Radio Chatskill

Here are some facts about LEGO, the its iconic plastic construction toys: LEGO’s founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen, created the name “LEGO” from taking the first two letters of the Danish words LEG GODT, meaning “play well“.During the Christmas season almost 28 LEGO sets are sold each second.Laid end to end, the number of LEGO bricks sold in a year would reach more than five times round the world.Lego lovers are gathering locally Saturday, January 11, at Sullivan Public in Eldred, NY, to celebrate the creations made during the fall session of Sullivan Public's LEGO Club and showing builds from enthusiasts community wide.We spoke to Adrienne Hloderwski, head of the children’s programs at Sullivan Public, about the event. https://www.sullivanpublic.com/

New Congressman Josh Riley of New York’s 19th district was just sworn in last Friday after defeating one-term Republican Marc Molinaro in November. Riley spoke Thursday with Ian Pickus on WAMC’s "Congressional Corner" about his recent vote with GOP and other Democrats on a bill that would detain immigrants in the country illegally for non-violent crimes like shoplifting; whether or not he will attend President elect Trump’s second inauguration; and which committees he hope to serve on.

As the Skinners Falls Bridge faces imminent demolition, there is growing debate over the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) handling of the situation. While local advocates and cultural resource agencies have questioned the process, PennDOT insists it has followed the only feasible path available.The River Reporter spoke to Rich Roman, PennDOT District 4 executive, about the decision to demolish the historic bridge using explosives. “When the bridge was closed, we immediately started to look at options,” Roman told the River Reporter. “And unfortunately, based on laws and regulations, there are procedures that you have to follow… Unfortunately, it takes time.”Roman added, “We did everything we could within reason, within the process, but unfortunately during that time the bridge started to deteriorate beyond repair and saving.” Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS), a group advocating for the bridge’s preservation, argues that PennDOT ignored the structure’s critical repair needs over the years. "PennDOT allowed the bridge to fall apart," DCS wrote in a letter to stakeholders. "The current condition is a result of years of neglect."While PennDOT insists that demolition is the only option moving forward, DCS contends that rehabilitation is still possible. A recent inspection report from October 2024 highlighted $261,290 in urgent repairs necessary within the next six months, without suggesting that destruction was the only solution.Roman countered that inspection reports are separate from PennDOT's conclusions, and that temporary shoring measures would not resolve the larger issues. He further stated that lifting the bridge to perform repairs could risk collapse due to its fragile condition.Barbara Arrindell, director of DCS, has pointed out that restoring the bridge would likely require disassembly, a process PennDOT has not pursued.To proceed with demolition, PennDOT must secure various state and federal approvals. The agency has already obtained an emergency declaration from Governor Josh Shapiro and is working to fast-track the necessary approvals. The National Park Service (NPS) is reviewing the situation and aims to issue a permit as quickly as possible. However, NPS officials noted that the urgency of the situation is unclear, given that it took PennDOT eight weeks to secure the emergency declaration.Despite the controversy surrounding the bridge’s future, local advocates are organizing a community event on January 12 at the Narrowsburg Union to celebrate the bridge’s legacy. The event will feature descendants of the bridge’s original builders and artists inspired by the structure. Engineers will also discuss potential alternatives to demolition, though many remain skeptical about halting the demolition plan.DCS maintains that PennDOT’s true goal is to replace the historic bridge with a modern one, setting a dangerous precedent for the destruction of historic structures across the state. "PennDOT, with the Governor’s approval, is setting a destructive precedent for every historic bridge in the Commonwealth," DCS wrote.Roman denied that PennDOT had any ulterior motives, stressing that the agency had followed the required process and had not intentionally allowed the bridge to deteriorate. "We did not delay or act with malice," he said. "We followed the process as required by law."

Community members along the Delaware River are planning a celebration of the historic and endangered Skinners Falls Bridge on Sunday, January 12.In 2019, PennDOT shut down the Skinners Falls Bridge to vehicle traffic, citing safety concerns due to its deteriorating condition. Now, more than five years later, the bridge has further decayed to the point where it can no longer be maintained as a historic or culturally important landmark, according to PennDOT. PennDOT has announced plans to demolish the bridge using explosives.Local advocates continue to insist the bridge can and should be preserved. We spoke to Barbara Arrindell of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, artist and advocate Cynthia Nash, and our own Kathy Geary, who produced the radio version of Nash's play about the bridge "The Crossing," about their efforts to save it.

January is National Blood Month, but winter weather disruptions are impacting efforts to maintain a strong blood supply. That's in addition to the challenges of cold and flu season.American Red Cross Hudson Valley Executive Director John Vale told us about what is being done to address the shortages in blood donations. In an effort to encourage donations, the American Red Cross has partnered with the NFL, offering a chance to win Super Bowl tickets. This marks the sixth consecutive year the Red Cross has held the ticket giveaway. To enter, simply donate blood at a Red Cross location by January 26th, and you could win a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans next month.For more information, visit the Red Cross website.

The Delaware Riverkeeper Network is calling on the Town of Highland Planning Board to hold an additional public hearing on the Camp FIMFO draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), citing a lack of proper notice and timing as required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). The proposed Camp Fimfo project is a proposed campground along the Delaware River in Barryville, NY. The name of the camp is an acronym for ​”fun is more fun outside.”We spoke to Maya van Rossum, leader of Delaware Riverkeeper, about the request for an additional hearing. In a letter to the Planning Board, the environmental advocacy group argues that the town did not provide the required 14-day notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the area. Delaware Riverkeeper contends that the notice was not published in a local newspaper by December 4, despite the requirement that it be published at least 14 days before the hearing. The group also points out that the public hearing was held earlier than allowed by SEQR regulations, which stipulate that the hearing must take place no less than 15 days after the filing of the notice of completion of the draft EIS. The notice was published on December 4, making December 19 the earliest possible date for the hearing.The Town of Highland Planning Board is accepting public comments until Friday, January 10, on the draft EIS for the proposed Camp FIMFO project.

As state lawmakers return to Albany on Wednesday to kick-start this year’s legislative session, the focus seems to be all in one place: pocketbooks.“I don’t want to spoil anything,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said Friday ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State speech next week. “But I think people are going to be pleased to see how much of a concentration we’re going to have on trying to put money back into people’s pockets.”With President-elect Donald Trump at the top of the ticket, Republicans saw victories in the November elections over their promises to fight inflation and tighten border policies — including in New York.Although state Democrats still control all branches of government, Republicans chipped away at their supermajority in the Senate by flipping one seat last November. They also saw the largest appeal for conservative policies in recent years.The appetite for measures that address affordability, along with the border and public safety, is not lost on Democrats as they head into session.“I've always known that affordability and safety are the most important issues in people's minds, and we need to make sure that we are walking the walk and talking the talk when we come to those terms,” said Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, who represents the 108th district in the Capital region.That’s why Hochul, with the backing of state Democratic leadership, is presenting her “affordability agenda” for the Legislature to consider: That includes sending rebate checks of up to $500 for qualifying families and individuals, expanding the state’s child tax credit system, and increasing access to child care.State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, a Democrat whose constituents are in the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas, said she hopes the conference provides more affordable health care and incentivizes housing developments that aren’t just apartment buildings and larger projects.“Our small towns and villages aren’t able to manage those kinds of developments,” she said. “But we desperately need housing.”Hinchey proposed initiatives like investing in sewage and water infrastructure in smaller communities and renovating older homes to increase the housing supply.“We have to do a lot more to make sure that we have programs that make it easier to build new units in communities across upstate New York,” she said.But Republicans like state Sen. Tom O’Mara, who represents five counties across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, find it hard to believe that Democrats will walk the walk on affordability.O'Mara said he disapproves of taxing those with higher incomes and thinks the Democrats should focus on supporting manufacturing and business industries. He also criticized the emphasis on renewable energy.“I just don't think that the approach that the governor and the majority have been taking is realistic,” O’Mara added on energy- and climate-related issues. “I don't think it's going to be reliable, and it's not going to be affordable either in the long run.”Democrats and Republicans will hash out rising tensions over energy as the Legislature revisits the New York HEAT Act, which would stop subsidizing gas companies to expand their connections across the state. It would cap utility bills to 6% of a household’s monthly income. The measure, which passed in the Senate, stopped short of getting greenlit in the Assembly as negotiations took a pause.Education funding up for reconsiderationHochul and lawmakers have committed to reexamining the way the state distributes funding to schools this year. The state currently uses outdated data to calculate school districts’ needs, including poverty measures from past census data.A recent report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government proposed the state distribute more funds to districts that have population increases, higher rates of poverty and students that require higher needs.Republican State Sen. Pat Gallivan said while the funding scheme should be updated, the Legislature has to ensure each district receives a fair amount of funding across the board.“It doesn't seem fair to me if we're saying that we're going to give more money to people who live in certain ZIP codes than providing for those that live in other ZIP codes,” Gallivan said.But he also praised the Rockefeller Institute’s report for laying out different funding schemes for the Legislature to consider.“There are enough options for us to choose from — or we might even come up with something different,” he said.Democratic State Sen. Pat Fahy said the Legislature should invest in early education as a way to support students who come from economically disadvantaged families.“When you can close that gap when a student is entering kindergarten, the more it can stay closed” later on in schooling, Fahy said.The Legislature will also consider if phone use should be banned in schools.

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson is back with science stories that caught his eye recently, including Pando, believed to be the largest, most dense organism ever found at nearly 13 million pounds and spread over 106 acres in Utah; the latest on The Parker Solar Probe, the NASA spacecraft studying the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, and its impact on the solar wind; and Kessler Syndrome, a nightmare space scenario in which the number of satellites and orbital space junk is so high that collisions occur.

The 4th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Youth Summit will take place on Friday, January 17, at SUNY Sullivan. The event is designed to empower high school juniors and seniors to become agents of change. The summit will begin with a screening of Dr. King's "Blueprint for Life" speech, emphasizing the importance of self-belief, determination, and commitment. Students will then participate in workshops and collaborative activities focused on fostering community service.We spoke to Sullivan 180’s Senior Director of Prevention Programming Amanda Langseder and Naquan Holman of SUNY Sullivan, Coordinator of Tutorial and Student Success Services, about the summit.

As the new year unfolds, many of us find ourselves reflecting on personal goals and resolutions. In her latest Moving Toward Health column for The Sullivan County Democrat, Maggi Fitzpatrick realized the desire to become a "morning person" became a focal point for change, but the path toward this goal wasn't as simple as merely setting an intention. It required adjusting long-standing routines to make way for meaningful change.

Founded in 2017, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has quickly become a staple of Northeastern Pennsylvania's vibrant craft beer scene.As part of our Chamber Chats series with the Chamber of The Northern Poconos, we spoke to founder Rebecca Ryman and Brad about how their award-winning brewery blends local flavors with a strong commitment to the community.Spanning 14,000 square feet, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company features a brewpub, a beer garden, and a variety of hand-crafted beers brewed on-site. Each beer is crafted with locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the region's unique flavor profile and celebrating the richness of NEPA's agricultural offerings. But the brewery’s impact extends far beyond its craft beers. Giving back to the community is ingrained in Wallenpaupack Brewing Company’s DNA. Through their Pints for a Purpose program and specialty can sales, the brewery supports a range of local causes.In recognition of its outstanding contributions to the craft beer industry, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company was recently named “Pennsylvania Brewery of the Year” by the New York International Beer Competition, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in the region’s brewing scene.

On December 19, voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts approved a proposal to merge the districts via centralization.Now, the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts are inviting residents, families, and community members to a Town Hall Meeting Thursday, January 9, to learn more about the unification process of the two districts, as well as the creation of the new seven-member school board. Superintendent John Evans of Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School, alongside Dr. Robert Dufour, District Superintendent of Sullivan BOCES, will lead the meeting. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions, share their thoughts, and discuss the mergers' progress. The meeting will cover key milestones in the merger process and offer guidance on how residents can stay actively involved in shaping the future of the newly formed district.For more information, please contact Superintendent John Evans at [email protected], [email protected], or by phone at 607-498-4126, ext. 6105, or 845-439-4400, ext. 1201.

After Donald Trump’s election victory, many Democrats became more pessimistic about their party’s future, but Anne Hart, Chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, says the party made key achievements locally in 2024.She is encouraging her party to enter 2025 with hope and resilience with its own version of "Project 2025," to remember lessons they learned from the election, and to recognize the accomplishments they made.

From her forest reserve in Eastern Ontario, Canada, Irish-born Diana Beresford-Kroeger has dedicated decades to advocating for the preservation of the world’s forests and trees.In an interview with Farm and Country’s Rosie Starr, the esteemed botanist, biochemist, and best-selling author shared her insights on the profound knowledge trees offer. She also discussed her latest book, which explores the science behind forests and the crucial role trees play in combating the climate crisis.

On the first day of summer 2024, photographer Casey Kelbaugh embarked stepped out into the blistering heat from his New York City apartment building in Alphabet City and headed west on 4th Street, bound for his home in the Catskills.It turned out to be a 27 day, roughly 300 mile journey on The Long Path, a long distance hiking trail. Kelbaugh wrote about his experience in the New York Times last September and Radio Catskill contributor Tracy Gates spoke to him about his hike on the little known trail.

The latest episode of Kaatscast–The Catskills Podcast explores a long-standing tradition of square dancing at a family home and barn, in Ashokan, NY.Host Brett Barry and production intern Olivia Sippel put on their dancing shoes and joined the fun, recording tales of traditional Catskills square dancing, and the musicians who are passing it down to a new generation of enthusiasts. Fiddler and caller Earl Pardini leads the festivities at this particular event, which goes back to the 1970s. The barn where it's held has all the warmth and joviality of a Charles Dickens scene, and we felt very much welcomed into a mostly friends-and-family affair. Featuring conversations with the Chase and Sparer families, the episode highlights deep-rooted Catskills traditions and includes insights from folklorist Ginny Shear and square dance caller Dane Scudder, who learned to "call" from a legend.

As nearly half of the global population cast their votes this year, politics dominated many headlines. However, science and the natural world also captured significant public interest. In his year end reflection, our resident science guy Joe Johnson highlights some of the year's most captivating science stories—from the solar eclipse and the mysteries of the sun to the rise of artificial intelligence and the fascinating world of the humble fruit fly.

A homeowner’s backyard in Orange County, New York, has yielded a significant paleontological discovery: a complete mastodon jaw, the first such find in the state in over 11 years. The jawbone, along with additional bone fragments, was unearthed by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange. Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke to Dr. Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behavioral Sciences Department, about the ancient find. Homeowners discovered two teeth hidden by plant fronds on their property. Further investigation revealed two more teeth just beneath the surface. Excavation efforts by the Museum and SUNY Orange staff led to the recovery of the complete adult mastodon jaw, a piece of a toe bone, and a rib fragment. “When I found the teeth and examined them in my hands, I knew they were something special and decided to call in the experts,” said the homeowner. “I’m thrilled that our property has yielded such an important find for the scientific community.”With over 150 mastodon fossils found statewide to date, this find adds to the collection of Ice Age inhabitants in the area. With over 150 discovered to date, approximately one-third have been found in Orange County, solidifying the region's importance as a hotspot for these ancient relatives of modern elephants. “This discovery is a testament to the rich paleontological history of New York and the ongoing efforts to understand its past,” said Dr. Robert Feranec, director of Research & Collections and curator of Ice Age Animals at the New York State Museum. “This mastodon jaw provides a unique opportunity to study the ecology of this magnificent species, which will enhance our understanding of the Ice Age ecosystems from this region."The fossils will undergo carbon dating and a comprehensive analysis to glean insights into the mastodon’s age, diet, and habitat. After preservation and scientific study, public programming in 2025 will feature the artifacts.The New York State Museum encourages the public to report any similar discoveries to local authorities, emphasizing the potential of each find to contribute significantly to the understanding of New York's rich paleontological history.

Former President Jimmy Carter died at 100 on Sunday, December 29. He was a peanut farmer turned President. A humanitarian, statesman, novelist, Nobel Prize Laureate….and fly fisherman.Forty years ago, President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter made an historic five-day visit to Sullivan County. The Carters were invited to come and fish the Beaverkill and participate in fundraising events for the recently-formed Catskill Fly Fishing Center.Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and she was one of the community members who hosted and fished with the president and first lady on their 1984 visit. She shared her memories of the Carters' visit in 1984.

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the Climate Change Superfund Act into law, making New York the second state in the country to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for climate impacts. The Climate Superfund law signed by the Democrat the day after Christmas establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program, intended to raise $75 billion over 25 years from oil and gas companies blamed for contributing to climate impacts like flooding and severe heat.Environmental advocates and state legislators alike hailed the development.Third Act Upstate New York climate activist Michael Richardson says the science supporting the law is clear. "The production and burning of fossil fuel is the primary cause of the climate disruption that we're suffering from. With the signing of this Climate Change Superfund Act, which might want to be called the Taxpayer Relief Act, big oil will at long last be held accountable for the damage they sow upon our communities, and they cannot continue to make exorbitant profits, which they've been making over the past few years by not paying for the destructive consequences," said Richardson.State Assemblymember John McDonald of the 108th district, a Democrat, expects court challenges."People can be happy about it today, and you know, I support it, and who knows, hopefully it'll be successful, but like anything else, I also think it's going to be subject to years and years of litigation, which still puts us in this very difficult spot that we need to make positive and accurate changes to recognize that the climate is changing. And by same token, we need to be mindful the fact that we need to make sure that these changes don't have a negative, adverse impact on the average family's household, if anything has been learned in the last several years, but particularly last election, affordability is first and foremost in people's minds," McDonald said.The American Petroleum Institute responded to a request for comment by email, stating “This type of legislation represents nothing more than a punitive new fee on American energy, and we are evaluating our options moving forward.”In May, Vermont became the first state with such a law. Elena Mihaly is the Vice President for the Conservation Law Foundation of Vermont. "We are thrilled that New York is now an ally with Vermont in enacting this kind of climate accountability legislation to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for their fair share in the costs of climate pollution to the states of Vermont and New York, and we actually had a preview of what the American Petroleum Institute's concerns are with the laws, because they filed comments in the New York and Vermont legislatures during the adoption of both of the laws that kind of laid out what they felt was either unconstitutional or other concerns with the law. And in Vermont, we had the benefit of that to help make sure that we shaped the law to be defensible to all of those concerns. So we feel very confident about the defensibility of the law, and we are moving forward," Mihaly said. Blair Horner is with the New York Public Interest Research Group: "I think there'll be a bunch of other states are going to follow what New York does, because the staggering costs of climate change are not going away. And there's two choices, either the taxpayers pay for it, or the oil companies pay for it. We think it should be the oil companies," said Horner. Richardson adds "As the next legislative session begins here in January, we need to move beyond the incrementalism that has happened from the legislature and the governor in funding and implementing our landmark climate act. We have all the knowledge and tools to transition this New York state economy from fossil fuels to renewables. All that is needed is, quite candidly, the political courage and the political will. Now that's been demonstrated after two years of effort on this climate change Superfund bill, and it is landmark in the sense that there are now four other states that are queued up to follow the lead, from Vermont and New York," Richardson said. Hochul said lawmakers agreed to several changes “to address implementation and operational concerns,” including giving the state Department of Environmental Conservation additional time to create the program.From The New York Public News Network | WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock music and arts festival, is calling on artists and artisans to submit proposals for commemorative works of art in honor of the iconic Message Tree. The tree, a 60-foot red maple, played a central role during the original festival as a gathering spot for attendees who left messages, notes, and well-wishes pinned to its bark. It became a symbol of the peace, love, and unity that defined the Woodstock experience. Fifty-five years after Woodstock, the Message Tree was cut down in September due to its poor health and safety concerns.We spoke to Dr. Neal V. Hitch, senior curator at the Museum at Bethel Woods about the effort to preserve and honor this iconic piece of history.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and the busiest for holiday travel. Beginning Saturday through New Year’s Day, AAA estimates a record 119 million Americans will be in planes, trains, and automobiles, more than the previous record set in 2019.Patricia Kuepper-Artessa of AAA Northeast says that’s only accounting for people driving over the ten day span. She says the worst times to get the trip started are this weekend and right after Christmas.

Joe Johnson is our resident science guy and he highlights science stories that caught his eye. In this episode, Johnson brings us warnings from scientists about careless experimentation with 'mirror life forms' that could be deadly to humans and destroy the environment; how a particle accelerator helped discover the lost works of Archimedes; and a discovery by astronomers of an unusual exoplanet with a long "tail" of gas trailing behind it, not unlike a comet.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation now plans to permanently destroy the standing Skinners Falls Bridge, reversing its prior stated intention of dismantling the bridge and storing its pieces for later use, according to The River Reporter.This decision comes after an October inspection report which recommended repairs to the bridge and did not mention demolition as a possibility. The project team announced the reversal and new option for the first time at a virtual public meeting on December 17. The Skinners Falls Bridge crosses the Delaware River, connecting the communities of Milanville, PA, and Skinners Falls, NY and has been closed to traffic since 2019. We spoke to Liam Mayo from The River Reporter who attended the meeting.

In this episode of 'Kaatscast,' host Brett Barry delves into the fascinating world of the North American porcupine with Uldis Roze, the world's foremost expert on this mysterious and lovable Catskills rodent.Hear about the porcupine's habitat preferences, diet, mating behaviors, and unique defense mechanisms. Roze addresses common misconceptions, shares personal encounters, and reveals insights from his decades-long research, including the discovery of the molecule responsible for the porcupine's distinctive smell.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill on Friday that would have mandated local community involvement before the closure of a hospital or specific units.The bill, which was passed by state lawmakers in June, aimed to establish a process for hospital closures, requiring the state Department of Health to hold public forums and issue reports on the potential impact before any facility shut down.However, in her veto message, Hochul stated that the bill did not adequately address the practical challenges hospitals face. She emphasized that she would instead instruct the state Department of Health to introduce reforms to the current closure procedures.The bill, called the Local Input for Community Hospitals Act (LICH Act), was named in reference to the closure of Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn in 2014, which occurred despite significant community opposition.We spoke with Lois Uttley, co-founder of Community Voices for Health System Accountability, a statewide collaboration of health and human service advocates, and Mark Hannay, Director of Metro New York Health Care for All, a multi-constituency health care justice coalition.

Starting January 1, 2025, New York State’s law that bans PFAS in clothing will go into effect. Clothes and textiles are examples of a major use of PFAS, which are typically used to provide stain and water resistance. The National Resources Defense Council is celebrating the January 1st ban saying its a huge win for public health because it will reduce New Yorkers’ exposure to this dangerous chemical in clothing, which can touch and rub against our skin all day.Even with this ban, the fight to get PFAS out of the everyday personal and household items is far from over. We spoke with Kate Donovan, the NRDC’s Northeast Environmental Health director about the ban and three new PFAS bills that will be introduced for the 2025 legislative session in Albany.

The towering coal silos on Main Street in Callicoon, New York, once served as the heartbeat of the small town, transporting coal from Honesdale, PA, to Monticello, NY, and helping put the hamlet on the map. Now, nearly a century after they were built, the historic structures are deteriorating, sparking a local movement to save the iconic landmark before it’s too late.We spoke to ENGN Civic Creative Center co-founders Issac Green Diebbol and Tom Bosket about the preservation effort.

After a record seven hour session, Sullivan County Legislators approved the 2025 Budget, which includes a 2.5% tax levy increase. The budget passed with an 8-1 vote, with District 9 Legislator Terry Blosser-Bernardo opposed. The budget includes funding for several key initiatives, including $21.6 million for road and bridgework, $2.7 million for the EMS fly car system, and $2 million for a Housing Trust Fund to address the housing crisis. Other significant expenditures include $2 million for the design and renovation of County office spaces, $500,000 for the Sullivan Promise Scholarship Program, and $494,000 for community nonprofits through the Discretionary Funding Program.Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz expressed relief at the budget's passage but noted that some departments were not treated fairly. She highlighted the 5% raise for most management/confidential employees and expressed hope for comparable increases for union employees in the coming year.Several other legislators echoed the sentiment of continued work ahead. District 1 Legislator Matthew McPhillips emphasized the need to address concerns raised by employees and the public, while District 3 Legislator Brian McPhillips highlighted the budget's focus on maintaining and improving services without significantly impacting taxpayers.Despite concerns, the budget was ultimately approved, with many legislators highlighting specific initiatives they were pleased to support. District 6 Legislator Luis Alvarez, a strong advocate for the EMS fly car system, praised its lifesaving success. District 8 Legislator Amanda Ward, a first-time legislator, expressed her pride in the budget, stating that it "does right by the people we serve and the phenomenal staff we employ."The full details of the adopted budget will be made available on the Sullivan County website at www.sullivanny.us. Sullivan County Government Communications Director Dan Hust appeared on Radio Chatskill to discuss the details.

Miss Havisham, The Artful Dodger, Scrooge, The Ghost of Christmas Past. Farm Arts Collective is debuting a new short work featuring these famous characters and others from Charles Dickens novels at the annual "Dickens on the Delaware" town wide celebration in the Hamlet of Callicoon, NY on December 14.It's called "The Fezziwig Party" and it incorporates themes like social inequality and a call for compassion that are prevalent in Dickens' writing. Tannis Kowalchuk is the Artistic Director of Farm Arts Collective and the director of "The Fezziwig Party" and spoke about the play's origins.

NACL's "A Winter's Table" gathering features food and drink and a mechanical table designed by artist-inventor Dan Brinkerhoff.The table--akin to a lazy susan---will deliver dishes curated by Henning Nordanger (Henning's Local and Julia's Local) to guests.Brinkerhoff's wife Joanne Wasserman-Brinkerhoff and NACL's Brett Keyer joined us with the details..

This weekend, nearly 200 women of all ages—from teenagers to elders—are gathering in Sullivan County, NY, for the annual Rural Women's Assembly. The event, which brings together women from across New York State’s rural communities, fosters learning, inspiration, and empowerment. Organized by the Rural & Migrant Ministry, the assembly supports the organization's mission to build a just and equitable rural New York by nurturing leadership, challenging unjust systems, and standing in solidarity with marginalized groups, particularly farmworkers and rural laborers.We spoke to Adrienne Jensen, co- organizer of the Assembly. Jensen is also the Catskills Regional Coordinator for Rural Migrant Ministry and co-runs the Youth Economic Group.

'Tis the season. Respiratory virus season that is. Respiratory viruses like Covid-19, influenza, and RSV are increasing in New York and nationally. Plus, there’s been a spike in whooping cough.Dr. Marisa Donnelly is Your Local Epidemiologist at Healthbeat New York and she appeared on Radio Chatskill with the latest statistics and with advice on how you can protect yourself and your family heading into the holidays.Image by benzoix on Freepik

Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals are all iconic symbols of the holiday season, but they also pose potential fire risks that contribute to a rise in home fires across the U.S. each December. The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2022, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked as the second- and third-highest days for home cooking fires, respectively.Michael B. Gaffney is the Deputy Director and Fire Coordinator for Ulster County Department of Emergency Services and he appeared on Radio Chatskill with tips on how to minimize the likelihood of cooking, candle, Christmas tree, and decoration fires.Candles and LightingDecorating homes with electrical lighting and candles also contributes to a higher fire risk during the holiday season. The NFPA reports between 2018 and 2022, U.S. fire departments responded to an annual average of 835 home structure fires that began with decorations (excluding Christmas trees). Year-round, approximately one-third (32%) of home decoration fires were started by candles; in December, that number jumped to almost half (46%).Christmas TreesChristmas tree fires don’t happen very often, but when they do, they tend to be more serious. According to the NFPA, an annual average of 155 home Christmas tree fires resulted in four civilian deaths, seven civilian injuries, and $15 million in direct property damage, with electrical distribution or lighting equipment involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.Lithium-Ion BatteriesMany people will be buying and gifting electronic devices that contain lithium-ion batteries. As the use of these devices has increased in recent years, so too has the number of related fires.There are steps you can do to better protect your home from a fire during the holidays. You can find the full list of safety tips below:Cook with caution.Do not keep charging the device or device battery after it is fully charged.Do not put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycling is always the best option. Take the batteries to a battery recycling location or contact your local waste department for disposal instructions.Have device repairs performed only by a qualified professional.Make sure your Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat sources.Only use devices, batteries and charging equipment that is listed under nationally recognized testing lab and labeled accordingly.Stop using your device if the battery shows signs of damage, such as an unusual odor, excessive heat, popping sounds, swelling, or change in color.Use charging equipment that is only compatible with your device. To be safe, use only the charging equipment that is supplied with your device.When your burning candles, use candle holders that are sturdy and won't tip over easily.

Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that either come from products intentionally containing them or break off from larger plastic items like clothing, tires, and cookware, are increasingly being found in unexpected places.And they are everywhere. These particles have been detected in the clouds, on Mount Everest, in the deepest parts of the oceans, and in the Arctic. Microplastics can contain over 20,000 different plastic chemicals and are often attached to harmful human-made compounds linked to serious health risks, including cancer, neurotoxicity, and hormonal and developmental disruptions.In a move to tackle this growing crisis, more than 170 environmental organizations filed a legal petition last week, urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin monitoring microplastics in drinking water. The petition marks a crucial step in addressing a pollution problem that is fast becoming one of the most urgent public health threats facing the nation.Despite rising awareness about the widespread contamination of water and its impact on human health, the EPA has yet to take significant action. The petition calls on the agency to start tracking microplastics as an emerging contaminant under the Safe Drinking Water Act by 2026.In Pike County, Pennsylvania they’re doing something about it now. Rachael Marques is a Watershed Specialist for the Pike County Conservation District and she appeared on Radio Chatskill to discuss their Study of Microplastics in Pike County Waters.

Inspired by Christmas sing-alongs they grew up with in New Hampshire, Grammy Award-winners Dan and Claudia Zanes are blending classic Christmas songs along with music from various cultures and traditions on Saturday, December 7, in the Bethel Woods Event Gallery. The performance will include seasonal songs from around the world, including Puerto Rico, Korea, Wales, Tunisia, Haiti, and Washington D.C. In addition to popular holiday songs like “Let It Snow,” “Silent Night,” and “Deck the Halls,” the show will celebrate Hanukkah, Korean New Year, Kwanzaa, and the Winter Solstice.Dan and Claudia, known for their Smithsonian Folkways recordings, will be joined by multi-instrumentalist and children’s music artist Elena Moon Park. The trio will combine folk music with guitar, violin, trumpet, harmonica, flute, spoons, percussion, and mandolin, creating an intimate, living-room-like atmosphere onstage.he Christmas sing-alongs they grew up with in New Hampshire.The Holiday Sing-Along will also be sensory-friendly, making it accessible for everyone. Attendees will receive a printed songbook to follow along with the music. After the performance, ticket holders will receive a voucher for discounted access to the Bethel Woods "Peace, Love, and Lights" holiday light display.The event is pay-what-you-wish, and tickets do not need to be purchased in advance.

You may have heard of a wine sommelier, but what about a honey sommelier? Donna DeFalco, is a professional honey sommelier and board member of the American Honey Tasting Society, and she is leading a Honey Connoisseurship Holiday Workshop, at the Narrowsburg Union hosted by Catskills Curated. Donna will guide attendees through the art of honey tasting, helping them develop an appreciation for the diverse range of honey profiles.She brought some honey to the Radio Catskill studios for an on-air tasting.

Discussing cognitive decline or end-of-life planning may not seem like the most cheerful topic for a holiday gathering, but starting the conversation now can help ensure that everything is in order when the time comes. Willow Baum and Christina Wall from Friend for the End joined Radio Chatskill's Tim Bruno to offer advice on how to approach these sensitive topics with loved ones during the holidays, helping to understand their wishes regarding aging, illness, and end-of-life decisions.

The Metropolitan Opera's acclaimed series of live high-definition cinema simulcasts, The Met: Live in HD, returns to SUNY Sullivan's Seelig Theatre this Saturday, December 7, with an encore presentation of Julie Taymor's production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" on Saturday, December 7. Patricia Adams from SUNY Sullivan Foundation and Dan Rigney from SUNY Sullivan appeared on Radio Chatskill to discuss the series with "Classical Kit." The Met: Live in HD season continues with Verdi’s "Aida" on January 25, 2025, followed by Beethoven’s "Fidelio" on March 15, 2025. Mozart’s "Le Nozze di Figaro" will be transmitted on April 26, 2025, Strauss’s "Salome" on May 17, 2025, and Rossini’s "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" on May 31, 2025. All performances, except for "The Magic Flute," are live simulcasts from the Met stage. All performances are Saturday matinees.“From its beginning, The Met: Live in HD was created to connect the Met to a global audience,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s Maria Manetti Shrem General Manager. “We’re glad to see audiences around the world beginning to return to cinemas in larger numbers since the end of the pandemic.”Tickets for the Seelig Theatre presentations are $25 for general admission. Discounts are available for Met Opera Members and seniors at $20, students at $10, and children under five at $5. Tickets can be purchased online at sunysullivan.edu/met-opera/, or at the door. “The College is thrilled to present Metropolitan Opera programs in our own Seelig Theatre,” said SUNY Sullivan President David Potash. “Thanks to generous contributions from the SUNY Sullivan Foundation, this and other programming brings the arts to our community.”The Seelig Theatre opens 30 minutes before each screening. Proceeds from the event benefit the SUNY Sullivan Foundation.

Deep Water Literary Fest will host a holiday benefit featuring music, cocktails, and immersive vignettes at The Darby Hotel. The event will feature vignettes performed in the hotel's rooms. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy performances by acclaimed actors Dylan Baker and Becky Ann Baker, as well as Flirty Riot and Willow Gatewood. The Deep Water Literary Fest 2025 returns June 20-22, 2025, in Narrowsburg, NY.

The latest Kaatscast podcast delves into the fascinating life and career of Morris Katz, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor and acclaimed painter known for his lightning-fast painting technique using a palette knife and toilet paper! Recognized by the Guinness World Records, Katz captivated audiences with his vibrant performance art in the Catskills, creating over 280,000 pieces.You'll learn about his unique method, his impact on Jewish cultural history, and recent exhibitions celebrating his work. Listen for an in-depth story about this charismatic and prolific artist, and discover how one host's bid on a Katz painting sparked a journey of discovery.Kaatscast is a biweekly series featuring Catskills culture, history, sustainability, local interviews, literature, and the arts. Shows are hosted by Brett Barry and produced by Silver Hollow Audio, in the heart of the Catskills. Voted “Best Regional Podcast” three years in a row.

The Wayne County Arts Alliance (WCAA) 8th annual seasonal art sale, Art Under $100 and More, kicked off on Saturday and it runs throughout the month of December at the WCAA headquarters, located at 959 Main Street in Honesdale, PA. Janet Gaglione is the Executive Director of WCAA and she discussed opportunity to give a unique gift of art on Radio Chatskill.

Voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts will go to the polls on Thursday, Dec. 19, to decide whether the two districts should merge. Polls will be open from noon to 8 p.m. at the gymnasiums of both schools. The proposed merger aims to enhance academic and extracurricular opportunities for students while providing financial stability for the community. A series of meetings have been scheduled to provide voters with more information about the proposal:* Dec. 3: Roscoe PTA meeting at the Roscoe Diner at 7 p.m.* Dec. 11: Roscoe Free Library at 3 p.m.* Dec. 12: Livingston Manor Free Library at 6 p.m.* Dec. 16: LMCS Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m.* Dec. 17: RCS Board of Education meeting at 4:30 p.m.The merger process was prompted by a change in the state's merger aid calculation formula, which could result in approximately $30.7 million in aid over 14 years for the combined district. This represents a $23.5 million increase under the previous formula. According to the districts, a majority of respondents at both districts' May budget votes indicated support for revisiting the merger proposal in light of the new aid formula. A merger study addendum was completed and approved by the State Education Department in September. Following a unanimous vote by both boards in October to proceed with the merger process, the required number of signatures was collected in each district. The boards formally approved the signatures and voted to move forward with the reorganization process on Nov. 7. The resolutions were forwarded to the BOCES district superintendent to initiate the formal reorganization process with the State Education Department, which formally approved the vote date of Dec. 19 on Tuesday, Nov. 26.To be eligible to vote, residents must be 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and district residents for at least 30 days. Residents must also be registered to vote at their county board of elections. Unregistered residents can register before Dec. 13 at their district’s main office between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. while school is in session. More information about the merger is available on the merger page of each district’s website. Residents can direct questions or concerns to Superintendent John Evans at [email protected] or [email protected], by phone at 607-498-4126, ext. 6105, or 845-439-4400, ext. 1201, or by contacting a member of either district’s school board.

In 1995, at the age of 70, Barbara Yeaman spearheaded the creation of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy (DHC), a land trust based in Hawley, PA. Recognizing the rapid development taking over the region, Barbara was determined to make a meaningful impact.She filed for non-profit status and, leading by example, demonstrated the conservancy's mission by placing a conservation easement on her own 12-acre property in Milanville, PA.Since then, the conservancy has preserved over 20,000 acres in the Upper Delaware River Region, encompassing Pike and Wayne Counties in Pennsylvania as well as Sullivan and Delaware Counties in New York.Farm and Country's Rosie Starr recently spoke with Barbara Yeaman as she celebrates her 100th birthday.

The first taste of winter brought more than snow to The Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania, as thousands spent hours or even days without electricity.A primary reason for these outages, according to NYSEG, was the consistency of the snow that fell from Thursday night into Friday.Senior Communications Manager for NYSEG Shelby Cohen told WBNG in Binghamton, “When wet heavy snow falls and those trees fall, they can fall onto our lines and the trees themselves take a lot of load when the snow accumulates that’s very heavy and very wet and that can contribute to outages as well,” In Pennsylvania, at one point on Friday, the PPL Electric Utilities outage map showed about 78,000 customers affected in an area stretching from Northeast Pennsylvania to the Lancaster area..Power is back for most folks across the region. One of the local areas hardest hit during the snowstorm was the Town of Highland, New York.We spoke to John Pizzolato, Town Supervisor at Town Of Highland, about the community's resilience and lesson learned from the snowstorm.

Can you imagine seeing a giant millipede the same size as a car? Well, a massive creature just like this existed 340 million years ago.Joe Johnson is our resident science guy and he’s here with the story of that millipede with up to 64 legs and other science stories that caught his eye, including a mega-meteorite that might have helped early life on Earth to thrive and a fungus that grows more vigorously when it feels good vibes

As many give thanks with family and friends this week, The New York Department of Environmental Conservation reminds folks to be thankful for our environment too by taking actions to protect and preserve our natural resources. We spoke to Kristine Ellsworth from the New York DEC Division of Materials Management for some tips on reducing wasted food and composting your food scraps for the holidays.

One Small Step brings strangers with different political views together to record a conversation—not to debate politics, but to learn who we are as people. Created by StoryCorps, One Small Step is an effort to remind the country of the humanity in all of us—even those with whom we disagree.Radio Catskill is one of just seven stations selected nationally to host One Small Step in 2024. With participant permission, these conversations will be preserved for future generations at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.Participants Elizabeth and Nate recorded One Small Step conversations seperatlet at our Liberty studios earlier this summer and we brought them together on Radio Chatskill about their experience.Listen all of our One Small Step conversations and others on the StoryCorps Archive HEREStoryCorps’ One Small Step and the Radio Station Hubs are made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Image: One Small Step participants Elizabeth (left) and Nate at our Liberty studios.

"Wicked" is defying gravity at the box office. The first of two Universal Pictures films based on a Broadway prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked," topped the domestic and global box office with $114 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters, plus $50.2 million in international markets, for a global total of $164.2 million this weekend.Harmony in the Woods’ podcast HarmonyTALK celebrates the incredible voices and stories behind the music and recently spoke to Broadway’s Dan Micciche, Music Director and Conductor of "Wicked,"who shared insights on the musical and the "Wicked" movie.HarmonyTALK host Host Lisa Champeau appeared on Radio Chatkill for a unique look behind the curtain at what it takes to keep one of the world’s biggest shows running and to share more about the podcast.