The Hartford Tree Board is holding a special day to honor the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer. We’ll start the show learning all about this invasive pest. Next, we visit Reap and Sow Farm in Hinesburg and learn about their operation and their value-added products. Then, we finish the show speaking with Vermont Foodbank CEO John Sayles about a new hunger relief program being launched.

The Summit on the Future of Vermont is scheduled for next week. We’ll spend the first hour discussing how the summit will set goals for the state’s economy, environment and people and how a non-partisan platform of action to achieve them will be developed. Emma Cotton of VTDigger joins us to discuss the rise in fatal drug overdoses in Vermont, not just during the pandemic, but for most years since 2014.  

State Treasurer Beth Pearce opens the show discussing the role of the treasurer, the state’s unclaimed property program and the recent Pension Reform Report. We celebrate National Bike Month by learning about the work of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association. We’ll remember the life of M. Dickey Drysdale, the long-time editor and publisher of the Herald of Randolph. And we finish by talking with a Central Vermont volunteer group that is dedicated to gleaning produce to be provided to disadvantaged members of the community. 

We find out what the problem is with Vermont’s derelict deadbeat dams and what’s being done to remove them. National correspondent Bob Ney updates us on the latest news of the world. Then, Derek Brouwer of Seven Days shares the story of Burlington’s Beta Technologies, which may be on the cusp of a breakthrough in electric aviation. And finally, we get the 4-1-1 on the Belarussian who’s buying up a lot of southern Vermont from two writers at The Commons.

For the first hour, we’ll take a trip around the state, visiting our country and general stores. We’ll hear about the challenges of running them and community efforts to support them. We’ll get an opportunity to learn how Green Mountain Solar has been meeting the needs of solar customers in Vermont and about the rapid growth of the company. And we finish the day by meeting Dr. Julia Bernard, Norwich University’s first Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. 

May is National Foster Care Month and we’ll spend the first hour learning about those who support children and youth in foster care and the need that state has for foster, kin and respite care families. We’ll hear about the Create VT Action Plan that provides a roadmap for investment in Vermont creative entrepreneurs, artists, businesses and facilities at the state and local levels. And we finish with VTDigger’s education reporter Lola Duffort on several school issues facing the state.

We’ll look at the state’s rising demand for clean water and erratic precipitation events. And how that can affect the supply of surface water and create the introduction of more invasive species. We’ll learn about Access CVU, a decades-old program that helps adults learn new things: anything from making gelato and sorbet to taking a beginning kickboxing class. We finish the show by visiting the Stern Center in Williston. The Center evaluates and teaches more than 900 children and adults each year, including those with learning disabilities, dyslexia, language disorders, autism, attention deficit disorders and learning style differences. 

We’ll learn about the Phoenix Rising Project planned by Waterbury Arts and other initiatives going on in the town this year. Next, Laurel Neme shares some of her stories about wildlife crime, forensics and animal intelligence, and her latest about one of the first animals to be fitted with a prosthetic. We’ll hear about the efforts by CVHHH to vaccinate homeless individuals in Central Vermont.

Ken, Jack, Brent, and Farmer Dave salute all mothers in Vermont and beyond with a great selection of music for moms. Thank you to the mothers that have helped raise and care for so many of us.

There is an important Revolutionary War historic site in Orwell that not many people know about. We’ll explore Mount Independence to start the show. Next, we’ll learn about the True North Wilderness Program, a Licensed Residential-Treatment and Wilderness-Therapy Program for adolescents and young adults. National correspondent Bob Ney checks in. Then we’ll hear from Colin Flanders of Seven Days on his story about municipalities trying to get some relief from Legislative oversight. And we finish speaking with Vermont Law School’s Jennifer Rushlow about President Joe Biden’s environmental pledge.