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AIRED ON NOVEMBER 6, 2022
Making Affordable Housing AvailableRadio Rotary interviews Christa Hines, CEO of Hudson River Housing, a vital service primarily in Dutchess County (but with a few facilities in nearby counties). For the past 40 years Hudson River Housing has worked to solve the housing problems of those who my face housing choices that would be more than 30% of their income, providing more than 1,500 units of affordable housing as well as a homeless shelter for those with no housing at all. Since the pandemic brought many new, relatively wealthy families out of the city or suburbs, the need for affordable housing in the region has increased—and Hudson River Housing has helped in several ways, not just with acquiring or building new units. Some of their programs include employment services, a drop-in center for youth, housing options for veterans, and senior housing services.
Learn More: Hudson River Housing Poughkeepsie Housing Authority Housing and Homelessness in Mid-Hudson |
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AIRED ON OCTOBER 30, 2022
Helping Vets and Others Prepare for JobsRon Ferris, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mid-Hudson Works, re-visits Radio Rotary with more information about this unique Poughkeepsie nonprofit that provides skills, training, and paying work for veterans and persons with disabilities. Mid-Hudson Works, in a 53,000-square-foot brick building on Washington Street in Poughkeepsie helps veterans along with others prepare for such work as packing or assembling, skills useful in the many distribution centers of the Mid-Hudson region. And then gives them on-the-job training. Local or even national businesses use the services provided and the workers have paying jobs. The enterprise is about to celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2023.
Learn More: Mid-Hudson Works MHA Veterans Programs Dutchess Country Veterans’ Services Think Dutchess (Dutchess Alliance for Business) |
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AIRED ON OCTOBER 23, 2022
Polio in Rockland County NY and WorldOn the day before World Polio Day 2022 North Rockland Rotarian and 7210 Past District Governor (2006-07) Carole Tjoa, currently the District PolioPlus Chair, once again joins Radio Rotary to update the progress on polio eradication. In 1985 in the Philippines Rotary became the first to use the vaccines to eradicate polio. In 1988 Rotary began a worldwide eradication program, working with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. CDC, joined by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2007. This team has eliminated wild polio in all but two nations (Pakistan and Afghanistan), but the United States has recently experienced a resurgence of a type of polio in Rockland County, NY, with some spillover to adjacent regions. One person was partly paralyzed by the disease. Health authorities quickly moved to provide vaccination against the type of polio that surfaced here, brought by a visitor or immigrant from another part of the world.
Learn More: Global Polio Eradication Initiative PolioPlus Carole Tjoa North Rockland Rotary Club |
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AIRED ON OCTOBER 16, 2022
Red Hook Citizen of the YearRadio Rotary once again comes live from the Taste Budd’s Café in Red Hook. On this program Carl Dowden, Chairman of the Red Hook Rotary Foundation,introduces Amy Smith, Red Hook Rotary’s Citizen of the Year for 2022. Smith is Director of Programs and Youth Services at Red Hook Public Library, but also is engaged with Red Hook Village in several other ways. She worked with Rotary and the Town of Red Hook on installing WiFi at the Red Hook Recreation Park for use during the covid pandemic. Smith also tutors English as A Second Language, and she is a member of both the Dutchess County Youth Board and the Think Differently Planning Committee, activities that earned her the Citizen award. Also on the program Red Hook Rotary President Jennifer Van Voorhis describes the Klick program for recycling and Red Hook Youth-Exchange (YEX) coordinator Christine Chale outlines two types of international youth exchange.
Learn More: Red Hook Rotary Club Red Hook Rotary on Facebook Amy Smith on Daily Catch Red Hook Public Library District 7210 Youth Exchange |
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AIRED ON OCTOBER 9, 2022
Rotaplast Improving Lives around the WorldRadio Rotary interviews both Broomall (PA) Rotarian Paul Quintavalla and Pleasant Valley (NY) Rotarian Kathy Kruger (producer of Radio Rotary) about their experiences helping teams of Rotary physicians and nurses treatchildren—and some adults—for the birth defect known as cleft lip or cleft palate in locations around the world where the local economy does not offer the option
of surgery, including Venezuela and the Philippines. Teams of physicians, nurses, and volunteer stay in one location for two weeks, using surgery to correct these disfiguring and often unhealthy conditions that frequently cause ostracism and rejection. Children who have never been able to smile or in some cases are unable to eat properly can have their condition easily repaired. Learn More: Rotaplast Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment for Cleft Lip or Palate Broomall Rotary Club |
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AIRED ON OCTOBER 2, 2022
Italian Festival at RoundoutOn Columbus Day weekend you can expect the annual Italian Festival at the Kingston waterfront, known as the Roundout, sponsored by the Ulster County Italian American Foundation. Festival Chair Anthony Tampone and Highland Rotarian Tony Marmo join Radio Rotary to describe this year’s fun-filled festival, which takes place on October 9 from 11:00 a.m. ‘til 8:00 p.m. The Festival celebrates the Italian heritage of Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties with food and music from Italy. The event and parking are free, with shuttle buses from three locations in Kingston to the Roundout. There is music from local bands and singers all day (and also a world-famous accordionist), culminating with the big band of Louis Prima, Jr. Activities for children include face painting, Venetian masks, Italian cartoons, and a children’s parade. Italian culture is recognized with photo opportunities with famous Italian art, language lessons, pasta-making lessons, and a spaghetti-eating contest. The Festival concludes with fireworks.
Learn More: 2022 Italian Festival Ulster Country Italian American Foundation Roundout at Kingston, NY Highland Rotary |
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AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2022
District Governor 2022-23, Larry PalantEach year Radio Rotary interviews the current District 7210 Governor (DG); for Rotary year 2022-23 the DG is Suffern Rotarian Larry Palant, who in 20 years of Rotary membership has previously handled a number of important assignments, including promoting ShelterBox and leading the Membership Committee. DG Palant discusses how the District focuses on different causes throughout the year, warm clothing in the fall, food security in the winter, and the environment in the spring. A relatively new focus, promoted by Rotary President Jennifer Jones, the first woman to head Rotary International, is DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion). Listen to the show to enjoy a couple of “Rotary Moments” with DG Palant and to learn about how “Imagine Rotary” works as the slogan for the 2022-23 Rotary Year.
Learn More: Rotary District 7210 Rotary International President Jennifer Jones Rotary.org Clubfinder Suffern Rotary Club ShelterBox |
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AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2022
The Long Doggie Paddle and Bike RideGlenville Rotarian Jimmy Thomas has embarked on a five-month journey to support providing veterans with service dogs, dogs trained to aid in handling a specific medical need. A veteran Army MP himself, Jimmy knows first hand the difference a service dog can make. His dog, Boots, had been trained to prevent seizures and was remarkably successful, with Thomas going from a couple of seizures a month before Boots to a single episode in the five years that Boots was with him. Trained Service Dogs are very expensive, so Thomas is raising money from sponsors of his canoe trip from Glenville to Key West and bike ride back to his destination, the Veterans Administration in Albany, NY, with the money raised going to help veterans. Glenville Rotary has arranged for Rotary Clubs along the route to support, feed, and house Thomas, although sometimes he will need to camp in a tent.
Learn More: Doggie Paddle for Veterans Glenville Rotary Club America’s Vet Dogs |
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AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2022
Food of Life / Comida de VidaThe Radio Rotary team visited Millbrook Rotary at the Millbrook Café to broadcast a show about the Food of Life/Comida de Vida food pantry run by Amenia’s St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Interviewees included AJ Stack, who is not only Rector of the Church but also the current president of Millbrook Rotary; Jim Wright, co-warden and facility manager of the church who was among the founders of Food of Life in 2009; co-warden Samantha Lucas; and newly hired manager of the pantry, Danny Hutnick. Radio Rotary co-host Sarah O’Connell-Claitor, a member of Millbrook Rotary and a parishioner of St. Thomas, was able to add her own observations. The Food of Life pantry started in the church, grew and moved to the parish house, grew more and moved to the parking lot, where today there is a new building that houses the operation. Next door is The Giving Garden, started in 2014, which supplies most of the fresh vegetables dispensed by the pantry, which currently helps feed 300 families each week.
Learn More: Food of Life/ Comida de Vida St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Amenia Union Millbrook Rotary Millbrook Café |
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AIRED ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
Pleasant Valley Weekend: Sept. 16-18The chair for the 2022 edition of the Pleasant Valley Weekend in 2022, Terri McCormick, and the publicity director, Cindi White Halupke, visit Radio Rotary to describe the event. The traditional activities at Cady Field (behind the Town Hall) and in the hamlet will include such favorites as Pleasant Rotary’s Beer & Wine Tent, several kinds of popular music, typical carnival foods and more, bonce houses, the Lions Club bicycle ride, a parade on Sunday, and the race of plastic ducks down nearby Wappingers Creek In addition, Friday will feature a car show, Saturday ends with fireworks, and there will be thirteen booths providing information on local organizations such as the Pleasant Valley Free Library and Mental Health America of Dutchess County.
Learn More: Pleasant Valley Weekend 2022 Pleasant Valley Rotary Club Pleasant Valley Rotary on Facebook Pleasant Valley Lions Club on Facebook |
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AIRED ON AUGUST 28, 2022
Community-Based Care from MHAMental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) provides a wide range of services to veterans, families, children, and those who, because of poverty, need help from local nonprofits or government-sponsored services. MHA’s CEO, Andrew O’Grady, returns to Radio Rotary to describe several of the programs that MHA has in place to provide community-based solutions to mental-health problems. The 250 workers at MHA are not all therapists—although some are—but they are all able to meet with those in need, direct them to sources of assistance, and follow up for as long as necessary. MHA partnerships with local businesses lead to employment opportunities. A newly donated building will enable MHA to set up a one-stop-shop for veteran’s services. Apartments and community residences can help with housing. MHA services are free or very inexpensive for its clients.
Learn More: Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) Veterans Services in Dutchess County Home and Community-Based Services |
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AIRED ON AUGUST 21, 2022
MHA's Mobile Crisis CenterJessica Madden, Director of Crisis Services at Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) visits Radio Rotary to describe the revamped Mobile Crisis Center, previously run by the county but now operated by MHA under the supervision of Ms. Madden. In addition to mental health issues, the Mobile Crisis Center also helps persons affected by substance misuse. Typically, intervention is triggered by a phone call to 988 (the national mental health and suicide lifeline) or to MHA, usually not initiated by the individual needing assistance. A worker at Crisis Services then contacts the individual, bringing police assistance when needed, to de-escalate the situation. The individual will be directed to appropriate social services or supports. Afterward, a worker from the Mobil Crisis Center will keep in touch with the individual daily as needed.
Learn More: Mobile Crisis Intervention Team Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline |
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AIRED ON AUGUST 14, 2022
Rebuilding Together in Dutchess CountyPoughkeepsie-Arlington Rotarian Darcy McCourt, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together in Dutchess County, is the guest on this week’s Radio- Rotary program. Rebuilding Together grew out of an annual event called “Christmas in April,” for which volunteers on one day in April would repair homes of low-income senior citizens. The name was changed to “Rebuilding Together” to reflect its transition to a year-round program. The mission, however, remains the same, although expanded: to make critical repairs for safety in private homes of those who cannot afford to pay for similar work. Rebuilding Together Dutchess County provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and energy efficiency improvements for seniors, persons living with disability, families with children, and active or retired members of the armed services. These services are provided at no cost to the homeowner. The work is done by local volunteers while much of the funding comes from grants or from local businesses.
Learn More: Rebuilding Together. Dutchess County Rebuilding Together (national network) |
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AIRED ON AUGUST 7, 2022
Independent Living and Home CareGreater Newburgh Rotarian Doug Hovey, founder and CEO of Independent Living Inc. and Independent Home Care, visits Radio Rotary to talk about his 501(c)3 that aids persons with any type of disability to live independently. Although the first thing that you might think of is adapting a home for wheelchair living (they do that), Independent Living, Inc. also helps those with mental illness, substance abuse, deafness, and age-related disabilities. Doug Hovey became paralyzed below the waist 42 years ago and has worked since to help others with disabilities. Even the staff at Independent Living all have disabilities of one kind or another. Listen to this Radio Rotary show to hear a remarkable story about a remarkable Rotarian.
Learn More: Independent Living, Inc. Greater Newburgh Rotary Club Fair Pay for Home Care |
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AIRED ON JULY 31 2022
The Mothball Fleet in the HudsonTony Musso, freelance journalist and weekly columnist at the Poughkeepsie Journal, joins the Radio Rotary team for a discussion of his latest book, Mothball Fleet on the Hudson: The Post-World War II National Defense Reserve. Many residents and visitors crossing the Hudson on the Bear Mountain Bridge in the 1950s or 1960s have seen the flotilla of warships lined up along the river and wondered what they were there for. Musso, the principal chronicler of Hudson Valley historical sites, tells the story in his new book. Many listeners are likely to be familiar with his earlier 3-volume series, “Hidden Treasures of the Hudson Valley,” his regular “Dateline” columns in Gannett newspapers, his tours of historic sites, and his frequent appearances as a speaker on historical topics. Most of these will be discussed in this wide-ranging interview.
Learn More: Tony Musso’s Website Hidden Treasures of the Hudson Valley United States Navy Reserve Fleets |
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AIRED ON JULY 24, 2022
Foster Care in Dutchess CountySabrina Jaar Marzouka, Commissioner of the Dutchess Country Department of Community and Family Services, and Ashely Tilton, case manager for foster care for Dutchess County, visit Radio Rotary to explain how foster care provides a safe environment for children newborn up to age eighteen who are unable to live with their birth families. The goal of using foster care is to provide a temporary refuge; if a permanent arrangement is needed, adoption is the answer. Ms. Tilton has a pool of foster parents who have been through background checks and a ten-week training. She works to match a child who has been identified by Child Protective Services with an appropriate foster family from this foster-parent pool. The ultimate goal is to reunite the child with biological parents.
Learn More: Dutchess Country Department of Community and Family Services Foster Care, Dutchess County Family Services Child Protective Services in Dutchess County Dutchess Foster Care Agencies |
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