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<title>NCPR Topical RSS: Commentary</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org</link>
<description>Latest North Country Public Radio regional news by topic. Topic=commentary.</description>
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<copyright>&#x2117; &amp; &#xA9; 2013, North Country Public Radio</copyright>
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<description>NCPR provides locally-produced news stories from around the Adirondack and North Country regions of New York State, as well as Western Vermont, and Ontario and Quebec in Canada.</description>
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<title>An audio postcard from the mountains of Afghanistan</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15865/20100624/an-audio-postcard-from-the-mountains-of-afghanistan</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jun 24, 2010) Yesterday President Obama fired his top commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, in the wake of comments he made in Rolling Stone magazine. Pundits applauded McChrystal&apos;s replacement, General David Petraeus. But the dismissal has renewed doubts over the military’s ability to win the war. Violence is at its highest since 2001. Corruption and poppy production remain serious obstacles. With thousands of Fort Drum soldiers already in or soon going to Afghanistan, we&apos;re examining the war effort from various points of view. Several years ago, photojournalist and ex-soldier Bill Putnam sent us audio diaries from Iraq. Now, Putnam is in the mountains of Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan.  He&apos;s embedded with a unit out of Texas. Today he sends us the first in a series of audio journals. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15865/20100624/an-audio-postcard-from-the-mountains-of-afghanistan">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: no recovery without workers&apos; rights</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15753/20100601/commentary-no-recovery-without-workers-apos-rights</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jun 1, 2010) It’s been about two years now since the near collapse of our economy, and Congress is finally getting serious about making financial institutions follow tougher rules.   Commentator George Gonos thinks this all to the good, because, he says, de-regulation of the banking industry over the last 30 years – the weakening or elimination of rules – was a major cause of the crisis. He hopes Congress will pass new laws to govern the banks, and put some teeth into them.  But he adds that at best, reining in the financial executives will deal with only one-half of the problem.George Gonos is associate professor of sociology, at SUNY Potsdam [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15753/20100601/commentary-no-recovery-without-workers-apos-rights">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Finch Paper Reacquires 1,700-acre Tract in Indian Lake</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15224/20100212/finch-paper-reacquires-1-700-acre-tract-in-indian-lake</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 12, 2010) Three years after the Nature Conservancy bought tens of thousands of acres of timberland from the Finch Pruyn paper company, the company is buying some of the land back near the town of Indian Lake.  The sale is part of a complex plan to return some of the land to private ownership, or to ownership by local towns. Chris Morris has our story.Also yesterday, an environmental group called the Open Space Institute announced that it had acquired a conservation easement on 1400 acres in Essex County.The deal will prevent future commercial or real estate development on a section of forest that includes the shore of Butternut Pond and part of Poke-O-Mmoonshine Mountain.  The land will remain in private ownership.  But the conservation easement was donated to the green group by the family of Eric Johansen. Logging will still be allowed on the property. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15224/20100212/finch-paper-reacquires-1-700-acre-tract-in-indian-lake">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: envisioning a new direction for Moriah</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15207/20100210/commentary-envisioning-a-new-direction-for-moriah</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 10, 2010) The state corrections officer union says it will launch an &quot;aggressive&quot; campaign today designed to save three prisons in the North Country. The effort will include an ad campaign and a series of rallies targeting the Paterson administration plan to close the prisons as part of its effort to close the state budget deficit. Donn Row, who heads the guard union, says the planned closures in Moriah, Lyon Mountain and Ogdensburg will hurt public safety and cost jobs. The governor&apos;s plan to close the three prisons sent waves of anger and anxiety through the local communities. Local and state officials have vowed to do their best to keep the facilities open.Commentator Martha Swan is a teacher and a social justice activist. She lives in Westport, not far from the Moriah shock camp.  She thinks it is time for the community to take another direction. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/15207/20100210/commentary-envisioning-a-new-direction-for-moriah">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: A time for giving... locally</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14990/20091230/commentary-a-time-for-giving-locally</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Dec 30, 2009) The end of the year is a busy time – holidays to plan for. Travel. Celebrations. It&apos;s also a natural time for reflection, and thinking ahead, for trying to make a difference. Cali Brooks works in philanthropy, in the Adirondacks. That&apos;s where her thoughts are as 2009 closes. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14990/20091230/commentary-a-time-for-giving-locally">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>At last.  A BIG Christmas tree</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14866/20091210/at-last-a-big-christmas-tree</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Dec 10, 2009) Commentator Paul Willcott and his wife, Ann, had long dreamed of the perfect Christmas tree.  In 2002, when they became the new proud owners of a rambling old cure cottage in Saranac Lake, they got their chance.  It was the right time, and the right place, for the perfect tree.  Didn’t seem like such a big undertaking.   But the story of that first big tree didn&apos;t turn out quite as expected. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14866/20091210/at-last-a-big-christmas-tree">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: Feeding the debate</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14386/20090921/commentary-feeding-the-debate</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Sep 21, 2009) NCPR Web Manager and commentator Dale Hobson has an idea to return civility to public discourse. He says it has to do with casseroles. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14386/20090921/commentary-feeding-the-debate">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Midsummer in the garden</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14040/20090727/midsummer-in-the-garden</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jul 27, 2009) It&apos;s not too late for some planting...but don&apos;t wait long to get the garlic out of the ground. These, and other midsummer notes, as Martha Foley catches up with cooperative extension horticulturist Amy Ivy. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/14040/20090727/midsummer-in-the-garden">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: passing on a golden legacy in the Champlain Valley</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13938/20090709/commentary-passing-on-a-golden-legacy-in-the-champlain-valley</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jul 9, 2009) The U.S. Department of Agriculture&apos;s latest farm census (2007) reports that New York State is fourth in the nation, behind California, Wisconsin and Washington, in the number of organic farms, with a total of 1137.  Commentator Kristin Kimball and her family run the The Essex Farm, in the rolling landscape near lake Champlain, in Essex, NY. She describes the farm as a full-food, year round, horse-poered producer. She&apos;s proud to be counted in the growing number of organic growers. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13938/20090709/commentary-passing-on-a-golden-legacy-in-the-champlain-valley">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Wanting more change on this Independence Day</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13893/20090703/wanting-more-change-on-this-independence-day</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jul 3, 2009) On this first Independence Day of the Obama years, liberals may be feeling a sense of pride and triumph. A lot has changed since a year ago, and most of the changes are to their liking. But commentator Paul Willcott, a self-described &quot;big government, tax-and-spend liberal&quot; wants more: from the right, the left, and the in-between. Paul Willcott divides his time between new York City and Saranac lake. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13893/20090703/wanting-more-change-on-this-independence-day">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: tracking the rise and fall of industry in Massena</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13606/20090525/commentary-tracking-the-rise-and-fall-of-industry-in-massena</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (May 25, 2009) Pat McKeown has been walking her dog, morning and afternoon, along the same country road for the past 11 years.  And she walked another 16 years with the dog who came before.  The routine never changes.  What has changed is the road. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13606/20090525/commentary-tracking-the-rise-and-fall-of-industry-in-massena">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: Food Regs &quot;Overkill&quot;</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13046/20090224/commentary-food-regs-quot-overkill-quot</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 24, 2009) Last week, we aired a story about the state Health Department’s rules against serving home-cooked food at community events.  You can listen to that story on our website at ncpr.org.  The food regulations have been in existence since 1997.  But in many cases, they&apos;re just catching the attention of local groups.  The Church and Community Program in Canton has decided to cancel its weekly &quot;lenten luncheons&quot; in March.   State health department director in St. Lawrence County, Bruce Stone, says health officials aren&apos;t cracking down.  He urges event organizers to contact the health department so he can help events go on as planned while also satisfying health codes.  The number in Canton is 315-386-1040. Last week&apos;s story elicited a strong reaction from local event organizer Patricia Greene. She submitted this commentary. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/13046/20090224/commentary-food-regs-quot-overkill-quot">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: respite in silence</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12917/20090204/commentary-respite-in-silence</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Feb 4, 2009) Between elections and economic crisis, it&apos;s been a hectic, noisy, year in the news business. Jonathan Brown found an unexpected respite. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12917/20090204/commentary-respite-in-silence">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: invisible people</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12833/20090123/commentary-invisible-people</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jan 23, 2009) The tumbling economy is forcing more people to learn what it means to be poor. But there are many North Country residents who live in perpetual poverty. Commentator Jill Vaughan has spent a career working closely, intimately, with those people. But she doesn&apos;t see them much anymore. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12833/20090123/commentary-invisible-people">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: hope, rooted in history</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12801/20090116/commentary-hope-rooted-in-history</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jan 16, 2009) For NCPR Station Manager Ellen Rocco, two stories of slavery add meaning to the Obama inauguration. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12801/20090116/commentary-hope-rooted-in-history">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: December to January</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12731/20090106/commentary-december-to-january</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Jan 6, 2009) Writer Richard Rubin doesn&apos;t mind looking back over the previous year. But turning the page is even better. Richard Rubin is the author of Confederacy of Silence: A True Tale of the New Old South. He&apos;s spending the year teaching creative writing at St. Lawrence University. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12731/20090106/commentary-december-to-january">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: celebrating the spirit of the season</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12669/20081223/commentary-celebrating-the-spirit-of-the-season</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Dec 23, 2008) Richard Rubin loves Christmas — which is a little odd — because he’s Jewish. He doesn’t actually celebrate the holiday.  But, he says, you don’t have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy it.  He loves the spirit of the season, and the food and drink, and all the goofy TV specials, even that Mr. Magoo version of “A Christmas Carol.”  But what he absolutely loves most of all about Christmas are the lights. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12669/20081223/commentary-celebrating-the-spirit-of-the-season">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: putting memories to rest</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12646/20081218/commentary-putting-memories-to-rest</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Dec 18, 2008) Twenty-five years ago this week, in Potsdam, Dr. Stephen Giannell murdered his teenage children, then killed himself. Annie Stoltie lived next door. She was nine. Her memories of that December include the usual Santa season things… mixed with the knowledge that something evil had happened just a Frisbee toss from her front door. Annie Stoltie is editor of Adirondack Life magazine. She lives in Jay. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12646/20081218/commentary-putting-memories-to-rest">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Tough times for nonprofits</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12637/20081217/tough-times-for-nonprofits</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Dec 17, 2008) During hard economic times, many nonprofit organizations face a double challenge.  A weak economy often means decreasing revenue, but increasing demand for services.  Cali Brooks directs the community foundation serving the Adirondacks. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12637/20081217/tough-times-for-nonprofits">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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<title>Commentary: accidental conservationists</title>
<link>http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12268/20081016/commentary-accidental-conservationists</link>
<description><![CDATA[ (Oct 16, 2008) Sometimes things just don&apos;t turn out the way you planned.  And sometimes that&apos;s not a bad thing.  Jill Vaughan finds beauty in a far corner of the farm. [<strong><a href="http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/12268/20081016/commentary-accidental-conservationists">full story</a></strong>]]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
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