Mohawk Valley Living is a weekly television show that explores the arts, entertainment, culture, and heritage of the greater Mohawk Valley region of New York State. It is broadcast 3 times a week on Utica's NBC affiliate, WKTV. It is owned and produced by Lance and Sharry Whitney and is hosted by actor and playwright, Richard Enders.
Lance is from the foothills of the Catskills and Sharry grew up on the Tughill Plateau. They met in the middle in Utica in a painting class at Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute. They fell in love with the Mohawk Valley and each other.
In the late 1980s, when Lance and Sharry were in college, they assembled fellow students and local writers to publish a monthly cultural and entertainment newspaper called Utica-Rome Living. The paper highlighted cultural events, spotlighted local artists and writers (including a local author named Richard Enders), and featured interviews with local immigrants who shared their customs and recipes. This newspaper would be the blueprint for what was to become Mohawk Valley Living.
Lance and Sharry were married in 1991
and chose to raise their family in the
Mohawk Valley. They published a children's
book and produced instructional art videos.
Their artwork has appeared on national
television and publications. Their videos have
been sold throughout the country and are still
being used in art classrooms.
Show Host
Richard Enders is well-known for his many
one-man shows and his role as Scrooge in
the annual Players of Utica production. This
multi-talented man has a genuine love of the
Mohawk Valley. He is a great story-teller with
fond memories of growing up in the Corn Hill
section of Utica. He practices law in Clinton
where he lives with his wife.
Event Spotlights
Kari Crimmins is the host of the show's Event
Spotlights. She has been active in local theatre
for many years and is currently studying
communications at college.
Adirondack Journal
Gary VanRiper has a love and appreciation
of the Adirondacks and is an Adirondack
"46er," having climbed all of the high peaks
in the Adirondacks. He is an avid bird
photographer and has co-authored a series
of Adirondack children's books with his son,
Justin. www.adirondackkids.com
The Scene Weekly
Mark Werchowski is a veteran of popular
upstate bands NightTrain and Dillinger.
His knowledge of the local music scene is
an asset to the show. Mark is a two-time
ASCAP Popular Song Writing Award
Winner. He is a music teacher at Proctor
in Utica and also teaches guitar in New
Hartford at Big Apple Music. www.werchowski.com
