Outside the Box 6/1/21: “Caste”

Producer/Host: Larry Dansinger

About the host:
Larry Dansinger (no pronouns) of Bangor came to Maine in 1974 and has been here ever since. Some of Larry’s activities since then: Done community organizing on numerous issues through INVERT and then Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC), committed civil disobedience several times, grown a garden yearly since 1977, joined various food cooperatives and two men’s groups, refused to pay federal income taxes for war, lived on a community land trust for 23 years, and met a wonderful partner whom Larry has loved for over 40 years. Larry has produced Outside the Box features on WERU since 2007 and continues to look for unique ways of seeing almost any problem or situation.

Poetry Express 5/30/21: “I Can’t Stop Saving My Father’s Voicemails”

“I Can’t Stop Saving My Father’s Voicemails” by Amanda Dettman read by the poet.

About the host:
Jan Bindas-Tenney is a trans non-binary and queer writer, reader, fighter, lover, friend and parent living on unceded Abenaki land. They hold an MFA in nonfiction from University of Arizona. Their writing has appeared in the opinion pages of Maine newspapers, in legislative testimony, as well as in Orion, Guernica, Gulf Coast, Arts & Letters, CutBank, the Maine Review, among other places. They work at the Maine Humanities Council where they curate a weekly poetry feature on WERU Community Radio called Poetry Express.

Pet Sounds 5/30/21: Behavioral Development of Dogs and Cats, Part 1

Producer/Host: Dr. John Hunt

About the host:

My Sunday morning short has been running for about 11 years. I’ve cover a wide range of animal related topics from COVID to porcupines.

After graduating from Michigan State University Veterinary School in 1982 I practiced at three different veterinary hospitals in the Hartford, Conn area for 5 years. Then I bought a small part time clinic in Bucksport and turned it into a full time small animal surgery and medicine hospital. From 1987 to 2014 I enjoyed serving the Bucksport-Orland area pet owners. My kids grew up in Bucksport. I was a Boy Scoutmaster for a few years, and coached cross country and track in the Bucksport school system for 20 years. I’ve written three books working on a fourth.

I sold my practice and retired from practicing medicine in 2014. Since “retiring” I’ve continued Pet Sounds and my monthly Lets Talk Animals show on WERU. I’ve been teaching at local community colleges, officiating at high school track meets, writing and started a blog on line.

I enjoy hiking, reading, writing and anticipate spending more time with my first grandchild.

The Nature of Phenology 5/29/21: Cherry Flowers

Producers: Hazel Stark & Joe Horn
Host: Hazel Stark

Now is the time to sniff out your local wild cherry thicket so you know where to return once the fruits are ready this summer. Look for the long clusters of cherry flowers, a harbinger of a good jelly-making season to come.

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

About the producers and host:

Joe Horn lives in Gouldsboro, is Co-Founder of Maine Outdoor School, L3C, and is a Registered Maine Guide and Carpenter. He is passionate about fishing, cooking, and making things with his hands. He has both an MBA in Sustainability and an MS focused in Environmental Education. Joe can be reached by emailing [email protected]

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]

The Cosmic Curator 5/29/21: Weekly Astrology Outlook

Producer/Host: Tom Yaroschuk

This is your Cosmic Curator, Tom Yaroschuk, With the astrological lowdown for the week. Well The Big Celestial Event is the overload in Gemini. Venus, Mercury and Mars are moving through the mutable air sign of the intellect, communication, wit, flirtation and hooking up. Hmmm. Lots of energy there. Then, it happens, one of the best know, much maligned and mostly misunderstood – celestial event occurs – Mercury goes retrograde. Yowzer. I bet You can already feel it. Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap because communications goes awry, computers break down, in fact anything the connects seems to disconnect from deliveries to that doiley being stitched. Trains, planes, busses and ferries – anything running on schedule, seems to be off. But wait maybe that’s not a bad thing. Is it a blessing in disguise? You’ll only know for sure after it happens. Just double check stuff and back-up your computer! Mercury retrograde is great time to break bad habits, to re-think, re-member, re-tire, and re-do. It’s the big do over. It’s a change in consciousness. So embrace it. Everything happens for a purpose in the universe.

The other celestial event is about the Sun. Yes the Sun! The Center of our solar system is half way through sidereal Taurus. A Taurus Sun channels Venus, The consciousness of love, money, art, creativity, beauty, and material comfort. A Taurus Sun gives rise to poets, painters, authors, and romantics. What? do you think Bob Dylan would be a Virgo?

But this month, the Sun and the demon shadow planet Rahu collide. When that happens and it only happens every 18 years, the significations of the Taurus Sun become distorted, typically by amplification. Appetites’ become insatiable for what the Taurus Sun embodies. If unrestrained, your “desire – meter” could move from wants to obsession. So choose your desires carefully before acting on them. The ancient sages say, That which strengthens you is good, that which weakens you – not so much.

That’s the cosmic scoop for the week.
Next week, I’ll curate the cosmic collision of the sun, moon, and Rahu on June 10th better known as the solar eclipse. That’s going to shake things up for sure.
So until then, remember …. You reap what you sow.
So do good and be good.
And don’t sweat the small stuff.
Over and out.

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.