The Local Edition

Ramone E. Wilson has been appointed as the first full-time Executive Director of the Sullivan County Human Rights Commission. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Wilson brings a wide range of experience in community advocacy, housing rights, and the arts — including a career in music where he toured with world-famous artists like Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige, and Toni Braxton.

Speaking with Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo, Wilson shared how his upbringing in a diverse city like Newark shaped his passion for human rights work. "Growing up, I learned to appreciate people from all walks of life," he said. "It taught me respect, acceptance, and the value of community."

Wilson outlined his early priorities for the Commission: rebuilding public trust, expanding education about residents' rights, addressing housing discrimination, and taking a proactive approach to consumer affairs. He emphasized that mediation will be a cornerstone of his work, aiming to resolve conflicts before they escalate.

“Most issues arise from misunderstanding, not malice,” Wilson explained. “By sitting down and talking, we can often find solutions before it has to go further.”

Wilson also acknowledged the national debate around diversity, equity, and inclusion but said he remains committed to ensuring Sullivan County remains a welcoming place for everyone.

Residents can reach Wilson at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello, by phone at 845-807-0189, or via email at [email protected].

"I’m here to listen, to support, and to build real connections across the county," he said.

A new round of proposed tariffs from former President Donald Trump’s economic team could soon hit the shelves—and small businesses—in Sullivan County.

If implemented, the sweeping tariffs would increase the cost of many imported goods that local businesses rely on, including green coffee beans, alcohol ingredients, and car parts. While designed to promote domestic manufacturing, the policy has sparked concern among local entrepreneurs who say they’re being caught in the crossfire of global trade policy.

Charles Wilkin, co-owner of 2 Queens Coffee in Narrowsburg, warned that price increases are on the horizon for customers.

Wilkin said the price of Brazilian coffee—once one of the most affordable sources—has already quadrupled over the last six months due to global supply issues. With tariffs looming, he fears further volatility.

Currently, U.S. imports of coffee are subject to a 10% global tariff. Under the proposed changes, that rate could increase dramatically for specific countries—such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brazil—which are major suppliers of coffee and distilling ingredients.

That’s particularly concerning for Brian Facquet, founder of Do Good Spirits in Roscoe. His small-batch distillery sources ingredients from a range of international and domestic suppliers.

Still, Facquet sees a potential silver lining—if local support holds strong.

While the National Coffee Association has submitted a request to exempt coffee from the proposed tariffs, no final decision has been announced. The Trump team’s plan, informally referred to as the “Liberation Day” tariffs, was initially paused for 90 days. That extension has now expired.

Business owners across the region are now in a holding pattern, unsure of when—or how deeply—the new pricing pressures will hit.

For now, Sullivan County businesses like 2 Queens Coffee and Do Good Spirits are urging customers to support them through the uncertainty—and to consider the cost of every cup or bottle as more than just a price tag.

Each April, Sullivan County opens a brief but meaningful window for landowners who wish to include their property in one of the county’s Agricultural Districts. It’s a crucial time for local farmers, as joining a district can bring tax relief and protections designed to preserve farmland and support agriculture. With over 160,000 acres already enrolled, the county's farmland protection efforts continue to grow.

To better understand what these districts are and why they matter, Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole and Rosie Starr sat down with Melinda Meddaugh, Agriculture & Food Systems Senior Issue Leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, who helps guide residents through this process every year.

Today is Earth Day. Many of us are thinking about how we can do our part to protect the planet, not just globally—but right here in our own backyards. 

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke to Dr. Himanee Gupta, Associate Professor of Historical Studies at Empire State University and a passionate advocate for community sustainability.

Professor Gupta brings a wealth of experience, not just from the classroom but from the soil—she runs a small farm herself. 

She teaches a course that dives deep into the practices that build stronger, healthier communities, from supporting local farmers markets and growing your own food, to composting, preserving heirloom crops, and honoring Indigenous wisdom.

Patricio explores how these grassroots efforts aren’t just good for the environment—they’re essential for food security, community resilience, and reconnecting with the cycles of nature. 

Pope Francis, who died Monday at 88, is being remembered for his compassion and unwavering support for the marginalized. His legacy continues to inspire millions around the globe.

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo spoke with Rev. Dr. Ivan Kaszczak of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson NY, who reflected on the loss — calling it "like a death in the family" — and shared hopes for a future pope who continues Francis’ mission of mercy.

Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo sat down with Naomi Scott and Krystal Grow of the electrifying punk rock duo Basic Bitches. They’re here to talk about the world premiere of their brand-new music video “There’s No Crying In Baseball,” happening this Sunday, April 20th at The 108 Main in Narrowsburg.

We’ll dive into the idea behind the video, the grant that helped make it possible, and the joy (and chaos) of filming with local talent at Memory Lane in Port Jervis. Plus, they tease some of the new songs they’ve been cooking up over the winter.

Join us for a behind-the-scenes chat about creativity, community, and why you should never cry in baseball—but you can scream at a punk show.

In a round of good news for hikers, the Open Space Institute recently protected thirty-one hundred acres in the Catskills, one of the largest parcels of privately-owned contiguous forestland remaining within the area. 

The project will safeguard clean water for more than 15 million people in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and will also protect wildlife habitat. 

The acquisition was made in late February and will also open the space for more recreational activities. 

Radio Catskill’s (J.) Miguel Santiago Colón spoke to Open Space Institute’s  Northeast Senior Land Project Manager Tom Gravel about the organization’s mission and its projects and this is what he said. 

In her debut book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping’s China, NPR journalist Emily Feng offers a deeply human portrait of modern China under the rule of its most powerful leader in decades. She recently spoke with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about the stories behind the headlines and the people whose lives define the struggle for identity in a tightly controlled society.

The book’s title, Feng explained, is drawn from a 1950s slogan by Mao Zedong: “Let a hundred flowers bloom,” a phrase initially used to encourage diverse thinking, but quickly weaponized to suppress dissent. “A source in China told me, ‘Now, only red flowers are allowed to bloom,’” Feng said. “That phrase stuck with me—it perfectly encapsulates the shift in China today.”

Feng’s reporting journey began in China in 2015, just as the government began cracking down on civil society. “The space for free thought and expression has narrowed sharply,” she said, describing tense encounters at airports and increasing state scrutiny. After being barred from reentering the mainland in 2020, she continued reporting from Taiwan, using that distance to reimagine how stories about China can be told.

The book moves beyond borders, following individuals across Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora in the U.S., capturing the emotional and political weight of belonging—and exclusion. “I chose subjects who reflect not just gender or ethnic identity, but political values and visions for China,” said Feng. “There’s no single ‘Chinese’ identity.”

Despite personal heartbreak—being cut off from the country she covered for years—Feng holds space for complexity. “It’s like missing an ex who treated you badly,” she said. “I still love the culture, the language, the people.”

Feng hopes her book will challenge Western assumptions. “China isn’t a monolith,” she said. “Policies that target all Chinese people—like proposed U.S. visa bans—miss the diversity and nuance of 1.3 billion lives.”

As foreign media access to China shrinks, Feng warns that our understanding grows “flatter, more shallow.” But through the voices in her book, she insists, “We can still tell meaningful stories. And stories are how we understand each other.”

 In an effort to reshape how New York’s criminal justice system handles young people who commit serious crimes, two public defenders are making waves with an op-ed recently published in the Albany Times Union. Allison and Barbara, attorneys at the Center for Appellate Litigation (CAL), are calling for reforms rooted in modern neuroscience and human dignity.

Their work centers on the Youth and Emerging Adult Resentencing (YEARS) Project, a legal initiative aimed at reducing decades-long prison sentences imposed on people who were teenagers or in their early twenties at the time of their crimes. Their focus: redemption over retribution.

“We work with people who committed serious offenses as kids,” said Barbara, who co-founded the project in 2020. “Many were sentenced to 30, 40, even 50 years without anyone fully understanding their circumstances or the science of adolescent brain development.”

That science — now widely accepted — shows that the human brain, particularly the areas controlling decision-making and impulse, continues developing well into a person’s mid-twenties. For Allison and Barbara, this is more than an academic point — it’s a call to action.

“Our justice system has been slow to catch up with what science already knows: young people are inherently more capable of growth and change,” said Allison.

In their Times Union piece, the attorneys spotlight one client, Archie Price, who was 16 when he was incarcerated and is now unrecognizably changed. The op-ed details his transformation from a scared, angry teenager to a man who served as a hospice aide in prison and who now mentors younger inmates. Price’s story is emblematic of many YEARS clients, whose lives were shaped by violence, poverty, and trauma long before they entered the courtroom.

The project’s approach is both legal and human. Mitigation specialists interview family members, dig through school and child services records, and present a full picture of the person beyond the crime. “It’s not about justifying what happened,” said Allison. “It’s about understanding it—and recognizing that people change.”

That message is gaining traction. Second Look legislation, which would allow courts to revisit lengthy sentences after a set number of years, has been introduced in Albany. Although not yet law, similar measures have been passed in 12 other states and the District of Columbia

If enacted in New York, it could affect more than 2,200 individuals who were under 25 at the time of their offense.

“We’re not saying don’t punish,” said Barbara. “Even our clients say they needed to be held accountable. But what about after 20 or 30 years, when they’ve changed, matured, and are no longer a threat? Keeping them locked up serves no public safety purpose.”

The advocates also reject the notion that their work is a burden on an already strained system. “We do the heavy lifting,” said Allison. “We bring complete reports to the court, backed by evidence and testimony. And many corrections officers agree — they’ve told us, ‘This person doesn’t need to be here anymore.’”

The YEARS Project has already secured releases for some clients. One now works as a mentor; another was able to hold his newborn grandchild — something he never thought possible.

For Allison and Barbara, it’s proof that their model works — and that society as a whole stands to benefit when second chances are not just a dream, but a reality.

“We want our system to reflect our values,” said Allison. “Belief in growth. Belief in redemption. And belief in a justice system that’s not frozen in time, but evolving alongside our understanding of what it means to be human.”