Canton, NY, Jun 06, 2012 — Yesterday evening Venus made its last journey across the face of the sun, as seen from Earth, until the year 2117. People of all ages covered the southeast corner of the St. Lawrence University practice fields to get their look at earth's closest neighboring planet, peering through one of the big telescopes or a pair of safe solar glasses.

Tasha Haverty joined the crowd, and talked to physics professor Jeff Miller, as well as Lillian LePage and her son Wally, Chip Jenkins and Tucker Catanzaro for today's Heard Up North.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Jun 05, 2012 — The Venus transit of the Sun headlines astronomy news this week, including in the NCPR studios, where Aileen O'Donoghue gave Martha Foley the story. Venus will pass between the Sun and Earth when the two planets' orbits are just right for people on Earth to see its progress. Astronomers and fans all over the world will be watching; there won't be another "transit" for 105 years. In the North Country, viewing will start at about 6 p.m., and end at sunset, weather permitting.

Aileen teaches physics, including astronomy, at St. Lawrence University. She and her colleagues will be set up at the SLU athletic fields on outer Park St. with telescopes and special glasses for viewing. Parking will be across the street, with some parking for the disabled closer by.

In the Adirondacks, The Wild Center in Tupper Lakes has a full slate of events for the transit including a webcast from NASA, beginning at 5 p.m.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, May 22, 2012 — Long-time Canton resident Peter Van de Water is out with a new book, This is What I Thought at the Time. It's a collection of his essays originally published in the St. Lawrence Plaindealer: everything from farming to politics.

Todd Moe spoke with him about writing essays based on what he was reading, childhood memories on the farm and changes in society. Van de Water has spent most of his life in Canton, graduated from St. Lawrence University, retired in 1984 and says his essays were inspired by his father's newspaper columns in the Watertown Daily Times.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, May 18, 2012 — Dr. Alexander Schreiber studies change--the metamorphosis of amphibians and flatfish. His St. Lawrence University biology lab teems with frogs and fish in various stages of development.

His enthusiasm for his subject sends him off campus to local grade schools. And at SLU, it attracts even English majors like our intern, Roger Miller. Schreiber told Roger he just never stopped being a kid.

Roger Miller is a senior at St. Lawrence University. He's worked as an intern in our news and web departments for the last couple of years. We'll miss him, and wish him well after graduation this weekend.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, May 15, 2012 — St. Lawrence University physics professor Aileen O'Donoghue shared news of big events in the solar system in conversation with Martha Foley this morning. She explained how a solar eclipse can begin on May 21st and end on May 20th; Mars is on the move, and we'll have a once-in-a-century chance to see Venus "transit" in front of the Sun on June 5.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 24, 2012 — Slouka is the SLU Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing whose work has been translated into 18 languages. His novels include God's Fool and the Visible World; and his non-fiction includes Essays from the Nick of Time: Reflections and Refutations and War of the Worlds: Cyberspace and the High-Tech Assault on Reality. Ellen Rocco and Paul Graham host.

The author will give a reading Thu., April 26 at 7:30 pm in the Sykes Common Room on the campus of St. Lawrence University, Canton NY.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 17, 2012 — It's been a great year for planet-watching. So says astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue, who teaches physics at St. Lawrence University.

She was in the NCPR studio this morning to share the news about Mars, Saturn and Venus. O'Donoghue also had a tip for a good view of the waxing crescent Moon and the Pleiades on April 23. She spoke with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Syracuse, NY, Apr 10, 2012 — For more than 50 years, Ruth Colvin and her husband have traveled to more than 60 countries and provided literacy training in Africa, Asia and South America. In 1962, Colvin founded Literacy Volunteers of America. She's also written many books on basic literacy and English as a second language. Colvin was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993 and awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.

Tonight at 7 pm in Griffiths 123 at St. Lawrence University, she'll share stories her new book, Off the Beaten Path: Stories of People Around the World.

Now 95-years-old, Colvin has filled her Syracuse home with art and souvenirs from around the world, but she told Todd Moe that working with people and sharing their stories are favorite aspects of her career.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 06, 2012 — A suicide bomber killed at least 10 people, including three American soldiers, at a park in Afghanistan this week. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, in what's usually a relatively peaceful region north of Kabul.

Such violence is one big reason 20-year old Maryam Laly wanted to leave Kabul, and attend school in the north country. She's currently a first year student at St. Lawrence University. Julie Grant spoke with Laly, and files this report...  Go to full article

Canton, NY, Apr 04, 2012 — Our guest, Kristen Kimball, is author of the memoir The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food and Love, and co-owner of Essex Farm, a full-diet, year-round, draft-horse-powered CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) provider in the Champlain Valley. Ellen Rocco and Mary Hussman host.

Kimball will give a reading Thu., April 5 at 7:30 pm in the Sykes Common Room on the campus of St. Lawrence University, Canton NY.  Go to full article