Radio Chatskill

A new dance party is flipping the nightclub model on its head — no alcohol, no late nights, and no pressure to be “cool.”It’s called Daytime Disco, a sober, midday dance experience created by Catskills DJ Mark Partridge, also known as Ambient Barn, host of Ambient Barn on Radio Catskill. The first event takes place Saturday in Narrowsburg, offering a joyful, low-stakes way to move, connect, and shake off the winter blues.“I think something like this is more necessary than ever,” Partridge said. “There are so many people in this region who are creative and love to dance. And sometimes it’s difficult to get out at night.”Partridge said many people want to dance but find nighttime events hard to attend — especially in winter.“There are a lot of amazing nighttime DJ dance parties in this area,” he said. “I thought there was some space to do something during the day.”The idea was inspired by Brooklyn’s Mr. Sunday parties — daytime, all-ages dance events known for their welcoming, judgment-free atmosphere.“They were super inspiring and uplifting,” Partridge said. “No nightlife cool-guy energy. Just open, fun, communal space. I thought it would be really cool to bring that to the Catskills.”Daytime Disco is intentionally alcohol-free. Instead of a bar, Partridge and collaborators are experimenting with what they call “hydration bars,” with plans to introduce mocktails and non-alcoholic beverages in the future.“In wintertime, people shouldn’t be drinking and driving,” he said. “We’re trying to fill that space.”The goal, he explained, is to take the joy of nightlife dancing and bring it into daylight hours.“You can come and dance all afternoon, drive home, feel uplifted, have dinner, watch a movie, and go to bed,” Partridge said. “It doesn’t have to be the other way around. No judgment — I love nightlife — but this felt like something new to try.”Musically, the daytime setting changes the vibe behind the decks. Partridge describes the sound as upbeat and eclectic, designed for sunlight rather than strobe lights.“We start with daytime vibes,” he said. “Uplifting, major-key, forward-progress music that creates a sense of wonder.”Expect a blend of Italo disco, house music, pop favorites, and custom edits of well-known songs — lighter than his nighttime sets, but still dance-floor ready.Since announcing the event, Partridge says interest has been strong.“The response has been incredible,” he said. “I think people are really going to come out of the woodwork for this.”He hopes Daytime Disco becomes a recurring pop-up series across the region.“Activating interesting spaces around the county is something I really want to do,” he said. “Bringing dance to different places and creating a daytime disco space for this community.”More than anything, Partridge wants the event to feel open and welcoming.“We’re trying to create a communal, non-judgmental space,” he said. “Come express yourself. Movement is meditation — especially in winter.”His invitation is simple: “Rummage through your closet. Find that outfit you have nowhere else to wear. Put it on and come dance.”Daytime Disco runs Saturday, January 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Kraus Recital Hall in Narrowsburg as part of the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance Salon Series. More information is available at delawarevalleyartsalliance.org.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says her proposal to cut auto insurance rates is about affordability — cracking down on fraud and easing costs for New Yorkers.But new reporting suggests powerful corporate interests, including Uber, may be playing a significant behind-the-scenes role.Kevin Duggan, a reporter with Streetsblog NYC, says a little-known advocacy group has been lobbying aggressively in Albany in support of the governor’s proposal.“One of the governor’s big proposals this year is to lower car insurance rates,” Duggan said. “She’s talking about going after fraud and regulations that she says allow for too much compensation for people involved in crashes.”Duggan found that a group called Citizens for Affordable Rates has spent heavily on lobbying while keeping basic details about its leadership opaque.“When we looked into this group, some information was available, but other things — like who’s in charge or even an address — were harder to find,” he said. “What we found is that this group is basically being led by Uber, with other car-focused companies attached.”Those companies include trucking and coach bus interests, Duggan said, and they have been pushing similar policy changes for roughly a year.The governor’s proposal includes narrowing the definition of “serious injury,” eliminating pain-and-suffering damages for people found mostly at fault in a crash, and capping damages for uninsured or impaired drivers.“On paper, these sound like straightforward regulatory changes,” Duggan said. “But attorneys who represent crash victims warn this could drastically reduce how much someone can recover if they’re hit by a car.”One provision would bar compensation entirely for anyone found even slightly more than 50 percent at fault.“If you’re found just over half at fault, you would get no damages at all,” Duggan said. “Juries can be subjective, and small factors — like a cyclist not wearing a helmet, even if it’s legal — could tip the scale.”Duggan said similar efforts backed by Uber have appeared in other states, including California and Florida, as part of a broader push to reshape liability and insurance rules.Driver and safety advocates in New York remain skeptical. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance has not endorsed the proposal, warning that reduced coverage would also harm drivers injured in crashes.Street safety groups argue the state should focus on preventing crashes in the first place.“They’re urging the governor to focus on safer streets and cracking down on repeat speeders,” Duggan said. “That would reduce crashes — and insurance costs — without cutting victims’ rights.”Hochul denies the proposal is being driven by Uber, saying it targets fraud such as staged crashes and inflated medical claims. But Duggan says it remains unclear whether the changes would significantly lower premiums.“What we do know is that it would reduce the amount people can recover after a crash,” he said.When Streetsblog asked the governor’s office about concerns raised by crash victims, Duggan said the response raised questions.“The press office forwarded us a press release from Citizens for Affordable Rates that had been sent by an Uber spokesperson,” he said.As budget negotiations continue ahead of a March deadline, Duggan says lawmakers should closely examine both the data behind the proposal and the influence shaping it.“A lot of this will come together at the last minute in Albany,” he said. “We may not know the final outcome until the budget is released.”

HAWLEY, PA — Hawley is exploring how its rivers, trails, and open spaces can drive economic growth through the Outdoor Towns initiative, a community-driven planning program designed to enhance public access to nature.“The Outdoor Towns initiative goes back to this toolkit created by the PA Environmental Council,” explained Liam Mayo of The River Reporter. “It helps towns figure out ways to better use their outdoor spaces and revitalize their natural economies.”Hawley’s plan, guided by consultants from Eastwick Solutions, combines public input and an action team of local residents. Ideas include expanding trails, constructing a pedestrian bridge over the Lackawaxen River, updating trail maps, and promoting outdoor dining and events.“The priorities people ranked highly were about creating more ways to access nature,” Mayo said. “Some projects, like adding Hawley’s trails to the AllTrails app, can happen quickly. Others, like the pedestrian bridge, will take longer and require planning and funding.”The initiative emphasizes natural development as economic development, aiming to attract tourists who use local trails, rivers, and lakes while supporting small businesses. Outdoor recreation contributed $19 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy in 2023, showing the potential of nature-focused growth.Residents interested in learning more or participating can visit visithawleypa.com. “It takes a village,” Mayo said.Read Liam Mayo’s full reporting on Hawley’s outdoor revitalization at riverreporter.com.

At Fair Hill Therapeutic Riding Center, horses are more than animals — they’re teachers. Helping people build confidence, communication skills, and emotional connection, they offer lessons that traditional classrooms or therapy rooms often cannot.“Your ability to connect with the horse for the rider affects them deeply in areas we can’t even measure,” said Vera Remes, a PATH International–certified therapeutic riding instructor and equine assisted learning specialist. “At Fair Hill, the most important component is the horse.”Connection Comes FirstFair Hill’s one-hour lessons are structured to prioritize connection before skill. Executive Director Sally emphasizes relationship-building with the horse before teaching riding techniques.“They could do stuff we really can’t do with words,” Remes said. “There are skills, and then there’s connection for our riders.”During sessions, participants begin on the ground with breathing exercises and grooming, learning how their body language affects the horse.“When you get an equine involved, they affect everyone in the area,” Remes explained. “There’s even research that shows their heartbeat can lower the heartbeats of people in the lesson. It’s called heart rate variability.”Parents often notice improvements at home. “One little vignette,” Remes said, “is when a kid who’s never said a word tells their horse to ‘walk on.’ Your heart just swells.”Beyond Traditional RidingTherapeutic riding differs from standard instruction because the horse’s movement itself promotes healing.“If someone’s on a horse, it approximates the movement of the human body walking,” Remes said. “You’ll often see improvement in gait, balance, and coordination.”Fair Hill’s instructors ensure horses keep moving during lessons. “When they’re walking, you’re helping with balance and coordination — all the things you can’t really teach. The horse is doing that,” she said.Serving a Wide CommunityFair Hill serves children with developmental, intellectual, and behavioral disabilities, adults, seniors, foster children, and veterans.“We have a woman with a bad back,” Remes said. “The horse helps her because she can’t walk well. When she gets off, she feels better.”The center also runs Stable Moments, a mentoring program for foster youth. “When you change a person’s attitude, other things come along with it,” Remes said. “It changes how they think of themselves and the people around them.”Volunteers: The Heart of Fair HillVolunteers are essential to the program. Annual training, led by Remes and Nancy Van Wick, is set for Saturday, January 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maplewood Farms in Waymart.“We welcome people even with no training,” Remes said. “We’ll make them really good volunteers who can interact with professionals, participants, and families. You’ll never feel stranded.”She adds with a laugh, “Nancy and I are like comedians. It will not be dry and academic.”A Place of BelongingFor Remes, Fair Hill is more than therapy — it’s community.“When I walk into the barn, I get that warm and fuzzy feeling,” she said. “It’s a place where people are just so accepting of whatever different abilities you might have. That’s what the horse does for you.”More information on volunteering and programs is available at fairhill.farm.

New York is facing a growing blood supply shortage, and health officials say the situation is becoming increasingly critical.The American Red Cross and regional partners, including the New York Blood Center, report that in parts of the state, blood donations are running nearly 40 percent below hospital demand. O-type blood — along with A-negative and B-negative — is especially needed.Blood is essential for everyday hospital care, from emergency trauma response and childbirth to cancer treatment and chronic illnesses such as sickle cell disease. Nationwide, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. When supplies run low, hospitals may be forced to delay surgeries, infusions, or other lifesaving care.January is National Blood Donor Month, a time set aside to raise awareness about the ongoing need for donations — particularly during the winter, when supplies often dip.“So this month exists because donations during January are so low,” said Jennifer Malinchak, a registered nurse and manager of Occupational Health and Wellness at Garnet Health. “In 1969, actually President Nixon declared January to be National Blood Donation Month. So that started in 1970, so it has a long history.”Malinchak joined Radio Catskill to discuss the statewide shortage and an upcoming community blood drive hosted by Garnet Health in partnership with the New York Blood Center. Garnet Health is also a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.Winter weather, seasonal illnesses, holiday travel, and scheduling disruptions all contribute to fewer donors during this time of year.“We have for various reasons, as you can imagine — the weather, right? We have a pending storm coming this weekend, wintertime illnesses, the holidays, people planning holiday events and also travel,” Malinchak said. “So blood donation may not be at the forefront of people’s minds.”On the front lines, the shortage is already having real impacts.“There is a critical shortage right now, so that impacts the ability that we have to provide blood products to our patients,” she said. “There may be delays in discharges, delays on infusions. People may need to stay in the hospital longer or reschedule infusions or surgeries.”While blood donations are often associated with emergencies or trauma care, Malinchak emphasized that most donated blood supports everyday, ongoing medical treatment.“Actually, more than 25 percent of the blood supply goes to treat cancer patients,” she said. “In addition to cancer patients, we have patients that have chronic illness that require transfusions of blood products. So it really impacts not only during times of trauma — it’s also day-to-day treatment of patients, improving their quality of life and saving lives.”Health officials say many people who are eligible to donate never do.“Every two seconds, someone needs blood,” Malinchak said. “At least 62 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, but only 3 percent do. So there’s a huge opportunity for education and sharing the importance of blood donation and how it saves lives.”For those hesitant to donate, Malinchak said the process is simple and safe.“The New York Blood Center has been doing this for well over 60 years. The professionals make the process as easy and seamless as possible,” she said. “Usually it takes about an hour of your time. The actual donation time is about 15 minutes. So it’s a relatively short period of time where you can make a huge impact on the well-being of the community.”And yes — donors still get refreshments. “There’s always the juice and cookies at the end,” she added.Most people who are healthy and feeling well can donate. Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and generally be between the ages of 16 and 75. Sixteen-year-olds need parental permission, while donors 76 and older need a doctor’s note.Malinchak also encouraged past donors to keep coming back.“You’re able to donate approximately every two months — like 56 days,” she said. “If you have already donated, you understand the process, the rewards of donation are so great. I encourage you to return as a donor and continue to contribute to the well-being of our community.”To help address the shortage, Garnet Health and the New York Blood Center will host a community blood drive on Wednesday, January 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Garnet Health Medical Center, 707 East Main Street in Middletown.“It’s right off Route 17, easy access,” Malinchak said. “You can come in the main entrance or the side entrance by the conference center. You can pre-register, or we accept walk-ins.”Appointments can be scheduled through the events page at garnethealth.org, though walk-ins are welcome.“One hour of your time makes a huge difference in someone’s life and their quality of life,” Malinchak said..

Voters in the Fallsburg Central School District will decide February 3 whether to approve a $56.5 million capital project aimed at addressing long-standing building issues, improving safety, and upgrading heating and cooling systems across district schools — a proposal district leaders say would come with no increase to local school taxes.The proposal was the focus of a recent conversation on Radio Catskill, where Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz outlined what’s being proposed, why now is the right moment, and what families should know ahead of the vote.Years in the Making — and Prompted by HeatDr. Katz said the capital project has been years in the making, driven largely by deteriorating parking lots and the growing need to address extreme heat inside school buildings.“We’ve planned for several years to fix our deteriorating parking lots,” Katz said. “We knew it would be expensive to do so, so we set up capital reserves.”Those reserves — funds set aside specifically for major projects — were approved by voters in advance, particularly for heating and air-conditioning upgrades, which Katz described as the most expensive components of the proposal.The timeline accelerated after a New York State law passed in 2024 set 88 degrees as the maximum allowable temperature for occupancy in public school buildings beginning in September 2025.“That law prompted us to have to take action,” Katz said. “We needed to make sure that hot temperatures wouldn’t affect school attendance for kids.”Heat Already Disrupting LearningWhile a state-required Building Conditions Survey completed in 2023 identified a number of facility needs, Katz said the urgency became clear during last year’s heat waves.“This past June, our school buildings were getting so hot — especially cafeterias and gymnasiums — that we had to close school early on several days,” he said.Those early dismissals came during Regents exams and other end-of-year activities.“Losing necessary school time was not something we wanted to have as an ongoing concern in the years to come,” Katz added.Parking, Traffic, and Safety ImprovementsA major portion of the proposal focuses on replacing and widening parking lots at both the junior-senior high school and Benjamin Cosor Elementary School.The elementary school’s only entrance, Katz said, is currently about 40 feet wide — creating congestion during drop-off, pick-up, and school events.“We often need police present to direct traffic,” he said. “Creating additional parking and changing the layout of the entrance by adding an additional lane will help address some of the congestion that we get.”Smaller Projects With Immediate ImpactBeyond HVAC and parking upgrades, the project includes several smaller improvements expected to affect daily operations and security.Among them is the installation of card-swipe access for classroom doors.“Card swipes will make our classrooms safer,” Katz said. “Classroom doors will always be in a locked position and will eliminate the issues that happen when staff members lose or misplace their keys.”Other upgrades include fuel tank replacements nearing the end of their useful life, masonry repairs, trash compactors, and updates to libraries and learning spaces.How the District Plans to Avoid a Tax IncreaseDespite the project’s size, Katz said it is structured to avoid any increase in local school taxes — now or in future budgets.“This is the question I get asked most,” he said.The $56.5 million project would be funded through three primary sources:About $41 million in New York State building aidRoughly $11 million from the district’s capital reserve funds$5.2 million in retired debt from previous projects“When you add those together, you have a project equaling just under $57 million,” Katz said.The district qualifies for approximately 72 percent state building aid, meaning the state would reimburse roughly 72 cents for every eligible dollar spent.“Our past projects have also come in at a zero percent increase in taxes,” Katz said. “Past performance is the best indicator that I can offer.”Second Proposition: Property Purchase Near Elementary SchoolVoters will also be asked to consider a second proposition to purchase a neighboring property near Benjamin Cosor Elementary School.The purchase would allow the district to widen the school’s only entrance and exit — a change Katz said is especially important for emergency vehicle access.“Our current entrance makes it very challenging for emergency vehicles to gain entrance at times when we have high traffic,” he said.Like the main capital project, the property purchase would be funded through capital reserves and would not increase local school taxes, according to the district.Timeline and What Voters Will SeeIf voters approve both propositions, major construction would begin during the summers of 2027 and 2028, with some work potentially extending into 2029.“The roadways and parking lots would be very visible,” Katz said. “Air conditioning and other repair

With flu activity surging across the country, so is the flood of misinformation—especially online—about antiviral medications. Viral TikToks are blaming Tamiflu for frightening side effects, homeopathic influencers are promoting so-called “Tamiflu tea,” and posts warning parents to never give their kids antivirals are getting thousands of likes.To cut through the noise, we spoke with Dr. Jess Steier, a public health scientist and founder of Unbiased Science, who translates complex medical evidence into clear, practical guidance. She’s also a parent navigating flu season in real time.What Flu Antivirals Do—and How They Differ From VaccinesDr. Steier explained the difference between prevention and treatment in everyday terms:"Starting with the vaccine, vaccine is all about prevention, right? The vaccine trains our immune system to recognize the virus before we're ever exposed. Antivirals are treatments.""So, that's what we use when we're already sick, and they work by stopping the virus from replicating in our body. And this shortens how long we're sick, reduces the severity, and for high-risk people it does a really good job of lowering the chance of hospitalization or death."She offered a simple analogy:"Think of the vaccine as your seatbelt and antivirals as the airbag."Common Myths About Flu MedicationsOne viral myth claims that brewing teas like star anise can replace antivirals such as Tamiflu or Xofluza. Dr. Steier debunks this:"There's a little nugget of truth—Tamiflu was originally derived from Shikimic acid, which is found in star anise. But ultimately, what's in Tamiflu is very, very different from what's in the tea. Brewing tea is not the same as taking a pharmaceutical with a precise, tested dose."She also addressed fears about hallucinations and seizures:"It's true that there have been very rare reports of some neuropsychiatric effects. However, flu itself causes delirium, especially in young kids with high fevers. Oftentimes people are conflating the drug's effect with the flu, which is likely what's causing those outcomes."Why Early Treatment MattersAntivirals are most effective when taken early:"These drugs work by blocking viral replication. Early in infection is when the virus is multiplying really, really fast. That's the window where we have the opportunity to really slow it down."Even after the first 48 hours of symptoms, there may still be benefit for high-risk patients:"For people who are hospitalized or high risk, it is still clinical guidance to treat beyond 48 hours because some benefit is better than none when the stakes are very high."Practical Steps for Getting Treatment QuicklyDr. Steier recommends rapid testing and acting fast, especially for high-risk groups:"Get tested. Many pharmacies offer test-to-treat programs—you get a rapid test and if it's positive, they can prescribe antivirals on the spot. If you are high risk—over 65, very young children, pregnant, immunocompromised, or with conditions like asthma or diabetes—you do not want to wait."She added that otherwise healthy adults may focus on symptom management rather than antivirals:"Flu antivirals do come with some side effects. For those where the risk of hospitalization and death is lower, focus on rest, fluids, and treating fever if you're absolutely miserable. Tamiflu, for example, can cause nausea and GI upset, which might not be worth it for lower-risk people."Warning Signs That Require Urgent CareFor children, Dr. Steier says urgent care is warranted if you see:Difficulty breathing or ribs pulling in with each breathBluish lips or skinSevere irritability or trouble wakingNot drinking fluidsFever with a rashFor adults, seek immediate care if you have:Shortness of breath or chest painConfusion or inability to keep fluids downSymptoms that improve but return worse with fever and cough"That last one could signal a secondary bacterial infection like pneumonia and is absolutely an ER situation," she warns.Barriers to Early TreatmentAccess remains a major challenge during this severe flu season:"You need a test, a clinician to prescribe antivirals, and a pharmacy with stock. During a surge, all three can break down. Test-to-treat programs and telehealth have been super helpful because they collapse those steps."She encourages individuals to plan ahead:"Find out which pharmacies near you offer test-to-treat. If you're high risk, talk to your doctor now about a plan if you get the flu."Choosing the Right AntiviralTwo main oral antivirals are widely used: Tamiflu and the newer Xofluza."Xofluza is one pill, with less GI upset, and might clear viral shedding faster. But it’s pricier—around $200 out-of-pocket—and availability is spotty. Some groups, like pregnant or severely immunocompromised patients, may not be recommended for it. This is a conversation to have with your healthcare provider."Layered Protection: Beyond AntiviralsDr. Steier emphasizes a multi-layered approach:"We have to really lean into the Swiss cheese model

As ICE increases its immigration arrests nationwide, local residents have formed rapid response groups in cities, villages, and towns across the country – including in the Mid-Hudson Valley region. Rapid response groups are typically networks that mobilize residents quickly if potential immigration enforcement activities are suspected and document the activities.The Ulster Rapid Response Network is a community-based deportation defense group in Ulster County, mobilizing people and resources to defend immigrants in Ulster County from ICE. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Diana Méndez, a member of the Ulster Rapid Response Network, to learn more.

On a recent morning, a group of middle schoolers delivered a lesson on nutrition not through a worksheet or a lecture, but through a hook.“Don’t skip meals. Don’t skip meals. You’ll get cranky…”The song, written and performed by students at Liberty Middle School, is part of The STEAM Fund’s Real Food Songwriting Program — an arts-based initiative that invites students to write original music about nutrition, wellness, and making healthier food choices. The program has just wrapped up its latest run, and now the songs are reaching a wider audience, with a new student-created music video released every Monday.“The Real Food Songwriting Program is just one of the vehicles we use to deliver our mission,” said Gary Siegel, co-founder of The STEAM Fund, speaking alongside his wife and partner Judy Siegel via Zoom. “Our actual mission is to support musicians, artists, and the venues where they share their gift.”Using Music to Teach Real-World SkillsAt its core, the program blends songwriting fundamentals — rhyme, rhythm, and collaboration — with lessons about real food versus processed food.“It’s a songwriting program where we incorporate music to present the concepts of real food versus processed food,” Gary said. “And then help the students that are participating make good, healthy choices.”The idea grew out of an earlier collaboration with the organization A Single Bite, which resulted in a song called Real Food Rules.In early versions of the program, students worked together to write new verses to that song. Teaching artists guided brainstorming sessions, helping students turn nutrition concepts into lyrics that rhyme and fit a melody. The current version takes things a step further.“The new program that we’re doing now is sort of a hybrid,” he said. “The kids write their own original song about a topic that has to do with real food versus processed food and making good, healthy choices.”From Lennon Tributes to Local ClassroomsFor the Siegels, the move into arts education was sparked by a moment far from Sullivan County.“We were at a John Lennon tribute in New York City,” Judy recalled. “The executive artistic director got on stage and announced they were bringing the John Lennon Real Love Project into public schools.”Gary turned to her and said, “That’s it.”“That was back in 2019,” Judy said. “We should bring arts and education programs into schools, and that’s really how it started.”Gary’s background as a music educator made the connection feel natural.“This was a great vehicle to deliver our mission of supporting musicians, artists, and venues,” Judy said.The Real Food Songwriting Program also responds to local needs.“Food insecurity is obviously a big issue in Sullivan County,” Judy said. “So it was important to us to help facilitate a better way to make choices.”Songs With a MessageEach student-written song carries a clear takeaway. One recent release, Don’t Skip Meals, was written by a group calling themselves The Superb Strawberries.“So remember,” the song concludes, “eating three balanced meals a day will give you the energy you need to be happy, healthy, and focused.”“The coolest thing about these songs is that every one of them has a message,” Gary said. “Every one of them is promoting good, healthy choices through music.”Learning Beyond the ClassroomThe entire process — presentation, writing, rehearsal, and recording — happens quickly. The impact, he says, is already extending beyond music class.“They’re actually using these assets on the morning announcements,” Gary said. “To promote the concepts of real food versus processed food and making good, healthy choices.”The schools also receive video and audio materials they can continue using, helping reinforce the lessons long after the recording session ends.“It’s really part of prevention and education,” Gary said. “To make good, healthy choices.”Just as important, he added, is what students learn about their own voices.“It teaches these kids at a young age that they can use music as a tool for all sorts of things,” he said. “We sent a message out because we wrote a song.”

A proposed ICE facility in Chester, New York, has raised concerns among immigrant families and community advocates in the mid-Hudson Valley. If built, it would become Orange County’s second immigration detention center, joining the existing facility at the Orange County Jail.Reverend Richard Witt, executive director of Rural and Migrant Ministries, said the proposal has heightened fear among immigrant families. “They're already living in great fear of separation from their parents, of their children, and having such a facility just adds to that environment of fear,” he explained.Community members have voiced concerns at local board meetings, highlighting potential impacts on quality of life, local reputation, and the economy. “When they've built facilities like this in other communities… people don't think of Batavia anymore as a beautiful town; they think of it as a repressive detention facility,” Witt said.The nonprofit has also seen a surge in volunteer efforts to support immigrant families. “We recently had a volunteer donate 50,000 meals that could be delivered to folks,” Witt noted, citing increased need amid fears of raids and reduced social services.Local leaders, including Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Congressmember Pat Ryan, have expressed opposition to the facility, reflecting a broader community concern. Witt emphasized the importance of public engagement: “People need to let their legislators know their feelings… the overwhelming majority of the people don't want to be living in a community that's based on oppression and fear, and economic ruin.”

Across the Upper Delaware region, residents are taking an active role in shaping the public spaces that define their communities — from a long-standing symbol overlooking Milford Borough to a playground in the heart of Honesdale.In Pike County, a grassroots effort is underway to restore the illuminated star on Milford Knob, a display that dates back nearly a century. And in neighboring Wayne County, community members are weighing in on what should replace the former playground in Honesdale’s Central Park.Liam Mayo, news editor for The River Reporter, says while the projects are distinct, they share a common thread: deep community investment.“What strikes me about both of these stories is the care that people are putting into their public spaces, and how that’s paired with the development of civic life,” Mayo said.A Star With a Long HistoryAccording to reporting by The River Reporter, commemorative displays have appeared on Milford Knob since the Civil War. The illuminated star itself dates back to the 1930s and was maintained for decades by the Milford Lions Club.“They lit the star around Christmas, as well as a cross on the same frame around Easter, and it was also lit for certain nationally significant moments,” Mayo said.That changed in 2017, when the National Park Service — which owns the land — told the Lions Club the display could no longer be installed, citing concerns that it could be perceived as endorsing religion.Supporters of the effort to bring the star back argue the symbol is cultural, not religious.“According to some of the people behind this project, they don’t see the star as a religious symbol,” Mayo said. “It represents community and unity.”Among them is Milford Mayor Candace Mahalik, who co-chairs the Restore the Star committee.“She said the star was always there when she was a kid, and coming back to Milford, it symbolized that she had come home,” Mayo said.Another organizer, Fred Weber, moved to Milford after the display was removed.“He’s gotten involved as a member of the community now, wanting to help bring that symbol back,” Mayo said.The Restore the Star committee has begun circulating letters, raising funds through the Greater Pike Community Foundation, and building local business support. The group’s Facebook page has attracted more than 300 followers.Longer-term goals include illuminating the display at additional times of year, such as the Fourth of July or Veterans Day, and potentially powering it with solar energy.“The hope would be to power the lights through solar technology,” Mayo said, “so the power stays at the site instead of running a big cord up the mountain.”A previous attempt to designate the star as a historic site was rejected in 2023 after a three-year review, citing insufficient community support.“The group feels that report undersold the amount of support the star already had,” Mayo said, and they are now working to demonstrate broader backing.Reimagining a Playground in HonesdaleIn Honesdale, a different kind of community-led effort began after playground equipment in Central Park was removed. A report found that tire mulch used as ground cover could be harming nearby trees, and the equipment came out with little public notice.“In the aftermath, a bunch of community members stepped up and said, ‘Since it’s gone, let’s rally the community,’” Mayo said.That led to the formation of the People’s Playground Project, which has conducted surveys and pop-up workshops to gather ideas before narrowing down what’s feasible.So far, more than 200 survey responses have been collected.“One standout has been swings,” Mayo said. “There were no swings at the former playground, and that’s the top request.”Other priorities include bathrooms, safety fencing, and accessibility features. Respondents were also asked about themes.“Top options included local nature, the Stourbridge Lion, and woodlands,” Mayo said. “There were also write-ins like ‘flowery summer wonderland,’ ‘dragons,’ and ‘bugs.’”Some survey responses raised concerns about safety and vandalism, particularly involving teens. But organizers emphasized inclusion over exclusion.“The hope is that if you actively involve teens in designing the playground and create spaces for them, they’ll see it as their own and protect it,” Mayo said.Both projects, he added, reflect a broader trend.“It’s easy to take public spaces for granted,” Mayo said. “But someone has to design them. Someone has to put up that star. There’s a revitalized spirit of people stepping up and saying, ‘Why shouldn’t that person be me?’”More information about the efforts can be found at restorethestar.org and peoplesplaygroundproject.com. Coverage of both stories is available at riverreporter.com.

In rural Sullivan and Wayne Counties, a grassroots organization is using books to build community and support for transgender and gender-diverse people.The Trans Support Initiative (TSI) hosts a monthly book club in Callicoon, bringing together trans people, gender-diverse community members, families, and allies to read and discuss trans history, memoir, and identity.“We discovered that there were way more transgender people in the county than we thought,” said Luisa Santoro, a founder of TSI. “Our family’s involvement came with one of my grandchildren, and at the time there were very few resources around.”Santoro said her family eventually found support — but only after navigating a difficult path.“He is now a very successful person, a college graduate,” she said. “But it took a lot to find the resources to get there. We’d like to help other families do that without as much drama as we had.”For Chana Pollock, the book club is both a cultural and political response to rising hostility toward trans people.“If you can see it, you can be it,” Pollock said. “Given all the negative energy that’s out in the world currently about trans folks, we need to build a really stable, solid grounding in our history.”Pollock said books offer both education and joy.“Just because the world around you might seem really negative doesn’t mean you don’t have the opportunity to create joy,” they said. “There’s so much joy to be had in art and culture.”The group’s discussions range from graphic memoirs like Gender Queer to classic and contemporary works such as Stone Butch Blues and Hijab Butch Blues.“We open every book club by asking the simplest question: ‘What do you think?’” Pollock said. “And it just kind of takes off from there.”Santoro said the book club has become a rare safe space in a rural setting.“Some people are really afraid to come out, even to a small group,” she said. “But the books help people identify with others who have the same trials and tribulations — or whose children are going through them.”Beyond the book club, TSI hosts movie nights, community brunches, and maintains a lending library. Meetings are held at St. James Episcopal Church in Callicoon.“I have never been in such a positive, multi-generational room as when I walk into a TSI meeting,” Pollock said. “Without calling it a support group, it naturally becomes one.”More information at transsupportinitiativenypa.org.

A federal judge has ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lawfully detained an Afghan refugee living in Ulster County, despite his arrest during an asylum interview and years of legal residence in the Hudson Valley.Ali Faqirzada, a Bard College student and Afghan refugee, has been held in ICE custody since Oct. 14. This week, a federal judge in New Jersey denied his petition for release, finding that his detention does not violate due process.“So Ali Faqirzada is not going to be able to come back to the Hudson Valley,” said Times Union reporter Maria Silva. “After this federal judge in New Jersey ruled that his detention is essentially lawful.”Judge: ICE Acted Within Its AuthorityThe judge pointed to the terms of Faqirzada’s humanitarian parole, which allowed immigration officials to revoke his release at their discretion.“When Ali Faqirzada was first apprehended by Border Patrol and then granted humanitarian parole, immigration officials made it clear they could terminate that parole at any time,” Silva said. “That’s what happened on October 14.”ICE issued an administrative — not criminal — warrant for Faqirzada’s arrest. He has remained in detention since.The court also rejected arguments that his detention violates due process.“The judge said his detention does not violate due process because he has been in custody for less than three months, which courts do not consider arbitrary,” Silva said.Under federal law, the judge ruled, Faqirzada must remain in custody until his asylum case concludes.“He’ll stay detained until he’s either granted asylum or removed from the country,” Silva said.Arrest Followed Credible Fear InterviewFaqirzada was arrested after attending a credible fear interview — a standard step in the asylum process.“He went to an ICE facility in New Jersey on October 14 and attended a credible fear interview on Long Island,” Silva said. “His sister told us he passed that interview, and his lawyer said he showed credible fear of returning to Afghanistan.”After an immigration officer told Faqirzada he had a valid asylum claim and gave him a court date, ICE agents arrested him in front of his attorneys.“The reason given was that he crossed the southern border without permission,” Silva said. “But expressing fear of returning to Afghanistan is legal and part of the asylum process.”Crossing the border without authorization is a civil immigration violation, not a criminal offense.Family, Bard College Rally SupportFaqirzada’s family and supporters say his detention makes little sense. His parents and siblings, who crossed the border with him, have already been granted asylum.“They all went through the same process,” Silva said. “The family doesn’t understand why Ali is being detained when everyone else was approved.”The case has drawn bipartisan attention and strong support from Bard College, where Faqirzada studied computer programming and worked as a campus security guard.“Bard College has held vigils and raised thousands of dollars to support his family,” Silva said. “Supporters describe Ali as generous, respectful, and someone who was contributing to society.”Faqirzada’s asylum case is still pending.

As New York lawmakers debate ways to lower costs and confront climate change, environmental advocates say the state stands at a pivotal moment. Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent state of the state address included major investments in clean water and a defense of congestion pricing — steps that drew praise from environmental groups. Yet advocates caution the state still lacks a near-term plan to rapidly expand clean energy and cut pollution.Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates New York, joined NPR to break down what the state got right, where it fell short, and what the 2026 agenda calls for."We know that New Yorkers want climate action that's practical, affordable, and real," Fajans-Turner said. "The governor understands the pressure families are under, but climate leadership now means moving much faster on deploying solutions and clean energy at scale that will lower costs and protect New Yorkers’ health in the near and long term."Investing in Water and Public HealthAmong the highlights of Hochul’s address was a $3.75 billion, five-year clean water plan. Fajans-Turner called it a "historic investment" that will not only replace aging infrastructure like lead pipes but also safeguard communities from rollbacks at the federal Environmental Protection Agency."This is pocketbook protection," Fajans-Turner said. "By investing in large-scale public infrastructure, the state reduces costs for property taxes, municipal budgets, and household water expenses."Clean Energy Gaps and Nuclear ConcernsFajans-Turner praised the emphasis on affordability and safety but said the governor fell short on clean energy. "We did not hear about utility-scale solar or offshore wind deployment," she said. "Incremental wins are not enough. We need a statewide energy plan that accelerates New York toward its climate goals."She also cautioned against overreliance on nuclear power. "Nuclear will cost billions more than solar or wind and take years to deploy," Fajans-Turner said. "It cannot replace shovel-ready clean energy projects that are essential today."Housing, Data Centers, and Environmental ProtectionsHochul also proposed streamlining environmental review to speed housing construction. Fajans-Turner urged a careful approach: "Reform should be a scalpel, not a chainsaw. Reviews must protect our water, air, and communities to ensure projects deliver more benefits than costs."With rapid growth in energy demand from data centers, Fajans-Turner emphasized that "big load growth must come from binding clean energy and storage requirements. We cannot allow expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure."2026 Action Agenda: PFAS, Clean Energy, and ResilienceEnvironmental Advocates New York recently released its 2026 action agenda, which Fajans-Turner described as "not a wish list, but the basic work of governing in a warming world." Key priorities include banning toxic PFAS chemicals in consumer products, investing in community resilience, and accelerating clean energy deployment."First and foremost, we urge the governor to commit an additional billion dollars for the Sustainable Future Program," Fajans-Turner said. "Second, we must continue to protect drinking water and accelerate clean energy. These steps will help New York remain a climate leader and keep costs down for residents."Looking ahead, Fajans-Turner said success would mean a 2026 renewable energy plan that charts a clear path toward solar, offshore wind, and a zero-emission economy, along with programs that make polluters pay rather than burden taxpayers."If we follow through on these priorities, New York can accelerate its clean energy transition while protecting health, lowering costs, and safeguarding communities," Fajans-Turner said.Learn more about Environmental Advocates New York and their 2026 agenda at eany.org.

Governor Kathy Hochul used her fifth State of the State address to position herself as a defender of New Yorkers’ pocketbooks — and a bulwark against what she described as federal overreach by the Trump administration.Radio Catskill reporters Jason Dole, Kimberly Izar, and Patricio Robayo, who followed the speech closely, said the governor’s overarching message focused less on sweeping policy details and more on framing the political moment.Dole said her key message seemed to be: “Re-elect Governor Kathy Hochul. She was presenting an image of stability and accomplishment.”Affordability Takes Center StageHochul repeatedly returned to cost-of-living pressures, highlighting energy bills, child care costs, housing shortages, and insurance premiums. She noted that the average New Yorker pays about $1,700 a year just to keep the lights on and pledged to rein in utility rate hikes.“She talked a lot about affordability, especially energy,” Izar said. “But there were not a lot of specifics on how those rate hikes would actually be stopped.”The governor said large energy users, including data centers, should “pay their fair share” so everyday consumers aren’t left shouldering higher costs.Child Care Push Amid Federal CutsOne of the biggest applause lines came when Hochul outlined plans to expand child care statewide, including universal pre-K for four-year-olds and a partnership with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to fund care for 2,000 children in the city.But reporters noted the timing is complicated by federal cuts.“We’re seeing federal cuts to child care under the Trump administration,” Dole said. “That’s going to make implementation challenging.”Immigration and Federal OverreachHochul sharpened her criticism of federal immigration enforcement, proposing tighter limits on ICE activity in New York.One proposal would require immigration officers to obtain judicial warrants before conducting enforcement actions in “sensitive locations” such as schools, hospitals, and houses of worship.“The governor argues that without these protections, people are afraid to send their kids to school or seek medical care,” Robayo said. “State officials warn that this kind of avoidance can undermine public health and safety more broadly.”Hochul said New York will not use state resources to assist federal immigration raids targeting non-criminal immigrants.Housing, AI, and a Shift in ToneOn housing, Hochul renewed calls to streamline environmental reviews to accelerate construction, backing New York City’s plan to build 500,000 new homes over the next decade.“Let them build,” she said.She also announced a new AI research center at Binghamton University and proposed clear labeling requirements for AI-generated content, particularly in elections, alongside stronger data protections for children.Reporters noted a tonal shift away from earlier law-and-order rhetoric.“She’s moved away from bail reform framing,” Dole said. “Safety was discussed, but with more nuance.”Political Stakes AheadRepublicans criticized the address as heavy on rhetoric and light on results. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay said “actions speak louder than words,” while State Sen. Peter Oberacker said families need lower costs and safer communities “not just speeches.”As budget negotiations begin, reporters say the real test will be whether Hochul’s affordability agenda survives federal funding cuts and legislative bargaining.“This is when they're all going to weigh in and that's why you're going to hear me talking to our news partners on there and saying what are people on the ground saying what who likes this idea who doesn't like this idea,” said Dole.

Early American taverns are often imagined as rowdy halls full of drinking men. But a closer look at these 18th- and early 19th-century institutions reveals a far more complex picture — one that shaped politics, business, culture, and transportation in the young United States. “Early American taverns are a fantastic window into the making of the United States,” says historian Dr. Kirsten Wood. “They were important in the American Revolution, but also in the early republic… once you start following who went to taverns and what they did there, you can see how tavern going contributed to the country's economy, its transportation networks, and even its political culture.”Dr. Wood explores this history in a virtual program, Taverns in the Early United States, this Sunday at 2 p.m., hosted by The Time and The Valley’s Museum in Grahamsville. Taverns varied widely depending on location and architecture, and drinking wasn’t always the main activity. “You would also find people who were drinking very little or not at all. So tavern going didn’t necessarily mean excessive drinking,” Wood says.They also drew a more diverse crowd than imagined. “There were sometimes women — travelers, women conducting business — not just white men,” she explains.Taverns hosted mutual insurance societies, horse-thief detection clubs, dancing lessons, stockholder meetings, and even medical society gatherings. “The amount of capitalism in fairly advanced forms that’s happening there is really striking,” Wood says.They were vital to travel too. “People were traveling by foot, on horseback, wagons, or stagecoach… taverns are really important nodes in transportation,” she explains, often serving as early watering stops for stagecoaches and railroads.Taverns’ legacy lives on in modern public spaces, she says. “The ability to safely enter and use any of those spaces shapes your economic possibilities, your sense of belonging as a citizen… That, I think, is the key similarity between taverns then and now.”

For decades, the Catskills’ Borscht Belt helped shape American comedy, giving immigrant performers a place to test jokes, tell their stories, and build careers that would later define stand-up nationwide.Now, that legacy is being revived.This weekend, the Borscht Belt Museum launches a new season of the Borscht Belt Comedy Club at Shadowland Stages in Ellenville, with Ellenville-born comedian Alejandro Morales serving as curator, host, and headliner.Morales, now based in Philadelphia, returned home with a clear goal: bring live Catskills comedy back to the place where it all began — and make it reflect the voices of today.A Borscht Belt Family HistoryMorales’ connection to the Catskills resorts runs through his family.“My mom and dad are both from Chile, and they emigrated separately in the 1970s,” Morales said. “My father says that he was the first Chilean in Ellenville — you take that with a grain of salt. But he got a job at the Nevele Hotel, and then my mother got a job at the Nevele Hotel, and they met working in the dining room.”By the time Morales was growing up, the golden age of Borscht Belt comedy had already passed.“By the time I was a teenager, the sort of heyday of the Borscht Belt was more or less in the past,” he said. “So I unfortunately missed all of the wonderful emergence of live stand-up comedy in the region.”He didn’t see live stand-up until moving to Philadelphia, where comedy took hold. When he eventually moved back to Ellenville, he wanted to reconnect the region with its comedic roots.“I really wanted to bring back this original art form that sprang up in the 20th century,” Morales said, “and bring it back so people can continue to enjoy that live art in Ellenville.”Finding the Borscht Belt in His VoiceMorales now recognizes how deeply the Borscht Belt shaped his comedic instincts — even before he understood its history.“I was a big fan of Joan Rivers,” he said. “She was one of my favorite comedians growing up. I was also a big fan of Sandra Bernhard and Richard Lewis.”Through television, Morales absorbed the rhythm and sensibility of Borscht Belt comedy without realizing where it came from.“I didn’t put two and two together when I was a teen or in my 20s,” he said. “But I’ve always been connected to this tradition that started in my hometown.”That connection, he says, is something comedians still feel when they perform in the Catskills.“People come up to the Hudson Valley and it kind of dawns on them,” Morales said. “‘Oh, this is where it all started.’ Those conversations usually happen in the green room before the show.”A New Comedy Season in EllenvilleAs curator of the Borscht Belt Comedy Club, Morales has built a season that blends history with contemporary voices.The January kickoff features Jeff Gurian, Alan Frischman — a local plumber and author — along with Bess Farber and David Lustbader.February programming celebrates Black History Month with comedians Chanel Ali and Anthony Moore.In March, Emmy Award-winning comedian Judy Gold headlines what Morales calls the season’s marquee performance.April brings a Spanish-language comedy show with Laura Bolívar, expanding the Borscht Belt tradition to audiences long connected to the Catskills resorts.“I really want to bring something to my generation and my parents’ generation — people who worked in the hotels who were Latin American and South American and speak primarily Spanish,” Morales said.The season concludes in May with a family-friendly comedy show, aimed at welcoming as wide an audience as possible.Carrying an Outsider Tradition ForwardMorales sees clear parallels between today’s revival and the origins of Borscht Belt comedy.“The story of the Borscht Belt is the story of outsiders who were not welcomed everywhere,” he said. “It was Jewish folks who wanted to go on vacation and couldn’t go where they wanted to because of prejudice.”Out of that exclusion came a cultural force that reshaped American comedy.“They took that rejection and that outsider status, and they built something that became an art form that’s taken the entire world by storm,” Morales said.Today, Morales believes that same spirit lives on through marginalized voices finding space onstage.“We can now plug in our outsider voices and carry on that tradition,” he said. “Having somewhere to practice your art and connect with your community — I don’t think there’s anything more beautiful than that.”Comedy Comes HomeThe revival is personal for Morales. His late father worked as a maître d’ at the Nevele and the Concord, where he crossed paths with celebrities of the era.“I’m sure he’d be super excited if he were still with us,” Morales said. “My mother is so excited to have me back home. She’s thrilled.”

A vacant warehouse in Chester, New York, could soon become New York state’s next ICE processing facility, according to internal ICE documents. The news drew significant local opposition – with hundreds of people protesting outside the Chester Senior Center last night. The Village board relocated the board meeting to a larger venue last minute to accommodate the crowd.The protest comes amidst nationwide protests following the ICE killing of Nicole Renee Good in Minnesota. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

The Hudson Valley’s LGBTQ+ and Allied a cappella chorus Key of Q is celebrating 10 years of music, community, and joy with its winter concert, It’s About Time. “We are an auditioned group of LGBTQ+ and allied singers… Over our 10 years together, we've become really a chosen family with deep and abiding connections,” said Terry Gibson, managing director of Key of Q. “We practice love and support and acceptance and really celebrate all of our unique voices.”The chorus performs modern, secular music in complex multi-part harmonies, often with themes of equality, love, and identity. Gibson described the group’s unique approach to music selection:“We encourage all members to suggest songs… We strive to have about half of our music celebrate something about the queer community… It fosters not only more of an emotional connection to the music but a stronger sense of community.”Key of Q has also launched the One Day Chorus, a one-afternoon session where anyone can join and sing in full harmony. “There’s no audition, there’s no pressure… All proceeds go to benefit a local queer-positive organization,” Gibson said, noting that the first session raised hundreds of dollars for the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center.On the theme behind It’s About Time, Gibson explained:“Some days [time] just rushes past and other days it feels heavy and slow… It’s an invitation to pause, to listen, and to remember that even when the world feels dark and rushed and uncertain, our lives and our communities can still unfold in meaningful, beautiful, joyful ways, and we're all here to support one another.”Learn more and grab tickets at keyofq.org. Gibson adds:“You don't have to know anything about choral music. You don't have to be LGBTQ+ to belong with us, just be open to being moved. Our singers put their whole selves into the music and that creates a kind of honesty you can really feel in the sound.”

The federal government recently released updated national dietary guidelines that emphasize whole, minimally processed foods, an inverted food pyramid highlighting proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables, and a reduction in added sugar. The new guidance has sparked debate over what Americans should eat — and what this could mean for public health.To discuss the implications, we spoke with Dr. Eve Walter, Public Health Director for Ulster County.On Aligning Guidelines with Local Health Data Dr. Walter said the written recommendations generally align with established dietary guidance, though the visual representation of the new pyramid may confuse the public.“I want to first separate that there’s a bit of a difference between the recommendations as they’re written in the words and the recommendations as the visual appears,” she said. “When you then look at the image though, you know it’s recommending… protein recommendations typically like a giant picture of a steak or whole milk. These tend to be higher in saturated fats, so it starts confusing the message a little bit.”She noted that some aspects of the guidelines, such as limiting sugar for children under 10, may be unrealistic. “Some of them are really valid and some of them are a little confusing,” she said.On Saturated Fats and Heart Health The new guidelines have raised concerns among some nutrition experts for emphasizing red meat and full-fat dairy, foods high in saturated fats linked to cardiovascular disease. Dr. Walter stressed that while the written guidance still advises reducing saturated fat, the visuals may send a mixed message.“The research is a bit mixed on exactly how much saturated fats are, you know, should a person avoid?” she said. “It’s obviously been associated with higher risks of different kinds of cardiovascular diseases… I’m actually less… expecting that your average person on a day-to-day basis will sit here and all of a sudden be dramatically changing their diet as a result of this.”On Equity and Food Access Dr. Walter emphasized that the guidelines do not address broader public health issues such as food access, cultural differences, or affordability.“There are many cultures who consume large amounts of rice and grains and healthfully consume them, and it’s sort of suggestive that how their eating is not appropriate,” she said. “It doesn’t at all address access to food… fast food… is way less expensive than healthy fruits and vegetables… that’s the bigger concern.”Impact on Federal Nutrition Programs The guidelines influence federal programs like WIC, SNAP, and school meals. Dr. Walter said the impact is already being felt locally.“We have a WIC program and the WIC program recipients receive a card so that they can go shopping and the food is covered. Already recipients are being… this is dictating sort of what will be covered more, what will be covered less,” she said. “There’s definitely a higher level of proteins and fruits and vegetables being covered, but there’s still this issue of access to fruits and vegetables… sometimes individuals are shopping in places where fruits and vegetables are not commonly available or affordable.”Challenges in Public Adoption Dr. Walter said education is key, especially for SNAP recipients who may not have access to nutritionists.“Already, we have been setting an agenda for our public health department to really figure out how we can educate people on how to identify and cook the healthiest foods possible,” she said. “Not everyone has that opportunity… other people are going to have to navigate it on their own and that’s a concern.”On Alcohol Guidance The new guidelines also remove specific daily limits on alcohol, advising Americans simply to “drink less” for overall health. Dr. Walter described the messaging as vague and potentially confusing.“It just feeds into the larger confusion… this is all just becomes confusing to the public who don’t know where things are or why things would change and what’s the motivation behind it,” she said.Key Health Outcomes to Watch For Ulster County, Dr. Walter said public health monitoring will focus on food access and education.“Really getting the message of not only what healthy foods are out there, but how is access working? How do we help people improve their access to these foods, how do we help people understand how to cook these foods that they may be less familiar with,” she said. “We have people who sometimes have to travel very far just to get to a supermarket… and that’s a real problem.”Dr. Walter’s assessment underscores the challenges of translating national dietary guidance into practical, equitable, and culturally sensitive local health strategies.

New York energy advocates are urging Governor Kathy Hochul to make affordability a top priority in her State of the State address, amid soaring energy costs. Gas prices are projected to more than double by 2026, and roughly one in seven New Yorkers is behind on bills.Kim Fraczek, director of Sane Energy, said recent victories like repealing the 100-foot gas rule and securing funding for EmPower+ will help households, but more action is needed.“The 100-foot rule has cost New Yorkers $600 million in delivery charges,” Fraczek said. “EmPower+ helps low- and moderate-income families upgrade their homes to consume less energy and lower bills.”Fraczek also urged the governor to address ongoing gas infrastructure expansion, citing its cost and lack of necessity. “We need a commitment to gas decommissioning and stronger funding for renewable energy and efficiency programs,” she said.

As Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, await their next court appearance, activists in the Mid-Hudson Valley are pushing back against U.S. involvement in Venezuela. A coalition of local activist groups gathered in Newburgh on Sunday, calling for the end to the U.S.’s military intervention. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

A proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Chester, New York, is drawing sharp reactions from local officials and residents, as details emerge about a national plan to speed up immigrant detention and deportation.The Chester site would be one of 16 smaller processing facilities proposed across the country, according to internal federal documents first reported by The Washington Post. Investigative reporter Sarah Trafton of the Times Union says the goal is to streamline the early stages of immigration enforcement.Located in the village of Chester, the 401,000-square-foot warehouse is part of a larger plan to house 80,000 immigrants in warehouses across the country. “The warehouse in Chester — it’s proposed as one of 16 processing facilities throughout the country,” Trafton said. “And the idea is that rather than the existing system, that this would speed up the process of detaining and deporting immigrants.”Formerly the Pep Boys Warehouse, the facility would be Orange County’s second U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility.Under the plan, immigrants would first be taken to these short-term processing sites before being transferred elsewhere.“So once they go through those initial processing centers, then they would be sent to one of seven larger warehouses that are being proposed,” she said. “And that’s where they’d be detained before being deported.”Trafton emphasized that the Chester facility would not function as a long-term detention center.“The proposal specifically focuses on short-term, quote-unquote, processing,” she said. “These facilities wouldn’t be like the long-term detainment facilities. It would just be sort of to process the immigrants and then essentially funnel them to another facility where they’d be held until their eventual deportation.”Local officials say they were not consultedOne of the biggest sources of concern locally is how the proposal surfaced.“The folks that we talked to really, I think, were very caught off guard by the news,” Trafton said. “They said that no — specifically the town supervisor said that no one from the federal government had contacted him about the plans.”Instead, she said, local leaders learned about the proposal through media reporting.“Really the only reason why anyone knows about them is because of the Washington Post article and the internal documents that those referenced,” she said.Lawmakers speak outSeveral elected officials have also voiced opposition, including U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, who represents the district that includes Chester.“He was very vocal about being opposed to this facility and just the general premise behind it,” Trafton said.Ryan’s statement highlighted language attributed to officials involved in the plan.“In his statement, he referenced a quote from one of the officials involved, and they’re basically saying that this plan will be like Amazon Prime except with people,” she said. “So the whole idea is to make it more efficient.”Chester’s existing ICE presenceThe proposal is especially notable because Chester sits in Orange County, home to the Orange County Jail, which has housed ICE detainees for years. The jail has faced lawsuits and reports alleging systemic medical neglect and other issues involving detained immigrants.Trafton says geography may be a key factor in the federal government’s interest in the area.“I think they’re kind of looking to establish these facilities in places where you can easily then transport immigrants back and forth,” she said. “This is the only new location being proposed in New York, but it’s Southern New York, closer to access to the city.”She added that officials have drawn a distinction between the proposed warehouse and the existing jail.“This new facility is being proposed as a processing facility, which would be different than the long-term detention facility,” Trafton said.Can the project be stopped?It remains unclear how much authority local governments would have to block or delay the facility.“I think that kind of remains to be seen at this point, just because this is such a new and developing thing,” Trafton said. “I know the town supervisor is very against it and wants to do anything he can to prevent it, but as far as what means he has to do that against the federal government, I think remains to be seen.”National context and public reactionThe proposal is emerging amid heightened scrutiny of ICE following a fatal enforcement operation in Minneapolis earlier this week, in which a woman was shot and killed by an ICE agent.“I think that that may definitely play into people who are wary of having this facility in their backyard, or just more ICE presence than there already is,” Trafton said.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which funded NPR, PBS and hundreds of local public radio and TV stations like ours for more than 50 years, said Monday that its board voted to dissolve the organization after Congress cut off federal funding.The decision formalizes plans announced last year, following Congress' move to eliminate more than $500 million in annual supportThis wasn’t unexpected. Still it’s quite a shock to all us in the public media system. The CPB is no more. Our own Jason Dole shared his thoughts about the closure of the CPB this week on The Local Edition.

Wayne County commissioners are beginning the new year with a $43.4 million balanced budget for 2026 — and it comes with no tax increase. The plan funds a three-percent wage increase for county employees and supports infrastructure, public safety, and community projects across the county.“The way we covered the three percent increase on the budget was we had additional boarding fees from boarding prisoners from other correctional facilities,” said Brian Smith, Wayne County Commissioner. “We also had some addition to our set values on newly built homes.”County leaders say growth in housing, careful spending, and new revenue sources have put the county on solid financial ground. Ongoing projects include a 24/7 crisis stabilization center in Honesdale, bridge repairs, recreational upgrades, and a new transportation hub. Commissioners emphasized that maintaining quality of life, public safety, and responsive government remains their top priority.

Local public health leaders are raising alarms after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released revised guidance that scales back routine childhood vaccinations, a move they say could confuse parents and weaken decades of disease prevention.The updated guidance reduces the number of vaccines recommended for infants and children and shifts several — including RSV, influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B — to shared decision-making between parents and clinicians.“At this point, we don’t really know what the full implications of this announcement are in general, let alone in New York,” said Dr. Eve Walter, Ulster County Public Health Director. She worries the revised guidance may unintentionally signal that vaccines are unsafe.“It suggests that these are potentially harmful, which is inaccurate,” Walter said. “That’s not ever stated in the revised guidelines, but in the mind of your average person, why wouldn’t they think that?”Walter emphasized that the vaccines affected by the changes “have been proven to be extremely safe and extremely important in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.”New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement Tuesday, “Despite changes announced at the federal level, New York State’s long-standing, childhood vaccine requirements remain the same,” “There was no new science, safety data or discovery presented by the federal government. New Yorkers can continue to be confident that vaccines offer the best protection from preventable childhood diseases.”McDonald said the changes do not affect vaccine access, insurance coverage, liability protections, or the federal Vaccines for Children program.State health officials struck a similar tone last month after a federal vaccine advisory committee voted to end the longstanding recommendation that all U.S. newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on "X" that U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was trying to "sow chaos and confusion among parents," but those changes would not affect Pennsylvania families.Risk of confusion and mistrustWalter said the CDC announcement comes at a particularly dangerous moment, as RSV, influenza and COVID are circulating at high levels.“We are in high season for RSV and influenza,” she said. “All of these diseases are ones that we are quite concerned about, especially in children who are the most vulnerable.”Threats to herd immunityWalter warned that reducing universal vaccine recommendations could erode herd immunity, particularly for diseases like measles.“We already see fear and distrust of immunizations getting into social media,” she said. “People are not getting immunized the way we really need them to.”She noted that while some parents delay measles vaccinations, school mandates have historically pushed immunization rates into the high 90 percent range.“Sadly, making this mandatory has helped tremendously in essentially eradicating so many of these diseases,” Walter said. “We’re going to lose that criteria.”Comparisons to other countries fall shortFederal officials have cited vaccine schedules in other developed nations, but Walter said those comparisons ignore major structural differences.“Denmark is tiny compared to the United States,” she said. “It has universal health care. Parents are taking their kids more regularly to get care.”In the U.S., she said, early childhood visits may be the only chance to vaccinate children from low-income or housing-insecure families.“Our whole system is very, very different here,” Walter said. “And we already have people falling through the cracks.”Local demand rising amid uncertaintyDespite the federal changes, Walter said anxiety around infectious disease is growing locally.“This week, for the first time that I’m aware of, we had so many requests that we had to expand our clinic hours,” she said. “People are very nervous.”What parents should knowWalter urged families not to make rushed decisions while state leaders evaluate the guidance.“I would ask people to hang tight,” she said. “We honestly don’t know yet what this all means. We don’t even know if this will stand.”Her bottom line message remains unchanged.“The immunizations that we have in place have absolutely been tested,” Walter said. “They are safe. They are effective. They reduce hospitalizations. They reduce death.”Parents with questions are encouraged to contact their local health departments.“Just know that you have a partner,” Walter said.

The Catskill Mountains have long been a proving ground for East Coast skiers. A new documentary, Queen of the Catskills, tells that story through one woman’s deeply personal journey into the backcountry.The film centers on Julie McGuire, a South Bronx high school English teacher who turns to the mountains after a series of traumatic events disrupt her life. What begins as a search for healing becomes a multi-year quest: McGuire aims to become the first woman to backcountry ski all 33 of the Catskills’ highest peaks — entirely alone.The documentary is directed by Jamie Kennard, a backcountry skier who followed McGuire for over three years to capture her journey. Kennard brings the film to the region this month with screenings in Hunter, New York; North Adams, Massachusetts; and Rosendale, New York.From social media to mountains“I am a backcountry skier myself, and I keep a pulse on what’s happening in the region,” Kennard said. “Back in 2022, I noticed through social media that Julie was starting to ski the high peaks. Though I didn’t know her personally, we struck up an online friendship, and I reached out about documenting her journey.”Initially, Kennard was drawn to the physical challenge rather than McGuire’s personal story. “I just wanted to make a film about a woman backcountry skiing in the Catskills,” he said. “I know from my own experience that it’s a very difficult thing.”Trauma, healing, and the mountainsOver time, the deeper motivations behind McGuire’s quest emerged. During early interviews, she chose to share her experiences with domestic abuse and the challenges she faced as a young adult.“At the very end of the interview, I asked if there was anything I hadn’t asked her about,” Kennard said. “She paused and then decided on her own to share some stories. That opened it up to telling a different version of the film.”“She wasn’t as much of a skier growing up,” Kennard said. “Some of the traumatic experiences she went through really pushed her to get back outside and embrace what she could accomplish in the outdoors.”A solo journeyMcGuire’s goal — skiing 33 peaks alone — is physically grueling and emotionally isolating. Kennard filmed several of the peaks but often kept his distance to preserve the solitude.“She’s very methodical, driven, and thoughtful,” he said. “She’s just a powerhouse out there. Sometimes there are two or three feet of snow and nobody’s broken trail. She’s quietly driven, embracing the hard work.”Some excursions lasted eight, nine, or even twelve hours. “To watch her come back and see that smile on her face — you can really see what it means to her,” Kennard said.Community and inspirationThough the journey is solitary, McGuire has inspired other skiers. “She was not only the first woman — she was only the third person ever to do it,” Kennard said. McGuire is now pursuing the 100 highest peaks in the Catskills, and Kennard says she may already be halfway there.Filming in winter brought hazards: heavy snow, equipment malfunctions, and long treks far from roads. “If your skis or snowshoes fail five or six miles out, that can become dangerous,” Kennard said.Kennard said he hopes audiences leave inspired. “It’s about healing, persistence, and finding purpose. Julie took a really tough part of her life and turned it into something she’s passionate about. She’s inspired a lot of people — not just to backcountry ski, but to get outside and see what the mountains can do for us.”More information and showtimes are available at queenofthecatskillsmovie.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn’t officially observed until January 19, but in Sullivan County, the work of honoring Dr. King’s legacy is already underway.Later this week, high school students from across the county will come together for the fifth annual MLK Day of Service Youth Summit, an event rooted in Dr. King’s call to service, leadership, and community — and intentionally held ahead of the official holiday.Hosted on the campus of SUNY Sullivan, the summit brings together 11th and 12th graders for a full day of reflection, workshops, and connection designed to help young people see themselves as leaders and changemakers.“This is crazy to me — preparing for the fifth MLK Day of Service Youth Summit,” said Amanda Langseder of Sullivan 180, one of the event’s organizers. “It really just doesn’t seem possible.”A response to disconnected youthThe summit grew out of a conversation nearly six years ago among youth-serving organizations and county departments alarmed by what Langseder called a “startling statistic” — Sullivan County’s high rate of disconnected youth.“Those of us that work with youth became upset,” she said. “How can this be? How can youth not feel like they have a sense of community, and organizations and people that care about them?”That concern sparked a collaborative effort involving groups ranging from the Youth Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension to the Boys & Girls Club and workforce development agencies.“We asked, ‘What is it that we can do to change this situation?’” Langseder said. “How could we give young people — just preparing for takeoff in life — a community hug, a community embrace?”From the beginning, the effort was tied explicitly to Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.“How do we connect young people to their community and to the idea of community service in the name of Martin Luther King Jr.?” she said.Five years in, the impact is visibleNow marking its fifth year, Langseder says the summit’s impact shows up in unexpected places — even the grocery store.“Sometimes I’m walking in the grocery store in my MLK sweatshirt and somebody will come up to me and go, ‘Hey, did you go to that thing?’” she said. “And they’ll say, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to go back to that summit.’ That makes me feel like a ball of fire.”For Langseder, that reaction reflects the power of collective effort.“No one of our organizations could have possibly pulled off, for five years strong, a Martin Luther King Day of Service Youth Summit,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about — the collective impact.”A day that feels different from schoolUnlike a typical school day or assembly, students are treated as young adults the moment they arrive on the SUNY Sullivan campus.“You arrive at the Youth Summit and instantly you’re elevated,” Langseder said. “You’re treated like the young adult that you are.”This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. John Gaines, whose message centers on finding one’s “sense of somebodyness,” a phrase often used by Dr. King.Students then break into workshops led by community organizations, all centered on Dr. King’s words.“These aren’t air quotes,” Langseder said. “They’re his words.”She pointed to one line that resonates strongly with students:“If you can’t fly, then run.If you can’t run, then walk.If you can’t walk, then crawl.But whatever you do, you just keep moving.”“Those words stick with somebody,” she said, “especially when they’re feeling like all they can do is barely crawl.”One of the most powerful moments of the day comes when students watch Dr. King’s Blueprint for Life speech.“Not a pin drop,” Langseder said. “You can’t hear anything but silence. That grainy black-and-white footage — his words are riveting, and they still ring true today.”Why the Center for Discovery keeps showing upThe Center for Discovery is the presenting sponsor of the summit, and representatives Kammi Walter and Amanda Ward say their involvement goes far beyond financial support.“When you have such a unique community like ours, when more people are involved, your impact is stronger,” Ward said.As the largest employer in Sullivan County, with about 1,800 staff, the Center sees the summit as a chance to walk alongside students.“Many of these students’ parents work for us, or they’re looking for internships with us,” Ward said. “We’re learning from them, giving them a voice, and hoping to inspire them so they realize how many opportunities are out there.”Walter added that seeing students repeatedly — at career fairs, school visits, and the summit — helps build real connections.“That community impact, that recognition, it matters,” she said.Finding “somebodyness” through serviceA central theme of the summit is helping students develop what Dr. King called a “sense of somebodyness.”“If you’re 17 or 18, preparing for graduation, trying to figure it all out, an event like this reminds you that it’s okay to struggle,” Langseder said. “And that you have organizations all around you that can help you find that sense of p

New York is experiencing its most intense flu season on record, with hospitalizations jumping 24% in a single week, according to state health officials. The spike comes as flu activity remains extremely high across the Hudson Valley and Catskills — and experts say the season hasn’t yet reached its peak.“Flu activity currently in Orange and Sullivan counties is extremely high,” said Dr. Jodi Galaydick, an epidemiologist at Garnet Health. “Just last week the state reported over 71,000 lab-confirmed flu cases in a single week, and this has been the highest number ever recorded in one week in New York.”Galaydick said this season is running well ahead of what doctors typically expect for late December and early January.“We’re running higher than what we typically run at this time of the year,” she said. “We haven’t even hit peak yet. We’re already above last year’s peak, so we’re seeing a lot more cases earlier in the season.”Why cases are rising so quicklySeveral factors are fueling the surge, Galaydick said, including increased holiday travel and gatherings, along with multiple respiratory viruses circulating at once.“We’re just seeing a lot more virus circulating in the community,” she said. “We also see more than just flu this time of the year. We’re still seeing COVID and RSV. And also this year, not as many people have received the vaccine as in years past.”While flu cases are up sharply, Galaydick said the illness itself does not appear more severe than usual.“Cases don’t seem to be more severe,” she said. “But with more cases, you’re going to have more people getting hospitalized just because of the amount of flu that’s in the community.”That increase in hospitalizations is putting pressure on local hospitals and emergency rooms.“Whenever we have any type of surge, there’s more of an influx into the hospital,” Galaydick said. “There’s delays in care. There’s waits in the emergency room because there’s not beds available.”Who is most at riskPeople at higher risk for severe flu complications remain the same groups seen in past seasons, Galaydick said.“Adults over the age of 65 or older, young children — especially under the age of 5 — pregnant people, people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, COPD, weakened immune systems, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.”She said doctors are seeing many patients who underestimated the flu this year.“People still get very sick with the flu. It’s not a simple cold,” Galaydick said. “We’re definitely seeing those people that didn’t think it was going to be a big deal getting sick with the flu.”Vaccines still matter, even with new strainsFlu activity is rising in at least 32 states, according to the CDC, partly driven by a new influenza A strain.“We are seeing the new variant H3 clade K,” Galaydick said. “The vaccine is not as effective in terms of what we have currently, but we see this year after year.”Even so, she strongly encourages vaccination.“The vaccine’s not perfect, but it’s still very important,” she said. “People who are vaccinated still see less severe outcomes with flu — less hospitalization, less illness.”It’s not too late to get vaccinated, she added.“We see flu go all the way into February and March,” Galaydick said. “We haven’t even hit our peak yet. So definitely if you’ve not received your flu vaccine this year, now is the time to get it.”Protection typically builds within about two weeks after vaccination.When to stay home — and when to seek careGalaydick urged people with mild symptoms to stay home and rest when possible.“If you’re having fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and fatigue, but you can still breathe comfortably, you can still eat and drink, you’re still alert, and you don’t have serious underlying conditions, usually it’s safe to stay at home,” she said.She advised seeking medical care for warning signs such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, bluish lips or face, dehydration, or symptoms that suddenly worsen.For children, she said parents should watch closely for breathing problems or changes in behavior.“If your children have faster labored breathing, rib pulling, flaring nostrils, any bluish lips or face, unusual confusion, not waking up, not interacting, not eating or drinking, not making wet diapers — definitely consider going to your healthcare provider,” Galaydick said.Looking aheadWith winter just getting underway, flu cases are expected to continue rising.“Usually it peaks mid-winter, and we’re just in the beginning of winter,” Galaydick said. “The flu can stay active until early spring.”Her message for the months ahead is simple. “Get your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it,” she said. “Stay home when you’re sick, mask in crowded spaces, and be proactive in taking care of yourself.”More information about flu prevention and treatment is available at Garnet Health. Garnet Health is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife landed at the National Guard base at Stewart International Airport on Saturday. The two were captured in Venezuela after President Trump’s series of U.S. airstrikes. Local protestors and lawmakers in the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions had mixed reactions. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

On New Year’s Day, when many people are easing into January with hot coffee and warm layers, hundreds of others will be running straight into icy water at Lake Wallenpaupack — by choice.The annual Lake Wallenpaupack Polar Plunge returns Jan. 1, raising money for the volunteer rescue dive teams of the Ledgedale and Tafton Fire Companies.“Lake Wallenpaupack Polar Plunge is one of our major fundraisers for both dive teams,” said Joe Sledzinski, dive captain with the Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company. “We’re a total volunteer organization. When we’re not training, we’re out there fundraising. Fundraising is probably half of the effort of the whole deal.”Lake Wallenpaupack spans about 5,700 acres and stretches roughly 12 miles long, making it the second-largest lake contained entirely within Pennsylvania. While it’s known for boating, fishing and recreation, Sledzinski said emergencies happen more often than many people realize.“We respond from A to Z,” he said. “From something as simple as somebody dropping their keys in the water to somebody overboard on a boat, which unfortunately happens way too often.”Because of the lake’s size and multiple access points, locating an emergency can be one of the biggest challenges.“When we get a call, the first thing we have to determine is where on the lake it is,” Sledzinski said. “If something happens out in the middle of the lake, please drop your anchor right where it’s at. You’ll never get us back on the spot if you don’t.”While summer brings the heaviest use, the dive teams also respond during the colder months. There are no seasonal restrictions on boating, though life jackets are required after mid-October.“Unfortunately, we’ve had calls in the middle of winter or early spring where people should have had them on and didn’t,” Sledzinski said. “When you fall in cold water, you lose your warmth 25 times quicker than you do in air. Hypothermia sets in real quick. Your strength just depletes.”The rescue dive teams are entirely volunteer-run, and the cost of maintaining equipment and training is significant. Sledzinski said outfitting a single diver can cost about $10,000.“We take that burden on ourselves,” he said. “Without the support of our local community, that just couldn’t happen. A lot of people don’t understand what they have there until it’s needed.”Organizers typically see between 400 and 700 people attend each year. For many participants, the plunge is about more than just braving the cold.“It’s like washing away everything that happened last year and starting fresh,” Sledzinski said. “This is the best baptism of water you’re ever going to get — and it’s as cold as it’s ever going to be.”Registration is available online at www.paupackpolarplunge.com or in person on the day of the event. Participants receive a complimentary T-shirt, and those who decide not to jump in after registering won’t be judged.“We won’t tell anybody,” Sledzinski said with a laugh.

Hunger remains a daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people across the Hudson Valley, even as food banks struggle to keep pace with rising costs and major federal funding cuts.More than 355,000 people are food insecure across the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s 23-county service area, according to the organization. In 2025, the food bank distributed roughly the same amount of food as the year before — an outcome leaders describe as remarkable given the loss of hundreds of truckloads of food tied to USDA and SNAP disruptions.“We had folks who really had no economic means of getting more food, and the food bank had to step up,” said Barry Lewis, spokesperson for the Regional Food Bank, in an interview with WJFF Radio. “Through the generosity of donors and community partners, we were able to attempt to offset as best as we can a lot of those cuts.”Food insecurity rising post-pandemicLewis said food insecurity was already increasing before federal cuts took effect, particularly in the Hudson Valley following the pandemic.“We saw an increase in food insecurity just as the year began,” he said. “In the Hudson Valley alone, we were looking at about an 8% increase.”In Sullivan County, Lewis noted, one in five children is now considered food insecure.“That was before SNAP cuts and the shutdown,” he said. “Then suddenly, in the last three months, people had no safety net.”Across the full service area, Lewis said more than $59 million in monthly SNAP benefits were withheld, representing the loss of roughly 36 million pounds of food per month.“No food bank would be able to offset that type of cut,” he said. “To put it in perspective, we distribute about 54 million pounds of food in an entire year.”Community response fills some gapsLewis said the crisis led to a broader public understanding of how SNAP works — and how quickly families can fall into need.“We saw married couples, both working, but finding that the cost of food, utilities and health care were all rising,” he said. “They were turning to food pantries for the first time in their lives.”The response from the community, he added, was overwhelming.“It was tremendous to see the outpouring of support this past year,” Lewis said. “People realized their friends, neighbors and family members were being affected, through nothing of their own doing.”New Montgomery facility expands capacityOne of the most significant developments in 2025 was the opening of the food bank’s $25 million, 50,000-square-foot facility in Montgomery, which Lewis said transformed operations.“Our previous site didn’t have the storage capacity,” he said. “Food spent more time on trucks and less time in coolers.”The new facility allows the food bank to store more fresh food, work with additional regional farmers, and distribute healthier options.“We can provide more fresh fruits and vegetables, more shelf-stable meals, and we can give more to the community,” Lewis said.He pointed to a recent example through the food bank’s “Shop the Dock” program.“Just yesterday alone, ShopRite gave us $95,000 in additional inventory,” he said. “Our partners can take whatever fresh food they need, free. That simply wasn’t possible before.”Volunteers power the missionThe food bank relies on nearly 29,000 volunteers, who contributed more than 72,000 hours of service in 2025.“If it wasn’t for the volunteers, we’d have to hire more than two dozen full-time staff,” Lewis said.He said volunteers come from all walks of life — including businesses, banks, schools, hospitals and civic groups.“We’re seeing CEOs volunteering alongside their employees,” he said. “Schools are bringing in senior classes, and students get a real understanding of the need in their own communities.”Looking ahead to 2026As the food bank prepares for 2026, Lewis said the biggest concern remains the potential for additional federal disruptions. A continuing resolution that prevented a government shutdown in 2025 is set to expire Jan. 30, 2026.“We’re hopeful lawmakers come to an agreement,” Lewis said. “Hunger doesn’t look at political party, religion, age or skin color. It affects everyone.”Despite the challenges, Lewis said the organization plans to expand programs, including backpack food initiatives, food-as-medicine partnerships with hospitals, and large-scale holiday distributions.In 2025, the food bank delivered a record 115,000 Thanksgiving meals to 25,000 people, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers.“Our CEO has pledged we’ll increase that in 2026,” Lewis said.How to helpLewis said monetary donations remain the most effective way to support hunger relief.“For every dollar donated, we can provide about four meals,” he said.Volunteers are also needed, and community members can find local pantries and programs through the food bank’s website.“All that information is available online,” Lewis said. “Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or helping a local pantry, there are many ways to make a difference.”More information an

A late, record-breaking state budget, emotional battles over medical aid in dying and a historic New York City mayoral election defined a turbulent year in New York politics. From the New York Public News Network, WMHT’s Shantel Destra takes a closer look at the headlines that shaped 2025 and is joined by POLITICO’s Katelyn Cordero, Bloomberg’s Raga Justin, and Jimmy Vielkind of WNYC, Gothamist, and the New York Public News Network.

Pennsylvania’s elections in 2025 were marked more by administrative challenges than by disputes over results, according to Carter Walker, reporter for VoteBeat PA and Spotlight PA.Luzerne County, which gained national attention in 2022 after running out of ballot paper in multiple precincts, continued to face operational issues. Walker said the county has stabilized under an election director with several years of experience, but minor errors persist.“About a third of the precincts in the county had ran out of the ballot paper that they needed to run their elections,” Walker said. “It was a real big debacle…we just had so much turnover in this department that nobody really knew what the right steps were to take.”Despite these challenges, he stressed that election outcomes were not affected. “The good news is the county is detecting these things and is making sure they don't impact the outcome of the election,” Walker said, citing a case in which 31 male voters were mistakenly issued a second ballot, which was canceled to prevent double voting.Structural complexities also complicate operations in Luzerne. Its home-rule government splits oversight between the county council and the elections board. “It seems pretty intuitive that it would make it more difficult for the people leading that office to deal with,” Walker said.Chester County faced its own difficulties. Misprinted poll books left roughly 75,000 independent or third-party voters initially unable to access regular ballots, forcing many to use provisional ballots or wait until supplemental lists were available. High staff turnover contributed to these problems.“The more turnover in general, the more problems you have,” Walker said. “If you lose people who know what it is that they're doing, you lose that institutional knowledge and then it just makes errors more…prevalent.”Walker also noted the lingering impact of 2020-era election distrust. “There is some faction…readily primed to believe there is manipulation going on in our elections or to distrust election administration in general,” he said.Still, he remains confident in Pennsylvania’s election officials. “Election administrators are going to continue to do the job and do it well, barring the occasional human error that pops up. I’m not concerned that election administrators are going to have to start helping steal elections,” he said.For Walker, the bigger challenge is public trust. “It’s hard to trust the process you’re not really seeing, and I worry more about if that trust deteriorates, what happens then,” he said.

Eldred Junior-Senior High School and GRM Elementary are turning the Super Bowl into a chance to give back. The schools are collecting canned goods in a friendly competition running through Feb. 5.“So, Eldred's always done like some sort of food drive — like we just finished one for Thanksgiving — and we decided we need something else to get back for like the winter months,” said Tabitha Smith, one of the student organizers.Marissa Guachnauer said the friendly rivalry encourages more participation. “It gives more of like an incentive to kids and their families and like the community to give back because they have like they feel the pride of winning like the competition.”The goal is simple: help anyone in need. “We really just want to help like solve anyone's like hunger or issues that they have,” Guachnauer said.Donations can be dropped off at schools or school events like concerts and sports games. The drive has already seen a strong start — about 30 cans were collected at a recent basketball game.The students hope the project inspires more community service across the county. “Hopefully, like people want to get more involved with community service by like knowing how much they're helping people with this,” Guachnauer said.For Smith and Guachnauer, giving back comes from personal experience. “I've participated in different like community service events prior to this and I feel like some sort of like joy that comes out of it to giving back,” Smith said.

New York’s newly adopted energy plan risks locking residents into higher energy bills and prolonged fossil fuel dependence at a time of rising costs and worsening climate impacts, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.The environmental group says the plan fails to prioritize the most affordable and proven solutions — energy efficiency, renewable power and electrification — and instead leaves the door open to new fossil fuel investments that could drive volatile prices for decades.“At a time when New Yorkers are facing higher bills and growing reliability and health risks, this plan fails to lean into the most of solutions available like energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean technologies that enable electrification of end uses,” said Chris Casey, utility regulatory director for New York at NRDC.“Most concerning is that the plan opens the door to increased fossil dependence and other high-cost, speculative approaches,” he said. “That risks locking New Yorkers into higher and more volatile energy costs potentially for decades to come.”State officials have defended the plan as an “all of the above” energy strategy that includes continued reliance on natural gas to ensure reliability. Casey said that framing often serves as a rationale for long-term fossil fuel infrastructure that consumers ultimately pay for.“In reality, what we see is that ‘all of the above’ is often just a door for opening continued fossil dependence,” he said. “Those investments have to be paid off over many decades, often longer than they’ll actually be used. It sets us up for stranded costs and higher rates.”Casey also disputed claims that additional fossil fuel infrastructure is needed to keep the lights on.“New York already has one of the most reliable systems in the entire country,” he said. “A lot of this reliability talk is flag-waving to justify certain investments.”While energy bills are only one part of broader affordability pressures, Casey said the plan could worsen long-term costs by steering the state away from the cheapest energy pathway.“Study after study shows the lowest-cost, highest-value system is one that leans into renewable energy, electrification, energy efficiency and flexible demand,” he said. “The more we delay that transition, the more we lock ourselves into a higher-cost, more unstable future.”Beyond cost, Casey warned that continued fossil fuel use will harm public health.“It means dirtier air and continued climate change,” he said. “There are increased hospitalizations and deaths because people are breathing dirty air, and we can make a huge difference by electrifying transportation, buildings and power generation.”NRDC is urging New York to move forward with a cap-and-invest program that would put a price on carbon pollution and return revenue to households through bill credits while funding clean energy projects.“Cap and invest puts a price on pollution and uses that revenue to lower electricity bills and invest in a cleaner, safer energy system,” Casey said. “It also sends economic signals that align everyday decisions with what delivers the most value to society.”The debate unfolds as federal policy shifts threaten renewable energy development, including a recent move by the Trump administration to pause offshore wind leases. Casey said New York’s plan misses a chance to protect residents from those rollbacks.“In many ways it’s capitulating to federal policymakers whose actions are making everything more expensive,” he said, citing trade and tariff policies he said are driving up energy and infrastructure costs.Although the plan has been adopted, Casey said it leaves wide discretion to regulators and state agencies — and room for public pressure.“We need people to make clear that they want a healthy and affordable future powered by clean energy,” he said. “That means speaking up to lawmakers, regulators and the Public Service Commission.”Looking ahead to 2026, Casey said attention should focus on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s response to a court ruling that found the state violated its climate law by failing to implement required regulations, as well as her decision to pause cap-and-invest.“We should be holding her accountable to put New York on the best path forward,” he said.

Hannah Bonaguro isn’t entirely sold on the phrase people use most often to describe her shop.“I’m not sure why everyone calls it a hidden gem,” she said. “I’m like, it’s not hidden. But I guess it’s a little bit off the beaten path.”That distinction hasn’t stopped people from finding All Sorts — a vintage shop, cafe and pop-up food space in downtown Hancock — largely through social media and online searches. This month, the business celebrates its third anniversary.“Instagram has definitely — that is, I think, how we’re in business,” Bonaguro said. “People discovering us online. Even Brooklyn customers and clients who have houses up here or vacation up here have kind of followed along with our journey. I just think it’s guiding them in the door.”At the same time, Bonaguro said, some of the people closest to home are still surprised the shop exists at all.“A lot of people don’t even know that I’m here,” she said. “I’ll meet people that work in town that didn’t even know there was a coffee shop in town. I find that kind of confusing.”All Sorts, located at 169 East Front St., opened in December 2022 as a shop focused on vintage items and provisions. Since then, it has expanded to include coffee, baked goods, cakes and an evolving slate of food pop-ups and occasional dinner service.Bonaguro grew up in northern New Jersey and attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock in the Berkshires. After graduating, she spent about 15 years in New York City working as a barista and cafe manager, often in vintage stores, and hosting a Sunday night vegetarian supper club.During the pandemic, she opened Your Other Left Ear, a project space-turned-retail shop in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.“So we opened a pop-up, and it was primarily vintage,” she said. “There was no food component at all.”That shop ran for about three years, overlapping with the opening of All Sorts.“During that time, we opened All Sorts and kind of added another state outpost,” Bonaguro said. “Then we added the cafe stuff back in.”The result, she said, was a full circle moment.“I kind of went from food industry, to retail, and then back to retail and hospitality and food again,” she said.For a period, Bonaguro traveled back and forth between the city and Hancock, working in Brooklyn during the week and running All Sorts on weekends.“For a while there was overlap, and I was back and forth trying to get this going on the weekends and working in the city all week,” she said.Eventually, the Catskills operation demanded more attention.“When we opened, we didn’t know it would be such a food place,” she said. “It just became clear that that’s what was needed, and I would need to be here more days than just Friday through Sunday.”She phased out the Brooklyn shop and merged its following and website into All Sorts. The shop hosted its first pop-up in May 2023 with weekend pizza service. Since then, All Sorts has collaborated with a range of chefs, including Outer Space — an Iranian-inspired pop-up kitchen — and the Casa Masa Project, led by Bethel resident Mercedes Goliat.Goliat hosted a Fourth of July weekend pop-up at All Sorts this summer.“I had been to All Sorts before as a customer, and I found that place super charming,” Goliat said. “It feels like a living room. You’re surrounded by art and cookbooks and baked goods, and Hannah’s personality is super warm and cozy.”She said the partnership worked because of shared values.“Hannah and I share the same ethos — slow, local, handmade, reuse, recycle,” Goliat said. “I was immediately in love with all the farmers that she sources food from. It was just a really natural collaboration.”Looking ahead, Bonaguro hopes to apply for a beer and liquor license and expand regular dinner service.“It’s something I’ve been interested in from the start,” she said. “But without the infrastructure — staff, a fully built-out kitchen — it’s just been me building it slowly.”Now, three years in, she said the timing feels right.“I don’t want to just serve what I serve at the cafe during the day at night,” Bonaguro said. “I want to take it to the next level and become a dinner spot. I didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew.”Outside the shop, Bonaguro recently appeared as an extra in Marty Supreme, a film shot locally and scheduled for release on Christmas Day. She also helped casting directors recruit residents from Hancock.All Sorts, she said, will continue to evolve — but always at its own pace.“I think in the new year this is what we’re going to try to do,” she said. “Yeah, that’s new news. Cat’s out of the bag.”

After weeks of back and forth amongst lawmakers and two public hearings pushing back on a proposed tax hike, Sullivan County legislators have approved its 2026 county budget. Legislators voted 5-3 on Dec. 18 to adopt a spending plan that raises property taxes by two percent and relies on ambitious revenue projections. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar shares this update.

Murals, video production, and knitted hats are just a few of the creative projects Monticello Central School District youth are working on at the school’s ENGN program. ENGN is a local educational nonprofit based in Callicoon that helps young people use art, place, and connection to build communication and interpersonal skills.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar attended ENGN’s student art showcase at the Monticello High School yesterday and brings us this report.

The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance is putting out a big call to artists — both right now and far into the future.The regional arts nonprofit has opened two calls for entries: a February members exhibition titled Let It All Out and its main exhibition program for 2027. Together, the opportunities invite artists to respond to the emotional weight of the present moment while also imagining ambitious projects years ahead.The more immediate opportunity is Let It All Out, a members exhibition opening in February 2026. The show centers on emotional honesty, vulnerability and collective reflection.“For a 2026 members exhibition, Let It All Out, DVA invites visual artists, writers and performers to share their emotions about the year ahead,” said Tanner Simon, gallery manager at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance. “Whether you are feeling frustrated, anxiety, hope, or desire about the coming days — let’s reach deep into our bowels and share what we’re feeling.”The exhibition draws inspiration from psychoanalytic themes and self-examination.“We’re kind of referencing Freudian-inspired therapy,” Simon said. “We want to dig deep into our own histories and our emotions and subconscious thoughts.”Simon said the show responds to a broader sense of unease many people are experiencing.“There’s a lot of anxiety and apprehension going on right now, and we need to be able to talk about it and make art about it and be audible and be seen,” he said.All media welcome — visual, performance and literary artsThe Let It All Out call is intentionally broad. Painters, sculptors, writers and performers are all encouraged to apply.“I’d love to see all visual artists — painters, sculptors — performing artists, maybe a visual arts performance that happens once,” Simon said. “Writers too. If there’s a reading or a collaboration, I’m really open to any proposal.”Artists are asked to submit a short artist statement, a brief explanation of how their work connects to the theme, and three images.“Most art expresses inward feelings whether we think it does or not,” Simon said. “Even a realist landscape — why are you making those decisions in the painting?”The submission deadline for Let It All Out is Jan. 6, with artists notified shortly after. The exhibition opens in February.Call for 2027 exhibitions now openArtists ready to think bigger — and further ahead — can also apply for the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance’s 2027 main exhibition program, with submissions due Jan. 31.“This past year we had 10 solo exhibitions and a two-person show, on top of our members show and Art & Sixes,” Simon said. “This call is special because you can apply for a solo show, a two-person show, a three-person show or a full group exhibition.”Curators are welcome to apply as well.“You could be a curator who already has a group of artists in mind,” Simon said. “It’s all fair game.”Selections are made by a panel of artists, arts administrators and community members, rather than a single curator.“We’re not just focused on one place,” Simon said. “We’ve had artists from Sullivan County, Ulster County, Pennsylvania, New York City — really the whole Northeast region.”While artists from anywhere may apply, Simon said the focus remains on work that connects to the region.“We want the exhibition to relate in some way to the community values here or be in dialogue with them,” he said.Artists will be notified of 2027 selections by late spring or early summer.More information at delawarevalleyartsalliance.org

Food pantries are usually bracing for shortages. The Highland Lions Club is facing the opposite problem: too much food and not enough visitors.The Lions Club opened its new community food pantry in late summer, and donations poured in almost immediately. Shelves are full. Supplies are steady. But organizers say many residents who could benefit either don’t know the pantry exists or may feel hesitant about asking for help.“We built the pantry in August. It was ready to open and do business in September,” said Greg Hatton of the Highland Lions Club. “We got an immediate response from a very generous public — the townspeople of Highland.”The pantry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is meant for anyone in need, no questions asked. It is located at 219 Airport Road, built into the side wall of the Yulan Post Office.But its location may be part of the challenge.“We’re a little bit off the beaten path,” Hatton said. “We’re not — there’s not lots of flags up.”Other food pantries in the area sit along Route 97 or near Town Hall in Eldred and have been established longer. As a result, Hatton said, the Lions Club pantry has struggled to get food “out the door.”“If food’s not going out, the pump is not working and it will jam up,” he said.Rethinking what people actually needEarly donations leaned heavily toward canned goods and cooking staples — pasta, rice and ingredients for home-cooked meals. But Hatton soon noticed a pattern.“The only thing that was going out was the prepared sauce,” he said. “That was a big light bulb going off.”Many pantry users, he realized, may not have kitchens at all.“They may be living in an SRO, they might be living in their car,” Hatton said. “They may not have propane or electric.”After sharing that insight with donors, the food changed — and so did the impact.The pantry began receiving shelf-stable, ready-to-eat items: tuna in foil packs, ramen noodles, protein shakes and fully cooked beans in cartons that can be eaten without heating.“These are things I’d never seen before,” Hatton said. “The community responded in really creative ways.”One anonymous donor even assembled a complete holiday meal.“It’s a full chicken dinner — stuffing, turkey breast, green beans, gravy, mashed potatoes,” Hatton said. “Remarkable. Kudos to whoever you are.”More than food on the shelvesThe pantry has also received pet food, cat litter and small Christmas gifts — hand-knit bags and decorated picture frames — offering dignity and care beyond basic nutrition.“It kind of gets to the heart of it,” Hatton said.Despite the abundance, Hatton said outreach remains the biggest hurdle.“Curiously, when you research food pantries, there’s lots of information about balanced meals and calories,” he said. “But there’s nothing about outreach — how to reach people who are in need.”That’s why he’s asking the community for help spreading the word.How to find the pantryThe Highland Lions Club Food Pantry is located at 219 Airport Road in Barryville and is open 24/7. More information is available through the Highland Lions Club Facebook page.Hatton sums up the mission with a simple phrase.“Let there be food for all,” he said.

Assembly Member Paula Kay is asking residents to give the gift of life this holiday season, sharing a deeply personal story that inspired her own commitment to blood donation."December 22nd happens to be my father's birthday. He passed in 2019," Kay said. "When he was in the hospital before we brought him home on hospice, the day I found out the really, really bad news about him, there was a New York blood donor drive going on right outside the hospital. I was feeling like there was nothing I could do for my dad, and I walked outside. I said, 'Maybe I can do something else,' so I gave blood."Kay said the experience offered a sense of purpose during a difficult moment. "I felt like I couldn't do anything directly for my father that day, but maybe I could help some other people and other families in need."She emphasized why donations are particularly critical during the holiday season. "There may be more accidents, hospitals may be fuller than normal, and it’s important that we have enough blood to cover whatever could happen so our medical professionals can do their jobs."For first-time donors, Kay shared what to expect. "You walk in and see friendly, smiling faces. You sit in a chair, get snacks, something to drink, and because it’s cold, we’re giving out hats and gloves. It’s a great way to get a sense of community. In that hour, you’re helping people and can walk out knowing you’ve done something really good for your community."Kay said her personal experience is a reminder that small acts can make a meaningful difference. "Sometimes in life, you can’t fix everything, but you can help others. Giving blood is one way to do that."Reflecting on the season and the recent mass shootings across the world , Kay encouraged residents to embrace kindness and community. "All year I’ve talked about kindness. As we head into the holidays, it should be a special time with family and friends. I would encourage everyone—Jewish, non-Jewish, any community member—to go to a local menorah lighting. It’s a sense of community, a reminder of the light, coming out of darkness."The blood drive will be held Monday, Dec. 22, from 1–7 p.m. at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello, NY. Donors can register at nybc.org using code 71078.

Winter weather can be tough on people, but it can be dangerous for pets, too. Cold temperatures, road salt and antifreeze all pose risks, especially for puppies, senior pets and short-haired breeds.“When it comes to snow and the things that you might encounter outdoors, that obviously includes snow, ice and salt that we use all the time,” said Dr. Aleksandra Ascione of Milford Animal Hospital, an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice serving the Northern Poconos. “So their paws are constantly at risk for injuries, and just from being exposed to all those things they can crack and cause issues.”Ascione said one of the simplest ways to protect dogs in winter is also one many pets dislike.“There are very simple things that you can try doing, like putting booties on your dog’s paws,” she said. “They might hate it, but it will keep them protected.”She also recommends paw balms and creams to keep pads moisturized and prevent cracking, as well as wiping paws after pets come inside.Cold weather can be especially hard on puppies, senior animals and short-haired breeds. While many people assume fur is enough, Ascione said that is not always the case.“Not necessarily, because when it comes to the tiny little ones, the young ones and the older ones, the way that they regulate their body temperatures might not be as efficient,” she said. “We don’t want to overexpose them to low temperatures.”She added that sweaters or jackets can help, but moderation is key.“A little bit of playtime in the snow is absolutely lovely, but we want to make sure they are not actually shaking from how cold it is outside,” Ascione said.How long is too long outdoors depends on the individual animal.“Absolutely, it changes based on age, breed, and also every pet is different,” she said. “Personally, my own dog will get the zoomies for about five minutes and then she starts to shake. So the moment that I see that we’re starting to get cold, we go back inside immediately.”Road salt and chemicals present another winter hazard, particularly antifreeze.“Antifreeze is a big one,” Ascione said. “That is something that is very dangerous to pets. Antifreeze has a sweet taste to it, so it can make it that much more attractive to pets — they don’t know better.”If a pet is exposed, she stressed urgency.“In case your pet ever is exposed to antifreeze, don’t wait,” Ascione said. “Just make sure that you get your pet to an emergency place ASAP.”Cat owners should also be cautious during cold weather. Ascione warned that cats sometimes seek warmth under vehicle hoods.“It’s important to check before you start your car,” she said.Knowing when to seek veterinary care can be challenging, but Ascione said pet owners should trust their instincts.“You know your pet the best,” she said. “If you start picking up on anything that is just not quite right, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”She suggested keeping recent cold exposure in mind.“Have that in the back of your head that, ‘Hey, we have been outside for a little bit long,’” Ascione said. “If there’s anything that worries you, just reach out to us and give us a phone call.”Even indoor pets may need adjustments during winter, particularly when activity levels drop.“Diet can be a big thing,” Ascione said. “If they don’t really go outside as much as they would in the warm season, we might want to make sure that they are not gaining weight too much.”As the holiday season approaches, Ascione offered one more reminder for pet owners.“Things we don’t really see as a threat during Christmas time can actually become a threat to pets,” she said, citing ornaments, sweets, tinsel, ribbons and Christmas lights. “If your pet is curious enough, they can turn anything into a potential threat.”

Governor Kathy Hochul has until midnight on Dec. 19 to sign or veto the Local Input in Community Healthcare Act, or LICH Act, legislation aimed at giving communities more notice and input when hospitals plan to close. The bill passed the state legislature for the second year in a row.“[The LICH Act] would require ample advance notice to the public if a hospital wants to close. It would also require much greater engagement of the community that would be affected by a closure. And it would strengthen the state review process to better protect patients,” said health policy consultant Lois Uttley.Hospitals at Financial RiskUttley said looming federal cuts and rising costs put many hospitals in jeopardy.“Unfortunately, federal cuts to healthcare funding are looming and they are threatening the financial viability, frankly, of many new hospitals. Rural hospitals, such as those in the Catskills and urban safety net hospitals are considered to be especially at risk. So that's why we need much stronger state oversight and community engagement to protect patients' access to care when their hospitals are proposing to downsize or even close entirely,” she said.Uttley added, “That's not surprising. Many, many rural hospitals all across the country and also here in New York are already financially at risk. And once the provisions of the so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill,'which I would call the 'Big Ugly Bill,' go into effect, hospitals are going to be losing a lot of money. The bill cuts 900 billion dollars from Medicaid funding over the course of maybe 10 years. It also eliminates the enhanced subsidies that people have been getting for health insurance plans that they purchase through the Affordable Care Act plans like the New York Exchange. The result of all this is going to be that more people will be showing up at hospitals with no insurance or really inadequate insurance and that will mean that hospitals will be, you know, having to care for people without proper reimbursement. Their costs for charity care and their so-called bad debt costs will be going up and up.” How the LICH Act Would WorkHospitals would need to submit a Certificate of Need application before closing or downsizing. “That would trigger two important requirements. There would have to be an independent assessment of how medically vulnerable local residents would be affected and what steps should be taken to mitigate that impact? And second, the proposed closure would have to undergo public review by experts serving on the State Public Health and Health Planning Council and at a meeting where affected patients could testify,” Uttley said.Call for ActionAdvocates are urging New Yorkers to contact the governor before the Dec. 19 deadline.“We are very concerned that she's going to once again veto the LICH Act and say, 'Well, look, I just had my Department of Health update its hospital closure procedures.' We don't think those closure procedures are anywhere near what's needed to really protect New Yorkers who could lose their hospitals. So, we're encouraging concerned New Yorkers to call the governor's office at 518-474-8390 and tell her that we need her to better protect New York's patients,” Uttley said.

In 2025, American Red Cross volunteers in Eastern New York answered more than 700 disasters, from home fires to severe storms, and provided over $1 million in direct financial assistance to help neighbors recover.Blood and platelet donors also contributed more than 110,000 life-saving donations, while volunteers deployed nationwide to support communities affected by disasters.John Vale, executive director of the American Red Cross in Eastern New York, described the scope of the organization’s work: “When I look to the work of the Red Cross, you really see it every day. I think it starts with maybe one of the most basic services we provide, which is being the primary provider to our hospitals here in New York State for blood products. So, in addition to those life-saving blood products, we also mobilize relief to families affected by disasters that includes home fires here in our Eastern New York region. We also train individuals in life-saving skills and services. And then also, last month, of course, we celebrated our veterans. So, the Red Cross is also a proud supporter of our veteran U.S. military personnel, also our active military families. By being a part of Red Cross, you can feel incredibly good, just supporting your communities and across the country.”Vale noted that the holidays bring heightened risks. “During the holidays, we see across the country a 20% increase in our disaster responses. We understand our families, there’s increased risks, that includes cooking and heating sources. During a typical November and December here in our Eastern New York region, we assist nearly about 500 people that are affected by fires, storms, and other disasters. It’s an ongoing scope of operation for us, and we’re incredibly thankful to our teams of volunteers and our donors that allow us to carry out this work at a local level.”He also stressed the importance of blood donations. “Just like disasters, the need for blood is constant. It’s incredible to see that showing the support. You had mentioned 110,000 local blood and platelet donations. If you went out there and you donate, that’s about three units could help save three individuals. These are patients that rely on that consistent blood supply to survive and heal. Blood on the shelves is the way we can make sure we help people local, but again that blood really through our networks, it could be used to support individuals. I think my last donation made its way up to Albany, so it’s really incredible to see my blood just getting out there to help someone in need.”Vale emphasized the continued need for donations during the holiday season. “We do see that dip. If you’re healthy and eligible to donate, now is the time of giving. December is the national month of giving. Your donation can really bring hope and healing this holiday season. Disasters don’t take holidays, and neither do our volunteers.”He also praised volunteers’ dedication. “These are our neighbors, typically. It takes a tremendous emotional impact on us, but our team members take a lot of pride in getting out there and really helping their neighbors heal after a tremendous event like a home fire or another disaster. There’s no shortage. We are always calling upon new volunteers to come out and join us. Joining us has actually never been easier. We’ve really worked towards making our volunteer registration and application process a lot simpler.”Volunteers can explore opportunities ranging from disaster response and blood drives to supporting veterans and military families. Interested individuals can email [email protected] or visit redcross.org/volunteer.Looking ahead, Vale said, “Every year it seems to be another new year. You hear that word is unprecedented disaster seasons. We continue to train and prepare ourselves locally. Our volunteers do go out and support disasters across the country. Earlier this year, we had volunteers going to Alaska, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. By being part of this Red Cross movement, it’s really quite powerful. We had a volunteer that just returned from responding to the Alaska typhoons a couple of weeks ago. Here in New York State, you can have such an incredible impact, especially helping others.”

A casual conversation in a small Catskills café has led to a holiday jazz collaboration at The Parlor in Narrowsburg this weekend. Local group The Treble Makers will perform with Broadway standout Margo Seibert, turning familiar tunes—and a few surprises—into intimate jazz arrangements.Seibert recalls how it all began. “I was in Calicoon visiting the Naven Koken, a little Scandinavian and German café, which is RIP no longer, but they’re doing pop-ups now, and met the owner,” she said. “She was talking to me about her husband. He had a little jazz set and he was looking for a singer, and I was chatting with her about the fact that I am a singer and a performer and looking for more opportunities to perform locally here. And so she connected me with her husband.”Their first meeting took place at Two Queens in Narrowsburg. “We were talking about, you know, what venue do we think…who might be interested in this kind of music, and Susan Mendoza overheard us at Two Queens,” Seibert said. “She was like, ‘Did you say venue?’ And immediately said, ‘Follow me,’ and walked us downstairs to The Parlor…why don’t you give it a try here.”From a simple town chat came “this really kind of organic meeting of the minds,” Seibert said. “So we’re excited to play together. That’s what it’s all about. Like, you just coming together organically like that.”The setlist mixes classics and unexpected choices from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. “We just kind of get together and play through the chart and see what we can do to make it ours,” Seibert said.

President Donald Trump returned to Northeast Pennsylvania on Tuesday, rallying supporters at a casino and resort in Mount Pocono with a message centered on the economy — even as protesters challenged his claims and called the visit out of touch.Inside, Trump insisted inflation is “no longer a problem” and accused Democrats of turning affordability into a political “hoax.” His remarks frequently drifted toward familiar grievances and revived first-term immigration rhetoric.Outside, the tone was sharply different.“The protest we were at was organized … outside a ShopRite that was along the path of the motorcade,” said Liam Mayo of the River Reporter. “There were between 50 and 100 people I’d say … and the people we asked for their thoughts on Trump coming to speak about affordability considered it a little bit ludicrous, saying like generally he didn’t really know about affordability or painting him as out of touch.”Many demonstrators pointed to the irony of the former president delivering an affordability-themed speech at a casino.Among those protesting was Pike County resident Isabelle Hodkin Smith, who has helped organize demonstrations in Milford since April. She criticized both Trump and Rep. Rob Bresnahan, the Republican representing Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District.“It’s pure BS,” she said. “Essentially he doesn’t care about affordability. He’s here to try to get Bresnahan re-elected, who has done absolutely nothing except hurt the county. And he knows that Paige Cognetti is a much better candidate and so he's starting here and trying to hurt as much as he can in Pennsylvania.” Cognetti, the Mayor of Scranton, is challenging Bresnahan in the 2026 midterms.Wayne County resident Julie Pease also voiced frustration, citing economic strain and what she described as the fallout from Trump-era tariffs.Pease said the price pressures are obvious. “Everything is more expensive now,” she said. “If you just go to the grocery store then you feel the impact of inflation, of the affordability crisis we’re in.”She also pointed to what she said were the tariff impacts on her brother’s steel manufacturing business.“And these tariffs have killed a lot of business,” she said. “My brother is an independent and he is in the steel manufacturing industry. His business is dead because he did a lot of business overseas and now with the tariffs, they're not buying.”Inside the venue, the Scranton Times-Tribune reported a packed crowd.

Singer-songwriter Jesse Terry will join Craig Bickhardt, Hallie Neal, and Sam Robbins for Songs, Stories and Sleigh Bells, a festive holiday concert at The Arts Nest this Sunday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m. Terry, an award-winning songwriter known for his heartfelt performances, said the holiday shows hold a special meaning.“They’re a little more intimate,” he said. “Because I only get to do a few weeks of this every year, it feels extra special to be part of someone else’s holiday tradition and holiday season.”Performing with friends and longtime collaborators adds to the experience.“Oh yeah, well that’s like a few of my best friends,” Terry said. “Craig is like a mentor, a father figure and legendary songwriter. Sam is an old friend I’ve toured with, and Hallie has sung all the harmonies on my last record. It’s fantastic to have all of them there.”Terry’s love for holiday music stems from its timeless melodies and personal significance.“I’ve always loved Christmas songs — some of the most beautiful songs ever written, with incredible melodies and changes,” he said. “I’ve got two young kids, so the season feels extra special. During COVID, a fan offered to fund a double holiday album, which gave me the motivation to start this yearly tradition.”Beyond performing, Terry teaches as interim director of the Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneur Development (CMED) program at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, drawing inspiration from his students.“I’m always getting input from students about what matters to them and how they prepare for careers,” he said. “I’m learning a ton — things I wish I learned in college.”One holiday song that evolves for him every year is O Little Town of Bethlehem.“For me, it paints a beautiful picture,” he said. “The harmony and imagery are so strong. I love coming back to it every year.”

Get ready to deck the halls with laughter. "Vickie and Nickie, the alter egos of sisters Lisa and Lori Brigantino, are returning to The Muse in Rosendale for a festive holiday show this Thursday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m.“We just happen to get away enough time from our husbands and our kids to get on the road because we're musicians, but we do it in our spare time… We're going to be doing a show that's about, oh, I don't know, 75 minutes to a half an hour and a half long. We do your favorite holiday songs, your standards and classic holiday songs with a little twist to them, and then we do some original holiday songs and then we do some pop songs,” Lisa, who plays "Nickie" said.Hailing from Hibbing, Minnesota, "Vicky and Nickie" have been keeping fans coming back for more for over 20 years. “We started it around 2002,” Lisa said. “We had been doing singer-songwriter stuff since we could make sound growing up and playing instruments together.”Their iconic characters were born out of a creative mash-up of theater, music, and comedy. “We were just like, ‘God, that would be fun to play characters and do music playing the character,’” Lori said.Lisa added, “I have an acting background. I did off-Broadway and independent films. And Lisa just happens to be, aside from being a phenomenal musician, a natural comedian.”