Hudson Mohawk Magazine

On August 6, 1945, the US dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima. Nearly 80 years later, a movie about the maker of the bomb is a box office smash. In the Capital District, the monthly vigil of Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace at 4 Corners in Delmar Aug 7 at 5 PM will focus on nuclear weapons. Hoag Havaness of Westcheter, co-chair of the national Green Party Peace Action Committee, talks about the issue. GPAX is holding a webinar on Wed. August 9 at 8 PM ET. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. bit.ly/GPAXHiroshima

A new report from the State Comptroller’s office found that generators of renewable power including solar and wind, would need to triple production to reach the law’s 2030 goal of 70 percent green electricity consumption. The comptroller’s report notes that prior efforts to increase renewable energy have been hindered by inconsistent funding, canceled projects and delays. The Comptroller noted that utility customers may end up with higher bills since the state funds most renewables through a surcharge on bills rather than the state’s general budget. Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli discusses the report and climate progress with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

For an update on Harbour Point Gardens, we turn to this piece from the first city council hearing by Elizabeth Press.

The challenges continue at Harbour Point Gardens. On Tuesday a stop work order was issued again. The Troy City Council's second investigative hearing on the emergency evacuation at Harbour Point Gardens is scheduled for August 17, 2023.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine,

First, Mark Dunlea reports on Buy Local Grow Local in the Capital District

Then, we hear more from Willie Terry’s interview with Mark Emanation about labor issues in our area

Later on, we hear from SNUG from our Freedom Fest from correspondents Dulcinia Diggs and Aljahraun Wright

After that, we go into our archives to hear from Joseph Orozco and the Hoopa Valley Tribe and their radio station

Finally, we have a Talking with Poets segment from Thom Frances which highlights the work from Billy Stanley

S.N.U.G. attended Freedom Fest back in June. They were interviewed by HMM correspondents Dulcinia Diggs and Aljahraun Wright about their efforts to support the community and the importance of talking to your children about gun violence and how to avoid gun violence. Find SNUG on facebook to learn more.

Billy Stanley grew up in the backwaters of the D’arbonne Bayou on the outskirts of West Monroe, Louisiana. After exhausting his literary ambitions in the twin cities of Northeast Louisiana he took off to Provincetown Massachusetts to become Stanley Kunitz‘s garbageman for a few summers. He humbled himself before Yusef Komuyakaa at the end of Cape Cod. Dave Brinks agitated him on the streets of the Big Easy as Billy yawped his bona fides. He then fell in love and shoveled snow in New York’s capital. Shaker ghosts in Watervliet haunted him on early morning sunrises in the dead of winter. Adam Goldsworthy teaches him the poetry of nature as Livio Levante teaches him the riches of nature.

Billy says that “Poetry is man’s attempt to rationalize the magnificence of nature in the face of our human hubris. Hope you like mine, I do.”

On March 27, 2006, Billy read his poem "Dental Hygienists" at the Poets Speak Loud open mic at the Lark Tavern.

In our conversation, we talk about where that poem came from and much, much more.

Initially a project of PAUSE (350 Albany), Buy Local Grow Local provides an online resource that promotes locally owned and operated businesses that emphasize sustainability and/or social responsibility in their business practices. It also encourages the growing of food locally by residents and farms. Sandy Steubing talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about the project (buylocalgrowlocal.org)

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine:

We begin with our Roaming Labor correspondent Willie Terry talking with Mark Emanation, executive director of the Capital District Area Labor Federation.

Then, Mark Dunlea reports on an action by local environmental groups to push the federal Environmental Protection Agency to ban vinyl chloride, a toxic substance used in PVC pipes.

Later on, Marsha Lazarus brings us part two of her interview with Claire Nolan about her one-woman shows highlighting women in history.

After that, we hear from Cheryl McKeon of the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza about new novels that show various perspectives on World War II.

Finally, we talk once again with retired National Weather Service meteorologist Hugh Johnson for a look back at July’s weather, and a look forward to this week’s forecast.

Hear about different aspects of women's lives in World War Two through five new fictional books recommended by Cheryl McKeon of the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. "The Enemy at Home: A Thrilling Historical Suspense Novel" (Kevin O'Brien, 2023), set in Seattle, has a serial killer targeting Rosie the Riveters. "Good Night Irene: A Novel" (Luis Alberto Urrea, 2023) is based on the author's mother's true experiences as a "Doughnut Dolly" on the war front, which combines war descriptions with "laugh out loud funny" tales of female friendship. "The First Ladies" (Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray, 2023) tells of the friendship between Eleanor Rosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune, the "first lady of the civil rights movement." "Flatlands" (Sue Hubbard, 2023) and "The Secret Book of Flora Lea" (Patti Callahan Henry, 2023) each explore the experiences of grown British "Pied Piper children" who were sent from urban areas to rural foster homes for safety. And for a break from war, check out "The Book of (More) Delights" (Ross Gay, 2023). For more information, visit www.bhny.com. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Thursday, July 27, environmental groups delivered 27,570 petition signatures to EPA's DC office, calling for a ban on toxic vinyl chloride, the carcinogenic chemical used to make PVC plastic that was intentionally spilled and burned in East Palestine after the train derailment disaster in February 2023. We hear first from Heather McTeer Toney of Beyond Petrochemicals followed by Daniel Winston of River Valley Organizing; Chris Walton of the Hip Hop Caucus; Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics; and Jessica Conard, a resident of East Palestine Ohio. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.