This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we spoke with Bloomy Cheese and Provisions owner and community advocate Jessica Galen. We discussed the opportunities and challenges of running a specialty shop in the Rivertowns, the impact of tariffs on her business, and how she went from studying Yiddish at Harvard to selling cheese in Dobbs Ferry. I also share my passion for smelly blue cheeses and Jessica gives some cheese recommendations.

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we spoke with editor-in-chief of the tech media outlet The Verge and Hastings resident Nilay Patel. Nilay is one of the most astute observers I know of media and how it is transforming in an era of rapid technological change. We talked about whether AI is theft, why so many newspapers are closing, and how we should run the Rivertowns Dispatch.

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we speak with Hastings-on-Hudson Trustee and Mayoral Candidate Morgen Fleisig. We talk about the his vision for the waterfront, affordable housing, and what sets him apart from his rival Tom Drake. The Hastings-on-Hudson Democratic primary election will be held June 24, 2025

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we speak with Hastings-on-Hudson Trustee and Mayoral Candidate Tom Drake. We talk about the school bond vote, how to attract and retain more businesses in the downtown, and his approach to police and community relations.

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we spoke with the co-Directors of the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry, Vera Halpenny and Donna Assumma. The Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry has been helping people in need since 2011, operating out of South Presbyterian Church. The pantry is available to residents of Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Irvington, and parts of Greenburgh. We talked about the logistics involved in serving roughly 400 people each week, how federal government cuts are impacting their ability to serve the community, and why people working multiple jobs may still suffer from food insecurity.

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George Latimer was elected to congress in November 2024 after one of the most contentious and expensive primaries in history, defeating two term incumbent Jamaal Bowman. He assumes his new role as representative of New York's 16th congressional district during a time of significant change both in politics and the structure of government. Latimer spoke recently with the Rivertowns Dispatch podcast about the experience of being a freshman representative in the minority, what he thinks voters want from him, and how democrats can push back on the Trump administration.

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we spoke with Irvington Mayor Jonathan Siegel. Siegel first served as mayor from 2009 until 2011 when he stepped down dueto challenges balancing career, family, and being mayor. He decided to return to public service after retiring from his position as CEO of a communications consulting firm and was reelected in 2023. We talked about the ways in which the Trump administration is impacting the Irvington community, his goals for his final term, and how he thinks about delivering value to taxpayers.

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This week on the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast we spoke with Hastings resident Rhiannon Gulick. Rhiannon who was abruptly laid off from her job at a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contractor when the administration decided to fire and place on administrative leave 90% of the agency staff, close USAID’s headquarters, cancel nearly all of its contracts, and stop payment for work that had already been completed. We talked about the work that Rhiannon had been doing, her experience of abruptly losing her job, and what she thinks it means for the future of American influence in the world. Please reach out to us if you live in the Rivertowns and have been laid off dueto personnel or policy changes at the federal level.

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In this episode we talk to Dobbs Ferry Mayor Vincent Rossillo. We discuss how he might respond to a hypothetical federal immigration request, his proudest accomplishment, and the future of the community. We also cover what grants are being blocked by the federal government and the state of local democracy.

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We have big news! The Rivertown Story Corps is now the Rivertowns Dispatch Podcast. We have joined forces with the Rivertowns Dispatch newspaper, the leading local news source for Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, and Irvington, to bring you even more great interviews with people making a difference in our community. We hope you will subscribe both to the podcast, which will remain free, and the paper.

In this episode we talk to Ardsley Mayor Nancy Kaboolian. We discuss what it means to be a mayor in the new Trump era, balancing change and tradition, and embracing a diverse community. We also discuss taxes and housing.

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