Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Lights Out Norlite and its members said that it was long past time for DEC to amend the expired permit for the Norlite Hazardous Waste Incinerator to require the company to treat the toxic ash from its pollution control equipment as hazardous waste. For years Norlite has taken advantage of a federal loophole that allowed it to sell the incinerator ash for use in building products. That exemption was ended three years ago by the federal and state environmental agencies but DEC failed to enforce the change. DEC held a hearing Monday night, November 20th, at the Cohoes Senior Citizen Center, to receive public comment after Norlite objected. Speakers at the press conference were Dr. David Carpenter, Ed Sokol, and Chris Sevinsky. Dave Public acted as moderator. Hudson Mohawk Magazine brings you this report.

Lights Out Norlite and its members said that it was long past time for DEC to amend the expired permit for Norlite, a hazardous waste incinerator, to require the company to treat the toxic ash from its pollution control equipment as hazardous waste. For years Norlite has taken advantage of a federal loophole that allowed it to sell the incinerator ash for use in building products. That exemption was ended three years ago by the federal and state environmental agencies but DEC failed to enforce the change. DEC held a hearing Monday night, November 20th, at the Cohoes Senior Citizen Center, to receive public comment after Norlite objected. Speakers at the press conference were Dr. David Carpenter, Ed Sokol, and Chris Sevinsky. Dave Public acted as moderator. Andrea Cunliffe of Hudson Mohawk Magazine brings you this report.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine:

We begin with a report from Mark Dunlea on this past Saturday’s rally at the Capitol to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the liberation of Palestine.

Then, Lex Figuereo, one of the founders of Saratoga Black Lives Matter, talks with Moses Nagel about the recent elections in Saratoga, the trial of Daryl Mount and other issues that Saratoga BLM is highlighting right now.

After that, retired meteorologist Hugh Johnson joins us for our weekly discussion, this time comparing the weather on past Thanksgivings and forecasting what’s in store for us this week.

Then, Elizabeth “EP” Press and Victoria Kereszi bring us news of a protest this past Saturday by the Save Burdett Birth Center Coalition outside of a St. Peter’s fundraiser urging attendees to allocate funds specifically to the birth center.

Finally, Carol Roberts from Troy Public Library recommends four books for young readers by native authors that offer different, broader perspectives on indigenous peoples.

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, Hudson Mohawk Magazine Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry held a RoundTable Discussion entitled “The Struggle Continues” with Freedom Fighter and Civil Rights icon Mukasa Dada, aka Willie Ricks, who coined the slogan “Black Power.” The Part-time correspondents Carlos Dufflar and Angel Martinez also joined the discussion.

Carlos is a poet and was involved in the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign, and Angel Martinez, Son of Carlos, is a Professor of History at Hunter College in New York City—part four.

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, Hudson Mohawk Magazine Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry held a RoundTable Discussion entitled “The Struggle Continues” with Freedom Fighter and Civil Rights icon Mukasa Dada, aka Willie Rick, who coined the slogan “Black Power.” The Part-time correspondents Carlos Dufflar and Angel Martinez also joined the discussion.

Carlos is a poet and was involved in the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign, and Angel Martinez, Son of Carlos, is a Professor of History at Hunter College in New York City—part three.

On Saturday night, the Save Burdett Birth Center Coalition organized a protest outside St. Peter's fundraiser in Troy. Their goal was to urge donors attending the gala to allocate their funds specifically to keep the birth center open. Victoria Kereszi recorded at the protest and Elizabeth (EP) Press edited this piece.

For more information visit https://www.saveburdettbirthcenter.com/

PepsiCo., the global soft drink company, is being sued by the NYS Attorney General Tish James over the issue of single-use plastics pollution. The lawsuit alleges that the soft drinks giant “substantially causes public harm in Buffalo, has failed to warn consumers about the potential health and environmental risks of its single-use plastic packaging, and misleads consumers and the public about its efforts to combat plastics pollution”. From the press conference announcing the lawsuit, we hear first from Attorney General James followed by Jill Jedlicka of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Michael Perrin of the office of NY state senator Neil Breslin recognizes the outstanding successes and achievements of formally incarcerated individuals. Andrea Cunliffe of Hudson Mohawk Magazine brings you a recording of this event with 2 of the many recipients on this day, LeMeik Taylor and John Romano.

This event was held on the day the Clean Slate Act was signed by Governor Hochul. Thank you to Tiana Taylor for hosting this event.

A crowd of 250 called for a ceasefire and liberation of Palestine at a peace rally at the State Capitol on Saturday, Nov 18. Protestors braved chilling winds to support the call for an end to the assault on Gaza by Israel. We hear from members of Students for Justice in Palestine and the UAlbany chapter of Youth Democratic Socialists of America. Speakers condemned both the genocide taking place in Gaza and the US role in financing and promoting it. The groups then marched to Congressmember Paul Tonko's office to demand that he support a ceasefire. Last week, more than 100 protestors had staged a die-in and a reading of the 10,000 killed in Gaza, many children. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (radio version)

Do you delight in -- or maybe dread? -- all the focus on family holiday gatherings? Hear about five novels that offer various takes on families and family dynamics. Laurie Dreyer, Lansingburgh Branch Manager for Troy Public Library, recommends these four. "The Nest" (Sweeney, 2016) explores the divisions brought by squabbles over an inheritance. "The Cherry Robbers" (Walker, 2022) is a gothic feminist novel set in 1950's Connecticut. "This Is How It Always Is" (Frankel, 2017) tells of how a family accepts, but keeps secret, a five-year-old boy's desire to be a princess, but struggles years later when the secret explodes. "The House in the Cerulean Sea" (Klune, 2020) is a fantasy about a case worker in the department in charge of magical youth who creates an unexpected family with a group of children on an island. Laurie says this is the book to read for "all the warm fuzzies." Finally, "Hello Beautiful" (Napolitano, 2023) follows the tearjerker story of a college boy accepted by his girl friend's three younger sisters, with a later family rift that threatens to tear the family apart. For more details on books and activities, visit www.thetroylibrary.org. To find other libraries in New York State, see https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/libs/#Find. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.