Monroe Living: Our City at Work takes you behind the scenes of city government, sharing the stories, projects, and people who keep Monroe, North Carolina running.
Monroe Fire, Part 2: Property Management and Fire Station Updates
In this packed episode, Property Management Director Ryan Jones sits down with Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell to discuss the work done at all the stations across the City. Ryan's teams have worked for months updating the City's stations and making them more functional, safe, and modern. Plus we're taking a full tour of Station 3 to show the changes in real life!
21 Jul 2026
Monroe Fire, Part 1: Chief Ron Fowler and Station 1
Fire Chief Ron Fowler sits down with Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell at Fire Station One to open our Monroe Fire series. A Monroe native, Chief Fowler reflects on more than four decades of service, from the public safety days of working both police and fire to leading a department that has grown from 22 people to nearly 110. He shares what the recent station renovations mean for the firefighters who essentially live there, and gives a tour of Station One that includes the City's original 1886 steam fire engine.
8 May 2026
Monroe Bike Month
In Episode 10 of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we're getting on our bikes!
May is Bike Month, and the City of Monroe is marking the occasion with a full slate of community activities designed to get residents engaged with the future of biking in Monroe.
City Planners Bryson Hester and Megan Brightharp sit down with Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell to talk about what Bike Month looks like this year, why public input matters right now, and how residents can get involved. From a self-guided audio tour of Historic Downtown Monroe to a community Bicycle Scavenger Hunt, there's something for everyone this month.
And if you haven't taken the Bicycle Interest Survey yet, this episode will convince you. It takes about 3 minutes, covers your interest in biking, bicycle safety, and future programming in Monroe, and finishing it enters you for a chance to win a free bicycle.
Learn more and take the survey at www.monroenc.org/BikeMonth (http://www.monroenc.org/BikeMonth)
13 Apr 2026
On Stage at the Dowd Center Theatre
In Episode 9 of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we go inside one of Monroe's most beloved landmarks. The Dowd Center Theatre has been a fixture of historic downtown Monroe since 1940, and today it's home to live concerts, films, art galleries, and performers from across the country. Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell sits down with Theatre Operations Supervisor Tim Pappas, who brings nearly 20 years of Disney World performing experience and a passion for community arts to this role.
From the signature backstage wall where every performer who's ever hit that stage has left their name, to the restored 1940 carbon arc film projector now on display in the lobby, Tim pulls back the curtain on what makes this place special and what's coming next.
6 Feb 2026
Restoring the Sauna at the Monroe Aquatics and Fitness Center
In Episode 8 of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we spotlight the Monroe Aquatics and Fitness Center maintenance crew and the hands-on restoration of the center’s sauna. When the sauna began showing its age, the team did not outsource the work. Instead, they stepped up and completed a full overhaul themselves.
Hear from Facility Maintenance Division Supervisor Gerald Millis, along with maintenance team members Chuck Powell and Danny Crump, as they share how teamwork, craftsmanship, and pride in service brought this space back to life.
17 Dec 2025
Winchester Revitalization, Part 3 (Featuring Asst. Manager Jeff Wells and Director of Economic Development Teresa Campo)
In the third episode of our Winchester Revitalization series, Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell sits down with Assistant City Manager Jeff Wells and Director of Economic Development Teresa Campo to discuss what is coming next for the Winchester community.
The conversation explores upcoming projects, the intent behind key investments, and how infrastructure, economic development, and long-term planning are working together to support Winchester’s future. Together, they discuss how each project connects back to the neighborhood’s history while laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and opportunity.
Monroe Living: Our City at Work is the City of Monroe’s official podcast, highlighting the people, projects, and stories that keep our community moving forward.
21 Nov 2025
Winchester Revitalization – Part Two: Leadership and Legacy
In this second episode of our Winchester Revitalization series, Mayor Robert Burns shares the vision, passion, and purpose behind creating the Winchester Advisory Committee and what this project means for the people who call the neighborhood home.
Mayor Burns reflects on the importance of preserving Winchester’s legacy, empowering local voices, and building a future that honors those who came before.
23 Oct 2025
Episode 5: Winchester Revitalization Part 1
In this first installment of a multi-part series, City Manager Mark Watson and Mayor Pro Tem Surluta Anthony share the vision behind the Winchester Revitalization Project, a long-term plan to restore one of Monroe’s most historic neighborhoods through strategic development, infrastructure improvements, and renewed community partnerships.
The discussion traces Winchester’s past and its enduring spirit, explores what revitalization means beyond new construction, and outlines how residents and local leaders are working together to shape a stronger, more connected future for Monroe.
Monroe Living: Our City at Work is the City of Monroe’s official podcast, highlighting the people, projects, and stories that keep our community moving forward.
29 Aug 2025
Leaf it to us: Inside Monroe's leaf pickup service
Fall is coming! Here’s how Monroe’s leaf pickup works, where the leaves go, and why it matters.
18 Aug 2025
Trash talk: How Monroe keeps the city clean
In this episode of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we’re talking all things trash, recycling, and bulk pickup. Solid Waste Coordinator Laurie Broome joins Assistant City Manager Lisa Hollowell to explain how Monroe’s solid waste services work, what you can and can’t leave at the curb, and how her team keeps more than 13,000 households and 400 businesses on schedule every week.
1 Aug 2025
"Powerhouse of Fun!" Exploring Monroe's Parks & Rec
In this episode of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we're diving into all things Parks & Rec! From youth sports and community centers to the historic Dowd Theater, golf simulators, and the Warbirds Over Monroe airshow—there’s something fun for everyone in Monroe.
2 May 2025
Motion Mania! Exploring the Monroe Science Center
In the very first episode of Monroe Living: Our City at Work, we’re heading to the Monroe Science Center to check out the brand-new exhibit, Motion Mania! From spinning wheels to rolling ramps, this hands-on experience is designed to teach kids the forces behind everyday movement—and it's a whole lot of fun.
We sit down with Science Center Supervisor Lauren Fike to talk about what Motion Mania brings to the community, what else you can explore inside the Center, and how this space continues to inspire learning and curiosity in Monroe.
21 Apr 2025
Welcome to Monroe Living: Our City at Work
A quick preview of Monroe Living: Our City at Work—your new go-to source for city news, stories, and the people behind Monroe's progress.
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