The Local Edition

Orange County could be the next county in the Hudson Valley to implement a gas sales tax cap. Legislators unanimously approved a resolution on Wednesday to cap the county’s sales tax to $3 per gallon for motor fuel and diesel motor fuel. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

Laurie Berkner, widely known as the “queen of kids’ music,” is bringing her “Greatest Hits” solo show to the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater on Sunday, May 3, with performances at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., including a sensory-friendly option designed to make the experience accessible to all families.

Berkner’s path into children’s music began in an unexpected way. Early in her career, she split her time between playing in rock bands at night and working as a preschool music teacher during the day. That contrast eventually led to a turning point.

“I just remember thinking… ‘Why am I even here?’” she said, recalling a late-night bar performance.

The following day, performing at a children’s birthday party offered a different kind of energy — one that stuck.

“It is so much nicer to have people want to hear music that I’ve written,” she said.

That experience led her to leave the cover band scene behind and focus on writing and performing for children, a decision she said “made me a lot happier.”

Her background as a teacher continues to shape her work. Berkner builds her songs with participation in mind, often incorporating movement and call-and-response elements to engage young listeners.

“I want to see that they’re actually doing it… and that they get it,” she said.

At the same time, her music is designed to resonate with parents as well.

“Oh yeah, that’s very intentional,” she said.

Over the years, Berkner has adapted alongside major changes in the music industry, from cassettes and CDs to streaming and YouTube, where her work now reaches millions of families worldwide.

Her Peekskill performance will feature a mix of classic songs like “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “The Goldfish,” along with newer material and lesser-performed favorites.

The earlier sensory-friendly show will offer a more flexible environment, with adjusted lighting and sound and a welcoming, judgment-free space for audience members to move and engage as needed.

For Berkner, the goal remains the same as when she first made the shift into children’s music: creating a shared experience that connects families.

“There’s this incredible connection… between adults and kids,” she said.

Tickets for both performances are available through the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater.

 Sullivan County Chamber Shares April Update on Business Activity and Events 

In northeastern Pennsylvania, a growing debate over data centers is drawing attention from residents concerned about how development could reshape their communities.

“I grew up around the scars,” said Brian Wrightson, a rural broadband specialist from Archbald.

Wrightson recently spoke with Radio Catskill after reading reporting on proposed data center projects in the region. He is also running for Pennsylvania State Senate in District 40—a point he disclosed during the interview—but said his concerns come from his experience living and working in the area.

Lessons 

For Wrightson, the issue is personal—and historical.

He describes a region still marked by the legacy of the anthracite coal industry, where economic growth once came at a lasting environmental cost.

“I could drive around pretty much any part of northeastern Pennsylvania… and see the scars,” he said.

He remembers waterways that were once heavily polluted, later restored through years of cleanup.

“But those scars are still here,” he said.

That history, he says, should guide how communities approach new large-scale development.

Industry on the rise

Data centers—the facilities that power streaming, cloud computing and artificial intelligence—are expanding rapidly.

Wrightson says their growth is unavoidable.

“Data centers are coming. They’re definitely coming,” he said.

But he says the speed and scale of that growth raise questions about long-term impacts—especially on land, water and infrastructure.

Across the Delaware River Basin, dozens of data centers are already active or proposed, and the region’s location between major metro areas makes it a likely target for more.

Who decides where they go

For Wrightson, the central issue is local control.

“If you come into my neighborhood, it’s on my terms,” he said.

He argues that large facilities should not be placed near residential areas and should instead be sited in locations that minimize disruption.

“They should never be placed next to residential communities,” he said.

He also questions whether the economic benefits often highlighted—like tax revenue—will outweigh the costs for the people who live nearby.

Calls to slow the process

Wrightson is among those calling for a pause in new development.

“I truly believe that the state itself needs to put a moratorium… even for one year,” he said.

He says that would give municipalities time to update zoning laws, coordinate regionally and prepare for potential impacts.

Without that, he worries development could spread quickly, putting pressure on natural resources and changing the character of local communities.

A Spanish-language comedy show is coming to Ellenville this weekend, bringing a new voice—and a new audience—into the Catskills’ historic comedy scene.

The Borscht Belt Comedy Club will host Venezuelan comedian Laura Bolivar on Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at Shadowland Stages Studio on Market Street. The show will be performed entirely in Spanish, part of a growing effort to expand comedy offerings beyond English-speaking audiences.

Bolivar, who has been based in New York City since 2015, said her comedy is deeply rooted in her experience as an immigrant adjusting to a new language and culture.

“When I came here, I didn’t speak any English at all,” she said. “So a lot of my material comes from those mistakes… trying to speak another language, adapting to a new country, making new friends.” 

Before finding stand-up, Bolivar studied journalism and worked in media in Venezuela. She initially turned to comedy as a way to improve her English, enrolling in classes and performing short sets in front of classmates.

“I was just doing it for fun,” she said. “But then I realized I was having so much fun—and I felt close to my dreams again.” 

Over time, she began performing in both English and Spanish, discovering that each language shaped her performance differently.

“In Spanish, I feel like I can go faster, be more free,” she said. “In English, I’m more structured—what I write is what I say.” 

That flexibility has helped her connect with a wide range of audiences, from Latin American communities to non-Spanish speakers curious about the experience. In one recent show, she recalled a woman translating each joke in real time on her phone.

“She told me, ‘I don’t speak any Spanish—I’m translating every joke you’re saying,’” Bolivar said. “That was so sweet.” 

The upcoming Ellenville performance is part of a broader trend. Spanish-language comedy has been growing in popularity, especially in cities like New York, where audiences are eager to laugh in their native language after spending much of their day working in English.

“People want a space where they can laugh in Spanish, remember how they were raised, and see someone with the same experience,” she said. 

Organizers say the show is also about expanding the legacy of the Borscht Belt, the Catskills region long known as a launching pad for American stand-up comedy. Bringing in bilingual and Spanish-language performers is one way to keep that tradition evolving.

The April 18 show is aimed at Spanish speakers, bilingual audiences, and even those still learning the language—what organizers describe as “Duolingo lovers” looking for a fun, immersive experience.

For Bolivar, performing in the Catskills carries added meaning.

“This is the right moment for shows in Spanish,” she said. “People want to see it.”

The show takes place Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at Shadowland Stages Studio in Ellenville.