Local weather forecast
The National Weather Service predicts a 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3 p.m. Monday, with a high near 62. Monday night showers and thunderstorms are likely before 1 a.m., with a low around 42. Tuesday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 59.

Town meetings today
CATSKILL Village board meeting at 7 p.m. at Firehouse near Catskill Commons (Wal Mart) (943-3830).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development/Planning/Tourism/Agriculture/Transportation Committee Meeting, 5 p.m at 401 State St., Hudson.
HALCOTT Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 813 Route 3, Halcott Center (845-254-9920)
HUDSON Common Council Police Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall; Fire Committee Meeting at 6:45 p.m., at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
PHILMONT Local Development Corp meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont (672-7032).
STUYVESANT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:16 a.m./6:04 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:32 a.m. / 4:27 p.m.

Birthdays
October 24 Sonny Terry, Bill Wyman, Kweisi Mfume, Kevin Kline, and Madlib.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming on Mon. Oct. 24:
• WGXC Pledge Drive begins today.
Please repeatedly give out the phone numbers and make great radio.
518-828-0290
518-697-7400
518-291-WGXC

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.

New PSAs
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive "Root Down" Beastie Boys excerpt :54
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive2 "Root Down" with collage of WGXC voices and phone numbers included. :54
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive3 "Root Down" with collage of WGXC voices w/out phone numbers :54
A OFF PSA PLEDGE DRIVE Amy Goodman.mp3
A OFF PSA PLEDGE DRIVE Courtney and Olivia
A OFF PSA PLEDGE DRIVE Emily Bennison

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:12 PLAY CLIP.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:12 PLAY CLIP.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:12 PLAY CLIP.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:12 PLAY CLIP.
• 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

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The current Cairo grocery store, Slater's Great American, which Hannaford's hopes to replace."][/caption]"WGXC News" is a weekly show with interviews, reports, and recordings from WGXC volunteers from the past week on WGXC. "WGXC News" airs Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on WGXC. This week's show includes Tanya Blue interviewing local stone mason and preservationist Tim Smith; Richard Roth interviewing Susan Boudreau from the Clermont Historic Site about their ghost tours; a few events from Lissa Harris and Julia Reischel of The Watershed Post; Ellen Thurston talking to Peter Biskind about FilmColumbia; a recording by Glen Koopman of the Cairo Planning Board Public Hearing about the proposed Hannaford grocery store in that town; and Olivia Williams and her impressions of Occupy Wall Street. PLAY CLIP 27:21

The Cairo Planning Board held a public hearing about the proposed Hannaford grocery store for Cairo, and Glen Koopman of HW Coffee recorded the meeting and shared the recording with WGXC. Click here to listen to the public hearing for Hannaford, from Tue. Sept. 18 at the Acra Community Center. PLAY CLIP 24:27

Brian Dewan, Jeremy Kelly, Jeremy Thal, Gideon Crevoshay and Meshell Ndegeocello provide the soundtrack to the film "Nosferatu" Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Basilica Hudson and live on WGXC 90.7-FM.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="440" caption="From Weather.com."][/caption]
Weather.com reports this weekend our area will be reaching its peak, in terms of colors of leaves.

Jim Planck in The Windham Journal reports that repairs to Kaaterskill Clove on Route 23A will be finished in November, according to the New York Department of Transportation. “Route 23A is currently open to alternating one-way traffic, controlled by a traffic signal and flaggers,” DOT Senior Public Information Officer Carol Breen otold Planck. “One lane of traffic was compromised by a slope failure caused by excessive flooding in the creek that runs along the highway.” The road links Hunter, Tannersville, Palenville, and other mountain communities with the valley and leads into Catskill, and was damaged in the storms associated with Hurricane Irene. Read the full story in The Windham Journal.

Melanie Lekocevic in The Greene County News reports that Coxsackie Planning Board Chairman Dan Quigley resigned because of time commitments, and the board named Laurel Mann chairwoman, and also appointed newcomer Bob Van Valkenburgh to the Planning Board. Mann is the former village code enforcement officer, who resigned that job because of time commitments. Read the full story in The Greene County News.

Chris Simonds in The Columbia Paper reports that the Greenport Rescue Squad may not station an ambulance in Philmont anymore. Instead, ambulances would leave from Greenport, adding time to each call. Greenport has covered Philmont since the Philmont Rescue Squad closed its doors. “We have not closed the Philmont station,” Greenport Rescue Squad President Tony Merante told The Columbia Paper Monday. “We have not made a decision. We are keeping our options open.” Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

The GEIS Findings Statement for the Hudson waterfront plan is now on the City of Hudson website here. Carole Osterink at The Gossips of Rivertown blog reported Wednesday that Hudson Common Council President Don Moore announced at the Tue., Oct. 18 council meeting that there was a unexplained "snag," which prevented the GEIS Findings Statement from being presented that night to the alderman for review before a vote. "He proposed a special meeting on Thursday, October 27, for the Council to review the Findings Statement," Osterink wrote. Read the full story in The Gossips of Rivertown.

Local weather forecast
The National Weather Service predicts a mostly dry weekend, with temperatures around 60 during the day and above freezing at night. Friday should be mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. Friday night temperatures should drop to 39. Saturday should be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 62. Sunday will also be sunny, with a high near 59. Monday there is a 30 percent chance of showers, with a high near 58.

Town meetings today
KINDERHOOK The Columbia County Historical Society offers an opportunity to tour Eastfield Village, consisting of more than 20 buildings built between 1787 and 1840 and brought to the site. Tour will be conducted by master craftsman and founder of the village, Don Carpentier. For reservations contact Curator Diane Shewchuk at 758-9265 or e-mail curator@cchsny.org , at 11 a.m., Carpool starts at Columbia County Museum, Kinderhook.

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:13 a.m./6:08 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:59 a.m. / 2:52 p.m.

Birthdays
October 21 Dizzy Gillespie, Elvin Bishop, Benjamin Netanyahu, Carrie Fisher, and Julian Cope.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming on Fri. Oct. 21:
• Noon: "Pure Moods" with DJ Shannekia McIntosh.
• 3:30 p.m.: "Knock on Wood" Steve Charney and his pal Harry present radio comedy.
• 6 p.m.: "Al Jazeera English" Updates from around the world.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.

New PSAs
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive
A OFF PSA 20111024 -Coop Ext Annual Dinner, for Cornell Cooperative Extension.
A OFF PSA 20111029 Operation Pumpkin Haunted House, Halloween festival for families in Hudson.

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 3:55 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 3:55 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 3:55 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 3:55 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 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

Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that the Town of Catskill holds a public hearing on a proposed budget with a 1.91 percent tax increase at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31, at the town hall. "properties in the town are set to see a ten cent ($.10) increase in their tax rate, going from $5.44 per thousand to $5.54, which is a 1.91-percent increase," Planck wrote. "Those within the village will see their town tax rate go up one cent ($.01), from $1.81 per thousand to $1.82, which is less than a one-percent increase (.75-percent)." Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the Ichabod Crane and Schodack School Boards met Tuesday, October 11, and will meet again at 6 p.m. October 24 at the Maple Hill School Library in Schodack to consider merging school districts to save money. The districts are conducting a "Functional Consolidation Study" and began outlining the possible timeline:

"To merge the two districts, both boards would have to agree, make formal motions and hold public hearings. They would hold a non-binding “straw vote” in their communities as well. If the straw vote is in favor of merger in both communities there would have to be a binding vote. In the time line presented to the board this week, a binding vote could be held as early as the fall of 2012. If voters approve a merger, consolidation could take place as soon as July 2013," Teasdale wrote.

The Daily Mail reports that Thursday, Oct. 20, the Village of Catskill will grind Thompson Street, closing the thoroughfare to traffic and parking between Spring Street and Main Street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Local weather forecast
The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for eastern Columbia County through 6 a.m. Thursday, and showers are likely everywhere before 8 a.m. Later in the day it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Thursday night there is a slight chance of showers before 11 p.m., but otherwise mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Friday should be partly sunny, with a high near 59.

Town meetings today
ANCRAM Board meeting at 7 p.m. in Town Hall at 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
CHATHAM Town of Chatham holds a public hearing concerning the enactment of a local law to define “Travel Trailer Camp." Also Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Chatham Town Hall, 488 Route 295, Chatham.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Safety Committee meeting at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson. Public hearing at 7:20 p.m. The Columbia County Board of Supervisors hold a Public Hearing, pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Ch. 36-a, Art. II, § 20(5), on the enactment of a Local Law to continue and renew the imposition of an additional transfer tax on the conveyance of real property within the County of Columbia; and pursuant to Municipal Home Rule Law Ch. 36-a, Art. II, § 20(5), on the enactment of a Local Law to continue and renew the imposition of an additional mortgage tax in accordance with §253-i of the Tax Law.
COPAKE Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM Town board meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
GHENT Town Board meeting at the Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644)
GREENE COUNTY The Greene County Industrial Development Agency holds their Board Meeting at 8 a.m. at the Greene County IDA Office, 270 Mansion St., Coxsackie.
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:12 a.m./6:10 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:52 p.m. Wed.; none today / 2:18 p.m.

Birthdays
October 20 Art Buchwald, Jerry Orbach, Mickey Mantle, Juan Marichal, and Tom Petty.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming on Thu. Oct. 20:
• 2 p.m.: "Between the Lines" with Ann Forbes Cooper features director Joseph Capone and his new play about Sybil Luddington, the female Paul Revere, which opens in Catskill on November 4. And in the second half of the show, tragi-comedian Mikhail Horowitz will perform a sketch from his forthcoming revue with musician and fellow satirist Gilles Malkine titled "Difficult Comedy for Hard Times," opening in Rosendale on October 30.
• 3 p.m.: "Radio Theater" More haunted sounds and stories for Halloween.
• 6 p.m.: "Al Jazeera English" Updates from around the world.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.

New PSAs
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive
A OFF PSA 20111024 -Coop Ext Annual Dinner, for Cornell Cooperative Extension.
A OFF PSA 20111029 Operation Pumpkin Haunted House, Halloween festival for families in Hudson.

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 6:19 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 6:19 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 6:19 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 6:19 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 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

Mid-Hudson News reports that the Federal Railway Administration has set aside $7.9 million for the New York State Department of Transportation to upgrade the Hudson Rail Line between Hyde Park and Red Hook in Dutchess County. The money will pay to bury cables to improve signal reliability and train operation. Twenty-six Amtrak passenger trains pass over those tracks and through Hudson each day. Read the full story in Mid-Hudson News.

Carole Osterink at The Gossips of Rivertown blog reports Hudson Common Council President Don Moore announced at the Tue., Oct. 18 council meeting that there was a unexplained "snag," which prevented the GEIS Findings Statement from being presented to the alderman for review before a vote. "He proposed a special meeting on Thursday, October 27, for the Council to review the Findings Statement, expressed his hope to deliver the document to the aldermen no later than the end of this week, and offered assurances that he did not intend to have the Council vote on the document without having ample time to review it," Osterink wrote. Read the full story in The Gossips of Rivertown.

Two animal tragedies locally in the last few days: The Daily Freeman reports that federal wildlife officials are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information about the shooting of a young bald eagle along the Hudson River in Stuyvesant (at the Nutten Hook State Unique Area) last Wednesday. The bird survives with a fractured wing and other injuries and was transferred to the Animal Hospital in Slingerlands near Albany for emergency care and rehabilitation. YNN TV reports that Heather White's horse Luna was shot once in the neck sometime last Saturday morning. White owns Rocky Meadow Farm in Copake, and says the nine-year-old horse was grazing in a pasture off Yonderview Road with four other horses. "I'm not sure. Based on where she was in the field, it's not hunting season, I can't imagine it was an accident. It just doesn't seem possible. The shot was too good. It looked like, it looked like she fell on the spot," said White, who is also offering a reward for information about the incident.

Local weather forecast
The National Weather Service predicts rain Wednesday, mainly after 4 p.m. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 60. Wednesday night the rain continues, with a low around 54. Thursday there may be a little rain left before noon, but should be mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.

Town meetings today
CAIRO Public hearing to discuss the adoption of a local law to override the state-mandated 2 percent tax cap, because of extensive costs of Hurricane Irene-related storms. At 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo (622-3120).
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 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

The skies above
SUNRISE/SUNSET 7:03 a.m./6:22 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:21 p.m. / 7:37 a.m.

Birthdays
October 19 Cassius Clay (politician, 1810-1903), Peter Tosh, Jennifer Holliday, and Trey Parker.

WGXC Program Notes
Special Programming on Wed.. Oct. 19:
• 3 p.m.: "The Half-Hour News Hour" from Julia Reischel and Lissa Harris airs at 1 p.m. on WIOX in Roxbury, and at 3 p.m. on WGXC 90.7-FM. The Watershed Post is a blog that covers the Catskill mountain area, including Greene County.
• 4-6 p.m.: "WGXC Afternoon Show" comes live from the Catskill Community Center every Wednesday. Stop by to speak into the microphone on the sidewalk on Main Street in front of the community center, and let your voice be heard.

Audio clips for WGXC programmers
This information is not meant to be read on-air.

New PSAs
A OFF PSA 20111030 Pledge Drive
A OFF PSA 20111029 North Chatham Rotary Halloween
A OFF PSA 20111029 Clermont Ghost Tours

Audio headlines for top of the hour
• 5 a.m.: WGXC News 4:27 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 6 a.m.: WGXC News 4:27 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 7 a.m.: WGXC News 4:27 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 9 a.m.: WGXC News 4:27 PLAY CLIP and International Network News (INN), through Audioport.
• 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

WNYT TV in Albany posted this video of Pam Young in Prattsville Monday, watching as the home that's been in her family since 1947, was torn down Monday. "We were actually trapped on the roof, me, my nephew and my nine-year-old son. My house at the end of town across the bridge, my house collapsed," Young said after Hurricane Irene. Young told the WNYT reporter that flood insurance paid off the mortgage.

Andrea Macko writes several articles in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website) about recovery efforts in Rensselaerville and Preston Hollow in Albany County. Macko reports about an Oct. 4 special meeting of the Rensselaerville Town Board about the flood damage in Preston Hollow. She reports that Town Supervisor Marie Dermody and town council members Gary Chase and John Kudlack defeated a motion by Bob Bolte (and voted for by Marion Cooke) to allow public comment at the crowded meeting. Macko writes residents did get their say a week later at an Oct. 11 meeting, and several complained about being silenced the week before. Medusa resident and Tea Party activist David Bowdish said not allowing public comment at the meeting was not in the spirit of the U.S. Constitution. Supervisor Dermody, meanwhile, had her own complaints: three important state and federal officials could not come or backed out of appearing before the board. Highway Superintendent David Potter estimated it will cost $500,000 to stabilize Catskill Creek in the hamlet. A representative from FEMA did answer questions from the public, but the story makes clear that Rensselaerville and Preston Hollow are not getting the attention they need to recover from Hurricane Irene damage.