At Your Service(formerly RadioRotary)

RadioRotary co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser talk with Andrew O'Grady and Linwood Burke about the great work of Mental Health America.

RadioRotary co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser talk with Leanne Lawson and Claudia Abbott-Barish about the great work of the Mediation Center of Dutchess County.

RadioRotary co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser talk with Dawn Breeze about the great vocational work with youth of Place Corps.

RadioRotary co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser talk with popular local author Tony Musso about his new book “Madams Mobsters and Murders.”

In the heart of Dutchess County,  Habitat for Humanity  is transforming lives and landscapes. Through the tireless efforts of individuals like Rotarians Todd Bowen, the Senior Project Manager, and Jessica Muccio, the Director of Development, this organization is making the dream of homeownership a reality for families in need. With over 40 homes built for first-time owners and more than 250 repair...

In a world where the shadow of homelessness looms large for many, Hudson River Housing emerges as a beacon of hope. Led by the passionate Christa Hines,  Hudson River Housing  dedicates itself to combating homelessness and housing insecurity. Serving approximately 3,000 individuals annually, their mission extends across Dutchess County, focusing on providing not just a roof over heads but a founda...

Dive Heart, a unique initiative founded 22 years ago, has been changing lives through the power of adaptive scuba and scuba therapy. This nonprofit organization, spearheaded by Rotarians Jim Elliott and Tina Marie Hernandez, focuses on empowering children, veterans, and others with disabilities. By offering them an opportunity to experience the weightlessness of underwater environments, Dive Heart...

In the spirit of giving and community service, Keith O’Hanlon, known for his striking resemblance to Santa Claus, has been making waves across local communities by offering his time as Santa to support food pantries and veterans. His journey into becoming Santa began in 2015 when he was asked to play Santa Claus for a veterans’ Christmas party organized by Angela Flesland. Despite initial hesitati...

In a recent humanitarian effort, Rotarians in Zambia, assisted by various organizations, accomplished the remarkable feat of delivering 8.5 tons of medical equipment and supplies to Machili, Zambia. The focus of this substantial aid was primarily on improving maternal and dental health care in the region. This initiative was particularly crucial given Zambia’s high rates of dental issues and mater...

Radio Rotary recently featured an inspiring segment on Rotary’s humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. BJ Mickelson, a dedicated Rotarian, took center stage in discussing his remarkable contributions to aiding Ukrainian refugees. Initially, BJ successfully raised between $2,500 and $3,000, which he used to distribute essential supplies in Germany to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine. Demonstrating a...

In a recent edition of Radio Rotary, the focus was on the admirable work of  Toys for Tots , a program dedicated to bringing joy to children during the holiday season. The show featured insights from Sergeant Samuel Lewis, Mike Binns, and Randy Turner, who play key roles in the Hudson Valley Toys for Tots and Ulster County Toys for Tots programs. Toys for Tots, a program initiated by the Marine Co...

In the latest episode of Radio Rotary, we spoke with Alex Geller of the Red Hook Library on the importance and evolving role of local libraries in the community. The  Red Hook Library , a notable institution, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. Established in 1898, it has been a cornerstone of the community, adapting to the changing needs of its patrons over the years. The library, hou...

Radio Rotary recently featured a discussion with Jennifer Donahue and Rotarian Helen Ronsky about the contemporary focus of the Girl Scouts. The conversation highlighted the organization’s evolution, particularly in addressing mental health awareness and community service. In today’s digital and social media-driven world, the Girl Scouts play a crucial role in providing support, resources, and an...

In a recent episode of Radio Rotary, an inspiring showcase of community support and service, listeners were introduced to the remarkable work of Dutchess Outreach. This organization stands as a beacon of hope in Dutchess County, offering an array of essential services to those most in need. From providing hot meals and running a food pantry to organizing a significant coat drive, Duchess Outreach...

We focus on World Polio Day, the dedicated efforts of Rotary International and its partners in the fight against polio were brought to light. Despite the remarkable progress made, polio continues to exist in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and sporadic cases are reported worldwide. Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio dates back to 1979, with the launch of the Polio Plus program in 1985 and the Glob...

The Red Hook Rotary Club, known for its active community engagement, honored Brent Kovalchik as its Citizen of the Year. For over two decades, the club has recognized individuals who have made significant contributions to the community. Kovalchik, a former Deputy Mayor of the Village of Red Hook, has been instrumental in the installation of a central sewer system. This initiative is crucial for th...

The Italian Festival in Kingston, New York, is a vibrant celebration of Italian culture. Organized by the Italian American Foundation, the festival on the picturesque Kingston waterfront in Ulster County aims to celebrate and preserve Italian heritage, featuring an array of Italian food vendors offering everything from sausage and peppers, meatballs, pizza, and calzones, to mac and cheese, cannoli...

In a recent episode of Radio Rotary, a heartwarming story unfolded about Sparrows Nest, a charity providing meals to families grappling with serious illnesses. Founded by Krista Jones, the organization emerged from a deeply personal experience. A decade ago, Krista was moved by her friend’s struggle with stage 4 colon cancer, particularly the challenge of maintaining proper nutrition. This led her...

Radio Rotary recently featured Meg Boyce and Tina Eckert from the Alzheimer’s Association Hudson Valley Chapter, highlighting the critical issue of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, impairs a person’s ability to perform daily activities due to physical changes in the brain. These changes include the buildup of sticky plaques, the presence of tau protein, and overa...

In a recent episode of Radio Rotary, a significant focus was on the commendable efforts of Rotarians Roberto Bonner and Fanfan Joseph in supporting nursing education in Haiti. This initiative, which emerged following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, has led to the establishment of a vital nursing program. Both Bonner, the president of the Pleasant Valley Rotary Club, and Joseph, a past pr...

Pleasant Valley Weekend, an eagerly awaited annual event in September, promises a host of activities and attractions for the community. Held in Pleasant Valley, this vibrant celebration will take place from September 8th to 10th at Katy Field, located behind the Town Hall on Route 44. The event is free to attend, though some activities and the purchase of beer may incur charges. A key highlight of...

The recent film “Join or Die,” focusing on civic engagement in American democracy, offers a powerful exploration of the current state of community involvement in the United States. Drawing inspiration from Benjamin Franklin’s historical “Join or Die” flag, the film delves into the deep polarization affecting the nation and the urgent need for renewed investment in civic engagement and local commun...

Victoria Marsella (“Tori”), vice-president of the MARC Foundation, visited Radio Rotary to tell about the Foundation’s programs for providing financial support to efforts to prevent drug and alcohol misuse and to support recovery from addiction. The MARC Foundation originated as a support for MARC residential treatment houses, which are now a part of Mental Health America of Dutchess County (MHA)....

Radio Rotary interview Todd Bowen, president of Wappingers Rotary and, at 21, the youngest club president ever in District 7210. Bowen, originally from Pine Plains, got his start in Rotary when his family moved to Wappingers Falls, putting Bowen into Roy C. Ketcham High School, where he joined one other male student and 28 young women in the school’s Interact Club, a Rotary-sponsored service organ...

New Paltz Rotarians Robert Rich and Pascal Guirma, along with Pacal’s brother Vlctor, return to RadioRotary to report on the progress of Friends of Guirgho in improving the school and other facilities in the Burkina Faso village of Guirgho, a rural settlement about 60 km from the capital of Burkina Faso. Burkino Faso (formerly Upper Volta), the ancestral home of the Guirma brothers, is a landlocke...