[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GchoFhxWc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
The video above features the new Helsinki Hudson, the club at Columbia St. near N. 4th St. in Hudson, which this blog reported earlier will open March 1. While there today picking up the $1000 donation the club made to WGXC, Cameron Melville showed us this new video of the club. It features many folks, including Evan Randall, who like the club, left Great Barrington last year for Hudson.

Francesca Olsen in The Register-Star reports that the Widewaters Group will only put a Kohl's and TJ Maxx stores in the Greenport Commons if the county gives them giant tax breaks. “The opportunity does not exist without the PILOT,” said Marco J. Marzocchi, General Counsel of Retail Development for the Widewaters Group, threatening the Columbia County Board of Supervisors for a 20-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT, exemption. The Kohl's could, the company projects, provide 125 "associate" jobs, 30 percent of those full-time in the giant new strip mall that currently hosts a Wal-Mart, Lowe's, and Applebee's.

ccScoop now has a story explaining the situation more clearly here.

Carrie Haddad Photographs hosts their first exhibition of the new year, Birgit Blyth: Recent Work, which will be on view from January 14, 2010 through February 21, 2010. Also on exhibit will be a series of photographs, "10 Days in Alaska" by Michael Sibilia. There will be an opening reception for the artists on Saturday, January 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All are invited to attend.

The Catskill branch of the Bank of Greene County is hosting a display of WGXC materials. If you would like to know more about community radio, stop by the bank's Catskill branch.

New York State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) will be in Greene County, Tue., January 12. Senator Seward will join officials with Kaaterskill Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center along with local business officials and elected leaders for the groundbreaking of a new twenty-one unit senior housing complex. Seward will then tour Pilot Industries, a division of Ulster-Greene ARC. The facility provides specialized vocational training to people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities who face challenges to employment.
Kaaterskill Manor groundbreaking; 12:30 p.m.; 161 Jefferson Heights;
Pilot Industries tour; 2 p.m.; 311 West Bridge Street.

(The partially completed race track in question.)

Tony Gravett, a spokesman for The Granger Group, issued a press release [PDF] today on the Craryville citizen's group's redesigned website, detailing the recent court victory over Alan Wilzig's attempt to put a race track on his own property.

(Landscape by Barbara Walter.)
From Nippertown:

The Greene County Council on the Arts‘ Mountaintop Gallery in Windham will be closing its doors at the end of February. According to a recent press release, “Although the economy and our own funding situation threatened operation of the gallery last year, we were successful in finding artist groups to mount shows to keep it open and had looked forward to maintaining our presence on the mountain. However, after generously granting us a greatly reduced rental fee for years, our landlords have decided to rent the facility to someone else.” The Mountaintop Gallery opened in 1979 and has been in operation for more than three decades. The gallery is hosting its farewell exhibition from January 16 through Monday, February 22. “East Meets West: Tivoli Artists in Windham” is a multimedia exhibit featuring the artists of the Tivoli Artists Co-op based in Tivoli, Duchess County. The gallery will host its final opening reception from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, January 16.

From Lynn Sloneker in Unmuffled:

Hudson City Board of Education will meet 6:30 p.m., Monday, in the cafeteria of Hudson High School. At that time, the board will be introduced to Kim Lybolt, the district's newly appointed Director of Student Services, hear public statements from each of the four board candidates and take in a presentation on the Alternative Learning Program by principal Tom Gavin. It will also hold a second discussion of the pending changes to Policy 5300, the district Code of Conduct.

Four individuals -- including a faculty spouse and a former city alderman -- have declared their interest in filling the vacancy created by the resignation in November, of Stockport resident (and newly elected town justice) Jack Mabb.

From Capitol Confidential:

The left-leaning activist group Citizen Action has launched an online petition urging Congressman Scott Murphy, D-Glens Falls, to vote in favor of a bill to restructure health care.

“In February, during the election, Scott Murphy stood with health activists and declared he would stand for the fundamentals of health care reform,” said Charlie Albanetti, a spokesman for Citizen Action, who sent along the below video of the announcement and said he was “disappointed” when Murphy voted against the House version of the bill in November. A new version of the bill–reconciled with the version that passed the Senate–is expected to be considered by both houses of Congress soon.

“We were significantly disappointed with that vote. we feel he has one last chance to stand up for us as New Yorkers as Americans and as constituents and vote for the final bill that the president supports,” Albanetti said, noting his group rounded up volunteers from around the state to work for Murphy’s special election win over Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, R-Glenville, last year. “It’s a matter of him being on the side of his constituents or on the side of big insurance and business interests in his district.”

Citizen Action has put pressure on Murphy since this summer, when debate over the House bill was in full swing.

Murphy’s spokesman Josh Schwerin said he was waiting to see the final form the bill takes before declaring how he will vote on it.

“Congressman Murphy has worked closely with Citizen Action and applauds their efforts to get more people involved in this critical discussion,” Schwerin said in a statement. “Over the past several months, Congressman Murphy has held dozens of Congress-On-Your-Corners and discussed health care reform with thousands of constituents, medical professionals, and small business owners. He remains committed to working to bring down costs and achieve quality, affordable health care for all Americans.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJrzmYEoQIM&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
From Citizen Action YouTube video:

On February 21, 2009, Scott Murphy, then candidate to represent New York's 20th Congressional District, joined Rep. Paul Tonko, Citizen Action of New York, and Health Care for America Now, to pledge his support for health care reform.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seR2DA3n7MA&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
"Rope Alley" by the Hudson City Ramblers at WGXC New Year's Masquerade Ball at Basilica Industria in Hudson.

Also Facebook video of Lady Moon at WGXC New Year's Masquerade Ball is here.

Buy WGXC t-shirts and help bring community radio to Greene and Columbia counties! WGXC stands for Greene x Columbia, and getting the station on the air will bring community access to the airwaves in this area. Help support community radio with a new t-shirt, with the WGXC logo in silver/grey/white on a black t-shirt. Sizes: adult male L, M, S; adult female L, M, S; child L, M, S. T-shirts $15 in Greene or Columbia counties; $20 outside those counties.
Click below to purchase with credit card via Paypal:

residence

live in Greene Cty $15.00 live in Columbia Cty $15.00 live outside the area $20.00

WGXC t-shirt any size

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Sam Pratt is reporting Judge Patrick McGrath gave a ruling granting, "the Granger Group's petition for a permanent injunction against the mile-long, 40-foot-wide racetrack which Alan Wilzig began bulldozing way back in the Summer of 2006." McGrath wrote: "Petitioners request for a permanent injunction is granted enjoining the Town of Taghkanic, Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Taghkanic, Town of Taghkanic Planning Board, Dennis Callahan as Code Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector for the Town of Taghkanic or any other employee or agent of the Town of Taghkanic from issuing a Building Permit, Certificate of Compliance and/or Certificate of Occupancy or Site Plan approval for the sporting course or track located on the Wilzig property and Alan Wilzig and Karin Wilzig are permanently enjoined form using, constructing, or completing the sporting course or track in any way or manner as well as any agent, guest or invitee of Alan or Karin Wilzig."

WGXC volunteers are working hard to launch a 3,300-watt community radio station. More than 78,000 people throughout Greene and Columbia counties will be able to receive the signal on 90.7-FM. WGXC received its license from the FCC and a grant from the U.S. Commerce Department that will cover 50 percent of our equipment needs. We now need to raise matching funds in order to get on the air.

We need folks to step up now and create a local community station. Become a Founding Member and get WGXC on the air and community radio will be beaming into your radio by the end of the year. We are very close to making a giant difference in the community, airing live town meetings, and giving citizens a voice with their local government officials. We are very close to bringing media training to local youth, who will then report on what is going on in the schools for WGXC. We are very close to airing live performances, festivals, and events on WGXC, and being a central information source for local farmers, artists, history buffs, and fans of interesting music. Together we can get that all and more on WGXC if you become a Founding Member.

3,300 watts at $25/watt = 82,500 & WGXC-FM IS ON THE AIR!

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+)


DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW.

State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I–Oneonta) will be in Catskill, at 2 p.m. Friday, January 8 at the Greene County Office Building Legislative Chambers, 4th floor, 411 Main St. Senator Seward is touring his senatorial district this week to kick off the 2010 senate session and to outline his legislative agenda. Seward will highlight the need for property tax relief, state spending reductions and upstate economic development.

Feb. 13, 2010: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.

at Nicole Fiacco Gallery
336 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534
518-828-5090

Admission: $10

Curated/Organized by: Paul Smart & Max Goldfarb

This event benefits WGXC's fundraising efforts to launch its FM signal in 2010. The evening will include performances and readings by: Peter Wetzler & Julie Hedrick, George Quasha, Maggie Estep, Brian Dewan, Bunnybrains, Peter Head, Lady Moon, Luc Sante, Studio Stu, Jody Rael, Sparrow, Rebecca Wolf, Sam Truitt, and Prana. Artworks will be on view and available by Matt Bua, Slink Moss, James Holl, Lucio Pozzi, Dan Devine, Mimi Lipson, Sam Sebren, Rainer Judd, Melora Kuhn, John Cleater, Dawn Breeze, Amy Maddon, Max Goldfarb, Marco Breuer, Caitlin Parker, Ieva Mediodia, Ken Landauer, Nancy Shaver, Leona Christie, Kianja Strobert, Jennifer Zackin, Allyson Strafella, Nicole Cherubini, Myron Polenburg, Justin Lieberman, Christopher Quirk, Howard Saunders, and others.

Special thanks to Nicole Fiacco for generously hosting this event.

WGXC is a community-run media project, re-envisioning radio as an innovative platform for local participation. Our inclusive programming connects diverse voices, and distributes information across the public spectrum in New York's Greene and Columbia counties. This multi-faceted project will be much more than just a radio station. With studios in Catskill, Cairo, and Hudson, WGXC activities will include special exhibitions and events, workshops and media training for youth and adults, a news blog with writing and photography, and a local calendar of events, meetings, and other resources.

WGXC volunteers are working hard to launch a 3,300-watt community radio station. More than 78,000 people throughout Greene and Columbia counties will be able to receive the signal on 90.7-FM. WGXC received its license from the FCC and a grant from the US Commerce Dept that will cover 50 percent of our equipment needs. We now need to raise matching funds in order to get on the air. Join us on February 13 and help launch WGXC-FM.

Win a Les Paul Gibson guitar and help bring community radio to Greene and Columbia counties! Stop by Musica (17 N. 4th St. in Hudson, NY) to see the guitar on display, and purchase raffle tickets. Raffle tickets for the cherry sunburst guitar are $5 at Musica, and selected WGXC events, or $20 for five tickets. The drawing will be held on March 17, 2010. Buy raffle tickets online here, and online sales end March 16, 2010.

Landscape Forever featuring newly-commissioned works by Richard Edelman, Gay Leonhardt, Bill Miles, Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott, Fawn Potash, Peter Schoenberger, Carla Shapiro, and Williams & Russ.

The Center for Photography at Woodstock's new exhibit, Landscape Forever, shows (and offers for sale) newly-commissioned work by local photographers as they explored our region's untouched lands which have been protected by the Woodstock Land Conservancy (WLC). In keeping with the Catskill Region's draw as an artistic cradle, and in light of CPW's rich tradition of supporting photographic creativity and WLC's commitment to the preservation of Woodstock's natural wonders, Landscape Forever is a product of a fruitful collaboration between two premier not-for-profit organizations based in the Mid-Hudson and Catskills regions. As such, this exhibition highlights the ways in which environmental organizations can benefit the arts as well as how artists can help educate on behalf of the environment. It was curated by our close friend, Dion Ogust.


ON VIEW:
JANUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 28, 2010

OPENING RECEPTION AND PANEL DISCUSSION:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 5-8 p.m.

CPW's galleries are free & open to the public Wednesday - Sunday, 12-5pm & by appointment. They are located at 59 Tinker Street in Woodstock, New York.

For further information visit www.cpw.org or call 845-679-9957.

Feb. 6, 2010: 11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

at Sorted
357 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534

Spend Saturday, February 6th with WGXC at Sorted: Shopping, Sounds, and Cider

free admission

Organized by Elizabeth Powell, this WGXC benefit event will feature goods made by local artisans such as leather bags, clothing, tabletop design, and other multiples and one-of-a-kind objects. Sound artist Hans Tammen will perform his "Endangered Guitar" throughout the day, culminating in a performance at 6 p.m. Just in time for Valentines day, proceeds from I "heart" WGXC will go towards acquiring the equipment needed to launch WGXC's FM signal on 90.7.

WGXC is a community-run media project, re-envisioning radio as an innovative platform for local participation. Our inclusive programming connects diverse voices, and distributes information across the public spectrum in New York's Greene and Columbia counties. This multi-faceted project will be much more than just a radio station. With studios in Catskill and Hudson, WGXC activities will include special exhibitions and events, workshops and media training for youth and adults, a news blog with writing and photography, and a local calendar of events, meetings, and other resources.

WGXC volunteers are working hard to launch a 3,300-watt community radio station. More than 78,000 people throughout Greene and Columbia counties will be able to receive the signal on 90.7-FM. WGXC received its license from the FCC and a grant from the US Commerce Dept that will cover 50 percent of our equipment needs. We now need to raise matching funds in order to get on the air. Join us on February 6th and help launch WGXC-FM.

About Hans Tammen's Endangered Guitar
In hundreds of solo performances since 1993, New York-based Hans Tammen has explored the sounds of concert halls and small clubs with an assortment of mechanical contrivances applied to his modified "endangered" guitars, interactive software programming, and stereo and multichannel sound systems. His music has been described as an alien world of bizarre textures and a journey through the land of unending sonic operations.

His instrument is a hybrid between a guitar and a computer, designed to react with the resonant frequencies of the room. It constantly records his sounds, and the information from the analysis of these sounds and the playing determines a wide variety of processes. This makes every performance a site-specific one, bringing the sonic qualities of the surrounding conditions to the listener's attention. www.tammen.org

About Elizabeth Powell
Elizabeth Powell is a designer who makes accessories from leather. She works and resides in Columbia County with her family.

About Sorted
Sorted is a small, fully solar-powered graphic design studio in Hudson, NY. Special thanks to Antony Katz for making his beautiful space available for this event. sortofsorted.com

Helsinki on the Hudson, the new location of the club the shuttered in Great Barrington last August will open this spring. At the WGXC New Year's Masquerade Ball on Thursday, while he was on stage announcing a matching $500 donation to WGXC, Helsinki's Cameron Melville announced the club would open in Hudson on March 1.

Closing party for "Holograms and laser installations" by Rudie Berkhout this Saturday January 9, 5-8 p.m. at Union Mills Gallery, 361 Main Street, Catskill, (518) 303 4514.

Join us for a joyful celebration of the life and work of Rudie Berkhout, at a closing party in the gallery on Saturday January 9, 5 - 8 p.m. Original musical entertainment will be provided b Samuel Claiborne on a variety of instruments accompanied by John Dubberstein on sitar.

On Main Street, the Union Mills Gallery's, huge open gallery space exhibits important art work and supports the arts with literary, musical and cultural events for Catskill and the Hudson Valley. Union Mills Complex is a major green project, the adaptive reuse project of the historic 1840 warehouse on creekside, providing 25 loft style apartments.

For more information about Rudie Berkhout, see:
Play of Light Gallery
and
The Center for 4th Dimensional Arts

Linda Law, Gallery Director
460 Main Street
Catskill, 12414
845-510-8081
lindalaw@mhcable.com