Podcasts about Houlton

“Woman, you are freed from your disability.” For eighteen years, Satan through some malevolent spirit had crippled this woman...until Jesus arrives. In this episode of The Magnificent 37, we examine two Sabbath healings in Luke: the woman with a disabling spirit and the man with dropsy. Once again, Jesus confronts the legalism of the Pharisees, teaching that the Sabbath was made for releasing captives and showing mercy. By healing on the holy day, Jesus fulfills the ultimate purpose of the Sabbath as a gift of God providing rest to the weary.   The Rev. Jesse Baker, pastor of Family of Christ in Houlton, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Luke 13:10–17 and Luke 14:1–6.   To learn more about Family of Christ, visit familyofchristhoulton.org. Thy Strong Word kicks off the new year by dedicating our time to study "The Magnificent 37: The Miracles of Jesus." Christ didn't just speak the Word; He demonstrated it with power. From the quiet intimacy of water turning to wine at Cana to the earth-shaking reality of the empty tomb, the Gospels record thirty-seven distinct moments where Jesus suspended the laws of nature to reveal the power of his grace. This isn't just a list of "neat tricks" from history. It is a systematic walkthrough of how God breaks into our broken world to fix it. Why did Jesus curse a fig tree? Why did He need mud to heal a blind man? What does the coin in the fish's mouth teach us about being citizens of heaven and earth?  Host, Pastor Phil Booe and a lineup of guest pastors will take you through each event, verse by verse. We'll move past the Sunday School summary and get into the meat of the text, including the Old Testament connections, the cultural context, and the immediate comfort these signs bring to your life today.   Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

This Day in Maine for Thursday, October 30th, 2025.

Aunties on Air: "Leaning into Learning": Gaining Knowledge & Connecting to Our Ancestors The “Leaning into Learning” series starts today! Whether you are in elementary school, college, in another place of learning, or love to learn new things- this series is for you! We are joining you with three fun-filled episodes that celebrate the amazing contributions of Wabanaki people. Today, we welcome Dwayne Tomah! In Wabanaki communities, Dwayne needs no introduction, but we want to be sure ALL our listeners know how amazing and giving our guest is. Dwayne is committed to sharing Wabanaki culture, language, and the values of our Ancestors. We will discover and learn with Dwayne while he shares the lessons embedded in Wabanaki languages that serve and heal all people.Wabanaki Words Used:Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc Topics Discussed:Dwayne Tomah - https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/t/to-tz/dwayne-tomah/Colby College - https://www.colby.edu/Lunder Institute - https://museum.colby.edu/lunder-instituteUniversity of Maine Machias - https://machias.edu/Taproot Foundation - https://taprootfoundation.org/Powdered eggs - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powdered_eggsRoger Paul - https://umaine.edu/nativeamericanprograms/people/rogerpaul/Houlton, Maine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houlton,_MaineJesse Walter Fewkes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Walter_FewkesCalis, Maine - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calais,_MaineJohnson vs. Macintosh - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_v._McIntoshWax Cylinder - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph_cylinderJeremy Dutcher - https://jeremydutcher.com/Kingsclear First Nation - https://www.kingsclear.ca/Percy Sacobie - https://www.instagram.com/percysacobie/ Wabanaki Tribal Nations:Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati MotahkomikukPassamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine Special Thanks/Woliwon: Guests: Dwayne TomahProducer: Gavin AllenPodcast Team: Becky Soctomah Bailey, Macy Flanders

First Call - Chip is Driving to Houlton by Maine's Coast 93.1

Wichita State opens volleyball season on Friday and assistant coaches Katie Zimmerman and Ashleigh Houlton join us to preview the season. We talk about how senior leadership in July got things started in a good way and why they think their freshmen are not “drill-killers.” We also discuss Brooklyn Leggett’s journey from NCAA Division II … Continue reading "Roundhouse podcast with Katie Zimmerman, Ashleigh Houlton on Shocker volleyball"

Aunties on Air Episode 29: Leaning into the Healing: Connection & Community, the Two Critical ElementsThe Aunties are excited to share a new guest with our listeners! The guest we have today is someone deeply committed to partnership and strengthening the foundation of community. We are speaking with Betsy from the Downtown Bangor Partnership, and we are eager to share their work and our continued partnership together. In any thriving community, you will see connection at its core. You see this present in Wabanaki communities, where connection to culture, ceremony and values are integrated into everyday experiences. The Downtown Bangor Partnership is a non-profit organization that works with property owners, residents, business owners, community organizations, and governments entities to advance our collective vision for the future of downtown Bangor (https://downtownbangor.com). The values of the partnership closely aligning with whatWabanaki people know to be true: connection, community, and collaboration, heals. Wabanaki Words Used:Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-oc Topics Discussed:Umami Noodle Bar (Bangor) - Umami Noodle Bar Downtown Bangor -https://downtownbangor.com/Betsy Lundy - https://downtown.org/emerging-leader/betsy-lundy/Jamacia Plains - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_PlainWake up the Earth Festival - https://www.boston.gov/calendar/wake-earth-festivalNorth American Indian Center of Boston - http://www.naicob.org/Bernese Mountain Dog - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernese_Mountain_DogAdopt-a-Garden - Adopt-a-Garden ArticleKenduskeag Stream - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenduskeag_StreamNorumbega Parkway - https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/norumbega-parkwayUmbrella Sky Project - Umbrella Sky Project Bangor Beautiful - https://www.bangorbeautiful.org/Shenna Bellows - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenna_BellowsCloth Diaper - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloth_diaperChristopher Columbus Diaper Fact - https://kidsstoppress.com/why-you-should-buy-cloth-diapers-for-your-little-one/Walt Whitman, “Leaves of Grass” - https://www.amazon.com/Leaves-Grass-Original-Walt-Whitman/dp/1449505716HIV Outbreak in Bangor - HIV Outbreak in Bangor, MEMaine Family Planning - https://mainefamilyplanning.org/our-services/PCHC - https://pchc.com/Houlton, ME - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houlton,_MaineDowntown Ambassadors - https://downtownbangor.com/bangor-ambassadors/ Wabanaki Tribal Nations:Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati MotahkomikukPassamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine Special Thanks/Woliwon: Guests: Betsy LundyProducer: Gavin AllenPodcast Team: Becky Soctomah Bailey, Macy Flanders

Starlette Vining disappeared in 1998 and has never been found, yet 15 years after she was last seen in the small town of Presque Isle, Maine, a suspect was convicted of her murder. This is a wide-open look at how a cold missing persons case was successfully investigated and solved despite the fact that the victim's remains were never recovered prior to trial, or ever. It's a story about what it takes—and that it is fully possible—to bring a suspicious disappearance investigation to a close and get a violent, diabolical killer out of our communities, even when the only proof a murder occurred is the testimony of questionable witnesses, second-hand stories, and inconclusive physical evidence.Starlette Vining's information is listed with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Her remains have never been recovered. Please report any discoveries that may be connected to this case to Maine State Police Troop F in Houlton, Maine, at (207) 532-5400.View source material and photos for this episode at: darkdowneast.com/starletteviningDark Downeast is an audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.Follow @darkdowneast on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTokTo suggest a case visit  darkdowneast.com/submit-case

This sermon was preached by Kyle Houlton on July 6th, 2025.

Frances Machala Cerro Grew up in Cumberland, Wisconsin, graduated from St. Catherine's College in 1965. She met Loyce Houlton there in 1963 when Mrs.Houlton began teaching at St. Catherine's.Loyce Houton had started the Contemporary Dance Playhouse inDinkytown by the U of M campus. It was an old Masonic Temple abovea Cleaners that later burnt down. Mrs. Houlton took Frances under herwing and studied, taught and performed with the Contemporary DancePlayhouse, later the Minnesota Dance Theater until 1972. Some of thechoreographies she was principal dancer in were: Chronicles, Audition,Bone Lonely, and Troth. She was in the 1 st Nutcracker Fantasy done atthe Moppet Theater and later at Northrup auditorium in many roles.Mrs. Houlton brought in many teachers at that time, she took classesfrom Graham teachers, Francois Martinet and MadamePereyaslavec.She performed twice at Jacob's Pillow and in Spoleto, Italywhere the company went to learn Glenn Tetley's “Mythical Hunters”.In 1972 She married Ramon Cerro and lived in Santa Fe, Argentina for14 years. There she started a school and company called” La Escuela deDanza Contemporanea”. They performed in Santa Fe, Argentina and inmany small towns in the area. She had the privilege of working with the“Orquesta de Provincia de Santa Fe” many times, includingchoreographing “Peter and The Wolf” and Vivaldi's “Gloria” with 3choirs.The family returned to the United State in 1986 and moved to TulsaOklahoma. There, with other dancers started the Local Motion Foundation to bring in Modern Teachers and choreographers. She worked in the Lincoln Center Institute program for Art in to the Schools.

Aunties on Air Episode 28: New Aunties are Joining Auntie Lisa at the TableThis week we are introducing our NEW Aunties and NEW pod song to our listeners! Auntie Lisa is back for season 2 with a new co-host, Auntie Clarissa! Auntie Clarissa is also known as Chief Sabattis of the Houlton band of Maliseet Indians. You may hear Auntie Lisa refer to her as Auntie Chief from time to time! Auntie Chief gifted us our new season 2 song and it is beautiful! Both Aunties are excited to be sharing season 2 with all of our listeners! In this first episode, the Aunties (Lisa & Clarissa) share our *NEW* Guest Auntie model! Auntie Nancy will be our first guest auntie who will share some time with us throughout season 2. Please listen to our intro episode of season 2 and meet Auntie Clarissa & Auntie Nancy. Auntie Lisa is excited to share the studio with these two amazing Aunties!Wabanaki Words Used:Apc-oc (again in the future, parting, good-bye, farewell) https://pmportal.org/dictionary/apc-ocTopics Discussed:Clarissa Sabattis - https://www.facebook.com/maliseettribalchief/Nancy LaCoote - https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdbeadingNL Houlton Band of Maliseet -  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)Passamaquoddy Nation - Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati MotahkomikukIndigenous Freedom of Religion Legalized - https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/timeline/545.htmlNative American Urban Relocation - https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/indian-relocation.htmlIndian Termination Policy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_termination_policySt. Mary's First Nation Annual Powwow - https://tourismnewbrunswick.ca/festivals-events/sitansisk-st-marys-first-nation-annual-powwowUnity Youth Conference - https://unityinc.org/national-conference/ Wabanaki Tribal Nations:Houlton Band of Maliseet  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME (maliseets.net)Mi'kmaq Mi'kmaq Nation | Presque Isle, ME (micmac-nsn.gov)Passamaquoddy Tribe Indian Township  Passamaquoddy Tribe @ Indian Township | Peskotomuhkati MotahkomikukPassamaquoddy Tribe Sipayik  Sipayik Tribal Government – Sipayik (wabanaki.com)Penobscot Nation  Penobscot Nation | Departments & Info | Indian Island, Maine Special Thanks/Woliwon: Producer: Gavin AllenPodcast Team: Becky Soctomah Bailey, Macy Flanders

Krista Cole, owner and Director of Operations for Sur Lie in Portland and Gather in Yarmouth, brings Northern Maine grit and hospitality to the heart of the restaurant world. A two-time James Beard semifinalist, Krista's journey began in healthcare management, where she built a foundation in operations and strategy before stepping full-force into entrepreneurship. Her story is one of dual passions—caring for people and creating meaningful food experiences. From her humble roots in Houlton to balancing two full-time careers, she's stayed true to her small-town values: honesty, hard work, and community. At Sur Lie, she redefines upscale casual dining, while Gather feels like a welcoming neighborhood table—complete with a team that shares her passion for service. Krista's love of systems, branding, and culture-building has made her a force in Maine's culinary scene and a role model for women entrepreneurs. Join our conversation with Krista Cole today on Radio Maine—and don't forget to subscribe to our channel.

Abraham, nearing the end of his life, entrusts his servant with a sacred mission: find a wife for Isaac from his homeland. The servant prays for guidance, and before he finishes speaking, Rebekah appears. Her kindness and hospitality reveal God's answer. This moment at the well is not coincidence, but divine provision, reminding us that God is always ahead of us, arranging our steps.  The Rev. Jesse Baker, pastor of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Houlton, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Genesis 24:1–33.  To learn more about Family of Christ Lutheran, visit familyofchristhoulton.org. Genesis isn't just the start of the Bible; it's the foundation of everything. Creation, sin, judgment, grace, covenant, and promise all take root in this remarkable book. The stories are ancient, but their truths are eternal. In this new series from Thy Strong Word, Pastor Phil Booe and his guests walk verse by verse through Genesis, exploring how God reveals Himself as Creator, Judge, and Redeemer. From the grandeur of the cosmos to the struggles of ordinary families, Genesis introduces us to a God who speaks, acts, and keeps His promises. So, whether you've read it a hundred times or are just now cracking it open for a serious look, this series will help you see Genesis with fresh eyes—and a deeper faith. Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

This Day in Maine for Thursday, April 17, 2025.

This Day in Maine for Thursday, April 3rd, 2025.

A Cedarville Connection Across the BorderlandsJodi (Quint) Williams and Jerami Cheatwood walked the same halls at Cedarville University in the 1990s, but their paths never crossed — not until years later, in one of the most unexpected places. These two Cedarville alums met not in Ohio, but in Washington, D.C., as two U.S. Border Patrol agents serving on opposite ends of the country.They first met in 2017 during a briefing for a major Border Patrol operation during Police Week. When Jodi introduced herself as a Cedarville alum, Jerami was stunned — what were the chances? He had never met another Cedarville graduate in the Border Patrol, let alone one who had risen through the ranks as quickly as Jodi. After the meeting, he made his way over to introduce himself, and their shared Cedarville roots instantly connected them.Though their careers led them in different directions, their mission remains the same. Jodi serves as the Patrol Agent in Charge in Houlton, Maine, overseeing security operations along the northern border's vast, rugged terrain. Meanwhile, Jerami works on the frontlines in Southern California, tackling the challenges of illegal crossings, human trafficking, and cartel activity. From the snow-covered landscapes of the north to the sweltering deserts of the south, both Jodi and Jerami serve with dedication and perseverance to protect communities and uphold the law.Their story is a reminder of how Cedarville alumni are making an impact in extraordinary ways. Though separated by miles, Jodi and Jerami share a common bond — a passion for service, a commitment to integrity, and the foundation of faith instilled in them at Cedarville.Tune in to this week's Cedarville Stories podcast to hear their incredible journey of courage, leadership, and the unbreakable connection they discovered along the way.https://share.transistor.fm/s/d78ba277https://youtu.be/RMLA_ybCjoc  

We are alll going through many varios trials and circumstance out of our control. Lois Flewelling shared how to not just persevere through our circumstance but to thrive beyond them.  Time to take back all that has been stolen from us.Register today for our upcoming women's conference called Thriving Beyond held at Empowering Life Center, 144 Military Street, Houlton, Maine on March 28 (6:30pm) and March 29 (9:30am-3:00pm).  Go to www.loisflewelling.com to sign up.

In 2021, we set out to cover the case of Rhys Pocan, a 35-year-old Indigenous woman who was murdered in Wisconsin in the ‘80s. But while we were in the field, we uncovered a disturbing pattern of murders with similarities to Rhys' that were just too blatant to ignore. So, we spent the next three years working with local and federal law enforcement to try and get to the bottom of it.Before you listen, make sure you've listened to WANTED: Justice for Rhys Pocan & MMIW Part 1!In Part 2, we look into cases of two other female dismemberment victims in Wisconsin with striking similarities to Rhys Pocan's. Rhys' own cousin Rae Tourtillot's remains were found just two years before Rhys' disappearance. And Julia Baez's remains were found buried in plastic bags the year after. But without a statewide task force, investigators are slow to put things together.If you have any information about any of the cases below, please contact Det. Nathan Hatch at the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office at 920-459-3135, or email him at nathan.hatch@sheboygancounty.com. You can also reach out to us at crimejunkie@audiochuck.com. Other Wisconsin cases to note:Jane Doe, 1982, Caledonia, Columbia CountyHelen Sebastian, 1983, Racine, Racine CountyEric Hansen, 1983, Petrifying Springs Park, Kenosha County,Jane Doe, 1984, Westby, Vernon CountyTerry Dolowy, 1985, LaCrosse, Vernon CountyRae Tourtillott, 1987, Menominee ReservationRhys Pocan, 1989, Sheboygan CountySusan Poupart, 1990, Price CountyJulia Baez, 1990, Brockway, Jackson CountyDoris Mcleod, 1991, Goose Lake Wildlife Preserve, Dane CountyJane Doe, 2002, Houlton, St. Croix CountyCharlee Pocan Russ has started a GoFundMe to raise money for solving her mother's murder. If you would like to donate or learn more, please visit this link. And keep an eye on The Deck feed for Susan Poupart (7 of Spades, Wisconsin), or listen right now in the Fan Club! You can learn more about The Good segment and even submit a story of your own by visiting The Good page on our website! Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit: crimejunkiepodcast.com/wanted-justice-for-rhys-pocan-mmiw-part-2/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit crimejunkie.app/library/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don't miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and more! 

Nancy J. Duncan has had an eclectic career spanning over 50 years of experience in the performing arts as a dancer, educator, producing director, manager, and arts management consultant.Nancy's dance training started under Nevorah Adams in South Dakota and it was through Nevorah's hosting of a summer dance residency taught by Loyce Houlton and two of her dancers, Frances Machala and David Voss, that her passion for dancing fully ignited. Under the tutelage of Houlton and her beautiful, diverselyskilled dancers and many guest artists at the Contemporary Dance Playhouse in Minneapolis, later renamed Minnesota Dance Theater, Nancy developed her skills as a dance teacher and performer.Upon moving to New York City in 1981, Nancy began forming her own artistic vision and mission greatly inspired by Loyce Houlton's vision. Working in partnership with composer Scott Killian and dancer Jackie Goodrich, and in consultation with Lawrence Rhodes, esteemed dancer, teacher and Chair of the New York University Tisch School for the Arts Dance department, Nancy conceived and founded CoDanceCo (collaborative dance company).Nancy and her team established CoDanceCo as a production company devoted to nurturing the creative development of dance artists and providing audience access to outstanding dance artistry that reflected the creativity and eclecticism of contemporary dance. CoDanceCo was designed as a highly flexible organizational model that could adapt to the ever-changing world of dance creators, performers, collaborators, educators, presenters, and audiences.From 1982-1991 Duncan commissioned and presented works created by 28 choreographers, 14 composers, and 50 dancers. Choreographers commissioned over the years include Eiko & Koma, Ralph Lemon, Susan Marshall, Bebe Miller, Mark Morris, Charles Moulton, Ohad Naharin, Doug Varone, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, among others. Duncan's work through CoDanceCo garnered Duncan a 1991 New York Dance and Performance Award Citation (aka Bessie).Highlights from 1991-2003 include serving as the artistic director for London Contemporary Dance Theatre; producer of a four-week British dance festival in New York City, project management for Arts International, and Community Outreach Programs Director for Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project production PastForward, touring both nationally and internationally.From 1996-2003, under the umbrella of CoDanceCo, Duncan managed to keep producing projects to support dance artists and their audiences through her membership in the New York State DanceForce. The projects were accomplished in partnership with NY state artists, presenters, and educators. In 2003 Duncanrelocated to Long Island and established a new home base for her work through CoDanceCo. During this time Duncan also served as a member of the Suffolk County Citizens Arts Advisory Board, became a founding member of the Patchogue Arts Council, served on the Board of the Patchogue Theater, among other opportunities.In 2006, Duncan was introduced to Pierre Dulaine's arts-in-education, social-emotional in-school residency program titled “Dancing Classrooms.” Working in partnership with Dulaine, Duncan secured a two-year grant from the Dana Foundation to have CoDanceCo become the licensed national network affiliate site on Long Island. Pierre and his staff trained Duncan and a team of teaching artists in the Dancing Classrooms syllabus and the company launched its first in-school residencies in the winter of 2008. Since the founding of DancingClassrooms on Long Island, CoDanceCo's teaching artists have touched the lives of over 30,000 youth, adults, educators and families with the transformative power of Dancing Classrooms. For youth and adults alike, the program creates meaningful social connections, inspires respect for diversity, and instills self-confidence all through the joy of social dance.

This podcast hit paid subscribers' inboxes on Jan. 22. It dropped for free subscribers on Jan. 29. To receive future episodes as soon as they're live, and to support independent ski journalism, please consider an upgrade to a paid subscription. You can also subscribe to the free tier below:Who* Travis Kearney, General Manager* Aaron Damon, Assistant General Manager, Marketing Director* Mike Chasse, member of Bigrock Board of Directors* Conrad Brown, long-time ski patroller* Neal Grass, Maintenance ManagerRecorded onDecember 2, 2024About BigrockOwned by: A 501c(3) community nonprofit overseen by a local board of directorsLocated in: Mars Hill, MainePass affiliations: Indy Base Pass, Indy Plus Pass – 2 days, no blackoutsClosest neighboring ski areas: Quoggy Jo (:26), Lonesome Pine (1:08)Base elevation: 670 feetSummit elevation: 1,590 feetVertical drop: 920 feetSkiable acres: 90Average annual snowfall: 94 inchesTrail count: 29 (10% beginner, 66% intermediate, 24% advanced)Lift count: 4 (1 fixed-grip quad, 1 triple, 1 double, 1 surface lift – view Lift Blog's inventory of Bigrock's lift fleet)Why I interviewed themWelcome to the tip-top of America, where Saddleback is a ski area “down south” and $60 is considered an expensive lift ticket. Have you ever been to Sugarloaf, stationed four hours north of Boston at what feels like the planet's end? Bigrock is four hours past that, 26 miles north of the end of I-95, a surveyor's whim from Canadian citizenship. New England is small, but Maine is big, and Aroostook County is enormous, nearly the size of Vermont, larger than Connecticut, the second-largest county east of the Mississippi, 6,828 square miles of mostly rivers and trees and mountains and moose, but also 67,105 people, all of whom need something to do in the winter.That something is Bigrock. Ramble this far north and you probably expect ascent-by-donkey or centerpole double chairs powered by butter churns. But here we have a sparkling new Doppelmayr fixed quad summiting at a windfarm. Shimmering new snowguns hammering across the night. America's eastern-most ski area, facing west across the continent, a white-laced arena edging the endless wilderness.Bigrock is a fantastic thing, but also a curious one. Its origin story is a New England yarn that echoes all the rest – a guy named Wendell, shirtsleeves-in-the-summertime hustle and surface lifts, let's hope the snow comes, finally some snowguns and a chairlift just in time. But most such stories end with “and that's how it became a housing development.” Not this one. The residents of this state-sized county can ski Bigrock in 2025 because the folks in charge of the bump made a few crucial decisions at a few opportune times. In that way, the ski area is a case study not only of the improbable survivor, but a blueprint for how today's on-the-knife-edge independent bumps can keep spinning lifts in the uncertain decades to come.What we talked aboutHuge snowmaking upgrades; a new summit quad for the 2024-25 ski season; why the new lift follows a different line from the old summit double; why the Gemini summit double remains in place; how the new chair opens up the mountain's advanced terrain; why the lift is called “Sunrise”; a brief history of moving the Gemini double from Maine's now-defunct Evergreen ski area; the “backyard engineering degree”; how this small, remote ski area could afford a brand-new $4 million Doppelmayr quad; why Bigrock considered, but ultimately decided against, repurposing a used lift to replace Gemini; why the new lift is a fixed-grip, rather than a detachable, machine; the windfarm at Bigrock's summit; Bigrock in the 1960s; the Pierce family legacy; how Covid drove certain skiers to Bigrock while keeping other groups away; how and why Bigrock became a nonprofit; what nearly shuttered the ski area; “I think there was a period in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s where it became not profitable to own a ski area of this size”; why Bigrock's nonprofit board of directors works; the problem with volunteers; “every kid in town, if they wanted to ski, they were going to ski”; the decline of meatloaf culture; and where and when Bigrock could expand the trail footprint.Why now was a good time for this interviewIn our high-speed, jet-setting, megapass-driven, name-brand, social-media-fueled ski moment, it is fair to ask this question of any ski area that does not run multiple lifts equipped with tanning beds and bottle service: why do you still exist, and how?I often profile ski areas that have no business being in business in 2025: Plattekill, Magic Mountain, Holiday Mountain, Norway Mountain, Bluewood, Teton Pass, Great Bear, Timberline, Mt. Baldy, Whitecap, Black Mountain of Maine. They are, in most cases, surrounded both by far more modernized facilities and numerous failed peers. Some of them died and punched their way out of the grave. How? Why are these hills the ones who made it?I keep telling these stories because each is distinct, though common elements persist: great natural ski terrain, stubborn owners, available local skiers, and persistent story-building that welds a skier's self-image to the tale of mountain-as-noble-kingdom. But those elements alone are not enough. Every improbably successful ski area has a secret weapon. Black Mountain of Maine has the Angry Beavers, a group of chainsaw-wielding volunteers who have quietly orchestrated one of New England's largest ski area expansions over the past decade, making it an attractive busy-day alternative to nearby Sunday River. Great Bear, South Dakota is a Sioux Falls city park, insulating the business from macro-economic pressures and enabling it to buy things like new quad chairlifts. Magic, surrounded by Epkon megaships, is the benefactor of marketing and social-media mastermind Geoff Hatheway, who has crafted a rowdy downhome story that people want to be a part of.And Bigrock? Well, that's what we're here for. How on earth did this little ski area teetering on the edge of the continental U.S. afford a brand-new $4 million chairlift? And a bunch of new snowmaking? And how did it not just go splat-I'm-dead years ago as destination ski areas to the north and south added spiderwebs of fast lifts and joined national mass-market passes? And how is it weathering the increasing costs of labor, utilities, infrastructure, and everything else?The answer lies, in part, in Bigrock's shift, 25 years or so ago, to a nonprofit model, which I believe many more community ski areas will have to adopt to survive this century. But that is just the foundation. What the people running the bump do with it matters. And the folks running Bigrock have found a way to make a modern ski area far from the places where you'd expect to find one.What I got wrongI said that “hundreds of lifts” had “come out in America over the past couple of years.” That's certainly an overcount. But I really had in mind the post-Covid period that began in 2021, so the past three to four years, which has seen a significant number of lift replacements. The best place to track these is Lift Blog's year-by-year new lifts databases: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 (anticipated).I noted that there were two “nearby” ski areas in New Brunswick, the Canadian province bordering Maine. I was referring to 800-vertical-foot Crabbe Mountain, an hour and 20 minutes southeast of Bigrock, and Mont Farlagne, a 600-ish-footer an hour and a half north (neither travel time considers border-crossing delays). Whether these are “near” Bigrock is subjective, I suppose. Here are their trailmaps:Why you should ski BigrockFirst, ski Maine. Because it's gorgeous and remote and, because it takes work to get there, relatively uncrowded on the runs (Sunday River and Pleasant Mountain peak days excepted). Because the people are largely good and wholesome and kind. And because it's winter the way we all think winter should be, violently and unapologetically cold, bitter and endless, overcast and ornery, fierce in that way that invigorates and tortures the soul.“OK,” you say. “Saddleback and Sugarloaf look great.” And they are. But to drive four hours past them for something smaller? Unlikely. I'm a certain kind of skier that I know most others are not. I like to ramble and always have. I relish, rather than endure, long drives. Particularly in unknown and distant parts. I thrive on newness and novelty. Bigrock, nearly a thousand feet of vert nine hours north of my apartment by car, presents to me a chance for no liftlines and long, empty runs; uncrowded highways for the last half of the drive; probably heaping diner plates on the way out of town. My mission is to hit every lift-served ski area in America and this is one of them, so it will happen at some point.But what of you, Otherskier? Yes, an NYC-based skier can drive 30 to 45 minutes past Hunter and Belleayre and Windham to try Plattekill for a change-up, but that equation fails for remote Bigrock. Like Pluto, it orbits too far from the sun of New England's cities to merit inclusion among the roster of viable planets. So this appeal, I suppose, ought to be directed at those skiers who live in Presque Isle (population 8,797), Caribou (7,396), and Houlton (6,055). Maybe you live there but don't ski Bigrock, shuttling on weekends to the cabin near Sugarloaf or taking a week each year to the Wasatch. But I'm a big proponent of the local, of five runs after work on a Thursday, of an early-morning Sunday banger to wake up on the weekend. To have such a place in your backyard – even if it isn't Alta-Snowbird (because nothing is) or Stowe or Killington – is a hell of an asset.But even that is likely a small group of people. What Bigrock is for – or should be for – is every kid growing up along US 1 north of I-95. Every single school district along this thoroughfare ought to be running weekly buses to the base of the lifts from December through March, for beginner lessons, for race programs, for freeride teams. There are trad-offs to remoteness, to growing up far from things. Yes, the kids are six or seven hours away from a Patriots game or Fenway. But they have big skiing, good skiing, modern skiing, reliable skiing, right freaking there, and they should all be able to check it out.Podcast notesOn Evergreen Valley ski areaBigrock's longtime, still-standing-but-now-mothballed Mueller summit double lift came from the short-lived Evergreen Valley, which operated from around 1972 to 1982.The mountain stood in the ski-dense Conway region along the Maine-New Hampshire border, encircled by present-day Mt. Abram, Sunday River, Wildcat, Black Mountain NH, Bretton Woods, Cranmore, and Pleasant Mountain. Given that competition, it may seem logical that Evergreen failed, but Sunday River wasn't much larger than this in 1982.On Saddleback's Rangeley doubleSaddleback's 2020 renaissance relied in large part on the installation of a new high-speed quad to replace the ancient Rangeley Mueller double. Here's an awesome video of a snowcat tugging the entire lift down in one movement.On Libra Foundation and Maine Winter SportsBacked with Libra Foundation grants, the Maine Winter Sports Center briefly played an important role in keeping Bigrock, Quoggy Jo, and Black Mountain of Maine ski areas operational. All three managed to survive the organization's abrupt exit from the Alpine ski business in 2013, a story that I covered in previous podcasts with Saddleback executive and onetime Maine Winter Sports head Andy Shepard, and with the leadership of Black Mountain of Maine.On Bigrock's masterplanWe discuss a potential future expansion that would substantially build out Bigrock's beginner terrain. Here's where that new terrain - and an additional lift - could sit in relation to the existing trails (labeled “A01” and A03”):On Maine ski areas on IndyIndy has built a stellar Indy Pass roster, which includes every thousand-ish-footer in the state that's not owned by Boyne: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

In episode 76, I revisit a case I previously discussed with Brandie from Evaporate the Missing. Missing in Maine, three stories - Attiin Shaw, Stefanie Damron, Erik Foote and the town of Washburn's involvement of a tragic outcome that did not have to be. This episode examines the circumstances surrounding each case and questions that continue to linger. Advances in DNA and investigative genetic genealogy is changing how we look at crime. Ancestry, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and GEDmatch have become instrumental in solving long-gone-cold cases. I revisit the case of Attiin Shaw, missing from a small Maine town since September 2021. Her family cannot  get any information about their missing daughter and sister. Her children have to face life without her, and her husband hasn't offered any insight into her disappearance. Special thanks to Kara.  Attiin Rachmawati Shaw: Please share any information about missing Washburn, Maine woman with Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit - North, 1 Darcie Dr. Houlton, Maine 04730. Call (207) 532-5400 or toll free 1-800-432-7381. You may also report information about this case using the leave a tip form.Stefanie Damron: Anyone with information about missing 14-year-old from New Sweden, please call the Maine State Police Houlton Barracks at 1-800-824-2261 or 207-532-5400, or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, your local FBI office, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.more... crimeofthetruestkind.comSend a message to the showSupport the showFollow Instagram | Facebook | X | TikTok | Threads | YouTube For show notes & source information at CrimeoftheTruestKind.comGive the dogs a bone tip jar: buymeacoffee.com/truestkindBecome a patron: Patreon.com/crimeofthetruestkindThis podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

An Important Chat About Faith With Stephen Young Episode 314 ( 1st Aired as Episode 73)         Thanks for tuning in to another episode as I sit down again with my good friend Stephen Young. Stephen is a licensed Minister who loves the Lord and enjoys teaching about God's Word. In this episode we will be talking about faith and how important it is to our lives. I encourage you also to follow the links below and even subscribe to watch his 6 part series on faith, which he taught at “The Gathering Place” in Houlton, Maine. My prayer is that you will be encouraged and inspired to dig into God's Word and learn more about this powerful topic, “FAITH.” Enjoy the show; God Bless and Love You All! YouTube: Empowering Life Center  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEypv5Vro1Yn5VYtUyRCzuw #StephenYoung #2020Encouragement #Seriesonfaith #faith #StephensGateMinistries #Empoweringlifecenter #Godswordonfaith #Christianpodcast, #Relevancefortodaypodcast, #StephenLewispodcast

Wichita State volleyball assistant coaches Katie Zimmerman and Ashleigh Houlton join the podcast to preview the season. We talk about the scrimmage against Kansas State, their thoughts on the AAC adopting a conference tournament and the rule change on double hits. We also discuss newcomer Sarah Barham and her play as a middle blocker, Emerson … Continue reading "Roundhouse podcast with Katie Zimmerman, Ashleigh Houlton on Shocker volleyball"

You'll hear in-the-moment reactions about the April 8th total solar eclipse in Maine from folks in Stacyville, Houlton, and Jackman Maine, and then we'll circle back to Stacyville for some short conversations right after the eclipse.We are indebted to Sarah Kirn, Nikita Saini, and Terrence Finnegan for their willingness to record audio, and Jennifer Dann for her encouragement and great questions. And a giant thank you in particular to Patrick Taylor for letting me experience the eclipse in what may have been the best possible location I could have imagined at his Katahdin View Camps & Campground in Stacyville.These reactions were recorded in April 2024. ~~~~~The Maine Science Podcast is a production of the Maine Discovery Museum. It is recorded at Discovery Studios, at the Maine Discovery Museum, in Bangor, ME. The Maine Science Podcast is hosted and executive produced by Kate Dickerson; edited and produced by Scott Loiselle.The Discover Maine theme was composed and performed by Nick Parker.To support our work: https://www.mainediscoverymuseum.org/donate. Find us online:Maine Discovery MuseumMaine Science FestivalMaine Discovery Museum on social media: Facebook InstagramMaine Science Festival on social media: Facebook Twitter InstagramMaine Science Podcast on social media: Facebook Twitter Instagram © 2024 Maine Discovery Museum

From MPR News, Art Hounds are members of the Minnesota arts community who look beyond their own work to highlight what's exciting in local art. Their recommendations are lightly edited from the audio heard in the player above.Want to be an Art Hound? Submit here.Alanna Morris is a professional dancer-choreographer in St. Paul. She saw Minnesota Dance Theatre's spring production, and she wants everyone to know about the Ensemble's final weekend. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis. Alanna says: Minnesota Dance Theatre are a legacy intuition. Going back to its founder, Loyce Houlton, who in 1962 made innovative contributions to the performance of classical ballet and the Graham technique, which still sets the company's dancers apart today, not only locally but nationally. The company has undergone a lot of administrative changes in recent years, and yet the love of dance and performance is still so strong. They are presenting three world premieres.They are actually closing their doors and celebrating this legacy this weekend.They've had such a rich history of performance for decades, then carried through by Houlton's daughter, Lise, and now directed by Elayna Waxse, who is the interim artistic director. They are actually closing their doors and celebrating this legacy this weekend. This is the performing ensemble's farewell concert and celebration concert. Minnesota Dance Theatre's school will remain open and continue to thrive with training young students and young dancers. This performance features four choreographers. Three of them are local to the Minnesota dance community, and one of them (Nia-Amina Minor) is an artist that's been commissioned; she's a Black and female choreographer from Seattle. And you're going to see a range of works in the classical ballet idiom, also traversing into contemporary ballet. You're gonna hear classics like Frederick Chopin to contemporary and experimental jazz music from Makaya McCraven. I went to the performance and I was amazed by the diversity of the musical selections there. It's really worth seeing.Over these long years, some of our most amazing dancers and teachers and arts leaders have come out of the Minnesota Dance school and company here. The Ensemble is taking their last bow this weekend, but the school will continue to thrive and train young students and young dancers.— Alanna MorrisRasputin: There lived a certain man, in Russia long agoTheater maker Shanan Custer of White Bear Lake saw Four Humors Theater's play “Rasputin” at the Twin Cities Horror Festival last fall, and she's thrilled that the show is getting a second run at Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis. “Rasputin” opens tonight and runs through May 18. The show runs 70 minutes without intermission. The May 12 matinee requires masks for all audience members. (All other shows are mask-optional.) Shanan says: The play is a dark comedy created by Four Humors Theater. It's a very deeply hilarious investigation of all of the versions of Rasputin's gruesome death. It's brilliantly conceived, the actors are so strong and there are so many incredible physical comedy moments. A very deeply hilarious investigation.And yet while that's happening, the play is dealing with this political nightmare: this greedy, horrifying zealot who's getting all the attention. It plays really well in 2024. It hit me so hard last year, and I'm really excited that they're bringing it back.— Shanan CusterCheck out Mankato's arts scene Dana Sikkila, director of the 410 Project Community Art Space in Mankato, is looking forward to the second annual Manifest event this Saturday. The free, all-day event (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) celebrates the local arts scene and its vibrant history. Put on by the Midwest Arts Catalyst and River Valley Makers, Manifest is a new, larger iteration of its (pre-COVID) Post-Holiday Extravaganza. Location: Kato Ballroom. Dana says: It's our time in Mankato here — and really truly for anyone who wants to join us — to celebrate arts and culture. It also celebrates the history of the arts in the Mankato area, to reflect on the importance of keeping these things alive in our cities.  It's going to be an all-day event. There are art vendors. There's going to be art raffles, a silent auction and food trucks. We have a huge community mural project that's going to be happening on a building outside next door to the Kato Ballroom. We're going to have our Mankato community collage photo shoot happening 11 to 5 p.m., too. And that's where people can come to get a photo taken of themselves with their friends with their families. And that photo gets put into our big community collage that happens yearly. And then starting at 7 p.m., we're having live music.It is free to attend and everyone's welcome. They are asking for a $20 suggested donation at the door. Any of the proceeds that come in at the door go back into the arts in our community throughout the year. It's a great event all the way around.— Dana Sikkila

Brain Drain Episode 29 with Forde Brookfield & Toby Batchelor

This set of proverbs emphasizes the importance of loving knowledge and accepting correction as signs of wisdom. These inspired words of God underscore that righteousness in thought, word, and deed aligns with God's will and leads to life and peace. The passage highlights that the words of the righteous are life-giving and that their work is fruitful, reflecting a heart attuned to God's ways. The wicked, however, are trapped by their deceit and falsehood, which leads to ruin. The Rev. Jesse Baker, pastor of Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Houlton, WI, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Proverbs 12:1-14.

Unstoppable speaker, Emily Houle, shares how we can become unstoppable going through events in our lives that tend to confront us.  Emily is one of our dynamic speakers for Unstoppable: A Divine Appointment held at Empowering Life Center, 144 Military Street, Houlton, Maine on April 20, 2024 from 9:00 to 4:00.  To register go to https://www.loisflewelling.com/event-details/unstoppable-a-divine-assignment.

It's almost time for the year's big celestial event: a total eclipse of the Sun. Tomorrow afternoon, the Moon will pass directly between Earth and the Sun. That will block the Sun's disk. The sky will grow dark, with a pink glow around the horizon. Stars and planets will pop into view. And the Sun's faint outer atmosphere, the corona, will look like silvery ribbons around the Moon. Totality will be visible along a narrow path. In the United States, it'll stretch from Eagle Pass, Texas, to Houlton, Maine. Several major cities are along that path; the largest is Dallas. At most, totality will last for a bit less than four and a half minutes. Skywatchers in the rest of the contiguous U.S. will see a partial eclipse — the Moon will cover only part of the Sun's disk. For those lucky enough to find themselves inside the path of totality, it's perfectly safe to look at the Sun when it's fully eclipsed. At all other times, though, the Sun is much too bright to look at directly. Even a 99-percent-eclipsed Sun is bright enough to cause eye damage. To see it safely, use proper eclipse glasses, or a piece of welder's glass — number 14 or darker. If you're close to a leafy tree, you can follow the eclipse by looking at the ground — the shadows project tiny images of the eclipsed Sun. You can also look at the shadow of a colander or similar device. So enjoy this beautiful alignment — but do it safely! More tomorrow. Script by Damond Benningfield

Nancy Ketch is the community development director and public information officer with the town of Houlton, Maine.

We've been hearing from communities on the path of totality in New Brunswick about how they're getting ready for the event. This morning, we crossed the border and checked in with the town of Houlton, Maine to see what they've got planned. Jeanne Armstrong spoke to Nancy Ketch.

Many people dread Mondays and the start of the new work week. But there's something to look forward to next Monday: the Great North American Eclipse. The Moon will completely cover the Sun, turning the sky dark. Tendrils of light will extend away from the Moon — the Sun's hot outer atmosphere, the corona. If you can find a way to get to the eclipse path, it's worth the effort. For this eclipse, the Moon is a little closer to Earth than average. So the period of totality, when the Sun is fully eclipsed, will last for up to almost four and a half minutes along the centerline of the eclipse path. That path will first touch land on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The lunar shadow will race toward the northeast, and cross into the United States near Eagle Pass, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. Central Time. It'll cross over such major cities as Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Buffalo. It'll exit the U.S. at Houlton, Maine, at 3:35 Eastern Time. Areas outside the path of totality will see a partial eclipse, with the Moon covering only some of the solar disk. The closer a location is to the centerline of the eclipse, the greater the extent of the eclipse. Remember to look at the Sun directly only during totality. The rest of the time, use eclipse glasses or other protective gear — keeping your eyes safe to enjoy this beautiful cosmic spectacle. We'll have more about the eclipse throughout the week. Script by Damond Benningfield

On April 8, Mainers will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a rare cosmic event without traveling out of state: a total solar eclipse. Space enthusiasts from across the U.S. are flocking to communities in rural Maine like Jackman and Houlton and enjoy three-and-a-half minutes of totality, when they can see a ring of light surround the moon as it blocks the sun. Shawn Laatsch, the director of UMaine Versant Power Astronomy Center, and his graduate student, Nikita Saini, have been preparing for the event for a long time. They are coordinating the viewing and recording of the eclipse, through which they will gather valuable data. On this episode of “The Maine Question” podcast, Laatsch and Saini discuss the spectacle and how to experience it safely. They will also describe what inspires them to study the cosmos and answer various questions about space, such as whether there is life on another planet and what the best space-based movies and TV shows are.

Assistant coaches Katie Zimmerman and Ashleigh Houlton update us on spring volleyball practices. We look back at the NIVC title and how the trip to El Paso motivated the Shockers. We discuss newcomers Sarah Musial, a freshman setter, and outside Alyssa Gonzales, a transfer from TCU. We dive into Morgan Stout's improvement in 2023, what's ahead for Emerson Wilford and candidates to break into regular playing time in 2024. We wrap up with a conversation about favorite coffee places in Wichita and coach Chris Lamb's regular order at Fairmount Coffee Co.

In this episode of KAJ Masterclass LIVE, Paul Hemphill, a renowned TV guest, author, and speaker, delves into the transformative power of storytelling in education. Discover how stories from U.S. history can serve as potent teaching tools, fostering personal growth and connecting learners emotionally to the subject matter. Join us on this enlightening journey to glean insights, strategies, and leadership lessons that transcend time.

In his defense, how much could the climate possibly have changed in the 6,000 years the earth has existed?Listen to the full episode on our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/deniersplaybook) SOCIALS & MORE (https://linktr.ee/deniersplaybook)CREDITS Hosts: Rollie Williams & Nicole Conlan Executive Producer: Ben Boult Audio Producer: Gregory Haddock Researcher: James CrugnaleArt: Jordan Doll Music: Tony Domenick SOURCESNew US House speaker tried to help overturn the 2020 election, raising concerns about the next one. (2023, October 26). AP News.Hall, M. (n.d.). New Speaker Mike Johnson says the way to learn how feels about any issue is to read the Bible: “That's my worldview, that's what I believe.” Business Insider. Staff, P. P. (2023, October 25). Here's where Speaker Mike Johnson stands on the issues. POLITICO.New House speaker's views on LGBTQ issues come under fresh scrutiny. (2023, October 26). NBC News.Macnaughton, S. (2023, October 29). Inside the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Anti-LGBTQ Org Where Mike Johnson Spent Almost a Decade. Rolling Stone.Nast, C. (2023, October 26). Election Denial, “Sexual Anarchy,” Noah's Ark: All the Mike Johnson Details We Regret to Inform You Of. Vanity Fair.Hamilton, M. A. (2023, November 4). Mike Johnson, theocrat: the House speaker and a plot against America. The Guardian.Griffiths, B. D. (n.d.). Kelly Johnson, who is married to House Speaker Mike Johnson, practices a form of Christian counseling that classifies people into “choleric”, “phlegmatic,” and other ancient personality types purportedly ordained by God. Business Insider.New House Speaker Thinks Creationist Museum Is “Pointing People To The Truth.” (2023, October 26). HuffPost.Tait, R. (2023, October 26). House speaker once won taxpayer funds for Noah's Ark park accused of bias. The Guardian.U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson and Climate Change. (n.d.). The Shreveport Times,Worldometer. (2016). CO2 Emissions per Capita - Worldometer.AJLabs. (n.d.). How much does Africa contribute to global carbon emissions? Al Jazeera.Ramanujan, K. (2021, October 19). More than 99.9% of studies agree: Humans caused climate change. Cornell Chronicle; Cornell University. Watts, J. (2021, October 19). “Case closed”: 99.9% of scientists agree climate emergency caused by humans. The Guardian.Lynas, M., Houlton, B. Z., & Perry, S. (2021). Greater than 99% consensus on human caused climate change in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. Environmental Research LetterJohnson, U. S. R. M. (n.d.). Rep. Johnson: Paris climate deal was bad for U.S. The Shreveport Times.Republican Study Committee Backgrounder: A Greedy New Steal, 13 Page Report. Mike Johnson. Washington Times.Johnson, Mike. “This bill will raise taxes on the middle class and increase prices for consumers.” X (Formerly Twitter).Who is running for House speaker? These are the Republicans aiming for the top job after Jordan's exit. (n.d.). USA TODAY.Mike Johnson's Environmental Voting Record. League of Conservation Voters Scorecard.Friedman, L. (2023, October 26). New House Speaker Champions Fossil Fuels and Dismisses Climate Concerns. The New York Times. Brugger, E. D., Kelsey. (2023, October 25). Mike Johnson, a climate science skeptic, is speaker nominee. E&E News by POLITICO. House Speaker Mike Johnson's First Big Bill Cuts Biden's Climate Change Funding. (2023, October 26). Bloomberg. Brugger, E. D., Kelsey. (2023, October 4). What McCarthy's fall means for energy, environment policy. E&E News by POLITICO. What does the US Speaker of the House do? (2023, January 4). BBC News. New House Speaker Widens Partisan Climate Divide. (2023, October 29). Bloomberg.com. Trubek, A. (2019, December 18). Jim Jordan's Gerrymandered District - Belt Magazine. Beltmag.com.North Carolina's new GOP gerrymander could flip four House seats. (2023, October 25). POLITICO. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a popular TV guest, author, speaker, and videographer, Paul Lloyd Hemphill was born in Houlton, Maine in the last century.  He is the Chairman of American Education Defenders, Inc., a non-profit whose purpose is to help our nation's youth believe in themselves and in their country. It uses true stories from America's past, life lessons, and engaging questions to connect the student to the life lessons. It makes American history relevant, meaningful, and personal, very unlike the way you were taught history in high school. It's a pattern interrupter. But its approach to American history is what every high school history teacher dreams they could teach.  "In 2020 I started a non-profit company as a direct response to the negative influences on the self-esteem of our nation's children in their classrooms. The solution, I believed, required a creative and appealing approach to teaching American history. Excited at the possibilities, I started American Education Defenders, Inc. It takes its inspiration from a best-selling book I wrote in 2018, which remains in the Amazon Top 20 in its category. The book, Inspiration For Teens, is filled with true stories from American history and life-lessons, all of which can be found on video and audio as part of a homeschool curriculum that energizes self esteem. The video program is called, America's 52 Stories, and it has proven to elevate the self-esteem of our nation's youth so they can become better people and solid citizens." https://www.americaneducationdefenders.com/

As a popular TV guest, author, speaker, and videographer, Paul Lloyd Hemphill was born in Houlton, Maine in the last century.  He is the Chairman of American Education Defenders, Inc., a non-profit whose purpose is to help our nation's youth believe in themselves and in their country. It uses true stories from America's past, life lessons, and engaging questions to connect the student to the life lessons. It makes American history relevant, meaningful, and personal, very unlike the way you were taught history in high school. It's a pattern interrupter. But its approach to American history is what every high school history teacher dreams they could teach.  "In 2020 I started a non-profit company as a direct response to the negative influences on the self-esteem of our nation's children in their classrooms. The solution, I believed, required a creative and appealing approach to teaching American history. Excited at the possibilities, I started American Education Defenders, Inc. It takes its inspiration from a best-selling book I wrote in 2018, which remains in the Amazon Top 20 in its category. The book, Inspiration For Teens, is filled with true stories from American history and life-lessons, all of which can be found on video and audio as part of a homeschool curriculum that energizes self esteem. The video program is called, America's 52 Stories, and it has proven to elevate the self-esteem of our nation's youth so they can become better people and solid citizens." https://www.americaneducationdefenders.com/

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 1st, 2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/chick-fil-a-faces-growing-backlash-over-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts_5300643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Chick-fil-A Faces Growing Backlash Over ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Efforts Some conservatives have suggested a boycott of Chick-fil-A after the fast-food chain was discovered to have a vice president of “diversity, equity, [and] inclusion,” or DEI. In a previously issued Chick-fil-A news release, the company said that Erick McReynolds serves as its vice president of DEI, saying: “Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.” DEI is a set of principles that large corporations, government agencies, and schools have increasingly incorporated into their work environments, often mandating employees receive such training. However, these principles are rooted in Marxism, according to prominent critics including Christopher Rufo and James Lindsay, that are essentially vehicles for “left-wing racialist ideology and partisan political activism.” “They are designed to replace the system of academic merit with a system of race-based preferences and discrimination—which, in many cases, explicitly violates federal civil rights law,” wrote Rufo for his Substack page earlier this year. The Chick-fil-A announcement was highlighted this week by several prominent conservative accounts. According to McReynolds’s LinkedIn page, he was hired as Chick-fil-A’s vice president for “Diversity, Equity [and] Inclusion” in late 2021. The chicken-based fast-food chain has been generally well respected among conservatives due to the company’s religious values and its prior support for religious groups. In the McReynolds DEI announcement, Chick-fil-A makes reference to its corporate purpose, which is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us” and “to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” In recent weeks, a number of companies have faced backlash for embracing what critics say are left-wing values or a pro-LGBT agenda. Since early April, Bud Light has seen a significant backlash after it produced a beer can with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s face and as Mulvaney suggested a partnership with the brand. Sales of Bud Light have dropped significantly year-over-year, with consumers opting to drink brands like Coors or Miller in its place, according to data released by industry analysts. Data published by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ shows that by the week ending May 20, Bud Light sales declined 29.5 percent year-over-year, while revenue is down 25.7 percent. The CEO of Anheuser-Busch has, on multiple occasions, said that Bud Light did not partner with Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, and that only “one can” with Mulvaney’s face was produced. Local distributors in some areas also released advertisements saying as much in a bid to lure back customers, while Bud Light has marketed several deals to move cases of beer. Another major boycott was directed at Target after the company released a line of LGBT clothing for children—including onesies for infants—for its “pride collection,” according to its website. Other companies, like Kohl’s and PetSmart, have similarly been criticized for selling similar products. Last week, Target said in a news release that it would be moving its “pride” merchandise to other areas of the store. The company, meanwhile, has seen its stock drop considerably since mid-May, falling another 3.5 percentage points on Tuesday. https://www.dailywire.com/news/9-teenagers-arrested-over-brutal-assault-of-3-u-s-marines 9 Teenagers Arrested Over Brutal Assault Of 3 U.S. Marines Sheriff’s deputies in San Clemente, California, arrested nine teenagers over the brutal assault of three U.S. Marines last Saturday. San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan announced that Orange County Sheriff’s Department had charged the teenagers, five of whom were accused of assault with a deadly weapon and the other four with misdemeanor assault and battery. “They think they have the people they are looking for,” Duncan stated. “Not to say that there might not be a few others out there. They feel pretty confident that they have the main perpetrators. … They had some videotape that wasn’t readily available to the public that had a lot better images of the individuals involved.” “In today’s age, you’re going to get caught — people are going to record it,” Duncan continued. “I hope this serves as a learning lesson for young folks in the community not to let themselves get out of control when something like this happens.” As many as 40 young people were involved when the three U.S. Marines near a California beach Saturday night were attacked in a horrific moment caught on now-viral video. The Marines were enjoying time off from their service at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside at approximately 10 p.m. along the beach in San Clemente. One of the Marines, Hunter Antonino, said a piece of debris hit him in the face, prompting him to ask the group to stop lighting fireworks. “They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he recalled. Antonio said the group then followed the Marines as they returned to the pier, whereupon Antonio and another Marine informed the group that they were Marines so the group would leave them alone. Instead, the group savagely attacked the Marines. One individual punched a Marine in the back, prompting the Marine to turn and charge at him, sparking the melee. Video shows two of the Marines lying in the fetal position on the ground as the group kicked them and hurled racial epithets at them. The Marines were kicked in the head and upper body. Although the Marines were injured, they refused to go to a hospital, according to Orange County Sheriff’s deputies. Antonio thought he may have suffered a concussion. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/anti-abortion-protesters-beaten-baltimore-planned-parenthood Two anti-abortion protesters beaten outside Planned Parenthood in Baltimore Two senior citizen anti-abortion protesters were attacked outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Baltimore on Friday morning, sending one to the University of Maryland Medical Center. “Please pray for my dear friend, Mark Crosby,” President of the Baltimore County Right to Life organization Jay Walton said on Facebook Friday. “He was viciously attacked yesterday, May 26, 2023 while he was praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City. He and another prolifer were attacked from behind and the thug ran away.” Mark Crosby and Dick Shafer have been confirmed as the victims in Friday's attack. Both men are over the age of 70, according to police reports. WMAR reported that surveillance video shows the suspect tackling Shafer, disturbing a large flower planter outside of the abortion facility. When Crosby came to Shafer’s aid, the assailant shoved Crosby to the ground, and the person was seen punching and kicking him in the face. Baltimore anti-abortion advocate John Roswell told LifeSiteNews that while Shafer is recovering well, Crosby “is bleeding from some unidentified area behind his eye and the bone eye orbit is completely shattered.” Walton said on Monday morning that Crosby, who had been released from the hospital, had to be transported back to the emergency room due to further complications. Roswell told LifeSiteNews that a Planned Parenthood escort, who guides abortion patients into the organization's facilities, was present at the scene and engaged with the assailant prior to the attack. In his experience, Roswell said that escorts are usually present in the rare cases that pro-abortion rights activists engage in violent altercations with anti-abortion advocates. Investigators told local news outlets WBAL and WMAR that they are searching for the suspect. https://www.theblaze.com/news/tony-holford-us-canada-border-explosives-sign Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board' Police opened fire on a truck driver on Memorial Day as the driver aproached the U.S.-Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive device on board. The motorist, 42-year-old Tony Holford of Providence, Rhode Island, faces charges of aggravated reckless conduct, a class B crime; terrorizing, a Class D crime, and failure to stop, a class E crime, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said in a press release. At 10:39 a.m. Monday, Maine State Police Trooper Denver Roy attempted to stop a vehicle heading north on Interstate 95 in Houlton, Maine. The driver did not stop, instead continuing north. Trooper Roy "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board," the MSP wrote. It is not clear what sort of sign was displayed. When the vehicle eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, troopers commanded him to get out of the vehicle. When the vehicle's operator reportedly maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry, Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him. Holford, who was uninjured, surrendered to Main State Police troopers and was taken to the Aroostook County Jail after being medically cleared. MSP say the scene is contained and there is no ongoing danger to the public. Authorities in Canada and the United States are collaborating on an investigation into the incident. The Maine State Police Bomb Squad and crime scene technicians advised motorists to use alternative points of entry as they processed the scene. The Woodstock, New Brunswick, border crossing was reopened Monday night, according to a tweet posted by the Canada Border Services Agency's Atlantic Region. The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police will work together "in the coming days to continue the investigation and the events that led up to the officer-involved shooting." https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/virginia-eliminates-degree-requirements-most-state-jobs Virginia eliminates degree requirements for most state jobs Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced a change in state hiring practices that would eliminate requirements or preferences that applicants for most state positions have a college degree. A press release from Youngkin indicated that the change will take effect on July 1 and affect roughly 90% of state positions. The Old Dominion's myriad agencies post as many as 20,000 job listings per year. "On day one we went to work reimagining workforce solutions in government and this key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians," Youngkin said in a statement. State Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater further, in the same release, indicated that the state was looking into heavily regulated private industries to streamline the professional certification processes. The move comes as American high school graduates increasingly opt against pursuing college degrees to due affordability and return on investment concerns. President Joe Biden has moved to lessen the financial burden of incurring debt to pay for college by offering up to $10,000 in repayment relief for most loan recipients and up to $20,000 for those who received a Pell Grant, though that plan has faced legal scrutiny and may well end up permanently blocked by the judiciary. The proposed deal to raise the debt limit facing Congress includes a measure to end a temporary freeze on student loan repayments.

This is Garrison Hardie with your CrossPolitic Daily News Brief for Thursday, June 1st, 2023. https://www.theepochtimes.com/chick-fil-a-faces-growing-backlash-over-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts_5300643.html?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=BonginoReport Chick-fil-A Faces Growing Backlash Over ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ Efforts Some conservatives have suggested a boycott of Chick-fil-A after the fast-food chain was discovered to have a vice president of “diversity, equity, [and] inclusion,” or DEI. In a previously issued Chick-fil-A news release, the company said that Erick McReynolds serves as its vice president of DEI, saying: “Chick-fil-A restaurants have long been recognized as a place where people know they will be treated well. Modeling care for others starts in the restaurant, and we are committed to ensuring mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.” DEI is a set of principles that large corporations, government agencies, and schools have increasingly incorporated into their work environments, often mandating employees receive such training. However, these principles are rooted in Marxism, according to prominent critics including Christopher Rufo and James Lindsay, that are essentially vehicles for “left-wing racialist ideology and partisan political activism.” “They are designed to replace the system of academic merit with a system of race-based preferences and discrimination—which, in many cases, explicitly violates federal civil rights law,” wrote Rufo for his Substack page earlier this year. The Chick-fil-A announcement was highlighted this week by several prominent conservative accounts. According to McReynolds’s LinkedIn page, he was hired as Chick-fil-A’s vice president for “Diversity, Equity [and] Inclusion” in late 2021. The chicken-based fast-food chain has been generally well respected among conservatives due to the company’s religious values and its prior support for religious groups. In the McReynolds DEI announcement, Chick-fil-A makes reference to its corporate purpose, which is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us” and “to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.” In recent weeks, a number of companies have faced backlash for embracing what critics say are left-wing values or a pro-LGBT agenda. Since early April, Bud Light has seen a significant backlash after it produced a beer can with transgender activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney’s face and as Mulvaney suggested a partnership with the brand. Sales of Bud Light have dropped significantly year-over-year, with consumers opting to drink brands like Coors or Miller in its place, according to data released by industry analysts. Data published by Bump Williams Consulting and Nielsen IQ shows that by the week ending May 20, Bud Light sales declined 29.5 percent year-over-year, while revenue is down 25.7 percent. The CEO of Anheuser-Busch has, on multiple occasions, said that Bud Light did not partner with Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, and that only “one can” with Mulvaney’s face was produced. Local distributors in some areas also released advertisements saying as much in a bid to lure back customers, while Bud Light has marketed several deals to move cases of beer. Another major boycott was directed at Target after the company released a line of LGBT clothing for children—including onesies for infants—for its “pride collection,” according to its website. Other companies, like Kohl’s and PetSmart, have similarly been criticized for selling similar products. Last week, Target said in a news release that it would be moving its “pride” merchandise to other areas of the store. The company, meanwhile, has seen its stock drop considerably since mid-May, falling another 3.5 percentage points on Tuesday. https://www.dailywire.com/news/9-teenagers-arrested-over-brutal-assault-of-3-u-s-marines 9 Teenagers Arrested Over Brutal Assault Of 3 U.S. Marines Sheriff’s deputies in San Clemente, California, arrested nine teenagers over the brutal assault of three U.S. Marines last Saturday. San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan announced that Orange County Sheriff’s Department had charged the teenagers, five of whom were accused of assault with a deadly weapon and the other four with misdemeanor assault and battery. “They think they have the people they are looking for,” Duncan stated. “Not to say that there might not be a few others out there. They feel pretty confident that they have the main perpetrators. … They had some videotape that wasn’t readily available to the public that had a lot better images of the individuals involved.” “In today’s age, you’re going to get caught — people are going to record it,” Duncan continued. “I hope this serves as a learning lesson for young folks in the community not to let themselves get out of control when something like this happens.” As many as 40 young people were involved when the three U.S. Marines near a California beach Saturday night were attacked in a horrific moment caught on now-viral video. The Marines were enjoying time off from their service at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside at approximately 10 p.m. along the beach in San Clemente. One of the Marines, Hunter Antonino, said a piece of debris hit him in the face, prompting him to ask the group to stop lighting fireworks. “They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he recalled. Antonio said the group then followed the Marines as they returned to the pier, whereupon Antonio and another Marine informed the group that they were Marines so the group would leave them alone. Instead, the group savagely attacked the Marines. One individual punched a Marine in the back, prompting the Marine to turn and charge at him, sparking the melee. Video shows two of the Marines lying in the fetal position on the ground as the group kicked them and hurled racial epithets at them. The Marines were kicked in the head and upper body. Although the Marines were injured, they refused to go to a hospital, according to Orange County Sheriff’s deputies. Antonio thought he may have suffered a concussion. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/anti-abortion-protesters-beaten-baltimore-planned-parenthood Two anti-abortion protesters beaten outside Planned Parenthood in Baltimore Two senior citizen anti-abortion protesters were attacked outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in North Baltimore on Friday morning, sending one to the University of Maryland Medical Center. “Please pray for my dear friend, Mark Crosby,” President of the Baltimore County Right to Life organization Jay Walton said on Facebook Friday. “He was viciously attacked yesterday, May 26, 2023 while he was praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Baltimore City. He and another prolifer were attacked from behind and the thug ran away.” Mark Crosby and Dick Shafer have been confirmed as the victims in Friday's attack. Both men are over the age of 70, according to police reports. WMAR reported that surveillance video shows the suspect tackling Shafer, disturbing a large flower planter outside of the abortion facility. When Crosby came to Shafer’s aid, the assailant shoved Crosby to the ground, and the person was seen punching and kicking him in the face. Baltimore anti-abortion advocate John Roswell told LifeSiteNews that while Shafer is recovering well, Crosby “is bleeding from some unidentified area behind his eye and the bone eye orbit is completely shattered.” Walton said on Monday morning that Crosby, who had been released from the hospital, had to be transported back to the emergency room due to further complications. Roswell told LifeSiteNews that a Planned Parenthood escort, who guides abortion patients into the organization's facilities, was present at the scene and engaged with the assailant prior to the attack. In his experience, Roswell said that escorts are usually present in the rare cases that pro-abortion rights activists engage in violent altercations with anti-abortion advocates. Investigators told local news outlets WBAL and WMAR that they are searching for the suspect. https://www.theblaze.com/news/tony-holford-us-canada-border-explosives-sign Police open fire on driver at US-Canada border; truck had 'sign' indicating 'explosive device on- board' Police opened fire on a truck driver on Memorial Day as the driver aproached the U.S.-Canadian border with a sign indicating he had an explosive device on board. The motorist, 42-year-old Tony Holford of Providence, Rhode Island, faces charges of aggravated reckless conduct, a class B crime; terrorizing, a Class D crime, and failure to stop, a class E crime, the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit said in a press release. At 10:39 a.m. Monday, Maine State Police Trooper Denver Roy attempted to stop a vehicle heading north on Interstate 95 in Houlton, Maine. The driver did not stop, instead continuing north. Trooper Roy "observed a sign indicating that the operator had an explosive device on-board," the MSP wrote. It is not clear what sort of sign was displayed. When the vehicle eventually stopped between the U.S. and Canadian ports of entry, troopers commanded him to get out of the vehicle. When the vehicle's operator reportedly maneuvered the truck toward the Canadian port of entry, Corporal Eric Paquette shot at him. Holford, who was uninjured, surrendered to Main State Police troopers and was taken to the Aroostook County Jail after being medically cleared. MSP say the scene is contained and there is no ongoing danger to the public. Authorities in Canada and the United States are collaborating on an investigation into the incident. The Maine State Police Bomb Squad and crime scene technicians advised motorists to use alternative points of entry as they processed the scene. The Woodstock, New Brunswick, border crossing was reopened Monday night, according to a tweet posted by the Canada Border Services Agency's Atlantic Region. The Office of the Maine Attorney General and the Maine State Police will work together "in the coming days to continue the investigation and the events that led up to the officer-involved shooting." https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/virginia-eliminates-degree-requirements-most-state-jobs Virginia eliminates degree requirements for most state jobs Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday announced a change in state hiring practices that would eliminate requirements or preferences that applicants for most state positions have a college degree. A press release from Youngkin indicated that the change will take effect on July 1 and affect roughly 90% of state positions. The Old Dominion's myriad agencies post as many as 20,000 job listings per year. "On day one we went to work reimagining workforce solutions in government and this key reform will expand opportunities for qualified applicants who are ready to serve Virginians," Youngkin said in a statement. State Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater further, in the same release, indicated that the state was looking into heavily regulated private industries to streamline the professional certification processes. The move comes as American high school graduates increasingly opt against pursuing college degrees to due affordability and return on investment concerns. President Joe Biden has moved to lessen the financial burden of incurring debt to pay for college by offering up to $10,000 in repayment relief for most loan recipients and up to $20,000 for those who received a Pell Grant, though that plan has faced legal scrutiny and may well end up permanently blocked by the judiciary. The proposed deal to raise the debt limit facing Congress includes a measure to end a temporary freeze on student loan repayments.

1993 - Bangor/Houlton, Maine. On the evening of April 24th, 1993, Virginia Sue Pictou Noyes was at a bar in Bangor, Maine with her husband, Larry Noyes, and his brother, Roger, when a brutal fight broke out. Both men beat Virginia, resulting in a double arrest for assault, and Virginia in the hospital. Sometime in the early morning hours, Virginia vanished. Police said she left the hospital on her own accord without checking out, and that they're reasonably sure she was seen at a truck stop in Houlton making a phone call—2.5 hours away in the direction of her home in Easton—trying to get back to her kids. The Pictou family isn't so sure. Her brother, Robert Pictou, believes his sister was dead before she left Bangor... so what happened to Virginia? And 30 years later, why hasn't she been found? This is part one of two of Virginia Pictou Noyes. This is an MMIW case from Maine. Virginia Sue Pictou is Mi'kmaw—part of Mi'kmaq Nation—one of Maine and Canada's Native tribes. By sharing her story, we are keeping her name alive and bringing awareness to the epidemic that is violence against Indigenous women and girls.  Detailed sources can be found on murdershetold.com Connect on Instagram @murdershetoldpodcast Support the show here Support Robert Pictou's shop: https://robert-pictou.square.site/s/shop If you have any information about the disappearance of Virginia Pictou, please contact the Maine Major Crimes Unit North at (207) 973-3750 or toll free 1-800-432-7381. Sponsor: Get 20% off your first order of Pretty Litter at prettylitter.com/shetold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just Gonna Read This is a genre-defying comedy podcast that leaves behind all assumptions about what a podcast is supposed to be. It's quirky, bizarre, and weirdly entertaining.Season Eleven: Unexpected Item in The Bagging Area is a 10-episode collection of adverlinguistic nonsense-infused local radio programs. Support Just Gonna Read This for as little as $3/monthJust Gonna Read This is a Model Home 146 Production. Email justgonnareadthis@gmail.comWebsite www.justgonnareadthis.comFacebook www.facebook.com/justgonnareadthisInstagram www.instagram.com/justgonnapodcast

Downeast Mike Episode 70 *News & Commentary* December 23rd, 2022 Our Motto: Some of this is whimsy – some of this is true – the interpretation of it all is entirely up to you! Did you know? Downeast Mike contains no mean words! Just wholesome goodness from Downeast Maine. A Historical Literary Auditory Candy Store. Today is Friday, December 23rd, 2022 In today's episode: Minus 30 Fahrenheit in Houlton (1980) Ads and Movies (1980) The Pukwudgies (1877) A Sea Serpent In Maine Waters (1886) Thank you for listening! Please send your birthday wishes, comments and requests to mike(@)downeastmike.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/frank-w-norwood/support

This Day in Maine for Tuesday, September 20th, 2022.

1. Nate (Alabama, US) - Ghosts of Alabama 2. Haunted Lyle House (Chattanooga, Tennessee) – October 1978 3. Annie and Erin (North Carolina, US) - Maxie's Ghost 4. Marcelle (Los-Angeles, California) - from #101 in Oct 2009 5. Ashely (US) - The House I Grew Up In 6. Matt (Durham, North Carolina, US) - The Farmhouse on Houlton Road

Emma has done it all, whether it's working with the stars in her media career, consulting clientele around the world on podcasting…yes if I could afford them it would help! However lockdown caused a lot of this work to cease and they found themself taking a short term job on cabbage harvest, 2 years on has worked up in the company!

The inquiry into the deadliest mass shooting in Canada's history continues this week. Two years ago, a gunman dressed as an RCMP officer burned down houses and killed 22 people in Nova Scotia. CBC reporter Elizabeth McMillan explains how tracing the story of how the Portapique gunman got his weapons brought her to Houlton, Maine. And retired U.S. federal prosecutor Margaret Groban talks about how Maine is considered a source state for guns.

House Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Legislative Hearing on H.R.4715, H.R.5715 & H.R.6707 Legislative: Remote SCIP Legislative Hearing – March 31, 2022 Date: Thursday, March 31, 2022 Time: 01:00 PM Presiding: The Honorable Teresa Leger Fernández, Chair On Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET, the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States (SCIP) will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing on the following tribal-related legislation: • H.R.4715, the Quapaw Tribal Landowner Settlement Act of 2021. The bill authorizes the appropriation of $137.5 million to settle the federal government's mismanagement of assets held in trust for citizens of the Quapaw Nation. • H.R.5715, a bill to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund to ensure that the Udall Foundation can continue to award scholarships to Native students. • H.R.6707, the Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act. The bill ensures that the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Penobscot Nation are treated in the same manner as other Indian nations in terms of law and policy. A land claim settlement currently imposes hurdles on the tribes when it comes to their sovereignty. Witness List Panel I Representative Raúl Grijalva Arizona, 3rd District Representative Jared Golden Maine, 2nd District Panel II The Honorable William J. Nicholas, Sr. (H.R. 6707) Chief Passamaquoddy Tribe Princeton, ME The Honorable Edward Peter-Paul (H.R. 6707) Chief Mi'kmaq Nation [Note: Aroostok Band of Micmacs] Presque Isle, Maine The Honorable Clarissa Sabattis (H.R. 6707) Chief Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Littleton, Maine The Honorable Kirk Francis (H.R. 6707) Chief Penobscot Nation Indian Island, Maine The Honorable Joseph T. Byrd (H.R. 4715) Chairman Quapaw Nation Quapaw, Oklahoma Mr. Charles P. Rose (H.R. 5715) Chair, Board of Trustees Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation Tucson, Arizona Mr. Patrick Strauch (H.R. 6707) Executive Director Maine Forest Products Council Augusta, Maine This hearing will take place via Cisco WebEx and will be streamed on YouTube. For hearing materials and schedules, please visit U.S. House of Representatives, Committee Repository at docs.house.gov/. Committee Notice: https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/remote-scip-legislative-hearing_-march-31-2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in many ways over the last two years. From our homes to our workplaces, and everywhere in between, we have all faced challenges that require us to live, work, and think just a little bit differently. In this two-part episode of the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast, I speak with Jason Beam, Director of EHS and Risk Management of CCB, INC in Westbrook Maine, about how he and his team have worked with employers and employees alike to maintain and encourage safe working habits and guidelines in the face of a global pandemic. Peter Koch: [00:00:04] Hello listeners and welcome to the MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast. I'm your host, Peter Koch. I expect that we are all if I can use COVID as a verb just a bit COVID-ed out these days. It's been a long road where most of the news has been challenging. So I want to hear more about the successes and where companies have persevered throughout the pandemic. In this episode, I get my wish. Jason Beam, director of Environmental, Health and Safety and Risk Management for CCB, comes to the MEMIC studio to talk about the challenges that CCB faced operating a commercial construction company with the geographically diverse projects throughout the pandemic and the lessons that they will carry forward. We cover topics from emergency management to leadership to basic communication practices. There is enough complexity to the conversation that we broke this out into two episodes. So let me introduce Jason and get going with part one. Jason [00:01:00] Beam, director of EHS and risk management at CCB, has over 25 years of health, safety and emergency services experience. He earned his Master's of Science Degree in Occupational Health and Safety at Columbia Southern University and currently serves as the Enterprise and Risk Management Chairman for the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Jason is also a principal member of NFPA Technical Committee 704 On the Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response, has written multiple articles for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and has previously served as an advisory board member of the American Society of Safety Professionals Fire Protection Practice Specialty. Jason, welcome to the podcast. Jason Beam: [00:01:49] Thanks for having me. Peter Koch: [00:01:49] Awesome. So I want to learn a little bit more about you even having some conversations here off the podcast prior to. But before we jump into CCB, you have a pretty interesting [00:02:00] history and have quite a bit of experience doing environmental health and safety and working with different organizations. So before we get to CCB, why don't you give me a little bit of history about how you got into health and safety and, well, how you ended up at CCB to begin with, I guess. Jason Beam: [00:02:17] Sure, sure. I think we can shorten that up a little bit. You know, originally it was an I.T. guy. My degrees in I.T. writing code. We had an I.T Shop with about seven people and we were all police officers, firefighters, hazmat, and one of our clients at the time power plant, Biddeford said, Hey, we have a fire brigade. Would you come? Would you take on some additional training? So we took on the additional training and then that grew to filling in for their safety director when he was incapacitated, to becoming his replacement, to moving to their parent company and hitting a bunch of different types of work environments around the country. And [00:03:00] then when we finally get tired, the way the family and I get tired of being in me being in a hotel five or six nights a week, said, all right, it's time for change. First day back home eating lunch. I get a call from the at the time safety director for CCB is what are you doing right now. Well, Having a sandwich, Bob? Yeah, no, I mean right now. No, I'm having a sandwich. Yeah, no I am. It's. Well, when can you be here? I'm like, Well, where's here, Bob? So, you know, we said, Hey, come on in. I need some part time support. And I got somebody out on a medical and I could really use your help. So he eventually opened his own consulting business and vacated that post. And I was asked to stay on there and have been there ever since. Peter Koch: [00:03:43] Interesting history. I can't tell you how many people that I've talked to that have found success at a particular company with health and safety, that they started in a completely different world. Jason Beam: [00:03:57] It's more common than it seems. Yeah. Peter Koch: [00:04:00] So [00:04:00] interestingly enough, like if I look at my journey to get to where I am as a safety consultant for MEMIC, as an insurance company, and I started as a basically as a ski bum. My goal was to run a ski area at some point in time. And I spent a lot of time, you know, working in all the different aspects of the ski industry and had different opportunities to manage risk and safety without actually being charged with managing risk and safety for a particular company. And then moving, getting an opportunity to, hey, why don't you take this on? Hey, why don't you take that on? Hey, here's some information about this. And I remember one day I was sitting in my office and the guy who was in charge of construction and development at the ski area came into my office. I had just gotten the job as risk manager and he said, I've got to have I have this thing that's going to really help you. And I'm like, Oh, great, because I felt completely out of my element. I really wasn't sure what I was getting into at that point in time. So I'll be right back. And he goes [00:05:00] out to his truck and he comes back in. He. Brings in three boxes. Like these are for you. Great. Thanks. Thanks for that. What's in them? Oh, just you'll, these will be good for you. So they were the code of Federal Regulations for OSHA, for construction, general industry, maritime. What was the. I don't know. So lots of books, lots of small print. Like, how is this going to help? But here I am thinking about it and that connection between the human person that I had to deal with all the time from a in the trenches, working with some particular individual all the time to the regulations and that connection between how to manage people and make sure that they are safe so that they can go home at the end of the day. And, you know, I think that's a big part of what you're doing at CCB and what's making CCB safety history fairly successful over the years. Jason Beam: [00:05:58] Yeah, I would agree with that. We've [00:06:00] put a heavy emphasis on people before production. Yeah, it's about the people. If we're not taking care of the people, then we're not executing work at a high level out in the field. Peter Koch: [00:06:12] Let's talk about the human side of this and let's bring this into the COVID world. So if we if we think about it, when COVID first came out, right, there were there was a lot of confusion, you know, 2019, 2020, as we're starting to hear all this stuff about COVID and how it's transmitted and what it does and how it affects people and who it affects and how fast it travels. There is a lot of information out there. No one really understood what it was and where it goes. And now we're in 2022. And there's still a lot of confusing information out there. Things have evolved as we've moved forward. So, you know, what are some of the things that you did early on in COVID to help keep your staff safe? [00:07:00] That may have changed as time went on. As we come into the present, like how did you start and then how did you get to where you are now with your COVID regs. Jason Beam: [00:07:09] Early on was kind of kind of a two pronged approach, right? There's the business continuity piece. You know, if we don't keep the business afloat, we don't have jobs, we're not putting food on our tables. But there's the people side of it, too. There was a tremendous amount of fear and uncertainty. Right. I mean, even among the experts. Right. You know, we had all these different organizations professing to know the ins and outs of this. Yet there were contradictions, there were loopholes, they were gaps. And we had a group of people that were just nervous and they didn't know what direction to face. We really set out quickly to establish this this cadence of constant communication, effective communication. We consolidated it all into a single point. You know, folks were pretty much home at that time, even though in construction we were considered essential workers because of our government work. But we [00:08:00] kept the senior and executive management right there at 65 Bradley Drive and, you know, kind of war room time, so to speak. You know, what do we have to do to meet our contractual obligations, what we have to do to keep our people safe? And how do we you know, probably the biggest challenge bigger than either of those other two things was how do we how do we get them engaged and being part of the solution? How do we show them that we were not just trying to make a buck, they were there to take care of them. And we kind of had to build on kind of our philosophy of people first. We had to change how we did it. And it took a lot of individual campaigning with some folks, took a lot of group discussions, visiting job sites, a lot of one off conversations with folks just to set them at ease. And part of it was, is a safety and health department. We want folks in CCB to be able to feel they can call us on their worst day and get some sort of support. And obviously, if down deep, you know, you need 911, then call 911. But short of that, [00:09:00] we want one of the first ones. You feel comfortable enough to reach out to us for anything. And we took advantage of the good faith we had built doing that and said, look, together, we're going to get through this somehow. You know, we'll keep you up to date. We'll, you know, kind of work with our partners whether it's MEMIC our legal folks whatever to boil this down into what's the right thing. Because above all else, we got to do the right thing here. So a lot of it was communication at first. A lot of it was you know, we had a everybody at home for a little bit. How can we continue to engage folks or work working at home or some that were out of work at home? Because the nature of what was going on to help us kind of build out our solution. Peter Koch: [00:09:48] Can I can I stop you for a second? Because I think that's a that's an important point to explore a little bit more, because you're not we're not just talking about ten or 15 or 20 or 30 people [00:10:00] in a small construction organization, CCB, relatively large when you think about a commercial organization, not a global thousands and thousands of employees organization, but it's a problem of scale. If I have five employees. You have to do the same thing that I have to do in order to make those employees or help those employees feel safe. Trust me, and make sure that they know that I'm there for them as a business owner. But as the scale gets bigger and you have more employees, you get more job sites. How did you deal with some of those problems of scale? I guess you could say? Jason Beam: [00:10:38] Certainly. Certainly complicated things. You know, we're about 130, 540 people average annually. And then we have a number of subs. We work with close relationships with vendors, customers, all that. But we're so far distributed. We can have 40 concurrent job sites, maybe four concurrent job sites, you [00:11:00] know, down into Mass., up to Houlton, Maine. It's certainly, certainly muddied the waters and being in a union environment while we have a lot of core people that stay with us, you know, there's quite often, depending on what's coming down the line for jobs, quite often an influx and an influx of people that may or may not know anything about our culture or what's important to us. Different levels of skill. I mean, we've seen people that have never seen so many people that are absolutely new to the trades so that complicated it even further. So during the initial quarantine, it was pretty easy. We, you know, we set up shop right there at 65 Bradley and just started communicating, communicating, communicating while in the meantime, we're hatching out these solutions to keep the jobs going. But once things opened up again, senior executive management president, myself, vice president and the operations manager and we hit the road, we're going to job sites, we're [00:12:00] never able to abate all the uncertainty and fear. Jason Beam: [00:12:03] I mean, it's just not feasible. But we're able to address a greater degree of it by getting out to the job sites, meeting with the crews, first with the foreman. You know, hey, here's where the company stands on this. And we need to know what you need for assistance. And then what we're going to do next is we as a leadership body are going to meet with the guys, you know, doing the iron work, doing the pipe fitting, doing the carpentry so we can help put them at ease, too, because you're their first line of defense and offense. You're going to come to you looking for support, come to you with questions. We need to arm you with enough information to be able to at least know which direction to point. So. You know, communicating with that level of field leadership and not necessarily making them subject matter experts, but making them comfortable being able to answer questions. Added a great deal to that. Peter Koch: [00:12:57] Do you mind me asking? Because I find that [00:13:00] this can be a challenging part when your upper echelon meets your middle team and you get given information from the upper echelon as the middle manager, and then you're asked, do you understand that? The answer is typically yes, I do. Whether you always understand it, believe it or not. So how did you make sure that they were on board that they. Because, again, we started talking about the information that's out there. And there is I won't call it misinformation. There's just a lot of different information. And depending on where you get your news from and what you believed, then you may come at it from a completely different side than what your company was coming at it from. So when you're hearing something that might be very different. How did you how did you help that person truly understand what the message and what you wanted [00:14:00] them to know? Jason Beam: [00:14:04] There was a couple of pieces to that. One is we have the I'll call it the fortune of some very open viewpoints in construction. Peter Koch: [00:14:12] That's a very good way of putting that. Jason Beam: [00:14:15] You know, I'm sure you're aware a lot of trades folks are not bashful about expressing their opinions and their concerns. So they were quick to say, you know, I, I think this is crazy. This is insane. You know, I don't understand yet. There are going to be some that just go with it. I'll call it refreshing after the fact, the number of them that that said, you know, no, no, no, man. What gives, you know, explain this. So that was an advantage. Know, we certainly engage with the business agents and stuff at the union halls to leverage that resource as well. We engage with you folks. Help us tell that story, you know, with clerk insurance. Help us tell that story because a, you know, sometimes the [00:15:00] same message from a different voice may be phrased a little differently from a different perspective. Add some clarity. You know, there's one particular conversation that stands out where one of the foreman says, I don't like Chris. We were subject to, you know, staring down the barrel of that federal contractor mandate where vaccination or you punish them or you fire them, get them to comply. And there were folks with real concerns about that. Sure. You know, some were philosophical, some were religious. Some were mistrust of the government some were fear of vaccinations. I mean, they were pretty open about that. And the way we framed it up was, look, as leaders, we're here for the people and we have to be here for the people. And whether we agree with the government mandate or not, we have an obligation to you to keep you gainfully employed if we possibly can. So [00:16:00] we could sit here and be upset and say, you know, saber rattling, we're not going to do it, or we can do everything in our power to enable you to make the choices you need to stay with us. Jason Beam: [00:16:11] We don't want to get rid of anybody. We'll do what we have to do to stay in business for whatever set of rules, you know, whether it's OSHA, the government contracts thing or whatever. But, you know, we get it. You know, it's uncertain. It's unnerving. And for a lot it's aggravating, you know, and we'll get through that. But. We got to have a consistent face to the men. And that was a challenge too, because we all have different beliefs. Some were. I don't mean to sarcastic, but card carrying members for the cause. Others were 180 degrees different, you know, very opposed to it. But I think what carried us through a lot of it was the that faith we built up amongst our people. [00:17:00] CCB has always been a company that that invests heavily in that relationship. And I think we kind of built up that we had some credibility in the bank and like what you and I were talking earlier. Peter Koch: [00:17:12] Sure. Jason Beam: [00:17:12] Yeah. And I think we made some pretty big withdrawals from that that were certainly challenged by the constant changing of the rules of engagement because, well, jeez, you told us this, now it's this, now it's something else, you know, where does this end? Well, we don't know yet either. So I, I think probably, you know, thinking back on, one of the things that had the greatest impact was we were able to take advantage of the good faith, the credibility of the trust we had built previously, kind of in the face of so much change. Peter Koch: [00:17:47] Yeah. And I do want to come back to that to make sure we talk about that more because I really believe, as we talked at the beginning prior to jumping into the podcast, that that is an essential theme that has to happen. If you are going [00:18:00] to if you're going to manage change in your organization correctly or properly or successfully, if you ever just want to stay stagnant, then you don't really need the trust bank because you can always find someone to fill in the gap that that someone else just left. But if you want to grow, if you want to get better, if you want to if you want to be the best company that you can be, you have to have that. So we'll get back to that. I like that theme. So let's talk a little bit more about the specifics around like when all the protocols came down about you have to mask or you have to quarantine and you have to stay six feet apart. And how did you manage that with a commercial construction site? Like how did you got you had said you could have 40 construction sites, you could have four sites. You could have a site up in Houlton or Fort Kent, Maine, or you could all be all the way down in Massachusetts. So people have to travel. People have to be overnight, different places. How did you manage all of the what were the protocols [00:19:00] that worked? How did you implement some of those protocols and how did you manage compliance? I guess those three questions for you. Jason Beam: [00:19:08] Yeah, some of the easiest ones were managing the lodging. Fine. It's one person per room. Instead of bunking up together, limiting travel and vehicles together certainly had an impact financially, but we needed to keep people available to do what needed to be done. That was probably the easiest piece. There were definitely some challenges there. It made us focus a bunch on how we lay out our work, how we stage our tradespeople instead of three people working side by side. Well, how do we rearrange kind of the work area to accommodate that? How do we how do we arrange different trades or subcontractors, you know, things that you might look back at, say, lean construction concepts, right. You know, every purposeful [00:20:00] motion, right. Every action has a defined purpose or do we really need it? It made us kind of reach back into that toolbox a little bit more than we had been, which was good, because it also created some refinements in our production process too. Right? Because I do think the same things that that lead to safe behaviors are also the same behaviors that produce top notch production, have the most engaged employees and so on. So I think it's all part of the same thing. So we're able to kind of reach into that toolbox and juggle things up. But some of it too is we eat an amount of our work is outdoors. That helped, especially when the state turned around, when Governor Mills said, well, you know, we're not as worried about outdoor activities. Perfect. However, you got to guys 60 feet off the ground in a man basket together, they're not six feet apart. You know, a it's hard to observe half a dozen different lifts in the air with everything else going on. And are they aren't they messed up, you know. Well, but the state says we don't have [00:21:00] to anymore. Okay. You know, I get that. So we had some challenges there. And of course, you know, if I'm building a steel structure and then I'm putting siding on it and a roof on it, and then I'm working inside at some time. At some point the outdoors becomes the indoors. And that was always a healthy debate too. Peter Koch: [00:21:19] Yeah, when does when do we cross that line? Like how many walls have to be up for it to be considered indoors? Jason Beam: [00:21:26] Yeah. And there were some healthy discussions around that and they're still ongoing. You know, I think some of what helped it though, is. A lot of our clients have their own sets of rules, and some are extremely stringent and very much exceed the current CDC recommendations. Others not so much. In other places, we were the stringent one. Of course, there again, you do that. And how come we're holding ourselves to a different standard than everybody else in the job site because it's the right thing to do. And again, I think that that credibility we built up, most, most everybody went, [00:22:00] all right, fine, I get it. We'll make it work. Peter Koch: [00:22:03] Did you find in those spirited discussions, did you find that those are happening more frequently or happen more frequently because of the challenges around COVID than they did pre-COVID, like when you might have had some conflict around a particular job site or a particular set of instructions that might have been understood one way and then really implemented a different way. Were there more spirited conversations during COVID than might have been in the past? Jason Beam: [00:22:35] I think they were different. You know, suddenly we have this new set of rules of engagement. Peter Koch: [00:22:41] Sure. Jason Beam: [00:22:42] Right. Some have penalties, some don't. But here's the expectation. And you're all going to do it. You know, that became a pretty good set of measurements to gauge things by. So it was I think it was easier to be able to sit there and not wave those around, but say, look, you know, bottom line is we have to do this. And if we don't do [00:23:00] this, it jeopardizes our ability to complete the work because people are people are getting sick. We're not caring for them properly. And if we can't do that well, now we have financial problems because we're not completing our contracts on time. I think it took some of the fire out of the work process discussions, but it certainly stoked the discussions relating to the two mandates. Peter Koch: [00:23:24] Let's take a quick break now. MEMIC policyholders get lots of free, convenient tools and solutions to overcome everyday ergonomic challenges in any work environment. MEMIC's E Ergo program has proven to help prevent injury. By analyzing your work process through pictures you send into our ergonomics team within 48 hours will begin to identify your risk factors and provide solutions. And now, using cutting edge video analysis, MEMIC can assess your manual material handling risks as they unfold without [00:24:00] stopping production. Ergo, just one of the signature programs from MEMIC that keeps workers safe, prevents costly injuries, and helps companies stay productive. Start the E Ergo process today by logging into the safety director at WWW./memic.com/WorkplaceSafety. Now let's get back to today's episode. Peter Koch: [00:24:26] What I found in all of this is the companies that have found success in those spirited conversations, like in the moment, they can be pretty challenging. But when you reflect back on when you got to live in that tension for a little while between one, one opinion of the individual and then the mandate that the company is trying to put together when you live in that tension for a while, come to a realization and then move forward. That's a that's a pretty powerful opportunity. If you can recognize [00:25:00] the recognize in the moment that you could have success. So stick with that conversation. Make sure you're recognizing what concerns the individuals bringing to you and try to address those concerns as best you can. Where in the past, sometimes the way it was addressed was this is the rule. It doesn't matter what you think. You need to you need to follow the rule. Jason Beam: [00:25:24] And for us, this wasn't we didn't want it to be one of those times. You know, we had our own philosophical position on some of these mandates and, you know, from the from the get go. So, look, we want people to be safe. We want you to we as a company are going to subscribe to CDC recommendations. People are looking for some sort of direction. Great. We're going to start here. And as we have to change and veer from what the CDC says, we will where it makes sense to. But these are the rules of engagement we're going to follow. And then along come these mandates. Well, our belief about what was right or wrong didn't [00:26:00] change. Yeah. So, you know, we're very open about our rules have changed in order to maintain this customer base with the federal contractor piece. And it's a very big part of our business, and we can't afford not to have that. And we still want you to take care of yourself. We still want you to not come to work when you're sick. We still think the right thing to do is get vaccinated and now boosted. But short of anybody telling us you have to, that's a decision for you to make. And we're not here to pass some sort of health policy on our folks or it's certainly not how dictate they and their families manage their health. So that was a tough spot to be in. But I think our position kind of between those two endpoints helped a bit because yeah, when somebody's sitting there, you know, I'm vaccinated, I'm for me, pretty painless process, but I can certainly understand the fear of that form. And I was mentioning earlier saying, you know, look, I'm not comfortable [00:27:00] with some of these things where the government's telling me that I need some medical treatment. He says, you know, I just I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I'm just not comfortable with this, you know, help me through this. So I think our kind of position between the two end points really kind of helped aid what you what you're aiming at here. Peter Koch: [00:27:19] And that's huge for that foreman to come to you with the challenge and look for you to partner for a solution to help him through that is enormous. That doesn't happen all the time and again going back to that invested in that trust bank for quite a while. And then that time, here is the time where you have to go and make a withdrawal to maybe make a change in what is going to happen on the job site that will affect individuals. But that individual to be comfortable enough to come to you and say, I don't know what to think. Right? Here's my challenge. Help me through this. Help me understand this. Where do I go? What do I do? And [00:28:00] ultimately, it's their choice. It's not your choice. It's their choice. But to for you to be there as a company, as part of that senior team, to look and say, all right, yeah, I can help you through that, or I can provide you with some resources. Or we can here's some ways that you can you can go out and look for information on your own and then come back if you have questions, let's talk about it. Jason Beam: [00:28:22] Yeah, you know what really strained that was when with regard to that federal contract and subcontractor mandate, they said, well, hey, here's how you're going to implement this. The people that will not comply, you need to enter them into your progressive discipline policy and apply as much pressure as it takes to get them to do it. We're sitting there going, that's not our role here. Right. And kind of announcing and rolling out that, okay, this is where we're at here. Certainly strained those relationships. But I but honestly, in all fairness, it was, you know, the field [00:29:00] leadership that turned around and got control of that. They're the ones that get their arms around all the tradespeople and said, hold on, hold on. You know, you do understand who we're dealing with here, right? You know, they care about us. They're interested in our success. And they're the ones that that helped really control that narrative, that, look, it's not CCB saying, if you don't do this, we're going to fire you. It's they're put in a position where they have to make some tough business decisions. Peter Koch: [00:29:26] Yeah. And if they don't, then the whole point is moot because we're not involved in the federal contract anymore. Jason Beam: [00:29:34] And that's a big enough portion of the book of business. So that's a pretty crippling thing. Of course then the legs get taken out from under that. Now the piece descends on us and you know where we're at with that. But you know, then how do you manage a, you know, for those that say, great, I don't have to get vaccinated, then how do you manage a testing program across that many sites? So yeah, it's been interesting. Peter Koch: [00:29:57] So can I ask you that question? How do you manage [00:30:00] a testing program across that many sites? Because I think that's a question that a lot of people have even over one site that's been a bigger that's been a bigger challenge than I think OSHA had initially thought, because it seems pretty easy. Yeah, go ahead. If you're not going to get vaccinated, then weekly tests. But if you if you take a quarter of the people that you have at 130, you're you know, you're looking at a substantial chunk of people that have to get tested every week. How do you how do you do that when you've got job sites over seven, 800 square miles? Jason Beam: [00:30:35] Yeah, it's the concept was very challenging. You know, ultimately now that the legs have been taken out from under the OSHA executive order sorry, the OSHA ETS, it changed our opportunities a little bit. You know, prior to that, we're looking at all right, we have a group up at several people up in Houlton, Maine. We have people down in Massachusetts. Even though we're 70 plus percent vaccinated, [00:31:00] there's still pockets of people that aren't. You know, there are some work environments where we can take some alternative approaches. Peter Koch: [00:31:08] Sure. Jason Beam: [00:31:08] But when you've got, say, you know, a bunch of people from up north that have no interest in being vaccinated, but you have to be protective of their data. You have to deal with the lack of testing opportunities. Oh, by the way, home tests either have to be administered or observed by the company. You know, logistically, how do you do that? And now you have you couple that with, you know, a union construction environment where even though we have some longer term jobs, we have a lot of short term jobs. And it's a matter of moving the chess pieces around for the best advantage for the company. So now you've got to track, well, where was everybody Friday? Where do we intend them to be Monday? And how much of Monday are we going to consume getting testing accomplished for these people? You know, we started asking questions like, all right, if it has to be observed or one solution is observed by a medical professional. How [00:32:00] do we feel about the people that have doctors, nurses, paramedics, whatever in the family? Paramedic has a medical license of sorts. Does that count? So we talked about that a bit. We looked at how we could leverage in a world of everything, zoom. Could we leverage that? But that created new challenges, too. Now you're tying up health and safety people for a good chunk of whatever day you pick. You know, great. I need your ten or 15 minutes. I need your 15 minutes. They're scheduling all these slots now. You know, trying to catch everybody has a major impact on the workflow, certainly complicated from a privacy perspective to go that route. And let's face it, just wasn't feasible to send everybody to all to send a bunch of people out to all these job sites to administer tests. Peter Koch: [00:32:49] No, definitely not. Jason Beam: [00:32:50] So. Honestly, we never came up with a great solution. We still have places that we need testing. You know, you got to have a test, negative [00:33:00] test within so many hours of going to the site. Well, those places have been doing it all along. So we're able to. Peter Koch: [00:33:07] Maintain. Jason Beam: [00:33:07] To handle those. You know, we have other job sites like over here at Maine Medical Center work in that expansion where, you know, our partnership with Turner, it gives those folks on that job site access to testing. So we're meeting the clients needs. Well, they're helping us accomplish that by really providing us the solution to. So as it is today, you take availability of tests out of it, which is complicated for everybody right now. Yeah, it's not horrible. But under the ETS scenario, I'm not sure would have been able to it would have taken us a couple of iterations to get it right. Yeah. Peter Koch: [00:33:46] And I think what I'm hearing in all of this is that it couldn't have been done even in its even the testing as it stands right now outside of the ETS. It couldn't have been done without some [00:34:00] commitment and planning. By the company. And it's not just one person, but this has to be a conversations that happen because it affects everybody. Like if you expect if you expect the environmental health and safety person at your company to manage all of the requirements around testing and with no help anyplace else, and they decide that, okay, I'm going to do the observations. Well, that person's no longer available for anybody else to come in and say, Hey, Jim, I need this. Hey, Jason, I need this. Hey, Pete, I need this. Depending on who they are and what's going on, they're not available to have that question anymore, so. Jason Beam: [00:34:41] Oh, absolutely. That was a big concern because a lot of what our team we have a we're in a tremendously good position. I think, you know, we don't have the biggest of companies, but we have a health and safety department of a risk department, all told of six people, including HR for that, you know, that ratio of tradespeople to [00:35:00] risk managers is phenomenal. Peter Koch: [00:35:02] It is. Jason Beam: [00:35:03] And, you know, we enjoyed the conversations where, hey, I'm going to hatch out a fall protection plan. Hey, what's the here's what I'm thinking. But would you come out and make sure that I'm not crazy here, you know, to be involved in in all phases of that project lifecycle from hey, let's talk about how we think we want to bid this through to let's triage this what went right? What went wrong? You know, over the years, CCB has really pulled that whole risk function into all facets of that, that project lifecycle. And to me, that's where we're making the most difference. So, you know, to take up minimally 40% of my time previously, I mean, early on, it was 100% of my time. But to carve that out, to be able to track vaccination status exposures, to contact tracing, you know, and to add the testing component to that. And now you're taking two people offline [00:36:00] and you're having that much less effect in the field. How much riskier is what we're doing at that point? Sure. Not that the folks that are out there doing it are competent. I mean, nine times out of ten, they say, hey, we were thinking of doing it this way. There's maybe a couple of adjustments we might make. By and large, they know. They know they're professionals, they're good at it. But sometimes just that reassurance or being able to troubleshoot something together comes up with a better solution. And to sacrifice that to meet a mandate was kind of scary. Peter Koch: [00:36:32] Yeah. Yeah, I can I can imagine. And I keep thinking of sort of that domino theory and how things fall apart, right? So if you're not available and you're not there to catch that 1% this one time that you need an adjustment with for the plan that they because they couldn't come to you. And that mistake gets captured and ingrained in the process for the next project. Now it becomes not just 1%, [00:37:00] but it's now 10% and it might be 20% the next time that it happens. And it becomes a bigger and bigger problem. And all of a sudden when you get back into it, they've been doing it this way forever and all of a sudden you have to make a much bigger change instead of a small part that doesn't really change the operation, but you're pointing them in a different direction early on. Like it's much easier to change in the design phase than it is to remodel something to make it great. Jason Beam: [00:37:25] Absolutely like a compass. The difference between true north and magnetic north. If I'm a few degrees off and I'm ten feet down the trail, that's an easy adjustment. But if I'm 100 miles, that's a pretty big gap. Peter Koch: [00:37:36] Yeah, I missed the McDonald's completely. Jason Beam: [00:37:38] Right. But, you know, you add to that the fear and uncertainty that comes with COVID, the conviction of people for and against the government's position. And all of these you know, all these other components of supply chain disruption, both at work and at home. Peter Koch: [00:37:56] Yeah, Jason Beam: [00:37:57] You add all those distractions into it [00:38:00] and it magnified outcomes, typically magnified negative outcomes. You know, we have all these new stressors, new distractions that we're trying to figure out. Well, there's only so much margin here. There's only so much bandwidth to observe what's going on around us. And for a good portion of that bandwidth is consumed with new problems and uncertainties. What are we missing? We're missing more than we did before this whole thing started. So, you know, there was definitely a focus on trying to trying to keep that in people's minds, to keep people vigilant for those things. But ultimately, it's a bit of a losing battle because you're fighting human nature. Peter Koch: [00:38:42] True. Jason Beam: [00:38:43] I mean, we got through it so far. Peter Koch: [00:38:46] So far. Right. Knock on wood. Right. Right. So let's I'm not going to switch gears totally, but I want to go back to. So your history. You said you started out as an IT guy. So how did you use how [00:39:00] did you find technology helping you to manage some of the challenges on the job site for COVID, like whether it's contact tracing or any of the check and stuff, because again, disparate locations, disparate groups and, you know, a robust staff of safety people. But if you've got 40 job sites, six people can't make it to those 40 job sites if they're spread out all over New England. Jason Beam: [00:39:25] A couple of different things. One of the things we instituted early on, we'd had a biweekly safety and ops call, you know, all the field leadership and anybody that wants to honestly jumps in and here's kind of here's the tale of the tape. Here's how we're performing on both fronts. Here's what's coming down the line. Here's what we've been on. Here's what we've been awarded. You know, be more inclusive with our information, right? We immediately out of the gate said, you know, this is going to be weekly and early on it's going to be COVID driven, you know, because people need to know. We need to know where we stand. They need to know what we expect and so on. Certainly, [00:40:00] you know, go to meeting Zoom, Teams, things like that made that piece easier because we're able to reach anybody that that chose to participate on all job sites. Yeah. Because of the Internet. You know, I have a phone and I have signal I can participate in that call on the vaccination tracking piece. Really? I can send if I can put a QR code on a job box and I need your vaccination status, I need to know that you're fully vaccinated because we're staring down the barrel of the executive order, 14042, blah, blah, blah. You know, I can get anybody. That doesn't have a flip phone. To scan that QR code. Are you vaccinated? Yes or no? If you're not, do you intend to be? Yes or no? Because we've got a plan in case this thing comes to fruition. And great. Then share that information with us and we tracks it. And of course, there's the questions about what about information, privacy and everything else. There's rules that govern that. [00:41:00] Right. And if we're following those rules, we're in good shape. And it's not that isn't a complex problem. The hard part was getting people to do it. Even the people that said, no, I'm not getting vaccinated. You know, I'm not doing it. I'll work someplace else if I have to. But I'm not doing it because I still get you to share the information with us. You know, I promise we're not going to sell it. Ultimately, we got the majority of it that helped a great deal. And to be able to provide, you know, executive management, the operations management with kind of a snapshot as to what percentage of our people are currently vaccinated, what aren't, because, you know, in the middle of that, you got a bunch of government job sites, some existing contracts. Those provisions weren't in effect yet. Some new contracts. They were. So you're you know, by the way, there's health care and education and all these other places with their own rules. You know, which pieces can I move where? So making that information available to them was big. And then we were looking at, [00:42:00] you know, if we had to follow through under the ETS with, with the testing piece, I, the only way we could even conceive of being able to accomplish that was to leverage things like Zoom the video piece. Would it have worked? Yeah, I think it would have with a couple of iterations, you know, I think it was more about would have been more about difficulties with the process, not the technology. Peter Koch: [00:42:23] And I think a lot of people would actually add one more part into that from a difficulty, which would be the trust part. And then going back to that, that's a pretty big withdrawal when you're asking someone to give you their medical status, to give you their this particular status, to tell your employer something. And if you haven't built some trust up before then, even when you give them information about this is we're promising that we're not going to do anything with this. We're complying with this regulation. We need to do this. This is the process. If you hadn't built the trust, they're not going to believe you. [00:43:00] And so they'll be even more challenged with given that or if they do give it, they're going to give it in a very distrustful way. And that starts to break down your productivity and your quality and your safety and the people part of what makes your business run. Jason Beam: [00:43:17] Oh for sure. You know, we were. You know, I talked earlier about the idea that we want people to feel that they can call us on their worst day. Peter Koch: [00:43:27] Yeah, Jason Beam: [00:43:28] Right. Short of 911. Right. But that kind of showed through. I mean, it kind of demonstrated that we're hitting our mark, I guess, in that regard with the trust. You know, folks would start say, listen, I've got a family member, my mom, my dad, my son, my daughter. I have a wife who's got immune issues. You know, what do you recommend? Well, we're not physicians here. We're not going to pretend to be. But we can tell you how we read the guidance and we'll do our best to help you through it to the point where. Christmas [00:44:00] Eve and Christmas Day. You know, a couple of folks had had some exposures. One was family related, and he'd say, I'm really sorry to bother you, but I don't know who else to reach out to. Right. You know, my doctor's office isn't open. Would you mind giving me your thoughts on this? You know, and they went through the scenario and, you know, afterwards I was talking with my family about it. Pretty big compliment there in that regard that that somebody in their own time worried about the health of one of their loved ones reached out to us based on the connection we've made with them throughout this. It was definitely an indicator that we were hitting the mark with some folks. Which certainly led to more probing discussions with people. And even some of the folks that are typically grumpier than others. You know, we're like, Yeah, no, we think you're doing the right thing. I'm not going to sit here and brag about it. So you don't either. But yeah, [00:45:00] we trust you. So again, I think so much of what we're able to accomplish was because of all the work we did and building the culture prior to the pandemic. Honestly. Peter Koch: [00:45:11] Yeah. And to we talk often with some of our policyholders about that culture survey, taking the survey, taking the temperature of what's going on in the workplace. And obviously for us, it's always a safety culture survey. You're always, I'm always looking at it from the safety perspective. But from your perspective, when you heard that or realized what they were asking you on that Christmas Eve, Christmas Day question, you went back and tried to see if this is really what the perception of the rest of the company is like. How are what's the barometer? I mean, that out of the blue, that's an awesome pat on the back and a humbling compliment to think that someone would think that much of the of the relationship that you built with them to trust you for [00:46:00] an opinion. But how does that, is that pervasive through the rest of the group? And to re-ask that question to not just rest on that laurel and think, yeah, we're doing it, great, move forward. But to actually go back and recheck the pulse, I guess. Jason Beam: [00:46:14] Yeah. And humbling for sure. I mean, that's absolutely you know, it wasn't a 100% success. Of course not. You know, and I don't think it ever will be. Peter Koch: [00:46:24] It's human. Jason Beam: [00:46:25] Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But I think we're able to capture a larger percentage of people because a you know, we understand that you can't control human nature. Right. I can't I can make assumptions about how you might react to something. But I don't know what's affecting you or your mood today. I don't know what's motivating you in any given day. So we tried to incorporate a little bit of that uncertainty in there to kind of putting a heavy emphasis on that based on our belief that this fear and uncertainty is really [00:47:00] eating away at people. So how do we not take advantage of that? But how do we how do we put that on a pedestal so that we're it's obvious that we're trying to take care of our people? Peter Koch: [00:47:11] Let's stop right here with part one of my conversation with Jason Beam, director of Environmental, Health, Safety and Risk Management for CCB right here in Westbrook, Maine. In part two, we will continue with Jason around lessons learned managing COVID 19 on a commercial construction site. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you get notice when part two drops. The MEMIC Safety Experts Podcast is written, hosted and produced by me, Peter Koch, with production and coordination assistance from Rod Stanley. If you'd like to hear more about a particular topic on our podcast, email me at podcast@MEMIC.com. Also check out our show notes at MEMIC.com/Podcast where you can find additional information and our entire podcast archive. So while you're there, sign up for our Safety [00:48:00] Net blog so that you never miss any of our articles and safety news updates. And if you haven't done so already, I'd appreciate it if you took a minute or two to review us on Spotify, iTunes, or whichever podcast service that you found us on. And if you've already done that, then thanks, because it really helps us spread the word. Please consider sharing this show with a business associate friend or a family member who you think will get something out of it. And as always, thank you for the continued support. And until next time, this is Peter Koch reminding you that listening to the MEMIC Safety Experts podcast is good, but using what you learned here is even better.  

Much of the knowledge about Native Americans comes from people who are not Indigenous. Euro-American archaeologists in particular have held notable influence on how people think about Native Americans' past and present. A team of Wabanaki researchers and students is looking to change that dynamic. They aim to reframe how their ancestors' stories are told. In this episode of “The Maine Question,” Bonnie Newsom, a member of the Penobscot Nation and an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Maine, and Isaac St. John, the tribal historic preservation officer for the Houlton band of Maliseet Indians and a graduate student at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, discuss their work to change public perception of Wabanaki stories and reconnect Indigenous people with their past.

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