Cuomo, leaders announce $132.5 billion budget deal
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state's legislative leaders — plus a handful of rank-and-file lawmakers — appeared in the state capitol's Red Room Sunday afternoon, March 27, to announce an agreement on the 2011-12 budget that lays out a roughly $132.5 billion spending plan for the state. The adjusted plan, after miscellaneous other cuts and additions, offers a net increase from the budget proposal of about $250 million and represents a 2 percent cut in spending over the current fiscal year. The major changes from the governor’s budget proposal include $272 million in restorations for education. Karlin adds that, "there’s a long list of things left out of the budget that certain groups would like to see put in: no millionaires tax; and no New York City rent-control extensions or expansions. Expect further heated discussions in each house as ratification proceeds...

Catskill Creek Watershed organization mulls microbe study
Colin DeVries reports that a study on precisely how many dangerous microbes may exist in the Catskill Creek, which provides water for the village, is being considered. "The grassroots Catskill Creek Watershed Awareness Project committee met last week to discuss sampling areas of Greene County’s primary watershed for enterococcus organisms," DeVries reports on New York Riverkeeper's presentation of preliminary logistical and financial information on the study that showed difficult results. "In March 2008, the state Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Conservation performed a dye and video camera inspection of the storm drainage systems after reports of contamination in the Catskill Creek near Leeds. The inspection revealed that harmful contaminants from the septic leachate in the area had been infiltrating the creek, prompting review of a public sewer system through the hamlet."

Valatie man jumps from Route 203 bridge
The Register-Star reports that a 45-year-old man jumped from the Route 203 bridge in Valatie on Sunday morning, March 27 at around 11 a.m. He was transported by Life-Net helicopter to Albany Medical Center shortly after noon for evaluation. According to a press release from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the man was found standing on the shore with no visible injuries.

Schools in region to make up for extra snow days
The Daily Freeman has a rundown of what seems to be left in terms of upcoming April school vacations in the area. In Greene County, some school officials were still deciding how to make up snow days. April 18-22 was the originally scheduled break period. Catskill students will have a spring vacation from April 20-22 but lost April 18 and 19 as days off. The Coxsackie-Athens school district’s spring break remains intact from April 18 to 22. Hunter-Tannersville students are on vacation from April 18 to 22 but lost April 25. Cairo-Durham’s spring break is from April 18 to 22, though this is subject to change. In Germantown, April 18 and 19 will be made up for snow days. In Hudson and at Taconic Hills School Districts, schools will be open and classes will be in session on Wednesday, April 20, and Thursday, April 21, as snow day make-up dates. In Chatham, a make-up day will occur on April 21 during a week otherwise taken up with vacation days. In Northern Dutchess, the Red Hook school district used seven snow days when eight were budgeted, and the makeup day will be May 27, which also seems to be the case at Ichabod Crane Central Schools in Kinderhook. The Pine Plains school district used nine snow days when six were budgeted, resulting in a scheduled half day on April 15 now being a full day.

UAlbany turns three majors into minors
The Albany Business Journal has a piece about how graduate studies in several languages, plus classics, are being dropped because of budget considerations. Goodbye French and Russian, plus theater.

ICC board raises no objection to closing two schools
Emilia Teasdale reports in The Columbia Paper that the administration at Ichabod Crane schools in Kinderhook have made an official recommendation to close both the Martin Van Buren and Martin H. Glynn elementary schools, moving all students to the main campus on Route 9. It seems that busing for those who live within a two-mile radius from the schools will be continued, along with full day kindergarten. A full budget will be presented on Tuesday, March 29, when a final decision to close the elementary schools will also be made.

The National Weather Service says today will be sunny. High 42F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Tonight, mostly clear with a few passing clouds. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow somewhat cloudy with a high of 46F.

Town meetings tonight
CATSKILL village board meeting, including public hearing on possible farmers market move from Main Street, 7 p.m. Fiehouse near Catskill Commons (Wal Mart)
HALCOTT town board meeting at 7 p.m. at Grange Hall.
HUDSON Police Committee at 6 p.m., Fire Committee at 6:45 p.m.
PHILMONT Local Development Corp meeting at 7 p.m., Village Hall, 124 Main Street. Also, it's brush pick-up day.
STUYVESANT Public hearing at 7 p.m. on revocation of planning permits for Glencadia Dog Camp.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 11:22 a.m./Low, 6:11 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:45 a.m./7:16 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 3:42 a.m./1:49 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 28 Maxim Gorky, Paul Whiteman, Mario Vargas Llosa, Reba McEntire, and Lady Gaga.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Hosted by Casson Kennedy; Board Operator: Mark Lacoy. Featuring news, listener call-ins, audio features, interviews, and more. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW! International news. 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Hosted by Philip Grant; Board Operator: Norman Keyser. 9-11 a.m.
AL-JAZEERA ENGLISH International news. 11 a.m.
LINCOLN MAYORGA Music from the early 20th Century. 12 noon - 2 p.m.
GREENHORN RADIO For farmers under forty. 2 p.m.
WGXC YOUTH SHOW Radio made by youth for youth. 3:30 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Hosted by Kaya Weidman. Featuring news, listener call-ins, audio features, interviews, and more. Live interview by WGXC Music Director Karen Schoemer of John Doe and Jill Sobule at 5:30 p.m. 4-7 p.m.
BLUEGRASS SHOW Jim Wright hosts. 7-9:30 p.m.
DJ LUNAR MOSS All vinyl music show from local DJ. 9:30-midnight.

Hudson Democrats held a fundraiser Sunday evening at Helsinki Hudson, announcing their nominations for fall elections too. Here's the least well-kept secret in town:

City-wide offices
Mayor: Nick Haddad
Treasurer: Don Moore
Common Council President: Sarah Sterling

First Ward
Aldermen: Larissa Parks and Timothy Rodgers
Supervisor: Michael O'Hara

Second Ward
Alderman: Abdus Miah

Third Ward
Aldermen: John Friedman and Chris Wagoner
Supervisor: Ellen Thurston

Fourth Ward
Supervisor: William Hughes

Fifth Ward
Supervisor: Rick Scalera

The Democratic committee will hold its next meeting on Tue., April 12th. at which time the second round of endorsements will be taken up.

Dispute arises over raises for town workers
Miguel Madera of the Greene County News reports that emotions ran high at a Greenville Town Board meeting this week over differences of opinion about town raises. "According to several town employees, the town board has not given a clear reason why raises were nullified this year," Madera writes. Town Supervisor Paul Macko said the decision was made for budgetary reasons.

Bordick to continue on as ICC superintendent
John Mason of the Register-Star writes that the Ichabod Crane Central School District’s search for a superintendent has ended with Interim Superintendent Lee Bordick, who replaced former Superintendent James Dexter last July, taking a one-year extension on her one-year contract in the Kinderhook-based district. “I feel we have work to do,” Bordick told Mason. “I’ll continue.”

Local GOP committees back Molinaro
The Mid Hudson News Network reports that several town Republican committees have lined up to endorse State Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R-Red Hook) for Dutchess County executive, although no Democrat has stepped forward to announce a run for county executive. And no candidates, from either party, has stepped forward for the Assembly post Molinaro would be giving up if elected, either at the time of his taking office in Poughkeepsie, or before if he chooses to focus fully on his candidacy and open the position to a special election this year.

Greene County couple’s son OK after Japan quake
Ariel Zangla Girard of the Daily Freeman has a story about the experiences of Andrew Smith Lewis, the son of Catskill town board member Michael Smith and Cus D'Amato Gym board president Sandra Smith, and hiss wife and newborn child in Tokyo during the recent earthquake and tsunami. The Internet and social media-based entrepreneur describes a 6 mile walk home and ultimate decision to bring his family home on a business trip to the United States to see his parents...

The National Weather Service says today will see some clouds this morning giving way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 42F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight will be generally clear. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow, sunny and 42F, with rising winds.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 10:19 a.m./Low, 5:15 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:46 a.m./7:15 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 3:06 a.m./12:46 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 27 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Gloria Swanson, Ben Webster, Sarah Vaughn, Quentin Tarantino, and Mariah Carey.

Tune in today
GREENHORN RADIO 6-7 a.m.
CHALLENGING CHRISTIANITY hosted by Chris Lawlor 7-8 a.m.
WGXC CHILDREN'S READING SHOW coordinated by Debra Kamecke. 8-9 p.m.
WHAT IS MUSIC? Sheri Bauer-Mayorga's children's music show 9 - 10 a.m.
WGXC EXCHANGE Barter, trade, rideshare, yard sales, tag sales, flea markets, thrift stores, CSAs, and other discounts and deals are discussed. Call in and participate: 518-828-0290. 10 a.m. - 12 noon
JACKIE THOMAS SHOW 12 noon - 2 p.m.
LATINOAMERICA with Juan Sanchex 2 - 4 p.m.
LI LE, LE TAN News and music for Haitian community, hosted by Carline Murphy. 4 p.m.
BENGALI SHOW News and music for Bangladeshi community, hosted by Hosneara Kader. 4:30 p.m.
THE IRISH SHOW Music and sports scores for Irish community, hosted by Tony Fallon. 7 p.m.
IMPRINT with Terry Doyle. 11 p.m. - midnight

Public Hearing on Union and First
Carole Osterlink of The Gossips of Rivertown reports on the standing room only March 24 Hudson Historic Preservation Commission public hearing on the issue of a construction project being proposed by the Galvan Partners for Union and First streets in the city's First Ward, held at City Hall. Comments ranged from those who characterized the neighborhood as becoming nicer to those who complained about continuing problems at the site in question, as well as the developers' other unfilled projects. The lawyer for the developers, it seems, lectured both the Commission and several members of the public about what could be discussed and not. The Hudson Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on theproject on April 20.

Town signs contract with Pace to develop Climate Action Plan
The Register-Star is running a piece about how officials in the Northern Dutchess County Town of Red Hook recently signed a contract with Pace Law School’s Energy and Climate Center (PECC) to develop and implement a Climate Action Plan, and has begun taking stock of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases it emits. The PECC consultants will set a greenhouse gas reduction target for Red Hook, and develop an action plan to achieve that goal. Similar actions have started taking place in communities throughout Westchester County, while discussion has also started in Ulster County and elsewhere around the nation.

$1 million grant to fight Ulster obesity
Mid Hudson News Network reports on the awarding of a $1.01 million grant for a new Creating Healthy Places to Live, Work, and Play initiative to combat obesity and obesity related health issues starting with three communities in Ulster County. The monies, coming through Cornell Cooperative Extension with a match form Ulster County, will be used to effect a shift away from informational campaigns and towards "creating environments, in schools for example, that facilitate healthy living styles."
Hein said that the best way to create healthy places in every community is by impacting the people. The three communities to be focused on will be Ellenville, Phoenicia, and Kingston. Pay attention, local legislators.

Cuomo: Prisons among the sticking points
Rick Karlin of the Times Union reports that Gov. Andrea Cuomo spoke on FRiday, March 25 about the budget process some thought would be completed this week, saying that there was still a lot of disagreement about how to slim down the state's prison system. "When you close down prisons in many communities these are the economic engines,” he said. “Don’t underestimate the economic impact that closing prisons would have.” Cuomo went on to repeat that if there is no April 1 budget, he’ll put in the extender bill. If lawmakers reject, then there is a government shutdown. The battles, they do continue...

C-A slashes budget to bone
Melanie Lekocevic of the Register-Star reports that Interim District Superintendent Annemarie Barkman from the Coxsackie-Athens Central School District has presented the Board of Education with a trimmed to the bone budget that meets projected state figures for the 2011-2012 school year. The cuts are in response to reductions in state aid the district is expecting once the state budget is passed, and increases in expenses, primarily negotiated salary increases, employee benefits, transportation and BOCES. Should the budget be kept the same as last year, without any cuts to programs or staffing, the increase in the tax levy would be hefty – 12.77 percent. Most of what's being proposed involved the teaching staff, and planned retirements, which led some in the audience to ask why the administrative staff isn't taking the brunt of any of the budget difficulties.

Park would greet city, town visitors
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star writes about ongoing plans for a new pocket park to be built at the sharply angled intersection of Columbia Turnpike and Green Street in Greenport, right on the border of the city of Hudson, where a county-owned but abandoned home now stands. A group of local residents have proposed demolishing the building and replacing it with the Greenport-Hudson Gateway Park, which would include an archway with the word “WELCOME”, signs on either side saying “This way to Hudson” and “This way to Greenport” respectively, and hardy plants and flowers that could withstand the proximity to the road.

The National Weather Service says today will be mostly sunny, with way more sun than clouds. High 37F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight will be generally clear. Low around 20F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tomorrow sunny with a slightly warmer high of 42F.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: High, 9:19 a.m./Low, 4:11 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:48 a.m./7:14 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 2:23 a.m./11:43 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 26 Robert Frost, Joseph Campbell, Tennessee Williams, Sandra Day O'Connor, Nancy Pelosi, and Steven Tyler.

Tune in today
TRANSMISSION ARTS

Senate GOP: Over $250 million restored to schools
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that Senate Republicans left a closed-door conference on Friday afternoon, March 25, revealing details of what they say is a conceptual budget agreement reached with the Assembly and Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He says that elements of the "deal" include" restoration of between $250 million and $270 million in school aid from a proposed $1.5 billion cut proposed by Cuomo; No renewal of the income tax surcharge on New Yorkers making over $200,000 known as the "millionaire's tax;" a living wage provision for home care workers, part of the Medicaid Redesign Team’s recommendations, and a possible cap to medical malpractice payouts for pain and suffering;criteria for the governor's plan to cut prison beds designed to save jobs; and the probability of $130 million in capital appropriations being redirected toward regional economic development councils. “I think we’re very close," Vielkind quotes Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver saying later in the afternoon after speaking with his own caucus. "I don’t believe we have a conceptual agreement yet.”

Columbia County population up two—just two
Adam Sichko of the Albany Business Journal interviewed Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Roy Brown about the fact that the county gained only two residents over the past decade, according to the newly released U.S. Census data figures. Brown spoke about recent unemployment figures, spurred by two factory closings. “This is a beautiful rural county," Brown said. "We just don’t have the jobs we need here,”

Village considers sewer system creation
John Mason writes in the Register-Star about recent discussions in Kinderhook about the possibility of building a municipal sewer system to help turnaround a stagnant downtown economy that is hampered by having no more space for individual septic systems. Talk was of a sewer project that would service 35 parcels in the business district with a collection system that would connect to Valatie’s existing system. Because it connects two villages, the project would be eligible for grant funding from the state Shared Municipal Services Initiative.

Town partners with school district for Lafarge PILOT study
Hilary Hawke of the Ravena News reports that the Town of Coeymans and the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Board of Education have agreed to share consulting costs for a study to consider entering into a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement with Lafarge Cement Company, which is planning a $300 million renovation of its plant in Ravena. "Laurence R. Farbstein, Industrial and Utility Valuation Consultants, Inc., will be paid an equal amount by each, up to a maximum of $12,500 or $25,000, for the entire project," Hawke writes. "Farbstein will also explore the concept of Lafarge Cement funding the consultant costs in whole or in part."

Hispanic growth rate here outpaces nation
Kenneth Crowe of the Times Union reports that the Capital Region's Hispanic population grew nearly 80 percent, soaring past the national average over the past decade, according to 2010 Census data released on March 24. The region's 2010 Hispanic population is 35,103, or 77.49 percent more than the 19,777 in 2000. The high percentage growth reflects in part the smaller numbers that were counted in 2000, Crowe writes. The U.S. Hispanic population reached 50.5 million in 2010, up 43 percent from 35.3 million in 2000.

In an open letter to the governor and state legislators today, accompanied by a barrage of press releases, a new organization of wealthy New Yorkers from around the state said they are ready and willing to forgo their tax cut to be part of the budget solution. Joining with Responsible Wealth, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness, the Fiscal Policy Institute, and the GrowingTogetherNY and Strong Economy for All coalitions, the signers of the letter - who call themselves Responsible Wealth - told the Governor and legislative leaders that many of his proposed cuts are "unnecessary" because a continuation of the PIT surcharge on the wealthy, currently set to expire at the end of 2011, could generate needed revenue and help mitigate the most harmful impact of the proposed cuts. Actor and activist Mark Ruffalo recorded a brief video, seen above, for the effort. The letter was a joint effort between the organizations listed above and the Responsible Wealth project. Mike Lapham, director of Responsible Wealth, said, "Many of the signers of this letter are members of the Responsible Wealth project. They are people who recognize that New York needs a much more progressive tax structure, and that upper-income folks like themselves need to be a big part of the revenue solution to the current budget crisis. They would rather pay more in taxes than see state services and infrastructure deteriorate. They value the quality of life in New York and are willing to pay more taxes to help preserve it." Responsible Wealth, a project of the national non-profit United for a Fair Economy, is a national network of over 700 business leaders, investors and other wealthy individuals who are concerned about growing economic inequality." Meanwhile, similar statewide coalitions have taken to delivering checks to State Senators against extending the tax for $4.6 billion each, made out to NYS millionaires, representing the amount of revenue the State will lose if the Millionaire’s tax is not extended.

By Gus Murphy

2010 CENSUS: Population up in local counties, state
The Daily Freeman, and other local papers, leads with a story on the release of new 2010 cenus information, finding that the region’s population grew by 5.1 percent from 2000 to 2010, and only one local county - Delaware - had a decline in residents during that period, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Greene County had a population of 49,221, up from 48,195 in 2000, a gain of 2.1 percent; Columbia had 63,096, a gain of just two people from 63,094 in 2000; Dutchess County had 297,448, up from 280,150 in 2000, a gain of 6.2 percent; Ulster had 182,493, up from 177,749 in 2000, a gain of 2.7 percent. Delaware County lost 75 people, for a total of 47,980, similar to losses in the Mohawk Valley and Western New York. The City of Hudson lost 811 people, or almost 11 percent, for a current total of 6.713. The Town of Catskill lost 74 people for a current total of 11,775. The state’s population in 2010 was 19,378,102, a gain of 2.1 percent from 2000’s 18,976,457, the Census Bureau said. More on this info in the coming weeks...

Legislators optimistic of budget deal Friday
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports that legislative leaders in Albany emerged from a closed-door meeting with Gov. Andrew Cuomo late on Thursday, March 24 optimistic that a budget agreement could be announced Friday, March 25... a week before its April 1 due date. The millionaire's tax seems to have disappeared from talks, along with any renewal of New York City rent stabilization laws or a property tax cap. But that's also with Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos taking the media lead, and longstanding Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver expressing some caution on pronouncements for the moment and the Governor staying mum for a day.

Report: Albany area loses 4,900 jobs
The Albany Business Journal reports that government job losses continue to choke the Capital Region’s economy, according to new state data. While area businesses continue to add jobs, albeit at a slower clip than most other areas of the state, job cuts in the public sector keeps overwhelming any of that growth. For the third month in a row, the core Capital Region had the largest job losses of the 13 metro areas in the state, when combining government and private-sector jobs. Right now, the fastest-growing job market in the state is in Kingston.

BOE looks to slim down
Francesca Olsen of the Register-Star writes that the county Board of Elections is planning to consolidate some of its 58 election districts and it will end up with around 51, according to the county’s election commissioners. "While no countywide plan has been finalized, the commissioners have a pretty good idea of what they’d like to do, and will be visiting town board meetings in the coming months to explain their plan to residents and officials," Olsen reports. "The plan to consolidate districts will save around $32,000 annually, said Republican Commissioner Jason Nastke. That’s $3,750 for every district that’s eliminated and $1,000 for every poll site that’s eliminated. It will also give the BOE an opportunity to address accessibility issues at its poll sites." The changes should be in place by Primary Day, September 13.

2 C-H trucks up in flames
Colin DeVries of the Daily Mail reports how an electrical fire destroyed two Central Hudson pickup trucks on March 24. He writes that Catskill Fire Chief Jonathan Dees said one of the two charred trucks had not been used for over a week and recently had its electrical system repaired, and that the fire likely originated from a short in the electrical wiring. The vehicle was eventually completely engulfed at the power company’s substation off Route 9W outside the village of Catskill. The fire from the first truck, which was a Dodge Ram, then spread to the Chevrolet pickup truck beside it.

Chatham police chief retires after 35 years
Emilia Teasdale of The Columbia Paper reports that Village Police Chief Kevin Boehme has retired after 35 years on the force. His retirement became official as of 3 p.m. on Monday March 21 even though Boehme filed the paperwork to retire last fall, said Village Clerk/Treasurer Carol Simmons. No one knows whether there will be a new chief. The department has a deputy chief, Mark Leggett, who will stay in that position. Boehme’s older brother, Paul, is the current mayor of the village and will hold that post until the first Monday in April.

The National Weather Service says today will be mostly sunny with a few clouds later. High 39F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Tonight will be mostly clear. Low 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow, like today.

Town meetings tonight
CLERMONT Zoning Board of Appeals, 7:30 p.m. at town hall

Astronomical bodies

TIDES Hudson: High, 8:20 a.m./Low, 3:05 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:50 a.m./7:12 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 10:43 a.m./2:23 a.m. Saturday

Birthdays
MARCH 25
Bela Bartok, Howard Cosell, Flannery O'Connor, Cecil Taylor, Gloria Steinem, Matthew Barney, and Aretha Franklin.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW hosted by Casson Kennedy & Mark Lacoy. 6-8 a.m.
DEMOCRACY NOW 8-9 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW . 9-10 a.m.
DIFFICULT HISTORIES hosted by Norman Douglas and Andrew Amelinckx. 10-11 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 11 a.m.-12 noon
SHANNEKIA MCINTOSH SHOW 12 - 2 p.m.
QUE COCINARE HOY? hosted by Mariel Fiore and Antonio Flores-Lobos. 2-3 p.m.
ASTROLOGYhosted by A.T. Mann, 3:00-3:30 p.m.
KNOCK ON WOOD hosted by Steve Charney 3:30-4:00 p.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW 4:00-6:45 p.m.
NEWS ESPANOL 6:45 p.m.
GUEST DJ 7:00-9:30 p.m.
HOTLINE RADIO… L. Deniro and the Guy's hip hop show. 9:30 p.m. - midnight

State budget would shift more than $40 million to property taxpayers, county officials say
Mid Hudson News Network reports that in state budget negotiations going on in Albany, it has been suggested that county taxpayers could be forced to pay over $50 million for public health programs at the county level. The New York State Association of Counties is critical of the proposal noting that, “State lawmakers can’t in good conscience continue to shift costs down to local property taxpayers, walk away from these programs, and then expect these services to continue at the local level." The state is proposing to eliminate all reimbursement for public health programs effective July 1 for services of medical examiner; early intervention service coordination for special needs children under three; visiting nurses for those receiving long long-term care services at home; dental services for children under 21; inspection and review of x-ray and radiation equipment; and environmental health services.


County upgrading IT systems
Francesca Olsen writes that Columbia County legislators are hoping to finalize a three year push towards complete digitalization of county records by Oct.1, when county employees will be able to sign up for direct deposit, which they previously haven’t been able to do. Timekeeping will be electronic, and budget transfers, after Board of Supervisors approval, will be logged automatically.
According to the County's Board of Supervisors Chairman Roy Brown, R-Germantown, the technology overhaul will be “soup-to-nuts.” The $1.2 million project will be paid for over seven years with payments of $170,000 each; the first payment being bonded out this year after which the amounts will be added to the annual budget of the county’s managed information systems department.


Suspicious package closes Main Street
The Daily Mail reports that the Catskill Police Department announced in a press release that at 8:09 on Thursday, March 24 , the Catskill Police Department received a report of a suspicious package that had been left on the front steps of The First Niagara Bank at 341 Main St., in the Village of Catskill. Catskill Village Police responded to the scene, located the package, described as a large sealed black plastic bag. The area was secured, and The New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit was notified and responded. The package was examined, determined to be non hazardous and removed, according to protocol established by New York State Police. The Catskill Police Department was assisted at the scene by The New York State Police, The Greene County Sheriff’s Department and The Catskill Fire Department.

No Fracking Way
The Times Union's Capitol Confidential has a video up of the roughly 90 anti-fracking protesters who marched up the Capitol steps and occupied the War Room, just outside the governor’s chambers and spent some 45 minutes keeping up a chant of “No Fracking Way” this afternoon, March 24. "These folks were older and whiter than the protesters who’ve been marching for a Millionaire’s Tax and against school cuts, but they were plenty energetic," writes reporter Rick Karlin, who added that a representative from the gas drillers, Jim Smith, was on hand, passing out a press release noting that the state’s Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement, a key document, isn’t even completed on hydrofracking.

Teacher's union president accuses district of bad faith negotiations
Hilary Hawke of the Ravena News reports that Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district teachers and staff turned out in full force for a recent Board of Education meeting eager to hear their district superintendent's suggestions for the 2011-2012 school year. "And while most probably expected the news would not be good, many felt sideswiped by the board's suggestion the superintendent approach all bargaining units and request a salary freeze," Hawke writes, noting how Teacher Association President Matt Miller called the suggestion "interesting" since the board had ratified the teacher's contract at the March 1 meeting and had not mentioned a salary freeze then. "The union feels the attack on our salaries represents bad faith negotiations," she quotes Miller saying. "Why would they ask the staff for a salary freeze just weeks after we negotiated the contract?" The teacher's contract, ratified on March 1, extends through June 2013. It gives teachers a 2.5 percent increase, calls for higher co-pays for doctor visits and prescriptions, and provides the superintendent with flexibility on the start time of the school day.

Main Street in Catskill was closed off by police this morning at around 9:00 a.m. because of a suspicious package seen in front of the First Niagara Bank. The matter was cleared up within a half hour. According to Catskill Village Police, the release of a press release on the incident was being mulled for later in the day.

Casey Seiler of the Times Union reports that 33 members of the CUNY (City University of New York) Professional Staff Congress and other groups will be charged with disorderly conduct following an orderly but rather loud protest that began just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, when a portion of the 150 or so advocates who had been circling the Mural Room filed into the Senate stairway corridor just outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office. A sizable contingent of state troopers were waiting to block the closed security door. "The protesters who had elected to be arrested sat down and continued a variety of chants protesting what they characterized as a war on workers, unions, the poor and CUNY," Seiler writes. "Methodically, troopers crouched down to read a script in which the protesters were informed that they were creating an unsafe blockade, and asked to move to a different spot. All refused, and stood up to have hands secured behind their backs. They were calmly led away to cheers from the rest of the protesters hanging back at the opposite end of the stairwell." Video by Kyle Hughes of NYSNYS.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Rader Sherma, left, poses for a picture with Amir “Rock” Shahzad, manager of the Greenport Mobil station where he found refuge and was reunited with his family. Photo by David Lee of the Register-Star."][/caption]Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star has an update on the heart-wrenching story of the Canadian man found homeless in Greenport by a local pastor, wherein the family he hasn't seen since May, 2007 was reunited with him on March 24. He is now on his way back home to Abbotsford, British Columbia, just outside Vancouver. Rader Sharma, 49, who is originally from Punjab, India and speaks very little English, disappeared from the Abbotsford area almost four years ago. According to Amelinckx, Sharma said his journey began when he got on a Greyhound bus thinking he was heading to a nearby town “to go to the market” and ended up in New York City, where his identification was stolen and he ended up living on the streets. "Sharma apparently ended up in Columbia County after making his way north via train and walking from Dutchess County," the story goes. Pastor John Ogden, who is also originally from Canada, "first saw Sharma walking on Route 9 Sunday, but didn’t pay him much heed... But the next morning he again saw Sharma on Route 9H while he was driving his daughter to school. 'She said I should help him,' Ogden recalled, adding that on his way back home to Claverack that morning “God spoke to” him and he went looking for the man. He found Sharma on Fish and Game Road in Greenport." Ogden took Sharma to the manager of a Mobil gas station and Subway restaurant located at 505 Fairview Ave. in Greenport. The store owner. originally from the Punjab region of Pakistan, was able to communicate with Sharma and got a phone number with which he was able to get in touch with the man’s family. Sharma’s two nephews flew from British Columbia to Toronto, rented a car and drove down to Columbia County to get their uncle. “His mother will be especially happy,” said Sharma’s other nephew Pardeep Agnihotri, explaining how the woman had been sick recently and told him that her one wish was to see her son before she passed away (she has since recovered from her illness). “I’ve had some troubles in my life so I wanted to help him,” said Ahmad "Rock" Shahzad of helping the homeless man in his 40s. “Anyone who sees someone like this who needs help should give it to them.”

Holcim advisory panel goes on the shelf
Doron Tyler Antrim of the Daily Mail reports that with the recent announcement that Holcim Cement will close its plant in Catskill come June, the future of its Community Advisory Committee — a regular gathering of local leaders and other interested parties sponsored by the company and used by plant management to report on the goings-on at the facility — is in question. The meetings have led to greater awareness of key issues, committee members say, and even yielded dividends for local residents — namely the donation in 2009 of a 10-acre plant-owned parcel on Embought Road to the Catskill Soccer Club for use as fields. But given last week’s announcement, Holcim and the communications firm that facilitates the monthly meetings say no future gatherings are planned at this time.

Officials not so hot on PILOT for new hotel
Andrew Amelinckx of the Register-Star reports from the public hearing held March 23 by the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency on a possible 20-year tax break requested by the developers of a proposed hotel, entertainment and retail complex in Greenport. The meeting saw lots of support for the possibility of a hotel coming to the area, but not so much for a two-decade long tax credit. Greenport Crossroads, Amelinckx writes, is a three-stage development at the old V & O Press site on Route 66 in Greenport that will include an 81-room Comfort Suites hotel with an indoor pool and fitness center; an entertainment facility with an 18-lane bowling alley, a sports bar and grill, laser tag, a rope course, a rock climbing wall, an arcade and a party room, among other features; and a retail space. The first phase of construction would be for the retail area that would include a proposed six-pump, 12-car Mobil service station, a drive-thru A&W restaurant and a liquor store. The corporation is asking for a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, from the IDA that would release them from paying mortgage recording taxes; deed transfer taxes on any real-estate transfers; exemption on sales tax related to the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the project facility; and real property taxation.

Texas-based order puts priest from this area on leave amid alleged sexual affairs, drugs
The Times Union's Robert Gavin has a story about how the Rev. John Corapi, a Hudson native who became a major figure on religious television, has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of affairs with women and drug use. His Texas-based order, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, announced the action March 18. Corapi, 63, went from Green Beret to millionaire in Las Vegas. He had a mansion in Malibu, a Ferrari and a yacht -- then lost it all with drug abuse that left him homeless in Los Angeles. In 1991, at the age of 44, Corapi was ordained by Pope John Paul II. "His story has been one of redemption -- until now," Gavin writes.

Cuomo doubts property tax cap will be in budget
Adam Sechko of the Albany Business Journal writes that Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on March 23 that he doesn’t think the final state budget will include a plan to limit the growth of New York’s notoriously high property taxes. Cuomo also said in a prerecorded address, available elsewhere on this news blog, that he has no problem forcing legislators to choose between approving his budget plan or shutting down the government—if a deal can’t be reached before April 1, the start of the state’s next fiscal year. Top legislative leaders have replied that a government shutdown won’t be necessary.

MOD comes to Front Street
Jamie Larson of the Register-Star reports on a Catskill restaurant reopening in Hudson this week on the corner of Front and Union streets. "Transplanting and expanding their smaller MOD Cafe from Catskill to Hudson, chefs and partners Mary DiStefano and Dana Wegener (The MO and the D respectively) are now serving dinner as well as lunch and weekend brunch at their totally remodeled restaurant," Larson writes. "A selection of wines and beers are coming soon as well to their recently installed bar."

WAJ sets special meeting to discuss proposed Pre-K
Michael Ryan of the Windham Journal reports that the question of whether or not there should be a pre-kindergarten program instituted at Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central will very likely be left up to district taxpayers. School administrators are holding a special meeting on Monday, March 28, to continue discussing the 2011-12 budget. Will an aging population approve of education for the very young? Stay tuned...

The National Weather Service says today will see more light snow showers this morning. Peeks of sunshine later. High 44F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Tonight will be partly cloudy giving way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 25F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow will be sunny.

Town meetings tonight
CHATHAM Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7 p.m.
GERMANTOWN Planning Board meeting at 7 p.m.
HUDSON Historic Preservation Committee at 6 p.m.
STUYVESANT Greenway Committee meeting at 7 p.m.
COLUMBIA COUNTY Budget/Salary Committee at 10:00 a.m.
Public Works Committee at 6 p.m.

Astronomical bodies
TIDES Hudson: Low, 2:03 p.m./High, 7:57 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:52 a.m./7:11 p.m.
MOONRISE/MOONSET 12:43 a.m./9:46 p.m.

Birthdays
MARCH 24 William Morris, Harry Houdini, Wilhelm Reich, Holger Czukay, and Nick Lowe.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Board Operator Mark Lacoy and Host Casson Kennedy play back clips from last night's Chris Gibson town meeting heard live on WGXC from Chatham Middle School.
DEMOCRACY NOW! 8 a.m.
WGXC MORNING SHOW Weekend events from Ellen Thurston and Joan Geitz.
TELL IT LIKE IT IS Christina Malisoff hosts. 10 a.m.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH 11 a.m.
WGXC AFTERNOON SHOW Tom Roe hosts. 4-7 p.m.
THE JAZZ DISTURBANCE Jazz with Cheryl K. 7 p.m.
69 The Magic Stranger goes psychedelic at 9:30 p.m.

[gallery columns="2"]WGXC broadcast live Rep. Chris Gibson's town meeting Wed. March 23 from the Chatham Middle School auditorium, with a crowd mostly made up of folks who did not necessarily agree with the freshman Congressman. About 100 people weathered the light snow to hear and get a chance to address their Congressman, and most asking him questions challenged his positions, as is usually the case with town meetings of this sort. Local residents raised a variety of topics such as nuclear plants for the Hudson Valley, Congressional spending, natural gas hydraulic fracturing, and the U.S. wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. Some in attendance challenged the freshman representative's position on defunding National Public Radio (he voted against the largely symbolic bill to defund NPR last week) and wanted him to cut the deficit further. Gibson touted his positions on broadband internet (he wants it for rural communities), the wars (he wants them to end, and then shrink the size of the military), and federal spending (he wants to roll back U.S. spending to pre-TARP, 2008 levels).




Click here to listen to the entire town meeting from the WGXC broadcast.

Click here to listen to an interview with Rep. Chris Gibson after the meeting.

New York ranks fifth in national income standings
Albany Business Journal reports that according to figures released March 23 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, New York ranks fifth among the 50 states in per capita income with an average PCI of $48,821, 20.3 percent higher than the national figure of $40,584 for 2010. Connecticut topped the country with $56,001, followed by Massachusetts ($51,552), New Jersey ($50,781), Maryland ($49,025) and New York. At the bottom of the list was Mississippi, with per capita income of $31,186. Per capita income is defined as the average amount of money received by each resident of a given state in a given year. It encompasses such diverse sources of income as salaries, interest payments, dividends, rental income and government checks.

Organizer: Moving farmers market a ‘mistake’
Doron Tyler Antrim of the Daily Mail reports that Catskill Community Development Coordinator Nancy Richards, an organizer of the seasonal Catskill Regional Farmers and Artisans Market, has said that it would be a “mistake” to move the market to Water Street. She was responding to Catskill Village President Vincent Seeley's proposal to relocate the market from Main Street to the county parking lot on Water Street, which he said he made in an attempt to resolve an ongoing dispute over the location for the market. Richards pointed out that the market moved to bring business to Main Street and a move away from it would lose that desired effect.

The art of skateboarding
The Register-Star has run a photo essay touting the silent auction of artist-painted skateboards at will take place to benefit the Chatham Parks and Recreation Department this Saturday afternoon, March 26. The event will take place in the Benenson Center at Art Omi in Ghent starting at 2 p.m,. and will conclude at 8 p.m. with live music, a DJ, and refreshments.

Skelos: We have prison plan; don’t flaunt your power
Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports on how Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Republican from Long Island, is countering Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to remove 3,500 beds after the budget is completed by saying that he will be presenting his own plan to pare beds at facilities located around the state. It would involve “five or six closures,” he said, which likely puts Columbia and Greene county's two state facilities back on the list of possibilities for mothballing. Cuomo, in his budget proposal, created a commission to decide how to pare the beds. It’s due to report May 1, a month after the budget is due so as to avoid political pressures on which prisons end up getting closed.

Should Wisconsin come to New York? Faso and Brodsky debate
Justin McCarthy of the Legislative Gazette reports on a March 23 debate between two former state assemblymen on the issue of collective bargaining rights in New York state, including Kinderhook's John Faso. He and former Democratic Assemblyman Richard Brodsky talked about the practice of employers and unions negotiating the terms of employee contracts at the forum hosted by the Government Law Center of Albany Law School and Rockefeller Institute, entitled "Should Wisconsin Come to New York? The Intersection of Collective Bargaining, Budgets and Politics."