Amanda Purcell reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the Hudson Planning Board turned down an invitation to attend the Aug. 22 Greenport Planning Board public hearing about the proposed A. Colarusso and Son haul road that would run through both towns. “Our understanding of SEQR (environmental review) process suggested we were supposed to have a more cooperative role in the process and Greenport has pretty much relegated us to the sidelines,” Hudson Planning Board Chairman Thomas DePietro said. DePietro, a WGXC volunteer programmer currently on hiatus as he is running for another office, said planning board members may attend, but not officially. “I think our presence on a board would validate their decision, and we don’t want to be in that position,” he said. Greenport Planning Chairman Ed Stiffler said, “Our invitation to Hudson was a courtesy as the project is in both municipalities.” Hudson resident Julie Metz, and one other resident are quoted criticizing Greenport's handling of the environmental issues surrounding the proposed road. “After hundreds of public comments and documents from Hudson showing negative economic, social and environmental impacts of the A. Colarusso Haul Road proposal, Greenport’s Planning Board chose to ignore all that evidence and issue a negative declaration,” Metz said. “The threshold of negative impacts under SEQRA is low. Even one negative impact should have warranted a full environmental review. Greenport’s action is a clear violation of SEQRA.” Read the full story in HudsonValley360.com.

DOWNLOAD or PLAY the audio version of the local news headlines for Tue., Aug. 22 (8:15). (Produced by Philip Grant.)

Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Hudson Police Commissioner Martha Harvey has resigned. Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton on Mon., Aug. 21, confirmed that she received Harvey’s resignation Friday. “Commissioner Harvey has resigned because she is relocating to Albany,” Hamilton said. “I have no immediate plans to replace her.” Hamilton's two-year term ends Dec. 31. She is not seeking re-election. Hudson Police Chief Edward Moore said the vacancy should not have a major impact on the department. “It’s (the commissioner’s role) a function of city government and we are grateful for the time and effort that Commissioner Harvey spent,” Moore said. The Commissioner of Police is the head of the city's Police Department, and serves at the pleasure of the mayor. Harvey was appointed commissioner in September, replacing Gary Graziano. Graziano resigned Sept. 16, as the result of fallout over his comments concerning the arrest of a Hudson community leader. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Daniel Zuckerman is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia-Greene Community College operating budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year has now been approved by the Greene County Legislature and the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. Overall, the spending plan declined by three percent, including a decline in salaries. The decrease is due to a number of faculty retirements, college President James Campion said. As a result, employee benefits have also decreased. “We had senior people retire — typically their successors come in at a lower rate,” he said. The coming school year is the first time cybersecurity insurance was required. The $20,000 expenditure was recommended by State University of New York, Campion said. College officials are seeing some savings in the college’s electrical use due to the use solar energy. The college’s main academic building has been geothermal since 1997, Campion said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

William J. Kemble is reporting in the Daily Freeman the Rhinebeck Planning Board met Mon., Aug. 21, to hear public comment on the solar array proposed for a two-acre site at 355 Wurtemburg Road, next door to a historic church. Neighbors are promising to wage a battle to stop the project. Hudson Solar owner Jeff Irish said Monday the 16.1-acre parcel was selected because the array would be out of sight and near a Central Hudson main connection line. Irish said compressors used to cool some of the equipment would stay under decibel limits used in many municipalities. He also said the site would use plants that are pollinator-friendly and the security fencing would allow wildlife to pass through. Among the speakers, six opposed the project and two supported the array. Another three people asked questions without presenting a specific opinion. The public hearing was recessed until Sept. 18. At that time, the board is expected to assume the lead role for environmental review of Hudson Solar's application. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Susan Mehalick is reporting in the Times Union construction on the median strip just north of the Catskill exit of the New York State Thruway has leveled formerly mountain-like vistas. A Thruway spokesman said the project was part of a "safety and stabilization improvement project to eliminate median rock slopes that are considered locations of high risk where rocks and vegetation could fall and reach high-speed Thruway travel lanes." The project is expected make the one-mile stretch of the Thruway safer and eliminate the possibility of falling rock and debris reaching the road. Read the full "Getting There" column in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting former WGXC programmer Mariel Fiori was recently awarded the Northern Dutchess NAACP Humanitarian Award. Fiori received the award on August 10, at the NAACP's second annual Freedom Fund Banquet in Poughkeepsie. Fiori is the managing editor and co-founder of La Voz magazine, which serves more than 140,000 Latinos living in the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions. “Accepting the status quo is not part of my blood, my upbringing, or my background,” Fiori said in a press release. “We need to use whatever tools we possess, be it education, network, time, or money, to help improve the part of the world where we live.” Along with Antonio Flores-Lobos, Fiori until recently hosted ¿Qué cocinaré hoy?, a weekly Spanish language news show on WGXC. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Colin Moynihan is reporting in The New York Times on the impact of internet fame on the freshwater pool known as Blue Hole, located approximately 20 miles from Woodstock, in Ulster County. In the past most people learned about the pool through word of mouth, but several years ago mentions surfaced on the internet. Now, the pool is attracting up to 1,000 visitors a day. The impact on the site has been profound. Basil Seggos, the commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said last week that while the agency encouraged the use of public land, concern over the Blue Hole has grown. “We’ve seen a significant increase in trash, damage to vegetation and trees, and soil erosion,” he said. “We need to protect these natural assets, and we’re working on possible strategies for the future, including limiting the number of visitors at a given time.” The DEC last year issued emergency regulations, and in June it issued a statement saying Blue Hole was "overused." The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics this year designated the site as one of 16 spots negatively affected by recreational use. There is some evidence the efforts by government and conservation groups could be paying off. However, some local residents told The Times that, outreach and enforcement aside, there was no way to slow the crowds. “Once social media got ahold of this, it really turned things around,” said one Denning resident. Read the full story in The New York Times.

Local weather forecast:
TODAY : Patchy for before 8 a.m. There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms Tuesday, primarily during the mid-afternoon through the late evening hours. The main threat with thunderstorms will be damaging winds, but large hail and an isolated tornado will be possible as well. The thunderstorms will also produce heavy downpours. Otherwise, partly sunny. High near 87. Tuesday night, mostly cloudy. Low around 65.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS:
WEDNESDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 78. Wednesday night, mostly clear. Low around 55.
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 75. Thursday night, partly cloudy. Low around 53.

Sunrise today: 6:11 a.m.
Sunset today: 7:44 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 13:33 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today is the fourth Tuesday of the month.

WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

ATHENS Town Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m. at community center, 2 First Street, Athens (945-1052).
CHATHAM Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 77 Main Street, Chatham (392-5821).
CHATHAM Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 488 Route 295, Chatham (392-1651).
COLUMBIA County Board of Supervisors County Government Committee meeting, 5 p.m. at 401 State Street, Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
COXSACKIE Town Board meeting, 6 p.m. at Town Hall, 16 Reed St., Coxsackie (731-2727)
HUDSON Development Corporation meeting, 12 p.m. at 1 N. Front Street, Hudson (751-1044).
ICHABOD CRANE Board of Education meeting , 7 p.m. at high school library, 2910 Route 9, Valatie (758-7577).
WINDHAM Town Board meeting, 8 p.m. at Town Hall, 371 State Rt. 296, Hensonville (734-4170).

POLITICAL EVENTS
Weekly events:
Citizen Action HV Action Night, 5:30 p.m., every Tuesday at 7 Grand Street, Kingston. Information at hudsonvalley@citizenactionny.org, or facebook.com/HVCitizenActionNY.
New Paltz Climate Action Coalition, 5 p.m., every Thursday at New Paltz Village Hall, 23 Plattekill Ave., New Paltz. Information at (845) 419-3786 or newpaltzclimateaction@gmail.com.
Faso Friday, 12 p.m., every Friday at U.S. Rep. John Faso's District Office, 2 Hudson Street, Kinderhook. Information at erinpersists@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news update for Monday, August 21 (3:12). (Produced by Alanna Medlock.)