Veterans Day 2016: Looking Back and Looking Forward

Every Thursday in November at 9 p.m., Rhode Island PBS features films profiling local veterans with universal stories of war-time duty and extraordinary courage. These films are the work of award-winning filmmaker Tim Gray (Tim Gray Media), the World War II Foundation, and award-winning cinematographer Jim Karpeichik. These films not only document history for us now and for future generations, but the films tell it through poignant stories of the uncommon valor of those who lived the horrors of war and survived.

At 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 13, of Veterans Day weekend, the World War II Foundation marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with a special advance screening of their newest documentary, Remember Pearl Harbor, at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. Admission is free for veterans. Tickets for all others are available online or at The Vets box office.

November 3 - Navy Heroes of Normandy
The film chronicles the building and dedication of the first-ever United States Navy monument in Normandy, France. Dozens of interviews with Navy D-Day veterans are included. Won New England region Emmy Awards for writing and photography.

November 10 - Uncle Jack: The Manhattan Project and Beyond (Rhode Island PBS Premiere)
The Manhattan Project in World War II was an enormous undertaking that required the efforts of many of the world's most brilliant scientists. Thousands of physicists, mathematicians and engineers were needed to design, build and test the world's first atomic weapon. The United States government did everything in its power to attract these individuals to the top-secret program. One of those assigned to the project was the filmmaker's uncle, John Edmund Gray. Regarded as a pioneer in the field of nuclear energy John Gray was front and center as the evolution of that power from wartime use to peaceful means came to fruition.


November 17 - Omaha Beach: Honor and Sacrifice
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the green 29th Infantry Division faced some of the most brutal fighting on Omaha Beach. In June of 2014, a handful of remaining members of the 29th Infantry Division made a final trip back to Normandy to recognize the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The World War II Foundation was along as these veterans shared their stories and looked over the bluffs of Omaha Beach one last time. The aging veterans also visited the Normandy-American cemetery to say their final goodbyes to their friends who never left Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Local villages and towns also honored the men of D-Day with dozens of celebrations around Normandy.

November 24 - The American St. Nick
The Nazis had outlawed the annual Christmas-related celebration of St. Nicholas Day when they occupied Luxembourg in 1940. Even though American GIs had liberated the town of Wiltz in late 1944, the citizens had no resources left with which to mark their very special holiday. So a group of soldiers of the battle-weary 28th Infantry Division got together and brought back hope and joy back to a small town. One GI, Corporal Richard Brookins, played the role of Saint Nick, costume and all. His sleigh was a U.S. Army jeep. Brookins and the men of the 28th passed out candy and baked goods to the children of Wiltz.

Beginning in 1947, the annual St. Nicholas day became the American St. Nick celebration, complete with someone dressed as Saint Nick in a jeep re-tracing the exact route Dick Brookins took in 1944. A shocked Richard Brookins knew nothing about the annual American Saint Nick celebration in his honor until 1977 when he was invited back to re-create his role. Thousands of people turned out to welcome him. is a World War II Christmas story that spans seven decades and continues to this day.

Stay tuned for more Rhode Island PBS news mid-November about Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, December 7.

New and Emmy-Nominated Documentaries Featured in Tribute to Veterans

On Memorial Day, May 30 at 9:30 p.m. (following the National Memorial Day Concert from Washington, DC at 8 p.m.), Rhode Island PBS presents the television premiere of War Journal: The Incredible World War II Escape of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause. The film, by World War II Foundation and Tim Gray Media, tells the true story of one of the most impossible escapes in World War II. American airman Damon "Rocky" Gause escaped a prison camp on the Bataan Peninsula in 1942, swam to nearby Corregidor Island, and then sailed with U.S. serviceman William Lloyd Osborne in a leaky 20-foot fishing boat from the Philippines to Australia. Fifty-two days and 3,200 miles later, the two Americans reached freedom. Despite facing typhoons, constant threats from Japanese ships, submarines and airplanes, a lack of water and food, and even a visit to the world’s largest leper colony, both Gause and Osborne survived to recount their harrowing ordeal.

Filmed in Bataan, Corregidor, and in Manila, the 90-minute documentary is narrated by three-time Emmy Award-winning daytime soap opera star Chandler Massey. Actor Kyle Chandler (NBC’s Friday Night Lightsand the films Argo, Zero Dark Thirty and Carol) provides the voice of Rocky Gause, with Tom Kane voicing William Lloyd Osborne. Using the journals of Gause and Osborne, archival footage and photos, and interviews with Gause's relatives and Army associates, War Journal chronicles the unimaginable tale of two American servicemen who survived one of the deadliest conflicts in World War II.

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Also in May, Rhode Island PBS is pleased to encore two World War II Foundation and Tim Gray Media documentaries recently nominated for Boston / New England Emmy Awards. These two films will share 10 p.m. Thursdays in May with two more documentaries from the same award-winning filmmakers Tim Gray and Jim Karpeichik. 

The first Emmy-nominated work airs Thursday, May 5. Omaha Beach: Honor and Sacrifice recalls the devastating events surrounding the landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944, as well as the touching reunion 70 years later. Read the story here.



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On Thursday, May 12, Eagles of Mercy tells the story of two American 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles) medics caught in a church in Normandy, France during the opening hours of D-Day. Outside a savage battle raged all around them. The church changed hands several times with American and German forces over-running the village of Angoville-au-Plain.

Inside the small church the wounded wore both Allied and Axis uniforms and civilian clothing. The American medics, Robert Wright and Kenneth Moore of the 2nd battalion, 501st PIR, treated all who were brought into the 12th century Norman church, no matter whether they were friend or foe.

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On Thursday, May 19, Escape in the Pacific recalls the events of April 4, 1943, when ten American prisoners of war and two Filipino convicts executed a daring escape from one of Japan’s most notorious prison camps. The prisoners were survivors of the infamous Bataan Death March and the Fall of Corregidor, and the prison from which they escaped was surrounded by an impenetrable swamp and reputedly escape-proof. Theirs was the only successful group escape from a Japanese POW camp during the Pacific war. Escape from Davao is the story of one of the most remarkable incidents in the Second World War and of what happened when the Americans returned home to tell the world what they had witnessed.

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The second 2015 Emmy-nominated film from the World War II Foundation and Tim Gray Media airs Thursday, May 26 at 10 p.m. America St. Nick describes the special 1944 Christmas party organized by American soldiers in the small town of Wiltz in Luxembourg for the children - for all the townsfolk - who had not been able to celebrate their traditional St. Nicholas Day in nearly 5 years because of the war.



National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - New England Chapter will announce this year's Emmy winners during its award ceremony on June 4.

Encore of Watch Hill: Portrait of a New England Seaside Village

Watch Hill is not a place you can visit just once. It becomes a state of mind. It is a place that enchants and inspires you all year long. Now, a new documentary captures the essence of Watch Hill's charm.

Rhode Island PBS presents the encore of Watch Hill: Portrait of a New England Seaside Village on Thursday, December 10 at 8 p.m. in a special presentation that includes segments recorded at the Ocean House.

Perched high on the bluffs of Watch Hill, the Ocean House is an iconic New England seaside resort, the first and only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond Hotel in the state. Famously known for its warm yellow façade and stunning views of the Atlantic, Ocean House opened in 1868 just after the Civil War. It was completely rebuilt in 2004 after having fallen into disrepair, and incorporates more than 5,000 artifacts salvaged from the original building.

Watch Hill: Portrait of a New England Seaside Village documentary is based on the book, Watch Hill Through Time, the Watch Hill Conservancy's history of Watch Hill, written by Chaplin B. Barnes. The beautifully filmed documentary takes a look at the strong and enduring sense of community in southern Rhode Island's Watch Hill.

Located on a peninsula, at the most southwesterly point of Rhode Island, the community of Watch Hill is surrounded by the sea on three sides. It is the point where three states meet: Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. Watch Hill is scenic 12 months of the year.

Watch Hill: Portrait of a New England Seaside Village traces the area's history as a look-out point for Native Americans, and allows viewers to explore and appreciate the beauty of this coastal village.

The film also features vivid reminiscences of residents who, for generations, have summered, lived, worked, and come of age in the picturesque seaside village.

The documentary was made possible through a grant from the Alfred M. Roberts, Jr, Charitable Foundation and The Watch Hill Conservancy.


Updated November 23, 2015 and December 1, 2015

Carved from Stone: Legacy of a Granite Town

Rhode Island PBS proudly premieres Carved from Stone: Legacy of a Granite Town at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3. The film chronicles the processes, products, people, and legacy of the granite industry in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Written and produced by Westerly resident Betty-Jo Cugini, with director of photography and editor Jim Karpeichik, Carved from Stone: Legacy of a Granite Town is based on the book Built from Stone: The Westerly Granite Story.

The film shows Westerly granite as the "gold standard," with hundreds of blacksmiths, carvers, stonemasons, and other craftsmen brought from Europe to ply their artistry, each contributing to the reputation of the beauty of the work and the durability of the stone.

Photos, interviews, and rare archival film footage of workers at the quarry from around 1920 paint a vivid portrait of the hard work of the granite industry that thrived in Westerly from the late 1800s to the early 1900s.

Viewers will also travel to Gettysburg, where more than 70 monuments were built of Westerly granite, and on to Woodlawn Cemetery in New York, which boasts more than 30 Westerly granite mausoleums, statues, and other beautiful monuments.

Here is a link to the story in the Westerly Sun with insight about the film and Westerly granite. 

America's Forgotten Heroine: Ida Lewis, Keeper of the Light

America’s Forgotten Heroine: Ida Lewis, Keeper of the Light is an historical documentary that focuses on the intriguing life story of this country’s most famous maritime heroine. Rhode Island PBS premieres the documentary on Monday, September 8 at 8 p.m.

Written, directed and produced by Marian Gagnon of Goodnight Irene Productions, this 45-minute documentary film provides an intimate portrayal of Ida’s life from age 15 to 69 (from 1857 to 1911) and the passion and moral fiber she intrinsically brought to her work as a lighthouse keeper and unlikely heroine. It also explores the myriad decisions which led to a life of both fame and isolation, Ida’s unexpected celebrity in Newport as well as across the U.S., and the impact she inadvertently had on the early women’s rights movement.

As John Williams Haley, author of The Rhode Island Historian wrote in 1939: "...of all the Rhode Island women who have achieved fame in one way or another...and there have been many...none attained the world renown of a modest little woman who was born and lived most of her life in Newport. In fact, it would hardly be exaggeration to say that she was more famous, particularly during the latter half of her life, than any American woman of the past or present."

While this statement may very well stand today, Ida’s story has largely been forgotten. Gagnon’s goal with this film is to renew the “national memory” of Ida Lewis as an American heroine not only in her hometown of Newport and throughout R.I., but across the United States.

Indie-filmmaker Marian Gagnon researched, wrote, directed, and produced this film with the help of grants from the R.I. Council for the Humanities (RICH), the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts (RISCA), and a donation from the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.

Gagnon is a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Johnson and Wales University. The videographer and editor is Jim Karpeichik of Ocean State Video. Both are Emmy nominees. Chris Robadue of Wave Garden Arts is the animator. The film premiered to a standing-room-only crowd at the Casino Theatre in Newport in late May and recently screened at venues throughout South County. It also was selected for the 2014 R.I. International Film Festival.

Encore! WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City returns in September 2014

WaterFire has captivated more than 15 million visitors, gaining national and international attention. Now, WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City takes audiences behind the scenes of one of the world's most extraordinary nighttime events. WSBE Rhode Island PBS is proud to present WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City on Monday, September 8 at 9 p.m.

With its crackling bonfires sparkling on rippling water, and pungent wood fragrance mingling with enchanting music wafting from invisible speakers, WaterFire is a mystical sensory experience. How did it start? How does it happen? Where else in the world is WaterFire happening?

The answers to those questions and more are in this beautiful, compelling documentary produced by Joe Rocco and filmed by Jim Karpeichik in association with WaterFire Providence. The story of WaterFire is told through insightful and amusing commentary from WaterFire creator and artist Barnaby Evans, several participants and volunteers, local historians, and passionate fans from around the world.

WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City presents WaterFire in a rarely seen way. It reveals what inspires the artist, examines how this unique and living art installation touches people's lives, and speculates what is next for WaterFire.

Experience WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City again on WSBE Rhode Island PBS on Monday, September 8 at 9 p.m.

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

Remembering D-Day

To mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, Rhode Island PBS presents stories from local veterans, filmed by award-winning filmmakers Tim Gray and Jim Karpeichik:

Thursday, June 5 at 8 pm - Day of Days June 6, 1944 

Thursday, June 5 at 9 pm - Navy Heroes of Normandy 

Thursday, June 5 at 10 pm - D-Day the Price of Freedom

 

Visit our Web site for encore dates and times. Visit the World War II Foundation for more information about the history film projects, and about the most recent Emmy awards. 

Encore! WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City

WSBE Rhode  Island PBS proudly announces three encore broadcasts of WaterFire: Art & Soul of a City. The beautiful documentary is by Joe Rocco with videography by Jim Karpeichik, produced in cooperation with WaterFire Providence.

Click here for our original announcement with full program description.


Saturday, September 14 at 8:30 p.m.
Monday, September 16 at midnight
Wednesday, September 18 at 8 p.m.

And don't miss the next full WaterFire lighting on September 21. If you've never been to WaterFire, it's time to ignite your senses. If it's been a while since you've experienced one, here's your chance to rekindle the passion that is WaterFire.

WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City

* UPDATE * ENCORES *

Saturday, September 14 at 8:30 p.m.
Monday, September 16 at midnight
Wednesday, September 18 at 8 p.m.

WaterFire has captivated more than 15 million visitors, gaining national and international attention. Now, WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City takes audiences behind the scenes of one of the world's most extraordinary nighttime events. WSBE Rhode Island PBS is proud to present WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City on Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m.

With its crackling bonfires sparkling on rippling water, and pungent wood fragrance mingling with enchanting music wafting from invisible speakers, WaterFire is a mystical sensory experience. How did it start? How does it happen? Where else in the world is WaterFire happening?

The answers to those questions and more are in this beautiful, compelling documentary produced by Joe Rocco and filmed by Jim Karpeichik in association with WaterFire Providence. The story of WaterFire is told through insightful and amusing commentary from WaterFire creator and artist Barnaby Evans, several participants and volunteers, local historians, and passionate fans from around the world.

WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City presents WaterFire in a rarely seen way. It reveals what inspires the artist, examines how this unique and living art installation touches people's lives, and speculates what is next for WaterFire.

Experience WaterFire: Art and Soul of a City on WSBE Rhode Island PBS on Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m.

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

"Rhode Island Stories" presented in April and May

Saturday nights, WSBE is the neighborly place to be, thanks to Rhode Island Stories – a collection of independent films with a uniquely "Rhode Island" flavor. For an hour (beginning at 7 p.m.), visit with neighbors - local people, places, and events that punctuate our history and reflect contemporary issues. Some subjects will be familiar; others will be more obscure. Either way, you can count on gaining deeper insight and new perspective you had not considered.

The films chosen for Rhode Island Stories have a strong local connection: the documentaries are made by Rhode Islanders, or feature Rhode Island in some significant way. The current collection includes a mix of new and previously broadcast programs, and may be a single hour-long documentary or two 30-minute films.

Rhode Island Stories airs Saturdays at 7 p.m., with re-broadcast on Sundays at 11 p.m., on WSBE Rhode Island PBS, digital 36.1, Cox/Verizon/Full channel 08 (Comcast cable subscribers should check local listings for correct channel number), DirecTV 36, and Dish 7776.

April 18 – Lizbeth: A Victorian Nightmare – The documentary film explores the legend and lore of Lizzie Borden, the woman accused - and acquitted - of killing her father and stepmother with an ax. The documentary looks at not only the facts of the murder, but at the "popularity" of the crime and the culture of those who follow it. The film started as a master's thesis project by the director, Bristol Community College film instructor, Ricardo Rebelo. He said people are drawn to Lizzie for different reasons, even almost 120 years later. For some, it's the Victorian-era that draws them; for others, it's the fact that an upper-class woman is embroiled in the murder controversy. For still others, they like a good spooky story, or true crime element. No matter what the draw may be, the crime – and the woman at its center – remains one of the most studied in American history.

April 23 – Free Wheelin' with Susan Boyce (7 p.m.) – In this breezy half hour, Rhode Island performer Susan Boyce sets off in her Vintage Airstream to explore the warm winters of Florida.

Greatest Salesman in Rhode Island (7:30 p.m.) - From the lost manuscript of Rhode Island's Pulitzer Prize winning author Edwin O'Connor (The Last Hurrah), comes a short story about the power of motivation. Six-time New England Emmy® Award-winning director Robert Rose produced the film in the style of a 1950s TV comedy, complete with laugh track and swipe transitions. The Greatest Salesman in Rhode Island is rich in historical and cultural content, and is peppered with humorous local Rhode Island references. The cast features Trinity Repertory Company’s Stephen Thorne; Bob Colonna, winner of the prestigious Pell Award for Excellence in the Arts; and Susan Boyce, national touring performer.

April 30 – Home Across Lands - The documentary chronicles the journey of a small group of resettled Kunama refugees as they strive to become self-reliant, invested participants in their new home, Rhode Island. Guiding their transition is the local resettlement agency, International Institute of Rhode Island, which connects them to the resources they need as they work to establish a new community and a better life for their families. Director / producer John Lavall is an Emmy® Award-winning producer and director from Pawtucket, Rhode Island. His work has been broadcast nationally, his films shown in festivals throughout the country.

May 7 – Pre-empted for the Rhode Island PBS Spring Auction

May 14 – Drinking, Driving, Lethal Choices (7 p.m.) – In this half-hour documentary, drinking and driving is explored through powerful stories told by family members, victims and offenders, and those who have survived catastrophic crashes with debilitating brain and spinal cord injuries. This is the second in a drunken driving educational series targeting youth by award-winning producer and director Deborah A. Hoch of Seekonk, Massachusetts. Her first documentary, The Impact of Your Choice: Underage Drinking and Reckless Driving, won a New England Emmy award and was honored with four Bronze Telly Awards for outstanding achievement in Film and Video.

Hidden in the Leaves (7:30 p.m.) – The half-hour documentary spotlights the efforts of University of Rhode Island entomology professor and director of the Center for Vector-Borne Disease, Thomas Mather, and his team, to help people understand the risks of tick-transmitted disease. Directed by award-winning filmmaker and URI film media professor, Mary Healey Jamiel, the film explores the serious dangers lurking in an increasing number of rural, suburban, and even semi-urban landscapes in the eastern United States.

May 21 – Ilha dos Meus Sonhos (Island of My Dreams) - Ricardo Rebelo, an Azorean immigrant, local filmmaker, and instructor of TV and film courses at Bristol Community College, captures the untold stories of Portuguese emigration to the Fall River area, particularly the two waves of emigration from the Azores in the 1950s and the 70s. The film also explores how Portuguese immigrants have maintained the culture of their homeland here, while the Azorean culture has changed since the revolution.

May 28 – D-Day: The Price of Freedom - This film captures the moving stories and memories of five Rhode Island veterans who return to Normandy 60 years after the invasion. Throughout the documentary, former paratroopers, gunners, landing craft operators and others representing the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy share their harrowing tales of survival. This film was written, directed, and filmed by Tim Gray and Jim Karpeichik.

Covered Bridges and Rocky Point - A Little Yesterday Coming Tomorrow

During the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, New England was home to almost 1000 covered bridges. Today, there are less than 200 in the six state region. In Covered Bridges of New England, award-winning cinematographer Jim Karpeichik takes us on a cinematic tour of more than 75 remaining bridges - filmed in all seasons - and takes a look back at many more covered bridges that are now gone from our landscape.

There is an excellent, informative review of Covered Bridges of New England by Michael Janusonis, film critic and arts writer for The Providence Journal.

We're proud to present the Rhode Island television premiere of Covered Bridges of New England on Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Jim Karpeichik will be in the studio with WSBE Rhode Island PBS President David Piccerelli, and talk is likely to include some behind the scenes stories about the making of the film.

Then at 9 p.m., "Come with your family, come with your friends - that's the Rocky Point tradition, 'cuz it's summertime again!"

Tune in for documentary that captures the magic - and mourns the loss - of the quintessentially Rhode Island summer landmark for amusement for more than 150 years. You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park uses vintage photographs and first-person accounts of Rocky Point Park, told by those who lived, worked, and played there. Award-winning filmmaker David Bettencourt will be in our studio.

Rumor has it, David is bringing along a couple of secret guests - fans of Rocky Point Park. Just who will these guests be? Tune in to find out!

Meanwhile, backstage at the studio, the folks from B&M Catering Company will keep our volunteers well-fed, with a special dinner menu reminiscent of Rocky Point favorites. (Thank you!)

WSBE Rhode Island PBS asks, "What's YOUR Source?"

'What's your source?'

In a multi-media promotional campaign targeting community stakeholders, policy makers, and local audiences, WSBE Rhode Island PBS asks that cryptic question, and then offers testimonial evidence of the public television station's role in local education, and its impact on the community. The campaign is part of a national 'My Source' public media impact communication grant project, administered by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Center for Media Engagement. WSBE's application was one of only 40 chosen from among 111 proposals submitted by public television and radio stations nationwide. WSBE's 'My Source' campaign launches this week.

"It's not often we have an opportunity to call attention to our work this way," said WSBE President and CEO David Piccerelli. "The grant made it possible to go outside our own air to remind Rhode Islanders about the great resource they have in WSBE – we're more than just great television."

The print and Web creative for the 'My Source' campaign sets the atmosphere of an investigation – complete with evidence folder, scattered notes and photos – and asks, 'What's your source?' The on-air component is comprised of six spots, presenting testimonial evidence from students, teachers, and administrators, as well as from local filmmakers and media professionals. The spots range in length from 30 seconds to one minute and 20 seconds, and are built around the themes of class enrichment, community connection, local storytelling, and adult learning success. The companion Web site adds background information and puts the testimonials into context. The campaign will link to the station’s Facebook page, and the on-air spots are available on the station’s YouTube channel.

The underlying message of the campaign focuses on WSBE's success in expanding the traditional definition of education, from classrooms to living rooms, from instructional programming to panel discussions and independent documentaries about local contemporary and historical issues and events.

"Education is at the core of our mission," Piccerelli said, "but it isn't limited to the classroom."

The first 'My Source' on-air spot starts in the classroom. It features students, teachers, and administrators from Lincoln High and Northern Lincoln Elementary Schools describing their experiences using WSBE's video streaming and education services. The spot concludes with, "Rhode Island PBS is my source for enriching my students' day-to-day curriculum."

All of the spots have a similar ending, "Rhode Island PBS is my source for…" with the final words fitting the particular spot's theme.

The second spot to air will feature four local independent filmmakers David Bettencourt (You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park, On The Lake: Life and Love in a Distant Place, and It's a Bash!), director of photography Jim Karpeichik (Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses, When the Reds Ruled the Roost, Navy Heroes of Normandy), Professor Marian Gagnon (HERstory: The Founding Mothers of Johnson & Wales University and Johnson & Wales University's Men of Vision) and Maria Saracen (Ghost and Vampire Legends of Rhode Island). Their documentaries have aired as part of Rhode Island Stories, WSBE's one-hour Saturday night feature, dedicated to presenting local independent films with a Rhode Island connection.

In the coming weeks, two more spots with school connections will debut. One features adult Hispanic students at Progreso Latino in Central Falls, who are studying for their GED certificate using video streaming technology made available by WSBE. The other spot features the founder and director of the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program (UCAP), an independent middle school in Providence for students at risk of dropping out of school. Director Rob DeBlois shares the remarkable story about UCAP receiving several large donations from viewers after WSBE aired the documentary about three of the school's students, Accelerating America, by award-winning filmmaker and Brown University graduate Tim Hotchner.

The final two testimonials are by Dave Layman, veteran Rhode Island television news director and anchor, and a frequent panelist on WSBE's flagship weekly political affairs program, A Lively Experiment; and Barbara Morse Silva, health check reporter for WJAR NBC-10. Barbara hosted two WSBE specials, one about the H1N1 (Swine) flu outbreak in late 2009, and one about the rising costs of RI health insurance and its alternatives.

The print ad campaign will run in local newspapers and Web sites through January. The on-air spots will air throughout 2011 on a rotating basis on WSBE Rhode Island PBS (digital 36.1, Cox/Verizon/Full Channel 08, DirecTV 36, and Dish Network 7776; Comcast subscribers should check local cable listings) and on WSBE Learn (digital 36.2, Cox 808, Verizon 478, Full Channel 109, and Comcast 294).







Click here for more videos in the My Source series.

Saturday Afternoon of Scenic Beauty - Local and Remote

UPDATE! Due to a last minute problem with the supplier of the book associated with Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses, we regret we cannot air this program on Saturday as scheduled. In its place, we will broadcast My Music: That's Amore! Italian American Favorites. Yes, it's completely different, but it's still great entertainment!

This schedule change also means ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS will now begin at 4:30 P.M.

The Emmy®-nominated Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses provides a comprehensive look at the 200-plus-year history, decline, and rebirth of the beacons that dot Rhode Island's 400 miles of rocky shoreline. Emmy®-award winning Director of Photography Jim Karpeichik presents his beautifully filmed documentary from the Rhode Island PBS studio on Saturday, April 11, 2009, at 3 P.M.

Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses covers all 30 of Rhode Island's lighthouses, and includes stories of tragedies and heroism, buildings lost, and restoration projects. Jim Karpeichik spent more than two years filming lighthouses in all seasons. Producer Heather Moreau researched maritime history and interviewed key people, including some who grew up in lighthouses, nationally recognized historians, and those who today are leading the way in restoration.

Then, at 4:30 P.M., take a walk on the wild side – serene and solitary – as Rhode Island PBS presents Alone in the Wilderness.

In 1967, at 50 years old, Dick Proenneke retired and traveled to the Twin Lakes region at the base of the Aleutian Peninsula. With only skill and resourcefulness as his companions, he built himself a log cabin on the lake shore. It was there, amid all the beauty – and harshness – of Alaska, that he spent the next 30 years of his life, Alone in the Wilderness.



Produced by Bob Swerer, Alone in the Wilderness uses color footage Proenneke recorded himself to share with his family back home in Iowa. Filmed mostly with a stationary 16mm camera, the film consists of shots of Proenneke performing tasks around his cabin, canoeing, walking, plus views of wildlife, along with narration. For shots of himself, Proenneke would fix the camera in place, and then perform his tasks. Since he was alone, he would have to return for the camera after walking or canoeing away.

In 1997 producer Bob Swerer and his father flew to Twin Lakes to visit with Dick Proenneke and to explore the Twin Lakes region. With more than 3,000 feet of film shot, and meticulous, poetic journals written, Proenneke's adventures in Alaska resulted in three films; Alone in the Wilderness was released in 2003. This documentary covers Proenneke's first year in the wilderness, showing his day-to-day activities, and the passing of the seasons as he sought to scratch out a living.

These and other special programs on Saturday from, 1:30 P.M. to 11 P.M., are part of the viewer-supported public television station's fund raising drive. WSBE Rhode Island PBS broadcasts on digital 36.1; Cox, Verizon, and FullChannel cable 8; DirecTV 36; and Dish 7776; Massachusetts cable subscribers should check local cable listings for channel number.

Diners and Lighthouses - What Could Be More "New England"?

What could be more symbolic of New England than diners and lighthouses?

Rhode Island PBS indulges in a Night of Nostalgia on Wednesday, March 4, with two local programs that feature these New England icons. Beginning at 7 PM, New England Portrait: The History of New England Diners spotlights five traditional eateries in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. The program will be followed by Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses at 7:30 PM.

Richard Gutman, director and curator of the Johnson & Wales Culinary Arts Museum, provides extensive and fascinating historical context on New England diners, while owners and patrons of area establishments add local color and humor. Richard Gutman will also be interviewed in the Rhode Island PBS studios during breaks in the program.

The diners profiled in the show include Hope Diner in Bristol, RI; Champ’s Diner in Woonsocket, RI; Bishop’s Diner in Newport, RI; Shawmut Diner in New Bedford, MA; and Miss Worcester in Worcester, MA. And what would a story about local diners be without a visit to Haven Brothers in Providence?

The program also includes an original theme song, “Let’s Go Down to the Diner,” composed for the show by Jon Marable.

Following the feast of local diners, the Emmy®-nominated Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses provides a comprehensive look at the 200-plus-year history, decline and rebirth of the beacons that grace Rhode Island's 400 miles of shoreline. Emmy®-award winning Director of Photography Jim Karpeichik will be in the Rhode Island PBS studio to present his beautifully filmed documentary.

Rhode Island's Historic Lighthouses covers all 30 of Rhode Island's lighthouses, and includes stories of tragedies and heroism, buildings lost and restoration projects. Jim Karpeichik spent more than two years filming lighthouses in all seasons. Producer Heather Moreau researched maritime history and interviewed key people, including some who grew up in lighthouses, nationally recognized historians, and those who today are leading the way in restoration.

The Rhode Island PBS Night of Nostalgia is part of the viewer-supported public television station's March fund raising drive. The specials will air on digital 36.1; Cox, Verizon, and FullChannel cable 8; DirecTV 36; and Dish 7776; Massachusetts cable subscribers should check local cable listings for channel number.