The Local Edition

WHITE LAKE – A new $24 million terminal at the Sullivan County International Airport is nearing completion, but residents hoping for commercial airline service may be disappointed. County Manager Joshua Potosek made it clear in an interview with Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo that there are no plans for scheduled passenger service. Instead, county officials see the airport’s future as an economic engine driven by corporate jet traffic and potential business expansion.

“We just don’t have the population base to support commercial scheduled jet traffic like you’d see at Stewart Airport,” Potosek said. “What we’re focused on is attracting corporate jets and aviation-related businesses. This airport can be a hub for business, not just leisure travel.”

The two-year construction project was largely funded by an $18.5 million state grant awarded under Governor Kathy Hochul’s Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The county contributed approximately $5.5 million to complete the project.

The state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot terminal replaces a decades-old structure and features panoramic views of the Catskills, a pilot’s lounge, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and plans for a restaurant and bar. Potosek confirmed that a request for proposals (RFP) is already out to bring dining back to the airport.

Even without commercial flights, county officials believe the investment will benefit all Sullivan County residents.

“This isn’t just about jets,” said Potosek. “This is about economic activity. More jets mean more fuel sales, more hangars, more businesses supporting airport operations—and that helps generate tax revenue and jobs.”

Governor Hochul echoed that vision in a press release earlier this year, saying the upgrades are intended to “invite visitors and drive local economies by facilitating tourism and generating opportunities for business development.”

The airport is located near several major regional attractions, including Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Resorts World Catskills, and the Monticello Motor Club. Officials believe it can serve as a “gateway to the Catskills,” attracting high-end tourists and business travelers.

Looking ahead, Potosek said the county is considering further upgrades, including a potential runway extension to attract shipping giants like Amazon or FedEx.

“There’s also opportunity for things like flight schools and parachuting operations,” he added. “We’ve had interest in using some of the new office space we built into the terminal. The hope is that aviation-related businesses will see this as a great location to grow.”

Potosek acknowledged public skepticism, particularly from residents who view the airport as “a rich boys' playground.”

“That’s not wrong—right now, that’s who uses it,” Potosek said candidly. “But even that generates economic activity. If someone flies in and hires local mechanics or eats at local restaurants, that’s money going into our community. That helps keep property taxes down.”

The terminal is expected to open within weeks, pending a ribbon-cutting ceremony that could include Governor Hochul. County officials are coordinating with the Governor’s office to finalize a date.

In the meantime, Potosek says the airport team is preparing a targeted marketing campaign aimed at the corporate aviation sector.

“We want to make it as easy and attractive as possible for businesses to make Sullivan County their base of operations,” he said. “This new terminal is just the beginning.”

New York’s state-funded home care program for the elderly and disabled has been in turmoil for months.

The $9 billion program serves hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and was taken over by Georgia-based company Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) in April, with the stated goal of making the program more efficient and reducing fraud. Since then, workers and patients have complained of missed paychecks, randomly slashed hours, breaches of sensitive data, and other issues.

When you're pregnant and unsure what to do, the first place you turn for help can shape everything that follows. In the Catskills, not all pregnancy centers are what they seem and the difference could determine whether you get medical care or misinformation.

Licensed providers like Family Planning of South Central New York offer "affordable, compassionate, confidential care to anyone from any walk of life," regardless of income, immigration status, or insurance. Their staff are "appropriately credentialed" and trained in cultural competency to provide sensitive, informed care, explains Felicity Gomer, their Director of Public Communications.

These clinics offer all-options pregnancy counseling, including referrals to "trusted abortion providers," a "full range of FDA approved birth control methods," free condoms, emergency contraception, and testing and treatment for HIV and STIs. Their philosophy centers on "the patient's choice" and delivering care with "compassion, not coercion," says Gomer. 

By contrast, Crisis Pregnancy Centers are often religiously affiliated and aim to discourage abortion. In Ulster County, centers such as Bravo Pregnancy Support Center do not provide abortions, abortion referrals, contraception, or licensed medical services. 

Some CPCs offer free ultrasounds or STI testing, but concerns persist over the qualifications of staff performing them. The Delaware County Pregnancy Center, for example, has paused its ultrasound services due to a lack of licensed personnel. Their services focus instead on "peer counseling" and material support, like diapers, formula, and clothing, often given through programs that encourage parenthood education such as "earn what you learned." Some also offer "Abortion Recovery Support Groups."

Local healthcare professionals warn that CPCs may spread misinformation. Gomer says these centers are not "real medical providers" and may not be "bound by HIPAA or medical ethics." She adds that many CPCs "promote false claims about the effects of abortion or the effects of Plan B pills." Dr. Elizabeth Solger, an OB-GYN, agrees, saying CPCs often spread "misinformation about the risks of abortion," despite its medical safety.

In one instance, a Binghamton patient, who wished to remain anonymous, described a suspected CPC volunteer standing across from a legitimate clinic, gently waving patients over without identifying her affiliation. The resident was seeking an abortion and says had they not been more educated on these subtle tactics, they could've unwittingly gone over to the woman. She said that it is "very discouraging to know how many people probably get persuaded into that."

To avoid confusion, Gomer advises local residents to ask if a center is staffed by licensed professionals, whether they provide or refer for abortions, and to be cautious of any "religious undertones or coercive undertones." Her guidance is simple: "if a place won't talk about all of your options, it's not a medical clinic; it's an agenda."

Sullivan County Poet Laureate Kevin Graham will be the featured performer at Open Mic First Fridays at the Western Sullivan Public Library’s Delaware Free Branch (45 Lower Main St., Callicoon) on Friday, September 5, 6–8 p.m.

Sign-ups begin at 5:45 p.m.; the open mic runs 6–7 p.m. with Graham’s featured set 7–8 p.m.

Graham, a poet, musician, and visual artist, plans an improvised performance that blends live looping guitar with spoken poetry—a hybrid he describes as part score, part reading. “I’ll improvise the music and fit the poem around it,” he explained in a studio demo ahead of the event. “The loop sets the mood and the pacing; the poem adapts to the sound.”

The laureate says the approach helps audiences hear poetry more clearly. By stretching the cadence to the contours of the loop, he reads slower, with more breath and space—“almost lyrical,” he said—so listeners can sit inside the words rather than chase them. During the demo, he layered a gentle guitar motif beneath lines like: “I try to think my thinking into a plum and throw it into the thornbush, but it always reappears in my throat full of ants.”

A “creativity support group,” not just a workshop

Beyond performing, Graham has channeled much of his laureate tenure into regular poetry workshops on Zoom (announced via Sullivan County Poet Laureate on Instagram/Facebook). Participants share work and talk frankly about process, roadblocks, and productivity. The tone is intentionally encouraging.
“We focus on what’s working,” he said. “When several people point to the same line or image, it builds confidence—and that’s fuel to keep creating.”

He also publishes short essays on creativity and productivity on his Substack, reflecting a belief that art-making is a life skill, not a niche pursuit. “Tools like AI can be useful,” Graham noted, “but the lasting satisfaction comes from struggling through the making itself.”

From film scores to open mics

Musically, Graham’s palette draws on jazz, classical, and film music. Think ambient, cinematic textures with the spontaneity of improvisation. He likens the guitar-and-loop bed to a film score for poems, a way to “open a door for the poetry to get in.” Friday’s set will be fully improvised musically, with poems selected from work he’s written in recent years.

Expect variety: some pieces are existential and melancholy; others are abstract and playful. And expect atmosphere. Graham hopes to dim the lights and “set a vibe,” underscoring the performance’s intimate, exploratory feel.

Libraries as portals of discovery

Graham also highlighted a new Library Passport offered through the Ramapo Catskill Library System—stampable at branches across the region—as a nudge back toward serendipitous, in-person discovery. “There’s a different kind of power in finding something you weren’t looking for,” he said. “Libraries still make that possible.”

Abilities First, a nonprofit based in Wappingers Falls, New York, has an exciting announcement. Developmentally disabled people and their caretakers across the state can now download "Abilibee" for easier access to resources. Their website reads, "No matter where you are, Abilibee can help navigate what comes next from Early Intervention to Adulthood. Abilibee’s planning tools will help you be a better advocate, notify you to start transition planning activities, provide resources and useful information."

Marcy Handler, the  Director of Strategic Initiatives for Abilities First, says the app will be a game-changer for New York families. "When parents go from one place to the next, they're often really confused about what they need to know and what they need to do." The organization won a grant from the state to help solve this problem and, thus, Abilibee was born. Handler explains, "The app is divided into 10 different age groups, starting with early childhood and all the way up to mature adulthood. Each age group has its own focus, whether it's things you may encounter in the school districts like IEP planning every year, or how to look for a job."

The app is now available on the Apple store and Google Play. Listen for more information about what it offers and the problem it aims to solve.

Heart is back. And not just back—they’re stronger, louder, and prouder than ever. After health setbacks and a postponed tour, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson have returned to the stage with their Royal Flush Tour 2025, reminding audiences across the country why their songs have defined rock for generations.

A Triumphant Return

The tour kicked off earlier this year and has been nothing short of an emotional victory lap. Ann Wilson, performing after completing treatment for cancer, now sings seated due to an elbow injury—but her voice, that iconic, soaring instrument, hasn’t lost a step. Nancy Wilson says the experience has been deeply rewarding:

Live Music as a Campfire

For Nancy, the thrill of live music still burns bright:

Heart remains among the last great rock bands delivering 100% live shows, a fact that resonates with audiences craving authenticity in an era of polished productions.

Coming to Bethel Woods

On Saturday, August 30, Heart will play at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival. It won’t be their first time on that stage—performances in 2008 and 2019 cemented their place in the venue’s history—but the return carries new weight.

Icons for Women in Music

For decades, Ann and Nancy Wilson have been trailblazers, not only in rock but also in opening doors for women in a male-dominated industry. Looking back, Nancy reflected on that role:

Today, countless female artists cite Heart as an inspiration. Nancy is candid about the challenges young artists face in an era dominated by social media, but she remains committed to mentoring the next generation through her Roadcase Management company.

Looking Ahead

Even after fifty years of performing, Nancy isn’t slowing down. She’s already dreaming about new projects, including an acoustic guitar duet album with artists like Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.

And as for the tour itself, she says the reward is seeing fans of every age—nine-year-olds shouting for “Barracuda,” college students who discovered Heart in the ’80s, and longtime fans who’ve been with them since the beginning—all together in one space.

Rock Royalty

For Nancy, the songs themselves have become larger than life.

Heart’s resilience, passion, and authenticity continue to shine, making their return to the road not just a concert tour, but a celebration of endurance, music, and connection.

On August 30 at Bethel Woods, fans will once again gather under the stars to join the Wilson sisters around that “big rock and roll campfire.” And for Heart, the fire is still burning strong.

This Saturday, August 23, Main Street in Narrowsburg will be buzzing with creativity, color, and cars—both full-sized and miniature. The Lego Derby and Car Show runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Shops, 90 Main Street, and promises fun for all ages. The free event is hosted by Ms. Adrienne in collaboration with The Shops at Narrowsburg, Tusten Social, and La Cigogne.

A Day of Cars—Real and Lego

Visitors will find a parking lot full of classic and modern cars paired with their Lego-built “mini-me” versions between The 108 and 2 Queens. Inside and outside Tusten Social, a Lego-size derby track will be set up for races. Participants can build a Lego car on-site—even if they didn’t attend a workshop beforehand—and race it down the track.

“Everyone who races will get a raffle ticket, and they’ll have the chance to win a gift basket from Iris in Narrowsburg,” Adrienne explained in an interview with Radio Catskill.

More Than Just Racing

In addition to the derby, the event features:

• A scavenger hunt through the shops, where families can search for hidden Lego cars.
• Free-build areas for open-ended creativity.
• Opportunities to explore local businesses along Main Street.

Ms. Adrienne, known across Sullivan County for her Lego clubs and kids’ programming, says events like this go beyond play. “Lego builds problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and social-emotional growth. It’s multi-generational—young and old can build side by side,” she said.

Looking Ahead

Ms. Adrienne hinted at more Lego fun to come, including a Heavy Equipment Lego Show in winter 2026 at Catskills Equipment in Jeffersonville. And if this weekend’s event proves popular, the Lego Derby may become an annual tradition.

“It’s really a community effort,” she said. “From the shops to the building owner, everyone has come together to make this a special day.”

Parking and Practical Details

While there will be no parking in the small lot between The 108 and 2 Queens from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, free parking is available along Main Street, behind the post office, and on neighborhood streets. The Narrowsburg Farmers Market will also be happening the same day, making for a full day out downtown.

For more information about Ms. Adrienne’s programs, visit missadrienne.com or follow her on Instagram at @yoadrienne.

For many, child care is more than support—it’s the foundation of opportunity. Yet here in New York, that foundation is showing cracks. As of early July, 21 counties—including Sullivan and Delaware right here in our region—have paused new enrollment in the Child Care Assistance Program, the state’s biggest voucher initiative for working families. At the same time, New York City alone has over 1,500 families on a waitlist, even amid promises of extra funding.

To help us unpack what’s going on—why availability is shrinking, why counties like Sullivan and Delaware have had to pause, and what this means for families now and in the future—we’re joined by New York Focus reporter Julia Rock, who authored the piece, “21 Counties Have Closed Applications for New York’s Biggest Child Care Affordability Program.”

Experts say the rollback will decrease energy production and add $130 on average to bills by the end of the decade.