Capitol Confidential and the New York Civil Liberties Union just tweeted that the Farm Workers Fair Labor Practices Act was defeated tonight 31-28 in the New York State Senate. Capitol Confidential quotes, in a tweet, New York State Senator Steve Saland, who represents Columbia County, on farm workers bill: "Why would you want to dance on the grave of upstate New York?" Both local senators, Saland and James Seward voted against the bill. and local Assemblymen Tim Gordon, Pete Lopez, and Marc Molinaro all oppose the bill. The NYCLU was quick with this statement: “Today’s Senate vote is painfully disappointing given our state’s proud tradition of supporting justice and equal rights,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “The Farm Workers Fair Labor Practices Act is basic civil rights legislation. Farm workers are New York’s least protected laborers. Our farm workers deserve the same labor rights that workers across New York have enjoyed for 100 years.” The bill would have mandated minimum salaries and maximum hours, and benefits for farm workers.

Republican congressional hopeful Chris Gibson (running against incumbent Democrat Scott Murphy) will be in Canaan Wednesday, and Hillsdale and Coxsackie Saturday. Wednesday, he will be at a Canaan Republican Association Meet and Greet from 7 to 8 p.m. at Canaan Town Hall, on County Route 5. Gibson will be at Hillsdale Day from noon to 1 p.m. at The Old Roe Jan School, Route 22, Hillsdale, and at the Riverside Festival, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Riverside Park in Coxsackie.

The Daily Mail has a story without a byline (although contact info for reporter Susan Campriello is listed at the end of the article) about how the Greene County Legislature voted last week to oppose the Farm Worker Fair Labor Act. The bill before the New York Senate would mandate farmers allow laborers at least 24 consecutive hours off, a 10-hour work day, overtime pay at 1.5 times the normal rate and provisions of unemployment insurance. The article never says what the legislatures vote was, or who voted for or against the for-show resolution. The article does say, "Greene County’s state representatives Sen. James L. Seward, R,C,I-Oneonta, Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem, and Assemblyman Pete Lopez, R,C,I-Schoharie, have all voted against earlier versions of the legislation." The article quotes a spokesman for farmers, but does not quote a similar representative for farm workers. Read the entire story in The Daily Mail.

From Lissa Harris in Watershed Post:

Bad news, gardeners: Late blight, which cut a swath of destruction across the Northeast last summer, is back in upstate New York again. Cornell Cooperative Extension sent out a press release yesterday confirming the deadly tomato plague has been found in Norwich, Chenango County. Here's the details:

Late Blight was confirmed on both tomatoes and potatoes on July 27, 2010. Grown in a home garden in the city, the sample was collected on July 25 after the entire crop of tomatoes died almost overnight. Nearby potatoes are also infected. In an effort to avoid the catastrophe that happened last year, please monitor your tomatoes and potatoes in earnest. Look for dark watery lesions on the leaves, stems and fruit. Late blight spreads quickly. Cornell recommends “If late blight becomes severe, remove diseased plants by digging them up. Destroy these plants immediately by one of the following: burying them deeply in an area away from the garden, burning them, or by bagging them in a plastic bag and discarding the bag. These steps will help avoid production of a larger number of spores. Harvest all potato tubers in the garden. If late blight occurs when the tubers have already 'sized up', harvest the crop as soon as possible to avoid post-harvest tuber rot. Again, destroy diseased foliage and stems.” There are fungicides that can be sprayed to prevent infection, but once severe infection has taken hold, chemical controls will not work. Commercial growers please check: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/recommends/ for the latest pesticide recommendations. Home gardeners can follow these recommendations if diagnosis is confirmed: use azoxystrobin (not near apples), Bacillus subtilis, chlorothalonil, copper soap (copper octanoate), or copper sulfate. Protectant fungicides (chlorothalonil or copper products) should be used at first appearance of disease according to the label instructions. The fungus that causes late blight has become a major threat to home gardens and commercial growers because of the migration of new strains (genotypes) into the United States. Verification of a late blight diagnosis and implementation of prompt control measures are highly recommended. The newly arrived strains are more aggressive than previous strains. Current information about late blight and its management can be found at http://blogs.cornell.edu/lateblight/ and great webinars on late blight for home organic gardens and organic farms can be found at http://www.extension.org/article/24989. Details on submitting a sample to the Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic can be found at http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/. Read the entire story in Watershed Post.

Catskill High's Meghan Baxter and recent Cairo grad Michael Davis (both workforce students for WGXC) spent the weekend at the Greene County Youth Fair, where they recorded a number of interviews with folks at the fair, about radio, music, and the community. Click on each link below to listen to an mp3 recording, or paste the individual urls into your computer's media player to listen.

Click here to listen to an interview with superintendent of Catskill schools Kate Farrell.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/Kate_farrel.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Yomara at the Greene County Youth Fair
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/yomaraa.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Wayne at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/wayne.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Sharla at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/sharla.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Sean at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/sean.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Pat the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/pat.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with with Kim at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/kim.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Karen Bennan at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/karen_bennan.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Dana at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/dana.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Betty at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/betty.mp3

Click here to listen to an interview with Adolfo at the Greene County Youth Fair.
http://www.wgxc.org/media/uploaded_files/2010/07/adolfo.mp3

From the Post-Star's politics blog:

Republican congressional candidate Chris Gibson would not say, on Friday, whether he would join the newly Tea Party Caucus if he is elected to the House of Representatives. The following is a transcript of the segment of the telephone interview in which the topic was discussed

Q: And there has also been talk in Washington that some of the Republican legislators are forming a Tea Party Caucus. If you are elected do you plan to join that caucus when you go to Washington?

A: “As I’ve said all along, our campaign is attracting support from Republicans. Conservatives, independents, Independence Party members, tea party movement followers and Democrats looking for a better way.”

Q: So would you plan to join that new Tea Party Caucus if you are elected in November?

A: “Again, what I am saying is that our campaign represents a very populous movement within the 20th District and we’re drawing support from across the political spectrum. And what I plan to do is go to Washington and represent this movement that wants to grow the private sector and to balance the budget through reducing federal spending.”

Gibson, on Saturday, issued the following response in clarification:

“Maury, your post misses my main point, please allow me to clarify. It is my aim to go to the Congress to provide leadership. I am interested in helping form a broader American Caucus comprised of Republicans, Conservatives, independents, Independence Party members, Tea Party movement followers, and Democrats looking for a better way. I want to help grow the private sector economy, balance the budget by reducing federal spending and protect our freedoms – all ideas that should transcend party lines. We welcome everyone interested in pursuing these goals ranging from Tea Party movement to Blue Dog Democrat Caucuses. The central point is that I want to go well beyond ‘joining and following’ to bringing leadership to the Congress on my first day to help unite Americans to restore our republic.”

Gibson, a retired Army colonel from Kinderhook, in Columbia County, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls. Read the entire story in the Post-Star.

From Lissa Harris in Watershed Post:

The Daily Freeman reports that the town's plan is to buy the massive bluestone sculpture [Opus 40] for $800,000 of grant money, and then turn the site over to a private commission to run it without spending taxpayer funds. [From the Freeman:]

Deputy Supervisor Fred Costello Jr. said the town is seeking grants that would total about $800,000 for the purchase of Opus 40. He said the $800,000 is “significantly” less than the asking price, but the town is hopeful the owners will agree to sell the property to the municipality because of their desire to see the bluestone sculpture park remain open to the public. Costello added, though, the town would not be involved in managing the property and taxpayers would not be financially liable for its upkeep. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.

Aaron Enfield, Joe Ullman, Joseph Gaylord, and Amy Lavine are the first officers of the new Columbia County Young Democrats, a new chapter of the New York State Young Democrats. The NYSYD are the official youth arm of the New York State Democratic Committee, representing young democrats between the ages of 16-36 throughout the state. The chapter will be the state's 16th (there is a Greene County chapter of the Young Democrats, but the New York State Young Republicans does not show any local groups), and the group will hold an "Absentee Ballot" event at 7 p.m. August 12 at Mexican Radio, 537 Warren Street, in Hudson for college students to get their absentee ballots filled out before they leave Columbia County for the semester.

Someone has been uploading old Columbia County ArtsWalk videos yesterday. Here is the Badila Family performing at The Pocketbook Factory in Hudson, NY.

ArtsWalk 2005 from Hudson ArtsWalk on Vimeo.

ArtsWalk 2005 from Hudson ArtsWalk on Vimeo.

Mike McCagg in ccScoop reports Greenport "Town Building Inspector John Florio and Planning Board Secretary Beth MacGiffert both told ccSCOOP this week that the lease contract has been signed and that Kohl’s will locate in the town." Kohl's officials had previously said they would not come to Greenport without the county Industrial Development Agency giving them a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) break. From McCagg's story:

Initially, a twenty-year PILOT had been requested, which limited property taxes on the store to $22,500 annually. When that was rejected, a fifteen-year PILOT was proposed which increased the property tax by 1.5 percent. That proposal was also rejected by the IDA, despite support of the Board of Supervisors. The yearly property tax on the store, without a PILOT, is estimated at $81,600. Read the entire story in ccScoop.

Kyle Wind in The Daily Freeman looks at area teacher salaries, comparing Dutchess, Ulster, and Greene County statistics and finds that Greene teachers rank near the bottom in several categories:

Greene County base salaries were some of the lowest among the 18 school districts in the Freeman’s coverage area, with Catskill teachers starting at the third-lowest base salaries and earning a maximum of the second-least top salaries. Coxsackie-Athens teachers in 2009-10 started at the sixth-lowest base salaries and earned a maximum of the fourth-lowest top base salaries. Cairo-Durham teachers started at the fifth-lowest salaries and earned the fifth-lowest top salaries. Hunter-Tannersville teachers earned the region’s lowest minimum salaries and fourth-lowest maximum salaries. Greene County districts also has among the highest teacher turnover rates in the region, according to state Education Department data for 2007-08, the most recent statistics available. Read the entire story in The Daily Freeman.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Cornelius Eady"][/caption]K. Page and Sleepwalker’s Parade, featuring a few songs backing writer/poet/part-time Cairo resident Cornelius Eady, performed last night at Spotty Dog Books & Ale. Sparrow, another reknowned Hudson Valley poet, also created a poem on the spot (about BP) with the Sleepwalkers backing. Click here to listen to an mp3 audio recording of their set (which is missing the first 45 seconds), or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/KPageandSleepwalkers_SpottyDog_WGXC_072410.mp3

Hudson's Mikey Corcoran played a few songs on guitar in between the openers and headliners. Click here to listen, or paste the following url into your computer's media player: http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/MikeyCorcoran_SpottyDog_WGXC_072410.mp3

Tourist opened, a new band featuring Hudson's Kyle Clements with Ngounga Badilla on percussion and Otto Hauser on drums. Click here to listen or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/Tourist_SpottyDog_WGXC_072410.mp3

Chatham, Hudson and New Lebanon school districts in Columbia County, and the Greenville and Windham-Ashland-Jewett school district's in Greene County all have school registration requirements that may be unlawfully barring or discouraging the enrollment of immigrant students, according to a report from the New York Civil Liberties Union. The school districts are asking for information that would reveal a parent or child’s immigration status as a prerequisite for school enrollment. “The Supreme Court ruled 28 years ago that all children have an equal right to a public school education, regardless of their immigration status,” NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman said. “Though some of these school districts undoubtedly seek to exclude immigrant children, many of the offending districts are surely unaware that their registration requirements are discriminatory. What is truly unfortunate is that, since the NYCLU brought this matter to the attention of the State Education Department nearly a year ago, the SED has turned a blind eye to the situation and refused to provide schools the guidance they need on the law and on the United States Constitution.”

New York Assemblyman Pete Lopez, who represents Greene County in Albany, will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24 at the Delaware, Greene and Schoharie Counties' Community Health Festival at Grand Gorge Civic Center, 60933 State Highway 30 in Grand Gorge.

Hudson's Fall Harbor –- the duo of vocalist-accordionist C. Ryder Cooley and vocalist-banjoist Todd Chandler -– held their CD release party at Dennis Herbert’s Folk Art Gallery in Hudson last Sunday, and Nippertown! reviews the show that included bassist Pete Toigo and drummer Otto Hauser:

The rhythm section was never obtrusive during the performance, but rather allowed Cooley and Chandler to focus more on their vocals without having to carry the whole musical load of the songs as well. The music remains sometimes aching intimate in a strange and wonderful minor-key kind of way. With a beautiful view of the Hudson River behind them, the musicians nestled into their chairs amidst Herbert’s fascinating sculpture garden as several dozen invited guests, friends, family members and fans looked on. During the twilight concert, the sun slowly set behind the musicians, reinforcing the themes of nature that permeate Fall Harbor’s deceptively simple-sounding folk odes. Cooley and Chandler alternated lead vocal chores, each one weaving in and around the melodies when relegated to back-up vocals. Rob Caldwell (of Musica in Hudson) joined in, playing acoustic guitar on one song, and Cooley played musical saw on several selections, adding a magnificently eerie aspect to such songs as “Crow Carnival” and the show closing “Dark River.” And Lady Moon also chimed in with a solo autoharp song to wrap up the luxurious evening.

Former NYC mayor Ed Koch’s New York Uprising reform initiative released its list of “heroes” and “enemies” of reform, and locally State Senators (R) Steve Saland and (R) James Seward, Assemblyman (R) Marc Molinaro, and Senate candidate (challenging Saland) (D) Didi Barrett all made the heroes list. Assemblymen (I) Tim Gordon and (R) Pete Lopez, however, made Koch's enemies list. New York legislators and candidates were asked to pledge to support nonpartisan redistricting, ethics reform, and responsible budgeting. Those that did not sign the pledge made the enemies list. Read more about this in Capitol Confidential.

From Lissa Harris in Watershed Post:

Bad news: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), a highly destructive Asian beetle that threatens to effectively wipe out ash trees in North American forests, has been found in a USDA trap in Saugerties.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis and state Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker [yesterday] announced the discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on private properties in the Town of Bath, Steuben County, and Town of Saugerties, Ulster County. The EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black, and blue ash.

Sustainable Esopus reminds us that it's vital not to transport firewood, which spreads the beetle around....State conservationists say the best we can hope for is to slow it down, the [The Daily] Freeman reports:

State officials said they expect the borer to continue to spread. Regulations restricting the importation of firewood from out of state and the movement of untreated wood within the state are intended to slow the spread.

Photo from InsectImages.org, courtesy of Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org. Published under Creative Commons license. Read the entire story in Watershed Post.

From William J. Kemble in The Daily Freeman:

The [Catskill] Town Board on Wednesday agreed to a $2.7 million assessment reduction for Home Depot that will keep the company’s property on state Route 23B valued at $6.28 million through 2012. The settlement was adopted during a Town Board meeting at which Supervisor Peter Markou said the case was one of several involving large commercial properties, causing potential legal costs to mount. “We have a whole bunch of certiorari cases on the books,” he said. “We’re trying to settle them rather than go to court because it’s too expensive to go to court.” Town Assessor Nancy McCoy reported in May that Home Depot had sought to have its 2009 assessment reduced from about $9 million to about $4 million. “I don’t know whether I’d call it a relief,” Markou said of Wednesday’s reduction agreement. “It kills me to do it, but fair-market value changes. You go to court and argue it, you might lose. We’ve spent a lot of money doing, and it seems to me to be the path ... of least expense.” The resolution adopted by the Town Board on Wednesday states that a “settlement proposal resolving pending tax certiorari litigation was recommended by (town lawyer) Daniel G. Vincelette ... (as) an expeditious and economic alternative to further litigation.”... Town Board members in May agreed to set the assessment on the Wal-Mart property on state Route 23A at $13.5 million, a $1.67 million reduction, covering 2010 through 2012. Other cases involving large commercial holdings in Catskill include:
• Holcim Cement Co. on U.S. Route 9W, from $10.1 million to $1.65 million in a 2008 challenge.
• Lowe’s on state Route 23A, from $7.1 million to $3.48 million in a 2008 challenge.
• Rite Aid, on state Route 23A, from $1.8 million to $500,000 in a 2009 challenge.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that 34 nonprofit organizations in Columbia County have been awarded grants from two of its area funds: the Fund for Columbia County and the Quailwood Fund. The Quailwood Fund provides grants for the Red Rock area and the Fund for Columbia County serves the entire county. The Fund for Columbia County awarded $35,595 to 30 organizations:
Animalkind, Inc.: $1,000 to subsidize the cost of pet care, including spaying/neutering, emergency care and vaccination.
Catholic Charities of Columbia and Greene Counties: $1,000 to support the Emergency Assistance Program, which helps individuals and families access emergency resources.
Chatham Synagogue: $1,000 to construct a handicapped-accessible pathway that provides all members with access to the synagogue’s outdoor space.
Clarion Concerts in Columbia County: $500 to build a website that educates the community about the organization and provides information about upcoming musicians & concerts.
Clausson Raught Community Rescue Squad: $1,000 for NFPA 1584 compliant equipment, which prepares medical staff to relieve injuries at fire scenes.
Columbia County Community Health Care: $1,250 for “Assuring Your Wishes,” an online Healthcare Proxy registry established by the Partnership in Palliative Care, which provides discussions about end-of-life issues.
Columbia Memorial Hospital: $1,000 for a renovation project which provides the Stephen Menkes Child Advocacy Program with adequate space to accommodate the program’s increase in children’s services.
Concerted Effort, Inc.: $2,000 for the Bringing Literacy to Life project, a long-term partnership between John L. Edwards Elementary School and the Hudson Opera House, which promotes learning through the arts.
Copake Fire Company No. 1: $950 to develop a Firefighter Assistance and Safety Team.
FASNY Museum of Firefighting: $1,000 to develop an educational component for the museum’s website, including a virtual tour.
Family Resource Centers of Columbia County: $670 to produce new program brochures.
Friends of Historic St. Peter’s Fund: $1,000 to fund restoration work on the St. Peter’s Church building.
Friends of the Chatham Public Library: $1,500 for archival supplies to preserve and organize the library’s local history collection.
Friends of the First Presbyterian Church: $1,000 to repair and restore three stone pilasters at the First Presbyterian Church.
Friends of Taconic State Park: $500 to develop a major donor campaign.
Girl Scouts Hudson Valley Council, Inc.: $1,400 for adult learning opportunities which enable volunteers to help local girls build skills, knowledge and confidence to meet challenges, attain goals, and advocate for change.
Hawthorne Valley Association, Inc.: $2,300 to develop food system and resource maps, which will strengthen collective understanding of the food systems in Columbia County.
Hudson Day Care Center, Inc.: $1,500 for quality curriculum and materials.
Hudson Opera House: $1,750 for Open Studio, a free weekly arts workshop serving at-risk children and teens.
Malden Bridge Community Center: $1,000 to insulate the Malden Bridge Community Center building.
Mental Health Association of Columbia: $875 to recruit and train new volunteers for a 24-hour hotline that provides services to survivors of interpersonal violence.
The Nature Institute, Inc.: $1,000 to provide the community with no-fee educational programs and events.
New Lebanon Library: $1,200 to support diverse, educational programs for all age groups, including programs exploring literature, nature, music and world cultures.
The Olana Partnership: $1,000 for an art exhibition about Frederic Church and the American Civil War.
Operation Unite NY: $1,000 for a series of visual, performing and craft workshops for youth.
Performance Spaces for the 21st Century: $1,000 for “Celebrating Our Town,” a performance program which celebrates small town life.
Philmont Public Library: $2,200 to assist in furnishing the library’s newly constructed Cultural Center.
Roeliff Jansen Community Library: $1,000 to facilitate a series of workshops for teens which explores the graphic novel genre and provides an opportunity to create original work.
Town of Austerlitz: $1,000 to hire a preservation consultant who will assist in preserving the town’s historic structures and resources.
Walking the Dog Theater: $2,000 to support theater events that inspire, entertain and build community.

The Quailwood Fund awarded $8,800 to four organizations:
Canaan Conservation Club: $2,000 to install energy-efficient vinyl siding.
Columbia Land Conservancy, Inc.: $2,500 to support public access improvements at the Schor Conservation Area, which provides the community with recreational opportunities through hiking trails, a fishing pond, and a picnic area.
Red Rock Historical Society: $2,300 to restore and paint three plaster walls inside the Red Rock Historical Society’s building.
Red Rock Volunteer Fire Company: $2,000 to assist in the purchase of high-band VHF communications equipment.

The Fund for Columbia County and Quailwood Fund are overseen by a committee of local residents who review grant applications and award grants based on excellence of the project or service, its impact on the organization or community and the ability of the organization to carry out the project. The next deadline for grant applications for the Fund for Columbia County and Quailwood Fund is April 1, 2011. Applications are available online at www.berkshiretaconic.org/grantseekers or by calling Berkshire Taconic at 413.528.8039. Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. Berkshire Taconic connects donors with causes they care about by administering and investing their charitable funds. Thanks to its generous donors, in 2009 Berkshire Taconic distributed nearly $7 million in scholarships and grants for programs in the arts and education, health and human services, and environmental protection. Berkshire Taconic is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization.

From Johanna Barr in City Hall News:

If her fundraising totals are any indication, Didi Barrett looks poised to mount a serious challenge against incumbent Stephen Saland in New York’s 41st Senate District [which covers Columbia County]. Barrett [who campaigned throughout Hudson last weekend] has raised $161,196 this cycle. Her campaign also reported that it had gathered more than 3,700 signatures. Marian Rivman, Barrett’s communications director... said the campaign’s goal for this cycle had been to raise more than $132,000, which was the amount of cash Saland had on hand when Barrett first entered the race. Saland is a 20-year incumbent who served in the State Assembly for ten years, from 1980 through 1990, before moving to the Senate. If elected, Barrett would be the first Democrat to hold the seat in 100 years. The last was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Read the entire story in City Hall News.