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  • After Pike County Mosque Shooting, Faith Leaders and PA Officials Stand Behind Members

    After Pike County Mosque Shooting, Faith Leaders and PA Officials Stand Behind Members
    Mar 2 2026

    Pike County community members and local and state officials are rallying behind a mosque after a shooting at the Pike County Islamic Center in Matamoras, Pennsylvania. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.
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    2 Min.
  • Wayne County Maple Tour 2026: Inside NEPA's Sweetest Season

    Wayne County Maple Tour 2026: Inside NEPA's Sweetest Season
    Feb 26 2026
    Spring may still be weeks away, but across Northeast Pennsylvania, the signs are already here. Buckets are filling. Blue lines stretch between trees. And deep in the woods, steam rises from sugarhouses as maple syrup season hits full stride.“It’s always a pleasure talking to you guys,” says Trevor Tochydlowski, forest specialist with the Wayne Conservation District. “Because I know when I talk to you, that means that spring is just around the corner.”Tochydlowski is helping organize this year’s Wayne County Maple Tour — a self-guided celebration of a tradition rooted in climate, chemistry and community.How Maple Syrup Is MadeFor anyone who has driven rural backroads this time of year, the most common question is about those bright blue tubes weaving through the trees.“Most of the time, when people are driving around the roads in the area, the biggest question I always get is, ‘What are those blue lines running between the trees in the forest?’” Tochydlowski says. “They’re maple sap lines.”At its core, he explains, maple syrup production is simple — at least in theory.“Maple syrup is one of those things that at its core is very simple,” he says. “But if anyone has ever taken a personal interest, they’ll realize very quickly that it’s a pretty deep rabbit hole.”Producers tap primarily sugar maple trees — sometimes red maples — and collect sap through gravity-fed tubing systems or other setups that channel the liquid to a central collection point. From there, the goal is straightforward: remove the water and isolate the sugar.“Regardless of the route you decide to take, the core process is to reduce the water content from the sap and isolate the sugar,” Tochydlowski says.That reduction requires heat — often from a traditional wood-fired evaporator. Some larger operations add reverse osmosis systems to concentrate the sap before boiling. But no matter the technology, the math remains the same.“Forty gallons in an ideal situation of raw tree sap converts down to one gallon of maple syrup,” he says.Forty to one.“It’s a pretty expensive process. A lot of work,” he adds. Then he laughs. “But a gallon of syrup lasts an awful long time in my house.”Why Northeast Pennsylvania Is Ideal for Maple SyrupSugar maples grow across much of the eastern United States. But not every region can produce high-quality maple syrup.“The reason why the area is so special is mainly because of the climate,” Tochydlowski says.The key is the freeze-thaw cycle — cold nights followed by warmer days. That temperature swing creates pressure inside the tree.“It’s kind of an involuntary process,” he explains. “Because of that freeze-thaw cycle, it creates a pressure gradient in the tree that forces sap in the roots up through the trunk.”The sap carries sugars stored in the roots during winter dormancy. Producers drill a small hole — about an inch deep — to access the flowing sap.In regions without consistent freeze-thaw cycles, trees convert stored sugars into compounds that don’t taste good to humans. So even where sugar maples grow, syrup production isn’t always viable.“We’re very fortunate that Northeast Pennsylvania — and areas of New York and Vermont — have the perfect conditions to make sap flow and have it filled with the sugars we want for maple syrup,” Tochydlowski says. “The best stuff is right here in our backyard.”A Self-Guided Maple Tour Across Wayne CountyThis year’s Maple Tour takes place Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a one-day, self-guided event featuring nine sugarhouses across Wayne County and surrounding areas.“You can expect to see a pretty decent variety,” Tochydlowski says. “Some are more in that hobbyist territory — small sugarhouses — and then there are others with excess of 25,000 taps.”In past years, buses transported visitors between sites. But the county’s size made self-guiding more practical.“It usually makes more sense for people to pick and choose locations that are closer to them,” he says. “Maybe visit two or three — or if you’re feeling really ambitious, go to all nine.”Along the way, two locations will host pancake breakfasts featuring locally produced syrup.“Nothing beats them,” Tochydlowski says.The tour itself is free. (The pancakes are not.)Education, Access — and a Gateway HobbyFor the conservation district, the event isn’t just about syrup. It’s about education.“One of the best aspects is the educational piece,” Tochydlowski says. “It’s a great opportunity for producers to show people how it’s done.”Visitors often leave surprised by how accessible maple sugaring can be.“I’ve heard this feedback directly from participants,” he says. “They go out and learn, ‘Oh, I might actually have some of these trees on my property.’ And you really don’t need all that many to make maple syrup yourself.”Like any hobby, it can ...
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    10 Min.
  • As ICE Expands Footprint in Hudson Valley, Detentions Reach Record Levels Across New York State

    As ICE Expands Footprint in Hudson Valley, Detentions Reach Record Levels Across New York State
    Feb 26 2026

    The number of people detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities have soared in the past year. At the Orange County Jail, the number of people detained by ICE has more than doubled since the start of the Trump administration.

    That tracks with what communities are seeing across New York state and the country.


    Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Meghan Maloney de Zaldivar, Vice President of Advocacy at the New York Immigration Coalition, to learn what record high ICE detainments can tell us about Trump’s deportation plans.
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    12 Min.
  • New SNAP Work Requirements Take Effect March 1 in New York: Who’s Affected and How to Claim Exemptions

    New SNAP Work Requirements Take Effect March 1 in New York: Who’s Affected and How to Claim Exemptions
    Feb 26 2026
    New federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) take effect across New York on March 1, and anti-hunger advocates are warning that hundreds of thousands of residents could be at risk of losing food assistance — not necessarily because they’re ineligible, but because they may not know they qualify for an exemption.The updated rules require many adults without young children to document at least 80 hours per month of work or approved activity to continue receiving benefits long-term.“SNAP has actually had work requirements for quite some time,” said Krista Hesdorfer, Director of Public Affairs at Hunger Solutions New York. “But they have been waived in most parts of New York.”That waiver has now ended under a federal budget bill passed last summer, triggering stricter enforcement statewide.What’s Changing?The rules, often referred to as the “able-bodied adults without dependents” requirements, limit certain adults to just three months of SNAP benefits within a three-year period unless they:* Work at least 80 hours per month* Participate in approved job training or community service* Or document that they qualify for an exemption“The federal budget bill effectively ends New York’s waiver of those rules,” Hesdorfer said. “So now people across the state who have been held harmless will now be affected by the time limit.”The legislation also expands who must comply. Advocates estimate that an additional 200,000 New Yorkers who were previously exempt will now be subject to the requirements.Who Must Meet the 80-Hour Rule?Under the new policy, individuals must comply if they:* Are between ages 18 and 64* Do not have children under 14 in their household* Are deemed able to workOne significant change affects older adults.“The groups who are newly subject to the work rules include older adults age 55 to 64 who were previously exempt,” Hesdorfer said. “We’re really concerned about the impacts on that age group, knowing that many people face ageism when trying to find a new job later in life.”Households with children 14 and older are also newly included. At the same time, exemptions that previously covered veterans, youth aging out of foster care, and people experiencing homelessness were eliminated in the federal bill.Overall, between 300,000 and 500,000 New Yorkers could be affected. Nearly 3 million residents participate in SNAP statewide.“Many people are not subject to these rules and should continue to receive benefits without disruption,” Hesdorfer emphasized. About 30% of SNAP participants in New York are children, who are not subject to work requirements.The Exemptions — and Why They MatterAdvocates say the key to preventing unnecessary hunger lies in ensuring eligible recipients properly claim exemptions.“You may be exempt if you are outside the age range of the policy,” Hesdorfer explained. That includes individuals under 18 or 65 and older, as well as households with a child under 14.Other common exemptions include:* Physical or mental health conditions that limit ability to work 80 hours per month* Receiving disability benefits, such as VA or New York State disability* Receiving or applying for SSI or unemployment benefits* Pregnancy* Caring for a young child or an incapacitated person* Participation in drug or alcohol treatment programs* Enrollment in school or job training at least half-time* Already meeting work requirements through another programHesdorfer noted that the term “able-bodied adults without dependents” can be misleading and stigmatizing.“Many people have disabilities and they don’t necessarily share that information,” she said. “I would encourage anybody to hear that term with skepticism.”Research from previous SNAP work requirement rollouts found that people with disabilities who should have been exempt lost benefits at the same rate as those required to comply.“That’s why communication about exemptions and the screening process is so critical,” Hesdorfer said.What Documentation Is Required?Documentation requirements vary depending on the exemption. In some cases, self-attestation may be sufficient. In others, recipients may need verification from a medical provider.New York State has developed standardized templates to reduce paperwork burdens.“It really feels to me like there’s an effort from our state agencies, local agencies, and community partners to make sure people can keep their benefits and minimize paperwork barriers,” Hesdorfer said.Anyone who receives a notice indicating they may be subject to the new rules should read it carefully and contact their caseworker immediately if they believe they qualify for an exemption.“They are there to help you,” she said.Who Is Most at Risk?Hesdorfer expressed particular concern for:* Individuals with unreported disabilities or mental health conditions* Adults aged 55 to 64* People without stable housing or transportation“...
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    17 Min.
  • 'Second Marks' in Barryville: 12 Artists Swap, Reimagine and Raise Funds for Radio Catskill

    'Second Marks' in Barryville: 12 Artists Swap, Reimagine and Raise Funds for Radio Catskill
    Feb 25 2026

    Art, community and creative risk collide this Saturday in Barryville.

    At Second Marks, a collaborative art show at Chester's Creative Studio, 12 local artists are doing something few creators willingly attempt: handing over their finished work to another artist — and trusting them to transform it.

    The result is part creative experiment, part celebration of the area’s deep artistic bench — and part lifeline for local public media. Proceeds from the show will benefit Radio Catskill.


    From Leftover Canvases to Fresh Vision

    The idea began with artist Leigh Allison, who noticed something many creatives quietly admit: finished pieces often linger in studios, tucked away once exhibitions end.

    “Most artists have artwork kind of laying around,” Allison said. “And I really wanted to show off the artists in the Catskill area — mainly Sullivan County — where there’s so much inspiration.”

    The twist? Artists would swap those existing works and reinterpret them into something entirely new.

    Allison approached Catherine Chesters, founder of Chester’s Creative, with the concept. Chesters was immediately on board.

    To keep things fair — and unpredictable — the pair invited about two dozen artists, ultimately landing on 12 participants. Pairings were decided by drawing names from a jar.

    “We didn’t want to be responsible for matching people,” Chesters said, laughing. “So we did a draw. That was actually the most complicated part.”

    A Creative Challenge — By Design

    Participants described the process as both exhilarating and intimidating.

    “There was some caution,” Chesters said. “It was a challenge.”

    But that tension is the point. The show embraces what might be called creative recycling — or shared authorship — as artists surrender control and reinterpret someone else’s voice.

    The roster spans mediums and styles: painters, graphic designers, digital artists, ceramicists. Some pairings revealed surprising synergy; others pushed artists into unfamiliar territory.

    “It was incredible to see,” Chesters said. “Some people’s work really complemented each other in ways we couldn’t have planned.”


    Opening night will also feature sound by Alex Fable, turning the exhibit into a multi-sensory community gathering.

    Supporting Local Media in a Tough Moment

    The event’s fundraising mission adds urgency.

    With federal funding shifts affecting public media nationwide, stations like Radio Catskill are increasingly dependent on community backing. For Chesters, supporting local journalism and storytelling isn’t optional — it’s essential.

    “It’s essential that we have national and local radio. A voice and a medium for investigative journalism and truth to be reported. We have to support what roots us together. Supporting each other is what it’s about,” Chesters said. “In hard times, you need to see bright things.”
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    8 Min.
  • How to Spot the 'Parade' of All 7 Planets Across the Night Sky This Week

    How to Spot the 'Parade' of All 7 Planets Across the Night Sky This Week
    Feb 25 2026

    Sky gazers across the U.S. will have a chance to see an extraordinary celestial event on Friday as all of the planets in our solar system appear in the evening sky. This phenomenon, known as a “planet parade,” will feature Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all visible at the same time along a line or arc in the sky, NASA says. Though “planet parade” is not an official astronomical term, it typically refers to when four or more planets are seen together in the sky—a rare alignment that won’t happen again for decades.

    Dr. Jackie Faherty, curator in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History says, "The misnomer on it is that it's an alignment…if you took your finger and you pointed it up and towards one of the planets, all of the planets would be in a line along that finger. And that's just not the case.”

    Instead, Faherty likens the planets’ motion to cars on a racetrack. “The Earth is on a side of the racetrack as it's going around the Sun that the other planets…are also on that side. So right now, if you go out, you have to do this right at sunset or else you're not going to catch the planets as they're setting. They're always there, but they are currently on the side of the race track that we're on.”

    Why This Planetary Parade Is Special

    While planetary parades are not unheard of, Faherty explains, “It happened a year and a half ago…it's just related to the orbital periods, the amount of time it takes any one of the planets to make its way around the Sun.” Mercury orbits in roughly 88 days, Venus in just over 200, Earth in 365, and Mars takes about twice that. Outer planets take even longer, which makes this simultaneous appearance a rare visual treat.
    "This planetary parade just means that we are catching them on that planetary disk that they're going around on where it's dark at night where we can see a bunch of them," Dr. Faherty said.

    How to Spot the Planets Visible Tonight

    Not all planets are visible to the naked eye, Faherty notes, and timing is key. “Your eye can see to a magnitude of six. Uranus is like at the hairy edge of that…Neptune is like 7.8 on the number scale, so no human can see Neptune by eye. Mercury…should be bright, but the problem is Mercury and Venus are very close to the Sun…you're fighting the sunset if you're trying to see them.”

    For casual skywatchers, she recommends starting with the brightest planets: “Venus should pop out at you because Venus is very bright…The easiest one you're going to have to find is going to be Jupiter. Jupiter is super bright right now and it's high…it doesn't set until like 2:00 in the morning. Mercury and Venus and then Saturn…If you want to find Uranus and Neptune, I suggest binoculars or a telescope because those two are very, very faint.”

    A Chance to Connect With the Cosmos

    Faherty emphasizes that the planetary parade is as much about engagement as discovery. “It's 100% an engagement…watching the planets as they move across the sky was state-of-the-art astrophysics several hundred years ago. We've solved all of the planetary motion questions that exist…So right now it's both a way to engage the public in looking up and a reminder of how far we've come and how much we understand about the universe.”

    For those hoping to catch the planetary parade in the evening sky, patience and practice are key. “You need to go outside, try it tonight, practice every night…Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then the planets start to get a little bit further, but you can still try Sunday, Monday,” Faherty said.
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    13 Min.
  • New York Food Waste Action Network Launches to Cut Climate Pollution and Fight Hunger

    New York Food Waste Action Network Launches to Cut Climate Pollution and Fight Hunger
    Feb 25 2026
    Reducing food waste could be one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to cut climate pollution in New York. A new statewide coalition launching today — the New York Food Waste Action Network — aims to do just that.The coalition brings together farmers, businesses, hunger relief organizations and environmental advocates to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills, where it generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The goal: curb emissions while redirecting more surplus food to communities in need.New Yorkers waste roughly 22,000 metric tons of food each year, costing households an estimated $141 million in lost grocery spending. When that food ends up in landfills, it produces significant emissions — accounting for more than half of landfill methane statewide.“This is something, as you can imagine, I’m incredibly excited about,” said Niamh Moore, director of Healthy Communities at Environmental Advocates NY. “The Food Waste Action Network is a group of environmental climate and food rescue organizations who all come together to reduce the amount of food that New Yorkers are wasting, which will save us money, help reduce emissions and really hopefully get through to those who most need it.”A Statewide CoalitionFounding partners include City Harvest, Island Harvest Food Bank, Earthjustice, and Environmental Advocates NY.“Our mission is clear,” Moore said. “What we want to do is we want to influence New York State and local food waste policy so that we can increase food access, stop the flow of food to landfills and reduce unnecessary methane emissions.”Why Food Waste Is “Low-Hanging Fruit” for Climate ActionMoore calls food waste “low-hanging fruit” in the fight against climate change.“It’s really low-hanging fruit because food waste simply doesn’t have to happen,” she said. “We can stop buying food that we don’t need. We can donate excess food before it goes out of date so that we can get it to those most in need and stop it going to landfills.”When food decomposes in landfills, it releases methane — a greenhouse gas far more powerful than carbon dioxide in the near term.“Methane is a powerful and potent greenhouse gas that I’m not sure if folks are aware, but it’s 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide, particularly over the first 20 years of it reaching the atmosphere,” Moore said. “Even though carbon dioxide has longer lasting effects, methane itself drives the pace for global warming in the near term.”She added: “When we think about getting food out of landfills, that’s a real positive step in the right direction to stop methane from being produced to begin with.”Addressing Hunger Alongside EmissionsThe coalition is also focused on food access.“It can be real easy to look at food waste and just look at the climate perspective,” Moore said. “But also look at folks who are limited in their access to food and not think about what ways we could increase the access that it gets to them.”“At every level, whether it be at a farm, a kitchen table or in a food bank, when we waste food, it just means people are going to go hungry. It’s simple demand,” she said. “If we can keep it out of landfills, we can increase the opportunity that folks have to donate this food to partners like City Harvest or Island Harvest, who are incredible at getting it to those who most need it.”Confusing Food Date LabelsOne policy priority for the coalition is standardizing food date labeling. Currently, most food date labels are not federally regulated, leading to widespread confusion.“We’ve heard from so many people that they’re not aware that food date labels aren’t federally regulated,” Moore said. “The vast majority of states aren’t regulating them either apart from California.”“As a result, we have seen research that states that about 20% of edible food that is wasted is a direct result of confusion around food date labeling,” she said. “When people don’t understand what a label means, how can we expect them to understand if the food is safe or not?”Moore points to new legislation in California, which will standardize food date labels starting January 1, 2027. She hopes New York will follow suit.“We should have simpler labeling available to folks so that we’re not throwing out perfectly good foods that many New Yorkers could eat,” she said.Policy and Practical ChangesBeyond labeling, the coalition is closely watching New York City’s solid waste management plan, which governs how waste is handled and exported.“Hundreds of millions is spent on exporting waste from New York City every year,” Moore said. “And if we just simply stop this waste from occurring, local governments and New Yorkers as individuals get to reap the benefits.”The network is also encouraging farmers, grocery stores and restaurants to rethink purchasing and donation practices — and asking consumers to do the same.“...
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    12 Min.
  • Former Rep. Molinaro Launches ‘Comeback’ Bid for NY State Assembly District 102

    Former Rep. Molinaro Launches ‘Comeback’ Bid for NY State Assembly District 102
    Feb 25 2026

    Former U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro announced his bid on Monday to return to New York state politics. Molinaro briefly served as Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration after his appointment by President Donald Trump, stepping down in February.

    Now, he's running for New York's 102nd State Assembly District. Radio Catskill's Tim Bruno spoke with Molinaro about the decision.
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    16 Min.