[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="The Hudson Correctional Facility as seen in its first incarnation as a Training Facility for Girls. Image from Friends of Hudson website."][/caption]Ever since Gov. Andrew Cuomo raised the subject of state prison cuts as a budget-balancing tool this past winter, there has been much conjecture as to whether there's a possibility that either the Coxsackie or Greene Correctional Facilities in Greene County, or the smaller state facility in Hudson, were on any lists for possible closure or job cuts. A new story in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, however, seems to dispel such notions by breaking down the inmate to prison guard ratio of prisons statewide, as well as the number of empty beds in existing facilities. "State prisons have as many as 8,000 excess beds at their 67 facilities, and the ratio of corrections officers to inmates far exceeds national averages, state records show," writes Joseph Spector. "A review of population counts and staffing levels by Gannett's Albany bureau shows that prisons are running at about 88 percent capacity — with hundreds of open beds at some facilities." He goes on to break down Cuomo's call to cut 3,700 prison beds and close up to six prisons by noting that only minimal and medium security facilities would be included in cuts. A FOIL request showed that the state currently has about 57,000 inmates and 21,000 officers. One prison, the Bayview Correctional Facility for women in New York City, had more staff than inmates, while Albion Correctional Facility, another woman's facility in Orleans County, was running at about 66 percent capacity and Hale Creek, in central New York. Altogether, 13 facilities had a 2-to-1 ratio of inmates to guards, not including Coxsackie, which is a maximum security facility, or Greene and Hudson, which are medium security. The state prison population reached a high of 71,600 inmates in 1999 and has since dropped as the state loosened its strict "Rockefeller drug laws" shifted to new alternative-to-incarceration programs. Spector reports how Cuomo has repeatedly said that prisons should not be used for economic-development purposes and has offered up to $50 million in grants to communities hurt by pending prison closures. "If people need jobs, let's get people jobs," the Governor said in his State of State address in January. "Don't put other people in prison to give some people jobs." For the rest of the story click here.

Holcim pays $423K in fines
Doron Tyler Antrim in The Daily Mail reports that the Holcim cement plant's $423,000 bill for 311 citations there since 2008 have been paid, according to records from the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The international cement company is contesting $2,800 in fines, over that period, but has paid the rest. Antrim's story details the many infractions at the Catskill plant over the past three years. “Safety is our number one priority at Holcim,” Bernard Terver, the company’s president and chief executive, is quoted in the story in announcing last year the completion of the first company-wide safety month. “We continually emphasize the importance of safe behavior and strive to develop a mindset and culture focused on safety.” Two months ago, Holcim announced the plant closes June 13, "although the terminal will remain open for remaining customers," Antrim writes. Read the complete story in The Daily Mail.

Bike shop on Main Street opens
Doron Tyler Antrim profiles Catskill Cycles in The Daily Mail. The bicycle shop opened at at 347 Main St. this past weekend. Bryan Hunter, a former park ranger with the National Park Service, opened the sales and repair shop with mountain and road bikes, hybrids and folding bikes. Hunter is also considering a rental program, according to the story. Catskill Cycles is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read the whole story in The Daily Mail.

Furlong's latest closure in East Durham
Furlong's bar in East Durham announced on its Facebook page this week that it is closing. "We would like to Thank All Our Friends & Patrons who have supported us for the last 24 yrs at Furlong's Pub and Motel in E. Durham, NY. Due to family health issues, we regret to inform you that we will not be re-opening Furlong's," the announcement said. "We will be listing Furlongs for sale. Thank you all for the fond memories, fun, music, & laughter. Those memories we will always treasure. All the Best! Sincerely,Tom & Yvonne Furlong." The bar hosted some performances during Irish Arts Week in East Durham each year. Recently, the Irish American Heritage Museum left East Durham for Albany.

Old Chatham Post Office faces possible closure
Paul Crossman in the Register-Star reports how some closures can affect a town's personality. Residents in Chatham, he reports are worried because the postal officials are considering closing the Old Chatham post office. Locals are worried that Old Chatham, if it loses its address and zip code in the future, might lose its identity. “There is a good chance it could close, but there is an equal chance it could not,” Post Office Operations Manager Eric Tiemann told a crowd of nearly 50 people at Chatham Town Hall last Tuesday evening. Crossman says the United States Postal Service is considering closing the Old Chatham office because they are, "currently without a postmaster and that any post office without one — and any post office with their lease running out — was part of the study. He explained that the USPS had ordered a hiring and promoting freeze for just this reason, so that they could begin deciding which post offices should be closed," Crossman writes. Read his whole story in the Register-Star.

2011-12 proposed school budgets
WNYT NewsChannel 13 lists many of the 2011-2012 regional school budgets, which will be voted on May 17.
Some local examples:
Cairo-Durham Central School District: $27.2 million, 3.45% tax levy increase, no field trips, no new technology purchases, but sports and academics remain untouched
Catskill Central School District: $37.2 million, 1.14% tax levy increase
Chatham Central School District: $27.1 million, 1.98% tax levy increase, two bus runs eliminated
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District: $25 million, 2.92% tax levy increase
Germantown Central School District: $13.9 million, 2% tax rate increase
Hudson City School District: $41.2 million, 9.8% tax levy increase
Hunter-Tannersville Central School District: $13.2 million, 1.49% tax levy increase
Ichabod Crane Central School: $33.8 million, 3.98% tax levy increase
New Lebanon Central School District: $12.4 million, 0% tax levy increase
Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District: $42.5 million, 3.39% tax levy increase, uses $500,000 from reserves
Taconic Hills Central School District: $33 million, 2.78% tax levy increase
Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School: $10.6 million, 1.73% tax levy increase, uses $250,000 from fund balance.
Compare all the budgets at WNYT.

The National Weather Service predicts several days of sun and seasonal temperatures. Monday mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Monday night partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Tuesday, again, mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Tuesday night mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Wednesday, mostly sunny, with a high near 71.

Town meetings tonight
ASHLAND Town Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, Main St., Ashland (734-3636).
CATSKILL Village meeting at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse, 1 Central Ave. (behind Walgreens) (943-3830).
COPAKE Environmental Committee meeting at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GREENE COUNTY The Greene County Legislature holds Buildings & Grounds, Conservation, Public Safety, Highway, Government Operations, and Finance committee meetings at 6 p.m. at the Greene County Building, 411 Main St., Catskill (719-3270).
HUDSON The City of Hudson holds the second of two public hearings relative to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) infrastructure funding application opportunities. The proposed project would create, "ADA/Handicap Accessibility and ease of pedestrian traffic from the sidewalk on Front Street in the City of Hudson, up and into a pocket park and then the Historic Promenade Hill Park, in a manner consistent, and in keeping with, the history of the park." That meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall; That's followed by Hudson Common Council Informal Meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall in Hudson.
HUDSON SCHOOL BOARD Hudson City School District Board of Education Budget hearing at 7 p.m. at the Junior/Senior High School, 215 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson.
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).
STUYVESANT Public Meeting on Open Government with Bob Freeman, of NYS Committee on Open Government, who will speak about FOIL laws and Open Meetings Law. The session is open to the public. 7–9 p.m. at Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Dr., Stuyvesant.
WGXC VOLUNTEER MEETING All are welcome. 6:30 p.m. at WGXC Hudson studio, 704 Columbia St., second floor.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 7:30 a.m./Low, 2:48 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:46 a.m./7:59 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 11:09 a.m./12:48 a.m.

Birthdays
MAY 9 Hank Snow, Mike Wallace, James L. Brooks, Billy Joel, Ghostface Killah, and Andrew_W.K..

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present the morning news, and other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant reads the news, play music, and introduce local recordings, and more. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
LINCOLN MAYORYGA Lincoln Mayorga plays classical music. Noon-2 p.m.
KIERAN'S FARM SHOWKieran Reilly talks agriculture. 2 p.m.
WELLNESS WATCH Linda Karlson talks to local nurses. 3 p.m.
WGXC YOUTH SHOW Youth-produced radio. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Kaya Weidman and Gregg Osofsky host. 4-7 p.m.
BLUEGRASS SHOW Cowboy Jim hosts. 7 p.m.
LUNARMOSS DJ Lunar Moss mostly keeps to the turntables. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more. Overnight through 6 a.m.

The Albany Business Review reports that net earnings per cow for dairy farms in our region rose $782 per cow last year, according to the Farm Credit’s Northeast Dairy Farm Summary report. In 2009, by comparison, cows in New York, New Jersey, and New England were costing farmers $386 each, rather then earning them money. The news this year was not all good: Debt per cow was at $3,337, the highest in the 32 years the report has been compiled. Read the entire story in The Albany Business Review.

Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports that Columbia County Treasurer Kenneth Wilber announced Thursday he will not seek re-election after 16 years in office. “It is the right time for me to step down and I do so with great pride and satisfaction in my service to the county,” said Wilber, a Republican, in the story. “It has been my privilege to work with four chairmen of the Board of Supervisors and their respective members.” Columbia County Republican Committee Chairman Greg Fingar could not be reached about who the party would nominate to replace him. Democratic Committee Chairman Christopher Nolan said Democrats would announce their candidate at the end of the month. Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

New HUD money for six area homeless programs
Mid Hudson News Network reports on a half dozen programs throughout the Hudson Valley that will be receiving federal Housing and Urban Development funds for new homeless programs over the coming year. Among the agencies getting grants are Community Action of Greene County, based in Catskill, which will receive $88,350; the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, based in Hudson, which will receive $29,932, and Gateway Community Industries, based in Kingston, which will receive $49,876. “The funds will be used primarily to assist these local organizations in providing housing, rental assistance, services such as mental health counseling, job training, educational assistance, substance abuse treatment and child care,” said HUD Regional Administrator Adolfo Carrion. “This comes at a time when we’ve seen this severe downturn in our economy and the impact of foreclosures on families, the loss of jobs leading to the inability to pay rent.” Read the whole story in Mid Hudson News Network.

Senate bill slows consolidation
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports on a state legislative wrinkle to a movement that was beginning to have repercussions in the consolidation of town and village courts, and talk of further shared services, in Columbia and Greene counties. "Even before he was governor, Andrew Cuomo pushed for government consolidation. As attorney general, he championed a law making it easier for residents of taxing entities -- ranging from villages to sewer districts -- to consolidate or dissolve them," Karlin writes. "But earlier this week, the state Senate quietly passed a proposal that would restrict Cuomo's consolidation law, sparking a potential fight with the governor." The new bill, he goes on to explain, would place time limits on citizen-initiated consolidation efforts by forcing petitions to be completed in 60 days. Furthermore, it would mean that there would be a four-year moratorium on consolidation efforts should a vote fail. "One of the primary reasons New Yorkers have had to endure massive increases in their property taxes is the fact that there are 10,000 local governments in this state," Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto said in reaction to the new bill, which Albany-watchers are saying will likely not move in the state Assembly. "The governor believes that we can bring down property taxes by consolidating local governments, and this legislation will make it much harder to do just that." Locally, village courts have consilidated with surrounding town courts in Athens and Valatie over the last few months.Read the whole story at The Times Union.

Bill seeks to keep ‘millionaires tax’ through 2012
Adam Sichko reports in the Albany Business Review that the "millionaire's tax" surcharge for those making over $250,000 a year - a key element in the March budget battles that included several protests and public discussions within the WGXC listening area -- has resurfaced as a Senate bill, with the Assembly likely to bring up a measure as well. "Sen. Tony Avella, a first-term Democrat from Queens, wants to keep the tax going through 2012," Sichko writes. "Avella wants to limit the tax to only affect actual millionaires, taxing their income at 8.97 percent... Doing so would generate an extra $4.2 billion for the state." Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican representing much of the Catskills and Mid-Hudson Valley, has previously said he, too, would support extending a tax surcharge on filers making $1 million or more, increasing the new law's chances for passage in both houses. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver supports such a move in his chamber of the legislature. "More than six weeks remain in the scheduled legislative session, so there’s still plenty of time for a bill to pass," Sichko concludes. "Even as part of a broader package of legislation. Read the whole story at Albany Business Review.

Region's Hudson River bridge tolls may rise
William Kemble has a story in the Daily Freeman about possible toll increases for the five Hudson River bridges operated by the New York State Bridge Authority. He quotes Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero stating that the amount of the toll increase, needed to pay for deck replacement on the Beacon-Newburgh span, will depend on a fiscal analysis conducted during the next four months. I can’t say to you it’s a quarter or 50 cents," Ruggiero said. "I don’t know that yet.” "The current $1 toll for eastbound passenger vehicles has been in place since 2000, when a 25-cent increase took effect," Kemble writes. "Ruggiero said public hearings must be held before a toll increase is voted on by the Bridge Authority’s board. Read the whole story at the Daily Freeman.

Former Irish Museum to host summer events
Michael Ryan in the Windham Journal reports the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural & Sports Centre (ICSC) in East Durham will replace the recently departed Irish Heritage Cultural Museum there with a lineup of concerts and other events this summer. The special events include a concert from singer Ronan Tynan on July 23, fireworks on July 2, a farmer’s market and flea market in July and August, and telecasts of Gaelic football in September. A few weeks ago, the Irish Heritage Cultural Museum announced it was leaving East Durham for Albany. Read the whole story in the Windham Journal.

Town imposes spending freeze
Hilary Hawke in The Ravena News-Herald reports the Town of Coeymans passed a spending freeze on all town departments at a recent board meeting. Town Supervisor Jim Youmans blames a $212,000 deficit on census figures, which show the town lost 733 residents between 2000 and 2010. "Albany County notified the town about the projected decrease in sales tax revenue distribution based on the 2010 census numbers," Youmans said in the weekly newspaper. "$212,000 represents a big chunk of our revenues for the year." Read the entire story in The Ravena News-Herald.

Space360 applies for liquor license
The Daily Mail Public Notices say that, "360 Warren Street, LLC (DBA – Space 360) applied for a license to sell beer, wine and liquor at retail in a catering establishment under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 360 Warren Street, Hudson, Columbia County, for on premises consumption."

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="800" caption="Hudson Farmer's Market Flag Day entry 2008, from Hudson Farmer's Market website."][/caption]Hudson Farmer's Market reopens
The Hudson Farmer's Market returns to the parking lot at the corner of 6th and Columbia Sts. Saturday at 9 a.m. and runs weekly through Nov. 19. There won't be quite as many vendors until June, and this season's vendors include: Berkshire Mountian Bakery; Blue Star Farm; Cedar Flower Farm; Coach Farm Dairy; Crosswinds Farm; Don Baker Fruit Farm; Good Fight Herb Co.; Flowering Heart Farm; Fog & Thistle Farm; Herb’s Greenhouse; Hudson-Chatham Winery; Hudson Valley Homestead; Loaf; Maple Bee Farm; Martin Farm; Milt’s Coffee; Muffins and More/Perfecto Pesto; Northern Star Farm; Pigasso Farm; The Red Barn; Red Oak Farm; Running Creek Farm Greenhouses; Samascott; Scarecrow Farm' The Farm at Miller’s Crossing; Tierra Farm; and Triform Gardens.


Owners re-build Blackthorn Resort
WTEN in Albany reports that eight months after the Blackthorn Resort in East Durham burned down from a propane leak, it has rebuilt in time for the summer tourist season. "Right after the fire, it was unbelievable how many couples would come by and tell us stories of how they met here 50 years ago," says Jennifer Handel, of the family that owns the resort. "We said, how do you not put this building back up?" The video above is also from WTEN.

The National Weather Service predicts a mostly sunny day, with a high near 70. A little breezy. Friday night scattered showers, mainly after 3 a.m., mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of rain is 30 percent. Saturday scattered showers, partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of rain is 40 percent.

Town meetings tonight
TAGHKANIC The Taghkanic Town Board holds a public information meeting at 7 p.m. at the Taghkanic Fire House located at Old Route 82, West Taghkanic, New York, for the purpose of informing and addressing any all questions and comments from the Town of Taghkanic resident’s regarding the proposal of a appointed Sole Assessor vs. Three Elected Assessors.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 5:07 a.m./Low, 12:30 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:49 a.m./7:56 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 8 a.m./11:24 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 6 Sigmund Freud, Weeb Ewbank, Willie Mays, Rubin Carter, George Clooney, and Laetitia Sadier.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present the morning news, and other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Tom Roe reads the news, play music, and introduce local recordings, and more. 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.
QUE COCINARE HOY? "What's Cooking Today?" with Mariel Fiore and Antonio Flores-Lobos. 2 p.m.
ASTROLOGY From AT Mann. 3 p.m.
WGXC YOUTH SHOW Youth-produced radio. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Hudson Talbott interviews all sorts of children's book authors before tomorrow Hudson Children's Book Festival. With Tom Roe. 4-7 p.m.
HOTLINE RADIO L. Dot Dinero and The Guy and others. 9:30 p.m.
TRANSMISSION ART Radio theater, experimental sound, field recordings, radio art, mash-ups, shortwave radio news, and more. Overnight through 6 a.m. Sunday.

Columbia County Judge Paul Czajka submitted his resignation Wednesday, stepping down from the bench after 16-years to attempt to become county district attorney again. Czajka was county DA from 1987 to 1994, before being elected judge. “My resignation is a decision I did not take lightly,” he said in a press release. “I fervently believe, however, that I can better serve the unfortunate victims of crimes, our citizens, and the taxpayers of Columbia County as our district attorney.... If I’ve learned nothing else during my career in law enforcement and the judicial systems of Columbia County, it is that the single most important position in the county for implementation of justice is that of district attorney.” Judge Czajka will seek the endorsement of the Columbia County Republican Committee, the Columbia County Independence Party Committee, and the Columbia County Conservative Party Committee for the November 8 election. The judge, who has nearly four years remaining on his second 10-year judicial term, says he wants to cut waste in the district attorney’s office with a smaller staff, and improved training and communication. “Simply put,” Judge Czajka said, “if I am elected, I will personally investigate crime and assist police officers in their investigations, personally go to court, and personally prosecute crimes. All of my assistant DAs will do so as well. This will result in greater leadership, accountability and responsibility that, with hard work, will spread throughout the county.” Czajka lives on a dairy farm in Livingston. Website forums, which typically have skeptical views of judges, contain negative reviews for the Judge here and here. Someone working for the Judge provided the YouTube video above from the Judge's announcement this morning, Thu. May 5 in front of the Columbia County Courthouse. Andrew Amelinckx, who attended the press conference, reports in the Register-Star that, "the current DA, Beth Cozzolino, announced her intention to seek reelection in January, around the same time that another former DA, Eugene Keeler, also announced. With Czajka gone, Judge Jonathan Nichols, himself running for the Supreme Court in New York’s Third Judicial Department, is the only county judge. Gov. Andrew Cuomo can appoint a judge to the position until next January, when an elected judge would then step in."

Jail officer fined in hunting accident
Colin DeVries in The Daily Mail reports on his final day with the paper that the sheriff’s jail lieutenant accused of shooting at a fisher and striking another hunter’s backpack was fined Wednesday under a compromise negotiated between environmental conservation officials and his defense attorney in Halcott Town Court. Greene County Jail Lieutenant Kenneth Leis was fined $250 by Halcott Town Justice Aton Kasanof. Leis will also be required to complete a hunting safety course under the civil compromise, and a state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) hearing will be held later this year to determine if Leis’ hunting license should be revoked up to five years. The DEC’s Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation said that Leis had attempted to shoot a fisher, a mammal of the weasel family, while hunting in Round Top on Nov. 20, 2010, the opening day of deer and bear season. Fishers are only permitted to be trapped in New York, not shot. "Robert Warrings of Round Top, who was wearing snow camouflage while tracking a bear he had shot in the Blackhead forest on Nov. 20, 2010, said Leis had shot at him and penetrated his backpack with a bullet.... Warrings alleges that Leis fired four shots with a .300 Winchester Short Magnum rifle. After the first two shots, Warrings said he yelled out to Leis but two more shots followed. Warrings said Wednesday the bullets were so close he thought he may have been shot in the ear," DeVries wrote in the newspaper. Warrings said he did not want to pursue criminal charges but still can. Following the proceeding at Halcott justice court, Leis released a statement to the press:

“I have cooperated with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation since the onset of this incident. I could have exercised my right to remain silent but I chose to speak with all police agencies involved. I gave a truthful account of all facts as my integrity and character only allow that. I was in constant contact with and cooperated with DEC investigators.”

Read the entire story in the The Daily Mail.

Football continues to divide Ichabod Crane district
John Mason in the Register-Star reports that at Tuesday night's meeting of the Ichabod Crane School Board the recent decision to include football in the 2011-2012 budget continued to dominate discussion. Former long-time board member Landra Haber announced at Tuesday’s meeting that she would be a write-in candidate for the board election May 17 because she does not support new funding the football team when so many other budget cuts had to be made. Of the four other candidates, incumbents Andrew Kramarchyk and John Chandler and challenger Cheryl Trefzger all supported the football spending, and challenger Susan Ramos has not announced her position on the issue. “When the school year began, you were up against difficult times,” Haber told the board, according to Mason. “The board and district really rallied round and entered into a covenant to trust each other. On April 12, five members broke that trust by voting to fund an extracurricular activity that had not been funded before. To take one penny and put it in extracurricular was breaking faith.” Read the entire story in the Register-Star.


A Whiff of Camembert, From Upstate
Florence Fabricant in The New York Times tastes the Kinderhook Creek cheese from the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company in Chatham. It is the first Camembert-style soft-ripening cheese that the farm has made entirely with sheep’s milk, not a blend of sheep’s and cow’s milk. "Named for a stream on the property, it’s aged up to three weeks, and has a bloomy rind, a creamy ivory center and a border of satiny ripeness. The bouquet is fresh and lightly mushroomy, and it has a gently tangy herbal flavor, which will deepen even in the refrigerator, after another week," Fabricant writes. Read the entire story in The New York Times.

Nobody home, for now
Kenneth C. Crowe in the Albany Times-Union writes that weekend and vacation residences tilt Columbia County's census figures, which recently counted just two new residents added to the county in the past decade. "It's a result of two things: an aging population, and the number of second homes since 9/11 has really grown," said Kenneth Flood, the county Planning and Economic Development commissioner and executive director of the Columbia Hudson Partnership in the story. Crowe writes: "While the county now has 32,775 housing units, only 25,906 are occupied year-round. The remaining 6,869 unoccupied homes are either empty or are weekend or vacation residences. That's an increase of more than 26 percent in this category of housing since the 2000 census count of 5,411. There were 3,419 weekend homes in 2000, while the 2010 numbers are not yet available." Read the entire story in the Times-Union.

The National Weather Service predicts a chance of showers today, mainly between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. Tonight, patchy frost after 3 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 32. Friday patchy frost before 8 a.m., then mostly sunny, with a high near 69.

Town meetings tonight
ANCRAM The Ancram Town Board holds a special meeting to review a finding of the Ancram Board of Ethics relating to a recommended refusal in a matter facing the Ancram Planning Board at 6 p.m. at Ancram Town Hall, 1416 County Route 7.
CAIRO The Town of Cairo holds a Public Hearing to discuss the Community Development Block Grant for the Cairo Library and for any other business that may come before the Board at 3:30 p.m. at Cairo Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 5:26 p.m./Low, 11:52 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:50 a.m./7:55 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 7:08 a.m./10:33 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 5 Blind Willie McTell, Tammy Wynette, Ian McCulloch, and Tina Yothers.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy present the morning news, and other features, agriculture reporting, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! Hosted by Amy Goodman. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Christina Malisoff and Ellen Thurston read the news, play music, and introduce local recordings, and more. 9-10 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Christina Malisoff and Sam Sebren interview Maud Easter, Executive Director of Woman Against War, about reassessing the anti-war movement in light of the recent assassination of Osama bin Laden. Also, Elliot Adams, President of Veterans for Peace will update us on current anti-war actions and Lt PFC Bradley Manning.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
CROSSROADS Alan Skerrett plays jazz and more. Noon-2 p.m.
THE ART OF THE HUDSON VALLEY Scheduled guest Hudson resident Dini Lamot (aka Musty Chiffon) will talk about the band Human Sexual Response, new recordings, and musings of all kinds. Be prepared for stories and songs on host Chad Weckler's monthly show on WGXC. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER Experimental radio art. 3 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe 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. Overnight through 6 a.m.

Ann Gibbons in The Daily Freeman writes about how you can now get a cup of coffee in downtown Catskill after 3 p.m. Gibbons profiles The Chocolate Café, formerly located on Bridge Street as The Candy Man, now on Brandow’s Alley just across the street from the Greene County Office Building, and very close to Main St. Angelo and Shannon Amato, the shop's owners, took over the business in 2007. Amato offers all the chocolate and ice cream he already offered at the Bridge St. location, adding coffees, teas and other beverages. “People have asked me if I’m going to offer sandwiches and I’ve said, ‘no. Catskill has several good places already. I want to keep it dessert-ish,’” he told the newspaper. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.

Tonight, Wednesday May 4, at 7 p.m. at Stuyvesant Town Hall, Will Pflaum says he faces a hearing on a criminal dog bark charge lodged against him by the town of Stuyvesant and could receive up to 15 days in jail. "The law is a previously unknown law, never enforces (sic) in the town and the charge defies the laws of physics," Pflaum writes in his blog Sunshine on the Hudson. He says the charges stem from the video (below) he recorded, in his ongoing battle with the Stuyvesant Planning Board about his Glencadia Dog Camp, which neighbors claim causes excessive noise.

December 30, 2010 by Frederick Platt from glencadia on Vimeo.

Jail lieutenant gets day in court
Colin DeVries in The Daily Mail reports that the Greene County Jail lieutenant who shot a fellow hunter in Round Top last year when he said he was aiming for an animal that is illegal to shoot has a pre-trial conference at 10:30 a.m. today, Wed. May 4, in Halcott Town Court before Justice Anton Kasanof. On Nov. 20 last year, opening day of deer season, Greene County Jail Lt. Kenneth Leis allegedly opened fire on a mammal known as a fisher, but hit the backpack of another hunter, Robert Warrings of Round Top. Warrings was tracking a bear at the time; Leis says he thought he was shooting at a fisher, mammals of the weasel family which are permitted to be trapped in New York State, but not shot. Leis was charged with a DEC violation of attempting to take protected wildlife. He pleaded not guilty on Dec. 23, 2010 to that charge. “This is still pending with a trial date for the Environmental Conservation Law violation (attempting to take a fisher),” said DEC spokeswoman Lori Severino in an e-mail to the newspaper Tuesday. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

Attention campers: Fun is on the way… maybe
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper reports that the wife of a Town Councilman in Ancram is requesting the town fix up a ballfield, and revive a summer youth day camp that has been out of commission for 13 years. Ruth Thomas, "brought a detailed proposal to the Town Board's April 21 meeting hoping eventually to gain approval and a financial commitment from the board to do some fixing up at the town's Blass Memorial Field, which includes the town pool and basketball court," the story says. Valden also talks with Columbia Health Department Public Health Sanitarian Ed Coons, who tells her the proposed Ancram program, is considered a day camp, and would become the 16th municipal program in the county with others in Germantown, Claverack, Copake, Chatham, Ghent, Greenport, Hudson, Livingston, New Lebanon, Stockport, Canaan, Austerlitz, Kinderhook and West Ghent, and one coming soon to the Village of Kinderhook. There are also four private day camps and eight resident/overnight camps in the county, he said in the story. Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

Crossroads named best brewery in Hudson Valley
Larry Rulison in the Albany Times-Union reports that Crossroads Brewing Co. in Athens was named the "Best Craft Brewery" in the Hudson Valley last weekend at the TAP New York beer and food festival on Hunter Mountain. The brewery, which has just a tasting room but will soon open a brew pub in downtown Athens, also won two other awards. "Crossroads won a bronze medal for its Outrage IPA in the category for best individual craft beers in the Hudson Valley, and it won the John Calen Memorial Award for the best English style pale ale in the state, also for Outrage Ale, a 7 percent IPA," the story says. When Crossroads opens later this year owner Kenny Landin and partner Janine Bennett will have ten beers and two sodas on tap. Read the story in the Albany Times-Union.

Public invited to weigh in on fuel storage plan
John Mason in the Register-Star reports about an April 27 Valatie meeting so packed he was among the crowd spilling out in the hallway. The meeting concerned the sale of the Hein's Equipment Co. at 4020 Chatham St. to to Hein's Fuel Service, which wants to store and sell propane, kerosene, and other materials there, in the area that is zoned residential. The Valatie Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider a variance May 18 at the larger Barnwell Nursing Home, 3230 Church St. Read the whole story in the Register-Star.

Tranquility at hearing echoes modest tax hike
Jim Planck in The Daily Mail reports the reason that Catskill Central School District's budget public hearing Tuesday night was so sparsely attended is that the projected tax levy increase of 1.14 percent is “the second lowest in the region,” according to Catskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell. The Superintendent did say if the two percent property tax cap passes the legislature in Albany the district will have to do more cutting for the 2012-2013 budget. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

Tony Caio of The Rattles interviewed on WGXC Afternoon Show.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth. The Rattles are a band for children and adults, and will be at the Hudson Children's Book Festival Saturday at Hudson High School.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE AUDIO OF THE INTERVIEW.

Barbara Lehman interviewed about her children's books and the Hudson Children's Book Festival.
Interview by Ann Forbes Cooper and Richard Roth on WGXC Afternoon Show Tue. May 3, 2011.
CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE AUDIO OF THE INTERVIEW.

Richard Klin and Lily Prince on WGXC Afternoon Show.
Interview by Richard Roth and Ann Forbes Cooper. The local author and photographer talk about their book "Something to Say."
CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE AUDIO OF THE INTERVIEW.

The National Weather Service predicts rain during the day, and possibly a thunderstorm before 9 a.m. High near 55. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Wednesday night a chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Low around 39. Thursday, a chance of showers, mainly before 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.

Town meetings tonight
GHENT Planning Board meeting agenda: Request by The Nature Institute for Site Plan Review and Special Use Permit at 20 May Hill Road, Ghent; Request by Wayne Blue LLC / Richard Coon for Lot Line Adjustment at 2476 Route 66, Ghent; Request by Mark Francis for Lot Line Adjustment at Falls Road, Ghent; Request by Vincent and Lisa Molinari for Special Use Permit at Carpenter Road, Ghent; Request by Charles Bardes and Barbara Kilpatrick for Lot Line Adjustment at 140 Ostrande Road, Ghent. 7 p.m. at Ghent Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66.
GREENPORT Greenport Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. at Greenport Town Hall.
HUDSON Hudson Common Council Youth and Aging Committee meeting, 6 p.m. at City Hall; Hudson Common Council Arts and Entertainment Committee Meeting, 6:45 p.m at City Hall, 520 Warren St.
KINDERHOOK Kinderhook Town Councilman Peter Bujanow holds a community meeting, inviting the public to come talk with him about topics that to the community. 7 p.m. at Niverville-Chatham Center United Methodist Church Hall, 28 Church St., Niverville.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 4:48 p.m./Low, 11:13 a.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 5:52 a.m./7:54 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 6:23 a.m./9:38 p.m.

Birthdays
MAY 4 Maynard Ferguson, Hosni Mubarak, Ron Carter, Dick Dale, George Will, Nickolas Ashford, and Randy Travis.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Philip Grant and Kieran Reilly present the morning news, and 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 Tom Roe read the news, play music, and introduce local recordings, and more. 9-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer plays all sorts of music. Noon-2 p.m.
PRISONS SHOW Kaya Weidman hosts. 2 p.m.
YOUTH SHOW Radio made by youth for youths. 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. Overnight through 6 a.m.

Andrew Amelinckx, the Register-Star's crime reporter who also co-hosts the "Difficult Histories" program on WGXC, is leaving the newspaper for the Berkshire Eagle in Massachusetts. His last day at the paper is May 9, though he will continue to co-host the "Difficult Histories" radio show with Norman Douglas. Recently, the Francesca Olsen left the Register-Star, and the paper's Greene County sister paper, The Daily Mail, lost Colin DeVries.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="750" caption="From the New Lebanon town website."][/caption]The Columbia County News website found that the Office of New York State Comptroller last week released an "Internal Controls over Selected Financial Activities" audit for the Town of New Lebanon for the period of Jan. 1, 2008 through July 1, 2009. From the audit:

Internal controls over wire transfers were not appropriately designed and operating effectively to safeguard Town assets. The Board did not establish written policies or procedures for wire transfers. Consequently, online access to the Town’s bank accounts is not effectively limited. For example, the Supervisor, bookkeeper, and accountant (who is not a Town employee) all have online access to the Town’s bank accounts via a shared user name and password. In addition, the Town does not require confirmations from the bank prior to wire transfers being completed. Furthermore, all 41 of the wire transfers we tested, totaling $949,498, lacked documentation identifying the individual who initiated the transfer, and five of those, totaling $62,195, lacked documentation as to the purpose of the transfer. Due to these control weaknesses, the Board cannot be sure who initiates wire transfers, or if they are appropriate.

Internal controls over purchasing were not adequate. As a result, Town officials made purchases of highway materials totaling $84,570 without properly soliciting or awarding bids, and made procurements of goods and services, such as for the rental of equipment, totaling $36,356 without using requests for proposals or solicting written quotes, as required. The failure to comply with legal requirements and Town policies increases the risk that the Town could overspend for goods and services.

Internal controls over IT are not appropriately designed. The Board has not established policies or procedures for the back up of Town and Court data and remote access to the Town’s computers, or adopted a formal disaster recovery plan. Additionally, backup copies of the Town’s financial data are not stored in a remote location or tested to ensure that the data can be restored. In addition, the Court’s case management application has not been backed up, or tested, since January 2009. As a result, there is an increased risk of loss of important data along with a serious interruption to Town operations, such as not being able to process vendor claims or operate the Justice Court.

[caption id="attachment_11267" align="alignright" width="300" caption=""Gasland" director Josh Fox at the State Capitol Monday. Photo by Sam Sebren."][/caption]About 300 people from New York and Pennsylvania gathered in Albany Monday, May 2 to hear 22 speakers in front of the State Capitol talk about their wish to ban hydraulic fracturing natural gas drilling in New York. Speakers included State Senators Tony Avella and Liz Kruger, and Assemblyman William Colton, sponsors of NY bill 4220 that seeks to ban the practice completely in the state. Other speakers included farmers, activits, high school students, biologist Dr. Sandra Steingraber, "Gasland" film director Josh Fox, and others.

Click on the following audio clips from the rally recorded by Sam Sebren.

Josh Fox, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally, speaking about hydrofracking May 2, 2011.

Wayne Bayer from the Department of Environmental Conservation, speaking at Earth Day Albany rally May 2, 2011.

Dr. Sandra Steingraber, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2, about hydraulic fracturing drilling for natural gas.

NY State Senators Tony Avella and Liz Krueger, and Assmblyman William Colton, speaking at Albany Earth Day May 2 about hydrofracking bill they are sponsoring.

Mark Dunau, farmer from Delaware County, policy chair for Northeast Organic Farmers Association, at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Ava Holmes and Leyna Dessaure, Ithaca and Syracuse high school students, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Many more recordings follow.

Larry Bennett, from Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Deanna Bitetti, of Common Cause, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Reed Steberger, Cornell Univ. student and Power Shift organizer, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Claire Sandberg from Frack Action, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Carl Arnold, Chenango Deleware Otsego Gas Group, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

Susan Zimet, Ulster County legislator, speaking at Albany Earth Day rally May 2.

A customized, irreplaceable electronic music module is missing and presumed stolen from Bard College's electronic music studio, according to Tom Mark from Bard. One panel of a four-panel Serge Modular instrument was noticed missing at the Dutchess County college last week, and announcements looking for it's return have been posted on campus and on international music synthesizer sites. The module is a one-of-a-kind custom part for the electronic instrument, containing the filters and slope generators for the synthesizer. Mark is taking calls or emails about the missing module, no questions asked, at mark@bard.edu or 845-758-7497.

Biz partner files lawsuit against Local Ocean
Jamie Larson in the Register-Star reports that industrial fish farm Local Ocean is being sued by G.F.A. Advanced Systems, the Israeli company which developed the proprietary waste and water recycling system technology used by the Greenport-based business. The suit, filed in Tel Aviv District Court, alleges that Local Ocean CEO Efraim Basson and The Sanit Group violated their joint venture agreement with G.F.A. since Local Ocean opened in 2009. G.F.A. sent a statement to the Register-Star Monday, but Larson writes that it lacks specific claims, and that otherwise officials from both sides kept mum. G.F.A.'s statement claims Local Ocean's agreement, "states that any subsequent development to the patented technology and related know-how by Local Ocean will be the property of G.F.A.” Read the entire story in the Register-Star.

32-unit senior housing project awaits word on funds
Emilia Teasdale in The Columbia Paper reports that a developer for a proposed $7-million, 32-unit senior living housing project on two acres along Route 203 in Valatie says the project has all necessary local approvals but his group is waiting for $1 million in funds from the New York State Housing Trust. Bruce Levine of 3D Development Group, LLC, of Amherst, NY, told The Columbia Paper reporter that they should hear about those funds this summer and, if approved, construction would begin at the end of year. The project, called Valatie Senior Housing, already has $357,000 from the state Department of Agriculture. Levine developed the Valatie Woods senior apartments on River Street in the village, as well as projects in Chatham and Hudson. Read the rest of the story in The Columbia Paper.

New Yorkers' consumer confidence drops in April
The Albany Business Review reports that New Yorker’s consumer confidence fell in April while the country’s consumer confidence rose. New York's confidence level -- which measures people’s willingness to spend, as opposed to their ability to spend -- fell 2.7 points to 64.9, according to a Siena Research Institute survey. The U.S. level rose 2.3 points to 69.8, according to the University of Michigan. A 75.0 level is the break-even point, where an equal percentage of people are optimistic and pessimistic. “As gas prices rose above $4 and grocery bills climbed, consumer confidence dipped among New Yorkers this month,” said Doug Lonnstrom, a professor of statistics at Siena College and the founding director of the institute. Read the full Albany Business Review story for complete details.