Radio Chatskill

In a multi-part presentation, the neuroscientist and musician, Joseph Le Doux will read excepts from his in-progress memoir titled, "Starting Over" at The Rock Valley Schoolhouse on September 1. Joe will be joined by his long-time musical partner, Colin Dempsey, to sing several of their Heavy Mental "greatest hits" as well.Culture Reporter Valerie Mansi has more.

New Covid vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and will be available soon. When people should get them depends on their personal risk factors — and whether they were recently infected during this summer’s spike in cases.So, should you get shot now or wait until it’s closer to the holiday season? Eliza Fawcett is a reporter covering public health for Healthbeat . Healthbeat is a team at Civic News Company and KFF Health News working to report the story of public health in America. She appeared on Radio Chatskill with Tim Bruno.

Ever gone for a hike and wondered what you would do if you ran into a bear? Or cooked at your campsite and didn’t know where to safely store leftovers? Or wanted to try backpacking but could use tips on how to start?Jeffersonville resident Ashley Furey will answer these questions and much more in her presentation “Hiking Boots, Bears, and Blisters: A Woman's Backpacking Adventures from the Catskills to the Grand Canyon” at the Liberty Public Library on Thursday, August 29 at 6 PM.She appeared on Radio Chatskill with Tim Bruno.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is the home of the oldest existing wire suspension bridge in the United States - the Delaware Aqueduct, or Roebling Bridge as it is now known. Begun in 1847 as one of four suspension aqueducts on the Delaware and Hudson Canal, it was designed by and built under the supervision of John A. Roebling, future engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.Professor Paul King is an expert on Roebling and teaches at CityTech in Brooklyn, near the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. This Saturday, August 31, at Noon, he will speak at the D&H Canal Interpretive Center in Summitville, NY, focusing on Roebling’s contributions to the D&H Canal through his suspension aqueducts and their significance in the history of the Catskills.Professor King appeared on Radio Chatskill with Tim Bruno.

New York State officials continue to encourage families of college bound kids, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. As Ellen Abbott with the New York Public News Network reports, the form is the only way students can receive state and federal aid.The number of applications for financial aid is down this year according to SUNY Chancellor John King. And with classes starting shortly, it’s a good time to take care of it."For most families, they want to know at the start of the year what the bill is going to look like. And so we're trying to make sure that as many folks as possible complete that FAFSA now before we get into the academic year."The FAFSA has long had a reputation for being very complicated, and a federal government overhaul was supposed to make it all easier. But problems with the new FAFSA form have persisted and FAFSA applications are down 10 percent compared to last year, according to King."We are working hard in New York to combat that, doing information sessions at all of our campuses.We have a FAFSA completion core, current SUNY students who've been trained to work with prospective students and their families to complete the FAFSA. Lots about reach, phone calls, texts, emails to make sure folks know about the FAFSA. The governor sent a letter home to each high school senior reminding them about the importance of the FAFSA."King says families can go to the SUNY website for help as well.

‘A Land With a People’ is a collection of personal stories, history, poetry, and art elevating rarely heard Palestinian and Jewish voices. The book began as a storytelling project of Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City and subsequently transformed into a theater project performed throughout the New York City area.Upper Delaware Actions for a Free Palestine (UDAFP) is hosting a teach-in and author led discussion of the book on Thursday with editors and activists Esther Farmer and Rosalind Pollack Petchesky. Tim Bruno spoke to Lauren Seikaly of UDAFP, a coalition of local community members.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball Monday urged horse owners across New York State to vaccinate their horses against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV), both of which are caused by a virus spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Parts of New York have mosquito activity into late November.So far this year, New York has already seen cases of EEE found in horses in Clinton, Franklin, Saint Lawrence, Washington, Madison, Oneida, Orange, Ulster, Cayuga, and Wayne counties. There has been one confirmed case of WNV in Oswego County. The Department of Agriculture and Markets has made veterinarians across the state aware of these confirmed cases of EEE and WNV.Commissioner Ball spoke to Tim Bruno on Radio Chatskill.

Husband and wife musicians Miles Fellenberg and Alice Chenyang Xu have performed together across the East Coast and in Europe as Xuberg Duo. They have edited/rearranged the four-hands version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 by Hugo Ulrich and on Wednesday, August 28, they will perform an evening of four-hand piano music featuring Rimsky-Kursakov's Sheherazade,in a benefit recital for Radio Catskill. They recently spoke with our own "Classical Kit."

The Sullivan County Legislature is contemplating the adoption of staggered terms for its legislators. This proposal, which has been discussed intermittently by past legislatures and the charter review commission since 2005, aims to prevent a complete turnover of the legislature in a single election cycle.Dan Hust, Communications Director for Sullivan County speaks with Radio Chatskill’s Tim Bruno.

You Made Us Mortal' Poetry Festival is celebrating the power of words, community, and artistic expression in the heart of Eldred at the Shrewd Fox Brewery on this Saturday August 24 at 2:08 PM at the Shrewd Fox Brewery on State Route 55 in Eldred,This event brings together poets, artists, and enthusiasts for an afternoon of open mic performances, live music, and camaraderie. It’s a space where voices can be heard, stories can be shared, and creativity can flourish.Kevin Graham, Sullivan County’s Poet Laureate speaks with Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno.

Stewart International Airport (SWF) is attempting a comeback.Located in the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor, the small airport is considered easier to use than larger airports in New York City. But it has seen its share of struggles recently, especially when several major airlines left the airport during the COVID-19 pandemic.According to the Times Union, Stewart Airport’s operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and local officials are trying to help the airport stage a comeback by investing government funds into infrastructure projects and marketing the hub to prospective travelers and airlines. The airport offers cheap European flights, but still very few domestic flights which travelers say they want.Jason Dole spoke to Phillip Pantuso, the Times Union Hudson Valley Editor.

Now that the Democratic National Convention has wrapped, a stark reality exists for New York activists, operatives and party leaders: The real test for Harris has only just begun.Moreover, New York boasts the two most influential Democrats in Congress and plays a key role in determining which party will control at least one chamber next year.This year, there are six House seats in New York that Democrats view as competitive. Two are held by Democrats defending against challengers, while the party believes the remaining four can be shifted from Republican incumbents.Anne Hart, Chair of the Sullivan County Democrats and a member of the New York Delegation at the convention in Chicago, spoke to Radio Catskill about the growing enthusiasm for the ticket and the obstacles that lie ahead in the final ten weeks before the General Election

The Monticello woman arrested for allegedly leaving 2-year-old foster child Antonio Suarez-Ware alone inside a hot car last month, leading to his death, was named in a previous report of alleged child abuse in April 2020, according to a police report obtained by the Times Union.The report adds to questions about how Sullivan County’s Department of Social Services handles foster cases. Earlier this year, a grand jury recommended sweeping changes to the department after an investigation spurred by the 2023 death of another toddler who had been under county Child Protective Services’ supervision at the time. In the weeks since Antonio’s death, his biological family and a former CPS caseworker assistant assigned to his case have alleged that the county ignored red flags around the foster family, ultimately failing children they were supposed to protect.Jason Dole spoke to Phillip Pantuso, Times Union Hudson Valley Editor for more on the paper's reporting.

Multi-Grammy winner and internationally celebrated pianist, vocalist and composer Eliane Elias will close the 31st Shandelee Music Festival in Livingston Manor, NY, on August 24. Elias is one of the most unique and immediately recognizable sounds in jazz and Brazilian music and she continues to reach new heights in a brilliant career spanning decades Eliane Elias spoke recently with Radio Catskill's "Classical KIt" about her distinctive musical style, blending her Brazilian roots and mastery of jazz, R&B and popular song.

The four Peck’s Markets in Sullivan County are under contract to be sold to PSK Supermarkets. The transition will take place after Labor Day.The River Reporter's Ruby Rayner has more details about what the sale means for employees and for local shoppers. She spoke to Radio Catskill's Jason Dole.

The 4th annual All Things Good Festival is Saturday at New Memories in Parksville, NY.It’s a music, art and wellness festival created and produced Sullivan County native Ariana Kaminski. As a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Kaminski founded the event when she says she recognized a lack of safe spaces for individuals to express themselves freely. Tim Bruno spoke to Kaminski and Ali Azios of New Memories.

Fallon Gong, a religious movement born in China in the early 1990s, today has its headquarters at a 400-acre estate in the woods of Orange County, near Middletown. And, according to new reporting in New York Magazine, Middletown is experiencing a slow-motion annexation by the sect.Through its various arms, it has acquired over $18 million in real estate in the town of 30,000 residents — not counting the many more properties its adherents and their companies have purchased in recent years. Much of Falun Gong’s business operates silently, though it's probably best known for the popular Shen Yun Chinese dance troupe that has toured all over the world (The New York Times recently reported on some of its young performers describing a culture of untreated injuries and emotional manipulation).Two other well-known mouthpieces of the movement are The Epoch Times newspaper and its television affiliate, New Tang Dynasty, or NTD, notorious trumpets of right-wing disinformation. Both outlets made news in June when the Epoch CFO was indicted for allegedly running a $67 million money-laundering scheme and the media conglomerate’s founder subsequently resigned.Investigative Journalist WIll Bredderman reported on Falun Gong and Middletown in New York Magazine in his article "The Little Town Being Taken Over by Falun Gong." Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno spoke to him about the group and how it insinuated itself into the community.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have been offering life lessons to their fervent fans for nearly four decades and right now, they’re kind of having a moment. Since the release of Greta Gerwig's blockbuster "Barbie" movie last summer, in which the queer duo's classic hit "Closer to Fine" was prominently featured , to today, when they are the center of Alexandria Bombach's documentary "Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All," streaming on Netflix, The Indigo Girls are more than fine. They’re teaming up with Melissa Etheridge for a summer tour which stops at Bethel Woods tomorrow night. Tim Bruno spoke to Amy Ray about the duo's resurgence and endurance.

On Saturday, August 24, comedian and self described social justice warrior, Kristina Wong willpresent her work-in-progress entitled, "Kristina Wong: #FoodBankInfluencer" at Catskill Art Space to benefit A Single Bite. A Single Bite is the Sullivan County nonprofit that provides free meals to local children and their families, teaches young people to care about the food they eat and where it comes from, while collaborating with schools, pantries, food banks, community organizations, and partner agencies to provide access to healthy, locally grown food.Tim Bruno spoke to Audrey Garro of A Single Bite, Sally Wright of Catskill Art Space, and Kristina Wong abotu the event.

“The String Queens”, a trio of musicians that translate pop hits into their own language using violin, viola, and cello. These classically trained virtuosos have performed their diverse lineup of popular and classical songs on national stages like the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.They'll be appearing at Harmony in The Woods in Hawley on Sunday, August 18. Tim Bruno spoke to Kendall Isadore from the group about their unique sound and their mission to inspire, uplift, and speak to the souls of listeners.

Nina Burleigh is a journalist, best-selling author, documentary producer, and publisher of a substack on politics called American Freakshow.Her debut novel, Zero Visibility Possible, is based on the true story of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas.

It’s the 55th Anniversary of The Woodstock Music and Art Fair this weekend. To see the epic performances at Woodstock, attendees endured crowds, rain, minimal food and water—and lots of mud.Jason Dole took a deep dive into the mud of Woodstock in this report.

When legislative Republicans urged Congress to reject Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Joe Biden in 2020, they didn’t cite voter fraud or illegal activity. Instead, they pointed to something seemingly innocuous: guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of State.As we approach what’s expected to be another contentious presidential election, we spoke to Carter Walker of Votebeat PA about what you need to know about how Pennsylvania’s Department of State tries to clarify the rules for counties in this crucial swing state. This story made possible through Votebeat’s collaboration with Spotlight PA and its Elections 101 series, protecting you against election misinformation and empowering you to make informed decisions.

Situated in Livingston Manor, NY, The Catskills Project is a 90-acre carbon-neutral community in the Catskills region made up of 25 homes designed to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. The project was founded by Greg Hale and Peter Malik, who both previously worked for the National Resource Defense Council and wanted to bring eco-friendly, carbon-neutral living to the East Coast. Three of the 25 lots are currently occupied.Reporter Marin Scotten spoke to Hale about his vision for a sustainable, creative and connected community.

When legislative Republicans urged Congress to reject Pennsylvania’s electoral votes for Joe Biden in 2020, they didn’t cite voter fraud or illegal activity. Instead, they pointed to something seemingly innocuous: guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of State.As we approach what’s expected to be another contentious presidential election, we spoke to Carter Walker of Votebeat PA about what you need to know about how Pennsylvania’s Department of State tries to clarify the rules for counties in this crucial swing state. Carter Walker is a Reporter with Votebeat Pennsylvania and this story made possible through Votebeat’s collaboration with Spotlight PA and its Elections 101 series, protecting you against election misinformation and empowering you to make informed decisions.

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program is hosting a Streamside Mindfulness Meditation program this week next to the Esopus Creek in Mt. Tremper, NY.The meditation will be led by senior monks and an abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery who will teach introductory mindfulness meditation followed by discussion. The program is designed for anyone who would like to feel a closer connection to the waters and land of the Catskill MountainsWe spoke to Tim Koch, Stream Education Leader, Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension -Ulster County, about the program.

The American Red Cross is grappling with a critical shortage of blood, as the national supply has dwindled by over 25% since July 1.On Monday, the organization reported that severe temperatures and intense heat disrupted nearly 100 blood drives last month across almost every state where the Red Cross operates.

The rock band Phish returns to Bethel Woods for a three-night residency this weekend. Thousands of fans will attend the shows at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival and, with camping now a part of Bethel Woods’ concert season, many of those fans will not be leaving at the end of the night.To give them something to do when Phish is not performing, Bethel Woods has organized a "Camper’s Paradise" with everything from yoga, to movies, a makers park, and more live music.Peter Negroponte is Bethel Woods Artist in Residence and Multi-instrumentalist with the band Guerilla Toss. He's curating the additional bands performing for Phish pre-show activities. He spoke to Radio Catskill's Jason Dole.

In 2020, the Farm Arts Collective began a 10-year cycle of plays about climate change called "Dream on the Farm." "Conference for Those Still Living," the latest installation in the cycle, debuts this Thursday at 6:30. The play tackles themes of hope and activism.WJFF's Tim Bruno spoke with Artistic Director Tannis Kowalchuk and writer Doug Rogers, who also performed music from the play!

Rob & Kim Rayevsky bought a 1980 British double decker bus in 2022, which was a retired tour bus in Philadelphia, Kim’s hometown. First Rob painted it, then they transformed it into a commercial kitchen on the 1st floor, concessions windows for takeout, and tables on the 2nd for a bird's eye view and named it Double Up.In her segment Eating Upstate, Erin Scherer shares the story of the Rayevsky's long held dream for an eat-in and take-out restaurant with locally sourced, healthy food that's also environmentally conscious.

This week, Joe looks out for the Perseid meteor shower; shares secrets of ancient Herculaneum scrolls deciphered by AI; and explains the desert moss |"that can survive on Mars."He spoke to Jason Dole.

In 2016, Simone Biles – the most decorated gymnast of all time – told USA Today that: “A successful competition for me is always going out there and putting 100 percent into whatever I’m doing. It’s not always winning.”This outlook is foundational to the Special Olympics, where athletes with intellectual disabilities get to put their all into local, national, and international competitions. Will Smith has been competing in local, nationwide and even international Special Olympics games since he was 14. Two decades later, he's also working for the organization, supporting their programming in the Hudson Valley region. Radio Catskill reporter spoke to Smith about his athletic career, as well as a new PBS special documenting the 2024 Special Olympics New York State Winter Games.

As the summer of 2024 unfolds, COVID-19 continues to display patterns that have become increasingly familiar over the past few years. Dr. Matthew Stupple, Medical Director at Ellenville Regional Hospital, talks with Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno about the evolving trends and ongoing risks associated with the virus during this season.

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and Food Bank of the Hudson Valley provides 50 million pounds of food each year to 1,000 agencies in 23 counties of northeastern New York.To meet growing demand, it is moving to a new 40,000-square-foot distribution center that will be twice the size of the food bank's current warehouse in Cornwall-on-Hudson. This move will enable the food bank to increase the capacity of food it distributes to 400 food pantries and soup kitchens in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Rockland, and Putnam counties.Felicia Kalan, the Executive VP of the Regional Food Bank, and Senior Public Affairs Officer Barry Lewis spoke to Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about this significant move.

David Driver’s The Stonewall Jukebox: A Documentary Concert tells the unknown, unexpected, and uplifting story of how The Stonewall Uprising came to be, and how it impacted contemporary L-G-B-T-Q+ culture.It's at the Tusten Theatre in Narrowsburg next Saturday, August 10th. Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno spoke to David Driver about the show he calls "part musical performance, part little-known oral history."

The Blue Card, is a New York based national non-for-profit dedicated to supporting Holocaust survivors in need. Founded in 1939 in the U.S., The Blue Card provides direct financial, medical and emotional assistance to Holocaust survivors struggling to afford such basics as adequate food and healthcare.They are currently hosting a Summer Retreat at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa in Kerhonkson, in Ulster County, for 40 Holocaust survivors in the New York area, who range in age from 79-105.For many survivors, this is the only vacation they have all year. Tim Bruno spoke to Milana Hazan, Associate Executive Director, of The Blue Card on Radio Chatskill.

John Breiner was one of the many muralists who took part in the Catskills Revibe project during the Wurtsboro Founders’ Day Street Fair, where hundreds of people gathered in the village of Wurtsboro. Catskills Revibe aims to bring murals, art, and culture to communities, illuminating life with a new vibe! The second annual event featured murals created by both emerging and established artists.Breiner, a muralist, artist, illustrator, and book publisher, recently spoke with Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo about how he got his start and how he ended painting his mural in Wurtsboro.

Bennu is a small, near-Earth asteroid that passes close to Earth about every six years. It was the target of NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission to collect an asteroid sample and bring it to Earth.Former Port Jervis Science Teacher (and Radio Catskill volunteer) Joe Johnson talks about the surprising phosphate finding in the asteroid sample, as well as other science stories that caught his eye: 'dark oxygen' produced four thousand meters below the ocean's surface and the mysterious 'dark fungi' lurking everywhere.

Pablo Picasso famously said, "It took me a lifetime to learn to paint like a child." The Barryville Area Arts Association is giving young local artists a platform to showcase their work through their "Picasso Was Right!" series of arts events. And they’ll have the experience of an opening night with their work on display at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance’s Krause Recital Hall on August 3.Culture Reporter Valerie Mansi spoke to Nick Roes of The Barryville Area Arts Association about the effort to empower and encourage "budding Picassos." This "Picasso Was Right!" project is sponsored by the Western Sullivan Public Library, the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, and the Barryville Area Arts Association, and made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant Program, a program of the NYS Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the NY State Legislature and administered by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.

Franklin's TreesSchenkman's latest book introduces children to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s love of nature, highlighting a lifetime during which he oversaw the planting of over a million trees on his estate. The book describes Roosevelt’s childhood spent hiking trails through his forest and how he later expanded those trails into roads after polio deprived him of the use of his legs, allowing him to get around by car. Schenkman recently discussed the book with Radio Catskill's Valerie Mansi.

Vice President Kamala Harris is in the market for a running mate and Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, appears to be on the shortlist of potential picks. Shapiro's popularity is seen as a potential road to victory for the Harris campaign in Pennsylvania, an important swing state.Roger DuPuis from WVIA joined WJFF's Tim Bruno on <em>Radio Chatskill </em> to discuss what a Shapiro VP pick could mean for the Harris campaign and what it could mean for Pennsylvania.

Lisa Glover, also known as Lisa the Maker, visited Narrowsburg last year and looked out at the Deeps, or Big Eddy, of the Delaware River. She wondered just how deep it truly was. To find out, she decided to create an updated topo bathymetric map that would reveal the true features of this section of the river.Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo had a chance to speak with Lisa and learn about the process behind creating this detailed map of The Deeps

Borscht Belt Fest is here! Co-Founder of the Catskills Borscht Belt Museu, Andrea Jacobs spoke with Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno about the curated street fair, which spans several blocks of downtown Ellenville. The festival features local artisans, nostalgic merchandise, and delicious food, including artful interpretations of Jewish classics. Happening the weekend of July 27, 2024.

Grammy nominated experimental jazz band, House of Waters will play at Harmony in the Woods in Hawley, PA this Friday. The group will play at 6:00PM.Tim Bruno was joined by the groups hammer dulcimer player, Max ZT, on this mornings edition of Radio Chatskill.

Weekend of Chamber Music is ending this week with the Piano works of John Luther Adams, an improvised score for Nanook of the North, as well as three works rooted in the earth. Open rehearsals will be held Friday and Saturday night where new music written by Weekend of Chamber Music members will be performed. Tim Bruno is joined by host of Something Old, Something New Kit Hulit as well as Composer and Weekend of Chamber Music immersion fellow Ryan Harrison, Composer and Weekend of Chamber Music co-artistic director Andrew Waggoner, and Violinist and Weekend of Chamber Music immersion fellow Jose Olea Vico to discuss the weekend of music.

The Sullivan County Chamber of Commerce has appointed a new CEO, Ashley Leavitt. With adiverse background in education, business development, recruitment and small business,Leavitt brings a wealth of expertise and experience to the position. She is also the owner ofarchery store All Things Accuracy in Liberty.Reporter Marin Scotten is joined by Leavitt to hear more about her business experience, whatshe hopes to bring to the position and what makes the small business community in SullivanCounty so unique.

Saturday, July 27th, at noon, the D&H Canal Interpretive Center in Summitville is hosting an event titled "Bagels & Locks."This event features a free lecture by Bill Merchant on the historic D&H Canal locks, delving into the rich history and remarkable engineering that were pivotal to our region's development.Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo speaks with Nancy Bachana, Visitor Experience Associate at the D&H Canal Interpretive Center, and Sean Moore, the Center's site manager, about the canal's history and what attendees can expect from the event.

Anne Hart is the Chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee. Greg Goldstein is chair of the Sullivan County Republican Committee.Both joined WJFF's Tim Bruno to discuss Biden's decision not to seek re-election on today's edition of Radio Chatskill

Anne Hart is the Chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee. Greg Goldstein is chair of the Sullivan County Republican Committee.Both joined WJFF's Tim Bruno to discuss Biden's decision not to seek re-election on today's edition of Radio Chatskill

Millions of people worldwide are impacted by a IT outage that has affected airlines, banks and hospitals, including Sullivan County Government.