Vermont Viewpoint

We’ll open the show by putting a bow on the sugaring season with Mark Isselhardt of the Vermont Maple Minute. Next, we hear from Democratic Secretary of State candidate John Odum, Montpelier’s city clerk. After that, VTDigger’s Kevin O’Connor updates us on a couple of stories out of Brattleboro. We’ll hear about a new plaque for Civil War soldiers and concerns about the town’s EMS plan. And we finish the morning getting ready for this weekend’s Abenaki Culture and Wellness Fair.  

A rare orchid has been found in Vermont. We’ll learn everything about it, except its exact location. Next, our interviews with candidates for statewide offices continue when we speak with Rory Thibault, who is running for Attorney General in the Democratic primary. During the second half of the show, we meet two (Yes, 2!) WDEV All-Stars. We’ll catch up with Eric Michaels, followed by Jon Noyes. 

We have an abbreviated show this morning due to the January 6th Committee Hearings in Washington. We’ll begin our series of interviews with candidates for state-wide office. We’ll hear from Peter Duval of Underhill, who is a Republican candidate for governor. Then we’ll learn about the fascinating world of Vermont’s macroinvertebrates. Lastly, we’ll have open phones until the January 6th Committee Hearings begin.

We’re going to start the show by checking in with Mary Anderson of Bethel about her latest big adventure. And her next one. Previously, Mary visited all 251 cities and towns in the state on an e-bike! Then we’ll hear about an event taking place next week where the poetry of the late David Budbill will be set to music. After that, national correspondent Bob Ney gets us caught up on what’s happening in the world. Next, Ken Picard of Seven Days points us in the direction of some great Vermont hikes. And we finish by meeting Will Staats, who hikes around the NEK in search of moose antlers. 

We open the show learning about how the Vermont Recovery Network helps individuals who have experienced problems as a result of drugs and alcohol to find, maintain and enhance their recovery. Next, we’ll learn about the sea lamprey that inhabit the Connecticut River and you might even like these little critters by the end of the discussion. After that, we get ready for the one-woman show opening at Lost Nation Theater called “Les Filles du QUOI?” [lay feel do kwah]. And we finish the morning by getting a lesson on Form-based Code and hear how it has helped Winooski move forward on a number of housing projects. 

Rick Norcross, front man of Rick and the All-Star Ramblers, updates us on his Press Pass project, that is an outgrowth of the great concert photos he snapped as a rock critic for the Tampa Times. After that, we’ll learn about a program at UVM that trains individuals to become end-of-life doulas.  Then we hear from Kevin Paquet about his recent piece in the White River Valley Herald highlighting his yard sale and thrift store finds.  

What was once the Essex Outlet Mall has been redefining itself over the past few years. Now, there are plans for an immersive art experience called Babaroosa to be built there. We’ll speak with the visionaries behind the project. Then, we’ll hear about the latest events and activities going on in Waterbury, including the Rally for the Alley Project. After that, we’ll talk with Anne Galloway, who stepped down as the executive director of VTDigger recently. We’ll look back at how the online news organization was created and has grown under her leadership and discuss her decision to leave the director’s position. 

Vaccines have been an important part of the world over the past two years. Today, we’ll hear how many trials UVM runs, what medications and clinical approaches are being tested, who originates them and what benefit they are to the public. Then Elliott Greenblott of the AARP Fraud Network returns to warn us about the scams that are currently making the rounds. After that, we get ready for the opening of the Vermont Mountaineers’ 19th season in Montpelier. And we finish the morning discussing the most-recent Legislative session with Governor Phil Scott. 

We start the morning hearing about the work of the Preservation Trust of Vermont, its upcoming conference and the retreats it has planned this summer. Next, we learn about Vermont’s grassland birds and what you can do to help them. After that, national correspondent Bob Ney provides his balanced perspective on what’s happened in the world this week. Then things get musical. Chris Farnsworth of Seven Days joins us to get you ready for the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival. And we finish the morning meeting WDEV All-Star and expert didgeridoo player Pitz Quattrone. 

If you’d like to learn more about The Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark, you can check out our For the Birds episode here: https://wdevradio.com/the-bobolink-and-the-eastern-meadowlark/

Author and activist Bill McKibben opens the show to talk about his latest book, “The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon,” in which he looks back at his suburban boyhood and wonders what has happened in the years since then. After that, we’ll learn about the joys and challenges of and the need for foster parents in Vermont. And we finish the show hearing about the new Vermont Film & Music Festival being held in Stowe this weekend.