Time for crowd control in the garden

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) Overcrowding can be a real problem for plants, from the row of young lettuce or carrots, to the patch of well-established perennials. And right now is a good time to take stock and do some strategic thinning-out. Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy shares tips with Martha Foley, including plants, like day lilies and bearded iris, that are OK to divide and move now. [full story]

Montreal student protests widen, tackle big Quebec questions

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) For more than 100 days, the city of Montreal has been rocked by massive student protests � rallies and marches which have grown on some days to include tens of thousands of people.The movement was sparked by a move by Quebec�s provincial government to raise student tuitions. But an effort by Prime Minister Jean Charest to crack down on street marches and limit protests earlier this month triggered a political backlash.Brian Mann has been traveling to Montreal to cover the street protests there, for NCPR, NPR and for PRI�s The World. He joined Martha Foley on the line from our bureau in Saranac Lake. [full story]

Carousel in motion

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) The long-awaited grand opening of the Adirondack Carousel took place Saturday in Saranac Lake. A large and enthusiastic crowd showed up to take a spin on the merry-go-round, a $1.3 million project that's been in the works since 2000. In addition to offering rides to kids and adults, organizers plan to use the carousel for educational programs for children, and special events like birthday parties and family reunions. Chris Knight was there for Saturday's opening and filed this report. [full story]

Literacy efforts rely on volunteers

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) Literacy advocates in the North Country say nearly 1 in 5 adults in St. Lawrence County has a problem reading. That means things like filling out a job application or taking a driving test may be challenging, or beyond their abilities. At the same time, funding for literacy programs has dropped dramatically in recent years. North Country programs now rely almost entirely on volunteer tutors. Anne Mazzotta wanted to get involved with literacy efforts in St. Lawrence Country after she retired as a nurse and counselor. This was about ten years ago. But she ran into a problem: In a county where around 17% of adults had problems reading, there was no literacy program. Mazzotta called Literacy of Northern New York, in Watertown. Martha Foley has more. [full story]

Storm front sweeps Ottawa-Montreal region

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) Powerful thunderstorms crossed parts of Ontario and Quebec Friday evening. In Ottawa, a cyclist was struck by lightning in a park near Carleton University and died after being taken to hospital.Further east in Quebec, several communities near Montreal suffered property damage but no loss of life when two tornadoes touched down there. Lucy Martin has more. [full story]

Theatre Review: "Circle Mirror Transformation" at the Great Canadian Theatre Company

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) Circle Mirror Transformation is running at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa through June 10. Resident theatre critic Connie Meng was at the opening night and has our review. [full story]

Long Island elementary school raises $1400 for Wells Memorial Library

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 28, 2012) The Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay will be getting a gift of about $1400 from a Long Island elementary school, to help the library continue its recovery from Tropical Storm Irene. The donation comes after the school�Shore Road Elementary in Bellmore�decided to use its annual 6th grade charity sale to raise money for the library. Wells Memorial�s children�s section was almost completely destroyed by Irene last August. And library director Karen Rappaport says although it has mostly been restored, the library will still use most of the Shore Road elementary money for kids� materials. [full story]

This weekend in the Adirondacks

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 25, 2012) John Warren, of the Adirondack Almanack, joins us Friday mornings with information about local outdoor and back-country conditions. [full story]

DOT at work on South Colton "S" curve

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 25, 2012) Travelers can expect delays, and a real �gee whiz!� moment, this weekend along a popular route into the Adirondacks from the north. A one-lane bridge has been in place over Cold Brook in South Colton since a flash flood washed the old bridge away in 2005. Construction to on a permanent bridge is well underway.Mike Flick public information officer for Region 7 of the state DOT. He said the basic job is to replace the temporary bridge. But the $5 million project requires a major change in the landscape of a local landmark, a notoriously tight �S� curve that�s an informal gateway to the Adirondacks. He talked with Martha Foley. [full story]

Commissioner touts new protections for people with disabilities

radio@ncpr.org (North Country Public Radio) — Fri, 25 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

(May 25, 2012) Governor Andrew Cuomo wants to create a new state agency, designed to protect people with disabilities living in instutions or assisted-living facilities across New York. Yesterday, Courtney Burke, who heads the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, traveled to Plattsburgh to promote the idea, which is now being considered by the state Assembly. Brian Mann has our story. [full story]

Top Stories from NCPR

Time for crowd control in the garden

Montreal student protests widen, tackle big Quebec questions

Carousel in motion

Literacy efforts rely on volunteers

Storm front sweeps Ottawa-Montreal region

Theatre Review: "Circle Mirror Transformation" at the Great Canadian Theatre Company

Long Island elementary school raises $1400 for Wells Memorial Library

This weekend in the Adirondacks

DOT at work on South Colton "S" curve

Commissioner touts new protections for people with disabilities