WGXC Newsroom moving again

WGXC Newsroom has moved for the final time:
http://newsroom.wgxc.org/

Chatham cable TV hearing, board meeting Thursday

The Chatham “Village chalkboard” reports there will be a public hearing for Charter Communications cable contract in Chatham at 7 p.m., just before the regular Village Board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Tracy Memorial Village Hall, 77 Main St.

Bay bridges

Carole Osterink was at last night’s informal Common Council meeting in Hudson and reports that Holcim attorney Donald Stever and O&G’s Kenneth Faroni sent a letter in response to one from CC president Donald Moore, and anyone following the current waterfront discussion in Hudson will find it and the comments on Osterink’s Gossips of Rivertown blog fascinating. Osterink also says that, “Mayor Scalera reported that CSX had agreed to repair the Ferry Street bridge in time for the Flag Day parade. They will replace the rotted planking ‘to get through the weekend’ and put plywood on the footbridge. CSX also said they would ‘try to put it in some capital plan.’” NY Senator Chuck Schumer will attend the Flag Day parade, and Osterink says Scalera will show him the bridge then, and ask for help.

Rural businesses: Cluster and prosper

Julia Reischel in the Watershed Post:

National rural-issues website The Daily Yonder ran an article yesterday exhorting rural businesses to form “clusters” if they want to thrive. The thrust of the story is counter-intuitive — the author, Stuart Rosenfeld, argues that rather than competing for customers, similar small businesses operating near each other seem to attract more business for all. He cites Vermont’s booming sustainable agriculture economy as an example:

Though the second smallest state in population, Vermont stands head and shoulders above every other state based on its per capita concentrations of local farms, CSAs (community supported agriculture), organic farms, and farmers markets. This is important because groups of related businesses — clusters — are now thought to be essential for economic growth. Businesses are more efficient when they are clustered. Workers generally earn more. Related business clusters can feed off each other.

The last section of the article has tips for how to build a cluster. Food for thought for the Catskills, perhaps?

Agriculture is no longer just crops and animals in Vermont. Except for the largest dairy farms, economic survival and growth depend on rural families finding ways to supplement their income from the food they produce though other innovative market opportunities. They may offer weekend farm stays, start catering services, process their own foods, direct sales to local markets, create artisan products and brands or produce renewable energy by selling biomass, wind power, or operating methane digesters.

Read the entire story at Watershed Post.

Tooker challenges Molinaro

Debora Gilbert at The Columbia Paper reports:

Dutchess County resident Susan Tooker threw her hat into the ring at the annual Columbia County Democratic Committee dinner Sunday night, announcing her decision to run against Marc Molinaro (R) in the 103rd Assembly District. A working mother, registered nurse, nurse practitioner and union member, who is pro-choice and in favor of marriage equality, Ms. Tooker was introduced as the Democrats’ choice of an opponent to challenge the two-term GOP incumbent at the Democrats’ third annual Martin Van Buren Testimonial Dinner June 6 at the Columbia Golf and Country Club in Claverack. Read the entire story in The Columbia Paper.

Catskill Farmer’s Market

Interviews from East Durham Irish Festival

The scene at the East Durham Irish Festival last weekend. Photo by Tony Fallon.

WGXC’s Tony Fallon was on the scene last weekend at the East Durham Irish Festival, and contributes these photos and interviews:

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with East Durham Irish Festival Director Tom McGoldrick or paste this url into your computer’s media player:

All shades of green.

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with young performer Sheena Mullin, or paste this url into your computer’s media player:

http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/06

/TonyFalloninterviewsSheenaMullin.mp3

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with Frankie Curran, or paste the following url into your computer’s media player:

http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/06

/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsFrankieCurran.wav

Three generations of Irish at the Festival.

Click on this sentence to hear an interview with Sgt. Michael Roy, one of the soldier’s memorialized with bricks at the festival. Or paste the following url into your computer’s media player:

http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/06

/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsfriendofSgtMichaelRoy.mp3

Click on this sentence to hear an mp3 recording of an interview with http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/06 Shioban at the East Durham Irish Festival, or paste the following url into your computer’s media player:

http://archive.free103point9.org/2010/06

/WGXCsTonyFalloninterviewsShioban.wav

Tony Fallon interviews Debbie Jones of Irish Village USA, about the memorial bricks, at the festival, click here to listen or paste this url into your computer’s media player: