Board unveils $37.1M draft school budget
Jim Planck of the Daily Mail reports on the presentation of a budget to an SRO crowd in Catskill on March 30. It calls for a spending package of $37,191,010, up from the current year’s of $36,699,599. The $491,411 difference — a 1.34-percent increase — is part of a $781,565 tax levy increase, with projected revenue for next year is $290,154 less than needed. The draft tax levy represents a 4.89-percent increase. Cuts include Pre-K transportation, now up to parents, an expansion of the no-busing zone around the school to one mile for all 6-12 graders, and seven staff positions for art and music, science, foreign language and social studies teachers, plus a social worker. Most, however, involve early retirements. The ski team was also eliminated.

Schodack, ICC merger study moves forward
John Mason of the Register-Star writes that the Ichabod Crane Board of Education has agreed to conduct a feasibility study on a potential merger with the Schodack Central School District in Rensselaer County. In August 2010, Schodack and Ichabod received a state grant for the study in the amount of $49,500. The districts issued an RFP for a qualified contractor to do the study and received three responses. Total cost of the study is $54,500. The $5,000 over and above the grant amount will be shared between the two districts. Also Monday, the board approved the closing of two elementary schools, Martin Van Buren and Martin H. Glynn, and created a committee to explore all possible uses of the buildings. Elementary students will move to the district's main campus in Kinderhook.

Disgraced horse breeder Paragallo loses appeal
The Times Union reports that horse breeder and owner Ernie Paragallo lost his appeal of a March 2010 conviction for starving thoroughbreds at his Center Brook Farm in the Greene County community of Climax. Paragallo, 52 of Long Island, asked the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court to overturn his conviction because of questionable things that were included in a probation report compiled before his sentencing. The appeals court said Greene County Judge George J. Pulver Jr. did not consider the issues Paragallo objected to when he imposed a two-year sentence to local jail on May 18. He was convicted on 33 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. The Columbia-Greene County Humane Society and the Equine Rescue Resource cared for the 177 emaciated horses after they were seized.

NYSEG plans new 115 kV lines
Kristi Berner of The Columbia Paper writes that NYSEG, the power company which serves much of northern and eastern Columbia County, is planning a new power substation in Ghent and a new electricity transmission line that could run through parts of four towns in the county. The idea is to alleviate power outages. "The project faces multiple hurdles in various federal, state and town approvals, but if all goes as NYSEG officials expect, the new substation and transmission line would be in place by the fall of 2012," Berner writes. The new transmission line would connect NYSEG's existing Klinekill substation in Chatham, National Grid's existing 115-kV transmission line and a new NYSEG substation proposed for Ghent. The new 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line would likely through the towns of Ghent, Chatham, Kinderhook and Stockport. Town officials have been speaking with NYSEG, but public review still needs to happen.

Hannaford confirms attendance at meeting
Doron Tyler Antrim has a story in the Daily Mail that confirms that Hannaford Supermarkets owill be on the agenda at next week’s Cairo planning board meeting on Wednesday, April 6. This will be its inaugural meeting with local officials, and the Cairo public, since the grocery store chain announced in January that it will acquire Slater’s Great American and build a new store on the property.

The state Assembly and Senate completed work on its $132.5 billion state budget early Thursday morning, March 31. Stephanie Lee of the Times Union reports that the Senate passed the budget at about midnight and the Assembly followed at 1 a.m. while protesters in the halls of the capital, and all members of the public, were barred from each chambers' viewing galleries. Now, the plan's many cuts, and the budget process, are drawing press releases and comments from a wide range of protesting organizations. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, released his own video speech about what happened. It's the first time the process has finished earlier than its April 1 deadline since his father, Mario Cuomo, was in office.

Patrons hold vigil for bar owner
Andrew Amelinckx and Jamie Larson of the Register-Star report on the aftermath of the March 28 fatal shooting death at the Half Moon Saloon in Hudson. They note that it seems to have been a suicide, even though the Hudson Police Department is continuing its investigation. A candlelight vigil was held by more than 50 friends on Wednesday evening, March 30, for the bar’s owner, Fred Martin of Catskill. The death occurred in the early afternoon and involved a long rifle, according to police.

Census: Number of vacant homes rising in Greene Co.
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail writes about how homes are being increasingly vacated in Greene County and the Hudson Valley region, according to census data released last week. While the total number of housing units increased in 2010 compared to 10 years ago, the number of vacancies in the county increased 13 percent. DeVries also notes that the total number of countywide housing units increased 10 percent since a decade ago, now totaling 29,210 units throughout the 14 towns of Greene County.

Burglars who used Facebook plead guilty
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star reports on two 18-year-old women pleading guilty to using Facebook to figure out the best time to attempt a break-in at a Hillsdale home. Jessica Schwed and Jennifer Montague, both of Philmont, appeared with their attorneys in Columbia County Court this week and admitted to stealing a flat screen TV, computer, video game system and a large quantity of alcohol while the homeowner was on vacation and the homeowner’s daughter was at work. Schwed and Montague agreed to jointly pay a total of $6,969.90 in restitution. They were sentenced invidividually, to five years of probation and up to six months in jail for Schwed, and five years of probation for Montague.

An actual list of what cuts to state education aid will be affecting which school districts, statewide, accompanied the final budget figures and bills voted on in Albany late on March 30. Here is how it breaks down for Columbia and Greene Counties, in broad strokes:
Taconic Hills: State aid went up $188,540, a rise of 1.97 percent. This has the effect of a 0.58 percent hike in a total $32 million annual budget.
Chatham: The district loses $326,701 in state school aid, or a drop of 5.17 percent. That represents a 1.22 percent drop in a total $26.6 million annual budget.
Germantown: State school aid will drop by $22,286, or 4.74 percent. That's 1.6 percent in a total $13.6 million budget.
Hudson: They will lose $1,025,346, or 5.03 percent of their total from this year. That's 2.5 percent of their $41 million annual budget.
Ichabod Crane School District, in Kinderhook, is losing $588,691 in school aid, or 6.67 percent, representing 2.22 percent of their $37.3 million annual budget.
New Lebanon will see their state school aid drop by 2.61 percent, or $88,808, representing 0.7 percent of their annual $12.6 million budget.
Cairo-Durham School District will lose $1,474,442 of school aid, of 10.8 percent, which represents 5.31 percent of their $27.7 million annual budget.
Catskill will see their school aid drop $531,981, or 3.48 percent from this year's figures, representing a 1.5 percent drop in their total $35.4 million budget.
Coxsackie-Athens School District will see figures drop $632,384, or 7.62 percent, representing 2.5 percent of their $25 million budget.
Greenville will see a $574,683 drop in state school aid, down 5.6 percent from this year. That's 2.2 percent of their annual $26 million budget.
Hunter-Tannersville will have a $472,417 cut in school aid, or 19.2 percent from this year's figures. That's 3.6 percent of their annual $13 million budget.
Windham-Ashland-Jewett will see a $174,781 cut in state aid, or 12.4 percent from this year. That's 1.65 percent of their total $10.5 million annual budget.
More on exact breakdowns of these figures, and other cuts, in the coming days...

Stephanie Lee of the Times Union reports on the overnight protests at the state capitol in Albany, where most of the work of passing a new state budget was completed in the midnight hours. Over 1,000 activists from across the state declared they would remain in the Capitol until Thursday morning, March 31, to protest cuts in the $132.5 billion state budget. Legislators, meanwhile, raced to complete their work on the spending plan before the April 1 deadline. Throughout much of the afternoon, the only activity in the building were shouted protests in the majestic "million dollar staircase." There was a scuffle with police around 6:00 p.m. when police refused to allow delivery of 70 large pizzas. But the food was eventually allowed in with the help of Democratic assemblymen. Finally, after 9:00 p.m., the state Senate and Assembly gaveled themselves into order and began passing the four final budget bills -- including those covering education and health care. Almost $240 million in extra school aid was restored to the executive budget, but only $57 million of that will come Upstate. Most local districts will be taking hits of five to ten percent. Many of the protesters left on buses in the early morning, but about 300 to 400 overnighted in the building's many hallways.

The National Weather Service says rain and snow showers will start this morning changing to rain showers for the afternoon. High 49F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 50%. Tonight, more rain and snow this evening turning to all snow overnight. Low 32F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected. more in higher elevations. Tomorrow, snow during the morning will give way to lingering snow showers during the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected and, again, more in the Catskills, Taconics, and foothills for each.

Town meetings tonight
We are in the fifth week of the month. No regular meetings are scheduled.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 2:05 p.m./Low, 10:29 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:40 a.m./7:19 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 5:02 a.m./4:51 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 31 Rene Descartes, Joseph Haydn, Jack Johnson (the boxer), Octavio Paz, Cesar Chavez, Herb Alpert, Al Gore, Angus Young.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Wake up with Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! International news. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Ellen Thurston and Joan Geitz catch you up with weekend events in both counties. 9 a.m.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Christina Malisoff and Sam Sebren host this news show. 10 a.m.
CROSSROADS Alan Skerrett plays jazz and more. Noon.
EARTHBEAT Enviromental show. 2 p.m.
RADIO THEATER Canada's Anna Friz is the subject of a profile from Third Coast Festival. 3 p.m.
YOUTH RADIO 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Hosted by Tom Roe. 4-7 p.m.
THE JAZZ DISTURBANCE Cheryl K. hosts. 7-9:30 p.m.
69 The Magic Stranger plays psychedelic music from 1969. 9:30-midnight.

[caption id="attachment_10362" align="alignright" width="236" caption="Nick Haddad. Photo by Tom Roe."][/caption]On WGXC's @Issue program on Wed. March 30, Nick Haddad, who is running for Hudson mayor as a Democrat, was the guest. Hosts by Victor Mendolia and Francesca Olsen were joined by Register-Star reporter Jamie Larson, asking Haddad his positions. (Olsen is also a Register-Star reporter, and Mendolia is chairman of the Hudson Democrats.) Haddad explained his stances on the LWRP, stings to catch bars serving minors, new development, and other issues. Click here to listen to the full episode of @Issue.

The calendar may say it is spring, but the National Weather Service has other ideas. They have issued a Winter Storm Watch through late Friday night, saying there may be rain, snow, and other forms of ice over the next two days, with possible significant accumulation Friday. Copake Supervisor Reggie Crowley shares this warning from Columbia County Emergency Management: "Models show a lot of snow, especially above 1,000 feet in elevation. 3-10" of wet snow in the valleys and up to two feet in higher elevations by noon Friday is not out of the question."

Carey Gillam reports for Reuters that a consortium of U.S. organic farmers and seed dealers filed suit Tue. March 29 against global seed company Monsanto, because of the company's genetically modified crops. The Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed the suit on behalf of more than 50 organizations challenging Monsanto's patents on genetically modified seeds. The group is seeking a ruling that would prohibit Monsanto from suing the farmers or dealers if their organic seed becomes contaminated with Monsanto's patented biotech seed germplasm. Monsanto is known for its zealous defense of its patents on a range of genetically altered crops, according to Gillam. The company genetically alters seeds to withstand herbicide treatments, droughts, and other blights on crops. The Reuters story also says, "Monsanto has filed scores of lawsuits and won judgments against farmers they claimed made use of their seed without paying required royalties." Some farmers have claimed that their fields were inadvertently contaminated with genetically modified seeds without their knowledge. "This case asks whether Monsanto has the right to sue organic farmers for patent infringement if Monsanto's genetically modified seed should land on their property," said Dan Ravicher, executive director of PUBPAT, a nonprofit legal services organization, which filed the suit in federal court in the southern district of New York. Monsanto called the lawsuit misleading and a "publicity stunt" and said it has never sued and has committed to never suing farmers over the inadvertent presence of biotechnology traits in their fields.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="202" caption="From the Senator's website."][/caption]U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was selected Wed. March 30 as Chair of the Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant & Animal Health. In addition, she will serve on the Nutrition, Food Security, Futures and Derivatives and General Legislation Subcommittee and the Energy, Science and Technology Subcommittee. She is touting the position as the first Senator from New York to sit on the Agriculture and Nutrition Committee in nearly 40 years. "As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I will focus on updating our nutritional standards and addressing child obesity. It is imperative that we take aggressive action to improve the food we serve to our families. In addition, I will continue to be a voice for our local farmers in Washington, D.C. New York's farmers are a critical part of our economy and we must ensure their success. Initiatives to buy local is important to our food security. Strengthening our agricultural sector and promoting healthier nutritional standards are critical parts of our long-term health and economic growth," Senator Gillibrand said.

Groups warn Cuomo about gas extraction plan
James Odato reports in the Times Union that about 40 groups have written to Gov. Andrew Cuomo advising him to put the brakes on hydraulic fracturing. The entities, ranging from Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation to Trout Unlimited, say that the controversial gas drilling process currently under review would pose a multitude of risks. Common Cause and the Natural Resources Defense Council, wrote. “Specifically, we ask that you clearly confirm that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be allowed both adequate time and resources to fully and properly evaluate the full range of potential risks associated with new natural gas development utilizing hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking,' before issuing a revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impacts Statement," the letter reads. " imply put, the arbitrary June 1, 2011 target date established by former Governor David Paterson in EO 41 is wholly inadequate to allow for the development of an appropriately comprehensive or legally sufficient revised DSGEIS.”

Ashland receives Ag Dept. approval for water system
Michael Ryan of the Daily Mail reports that the United States Department of Agriculture has said it is ok to proceed with the construction of a new water supply system in the Greene County town of Ashland. The federal agency had waited for the town to acquire land to be used as a site for a 60,000 gallon water tank that is integral to the project and talks had broken off. Things got back on track when discussions started with a second property owner, according to Alan Tavenner of Delaware Engineering, the project overseer.

NY providing grants to promote ‘buy local’
The Albany Business Journal reports that a new Pride of New York Retail Promotion Grant Program will provide up to $5,000 in matching grants to individual food stores and grocery chains. The grants can be used to highlight fresh produce and to promote processed and value-added products made in New York, including those involving specialty crops, such as frozen produce, jams and jellies, maple syrup and honey. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. A total of $43,172 is available. The funding came from the USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. For an application, go to www.agmkt.state.ny.us.

Bob Green reports in the Register-Star that an SRO crowd came out for a Stuyvesant Planning Board meeting on Monday, March 28, on the subject of the Glencadia Dog Camp. The public hearing had been called in order to “hear all interested parties regarding review and possible modification of prior site plan approval,” for a dog boarding business operated by William Pflaum on Rybka Road in Stuyvesant Falls. The business owner wanted the meeting to amend his site plan permits to reflect diminished numbers of canines he would board for temporary periods of time, and shorter operating hours when the dogs would be allowed outside. But Green notes that Glencadia Dog Camp, which focuses on a New York City clientele, has been the subject of noise complaints by neighbors. Discussion over two hours include differing statements about noise levels, and charges about statements made on weblogs. A county Chamber of Commerce representative spoke about retaining business in the area, and asked everyone to find a way to work things out. Just before the hearing, on March 25, Pflaum filed a Pro Se civil action in the US Northern District federal court. According to Green, the complaint describes “unconstitutional punitive steps” and “systematic abuse of authority” which it says have caused “grievous and sustained harm” to the dog camp owner. It names as Defendant both the town and its supervisor, Valerie Bertram and details 111 “Defendants’ Activities” including harassment by the town's zoning enforcement officer, non-responsiveness to FOIL requests including lawyers bills, deposit slips, and other matters. Stuyvesant Planning Board chairman Gale Bury asked that attorneys for the town and Pflaum, as well as the town's engineer, work things out before his board returns to the matter. In a separate issue, Pflaum is due in Stuyvesant Town Court on April 6 on a continuation hearing for an appearance ticket for habitual dog barking under a little-used 1978 town law, to which Pflaum has pleaded not guilty.The law calls for a maximum sentence of 15 days. For audio clips from the meeting, recorded by Martin Roby, check back to this post...

The State Senate in Albany has started to discuss the state budget proposal negotiated last weekend by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Speaker Sheldon Silver. Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that signs were put up on the morning of March 30 warning that only senators, staff and lobbyists were allowed into the senate lobby in the state capitol. He adds that they were later removed after questions about allowing lobbyists but not the press were asked by Karlin and other reporters. "The move is apparently being made in preparation for today’s demonstrations by up to 1,000 activists who intend to spend the night," Karlin writes. "The decision to close the lobby to the public stands in contrast to the Senate GOP’s decision to tear down the wall — well, two security desks and velvet ropes — closing off the corridors around the former Democratic Majority’s offices."

A calm, quiet ‘political force’
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail writes about the death of Durham resident Elsie Allen, who lost a run for Greene County legislator in 2009 after a lifetime teaching in local schools. She had been expected by many to run again in November. Allan, 74, passed away on Sunday, March 27, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a lasting legacy as a farmer, a teacher, a great grandmother, and chairwoman of the Durham Republican Committee.

Field, budget cause a stir
Budget cuts are the main educational issue of the day, but at the March 28 school board meeting in Hudson baseball teams, and which fields they played on, draw an angrier-than-usual crowd. Andrew Amelinckx reports in the Register-Star that a board decision to have its high school baseball team play on high school grounds instead of a Greenport Park was the main point of contention at a crowded, loud meeting. The team had played on the field four years ago when construction was underway at the high school, "opening a "Pandora's Box," according to Hudson School Board President Emil Meister. Talk of looming budget cuts, meanwhile, drew a large contingent of HCSD teachers, all wearing Hudson Teacher Association T-shirts, protesting the loss of at least 29 positions, if not more. There were also protests against PILOT deals made with local businesses. PILOT means Payments in Lieu of Taxes.

Zoning law final draft released; hearing in April
Doron Tyler Antrim of the Register-Star writes that the Cairo Zoning Commission has released its latest and likely final draft of the town’s proposed zoning law, which incorporates changes suggested through a public comment period that has lasted several months. The document is now available in the Town Clerk’s office and public library at 512 Main Street, as well as online at www.planningbetterplaces.com/cairo. A public hearing on the proposed law is expected by the end of April, although a date has yet to be set.

CEDC holds annual meeting
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star reports on the Tuesday morning, March 29 breakfast meeting of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation at Kozel’s Restaurant in Ghent, where CEDC Executive Director Ken Flood highlighted some of the last year’s successes. These included CEDC’s Microbusiness program, which helped more than 20 business owners last year through education and loans to businesses, and larger projects still in limbo, such as the Greenport Commons hotel and entertainment complex now seeking permits. “All those businesses are either retaining or creating jobs,” said Flood. to a crowd of over 80.

SBA expands mortgage refinancing program
Barbara Pinckney of the Albany Business Journal reports that the U.S. Small Business Administration has expanded its temporary commercial mortgage refinancing program to businesses with loans maturing after Dec. 31, 2012. In February, the SBA opened up its 504 loan program, which typically is for businesses purchasing real estate, to those who needed to refinance commercial mortgages. SBA Administrator Karen Mills said the change, which will be published in the Federal Register by April 6, will allow more small businesses to secure stable, long-term financing and avoid potential foreclosure.

Bordick reveals possible tax hike
John Mason of the Chatham Courier reports that Ichabod Crane Central School District Superintendent Lee Bordick is recommending a tax hike of between 5.25 and 7.81 percent, along with the closing of two elementary schools. The total budget of $33,835,000 is down more than $3 million from this year’s appropriations, and was unanimously approved by the Kinderhook-based school board on Tuesday, March 29

Library house donation appears dead
Doron Tyler Antrim writes in the Daily Mail that a private proerty donation designed to cut costs for a new Cairo Library has been nixed by funding authorities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The federal agency is providing a multi-million dollar loan and grant package to build the library and worried about the added cost of a building tear-down, which the town board also raised concerns about in a recent executive session. The problem? Possible asbestos...

The National Weather Service says today will be sunny to partly cloudy. High 54F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight will witness a few rain showers early changing to a few snow showers overnight. Low 37F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 30%. Tomorrow is expected to be cloudy with occasional showers for the afternoon. High 49F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Town meetings tonight
We are in the fifth week of the month. No regular meetings are scheduled.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 1:18 p.m./Low, 7:47 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:41 a.m./7:18 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:38 a.m./3:51 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 30 Francisco Goya, Vincent Van Gogh, Warren Beatty, Eric Clapton, Tracy Chapman, and Norah Jones.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="220" caption="From Wikipedia."][/caption]Hunters took down 49 black bears in Greene County in 2010, according to figures released Tuesday, March 29 from the Department of Environmental Conservation. Statewide, hunters took 1,064 black bears last fall, similar to levels of 2005-2007. Greene is part of the DEC's Southeastern bear hunting region, where totals were down 20 percent from 2009. Here are the Greene County totals by town:





B = Bowhunting, M = Muzzleloader, R = Regular, T = Total
GREENE B M R T
Ashland 1 0 0 1
Cairo 1 1 8 10
Catskill 6 0 3 9
Coxsackie 0 0 1 1
Durham 1 0 0 1
Greenville 1 0 0 1
Halcott 1 0 0 1
Hunter 5 0 3 8
Jewett 1 0 2 3
Lexington 3 0 4 7
Prattsville 0 0 1 1
Windham 2 0 4 6
TOTAL 22 1 26 49

As layoffs mount, job training funds dry up; may be eliminated
Mike McCagg of CCscoop writes about the ways in which funding to help the region’s unemployed, or soon-to-be unemployed, is quickly running dry. His interviews with officials with at the state’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Office at Columbia-Greene Community College added that prospects for new funding next year are looking even bleaker. With Holcim Cement in Catskill mothballed and many teachers now expecting layoffs, Workforce Investment Executive Director M.A. Wiltse says that job training funding for the year is nearly depleted. “There are so many people that are unemployed these days that it becomes more and more difficult to provide the assistance they need,” she said. The funds she administers are used to pay tuition for programs that re-train workers for new careers.

Groups plan camping in the Capitol
James Odato reports in the Times Union's Capitol Confidential that 15 buses are on their way to Albany. They are carrying 1,000 activists from across New York to protest the newly-negotiated budget and its cuts... and overnight in the capitol. "As many as 300 lodgers may try to set a record for sitting in at the historic building," Odato writes. "Organizers are trying to work out a way to remain in the building without getting arrested. They argue that lobbyists get to hang out around the clock while lawmakers are deliberating important bills such as the budget, and normal folk should also have the right to do so." Talks with State Police have been ongoing.

Proposal made for site study at DSS
John Mason reports in the Register-Star that Columbia County supervisors and officials are mulling a new proposal for an environmental site assessment of the current Department of Social Services building at 25 Railroad Avenue in Hudson. The cost of the study would be $46,000. Two years ago, county officials decided the space was too small for their needs, and also pegged various environmental problems within it. Subsequent proposals to move DSS to the Ockawamick school building in Philmont and, more recently, the old Wal Mart structure in Greenport, both fell through because of budget concerns.

Wilber Bank to lay off a quarter of employees after merger
Lyssa Harris of The Watershed Post has a story about how a bank merger in the Catskills is having reverberations throughout several counties. Oneonta-based Wilber National Bank, newly merged with Community Bank System of Syracuse, has announced 63 layoffs. Most will be in the greater Oneonta region, as well as in Boiceville, Fleischmanns, and Cobleskill.

Main Street to be open on market days
Doron Tyler Antrim reports on the two hour-plus public meeting on the fate of the Catskill Farmer's Market on Monday night, March 28, Village trustees on Monday voted in favor of reopening Main Street during the hours of the market, by highlighting the remaining confusion following a 4-1 board decision to keep Main Street open on Saturdays whether the market stays there or not, which he terms "an apparent victory for business owners who argued the road’s closure resulted in lost revenue." Tyler notes that the firehouse meeting room where the discussion took place was packed, and that two competing petitions were presented to trustees. One included signatures from 22 business owners seeking to have Main Street reopened, while the other, with signatures from more than 60 merchants and villagers, liked the closed street market. Trustee Brian Kehoe supported the closed-street Catskill Regional Farmers and Artisans Market, held on Saturday mornings June through October. A final decision on market placement will be made at a future meeting.

Parking ticket procrastinators may soon be getting a ‘boot’
John Mason writes in the Register-Star that Hudson Police Chief Ellis Richardson told the city's Police Committee that he’d like to institute a program of booting tires on cars with three or four outstanding parking tickets. The boot would be locked into place on a tire of the car, immobilizing it until the offending motorist has paid up, at which time the boot would be removed. Richardson said there are $37,500 worth of outstanding parking tickets, which, with late fees and surcharges, comes out to $164,000. Currently, he said, there are 339 vehicles eligible for scofflaw designation.

Powerline Project Shifts Course; Clears Another Hurdle
CCscoop's Mike McCagg reports on a proposed 350-mile power transmission line slated to be buried beneath the Hudson River, noting that while the Canada-to NYC line "has cleared another regulatory hurdle," the planned route of the four, five-inch-diameter high-voltage direct current cables has been moved away from Columbia County's residence-dominated shoreline to Greene County land, re-entering the Hudson River in the town of Catskill –across the river from the Germantown/Livingston/Greenport border. Dozens of agencies and organizations have secured stake-holder status in the review of the proposal, including Scenic Hudson Inc., Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, National Grid, Natural Resources Defense Council and New York State Council of Trout Unlimited. While Columbia County apparently has not sought status in the project, Greene County on March 21 submitted a request to be added to the stakeholder list.

New York AG files petition against Indian Point
Mid Hudson News Network reports that State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a petition with the federal NRC urging it to take enforcement action against the Indian Point nuclear power plant for what he said was its failure to comply with fire safety regulations. Schneiderman wrote that compliance with fire safety requirements was necessary to ensure that the facility would be able to safely shut down during and after an emergency. The nuclear facility at the top end of the Tappen Zee, within 25 miles of NYC, is seeking more than 100 exemptions from regulations, with spokespeople saying that its operators are trained and drilled in the use of actions “to mitigate potential impact from a variety of postulated fires at the site.”

Sounds of silence, fury at cuts
Rick Karlin of the Times Union writes about the reaction to this week's agreement on a new state budget defined by its cuts to education, heath and other benefits. "With just $272 million restored from nearly $1.5 billion in education cuts, members of the state's vast education lobby on Monday issued a raft of complaints, dire warnings and vows to fight on," he observes. And he quotes state School Boards Association spokesman Tim Kremer saying that, "The cuts will translate into mass layoffs, larger classes, depletion of reserve funds, school closings and, unfortunately, (property) tax increases," while groups such as New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, the Alliance for Quality Education and New York State United Teachers said they would keep pushing to get the so-called millionaires' tax extended, over Cuomo's objections, to boost school funding. A large education funding rally is planned for Wednesday, March 30, when lawmakers may vote on at least part of the final budget. By contrast, Karlin adds, "health care interests have been almost silent, despite the more than $2 billion they are losing from Medicaid."

Business groups pleased with budget deal
Adam Sichko of the Albany Business Journal reports on how business lobbies have been gushing over the state budget agreement announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders of both parties. The Business Council of New York State Inc., which endorsed Cuomo’s candidacy, called the budget “truly historic.”

C-D offers slate of new budget data
Miguel Madera of the Daily Mail writes that the Cairo-Durham school board presented new budget data before a large audience in the school auditorium this week, focusing on cuts and new revenue sources. A special public meeting will take place on April 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the high school when a majority of the school’s budget will be discussed. More details before that date...

The National Weather Service says today will be partly cloudy. High 47F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight will have generally clear skies. Low around 30F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow will be generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High 52F.

Town meetings tonight

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 12:23 p.m./Low, 7:02 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:43 a.m./7:17 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 4:12 a.m./2:51 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 29 E. Power Biggs, Pearl Bailey, Astrud Gilberto, Eric Idle, Perry Farrell, and Amy Sedaris.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Hosted by Tom Roe, with Board Operator Jackie Thomas. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW 9-11 a.m.
AL-JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
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Over 500,000 acres of developable land identified in the Catskills
Mid Hudson News Network reports on a new Open Space Institute study that finds that the Catskills region contains 10 times the land needed to support population expectations through 2035, meaning growth can occur there without negatively affecting open space resources." The study identifies more than 520,000 acres of private land that could be developed that is more than would be needed to accommodate population growth estimates of about four percent over the next 25 years. The report looks at land in Sullivan, Ulster, Greene and Delaware counties. The report found that Ulster County is the most developed of the four counties at seven percent of its land area. It also contains the most conserved lands – 32 percent, and the least amount of preferred growth area, at 11 percent. In Greene County, 24 percent of its land is already conserved. Six percent of the county is developed, and it contains enough preferred growth area to triple that figure.

BREAKING: Body found at Half Moon
The Register-Star is running a raw police report about an ongoing investigation into a shooting death that happened inside the Half Moon Bar and Grill located at 48 Front St. in Hudson on Monday, March 28. Police responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call around 2 p.m. Police were still on scene as of 3:30 p.m., as was the County Coroner. "A long rifle was apparently found inside the bar," Andrew Amelinckx's report concludes.

'Designer' cupcakes debut in Catskill
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail writes about the new Catskill Chocolate Cafe at the corner of Church Street and Brandow’s Alley in Catskill. where a cappuccino and cupcake tasting on Sunday brought a crowd to sample five of the cupcake creations from Elisebeth Stamer, a retired nurse hired by Cafe owner Angelo Amato to provide an array of specialty cupcakes — with two new flavors each week. "Up for tasting on Sunday were coconut, chocolate blackout with chocolate Bavarian cream, plus pink champagne, butter toffee and strawberry cream," DeVries notes.

Gibson washes hands of redistricting, he says
jimmy Vielkind notes that Congressman Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, is claiming that he’s just too focused on serving his constituents to think about who they might be in two years. "My focus is on serving the 20th Congressional District,” the freshman Republican from Kinderhook said Monday at the Capitol. “I think what the Census data shows is that for our region, we actually grew, for about 30-some-odd thousand. I think that’s encouraging. We’re still going to need to pick up about 30-some-odd-thousand…but this is out of my hands.”

Former Rep. Scott Murphy was NOT one of the top congressional spenders after all
Meanwhile, Richard Dunham of the TU's Capitol Confidential adds that
The Sunlight Foundation, a nonpartisan government watchdog group, has acknowledged that its original list of top ten congressional office spenders for 2010 was "flawed" and that former Rep. Scott Murphy, the Democrat who Chris Gibson defeated last November, "is not — repeat: NOT — on this 'top ten' list that you’d rather not be on." Instead of spending about $1.7 million, as the original report stated, Murphy spent $1,481,587, the new report concluded.

Fines spark bright idea
Diane Valden reports in The Columbia paper that the Town of Copake will be paying for new solar panels with $21,609.97 it will be getting in court-ordered fines from Salvatore Cascino for violating federal, state and town law by illegally dumping and building at his 300-acre Copake property along the east side of Route 22 over the past 13 years. Cascino also owns Bronx County Recycling, LLC, a waste hauling/processing operation just south of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx that was sued for dumping in Clermont, but later cleared because of longstanding traditions of such dumping on the property he bought there.

Lemonade Day coming to Greene County May 1
Ariel Zangla-Girard of the Daily Freeman reports that Greene County youth will take to the streets May 1 as part of Lemonade Day, a nationwide effort where area youth create their own lemonade stands from the ground up and then run their businesses with an eye towards making a profit that can be shared with charity. “It’s really a great program,” said Bob Phibbs, coordinator of the Greene County Lemonade Day. “And we’re the only ones in New York state doing it.”