NCPR News Staff: Todd Moe, Morning Host and Producer

The Potsdam Latin/bistro ensemble Piquant joins Todd Moe in the studio to help get us moving into spring. Dance along with the radio!

It started with a dirt bike ride to visit a friend's family and is now a quest to build a school in Ethiopia. Alex French, a SUNY Potsdam alumnus, spent part of last year living and working in the east African country. It was a side trip to the small community of Gembeltu, difficult to find on most maps of Ethiopia, that inspired him to give back. As part of our series, Moving the World, Todd Moe spoke with French about exploring a new culture and lending a helping hand.

School gardens are more than a source of local food for the cafeteria. These gardens, planted and tended by students and staff, are being integrated into the educational curriculum to teach children not only about plants, nature and the environment, but other subjects as well. Danielle Pipher, a farm to school educator in Vermont, says gardens can teach kids about history, economics, social studies, math and art. Pipher will lead a workshop on school gardens on March 30th at St. Lawrence University. She spoke with Todd Moe about how to start a school or community garden.

It's Spring Break at SUNY-Potsdam, but also a busy week for a group of guys at the school who love to sing. The Potsdam Pointercounts are wrapping up their "In the Heat" tour in Florida, and when they return to the North Country they'll gear up for the 17th annual A Cappella Jam on March 28th (3 pm) in Hosmer Hall. Traveling and singing during school breaks is part of the tradition for the all-male group. Todd Moe stopped by a recent rehearsal and spoke with the ensemble's president, Robbie Valentine and music director Justin Moniz. They promote the group as "singing ambassadors" for the university.

Environmental officials say New York's bald eagle population may be at its highest level since restoration work began more than 30 years ago. The DEC has conducted annual eagle surveys since 1979. Blanche Town, a DEC biologist based in Potsdam, is part of a team that conducts an aerial survey of the St. Lawrence River. She told Todd Moe that 101 bald eagles were counted on the river this year.

The maple syrup season is underway across much of the North Country. It's already been a great season for some producers. Mike Farrell, Director of the Uihlein Maple Research Station in Lake Placid, knows maple syrup. 5,500 maples are tapped at Uihlien. You might say this is his season. Farrell studies the economic trends of maple syrup, how climate change is affecting the season and promotes maple syrup production in the region. He spoke with Todd Moe.

People in Plattsburgh are serious about growing their vegetables. Last year, 32 garden plots were tilled and tended as part of the Plattsburgh Commmunity Garden project. This year, organizers are hoping to get more gardeners involved. Manager Doug Butdorf told Todd Moe that city folks are passionate about growing their own.

The Director of the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts says 2009 was a great year, despite the economic downturn, and he's looking forward to another one. Stephen Svoboda grew up in Tupper Lake and taught theater arts in Miami before returning to the Adirondacks last year. Todd Moe spoke with him about his first year in Blue Mountain Lake, and looking ahead to more Shakespeare, music and making connections throughout the park.

TAUNY's music website explores the rich music-making traditions that have evolved over generations in the Adirondack region. It recently won a prestigious Award of Merit from the Upstate History Alliance. Website reviewers applauded the project's "accessibility and quality." Todd Moe talks with musician and historian Dave Ruch, who was project director for the website.

Multi-media artist Kimberly Mayhorn is artist-in-residence at St. Lawrence University this week. She's presenting workshops and the premiere of a performance piece called "Reactance". Essence magazine calls her one of "30 Women to Watch". Mayhorn is an African-American artist whose works include installation, video and theater. She works as video editor, and in 1998 began creating art installations that have been exhibited around the country. Todd Moe asked her about her latest show, "Reactance".