WVPB NL JulyAugust24

Presented by NOVA

Sea Change : Gulf of Maine

Brings Home the Impact of a Changing Climate

From the tip of Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, the Gulf of Maine courses with cold, nutrient-rich, deep-sea water, artfully mixed by the world’s biggest tides. This unique aquatic environment feeds a web of 3,000 species, ranging from microscopic plankton to massive right whales.

strength to weather the human-induced storm? Is the sheer beauty of the place and the spectacular range of its creatures enough to wake us to the stakes?

Millions of people have lived along the Gulf’s rising edge, drawing their sustenance, fame, and fortune from its plentiful depths. A seminal body of water, the Gulf has remarkable historical significance as a cradle to ancient peoples and a lifeline to fragile colonies. Yet for all this storied bounty, long sustaining humans and marine animals, the Gulf is now in peril — its once-abundant fish stocks possibly depleted to irreversible levels. What happens to the Gulf — for the animals in the water, for the jobs dependent on them, and for the millions of people along its shores — is also likely to happen worldwide. With the Gulf warming 99% faster than the global ocean, we are at a crossroads for its future — and the future of our oceans. Does the Gulf retain enough of its biodiversity and regenerative

A special three-part presentation of NOVA, premiering on July 24, Sea Change tells the epic story about a regional location with profound global implications. It is part of a new slate of ocean- and freshwater-centered programming that PBS has created as part of its multiyear climate initiative to enhance viewers’ awareness of the urgent challenges facing our oceans.

Sea Change: Gulf of Maine joins Great American Eclipse, A.I. Revolution, and Decoding the Universe: Cosmos this year as part of NOVA ’s 50-year commitment to demystify the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. Recognized with hundreds of awards over the years, including multiple Emmy and Peabody Awards, NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television.

Watch Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. beginning July 24 on WVPB.

Launches

Civics Content Initiative

Beginning in July, kids will enjoy a second season of a favorite and a new series from Sesame Workshop. It’s part of a yearlong initiative to encourage young viewers to learn about civics and get involved in their communities.

City Island encourages kids to follow the further adventures of the young lightbulb named Watt and his friends. Season 2 offers 20 new episodes, as well as a new suite of games that allow young players to become City Island citizens. This year’s season of City Island builds on season 1 by focusing on topics like news media, advertisements, and information on the Internet. Watch Wednesdays and Fridays on WVPB.

Together We Can is a new series of liveaction music videos for young viewers from our friends at Sesame Workshop. This 20-episode series covers topics ranging from what it means to be a member of a community to the importance of rules and rights. The first ten videos drop in July, with another ten episodes rolling out in August. Watch Fridays beginning July 5 on WVPB.

A Note from Eddie Isom

Dear WVPB Member, Tears and laughs, oohs and aahs. That’s what you’ll experience on WVPB this summer. We often mention lifelong learning when we talk about the power of public television. But what does that mean? It’s learning that comes with joy, inspiration, and astonishment.

Think of the show about comedians, Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo, and how funny individuals turn ordinary life into laughter. Or ways that the human spirit can create the unimaginable — from astonishing displays of fireworks on A Capitol Fourth to thrilling arias on Great Performances at the Met.

Or helping children grasp the intricacies of civics through heartwarming stories of

community, accompanied by a humble young lightbulb named Watt on PBS Kids animated digital shorts City Island.

WVPB is a place where everyone is welcome to learn, dream, and grow, thanks to your loyal member support.

Sincerely,

Eddie Isom Executive Director

Member Services:

304-556-4900 or 1-888-596-9729

E-mail: memberservices@wvpublic.org facebook.com/WVPublic twitter.com/wvpublic

View or print program schedules at: www.wvpublic.org

“No matter where you live or what your beliefs are, our love of laughter is something we all have in common. Laughter opens our ears and our hearts — and once people are listening, who knows what they might be inspired to do?” says Jesus Trejo, host of a new documentary series.

Part comedy, part social commentary, part travelogue, the upcoming episodes of Roots of Comedy with Jesus Trejo show viewers six stand-up comedians who are paired up with Trejo, each in their own community — Minneapolis (MN), Laredo (TX), Denver (CO), Chinle (AZ), Portland (OR) and Los Angeles (CA) — to explore the mosaic of our nation

through a unique blend of levity, reality and education on multiple platforms.

First stop Los Angeles, where Jesus embraces the hometown vibe, teaming up with actor-comedian Sierra Katow, a fourthgeneration Chinese and Japanese American. Sierra and Jesus weave culture, history and humor against the vibrant tapestry of L.A.

Next Jesus meets Samoan comedian Adam Pasi in Portland. The only two-time winner of Portland’s Funniest Person competition, Adam takes Jesus behind the scenes, showcasing the grind it takes to become a successful comic, while performing for his parents for the first time.

Watch Fridays at 10:00 p.m. on WVPB.

Above and Beyond Winners Live Up to the Title

Anne Farrow, a social studies teacher at Wheeling Park High School in Ohio County, and Barbara Pill, a science teacher at East Fairmont Middle School (EFMS), in Marion County, earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers. Winners receive a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The West Virginia State Treasurers’ Office sponsors the award, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

Farrow was presented the award by WVPB Director of Education Maggie Holley during a surprise visit to her classroom.

Farrow was nominated by colleague Sarah Smith, whose classroom is a couple doors down from Farrow’s and sees firsthand how she goes above and beyond. Farrow has shown leadership both inside and outside of the classroom by mentoring students through hardships, leading a professional community learning group at the school and providing valuable resources to other teachers. She also coaches the middle school girls’ basketball team and serves as an advisor to student council. When asked about serving as an advisor to student council, Farrow stressed the importance of allowing every student to be heard and wanting to change any negative feelings they may have about school. She said that, over the years, she’s realized the importance of creating a positive environment for the students who think they are overlooked or incapable when they just haven’t figured out what talents or skills they possess yet.

She said, “One of my goals as a teacher is to create that positive environment and safe space that is welcoming to each and every student who walks through my door.” Farrow goes on to say she participates in these different roles in the school to make connections with different students with a variety of interests and backgrounds. “Those connections formed enable our students to understand we are rooting for them in academics and life!”

Farrow is glad to be involved in the community as a parent, teacher and girls’ basketball coach. She loves giving the girls goals and seeing growth in character in addition to being an athlete.

Farrow has been teaching for about a decade. When asked what she loves most about teaching, she says there are plenty of perks that come with being a teacher. “I’d say what truly makes it worth it are the laughs that I share with my students each day. It’s the moments when they are having fun while learning that brings me the most joy.”

Pill was presented the award by WVPB Director of Education Maggie Holley during a surprise school assembly held specially for the occasion. Pill was joined on the floor by longtime friend, colleague, nominator, and current principal, Debra Conover. Conover spoke of how Pill goes above and beyond with event preparation, collaborating with NASA, and starting the STEM program that has evolved to what it is today. She said,

“It is because of her that the STEM program got started at the old junior high and has carried forward since then. I have lost many rockets with her over the years that we had to go find. But this lady puts in countless hours on Saturdays, Sundays, and in the evenings toting things around, making things, sewing items, getting ready for the next event. She started from ordering things for rockets to becoming involved with NASA; from working with their 3D printer and to having her own for students [so they can] program and create their own projects.”

Pill has taught for 15 years and, in addition to science classes, she is currently the STEM coach for seventh- and eighth-grade students. She said she loves teaching about all aspects of science. “Science is so important because it is all around us, so we need to understand and appreciate it. We have those interactions with science without thinking about it from a very young age. Children know that if they throw a ball up it will come down. They will learn how gravity works, but a toddler just knows it does. Science can be so much fun, especially when you understand why things work the way they do. I tell my students I teach science so I can play with the toys!”

As the STEM coach, Pill can provide many exciting projects for students such as building rockets, and Lego missions and competitions. She is particularly fond of working on rockets with students while also building and designing her own. “I have rockets that look like medieval battle axes, one that looks like the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, as well as more traditional rockets.”

Pill attended several educator workshops through NASA Education Resource Center (ERC). They train educators to use and teach the kits they provide. These workshops help educators incorporate STEM into their curriculum.

This led to East Fairmont Middle School participating in competitions like the TARC finals, which involved students designing and building a high-powered rocket to carry a scientific payload. EFMS placed 17th, allowing them to participate in the NASA student launch. These accomplishments were recognized by NASA ERC. “Our successful STEM program, particularly our rocketry, earned EFMS STEM an invitation to be guests at the renaming ceremony of the Katherine Johnson IV & V Facility. This was quite exciting to be able to be a part of that moment.”

Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges who select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher who goes “Above and Beyond,” please visit wvpublic.org/ wvpb-education/above-and-beyond/ to nominate that individual.

Sustainers are the key to our success

Your gifts make it possible for us to tell West Virginia’s story and provide the news, educational programming and entertainment you rely on.

Have you considered becoming a sustaining member? Your ongoing monthly contributions provide a reliable source of income for WVPB. And by having your gift come from your bank account (through an electronic funds transfer, or EFT) or your debit or credit card, lower processing costs are incurred. More of your donation goes toward the programming you support.

As a sustainer, your membership automatically renews annually, so you never have to worry about remembering when your membership expires. For those who make ongoing monthly gifts of at least $5 and are using WVPB Passport, you won’t lose your access to the streaming benefit due to a lapsed account.

You can make a sustaining gift in the amount that best fits your budget, be that $5, $10, or $25 a month. Those monthly contributions add up to annual gifts of $60, $120, and $300. That’s a wonderful opportunity to support WVPB in a way that works for you.

Join the half of our members who decided to support WVPB as sustainers. Become a sustainer today. Easy for you. Better for WVPB. Best for West Virginia.

Mountain Stage Album Out Now

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s live performance radio show Mountain Stage released new compilation album called Live On Mountain Stage: Outlaws and Outliers. Available everywhere through Oh Boy Records, the album features a collection of live performances from various artists captured during Mountain Stage tapings over the past four decades, including Margo Price, John Prine, Birds of Chicago featuring Allison Russell, Sierra Ferrell, Jason Isbell, and Molly Tuttle, among many others.

Since its inception in 1983, Mountain Stage has become an institution, standing as one of the most beloved and enduring programs in public radio history, broadcasting thousands of unforgettable live performances by rising stars and veteran legends alike. Produced out of the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, Mountain Stage is heard weekly on over 250 public radio stations nationwide. Each two-hour episode of Mountain Stage is recorded in front of an audience and features a variety of musical styles, in genres ranging from traditional roots, folk, blues and country, to indie rock, alternative, synth pop, world music, and beyond. Some of the iconic guests over the years have included John Prine, The Band, Odetta, Wilco, R.E.M., Angélique Kidjo, Phish, Pops and Mavis Staples, Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, Alison Krauss, Townes Van Zandt, Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Miriam Makeba, Dr. John, Buddy Guy, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Last year, Mountain Stage celebrated its 40th Anniversary season, becoming the second longest running nationally distributed performance radio show, behind only the Grand Ole Opry. Their legacy has earned recent praise from NPR’s Here & Now, Relix, Pollstar and Rolling Stone who raved, “40 years is not only a milestone. It’s also a testament to the blood, sweat and tears of building something from nothing – one listener and one station at a time,” while Garden & Gun lauded “the live performance show has been a must-stop for countless musicians in the American roots music scene and beyond.”

Visit mountainstage.org to find out more about the album, including the track listing and how to order.

Listen to the award-winning Us & Them podcast

Available on wvpublic.org and where you get your podcasts.

ROMÉO ET JULIETTE

Great Performances at the Met raises the curtain on this sumptuous adaptation by French composer Charles Gounod (1818-1893) of Shakespeare’s timeless tale of eternal love.

Two singers at the height of their acclaim — soprano Nadine Sierra and tenor Benjamin Bernheim — come together as the star-crossed lovers with Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to conduct Bartlett Sher’s towering production.

Can the two lovers find a way back to each other or are they doomed to live out the curse of their families' actions? Chances are you know the answer, so have some tissues ready as you thrill to Gounod’s classic opera.

Watch Sunday, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. on WVPB.