NYS Broadcasters Awards 2024-25 Entries

Jan 24th 2026 Episode: Ice Fishing 101 & a ski day at Holiday Mountain

The Grahamsville Little World’s Fair is the longest-running independent fair in New York State. Radio Catskill's Kimberly Izar reports.

A vacant warehouse in Chester, New York, entered the national spotlight as the state’s next proposed ICE facility. The news drew significant local opposition – with thousands of people protesting in early 2026 against the plan. Radio Catskill’s Kimberly Izar reports.

Health on the Margins is a limited investigative series from Radio Catskill exploring the Catskills region’s fragile healthcare systems.

Apple-Pie Palooza-Ween is an event beneifting Radio Catskill where the community can submit pies to be sold to other community members, and the portion of the proceeds benefit Radio Catskill.  It took place during Halloween so it doubled as a costume party as well.Producers: Jason Dole and Ronald Kelson

The Catskills lost not only a rock and roll icon, but a piece of its own history. Neil Sedaka, the singer-songwriter behind “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,””Oh! Carol”, “Calendar Girl,”and “Bad Blood” as well as many hits performed by other artists including “Stupid Cupid”and “Love Will Keep Us Together,” died on February 27, 2026. He was 86.Producer: Ronald Kelson

Anne Hart, the Chair of the Democratic Committee in Sullivan County, NY, shares her perspective on President Biden's recent decision to withdraw. As a key figure in local politics, Anne provides valuable insight into the reaction from the community and what this move could mean for the region. Her thoughts on how the withdrawal impacts local Democratic efforts and the future of political engagement in Sullivan County offer a unique and timely perspective 

As we’ve been reporting, NYSEG and other electricity customers have experienced dramatic spikes in their electric bills this winter, with some seeing their costs double or even triple.Some NYSEG customers have taken drastic measures in recent months to combat sky-high energy bills: unplugging every appliance before bed, layering up instead of turning the thermostat above 60, and even turning off the heat entirely.Radio Catskill’s newest reporter Kimberly Izar spoke to some of these customers about how they are coping with the unexpectedly high bills.Local state representatives Assembly member Paula Kay and Sen. Peter Oberacker have advised customers in their districts to reach out to their offices for questions or concerns.New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) say the true drivers of high bills this winter season include soaring supply rates caused by energy generating companies along with increase household usage. NYSEG and RG&E urge customers to take advantage of a variety of assistance programs to avoid falling behind on bills and disconnections

In this episode of Radio Chatskill, which airs Monday through Friday at 10 a.m., host Tim Bruno covers night one of the Democratic National Convention, where Vice President Kamala Harris was officially named the Democratic nominee after President Biden stepped aside. Journalist Nina Burleigh reports live from Chicago, sharing key moments and reactions from local delegates, including Sullivan County. New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Hillary Clinton were among the speakers, and there was a strong sense of optimism and energy among Democrats. Later in the show, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls discusses their resurgence and upcoming performance at Bethel Woods. Tim also talks with Maggie Fitzpatrick about health and discipline and highlights the Chandelier Music Festival with Classical Kit.

In this episode of The Local Edition on Radio Catskill, host Jason Dole covers several key local stories. He reports on the weekend fire at the historic Neville Hotel in Ellenville, which was contained to the lobby by multiple fire departments. The cause is still under investigation. Dole also provides an update on the merger of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe school districts, now officially one district as of December 2024. A new unified school board election is set for February 13, 2025, with officials stressing the need for community input during the transition. Finally, Dan Hust, Sullivan County’s Communications Director, gives an update on the $23 million revitalization of the Sullivan County International Airport. The project, focused on sustainability and attracting business aviation, aims to make the airport a regional asset and reduce its financial burden on taxpayers.

In this episode of The Local Edition on Radio Catskill, host Jason Dole covers several key local stories. He reports on the weekend fire at the historic Neville Hotel in Ellenville, which was contained to the lobby by multiple fire departments. The cause is still under investigation. Dole also provides an update on the merger of the Livingston Manor and Roscoe school districts, now officially one district as of December 2024. A new unified school board election is set for February 13, 2025, with officials stressing the need for community input during the transition. Finally, Dan Hust, Sullivan County’s Communications Director, gives an update on the $23 million revitalization of the Sullivan County International Airport. The project, focused on sustainability and attracting business aviation, aims to make the airport a regional asset and reduce its financial burden on taxpayers.

Eldredge Blalock, Development Director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison. Eldredge shares his personal journey with Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo from incarceration to empowerment through education, detailing how Hudson Link's programs provide college education and life skills to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college education, life skills, and reentry support to currently and formerly incarcerated individuals. Their mission is to empower these individuals to positively transform their lives, families, and communities, resulting in reduced recidivism and increased employment opportunities. At the Sullivan County Correctional Facility, participants in the program graduate from SUNY Sullivan and St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Radio Catskill’s Local Edition aired a live election night special, hosted by Jason Dole and Patricio Robayo, covering key regional and national races. They connected with multiple reporters, including Philip Pantuso (Times Union), Ruby Rayner and Liam Mayo (River Reporter), and Carter Walker (VoteBeat PA), for updates on races in New York's 17th, 18th, and 19th Congressional Districts, Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District, and various state races. 

This was a PSA recorded by Radio Catskill and producer Jason Dole to promote the station’s special election night coverage. It reminded listeners to tune in at 6 p.m. for a live, one-hour local edition election night special, featuring Patricio Robayo, Philip Pantuso from the Times Union, Carter Walker of OPPA, and Liam Mayo and Ruby Rayner from the River Reporter.At 7 p.m., NPR’s national election coverage began, but Radio Catskill continued providing live updates with special guests, including Ian Pickus from WAMC News and Laura Flanders from Laura Flanders and Friends.The PSA encouraged listeners to stick with Radio Catskill for comprehensive election night reporting.

Public Service Announcement: New York State Wildfire Burn Ban (Nov 2024) Produced by: Jason DoleIn this Public Service Announcement, Jason Dole highlights the importance of adhering to New York State’s annual Wildfire Burn Ban, which runs through the fall season. The PSA emphasizes the heightened risk of wildfires during this period due to dry conditions and increased fuel loads, such as dead leaves and brush. Jason provides clear guidance on prohibited activities, including open burning of debris and campfires in areas not designated for such use.

Jessica Hoppe, author of the newly released memoir FIRST IN THE FAMILY – A Story of Survival, Recovery, and The American Dream. Jessica is a Honduran Ecuadorian writer based in New York City.  She has been featured on ABC News and HBOMax Pa’lante! and her work has appeared in the Latino Book Review, The New York Times, Vogue, Paper Magazine, and elsewhere.  Jessica is a board member of Time of Butterflies, a non-profit supporting families through domestic abuse recovery, and an organizer with the Central American Writer’s group.Previous Kingfisher guest Carl Erik Fisher, MD writes: “FIRST IN THE FAMILY sings with love and shouts with rage, offering an uplifting account of resilience and recovery even while calling out the seductive dangers of the American Dream.  Jessica Hoppe has crafted an important, pathbreaking contribution by distilling the historical stakes of the addiction crisis while simultaneously presenting a wrenching and unique personal narrative. It’s an insightful chronicle of the burdens of specialness, the weight of intergenerational trauma, and the stigma of addiction.  In the end, it’s an inspiring and essential message that there are numerous and diverse pathways of recovery.”  

It’s the 55th Anniversary of The Woodstock Music and Art Fair this weekend.To see the epic performances at Woodstock, attendees endured crowds, rain, minimal food and water—and lots of mud.Jason Dole took a deep dive into the mud of Woodstock in this report from the historic grounds of the three-day cultural happening in Bethel, NY.