Jennifer Rooks

Eliot Coleman is a pioneer of the organic farming movement. He joins us to discuss the revised and expanded edition of his classic work. He presents the simplest and most sustainable ways of growing top-quality organic vegetables and updates practical information on marketing the harvest, small-scale equipment, and farming and gardening for the long-term health of the soil.

The PBS series "American Masters" this week debuts its documentary film about great American painter Andrew Wyeth, who painted many of his most famous works in Maine. We discuss Wyeth's life and legacy with those who knew him and have studied his work.

Dan Abbott and his wife, author Monica Wood, speak publicly about Dan’s suicide attempt and recovery in hopes of helping others who undergo a major depressive episode. They will be joined by Portland Press Herald writer Bob Keyes, whose story about Dan and Monica received a tremendous response.

Call Me American is Abdi Nor Iftin's memoir about fleeing war-torn Somalia. While living under Islamic extremism, he escaped through American movies and music, using them as a tool to learn English. Befriending reporters to learn the language, Abdi ended up filing stories for NPR in secret and dreaming of a life in the U.S. Eventually, through a stroke of incredible luck, he gained entrance to America through the Diversity Visa Lottery. He is now a proud and legal resident of Maine, on the path to citizenship. 

Abdi Nor Iftin lives in Portland, Maine, where he works as an interpreter for Somalis who have immigrated to the state. Abdi was accepted to the University of Southern Maine, where he will be studying political science. 

Now that the June primary is over - sort of - we turn to Maine Public's two political correspondents, Steve Mistler and Mal Leary, for some analysis of the results.  They spoke with Maine Calling host Jennifer Rooks earlier about some of Tuesday night's surprises - including, says Mistler, the Republican gubernatorial primary in which Shawn Moody got the nomination.

On the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, we discuss the Irish in Maine. Irish immigrants came here at a time of economic and social change in the United States, working as longshoremen, factory workers, brewers and more. By the end of the 19th century, the Irish were an integral part of the Maine social fabric. Our guests include the executive director of the Irish Heritage Center and a well-known historian of the Irish diaspora in Maine.

The growing dominance of social media in our lives, especially among young people, raises questions: When is it beneficial, and when is it harmful? What is it doing to our health and well-being?

Guests:

Dr. Erin Belfort, Maine Medical Center Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training Director

Dr. Christine Selby, Assoc. Professor of Psychology at Husson University's College of Science and Humanities

It’s not just the West Coast that should be worried about the potential devastation of an earthquake.  Acclaimed science journalist Kathryn Miles explains how humans have been making enormous changes to subterranean America, and why these could induce an earthquake in places we have

n’t imagined or expected.

Guest: Kathryn Miles, is the author of Superstorm: Nine Days Inside Hurricane Sandy.

Governor LePage has vetoed the solar energy bill that passed by a wide margin in the legislature.  The bill would keep “net metering” incentives in place, gradually reducing them over time, and it would lift the cap on the number of people involved in community solar farms   The legislature will likely vote on whether to override the Governor’s veto on Thursday.

Guests:  John Carroll/ Director of Communications for Iberdrola USA/CMP

Fortunat Mueller/ Co-Founder and Managing Partner of ReVision Energy

With Maine’s unemployment rate falling – it’s now 3.2% - Maine companies are having a hard time finding qualified employees.  There’s now a concerted effort to recruit more young people to move to Maine and build their careers and lives here.  Last month, some companies event took to the road, taking a bus to Boston to recruit potential employees! 

Gov. Paul LePage is likely to highlight some of the key elements of his two-year budget plan in his annual State of the State address Tuesday night.

There are organizations all across Maine that accept and distribute donated goods, from furniture to business clothing.  We'll learn where to donate specific items, where these items end up, and who they help.

Guests: Jenn McAdoo, Executive Director, Furniture Friends

Troy Pattison, downsizing expert, SimplySized Home

Trendy Stanchfield, Senior Director, Mission Investment & Communication, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England