Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Japanese Food Education with Alexis Agliano-Sanborn by Hudson Mohawk Magazine

First, Mark Dunlea brings us coverage from the New York for All Coalition’s press conference held in support of the New York For All Act Then, Alexis Agliano-Sanborn joins us to talk about Japan’s food education program and school lunch for elementary school students. Later on, Sina Basila Hickey talks to RPI’s Center for Deep Listening's inaugural Artist-in-Residence Erik DeLuca about deep listening. After that, Brea Barthel brings us a segment on getting musical instruments to kids Finally, Ellie and Jesse talk about fermenting food scraps before you throw it in the compost heap. Co-Hosts: Richard Sleeper, Ember | Producer: Jacob Boston

On Wednesday, February 25, the New York for All Coalition and allies, held a press conference at State Capitol in support of the New York for All Act . The Act would prevent collusion by local governments with federal immigration authorities, ensuring immigrants—regardless of status— can live and work without fear . We hear from Cassandra Bocanegra, New York Immigration Coalition, Senator Andrew Gounardes and Zellnor Myrie, Jesus a farmworker and Senator Michelle Hinchey. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

We Are the Inventors! is the annual youth Black history breakfast that takes place in Troy NY. This breakfast is taking place this Saturday, February 28th, and one of the organizers is Kevin Pryor, the City of Troy’s Director of diversity, opportunity, and outreach and a long time youth organizer and founder of Troy Look. Kevin Pryor joined the Hudson Mohawk Magazine for a live interview.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunlea speaks with photographer John Bulmer about the efforts to preserve the Dunham Reservoir. Then, Willie Terry brings us to the NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislators’ 55th Annual Legislative Conference. Later on, H Bosh Jr talks to Miki Conn, formerly of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center, about wanting more Black history in schools. After that, Carolyn Tennant interviews Nicole Porter about the benefits of art therapy. Finally, Kevin Pryor joins us to talk about We Are The Inventors! an annual Youth Black history breakfast in Troy.

The State of New York has classified the dam at the Dunham Reservoir in Grafton as unsound. The state is leaning towards taking down the dam and creating a wetlands instead, a proposal that is opposed by many local residents. Photographer John Bulmer provides an update on the effort to save the Reservoir with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Saturday, February 14, 2026, the NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislators held their 55th Annual Legislative Conference. The conference took place at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York. One of the conference events was the ‘Labor Luncheon which was held in the ESP Convention Center. Labor Correspondent Willie Terry covered that event, where he recorded comments from State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia on the State of Labor. This is part one of Willie's labor report on the conference.

HMM_02-25-2026 by Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Despair punk is the description which Julia Alsarraf gives her latest album called "In Fidelity." She spoke with Sina Basila Hickey about her music, the process of this album, and complicated feelings. https://www.juliaalsarraf.com/ Cropped photo by Photos by Debi Gustafson

Frederick Douglass’ legacy demonstrates the importance of archives. Using speeches, photography, and print media, this man who was born into slavery became one of the most important figures in Black history. This conversation discusses his impact on Black archives and what Black archives are from a public historian perspective. This is part of a longer conversation with Lacey Wilson a local historian who focuses on local black history. Lacey currently works for the Underground Railroad Education Center located in the Arbor Hills neighborhood of Albany that educates the public about the Underground Railroad through the lens of local abolitionists, Steve and Harriet Myers. This conversation is by the Sanctuary's Executive Director Ren Lee.

Edward Simon, a native of Venezuela, is an incredible pianist who performs with his trio, exploring the commonalities between jazz and the folkloric sounds of Latin America. The Edward Simon Trio is coming to the capital region, presented by Jazz/Latino in partnership with The Union College Department of Music as part of the series AHORA, latin/jazz! 2026. Sina Basila Hickey and Caelan McPherson talked with Dr. José E. Cruz, President of Jazz Latino Inc .The event will take place on Wednesday, Feb 25 from 7:30 pm to 9 pm, at the Emerson Auditorium at Union College.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunlea talks with two representatives from WPH about single payer universal health care in New York state. Then, Ren Lee spoke about Frederick Douglass with Lacey Wilson of the Underground Railroad Education Center, the historical figure at the center of the Sanctuary’s event Saturday event “Frederick Douglass and the Power of the Black Archives“ Later on, José Cruz of Jazz Latino Inc. will join us to talk about Edward Simon Trio, a musical group performing on Wed. Feb 25 at Union College. After that, All of Us Untitled and Free discuss Black history in the present day and how global events impact the Capital District. Finally, Thom Francis welcomes Mary Panza and Charlie Rossiter to Poets Speak Loud stage Hosts:Sina Basila Hickey and Caelan McPherson Engineer:Caelan McPherson

The Northeast experiences a blizzard over the weekend. Retired National Weather Service Meteorologist reviewed the storm, where it hit really hard, reviewed specific terms, and looked at the weather ahead with Lennox Apudo and Sean Bernyk.

Thom Francis welcomes Mary Panza and Charlie Rossiter to Poets Speak Loud stage at McGeary's for the annual Tom Nattell Memorial Reading and Beret Toss on January 28, 2019. +++++ On Monday, January 28, 2019, poets and writers from all over the region gathered at McGeary's in downtown Albany for the annual Tom Nattell Memorial Reading and Beret Toss, paying tribute to one of the founding fathers of the local poetry and spoken word community. This week we are going to hear from two of the poets who took the stage that night - Mary Panza and Charlie Rossiter. Mary Panza was the host for the long-running Poets Speak Loud series, shared a newer piece “No One Escapes the Pain of Being a Person” then on to a couple of older pieces, the memoir of herself over time “Those Black & White Photos,” and then her response to an interviewers question “Why Poetry?” Mary has been a permanent fixture in the Capital Regions poetry/spoken word community since 1988. Her first time reading on the stage of the legendary QE2 cemented her love for performing. She had hosted a number of open mics including a five year run at Borders in the 1990's and a 15 year run with Poets Speak Loud at the Lark Tavern and then McGeary's Irish Pub from 2005-2020. She had her heyday with publishing her work in the 90's when small zines were king. She has published three chapbooks with poet Gina Grega and five small chapbooks with the late Paul Weinman. In 2005, she was elected Vice President of Albany Poets. She has hosted an endless amount of events from poetry, music, spoken word to the extraordinary recycled fashion shows that were Discard Avant Garb. She has a blog entitled Housewife Tuesday since 2012 that can be found on the Albany Poets website. She is currently working on staying as sane as she can in an insane world. Charlie Rossiter, who runs a monthly open mic in Bennington, read a poem “On Reading My Brother’s Facebook Post” pondering his childhood and the mentality of Trump supporters. Charlie has a long history of writing and promoting poetry. In Albany, NY in the 1990s, he was host/producer of Poetry Motel a local television program that featured poets being interviewed and reading from their work, which ran for over 100 episodes. In 2000 he co-founded and hosted www.poetrypoetry.com a website that features poetry reviews, commentary, and live recordings of poems by the poets who wrote them. He spearheaded an all-day poetry reading on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, and has organized events for 100,000 Poets For Change. Charlie has been awarded an NEA fellowship for poetry, and his books are available at www.foothillspublishing.com where descriptions and sample poems may be perused. Charlie Rossiter also hosted the Poetry Spoken Here podcast.

NY Health is a single payer universal health care proposal for NY. Instead of private health insurance, all New Yorkers would be covered - with no premiums, co-pays or deductibles. Despite majority support in both houses of the legislature, enactment of the program has been blocked by the insurance and drug companies. Julie Schwartzberg and Ayanthi Gunawadana of Working People for Health discuss the proposal with Mark Dunlea of the Hudson Mohawk Magazine. There will be a lobby day in Albany on March 17 and a rally at NYC CIty Hall on March 8.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine, First, Mark Dunlea brings us coverage from a recent Troy City Council hearing on the Good Cause Eviction Law. Then, Moses Nagel brings us coverage from the Albany Common Council meeting during which some prominent African American residents in the Capital District were inducted into the New York State Hall of Fame. Later on, Hugh Johnson joins us to discuss the current blizzard impacting the Capital District and to discuss what to expect of the weather this week. After that, Ashanti Adams talks to Gaheul Yi about her grandmother’s immigration story from Guyana to the Capital District, as part of the weekly segment Everybody Moves. Finally, we hear from author Amy Godine about her book The Black Woods. The video of this book talk at the Sanctuary was just released to our video archive channel. co-hosts: Lennox Apudo and Sean Bernyk

The Albany Common Council honored the African American residents of the city of Albany who have been inducted into the New York State basketball hall of fame. On February 19, the regular meeting hosted ceremony which included the mayor and many of the people honored We will hear from Council Member Johnson first.

On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Finance Committee of the Troy City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Good Cause Eviction Law. The Committee approved the measure after the hearing and sent it to the full council, which is now all Democrats. Republican Mayor Carmella Mantello opposes the measure and is calling for further study before enacting it. It guarantees lease renewals for eligible tenants who pay rent on time and follow lease terms. It also limits rent increases to 10% or the rate of inflation plus 5%, whichever is lower. Most of the speakers at the hearing were in favor of the law. We hear from three speakers. Jude of DSA; Lunita Gresham, a retired social worker; and Brian Marsh, a landlord and Mayor of Menands By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

First, Mark Dunlea brings us coverage on the NYS budget hearing on human services from February 5th Then, Cat Jones brings us the story of a teacher who overcame homelessness and now helps others in need Later on, Brea Barthel brings us a monthly library update After that, Thom Francis introduces us to local poets Alyssa Michelle & Christa DeMarco. Finally, Willie Terry brings us coverage from the Boys & Girls Club Black History Month Local Heroes Gala from 2025 Hosts: Richard Sleeper, Jacob Boston | Produced By: Jacob Boston

February 5 was the NYS budget hearing on human services, including public assistance, children, and seniors. A major focus is the Governor’s $1.7 billion proposal to expand various child care programs. The proposals also expands the state’s child tax credit to $1,500 per child per year. Unfortunately, as has been true for two decades, the Governor proposed no increase in the welfare grant which now leaves family far below the poverty line and unable to obtain safe and adequate housing. We hear from Rebecca Preve of the Association of Aging in NY; Rebecca Zangen of the Supportive Housing Network of New York; Krista Hesdorfer of Hunger Solutions NY; and Dede Hill of the Schuyler Center for Analysis And Advocacy. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.