Floyd Memorial Library Podcast

Today I’m joined by two wonderful musicians, Iris Ornig, Director & Founder of East End Jazz, and Olivia Foschi, the organization’s Director of Education. Both bring deep experience as performers, composers, and educators, and together they’ve built a vibrant space for jazz on the East End of Long Island. In our conversation, we talk about their early musical journeys, the inspirations that dr...

On today’s episode, I'm joined by Greg Schlachter, candidate for Southold Town Highway Superintendent. Greg’s roots in Southold run deep, he grew up here and has spent more than forty years working as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic, much of that time with the Highway Department. We talk about his family’s history on the North Fork, what it was like growing up in Southold, and how his...

On today’s episode, I’m joined once again by Dan Goodwin, Southold Town’s Highway Superintendent. In our last conversation, we talked about his family’s history on the North Fork and his journey into public service. This time, we focus on the work of the Highway Department over the past year, the projects completed, the challenges faced, and how his team has responded to the unexpected. With elect...

Today I’m joined by Thomas Watkins, a Greenport native and former fire chief whose life has been dedicated to service and community. Thomas spent decades in the Greenport Fire Department, rising through the ranks to become the village’s first Black fire chief. He also devoted much of his career to working in nursing, always with a focus on helping others. In our conversation, Thomas reflects on hi...

Today we sit down Tommy John Schiavoni, Assemblyman for the 1st District of the New York State Assembly. Tommy John’s family has called the East End home for generations, and his own journey began in Sag Harbor, where his upbringing and his family’s plumbing and heating business shaped his early perspective. He went on to spend more than 30 years teaching social studies, helping young people under...

Today, we sit down with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, whose roots on Long Island run deep and whose career in law enforcement has spanned both state and federal levels. From his early days as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting complex cases of organized crime, narcotics, and violent offenses, to his current role as Suffolk County’s chief prosecutor, his career has been distingu...

Today’s guest is Nathan Andruski, a lifelong North Fork resident and candidate for Southold Town Trustee. Growing up on the water, Nathan spent much of his life working on Peconic Bay, dredging scallops, clamming, and fishing, which shaped his connection to the region and its marine environment. As President of the Southold Town Baymen’s Association, he has been involved in clam reseeding efforts...

Today’s guest is Joe Finora, a North Fork native and candidate for Southold Town Trustee. Growing up on the North Fork, Joe developed a strong connection to the land and the community. His early career as an engineer diver took him around the world inspecting marine structures, and he now serves as Town Engineer for Shelter Island while also co-founding an oyster company in Peconic Bay. In this ep...

Today’s guest is Pindar Damianos, owner of Pindar Vineyards and a candidate for Southold Town Trustee. Growing up in St. James and spending time in Peconic helping out at the family vineyard, Pindar developed a deep connection to the North Fork and its land. His family’s roots in the region and early experiences in agriculture shaped his perspective on stewardship, community, and sustainable land...

Today’s guest is Eric Sepenoski, a fourth-generation East Marion farmer, teacher, and Town Trustee. Growing up on Sep’s Farm and spending his early years across the North Fork, Eric developed a deep connection to the land, the rhythms of farming life, and the local community. That foundation has guided him as he balances his roles as a farmer, educator, and public servant. In this episode, we disc...

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Angela De Vito, a lifelong advocate for working people and the North Fork community. Angela’s story begins with her family’s move from Greenwich Village out to Rocky Point, and from there her path has taken her all over the country, from Chicago to Utah to Boston, before coming back home to South Jamesport. Along the way, she’s worked at the intersection of labo...

Today on the Floyd Memorial Library Podcast, we’re joined by Tom Wickham, Owner and Operator of Wickham’s Fruit Farm in Cutchogue, NY. Tom comes from one of the North Fork’s oldest farming families, with roots on this land going back to the early 1700s. In addition to carrying forward a centuries-old agricultural tradition, he has also had a remarkable career beyond the farm, working in internatio...

Today we’re joined by Beth Doyle, the new superintendent of Greenport Union Free School District. Beth’s path into education is anything but traditional, she began her career in finance at Citigroup and Chase before a single subway ad inspired her to leave Wall Street for the classroom. From those early teaching days in Springfield Gardens to her work as a principal and district leader, each step...

Today on the podcast, we sit down with Marilyn White Corwin, a lifelong Greenport native whose family has been part of this town for generations. She talks about growing up in the village, her family’s businesses, and the everyday life of a small village. Marilyn reflects on the people, places, and traditions that shaped her, and shares her hopes for the future of Greenport, offering a heartfelt p...

Today we’re talking with John D. Williams Jr., writer, producer, and former executive director of the National Scrabble Association. John grew up in Babylon with a family famously known as ‘The Grammar Police,’ and his love of words eventually led him to shape the world of competitive Scrabble, launching the World Scrabble Championship, co-founding the National School Scrabble Program, and authori...

Today I’m joined by Terri Boyle Romanelli, candidate for Southold Town Trustee . Terri grew up on the North Shore of Long Island, spending her childhood crabbing with her grandfather and swimming in the Sound, early experiences that sparked her lifelong connection to the water and to this place. From running a charter fishing business in Montauk to serving as CEO of Manor Hill Vineyard Winery, and...

Today I’m joined by Liz Gillooly, a Southold Town Trustee whose life has been shaped by both deep local roots and a love of the sea. Liz grew up sailing from a young age, a passion that took her across oceans and into a career as a charter captain before she returned home to build her own women-led business, Layla Sailing, right here in Greenport. Her path from the water to public service reflects...

Today I’m joined by Mark MacNish, Executive Director of the Cutchogue–New Suffolk Historical Council & Museums. Mark has deep roots on the North Fork, with a family history that stretches back to the era of the New Suffolk Hotel and the heyday of the region’s hospitality scene. His lifelong connection to local history, paired with his passion for bringing the past to life, sometimes literally,...

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by John Quinlan, whose life and work reflect the spirit of service, resilience, and community. John grew up in New York, first dreaming of becoming a teacher, and that calling led him to the Peace Corps, where he taught in Nigeria, before returning home to continue teaching in Brentwood. His journey would eventually take him into activism, helping to shape the gay...

Today, I’m joined by Reverend Marc Thompson, pastor of Unity Baptist Church in Mattituck. Reverend Thompson grew up in the Bronx, where life was often tough, but through adversity and the support of his family and church community he found his strength and direction. His high school years in Manhattan broadened his outlook, while a love of literature and writing gave him a powerful way to process...

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Mary Foster Morgan, an early founder of Slow Food East End and a lifelong advocate for food, nature, and climate solutions. Mary’s roots run deep here, her family history spans both the North and South Forks as well as Western New York. Her great-grandmother was born in Southold and graduated from Southold High School in 1880 before moving to East Hampton, whe...

Today, we’re speaking with artist Ted Thirlby, who transforms reclaimed plywood into striking monotypes and sculptural reliefs. Raised in Michigan, Ted eventually made his way to New York, where the city’s vibrant arts scene left a lasting impression. He later stepped away from art to raise a family and run a construction company, returning with a renewed perspective and a deep interest in how mat...

In this episode, we welcome Gilles Martin, Senior Winemaker at Sparkling Pointe. Raised near France’s Champagne region, Gilles combined an early love of agriculture with studies in food science and oenology, earning national recognition when his master’s thesis on wine filtration was honored by President Jacques Chirac. His career has taken him from vineyards in France, Germany, and Australia to c...

In this episode, we sit down with Minerva Perez, Executive Director of OLA of Eastern Long Island, an organization dedicated to advocacy, education, and cultural engagement for the region’s Latino and immigrant communities. Before stepping into the world of advocacy, Minerva built a career in the arts, a path that gave her unique tools for storytelling, bridge-building, and community connection. S...

In this episode, we’re celebrating the heart and history of Riverhead’s Polish Town with the people who help keep its traditions alive, members of the Polish Town Civic Association. Born out of the very first Polish Town Fair back in 1975, the Association has spent the past five decades preserving and promoting Polish heritage through community events, cultural programs, and, of course, the belove...