The Local Edition

Jazz will take over the Liberty Middle School gymnasium this Saturday as student musicians from across Sullivan County gather for the 28th annual Liberty Jazz Festival.

In an interview with Radio Catskill, Patricio Robayo spoke with Eric Aweh, director of music for the Liberty Central School District, who described the festival as “a celebration of collaboration” among schools and communities.

About 125 middle and high school students from Liberty, Monticello, Tri-Valley, Rockland, and Eldred will participate. The day includes an afternoon clinic with guest clinician Michael Berkowitz, an internationally known conductor and drummer whose career spans major orchestras and legendary recording artists.

The festival culminates with a public concert at 7 p.m., featuring a traditional finale in which all student musicians perform together.

The event will be held at Liberty Middle School. Admission is $5, with a $25 maximum for families. A snow date is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8.

A new national report finds New York has made progress protecting residents from secondhand smoke and raising tobacco taxes — but the state is falling short where it may matter most: funding programs that help people quit.

The latest “State of Tobacco Control” report from the American Lung Association gives New York an F for tobacco prevention funding, even as tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the state.

More than 28,000 New Yorkers die each year from tobacco-related illnesses, according to the report .

“It is devastating to see the federal government largely abandon its tobacco control efforts,” said Michael Seilback, assistant vice president of nationwide advocacy and state public policy for the Lung Association. “States need to ramp up their tobacco prevention efforts even more to protect residents from disease and addiction caused by tobacco use.”

How New York graded out

Each year, the Lung Association issues report cards on state policies proven to reduce smoking and save lives.

This year, New York received:

• A – Smokefree workplace laws
• B – Tobacco taxes
• B – Access to quit-smoking services
• D – Ending flavored tobacco sales
• F – Funding for prevention programs

Seilback compared the results to a student’s mixed report card.

“If my kids came home with an A, two Bs, a D and an F, it wouldn’t be going on the refrigerator,” he said. “We’d be figuring out how to bring those grades up.”

Billions in revenue, millions in prevention

One of the biggest concerns: funding.

New York collects roughly $1.5 billion each year from tobacco taxes and legal settlement payments tied to the industry. But only about $33 million is spent on prevention and cessation programs — far below what health experts recommend .

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the state invest more than $200 million annually based on its population.

That shortfall, advocates say, means fewer public education campaigns, less community outreach, and fewer resources for quitlines that provide free nicotine patches, counseling, and support.

“When you see those hard-hitting ads or hear about free quit help, that funding is what makes that possible,” Seilback said. “Without it, those services shrink.”

New products, new challenges

While cigarette smoking has declined over the decades, health officials say the fight is far from over.

Newer products — including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches like Zyn — are gaining popularity, particularly among young people.

Use of nicotine pouches in New York has doubled in recent years, according to advocates, and many products remain untaxed or lightly regulated.

Flavored tobacco also remains a major concern. Sweet and fruity flavors can mask the harshness of nicotine, making it easier for teens to start using.

“Flavors make these products easier to swallow — literally,” Seilback said. “They’re designed to attract kids.”

Disparities in marketing

Seilback said the industry also targets lower-income communities and communities of color more aggressively with storefront ads and promotions.

Neighborhood “walk audits” in places like the Bronx have shown a higher concentration of tobacco marketing near schools and corner stores.

“There’s nothing accidental about it,” he said. “These companies know exactly who they’re targeting.”

What advocates want next

With federal tobacco enforcement scaled back in recent years, health groups say states must lead.

The Lung Association is urging lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul to:

• Increase funding for prevention and quit programs
• Tax all tobacco and nicotine products equally
• Strengthen enforcement against flavored tobacco sales

Despite the setbacks, Seilback says there’s reason for optimism.

“There was a time when people smoked everywhere — indoors, restaurants, offices. That’s unthinkable now,” he said. “We know these policies work. If we keep pushing, we can get to a tobacco-free future.”

The full report and state grades are available at Lung.org/sotc.

We’re taking a closer look at the real cost of smoking — not just to our health, but to our wallets.

A new report from personal finance site WalletHub estimates smoking costs the U.S. economy more than $600 billion each year, factoring in medical care, lost productivity, and other long-term expenses. And in New York, the numbers are especially stark.

The report ranks New York third in the nation for the overall financial burden of smoking. Researchers found the average smoker in the state could face nearly $6 million in lifetime costs when accounting for out-of-pocket spending on cigarettes, higher health and homeowners insurance premiums, lost income from smoking-related illnesses, and missed investment opportunities.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, who worked on the study. Lupo said many smokers focus only on the price of tobacco products, but the true cost stretches far beyond the checkout counter.

Those hidden expenses include increased health care use, time away from work, and financial opportunity costs — such as money that could have been invested or saved. The report also highlights ripple effects on families, workplaces, and communities, where secondhand smoke and higher group insurance costs can impact non-smokers as well.

Lupo says quitting sooner rather than later can quickly improve both health and finances, with savings adding up almost immediately.

The full report, including state-by-state rankings and cost breakdowns, is available at WalletHub.com

Buying a home is increasingly becoming more expensive in the Hudson Valley. That’s according to the latest data from housing nonprofit Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar has more. 

Sullivan County has a new person overseeing its finances, but for Kathleen Lara, the job feels like a continuation of work she’s been doing for years.

Lara was elected County Treasurer in November, stepping into the county’s top fiscal leadership role after more than a decade inside the Treasurer’s Office. She previously served 11 years as Deputy Treasurer, helping manage daily operations and learning the complexities of county finances from the ground up.

“I’ve learned it from the bottom up,” Lara said in an interview with Radio Catskill. “I know every part of this office — from stuffing envelopes to handling foreclosures and surplus funds. I’ve seen every side of it.”

A lifelong Monticello resident, Lara traces her family roots in Sullivan County back generations. She grew up locally, graduated from Monticello High School, and later worked as a paralegal for 17 years before joining county government. Public service, she said, runs in the family: her father served on the Town of Thompson council and her grandmother worked as town clerk.

That background shaped her decision to pursue the Treasurer’s role.

“I’m honored and grateful for the trust the residents of Sullivan County have placed in me,” Lara said. “I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of our County with dedication, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.”

The Treasurer’s Office plays a central — and often behind-the-scenes — role in county government. Lara’s team handles the flow of money in and out of county accounts, issues payroll and vendor payments, oversees accounting, manages real property tax services, processes room and solid waste taxes, and handles foreclosure proceedings.

“People think all we do is sign checks,” she said. “There’s so much more.”

As she settles into the position, Lara says one of her top priorities is making the office more visible and accessible to residents. She plans to increase communication through newsletters, public outreach, and visits to towns and community groups to explain how the county’s financial systems work.

“I want to be a face people recognize,” she said. “If you walk into a government office and don’t know who to talk to, that’s frustrating. I don’t want this office to feel like that.”

She hopes clearer communication can also reduce confusion around taxes and foreclosures — processes that many residents find intimidating.

“Taxes are people’s paychecks. They’re people’s savings,” Lara said. “They deserve to understand where their money is going and how everything works.”

That approach extends to small changes, too. For example, the office now takes extra steps to track down why returned mail doesn’t reach property owners, rather than simply assuming residents will follow up themselves.

“People can’t pay a bill they didn’t know they had,” she said. “If we can make the process a little less painful, we should.”

Lara steps into the role at a time when county budgets are under close scrutiny and financial forecasts remain uncertain. She said the Treasurer’s responsibility is to provide realistic revenue estimates and advocate for taxpayers while working alongside lawmakers and the county manager’s office.

“Our job is to be careful and responsible,” she said. “Every dollar counts.”

Ultimately, Lara says she wants residents to feel comfortable reaching out — even if their question isn’t strictly about the Treasurer’s Office.

“If someone needs help navigating county government, I want them to feel like they can come see me,” she said. “A smile and a little time goes a long way. We’re here to help.”

The worst of the snowstorm has passed through Radio Catskill's listening area, with several local jurisdictions, including Ulster and Orange counties, activating local emergency orders.

Kimberly Izar spoke with Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger earlier today about the latest storm conditions and what residents can expect in the coming days.

A powerful winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow across the Catskills and northeast Pennsylvania, disrupting travel and daily life throughout the region.

The system delivered widespread snowfall totals of at least 12 inches, with some communities seeing significantly more.

“We saw a widespread snowfall across the region of at least 12 inches,” said Ben Watts, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton. “There were some higher totals in the Catskills of 15 to even 17 inches of snow. In parts of Pike and Wayne counties, we even saw totals as high as 20 inches.”

Watts said the storm largely performed as forecasters expected.

“Results generally fell within the forecasted range,” he said. “For most of the region we were looking at 12 to 18 inches, possibly higher amounts in the Catskills. This was pretty much what we were anticipating.”

Travel concerns linger

While the heaviest snowfall has ended, slick conditions remain a concern.

Road crews have treated many main highways, but patchy black ice is likely, especially on secondary or untreated roads.

“Anyone out on the roads, just take it easy,” Watts said. “Be prepared for maybe some patchy black ice, just in case.”

Officials are urging drivers to slow down and allow extra travel time.

Heavy snow, but limited structural risk

Despite the storm’s high totals, Watts said the dense, compacted snow shouldn’t pose widespread structural issues.

Based on what forecasters observed, he does not expect serious roof damage from this system.

However, clearing snow can still be physically demanding.

“It is a pretty dense snow now that it’s settled, so it’s going to feel a little heavy when shoveling,” Watts said. “Take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, and don’t overexert yourself.”

Next threat: Arctic cold

Forecasters are now shifting their focus from snow to extreme cold.

It’s too early to say whether another storm system could arrive this weekend, but temperatures will remain well below normal all week.

“We are looking at a very cold week ahead,” Watts said. “Highs are only going to be in the teens and lows will be in the single digits or even below zero later in the week. That’s going to result in wind chills well below zero each night and morning.”

The National Weather Service warns that wind chills could dip into the negative single digits tonight, with another Arctic blast expected Thursday through Saturday.

Residents are advised to:

Dress in layers

Cover exposed skin

Limit time outdoors

Check on vulnerable neighbors and pets

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plan to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding for child care and social services, a move that local leaders say could have had immediate and devastating impacts on families in Sullivan County and across New York.

On Friday, a judge in New York’s Southern District issued a two-week temporary restraining order halting the administration’s plan to withhold funding from three major programs serving low-income families and people with disabilities. The proposed freeze targeted five Democratic-led states — including New York — and involved more than $10 billion in funding for programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Child Care and Development Fund, according to reporting by The New York Times.

The pause came after attorneys general from the affected states filed suit, warning that even a short interruption could disrupt child care, employment, and essential services for hundreds of thousands of households.

“It’s very scary”

In an interview with Radio Catskill, Nadia Rajsz, chair of the Sullivan County Legislature, said the uncertainty alone is already taking a toll.

Rajsz questioned how funding aimed at children and working families could be used as leverage in political disputes.

Ripple effects felt locally

While the lawsuit focuses on statewide funding streams, local officials say the consequences would be felt immediately at the county level. Child care subsidies, food assistance, and other social services are often the backbone that allows families to stay employed and financially stable.

Rajsz emphasized that rising costs have already pushed many households to the edge.

What happens next

The temporary order keeps funds flowing while the legal challenge continues. The case will now move forward under a different federal judge, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.