The Claverack Podcast Tue, 26 May 2026 18:07:33 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524570 en-us © 2026 The Claverack Podcast yes Claverack, NY, USA eb5a727d-683e-59d2-bc32-52918533ce9d Jeffrey Kiplinger episodic false We talk with people who care about the past and future of our little town in New York's Hudson River Valley.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Claverack, local, community, countryside, lifestyle, history, politics, town life, town planning Jeffrey Kiplinger https://storage.buzzsprout.com/sqt11x4ejnnxtsscy5immf9ooycb?.jpg The Claverack Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2524570 Sarah Katan Sarah Katan Sarah Katan and her family are transplants, but in the years since they arrived Sarah has become deply embedded in our community.  As an educator Sarah creates programs that connect kids (and adults) to the outdoors, to the history of the area, and - recently - to themselves. Sarah teaches personal storytelling and hosts storytelling events at the Ancram Center for the Arts, and even tells her own stories there. I admit this is a performance art that fascinates me, and I wanted to learn more about it and about Sarah. We found out we have a lot in common. 

I've dropped the ball a little this spring on my usual posting schedule, so I realize it's been a minute. I spend a little time filling you in on what's been going on for me. You can forward to about 9 minutes in if you're more interested in hearing Sarah!

]]> Sarah Katan and her family are transplants, but in the years since they arrived Sarah has become deply embedded in our community.  As an educator Sarah creates programs that connect kids (and adults) to the outdoors, to the history of the area, and - recently - to themselves. Sarah teaches personal storytelling and hosts storytelling events at the Ancram Center for the Arts, and even tells her own stories there. I admit this is a performance art that fascinates me, and I wanted to learn more about it and about Sarah. We found out we have a lot in common. 

I've dropped the ball a little this spring on my usual posting schedule, so I realize it's been a minute. I spend a little time filling you in on what's been going on for me. You can forward to about 9 minutes in if you're more interested in hearing Sarah!

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-19245200 Tue, 26 May 2026 18:00:00 -0400 2632 2 5 full false Max Morningstar and Maria Zordan - the MX Morningstar team Max Morningstar and Maria Zordan - the MX Morningstar team Max and Maria own and operate MX Morningstar Farm, in the heart of Claverack on route 9H.  Their farm store sells produce from theirs and other local farms, as well as food products from all over the world for those who want a one-stop store for dinner prep.  If you're a Claverackian, you know the place.

We talk about how Max and Maria came to Claverack, why they're staying, the ins and outs (and economics) of modern 'mid-scale' farming.  And we talk about why they love it here and what they hope the town can become.


]]> Max and Maria own and operate MX Morningstar Farm, in the heart of Claverack on route 9H.  Their farm store sells produce from theirs and other local farms, as well as food products from all over the world for those who want a one-stop store for dinner prep.  If you're a Claverackian, you know the place.

We talk about how Max and Maria came to Claverack, why they're staying, the ins and outs (and economics) of modern 'mid-scale' farming.  And we talk about why they love it here and what they hope the town can become.


]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18733203 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500 2976 2 4 full false Vince Pomilio Vince Pomilio Vince Pomilio is an artist who was part of the vanguard of NYC-based artists who began moving to the Hudson area in the 1970s.   He has a flawless memory for names and events, and tells stories from 1978 to the present about the fascinating characters who have been in and out of the area's transition from sleepy backwater to "destination".  I pretty much turned the mics on and let Vince go.  This one is a little longer than some other shows, but worth it if you're interested in origin stories!

]]> Vince Pomilio is an artist who was part of the vanguard of NYC-based artists who began moving to the Hudson area in the 1970s.   He has a flawless memory for names and events, and tells stories from 1978 to the present about the fascinating characters who have been in and out of the area's transition from sleepy backwater to "destination".  I pretty much turned the mics on and let Vince go.  This one is a little longer than some other shows, but worth it if you're interested in origin stories!

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18649478 Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 2619 2 3 full false Anya Bonanno and Project SCAPE Anya Bonanno and Project SCAPE Anya is leading a project called SCAPE, Stewarding Claverack and Philmont's Environment.  This means the built environment (town, farms, history, etc) as well as the natural environment.  SCAPE (projectscape.org) ties in nicely with the efforts by our town governments to redraft their comprehensive plan, capturing residents voices and views on what matters most to them.  Lots of local residents have been interviewed, but if you check the website or attend one of the two local events in February, your voice can be heard too.

SCAPE plans a chili supper 5-8 pm on February 5 at the Churchtown Firehouse, and a brunch at 10:30-12 on the morning of February 21 at the Claverack Free Library.  Free! Meet your neighbors, talk about what matters, and add your voice to the SCAPE project!

]]> Anya is leading a project called SCAPE, Stewarding Claverack and Philmont's Environment.  This means the built environment (town, farms, history, etc) as well as the natural environment.  SCAPE (projectscape.org) ties in nicely with the efforts by our town governments to redraft their comprehensive plan, capturing residents voices and views on what matters most to them.  Lots of local residents have been interviewed, but if you check the website or attend one of the two local events in February, your voice can be heard too.

SCAPE plans a chili supper 5-8 pm on February 5 at the Churchtown Firehouse, and a brunch at 10:30-12 on the morning of February 21 at the Claverack Free Library.  Free! Meet your neighbors, talk about what matters, and add your voice to the SCAPE project!

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18578134 Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500 1844 2 2 full false Bryan Fox and Peggy Gould Bryan Fox and Peggy Gould Brian and Peggy bought a house here in Claverack 15 years ago, coming up from Queens to the beauty of the countryside.  Both having backgrounds in performing arts, they decided more or less on a whim to create an outdoor movie experience for their neighborhood, and the idea took off.  Stickles Cinema has grown, but it's still a word-of-mouth neighbor-to-neighbor discovery.  The danger of listening to this podcast is that you too will be drawn into this intentional/unintentional community.  And our world needs more communities like this...

]]> Brian and Peggy bought a house here in Claverack 15 years ago, coming up from Queens to the beauty of the countryside.  Both having backgrounds in performing arts, they decided more or less on a whim to create an outdoor movie experience for their neighborhood, and the idea took off.  Stickles Cinema has grown, but it's still a word-of-mouth neighbor-to-neighbor discovery.  The danger of listening to this podcast is that you too will be drawn into this intentional/unintentional community.  And our world needs more communities like this...

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18507088 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:00:00 -0500 2201 2 1 full false Jeff Unpacks Election Results Jeff Unpacks Election Results It's only me this week, folks, your host Jeff Kiplinger.  I promised to 'unpack' data from the November 4 town and county election to see if we could learn anything about the winners, the losers, and the residents (that's us, and I hope we end up winners).  I uncovered, I think, some interesting things that the major parties may not have noticed.  By the way, if numbers and analysis make your head spin, you might want to skip ahead to about 8 minutes from the end for a summary.

]]> It's only me this week, folks, your host Jeff Kiplinger.  I promised to 'unpack' data from the November 4 town and county election to see if we could learn anything about the winners, the losers, and the residents (that's us, and I hope we end up winners).  I uncovered, I think, some interesting things that the major parties may not have noticed.  By the way, if numbers and analysis make your head spin, you might want to skip ahead to about 8 minutes from the end for a summary.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18363919 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:00:00 -0500 1763 1 7 full false Katy Cashen Katy Cashen Katy is a long time Claverackian, with a background and a track record of getting stuff done in both local and national government.  We talk about what brought her family to the area, to the farm where she still lives, and about her journey into government.  She's one of an increasingly rare breed who believe that government's job is to help, rather than to turn everything into a partisan fight.  Katy spent 12 years serving Claverack on our Town Board, and we talk about her accomplishments.  We also dig into the complexity of the job - it's harder than I thought - and talk a little about where the money to run a town comes from.  This is a great conversation.

]]> Katy is a long time Claverackian, with a background and a track record of getting stuff done in both local and national government.  We talk about what brought her family to the area, to the farm where she still lives, and about her journey into government.  She's one of an increasingly rare breed who believe that government's job is to help, rather than to turn everything into a partisan fight.  Katy spent 12 years serving Claverack on our Town Board, and we talk about her accomplishments.  We also dig into the complexity of the job - it's harder than I thought - and talk a little about where the money to run a town comes from.  This is a great conversation.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18306715 Fri, 05 Dec 2025 14:00:00 -0500 2596 1 6 full false Gary Davis Gary Davis Gary Davis retired from the corporate world several years ago, but by then he and his husband had already bought and renovated an historic house in the Claverack hamlet.  Like many of us they fell in love with the area, and what was planned as a weekend getaway soon became their permanent home.  Gary quickly integrated with the community, contributing time and experience to help with food insecurity, with town government, and ultimately helped 'resurrect' the Claverack Historical Society.  We talk about his story, and what the history of Claverack means for its future.  

]]> Gary Davis retired from the corporate world several years ago, but by then he and his husband had already bought and renovated an historic house in the Claverack hamlet.  Like many of us they fell in love with the area, and what was planned as a weekend getaway soon became their permanent home.  Gary quickly integrated with the community, contributing time and experience to help with food insecurity, with town government, and ultimately helped 'resurrect' the Claverack Historical Society.  We talk about his story, and what the history of Claverack means for its future.  

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18174108 Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:00:00 -0500 2606 1 5 full false Robert Honeywell Robert Honeywell Robert is a candidate for Town Board in this fall's election, so I thought it important to post this interview before we go to the polls.  Robert is an interesting guy - part activist, part lawyer, and part actor and theater founder.  A lifelong follower of his own head and heart.  I had a wide-ranging and fun interview with Robert, and no matter what happens on November 4 I think we'll be seeing a lot of him in Claverack.

]]> Robert is a candidate for Town Board in this fall's election, so I thought it important to post this interview before we go to the polls.  Robert is an interesting guy - part activist, part lawyer, and part actor and theater founder.  A lifelong follower of his own head and heart.  I had a wide-ranging and fun interview with Robert, and no matter what happens on November 4 I think we'll be seeing a lot of him in Claverack.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-18067590 Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0400 2696 1 4 full false Thea Schoep Thea Schoep Thea is the Director of the Claverack Library, and thanks to her leadership and to the contributions of many in the town our library has become an essential part of Claverack.  And I do mean essential - part senior center, children and family space, and community center, the Claverack Library serves so many functions that the town doesn't have as stand-alone services.  We'll talk about what brought Thea to the library, how the library has changed over two hundred years, and what the future looks like.  Don't forget that library funding is on the ballot this fall - vote November 4.

]]> Thea is the Director of the Claverack Library, and thanks to her leadership and to the contributions of many in the town our library has become an essential part of Claverack.  And I do mean essential - part senior center, children and family space, and community center, the Claverack Library serves so many functions that the town doesn't have as stand-alone services.  We'll talk about what brought Thea to the library, how the library has changed over two hundred years, and what the future looks like.  Don't forget that library funding is on the ballot this fall - vote November 4.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-17978206 Wed, 08 Oct 2025 12:00:00 -0400 1656 1 3 full false Peter Hoffman Peter Hoffman I talk with Peter Hoffman, a Claverackian who left NYC after running two successaful restaurants for 20 years.  Famous as the chef-owner of Savoy in Soho, one of the first "farm to table" restaurants in the city, Peter moved to Claverack to be closer to what he loves - the food, the farmers, the outdoors, the countryside.  And as he's become more and more involved with the community, he's taking his ideas to a new arena by running for Claverack Town Board.

]]> I talk with Peter Hoffman, a Claverackian who left NYC after running two successaful restaurants for 20 years.  Famous as the chef-owner of Savoy in Soho, one of the first "farm to table" restaurants in the city, Peter moved to Claverack to be closer to what he loves - the food, the farmers, the outdoors, the countryside.  And as he's become more and more involved with the community, he's taking his ideas to a new arena by running for Claverack Town Board.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-17904833 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 2144 1 2 full false Intro to the Claverak Podcast Intro to the Claverak Podcast What is this about and why?  Who could possibly be interested in what's going on in a small town in upstate New York?  The people who live here, that's who.

]]> What is this about and why?  Who could possibly be interested in what's going on in a small town in upstate New York?  The people who live here, that's who.

]]> Jeffrey Kiplinger Buzzsprout-17904750 Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400 445 1 1 full false