Radio Chatskill

As the new year unfolds, many of us find ourselves reflecting on personal goals and resolutions. In her latest Moving Toward Health column for The Sullivan County Democrat, Maggi Fitzpatrick realized the desire to become a "morning person" became a focal point for change, but the path toward this goal wasn't as simple as merely setting an intention. It required adjusting long-standing routines to...

Founded in 2017, Wallenpaupack Brewing Company has quickly become a staple of Northeastern Pennsylvania's vibrant craft beer scene. As part of our Chamber Chats series with the Chamber of The Northern Poconos, we spoke to founder Rebecca Ryman and Brad about how their award-winning brewery blends local flavors with a strong commitment to the community. Spanning 14,000 square feet, Wallenpaupack Br...

On December 19, voters in the Livingston Manor and Roscoe central school districts approved a proposal to merge the districts via centralization. Now, the Livingston Manor and Roscoe Central School Districts are inviting residents, families, and community members to a Town Hall Meeting Thursday, January 9, to learn more about the unification process of the two districts, as well as the creation of...

After Donald Trump’s election victory, many Democrats became more pessimistic about their party’s future, but Anne Hart, Chair of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, says the party made key achievements locally in 2024. She is encouraging her party to enter 2025 with hope and resilience with its own version of "Project 2025,"  to remember lessons they learned from the election, and to recogn...

From her forest reserve in Eastern Ontario, Canada, Irish-born Diana Beresford-Kroeger has dedicated decades to advocating for the preservation of the world’s forests and trees. In an interview with Farm and Country’s Rosie Starr, the esteemed botanist, biochemist, and best-selling author shared her insights on the profound knowledge trees offer. She also discussed her latest book, which explores...

On the first day of summer 2024, photographer Casey Kelbaugh embarked stepped out into the blistering heat from his New York City apartment building in Alphabet City and headed west on 4th Street, bound for his home in the Catskills. It turned out to be a 27 day, roughly 300 mile journey on The Long Path, a long distance hiking trail.  Kelbaugh wrote about his experience in the New York Times last...

The latest episode of Kaatscast–The Catskills Podcast explores a long-standing tradition of square dancing at a family home and barn, in Ashokan, NY. Host Brett Barry and production intern Olivia Sippel put on their dancing shoes and joined the fun, recording tales of traditional Catskills square dancing, and the musicians who are passing it down to a new generation of enthusiasts.  Fiddler and ca...

As nearly half of the global population cast their votes this year, politics dominated many headlines. However, science and the natural world also captured significant public interest.  In his year end reflection, our resident science guy Joe Johnson highlights some of the year's most captivating science stories—from the solar eclipse and the mysteries of the sun to the rise of artificial intellig...

A homeowner’s backyard in Orange County, New York, has yielded a significant paleontological discovery: a complete mastodon jaw, the first such find in the state in over 11 years. The jawbone, along with additional bone fragments, was unearthed by researchers from the New York State Museum and SUNY Orange.  Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke to Dr. Cory Harris, Chair of SUNY Orange’s Behaviora...

Former President Jimmy Carter died at 100 on Sunday, December 29.  He was a peanut farmer turned President. A humanitarian, statesman, novelist, Nobel Prize Laureate….and fly fisherman. Forty years ago, President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter made an historic five-day visit to Sullivan County. The Carters were invited to come and fish the Beaverkill and participate in fundraising events fo...

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the Climate Change Superfund Act into law, making New York the second state in the country to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for climate impacts.   The Climate Superfund law signed by the Democrat the day after Christmas establishes a Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program, intended to raise $75 billion over 25 years from oil and gas companies blam...

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock music and arts festival, is calling on artists and artisans to submit proposals for commemorative works of art in honor of the iconic Message Tree.  The tree, a 60-foot red maple, played a central role during the original festival as a gathering spot for attendees who left messages, notes, and well-wishes pinned to its bark....

It's the most wonderful time of the year and the busiest for holiday travel. Beginning Saturday through New Year’s Day, AAA estimates a record 119 million Americans will be in planes, trains, and automobiles, more than the previous record set in 2019. Patricia Kuepper-Artessa of AAA Northeast says that’s only accounting for people driving over the ten day span.  She says the worst times to get the...

Joe Johnson is our resident science guy and he highlights science stories that caught his eye. In this episode, Johnson brings us warnings from scientists about careless experimentation with 'mirror life forms' that could be deadly to humans and destroy the environment; how a particle accelerator helped discover the lost works of Archimedes; and a discovery by astronomers of an unusual exoplanet w...

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation now plans to permanently destroy the standing Skinners Falls Bridge, reversing its prior stated intention of dismantling the bridge and storing its pieces for later use, according to The River Reporter. This decision comes after an October inspection report which recommended repairs to the bridge and did not mention demolition as a possibility. The pro...

In this episode of 'Kaatscast,' host Brett Barry delves into the fascinating world of the North American porcupine with Uldis Roze, the world's foremost expert on this mysterious and lovable Catskills rodent. Hear about the porcupine's habitat preferences, diet, mating behaviors, and unique defense mechanisms. Roze addresses common misconceptions, shares personal encounters, and reveals insights f...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill on Friday that would have mandated local community involvement before the closure of a hospital or specific units. The bill, which was passed by state lawmakers in June, aimed to establish a process for hospital closures, requiring the state Department of Health to hold public forums and issue reports on the potential impact before any facility shut dow...

Starting January 1, 2025, New York State’s law that bans PFAS in clothing will go into effect.  Clothes and textiles are examples of a major use of PFAS, which are typically used to provide stain and water resistance.  The National Resources Defense Council is celebrating the January 1st ban saying its a huge win for public health because it will reduce New Yorkers’ exposure to this dangerous chem...

The towering coal silos on Main Street in Callicoon, New York, once served as the heartbeat of the small town, transporting coal from Honesdale, PA, to Monticello, NY, and helping put the hamlet on the map.  Now, nearly a century after they were built, the historic structures are deteriorating, sparking a local movement to save the iconic landmark before it’s too late. We spoke to ENGN Civic Creat...

After a record seven hour session, Sullivan County Legislators approved the 2025 Budget, which includes a 2.5% tax levy increase. The budget passed with an 8-1 vote, with District 9 Legislator Terry Blosser-Bernardo opposed.  The budget includes funding for several key initiatives, including $21.6 million for road and bridgework, $2.7 million for the EMS fly car system, and $2 million for a Housin...

 Miss Havisham, The Artful Dodger, Scrooge, The Ghost of Christmas Past.  Farm Arts Collective is debuting a new short work featuring these famous characters and others from Charles Dickens novels at the annual "Dickens on the Delaware" town wide celebration in the Hamlet of Callicoon, NY on December 14. It's called "The Fezziwig Party" and it incorporates themes like social inequality and a call...

NACL's "A Winter's Table" gathering features food and drink and a mechanical table designed by artist-inventor Dan Brinkerhoff. The table--akin to a lazy susan---will deliver dishes curated by Henning Nordanger (Henning's Local and Julia's Local) to guests. Brinkerhoff's wife Joanne Wasserman-Brinkerhoff and NACL's Brett Keyer joined us with the details..

This weekend, nearly 200 women of all ages—from teenagers to elders—are gathering in Sullivan County, NY, for the annual Rural Women's Assembly.  The event, which brings together women from across New York State’s rural communities, fosters learning, inspiration, and empowerment. Organized by the Rural & Migrant Ministry, the assembly supports the organization's mission to build a just and equ...

'Tis the season. Respiratory virus season that is. Respiratory viruses like Covid-19, influenza, and RSV are increasing in New York and nationally.  Plus, there’s been a spike in whooping cough. Dr. Marisa Donnelly is Your Local Epidemiologist at Healthbeat New York and she appeared on Radio Chatskill with the latest statistics and with advice on how you can protect yourself and your family headin...

Christmas trees, holiday decorations, and festive meals are all iconic symbols of the holiday season, but they also pose potential fire risks that contribute to a rise in home fires across the U.S. each December. The National Fire Protection Association reports that in 2022, Christmas Day and Christmas Eve ranked as the second- and third-highest days for home cooking fires, respectively. Michael B...