This week's episode of the radio show "This American Life" focuses on New York's Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch and the state's abysmal government. Gov. David Paterson, Sens. Ruben Diaz Sr., Hugh Farley, Tom Libous, Liz Krueger and Roy McDonald as well as Assemblymen Brian Kolb, Jim Hayes and Sandra Galef all are characters in the story available from their website.

"Gasland," the documentary by Josh Fox about natural gas hydraulic fracking, airs tonight at 9 p.m. on HBO. Watch the YouTube trailer above.

[caption id="attachment_1816" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Ellen Thurston started the Hudson Pride ceremonies at Promenade Park. Hudson Pride organizer Victor Mendolia is also pictured. Photos by Tom Roe."][/caption]
Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of the entire Hudson Pride event June 20, 2010 at Promenade Park. Speakers and performers included Victor Mendolia, Ellen Thurston, MC Trixie Starr (in photo above), Lady Moon, Hudson Mayor Rick Scalera, Isis Vemouth, William Hallenbeck (pictured below, next to Rick Scalera photo), NRG People, Charlie Ferrusi and Timmy Howard, Liv Carrow, Kathe Izzo, Albany Drag Queens, Bindlestiff Cirkus, Charmed and Dangerous, NY State Senate candidate Didi Barrett, NY State Assembly candidate Susan Tooker (photo below, next to Barrett), and many others.
[caption id="attachment_1818" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Rick Scalera at Hudson Pride."][/caption][caption id="attachment_1820" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Keith from the Bindlestiff Cirkus performed at Hudson Pride."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1821" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="NY State Senate candidate Didi Barrett at Hudson Pride."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1829" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="NRG at Hudson Pride."][/caption]

You can paste the following url into your computer's media player to listen to the recording:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/HudsonPride_WGXC_061910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1810" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Weight at Club Helsinki fundraiser for WGXC 061910."][/caption]The Weight performed at the WGXC fundraiser at Club Helsinki June 19, 2010. Click here to listen to mp3 recording of the performance, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/TheWeight_ClubHelsinki_WGXC_061910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1811" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Happy Birthday at WGXC benefit at Club Helsinki."][/caption]Happy Birthday also performed at the WGXC benefit at Club Helsinki. Click here to listen to their set, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/HappyBirthday_ClubHelsinki_WGXC_061910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1812" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="JP Harris and the Tough Choices at Club Helsinki for WGXC."][/caption]JP Harris and the Tough Choices opened up the WGXC fundraiser at CLub Helsinki. Click here to listen to the mp3, or paste this url into your computer's media player.
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/JPHarrisandToughChoices_ClubHelsinki_WGXC_061910.mp3

Greg Stewart, Mark Patton, Daniel + Elizabeth Hotter, and Tony Fallon were among the performers at tonight's Cairo Open Mic in Cairo town park, sponsored by the Cairo Library and WGXC. Photos below are Stewart (left) and Fallon. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of the event, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/CairoOpenMic_CairoTownPark_CairoLibrary_WGXC_061810.MP3
[gallery columns="2"]

From Lissa Harris in the Watershed Post:

On the DEP's website, as of June 1: A 400-plus page Draft Environmental Impact Statement outlining proposed plans to extend New York City's program of land acquisition in its upstate watershed for another ten years. (Sorry we missed it. It might help if the DEP used their fancy online press-release system to alert us to these things.) The Catskill Daily Mail reports that town supervisors in the watershed, who helped draft the plans, are now slogging through them:

At Tuesday night’s Town of Hunter board meeting, Hunter Supervisor Dennis Lucas told those present that he is slowly working his way through the 410-page document. Lucas, who is chairman of the multi-county Coalition of Watershed Towns, is already very familiar with what he hopes to read in the document, having, along with his peers, helped shape its course during its development, so his reading is essentially to verify what did or did not make it in.

As the DEP's website notes, the DEIS is available in hard copy at several municipal offices around the watershed as well as online. Public hearings to get input on its contents will be scheduled for next month. (Hopefully soon.) But if you want to speak up, you'd better read it quickly: Public comments will only be accepted until about 10 days after the hearings, says DEP. Apparently Daily Mail reporter Jim Planck was as aggrieved as we were that the DEP didn't issue a press release. The City’s DEIS on its proposed extended Land Acquisition Program is available on line — in parts and as a whole unit — at www.nyc.gov, but was only locatable by searching the on-site terms “DEIS” and “acquisition.” Read the entire story in the Watershed Post.

Congressman Scott Murphy will present free books from Library of Congress to Chatham Public Library at 12:30 p.m. Monday June 21 at the library, 11 Woodbridge Ave., Chatham.

WGXC volunteer Sam Sebren recorded the Town of Catskill public hearing about outdoor wood boilers on June 16, 2010. The first few speakers are cut off due to a technological glitch. Click here to listen to an mp3 audio recording, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/CatskillTownPublicHearing_WoodBoilers_061610.mp3

Other media:
Daily Freeman preview.
Daily Mail preview.
Story about public hearing in Daily Mail.
Story about Greene County Legislature vote on outdoor wood boilers in Daily Mail.

Lissa Harris in the Watershed Post has an excellent story:

Sullivan County planners have been looking into building a small creamery, hoping to help the county's few dozen remaining dairy farms survive. Not so fast, says local economic consultant Marc Baez. The Sullivan County Democrat reported last week:

According to Baez’s calculations – using what he termed “very favorable assumptions” – a creamery would be lucky to break even unless it diversified beyond simply processing and shipping fluid milk. “The economies of scale work against all but the smallest and most specialized operations (e.g. on-farm cheese production) developed incrementally from the ground up or the very largest of facilities such as operated by the major players in the market,” Baez wrote in his report. “Small- to medium-size operations focused on fluid milk do not work, and even specialized facilities only work at a tiny scale. Your best bet,” he told the IDA board, “is to focus on yogurt, cheese and premium ice cream.”

Baez mentioned Hudson Valley Fresh as a success story.... Another local dairy venture that's making forays into both cheese-type things and "milk with a story": NYmilk, an all-organic brand that's been gaining some traction on grocery shelves lately. NYmilk co-founder Dean Sparks has got a blog, which you can find here. And here's a Q&A with Sparks and farmer Dan France, on the Mindful Eats blog. Read the entire story at Watershed Post.

Sat. June 26 in Athens, organized by last name. Greene County residents only.

New York State Senator James Seward will judge the Greene County Department of Aging Senior Citizens Cook-Off at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 18 at the Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy Street, Catskill.

Dear WGXC community members,

This weekend is a busy blur of activities on both sides of the Hudson River, as Pride events take place in Catskill on Saturday and Hudson on Sunday. WGXC starts its weekend in Cairo Friday night, with the Cairo Open Mic sponsored by the Cairo Library and WGXC in the town park at 7 p.m. Saturday morning we move to Catskill's Dutchmen's Landing for a "Mind Body Spirit" gathering with healer Vicki Lagoudis. About that same time, WGXC folk will also be at the opening of the Catskill Farmer's Market, along Main St. Then, Saturday night night WGXC has a rock 'n' roll blowout at Club Helsinki, with JP Harris and the Tough Choices, The Weight, and Happy Birthday performing. Sunday, we will be lending a PA and running sound near the Waterfront in Hudson, where the Pride parade ends. Tune in www.wgxc.org for live updates on Twitter, the WGXC Newsroom blog, and Facebook, and read below for details about each event.

A Rock 'n' Roll Benefit Show for WGXC Community Radio at Club Helsinki

June 19, 2010: 9 p.m.



Club Helsinki Hudson

405 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534

518-828-4800






Rock 'n' Roll Benefit Show for WGXC Community Radio

WGXC is gearing up for its grand launch onto the airwaves this fall, and just needs to raise the remaining bucks to do so. On Saturday, June 19,
three bands will help take up the cause by taking to the newly-opened stage of Club Helsinki. Comprising an unrelenting cross-section of
American music today, all three acts have more than just old friendships in common: None of them have left a stage in the last year without everyone in the room sweaty, wild-eyed, and screaming for more. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see three bands that are truly shaking the foundations of independent music, all on one stage.



Because of their love for independent community radio, these bands are traveling all the way to Hudson to play this blowout benefit for this area's soon-to-be very own community radio station, WGXC.



The Weight: If this doesn't move your body, all hope is lost. "While there's certainly no shortage of classic rock / Americana revival bands in Brooklyn these days, The Weight... have the drawl and enthusiasm to make the rest sound like they're reading off cue cards." -Vice Magazine
www.myspace.com/theweightnyc




Happy Birthday, with their self-titled debut on Sub Pop records (L7, Nirvana, Reverend Horton Heat, etc.) are making waves. Poppy, sour-bubblegum waves. The kind that makes you keep chewing even though it makes your mouth water too much, your eyes tear, and your feet propel your body up and down off the floor. The kind of wave that makes you smile and dance until it hurts. A lot.
www.subpop.com/artists/happy_birthday



J.P. Harris and The Tough Choices play old-fashioned Honky Tonk. Period. If you wanna two-step, if you wanna cry in your drink, or if you just like scruffy young fellas in Wranglers, find them in a low-lit roadhouse near you.

Tickets $10 advance for WGXC Founding Members/$12 advance for others/$15 door everyone

All proceeds will go to help launch the very exciting new community radio station for Columbia and Greene counties, WGXC. Check out www.wgxc.org for more info.

www.myspace.com/thetoughchoices




BUY TICKETS THROUGH BROWN PAPER TICKETS:


WGXC Founding Members get ticket discount. Type in "WGXC" in discount window.





http://helsinkihudson.com/

For more information:

http://www.wgxc.org/events/2316

Mind Body Spirit Gathering

June 19, 2010: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.


Dutchmen's Landing


Catskill, NY


Admission: $10, benefits WGXC



Enjoy a tranquil morning by the river with Transformational Healer Vicki Lagoudis to help community radio station WGXC. Melt away stress, eliminate pain, bring peace and harmony into your life. Experience the healing power of:

* QiGong

* Drumming

* Reiki

* Meditation


For more information please contact: Vicki Lagoudis, Teachingspirit@aol.com, 518-314-9681.



Come out to learn more about community radio and WGXC, and how you can be involved. Minimum $10 donation goes to bringing WGXC and community radio to this area. And come to Catskill for a big day of relaxing before the Gay Pride festivities.


http://www.teachingspirit.com

Cairo Open Mic

June 18, 2010: 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.


Cairo town park


Cairo, NY

Sponsored by Cairo Library and WGXC

free



Every month the Cairo Library and WGXC put on the Cairo Open Mic, with all sorts of musicians, poets, dancers, bands, and other local acts performing. WGXC provides a live webcast and records and archives the performances at www.wgxc.org. This free event moves back to the Cairo Town Park Pavillion this month.

WGXC IS CO-SPONSORING THE FOLLOWING EVENTS

WGXC did not organize the following events, but is lending support.

WGXC at Catskill Farmer's Market

WGXC will be covering the opening of the new Catskill Farmer's Market on Main St. in Catskil Saturday morning. WGXC staff and volunteers
will be around to answer questions about the area's new community radio station.

WGXC at Hudson Pride

WGXC co-sponsors the first-ever
Hudson Pride festival June 19-20. There is a sunset cruise Saturday night and a Sunday afternoon parade and rally.

Saturday June 19


Sunset Cruise on the Spirit of Hudson

Departs from Henry Hudson Waterfront Park

Boards 6:30 PM

Sails 7 PM - 9 PM



Saturday June 20



Hudson Pride Parade

Starts at 7th Street Park at Warren Street and continues down Warren Street to Front Street

Parade line up 11:30 AM. Parade steps off at Noon.




Hudson Pride Festival

Rally, Performances, Music, Vendors

Location: TBD

1 PM - 5 PM




Hudson Pride Tea Dance

Location: TBD

5 PM - 9 PM

http://www.hudsonpride.com/

MEN, Frankie Martin, and NRG People

MEN with Frankie Martin and NRG People

June 23, 2010: 7:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Cannonball Factory, 359 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534

Admission: $10



Jean Deux Records presents and WGXC co-sponsors:




MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music. MEN speaks to issues such as wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties through lyrical content and an exciting stage show. The group began in 2007 as the DJ/production/remix team of Le Tigre members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. When the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with JD's other project Hirsute. JD and original Hirsute members Michael O'Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR, The Ballet) now comprise the core of MEN, with Johanna Fateman and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers.


with special guests Frankie Martin

and
Hudson's NRG People.

Monday Volunteer Day at WGXC

WGXC volunteers currently meet each Monday at the WGXC Hudson Studio, 704 Columbia St. on the park and next
to the railroad tracks. WGXC folks are in the office all day, and
a general volunteer meeting is held every Monday at 6:30 p.m. This week Emily Bennison will lead the volunteer meeting. E-mail Kaya at kaya@wgxc.org about being part of the WGXC team The WGXC studio is located at 704 Columbia St., Hudson, second floor. New volunteers are welcomed every week.

Both area State Senators -- James Seward (R/C/I-Oneonta) in Greene County and Steve Saland (R-Poughkeepsie) in Columbia -- voted against the governor’s extender bill that passed tonight 34-27, with three Republicans voting for it. Click below to listen to a mp3 "radio cut" Senator Seward's office provided, about his vote. Click here to hear mp3 from James Seward.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Brian Dewan performing in "Rip's Retreat" cabin at Carl's Motor Lodge, Catskill, a long piece about Rip Van Winkle."][/caption]
WGXC Online Radio aired Max Goldfarb's "Deep Cycle" project today, traveling from the Firefighter's Museum in Hudson to Luk Oil in Cairo. Along the way, the M49 radio truck parked at Carl's Motor Lodge in Catskill, where Catskillian Brian Dewan emerged from the "Rip's Retreat" cabin to perform this long-form tracking of the story of Rip Van Winkle from the 18th to 21st centuries. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of Dewan's performance, or paste this url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/briandewan_deepcycle_wgxc_061310.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1740" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Oxen pull the M49 radio truck in the Hudson Flag Day parade, with WGXC Online Radio live from inside the truck."][/caption]Here we are right now live at the Hudson Flag Day parade in the M49 radio truck for Max Goldfarb's "Deep Cycle" project. We will be live webstreaming, live blogging and Tweeting all day from inside the M49 radio truck as it is pulled by oxen (Gus and Pete) down Hudson's streets.[caption id="attachment_1742" align="alignright" width="112" caption="Max Goldfarb leads the troops during the Hudson Flag Day parade."]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1753" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Inside the M49 and outside the M49."][/caption]
[caption id="attachment_1759" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Gus and Sam proved unwieldy drivers, and had to be unhooked."][/caption]

New York State Assemblyman Pete Lopez is now releasing a weekly schedule of local public appearances and this week he is in our area for several appearances:

Saturday, June 12:
10 a.m.: Tri-Valley Rod and Gun Club Youth Field Day, 81 Rod and Gun Club Road, Valatie.
2 p.m.: Hudson Elks Lodge #787 Flag Day Parade

Sunday, June 13:
6 p.m.: Public meeting regarding new laws relating to the use of Outdoor Wood Burners at Frank D. Greco Senior Center, 207 Market Street in Saugerties.

Monday, June 14:
9 a.m.: Flag Day & Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony at Germantown Central School, 123 Main Street in Germantown.

Friday, June 18:
12:30 p.m.: Greene County Office of Aging Senior Cook-Off at Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy Street in Catskill.

Deep Cycle: Reincarnation of Herman Meydag

June 12, 2010: 2 p.m. – June 13, 2010

Max Goldfarb’s
Deep Cycle: Reincarnation of Herman Meydag
Parade • Procession • Publication

Live webstream today 1-3 p.m. Click here to listen or paste this url into your computer's media player:
http://comm.free103point9.org:8000/m49.mp3.m3u

Also, live Twittering/blogging from in the Hudson Flag Day parade at the WGXC Newsroom.

June 12, 2010, 2 p.m.
Hudson Elks Flag Day Parade
Warren Street, Hudson, NY

June 13, 2010, 2 p.m.
Procession
streamed live at free103point9.org & WGXC.org

November 2010
Publication
details to be announced

June 12: Parade
Max Goldfarb’s Mobile49 (M49), a functional-symbolic emergency vehicle, will engage with the Hudson Flag Day Parade spectacle on Saturday June 12, 2010 (http://hudsonelksflagdayparade.com/). Central to Deep Cycle, the M49 will be a motorcade participant, displaying newly-completed customizations for mobile, solar-powered transmission, and towed by oxen along the parade route. Additional performative elements will be presented from the vehicle throughout the parade. Viewers are invited to experience the parade on Warren Street in the City of Hudson at 2 p.m.

June 13: Procession
After appearing among the fire brigades and marching bands of the Flag Day Parade, the Deep Cycleproject will unfold along a carefully established path constructed around a stretch of Route 23 from Hudson to Cairo, NY. Deep Cycle threads together a constellation of area-specific performance incidents using the truck itself as a framing mechanism and as an instrument for articulating the work through low-power radio transmission and web streams. The program ties together conditions, histories and interpretations of sites that are not conventionally or geographically associated as a function of its mobility. Thematically; consumption, waste, destruction and transformation are at the core of Deep Cycle’s narrative.

November: Publication
Texts, transcripts, drawings, photographs and more will be included in the subsequent book to be completed Fall 2010.

From Watershed Post, preliminary design by, "a crack team of town supervisors and tourism directors working with a graphic designer from the New York State Department of Transportation" for new signs throughout Catskill Park."

From Dick May's Seeing Greene blog:"...in GreeneLand, as usual, the job situation is worse than other nearby counties. Percentages of unemployed persons in relation to total membership of the “work force,” in April of this year as compared with the previous month and with the same month last year:

The Chatham "Village chalkboard" reports there will be a public hearing for Charter Communications cable contract in Chatham at 7 p.m., just before the regular Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Tracy Memorial Village Hall, 77 Main St.