Local Culture

Local Playwright’s ‘Closets’ Explores Family Secrets, Faith and the Things Left Unsaid

A new play written by Sullivan County playwright Bill Duncan will receive staged readings this weekend in Hurleyville. “Closets” follows a blue-collar Irish Catholic family from the 1950s through the 1970s, exploring themes of family, faith, relationships and the secrets people keep from one another. Duncan said the play was inspired by the story of […]

Sullivan County

The Birds of the Catskill High Peaks Are Disappearing. Researchers Say Hikers Can Help.

Some of the Catskills’ most distinctive high-elevation birds are disappearing, and researchers say growing use of unofficial hiking trails is adding pressure to species already struggling with climate change and habitat loss. A new study by researchers at SUNY New Paltz found fewer birds living near both official and unofficial trails than in remote areas […]

Science Stories with Joe Johnson: From Dinosaur Graveyards to Deep Space

A mass collection of dinosaur fossils. New questions about artificial sweeteners and brain health. A spacecraft preparing to explore one of the most intriguing worlds in our solar system. In this edition of Science Stories, our science contributor Joe Johnson looks at three stories capturing researchers’ attention — beginning with a discovery that offers a […]

A Family Legacy and a Love of Music Inspire New Catskills Classical Festival

A new chamber music festival is bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to the Catskills this summer. The inaugural Shin Creek Music Festival will feature three performances in Lew Beach and Livingston Manor, with programs ranging from Bach and contemporary works to family-friendly selections featuring music by Irving Berlin and Maurice Ravel. The festival was created by […]

Sullivan County

Yarnslingers Marks 15 Years with New Podcast and Anthology Celebrating Regional Storytelling

For 15 years, Yarnslingers has invited people across the Catskills and Northeastern Pennsylvania to share true stories from their own lives. Now, the nonprofit is marking that milestone with two new projects designed to preserve those stories and introduce them to new audiences. The organization has launched This Happened, a podcast produced in partnership with […]

Sports Headlines with Ronald and Mark

Mark Birman and Ronald Kelson discuss today’s top Sports Headlines: Image: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, left, goes up for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers’ Adem Bona during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Jan. 28, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

At Borscht Belt Fest, Harrison Greenbaum Celebrates the Comedy Tradition That Shaped Modern Stand-Up

The jokes may be new, but the rhythm is familiar. This weekend, the Catskills’ Borscht Belt comedy tradition returns to center stage as the Borscht Belt Fest celebrates the region that helped launch generations of American comedians, including Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield and Jerry Seinfeld. Among this year’s featured performers is comedian Harrison […]

This Invasive Plant Can Cause Severe Burns. New York Wants Your Help Finding It.

Giant hogweed, the towering plant with umbrella-like white flowers, may look striking along a roadside or stream bank, but getting too close can have painful consequences. As giant hogweed reaches peak growing season, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding residents to recognize the invasive plant, avoid touching it and report suspected […]

New York

Borscht Belt Fest: Comedy, Cuisine, and Culture This Weekend in Ellenville

The grand hotels that once dotted the Catskills are mostly gone, but the culture they created—where comedians and musicians honed their craft, and generations of families spent their summers—continues to shape the region’s identity. This weekend in Ellenville, that legacy becomes something visitors can experience again at Borscht Belt Fest. “It’s comedy, cuisine and culture,” […]

Ulster County