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NCPR News Staff: David Sommerstein
Reporter/ Producer
David Sommerstein, NCPR's roving St. Lawrence Valley/Fort Drum/Tug Hill reporter, began his career in radio, strangely enough, as a high school Spanish teacher in Buffalo. While drilling verb conjugations and teaching a love for Latino culture during the day, he sat in as a late night jazz and Latin DJ at Buffalo's NPR affiliate, WBFO. The radio bug bit, and David found his way to southern Colorado/northern New Mexico (the Taos/Santa Fe area) where he was Program Director, Music Director, Volunteer Coordinator, and "Just About Anything Else You Can Think Of" Director at NPR affiliate KRZA.Since joining NCPR's news department, David has reported from the chilly deck of a St. Lawrence icebreaker, the power-chord filled stage of the High School Rock Band Festival, and the tense Albanian street market of post-war Kosovo with soldiers from Fort Drum. David also gets to fulfill his passion for music of all kinds when he spins world dance and groove music on editions of The Beat Authority. E-mail
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Stories filed by David Sommerstein
Dairy farmer Mike Kiechle of Philadelphia, NY, spreads manure from his tractor. He's the kind of small farmer the new rules are trying to target, but he says he doubts he'll grow his herd bigger. Photo: David Sommerstein
Will easing dairy manure rules do much at all?
Albany, NY, May 06, 2013 — Last month, Governor Cuomo carried through on a promise he made to dairy farmers, loosening environmental regulations for small farms.
Right now, a farm with 200 cows or more has to prepare detailed and costly manure management plans. Starting this week, that threshold will be bumped up to 300 cows.
Speaking at last summer's Yogurt Summit, Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine said the change would help boost milk production to meet demand fueled by Greek yogurt's popularity. "Simply put," said Aubertine, "this will make it much easier for small farms to grow."
North Country lawmakers and the state Farm Bureau praised the rule change. But environmental groups say more unregulated manure means more farm runoff in rivers and streams. It remains a big question whether the change will do much of anything at all - to the environment or for the economy. Go to full article
Right now, a farm with 200 cows or more has to prepare detailed and costly manure management plans. Starting this week, that threshold will be bumped up to 300 cows.
Speaking at last summer's Yogurt Summit, Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine said the change would help boost milk production to meet demand fueled by Greek yogurt's popularity. "Simply put," said Aubertine, "this will make it much easier for small farms to grow."
North Country lawmakers and the state Farm Bureau praised the rule change. But environmental groups say more unregulated manure means more farm runoff in rivers and streams. It remains a big question whether the change will do much of anything at all - to the environment or for the economy. Go to full article
St. Lawrence County "walking a financial tightrope," says NYS audit
May 03, 2013 — An audit by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says St. Lawrence County is "walking a financial tightrope". The audit found the county's fund balance decreased 68 percent from 2007 to 2011. Legislators used surplus funds to close budget gaps and keep property tax increases last year to an already-high 14 percent. Go to full article
Bud Fowler as a member of the 1885 Keokuk, Iowa, baseball team. Photo courtesy the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
A century later, African-American baseball hero gets his due
Cooperstown, NY, Apr 26, 2013 — Jackie Robinson is getting the big time Hollywood treatment with the new blockbuster "42". Meanwhile, a much lesser known African American baseball hero is getting his due in the cradle of baseball history.
In 1878, John Jackson - aka Bud Fowler - became the first African-American to play professional baseball with white men. His career spanned more than 30 years as a player, manager and entrepreneur.
Fowler grew up in Cooperstown, NY, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Last weekend, the town recognized his story of perseverance in the face of bigotry. Go to full article
In 1878, John Jackson - aka Bud Fowler - became the first African-American to play professional baseball with white men. His career spanned more than 30 years as a player, manager and entrepreneur.
Fowler grew up in Cooperstown, NY, the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Last weekend, the town recognized his story of perseverance in the face of bigotry. Go to full article
Mountain Mart in Canton, NY. According to EPA data, the agency found violations at seven gas stations in Malone, Massena, Moira, Plattsburgh, and Canton. Photo: David Sommerstein
Adk Energy to pay $112,000 to prevent underground gas leaks
Apr 24, 2013 — A Malone-based company will have to install new equipment to detect leaks at gas stations it owns across the North Country. Federal officials already fined Adirondack Energy $46,000. Go to full article
![Graphic from VT human trafficking task force [http://www.ccvs.state.vt.us/nomoreslaves]](http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/image.php/Human_Trafficking_Hands.png?width=230&image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.northcountrypublicradio.org%2Fnews%2Fimages%2FHuman_Trafficking_Hands.png)
Graphic from VT human trafficking task force [http://www.ccvs.state.vt.us/nomoreslaves]
Joining forces to stop North Country human trafficking
Apr 24, 2013 — Human trafficking is a growing problem across the country...including here in the North Country. Undocumented farmworkers can be threatened with deportation. Sex workers or foreign brides can be held against their will. Foreign students with visas to work at Adirondack tourism destinations are vulnerable.
Law enforcement and area not-for-profits are joining forces to stop human trafficking in the North Country. Representatives from Homeland Security, the state attorney general's office and labor department, and social service agencies from St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Franklin counties met earlier this month at SUNY Potsdam. They were joined by not-for-profits that help immigrants, domestic violence victims, and other vulnerable people.
Renan Salgado is a human trafficking specialist with the Worker Justice Center of New York. He's organizing the North Country human trafficking task force. He spoke with David Sommerstein. Go to full article
Law enforcement and area not-for-profits are joining forces to stop human trafficking in the North Country. Representatives from Homeland Security, the state attorney general's office and labor department, and social service agencies from St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Franklin counties met earlier this month at SUNY Potsdam. They were joined by not-for-profits that help immigrants, domestic violence victims, and other vulnerable people.
Renan Salgado is a human trafficking specialist with the Worker Justice Center of New York. He's organizing the North Country human trafficking task force. He spoke with David Sommerstein. Go to full article
A tale of two dairy farmers. Mike Kiechle, Philadelphia, says expanding his herd is too much of a risk. Photo: David Sommerstein
Will the Greek yogurt boom help dairy farmers?
Apr 17, 2013 — You might have been surprised last summer to hear politicians walking around and talking about--yogurt. Governor Andrew Cuomo held a Yogurt Summit at the Capitol in Albany, where he said the explosion of the Greek yogurt industry in New York is a once-in-a-generation moment. "This is one of the best private sector market opportunities that Upstate New York has had in 30, 40 years," procliamed Cuomo. "I don't know when we get another one. I really, really don't. And that entrepreneurial spirit is when you see an opportunity, grab it."
New York has invested millions of dollars in tax breaks into new and expanding yogurt plants. Cuomo wants to ease environmental rules to encourage 200 cow dairy farms to become 300 cow dairy farms and make more milk.
Experts say New York farmers will have to boost milk production by 15 percent, or two billion pounds each year, to keep up with demand.
So does New York have a milk shortage? And are farmers stepping up it fill it?
The answers lie in cream cheese, Old McDonald, and something called the Chobani Paradox. Go to full article
New York has invested millions of dollars in tax breaks into new and expanding yogurt plants. Cuomo wants to ease environmental rules to encourage 200 cow dairy farms to become 300 cow dairy farms and make more milk.
Experts say New York farmers will have to boost milk production by 15 percent, or two billion pounds each year, to keep up with demand.
So does New York have a milk shortage? And are farmers stepping up it fill it?
The answers lie in cream cheese, Old McDonald, and something called the Chobani Paradox. Go to full article
Hispanic men and women - some of them quite young - provide labor illegally on many dairy farms. Photo: David Sommerstein
Lawmakers push visas for dairy workers
Burlington, VT, Apr 10, 2013 — Lawmakers on both sides of Lake Champlain say Congress is making progress on immigration reform. And they want to make sure the dairy industry is a part of it.
North Country Congressman Bill Owens and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch held a joint press conference in Burlington yesterday. Go to full article
North Country Congressman Bill Owens and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch held a joint press conference in Burlington yesterday. Go to full article
Part of the 7.2 mile contaminated stretch of the Grasse. Photo: David Sommerstein
Mohawks rip EPA's Grasse River cleanup plan
Apr 05, 2013 — Update: The EPA released its final plan for the Alcoa Grasse River cleanup late this morning. More information is at The Inbox.
Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment. Go to full article
Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment. Go to full article
Aaron Calderon, Malik McKenzie, and Sabel Bong, of SUNY Canton, prepare to march down Main Street. Photo: David Sommerstein
How human trafficking happens all around us
Apr 03, 2013 — According to a study by Hofstra University, more than 11,000 people in New York State have been victims of human trafficking since 2000. They may have been sex workers, or forcibly employed at restaurants or factories or on farms.
They're among the estimated 27 million people who are victims of human trafficking worldwide.
Several organizations this week are drawing attention to what's often called modern-day slavery. The state Department of Labor has announced a new partnership with businesses to expose illegal labor trafficking.
A handful of students from SUNY Canton held a march yesterday to raise awareness of the issue. Go to full article
They're among the estimated 27 million people who are victims of human trafficking worldwide.
Several organizations this week are drawing attention to what's often called modern-day slavery. The state Department of Labor has announced a new partnership with businesses to expose illegal labor trafficking.
A handful of students from SUNY Canton held a march yesterday to raise awareness of the issue. Go to full article
Frank Forney, Philadelphia, cutting wood with his nephew on Route 11 in Antwerp. Photo: David Sommerstein
Heard Up North: the guy who painted the Thousand Islands bridge
Apr 03, 2013 — You never know who you're going to meet by the side of the road in the North Country. David Sommerstein stopped to chat with a guy sawing firewood recently. It turns out he painted one of the tallest bridges over the St. Lawrence River. Today's Heard Up North features Frank Forney of Philadelphia. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
