Talk of the Towns 1/25/13

Producer/Host: Ron Beard, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Co Housing Alive and Well in Maine
Key Discussion Points:
1. What is the concept of co-housing?
2. What motivated you and others to create this option for folks in the Belfast area?
3. How would you describe your mission and long term vision?
4. What were some of the high points and challenges over the last 5 years?
5. Where are you now? What would we see if we drove on to the site? (housing, amenities, agriculture, woodlands)
6. Introduce us to the community of residents in general, and then the guests you have brought along.
7. What attracted you most about co-housing and the ecovillage in particular?
8. What are the highlights of living in this community, for you and your families?
9. What was the process like for you as a homeowner/community member (describe the process/path that led you to where you are?
10. Alyne Cistone—what led you to take on the role of Executive Director of Island Housing Trust? what do you understand about the history and mission of Island Housing Trust?
a.What tools do you use to try to create affordable community workforce housing?
b. (including affordability covenants)
c. What is the history of the Ripples Hill Project and where are you now?
11. Annika—what attracted you and your family to Ripples co-housing project?
a. What was the process like to get to your home?
b. What do you and your family value most about living there?
12. Wrap-up For Sanna– What lessons have you learned from helping to birth and nurture the Belfast Co-Housing and Ecovillage? Advice for other communities/organizers?
13. Resources, including your website….What are your hopes for the future?

Guests:
A) Sanna McKim, Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage
B)Nessa Dertnig, Resident, Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage
C) Jon Ippolito, Resident, Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage
D) Alyne Cistone, Island Housing Trust
E) Annika, resident Ripples Hill co housing project, Mt Desert

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RadioActive 1/24/13

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco

Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: Tar Sands demonstration in Bangor, organizing in Maine

Key Discussion Points:

a) Demonstrators in Bangor and across the region rallied to oppose the use of a northeast pipeline for tar sands oil. The Portland Montreal Pipe Line (PMPL) corporation has plans to reverse it’s 70 year old pipeline to transport tar sands from Montreal to Portland, Maine’s harbor.

b) The demonstration took place in front of a TD Bank. TD is one of the largest financiers of the Alberta tar sands developments. Canadians have opposed this industry because of forest destruction, contamination and health impacts, specifically on First nations communities. Both in the US and Canada, people have opposed tar sands pipelines, because of the proven increased risk of spills, the toxicity of the bitumen crude, and threat to drinking water. It takes three times as much energy to produce a barrel of tar sands oil then conventional oil. Scientist James Hansen warns the production and use of tars sands oil will precipitate “game over for climate change.

c) For the first time in it’s history, Sierra Club is planning to engage in direct action this February to oppose tar sands production and climate change.

Guests:
A) Demonstrators at tar sands protest in Bangor
B) Andy Burt, Sierra Club activist and environmental justice coordinator for Maine Council of Churches

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Notes from the Electronic Cottage 1/24/13

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

Digital cameras are great. They can help us not only to take better photos more conveniently, they also capture information about how our picture was taken so we can duplicate the exact exposure on another shot if we want to. And these days, most newer digital cameras also capture information about exactly where and when a picture was taken, which might also be very convenient – or not. Here are a few things to consider before you send off that digital photo to an online photo sharing site.

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Maine Arts Alive 1/22/13

Host: Michael Donahue
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: Haystack Mountain School of Crafts – Fostering Artistic Expression
Key Discussion Points:
• History of Haystack
• Current Programs
• Future of Haystack
Guests:
• Stuart Kestenbaum, Executive Director, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts
• Elizabeth Busch, artist, instructor, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

Call-In Program

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