Fall 2007

RADIO FLIERVermont Public Radio’s Newsletter

Expanding VPR Classical

INSIDEVPR Wins

Top AwardsPage 2

Meet the Host of Vermont Edition

Page 3

New vpr.net Page 4

30 Years ofOpera with

Peter Fox Smith Page 5

Continued on page 6

Continued on page 6

VPR Offers More of What You Love News Programs Added to VPR Schedule By Jody EvansDirector of Programming We are entering one of the most exciting times in VPR history. After years of extensive research and careful planning, VPR will have a new sound beginning October 1, bringing you an expanded lineup of news and information programming. Classical music that had aired on VPR will now be broadcast on VPR Classi-cal, our expanded network of stations featur-ing classical music 24 hours a day.

VPR’s new lineup is the result of literally thousands of conversations with you. It fea-tures midday news and information programs to spark your curiosity and expand your un-derstanding of issues affecting our community and our world. There are programs VPR has

consistently heard requests for, including On Point, The Story, and BBC World Service, as well as a daily local news program, Vermont Edition, with host Jane Lindholm (see related story on page 3). And we’ve been able to include even more of your public radio favorites. VPR’s new weekend lineup includes Selected Shorts, Word for Word and Splendid Table, in addition to mainstays such as A Prairie Home Companion, Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, Car Talk and This American Life. Locally produced favorites My Place and All the Traditions are still here, too. And we’ve expanded jazz to every weeknight. You’ll find complete program schedules on the back page.

In a media environment that’s ever-changing, two things have always been constant for VPR.

By Mark VogelzangPresident and General Manager

This edition of the Radio Flier is all about change – changes in Vermont Public Radio's programming lineup, changes in VPR's frequencies, and changes in the media environment today.

I’m pleased to report that one aspect of VPR is not changing, but growing, and that’s our commitment to classical music. VPR’s cultural roots cling to that classical soil, since the original programs that VPR broadcast when the station signed on in 1977 included Saturday Af-ternoon at the Opera with Peter Fox Smith, and Morning Pro Musica with Robert J. Lurtsema.

On October 1, the classical music

on VPR will move to VPR’s 24-hour classical music service, VPR Classical. This means that you’ll need to switch stations to receive classical music; but on VPR Classical you’ll find familiar voices, including VPR’s Walter Parker from 10 to 2, and, of course, Peter Fox Smith and the opera.

Cheryl Willoughby provides music in the early morning, and our newest host, Joe Goetz, adds music to your after-noons. VPR has never before broadcast this much classical music presented by Vermont hosts, offering more hours of music and more ways of interacting with you and the community.

Our commitment to grow the clas-sical service was not taken lightly. Over

Mark Vogelzang

VPR ManagementPresident & General Manager:

Mark VogelzangVP of Development: Robin Turnau

Chief Financial Officer: Brian DonahueDirector of Programming: Jody Evans

Director of Engineering: Richard ParkerDirector of News: John Van Hoesen

The Public Radio Center365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446

Phone: (800) 639-2192www.vpr.net / comments@vpr.net

Board of DirectorsChair, Amy Hastings, Middlebury

William Alley, GreensboroBill Biddle, Barnet

Nord Brue, BurlingtonDonna Carpenter, Moscow

Henry Chauncey, Jr., AndoverJack Crowl, North Pomfret

Perez Ehrich, ArlingtonMaxie Ewins, ShelburneStan Fishkin, Chittenden

Deborah Granquist, WestonTraci Griffith, Williston

Doug Griswold, CharlotteKathy Hoyt, Norwich

Spencer Knapp, ShelburneJohn McCardell, Middlebury

Del Sheldon, ShelburneBill Stetson, Norwich

J. Alvin Wakefield, MendonVictoria Young, Proctor

RADIO FLIER

Editorial Director: Robin Turnau Editor & Designer: Stephen Mease

Radio Flier (USPS 468) newsletter is published tri-annually by VPR with second class postage paid at Burlington, VT, and additional mailing offices.

Radio Flier is available to all VPR supporters.

VPR94.3 FM Bennington 94.5 FM Brattleboro* 107.9 FM Burlington 92.5 FM Manchester* 95.3 FM Middlebury* 94.1 FM Montpelier*

88.7 FM Rutland88.5 FM St. Johnsbury

89.5 FM Windsor

VPR Classical93.5 FM Bennington*

90.9 FM Burlington / Schuyler Falls103.9 FM Hanover*

106.9 FM Manchester* 99.5 FM Middlebury* 99.5 FM Newbury* 88.1 FM Norwich

95.1 FM Sunderland / Manchester 106.9 FM Woodstock* * = low-power translator

By Amy Hastings Chair of VPR Board

From modest but none-theless ambitious beginnings, VPR has become in its first thirty years a regional institu-tion valued by the hundreds of thousands who make it a daily part of their lives. And those who listen to VPR online (something that the founders in 1977 likely could not have imagined) might suggest that VPR should more accurately be described as an international institution, since the boundaries of geography no longer limit where you are when you tune in. It has been a remarkable thirty years!

VPR is our branch of a national public radio system that has grown significantly in recent decades, even as commercial radio has under-gone tremendous upheaval and competition from new media has increased. The reason is simple: we find in public broadcasting a quality of service that is distinctive and dependable. VPR is forthright in stating its vision to be the “essential and trusted source for the ex-change of ideas, information and culture

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Happy 30th Anniversary VPR

Amy HastingsThe changes in Vermont Public

Radio’s services that highlight this 30th Anniversary

year are the result of many years of VPR listening to

its audience.

– deepening our listeners’ understanding of their com-munity and the world.”

Another reason VPR and NPR continue to flourish is that they are solidly rooted in communities – public means something. And VPR cer-tainly is a leader with its local programming, outreach and involvement in our region. But, more importantly, VPR demonstrates its commit-ment to community by lis-tening to its listeners. The changes in VPR’s services that highlight this 30th an-niversary year are the result of many years of listening to its audience.

VPR’s Board of Direc-tors is made up of a handful of community members who are honored to serve as the organization’s governing body. No volunteer who has this opportunity takes for

granted that we are part of an organiza-tion that would not exist if it were not for the thousands of individuals who cherish it, challenge it at times, but ultimately sup-port it. On behalf of the Board, thank you for that support.

Happy 30th, VPR…and many more!

Vermont Public Radio has been honored with two 2007 national Edward R. Murrow Awards for outstanding news cov-erage. VPR journalist Steve Zind was recognized in two catego-ries: feature reporting and broadcast writing.

Zind’s story on a peace song competition held in Montpe-lier in December 2006 won top honors in the feature reporting category. Zind also won for broadcast writing with his story on a Topsham woman who was making arrangements for her own coffin.

In addition to the national Murrow Awards, VPR was hon-ored with five 2007 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for

outstanding news coverage. Audio of VPR’s award-winning coverage can be heard at vpr.net.

VPR’s production of Counting on Grace received an Earphone Award from Au-dioFile Magazine. VPR listeners will be able to hear this award-winning production again this fall when VPR rebroadcasts the series.

VPR Wins Two National Murrow Awards and more!

Steve Zind

RADIO FLIER

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A broad range of topics is exactly the idea behind Vermont Edi-tion, which debuted last month

as a daily program that airs weekdays at noon. You’ll hear everything from pressing issues and current events to the arts, culture and music scene.

Hosted by Jane Lindholm, Vermont Edition brings context to current events and regional issues through interviews with newsmakers and the people who make our region buzz. It also goes be-hind the news, diving into what makes this part of the country unique.

"It’s a way to connect the disparate parts of the state,” says Jane. “We hope to illuminate all corners of the region to get to the heart of what makes our region tick. And with more time to focus on one issue, we can peel back the skin and see what’s beneath the head-line, taking as much time as the subject requires to explore and understand."

Listeners have been asking for a daily regional news program for a long time. The new program grew out of the weekly Vermont Edition, which began in 2005. VPR sees the program as a touch-stone, connecting listeners through conversation.

Regional connections are enhanced by having producer/reporter Susan Keese based in Manchester and re-porter/host Bob Kinzel in Mont-pelier. Reporter Steve Zind, who served as host of the weekly Ver-mont Edition and has strong ties to central Vermont, now serves as the program’s editor.

The Vermont Edition team also consists of Patti Daniels, senior producer, and Sarah Ashworth, former-ly of KBAI in Columbia, Missouri, who is a producer/reporter on the program.

"I want listeners to feel that they have a friend in the show," says Jane, "a smart, curious and conscientious friend

Vermont Edition Offers Weekday News Hour

Before joining VPR as host of Vermont Edition, Jane Lindholm, 28, served as director and associate producer of Marketplace, public radio’s award-win-ning national business program.

Jane graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Anthropology and began her career writing and editing for Let’s Go Travel Guides.

A native Vermonter, Jane says work-ing in public radio had always been her dream…so much so that when she was first offered a position, she didn’t believe it was for real.

“During my senior year of college I sent a resume to NPR, but figured I’d never hear from them again. Several months later, as a recent college gradu-ate with no clue what I was going to do, I got a call from NPR. I thought it was a prank from one of my friends, so I almost didn’t call back.”

But it was no prank, and in 2001, Jane joined National Public Radio as an edito-rial/production assistant for Radio Expeditions, a co-production of NPR and the National Geo-graphic Society.

“It was a wonderful

Connect With Us! Vermont Edition is counting on you to help be our eyes

and ears in all corners of the region. Your participation, feedback and suggestions

are encouraged.

vermontedition@vpr.net 1-800-639-2192

whom they can trust to ask the tough questions and coax out the inter-esting stories behind the news."

Vermont Edition continues VPR’s tradition of having listeners participate in and help shape the discussion. "We hope you’ll call and write with questions for our guests and suggestions for future programs," she adds.

Meet Jane Lindholm

entry into public radio – I learned the importance of storytelling, sound and exploration,” Jane said. She went on to work for NPR’s Weekend Edition and Talk of the Nation. After several years away, Jane says it’s good to be back in Vermont.

"It’s wonderful to be closer my family. I have young siblings, and I’m so excited to finally be able to watch their Little-League games and piano recitals. Vermont has always been at the center of who I am and where I come from. Hosting a news show here is a great opportunity to recon-nect with the state. And though I’m a little worried that my blood has thinned these past few years in L.A., I can’t wait for the fall – my favorite season."

When Jane’s not on the air or plan-ning the next day’s show, you’ll find her writing, reading, hiking and pursuing artistic endeavors including photography, pottery and printmaking.

On Fridays, Bob Kinzel leads a dis-cussion on politics and government and considers the week in review.

And, of course, the show will con-tinue to feature perennial favorite discus-sions about summer reading, baseball, weather, and gardening, to name just a few.

Vermont Edition’s new theme music also has a local connection: it was writ-ten and recorded by Vermont’s Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.

RADIO FLIER

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VPR Launches New Website Radio is a unique medium. It’s per-

sonal and intimate, and yet it connects each of us to a larger community. At Vermont Public Radio, we’ve extended that same sensibility to our website, vpr.net. Our new website sports a clean, contemporary look. But more impor-tantly we’ve made it user-friendly, so it’s easier for you to find exactly what you’re looking for, vpr.net connects you to a larger community of shared values and interests.

With more than 8,000 audio files from various sources, thousands of pages of playlists – and more being added every day – we knew redesigning our website would be a challenge. We worked with Vermont’s Propeller Media Works to increase the usefulness of vpr.net, and we’re delighted with the results! The new vpr.net is personable. You can easily find what you’re looking for, listen to archived audio, interact with VPR, and customize the site for your interests. You can also learn about your fellow listeners, who are featured throughout the site.

With the new vpr.net, a round-up of local, national and international news – not to mention classical music and arts news – is just a click away. We’re also offering multiple web streams: VPR, VPR Classical, the Vermont Legislature,

and the BBC World Service 24 hours a day. You also have access to archived audio, from today’s newscast to our 2003 docu-mentary on Howard Dean’s Presidential campaign. The site allows you to explore further, pointing you to related articles, other useful sites and background materi-als our reporters and producers used, so you can delve deeper into something you first heard on VPR or VPR Classical.

And it’s just the beginning of a more interactive relationship with vpr.net. Read-

ers of prEview, VPR’s e-newsletter, were part of the creative process in launching Vermont Edition as a daily news program. Readers listened to pilots of the program on vpr.net and provided feedback while the program was still in development. More than 1,100 listeners responded to our online programming survey that helped inform our new VPR program schedule. There will be a lot more op-portunities to interact with VPR in real time through your feedback, story ideas,

questions and continuing discussions online.

We think that’s one of the most exciting things about the web. It makes radio – what was once a perishable product – an active, living thing. Using vpr.net, Vermont Public Radio and listeners to-gether can strengthen and expand the reach and value of VPR’s public service.

Be Featured on vpr.net!The new vpr.net features listeners in various places, particularly on the home page. You can be featured, too! Simply send us a color photo of yourself and tell us about your relationship with Vermont Public Radio. Why you listen; how long you’ve been listening; the most interesting place you’ve listened; why you sup-port VPR; a favorite story about you and VPR...we’re open to ideas!

For details and instructions go to vpr.net.

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By Betty Smith VPR Producer

Back in 1975, David Crook was a member of Vermont Public Radio's first Board of Directors.

When he heard that VPR was looking for an opera producer – especially someone who could correctly pronounce foreign names and titles – he casually mentioned that he had a friend who knew “quite a bit” about opera. That friend was Peter Fox Smith, and David’s comment was a classic case of understatement.

It was 1976, and I contacted Peter to see if he might like to host an opera program, if he had a record collection he could use until we could assemble one of our own, and if he knew anything about getting permission to carry the Metropolitan Opera. The answers were affirmative on all counts, and just a few weeks later Saturday Afternoon at the Opera made its debut on VPR’s first broad-cast day. It was the first locally produced program ever to air on VPR.

Now, just for fun, let’s do the math. If you figure 52 Sat-urdays a year for 30 years – and Peter has missed only a couple of programs in all that time – that’s 1,560 programs. Even during the Metropolitan Opera season he produces additional programming to round out and complement each performance. By anyone’s measure, that’s a remarkable achievement, and it’s a good indicator of the depth of Peter’s passion for opera – and for public radio.

In the early days, Peter worked hard to persuade private collectors – often his personal friends and neighbors – to donate recordings. And he threw himself into fundraisers.

Opera's Peter Fox Smith Celebrates30 Years With Vermont Public Radio

In fact, on one occasion he carried his enthusiasm to extremes. It was a summer membership drive, still billed as a “mara-thon”, and Peter decided to capitalize on the theme by biking from his home in Pomfret to the station – at that time in Windsor. He called in progress reports from points along the way and took pledges, both from roadside observers and from listeners. Those were pre-cell phone days, and there were long stretches of time between phone calls, but things went along fine until one silence began to feel, well, too long.

He’d last called from the outskirts of town, so we’d gotten ready to greet him with appropriate fanfare on the radio. But minutes ticked by and no Peter.

The studio was on the third floor of the Windsor House. Tense minutes passed, then the elevator began to hum.

When the doors opened, out staggered Peter, carrying the bike. He’d hit gravel on the shoulder of the road at the big downhill curve coming into town and wiped out. His bike was a mess and so, pretty much, was he.

Yet he insisted on sitting down at the mic to wrap things up, thank listeners

who had pledged, and urge others to add their support. Then he calmly agreed that it might be a good idea to get checked out by a doctor to make sure nothing was broken, and he and wife Joanne departed for the local emer-gency room. Some time later we learned that he had, indeed, not broken any bones. He had just punctured a lung.

Not exactly a small sacrifice to make for the sake of one’s pas-sion, you might say, but one that struck us all as somehow entirely in character for Peter Fox Smith.

Peter has indulged listen-ers for 30 years with his intense and passionate knowledge about opera and especially his favorite composer, Richard Wagner.

VPR is so pleased to recog-nize Peter’s impressive long-time service to the state of Vermont and VPR, and to encourage him to devote 30 more years to bring-ing the passion of opera to VPR listeners.

Peter Fox Smith

The Metropolitan Opera broadcasts begin at 1:30 p.m. un-less otherwise noted. For Saturday Afternoon at the Opera schedules, visit vpr.net or call (800) 639-2192 to request an updated schedule.

12/8 Christoph Willibald Gluck: Iphigénie en Tauride 12/15 Charles Gounod: Roméo et Juliette, (1 pm)12/22 Sergei Prokofiev: War and Peace, (12:30 pm)12/29 Englebert Humperdinck: Hänsel und Gretel 1/5 Giuseppe Verdi: Un ballo in maschera 1/12 Giuseppe Verdi: Macbeth 1/19 MET archive program1/26 Gioacchino Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia 2/2 Richard Wagner: Die Walküre (12:30 pm) 2/9 MET archive program2/16 Giacomo Puccini: Manon Lescaut (1 pm)2/23 Georges Bizet: Carmen3/1 Giuseppe Verdi: Otello (1 pm)3/8 Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor 3/15 Benjamin Britten: Peter Grimes 3/22 Richard Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (12:30 pm) 3/29 Giuseppe Verdi: Ernani 4/5 Giacomo Puccini: La bohème 4/12 Sergei Prokofiev: The Gambler 4/19 Philip Glass: Satyagraha 4/26 Gaetano Donizetti: La fille du régiment5/3 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail

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A Bright Future For Classical Music in Vermont

the last five years, VPR’s Board and staff engaged in an extensive discussion about classical music on VPR. Back in the summer of 2004, we launched our first full-time VPR Classical station in the Upper Valley. 88.1 FM was a test to gauge listener interest and member support. Three years on, we believe it is sustainable.

The Board’s current Strategic Plan indicates a clear directive to offer VPR Classical to more regions of Vermont. And that’s what we’ve accomplished – in addition to our Upper Valley frequency of 88.1 FM, VPR has added a signal in southwestern Vermont at 95.1 FM from the top of Mt. Equinox in Manchester. Translators (small booster signals) have sprung up in places like Middlebury and Woodstock, and online listening via the Internet is widely available. And we’re thrilled to announce that in the greater Burlington/Plattsburgh region, listeners are now able to hear us on 90.9 FM.

I know that some of you loyal VPR listeners won’t be able to hear VPR Clas-sical in your homes right away. But we’re

asking you to trust us to do the right thing, just as you’ve trusted VPR to be there for you in the past. VPR Classical is available on some of our HD digital sig-nals, which provide coverage in many of these areas now. The next steps include building a station that serves the New-port/Island Pond region next spring, and applying for stations in areas where our coverage is weak or non-existent, with special emphasis on the central Vermont, Rutland, and St. Johnsbury communities. Growing VPR Classical may take several years to realize, but we’re doing every-thing possible to provide VPR Classical

for all Vermonters. The future is bright for classical music

in this region – our cultural partners like the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Flynn Center, the Chandler Music Hall, the Hopkins Center, summer music festivals and many more are committed to classical music, and we’re committed to helping them in their efforts to bring live music to audiences across the region. As always, growing something precious takes time and energy… and we need your time and energy to grow VPR Classical for fu-ture generations of Vermonters. Thanks for being there for us!

First and most important is you, our listeners. Everything we do here at VPR is in effort to bring you public radio programming that enhances your life. The second is the challenge of pro-viding programming that meets the needs of all listeners, because everyone has a different vision of what VPR should be. After years of daily requests for more news, more music, more public affairs programs and more enter-tainment, we determined that the best way to serve all our listeners would be to provide two distinct services – one for news, and one for classical music.

We know you may be feeling a little unsettled. After all, VPR

is your constant companion, always there for you when you need it. And we know change can be difficult; change in radio can be even more so because we relate to it on such an intense and deeply personal level. But as much as change tests us, we believe this plan ultimately will best serve our audience.

We’re thrilled about and proud of VPR’s new services. But we could never have got-ten here without you – your feedback, your financial sup-

port and your loyal listening helped us to craft this new listening experience. We hope you’ll let us know what you think. Please feel free to contact us with your thoughts and ideas.

VPR Now Offers Two Distinct Services Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

Walter Parker, Joe Goetz and Cheryl WilloughbyVPR Classical's weekday local hosts.

Jody Evans, left, talks with Danville residents at a VPR Com-munity Gathering this summer.

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VPR ScrapbookFans and families turned out in Barre this sum-mer to mark Joel Najman's 25th anniversary hosting My Place. And they did it in style - with dance contests, music requests and Rock 'n Roll. The event also helped collect 880 pounds of food for the Vermont Foodbank.

The VPR news team during a VPR gathering to wish Steve Delaney well in his retirement. (Back row, from left) Patti Dan-iels, Sarah Ashworth, John Van Hoesen, Steve Delaney, Jane Lindholm and Susan Keese. (Front, from left) Steve Zind, Ross Sneyd, Neal Charnoff and Mitch Wertlieb.

(Top left) Terry Bouricius and Cate Lamb demonstrate the

Lindy Hop, while VPR's Robert Resnik and Neal Charnoff

dressed for the 50's Rock 'n Roll era. Marilee Jones helps

guest of honor Joel Najman find CDs and takes requests dur-

ing the Sock Hop.

In June, VPR hosted NPR Pentagon reporter Tom Bowman (2nd from right), who was in town for his reunion weekend at Saint Michael’s College. Tom is joined by Producers Circle members MaryLou and Don Robinson, Bill Stetson (also a VPR Board Member) and Dick Weed.

VPR's RobinTurnau, left, presented Juliet and Bob Gerlin of Cornwall Orchards Bed and Breakfast with a new HD digital radio that they won during the summer member-ship drive. Bob and Juliet are both longtime Sustaining Members and Juliet volunteers every pledge drive.

RADIO FLIER

ReactionlineDear VPR, No more Switchboard?!?! Oh, I’m so sad – I really loved listening to that show as I was cooking supper, especially the gardening, book and weather shows. I learned so much. I liked hearing my neighbors call in from time to time. I felt like it was just a really nice Vermont-based show, and one of the things I loved best about VPR. Switchboard was kind of like buying local produce, or going to Town Meeting. As for The World? Well, I haven’t listened to it yet, but by 7 p.m. I’ve had about enough of the world. By then, I want the comforts of home. I hope this is just a temporary thing – the hosts need a summer vacation, but I sure hope they come back soon.

Dianna Noyes,Marlboro

Editor’s Note: As part of the evolution in VPR’s regional news coverage, Switchboard ended in June in order to devote resources to expanding Vermont Edition into a daily news magazine pro-gram, now airing each weekday at noon. We wanted to invest our resources to provide the greatest public service. While this may seem counterintuitive, more people are listening at noon than at 7 pm. You can learn more about Vermont Edition on page 3.

Dear VPR, Just want to let you know how much I am enjoying The World – great program at a con-venient time for me to listen. Thank you.

Wendy Ewing, Fletcher

Dear VPR, We have been VPR members for several years, so when we recently had to relocate to Indianapolis from Burlington, there was no question that we would keep supporting VPR. By doing so, we are assured of three essential components of our life in “exile”: our pledge dollars keep working for VPR; thanks to the Internet, VPR’s classical music programming continues to be a daily part of our lives; and, most poignantly, listening to VPR helps us feel connected to what is go-ing on back in our dear home state. Thank you VPR for all your work – both inside the state and beyond!

Gary Harrison and Lisa Farrell,Indianapolis, IN

Dear VPR, Having expressed complaints at other times, I would like to commend your bold plans to convert to a two-channel format in the near future. Your commitment to classical music as well as your development of news and information programming, particularly in relation to Vermont issues, are to be praised in the strongest possible terms. Thanks for all the good work. Vermont is a better place for your efforts.

Tom Simone, Burlington

Dear VPR, I wanted you to know that I appreciate the jazz programming in the evening. It seems like the amount of jazz has been declining recently as you have added more news pro-gramming. What is going to happen to jazz

programming and George Thomas when you go to all news and all classical?

Paul Carnahan,Montpelier

Editor’s Note: Jazz will remain on VPR’s schedule. In fact, we’ve expanded it to five nights per week! See our new program schedule on the back page for details.

Dear VPR, THANKS for broadcasting in HD. I just got my HD digital radio and all I can say is WOW!! How wonderful to listen to VPR in a fuller experience. My sincere desire is that loyal listeners will go out and purchase an HD Radio. They will NOT be disappointed when they tune in VPR, and now with three channels. Thanks again. You are worthy of the public’s assistance in a financial way.

George W. McRae, Montreal, QC

Editor’s Note: VPR expects to have all its frequencies broadcasting in HD digital by the end of 2007. HD technology allows VPR to broadcast two or more services on the same signal, so you can choose to hear VPR or VPR Classical. You don’t need an HD Radio to continue listening to VPR – our traditional radio signal isn’t going away. HD just gives you more choices. You can learn more about HD radio online at vpr.net

Dear VPR, I am very disappointed to hear that VPR will be replacing its mostly music format with news. It has been wonderful to finally have a choice of what classical music to listen to, between the two VPR stations. I used to listen to NHPR until they switched to all news. That was a sad day. Although I do listen to some of the VPR news broadcasts, I really have no interest in having it go on all day long. I’m pretty sick of being bombard-ed with bad news. Short doses are plenty. If I wanted to listen to this format, I would have tuned in to NHPR long ago. Very sorry about your decision.

Evelyn Zuckerman, White River Junction

Dear VPR, I am a new volunteer with VPR who wishes to congratulate you on the series Homeless in Vermont. I hope listeners will effect positive change as a result of your programming. I love VPR! Smart people.

Jennifer Borthwick-Leslie, Grand Isle

Found MoneySusan Beard of Rutland delivered a can-ister of coins and bills totalling $63.22 to VPR during a recent membership drive. "I found the coins on the street over the past decade and since it was 'public' money, I thought the best thing to do was to give it to Vermont Public Radio," she said.

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RADIO FLIER

Dear VPR, I wanted to let you know that our entire family went outside last night for the Star Gazing Party. It was wonderful. In fact, my daughter, Annie, was the last caller on the show. We hope that you plan to do it on a regular basis. It would be interesting to watch how the stars and planets move in the sky throughout the year.

Sandy Soho, Windsor

Dear VPR, I really love the combination of news, entertainment, and classical music that VPR offers me now on 107.9. I will be sorry to have to switch back and forth between channels in order to receive the news and weather, Terry Gross, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, etc., as well as Walter Parker, Performance Today, Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, Sunday Bach, and so forth. Is there a way that you could keep the present format for those of us who love classical music but are also very happy with the variety of programming that you offer us now? Thank you so much.

Jacquelin T. Duffek, Shelburne

Dear VPR, I am concerned about the upcoming switch to an all news VPR station. I have been listening to VPR since it first aired in the mid-70s. This station was my first introduc-tion to classical music. I’d probably not have sought it out were it not part of the other programming I enjoy. I believe it is important for people to be balanced and that without music, we become too intense and left brained. I have been sorry to see VPR’s music programs increasingly replaced with talk.

Airie Lindsay, Barnet

Dear VPR, I LOVE your classical programming both on the classical station and the other station. We are in Switzerland for three months and are so enjoying your program-ming – so interesting! Not only do we enjoy the music but we so enjoy what we learn about the music and composers. Thank you!

Frederica Jones, Jericho

Dear VPR, Maybe VPR’s plans are bigger than the abil-ity of the members to support. The constant anxiety around fundraising is miserable. Are you spending too much, so having to raise too much money?

Altoon Sultan, Groton

Editor’s Note: It’s important to point out that missing one membership drive goal isn’t an indication of a trend in our audience nor membership. Our plans to expand into two distinct radio services were developed carefully under the guidance of our Board of Directors, and we’re ending our fiscal year on strong financial footing.

Dear VPR, Just wanted to say how much I appreciate all the great coverage on public radio. For ex-ample, this morning I learned the basics and factions involved in the Farm Bill - I hadn’t yet come across a description as succinct and elucidating. Public radio provides an invalu-able resource for concerned, thinking folks in this troubled world. It’s very encouraging to hear civilized, polite, probing, and edify-ing content. Thanks for all you do and offer; I’m glad you can expand your coverage, and I wish I could afford more of a pledge.

Rebecca Magdalena Kotula,Montpelier

Dear VPR, Even though I am retired, I especially enjoy your Sunday evening program Counting on Grace. It is an excellent story! As you consid-er your change to news/talk, please remem-ber that there are many of us who like to hear the audio of short stories or serialized longer stories. NHPR has a good example at 4 pm on Sunday: Selected Shorts.

Ed Feustel

Editor’s Note: You’ll hear Selected Shorts on VPR Sunday evenings at 8. You’ll find a complete program schedule on the back page.

Dear VPR, Recently, I’ve been hearing about a drive to be “Localvore,” including an upcoming visit by an author who lived localvore for a year. I wondered why, if this is such a pervasive trend, I hadn’t heard about it on VPR. So, I was making breakfast this morning and contemplating the “provenance” of my food, and I did a search on your website to see if you had mentioned this “Localvore” movement. Lo and behold, you had. Thank you, once again, for having the information I am seeking at the precise moment that I want it! The timing of your stories today was impeccable and reminds me, once again, of why I listen to VPR!

Kimberly Barnhart, Woodstock

Eye on the Night SkyMark Breen of Eye on the Night Sky quizzes kids during August's Star Gazing Party at Burke Mountain. The star party was broadcast on VPR so that listeners in their backyards could also follow the constellations and stars. Eye on the Night Sky is broadcast weekdays at 4:30 pm and is available as a podcast at vpr.net.

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RADIO FLIER

POSTCARD FROM VPR: Caption info goes hereName: _______________________________________________________________Address: ____________________ City: ________________ State:___ Zip: _________Email: __________________________________________________________________

Here’s my support for VPR – radio that matters! $50 $80 $120 $180 $250 $500 $1,000 Other:________

Please mail to: Vermont Public Radio, 365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446-3307

Check enclosed or mc / visa / amex Credit Card #: _______________________________ Exp:______Please send me information about including VPR in my estate plans Please send me information about becoming a Sustaining Member

FALLRF07

10

The Splendid Table 3 pm, SaturdayThe Splendid Table is a culinary, culture, and lifestyle

one-hour program that celebrates food and its ability to touch the lives and feed the souls of everyone. Each week, award-winning host Lynne Rossetto Kasper leads listeners on a journey of the senses and hosts discussions with a variety of writers and personalities who share their passion for the culinary delights.

The Story 1 - 2 pm, WeekdaysNo dispassionate pundits or sterile academics allowed. That’s the credo

of The Story, a new program that fills in the picture of events in the news with compelling personal experiences. The program is passionate, person-al, immediate, and relevant, focusing on the news where it changes our lives, causes us to stop and re-think, inspires us.

Veteran radio journalist Dick Gordon is your trusted guide to first-per-son accounts, expert guests and ideas that provide context and analysis. The Story brings together ordinary and extraordinary people who provide perspective on the news and inspire conversation and understanding.

New Programs on VPR (10/1/07)BBC Newshour9 am, Weekdays

BBC Newshour cov-ers everything from the growth of democracy to the threat of terrorism, from invasions and cata-clysmic natural disasters to inspiring humanitari-an triumphs. The BBC’s flagship news program, Newshour, specializes in bringing listeners not only the facts but also the in-depth analysis and commentary behind the headlines.

The program pres-ents 60 minutes of essential listening for people who want a fresh and clear perspective of stories from across the globe. Hosted by Robin Lustig, one of the BBC’s most senior radio presenters, Newshour is packed with newscasts, interviews, and analysis from the BBC’s most experienced correspon-dents.

On Point 10 - Noon, Weekdays

On Point unites distinct and provocative voices with passionate discussion as it confronts the stories that are at the center of what is important in the world today. Leaving no

perspective unchallenged, On Point digs past the surface and into the core of a subject. Each hour of the broadcast opens with a news brief analyzing the day’s biggest stories, followed by an in-depth conversation decoding a single topic with newsmakers, thinkers, and callers, and closes with compelling personal reactions to news and important issues. Host Tom Ashbrook combines his journalistic instincts with a listener’s openness and curiosity -- focusing on the relevant topics and deconstructing issues along with the audi-ence. News analyst Jack Beatty, Senior Editor at The Atlantic Monthly, also guides the program by providing his own unique perspective to the conversation.

Dick Gordon

Tom Ashbrook

Lynne Rossetto Kasper

RADIO FLIER

Vermont Public Radio’s new Manager of Special Gifts, Da-vid Warren, has always been matter-of-fact about why he’s worked in public broadcasting for most of his 24-year career.

“I’m passionate about public radio’s ability to impact lives on a daily basis,” he says. “I’m excited to give donors the opportu-nity to support such a vital community resource.”

David oversees the Phillips Legacy Society, VPR’s planned giving program, and cultivates relationships with major donors. VPR already benefits from more than 100 planned gifts, ranging from simple bequests and charitable gift annui-ties to various types of charitable trusts.

That said, with more than 23,000

Vermont Public Radio Founder Ray Dilley died on April 16th in his home in Lin-coln, Nebraska, where he had been working as manager of a statewide public radio network in Nebraska.

“Public Radio in Vermont exists because of Ray’s com-mitment and vision,” said Mark Vogelzang, President and General Manager of Ver-mont Public Radio. “Ray had this idea of connecting all of Vermont together.”

Concerned that one of the last remaining FM radio frequencies was about to be awarded to a commercial radio station, it was in 1975 that four Ver-monters – ministers Howard Stearns and Brad Rehm, Ray Phillips, Dean of the School of Continuing Education for UVM, and Ray Dilley, Director of the Discovery Museum – formed a Board of Directors to begin creating a public radio

Remembering VPR Founder Ray Dilleystation for Vermont. Dilley served as general manager of VPR from 1976 until 1993, when he moved to Baltimore to work with National Public radio’s NPR Worldwide. He later moved to Nebraska Edu-cational Telecommunication in Lincoln.

Dilley helped create some of VPR’s signature programs, including Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and The Eye on the Sky weather reports broadcast from the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. “Eye on the

Sky is still one of the most popular programs we broadcast on VPR,” Vogelzang said.

A life-long railroad enthusiast and son of a train station manager, Dilley was born in 1939 in a Northeast Kingdom train depot. His memorial service was held aboard a train in St. Johnsbury on July 28.

Public Radio Veteran Joins Vermont Public Radio active VPR members, the potential for planned giving to VPR is significant. David is eager to demystify planned giving for the VPR commu-nity.

“More donors are recog-nizing the value of planning gifts to institutions in the same way they’re planning for their families’ futures,” he said.

David’s career has taken him to New Hampshire

Public Television, Maine Public Broadcasting and Vermont Public Television, before he joined the staff of VPR in April. He and his wife Jane recently purchased a home in Colchester. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, bik-ing and kayaking.

Please contact David about how you can help ensure the future of VPR with a legacy gift at 802-654-4388 or by email at dwarren@vpr.net. 11

Do you have an IRA?If you do, and you’re 70½ or older,

you may be eligible to take advantage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. This year, 2007, is perhaps the last year in which you can make a tax-free charitable gift directly from your Indi-vidual Retirement Account to VPR. Under prior law, all withdrawals from an IRA, even if used for charitable contributions, were subject to income tax at ordinary rates.

You can contribute up to $100,000 directly from your IRA to VPR and pay no income tax on the distribution and the distribution counts toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).

For more information, please contact David Warren at 800-639-2192.

David Warren

New Programs on VPR (10/1/07)

VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO 365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage Paid

Burlington, VTPermit No. 468

Monday - Friday Saturday

Morning Edition

On Point

The Story

Fresh Air

All Things Considered

BBC World Service

BBC World Update (5 to 6 AM)

Speaking of Faith

Weekend Edition

Car Talk On the Media

A Prairie Home

Companion

Wait, Wait... Don’t Tell Me!

All TheTraditions

with Robert Resnik

All Things Considered

This American Life

Living on Earth

My Place

Sunday

Only a Game

Says You!

Word for Word

new prograM ScheduleS inSide!

for a list of vpr stations and where you can listen, see page 2 or vpr.net

Peter Fox Smith Celebrates 30 Years on VPR

Page 5

New Program Schedule

Meet Vermont Edition's Host

Page 3

vpr.net Relaunched

Page 6

BBC Newshour

Vermont Edition

Day to Day

All Things Considered / Marketplace

Jazz with George Thomas

Weekend Edition

World Cafe

The Splendid Table

Marketplace Money

A Prairie Home

Companion

Selected Shorts

Studio 360

American Routes

Monday - Friday

Sacred Classics

Classical Music with Kimberlea

Daggy

From the Top

Sunday Bach

Pipedreams

Classical music with Gene Parrish Overnight

Classical Music with Cheryl Willoughby

Fridays at 8:06 - Classics for Kids

Symphony at Seven

Classical Music with Charles Andrews

Saturday - Sunday

Classical Music with

David Rutherford

Interlude

Saturday Afternoon at

the Opera withPeter

Fox Smith

Classical MusicwithPat

Alexander

ModernMasterpieces

Classical Music with

Stephanie Wendt

6 aM

7 aM 8 aM

9 aM

10 aM

11 aM

Noon

1 pM

2 pM

3 pM

4 pM

5 pM

6 pM

7 pM

8 pM

9 pM

10 pM

11 pM

Midnight

New Program Schedule

Classical Music with David Rutherford

Classical Music with Walter Parker

Classical Music with Joseph Goetz

Fridays at 4:06 - Classics for Kids

Exploring Music

Classical with Stephanie Wendt 11 pm - 2 am

Classical with Monika Vischer 2 am - 6 am

Friday Piano Jazz

BBC World Service

BBC World Hearts of Space

Friday Jazz

BBC World Service overnight

The World (Mon-Fri)

AfropopWorldwide

Classical Music with

Steve Blatt

ClassicalMusic with

Pat Alexander

Classical MusicwithPat

Alexander

6 aM

7 aM

8 aM

9 aM

10 aM

11 aM

Noon

1 pM

2 pM

3 pM

4 pM

5 pM

6 pM

7 pM

8 pM

9 pM

10 pM

11 pM

Midnight

Beginning October 1, 2007Beginning October 1, 2007

Classicalwith Gene Parrish