bird on the wire

A Lively Experiment 1/27 at 8:30 P.M. (Sunday 1/29 at noon)

2012-01-27T16:32:00.001-05:00

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Ian Donnis - Rhode Island Public Radio
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director and anchor
Maureen Moakley - University of Rhode Island political science professor
Travis Rowley – GoLocalProv.com columnist

Topics:

Analysis of the president's State of the Union address, including an interview with Congressman James Langevin (D) offering his reaction to the speech and the legislation he believes will be enacted during this Congressional session
Plugging the state budget shortfall
Remembering Governor J. Joseph Garrahy

A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Fridays at 8:30 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 p.m. on WSBE Learn (36.2), and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1).

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; in Massachusetts: Comcast 819HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; on Cox 808; Verizon 478; Full Channel 109; and Comcast 294 or 312.

Can't get to the TV? Watch the episode online anytime and anywhere on our YouTube channel. Episodes of A Lively Experiment are generally available to watch on the next business day. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and YouTube will notify you when a new episode is uploaded.

On Facebook? So are we! "Like" A Lively Experiment on Facebook!

Our Great Kids - Alan Shawn Feinstein

2012-01-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

The Feinstein Junior Scholar Program began more than 10 years ago to promote community service projects to school children throughout Rhode Island. Alan Shawn Feinstein offers program membership to children who pledge to do good deeds for others. Today, there are more than 100,000 Feinstein Junior Scholars in kindergarten to college, and millions of good deeds performed.

In Mr. Feinstein's own words: "I speak to over 35,000 of these youngsters each year in their schools – thanking them for what they are doing to help others and telling them that every time they do something good for someone else, they make the world a better place."

Each week, Alan Shawn Feinstein comes to WSBE Rhode Island PBS studios to share some of those good deeds in Our Great Kids, short programs that recognize Feinstein Junior Scholars by name. The segments air on weekends on both of our channels, Rhode Island PBS and Learn. Mr. Feinstein tapes short (3-minute) and long (5-minute) segments, each with different content. In some Our Great Kids episodes, Mr. Feinstein reads letters he has received from children. In other segments of Our Great Kids, he shares advice and encouragement.

Episodes are new each week, and are re-broadcast more than once per weekend. Here's when to catch the latest segments about Our Great Kids on TV:

Short segment (3 minutes)
Saturdays at 6 A.M. and Sundays at 6 P.M. on WSBE Rhode Island PBS
Sundays at 7 A.M on WSBE Learn

Long segment (5 minutes)
Saturdays and Sundays at 10 A.M. on WSBE Rhode Island PBS
Sundays at 5 P.M. on WSBE Learn

Here's a link to one recent video. Past episodes are available on our YouTube channel.

http://youtu.be/9TbBt5SrhHw

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on cable services: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, Full Channel 08, Comcast 819HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; on cable: Cox 808, Verizon 478, Full Channel 109, Comcast 294 or 312.

A Lively Experiment Special Edition: Debating a Casino at Quonset

2012-01-24T15:18:00.001-05:00

In this special edition of A Lively Experiment hosted by Dyana Koelsch, Rhode Island Representative Joseph Trillo (R) Warwick and Rhode Island Senator James Sheehan (D) North Kingstown/Narragansett debate the proposal to build a mega casino in the Quonset Point Business Park.

PART 1

PART 2

Comments? They're always welcome!

A Lively Experiment, Friday, January 20 (Sunday 1/22)

2012-01-23T12:24:00.001-05:00

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director and anchor
Jim Hummel - senior investigator, The Hummel Report
Leonard Lardaro – University of Rhode Island economics professor
Ted Nesi – WPRI.com reporter

Topics:

Municipal pension reform
Car taxes
Raising the income tax on wealthier Rhode Islanders
Proposal to build a casino at Quonset Point

Is your 'treasure' hidden in plain sight?

2012-01-20T19:11:00.001-05:00

Rhode Island Treasures

Richard Conti of Conti Appraisal Service in Attleboro, MA, is an accredited senior member of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), the National Association of Professional Appraisers, and the National Auctioneers Association. As a long-time supporter of Rhode Island PBS and the president of the Boston Chapter of the ASA, Richard is the station's liaison with the accredited appraisers participating in the Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show coming to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI on February 18.

"Rhode Island is literally a treasure trove of original works of art and furnishings created by masters of their craft," said Conti. "There are the familiar names – Townsend and Goddard furniture of Newport, Gorham silver of Providence, the distinctive painting styles of Gilbert Stuart, George Hayes, and Maxwell Mays – all with strong roots in Rhode Island. There are also lesser known names who crafted beautiful works of art that are recognized by a signature style or shape. These, too, have become valuable and highly collectable through time."

As a personal and real property appraiser and auctioneer for more than 20 years in New England, Conti has witnessed countless expressions of shock-turned-joy in his career. He tells the story of one man who requested Conti's services to help settle the estate of the man's elderly aunt.

"I walked into the home and saw a painting on the dining room wall over the buffet. 'That's been hanging there since I was a boy,' the 50-something year old client told me. The painting was an original oil on canvas signed by Guy Wiggins. It was dusty, but worth between $35,000 and $40,000."

Needless to say, Conti's client was astonished.

"I see this all the time. A piece of furniture or a painting that has been part of everyday family life – and virtually ignored for decades – is actually a valuable antique, hidden in plain sight," Conti said.

Even what was considered 'costume jewelry' in its day – pieces manufactured in Rhode Island by Monet, Coro, Trifari – demonstrate a type of American craft and artistry that has appreciated over time and become collector's items, according to Conti.

"Masterful pieces created in Rhode Island over the centuries can be found all over the world," Conti said, "but there are still many originals right here in New England. Some objects never left, while others have made their way back home."

Making Your Discovery

If you're a fan of the British and American traveling appraisal shows we air on WSBE, then you likely agree that some of the best, most exciting moments are when unexpected treasures are discovered.

New Englanders are invited to experience one of those moments of discovery for themselves at the upcoming Rhode Island PBS Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show. The first event of its kind for WSBE - and a first-in-the-nation event for appraisers accredited by the ASA - the Rhode Island PBS Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show provides a special and affordable opportunity for people all over New England to bring objects of unknown or uncertain value to an accredited appraiser for a written appraisal. Those two features – a written appraisal by an accredited appraiser – distinguish the Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show from other antiques appraisal events in the region.

You could be on TV!

Throughout the day, while folks are in line for their written appraisals, Richard and the other accredited appraisers Elizabeth Clement, Elizabeth Clement & Associates, LLC of Danvers, MA; Michelle DuBois, Winston Art Group of Boston, MA; Leonard R. Polivy, Gordon Brothers Group of Boston, MA; Peter Sorlien, Peter Sorlien and Associates of Marblehead, MA; event sponsor Steven Fusco of Estates Unlimited, Inc., Cranston, RI, will alternately mingle in the crowd on the look-out for “hidden” treasures.

In the meantime, TV producer and show host Brian Scott-Smith and the WSBE camera crew will be in the lines to film interactions, as well as in the formal appraisal area to capture those moments of discovery. Those stories will be edited together with additional footage, to create a television special that will air on WSBE’s two channels, Rhode Island PBS and Learn.

Details

The Rhode Island PBS Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show will be held at Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick Airport Hotel, 801 Greenwich Avenue (Route 5) in Warwick, RI, on Saturday, February 18, 2012, from 9 AM to 4 PM.

One $65 ticket permits one written appraisal for one item, and admits one guest (two people). There is a choice of three admission times: 9 A.M., 11 A.M., 2 P.M., with tickets sold on a first come first served basis. Tickets must be purchased in advance - there will be no tickets sold at the door.

There will NO buying or selling at the event. All appraisers are volunteering their time and expertise. Ticket proceeds benefit WSBE Rhode Island PBS. Tickets are available online at www.ripbs.org/antiques.

For more information, including a helpful list of Frequently Asked Questions, visit www.ripbs.org/antiques. The Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show is sponsored by Estates Unlimited, Inc. of Cranston, Rhode Island's premier antique and fine art auction company.

A Lively Experiment 1/6/2012 and 1/13/2012

2012-01-14T22:04:00.004-05:00

January 6, 2012 Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Denise Aiken - attorney, former RI Representative (D)
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director and anchor
Travis Rowley – GoLocalProv.com columnist
Darrell West – vice president, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC

Topics:

The Brookings Institution's Darrell West joins the panel for an analysis
of the Republican presidential race, local congressional races, and the
2012 General Assembly's agenda

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

January 13, 2012 Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director and anchor
Scott MacKay – political analyst, WRNI
Maureen Moakley – University of Rhode Island political science professor
Donna Perry – GoLocalProv.com columnist

Topics:

Former State Representative John Loughlin’s decision to drop out of the First Congressional District race
Whether Mitt Romney will attract Rhode Island’s independent voters and disenfranchised Democrats
Electric Boat’s Quonset Point expansion

Pssst... come take a peek at the "New" Barrington Beach house!

2012-01-10T16:53:00.001-05:00

Saturday's (January 7) front-page story in the "Decor" section of The Providence Journal featured this huge half-page "after" photo of the Barrington Beach house project on This Old House! Please click on it for a larger view.

(Photo credit: Mary Murphy for The Providence Journal)

The photo below is a "before" picture from This Old House Web site. Although it's hard to believe, the two photos are taken from almost the same angle and location on the house lot (notice the stairs on the far right edge of both pictures):

Written by Bryan Rourke, The Providence Journal article focuses on builder Andrew Tiplady's practical solutions to the unusual challenges posed by weather and environment on an ocean-front wooden structure. To quote the article, "What works in the woods of West Greenwich won't necessarily work on Barrington Beach." Rourke packs into his article some fascinating information about the choice of materials and techniques used in the renovation, sharing Tiplady's rationale along the way. I'd love to include a link to the article here, but the newspaper Web site is undergoing a complete makeover of its own

To actually see this sea-side cottage undergo its transformation, the first of 10 episodes (not 10 consecutive weeks) airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 P.M. The following week, February 4, episode one repeats at 4 P.M., followed by episode two at 4:30 P.M. This scheduling gives you the option of watching the entire series at either 4:30 P.M. starting January 28, or at 4 P.M. starting February 4.

Comments are welcome!

A Lively Experiment: 2011 in Review and Predictions for 2012

2011-12-30T12:52:00.001-05:00

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Jim Hummel – The Hummel Report executive director
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director and anchor
Maureen Moakley – University of Rhode Island political science professor
Tom Sgouros – GoLocalProv.com columnist

In a year-end review, panelists suggest their:

Top Local and National Stories
Best and Worst Political Moments
Biggest Winners and Losers
"Only in Rhode Island" Moments of 2011
People to Watch in 2012
Predictions for the Coming Year

Long-Awaited Season Two of Downton Abbey starts January 20

2011-12-28T15:21:00.001-05:00

WSBE Rhode Island PBS is proud to announce season two of Downton Abbey will air on Masterpiece Classic on Fridays at 9 P.M., beginning January 20.

Downton Abbey's Granthams and their family of servants have already weathered scoundrels, scandals, and a momentous succession crisis. But by November 1916, the Great War has rendered everything — and everyone — changed. Even Downton Abbey itself, like its residents, has risen to the call of duty and transformed.

At the war front, life intensifies for Downton's young men in the face of untold horrors. Meanwhile, at Downton, war makes new and often unjust demands. Some rise to its call for a stiff upper lip and a useful turn, and others see change as an opportunity for either growth or exploitation. Far from the trenches, there remains no shortage of scheming, meddling, and dangerous attractions.

As other great houses crumble, a diminished Downton Abbey struggles to prevail into a new era with its residents and its honor intact.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Downton Abbey's Season Two heroes and villains, the loyalties and betrayals - all - are at least as gripping and engaging as Season One. And, of course, that gorgeous estate and those lavish costumes are as sumptuous as ever.

The first episode of Downton Abbey' second season The first episode of Downton Abbey’s second season on January 20 airs for 2 hours; the next four weekly episodes are 1 hour each. The pre-finale on February 24 and the season finale on March 2 are both 2-hour episodes.

There is also word out of the United Kingdom that we can expect a season three of Downton Abbey! More on that as details surface.

Enjoy these preview clips. I hope they help keep you satisfied until the premiere on January 20 at 9 P.M. on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.

NetWorks 2011

2011-12-20T16:57:00.000-05:00

To accompany the debut of Art Rhode Island, WSBE Rhode Island PBS will re-broadcast the two-part NetWorks 2011. The video portraits of 13 artists will air on Saturday, January 7 and Saturday January 14 at 7 P.M., as part of the ongoing WSBE series, Rhode Island Stories.

These artists are profiled in NetWorks 2011:

Andrew Moon Bain

Andrew Moon Bain grew up in Seattle, WA and moved to Rhode Island to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. His paintings incorporate multi-colored screen printing and collage, as do his large scale mixed media installation pieces. Also an accomplished musician and producer, his band Boo City can be seen playing regularly around the region.

Philip Jamoulis Jameson
After retiring from practicing medicine Philip Jamoulis Jameson fully reconnected with his lifelong passion for photography. His large format, black and white images are rich with glorious detail. A master darkroom technician, he follows in the footsteps and traditions of the masters of landscape photography before him, yet his images seem to bring something fresh and vital, reviving that sense of awe and wonder in the world around us.

Nilton Cardenas
Since leaving his native Peru for the United States in his early twenties, Nilton Cardenas has embarked on a quest to recapture many aspects of his native land in paint. Drawing heavily from his ancestral past, his images are rich and vibrant "dances" of color on the canvas.

Barnaby Evans
Best known as the creator of WaterFire Providence, Barnaby Evans has had a rich and diverse career as a urban landscape photographer, an installation artist and a biologist. His intense desire to better the planet and his deep connection to it and keen civic involvement has lead him on an ever changing path of discovery which often manifests itself in mighty works of spectacle.

Nancy Friese
As a landscape painter Nancy Friese spends most of her time painting outdoors. The freshness of her canvases reflect the robust process of her connecting with nature in every stroke of her brush. The vibrant energy of her surroundings is deftly captured in both oil and in watercolor and when the paintings are finished, the viewer then gets to be an active part of the process.

Shawn Kenney
Moody night time scenes, space, and atmospheric darkness fascinated Shawn Kenney as a child. After a life altering injury as an adult, he needed to reclaim his art making abilities. During rigorous instruction and self-reflection, he embarked on a series of still life paintings of ordinary food items which began the process of reconnecting the brain to the hand. His continuation of an ongoing series of farm related scenes and animals keeps him searching for answers in the mysterious relationships arising in each new piece.

Scott Lapham
Photographer Scott Lapham searches for "reality" with every click of the shutter. Using large format studio cameras in the field allow him to connect to his subject matter in a very physical way. His sense of place and love of history mixed with intense technical ability allow him capture those fleeting moments that inform us all of who we are and where we come from.

Janet Prip
A fifth generation metal smith, Janet Prip embraces that tradition in a refreshing way. Her technical proficiency in mixing and juxtaposition of unusual materials reflects a profound and effortless design sense. Her keen eye can turn stones, pottery shards, sea shells, and sea glass into fantastic objects which defy their original form.

Andrew Raftery
The work of Andrew Raftery takes the mundane and turns it into an incredible feast for the eyes. His print series "Suit Shopping" and "Open House" are based on buying a suit and finding a house, respectively. His dutiful devotion to the techniques, methods and tools of the old masters of printmaking makes his work even more profound. His ability to create seemingly endless detail in these works is a true wonder.

Duane Slick
From the Meskwaki Nation, and a first generation Urban Indian, Duane Slick is a painter/storyteller. His subdued palette is no match for incredibly vibrant narrative images which are at once a remembrance and requiem of personal history, and a search for meaning. We see recurring characters in fields of white, darkness, and emptiness. In more recent pieces, the stark, essential qualities of line and absence of color create the sense of constant motion, resonating far beyond the visual scope of the canvas.

Esther Solondz
Esther has been working for several years with a variety of ordinary materials such as salt, water, soap, and rust to create her art. These materials each have their own special properties that allow them to transform into highly various states, (ie. solid to liquid and then back again.) She utilizes these properties to let surprising things happen as the materials interact and change. Salt mixed with water transforms into crystals, wicks and travels, forms mounds or stalactites. When salt is mixed with iron, rust forms in all its many guises and colors, sometimes eroding other materials, or leaving the accretion of marks behind. She received an MFA in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design, and has done graduate work in film at New York University. Her work has been widely exhibited and reviewed over the last 20 years in one person and group shows at museums and galleries throughout the Northeast.

Mark Taber
The sculptures of artist Mark Taber reflect his intense ability to travel without moving. The found objects and "junk" he uses to form these fantasy "vehicles", everything from the kitchen sink and wheel barrows to tractor seats and piano keys, seem like they belong more in the new places he finds for them rather than the original place and purpose they once held. A virtuoso blues and boogie-woogie piano player, Taber is as much in control behind a keyboard as he is in his studio.

Laura Travis
An artist and art educator, Laura Travis has a deep interest in accessing history through her stone carving. Her connection to the traditions of Celtic art and culture encountered while studying abroad in Ireland continues to inform the basic elements in her art. Her continuous dedication to that age old tradition and her career as an art educator combine to create a refreshing look at Celtic art and cements her place firmly within that tradition.

New Series: "Art Rhode Island" premieres January 4

2011-12-20T16:40:00.002-05:00

On Wednesdays at 7 P.M., beginning January 4, Art Rhode Island makes its television debut. A natural next-step for the art project called NetWorks, Art Rhode Island takes the discussions to a new level, focusing on the issues facing the art community in Rhode Island.

Seeds for this most recent project were sown in 2007 when Joseph A. Chazan, M.D. partnered with AS220 Artistic Director Umberto Crenca - friends for more than two decades - to bring to fruition Chazan’s vision of making the art by local artists more widely known and accessible to the public. An art aficionado, collector, and patron of the arts for some 30 years, Dr. Chazan’s goal was to document the Rhode Island art scene through individual artists’ stories, creating an archive of this period and preserving a history of works over the past quarter century.

Dr. Chazan, producer of NetWorks and executive producer of Art Rhode Island, says there is little reason to feel the productions are regional or provincial.

“These are world-class internationally and nationally recognized artists with great careers. Their living in Rhode Island is almost incidental,” Chazan said. “The stories of these artists are universal,” he said. “There are common themes that pervade all the stories. Commitment to hard work, high quality, and an unwillingness to compromise. That has been particularly meaningful to me.”

Chazan tapped visual and performing artist Richard Goulis to be the video production manager and lead videographer for the project. Richard collaborated with several other talented filmmakers to create the first 17 profiles in NetWorks 2008. Each profile shows the artist at home and at work in the studio, and captures the philosophy, inspiration, personal history, and future vision of the chosen form of artistic expression, all in the artist’s own words. The portraits are intimate, informative, and inspire greater appreciation and deeper understanding of the artist and the art. On a macro level, the portraits also catalog the astonishing variety of art being created.

As planned, the NetWorks 2008 portraits were shown at AS220. Then a companion catalog was printed. Then a companion gallery exhibit was hosted by the Newport Art Museum. Then a companion commercial opportunity for art was developed. Then companion community and panel discussions were held. Four years later, the project continues to grow and expand in scope, in content, and in reach: NetWorks 2011 marks the addition of 13 more artists’ stories, bringing the total number to 54 profiles since NetWorks 2008. The profiles have aired on WSBE Rhode Island PBS every year. The entire collection is also available on YouTube.

“It’s a very ambitious program,” Chazan said. “We’ll see where it goes.”

Where it goes next is into the WSBE television studios, where beautifully filmed video segments and live interviews with artists, educators, and collectors combine to bring art to the public’s attention in a whole new way. The in-studio chats are at small round tables – appropriately symbolic of the series premise that art is all around us. Even the stark black set has large paintings of architectural and mechanical elements, suspended at random angles behind and around the guests. The set was designed and built by Art Rhode Island producer Richard Goulis.

The host of Art Rhode Island is Martina Windels, a critically acclaimed jeweler in her own right. Born in Germany, Martina moved to Providence to attend the Rhode Island School of Design’s Graduate School of Metalsmithing, only to go on and teach jewelry at RISD for seven more years.

As NetWorks and Art Rhode Island clearly show, Rhode Island has for decades been an irresistible magnet for artists. Fortunately for the rest of us, once they are drawn, they stay. Enjoy the stories, and love the art.

To accompany Art Rhode Island's television premiere, WSBE Rhode Island PBS will re-broadcast the two-part Networks 2011 on consecutive Saturdays, January 7 and 14 at 7 P.M. Art Rhode Island episodes in January:

January 4th - "Public Art I"
A discussion about the value and impact of public art and what the broader role of public art is.
Panel:
Barnaby Evans, artist and creator of WaterFire
Elizabeth Keithline, manager of Public Art, and Project Grants for Organizations at Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Patricia Phillips, interim associate provost for Academic Affairs at RISD

January 11th - "Public Art II"
A continuing discussion of Public Art and its impact, focusing in part, on a public art initiative at The Wheeler School in Providence, RI
Panel:
Joseph A. Chazan, M.D., executive producer of Art Rhode Island
Jonathan Bonner, artist
Dan Miller, head of school, The Wheeler School

January 18th - "Artists Working with Artisans"
A discussion about how artists team with local artisans as a resource for development of their personal work, as well provide an engine for economic growth in the community.
Panel:
Nicole Chesney, artist
Paul Amaral, president, Amaral Custom Fabrications
Drake Patten, executive director, Steel Yard

January 25th - "Artists in Residence"
A discussion about the purpose and function of artists' residencies.
Panel:
Caitlin Strokosch, executive director, Alliance of Artist Communities
Nancy Friese, artist and RISD professor
Ellen Driscoll, artist, head of Sculpture Department at RISD

A Lively Experiment - December 9

2011-12-09T16:18:00.001-05:00

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director
Maureen Moakley – political science professor, URI
Travis Rowley – columnist; GoLocalProv.com
Representative Deborah Ruggiero (D) – state representative for Jamestown and Middletown

Topics

Rhode Island Cities on the Brink of State Intervention
Rhode Island’s Health Benefit Exchange
The Condition of Our Hospital System

The Grove: the National AIDS Memorial

2011-12-06T18:21:00.001-05:00

More Americans have been lost to AIDS than in all the U.S. wars since 1900, and the pandemic has killed 22 million people worldwide.

However, few know about the existence of the National AIDS Memorial, a seven-acre grove hidden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park.

The Grove chronicles the garden’s transformation from a neglected eyesore to landscaped sanctuary to national memorial. The film shows how a community in crisis found healing and remembrance, and how the seeds of a few visionaries blossomed into something larger and more provocative than they could have imagined.

But as the Grove’s stakeholders seek broader public recognition, a battle erupts over what constitutes an appropriate memorial for the AIDS pandemic.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS presents The Grove on Sunday, December 11 at 11 P.M.

Update on the Barrington Beach Project on This Old House

2011-12-03T14:34:00.001-05:00

When we announced the choice of the first-ever Rhode Island project for This Old House in the summer, we knew the episodes would air in early 2012, but not the exact date. Until now.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS is pleased to announce the 10 episode transformation of a modest Barrington Beach home begins on Saturday, January 28 at 4:30 P.M. - our regular day and time when you can watch This Old House every week.

Clicking this link will take you to a series of "before" pictures, with notes about the construction plans. Looks like it will be an exciting new look for this home in a picturesque location right on the water!

A Lively Experiment, December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T16:32:00.000-05:00

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Donna Perry – columnist; GoLocalProv.com
Denise Aiken – attorney, former state representative
Dave Layman – communications consultant, former TV news director
Maureen Moakley – political science professor, URI

Topics

City of Providence pensions
Redistricting Barney Frank’s decision not to run for re-election
State GOP chairman Ken McKay tenders his resignation
Criticism over Governor Chafee’s use of the term “Holiday Tree”

For the Person Who Has Everything (Get It Appraised!)

2011-12-01T12:42:00.003-05:00

We all have at least one on our holiday shopping list: the person who has everything.

How is this for a gift idea? Give your favorite collector a ticket to the Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show and get one of those items appraised at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI, on February 18. And if that item really is a treasure, the story could end up on TV.

One ticket could mean fortune and fame... how generous does that make you!

The only problem might be choosing which one item to bring. Solution: up to three tickets can be purchased per person.

Visit the Website for details. Happy shopping!

The Antiques Discovery & Appraisal Show is sponsored by Estates Unlimited of Cranston, RI

Gift-Giving Grief? Art & Artisan Auction Answers

2011-11-30T12:53:00.001-05:00

Chanukah starts in three weeks on December 20. Christmas is only 5 days after that. And what about those December birthdays?

If you're facing a list long on names but short on ideas, you do have a chance to scoop up great - UNIQUE - gifts for everyone on your shopping list, quickly and easily, at the Rhode Island PBS Art & Artisan Auction.

But the gift shopping clock is ticking - literally.

Today is your last day to visit the Rhode Island PBS Art and Artisan Auction. Bidding ends tonight.
Zip over to www.ripbs.org or click this link.

Downton Abbey Thanksgiving Marathon (Whet Your Appetite for January's New Season)

2011-11-23T12:37:00.001-05:00

On Friday after Thanksgiving, when dinner is over and savory leftovers are on the menu, relax with WSBE and delve into the intrigue on the estate...

Join us at 5 P.M. for a 6-hour marathon of Downton Abbey. We're airing all of the episodes back-to-back in anticipation of the brand new series of episodes premiering in January. (It's a golden DVR opportunity if ever there was one!)

The Downton Abbey estate stands a splendid example of confidence and mettle, its family enduring for generations and its staff a well-oiled machine of propriety. But change is afoot at Downton — change far surpassing the new electric lights and telephone. A crisis of inheritance threatens to displace the resident Crawley family, in spite of the best efforts of the noble and compassionate Earl, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville, Miss Austen Regrets); his American heiress wife, Cora (Elizabeth McGovern); his comically implacable, opinionated mother, Violet (Maggie Smith, David Copperfield); and his beautiful, eldest daughter, Mary, intent on charting her own course. Reluctantly, the family is forced to welcome its heir apparent, the self-made and proudly modern Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), himself none too happy about the new arrangements. As Matthew's bristly relationship with Mary begins to crackle with electricity, hope for the future of Downton's dynasty takes shape. But when petty jealousies and ambitions grow among the family and the staff, scheming and secrets — both delicious and dangerous — threaten to derail the scramble to preserve Downton Abbey. Created and written by Oscar-winner Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park), Downton Abbey offers a spot-on portrait of a vanishing way of life.

Here's a short preview of the new season of Downton Abbey from PBS. (Please note: We will soon announce our premiere date, which may not be January 8. )

THIS is quite a preview!

Keep the Children Busy During Thanksgiving Dinner Preparation

2011-11-23T12:06:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow morning, WSBE is the child-safe place for your children to be - where they will be entertained and out from under your feet while the adults prepare dinner.

Starting at 7 A.M., we'll air two back-to-back specials: Curious George: Follow That Monkey, and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas. The marvelous multiple monkeyshines will be repeated Friday morning starting at 8:30 A.M.

Video Preview of Curious George: Follow That Monkey - George escorts Kayla, a blue elephant lonely for her family, from coast to coast. (Please disregard the date at the end of the video; we're airing the movie on Thanksgiving morning and Friday, too.)

Then, it's Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas at 8:30 A.M., the heartwarming story of George and the Man with the Yellow Hat as they celebrate the season together.

Search is on for the Oldest Charles Krug Wine Bottle

2011-11-23T11:34:00.000-05:00

I received this message this morning and found the idea of the bottle search fascinating. (In terms of marketing, it's a great idea!) The Charles Krug Winery / Peter Mondavi Family has been generous with WSBE Rhode Island PBS during our annual wine event, donating delicious wines over the years to help us raise programming funds. In fact, in the 2011 silent auction of An Evening Uncorked just this past February, there was a 3 Litre Charles Krug Generations, signed by Marc Mondavi and Peter Mondavi, Sr. Were you the high bidder?

So, on two levels - because you might have THE bottle the winery seeks among your other wine bottles, and because the winery has been a friend to WSBE Rhode Island PBS - I share this message and news release with you. Happy Thanksgiving!

With people pulling special bottles out for the holidays, we think someone might stumble across the oldest Charles Krug wine bottle in the world in the next few weeks. If it happens, we want to know about it!

You may have seen the recent AP “Ghost Stories” article, which included Charles Krug Winery. [Editor's Note: I didn't see this story, but if you did and would like to tell us about it, please feel free to comment.] Old ghosts and old wine bottles are both part of the history of Charles Krug, which is Napa Valley’s oldest winery, founded in 1861. That was the year Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated and the Civil War began.

You’ll find details on our “oldest bottle” search, which goes through the end of the year, below. If you could share this with your audience, we would appreciate it. We’re hoping for some great old finds. Thanks much!

Christine

SEARCH FOR OLDEST CHARLES KRUG WINE BOTTLE ANNOUNCED
Bottle to be part of history exhibit at Napa Valley’s first winery

ST. HELENA, CA—In time for the 150th anniversary of Napa Valley’s first winery this year, the Peter Mondavi Sr. Family announces a search for the oldest Charles Krug Winery bottle in existence. Founded in 1861, Charles Krug Winery is the birthplace of the Napa Valley wine industry and has been in the Peter Mondavi Family for nearly 70 of its 150 years.

Peter Mondavi Jr. puts his family winery’s history in perspective: “Charles Krug was founded the year President Lincoln was inaugurated, and the year the Civil War began.” At the time, Napa Valley was essentially the Wild West. Charles Krug first planted Mission grapes on his St. Helena estate but he soon replanted to European varietals which he felt would make better wine. Wines made at the time would have likely included claret, sherry, Madeira, sweet tokay and riesling, the latter hugely popular with many of the German immigrant-winemakers in Napa Valley in the late 1800s.

Readers are encouraged to scour their wine cabinets, cellars, closets and caves for Charles Krug wine bottles, empty or full, dating either from pre-Prohibition or the Peter Mondavi Family era which began with the 1944 vintage. Bottles deemed contenders will be authenticated by experts in the wine department of Sotheby’s auction house in New York. The Peter Mondavi Family may purchase the winning bottle for display at the winery.

Plans are for an exhibit of historic artifacts from Charles Krug Winery, which will include a towering 9000-gallon vintage redwood fermentation tank and Charles Krug’s original basket press, which he used to crush the first harvest at his fledgling winery. The estate’s Redwood Cellar will house the exhibit. The huge structure with its many-gabled roof and impressive belvedere was built by Charles Krug in 1873 after his original cellar burned to the ground. On the National Register of Historic Places and a California Historic Landmark, the Redwood Cellar was restored recently to hold the Peter Mondavi Family’s reserve barrel aging room. The Cellar will eventually house the winery’s new tasting room and visitor’s center with construction beginning in early 2012.

To submit an entry, please visit Charles Krug on Facebook and tell us about your bottle and post a photo, or email it to oldestbottle@charleskrug.com by December 31, 2011. Contenders for the oldest bottle will be contacted with next steps.

Charles Krug Winery’s 150-year history traces the transformation of the Napa Valley from “Wild West” to Wine Country destination. With a legacy of nearly 70 years at Charles Krug, the Peter Mondavi Family is dedicated to ecological stewardship in order to preserve the land for their children and future generations. Those efforts to steward the land and preserve the winery's historical legacy are earning new respect for a family long identified with California wine. To learn more about Charles Krug Winery and the vision of the Peter Mondavi Family, visit Charles Krug Winery online.

Local Artists: It's the Heart of the Story

2011-11-18T13:19:00.000-05:00

This year's Art & Artisan Auction has hundreds of beautiful works. Admittedly, that's not news - for more than two decades, WSBE Rhode Island PBS has been fortunate and sincerely grateful for the generous outpouring of support and donations from prominent and emerging artists from all over the country.

What makes this year's Art & Artisan Auction special is the surge of local artists sharing their works - and the types of works they are sharing. Many pieces are functional as well as beautiful. The collection this year includes many things you can actually use! It's not just art for your walls. The collection gives "Art" a rightfully broader definition. Just browse the collection for yourself!

As you do browse, remember that the holidays are around the corner. So many of these fine pieces make distinctive gifts. Plus, your winning bid supports WSBE Rhode Island PBS programming. Win-win-win.

Here are three short spots that highlight some of the works of local artisans: Arts in RI, the Foundry Artists Association, and Rhode Island Etsy artists. Enjoy! There is much more on the auction site.

This piece is called Smashing Against Rocks. No, artist Deb Hall of Zur Designs didn't get angry! She just wanted to see what patterns would emerge if she hammered the copper against rocks. The results are stunning.

Deb finished the bracelet with softened square edges for a sleek and modern look. The cuff measures 6 1/4 inches and is meant to accommodate a size 7. It's beautifully wrapped, so it's ready for gift-giving. Feel the sensation of Smashing Against Rocks!

More Adventures in Untamed Alaska: Alone in the Wilderness Part 2

2011-11-17T11:40:00.001-05:00

Dick Proenneke's simple, yet profound account of his 30-year adventure in the remote Alaska wilderness continues in a sequel to Alone In The Wilderness. The title of the documentary chronicling the second year of his experiences is as simple as the man himself: Alone in the Wilderness Part 2. WSBE Rhode Island PBS is proud to premiere the film on Monday, November 28 at 8:30 P.M., with rebroadcasts on Friday, December 2 at 4 A.M. and Saturday, December 3 at 1:30 P.M. The November 28 premiere will be followed by a rebroadcast of the original Alone in the Wilderness at 10 P.M.

In the late summer of 2010, Dick Proenneke's brother, Jake, discovered a closetful of 8mm and 16mm film shot during Dick's 30-year adventure living Alone In The Wilderness. The thousands of feet of film were turned over to Bob Swerer Senior and Junior, producers of the original Alone In The Wilderness and longtime friends of the Proenneke brothers, to see if it would be possible to create another documentary for public television.

The end result is Alone In The Wilderness Part 2. The Swerers carefully matched up footage with Dick's hand-written journals to recreate Dick's second year in the Alaskan wild.

Watch through Proenneke's eyes, as he continues to document his experiences with his 16mm wind-up Bolex camera, capturing his own amazing craftsmanship, the stunning Alaskan wildlife and scenery, and even a visit from his brother, Jake, who helped shoot some of the film used in this documentary. His epic journey takes viewers on a vacation far away from the hustle and bustle of today's fast paced society to a land of tranquility. It is truly a breath of fresh air.

From producer Bob Swerer:

Initially, the task of filming himself in the wilderness was a challenge for Dick. He began with a simple used wind-up Bolex camera that was given to him by his brother, Jake. Dick would give the exposed film to a passing bush pilot, who would mail it to his brother. Jake would have the film developed, review it through a projector, and send Dick letters reporting how the footage looked, whether it was over or underexposed, out-of-focus, too far away, etc. As it could take several months for these messages to reach Dick in Alaska, not all of the film he shot was of sufficient quality to be included in the documentaries.

Technical Challenges

Because of the learning curve, many exciting scenes and stories had to be omitted from these documentaries. For example, Dick witnessed a sow grizzly run down a mother caribou and kill her. Dick rescued the caribou's orphaned calf, carried her back to the cabin on his back, and nursed her with powdered milk. Dick captured this entire incident on film but unfortunately it was a bit too shaky and out-of-focus to include.

There was a time Dick was unaware that he had developed a bad light leak into the back of his Bolex 16mm camera. Several months had gone by between the time the exposed film was sent to his brother Jake for review and when Dick finally received a letter telling him of the bad news. Thousands of feet of footage were lost due to a very large blue streak running down the center of each frame.

When problems like this happened, Dick always managed to get them fixed. More than once, he made replacement parts for the camera from materials at hand, such as a discarded tin can. His ingenuity is always obvious throughout the documentaries.

Unique Perspective

One spring, Dick discovered where a mother great-horned owl had built a nest to raise her young. For the next month, Dick paddled six miles down lake every other day to film the hatching and raising of the young owls. He built a ladder from spruce poles so he could film at the same level (30 feet in the air) as the nesting mother and her chicks. On more than one occasion the protective mother owl attacked Dick, leaving scratches on his face with her dagger sharp talons.

In the early years, Dick was extremely conservative with the film, as it was both expensive and hard to have delivered to his remote wilderness location. During the later years at Twin Lakes, the Alaskan Park service took advantage of Dick's skills of filming and documenting wildlife in this remote part of Alaska, and supplied him with a good batch of 16 mm. film stock. This allowed Dick to use film a bit more liberally than he had at the start.

Often times, Dick would venture away from his cabin, hiking thousands of miles every year, and carrying just enough food with him to stay away three or four days at a time. On these journeys, Dick would observe and film the wildlife that he encountered, such as grizzlies, caribou, wolves, and moose. He would keep close tabs on the grizzlies that would hibernate on the mountain across from the cabin, watching them dig their dens in the fall and emerge from their long winter sleep in early spring, many times with cubs. Much of this was captured on film.

Two Most-Asked Questions

Why did he choose to live so many years all by himself?
Rumors have it that he was running from the law or that a woman had jilted him. In truth, Dick simply just had a very sincere passion for the wilderness. He loved sitting for hours observing wildlife, hiking mountains that had never been walked on before, and being totally independent and responsible for himself and his survival. He seemed to enjoy the simple things in life. No TV, radio, cell phone or computer. He did not even have a chain saw; all wood was cut with an ax. He used to say, "No chain saws here where the wolves howl!" It was important to him to blend in with his surroundings. There was no one who had more respect for the environment and the animals than Dick Proenneke.

Did Dick ever get sick or have accidents while living in the remote wilderness?
Dick wrote in his journals that there were times he got sick but he would usually drink vinegar which he seemed to think cured a lot of things and lay in his bunk until the sickness passed (sometimes it would take several days). He did sustain a few minor cuts while using his ax.

Dick took his share of falls while hiking. One of the worst was when he slipped on the lake ice and landed on the back of his head. He claimed this caused headaches and on-and-off blurred vision for several years after the fall.

The worst accident by far happened in 1976 when his brother, Jake, flew a small Piper J3 cub airplane up to Dicks cabin all the way from California to spend a few weeks. The two brothers spent a lot of their time flying the little airplane to remote places in the vast wilderness. They would take turns at the controls. Jake would leave the little plane with Dick so Dick could fly back to Iowa by himself in the fall. While Dick was flying back to Iowa, the fuel line froze up over Eastern Alaska and the plane crashed on a mountainside. Badly hurt, Dick was able to crawl to a road where he was picked up and taken to the hospital. It took many months for him to recover but Dick was able to return to his cabin the following spring. Dick gave up the controls after that.

Simple Daily Life

Dick always kept very busy writing in his journals and filming. He had to fish for dinner and there was always firewood to cut. Dick did not vary his diet much. It consisted of a lot of fresh fish, beans, potatoes; and oatmeal or sourdough pancakes for breakfast. During the early years, Dick would kill a caribou or sheep for meat but, as time passed, he found it hard to hunt the very subjects that he filmed with his camera.

Dick would live for 32 years alone in the wilderness. At the age of 82, he suffered a series of strokes and found that cutting wood was too much of a chore. Dick reluctantly left the cabin to live with his brother Jake. Dick died of a massive stroke in 2003 at the age of 86 with Jake by his side.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on cable services: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, Full Channel 08, Comcast 819HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 7776. WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; on cable: Cox 808, Verizon 478, Full Channel 109, Comcast 294 or 312.

Planning for the holidays? Plan for your taxes first!

2011-11-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

When the calendar page flips to November, thoughts shift to planning the holiday season – menus and guests for Thanksgiving, followed by plans for festive holiday gatherings with family and friends through December.

Not so fast! Before you baste your turkey or trim your tree, take some time to plan for the inevitable tax filing deadline of April 15th. It will be here before you know it, and there are certain steps you can take now – before year's end – to ease the pain next spring.

The Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants (RISCPA) presents its annual Tax Planning Forum 2011 on Sunday, November 20 at 2 P.M. on WSBE Rhode Island PBS. This informative discussion outlines changes to the tax code and offers tax planning strategies and advice about what to do before December 31 to make filing income taxes easier and less… taxing in April.

Tax Planning Forum 2011 will be re-broadcast in WSBE Learn on Thursday, December 8 at 9 P.M., Friday, December 9 at 4 A.M., and Saturday, December 10 at 1 A.M. and 4 P.M.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on cable services: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, Full Channel 08, Comcast 819HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 7776. WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; on cable: Cox 808, Verizon 478, Full Channel 109, Comcast 294 or 312.

Lawrence Welk Turns 25: See the Premiere Episode

2011-11-15T18:44:00.000-05:00

A major television milestone was marked earlier this fall when The Lawrence Welk Show celebrated the beginning of 25 years of Champagne Music on public television. Viewers of WSBE Rhode Island PBS will have the opportunity to watch the rarely seen 1955 premiere episode of The Lawrence Welk Show in a special presentation on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at 6:30 P.M.

Since 1987, more than 2.5 million fans of the longest-running, weekly-syndicated music/variety series have been tuning in each week to their local PBS station to watch Lawrence Welk and their favorite “Musical Family” members sing and dance.

The Lawrence Welk Show was first broadcast in 1951 on KTLA in Los Angeles. In 1955, the ABC network picked it up for national broadcast. When ABC dropped the series in 1971 after running successfully for 16 years, Welk persevered by forming his own production company and began syndicating it directly to commercial stations individually. It stayed on the air in weekly national syndication until 1982, often reappearing each December with new Christmas specials until 1985.

In 1987, after PBS funded and aired a very successful fund-raising special, “Lawrence Welk: Television’s Music Man,” Robert L. “Bob” Allen, then the executive director of the statewide PBS affiliate OETA-The Oklahoma Network, formed a partnership with Welk Syndication and began offering the weekly series to public television stations.

At first, Allen said, some station executives were unsure. “Some thought Lawrence Welk’s accent was corny,” recalling Welk’s Russian-German-inflected speech. “But, when their station raised record pledges and dollars from the Welk special, they realized there were a wealth of loyal fans and viewers in their audience that were underserved and signed up for the weekly series.”

Welk’s mature audience, Allen said, was suited for non-commercial public television. “Commercial stations weren’t interested in the older demographic because that group is set in their purchasing preferences. They’re not likely to change even their toothpaste. But on the other hand, they’re more likely to donate money to support their interests, he said. “And once they make a pledge to public television, they fulfill it…and they’ve been fiercely loyal to The Lawrence Welk Show for a record 25 years.”

“My father was very successful with his ideas and vision,” his son Larry Welk said. “He had wonderful gut feelings for certain things and he knew what viewers wanted to hear and he made sure they played and sang that kind of music each week. He hired fabulous musicians and wonderful singers and dancers. I think that’s why the show is still on the air and still so popular with the fans.”

Encores of the weekly TV show, garnered from more than 1,000 episodes taped between 1955 and 1982, are now hosted by Welk Stars Mary Lou Metzger and Bobby Burgess and are broadcast on more than 270 public television stations.

The Lawrence Welk Show airs weekly on WSBE Rhode Island PBS on Sundays at 7 P.M. and Saturdays at 6 P.M.

Wonder how much that "attic heirloom" of yours is worth?

2011-11-11T13:23:00.052-05:00

Have you ever wondered how much that "attic heirloom" of yours might be worth? You know... that curio that's been in your family for generations? Or maybe it's a yard sale bargain that caught your eye and you just had to have.

Many of us have acquired objects that carry with them a long history. Sometimes we know what that history is, and sometimes we can only speculate. Often, an object has high sentimental value, even if we're not sure of its true dollar value.

How would you react if an appraiser told you that item really is a treasure?

Fans of public television's British and American traveling antiques shows agree that some of the best, most exciting moments are when valuable treasures are unexpectedly discovered. Rhode Island PBS invites you to experience one of those moments for yourself at our own upcoming Antiques Discovery and Appraisal Show in February. And if your item really is a treasure, you could see your story told on television.

This first event of its kind for Rhode Island PBS will be introduced and previewed on Sunday, November 27 at 8 P.M. during the station's broadcast of Antiques Roadshow. Appraisers Richard Conti of Conti Estates in Attleboro and Steven Fusco of Estates Unlimited in Cranston, and television producer Brian Scott-Smith, will describe what you can expect to see and experience at the appraisal event. Richard and Steven will also demonstrate on-the-spot appraisals on the air.

The Antiques Discovery and Appraisal Show itself will be held at Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick Airport Hotel in Warwick, Rhode Island, on Saturday, February 18, 2012, from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. It is designed to provide a special opportunity for the public to bring their objects of unknown or uncertain value to accredited appraisers for written appraisal. Those two features – a written appraisal by an accredited appraiser – distinguish the Antiques Discovery and Appraisal Show from any similar events in the region.

During the event, accredited appraiser Richard Conti and the team of accredited appraisers will mingle with the crowd, searching for hidden treasures. Television producer and show host Brian Scott-Smith will be there with the camera crew to film the discoveries as they are made. Those stories will be edited together to create a television special that will air exclusively on WSBE's two channels: Rhode Island PBS and Learn.

So, your "attic heirloom" may not only enrich you - it could make you famous, too!

We have lots of information about the event already online, with more to come as the date approaches. Visit www.ripbs.org/antiques.

In the meantime, tune in on Sunday, November 27 at 8 P.M.- you can buy your ticket early to lock-in the arrival time of your choice: 9 A.M., 11 A.M. or 2 P.M.

The Antiques Discovery and Appraisal Show is made possible in part by Estates Unlimited, Inc.