(At right, "Business Idol" winner Kip Christie from Banner Hill School of Woodworking in Windham [right] with award presenter Kathleen Packard of KathodeRay Media, the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and the WGXC Radio Council. Chamber Executive Director Tracy McNally is in the background.)

The Greene County Chamber of Commerce held their annual Greene Jeans Gala at the Pine Ridge Farm in Greenville Thursday evening. The following businesses received Emerald Awards: Large Business: GNH Lumber, Inc.; Small Business: Martinez Auto Body Shop, Inc.; and Not-for-Profit Organization: Greene County Historical Society. Banner Hill School of Woodworking and Timber Framing in Windham got the "Business Idol" award.

Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook) hosts an open house for constituents from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, September 18 in Molinaro’s district office located at 7578 North Broadway, Suite 4, in Red Hook. “In Albany, there is much work to be done for the residents of the Hudson Valley, including comprehensive property tax reform, revolutionizing our education system, making health care more affordable and creating local jobs in an effort to jump start our struggling economy. We can only accomplish these goals together and I would appreciate your input,” said Molinaro.

Click here to listen to public hearing about proposed sidewalk law in Cairo

Last night the Town of Cairo held a public hearing about a proposed law for snow removal on sidewalks. Listen by clicking on the link. Won't work with Internet Explorer.

Click here to listen to Town of Cairo Board meeting 091609

The Town of Cairo held its regular board meeting last night, with Dave Hart being appointed to the town's Zoning Commission, and the board deciding to wait on a decision on the proposed law for sidewalk snow removal. Planning Board Chairman Dan Benoit (pictured at right) addressed concerns raised by a recent arrest of a Main St. business woman for perhaps violating Cairo's Site Plan law, which has been reported on by this blog here and here and by The Daily Mail here. Several residents wondered why the Code Enforcement and Police investigated the complaint against this business, but not similar complaints by others.

Hudsonic Series, No. 3 by Sam Truitt
Walmart, 265 West Bridge Street, Catskill, Greene County
09.13.09 (03:52 minutes)
4.36 MB, MP4
The microphone lies behind a flower pot (daisies) on a rack. Cars and carts pass variously, a person speaks, and a car door opens and closes.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&q=265+West+Bridge+Street,+Catskill,&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=265+W+Bridge+St,+Catskill,+NY+12414&gl=us&ei=AgqySpGIAsaglAf_qt3uDg&t=k&ll=42.213254,-73.882617&spn=0.001192,0.002414&z=17&output=embed&w=225&h=150]

Congressmen Scott Murphy (NY-20) and Paul Tonko (NY-21) announced that President Obama will visit Hudson Valley Community College at 11:00 a.m., Monday, Sept. 21. Several months ago the Congressmen requested that the President visit the region to highlight hi-tech job creation in Upstate New York. “I am honored to welcome President Obama to Upstate New York,” said Rep. Murphy in a press release. “I am proud to show how Upstate New York is a part of the solution by quickly becoming a world leader in hi-tech jobs.”
Click here to listen to a wav file of Rep. Murphy's statement about Obama's visit to the area.

From Mid-Hudson News Network:

ALBANY - State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced his office completed an audit of the Village of Catskill – Fiscal Oversight and Internal Controls Over Selected Financial Activities.

According to the report, the village board and president did not effectively oversee the village’s financial operations and failed to address significant weaknesses, identified in our previous audit, in budgeting, accounting, reporting, cash management, and claims processing. These inadequate management practices have contributed to the deteriorating financial condition of the village’s primary operating funds, perpetuated a reliance on interfund transfers to maintain cash flow, and placed the village at risk of fiscal stress that could jeopardize its ability to operate effectively.

For example, due to poor planning and unrealistic budgeting, the total fund balances of the village’s main operating funds (general, water, and sewer) decreased by $933,727 (58 percent) over the three fiscal years 2004-05 to 2006-07. At the end of 2006-07, these three funds had a combined operating deficit of $574,876, or 36 percent of their total fund balance at the beginning of the 2004-05 fiscal year.

Columbia County Board of Elections Democratic Commissioner Virgina Martin provided the following corrected election results for the Town of Taghkanic tonight at 7 p.m. "The results we gave you last night had a series of errors due to the complexity of the election and the high number of write-in votes that were cast," she wrote. "We expect to be able to provide official results countywide for the machine votes (lever machine votes including write-in votes cast on the lever machines) by tomorrow (Thursday)."

UNOFFICIAL Columbia County Primary Election 2009 Results
9/16/09
Town
of
Taghkanic
District
1

Supervisor
IND
1C
Elizabeth
L.
Young

2
IND
2C
Lorea
Hoffmann
13
Total
Votes/Voters

15
Twn
Clrk/Tax
C
IND
3C
Cheryl
E.
Rogers
5
IND
3C
Audrey
Koran
(write‐in)
9
Total
Votes/Voters

14
Twn
JusÒce
WFP
4E
Raymond
Dalrymple
(write‐in)
1
Total
Votes/Voters

1
Twn
Council

IND
5C
Tom
Kiely

3

(vote
for
2)
IND
5C
Joyce
Thompson
(write‐in)
9
IND
6C
Larry
Kadish

13
Total
Votes

25
Twn
Council

WFP
5E
Joyce
Thompson
0

(vote
for
2)
WFP
5E
Tom
Kiely
(write‐in)
1
WFP
6E
James
Romaine
(write‐in)
1
Total
Votes

2
Hwy
Super
IND
7C
Edward
E.
Waldron

3
IND
7C
Tom
Youhas
(write‐in)
9
Total
Votes/Voters

12
Hwy
Super
WFP
7E
Edward
Waldron
(write‐in)
1
Total
Votes/Voters

1
CommiŞee
DEM
8A
Diane
M.
Rodriguez
96

(vote
for
2)
DEM
9A
Cheryl
E.
Rogers
29
DEM
10A
Gary
L.
Stoller
100
Total
Votes

225
L:/Columbia Co. Candidates 2009
6:49 PM

Columbia County Board of Election Democratic commissioner Virgina Martin says they are recanvassing machines, and should have a count after 6 p.m. tonight. But final results will not be announced before Tuesday, as absentee ballots still are allowed to arrive from the post offfice. In the Democratic contest for District 1 in Hudson, incumbent Carole Osterink trails challenger Geeta Cheddie by two votes, while Sarah H. Sterling leads Cheddie by seven votes currently. The Register-Star previously reported six uncounted absentee ballots, but Martin would not give a specific number.

Wal-Mart closed its giant store in Greenport today and opened an even larger marketplace across Fairview Avenue in Greenport today. The empty store sits next to Price Chopper and Fashion Bug.

UNOFFICIAL Columbia County Primary Election 2009 Results
9/15/2009

UPDATE: Note Taghkanic votes have been corrected. Board of Elections officials provided different totals at first, now corrected.

City of Hudson
Ward 1 - District 1
Alderman
DEM
Geeta Cheddie
44
DEM
Sarah H. Sterling
51
DEM
Carole Osterink
42
Total Voters
137
Ward 4 - District 1
Supervisor
IND
4 Wiliam Hughes
IND
0
Total Voters
4
Supervisor
CON
Samuel Santiago
4
CON
1 Wiliam Hughes
Total Voters
5
Town of Canaan
District 1 and 2
Supervisor
IND
Richard Keaveney
13
IND
OTB
0
Total Voters
13
Supervisor
CON
Richard Keaveney
8
CON
OTB
0
Total Voters
8
Canaan District 1
Committee
REP
Susan C. Johnson
27
REP
Jo-Anna R. Michalek
49
REP
Gary Flaherty
33
Total Voters
109
Town of Copake
District 1 and 2
Twn Justice
IND
Brian J. Herman
19
IND
Wiliam Kane
17
Total Voters
36
Assessor
IND
David Gordineer
14
IND
Loredana Delventhal
16
Total Voters
30
Town of Livingston
District 2
Committee
REP
Geoffrey T. Bagnal
32
REP
Donald R. Kline
80
REP
Benjamin Scrodin
65
Total Voters
177
Total Voters
177
Town of Taghkanic
District 1
Supervisor
IND
Elizabeth L. Young
2
IND
Loretta Hoffmann
13
Total Voters
15
Twn Clrk/Tax C
IND
Cheryl E. Rogers
5
IND
OTB
9 (originally was told 10) Audrey Koran
Total Voters
14 (originally was told 15)
Town Justice
WFP
OTB
(originallly was told 1 Tal ackson)
WFP
OTB
1 Raymond Dalrymple
(originally told 1 Joe Romaine)
Total Voters
1 (originally told 3)
Twn Council
IND
Tom Kiely
3 (originally was told 12)
IND
Joyce
 Thompson
 write‐in
9 (originally was not listed at all)
IND
Larry Kadish
13 (originally was told 14)
IND
OTB
0
Total Voters
26
WFP
Joyce Thompson
0 (originally was told 9)
WFP
OTB
1 James Romaine
1 Tom Kiely
Total Voters
2 (originally was told 11)
Hwy Super
IND
Edward E. Waldron
3 (originally was told 14)
IND
Tom 
Youhas
 (write‐in)
9 (originally was not listed)
OTB
0
Total Voters
14
WFP
OTB
1 Edward Waldron
WFP
OTB
10 Tom Youhas
Total Voters
11
Committee
DEM
Diane M. Rodriguez
96
DEM
Cheryl E. Rogers
29
DEM
Gary L. Stol er
100
Total Voters
225
L:/Columbia Co. Candidates 2009
10:50 p.m.

A 180-mile "Walk for Peace" passed through Hudson today on its way to Kinderhook. The group included Jun Anju-san, an internationally known Buddhist who helps run a Peace Pagoda (one of only two in the U.S.) at the walk's destination in Grafton, New York. This walk left NYC on Sept. 11, and will arrive in Grafton Sept. 22. It will leave Kinderhook tomorrow for Schodack Center, and then goes to Albany, Niskyuna, Colonie, Scotia, Ballston Lake, Waterford, and Troy. For more information contact Jules at 201-566-8403.

Click here to listen to or download mp3 of Barry Henck speaking at Eco Faire.
Barry Henck, from Central Hudson Gas & Electric, speaking Sun. Sept. 13 at the Cairo Eco Faire in Cairo Town Park, streamed live on WGXC Online Radio. The Eco Faire, which was put on by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to listen to or download mp3 of Ruth Gutman speaking at Eco Faire.
Ruth Gutman, Community Advocate for Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Action of Columbia and Greene Counties, speaking Sun. Sept. 13 at the Cairo Eco Faire in Cairo Town Park, streamed live on WGXC Online Radio. The Eco Faire, which was put on by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

Click here to listen to or download mp3 of Andy Turner speaking at Eco Faire.
Andy Turner, the Executive Director for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County, speaking Sun. Sept. 13 at the Cairo Eco Faire in Cairo Town Park, streamed live on WGXC Online Radio. Turner is also on WGXC's Radio Council, the board overseeing the community radio station. He speaks about sustainability at the Eco Faire, which was put on by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

The Germantown Community Farm hosts its Annual Fall Skillshare and Party Sat. Sept. 26 for feasting and dancing, workshopping and romping, all streamed live on WGXC Online Radio. We will indeed be hosting a contra dance, a local rock band, and several DJs on into the night. We'll be fleshing out the schedule and workshop descriptions over the next couple weeks, so keep posted.

Practicalities:
Camping is welcome and limited accommodations are available in the barn and house (please let us know ahead of time!) Bring camping gear, a flashlight, and your own dish. Please try to carpool as parking is very limited. We are suggesting a donation of $5-$20 just to cover our costs, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds! Please let us know if you are interested in volunteering during the event. We need help with childcare, parking, cooking, clean-up and would love even just an hour committment ahead of time from a few people. Please contact us!

Schedule:
Saturday September 26th
8am: Breakfast in house
9:30-11am: workshops
11:30-1pm: workshops
1-2:30pm: lunch
2:30-4: workshops
4:30-6: workshops
6:30: dinner
7:45: contra dance!
10:oo: Saber Coup rocks out
11:30pm: DJs!

some of the workshops you may choose from (desriptions forthcoming):

DIY bicycle repair with Margaret DeBona
Tools for a Lifetime with Charles Picard
Anarchist Beekeeping with Sam Comfort
Webstreaming and Podcasting with WGXC staff
Mushrooms in the Permaculture Landscape with Rafter T. Sass
Saplings and Scrap into Super Structures with Matt Bua
Thai-style Curry with Traci Picard
Uncovering Your Inner Strength - Core Strengthening excercises with Trevor Roush
Setting Up Sound for a Live Event with WGXC staff
Writing a Great Press Release with Melissa Weidman
Yoga with Carol
The World of Metal with Luli Heintz
Live webcast of workshops and performances on WGXC Online Radio at www.WGXC.org.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_XkYdvVSzU&hl=en&fs=1&]
Michael Davis, a senior at Cairo-Durham High-School, made this Main Street document during his summer 2009 employment with WGXC. WGXC: Hands on Radio is a community-run radio station and media project that re-envisions radio as an innovative platform for local participation. WGXC is a project of free103point9, a non-profit arts organization focused on Transmission Arts, or artists that use the radio spectrum in their work.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD7cJH1xYZw&hl=en&fs=1&]
Jordan Smith, a senior at Cairo-Durham High-School, made this Main Street document during his summer 2009 employment with WGXC. WGXC: Hands on Radio is a community-run radio station and media project that re-envisions radio as an innovative platform for local participation. WGXC is a project of free103point9, a non-profit arts organization focused on Transmission Arts, or artists that use the radio spectrum in their work.

(Alice Tunison, center, with Cairo Town Clerk Tara A. Rumph, and board member Janet Schwarzenegger at the Aug. 19, 2009 Cairo town board meeting.)

Susan Campriello follows up her story about the Cairo Democrats failing to have a caucus and nominate any candidates, even though incumbent Town Board member and Democrat Alice Tunison approached them at the last minute for an endorsement, with additional reporting on her blog on the Daily Mail's site. Campriello e-mailed State Board of Elections Deputy Special Counsel Paul Collins, who tells her Tunison, or Cairo Democrats who feel disenfranchised, could appeal to Greene County Democratic Committee Chairman Tom Poelker for a caucus. But they would have to do it today, as notice of a caucus must be filed with the Town Clerk and Board of Elections at least ten days before the caucus is to be held. Notice must also either be published in a newspapers at least one week before the caucus or posted in ten public places at least ten days prior to the caucus. And that all would have to happen today to meet the Sept. 22 deadline. So Tunison's faithful better spell her name correctly on the write-in ballots, as she has decided to press on without the Democrats.