Radio Chatskill

CHESTER, NY — Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge is at the forefront of local resistance to a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in a former Pep Boys warehouse in Chester, Orange County. Residents, local officials, and Holdridge himself have raised concerns about economic impact, safety, and the federal government’s handling of immigration detention. Su...

The debate over a proposed campground development along the Upper Delaware River is reaching a critical point as the Town of Highland planning board prepares to weigh approval. The Camp FIMFO project, a $40 million-plus project renovating a historic tenting campsite in Barryville with modern amenities, has already drawn scrutiny from the National Park Service, which determined the development does...

The Western Sullivan Public Libraries are expanding their role as a community learning hub this spring — with new programs that put teens in leadership roles and bring kids together around math, literacy, and even gardening. Children’s Coordinator Callison Stratton says one of the most exciting additions is a peer-led academic enrichment program designed by local high school students. “Back in the...

February is American Heart Month, and a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association is drawing renewed attention to how sleep habits — not just how much we sleep, but when and how consistently — can affect cardiovascular health. Researchers found that so-called “night owls,” people who naturally stay up late, tend to have poorer overall cardiovascular health compared to ea...

For a third consecutive day, the Sullivan County DMV office in Monticello remained closed Friday after a prolonged internet outage tied to Spectrum, leaving residents unable to access in-person DMV services. County Clerk Russell Reeves said the disruption began without warning earlier this week and has left staff unable to process routine transactions that depend on internet connectivity. “We have...

Expect another weekend full of extreme winter weather. There is an Extreme Cold Warning from 7AM Saturday until 1PM Sunday Afternoon as more arctic air moves into our area tonight along with snow and wind. “We call this pattern the Siberean Express because the airmass is originating in Siberia, going over the north pole, and then descending into the northeast,” Adam Gill, Meteorologist with The Na...

The Orange County legislature unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday against a proposed ICE facility in Orange County. Hundreds of residents from across the Hudson Valley, including Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, showed up to protest the facility.  Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar was at the county legislative meeting and has more.

Ellenville, NY — A new hub for wellness, creativity, and community is opening in Ellenville this week. Juniper , co-founded by Adrian DiMatteo and Cassie Luzenski, is a cultural and wellness center offering yoga, meditation, art classes, music programs, and after-school activities for people of all ages. “ Juniper is a picture that is being painted as we speak, all of us together, ” says Luzenski....

After Superstorm Sandy, New York launched the Citizens’ Preparedness Corps (CPC) to teach residents how to handle emergencies—from storms and floods to power outages. Maria Pfegel of the program says: “Most people believe they’re more prepared than they actually are. Just because you’ve been through a disaster before doesn’t mean you won’t be affected next time.” The training helps New Yorkers cre...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul last Friday proposed legislation aimed at limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her proposal would ban counties and cities from entering into so-called 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to partner directly with federal immigration authorities. But immigration advocates say the governor’s plan doesn...

Northwell Health – New York state’s largest healthcare system – has expanded into Pennsylvania, starting with a primary care and immediate care center in Dingmans Ferry. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar visited the new facility for a tour and spoke with Dr. Michael Mandarano, primary care physician at Northwell Health.

For some students, college can feel distant — something to think about later, after graduation, after adulthood begins. At SUNY Sullivan, a growing program is trying to change that by bringing college into the high school classroom. Through its College in High School (CIHS) program, SUNY Sullivan partners with local school districts to offer college-level courses to students in grades 8 through 12...

The clock is ticking for the federal government to avoid a government shutdown tonight.  Senate enate leaders reached a deal with the White House on Thursday on the massive spending package after Democrats pushed for reforms to ICE following national outrage over the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Both were U.S. citizens killed by federal ICE agents. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to...

Agnes Van Put, a beloved fixture of Livingston Manor’s fly-fishing community and a longtime presence at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center & Museum, died January 21, 2026. She was 109 years old. For decades, Van Put welcomed anglers, visitors, and neighbors with warmth, humor, and homemade food — becoming as much a part of the Catskills fly-fishing experience as the Beaverkill itself. Her daughte...

Roscoe, N.Y. — This Saturday, Roscoe Mountain Club is embracing winter with Winterfest, a full afternoon of ice skating, snowshoeing, live music, and craft beer, hosted in partnership with Roscoe Beer Company. The festival runs from noon to 5 p.m., with an after-party until 8 p.m. “Winterfest is kind of like our love letter to the Catskills,” said Tiffany Conklin of Roscoe Mountain Club. “It’s abo...

As a cold snap grips the region, many households are bracing for higher gas bills—even if they’re doing everything they can to conserve. A recent analysis shows that the culprit isn’t higher gas consumption, but the rising cost of maintaining and expanding gas pipelines across New York. Jamie Van Nostrand, policy director at the Future of Heat Initiative and former chair of the Massachusetts Depar...

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, an...

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 s...

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 bett...

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–certif...

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 e...

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 Ra...

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 Ste...

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...