The Local Edition

For the second consecutive week, the Town of Fallsburg has issued another water conservation notice for certain areas of South Fallsburg, effective until Monday, July 15, 2024.

According to Fallsburg officials, a review of the current water supply this morning revealed that the LaVista Drive water tanks are at minimum levels necessary to meet the expected demand this weekend.

The town is urging residents in the affected areas to "conserve as much water as possible to avoid running out again this Friday evening."

Officials explained they are working "to dig up and replace several water valves believed to be obstructing the transfer of water from the new tank at Old Falls Road."

Additionally, the town is repairing a major water main leak beneath a state-owned culvert crossing State Route 42.

Fallsburg’s population nearly triples during the summer months as seasonal residents return to the Catskills, along with seasonal businesses and camps.

Town water is pumped from wells into pressurized holding tanks before being distributed to residents. During periods of high usage and little rainfall, it becomes challenging to meet the demand, officials have said in the past.

Fallsburg has faced water shortage issues in recent years due to the population increase and the construction of large, dense housing units. These developments have also impacted the town’s sewer system.

Bart Rasnick, President of the Fallsburg Fire Department, expressed concerns over the water issues, noting that if a fire occurs during this period, the department will not rely on hydrants. Instead, they will call for water tankers and use rivers and lakes to supply water to the emergency scene.

The town is also planning to upgrade the South Fallsburg Water Treatment Plant, which services homes in Woodbourne, Hurleyville, Old Falls, and South Fallsburg.

As Fallsburg continues to grow and more housing projects are developed, the demand for water in South Fallsburg has increased. The planned upgrade aims to meet these growing needs, especially during July and August, when the population peaks.

John J. Lennon is a prison journalist currently serving a 28-years-to-life sentence at Sullivan Correctional Facility for murder, drug sales, and gun possession. He is a contributing editor at Esquire and a contributing writer at The Marshall Project. Recently, he started a nonfiction writing workshop at Sullivan, where 10 incarcerated individuals will meet weekly. Lennon, who learned to write in a creative writing workshop at Attica, has always wanted to offer the same opportunity to others. 

Thanks to the support of the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and Sullivan administrators, this vision has become a reality. 

Sullivan County’s bus service, Move Sullivan, is set to expand its routes, aiming to connect more communities across the county. This expansion is part of a broader initiative to improve public transportation accessibility for residents, making it easier for people to commute to work, attend medical appointments, and access other essential services.

In a recent interview with Radio Catskill, Patricio Robayo spoke with Laura Quigley, Commissioner of the County of Sullivan, New York. Quigley elaborated on the motivations behind the expansion and what residents can expect in the coming months. She highlighted the county's commitment to providing reliable and efficient transportation options, especially for those who rely on public transit as their primary means of getting around.

This initiative underscores Sullivan County’s dedication to enhancing public services and supporting the needs of its diverse population, ensuring that transportation barriers are minimized and that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

A transgender man sued the New York prison system for forcing him to undergo illegal genital examinations. He has settled the case for $275,000.

Chris Gelardi from NY Focus spoke to Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo on what this means for the transgender community in prisons.

Joanna Gass, a beloved local singer who performs with Search and Rescue and frequently appears at events throughout Sullivan County, such as Bethel Music by the Lake. 

Joanna, who sang during the Catskills Borscht Belt era, will be sharing her story with writer Carol Montana, discussing her life and how she became a staple in the Catskills nightlife scene.

Girls who have experienced trauma face a significantly elevated risk of engaging in self-harm and contemplating suicide. According to EverGreen Meadow Academy, a new agency in Sullivan County, the best opportunity to alter their trajectory is during their middle school years. The academy offers comprehensive mental health services, including individual and group therapy, psychiatric support, and trauma-informed interventions. 

The mission of EverGreen Meadow Academy is to provide a safe and supportive educational environment that fosters healing and personal growth. They are currently collaborating with the Liberty Central School District to support middle school girls.

Radio Catskill’s Patricio Robayo recently interviewed Stacey Millman, Founder and President of EverGreen Meadow Academy, to discuss the agency's inception and their mission to assist young girls in Sullivan County and across New York State.

The New York State Prison agency has revoked a policy that prohibited incarcerated writers and artists from publishing their creative work. This policy, which was put into effect on May 11, mandated a rigorous approval process for publishing creative content outside of prison and allowed prison superintendents to block works that violated broad rules.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) clarified that the directive was not meant to restrict free speech or creative pursuits and pledged to engage with stakeholders to revise the policy.

The reversal occurred a day after New York Focus revealed the policy, and the department acknowledged that it had been misinterpreted.

Patricio Robayo spoke with John J. Lennon, a journalist and a Person who is incarcerated serving a life sentence at the Sullivan County Correctional Facility, about the challenges he has faced and could face in publishing his work.

John is a contributing editor at Esquire and a contributing writer at the Marshall Project. His  work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post Magazine, The New York Review of Books, The Atlantic, Esquire, Sports Illustrated, and elsewhere.

It’s tick season In New York State and tick safety is important as ever. The good news is there are a number of precautions you can take to protect yourself.

Reporter Marin Scotten is joined by Melissa Prusinski from the New York State Department of Health to hear more about ticks, where you can find them, how to protect yourself and what to do if you do get a tick bite. 

Plane Crash in Masonville

On Sunday June 30, 2024, around 2:00 p.m., the New York State Police responded to a potential plane crash near Lake Cecil Road in Masonville. A multi-agency search effort, including drones, ATVs, and helicopters, led to the discovery of debris and the downed aircraft.

The aircraft, a Piper Malibu Mirage, was found with all passengers deceased. The victims were identified as Roger Beggs, 76, Laura VanEpps, 43, Ryan VanEpps, 42, James R. VanEpps, 12, and Harrison VanEpps, 10. They were a family from Georgia in Cooperstown, NY, for a baseball tournament. The plane had departed from Alfred S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, NY, en route to Cobb County International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, with a refueling stop planned in West Virginia.

The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Collision Reconstruction Unit, and Forensic Identification Unit are working in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of the crash. 

Fatal Storm Incident in Delaware County

On Sunday June 30, 2024, a severe storm struck a popular campground in Delaware County near the Sullivan County border, resulting in one fatality. Initial reports suggested a tornado, but the National Weather Service in Binghamton confirmed it was a microburst with 90 mph winds about one mile northwest of Cooks Falls.

The microburst hit the Russell Brook Campsites at approximately 10:35 a.m. on Sunday. A woman from Edison, NJ, was killed when a large tree, felled by the storm, crushed her camper. Another individual was injured. The storm caused extensive damage to many RVs, campers, tents, and several cars, according to authorities.

In April 2022, New York State set an ambitious mandate: by July 1, 2027, it states, all school districts in New York State can only purchase zero-emission buses, and by July 1, 2035, all school buses operating in-state must be zero-emission — powered by electricity, rather than diesel or gas. Monticello Central School District received its first electric school bus this March. Superintendent Matthew Evans spoke with Radio Catskill reporter Chia-Tien Nicole Chen about how his district is approaching the transition to electric.