The Local Edition

24 Years Later: Remembering September 11 with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

Today, Radio Catskills Jamie Case is joined by Sarah Kramer-Harrison, Ulster County’s new director of arts, culture and open spaces — a first for the county. They sat down to talk about the goals of the role, what’s ahead for local artists and organizations, and how public parks may soon double as cultural venues in the historic Ulster County. 

Every year, nonprofits across New York State can apply for a grant for trail repairs and environmental stewardship. It’s called the “Park and Trail Partnership Grants Program” and is run by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and Parks & Trails New York. This year, $1.7 million was spread out across twenty-two organizations, many of them in the Catskills region. In the Finger Lakes, recipients include: Finger Lakes Trail Conference, Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park, and Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park. In Mid-Hudson, the winners were: Catskill 3500 Club, Palisades Park Conservancy, Friends of Philipse Manor Hall, Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, and the Little Stony Point Citizens Association. 

Michael Bongar and Lori Herpen of the Catskill 3500 Club in West Hurley told WJFF that their grant of almost $5,000 will be used for their trail stewardship project, which educates people on ethical environmental enjoyment. The “Leave No Trace” principles are a primary example of this, and the money helped pay for signage and staff to spread the word on best practices. 

Stacey Lynch Adnams of the Stony Kill Foundation in Wappingers Falls recalled that their 2023 grant was used to restore part of their barnyard. In addition, Joanna Riesman is the Board Administrator for Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Their group applied in August 2024 and received around $40,000 in March 2025 for graffiti removal and community outreach. “The goals are to make people aware that the Friends exist and that we do a lot of work to educate the public on the history of the trail but also to keep the trail beautiful. One of the most evident frustrations for walkers is graffiti on these beautiful stone structures.” Riesman continued, “We worked for many years with New York state parks to develop a protocol for cleaning the graffiti without ruining the underlying stone and now that a method has been approved we can go ahead.”

Similarly, the Bannerman Castle Trust was also a grant recipient from the 2023 cycle. Kelly Ellenwood applied for the grant on behalf of the organization and just submitted their rescope this week. That means that two years after winning the grant, they’re finally able to update the state about the specifics of how the money was used. Ellenwood says that the repairs ended up costing more than anticipated but they were able to install wrought-iron rails on their two most popular trails and a grant match from other donors enabled them to do further repairs such as weeding and sign installation. Ellenwood spoke over video chat about the process over the last two years and the importance of the grant for Bannerman Castle.

Radio Catskill Speaks with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly About Her New Podcast Sources & Methods

Following pressure, the powerful board overseeing Pennsylvania opioid settlement money allows public comment but faces continued criticism over transparency and representation.

New Yorkers are suing to reverse a Trump administration policy change that has upended the futures of tens of thousands of young immigrants.

WHITE LAKE – A new $24 million terminal at the Sullivan County International Airport is nearing completion, but residents hoping for commercial airline service may be disappointed. County Manager Joshua Potosek made it clear in an interview with Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo that there are no plans for scheduled passenger service. Instead, county officials see the airport’s future as an economic engine driven by corporate jet traffic and potential business expansion.

“We just don’t have the population base to support commercial scheduled jet traffic like you’d see at Stewart Airport,” Potosek said. “What we’re focused on is attracting corporate jets and aviation-related businesses. This airport can be a hub for business, not just leisure travel.”

The two-year construction project was largely funded by an $18.5 million state grant awarded under Governor Kathy Hochul’s Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition. The county contributed approximately $5.5 million to complete the project.

The state-of-the-art 15,000-square-foot terminal replaces a decades-old structure and features panoramic views of the Catskills, a pilot’s lounge, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and plans for a restaurant and bar. Potosek confirmed that a request for proposals (RFP) is already out to bring dining back to the airport.

Even without commercial flights, county officials believe the investment will benefit all Sullivan County residents.

“This isn’t just about jets,” said Potosek. “This is about economic activity. More jets mean more fuel sales, more hangars, more businesses supporting airport operations—and that helps generate tax revenue and jobs.”

Governor Hochul echoed that vision in a press release earlier this year, saying the upgrades are intended to “invite visitors and drive local economies by facilitating tourism and generating opportunities for business development.”

The airport is located near several major regional attractions, including Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Resorts World Catskills, and the Monticello Motor Club. Officials believe it can serve as a “gateway to the Catskills,” attracting high-end tourists and business travelers.

Looking ahead, Potosek said the county is considering further upgrades, including a potential runway extension to attract shipping giants like Amazon or FedEx.

“There’s also opportunity for things like flight schools and parachuting operations,” he added. “We’ve had interest in using some of the new office space we built into the terminal. The hope is that aviation-related businesses will see this as a great location to grow.”

Potosek acknowledged public skepticism, particularly from residents who view the airport as “a rich boys' playground.”

“That’s not wrong—right now, that’s who uses it,” Potosek said candidly. “But even that generates economic activity. If someone flies in and hires local mechanics or eats at local restaurants, that’s money going into our community. That helps keep property taxes down.”

The terminal is expected to open within weeks, pending a ribbon-cutting ceremony that could include Governor Hochul. County officials are coordinating with the Governor’s office to finalize a date.

In the meantime, Potosek says the airport team is preparing a targeted marketing campaign aimed at the corporate aviation sector.

“We want to make it as easy and attractive as possible for businesses to make Sullivan County their base of operations,” he said. “This new terminal is just the beginning.”

New York’s state-funded home care program for the elderly and disabled has been in turmoil for months.

The $9 billion program serves hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and was taken over by Georgia-based company Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) in April, with the stated goal of making the program more efficient and reducing fraud. Since then, workers and patients have complained of missed paychecks, randomly slashed hours, breaches of sensitive data, and other issues.

When you're pregnant and unsure what to do, the first place you turn for help can shape everything that follows. In the Catskills, not all pregnancy centers are what they seem and the difference could determine whether you get medical care or misinformation.

Licensed providers like Family Planning of South Central New York offer "affordable, compassionate, confidential care to anyone from any walk of life," regardless of income, immigration status, or insurance. Their staff are "appropriately credentialed" and trained in cultural competency to provide sensitive, informed care, explains Felicity Gomer, their Director of Public Communications.

These clinics offer all-options pregnancy counseling, including referrals to "trusted abortion providers," a "full range of FDA approved birth control methods," free condoms, emergency contraception, and testing and treatment for HIV and STIs. Their philosophy centers on "the patient's choice" and delivering care with "compassion, not coercion," says Gomer. 

By contrast, Crisis Pregnancy Centers are often religiously affiliated and aim to discourage abortion. In Ulster County, centers such as Bravo Pregnancy Support Center do not provide abortions, abortion referrals, contraception, or licensed medical services. 

Some CPCs offer free ultrasounds or STI testing, but concerns persist over the qualifications of staff performing them. The Delaware County Pregnancy Center, for example, has paused its ultrasound services due to a lack of licensed personnel. Their services focus instead on "peer counseling" and material support, like diapers, formula, and clothing, often given through programs that encourage parenthood education such as "earn what you learned." Some also offer "Abortion Recovery Support Groups."

Local healthcare professionals warn that CPCs may spread misinformation. Gomer says these centers are not "real medical providers" and may not be "bound by HIPAA or medical ethics." She adds that many CPCs "promote false claims about the effects of abortion or the effects of Plan B pills." Dr. Elizabeth Solger, an OB-GYN, agrees, saying CPCs often spread "misinformation about the risks of abortion," despite its medical safety.

In one instance, a Binghamton patient, who wished to remain anonymous, described a suspected CPC volunteer standing across from a legitimate clinic, gently waving patients over without identifying her affiliation. The resident was seeking an abortion and says had they not been more educated on these subtle tactics, they could've unwittingly gone over to the woman. She said that it is "very discouraging to know how many people probably get persuaded into that."

To avoid confusion, Gomer advises local residents to ask if a center is staffed by licensed professionals, whether they provide or refer for abortions, and to be cautious of any "religious undertones or coercive undertones." Her guidance is simple: "if a place won't talk about all of your options, it's not a medical clinic; it's an agenda."

Sullivan County Poet Laureate Kevin Graham will be the featured performer at Open Mic First Fridays at the Western Sullivan Public Library’s Delaware Free Branch (45 Lower Main St., Callicoon) on Friday, September 5, 6–8 p.m.

Sign-ups begin at 5:45 p.m.; the open mic runs 6–7 p.m. with Graham’s featured set 7–8 p.m.

Graham, a poet, musician, and visual artist, plans an improvised performance that blends live looping guitar with spoken poetry—a hybrid he describes as part score, part reading. “I’ll improvise the music and fit the poem around it,” he explained in a studio demo ahead of the event. “The loop sets the mood and the pacing; the poem adapts to the sound.”

The laureate says the approach helps audiences hear poetry more clearly. By stretching the cadence to the contours of the loop, he reads slower, with more breath and space—“almost lyrical,” he said—so listeners can sit inside the words rather than chase them. During the demo, he layered a gentle guitar motif beneath lines like: “I try to think my thinking into a plum and throw it into the thornbush, but it always reappears in my throat full of ants.”

A “creativity support group,” not just a workshop

Beyond performing, Graham has channeled much of his laureate tenure into regular poetry workshops on Zoom (announced via Sullivan County Poet Laureate on Instagram/Facebook). Participants share work and talk frankly about process, roadblocks, and productivity. The tone is intentionally encouraging.
“We focus on what’s working,” he said. “When several people point to the same line or image, it builds confidence—and that’s fuel to keep creating.”

He also publishes short essays on creativity and productivity on his Substack, reflecting a belief that art-making is a life skill, not a niche pursuit. “Tools like AI can be useful,” Graham noted, “but the lasting satisfaction comes from struggling through the making itself.”

From film scores to open mics

Musically, Graham’s palette draws on jazz, classical, and film music. Think ambient, cinematic textures with the spontaneity of improvisation. He likens the guitar-and-loop bed to a film score for poems, a way to “open a door for the poetry to get in.” Friday’s set will be fully improvised musically, with poems selected from work he’s written in recent years.

Expect variety: some pieces are existential and melancholy; others are abstract and playful. And expect atmosphere. Graham hopes to dim the lights and “set a vibe,” underscoring the performance’s intimate, exploratory feel.

Libraries as portals of discovery

Graham also highlighted a new Library Passport offered through the Ramapo Catskill Library System—stampable at branches across the region—as a nudge back toward serendipitous, in-person discovery. “There’s a different kind of power in finding something you weren’t looking for,” he said. “Libraries still make that possible.”