Kimberly Izar

Middletown Redirects Federal Funds for Emergency SNAP Relief Amid Government Shutdown: How to Apply

Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano opened applications on Wednesday for an emergency food relief program for people receiving SNAP benefits as the federal government enters its fifth week of its shutdown. DeStefano says his office has been flooded with calls from parents, grandparents, and one woman who said she only has three cents left on her […]

Viral “Take Me Down to Stewy’s” Song Pays Tribute to New York Staple, Stewart’s Shops

Stewart’s Shops is a beloved gas station and convenience store with hundreds of locations across the Catskills and upstate New York. For many residents in rural communities, it’s a staple and, and oftentimes, the only place open for those late-night ice cream cravings and lemonade. A new rap song called “Take Me Down to Stewy’s,” […]

Election 2025: What to Know About Town Supervisors

There are more than 930 towns across New York state. Many big and small towns have important elections coming up this Election Day, including in Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster counties. Chris Koetzle, Executive Director of the New York Association of Towns (NYAOT), says local elections can make a big difference in smaller, rural communities. The […]

Assemblymember Paula Kay Shares Update on NYSEG Rate Case

As the cold weather creeps in, more people are heating their homes. But some residents are concerned that already steep utility bills could climb even higher. In June, NYSEG filed rate increase proposals to increase delivery rates by more than 30 percent for some customers. Under the proposal, the average NYSEG customer could see […]

Why People Joined No Kings Rallies Across Northeast PA and Catskills

More than seven million people participated in No Kings rallies on Oct. 18 across the country, according to national organizers. Thousands took to the streets in the Catskills and northeast Pennsylvania – including Honesdale, Monticello, Middletown, Goshen, and Newburgh – to push back against the current Trump administration. The No Kings rallies took place as […]

With Route 17 Expansion Paused, Climate Advocates Push for Transit Alternatives

The New York State Department of Transportation has hit pause on its $1.4 billion plan to expand Route 17 through Orange and Sullivan Counties following community pushback. In October, the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) quietly announced it needed more time to review project alternatives. “Over the past several months, the State Department […]

Garnet Health Plans to Join Montefiore Health System: Here’s What We Know

Garnet Health and Montefiore Health System announced on Wednesday that the two healthcare systems have signed a Letter of Intent for Garnet Health to pursue an affiliation with Montefiore Health System. “Today’s announcement reflects our continued commitment to ensuring the long-term strength and sustainability of healthcare in our region,” said Jonathan Schiller, President and CEO […]

Ulster County Nonprofit to Host Harvest Fest for Afghan Refugees

The Department of Homeland Security ended temporary protected status, or TPS, in May for Afghan immigrants looking to resettle in the United States. Still, that hasn’t stopped community members in Ulster County from supporting their neighbors. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Robert Sabuda, founder of nonprofit organization Plutarch for Refugees, about the need to […]

Ulster County

As Dole Act Implementation Stalls, Local VA Agencies Say Staffing Shortages Persist

New York is home to more than 688,000 veterans, more than half of whom are people over 65, according to the state’s Office for the Aging. But local Veterans Affairs (VA) agencies say the rollout of the Dole Act, a federal law expanding healthcare and benefits for veterans, has stalled. “To date, the VA has […]