May 25, 2006 — In tonight's "Giving Voice" feature we hear a poem, "The Family Plot," inspired by a Memorial Day visit to a small North Country riverside cemetery, where the grave of a long-lived Civil War veteran was surrounded by the graves of his family. Author Dale Hobson breaks from the holiday tradition of remembering the fallen to commemorate those who return from war to live in peace. This imagined homecoming was set to music by Barbara Heller, who recorded this performance earlier today.  Go to full article

May 25, 2006 — Actress and playwright Kathryn Blume of Charlotte, Vermont, is developing a one-woman solo performance piece with the working title of Boycott. The piece aims to raise awareness of global warming. Blume is an actor, writer and co-founder of the Lysistrata Project, the first worldwide theatrical event for peace, and is also an Artistic Associate at Vermont Stage Company. She spoke with our resident theatre critic Connie Meng.  Go to full article

May 25, 2006 — A 15-year-old classical guitarist from Madrid, in St. Lawrence county, will be traveling to California this weekend for the Parkening Young Guitarist Competition at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Julia Sinclair will be competing against other exceptional under-18 guitarists from around the world in a contest that's well-known on the classical circuit. Julia and her mother stopped by NCPR recently for a chat. She told Todd Moe that, although she's been around music all her life, she's been playing classical guitar for just a few years.  Go to full article

May 25, 2006 — Open Studio co-hosts Beth Robinson and Hilary Oak recently joined gardener Becky Harblin at her West Potsdam farm in St. Lawrence County. It was just after a thunderstorm rumbled through and dropped buckets of rain. Becky's backyard and garden plots are filled with herbs, perennials, wildflowers and surrounded by sturdy stone walls. It's a place where everything comes together--nature and art. Scattered among the garden "rooms" are her handmade sculptures.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — Debut broadcast of NCPR's new monthly regional arts program. Todd Moe hosts. Live music with Piquant; an Adirondack arts activist takes lessons to Russia; hooked picture rugs that detail life along the St. Lawrence River; new music from flamenco guitarist Maria Zemantauksi; Vermont poet David Budbill on tour with jazz musicians Hamid Drake and William Parker, and much more.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — Arts activist and organizer Naj Wikoff, from Keene Valley, returned this week from a year in Russia. He lived near Lake Baikal, helping hospitals and other community groups develop arts programs. Wikoff says he used lessons learned here in the North Country to inspire projects and partnerships in rural Russia.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — The Glens Falls Commmunity Theatre recently celebrated its 70th anniversary. The theatre troupe began back in the mid-30's. They're working on a production of "A Few Good Men" that opens next weekend at the Charles Wood theatre in Glens Falls. Todd Moe spoke with the assistant director of the show, Mary Lou Noone. She's been a member of the Glens Falls Community Theatre since 1954.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — Vermont writer David Budbill was at SUNY Plattsburgh April 12, in concert with jazz musicians Hamid Drake and William Parker. He presented the work of his alter ego, the Chinese hermit/poet/scholar Judevine Mountain, who takes his name from the mountain behind David's house in the Northeast Kingdom. Dale Hobson spoke with the poet following a recent reading at the Montgomery, Vermont Municipal Library.  Go to full article

Apr 27, 2006 — We wanted to find out what you need to get started as a rug hooker. So we sent Douglas Hopper to Liberty Fibers. The yarn shop is in Madrid and if you're looking for hooking supplies in the North Country, this is the place to go. Judy O'Toole owns the store. She says there are three things every rug hooker must have.  Go to full article

Mar 17, 2006 — Tom Akstens and Neil Rossi live about 100 miles from each other, so they don't get to play music together as often as they would like. But this weekend they'll be quite busy playing three shows that will highlight songs from their new CD, All Around the Mountain. Joel Hurd tells us more.  Go to full article