Special Reports: 2008

Audio Slideshow: Qulliq: lessons from a stone oil lamp No matter where people live, when it's frozen and dark outside, critical needs must be met: shelter and sustenance. Warmth and light. Way up North, back in igloo times, the solution to most of that was the qulliq, or stone oil lamp. Lucy Martin reports. Audio Slideshow: Cranberries, a hidden bumper crop in Brasher The signature crop of New England, cranberries, actually thrive in the flat lands of the St. Lawrence River valley, right near the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation. David Sommerstein visited the North Country’s only commercial cranberry bogs. Audio Slideshow: First Glimpse of Follensby Pond This pristine lake was once the site of the fabled “Philosopher’s Camp,” visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Off-limits to the public for more than a century, The Nature Conservancy has purchased it and will allow public use. Brian Mann gives us an advance glimpse. Audio Slideshow: Life beneath the Tug Hill wind turbines David Sommerstein talks with neighbors of the Maple Ridge windfarm on the Tug Hill Plateau to find out what it's like living with the new energy technology in your own back yard. Audio Slideshow: Dragonflies and Damselfies Todd Moe talks with investigators about how volunteers help study these colorful insects and their habitats. Photos by Vici & Steve Diehl. Slideshow: Old mill requires old skills Lucy Martin returns to Watson's Mill in Manotick, Ontario to see how old millstones can be made new again, and learn about other vanishings arts of the miller's trade. Audio Slideshow: Donkey Basketball in Edwards The loopy sport of donkey basketball has been used by North Country schools as a fundraiser since the 1950s. Visit a game in the St. Lawrence County town of Edwards. David Sommerstein reports. Slideshow: Demolition Derby on Ice A bang-up guilty pleasure. Lucy Martin takes us to Kars, Ontario for a winter variation on the theme of automotive destruction. Slideshow: Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Photographer Mark Kurtz gives us a taste of the festivities at the 2008 Saranac Lake Winter Carnival.

Audio Slideshow: Moving the World: help, and hope, for Malawi North Country women from Canton and Watertown churches brought donated medical supplies, eyeglasses, soccer balls and more to Malawi, one of the world's poorest nations. The Canton group was led by Linda Potter, who joined Martha Foley and Todd Moe in the studio. Audio Slideshow: Claudette Hart "The Gourd Lady of Merrickville" Long-time Canadian artist Claudette Hart began with watercolors and pottery. But about 6 years she got bitten by a different bug. Now her studio is one of the stops in an arts-oriented village and she's become known as "The Gourd Lady of Merrickville." Lucy Martin reports. Slideshow: Politics and Election 2008 in Marquil cartoons Marquil cartoons from the Adirondacks for a number of regional newspapers, as well as NCPR. Here is a selection of his work covering Election 2008. Audio Slideshow: Heard Up North: Birds of prey descend on Newcomb VIC Last weekend, Adirondack birds of prey came out to see the public – and vice versa – at the Visitors Interpretive Center in Newcomb. Rynda McCray talks with Jonathan Brown about her taloned charges. Audio Slideshow: A bounty of art from the garden Todd Moe visits a group of "plein air" painters near Malone who are celebrating another season of creating art outdoors. Audio Slideshow: Upper Canada Village welcomes addition Lucy Martin reports on the newest addition to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario--the Ancient Brethren Lodge. Audio Slideshow: Native Americans in baseball's past & present David Sommerstein visits a new exhibit at the Iroqoius Museum celebrating ball players who were Native American. Audio Slideshow: Anique North Country Postcards Jon Kopp, a former state forester who owns an antique store in Tupper Lake, has set out to collect thousands of vintage North Country postcards. He shares his collection with Brian Mann. Audio Slideshow: A winter visit to an infected bat cave Wildlife researchers across the Northeast are scrambling to understand a mysterious ailment that is killing thousands of bats. "White-nose" syndrome has been found at sites in New York and Vermont. Brian Mann goes underground to see.

Award-Winning News

2007-2008 award-winning features and series

The 2007-08 Steve Flanders Award, The grand prize given by the New York State Associated Press for the best radio news operation in New York State.

Immigration, NCPR News
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Continuing Coverage
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best Continuing News Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Hydropower comes at a cost for the Cree, Brian Mann
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Hard News Feature
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Special Mention: Enterprise Reporting
New York State Associated Press

All Before Five, Jonathan Brown
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Newscast
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best regularly scheduled local news program, 5/23/07, 10/25/07 program,
New York State Associated Press

Farm to Farm, David Sommerstein
2008 National Edward R. Murrow Award, News Series
Radio and Television News Directors Association
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, News Series
Radio and Television News Directors Association
Best News Series
New York State Associated Press
Best Enterprise Reporting
New York State Associated Press
Harold L. “Cap” Creal Journalism Award
New York State Agricultural Society
Second Place: Series
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

The Endless Cycle of Migration, David Sommerstein
Best news special/documentary
New York State Associated Press
Best News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Winter Dash to Avalanche Lake, Brian Mann
2008 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, Use of Sound
Radio and Television News Directors Association

A Tale of Two Zamboni Drivers, David Sommerstein
Best Feature & Best Sports Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Bittersweet reunions at Fort Drum, David Sommerstein
First Place: Writing
Second Place: News Feature
Public Radio News Directors Inc.

Ft. Drum awaits word on captive soldiers, David Sommerstein
Special Mention: Spot News Coverage
New York State Associated Press

Colo’s Eulogy, Jonathan Brown
Second Place: Commentary
Public Radio News Directors Inc.