Podcasts about water center

Click to listen to episode (4:36).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-9-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of December 11 and December 18, 2023.  [Please note: the audio mistakenly says December 20 instead of December 18.] SOUND – ~6 sec. Those sounds of Mallard ducks, recorded in December 2015 at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond in Blacksburg, set the stage for a duck designation derby—that is, a duck names quiz game! I'll give you clues to the common names of six duck species inhabiting areas of Virginia, either year-round or seasonally.  After each set of clues, you'll have a few seconds to hear sounds from the duck and try to guess its name.  In the clues, “diving duck” refers to those birds that dive deep under the surface and feed underwater; and “dabbling duck” refers to those birds that feed on or just below the water surface. Number 1:  This large diving duck, noted for its reddish head and bright whitish body, has a name that a painter would recognize.  SOUND - ~6 sec.  That's the Canvasback. Number 2:  This diving duck is known and named for its golden-yellow eyes.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Common Goldeneye. Number 3:  For people who appreciate colorful birds, this small dabbling duck's iridescent green feathers on its head and wings are a big deal.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Green-winged Teal. Number 4:  If people who wear “hoodies” wanted to know how to look like a bird, the male of this diving duck would be the answer.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Hooded Merganser. Number 5:  This dabbling duck has a name—based on its spoon-like bill—that could be applied to what people in, say Minnesota, have to become after a big snowfall, if they want to clear a path.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Northern Shoveler. And number 6:  This elaborately colored dabbling duck, notable for its nests in tree holes and for its ability to perch on tree branches, has a name that comes from trees.  SOUND - ~5 sec.  That's the Wood Duck. The birds in this game are among 25 duck species known to occur in Virginia, at least occasionally.  Many are around in wintertime, so if you're venturing out near water during the cold-weather months, perhaps—with luck and pluck—you'll glimpse or hear some ducks. Thanks to Lang Elliott for permission to use the sounds in the duck names quiz, which were all from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs. We close with some music for ducks, with a tune attributed to the late Henry Reed, a traditional musician who lived in Giles County, Virginia.  Here's about 25 seconds of “Ducks on the Pond,” performed by Timothy Seaman of Williamsburg, Virginia. MUSIC - ~27 sec – Instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Canvasback, Common Goldeneye, Green-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Northern Shoveler, and Wood Duck sounds heard in this episode were from the Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs-Eastern Region CD set, by Lang Elliott with Donald and Lillian Stokes (Time Warner Audio Books, copyright 1997), used with permission of Lang Elliott.  Lang Elliot's work is available online at the “Music of Nature” Web site, http://www.musicofnature.org/. The Mallard sounds were recorded by Virginia Water Radio at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond in Blacksburg on December 10, 2015. The version of “Ducks on the Pond” heard in this episode is by Timothy Seaman, part of the medley “Virginia Rail Reel/Ducks on the Pond/Old Blue,” from the 2004 album “Virginia Wildlife,” on Pine Wind Records, used with permission; that album was done in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (now the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources).  More information about Timothy Seaman is available online at http://timothyseaman.com/en/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio in Episode 398, 12-11-17. The tune “Ducks on the Pond” is attributed to Henry Reed (1884-1968), a native of West Virginia but a long-time resident of Glen Lyn in Giles County, Virginia; more information about Henry Reed is available online at http://www.henryreed.org/.   Information on the tune is available from The Traditional Tune Archive, online at “Ducks on the Pond” entry is online at http://www.tunearch.org/wiki/Ducks_on_the_Pond.  A June 1966 recording by Alan Jabbour of the tune being played by Mr. Reed is available from the Library of Congress, online at https://www.loc.gov/item/afcreed000072/; at this site, the tune is referred to as “Ducks in the Pond.” Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES The following photos of the ducks featured in this Virginia Water Radio episode were taken from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library, online at http://digitalmedia.fws.gov.  More details and specific URLs for each photo are given below the photos; all specific URLs were as of 11-8-23.Canvasback male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Lee Karney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/6798/rec/3.Canvasback male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Lee Karney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/6798/rec/3. Common Goldeneye in 2003, location not identified.  Photo by Gary Kramer.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/34171/rec/3.Green-winged Teal male (left) and female; location and date not identified.  Photo by Dave Menke.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/3728/rec/2.Hooded Merganser male; location and date not identified.  Photo by Tim McCabe.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/1085/rec/4.Mallard female and brood at Cheney Lake, Anchorage, Alaska, June 2005.  Photo by Donna Dewhurst.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/50/rec/32.Northern Shoveler male (right) and female at Westchester Lagoon in Anchorage Alaska; date not identified.  Photo by Donna Dewhurst.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/699/rec/2.Wood Duck male in California, date not identified.  Photo by Lee Kearney.  Specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/17774/rec/4. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE DUCK SPECIES HEARD IN THIS EPISODE Following are the scientific names, and information on occurrence in Virginia, for the seven duck species heard in this episode.  Occurrence information (including quotes) is from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (formerly Department of Game and Inland Fisheries), “Fish and Wildlife Information Service,” online at https://services.dwr.virginia.gov/fwis/, using the “Occurrence” tab at the individual entry for each species; each bird's common name is linked to its individual entry. Canvasback – Scientific name is Aythya valisineria.  Occurrence in Virginia: “[N]onbreeder and a locally common to abundant transient and winter resident (10 November to 10 April) on the coast, ...chiefly near the Chesapeake Bay and in Back Bay.  They are uncommon inland and a rare winter visitor in the mountains and valleys.” Common Goldeneye – Scientific name is Bucephala clangula.  Occurrence in Virginia: winter resident in much of Tidewater Virginia and a few counties farther west. Green-winged Teal – Scientific name is Anas crecca.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is a common transient and winter resident on the Coastal Plain, and uncommon inland.  Peak counts occur along the coast during the winter.” Hooded Merganser – Scientific name is Lophodytes cucullatus.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is a casual breeder.  It is a transient, winter resident, and summer visitor throughout the state.  It is common on the Coastal Plain, and uncommon to common in the rest of the state.  Peak counts occur along the coast during December.” Mallard – Scientific name is Anas platyrhynchos.  Occurrence in Virginia: “This is an abundant transient and winter resident, and a common summer resident in the Coastal Plain.  It is a common transient and winter resident, uncommon summer resident elsewhere.  Peak counts occur along the coast in the fall.” Northern Shoveler – Scientific name is Anas clypeata.  Occurr

Click to listen to episode (5:19).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-6-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of November 27 and December 4, 2023. MUSIC – 8 sec – Instrumental. That's part of “Backburner,” by The Faux Paws.  It opens Virginia Water Radio's annual episode on winter-weather preparedness.  Have a listen for about 30 seconds to some of the song's lyrics to set the stage for talking about cold times. MUSIC – ~32 sec – Lyrics: “I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on ice,  I tell myself I don't need her, wouldn't that be nice?  I put my heart in the freezer, I put my love on hold, I tell myself I don't need her, and then I wonder why I feel so cold.  I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel, I wonder why I feel so cold.” All Virginia residents, whether or not they've tried to put their heart in the freezer, will soon have no wonder about why they feel so cold: winter astronomically begins in Virginia on December 21 at 10:27 p.m.  That's the Eastern Standard time of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when that hemisphere is at its maximum tilt away from the sun.  From well before the December solstice, all the way through the season's conclusion in March, winter can bring cold temperatures, hazardous roads, power outages, fire hazards, and other concerns.  To help you be prepared, here are 10 tips compiled from information provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1. Avoid traveling in winter-storm conditions if you can.  If you must travel, get road-condition information from the Virginia 511 telephone system, mobile app, or Web site, and carry in your vehicle an emergency kit, including jumper cables, blankets, a flashlight, food and water, and other items. 2. Have battery-powered sources of lighting and information, along with enough batteries to last through a power outage of several days. 3.  Develop and practice a family emergency plan that covers sheltering; escape from a home fire; emergency meeting places; communications; a supply of food, water, and medications; and other factors specific to your circumstances. 4.  Get fireplaces, wood stoves, and chimneys inspected and cleaned. 5.  Install a smoke detector in every bedroom and on every floor level; test them monthly and replace the batteries at least annually.  6.  Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home and check or replace the battery every six months. 7.  If you use electric space heaters, make sure they'll switch off automatically if the heater falls over; plug them into wall outlets, not extension cords; keep them at least three feet from combustible objects; don't leave heaters unattended; and check for cracked or damaged wires or plugs. 8.  Generators, camp stoves, and other devices that burn gasoline, charcoal, or other fuels should be used outdoors only. 9.  Learn where to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.And 10.  Be careful of overexertion during snow shoveling. More information on preparing for winter weather, fires, and other emergencies is available online from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, at vaemergency.gov. Next time the forecast calls for snow, freezing rain, or other wintry weather, here's hoping that you can stay warm, dry, and safe. Thanks to Andrew VanNorstrand for permission to use this episode's music, and we close with about 20 more seconds of “Backburner.” MUSIC - ~20 sec – Instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Backburner,” from the 2023 album of the same name, is copyright by The Faux Paws, used with permission of Andrew VanNorstrand.  More information about The Faux Paws is available online at https://thefauxpaws.bandcamp.com/. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGES (Photographs are by Virginia Water Radio.) Ice on the New River in Giles County, Va., January 1, 2018.  Frozen rain on, and sleet below, a Red Maple tree in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County),December 16, 2020.Ice on a seasonal pond in Heritage Park in Blacksburg, Va. (Montgomery County), December 31, 2022. EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS The following information is quoted from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, “Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather, as of 11-6-23. “Winter storms can range from freezing rain or ice to a few hours of moderate snowfall, to a blizzard that lasts for several days.  Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures, power outages, and unpredictable road conditions. Before, during, and after a winter storm, roads and walkways may become extremely dangerous or impassable.  Access to critical community services such as public transportation, child care, healthcare providers and schools may be limited.  Preparing your home, car, and family before cold weather and a winter storm arrives is critical. *During a winter storm, stay off the roads as much as possible and only drive when absolutely necessary.  Always give snow plows the right of way.*Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawlspace, or any other partially enclosed area.*Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks!  Always avoid overexertion when shoveling.*When severe weather occurs, plan to check on elderly or disabled neighbors and relatives.*If you must travel, know the road conditions before you leave home.  Visit 511Virginia.org or call 511 for road condition updates.*Protect yourself from frostbite!  Hands, feet, and face are the most commonly affected areas so wear a hat, and mittens (which are warmer than gloves) and cover your mouth with a scarf to reduce heat loss.*Keep dry!  Change out of wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat.*Wear several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer or heavy clothing. Winter Storm Watch – Be Aware Severe weather such as heavy snow or ice is possible in the next day or two. Winter Storm Warning – Take Action Severe winter conditions have either begun or will begin soon in your area. Prepare Your Home *Make sure your home is properly insulated.*Check the weather stripping around your windows and doors.*Learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts.*Have additional heat sources  on hand in case of a power outage.*Keep a fire extinguisher accessible.*Replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detector annually. Prepare Your Car *Batteries lose power as temperatures drop, be sure to have yours tested.*Check your car's antifreeze level.*Have your radiator system serviced.*Replace your car's windshield wiper fluid with a wintertime mix.*Proactively replace your car's worn tires and wiper blades.*To help with visibility, clean off your car entirely – including your trunk, roof, windows, and headlights. Include a Car Emergency Kit Tailor your winter car emergency supply kit to you and your family's needs.  Here are suggested items: blankets;drinking water and snacks for everyone in the car, including pets;boots;basic first-aid kit;warm coat and insulating layers (sweatpants, gloves, hat, socks,);rags, paper towels, or pre-moistened wipes;basic set of tools;car emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors;ice scraper/snow brush;jumper cables/jump pack;fire extinguisher;cash;items for children such as diapers, baby wipes, toys, etc.;flashlight, with extra batteries;hand warmers;paper map;portable smartphone power bank;extra medication;garbage bags;traction aid such as sand, salt, or non-clumping, cat litter;tarp, raincoat, and gloves;shovel. Did You Know? *Dehydration can make you more susceptible to hypothermia.*If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet!  Don't leave pets outside for prolonged periods of time and have plenty of fresh, unfrozen water on hand.*It can snow at temperatures well above freezing.*Temperatures do not have to be below zero degrees to cause harm.” SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION Timeanddate.com, “December Solstice: Longest and Shortest Day of the Year,” by Konstantin Bikos, Aparna Kher, and Graham Jones, online at https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html. American Red Cross, “Winter Storm Safety,” online at https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm.html, or contact your local Red Cross chapter. Farmers' Almanac, “The First Day Of Winter 2023: Winter Solstice,” online at https://www.farmersalmanac.com/winter-solstice-first-day-winter.    Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):“Be Prepared for a Winter Storm,” online at https://community.fema.gov/ProtectiveActions/s/article/Winter-Storm;“Build a Kit,” online at https://www.ready.gov/kit; “Car Safety,” online at https://www.ready.gov/car; “Make a Plan,” online at https://www.ready.gov/plan;“Portable Heater Fire Safety,” online (as a PDF) at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/portable_heater_fire_safety_flyer.pdf;“Portable Heater Fires in Residential Buildings (2017-2019),” online (as a PDF) at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v21i11.pdf; and “Winter Weather,” online at http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “NOAA Weather Radio,” online at https://www.weather.gov/nwr/.National Weather Service, “Weather and Water Events Preparedness Calendar,” online at https://www.weather.gov/safety/events_calendar. This page lists events by state.National Weather Service/Cleveland, Ohio, Forecast Office, “The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices,” online at https://www.weather.gov/cle/seasons. Smithsonian Science Education Center, “What is the Winter Solstice?”  Online at https://ssec.si.edu/stemvisions-blog/what-winter-solstice.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Carbon Monoxide Poisoning/Frequently Asked Questions,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm; and “Proper Use of Candles During a Power Outage,” online at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/psa/candles.html. U.S. Department of Energy, “Small Space Heaters,” online at https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/small-space-heaters. Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/.  This is the Commonwealth of Virginia's central source of information on preparedness for all types of emergencies and disasters.  See particularly the following pages:“Winter Weather,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/winter-weather;“Fires,” online at https://www.vaemergency.gov/threats/fires; and“Make a Car Emergency Kit” (1 min./31 sec. video), online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPgvWgtiWHI. Virginia Department of Health, “Winter Weather Preparedness,” online at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/news/public-relations-contacts/winter-weather-preparedness/. Virginia Department of Transportation, “Virginia Traffic Information,” online at http://www.511virginia.org/. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Weather/Climate/Natural Disasters” subject category. Following are links to previous years' winter-preparedness episodes, with music used in the episodes. Episode 190, 12-2-13. Episode 242, 12-1-14 – featuring “Cold World” by Kat Mills. Episode 292, 11-30-15 – featuring “Winter is Coming” by The Steel Wheels. Episode 344, 11-28-16 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman. Episode 396, 11-27-17 – featuring “Winter's Fall” by No Strings Attached. Episode 448, 11-26-18 – featuring “New Boots” by John McCutcheon. Episode 501, 12-2-19 – featuring “Cold Frosty Morn'” by New Standard.Episode 553, 11-30-20 – featuring “Drive the Cold Winter Away” by Timothy Seaman and “Cold World” by Kat Mills.Episode 605, 11-29-21 – featuring “Mid-winter Etude” by Timothy Seaman.Episode 643, 12-5-22 – featuring “Winter is Coming” by The Steel Wheels. Following are links to some other winter-related episodes.Frost – Episode 597, 10-4-21. Freezing and ice – Episode 606, 12-6-21 (especially for grades K-3). Ice on ponds and lakes – Episode 404, 1-22-18 (especially for grades 4-8). Ice on rivers –

Click to listen to episode (4:53).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 11-6-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of November 13 and November 20, 2023. MUSIC – ~28 sec – Lyrics: “What you gonna do when the river runs dry, when there's no more water in your well?  You won't know when to give it that one last try, you won't be warned before the final bell.” That's part of “River Runs Dry,” by Blacksburg, Va., musician Kat Mills.  The song, in which water sources are metaphors for the songwriter's inspiration, opens a Thanksgiving-season episode featuring expressions of gratitude for literal water sources not running dry.  Here are three such expressions, by people from North America, Vietnam, and Kenya. 1. The Haudenosaunee people, an alliance of six Native American tribes that was formerly known as the Iroquois Confederacy, has a traditional “Thanksgiving Address of Greetings to the Natural World.”  The address includes greetings to 17 aspects of the world, such as people, plants and animals, the moon and stars, winds and thunder, and the creator.  Here's the greeting to The Waters: “We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength.  Water is life.  We know its power in many forms- waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans.  With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.  Now our minds are one.” 2. Vietnamese spritutal leader Thich Nhat Hanh has written many “gathas,” that is, short reflections or meditations, on daily activities. Here is his gatha for “Turning on the Water.” “Water comes from high mountain sources. Water runs deep in the Earth. Miraculously, water comes to us and sustains all life. My gratitude is filled to the brim.” And 3.  About 10 years ago, a group of Kenyan schoolgirls wrote a poem in gratitude for a newly drilled well in their community.  Here's that poem. Dear water, It was hard to get to you. Waking up at dawn Buckets on our heads Donkeys loaded with jerrycans. Miles we walked In the scorching heat To look for you. Dear water, At last you came. Sweet water Our backs are rested The miles are no more Diseases are gone. For you are closer to us. Dear water, You are such a blessing. One can find countless other expressions of awareness of and gratitude for water's many vital purposes in writings by poets, politicians, professors, prophets, pundits, and plenty of others. For one last, short reading, we return to one of the water metaphors in our opening music, and quote a Benjamin Franklin comment that applies not only to water but also to anything one has and can lose: “When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.” Thanks to people everywhere who know and speak about the worth of water.  Thanks also to Kat Mills for permission to use this episode's music, and—with hope that this won't be the case for you or anyone—we close with about 30 more seconds of “River Runs Dry.”  Happy Thanksgiving!MUSIC - ~30 sec – Lyrics: “What you gonna do when the river runs dry?  Guess I'll have to pack up and leave my home.” SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of “Cripple Creek” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “River Runs Dry,” by Kat Mills, is on the 2003 album “Long Time,” from Sweetcut Music; used with permission.  More information about Kat Mills is available online at https://katmills.com/home.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio most recently in Episode 557, 12-28-20. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at http://newstandardbluegrass.com. IMAGES Following are images of some Virginia water bodies for which the Commonwealth's citizens can be thankful.  Photographs by Virginia Water Radio. Lake Drummond in Dismal Swamp, April 30 2005.Catoctin Creek at Featherbed Lane in Loudoun County, June 25, 2010.Jeremy's Run near Rileyville in Page County, July 22, 2012.Craig Creek in Montgomery County, April 26, 2015.  SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION AZ Quotes, “Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Water,” online at https://www.azquotes.com/author/5123-Benjamin_Franklin/tag/water.  This is the source of the Franklin quote used in the audio. Be Here Now Network, “44 Mindful Moves in Daily Life—Thich Nhat Hanh's Gathas,” online at https://beherenownetwork.com/thich-nhat-hanhs-gathas/.  This is the source of the Thich Nhat Hahn quote used in the audio. Borgen Project, “Kenyan Schoolgirls Dedicate a Poem to Water,” by Sarah Sheppard, September 7, 2015, online at https://borgenproject.org/kenyan-schoolgirls-poem/. Columban Interreligious Dialogue, “Being Grateful for the Gift of Water, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines,” online at https://columbanird.org/being-grateful-for-the-precious-gift-of-water/. Abu Amina Elias, “Hadith on Water: Best charity is giving water to thirsty people,” posted by Daily Hadith Online, July, 23, 2017, online at https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2017/07/23/best-sadaqah-water-thirsty/. GoodReads, “Benjamin Franklin/Quotes/Quotable Quote,” online at https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/53013-when-the-well-is-dry-we-know-the-worth-of. Zachiah Murray, “How to Do Gatha Practice,” posted by Lion's Roar, July 25, 2022, online at https://www.lionsroar.com/how-to-practice-gathas/. Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian, “Haudenosaunee Guide for Educators,” 2009, online (as a PDF) at https://americanindian.si.edu/sites/1/files/pdf/education/HaudenosauneeGuide.pdf. Thai Plum Village, “Thich Nhat Hanh,” online at https://www.thaiplumvillage.org/thichnhathanh. Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, online at https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/thich-nhat-hanh. Saffet Catovioc, “Islamic Texts Related to Water,” posted by Green Faith Water Shield, undated, online (as a PDF) at https://www.faithinwater.org/uploads/4/4/3/0/44307383/islamic_sacred_texts-water-greenfaith.pdf. World Vision, “Video: Schoolgirls share their poem ‘Dear Water,'” May 6, 2019, online at https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/video-schoolgirls-share-poem-dear-water. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Overall Importance of Water” subject category. Following are links to other episodes for Thanksgiving. Episode 291, 11-23-15 – Thanks for Musical Measures of Water.Episode 343, 11-21-16 – Wild Turkey and Water.Episode 395, 11-20-17 – Thanks for the Water – 2017 edition.Episode 500, 11-25-19 – The Variety of Virginia's Water Story – for 500th episode.Episode 642, 11-21-22 – Thanks for the Water – 2022 Edition. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode's audio/transcript, sources, or other information included in this post. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2017 English SOLs 5.4, 6.5, 7.4, 8.4, 8.5, 9.3, 9.4, 10.3, 10.4, 11.4 – Symbols, imagery, figurative language, and other literary devices. 2018 Science SOLs Grades K-4: Living Systems and Processes1.5 – Animals, including humans, have basic life needs that allow them to survive. Grades K-5: Earth and Space Systems3.7 – There is a water cycle and water is important to life on Earth. Grades K-5: Earth ResourcesK.11 – Humans use resources.3.8 – Natural events and humans influence ecosystems.4.8 – Virginia has important natural resources. Grade 66.6 – Water has unique physical properties and has a role in the natural and human-made environment.6.9 – Humans impact the environment and individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment. Life ScienceLS.9 – Relationships exist between ecosystem dynamics and human activity. Earth ScienceES.6 – Resource use is complex.ES.8 – Freshwater resources influence and are influenced by geologic processes and human activity. 2023 History and Social Science SOLs Grade One: Commonwealth of Virginia1.2 – The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor local and national traditions and recognize designated Virginia holidays. Grade Two: United States of America2.3 – The student will apply history and social science skills to explain how communities honor local and national traditions and recognize designated Virginia holidays.2.5 – The student will use history and social science skills to identify the geographic location, use of resources, and identify the contributions of Indigenous peoples past and present. Grade 5: United States History to 1865USI.2 – The student will apply history and social science skills to describe how early cultures developed throughout North America. Grade 8: World GeographyWG.2 – The student will apply social science skills to evaluate the significance of natural, human, and capital resources.WG.3 – The student will analyze the characteristics of the United States and Canadian regions by (among other things) analyzing cultural influences and landscapes.WG.7 – The student will analyze the characteristics of the Sub-Saharan African region by (among other things) analyzing cultural influences and landscapes.WG.9 – The student will analyze the characteristics of the South Asian and Southeast Asian regions by (among other things) analyzing cultural influences and landscapes.WG.14 – The student will apply history and social science skills to determine cultural patterns and interactions across time and place. Grade 11: Virginia and United States HistoryVUS.1 – The student will apply history and social science skills to describe the early North America by distinguishing how different Indigenous People of North America used available resources to develop their culture, language, skills and perspectives.Vi

Click to listen to episode (5:16).Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.)Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 10-27-23. TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the weeks of October 30 and November 6, 2023, and particularly for Halloween. MUSIC – ~18 sec – Lyrics: “Summer's over, winter's coming; summer's over, winter's coming.” That's part of “Winter is Coming,” by The Steel Wheels.  It sets the stage for an episode on the origins of Halloween in the ancient festival of Samhain, first observed centuries ago by Celtic peoples.  Celtic lands include Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and areas of England and France.  Samhain marked the end of the Celtic year on October 31, when summer had faded, winter was approaching, and—in Celtic belief—the dividing line between earth and the spirit world was thin, allowing spirits of the dead to roam.  As described by Miranda Aldhouse-Green in her 2015 book The Celtic Myths, quote, “It was at the festival of Samhain, at the edge of winter, that the world of humans was most at risk from the inhabitants of the world beyond: the boundaries were suspended and the spirits could prowl among the living, to their good or detriment depending on the character of the individual phantom,” unquote. Along with Halloween's date, many of its traditions can be traced back to Samhain practices, such as donning costumes or disguises, believed by the Celts to help them avoid being recognized by wandering spirits. When they weren't wandering the earth at Samhain, Celtic spirits and Celtic gods were believed to reside in what was known as the Otherworld.  In Celtic beliefs, watery areas were considered access points to the Otherworld.  Celtic mythology also gave special significance to swans, whose beautiful appearance on the water might have suggested connections to Celtic gods.  Here's a short version of an Irish legend about Samhain and swans; the opening and closing sounds are Tundra Swans, a North American species whose Berwick's Swan subspecies is found in Ireland and Wales. SOUNDS  - 4 sec – Tundra Swans. Oenghus was the Celtic god of love.  In the myth called “The Dream of Oenghus,” the god dreamed he saw a woman named Caer, the Celtic goddess of sleep and dreams, and he became smitten with her.  He searched far and wide for her, eventually finding her among a group of other women at a lake, and learning that every other year at Samhain the women turned into swans.  At the next Samhain, Oenghus returned to the lake and, by turning himself into a swan, was able to win Caer's heart.  The story ends with the pair of swans circling the lake three times, casting a sleep enchantment on everyone below, and flying off together.       SOUNDS  - 4 sec – Tundra Swans. I hope your Halloween has rich traditions and a bit of mystery, perhaps about waters or water creatures from worlds unknown. Thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the swan sounds.  Thanks also to The Steel Wheels for permission to use part of “Winter is Coming.”  We close with another musical selection, which has become a Halloween-episode tradition on this show.  Here, for about 50 seconds, is “A Little Fright Music,” composed and recorded or Virginia Water Radio by Torrin Hallett. MUSIC – ~50 sec – Instrumental. SHIP'S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Ben Cosgrove for his version of “Shenandoah” to open and close this episode.  In Blacksburg, I'm Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The sounds of Tundra Swans were taken from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) National Digital Library, online at http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/cdm/; the specific URL for the recording was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/audio/id/86/rec/1, as of 10-27-23. “Winter is Coming,” from the 2015 album “We've Got a Fire,” is copyright by The Steel Wheels, used with permission.  More information about The Steel Wheels, based in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, is available online at https://www.thesteelwheels.com/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio most recently in Episode 643, 12-5-22. “A Little Fright Music” is copyright 2020 by Torrin Hallett, used with permission.  As of 2022-2023, Torrin is the associate principal horn of the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico.  He is a 2018 graduate of Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio, a 2020 graduate in Horn Performance from Manhattan School of Music in New York, and a 2021 graduate of the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.  More information about Torrin is available online at https://www.facebook.com/torrin.hallett.  Thanks very much to Torrin for composing the piece especially for Virginia Water Radio.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio most recently in Episode 640, 10-31-22. Click here if you'd like to hear the full version (2 min./22 sec.) of the “Shenandoah” arrangement/performance by Ben Cosgrove that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Cosgrove is available online at http://www.bencosgrove.com. IMAGES Image of part of an October 27, 1912, article in The Evening Star [Washington, D.C.] on the origins of Halloween.  Image taken from the Library of Congress Blogs, “The Origins of Halloween Traditions,” by Heather Thomas, October 26, 2021, online at https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/, accessed October 24, 2023.Tundra Swan in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, June 30, 2018.  Photo by Lisa Hupp, made available for public use by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library, online at http://digitalmedia.fws.gov; specific URL for the photo was https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/natdiglib/id/30970/rec/2, as of 10/24/23.