Radio Chatskill

Sullivan County is facing a significant sales tax shortfall that could force a property tax increase next year, county officials say.

$5 Million Gap in Sales Tax Revenue
County Treasurer Nancy Buck told the legislature Thursday the county is already $4 million behind last year’s sales tax revenue and could end the year $5 million below projections. The county had originally projected $80 million in sales tax revenue by the end of the year, according to Buck.

Budget Impact and Possible Tax Increase
Dan Hust, Communications Director for Sullivan County Government, said the shortfall will affect the tentative 2026 budget. “What that means is that we are not going to have what we thought we were going to have, and it's going to have a direct impact on the about-to-be-proposed 2026 tentative budget. The county manager, my boss Josh Potosek, is going to be proposing that probably at the end of this month,” Hust said.

Hust said a property tax increase above the standard 2% cap is a possibility. “I'm not yet able to say exactly what that's going to be, but we're preparing documents right now so that the public is fully aware of what might be coming on their county tax bill in 2026,” he said.

Why Sales Tax is Falling
Officials attribute the decline to shifting shopping habits rather than an economic slowdown. “We've seen consumer spending continue to rise. What it is is over the past few years, starting in the pandemic, people have been doing a lot more online shopping. But that has sort of balanced out back to what I might call a historic norm,” Hust said.

Hust explained that when residents shop outside Sullivan County, the local government loses that tax revenue. “If you go to a bricks-and-mortar store in, say, Orange County like in Middletown, New York State still gets its cut of the sales tax, but Orange County now gets that sales tax. Sullivan County doesn't get anything,” he said.

Positive Economic Signs
Despite the shortfall, Hust said other parts of the local economy remain strong. “Our tourism continues to be very healthy. Our downtowns, many of our downtowns have never looked better. People are here and spending money, but how and when and where they spend the money, that's what's changed,” he said.

Looking Ahead to 2026 Budget
Hust stressed the importance of the revenue gap. “I believe...if I remember the number Josh told me, it's around $700,000 [representing] 1% tax increase in the county. So think about that: we're projecting to be $5 million down, plus expenses continue to rise. Our most valuable asset, our labor expenses, continue to rise and there are new contracts being negotiated for that.”

Officials plan to release more details on the 2026 budget in the coming weeks, with public hearings allowing residents to weigh in.

Millions are expected at the nationwide “No Kings” protests this Saturday, including a gathering in Monticello organized by grassroots group We Are One Sullivan. The coalition advocates for civic engagement and accountability in government and encourages residents to speak out against threats to democracy, public institutions, and the rule of law.

“We Are One Sullivan is our local chapter of Indivisible… We started in 2016 when the first Trump administration came into being,” said Ken Wampler, a founding member of the group. “After the last election, we reconstituted. On Saturday, we are joining the rest of the nation to say we don’t have kings. We have a rule of law in the United States. We got rid of a king and we don’t want one back.”

Local Issues Drive Action

Healthcare and nutrition programs are top concerns for local activists. Another member, Janet Davis said, “Rural hospitals and medical facilities are struggling to create budgets for the coming year and may have to close… Add to that the cuts to SNAP funding and so many of our local children who rely on it.”

Community and Civic Engagement

Ali Azios described her start with the group: “We hosted the Good Trouble event at our space, New Memories. It was a great community bonding experience, and I signed up for We Are One Sullivan right then and there.”

Addressing critics who see the protest as partisan, Wampler said, “We stand up for our country because we love our country… We are passionate about our institutions and want to protect them in a peaceful, community-oriented way.”

Monticello Rally Details

The local protest will be stationary, not a march. Wampler said, “We will gather on the sidewalks of Monticello between 1:00 and 2:30. Bring cowbells, pom-poms, signs, flags, friends, and family… It’s a chance to strengthen one another and see that there are enormous numbers across the country who want to revive our democracy.”

A pre-event gathering and sign-making party will be held Friday at New Memories. “Bring your kids, poster boards, markers… DJ Jamie Smith will be spinning, and it’s a fun way to feel part of the community,” Azios said.

Finding Hope in Community

Azios said, “Everyone’s part of a greater community and everyone’s important.”

Davis noted growing local support: “Every Saturday in downtown Monticello, people drive by and honk or wave, realizing they are not alone.”

Wampler added, “On Saturday, I’ll be with hundreds of people. Throughout the week, I have a community that reminds me I’m not alone, and we will rise and fix our country.”

For more information about the Monticello event or We Are One Sullivan, visit their Facebook page or sign up via Mobilize. Nationwide events are listed at nokings.org.

As the government shutdown enters the start of its third week, it seems that as a country we are more divided than ever before. However, a new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that Americans share more common ground than not.

The New Jersey-based non-profit conducted a recent study across all ages, income levels and political affiliations. According to their findings, Americans overwhelmingly place access to healthcare, affordable housing, and clean water as top priorities.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke with Lauren Smith M.D., Vice President of Strategic Portfolios at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about the findings of this study and what candidates in local election races in Sullivan County and in next year’s midterm elections should be prioritizing in their platforms.

Texts exchanged among members of New York’s Young Republicans have revealed offensive messages, including jokes about gas chambers, praise for Hitler and the Nazis, and hundreds of racial and homophobic slurs, according to documents obtained by Politico.

The nearly 3,000 pages of Telegram messages, spanning January through mid-August, show some messages led by Peter Junta, chief of staff for Staten Island Assemblyman Mike Riley and former president of the New York State Young Republicans Club.

In one thread, Junta wrote, “Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.” Joe Maligno, another member with ties to the state Young Republicans, responded, “Gas chambers don’t fit the Hitler aesthetic.” Annie K. Katie, New York’s Young Republican National Committee member, added, “I’m ready to watch people burn now.”

Katie declined to comment to Politico, and Maligno did not respond to requests for comment. Bobby Walker, vice chair of the state Young Republicans at the time and now leader of the group, used the homophobic slur repeatedly in chats. Junta and Walker have since apologized for the remarks.

Both Junta and Walker have ties to North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Stefanik endorsed Junta for a national leadership position earlier this year and accepted an award from him and Walker in August, calling them “the backbone of our party” at the time.

In a statement to Politico, Stefanik’s senior advisor Alex De Grassa said the congresswoman was “absolutely appalled by the alleged comments,” which he described as “heinous, anti-Semitic, racist, and unacceptable.”

Stefanik and New York State Republican Senator Robert Orr have called for the chat participants to resign.

“It was tiny and there was absolutely no money. I mean everything, everything was donated and everyone volunteered,” said Mira Blaustein, co-founder and executive director of the Woodstock Film Festival, reflecting on its 2000 debut. “It was held only in Woodstock and it was beautiful. It was magical but it was small.”

The following year, the festival faced a somber backdrop. “In 2001 it was held nine days after September 11. So that was a harrowing experience in its own right, but also magical and wonderful at the same time and very healing for everybody.”

From those modest beginnings, Woodstock grew quickly. By 2002, the festival earned its first spread in Variety, drew audiences from near and far, and started attracting some financial support. Today, it’s an Academy Award-qualifying festival in three categories and a must-stop for filmmakers seeking Oscar attention.

“While we are still catering, of course, to the independent filmmaking community, our baseline has not changed. We're still seriously independent,” Blaustein said. “But we are also an important stop for filmmakers, for studios, for film distributors who are promoting their films to be nominated [for an Academy Award].”

This year’s lineup features heavyweights like Noah Baumbach, Richard Linklater, Chloe Zhao, and Gus Van Sant. Blaustein sees the mix of established and emerging talent as mutually beneficial.

“We have about 90 shorts, 90 short films in all categories, animation, documentary and narrative,” she said. “Having that balance between the ‘gas one’ and ‘the ones you haven't heard of yet’… when you have the high visibility films and they get some attention, it helps to shed light on those that deserve the high visibility but don't have it yet.”

Panels and live conversations remain a cornerstone of the festival. Highlights include intimate discussions with Mariska Hargitay, Brad Dourif, and a special session with legendary composer David Amram, who will celebrate his 95th birthday with a live performance.

The festival has also had a profound impact on filmmaking in the Hudson Valley. Blaustein paid tribute to the late Laurent Rejto, co-founder of the festival and Hudson Valley Film Commission. “His legacy is immeasurable,” she said. “We are actually launching a new award in his name… the 'Laurent Rejto Made in the Hudson Valley Award,' and we’ll present it for the first time at our awards ceremony Saturday.”

Looking ahead, Blaustein said, “I’m always hoping to be able to raise more money. People think we have a large budget, but actually we have a tiny budget. It takes a lot of creativity and hard work to do what we do. I all I want the festival to continue and become more… get better and better for those who work with us and for us to… see artists develop. It should be very inspiring. It should be enjoyable, but it should be very inspiring and educational and fun at the same time.”

The 26th Woodstock Film Festival runs through Oct. 19 across venues in Woodstock, Rosendale, Kingston, and Saugerties.

This past summer, the Department of Homeland Security eliminated the temporary protected status, or TPS, program for Afghan refugees looking to resettle in the United States. Still, that hasn’t stopped community members in Ulster County from supporting their neighbors.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Robert Sabuda, founder of nonprofit organization Plutarch for Refugees, about the growing need to support recently arrived Afghan refugees in the Hudson Valley and their upcoming fundraiser in Highland.

Science has been making headlines, from Nobel Prizes to moons that could harbor life—and even birds that collect human artifacts. Our resident science expert Joe Johnson breaks it down.

Nobel Week: Immune System, Quantum Tunneling, and MOFs

Last week, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2025 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, and Chemistry—each to three pioneering scientists.

Physiology and Medicine: Mary Bronkhouw, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi uncovered how the immune system is regulated. “They identified what the committee calls the security guards of the immune system, which are regulatory T cells that can actually stop the immune system from attacking normal cells,” Johnson explained. Their discovery could revolutionize treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Physics: John Clark, Michael Devaray, and John Martinez were recognized for characterizing macroscopic quantum tunneling in supercooled superconductors. Johnson summed it up: “Quantum tunneling…was previously thought to happen only at a really small scale, but these scientists prove that it can happen at a scale that makes it useful in electronics. This is directly linked to quantum computing.”

Chemistry: Richard Robinson, Susumu Kida, and Omar Yagi invented metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Johnson described them as “self-assembling…2 grams of one of these MOFs has the same amount of surface area as a football field.” Applications include carbon capture, precise drug delivery, environmental cleanup, and electronics.

The Nobel Prizes, created by dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel, were meant to leave a legacy beyond destruction. Johnson noted, “He woke up one morning and read his own obituary…They called him ‘the merchant of death.’ He wanted his memory to be more than that.”

Enceladus: Saturn’s Life-Friendly Moon
NASA’s Cassini mission continues to yield clues about Saturn’s icy moon, Enceladus. At 300 miles wide, the moon has a salty ocean beneath an icy shell. Tidal forces heat its interior, causing water geysers to erupt into space.

Johnson said, “They found a whole host of compounds…basically life soup. Life-friendly, yes. Not direct evidence of life, but a lot of the ingredients are there.” Cassini’s 2015 flyby sampled a plume 30 miles away, revealing methane, ammonia, aromatic compounds, and other organic molecules—conditions similar to those that may have helped life arise on Earth.

Bearded Vultures: Nature’s Archaeologists

In southern Spain, bearded vultures have been creating centuries-old archives inside cliffside nests. Researchers found bones, eggshells, and nearly 200 human-made objects dating back 150 to 675 years.

Johnson marveled at the discovery: “These birds are curating what’s happening around them. It’s like a living archive of human history alongside natural history.” Among the finds: leather scraps, woven cloth, a medieval crossbow bolt, and even a 650-year-old sandal. The vultures appear to incorporate objects from their environment much like modern birds incorporate string or foil into nests.

New York is home to more than 680,000 veterans, more than half of whom are over the age of 65. But local VA agencies say the rollout of the Dole Act, a federal law that expanded healthcare and benefits for veterans, has stalled. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Singer-songwriter Eli Lev, a former middle school teacher from Silver Spring, Maryland, will perform Thursday at The Common Good in Ellenville, blending folk, spiritual, and globally inspired music.

“I taught on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona for a few years and I picked up some pretty amazing culture, and ideas, and knowledge, one of which was the four directions,” Lev said. “Fast forward 15 years later, I decided to follow my dreams and pursue music as a full-time occupation. And the four directions is actually the first project of my music project.”

His first project, Four Directions, explores Navajo concepts of balance and place, with EPs titled All Roads East, Way Out West, Deep South, and True North. “All together they create a 20-song project and each EP came out about a year away from each other,” Lev said.

After nearly a decade teaching internationally, Lev returned to the U.S. and began performing locally. “I went back home… I started doing shows. And my first show was my parents came and two friends was in the corner of a coffee shop. And they were like, ‘When’s your next one?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’… Here I am, eight years later, Tim, and music has been the guiding force of my life ever since.”

His latest Three Worlds project includes the EPs Present Journey and Past Lives. “Past Lives was recorded in Peekskill. Its spiritual home is actually in the Hudson Valley in New York area… I figured out a way to play my ancestors’ voices live during the show,” Lev said.

Lev’s music mixes diverse instruments and influences: “The native flute from the nation from the Novo Nation… harmonica, and the Lynn, piano, acoustic guitar… different tunings as well, open tunings from the Middle East. I have some songs in Spanish.”

On creativity, Lev encourages others to follow their passions. “As teachers we’re always telling folks to follow their dreams. And there’s no reason why we can’t also do that… I do feel like there is a place for creativity in all of our lives.”

More information at thecommongoodny.com, and more about Lev and his music is at eli-lev.com.

One of two fracked gas transmissions is continuing to make its way through regulatory bodies in New York. The Northeast Supply Enhancement Project, which would be built through New Jersey and New York Bay, has been accepted by New York’s Public Service Commission. Problem is, this pipeline project has been rejected by the state twice before over the last decade due to water quality concerns.

Now, in the face of the Trump administration’s hawkish policy around state’s energy sources, opponents of the pipeline fear the Governor Hochul will play ball with the new project, all while allowing rate payers on Long Island to pick up the cost.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke with Christopher Casey of the Natural Resources Defense Council about the true cost of this pipeline for New Yorkers and why it is moving through faster than ever before.