Maine Calling

This show is part of Maine Calling's ongoing coverage of topics that reflect the unique character of Maine. This episode was originally broadcast April 5, 2019, and was rebroadcast June 7, 2019. One of the beloved symbols of Maine, the loon is categorized as a “species of greatest conservation need.” We’ll learn about why the loon is such an iconic Maine species, how the loon population is doing in Maine, and what conservation efforts are underway to protect this aquatic bird and its habitat.

Maine's agricultural future depends on the interest and involvement of young people. We'll learn about the programs and educational efforts aimed at fostering the farmers of tomorrow—and why some see these young people as essential to the economic success and culture of our state.

As the head of Maine’s Department of Transportation, Commissioner Bruce Van Note oversees a vast transportation network, including the turnpike, bridges, airports and other infrastructure. In recent news, the DOT has pulled back on a number of projects due to construction costs. We’ll hear about how he will address these budgetary issues and what his plans are for the future.

We discuss the prevalence of rabies in Maine, what to do about potentially rabid animals, how to treat humans and pets who may have rabies and more.

Maine offers an abundance of summertime recreation that is centered around water — from swimming and boating to surfing, in pools, lakes and the ocean. We address essential safety considerations for all ages that are not always heeded or understood.

Our panel of editorial page editors joins us to discuss the news that made headlines in May, as well as the other stories that grabbed their attention.

Professor Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is best known for writing “well behaved women seldom make history,” as well as the landmark book A Midwife's Tale , which won a Pulitzer Prize and remains a seminal text on women’s labor history. The eminent scholar, Harvard professor , historian and author joins us to discuss her research into early American history and the history of women. Ulrich holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire, University of Utah, and Simmons College. She is the 300th

T homas Jefferson Foundation Chair in American History at the University of Virginia and two-time Pulitzer prize winning historian Alan Taylor will be back home in Maine (he attended Bonney Eagle High School and Colby College and was born in Portland) to give two lectures in connection with the state’s bicentennial. We’ll discuss the Maine Bicentennial, pre-revolutionary Maine, the US/Canada frontier, and more, including his research in early North American history. Taylor is the author of nine

Plastics harm the environment in many different ways, on land and in the ocean. They entangle wildlife, create massive floating islands of trash in the oceans, break down into microplastics which are ingested in the food stream they get ingested, and they are often not recyclable. Different kinds of plastics are problems: plastic bags, microbeads, balloons, bottles. We will learn more about the problems with plastics and what we can do to reduce their impact. Laura Minich-Zitske, Director of

Tourism attracts millions of visitors to Maine each summer, but for those of us who live here, there are still abundant opportunities to travel and explore in and around the state throughout the season. We’ll learn about places to visit, from popular attractions to hidden gems, as well as lodging options, festivals, events, quirky spots and more.