The Altamont Enterprise reports that the Berne Town Board has spent at least $15,537.85 recently investigating Democratic town board members. One of those investigations led to a censure of a Democrat by a partisan vote; while the others have led to no results. Joel Willsey, the lone Democrat on the board, has been the subject of two investigations. Two other recent Democrats on the town board, Dawn Jordan and Karen Schimmer, who did not seek re-election last November, were also the subject of investigations by the same law firm hired by the town, Roemer Wallens & Mineaux. Town Clerk Anita Clayton refused the newspaper's Freedom of Information Law request about all money paid to Roemer Wallens & Mineaux, saying it was identical to a previous FOIL request that revealed the $15,537.85 figure. But those documents were largely redacted, not revealing who was paid and for what. The Democrats say they were being investigated for political reasons. Jordan said she was investigated for not granting highway superintendent and Berne’s Republican committee chair Randy Bashwinger the 18-percent raise he had requested or the 10-percent alternative that Supervisor Sean Lyons proposed. Schimmer said that she was investigated for insisting that adults supervising teenagers’ camping out at Thompsons Lake get background checks, after Jordan and Schimmer voted against appointing Bashwinger to the town’s youth council. Willsey was investigated for several issues, including a sexual harassment allegation because he wrote the word "erected" in an email discussing the installation of signs along the town’s roadways. Lyons would not comment on the story. Read more about all this in the The Altamont Enterprise.

Columbia-Greene Media is reporting the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill on August 7, will unveil The Pollinator Pavilion, a new outdoor architectural sculpture designed for the site by artists Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood. Combining the artists’ practice of creating site-specific installations and their fascination with nature, the interactive artwork is a fantastical architectural setting in which individuals can share moments with hummingbirds while exploring a nurturing relationship with nature. The piece reflects Thomas Cole's fascination with the natural world, architecture and architectural features in the landscape. The Pollinator Pavilion is more than 21 feet high, constructed of painted wood, and draped with flowers, plants and paintings by the artists, designed as much for hummingbirds as for people. The open-air public artwork is set amid the six-acre historic site in Catskill. Entry into the pavilion will be paced to allow guests to experience it one by one. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Denis Slattery is reporting for the New York Daily News the state of New York has legalized the manufacture and sale of liquor-infused ice cream and other alcoholic frozen desserts. Anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purchase the treats as long as they are sold in sealed packages made by dairy processors and manufacturers, liquor and craft beverage producers, restaurants or other food retailers. The alcoholic volume is capped at 5 percent. Lawmakers previously authorized beer- and cider-infused sweets back in 2018, and the state has allowed wine-infused ice cream for more than a decade. Bill sponsor state Sen. Rachel May of Syracuse said the new law will provide a big boost for the state's dairy farmers and distilleries. “I am very grateful to the governor for signing this into law, and I look forward to sharing some maple bourbon ice cream with him at next year’s State Fair!” she said. Read the full story in the Daily News.

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Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an anti-housing discrimination law on Aug. 3. The New York Department of State now can penalize real estate agents who have violated the state's housing discrimination laws by revoking or suspending their licenses, or fining the agents. "We have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind in New York and the sheer scope and breadth of the unscrupulous and discriminatory real estate practices uncovered on Long Island is repugnant to who we are," Cuomo said. In Hudson, there is a youth-led "March for Universal Housing" planned Aug. 4 at 4 p.m. at Promenade Hill. Organizers say the march is to "to extend the eviction moratorium New York State; to cancel rent for the remainder of the pandemic; to regulate short-term rentals; [and] to house [the] houseless." Kite's Nest and the Social Justice Leadership Academy put the march together. A rain date is set for Aug. 6, and inclement weather is expected Aug. 4, as the remnants of Hurricane Isaias is expected to impact the Hudson Valley.

Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the rate of unemployment in Columbia and Greene counties continues to rise, according to the June data released by the state Department of Labor. In Columbia County, the jobless rate increased from 8.1 percent to 8.8 percent between May and June; the Greene County rate increased from 11 percent to 11.5 percent, during the same period. Statewide, unemployment rose from 14.5 percent to 15.7 percent. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, unemployment was at 5 percent in Greene County and 3.8 percent in Columbia County. Greene County Economic Development and Planning Director Karl Heck said the relatively small [point] 5 percent increase since May is significant to the 2,400 people currently on unemployment. “We were down 11,000 jobs among our residents, which all things being equal is not that bad, but we are up 1,600 in unemployed people,” Heck said. Columbia County was ranked as having the fourth lowest unemployment rate in the state, Columbia Economic Development Corporation President F. Michael Tucker said. “Compared to our pre-COVID rate of 3.8 percent, we are five points higher,” he said. In June 2019, the county’s rate was 3.1 percent, Tucker said, and the average unemployment rate over the past five years was 3.6 percent. “Columbia County unemployment has not been this high in more than 10 years. And while it appears that the numbers are leveling off, it certainly shows almost 3,000 residents are out of work,” Tucker said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Rick Moriarty is reporting for the Syracuse Media Group National Grid asked state regulators July 31, for permission to raise electricity and gas delivery prices for its its upstate New York customers by $142 million beginning in July 2021. If given the green light, National Grid would impose an average bill increase of 4 percent, or $3.43, per month, for its residential electricity customers. Residential gas customers would see their bills rise an average of 6 percent, or $4.53 a month. The filing starts an 11-month review process by the New York Public Service Commission. National Grid’s current three-year rate agreement expires March 31, 2021. The company said it originally planned to file the request for new rates in April, but delayed the filing until last week due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic disruption. “We made the decision to delay this proposal so that we could use the time over the last few months to refine and reduce the amount of our request,” John Bruckner, the company’s president, said in a statement. The increases would generate an additional $100.4 million a year in revenue to deliver electricity and an additional $41.8 million annually to deliver gas to its customers. Read the full story at oleantimesherald [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the Child Victims Act, the state legislation that created a look-back window for the survivors and victims of childhood sexual abuse, was extended by Governor Andrew Cuomo August 3. The action taken increases the window for filing cases to Aug. 14, 2021, allowing claims to be made for an additional 12 months. "The Child Victims Act brought a long-needed pathway to justice for people who were abused, and helps right wrongs that went unacknowledged and unpunished for far too long and we cannot let this pandemic limit the ability for survivors to have their day in court," Cuomo said. "As New York continues to reopen and recover from a public health crisis, extending the look back window is the right thing to do and will help ensure that abusers and those who enabled them are held accountable." The extension approved by the governor builds on the measure that allows survivors to file suits before they reach the age of 55. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

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Nora Mishanec is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media more than 150 people, including Assemblymember Didi Barrett, tuned in July 30, to hear about Hecate Energy’s proposed 500-acre Shepherd’s Run Solar Farm project. The size and scale of the proposal has generated “considerable concerns” from the local community, reflected in the high turnout on the virtual meeting, Town Supervisor Jeanne Mettler said, Barrett said she will support the town. “Whatever we can do, we are with you,” she said. Town officials retained Rochester-based environmental lawyer Benjamin Wisniewski in April 2020, to better understand and respond to Hecate’s proposed 110,000 megawatt solar project. Wisniewski provided an overview of the solar siting process, pointing out that the town is at the beginning of long and complicated process. The Shepherd’s Run Solar Farm proposal remains in the preliminary scoping phase, one of several stages Hecate must complete before submitting its application to the state. The preliminary scoping phase can last up to year and includes ample opportunity for public participation, Wisniewski said. Copake Deputy Supervisor Richard Wolf, who is serving as the project liaison, decried the lack of local input on the project so far. He said many residents had not received invitations from Hecate to participate in virtual forums that were held instead of public meetings in light of the ban on in-person gatherings. Wolf said many residents are not opposed to renewable energy, but are worried the project will lead to compromised pastoral views and decreased property values. Hecate Project Developer Alex Campbell was on the virtual meeting, but did not speak. He later praised Wisniewski’s presentation, but said it glossed over many of the project’s positives. “This project will bring in millions of dollars to the community and the county,” Campbell said. “There are not a lot of other projects that offer tax revenue without requiring public infrastructure or water resources.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Joseph Spector is reporting for the Evening Tribune a pilot program that allows New Yorkers on food stamps to order groceries online would be made permanent under legislation recently passed in the state Legislature. It was approved by lawmakers last month and requires Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature to become law. The goal is to make sure the program can continue for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP participants during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, while expanding access to nutritional aid without people having to go to a store. In 2019, the US Department of Agriculture launched the two-year pilot program in New York that permitted SNAP recipients to purchase groceries online only at participating retailers. The state legislation would expand the ability of SNAP recipients to use their benefits to any eligible grocer. Advocates said the New York law would also help seniors, particularly as the pandemic may have made it more difficult for the elderly to go to the store. The majority of U.S. families that received SNAP benefits in 2018 included at least one employed individual, according to recent census data. Read the full story at eveningtribune [dot] com.

Joseph Spector is reporting for the Democrat and Chronicle New Yorkers now have more time to apply for emergency rental assistance. The deadline for eligible residents has been extended to Thu., Aug. 6.; the state Department of Homes and Community Renewal announced the extension July 31. “The Legislature designed the COVID Rent Relief Program to help New Yorkers who are the most at-risk and rent burdened after losing income due to the pandemic," commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said in a statement. "By keeping the online portal open for another week, we can make sure everyone who needs to apply for assistance has the opportunity to do so." Applications are available online at: hcr [dot] ny [dot] gov [slash] RRP and in multiple languages. Residents with questions can reach out to the call center from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday at 1-833-499-0318. Read the full story in the Democrat and Chronicle.

MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting the 20,000-square-foot international arrivals wing on the New York Stewart International Airport terminal building is on schedule to be completed by fall. The addition is being constructed at the cost of $37 million, said Stewart business development director Michael Torelli. “The shell is totally up. The finishes on the inside is being worked on and the ramp areas on the outside and the parking lot are being concreted and paved,” he said. “All the amenities are being ordered for furniture and fixtures and as you can imagine, signage.” As of now, the addition will be unused once finished, because Stewart has no international service. Norwegian Air, which provided direct service to Europe, stopped all flights in 2019, after safety issues grounded the Boeing 737 Max. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

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This weekend protests continued throughout the Hudson Valley, such as the August 1 "Black Women Matter, March and Mixer" in Albany. But there were also protests from a much different point of view this weekend. On August 1 the "Rally for the Blue led by Liberty Bell Alliance" was held in Albany at the New York State Capitol. On Aug. 2 there was also a pro-police march in Stamford in Delaware County, and a "Back the Blue March" in Cairo in Greene County. Photos showed many in attendance at the Cairo event did not wear masks. Assemblymember Chris Tague was among the speakers at that demonstration, and Lisa Cirillo posted a video excerpt of some of what Tague said. CLICK HERE TO PLAY EXCERPT OF TAGUE SPEAKING IN CAIRO,

Diane Valden is reporting for The Columbia Paper Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka has requested the state Attorney General’s Office take over the investigation into the assault of a local man at a private residence in Kinderhook over the July 4th holiday weekend. Local business owner Alex Rosenstrach and his Deputy Sheriff wife, Kelly Briscoe Rosenstrach, hosted the annual event at their home located at 3193 County Route 21, where the alleged assault occurred. Harold Handy, owner and operator of Handy Repairs, was severely beaten and had to be transported by ambulance to Albany Medical Center in the early morning hours of July 5. Handy's relatives have said he was "lucky to be alive," but details of his injuries and recovery remain elusive. The Columbia Paper learned from a source close to the investigation that the DA made the request to hand the case over to the AG's office early last week after new information about the matter came to light. Asked to confirm the information July 29, Czajka said he had no official comment. The Sheriff’s Office has come under criticism since the assault occurred because it took the lead on an investigation involving one of its own, albeit with the assistance of the State Police Special Investigations Unit. Czajka has offered little or nothing publicly about the investigation during the past month. According to Valden, the request for the AG’s Office to take control of the investigation, does not mean that Czajka has disqualified himself from the case entirely if the AG declines to step in. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.

Before the hateful words started flying, Catskill Central Schools Superintendent Ronal Cook, in a virtual town meeting attended by 100 people online Thu., July 30, laid out his plan to safely reopen the schools this fall. Cook started by stating the obvious — that he and his colleagues take their responsibilities seriously and are focused on bringing students and staff back to safe learning and working environments. Student learning will be provided in one of three instructional models: 100 percent in-person instruction; the hybrid model where students are physically in-person two days a week and participate virtually for three days; and, 100 percent remote virtual instruction. Cook made a number of recommendations, but he and the board are awaiting the governor's reopening declaration, which is expected to be made no later than August 7. The board of education has already moved to modify the school year calendar, rescheduling the September 3 professional day to September 8; adding three more days of professional development for staff on September 9, 10 and 11. And September 14 will be the first day of instruction for students. Cook is recommending the district follow Cuomo's example by using a phased approach to reopening. Phase 1 will begin September 8 and continue through October 9. During the time, all staff will return to campus and all students will begin instruction remotely. During Phase 2, from October 13 through January 29, students operating on the hybrid model will return to campus, while remote instruction will continue for students whose parents or guardians want their learning to be managed virtually. Under Cook's recommendations, all students would return to campus February 1; however, remote instruction could still continue for children whose parents want them to still work from home. Cook said the district will hold another round of town hall meetings after Cuomo makes his school reopening announcement. See the full presentation at CatskillCSD [dot] org.

Susan Arbetter is reporting for State of Politics the state legislature last week approved a bill titled “Closing the Hazardous Waste Loophole” sponsored by Senator Rachel May and Assemblymember Steve Englebright, that, if signed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, will reclassify all waste from hydrofracking as hazardous. While hydrofracking has not moved forward in New York for years, according to Environmental Advocates of New York, between 2010 and 2017, state landfills accepted at least 609,000 tons and 23,000 barrels of fracking waste from Pennsylvania. In 2018, three landfills, in Allegany, Steuben and Chemung counties, accepted 18,522 tons of waste. If signed into law, fracking waste will be subject to regulations requiring compliance inspections, permits, and for facilities that treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste, it means taking corrective action. The state Department of Environmental Conservation also requires that hazardous waste is tracked using a “cradle to grave” approach. Peter Iwanowicz, the executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York, says the bill will close a long-standing loophole. Lawmakers tackled several other environmental bills during the week-long summer session, including one that bans the manufacture, sales and distribution of food packing that has been coated with PFAS chemicals. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.