The Local Edition

Abilities First, a nonprofit based in Wappingers Falls, New York, has an exciting announcement. Developmentally disabled people and their caretakers across the state can now download "Abilibee" for easier access to resources. Their website reads, "No matter where you are, Abilibee can help navigate what comes next from Early Intervention to Adulthood. Abilibee’s planning tools will help you be a better advocate, notify you to start transition planning activities, provide resources and useful information."

Marcy Handler, the  Director of Strategic Initiatives for Abilities First, says the app will be a game-changer for New York families. "When parents go from one place to the next, they're often really confused about what they need to know and what they need to do." The organization won a grant from the state to help solve this problem and, thus, Abilibee was born. Handler explains, "The app is divided into 10 different age groups, starting with early childhood and all the way up to mature adulthood. Each age group has its own focus, whether it's things you may encounter in the school districts like IEP planning every year, or how to look for a job."

The app is now available on the Apple store and Google Play. Listen for more information about what it offers and the problem it aims to solve.

Heart is back. And not just back—they’re stronger, louder, and prouder than ever. After health setbacks and a postponed tour, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson have returned to the stage with their Royal Flush Tour 2025, reminding audiences across the country why their songs have defined rock for generations.

A Triumphant Return

The tour kicked off earlier this year and has been nothing short of an emotional victory lap. Ann Wilson, performing after completing treatment for cancer, now sings seated due to an elbow injury—but her voice, that iconic, soaring instrument, hasn’t lost a step. Nancy Wilson says the experience has been deeply rewarding:

Live Music as a Campfire

For Nancy, the thrill of live music still burns bright:

Heart remains among the last great rock bands delivering 100% live shows, a fact that resonates with audiences craving authenticity in an era of polished productions.

Coming to Bethel Woods

On Saturday, August 30, Heart will play at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival. It won’t be their first time on that stage—performances in 2008 and 2019 cemented their place in the venue’s history—but the return carries new weight.

Icons for Women in Music

For decades, Ann and Nancy Wilson have been trailblazers, not only in rock but also in opening doors for women in a male-dominated industry. Looking back, Nancy reflected on that role:

Today, countless female artists cite Heart as an inspiration. Nancy is candid about the challenges young artists face in an era dominated by social media, but she remains committed to mentoring the next generation through her Roadcase Management company.

Looking Ahead

Even after fifty years of performing, Nancy isn’t slowing down. She’s already dreaming about new projects, including an acoustic guitar duet album with artists like Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.

And as for the tour itself, she says the reward is seeing fans of every age—nine-year-olds shouting for “Barracuda,” college students who discovered Heart in the ’80s, and longtime fans who’ve been with them since the beginning—all together in one space.

Rock Royalty

For Nancy, the songs themselves have become larger than life.

Heart’s resilience, passion, and authenticity continue to shine, making their return to the road not just a concert tour, but a celebration of endurance, music, and connection.

On August 30 at Bethel Woods, fans will once again gather under the stars to join the Wilson sisters around that “big rock and roll campfire.” And for Heart, the fire is still burning strong.

This Saturday, August 23, Main Street in Narrowsburg will be buzzing with creativity, color, and cars—both full-sized and miniature. The Lego Derby and Car Show runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Shops, 90 Main Street, and promises fun for all ages. The free event is hosted by Ms. Adrienne in collaboration with The Shops at Narrowsburg, Tusten Social, and La Cigogne.

A Day of Cars—Real and Lego

Visitors will find a parking lot full of classic and modern cars paired with their Lego-built “mini-me” versions between The 108 and 2 Queens. Inside and outside Tusten Social, a Lego-size derby track will be set up for races. Participants can build a Lego car on-site—even if they didn’t attend a workshop beforehand—and race it down the track.

“Everyone who races will get a raffle ticket, and they’ll have the chance to win a gift basket from Iris in Narrowsburg,” Adrienne explained in an interview with Radio Catskill.

More Than Just Racing

In addition to the derby, the event features:

Ms. Adrienne, known across Sullivan County for her Lego clubs and kids’ programming, says events like this go beyond play. “Lego builds problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and social-emotional growth. It’s multi-generational—young and old can build side by side,” she said.

Looking Ahead

Ms. Adrienne hinted at more Lego fun to come, including a Heavy Equipment Lego Show in winter 2026 at Catskills Equipment in Jeffersonville. And if this weekend’s event proves popular, the Lego Derby may become an annual tradition.

“It’s really a community effort,” she said. “From the shops to the building owner, everyone has come together to make this a special day.”

Parking and Practical Details

While there will be no parking in the small lot between The 108 and 2 Queens from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon, free parking is available along Main Street, behind the post office, and on neighborhood streets. The Narrowsburg Farmers Market will also be happening the same day, making for a full day out downtown.

For more information about Ms. Adrienne’s programs, visit missadrienne.com or follow her on Instagram at @yoadrienne.

For many, child care is more than support—it’s the foundation of opportunity. Yet here in New York, that foundation is showing cracks. As of early July, 21 counties—including Sullivan and Delaware right here in our region—have paused new enrollment in the Child Care Assistance Program, the state’s biggest voucher initiative for working families. At the same time, New York City alone has over 1,500 families on a waitlist, even amid promises of extra funding.

To help us unpack what’s going on—why availability is shrinking, why counties like Sullivan and Delaware have had to pause, and what this means for families now and in the future—we’re joined by New York Focus reporter Julia Rock, who authored the piece, “21 Counties Have Closed Applications for New York’s Biggest Child Care Affordability Program.”

Experts say the rollback will decrease energy production and add $130 on average to bills by the end of the decade.

Joseph LeDoux is Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at NYU, and Professor of Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU Langone. He’s one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, best known for his groundbreaking work on fear, anxiety, and the brain’s survival circuits. He’s also the author of books including The Emotional Brain and The Four Realms of Existence, and the frontman of The Amygdaloids, a rock band of scientists.

On August 21 at 7:30 p.m., the Callicoon Theater will host a special screening of Werner Herzog’s documentary Theater of Thought, which explores the mysteries of the mind and consciousness and was partially filmed right here in Cochecton. After the film, LeDoux will join Colin Dempsey for a talkback moderated by Jason Tougaw, followed by a live musical performance.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo spoke with Joseph LeDoux about what it means to face our fears, why the brain is wired the way it is.

As students head back to school at the end of the month, advocates are warning about a new wave of e-cigarettes targeting kids, with some even disguised as everyday objects or with built in video games. Despite crackdowns, more than 1.6 million youth still use e-cigarettes, which can have serious, lasting effects. 

A press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids says, "Today’s e-cigarettes are more potent than ever and deliver massive doses of nicotine – some contain as much nicotine as 20 packs of cigarettes or more. The U.S. Surgeon General has found that youth use of nicotine in any form is unsafe, causes addiction, and can harm developing brains, negatively affecting attention, memory and learning. E-cigarettes also expose kids to harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, lead and benzene."

One major concern of health officials is the targeting of nicotine products at youth. Flavoring vapes is the most common way this is allegedly done by manufacturers. The only e-cigarettes authorized by the FDA are menthol and tobacco flavored, says Brian King, the  Executive Vice President for U.S. Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. He added that all nicotine products are unsafe for those under 25 but that almost 90% of users prefer the fun flavors, which are especially dangerous because they are being sold illegally. Another tactic by the industry, the release says, is a teen-centered design. New vapes are "often designed to look like toys, highlighters and smartphones, making them easy for kids to hide." Some also have gimmicks to make them more entertaining, such as built in games.

King told Radio Catskill that after peak use in 2019, they have seen numbers of underage vape users falling. But this is complicated by the introduction of new products, like nicotine pouches, that are growing in popularity. King emphasized that it's extremely easy to get hooked on nicotine from one thing at a young age and then become a full blown addict soon after. He spoke with WJFF about how parents can approach education and what trends to be aware of as the new school year begins.

HOST INTRO

The New Paltz Community Gardens for Nutrition has been a staple of local growing for 50 years. But now, gardeners are facing a new challenge: climate change. From flooding to shifting seasons, what once was reliable land is becoming harder to farm. Radio Catskill’s Jamie Case brings us to the gardens to hear how members are adapting—and what’s at stake for this long-standing community space.

A coalition in the Hudson Valley screened the documentary Who Killed Shireen? this past Sunday at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston, NY.

Shireen Abu Akleh, the namesake of the documentary, was a Palestinian American journalist. Born in East Jerusalem and raised in New Jersey, Abu Akleh provided award-winning coverage of the West Bank for Al Jazeera for 25 years - until 2022 where she was shot and killed by Alon Sacagiu, a captain in the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

The film was produced by Zeteo Media, the new independent media company founded by former MSNBC host Medhi Hasan. It follows three Zeteo journalists who traveled all the way to Tel Aviv, Israel and Jenin in the West Bank to identify the name and rank of Abu Akleh’s killer for the first time.

Radio Catskill’s Genevieve Hartnett attended the screening and met with the organizers of the event ahead of time to discuss Shireen Abu Akleh’s legacy and the dangers journalists face when covering Gaza and the West Bank.