The Nature of Phenology 10/23/21: Those Tropical Trees

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

Young oaks and beeches, but especially beech trees, tend to retain their dead leaves through the fall and often straight through the winter only to shed them once spring has sprung. This tendency is called “marcescence.”

Photos, a full transcript, references, contact information, and more available at thenatureofphenology.wordpress.com

Hazel Stark lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder and Naturalist Educator at Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide. She loves taking a closer look at nature through the lens of her camera, napping in beds of moss, and taking hikes to high points to see what being tall is all about. She has an MS in Resource Management and Conservation and is a lifelong Maine outdoorswoman. Hazel can be reached by emailing [email protected]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Cosmic Curator 10/23/21: Astrology update for the week ahead

This is your Cosmic Curator, Tom Yaroschuk with an astrology update for today Saturday October 23 and the week ahead.

How about that brilliant full moon last Wednesday? In this part of the world, its called the Hunter’s Moon. On the other side of the planet, in India its called Sharad Purnima, when the light of the full moon becomes saturated with the nectar of love and renewal…

About the Host:
Tom Yaroschuk is a Vedic Astrologer. His intention is to help people understand their karma and the issues they may confront to cultivate more fulfilling lives. Tom is writing a memoir of the spiritual lessons derived from his work in a Homeless Day Center in between a career as an award winning television and documentary producer.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Coastal Conversations 10/22/21: Ocean Acidification- How Can States and Local Communities Respond?

Producer/Host: Natalie Springuel

Maine coastal and ocean issues: Ocean Acidification, how can states and local communities respond?

-What is Ocean Acidification? Much like carbon dioxide wreaks havoc on the atmosphere, C02 in the ocean triggers a series a chemical processes that lower the pH of the water, making it more acidic. This can cause problems for shellfish, a concern in a state like Maine where shellfish harvesting is an important part of our coastal economy.

-What can states and communities do about it? We’ll explore the last decade of how states and communities have been responding to ocean acidification, including Maine, with lessons learned for the East and West coasts.

-On today’s show, you’ll learn how new modeling and forecasting tools will help fishing communities and water quality management adapt to changing conditions. You can hear about a region-wide, simultaneous monitoring event to expand Ocean Acidification research through community-science organizations and private-public partnerships.

Guests:

Jessie Turner: Secretariat of the Ocean Acidification Alliance, guest editor of special Ocean Acidification issue of Coastal Management Journal
Aaron Strong: Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Hamilton College and formerly professor at the University of Maine
Parker Gassett: Marine Extension Associate with Maine Sea Grant, coordinating efforts on climate resilience at the community level.

About the host:
Natalie Springuel has hosted Coastal Conversation’s since 2015, with support from the University of Maine Sea Grant where she has served as a marine extension associate for 20 years. In 2019, Springuel received an award for Public Affairs programming from the Maine Association of Broadcasters for the Coastal Conversations show called “Portland’s Working Waterfront.” Springuel is passionate about translating science, sharing stories, and offering a platform for multiple voices to weigh in on complex coastal and ocean issues. She has recently enrolled in audio production training at Maine Media Workshop to dive deeper into making great community radio.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Awanadjo Almanack 10/22/21

Producer/Host: Rob McCall
Production Assistance: Rebecca McCall

About the host, Rob McCall:

Born in the Black Hills of South Dakota, grew up in Oregon and Illinois. Father was a Scots-Irish preacher, mother a Yankee Congregationalist tracing her ancestry back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Father taught him about Scripture, mother taught him about Nature.

Bachelor of arts in philosophy, bachelor of divinity in American religious history, graduate studies in education, doctor of ministry in congregational studies, certified in elementary education, tree fruits and entomology.

Worked as an elementary school teacher, tree and landscape contractor, church sexton, orchard manager, chimney sweep, ambulance driver, musician. Began second career as a preacher at age 40. Served as minister of the First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, Maine 1986 – 2014. He is currently chaplain of the Brooklin Fire Department.

Since 1992 has published the weekly Awanadjo Almanack which is broadcast to midcoast Maine and on the web at WERU-FM and appears in a number of publications. His writing has also appeared in Yankee, Down East, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, Island Journal and elsewhere.

His first book, Small Misty Mountain, was published in 2006 by Pushcart Press and distributed by W.W. Norton. Publisher’s Weekly called it “by turns inspiring and infuriating.” His second book, Great Speckled Bird, followed in 2012. His third book, Some Glad Morning, was released in October 2020.

Passions include wild plants and animals, and traditional fiddle tunes. Married for 53 years to Rebecca Haley, artist and singer. Father of two, grandfather of two.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Dawnland Signals 10/21/21: Beyond the Claims- Stories from the Land and the Heart

Producers/Hosts: Maria Girouard, Esther Anne
Engineer: Jeffrey Hotchkiss

Critical conversations of truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland: Wabanaki REACH‘s Truth Telling Initiative

-What Wabanaki REACH’s truth-telling project is about and what groundwork has been done
-What the learning curve has been like and what experience the guests bring to the project
-What the project hopes to accomplish

Guests:

Kate Russell, Wabanaki REACH Project Coordinator and Stephanie Bailey, Passamaquoddy from Motahkmihkuk and Project Story Collector.

About the hosts:

Esther Anne, is a Passamaquoddy from Sipayik who lives on Indian Island and serves on the Wabanaki REACH Board of Directors.

Maria Girouard, Penobscot from Indian Island, is Executive Director of Wabanaki REACH, a statewide organization working toward truth, healing, and change in the Dawnland. Maria is a tribal historian with a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Maine and a special interest in the Maine Indian Land Claims. Maria has devoted years to community organizing, environmental stewardship and activism, and growing food in tribal communities.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Essential Rhythm 10/21/21: Hydroids

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode describes a specific group of colonial animals, the hydroids (a class of the phylum Cnidaria). Characteristics of this group include stinging cells called cnidae and a complicated life history that includes asexual and sexual phases.

About the host:
Sarah O’Malley is an ecologist, naturalist and science communicator passionate about deepening her listeners’ experiences with the natural world. She teaches biology and sustainability at Maine Maritime Academy and is currently collaborating on a guide book to the intertidal zone in the Gulf of Maine.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 10/21/21: Neurotechnology & Privacy

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

An article posted by Scientific American recently asked; “Do We Have a Right to Mental Privacy and Cognitive Liberty?” It’s a question we are all going to have to consider in the coming era of Brain Computer Interfaces. Here’s why.

Here is a link to the proposed laws in Chile dealing with neurotechology and human rights

About the host:
Jim Campbell has a longstanding interest in the intersection of digital technology, law, and public policy and how they affect our daily lives in our increasingly digital world. He has banged around non-commercial radio for decades and, in the little known facts department (that should probably stay that way), he was one of the readers voicing Richard Nixon’s words when NPR broadcast the entire transcript of the Watergate tapes. Like several other current WERU volunteers, he was at the station’s sign-on party on May 1, 1988 and has been a volunteer ever since doing an early stint as a Morning Maine host, and later producing WERU program series including Northern Lights, Conversations on Science and Society, Sound Portrait of the Artist, Selections from the Camden Conference, others that will probably come to him after this is is posted, and, of course, Notes from the Electronic Cottage.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download