Radio Chatskill

Joe Johnson’s latest Science Stories dives into three fascinating discoveries: a never-before-seen supernova, a genetic bottleneck in human ancestors, and a centuries-old shipwreck at the bottom of the sea.

A Supernova Like No Other

Astronomers observed a unique explosion, SN 2021 YFJ, first detected in 2021 and reported in Nature. Unlike typical supernovas, this star had lost almost all of its outer layers, leaving only silicon, sulfur, and argon. When it exploded, it lit up this rare chemical cloud, giving scientists a firsthand look at a star stripped down to its core.

“The explosion lit up material we’ve only theorized about before,” Johnson said. Scientists are still unsure why the star shed its layers — a companion star, a black hole, or some unknown process could be responsible.

Our Ancestors Nearly Didn’t Make It

Around 900,000 years ago, the ancestors of modern humans, Neanderthals, and Denisovans came close to extinction. DNA analysis of over 3,000 people worldwide revealed the breeding population dropped from 100,000 to just 1,300 individuals.

This genetic bottleneck lasted roughly 100,000 years during the Ice Ages. “It’s amazing they survived with so few,” Johnson noted. Without this tiny population, humans as we know them might not exist.

16th-Century Shipwreck Found in French Waters

Deep off Saint-Tropez, French archaeologists discovered a 16th-century trading ship 8,500 feet underwater. While the wooden hull decayed, cargo including 200 ceramic jugs and 100 large platters remains remarkably intact. Many are decorated with Christian symbols and geometric patterns, a vivid glimpse of centuries-old trade.

Johnson called it “a time capsule at the ocean floor,” noting the team will return next year for mapping and possible excavation.

Get ready to ‘Rock the Roof’ off on Saturday, September 6, at the Cochecton Pump House in Cochecton, N.Y. Tracy City, We Were Werewolves, and Basic Bitches is the trio of all queer, all rock bands gearing up for a free music show this Saturday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Tif Wolf and Terry LaFrazia from We Were Werewolves about what attendees can expect and the inspiration behind their latest EP, The Red Hook Demos.

This Saturday, One Grand Books marks its 10th anniversary with a special salon featuring award-winning journalist and author Laurie Gwen Shapiro. Shapiro will discuss her latest book, The Aviator and the Showman, which explores the pioneering partnership between aviator Amelia Earhart and publishing impresario George Putnam.

In her new biography, Shapiro examines how Earhart’s collaboration with Putnam—who was both her husband and her promoter—helped shape her into one of the most enduring cultural icons of the 20th century. Through extensive archival research, including previously unheard recordings and private family collections, Shapiro uncovers the complex dynamics behind Earhart’s rise to fame and the media machine that crafted her public image.

"I always thought she's a hero—and I want to say up front that after I finished five years of working on this book, I still think she's a hero," Shapiro told Radio Catskill. "But I think that the truth of how she rose to fame is very complicated, and you do not get a million-dollar reputation without George Palmer Putnam, who was her lover and then her husband who shaped her career, and perhaps together they were responsible for her death."

Shapiro highlighted Putnam’s role in promoting Earhart as a national and international figure, noting that much of her early fame was orchestrated through media coverage, public appearances, and strategic publicity campaigns. She also discussed how the enduring myth of Earhart was influenced by societal expectations of women and the celebrity culture of the 1920s and 1930s.

"She was a national hit and then an international hit before she even landed across the Atlantic. I mean, the promotion machine was ginormous. It was the era of hullabaloo," Shapiro said. 

The salon takes place at 4 p.m. Saturday, September 6, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Narrowsburg, New York. Admission is free.

More information about about Laurie Gwen Shapiro and her work can be found at [lorigwenshapiro.com](https://www.lorigwenshapiro.com).

Incarceration is not an experience felt only by the incarcerated individual themselves. It is an experience that also confines their loved ones. Especially after the correctional officers strike from February this year, families have cited both structural barriers to maintaining connections with incarcerated family members and being subject to the same culture of humiliation and powerlessness that their loved ones face behind bars while visiting.

Radio Catskill’s Julia Kim had the chance to speak with Candace Miller, the mother of a son currently incarcerated in Fishkill Correctional Facility, alongside other loved ones on the challenge of navigating this country’s carceral system and the lack of support provided by DOCCS. In addition, Kim spoke to Tanya Krupat, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the criminal justice reform non-profit Osborne Association and Soffiyah Elijah, founder of the Alliance of Families for Justice, an organization dedicated to empowering families of incarcerated individuals. 

Attention book lovers: the Livingston Manor Library is hosting a unique program this week on how to preserve and protect your personal library. On Thursday, September 4 at 6:00 p.m., professional book conservator Cara Schlesinger will lead a hands-on presentation about book conservation and care.

“Book conservation is the field that encompasses the care and preservation of books so that people can continue using them after they leave our hands and they move on to the next generations and into the future,” Schlesinger explained. “Conservators are concerned with everything from the environmental conditions where books are stored, so temperature and humidity, to pest management.”

Schlesinger, who has been practicing conservation for more than 20 years, will guide participants through both preventive care and simple at-home repairs. “These are books that we use, that we handle, that we interact with. And so there are ways to keep those books safe even as we’re interacting with them,” she said.

Tips, Demonstrations, and Starch Paste

The evening will include demonstrations on how to handle torn pages, loose bindings, and protective wrapping methods. Schlesinger will also introduce attendees to starch paste, a traditional material used in bookbinding and paper repair.

“Starch paste has actually been used since the first century AD, where there is a record of it being used to make papyrus,” she said. “In the West and also in the East, we traditionally use wheat starch… but you can also use corn starch from the store. It works just as well and I’ll demonstrate how to do that.”

The Craftsmanship of Conservation

Schlesinger noted that book conservation requires both historical knowledge and technical skill. “You need to know so much about the history of books so that when a book is broken, you know the appropriate way to address it… I listen to the books. I let them tell me what they need and then I work with them to give them the best that I can,” she said.

One of her most memorable projects was restoring an early Princeton yearbook made entirely of original photographs. “It was like doing detective work to look at what was left of the book to figure out what the original marbled paper looked like and how the book needed to go back together,” Schlesinger recalled.

More information is available at livingstonmanorlibrary.org. More information about Schlesinger is at carabooks.com

Since July, families in Sullivan County have faced uncertainty after officials announced a pause on enrollment and recertification for New York State’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) due to a funding shortfall. Parents and providers are now questioning how long the pause will last and what it means for working families who rely on affordable child care.

“It provides funding for low-income families to help pay for child care,” explained Isabel Braverman, editor of the Sullivan County Democrat. “That means either a daycare or other certified provider. The funding helps to pay for either a partial cost or the total cost of daycare for these families.”

Why CCAP Enrollment Stopped in Sullivan County

The state funds CCAP but recently expanded eligibility, leading to a surge in applications. “A lot more people enrolled in the program and the funding ran out. It couldn’t keep up with the demands,” Braverman said.

Sullivan County Health and Human Services Commissioner John Liddle told the Democrat that while the expansion has helped families and daycares, it also far exceeded expectations. “Their predicted numbers for the amount of children who would be eligible for this funding exceeded their predictions by a lot,” Braverman recounted.

Local and State Response

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) praised Governor Kathy Hochul’s expansion of CCAP, which allowed about 170,000 children statewide to benefit. To help cover rising costs, OCFS released an additional $250,000 to Sullivan County, but Commissioner Liddle said the funds are expected to run out before the end of September.

Because of the funding gap, counties cannot accept new applicants or re-certify families already in the program.

Enrollment Numbers Double in a Year

The demand is clear: according to the Sullivan County Child Care Council, 583 children were enrolled in CCAP in June 2023. By June 2024, enrollment had jumped to 1,344 — more than doubling in just one year.

Impact on Families and Providers

With funding on hold, some families are being forced to make difficult choices. “They said it was a few families who have decided to pull their children out of daycare and to leave their jobs to care for their children at home,” Braverman reported.

Daycare owners are also sounding the alarm. Jessica Dean, who owns Jessica’s Daycare in Monticello, described the ripple effect:

Dean added that disruptions in care hit children especially hard, particularly those with special needs.

Calls for Action

Dean has been pressing state and local officials, including Assembly Member Paula Kay and Congressman Josh Riley, to restore CCAP funding. “She is hopeful that they can get something going to resolve this issue,” Braverman said.

But for now, there’s no clear timeline. “From what I’ve heard, both from Jessica and John Liddle, it’s going to be a while — at least a few months,” Braverman noted.

Looking Ahead

As Sullivan County waits for relief, working parents face mounting stress over child care costs. Local officials and providers continue to advocate for more sustainable funding to keep the program open.

For more updates, visit the Sullivan County Democrat at scdemocratonline.com.

The Love Our Land Parade is a peaceful protest scheduled for Sunday, September 21, aimed at drawing attention to overdevelopment and environmental concerns in the Town of Fallsburg. The event, organized by Brett Budde of Majestic Farm in Mountdale, will feature a community marching band, live performances, and a dog costume contest.

"We've been working to help move the town of Fallsburg to take our overdevelopment issues seriously. Having a large group of people show up lets the town know that citizens care and expect action," Budde told Radio Catskill.

Budde highlighted the ongoing water shortages and infrastructure challenges affecting Fallsburg residents:

"We have over 71 miles of water mains, many installed in the 1940s. They can't handle more than two fire trucks without collapsing. Three weeks ago, we had a water main break during our busiest weekend, and one tank was down to one foot of water."

He stressed that high-density development in areas like Rec 1 could worsen the situation:

"When 100 acres get developed with 200 units, the town seems to think we don't have a water issue, but we know that's not true."

The parade also serves as a call for community participation, including volunteers for crowd management and local musicians for the marching band. Budde encouraged families and residents from surrounding towns to attend:

"We want this to be an exciting and fun event while highlighting the serious issues affecting our town."

For more information about the Love Our Land Parade, follow Brett Budde on Instagram and Facebook, or email [email protected]. Details about Fallsburg town meetings and planning are available at townoffallsburg.com.

 Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti has officially launched her campaign for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, challenging Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan in what’s expected to be one of the most closely watched elections in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Cognetti, who first won office in 2019 as an independent before switching to the Democratic Party, said her campaign will focus on corruption, health care, and transparency. “As Scranton Mayor, one of the main things I ran on was fighting corruption,” Cognetti said in her announcement. “Now I’m bringing that fight to Congress.”

Cognetti’s record in Scranton

Cognetti rose to prominence in Lackawanna County when she ran as an independent against Scranton’s Democratic machine in 2019, branding her campaign as “Paige Against the Machine.” Since then, she has governed as a Democrat, but often at odds with local party insiders.

“Someone who has run not necessarily as a staunch establishment Democrat coming into this race for Congress makes it super interesting,” said Liam Mayo, news editor of the River Reporter, which covers Pike and Wayne counties. “That gives her a certain background that a lot of people wouldn’t necessarily have.”

Cognetti enters the race with the backing of former U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represented PA-8 until losing to Bresnahan in 2024. Cartwright praised Cognetti’s “proven leadership in Scranton, commitment to transparency, and innovative policies” in his endorsement.

Bresnahan under fire in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Bresnahan, a Republican businessman from Luzerne County, defeated Cartwright in 2024 with 50.94% of the vote—just over 7,000 votes separating the two candidates.

Cognetti is already targeting Bresnahan over congressional stock trading and health care votes. While campaigning in 2024, Bresnahan pledged to ban stock trading by members of Congress. Since then, he has drawn criticism for continuing to make high-profile trades.

“He has continued to do a lot of high-profile trading in ways that he has caught a lot of flak for,” Mayo explained. In a comment to WVIA, Bresnahan defended his decision, saying: “What would I do with my money? Just leave it in all the accounts and just leave it there and lose money and go broke.”

Cognetti also blasted Bresnahan for supporting a health care bill that restricted access to Medicare and Medicaid.

A tight race shaping up

The Bresnahan campaign dismissed Cognetti’s announcement, calling her run a “vanity campaign.” In a statement, they said: “Paige Cognetti launching a vanity campaign for Congress while still running for a new term as Scranton Mayor tells you everything you need to know about her priorities.”

But early polling suggests a competitive race. A recent survey from Public Policy Polling showed Cognetti leading Bresnahan 45% to 43%, with 13% undecided. Nearly half of voters polled (47%) said they were still unfamiliar with Cognetti.

“With stock trading controversies and healthcare votes dogging Bresnahan, it’s entirely possible the seat is in play for 2026,” Mayo said.

Bresnahan’s role on the farm bill

While the campaign heats up, Bresnahan is also shaping national policy as a member of the House Agriculture Committee. He has been working alongside Chairman Glenn Thompson on the upcoming farm bill, highlighting the importance of family farms in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The average farm in our district is 179 acres with over 95% of them being family farms,” Bresnahan said.

The bill is expected to include provisions strengthening SNAP benefits and supporting local food distribution. Farmers in Wayne and Pike counties have expressed support for Bresnahan’s Local Farmers Feeding Our Communities Act, which would connect local growers with food assistance programs.

Still, critics point to the congressman’s past vote for cuts to food assistance programs as a contradiction.

What’s next for PA-8 voters.

The 2026 race for Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District, which includes Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, and Wayne counties, is already shaping up as a competitive matchup between two candidates with outsider reputations.

“In a way, you could see the upcoming election as a newer more outside Republican candidate versus a newer more outside Democratic candidate,” Mayo said.

Labor Day is behind us—and flu season is already ahead. After last year’s record-breaking spike in cases, doctors say now is the time to get protected.

“Last year in New York State was actually a record high number of cases—about 55,000 in a single week,” said Dr. Michael Traub, primary care physician with Crystal Run Healthcare. “We are definitely preparing.”

Why Get the Flu Shot?

• Protect yourself: Each year’s vaccine targets the strains most likely to spread.
• Protect others: Getting vaccinated helps stop the virus from reaching vulnerable neighbors.

Who’s Most at Risk?

• Adults 65+
• People with asthma, COPD, diabetes, or heart disease
• Pregnant women
• Nursing home or group home residents

Flu or COVID? How to Tell

Both bring fever, cough, and congestion. Key differences:

• Flu: Vomiting or diarrhea is more common.
• COVID-19: Loss of taste or smell may show up.
  👉 Best bet: Get tested within 2–3 days of symptoms.

Other Healthy Habits

• Wash your hands
• Stay home if you’re sick
• Consider masking in crowded spaces
• Keep chronic conditions under control

Can You Get Flu, COVID, and RSV Shots Together?

Yes. All three can be given in the same visit—though you may want to space them out if you’d rather not have two sore arms at once.

The Bottom Line

“Just remember to get your shot,” Dr. Traub said. “I usually recommend patients do it by Halloween.”

More info at crystalrunhealthcare.com.

Singer-songwriter Brad Cole and his band Bossa Blue are bringing James Taylor: Reimagined back to the Towne Crier Café on Friday, offering a fresh take on Taylor’s beloved catalog with a blend of Bossa Nova, Samba, Jazz, Rock, Soul, and Blues.

Now in its third year, the performance has become a local tradition at the iconic Beacon venue.

Cole says the idea started as a simple cover project.

Why James Taylor?

The choice to focus on James Taylor came not from Cole himself, but from a fan suggestion.

Cole describes Taylor’s catalog as “a treasure chest of melody and storytelling,” noting that his reinterpretations don’t attempt to copy the originals.

Reimagining the Songs

Audiences can expect surprises throughout the setlist. For example, Cole’s band transformed the upbeat “Mexico” into a minor blues.

Even with new arrangements, Cole says the heart of Taylor’s music remains intact.

The Band Behind the Sound

Bossa Blue brings together accomplished musicians from across genres.

• Aaron Johnston, drummer, plays with the band Brazilian Girls.
• Peter Calo, guitarist, was music director for Carly Simon.
• Mark Dann, bassist, is Cole’s longtime producer.
• Eric Nice, pianist, brings what Cole calls “our very own Bill Evans” to the group.

Keeping the Tradition Alive

For Cole, the show is both a tribute and a reinvention.

The third annual James Taylor: Reimagined concert with Brad Cole and Bossa Blue takes place Friday at the Towne Crier Café in Beacon. Tickets and details are available at towncrier.com and more about Cole’s music at bradcolemusic.com.