Artist Bette Blau is bringing a deeply personal and richly textured body of work to Hall Space in Eldred with her new exhibit, From Where I Stand. The opening reception takes place this Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., and the show runs through September 7.

“In the last seven years I’ve been met with lots of challenges, as many of us have, and I’ve come to really understand… perspective,” Blau explained. “Circumstances change and continue to change… nothing is stagnant… So, From Where I Stand is really about right now, from where I stand, this is where I am.”

Blau creates layered collages from vintage paper, ephemera, and natural textures, transforming found materials into what she calls “landscapes and charts that invite you to look closer and see what lies beneath.”

“I love to flea market and estate sale,” she said. “I love plain paper. I love paper with writing. I love envelopes that have different colors inside. Some of my collages are completely made from old envelopes… as you peel away the paper, things are left behind and you don’t always know what’s going to be there. I love that kind of exploration.”

Her process is intuitive. “I start really by building… I just kind of start to layer and layer and I try not to get too attached with what I’m seeing. A lot of times I’ll paint a layer over that… and start to see how the color of the paint is coming through the paper. Most times I don’t know the direction of my piece.”

Blau’s background as a set decorator influences her visual style. “It was almost like painting with objects,” she recalled. “The bottle that I chose was very painterly to me next to the textured surface next to the napkin… that’s kind of how it manifested itself.”

When it comes to what she hopes audiences take away, Blau is open-ended. “Looking at art is so personal, just like the making of art is so personal. I want people to interpret from their personal experiences… I do feel that there’s a very calming element to the collages and I hope that they feel that.”

One standout piece in the exhibit is Hoan, created during a stay in Hoan, Vietnam. “We were fortunate enough to be at an Airbnb… that were organic herb gardens. Every day the gardeners… came out to care for their land and there was a scent in the air that was sweet and there was a calm over the entire thing. I made that collage when I was there sitting outside… and that evoked a lot of beautiful memories for me.”

Blau says the exhibit marks a turning point in her creative and personal life. “This has been a very healing year for me… personally this has been a good run for me.”

More information about the exhibit is at hallspaceny.com. Details on Blau’s work are at betteblau.com.

Rising food and housing costs, paired with federal funding cuts, are hitting home. Sullivan Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Community Cupboard reported that emergency calls for food aid have increased 100 percent in the past three months.

The Community Cupboard currently delivers to about 700 people each week, including running a 7-days-a-week emergency delivery operation. But with food insecurity on the rise, federal USDA cuts, and proposed Medicaid and SNAP cuts looming –  the organization has reached its capacity limit.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar joined the Sullivan Fresh Cupboard team – who provide sustainable food and service support to hyper-rural communities and food deserts – on their morning route to chat with the team about how they’re navigating an uncertain future.

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson has a fascinating update on three very different science stories: the subtle changes in Earth’s rotation, a rare meteorite impact in Georgia, and the resurgence of the screwworm fly in Central America and Mexico.

Earth’s Rotation: Less Than 2 Milliseconds Matter

Last week, Radio Catskill explored the changing rate of the Earth’s rotation and the tiny variations in day length. “And we're totally talking like less than 2 milliseconds here. We're not talking a big deal,” Joe clarified. 

He also corrected a misstatement from the previous report: “I made a mistake. I used the term sidereal day when I was really talking about a solar day. And there's a difference between them.”

He explained: “A sidereal day is the Earth's rotation as determined by measuring the position of a distant star or radio source. And that's 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds. A solar day is from local noon when the sun hits the highest point in the southern sky to the next solar noon. And that's exactly 24 hours or 86,400 seconds.”

The difference arises because “the Earth moves in its orbit about 1° per day. And so to get the sun back into that exact position, we have to then go another… 56 seconds or something like that. And so it's the change in position of the Earth that causes the two measurements to be slightly different from each other.”

Joe illustrated the concept with a hands-on experiment: “I told Tim he should do the spinny chair experiment where you spin around on a chair with your legs and arms out and then draw them in and you go a lot faster. It kind of illustrates how a change in mass can change rotation.”

Rare Meteorite Strikes a Georgia Home

In North Georgia near Atlanta, a rare daytime fireball from June 26 was seen and heard by hundreds, leaving a sonic boom captured on dashcams and security cameras. “The next day it was reported that a meteorite fragment had actually struck a house in a little town called McDunna, Georgia in a place called Henry County and it actually made a hole the size of a golf ball in a residential roof. It was estimated to be moving about a kilometer per second and that's about a little over 2,200 miles per hour when it hit this guy's roof.”

The meteorite passed through the ceiling, creating a 2- to 3-inch-wide crater in the living room floor. “The homeowner said it sounded like a gunshot, like a loud gunshot.”

Approximately 50 grams of the meteorite were recovered, with 23 grams donated to the University of Georgia Geology Department for study. Researchers identified it as an elchondrite, a low-metal-content stony meteorite likely originating from the asteroid belt. “It's basically a leftover from the formation of the solar system… about 20 million years older than the Earth.”

The meteorite has been dubbed the McDonagh meteorite, though the name must still be approved by the Meteoritical Society. Joe noted, “Most meteorites are not seen by people because about 3/4 of them fall in the ocean and most of the time they burn up before they hit the surface.”

Screwworm Flies Make a Return

The final story covers a troubling agricultural threat: the new world screwworm fly, which infects livestock by laying eggs in open wounds. “The larva actually look like wood screws. That's why they're called the screwworm fly… it could cause sickness, weight loss and can even be fatal.”

Although previously eradicated from the U.S. through the sterile insect technique—raising millions of flies, sterilizing them with gamma radiation, and releasing sterile males to prevent reproduction—the flies have resurfaced. “In 2022 this gap was breached… in 2023, they were in Costa Rica, 2024, they were in Nicaragua and Honduras. And now they're in Mexico. Mexico, Southern Mexico has had 2,700 cases and… 25 human cases too.”

The U.S. government, in cooperation with Latin American countries, is responding by expanding sterile fly releases, developing new traps, and improving cattle inspection protocols. “New fly rearing factories are being built… Uruguay is even looking into gene editing to see if they can introduce a gene that would make them infertile.”

With a $15 billion cattle industry in Texas alone, officials are taking the threat seriously. “Don't mess with that,” Joe remarked.

In the Catskills town of Neversink, the dream of ski slopes faded decades ago when alcohol bans kept developers at bay. 

That twist of fate laid the groundwork for something far more lasting. 

Today, the Blue Hill property's forested watershed is now protected through a deal by Open Space Institute. OSI's landmark acquisition of 3,100 acres strengthens watershed integrity, advances New York’s 30x30 climate goals, and secures the ecological legacy of this region. 

In the latest episode of Kaatscast, the Catskills Podcast, Host/producer Brett Barry talks to OSI's Charlie Burgess (OSI’s Northern NY Stewardship Manager) and Tom Gravel (OSI's Northeast Project Manager). They explore the decades-long journey from speculation to stewardship—and what this land means for clean water, climate resilience, and the future of public access.

This weekend marks exactly 56 years since the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York — and in a rare coincidence, the dates line up precisely with the original 1969 festival.

The festival began on Friday, August 15, and ran through Sunday, August 17, 1969. This year, Friday, August 15, and Saturday, August 16, once again fall on the same days of the week.

Radio Catskill, the closest radio station to the original Woodstock site, is marking the occasion with a week of special local news coverage. Meanwhile, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts — located on the historic festival grounds — is hosting a week of anniversary events.

Festivities kick off Tuesday afternoon with special guest Elliott Landy, one of the official photographers of the original Woodstock festival. Landy is best known for his portraits of artists including Bob Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix, and for capturing many of the most iconic images of Woodstock in 1969.

Speaking about the original site and its legacy, Landy said:

Landy reflected on the ideals of the 1960s and their continued relevance:

Landy first arrived at Woodstock through his work documenting the anti–Vietnam War movement for the underground press. His music photography career took off after shooting artists like Janis Joplin and The Band. One day, he ran into Woodstock organizer Michael Lang, who later invited him to photograph the festival.

Landy said he hopes his Bethel Woods appearances convey a message of optimism:

In addition to photo talks, Landy will present “Sharing Stillness” energy work and host a dinner event. On Wednesday, he will present Spirit of a Generation, a slideshow in the Event Gallery.

Looking back at his famous images, Landy noted that while the cultural spotlight on 1960s ideals may have dimmed, the values themselves remain vital:

More information about Elliott Landy’s work can be found at elliottlandy.com. 

Bethel Woods’ full Woodstock Anniversary Week schedule is available on their website.

As students gear up to return to school, they will face a new reality: smartphones, smart watches, and earbuds will be banned throughout the school day, except for specific educational, medical, or safety needs. The statewide restriction aims to reduce distractions and improve focus, but it has sparked conversations among students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike.

Liam Mayo, news editor of The River Reporter, discussed how these new rules are being implemented locally at Eldred Central School District and Sullivan West Central School District and what impact they might have.

Enforcing the Bell-to-Bell Ban

At Eldred Central, the policy varies by grade level:

• Elementary: Students are discouraged from bringing internet-enabled devices. If brought, devices must be silenced and stored in the school office.
• Middle School: Devices must be silenced and stored in homeroom device caddies.
• High School: Devices are silenced and kept in designated centralized holders.

Sullivan West’s approach is similar but tailored:

• Pre-K to 4: Internet-enabled devices are not allowed.
• Grades 5-6: Students must turn phones into their homeroom teachers.
• Secondary students: Responsible for storing phones in school-issued blockers.

Mayo explained, “There are some exceptions being made for medical, educational, or safety needs. These are managed through conversations between parents and school administration on a case-by-case basis, often involving individualized education programs (IEPs).”

Local Perspectives on the Shift

Both Eldred Central and Sullivan West anticipate a cultural shift with this policy change. Superintendent Tracy Ferreira of Eldred Central said, “This will be a cultural shift for students, staff, and families at the junior-senior high school.” Similarly, Sullivan West Superintendent Catherine Bressler noted that while some restrictions already existed, “Expanding it to the full day will be different because phones were part of how students communicated with parents or worked with teachers within set educational limits.”

To prepare the community, both districts held multiple meetings over the summer to listen to concerns and inform families. Mayo shared, “We heard that both districts reached out to students as well, to gauge their thoughts on the new rules.”

State Support and Safety Concerns

Governor Kathy Hochul has emphasized the goal behind the ban, stating, “We want freedom for kids and parents,” highlighting that the policy includes provisions for exceptions. The state is providing approximately $13.5 million in funds to help schools purchase device storage solutions and develop enforcement plans.

Sullivan West received $5,210 specifically for purchasing storage units for main offices and classrooms.

Addressing safety concerns, Mayo relayed Hochul’s reasoning: “It’s actually safer for students not to have their cell phones in an emergency because the last thing you want your child to be doing is pulling out their phone rather than focusing on their teacher or security personnel trained to keep them safe.”

Transition and Community Reaction

Sullivan West had some existing cell phone policies, potentially easing the transition. Superintendent Bressler acknowledged, “There were already areas where students could not use devices, so this expands those restrictions.”

However, Mayo noted, “The statewide mandate overrides any local discretion schools had, requiring a stricter, uniform policy.”

One notable perspective came from the president of the New York State United Teachers Association, who observed that students in schools adopting the ban early are passing notes instead of using phones.

Mayo commented on this dynamic, “While social media on phones can harm mental health, passing notes or whispering has long been part of school life. This highlights the broader issue of student discipline beyond just cell phones.”

Looking Ahead

As school resumes, local media plans to follow up with students and families to understand how they are adapting.

For detailed coverage at The River Reporter at riverreporter.com.

Local bookstores are bringing books to prisons throughout New York State. The Prison Books Project, in partnership with local bookstores throughout Ulster and Dutchess counties, is a nonprofit that was established in 2020 with the purpose of sending books to people incarcerated throughout New York State free of cost. 

Based in Binnacle Books in Beacon, the project has since partnered with a host of other local bookstores to send the hundreds of books requests that have come to fill their PO Box every month. 

Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with co-founder Annmarie Nye and current co-director Michal Mart on what inspired the Prison Books Project, the reach the nonprofit has been able to have and what role bookstores and books more broadly play in challenging the carceral system. 

Do you have those home-cooked recipes that transport you to another place or time? Well, that’s what chef David Perez is hoping to achieve through their new tamales menu at Sueños, a new Mexican food pop-up in Livingston Manor.

On the menu are fresh corn tamales, pork verde tostadas, and more. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar brought us along during her recent visit to Sueños at Sunshine Colony in Livingston Manor.

A deepening governance crisis in Woodstock, NY, has come to a head with the official termination of Michael Anello, a Level 3 sex offender who was quietly hired earlier this year as a town maintenance worker. His employment—and the secrecy around it—sparked weeks of public outrage, a power struggle within the town board, and widespread concern over transparency and safety.

Michael Anello was hired part-time in March and promoted to full-time in June. His criminal record, which includes a conviction for rape and five years served in prison, came to light in early July. The revelation sent shockwaves through the community and led to an intense debate over accountability, public trust, and the rights of formerly incarcerated individuals.

“In March he was hired, and it turns out he has a personal relationship with the supervisor’s confidential secretary,” said Noah Eckstein, editor-in-chief of The Overlook, who broke the story. “In 2014, the Town of Woodstock—like many towns across the state—‘banned the box,’ meaning they no longer asked about felony convictions on job applications.”

Eckstein explained that while the town may not have broken any laws, the hiring process left many questions unanswered.

“I would say it's not a breaking of any laws—it's more an ethical thing. It’s a failure in transparency and communication.”

Board Action Ignored

On July 22, after the full extent of Anello’s criminal history became public, the Woodstock Town Board voted 3-0 to terminate his employment. Board members Anula Cordes, Bennett Ratcliff, and Maria-Elena Conte voted in favor of dismissal. Laura Ricci abstained, and Town Supervisor Bill McKenna refused to vote.

McKenna, whose term ends later this year, did not act on the board’s decision, prompting further outrage.

“He just stalled on that. He completely waited,” said Eckstein. “Tensions have been high. I’ve been covering local government for many years, and this was the only town in which I thought there would be some sort of physical violence.”

In the absence of action from the supervisor, Cordes—who is also the Democratic nominee for supervisor—took matters into her own hands. She signed the change-of-personnel order and submitted it to the Ulster County Civil Service Department. The county has confirmed that Anello is no longer employed by the town.

“This week The Overlook broke the news and we confirmed that Anello has been fired,” said Eckstein.

A Town Divided

The fallout from the controversy continues to reverberate through the community. A protest calling for Supervisor McKenna’s resignation is planned for Friday on the Village Green. Public meetings have been packed, with emotions running high.

“The July 22nd meeting was completely packed—there were like 40 or 50 people there,” Eckstein said. “Some of whom were sexual assault survivors came in very, very impassioned by the hiring of Anello.”

The controversy also reignited debate over how society handles reintegration for people with criminal records. While some residents believe Anello deserves a second chance, others say that public safety and transparency must come first—especially when town employees work in proximity to children.

“It struck a nerve particularly because… he was seen sort of within 60 to 100 feet of the town pool near the rec camp,” Eckstein said.

Critics also noted that McKenna failed to inform other officials, including the police chief and the town library, about the hiring.

“It very much felt like a protection of Anello,” said Eckstein. “And I think it blew up because people want to feel safe and want to have as much knowledge about the people who are working in town as possible.”

What’s Next?

An upcoming town board meeting on August 12 is expected to be tense. Questions remain about Supervisor McKenna’s cooperation with the board and whether further actions will be taken.

“The supervisor’s not answering my calls,” Eckstein said. “It’s been hard to get him on the phone, but it’s likely to be a pretty contentious and just tense board meeting.”

The situation has thrown a spotlight on Woodstock’s local government, raising broader concerns about ethics, leadership, and how decisions are made behind closed doors.

“This has really been overshadowed by the hiring of Michael Anello,” said Eckstein. “We published an analysis of the situation and contextualized [McKenna’s] broader eight years as supervisor.”

As residents call for change, all eyes are now on the August 12 meeting—and the November election that could reshape town leadership.

Further coverage at The Overlook

It's National Farmers Market Week, a national event that celebrates the huge role that farmers markets play in supporting local agriculture, strengthening community ties and improving food access. Locally, the Wayne County Farmers Market is celebrating 50 years of farm fresh food. 

We spoke with Anita Avvisato –co manager of the Wayne County Farmers Market , about how the market got started and what’s ahead.