Archives for Specials

WERU Special- Downtowns 5/14/14

Producer/Host: Matt Murphy
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Downtown and Main Street in Maine Special

Summary:
The “Downtown Movement” is alive and well in Maine and we’ll explore both the concept and details of downtown revitalization in Maine. What is the history of downtowns in Maine? What is a healthy downtown and how do communities get there? What can the public do to support downtowns? What are the controversial elements of downtown revitalization? We explore these questions and more.

Topics:
Definition of “downtown”
Guests’ organizations’ roles in downtown movement
History of downtown in Maine
Elements of healthy downtown and how a town can get there
Hurdles to overcome
Examples
Maine Downtown Conference

Guests:
Meredith Jones, Executive Director of Maine Community Foundation
Briana Pinkham Bebb, Executive Director of Our Town Belfast
Lorain Francis, Senior Program Director of Maine Development Foundation

WERU Special – Katahdin Woods Nat’l Park 5/12/14

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Studio Engineer: Matt Murphy

A special WERU call-in show about the proposed Katahdin Woods and Waters National Park and Recreation area. The family of Roxanne Quimby, founder of Burt’s Bees, would like to donate land east of Mount Katahdin for a national park and a national recreation area. But rather than being met with a grateful “thank you”, the offer has received mixed responses. Joining us in the studio today is Lucas St. Clair, Roxanne Quimby’s son, and President of the Board of Directors of Elliotsville Plantation, the foundation that owns the land.

FMI: katahdinwoods.org/

Special: Camden Conference 3/12/14

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Topic: Two short Presentations from the 2014 Camden Conference; one by Kathleen Merrigen, one by Chellie Pingree

1. What are four ways in which agriculture can help reduce climate change?

2. What is the current status in the growth of farming in Maine?

3. What are two things that individuals can do to help ensure a more sustainable food system ?

Guests:

Kathleeen Merrigen, former Deputy Director of the US Department of Agriculture

Chellie Pingree, Congresswoman from Maine’s First Congressional District

Special: Camden Conference 3/6/14

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Presentation entitled “Two Pathways into the Future” from the 2014 Camden Conference, Fred Kirschenmann, Professor of Philosophy, Iowa State University, and organic farmer

1. Is the question “How will we increase agricultural output to feed 9 billion people “the right question to ask?
2. Why is a systems approach to food important?
3. Why is developing an “ecological conscience” a necessity for human survival ?

Special: Camden Conference 3/3/14

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Presentation entitled “Overheated: The Human Cost of Climate Change” from the 2014 Camden Conference, Andrew Guzman, Professor of Law, Berkeley Law School

1. What is the current effect on access to fresh water of melting glaciers around the world?
2. How many people are dependent on water originating in glaciers?
3. What will the effect be on those people as the climate warms?

WERU Special: Appalshop 1/30/14

Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Issue: journalism and filmmaking

Program Topic: Appalshop and its Making Connections co-coordinator and filmmaker Mimi Pickering

Key Discussion Points:
a) origins of Appalshop and its role in the community
b) stories of economic transition as explored by the Making Connections project
c) Mimi Pickering’s documentary films

Guest:
A) Mimi Pickering, documentary filmmaker at Appalshop and volunteer DJ for WMMT

FMI:
www.appalshop.org
www.makingconnectionsnews.org
kftc.org/abf