Radio Chatskill

The Western Sullivan Public Libraries are expanding their role as a community learning hub this spring — with new programs that put teens in leadership roles and bring kids together around math, literacy, and even gardening.

Children’s Coordinator Callison Stratton says one of the most exciting additions is a peer-led academic enrichment program designed by local high school students.

“Back in the fall we opened up proposals for a teen mini-grant,” Stratton said. “So our winning proposal was the Equation and Expression program.”

The proposal came from Sullivan West High School sophomore Christopher Lee and junior Mary Chellis. Their idea: create a collaborative learning space where younger students explore math and literacy through games, led by teens who have recently navigated those same academic challenges.

“We thought it would be a really wonderful program to offer a peer-led, teen-led learning games environment,” Stratton said, “where they’ll be learning about math and literacy through this sort of collaborative, fun environment.”

The program will meet Wednesdays at the Jeffersonville library in five-week sessions, divided by grade level. Sessions for grades two and three begin February 25, followed by grades four and five on April 8. A middle-school preparation course for sixth graders starts May 20.

While families are asked to commit to all five sessions, Stratton says the focus isn’t on grades or test scores.

“Really it’s not about getting grades or anything like that,” she said. “It’s about community skill building, social emotional learning, developing those skills that are going to help them just go a little bit further in their academic career.”

Stratton says seeing teens step into leadership roles was what made the proposal stand out.

“It will be something that’s led by students who’ve been through it already,” she said. “When we saw their proposal, we were just so proud of it. We said, we have to help facilitate this.”

The library is also preparing to take learning outdoors with its Junior Master Gardeners program, which meets at the Narrowsburg branch and uses a plot at the Tusten Community Heritage Garden.

“We’re very excited for our garden club,” Stratton said.

The next session begins March 7 and is open to children ages six and up. Returning participants are welcome, and the program is open to families across the community.

“It’s a very community-based, all-ages program,” Stratton said.

The library is also seeking volunteers, particularly local gardeners interested in sharing their skills.

“People who love getting their hands dirty and love working with kids are welcome to come volunteer,” she said.

February is American Heart Month, and a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association is drawing renewed attention to how sleep habits — not just how much we sleep, but when and how consistently — can affect cardiovascular health.

Researchers found that so-called “night owls,” people who naturally stay up late, tend to have poorer overall cardiovascular health compared to early risers. The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking irregular sleep schedules to increased heart risk.

Dr. Lindsay Mitrani, a cardiologist with Optum Care Mount Medical, says sleep plays a central — and often overlooked — role in heart health.

“Sleep is crucial for cardiovascular health,” Mitrani said. “There is a bidirectional relationship, meaning it goes both ways. In other words, sleep is really important for preventing key factors that are related to cardiac health, including elevated blood pressure, weight, and feeling well. And the other side of this, cardiovascular treatment can also affect sleep.”

What counts as “good” sleep?

According to Mitrani, adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night — but quantity alone isn’t enough.

“Almost a third of adults are poor sleepers, meaning they're averaging less than seven hours, and less than half of adults report having a good night’s sleep,” she said. “That said, it's not just about quantity of sleep, it's also about quality.”

Quality sleep, she explained, includes how long it takes to fall asleep, how often someone wakes during the night, and whether sleep is consistent from one night to the next.

How lack of sleep affects the heart

When sleep is short, irregular, or poor in quality, the cardiovascular system can suffer.

“When someone's not sleeping, essentially the blood pressure rises,” Mitrani said. “Blood pressure is a critical risk factor for cardiac health.”

Sleep deprivation also affects daily habits tied to heart health.

“When you're tired, it's harder to make good dietary choices. You're less physically active. You're not in the mood to go to the gym,” she said. “And even for me or for anyone I know, there's definitely mood disturbances or irritability when you don't have good sleep.”

Over time, poor sleep can increase the risk of atherosclerosis — plaque buildup in the arteries that can lead to heart attacks.

Is it timing, quality, or duration? All of the above.

Mitrani says heart health depends on a combination of sleep factors.

“It’s all three together,” she said. “When we think about heart health, we think about not just medications, but lifestyle. What can we do to help keep our heart healthy?”

That includes both getting enough sleep and maintaining good sleep quality. Frequent awakenings, trouble falling asleep, or difficulty staying asleep can all undermine cardiovascular health.

Can night owls “catch up” on sleep?

The study focused on people with late-night sleep patterns, raising questions about whether weekend sleep or naps can offset weekday deficits. Mitrani says irregular sleep itself is part of the problem.

“The irregularity is definitely harmful,” she said. “Having sleep consistency is a key marker for sleep success.”

Still, she emphasizes that many sleep habits are modifiable.

“What we like to talk about is sleep hygiene,” Mitrani said. That includes limiting screen use before bed, dimming phone displays, setting a consistent bedtime routine, and keeping the bedroom cool and dark. “Some people turn their phone on do not disturb, turn down the temperature 68 to 70 degrees, and even turning off the TV to not have something awakening them up in the middle of the night.”

Families, kids, and mismatched sleep schedules

For couples or families where one person is a night owl and another is an early riser, Mitrani says routines can help reset circadian rhythms.

“Studies show you can actually move that up by a couple of hours by setting good routines,” she said, though she acknowledges not everyone can fully adjust.

For children and teens, screen time and caffeine are major obstacles.

“Another big thing is caffeine, especially with teenagers,” Mitrani said. “Trying to limit that later in the afternoon… all of that can be helpful.”

Even as a cardiologist — and a parent — she admits sleep struggles are universal.

“Oh no. Absolutely not,” she said, when asked if her children follow her advice. “A lot of what I do in clinic with patients is normalize how difficult it is.”

When to talk to a doctor

Mitrani encourages people to seek medical advice if sleep problems persist despite good sleep hygiene, especially because some sleep disorders are closely linked to heart disease.

“One big one is called obstructive sleep apnea,” she said. “That means not just snoring but gasping for air and difficulty obtaining oxygen, which is crucial to your health during sleep.”

She also points to depression and anxiety as common, treatable conditions that can disrupt sleep and affect heart health.

The takeaway

Mitrani says the benefits of good sleep go beyond feeling rested.

“Good sleep can improve your life expectancy up to several years,” she said. “One study said almost five years in men and two and a half years in women.”

Just as important, she adds, is quality of life.

“It can improve your blood pressure, your mood, helping make good dietary choices,” Mitrani said. “All of this is essential to good cardiovascular health.”

More information about American Heart Month and ways to prevent cardiovascular disease is available at the American Heart Association’s website, heart.org.

For a third consecutive day, the Sullivan County DMV office in Monticello remained closed Friday after a prolonged internet outage tied to Spectrum, leaving residents unable to access in-person DMV services.

County Clerk Russell Reeves said the disruption began without warning earlier this week and has left staff unable to process routine transactions that depend on internet connectivity.

“We have had no service for three days now,” Reeves said during a Friday radio interview. “Spectrum has left us hanging. We cannot get internet into the Monticello DMV, and without it, we simply cannot serve the public.”

Reeves said repeated calls to Spectrum have yielded few answers, adding that the Monticello DMV appears to be the only county office affected by the outage.

The closure has had a wide ripple effect in a largely rural county where access to transportation and identification is critical.

“If you think about daily life—driving to work, getting to a doctor’s appointment, traveling, opening a bank account—without an ID or vehicle registration, you’re really in trouble,” Reeves said. “This is tremendously impactful for our residents.”

To provide limited relief, the county has deployed a mobile DMV unit and temporarily set up two service stations with assistance from the county’s IT department. Under normal circumstances, the Monticello office operates eight to ten stations.

“We’re doing whatever emergency situations we can,” Reeves said. “But we’re operating at a fraction of our capacity.”

The timing of the outage has added to the strain. Reeves noted that New York State DMV offices—including Sullivan County’s—are scheduled to shut down for several days beginning February 13 as part of a planned statewide system upgrade.

“We’ve been preparing for weeks to get people through their transactions ahead of that shutdown,” he said. “This couldn’t come at a worse time.”

For now, officials are urging residents to complete transactions online whenever possible. Standard renewals remain available through the state DMV website. Those with urgent needs—such as medical travel or time-sensitive identification issues—are encouraged to contact the county clerk’s office directly for assistance or referrals to other DMV locations.

Despite mounting frustration, Reeves praised the public’s patience.

“The people of Sullivan County have been phenomenal,” he said. “But it’s not fair to put them through a three-day disruption like this.”

As of late Friday morning, Reeves said Spectrum had not provided a clear timeline for restoring service, though a technician was reportedly working on a nearby issue.

“We’re hopeful,” he said. “And if anyone out there has a contact at Spectrum who can help move this along, we’d welcome it.”

County officials say they will provide updates as soon as service is restored and normal DMV operations can resume.

Expect another weekend full of extreme winter weather.

There is an Extreme Cold Warning from 7AM Saturday until 1PM Sunday Afternoon as more arctic air moves into our area tonight along with snow and wind.

“We call this pattern the Siberean Express because the airmass is originating in Siberia, going over the north pole, and then descending into the northeast,” Adam Gill, Meteorologist with The National Weather Service (NWS), Binghamton tells Radio Catskill. 

If this sounds like a similar forecast to those in the past month, it is. The difference this time, says Gill, is just how cold this air will be. 

“With this pattern persisting, we just keep getting these bouts of really cold air, and it looks like this weekend will be the coldest that we’ve seen this season.” 

With single digit temperatures and winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour, the NWS says there will be dangerously cold wind chills, possibly as low as 25 to 30 below zero. Exposed skin could get frostbite in less than 30 minutes outdoors. 

There will also be snow Friday night into Saturday. With the cold and wind, whatever snow does fall will be light, fluffy, and drifting around. 

“It’s going to blow around pretty easy,” Gill explains.  “Once those winds pick up on the back side of the cold front Friday night into Saturday, you’re probably going to have blowing snow issues, especially near open areas. …It’s definitely going to be a pretty raw day on Saturday and into early Sunday.”

Looking past this weekend’s cold front, temperatures are expected to rise next week, possibly reaching the low 30s by Tuesday.

The Orange County legislature unanimously passed a resolution on Thursday against a proposed ICE facility in Orange County. Hundreds of residents from across the Hudson Valley, including Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, showed up to protest the facility. 

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar was at the county legislative meeting and has more.

Ellenville, NY — A new hub for wellness, creativity, and community is opening in Ellenville this week. Juniper, co-founded by Adrian DiMatteo and Cassie Luzenski, is a cultural and wellness center offering yoga, meditation, art classes, music programs, and after-school activities for people of all ages.

“Juniper is a picture that is being painted as we speak, all of us together,” says Luzenski. “We’re bringing our background and people-focused mission, but the other half is the people who walk through our doors—their needs, their interests, what they envision for their community.”

Located in the heart of Ellenville, Juniper was born out of a desire to fill gaps in local resources, especially for arts and after-school programs. “We’ve noticed a need in the community,” says DiMatteo. “Many families lack access to music schools, wellness programs, and cultural opportunities. We’re here to change that.”

Juniper blends wellness and global cultural experiences, influenced by DiMatteo and Luzenski’s travels. “I work directly with indigenous cultures around the world—from Guatemala to Peru, Israel to Egypt,” DiMatteo explains. “All of these experiences inform our work, especially ancestral wellness practices that we’re bringing to the community.”

Juniper’s mission goes beyond individual wellness to building flourishing community life. “We’re creating connections,” says Luzenski. “Helping people connect with themselves radiates out to neighbors, friends, and the larger community. Together, we can make a positive, constructive world.”

Nature is central to Juniper’s vision. Programs like a community garden and food education initiatives help residents reconnect with the environment and learn sustainable practices. “It’s about honoring the natural world and integrating it into daily life,” DiMatteo says.

Grand Opening Celebration
Juniper officially celebrates its grand opening this Saturday from 6–9 p.m., featuring a cacao ceremony, live music, and community gatherings. “Cacao is a superfood from the Amazon Basin,” DiMatteo says. “It’s our way of welcoming the community, opening hearts, and planting seeds for what will grow here.”

Looking ahead, Juniper hopes to become a go-to hub for wellness and cultural learning in Ellenville. “Yoga, nutrition, arts, and community programs can transform lives,” Luzenski says. “We want Juniper to be a place where people take action to improve their own lives and their community.”

For more information and programming updates, visit junipertogether.com.
 

After Superstorm Sandy, New York launched the Citizens’ Preparedness Corps (CPC) to teach residents how to handle emergencies—from storms and floods to power outages.

Maria Pfegel of the program says:

The training helps New Yorkers create household emergency plans, gather essential supplies, and think ahead for themselves and their communities. Each family receives a preparedness kit, checklists, and guidance to be ready for any situation.

The CPC also encourages participants to help neighbors and vulnerable populations, not just themselves:

Local residents can join the next training at Livingston Manor Roscoe Branch Library, Friday at 5 p.m. 

Pfelgel leaves one final tip for those who haven’t thought much about preparedness:

New York Governor Kathy Hochul last Friday proposed legislation aimed at limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her proposal would ban counties and cities from entering into so-called 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to partner directly with federal immigration authorities.

But immigration advocates say the governor’s plan doesn’t go far enough. Many are calling on Hochul to pass the broader New York for All Act, which would prohibit state and local government agencies—including police—from assisting ICE in detaining or deporting immigrants.

“We’re very clear on our demand, which is the New York for All Act,” said Daniel Atonna, political coordinator for For the Many, a grassroots organization in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley. “It would completely prohibit New York state and local government agencies, including police, from colluding with ICE, disclosing sensitive information, or diverting personnel or other resources to further federal immigration enforcement.”

Atonna, whose parents are immigrants, emphasized that the organization is also supporting the Melt Act, legislation that would unmask ICE operations across the state. “We’re really loud and clear about asking state legislators to co-sponsor New York for All and Melt and for Governor Hochul to pass them unamended before the state budget,” he said.

Critics argue that eliminating 287(g) agreements alone does little to stop ICE cooperation. A recent report from New York Focus highlighted a police chief in the village of Allegheny who said ending 287(g) agreements would not prevent his department from assisting ICE—it would only stop the department from being reimbursed for it.

“For the governor to ignore these bills that already exist and to propose her own watered-down, half measure is really frustrating and disappointing,” Atona said. “Unfortunately, it’s emblematic of a lot of the stuff Governor Hochul does, where she takes good ideas and then waters them down to please either corporate donors or conservative voters.”

In an interview on NPR’s Morning Edition, Hochul defended her proposal, calling it a “very positive step” while acknowledging that some immigration advocates say it doesn’t go far enough.

Atonna countered that the governor’s approach is actually slowing progress. “Governor Hochul is smart enough to know that if she were to get behind New York for All, it would immediately pass the State Assembly, where it’s been held up,” he said. “Her not supporting it and proposing this half measure is actually what is blocking New York for All from happening.”

Beyond state legislation, local concerns are growing. ICE has proposed building a detention center in Chester, Orange County, capable of holding up to 1,500 people. Advocates fear the facility could eventually house more than 2,000 detainees.

“People are really scared,” Atonna said. “This new proposal is almost unanimously opposed by people across the Hudson Valley. ICE is proposing building this, and we’re calling on Orange County and the state government to do everything they can to fight it.”

For advocates like Atonna, the fight goes beyond legislation. “The protest needs to continue. Grassroots advocacy needs to continue. Lobby meetings, calling your state legislators, meeting with them in person, talking about how important New York for All is,” he said. A major mobilization is planned for March 10 in Albany.

Northwell Health – New York state’s largest healthcare system – has expanded into Pennsylvania, starting with a primary care and immediate care center in Dingmans Ferry.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar visited the new facility for a tour and spoke with Dr. Michael Mandarano, primary care physician at Northwell Health.

For some students, college can feel distant — something to think about later, after graduation, after adulthood begins.

At SUNY Sullivan, a growing program is trying to change that by bringing college into the high school classroom.

Through its College in High School (CIHS) program, SUNY Sullivan partners with local school districts to offer college-level courses to students in grades 8 through 12. The classes count for both high school and college credit, giving students an early start on higher education — often at a fraction of the cost.

On Tuesday evening, the college will host a College and High School Information Night for students and parents interested in learning more about how the program works and what opportunities it opens up.

“It’s really about getting an early start,” said Jason Kaplan, an associate professor at SUNY Sullivan and coordinator of the CIHS program. “Students are earning high school credit and college credit at the same time, in an environment they already know — their own classrooms.”

Kaplan says that familiarity matters, especially for students who might not yet see themselves as college-bound.

“It builds confidence,” he said. “They get a taste of what a college course is like and realize, ‘I can do this.’ For some students, that realization actually changes the direction they see for their future.”

The program is designed not just for students who already plan to attend college, but also for those still figuring out what comes next. Courses often align with SUNY’s general education requirements — including English composition, speech, and precalculus — making them widely transferable whether students attend SUNY Sullivan, another SUNY campus, or continue on to a four-year degree elsewhere.

“We’re very intentional about making sure these are real college classes,” Kaplan said. “The academic rigor has to match what students would experience on our campus.”

That rigor is supported through close collaboration between SUNY Sullivan faculty and high school teachers. The college provides professional development, training, and classroom observations to ensure instructors meet SUNY standards and that course content stays aligned.

“We’re not just putting our name on a syllabus,” Kaplan said. “There’s real faculty engagement and ongoing conversation.”

SUNY Sullivan's Eleanor Davis says timing is critical — especially for families navigating academic planning.

“High schools matriculate students through advisors, so parents need this information early,” Davis said. “February is not too soon to start thinking about next year’s courses and long-term pathways.”

She says the program has made a profound difference for students who once doubted their academic potential.

“We’ve had students who didn’t see themselves as college material at all until they took these classes,” Davis said. “One student went on to graduate as a valedictorian, earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award, completed the Promise Scholarship with no debt, and now has a well-paying job in nursing.”

Stories like that, she says, are common.

Today, more than 700 Sullivan County students are enrolled in SUNY Sullivan college-level courses through the program, with roughly 150 courses offered. In two local high schools, students can even earn an associate degree by the time they graduate.

Tuesday’s information night will bring together admissions staff, faculty, and advisors to answer questions about course options, degree pathways, and credit transfer.

For families unsure whether the program is right for them, Kaplan says the event is designed for exactly that.

“We like people who are on the fence,” he said. “This is a chance to get the full picture — the benefits, the challenges — and make an informed decision.”

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