Talk of the Towns 4/27/12

Issue: Community affairs
Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Hancock County Leadership Program
Key Discussion Points:
· What led to the creation of the program?
· What are the goals of the Hancock County Leadership program… how do they compare with the goals of other leadership programs?
· What are the basic elements of the program? How do you approach the notion of “leadership”? What are expectations of participants?

Guests:
A) Bonnie Sparks, Director Hancock Cnty Higher Ed. Center & Member of steering committee for leadership program
B) Patrick Maguire, Dwight Brown Agency, 2012 program
C) Leita Zeugner, Bar Harbor Bank, 2011 program
D) Bill Cohen, Director of Communications and Public Affairs Verso Paper (Host Business)
E) Mark Politte, Stanley Subaru, Employer sending participant

Call In Program: Yes

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Talk of the Towns 4/13/12

Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Joel Mann

Issue: Education

Program Topic: Renewing the Courage to Teach
Key Discussion Points:
a) What drew each of you to work in education? Are there other factors that inspire teachers older and younger to take up the “leading forth” or education of the next generations of learners?
b) What are some of the values of the profession? (what values do teachers profess?)
c) What are some of the conditions and external factors that cause teachers to lose heart?
(criticism about teacher effectiveness, failing schools, policies that dictate teaching to the test, larger class sizes, lack of resources for amenities, etc)
d) What “dark nights of the soul” have you encountered personally in your careers in education?
e) Who is Parker Palmer, and what led him to his work at the Center for Courage and Renewal?
f) How do you introduce and follow Parker Palmer’s approach here in Maine… one day workshops and 2-3 day retreats… what is the format and content you employ… what is in store for participants in the upcoming retreat at Cobscook Community Learning Center on June 27-29? (share the shape of the days and some of the questions you will ask)
g) Based on your past work, what in this approach most resonates with participants? How have they benefited, as individuals and as educators?
h) What personal practices help all educators with the courage to teach… where can teachers learn more, get support for themselves?

Guests:
A) Richard Ackerman, UM College of Education and Human Development
B) Doug Babkirk, UM Cooperative Extension, Portland
C) Carrie Callahan, Cobscook Community Learning Center, Trescott

Call In Program: Yes

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Talk of the Towns 3/23/12

Issue: Local education
Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Joel Mann

Program Topic: Montessori Education at Belfast’s Corner Spring Montessori School
Key Discussion Points:
a) What are the basic elements of a Montessori education (Self- Construction, Liberty, Spontaneous Activity) and how do these match with children’s development?
b)Talk about the “human tendencies” that Maria Montessori observed in children… (mention any connection to non-violent communication??)
c)What does a typical Montessori day look like at Corner Spring Montessori School? (sound like, smell like, taste like?)
d)What have you observed in how children respond to the day to day elements of a Montessori education? What are students learning about collaboration?
e) Dr. Angeline Lillard’s research indicates that Montessori education has positive effects on social skills… how do you see that playing out in your own experience?
f) If the “human tendencies” are fostered over the four phases of development, what hopes do you have for the kinds of adults that result? How do those adults contribute to the wider community in which they live?
g) How important are parents in Montessori education… assuming that Montessori parents are already motivated to care about their children’s education, how do you involve them to integrate the philosophy of the classroom to their own parenting and teaching?
h) What are some of the criticisms of Montessori education and how do you respond to them? (stifling creativity – John Dewey; Homework? Grading? Elitism?)
i) What sorts of opportunities and challenges do you face as a private non-profit school, and how are you responding?

Guests:
A) Paula Johnson, Corner Spring Montessori School
B) Cindi Scappaticci, Head Teacher, Lower elementary
C) Matt O’Malia, Board member
D) Anne Saggese, parent

Call In Program: Yes

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Talk of the Towns 3/9/12

Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne
Issue: Community concerns and opportunities for citizen involvement
Broadcast Time: 10- 11 AM
Program Topic: Food Security and Food Pantries
Key Discussion Points (list at least 3):
· How are you framing the question of food security (and difference from hunger)?
· What is the extent of food insecurity in this part of Maine? How does Maine compare to the nation or region?
· What factors lead or contribute to food insecurity / hunger in eastern Maine?
· How are communities, agencies and organizations responding?
· What are ways for addressing the issue in the short run?
· What are the longer term, structural solutions and policies needed to address food security?
· Where do local food pantries fit into the spectrum of short and longer run solutions?
· How are food pantries organized and supported in this part of Maine?
· What trends insure food pantry food provides needed calories but is also healthful?
Marjorie’s interview covered the basics of the food drive:
What led to the creation of this particular food drive?
What is different about this food drive (incentive for matching cash donations)?
How is the drive organized to achieve its goal of 10,000 plus items?
How do listeners get involved?
Beyond the food drive, how is Extension helping address food security? (education on growing, preparing and preserving food, support for food pantries, encouragement for Master Gardeners and others inMaine Harvest for Hunger)
Contact info for listeners wanting to learn more, get involved Beyond success in this and other food drives, what are your hopes for how we address the issue of food security as a community and as a nation?

Guests by name and affiliation:
A) Sara Yasner, United Way of Eastern Maine
B) Susan Farley, Washington-Hancock Community Agency
C) Jim Tintle, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
D) Marjorie Peronto, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
(in pre-recorded interview)

Call In Program: Yes
Political Broadcast: No

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Talk of the Towns 2/24/12

Issue: Community walking and hiking trails, environmental stewardship
Host: Ron Beard
Engineer: Amy Browne

Broadcast Time: 10-11 AM
Program Topic: Connecting Trails and Towns

Key Discussion Points:
a) Questions for Mike Little
Describe Island Heritage Trust, mission, history, land conservation and public access through easements and purchase, recent projects, and proposal for walking trail, details and community reactions…
Questions for Stephanie Clement
Describe Friends of Acadia, larger purposes, and history of village connector trails projects, highlights, successes and challenges, Trenton trail and other recent work…what trail(s) always inspires you and why… community reactions
Questions for Jay Astle (by phone)
Give us some background on Georges River Land Trust and its dedication to trails, which began with Les Hydes 1990 presentation to your annual meeting… what has happened since? How is the trail used and maintained? Are communities along the watershed seeing some benefits? What is happening in the town of St George? Future hopes and plans?
Questions for Paul Johnson (by phone or in studio?) Your background as fisheries biologist, interests in future of Maine North Woods, participation in Maine Woods Forever (describe mission and round-tables) and the story of creating the Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail and what it is today… what highlights of Thoreau’s connection to the region and to Joseph Attean and Joe Polis inspire you? What are your favorite parts of the trail?
Discussion questions for all in studio
What inspires community members to get involved in creating and maintaining trails?
What are some of the tangible and intangible benefits for communities and their citizens which have connections to trails?
Are we seeing some economic benefit to communities that have trails connections?
We are seeing some interesting collaborations to create and promote trails—health promotion groups, local schools, conservation groups… what have you seen happen as a result?
What other trends in trails are you seeing? (historic, birding, fisheries, geologic)
Where can listeners learn more about your organizations and community trails in general?
What are your hopes for the future, as trails connect with towns and communities?

Guests by name and affiliation:
A. Mike Little, Island Heritage Trust (Deer Isle-Stonington)
B. Stephanie Clement, Friends of Acadia, Bar Harbor
C. Jay Astle, Trails Coordinator, Georges River Land Trust
D. Paul Johnson, Maine Woods Forever, Oakland

Call In Program: Yes

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Talk of the Towns 2/10/12

Issue: Citizen engagement, local democracy, occupy maine
Broadcast Time: 10- 11 AM
Program Topic: Learning from Occupy Efforts in Eastern Maine

Key Discussion Points:
1. What inspired you to get involved … what was your path like? Where there particular issues or questions that Occupy groups have raised that particularly resonate with you?
2. What have the various Occupy efforts looked like (Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, Bangor, Augusta)… what activities did you carry out in the fall and early winter?
3. What have you seen happening more recently, with the gathering in Washington and the Occupy the Courts events?
4. What are you planning? (free speech community event in Bar Harbor… other events?)
5. What have you learned? What about the Occupy movement seems to make it easy for people to get involved? What tangible/intangible results have you seen in your community as a result of Occupy efforts?
6. What issues that seem to be emerging as most important for the Occupy movement in 2012, and how you would like to see Maine people respond and get involved.

Guests:
A) Lawrence Reichard, Bangor
B) John Curtis, Ellsworth area
C) Simon Beckford – east of Ellsworth
D) Benjamin Hitchcock — Bar Harbor / College of the Atlantic
E) Kara Oster– Bar Harbor / College of the Atlantic
F) Margaret Fetzer-Rogers– Bar Harbor / College of the Atlantic

Call In Program: Yes
Host: Ron Beard
Engineer: Amy Browne

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Talk of the Towns 1/13/12

Issue: Education/ Economy
Program Name: Talk of the Towns
Broadcast Date: January 13, 2012
Broadcast Time: 10-11AM
Program Topic: Careers for Today and Tomorrow: Higher Ed’s role in preparing students
Key Discussion Points:
· Where is Maine’s economy headed and what are the careers of today and tomorrow?
· What is higher education’s role in preparing students for the careers of today and tomorrow?
· An example of career preparation is exposure to the process of engineering—starting with a problem and designing something new or improved to solve that problem… you are taking that approach statewide, through the Innovation Engineering Program… tell us how that is working?
· In addition to preparing students for careers, the University has a unique role with innovation, so that the ideas that students and faculty develop get picked up by business and improve productivity and, in the long run, profits and new jobs… talk about how that potential is being realized at UM?
· You have begun serving on the State Workforce Investment Board… what is the purpose of this board and how will it carry out its work?
· What were the University Higher Education Centers designed to do and how have they evolved?
· How are Hancock County residents taking advantage of the Higher Education Center in Ellsworth? What would we see if we were to visit?
· There is a mix of students using higher education to gain career skills… technical colleges, community colleges, university students. Describe how you are creating new partnerships to meet these various needs?
· Beyond developing career skills, and becoming proficient, what about the broader goal of education, using knowledge to lift people up? How is that goal addressed within the Higher Education Centers?
· How do you see the University Higher Education Center contributing to the economy and community life in Hancock County?
· Where do you see the local economy heading, and how is the higher ed center helping students prepare?
· What led you to begin classes at the higher ed center? What makes the center a good match for your needs? Where would you like to be in 5 years?
· What attracted you to teach at the higher ed center? What works well with this approach to education, what are the challenges for students and how are you and others meeting them? What is satisfying… tell a story about a student you have followed after graduation…
· What are your hopes for how higher education continues to help people develop the skills and qualifications for careers of today and tomorrow?

Guests by name and affiliation:
1. Renee Kelly, Director of Economic Development Initiatives & Co-Director of the Foster Student Innovation Center
2. Bonnie Sparks, Director, Hancock County Higher Education Center
3. Micki Sumpter, Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce
4. Joan Piskura, December graduate
5. Jeanne Edwards, instructor, EMMC

Call In Program: Yes
Political Broadcast: No
Host: Ron Beard
Engineer: Amy Browne

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