Today we featured local mom, wife, daughter and business owner (Itasca Dog Lodge) Tiffiney Bartz. She has begun something she calls the #joymovementmn . Besides providing good cheer on facebook, she has been raising money for people in need and publicizing local organizations and groups that are doing good in the community like yesterday's conversation with North In Bloom Floral in Grand Rapids that is raising money to deliver flowers to every person who is in assisted living in the Grand Rapids

Phenology is the rhythmic biological nature of events as they relate to climate. Each week, our resident phenologist John Latimer closely assesses the subtle changes happening outside and gives a full, official phenology report. This week John discusses our recent warm spell, ice skating, green plants in the forest and he educates us on the logistical reason behind star-nosed moles storing fat in their tails! All that and more in the full report! KAXE-KBXE Northern Community Radio is listener

Phenology is the biological nature of events as they relate to climate. Phenology Talkbacks are an opportunity for students and listeners to connect with the station about nature. Each week, resident phenologist John Latimer gathers the phenological correspondence and classroom observations sent his way. He shares and discusses them every Tuesday morning during the Phenology Show.

Madeline Cook from North in Bloom Floral joins John on the Thursday Morning Show. Madeline talks about their plan to raise money to get flower arrangements to every resident in an assisted living or nursing home in Grand Rapids and Coleraine. They are offering people a chance to adopt a resident and play “Secret Santa”, helping people to get through what may be a lonely holiday season. Sign up to spread holiday joy by calling North in Bloom Floral at 218-326-0376.

Kyle Erickson and Fred Freidman join John on the Thursday Morning Show for Sports Page. This week they discuss the decision made by Major League Baseball to change the record books to include the Negro League statistics. They talk about the changes that this will make in the MLB records and give some history on the Negro League. They talk in depth about the Gophers men’s basketball team, let us know how the Vikings are doing and end by sharing some trivia.

After a seasonal break in fishing John welcomes Jeff Sundin back for Early Bird Fishing Guide on the Thursday Morning Show. Jeff gives us tips on which lakes have good ice for safe fishing and how much ice to expect on lakes of different sizes and depths. He tells us about the crowds rushing to fish Red Lake because it is one of the first to freeze and lets us know that this weekend the resorts will open at Lake of the Woods. Jeff gives us some ideas for Christmas gifts, from polar fleece pants

This week, our country passed the sad milestone of more than 300,000 people having died from COVID-19. But also last weekend, the first shipments of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine rolled out of its warehouse in Michigan. We heard reports that vaccine had arrived at Sanford Health in Bemidji very quickly after that, on Monday. Vaccines for COVID 19 give us hope. Dr. Colleen Swank from Sanford Bemidji Medical Center joined Dan Houg and Maggie Montgomery on Northern Community Radio's Wednesday Morning

We talk with young adult writer Bill Konigsberg about his new novel The Bridge . The story features two teenagers, strangers to each other, who have decided to jump from the same bridge at the same time. It's told in alternate narratives, allowing the reader to see the different ways the teenagers lives' could have play out.

We talk with Minnesota Writer Lin Enger. His new novel is called American Gospel . It's a father-son story told amidst the approach of an impending rapture.

Today Nana Boozhoo teaches us the Lord's Prayer in Ojibwe with Natasha translating in English. Nana Boozhoo wishes us a Merry Chritmas in Ojibwe. More Boozhoo Nana Boozhoo here on YouTube .