Cuomo expands 'hydrofracking' review
NY1, The Associated Press, and many other outlets are reporting Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration has ordered an expanded environmental review of proposed natural gas "hydro-fracking" in New York after an accident in Pennsylvania in April caused a well to leak chemically tainted water for two days, driving a handful of families from their homes. A leaked internal memo dated Friday said the Pennsylvania accident raised issues about the technology and extraction method, which has been assailed by some environmentalists as unsafe. Read the whole story at NY1.

Local water quality
It will be hot today, and you may consider getting in some body of water to cool off. Riverkeeper, the local water advocate group, has posted water quality tests for our area, and the first results went up May 19. All of the local tests show "unacceptable" water quality due to high enterococcus count. Heavy rains this spring have muddied local waters. (Clinical infections caused by Enterococcus include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, bacterial endocarditis, diverticulitis, and meningitis, according to Wikipedia.)
•Athens:
o Athens Sewage Treatment Plant Outfall (119 enterococcus count)
•Coxsackie:
o Coxsackie Waterfront Park (378)
o Gay’s Point midchannel (260)
•Catskill:
o Catskill Creek – East End (816)
o Catskill Creek – First Bridge (727)
o Catskill Creek Launch Ramp (147)
o Hudson Launch Ramp (238)
o Inbocht Bay (411)

Summer looks busy--and fun--for Ancram kids
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that Ancram's summer camp program for youngsters was approved at its May 19 meeting. "Ruth Thomas, who will direct the program, said with an enrollment of 50 kids, she expects the program to make a $3,500 profit," the reporter wrote. "Mrs. Thomas, the wife of Councilman Chris Thomas, asked the town for $2,500 up-front to buy a used tent, fix the basketball court and install a railing to help people negotiate a steep hill near the pool." The program includes swimming lessons at the town pool, and run from July 5 through August 12, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $65 for Town of Ancram residents and $75 for non-residents. Adrienne Citrin of the Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors organization said the group will provide two five-week scholarships for youngsters whose families can't afford to pay. Ancram residents must register for the program at the Town Hall, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, June 4 or 11; non-residents register June 18. Potential campers must bring proof of residency and immunization records. Anyone with questions should contact Mrs. Thomas at (518) 329-7309. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Radio, Radio
Word of two new local radio stations coming on the air soon with local content. Well, one is new, and one returns to the airwaves. Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports that WCKL returns to 560 AM at 6 a.m. June 15. “Our proposed programming will be family-oriented — everything from music to talk shows,” General Manager Brian Dodge of Ghent told the newspaper. “We’ll bring back some of the old things that WCKL used to do — like the Swap Shop, and the Talk of the Town, with people invited in.” The new station at Bard College, WLHV (88.1-FM), won't be on the air for another year, but is kicking off its "fundraising and promotional campaign" June 3 at the Black Swan Pub in Tivoli with:
•TULiP members Raissa St. Pierre and Tim Davis spinning 78s
•Members of the dynamic ensemble Contemporaneous performing works for violin and clarinet
•Three readings by faculty in Bard's Language and Thinking Program
•Punk band El Front performing a radio-themed set
•A radio theater performance by Douglas Stone
•Different Guns (Ben Fundis, John Rosenthal, and Sasha Pearl) performing an acoustic set

The National Weather Service predicts scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 a.m. and then a partly sunny Memorial Day, with a high near 86. Monday evening , partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Tuesday should be mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

Town meetings today
It is the fifth Monday in May, and towns do not schedule meetings in the fifth week of the month.

Memorial Day ceremonies
The Daily Freeman rounds up Greene County Memorial Day activities:
• Athens: American Legion Post 187 is hosting a parade on Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the Little League field on North Franklin St. At 9 a.m. the parade will step off to the Veterans Memorial Park. From there, it will go to the American Legion Hall on Second St., where a memorial ceremony will be held. Greene County Veterans Service Agency Director John “Jack” VanLoan will be the guest speaker.
• Cairo: A parade will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. The parade will form at Slater’s Great American on Main St. and leave down Main St. to Van Buren Drive into Angelo Canna Park. The parade will be followed by a memorial service at noon at the veterans’ memorial in the park. WGXC will provide the audio sound system for the ceremony, and make a recording of activities there. Stop by and find out more about community radio.
• Coxsackie: A parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. Monday, along Apple Blossom Lane to Lafayette St. to McQuade Park, where a ceremony will be held.
• Durham: Durham Valley American Legion Post 1416 holds a service at 11 a.m. Monday at Durham Elementary School on State Route 145.
In Columbia County:
•Greenport: Memorial Day Service 9 a.m.-noon at Wortman Square with Ted Hilscher, Assistant Professor of History at Columbia-Greene Community College, as guest speaker. Mr. Hilscher will be speaking on 150th Anniversary of the the Civil War and the Greenport men who served.

Closings
The Daily Freeman has a complete roundup of closings including:
•Amtrak: Two evening trains added to southbound schedule.
•Banks: Closed.
•County offices: Closed.
•Federal offices: Closed.
•Financial markets: Closed.
•Greene County Transit: No service.
•Mail delivery: None.
•Metro-North: Sunday schedule.
•Schools: Closed.
•State offices: Closed.
•Trailways: Holiday schedule.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 8:39 a.m./Low, 2:24 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:28 a.m./8:18 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 3:44 a.m./6:29 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 30 Howard Hawks, Mel Blanc, Benny Goodman, Pauline Oliveros, Gale Sayers, and Cee-Lo Green.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant presents the morning news, music, other features, agriculture reporting. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant and Norman Keyser update the morning news. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CLASSICAL MUSIC Lincoln Mayorga visits Brazil. Noon-2 p.m.
COUNTERSPIN FAIR's media show. 3 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Kaya Weidman and Greg Osofosky host 4-7 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more.

USDA Raises Dairy-Price Forecast But Keeps Food Inflation Steady
Tom Polansek in The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. government raised its forecast for retail dairy prices Thu. May 26, but left its food-inflation prediction at 3 to 4 percent for 2011. "Officials said the overall forecast didn't increase because higher prices for dairy products were offset by lower prices for other goods. The USDA didn't adjust the forecast range for any category except dairy. Yet the government did note pork prices slipped 0.3 percent last month, while its fresh-vegetable index dropped 3.5 percent," the story noted. Retail prices for dairy products are now forecast to jump 5 percent to 6 percent in 2011, up from an April forecast of 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent, due to higher prices for milk. Greater demand linked to the global economic recovery, and rising fuel prices, are cited as factors in the price spikes. Read the full story in The Wall Street Journal.

GOP announces slate of candidates for county positions
John Mason in the Register-Star writes that the Columbia County Republican Party Committee nominated candidates for fall elections Thu. May 26. Among the candidates:
•District Attorney Beth Cozzolino was nominated for the county judge seat recently vacated by Paul Czajka.
•Czajka was chosen to run for Cozzolino’s district attorney seat.
•County Judge Jonathan Nichols will run for state Supreme Court.
•P.J. Keeler, county Emergency Medical Services coordinator and owner of KD Hallmark, will run for county treasurer, the post Ken Wilber is leaving after four terms.
•And former Sheriff Jim Bertram was nominated for county coroner.
Hudson City Judge Mark Portin was on hand, Mason reports, hoping to challenge Cozzolino for the judgeship, but no one made the nomination for Portin. “I’m really pleased with our slate. We have experienced, proven vote-getters in Beth Cozzolino, Paul Czajka and Jim Bertram and well-known local businessman Paul ‘PJ’ Keeler running this year. I think they are all winners,” county Chairman Greg Fingar told the paper. Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

Familiar faces, one newcomer make up Dem slate
John Mason also covered the Columbia County Democratic Committee nominations at Space 360 in Hudson Thu., May 26. Nominations included:
•Hudson City Judge Richard Koweek, was nominated for county judge.
•Gene Keeler was picked to run for district attorney. In 2008, Keeler lost the DA race to current DA Beth Cozzolino.
•Newcomer to politics Peter Stoll was chosen to run for county treasurer.
•George Davis will seek re-election as county coroner.
Read the full story in the Register-Star.

Misdemeanor against Valentines tossed out
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports that the misdemeanor charge against Keith Valentine, the Greene County Legislature’s Republican majority leader, and his wife Cynthia, for unlawfully dealing with a child, was dismissed Wed. May 25 according to Columbia County First Assistant District Attorney Michael Cozzolino. The Valentines were arrested last August on a class A misdemeanor charge and violation of a county local law after police determined alcohol was available to teen-agers at the couple’s Catskill home during a Fourth of July party and graduation celebration in 2010. Cozzolino said completion of a state Alcohol Training Awareness Program, which the Valentines completed May 9, allowed for the dismissal. Defense attorneys have also filed a motion to also dismiss the local law violation. The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office has until June 29 to respond to the motion. Mr. Valentine voted for the Greene County Local Law No. 1 of 2007 as a legislator: “No person having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if such person knows that any alcoholic beverage is being unlawfully possessed, served to or consumed by a minor at said residence.” The case is in Hunter Town Court. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration and Sailing Society elects officers
The Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration and Sailing Society Inc. elected officers at a meeting Wed. May 25: Louise Bliss, President, Joseph Rapp, Vice President, Marjan Schiereck, Recording Secretary and Katrina McEwan, Treasurer and a Board of Directors including Bennett McEwan, Joseph Kenneally, Maryellen Reidy, Leo Ponter, Mike Aquier, Nick Tipple, and Casson Kennedy. The group is working to restore the sloop Eleanor along the Hudson waterfront. The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on June 30 at 7 p.m. at 609 Warren St.

The National Weather Service predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms, and some storms could be severe, with heavy rain and frequent lightning. Patchy fog between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Friday night showers are likely, and some storms could be severe, with heavy rain and frequent lightning. Saturday scattered showers are predicted, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind between 6 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Town meetings today
CLERMONT Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:52 a.m./Low, 6:25 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:30 a.m./8:16 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:20 a.m./3:31 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 27 Rachel Carson, Vincent Price, Ramsey Lewis, Siouxsie Sioux, and Lisa Lopes.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present 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 Tom Roe updates the morning news. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
PURE MOODS Shannekia McIntosh plays all types of music. Noon-2 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD Steve CHarney's comedy show. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts 4-7 p.m.
GUEST DJ: Tony Fallon Live from Lampost Inn in East Durham. 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. Overnight until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Diata Diata International Folkloric Theater presents their tenth annual Community Theatre project, directed by Pamela Badila. This year's play is "The Rooster and the Crocodile" and addresses treatment of animals and humans, with actors of all generations. The play is free with performances at 7 p.m. at the Hudson Intermediate School.

•Click here to listen to an interview with Pamela Badilla about "The Rooster and the Crocodile," with Tom Roe on the WGXC Afternoon Show May 25.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="80" caption="David Woodin."][/caption]In this interview with David Woodin, the conductor of the Catskill Community Orchestra, talks to Fawn Potash about the orchestra's performance this Sunday at the Beattie-Powers Place in Catskill. The orchestra will be joined by the Evander Quartet, students from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. The program includes "Hudson River Journey" and "Quartet in C," original compositions by Woodin, and the "Allegro vivace e con brio" from Beethoven's Symphony #8. The show is free and begins at 2 p.m.

•Click here to listen to nine-minute interview with Woodin that includes a performance from the Evander Quartet.

[caption id="attachment_10211" align="alignright" width="224" caption="Rep. Chris Gibson at Chatham Middle School, at town meeting March 23. Photo by Tom Roe."][/caption]Gibson to testify about War Powers Act
Congressman Chris Gibson (NY-20) will testify before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Thursday on his legislation, H.R. 1609, the “War Powers Reform Act.” The Committee hearing is titled “War Powers, United States Operations in Libya, and Related Legislation,” and Gibson will explain his position on the balance between executive and legislative power on the issue of bombing foreign lands. Gibson says his bill , "would prevent the President from acting or expending funds without the authorization of Congress, unless the action met a specific set of criteria." The hearing is at 10:30 a.m. The War Powers Resolution enacted over the President’s veto in 1973 requires the President to seek Congressional authority after engaging the American military in hostile actions, has been ignored by all presidents of both parties. Gibson wants the authority limited to, "when there has been a declaration of war, when there is congressional authorization by statue or commitment under a treaty, or when the US is attacked or in imminent danger of being attacked."

No progress on Hudson school budget
Lynn Sloneker tweets from last night's first effort to redo the Hudson School District budget after voters rejected it May 17, and the School Board first accepted it, then rejected the budget a week later. Sloneker reported, "First post-election budget workshop ends with little resolved. BoE will meet again Thur...fish or cut bait time."

House Advances Budget With Significant Cuts to FDA
Helena Bottemiller in Food Safety News reports that House lawmakers unveiled a proposal Monday that seeks $285 million in cuts to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration next year, an 11.5 percent reduction from current spending. Former chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), told Republicans on the panel that she believes their cuts, which were approved by the subcommittee in a voice vote Tuesday, will roll back "years of progress on food safety." DeLauro said foodborne illness is a major threat and called the proposal "unacceptable." Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA), chair of the subcommittee, emphasized the austere budget circumstances in which Congress is operating. It's "been tight for all of us," he said. "We have tried our best to focus on waste and duplication." Read the entire story in Food Safety News.

Food on the March
Scott Baldinger in the Word on the Street blog notes that Hudson has several new inexpensive places to eat:
•Tortillaville, the Mexican mobile stand, reopens from its winter in the Florida Keys this weekend, back at 347 Warren St.
•The Italian Market and Deli (518-671-6610), at the corner of Columbia and Park Place.
•The mobile Winnie’s Jerk Chicken and Fish Shack, parked Thursday through Saturday (Wed-Sat. starting in June) in front of the historic freight depot at State and Seventh. Owners Winston and Jai Francis, from Jamaica, report they will be at the spot until next winter. Read the entire item in Word on the Street.

Circuit board "fried" at WIOX, replacement is on order
Julia Reischel in The Watershed Post reports the signal at WIOX 91.3-FM in Roxbury has been off since Monday night as a circuit needed to be replaced. The radio station's managing consultant, Joe Piasek, believes they will be back on the air Thursday afternoon. Read the whole story in The Watershed Post.

Thursday audio clips

•Click here to listen to mp3 recording of Richard Koweek interview on "@Issue" on WGXC. Interview by Victor Mendolia, who is head of the Hudson Democrats, and Debora Gilbert, who writes for The Columbia Paper.

•Click here to listen to nine-minute interview with Woodin that includes a performance from the Evander Quartet.

•Click here to listen to an interview with Pamela Badilla about "The Rooster and the Crocodile," with Tom Roe on the WGXC Afternoon Show May 25.

The National Weather Service predicts isolated showers and thunderstorms after 9 a.m. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. High near 81. Chance of precipitation is just 20 percent. Thursday night, a 40 percent chance of rain, with a low around 62. Friday, scattered showers and thunderstorms are predicted. High near 81.

Town meetings today
CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
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).
href="http://www.townofwindham.com">WINDHAM Town Board meets at 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:38 p.m./Low, 5:41 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:31 a.m./8:15 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:56 a.m./2:33 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 26 Jay Silverheels, Moondog, Peggy Lee, Stevie Nicks, and Lenny Kravitz.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mariel Fiori and Antonio Flores-Lobos present 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 Christina Malisoff and Ellen Thurston updates the morning news. 9-10 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Director Franklin Lopez speaks in a question and answer session after a screening of his film "END:CIV," based on the book "End Game" by activist and author Derek Jensen. Franklin Lopez presented his film and held a workshop at The Sanctuary for Independent Media in Troy on April 22. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CROSSROADS Allan Skerrett plays jazz and other styles. Noon-2 p.m.
SOUND FORMS Peter Wetzler talks with Kingston-based composer Pauline Oliveros. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER Experimental radio theater. 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO Loretta and Karen Schoemer host. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Antoine Guerlain hosts 4-7 p.m.
THE JAZZ DISTURBANCE Hosted by Cheryl K.
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.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="217" caption="Richard Koweek. Photo from Columbia County Democrats website."][/caption]Judge Richard Koweek announced he is seeking the Democratic, Working Families, and other nominations for Columbia County Court Judge this November, at 10 a.m. Wed. May 25 on the "@Issue" program on WGXC, hosted by Victor Mendolia, the chairman of the Hudson Democrats, and Debora Gilbert of The Columbia Paper. Koweek has practiced law in Columbia County since 1979, and is currently Hudson City Court Judge. Koweek said in a press release, “Recent events opened a position of County Court judge for Columbia County. It is my firm belief that my background, temperament, experience, and understanding of this community uniquely qualifies me for that position." Koweek has served on the Board of Directors of Columbia Memorial Hospital, The Columbia Children's Foundation, The Second Show, and Parsons Child and Family Center, as well on the School Board for the Hudson City School District, and as a director of the Ghostly Gallup, the Hudson Library road race. Columbia County Judge Paul Czajka recently resigned to run for District Attorney, and current DA Beth Cozzolino then announced she would seek Republican, Conservative, and Independence lines for the judge's seat.

•Click here to listen to mp3 recording of Richard Koweek interview on "@Issue" on WGXC.

$6.3M budget with 2% tax hike adopted
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports the Catskill Village Board of Trustees on Mon., May 23 approved a $6.3 million budget for 2011-12 with a $91,000 increase in spending and and a two percent tax levy increase. "We worked very hard as a board to say ‘two percent is all we have to work with,”’ Village President Vincent Seeley was quoted by The Daily Mail reporter, about the very real possibility that the state may pass a two percent property tax cap. The budget includes a $162,000 increase in costs for employment benefits, and trustees added almost $82,000 more this year for debt service. The budget also includes cuts to the two highest-funded departments, police and public works. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.

Fire chief plans run for town supervisor in Nov.
Bob Green in the Register-Star reports that Jeff Seymour, the chief of Stockport Volunteer Fire Company #1, wants to be on the ballot this fall for Stockport town supervisor on the Conservative, Independence and Republican lines. “I spend a ton of time as it is right now serving the town,” he said in the Register-Star. He was elected fire chief three times since 2006, and a local firefighter for 15 years, as well as an EMT for 20. “My ability to supervise, find common ground, and communicate with the many different personalities within the fire company as well as the residents of my fire district will certainly aid me in the position of supervisor,” he said in his letters to the Stockport political parties. Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

Hochul beats Corwin in NY-26
Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential reports that Democrats won a usually Republican seat in Congress in the western New York special election to replace Rep. Chris Lee. Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul beat Assemblywoman Jane Corwin 48-42, with industrialist Jack Davis taking 9 percent of the vote. "Democrats are casting the win as a referendum on the GOP plan to replace the current system of Medicare with one based on vouchers for private insurance," Vielkind wrote. "Republicans point to Davis, and his use of the “Tea Party” name for a ballot line that drew votes. There’s also a lot of Republican blame-mongering going on about how the campaign was run." Read the entire story in the Albany Times-Union's political blog.

NYS Supreme Court Grants Preliminary Injunction, Blocks Sale of Dirty Outdoor Wood Boilers in NYS
The Supreme Court of the State of New York Tue. May 24 granted a preliminary injunction to stop the sale of outdoor wood boilers that do not meet the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) new, improved standards. The court's ruling restrains the DEC from implementing its April 15 "emergency" rule allowing the sale of the older model wood boilers until July. The court will make a determination on June 20. "New Yorkers from Buffalo to the Bronx can breathe easier today thanks to the Supreme Court of the State of New York's decision to block the sale of dirty outdoor wood boilers," said Ross Gould, Air and Energy Program Director, Environmental Advocates of New York. "The Department of Environmental Conservation's fake 'emergency' has been called off, and everyone who cares about clean air is grateful." The DEC originally passed new regulations for the heating units as of April 15, then extended the old laws, citing unsubstantiated economic reasons.

Farm Bureau wants Farmers Regulatory Relief Act passed
The New York Farm Bureau is lobbying for the Farmers Regulatory Relief Act in the New York State legislature, a bill to ease regulation and lower taxes on farmers. “New York’s business climate needs to improve to help our farmers thrive,” said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau and a dairy farmer in Elba, N.Y. “Our farmers are subject to unreasonable regulations, fees, taxes and utilities costs—perhaps more than any other farmer on the globe,” Norton said. Sponsored by Sen. Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Bill Magee, the bill includes a refundable investment tax credit, toll exemptions, fee changes, with other reductions in regulations for agricultural interests.

Wednesday audio clips
(Click on names to play mp3 audio clips.)

•Evelyn Trebilcock from Olana interview on WGXC Afternoon Show.
Interview by Richard Roth and Ellen Thurston. Curator of Olana Evelyn Trebilcock introduces the new exhibition there, "Rally 'Round the Flag: Frederic Edwin Church and the Civil War." Twenty-six minute interview, though beginning could be excerpted.

•Howard Zar from Athens Cultural Center
Interview by Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper on WGXC Afternoon Show. Three-minute excerpt from beginning of interview with the President of the Board of the Athens Cultural Center, about the "prom" fundraiser they are holding Sun. May 29.

•Peter Paden from Columbia Land Conservancy
Interview by Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper on WGXC Afternoon Show. Paden is Executive Director of the Columbia Land Conservancy, which holds it's annual Country Bar-B-Q Sun., May 29.

•Amari Hayden interviewed about Catskill Community Center youth activities.
Interview by Cory Fischer-Hoffman. Interview at groundbreaking for WGXC studio in the Catskill Community Center, about the centers youth activities, by a local youth who uses the facility.

•Poet Bill Shute at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. An 11-minute poetry performance from Bill Shute. Shute will be in Hudson Sat., May 28 at the Spotty Dog Books & Ale, performing on a bill with Eric Hardiman and Ray Hare of Century Plants.

•Century Plants performance at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. Show presented by Albany Sonic Arts Collective. 16-minute performance.

The National Weather Service predicts Wednesday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Wednesday night there is a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. and a low around 53. Thursday there is a 40 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon, and a high near 81.

Town meetings today
ATHENS Village meeting at 7 p.m. at Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Works Committee at 6 p.m. at County Office Building, 401 State Street, Hudson.
CLAVERACK A Public Hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Claverack will be held on the following application(s): The following application(s) are on the agenda for board review at the May 25, 2011 meeting of the Town of Claverack Zoning Board of Appeals: Drake Petroleum Co. Inc.: XtraMart - Rte 23 & 9-H Tax Map #(SBL) 121 . 3 – 2 – 13 Special Exception for expanding hours of operation from previously approved 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Drake Petroleum Co. Inc.: XtraMart - Rte 23 & 9-H Tax Map #(SBL) 121 . 3 – 2 – 13 Area Variance for installation of new 84 square foot sign to replace two existing signs. New sign exceeds allowed square footage. Valley Oil Co.: 5848 Route 9-H Tax Map #(SBL) 131 . – 01 – 20. Site Plan for construction of new 80’ x 108’ garage. Schnackenberg, Jureen: 79 Donnelly Rd. Tax Map #(SBL) 123 . – 1 – 63 . 111 Site Plan Review for construction of 28’ X 40’ barn to house hay, firewood, and utility room equipped with solar panels. Columbia-Greene Humane Society: 125 Humane Society Rd. Tax Map #(SBL) 100 . 00 – 01 – 03 Verify Use for construction of a new animal shelter for the Columbia-Greene Humane Society. Polyak, Serafima: 60 Eagle St. Philmont Tax Map #(SBL) 113 . – 1 – 51 Use Variance for Additional Home Occupation of dog grooming, keep existing Home Occupation of growing and selling of fish, and removing Home Occupation of Boiler Maintenance. Public Hearing at 7:30 p.m. at Claverack Town Hall, 91 Church St., Mellenville.
GREENE COUNTY The Greene County Industrial Development Agency holds a Special Board meeting at 11 a.m. at Greene County IDA Office, 270 Mansion St., Coxsackie.
HUDSON Department of Public Works Committee meeting starts at 6 p.m.; Legal Committee meeting starts at 6:45 p.m at City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson (828-1030).
KINDERHOOK Historical Committee meeting at 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 10:05 a.m./Low, 4:52 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:31 a.m./8:14 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:32 a.m./1:35 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 25 Ralph Waldo Emerson, Raymond Carver, Frank Oz, Sugar Minott, and Paul Weller.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant and Kieran Reilly 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 Philip Grant and Norman Keyser updates the morning news. 9-10 a.m.
@ISSUE Victor Mendolia hosts a show about local politics. 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.
IMPRINT RADIO Terry Doyle covers Hudson Valley music. 2 p.m.
CATSKILL REVIEW OF BOOKS Author Sandra Veronesi talks about her boo "Quiet Chaos." 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO "Radio Explosion!" with Olivia Williams, Marie Lashay, and Courtney Murphy. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts, with guest Pamela Badila talking about her play "The Rooster and the Crocodile" at the Hudson Middle School this weekend at 4:15 p.m. 4-7 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more. Overnight all weekend until 6 a.m. Sunday.

[caption id="attachment_11854" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bill Shute. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]Poets Bill Shute and Sandra Burgess from Texas performed with Parashi (Mike Griffin), and others, Mon. May 23 at the Upstate Artist Guild on Lark St. in Albany. The Albany Sonic Arts Collective put together the show that also featured a solo set from Parashi. Also performing was Century Plants (Eric Hardiman, Ray Hare) with Phil Donnelly on drums, and Cruudeuces (Nathaniel Brennan, Mike Barrett, from North Adams, MA) closed the night. Video projections by Jason Cosco accompanied the performances. Shute appears in Hudson this Saturday, May 28 at the Spotty Dog Books & Ale.

Click on each name, or group of names, to play mp3 of each performance from the show:

[caption id="attachment_11855" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Parashi. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]•Parashi at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. A little over 16 minutes of poetry.

•Poet Bill Shute at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. An 11-minute poetry performance from Bill Shute, who will be in Hudson Sat., May 28 at the Spotty Dog Books & Ale.

[caption id="attachment_11857" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bill Shute, Sandra Burgess, and Parashi. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]•Bill Shute and Sandra Burgess and Parashi at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. Twelve-minute poetry collaboration.

[caption id="attachment_11858" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Bill Shute and Parashi. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]•Bill Shute and Parashi at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. Twenty-five minute performance.

[caption id="attachment_11859" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Century Plants. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]•Century Plants performance at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. Show presented by Albany Sonic Arts Collective. 16-minute performance.

•Cruudeuces performance at Upstate Artist Guild.
Recorded by Sam Sebren. Fourteen-minute performance.
[caption id="attachment_11860" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cruudeuces. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="245" caption="James Seward on the State Senate floor during recent budget talks. Photo from Seward website."][/caption]State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) -- who represents Greene and several other counties in Albany -- announced Tue. May 24 that he is co-sponsoring legislation that would give local governments veto power over natural gas drilling, or hydraulic fracturing, through zoning authority. “The topic of drilling in the Marcellus Shale has elicited an overwhelming response with varied opinions on all sides of the issue. One thing that cannot be discounted moving forward is the desire of local residents,” Seward's press release read. “That is why I am co-sponsoring legislation (S.3472) that would empower local governments and allow them to regulate natural gas drilling through local planning and zoning.” Along with co-sponsoring S.3472, Seward also called on New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens to apply similar rules. “As the DEC finalizes regulations aimed at providing us with a thorough blueprint of how to drill for natural gas, they should take into account the home rule ethic the state accords to local governments,” said Seward.

The letter Seward wrote Martens, in full:

"Dear Commissioner Martens:

As you know, the issue of natural gas drilling has prompted concerns relative to its safety and its environmental side effects. The department is in the process of completing revisions to the supplemental generic environmental impact statement (sGEIS), and I understand the complexity of issues that must be considered.

Several towns within my district have already acted to rule out natural gas drilling under their home rule authority through zoning and land use regulation.

It seems to me that one basic issue that the state should address in the sGEIS, if not legislatively, is the self-determination of local governments; that is, allowing people to decide for their communities whether gas drilling should be permitted, through the voice of duly elected municipal officials. The state certainly has an interest in the proper recovery of mineral, oil and gas resources, but it has also accorded to local governments the right to determine, through zoning and planning mechanisms, the appropriate places and conditions of economic activity, from farming to retail to manufacturing.

While the legislature reviews its role in permitting home rule decisions in the arena of gas exploration, I take this opportunity to urge the department as well to recognize the prerogatives of local governments, the varied opinions on the merits and drawbacks of natural gas exploration, and provide for local ‘opt-out’ provisions in the new regulations. This could be as simple as the department not considering applications where local law prohibits drilling. Doing so empowers local governments to establish their own timetables, rules, criteria – or to decide that an industry is not compatible with their master plans – and to continuously evaluate the experiences of other communities within the state that may choose to approve drilling under enacted local laws.

I would urge you to include a ‘home rule’ provision within the new regulations.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can address this concern further.

With best wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

JAMES L. SEWARD

State Senator"

The New York State Department of Labor released unemployment figures for April on Tue. May 24 that show joblessness fell in both Greene and Columbia counties, as well as Ulster, Dutchess, and the Capitol Region. In Greene County, the unemployment rated was 8.6 percent, down from 8.8 percent last month and a year ago. In Columbia County, the rate was 7.3 percent, down from 7.9 percent in March and down from 7.5 percent a year ago. In Ulster the rate was 7.7 percent, and Dutchess it was 7.3 percent, down from 8.1 and 7.7 a month ago, respectively. The Capitol Region (Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie counties) fell to 6.8 percent, the lowest in two years, and down from 7.2 percent last month, and 7.1 percent last year. Looking closely at the numbers, there were fewer employed as well as fewer unemployed in Greene County in April. Now, only 20,900 roughly are employed, where in March there were 21,600 jobs, and a year ago 21,400. In Columbia County the number of employed rose slightly to 27,500 from 27,300 in March, but down from 28,500 jobs a year ago.

Bill would give farmers break on tolls
Senate bill S742A-2011 is on the Floor Calendar in Albany for Tue. May 24 and would, "Provide that farmers shall receive an exemption from tolls when transporting product to N.Y. city for consumption in the city." The bill is sponsored by Catherine Young (R, C, I-57th), who represents an area south of Buffalo. The bill says, Farmers are stressed with the price of gas to transport their products to the city for consumption to make little profit after the cost of gas and tolls are included. To help offset these expenses, farmers should be exempt from tolls when transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city."

Ichabod adopts budget — minus football
John Mason in the Register-Star reports the Ichabod Crane Board of Education voted Mon., May 23 to approve a contingency budget of $33,795,494, after voters rejected their original proposal of $33,837,503 in May 17 school elections. The $42,009 savings comes from cutting football ($31,000) and other items mandated by contingency budget rules ($11,009). When voters reject a budget, boards can pass a contingency budget that is equal to or lower than the cost of living increase, or Consumer Price Index. The board already trimmed $3.9 million from the 2011-2012 budget by closing two elementary schools and cutting staff and programs. "On April 12, the board passed its budget, but in a 5-3 vote added $31,000 for football," Mason writes. "Football had been funded for the past three years by the Booster Club in a pilot program." Community members asked at the meeting Monday if football could remain funded by the booster club, and the board punted, postponing that decision until a later meeting, Mason reports. Read the full story in the Register-Star.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="160" caption="Vitaliy Bobkov's proposal to turn the Friar Tuck Resort into a magical place."][/caption]Friar Tuck reappears?
Vitaliy Bobkov of the B&B Lounge in Catskill is floating a proposal on his website and a Facebook page to turn the now-vacant Friar Tuck Resort into a magic theme park. Bobkov's business is a little north of the empty Friar Tuck on Rt. 32 in Greene County, and his proposal hopes to also revive the Catskill Game Farm and Carson City attractions in the same area.




Details: Hudson River School Art Trail and Catskill, N.Y.
Becky Krystal in The Washington Post last Thursday has a thin travel piece about Catskill and the local "art trail." She visits the Thomas Cole House in Catskill and Olana just across the Hudson River, as well as Catskill's The Post Cottage, Bell's Cafe, and Village Pizza II. Read the entire story in The Washington Post.

Saugerties comedian on NPR

Jimmy Fallon, who grew up in Saugerties, was interviewed on National Public Radio by Fresh Air's Terry Gross on Mon., May 23. On May 11 he gave a shout-out to Woodstock radio station WDST on his Twitter feed: "Listening to 100.1 WDST Woodstock Radio. Good morning guys!"

The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for our area, saying a line of thunderstorms with damaging winds may sweep through the region Tuesday. High near 80 with a 40 percent chance of rain. Tuesday night there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 57. Wednesday, mostly sunny, with a high near 75.

Town meetings today
GREENPORT Planning Board meeting, 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).

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 9:15 a.m./Low, 3:59 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:32 a.m./8:13 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:08 a.m./12:36 p.m.; Last Quarter Moon: 1:53 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 24 Harold Budd, Archie Shepp, Bob Dylan, Patti LaBelle, Rosanne Cash, and Bartolo Colon.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant and Norman Keyser 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 Philip Grant and Norman Keyser updates the morning news. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE OPERA SHOW Ed Beatty's monthly opera show. Noon-2 p.m.
BLIND SPOT RADIO Photography show from David Bush and David LaSpina. 2 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO Youth-produced radio. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper host. 4-7 p.m.
TOM WAITS SHOW Nicholas only plays Tom Waits music once a month. 7 p.m.
BATTLEFIELD EARTH Dan Seward's weekly exploration of everything. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more. Overnight all weekend until 6 a.m. Sunday.

An anonymous donor's gift to the Greene County Council on the Arts brought the Evander Quartet -- four young musicians from the Eastman School of Music -- to Catskill for a series of appearances around Greene, Columbia, and Ulster counties this summer. The sophomores from Syracuse are playing at Sunday brunches at the Catskill Mountain Lodge, which is donating lodging for the group, as well as at many area libraries, the Catskill Community Theater, Beattie-Powers Place, and the Saugerties Farmer's Market. Last Saturday afternoon they stopped by the Catskill Community Center with Fawn Potash of the arts council, and spoke with Dharma Dailey about their visit to Catskill. Click here to listen to mp3 recording of the interview from the new WGXC studio in the Catskill Community Center.


From a press release from the Greene County Council on the Arts:

During their Hudson Valley residency May 13 - June 15th, classical music audiences will meet Ben Fried, the group’s cello player studying composition, klezmer and classical technique with a dizzying array of honors and medals including the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition five years in a row. Alexander Lee, violinist and former member of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra. He served as its concertmaster and won its concerto competition. Victor Ronchetti, violinist made his Lincoln Center debut at Avery Fisher Hall when he was ten-years old, performing the first movement of the Mozart A Major Concerto with the Little Orchestra Society. Matthew Cox, viola player has been a member of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Young Sinfonia and he has also performed professionally with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The Catskill Mountain Lodge on Route 32A in Palenville is generously donating rooms for the quartet during their Hudson Valley residency. You can find them at the at the hotel’s restaurant Kindred Spirits classical brunch on Sundays from 10 AM -1 PM and Fridays in the pub from 5-7 PM. Or catch them in a nightly rehearsal behind the hotel at their creekside fire circle.
Most performances are free! To book the Evander Quartet for a public performance or house party, contact
Fawn Potash at 518/943-3400 or email fawn@greenearts.org. Confirmed dates coming up:
Sunday, May 22, 3 PM, Concert, North Chatham Free Library, 4287 Route 203, Call 518-766-3211 for more information.
Sunday, May 29, 2 PM, Beattie Powers House, Prospect Ave. & West Bridge Street in Catskill, concert with the Catskill Community Orchestra- 1st Movement of Beethoven’s 8th, Conductor David Woodin’s newly composed string quartet debut + Evander Quartet repertoire selection. Call 518-943-4764 for more information.
Saturday, June 4th concert from 4:30 - 6 PM followed by a wine and cheese reception at the Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 9091 Route 22 in Hillsdale NY. Call 518-325-4101 for more information.
Sunday, June 5 from 2-4 PM at the Community Movie Theater, 373 Main Street, Catskill: Act 1 Evander Quartet; Act 2 Bing, Bang, Boing artist/musicians performing solo and ensemble acts with their handmade experimental instruments; Act 3 an improvisational jam, followed by a reception at GCCA Catskill Gallery's Bing, Bang, Boing exhibition, 398 Main Street. Call the GCCA at 943-3400 for more information.
Saturday, June 11 from 11-2 at the Saugerties Farm Market, Main Street parking lot, Saugerties NY. Call Ann Krupp for more information at 845-246-6466.
Other possibilities include farm markets, non-profit fund-raisers, opening acts for jazz or classical programs, school appearances with short performances and an instrument "petting zoo" for younger audiences and performance/talks for music students on what it takes to get into a conservatory. Rob Caldwell, the owner of Hudson's music store, Musica, said he couldn't stop watching their You-Tube videos.

(IF YOU PLAY VIDEO SAY COURTESY OF CBS6.)

Lynn Sloneker's Unmuffled blog's Twitter feed reports that Peter Merante switched his vote, and a reworked 2011-2012 Hudson schools budget will go back to the voters. At Mon. May 23's Hudson School Board meeting the board reversed last week's 4-3 school board vote to set aside voter's wishes and accept the proposed budget. Last Tuesday voters rejected the budget 1249 to 424, but moments after the polls closed Merante, Emil Meister, Jeff Otty, and Mary Daly voted to accept the budget anyway. Merante switched his vote tonight, siding with Peter Meyer, Elizabeth Fout, and Jeri Chapman (Meister was absent for the second vote). The proposed budget included an almost ten-percent tax increase that also eliminated more jobs than other area districts. The local media, online commentariat, and photoshoppers all protested the board's initial decision to ignore the public's vote. Sloneker's Twitter feed reports a budget meeting will be held at 6 p.m., this Wed. May 25 in the Hudson High cafeteria. A new public hearing will be held June 14, and a new vote June 21.

A day after someone leaked the public document to The Gossips of Rivertown blog that Hudson Common Council President Don Moore had refused to release to the public Tue. May 17, Moore this morning thought it was time to release the document to the public. The Hudson Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) has been discussed and debated for years, and a large crowd showed up Tuesday night to see it. But at the Common Council meeting Tuesday Moore only released four copies of LWRP to Common Council members who won a lottery: Geeta Cheddie (First Ward), Chris Wagoner (Third Ward), Abdus Miah (Second Ward), and Sheila Ramsey (Fourth Ward). Now Moore says the document will be available Monday, May 23, instead of June 2, the date he originally promised the public document would become public. He released a statement to three particular media outlets, but not the public in general, announcing his backpedaling. Here is the statement Moore sent to Carole Osterink at The Gossips blog, Debora Gilbert of The Columbia Paper (who have ignored it so far) and John Mason of the Register-Star (who printed it without context or explanation, followed by a fuller story a few days later by Jamie Larson here), via the Gossips site:

"I have reflected on my decision to hold the LWRP for release later in the week. I have consulted with Aldermen, listened to questions raised by the public and the press, obtained additional information on public access to our LWRP and GEIS (Generic Environmental Impact Statement) and concluded that my decision to not immediately release the documents, however well-intentioned, was wrong. So, the LWRP in its entirety will be released and available on-line at the City of Hudson website on Monday morning at 10 a.m. I do hope that everyone will respect that just like the public, the Aldermen must devote a good deal of their time to reviewing and absorbing these documents. Also, scheduling conflicts have delayed the date of the Special Common Council meeting. As soon as I have a firm date, I will let everyone know."

"A Local Waterfront Revitalization Program is both a plan and a program. The term refers to both a planning document prepared by a community, as well as the program established to implement the plan. The Program may be comprehensive and address all issues that affect a community's entire waterfront or it may address the most critical issues facing a significant portion of its waterfront."

Bard College professor Marina Rosenfeld performed with George Lewis Fri., May 20 at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn, and the folks from Innova Records were there to record it.