The GOP lawsuit against Columbia County Board of Election Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democrat and Jason Nastke, Republican, to stop the Democrats from having a write-in line for Mayor on the Sept. 13 primary ballot, came to an abrupt end Mon. Aug. 8, when Columbia County Court Judge Christian Hummel ruled that the GOP failed to serve notice on the affected parties in a timely manner. In a conversation this reporter just had with Victor Mendolia, it is reported that the Judge ruled that the Republicans missed a key element in their pursuit. Therefore the merits of the petitions themselves could not be questioned because the correct process was not followed. The other parties involved could not be reached as of yet. Further information will be made available at a later time. Nick Haddad was the Democrat-backed candidate for Mayor, but faces a write-in run-off against all-comes now because Mendolia failed to file election paperwork properly.

Williamsburg on the Hudson
Peter Applebome in The New York Times wrote a large story about former New York City residents now populating the Hudson Valley. One section of the story has caused considerable snarky Twittering and Facebook posting throughout the Hudson Valley:

"There is a parlor game people sometimes play, comparing Hudson Valley towns with New York neighborhoods, said Sari Botton, a freelance writer in Rosendale. For instance, Rhinebeck might be the Upper East Side, Woodstock the West Village, New Paltz the Upper West Side, Beacon the East Village, Rosendale and High Falls different parts of Williamsburg. Tivoli could be compared to Greenpoint, Hudson to Chelsea, Catskill to Bushwick, Kingston to a mix of Fort Greene and Carroll Gardens."

Among all the internet chatter, the blog Gawker went after Hudson's Melissa Auf der Maur, of Basilica Hudson, in particular:

"Towns like Hudson offer 'the feel of SoHo decades ago,' as former Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur describes it. Auf der Maur is from Montreal and too young to have experienced SoHo in its heyday, but perhaps she just knows. More from Auf der Maur: 'There's the sense that it's manageable, it's beautiful, it has infrastructure that can inspire you and facilitate your needs and get you to feel like you're part of a moment of discovery.' You can have still have moments of discovery in Williamsburg, but they're expensive and someone drunk will probably puke on your shoes at some point."

Read the full story in The New York Times.

Greene goners
Dick May, on his "Seeing Greene" blog, uses the occasion of Cairo-Durham schools Superintendent Sally Sharkey's departure to compare salaries of Greene County school chiefs.

"According to State Department of Education figures... [Sharkey's] salary of $135,523 plus a benefits package valued at $41,127 is second-lowest among GreeneLand school superintendents. The lowest salary goes to the superintendent in the smallest (in population) district: Hunter-Tannersville, at $126,838 plus a benefits package valued at $42,244. The other figures are $138,030 plus $59,760 (Windham-Ashland-Jewett—and that benefits packages is the fattest of the six); $140,057 plus $34,316 (Greenville); $143,000 plus $10,940 (Coxsackie-Athens, and a remarkably small benefits package); and $162,081 plus $44,729 (Catskill)."

Read the entire post at Seeing Greene.

Ex-NY Gov. Hugh Carey dies at 92
The Daily Freeman reports that former New York Gov. Hugh Carey died Sunday. He was 92. "Declaring that the days of wine and roses were over, Governor Carey looked to statesmanship and compromise, rather than partisanship or parochialism, to get the state's fiscal house in order," current Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "He called for shared sacrifice and asked all New Yorkers to come together. New Yorkers across the state heard the governor's call to action, followed his lead, and the ship was righted." The Democrat Carey served two terms as governor from 1975 to 1982, after seven terms as a congressman from Brooklyn. He may be best known for launching the "I Love New York" ad campaign during his years in office. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on headline or "PLAY CLIP" to listen to mp3 recording.

• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110808
Produced by Terry Doyle. This is a segment from Doyle's weekly show on WGXC, "Imprint," which looks at Hudson Valley music Sundays at 11 p.m. This is a calendar of musical events this week in the Hudson Valley. PLAY CLIP

The National Weather Service predicts a 50 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 11 a.m. on Monday, otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 86. North wind between 6 and 11 mph. Monday night should be mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Tuesday the chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., drops to 30 percent, and the day should be otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Town meetings tonight
ASHLAND Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland. (734-3636)
CANAAN The Canaan Town Board holds a workshop meeting concerning wind power. The regular monthly meeting will immediately follow the workshop meeting at 6 p.m. at Canaan Town Hall, 1647 County Route 5, Canaan.
CATSKILL Village meeting at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse, 1 Central Ave. (behind Walgreens) (943-3830).
COPAKE Environmental Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE COUNTY LEGISLATURE holds Buildings & Grounds, Conservation, Public Safety, Highway, Government Operations, and Finance committee meetings at 6 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Common Council workshop meeting at 7 p.m., City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUNTER Village meeting at 8 p.m.
NEW BALTIMORE Town meeting at 7:30 p.m. at 3809 Rt. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671).
NEW LEBANON The New Lebanon Town Board has introduced a Local Law to amend the Campgrounds Ordinance of the Town of New Lebanon as set forth in Chapter 88 of the Town Code. The proposed changes to the ordinance incorporate the Camping Grounds regulations set forth in the Town of New Lebanon Zoning Ordinance adopted 8/9/2010; replace specific requirements set forth throughout the ordinance with reference to the appropriate State or County regulatory authority or Code including the New York State Sanitary, Building, Fire, and Property Maintenance Codes; and clarify the application process. A copy of said proposed law is available for public review in the office of the New Lebanon Town Clerk during regular office hours. A public hearing upon said proposed local law will be held at the American Legion Hall at 7 Mill Road in New Lebanon at 6:45 p.m. and that an opportunity to be heard will be given to those favoring or opposing the passage of said proposed law.
PHILMONT The Village of Philmont holds a public hearing on Government Immunity to Zoning Laws as it relates to the proposed DPW garage (Pursuant to Monroe v. Rochester, 72 N.Y.2d 338) prior to the regular monthly board meeting. At 7 p.m. at Philmont Village Hall, 124 Main St., Philmont. 518-672-7032
PRATTSVILLE Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).
TAGHKANIC Public Hearings on: Draft Local Law Small Scale Excavation 7 p.m..; Draft Local Law Sole Assessor 7:10 p.m.; Highway Garage/Salt Shed 7:20 p.m. A copy of the Draft Local Laws are available for viewing on the town’s web site at www.taghkanic.org, and copies are available at the office of the Town Clerk, 483 County Route 15, Taghkanic. If unable to attend the hearing all comments may be sent to Cheryl E. Rogers, Town Clerk, 483 County Route 15, Elizaville, NY 12523 or crogers42857@gmail.com. The regular meeting will immediately follow. At 7 p.m. at Taghkanic Town Hall, 909 Route 82, Taghkanic. 518-851-7638

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:35 p.m./Low, 5:41 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:59 a.m./8:04 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:17 a.m./ 12:48 p.m.

Birthdays
August 8 Benny Carter, Webb Pierce, Rory Calhoun, Keith Carradine, and The Edge.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant updates of the morning news, and plays local music. At 10 a.m. local musician Greg Stewart will perform live in the WGXC Hudson studio. 9 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
MONDAY MUSIC MATINEE Lincoln Mayorga surveys local classical musicians with international reputations. Noon-2 p.m.
THE AG SHOW Kieran Reilly talks farming news. 2 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Greg Osofsky and Kaya Weidman host. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
STONE WALLS, STEEL BARS Cowboy Jim hosts the bluegrass show. 9:30 p.m.
LUNARMOSS DJ Lunar Moss plays mostly vinyl. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="500" caption="Michael Bisio, from his website."][/caption]Hudson Valley-based bassist Michael Bisio will be interviewed on WGXC on Thursday, August 11, on "The Jazz Disturbance" from 7-9:30 p.m., in conjunction with WGXC's "Local Music Week." Bisio invariably astounds audiences with the beauty of his tone and the intensity of his very personal musical language. As a recording artist he appears on over fifty CDs, and is leader on ten CDs and co-leads seven duet recordings. In 2009 he recorded 14 releases including two Michael Bisio Quartet CDs for CIMP and Not Two, two CDs by Tomas Ulrich's Cargo Cult, and "Old Dog, By Any Other Name" (Porter Records). Releases this year include Bisio's first solo effort "Travel Music" (MJB) and the highly-lauded Matthew Shipp Trio recording "The Art of the Improviser" (Thirsty Ear) recorded in Troy.

Congressman Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) will be in Hillsdale, Chatham, Stuyvesant, and Germantown this weekend. He starts out on Sat., Aug. 6 at the 2011 Summer Paw Picnic in North Chatham from 12:15-1:30 p.m.; then from 2:15–4 p.m. at Hillsdale Day, in Hillsdale; then from 5-6:45 p.m. at the Rededication of the Ernest R. Lasher Jr. Memorial Park in Germantown. On Sunday, Aug. 7 he will be at the Clambake at the Stuyvesant VFW – Stuyvesant from 4-5 p.m.

A giant leap for Prattsville — Cell tower up and running for some customers
Michael Ryan in the Windham Journal writes that Prattsville's new cell tower is up, and AT&T customers now have better service in western Greene County. “It’s great to finally have this tower,” Town Supervisor Kory O’Hara told Ryan. “I’ve been told the coverage is good on Main Street, up County Route 7 [toward the Gilboa Dam] and out on Washington Street and County Route 10, so it works on just about every road." Independent Tower Holdings, the company that built the 195’ tower on a ridge west of Cozy Hollow Road, got a 40-year lease with the landowner and AT&T, but manager Dan Schweigard, said, so far, Verizon and other carriers are not interested in adding an antenna there. Read the entire story in The Windham Journal.

Chatham Village faces $70,000 budget shortfall
Lisa D. Connell in the Chatham Courier writes that Chatham Village needs to close a $70,000 budget deficit. “We don’t really have a plan yet; this is just bringing it out, talking about it, raising the awareness issue, for the short term, to come up with some solutions,” Mayor Tom Curran said to nearly 25 people attending a budget workshop July 28 at Tracy Memorial Village Hall, Connell reports, “before the end of this fiscal year, on Aug. 31.” Some of the meeting concerned the 30 percent of town properties that do not pay any taxes, held by non-profit groups. The need for a police department in the village was also discussed. “I’m a little concerned about discussions about cutting services or cutting people’s jobs,” said Tim Vallee, the union representative for the Civil Service Employees Association. And Connell adds their is other misery for the town's taxpayers: "Already, the 744 households that comprise Chatham can expect to see higher water and sewer rates. To make repairs to these systems, a 30-year bond between $2.3 and $2.7 million must be secured. That means the average water and sewer bill will rise about $300 a year, [Deputy Mayor Joanne] DelRossi said," Connell writes. Read the full story in the Chatham Courier.

Bad service
Sam Pratt reports at sampratt.com that Rensselaer County Judge Christian Hummel on Thu., Aug. 4 upheld the Columbia County Board of Elections' ruling that the Hudson Democrats' petitions were valid to put Nick Haddad on a write-in ballot for Hudson mayor in the primary election in September. But the judge also gave the Republicans challenging Haddad's petitions, a second chance to file their objections. Hudson GOP chair George DeJesus and Republican Mayoral candidate Bill Hallenbeck have filed objections to the petition, after Hudson Democrats Chairman Victor Mendolia and Haddad first failed to properly fill out paperwork that would have included Haddad on the primary ballot. Pratt reports that, "Democrats Sarah Sterling, Victor Mendolia, and Virginia Martin were represented by attorneys Ed Reisner, John Friedman, and former BOE Commissioner Ken Dow, respectively. Another Democrat cited in the papers, Bill Hughes, is said to be on vacation in Florida." Read the full story at sampratt.com.

UPDATE: Audra Jornov in the Register-Star reveals the split between the two election commissioners, Democrat Virgina Martin and Republican Jason Natske. Predicatably, they take partisan sides in the dispute, forcing the Board of Elections towards a decision Monday. Jornov also gets a quote from Republican Mayoral candidate Bill Hallenbeck, who is challenging the Haddad petitions. “I am a person who agrees that rules and laws should apply to everyone,” Hallenbeck said, “When it is brought to my attention by the Republican chairman that there could be deficiencies on the petitions under election law, based on the signatures, I am almost obligated to make sure everybody is playing by the same rules and that the law applies to everyone who is running for election.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="From candidate's website."][/caption]WGXC Town Reporter Philip Grant interviewed Republican presidential candidate John Davis, a self-employed home builder from Colorado who has never held elected office. Davis is on a nationwide bus tour attempting to visit all 3,143 counties in the United States, and came to Greene and Columbia counties on Thu., Aug. 4. visiting Village Pizza II on Main Street in Catskill, and then American Glory in Hudson. Click here to listen to an interview Grant did with this presidential hopeful.

Lissa Harris in the Watershed Post blog reports that over 800 cyclists will trek through Greene and Ulster counties for the fourth annual Tour of the Catskills, a three-day road race that over almost 200 miles with amateur and professional cyclists that begins Fri., Aug. 5 at Hunter Mountain with a 12-mile individual time trial. From the Watershed Post:

The video above shows a few of last year's cyclists pushing through the infamous Devil's Kitchen stretch of Platte Clove Road in Saugerties, which was added to the race just last year. It's a notoriously punishing climb, with some stretches over 22% grade; local biking blog Capital District Road Climbs calls it "quite possibly the most hellacious climb in New York State, and one of the most difficult climbs in the Northeast."

The Watershed Post's radio show, "The Half-Hour News Hour," which airs on WIOX in Roxbury, will also air today, Fri., Aug. 5 at 3 p.m. on WGXC 90.7-FM.

The National Weather Service predicts a 20 percent chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny on Friday, with a high near 79. Friday night should be cloudy as the rain approaches, with a low around 62. Saturday expect showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Sunday there is also a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78.

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 8:35 p.m./Low, 2:30 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:56 a.m./8:08 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:57 a.m./ 11:16 p.m.

Birthdays
August 5 Neil Armstrong, Patrick Ewing, Adam Yauch, Funkmaster Flex, and John Olerud.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Tom Roe updates of the morning news. 9 a.m.
WORK Hosted by Max Goldfarb and Laura Kunreuther. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
PURE MOODS Shannekia McIntosh plays all sorts of music. Noon-2 p.m.
QUE COCINARE HOY? Antonio Flores-Lobos hosts in Spanish. 2 p.m.
THE HALF-HOUR NEWS HOUR News for Greene County and the Catskills from the Watershed Post blog. 3 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD Steve Charney hosts. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts hosts, with audio reports from Chatham, Hudson, and other towns. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
HOTLINE RADIO L Dot Dinero and The Guy host. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

NY Confirms First Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Horse
Wed., Aug., 3, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) confirmed the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as EEE, in an Oneida County, NY horse. The nine-year-old mare there has lived at its current home for several years and had no recent travel history, and was unvaccinated. A NYSDAM press release says, "the presence of an infected horse in the area indicates that mosquitoes carrying EEE are present and pose a threat to both humans and horses." Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Darrel J. Aubertine, "urges all horse owners to discuss vaccination against both diseases with their veterinarian," according to the press release. State Veterinarian David Smith added that any horse exhibiting neurologic problems should always be handled with great caution. The risk of physical injury to handlers is greater when horses are unsteady on their feet and also rabies needs to be ruled out as a cause of the symptoms.

GOP sues to keep Dems out of ballot
W. T. Eckert in the Register-Star reports that the Hudson Republican Committee filed a lawsuit Wed., Aug. 3, against Columbia County Board of Election Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democrat and Jason Nastke, Republican, to stop the Democrats from having a line for mayor on September’s primary ballot. Last month city Democrats failed to file Democratic nominee for mayor Nick Haddad’s petition for the November elections. Democrats have since collected the 92 signatures to for an Opportunity to Ballot and allow Haddad to be a write-in candidate in the Democratic primary on September 13. "Republicans are arguing that the petition is inadmissible because the signatures are duplicates of the ones that appeared on the petition nominating Haddad as the Democratic candidate," Eckert writes. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Saland mailer has Cuomo photo
Republican State Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County in the New York State Senator, just msent a mailer to constituents listing his various accomplishments this last legislative session, and includes a photo of Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo. Saland is now best known for joining Democrats and becoming the 32nd vote in the Senate to pass the same-sex marriage bill in May.

Read All About It!
Carole Osterink in The Gossips of Rivertown blog corrals all the reviews from this weekend's NADA Hudson art fair at Basilica Hudson:
Art Forum: "Upstate, Downstate"

The New York Observer: "NADA Hudson Sent the Art World Up the River"

ARTINFO: "Welcome to Art Country"

The L Magazine: "Photos from This Weekend's First NADA Hudson Art Project"

Art Fag City: "Report from NADA Hudson"

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="259" caption="Photo by Tom Roe."][/caption]WGXC Town Reporter Philip Grant went out to the recent job fair at Columbia-Greene Community College for Flanders, the new company moving in to the former Kaz plant. That shop in Greenport has been closed since 2009, and the new company promises over 100 hires by October. Listen to Grant speak to the former Kaz employees about their hopes to return to work in Columbia County. Click here to listen to mp3 recording of Grant speaking to the workers.

The band Abakus performed at The Big Up Festival in Ghent Sat., July 30. (H/T Columbia County News.)

The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of showers, mainly before 7 a.m. Thursday. Then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Thursday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Friday, the prediction is mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Town meetings today
ANCRAM Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1416 County Rte. 7, Ancram (329-6512).
AUSTERLITZ Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown (392-3260).
CAIRO The Town Board of the Town of Cairo holds a Public Hearing to be held on the 4th day of August, the year 2011 at 3:30 pm at the Town Hall located on Main Street, Cairo, County of Greene, State of New York. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment on a local law extending a moratorium on approval of new junk yards within the Town of Cairo. Copies of the proposed local law are available in the Town Clerk’s Office. At 3:30 p.m. at Cairo Town Hall, 512 Main St.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Columbia County, in consideration of NYS Community Development Block Grant funded programs, will be holding a Public Hearing in the Committee Room at the Columbia County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 4 p.m. The intent of this hearing is to learn of all potential CDBG funding programs, the available funding amounts, and to obtain the views of citizens, public agencies and other interested parties regarding Columbia County needs. Approximately $50 million of CDBG funding is available annually to eligible communities within New York State. CDBG funding categories include Economic Development. Assistance under the Community Development Block Grant Program must meet one of three national objectives: benefit to low and moderate-income persons, elimination of slums and blight or urgent needs affecting the health and safety of the community. No less than seventy percent (70%) of grant funds must be used for activities benefiting low and moderate-income persons and the benefit area must contain at least fifty-one percent (51%) low and moderate-income residents. All interested persons are encouraged to attend. Written and verbal comments and questions can be mailed to Columbia County Planning and Economic Development, 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534. Please phone 518-828-3375 if special accommodations are required for your attendance.
COPAKE Planning Board meets at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
KINDERHOOK Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 7:39 p.m./Low, 1:37 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:55 a.m./8:09 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:45 a.m./ 10:39 p.m.

Birthdays
August 4 Louis Armstrong, Klaus Schulze, Gerry Cooney, Barack Obama, Dennis Lehane.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Antonio Flores-Lobos presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Norman Keyser updates of the morning news with events from Ellen Thurston. 9 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Hosted by Christina Malisoff and Sam Sebren. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CROSSROADS Alan Skerrett plays jazz, R&B, soul, and more. Noon-2 p.m.
THE ART OF THE HUDSON VALLEY Colleen Schaffernoth, Executive Director of the Columbia County Council on the Arts. Fawn Potash, Catskill artist, Greene County Council on the Arts Visual Arts Director and Project Director for masters on Main Street. Galen Joseph-Hunter, Executive Director of free103point9, WGXC’s parent organization. And, Michael Royce, Executive Director of the New York Foundation for the Arts, who will be calling in from his Brooklyn office. Your host is Chad Weckler. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Antoine Guerlain hosts. Philip Grant has an interview with Republican presidential candidate John Davis, who will be in Catskill and Hudson Thursday. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
THE JAZZ DISTURBANCE Cheryl K. hosts. 7 p.m.
69 The Magic Stranger hosts. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Friday morning.

'Fracking' comment period firm
Brian Nearing in the Albany Times-Union reports that New York Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens spoke with the Times Union Editorial Board about High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing and said the department is unlikely to extend its 60-day comment period on the proposed rules. "I am inclined to stick with the 60 days," said Martens. "In 2009, when DEC first unveiled proposed draft rules on hydrofracking, there were nearly 14,000 comments for the department to consider, prompting the department to come back with the revised draft rules," Nearing reports. Martens said the department was considering increasing the bond that well drillers must provide to pay for the cost of unforeseen environmental cleanups, now just $5,000. Read the full story in the Times-Union.

Mountain Top Arboretum adds cell phone tours
The Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville, has added cell phone-led audio tours of the grounds and podcasts of information about the site at MTArboretum.org. The arboretum has three distinct zones: the West Meadow with native and non-native conifers, and exposed, 375-million-year-old, Devonian-era bedrock, and a butterfly garden; the Woodland Walk is a deer-fenced area designed to preserve the native habitat, including the native wildflowers and Mountain Laurels planted there; and the East Meadow includes the Pine Grove, Fern Trail, and Pump House, an early 20th century building now used as an irrigation system for the meadow. Call 518-261-8300 for the audio tour that takes about a half hour for each of the three zones.

Black Dome Press changes hands
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that publisher Deborah Allen of Black Dome Press in Hensonville, is retiring, selling the company to long-time Black Dome editor Steve Hoare, of Delmar. “We’ve had great authors, loyal readers, wonderful supporters, active distributors and dealers -- everyone that it takes to make a publishing house successful,” Allen told Planck. Hoare will keep up the imprint's local tradition. “The intention is to stay ‘local’,” he said in the story, “focusing on books of interest to readers in the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Adirondacks, Capital Region, Lake George and Lake Champlain, Berkshires, and Mohawk Valley.” Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

The National Weather Service predicts a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Wednesday night those showers and thunderstorms, may stick around before 2 a.m., with a low around 61. Thursday there is a smaller chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Friday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Town meetings today
CAIRO A public hearing, pursuant to Section 276 of Town Law on the application of Robert Phoenix for approval of Preliminary/Final Subdivision plats. Said subdivisions are located on South Rd., Cairo.; and of Robert Schneider for approval of Preliminary/Final Subdivision plats. Said subdivisions are located on 6976 NYS Rt. 32, Cairo. At Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main Street, Cairo (622-3120).
GHENT Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, P.O. Box 98, Ghent (392-4644).
GREENE COUNTY Greene County holds a public hearing on the 2011 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program in New York State. The public hearing will be held in the Business Resource Center on the 4th floor of the Greene County Office Building, 411 Main Street, Catskill, NY 12414. The purpose of the hearing is to give citizens the opportunity to identify and discuss Greene County’s overall needs and priorities, including the needs of low and moderate income persons, and proposed community improvement program(s) and project(s) before Greene County makes the final decision on any programs and/or projects it will seek CDBG funding for. The public hearing will at 3:30 p.m. at the Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill.
GREENPORT Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, 600 Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
HUDSON Hudson Common Council Youth & Aging Committee meeting, 6 p.m., and Arts, Entertainment & Tourism Committee meeting at 6:45 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
LIVINGSTON Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).
NEW BALTIMORE A Public Hearing before the Town of New Baltimore Zoning Board of Appeals about the Area Variance Application of Betty J. Best to place a carport on her property located at 268 Main Street, New Baltimore. At 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, 3809 County Route 51, Hannacroix

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 6:45 p.m./Low, 12:51 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:54 a.m./8:10 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 10:32 a.m./ 10:06 p.m.

Birthdays
August 3 Ernie Pyle, Martha Stewart, Jay North, James Hetfield, Tom Brady.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Updates of the morning news. 9 a.m.
@ISSUE Hosted by Victor Mendolia with guests Alderman Ellen Thurston from Hudson's 3rd Ward who is seeking the Supervisor position, and John Friedman who is running to succeed Thurston on the Common Council. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer plays all sorts of music. Noon-2 p.m.
PRISON VOICES PROJECT Hosted by Jeremy Thal, Alexandra Cox, Kaya Weidman, and Cory Fischer-Hoffman, the subject is youth incarceration, including a report telling about a Claverack facility. 2 p.m.
CATSKILL REVIEW OF BOOKS Author Russell Jacoby talks about his book "Bloodlust!: On the roots of Violence from Cain and Abel to the present day." From WJFF in Jeffersonville. 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO Radio Explosion! 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Will Pflaum discusses his lawsuit against Stuyvesant, the town referendum next week; and his ongoing battles with the town and his business boarding dogs. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Thursday morning.

Daniel Strauss in The Hill reports that New York's U.S. Senators split today, Tue., Aug. 2, on the vote to raise the debt ceiling by $2.1 trillion. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand voted against the bill, and Chuck Schumer voted for it. "The fact is, there is nothing in this deal that will address the significant jobs crisis we are facing," Gillibrand said in a statement shortly after the legislation passed. "This deal, cut behind closed doors with zero transparency, is an unbalanced approach that cuts deeply into discretionary spending while being overwhelmingly stacked in favor of large corporations who exploit loopholes and the wealthiest among us. It is simply not in the best interests of the middle class and the larger economic recovery," she said.

 Schumer agreed, those there votes were different. "There is nothing in this deal that will address the significant jobs crisis we are facing," Schumer said Tuesday, according to The New York Observer. On Monday, local representative Chris Gibson (R-Kinderhook) voted for the bill.

Untitled from WGXC 90.7-FM on Vimeo.

NADA Hudson at Basilica Hudson from WGXC 90.7-FM on Vimeo.

The New Art Dealers Alliance festival of art came to Basilica Hudson this past weekend, and WGXC volunteers Mitch Belgin and Shelly Menolascino (they shot the videos), and Shannekia McIntosh interviewed many of the artists and dealers involved about art, Hudson, and other issues. Tune in:

• NADA Interview Series: Nick Kahn
Interview by Shannekia McIntosh with Hudson artist Nicholas Kahn of Kahn & Selesnick and (hi)story labor(atory) at NADA Hudson at the Basilica on July 31, 2011. PLAY CLIP

• NADA Interview series: Benjamin Tischer
Interview by Mitch Belgin and Shelly Menolascino with gallerist Benjamin Tischer, owner of Invisible Exports on July 31, 2011. Invisible Exports presented work of artist Phillip Von Zweck at Nada Hudson. PLAY CLIP

• NADA Interview Series: Jim Krewson
Interview by Shannekia McIntosh of Catskill resident Jim Krewson, exhibiting at NADA Hudson with the Zach Feuer Gallery. PLAY CLIP

• NADA Interview Series: Chris Morgan
Interview by Shannekia McIntosh of Chris Morgan from Workplace Gallery based in Gateshead, UK. Workplace Gallery presented New Sculpture by Laura Lancaster at NADA Hudson. PLAY CLIP

• NADA Interview Series: Meg Clixby
Interview by Mitch Belgin and Shelly Menolascino of Meg Clixby of Gallery Taxter & Spangemann, presenting the work of Max Schumann at Nada Hudson. PLAY CLIP

• NADA Interview Series: Laetitia Hussain and Melora Kuhn
Interview by Shannekia McIntosh of Hudson-based artists. PLAY CLIP
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Photo by Mitch Belgin."][/caption]

Gibson votes for budget bill
Congressman Chris Gibson (R, Kinderhook) voted Monday, Aug. 1 for the Budget Control Act of 2011, that raises the nation’s debt limit with a $2.1 trillion cut in spending. The vote was 269-161, and Gibson, who represents Greene and Columbia counties in NY's 20th Congressional District, released this statement. "This evening, after careful review, I voted yes on the final compromise agreement to avert our current debt crisis while cutting spending. The legislation cuts $2.1 trillion in spending, while protecting Medicare and Social Security. To be clear, my preferred approach was the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act. However, I believe the final agreement embodies those principles, and makes significant changes that will put us on a path of restoring fiscal responsibility. This is accomplished through cuts, enforceable caps on future spending, and a requirement to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution."

Relatively unknown GOP presidential candidate coming to Hudson and Catskill
Doron Tyler Antrim reports in The Daily Mail that Republican presidential candidate John Davis stops by Catskill and Hudson this Thursday. Davis, is a self-employed home builder from Colorado who has never held elected office, on a nationwide bus tour attempting to visit all 3,143 counties in the United States. "So far, he’s been to more than 900 counties in 29 states, logging more than 39,000 miles," Antrim writes. This Thursday, Aug. 4, Davis will be at Village Pizza II on Main Street in Catskill, and then at American Glory in Hudson at 3 p.m. Antrim looks up his finanacial records and finds he has received $14,884 in individual contributions, and has $7,800 cash-on-hand. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="From DEC website."][/caption]Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation holds its 15th Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey to estimate the number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen statewide. "Weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can all significantly impact nest success, hen survival, and poult survival," the DEC says, and survey predicts fall harvest potential. During the month of August, survey participants record the sex and age composition of all flocks of wild turkeys observed during normal travel. Those interested in participating can download a Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey form along with instructions and the data sheet directly at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48732.html. Survey cards can also be obtained by contacting a regional DEC office, calling (518) 402-8886, or by e-mailing fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (type "Turkey Survey" in the subject line).

Even as Financial Fears Mount, Real Love Outweighs Gold
Zarchary Woolfe in The New York Times reviews Sunday's performance of “Die Liebe der Danae,” Richard Strauss' 1940 opera that is part of the Bard SummerScape festival, with conductor Leon Botstein and his American Symphony Orchestra. "With gorgeous music and a plot seemingly tailor-made for our troubled times, it is one of those operas that make you resent the stubborn smallness of the standard repertory," he writes, mentioning that the show will be performed again on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (Aug. 3-7) at the Bard SummerScape festival at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson. Read the full review in The New York Times.

The National Weather Service predicts Tuesday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Tuesday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Wednesday there is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, but otherwise mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Thursday, should be sunny, with a high near 84.

Town meetings today
CATSKILL Town Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
COLUMBIA COUNTY There will be a meeting of the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency at 8:30 a.m. and the Columbia County Capital Resource Corporation 9 a.m. for the purpose of discussing any matters that may be presented to the Corporations for consideration. At 8:30 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Hudson.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Finance Committee meets at 5 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State St., Hudson.
COPAKE Park Commission meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
DURHAM The Durham Town Board holds a Public Hearing on the following Site Plan Applications: Property owned by Edward Armstrong, parcel 49.00-6-30 located at 1105 Hervey Sunside Road, Cornwallville consisting of approximately 54.80 +/- acres. Their wish is to place a 140’ wind tower on this parcel. And Property owned by Robert Stefanko, parcel 63.00-3-8 located at 7591 Rt 23, East Windham consisting of approximately 17.10 +/- acres. Their wish is to place a 120’ wind tower on this parcel. Durham Town Board will hold a Public Hearing on the following proposed subdivisions: Property owned by Janina Rachubinski, parcel 21.00-4-57 located at 446 Stonitch Road, East Durham consisting of approximately 12.22 +/- acres. Their wish is to subdivide into two parcels of 2.04 +/- acres and 10.18 +/- acres. And Property owned by Barry Nesson, parcel 21.00-4-68 located at 4178 Route 145, Durham consisting of approximately 4.40 +/- acres. Their wish is to subdivide into two parcels of 1.7944 +/- acres and 3.7519 +/- acres. Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham (239-8260).
HILLSDALE Hillsdale The Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Hillsdale holds to consider the following application: A public hearing on a variance for Norman and Sandra Reisman, 4 Stonehill Drive, to build a bedroom addition on to existing house. At 7:30 p.m. at Hillsdale Town Hall, Main St.
HUNTER The Town of Hunter Planning Board meeting scheduled for Tues. Aug. 2 has been canceled. The next Planning Board meeting is Tues. September 6, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall in Tannersville.
LEXINGTON Town Board meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal building, 3542 Route 42, Lexington, (986-6303).
LIVINGSTON Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, County Rte. 19, Livingston (851-9441).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 5:51 p.m./Low, 12:07 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:53 a.m./8:11 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 9:19 a.m./ 9:35 p.m.

Birthdays
August 2 Hank Cochran, Garth Hudson, and Caleb Carr.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Updates of the morning news. 9 a.m.
WORK Hosted by Max Goldfarb and Laura Kunreuther, on this program, they, "talk to neighbors in and around Columbia County about their experience and relationship to work, as well as the relationship between their work and the places they live." Different episodes of this show will air at 10 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday this week, and then take up a regular spot in the schedule the second Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
VOCAL CHORDS Andrew Sosnowski plays vocal music. Noon-2 p.m.
COUNTERSPIN FAIR's weekly media show. 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Carl Ritchie, director/writer of The Real (Desperate) Housewives of Columbia County Musical, discusses his latest work, his career and what it was like to go to High School in the Himalayas. Hosted by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth. 4-6 p.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 6 p.m.
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS 6:30 p.m.
JMOORE Jeff Moore plays all sorts of music. 7 p.m.
BATTLEFIELD EARTH Dan Seward plays even more all sorts of music. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more midnight through 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Corruption charge against Pebler reportedly dropped
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail writes the most high-profile story of his short tenure at the paper: He reports that the felony charge against Edward Pebler for falsifying his time sheets at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility, "according to a source with knowledge of private conversations at the maximum-security prison," Antrim writes. His single source claims workers at the prison, "have bragged about the outcome and say it’s 'all thanks to [Greene County District Attorney] Terry Wilhelm,'" he writes. The charge was dropped this January, according to Antrim's source. Neither Wilhem nor Pebler’s attorney, Dennis Schlenker, returned Antrim's calls about the case. Pebler is still working at the prison, according to Antrim's source, supervising vehicular and plant maintenance at almost $69,000 per year. An inspector general report showed Pebler claiming to work 13 times when he was actually acting as Coxsackie’s code enforcement officer, and made over 570 phone calls with a town-issued cell phone while on state time. "Earlier this year, the Coxsackie Town Board tabled a resolution to reappoint Pebler, saying it was awaiting DOCS’ decision whether to grant him permission to work for the town," Antrim writes. Pebler was charged with offering a false instrument for filing, a class E felony, the maximum sentence for which is four years in prison. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Valentine case dismissed
Doron Tyler Antrim reports that charges were dropped against Greene County Legislator Keith Valentine, Republican of Catskill, and his wife Cynthia, for violating a law he voted for in the legislature, not allowing adults to serve alcohol to minors. While Antrim, or an editor at the paper, writes he has been cleared of the charges, that does not seem to be the case. The charges, however, have been dropped. "In a written decision, Hunter Town Justice William Simon said, “no useful purpose would be served” by prosecuting the Valentines under a 2007 county law making it a crime for a person in control of a residence to host a open house party at which they knowingly allow[ed] underage drinking," Antrim writes, and though he twice writes they have been cleared of charges, his detailed explanation says otherwise. "In what’s known as an affirmative defense, a defendant can have the aforementioned charge dropped if they’ve not been convicted of it in the last five years and complete the state Alcohol Training Awareness Program," Antrim writes. Columbia County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino told Antrim that the Valentines completed that awareness program May 9. Valentine was elected to his third term as a Legislator in 2009 and, according to Antrim, "pushed for the adoption of the house party law," that he was later charged with violating. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Mt. Merino open again
Audra Jornov in the Register-Star writes that Mount Merino Road is reopened, after being closed since March because of water erosion. The road, which circles the west side of the small mountain just outside of Hudson, connects with Route 9G. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

County seeks town’s OK for cellular tower
W. T. Eckert reports that cell phone reception may improve in Columbia County if the Claverack Zoning Board approves adding a new cell phone tower where a water tank currently stands on the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center property. The water tank currently holds antennae for AT&T and Sprint, and a new tower would be higher, for better reception, and would add Verizon Wireless and possibly another carrier. If approved by the Claverack Zoning Board, the tank would be torn down and the tower would replace it. Columbia County Public Works Commissioner David Robinson said, “The water tank hasn’t been in use for 25 years, maybe longer. The new tower will really give the coverage needed,” he said, claiming that cell coverage drops off to the west and the south, and is “sketchy at best” on the nearby Taconic Parkway. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

MONDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on the headline or "PLAY CLIP" to hear mp3 audio files.

• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110801
Produced by Terry Doyle. Listing of upcoming events, from "Imprint" program Sundays at 11 p.m. on WGXC. PLAY CLIP