The Local Edition

An investigation by New York Focus and The New York Times found that in New York State, police officers who drank and drove often avoided arrest and criminal charges — consequences ordinary citizens would likely face. Reporters reviewed more than 10,000 police disciplinary files and uncovered at least 17 cases where officers involved in crashes, collisions, or other alcohol-related incidents were spared basic sobriety testing or criminal investigations. Instead, cases were frequently treated as internal disciplinary matters, resulting in short suspensions rather than arrests. Some officers even admitted to heavy drinking before reporting for duty.

The findings raise questions about accountability and how departments shield their own, even when evidence of drunken driving is clear. While a few cases led to prosecution, most officers returned to work after brief suspensions.

Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole spoke with reporter Sammy Sussman about the investigation and what it reveals about policing and accountability in New York.

A Lower East Side gallery known for championing young, queer, and emerging artists is bringing its vision to Sullivan County this weekend.

Auxier Kline, based in Manhattan’s Two Bridges neighborhood, is collaborating with Hall Space by Nonetta in Eldred to present Autumn Equinox, an exhibition that explores the shift from summer to fall and the transformations that come with it.

The opening reception will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hall Space, located at 550 State Route 55 in Eldred. The exhibition will run through Oct. 12.

Brent Auxier, who co-owns Auxier Kline with Kate Kline, said the collaboration came naturally after he and his partner purchased a home in Eldred during the pandemic and began attending events at Hall Space.

Founded online just before the pandemic, Auxier Kline operated virtually for two years before opening its Lower East Side location. The gallery focuses on emerging and mid-career artists, with an emphasis on painting and works on paper. Its curatorial choices often center on themes of identity, intimacy, and place.

Featured Artists

The Autumn Equinox exhibition will feature eight artists:

• Sarah Davidson
• Hank Ehrenfried
• Stephen Gay
• Marissa Graziano
• Tin Nguyen
• Alexandra Smith
• Amy Talluto
• Matthew Zaccari

Their work spans from thick oil-painted abstractions of butterfly wings, to Hudson Valley orchard scenes, to abstract landscapes, hyperreal florals, and explorations of travel and motion through painted perspective.

Auxier said the show captures more than just seasonal change.

For more information about Auxier Kline, visit auxierkline.com

On October 31, Martin Colavito and his wife Lynn will begin a 46-mile walk from their home in Liberty to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Montgomery. Their goal isn’t fitness — it’s food security.

The couple’s journey, known as Martin and Lynn’s Long Walk, will unfold over four days and is designed to raise both funds and awareness for the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard. The program, run by SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together), delivers food to more than 700 people across the county each week. But sustaining that number is becoming increasingly difficult.

“What we’ve found since January is that the sources of nutrition have been steadily declining,” Colavito said. “The USDA funding that used to support a lot of the food programs is just not there like it was.”

With fewer resources and rising costs, the cupboard has been forced to start a waiting list, something Colavito never thought would happen when the program launched five years ago during the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown.

“It breaks my heart to have a waiting list. There’s something incredibly immoral about having a waiting list for food,” he said.

The cupboard was created to help residents with limited access to food, especially those confined to their homes during the pandemic. Today, it serves many who are working and still can’t afford to eat.

“Most people would be shocked if they knew how many of our neighbors who are food insecure are also employed,” Colavito said. “They’re part of our community. They’re not taking advantage of anything. They’re just trying to eat.”

In rural Sullivan County, transportation is a major hurdle. Even if a pantry is nearby, it’s not always reachable.

“Just because someone has a car doesn’t mean they have access,” he said. “That one car might be taking someone to work. If you have an infant at home, four blocks might as well be four miles.”

According to FeedHV.org, around 10% of Hudson Valley residents experience food insecurity. One in eight children live in households where meals aren’t guaranteed. While New York State has allocated over $500 million to food access programs since 2020, recent federal funding cuts have hit local food distribution efforts hard.

The Colavitos are covering their own travel and lodging expenses. Every dollar raised will go directly to the Community Cupboard. Supporters can sponsor a mile of the walk for $50. The walk itself will take them through several towns, offering opportunities to engage with residents along the way.

“We want to take this time to reflect on how lucky we are and have real conversations about hunger and hardship,” Colavito said. “Hunger doesn’t care what party you belong to. If you’re suffering, you’re suffering.”

Colavito does not receive a salary for his role with the cupboard. Lynn works part-time, though she often puts in more hours than a full-time schedule. For them, this walk is a commitment to their neighbors and to a cause that’s becoming more urgent by the month.

“We have ten months of funding left,” Colavito said. “This walk is about buying us time. Time to keep the cupboard open. Time to find sustainable funding. And time to remind people that we all have a role to play.”

If all goes as planned, the couple will reach the food bank in Montgomery on November 3. Along the way, they’re hoping for good conversations, supportive gestures, and perhaps a few waves from passing cars.

“If you see us, say hi,” said Colavito. “You’ll know us, two dorks with walking sticks.”

How to Help

To sponsor a mile or donate to the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, visit sullivansalt.org All proceeds go directly toward purchasing and delivering food in Sullivan County.

Radio Catskill is marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the voices, resilience, and celebrations of our Latino community here in the Hudson Valley.

We begin with LOUD — Latin Outreach, Unity, and Development, a grassroots organization co-founded by Sugely Melenciano-Weed and Alessandra Gonzalez, dedicated to connecting Hispanic and immigrant families in Ulster County with vital resources, advocacy, and support.

“People in our community often don’t know where to turn,” Sugely said. “They ask how to fill out paperwork, enroll a child in school, or even how to get a birth certificate. LOUD was created to be that bridge — connecting families with resources that already exist but are hard to access.”

A Growing Need Amid Fear

LOUD’s work has taken on new urgency in recent weeks. Reports of ICE raids in Kingston have left families afraid to go to work, send children to school, or even leave their homes. “The community is very fearful right now,” Sugely explained. “That fear is traumatic. We may not know the full impact of these raids for years.”

LOUD has responded by organizing discreet communication networks through WhatsApp and Facebook groups to share accurate information without causing unnecessary panic. Volunteers provide interpreting services, accompany families to schools or court, and coordinate food deliveries when people are too afraid to visit pantries themselves.

“We’re immigrants too,” said Sugely. “That makes people trust us a little more.”

Beyond Survival: Celebration and Identity

Even in difficult times, Hispanic Heritage Month is a moment of celebration. LOUD is leading a series of events in Kingston, beginning with a proclamation at City Hall on September 15, followed by the Fifth Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on October 4. The festival will close several city blocks for music, food, art, and community.

“We debated canceling because of safety concerns,” Sugely admitted. “But the community said no — we need to celebrate. We need to show up and show out. We’re not going anywhere.”

Other events include a Hispanic Business Appreciation Luncheon, a Community Quinceañera for local youth, and “The Hispanic Experience,” an art and culture showcase.

Looking Ahead

For Sugely, hope comes from the community itself. “We are fortunate in Ulster County,” she said. “Despite everything, people are coming together, helping one another, and making sure no one is left behind.”

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo will continue these conversations throughout the month, speaking with Hispanic members of our community about identity, belonging, and the contributions Latinos bring to America every day.

24 Years Later: Remembering September 11 with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Today, Radio Catskills Jamie Case is joined by Sarah Kramer-Harrison, Ulster County’s new director of arts, culture and open spaces — a first for the county. They sat down to talk about the goals of the role, what’s ahead for local artists and organizations, and how public parks may soon double as cultural venues in the historic Ulster County. 

Every year, nonprofits across New York State can apply for a grant for trail repairs and environmental stewardship. It’s called the “Park and Trail Partnership Grants Program” and is run by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Parks & Trails New York. This year, $1.7 million was spread out across twenty-two organizations, many of them in the Catskills region. In the Finger Lakes, recipients include: Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park, and Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park. In Mid-Hudson, the winners were: Catskill 3500 Club, Palisades Park Conservancy, Friends of Philipse Manor Hall, Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, and the Little Stony Point Citizens Association. 

Michael Bongar and Lori Herpen of the Catskill 3500 Club in West Hurley told WJFF that their grant of almost $5,000 will be used for their trail stewardship project, which educates people on ethical environmental enjoyment. The “Leave No Trace” principles are a primary example of this, and the money helped pay for signage and staff to spread the word on best practices. 

Stacey Lynch Adnams of the Stony Kill Foundation in Wappingers Falls recalled that their 2023 grant was used to restore part of their barnyard. In addition, Joanna Riesman is the Board Administrator for Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Their group applied in August 2024 and received around $40,000 in March 2025 for graffiti removal and community outreach. “The goals are to make people aware that the Friends exist and that we do a lot of work to educate the public on the history of the trail but also to keep the trail beautiful. One of the most evident frustrations for walkers is graffiti on these beautiful stone structures.” Riesman continued, “We worked for many years with New York state parks to develop a protocol for cleaning the graffiti without ruining the underlying stone and now that a method has been approved we can go ahead.”

Similarly, the Bannerman Castle Trust was also a grant recipient from the 2023 cycle. Kelly Ellenwood applied for the grant on behalf of the organization and just submitted their rescope this week. That means that two years after winning the grant, they’re finally able to update the state about the specifics of how the money was used. Ellenwood says that the repairs ended up costing more than anticipated but they were able to install wrought-iron rails on their two most popular trails and a grant match from other donors enabled them to do further repairs such as weeding and sign installation. Ellenwood spoke over video chat about the process over the last two years and the importance of the grant for Bannerman Castle.

Radio Catskill Speaks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly About Her New Podcast Sources & Methods

Following pressure, the powerful board overseeing Pennsylvania opioid settlement money allows public comment but faces continued criticism over transparency and representation.

New Yorkers are suing to reverse a Trump administration policy change that has upended the futures of tens of thousands of young immigrants.