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The Daily Mail Copyright 2019, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 227, No. 109
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Saturday-Sunday, June 1-2, 2019
State: Party filings in disarray
n FORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT SUN
By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media A t-storm late in the p.m.
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returns to TV ies Hulu’s ‘Catch-22’ tackles complexit of beloved Joseph Heller novel By LUAINE LEE
fortuhis latest project. But didn’t want any part of their minds. Clooney t first George Clooney Grant Heslov, changed Joseph Heller’s nately he and his partner, Hulu’s new version of not only costars but co-produces want famous novel, “Catch-22.” And we said, ‘No, I don’t want to do “Catch-22?”’ novel. I don’t want to get into “ ... They said, ‘Do you ridiculous. It’s a beloved to do “Catch-22.” It seems Clooney. says three are anythe middle of all that,’” three scripts and I said, ‘Well, if the next at “And we read these first the next three, and then we called up everybody read thing like that.’ And we ‘Where do we sign up?’” move as Paramount and just said,by Luke Davies and David Michod, a gutsy dark comedy into a starThe script was written a had already turned the Henry became it Buck hit, and wasn’t a bazooka Mike Nichols And while the movie studded film in the ‘70s. sort of unspooling these beloved cult classic. did an amazing job with have enough time to really “I think David and Luke you do a movie, you don’t characters because, when says Clooney. with is you get to spend time it get to know the characters,” this as a television show, “And that’s why you do does. And they just figured out a way to interpret got onbook So I think that’s why we the characters like the think was really possible. in a way that we didn’t one of the considered is board, for the most part.” “This school. high book in high reading when I was in Clooney had read the of all time. So it was required great American novels of writing we different than the kind school,” he says. thought of writing, which was the characters, and I “And I loved the style young, and so I just liked read it in — had read. But I was pretty we were sent the scripts to do, and I hadn’t
Tribune News Service
A
INSIDE TODAY!
n SPORTS
ALBANY — Greene County’s Independence party has been behind in its paperwork since 2011, state election officials confirmed Friday. Within 20 days of a county party’s biennial elections, the committee is required to meet and elect officers including chairman, secretary and treasurer. Within three days of the meeting, the party must file a copy of the appointments with both the county and state board
of elections, according to state election law. T h e G r e e n e County Independence Party Com- Diana Benoit mittee filed paperwork on March 29, after an eight-year gap, according to state election officials. Greene County sheriff candidate Diana Benoit, 54, of Cairo, said she was prevented from seeking endorsement
from the state Independence party for this reason. “The state Independence party did not be- Pete Kusminsky lieve there was an Independence Party in Greene County,” Benoit said. Benoit instead sought a “Wilson Pakula document” — authorization given by a political party to a candidate
not registered with that party allowing him or her to run as its candidate — from the state Independence party, to run in the November election. But first, Benoit has to face off against Peter Kusminsky, 54, also of Cairo, in a Republican party primary June 25. Both candidates reached the required threshold in April of 3.75% of Republican voters’ signatures to get on the primary ballot. Each candidate was required to secure the percentage of signatures, Greene
County Republican Election Commissioner Brent Bogardus said. Kusminsky and Benoit are former state police investigators. Benoit said she feels that the Independence party is not a valid party. “The Independence Party of Greene County is not duly constituted and should not have been given a line on our ballot,” Benoit wrote. “The Village of Athens election was See STATE A8
Pioneering artist rises to the pantheon
Milazzo throws a gem Pitching carries ICC, Chatham to semifinal victories PAGE B1
n NATION
Storm chasers get a surprise Satellite tornado blindsides Kansas tour PAGE A2
n REGION
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The U.S. Postal Service honored the late artist Ellsworth Kelly at his studio in Spencertown on Friday. Ten works of his art will be featured on stamps that will be available for purchase in post offices around the country.
By Amanda Purcell Columbia-Greene Media
A twist in area arson case Man accused of arson seeks use variance PAGE A3
SPENCERTOWN — Artists, aficionados, postal workers and fans of renowned abstract artist and sculptor Ellsworth Kelly packed his studio Friday to celebrate his masterpieces, which can now be purchased for 55 cents — in the form of postage stamps, that is. The U.S. Postal Service unveiled 20 new stamps Friday featuring Kelly’s finest works at his former studio in Spencertown. Kelly joined the ranks of fellow artists Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keefe, both of whose work also was featured on postage stamps. Kelly, who spent more than four decades as a full-time resident of Columbia County, died Dec. 27, 2015, at his home in Spencertown. He was 92. He built a studio at his Spencertown home, which he shared with Jack
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The work of Ellsworth Kelly, who lived in Spencertown, is featured in modern art museums around the world.
Shear, a photographer and the director of the Ellsworth Kelly Foundation.
The celebration was held on what would have been the artist’s 96th
birthday. It was would have been his seventh anniversary with his husband, Shear. Viewed as too European for American artists and too American for European artists, Kelly was a revolutionary. An abstract painter with an appreciation for bold and bright colors, Kelly lived in his studio in Spencertown for four decades. His work is featured in modern art museums from Paris to Houston, Boston to Berlin, said Ian Barry, a director of the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery and a professor of liberal arts at Skidmore College. “In a career spanning almost 70 years, Kelly took great joy in pioneering the distinctive style of abstraction,” Barry said. Over several decades, Kelly See ARTIST A8
n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice
A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B6 B7-8
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Audit: Hunter’s technology needs upgrade By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media
HUNTER — The town of Hunter was cited in a state audit Wednesday for having substandard information technology. Town officials responded Friday that the flaws are being corrected. The municipality was one of seven across the state named in audits this week released by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office. The audit, which assessed how well the town’s information system was protected against unauthorized use, took place from Jan. 1, 2017 to Aug. 8, 2018. The town has 52 employees and 15 computers, according to the report. “The board and town officials have not adopted IT policies and procedures for disaster recovery, backups
and breach notification,” according to the report. “In addition, employees were not provided with IT security awareness training to ensure they understand the policies and how they
plans are in place to get Hunter up to speed. “We are working on a project to improve any deficiencies we have,” Legg said. “It’s not a completed project yet,
“We are working on a project to improve any deficiencies we have. It’s not a completed project yet, but it’s in the works.” — TOWN SUPERVISOR DARYL LEGG could help protect IT assets and computerized data. The IT consultant or town officials also did not maintain an up-to-date inventory of hardware or software.” Town Supervisor Daryl Legg said
but it’s in the works.” The town is required to submit a corrective action plan that addresses the findings and recommendations in the audit to the Comptroller’s office within 90 days.
A private contractor provides IT services for the town, Hunter Councilman Sean Mahoney said. Mahoney declined to identify the contractor. “We budgeted $10,000 for all IT services, including purchases in the 2019 budget,” Mahoney said. The audit is a positive opportunity, Mahoney added. “It’s new for most municipalities and the state is doing this as a service,” Mahoney said. “It only makes us better to have to do this. So we’re happy to do it.” The Comptroller’s office recommended that Hunter adopt a disaster recovery plan, backup procedures and a breach notification policy. See AUDIT A8