WJFF - The Local Edition - Special Report

Asian longhorned ticks are here to stay in New York, and that means protection is key to ensuring the diseases they carry do not become harmful to livestock and people.At Cornell Cooperative Extension in Albany County last Thursday, Joellen Marie Lampman presented “Tick (S)tock,” a talk about the growing risk ticks pose to livestock. Lampman works with Cornell Integrated Pest Management, where she educates different groups about preventive care when it comes to ticks. The event focused on how different types of ticks can affect animals and humans, and how people can best protect themselves from tick bites. In the Hudson Valley, Lampman said the expanding population of Asian longhorned ticks is becoming increasingly concerning.According to Lampman, the first sighting of this particular tick in New York dates to 2010. A classification error complicated the record, and researchers later determined there had been a mix-up between a rabbit tick and an Asian longhorned tick.“Part of the reason that we didn’t discover it for so long was that it looks almost identical to our native rabbit tick,” Lampman said. “So when we went back into our collections, we’re like, ‘Oh, that’s not a rabbit tick.’”That resemblance does not diminish the fact that these ticks can pack a dangerous bite. Heavy infestations can negatively affect an animal’s health and productivity. Theileria orientalis ikeda is one of the livestock impacts. It can make livestock anemic, destroy red blood cells and leave animals lethargic.For humans, these ticks can transmit ehrlichiosis. That can cause flu-like symptoms one to two weeks after the bite occurs. While mild symptoms are not usually deadly, treatment is still necessary.“There’s two ways that we know Theileria can be spread, one is by reusing needles, so please don’t do that ’cause this is gonna be spreading throughout New York relatively quickly, and through this Asian longhorned tick,” Lampman said.There is still research to be done on how this particular tick will affect livestock long term.One of the main concerns with this tick, compared with the five other ticks prominent across the state, is that it is extremely invasive. Farmers have already reported high numbers of ticks on a single cow on their farms.Lampman emphasized during the meeting that these ticks can reproduce without a mate. That means one female tick alone can clone herself and lay 2,000 eggs, all of them also female.There are currently high numbers of Asian longhorned ticks in other parts of the state, but Lampman said those numbers will likely increase rapidly once this summer passes.“You can see that it goes all the way up to Glens Falls,” Lampman said. “So we’ve got the habitat that they are on on Long Island that goes all the way up the Hudson River.”One of the other unique elements of these ticks is that they are not picky eaters. Asian longhorned ticks can choose a wide range of hosts, including livestock and wildlife that is constantly moving, such as birds and deer.They are native to East Asia and are now considered invasive in the U.S. The first traced sign of them was in 2017, even though research has shown earlier sightings through Cornell Cooperative Extension.While these ticks prefer pastures and meadows, they have also been seen on the outskirts of a grazed farm, which Lampman said was shocking.To protect livestock, it is important to check animals for ticks daily. It is also important to ensure that livestock being shipped to a particular farm is properly treated for ticks before it arrives at the final farm in New York.Lampman is continuing to monitor the population by going to sites with infestations to conduct research and better understand how the population is expanding outside the coastal lands where it was once originally abundant in Long Island.One of the main testing methods is using a tick rag.“So we’re using that hunting style against them, we’re also not treated, we’re not wearing repellents as we’re going out there,” Lampman said. “We are using ourselves as bait to capture as many ticks as we possibly can.”This method of researchers using themselves as bait allows for a tick rag to work. It is a long white rag attached to a brown horizontal rod. They go into an infested area and walk through with the rag, collecting ticks.“Then we, then we bring this all back to the lab, and we throw these things underneath the microscope so that we can figure out exactly what kind we’re dealing with.”One management method that was discussed was burning farms after the season, but no solution has proven to be permanent. Lampman made clear during the meeting that even treating lawns is only a temporary fix.Even with Asian longhorned ticks, they are going to different areas and dropping off quickly. If grass is treated for ticks, it can only last until another tick is dropped off by a bird or a deer.Humans can continue taking preventive measures to avoid getting bitten by Asian longhorned ticks, especially since it is still being researched how the ticks will actually affect humans.That includes wearing permethrin-treated clothing with long sleeves, long socks and pants tucked into boots. While that is not ideal in the middle of the summer heat, it is important in grassland areas to gear up to avoid bites.For more information about different species of ticks in New York State and the different impacts they can have, visit Cornell’s Integrated Pest Management page on the Asian longhorned tick.

 New York State has issued a statewide air quality advisory on July 15 due to the impact of the Canadian wildfire smoke. The DEC urges New Yorkers to reduce their exposure to air pollution - but as Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports, many farmers are still out on the fields.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has once again moved across New York, creating hazy skies, reducing visibility and raising concerns about the health effects of breathing polluted air.The smoke contains a mixture of gases and tiny particles produced as trees, vegetation and, in some cases, buildings and other structures burn. One of the greatest health concerns is fine particulate matter known as PM2.5.These particles are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and may enter the bloodstream, potentially affecting more than just the respiratory system, according to Njoki Mwarumba, Ph.D., assistant professor of emergency management at Empire State University.“The dangerous part here is the size of the particulate pollutant,” Mwarumba told Radio Catskill. “When you inhale that particle and it ends up in your lungs, it can also get into your bloodstream.”Who is most at risk?Wildfire smoke can affect anyone, but certain groups may experience symptoms sooner or more severely.Those at greater risk include people with asthma or other respiratory conditions, older adults, pregnant people, young children and people with other underlying health conditions.Mwarumba said people in those groups should begin taking precautions before air quality reaches levels considered unhealthy for the general population.Even people without existing health problems may experience irritated eyes, a dry or sore throat, coughing or difficulty breathing when smoke levels are elevated.Residents should pay attention to changes in their breathing and follow any guidance previously provided by their health care providers. Anyone experiencing serious difficulty breathing or other severe symptoms should seek medical attention.Caregivers should also closely watch children and people with disabilities who may have difficulty explaining how they feel. Pets can also be affected by smoke and should spend less time outdoors during periods of poor air quality.Check the Air Quality IndexMwarumba recommends checking the Air Quality Index, or AQI, before exercising, working or spending extended periods outside.The AQI uses a color-coded scale to describe pollution levels and possible health risks. Conditions can change throughout the day, so residents should check more than once, especially before outdoor activities.People should also monitor information from local public health departments, emergency management offices and state officials.Mwarumba said decisions should be based on several factors, including the AQI, official guidance, visible conditions and a person’s individual health needs.Do masks help?A properly fitted N95 or KN95 mask can reduce the amount of fine particulate matter a person inhales.The mask should fit tightly over both the nose and mouth. Loose-fitting cloth or surgical masks generally do not provide the same level of protection against very small smoke particles.However, wearing a mask does not eliminate all risk. During periods of especially poor air quality, people should limit the amount of time they spend outside, postpone strenuous activity and move exercise indoors when possible.The precautions are particularly important for people whose jobs require them to work outdoors.Protecting the air inside your homeResidents can also take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering their homes.Doors and windows should remain closed when outdoor air quality is poor, as long as doing so does not create dangerously hot indoor temperatures. Air conditioners should be set to recirculate indoor air when possible instead of pulling smoke-filled air inside.Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters may also help remove fine particles from indoor spaces.When driving, motorists can close their windows and use the vehicle’s recirculation setting.People without access to safe, cool indoor air should check whether their community has opened cooling centers, clean-air shelters or other public facilities.Communities must prepare for more smoke eventsMwarumba said wildfire seasons are becoming longer and fires are burning with greater intensity. Although the fires may be hundreds or thousands of miles away, their smoke can travel across national borders and affect communities far from the flames.She said governments and communities must prepare by strengthening emergency plans, improving public communication, protecting outdoor workers and making clean indoor air accessible to vulnerable residents.Preparedness will require cooperation among public health agencies, emergency managers, elected officials, researchers, community organizations and private businesses.“These challenges exist not just locally, but in our region and across different continents,” Mwarumba said. “They do affect us one way or another.”Mwarumba encouraged residents to treat wildfire smoke as a continuing public-health concern rather than an isolated event.Individuals can reduce their exposure by monitoring the AQI, limiting outdoor activity, wearing a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask when necessary and keeping indoor air as clean as possible.

The Ulster County Legislature voted to support the Ulster County for Fair Taxes Act. This tax plan would take a surcharge to wealthy residents to fund gaps in SNAP and Medicaid funding as the county anticipates being affected by federal funding cuts. 

John J. Lennon said he was stunned when he learned he had been named a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow in General Nonfiction.The acclaimed journalist and essayist is believed to be the first person in the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation’s 101-year history to receive the prestigious fellowship while currently incarcerated.Speaking with Radio Catskill from Sing Sing Correctional Facility, Lennon described the recognition as both humbling and difficult to fully process within the confines of prison.“You’re just kind of stunned,” Lennon said. “It’s just a totally humbling experience.”But celebrating good news inside a prison, Lennon explained, is complicated.“You don’t burst out of your cell and say, ‘Guys, guess what?’” he said. “You kind of have to contain it.”Lennon said incarcerated people sometimes exercise restraint when sharing accomplishments because they do not know how the news will be received by those around them.“Prison is a tough place. It’s a tough environment,” he said. “The stakes are a little higher in here.”The Guggenheim Fellowship will support a piece Lennon is writing for The New York Review of Books. The essay will explore the 200-year literary history of Sing Sing during the prison’s bicentennial year and is expected to be published this fall.Lennon has written extensively about incarceration, criminal justice and daily life behind prison walls. His reporting and essays have appeared in national publications, offering readers a view of prisons that outside journalists rarely have access to.He said incarcerated writers face obvious disadvantages, including limited technology, research materials and communication with editors. However, they also possess something most reporters cannot easily obtain: direct access to life inside a prison.“What we do have is something that most journalists would really like, at least temporarily,” Lennon said. “That’s the access to what’s around us.”That access includes the sounds, conversations, personalities and daily events unfolding in cellblocks, prison yards and other areas that visiting reporters are unlikely to see.“The best a reporter is going to get if a reporter comes in here is they’re going to sit on the visit floor,” Lennon said. “That’s a totally different dynamic than me telling an in-action story in the cellblock or the yard.”Lennon said his work often connects the experiences of the people around him with his own emotional life. When writing about someone experiencing serious mental illness, for example, Lennon said he may draw upon periods when he experienced deep depression inside his cell.He described that shared human experience as an important part of telling stories that reach readers beyond prison walls.Lennon also said the country is experiencing what he considers a renaissance in prison writing, as more incarcerated writers and artists find ways to publish work and receive recognition.“There’s not many things we can do on the inside,” Lennon said. “Art is one of them.”He said incarcerated artists and writers should be considered for the same grants, fellowships and professional opportunities available to people outside prison.“We should be in the running too,” he said.Recognition Beyond the Literary WorldAlelur “Alex” Duran, program director at Galaxy Gives, said Lennon’s Guggenheim Fellowship is significant far beyond the literary community.Duran leads the foundation’s criminal justice reform portfolio and was himself incarcerated for 12 years. He said there has historically been too little acknowledgment of “the brilliance, the beauty and the bravery” of thinkers and artists living behind prison walls.“We shouldn’t make any distinction between people who are in prison and people who are not,” Duran said. “If you are a writer of that kind of caliber, I think you should get the same opportunities as anybody else.”In 2022, Lennon became the first currently incarcerated person to receive a Galaxy Leader Fellowship. Duran said Lennon went through the same competitive process as hundreds of other applicants and was selected based on the strength of his work.The fellowship included flexible funding, leadership development and other professional support. Lennon has participated in meetings and gatherings by telephone when possible.Duran said more foundations should recognize the leadership, experience and creative ability of incarcerated people.“Prisons don’t only shield the public from the brutality that happens in there,” Duran said. “They also shield the public from a lot of the brilliance that incarcerated people hold.”He said Lennon’s work challenges assumptions about who incarcerated people are and what they are capable of accomplishing.Duran also described prison journalism as a democratic necessity. Because prisons frequently operate outside sustained public scrutiny, he said writers such as Lennon can document conditions that would otherwise remain hidden.“The work that John is doing is actually strengthening our democracy by reporting and bearing witness on what’s happening behind prison walls,” Duran said.Duran said his own experience in prison continues to shape his work in philanthropy and his commitment to ending mass incarceration. He argued that people directly affected by incarceration should have a central role in shaping criminal justice policy.“Every institution that has power should be centering the voices of currently incarcerated people,” he said.For Lennon, the Guggenheim represents not only a personal milestone but also another step toward treating incarcerated writers as serious contributors to American journalism and literature.He said recognition from institutions such as Galaxy Gives and the Guggenheim Foundation could encourage more people inside prisons to pursue writing and art despite the obstacles surrounding them.“This is a space where people are producing work on the inside, publishing it and selling art to galleries,” Lennon said. “These institutions that give these grants—we should be in the running too.”

On July 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sullivan Street was packed with fairgoers celebrating Founders Day in Wurtsboro. The event highlighted local businesses, live music and vendors from surrounding communities selling their products.The sun beamed down over the fair as people looked around at the different offerings. Founders Day gives the community a chance to come together, support Wurtsboro and celebrate each year. The Wurtsboro Board of Trade hosts the event annually and helps put together the 150 vendors spread across the area. Some fairgoers have been coming to Founders Day for decades, and the event gives them a chance to meet new people and see new faces each time. Near the end of the street, cars lined both sides of the road for a car show.For one local vendor selling freshly made maple syrup, the event is something Robert Scheuermann looks forward to every year. He said this year also gave him a chance to be on the other side of business, selling instead of typically buying from vendors.“It's a really nice street fair, it's always busy, calm,” Scheuermann said. “Everyone's always nice, polite. It's definitely a street fair I would recommend everyone to show up to.”One of the event’s main draws is the arts scene the town has to offer. Live music played throughout the day in Veterans Park, while different vendors sold original artwork.At Catskill Creative Art, a local business in town, two visiting artists showcased their skills live at the market. Debs Originals painted watercolor cards, while Steve Duffy created a larger piece in the sun.Business owner Billie Robson said she enjoys having artwork on display and connecting with people walking past their stand.“I'm really happy to be part of the community with all the new artwork,” Robson said. “And the village is up and coming, and every year the street fair becomes more and more incredible. It's very artistic.”There were also local organizations tabling throughout the event, including the Basha Kill Area Association, Mamakating Environmental Education Center and Mamakating Library, which is located right on Sullivan Street.At the end of the street, one of the car show contestants, Eileen Brodsky, enjoyed showing off her newly restored car and being part of the community she makes sure to support.“You meet new people and the same old ones sometimes, so it's nice,” Brodsky said. “And then a lot of our friends [are] selling stuff, so you gotta help them.”Throughout the day, the sun continued to shine and the street fair stayed vibrant as people traveled from around the county to attend.“It was amazing to see dozens and dozens of people just having a wonderful time,” Robson said. 

"We Keep Us Safe" is an audio documentary by NPR, KUOW, and The Seattle Times, investigating the shooting death of a black teenager at a Black Lives Matter protest. Antonio May Jr.'s case has gone unsolved for years despite the night of his death being broadcast across several livestreams. Sydney Brownstone, Will James, and David Gutman worked together to fill in the gaps between the footage. 

The hot summer day hung over Hutton Brickyards. Blankets covered the floor near the main stage as fans waited for the final performance of the night. After a storm swept through briefly and cleared the sky, rainbows appeared overhead, setting the stage for the headlining act.Noah Kahan performed on the main stage at Hutton Brickyards on July 4 for StateSide, a festival hosted by Rolling Stone that brought artists to two stages. Many fans camped out near the main stage, making connections, playing games or relaxing between sets. Music began at noon and wrapped up after Kahan’s performance and a fireworks display after 11 p.m. Vendors lined the grounds, along with a table from the local O+ Festival.While the event was one of the first music festivals of its kind at Hutton Brickyards, the ticket price was steep for a single-day festival. On regular sale, general admission tickets started at $408, a cost that can be out of reach for locals in the surrounding area.To beat the heat, the event provided free water bottles at various points throughout the venue. Bringing blankets to rest between sets also gave attendees a chance to bond throughout the night.Becky Himmelblau, who drove in from Albany, formed a connection with people from Florida.“This is our blanket club. We made a club, we introduced ourselves, we had normal social interactions, and then we made a pact that we're gonna stay here together and watch out for each other's belongings,” Himmelblau said.Even with the fun atmosphere, some locals said they noticed few other attendees from the area. Amber Larsen and Casey Arnold, both from the Hudson Valley and local to the venue, said the cost likely kept many locals away.“We will say they were very, very expensive, and most of the locals — we have not met a single local that is here because nobody can afford it from our area, which is unfortunate,” Arnold said.Himmelblau said the prices were on par with the rest of Kahan’s tour and cheaper than some other venues he played. She also said concert prices in general have risen.“What hasn’t gone up in recent years?” Himmelblau said. “Everything is up in price, especially tickets. It is so expensive to go to any kind of event.”According to TicketData, Noah Kahan tickets are currently selling for as low as $233 for his first night at Fenway Park or as high as $637 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. The festival price, then, seemed like a bargain to some fans compared with his stadium tour, where the same amount of money could buy a seat among more than 30,000 other fans.According to Pollstar, which tracks ticket prices and concert revenue, average stadium tour ticket prices rose to $216.13 per show in 2025, up from $182.66 the year before. Compared with 2023, the 2025 average was 29% higher.That makes concerts a luxury good, with cheap tickets increasingly a thing of the past. This festival, while exciting for fans, showed how a high price tag can still feel worthwhile because of the destination and Kahan’s move away from smaller venues.Noah Kahan was not the only artist with high-priced tickets, even at a one-day festival. While many fans stayed near the main stage to see Kahan close out the night, the Scout Stage featured artists throughout the day, surrounded by food trucks, picnic tables overlooking the Hudson River and old brickyards, and several drink stands, mostly selling Dogfish Head products.That built-in festival feel gave fans another reason to pay, since they could see multiple artists in one day even if it meant staying in one place for hours.“I would say for me it felt worth it because Noah's tickets, I was looking at resale tickets for Philly, and they were like $400-plus for not that great of a seat,” said Bri McKenna. “So I felt like going to a smaller venue would be cool.”Morgan Blake, who came from Florida, also saw value in the setting. Ticket prices near her were comparable or higher.“[Noah Kahan was] playing in the Kia Center in Orlando, where we're from, it was like $150 or $350 for the cheapest seats, but it was gonna be 80,000 people,” Blake said. “And so this is like, for just 50 bucks more, 4,000 people.”That more intimate setting was part of the appeal for many fans, especially with Kahan on a stadium tour. It offered a chance to see a major artist with a general-admission setup at a small venue hosting a festival of this size for the first time.“We also were just like, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When is he ever gonna play in Kingston, New York, again? Who knows?” Larsen said. “I figured it's gonna be a long, long time if he ever does, so I was like, we have to go now.”The main stage featured Arcy Drive, Bo Staloch, Sydney Rose and Gigi Perez before Kahan. The Scout Stage included Hudson Ingram, Derby, Michalea Anne, Calder Allen and Devon Gilfillian.Even with the high ticket prices, the event sold out within days and remained on resale until the festival. Despite the high prices, fans still came out to support their favorite artists. Throughout the day, they gathered to sign an American flag with Noah Kahan in the center and sang along to his songs over the speakers between sets at the main stage.Music festivals and concerts bring fans together over shared music and the chance to discover new artists and revisit favorites. Even with the heat, attendees kept enjoying the performances and embraced the first music festival at Hutton Brickyards.

In 2026, the size of New York State’s volunteer fire service is the smallest it has been in more than 40 years. Small towns rely on volunteer firefighters to respond to emergencies like fires, drowning, fallen trees, missing persons and more. As the volunteer pool dries up, stations are forced to close or merge to rally a large enough response. Reporter Rebekah Hendricks spoke with John Hauschild the Director of Safety and Fire Coordinator of Sullivan County about how this issue affects us here in the Catskills. 

Climate and economic experts estimate that over one billion people are at risk of being displaced by climate change and climate-related disasters by 2050. Global communities with fewer resources to adapt to new ecological threats are most at risk for mass displacement.Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with documentary filmmaker and director Josh Fox about his new film, THE WELCOME TABLE, that shines a light on people at the frontlines of climate displacement.

The federal government plans to lease a warehouse in Newburgh for $35.5 million. As Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports, federal records suggest it could be for ICE activity.

On Saturday, kayaks were pushed onto the Bashakill for an insightful ride along the 7-mile stretch.Though the trip lasted only two hours and covered a small portion of that stretch, it gave community members and visitors a chance to come together, learn about plant life and the importance of preserving the Bashakill, and take in views of the water and mountains. Hosted by the Mamakating Environmental Education Center, Richard Mandelbaum guided the journey. The trip was not only an outing on the Bashakill, but also an opportunity to learn about local aquatic plant life, identify different species and better understand how to care for the environment. Now Mandelbaum is not unfamiliar with the study of plantlife. Mandelbaum is a founder and former director of ArborVitae School of Traditional Herbalism and a faculty member at David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. This allowed him to guide the journey and stop to show plants throughout the way. With more than 10 people in kayaks, the journey began at the South Road Boat Launch in Wurtsboro, N.Y. Attendees who did not have kayaks could rent them from MECC, but arrive early because phone service can be spotty and renting them quickly can be difficult.On the trip, the summer solstice and plant life took center stage. Participants asked Mandelbaum questions throughout the trip, and the final stop was a small island before turning around to identify two separate plants.The Bashakill is unique in that it is all preserved land. It allows for natural wildlife, some human-planted wildlife and a diverse aquatic plant life.One plant in particular that Mandelbaum had everyone in the group try had a flavor similar to cayenne pepper. The leaf’s spice lingered as the journey continued, with no pepper in sight, just a small green leaf.Once the journey came to a close as the sun began to set, everyone returned to their cars to load their kayaks onto the roofs.Programs like the one Mandelbaum hosted offer a fun way to learn about preserving the areas that surround the local community. They also give people a chance to explore the Bashakill with a guide while learning how to better care for the environment.For more information about programs hosted by MECC, visit https://www.mamakating.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=4528. 

One article sparked a local conversation about how communities across Ulster County are classified and whether some rural areas are being left with less support than surrounding metro areas.The issue was recently flagged by Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher, who referenced a Daily Yonder article about what it called a “categorization conundrum” across the country. In Ulster County, Gallagher pointed to rural-style shortages in medical care and broadband access. While broadband service is improving in some of the county’s dead zones without cellphone service, she said it remains difficult to attract doctors to rural areas compared with metro areas.One term Gallagher referenced in a social media post, “exurban,” describes places that fall between rural and urban definitions and can be poorly served by either classification. Gallagher explains that can leave rural communities out of funding opportunities tied to those classifications.She pointed to places such as Shandaken, Hardenburgh and other rural parts of the county, where residents face spotty internet and cellphone service, limited public transit and long drives for health care. Gallagher said she does not think changing the county’s definitions would solve the problem, but she is open to exploring programs that could better support rural areas.“Change is scary, research needs to be done,” Gallagher said. “We can’t just change these definitions without really thinking about how it impacts every other designated jurisdiction. So if we’re going to change it, we really have to think about whether this is going to hurt rural communities that are truly rural.”

June is bringing awareness to Medicare, Medicaid and hospice care scams that can affect older adults across New York. Maria Alvarez, director of the StateWide Senior Action Council, spoke about when these scams happen and how to avoid them.One component of StateWide Fraud Month is highlighting resources seniors can use to educate themselves and learn what to look out for. The Senior Medicare Patrol is one resource for older adults and caregivers in New York. It is a federal program that connects people with someone who can answer questions and help make sure their information is protected. Another important part of identifying these scams is understanding what hospice care is and what the support is actually for.These healthcare scams can come in many forms, including over the phone, in person at events or online. Even after June, StateWide continues to provide information, educational presentations and assistance.Alvarez encourages seniors and caregivers to reach out if they suspect a scam offering services not prescribed by a physician, as well as report fraud to the New York State Senior Medicare Patrol. The helpline and patrol can offer advice throughout the process and help flag the scam.There are trained counselors available to help Medicare beneficiaries throughout the process. Scams can include offers to help with housekeeping or provide additional care services.“Medicare doesn't cover many of these services anyway, so if somebody's telling you, ‘I'm gonna give you housekeeping,’ Medicare doesn't cover that,” Alvarez said.Scams can also involve offering a gift card in exchange for signing up for a service. One of the best ways to determine whether information was compromised is to regularly review Medicare summary notices and explanation of benefits forms. These can show charges that have not been received or approved and help ensure no care is being provided without the older adult’s or caregiver’s knowledge.“Don't trust anybody who's calling you on the telephone, who is approaching you at a senior fair or anything like that,” Alvarez said. “Your doctor, this should be part of a care plan that your personal doctor is prescribing that you have discussed with him and that knows your situation.”For more information, visit the NYS Senior website.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday to uphold birthright citizenship on constitutional grounds. This decision made by Supreme Court judges rejects President Trump’s push to end birthright citizenship.Immigration advocates are celebrating a massive victory for immigrant rights across the country. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar spoke with Juana Cortes de Torres, Director of the Immigrant Legal Rights Project at Rural & Migrant Ministry, about what the court’s ruling means moving forward.

El Niños are a regularly occurring weather phenomenon caused by the weakening of East to West trade winds as the tropical Pacific Ocean warms up. This throws off weather patterns all over the world, including our own backyards. When heavy rain and high heat roll in, local public health officials have all of the information you need to stay safe this summer. 

The Borscht Belt legacy reflects a blend of cultures from across New York that came together in the Hudson Valley and Catskills resort regions. While the Borscht Belt is often associated with Jewish culture, Las Villas highlights the Hispanic and Latino presence in Ulster County and the Catskills.Ish Martinez, a historian of Hispanic resorts in the Hudson Valley and author of Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County, is hosting an event in partnership with the Borscht Belt Museum. The event will take place Sunday, June 14, from 2 to 3 p.m.Martinez was born in the Bronx and is of Puerto Rican heritage. He grew up in Plattekill, where his parents owned a villa called the Sunny Acres Hotel. Because his family owned the villa, he spent part of his childhood working in the industry and developed deep knowledge of this era.Las Villas of Plattekill and Ulster County traces the region’s history from its earliest settlement in 1652 to its rise as a popular vacation destination in the 19th century. The book explores how Plattekill and the Catskill Mountains became a destination for Latinos in the Northeast, with music, food, language and customs shaping the resorts’ culture.For more information about the June 14 event and to buy tickets, visit the Borscht Belt Museum website.

One of the most glorious depictions of the Catskill landscape is 200 years old this year. Kaaterskill Falls on the Catskill Mountains, Taken Under the Cavern is a painting by Irish-American artist William Guy Wall. As one of the contemporaries of Thomas Cole, Wall was inspired by the romantic landscapes that made Cole so prolific in the early to mid 19th century. Wall studied under Thomas Cole who founded the Hudson River School. Both artists are known for their dramatic scenes of northeast nature on canvas. Their oil paintings brought a sense of grandeur back towards the great outdoors when the industrial revolution was taking shape in the big cities. 

We spoke with Jessie about what the watersheds in the Catskills need to survive and even thrive. We also spoke about the element of play and how anyone can get involved with Trout Unlimiteds conservation efforts.

Ellenville Regional Hospital has launched its new mobile healthcare van that will bring preventative care on the road. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar was at the ribbon cutting ceremony on June 5 and has the story.