r e g i o n a l n e w s
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
St. Regis Mohawk tribal government building in Akwesasne. Photo: David Sommerstein.
How the sequester could affect Mohawk health care
Hogansburg, NY, Mar 11, 2013 — The effects of across the board federal spending cuts - known as the sequester - are still being sorted out. Mohawks in Akwesasne are bracing for cuts to health care and law enforcement. Go to full article
Then Chief Jim Ransom introducing CITGO officials in 2006. Photo: David Sommerstein.
Story 2.0: Mohawks give thanks to Venezuela's Chavez
Hogansburg, NY, Mar 07, 2013 — Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is stirring up as much controversy after his death as he did during his life.
Chavez was a strident opponent of the United States. But he also helped many poor people, even in the U.S.
Republicans slammed New York Democrat Jose Serrano yesterday for praising Chavez on this point. Under Chavez, Venezuela's national oil company, CITGO, donated 200 million gallons of home heating oil to low income Americans, including to Mohawks in Akwesasne.
David Sommerstein reported on the program in 2006. He checks back in for our Story 2.0 series, where we revisit stories from the NCPR archive. Go to full article
Chavez was a strident opponent of the United States. But he also helped many poor people, even in the U.S.
Republicans slammed New York Democrat Jose Serrano yesterday for praising Chavez on this point. Under Chavez, Venezuela's national oil company, CITGO, donated 200 million gallons of home heating oil to low income Americans, including to Mohawks in Akwesasne.
David Sommerstein reported on the program in 2006. He checks back in for our Story 2.0 series, where we revisit stories from the NCPR archive. Go to full article
A market in Hogansburg, now part of the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation, circa 1920. Photo courtesy Indian Time.
Listen to Beatrice Jacobs, 100, tell stories of Mohawk life
Hogansburg, NY, Mar 06, 2013 — A memorial service was held yesterday for a Mohawk woman who lived to be 100 years old. The family of Beatrice Jacobs says she's lived a healthy life at a nursing home in Snye for the last ten years.
According to her obituary, Jacobs worked in the cafeteria at St. Regis Mohawk School, and later with the Warner Brothers Corset Factory in Massena. She won a "Woman of the Year" award from the local Professional Women's Club and helped found an advocacy group for senior citizens of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.
David Sommerstein met Jacobs in 2000, when she agreed to tell him some stories about what life used to be like in Akwesasne. One was a wintertime story about crossing the frozen St. Lawrence River to Ontario, for work, trade, and dancing. Go to full article
According to her obituary, Jacobs worked in the cafeteria at St. Regis Mohawk School, and later with the Warner Brothers Corset Factory in Massena. She won a "Woman of the Year" award from the local Professional Women's Club and helped found an advocacy group for senior citizens of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.
David Sommerstein met Jacobs in 2000, when she agreed to tell him some stories about what life used to be like in Akwesasne. One was a wintertime story about crossing the frozen St. Lawrence River to Ontario, for work, trade, and dancing. Go to full article
McHugh speaking to reporters during his first visit to Fort Drum as Army Secretary. Photo: David Sommerstein
Report: McHugh may step down from top Army post
Washington, DC, Mar 06, 2013 — A major newspaper covering the military is reporting John McHugh may step down as Secretary of the Army. Go to full article
U.S. Rep. Bill Owens.
Owens: most people will feel pain of sequester
Washington, DC, Mar 01, 2013 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens says the impact of cuts at the federal prison in Ray Brook is on his mind. He says officials there will have some discretion as far as where to cut. "I'm counting on management in those circumstances," says Owens, "to make sure that they do their furloughing in such a way that they do manage this for the safety of the officers and obviously the prisoners."
Owens held a telephone press conference yesterday afternoon to discuss the impacts of the across-the-board federal cuts known as the sequester. The Democrat says the standoff in Washington may only change if the public feels some pain. Go to full article
Owens held a telephone press conference yesterday afternoon to discuss the impacts of the across-the-board federal cuts known as the sequester. The Democrat says the standoff in Washington may only change if the public feels some pain. Go to full article
The St. Lawrence Zinc facility in Balmat. Photo: Google Earth.
Montreal firm plans to buy Gouverneur zinc mines
Feb 25, 2013 — A Canadian company has signed a letter of intent to buy the zinc mines outside Gouverneur for $12 million. Beaufield Resources says it plans to hire workers this year. Go to full article
Pete Ames grooms the trails at St. Lawrence University's golf course every winter. Photo: David Sommerstein.
Heard Up North: The man to thank for Canton's groomed trails
Canton, NY, Feb 19, 2013 — If you're one of the many cross-country skiers who enjoys the perfectly groomed trails on St. Lawrence University's golf course in Canton, here's the guy you want to thank.
Pete Ames is the chief engineer at the Best Western hotel. He volunteers every winter to lay 13 miles of trail with a snowmobile. David Sommerstein came across him while on a ski recently and has this Heard Up North. Go to full article
Pete Ames is the chief engineer at the Best Western hotel. He volunteers every winter to lay 13 miles of trail with a snowmobile. David Sommerstein came across him while on a ski recently and has this Heard Up North. Go to full article
North Country wines were featured at the Viticulture 2013 conference in Rochester earlier this month. Photo: David Sommerstein.
What North Country wineries are doing right
Rochester, NY, Feb 18, 2013 — When you hear New York wines, you probably think about the Finger Lakes. Wineries in that region have become world famous for their Rieslings and other white and red wines.
There are four other official wine regions in New York - the Hudson Valley, the shore of Lake Erie, the Niagara Escarpment, and Long Island.
There are also almost 30 wineries in the North Country, and wine aficionados are starting to take notice. Go to full article
There are four other official wine regions in New York - the Hudson Valley, the shore of Lake Erie, the Niagara Escarpment, and Long Island.
There are also almost 30 wineries in the North Country, and wine aficionados are starting to take notice. Go to full article
Steve Knight, CEO of United Helpers, stands in front of the safe in the old Community Bank building in Canton. He hopes this will be part of a business incubator and food hub for the agricultural community. Photo: David Sommerstein.
How "food hubs" could create jobs in the North Country
Canton, NY, Feb 14, 2013 — According to the USDA, there are more than 200 regional "Food Hubs" in the US. The USDA says it believes the hubs "offer strong and sound infrastructure support to producers across the country which will also help build a stronger regional food system."
New York recently announced funding for four more across the state, including one in Canton, through its Regional Economic Development Councils. Canton's grant is for $350,000. The details are still in flux, but David Sommerstein spoke with one of the project's organizers, United Helpers CEO Steve Knight, to get a sense of the food hub's vision.
United Helpers is a non-for-profit organization known more for health care than for work on food issues, but it's bought the old Community Bank building, on Main Street in Canton, to house its new for-profit business incubator, Sparx Corp. Sparx, says Knight, is a partner in the food hub project. Go to full article
New York recently announced funding for four more across the state, including one in Canton, through its Regional Economic Development Councils. Canton's grant is for $350,000. The details are still in flux, but David Sommerstein spoke with one of the project's organizers, United Helpers CEO Steve Knight, to get a sense of the food hub's vision.
United Helpers is a non-for-profit organization known more for health care than for work on food issues, but it's bought the old Community Bank building, on Main Street in Canton, to house its new for-profit business incubator, Sparx Corp. Sparx, says Knight, is a partner in the food hub project. Go to full article
Ice slides a thrill at Ottawa's Winterlude
Gatineau, QC, Feb 13, 2013 — Winter has been a cooperative partner for Ottawa's winter carnival. Plenty of snow, ice, and temperatures mostly below freezing have kept the main events in fine form. This weekend is the last weekend to enjoy Winterlude in Canada's capital.
The Rideau skating canal is a huge crowd pleaser. But so are more than a dozen ice slides carved into huge mountains of snow in Jacques Cartier park. There are kiddie slides and long, wide chutes that half a dozen people can slide down together.
Two years ago, David Sommerstein and friends brought along a gaggle of kids. He sampled the slides, the sounds, and the crowds. Go to full article
The Rideau skating canal is a huge crowd pleaser. But so are more than a dozen ice slides carved into huge mountains of snow in Jacques Cartier park. There are kiddie slides and long, wide chutes that half a dozen people can slide down together.
Two years ago, David Sommerstein and friends brought along a gaggle of kids. He sampled the slides, the sounds, and the crowds. 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
