Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Lively Experiment: 2014 Retrospective, 2015 Predictions (Sunday, January 4 at noon)



NOTE: A Lively Experiment will not air on Friday, Jan. 2. 
Tune in Sunday, Jan. 4 at noon for our annual PREDICTIONS SHOW.
A Lively Experiment returns to Fridays on Jan. 9 at a new time, 7 p.m.
 Happy New Year to you and yours!

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Maureen Moakley -  political science professor, URI 
Wendy Schiller - political science professor, Brown University
Dave Layman - corporate communications consultant
Jim Hummel - lead investigator, The Hummel Report

Topics
- A Look Back at 2014:
  • Top local story
  • Top national story 
  • Best political moment 
  • Worst political moment 
  • Biggest winner 
  • Biggest loser 
  • “Only in Rhode Island” moment 
  • A look back at Predictions for 2014 (hit or miss?) 
- Predictions for 2015   

- People to watch in 2015

A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Fridays at 7 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 P.M. on WSBE Learn (36.2), and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on Massachusetts cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36 / 3128HD, Dish Network 36 / 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

Can't get to the TV? Watch the episode online anytime and anywhere on our YouTube channel. Episodes of A Lively Experiment are generally available to watch on the next business day. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and YouTube will notify you when a new episode is uploaded.

On Facebook? So are we! "Like" A Lively Experiment on Facebook.

Downton Abbey Sweepstakes - Enter Now

This Just In! 
 
Enter the 2015 Downton Abbey Sweepstakes daily through March 15,2015 for a chance to win a trip for 2 adults from the US to Great Britain! 

This 5-day, 4-night trip features a private tea at iconic Highclere Castle withThe Countess of Carnarvon, author of Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey, guided tours of village film locations in the beautiful Oxfordshire Costwolds, and a private look at Downton Abbey's "downstairs set" at London's Ealing Studios.

The trip also includes British etiquette training from The English Manner and series merchandise including A Year in the Life of Downton Abbey signed by cast members. 

Travel must take place July 26, 2015 to July 31, 2015. 

You may also win 1 of 4 monthly prizes, which feature all five seasons of Downton Abbey on DVD plus assorted Downton Abbey merchandise. 

No purchase necessary; winners will be selected by random drawing. Enter at www.pbs.org/sweepstakes

Teas, Tours, and Taxes (well, tax receipts anyway)

Calling Volunteers: Join us for tea (or coffee), a station tour and help us thank our 2014 donors
 
December 31 marks the end of the 2014 tax year, but it also marks the start of the annual ritual of gathering together the various receipts and tax documents that help make income tax filing so much more organized and easy. 

It may not come as a surprise to you that your fellow Rhode Island PBS donors are generous and numerous, and we appreciate every single one of you. But what may be less well-known is the sheer number of tax receipts that must be generated, folded and stuffed into envelopes as soon as possible after the end of 2014. 

So, we'd like to invite you to a Paper Party. With cookies and coffee or tea. And to make the most of your visit, we'd love to give you a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio. 

How does your schedule look for Friday, January 9 or Monday January 12? You are welcome to come to the station at 50 Park Lane in Providence on either one or both days. We will have two sessions each day: 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 - 4 p.m.Pick the day(s) and time(s) most convenient for you, and let us know you're coming by simply replying to this eNews message. 

Many hands make light work, as the saying goes. We thank you sincerely for making this important work as light as air. Please call Jodi or Liz in Membership if you have any questions or to reserve your place at the table: 401-222-3636 x209. We look forward to seeing you!

Community Partner: State Ballet of RI Auditions

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR 
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
January 2 & 4, 2015
Herci Marsden, Artistic Director and Choreographer of
The State Ballet of Rhode Island, is holding open auditions for aspiring young male and female dancers for the Company's upcoming performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Tickets are on sale now.  Call SBRI Ticket Office at 401-334-2560 or click here.
   




  
AUDITION INFORMATION
Dates & Times 
Friday, January 2nd: 7-8pm 
Sunday, January 4th: 12-1pm
Location 
State Ballet Rehearsal Studio/Brae Crest School of Ballet 
52 Sherman Avenue, Lincoln, RI 02865
 



 
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare's classic comedy of a wild night where the worlds of mortals and magical fairies collide comes to life on
March 27th and 28th, 2015. 
   
Performances will take place at
Roberts Auditorium, Rhode Island College, Providence RI
Tickets are on sale now!
Call SBRI's Ticket Office at 401-334-2560 or click here
 
If you know of a passionate dancer, please forward this email to them!

Monday, December 22, 2014

New Year Brings New Time, New Look to A Lively Experiment


After a two-week hiatus for the holidays, A Lively Experiment - democracy with a Rhode Island accent - returns at a new time on Friday nights. Effective January 9, the first show of 2015, A Lively Experiment moves to 7 p.m. on its regular night. A Lively Experiment will continue to air at noon on Sundays on WSBE Rhode Island PBS and at 7 p.m. on Saturdays on WSBE Learn. On January 9, viewers will also get their first peek at the show's refreshed "look."

"We're excited to announce these enhancements," said Rhode Island PBS President David W. Piccerelli. "We're especially pleased to be able to respond to the community's request to move the show to a time that is more convenient for our faithful viewers." A Lively Experiment will now air immediately following Nightly Business Report.

A Lively Experiment will kick off the New Year with a new opening and new title graphics to accompany new theme music. But the biggest change planned for show's appearance is the installation of images by prominent Rhode Island photographer Richard Benjamin on the walls of the set. A photojournalist for 32 years, 27 of them at the Providence Journal, and now as a fine art photographer, Benjamin represents quintessential Rhode Island, shooting familiar locations and landmarks in ways that capture what he calls “the magic of Rhode Island.”

“The set will feature a single panoramic scene on each wall behind the panelists, softening lines and transitions,” said David Marseglia, the show’s executive producer.

“The seamless continuity of the scenery will create a serene background for the lively discussions,” said Producer Margie O’Brien. “And that’s the point,” she added. “We have great guests talking about important issues.”

The two images chosen for A Lively Experiment will depict a fresh, contemporary view of familiar scenes in the community and reflect how the state has developed and changed over time. The sweeping photos will also permit more dynamic in-studio camera work.

The set has been designed by Sheppard Leger Nowak, Inc., of East Providence, and is being sponsored by Taco, Inc., of Cranston. Installation of the murals is expected to be complete by January 9.

“We are sincerely grateful for Taco’s continued support, keen interest, and active involvement with Rhode Island PBS,” said Piccerelli. “The collaboration in this most recent update to A Lively Experiment is an excellent example. These enhancements would not be possible without Taco’s support," he said.

“Responsive changes like the ones we are planning for A Lively Experiment align with our commitment to the community to improve and expand local production,” Piccerelli said. “Our commitment is to produce and present local content for 25% of our schedule over the next five years. Fulfilling that vision takes innovative collaboration, and partnerships with businesses, community organizations, and individuals. The multi-pronged approach is to reach out to local producers, and to expand our internal production capacity as well,” said Piccerelli.

“The key to successful community partnerships is finding compatible goals, vision, and mutual benefit,” Piccerelli said. “We are thrilled to showcase Richard Benjamin’s work, and to acknowledge Taco’s philanthropy. The result of this partnership will be a new look that befits the quality content of A Lively Experiment.

Since 1987, A Lively Experiment has provided incisive review of local politics – and all politics is local. Although the look of the show may be changing, its format and host remain the same: Dyana Koelsch moderates the fast-paced analysis of the week's political events by news makers and opinion leaders.

Representing both independent and partisan viewpoints, the weekly half-hour show features a revolving panel of television, radio, newspaper, and online journalists, political scientists, pundits, economists, opinion leaders, elected and appointed officials. Panelists examine local and state issues emanating from Town Halls to Smith Hill, and even the halls of Congress and the White House.

A Lively Experiment’s popular segment, “Outrage of the Week,” will also continue. Typifying the essence of the show’s political commentary, this segment features an eclectic collection of each guest's single most significant issue, often under-reported failings and foibles of Rhode Island officials.

With a new time, an updated look, and an abundance of hot topics to discuss, A Lively Experiment will continue to ignite spirited debate, opinion, and commentary about Rhode Islanders' favorite local pastime: politics and government.

A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Fridays at 7 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 p.m. on WSBE Learn (36.2), and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.

Episodes of A Lively Experiment are available online on the Rhode Island PBS YouTube channel, usually the next business day after the first broadcast. Subscribers to the YouTube channel are notified when a new episode is ready for viewing. Viewers can also find A Lively Experiment on Facebook.


Friday, December 19, 2014

A Lively Experiment, Week of December 19, 2014



NOTE: A Lively Experiment will not air on
Friday, December 26 nor on Friday, January 2. 

Tune in Sunday, January 4 at noon for our annual PREDICTIONS SHOW.
 Happy holidays to you and yours!

Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Maureen Moakley -  political science professor, URI 
Wendy Schiller - political science professor, Brown University
Dave Layman - corporate communications consultant
Jim Hummel - lead investigator, The Hummel Report

Topics
  • Governor-elect Raimondo’s appointees 
  • Change of personnel at the State House 
  • Judges’ decision re: former Secretary of State Ralph Mollis  
  • State’s economy 
  • RhodeMap RI 
  • United States relationship with Cuba
A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Fridays at 8:30 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 P.M. on WSBE Learn (36.2), and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on Massachusetts cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36 / 3128HD, Dish Network 36 / 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

Can't get to the TV? Watch the episode online anytime and anywhere on our YouTube channel. Episodes of A Lively Experiment are generally available to watch on the next business day. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and YouTube will notify you when a new episode is uploaded.

On Facebook? So are we! "Like" A Lively Experiment on Facebook.

Discover East Coast Antiques in January on Rhode Island PBS


East Coast Antiques, a new antiques reality series based in the Ocean State, premieres on Rhode Island PBS on January 9 at 8:30 p.m. The series is part reality television and part destination show, with host and series creator Mike Rossi acting as the guide on a behind-the-scenes tour through the twists and turns of the antiques world.

As a licensed auctioneer, antiques store manager, and antiquities collector himself, Rossi brings a unique insider perspective to the new series. A television veteran with 25 years of broadcast experience, he is also the creator and director of the popular antiques television show Antiques Alley, which completed its run on Rhode Island PBS last fall.

The first season of East Coast Antiques will follow the cast as they travel up and down the east coast visiting antiques stores and auctions, flea markets and festivals - even home attics - in search of the people and items that continue to make collecting antiques one of the hottest pastimes today. Viewers this season will learn how to go about finding just the right item, the art of negotiating the best price, and, most importantly, knowing when to walk away.

The anchor or pivotal setting for East Coast Antiques is a fictional store called Antiques Alley (the real-life Stillwater Antiques in Greenville, RI). What is the show's premise?

“It's an antiques show within an antiques show,” said Rossi. “I'm the manager of Antiques Alley with three intrepid employees. They find themselves in situations and often have to fend for themselves because I'm busy on the road filming an antiques show for television,” he said. His wide grin predicts the situations will be fun and funny.

The informative and entertaining segments at Antiques Alley serve as appetizers for the main dish: the great stories told by antiques insiders from their shops and locations along the east coast. Rossi’s real life expertise and his membership in the world of antiques dealing earn him access to prominent personalities and experts who furnish thought-provoking and insightful interviews not available to the average TV producer.

The objects examined are seen through the dealer’s eyes, not the collector’s, so viewers quickly learn what’s hot, what’s not, and why. Employing a fun and conversational format, the 30-minute show reveals the culture of the antiques world from the people who’ve spent their lives in it, analyzing trends and navigating the waters between the art and science of acquiring antiques.

In addition to Mike Rossi, the show stars toy specialist Travis Landry (Toy Hunter), antiques dealer Steve Mariorenzi, and Jolie Stewart.

East Coast Antiques will air on Rhode Island PBS on Fridays at 8:30 p.m., following British Antiques Roadshow at 8 p.m.

Like the show on Facebook; follow on Twitter.


  

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard‐definition (SD) and high‐definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on RI cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on MA cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Act Now to Take Advantage of IRA Charitable Rollover for 2014

The Senate just passed HR 5771 and President Obama signed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, which includes an extension through December 31, 2014 of the IRA Charitable Rollover.  

Tia and Ken Scigulinsky have been long-time supporters of Rhode Island PBS and today we’d like take this opportunity to describe the vehicle by which they have made their charitable contributions to Rhode Island PBS, in hopes their story will benefit you as well.


Since being introduced in 2006, the charitable IRA rollover has become a favorite of charitably-minded taxpayers. Many have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to transfer up to $100,000 each year to charity without being treated as a taxable distribution. It's a simple but powerful planning strategy for taxpayers 70 ½ or older who are required to take a minimum distribution from their IRA, but may not need the income to live.

Such is the case for Ken and Tia Scigulinsky of Portsmouth, RI.

Ken and Tia Scigulinsky
Devoted to their family, their community, and their country, Ken and Tia generously give of their time as well as their money. They volunteer with several education-related organizations and committees in the greater Newport area where they live.

Ken and Tia have supported Rhode Island PBS for more than a decade. Tia served consecutive terms as a member of the Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority, the station's former governing body, and currently serves as board secretary on the Rhode Island PBS Foundation Board of Directors.

The Scigulinskys recently sat with Rhode Island PBS Director of Development and External Affairs Molly Garrison to discuss why the charitable IRA rollover made sense for them.

"We've worked hard all our lives and now enjoy a comfortable financial position in retirement that permits us to support our favorite organizations," Tia said. "We appreciate Rhode Island PBS on several levels - the format that lets us enjoy our shows without commercial interruption; the abundance of music, cultural, and performing arts from the best stages in the world; the subtle but very real learning that permeates the entire schedule--"

"Turn on the channel and learn something new every time," Ken interjected.

"Plus, the station's commitment to producing and presenting local stories," Tia concluded. "All of those reasons define Rhode Island PBS's role in the community and why it's important to us."

"You can call it the lure of 'convenience, culture, and community,'" said Ken.  

"It sounds like a scripted commercial, but it's true," Tia laughed. "Rhode Island PBS really is the local trusted source of quality programming that actually makes a difference in the lives of viewers. I know it makes a difference in our lives, and we want to preserve that experience for future generations by giving what we can now," she said.

"As fond as we are of Rhode Island PBS, our motives are not exclusively philanthropic," Ken grinned broadly. "There's also a practical advantage to giving this way. We trusted our financial advisor's recommendation that it would be better to make our contribution directly from an IRA so that the money is not considered income to us, as opposed to receiving the IRA money as income, then making a tax-deductible donation." 

Plus, as Ken noted, donating these assets, rather than taking minimum required distributions, may also enable older donors to avoid certain penalties that come with a higher adjusted gross income, such as higher Medicare premiums.

"And it was easy to do, too," Tia explained. "A Web search summarized the process with clear, simple directions and included a sample letter to send to the IRA manager to request the transfer. A call to our financial advisor confirmed the move."

We at Rhode Island PBS appreciate the inspiring generosity of spirit and deed Tia and Ken demonstrate every day. We hope you find their story inspiring as well, and useful in your year-end financial planning.

These are the summarized requirements and restrictions for making a charitable IRA rollover gift:
  • The donor must be 70 1/2 or older.
  • The gift must be made directly from the IRA to an eligible charitable organization by December 31, 2014.
  • Gifts to all charities combined cannot exceed a total of $100,000 per taxpayer for the year.
  • The gifts must be outright, and no material benefits can be received in return for the gifts. 
  • The gift is not included in taxable income, and no charitable deduction is allowed.
  • The gift can only be made from an IRA. Gifts from a 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans must be rolled into an IRA first, then the gift can be made from the IRA.
To complete an IRA charitable rollover, the first step is to contact your IRA provider to learn the provider's specific procedures. 

The charitable IRA Rollover expires December 31st. However, there are other creative ways to support Rhode Island PBS that never expire - where you and that station you love benefit at the same time. Such giving techniques are called "planned gifts" because, with thoughtful planning, you create win-win solutions for you and Rhode Island PBS. 

For example:
  • You can make a gift that costs nothing during your lifetime, by including Rhode Island PBS in your will.
  • You can give stock to Rhode Island PBS and avoid paying capital gains tax.
To learn more, call Molly Garrison, Director of Development and External Affairs 401-222-3636 ext. 336.

CLICK HERE for the sample letter

Tabor Boy: 100 Years at Sea


Tabor Boy: 100 Years at Sea is a documentary that profiles the captivating history of the Tabor Boy sail training program in which thousands of high school students have experienced the lifelong lessons of going to sea. Rhode Island PBS is pleased to present this documentary on Sunday, December 28 at 9 p.m.


Celebrating her 100th year at sea, Tabor Academy’s flagship 92’ sail training schooner, the SSV Tabor Boy, and the sail training program onboard, is the subject of a film by Emmy award-winning videographer and Tabor Academy alumnus John Rice of Above the Line Programming.

The documentary looks at the rich history of the current Tabor Boy ship from its origins 100 years ago as a North Sea pilot schooner to its use today as an educational platform for teaching nautical and marine science. Through a host of engaging interviews with former and current executive officers, captains and crew, plus amazing historical footage and stills, the film reveals the transformative power of going to sea, and the personal effect it has had on generations of Tabor Academy students since the sail program’s inception in 1917.

To learn about the Tabor Boy sail training program and its history, Rice did hours of research before joining the Tabor Boy captain and crew onboard last summer during the school’s new student orientation voyages around Buzzards Bay. Rice also sailed on a student research trip last winter to the Caribbean. Rice captured beautiful footage of local sailing waters and of sailing and diving in the clear waters of the Caribbean. Beyond scenic sailing footage, however, are powerful stories of accomplishment and leadership being taught through the Tabor Boy sail training program.

The documentary also follows the tall ship schooner on its open ocean journey in heavy seas, sailing from the New England south coast to Bermuda and eventually the United States Virgin Islands. In bays all across the USVI island of St. John, more than 700 Tabor students have conducted real-life marine science research, in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, by diving, analyzing, and tracking the health of the Elkhorn coral species. The students’ research, conducted over 15 years, has led to the designation of Elkhorn coral as an endangered species.

Head of School John Quirk states, “Tabor Academy recognizes the value of our seaside location to enhance student learning in the broadest sense. The Tabor Boy program has played a major role in our school-by-the-sea heritage since 1917. It is a slice of American sailing history; a story about adventure and of real life lessons learned. The film shares our school’s mission in a clear and enduring way, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share it with the public.”

“We’re pleased to bring this local story to our community,” said WSBE Rhode Island PBS President David W. Piccerelli. “The Tabor Academy sail program is unique to the school but this film captures the spirit of the program in a way that is of interest to all.”

The film cleverly weaves the history of the schooner program at Tabor with the current program, masterfully sharing some unique old photographs and stories of Tabor’s past vessels and their captains, alongside recent footage of today’s schooner powerfully sailing offshore in heavy seas with her competent captain and student crew.

At its essence, Tabor Boy: 100 Years at Sea pays homage to a fine ship and to its many crew members who have had an experience of a lifetime.

After the December 28 premiere, Tabor Boy: 100 Years at Sea will encore on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1) on December 30 at 1:30 a.m., and on WSBE Learn (digital 36.2) on January 1 at 10 p.m., January 2 at 5 a.m., and January 3 at 2 a.m. and 4 p.m.

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taborboy
On Twitter: @SSVTaborBoy

About John Rice
John Rice is an alumnus of Tabor Academy and the principal of Above the Line Programming. Above the Line Programming Group is a full-service creative production company based in Hingham, MA. For more than 30 years, the company has produced over 350 hours of engaging programming for network, cable, digital, commercial, non-profit and business television outlets. President and Executive Producer John Rice has won and been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards for his work with Above the Line. For more info go to (www.abovethelineprogramming.com)

About Tabor Academy
Tabor Academy is an independent, co-ed, boarding and day school for grades 9-12 featuring a broad-based, challenging college preparatory curriculum including the arts and competitive athletics, as well as unique marine and nautical science programs. The SSV Tabor Boy is one element of the nautical science program and its sail-training program is the only one of its kind among independent schools. For more information about Tabor Academy or the SSV Tabor Boy, please visit www.taboracademy.org.

About Rhode Island PBS
WSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE-DT is a viewer-supported member of the PBS network of public broadcasting stations, and transmits on three channels: Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1), Learn (digital 36.2), and Spanish-language programming on Vme (36.3). Committed to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE Rhode Island PBS uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about the programs and education services at WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on RI cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on MA cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

Last Voyage of U-853


On May 5, 1945, just days before Germany surrendered in World War II, the U.S. merchant ship S.S. Black Point was steaming from Newport News Virginia to Weymouth, Massachusetts. Suddenly, German U-boat U-853, attacked and torpedoed the Black Point just a few miles off the coast of Rhode Island. The Black Point sank in minutes, taking 12 men to their deaths; 34 men were rescued.

The incident left many unanswered questions. One man, Captain Bill Palmer, a former Army paratrooper, Coast Guard licensed captain, and deep sea explorer, has been searching for answers for more than 30 years. His interest in the history of the U-853 became the subject of the book he authored entitled, The Last Battle of the Atlantic. Palmer partnered with award-winning editor and videographer Gregory Pettys of Westerly, Rhode Island, to produce the documentary, Last Voyage of the U-853. The documentary premieres on Rhode Island PBS Sunday, December 28 at 6 p.m. as part of Rhode Island Stories.

There are many mysteries surrounding the U-853, questions that drive Captain Palmer’s exploration. Why did the U-853’s young Captain Helmut Frömsdorf attack and sink the Black Point instead of surrendering as ordered? What was the U-853’s mission? Did she carry secret weapons as many at the time thought, or gold and mercury as some surmised? Why did she attack against orders in less than 200 feet of water and only a few miles from a US destroyer base? After the attack, why not try to escape the area at flank speed?

For U-853, not escaping was a fateful decision. It would be about an hour before the first of the U.S. warships could get there, but even then the sub was still hugging the bottom only eight miles from where the Black Point went down. A total of 11 Navy and Coast Guard ships arrived and immediately set up a barrier force, while initiating a sweep search with echo ranging that started at the northern tip of Block Island. The U-853 was eventually located and destroyed, killing the 54 men aboard.

Last Voyage of the U-853 chronicles some of Captain Palmer’s undersea exploration of the sunken wreck. Captain Palmer is searching the interior of the U-boat to try and find the log book. Finding the log could help solve many of the mysteries surrounding the U-853. Captain Palmer knows that navy divers never found it back in 1945, partly due to the danger from unexploded depth charges surrounding the U-853. It’s been estimated that more than 15 tons of explosives were used to sink the submarine and at least two men have died in attempts to explore the wreck, so the dive is not without danger.

“It’s taken a couple of years to put the story together but it was a great experience,” said Mr. Pettys. “When Captain Palmer goes inside the U-boat over 130 feet down and you see remains of some of the crewmen who went down with the ship, it’s really incredible footage,” he said.

“I cannot understand why Captain Frömsdorf torpedoed the Black Point one day before the war ended,” Captain Palmer mused. Palmer quotes from the account of Hans Gerbler, the radio operator on the U-505, who felt Frömsdorf was young, ambitious, and put his crew at great risk for his own personal gain. “‘I remember what the first commander of the U-853 said to Frömsdorf before we left. They are all good boys, make sure you bring them home.’ And here they sit to this day, in 130 feet of water off the coast of Rhode Island, waiting to go home,” Palmer concluded.

After the premiere on December 28, Last Voyage of the U-853 will encore on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1) on December 29 at 10 p.m., December 30 at 4 a.m., December 31 at 2:30 a.m., January 2 at 4 a.m., and January 3 at noon and 11 p.m. The documentary will also air on WSBE Learn (digital 36.2) on December 30 at 8 p.m., December 31 at 3 a.m., January 1 at midnight, and January 4 at 11 p.m.


About Captain Bill Palmer
Captain Palmer learned to dive after the Vietnam War. After leaving the army with $300 dollars in his pocket he bought some dive gear and a paperback book at Caldors on how to dive. He is now recognized as an expert wreck diver. Captain Palmer has lectured at numerous colleges and universities, including the United States Coast Guard Academy. Captain Palmer’s awar-winning undersea video work has been seen on many major television networks. Recently, Captain Palmer was interviewed by director Peter Weir (Master and Commander) about his role in the book Shadow Divers, soon to be made into a major motion picture.

About Gregory Pettys and Pettys Productions
Since 1987 Pettys Productions has provided award winning creative solutions to broadcast and corporate clients around the world. Pettys Productions specializes in documentary style productions for major scientific and pharmaceutical corporations.

About Rhode Island PBS
WSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE-DT is a viewer-supported member of the PBS network of public broadcasting stations, and transmits on three channels: Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1), Learn (digital 36.2), and Spanish-language programming on Vme (36.3). Committed to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE Rhode Island PBS uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about the programs and education services at WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on RI cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on MA cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

24 | 7 | 365: The Evolution of Emergency Medicine

Rhode Island PBS presents an evocative film that tells the story of the beginning of emergency medicine and how the founders of the specialty changed the landscape of American medicine.

24|7|365: The Evolution of Emergency Medicine is written and produced by Dr. Mark Brady, an emergency physician who was born and educated in Rhode Island, and includes Dr. Brian Zink, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Chief of Emergency Medicine at Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals.

 
When you dial 911, someone picks up your call, an ambulance is dispatched, and you are speedily transported to an emergency room. Once there, a team of specially-trained emergency medicine doctors and personnel with an enormous amount of resources at their fingertips care for you. No one asks if you can pay. No one refuses to treat you if you cannot.

A generation ago, it was completely different. There was no 911 system, there were no trained pre-hospital personnel, your "ambulance" may have been a hearse, and there may or may not have been any doctor at all in a bare basement room with leaky pipes at the hospital where you were taken.

24|7|365: The Evolution of Emergency Medicine chronicles the emergence of EMS and the specialty of Emergency Medicine, which became the 23rd recognized medical specialty only in 1979. The documentary premieres on Rhode Island PBS on Monday, December 29 at 9 p.m.

“It’s our privilege to bring this story to the Rhode Island PBS community,” said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. “Access to 911 and emergency care is something we take for granted today. To realize just how recently this important system emerged is surprising and enlightening. We are thrilled to share this history, and to recognize the role local Rhode Island doctors play in the storytelling.”


The film is narrated by Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, ER) and features Brown University Warren Alpert School of Medicine professor and chair of Emergency Medicine Brian Zink, MD, as the historical consultant. The documentary’s writer and executive producer is Mark Brady, MD, a 2009 graduate of the Brown Alpert School of Medicine. The film is produced by Ann Prum, whose An Original Duckumentary won a national Emmy last year. Director Dave Thomas is based in New York City. His credits include Lost, The West Wing, and Young and the Restless.

"This is a story about mavericks in the medical field - mavericks who went against the medical establishment to meet the changing needs of patients in the ‘50s and ‘60s," explained Brady.

"At the time, there were huge changes in society, and the medical establishment was not prepared for the big jump in emergency visits to hospitals. Technology also became too big and too bulky to fit in the doctor's little black bag – so people increasingly went to the hospital for the latest in urgent diagnosis and treatment," Zink said.

Among the changes affecting medicine was the increased mobility of Americans. As they moved around more, they no longer had family doctors, yet they needed somewhere to go when they got sick. Physicians, too, were also moving away from general practices and house calls, and seeking specialties instead. Specializing offered doctors more regular office hours and predictable schedules.


These changes combined to create a gap between the need for urgent and emergency treatment and the providers trained and on duty to respond. The pioneers of Emergency Medicine – among them, Dr. John Wiegenstein of Michigan – recognized the gap and filled it with persistent advocacy for better training and more resources, ultimately winning recognition and official designation of this important and unique brand of medicine as a genuine medical specialty.

24|7|365: The Evolution of Emergency Medicine explains the social, technological, and political forces that shaped the emergency medical system as we know it, a system that sees more than 130 million emergency room visits in the U.S. each year.

After its December 29 premiere, 24|7|365: The Evolution of Emergency Medicine encores on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) on December 31 at 1:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., January 1 at 4:00 a.m., and January 3 at 1 p.m. The documentary also airs on WSBE Learn (36.2) on January 6 at 10 p.m., January 7 at 5 a.m. and January 8 at 2 a.m.

Watch the full documentary on Rhode Island PBS and on Learn:

Rhode Island PBS (36.1)
12/29/2014 9:00 p.m.
12/31/2014 1:30 a.m.
12/31/2014 2:00 p.m.
01/01/2015 4:00 a.m.
01/03/2015 1:00 p.m.

 LEARN (36.2)
01/06/2015 10:00 p.m.
01/07/2015 5:00 a.m.
01/08/2015 2:00 a.m.

For more information and photos and behind-the-scenes video about the documentary and emergency medicine, please visit the documentary Web site at www.247365doc.com


About Mark Brady, MD, MPH, MMS, DTM&H, LCDR USN
A graduate of LaSalle Academy and Providence College, Dr. Mark Brady received early acceptance into Brown Alpert School of Medicine. He deferred admission to work at a children's hospital in Cambodia then walk the Appalachian Trail for a year.

While attending medical school at Brown, Brady concurrently earned a master’s degree in biomechanical engineering. He received a scholarship to do a master’s in public health at Harvard for a year. Then, he did an NIH fellowship in Peru and Bolivia for a year, studying emerging infectious diseases. He spent a few months doing an internship, writing at the Discovery Health Channel. He completed a 4-year Emergency Medicine residency at Yale, where he was chief resident.

At Yale, he earned a diploma in tropical medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, went back to volunteer in Cambodia and spent some time working in Liberia as the only emergency doctor in the country. Currently an emergency medicine physician, Mark also serves in the Navy Reserves.

About Brian Zink, MD
Brian Zink, MD is the documentary’s historical consultant. One of Dr. Zink's niches is the history of emergency medicine.

A resident of Coventry, RI, Dr. Zink is the Frances Weeden Gibson - Edward A. Iannuccilli, MD, professor, and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Chief of Emergency Medicine at Rhode Island and The Miriam Hospitals. He is past President of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine.

Previously, Dr. Zink served as associate dean for Student Programs and Director of Student Biomedical Research Programs at the University of Michigan Medical School. He received his M.D. from the University of Rochester, and completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati program, where he was a chief resident in 1987-88.

Dr. Zink's interests include physician leadership and career development, and the history of EM. He is the author in 2005 of Anyone, Anything, Anytime: A History of Emergency Medicine. He received the SAEM Hal Jayne Academic Excellence Award; the American College of Emergency Physicians Outstanding Contribution in Education Award; and the Alpert Medical School Dean's Award for the Advancement of Women Faculty.

About Rhode Island PBS
WSBE Rhode Island PBS is operated by the Rhode Island PBS Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 1987 as a public charity to raise funds and provide support services for Rhode Island’s public television station. WSBE-DT is a viewer-supported member of the PBS network of public broadcasting stations, and transmits on three channels: Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1), Learn (digital 36.2), and Spanish-language programming on Vme (36.3). Committed to lifelong learning since 1967, WSBE Rhode Island PBS uses the power of noncommercial media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about the programs and education services at WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on RI cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on MA cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

Updated May 30, 2015: deleted link to removed video

Christmas Specials for the Whole Family

Rhode Island PBS proudly presents holiday specials for the whole family on Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve Special Programming

5:30 a.m. Thomas and Friends: Christmas Cheer!
6:00 a.m. The Cat In the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas
7:00 a.m. Elmo's Christmas Countdown
8:00 a.m. Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
9:00 a.m. Peg+Cat+Holidays
10:00 a.m. The Cat In the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas
11:00 a.m. European Christmas Markets
1:00 p.m. Lawrence Welk Show: Christmas
2:00 p.m. Call the Midwife Holiday Special 2013
3:30 p.m. Thomas and Friends: Christmas Cheer!
4:00 p.m. The Cat In the Hat Knows A Lot About Christmas
5:00 p.m. Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
6:00 p.m. Christmas Carol: Theater of the Mind
7:00 p.m. European Christmas Markets
7:30 p.m. Are You Being Served? Christmas Crackers
8:00 p.m. Joshua Bell Presents Musical Gifts
9:00 p.m. Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Deborah Voigt and John Rhys
10:00 p.m. Holiday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers
11:00 p.m. First Silent Night


Christmas Day Special Programming

12:00 a.m. Handel's Messiah: A United States Navy Tradition
1:00 a.m. Christmas on the Danube (Affiliated with European Christmas Markets)
1:30 a.m. Mr. Stink
2:30 a.m. Rev. #113 Christmas
3:00 a.m. Miranda #206 The Perfect Christmas
3:30 a.m. Christmas Carol: Theater of the Mind
4:30 a.m. Holiday Handbells: The Raleigh Ringers
5:30 a.m. Anderson University's Candles + Carols
6:30 a.m. Around the World: The Crane Candlelight Concert
7:30 a.m. 50th Annual Holiday Wassail Concert
8:30 a.m. Bucknell Candlelight Christmas
9:30 a.m. Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, featuring Deborah Voigt and John Rhys
10:30 a.m. Christmas on the Danube (Affiliated with European Christmas Markets)
11:00 a.m. First Silent Night
12:00 p.m. Joshua Bell Presents Musical Gifts


On Christmas Day, tune in for a mini-marathon of Finding Your Roots from 3 p.m. to midnight.


Thursday, December 11, 2014

A Lively Experiment Remembers Lila Sapinsley (week of December 12, 2014)



Panel
Dyana Koelsch – moderator
Dr. Mackubin Owens - retired professor, Naval War College; editor, Orbis: Foreign Policy Research Institute
Kate Nagle - news editor, GoLocalProv.com
Ed Achorn - editorial page editor, The Providence Journal 
Jim Hummel - senior investigator, The Hummel Report

Topics
  • Authority Gone Awry: 
    • Coventry Fire Chief Paul Labbadia (Tim White’s story) 
    • Pawtucket Police Major Bruce Moreau (Jim Hummel’s story) 
    • Report by US Senate Intelligence Committee on Detention and Interrogation 
  • Governor-elect Raimondo’s choices for key state positions 
  • Remembering Lila Sapinsley

A Lively Experiment airs on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1) Fridays at 8:30 p.m., with rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 7 P.M. on WSBE Learn (36.2), and Sundays at noon on WSBE Rhode Island PBS.

WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; on Rhode Island cable: Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; on Massachusetts cable: Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD; on satellite: DirecTV 36 / 3128HD, Dish Network 36 / 7776.

WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; in Rhode Island on Cox 808; Verizon FiOS 478; Full Channel 89; and in Massachusetts on Comcast 294 or 312.

Can't get to the TV? Watch the episode online anytime and anywhere on our YouTube channel. Episodes of A Lively Experiment are generally available to watch on the next business day. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, and YouTube will notify you when a new episode is uploaded.

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