounded by shrubs and other plantings for the park, near the new Hillsdale General Store and CrossRoads Food Shop. In other Hillsdale news, the town's annual Memorial Day weekend flea market is Sat. May 26 at Roe Jan Park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, Thula Sizwe (“Hush and Listen” in Zula) perform on Sunday, May 27 at 7 p.m. in the Roe Jan Park Hilltop Barn.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 79F; low 63F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 79F; low 63F."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

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 10 a.m. A slight chance of showers between noon and 2 p.m, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p,m. High near 77; low around 62.

The weekend forecast:
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 81; low around 62.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, High near 85; low around 60.
Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. High near 79; low around 64.
Monday (Memorial Day): A chance of showers and thunderstorms, but mostly sunny. High near 89; low around 67.

Sunrise today: 5:26 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:19 p.m.
Length of the day: 14 hrs., 53 min.

Town meetings
This is the fourth Thursday of the month
(WGXC 90.7-FM suggests you call ahead to confirm meeting time and location.)

CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Budget/Salary Committee at 10:00 a.m.
Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

WGXC programming note

Tune in 7 p..m, tonight, for the Jazz Disturbance. Cheryl K's guest will be Al Guart, proprietor of the Catskill Mountain Lodge in Palenville. The lodge hosts live acoustic jazz Friday and Saturday nights. Performances by local artists have included bassists Frank Luther, Michael Bitz, and Malcolm Cecil, pianists Paul Duffy and John Esposito, guitarists Bobby Faris and Rick Stone, drummers Jody Sumber and Peter O'Brien, vocalist Vinnie Knight and Guart himself on saxophone.

Tom Casey reports in the Register Star unemployment is down in Columbia and Greene counties for the second month in a row, according to the state Department of Labor. Data released by the department Tues., May 22, indicate the number of unemployed in Columbia County decreased from 2,300 to 2,200 in April, an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent. The rate in Greene County dropped .2 percent, to 9.4 percent, between March and April. Although Greene County saw a decrease in its jobless numbers, the rate is still higher than its April 2011 rate of 8.6 percent. The county's current rate exceeds both the state (8.7 percent) and national (7.4 percent) rates of unemployment. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Lissa Harris and Julie Reischel report in the Watershed Post the rebuilding of Margaretville continues, nearly nine months after the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Irene in August 2011. Freshtown, the town's grocery store, will reopen Wednesday morning, according to employees, and the Freshtown deli will re-open later in the week. The Cheese Barrel, a cafe and gourmet grocer located on Main Street re-opened in its original space, now fully renovated with hardwood floors and a new layout, on Sat., May 19. Store owner Sue Ihlo moved the cafe across the street following the storm, and operated from that location since last fall. Read about Margaretville's storm recovery in the Watershed Post.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="A Civil War Square grand piano, part of the Plashakov collection. Photo from Catskill Mountain Foundation website."][/caption]

On Tue., May 22, 2012, the Greene County Council on the Arts held an award ceremony, honoring recipients of the Decentralization Program. The Pleshakov Piano Museum was one of the recipients, and, next door to the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter Artistic Director Kenneth Hamrick took attendees on a tour of the Pleshakov Piano Museum. The Pleshakov Piano Museum is located at 7971 Route 23A (Main Street), in Hunter, NY. Starting June 2, operating hours, including tours, are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 12 to 4 p.m. Tours are at 1 and 3 p.m. For more information, call (518) 263-2036 or visit www.pleshakov.com

Click here to hear a short report about the presentation, and an excerpt of Hamrick's presentation.
PLAY CLIP 2:26

Click here to hear Kenneth Hamrick's complete presentation.
PLAY CLIP 20:38



Complete list of Greene County grant recipients. Greene County received requests totaling $42,327 – twice the amount of available funding. Fifteen applicants received $20,000 for Project Support. They are:
• Athens Cultural Arts Center for a summer sculpture festival & decorative arts exhibition.
• Athens Cultural Arts Center and Lisa Thomas for an Animation Film Festival with guest artists.
• Cairo Public Library for multi-disciplinary arts programs.
• Catskill Community Center and Matt Bua for a sculptural fence for the Catskill Community Garden.
• Catskill Community Center and Dina Bursztyn for ceramic workshops for children, teens, and adults.
• Community of Windham Foundation & John Quinn for production of a one-act play “Dear Amelia” to be presented at the Civil War Weekend in Windham.
• D.R. Evarts Library for Vision, Voice and Hands multi-arts programs.
• Heart of Catskill & David Woodin for classical music concert by Catskill Community Orchestra;
• Love ‘N Care Pet Sanctuary & Margo Muller for “Water, Water Everywhere!,” a children’s theater project about the power of water from the ice industry to Hurricane Irene’s aftermath produced with support from the Zadock Pratt Museum, photographer Larry Gambon, and Prattsville community members.
• Mountain Top Historical Society and Elaine Warfield for swing dance lessons & live band performance in Tannersville.
• Oak Hill Preservation Association for presenters for Oak Hill Day.
• Schoharie Creek Players for production of Dancing at Lughnasa.
• Town of Hunter and Kevin VanHentenryck for outdoor stone carving class and demonstration on Route 23.
• Windham Public Library for arts activities.

Weather right now


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="128" caption="Cairo: High 79F; low 61F."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="Catskill: High 79F; low 63F."][/caption]

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

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 is expected to be warmer than yesterday. A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1p.m. Mostly cloudy; high near 78; low around 61.

The forecast for the next three days:
Thursday: Partly sunny. High near 77; low around 57.
Friday: Partly sunny. High near 81; low around 62.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, High near 85; low around 60.

Sunrise today: 5:27 a.m.
Sunset today: 8:18 p.m.
Length of the day: 14 hrs., 51 min.

Town meetings
This is the fourth Wednesday of the month
(WGXC 90.7-FM suggests you call ahead to confirm m eeting time and location.)

ATHENS Village meeting at 7 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CAIRO at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).*
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
HUDSON Department of Public Works Committee meeting at 6 p.m.; Legal Committee meeting starts at 6:45 p.m at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Historical Committee meeting at 7 p.m., Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).

School board meeting

GERMANTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Special meeting at 6 p.m., school cafetorium, 123 Main Street, Germantown (537-6281).

 

Questions have arisen over the process followed by Columbia County Treasurer PJ Keeler to move millions of dollars in county funds from Bank of America to the Bank of Greene County last month, according to Nathan Mayberg, writing for the Register Star. By the time the Board of Supervisors authorized the new county bank account, as required by law, Mayberg writes, that new account was already established and contained at least $14 million of the $50 million marked for transfer. Spokesmen for the New York State Comptroller’s Office confirmed the board must designate the banking institutions used as depositories for county funds, as received by the treasurer. The first deposit was made March 2; Keeler initially sought approval for the new account from the board Finance Committee a full month later, on April 3. The Bank of Greene County was approved as a new depository by the full board, April 11. Keeler told the paper the process of informing the BOS of the intention to open a new bank account, was “just a formality that has to be done on an annual basis.” The county expects to save $70,000 to $100,000 annually with the Bank of Greene County. The Columbia County Treasurer is an elected position. Keeler began his first term in January. Read the full story in the Register Star.