Matthew Hamilton reports in the Albany Times Union former U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, a Democrat from Saugerties who for years represented parts of the Hudson Valley and Catskills south of the WGXC listening area, died Nov. 22 at the age of 79. Rep. John Faso, a Republican from Kinderhook who represents much of Hinchey's former district, announced the news in a statement saying, that Hinchey was, "a fierce defender of the environment" who "left an important mark on New York State from his years as Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Conservation.... I served with Maurice in the state Assembly and knew him to be an articulate and dedicated proponent of the causes he believed in and the people he served." Hinchey had not publicly spoken in a long time, as a rare brain disorder caused Parkinson's-like symptoms and a loss of speech, his family revealed earlier in the year. Hinchey was in the state Assembly from 1975 until 1992, and then was elected to Congress, serving there until 2013. He was one of the first representatives to oppose the war in Iraq, but will always be best-known for his environmental efforts, including efforts to rid the Hudson River of PCBs. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.