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Although a Philadelphia native, Maxine Kumin has spent most of her life in New England and since 1976, on a horse farm in Warner, New Hampshire. Many of Kumin's essays and poems reflect on New Hampshire's ever-changing landscape... rugged mountains and seashores, lakes and farmlands… the vibrancy of autumn colors and the nuances of mud season. She also writes about our relation to our land… tapping maple syrup, foraging for mushrooms and the animals who share our land with us, from black flies to black bears. Today in our final installment of our series Granite State Stories we explore our relationship to our land though the words of Maxine Kumin, and through the pages of her newest book of poetry and an older book of essays. Laura's guests are Maxine Kumin and David Watters.

*This show originally broadcast on 9/23/05*

In the fourth installment in our Granite State Stories series we look at the New Hampshire’s rich political history through the pages of Winston Churchill’s “Coniston”. It’s the story of Granite State politics during the era of progressive reform, of colorful politicians, corruption and the long time respect for our long standing political traditions which for such a small state has made a large impression throughout history. A Saint Louis native, Churchill moved to New Hampshire as an adult, became acclaimed for his books on historical fiction and played with Granite State politics himself as a one-term legislator and Gubernatorial candidate. His fame was so great that the English Winston Churchill wrote him in 1899 to say that he would henceforth sign his name Winston Spencer Churchill to distinguish himself from the more famous American. Both before and after Churchill’s writings our state has distinguished itself as a place of political greatness from our Town Meetings, to our grass roots politics to our First in the Nation Presidential Primary that puts our state under the political microscope every four years. Today on the Exchange we talk about these traditions, our long political history and Winston Churchill’s “Coniston”. Laura's guests are Stephen Winship, author of three books on New Hampshire history who has written a column on history for the Concord Monitor for the past twenty years, David Watters, Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire and Director of the Center for New England Culture and Charles Bass, Republican Congressman representing the Second District of New Hampshire.

*This show originally broadcast on 9/9/05*

The London Sunday Telegraph once proclaimed Charles Dickens as "The Man who Invented Christmas" and his timeless story "A Christmas Carol", the main reason why. Written in London in 1843, at a time of expanding urbanization and industrialization, and a declining interest in old customs and ceremonies, "A Christmas Carol" with Scrooge, Cratchit, Tiny Tim and a host of ominous ghosts, helped its readers find the true spirit of Christmas and look back nostalgically at the old time Christmas traditions of friends, family, fun and frivolity. Gerald Charles Dickens is Charles Dickens's great great grandson and like his famous namesake, an actor, touring America for the past ten years with his one-man performance of "A Christmas Carol". His tour stopped by the Granite State, and when it did we caught up with Gerald Charles Dickens to talk about the legacy of the Great Great Grandfather, the magic of "A Christmas Carol" and to perform a handful of scenes from his show.

Generally thought of as an “urban” problem, many in the Granite state might be surprised to learn that on any given night, over thirty-two hundred find themselves without a permanent home in New Hampshire. Another surprise, the average age of a homeless person in the Granite State...nine years old. Now a new plan, released today hopes to end homelessness in our state in ten years... through affordable housing, through better programs and through heightened awareness. Today on the Exchange, we’ll find out more about the plan as well as the plight, the hopes and the future of our state's often too silent homeless population. Laura's guests are Keith Kuenning, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness. Peter Kelleher, Executive Director of Harbor Homes Inc., an non-profit organization in Nashua that provides residential and support services to the homeless and those suffering from mental illness. Peter is also the Chair of the New Hampshire Interagency Council on Homelessness, who is releasing this 10-year plan report. Emily Madison, formerly homeless for about 9 months, Emily now works as a Program Manager for Harbor Homes. Ellen Wheatley, Head Start Administrator for the State of New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth, and Families and TBA.

Click here to learn more about the National Interagency Council on Homelessness and other states' 10-year plans to end Homelessness.

After thirty seven years in New Hampshire’s courts, Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nadeau is stepping down. We’ll talk about his time on the bench, lessons learned and what he plans to do next, including his intentions to work with international judges and lawyers to help establish independent judicial systems outside of the United States. Laura's guest is New Hampshire Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Joseph Nadeau.