Bridging the Divide with Frank Pepe

Placemaking and Preservation with Catherine Mikic

Jen sits down with guest Catherine Mikic to explore the profound relationships between communities, histories, and local landscapes. Catherine is a trained architect with decades of experience in New York City who shifted her focus to rural placemaking after relocating to the area in 2018. She discusses her hands-on work restoring the landmark Sweet Sherman Homestead, uncovering thousands of years of Indigenous Mohican history, and helping transform a local traffic circle into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly civic space. Catherine also shares the urgent efforts behind her nonprofit advocacy work to protect Copake’s growing agritourism economy and historical assets from a massive, large-scale industrial development proposal overriding local zoning laws. Highlights Include: * The Sweet Sherman Homestead Restoration: Catherine recounts purchasing a historic family farm on Center Hill Road outside of Copake town center during the pandemic. Her research into the site's ethnographic history ultimately led to an 18-acre National Register Historic District designation. * Reimagining the Heart of the Community: Catherine details her collaboration with town officials to leverage a roadway infrastructure project to build a new 21st-century civic park. The project will re-establish a historical town square centered around Copake's historic town clock. * Defending a Rural Landscape Against Shepherd's Run: Catherine outlines her advocacy work against an out-of-state developer's proposal to place 220 acres of industrial solar panels in a historic farming hamlet. Alongside local leaders, she founded the nonprofit advocacy group Arcadian Alliance [https://www.arcadianalliance.org/] to protect the area's protected watershed, historic properties, and heritage tourism economy. About the Guest Catherine Mikic [https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-mikic-04041a28/?skipRedirect=true] is an architect, placemaker, and cultural landscape advocate based in the Hudson Valley. After studying and building a career in architecture and historic preservation in New York City, she moved to Hudson in 2018. She currently serves as the Chair of the Copake Historic Preservation Committee.

Bridging the Divide with Frank Pepe

In this episode of Hudson Valley Storycatcher, host Jen Lee sits down with Frank Pepe, a retired school superintendent and community leader from Stanford, New York. Frank shares his lifelong journey of finding where he fits in and his commitment to fostering a caring community amidst modern political and social turmoil.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: The Heroic Legacy of Charlie Johnson Frank discusses his commitment to share the story of Charles Johnson [https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/charlesjohnson/], an Arlington High School graduate (Class of 1951).  * Breaking Barriers: Johnson was the only African-American male in his school but was so beloved he was elected class Vice President within weeks.  * Battlefield Heroism: During the Korean War at "Outpost Harry," Johnson saved nine of his fellow soldiers—including a friend from his high school—before being killed in action.  * A Living Lesson: Frank uses this story to illustrate some of the great values found in all religions: compassion, selflessness, and the breaking of social barriers.  Stanford: a Caring Community Born out of the unrest following the murder of George Floyd, this organization seeks to provide “ a view of community and unity for all people."  * Mission: Standing in solidarity with those whose identities—racial, religious, or LGBTQ—have been attacked by hatred or violence.  * Building Bridges: Since Stanford is a small town with limited diversity, the group partners with more diverse organizations across Dutchess County to foster dialogue.  The Art of Connection Frank shares his "nitty-gritty" tools for strengthening community bonds: * Active Listening: Learning to listen without ego or the need to have an immediate answer.  * Humanity First: Finding common ground with neighbors despite oppositional political views. * Presence: Creating safe spaces for others to speak of their pain or life experiences.  About Our Guest: Frank Pepe * Professional Background: Retired Superintendent of Schools with a lifetime vocation in education.  * Public Service: Former member of the Stanford Town Board.  * Human Rights: Served three years on the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission and currently serves on the board of the Dutchess County Interfaith Council.  * Community Advocate: Founder of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Stanford: a Caring Community.  Resources Mentioned: * Stanford: a Caring Community [https://stanfordcaring.org/]–sign up for the event newsletter by emailing Info@StanfordCaring.org * Dutchess County Interfaith Council  [https://www.dutchesscountyinterfaith.org/] * Stanford Free Library [https://stanfordlibrary.org/] (Event partner)  * The Grange [https://www.nationalgrange.org/] (Community partner)  * Arlington High School  [https://www.arlingtonschools.org/o/ahs] Find more episodes, show notes and transcripts at hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com [https://hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com]. Support the show by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hudson-valley-storycatcher/id1868096348?uo=4], or wherever you listen. To recommend a future guest on the show, email: hudsonvalleystorycatcher@gmail.com.

The Court Closest to the People

"I had a case... where a person was picked up for drunk driving... [he] asked for a hardship privilege... and the very next week, he gets picked up again for drunk driving on the hardship privilege."  Jen sits down with Judge Jonah Triebwasser to peel back the curtain on the local judicial system. Moving beyond the "whooping and hollering" of television courtrooms, the Judge shares what it really looks like to serve the community of Red Hook from behind the bench. Inside the Episode: * TV vs. Reality: The Judge clarifies that real courtrooms prioritize dignity and civility over the dramatics seen on shows like Judge Judy. * The Philosophy of Fairness: He describes local courts as "the courts closest to the people," where the goal is to ensure every individual feels heard and treated fairly, even if they don't agree with the final decision. * Essential Qualities of a Judge: Patience is the most vital trait, guided by the principle of treating everyone as you would want to be treated. * The Challenges of Human Nature: Judge Triebwasser discusses "frequent fliers" (recidivists) and the difficulty of balancing compassion with the law in sensitive cases like landlord-tenant disputes. * A Call to Service: Beyond the bench, the Judge emphasizes the "crying need" for volunteers in organizations like the Fire Department and local service clubs to keep the community thriving. About the Guest: Judge Jonah Triebwasser has been a resident of Red Hook since 1979 and has spent over 50 years in various facets of the legal system. His diverse career path includes: * Starting as a police officer in New York City. * Working as an investigator for the Attorney General's office. * Serving as a prosecutor for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. * Serving as both a Town and Village Judge in Red Hook. * Hosting the long-running radio program At Your Service. Connect with the Community * Listen to Judge Triebwasser: Tune into his radio show, At Your Service, on WGHQ and WBPM, or wherever you get your podcasts. * Get Involved: Learn more about the Red Hook Rotary Club [https://www.redhookrotaryclub.org/] and their local initiatives like Apple Blossom Day. * Support the Show: Subscribe to Hudson Valley Storycatcher [https://hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com/] and leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hudson-valley-storycatcher/id1868096348?uo=4]. * Nominate a Neighbor: Do you know someone who would be a great guest on the show? Email us at: hudsonvalleystorycatcher@gmail.com

Community Engagement with Erica Brown

"Right now is the one time that we are all here together. And if we can figure out how to make that better, let's figure it out.”  – Erica Brown In this episode of Hudson Valley Storycatcher, host Jen Lee sits down with Erica Brown, the Community Engagement Coordinator at Radio Kingston [https://radiokingston.org/]. Erica also serves as a board member for TMI Project [https://tmiproject.org/] and Good Work Institute [https://goodworkinstitute.org/]. This conversation dives into her personal philosophy of community as a lifelong calling, a thread that runs through so many of her life’s spaces and seasons. Key Highlights from this Episode: * Community as a Calling: Erica discusses how her roots in community engagement began at age seven, volunteering at Thompson Memorial Church in Auburn, NY—the final hometown church of Harriet Tubman—and how that experience, along with her upbringing, planted the seeds of volunteering and showing up for others. * The Reality of 2020: Erica speaks candidly about the "nakedness" she felt as a Black person following the murder of George Floyd, and her journey through the feelings and experiences that followed. * Fasting from Urgency: Erica shares her current practice of “fasting from urgency" to allow herself to be more present and to sit with decisions rather than rushing through them. * Language Justice: Why true inclusivity requires more than just a translated flyer. Erica explains how the Hudson Valley Language Justice group is working to make spaces and programs truly accessible through interpretation and translation. She also shares how asking, “What about…?” can widen who is at the table for (or considered during) discussions impacting wider communities. * Universal Love: A closing thought on the attempt to love everyone and anyone, and why connecting with one another matters. Resources Mentioned: * Radio Kingston [https://radiokingston.org/]: Erica’s professional home in Kingston, NY. * Thompson Memorial Church [https://www.nps.gov/places/thompsonamez.htm]: The historic church in Auburn, NY, where Erica’s ancestors attended with Harriet Tubman. * Kingston Resilience & Mutual Aid [https://www.kingstonmutualaid.org/]: Grassroots groups Erica worked with to provide food and resources during the pandemic. Connect with Hudson Valley Storycatcher: * Host: Jen Lee * Website: HudsonValleyStorycatcher.com [https://hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com/] * Recommendations: Have a neighbor with a story? Email us at HudsonValleyStorycatcher@gmail.com

The Bravest First Step: Strengthening Community Through Volunteer Firefighting and EMS

"When that pager goes off, the adrenaline goes up ... you see people on their worst day and you try to make it better.” – Todd VanBuskirk, Sr. In this episode of Hudson Valley Storycatcher, we go behind the scenes of the local emergency services that keep our community safe. Host Jen Lee sits down with Todd VanBuskirk, Senior, a fourth-generation firefighter and veteran EMT with over 40 years of service in the Hudson Valley. Todd doesn't just hold a job; he holds a legacy. From rushing down the street to save a choking child to deep familiarity with the high-pressure environment of a volunteer fire department, Todd shares what it really means to be "of service" in a small town. In this episode, we discuss: * The Family Legacy: What it’s like to grow up in a "firefighting family" and why he feels his calling is "in the blood." * The Weekend Warriors (and Weekday Heroes): How local plumbers, electricians, and many others form the backbone of our regional 911 response. * The Reality of the Call: Todd recounts the powerful story of saving a neighbor’s child and the way responding to emergencies also involves caring for others who are present, like family members. * Perfectly Broken: A deep dive into the mental health challenges facing first responders and the local program helping them process the "things they can't unsee." * The "Dark Roast" Fuel: A lighthearted look at the coffee-driven shifts of EMS and how responders "recharge" between calls. About Todd VanBuskirk, Senior: Todd is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident and a supervisor with the Town of Clinton EMS. He has spent four decades volunteering and working in emergency services, specializing in training the next generation of responders and advocating for mental health support within the ranks. Resources Mentioned: * Perfectly Broken: [https://perfectlybroken.net/] A support program for first responders (founded by Rhinebeck Fire Chief Brian Knapp). * Local Volunteering: Interested in helping? Visit your local firehouse on a Monday night or check out your town's emergency services page. Connect with Hudson Valley Storycatcher: * Website: hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com [http://hudsonvalleystorycatcher.com/] * Support the Show: Share this episode with a neighbor or leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! * Nominate a Neighbor: Recommend someone to be featured on the show by emailing: hudsonvalleystorycatcher@gmail.com Listen now to hear why Todd believes the heart of a volunteer is the strongest thing in the world.