Radio Chatskill

The detention of three children and their mother shocked the town. It also highlighted just how much the region’s key industries depend on immigrant workers.

Spring is here – it’s officially time to dust off those roller skates! This past weekend, the Mid-Hudson Misfits kicked off the season with a charity roller derby event benefiting the Hudson Valley LGBTQ+ Center in Kingston.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar sends us this report from Skate Time in Accord on April 13, where skaters and fans gathered for a fun night of blocking, slamming, and jamming on the rink.

If you’ve ever been swept away by the magic of a musical, moved by a monologue, or caught yourself humming “Defying Gravity” for the hundredth time, this story is for you.

We’re debuting a new podcast all about theatre. Tom Candela is the voice behind Curtain Call—a new local podcast that celebrates the artists, directors, and storytellers shaping both our hometown theatre scene and the big Broadway stage. 

Each week, he brings listeners into the heart of the theatre world, blending insightful interviews with show-stopping Broadway tunes.

In a preview of his episode dropping April 18 at wjffradio.org, Tom speaks to Melissa Bell and Laurie Guzda, the creative forces behind TIME'S UP!, a comedy show that highlights the best and the weirdest of rural living. 

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian are part of the growing number of hospitals in Pennsylvania and New York that have stopped providing gender-affirming care to patients under 19 years old. 

The interruptions to care follow President Donald Trump’s executive orders to cancel federal funding for hospitals that provide gender affirming care for trans youth and mandating that the federal government will only recognize two genders, male and female.

These actions haven’t stopped the work of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, a nonprofit empowering transgender people in Pennsylvania through a legal name change clinic, financial assistance, peer-led support groups, and several other mentorship and advocacy programs.

Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke to Corinne Goodwin, board member of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, about what these executive orders mean for trans people in eastern Pennsylvania.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy has been protecting the forests, farmland, clean waters, and wildlife habitat of the Upper Delaware River region for over 25 years thanks to the tireless efforts of founder Barbara Yeaman. 

The Conservancy is marking the recent passing of Barbara Yeaman, who dedicated her life to environmental stewardship and community connection. She died at the age of 100 on April 6. 

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced a temporary closure of the Delaware River to all river traffic in Wayne County due to the upcoming demolition of the historic Skinner’s Falls Bridge and the installation of a causeway. The specific date for the demolition will be announced in the coming weeks.

In preparation for this work, signage and exclusion buoys will be installed at the Cochecton-Damascus Bridge to alert river users of the closure. An official signed portage will reroute watercraft to the Narrowsburg Boat Launch. Due to active construction, no portage will be allowed in the immediate vicinity of the bridge.

This phase of the Aids to Navigation (ATON) plan is expected to remain in place for approximately two months.

PennDOT encourages all river users to plan accordingly and exercise caution in the area. Additional updates, including the confirmed start date for the demolition, will be provided as they become available.

For more information and future announcements, visit [www.penndot.pa.gov](http://www.penndot.pa.gov).

Honesdale’s own Owen Walsh returns to his hometown for a special one-night-only performance at The Cooperage Project on April 12. The show marks a reunion with his former hometown band, O&Co, and a homecoming that’s as much about the music as it is about community, memory, and resilience.

Walsh, now based in Asheville, NC, has often credited The Cooperage as the place where his musical journey truly began. 

Fans may remember that The Cooperage also hosted the release show for Walsh’s 2022 debut album, On My Way, a moment the singer-songwriter says still resonates deeply. 

Though he’s spent the past few years cultivating his sound in Asheville’s vibrant music scene, Walsh says Honesdale has remained a foundational influence. 

That sense of connection was tested this past year when Hurricane Helene swept through Asheville, upending the local arts community and damaging many venues. 

What does it mean to be Jewish—right now? This question is at the heart of a new collaborative work-in-progress by renowned choreographer David Dorfman and visionary director/creator Leora Morris. 

Blending movement, memory, sound, and story, the duo embarks on a deeply personal exploration of Jewish identity, intergenerational inheritance, and the legacies that live within our bodies.

On April 12 at NACL in Highland Lake, NY,  Dorfman and Morris will share their work on the first night of Passover. Far from a traditional Seder, this evening will offer an experimental “ordering” of performance excerpts, reflections, readings, and, yes, matzo ball soup. 

On April 3, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it will end a mortgage-rescue program that helped veterans falling behind on their mortgage payments keep their homes. The move comes amidst the department’s plans to cut 80,000 employees and a federal hiring freeze that is slowing health care staffing at VA facilities. 

Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports on what this means for local veteran agencies in Sullivan County.