Vermont Viewpoint

As Vermont awaits the resettlement of as many as 100 Afghan refugees, we’ll speak with UVM Geography Professor Pablo Bose about the challenges they’ll face and the benefits of welcoming refugees to the state. After that, we open up the phones for a half-hour. Then we’ll speak with Dr. Allan Kellehear about end-of-life and palliative care. And with long-haul drivers in great demand, we’ll talk to a Milton company that offers training courses for those interested in entering the industry. 

The Vermont Development Conference is being held next Thursday, and we’ll get a primer from Champlain Housing Trust CEO Michael Monte and hear about the work of the Trust. Next, Vermont musician Rik Palieri saw the Monkees with Jimi Hendrix in 1967 and at the Flynn Theater on Tuesday night. We’ll get his thoughts on the two shows, 54 years apart. After that, national correspondent Boy Ney checks in. Then we get a report from Colin Flanders of Seven Days on why hyper-vaccinated Vermont is still seeing COVID cases in big numbers. And we finish learning about getting Barton to be part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.   

Vermont Principals Association Executive Director Jay Nichols joins us to discuss policies to prevent hate speech during athletic contests and also mask rules for the upcoming winter sport season. Then we speak with St. Michael’s College Psychology Professor Ari Kirshenbaum about his research on e-cigarette addiction. And during the last hour, we hike Vermont’s Long Trail with Dennis and Jane Blanchard, authors of the book, “A Short Walk on a Long Trail.”  

We start off the show discussing the Wheels for Warmth program, now in its 16th year of providing heating assistance for our Vermont neighbors. We then learn about the work being done by UVM’s Center for Research on Vermont and hear from one of the students taking part in their legislative internship practice. After that, we’ll talk to the executive director of the Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation and hear about the work they do. And we finish by speaking with a member of Vermont Independent Restaurants about the organization and the challenges their members have been facing throughout the pandemic. 

On this episode, Guest Host Pat McDonald talks with Carrie Stahler from the Government and Public Affairs Office for the Vermont Foodbank, Dr. Meredith Niles from UVM, and Faye Mack from the Hunger Free Vermont Organization.

A coalition of Vermont non-profit organizations rallied in support of the Build Back Better Act last week. We’ll speak to representatives of several of them about the legislation. After that, listen to an interview with The Monkees by Zeb Norris. Then we’ll speak with author and retired Vermont College of Fine Arts president Thomas Christopher Greene about being a Red Sox fan. And we finish by heading to Cuttingsville to learn about the history of the Bowman Family Mansion and Mausoleum and whether it might be haunted.

Star of the Week Corinne Cooper starts off the show with the fascinating history of the town of Berlin. Next, the Pie Guy stops by in time for pie season with some tips on making great pies. National correspondent Bob Ney checks in after that. Then we hear from Chelsea Edgar of Seven Days who has written about the “motor ninja” in this week’s edition. And finally, we get pumped up for this weekend’s Vermont Tech Jam. 

We start the show by hearing from Standing Trees Vermont, a group that works to protect, preserve and restore forests on Vermont’s federal and state public lands. Next, we learn how Vermont Works for Women’s Trailblazers program support the entry and success of women and gender non-conforming individuals in construction and the trades. After that, we’re joined by Beth Rusnock of National Life to discuss the company’s community outreach and plans for this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner in Montpelier. And finish by meeting the creator of the Pickle Patch blog and talk field hockey.  

The Vermont Folk Life Center has just published “Turner Family Stories.” We’ll learn about the life of Daisy Turner and her family depicted in cartoon form. Next, we’re going to clean up several unresolved issues from Tuesday, including what we have learned about the mystery audio cuts Charlotte Strasser played for us yesterday. Then we go on some archeological digs that are currently happening in the state of Vermont. And we finish the show hearing from Mark Bove about the transition of his family’s business from an Old North End restaurant to a producer of sauces and Italian food specialties. 

WDEV Director of Operations Charlotte Strasser has been collecting compelling audio clips from the station’s 90-year history. She returns to share more that she’s found, including a mystery clip that she needs help with. Next, we hear from David Holmes who has completed a new book that explains what it means to be a Vermonter through the history of his family’s multi-generational farm. After that, we get physical as members of the Mad River Rugby Club tell us about their current season and try to convince us all to play rugby! And we finish with open phones for the last half hour!