Dec 18, 2012 — North Country visual artist and sculptor Becky Harblin included her poetry in a recent exhibit at the St. Lawrence County Arts Council in Potsdam. At the opening, poet and publisher Albert Glover asked if he could publish the poems. The result of their collaboration is a slim book of poetry titled, Eating the Bread of this World. Our book reviewer, Betsy Kepes, talks with Becky Harblin about her new book.  Go to full article

Old Forge, NY, Dec 14, 2012 — A new art display at View in Old Forge puts nature and animals front and center. The Wild Life exhibit includes work in a variety of media: watercolors, photography, sculpture, taxidermy.

Todd Moe spoke with curator Linda Weal, who says our wild neighbors are the focus: owls, trout, bears and more.  Go to full article

Dexter, NY, Dec 12, 2012 — New York is home to the most famous waterfall in the world, Niagara Falls, but the state also boasts more than 2,000 other waterfalls. Todd Moe talks with David Schryver, co-author of the new book, Waterfalls of New York State. It celebrates over 100 of the more scenic falls.

David Schryver will sign copies of his book Thursday night (6 pm) at the Dexter Public Library, and Saturday (3 pm) at the Brewer Bookstore in Canton.  Go to full article

Sackets Harbor, NY, Nov 22, 2012 — Falconry, the sport of hunting with birds of prey, is ancient: its history goes back thousands of years. It was once used as a way to catch small prey, like rabbits and pheasants, before humans had guns. And the sport is still practiced today.

It takes many years to become a master falconer under New York state law. It's small game hunting season right now in northern New York, and reporter Joanna Richards went out with falconer Rick West last year, to learn what keeps him practicing this ancient sport.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Nov 22, 2012 — Burl wood, the knobs of complex grain that some trees form, is prized by woodworkers for its beauty and utility. What causes wood grain to deviate from the straight and narrow in this way is something of a mystery. Martha Foley and Curt Stager try to untangle the knot.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Sep 28, 2012 — Last night veteran journalist Bill Blakemore gave the keynote presentation at St. Lawrence University's Climate Change Forum. That talk has been publicized all over the North Country, and Blakemore appeared on NCPR Thursday, so you may have known about that already. But chances are, you didn't know about the surprise flash mob.

Earlier in the semester, the organizing committee for the Forum asked St. Lawrence art professor Peter Nelson to come up with an installation related to the theme of climate change. But as Nelson was coming up with an idea, it dawned on him that the materials and energy needed to create a typical installation would be wasteful, and go against the whole spirit of the event. So instead, he came up with a way to transform Eben Holden Hall into a forest grove, using only the human voice.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Sep 13, 2012 — This nocturnal nuisance can spray its cruel brew about as far as it can see: Ten feet. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager get down to the basics: "How do you get rid of the skunk under the porch?  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Sep 06, 2012 — Trees may live for hundreds, thousands of years, but there are limits on their growth. Trees can only move so much water, and only to a certain height. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss the hydrology of trees.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Aug 30, 2012 — We use buckwheat flour for many of the same purposes as wheat flour, but the plants they originate from are not even closely related. And that's a good thing for people who suffer from gluten allergies.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Aug 23, 2012 — A common invasive species, the hover fly, or drone fly, looks remarkably like a honeybee. But in its youth, it carries the loathsome monicker "rat-tailed maggot". Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager discuss Batesian mimicry: innocuous creatures who imitate more dangerous species.  Go to full article