WGXC volunteer Christina Malisoff recorded the meeting about a proposed new food co-op Acres Co-Op Market Tuesday evening in Hudson. Malisoff reports over 100 folks turned out to the First Presbyterian Church on Warren St. for the meeting, and speakers included Peter Pehrson, Statewide Outreach Coordinator for New York Sustainable Agriculture Working Group; Ellen Thurston, Fifth Ward Alderwoman and WGXC volunteer; and Anna Duhon, Cultural Resource and Outreach Coordinator at the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program. The group's next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. June 28 at the First Presbyterian Church. Click here to listen to an audio mp3 file of the meeting.

McDonald is 31st vote for same-sex marriage
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Tuesday New York State Senator Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, told the Times Union that he will vote for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state, becoming the 31st senator to say they will vote for the bill. It needs 32 votes to pass. “I’m trying to do the right thing,” he said. “Rather than wait I worked with the governor…I’m not out to alienate anybody.... It’s my own evolution.... I think there’s going to be a vote on Friday.” He voted against the bill in the Senate in 2009 and in the Assembly in 2007. The Conservative Party says it will pull its endorsement from any senator that votes to legalize same-sex marriage. McDonald has run on the party’s line in the past. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential, the Times-Union's political blog.

A Resolution to Oppose
Carole Osterink reports in The Gossips of Rivertown from Monday's Hudson Common Council meeting, and captures the the essence of the discussion about a proposed resolution opposing Columbia County's efforts to moving many social services to the former Wal-Mart building in Greenport. She reports:
• Fourth Ward Supervisor Bill Hughes alleged that the county is "in a feverish rush and cutting corners" because "they didn't notify Concra that they wanted to extend the lease" on 25 Railroad Avenue and are now desperate to relocate the Department of Social Services as soon as possible and that the building, "has a fifteen-year life expectancy, and it's now seventeen years old." He also said that the $16 million cost to buy the building and convert it represents a 1.7 percent increase in the tax levy and if the proposed two percent tax cap goes into effect, it would leave only an additional .3 percent to meet the county's rising costs.
• First Ward Alderman Geeta Cheddie said the move would, "free up some pretty nice buildings in Hudson."
• Third Ward Alderman Ellen Thurston said that the current lack of adequate transportation to the site was a weak argument against the move because "it can be corrected."
• Fifth Ward Alderman Robert "Doc" Donahue said, "We're all going to vote yes, so why all this rhetoric?"
The council will vote on the resolution Tuesday, June 21, and the Walmart purchase comes before the Columbia County Board of Supervisors on July 11. Read the entire story in The Gossips of Rivertown.

Power line clears another NY hurdle
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that the proposed 330-mile power line "Champlain-Hudson Power Express" from Canada to New York City, much of it in the Hudson River, was approved by the Department of State. Many other agencies must also sign off on the project, but the DOS ruled the project is consistent with the state’s coastal policies. DOS did mandate several changes, Planck reports, including the depth the cables are buried in the riverbed, how the line enters or leaves the water, the path in the river, and when the construction seasons will be performed, if Transmission Developers, Inc. updates all the project’s federal permit filings by July 8. The proposed line will re-enter the water three miles north of Coeymans, with the project’s original routing showing it near the middle of the river until just north of Coeymans, where it runs along the east shore until past New Baltimore. It then moves closer to the western shore past Catskill, except for a to get around Rattlesnake and Coxsackie islands. Just before Smith’s Landing in Catskill, it moves back to mid-river and stays there until well past the southern end of Columbia County. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

Empire State Baseball League results
14U Coxsackie Owlz 8 - Bethlehem Bosox 7
14U Coxsackie Owlz 11 - Bethlehem Bosox 3
In the first game of a doubleheader sweep for the 14U Coxsackie Owlz (4-4), the Owlz open up a 7-0 lead and hold on for an 8-7 victory over the Bethlehem Bosox. Leading the way for the Owlz was Brian Ellis going 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI's. Also Elliott Palmateer and Dylan Donovan each were 1-3 with an RBI. Sam Palmateer 1-1 and Zach Muller 1-4. Taylor LeClair gave up 3 hits and struck out five over 5 innings to earn the win. Muller got the final six outs to pick up a save. In the second game the Owlz pounded out 11 hits while beating the Bosox 11-3. Ben Palmateer lead the way this time going 3-3 with a double. Kyle Roberts 1-2 with a 2-run double. Matt McDonald 1-3 with 2 RBI's. Seaver Martin 1-4 with an RBI double. Sean O'Connor 1-1 with an RBI. LeClair 2-3. Donovan was 1-2 with an RBI and Sam Palmateer 1-4 with an RBI. Zach Girvin went 6 innings to get the win giving up 6 hits with 3 strike outs. Muller closed out the final inning giving up 1 hit with 1 strike out.

Morning scores
New York Mets 4
Atlanta Braves 3

Texas Rangers 4
New York Yankees 12

Boston Red Sox 0
Tampa Bay Rays 4

Wednesday audio clips
Click on the top line of each to play mp3 interview.

• Suhrawardi Gebel interview about Summer Meditation Camp at Abode of the Message in New Lebanon.
Interview by Richard Roth, Ann Forbes Cooper, and Tom Roe on WGXC Afternoon Show. Abode of the Message is a residential commune of the Sufi Order International.

• David Paulson interview about art show "7 New York Painters" at BRIK Gallery.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth on WGXC Afternoon Show. The art show Paulson put together opens at BRIK Gallery in Catskill Sat. June 18 at 6 p.m.

• Dina Bursztyn from The Open Studio Catskill talks about her new children's book "The Land of Lost Things."
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth. Interview of Argentinian artist who now lives in Catskill. Her book is in both Spanish and English.

The National Weather Service predicts Wednesday will be sunny, with a high near 82. Wednesday night should be clear, with a low around 50. Thursday should be sunny, with a high near 83. Thursday night there is a 50 percent chance of showers, with a low around 58. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Town meetings today
CAIRO Town Board meeting 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.
CATSKILL Free Health Talk in the Catskill Public Library, 1 Franklin St., at 5 p.m. The topic will be “How to Talk to Doctors & Get the Most Out of Office Visits” presented by the Healthcare Communication Project. Please register at 518-943-4230.
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 Public Hearing on Habitat for Humanity’s application for side yard variances to build two attached townhouses on two separate non-conforming lots at 240-242 Columbia St. at 6:30 p.m., followed by regular meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 3:27 p.m./Low, 9:46 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:24 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:30 p.m./12:29 a.m.
First Quarter Moon begins 9:12 p.m.

Birthdays
June 15 Mario Cuomo, Waylon Jennings, Harry Nilsson, Dusty Baker, and Ice Cube.

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 the morning news. 9-10 a.m.
@ISSUE Victor Mendolia hosts. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer plays all types of music. Noon-2 p.m.
IMPRINT Host Terry Doyle interviews Catskill's Brian Kehoe. 2 p.m.
CATSKILL REVIEW OF BOOKS Interview with China Mieville, a socialist and science fiction writer talks about his new book "Embassytown." 3 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Youth-produced radio. 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.

The new museum that is in the works for Hudson -- the Marina Abramović Institute for Long Duration Performance -- will likely do more for local arts and tourism than any other single entity in the region. Abramović is a world-renowned performance artist whose work is highly regarded in the press and in worldwide exhibits. Above is a sneak peek inside the former Community Tennis Court building that is at the corner of Columbia and Seventh St. in Hudson, where workers have been busy lately making the first improvements for an opening that is still a few years away. An Oct. 10 Guardian U.K. article says she is also recently created the Marina Abramovic Institute in San Francisco and is currently raising money to open the Marina Abramovic Foundation for Preservation of Performance Art in downtown Manhattan. Here is the perspective of fly16x9.com, which posted this YouTube clip showing Abramović in the building sorting through her works, props, and other things that an artist packs away until some undetermined future date.

In preparation for her [Museum of Modern Art] show, Marina Abramović goes through a life-time of her art works and memorabilia in her warehouse in Hudson New York. The work is an accumulation of everything she has done since graduating high school in Belgrade in the 1960's. She talks about her plans for the retrospective, The Artist Is Present, her performances, her outlook on pain and death and her plans for the Marina Abramović Institute for Long Duration Performance to be housed in this warehouse. This video is presented by fly16x9.com on their arts channel.

By Gus Murphy

Greene County plans to sue Friar Tuck Inn debtors
Ariel Zangla reports in The Daily Freeman that Greene County is seeking repayment of more than $90,000 outstanding on an economic development loan it had granted to the now-closed Friar Tuck Inn. Ulster Savings Bank foreclosed on the resort in April 2010 after the owners tried to file for bankruptcy protection in June 2009 and then tried, without success, to sell the property at auction the following November. At the time the property was foreclosed on, the bank was owed about $3.8 million on the resort’s mortgage. But it turns out that in 2001, the county provided a $160,000 loan which was personally guaranteed by Rocco Caridi, Frank Caridi Jr., Stephen Caridi and Salvatore Caridi, the resort's previous owners. The most recent payment on the loan was made on April 13, 2009. On Monday, June 13, Greene County lawmakers gave initial approval to a resolution to start a lawsuit against the debtors, including the estate of Salvatore Caridi. The full Legislature is expected to vote on the resolution Wednesday. The bank is still trying to find a new buyer for the property. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

Sweeney on his new job: ‘I want to be here the rest of my life’
Adam Sichko writes in the Albany Business Review that former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney is hoping his new job with Albany-based law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC, which bills itself as “your lawyers for life,” will now be his employer for life. "Sweeney, a Republican who served in Congress for eight years and was seen as a rising star, will be “of counsel” to the Tully Rinckey firm," Sichko writes of the 55 year old lawyer who served eight years in Congress before being ousted by current U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand before being twice charged with DWI in the past four years. The latter incident, in 2009, involved a grand jury conviction that led to a few weeks of jail time and three years of probation, which he is in the middle of serving. "Tully Rinckey had been searching for an attorney to beef up its offerings related to congressional investigations or subpoenas," Sichko adds. "Founding partner Mat Tully said he could not deny Sweeney’s volume of contacts, both in the Capital Region and in Washington, D.C." Read the full story at the Albany Business Review here.

More political heat throughout Columbia County
The Register Star has two updates on the political races shaping up for this coming November around Columbia County, which are already gaining heated interest as candidates line up for party endorsements. In Stockport, where longstanding supervisor Leo Pulcher is stepping down, Bob Green reports that newly appointed Town Board Member Matt Murell has announced that he will be running for Stockport town supervisor this November. Murell spent 15 years as executive director of the Columbia County Youth Bureau before moving on to the state Office of Children & Family Services, where he retired last December as director of the Office of Youth Development. He already has an endorsement from his town's Conservative Party, and will be "one of several vying for the nod when the town Republican Party holds its caucus, soon to be scheduled," according to Green. In a separate report, the Register-Star notes that a GOP caucus in Chatham was held last week at the Tri-Village Fire Department, with incumbent supervisor Jesse DeGroodt, a former Democrat, incumbent board member Tom Meyn and incumbent town justice Michael Hart all getting nods, along with NAPA Store owner Robert Johnson, who will be seeking a second town board opening, and attorney Jason Shaw, who will be seeking a second justice position opening up with the retirement of judge Doris Appel. To read both stories at the Register-Star click here.

End of an era: Cement industry crumbles as Holcim departs
When does a trend, a simple observation, become a matter of history? The Daily Mail's Doron Tyler Antrim has a story that asks Greene County legislators whether they think the cement industry that was a backbone of regional business, and jobs, can survive its recent hits. "Now, with the ceasing of operations at the Holcim plant on Monday, an era, it seems, is coming to a close," the story notes, with most saying they don't see the industry reviving while a few stalwarts point out the continuing viability of the limestone deposits in the area that first drew cement companies to set up shop a century ago. Read the full story in the Daily Mail.

The National Weather Service predicts a 50 percent chance of showers Tuesday, with a high near 61. Northeast wind between 3 and 9 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind between 5 and 10 mph. Wednesday is expected to be sunny, with a high near 80. North wind between 6 and 11 mph.

Town meetings today
CHATHAM Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-3262).
COPAKE Board of Ethics, 7 p.m.; Comprehensive Planning Comm., 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234)
COXSACKIE Town board at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727).
GREENE COUNTY IDA Greene County IDA Meeting at 8:00 a.m. at IDA Office, 270 Mansion St., Coxsackie (731-5500)

The skies above
TIDES: Hudson: High, 2:34 p.m./Low, 8:59 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET: 5:18 a.m./8:32 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET: 7:39 p.m./4:55 a.m.

Birthdays June 14 Alois Alzheimer, Burl Ives, Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Junior Walker, Donald Trump, and Boy George.

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 the morning news. 10-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
VOCAL CHORDS Andrew Sosnowski hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth host. 4-7 p.m.
LONG HAIRS Antoine Guerlain's music show. 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.

Tyson inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame
Mike Tyson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame Sunday in Canistota, NY. In his induction speech, Tyson thanked his now deceased coach Cus D'Amato, who trained the future heavyweight champion at his Catskill gym. Tsyon was inducted alongside Sylvester Stallone, and others. On the YouTube clip above, Tyson speech begins at 7:46.

Hudson’s 400 relay team wins NY title
Mike LaBuff in the Register-Star reports that the Hudson High School’s boys varsity track and field 4x100-meter relay team of Akeil Alert, Tayron Bryant, John Eisner and Kadeem Chung took home the New York State championship with Friday, June 10 at the Division II competition at Caledonia-Mumford High School. The team recorded their season-best time of 43.04 seconds. Bryant also qualified for the finals in the 200-meter with at time of 22.4. “They’re having an amazing year and this is the first time someone won in the states for Hudson in over 30 years,” Hudson Bluehawks coach Andrew Ohrin told the newspaper. LaBuff also writes that according to results posted on www.section2harrier.com, "Coxsackie-Athens’ Brianna Blunk finished seventh in the state final for the girls 400-meter dash with a time of 58.27; New Lebanon’s Allannah Carpinello finished seventh in the girls discus final with a throw of 107 feet, 6 inches; and Ichabod Crane’s Jennifer Recevuer was 17th in the girls pole vault championship with a distance of 10 feet," LaBuff wrote. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Hudson television show preview
Carole Osterink reports in The Gossips of Rivertown that public television station WMHT will hold a preview screening of "Our Town: Hudson," with video clips shot by folks in Hudson at 7 p.m. at Hudson High School. Anyone who wants to attend should RSVP at (518) 880-3400 or rsvp@wmht.org. "Our Town: Hudson" will air on WMHT at 7:30 on Thursday, June 16. Read the report in The Gossips of Rivertown.

The National Weather Service predicts a 30 percent chance of showers Monday, mainly after 3 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Monday night there is also a 30 percent chance of showers, with a low around 54. Tuesday the 30 percent chance of showers returns, with a high near 66.

Town meetings today
ASHLAND Town Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main Street, Ashland (734-3636)
CATSKILL Village meeting at 7:00 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).
GERMANTOWN The Germantown Town Board holds a workshop at 6 p.m. at the Germantown Town Hall, 50 Palatine Park Rd, Germantown. The board will meet with a representative from Barton and Loguidice to discuss the Waste Water Treatment Plant analysis and available options for the board to consider in making upgrades to the Plant.
GREENE COUNTY LEGISLATURE holds Buildings & Grounds, Conservation, Public Safety, Highway, Government Operations, and Finance committee meetings at 6:00 PM. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON Common Council workshop meeting where the Council may discuss the LWRP and GEIS and when a special meeting to consider those documents will be held. Tonight's meeting is at 7 p.m., City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
HUDSON SCHOOLS Hudson City School District Board of Education Special meeting at 7 p.m. at Junior High School Cafeteria.
HUNTER Village meeting 8 p.m.
NEW BALTIMORE Town meeting at 7:30 p.m. at 3809 Rt. 51, Hannacroix (756-6671)/
PRATTSVILLE Town meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 14517 Main St., Prattsville (299-3125).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 1:36 p.m./Low, 7:59 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:24 a.m./8:27 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:29 p.m./3:17 a.m.

Birthdays
June 10 Basil Rathbone, Malcolm McDowell, Stellan_Skarsgard, Ally Sheedy, and Lukas Ligeti.

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 the morning news. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CLASSICAL SHOW Lincoln Mayorga hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
THE FARM SHOW Keiran Reilly hosts. 2 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Youth-produced radio. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Kaya Weidman and Greg Osofsky host. 4-7 p.m.
NOVELLER, U.S. GIRLS, ALEXANDER TURNQUIST, AND DJ LUNAR MOSS Live experimental music show from Spotty Dog Books & Ale on Warren St. in Hudson, with local 12-string guitarist Turnquist, and WGXC DJ Lunar Moss, plus two internationally recognized experimental sound artists. 7 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.

Slow Fade: An Evening Reading from Basilica Hudson on Vimeo.

The folks at Basilica Hudson uploaded this video from the recent reading of Hudson writer Rudy Wurlitzer's "Slow Fade" by WiIl Oldham for the Drag City record label.

Hudson's Bunnybrains performing a few weeks ago at the WHPK Summer Breeze concert in Chicago This video is from a Chicago cable access show.

Puorro, Hempstead win Cairo GOP nominations
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail takes a call from the Cairo GOP who told him Republicans in Cairo changed their lineup card a bit for this year's November election. Tara Rumph, town clerk for 12 years, lost by 13 votes, 138 to 125, to Monika Fabiano, the current treasurer of the Cairo Republican Club who is also a clerk at the Alpine Pork Store in South Cairo and waitress at Maassmann’s Restaurant in Round Top. One-term Republican Councilwoman Janet Schwarzenegger, who was elected in 2007, lost the Republican nomination this year to Tony Puorro, a businessman and town planning board member, by a vote of 177 to 88, and then to Dan Joyce, the town’s former postmaster, 193 to 75. Tax Collector Emily Feeney, Town Justice Tanja Sirago, and Town Supervisor John Coyne were also nominated without challengers. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Party shakeups in Hudson politics
Republicans and Democrats faced headlines in the Register-Star Thursday about changes, with Hudson Republicans endorsing two Democrats, and a Democratic candidate who was not going to run, but now is. Hudson Republican Chairman George DeJesus announced the GOP endorses Geeta Cheddie, alderwoman, Glenn Martin, supervisor, William Hallenbeck, for mayor, Alexis Keith, alderwoman, John Musall, supervisor, Kenneth Ivey, treasurer, and Bart Delaney, candidate for Common Council president. Cheddie is, "the former Democratic deputy election commissioner, was elected alderwoman in 2009 as a Democrat, but, like her husband, Musall, she was dropped by the party this spring," according to reporter John Mason. Keith is the daughter of former Fourth Ward alderman and Democratic supervisor Staley Keith. Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports that City Treasurer Eileen Halloran announced Wednesday will seek a third term, after previously announcing she would not run. Instead, she will face current Common Council President Don Moore, who Democrats earlier endorsed, in a primary. Until then, they have to work together running as Treasurer and Council President.

Molinaro co-sponsors Camphill bill
State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, who for now represents Columbia and Dutchess County in the state legislature, and is now running for Dutchess County Executive, is co-sponsoring legislation that "authorizes the establishment of a long term care community in Columbia county known as Camphill Ghent, Inc. to provide integrated services to certain persons." The bill, A8134, is sponsored by Harvey Weisenberg, who represents a section of Nassau County on Long Island.

AUDIO CLIPS FOR FRIDAY
Click on the top name at the beginning of each item below to listen to mp3 audio recording.

• Jay Connor
Hosts Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos interview Jay Connor, author and consultant, and founder/CEO of the Collaboratory for Community Support about education and community participation.

• Rosie McLaughlin
Hosts Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos interview Rosie McLaughlin, Mental Health Counselor for the Oncology Support Program at Benedictine Hospital, about support for patients, teens, and families.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Photo of Ron Rouse, opening speaker, host for Greene County Rural Health Network's 15th Anniversary Dinner, Consultant to GCRHN, addressing audience. Photo by Crane Davis."][/caption]
The Greene County Rural Health Network held its 15th Anniversary Dinner Thu., June 9, and WGXC volunteer Crane Davis was there to record the event. Ron Rouse, a consultant to GCRHN, was among the speakers. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of the meeting.

The National Weather Service predicts Friday will be sunny, with a high near 78. Friday night there is a 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2 a.m., with a low around 54. There is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms Saturday and a 70 percent chance Saturday night, with a high near 65 and a low near 54. Sunday a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 78.

Town meetings today
HUDSON Historic Preservation Commission at 10 a.m., 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:07 p.m./Low, 5:22 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:26 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:52 p.m./1:28 a.m.

Birthdays
June 10 Howlin' Wolf, Maurice Sendak, Joao Gilberto, Eliot Spitzer, and Bobby Jindal.

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 hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
QUE COCINARE HOY? Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos host. 2 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD Steve Charney's comedy show. With special guest John Sebastian. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts. 4-7 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 through 6 a.m. Sunday morning.

COMMUNITY THEATER OF CATSKILL "Pirates of the Caribbean," "The Hangover" and "Kung-Fu Panda" are showing at the Catskill theater on Main St.

CRANDELL THEATER At the Crandell Theater in Chatham, "Win Win" plays Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. from director Tom McCarthy (The Station Agent), with Paul Giamatti, Burt Young, Amy Ryan, Jeffrey Tambor, and Bobby Cannavale. Rated R. 106 minutes. Also playing all weekend: "Bridesmaids."

HI-WAY DRIVE-IN, Coxsackie.
Screen I: Super 8, 9 p.m.; Kung-Fu Panda, 10:50 p.m.
Screen 2: X-Men, 9 p.m.; Pirates of the Caribbean, 11:15 p.m.
Screen 3: The Hangover, 9 p.m.; Fast Five, 10:45 p.m.
Screen 4: Kung-Fu Panda, 9 p.m.; Thor, 10:30 p.m.

Prattsville cell tower almost ready for service
Michael Ryan reports in The Daily Mail that Western Greene County might soon have better cell phone service. AT&T will flip the switch on a cell phone transmitter in Prattsville later this month, Ryan reeports, and folks in Lexington may have improved service soon too. JNS Enterprises wanted to build a cell tower in Lexington in 2007 and 2008, along Route 42 behind the municipal hall but residents living near the proposed site protested and the antenna tower was not built. Now the town has another chance. “We have very definitely given thought to developing a site south of Lexington,” Independent Tower Holdings vice-president Kory Fretto said. “It’s been identified on our map as an area of need.” Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Stephentown ZBA meeting turns into unplanned hearing
Gail Heinsohn in The Chatham Courier reports on the Stephentown Zoning Board of Appeals meeting June 2 where Lebanon Valley Speedway outlined plans to expand its racetrack with an additional day of operation (Tuesday), a proposed camping site, a parking lot for 300 vehicles, vendors, and competitions for all-terrain vehicles. Lebanon Valley only gave its incomplete proposal to the board the day of the meeting, so not much could be done with it so far. But Lewis Oliver, attorney representing some folks opposed to the plan, and others, pointed out that the plan encroaches on wetlands, does not include times at night when racing would end, does not include where vendors, toilets, and generators will be located, and other important details. The Speedway hoped to complete the application within ten days, and Chairman Roland Barth said that if so, they will discuss the proposal at next month's meeting and hold a public hearing on the matter in August. Read the entire story in The Chatham Courier.

Ritchie sponsors 'ag-gag' measure
Brian Amaral in the Watertown Daily Times reports that secretly videotaping the abuse of farm animals would be illegal if a bill in the state Senate passes. The New York Farm Bureau says the measure will protect consumers. "The Department of Homeland Security has alerted the agricultural industry to secure their operations as much as they can," Farm Bureau spokesman Peter A. Gregg said. "This bill falls into that category." Others disagree. "The intent is to silence whistleblowers and to prevent undercover investigations," said Nathan D. Runkle, executive director of the animal rights group Mercy for Animals, based in Chicago. "We view that as a real problem." The bill is sponsored by the chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. The law would make filming on farmland a misdemeanor crime with up to a year in prison or up to a $1,000 fine. Read all about this issue in The Watertown Daily Times.

The National Weather Service predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday, mainly after 2 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Otherwise, Thursday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Thursday night, a low around 61. Friday, should be partly sunny, with a high near 79.

Town meetings today
AUSTERLITZ Town Of Austerlitz holds a Public Hearing about Local Law #2 regulating signs in Austerlitz. At 6:45 p.m. at Austerlitz Town Hall, 812 Route 203, Spencertown.
CHATHAM Village meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
COPAKE Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mountainview Road, Copake (329-1234).
GALLATIN Town Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 667 Route 7, Ancram (398-7519).
GREENE COUNTY Finance and Audit committee meets at 5 p.m. at County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
KINDERHOOK Planning Board Workshop meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
LIVINGSTON Town board meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 119 County Route 19.
NEW BALTIMORE The Planning Board holds a Public Hearing about the application of Patricia Schiller for a minor subdivision of property located on Route 144 in the Town of New Baltimore. At 7:45 p.m. at New Baltimore Town Hall, 3809 County Route 51, Hannacoix.
STUYVESANT Town board meets at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, Stuyvesant (758-6248).
TANNERSVILLE Village trustees meet at 7 p.m. in their Village Hall on Route 23A.
WINDHAM Town board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 10:09 p.m./Low, 4:24 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:25 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:41 p.m./12:58 a.m.

Birthdays
June 8 Cole Porter, Les Paul, Jackie Wilson, Patricia Cornwell, and Natalie Portman.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting, and more. in Spanish and English. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Norman Keyser updates the morning news, and Ellen Thurston covers area events. 9-10 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 hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
PASSAGES Richard Roth hosts. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Sara Kendall hosts. 4-7 p.m.
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. Wednesday morning.

IDA discusses PILOT for Flanders
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star about how the new Flanders air filtration company purchasing the former Kaz Industries building on Route 9 in Greenport may get a tax break from the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency. The county IDA approved a resolution Tuesday morning June 7 to begin the process of, "awarding Flanders a 10-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement that would forgive 25 percent of the company’s annual taxes dependent on the property’s assessed value, which is currently around $4 million, though the purchase price, when finalized, is expected to be $3.2 million." The PILOT will reduce Flanders’ annual taxes from roughly $84,000 to $61,000. The North Carolina company to be known as Precisionaire of Hudson New York agreed to provide 180 full time jobs, but says it may hire more than 200. Columbia-Greene Workforce Employment Career Center has been tracking a percentage of the employees that were laid off when Kaz moved its operations to Mexico, and will contact those workers about a planned job fair. Larson says the company decided on Hudson, "to move its residential product line closer to their Northeast distribution centers." Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Gibson among top 10 House freshmen staff salary spenders
Sarah Tung in Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times-Union's political blog, reports that Rep. Chris Gibson, Republican from Kinderhook, spent $202,705 on staff expenditures in the first quarter, ranking eighth among House freshmen who spent the most on staff salaries, according to a recent analysis conducted by Colorado Pols. “Each office is given the discretion with how to spend that budget,” Gibson spokewoman Stephanie Valle explained to the newspaper. “(We) prioritize our overall spending to make sure the constituents have access to (qualified) staff.” Read the entire item in Capitol Confidential.

Strawberry Season is Officially Here In New York State
The New York State Berry Growers Association says Father's Day usually marks the beginning of the New York strawberry harvest, which lasts about a month. The group's website lists some, but not all, local strawberry sources. Pickyourown.org lists other spots in Greene and Columbia counties. The growers association says that when the strawberries run out in July, local raspberries and blueberries should be ready. Some local strawberry sources:
GREENE COUNTY
• Story Farms, 4640 Route 32, Catskill, NY 12414. 518-678-9716
COLUMBIA COUNTY
• Thompson-Finch Farm, 750 Wiltsie Bridge Road, Ancram NY, 12502. Phone: 518-329-7578. Open: Strawberry picking begins in early June and goes through July 4; Open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Organic.
• Samascott Orchards, 5 Sunset Ave., Kinderhook, NY 12106. 518-758-7224, samascottorchard@aol.com

New York flags at half-staff Thursday
Governor Andrew Cuomo directed flags on state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, June 9 in honor of a soldier from Cohocton who was killed in action in Afghanistan on June 4. Army Specialist Devin Snyder died of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device struck her vehicle during a mounted patrol in Lagham province. She was assigned to the 164th Military Police Company, of the 793rd Military Police Battalion, part of the 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade based at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I express our sympathy to the family, friends, and fellow soldiers of Specialist Devin Snyder," Governor Cuomo said. "We join with them in mourning her death and honoring her dedication and service to our nation."

Roe Jan Library now open Sundays
Copake's Roeliff Jansen Community Library is now open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., only the second library in Columbia County open Sundays. “Sunday hours are helpful for students and anyone who works weekdays,” said library director Carol Briggs in a press release. “Since we started construction we’ve had many requests from weekenders for Sunday hours so they more easily can take advantage of our great new facility.” The library opened a new building last November, and since then visits to the library have doubled and over 500 new library cards have been issued. The library is located at 9091 Rt. 22 in Hillsdale, approximately one-half mile south of the light at the intersection of Rts. 22 and 23.

WEDNESDAY AUDIO CLIPS
Click on title of each item to play audio mp3 clip.

• Joan Kutcher interview about Mountaintop Arboretum.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper on WGXC Afternoon Show. Joan Kutcher talks about summer activities at the Mountaintop Arboretum in Greene County.

• Patrick Milbourne and Sasha Chermayeff interview.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper, Richard Roth, and Tom Roe. Milbourne's M Gallery in Catskill has an opening this Saturday for an exhibit, "Hudson Valley Art and Wine," with art from Chermayeff.

• Peter Pehrson interview about proposed Hudson Food Co-Op.
Interview by Richard Roth and Ellen Thurston. Pehrson is spearheading efforts to bring a Hudson Food Co-Op, with a meeting June 14 at First Presbyterian Church in Hudson.

The National Weather Service predicts isolated showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. are possible, and they could be severe. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Those possibly severe storms be around unti 11 p.m., then partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Thursday scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 p.m. are predicted. High near 89.

Town meetings today
VILLAGE OF ATHENS Board meets at 6:30 p.m at the Athens Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CLERMONT Planning Board meets at Town Hall at 7 p.m. at 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COLUMBIA COUNTY holds a full Board of Supervisors meeting at 7:30 p.m. at 401 State St. in Hudson.
COPAKE Resource Advisory Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GHENT Planning Board Application meeting and Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. both at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Planning Committee meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
JEWETT Town meeting at 7 p.m., at Municipal Bldg. 3547 Co. Rt. 23C (263-4626).
KINDERHOOK Town's 9 & 9H Corridor Committee meets at 7 p.m. at at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
KINDERHOOK Village Board meeting and budget hearing, 7 p.m. at 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook (758-9882).

The skies above
TIDES Hudson: High, 8:17 a.m./Low, 3:23 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:25 a.m./8:24 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:30 a.m./12:29 a.m./First Quarter: 9:12 p.m.

Birthdays
June 8 Frank Lloyd Wright, Barbara Bush, Nancy Sinatra, Fuzzy_Haskins, Bonnie Tyler, Greg Ginn, Gabrielle Giffords, Seu Jorge, and Kanye West.

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 the morning news. 9-10 a.m.
@ISSUE Sam Pratt and Peter Jung of the Valley Alliance talk about Hudson's LWRP with hosts Victor Mendolia and Deborah Gilbert of The Columbia Paper. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer hosts. Noon-2 p.m.
IMPRINT Terry Doyle's take on Hudson Valley music. 2 p.m.
CATSKILL REVIEW OF BOOKS From WJFF. 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO Radio Explosion. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Sara Kendall 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. Wednesday morning.

C-G feels sting of deep aid cuts
Jeff Alexander in The Daily Mail reports that Columbia-Greene Community College, like every other New York institution, is facing budget cuts. “Our institution is primarily funded through three revenue streams; state of New York base aid, our county sponsors and student tuition,” President James Campion says in the article. “In the past few years, we have had a decrease in state aid because rates have dropped dramatically. This year there is well over a $300,000 decrease.” The state is making up its lower totals by raising tuition costs, with a proposed bill allowing the SUNY Board of Trustees to set annual tuition, provided that it does not increase by more than 5.5 percent per year, for each of the next five years. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Air filtration company reportedly bringing 150 jobs to county
Jamie Larson follows up Carole Osterink's reporting in The Gossips of Rivertown that the North Carolina-based Flanders company will reopen the Kaz factory on Route 9 in Greenport, hiring as many as 150 local workers. "An official announcement of the substantial industrial addition to the county economy is expected to come from Gov. Andrew Cuomo today," Larson writes. The local venture will be called Precisionaire Of Hudson New York and makes air filters. Larson speculates that the company may be asking for a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). The county Industrial Development Agency, which would have to grant the PILOT tax break, meets this morning at 8:30 a.m. at the IDA’s office at 4303 Route 9 in Greenport.
Read the full story in the Register-Star.

UPDATE: Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports from that IDA meeting this morning:

"The county IDA approved a resolution to begin the process of awarding Flanders a 10-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement that would forgive 25 percent of the company’s annual taxes dependent on the property’s assessed value, which is currently around $4 million, though the purchase price, when finalized, is expected to be $3.2 million. Columbia County Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development Ken Flood said that the PILOT is similar to the one held by Kaz in the final years of its operation. At the current tax rate, the PILOT will reduce Flanders’ annual payment from nearly $84,000 to $61,000. In the contract, the North Carolina based Flanders has agreed to provide 180 full time positions, but expects to hire more than 200 when fully operational. Flood said the full-time positions will include a similar — if not better — benefit package to that of Kaz."

Portin wants to challenge Cozzolino in primary
John Mason in the Register-Star reports that today is the first day for candidates to gather signatures to get their parties’ endorsements, and that County District Attorney Beth Cozzolino is facing a primary challenge from within her own parties to her plans to run for County Court Judge this fall. Mark Portin, 52, a judge in the village of Chatham, the town of Ghent, and the city of Hudson, will primary Cozzolino in September for the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines. Cozzolino has been endorsed by the executive committees of all three parties, but the full parties decide in the Sept. 13 primary who will face probable Democratic opponent Richard Koweek in the November election. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

NY assembly extends fracking ban for another year
Dan Wiessner reports for Reuters that Monday the New York State Assembly passed a one-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, the method of natural gas drilling sometimes called "fracking" that is currently under a temporary ban in the state while the Department of Environmental Conservation studies the practice, which has gone on in the Western U.S. for years and recently came to Pennsylvania and New York. The proposed moratorium on new drilling permits would extend to June 1, 2012, replacing the current ban set to expire later this summer. The measure now goes to the Republican-controlled state Senate to become law. Read the Reuters story here.

Local sports results
Empire State Baseball League
Sunday, June 5th-DH in Amsterdam, NY
13U Coxsackie Owlz 15- Amsterdam 6
13U Coxsackie Owlz 11-Amsterdam 6
Zach Girvin and Seaver Martin each contributed three hits sending the 13U Coxsackie Owlz (2-1) to a 15-6 victory over the Amsterdam Rams in the first game of a double header. Girvin went 3-5 with an RBI double and a two-run double. Martin was 3-3 with an RBI double. Also for the Owlz, Sam Palmateer went 2-5 with 4 RBI's, while Justin Maldonado was 2-4 with 2 RBI's. David Gabrielsen went 1-2 with 2 RBI's and Derrek Dupont was 1-4 with an RBI. Taylor LeClair gets the win in relief of Chris Zwoboda. LeClair went 4 innings giving up 1 unearned run on 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 4. Zwoboda went 3 innings giving up 5 runs, 2 earned, on 4 hits, 3 walks and 2 strikeouts. In the second game, the Owlz (3-1) took over in the sixth inning, coming from behind andscoring 7 runs for an 11-6 win. David Gabrielsen went 2-2 with an RBI double. Matt Mitchell was 1-2 with 2 RBI's, and Kyle Roberts was 1-3 with an RBI double. Zach Girvin held the Rams to 1 run on 2 hits, a walk and 2 strikeouts in 3 innings of relief to earn the win. Justin Maldonado started on the mound going four innings giving up 5 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts. The 13U Owlz play a double header against Clifton Park in Coxsackie, next Sunday, June 12 at noon and 3 p.m.