The Local Edition

As Veterans Day approaches, Big Sky Productions is honoring those who served through an intimate, heartfelt performance titled Shorts & Sweets Honoring Veterans: Dear Folks. The program combines live readings of letters and personal stories from World War II with reflections from family members uncovering their histories.

The production features Carol Montana, Big Sky’s Artistic Director, and Margaret Bruetsch, a writer and actress from Cochecton, who discovered decades-old correspondence from their own relatives. What began as a personal act of remembrance evolved into a moving theatrical experience that connects the past and present.

“I found letters between my parents while cleaning out their house,” Montana said. “They couldn’t write much about what was happening because my father was in the Signal Corps, but reading them brought me closer to them. I wanted to share that feeling with others.”

For Bruetsch, the letters were a family treasure unearthed just in time. “My mom saved them before my great-grandparents’ house was demolished,” she said. “Reading through them was emotional—it felt like getting to know family I never met. Some were heartbreaking, but others were funny and full of life.”

Together, the two curated a selection of excerpts that blend humor, love, and loss. The performances also include displays of photos, a Purple Heart, and bound collections of the original letters for attendees to explore.

Shorts & Sweets Honoring Veterans: Dear Folks continues its run this Sunday, November 9, at 2 p.m. at the Sullivan County Historical Society and Museum in Hurleyville. The final performance will take place Friday, November 14, at 5 p.m. at the Tusten-Cochecton Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library in Narrowsburg. Admission is free, with donations benefiting the Historical Society.

For more information, call 845-985-3175 or visit the Big Sky Productions Facebook page.

A recent investigation by The Intercept shows that the amount of pregnant and lactating mothers being taken into ICE Detention has skyrocketed over the last year. The numbers are hard to detect given the Trump Administration and the Department of Homeland Security are no longer required to publish reports on the conditions from ICE Detention Centers after the passing of the most recent federal spending bill.

However, Congressional reports and medical records show evidence of this concerning pattern that is splitting up families nationwide and is illegal under ICE’s 2021 Guidelines.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke with  Juana Cortes de Torres,  Director of the Legal Immigrant Rights Project at Rural and Migrant Ministry in South Fallsburg, about any indications of these detentions in Upstate New York and how all of us can be better neighbors to those who may be at risk.

All across New York state, people are anticipating historic results on Election Day next week. In addition to voting for their preferred candidates, New Yorkers across the state will be asked about a ballot provision regarding state owned ski trails in the Adirondacks. Many across the state aren’t sure whether they should vote yes or give the provision the cold shoulder. Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett spoke to New York City candidates as well as reporters Upstate to break down the question and the interconnectedness of environmental issues throughout the state.

A new Times Union investigation is shedding light on a troubling security lapse inside the Sullivan County Jail. Reporter Brendan J. Lyons uncovered that a man entered the jail in August with a loaded .22-caliber handgun — a weapon that went undetected through multiple searches, including an interrogation and a court appearance.

Lyons joined The Local Edition to talk about how the incident happened, what the sheriff’s office is saying, and why critics are calling it a “gross incompetence” that could have led to tragedy.
Read the full Times Union story here.

A Weapon That Went Unnoticed

According to Lyons, the case began with a traffic stop in Monticello, where sheriff’s deputies had been increasing patrols after a string of summer shootings.
“They stopped a car with three individuals,” he said, “and recovered a loaded handgun in the seatback. None of the men claimed it, so they brought all three in for questioning.”

During that process, one of the suspects — who had already been frisked at least twice — still had another gun concealed in his coat pocket. He went through interrogation, arraignment before a village judge, and jail intake without anyone discovering it.

“It’s remarkable,” Lyons said. “This man was inside a secure facility, behind bars, wearing that same coat — and the gun wasn’t found until another inmate overheard him bragging about it and alerted staff.”

A Chain of Missteps

When the weapon was finally recovered, Lyons says it wasn’t logged as evidence. Instead, it was locked away in an administrative safe — untested and unreported.

“There was no incident report. No notice to the state Commission of Correction, which oversees jails,” Lyons said. “That report only went in nearly two months later — and only after a civilian tipped off the state agency.”

Sheriff Michael Schiff told the Times Union the gun remains in that safe and defended his department’s handling of the matter, calling it “sloppy police work” but denying any cover-up. Schiff also said prosecutors advised that a search warrant might have been required to seize the weapon — a claim multiple legal experts disputed.

“There’s no expectation of privacy in jail,” Lyons explained. “Prosecutors and judges we spoke with called that reasoning laughable.”

Unanswered Questions

The sheriff’s office has not filed additional charges against the suspect, and the weapon still hasn’t been tested for DNA or ballistics. That’s especially concerning, Lyons said, because some recent unsolved shootings in Monticello involved a .22-caliber firearm.

“The sheriff said the gun was inoperable,” Lyons added, “but other law enforcement sources told me that’s not a reason to skip testing — you can still check for DNA or ballistics matches.”

Schiff, who’s up for re-election, has suggested the story’s resurfacing is politically motivated — pointing to his write-in challenger, retired State Police investigator Timothy Dymond. Lyons, however, says the facts speak for themselves.

“Whatever the politics,” he said, “there were protocol violations here that need to be addressed.”

Image: Sheriff Michael Schiff (Credit:
 Sullivan County Government Facebook) 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a reminder that early detection saves lives. Each year, nearly 17,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with breast cancer, but advances in screening and care are changing those outcomes.

Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole spoke with Dr. Jennifer H. Menell, a board-certified diagnostic radiologist with Optum Medical Care and Crystal Run Healthcare, about how new technology and simple habits can make a difference.

Dr. Menell, who trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, says the key to survival is early detection:

One major advancement is 3D mammography, now available at CareMount and Crystal Run facilities across the Hudson Valley. The technology improves detection, especially for women with dense breast tissue, and is covered by most insurance providers.

She recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40, with earlier screenings for those with a strong family history or BRCA gene mutations.

Menell also emphasized that healthy living supports prevention:

Access remains a barrier for some, but Menell notes that local providers are expanding options—with evening and Saturday appointments to help working women and parents find time for screenings.

Despite the challenges, Menell remains optimistic about the future of breast cancer care:

The Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York is launching the largest single-day Thanksgiving meal distribution in New York State history — a first-of-its-kind effort that will reach families across the Hudson Valley.

Working with community partners and more than 800 volunteers, the Regional Food Bank will provide over one hundred fifteen thousand Thanksgiving meals to more than twenty-five thousand people in Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Rockland, and Sullivan counties. The initiative is part of a broader statewide effort that will see more than 350,000 meals distributed in one day across the Food Bank’s 23-county service area.

“This is the largest Thanksgiving distribution in the state,” said Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank. “We know the need is greater than ever, especially with federal spending cuts this year that eliminated more than seven million pounds of food to our region — that’s more than 5.8 million meals.”

Meeting a Growing Need

Barry Lewis, Senior Public Affairs Officer for the Regional Food Bank, spoke to Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo about the increasing demand for food assistance and how this year’s Thanksgiving program came together.

“Last year, when we stepped in to help with Thanksgiving distribution in the Capital Region, we served 150,000 meals across six counties — and they went in just 90 minutes,” said Lewis. “That told us everything we needed to know about the demand. This year, we’re expanding across all 23 counties we serve, including the Hudson Valley and North Country.”

The Hudson Valley distribution will take place on Friday, November 22, with the Sullivan County site located at the Government Center in Monticello. Cars can drive up beginning at 10 a.m., and volunteers will fill vehicles with bags weighing more than 30 pounds, including turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing mix, potatoes, vegetables, and other holiday essentials.

“It’s going to be more than one meal,” said Lewis. “We want to give families a real holiday experience — something to last beyond just Thanksgiving Day.”

Open to All — No ID Required

Lewis emphasized that there are no eligibility requirements for those seeking meals.
“If you need a meal, you drive up or walk up and you’ll get one,” he said. “We’re not checking IDs or asking for proof of income. We’re here to serve the community.”

The Food Bank is also delivering Thanksgiving meals to a dozen senior housing sites throughout the Hudson Valley, including locations in Dutchess, Orange, and Putnam counties.

As food prices, rent, and heating costs rise, Lewis said more working families and seniors are turning to food banks for the first time. “We’re seeing people who have jobs, who are working hard, but just can’t stretch their paychecks far enough,” he said. “They haven’t done anything wrong — life just got harder, and we’re here to fill that gap.”

Volunteers and Community Support

The Thanksgiving distribution relies heavily on volunteers and local sponsors.

 “We’d have to hire two dozen more full-time staff to do what our volunteers do,” said Lewis. “They’re critical to everything we do.”

Residents who want to help can sign up for volunteer shifts at regionalfoodbank.net.

Lewis noted that the Monticello event will be finished by noon, making it an ideal opportunity for families to volunteer together. “It’s a great way to show your kids how they can make a difference in their own community,” he said.

Key sponsors of the Thanksgiving effort include Stop & Shop, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Price Chopper/Market 32, Highmark Blue Shield, ShopRite, Walden Savings Bank, and numerous local partners.

How to Help or Receive a Meal

The Sullivan County distribution takes place at the Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello, beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 22.

Additional Hudson Valley pickup sites include:

For more information, to donate, or to volunteer, visit regionalfoodbank.net

Over 200 advocates gathered in Manhattan for a conference on food security across New York State. The New York Health Foundation organized the event and said in their press release it was sparked by "recent federal funding cuts threatening the integrity of critical food assistance programs." Panelists discussed how to respond to these changes and how to protect New Yorkers. SNAP cuts and immigration crackdowns have impacted food pantries and agricultural nonprofits. 

Josh Stephani, the Director of the Adirondack Food System Network, said "We've actually had some food pantries reporting their numbers have cut in half because they're fearful; many of their clients and their guests, especially their non-English speakers, are fearful to attend."

Julia McCarthy, a Senior Program Officer at New York Health, introduced her panelists to an eager audience. "When we surveyed grantees ahead of this conference, we asked people who they wanted to hear from, and the answer was very clear. People wanted to hear from other local advocates to know what was working in their region and what was making them excited. And so I'm really delighted today to be able to ask three New Yorkers who are working in their own communities to ensure that there not only is access to food, but there is choice and dignity in accessing that food."

A Co-Executive Director at Catskills Agrarian Alliance, Francis Yu, helped represent the region at the conference. Their organization helps marginalized farmers and connects producers to consumers. They said, "It's been really great to listen in on what folks are doing around the state and just see some colleagues who are doing amazing work in their respective places across New York." They said the Alliance is responding to the changing landscape under President Trump's new budget. "We're seeing longer lines at the pantry. We're seeing more intake demand from these organizations, from hungry people and hungry families. And what we're seeing now with this administration is the severe cuts and setbacks that have in many cases terminated programs that were funding this kind of essential support."

The conference met on October 14th at the New York Bar Association near Times Square. It included a presentation about food access for the elderly, in addition to the panels, and a keynote speech by Corby Kummer, the Executive Director of Food and Society at the Aspen Institute. David Sandman, President and CEO of NYHealth, reflected, “We brought together leaders to strengthen advocacy, share best practices to adapt to federal changes, and protect access to healthy, affordable food for all New Yorkers.”

Residents of Woodridge are deeply concerned about increased water pollution in Sandburg Creek. In the last month, the popular fishing area has turned odorous and unusable. DEC’s investigation points towards a local egg processing facility, but this isn’t the first time the business has been in hot water.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett provides an update on what we know so far about the investigation.