This Friday, October 3rd, Homegrown Hurleyville singer songwriter Mekayla Rayne will be playing a one night only set at the Hurleyville Performing Arts Centre.

After captivating audiences all around the country, Mekayla is returning back home to make her headlining debut of her very first full length concert.

Radio Catskill's Genevieve Hartnett spoke with Mekayla ahead of the event about finding her love for music in the Catskills and revealing a new side of her artistry to her hometown.

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson has more on three recent discoveries — one from deep human history, another from cutting-edge agricultural science, and the third from the night sky — are offering new insights into our past, our future, and the universe around us.

A 30,000-Year-Old Toolkit in the Czech Republic

A study in the August issue of the Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology details the discovery of a Paleolithic toolkit at Milovice 4, an archaeological site in the Czech Republic first uncovered in 2009 during road construction.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal found at the site places the layer at roughly 30,000 years ago, during the Upper Paleolithic. Archaeologists associate the site with the Gravettian culture, hunter-gatherers known for their Venus figurines.

In 2021, researchers found a toolkit consisting of 29 blades and bladelets grouped together as if once wrapped in animal skin. The collection included spear points, scrapers, drills, and blanks for making additional tools. Some had been sharpened or repaired, and the materials — including flint, chert, and even one piece of opal — came from as far as 50 to 80 miles away.

“Normally when they find tools, they’re scattered — one here, one there,” said Johnson, Radio Catskill’s resident science contributor. “These were all together in a group, like somebody set down their kit and never picked it back up.”

For archaeologists, the find offers more than cultural context; it offers a glimpse of one individual’s life 30 millennia ago. “The fact that these things were found together and likely from one person connects us to an individual,” Johnson said. “That gives us some insight into what life may have been like 30,000 years ago.”

New Hydrogel May Boost Farming

A second story, published in June in the American Chemical Society’s Agricultural Science and Technology Journal, highlights a new hydrogel developed at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa.

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers already used in products from diapers to contact lenses. The new version is made from carrageenan, a natural compound from red algae, and is fully biodegradable.

Researchers report that the hydrogel not only retains water but also promotes plant growth as a “biostimulant,” reducing the need for fertilizers. In tests with Italian watercress, it supported healthy growth in hydroponic systems while using significantly less water.

“This stuff could also be added to soil to help it retain water,” Johnson explained. “It’s 100% biodegradable, it’s sustainable, and future versions may even have sensors built in that change color to show plant health.”

Beyond water conservation, the technology may one day support farming in space. “If we ever try to grow food on Mars, the soil there is basically poisonous,” Johnson said. “Something like this hydrogel might be a way forward.”

Comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon Brightens

Finally, astronomers are tracking comet C/2025 A6 Lemmon, first observed in January by the Mount Lemmon Observatory in Arizona.

Initially expected to remain faint, the comet emerged from behind the sun in July brighter than predicted. Currently visible only with binoculars or a small telescope, it could become visible to the naked eye by late October.

On October 20, the comet will pass 55 million miles from Earth, coinciding with a new moon and dark skies. It will reach its closest point to the sun on November 8.

“Comets never do what they’re predicted to do,” Johnson noted. “This one came out from behind the sun a lot brighter than we thought it would, and that’s a promising sign.”

Observers hoping to spot the comet should look northwest about an hour after sunset in a location with a clear horizon. Johnson recommends patience and preparation: “Take about 20 minutes to let your eyes adjust, and remember your phone camera is often more sensitive than your eyes. You might see the comet on your screen before you spot it in the sky.”

Communities across the country are figuring out how to close their incinerators, but Sullivan County is considering building a new one. Earlier this summer, the county issued a draft RFP for a waste-to-energy facility as part of its broader plans to prepare for the region’s anticipated growth of trash over the next decade.

On Monday evening, a coalition of activists organized an emergency town hall in Monticello to push back against the proposal. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

The Catskills were once the heart of the Borscht Belt, where towns like Parksville and Livingston Manor buzzed with resorts, entertainers, and families seeking a summer escape. This weekend, the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project unveils its 14th marker in Parksville, with another following later this month in Livingston Manor. More than commemorating the past, these markers bring history alive through art, music, food, and film.

Photographer, historian, and curator Marisa Scheinfeld, along with photographer Isaac Jeffreys, are helping capture and share the story of the Catskills and the Borscht Belt through this ongoing project.

“Parksville, just like so many other towns, had an immense Borscht Belt history,” Scheinfeld explained. “It had the Young’s Gap Hotel—the first all-inclusive, year-round resort. It offered unbelievable amenities. There was an iconic film screen there in 1950. It hosted amazing entertainers, and you know, just had everything. I think we have like 28 hotels in Parksville as our count.”

The Young’s Gap Hotel, a pioneer in the all-inclusive model and featured in the film Catskill Honeymoon, holds a special legacy. “Yeah, all-inclusive—Marissa really nailed it,” Jeffreys said. “They had their own radio show, part of WVOS. We have a photo of it from the 1940s where they were hosting, I believe, the Mac Schwartz Company, talking about brochures for the season. So, they really had their own sort of compound going on there.”

Even smaller resorts like the New Brighton Hotel and the Grand Hotel contributed to the town’s vibrant culture, but Young’s Gap was “one of the big anchor resorts in the county,” Jeffreys added. “It could go up there with the Laurels and Grossingers and the Nevele. It just kind of dropped off in the late ’60s, so it doesn’t get remembered as much. But it’s really one of the big ones.”

The Parksville marker also highlights Sunset Acres, an African-American resort, acknowledging a broader, more inclusive history. “About less than 10—about a handful of African-American hotels in the area—and Sunset Acres actually, I have to give Isaac all the credit for discovering that,” Scheinfeld said.

Jeffreys shared the story of uncovering Sunset Acres: “I heard about this hotel once before, probably four or five years ago, seeing an eBay listing for a brochure. One day I veered off onto Benton Hollow Road in Parksville, which is now basically covered by Route 17. The property looked like a Borscht Belt hotel, but I couldn’t find much information. Then, at Town and Country Antiques in Liberty, I found a stack of unposted postcards from Sunset Acres. Only one image was shown—a poolside photo with the main building in the background—but finding a full-color 1960s postcard from this place, so close to where it was, was really special. I think we kind of brought it out of obscurity, which is fun.”

The Parksville dedication this weekend will be a full celebration, with music, food, and a film screening. Scheinfeld shared details: “John Conway will be speaking at the ceremony. We have some hotel descendants there. At 2:00, it’s at the intersection of Parksville Road and Short Avenue, then we’ll move down the street to New Memories, Conflux Gallery, Art Collective, and Double Up. We’re partnering with the Parksville Art Center for ‘Meet Me in Parksville.’ There will be live music, wine and cider, food from Double Up, and a special screening of Catskill Honeymoon, filmed at the Young’s Gap. It’s a real-time capsule period piece with classic Catskills scenes—golf, tennis, calisthenics, sunbathing—and we’re really thrilled.”

Scheinfeld emphasized the project’s dual purpose: “In some ways, it’s almost like a eulogy for the hotels that existed once but no longer exist. But it’s not just about what once was. Parksville is a vibrant place today, and this event celebrates both past and present.”

Later this month, the project moves north to Livingston Manor, which hosted at least 40 hotels. “Livingston Manor was really unique in offering resorts for young people—specifically singles and couples,” Scheinfeld said. “Two hotels, White Row and The Waldemere, are being honored. There were 41 hotels, 12 bungalow colonies. It’s a tremendous history.”

The markers also recognize entertainers known as “Tumlers,” performers who shaped American comedy. Jeffreys explained: “Tumblers were everywhere—nightclubs, but really by the pool during the day. They created a thriving, fun atmosphere. Many were comedians starting out, testing material, seeing how people responded. It’s a special era, and people who come to the dedications talk about it with pure joy. We’re happy to honor that.”

The upcoming dedications are:

• Parksville: Sunday, 2:00 p.m., intersection of Parksville Road and Short Avenue.
• Livingston Manor: October 18, 2:00 p.m., intersection of Main and Pearl, with an “Illy Talk” at 3:30 p.m. at Caskey Art Space, followed by an after-party at Sunshine Great Colony.

More information is available at www.maytheborschtbewithyou.org, with updates on Instagram and Facebook. For more about Scheinfeld’s work, visit marisascheinfeld.com, and for Jeffreys, isaacjeffreys.com.

From sweet and mild to spicy and hot, the first annual Pepperfest kicks off in Damascus, Pennsylvania this Saturday, October 4th. It’s a new festival celebrating the love of peppers in the Upper Delaware River Valley.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar headed down to Tyler Hill, Pennsylvania to talk to the Pepperfest planning committee to learn what folks can expect and brings us this report.

Jazz trombonist Ryan Keberle is bringing the infectious rhythms of Brazil to Honesdale tomorrow with a live performance at the Cooperage Project. His new album, Choro das Águas, created in collaboration with Collectiv do Brasil, blends traditional Brazilian choro rhythms with modern jazz in a fresh, compelling way.

“We hope people get up and dance—or at least feel like getting up and dancing,” Keberle says. “The grooves are infectious, especially played by this band straight from Brazil.”

Keberle, a New York-based trombonist who now calls the Catskills home, says the album is inspired not only by Brazil’s rich folk traditions but also by one of the country’s great living songwriters, Ivan Lins. “All of our arrangements try to bring an American jazz sensibility to these compositions while staying true to their Brazilian roots,” he explains.

For Keberle, mastering Brazilian music has been a labor of love. “Working as a freelance musician, you have to become fluent in many musical languages. Brazilian music just connected with me deeply—especially the folk traditions where trombone plays a central role,” he says. Over the past decade, he’s studied these styles closely, reimagining classic songs with his own compositions and arrangements.

Keberle likens the live concert experience to attending a public lecture delivered by experts: “Music is a form of communication. When we’re on stage, we’re telling stories, sharing these rich traditions, and hoping the audience feels it in their bodies.”

Keberle and Collectiv do Brasil perform tomorrow at the Cooperage Project in Honesdale. For ticket information, visit cooperageproject.org.

What does “cage-free,” “pasture-raised,” or “organic” really mean when you’re shopping for groceries? Even farmers say the labels can be confusing.

“That’s why we’re doing this workshop,” said Iris Gillingham of Gail Roots Farm, who will lead the Understanding Food Labels Workshop this Sunday at Farm Arts Collective. “Last year I was at a farming conference and a bunch of farmers were talking about how confusing it is to navigate these food labels, even for them. So many of them are unregulated.”

Gillingham says shoppers are surrounded by what’s known as greenwashing. “When you’re in the grocery store and you see something that says USDA Organic next to a box that says ‘all natural’ or ‘non-GMO,’ you’re really confused,” she said. “Some of the words and terminology have no backbone to them.”

Beyond the labels, farming practices affect soil health, climate change, and small farmers’ livelihoods. “The biggest thing to do around food is to try and get to know your farmer and know their practices,” Gillingham said. “There are a lot of farmers that aren’t certified because it’s a big cost, but they still follow those practices.”

Sunday’s workshop will break down common terms, explain certification processes, and even touch on gardening and fertilizer labels. Lunch from Willow Wisp Organic Farm is included.

The Understanding Food Labels Workshop happens Sunday, Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Farm Arts Collective in Damascus. It’s pay-what-you-can at the door—no reservations required.

“We want people to be educated consumers,” Gillingham said. “Food is so expensive right now. We want people to know what they’re putting their dollar behind.”

More info at farmartscollective.org.

Over the last decade, the number of short-term rentals in Ulster County has jumped by 220 percent. That’s according to a new report released on Monday from Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher about the rapid growth of short-term rentals and their increasing pressure on the county’s housing market.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Ulster County Comptroller Gallagher who shared the latest from the report.