John Mason writes in the Register Star Alderman Larissa Parks, D-Hudson1, has resigned. Parks notified city officials of her decision by email Mon., Mar. 12, after serving the residents of Hudson's First Ward slightly more than two months. Parks was elected in Nov. 2011, and took the seat in January. Common Council President Don Moore announced the resignation at the informal meeting of the full council, Monday. The council must now appoint an interim replacement "in not less than 10 and not more than 20 days" to serve out the year, Mason writes. An election will be held in November to select an individual to complete the remainder of Parks' two-year term. The council will meet 7 p.m., Thurs., Mar. 22 to "entertain expressions of interest in the position," Moore said. Two candidates have come forward -- former First Ward Alderman Geeta Cheddie and former mayoral candidate Nick Haddad. If the council fails to agree on a candidate within 20 days, the task of filling the seat falls to Mayor William Hallenbeck. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Tom Casey reports in the Register Star plans are underway for the second annual Bangladeshi Festival, Sept. 2, and organizers have now secured financial support from the city of Hudson. “People had a good time and they’re asking to do more this year,” said Hosneara Kader, one of the event’s organizers. Kader and Muhammed Rony estimated a total budget of $6,500 for the event. The Hudson Common Council Arts, Entertainment and Tourism Committee recently agreed to contribute $1,500 to underwrite the cost of the sound system, entertainment and marketing for the cultural festival. This year's event will be "more polished and prepared" than last, Casey writes. “It’s not really an event just for the Bangladeshi community,” Rony said. “We want it to be an event to showcase the Bangladeshi community.” Read the full story in the Register Star.

Patricia Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman the former head of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency, Alexander "Sandy" Mathes, has been hired by the Ulster County Legislature to fill the part-time post of deputy clerk of finance, effective March 5. Mathes was named head of the county IDA in 2002. Despite a tenure marked by economic success, he left in 2011 amid criticism over his salary and bonus structure. Among those successes, Doxsey writes, was the attraction of Empire Merchants North (formerly Colony Liquor and Wine Distributors) to a Greene County Empire Development Zone from a site in Kingston. Mathes remained on the Greene County payroll through last month, continuing to draw a weekly salary of approximately $2,500. “We’re just tremendously lucky to have this guy,” said Ulster County Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

The Columbia Paper reports Stewart's Shops has donated its vacant storefront located at 116 Main Street in Philmont, to Philmont Beautification, Inc., a community development organization. Stewart's vacated the 2,100-sq-ft. building on a 1.1 acre site in December 2010, at the same time it opened a new store in Chatham. "The donation has provided a head start for renovating the building and site and taking the next steps of Main St. development in Philmont. Discussions are on-going with the Philmont Market and Café Cooperative to determine how renovations for the building can meet the needs of the start-up cooperative," Philmont Beautification Executive Director Sally Baker said. Stewart's Shops is an employee- and family-owned business based in Saratoga Springs. It operates seven stories in Columbia County, as part of a network of 328 stores throughout upstate New York and southern Vermont. Read the full story in the Columbia Paper.

John Mason reports in the Register Star the Bingham Mills Road Bridge will not be replaced any time soon, according to Columbia County Engineering Director Dean Knox. The bridge was the focus of a recent Clermont Town Board meeting. The single lane bridge crosses the Roeliff Jansen Kill where Bingham Mills Road meets Mill Road on the Clermont/Livingston border. The span was closed in mid-July after it was red-flagged by the state Department of Transportation. The bridge carries 400 cars a day, Knox said. As a result of the bridge closure, Bingham Mills Road and Mill Road now dead-end. In a report released in January, Ryan-Biggs Associates estimated the cost of bridge repairs at $560,000 to $670,000. Knox said the bridge's ultimate fate will be determined by the county Board of Supervisors. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Lisa D. Connell writes in the Chatham Courier the Chatham Central School District is forecasting a $1.46 million budget increase for the 2012-13 school year. District Business Administrator Chuck Snyder presented the proposed spending plan to the public in a recent Board of Education meeting, outlining a variety of spending increases. The district has "no control" over growing retirement contributions and health insurance premiums, Snyder said. The total cost of benefits, which includes the retirement funds, social security and workers compensation, Connell reports, is $7.76 million next year, an increase of 13.46 percent. Instructional salaries, hardware, instructional software and BOCES services are expected to increase 13.06 percent. Snyder said the district reduced costs through refinancing some of its debt to take advantage of lower interest rates. A public hearing on the budget will be held May 8. Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.

Michael Gormley of the Associated Press reports the New York Senate and Assembly will try to shift $200 million from Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed school incentive program back to the traditional school aid stream when budget resolutions are released Monday. Cuomo proposed setting aside $250 million for competitive grants in his 2012-13 budget. Under his plan, the grants would go to schools that showed improved instruction or innovation. Majority Leader Dean Skelos said the Senate will recommend $200 million of that amount go to traditional aid, instead, to be disbursed as usual to the 700 school districts statewide. According to sources, the Assembly Democrats may make the same recommendation. Cuomo had no immediate comment. A budget agreement is due by April 1, but lawmakers believe the spending plan can be approved "around March 21," Gormley writes. Read the full Associated Press story online.

Nathan Mayberg reports in the Register Star that Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan, R-Kinderhook, and County Attorney Robert Fitzsimmons have announced their intention to negotiate the purchase of 25 Railroad Ave. from its owner, Tony Concra. Grattan said an environmental study recently confirmed the property, which includes a closed landfill, is environmentally sound. The county has leased the building to house the Department of Social Services at the cost of $425,000 a year for the past 20 years. The 40,000-square-foot structure is assessed at $2,056,000. The decision over where to locate DSS has plagued county leadership for several years, beginning with the decision in 2008 to purchase the former Ockawamick School for $1.5 million, based on a plan to move DSS, along with other essential services, six miles outside the county seat of Hudson. More recently, the county lost $120,000 on the option it placed to buy the former Walmart property located on Fairview Ave. in Greenport. Hudson Mayor (and former Third Ward Supervisor) William Hallenbeck applauded Grattan's announcement, Wed., Feb. 7. "It is a wise decision," he said. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Nathan Mayberg reports in Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors is no longer considering a five-acre farm in Livingston and a seven-unit apartment building on upper Warren St. in Hudson as potential sites for transitional or homeless housing. A representative of Poughkeepsie-based non-profit Maranatha Human Services shared that organization's vision for a facility with 13 dormitory-style rooms for individuals, and seven rooms to shelter families at a meeting of the board's Human Services Committee, Wed., Mar. 7. Under its proposal, Maranatha would house and provide services and maintain 24-hour staffing, including a nurse to handle medications. The non-profit would provide transportation and counseling, as well. Maranatha does not have a specific location for the facility in mind; it is estimated the shelter could be fully operational in three to five years. Department of Social Services Commissioner Paul Mossman said Maranatha is the most comprehensive provider the county will find. At the close of the special meeting, the committee instructed Mossman to reach out to other organizations for additional proposals, including Catholic Charities. Columbia County expects to spend $490,000 to house the homeless at motels this year. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Melanie Lekocevic writes in The Daily Mail the Village of Athens is in the final steps of adopting a new zoning code. A public hearing on the matter was recently held and attracted 20 residents and business owners. Mayor Andrea Smallwood said the changes were made in an effort to bring the zoning laws in line with the village's comprehensive plan, adopted a couple of years ago. “Our main goal is to make sure development is controlled in a way that the comprehensive plan indicates was what the public wanted to see for the future of Athens,” Smallwood said. A major change is the decision to concentrate businesses on Second St. Attendees discussed how the law should support the historic district and new energy alternatives. Officials promised to take the public comments into consideration before the final document is approved by the village board. The code was already reviewed and approved by the count, Lekocevic writes. Residents have until Fri., Mar. 9 to submit their comments in writing. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Nathan May reports in the Register Star the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee approved a resolution Tues., Mar. 6, moving forward a $12 million bonding proposal needed to fund the court-ordered renovation of the Columbia County Courthouse. The full Board of Supervisors will vote on the resolution, Wed., Mar. 14. The county estimates the project will cost up to $10 million to bring the historic early 20th-century building into compliance with the federal American with Disabilities Act. The project includes new elevators, ramps, bathrooms and aid for the hearing impaired. Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan, R-Kinderhook, said after a decade of work, 90 percent of the plans are complete and approved by the New York State Office of Court Administration. The board expects to use $2 million to "pay itself back" for a new security system at the county jail, for capital improvements at Columbia-Greene Community College and a new software program for the county’s financial administration. If approved by the full board, $6.2 million will be bonded in 2012, and $5.8 million in 2013. Read the full story in the Register Star.

In the Register Star, John Mason profiles the three candidates running in the upcoming Philmont village election. Two incumbents hoping to retain their seats will be challenged by a political newcomer, Mason writes. Trustee Brian Johnson is seeking his seventh two-year term. Johnson is a self-employed carpenter, born and raised in the village. Johnson said the board was productive during the last seven or eight years and successfully "kept taxes down." Barbara Sagal has served on the Village Board for 10 years. A self-described "stay-at-home wife and mother," Sagal has been a village for 28 years. Like Johnson, Sagal said one of the current board's major accomplishments is the upgrade of the Department of Public Works building. The work, Sagal said, is “sorely needed.” She also cited the projected decrease in the tax rate this year, and attributed it to “careful fiscal planning.” Matt Perry, a Web site developer and Philmont native, returned from California seven years go. Perry said he wants to improve Philmont's business climate and make the village a self-sufficient community. He has served as a library board trustee since 2006, and has been its president since 2008. The polls will be open noon to 9 p.m. on March 20. Read the full story in the Register Star.

Weather right now

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.
The National Weather Service predicts Catskill will be sunny, with a high near 57 and an overnight low around 37 Tuesday night. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Thursday night a 50 percent chance of showers, with a low around 41.
• Friday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 47, low around 26.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 44, low around 24.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Town meetings today
Today is the first Wednesday of the month.
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).
KINDERHOOK The Town Board holds a special meeting to meet with the members of the Valatie Rescue Squad. 7 p.m. at Kinderhook Town Hall.
LIVINGSTON Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:21 a.m. / 5:54 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 5:29 p.m. / 5:29 a.m.

Last night's big games
Scores
NBA: New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. (TV: MSG)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Wed. March 7:
• "@ Issue," 10 a.m.: Tom Swope, executive director of the GalVan Initiatives Foundation; David Marston, First Ward alderman; and Carole Osterink, the writer of The Gossips of Rivertown blog discuss the GalVan Foundation.
• "The Old Soul Radio Show," 7-9 p.m.: Kenny Siegal from Old Soul recording studio in Catskill plays music recorded there.

Rosie Cunningham reports in The Mountain Eagle four candidates will vie for two open trustee seats on the Hobart Village Board in the Mar. 20 special election. Two incumbent trustees -- David Hotaling and recently appointed Jim Quarino -- will be challenged by Evelyn Kuhn and Gordie Key. Elections will be 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Hobart Community Center. In other news, Cunningham writes, Hobart Mayor Aaron Kaufman pronounced the ongoing water plant pump issues "...a disaster." Two of three pumps at the water plant no longer work, 45 days after being installed. The manufacturers are in the process of manufacturing new pumps, Kaufman said. He said during the past three years, the village spent $40,000 on water pumps "...and no pumps work." Cast iron pumps with brass bearings and stainless steel pumps will be obtained by at no cost. The board also discussed the Maple Ave. Bridge, unpaid taxes, the issuance of the Covidien Sewer permit and the South Kortright sewer project. Read a full account of the meeting in the Mar. 1 edition of The Mountain Eagle.

 

[caption id="attachment_18420" align="alignright" width="270" caption="The newly redrawn Hudson Valley district"][/caption]

Jimmy Vielkind is reporting at the Times Union's Capital Confidential blog the federal magistrate now handling the congressional redistricting process issued a draft of district lines Tues., Mar. 6, earlier than expected. The proposal announced by U.S. Magistrate Roanne Mann bunkers the Capital Region between a Hudson Valley/Catskills district and an Adirondack district. The number of districts allotted to New York is shrinking from 29 to 27. The Hudson Valley district would include Columbia, Greene, Ulster, Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties, as well as parts of Montgomery and Dutchess counties. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, resides in the district, which currently snakes along the Hudson River around the Capital Region’s urbanized areas to Lake Placid. The Mann proposal absorbs much of what is now Rep. Maurice Hinchey’s district; Hinchey announced he will not seek re-election next time around. Gibson released a statement through a spokesperson, Tuesday. “Congressman Gibson remains focused on serving the constituents of the 20th Congressional District and working toward his three goals of growing the economy, restoring fiscal responsibility, and protecting freedoms. Certainly, we don’t want to lose any part of our current district, but recognize there may have to be some measure of change. However, the redistricting process is one that is beyond our control. Regardless of the ultimate outcome, the Congressman will continue to work to serve the interests of Upstate New Yorkers.” Read the full post and view the maps at Capitol Confidential.

Emilia Teasdale writes in The Columbia Paper about the plan to expand the Chatham Plaza on Route 66. The proposal put forward by plaza owner Hampshire Company calls for construction of an addition off the back of the existing structure. The largest store space in the plaza currently houses Price Chopper, but the supermarket company plans to leave its current space and build a new, larger store on an adjacent lot. During the village Planning Board public hearing Mon., Feb. 27, Hampshire's attorney and engineer answered questions and concerns about the project, specifically addressing the draining issues anticipated as a result of the 18,000-square-foot expansion. Price Chopper holds a lease on the space until 2019. The plan under consideration will shift the layout of stores in the plaza, moving LaGonia's Pizza and Café to the south end, and moving the supermarket to an enlarged space in the middle. The vacant storefront at the north end of the plaza will be eliminated. Read the  full story in the Mar. 1 edition of The Columbia Paper.

Melanie Lekocevic in The Daily Mail reports that Coxsackie is organizing a farmers market for this summer for Wednesday nights. While Greenville, New Baltimore, Hudson, and perhaps Catskill hold weekend markets, Coxsackie's will be 4:30-7 p.m. midweek. “We... thought a lot of people in this area don't travel to other markets on Saturday mornings, so we thought we could get them interested in a farmers market during the week,” said Melissa Scheriff from the Greene County Rural Health Network. Dan King from Rex Croft Farms is the first farmer signed up for the market. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Ariel Zangla reports in The Daily Freeman that incumbent Michael Tancredi is running unopposed for another three-year term as Tannersville village trustee. Tancredi, a registered Democrat, is running on the Independent Mountain Party line, for his sixth term at the March 20 election. He is a 59-year-old, self-employed landscaper who owns High Peak Landscapes. "Priorities for the village include completing the replacement of the park pavilion at Dolan’s Lake and renovating a building on Main Street to serve as a new firehouse, Tancredi said," according to Zangla's report. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

The Times Union's Paul Grondahl writes about the discovery of the world's oldest forest near the Gilboa Dam in Schoharie County. The fossilized forest, estimated to be 385 million years old, dates from a period marked by the early evolution of trees. Researchers at the New York State Museum were part of a team that made the discovery in the spring of 2010, after working a riverside quarry exposed when the dam was built in the 1920s. The site is located about one-quarter mile below the dam on Schoharie Creek. The forest flourished during the Middle Devonian period, predating the dinosaurs by 160 million years. The discovery included the identification of two new species of prehistoric trees. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Weather right now

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 Livingston, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts Livingston will be sunny, with a high near 37 on Tuesday. Tuesday night partly cloudy, with a low around 25. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57, low around 34.
• Thursday: A slight chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 64, low around 36.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48, low around 27.

Town meetings today
Today is the first Tuesday of the month.
CATSKILL Town Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CATSKILL Catskill Board of Education budget workshop, 7 p.m. in the Catskill High School Library.
COLUMBIA COUNTY The Board of Supervisors of Columbia County holds special meetings of the Health/Medical Services Committee at 4:30 p.m. and a Special Public Works Committee at 5:45 p.m., at County Office Building, 401 State St., Hudson.
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).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:22 a.m. / 5:52 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:17 p.m. / 4:57 a.m.

Last night's big games
Scores
NCAABB: Gonzaga 74 at St. Mary's 78.
Schedules
NBA: New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. March 6:
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos host the "WGXC Afternoon Show" from Hudson, in English and Spanish.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.
The information below are options of pre-recorded material hosts can choose to play.

Audio clips to play

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A OFF PSA 20120309 free103_15anniv
• A OFF PSA 20120310 Coop. Ext. Forest Stewardship.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:02
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:02
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:02
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:55 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:02
• 4 p.m.: International Network News (INN), through Audioport
• 5 p.m.: Free Speech Radio News headlines, through fsrn.org
• Midnight: International Network News (INN), through Audioport