The National Weather Service predicts a beautiful week:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
July 4: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Town meetings today
HUDSON The City of Hudson holds a public hearing in the Common Council Chambers on the proposed Local Law which was adopted by the Common Council on June 21, 2011: Proposed Local Law Intro. No. 2 of 2011. A local law authorizing the installation of a boot security device on vehicles with unpaid parking tickets. Hearing is at 4 p.m. at Hudson City Hall, 520 Warren St.
HUNTER The Town Board of the Town of Hunter holds a special meeting to discuss personnel/employment matters at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 23A, Tannersville.

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 3:18 p.m./Low, 9:41 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:28 a.m./8:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:40 a.m./8:02 p.m.

Birthdays
June 30 Lena Horne, Stanley Clarke, and Mike Tyson.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos present the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and in English and Spanish. This morning with recordings of last night's Cairo School Board meeting. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Norman Keyser updates the morning news, and Joan Geitz and Ellen Thurston look at local events. 9-10 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Christina Malisoff recorded a Bill McKibben talk recently at Hawthorne Valley. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CROSSROADS Alan Skerrett hosts, plays jazz, soul, R&B, and other styles. Noon-2 p.m.
SOUND FORMS Peter Wetzler talks to composer George Tsontakis. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER Radio art. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts 4-7 p.m. At 5:10 p.m. WGXC will air the complete recording of the Cairo School Board meeting.
THE JAZZ DISTURBANCE Cheryl K. hosts. 7 p.m.
69 The Magic Stranger plays psychedelic music from 1969. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more through 6 a.m. Friday morning.

Mathes resigns from IDA
Doron Tyler Antrim reports that Alexander "Sandy" Mathes resigned as the executive director of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency Tuesday morning. The decision was “mutually agreed to,” according to a statement fro the IDA Board of Directors. “I cannot express strong enough my appreciation to the Greene County IDA Board of Directors for the opportunity given to me in 2002,” Mathes said in a prepared statement. “I was hired on a 90-day non-guaranteed contract and now over nine years later by working together with local communities and leaders we have accomplished much.... Now it is time to pursue other professional challenges.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Farmers wage war on stink bugs
Adam Bosch in the Times Herald-Record reports that the Hudson Valley is beset by brown marmorated stink bugs, which have made it as far north as Saugerties. "This is unlike any insect we've ever seen," said Doug Glorie, from the Glorie Farm Winery in Marlborough, who found two adult stink bugs and one mass of eggs on his hilltop farm. "We are, without a doubt, very nervous." "The nickle-sized bug inflicts most of its damage by jabbing its strawlike beak into a fruit or vegetable and sucking out seeds and other contents," Bosch writes. The bug bites can blemish vegetables and fruit or change their taste, and when the bug is frightened or killed it smells very badly. Farmers are experimenting with soaps and oils, which might clog the stink bug's respiration system. Read the full story in the Times Herald-Record.

Lunches to cost more in 2011-12
Audra Jornov in the Register-Star reports that the Hudson City School District raised school lunch prices from a dime to a quarter at a School Board meeting Monday. "Proposed prices of school lunches, as discussed in the last meeting, were as follows: Breakfast for grades K-2 would go up 15 cents to $1.25, and for grades 3-12 it would go up 15 cents to $1.50. The lunch for grades K-2 would go up 10 cents to $1.75, and for grades 3-12 would go up 25 cents to $2.25," Jornov wrote. Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

The National Weather Service predicts that after that rain last night, we are looking at a beautiful week:
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
July 4: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Town meetings today
It is the fifth Wednesday of the month, and there are rarely town meetings on the fifth week of the month.

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 2:36 p.m./Low, 8:55 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:27 a.m./8:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 3:45 a.m./7:11 p.m.

Birthdays
June 29 Bernard Herrmann, Harmon Killebrew, Stokely Carmichael, Gary Busey, Chandrika Kumaratunga, and Bret McKenzie.

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 looks at the morning news, with longer interviews and reports. 9-10 a.m.
@ISSUE Victor Mendolia hosts. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer hosts, plays music of many kinds. Noon-2 p.m.
ACRES FOOD CO-OP MEETING Recording of meeting from Tue. June 28 of meeting for proposed food co-op in Hudson. 2 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Radio Explosion, 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts 4-7 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more through 6 a.m. Thursday morning.

This interview is with New York State Senator Steve Saland interviewed by Poughkeepsie Journal editorial board Tue. June 28, about his vote to legalize same-sex marriage.

The Mid-Hudson News Network reports that New York State Senator Steve Saland will lose his endorsement from the Conservative Party after he voted for same-sex marriage Friday. Saland, who represents Columbia County in Albany, was the 32nd Senator to announce his public support for the measure, enough for the bill to pass the State Senate. Michael Long, the chairman of the state Conservative Committee said the party will not back Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, in the next election. “The Conservative Party has to be true to its principles and those principles are supporting marriage between a man and a woman and we can no longer endorse people who don’t respect that or honor that commitment,” he said. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

County sheds dozens of jobs
Jeff Alexander in The Greene County News reports that Greene County officials will save $1.3 million eliminating 42 county jobs. Twelve of those jobs are lay-offs, while the other 30 are jobs the county is not re-filling. County Administrator Shaun Groden says three jobs will be eliminated from the highway department. “Nobody wants to lay anyone off. We have discussed this with unions about making modest changes in contracts. All the unions said they’d make no changes to contracts,” Groden told the paper. Greene County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, R-Coxsackie, said, “I’m really sorry it had to come to this. I thought we had a good dialogue with the union representatives.” Legislature Minority Leader Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, told Alexander, “I feel very bad and I’m disappointed because I did have a positive feeling about those meetings. The tones were very positive and I was hoping the union representatives would accept our proposals." Read the full story in The Greene County News.

Behind Veneer, Doubt on Future of Natural Gas
Ian Urbina in The New York Times has read over "scores of internal e-mails and documents" from the United States Energy Information Administration, a division of the Energy Department, and discovered that while official policy has steadily increased its estimates of domestic supplies of natural gas, he discovered much internal skepticism about the shale gas industry. "One official says the shale industry may be 'set up for failure.' 'It is quite likely that many of these companies will go bankrupt,' a senior adviser to the Energy Information Administration administrator predicts. Several officials echo concerns raised during previous bubbles, in housing and in technology stocks, for example, that ended in a bust," Urbina writes. He quotes one energy analyst at the Energy Information Administration writing, “Am I just totally crazy, or does it seem like everyone and their mothers are endorsing shale gas without getting a really good understanding of the economics at the business level?” Read the full story in The New York Times.

Weather postpones New York vegetables
Doug Ohlemeier in The Packer, a produce industry trade journal, writes that there will be "big delays and shortages of New York vegetables this summer, after spring rains pushed back planting and harmed early production." Sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers, cucumbers and cabbage could be delayed by up to 10-14 days. Other farmers worried about losses. Maureen Marshall, vice president of Torrey Farms Inc., Elba, N.Y., “We expect a 10-20 percent loss on the early crop of squash, cucumbers and beans,” Marshall said. “It could be higher. This will be an interesting summer.” Read the entire story in The Packer.

Sports scores

14U Coxsackie Owlz 6- Guilderland Bulldogs 4
Tristan Valencia hurled a complete game to pick up the win for the 14U Coxsackie Owlz (6-3, 6-5) Sunday, June 26 over the Guilderland Bulldogs 6-4. Valencia gave up one earned run on eight hits, five walks, and seven strikeouts. Matt McDonald went 2-2 with a double for the Owlz, and Sam Palmateer 1-2 with an RBI.

13U Coxsackie Owlz 23- Kingston 0
13U Coxsackie Owlz 8- Kingston 3
The 13U Coxsackie Owlz (8-1, 10-3) swept a double-header from Kingston, 23-0 and 8-3 Sunday, June 26. In the first game, the Owlz had 14 hits, with Derrek DuPont going 3-3 with four RBIs. Chris Zwoboda 2-3 with four RBIs, and Kyle Roberts went 4-5 with an RBI double. Justin Maldonado went the distance for the win, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four. In the second game, Kingston tied it at three after two innings before the Owlz pulled away, with Roberts going 2-2 with an RBI double and getting the win, pitching six innings giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks and eight strikeouts.

The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Tuesday, but otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 83. Tuesday night there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 62. Wednesday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Friday: Sunny, with a high near 81.

Town meetings today
CATSKILL The Town of Catskill Planning Board holds a public hearing to consider a minor 2 lot subdivision of land located on 5290 Rt. 32 Catskill NY proposed by Dan Ellett. 7:15 p.m. at Catskill Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill.
GREENPORT The Planning Board of the Town of Greenport holds a public hearing on the Subdivision of land located off Livingston Parkway in the Town of Greenport, owned by Emily and Christopher Kline. This proposal will create two parcels, one of 0.16 acres and one of 5.9 acres. 7:30 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall, Town Hall Drive, Hudson (828-4656).
HUDSON Common Council Economic Development Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUDSON FOOD CO-OP Acres Co-Op Market Meeting, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 369 Warren St., Hudson. A second Acres Co-op Market listening meeting and community forum will feature committee reports on diversity, outreach, membership, finances, and what food will be on the shelves.

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 1:50 p.m./Low, 8:09 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:27 a.m./8:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:58 a.m./6:16 p.m.

Birthdays
June 28 Mel Brooks, Muhammad Yunus, Gilda Radner, Kathy Bates, John Elway, and DJ Quicksilver.

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 looks at the morning news, with longer interviews and reports. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
FOURTH TUESDAY OPERA SCENE Ed Beatty hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
BLIND SPOT RADIO Photography show with David Bush and David LaSpina. 2 p.m.
COUNTERSPIN FAIR's media show. 3 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Youth radio, 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper host with Mallory Lewis, daughter of Shari Lewis, and puppet Lamb Chop, interviewed at 4.15 p.m. "Those Two Guys" will preview their comedy show at PS21 at 5:10 p.m. 4-7 p.m.
TOM WAITS SHOW Liv Carrow is guest, performing Tom Waits' songs. 7 p.m.
BATTLEFIELD EARTH Dan Seward hosts. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more through 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Town worth its weight
The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer (no website for link) reports that census figures mean that Greenville's representative in the county legislature now has a heavier weighted vote. The recent increase in population in Greenville means representative Kevin Lewis' vote is now worth 806 points. Catskill's four representatives are down to 631 points each, Durham has 587, Cairo has 1,438, Coxsackie has 1,325, and New Baltimore has 727.

Town board votes to move clerk's office
Andrea Macko in The Greenville Mountain View Pioneer reports that Greenville, the last town in Greene County with the town clerk operating from home, is moving the office to the Town Hall Jan. 1, 2012. Current Town Clerk Ronnie Campbell has had the office at her home on Ida Smith Lane for 28 years, but she is retiring at the end of the year. Macko writes that no candidates have yet announced to fill the clerk's office next year.

GOP picks newcomers Hook, Zito over Van Deusen, Jacklin
A staff report in the Register-Star reports that 195 Claverack Republicans choose to endorse several newcomers at a caucus June 21 at the Town Park. Councilman Clifford “Kippy” Weigelt got the nod for one of two seat, but, the chairman of the town's Planning Board Stephen Hook outpolled longtime Town Board member James Van Deusen, the Columbia County Fire Coordinator, by a two-to-one margin for the second spot. For the two assessor seats, incumbent assessor Jack Race led the caucus, with political newcomer Fred Zito of Philmont outpolling incumbent assessor Ed Jacklin for the other endorsement. “It was a big night in Claverack,” Republican Councilman Mike Johnston, who served as clerk of the caucus, told the Register-Star. “The days of the RINO (Republican-In-Name-Only) are over. In these times of outrageous tax-and-spend policies epitomized by Obama and the Democrat administration, people want real Republicans who are not afraid to stand up and say ‘enough already.’ Claverack may just be a small town, but this is where it all starts.” Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Ghent Playhouse appoints Lee-Visscher artistic director
Paul Leyden, President of the Ghent Playhouse Board of Directors, announced Friday, June 24 that long-time Board member and Playhouse regular Cathy Lee Visscher is the new Artistic Director, replacing Tom Detwiler, who has served in that role since 2002. Lee-Visscher, who lives in Valatie, has been with the Ghent Playhouse, formerly Columbia Civic Players, since its very inception 36 years ago, and appeared in its very first production, "Sorry, Wrong Number" and has served on its Board at various times. “I believe Tom Detwiler has proven to be a strong Artistic Director for the Ghent Playhouse, and I hope to continue to excite our audiences by choosing challenging and diverse shows and presenting those productions with the same high professional quality for which we have come to be known," she said in a press release. "I also hope to explore new ways to spark interest in our theatre, in order to bring in members of the community who may not have yet experienced what we have to offer. I am always so proud and impressed by what we produce here at the Ghent Playhouse, and we seem to get better and better each season.”

Football returns to school board's agenda
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports The Ichabod Crane school board will vote on allowing the booster club to pay for the now-cancelled football program through private fundraising for the 2011-12 year at the next board meeting July 12. At the board's meeting last Tue., June 21 the board also voted to leave an open seat vacant following the resignation of Edward Harsen earlier this month. "Some board members did not want to spend $3,100 for a special election that can be held no later than August 16, according to Board Clark Mindy Potts," Teasdale wrote. The board will leave the seat open until the next annual election in May 2012, operating with eight members instead of nine. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Sports scores

Empire State Baseball League
13U Coxsackie Owlz 14 - S. Colonie Raiders 5
Zach Girvin knocked in six runs and picked up the win on the mound as the 13U Coxsackie Owlz (6-1, 8-3) beat the S. Colonie Raiders 14-5 Sat., June 25. Caleb Davies also went 3-4, with an RBI of the Owlz. Girvin, Matt Mitchell, and Davies combined to give up five runs on two hits, 10 walks, and eight strike outs.

Greene County Volunteer Firemens Association's Drill Day results: Lexington, 42; West Athens, 40; Oak Hill/Durham, 37; Earlton, 31, Cairo, 27; Greenville and Athens (18); and Coxsackie, 16.


Audio clips for Monday, June 27
• A Very Incomplete Calendar: 20110627
Produced by Terry Doyle for Imprint. Imprint is Doyle's weekly show on WGXC about Hudson Valley music, and this is his weekly calendar of regional events. Click here to play mp3 clip. (4:20)

• New York State Senate audio of vote legalizing same-sex marriage.
Audio from New York State Senate. Clip is 2:10, and last 30 seconds is applause and, finally, chants of "USA, USA." Click here to listen to mp3 audio clip of the New York State Senate voting to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.

The National Weather Service predicts patchy fog before 8 a.m. Monday and then, sunny, with a high near 85. Monday night should be partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Tuesday there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon, with a high near 86. Things should clear up Wednesday, with a high near 80.

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 Public Hearing regarding a minor subdivision application by Aenne Grannis & William Pflaum, 3 Rybka Road, Stuyvesant Falls, NY to join two parcels into one parcel. Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 12:59 p.m./Low, 7:22 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:26 a.m./8:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:18 a.m./5:17 p.m.

Birthdays
June 27 Ross Perot, Rahul Dev Burman, Vera Wang, Willie Mosconi, Krzysztof Kielowski, Ted Haggard, and Tobey Maguire.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, with reports looking at the Albany legislative session and the passing of the same-sex marriage law late Friday. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant looks at the Albany legislative session and the passing of the same-sex marriage law late Friday. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CLASSICAL SHOW Lincoln Mayorga plays classical music. Noon-2 p.m.
GREENHORN RADIO Agriculture show for young farmers. 2 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Emily Bennison curates. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Kaya Weidman and Greg Osofsky host. 4-7 p.m.
AMERICANA Kurt and Doug play roots music. 7 p.m.
LUNAR MOSS 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 through 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.

New York State Senator James Seward, who represents Greene County in Albany, released this official video through the New York State Senate's YouTube channel, explains what he thinks the legislature accomplished this year. Below, Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County, talks about his disappointment in the legislature's failure to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. Below that, Saland generally comments on the legislative session. Below that, Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County, talks about his work on the Regional Education and Property Tax Reform Committees.

Columbia County's State Senator Steve Saland became the 32nd senator to announce his support of the same-sex marriage bill, which passed in a vote Friday night in Albany. Buffalo's Mark Grisanti, also a Republican, also voted for the bill, which passed 33-29. Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the bill and it becomes state law in 30 days. Saland was the only locally elected representative who voted for the bill: Senator Jim Seward, who represents Greene County, voted against the bill, as did Assemblymen Pete Lopez (Greene County) and Marc Molinaro (Dutchess County).

• Click here to play an mp3 recording of the New York State Senate voting to legalize same-sex marriage. (2:10)

The wait, and the singing among protesters, continues in Albany today, as the New York State Senate is still in session, and has still not taken up the same-sex marriage bill. Protesters on both sides of the issue have been kept out of the State Capitol today for the first time, so the capitol itself is quiet for the first time in weeks today. Outside, as this video from the Albany Times-Union shows, the singing continues among protesters waiting for a vote.

The Daily News, a paper that covers Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans, NY counties, reports that in 2009 dairy farms in the Northeast lost an average of $386 per cow and that in 2010 they earned an average of $396 a cow, a stunning $782 turnaround. "Milk prices rose $3.90 per hundredweight in 2010, and that helped farms have adequate cash flow for operating expenses, debt repayment, family living, and income taxes. Dairies also were able to catch up on some bills that were carried over from 2009, according to Farm Credit’s Northeast Dairy Farm Summary report," the paper reports. Debt per cow remained at $3,337, the highest in the 32-year history of the report. The report considered farms in New York, New England, and New Jersey. Read the full story in The Daily News.

[caption id="attachment_12431" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Anonymous photo contribution purported to be the same area May 25 and June 23 this year."][/caption]
Hudson environmentalists sent out internet alarms Thursday as the path used by O&G across Hudson's South Bay became a compacted gravel roadway the entire length of the former rail-bed from 9G to the eastern side of the mainline tracks on the causeway. An anonymous listener contributed the two photos shown on the WGXC Newsroom blog, one from May 25 this year, and one from yesterday, where work was clearly done. On Carole Osterink's The Gossips of Rivertown blog there is a photo of the paving in action. Several emails confirm that these Hudson-based environmentalists have alerted the Department of Environmental Conservation about the paving, which they believe exceeds the scope of O&G's permit. Osterink's blog notes that, "At the Common Council meeting on Tuesday night, amidst the agonizing about gravel trucks on city streets, mayor's aide Cappy Pierro asked rhetorically, 'Why don't we just ask O&G to use the causeway?'" Last year, Mike McCagg in ccScoop reported, "Although the Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a permit for the "maintenance and repair of [the] existing gravel and stone roadway," Scenic Hudson has appealed that permit, maintaining the use of a former railroad bed as a roadway for heavy truck traffic will harm the South Bay and the wetlands east of Route 9G."

No news on same-sex marriage bill
The New York State Senate adjourned around 11 p.m. Thursday night without taking a vote on same-sex marriage. They are coming back Friday to complete several other bills, but there is no firm word whether Senate Republicans will allow a vote on the same-sex marriage bill, or whether there one more Senate Republican will vote for the bill, if it comes to a vote.

Columbia-Greene Community College seeks tuition hike
Kyle Wind in The Daily Freeman reports that Columbia-Greene Community College's proposed $16.25 million budget for 2011-12 would raise full-time tuition 5.6 percent. College president James Campion told the newspaper that the budget would raise tuition for full-time students by $192 per year, to $3,648, and by $8 per credit hour for part-time students, to $152 per credit hour. The school would not fill some now-empty faculty positions and use cheaper adjunct and part-time faculty to balance state cuts and no increase in contributions from Greene and Columbia counties. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.

Zoom Flume opens wave pool
Durham's Zoom Flume water park holds a grand opening at noon today, Fri., June 24 for its new "Riptide Cove" wave pool. Assemblyman Pete Lopez was going to be among the speakers at the opening, but the legislature remains in session today. Zoom Flume is located at 10 Shady Glen Road in East Durham. In other water fun news, Melanie Lekocevic reports in The Greene County News that the Athens Pool reopens for the season today, Fri. June 24. You have to be a member or pay a day rate to visit the kiddie pool with a slide, and the full-sized pool with both a shallow and deep end, and a diving board.

Hudson Democrats realign
Hudson Democrats reconfigured their endorsements this week, after City Treasurer Eileen Halloran announced last week that she will seek reelection after first suggesting otherwise. Common Council President Don Moore will now, instead of running for treasurer, attempt to retain his seat and Sarah Sterling who had previously been endorsed for Common Council President, now seeks the 1st Ward Supervisor spot. Nick Haddad remains the Democrats choice for Mayor, and Dave Marston and Larissa Thomas are trying to be 1st Ward Aldermen.

Roemer to run for Supreme Court justice
The Register Star reports that Guy Roemer, a private practice attorney from Albany County, is running for New York State Supreme Court in the Third Judicial District representing Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. He claimes the support of former Albany County Republican Chairmen Peter Kermani and John Graziano, Sr. and current Chairman Don Clarey. Recently, Roemer served as the Principal Court Attorney to the Honorable George J. Pulver in Greene County, preparing and researching decisions. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

The National Weather Service predicts a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 72 on Friday. Friday night should bring more showers and thunderstorms before 3 a.m., with a low around 59. Saturday there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Sunday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 79.

Town meetings today
CLERMONT Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Columbia County Industrial Development Agency Public Hearing on Flanders/Precisionaire Corporation proposal for exemption from mortgage recording taxes; deed transfer taxes; sales taxes relating to acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the project facility; and real property taxes. They are proposing to take over the former Kaz factory. Meeting at 9 a.m. at 4303 Route 9, Greenport.

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 10:12 a.m./Low, 4:51 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:31 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:48 a.m./2:18 p.m.

Birthdays
June 24 Harry Partch, Terry Riley, Jeff Beck, George Pataki, David Rodigan, Hope Sandoval, and Phil Hughes.

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 the morning news. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
PURE MOODS Shannekia McIntosh plays all sorts of music. Noon-2 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD Steve Charney and his dummy Harry. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts. 4-7 p.m.
GUEST DJ Live from Spotty Dog Books & Ale with World Lines + Silent Isle + Voder Deth Squad. 7 p.m.
HOTLINE RADIO The Guy and L Dot Dinero host. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more through 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

Cuomo says SSM, big ugly, will wait
Capitol Confidential links to the video above from Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's press conference Wednesday, June 22, explaining what progress has been made at the end of the legislative session, and where the New York State Senate is with the proposed same-sex marriage bill. The other video above is also from Capitol Confidential links to the video above from Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS with Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver speaking to the media after emerging from a 90-minute meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Legislators will attempt today to wrap up the session, finalizing rent control, the property tax cap, and other outstanding measures. No one is positive if Senate Republicans will allow the same-sex marriage bill to reach the floor for a vote. If so, several news organizations are reporting there may be at least one other Republican State Senator willing to vote for the measure, which would give it the needed 32 votes to pass. It is sure to be a busy day in the capitol, with the continuing singing contest between the pro- and anti- same-sex marriage forces, and a planned 2 p.m. protest by groups against natural gas hydraulic fracturing extraction, disappointed by the lack on their bills that would stop the practice in New York.

State's new deer plan aims to recruit young hunters, protect young bucks
Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports that last week New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation released its new Deer Management plan. The new hunting guidelines for deer make several changes:
* Include an index of deer impact on forests when setting deer population objectives;
* Establish deer management focus areas with liberalized antlerless harvest rules in areas with overabundant deer;
* Establish a special youth deer hunting weekend in early October for junior hunters to aid in the recruitment of new deer hunters;
* Open the bowhunting season in the Southern Zone on October 1, rather than the current opening in mid-October; and
* Continue the mandatory antler restriction program in wildlife management units (WMUs) 3C, 3H, 3J, and 3K, and expand antler restrictions to seven additional wildlife management units (WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W) in southeastern New York.

Some hunters, according to the Daily Mail, oppose the new regulations:

Chuck Parker, a retiree from northern New York who hunts in the Tug Hill region, said the big game youth hunting license is a great idea but a special youth weekend is unnecessary and would cut into field time for small game and waterfowl hunters because landowners commonly deny them access during the deer season. Parker, who is first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, also opposes the DEC’s proposal to open the bow hunting season in the southern zone on Oct. 1 rather than the current opening in mid-October. “Generally, bow hunters already enjoy a high-quality hunting time to be in the woods,” said Parker, who’s from Mexico, in Oswego County. “Giving them additional time will only lessen the opportunity of success for those that hunt during the regular gun season.”

The DEC is accepting public comments on the draft Deer Management plan until July 28. Read the full story in The Watershed Post.

Meeting erupts as school board appoints Garland to vacant seat
Melanie Lekocevic in The Daily Mail reports that at the Tuesday, June 21 meeting of the Coxsackie Board of Education outgoing President Joseph “Seph” Garland was appointed back on the board to the seat vacated by Vice President Mark Gerrain, after he lost his seat in May elections, which caused board member Stephen Oliveira to throw down his papers, resign, and storm out of the room. Gerrain resigned because professional commitments required him to be out of town often over the next couple of years Outgoing president Garland then said, “The board has three options - leave the slot unfilled until the next election in May, hold a special election, or appoint a person to fill that spot,” Lekocevic quotes him at the meeting. Board member Carroll Mercer then suggested they appoint the person with the next highest number of votes from the recent board elections, which would be Garland. “My feeling is that I am uncomfortable with an eight-member board. I recommend we appoint someone for a one-year term, and we take the person with the next highest number of votes in the last election,” Mercer, and board member Maureen Hanse agreed. “You are going against what the people voted for. You should wait to hear what the people have to say. We need a special election,” Oliveira said as some in the audience applauded. “You are saying, ‘Let’s not listen to what the people said.’ I think this is totally wrong.” He noted that voters rejected three incumbents for three newcomers, saying they wanted different voices on the board. But he was the only vote against bringing Garland back on board. “I resign,” Oliveira said. “You people are not doing this correctly. I am not doing this anymore.” Lekocevic writes that, "the board decided not to accept Oliveira’s resignation, saying it was done in anger and was not in writing. It remains to be seen if he will return." Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Wurster pushes for permit fee hikes
Jamie Larson in the Register Star reports that Hudson Code Enforcement Officer Peter Wurster wants to raise the cost of fees and permits issued by his departments. Before the city Finance Committee Tuesday, June 21, Wurster suggested building permits go from $35 to $50, plumbing permits raised to $50 for the first four fixtures, annual plumbing permits increased from $100 to $150, and non-residential permits lowered to one $300 permit rather than two that currently cost $350. Wurster guessed the department takes in about $35,000 in fees and $35,000 in fines annually, but that the city does not keep specific records of that income. “Regardless of what people are thinking, Hudson has maintained a high level of activity,” Wurster said in the story, “All those young entrepreneurs coming in, it’s a good thing.” Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

Coach Friedman to retire after 25 years
Billy Shannon in The Daily Mail writes that Hunter-Tannersville Wildcats varsity baseball coach Jeff Friedman will retire from coaching, after 25 years at the school. "Beginning as an assistant coach of the varsity baseball team in 1986 and taking over as head coach in 1990, Friedman also coached girls varsity basketball from 2004-11, girls modified soccer from 2003-05 and boys modified soccer in 2006-07," Shannon writes in the newspaper. “My kids are all graduated now,” Friedman told the reporter. “And (with my contracting business) it was just starting to get very difficult to put in the proper time to do a good job at coaching.” Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

The National Weather Service reports a Flash Flood Watch for Greene and Columbia counties through 6 p.m. Thursday. The NWS predicts showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m., with a high near 78. Thursday night showers are likely, with a low around 66. Friday there is also a 60 percent chance of showers, with a high near 81. Saturday there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with a high near 79 and Sunday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Town meetings today
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).
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 9:24 a.m./Low, 4 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:30 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:23 a.m./1:20 p.m./Last Quater begins at 6:49 a.m.

Birthdays
June 23 June Carter Cash, Wilma Rudolph, Clarence Thomas, Frances McDormand, and Steve Shelley.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos present the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more in English and Spanish. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Sara Kendall updates the morning news with weekend event information from Ellen Thurston and Joan Geitz. 9-10 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Sam Sebren interviews Linda Mussman and Ron Puhalski about gay rights. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CROSSROADS Alan Skerrett plays jazz, R&B, and more. Noon-2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Antoine Guerlain hosts. 4-7 p.m.
THE JAZZ DISTRUBANCE Cheryl K. hosts. 7 p.m.
69 The Magic Stranger plays psychedelic music from 1969. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more through 6 a.m. Friday morning.

Several issues solved, same sex marriage still undecided
In the video above (you can play audio on computer) from Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times-Union's political blog, Governor Andrew Cuomo crowed about tentative agreements between Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature about rent control, a property tax cap, SUNY tuition increases, and a few other issues. No movement yet on the same-sex marriage bill, which passed the Assembly and has 31 announced out of 32 needed votes in the Senate. The capitol has been jammed with protesters on both sides of the issue, singing hymns, and shouting chants. The Republicans who control the Senate have not allowed a vote yet, and negotiations are ongoing to bring it to the floor. Cuomo made Tuesday what sounded like a prediction for a vote on the same-sex marriage bill on Wednesday. “I believe it will be brought to the floor for a vote, I believe it should be brought to the floor for a vote, and I’m cautiously optimistic that it’s going to pass,” he said. The governor would not say if would extend the legislative session in Albany to Thursday or Friday if same-sex marriage legalization hasn’t been approved. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

RCS budget passes
Albany's YNN television reports voters in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk district voted Tue. June 21 for a $42 million budget with a 2.5 percent tax levy increase, after rejecting a previous budget May 17 that was $100,000 larger. The station did not report the specific vote totals but did quote school board president Scott Hughes saying, "This budget passing is very good for our students, gives us an opportunity to move forward educationally. Our business official and administration did an excellent job of making sure that they've taken into account all the money and all the revenues that have come in and it's a credit to them to make sure that what we're spending is accounted for and it's tracked very well." See the video report here.

Revised school budget proposals fail in Saugerties, Pine Plains
Ariel Zangla in The Daily Freeman reports that voters in Saugerties and Pine Plains rejected revised budget proposals Tue., June 21, forcing both districts to enact contingency budgets. The Saugerties $53,327,601 budget lost 1,380-1,322, with 32 affidavit ballots still to be counted. In Pine Plains, the $27,701,705 budget had 450 votes for and 462 opposed, and an unknown quantity of absentee or affidavit ballots that might change the outcome. The proposed Saugerties budget would have increased spending by $641,622, or 1.22 percent, with a property tax levy increase of 6.4 percent. The Pine Plains plan increased spending 3.1 percent over the current budget of $26,869,411, with a 3.4 percent tax levy increase. Voters in both school districts rejected the original budgets put forth in the May 17 school elections. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Free fishing weekend
The State Department of Environmental Conservation has designated this weekend, June 25-26, "Free Fishing Weekend" in New York State, a two-day window for fishing without a license. "In effort to increase fishing participation in New York State, this weekend is an ideal opportunity to introduce someone to the great sport of fishing," said Commissioner Joseph Martens in a press release. "This is also an excellent time for out of state residents to visit and sample all that New York has to offer a freshwater angler. Both residents and non-residents can fish for free during this two-day period." Although a state fishing license is not required during Free Fishing Weekend, all other fishing rules and regulations remain in effect. Marine anglers 16 years of age and older are also reminded that they must enroll in the no-fee saltwater fishing registry to fish for migratory saltwater fish species or in the marine district. To register, anglers can go to the usual outlets for sporting licenses, or register online anytime on DEC's website at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.htmlhttps://nyfgisales.appsolgrp.com/fgnyia/html/index.jsp. Anglers can also register by phone by calling 1-86-NY-DECALS (1-866-933-2257). Visit the DEC's Places to Fish page at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7749.html or contact your regional DEC office for recommendations on places to go.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="2592" caption="Jacob Rivera is one of the first local fisherman to catch a black bass when the season opened June 18. Photo from River Basin Sports website."][/caption]