Colton, NY, Apr 04, 2012 — Many of us read The Secret Garden when we were kids. Children's author Ellen Potter takes that story and sets it in the Thousand Islands in her new book The Humming Room. Her characters live in an old children's sanatorium on an island the locals call "Cough Rock." Our book reviewer Betsy Kepes spoke with Ellen Potter about her latest novel.  Go to full article

Kingston, ON, Nov 23, 2011 — Theatre Kingston has welcomed its new Artistic Producer on board this season. Brett Christopher has been an active member of the Canadian theater community for more than a decade. Most recently he was Artistic Associate at the Thousand Islands Playhouse. Christopher is perhaps best known for his performance in I Am My Own Wife in 2009. Founded in 1990, Theatre Kingston is Kingston, Ontario's professional theater company. Todd Moe spoke with Christopher about his goals, which include collaboration and community connections to keep local theater vibrant.  Go to full article

Clayton, NY, Aug 29, 2011 — The Thousand Islands Young Leaders Organization held a summit last Friday to gather ideas from young people about their vision for the future of the Thousand Islands Region. The group was founded in April 2008 to help improve quality of life for young Northern New Yorkers, and to get them more involved in their communities. Joanna Richards was at the summit and has this report.  Go to full article

Aug 24, 2011 — A new book offers a slightly different view of life in the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. What started as a hobby collecting old photographs for Tom French has grown into a fascination with historic stereographs--antique 3-D photographs--and a passion for preserving Thousand Islands history. French was raised on Thousand Island Park. He teaches English in Massena and splits his time between the St. Lawrence River and his home in Potsdam.

The amateur historian has compiled and edited a book of old stereographs of the region. River Views: A History of the Thousand Islands in 3-D, includes more than 100 sepia-toned stereograph cards that illustrate the history of the Thousand Islands. But he told Todd Moe that it was also the stories behind the old photos that intrigued him.  Go to full article

Thousand Island Park, NY, Jun 22, 2011 — This week, our Adirondack reporter Brian Mann has been exploring the St. Lawrence Seaway. Construction of the massive system of locks and channels in the 1950s changed the river profoundly. As part of his trip, Brian set off in his kayak around Wellesley Island, to see if he could catch a glimpse of what the St. Lawrence might have looked like before all that. He sent back an audio postcard.  Go to full article

Gananoque, ON, Jun 21, 2011 — Lawmakers on both sides of the border are looking for answers after a fisherman's boat was seized in Canadian waters on the St. Lawrence River.

Canadian border agents said U.S. citizen, Roy Anderson, didn't check in at a port of entry. They fined Anderson a thousand dollars.

But Anderson's boat wasn't docked or anchored. Lawmakers say requiring boats that drift across the international border to check in would wreak havoc on the fishing and tourism industries. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Mar 31, 2011 — Last week, the first freighter of the year rumbled up the St. Lawrence River. That marked the 53rd season of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a man-made channel linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes.

The Seaway's billion dollars of commerce is mostly an economic conversation between Canada's southern coast, America's Midwest, and the far-flung ports of the world.

But it's caused vast environmental damage in the North Country and across the Great Lakes, largely via invasive species.

David Sommerstein went to the Seaway's opening ceremony last week in Montreal. He sends this report on the Seaway's delicate balance between the economy and the environment.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Dec 28, 2010 — Twenty-two Chinese seamen are resting up in Montreal after a harrowing Christmas journey through the St. Lawrence Seaway. The crew aboard the German-owned Hermann Schoening became violently ill after phosphine gas leaked into the living and working spaces. The gas is used regularly as a fumigant to kill pests in the cargo hold. The freighter is carrying 19,000 tons of midwestern corn bound for Algeria.

The crew was treated at a hospital in Ontario. But the ship then continued on with windows open to air out the gas.

Don Metzger piloted the freighter from Lake Ontario through the St. Lawrence River to Massena. He's been a Seaway pilot for more than 30 years. He told David Sommerstein he's never seen anything like this happen before. Metzger says the crew was sick and cold, and unprepared for winter weather.
Carolyn Osbourne of the Mariners House of Montreal says the crew spent yesterday recovering after being sickened by phosphine gas. She says they received a second hospital checkup, as well as warm coats, gloves, and Christmas gifts while in port. The ship was scheduled to resume its travels this morning.

An official with Transport Canada says the incident is under investigation. The shipowners could be fined if violations of the Canada Shipping Act are found. But the gas leak is so far being considered an anomaly.  Go to full article

Cape Vincent, NY, Sep 10, 2010 — 16 pianists from around the world are in Cape Vincent this weekend for the 8th annual Thousand Islands International Piano Competition for Young People. It's sponsored by the Cape Vincent Arts Council and the Chopin Society of the Thousand Islands. Co-chair Liz Brennan told Todd Moe that the competition will be held under a tent on the historic grounds of the Maple Grove estate.  Go to full article

Hammond, NY, Jul 07, 2010 — Coast Guard crews shifted ballast and cargo to re-float the Canadian freighter, Algobay, last night. The 740-foot long ship lost power Sunday morning and ran aground on Superior Shoal, near Chippewa Bay. That's not far downriver from where an oil tanker ran aground in 1976. The 1976 spill, known locally as the Slick of '76, remains one of the biggest inland oil spills in the country's history.

A spokeswoman for the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority said there was no threat of fuel leaks or other pollution from the Algobay. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article