From Jimmy Vielkind in Capitol Confidential:

Chris Gibson has apparently raised more money in the last three months than Rep. Scott Murphy, the Glens Falls Democrat he seeks to unseat. But Murphy still has 2.5 times as much money in the bank as Gibson, a retired Army colonel from Kinderhook. Both men will report on their campaign’s donations and expenditures by Thursday. But sources familiar with each of the campaigns offered preliminary peeks at their totals. Murphy, who won a special election to replace now-Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2009, raised just over $350,000 this quarter and now has $1.3 million on hand.... Gibson raised around $487,000, a person familiar with his filing said, confirming a report posted Monday on Politico.com. He raised $108,000 in the first month of his race, according to the last quarterly filing, and now has about $500,000 on hand.... Gibson spokesman Rob Clark said the campaign is still in the process of compiling its filing, and declined to give an exact number. He said the above numbers are “in the ballpark” and said the campaign had 1,530 donors. Read the entire story in Capitol Confidential.

Tonight's Hudson Common Council meeting was about the city's LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Program/Plan) waterfront plan. The meeting was recorded by WGXC volunteer Victor Mendolia. Click here to listen to an mp3 audio recording or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/HudsonCommonCouncilmtg_071310.mp3

Scenes from the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill last year. This year's festival is this weekend, July 15-18. (H/T Nippertown!)

From Lissa Harris in Watershed Post:

A new report from the state Department of Environmental Conservation gives New York low marks for recycling, the Times Herald-Record's Adam Bosch reports.

On average, the United States recycles about 33 percent of its municipal solid waste, not including construction and demolition debris. New York recycles 20 percent. The state's ability to divert trash from landfills looks even worse when historical goals are considered: In 1987, New York aimed to recycle 50 percent of waste by 1997.

Undeterred by the state's utter failure to meet its recycling goal in 1997, the DEC has set a new one: 90 percent by 2018. Read the entire story in Watershed Post.

Jazz Guitar Workshop with Matt Belll
Sunday, July 18, 2010, 2-6 p.m.
at Musica, 17 North 4th St., Hudson.

Bring $45 and leave with a small swing repertoire clear handouts using chord diagrams as well as standard notation and the tools and knowledge to bring to life countless wonderful early jazz, pop and blues songs on your own. The class will teach right hand rhythm; a handful of juicy movable chords; the "in-between" sounds including moving progressions, turnarounds and endings, and a little bit of easy theory that you are already using didn't know there was a name for it. Want to know how to strum along with Al Casey on Fats Waller’s recordings? Danny Barker, Dick McDonough, and Freddie Green on Billie Holidays classic recordings? Allen Reuss in Benny Goodmans early big band? What about backing up a jazz violinist the way Eddie Lang or Django Reinhardt did? Maybe you prefer the sounds of the Texas Playboys and other western swing groups? In this style the guitar acts as a chording instrument as well as a steady time-keeper. Moving away from open chords, we will use the stock “energizer bunnies” of swing chords to translate song chart symbols directly to your fret-board. While learning a few standard swing tunes, basic turnarounds and fill in chords will gradually be added and explained, then used in other songs. Theory will be kept to basic language used on the bandstand and to act as an aid in understanding and memorizing the progressions of different songs.
Duration: 4 hours with a short break.
Price: $45 either cash or check.
You will need: an acoustic guitar and pick, three-ring binder for worksheets, and a music stand.
Please contact Matt in advance to sign up at 541.377.0889.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="320" caption="David Gargill (seated), being introduced by Susan Falzon at Beattie-Powers Place."][/caption]WGXC recorded a live webstream with noted journalist David Gargill's talk at the Beattie-Powers Place in Catskill. Gargill spent much of last year investigating the Hudson River cleanup, and his report on the subject ("The General Electric Superfraud: Why the Hudson River Will Never Run Clean") was Harper’s December 2009 cover story (available at www.davidgargill.com). Mr. Gargill presented his findings and provided an update on remediation efforts. Mr. Gargill has written for Harper's Magazine, GQ, The National, Our Town, and other publications. Click here to listen to the lecture from Beattie-Power Place or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07
/DavidGargill_BeattiePowers_WGXC_071010.mp3

Kinderhook-based Republican candidate Chris Gibson's couple of months attacking incumbent Scott Murphy with the Democrat not mentioning his future opponent's name are over. Today Murphy's staff released the following press release:

"Today, Congressman Scott Murphy’s campaign called on Chris Gibson to let the voters of the 20th District know whether he stands with Main Street or Wall Street. In an attempt to play both sides, Chris Gibson has refused to answer newspapers across the district when asked how he would have voted on Wall Street Reform. 'The Wall Street reform bill that Congressman Murphy helped pass last week is going to end taxpayer funded bailouts and prevent another financial crash like the one that just cost us eight million American jobs,' said Mitch Wallace, campaign spokesperson. 'Yet Chris Gibson has refused to say whether he would have voted yes or no on the bill. Chris Gibson needs to stop dodging questions and let the people of the 20th District know whether he stands with Main Street or Wall Street.'"
Background:
Republican candidate Chris Gibson, Murphy’s challenger, couldn’t find time to talk to me today, but his spokesman issued a statement praising and criticizing the bill. [7/1/10, Albany Times Union]

“The bill has some good components, but it also has many flaws,” said Gibson. [7/2/10, Hudson Register Star]

Gibson's staff responded with:

"Unlike Mr. Murphy I would represent all the citizens of the 20th District, not the special interests he has consistently taken his marching orders from. Our campaign advocates growing the private sector economy by removing the impediments to growth with targeted tax and regulatory relief and by
repealing and replacing that disastrous health care bill. And we advocate for restoring fiscal responsibility by balancing the budget through reduced federal spending, not new taxes. Time and again Mr. Murphy has followed the orders of Speaker Pelosi and the Obama Administration voting for bills that hurt our district, bills such as health care, cap and trade and co-sponsoring card check legislation. I have stated all along I opposed the Dodd-Frank Bill because it does not solve the root cause of the Wall Street meltdown. Although I do like certain aspects of the Bill, by not reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the taxpayers will continue to be vulnerable to bail outs of failed government policies for years to come. I noticed in a recent article that Mr. Murphy described the Dodd-Frank bill as 'big.' We certainly agree on that. This bill, weighing in at over 2,000 pages and creating yet more new big government at a time when we clearly need to reduce the size of government, is more bad legislation we don't need. In addition to Fannie and Freddie, we need more transparency in actions that involve public monies. We have federal agencies now that are responsible for that - the SEC and FED. What we should have done is reform these existing agencies - not create new ones. Mr. Murphy has once again sided with special interests and against the interests of citizens in our district. Mr. Murphy's policies not only hurt those living on Main Street, they hurt people living in our suburbs, rural areas and farms. This must change. In November our voters will have the opportunity to elect new leadership and a true voice for the people of the 20th district. I have proven leadership you can count on and am ready to answer that call."
See link about the cost to taxpayers from the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bailout:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-13/fannie-freddie-fix-expands-to-160-b
illion-with-worst-case-at-1-trillion.html?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=E
mail&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell

Hillsdale's Roe-Jan Community Library hosts a variety of summer youth programs:
July 16
FAMILY CONCERT AT THE PARK
Roeliff Jansen Park, 9140 Route 22, Hillsdale, NY. 6:30 p.m.
Join the Roe-Jan Community Library in kicking off their summer youth programs with a free concert performance featuring Jeffrey Friedberg of The Bossy Frog Band. Bring a picnic and enjoy this family-friendly evening concert. For more info contact the Roe-Jan Community Library: (518) 325-4101.

July 23-Aug. 27
BACKYARD DETECTIVES
Roe-Jan Community Library, 2609 Route 23, Hillsdale, NY. Fridays, July 23-August 27, 10-11 a.m.
Children ages 3-5 explore critters and creatures from our own backyards through stories, songs, dramatics, crafts, and backyard discoveries. Registration required. Free. (518) 325-4101.

July 20-Aug. 5
MAKE A SPLASH! READ!
Roe-Jan Community Library, 2609 Route 23, Hillsdale, NY. Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 20-August 5, 9-10 a.m.
Make a splash this summer! Children in grades K-3 are invited to join the library for stories, songs, crafts, and more! Registration required. FREE. (518) 325-4101.

July 22-Aug. 19
MAKE WAVES AT YOUR LIBRARY!
Location TBA, Hillsdale, NY. Thursdays, July 22-August 19 3:30-5:30 p.m. (tweens) and 6-8 p.m. (teens).
Program for tweens (9-12) and teens (13-19). Learn how to make and share videos, use stop-motion animation techniques to bring objects to life, create radio for webcasting, and make fun and engaging paper crafts! Registration required. Free. (518) 325-4101.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Art by Chris Neumann, digitizing by Bob Mechling, shading by Eileen Walding."][/caption]
WGXC will be going live September 24 to 26, with a weekend of celebration and workshops in Hudson, NY with the Prometheus Radio Project. We’re inviting community media talent from around the country to share their skills at these workshops here in Hudson. We want your input into what workshops will be offered so that we can plan a weekend that supports our community in building skills, knowledge, and connections. Please help us shape this event by taking a few minutes to let us know what workshops would help us get off to a good start! Click on the link below to fill out a quick survey, and help us craft the WGXC/Prometheus Radio Barnraising this September in Hudson.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8SMG8KW

Beattie-Powers Place presents "River. Air. Action.: Perspectives on local environmental issues, and how you can make a difference" lecture series. This summer, Friends of Beattie-Powers Place provides an insider's view of critical environmental issues which affect us all, with a series designed to inspire thought and action. While our speakers will focus on local concerns, the national and global implications of what is happening in our own "backyard" will be apparent. With perhaps the greatest environmental disaster in our country’s history occurring right now in the Gulf, this series is particularly timely – and guaranteed to be as provocative as it is enlightening. Space is limited, so please reserve your seat now by calling 518.943.3064 or email beattiepowersplace@gmail.org. Following each presentation, expect refreshments and lively discussion. WGXC Online Radio will provide live webcast and archived recordings at www.wgxc.org.

Saturday, July 10th at 2 p.m.
David Gargill on GE and The Myth of Healing the Hudson
Noted journalist David Gargill spent much of last year investigating the Hudson River cleanup, and his report on the subject (The General Electric Superfraud: Why the Hudson River Will Never Run Clean) was Harper’s December 2009 cover story (available at www.davidgargill.com). Join us as Mr. Gargill presents his findings and provides an update on remediation efforts. Mr. Gargill has written for Harper's Magazine, GQ, The National, Our Town, and other publications.

Sunday, July 18th at 2 p.m.
Michael O’Hara on Climate Change Effects and Actions for Our Region
The international scientific community has compiled their research and agrees that the earth is warming -- with potentially disastrous consequences. Human activity can be identified as the cause; changes in human activity may provide solutions. Mr. O’Hara will discuss changes in policy, technology and behaviors that are being implemented at the regional, national and international level, and how we can take a proactive role in doing our part. Mr. O’Hara is the Operations Director for Sustainable Hudson Valley, a Kingston-based environmental consultancy.

Sunday, August 8th at 2 p.m.
Susan Falzon on Industry in Our Midst: A Citizen’s Guide
Susan Falzon has been active in local and national environmental issues since 1998 and Director of Friends of Hudson since August 2005. Using the proposed Ravena Cement Plant modernization as an example, Ms. Falzon will discuss opportunities for individual and community involvement that could positively impact the manner in which such an industry operates in our communities, to the benefit of the people as well as corporations.

Beattie-Powers Place is located at Prospect Ave. and Bridge St., Catskill, NY 12414

From the Greene County Council on the Arts:

Applications for the Twin Counties Cultural Fund Decentralization Program for Columbia and Greene Counties are available for the 2011 funding cycle. Could your organization use a boost to its arts programming? Are you an artist with an idea for an interesting public program or a community inspired idea for your own original work? Do you represent a village, library or other nonprofit that wishes to showcase the rich natural and historical heritage of our region through literature, music, film, or visual arts? We may have the solution! This year DEC programs offer two categories of support. Project Support for Not-for-Profit Organizations awards grants to community-based nonprofit organizations, local municipalities, towns and villages. Conduit – Artist Project Support awards individuals or artistic teams who partner with a nonprofit the opportunity to apply for project support. The conduit (nonprofit) agency acts solely as a fiscal manager while the idea is initiated and implemented by the artist or artistic team. Applicants may request up to $5,000 in support. Due to the number of quality applications, average awards are usually $1000-$1500. Have a solid idea but lack a nonprofit sponsor? Our DEC Coordinator may be able to help. Funding for both types of projects is primarily intended to be applied toward artist fees for cultural and arts programs that increase appreciation for the arts and provide a direct and easily accessible benefit to the public. Deadline for 2011 Project Support & Conduit-Artist applications is Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. We also anticipate having a second category of funds available – Individual Artist Grants. The Individual Artist Grant Program offers $2,500 to artists (visual, performing, or literary) for the creation of a new body of work that significantly challenges the artist AND creates a dialogue with the local community. “Community” can be defined as geographic, racial, ethnic, or philosophical. Community engagement can be accomplished in a number of ways: through setting, creative interaction between artist and community, public participation and input, etc. These grants are not artist fellowships and are intended to support original works by imaginative artists interested in engaging in discourse with a community. Deadline for 2011 Individual Artist Grant applications is Oct. 2, 2010. Both categories of funding are competitive, and proposals are reviewed by individuals from the local community who are sensitive to the needs and challenges specific to Greene and Columbia County artists and small nonprofits. There will be a series of free 2-hour grant workshops in your county to clarify eligibility, guidelines, and offer guidance and extensive support for applicants. New applicants must attend one single-session workshop (in either county) or meet with our DEC Coordinator prior to submission.

Workshop Dates & Locations
Applicants may attend in either county regardless of residence. The first six will primarily cover Project Support grant categories, with less emphasis on the Individual Artist category. The final two will address only Individual Artist Grants.
Greene County
· Wednesday, July 28,. Athens Cultural Center, 24 Second St, Athens. 5:45 – 7:45 PM
· Sat, July 31, Catskill Mountain Foundation, Main St, Hunter. 10 AM – 12 Noon.
· Tues, Aug. 17, Greeneville Library, Community Room, Route 81, Greenville. 5:45 – 7:45 PM.
· Wed, Sept 1 INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT WORKSHOP ONLY. Greene County Council on the Arts, 398 Main St, Catskill. 6 – 7:30 PM
Columbia County
· Mon, Aug 9, Kinderhook Library, 18 Hudson St, Kinderhook. 5:30 – 7:30 PM.
· Thurs, Aug 12, Roeliff Jansen Community Library, 2609 Rte 23, Hillsdale. 5:45 – 7:45 PM.
· Sat, Aug. 14, Columbia County Council on the Arts, 209 Warren St, Hudson. 10 AM – 12 Noon.
· Mon, Aug 30, INDIVIDUAL ARTIST GRANT WORKSHOP ONLY. Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren St, Columbia St, Hudson 6 – 7:30 PM

Interested individuals should contact our DEC Coordinator at 518-943-3400 or Colettegcca@hotmail.com for further information or to register. The Decentralization Program (DEC) is funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and administered by your local arts council. Consequently, Decentralization funding does not support organizations already receiving funding directly from NYSCA.

Lissa Harris in Watershed Post tipped WGXC off to three local webcams:
Cairo webcam.
Hunter Mountain webcams.
Windham Mountain webcam.
Do you know about others? Let us know?

Leigh Hornbeck in Capitol Confidential mysteriously calls different ideas "similar":

Congressman Scott Murphy and his challenger, Republican Chris Gibson, have similar things to say about illegal immigration. After an appearance at a joint meeting of local chambers of commerce, Murphy said he understands why Arizona enacted a law that gives police power to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally and makes failing to carry immigration papers a crime. “They acted independently because there is no federal policy that works. We can’t have 50 states with different policies, we need immigration reform. I’m hopeful, but not optimistic,” Murphy said. He would not comment on criticism of the law that it is racist. Yesterday, the Gibson campaign released a statement criticizing the U.S. Justice Department for suing Arizona and calling the law unconstitutional. “This lawsuit is a misguided effort by the federal government. Our federal government has continually failed to provide leadership in securing our borders. Since the federal government has failed, it is only natural that the state of Arizona steps up to protect its borders,” Gibson [who lives in Kinderhook] said. Read the entire story at Capitol Confidential.

WGXC co-sponsors second Greene County Eco-Fair, Aug. 21 at Agroforestry Resource Center in Acra. Workshops and speakers on live webstream and recorded for wgxc.org archives. Co-sponsored by Cairo Chamber of Commerce.[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Agroforestry Resource Center, Acra."][/caption]

National Weather Service has a heat advisory for Western Columbia County and Eastern Greene County through 8 p.m. Wednesday. "A combination of temperatures in the mid- and upper-90s with increasing humidity levels...will result in heat index values of 100 to 104 degrees Wednesday afternoon."

We are 59 percent of the way toward matching our $71,000 federal grant to buy the major equipment to get WGXC on the air. We have $29,523 to go. Click here to find out how you can become a Founding Member!

The Hudson Business Coalition is putting on "Out of the Closet!," an all-day community yard sale in Hudson Saturday, July 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guidelines that applied to the sale in former years will still be enforced. Ground floor residents and businesses will have control over the sidewalk space in front of their buildings. Sellers will be responsible for maintaining a four foot wide passage of clear space for pedestrian traffic on sidewalks, for maintaining clear access to fire hydrants, and for cleaning up after their sales. Vendors from outside the city limits will not be allowed and will not be issued permits. Local charitable organizations may vend on their own property or on other property with approval of the owner. For further information visit the Coalition website at www.gotohudson.com.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air-quality health advisory for Columbia, Greene and other nearby counties until 10 p.m. tonight, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday. Call toll-free 1-800-535-1345 for more information.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="800" caption="Bryan Zimmerman's Corpse of Discovery performed at Spotty Dog Books & Ale and WGXC."][/caption]
Click on the photo of Bryan Zimmerman to listen to an mp3 audio recording of Zimmerman's performance Sat. July 3, 2010 at Spotty Dog Books & Ale in Hudson, NY, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/BryanZimmerman_SpottyDog_WGXC_070310.mp3

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Laura Ortman."][/caption]
Click on photo to listen to mp3 of Laura Ortman's set at the Spotty Dog in Hudson, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/LauraOrtman_SpottyDog_WGXC_070310.mp3

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="600" caption="Jeremy Kelly."][/caption]
Click on the photo of Jeremy Kelly to listen to an mp3 audio recording of his set, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/07/JeremyKelly_SpottyDog_WGXC_070310.mp3

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="46" caption="Photo from ccScoop."][/caption]Mike McCagg in ccScoop tells the story of the Crandall Theater's re-opening this weekend in Chatham:

The theater is scheduled to open with a ceremonial ribbon cutting at 6:30 p.m. on July 9 and the two showings of a first-run film. Club Treasurer Mary Gail Biebel said the club hopes to open with the smash hit Toy Story 3, but won’t learn what film it will land for the showing until Tuesday. On Sunday, July 11, the Club will restart its Sunday afternoon showings of an art film movie house.... With the orchestra pit, backstage area, and dressing room still in place, Biebel said the theater could someday serve a dual purpose—showing movies at night and providing a stage for readings or performances during the day. “It would be great for readings,” she said. Read the entire story in ccScoop.