Potsdam, NY, Nov 12, 2009 — Hookah bars, or hookah lounges, are places where people go to smoke shisha (non-tobacco herbs). They're usually associated with the Middle East, but they're on a run in this country. According to a website that monitors this kind of thing, there are more than 500 hookah bars in the United States, with 5 new ones opening every month. The phenomenon's mostly been restricted to big cities. But a hookah bar opened this fall in one of the North Country's college towns, Potsdam. When many small businesses are falling victim to the recession, are people willing to ante up for a toke? Chelsea Ross went to find out.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Sep 29, 2009 — Nearly everyone in St. Lawrence County knows Ruth Garner, the former mayor of Potsdam. Turning 94 this year, she is still active in local politics. But few people are familiar with Ruth's experiences growing up through the Great Depression-- and how her travels as a young girl shaped her political career. This story was produced for NCPR by Brenna Rice for the Common Wealth, Common Wisdom Project.  Go to full article

Sep 14, 2009 — Each Monday this month, we're featuring new features from our Common Wealth, Common Wisdom project. North Country teens paired with senior citizens to explore the concept of entrepreneurship during the Great Depression, and today's Great Recession. When Chelsea Ross went across the street to interview her 90-year-old neighbor, Bill Cullen, she expected to hear some stories about working hard as a kid in the Great Depression era. She expected to get a 'how to' guide for surviving today's recession. What she got instead was different. What she got was a weird mirror on her life from 70 years before.  Go to full article

Sep 07, 2009 — Today we have another story from the youth and senior producers of our Common Wealth, Common Wisdom project. Kolby Weaver pitches for the Canton High School baseball team, and he's been a fan of the sport for as long as he can remember. From an era of steroid scandals and millionaire celebrity players, Kolby looks back to a time when the Dodgers still played in Brooklyn, and baseball was more than just a game.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Sep 03, 2009 — Yesterday, we reported on the effort to bring broadband internet access to more of the North Country. Developers of those high speed data lines hope to attract more traditional bricks-and-mortar businesses. But they also hope to build a new culture of telecommuters in the region: people who work for global companies or develop new on-line businesses while living in small towns and mountain valleys. Brian Mann has our story.  Go to full article

Aug 31, 2009 — Today we begin a four-part series of stories from the youth producers of our Common Wealth, Common Wisdom project. Each Monday this month, we'll hear from a teen and a senior pairing, exploring the concept of entrepreneurship during the Great Depression, and today's Great Recession. This morning, producer Jennifer Sibert brings us the story of the Huntleys, who just celebrated their 50th anniversary. They say that behind every hard working man is an even harder working woman. Behind Roger Huntley, who just retired after four decades as an auctioneer, is the tireless and indominable Ann Huntley. Roger and Ann take us back to the day they met, through a lifetime of collaboration on the farm and under the auction tent.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Aug 11, 2009 — Interns at North Country Public Radio have spent the summer curating a blog about entrepreneurship in hard times. They've interviewed depression-era elders and done interviews around the North Country, including last week at the Gouverneur County Fair. You can see some of their work and meet the interns and elders this Friday evening at the Silas Wright House in Canton. Todd Moe talks with two of the teenagers about what it's like to hear about the stories of people 72 years older than themselves.  Go to full article

Potsdam, NY, Aug 06, 2009 — This summer we invited four North Country teenagers to be multimedia interns at NCPR. They're producing stories and curating a blog about entrepreneurship in hard times and about the stories of elders who lived through the Great Depression. Last week, 90-year-old Bill Cullen sat down with two of our interns, Chelsea Ross and Jennifer Sibert. In his hand was an envelope of old black and white photographs, from his days in the East Indies during World War II. He showed them each photograph, and he told them stories.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jul 28, 2009 — Last week, some North Country teenagers and senior citizens gathered to talk about life and labor in hard times. It's part of a summer workshop at NCPR called Common Wealth, Common Wisdom. We'll be hearing and seeing more from them over the next few weeks. For today, teens and seniors asked each other to tell stories about their hands.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jul 24, 2009 — A familiar voice has returned to the North Country. Gregory Warner, former host of All Before Five, is back working on a special project connecting the region's young people with seniors. Gregory talked with Jonathan Brown about the project, called Common Wealth, Common Wisdom.  Go to full article