Bob Sacks, who is also a Copake Town Councilman, reports in his Copake Chronicle that Brown's Dam Bridge on Center Hill Road is open as of Mon., Dec. 19. The bridge has been closed for rehabilitation since May, 2011. (Photo by Bob Sacks, from Copake Chronicle.)

The Farm Bill is up for renewal in Congress next year, something that occurs once every five years. Hunger Action Network's Mark Dunlea writes in City Limits that the collapse of the congressional "supercommittee" creates an opening for anti-hunger activists and small farmers to shape a bill that promotes health, protects the environment and supports independent farmers. Or helps agri-business maintain the status quo. Dunlea says that while the bill was expected to pass this month, now that the supercommittee plan has evaporated, it may not be voted on until Memorial Day. Dunlea will be a guest on the "WGXC Afternoon Show" Mon., Dec. 19. Read the full story in City Limits.

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 Philmont, in Columbia County.
The National Weather Service says Philmont will be sunny, with a high near 36. Tuesday night will bring increasing clouds, with a low around 23. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Wednesday: A slight chance of rain, snow, and sleet before 10 a.m., then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 44.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.
• Friday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41.

Town meetings today
This is the third Tuesday of the month.
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).
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 7:16 a.m./ 4:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:34 a.m. / 1:07 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Tue. Dec. 20:
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Mariel Fiori hosts the "WGXC Afternoon Show" with local and international news updates, interviews, features, 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 20111219 CCC Christmas dinner
• A_OFF_PSA_20111226 Catskill High School Cat Camp.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 3:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 3:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 3:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 3:11 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 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

Rob LeDonne in The Daily Mail reports that Rosemary O’Brien of Oak Hill and Kathleen Whitley-Harm of Freehold have launched a campaign to bring broadband internet access to Greene County. So far they have met with Mid-Hudson Cablevision President James Reynolds, Greenville Town Supervisor Paul Macko, and Mark Wescott, a representative from Congressman Chris Gibson’s office. In Greenville, Mid-Hudson Cable's contract is up for renewal, and the company recently turned down a giant federal grant to bring broadband to the area. “I would urge anyone to write your local town supervisor, federal officials, and tell them this is important to you,” says Whitley-Harm in LeDonne's story. “I care about this for the future of the county. Let’s all come together and make a plan. Let’s step into this century.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Debby Mayer reports on work conditions at the new Flanders air filter factory in The Columbia Paper. The non-unionized workers start at $7.50 per hour and get two paid 15-minute breaks per day and a half-hour unpaid lunch. The plant runs two 10-hour shifts weekdays and one (mostly automated) 12-hour shift on the weekend. Mayer writes that the factory is clean, well lit, and safety signs are printed in English, Spanish and Bengali. Flanders distributes air filters under the Ace and True Value brand names to stores such as Home Depot, Lowe's and Walmart. CEO Harry Smith was among those on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony this past Wed., Dec. 14, though workers have been producing air filters there since mid-September. The North Carolina-based company bought the former Kaz plant on Route 9 just outside Hudson last June. Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

Crain's New York reports that Steve Cohen, a former top aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo, is being considered for a new post that will ensure that banks comply with any settlement of a nationwide foreclosure probe. The monitor would ensure compliance with any agreement with mortgage servicers, according to a settlement the banks were offered in March. Cohen was Cuomo's Secretary, and his Chief-of Staff when he was the state's Attorney General. He officially "departed" government service in June, and returned to private practice, accoridng to New York World. According to the proposal, the job will come with the authority to review records and audit a servicer's performance. JP Morgan, Bank of America, Citigroup Inc., Ally Financial Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. are among the negotiating banks that will be bound by the settlement. Read the full story in Crain's New York.

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 Purling, in Cairo.
The National Weather Service says Purling should be partly sunny, with a high near 43 Monday. Monday night there is a slight chance of rain and snow showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of snow showers until 11 p.m., otherwise mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. The forecast for the rest of the week:
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.
• Wednesday: A chance of freezing rain and sleet before 10 a.m., then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 45.
• Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 38.

Town meetings today
This 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).
CHATHAM The Village of Chatham Planning Board holds a Public Meeting to consider the following applications: 59 Church St., Wallin, Applicant Site Plan Review to install business sign at 7:30 p.m. at Tracy Memorial Village Hall, 77 Main St., Chatham.
GALLATIN The Town of Gallatin Planning Board holds a public hearing for Special Permit and Site Plan Review for the application of Mariner Tower, LLC, New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (AT&T) and S. Laurence Brody for a Special Permit and Site Plan Approval to build a Personal Wireless Service Facility consisting of a 150-foot tower and related service buildings to be located on Mr. Brody’s property at 119 Ten Neighbors Road, tax parcel #211.1.-5, in the Town of Gallatin.; also the Town of Gallatin Planning Board holds a public hearing for Special Permit and Site Plan Review on the application of James E. & Jennifer L. Kishbaugh, who have applied for a Special Permit to build a 840 square foot accessory dwelling to be located on their property at 33 Blackberry Hill Road, tax parcel #210.2.-37, in the Town of Gallatin; and James R. and Cynthia Prescott Kuster have applied for a 2- lot subdivision of tax parcel 195.00-01-22 located on Route 82 & Doodletown Road. The existing parcel, located in RA-2 zone, contains 134.29 acres and is proposed to be subdivided with the existing dwelling fronting on Route 82 & Doodletown Road and the new parcel with 63.77 acres fronting only on Route 82. 7 p.m. at Gallatin Town Hall, 1643 Jackson Corners Road.
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 7:15 a.m./ 4:30 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:22 a.m. / 12:30 p.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Mon. Dec. 19:
• "WGXC Afternoon Show," 4-6 p.m.: Noah Reibel and Sara Kendall host the "WGXC Afternoon Show" with local and international news updates, interviews, features, 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 20111219 CCC Christmas dinner
• A_OFF_PSA_20111226 Catskill High School Cat Camp.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 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

Michael Ryan in The Daily Mail reports that no one knows who will be supervisor of Prattsville since surprise election-winner Alan Huggins decided not to take the job due to health reasons. Huggins, as a Republican write-in candidate, defeated incumbent Democrat Kory O'Hara by 15 votes in the Nov. 8 election. The two parties will recommend candidates to the Town Board by Jan. 1, but the board is split 2-2, Democrat-Republican. O'Hara, says he doesn't know what he would do if he is asked to continue serving. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

The National Weather Service issued a Wind Advisory for Western Greene County and Eastern Columbia County through 1 p.m., Fri., Dec. 16. The warning also covers all of Albany and Rensselaer counties, and Western Ulster County. Winds of 15 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts up to 40 and 50 mph.

Gail Heinsohn in the Register-Star reports that Acting State Supreme Court Judge Robert Jacon ruled Thursday, Dec. 15 that a ballot challenged by incumbent Town Justice Darcy Poppey is valid and that challenger and a former justice Jack Nevers won the election by one vote. Poppey, on the Democrat, Independence, Conservative lines, led with 350 votes on election night to 348 for Republican Nevers. Counting absentee votes, Republican Board of Elections Commissioner Jason Nastke said on November 22 ruled in favor of the last ballot, giving Nevers a lead. Poppey filed an order to show cause regarding why the disputed ballot should not be declared void. The judge credited “the testimony of Commissioner Nastke. The testimony he provided was proof that the machine, the canvas and the audit all counted the ballot from Election District 7046 and that Respondent (Nevers) consistently had 348 machine votes." Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a 2012 budget of $145.1 million. Jeff Alexander in the Register-Star reports the County was able to adopt the budget and maintain the tax levy, despite a decrease in state aid and unfunded mandates that are straining county budgets statewide. Board of Supervisors Chairman Roy Brown told the paper there were no anticipated layoffs, but there is a hiring "chill" at the county level. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Congressman Chris Gibson, who represents Greene and Columbia and several surrounding counties, and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who used to, are bragging about some local pork tucked into the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill, which just passed both chambers of Congress, includes over $50 million for nanotechnology research and a provision to increase focus on nanotechnology research by the Defense Department, including a study to determine the need for a center for nanotechnology. Where might that center be located? "A new center would likely be located at the University at Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering devoted to research and development of nanotechnology. Albany’s NanoCollege is also well placed to compete for the research funding. Now that the House and Senate have both approved the funding and legislative provision, the bill will be sent to the President for signature," according to Senator Gillibrand's press release.

The State Department of Public Service, charged with ensuring "safe, secure, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services" for residences and businesses, approved the sale of two upstate nuclear plants to Exelon Corporation. Alexander Cockburn writes about close ties between President Obama and Exelon in the latest issue of Counterpunch. According to Cockburn, Exelon has been making generous provision to Obama’s campaign chest ever since his days in the Illinois Senate. Exelon, a Chicago-based company, now acquires two units of the Nine Mile Point nuclear plant in Scriba, Oswego County, and the slightly smaller Ginna nuclear plant in Ontario, Wayne County. Read Alexander Cockburn's story in Counterpunch.

Senate Republicans are planning to bring their challenge of a 2010 law mandating state prisoners be counted at their last known addresses for purposes of legislative redistricting- to the state's highest court. According to the Times Union's Capitol Confidential, a group of plaintiffs led by Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, filed a pre-appeal statement Tuesday before the Court of Appeals. Albany County Supreme Court Justice Eugene Devine dismissed the suit Dec. 1. The Republicans are attempting to skip the Appellate Division and have their case heard by the Court of Appeals. Read about the appeal in TU's Capitol Confidential.

W.T. Eckert in The Daily Mail reports that cell phone service might soon improve in some far corners of Greene County if a proposal to fix problems with emergency communications goes through the Greene County Legislature. A study for the legislature recently determined that, to improve service, towers should be built in Halcott Center, West Kill, Ashland, West Settlement, Star Rock, Durham, Maplecrest, Windham, Hamburg, Kiskatom. Cairo Legislator William Lawrence told the reporter that, "like Kevin Lewis [R-Greenville] said we can rent those towers out other cellular companies who need them to because the coverage here is so bad.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

NYPIRG, (the New York Public Interest Research Group), released its list of the top 100 lobbyists in Albany for the first ten months of 2011. Topping the list is a group called "The Committee To Save New York, Inc.," which spent nearly $10 million dollars. The Save New York group, which includes several top Cuomo contributors, ran ads in January supporting Cuomo's plans to cut the state budget, cap the growth of property taxes and other measures. All told $187.5 million has been spent lobbying Albany this year. Walmart, which spent $2.6 million, is fourth on the list of big spenders: the chain hopes to gain approval to build an outlet in New York City. A number of interest groups on both sides of the gay marriage amendment spent money, and five groups cracked the top hundred. Chesapeake Appalachia, the top industry supporter of hydrofracking, spent a measly $189,000 this year -- that's a far cry from the $1.1 million they spent over the same period last year, when they ranked 18th on the top 100 lobbyists list.

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 Freehold.
The National Weather Service says theere is a slight chance of rain and snow showers before 9 a.m. Friday in Freehold. Otherwise it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a west wind between 14 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Friday night should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. The forecast for the weekend:
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 35.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Town meetings today
This is the third Friday of the month. WGXC does not know about any local meetings.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:13 a.m./ 4:29 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:03 p.m. / 10:57 a.m.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming Fri. Dec. 16:
• "Occupied Radio," 9:30 a.m.: WGXC programmer Mark Read's new national Pacifica radio show "Occupied Radio" debuts, with an episode called "Movement or Moment?"
• "Imprint," 10 a.m.: Host Terry Doyle runs down Hudson Valley musical events, and interviews Spuyten Duyvil.
• "The Living Poets Show," 3 p.m.: Host Rebecca Wolf will be live in the WGXC Hudson studio.
• "StickLips and Rock Dove," 8 p.m.: Regional bands perform live on WGXC 90.7-FM until 9:30 p.m., when "Hotline Radio" takes over, while this show will still be available at wgxc.org.

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 20111217 Winnie the Pooh
• A OFF PSA 20111219 CCC Christmas dinner
• A_OFF_PSA_20120127_henriquez_youth_fund.mp3
• A_OFF_PSA_20120301_prescription_drug_help.mp3
• A_OFF_PSA_20120315_probono.mp3

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:51 PLAY CLIP also International Network News (INN), through Audioport 3:10
• 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

Tom Casey in the Register-Star reports that Republican Hudson Mayor-elect Bill Hallenbeck will appoint Democrat Gene Shetsky, a former Hudson Police Chief, as mayor’s aide. Previously, Hallenbeck announced in a press release to other news organizations that A. Colarusso and Son’s Vice President of Human Resources and Finance, Gary Graziano will be Hudson City Police Department Commissioner. Read the full story about the latest appointment in the Register-Star.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee moved the STOCK Act, legislation to close loopholes for any insider trading by lawmakers, through to the Senate on Wednesday, Dec. 14. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is among the bill's sponsors, and their is similar legislation winding through committees in the U.S. House of Representatives too.

Via Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential, voter information for Greene and Columbia counties as of Nov. 1:
In Columbia County, active Democrats outnumber active Republicans by 475 voters, while there are nearly twice as many Republicans in Greene County as their are Democrats, and voters who do not identify with any party actually place second in Greene. Greene County has 11,986 active Republican voters, 7,102 voters who do not identify with any party, 6,864 Democrats, 1,656 Independence Party members, 780 Conservatives, 114 Working Families party membership, and 60 Green Party voters, and 8 "other." In Columbia County, Democrats extend their slight advantage, with 12,744 to 12,269 Republicans, 11,624 that do not identify with any party, and with Independence members at 2,624, Conservatives at 1,133, Working Families party members at 191, and 169 Green Party members, and 27 "others."
475

County Nov11