HudsonValley360.com reports that, on Sept. 26, the Chatham Board of Education has added Sarah Mellin and Tom Luzzi to fill two open seats on the Board. Both Mellin and Luzzi were sworn in at the Board’s Sept. 26 meeting. They fill in for the unexpired terms of Melony Spock and Dawn-Marie Blasl, who resigned in July. Mellin is a Chatham Central School District parent and the Shelter Manager at AnimalKind in Hudson, and a closing assistant for the Hawthorne Valley Farm Store. Luzzi volunteers on the Chatham Board of Education’s Finance Committee and is president of the board of directors for the Twin Counties Recovery Services and is on the board for Berkshire Farm. They will serve through May 15, 2018. Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.

Matthew Hamilton reports in Capitol Confidential that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has floated three different reasons for calling back the legislature in a special session. On Oct. 10 the State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said Gov. Andrew Cuomo “will have no choice but to call” lawmakers back to Albany for a special session because Congress did not renew the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a $1 billion program for New York. Previously Cuomo has warned of a possible special session to address the distribution of federal funds for indigent health services and to add additional money to a flood relief program. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

The Daily Freeman reports that Ulster County Executive Mike Hein announced Oct. 10 a program with four local banks to help film and television productions in Ulster County. Four local banks will pool $8 million in the Ulster County Film Finance Program for cash advances on contracts with film distributors. The program will also help with financing and loans for property, equipment, capital improvements, and leases for post-production facilities in Ulster County. The Bank of Greene County, Catskill Hudson Bank, Ulster Savings Bank, and Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan are the banks involved in the program. “Ulster County is attracting an increasing number of film, media, and television productions and industry professionals,” Hein said in a press release announcing the program. Stockade Works, a nonprofit TV and film production company led by actress/director Mary Stuart Masterson is expected to open in Kingston. In Greene County, Columbia-Greene Media reports, the independent film “When We Grow Up” completed shooting in Chatham and Ghent recently and is now in post-production. “In Chatham, we were mostly downtown; we shot in locations like Blue Plate, outside the Taste Box and outside of Debbye’s store, as well as behind it, and we were also in the Chatham Co-worker,” lead producer Grace Hannoy said. “In Ghent, we were mostly in Melania’s house for the majority of it, but we did spend a day on the road next to the cemetery and also at a flower farm.” Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.

The Albany County Legislature was already one of the only local governments that provide the public with a livestream video online of its meetings. But, until Oct. 10, the public forum that precedes each meeting, and other public hearings, were not livestreamed. The legislature changed that at its Oct. 10 meeting, and now all future meetings will be available online, including the parts where the public gets to speak. The Albany County legislature meets next Nov. 13, with that public forum beginning at 6:30 p.m.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Wed., Oct. 11 (6:26). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Coxsackie residents spoke out against a proposed modular home development project in the village at a public hearing held Mon., Oct. 9. At the hearing attorneys for the project spoke and a number of residents expressed opposition to the project. Resident Stephanie Burch, a resident of Van Dyck Street, submitted a petition to the town board. “We have received many signatures from members of our community that want this law, or proposal, passed. We would like to keep our community like it is. We are all for growth. We do not see this as growth,” Burch said. The existing infrastructure cannot support an additional 160 homes, given the number of water main breaks that occur, Burch said. She said additional traffic would also present a problem. Other speakers at the hearing echoed Burch's comments. UMH Properties, a real estate investment trust based in Freehold, New Jersey, first proposed building Mountain View Estates, a 280-unit modular home park on a 110-acre former dairy farm on Van Dyck Street in 2006. Since that time there's been no progress made on the project. The town board is now considering an amendment to a local law which would limit the number of manufactured and modular homes permitted within the village of Coxsackie. A vote on the proposed local law has not been scheduled yet. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman speakers at a public hearing Tue., Oct. 10, appealed to the state Public Service Commission, asking how Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. could charge the highest rates in the state and still justify proposed rates increases. The company is asking for a 13.5 percent hike for electricity and 18.5 percent for natural gas. The afternoon hearing at Kingston City Hall drew about 40 people. A second hearing was scheduled for Tuesday evening. “I liken the proposed increase ... [to] rubbing salt on an open wound,” said town of Rochester Supervisor Carl Chipman. Central Hudson Vice President Anthony Campagiorni said the additional revenue would be used to shore up aging infrastructure and expand customer service programs. Central Hudson has also promised to enlarge its payment assistance program for low-income families. Several speakers at the hearing, however, said the company's information was misleading and contended the utility is focused on increasing investor profits. The final public hearings on the proposed rate hikes will be held at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Mon., Oct. 16 in the Newburgh Town Hall. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greenport Fire District will hold a special election October 24, to approve a bond resolution that would allow the town of Greenport to purchase a new frontline pumper vehicle for $700,000. If passed, the proposition would allow the fire district to issue $300,000 in serial bonds and to draw up to $400,000 from its capital reserve fund to finance the purchase. Greenport Fire Chief Harry Breese said maintenance costs for the 24-year-old truck the department is now using are increasing, and replacing the vehicle would be a more economical choice. Polls will be open 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tue., Oct. 24, at 500 Town Hall Drive, in the Greenport Community Center. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.