The Local Edition

Catskill Brewery is inviting the community to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a full day of activities, music and creative experiences.

The event will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 12 to 8 p.m. in the brewery’s taproom. Organizers say the celebration is designed for couples, friends and anyone looking to mark the holiday in a relaxed setting.

Activities include a Polaroid kissing booth, where guests can capture moments with their partners, as well as ceramic figurine painting for those looking for a hands-on creative option.

Live music will be provided by Mike Brown from 2 to 5 p.m. Brown is a Grammy-nominated producer, engineer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and the founder of Temperamental Recordings.

In a recent conversation, Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole spoke with Rare Pear Radio host Kassie Carlson about the event and what attendees can expect.

Organizers encourage guests to stop by at any point during the day to enjoy the festivities.

 From inside Woodbourne Correctional Facility, Atiq Akeem Weston is pushing for a change to who gets a voice in American democracy.

Weston, who has been incarcerated for more than 17 years, has drafted what he calls the “Incarcerated American Vote Act,” a federal proposal that would allow most incarcerated people to vote. The plan would restrict voting only for people convicted of specific offenses such as treason, terrorism, or espionage.

“Voting is not just a civic duty,” Weston said. “It is a constitutional and human right.”

Across the United States, more than two million people are incarcerated, and in most states, those serving felony sentences cannot vote. Weston argues that broad restrictions leave a large portion of the population without representation.

“How can we say everyone is fairly considered,” he said, “when millions are excluded from the process?”

His proposal would allow incarcerated individuals to vote in elections tied to their last known residence and require prisons to provide access to voter registration and absentee ballots. 

Weston also points to legal precedent, including a 1974 Supreme Court decision that protected the voting rights of pretrial detainees, to argue that incarceration should not automatically strip constitutional protections.

At the center of his argument is a broader question about the purpose of incarceration.

In his written proposal, Weston says prison walls are meant to separate people from society, not from their constitutional rights. 

For Weston, the issue is personal. Now 33, he says he has spent more than half his life incarcerated and has never voted.

“I’ve developed an interest in participating in our democracy,” he said. “But I’ve never had the chance.”

The debate over voting rights for incarcerated people continues nationwide, with supporters framing it as a civil rights issue and critics arguing that certain convictions justify the loss of that right.

Weston is serving time for a 2008 homicide and two 2012 armed robberies. Court records show he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the stabbing death of Robert Kwiatkowski at age 15, and received concurrent sentences of up to 10 years for manslaughter and 15 years for each robbery.

Weston says his goal is simple: inclusion.

“If we believe in democracy,” he said, “then everyone should have a voice.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has expanded its footprint in the Mid-Hudson Valley. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

A yearslong staffing crisis at state-run facilities has taken its toll on incarcerated kids and the workers who watch over them.

If you’ve been putting off a trip to the DMV, now’s the time to move it up your to-do list.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is temporarily shutting down all offices, phone lines, and online services across the state for a major technology overhaul — a move officials say will eventually make transactions faster and more reliable.

Starting Friday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m., every DMV office will close. Services will remain offline through Tuesday, Feb. 17, with offices and online systems expected to reopen Wednesday, Feb. 18.

During the shutdown, no in-person visits, online renewals, or phone assistance will be available.

Speaking with Radio Catskill, Russell Reeves, the Sullivan County clerk who oversees the local DMV, said the change is long overdue.

“This system has been outdated for years,” Reeves said. “There have been a lot of add-ons and patches. This upgrade is meant to replace all of that and fix many of the problems we’ve been having.”

Why the shutdown?

Reeves said frequent technical issues — including system crashes and equipment failures — can quickly create long lines and delays.

“When the computers go down for even 10 minutes and you’ve got a room full of people, it backs everything up,” he said. “We’re hoping this new system will streamline the process and shorten wait times.”

The state has been training local staff for months in preparation for the transition.

Expect a busy reopening

Even with the improvements, Reeves cautions there could be a rush once offices reopen.

“DMV is such an integral part of people’s lives,” he said. “Whenever we close, even for a day, we feel it. I expect it to be busy right after we reopen.”

His advice: don’t wait if your paperwork is urgent.

“If you need something done right away — a renewal, registration, anything to get on the road — come in the week before,” Reeves said. “Take care of it now so you don’t get caught in delays.”

What to know

Here’s the quick breakdown:

All DMV offices close: Friday, Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.

No online or phone services during shutdown

Services resume: Wednesday, Feb. 18

Expect heavier traffic when offices reopen

There may still be some early hiccups as staff and customers adjust to the new system, Reeves added, but the long-term goal is smoother service and shorter lines.

Liberty to World as Told by Kort Wheeler, Liberty Town Historian and Middle School History Teacher

Town Historian and middle school history teacher, Kort Wheeler,  has his eyes on bringing Liberty back into the limelight. Wheeler was named the town historian for Liberty a year ago, and his essay was chosen by the National Association of Towns Builders of America in their “How Towns Have Shaped Our Country” project.

The project aims to promote the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and Wheeler is one of six finalists from New York that were chosen. 

Wheeler believes acceptance is the number one reason why Liberty is a quintessential American town.

“The acceptance factor is what separates liberty from other towns. Groups that were not necessarily welcome with open arms in other parts of the country were welcomed here,” said Wheeler.

His essay touches on the ‘Borscht Belt’ and how pivotal establishments like Grossingers Hotel and Golf were for the entertainment industry.

“So many entertainers started here. A lot of its roots came from the Catskills and Liberty.”

Wheeler grew up in the town he lives in today and can even trace his lineage all the way back to the Mayflower. Starting as a golf teacher, his wife was influential in guiding his career to teaching in an academic setting.

Wheeler remembers shopping on main street with his dad on Christmas eve in downtown Liberty and says today he says Liberty is a bit different.

“You can still go fishing. The accessibility with our parks have gotten better. Your perspectives change as you get older,” said Wheeler.

The 250th anniversary of the country has been marked by civil unrest in Minnesota and other parts of the country with an Immigration Control Enforcement presence. Wheeler believes his students are being affected by the current attack on civil liberties in the United States.

“It makes teaching certain parts of history easier because of the current conditions.”

Wheeler sent his essay to help put Liberty back on the map and wanted the judges and readers of his essay to understand that Liberty has not gone away. 

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:

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:

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