New York on the Potomac points readers to local response rates for the U.S. Census:

"Roughly two out of every five households in New York has returned its 2010 census form — putting the Empire State just below the nation’s average response rate of 46 percent, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau....In Columbia County, 41 percent of households have mailed back the form....In Greene County, the participation rate is 37 percent."

Census rates are used to determine representation in towns, counties, Albany, and Washington, and census rates determine monies that local governments receive.

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

(The brook trout, left, and the rainbow trout, right, from DEC.)

From DEC:

"Trout season opens April 1 in New York State, and anglers can again look forward to a great year of fishing, thanks to the natural diversity of angling opportunities within New York and management of the state's fisheries by DEC. Due to the existing snowpack and high flow in many of the state's rivers and streams, anglers are urged to use extreme caution along slippery stream banks and while wading in high water. The early season is a great time to try some of the smaller tributaries. Smaller streams will have more manageable flows, and are also more likely to hold larger populations of wild trout. Although many of the larger, more popular streams are more reliant on stocked fish, last year's relatively cool, wet summer promises plenty of holdover fish from last year's stocking. Remember, everyone 16-years-old and over needs a valid fishing license to fish on any of New York's waters. While children do not require a fishing license, adults who assist a child in taking or attempting to take fish, are considered to be fishing themselves, and therefore need to have a valid fishing license. Anglers and New York fishing tackle retailers are reminded that effective May 7, 2004, the sale of small lead sinkers weighing a half-ounce or less is prohibited in New York State. Selling jig heads, weighted flies, artificial lures or weighted line is not included in this prohibition. Although the law does not prohibit the use of lead sinkers of this size, anglers are encouraged to use non-lead alternatives which are readily available in tackle stores. Ingestion of lead sinkers can result in the death of loons and waterfowl. The general creel limit for brook, brown and rainbow trout is five fish. The open season for trout in most New York State waters runs from April 1 through October 15, but there are exceptions in all DEC regions, so anglers should check the Fishing Regulations Guide before heading out. There are also new procedures for fishing New York City reservoirs. Updated information and permit applications can be obtained using the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) link below, or by calling NYC DEP at 800-575-LAND."

Democrat Congressman Scott Murphy (NY-20) held a town hall meeting at 2 p.m. today in Coxsackie at the Senior Center (formerly Knights of Columbus building) at 127 Mansion St., with several constituents asking him about his recent "yes" vote on the health care reform bill. WGXC recorded the Town Hall, and you can listen to an mp3 recording here. Afterwards, Murphy answered a few questions from the local media, including a WGXC question about his appropriation request for the Cairo Library. Listen to the Greene County media ask Rep. Murphy questions here, another mp3 recording. Yesterday, Republicans made it official that Kinderhook's Chris Gibson will run against Murphy in November.
Audio links:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/04/
ScottMurphy_CoxsackieTownHall_WGXC_040110.mp3
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/04/
ScottMurphy_Coxsackiemediaquestions_WGXC_040110.mp3

WGXC recorded the nomination speech of Kinderhook Republican Congressional hopeful Chris Gibson today at 3 p.m. at the Desmond Hotel near the Albany airport. Click here to listen to an mp3 recording of Gibson's short speech plus four questions from the assembled media. WGXC's Tom Roe asks Gibson what he would do to help struggling dairy farmers in rural Greene and Columbia counties. Gibson said he supported the concept of eating locally grown food, and mentioned a farm workers bill in the state legislature. Gibson will try and unseat Democratic incumbent Scott Murphy in the fall. Gibson was the point guard of the Ichabod Crane High School basketball team, and a Colonel with 24 years in the Army including four combat tours of Iraq and one tour in Kosovo, with an array of medals such as a Purple Heart and two Legions of Merit. He has a Masters in Public Administration and PhD in Government from Cornell University, and served as a Congressional Fellow with U.S. Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA).

(Brian Kehoe, Vincent Seeley, and Angelo Amato at the League of Women Voters/WGXC Candidate Forum, March 20, 2010 at Catskill Community Center.)

From Susan Campriello in The Daily Mail:

"Catskill voters selected Tuesday incumbent Village President Vincent Seeley and political newcomer Brian Kehoe for two Trustee positions on the Village Board. Trustees serve three-year terms. Seeley, a Republican who was endorsed by Catskill’s Republican and Democratic parties, received 258 votes, Village Clerk Carolyn Pardy announced shortly after the polls closed at 9 p.m. Kehoe, a Democrat, received 218 votes. Incumbent Trustee Angelo Amato, a Republican, received 172 votes to finish out of the running in the at-large election. [Unopposed ] incumbent Village Justice Charles Adsit was re-elected with 186 votes. Adsit has served on the bench since 1996."

From Local 'n Green:

"Town of Chatham cleanup Monday, April 5, 4-6 p.m. or Saturday, April 10 noon-2 p.m.; longer if people want to stay and help. Particular location in Chatham to be announced. Please wear grubby clothes and gardening or work gloves if you have them. If you can't make either date, trash bags are available free at Town Hall during regular office hours, or at the CR13 Town Highway Dept location, and you can clean up whatever Town Road you'd like to see less trash strewn! Once bags are full, drop them in the dumpster behind Town Hall."

Democrat Didi Barrett will announce her candidacy for the District 41 New York State Senate seat now held by Republican Steve Saland on Wed. April 7 at two locations:
Dutchess County – 10 a.m., Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, Hudson River Pavilion, 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie;
Columbia County – 1:30 p.m., Columbia County Courthouse, 401 Union Street, Hudson.

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vV8wi35O88&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

Leigh Hornbeck of Capitol Confidential reports:

"Asked why [Chris] Gibson [of Kinderhook] is making his announcement outside the 20th Congressional District, Gibson spokesman Rob Clark said it is because that is where the 10 county chair people are meeting and Gibson is having his event there so, 'everyone is in one place.' Retired Army colonel Chris Gibson has an event scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Desmond [hotel in Albany], presumably to announce he has enough votes in the 10-county 20th Congressional District to claim the Republican nomination. Gibson and Patrick Ziegler, a Burnt Hills life insurance salesman with ties to the Conservative Party and the Tea Party movement, are vying for the chance to take on Congressman Scott Murphy, a Democrat from Glens Falls."

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

Congressman Scott Murphy (D-NY20) holds public meetings in Hudson and Coxsackie on April 1. Murphy will hold a meeting at 9:30 a.m. at Stageworks in Hudson, at 41 Cross St. At 2 p.m., he will be at the Coxsackie Senior Center, 127 Mansion St. (formerly the Knights of Columbus building).

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

(Kay Stamer presents Hudson Talbott with Distinguished Service Award.)

The Greene County Council on the Arts held their 22nd annual Beaux Arts Ball fundraiser Saturday night at Hunter Mountain, and honored local author, illustrator, and community activist Hudson Talbott with its Distinguished Service Award. Kay Stamer, executive director of the arts council, presented Talbott with the award. Talbott, who is also a member of the WGXC Radio Council, has written many books, including last year's highly praised "River of Dreams."

The Cairo Library and WGXC held a co-fundraiser Talent Show Friday night at Cairo Elementary School, that was a grand success. The Daily Mail has a story about the event here. We will post photos and a recording of the event soon. The winners:
ADULT
First place: Greg Stewart (played guitar and sang an original song)
Second place: Josh Adamson, as "Juan" (played guitar and sang an original song)
TEENS
First place: James Moore (played guitar along with a backing track of Guns 'N' Roses "Sweet Chid O' Mine")
Second place: Alex Hans and Maggie Saez as "Sun and Moon" (played keyboard and sang)
CHILDREN
First place: Keri Mahoney, Colin Mahoney, and Katie Feeney (step dancing)
Second place: Taylor Matzler and Taylor Nussbaumer as "TNT" (gymnastics and dancing)

Click here to listen to an mp3 audio recording of the entire evening, or paste this url into your media player:
http://data.wavefarm.org/2010/04/
CairoTalentShow_CairoLibrary_WGXC_032610.mp3

(WIOX engineer Dan Kelleher in the Roxbury station's new studio.)

New Roxbury community radio station WIOX held a station meeting Saturday morning at their new studios in the town's Masonic Hall, and announced they will begin test broadcasting on weekends this June, with full-time shows on after Labor Day. The station will broadcast on 91.7-FM in Delaware County, just west of Greene County.

The Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center is hosting a free film series:

World Water Day - Monday, March 22nd - 7 p.m. - "Flow"
- Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building [water] crisis, at both the global and human scale, while begging the question "can anyone really own water?"

Wednesday, April 7th - 7 p.m. - "Addicted to Plastic"
- From Styrofoam cups to artificial organs, plastics are perhaps the most ubiquitous and versatile material ever invented. What do we really know about this material of a thousand uses?

Wednesday, April 14th - 7 p.m. - "11th Hour"
- How are we impacting the earth's ecosystems, how have we arrived at this moment, and what we can do to change course?

The Hawthorne Valley Family Learning Center is located where the the old store used to be (between the CSA pickup and the new store). If you go out of the new store make a right and follow the pathway to the barn. You will hit another small parking lot after the white house on the right. The Hawthorn Valley Family Learning Center is the house on the barn side, right above the small parking lot (not the one closer to the CSA pickup).

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

Dick May's Seeing Greene blog has an exhaustive look at the Tuesday's Village of Catskill elections. May prints candidate statements from incumbent Angelo Amato and challenger Brian Kehoe, and tracks what those two say, as well as current Village President Vincent Seeley, on a variety of issues including taxes, fireworks, promotion, transparency, and alignment. He takes much of the material from the League of Women Voters- and WGXC-sponsored Candidate Forum last Saturday at the Catskill Community Center. (Listen by clicking here.) Polls at 1 Central Avenue, Catskill, will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, March 30. On the ballot are the three Village Board candidates -- Amato, Kehoe, and Seeley -- competing for two spots, and Charles Adsit, who is unopposed in his bid for re-election as Village Justice.

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QWbrkBGZWk&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Lady Moon performed Feb. 13 at the WGXC fundraiser at the Nicole Fiacco Gallery in Hudson.

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

From WRIP in Windham:

Lance Corporal Joshua Williamson, USMC of Grand Gorge, while on patrol in Afghanistan was wounded - shot in the lung. He was operated on in Germany and shipped to Walter Reed Hospital. In order for his parents to be with him, they need financial help. The Mountaintop Detachment #1274 of the Marine Corps League has opened an account for the Williamson family. Send your check, payable to "Josh Williamson Benefit" to
NBT Bank of Grand Gorge
PO Box 380
Grand Gorge, NY 12434
For more information, call Mountaintop Detachment Commander Roy Mower at 518-734-3853.

Incident Report is an experimental viewing station for visual projects, located in Hudson, NY. We are a model of portability, non-site, no-budget and low-maintenance. We offer an interface between the many publics of the street, and the concepts and issues generated by artists and social thinkers in a wide yet coherent spectrum.

Installation of Jule Lequin's "Car Talk": March 22 - April 19, 2010
Knitting together excerpts from the NPR show of the same name and my own fabricated responses, Car Talk presents a fictional conversation between myself and the two radio icons discussing my linguistic troubles, my Québécoise identity and life as an artist.

Car Talk from J Lequin on Vimeo.

Also one-night performance of Lequin's "Top 30," April 10 with special guests Thomas Morini and Jeremy Kelly. WGXC live broadcast on WGXC Online Radio at www.wgxc.org.

Performances at the Hudson Opera House:
April 10, 6-9 p.m. @ 327 Warren Street - Hudson, NY.

One Night Performance of Julie Lequin's, Top 30
With Special Music/Sound Performances by Jeremy Kelly and Thomas Kiko Morini

Julie Lequin (born in Laval, Quebec in 1979) is a French Canadian artist. She received a BFA from Concordia University (Montreal, PQ) in 2001 and an MFA from Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, CA) in 2005. Julie's multidisciplinary practice interweaves personal history with fictionalized events and circumstances in a manner that constantly blurs the line between the artist as individual and the artist as self-consciously constructed persona. Julie's first book and DVD project was published in 2007 by 2nd Cannons Publications. In 2008, Julie was awarded a fellowship from the California Community Foundation and residencies at Yaddo, Art Omi, and Macdowell Colony. In 2009, she exhibited at the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum in California, White Columns and Horton & Liu gallery in New York City. Julie is currently based in Quebec where she is working towards her next solo exhibition at the Darling Foundry in Montreal.

Thomas Kiko Morini is a two year resident musician of Hudson, NY. From Bogota, grown in Carmel, educated in Great Barrington and set out amongst the lively characters of Hudson. His music is inspired by theatrical integration, socialist fundamentals, and the progressive and active expression of love and spirituality. He is a volunteer for WGxC and has recently helped the station to organize the entertainment for the New Years Masquerade. He will be working this summer on a collective musical/theatrica/mixed medium performance art project to be presented over a full weekend at the Basilica Industria in July. This project will be open to community ideas and installations. He encourages all curiosity to be discussed.

Jeremy Kelly (b. 1980) is an electro-acoustic musician and instrument builder. Blending guitar pieces that have been compared to Six Organs of Admittance, Sandy Bull, James Blackshaw and John Fahey with modular synthesizer, found sound, looping and homemade electronics to create deep, immersing soundscapes. Jeremy has several releases available on his own Night Goat imprint, Digitalis Industries, Tape Drift Records and Reverb Worship, with forthcoming albums on House of Alchemy, Stunned Records And Digitalis. He will be joined by long time collaborator Geoff Maciolek (modular synthesizer, theremin and electronics), and a few special guest performers.

Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.

U.S. Representative Scott Murphy (D, NY20), who represents Greene and Columbia counties, has posted his appropriations requests online. The projects from Greene and Columbia, and nearby, include:

Preservation of Manufacturing Jobs through Renewable Energy and Creation of a Center for Sustainable Manufacturing, Hudson, New York
Amount: $1,000,000
On behalf of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, I requested that the FY 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations bill contain $1,000,000 to establish an investment fund for environmental sustainability projects focused on alternative energy. This project would also provide technical assistance to manufacturers increasing their facility energy efficiencies. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this investment will increase the use of alternative energy sources among manufacturing companies and small businesses, spurring job growth and technology innovation.
Recipient: Columbia Economic Development Corporation
4303 Route 9
Hudson, NY 12534

New York State Solar Electric Incentive Programs, Copake, New York
Amount: $35,100
On behalf of the Town of Copake, I requested that the FY 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations bill contain $35,100 to procure and install solar panels on the roof of the Copake Town Hall, adding rows of photovoltaic modules equating to a total rated power of 24.0kw (240v). This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this investment grows the solar industry, an important sustainable energy source, and stimulates our economy by creating jobs in solar manufacturing and installation.
Recipient: Town of Copake
230 Mountain View Road
Copake, NY 12516

Generator for Emergency Shelter, Livingston, New York
Amount: $19,000
On behalf of the Town of Livingston, Columbia County, I requested that the FY 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations bill contain $19,000 to procure equipment needed to provide electricity and heat to the Livingston Town Emergency Shelter during emergency conditions. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because this investment assures public safety and shelter to citizens during times of emergency.
Recipient: Town of Livingston
119 County Route 19
Livingston, NY 12541

The Village of Red Hook Water Project, Red Hook, New York
Amount: $1,000,000
On behalf of the Town of Red Hook, I requested that the FY 2011 Interior & Environment appropriations bill contain $1,000,000 for the installation of an alternative well field and controls. This is the first step in a plan to rehabilitate the Village's water infrastructure and provide the Village of Red Hook with a reliable source of drinking water. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure that the people of Red Hook have access to reliable and safe drinking water.
Recipient: The Village of Red Hook
7467 South Broadway
Red Hook, NY 128571

Remediation of Vanderburgh Cove Wastewater Project, Rhinebeck, New York
Amount: $233,750
On behalf of the Town of Rhinebeck, I requested that the FY 2011 Interior & Environment appropriations bill contain $233,750 for the engineering and replacement of two Bioclere units at the existing water treatment facility. The project will ensure that residents can continue to enjoy affordable, environmentally safe wastewater collection and treatment services. Failure of the system threatens the Hudson River Estuary, as well as several local drinking water systems. This is a valuable use of tax payer funds because the project will ensure continued wastewater treatment services and will ensure the safety of the area’s drinking water.
Recipient: Town of Rhinebeck
80 E. Market St.
Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Camphill Ghent Elder Care Initiative, Copake, New York
Amount: $250,000
On behalf of Camphill Village, I requested that the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill contain $250,000 for initial construction of building an elder care community in Ghent to provide care for seniors of all levels of income and ability. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because community care best addresses the needs of seniors who require specialized care at dramatically less cost to the individual and the healthcare system.
Recipient: Camphill Village USA
84 Camphill Road
Copake, NY 12516

Ambulance Replacement, Copake, New York
Amount: $123,895
On behalf of the Clausson-Raught Community Rescue Squad, I requested that the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill contain $123,895 to purchase a new ambulance to replace the current outdated unit that is no longer functional. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will provide critical and prompt emergency medical service to the more than 15,000 people served in the community where those services are currently unavailable.
Recipient: Clausson-Raught Community Rescue Squad
283 Mountain View Road
PO Box 327
Copake, NY 12516

Columbia Memorial Hospital Technology Advancement and Electronic Health Record Program, Hudson, New York
Amount: $1,000,000
On behalf of Columbia Memorial Hospital, I requested that the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill contain $1,000,000 to help develop the hospital’s electronic health record system. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because electronic medical records improve patient access to critical health information, reduce medical errors, and drive higher-quality and lower-cost care through the health care system.
Recipient: Columbia Memorial Hospital
71 Prospect Street
Hudson, NY 12534

Northern Dutchess Hospital: Master Facility Plan, Rhinebeck, New York
Amount: $1,000,000
On behalf of Northern Dutchess Hospital, I requested that the FY 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill contain $1,000,000 for construction of a medical and surgical addition as well as renovation of the oldest in-patient area in the hospital. This is an appropriate use of taxpayer funds because it will ensure continued safe access to health care for the surrounding rural communities.
Recipient: Northern Dutchess Hospital
6511 Springbrook Avenue
Rhinebeck, NY 12572

New Cairo Library Construction Project, Cairo, New York
Amount: $400,000
On behalf of the Cairo Public Library, I requested that the FY 2011 T-HUD Appropriations bill contain $400,000 for the planning, design, and construction of a new library in Cairo, New York. The current library facility serves as a central location for library resources, community programming, tax forms, internet, etc. However, the facility is inadequate to meet the growing demand. This is a valuable use of taxpayer dollars because the library serves as an important resource for this rural community and will increase quality of life in Cairo.
Recipient: Cairo Library
512 Main St.
Cairo, NY 12413

The Claverack Free Library and Reading Room Project, Claverack, New York
Amount: $200,000
On behalf of the Claverack Free Library and Reading Room, I requested the FY 2011 T-HUD bill contain $200,000 to remodel the existing Claverack Firehouse into the Claverack Free Library and Reading Room. Funds would be used for design, engineering, hazardous material remediation, and construction. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the new facility will allow for the expansion of traditional library services, including internet access, to the lo
cal community, as well as serve as an anchor public facility within the town's commercial core.
Recipient: Claverack Free Library
629 State Route 23
Claverack, NY 12513

Columbia Economic Development Corporation Broadband Consortium Project, Hudson, New York
Amount: $100,000
On behalf of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation, I requested that the FY 2011 T-HUD Appropriations bill contain $100,000 to develop a Broadband Improvement Plan in order to attract new businesses to Columbia County. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because the development of broadband infrastructure is critical the economic development of the entire region.
Recipient: Columbia Economic Development Corporation
4303 Route 9
Hudson, NY 12534

Washington Hose Fire Company Renovation Project, Hudson, New York
Amount: $500,000
On behalf of the City of Hudson, I requested that the FY 2011 T-HUD Appropriations bill contain $500,000 for the planning, design, and renovation of a 150 year-old vacant firehouse. The renovated building would be used as a tourism center and house offices for the Chamber of Commerce and local economic development organizations. This is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will rehabilitate a vacant, historically significant building while attracting new economic development in downtown Hudson.
Recipient: City of Hudson
520 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534

The Mellenville Grange Hall Restoration Project, Mellenville, New York
Amount: $83,160
On behalf of the Mellenville Grange, I requested that the FY 2011 T-HUD Appropriations bill contain $83,160 to restore and repair the leaking slate roof of the historic Grange Hall building. This project is a valuable use of taxpayer funds because it will allow the Grange to preserve its historic structure, as well as continue its community service work in this rural community.
Recipient: Mellenville Grange #1255
803 Gahbauer Rd.
Mellenville, NY 12544

See the complete list of requested appropriations here.

Last week we asked for your help in raising $5,000 by the end of March. Thank you to all that have responded so quickly. We are now $1,075 away from reaching that goal.

Over the last few months, we’ve been working tirelessly producing benefit events and preparing for the launch of WGXC’s FM signal on 90.7-FM later this year. Please see the below about some exciting forward movement regarding our Hudson studio location.

As publicized, WGXC received a large matching grant from the US Department of Commerce to purchase the equipment (transmitter, antenna, etc) needed to get the WGXC-FM signal on the air. We must match this grant. Fundraising at the community level will demonstrate that we have local support for this effort that will sustain WGXC into the future. We’ve secured the means to extend our fundraising efforts towards the match into the summer, as long as we reach our goal of raising $1,075.00 by March 31st, which is one week from today!

We are asking you to dig as deeply as you can to ensure that WGXC stays on track and can meet our matching deadline. If you are not yet a member, please consider becoming one at the highest level possible. If you are already a member, thank you, and we hope you’ll consider increasing your membership to the next level.

Founding member levels:

· ELECTRODES = 1 watt ($25 - 49)
· CAPACITORS = 2-4 watts ($50 - 124)
· CIRCUITS = 5-9 watts ($125 - 249)
· TRANSISTORS = 10 - 20 watts ($250 - 524)
· TOWERS = 21 - 40 watts ($525 - 1,024)
· ANTENNAE = 41 - 100 watts ($1,025 - 2,524)
· TRANSMISSIONS = 101 - 200 watts ($2,525 - 5,000)
Become a member by making your donation online at www.wgxc.org

Or send a check payable to

WGXC
5662 Route 23
Acra, NY 12405

Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

You can become a Founding Member of WGXC by making a donation with a credit card through Paypal below:



Click on WGXC or WGXC Newsroom for more information. Send news, tips, etc. to news@wgxc.org.