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NCPR News Staff: David Sommerstein
Reporter/ Producer
David Sommerstein, NCPR's roving St. Lawrence Valley/Fort Drum/Tug Hill reporter, began his career in radio, strangely enough, as a high school Spanish teacher in Buffalo. While drilling verb conjugations and teaching a love for Latino culture during the day, he sat in as a late night jazz and Latin DJ at Buffalo's NPR affiliate, WBFO. The radio bug bit, and David found his way to southern Colorado/northern New Mexico (the Taos/Santa Fe area) where he was Program Director, Music Director, Volunteer Coordinator, and "Just About Anything Else You Can Think Of" Director at NPR affiliate KRZA.Since joining NCPR's news department, David has reported from the chilly deck of a St. Lawrence icebreaker, the power-chord filled stage of the High School Rock Band Festival, and the tense Albanian street market of post-war Kosovo with soldiers from Fort Drum. David also gets to fulfill his passion for music of all kinds when he spins world dance and groove music on editions of The Beat Authority. E-mail
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Stories filed by David Sommerstein
A tale of two dairy farmers. Mike Kiechle, Philadelphia, says expanding his herd is too much of a risk. Photo: David Sommerstein
Will the Greek yogurt boom help dairy farmers?
Apr 17, 2013 — You might have been surprised last summer to hear politicians walking around and talking about--yogurt. Governor Andrew Cuomo held a Yogurt Summit at the Capitol in Albany, where he said the explosion of the Greek yogurt industry in New York is a once-in-a-generation moment. "This is one of the best private sector market opportunities that Upstate New York has had in 30, 40 years," procliamed Cuomo. "I don't know when we get another one. I really, really don't. And that entrepreneurial spirit is when you see an opportunity, grab it."
New York has invested millions of dollars in tax breaks into new and expanding yogurt plants. Cuomo wants to ease environmental rules to encourage 200 cow dairy farms to become 300 cow dairy farms and make more milk.
Experts say New York farmers will have to boost milk production by 15 percent, or two billion pounds each year, to keep up with demand.
So does New York have a milk shortage? And are farmers stepping up it fill it?
The answers lie in cream cheese, Old McDonald, and something called the Chobani Paradox. Go to full article
New York has invested millions of dollars in tax breaks into new and expanding yogurt plants. Cuomo wants to ease environmental rules to encourage 200 cow dairy farms to become 300 cow dairy farms and make more milk.
Experts say New York farmers will have to boost milk production by 15 percent, or two billion pounds each year, to keep up with demand.
So does New York have a milk shortage? And are farmers stepping up it fill it?
The answers lie in cream cheese, Old McDonald, and something called the Chobani Paradox. Go to full article
Hispanic men and women - some of them quite young - provide labor illegally on many dairy farms. Photo: David Sommerstein
Lawmakers push visas for dairy workers
Burlington, VT, Apr 10, 2013 — Lawmakers on both sides of Lake Champlain say Congress is making progress on immigration reform. And they want to make sure the dairy industry is a part of it.
North Country Congressman Bill Owens and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch held a joint press conference in Burlington yesterday. Go to full article
North Country Congressman Bill Owens and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch held a joint press conference in Burlington yesterday. Go to full article
Part of the 7.2 mile contaminated stretch of the Grasse. Photo: David Sommerstein
Mohawks rip EPA's Grasse River cleanup plan
Apr 05, 2013 — Update: The EPA released its final plan for the Alcoa Grasse River cleanup late this morning. More information is at The Inbox.
Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment. Go to full article
Just ahead of the release of a plan to clean up toxic chemicals from the Grasse River near Massena, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe blasted federal officials for putting the economy ahead of the environment. Go to full article
Aaron Calderon, Malik McKenzie, and Sabel Bong, of SUNY Canton, prepare to march down Main Street. Photo: David Sommerstein
How human trafficking happens all around us
Apr 03, 2013 — According to a study by Hofstra University, more than 11,000 people in New York State have been victims of human trafficking since 2000. They may have been sex workers, or forcibly employed at restaurants or factories or on farms.
They're among the estimated 27 million people who are victims of human trafficking worldwide.
Several organizations this week are drawing attention to what's often called modern-day slavery. The state Department of Labor has announced a new partnership with businesses to expose illegal labor trafficking.
A handful of students from SUNY Canton held a march yesterday to raise awareness of the issue. Go to full article
They're among the estimated 27 million people who are victims of human trafficking worldwide.
Several organizations this week are drawing attention to what's often called modern-day slavery. The state Department of Labor has announced a new partnership with businesses to expose illegal labor trafficking.
A handful of students from SUNY Canton held a march yesterday to raise awareness of the issue. Go to full article
Frank Forney, Philadelphia, cutting wood with his nephew on Route 11 in Antwerp. Photo: David Sommerstein
Heard Up North: the guy who painted the Thousand Islands bridge
Apr 03, 2013 — You never know who you're going to meet by the side of the road in the North Country. David Sommerstein stopped to chat with a guy sawing firewood recently. It turns out he painted one of the tallest bridges over the St. Lawrence River. Today's Heard Up North features Frank Forney of Philadelphia. Go to full article
Part of the 7.2 mile contaminated stretch of the Grasse. Photo: David Sommerstein
Alcoa commits to 900 jobs in Massena; Grasse cleanup still in flux
Apr 01, 2013 — The company that built Massena will keep its plants open there for at least another 30 years.
Alcoa announced Saturday it will invest $42 million to modernize its East plant and build a new smelting the line. The company will also guarantee at least 900 jobs. In return, Alcoa will get low cost electricity from the hydropower dam on the St. Lawrence River.
The deal hinges on how the Environmental Protection Agency decides to clean up PCBs Alcoa and Reynolds dumped in the Grasse River decades ago.
David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley for more on the deal. Go to full article
Alcoa announced Saturday it will invest $42 million to modernize its East plant and build a new smelting the line. The company will also guarantee at least 900 jobs. In return, Alcoa will get low cost electricity from the hydropower dam on the St. Lawrence River.
The deal hinges on how the Environmental Protection Agency decides to clean up PCBs Alcoa and Reynolds dumped in the Grasse River decades ago.
David Sommerstein joined Martha Foley for more on the deal. Go to full article
Mountain Mart in Canton, NY. According to EPA data, the agency found violations at seven gas stations in Malone, Massena, Moira, Plattsburgh, and Canton. Photo: David Sommerstein
Adirondack Energy fined for violations
Malone, NY, Apr 01, 2013 — The owner of several Mountain Mart gas stations in the North Country has agreed to pay $46,000 to settle environmental violations. The Environmental Protection Agency found improper record keeping and testing of the company's underground gas tanks. Go to full article
Part of the 7.2 mile contaminated stretch of the Grasse. Photo: David Sommerstein.
Alcoa, Reynolds to pay $20M to clean up St. Lawrence
Hogansburg, NY, Mar 28, 2013 — Alcoa and Reynolds Metals will pay almost $20 million to restore habitat and wildlife on the St. Lawrence River near Massena. The settlement ends a more than 20-year-old lawsuit spearheaded by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. Go to full article
A sapbucket at Newton's Sugarbush. One of the bills US Rep. Owens is introducing would make it easier for producers to tape trees on some state and conservation lands in the Adirondacks. Photo: Todd Moe
Owens gets ahead of curve on farm bill
Washington, DC, Mar 25, 2013 — Washington failed to pass a Farm Bill last year. Congressman Bill Owens says he's "cautiously optimistic" one will pass this year. But he's not sure exactly what will be in the massive $100 billion a year legislation that funds everything from farm programs to food stamps.
So the North Country Democrat is introducing three bills early that would help New York farmers. Go to full article
So the North Country Democrat is introducing three bills early that would help New York farmers. Go to full article
Kirsten Gillibrand. Photo: Mark Kurtz
Gillibrand: minimum wage should be even higher
Washington, DC, Mar 20, 2013 — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is making the case that New York's proposed minimum wage increase to $9 an hour is actually not enough. She is co-sponsoring a bill to raise the minimum wage nationwide to $10.10 an hour. Go to full article
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St. Lawrence University, Canton,
New York 13617 • phone: 1-877-388-6277 • email
radio@ncpr.orgNCPR is a proud affiliate of:
NPR • American Public Media • Public Radio International
