Talk of the Towns | WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Topic: Trends in Education Guests: Gordon Donaldson, University of Maine, College of Education; Judith Cox, College of the Atlantic, Educational Studies Program; Craig Kesselheim, Great Schools Partnership What are some of the diverse ways that students learn, and how do they lead to different ways of te...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Changing Seas-Federal Policy Means Challenges and Opportunities for Maine’s Ground-Fishing Fleet What is the history, and current state, of ground-fishing in Maine? What have been some of the approaches to federal management of the fisheries? How does “permit banking&#82...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Marine Heritage Tourism-Lessons from Newfoundland and elsewhere Applied Down East Guests: Natalie Springuel, University of Maine Sea Grant; Fred Cook, DART (Downeast and Acadia Regional Tourism); Sherry Churchill, consultant on Nature Based Tourism The post Talk of the Towns 9/24/09 first appeare...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Topic: Acadia—one of America’s best ideas Guests: Sheridan Steele, Superintendent, Acadia National Park, Deb Wade, Chief Interpreter, Acadia National Park, Marla O’Byrne, Friends of Acadia If, as Ken Burn’s new television series asserts, national parks are America’s best idea, then surely Acadia is a bes...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Protecting Dark Skies What are “dark skies” and why are they important to people, from prehistoric times to present? Including professional and amateur astronomers, who else appreciates clear night skies? What trends are threatening our ability to see the night sky in this part of Mai...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Protecting Water and Wetlands with Shoreland Zoning How did the first state shoreland zoning act coming into being? What led to the 2006 changes in state law? What do landowners need to know? Guests: Tom Martin, Hancock County Planning Commission; Stephenie MacLagan, Maine Department of Environmental Protection Call in show The post Talk...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Topic: Beyond the Velvet Rope: Stewards of History, Energizers of Community What are some of the traditional ways we have celebrated and conserved local historical resources leading up until today? What are some examples of traditional success? What happened to “cultural tourism” as a salvation? What are...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Balancing Act- Promoting and Protecting Maine’s Outdoor Legacy Guest: Patrick McGowan, Commissioner, Maine Department of Conservation How would you describe Maine’s outdoor legacy– is it accurate to say that the Department of Conservation mission contains a balancing act–to promote the use of Maine’s outdoors...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: Nimble Non-Profits – Strategies in the face of the downturn What do we know about the non-profit sector in Maine? What do we know about how non-profits are faring as a result of the recession? Erosion of Investments and reserves? Donations to organizations? Escalation of need for community services they provide? How are non...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Maine’s Climate Future—what are the implications? Guests: George Jacobson, School of Biology and Ecology & Climate Change Institute, University of Maine; Paul Anderson, University of Maine Sea Grant; Ivan Fernandez, Plant, Soil & Environmental Sciences, and Climate Change Institute, Uni...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Conservation and Public Access Guests: Buck O’Herin, Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance; Annette Naegal, Georges River Land Trust; Cheri Domina, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust Call in show The post Talk of the Towns 4/10/09 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Pu...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Pandemic on the Radio—Lessons for communities on preparing for a pandemic avian influenza What is the context—what do we know about flu pandemic, from history and current trends/projections? (include differences between ‘normal’ flu and avian flu) In the event of a flu pandemic, what are the impo...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Guests: Russell Libby, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners, www.mofga.org; James McConnon, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; Daniel Price and Ginger McDermott, Freedom Farm, Freedom Maine; Greg Veilleaux, Bar Harbor Town Council Member, supporter of farmers market there; Keith Small, Washington-...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Studio Engineer: Joel Mann Creating the Future: Stories from Women, Work and Community Guests: Martha Duncan, Women, Work and Community, Hancock County; Susan Landry, Tranquility Acres Farm, Bucksport; Lexie Watson, Little Red Hen Baked Goods, Bar Harbor; Virginia Holden, Quietside Muffin Company, Southwest Harbor; Deb Burwell, Eleanor Days What is the mission, origins, cu...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Turning It Around: Teens talk about relationships, fitting in, and communication about sex, and engage in skits to demonstrate the concepts Guests:  Jonesport/Beals High School Students (Kenneth, Robbie, Sid, Sarah, Chris, Jessica)  Don Ficker, teacher The post Talk of the Towns 2/13/09 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Loca...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Community Supported Fisheries–Shrimp for Sale What is the mission, and what are the program of, the Penobscot East Resource Center?  How does a community supported fisheries work?  How is it related to the local foods movement? Guests: Aaron Dority, Penobscot East Resource Center;  Glen Libby, Port Clyde Shrimp and Groundfish Commun...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard Topic: A year of service in the Congo with Doctors Without Borders Guest: Linda Robinson, Nurse-midwife, Women’s Health Center, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Bar Harbor, ME What made you decide to pursue a year in service… why Africa and why Doctors without Borders?  Background on Doctors without Borders:  Where are they based, what is their mission, how do they tend to wo...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Gender Divide in Maine Schools What do we know about how boys and girls develop and learn?  What led to the gender divide research and who was involved?  What were the results and how do these relate to significant trends? Guests: Georgia Nigro, Bates College, Dept. of Psychology; Layne Gregory,...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Co-housing and local agriculture in Belfast What is co-housing and where did the concept originate?   How has the proposal for the Belfast Area Ecovillage developed in terms of the people, land and design process?  How does local agriculture intersect with the planned Ecovillage? Guests: Sanna Mc...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Studio Engineer: Amy Browne Topic: Putting An End to Domestic Violence, The Work of “Next Step” An overview of the issue currently and historically. How are services provided? What agencies work cooperatively? “Call to Men” national/local grassroots efforts. “Ties that Bind” business support for...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: Facing Winter Heating & Energy Challenges What is the challenge we face as a state, communities and individuals around winter energy costs?  What government and community initiatives are helping with the challenge?  What resources might one draw on to get help or provide help? Guests: Tim King, Director, Washington-Hanc...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: People Skills: Using Empathy and Non-Violent Communication What is non-violent communication?  What are it’s origins, values, principles and applications?  How can people learn more? Guests: Peggy Smith, Non-violent communication instructor; Shep Erhart, Maine Coast Sea Vegetables; Kyle Bissell, Otolith Education; Cal...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard,  University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: Interview with Roxana Robinson, Author of “Cost” (Farrar, Straw and Giroux,  2008), about the affects of addition on families How does addition affect family members?  What are some resources for dealing with addictions?  What are some suggestions Ms. Robinson can offer for other writers? FMI: www.roxanarobinso...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: Looking back, looking ahead:  Maine Towns and the Legislature We live in towns and cities; we also live in the state of Maine.  Each jurisdiction creates policies that, depending on your point of view, help us or hinder us as we make our homes, our livings, and our lives.   In this program, we ask state legislators to comme...

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Topic: Making connections: two examples of schools linking to their communities:  Isleboro Central School—Education in an Orchard and Deer Isle – Stonington High School – Looking Out for Teens (LOFT) Guests: John Pincince, Horticulture instructor, Central School, Isleboro; Students from Central School; Kim Hutchinson, LOFT program...