Radio Chatskill

A new local monthly queer book club is offering an inclusive, welcoming space for community members to come together, read, discuss, and celebrate queer literature.  The club, which starts this Sunday in Narrowsburg, NY, at 2 Queens Coffee, aims to foster a sense of camaraderie among readers while creating a supportive environment for open conversation about LGBTQ+ themes and experiences.

The new book club is a collaboration between Martin Higgins, C. Julian Jiménez of The Outrage, and Aaron Hicklin of One Grand Books, all of whom are passionate advocates for queer literature and community-building. Organizers are inviting readers of all backgrounds and orientations to join.

In a recent interview on Radio Chatskill, Martin Higgins and Julian Jiménez shared their vision for the book club. 

Following President Trump's heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House last week, some Ukrainian New Yorkers were left feeling upset.

Over the weekend, leaders from over a dozen countries got together to discuss a roadmap to peace and security for Ukraine, as the country faces its third year of war with Russia. The emergency summit was also aimed at working to preserve Ukraine's relationship with the U.S. and America's involvement in the war overseas.

We spoke to Dr. Dr. Larysa Dyrszka, a Ukrainian-American residing in Sullivan County and a retired pediatrician, for her reaction. 

If you have a teen or know a teen with a creative spark, "Project Identity: Open Studios" at Bethel Woods provides a unique and supportive environment for young people to explore their interests in music, digital art, animation, and design. With access to professional-grade tools, expert mentorship, and the space to collaborate with peers, the program is designed to unlock their potential and inspire the next generation of creators.

Kate Svoboda from Bethel Woods explains how the program empowers teen creativity.

The Trump administration's recent policy shift allowing immigration raids in healthcare facilities has sparked pushback from healthcare workers. The unions argue that the policy would deter migrants from seeking vital medical care, creating an atmosphere of fear in healthcare settings. 

Milly Silva, Treasury Secretary of United Healthcare Workers East spoke to Radio Catskill's Miguel Santiago Colon.

A growing number of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) customers have reported staggering increases in their electric bills this winter, with some seeing charges soar by double or even triple figures. This surge in energy costs has left many families struggling to understand the cause, with some residents expressing frustration over the sudden financial burden.

In response to mounting pressure from frustrated customers, New York State Assemblymember Paula Kay arranged a public meeting, held on February 27 at the Sullivan County Government Center, where NYSEG representatives were expected to address customer concerns.

Despite the company’s efforts to provide transparency, many customers walked away from the meeting unsatisfied. While NYSEG explained that the supply costs were causing the price hikes, many felt the explanations did not sufficiently address the impact on their day-to-day lives, with some questioning whether more could be done to mitigate the burden.

NYSEG, a subsidiary of the Spanish energy company Avangrid, has attributed these massive bill hikes to rising supply costs and the recent extreme cold temperatures. According to the company, while they manage the delivery and billing of electricity, the charges passed on to consumers are based on the costs they pay to energy suppliers. As such, fluctuations in the supply costs directly impact the amount that customers are charged.

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo attended the meeting and brings us this report.

Farmers and environmental advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the agency removed numerous climate change-related tools, data sets, and services from its website. 

The lawsuit, led by the nonprofit Earthjustice, claims the removal of vital resources was unlawful and harmful to farmers across the country.

Wes Gillingham, a New York farmer, a founder of Catskill Mountainkeeper, and board president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York is among the plaintiffs. 

Gillingham told Radio Catskill about the impact this purge of climate information is having on farmers adapting to climate impacts such as drought, floods, and changes in growing seasons.

More and more people in New York are upset with New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) over high bills. Many say they don’t understand why their bills have doubled or tripled, and they aren’t getting clear answers from NYSEG. 

A public workshop is scheduled to be held at the Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701, on February 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss the issue.

The workshop, led by Assemblymember Paula Kay (D-100) and State Senator Peter Oberacker (R-51), will give customers a chance to ask questions and have their bills reviewed. “My office has been flooded with NYSEG bills from people asking for help,” Kay said. “It’s clear that usage has gone way up on many bills, and I don’t think cold weather is the only reason.”

People in different parts of the state are seeing massive increases in their electric bills. Cindy Hall, from Unadilla NY, said, “There were months when we didn’t get a bill at all, then suddenly we’d get a $3,000 bill. When I called, they’d tell me I didn’t owe anything, and then I’d get hit with a bill I couldn’t afford to pay.”

Hall has filed complaints with the Public Service Commission and even reached out to Elon Musk to find other energy options. But NYSEG hasn’t given her any real answers. “They told me, ‘This is your usage. Pay it or we shut off your electric,’” Hall said.

Ryan Holland, who lives south of Buffalo, is also frustrated. “I’ve seen my bill go from $300 to $500 to $710 in just a few months. And I don’t even use electric heating,” he said. Holland, who owns a propane business, mostly uses propane for heating and appliances. “I feel like I’m paying for premium electricity, but no one at NYSEG can explain why.”

In Sullivan County, Mario Dubovici has seen the same problem. “The bills have been crazy lately, sometimes 30-50% more month over month, even though my usage hasn’t changed,” he said. He thinks NYSEG’s new smart meters might have something to do with it, but the company says they don’t affect rates.

Julie James from Sidney, NY, and her husband, who receives rental assistance, are struggling with their NYSEG bill. “Our NYSEG bill has been over $500 since the winter started. The delivery charge alone is over $200. We’ve been sitting in our house in winter jackets since December because we cannot afford the bill,” she said. “Since December, with no heat on, our bill is still reading an insane amount of usage. My landlord and maintenance worker checked, and nothing else is running on our meters. We can see our breath inside our home, and still, there’s no change in our bill.”

Ralene Sabine from Madison County, who has lived in the same home for 13 years, shared a similar experience. “My normal winter bill runs under $400, but January’s bill was $516. Then February’s bill came, and it was $871.55—my heart sunk. My rent is only $25 more. NYSEG said customers would see a $10 per 600kWh increase, but that would only be about $60-70 extra for me, not more than double last year’s bill,” she explained. “I’ve had the same heating system for years. It doesn’t have a thermostat—it just heats bricks overnight and radiates warmth throughout the day. I haven’t changed anything, but my bill has skyrocketed.”

Karen Meneghin, who helps run the ‘My NYSEG Bill Doubled’ Facebook group, said the state needs to step in. “We have over 1,200 signatures on a petition calling for a statewide investigation. This isn’t just happening here—this is a problem across New York,” she said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between paying their electric bill and buying food.”

NYSEG says supply costs, a colder winter, and grid improvements are the reasons for the higher bills. But many people don’t buy that explanation. Lawmakers and customers are calling for an independent audit to see if these increases are really needed.

At the upcoming workshop, NYSEG President Patricia Nilsen is expected to address customer concerns, review bills, and check meters for customers who have extreme charges. Assemblymember Kay said she is going to keep pushing for answers. “NYSEG has promised that they will look into every bill we give them. But if this is a bigger issue, we need more action.”

NYSEG suggests customers reach out to their customer service team or look into budget billing programs, but many say those options won’t fix the real problem.

Our resident science guy Joe Johnson has some science stories that caught his eye this week, including updates on that asteroid that was getting (kind of) close to Earth; the first asteroid mining spacecraft heading to the launchpad this week; the parade of planets; and a new volcanic island forming in the Pacific Ocean.

For more than a century, the Catskills have provided New York City with billions of gallons of clean drinking water. Will NYC be the unlikely partner that –– finally –– brings wireless coverage to the Catskills?

In a new effort to enhance communications in the Catskills, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering with New York's ConnectALL initiative to expand wireless and broadband access throughout the New York City watershed.

The initiative was motivated by operational challenges faced by DEP staff due to poor cell coverage, and a recent Request for Information (RFI) seeks input from telecommunications providers and other stakeholders on how to eliminate cell phone dead zones.

In the latest episode of Kaatscast, DEP Commissioner Rohit "Rit" Aggarwala and Water Supply Deputy Commissioner Paul Rush join host Brett Barry for a discussion about the RFI; why a robust communications network is increasingly crucial; and how a network could be built to benefit everyone in the region.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced Monday that work to remove the Skinners Falls Bridge will begin this week. 

The bridge, which connects Pennsylvania and New York, has been deemed a safety hazard due to its failing substructure and superstructure, according to PennDOT. A January 2025 inspection revealed further deterioration, with the New York abutment and upstream truss bearing areas actively moving.

Appearing on Radio Chatskill Tuesday, PennDot District 4 Executive Rich Roman says the removal won’t and can’t actually begin until mid-March because of the icepack on the Delaware River.