Radio Chatskill

As arts funding faces cutbacks across the country, local organizations in Sullivan County like the The Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre are speaking out about what’s at stake.  HPAC is calling on state and regional funders to recognize the vital role the arts play in preserving cultural heritage, boosting tourism, and fostering inclusive community spaces.  Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett sat...

Sure, you can drive from NYC to the Catskills in just a few  hours. But as "Doobby," the taxi driver in ⁠Planes, Trains and Automobiles⁠ says, "You don't see nothing on the interstate but interstate." In this story, Kaatscast host Brett Barry walks with ⁠⁠Casey Kelbaugh⁠⁠ on a stretch of the " ⁠Long Path⁠ ," a 358-mile trail from the George Washington Bridge in New York City to the edge of the Adi...

From cutting-edge space observatories and mysterious radio signals, to The blood-curdling Permian monsters that ruled the Earth before dinosaurs, our resident science guy Joe Johnson takes us on a whirlwind tour through time and space—literally. Life Before the Dinosaurs: Welcome to the Permian Long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth, the Permian Period ruled. Spanning from roughly 299 to 251 milli...

It’s been nearly 40 years since Dirty Dancing first hit the big screen—but the music, the moves, and the unforgettable Catskills setting still strike a chord.  Now, a group of local artists is bringing the soundtrack to life with a high-energy tribute concert happening Saturday, July 5 at Pelkey’s Tavern in Hankins, New York. The Songs of Dirty Dancing features a full live band performing 18 songs...

As June draws to a close and the nation looks ahead to Independence Day festivities, the American Red Cross is making an urgent appeal: donate blood, and do it now. The summer season—especially the weeks around the Fourth of July—is one of the most challenging times of year to maintain a healthy blood supply. With regular donors on vacation, schools closed, and many businesses unable to host blood...

The Gender, Identity, Respect, Dignity and Safety Act, more commonly known as the G.I.R.D.S. Act , is a proposed legislative bill in the New York State Senate that would require all New York prisons and jails to house Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary, and Intersex (TGNCNBI) people in accordance with their gender identity, as well as making sure they get access to gender affirming medical c...

This week brought dangerously high temperatures to New York following weeks of heavy rainfall—conditions that are creating new challenges for farmers already grappling with major federal budget cuts under the Trump administration. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with local farmers about how this season’s weather is affecting their work and how climate change and shifting federal policies are...

The Western Sullivan Public Library (WSPL) is kicking off a vibrant, creative summer with its 2025 Summer Reading Program, Color Our World , inviting readers of all ages to explore art, storytelling, and community through a colorful array of free public events. The program begins Tuesday, July 1, with a festive launch at the Delaware Youth Center in Callicoon featuring Mr. Wonka’s Wonder Show by c...

In the Town of Highland, a years-long debate over the proposed Camp Fimfo resort-style campground is approaching a critical juncture. The local planning board is now reviewing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) that could determine the future of the $40 million redevelopment project. River Reporter journalist Liam Mayo, who has followed the project since its inception, joined Radio Cats...

Editorial Note: The results discussed in this article are unofficial as of June 25, 2025. Polls have closed and ballots have been counted in New York’s June 24 primary. From hotly contested races in Sullivan County to historic shifts in Woodstock, voters across the Hudson Valley made their voices heard. Radio Catskill’s Tim Bruno spoke with Jesse King, Hudson Valley Bureau Chief for WAMC and host...

The Orange County Correctional Facility has a longstanding contract with  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrants in the state while officers are actively conducting raids on local communities and putting people, including children, into detainment.  In New York activists have been campaigning on the legislative level to end state and local collaboration with ICE through the...

The LGBTQ+ community’s access to gender-affirming care is only becoming more precarious with the political precedent currently being set by president Trump. In January, Trump signed an executive order calling for governmental agencies to ensure that medical institutions receiving any federal research or education grants “end the chemical and surgical mutilation” of people under 19. The order has n...

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson brings us th  Science Roundup: Universal Anti-Venom Breakthrough, Hidden Antarctic Rivers, and Methane-Farming Sea Spiders By [Your Name] Published: June 25, 2025 From snakebite survival to the secrets beneath Antarctic ice, scientists are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of nature — and perhaps even saving lives along the way. Here’s a look at three...

Dangerously hot and humid conditions will continue through Wednesday. "Feels-like" temps will reach over 100° in several areas in the region.  Extreme heat and humidity can be more than just uncomfortable—they can be life-threatening. Tim Bruno spoke to Dr. Maria Ranin-Lay, a primary care provider with Crystal Run Healthcare, about how this kind of weather affects our health, what symptoms to watc...

As New York’s legislative session comes to a close, the fight against PFAS contamination—those toxic “forever chemicals” linked to serious health risks—is far from over.  Despite early leadership in regulating PFAS in drinking water and consumer products, the state continues to grapple with widespread pollution from over 1,200 industrial sites, contaminated landfills, firefighting foam, and everyd...

Garnet Health announced a restructuring plan on June 17 that will lay off 42 employees. Garnet also said it will end Outpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services at Garnet Health Medical Center and Outpatient Diabetes Services at Garnet Health Medical Center and Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills, due to what the hospital says is “ due to consistent underutilization.”  Additionally, Garnet H...

Howe Caverns is one of New York’s most popular natural attractions—but beneath its winding passageways lies a lesser-known, tragic past. In the latest episode of Kaatscast , Brett Barry speaks with historian and author Dana Cudmore about his new book The Cave Electrician’s Widow , revealing the haunting story of a deadly 1930 accident, the courtroom drama that followed, and the enduring mystique o...

Legendary singer-songwriter Terre Roche—of the iconic trio The Roches—is coming to The Muse in Rosendale for a special anniversary concert with special guests Lisa and Lori Brigantino.  Jason Dole spoke with Terre about her new album, revisiting her early work with sister Maggie, and what audiences can expect from this one-of-a-kind musical celebration.

Radio Catskill volunteer David Dann is an artist, writer, and designer whose work defies easy categorization—just like his newest exhibit, The Clock , on view at the Narrowsburg Union as part of this year's Deep Water Literary Festival. A multimedia installation that explores time, transformation, and human reckoning, The Clock merges sculpture, storytelling, and symbolism in a deeply personal and...

Hundreds of people gathered in the parking lot by the Read it Again bookstore in Monticello on June 14 as part of nationwide demonstrations called the ‘No Kings’ protests. The Sullivan County rally was part of more than 2,000 events across the country pushing back on what organizers describe as the Trump administration’s “escalating abuses of power.” Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar was at the local...

On Saturday, June 21st, the hamlet of Smallwood, NY, will host Smallwood Porchfest 2025, a day-long celebration of community and Catskills musical heritage. Set around the shores of Mountain Lake, the event transforms porches, lawns, and driveways into intimate stages featuring more than 10 local musicians. Myrna Marcarian from the Smallwood Civic Association and musician Cliff Westfall spoke abou...

High-speed internet may be coming to your home or small business soon if you live in Sullivan County. On Thursday, Sullivan County kicked off a $30 million broadband project under New York State’s ConnectALL program to bring high-speed internet to homes and businesses. For decades, the county's mountainous terrain in the Catskills has hindered broadband expansion. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar wa...

Sullivan County has shown some progress in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Overdose death rates have shown a gradual decline in recent years, but health officials and local residents say now is not the time to dial back. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar attended Sullivan County’s Substance Use Task Force meeting at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre. The task force is a county-led effort...

As federal immigration enforcement actions escalate across the country, rural communities in the Catskills and Northeast Pennsylvania are feeling the ripple effects—prompting fear among immigrant families, disruption to daily life, and calls for organized resistance. Juana Cortes-De Torres, Immigration Legal Rights Project Director at Rural & Migrant Ministry , says there's a growing anxiety f...

This week, our resident science guy Joe Johnson dives into a trio of surprising and thought-provoking discoveries—from an ancient agricultural marvel buried beneath Michigan forests to the latest in space exploration, and even the mystery behind wrinkly fingers after a swim.  LiDAR Uncovers Massive Indigenous Agricultural Site in Michigan A new study published in the Journal of Science on June 5 h...