Boxing Day
Today is Monday, Dec. 26, and Boxing Day, a bank or public holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and some other Commonwealth nations. In South Africa, Boxing Day was renamed Day of Goodwill in 1994. In Ireland it is recognized as St. Stephen's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Stiofáin) or the Day of the Wren (Irish: Lá an Dreoilín). In the Netherlands, Lithuania, Austria, Germany, Scandinavia and Poland, December 26 is celebrated as the Second Christmas Day. Supposedly, Good King Wenceslas, in the 10th Century, may have started a tradition of boxing goods for the poor.

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.

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 Cairo, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service predicts it will be cloudy in Cairo through mid-morning, then there will be gradual clearing, with a high near 41. Monday night should be mostly clear, with a low around 22. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: A chance of rain, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Rain overnight.
• Wednesday: Scattered snow showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny and windy, with a high near 34.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.

Town meetings today
This is the fourth Monday of the month. It is a holiday.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:18 a.m./ 4:34 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 8:37 a.m. / 7:01 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mon. Dec. 26:
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Noah Reibel and Sara Kendall round up local news, international news, local interviews, music, and more.

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_20111226 Catskill High School Cat Camp.mp3


Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:43 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:43 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:43 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport n/a
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:43 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

Ever wonder what's in an oil or gas drilling lease? The New York Times has posted an archive of over 100,000 of them, 3,200 of them from New York: Visit the archive of NYS oil & gas drilling leases.

WGXC is airing hourly reports from NORAD, tracking sky sleigh activity.

The Strongtree Organic Coffee shop across the street from the Amtrak station in Hudson closes for the final time at 5 p.m. Dec. 23, 2011. The owners are moving to Florida, so the coffee may still be available here via mail order.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="499" caption="Jonathan Flanders photo of a protester who had been pepper-sprayed Dec. 22 at Occupy Albany."][/caption]Occupy Albany was removed from its location near the Capitol on Thursday, as its permit ran out. Police arrested and pepper-sprayed protesters. Fox23 News in Albany reports:

"Earlier in the day Albany Police and Department of General Services workers broke up the encampment, taking down all of the tents that had littered the park for the past several months. After that happened hundreds of protesters uprooted one, final trademark Occupy Albany Information tent intact, and paraded it around the city for hours.... protesters brought that tent back to Academy Park, set it down for a minute, and then grabbed it back up while chanting in an attempt to continue parading the yellow barn-like tent around the city. Then, without warning, protesters say Albany Police began to block the large group from moving the tent back off the Academy Park property, and onto city streets. In an instant, the peaceful protest turned to chaos, fear and violence as protesters began screaming and yelling, pushing and shoving. Within moments a cloud of pepper spray filled the air, and that's when the real panic set in. With his eyes closed due to the intense burning, Occupy Protester Bradley Russell said, 'There was an officer, a mounted policeman on horse, literally riding through the crowd, just spraying, pepper spraying indiscriminately anybody who was in the crowd in front of him, it was completely flagrant.'"

Hilary Hawke in Ravena News-Herald reports that an environmental consultant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) told Town of Coeymans Highway Superintendent Albert Deering the town can't clean out the Hannacroix Creek without the proper permits. In 2007, after flooding, Coeymans won a remediation project grant for the creek that would remove trees and debris from the creek, but has never applied for the proper permits. Now, after more flooding from storms associated with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, folks who live off the creek are complaining the work has not been done. "Even if the town had spent the money on the creek remediation it might not have withstood the 2011 storm and there is no assurance it would have worked," DEC Environmental Analyst Andy Marcuccio told Hawke. At the end of the story, Hawke finally reveals:

"In a further development, DEC Regional Citizen Participation Specialist Rick Georgeson said during a DEC staff meeting with town officials on Friday, December 16 several trees and piles of debris had been flagged and approved for removal. The DEC extended verbal confirmation of the permit on Monday and will mail copies of the permit as well."

Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports that New York Spring Water, a bottled water company in Halcott, is getting a $264,000 loan and grant package for new machinery and equipment and will add a third shift, according to the Greene County Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Planning. The expansion creates 23 new jobs in manufacturing, shipping, and sales for the largest manufacturer within the Catskill Park in Greene County. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Congressional Republicans came around to local representative Chris Gibson's way of thinking and extended the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits. Previously, all House Republicans except the Kinderhook Republican and six others, voted against a similar proposal. Gibson, still, is unsatisfied with the measure:

“As the President and leaders of both parties in the House and Senate have previously stated, we need an agreement to extend the payroll tax [cut] for at least a year. In the House, I voted for a comprehensive bill that did just that and reformed and extended unemployment insurance while fixing the reimbursement rate for Medicare providers.... I was disappointed that the Senate chose a 60-day measure instead, but I believe it is the right course of action to enact this stop-gap measure to ensure hardworking American families do not see a tax increase on January 1.”

The Windham Theatre, closed since late August due to flooding from the storms associated with Hurricane Irene, reopens this weekend, according to their Facebook page. "Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol," "The Adventures of Tintin," and "Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows" are the three movies playing this weekend. According to the theatre's web page, the laundromat attached to the theatre will reopen in February with all new machines.

Catamount Ski in Columbia County opened last weekend, and will be back open this weekend in Hillsdale with 8" to 20" snow base on 15 trails with four lifts. On Windham Mountain's second weekend open, more than 200 Santas on skis raised more than $2000 for the local food pantry at Hope Restoration Church in Windham on Sun., Dec. 18. Windham Mountain has an artificial snow base between 6" and 25" on 14 trails with three lifts open. Hunter Mountain has up to 44" of mostly artificial snow on 23 trails with five lifts.

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.

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 Maplecrest, in Greene County.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for western Greene County Friday morning. The NWS says rain overnight turned to snow on the mountain in Greene County early Friday morning. There will be patchy fog in the morning, and a low around 31. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible on the mountain in Greene County. Friday: Rain in most areas and snow on higher elevations before 1 p.m., high near 34. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. The weekend forecast:
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.
• Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 33.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31.

Town meetings today
This is the fourth Friday of the month. No meetings today.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:17 a.m./ 4:32 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:05 a.m. / 3:39 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Fri. Dec. 23:
• "Guest DJ: Tony Fallon," 7 p.m.: Tony Fallon, who hosts "The Irish Show" Sundays at 8 p.m. on WGXC, plays another holiday set until 9:30 p.m.

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
• Roundup of New Year's Eve events in Greene and Columbia counties. Produced by Ron Diamondstein. PLAY CLIP 2:05
• Kellie Darling, Executive Director of the Catskill Community Center, discusses the center's annual Christmas Dinner. Interview by Ron Diamondstein. PLAY CLIP 3:27
• Peter Krug and Matt Bua duet of "Angels We Have Heard on High." Recorded on WGXC Afternoon Show. PLAY CLIP 2:59
• Catskill's Lydia Daniels performs "O Holy Night" at Catskill Community Center. Recorded by Matt Bua on WGXC Afternoon Show. PLAY CLIP 4:31
• Brian Dewan plays two holiday songs at 'Live from the Red Dot Open Mic' holiday sing-a-long, "Hard the Herald Angels Sing," and an original composition, "Mistletoe." Hosted by Rob Johanson. PLAY CLIP 6:21
• Stephen Bluhm sings 'Blue Christmas' at 'Live from the Red Dot Open Mic.' PLAY CLIP 2:04

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20111226 Catskill High School Cat Camp.mp3


Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:59 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:04
• 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

New York voters are divided on hot-button topics like hydro-fracking, casino gaming, and legislative redistricting according to a new poll released by Quinnipiac University. The results:

• New Yorkers are split evenly on the question of hydrofracking: 44 percent support drilling because of the economic benefits and 45 percent oppose drilling because of environmental concerns.
• A majority of New Yorkers support casino gambling in the state. Polled voters support Atlantic City or Las Vegas style casinos in the Empire State by a 64 - 31 percent margin. The poll reveals a slight gender gap with 68 percent of men supporting casinos (28 percent oppose), while only 60 percent of the women polled did, while 34 percent of women oppose gaming.

The poll also indicates a majority of New Yorkers want an independent commission with no ties to the State legislature to draw district lines. Legislative redistricting will be on the 2012 agenda in Albany. Read the press release from the Quinnipiac University's Polling Institute.

A State audit of the New Lebanon town court found more than $9,000 of court funds unaccounted for. Investigators from the office of the State Comptroller reviewed the financial operations of the town's Justice Court from Jan. 2008, to July 2009, while two justices, Shaun McHugh and Darcy Poppey, presided. Poppey just lost the election this year by one vote, after first being elected in 2008. Justice Shaun McHugh has since been replaced by Jessica Byrne following the 2009 elections. The audit identified $9,050 as unaccounted for and $2,190 in questionable transactions, and has been referred to state Commission on Judicial Conduct for investigation of possible wrongdoing, according to the Times-Union's Bob Gardinier. The 45-page audit found serious deficiencies in the town court's accounts:

"The lack of basic controls has placed court moneys at significant risk of loss, misuse and fraud."

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the Hudson City School District a $400,000 "Promise Neighborhoods" grant recentkly. The program aims to improve educational outcomes for students in distressed urban and rural neighborhoods. The Federal program was based on The Harlem Children's Zone, a national model that ties social service programs and educational institutions into a supportive web designed to carry children in poverty from "cradle to college." Non-profit Organizations, including faith based organizations, are eligible for the grants. Scott Waldman in the Times-Union reports that the Catholic Charities Diocese of Albany will head a group of community organizations working with the Hudson city school district to determine where services overlap. More than 230 groups across the country competed for the grants. Only 20 of them were awarded funds on Monday. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.

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.

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 Ghent, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service says Ghent will be mostly sunny Thursday, with a high near 48. Thursday night there could be rain and snow, becoming all snow after 4 a.m. Low around 31. Little or no snow accumulation expected. The weekend forecast:
• Friday: A chance of snow showers before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.
• Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
• Christmas Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Town meetings today
This is the fourth Thursday of the month.
ATHENS The Town of Athens Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals hold a joint public hearing on applications for a site plan review and a height variance for installation of two asphalt storage tanks at Peckham Asphalt Resale Corp, located at 763 Schoharie Turnpike in the Town of Athens. 7 p.m. at Athens Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens.
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).
HUDSON Historic Preservation Committee at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER The Village of Hunter Zoning Board of Appeals holds a public hearing to consider an application for an area variance submitted by PPWH, Inc. for the property located at 7527 Main Street, Tax Lot #164.15-2-16. The applicant is seeking a variance from the required Side Setback and Mean Lot Width distances in order to obtain site plan approval from the Village of Hunter Planning Board to operate a restaurant on the premises. 6 p.m. at Hunter Village Hall, 7955 Main St., Hunter.
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
href="http://www.townofwindham.com">WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:17 a.m./ 4:32 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:58 a.m. / 2:41 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Thu. Dec. 22:
• "Radio Theatre," 3 p.m.: Laurence Olivier leads "A Christmas Carol" and Spike Jones plays "Jingle Bells."

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
• Roundup of New Year's Eve events in Greene and Columbia counties. Produced by Ron Diamondstein. PLAY CLIP 2:05
• Kellie Darling, Executive Director of the Catskill Community Center, discusses the center's annual Christmas Dinner. Interview by Ron Diamondstein. PLAY CLIP 3:27
• Peter Krug and Matt Bua duet of "Angels We Have Heard on High." Recorded on WGXC Afternoon Show. PLAY CLIP 2:59
• Catskill's Lydia Daniels performs "O Holy Night" at Catskill Community Center. Recorded by Matt Bua on WGXC Afternoon Show. PLAY CLIP 4:31
• Brian Dewan plays two holiday songs at 'Live from the Red Dot Open Mic' holiday sing-a-long, "Hard the Herald Angels Sing," and an original composition, "Mistletoe." Hosted by Rob Johanson. PLAY CLIP 6:21
• Stephen Bluhm sings 'Blue Christmas' at 'Live from the Red Dot Open Mic.' PLAY CLIP 2:04

New PSAs/STATION IDs
• A_OFF_PSA_20111226 Catskill High School Cat Camp.mp3


Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 5:33 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:06
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 5:33 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:06
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 5:33 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:06
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 5:33 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:06
• 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 New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services granted Greene County $893,000 to improve first-responder communications. Sixteen counties received $20 million in the program, with neighboring counties Delaware, Ulster, and Schoharie also awarded funds. The grant precedes Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, but those local storms did show that local communications are lacking. Counties receiving awards can use the funding for mobile radios, and base stations capable of using national interoperability channels and other local mutual-aid channels. Also included are projects to construct new equipment at towers and antenna sites, projects to deploy microwave equipment to provide more reliable transmission between sites and facilities which is needed in mountainous Greene County, and projects to implement gateway technologies for linking county systems. Equipment purchased using these grants will allow different agencies to use common channels during incidents where multiple jurisdictions are involved. This is the first round of awards from the Statewide Interoperable Grant program, a new multi-year, competitive reimbursement program funded from the State cellular surcharge.

The following counties are receiving awards:

Sullivan:$1,198,000
Madison: $1,997,812
Cortland: $4,000,000
Otsego: $1,128,000
Schoharie: $858,000
Onondaga: $331,446
Niagara: $2,000,000
Steuben: $1,523,264
Delaware: $1,078,000
Ulster: $978,000
Washington: $171,500
Genesee: $228,309
Greene: $893,000
Essex: $2,000,000
Warren: $736,938
Nassau: $877,729

“A reliable communication network is an essential tool for emergency responders,” said Senator James Seward, who represents Greene and Schoharie counties in Albany. “These grants will help provide that tool, protecting the lives of those who live and work in upstate New York, while also ensuring the safety of our firefighters, ambulance workers and police. The funding will also offset a major expense that taxpayers simply cannot afford to shoulder on their own.” More info here.

Representative Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) was one of only seven Republicans who voted Tue., Dec. 20 to extend unemployment benefits and payroll tax cuts. Reps. Charles Bass (R-N.H.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Gibson, Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), Tim Johnson (R-Ill.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), and Frank Wolf (R-Va.) were the only members of their party to side with the Democrats. Previously, in the Albany Times-Union's Capitol Confidential, Gibson, who represents Greene, Columbia and nearby counties, said, “Last week, I voted for a comprehensive bill that did that and reformed and extended unemployment insurance.... I was disappointed that the Senate chose a 60-day measure instead. We should immediately vote to go to conference with the Senate to reach an agreement that achieves the year-long goal which everyone desires. As we pursue that, I also plan to support the two-month stopgap to ensure our constituents do not face a tax increase.” The Huffington Post has the full recall vote here.

Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail digs up as much information as he can find on the fire allegedly set by an inmate at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility in his cell at 12:30 a.m. Sunday Dec. 18 that caused injury to six guards. Nathaniel Richardson, a 28-year-old from Erie County serving a seven-year sentence for burglary, allegedly is to blame. “When staff responded and opened the inmate’s cell door, the inmate attacked one correction officer by punching him in the face twice,” a press release from the correctional officers’ union said. “Several officers and a sergeant then restrained the inmate — who was violently struggling and would not comply with the staff’s directions.” Then, the prison transfered Richardson to Albany Medical Center, where he allegedly hit another guard. The union, and the prison, did not tell Antrim the extent of the guards' injuries. Antrim quotes a union official saying that attacks on guards have increased in recent years, but does not say why. Antrim finds that between 2007 and 2009 the Coxsackie prison was in the top third of maximum-security prisons in number of assaults, according to a report by The Correctional Association of New York. In May 2010, The Correctional Association surveyed almost a third of the prison population in Coxsackie and found that 46 percent of respondents said confrontations between inmates and staff happen “very frequently.” “Clearly, Coxsackie inmates have significant concerns about the level of inmate-staff violence, even if the prison might not have the highest rates for such incidents,” the report said. Read Doron Tyler Antrim's full story in The Daily Mail.

John Mason in the Register-Star reports that the proposed Ancram cell tower near the Gallatin town line had another set back Mon. Dec. 19, as the Columbia County Planning Board sent back the plan to the Ancram Planning Board as "incomplete." Previously at a public hearing, many Ancram residents said they would love better service, but not with a tower in their backyards. Mariner Tower II wants to put a 150-foot lattice tower with an equipment shelter on a 9.7-acre parcel on the north side of Route 82 near the town line. AT&T would provide service there, though other cell providers could hang antennae also, which would improve cell service along Route 82. The tower is within 500 feet of a municipal boundary, so the county Planning Board has to approve the plans. The proposal needs other waivers from the Ancram Planning Board, and from Gallatin too. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Albany television station WNYT is reporting that an audit of the justice court in New Lebanon from the state comptroller's office released Tue., Dec. 20 says more than $9,000 was unaccounted for and the audit calls into question one transaction for more than $2,100. The results were turned over to the state commission on judicial conduct. See the WNYT report with video here.