Prattsville's website has a large section of recently updated "progress reports" of the town's efforts to recover from the floods associated with Hurricane Irene last August. For instance, a Fri., Jan. 13 post explains the current plan to create senior housing in Prattsville:

"Senior Housing – Michael Weston talked about the need to investigate further the need for life stages housing in the region. The community has many senior residents who could benefit from a walkable community with services nearby that seniors may need. After some discussion it was agreed that a housing marketing survey be conducted to investigate the housing needs as well as the support systems that are available for seniors. The marketing study should include housing needs for the special needs populations as well. Michael Welti suggested that Margaret Irwin would be willing to conduct such a marketing survey. Stephen Baker discussed that they are ready to organize a 12 senior housing project."

New York Governor's budget proposal address at The Egg in Albany at 2 p.m., Tue., Jan. 17 was streamed live (see video below) on the WGXC Newsroom through http://www.governor.ny.gov/. Funding for towns in Greene and Columbia counties remain flat in the governor's proposal. See chart below. While the funding for each local town remains the same, Cuomo does propose some mandate relief and taking some Medicare costs away from the towns. “Governor Cuomo has put in his Executive Budget strong measures to relieve local governments of burdensome mandates," Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said in a press release quoted in the Albany Times-Union. "His changes to the Medicaid program and pension reform promise real, long-lasting relief for property taxpayers. Our state will benefit from the Governor’s leadership on mandate relief, and I commend him for putting forward a plan that puts the people first and makes the right decisions to get our state back on the right track.” Listen a a :30 clip of Gov. Cuomo introducing the budget here. PLAY CLIP
Aid for Municipalities

The ProPublica website reports that New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are in favor of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) H.R. 3261 (the Senate version is called Protect IP Act or PIPA). The bill would allow U.S. law enforcement and copyright holders far more latitude to fight online intellectual property theft. WGXC has sent a message to Rep. Chris Gibson's press representative to find out the Kinderhook Republican's position, which we will then report. Opponents of the bill, who believe eliminates due process and will slow free ideas and commerce, plan to shut down their websites on Wed., Jan. 18, to protest the proposal. Wikipedia announced Mon., Jan. 17 that is was joining the blackout, which also includes Reddit and Boing Boing, while Google and Ebay are also coming out against the bill. On Sunday, Senate leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on "Meet the Press" that he plans to bring the online piracy legislation to a vote next week.

Weather right now

READ TEMPERATURE IN HUDSON: On thermometer in studio.
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 Leeds, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts for Wednesday in Leeds a slight chance of snow showers between 7 a.m. and noon. Mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 25 by 5 p.m. Windy, with a northwest wind between 23 and 29 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Overnight low around 12. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Thursday: A slight chance of snow showers after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 28, a low around 16.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26, low around 16.
• Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Wednesday of the month.
ALBANY The DEC is considering changes rules regulating diesel fuel emissions, sludge incineration, and lead in the air. DEC holds public hearing on proposed amendments to air quality at 2 p.m. in the DEC’s Public Assembly Room 129A, at 625 Broadway in Albany.
CATSKILL at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Human Services meeting at 4 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
GHENT Planning Board session at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Legislature meeting at 6:30 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals holds a Public Hearing to accept and consider public comment on an application submitted by Edward Tuck seeking side and rear yard variances to build a two story porch on an existing structure located at 36 North 3rd Street, Hudson; and an application submitted by Leo Carlin seeking a side yard variance to build a two story addition to an existing structure located at 446 East Allen Street, Hudson. Regular Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
TACONIC Taconic BOE Meeting held in meeting room at Taconic High at 7 p.m. at Taconic Hills High School, 73 County Rt. 11A, Craryville. 518-325-0390

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:20 a.m./ 4:54 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:46 p.m. / 8:30 a.m.

Last night/Today's big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Miami Heat 120, San Antonio Spurs 98; Lebron James 33 points.
NHL: Nashville Predators 0 at New York Rangers 3
Schedules
NBA: Golden State Warriors at New Jersey Nets, 7:30 p.m. (TV: YES)
NBA: Phoenix at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. (TV: MSG)

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Wed. Jan. 18:
• "Catskill Review of Books," 3 p.m.: Author Phillip Freeman discusses his book "Oh My Gods," about Greek myths, with host Ian Williams from WJFF in Jeffersonville, NY.

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_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 9:15 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:00
• 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

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for the entire region from 10:29 p.m., Tue., Jan. 17 through 3 p.m., Wed., Jan. 18. Winds from 20 to 35 mph are expected, with gusts up to 55 mph.

A contributor to Jim Romenesko's media blog suggests that The Watershed Post, the Catskills new blog, might be up for a Pulitzer Prize this year for its coverage of the floods surrounding Hurricane Irene in late August. From the blog: “The Watershed Post here in New York did fantastic coverage and offered an amazing liveblog during Hurricane Irene and the flooding in the Catskills.” Read Jim Romensko.com here.

Glenn Blain The NY Daily News reports that Education Secretary Arne Duncan warned New York that the state could lose close to $1 billion in federal school funding if it makes no progress on a system to grade teachers, a higher figure than previously reported ($300 million more). The money includes $700 million in federal Race to the Top money. Now the feds have tacked on $100 million in School Improvement Grants and nearly $200 million in teacher incentive funds. According to the Daily News, Albany is also piling on as Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatens to link state school funds to the adoption of new teacher evaluations. The battle pits the Governor against the teachers unions and Democrats in the State Assembly. Cuomo accused the Assembly of protecting the teachers union at the expense of the students, when they adopted a 2010 law. The law makes it possible for each school district and teachers union to negotiate new teacher evaluations. Negotiations with the United Federation of Teachers broke down in December. The 2012 state budget currently calls for a 4% boost in total school aid. Read the full story in The NY Daily News.

Tom Casey in The Daily Mail reports that police believe they've identified an apparent suicide victim whose body was pulled from the Hudson river after he jumped from the Rip Van Winkle Bridge last Wednesday, according to Tom Casey of The Daily Mail. But authorities have not yet released the name to the general public. Police discovered a man’s body Thursday afternoon after a long search of the River. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Weather right now
Hosts: Please announce the current temperature in Hudson, which is in Studio A in Hudson. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air. The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; the two others are Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.

Please credit the above temperatures: From the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; and from Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.
On the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page, when the computer at Hawthorne Valley is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information live from Harlemville. Check dates and times at bottom of image to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was last turned off. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Livingston, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service predicts for Tuesday in Livingston there will be freezing rain, possibly mixed with sleet before 8 a.m., then rain with a high near 41. Tuesday night there will be rain and snow showers before 4 a.m., gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West wind gusts as high as 31 mph. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: A slight chance of snow showers between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.
• Thursday: A slight chance of snow showers after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 29, a low around 14.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Tuesday of the month.
ALBANY Gov. Andrew Cuomo gives 2012-13 Budget Proposal at 2 p.m. at Hart Theatre, Egg Center for Performing Arts, Albany.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Health and Medical Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. at 401 State St. in Hudson.
DURHAM Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
GREENE COUNTY Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection co-sponsor "In the Wake of Irene" as the annual Schoharie Creek watershed conference this January. The day’s program covers all sorts of water and stream issues in the Catskills. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Hunter Elementary, 7794 Main St., Hunter.
HILLSDALE Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street (325-5073).
HUDSON 5 p.m. Finance Committee meeting; 7 p.m. Regular Common Council meeting at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville (589-6150).
LEXINGTON Town board meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal Building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
TAGHKANIC Planning Board workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall on Route 82 in West Taghkanic (851-7638).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:18 a.m./ 4:54 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:34 a.m. / 11:47 a.m.

Today's big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NBA: Orlando Magic 102 at New York Knicks 93
NBA: New Jersey Nets 91 at Los Angeles Clippers 101
Schedules
NHL: Nashville Predators at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. Jan. 17:
• "Vocal Chords," Noon-2 p.m.: Andrew Sosnowski host two hours of vocal music.

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_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 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

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory throughout the region from 10 p.m. until 10 a.m. Tuesday. Snow, freezing rain, sleet, rain, and ice are expected. The storm should turn to all rain after 10 a.m. Tuesday.

In honor of the holiday commemorating King's birthday, Time.com presents a gallery of photographs by famed civil rights movement photographer Flip Schulke, accompanied by King's own words on nonviolence, race and his dream for the future of America. Click here for Time.com's MLK Jr. photo gallery.

Folks in Catskill held the 10th annual Candlelight March for Peace and Justice down Main Street Saturday evening, according Rob LeDonne in The Daily Mail. New York Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R-Schoharie), Superintendent of Catskill Schools Dr. Kathleen P. Farrell, the Rev. Richard Turpin of Second Baptist Church, Mr. Albert Gasparini of the Catskill Ecumenical Council of Churches, and the Rev. Vicky Eastland of the First Reformed Church were among the speakers, and Catskill High School’s Treblaires sang three songs. On Monday, Jan. 16 at 10 a.m., the 17th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March for Social and Economic Justice begins at the Smith Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 124 Smith St. in Poughkeepsie.

Andrea Macko in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) reports that three students in Greenville High School's paid internship program with Ulster County's C2 Biotechnologies discovered a polymer, "with the potential to produce biodegradable plastic." Local officials, such as State Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R/C/I-Schoharie), and Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook), were at the high school Wed., Jan. 11 to tout the program. "We went through real-world biotechnical experiments," says Travis Chicocki, one of the three students. "Activities were actually relevant to the real world." Read the full story in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer.

Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that New York schools are in for significant changes to the annual state assessment tests. There will more questions on both the English Language Arts (ELA) and the math tests and more time will be set aside for them. The tests will now be administered over a three-day period and the districts are now mandated to set aside nintey minutes for each session. The new tests also feature "field test" questions that don’t count, and are only there to help the state get a better feel for designing future tests. The ELA tests will also be scored differently. Writing mechanics such as spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and usage, will now count, though specific details of how much they will factor in to scores will be in a forthcoming document from the State's Education Dept. Read about new school assessment tests in The Daily Mail. The ELA tests will be given from April 17-19, and the math ones from April 25-27. The changes are bound to play into an ongoing debate about how much time students and schools devote to standardized assessment tests. Read the Gotham Schools blog on testing for more information on the issue.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) holds public hearings next week on proposed amendments to air quality, including a 2 p.m. Wednesday meeting in the DEC's Public Assembly Room 129A, at 625 Broadway in Albany. The DEC is considering changes rules regulating diesel fuel emissions, sludge incineration, and lead in the air. Read the WGXC Newsroom for the full press release from the DEC.

DEC proposes to amend Part 248, Use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel and Best Available Retrofit Technology for Heavy Duty Vehicles. These amendments will continue to implement the Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2006 (DERA) and conform Part 248 to the recent ECL Section 19-0323 changes. The amended regulation will continue to generally mitigate a potential threat to the health and well being of New Yorkers posed by diesel exhaust emissions by providing emissions reductions.

DEC also proposes to amend Part 219, Incinerators, to adopt a new Subpart 219-9, which would apply statewide to existing sewage sludge incineration (SSI) units constructed on or before October 14, 2010. Part 219 will also be amended to include new regulatory limits for nine air pollutants, an opacity limit, requirements for performance testing, operator training, recordkeeping and reporting and compliance monitoring. DEC is undertaking this rulemaking to comply with federal requirements pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA) and federal SSI guidelines. Part 200, general provisions, will also be amended to incorporate the federal requirements.

DEC is also proposing an infrastructure assessment as a SIP revision for the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead, as required under the CAA. Pursuant to the CAA, states are required to submit infrastructure demonstrations to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), showing that their air programs address basic SIP requirements related to the attainment of a new or revised NAAQS.

The hearings for the proposed amendments and SIP revisions will be held as follows:

* Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: NYSDEC Annex, Region 2, 11-15 47th Ave., Hearing Room 106, Long Island City, NY 11101

* Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Public Assembly Room 129A, Albany, NY 12233

* Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012

Time: 2:00 p.m.

Location: NYSDEC Region 8 Office Conference Room, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road (Rts. 5 and 20), Avon, NY 14414

Requests for information and comments related to Part 248 may be obtained from James Bologna, NYSDEC Division of Air Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3255, telephone: (518) 402-8292, or email: 248DERA@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Requests for information and comments related to Part 219 and Part 200 may be obtained from John Henkes, NYSDEC Division of Air Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3254, telephone: (518) 402-8403, or email: 219incin@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Requests for information and comments related to the proposed SIP revision may be obtained from Scott Griffin, NYSDEC Division of Air Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3251, telephone: (518) 402-8396, or email: airsips@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Written statements for the proposed regulatory amendments and SIP revisions may be submitted to DEC at the above addresses, until 5 p.m., January 26, 2012.

The proposed regulations, SIP revisions and associated supporting information may be obtained from the DEC Web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/26402.html or from any of the following DEC offices:

* REGION 1, NYSDEC-Region 1, SUNY @ Stony Brook, 50 Circle Road, Stony Brook, NY 11790, Attention: Merlange Genece
* REGION 2, 1 Hunters Point Plaza, 47-40 21st Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, Attention: Samuel Lieblich
* REGION 3, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561, Attention: Kenneth Grzyb
* REGION 4, 1130 North Westcott Rd., Schenectady, NY 12306, Attention: Donald Spencer
* REGION 5, Hudson Street Extension, Box 220, Warrensburg, NY 12885, Attention: James Coutant
* REGION 6, Watertown State Office Bldg., 317 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601, Attention: Thomas Morgan
* REGION 7, 615 Erie Boulevard West, Syracuse, NY 13204-2400, Attention: Reginald Parker
* REGION 8, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon, NY 14414, Attention: Thomas Marriott
* REGION 9, 270 Michigan Ave., Buffalo, NY 14203, Attention: Alfred Carlacci

Permalink: http://readme.readmedia.com/DEC-Announces-Public-Hearings-on-Proposed-Air-Quality-Regulation/3265161

John Mason in The Register Star reports that Taghkanic Supervisor Elizabeth Young was involved in a car accident Saturday that took out a power line along Route 9H. Valatie Rescue Squad, the Greenport Fire Department, and the New York State Police responded to the accident, which occurred at 11:26 a.m. Route 9H was closed while emergency personnel worked on the accident. The site was turned over to National Grid an hour later, who set about replacing a pole. Power was out to the surrounding area for several hours while the pole was replaced. State Police are investigating. An update to the story says Young's car was totaled, and that she was examined at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson and his fine. Read the story in the Register-Star.

Monday is Martin Luther King Day, and The Daily Freeman reports what is closed:
• Amtrak: Holiday schedule
• Banks: Closed
• Federal offices: Closed
• Financial markets: Closed
• Greene County Transit: No service
• Mail delivery: None
• Metro-North: Saturday schedule, with additional trains
• Schools: Closed
• State offices: Closed
• Trailways: Holiday schedule

The United States observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today.

Weather right now
Hosts: Please announce the current temperature in Hudson, which is in Studio A in Hudson. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air. The temperature on the far left is from the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; the two others are Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.

Please credit the above temperatures: From the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page; and from Cairo and Catskill Weather Underground pages.
On the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page, when the computer at Hawthorne Valley is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information live from Harlemville. Check dates and times at bottom of image to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was last turned off. Please properly credit any other local temperatures you announce on the air.

Local weather forecast
Today's forecast is specific to Medusa, in Albany County.
The National Weather Service predicts for Monday in Medusa it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Monday night there is a chance of snow before midnight, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely, with a low around 26. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely before 8 a.m., then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Overnight low 25.
• Wednesday: A slight chance of snow showers. Partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 25, a low around 10.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 28.

Town meetings today
Today is the third Monday of the month.
ATHENS Town meeting at 6:45 p.m. at Town Hall, 2 First Street, Athens (734-3636).
AUSTERLITZ Comprehensive plan meeting at 7 p.m., at 812 Route 203, Austerlitz (392-3260).
CANAAN Planning board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1647 Route 5 South, Canaan (781-3144).
GERMANTOWN Town Board meets at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Road, Germantown (537-6687).
GREENE COUNTY 6 p.m. meetings of Government Ops and Finance committees, plus party caucuses at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
GREENVILLE Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Offices, corner of routes 32 and 81, Greenville (966-8276).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:19 a.m./ 4:50 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 10:03 p.m. / 9:31 a.m.

Today's big games
(Hosts: Read scores in the a.m. only, and schedules in the p.m.)
Scores
NFL: New York Giants 37 at Green Bay Packers 20. The Giants travel to San Francisco next Sunday for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.
NFL: Houston Texans 13 at Baltimore Ravens 20. The travel to New England next Sunday to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Schedules
NBA: Orlando Magic 102 at New York Knicks 93, 1 p.m.
NBA: New Jersey Nets at Los Angeles Clippers, 3:30 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mon. Jan. 16:
• "Eat Food or Die," 2 p.m.: Host Hugh Horner talks to Tom Holmes of Holmquest Farm in Claverack, and Josephine Proul, Executive Chef of Local 111 restaurant in Philmont.

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_20120122 Ghent Playhouse auditions

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:49 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 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

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for Greene, Columbia, and all surrounding counties from 6 a.m. Friday through midnight. Winds could gust as high as 49 mph.

[caption id="attachment_16837" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Windham Mountain's first snow of 2012. From Windham Mountain website."][/caption]All three mountains got a few inches of snow Thursday morning. Catamount Ski in Columbia County reports 25 of 33 trails are open, with four of six lifts running, and 16-32" of snow. Windham Mountain has a snow base between 14" and 40" on 25 trails with six lifts open. Hunter Mountain has up to 12" to 50" of snow on 39 trails with six lifts. It is a holiday weekend, so there are discounts available.

This past Tuesday, new Windham Mountain General Manager Chip Seamans joined WGXC's Nancy Marron on her "Social Graces" show and here he explained how Windham Mountain's winter has been so far. PLAY CLIP