The CEO of Garnet Health Medical Center – Catskills is warning that newly signed federal legislation could deal a severe blow to rural hospitals already on the financial brink.

In a wide-ranging interview with Radio Catskill, Jerry Dunlavey, who oversees Garnet Health’s two Sullivan County campuses in Harris and Callicoon, expressed concern about the sweeping Medicaid changes enacted earlier this month as part of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law by President Trump.

“This bill shifts a significant amount of the funding responsibility from the federal government to the state government,” said Dunlavey. “And the concern is that the state is not going to be able to make up that difference. That’s going to cause significant challenges for health systems, particularly our rural hospitals.”

State lawmakers have warned that as many as 1.5 million New Yorkers could lose access to health coverage under the new law. According to Dunlavey, that could include as many as 40,000 residents in the Hudson Valley region alone.

Financial Uncertainty Deepens

Although the specifics of the law are still being analyzed, Dunlavey noted the immediate risk is clear. In Sullivan County, he said, 35–40% of Garnet Health’s patients are on Medicaid, and a similar portion are on Medicare. Only about 20% are commercially insured or pay out-of-pocket.

“That payer mix is a recipe for barely being able to break even,” he said. “If you start to cut programs that fund the organization, it’s going to be significant.”

Rural hospitals like Garnet have already been navigating financial headwinds, including recent cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates and physician fees. Last month, Garnet Health announced job reductions and the closure of two services: pulmonary rehab and diabetes education—programs Dunlavey said provided excellent care but had become unsustainable to operate.

“The unfortunate consequence is that when programs can’t support the cost of their operations, it presents hospital leaders with very, very difficult decisions,” he said.

Preparing for What’s Ahead

Dunlavey said the Garnet Health leadership team is accelerating its strategic planning process in response to the law’s passage.

“We normally have a strategic planning cycle set to start in mid-2026,” he said. “We’ve decided it’s time for us to get together now and talk about what initiatives we need to pursue to remain sustainable and preserve as many services as we can.”

The ripple effects of the Medicaid changes are expected to unfold more fully in 2026, Dunlavey added, particularly if uninsured patients begin showing up in greater numbers to emergency departments.

“Hospitals do not—and legally cannot—turn anyone away who needs care,” he said. “But hospitals also cannot support a growing volume of unreimbursed visits.”

Staff and Community Concern

Dunlavey noted that while patients haven’t expressed widespread concern yet, Garnet Health employees are already feeling the strain. At a recent anniversary lunch, he said, the top issue on employees’ minds was the future of Medicaid.

“Our staff understand our community and the vulnerability of the population we serve,” said Dunlavey. “The concern over Medicaid cuts really feels like the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Despite the uncertainty, he emphasized that Garnet Health remains committed to the region.

“These are unprecedented times,” he said. “Five years ago we were in the middle of a pandemic. We spent the years after trying to regroup. And now we’re facing billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid. It’s a challenge, but we are committed to doing everything we can to continue to serve the community.”

For more information, visit garnethealth.org.

Garnet Health is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.

A New York State Supreme Court judge has awarded $30 million in damages to Jeff Pringle, a man who was sexually abused as a teenager at the Forestburgh Scout Reservation in 1985. The ruling is believed to be the first verdict under the state’s Child Victims Act in Sullivan County, according to Isabel Braverman, Editor of the Sullivan County Democrat.

Pringle was 16 years old when he worked as a camp counselor at the Boy Scout camp nearly 40 years ago. During that summer, he was abused by a man who had posed as a medical professional at the camp.

According to court documents and reporting from the Sullivan County Democrat, the abuser, Paul Caillaud, presented himself to campers and staff as a licensed doctor. Pringle visited the camp’s infirmary with an ear infection after swimming in the lake, where Caillaud—claiming to be a doctor—allegedly held him and sexually assaulted him over the course of two nights.

Caillaud was reportedly a volunteer at the camp that summer and was not a licensed medical professional. He was originally from Florida and brought items like a medical briefcase and equipment to the camp to support his false credentials. It remains unclear how he gained access to the camp or how his impersonation went unchallenged at the time. The camp itself, and the Boy Scouts of America, were not named as defendants in this particular civil case.

It was Pringle’s mother, a nurse, who began to suspect something was wrong after her son described the so-called “medical treatment” he received. She questioned Caillaud and another nurse at the camp, eventually discovering he lacked a medical license. Her concerns led to a police investigation in 1985 and ultimately Caillaud’s conviction.

The $30 million award stems from Pringle’s decades-long suffering, which includes anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation—trauma the judge found credible and deeply damaging. The court also cited evidence of abuse against at least three other individuals, although specific details were not disclosed in the court record.

While the Forestburgh Scout Reservation and the Boy Scouts of America were not part of this civil trial, Pringle is reportedly pursuing separate claims against the national scouting organization through its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. His legal team argues the organization enabled abusers by granting access to vulnerable children.

The ruling is notable as the first known Child Victims Act verdict in Sullivan County. Enacted in 2019, the law created a legal window for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to file lawsuits, even decades after the abuse occurred. Prior to its passage, victims had until age 22 to bring civil claims.

More coverage of this case is available at scdemocratonline.com.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of abuse, help is available. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit RAINN.org for confidential support.

The Hudson Valley is known for its art history. The Hudson River School during the 19th century spearheaded the Romanticism movement in the United States, producing an extensive collection of paintings of the natural landscape we are famous for. But Forge Project, an Indigenous-led non-profit located on the unceded land of the Moh-He-Con-Nuck Community in Columbia County, argues it is a colonial legacy — one that has erased the very existence of Indigenous people in this region alongside their foundational contributions to American arts and culture. 

Established in 2021, the local organization has been working to challenge that erasure. Through a combination of supporting emerging Indigenous artists, working directly with Indigenous tribes and advancing land remediation and research projects, Forge specifically aims to deconstruct the institutional barriers that have long guarded the art world. 

Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with Executive Director and Chief Curator Candice Hopkins or Director of Indigenous Programs & Relationality Sarah Biscarra Dilley on the journey of the non-profit itself, the organization’s ongoing projects and the structural issues they aim to address and how racism and settler colonialism have been critical to the development of Western art. 

Here’s Dilley…

Sullivan County is facing an urgent housing crunch. Now, the county legislature must decide how to address the issue. 

Last year, the legislature allocated $2 million in local funds for affordable housing. County legislators are weighing several options for how to use those funds – create a housing trust fund, build new affordable rentals, or repair and improve the county’s existing housing stock.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Heather Brown, Sullivan County Commissioner of Planning, Community Development, and Environmental Management about the different options on the table and what it could mean for the county’s housing supply.

Why is there an elephant in Jeffersonville? Many visitors to the weekly Jeffersonville Sunday Market have had the same question.

If you’re lucky enough to meet Mama, the real life elephant replica structure stationed in the garden of the Jeffersonville Bake Shop you might also be surprised to learn the timely lesson she has about environmental awareness, Indigenous art, and human and animal coexistence.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke with Michael Huber, co-owner of the Jeffersonville Bake Shop and its parent company Heartwood about why her message is so important for Jeffersonville and attended the Sunday Market to talk with the community about their newest neighbor!

According to an article by New York Focus, thousands of people across New York state are facing long waitlists for two major state-funded, community-based mental health programs — supportive housing and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT). In Sullivan County, every resident who applied for supportive housing programs in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were placed on waitlists of up to a couple of years. The backlog in these voluntary programs comes as Governor Kathy Hochul recently expanded involuntary commitment for people with mental health issues in the latest state budget, opening the door for a potential increase in the forcible hospitalization of those suffering from mental health-related challenges amid fears for public safety. 

Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak to Luke Sikinyi, Director of Policy at the Alliance of Rights and Recovery, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to mental health advocacy, about why New Yorkers are having to face these long waitlists and the main issues advocates have with the expansion of involuntary commitment. In addition, Kim also spoke to members of the Hudson Valley Clubhouse — a community-based program located in Poughkeepsie that connects people dealing with mental health issues to critical resources — including executive director Blaise Sackett, program director Sarah Santos and member William Dlugozima on the importance of community-centered models like the clubhouse in supporting recovery. 

New York immigration arrests were up in early June, according to newly obtained federal data. This comes as President Trump continues his attempt to fulfill the largest mass deportation effort in history, with widespread deportation arrests across the country.
 
The growing threat of raids have left rural communities with heightened anxiety and fear, but some grassroots organizations are springing into action locally. In South Fallsburg, a new children’s summer camp for rural and migrant families is creating a safe space for kids – to be kids.

A familiar face has returned to a familiar newsroom. The Sullivan County Democrat has named Isabel Braverman as its new editor, following the departure of Derek Kirk. Braverman, a Narrowsburg resident and longtime journalist, steps into the leadership role with deep local roots and a clear vision for community-centered reporting. Braverman’s leadership marks a new chapter for the Sullivan County Democrat as it continues its 133-year tradition of serving the region with trusted, community-driven reporting.

Braverman, who previously worked as a staff reporter at the Democrat, brings a broad range of experience from her work at the Sullivan County Visitors Association and Radio Catskill’s "One Small Step" project.
 
Speaking about her return, she said, “I really felt that I was missing local news. Personally, just knowing what’s going on. I always want to know more, to find out that information, and so I just thought it would be a great step to come back and be a part of the newsroom again.”

Reflecting on her shift from reporter to editor, Braverman acknowledged the adjustment. “It feels different being the editor, which I wasn’t sure if it would. I think back to when I was a reporter and Matt Shortall was the editor. I learned a lot from him during that time, and I’m bringing that knowledge now to help guide the newsroom.”

Braverman says her goal is to deepen coverage of local issues that directly impact Sullivan County residents. Citing a recent investigation into challenges faced by independent pharmacies, she noted, “I really think we can do some great in-depth stories on issues affecting our communities.”

A lifelong Sullivan County resident, Braverman emphasized that her local perspective will shape the Democrat’s coverage under her leadership. “I’m from here, born and raised. Having worked at the Visitors Association, I really got to know the local businesses and the people behind them. I feel very much a part of this community, and I’m bringing all of those years to this position.”

Braverman also spoke candidly about balancing her professional role with motherhood. The mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, she highlighted the challenges faced by working parents in the region, including a shortage of affordable childcare. “It adds an extra stress,” she said, “but luckily I have family in the area to help.”

She acknowledged the significance of her appointment in an industry historically dominated by men. “It’s important to have that representation. I look forward to mentoring others, just like I was mentored.”

Addressing common misconceptions about the newspaper’s name, Braverman clarified that the Sullivan County Democrat is not affiliated with any political party. “It’s just called that because when it started in 1891, many papers had names like Democrat, Republican, or Independent in their titles. The name just stuck.”

In an era of rapid digital change and increasing pressures on local media, Braverman said the Democrat is working to bridge traditional journalism with modern platforms. Stories are published both in print and online, with select content shared on social media. Still, she emphasized, “If you really want to know what’s going on, pick up the newspaper and read it.”

With several local outlets—including the River Reporter and Radio Catskill—working alongside each other, Braverman sees collaboration, not competition, as the way forward. “We’re all in this together to amplify the stories of our region.”

Braverman underscored the urgency of sustaining local journalism. “Many counties across the country have just one or no local media outlets. The fact that we have several strong organizations here is really an asset. We can’t afford any more losses.”

The legacy of the Catskills’ fabled Borscht Belt is being kept alive one marker at a time. Tomorrow, the Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project will unveil its 12th official marker in Loch Sheldrake, honoring Brown’s Hotel and the area’s once-iconic resorts that made Sullivan County a cultural epicenter.

“Brown’s is one of those big names like the Concord or Grossinger’s,” said Marisa Scheinfeld, photographer, historian, and co-founder of the project. “These weren’t just vacation spots. They were cultural epicenters. Everyone from Jerry Lewis and Joan Rivers to Sammy Davis Jr. performed here.”

Brown’s Hotel, long known as a landmark of entertainment and leisure, was part of a network of over 500 hotels and thousands of bungalow colonies that defined mid-20th century life in the Catskills. The new historical marker doesn’t just commemorate the resort’s heyday; it also recognizes Loch Sheldrake’s lesser-known history as a hotspot for boxing, and even as a remote refuge for gangsters from New York City—some of whom used the area as a literal dumping ground, according to local historian John Conway.

Scheinfeld noted that the project initially focused on the major towns like Liberty, Fallsburg, and Thompson, but is now expanding to smaller communities. “When we started, there wasn’t a single historical marker for the Borscht Belt. To be unveiling our 12th feels like real progress. Our goal is to get to 20.”

The unveiling will be followed by a public screening of A Walk on the Moon, a film chosen for its direct ties to Catskills history. Written by Pamela Gray, who spent summers in local bungalows, the 1999 film portrays a family vacationing in Sullivan County in the summer of 1969, against the backdrop of the moon landing and Woodstock.

Scheinfeld said the film captures the unique world of the bungalow colonies, “a whole other Borscht Belt experience that sometimes gets overshadowed by the big hotels.”

The screening will take place inside an original Borscht Belt nightclub that remains intact, offering visitors a rare chance to experience the setting firsthand.

The Borscht Belt Historical Marker Project has several more events lined up, including nighttime dedications in Woodbourne on August 23 and community celebrations in Parksville and Livingston Manor later this fall.

The project encourages locals to share personal stories and artifacts. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, a partner in the effort, is recording oral histories at dedication events. “Don’t throw anything away,” Scheinfeld urged. “Every story matters.”

For more information, including how to attend events or contribute to the project, visit BorschtBeltHistoricalMarkerProject.org — or, MayTheBorschtBeWithYou.org.

Good news for beginner farmers in the Catskills region: Sullivan County Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Beginner Farmer Program is back. Earlier this year, those funds were temporarily frozen as part of Trump’s DOGE efforts to shrink the federal budget.

The program pairs farmers in the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions who have been operating for less than ten years with farmer mentors, group trainings, and networking. 

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Melinda Meddaugh, Agriculture & Food Systems Senior Issue Leader of the Sullivan Cornell Cooperative Extension, about the program returning.