On this spoOo0oOoky edition of The Public Radio Hour, Sundial Writers Corner contributor Sara McDaris regales us with a traditional Scottish tale of how a weeping widow found her lost love... Buckle up, because Theatre Huntsville will scare the pants off of you when you hear about the revenge of Aunt Jenny... and they will oblige us with a fable from local legend, master of storytelling and Jeffrey the ghost’s best ghoul-friend, Kathryn Tucker Windham, “The Phantom Steamboat of the Tombigbee...” We also hear from Oakwood University Aeolians conductors and producers of a new self titled CD, Jason Max Ferdinand and Steven Murphy. They join Morning Blend host Dorrie Nutt to talk about narrowly avoiding an untimely death, as well as their new music- so good, it’ll lift your spirits.

Theatre Huntsville YouTube series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmqX_bCNFP3BG4gdQe9o1__t21mDUKeVD

T.H.'s Aunt Jenny: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-GLs6dUD8w&ab_channel=TheatreHuntsville

Support WLRH during our Fall Fund Drive- Thank You Gifts page: https://aptv.org/support/wlrh-premiums/

Our series, 'The Hard Part,' continues this week, where Katy Ganaway talks with Huntsville Police Captain Dewayne McCarver, exploring paths to unity and healing, following the lasting mark made at June protests in Huntsville. That conversation was recorded in our studios Oct. 2, 2020; John Carroll, chairman of the Alabama Fair Ballot Commission, delivers an Election Day primer of the ever-convoluted proposed amendments to our state's constitution; October 24-31, the Huntsville Science Festival goes virtual in its inaugural year... Joe Iacuzzo stops by to tell us about engaging virtual workshops, and free, interactive sciences and art kits; And John Kvatch with the Singing River Trail stops by to talk about the new 70-mile greenway, connecting Huntsville and other nearby Tennessee Valley cities.

*Correction: Capt. DeWayne McCarver has served with H.P.D. for 26 years, not 22 as we initially reported.

Last week, we concluded a special NPR podcast series, 'White Lies.' This week, we follow up with the show’s co-host, Andrew Grace, on works in progress and get a behind the scenes account of the making of the series. And we’ll hear a captivating work of prose by Sundial Writers Corner contributor and Huntsville Literary Association Young Writers Contest winner, Calvin Engstrom. WLRH's Katy Ganaway hosts this week, with Brett Tannehill producing.

Want to know more about the stories featured in 'White Lies'? Click here: https://apps.npr.org/white-lies/

And explore how the 'White Lies' podcast was made by clicking here: https://apps.npr.org/white-lies/index.html#evidence

Check out Huntsville Hospital's regularly-updated COVID-19 statistics here: https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleHospitalFan/

In this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we continue to explore Alabama's New Normal, as the state tries to reopen businesses and resume daily life as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow. We'll talk about the challenges of reigniting live music and the performing arts with Purple 19 founder Judy Allison, discover the joys of curbside service with Alyx Kim-yohn of the Huntsville Madison County Public Library, learn about efforts to keep the mission alive at Redstone Arsenal with Garrison Commander Colonel Kelsey Smith and talk with vendors and patrons at Greene Street Market at Nativity.

Related links :

Greene Street Market at Nativity Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/The-Greene-Street-Market-at-Nativity-199822090052758/

Purple 19 Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/purple19hsv/

Team Redstone Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/teamredstone/

Huntsville Madison County Public Library website - https://hmcpl.org/

HMCPL Digital Resources - https://hmcpl.org/hmcplconnects

WLRH Resources for Students and Families page - http://wlrh.org/News/resources-students-and-families

WLRH How To Help in the Tennessee Valley page - http://wlrh.org/News/how-help-tennessee-valley

WLRH Info. About COVID-19 in North Alabama - http://wlrh.org/News/info-about-covid-19-north-alabama

As Alabama continues to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, restrictions on our economy are gradually loosening up. This is the third installment of our ‘New Normal’ series for stories on how our community is seeking the balance between staying healthy and welcoming back business.

This episode, we hear how the Huntsville/ Madison County Public Library is digitally preserving our coronavirus stories, w/ library archivist Shalis Worthy. Owner and operator of Sugar Belle, Andrew Judge, tells us how his small business is adapting to the 'New Normal,' while also putting customers at ease amid coronavirus concerns. Brett Tannehill sits down to talk about massive layoffs and more with Pat Ammons, director of Media Relations for the Space and Rocket Center. And Dr. Neil Lamb, V.P. of Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha, is back with more 'Science of Safety' tips.

Related links:

HMCPL COVID-19 Questionnaire- https://blog.hmcpl.org/node/156

U.S. Space and Rocket Center- https://www.rocketcenter.com/

Sugar Belle- https://www.facebook.com/sugarbelletruck/

Shareable Science Videos from HudsonAlpha - https://vimeo.com/hudsonalpha

WLRH Resources for Students and Families page - http://wlrh.org/News/resources-students-and-families

WLRH How to Help in the Tennessee Valley page - http://wlrh.org/News/how-help-tennessee-valley

WLRH Info. About COVID-19 in North Alabama - http://wlrh.org/News/info-about-covid-19-north-alabama

In this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we continue exploring our strange new COVID-19 reality with our series, 'The New Normal.' We'll hear about the challenges of reopening child care centers from Camille Bennett of the Alabama Child Care Coalition. Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Health updates us COVID-19 testing efforts. HudsonAlpha's Dr. Neil Lamb talks with us about herd immunity and using science to play defense against infection. And the new CEO of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, Sue Wagner, talks to us about the Garden's reopening. 

Related Links:

Huntsville Botanical Garden - https://hsvbg.org/

Alabama Child Care Coalition / Project Say Something - https://www.facebook.com/groups/215522466177149/ / https://www.projectsaysomething.org/ 

Bennett's Child Care Business - https://www.facebook.com/focusscope2016/

Shareable Science Videos from HudsonAlpha - https://vimeo.com/hudsonalpha

WLRH Resources for Students and Families page - http://wlrh.org/News/resources-students-and-families

WLRH How To Help in the Tennessee Valley page - http://wlrh.org/News/how-help-tennessee-valley

WLRH Info. About COVID-19 in North Alabama - http://wlrh.org/News/info-about-covid-19-north-alabama

*5-15-20 Update: The Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham sent out an update on child care center funding in Alabama on Friday, May 15, 2020. - The impact of the Rapid Operating and Relief (ROAR) for Women Fund has been significant:

As Alabama continues to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, restrictions on our economy are gradually loosening up. This is the first installment of our ‘New Normal’ series for stories on how our community is seeking the balance between staying healthy and welcoming back business.

This episode, Land Trust of North Alabama's Marketing Director, Melanie Manson, shares some of her favorite nature trails, & tips on how to practice social distancing in the wilderness. Claire Aiello, V.P. of Marketing and Communications for the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber tells us about a collab with the Local Distancing Project- a digital platform promoting local businesses during the pandemic. We look toward the future for colleges and students, with Dr. Jim Purcell, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Ed. And Dr. Neil Lamb, V.P. of Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha, gives us a scientific take on questions like, ‘Is it safe?’ and ‘How do I protect myself, and those around me?’.

Related links:

A.C.H.E. COVID Info. - https://ache.edu/COVID19.aspx

Land Trust N. AL Activities/ COVID-19 Info. - https://www.landtrustnal.org/explore/

Hsv./ Madison County Chamber 'Get Your Gift On' Site - getyourgifton.org 

Local Distancing Project Info for Businesses - https://www.localdistancing.com/about

Shareable Science Videos from HudsonAlpha - https://vimeo.com/hudsonalpha

WLRH Resources for Students and Families page - http://wlrh.org/News/resources-students-and-families

WLRH How to Help in the Tennessee Valley page - http://wlrh.org/News/how-help-tennessee-valley

WLRH Info. About COVID-19 in North Alabama - http://wlrh.org/News/info-about-covid-19-north-alabama

As Alabama continues to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, restrictions on our economy are gradually loosening up. This is the first installment of our ‘New Normal’ series for stories on how our community is seeking the balance between staying healthy and welcoming back business.

This episode, Land Trust of North Alabama's Marketing Director, Melanie Manson, shares some of her favorite nature trails, & tips on how to practice social distancing in the wilderness. Claire Aiello, V.P. of Marketing and Communications for the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber tells us about a collab with the Local Distancing Project- a digital platform promoting local businesses during the pandemic. We look toward the future for colleges and students, with Dr. Jim Purcell, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Ed. And Dr. Neil Lamb, V.P. of Educational Outreach at HudsonAlpha, gives us a scientific take on questions like, ‘Is it safe?’ and ‘How do I protect myself, and those around me?’.

Related links:

A.C.H.E. COVID Info. - https://ache.edu/COVID19.aspx

Land Trust N. AL Activities/ COVID-19 Info. - https://www.landtrustnal.org/explore/

Hsv./ Madison County Chamber 'Get Your Gift On' Site - getyourgifton.org 

Local Distancing Project Info for Businesses - https://www.localdistancing.com/about

Shareable Science Videos from HudsonAlpha - https://vimeo.com/hudsonalpha

WLRH Resources for Students and Families page - http://wlrh.org/News/resources-students-and-families

WLRH How to Help in the Tennessee Valley page - http://wlrh.org/News/how-help-tennessee-valley

WLRH Info. About COVID-19 in North Alabama - http://wlrh.org/News/info-about-covid-19-north-alabama

This week, we honor women in North Alabama, finding their voice and taking their "Seat at the Table." You'll hear about the world in which women are working to improve here in the Tennessee Valley- in manufacturing, STEM, music, and more traditionally male-dominated lines of work.

Photos by Kavolshaia Howze.

Links related to this episode:

Women's Fund of Greater Birmingham: https://womensfundbirmingham.org/

Reckon AL: https://www.al.com/reckon/

NASA profile for Dr. Joyce Neighbors: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/history/dr-alice-k-joyce-neighbors...

Valley Sounds page: http://wlrh.org/series/valley-sounds

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A., Inc.: https://www.findabetterjob.com/MazdaToyota

Judy Allison's Initiative to Support Local Musicians: https://www.facebook.com/purple19hsv/