What's Up Roxbury | Podcast on RSS.com

What's Up Roxbury

What's Up Roxbury

by Allan Aujero

Can running a school prepare you for running a town - Tom O'Brien (Retired Roxbury Superintendent)_

We talk with Tom (Retired Roxbury Central Superintendent, EMT, Search & Rescue / Ski Patroller) about his experience with Roxbury Central School, his love of Roxbury and his first campaign for town supervisor. We discuss topics around local economics, airbnb, housing affordability and the future of Roxbury Central School.

What keeps a rural community going - Rich Dykstra (Pastor Gould Church / EMT with Roxbury FD/EMS)

We talk with Rich about his 40+ years of life in Roxbury as both the pastor of the Gould Church and as an EMT. He shares insights into his origin story in Roxbury, dealing with mental health as part of being an EMT and a few humorous anecdotes.

Can small towns grow without losing their character - Peg Ellsworth (Executive Dir. MARK Project).

We speak with Peg about her experience with community development over the last few decades, challenges of revitalizing small rural communities. and recent wins with a $10 million grant from the NY Downtown Revitalization Initiative for Roxbury and Grand Gorge and the $4.5 million dollar grant for each Stamford and Margaretville as part of NY Forward.

Mary Jean Scudder - Can a small town library survive and become more than just books?

We talk with Mary Jean (Director Roxbury Library) about her 'hybrid' experience, her deep family history and the many challenges currently facing rural libraries.

What does it take to bring a small town together - Judith Maguire (Co-founder Friends of Roxbury)

We talk to Judith (Co-founder Friends of Roxbury, entrepreneur & active citizen) about what inspires and informs her as an active citizen, her civic engagement and affinity for the Roxbury community.

Jim Bouton Sr. on rural all volunteer fire depts. and what we can do to make their jobs easier.

We talk with Jim Sr. (Retired Roxbury Fire Chief) about his decades of experience with the fire department, the changes within Roxbury and the FD over the years, current challenges and what homeowners can do to make the all volunteer force's (AVF) jobs a little easier.

James Chapman on what it takes to run a restaurant in a tiny Catskills town?

We talk with James Chapman (owner of Chappies Bistro) about his unintended path to Roxbury, the challenges of running a restaurant in a small town and the value of weddings to the local economy.

Casper DeBoer on what weddings mean to our small rural town's economy of Roxbury in upstate NY.

We talk with Casper DeBoer (Co-Owner of Roxbury Barn and Estate) about wedding trends, changes in Roxbury and what couples are choosing when they pick the Roxbury Barn & Estate wedding venue .

Andrew Williams' big bet on Roxbury, NY. What does it actually take to make a rural downtown work.

We talk with Andrew (Co-Owner of Watershed Cafe, Good Grocer & Dixon Hotel) about his unexpected path back to Roxbury, sustainable growth and his thoughts on how to manage growth in a small rural town.

How has Roxbury NY changed since 2020 - Allen Hinkley (Town Supervisor)

We talk with Allen about his tenure as supervisor since 2020 and discuss the changes in Roxbury over recent decades and issues impacting our rural community. We discuss housing affordability, airbnb and zoning amongst other topics.