By Gus Murphy

Bumpy transition when village court closes
Andrew Amelinckx writes in the Register-Star about ways in which the shuttering of the Valatie Village Court "has resulted in a number of charges brought by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the State Police being tossed out." Even though the county District Attorney’s Office is saying charges can be brought again, similar concerns are rising in other communities that have merged courts, such as Athens, as well as other villages looking at consolidating services or actually dissolving. Ten cases have been dismissed to date.

4 declare for school board race; forum Tuesday
Jim Planck reports in the Daily Mail that the Leadership Greene students at Catskill Central School will host a Meet The Candidates Night at Catskill High School auditorium on Tuesday evening, April 26, starting at 7 p.m. The four candidates for three seats, only one an incumbent, will be present. WGXC will be interviewing all in the coming weeks. Board members not running for reelection include incumbent BOE President Andy Jones and incumbent Vice-president Matthew Leibowitz.

ZBA Public Hearing
Carole Osterink reports in her Gossips of Rivertown blog on this past week's Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals meeting where setback and lot coverage variances were granted for longstanding plans to build four Greek Revival homes in a vacant lot on the corner of Union and First streets. Those speaking in favor of the project noted that it would bring life to a part of town that feels abandoned. Those opposed had concerns about stormwater runoff and density of buildings within an established neighborhood.

Proposed zoning law ready for 1st audition
Doron Tyler Antrim reports in the Daily Mail that a public hearing is scheduled next week for Cairo’s proposed zoning law. "The Cairo Zoning Commission, which has worked for almost four years on the 164-page law, will host the hearing on April 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cairo Elementary School," he writes. "The proposed law was unveiled to the public last November. Since then, the seven-member group has held a lengthy public comment period and approved many amendments to the document, including changes to the zoning districts."

Driver charged with ‘move over law’ violation
Mid Hudson News Network reports that a driver in Hudson has been charged with violating the state’s new “move over” law. On Thursday, April 21, they note, a trooper was conducting a traffic stop on Fairview Avenue when his right arm was struck by the side view mirror of a passing car. Bart Delaney, 36 of Hudson, was ticketed for violating the new state “move over” law as well as for operating his vehicle with an expired and suspended license. Delaney was also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. He was wanted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for a navigation law warrant and was turned over to the custody of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Budget cuts impact nutrition education programs
The Register-Star is running a press release from Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Columbia and Greene Counties about how they have suspended local implementation of a statewide nutrition education program due to a drastic funding cut from the Federal Government. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED), known in New York state as Eat Smart New York, provides free nutrition education to limited-resource individuals and their families through hands-on lessons that aim to increase food safety practices, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity. As a result of the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the allocation to New York for this program has been reduced by 40 percent for the entire project year, which began in October 2010. Due to the size of this mid-year cut, the Cooperative Extension has been forced to immediately suspend the program, which employed five educators and reached approximately 350 program families per year in the two counties.

The National Weather Service says there will be a steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall around a half an inch. A few showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 55F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Tomorrow, cloudy with a few showers. High 69F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

Astronomical bodies

TIDES Hudson: High, 7:58 a.m./Low, 2:39 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:02 a.m./7:45 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 1:01 a.m./10:35 a.m.

Birthdays
APRIL 23
William Shakespeare, J.M.W. Turner, Shirley Temple, Roy Orbison, Bernadette Devlin, Michael Moore, and Steve Clark.

Bidding on sewer system prepared
Doron Tyler Antrim reports in the Daily Mail that the Town of Cairo "may be ready to go out to bid on major improvements to its sewer system by the end of May." He notes that grant writer Victor Cornelius and Alan Tavenner of Delaware Engineering updated the town board on the status of the nearly $3 million project at its April 20 meeting, most of which will be funded by a grant from the state Environmental Facilities Corp. Although the money will not be available until late June, the officials said, the town will be able to seek bids for the work before that time.

NYSERDA grants available to farmers
Kathy Kahn of HV Biz writes that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is offering agricultural producers and businesses that use electricity to heat water to consider applying for the state’s first incentive program for solar-thermal systems. The program will provide $25 million over the next five years to promote the production of hot water from solar power. The program provides incentives of up to $4,000 per site for eligible residential customers and up to $25,000 per site for eligible commercial and nonprofit customers who currently use electricity to produce hot water. If solar thermal technology is installed before December 31, 2012, agricultural operations are eligible to receive federal tax incentives in the form of a grant which will cover 30 percent of the installed costs, as well as New York State incentives which will cover 25 percent of the installed system up to $5,000. When federal and state tax incentives are combined with this newly released NYSERDA program, incentives are expected to cover 70-75 percent of installed costs.

Public Hearing About Robinson Street
"It's difficult to report on a meeting when you're a participant instead of an observer, so I defer to Jamie Larson's account of the goings-on at last night's public hearing on the proposed Robinson Street Historic District in today's Register-Star," writes Carole Osterink in her Gossips of Rivertown blog, referring to a story WGXC covered this morning and has been running audio recordings from all day. "If you're curious to know the context in which I talked about 'rich white men,' the full text of my presentation at the hearing can be accessed here," she adds, with a link at her website. Osterink goes on to laud the suggestion that the City create a fund from which homeowners in historic districts could borrow as "an idea whose time has come."

County may have to pay a fee to find a doc
Francesca Olsen reports in the Register-Star that the Columbia County Office of Behavioral Health Services "may be able to pay a finder’s fee if a third-party firm can find them a permanent psychiatrist." The problem is a growing need for doctors and increasing competition for them. The issue came up the county Board of Supervisors’ health and medical services committee on April 19. The idea to use a third-party firm, department heads said, was being suggested only after exhausting many other options.

Robinson residents: Leave our street alone
Jamie Larson reports in the Register-Star on the April 21 Hudson Historic Preservation Commission public hearing on a proposal to declare Robinson Street in the Second Ward an historic district. Local residents came out en masse, according to Larson, to put forth their belief that the designation would drive the many low income, aging, longtime homeowners and renters from their homes. "Many stated the burden of having to maintain their houses to the historical standards of the commission would make maintaining their homes impossible," Larson writes. "Residents from and around Robinson Street in Hudson spoke out with skepticism, disapproval and at times anger against a plan proposed by the non profit preservation group Historic Hudson to designate their neighborhood a new historic district." Supervisor and Robinson Street resident Rev. Edward Cross, D-Second Ward, has taken a hard line on the issue, saying that he believes this is the first step in a conscious effort by Hudson’s upper class to push the poor out of the Second Ward so they can gain access to the quiet, out of the way Robinson neighborhood and eventually the properties overlooking the river where the majority of the city’s low income residents live in project housing. To create a new historic district the HPC would have to make an official recommendation to the Common Council and the aldermen would have to approve it. If approved, residents would have to get certificates of appropriateness from the HPC if they wanted to get a building permit from the zoning enforcement officer for things like putting up siding, changing windows, additions to the front or the restoration of a visible roof. The HPC does not approve plans for putting up vinyl siding but does make determinations about the appropriateness of paint color choice The next meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission is May 13.

Watershed towns race to shift hamlet boundaries
Blake Killin reports in the Daily Mail on the ramifications of a June 22 deadline within the New York City Watershed, which includes all of Greene County's Mountaintop towns, for making changes to town's official hamlet boundaries. Lands within such designations are exempt from New York City land acquisition policies and some of its watershed regulations. The towns are notifying affected property owners and conducting public hearings explaining the proposed changes and how they might affect property owners. "Under the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement, NYC was permitted to avoid having to filter the water from the West of Hudson Watershed by imposing regulations designed to protect the water supply of some nine million New Yorkers," Killin writes. "Part of that agreement allowed NYC to purchase environmentally sensitive vacant land from willing sellers at fair market price." When a Filtration Avoidance Determination came up for renewal before the federal Environmental Protection Agency last decade, NYC was told to increase the amount of money dedicated to land acquisition to $300 million.

Home improvement forecast not good for contractors
The Albany Business Review has a story about the longterm forecast for home improvement spending following an expected burst of activity this spring. According to a report released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University,contractors, hardware stores and material suppliers are facing trouble ahead. The Joint Center points to a slow recovery in the housing market and concern over the pace of economic growth nationally as reasons why home improvement spending will be tempered. Such spending dropped sharply during the recession, bottoming out at $112 billion during the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There was a mild recovery last year. But spending is forecast to fall in the second half of the year, dropping to $115.2 billion in the fourth quarter.

Cell towers on the rise
Diane Valden writes in The Columbia Paper that Mariner Tower of Maine is seeking approval for a new higher-than-usual cell tower from the Copake Planning Board. Mariner has an existing tower at the Catamount Ski Area on the New York side of the border and has just wrapped up approvals for a new 140-foot tower on the Egremont, MA, side, also at Catamount. The company is also currently building a new tower on the southwest side of Route 23 between the Martindale Xtra Mart and the Martindale Diner, just east of the Taconic State Parkway in Claverack. And the company is “actively pursuing” an appropriate cell tower site in Ancram. Mariner agent Christopher Ciolfi told The Columbia Paper this week that the company calls its communications towers “neutral hosts” that benefit the community by letting emergency services use the facility rent free, while leasing tower space to multiple users to minimize the number of towers in an area. “Four or five providers use one tower, rather than each one having their own tower,” said Mr. Ciolfi. The Copake Planning Board will take up the proposed cell tower at its Thursday, May 5 meeting.

Athens village contemplates 3.38% tax hike
Melanie Lekocevic writes in the Greene County News about a sparesely-attended Athens Village Board public hearing to gauge public reaction to a tentative budget for the coming year which includes a 3.38 percent tax rate increase. While some questioned cuts to the community's growing cultural center, which offers art classes and numerous performances and events, Mayor Andrea Smallwood noted, “We are going to try to get that down... This is a draft budget - we are still reviewing it.”

Highway super says this winter one of ‘roughest’
John Mason writes in the Register-Star that Kinderhook Town Highway Superintendent John Ruchel has noted that his highway crew is about two weeks behind on spring tasks such as brush pickup and road cleaning. “This winter was huge,” he said. “The snow never left the ground after December. Every week there were potential weather threats.” Meanwhile, meteorologist Thomas Wasula of the National Weather Service in Albany said that this winter’s 87.2 inches of snow, measured at Albany Airport, is 14th on the all-time list, which goes back to 1885. It was 25 inches above the average snowfall of 62.7 inches. It was the heaviest snowfall since the 105.4 inches recorded in 2002-2003, and not far behind the 94.2 inches that fell in 1992-1993.

The National Weather Service says today will be overcast. High 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight will be cloudy early, with off and on rain showers towards morning. Low 43F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tomorrow will witness a steady rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 58F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Rainfall around a half an inch.

Astronomical bodies

TIDES Hudson: High, 7:00 a.m./Low, 1:43 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:03 a.m./7:44 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:13 a.m./9:31 a.m.

Birthdays
APRIL 22
Immanuel Kant, Vladimir Lenin, Vladimir Nabokov, Charles Mingus, Jack Nicholson, John Waters, and Shavo Odadjian.

Apparent Change of Policy at the Register-Star
Carole Osterink writes about changes to the online version of Hudson-Catskill Newspapers, including the Register-Star, Daily Mail, Chatham Courier, Windham Journal, Greene County News, Ravena News-Herald and Mountain Eagle, forcing all readings to now register and log in to read what's happening. "Is this a prelude to charging for online access to the newspaper?" Osterink asks, noting that the new policy will inhibit her blog, and WGXC's Newsroom, from providing quick link to this vital news source's timely and well-written news.

Rodgers’ residency an issue for some
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star reports of new concerns that Democratic 1st Ward Alderman candidate Timothy Rodgers, who was set to be appointed to a city commissioner of deeds position earlier this week, does not actually live in Hudson, but in the Greene County town Coxsackie. "The council decided that while they looked into the discrepancy they would vote to amend the appointment resolution to remove Rodgers’ name," Larson writes, noting the discovery that all such appointees must either live in the city of Hudson or work in the city. If they just work in Hudson they must live within Columbia County. "Immediately when I found out I called Victor and others,” said Rodgers, adding that the rental arrangement he had been banking on fell through last week. “I am actively pursuing finding permanent residence in Hudson.” Victor Mendolia, the Hudson Democratic Party chairman and WGXC programmer (@Issue, on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM) is quoted saying that he didn't know that just working in Hudson did not qualify Rodgers for the position. “I as a commissioner of deeds just have to witness that he is who he says he is. There’s nothing fishy about it at all,” Mendolia is quoted saying, along with his opinion that the complaints against Rodgers were political in nature.

Room at the inn for NYC chefs
Miguel Madera of the Greene County News reports on Greene County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Sandy Mathes' recent speech to the Greenville Town Board about the IDA’s acquisition of the Freehold Country Inn. "Mathes said the purchase was made with a clean title. The IDA has already done a significant amount of site improvement including waste and automobile removals," Madera writes. "The IDA has plans to lease the establishment to an individual with a strong background in the restaurant field." Mathes added that the IDA has been in contact with Bridget Briggs, a cookbook author from Manhattan, and is shopping the business to various chefs in the New York City area.

Chief Boehme reinstated part time; Curran, DelRossi try go get new ideas passed
Paul Crossman reports in the Chatham Courier on the first meeting of the Chatham Village Board where the swearing in of new Mayor Tom Curran and new board member Joanne DelRossi occurred before one of the most "well attended meetings since last year’s proposed tax increase, with standing room only in the village courthouse." One of the key issues was whether or not to reinstate retired village police Chief Kevin Boehme, the departing mayor's brother, on a part time basis. The motion passed despite the new mayor's objections. I’m not ready to approve this until we’ve gone through the budgeting process,” said Curran.

Music, chorus programs safe at WAJ
Michael Ryan writes in the Windham Journal on the saving of music and chorus programs in the proposed Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central budget, set to be voted on May 17. "A larger than normal-sized crowd of residents, parents, teachers and students showed up for the school board’s passage of the annual financial package which over the past few springs has provided little if any fanfare," Ryan writes. "School superintendent John Wiktorko expressed satisfaction with the budget and the budget process, saying 'a lot of hard work went into making sure we would continue to provide strong programming for our students in a way that is sustainable by the community.'” School board members did not take comments or questions from the public, only passing the budget and making a few appointments. More issues are expected to arise when a public hearing on the spending plan is held on May 10.

Lawmakers OK delinquent tax installment plan
Colin DeVries reports in the Daily Mail that an installment payment plan for delinquent taxpayers has been approved by county lawmakers after several months of discussion. The payment option, which would allow property owners to pay off delinquent taxes over a period of one or two years, was approved by the Greene County Legislature on April 20 and will hopefully relieve taxpayer burden while recapturing delinquent funds, says Greene County Treasurer Peter Markou. Terms of the installment agreement include only one installment plan per person or business, a 25 percent down payment on owed taxes, quarterly payments over a two- or one-year period, interest and fees calculated into payment plan from date of down payment, and no late additions of parcels or tax years after entering into installment agreement. If a taxpayer defaults on the agreement they are not eligible for other installment plans for two years. County lawmakers unanimously approved the measure.

Will selling Ockawamick nix town hall plans?
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star asks what's up with plans to build a new Claverack Town Hall on county property adjacent to the former Ockawamick School in Philmont, which Columbia County purchased in 2008. "Now that the idea of selling Ockawamick has been put on the table by BOS Chairman Roy Brown, R-Germantown, as part of a new all-encompassing office consolidation that includes buying the old Walmart property on Fairview Avenue in Greenport, will Claverack still get those two acres?" Olsen asks. "To date, no one knows for sure." And while Claverack town supervisor Robin Andrews agrees a new town hall is needed, she said her heart’s not set on building one right away, nor is it set on the Ockawamick property as a location.

A lot of ZIP codes on chip fab resumes
Larry Rulison of the Times Union has a story that punctures some of the job hopes around the region's new nano future. He writes that managers at the massive GlobalFoundries computer chip factory being built in Saratoga County is holding job fairs around the country and overseas as it seeks skilled workers for the manufacturing facility and is targeting cities that have loads of semiconductor-industry expertise already for its so-called "Opportunity Summits." GlobalFoundries spokesman Travis Bullard described the influx of new people into the region for new jobs as a good thing and talked about how he himself was moved by GlobalFoundries from Austin. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company plans to hire roughly 1,400 people to work in Malta. It's constructing a second administrative building on the site where another 500 people will work -- with room for 1,000 more. Hudson Valley Community College, which has a two-year semiconductor manufacturing program to train chip fab workers, built a training facility next to the Fab 8 site. Salaries will range from $140,000 for management to $30,000 for wafer fab operators. Technicians will earn $60,000, engineers $95,000. And GlobalFoundries has room on the 223-acre site it owns for two additional factories that could create thousands of additional jobs for the area.

What's it worth? Assessors to fan out over city
Debora Gilbert reports in the Columbia Paper about the Hudson assessment update being undertaken by GAR Associates Inc. on all residential and commercial properties. Letters went out to every property owner this week that explain the phases of the project and the goal, which is: “to create fair and equitable property assessments at 100% of full market value.” GAR and the City of Hudson expect to complete the process by the summer of 2012. “We promised we would do a reassessment,” Common Council President Don Moore said. “The state requires one on a regular basis. We had planned to do it with our own staff but we determined we couldn't complete it by 2011. The state Office of Real Property Tax Services said we would have to extend it for another year.” In May, GAR employees will conduct an exterior visual inspection of each property to check other information on file. Property owners who do not want GAR to inspect their properties should call GAR before April 29. The company will use satellite maps to gather information about properties whose owners restrict access. The assessors do not enter houses except when an owner requests such a visit.

Man nearly run down by ex-lover
The Register-Star reports on a spat between ex-lovers that ended with the arrest of a 22-year-old woman after she allegedly tried to run a former boyfriend down with her vehicle in the Walmart parking lot in Greenport earlier this week. According to police, Brittany Gillis of Hudson waited in her SUV in the parking lot of Walmart, located off of Fairview Avenue, for her former boyfriend to leave the store just after 10 p.m. on Monday. “When she saw him coming out she put her vehicle in gear,” said Greenport Police Chief Kevin Marchetto, who added that she drove at the man and stopped just short of where he stood. Gillis then allegedly tried to back into the man’s car as he attempted to get in.

The National Weather Service says today will be partly cloudy and windy. High 53F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Mostly clear tonight. Low near 35F. NW winds at 15 to 25 mph, diminishing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow, partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 59F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.

Town meetings tonight
ANCRAM Board meeting at 7 p.m. in town hall on CR 7.
CHATHAM Town Board Meeting at 7 p.m. town hall, 488 State Route 295, Chatham.
COPAKE Comprehensive Planning Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m., Town Hall.
DURHAM Town board meeting at 7:30 p.m. in Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
GHENT Town Board meeting at the Ghent Town Hall, Route 66 .
HUDSON Special meeting of the Historic Preservation Committee on making Robinson Street a historic district, 6:00 p.m., City Hall,
WINDHAM board meeting 8 p.m. at Town Hall, Hensonville.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Public Safety Committee meeting at 6 p.m.

Astronomical bodies

TIDES Hudson: Low, 12:51 p.m./High, 6:42 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:05 a.m./7:43 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 8:29 a.m./12:13 a.m. Friday

Birthdays
APRIL 21
Charlotte Bronte, John Muir, Max Weber, Queen Elizabeth II, Iggy Pop, and Robert Smith of The Cure.

Football in budget has small impact on tax levy
John Mason of the Register-Star reports that Ichabod Crane Central School is expecting little impact on taxes as a result of their board's recent decision to reinstall football as part of the 2011-12 athletic budget. A total football cost of $31,000 will drop to $10,000 due to donations from the school's Booster Club. The tax levy increase would not be more than 3.96 or 3.98 percent with the addition, versus 3.89 percent before. Cheryl Trefzger, a Booster Club member and school board candidate, said the club will be making a contribution of $15,000 to $17,000 to the revenue side of the budget. Now,Mason adds, board members are telling football supporters the burden is on them to make sure the budget passes May 17.

Punt ends fumble on state play rules
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that the state Health Department has stepped back from its earlier decision to post a list of summer activities it said pose a "significant risk of injury," including Wiffle Ball, kickball or tag. "We've eliminated them," Health Department spokeswoman Claudia Hutton said of the list after it made national news. She added that the regulations upon which the list was based haven't yet gone into effect and noted that they were proposed under the prior administration. The list of supposedly dangerous activities was designed to provide guidance to operators of indoor day camps, which have previously been unregulated by the Health Department. Both state legislators and news media pundits who took up opposition to the list of sports referred to the whole effort as an example of "nanny state" actions at their worst.

Coxsackie village looking at small tax hike
Melanie Lekocevic of the Daily Mail writes that the Village of Coxsackie has unveiled its tentative 2011-12 budget, including a 0.79 percent tax rate increase. The budget was revealed during a public hearing that attracted no local residents last week. If the tentative budget is adopted, it will mean an increase of $19,622 in the general fund, from $1,346,894 last year to $1,366,515 this year. The tax rate would rise from $13.17 in the 2010-2011 budget to $13.28 this year. For a homeowner with a property assessed at $100,000, that means they would have to pay $1,328 in village taxes this year.

International nanotech conference moved from Japan to Albany
The Albany Business Review has reported on the latest development in the region's re-branding as a key technological center by noting how SUNY Albany’s new NanoCollege will be hosting a nanotechnology conference that was originally planned for Japan. The University at Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering will host the International Nanotechnology Conference on Communication and Cooperation (known as INC7) on May 16-19 at the Albany NanoTech complex. The conference features international leaders in the nanotech industry and nanotech research as well as policymakers. The purpose of the conference is to strengthen the dialogue among industry leaders from Europe, Japan and the U.S. It is considered one of the key conferences to update major players in the field, UAlbany said. The keynote address will be delivered by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Leo Esaki.

14-year resident plans run for super
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star has a rare report from Stockport, the sole Columbia County town without a website, writing on how Ernie Belanger, a regular at Town Board meetings for the last two years, is seeking nominations from the county Independence, Conservative and Republican parties for Stockport supervisor. Belanger is the editor of Christian Radio Guide and Radio Guide Magazines, runs his own public relations/business development company and serves on the Hudson Elk’s Club flag day committee. He’s pledged to improve the level of communication between town government and its residents and has promised: “If Stockport still doesn’t have a website by the time I take office, we will have one within my first 30 days.” And thus, the November political season commences!

Bear safe after outfoxing 'em
Bryan Fitzgerald reports in the Times Union that the state Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that it will be removing its bear trap after six days, and dropping its edict to euthanize the first ursine that got caught in it. The trap, and announcement about deadly intentions, came after Joy Bayer-Mozynski, a 53-year-old mother of five, was pinned down by a hungry bruin in her driveway on April 13. The trap was a garbage can-like culvert on its side, "lined with a sugary smorgasbord of scented syrup, honey and snack cakes," according to Fitzgerald. DEC spokesman Rick Georgeson said the chance of the DEC capturing the bear that toppled Bayer-Mozynski diminishes as time passes. The DEC classified the incident as "a first-degree bear-human encounter," Georgeson said.

Two men charged in separate crimes with guns
Diane Valden writes in the Columbia Paper about two recent gun incidents in Columbia County. Harry Rounds, 48 of Ghent, was sent to the Columbia County lock-up on April 18 after he allegedly tried to shoot his step-brother in the head, according to a press release from the Columbia County sheriff. Following early morning reports of gunfire, deputies arrived at Rounds' Route 66 home at 8:00 a.m. and found the suspect on the back porch, after which they took him into custody without incident. "Their investigation determined that Rounds got into an argument with his step-brother, who was staying at the Route 66 residence," Valden writes of an incident involving two guns and one shot. "Just before deputies arrived, the third resident of the house, who took the first gun away, also took the second gun away and threw it into a pond behind the house to prevent Mr. Rounds from using it again." Charges included two counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, class D felony; two counts of fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, class A misdemeanor, for being a convicted felon (attempted robbery) in New York and in Florida for second degree attempted murder; two counts of fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, A misdemeanor; two counts of second degree menacing, A misdemeanor; one count of second degree reckless endangerment, A misdemeanor; and one count of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, misdemeanor. Rounds was sent to the county jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bail bond. The second incident, involving 53-year old Anthony J. Barlanti of Taghkanic, occurred April 17 and involved a longstanding neighbors' dispute, barbed wire and barricades at Barlanti's home, and charges of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony; obstruction of governmental administration, second degree aggravated harassment, class A misdemeanors; and an Environmental Conservation Law misdemeanor for illegally discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, and second degree harassment, a violation. Barlanti was arraigned in Livingston Court and sent to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bail bond.

Family Dollar to return to Catskill with new store
Doron Tyler Antrim reports that a spokesman for Family Dollar says the company will open a new store in Catskill this summer after agreeing to terms with Begnal Motors for the lease of its former dealership on Route 9W. Begnal Motors, which closed its dealership in July 2008 and consolidated its operations to Kingston, still owns the 3-acre property. Advanced Auto Parts is currently the only tenant on the property.

To cut or not to cut?
Francesca Olsen and Kate Mostaccio report in the Register-Star on the revival of a longstanding eminent domain case that would involve the cutting down of 45 Norway Spruce trees in Copake purportedly on county property. "Susan Winchell-Sweeney, who owns the property at the intersection of county Routes 7 and 7A, disputes the county’s assertion that any of those trees are on county property," the reporters write. "On April 12, the Department of Public Works sent Winchell-Sweeney a letter stating they would be pruning the trees on her property they identify as contributing to 'substandard sight distance' and that 'any trees which are on county land will be removed.' Work is expected to start on April 26 or 27.

Measure limiting demonstrations at funerals proposed
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports on Greene County's recent tackling of a national issue by proposing a new county law which would ban demonstrations within 750 feet of local funerals. The measure moved through legislative committee on April 18 and has now been set for a public hearing at 6:15 p.m. on May 18 in the Greene County Legislative Meeting Room in the Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St. in Catskill, pending final legislative approval on April 20.

The National Weather Service says today will have a few showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. High 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Isolated thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Tomorrow, partly cloudy skies with gusty winds. High 56F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph.

Town meetings tonight
CAIRO at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo.
CATSKILL at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill.
GHENT Planning Board session at 7pm,
HUDSON 6:30 p.m. Zoning Board of Appeals
COLUMBIA COUNTY Human Services at 4 p.m.
GREENE COUNTY Legislature meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: Low, 12:00 noon./High, 5:43 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:07 a.m./7:42 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 7:34 a.m./11:15 p.m.

Birthdays
APRIL 20
Adolf Hitler, Harold Lloyd, Lionel Hampton, Tito Puente, Edie Sedgwick, and Luther Vandross.

Hannaford likely to build when ice cream season ends
Debra Gilbert of The Columbia Paper has an update on the Hannaford supermarket planned for the town of Livingston, that that the company's site engineer has received approval for the subdivision of an adjacent piece of property in order to add land for parking and other needs where Routes 82 and 9 meet. A state environmental quality review was put off until May, but Hannaford has heard from the state Department of Transportation, which called for left turn lanes to be added to the highways near exits. Delays in the permitting process mean that construction is not expected to begin until August allowing Happy Clown, the property's current occupant, to stay in business through the summer.

Albany area’s unemployment drops to 7.2%
Adam Sichko of the Albany Business Review writes that new state data reveals that the core Capital Region has an unemployment rate of 7.2 percent, the second-smallest of 11 upstate metro areas. That's 0.5 percentage points lower than it was a year ago, and below both the statewide unemployment rate (8 percent) and the national rate (9.2 percent). Only the much smaller Ithaca market had a smaller rate among upstate markets, at 5.4 percent.

New market coming to city
Jamie Larson writes in the Register-Star that a new outdoor market will be coming to Warren Street in Hudson starting May 21. Held in the lot in front of the 3FortySeven eclectic furniture and lighting emporium, at 347 Warren St., booth rentals will be open to "any who want to fill the visible space in the center of the city." “I wanted to have the space filled,” said 3FortySeven manager Giovanni di Mola, who added that he does not see it as competition for the Hudson Farmer’s Market, opening May 7, as it will have vendors offering a wide range of products, and not just food.

Study: States’ revenues up, localities lagging
Casey Seiler of the Times Union reports that a new State Revenue Report from the Rockefeller Institute is showing strong finances for the state now, but sagging outlooks for towns and counties. The report found state tax revenues grew by 7.8 percent in the final quarter of 2010 compared to the same quarter of 2009, in line with 42 other states experiencing similar income growth. Local tax revenues, however, have experienced the reverse trend with tax collections by local governments declining by 2.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, mostly driven by declines in property tax collections.

All but three of the WGXC listening area's school districts have announced candidates for the upcoming May 17 budget votes and elections. Those who haven't returned their ballot choices are either on Spring Vacation at present, or haven't closed their petition process yet. Hudson, being a small city, has until April 27 to close that part of the process.

Ichabod Crane School District will see four candidates vying for three three-year seats. Incumbent board president Andrew Kramarchyk and incumbent John Chandler will be facing newcomers Cheryl Francouer Trefzger and Susan Ramos. Current board vice president John Phillips will not be running for another term.

In New Lebanon School District, there will be one candidate, newcomer Christine Sotek, for two seats left open by current board members Tim Smith and Tim Lambert, who decided to not run for another term. The district is hoping another candidate arises as a write-in candidate.

In Taconic Hills School District, there are five candidates for two seats, each with a five year term. Incumbents board vice president George Lagonia, Jr. and incumbent board member Christine Perry will be faced by Justin Kutski, Arnold T. Anderson and Steve H. Argus.

In Greenville, incumbents Greg Lampman and Roseanne Stapleton will be seeking another three year term with no opposition. Similarly, in the Windham-Ashland-Jewett School District, incumbent Teri Martin wekk be seeking for fourth five year term as a board member, unopposed.

Both Chatham Central Schools and Hunter-Tannersville Central School were on vacation this week, with their offices closed.

Eslewhere, it was earlier reported that in the Catskill School District, there will be four candidates for three Board of Ed seats carrying three-years terms including two-term incumbent Karen Haas and newcomers Michael Maloney, William C. Fiske and Ward Osborn. Current board members Andrew Jones and Matthew Leibowitz are not seeking re-election. In Germantown, four people will vie for two seats including incumbents Donald Coons and Cynthia Smith, plus newcomers Brittany Bohnsack-Dufresne and Ronald Moore II. In the Cairo-Durham School District, three incumbents and one challenger are jockeying for three, three-year seats, with incumbents Susan Kusminsky, William Alfeld and Patricia Prapolsky Ublacker seeking re-election, and challenger Elizabeth Phillips seeking to unseat an incumbent. Each of the incumbents in Coxsackie-Athens faces a challenger for his or her seat. Incumbent Joseph Garland is being challenged by Richard Jewett, incumbent Joseph Cardinale is facing Carol Ann Luccio, and incumbent Michael Petramale will face off against Bonnie Ecker.

Candidates file petitions in school board races
The first listings of candidates for upcoming school elections on May 17 were listed in the Daily Freeman, indicating that incumbents who have decided to stick with their posts are being challenged in most districts. In Catskill, there will four candidates for three Board of Ed seats carrying three-years terms including two-term incumbent Karen Haas of Leeds, Michael Maloney of Bogardus Lane; William C. Fiske, of Broome Street; and Ward Osborn, of Five Mile Woods Road. Andrew Jones and Matthew Leibowitz are not seeking election. In Germantown, four people will vie for two seats including incumbents Donald Coons of Elizaville and Cynthia Smith of Sharp’s Landing Road; facing Brittany Bohnsack-Dufresne, and Ronald Moore II, both of Germantown. In the Cairo-Durham school district, three incumbents and one challenger are jockeying for three, three-year seats on the school board, with incumbents Susan Kusminsky of Freehold; William Alfeld of Cairo; and Patricia Prapolsky Ublacker of Leeds seeking re-election, and challenger Elizabeth Phillips of East Durham seeking to unseat an incumbent. Each of the incumbents in Coxsackie-Athens faces a challenger for his or her seat. Incumbent Joseph Garland of the town of Coxsackie is being challenged by Richard Jewett of the village of Coxsackie; incumbent Joseph Cardinale, of the Town of Coxsackie is facing Carol Ann Luccio of Earlton; and incumbent Michael Petramale of Athens will face off against Bonnie Ecker of the Village of Coxsackie. In Hunter-Tannersville school district officials declined to provide information on petitions that have been filed and expect to have a list available today. In Columbia County, we will have full lists of candidates later today. Candidates in the city of Hudson school district, being under a different timeline jurisdiction, have until April 27 to complete all petitions.

And then there were four
Francesca Olsen has a story in the Register-Star on how the county Board of Elections will be consolidating Claverack’s six election districts down to four, largely for cost-saving purposes. She reports that a large crowd heard how polling places at the Mellenville Grange and the Churchtown Firehouse would be eliminated, and the new A.B. Shaw Firehouse being constructed on Route 23 would be incorporated as a poll site, as well as Claverack Town Hall and other already-used sites. In addition to saving money, Democratic Commissioner of Elections Virginia Martin said the BOE is consolidating districts to eliminate poll sites that aren’t compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act “so anybody who wants to come to vote ... comes to a site that is really as easy to get into as possible.”

10-year-old foster abuse case settled
Colin DeVries reports in the Daily Mail on a final conclusion to a 10-year-old civil case involving the physical and sexual abuse of seven children by their foster father, with abuse victims dividing a $1 million settlement. "Jose Serrano, the now-56-year-old former Cairo resident serving a maximum 50-year sentence in prison for the abuse of his foster children, was sued by estates of the abused children, with the first suit filed in July 2001," DeVries writes. "Greene County and the Greene County Department of Social Services were also sued by the abuse victims, with claims that the department was negligent in hiring, training and evaluating Serrano as a foster care provider." Serrano was convicted in 2001 of sexually abusing the seven children between 1997 and 2000. Most of the children were teenagers when the abuse occurred, according to court documents. The civil case against Serrano and the county was concluded with a settlement of $1 million, all to be paid by insurance companies, instead of the $9 million originally claimed... and set for what promised to be an arduous jury trial in the coming weeks.

Poll: New Yorkers not saving, just hoping
Bryan Fitzgerald writes in the Times Union about how the majority of New Yorkers who are not retired haven't invested heavily in their retirement savings over the past six months, fear Social Security will be gone by the time they retire, and think saving enough money for retirement will be a problem, according to a new Siena Research Institute Poll. However, he adds, they are not worried about maintaining their current standard of living when they stop working. 44 percent of the not-retired polled said they had not contributed significantly to their retirement savings in the past six months. Twenty-nine percent said they had contributed a small amount. Just 12 percent said they had contributed a great deal to their retirement savings while 9 percent said they had withdrawn from their retirement accounts. Moreover, 50 percent said they had put money into a savings account over the last two years, 23 percent said they had met with a financial adviser to discuss retirement. Nine percent polled said they hadn't saved for retirement in the past two years. Thirty-three percent said they currently do not have a savings account with over $1,000 in it.

Will village become part of the 'Roost Belt'?
Chris Simonds reports in the Columbia Paper on recent objections to an anti-chicken ordinance in the VIllage of Philmont, similar to ongoing battles over city egg farming that have been reported in the Times Union, regarding Albany, as well as in other cities around the nation. Locally, the issue arose when it was pointed out that the wording of the Philmont ordinance -- “No person shall keep, maintain or harbor within the Village of Philmont any cattle, swine, ducks, geese or bees” -- does not specifically mention chickens. Alternate wording was proposed that would allow roosters. The board did not take immediate action on the request.

The National Weather Service says that today will witness a few showers early becoming a steady rain for the afternoon. High 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Tonight will be overcast with rain showers at times. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Tomorrow will see a few showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. High 63F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Town meetings tonight
DURHAM Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
HILLSDALE meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street.
HUDSON 5 p.m. Finance Committee meeting; 7 p.m. Regular Common Council meeting at City Hall.
HUNTER at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville
TAGHKANIC Planning Board workshop meeting is at 7 p.m. at Town Hall is on Route 82 in West Taghkanic.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Health & Medical Services Committee at 4 p.m.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:11 a.m./Low, 4:48 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:08 a.m./7:40 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 6:45 a.m./10"07 p.m. Tuesday

Birthdays APRIL 19 Eliot Ness, Jayne Mansfield, Tim Curry, Dar Williams, and Suge Knight.

MoveOn drops by Bank of America for Tax Day rally
Casey Seiler reports in the Times Union on a protest out front of Albany's Bank of America offices on State Street for Tax Day, April 18. "Representatives of MoveOn.org and a number of other progressive organizations had a lovely spring day for their noontime protest'," he writes. "Tea party groups are organizing similar events in several large cities including Chicago, though the brunt of their criticism is aimed at big government." The group totalled about 100 and drew a single police officer, who warned organizers against using a bullhorn (not provided for in their permit) and made sure the sidewalk stayed open. “These are some of the most profitable corporations in the history of the world,” said Mark Schaeffer of Citizen Action (also Peace Action and the environmental group 350.0rg). ” … We’re fed up and we’re not going to take it any more.” Several speakers called for the reinstatement of the “millionaire’s tax” before the end of the legislative session. A crowd of 30 also protested outside a Bank of America branch in Chatham on Tax Day, according to a report in the Register-Star.

Neighbor dispute ends in man’s arrest
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star reports that a Taghkanic man is in custody after firing a gun within 500 feet of his neighbor’s house. The incident was part of an escalating neighbors’ dispute, according to the New York State Police, who said that Anthony J. Barlanti, 53, was arrested Sunday after police came to investigate a 911 report of someone firing a gun near a residence. Troopers allegedly had to coax him out of his barricaded and barbed wire-fenced home. Police say the shooting was the latest incident in a dispute between Barlanti and his neighbors that stretch back several weeks. Barlanti was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony; obstructing governmental administration and second-degree aggravated harassment, Class A misdemeanors; illegal discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, a misdemeanor under the state’s environmental conservation law; and second-degree harassment, a violation. He was arraigned in the Livingston Town Court and remanded to the Columbia County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash or $50,000 bail bond pending further court action.

New York AG threatens to sue feds if they don’t conduct fracking review in Delaware River Basin
Mid Hudson News Network reports that New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has put the federal government on notice that if it doesn’t commit to conducting a full environmental review of the impacts of fracking on the Delaware River Basin, he will sue. There are concerns that fracking to harvest natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation could pollute the New York City watershed and Delaware River Basin areas including the counties of Greene, Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Delaware, Schoharie, Chenango and Broome. Late last year the Delaware River Basin Commission proposed regulations allowing for natural gas development by means of hydrofracking. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is currently revising a draft supplemental generic impact statement assessing environmental impacts associated with fracking. “Both the law and common sense dictate that the federal government must fully assess the impact of its actions before opening the door to gas fracking in New York,” said Schneiderman. “New Yorkers are correctly concerned about fracking’s potential dangers to their environment, health and communities, and will use the full authority of my office, including aggressive legal action, to ensure the federal government is forced to address those issues.” The DRBC, as a federally designated agency, is required by law to conduct a full review of the environmental impacts of actions that may cause significant environmental impacts, the attorney general noted. His demand is contained in a letter sent Monday to agencies that decide policy for the federal government as a member of the DRBC. Led by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agencies include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Parks Service and the US EPA.

Report: Walnut hulls, instant coffee, and carcinogens all found in frac fluid
TheWatershed Post writes about the new report from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, and it reports that energy companies have injected instant coffee, walnut hulls, and the highly toxic cancer-causing benzene into the ground as they drill for natural gas. "Some of the components used in the hydraulic fracturing products were common and generally harmless, such as salt and citric acid. Some were unexpected, such as instant coffee and walnut hulls. And some were extremely toxic, such as benzene and lead," the report reads. "Between 2005 and 2009, the oil and gas service companies used hydraulic fracturing products containing 29 chemicals that are (1) known or possible human carcinogens, (2)regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act for their risks to human health, or (3) listed as hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act. These 29 chemicals were components of more than 650 different products used in hydraulic fracturing. The BTEX compounds – benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene – appeared in 60 of the hydraulic fracturing products used between 2005 and 2009."

Cloth diapers? They’ve made a comeback. And if what’s happening this coming Saturday, April 23 works out as planned, they could be on more wee fannies sooner than expected as an example of one little way in which we can all help our environment. We’re speaking about the Earth Day Diaper Exchange, an attempt to set a Guinness World Record by simultaneously changing diapers across the globe, on all continents (excepting Antarctica). According to the rules for the occasion, all entries pay a dollar to the Real Diaper Association, and ensure they’re at their local diaper changing stations, with watches all synchronized, at 12 noon EDT. On the mark, each baby will then be changed from a cloth or disposable diaper into a reusable cloth diaper that is commercially available. All babies and toddlers being changed must be 39 inches or shorter, and paired to a single adult participant. In other words… NASCAR-like changing teams are NOT allowed. Locally, there will be mass changings at New Baby New Paltz at 5 Plattekill Avenue in New Paltz, at Waddle n Swaddle at 32 Raymond Avenue near Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, at 41 E. Market Street in Rhinebeck, and at the Calvary United Methodist Church, 15 Ridge Place in Latham. “The goal of the Real Diaper Association is to put more babies in cloth diapers,” notes the Real Diaper Association, one of the U.S. sponsors of this global event with over 400 sites participating, as of press time. “To do this we aim to create a cultural shift in understanding cloth diapers-their environmental impact, their ease of use, their accessibility, and their acceptability.”

Today, April 18, is the final day for potential school board candidates, incumbents included, can file petitions for a place on ballots for the school budget votes and elections that take place on Tuesday, May 17. According to the New York State School Boards Association, candidates must submit a nominating petition to the school district clerk. The petition must be signed by at least 25 qualified district voters or two percent of the number of those who voted in the previous annual election, whichever number is greater. The petition must include the candidate’s name and residence, the vacancy in question, the incumbent’s (if any) name, the residences of the persons who signed the petition and the length of the term of office for which the candidate is being nominated. State law requires all candidates for election to a board of education to file a sworn statement with the district clerk disclosing their campaign expenses. If expenditures made by the candidate or by others on the candidate’s behalf exceed $500, a statement also should be filed with the commissioner of education. Expenditures of not more than $25 may be made without the candidate’s permission if the donor or donors file a sworn statement with the clerk and the commissioner stating that the candidate did not approve the expenditure.

What does a board member do? According to the Association website, school board members act officially only at the board table, working with other board members to create a shared vision; set student performance standards; oversee development of assessment program based on those standards; account for student achievement results; adopt the annual budget, aligning district resources to improve achievement; create a healthy environment for work and learning; build strategic partnerships; sustain the district’s progress through continuous improvement; adopt and maintain current policies in written format; hire and evaluate the superintendent; ratify collective bargaining agreements and maintain strong ethical standards. Usually, winning candidates are sworn in with the start of a new school year after July 1, although occasionally board members get seated just following an election, if they are running to fill an appointed seat. Board seats tend to be staggered for three, four and five year appointments, staggered so all board positions are never open at the same time. "Generally, school board candidates must be at least 18 years old, qualified voters in the school district and able to read and write," the Association's website decrees. "They must be residents of their districts continuously for one year before the election. They cannot be employed by the board on which they serve or live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board."

Controversial television personality Glenn Beck announced at the Palace Theater in Albany this past Saturday night, April 16, that he was selling his Connecticut home and moving out of the New York metro area. According to Wire Update, Beck also said there were Pro-Glenn Protesters outside the theater today. The Fox News host will be leaving the network in the coming weeks and has said he will be then setting up his own "media empire." According to the report on Saturday's performance, Beck noted that “I don’t know where [Obama is from] I don’t think he’s from where they issue birth certificates – I think he’s from Hell.” He then assumed what he described as a Satan voice and said, “Put your little hooves on this paper” referring to Barack Obama’s birth certificate. He said his political choices for the 2012 presidential elections were Allen West as President and Michelle Bachmann as VP. He would like to see Ron Paul as Secretary of Treasury. "The last thing I will be doing, I will be leaving New York City," the report quotes him saying. "As we build a new media I’m not building it in New York."