December 2019 Programming Highlights

December closes out one year and ushers in a new decade. Tune in for holiday specials and meaningful reflections.

Farm and Country (Saturdays at 11a.m.) producer Rosie Starr has packed a December “sleigh full of goodies” beginning with Stephanie Phillips’ conversation with Diane Weiner about caring for Pointsettias, those lovely holiday plant gifts on December 7. For December 14 “Star Talk’s” Keith Hubbard says the December 14 spectacular gemind meteor shower is an absolute beauty not to be missed. “Along the Poet’s Row”,Christine San Jose enjoys this winter’s season with poetry that reflects classic ritual. In her archived segment “Know You Know” Stephanie Phillips highlights holly. She visits the Manza Family Farm in Montgomery and speaks with owner Tom Manza and employee Martha Haude about this lovely decorative bush. Other special Farm & Country programs celebrating the season include poetry for Channukah, recited by Christine San Jose and a visit from St. Nicholas. On December 21, Star Talk’s Keith Hubbard with a seasonal scoop on understanding the science of the winter solstice. Along the Poet’s Row’s Christine San Jose celebrates Channukah with a reading of “The Feast of Lights” by Emma Lazurus. From the Farm and Country archives Laura Silverman indulges us with warm and sweet traditional steamed pudding. Pat and Jim Sanders are “For the Birds” and share their archived holiday narration inspired by the song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” And John Nordstrom with his festive jolly voice narrates “A Visit from Saint Nick” by Clement Clark Moore.

Jim Huntington’s WORK SHIFT (Wednesdays at 10 a.m.) keeps us up-to-date looking at November National, and October Local Jobs Numbers, and What They Mean on December 11; Driverless Cars:  Seen in the Metal! on December 18 and Will America End This Way? on December 25 with a re-broadcast on January 1.

With a focus on Black America The Janus Adams Show (Saturdays at 4 p.m.) fills the month with themed programs. On December 7 she talks about “wonderful African-American-centered books and authors” with Max Rodriguez, founder, QBR: The Black Book Review and the Harlem Book Fair, in time for holiday gift-giving. On December 14 she holds an “intergenerational Fireside Chat,” with Ilyasah Shabazz (author, activist, daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz on the theme, “To Be or Not To Be”: What does it mean to be oneself in times of challenge and change? “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration” a 1992 project helmed by Quincy Jones re-imagined The Messiah. Janus’s guest on December 21 is Darryl Tookes, singer-pianist-composer and one of the performers. And on December 28, closing out one year and starting a new, Janus hosts Omid Safi, PhD, Duke University Professor and Director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center; author, and tour guide, on his brand of “Radical Love.”

Host of Ballads and Banjos (Saturdays at 7 a.m.) Sonja Hedlund celebrates the season with special holiday selections from around the world on December 21; a live show focusing on major events of 2019 and the music that goes with each on December 28 and  on January 4, 2020 looking back 100 years to the music of the 1920s.

Jason Tougaw, will do a special episode of The Mixtape (Fridays at 7:30 p.m.) on December 20, featuring holiday music from the classic to the contemporary—including well-known hits, archival gems, and alternative tracks.

On the next Radio Chatskill’s Culture Club (2nd Saturday at 10 a.m.) on December 14 Harold Tighe talks with four of the top arts administrators in the area – Ariel Shanberg from Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, Ryanne Jennings from The Cooperage project in Honesdale, Kenneth Hamrick from Nesin Cultural Arts in Monticello, and Paul Plumadore from Wayne County Arts Alliance. Harold will discuss “where the arts in WJFFland are, where they are going, and what their biggest needs are.

On Christmas Day, Brad Mann host of Neonatal Pulse (Wednesdays 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.) presents his annual show with all brand-new holiday music released over the past few months. Yo La Tengo, Andrew Bird, Kacey Musgraves, and many others.