On Sunday, September 21, from 12:00 to 4:00 at the “Base of the Egg” in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Third Act along with over 40 organizations and businesses will participate in Sun Day, a groundbreaking coast-to-coast event that marks a pivotal moment in the nation’s clean energy transition away from climate-destroying fossil fuels. Inspired by the transformative impact of the original Earth Day in 1970, Sun Day is a nationwide day-of-action to harness the power of people, culture, and advocacy to celebrate and accelerate the rapid build-out of renewable energy. Sun Day will specifically spotlight how solar and wind are the most affordable, most reliable, and most expeditious sources of energy and that the main barrier to the clean energy transition is political, not technological. Liz Evans, co-facilitator of Third Act of Upstate NY talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Raised in a strictly anti-gun home Francisco Liuzzi, like many young Americans, owns guns and believes ... as Kirk did ... in protecting the right to bear arms even at. the cost of innocent lives. He defends that position while advocating for better mental health treatment and some simple common-sense gun laws. Rosemary just pulls her hair out over her failed parenting.

Garrett McCarey speaks with Michael Easterbrook, executive director of Mount Ida Preservation Association, about their upcoming event " An Evening over the Falls" and about their Fall and Winter program schedule. For additional information go to mountidatroy.org or on facebook at mtidacommunity.

Tara Aisha Willis is bringing new energy to the theater and dance curation at EMPAC at RPI. She is bringing in works which ask questions and she wants to bring in new audiences to EMPAC. Tara's curation works in tandem with her writing around the subject of dance, and she is excited to be bringing her talent and vision to Troy. She spoke with Sina Basila Hickey for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Saturday, September 13, more than a hundred environmentalists rallied at the State Capitol to call for passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. Many criticized Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for refusing to allow the bill to come up to a vote the last two sessions. The bill would require a 30% reduction in packaging over 12 years and ban a number of toxic chemicals from packaging. In part 2, we hear from Chris Alexander, head of the NAACP; Blair Horner of NYPIRG; and Judith Enck, Head of Beyond Plastics. Thank you to Sonja Stark for the audio recording. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Thom Francis welcomes the newly appointed, inaugural Poet Laureate of Schenectady, Adonis Richards who was one of the featured readers at the “Poets Corner Series: Hope, Fire, and Revolution” poetry and spoken word event at Kickback Studios in Troy, NY, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

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Adonis Richards is a Union College program coordinator in the Office of Intercultural Affairs, a writer for Lake George Living Magazine, and the founder of Lucid Writers, an organization that uses poetry and creative writing to build community and emotional intelligence in schools and youth programs. Richards has also worked with Electric City Barn and other local arts initiatives. He currently serves on the board of the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.

Adonis began writing poetry in 2016 during a performance at his alma mater, SUNY Potsdam, during a hip-hop showcase. Since then, he has pursued many poetic avenues, including self-publishing three poetry books. Now, Adonis hosts monthly open mics in Schenectady, NY, while perfecting his craft in reading and writing.

In the spring, Adonnis took part in the “Poets Corner Series: Hope, Fire, and Revolution” reading at Kickback Studios, that concluded three days of poetry and spoken word in both Albany and Troy, with Lynette Johnson, D. Colin, El, Tarishi M.I.D.N.G.H.T. Shuler, and Courtney Symone.

You can find more information on this and all of the events happening in our vibrant literary community on the Hudson Valley Writers Guild website, hvwg.org

As world leaders gather in New York City for the UN General Assembly and Climate Week, nearly 200 organizations have called for Make Billionaires Pay events across the country on Saturday, September 20. A bus is leaving from Albany for the main rally taking place in NYC. The rally themes include Shutdown Billionaires, Fascists and Polluters, and protect immigrants and Mother Earth. Ethan Gormley of Citizen Action talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Monday, September 1, 2025, the labor community came together for the Capital District Area Labor Federation's 'Labor Day 2025 Celebration - Rally and Picnic' at Lanthier's Grove Corporation on 4 Dunsbach Ferry Road in Latham. Our labor correspondent, Willie Terry, was there, engaging with union members to hear their thoughts on the labor issues and concerns that were at the forefront this Labor Day 2025. In this six-part series of voices from the Labor Day picnic and rally, Willie interviews Angie Morris, member of CSEA & CBTU, and former executive director of the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine,

First, Mark Dunlea brings us coverage from the Packaging Reduction Act rally at the State Capitol where environmental advocacy groups were rallying for the passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.

Then, Willie Terry interviews Gustavo Santos, Guilderland councilperson, during the Labor Day Rally in Latham NY on the history of labour and state of labour today.

Later on, Hugh Johnson joins us to answer some of our questions on weather and the history of meteorology.

After that, we hear from Nikolai Dreby as he talks to Sean about his immigration story from China to the US as part of the weekly series Everybody Moves.

Finally, as we mark the start of Hispanic Heritage month we have an archive piece of Gabe Allen-Cruz talking with Dr. Jose Cruz of SUNY Albany on the significance of Hispanic heritage and culture.

On Monday, September 1, 2025, the labor community came together for the Capital District Area Labor Federation's 'Labor Day 2025 Celebration - Rally and Picnic' at Lanthier's Grove Corporation on 4 Dunsbach Ferry Road in Latham. Our labor correspondent, Willie Terry, was there, engaging with union members to hear their thoughts on the labor issues and concerns that were at the forefront this Labor Day 2025. In this fifth segment of the voices from the Labor Day picnic and rally, Willie interviews Gustavo Santos, a Guilderland Town Board member and a member of the Public Employees Federation.