Talk of the Towns 8/12/20 Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument: Celebrating the 1st 4 Years

Producer/Host: Ron Beard

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Celebrating the first four years

•What led to the creation of the monument? What were some of the highs and lows in that journey?
•What would a visitor find in a visit today, four years after the monument opened? How would they get there? Where might they stay? What would they experience?
•How does the history and culture of Native Americans figure into the story?
•What is the role of the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters? What are some of your current projects and activities?
•What will the long-term impact of the monument have on the ecosystem, regional bio-diversity?
•What are your hopes for the future of the monument… what would you want visitors to the region now and in the future to “take away” from their experience?

Guests:
Lucas St. Clair – Founder and President of Elliotsville Foundation
Andrew Bossie – Executive Director, Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters
Tim Hudson or Jeanne Roy – KAWW Park Superintendent / Chief of Interpretation
Lindsey Hill Downing – Owner of MtChase Lodge in Mt Chase, Me
Jennifer Neptune – Member, Penobscot Nation, artist and registered Maine Guide

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 7/8/20: Project Launch and Deer Isle-Stonington High School

Producer/Host: Ron Beard

Project Launch and Deer Isle-Stonington High School—supporting high school graduates and their families with the transition to post-secondary education and the world of work

What led to the creation of Project Launch in 2012?

The transition from high school to post-secondary education can be challenging… what were you observing about the differences and similarities of those challenges to students of Deer Isle-Stonington High School and their peers in other parts of Maine?

What were the key elements of Project Launch originally and how is it set up now?
Support to students planning for post-secondary education, transition and ongoing support
Support for students not immediately planning to attend college or technical schools, seeking local employment, internships, apprenticeships

What is the perspective from Deer Isle/Stonington High School? What is the partnership between Project Launch and the school?

How do you track success? What support and challenges do you face in keeping the program thriving?

What are your hopes for future (individual and for Project Launch)—Each Guest responds as we wrap up the conversation…

Guests:
Kim Hutchinson, Director, Project Launch (PL)
Saige Brages is a fourth-year UMA student, and PL office manager and social media guru!
Rachel Shepard recent graduate Deer Isle-Stonington High School
Kaitlynne Harrison second-year college student,
Dennis Duquette, DISHS principal, PL Advisory Committee Board Member
Chelsea Brown, current DISHS guidance counselor,
Kathy Githens, PL Advisory Committee Member,
Haley Robbins McDonald, owner/operator of Island Daycare, past PL advisory committee member

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 6/10/20: Conservation of the Narraguagus River watershed

Producer/Host: Ron Beard

Program Topic: Conservation of the Narraguagus River watershed and improving passage for salmon and other fish

Background on the river and the watershed… what is significant, including salmon habitat and human uses of the river (economic and recreational) and its related resources
Jacob describes how MCHT’s Whole Place initiative relates
Background on Cherryfield (a bit of history, its past and present economy, relationship to the Narraguagus, salmon fishing legacy)
What are the various interests of the organizations in conserving the Narraguagus River and its habitat
Among the issues to be addressed is improving aquatic habitat and connectivity… why is this important to both the fish and people? How do the fresh water and saltwater connect and why is that important? Which fish use the watershed?
A major concern is fish passage at the Cherryfield Ice Dam… what is the history of this dam… what is its present status and how are you working towards improved fish passage?
What are some of the other threats and how are you and your organizations working on them (water quality–oxygen, temperature, etc., impact of road crossings, loss of mature forests along the river, agriculture and other uses of riparian areas, tidal restrictions in lower portion of river)
What is the likely future for the Narragaugus River watershed

Guests:
Jacob van de Sande, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Land Protection Project Manager
Chris Federico, Habitat Restoration Project Manager, SHARE
Dwayne Shaw, Executive Director, Downeast Salmon Federation
Paul Anderson, Executive Director, Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries
Art Tatangelo, Selectman, Town of Cherryfield

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 5/13/20: Interview with Leonie Charlton, author of Marram

Producer/Host: Ron Beard

Interview with Leonie Charlton, author of Marram, published by Sandstone Press, 2020 about her trip with horses through the Hebrides

What led Leonie Charlton to take this trip?
What did she encounter in the way of flora, fauna and geology unique to the Hebrides?
What did she learn about the people, culture and history of the Hebrides?
What did Leonie learn about your relationship with your mother and how did you choose to remember her while on this journey?
What is Leonie Charlton’s writing process like?

Guest: Leonie Charlton, writer, Taynault, Scotland, author of Marram

Marram by Leonie Charlton, published by Sandstone Press in 2020, may be ordered via the following link to Book Depository (free shipping worldwide at the time of this posting)

For photos of Leonie Charlton’s journey through the Outer Hebrides, follow these links to two albums:

Hebrides photobook volume 1

Hebrides photobook volume 2

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 3/11/20: Trout Unlimited… how do we protect the habitat that trout love and why does it matter?

Producer/Host: Ron Beard
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

What is the status of Eastern Brook Trout in North America and in Maine
Population, habitat, ecology, role in sport fishery
What is the life cycle of the brook trout?
Why is Maine so important to the status of brook trout?
What are the best strategies to protect and enhance brook trout populations?
What is the mission of Trout Unlimited and how is it organized?
What led to the creation of the new Downeast Chapter?
What are you most excited about to work on as a Chapter?
Who are your allies and partners in this work (Downeast Fisheries Partnership, Maine Audubon, State and Federal agencies, others?)

Guests:
Robert Packie, President Downeast Trout Unlimited chapter
Terry Young, President Georges River Trout Unlimited chapter
Tammy Packie, Secretary, Downeast Trout Unlimited chapter
Jeff Reardon, National Trout Unlimited, Maine Brook Trout Project Director
Mac McGinley, Trout Unlimited State Council President

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 2/12/20: Union River Center for Innovation & the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

Producer/Host: Ron Beard
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Background on Ellsworth and its regional economy– historic and present day
Ellsworth’s overall economic development strategy
What led to the Union River Center for Innovation as part of that strategy?
How does the Center approach its work?
The several companies who are based at the Center seem to stem from innovation based in scientific research and technology… is that by chance or design?
What are some other common challenges for start-up enterprises?
Are there different challenges for what you refer to as next generation of growth companies?
Are there some characteristics that are either hard-wired into next gen entrepreneurs, or skills and traits that can be learned and fostered? What makes for a successful entrepreneur?

Guests:
Janna Richards, Economic Development Director, City of Ellsworth
Kat Taylor, Entrepreneur in Residence & co founder Genotyping Center for America
Aaron Cox, Katadyn (Steri-pen)
Chuck Carter, Eagre Games

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 1/8/20: Knitting as Craft, Knitting as Life Force

Producer/Host: Ron Beard
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Key Discussion Points:

What led each guest to knitting and how does it factor into their lives now? As members of a weekly knitting group at the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, what are the benefits you and other members see. What community projects have been successful?

What do we know about the history of knitting, both for functional clothing and as a craft? What periods in history brought knitting to the forefront?

What led to the founding Knit Fit at the Mount Desert Island YMCA (participants knit while walking for light exercise) ?

How did Dayana Knits come to be as a facebook page and blog… what is the audience and response?

What was the experience of traveling to the Shetland Island with a focus on the wool and knitting community there?

How would someone wanting to learn knitting get started… what are the basics? Where can a beginner get support… on their own and in groups? What are your favorite on-line resources?

Guests:
Jill Goldthwait, former State Senator
Michelle McCann, originator of Knit Fit, MDI YMCA
Dayana Krawchuk, blogger Dayana Knits
Jen Crandall, MDI High School

About the host:
Ron Beard is producer and host of Talk of the Towns, which first aired on WERU in 1993 as part of his community building work as an Extension professor with University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant. He took all the journalism courses he could fit in while an undergraduate student in wildlife management and served as an intern with Maine Public Television nightly newscast in the early 1970s. Ron is an adjunct faculty member at College of the Atlantic, teaching courses on community development. Ron served on the Bar Harbor Town Council for six years and is currently board chair for the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, where he has lived since 1975. Look for him on the Allagash River in June, and whenever he can get away, in the highlands of Scotland where he was fortunate to spend two sabbaticals.

Talk of the Towns 12/13/19: Peninsula Free Health Clinic

Producer/Host: Ron Beard
Studio Engineer: Amy Browne

Key Discussion Points:

What motivated folks to create Peninsula Free Health Clinic in 2013?
What services do you provide and who provides them? Where are you located?
Describe array of patients (geography, socio-economic background, health status)
What might a typical day at the clinic look like?
If the clinic is filling gaps in the present health care system, what is needed to better address those gaps? What policy/practice changes are needed, including at the state level?
What are your biggest challenges and how can the community help?
What lessons might be useful for other communities?

Guests:
Jan Snow / Peninsula Free Health Clinic Board President /
Lucy Rowe / clinic volunteer non-medical /
Marti Brill / clinic patient /
Joe Perkins / board member
Dr. Michelle Perkins
State Rep Representative Sarah Pebworth, District 133 Blue Hill, Brooklin, Brooksville, Castine, Sedgwick and Surry