[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Beacon Studios, previously known as Bulldog, is pegged for new development in a different, more aggressively market-oriented cultural direction"][/caption]Talk about another battleground we hadn't expected until these days of captured cash descended upon us... what's better for the region's culture, a publicly-financed use of an old high school building as studios for emerging artists, or private use of that same structure for galleries and high-end artist apartments geared towards that already selling in major international art markets? All of this talk has been triggered by news of the sale of the old Beacon High School building in Beacon, recently known as Bulldog Studios, for development into art gallery space with an emphasis on hot contemporary Chinese art imports and greater ties into the massive investment represented by Dia:Beacon. The building, which was owned by the Beacon City School District and rented as space for artist studios, is now owned by a private group of investors with investment ties into the Chinese art renaissance, with a vision for its use that includes apartments and "developing the city into an artist community." Unfortunately, that has meant finding new homes for dozens of artists, both from the region and commuting to Beacon from New York City, who had made the school their working home over the last decade. Talk about new quandaries.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="New York's Regents' Exams are under fire."][/caption]Jimmy Vielkind in The Albany Times-Union has a report on how the State Education Department is considering whether to cut some of its Regents examinations or start charging school districts for the privilege of having students take them because everyone's worried about asking grumpy taxpayers to cover $15 million for what have long been a benchmark for New York students. According to the story it costs $5.93 per student to administer the test, which people are screaming about as another "unfunded mandate." Federal law requires testing in English language arts and mathematics, which would leave exams in foreign languages, U.S. history and government, global history and geography, earth science, chemistry, physics and geometry on the chopping block.


Continued...

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is saying his called-for education cuts are based on records showing the state slipped in terms of results, indicating that money spent isn't achieving proper results. Educators are replying that the figures the governor is using are skewed to reflect all 29-year-olds, and not those actually in public schools today. We're just wondering what happens to our culture, state-wide and nationally, when it gets trimmed to bare bones.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="900 Columbia Street, Hudson, seen in a photo from the Gossips of Rivertown blogsite, is in danger of being demolished as part of a plan to provide new apartment homes for the Mental Health Association of Columbia/Greene Counties."][/caption]Battles between preservation and expediency continue to rattle the City of Hudson as the Register-Star reports on a new fight over county Mental Health Association plans to demolish its group residence at 900 Columbia Street to create new apartment-style residences in its back yard. The problem? The Federalist home dates back to the early 1800s... but earlier plans to set up new MHA residences in the Town of Greenport ran into neighborhood complaints and a town decision to ask the agency to take their business elsewhere. Meanwhile, the state Office of Mental Health employed an architect to do a second design option for the Columbia Street option, which holds 10 clients, although those plans take into account the fact that the current building is not in good condition and would require hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of renovation, making retrofitting of it expensive. MHA is suggesting that once the new structures are completed, the19th century structure would be demolished and a park-like area with gardens and a parking area would be built to replace it. Complicating matters is the fact that mental health considerations legally trump historic preservation concerns, leaving any decision in such matters up to negotiations. Carole Osterink of Gossips of Rivertown has also weighed in on the issue, as can be found on her blog here.

The Daily Mail has a story up about how anti-poverty advocates have started worrying about the effects of coming federal budget cuts on the ways we work with the poor in our local communities. The piece quotes Denise Harlow, head of the New York State Community Action Association, and Florence Ohle, executive director of Community Action of Greene County, noting huge impacts ahead, with Greene County losing $277,000 in block-grant money currently supporting local domestic violence and weatherization assistance programs, as well as the handing out of auto loans to those with bad credit. It also uses the money to provide low-income individuals and families with free assistance in filing their tax returns. In response to the president’s proposal, Community Action agencies are circulating an online petition that urges Obama to reconsider his proposal, the directors noted, with over 8,000 people having signed to date. Meanwhile, among the $60 billion in cuts proposed by House Republicans is an even deeper slashing of block grant programs.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Hudson City Middle School, as seen on the district's website"][/caption]The Hudson City School District board held a meeting earlier this week to crunch numbers for the coming year's budget and the picture that's taking shape isn't pretty. According to the Register-Star, the spending plan actually provoked "an audible gasp" when presented on Valentines' Day night, February 14, with two "worst case scenarios including the cutting of 71 teaching positions and a 3.9 percent tax levy increase, or the loss of 32 teaching positions and a 14.9 percent increase. The balance, according to discussion points, is between “keeping the taxpayers in mind” and “carrying out our mission of educating our students,” with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budgetary cuts to school aid, and a proposed property tax cap, driving the draconian measures. “It’s a game changer,” said HCSD Superintendent Jack Howe. A contingency budget, which could be adopted without going before voters, would include the loss of 22 teaching positions, plus the 10 jobs restored last year through federal stimulus funds, and leaves a 14.9 percent tax levy increase. The potential sale of the shuttered Greenport School, which the board of education has put a minimum sale price of $900,000 on, is also being considered.

Council considers youth dept staff cuts
Hudson kids are facing a troubled time ahead, with not only the schools talking draconian cuts, like all our education in this exceptional land of ours, but also the city's youth bureau... which was created for the good of everyone years back.

Catskill CSI: School to offer forensic science
Out goes the arts and music, and the sports in many cases... and in comes the study of forensics in our local high schools? At least it's a better headline than the deepening cuts being called for everywhere in our public lives.

Koch: Pass reforms or I’ll set your pants ablaze
Remember how hizzoner, the former New York City mayor, got candidates to sign pledges to make redistricting bipartisan this year? Now, with the state senate in GOP hands, he's spitting mad that the promises are being broken.

Bank of America giving up state tax work; thousands of local jobs could be in danger
This is the big deal former Gov. George Pataki came south from Albany to announce for the old IBM campus in Kingston 7 years ago... now it's disappearing, along with a whole mess of local jobs, both permanent and temporary.

Gillibrand introduces property tax relief bill
Our senator's pushing a bill that would allow homeowners to deduct the full amount of money they pay from their federal income taxes. Right now, only homeowners that itemize their federal taxes can deduct the cost of property taxes.

Hannaford asks for smaller lot at new store
The Columbia Paper reports that the Livingston Zoning Board of Appealss heard a presentation and viewed plans for a downsized Hannaford supermarket and pharmacy proposed for a site located between Routes 9 and 82 last week after the proposal was denied a building permit by the town Planning Board on January 7 because its plan called for fewer parking spaces than town code requires.

The National Weather Service is suggesting that we'll be seeing mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy skies this afternoon... change you can believe in! High 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight a few less clouds. Low 34F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Town meetings tonight
TOWN OF CAIRO at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 512 Main St., Cairo.
TOWN OF CATSKILL at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill.
TOWN OF GHENT Planning Board session at 7pm, a joint meeting with the Village of Chatham Planning Board to consider a site plan for Price Chopper proposed for Route 66 immediately south of the Chatham Plaza.
CITY OF 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: High, 1:06 p.m./Low, 8:03 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:50 a.m./5:28 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 5:25 a.m./3:45 a.m. Tuesday

Birthdays
FEBRUARY 16 Edgar Bergen, Bill Doggett, Kim Jong-il, and Ice-T.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Mark Lacoy and Casson Kennedy, with reports from Catskill, Hudson, Coxsackie, Hillsdale and other towns. 6-8 a.m.
THE SCHOEMER SHOW Karen Schoemer plays music. Noon-2 p.m.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Mercury in Portland cement is the new political battleground, with New York joining five other states to fight House Republicans on their proposed rollback of EPA regs ruling the sissue."][/caption]Just as the collective angina has started over congressional Republicans' efforts to block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating emissions of toxic mercury from cement kilns, a topic of interest to our coverage region given the number of cement operations lining the Hudson in Greene and Albany counties, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has lined up to make New York one of five state attorneys general pushing back against the move. The Times Union reports that in a February 14 letter, the attorney generals from New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland and Massachusetts urged Rep. Fred Upton, the Michigan Republican who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to withdraw efforts to undo the cement plant rules. The rules, issued by EPA in September, limit mercury and other emissions from Portland cement plants nationwide, of which New York has the Lafarge plant in Ravena, the Holcim plant in Catskill and the Lehigh Northeast plant in Glens Falls. Collectively, these three plants discharge roughly 170 pounds of mercury emissions into New York's air each year -- about 20 percent of all mercury emitted annually in the state. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that can cause developmental problems, particularly in children and developing fetuses. Anticipating the new federal mercury rules, the state Department of Environmental Conservation last year imposed the first-ever mercury limits on the Lafarge plant as part of a renewal of its federal air pollution permit. The federal rules would impose even greater reductions. Lafarge is currently in the midst of a full review of plans to expand its operations in southern Albany county, against growing local opposition. In 2007, the same five states now suing over mercury standards successfully sued the EPA for failing to include mercury limits on cement plants in the first place.

Hundreds of Valentines from around the state were delivered to Governor Andrew Cuomo on February 14. The Valentines, most made by elementary school students, expressed children's love for clean water, and urged the Governor not to let New York's water be destroyed by gas drilling practices. “We need the Governor to keep our water safe for today's children, and for future generations,” said Susan Zimet, an Ulster County legislator with the group Frack Action, which sponsored the event. Children in Buffalo, Towanda, Collins, East Concord, Glen Spey, New Paltz, and New York City participated in the Valentine-making effort. For a view of more valentines click here.

Here's a scary one: A school bus aide left a 5-year old girl on a Coxsackie Transport bus after Monday’s pre-K and Kindergarten run to Catskill Elementary School, and the child, a kindergartner, was later safely returned after being observed walking along Route 9W by Catskill Animal Control Officer Aaron Claus, who brought her to the Catskill Village Police Department. A Daily Mail story on the instance noted that by day's end, the aide was dismissed from Coxsackie Transport’s employ, and the driver transferred. “This morning, regrettably, human error came into play, and a 5-year-old student who was sleeping on the bus did not exit, and the aide assigned to the bus did not do a physical sweep to make sure all students had exited,” said CSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell. “Neither the driver nor the aide are our employees; they both work for Coxsackie Transport.” Farrell added that the two adults went for a coffee break after parking the bus in the Catskill Commons Wal-Mart parking lot, which is apparently used as a staging area for the company’s buses when not in use during the school day. There, the student woke up, exited the bus, and started walking north on Route 9W to her friend’s house. Farrell said no one was home at that residence, however, so the child continued to walk along 9W, with the intent of going home. That's when she was picked up... and eventually returned to school. Yikes.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Kinderhook supervisor Pat Grattan, seen here in an image from ccscoop, is under fire for accepting a second position as court attorney for Judge Paul Czajka."][/caption]The role of Republican caucus politics in local government is being raised as part of a formal complaint being filed against the recent appointment of Kinderhook Supervisor Pat Grattan as Columbia County Court Judge Paul Czajka’s court attorney last month. According to a piece in the Register-Star, Grattan, who has served as a mayor of Valatie and as an assistant county attorney in the past, was given approval Jan. 25 from Hon. Michael V. Coccoma, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for courts outside of New York City, to take on the job which lasts until Dec. 31, 2011; with the caveat that if he runs for Kinderhook supervisor again he’ll have to seek approval from the third judicial district again, as well. He said he’d rather not comment on how much his salary will be as court attorney. The complaint that's been filed alleges, however, that Grattan serving as a court attorney and a supervisor is “incompatible,” because “the supervisor of Kinderhook plays a prominent role in the Republican caucus and in deciding county policies and procedures as well as directing the operation of county departments.” Grattan’s participation in the county Republican caucus, the complaint continues, “is likely to implicate Judge Czajka in politics" and might force the judge to recuse himself from case after case, for instance if residents of Kinderhook are involved. The state’s Unified Court System approved Grattan’s appointment “with the understanding that the work avoids any appearance of conflict of interest,” according to the letter signed by Judge Coccoma. Grattan is not to serve on the BOS’ Human Services and Legal Committees and should not do any BOS work while he’s at the courthouse, the letter says. Talk about a potentially sticky docket.

In the same week that one of its principals literally broke a leg, the Watershed Post received news yesterday that it will be receiving a $20,000 grant from the International Women's Media Foundation that the Watershed Post, one of three new-media entrepreneurship projects to do so, that they are planning to use to jumpstart a NewsShed project, a network of town news sites that -- like their main site -- will feature original news and arts content, curated links to news stories and blogs, events, and targeted local advertising. "The town sites will function symbiotically with the Watershed Post's regional Catskills news portal, and we're working on a few new features for them as well -- forums, classifieds, and a section for things like wedding and funeral announcements, to name a few," said Lissa Harris and Julia Reischel of the Post. "The first towns we'll launch sites in will be Shandaken and Olive, because the demise of their terrific local newspapers (hat tip to WGXC's Paul Smart, those publications editor, here) is still very fresh, and folks are really feeling the need for a truly local news outlet." The goal for each town page: fiscal self-sufficiency, a budget for paying a stringer or two to cover meetings and other 'hard' news, a part-time ad salesperson, and a few trusted volunteers who can contribute more community-oriented content. If they succeed in Shandaken and Olive, they're planning to bring the model to other Catskills towns, starting with those that don't already have their own newspaper. Hats off for another new media project in line with the community enhancement WGXC is working on in the Hudson Valley!

Ethics training draws small class
The Conference of the New York State Association of Counties held a legislative ethics training last week served as a refresher in integrity for area lawmakers. The Daily Mail reports that only two Greene County legislators, both Democrats, attended.

Insurance company will pay town $300,000 in wake of stolen funds
The Travelers Insurance Co. has agreed to pay the town of Kinderhook $300,000 for money stolen from the town coffers between Dec. 7, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2009 by former town bookkeeper Pegeen Mulligan-Moore. indicted last September on 18 felonies and two misdemeanors, including the theft of another $50,000 from the Town of Greenport. Kinderhook is also sueing Mulligan-Moore for $750,000 not covered by insurance.

Diocese Admits it received complaint
In the wake of the recent trial that found a New York priest guilty of rape in the Berkshires, the Times Union reports that the Albany diocese of the Catholic Church has admitted receiving complaints on the Rev. Gary Mercure as early as 2000.

Hudson 101: The Cement Plant Battle
Sam Pratt helped marshal the highly successful fight against St. Lawrence Cement's plans for a new facility in Hudson. He's got a great account of all that was involved up on his superb blog now, along with some succinct local restaurant updates.

Poll gives Cuomo, millionaires tax plenty of support
While we await word of that high-end tax talk from Albany on Valentine's Day, there's a new poll out that shows two thirds support for extending it for everyone earning over $200,00, for NOT cutting SUNY or education in general, but that really likes the new gov.

Fierce interest in pups spurs halt to adoption
The 20 young Golden Retrievers rescued last week from a home in Ashland, now at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, have received over 400 requests to begin the adoption process... so much interest that they will not longer be accepting adoption applications. Authorities have yet to file criminal charges against the homeowners, who they are saying did not show "malicious intent."

The National Weather Service didn't comment on the wind last night but... wow, huh? Today will now be sunny with a high of 24F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph... still strong but not of the 50 mph gusts of last night. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low of 14F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow it gets warmer again.

Town meetings tonight
TOWN OF DURHAM
Town Board meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Building, 7309 State Rt. 81, East Durham.
TOWN OF HILLSDALE meets at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall on Main Street.
CITY OF HUDSON
5 p.m. Finance Committee meeting; 7 p.m. Regular Common Council meeting at City Hall.
TOWN OF HUNTER at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville
VILLAGE OF PHILMONT Planning Board at 7 p.m. at Philmont Village Hall, 124 Main St. 518-672-7032.
TOWN OF 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, 12.11 a.m./Low, 7:15 p.m.
SUNRISE/SUNSET 6:51 a.m./5:27 p.m.
MOONSET/MOONRISE 4:45 a.m./2:30 a.m. Tuesday

Birthdays FEBRUARY 15 Susan B. Anthony, Matt Groening, Miranda July, and John Adams, the composer.

Tune in today
WGXC MORNING SHOW Sara Kendall hosts with Jackie Thomas, with reports from Chatham, Hudson, Salt Point, and other towns. 6-8 a.m.
Vocal Chords Andrew Sosnowski plays with voices. Noon-2 p.m.

Two events this past Saturday, at Solaqua Power & Art in Chatham and Stageworks in Hudson were hosted by FarmAssist Productions on Saturday, February 12, as Upstate components of a localized TEDx event, "Changing the Way We Eat," presented by the Glynwood Institute for Sustainable Food and Farming in New York. Like the larger, national and global TED Conferences from which TEDx events have developed, invitations for attendance and participation were sent out to thought leaders, policy experts and foodies to discuss how the nation can shift to a more sustainable way of eating and farming. One goal was to find ideas to bring up in discussions related to a new national farm bill, as well as local elements tied into the sustainable food movement and the work being done to shift our food system from industrially-based agriculture to one in which healthy, nutritious food is accessible to all. This viewing party for the TEDx Manhattan event, streamed live at Stageworks, was co-sponsored by Stageworks, Rob Johanson and Midhudsonmedia, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Hawthorne Valley Farm Association and Strongtree Organic Coffee Roasters.
Created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. The event caught here is from a previous talk on food themes. In a few days when the new TED materials are available we will replace this embedded link.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Robinson Street, as seen on the Gossips of Rivertown website, is being pegged for historic preservation as Hudson's last surviving example of 19th century workers housing."][/caption]Carole Osterink's The Gossips of Rivertown blog has two stories up that cover the gamut of planning and preservation issues in the City of Hudson these days, one about the sorts of preservation fights that end up in buildings such as the historic Brick Tavern, in Claverack, eventually disappearing, and the other about a new bakery moving into an historic bank building on Warren Street. In the history-related story, Gossips reports on the February 11 meeting of the city's Historic Preservation Commission meeting, where Historic Hudson presented a proposal to designate Robinson Street and adjacent blocks on North Second and North Third streets as a historic district - which would be the first ever in the Second Ward. The proposal, however, ran into stiff opposition from the Second Ward Supervisor who said that local residents in the proposed district should have been contacted before any proposal was considered, even though Gossips author Carole Osterink, a former representative from the city's First Ward, points out that the process for such designations involves proposals coming before public hearings are set. The proposal highlights Robinson Street's unique character as the sole local survivor of nineteenth-century working class neighborhoods in the City of Hudson. But the manner in which the process has panned out is similar to what occurred with a proposal to have the Catskills named a UNESCO World Biosphere Region, one of 524 around the globe, ultimately defeated by local cries of "home rule" abetted by conservative Congressional hearings, in the mid-1990s, about possible UN takeover of our "sovereign lands." In the "good news" piece, Osterink talks about how 230 Warren Street, originally the home of the Hudson City Savings Institution, was basically approved by city planners to be the new Bank House Bakery, opening in May.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Fuel additive from Taconic Inc, as seen in a Times Union story last year about the company's products being used by local municipalities."][/caption]The New York State Energy Research and Development Agency will fund two transportation projects in the Hudson Valley designed to develop and commercialize innovative new transportation technologies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, decrease reliance on fossil fuels, and create jobs. The bigger project, via Taconic Energy, Inc., in Salt Point, will receive $500,000 from NYSERDA to develop a diesel additive that would increase fuel efficiency by reducing engine friction. The other $50,000 grant goes to the Lower Hudson-Long Island Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc. in Highland along with the New York Soil and Water Conservation District for a plan to transport energy-efficient truck trailers, carrying produce grown in upstate New York, on barges traveling the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. Taconic Energy was formed in September 2006 to "develop and commercialize" the reduction of fuel consumption and was formed by executives from the energy industry with experience from companies including Texaco, Chevron, BASF, Plug Power, and MTI. The company seems to be based in Saratoga.

"Tomorrow's Children," a CD by long-term Hudson Valley resident Pete Seeger with The Rivertown Kids and Friends, featuring former students from J.V. Forrestal Elementary School in Beacon, won the Grammy for Best Musical Album For Children on Sunday, February 13. The Poughkeepsie Journal has a story about the win - the 91 year old folk legend's third Grammy.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="200" caption="Eggmobiles, which follow other herds around, seen in action."][/caption]Grazin’ Angus Acres Farms has been awarded a $3,500 Good Husbandry Grant from the Animal Welfare Approved program, commemorating the business for their pasture-raised chickens and eggs. A Register-Star story about the award quotes Dan Gibson, the farm's owner, as saying how they, "Were one of (28) farms in the nation to be awarded the grant." Gibson added that he’ll use the grant to build at least two or three more EggMobiles from locally harvested lumber, of which Grazin’ Angus Acres already has five. The EggMobiles house the thousands of chickens which roam the grounds of the farm, and since they’re movable, the manure produced by the chickens helps to enrich the soil. “We actually move them around behind the cattle every day because they’re going to spread the manure piles the cattle leave behind, so spreading the manure actually fertilizes the grass for us,” said Gibson. “Getting grass in the (chicken’s) diet means the yolks in our eggs are bright, orange and delicious.”

The Daily Mail has a piece on a pair of early morning February 13 emergency events in the Jefferson Heights section of Catskill where on the one hand, firefighters worked to move more than a dozen senior residents of The Eliot senior residence after a sprinkler malfunction, while on the other, a devastating blaze erupted just blocks away two hours later, destroying a home and garaged vehicle. A pipe for the Jefferson Heights senior residence’s emergency sprinkler system burst Sunday morning around 2:15 a.m., causing water to rain down in some residents’ rooms and between 12 and 14 residents to be relocated to neighboring rooms. But before that job was finished, fire officials said, their equipment and personnel was needed nearby at 24 North Jefferson Avenue, where a fire erupted at about 4 a.m. in a two-story residence where two occupants were evacuated before the second floor was fully engulfed. Those occupants, a mother and daughter, were then transported from the scene by Catskill Ambulance and brought to Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson for treatment.


Continued....

Catskill Fire Chief Jonathan Dees said the county’s cause and origin team found that a kerosene heater had ignited a breathing tube attached to an oxygen tank. Though no explosion was reported, Dees said the women were lucky not to be severely injured. The home and a car that was garaged were completely destroyed, Dees said, adding that two cats who were reported living in the residence could not be located Sunday. The fire was extinguished after about five hours and the scene was cleared by 11:30 a.m. The women are reportedly now staying with relatives nearby.