WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives

Producer/Host: Anu Dudley About the host: Rev. Dr. Anu Dudley is an ordained Pagan minister and a retired history professor. She continues to teach classes, including the three-year ordination curriculum at the Temple of the Feminine Divine, and others such as History of the Goddess, Paganism 101, Ethical Magic, and Introduction to the Runes. Currently she is writing a book about how to cast the runes using their original Goddess meanings. She lives in the woods off-grid in a small homesteading community in Central Maine.

The post Earthwise 5/2/26: The Loon first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

About the Host: Tom Yaroschuk is a Vedic Astrologer. His intention is to help people understand their karma and the issues they may confront to cultivate more fulfilling lives. Tom is writing a memoir of the spiritual lessons derived from his work in a Homeless Day Center in between a career as an award winning television and documentary producer.

The post The Cosmic Curator 5/2/26 first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host: Peter Neill Producer: Spencer Albee Music by Casey Neill (Mock Turtle Music) Conversations from the Pointed Firs is a monthly audio series with Maine-connected authors and artists discussing new books and creative projects that invoke the spirit of Maine, its history, its ecology, its culture, and its contribution to community and quality of life. Airs the first Friday of every month from 4-5pm. Online at pointedfirs.org. This month, host Peter Neill has a conversation with Charles Cantalupo, Professor Emeritus of English, Comparative Literature, and African Studies at Pennsylvania State University. Charles is an active contributor to various literary journals, a co-author of the Asmara Declaration on African Languages and Literature, a critic and translator of African writers from Eritrea; author of a personal memoir, Joining Africa, about his African experience, and a poet himself, with several published anthologies. He lives in Eastport, Maine. About the host: Peter Neill is founder and director of the World Ocean Observatory, a web-based place of exchange for information and educational services about the health of the ocean. In 1972, he founded Leete’s Island Books, a small publishing house specializing in literary reprints, the essay, photography, the environment, and profiles of indigenous healers and practitioners of complimentary medicine around the world. He holds a profound interest in Maine, its history, its people, its culture, and its contribution to community and quality of life.

The post Conversations from the Pointed Firs 5/1/26: Charles Cantalupo first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Amy Browne May Day / Workers Over Billionaires National Day of Action (“No Work No School No Shopping.”) local events Camden, noon, village square Bangor, 3-5pm arts and tabling, 5-7pm rally and potluck, Broadway Park Belfast, noon-1pm, Post Office Square Maine Education Association members are holding rallies in Portland and Bangor. In Bangor the rally will be at the Bangor High School parking lot from 4-5pm FMI: May Day 2026: Together We Stand, Indivisible The Workers Over Billionaires Movement, Organized Power in Numbers Mobilize.us May Day Calendar of Events Activate Maine calendar of events Data Center bill with bipartisan support vetoed by Governor Mills. A majority voted to override her veto, but not the 2/3rds required. 13 legislators were absent from the vote. View the rollcall here On Saturday, May 2, Jane’s Walk will bring a full day of free, volunteer led walking conversations to Ellsworth. Inspired by Jane Jacobs, the global festival encourages people to explore the places they live through local history, civic engagement, art, design, and shared observation. This year’s Ellsworth lineup invites participants to join one walk or make a day of it, with topics ranging from walkability and downtown history to art, public space, and a seaweed centered stroll through downtown More information at Heart of Ellsworth Staged reading of Circus of finance, a comedy about private equity, featuring live circus, written and directed by local playwright Lisa Leaverton, followed by a panel discussion: “Whose Economy; Community Initiatives for Autonomy & Stability, free and open to the public, Sun May 3, 2026, 3:00-5:00 pm at the American Legion hall in Belfast with refreshments and socializing to follow Theme music: BreakBeat Chemists I, 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License

The post Around Town 5/1/26: Local News, Culture and Events first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Amy Browne Charles Rolsky, Ph.D, Executive Director & Senior Research Scientist, joins us with an update from the Shaw Institute, a Blue Hill based nonprofit scientific research organization founded in 1990, that “focuses on researching and better understanding the connection between environmental and human health” Their work was recently featured in this article (which links to the study) Theme music: BreakBeat Chemists I, 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License

The post Around Town 4/30/26: Local News, Culture and Events first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host: Peter Neill Producer: Trisha Badger ABOUT THIS EPISODE Regulate is a verb with many nuanced meanings: to standardize, to classify, to monitor, to supervise, to coordinate, to administer, to rectify. Government and the courts are designed as the tools of regulation, created to sustain, preserve, and protect us. Has this changed? How is regulation working to sustain the world ocean, to protect its vitality, and its essential contribution to our survival? WORLD OCEAN RADIO 5-minute weekly insights dive into ocean science, advocacy and education hosted by Peter Neill, lifelong ocean advocate and maritime expert. A catalog of more than 730 episodes offering perspectives on global ocean issues and solutions, and celebrating exemplary projects. Available for RSS feed and broadcast by college and community radio stations worldwide via Exchange.prx.org and Audioport.org. Visit WorldOceanObservatory.org for the full catalog, searchable by theme.

The post World Ocean Radio 4/29/26: To Regulate first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Amy Browne May Day is coming up on Friday, and this year the groups behind the No Kings protests are calling for a day of action called “Workers Over Billionaires” Activate Maine calendar Spruce Budworm public information session featuring experts from the Maine Forest Service, UMaine and the Budworm Response Coalition, this morning from 10-11:30 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer The Blue Hill Public Library is hosting a screening of the documentary, Building Hope a film from local filmmaker Richard Kane and Kane Lewis Productions, tonight at 7PM, followed by a panel discussion led by the film’s producer Melody Kane-Lewis, featuring members of local organizations involved in the housing crisis in Maine. Friday evening, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, in partnership with Maine Coast Sea Vegetables and Heart of Ellsworth, invite the community to gather for a Seaweed Social, an evening celebrating Downeast Maine’s vibrant seaweed harvesting traditions, local food, and coastal conservation. Friday, 4-6pm at the Heart of Ellsworth’s Makerspace at 16 State Street Theme music: BreakBeat Chemists I, 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License

The post Around Town 4/29/26: Local News, Culture and Events first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host: Donna Loring Other credits: Technical assistance for the show was provided by Joel Mann of WERU, and Jessica Lockhart. Music by Ralph Richter, a track called little eagles from his CD Dream Walk. Wabanaki Windows is a monthly show featuring topics of interest from a Wabanaki perspective. This month: Thousands of acres of Wabanaki Lands used to finance growth of Bowdoin and Colby. What should these Institutions do for restitution? What do you think? Guest/s:  Rueben Shafir, reporter for Maine Trust for Local News. Prof. Harald Prins, anthropologist and ethnohistorian who has worked with Wabankai communities for decades. Prof. Darren Ranco, Penobscot Citizen and Anthropology prof at the University of Maine. FMI: www.pressherald.com/2026/03/31/how-maines-elite-private-colleges-sold-wabanaki-land-to-bankroll-early-construction/ www.hcn.org/issues/52-4/indigenous-affairs-education-land-grab-universities/ About the host: Donna M Loring is a Penobscot Indian Nation Tribal Elder, and former Council Member. She represented the Penobscot Nation in the State Legislature for over a decade. She is a former Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs to Governor Mills. She is the author of “In The Shadow of The Eagle A Tribal Representative In Maine”. Donna has an Annual lecture series in her name at the University of New England that addresses Social Justice and Human Rights issues. In 2017 She received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Humane Letters from the University of Maine Orono and was given the Alumni Service Award. It is the most prestigious recognition given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. It is presented Annually to a University of Maine graduate whose life’s work is marked by outstanding achievements in professional, business, civic and/or Public service areas. Donna received a second Honorary Doctorate from Thomas College in May of 2022.

The post Wabanaki Windows 4/28/26: Elite Colleges like Bowdoin and Colby and Wabanaki Lands first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Producer/Host: Larry Dansinger About the host: Larry Dansinger (no pronouns) of Bangor came to Maine in 1974 and has been here ever since. Some of Larry’s activities since then: Done community organizing on numerous issues through INVERT and then Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC), committed civil disobedience several times, grown a garden yearly since 1977, joined various food cooperatives and two men’s groups, refused to pay federal income taxes for war, lived on a community land trust for 23 years, and met a wonderful partner whom Larry has loved for over 40 years. Larry has produced Outside the Box features on WERU since 2007 and continues to look for unique ways of seeing almost any problem or situation.

The post Outside the Box 4/28/26: “Say Yes to New Education” first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

Host/Producer: Amy Browne Senate Primary candidate Graham Platner’s opening remarks at a candidate forum organized by the Wabanaki Alliance, held on Indian Island on 4/16/26. We heard from candidate David Costello yesterday on Around Town. Janet Mills and Susan Collins were invited but did not attend Theme music: BreakBeat Chemists I, 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International License

The post Around Town 4/28/26: Local News, Culture and Events first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.