Copenhagen, NY, Oct 28, 2009 — A rural tradition is now a thing of the past, or at least, so says the law. Two weeks ago, New York outlawed burn barrels and many other types of open burning. You can still burn brush and small tree limbs and have small campfires. The question is will people obey the new burn ban? David Sommerstein surveyed some residents and has our story.  Go to full article

Jul 01, 2009 — June was National Dairy Month. But there wasn't anything to celebrate on the farm. The price farmers are paid for their milk went down again. It's now lower than it was 30 years ago, even though fuel and feed and everything else has skyrocketed. Milk is worth well less than what it costs to produce it. There are no hard numbers. But it appears few dairy farms have gone out of business - yet. Farmers are scrambling to hang on to their livelihoods - in their own barns and as part of a budding grassroots movement. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

May 06, 2009 — It's gardening season and we're heading into the peak week for many garden centers and nurseries. A St. Lawrence County greenhouse went greener this winter when owners switched from oil to a type of biofuel heating system. Wheat's Greenhouse has been a gardening mainstay in Edwards for more than twenty years. But when fuel oil prices rose last fall, Bill Wheat took steps to help save money and the environment. Wheat collects used cooking oil from restaurants in Gouverneur for use as fuel in a boiler. It's a bit of an experiment, but he says, so far, it's worked in three of his six greenhouses. Todd Moe took to a tour in late February to find out more about a place where used vegetable oil kept veggie and flower seedlings warm this winter.  Go to full article

Mar 11, 2008 — Forget about all those bake sales and bottle drives. A hallowed tradition of North Country school fundraisers is donkey basketball. A private company trucks a team of donkeys clad with rubber hoofs to the school gym for hoops, kicks, and lots of bucks. A curious David Sommerstein went to a recent game in St. Lawrence County and sent this story.  Go to full article

Sep 07, 2007 — Based in Albany, the Mop & Bucket Co. is the area's oldest improvisational theater troupe. Co-director Michael Burns talks with Todd Moe about Saturday night's performance at the historic Edwards Opera House (7 pm) and the improv theater experience. Burns says leave your fussiness at home.  Go to full article

May 25, 2007 — NCPR is Media Sponsor for a concert featuring singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler at the historic Edwards Opera House Saturday night (7 pm). Todd Moe spoke with Cheryl about her first concert to a captive audience. She found an old toy ukelele in a neighbor's attic and serenaded her mother who was taking a bath at the time. A year later she got a real ukelele, then finally got her first guitar. She learned guitar from a neighbor, and started writing songs when she was 17.  Go to full article

Nov 10, 2006 — Contemporary singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson gives a concert this Sunday (7 pm) at the Edwards Opera House. She's been called one of the most original and influential folk artists of our time, and her music has been described as "joyful, stark, and poignant". Todd Moe has this preview.  Go to full article

Jun 29, 2006 — Sunday's New York Times had an article about hundreds of hand-painted theater curtains in Vermont being restored thanks to a statewide preservation effort. They once hung on small stages in opera houses and in town and Grange halls. Some towns are hoping their refurbished curtains will bring people back to neglected stages and music halls. There are similar efforts underway at historic opera houses in northern New York. Beth Robinson recently toured the Edwards Opera House, a prime example of a St. Lawrence County community working to preserve the past and reclaim a piece of cultural history.  Go to full article

Dec 09, 2005 — Music of the holiday season will fill the Edwards Opera House Saturday night (7 o'clock). Martha Gallagher, the Adirondack Harper, will share her love of music and the season in a concert with the St. Lawrence University Laurentian Singers, Hollis Easter on flute and smallpipes and John Danis on guitar. Martha told Todd Moe the concert will include Celtic harp and voice, traditional carols, jazzy holiday delights, and original music.  Go to full article

Nov 03, 2005 — Yesterday, cellist Matt Haimovitz wrapped up a two-week engagement with the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Tomorrow, he switches gears dramatically to kick off a tour with his group U-Cello. And the second stop on that tour is this Saturday evening in Edwards. Joel Hurd has a preview.  Go to full article