On The Scene

On this episode of NBT Bank’s On The Scene, Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome longtime West Hartford Magazine photographer Todd Fairchild for a warm, funny, and insightful conversation about the art of capturing life’s biggest moments. Todd shares how a fifth-grade interest in photography grew into a full-time passion, why weddings remain so meaningful, and how comfort, timing, lighting, and trust m...

Step into the energy, excitement, and community spirit behind one of West Hartford’s most anticipated celebrations. In this episode of On The Scene, Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome Lacey Escobar from Arthur Murray Dance Studio and Hilary Sarrasin from 2020 Media for a lively look at Dancing with WeHa Stars, the entertainment highlight of the Best of West Hartford event. Listeners will hear how loc...

Celebrate the power of community, creativity, and live theater in this engaging episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Edwin Thrower and Herb Emanuelson of the Capital Classics Theater Company to explore the passion behind one of Greater Hartford’s most beloved summer traditions. From the magic of Shakespeare under the stars to the importance of volunteerism and nonpr...

Discover the stories, culture, and creativity shaping Greater Hartford in this engaging episode of On The Scene with Tom Hickey and Bob Carr. The conversation takes listeners inside the New Britain Museum of American Art with special guest Lisa Lappe, Chief Operating Officer of the museum. From the exciting Museum After Dark events to powerful new exhibitions celebrating Puerto Rican and Indigenou...

The latest episode of On The Scene brings listeners deeper into the heart of West Hartford with a conversation focused on community connection, local media, and the people working to keep residents informed and engaged. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Jennifer Evans and Ryan Young from WHCI to discuss how community television continues to evolve while serving as a vital resource for lo...

Get ready to experience the pulse of West Hartford and beyond in this engaging episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr bring you inside one of the area’s most anticipated community events, the Taste of West Hartford. Discover how local restaurants, business leaders, and community partners come together to create an experience that celebrates food, connection, and local impact. From...

Stay connected to what matters most in West Hartford and beyond with this engaging episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Andreas Kapetanopoulos and Nicole Lent Pollard from NBT Bank to explore local business growth, community expansion, and the real-world impact of financial security. From new branch development and regional investment to the growing challenges of fr...

Get inside the engine behind one of Connecticut’s most recognizable brand in this engaging episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with UConn’s Kyle Muncy to explore how strategic branding, partnerships, and innovation have elevated UConn into a national powerhouse. From the evolution of the iconic Husky identity to the explosive growth of NIL merchandise and retail experie...

West Hartford has a new reason to smile and it is delicious. On this episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Paul Parks III and Kendra Walker of Frisbie’s Dairy Barn to talk about the craft, passion, and community behind one of Connecticut’s fastest growing ice cream brands. Listeners get an inside look at how Frisbie’s creates its super premium small batch ice cream,...

Go behind the scenes of one of Connecticut’s most trusted family businesses in this episode of NBT Bank's On the Scene. Host Tom Hickey and co-host Bob Carr sit down with Mark Hatch of French Cleaners to explore how a century-old company continues to thrive in a changing world. Mark shares how the cleaning industry has evolved after COVID, the rise of casual wear, and the shift toward modern fabri...

This episode of On The Scene delivers a thoughtful, community-first conversation focused on West Hartford’s present and future. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome West Hartford Town Councilor John Lyons for an open discussion on growth, development, and what it truly means to serve a community. The conversation explores housing challenges, smart redevelopment, transit access, and the importance...

On this episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome longtime Connecticut journalist Dennis House for a wide-ranging, community-focused conversation that connects local stories to the bigger picture. Dennis shares behind-the-scenes moments from a career spent telling Connecticut’s stories, from memorable interviews to the curiosity that drives real journalism. The discussion high...

Stay connected to the pulse of West Hartford with this engaging episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Barbara Karsky of BK & Company for an inspiring conversation about fashion, community, and the ever-evolving life of West Hartford Center. Barbara shares the real challenges local retailers faced during construction, how customer habits shape business success, an...

Step inside the conversations that shape West Hartford with a new episode of On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr bring their upbeat, community-focused style to a lively discussion with University of Saint Joseph President Rhona Free. This episode highlights the energy, innovation, and growth happening right in our backyard. From new academic programs and expanded student life to community...

West Hartford comes alive in this inspiring new episode of On The Scene with hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr. Joined by Chamber of Commerce President Chris Conway, the conversation celebrates the creative spirit and community pride behind the Best of West Hartford and its beloved outdoor art project—Benchmark 2025. From the vibrant Pride Bench to the heartfelt Survivor Bench, each piece tells a stor...

In this inspiring episode of On The Scene with host Tom Hickey, listeners are invited to celebrate the incredible 95-year journey of The Jewish Ledger — a true testament to dedication, resilience, and community spirit. Joined by editor Judy Jacobson and Digital Marketing Manager Hilary Pasternak Sarrasin, Tom explores how the Ledger has endured through decades of change, from the Great Depression...

Step into the heart of West Hartford’s creative scene in this engaging episode of NBT Bank's On The Scene. Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with artists Sam FerrI and Kelly Kelly to explore the story behind the town’s most talked-about public art project: the vibrant bench installations that have transformed community spaces into living galleries. Discover how these artists overcame unique c...

On this episode of On The Scene, Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome Justin Cote, Vice President at Hitchcock Printing in New Britain—celebrating 120+ years in print. Justin reveals how a legacy shop stays future-ready: an apprenticeship pipeline with New Britain High School and CCSU, cross-training that builds true craftspeople, and steady capital investments—from a 40" four-color press to high-speed...

In this episode of NBT Bank’s On The Scene Podcast, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Maureen Kennedy, Senior Business Banking Officer at NBT Bank, and Andreas Kapetanopoulos, President of NBT Bank Connecticut. Together, they dive into the bank’s deep roots in the community, their support of local organizations like the Aurora Foundation, and the personal relationships that set NBT apart...

In this powerful episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Brianna Dunlap, Director of Development and Community Relations at South Park Inn, a Hartford-based homeless shelter making a life-changing impact. Brianna shares her personal journey into nonprofit work, her passion for helping vulnerable communities, and the powerful mission of South Park Inn—to break the cycle...

In this episode of the On The Scene Podcast, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Mike Roy of Roy Web Design to uncover what really makes a website work for your business. Mike shares his journey from working at multiple agencies to building his own successful firm, where he specializes in web design, hosting, and search engine optimization (SEO). You’ll learn why so many businesses struggl...

In this episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Ilana Bernstein from the Community Renewal Team (CRT), Connecticut’s largest nonprofit human services organization. Ilana shares CRT’s powerful mission: helping individuals and families across Middlesex and Hartford counties overcome life’s challenges by providing critical services—from Meals on Wheels and energy assistan...

In this episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Mana Zarinejad, Executive Director of the Connecticut Forum, for an insightful and inspiring conversation about the power of dialogue, culture, and community. Mana shares the Forum’s mission to spark meaningful conversations that bridge divides and bring people together through unscripted, thought-provoking events featuri...

In this episode of On The Scene, hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr welcome Yvonne Alston, founder and Chief Culture Architect of Indelible Impressions Consulting, for a compelling conversation about the future of workplace culture. Yvonne shares her mission to help organizations build inclusive, human-centric environments that value dignity, empathy, and belonging. Together, they explore how post-pand...

Hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr are joined by Hillary Sarrasin of 2020 Meida to talk about marketing your business and th importance of building awareness and customer service.