The Local Edition

The Gateway Housing Project was rejected by the Sullivan County Legislature for the second time last Thursday. Advocates say the project would help alleviate the county’s homelessness crisis and have spoken about it passionately at the weekly meetings in Monticello.

Sullivan County’s Health and Human Services Department has been working with the community and the legislature to secure a location for the site, but the clock has run out for state funding to the project. 

Amidst the high tensions and looming deadlines, Radio Catskill's Genevieve Hartnett spoke with John Liddle, Sullivan County Health and Human Services Commissioner about the work his department is doing to address the crisis and concerns from the community.

 Claims linking autism to vaccines or medications like Tylenol resurfaced this month after former President Donald Trump suggested acetaminophen use during pregnancy could cause autism. But experts say the science doesn’t support those claims.

To help clarify the issue, Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Dr. Noor Syed and Lauren Lestremau Allen of Empire State University’s Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Supports (CAARES). Both emphasized that decades of rigorous research show no causal link between autism and either vaccines or Tylenol.

Allen noted that misinformation can create serious risks for families.

The experts also stressed the harm these myths cause beyond healthcare, reinforcing stigma toward autistic people.

CAARES works to support families, provide evidence-based resources, and promote inclusive communities. Families seeking accurate information can contact the center at [email protected].

Governor Hochul (D-NY) has through December to decide whether or not to sign the Anti-Harassment in Reporting Bill. If passed, anyone who makes a report of suspected child abuse will have to provide their own name and contact info. Nila Natarajan, the Associate Director of Policy and Family Defense at Brooklyn Defender Services, has been working on getting it signed into law. She says the opposition is based on a fear of discouraging reports, thus leading to more children being harmed. But the data, Natarajan explains, doesn't back that up. Over 90% of anonymous reports were found to be unsubstantiated, according to Natarajan and data from the state.

This evidence suggests that anonymous reporters are using accusations maliciously, with many families receiving dozens of anonymous complaints with no supporting evidence. Natarajan told WJFF:

"It becomes apparent when a family is experiencing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, sometimes tens, dozens of reports with similar allegations over and over again, or allegations that kind of have nothing to do with the facts of the family- like so outlandishly false- that it's really hard to conclude anything other than it's a harassing call."

These accusations have real-world repercussions for the families, even if no evidence is found. CPS investigations can be traumatizing and time-consuming for the parents and the children. Natarajan explains more about this controversial bill and whether or not Gov. Hochul is expected to authorize it.

New York Focus recently reported that ICE detentions in New York’s county jails have skyrocketed this year — nearly six times more than in all of 2024. Seven jails across the state are now holding people for federal immigration authorities, raising questions about money, politics, and the human impact of these agreements.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke to NY Focus reporter Julia Rock about this story and what is causing the surge…..

John J. Lennon has spent nearly 25 years behind bars — but his voice has traveled far beyond prison walls. An incarcerated journalist currently serving time at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Lennon has published work in The New Yorker, Esquire, The Atlantic, and The New York Times Magazine. Twice a finalist for the National Magazine Award, his reporting has been praised for its unflinching honesty and rare perspective from inside the U.S. prison system.

Now, Lennon is releasing his first book, The Tragedy of True Crime, which comes out tomorrow. Written from a prison cell, it’s a groundbreaking work that redefines how we think about the true crime genre. Instead of sensationalized tales of violence, Lennon’s book tells the full life stories of men who committed murder — Robert Chambers, Milton E. Jones, and Michael Shane Hale — weaving their narratives together with his own. The result is both a journalistic investigation and a personal memoir, exploring not only what led to these crimes but what life looks like afterward, behind the bars of a prison yard.

Lennon challenges readers to consider the human complexity of people we often reduce to headlines. He raises hard questions: What truths do we lose when we only tell part of a story? What role does trauma play in shaping the paths of those who commit violent acts? And what does redemption look like for someone who has taken a life?

On The Local Edition, Patricio Robayo speaks with Lennon about his journey from a prison writing workshop at Attica to becoming a nationally published journalist, and now, an author. They discuss the inspiration for his book, the ethical dilemmas of writing as both a journalist and a man convicted of murder, and the importance of telling stories that reach beyond crime into the deeper humanity of those involved.

The Tragedy of True Crime is not just about crime — it’s about accountability, resilience, and the power of storytelling to confront pain, complicate easy narratives, and perhaps even offer a path toward redemption.

Image: (Photo Credit: John J. Lennon) 

An investigation by New York Focus and The New York Times found that in New York State, police officers who drank and drove often avoided arrest and criminal charges — consequences ordinary citizens would likely face. Reporters reviewed more than 10,000 police disciplinary files and uncovered at least 17 cases where officers involved in crashes, collisions, or other alcohol-related incidents were spared basic sobriety testing or criminal investigations. Instead, cases were frequently treated as internal disciplinary matters, resulting in short suspensions rather than arrests. Some officers even admitted to heavy drinking before reporting for duty.

The findings raise questions about accountability and how departments shield their own, even when evidence of drunken driving is clear. While a few cases led to prosecution, most officers returned to work after brief suspensions.

Radio Catskill’s Jason Dole spoke with reporter Sammy Sussman about the investigation and what it reveals about policing and accountability in New York.

A Lower East Side gallery known for championing young, queer, and emerging artists is bringing its vision to Sullivan County this weekend.

Auxier Kline, based in Manhattan’s Two Bridges neighborhood, is collaborating with Hall Space by Nonetta in Eldred to present Autumn Equinox, an exhibition that explores the shift from summer to fall and the transformations that come with it.

The opening reception will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hall Space, located at 550 State Route 55 in Eldred. The exhibition will run through Oct. 12.

Brent Auxier, who co-owns Auxier Kline with Kate Kline, said the collaboration came naturally after he and his partner purchased a home in Eldred during the pandemic and began attending events at Hall Space.

Founded online just before the pandemic, Auxier Kline operated virtually for two years before opening its Lower East Side location. The gallery focuses on emerging and mid-career artists, with an emphasis on painting and works on paper. Its curatorial choices often center on themes of identity, intimacy, and place.

Featured Artists

The Autumn Equinox exhibition will feature eight artists:

Their work spans from thick oil-painted abstractions of butterfly wings, to Hudson Valley orchard scenes, to abstract landscapes, hyperreal florals, and explorations of travel and motion through painted perspective.

Auxier said the show captures more than just seasonal change.

For more information about Auxier Kline, visit auxierkline.com

On October 31, Martin Colavito and his wife Lynn will begin a 46-mile walk from their home in Liberty to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Montgomery. Their goal isn’t fitness — it’s food security.

The couple’s journey, known as Martin and Lynn’s Long Walk, will unfold over four days and is designed to raise both funds and awareness for the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard. The program, run by SALT (Sullivan Allies Leading Together), delivers food to more than 700 people across the county each week. But sustaining that number is becoming increasingly difficult.

“What we’ve found since January is that the sources of nutrition have been steadily declining,” Colavito said. “The USDA funding that used to support a lot of the food programs is just not there like it was.”

With fewer resources and rising costs, the cupboard has been forced to start a waiting list, something Colavito never thought would happen when the program launched five years ago during the early days of the COVID-19 shutdown.

“It breaks my heart to have a waiting list. There’s something incredibly immoral about having a waiting list for food,” he said.

The cupboard was created to help residents with limited access to food, especially those confined to their homes during the pandemic. Today, it serves many who are working and still can’t afford to eat.

“Most people would be shocked if they knew how many of our neighbors who are food insecure are also employed,” Colavito said. “They’re part of our community. They’re not taking advantage of anything. They’re just trying to eat.”

In rural Sullivan County, transportation is a major hurdle. Even if a pantry is nearby, it’s not always reachable.

“Just because someone has a car doesn’t mean they have access,” he said. “That one car might be taking someone to work. If you have an infant at home, four blocks might as well be four miles.”

According to FeedHV.org, around 10% of Hudson Valley residents experience food insecurity. One in eight children live in households where meals aren’t guaranteed. While New York State has allocated over $500 million to food access programs since 2020, recent federal funding cuts have hit local food distribution efforts hard.

The Colavitos are covering their own travel and lodging expenses. Every dollar raised will go directly to the Community Cupboard. Supporters can sponsor a mile of the walk for $50. The walk itself will take them through several towns, offering opportunities to engage with residents along the way.

“We want to take this time to reflect on how lucky we are and have real conversations about hunger and hardship,” Colavito said. “Hunger doesn’t care what party you belong to. If you’re suffering, you’re suffering.”

Colavito does not receive a salary for his role with the cupboard. Lynn works part-time, though she often puts in more hours than a full-time schedule. For them, this walk is a commitment to their neighbors and to a cause that’s becoming more urgent by the month.

“We have ten months of funding left,” Colavito said. “This walk is about buying us time. Time to keep the cupboard open. Time to find sustainable funding. And time to remind people that we all have a role to play.”

If all goes as planned, the couple will reach the food bank in Montgomery on November 3. Along the way, they’re hoping for good conversations, supportive gestures, and perhaps a few waves from passing cars.

“If you see us, say hi,” said Colavito. “You’ll know us, two dorks with walking sticks.”

How to Help

To sponsor a mile or donate to the Sullivan Fresh Community Cupboard, visit sullivansalt.org All proceeds go directly toward purchasing and delivering food in Sullivan County.

Radio Catskill is marking the start of Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the voices, resilience, and celebrations of our Latino community here in the Hudson Valley.

We begin with LOUD — Latin Outreach, Unity, and Development, a grassroots organization co-founded by Sugely Melenciano-Weed and Alessandra Gonzalez, dedicated to connecting Hispanic and immigrant families in Ulster County with vital resources, advocacy, and support.

“People in our community often don’t know where to turn,” Sugely said. “They ask how to fill out paperwork, enroll a child in school, or even how to get a birth certificate. LOUD was created to be that bridge — connecting families with resources that already exist but are hard to access.”

A Growing Need Amid Fear

LOUD’s work has taken on new urgency in recent weeks. Reports of ICE raids in Kingston have left families afraid to go to work, send children to school, or even leave their homes. “The community is very fearful right now,” Sugely explained. “That fear is traumatic. We may not know the full impact of these raids for years.”

LOUD has responded by organizing discreet communication networks through WhatsApp and Facebook groups to share accurate information without causing unnecessary panic. Volunteers provide interpreting services, accompany families to schools or court, and coordinate food deliveries when people are too afraid to visit pantries themselves.

“We’re immigrants too,” said Sugely. “That makes people trust us a little more.”

Beyond Survival: Celebration and Identity

Even in difficult times, Hispanic Heritage Month is a moment of celebration. LOUD is leading a series of events in Kingston, beginning with a proclamation at City Hall on September 15, followed by the Fifth Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival on October 4. The festival will close several city blocks for music, food, art, and community.

“We debated canceling because of safety concerns,” Sugely admitted. “But the community said no — we need to celebrate. We need to show up and show out. We’re not going anywhere.”

Other events include a Hispanic Business Appreciation Luncheon, a Community Quinceañera for local youth, and “The Hispanic Experience,” an art and culture showcase.

Looking Ahead

For Sugely, hope comes from the community itself. “We are fortunate in Ulster County,” she said. “Despite everything, people are coming together, helping one another, and making sure no one is left behind.”

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo will continue these conversations throughout the month, speaking with Hispanic members of our community about identity, belonging, and the contributions Latinos bring to America every day.