Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Hear about four recent books with somewhat dark themes: "The Pirate's Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd" (Geanacopolous, 2022); "Three Assassins: A Novel" (Isaka, 2022, sequel to "Bullet Train"); "Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Life" (Kara, 2023); and "The White House Plumbers: The Seven Weeks That Led to Watergate and Doomed Nixon's Presidency" (Krough & Krough, 2022). Ian Houck, head of Adult & Reference Services at Troy Public Library also talks about the library's 125-year-old building, its unusually non-religious Tiffany stained glass window, and the "Expedition" sponsored by Upper Hudson Library System offering rewards for visiting some/all of the 36 libraries in Albany & Rensselaer counties. 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.

With the legislative session scheduled to end this Thursday, Environmental Chairs State Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick held a press conference on Monday June 5 to urge passage of their recently rewritten Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. The legislation would reduce packaging, including plastic packaging, by half over the next 12 years. It would also ban certain toxic chemicals from being used for packaging, and prohibit so-called chemical recycling from being counted as recycling. We hear from Senator Harckham, Assemblymember Glick, Adrienne Esposito of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics, and Bobbi Wilding, Clean and Healthy New York.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, Hudson Mohawk Magazine Roaming Labor Correspondent Willie Terry spoke to Troy City Councilman Steven Figueroa about a new Spanish restaurant (Sabor Caribeno) he is opening up in downtown Troy, New York.

A new report by the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter says New York has failed to regulate the spreading of sewage sludge contaminated with manufacturing chemicals such as PFAS that can harm humans. The group wants the state to ban the land application of sewage sludge such as on farm land. Wayne Miller, Chair of the club's Northern Watersheds Committee and an organic farmer, discusses the issue with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine:

We begin with a report from Mark Dunlea regarding immigrant rights advocates and legislative supporters who gathered on June 1 at the state capitol to call for passage of the New York for All law before lawmakers adjourn on June 8.

Then, we hear Part 1 of an interview with Young Futures' founder James Mitchell. James spoke with producer Marsha Lazarus about when and how Young Futures and the Financial Art Literacy program began.

Later on, Dulcinia Diggs covers the Veg Out festival has been a hit in Troy for over the past 3 years; Although Cap Region Vegans have been a staple in The Capital Region as a whole for 17 years.

After that, Brea Barthel covers the news that food pantries throughout the country, and even here in the Capital Region, are facing a double whammy of increased need and decreased funding.

Finally, hip hop artist Lil Kyo XR describes his influences, creative process, and abstract-view of musical lyricism in this interview conducted by Tria Luv.

The Veg Out Festival has been a hit in Troy for the past 3 years with Cap Region Vegans being established in the Capital Region for 17 years. HMM correspondent Dulcinia Diggs had the pleasure of speaking with the Executive Director of Cap Region Vegans about the background of Cap Region Vegans, Veg Out Festival, and more. To learn more visit https://capregionvegans.org/

On June 1, immigrant rights advocates and legislative supporters gathered at the state capitol to call for passage of the New York for All law before lawmakers adjourn on June 8. The law would prohibit local law enforcement and state agencies from colluding with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). We hear from Murad Awawdeh of the NY Immigration Coalition; Senator Gounardes and Assemblymember Tony Simone; Damian Gonzales of Alianza Agricola; Julie Dragonitti of the Worker Justice Center; and assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Young Futures' founder James Mitchell spoke with producer Marsha Lazarus about when and how Young Futures and the Financial Art Literacy program began. He explains that the class curriculum goes beyond building budgeting and other financial literacy skills. James' approach is about shifting the mindset of people in low-income communities and how they feel about money and finance and all that they have to contribute to their communities.

Part 1 of an interview with Young Futures' founder James Mitchell.

Food pantries throughout the country, and even here in the Capital Region, are facing a double whammy of increased need and decreased funding. Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director of the Food Pantries for the Capital District, notes that her organization is seeing an all-time service high, with demand for the 1st quarter of 2023 (Jan-March) over 30% higher than the same time last year. She explains the many challenges, how the food distribution system works, and how listeners can help with food, financial support, and volunteer time. For more information on how to give -- or get -- help, see https://thefoodpantries.org/. Produced by Brea Barthel for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Oakwood Community Center is an important space for Troy. Groups hold events and forums there and many youth rely on the space for after school and summer programming. Without air conditioning, the summer program can be hard. Shanna Goldman, executive director at OCC, came onto Hudson Mohawk Magazine to talk about the Keep Our Kids Cool Campaign and the launch event taking place on Sunday, June 4 at 2pm.