This economy has people in Vermont’s arts scene looking at practical
questions of keeping community theater, gallery exhibitions and music festivals in business. Also, two Vermont rivers may earn the congressional designation of "wild and scenic." And VPR’s Steve Zind continues our series of reports from Iran.
The state will borrow an additional $10 million for transportation
projects as part of an economic stimulus package. But
members of a state advisory council were dismayed to learn this week that none
of that money will go to improve the rail network in Vermont.
The
Vermont House has passed legislation that raises penalties for violating Vermont’s environmental laws. But
lawmakers weakened provisions that would have given the public a greater role
in enforcement cases.
VPR’s
John Dillon reports.
Award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns’ "The War"explores the most intimate human dimensions of World War II. This worldwide catastrophetouched the lives of every family in America. In this presentation, Burns talks about the film and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives. Presented in collaboration with the Vermont Humanities Council’s "First Wednesdays" Lecture Series.
Spanglish – the intercourse of Spanish and English – is used daily by millions of Americans. This emergence of Spanglish as a form of communication is one of the more influential markers of an America gone Latino. In a Vermont Humanities Council "First Wednesdays" Lecture, Amherst College Professor Ilan Stavans explores the Spanglish and its political clout.
Once a generation Vermonters have come together to assess
their values and their hopes for the state’s future. The Vermont Council on Rural
Development is leading this generation’s conversation. Also, eels have disappeared from Lake Champlain. We talk about efforts to bring them back. And, holiday choral music from the group Counterpoint.
Pulitzer Prize winner Joseph Ellis shares his view that the politically active late eighteenth century was a time of triumphs and tragedies. All of which contributed to the shaping of our burgeoning nation. This Vermont Humanities Council "First Wednesdays" lecture was presented December 5, 2007 in Manchester.