Maine Calling

By some estimates, nearly half of all Americans say that COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health. The prevalence of anxiety has even given rise to the term “Covid Stress Syndrome.” Among the many reasons people are experiencing anxiety and depression: fears of getting the disease, social isolation, financial stress, uncertainty about the future and more. We’ll discuss the reasons adults and children are suffering from greater anxiety, and ways to cope with increased stress.

The pandemic has had many interesting by products, one of which is an increased interest in foraging as a means of being self-sufficient and less dependent on groceries or other food sources. We’ll learn about all of the edible plants and other wild foods—from seaweed to mushrooms to clams—that Mainers can find all around them. And we’ll hear about some interesting ways to eat and prepare these items—safely.

As part of the response to nationwide calls for police reform and racial justice, communities across Maine are reevaluating the use of school resources officers. Portland Schools have made the move to remove SROs, in line with those who say that other social service professionals would be more relevant and that police officers put students of color more at risk. Others in Maine support the use of SROs, especially after frequent school shooting prompted a call for greater security in schools.

Maine state leaders have developed a four-year action plan for addressing climate change, and they're now seeking public input on it. We’ll learn how the plan aims to address: greenhouse gas reduction; renewable energy goals; fostering innovation and new industries; and building community resilient in the face of a changing climate. We'll also discuss the pandemic's impacts on these elements.

What’s been the impact of the pandemic on Maine's transportation system? While Covid-19 has created challenges for Maine's department of transportation, it has also meant some projects could be done more readily, with less traffic on the road. We'll discuss funding for road, bridges, ferries and more—with the bond on the July 14th primary ballot seeking to authorize $105 million toward statewide infrastructure projects—and the outlook for Maine's transportation system in the future.

The latest information about unemployment issues in Maine. We'll discuss the effects of job losses due to the pandemic and whether people are getting back to work. We'll also learn about the latest extension of unemployment benefits, how claims processing is going, and what's happening with the large numbers of fraudulent cases.

This is a rebroadcast of an earlier show (original air date May 26, 2020); no calls will be taken. We continue our celebration of Maine’s 200 th statehood anniversary by examining Maine from the time of the Civil War to the end of the Great War. This is part of our year-long bicentennial series of shows covering Maine history.

Bicycle stores across Maine are struggling to keep up with demand for bikes and repairs as the era of social distancing has many Mainers turning to cycling as a way to enjoy the great outdoors safely. We’ll learn about new bike trails under construction in Maine, tips on safe riding, bicycling maintenance and the rise of ebikes. We'll also discuss the Bicycle Coalition of Maine's new anti-speeding campaign, Slow ME Down, and it's five-year plan to increase safe biking communities throughout the

We’ll discuss fire hazards and safety measures to be aware of this season, including dealing with Fourth of July fireworks. We’ll also talk about how people’s behavior during the pandemic has contributed to a rise in wildfires, as well as the impacts of the abnormally dry season that Maine has been experiencing.

Maine’s Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal joins our panel to discuss how the pandemic has affected Maine’s agriculture industry, and what is being done to help farms across the state get through the crisis. We’ll also hear from a number of farmers on how they have adapted to the challenges, and what the future outlook is for agriculture in Maine.