Radio Chatskill

Local public health leaders are raising alarms after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released revised guidance that scales back routine childhood vaccinations, a move they say could confuse parents and weaken decades of disease prevention.

The updated guidance reduces the number of vaccines recommended for infants and children and shifts several — including RSV, influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B — to shared decision-making between parents and clinicians.

“At this point, we don’t really know what the full implications of this announcement are in general, let alone in New York,” said Dr. Eve Walter, Ulster County Public Health Director. 

She worries the revised guidance may unintentionally signal that vaccines are unsafe.

“It suggests that these are potentially harmful, which is inaccurate,” Walter said. “That’s not ever stated in the revised guidelines, but in the mind of your average person, why wouldn’t they think that?”

Walter emphasized that the vaccines affected by the changes “have been proven to be extremely safe and extremely important in reducing hospitalizations and deaths.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement Tuesday,  “Despite changes announced at the federal level, New York State’s long-standing, childhood vaccine requirements remain the same,” “There was no new science, safety data or discovery presented by the federal government. New Yorkers can continue to be confident that vaccines offer the best protection from preventable childhood diseases.”

McDonald said the changes do not affect vaccine access, insurance coverage, liability protections, or the federal Vaccines for Children program.

State health officials struck a similar tone last month after a federal vaccine advisory committee voted to end the longstanding recommendation that all U.S. newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. 

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on "X" that U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was trying to "sow chaos and confusion among parents," but those changes would not affect Pennsylvania families.

Risk of confusion and mistrust

Walter said the CDC announcement comes at a particularly dangerous moment, as RSV, influenza and COVID are circulating at high levels.

“We are in high season for RSV and influenza,” she said. “All of these diseases are ones that we are quite concerned about, especially in children who are the most vulnerable.”

Threats to herd immunity

Walter warned that reducing universal vaccine recommendations could erode herd immunity, particularly for diseases like measles.

“We already see fear and distrust of immunizations getting into social media,” she said. “People are not getting immunized the way we really need them to.”

She noted that while some parents delay measles vaccinations, school mandates have historically pushed immunization rates into the high 90 percent range.

“Sadly, making this mandatory has helped tremendously in essentially eradicating so many of these diseases,” Walter said. “We’re going to lose that criteria.”

Comparisons to other countries fall short

Federal officials have cited vaccine schedules in other developed nations, but Walter said those comparisons ignore major structural differences.

“Denmark is tiny compared to the United States,” she said. “It has universal health care. Parents are taking their kids more regularly to get care.”

In the U.S., she said, early childhood visits may be the only chance to vaccinate children from low-income or housing-insecure families.

“Our whole system is very, very different here,” Walter said. “And we already have people falling through the cracks.”

Local demand rising amid uncertainty

Despite the federal changes, Walter said anxiety around infectious disease is growing locally.

“This week, for the first time that I’m aware of, we had so many requests that we had to expand our clinic hours,” she said. “People are very nervous.”

What parents should know

Walter urged families not to make rushed decisions while state leaders evaluate the guidance.

“I would ask people to hang tight,” she said. “We honestly don’t know yet what this all means. We don’t even know if this will stand.”

Her bottom line message remains unchanged.

“The immunizations that we have in place have absolutely been tested,” Walter said. “They are safe. They are effective. They reduce hospitalizations. They reduce death.”

Parents with questions are encouraged to contact their local health departments.

“Just know that you have a partner,” Walter said.

The Catskill Mountains have long been a proving ground for East Coast skiers. A new documentary, Queen of the Catskills, tells that story through one woman’s deeply personal journey into the backcountry.

The film centers on Julie McGuire, a South Bronx high school English teacher who turns to the mountains after a series of traumatic events disrupt her life. What begins as a search for healing becomes a multi-year quest: McGuire aims to become the first woman to backcountry ski all 33 of the Catskills’ highest peaks — entirely alone.

The documentary is directed by Jamie Kennard, a backcountry skier who followed McGuire for over three years to capture her journey. Kennard brings the film to the region this month with screenings in Hunter, New York; North Adams, Massachusetts; and Rosendale, New York.

From social media to mountains

“I am a backcountry skier myself, and I keep a pulse on what’s happening in the region,” Kennard said. “Back in 2022, I noticed through social media that Julie was starting to ski the high peaks. Though I didn’t know her personally, we struck up an online friendship, and I reached out about documenting her journey.”

Initially, Kennard was drawn to the physical challenge rather than McGuire’s personal story. “I just wanted to make a film about a woman backcountry skiing in the Catskills,” he said. “I know from my own experience that it’s a very difficult thing.”

Trauma, healing, and the mountains

Over time, the deeper motivations behind McGuire’s quest emerged. During early interviews, she chose to share her experiences with domestic abuse and the challenges she faced as a young adult.

“At the very end of the interview, I asked if there was anything I hadn’t asked her about,” Kennard said. “She paused and then decided on her own to share some stories. That opened it up to telling a different version of the film.”

“She wasn’t as much of a skier growing up,” Kennard said. “Some of the traumatic experiences she went through really pushed her to get back outside and embrace what she could accomplish in the outdoors.”

A solo journey

McGuire’s goal — skiing 33 peaks alone — is physically grueling and emotionally isolating. Kennard filmed several of the peaks but often kept his distance to preserve the solitude.

“She’s very methodical, driven, and thoughtful,” he said. “She’s just a powerhouse out there. Sometimes there are two or three feet of snow and nobody’s broken trail. She’s quietly driven, embracing the hard work.”

Some excursions lasted eight, nine, or even twelve hours. “To watch her come back and see that smile on her face — you can really see what it means to her,” Kennard said.

Community and inspiration

Though the journey is solitary, McGuire has inspired other skiers. “She was not only the first woman — she was only the third person ever to do it,” Kennard said. McGuire is now pursuing the 100 highest peaks in the Catskills, and Kennard says she may already be halfway there.

Filming in winter brought hazards: heavy snow, equipment malfunctions, and long treks far from roads. “If your skis or snowshoes fail five or six miles out, that can become dangerous,” Kennard said.

Kennard said he hopes audiences leave inspired. “It’s about healing, persistence, and finding purpose. Julie took a really tough part of her life and turned it into something she’s passionate about. She’s inspired a lot of people — not just to backcountry ski, but to get outside and see what the mountains can do for us.”

More information and showtimes are available at queenofthecatskillsmovie.com.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day isn’t officially observed until January 19, but in Sullivan County, the work of honoring Dr. King’s legacy is already underway.

Later this week, high school students from across the county will come together for the fifth annual MLK Day of Service Youth Summit, an event rooted in Dr. King’s call to service, leadership, and community — and intentionally held ahead of the official holiday.

Hosted on the campus of SUNY Sullivan, the summit brings together 11th and 12th graders for a full day of reflection, workshops, and connection designed to help young people see themselves as leaders and changemakers.

“This is crazy to me — preparing for the fifth MLK Day of Service Youth Summit,” said Amanda Langseder of Sullivan 180, one of the event’s organizers. “It really just doesn’t seem possible.”

A response to disconnected youth

The summit grew out of a conversation nearly six years ago among youth-serving organizations and county departments alarmed by what Langseder called a “startling statistic” — Sullivan County’s high rate of disconnected youth.

“Those of us that work with youth became upset,” she said. “How can this be? How can youth not feel like they have a sense of community, and organizations and people that care about them?”

That concern sparked a collaborative effort involving groups ranging from the Youth Bureau and Cornell Cooperative Extension to the Boys & Girls Club and workforce development agencies.

“We asked, ‘What is it that we can do to change this situation?’” Langseder said. “How could we give young people — just preparing for takeoff in life — a community hug, a community embrace?”

From the beginning, the effort was tied explicitly to Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.

“How do we connect young people to their community and to the idea of community service in the name of Martin Luther King Jr.?” she said.

Five years in, the impact is visible

Now marking its fifth year, Langseder says the summit’s impact shows up in unexpected places — even the grocery store.

“Sometimes I’m walking in the grocery store in my MLK sweatshirt and somebody will come up to me and go, ‘Hey, did you go to that thing?’” she said. “And they’ll say, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to go back to that summit.’ That makes me feel like a ball of fire.”

For Langseder, that reaction reflects the power of collective effort.

“No one of our organizations could have possibly pulled off, for five years strong, a Martin Luther King Day of Service Youth Summit,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about — the collective impact.”

A day that feels different from school

Unlike a typical school day or assembly, students are treated as young adults the moment they arrive on the SUNY Sullivan campus.

“You arrive at the Youth Summit and instantly you’re elevated,” Langseder said. “You’re treated like the young adult that you are.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. John Gaines, whose message centers on finding one’s “sense of somebodyness,” a phrase often used by Dr. King.

Students then break into workshops led by community organizations, all centered on Dr. King’s words.

“These aren’t air quotes,” Langseder said. “They’re his words.”

She pointed to one line that resonates strongly with students:

“Those words stick with somebody,” she said, “especially when they’re feeling like all they can do is barely crawl.”

One of the most powerful moments of the day comes when students watch Dr. King’s Blueprint for Life speech.

“Not a pin drop,” Langseder said. “You can’t hear anything but silence. That grainy black-and-white footage — his words are riveting, and they still ring true today.”

Why the Center for Discovery keeps showing up

The Center for Discovery is the presenting sponsor of the summit, and representatives Kammi Walter and Amanda Ward say their involvement goes far beyond financial support.

“When you have such a unique community like ours, when more people are involved, your impact is stronger,” Ward said.

As the largest employer in Sullivan County, with about 1,800 staff, the Center sees the summit as a chance to walk alongside students.

“Many of these students’ parents work for us, or they’re looking for internships with us,” Ward said. “We’re learning from them, giving them a voice, and hoping to inspire them so they realize how many opportunities are out there.”

Walter added that seeing students repeatedly — at career fairs, school visits, and the summit — helps build real connections.

“That community impact, that recognition, it matters,” she said.

Finding “somebodyness” through service

A central theme of the summit is helping students develop what Dr. King called a “sense of somebodyness.”

“If you’re 17 or 18, preparing for graduation, trying to figure it all out, an event like this reminds you that it’s okay to struggle,” Langseder said. “And that you have organizations all around you that can help you find that sense of purpose.”

She pointed to tangible outcomes: students who met people at the summit and went on to internships, radio careers, or volunteer firefighting.

This year, students will also receive a copy of The King, a Pulitzer Prize–winning book, thanks to Action Toward Independence. Additional funding from the Youth Bureau has allowed Dr. Gaines to present at RJK Monacella Middle School and Liberty Middle School.

“It’s not just hearing the words,” Langseder said. “It’s understanding his legacy and the impact he made.”

Students leading students

Another defining feature of the summit is student leadership. Participants from the My Brother’s Keeper programs in Monticello and Fallsburg will serve as emcees, speakers, and musicians.

“These are student leaders who step up to the plate,” Langseder said. “I sit back in the front row and watch them take ownership of the summit.”

Walter described the atmosphere as “kinetic.”

“You feel the inspiration happening,” she said. “It inspires you as an adult.”

More than a day off

Langseder hopes students leave with a clear understanding that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is “a day of service — not just a day off.”

“We want them to walk away with a seed of an idea,” she said — whether that’s starting or expanding a school food pantry, organizing a cleanup, or launching another service project.

One of the most visible outcomes so far has been the growth of school-based food pantries across the county.

“When students know they can confidentially get what they need — food, hygiene supplies — that’s huge,” she said.

This year, organizers plan to follow up more intentionally with schools after the summit to support those projects.

Looking ahead

For the Center for Discovery, the momentum doesn’t end Friday. The organization will host a recruitment open house on January 14, inviting students and teachers to continue exploring opportunities.

“That through line is important,” Walter said. “Showing students there are opportunities right here.”

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New York is experiencing its most intense flu season on record, with hospitalizations jumping 24% in a single week, according to state health officials. The spike comes as flu activity remains extremely high across the Hudson Valley and Catskills — and experts say the season hasn’t yet reached its peak.

“Flu activity currently in Orange and Sullivan counties is extremely high,” said Dr. Jodi Galaydick, an epidemiologist at Garnet Health. “Just last week the state reported over 71,000 lab-confirmed flu cases in a single week, and this has been the highest number ever recorded in one week in New York.”

Galaydick said this season is running well ahead of what doctors typically expect for late December and early January.

“We’re running higher than what we typically run at this time of the year,” she said. “We haven’t even hit peak yet. We’re already above last year’s peak, so we’re seeing a lot more cases earlier in the season.”

Why cases are rising so quickly

Several factors are fueling the surge, Galaydick said, including increased holiday travel and gatherings, along with multiple respiratory viruses circulating at once.

“We’re just seeing a lot more virus circulating in the community,” she said. “We also see more than just flu this time of the year. We’re still seeing COVID and RSV. And also this year, not as many people have received the vaccine as in years past.”

While flu cases are up sharply, Galaydick said the illness itself does not appear more severe than usual.

“Cases don’t seem to be more severe,” she said. “But with more cases, you’re going to have more people getting hospitalized just because of the amount of flu that’s in the community.”

That increase in hospitalizations is putting pressure on local hospitals and emergency rooms.

“Whenever we have any type of surge, there’s more of an influx into the hospital,” Galaydick said. “There’s delays in care. There’s waits in the emergency room because there’s not beds available.”

Who is most at risk

People at higher risk for severe flu complications remain the same groups seen in past seasons, Galaydick said.

“Adults over the age of 65 or older, young children — especially under the age of 5 — pregnant people, people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, COPD, weakened immune systems, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.”

She said doctors are seeing many patients who underestimated the flu this year.

“People still get very sick with the flu. It’s not a simple cold,” Galaydick said. “We’re definitely seeing those people that didn’t think it was going to be a big deal getting sick with the flu.”

Vaccines still matter, even with new strains

Flu activity is rising in at least 32 states, according to the CDC, partly driven by a new influenza A strain.

“We are seeing the new variant H3 clade K,” Galaydick said. “The vaccine is not as effective in terms of what we have currently, but we see this year after year.”

Even so, she strongly encourages vaccination.

“The vaccine’s not perfect, but it’s still very important,” she said. “People who are vaccinated still see less severe outcomes with flu — less hospitalization, less illness.”

It’s not too late to get vaccinated, she added.

“We see flu go all the way into February and March,” Galaydick said. “We haven’t even hit our peak yet. So definitely if you’ve not received your flu vaccine this year, now is the time to get it.”

Protection typically builds within about two weeks after vaccination.

When to stay home — and when to seek care

Galaydick urged people with mild symptoms to stay home and rest when possible.

“If you’re having fever, body aches, sore throat, cough and fatigue, but you can still breathe comfortably, you can still eat and drink, you’re still alert, and you don’t have serious underlying conditions, usually it’s safe to stay at home,” she said.

She advised seeking medical care for warning signs such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, confusion, bluish lips or face, dehydration, or symptoms that suddenly worsen.

For children, she said parents should watch closely for breathing problems or changes in behavior.

“If your children have faster labored breathing, rib pulling, flaring nostrils, any bluish lips or face, unusual confusion, not waking up, not interacting, not eating or drinking, not making wet diapers — definitely consider going to your healthcare provider,” Galaydick said.

Looking ahead

With winter just getting underway, flu cases are expected to continue rising.

“Usually it peaks mid-winter, and we’re just in the beginning of winter,” Galaydick said. “The flu can stay active until early spring.”

Her message for the months ahead is simple. “Get your flu shot if you haven’t gotten it,” she said. “Stay home when you’re sick, mask in crowded spaces, and be proactive in taking care of yourself.”

More information about flu prevention and treatment is available at Garnet Health. Garnet Health is a financial supporter of Radio Catskill.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife landed at the National Guard base at Stewart International Airport on Saturday. The two were captured in Venezuela after President Trump’s series of U.S. airstrikes. Local protestors and lawmakers in the Catskills and Hudson Valley regions had mixed reactions. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

 On New Year’s Day, when many people are easing into January with hot coffee and warm layers, hundreds of others will be running straight into icy water at Lake Wallenpaupack — by choice.

The annual Lake Wallenpaupack Polar Plunge returns Jan. 1, raising money for the volunteer rescue dive teams of the Ledgedale and Tafton Fire Companies.

“Lake Wallenpaupack Polar Plunge is one of our major fundraisers for both dive teams,” said Joe Sledzinski, dive captain with the Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company. “We’re a total volunteer organization. When we’re not training, we’re out there fundraising. Fundraising is probably half of the effort of the whole deal.”

Lake Wallenpaupack spans about 5,700 acres and stretches roughly 12 miles long, making it the second-largest lake contained entirely within Pennsylvania. While it’s known for boating, fishing and recreation, Sledzinski said emergencies happen more often than many people realize.

“We respond from A to Z,” he said. “From something as simple as somebody dropping their keys in the water to somebody overboard on a boat, which unfortunately happens way too often.”

Because of the lake’s size and multiple access points, locating an emergency can be one of the biggest challenges.

“When we get a call, the first thing we have to determine is where on the lake it is,” Sledzinski said. “If something happens out in the middle of the lake, please drop your anchor right where it’s at. You’ll never get us back on the spot if you don’t.”

While summer brings the heaviest use, the dive teams also respond during the colder months. There are no seasonal restrictions on boating, though life jackets are required after mid-October.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had calls in the middle of winter or early spring where people should have had them on and didn’t,” Sledzinski said. “When you fall in cold water, you lose your warmth 25 times quicker than you do in air. Hypothermia sets in real quick. Your strength just depletes.”

The rescue dive teams are entirely volunteer-run, and the cost of maintaining equipment and training is significant. Sledzinski said outfitting a single diver can cost about $10,000.

“We take that burden on ourselves,” he said. “Without the support of our local community, that just couldn’t happen. A lot of people don’t understand what they have there until it’s needed.”

Organizers typically see between 400 and 700 people attend each year. For many participants, the plunge is about more than just braving the cold.

“It’s like washing away everything that happened last year and starting fresh,” Sledzinski said. “This is the best baptism of water you’re ever going to get — and it’s as cold as it’s ever going to be.”

Registration is available online at www.paupackpolarplunge.com or in person on the day of the event. Participants receive a complimentary T-shirt, and those who decide not to jump in after registering won’t be judged.

“We won’t tell anybody,” Sledzinski said with a laugh.

Hunger remains a daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people across the Hudson Valley, even as food banks struggle to keep pace with rising costs and major federal funding cuts.

More than 355,000 people are food insecure across the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s 23-county service area, according to the organization. In 2025, the food bank distributed roughly the same amount of food as the year before — an outcome leaders describe as remarkable given the loss of hundreds of truckloads of food tied to USDA and SNAP disruptions.

“We had folks who really had no economic means of getting more food, and the food bank had to step up,” said Barry Lewis, spokesperson for the Regional Food Bank, in an interview with WJFF Radio. “Through the generosity of donors and community partners, we were able to attempt to offset as best as we can a lot of those cuts.”

Food insecurity rising post-pandemic

Lewis said food insecurity was already increasing before federal cuts took effect, particularly in the Hudson Valley following the pandemic.

“We saw an increase in food insecurity just as the year began,” he said. “In the Hudson Valley alone, we were looking at about an 8% increase.”

In Sullivan County, Lewis noted, one in five children is now considered food insecure.

“That was before SNAP cuts and the shutdown,” he said. “Then suddenly, in the last three months, people had no safety net.”

Across the full service area, Lewis said more than $59 million in monthly SNAP benefits were withheld, representing the loss of roughly 36 million pounds of food per month.

“No food bank would be able to offset that type of cut,” he said. “To put it in perspective, we distribute about 54 million pounds of food in an entire year.”

Community response fills some gaps

Lewis said the crisis led to a broader public understanding of how SNAP works — and how quickly families can fall into need.

“We saw married couples, both working, but finding that the cost of food, utilities and health care were all rising,” he said. “They were turning to food pantries for the first time in their lives.”

The response from the community, he added, was overwhelming.

“It was tremendous to see the outpouring of support this past year,” Lewis said. “People realized their friends, neighbors and family members were being affected, through nothing of their own doing.”

New Montgomery facility expands capacity

One of the most significant developments in 2025 was the opening of the food bank’s $25 million, 50,000-square-foot facility in Montgomery, which Lewis said transformed operations.

“Our previous site didn’t have the storage capacity,” he said. “Food spent more time on trucks and less time in coolers.”

The new facility allows the food bank to store more fresh food, work with additional regional farmers, and distribute healthier options.

“We can provide more fresh fruits and vegetables, more shelf-stable meals, and we can give more to the community,” Lewis said.

He pointed to a recent example through the food bank’s “Shop the Dock” program.

“Just yesterday alone, ShopRite gave us $95,000 in additional inventory,” he said. “Our partners can take whatever fresh food they need, free. That simply wasn’t possible before.”

Volunteers power the mission

The food bank relies on nearly 29,000 volunteers, who contributed more than 72,000 hours of service in 2025.

“If it wasn’t for the volunteers, we’d have to hire more than two dozen full-time staff,” Lewis said.

He said volunteers come from all walks of life — including businesses, banks, schools, hospitals and civic groups.

“We’re seeing CEOs volunteering alongside their employees,” he said. “Schools are bringing in senior classes, and students get a real understanding of the need in their own communities.”

Looking ahead to 2026

As the food bank prepares for 2026, Lewis said the biggest concern remains the potential for additional federal disruptions. A continuing resolution that prevented a government shutdown in 2025 is set to expire Jan. 30, 2026.

“We’re hopeful lawmakers come to an agreement,” Lewis said. “Hunger doesn’t look at political party, religion, age or skin color. It affects everyone.”

Despite the challenges, Lewis said the organization plans to expand programs, including backpack food initiatives, food-as-medicine partnerships with hospitals, and large-scale holiday distributions.

In 2025, the food bank delivered a record 115,000 Thanksgiving meals to 25,000 people, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers.

“Our CEO has pledged we’ll increase that in 2026,” Lewis said.

How to help

Lewis said monetary donations remain the most effective way to support hunger relief.

“For every dollar donated, we can provide about four meals,” he said.

Volunteers are also needed, and community members can find local pantries and programs through the food bank’s website.

“All that information is available online,” Lewis said. “Whether it’s volunteering, donating, or helping a local pantry, there are many ways to make a difference.”

More information and links to food pantries across the region are available at regionalfoodbank.net and wjffradio.org.

A late, record-breaking state budget, emotional battles over medical aid in dying and a historic New York City mayoral election defined a turbulent year in New York politics. 

From the New York Public News Network, WMHT’s Shantel Destra takes a closer look at the headlines that shaped 2025 and is joined by POLITICO’s Katelyn Cordero, Bloomberg’s Raga Justin, and Jimmy Vielkind of WNYC, Gothamist, and the New York Public News Network.

Pennsylvania’s elections in 2025 were marked more by administrative challenges than by disputes over results, according to Carter Walker, reporter for VoteBeat PA and Spotlight PA.

Luzerne County, which gained national attention in 2022 after running out of ballot paper in multiple precincts, continued to face operational issues. Walker said the county has stabilized under an election director with several years of experience, but minor errors persist.

“About a third of the precincts in the county had ran out of the ballot paper that they needed to run their elections,” Walker said. “It was a real big debacle…we just had so much turnover in this department that nobody really knew what the right steps were to take.”

Despite these challenges, he stressed that election outcomes were not affected. “The good news is the county is detecting these things and is making sure they don't impact the outcome of the election,” Walker said, citing a case in which 31 male voters were mistakenly issued a second ballot, which was canceled to prevent double voting.

Structural complexities also complicate operations in Luzerne. Its home-rule government splits oversight between the county council and the elections board. “It seems pretty intuitive that it would make it more difficult for the people leading that office to deal with,” Walker said.

Chester County faced its own difficulties. Misprinted poll books left roughly 75,000 independent or third-party voters initially unable to access regular ballots, forcing many to use provisional ballots or wait until supplemental lists were available. High staff turnover contributed to these problems.

“The more turnover in general, the more problems you have,” Walker said. “If you lose people who know what it is that they're doing, you lose that institutional knowledge and then it just makes errors more…prevalent.”

Walker also noted the lingering impact of 2020-era election distrust. “There is some faction…readily primed to believe there is manipulation going on in our elections or to distrust election administration in general,” he said.

Still, he remains confident in Pennsylvania’s election officials. “Election administrators are going to continue to do the job and do it well, barring the occasional human error that pops up. I’m not concerned that election administrators are going to have to start helping steal elections,” he said.

For Walker, the bigger challenge is public trust. “It’s hard to trust the process you’re not really seeing, and I worry more about if that trust deteriorates, what happens then,” he said.

Eldred Junior-Senior High School and GRM Elementary are turning the Super Bowl into a chance to give back. The schools are collecting canned goods in a friendly competition running through Feb. 5.

“So, Eldred's always done like some sort of food drive — like we just finished one for Thanksgiving — and we decided we need something else to get back for like the winter months,” said Tabitha Smith, one of the student organizers.

Marissa Guachnauer said the friendly rivalry encourages more participation. “It gives more of like an incentive to kids and their families and like the community to give back because they have like they feel the pride of winning like the competition.”

The goal is simple: help anyone in need. “We really just want to help like solve anyone's like hunger or issues that they have,” Guachnauer said.

Donations can be dropped off at schools or school events like concerts and sports games. The drive has already seen a strong start — about 30 cans were collected at a recent basketball game.

The students hope the project inspires more community service across the county. “Hopefully, like people want to get more involved with community service by like knowing how much they're helping people with this,” Guachnauer said.

For Smith and Guachnauer, giving back comes from personal experience. “I've participated in different like community service events prior to this and I feel like some sort of like joy that comes out of it to giving back,” Smith said.