Radio Chatskill

At Harana Market in Accord, New York, Queer Soup Night brought together more than 30 people for an evening filled with warmth, flavor, and purpose. Local queer Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) chefs served up soup to nourish both body and community, while raising funds for local nonprofit organizations. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar takes us inside this grassroots movement, where food...

As summer approaches and families start mapping out their warm-weather plans, many are trading in the usual s’mores and sleeping bags for something a little more adventurous. At Frost Valley YMCA here in The Catskills, kids can hike, ride horses, grow their own food — and discover who they are along the way. Callie Radday, Executive Director of Camping Services at Frost Valley, appeared on Radio C...

Voters across Pennsylvania cast ballots Tuesday in a slate of judicial and local primary races, many of which could shape the state’s legal and political future well beyond November. While primary elections are often quiet affairs, this year’s contests—particularly for two statewide Republican judicial seats—drew increased attention due to ongoing debates over election law, education funding, and...

Joe Johnson is Radio Catskill’s resident science guy who brought us science stories that caught his eye recently from the frontiers of science. This week, Joe talks about turning lead into gold, Soviet space debris, partially resurrected dire wolves, and long-haired genetically engineered mice.    Hairy Mice and Mammoth Dreams In early March, biotech company Colossal Biosciences unveiled a unique...

President Donald Trump was on Capitol Hill today, pushing Republican lawmakers to support the G.O.P. megabill—a sweeping budget reconciliation package. He's working to secure the votes of conservative legislators who remain skeptical, citing concerns that the bill would significantly increase the federal deficit and demanding deeper cuts to Medicaid. Trump dismissed the bill’s projected impacts on...

This summer, kids across Pike and Wayne Counties have a chance to trade video games and screens for nets and waders, thanks to a unique program offered by the Pike County Conservation District. The Streamkeepers Program is a free, interactive experience aimed at youth ages 11 to 14 — and their chaperones — that brings stream science to life. The program combines environmental education with outdoo...

In the latest episode of Kaatscast , Captain Drewski of the Delhi Polecats—formerly the Delhi Vintage Baseball Club—talks about the resurgence of vintage baseball in Delaware County, New York. He shares the story behind a 200-year-old baseball challenge first printed in an 1825 issue of the Delaware Gazette , considered the earliest documented account of an organized baseball game in the United St...

Nestled in the rolling hills of Wayne County, the Himalayan Institute stands as a beacon of yoga, wellness, and spiritual growth—not just locally, but on a global scale. In the latest episode of Chamber Chats , hosted in partnership with the Chamber of the Northern Poconos , retreat center director Brian Fulp joined Radio Chatskill to share the Institute’s mission and its deep roots in the Honesda...

Ellenville, NY — As spring returns to the Catskills and the Upper Delaware region, the warm weather invites residents and visitors outdoors. But it also brings back some unwelcome guests: ticks and mosquitoes. These small pests carry serious health risks, including Lyme disease and other vector-borne illnesses that are becoming more common across the region. Dave Williams, an emergency room clinic...

At an age when many are content to settle into retirement, Elvira Tortora is just getting started — on stage, under the spotlight, and telling the story of a life that defies convention. Her critically acclaimed one-woman cabaret show, The Bookmaker’s Daughter , makes its way to The Parlor in Narrowsburg this weekend, offering audiences a heartfelt, humorous, and musically rich journey through her...

Are you "foster curious?” Happening this Monday in Narrowsburg, Foster Curious is an open conversation about foster care in Sullivan County, which was created to foster understanding, ignite dialogue, and build support. Abby Mortensen, a social worker and mom of five through foster care and adoption, and Susan Mendoza, a former foster mom and lifelong advocate, spoke about the gathering and their...

Inspired by Rolling Stone's " 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time," local singer-songwriters—and artists from the surrounding areas—are coming together Sunday for “Sing It Loud,” a live concert dedicated to songs of protest and social impact.  The goal? To spark inspiration both locally and across the country, encouraging people to raise their voices through music. Musician Scott Palermo and co-org...

Spring is here and that means one of the Upper Delaware’s most distinctive fish is returning, and so is the festival that celebrates it: ShadFest.  What started as a grassroots celebration of the American Shad’s annual return to the Delaware River has evolved into a multi-town festival showcasing local culture, cuisine, and environmental awareness. Tim Bruno caught up with Johnny Pizzalato, one of...

Now in its 10th year, Hudson Valley Gives was created by the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, or CFOS, to help nonprofits in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Westchester Counties connect with online donors and raise crucial funds and awareness for their life-changing work. Last year alone, this initiative raised over $795,000 — pushing the total impact since it...

One of the Hudson Valley’s most cherished traditions is back— Ellenville Run Like the Wind returns for another year of community, movement, and meaningful impact.  Since 1983, this annual 5K has brought people of all ages and abilities together to run or walk a scenic course that winds through the heart of Ellenville. We caught up with Marcus Guiliano, owner of Aroma Thyme Bistro where the race be...

Pennsylvania is home to roughly 70,000 Bhutanese immigrants – the second largest Bhutanese community in the country. Local advocates say this community is facing unprecedented deportations under the current Trump administration. Bhutan is a small country in Asia landlocked between China, Nepal, and India. In 2008, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees immigrated to the United States as part of a rese...

If you’ve scrolled through local social media lately, chances are you’ve seen the name CATS pop up again… and again. No, not the Broadway musical or your neighbor’s tabby—it stands for Catskill Arts & Theatre Space, and it’s tied to an effort to revive one of Sullivan County’s most iconic buildings: the Liberty Theatre. What exactly is happening behind those historic doors? Is it another theat...

President Donald Trump has proposed a 100% tariff on movies produced outside of the United States, claiming that “the movie industry in America is dying a very fast death.”  Trump announced in early May that he authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to impose a tariff on all films shown in the U.S. that are produced overseas. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a $254 billion state budget last week. As reaction from advocacy organizations pours in, from the New York Public News Network, WAMC’s Lucas Willard spoke with Pete Lopez, Executive Director of Policy, Advocacy and Science at Scenic Hudson, about some of the environmental policy that was included — and omitted — from the final budget deal.   We're thankful for...

Hurricane and wildfire seasons are quickly approaching. How the federal government and local governments respond to disasters could be changing, too. President Donald Trump has proposed eliminating FEMA, the federal agency charged with emergency and disaster management, and has made sweeping layoffs and funding cuts to the agency, raising concerns about the impact on local communities. Radio Catsk...

Sullivan County Government Communications Director Dan Hust shared key County Government updates about measles, the ongoing homeless shelter debate, county waste management, and more on Radio Catskill Friday. Public Health Advisory on Measles In response to a regional uptick in measles cases, the Sullivan County Public Health Department has issued an advisory urging unvaccinated individuals to con...

Since its launch in 2018, the Deep Water Literary Festival has drawn some of the most celebrated names in contemporary literature, and this year is no exception. With a theme of Metamorphosis and Transformation , the 2025 festival welcomes authors like Douglas Stuart, Susan Choi, and Marlon James—alongside dancers, visual artists, and musicians—for a weekend of bold conversations and boundary-cros...

The Roman Catholic Church made history this week with the election of Pope Leo, the first American to ascend to the papacy. The surprise choice has drawn reactions from around the world, including from Rev. Dr. Ivan Kaszczak, pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson, New York. In an interview shortly after the announcement, Rev. Kaszczak described his reaction as one of “plea...

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a time to celebrate the rich contributions and culture of AAPI communities nationally and locally here in the Catskills. In Orange County, a Korean-owned farm and brewery is bringing traditional Korean culinary techniques to the Neversink River, a popular fishing site for fly fishing enthusiasts. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to the ow...

Rising utility bills and affordability are top of mind for many New Yorkers. But what if those high bills aren’t just a result of market prices or bad weather, but actually baked into the system by outdated laws? Right now, utilities across the state are required to spend billions maintaining and expanding fossil gas infrastructure—even as the state tries to move away from fossil fuels altogether....