Radio Chatskill

Winter is wrapping up, but many energy customers are still left with having to pay high electricity bills from this past season. Some lawmakers argue it’s because the companies are privately owned, but what would it look like if your local utility company were publicly owned? Introduced by District 103 Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha and New York Senator Michelle Hinchey, the Hudson Valley Power...

Just as the Beginner Farmer Program was gaining momentum—entering its second year of a five-year initiative under the USDA's American Rescue Plan—unexpected federal action from the Trump administration brought it all to a halt.  The program, which pairs experienced farmers with young, aspiring growers for hands-on training and support, suddenly had its funding frozen. That left Cornell Cooperative...

The natural beauty of the Catskills has inspired artists, writers and even architects. It has also inspired scientists.  Robert and Johanna Titus are retired professors of geology and biology who have written many books and articles about the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Valley.  The Tituses most recent book The Hudson River Schools of Art and their Ice Age Origins explains how an enormous ice sh...

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the original site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, is constantly working to preserve the magic of that muddy August weekend full of peace, love & music. Earlier this month, that work was highlighted on The Kelly Clarkson Show . Bethel Woods Museum Director, Dr. Neal Hitch, joined Kelly Clarkson on Tuesday, April 8, to talk all things Message Tree, the Museum's...

In the quiet woods of the Lacawac Sanctuary in Lake Ariel Pennsylvania, a powerful initiative is giving veterans and their families a place to breathe, reflect, and heal. The At Ease Veterans Program is transforming the way the military community accesses mental health support—through nature, creativity, and connection. 

For some families, putting healthy food on the table has never felt more challenging. Earlier this month, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said the Trump administration’s decision to cut $1 billion in federal funding allocated for food banks to purchase food for schools and child care centers will hurt struggling New Yorkers. Demand for emergency food is also up by 30%, according to local food pantry pr...

Tops Friendly Markets is expanding its footprint in the Hudson Valley with the opening of a brand-new location in Ellenville, NY. The supermarket chain will invest $2 million in extensive renovations at the site of a former ShopRite, transforming the 46,750 square-foot space into a modern and customer-focused shopping destination. Set to open in mid-June 2025, the new store will include a complete...

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has signed a law granting tax incentives for residents who build an accessory dwelling unit on their property, but not without reservations. She wants to amend the law. Metzger, a Democrat, says the law grants county residents a real property tax exemption on the portion of their increased property value resulting from an ADU. It’s tied to a state tax law aimed...

The Upper Delaware Council’s annual "Litter Sweeps" are underway as volunteers are spring cleaning the Upper Delaware River Valley all month long. The Town of Highland and the Town of Delaware Litter Sweeps are scheduled for April 19 with community members sporting their brightly colored “Don’t Be Trashy” t-shirts. Radio Catskill is a media sponsor of this year's Litter Sweep. Farm and Country ’s...

A federal judge has cleared the path for the demolition of the Skinners Falls Bridge, rejecting a legal effort by Damascus Citizens for Sustainability (DCS) who sought to spare the 122-year-old structure from destruction. In a ruling issued Tuesday, Judge Karoline Mehalchick of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania sided with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation...

The detention of three children and their mother shocked the town. It also highlighted just how much the region’s key industries depend on immigrant workers.

Spring is here – it’s officially time to dust off those roller skates! This past weekend, the Mid-Hudson Misfits kicked off the season with a charity roller derby event benefiting the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center in Kingston. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar sends us this report from Skate Time in Accord on April 13, where skaters and fans gathered for a fun night of blocking, slamming, and jamming o...

If you’ve ever been swept away by the magic of a musical, moved by a monologue, or caught yourself humming “Defying Gravity” for the hundredth time, this story is for you. We’re debuting a new podcast all about theatre. Tom Candela is the voice behind Curtain Call —a new local podcast that celebrates the artists, directors, and storytellers shaping both our hometown theatre scene and the big Broad...

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian are part of the growing number of hospitals in Pennsylvania and New York that have stopped providing gender-affirming care to patients under 19 years old.  The interruptions to care follow President Donald Trump’s executive orders to cancel federal funding for hospitals that provide gender affirming care for trans youth and mand...

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has been protecting the forests, farmland, clean waters, and wildlife habitat of the Upper Delaware River region for over 25 years thanks to the tireless efforts of founder Barbara Yeaman.  The Conservancy is marking the recent passing of Barbara Yeaman, who dedicated her life to environmental stewardship and community connection. She died at the age of 100 on Ap...

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced a temporary closure of the Delaware River to all river traffic in Wayne County due to the upcoming demolition of the historic Skinner’s Falls Bridge and the installation of a causeway. The specific date for the demolition will be announced in the coming weeks. In preparation for this work, signage and exclusion buoys will be ins...

Honesdale’s own Owen Walsh returns to his hometown for a special one-night-only performance at The Cooperage Project on April 12. The show marks a reunion with his former hometown band, O&Co, and a homecoming that’s as much about the music as it is about community, memory, and resilience. Walsh, now based in Asheville, NC, has often credited The Cooperage as the place where his musical journey...

What does it mean to be Jewish—right now? This question is at the heart of a new collaborative work-in-progress by renowned choreographer David Dorfman and visionary director/creator Leora Morris.  Blending movement, memory, sound, and story, the duo embarks on a deeply personal exploration of Jewish identity, intergenerational inheritance, and the legacies that live within our bodies. On April 12...

On April 3, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it will end a mortgage-rescue program that helped veterans falling behind on their mortgage payments keep their homes. The move comes amidst the department’s plans to cut 80,000 employees and a federal hiring freeze that is slowing health care staffing at VA facilities.  Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports on what this means for local vet...

Three students and their mother who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are set to return home to Jefferson County, New York, according to local officials. On March 27, three students, including a third grader, and their mother were detained by ICE agents in Jefferson County following an investigation at a farm in Sackets Harbor, New York, about 10 miles from Watertow...

In this episode of Kaatscast, host Brett Barry interviews John Michelotti, mushroom maven and founder of Catskill Fungi. John draws listeners into the enchanting and complex world of fungi, sharing his journey from an outdoor guide to becoming an enthusiastic mycology educator.  Recorded at Catskill Fungi's commercial kitchen in Pine Hill, NY, the episode delves into the life cycle of mushrooms, t...

On April 5, more than 200 people gathered at the Sullivan County Courthouse in Monticello as part of the national Hands Off! protests against President Donald Trump and his administration. Protests also took place in Middletown, Newburgh, Milford, Honesdale, and many other towns and cities across New York and Pennsylvania. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to protestors in Monticello and has th...

Two solo exhibitions are opening April 5 at The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) celebrate art and nature: "Open Spaces" by Jenny Carpenter and "When We Are Among the Trees" by Kelly O’Brien.  Working with the natural grain of birch panels, Carpenter’s paintings evolve in a dance between control and chance. Her process begins with the unique surface of each birch panel, whose grain guides her...

Greetings from Here showcases postcard-scale prints and other artworks that capture the essence of the Catskills through the eyes of local artists. The small-format pieces, reminiscent of classic postcards, serve as artifacts of travel, each offering a personal perspective on the region’s natural beauty and cultural significance. The collaborative photography and art exhibition opens at Sullivan P...