Carole Osterink was at last night's informal Common Council meeting in Hudson and reports that Holcim attorney Donald Stever and O&G's Kenneth Faroni sent a letter in response to one from CC president Donald Moore, and anyone following the current waterfront discussion in Hudson will find it and the comments on Osterink's Gossips of Rivertown blog fascinating. Osterink also says that, "Mayor Scalera reported that CSX had agreed to repair the Ferry Street bridge in time for the Flag Day parade. They will replace the rotted planking 'to get through the weekend' and put plywood on the footbridge. CSX also said they would 'try to put it in some capital plan.'" NY Senator Chuck Schumer will attend the Flag Day parade, and Osterink says Scalera will show him the bridge then, and ask for help.

Julia Reischel in the Watershed Post:

National rural-issues website The Daily Yonder ran an article yesterday exhorting rural businesses to form "clusters" if they want to thrive. The thrust of the story is counter-intuitive -- the author, Stuart Rosenfeld, argues that rather than competing for customers, similar small businesses operating near each other seem to attract more business for all. He cites Vermont's booming sustainable agriculture economy as an example:

Though the second smallest state in population, Vermont stands head and shoulders above every other state based on its per capita concentrations of local farms, CSAs (community supported agriculture), organic farms, and farmers markets. This is important because groups of related businesses — clusters — are now thought to be essential for economic growth. Businesses are more efficient when they are clustered. Workers generally earn more. Related business clusters can feed off each other.

The last section of the article has tips for how to build a cluster. Food for thought for the Catskills, perhaps?

Agriculture is no longer just crops and animals in Vermont. Except for the largest dairy farms, economic survival and growth depend on rural families finding ways to supplement their income from the food they produce though other innovative market opportunities. They may offer weekend farm stays, start catering services, process their own foods, direct sales to local markets, create artisan products and brands or produce renewable energy by selling biomass, wind power, or operating methane digesters.

Read the entire story at Watershed Post.

Debora Gilbert at The Columbia Paper reports:

Dutchess County resident Susan Tooker threw her hat into the ring at the annual Columbia County Democratic Committee dinner Sunday night, announcing her decision to run against Marc Molinaro (R) in the 103rd Assembly District. A working mother, registered nurse, nurse practitioner and union member, who is pro-choice and in favor of marriage equality, Ms. Tooker was introduced as the Democrats’ choice of an opponent to challenge the two-term GOP incumbent at the Democrats’ third annual Martin Van Buren Testimonial Dinner June 6 at the Columbia Golf and Country Club in Claverack. Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

[caption id="attachment_1667" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The scene at the East Durham Irish Festival last weekend. Photo by Tony Fallon."][/caption]WGXC's Tony Fallon was on the scene last weekend at the East Durham Irish Festival, and contributes these photos and interviews:

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with East Durham Irish Festival Director Tom McGoldrick or paste this url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsTomMcGoldrick.wav

[caption id="attachment_1668" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="All shades of green."][/caption]

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with young performer Sheena Mullin, or paste this url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/TonyFalloninterviewsSheenaMullin.mp3

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with Frankie Curran, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsFrankieCurran.wav

[caption id="attachment_1670" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Three generations of Irish at the Festival."][/caption]

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with Sgt. Michael Roy, one of the soldier's memorialized with bricks at the festival. Or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsfriendofSgtMichaelRoy.mp3

Click on this sentence to hear an mp3 recording of an interview with http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06 Shioban at the East Durham Irish Festival, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsShioban.wav

Tony Fallon interviews Debbie Jones of Irish Village USA, about the memorial bricks, at the festival, click here to listen or paste this url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsIrishFest.mp3

WGXC's Sam Sebren recorded sounds & took photos in Albany last Saturday at the Upstate Artist Guild where Albany Sonic Arts Collective presented the following bands::
[caption id="attachment_1651" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Cruudeuces from North Adams, MA performed first at ASC."][/caption]
Cruudeuces (Nate Brennan), from North Adams, MA, performed first. Click here, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/Cruudeuces_ASC_WGXC_052910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1652" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Jefferson Pitcher performed second at ASC."][/caption]Jefferson Pitcher from Troy, NY performed second. Click here, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/JeffersonPitcher_ASC_WGXC_052910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1653" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Matt from Pine Smoke Lodge."][/caption]
Pine Smoke Lodge, from Portland, ME, performed third, Matt to the left and Hillary to the right. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/PineSmokeLodge_ASC_WGXC_052910.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1655" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Albany\'s Grab Ass Cowboys finished the night."][/caption]Grab Ass Cowboy's, from Albany, NY, played last. Click here, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/GrabAssComboys_ASC_WGXC_052910.mp3

This recording by WGXC volunteer Ira Sher of the Athens Cultural Center reading series May 15, 2010, features poets Brenda Coultas and Christopher Stackhouse and fiction writer Lynne Tillman. Click here or on the ACC logo to listen to an mp3 audio recording of the reading, or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06
/poetry_AthensCulturalCenter_051510.mp3

[caption id="attachment_1642" align="alignright" width="112" caption="Claude Haton and Harry Gottlieb at the Cairo Open Mic, May 28, 2010 at Gallagher\'s."][/caption]WGXC's Debra Kamecke recorded the Cairo Open Mic, sponsored by WGXC and Cairo Library, as the monthly event finished its seasonal run inside Gallagher's on Main St. last Friday (it moves to Cairo town park Fri. June 18), with performances from acapella singing group The Cats, poet Tony Fallon, and guitarist Mike Ryan among the performances. This recording got cut off at the end, so the performance of Claude Haton and Harry Gottlieb (pictured) is not included. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording or paste the following url into your computer's media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/06/
CairoOpenMic_052810.mp3

River Basin's Striper Contest ended today with Eric Borchert bringing in the winner, a 47"-er from the Hudson River.

Rep. Scott Murphy got attacked from the left last week, for a letter sent to the FCC that net neutrality proponents claim was parroting big Telecom. Murphy and 73 other Democrats allegedly, "sold you out to AT&T, Verizon and Comcast," targeted e-mail messages sent to constituents in the districts of Murphy and the other members of Congress who signed a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski on May 24 asserted. A letter from Working Assets, the progressive long-distance service, and their "CREDO Action" group says, "They signed industry-backed letters telling the FCC to abandon efforts to protect Internet users by prohibiting big companies from blocking Internet traffic." Another e-mail from Timothy Karr at Free Press Action Fund said, "Almost every one of these representatives has accepted massive contributions from the phone and cable lobby. Now the industry is demanding a return on its investment." Murphy's staff lined up to defend their boss last week, with chief of staff Todd Schulte sending out an e-mail to supporters saying, "Congressman Murphy is in favor of an open Internet to benefit consumers and technological innovation. The email claims the letter states Scott is opposed to net neutrality – the letter says no such thing." Yes, the letter Murphy signed is vague, but can easily be read as threatening to net neutrality proponents. Schulte also says Murphy favors, "dramatically expand[ing] broadband access, and that we need an internet regime that protects and benefits consumers first and foremost. Scott has concerns about using a decades old provision to regulate a medium totally unimagined when the telephone network first expanded across the nation." Search Murphy's website for the phrase "net neutrality" and "No documents match your query." But search the OpenSecrets website, and Karr seems wrong about at least Murphy's campaign coffers. Here is the top twenty list of Murphy's largest contributors, sorted by industry:
Democratic/Liberal $414,467 $3
Securities & Investment $341,621
Leadership PACs $236,900
Candidate Committees $189,450
Lawyers/Law Firms $149,000
Retired $144,451
Misc Finance $101,013
Public Sector Unions $84,750
Commercial Banks $63,850
Building Trade Unions $62,350
Real Estate $61,944
Transportation Unions $59,500
Industrial Unions $50,000
Insurance $48,000
TV/Movies/Music $42,550
Misc Unions $42,500
Pro-Israel $41,598
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $39,946
Lobbyists $38,459
Health Professionals $34,300

His top contributors:
ActBlue $307,407
Advantage Capital Partners $40,750
JStreetPAC $39,598
Goldman Sachs $34,150
JPMorgan Chase & Co $26,550
AmeriPAC: The Fund for a Greater America $25,500
Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $25,000
Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte $20,410
American Federation of Teachers $20,250
BRIDGE PAC $20,000
New Democrat Coalition $20,000
Impact $20,000
PAC to the Future $20,000
National Venture Capital Assn $20,000
American Fedn of St/Cnty/Munic Employees $20,000
Plumbers/Pipefitters Union $20,000
IntercontinentalExchange Inc $17,100
DE Shaw & Co $15,400
Service Employees International Union $15,000
American Resort Development Assn $15,000
Teamsters Union $15,000
Blue Dog PAC $15,000 $0 $15,000
United Food & Commercial Workers Union $15,000
American Crystal Sugar $15,000
Metalmark Capital $15,000

Attacks on Murphy from the right may begin again, as on Friday, he voted to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which passed the House, 234-194.

WGXC checked in with the staff of Murphy's Republican opponent this fall, and Chris Gibson opposes net neutrality and the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The Niverville-based Haitian Community Development Project is raising funds by recycling inkjet cartridges and used cell phones. When you recycle your inkjet cartridges and cell phones HCDP gets 15 donation from Planet Green, and folks can buy new remanufactured cartridges at up to 70 percent discounts. Click here for full details.

This weekend:

THU-SAT
Upstate II at Nicole Fiacco Gallery. Melora Kuhn, Catherine Mosley, Erik Schoonebeek, and Allyson Strafella. Tue-Sat, noon-6 p.m.

Dots, Lines and Figures at Carrie Haddad Gallery. Michael McLaighlin, Ben Shecter, Donise English, and Jeff Briggs.

“Maii:” The Wonder of Water by Diata Diata International Folkloric Theatre with the Hudson Opera House, an original play by Pamela Badila at 7 p.m. at Hudson Intermediate School.

FRIDAY
Cairo Open Mic sponsored by WGXC and Cairo Library. 7-9 p.m., with jam until 9:30 p.m. at Gallagher's, 513 Main St. in Cairo.

FODfest jam honoring Daniel Pearl at 8 p.m. Club Helsinki, Hudson.

SAT-SUN
33rd Annual East Durham Irish Festival includes the Elders from Kansas City; Black 47 and Shillelagh Law from New York City; Barleyjuice from Philadelphia; and Hair of the Dog from Albany, N.Y.; Contemporary Irish Music featuring The Andy Cooney Band; the New York Showband with Tommy Flynn and Jameson’s Revenge from New York City; Searson from Ontario, Canada and the Kitty Kelly Band from Albany, N.Y. are just a few of the bands that will be performing. Pipe Bands and Irish Step Dancing Schools are an added feature each day.

SATURDAY
Tannersville Rubber Duck Race, Crazy Boat Race & Festival 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., Gooseberry Creek in the Village of Tannersville ending by the Rip Van Winkle Lake. Free admission.

Pine Smoke Lodge/Cruudeuces/Fossils From the Sun/Jefferson Pitcher at Upstate Artists Guild, Albany.

Just Wear White Memorial Day party from Trixie with DJ Gio at Red Dot, Hudson. 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $10 includes free drink.

SUNDAY
Memorial Day Parade, 2 p.m., Main St., Catskill.

Music From China, a New York-based ensemble that specializes in both traditional and contemporary Chinese music. 2 p.m. at Hudson Opera House. $7 per person or $20 for the entire family!

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at 8 p.m. at Club Helsinki, Hudson.

Bella's Bartok performs at Blue Plate Restaurant in Chatham at 9:30 p.m., $5.

MONDAY
Cairo Memorial Day Observance
Sponsored by American Legion Post #983, Town of Cairo, and WGXC.
9 a.m.: WWI Monument Wreath-Laying, Main St. Fountain.
9:15 a.m.: WWII Monument Wreath-Laying on Library Lawn.
9:30 a.m.: Doughnuts and coffee at Cairo Fire House.
11 a.m.: Parade steps off near Great American.
Noon: Memorial Service in Angelo Canna Park.
12:30: Refreshments and music at Pavillion.
WGXC will provide sound system.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd8AHwIHqX0&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0]
Dick Oatts/Joe Locke Duo performed May 22 at the Athens Cultural Center via Planet Arts.

The Greene County Democratic Committee picked David E. Woodin as their candidate to succeed retiring Daniel K. Lalor as Greene County Judge in a meeting held tonight at Lange’s in Acra. Woodin has clerked for Hon. John J. Fromer, Hon. James J. Battisti, Hon. George J. Pulver and, for the past 19 years, for Judge Lalor. Woodin also leads the Catskill Community Orchestra.

Diata Diata International Folkloric Theatre in part with the Hudson Opera House present "Maii:" The Wonder Of Water. An original play by Pamela Badila respecting the essence and purity of many different exaggerated aspects of water. Free admission. Thu-Sat at 7 p.m. at Hudson Intermediate School.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Garth Slocum via City of Hudson."][/caption]Sam Pratt reports that Hudson assessor Garth Slocum and one of the Hudson city attorneys who lives in Spencertown, and perhaps others, are serving as officers of the city of Hudson illegally. Pratt first finds the rule:

"Section C2-4 of Hudson’s Charter says that to “be eligible to any City office under this Charter,” a person must be an elector of the City. Or, if the person is not a Hudson voter but wishes to serve in an appointed position, then s/he must meet two requirements:
1. The appointee must live “within 15 road miles” of Hudson; and
2. “Be a taxpayer on the real property assessment rolls of the City of Hudson.”

"Slocum lives in Chatham, well within the 15 'road miles' of Hudson.... But Slocum’s name does not seem to show up in the Hudson 2010 tentative roll as a local taxpayer. The question, then, is: Does he own some property through a corporate name? And if so, would that qualify?"

Ryder Cooley created this poster for the Rock 'n' Roll Benefit Show for WGXC Community Radio at Club Helsinki June 19:

Marist College's Bureau of Economic Research just released an "Economic Report of the Hudson Valley." Some interesting facts: "During the two-year period ending in 2008, total migration into and out of Columbia County resulted in a net loss of 31 households and a $27.12 million increase in adjusted gross income (AGI)" and during that same time, "total migration into and out of Greene County resulted in a net gain of 247 households and $15.50 million in adjusted gross income (AGI)." Ulster and Sullivan were the only other Mid-Hudson counties with population gains from 2006-2008. H/T The Daily Freeman.

Little Assemblies
May 17 - June 21, 2010 at Incident Report, an experimental viewing station for visual projects, 348 Warren St., Hudson.

Anthony Graves, an artist and writer based in Ithaca and Brooklyn and visiting lecturer at Cornell’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning, contributes the current Incident Report: Thinker in the Marketplace contains a silkscreen of excerpted text from Hannah Arendt's Life of the Mind, and a copy of Richard S. Sloma's No-Nonsense Planning (1984), two instances of 'thinking in the marketplace.' 1989 refers to publication date of Deborah Hoover's Supporting Yourself as an Artist, as well as a decisive year in the attacks on the NEA. (This was the year the Mapplethorpe exhibition was cancelled at the Corcoran.) The Bad Comrade is a reference to Russian Constructivists' notion of socialist commodities or objects-as-comrades, ascribed to Aleksandr Rodchenko.

Jason Horowitz in The Washington Post says there is a chance New York Senator Chuck Schumer will be the Senate's next majority leader:

Now, with confidant Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) hanging on to his seat by a thread, the Brooklynite is nearing the goal line of his long game. Succeeding Reid would make Schumer the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in American history and, more important for the uber-competitive politician, the first among peers. The senator has thrust himself into the center of issues including jobs, immigration and Supreme Court hearings, but as that momentum has carried him into a more intimate arena where popularity matters, the grating architect of the current Democratic majority has become noticeably more collegial. Perhaps not coincidentally, his colleagues see him as the front-runner to be their leader. "It's very much within the realm of possibility," said Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who lost a race for minority leader to South Dakota's Tom Daschle by a vote in 1994. "He's always moving and always talking to people and he has a very good feel for what other people have to put up with. And that's a critical point of that job, understanding the environment your colleague has to operate in." Read the entire story in The Washington Post.