Rep. Scott Murphy, the incumbent Democrat in the NY-20 District, has released the ad above in response to one debuting earlier this week from a right-leaning seniors group. 60-Plus, a Virginia-based lobby, is spending over $500,000 on ads in our area, which will substantially help Republican challenger Chris Gibson who has much less money for ads then Murphy.

Cairo's Greene County Legislators Harry Lennon (left, Democrat) and Bill Lawrence (right, Republican) hosted the "Possible Dreams" auction and fundraiser tonight at Gallagher's on Main St. that raised over $7,000 for the new Cairo Library. In April, town voters approved the new library, 283 to 248. The structure will be built behind the current library, which is inside in Cairo’s town building at 512 Main Street. The library won a $3 million low-interest loan to fund the construction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a $200,000 grant. There are $100,000 local matching funds required in that deal, and tonight's fundraiser went toward that match. Cairo Library Executive Director Debra Kamecke is on WGXC's Radio Council.

Stephanie Lee in the Times-Union reports:

The state has allowed the Lafarge cement plant to continue its current level of mercury emissions until 2013, when a federal standard will cut the rate nearly in half. The air permit for the plant, renewed Monday by the state Department of Environmental Conservation, caps the annual amount of mercury it releases into the air at 176 pounds to meet a new state law. Lafarge, the state's second-largest source of airborne mercury pollution, must cut its yearly mercury emissions nearly in half by 2013. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last month that the annual nationwide limit will be set at about 95 pounds, a change that will force more than 100 cement plants to spend an estimated $1 billion to comply. Read the entire story in the Albany Times-Union.

Sienna Research Institute just released a poll showing Scott Murphy beating Chris Gibson by 17 points in their Congressional election. Murphy, the incumbent Democrat, leads Gibson, a Kinderhook Republican, on all issues polled among Democrats and independents in the poll from Sienna. Capitol Confidentlal's Jimmy Vielkind writes:

"65 percent of voters surveyed don’t know enough about him to have a favorable or unfavorable impression, including 59 percent of Republicans surveyed. Murphy, however, rates only 17 percent unknown, less among Democrats and only 10 percent in the district’s most populous counties of Rensselaer and Saratoga. Gibson has been airing advertisements for less time than Murphy, and fewer voters have seen them, the poll found. The two candidate have clashed over their positions on health care reform legislation, what to do about the Bush-era tax cuts and economic stimulus packages. The poll found voters favor implementing the health care legislation — which Murphy voted for — by a 50-44 percent margin; favored Murphy’s position (proposed by Barack Obama) of eliminating tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 in place, which the poll showed favored by a 52-44 and that voters supported a proposal for $50 billion of infrastructure spending, which Murphy has backed, by a 57-39 margin." Read the entire story in Capitol Confidential.

David LaSpina shot this YouTube video of WGXC volunteer (and Ancram resident) Sara Kendall, talking about community radio. LaSpina will help program a radio show about photography for WGXC, and Kendall is working on development for the station.

The group “60-Plus,” which describes itself as a right-leaning version of AARP, is airing an ad (YouTube version above) attacking Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls in his election against Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson. Murphy has a large fundraising advantage over Gibson, but the $550,000 that 60-Plus will spend levels the playing field somewhat. The ad attempts to link Murphy to House speaker Nancy Pelosi, and their support for President Obama's health care reform bill. Jimmy Vielkind in the Albany Times-Union's blog "Capitol Confidential" writes, "Murphy’s aides have preemptively responded to the ad, noting the group has advocated for the privatization of Social Security in the past. Gibson, during a debate, said he did not share that position."

The Daily Freeman is reporting this afternoon that New York's unemployment rate in August was 8.2 percent, down from 8.4 percent in July, according to state Labor Department statistics released Thursday. In Greene County it was 7.5 percent, down from 7.7 and in Columbia County it dropped to 6.8, from 7.1 percent. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.

Gary Shteyngart features Hudson and several nearby spots in his story, "Escape to New York's Hudson Valley" in the October issue of Travel + Leisure. Hudson's Red Dot, Carrie Haddad Photographs, and DA/BA are mentioned, as well as Philmont's Local 111 restaurant, Rodgers Book Barn in Hillsdale, and the Olana State Historic Site.

In the only local drama of the evening, Republican candidate for county judge Charles M. Tailleur beat Democratic nominee David E. Woodin for the Conservative (136 to 38) and Independence (97 to 43) lines (with 89 percent reporting). Tailleur and Woodin will square off for real in November. The rest of the local results involve state races: Greene Conservatives voted for Rick Lazio over Ralph C. Lorigo 84 to 48. Greene Republicans picked Carl P. Paladino over Rick A. Lazio 1,332 to 1,022, and Gregory Edwards over Thomas Ognibene 883 to 864 for Lt. Governor. Republicans in Greene County also chose Jay Townsend over Gary Berntsen 1,064 to 619 to challenge Democrat Chuck Schumer, and Joseph J. DioGuardi over David Malpass and Bruce Blakeman 861-548-349 to challenge Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Greene Democrats liked Kathleen Rice (314 votes) over Sean Coffey (238), Eric Schneiderman (175), Richard Brodsky (124), and Eric Dinallo (38), and Gillibrand over Gail Goode 774 to 120. Columbia County does not release its results online, but the Columbia County Democrats report these totals: Brodsky 241, Schneiderman 747, Coffey 344, Dinallo 79, Rice 602; and Gillibrand 1764 to Goode 185. UPDATE: The Register-Star posted some Columbia County results after 2 a.m.: In Columbia County, Paladino beat Lazio 1,577 votes to 547. Lazio won the Conservative line, 35 to Ralph Lorigo’s 30 votes. The Register-Star also reported Greenport resident Gillibrand beat Goode 889 to 102 in the county. DioGuardi got the most votes, 898, to Malpass’s 865 and Blakeman’s 245 in the race to face Gillibrand and Townsend received 1,048 votes to Berntsen’s 805 to face Chuck Schumer. And two Independence Party races are far from over as Bonnie Simpkins (38 votes) was slightly beating Deborah Simonsmeier (35) and John Bosselman (39) was beating Walt Simonsmeier (36) for seats on the 108th District State Committee, according to the paper. Read the entire story in The Register-Star.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="298" caption="Left to right, Nadine Rumke, Nadea Archbold, William Archbold of Hover Foundation; and Kaya Weidman, Chad Weckler, Galen Joseph-Hunter of WGXC."][/caption]Today, the Alexander and Marjorie Hover Foundation presented WGXC with a gift of $25,000 at the station's new studios at 704 Columbia St., in Hudson. This support completes WGXC’s fundraising efforts to match a grant of $71,486 from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration through their Public Telecommunications Facilities Program. These funds will allow WGXC to acquire the bulk of the equipment needed for the station to go on the air on 90.7-FM.


“This funding comes at an optimum moment,” said WGXC Executive Director, Galen Joseph-Hunter. “We are so grateful to the Hover Foundation and the 269 organizations and individuals who have become WGXC members, contributing towards the effort to bring creative and community radio to Greene and Columbia counties.”


[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="WGXC Announces Matching Funds Towards On-Air Equipment Secured: A Gift from The Alexander and Marjorie Hover Foundation Closes WGXC’s Funding Gap."][/caption]Chad Weckler, artist and WGXC volunteer said, “Organizations working together to support the people and the voices of our shared community will make an immeasurable impact on our lives here in these two counties.”


Kaya Weidman, WGXC Volunteer Coordinator and Hudson Studio Manager said, “With the matching funds now secure, WGXC staff and volunteers will be able to turn their efforts to content, which is a welcomed opportunity in these final weeks leading up to the station’s FM signal launch.


On behalf of the foundation, Nadine Rumke, Executive Director, Nadea Archbold, Board Secretary, and William Archbold, Board Treasurer hand-delivered the gift this morning at WGXC’s Hudson Studio. They expressed enthusiasm for WGXC as an ambitious project that has already engaged diverse and expansive participation from the local community, and cited WGXC as a strong addition to the roster of other organizations supported by the foundation.


The Hover Foundation, based in Germantown, is a family foundation committed to supporting local groups whose work strives to enrich the community through educational, cultural, and humanitarian efforts.


WGXC Station “Barnraising” September 24 -26, 2010: Through a national competitive process, WGXC was selected by the national radio advocacy organization, Prometheus Radio Project, to collaborate with hundreds of participants for a three-day radio conference in Hudson, NY from September 24-26. The event will include hands-on workshops, presentations, and performances all in support of readying WGXC for a FM signal launch this fall on 90.7-FM.


WGXC: Hands-on Radio is a program of 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization free103point9, and will operate out of studios in Hudson, Catskill, and Cairo.

Democratic Congressman Scott Murphy unveiled his third campaign ad in an attempt to retain his seat against Kinderhook Republican challenger Chris Gibson.

Jessica Abrams from Green in Greene in Earlton made video recordings of the special meeting of the Greene County Legislature Friday evening about the bonuses paid to Sandy Mathes at the Greene County Industrial Development Agency.

Though neither campaign has sent WGXC a press release, Capitol Confidential is reporting Democratic Congressman Scott Murphy and his challenger, Kinderhook-based Republican Chris Gibson, will debate a second time at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 and the Queensbury High School auditorium. It will be hosted by the League of Women Voters. Read the entire story at Capitol Confidential.

Sept. 25, 2010: 9 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Club Helsinki Hudson, 405 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534
518-828-4800

"Live Night Radio"
A Night of Music curated by Meshell Ndegeocello to Support WGXC.

featuring:
The Wreck of the Steamboat Swallow
Holden Caulfield: Chris Neumann and Meshell
Ignore Me Please: a soundscape dance band with Antony Katz and Meshell
Elana Belle Carol and The Checker Chance
Jake Plourde
Jeremy Yoakam and Eric Elterman
Meshell Ndegeocello featuring Otto Hauser, Jeremy Thal, and Gideon Crevoshay
A DJ and more to be confirmed.

In the midst of WGXC's "Radio Barnraising," a community media extravaganza involving three days of workshops, station building and performances, Meshell Ndegeocello will curate an evening of music at Club Helsinki as a benefit concert for Columbia and Greene counties' very own brand new community radio station. The evening will be a one-time collaboration of an incredible collection of musicians and Meshell to play in celebration of the live launch of WGXC: Hands-on Radio.

Tickets are $18 in advance until 9 a.m. Sept. 25 (below, through Brown Paper Tickets), and $25 that night at the Club Helsinki door. WGXC Founding Members and attendees of the WGXC/Prometheus Radio Project can purchase $15 advance tickets. Email tom@wgxc.org for discount code.

Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson meets with the Columbia County Sportsman Federation at 9 p.m. Sept. 13 at the Federation of Polish Sportsman, 400 Newman Rd., Hudson. Gibson is challenging incumbent Democrat Scott Murphy to represent NY-District 20 in Congress.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="504" caption="Peter Head playing firetruck/guitar with Pitchfork Militia."][/caption]From WGXC Town Recorder Sam Sebren:

On Friday night, Sept. 10, local Apocabilly band, Pitchfork Militia, played three blistering sets at the Fernwood Restaurant in Palenville. Led by Peter Head on guitar, vocals, and firetruck; and powered by monster rhythm section Karl Krause on bass (and horns), and Joe P. Morgan on drums, you can listen to the first set here, the second set here, and the third set here. Photos and recordings by Sam Sebren.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="378" caption="Karl Krause and Joe P. Morgan of Pitchfork Militia performing at Fernwood Restaurant."][/caption]

If clicking on the word "here" isn't your thing, you can also paste the following urls into your computer's media player:

http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/09/PeterHeadPitchforkMilitia_set1_Fernwood_WGXC_091110.mp3

http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/09/PeterHeadPitchforkMilitia_set2_Fernwood_WGXC_091110.mp3

http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/09/PeterHeadPitchforkMilitia_set3_Fernwood_WGXC_091110.mp3
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="504" caption="Pitchfork Militia trombone jam at Fernwood Restuarant."][/caption]

This September, Prometheus Radio Project and WGXC will hold Prometheus's 12th community radio barnraising. Radio barnraisings are weekend-long radio and movement-building events. Individuals from the local community, participatory media advocates, and artists from around the country will converge in Hudson, NY to share ideas, experiences, skills and build infrastructure to get WGXC's full-power community radio station on the air later this fall. The weekend Barnraising will include several special events:
INCIDENT REPORT Installation.

WGXC/WORD WGXC fundraiser with poets, spoken word artists, rappers, and others Sept. 24 at Cannonball Factory. (free admission)

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO AND FRIENDS WGXC fundraiser Sept. 25 at Club Helskinki.

WGXC/PROMETHEUS CELEBRATION WGXC/Prometheus Radio Project Station Barnraising Celebration Sept. 26 at Cannonball Factory. WGXC will reveal initial program schedule at this event.

State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) will join volunteer fire departments from throughout Greene County, ladies auxiliaries and local elected officials for the 122nd Annual Greene County Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention parade through the streets of Coxsackie. The parade is the culmination of a week-long convention hosted by Coxsackie Hose Company #3. Seward will be at Coxsackie Hose Company #3 grounds at 2 p.m. Sept. 11. Seward will be back in Greene County at noon Tue. Sept. 14 with Town of Hunter Supervisor Dennis Lucas, Greene County Department of Emergency Services Director John Farrell, and other local officials and emergency service workers to discuss safety concerns and tour the Devil’s Kitchen hiking area. After two recent fatalities, Seward has called on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to review safety measures at the popular hiking area. Seward will tour the hiking area, meeting first at the Haines Falls Fire Department, 5425 Route 23A, Haines Falls.

The Columbia Paper's Debora Gilbert pens a long feature about WGXC:

WGXC, a new community radio station with studios in both Columbia and Greene counties is poised to go on air this fall. With a 3,300 watt signal it will have the potential to reach some 78,000 people spread in this part of the Hudson River Valley, with its primary coverage stretching from Windham in Greene County to the Taconic Parkway down to northern Dutchess County and up to Kinderhook and Coxsackie. “It will be all about our community in the river valley,” said Hudson Talbot, an artist and author of numerous children's books and director of the Catskill Community Center. The station is a project of the arts organization free103point9, will have studios in Hudson at 704 Columbia Street, in Cairo at the home of free103point9, which has been broadcasting on the web since last year, and behind a plate glass window at street level at the Catskill Community Center on Main Street. “We're intent on balance and representation across the two counties, and covering both the rural and urban,” said Galen Joseph-Hunter, executive director of both WGXC and free103point9, in explanation of the need for three studios. Cairo resident Tom Roe, program director of free103point9 and WGXC, and the founder of both organizations, said “We've long advocated for the people's access to their own airwaves.” Mr. Roe thinks of radio space as being similar to national park lands as a resource that is owned by the people. “There's not any place around here that lets local people do more than a handful of radio shows. We try to practice what we preach.” “We envisioned a low power station for just Hudson; to get a full power community station, it's an incredibly rare opportunity. The Federal Communications Commission discovered this frequency was not being used, and said let's put them out there and see if there is interest,” said Mr. Roe of the opportunity to create the station in a crowded broadcast market. The project will soon get a boost of energy and expertise when the Prometheus Radio Project comes to Hudson to conduct a week long Amish style “barnraising” and fundraiser. It is expected to attract some 200 radio pros and technicians from across the country, who will descend on the WGXC's Hudson studio to work with volunteers from the community to install equipment, and conduct free training workshops open to all on radio skills ranging from how to operate a sound board or microphone to how to conduct an interview. Remote broadcasting, streaming and podcasting, community news and collecting oral histories will also be addressed. The mission of the station is to build community by connecting a diverse group of local voices, and to give everyone in the community who wants them the skills to make radio programs. The organization's website describes the project as “re-envisioning radio as an innovative platform for local participation. 'Hands-on Radio' captures the essence of this project. WGXC's participatory environment will bring to life the idea that media is not something that is fed to us, but something we create with our own hands, hearts, and minds.”As part of its community building initiative, the station has invited people from both sides of the river to serve on its founding radio council, including Columbia County residents Max Goldfarb, the Hudson-based radio artist, Hosneara Kader, who works with Hudson Family Literacy, Christina Malisoff, a program assistant at the Hudson Opera House, Alan Skerrett, president of the Columbia County NAACP, and Andrew Turner, a Cairo resident and executive director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. Mr. Turner said in a phone interview that he is impressed by the operation and sees a need for local radio. “It's about giving a voice to people in the community; that's different from public radio. Greene and Columbia counties are caught between the media markets. We need something that is more local; there is definitely something missing.” Members of the community have responded with enthusiasm, submitting over 90 proposals for radio programs ranging from jazz to the visual arts. Kaya Weidman, the station's volunteer coordinator and Hudson station manager says she envisions panel discussions, interviews, and small bands performing right in the station's second floor offices at 704 Columbia Street. The plan is for 24/7 programing, with a mix of live and taped material that includes some live broadcasts from locations throughout the two counties like the Hudson Opera House, Hudson Common Council meetings and other sites for lectures, concerts and shows. Technological advances will allow for broadcast via cell phone, obviating the need for expensive trucks with satellite dishes, said Ms. Wiedman. The station will provide recording equipment to trained volunteers who want to attend hearings and town meetings. “WGXC should help to shed more light on local government and give local cultural institutions the coverage they lack, and will be a complement to the media we already have, with a range of reporting that will reflect the diversity of the community,” said Ms. Joseph-Hunter “There will always be a way for members of the public to participate. Although we will have some syndicated shows including Susan Arbiter's 'Capitol Press Room,' and Amy Goodman's 'Democracy Now,' there's more room for the local and we'll be close on the dial,” said Ms. Joseph-Hunter. WAMC-Northeast Public Radio is at 90.3,FM, and WGXC could be seen as the competition for public support. But not so, said Alan Chartock, president, CEO and on-air personality of WAMC. “I have always said, and I certainly mean it, let a thousand flowers bloom. The more the better. This will certainly serve a local purpose, and we think that's great.” He said he would invite WGXC on the air at WAMC if they ask. Nor is Cruisin 93.5's Bill Williams concerned. “Anyone who is going to listen to them is not listing to us at the moment,” he said. “I listen to WAMC all the time, but we're always looking for something more pertinent to us,” said Mr. Talbot. The station's program lineup will be announced at the Saturday night of the barnraising weekend at Club Helsinki, where Meshell Ndegeocello and friends will present a benefit concert. A welcoming party featuring spoken word performance, rap, poets and music on Friday and a Sunday event in which the station may celebrate going live will take place at the Cannonball Factory. The barnraising represents the 12th such event conducted by the non-profit Prometheus Radio Project, which formed in 1998 to help communities take advantage of new at that time lo-power 100 watt offerings by the Federal Communications Commission. The Hudson event marks the first time that Prometheus has sponsored a barnraising for a full-power 3,300 watt station. Fundraising is key to the success of the operation and probably the hardest part of the start-up. The higher frequency station demands more expensive equipment. The group received a $71,486 matching grant from the United States Department of Commerce to cover infrastructure, including FM signal equipment, studio consoles, and the tower equipment shed, backup generator, transmission equipment and antenna; $25,000 remains to be raised for the matching grant, and another $15,000 will be needed for equipment. The antenna has been ordered from a company in Italy but the rest of the equipment will be purchased locally. The station has started to sign up businesses to underwrite segments of programming.

Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

Anti-incumbent political signs are turning up ahead of next week's primary elections. Above, many of these printed "Just Vote Them Out" signs (this one is on 9H just north of Route 82) started showing up on Columbia County roads several months ago. Below, in Greene County, a Hearts Content Road resident in Cairo says, "Vote them out."