Vermont Viewpoint

In the first hour, we’ll hear from two UVM researchers who have looked to identify the trade-offs and opportunities for forest carbon storage and wildlife habitats in the face of global climate change. For the second hour, we meet two sisters who grew up in Fairfield and then headed off to opposite ends of the earth. Brooke Marshall became a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi. Jillian Marshall taught English in a fishing village in Japan. We’ll hear their stories. 

We’ll start with scenes of nature as captured on canvas by Saxtons River artist Eric Aho. Then we’ll meet new Vermont Law School President Rodney Smolla. After that, we’ll grab a sandwich from Buxton’s General Store and relax in the gazebo on the town green in Orwell. And we’ll hear from organ donor and school teacher Rebekah Thomas about what the scene is like when you summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.  

We’ve got a shorty today, due to the Sox Patriots Day game against the Twins. We’ll begin the show meeting another WDEV All-Star – Norman James – who can provide tales of the early ‘60s at the station. Next, Calvin Cutler of WCAX gives us a State House Update. And we finish the morning heading to Hinesburg to learn about the Earth Day festivities going on at the Carpenter-Carse Library. Then, it’s PLAY BALL! 

We continue celebrating WDEV @ 90 by meeting another WDEV All-Star, Vermont Conversation host David Goodman. Next, we head to the Willoughby River to see an incredible display of nature as the Steelhead Rainbow Trout are heading up the falls to spawn upstream. After that, national correspondent Bob Ney checks in from India. Then Kevin McCallum of Seven Days explains who is for and who is against legislation that would ban some pesticides in Vermont. And we finish the week learning about a moment in Burlington history when the world-famous Lumiere Brothers of France had a factory in Burlington.  

Survey says there just aren’t enough land surveyors in Vermont. We’ll hear why and what makes the profession rewarding. Then we learn the ABCs of Contra Dancing as they’re related in a new children’s book by UVM physics lecturer Luke Donforth. After that, it’s time to get prepped for the Vermont Sci-Fi and Fantasy Expo, coming up next weekend in Essex Junction. And we finish the show hearing about the beautiful bowties made in Middlebury and how the company diversified its offerings during the pandemic. 

We really rev things up during the first hour. We’ll hear about Wilkins Harley Davidson’s efforts to develop an electric motorcycle for law enforcement officers and why people stop in there for bologna sandwiches. Then Peter Sterling of REV (Renewable Energy Vermont) discusses some issues negatively affecting solar power in the state. After that, we meet Champlain College student Jess Turner who has twice the energy of most of us. And we finish by hearing how one Vermont mom has come up with a way to introduce young minds to diverse worlds, ideas, sounds and people. 

We open up the show my meeting a woman who made the career switch from news reporter to private investigator. Next, Calvin Cutler of WCAX provides a State House Update. Then we find what’s shaking in the NEK on Facebook. After that, we get to sample the fantastic fudge being made by Buster & Bella’s. With elevated blood sugar levels, we hear about one Vermont volunteer firefighter’s efforts to collect equipment for Ukraine. And we finish off hearing some of the winning entries in Weybridge’s Fourth Annual Haiku Contest. 

Everyday you’re seeing more of our avian visitors to Vermont. That signals the perfect time for our Spring Migration Bird Show for the first hour. Then, national correspondent Bob Ney provides an update on what’s happening in the news globally. Alison Novak of Seven Days follows with an update on what’s happening at the University Mall just weeks after it was sold. And we finish with a half hour of open phones. 

We’re on the road again as part of WDEV’s 90th anniversary. Today, we’ll be visiting Plainfield Hardware. We’ll talk barbecue and pro fishing, songwriting and producing, fire safety and health care and much more. Get a great picture of this Central Vermont community as we broadcast live from Plainfield Hardware with Rich Christiansen and friends! 

They’re starting to crawl around and dart about. Our reptiles and amphibians are on the move. So, we’ll spend the first hour of the morning talking herpetology with Jim Andrews, the coordinator of the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. After that, we head to Rutland to learn about the largest manufacturer of cookie cutters in America – Ann Clark Cookie Cutters. And we finish the show prepping for baseball’s opening day by speaking with Addison County Independent sports columnist Karl Lindholm, who shares baseball stories that range from Ted Williams and Jackie Robinson to throwing out the first pitch at Fenway.