HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? Debuts on OPB TV on January 10

Last modified on December 28, 2011 01:03 PM

Millions of People Gave Billions of Dollars; Why Are at Least 600,000 Haitians Still Living in Squalor?

Debuting on OPB on January 10 at 10pm, the documentary HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? examines the relief effort in Haiti after the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010.

In the United States alone, half of all households gave a total of $1.4 billion to charities, yet almost two years later more than half a million people still live in squalid camps. Only a few have access to drinking water. Sanitation is woefully inadequate. Malnutrition and cholera are on the rise. What happened?

Public television stations across the U.S. will begin airing the documentary HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? this January to coincide with the two-year anniversary of the earthquake of 2010.

HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? asks the pivotal questions, "Why did so much money buy so little relief? And why are so many still living in squalor?" Click here for a brief preview.

Cameras take viewers to crowded camps where thousands of families live under tattered tarps beside overflowing latrines, and then into the board rooms of relief organizations, where journalist Michele Mitchell asks the American Red Cross and others about why conditions in Haiti continue to deteriorate when people have donated billions of dollars for aid.

Mitchell visited camps in Haiti in the fall of 2010 and again 10 months later in the fall of 2011. “I was shocked to see how much worse things had gotten.” While in the spring of 2011, half of the camps had access to drinking water, by fall that number had dropped to only seven percent.

Although the UN estimates a need for 12,000 latrines, far fewer were built and most of those aren’t working, leaving the camps with one working latrine for every 300 people.

Mitchell travels with relief workers who had high hopes for a coordinated effort to rebuild Haiti, but are now frustrated to see that conditions fall far short of recognized standards for relief housing. Relief workers and journalists on the ground tell her this is business as usual in the aid world.

Michele Mitchell worked as an investigative correspondent to NOW with Bill Moyers. Her story about slavery in Nepal for NOW with David Brancaccio won an honorary citation at the Overseas Press Awards in 2009. Currently she is executive editor of Film at 11, an independent media company that distributes digital news programming.

HAITI: WHERE DID THE MONEY GO? is presented to the public television system by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and distributed by the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA).

'Columbia Gorge: The Fight for Paradise,' an Oregon Field Guide Special, Premieres November 17 at 8pm

Last modified on November 8, 2011 09:40 AM

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Act turns 25 years old on November 17. OREGON FIELD GUIDE marks the anniversary with an hour-long special airing on that day at 8pm on the stations of OPB. "Columbia Gorge: The Fight for Paradise" examines how the Scenic Act has balanced the stresses of tourism, recreation, wind energy development and a population boom in the Gorge.
 
President Ronald Reagan signed the Scenic Act on November 17, 1986. From that moment on, Gorge land managers had a dual mandate: protect an 85-mile stretch of incredible scenery and encourage economic development in the Gorge.
 
The FIELD GUIDE team looks at the path to getting the law passed by Congress, the race to save prized parcels of land from bulldozers, the rise of high-tech and recreation, and new threats from wind development and haze that obscure the beauty of the Gorge.
 
Policy and land-use controversies are part of life in the Columbia Gorge. But for the tribes the issues run much deeper. The program also examines the evocative Confluence Project by artist Maya Lin that spans the Scenic Area, and what the Gorge Act means to the tribes that have long called it home.
 
Videos of the stories featured on FIELD GUIDE are available at opb.org/programs/ofg/ or watch entire programs at watch.opb.org.
 
Follow FIELD GUIDE on Facebook at facebook.com/oregonfieldguide.
 

OREGON EXPERIENCE: The Modoc War Premieres Tuesday, November 8 on OPB

Last modified on October 28, 2011 08:48 AM

OPB Documentary Brings One of the Last Wild-West Battles to Life
 
The Modoc War of 1872 to 1873 was one of the costliest American Indian wars in U.S. history, considering the number of people involved. For nearly seven months, a handful of Modoc Indian warriors and their families held off hundreds of U.S. Army soldiers. The war is largely forgotten to most of the nation, but at the time of the conflict, the story made headlines from London to San Francisco. People were enthralled as one of the last real-life, Wild-West battles unfolded on the American frontier.
 
"The Modoc War," the next episode in OPB's OREGON EXPERIENCE series, revisits the battle scenes, uses rare historical images and original wood-cut drawings from the period along with interviews with Modoc descendants and written first-hand accounts to bring the Modoc War to life.
 
The war began in November 1872 when the military tried to force a small band of Modoc Indians, led by Captain Jack, to a reservation. The Modocs took refuge in an ancient lava flow that became their stronghold. Today it is a part of the Lava Beds National Monument. The Modocs knew the land and used it to their advantage. Twisting lava tubes and hidden caves created the perfect hideout for 55 Modoc warriors and their families.
 
Indian policy was the subject of national debate and many humanitarians sided with the Modocs. Then the Indians attacked a peace commission, resulting in the only U.S. general killed in an Indian conflict. The government cracked down hard, calling for swift punishment.
 
By the end, the Modocs were fighting off a force of nearly 1,000 men, made up of both military soldiers and civilian volunteers. Again and again, the small band of Indians overcame incredible odds to protect their way of life. But it could not last. Their world was about to change forever.
 
"The Modoc War" is produced by Kami Horton and edited by Bruce Barrow and airs on the stations of OPB on Tuesday, November 8 at 8pm. Watch OREGON EXPERIENCE: "The Modoc War" online anytime after the broadcast at watch.opb.org.
 
About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

Oregon Public Broadcasting and Videotext Communications Launch a Second Season of Time Team America

Last modified on October 6, 2011 03:04 PM

This Prime-Time PBS Series 
Takes Viewers into the Trenches with Archaeologists
 
Oregon Public Broadcasting announces that pre-production is underway for a second season of the archaeology reality television series TIME TEAM AMERICA, thanks to a $2.4-million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Informal Science Education program.
 
For season two, OPB and Videotext Communications will produce four new episodes and an expanded website. OPB will also partner with Crow Canyon Archaeological Center to create field schools for underserved youth. Based on the long-running British series TIME TEAM, TIME TEAM AMERICA premiered on PBS in summer 2009 with five, hour-long episodes taped at five archaeological excavations around the country.
 
TIME TEAM America co-host and geophysicist Dr. Margaret Watters hopes the enthusiasm TIME TEAM has generated in Britain will catch on in the United States. “Living in England I witnessed the impact first hand. Average English citizens understand the process of archaeology and are aware of the history of modern-day England and of all the cultures that have developed there over the centuries right in their backyards.”
 
Production team advisor, the Smithsonian’s Dr. Noel Broadbent, says linking the television series with field schools for youth creates a potent combination. “TIME TEAM AMERICA will use the power of discovery to capture the imagination of young people and really engage them so they will not only go back to school, but also pursue science.”
 
Each TIME TEAM AMERICA site will host a field school where 25 to 40 middle- and high-school age youth will get hands-on practice in archaeology, observe documentary filmmaking, and experience the scientific process.
 
TIME TEAM AMERICA highlights the adventure of scientific discovery. TIME TEAM AMERICA archaeologists descend on some of America’s most important and interesting archaeological digs with a wealth of technology and expertise most archaeologists can rarely afford. For the next three days the team races the clock, digging for evidence to solve historical mysteries. The series also features high-end CGI graphics that help bring the past to life.
 
As series co-executive producer David Davis puts it: “TIME TEAM AMERICA is an archaeology reality series. Viewers get to stand alongside the experts for three days as they dig up the artifacts and unravel the secrets of the past.”

TIME TEAM AMERICA has already located a number of possible sites for season two – including sites relating to Colonial America, early human habitation of the Mississippi valley, the ancient Pueblo Indian cultures of the American Southwest, and a sunken ship that may have played a key role in the War of 1812. Crews will begin shooting in May of 2012. The series, intended for broadcast on PBS, will likely air in summer or fall of 2013.
 
Key members of the production team include Executive Producers David Davis (OPB) and Tim Taylor (Videotext); Series Producer Bruce Barrow (OPB); Margaret Watters, geophysics expert, on-camera team member and Research Fellow at the Joukowsky Institute of Archaeology and the Ancient World at Brown University; and Key Advisor and Scholar Noel Broadbent of the Smithsonian Museum’s National Museum of Natural History.

OPB's OREGON LENS Puts Northwest Independent Filmmakers in the Spotlight

Last modified on August 8, 2011 11:55 AM

Grab the popcorn and get ready for a theatrical treat as OPB brings indie-theater directly into your home over five nights this month. The 13th season of OREGON LENS shines the spotlight on the work of some of the Pacific Northwest's most talented independent producers with a run of films seldom seen outside art house theaters and film festival runs. Steve Amen, the executive producer and driving force behind the series, will host the broadcasts, August 15-19 at 10pm.

This year’s OREGON LENS includes works by award-winning producers such as John Q. Waller and Ian McCluskey. The series offers everything from "bizarre" short films to serious documentaries, to adventure essays. Each film steers from the typical pacing and content of your average television broadcast.

"We have an exceptional lineup of films this season, including one night (Wednesday) devoted entirely to animated films," said Amen. "I am constantly amazed by the talent we have in this area and look forward to sharing this surprising and innovative collection of films with our viewers."

The Films

Monday, August 15

"Into Darkness" is a short adventure essay by John Q. Waller about the experience of exploring spectacular and remote wilderness caves.

"Ascending the Giants," also by Waller, follows two Portland tree climbers as they embark on a project to climb the world's largest trees.

"My Mother Was a Coast Guard Spar" is about Coast Guard women reservists (SPARs -- Semper Paratus Always Ready) recruited during WWII and gives historical insights into the discriminatory policies of the time.

"King and Queen of the Cone," produced by Peter Monahan, captures the excitement of the inaugural uphill-downhill race at Mt. Bachelor.

"Goal Ball" looks at a fast-paced sport that involves individuals who are typically left out of traditional sports due to vision impairment.

Tuesday, August 16

"The Earthwalkers" is a short documentary that offers a very personal look at a family who travel around the world educating children about the environment. Produced by Amoris Walker.

"Luminessence: A Journey in Light" explores the life and work of sculptor Stephen White and is a visual exploration of the fascinating process of creation and illumination. Produced by Bruce Kubert.

Wednesday, August 17

"The Thomas Beale Cipher" is based on the legend of the uncrackable legendary cipher, a century-old riddle hiding the location of a fortune in gold, and uses pioneering animation techniques to create a look never before seen on film.

In "Timber," animator Adam Fisher made a video of himself cutting his hair to bring awareness to our use of natural resources. (Have we peaked your curiosity?)

Doomed to sit at a dinner table until his plate is clean, little Trevor reaches the depths of his imagination to overcome the dreaded potato monster and his evil minions in "Mashed," directed by Adam Fisher.

"Sbear Some Love" is a charming look at the world of the homeless through the eyes of a discarded teddy bar. Produced by Dylan Stirewalt.

"Anita’s Journey" is a hand-painted, stop-motion animation depicting the point of view of a 6-year-old Jewish girl and her family surviving underground in and around Berlin in Nazi Germany. Produced by Portland artist/filmmaker Shelley Jordon.

"Frog TV - Frogrotten Genders" is two-minute animation that tells the Story of a frog, his mutation and your health. Produced by Zak Margolis.

"Patrons of Wanderer’s Way" uses stop-motion, computer animation and live action video to feature the work of one of Salem's more unusual bands, Massive Moth. Produced by Chop Motion Films.

"Dear Peter" is a quick and beguiling tête-à-tête offered as a musical biography of Peter MacArthur. Produced by Orland Nutt of Portland.

"Mumbles" uses hand-drawn animation that is a heartfelt illustration of great music. Produced by Rick Raxlen.

"Lovely Numb Family – Nascar" is described as a bizarre short film produced by Chris Molesworth.

Thursday, August 18

"Outside the Wire," by Josh Clark, tells the story of two local photojournalists, Dan Morrison and Cali Bagby, who were embedded with Marines on the front lines of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Producer/Director/Editor Chris Nguyen gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the world of electronic gamers in "Arena of Gamers.

"In "Call of the Bells," a young woman learns the ancient Indian art of Bharatanatyam. This story of dedication and passion was produced by Jeremy Cabalona and Lea Artz.

“A Life Against Death: The Work of Sister Helen Prejean” comes to us from the University of Oregon. Casey Marks Fife, Executive Producer; Michelle Bagoyo, Producer/Editor; Joey Jackson, Writer/Director

"The Buskers and Lou (and Micah)" is a mini-doc Micah Cruver made for his documentary class that takes us behind the scenes of the movie being filmed in Portland.

Friday, August 19

As part of the Origin Series, "Earth" is filmmaker Leif Peterson’s take on the story of Cain and Abel as set in the American West of the 1800s.

"Shut Up and Ride" is a story of a difficult breakup – between two friends and their tandem bike by Mikey Kampmann and Michael Ward.

"The Date" looks at an awkward first date gone wrong ... or right by Genevieve Sage and Steve Brian.

"Summer Snapshot" is a romantic look at the bygone days of summer. Shot in eight-millimeter, this film, by Ian McCluskey, uses nostalgic imagery and contemporary interview to blend the present with the past.

OPB TV Channel Change Provides More Viewing Options

Last modified on July 1, 2011 03:36 PM

On July 6, OPB's second channel, OPB PLUS, moves to a new location with an expanded lineup of program options. The OPB TV audio channel, broadcasting OPB Radio, opbmusic and KMHD, also moves.

Whether you turn to OPB for drama or the arts, public affairs or documentaries, British comedies or musical performances, you can find more of it, beginning July 6, on OPB's second TV channel – OPB PLUS.

OPB continues to broadcast its core lineup of programs over the air at 10.1 in the Portland area and on Comcast channel 10 (standard definition) and channel 710 (high definition).

In the Portland area, OPB PLUS relocates from over-the-air channel 10.3 to 10.2. OPB PLUS is still located on Comcast channel 310. (See table below for other locations.) On July 6, the OPB audio channel moves from over-the-air channel 10.4 to 10.3. (Most cable providers do not provide this option.)

Primetime on OPB PLUS (7-9pm) presents themes on weeknights. Mondays mean performing arts and specials … Tuesday is the night to celebrate Americana … On Wednesdays it's British drama … Thursday focuses on investigative journalism and documentaries … and Fridays spotlight mysteries. Public affairs – BBC News, Tavis Smiley, Charlie Rose and the PBS NewsHour – will air from 9-12pm weekdays.

Weekdays on PLUS during morning hours programming focuses on crafts and gardening. Afternoons offer documentaries, music, news and cooking. A full hour of Britcoms, at 11am and 6pm each weekday, is also on the schedule.

On weekends on PLUS the daytime schedule includes children's programs, crafts and home improvement shows. Saturday evenings start with music, followed by a movie at 10. The series kicks off July 9 with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in Charade. Sunday daytime offers operas, public affairs and more. And Sunday evenings will focus on Oregon and the Northwest.

For a complete list of cities and channels, visit opb.org/tv on July 6.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Prestigious Telly Awards

Last modified on July 1, 2011 03:25 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received three prestigious international Telly Awards for OREGON EXPERIENCE. "Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way," "The Spirit of Tek" and "Vortex 1" were honored with Bronze Telly Awards.

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions and web commercials. The 32nd annual Telly Awards competition received over 14,000 entries from all 50 states and many countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

"Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way" was co-produced/written by Eric Cain and Nadine Jelsing and edited by Bruce Barrow. Videographers included Greg Bond and Tom Shrider, with audio technician Randy Layton. The film goes behind the scenes to explore the Round-Up’s rich history as it celebrated its 100th anniversary. Archival film and modern footage are woven together to tell the stories of rodeo clowns and Indian pageants, and a succession of rodeo riders – African-American, Native-American and women – who defied the prejudices of the times to become crowd favorites. It also shows how an extraordinary number of local volunteers run the whole operation that has become inextricably intertwined with the Pendleton community and the Umatilla Reservation.

"The Spirit of Tek" was written and produced by Nadine Jelsing and edited by Lisa Suinn Kallem. Videographers included Greg Bond, Michael Bendixen and Nicholas Fisher. Audio technicians included Randy Layton, William Ward and Glenn Micallef. This film documents the people and history of a company that changed the world. In 1945 four young entrepreneurs decided to start an electronics company in Portland, Oregon. Tektronix was born and it proved to be the right idea at the right time.

"Vortex 1" was written and produced by Eric Cain and edited by Todd Sonflieth. Videographers included Nicholas Fisher, Todd Sonflieth and Michael Bendixen. Audio technicians were Randy Layton and Ted Cutler. The program explores the people and events behind the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history: It was 1970. Richard Nixon was president and the Vietnam War raged on. Anti-war activists were planning to converge on Portland during an American Legion convention. The Vortex festival was, in fact, a diversionary event to lure young people away from planned -- and potentially violent -- anti-war protests at an American Legion convention in Portland. And by most almost every measure, it succeeded.

These and other OPB productions are available to watch online, anytime at watch.opb.org.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Wins Two NW Emmys

Last modified on June 16, 2011 03:29 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting's OREGON EXPERIENCE picked up two Northwest Regional Emmys at the Saturday night ceremonies in Snoqualmie, Washington. Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way won for best Documentary-Cultural and Vortex 1 was honored for Best Documentary-Historical.

Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way was co-produced/written by Eric Cain and Nadine Jelsing and edited by Bruce Barrow. The film goes behind the scenes to explore the Round-Up’s rich history as it celebrated its 100th anniversary. Archival film and modern footage are woven together to tell the stories of rodeo clowns and Indian pageants, and a succession of rodeo riders – African-American, Native-American and women – who defied the prejudices of the times to become crowd favorites. It also shows how an extraordinary number of local volunteers run the whole operation that has become inextricably intertwined with the Pendleton community and the Umatilla Reservation.

Vortex 1 was written and produced by Eric Cain and edited by Todd Sonflieth. The program explores the people and events behind the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history: It was 1970. Richard Nixon was president and the Vietnam War raged on. Anti-war activists were planning to converge on Portland during an American Legion convention. The Vortex festival was, in fact, a diversionary event to lure young people away from planned – and potentially violent – anti-war protests at an American Legion convention in Portland. And by most almost every measure, it succeeded.

Watch Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way , Vortex 1 and all OREGON EXPERIENCE episodes online anytime at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE

OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters – both familiar and forgotten – who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: The Oystermen Premieres April 18 at 9pm

Last modified on April 5, 2011 12:42 PM

“He was a bold man who first eat an oyster.” – Jonathan Swift, Ireland, 1738

Back in the 1850s, throngs of East Coast people came West in search of gold. Some who failed went looking for something else almost as valuable – oysters. They found a mother lode in the shallow bays of Oregon and Washington. "The Oystermen," the next episode in OPB's OREGON EXPERIENCE series airing Monday, April 18 at 9pm, explores the historic dips and turns of the Pacific Northwest oyster business and celebrates some of its many colorful characters.

These unusual little creatures have played a distinctive role in Pacific Northwest history. Those 49ers had a tremendous appetite for oysters, and within a very few years “ … they had pretty much eaten every oyster out of San Francisco Bay.” The search was on for new oyster beds as far south as Mazatlan, Mexico and as far north as the Puget Sound.

In Oregon, the Yaquina Bay oyster industry began with a shipwreck in January 1852. Stranded in the area for several months, the captain and crew finally reached the Willamette Valley and promptly reported that the Yaquina River was abundant with oysters, clams and fish of all kinds. By 1863, two commercial oyster firms appeared on Yaquina Bay: Winant & Company, run by James Winant and Solomon Dodge, who established the community of Oysterville; and Ludlow and Company.

At that time, the bay was part of the Coast Reservation, and disputes quickly arose about who could do what and at what cost in the area. The "battle for the bay" was on, with potential settlers pushing for dismantling the Indian reservation and opening the area. And in the end, that is exactly what happened.

By the 1880s, the native oyster populations had been seriously depleted. Oystermen began to import and transplant juvenile oysters from the East Coast. For a while, the oyster business flourished once more. But by the 1920s, the industry was in trouble again. The comeback began with the discovery that seed oysters imported from Japan thrived in the cool waters off the Pacific Northwest coast.

Over the years, the industry has ridden a roller coaster of changing markets and changing tastes, depleted stocks and environmental impacts. "The Oystermen," produced by OPB’s Eric Cain and edited by Lisa Kallem, is a story of interesting people and exotic species, water-quality issues and real-estate ventures and, of course, the many ways to grow – and to eat – an oyster.

Watch OREGON EXPERIENCE: THE OYSTERMEN online anytime after the broadcast at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB's OREGON FIELD GUIDE Receives Scripps Howard Awards Honor

Last modified on March 18, 2011 02:12 PM

A portfolio of Oregon Public Broadcasting's OREGON FIELD GUIDE stories received recognition as a finalist in the Scripps Howard Journalism Awards announced today. The Scripps Howard National Journalism Awards recognizes outstanding print, broadcast and online journalism in 16 categories.
 
The award is for a portfolio of stories by OREGON FIELD GUIDE producer Vince Patton including: "Murres & Eagles," which looks at bald eagle attacks on murre breeding grounds; "Pygmy Owls," that details the discovery of the elusive bird in an unexpected place; "Dead Zone Update," which examines the changes in the ocean off Oregon's coast; "Old Tree" that takes viewers to a remote mountain wilderness to see what may be among the oldest living trees in Oregon; and "Forest Park: Portland’s Backyard Gem" a half-hour special that explores how the urban park is trying to balance nature with recreation demands. Along with Patton, the award also recognizes senior videographers/editors Michael Bendixen, Nick Fisher, Todd Sonflieth and editor Lisa Suinn Kallem.
 
Videos of the stories featured on FIELD GUIDE are available at opb.org/programs/ofg/ or watch entire programs at watch.opb.org.
 
About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 22nd season, OREGON FIELD GUIDE remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. OREGON FIELD GUIDE airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sundays at 1:30am and 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: "Streecar City" Premieres February 28

Last modified on February 10, 2011 11:46 AM

How streetcar lines formed the streets and neighborhoods that shaped our cities

More than a century ago, Oregon boasted an extensive network of streetcars. There were trolley cars in towns like Eugene, Salem, Astoria and Klamath Falls. Horsecars traveled over tracks in Corvallis and Baker City. Cable cars traveled up to Portland Heights and steam dummies reached out to Mt Tabor.

Portland had the third largest streetcar system of its kind in the United States. Its cable car line was steeper than anything in San Francisco. And the nation’s first interurban electric rail service stretched from Portland to Oregon City.

The next episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "Streetcar City," takes us back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when streetcars provided a system of mass transportation that was cheap and readily available. For the first time, people could live further away from their jobs and travel for fun. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, February 28 at 9pm to see how a growing network of streetcar lines helped shape our cities.

In Portland, outlying neighborhoods formed around lines, changing the layout of the city and spurring the development of nearby towns and tourist attractions.

Most of the streetcar companies were privately run operations that were also involved in real estate and electrical power. Some even built amusement parks, known as “Trolley Parks,” to attract riders on weekends and off hours. Oaks Park in Portland remains one of the nation’s last trolley parks.

Streetcars disappeared in favor of the car, but today, nearly 50 years after the last lines closed, streetcars are enjoying a resurgence.

In 2001, Portland introduced the first modern streetcar in North America, becoming a model for cities all over the nation.

Go to opb.org/oregonexperience to see vintage film from the Oregon Historical Society archives, historic streetcar photos from Portland’s neighborhoods and around the state, and more. Watch OREGON EXPERIENCE: "Streetcar City" online anytime after the broadcast at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: "Pacific Crest Trail: A Ride to Remember" Premieres November 24

Last modified on November 15, 2010 12:24 PM

The next episode of OPB's OREGON EXPERIENCE takes you on a ride you'll never forget.

In 1959, Washington ranchers Don and June Mulford decided to attempt the first “Thru-Ride” from Mexico to Canada on the Pacific Crest Trail. At the time the 2,400-mile trail stretching across California, Oregon and Washington was poorly marked and not fully coordinated between the three states. In California in particular the trail would often disappear for miles – and off maps -- with no signs to show the way.

To prepare for their ride, the Mulfords contacted the Forest Service and Park Services for maps and information. Invariably they were told that the trip couldn’t be done in one “season” or year because of changing weather conditions and the sheer length and logistics of the trip.

But the Mulfords were determined and decided to give it a try. After trucking their horses to the Mexican border, they started their journey on April 19, 1959 and ended at the Canadian border on September 25, 1959.

The trail carried Don and June from parched Southern California to high desert to rugged mountain passes perched on the spines of the High Sierras and Cascade Mountains. They kept going despite treacherous snow, fog and rain.

With film equipment they’d purchased before the trip, the Mulfords documented daily life on the trail, including stunning scenery, and captured surprises that will delight viewers.

It was an adventure of a lifetime. The Mulfords became the first horseback riders to complete the trip in one season. Their trip attracted media attention from their first day on the trail until their successful finish at the Canadian border five months later. Once back home, the Mulfords made a movie of their trip and toured 12 Western states bringing attention to the Pacific Crest Trail and the need for it to be improved, coordinated and maintained. Today, the 2,650-mile trail is nearly complete and well-traveled by hikers and riders.

While Don Mulford passed away 20 years ago, June still lives in Vancouver, Washington. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Wednesday, November 24 at 9pm as the story is told entirely with Don’s narrative voice taken from the original movie, and a recent interview with June who enthusiastically retells an adventure still fresh in her mind after 50 years.

Watch online anytime after the broadcast at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

Oregon Public Broadcasting's OREGON FIELD GUIDE Receives Honor for Scientific Reporting

Last modified on November 10, 2010 09:28 AM

Probing environmental reports on the size of the Gulf oil spill, the possible risks of chemicals commonly found in drinking water, and the fate of an endangered fish in the Colorado River are among the winners of the 2010 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards. And two segments of Oregon Public Broadcasting's OREGON FIELD GUIDE that examined threats to two bird species in Oregon have received a “Certificate of Merit” in the prestigious competition.

The awards, administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) since their inception in 1945, represent the pinnacle of achievement for professional journalists in the science-writing field. Committees composed of reporters and editors judge the entries.The judges awarded the Certificate of Merit in the Television Spot News/Feature Reporting (20 minutes or less) category to an entry by producer Vince Patton and videographers Nick Fisher, Michael Bendixen and Todd Sonflieth. In two reports for OREGON FIELD GUIDE, Patton and colleagues showed the unanticipated impact of the bald eagle’s recovery on the breeding success of seabirds called common murres and a dedicated graduate student’s dogged pursuit of pygmy owls in a forest habitat on the edge of downtown Portland. Science reporter Seth Borenstein of The Associated Press, one of the judges, called the reports “charming, lovely storytelling with a wonderful, leisurely pacing.”

"Certificates of Merit are given only rarely," according to Earl Lane, senior communications officer of the AAAS Office of Public Programs. "A certificate was awarded this year to the Oregon Public Broadcasting entry because the judges determined that it was worthy of special recognition." The awards will be presented at the 2011 AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in February. A complete list of award winners is available at the AAAS website.

The award-winning OREGON FIELD GUIDE segments can be viewed online: Murres & Eagles and Pygmy Owls.

About the AAAS Lavli Science Journalism Awards
The AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards represent the pinnacle of achievement for professional journalists in the science writing field. The Kavli Foundation, based in Oxnard, California, provided a generous endowment in 2009 that ensures the future of the awards program.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 22nd season, OREGON FIELD GUIDE remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. OREGON FIELD GUIDE airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sundays at 1:30am and 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

Forest Park: Portland’s Backyard Gem Premieres on OREGON FIELD GUIDE on October 14

Last modified on October 4, 2010 10:17 AM

Oregon Field Guide devotes a half-hour special to explore the health, history and future of Portland’s Forest Park. Five thousand acres of forest sit five minutes from urban downtown, protected from development but facing increasing pressure from more people who want to use it.  

Every generation seems to fight over how best to use and protect the Park. Lately, cyclists have pushed hard for new trails in the park dedicated to mountain biking. It was in the midst of shooting video for this production when OPB encountered mountain bikers working on an illegal trail. Watch as the bikers claim their work on the rogue trail actually helps the environment. Then join other cyclists who go in to repair both the damage done to the park and to the cycling community’s reputation.  

The rogue trail made as much news this year as did a rogue ditch in 1906 when a conniving former congressman stole water from Balch Creek. The history of Forest Park follows a long trail of cunning, failed dreams and ultimately, great vision. In an odd twist, the park might not exist if it were not for landslides and unpaid taxes. Early documents reveal the important role played by a previously uncredited early Portlander – a man who might just be responsible for dropping the idea of the park into the ear of the most influential person possible.  

After avoiding mass developments of thousands of homes, large scale timber cutting and even attempts to drill for oil, Forest Park was officially set aside nearly half a century after the first push to preserve the land.  

Today the park faces great challenges. Its health is in jeopardy from large invasions of non-native plants, a lack of funds from the city and a rash of young trees dying prematurely.  

Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, October 14 at 8:30pm (and Sunday, October 21 at 1:30am and 6:30pm) and explore the gem in Portland's backyard.  

Videos of the stories featured on FIELD GUIDE are available at opb.org/programs/ofg/ or watch entire programs at watch.opb.org.  

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 22nd season, OREGON FIELD GUIDE remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. OREGON FIELD GUIDE airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sundays at 1:30am and 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

OREGON ART BEAT Season Premiere Broadcasts from Maryhill Museum, October 7 at 8pm

Last modified on September 28, 2010 11:49 AM

It's a double celebration of sorts... OREGON ART BEAT kicks off its 12th season broadcasting from Maryhill Museum which is celebrating its 70th anniversary. We meet Museum Director Steven Grafe who talks about curating one of the museum's new exhibits, "Comics at a Crossroads: The Art of the Graphic Novel."  The exhibit features a number of the artists from Periscope Studio who you'll see in tonight's second segment. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, October 7 at 8pm and get ready for a new season of creative exploration.
 
Meet one of Portland’s most revered artists. His roots go back to the very early days of Portland’s art scene. After 60 years of painting, art is still the most powerful thing in George Johanson's life. Johanson sits down with ART BEAT to reflect on a life well spent in art.  

Next, visit Periscope Studio -- a collective of almost two-dozen artists who call themselves family and work in a shared space. The room is crowded with creativity and laughter. OREGON ART BEAT goes behind the scenes for a glimpse into the creative process of making comics and graphic novels.

Jim D'Ville is a key figure in Oregon's ukulele revolution. Yes, a ukulele revolution is underway, especially in Portland where dozens of aspiring musicians have rediscovered this unusual little instrument. See why the ukulele has surged in popularity and hear how Jim's uke fits right with his new jazz band, Caravan Gogh.  

You can watch entire ART BEAT broadcasts at watch.opb.org. Video of the stories featured on ART BEAT can be viewed online immediately following the broadcast at opb.org/programs/artbeat. Check out the ART BEAT blog at blogs.opb.org/artful/ and join us on facebook at facebook.com/OregonArtBeat.  

About OREGON ART BEAT
OREGON ART BEAT, Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emmy Award-winning local arts series, is in its 12th season. ART BEAT profiles Northwest artists, musicians and artisans -- from an operatic baritone to a bit-and-spur craftsman to everything in between. The program airs Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 1am and 6pm. In the Mountain Time Zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9pm Thursdays and repeats at 7pm on Sundays. Funding for OREGON ART BEAT is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Kinsman Foundation.   

OREGON FIELD GUIDE's Season Premiere Investigates Cattle Rustling, October 7 at 8:30pm

Last modified on September 28, 2010 11:49 AM

Cattle rustling might sound like something from the old Wild West, but it's still going on in Oregon. Branding is supposed to help stop it... but it’s not foolproof. OREGON FIELD GUIDE kicks off its 22nd season investigating this serious, costly problem and examines how ranchers and law enforcement are struggling to stop it. Then go underwater for an amazing look at a strange behavior sturgeon are exhibiting in the waters of the Columbia River. And tag along with the newest FIELD GUIDE reporter on a bird-watching trek like none you've ever seen. It all happens on Thursday, October 7 at 8:30pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting.  

Cattle Rustling – The FIELD GUIDE crew heads to the Skinner Ranch just outside the Jordan Valley for the annual calf branding. Brands and colorful ear tags are supposed to help differentiate ownership of cattle on the vast open range. But it's an imperfect system that rustlers have learned to take advantage of. With the cost of a cow in the thousands, and only a handful of law enforcement to patrol thousands of square miles of rangeland, cattle rustling is as much a fact of life now as it was in the Old West. The law in Oregon is to check brands for proof of ownership before cattle are sold, but that's not the case in many other states. Some think that new technology, such as implanting microchips in cattle in much the same way some owners do in their pets, might help. A quick scan could reveal the owner's contact information. Sounds like a good answer – but it's fraught with problems and controversy. Producer Ed Jahn investigates the impact of cattle rustling and some possible solutions.  

Sturgeon Balls -- North America’s mega-fish is acting strange and we don't why. In the winter of 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers sent a submarine down to inspect the Bonneville Dam for cracks. What they bumped into was the largest group of sturgeon researchers had ever seen, milling around in a giant ball. Biologists say it's not a spawning activity. They don't know what these giant fish, some of which live for a century, are up to, but suspect the behavior has been around since before the time of the dinosaurs. Vince Patton takes us for a look at the giant "sturgeon balls" and to see how the fish are faring in our waterways now significantly changed by dams.  

Bird-a-thon – FIELD GUIDE's newest producer, Jule Gilfillan, joins a group of enthusiastic birders for a bird-spotting trip like none you've ever seen. It's a 48-hour, non-stop trek, crisscrossing the state to spot as many birds as possible. The group calls themselves "The Wild Turkeys" and they join the challenge to raise funds for the Audubon Society and, believe it or not, for fun. This year, rising winds, dropping temperatures and snow add to the rigors the "bird-a-thoners" and Gilfillan must deal with.  

Videos of the stories featured on FIELD GUIDE are available at opb.org/programs/ofg/ or watch entire programs at watch.opb.org. And check out the FIELD GUIDE blog.
 

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 22nd season, OREGON FIELD GUIDE remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. OREGON FIELD GUIDE airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats Sundays at 1:30am and 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.  

OREGON EXPERIENCE: Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way Premieres Thursday, September 9

Last modified on August 25, 2010 01:25 PM

The Pendleton Round-Up turns 100 this September. It’s not the oldest rodeo in the country, and not even close to the biggest. But according to the cowboys who compete there, it’s one of the best. And besides, the Round-Up is far more than just a rodeo. The next OREGON EXPERIENCE goes behind the scenes to explore the Round-Up’s rich history, including rodeo clowns and Indian pageants, and a succession of rodeo riders – African-American, Native-American and women – who defied the prejudices of the times to become crowd favorites.

"Pendleton Round-Up: The Wild West Way," airing Thursday, September 9 at 8pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting, is an action-packed hour filled with fierce community spirit, pageantry and tradition passed from generation to generation.

The Round-Up began in 1910. Portland and the Willamette Valley were growing fast. Pendleton didn't want to be left behind and was looking for a blockbuster event to attract people to the area. So a group of civic-minded businessmen led by a young attorney named Roy Raley came up with the idea for a frontier extravaganza, building on the strengths of their Wild-West heritage. From the very beginning, it was nonstop entertainment choreographed with fierce bulls, bucking broncs and the best exhibition around. An extraordinary number of local volunteers run the whole operation, making a year-round commitment to this week-long event. The Round-Up, in turn, has become inextricably intertwined with the Pendleton community and the Umatilla Reservation. The active Native-American presence has kept the Round-Up distinctive throughout these many years. The Indian village at the Round-Up is the largest encampment on the professional rodeo circuit.

Much of "The Wild West Way," co-produced by Nadine Jelsing and Eric Cain, is illustrated with amazing archival film from some of the earliest Round-Ups, plus action-packed still photography from the Oregon Historical Society, the Umatilla County Historical Society and several private collections.

OREGON EXPERIENCE filmed last year's Round-Up and spent another week in Pendleton earlier this summer interviewing the variety of folks that make the event happen.

See a story-filled interview with 100-year-old Alan "Monty" Carden, who was America's oldest living rodeo clown until his death just a few months ago. Watch the daredevil rides of legendary old-time cowgirls. Hear from Bob Chambers who announced the rodeo event for 23 years. Drop by the legendary Hotel de Cowpunch, the very informal bunkhouse atop the Severe Brothers Saddle Shop. Learn about the Round-Up queen and her court, and meet the woman who sews the traditional split-leather outfits worn by the court "royalty."

Tune in Thursday, September 9 at 8pm on OPB and watch online anytime after the broadcast at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE

OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB's OREGON LENS Spotlights Northwest Independent Filmmakers

Last modified on August 13, 2010 09:58 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting brings indie-theater directly into your home over five nights this month as the work of some of the Pacific Northwest's most talented independent producers is showcased on OREGON LENS August 16-20 at 10pm.

"We've got some exceptional films in season 12," said Steve Amen, executive producer and host of OREGON LENS. "Oregon is rising fast on the independent filmmaking scene. I've had the pleasure of teaching a course in filmmaking at PSU over the past couple of years, and I continue to be amazed by the talent in our community," said Amen. "OREGON LENS provides viewers who may not have access to indie theaters in their communities a great opportunity to see the kind of innovative filmmaking for which this area is becoming known."

Monday kicks off the festival with two documentaries: "Kings of the Road” (produced by Dan Schaefer) tells the story of the Portland Buckaroos professional hockey team. In 1959, with its future in doubt -- a handful of players, an uncompleted arena, and the press denouncing the team as the worst ever fielded in the league -- all they could do was skate. Inconceivably, they eventually rise as division leaders and champions, winning more games than any other team in professional hockey from 1960-74. Next, “Every War Has Two Losers” (Haydn Reiss) uses the journals of poet and conscientious objector William Stafford to present another point of view on war and its ability to create security.

This year, one night is devoted exclusively to short animated films. On Tuesday, August 17, humorous stories, music videos, sci-fi and poignant messages are depicted in a variety of features running from a few seconds to several minutes. Opening the evening is “operation: FISH" (Jeff Riley) which took seven years and the help of many artists from the Portland animation scene to produce.

On Wednesday night, several short films headline the night, including: “Last Night, Long Ago” (Scott Ballard) about a woman preparing to move and her memories of the place she's leaving; “Between Night” (Scott Ballard) which shows how a rare find by a street sweeper leads to a break from routine; and “Reception,” (C.K. Lichenstein II) an unsettling story of a woman who wakes up injured, confused and lost in the woods and makes a desperate phone call to the only person she can get a hold of -- a man who wants to help her and yet seems to know more than he's letting on. "I really enjoyed these short films," said Amen. "The stories are great and the cinematography exceptional."

Thursday night stay tuned for more short documentaries. “Fumiko Hayashida The Woman Behind the Symbol” (Lucy Ostrander) looks at Japanese internment camps during WWII. “Enter the Beard” (Scott Ballard) is Matt Lawrence’s documentary about the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships in Anchorage, Alaska. And the “Adreneline Film Project" (Kate Brown) is a behind-the-scenes look at the University of Oregon's intensive narrative film production workshop in which university students and local filmmakers write, shoot and edit a film in just 72 hours. "Hook It and Book It" (Rebecca Toews) looks at "repoman" Jay Gates line of work.

Friday's finale includes two short documentaries: “Silent Conversation” (Elizabeth Weissenborn) is a beautifully shot film profiling two Argentine tango dancers and their relationship with the dance, and “Pushing It” (Elizabeth Weissenborn) -- a conversation with a motorcycle high-speed racer. The evening and our series concludes with, “Know Your Stuff: What’s in a cup of coffee” (Wen Lee). This behind-the scenes look at production of coffee is followed by a trip to Costa Rica in search of a coffee adventure.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Prestigious Telly Awards

Last modified on June 24, 2010 10:34 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received three prestigious international Telly Awards for its local productions. OREGON EXPERIENCE was honored with Bronze Telly Awards for two programs: "Logger's Daughter" and "Opal Whiteley." OREGON ART BEAT received a Bronze Telly for its half-hour special, "The Art of Collecting Art."

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions and web commercials. The 31st annual Telly Awards competition received over 11,000 entries from all 50 states and many countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

"Logger's Daughter," produced by Eric Cain, follows an African-American woman who was born and raised in Eastern Oregon as she sets out to explore her family's past.

"Opal Whiteley," produced by Kami Horton, explores the life of one of the state's most mysterious and controversial figures. Opal Whiteley grew up barefoot and poor in Oregon's logging camps and gained international fame for her writings. The film investigates the question as to whether she was a princess or a fraud.

In "OREGON ART BEAT's The Art of Collecting Art," producer KC Cowan looks at why Portland (and Oregon) is such a great market for original art, why people collect and how to get started on a collection.

These and other OPB productions are available to watch online, anytime at watch.opb.org.

HISTORY DETECTIVES Puts a Question to the Nation: Is Andy Warhol's Art on the Moon?

Last modified on June 7, 2010 02:26 PM

Ex-Grumman Launch Pad Foreman Speaks Out for the First Time in 40 Years

Fans invited to help solve the mystery, “Who is John F?,” with a pre-broadcast online story release at pbs.org/historydetectives

Today, HISTORY DETECTIVES fans across the nation are invited to help solve a 40-year-old mystery: “Who is John F.?” — and did he really help send Andy Warhol’s art to the moon? HISTORY DETECTIVES has posted “Moon Museum” online today, two weeks before the segment airs in the June 21 broadcast premiere. Oregon Public Broadcasting and Lion Television, the producers of the PBS series, a summertime favorite, are releasing the story prior to the season launch in the hopes that online viewers will produce evidence to answer this question.

In “Moon Museum,” HISTORY DETECTIVES reveals the story of how six major artists — Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, David Novros, John Chamberlain and Forrest Myers — all contributed drawings that were then reduced onto a tiny ceramic “mini-canvas,” which NASA may have unwittingly smuggled to the moon aboard the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission in November 1969.

HISTORY DETECTIVES delves into the story and narrows the focus to “John F.,” allegedly an elusive Grumman engineer believed to be responsible for sneaking the artwork aboard the Apollo 12 mission by clandestinely affixing it to one of the legs on the lunar module.

For this intriguing investigation, series host and historian Gwendolyn Wright interviews several of the individuals close to these historic events, including retired Apollo 12 astronaut Captain Alan Bean. The story begins with Jade Dellinger, the Florida art curator who purchased a cryptic piece of art in an online auction and contacted HISTORY DETECTIVES to trace the story behind it. Most revealing is the story of Richard Kupczyk, the Grumman launch pad foreman for the Apollo 12 mission, who speaks out for the first time in 40 years and candidly reveals how, at no risk to the mission, some employees stowed various personal items and objects not approved by NASA onto the lunar module before launch.

Key to the story is an interview with renowned artist Forrest “Frosty” Myers, who created the “Moon Museum” and contributed a drawing. Myers relates to HISTORY DETECTIVES how Bell Laboratories scientist Fred Waldhauer reduced the artists’ sketches and imprinted them onto the ceramic wafer using the state-of-the-art technology of the time. Now deceased, Waldhauer is the man who knew a Grumman Aircraft engineer willing and able to place the artwork onto the lunar module.

While a select group of elite artists and some of their fans knew of the plan to send art to the moon, only the engineer can confirm whether the mission was accomplished. At the time, he promised to send a telegram to signal his success, and HISTORY DETECTIVES uncovers that compelling piece of evidence in the segment: the original, cryptic telegram sent to Myers from Cape Canaveral on the date of the 1969 launch, which simply reads, “You’re on. A-OK. All systems are go,” signed “John F.”

HISTORY DETECTIVES is giving people a chance to share clues and insights on the name and whereabouts of the mysterious “John F.” Beginning today, self-starting sleuths can watch the full story online and post all findings at the series’ website: pbs.org/historydetectives.

“Moon Museum” is part of the HISTORY DETECTIVES season premiere on Monday, June 21, 2010, 9:00-10:00 p.m. It is one of three segments in an episode that explores the ingenuity that fueled America’s foray into space.

More information is available at http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20100607_historydetectivesandywarholartonmoon.html.

An OREGON ART BEAT Special: "Teaching Creativity: Is Art the Answer?" Premieres on May 27

Last modified on May 11, 2010 11:04 AM

How important are activities like painting, band, choir or dance in Oregon's cash-strapped schools? As budgets are cut around the state and student performance on standardized tests is prioritized over more creative tasks, making time for the arts has become a controversial issue. Why do we continue to teach the arts as classes get bigger and budgets continue to shrink? Or, from a different perspective, do we lose something as a community if our children aren't learning creative thinking skills in the classroom? In "Teaching Creativity: Is Art the Answer?", OREGON ART BEAT looks closely at the relationship between arts education and creativity in our public schools.

This half-hour special airing on Thursday, May 27 at 8pm investigates arts education in three situations around the state:

Milwaukie choir director John Baker fears that his award-winning choir program will not be around for long. He's taught at Rex Putnam High School for 30 years. His choirs have a reputation as among the best in the state, but enrollment is dropping in all the art and music classes. His choir is declining in size, but still winning at state. If it eventually disappears, he worries about the impact on the school community.

Michael Geisen uses music, theater and drawing to keep his students engaged with science at Crook County Middle School in Prineville. His teaching strategies helped him earn the National Teacher of the Year award in 2008, but he's struggling with increasing class size and decreasing budgets.

Young Audiences has provided artist-in-residence programs around the state for decades. In Portland we follow two artists who provide intensive instruction in mask making and drawing during their one week in "residence" in the classroom. For some students, it may be the only formal art education they receive all year.

Advocates say that the arts can be a bridge to help students understand complex material across many different subjects. Others argue that creative thinking is a critical skill for the workforce of the 21st century. While Oregon has art education standards and benchmarks that students must meet, finding the time to teach creative thinking skills is a challenge in classrooms across the state. Why are we trying to find time to teach these skills at all? "Teaching Creativity: Is Art the Answer?" explores these questions and makes some surprising discoveries.

More on Special Website
At opb.org/teachingcreativity, find original video featuring stories of how art influenced the lives of some Oregon celebrities, links to resources, a place to share your story of how art education affected your life, and more.

THINK OUT LOUD Looks at the Arts in Education
On Friday, May 28, THINK OUT LOUD will continue the discussion on the arts in education. Tune in to the stations of OPB Radio at 9am and go to the THINK OUT LOUD website to join the discussion.

ART BEAT at School
Bring OREGON ART BEAT into your school or home classroom. Visit our new and improved site to find more than 700 streaming video clips and improved search tools, plus teacher's notes and lesson plans with related activities, resources and projects. It’s a great way to engage kids in learning and creating.
www.opb.org/education/atschool/

You can watch entire ART BEAT broadcasts at watch.opb.org. Video of the stories featured on ART BEAT can be viewed online immediately following the broadcast at opb.org/programs/artbeat.

Check out the ART BEAT blog at http://blogs.opb.org/artful/

About OREGON ART BEAT
OREGON ART BEAT, Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emmy-Award winning local arts series, is in its 11th season. ART BEAT profiles Northwest artists, musicians and artisans -- from an operatic baritone to a bit-and-spur craftsman to everything in between. The program airs Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 1am and 6pm. In the Mountain Time Zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9pm Thursdays and repeats at 7pm on Sundays. Funding for OREGON ART BEAT is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Kinsman Foundation. More information is available online at opb.org/artbeat.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: "The White Plague" Premieres Monday, May 17

Last modified on May 10, 2010 03:56 PM

“If we all searched our family histories, we would find that at some point, we have all been touched by the tragic disease tuberculosis."
-- Jay D. Kravitz, M.D., Global Health Center

Tuberculosis. Consumption. White Plague. Ancient Egyptian king Tutankamen died of it. So did a long list of other well-known historical characters: from Frédéric Chopin to Stephen Foster; Eleanor Roosevelt and Ho Chi Mihn; Sarah Bernhardt and W.C. Fields and many more. American singer Jimmie Rodgers recorded “T.B. Blues” before succumbing to the sickness himself. Tuberculosis has plagued humanity for a long, long time. And in many parts of the world, TB still reigns as one of the deadliest of all diseases.

"White Plague," the next episode of the OREGON EXPERIENCE series, explores the history of tuberculosis in Oregon and elsewhere. Airing on Monday, May 17 at 9pm, the program, produced by OPB's Eric Cain, portrays what had been the real immediacy of the threat. “White Plague” employs excerpts from old films and personal accounts from two individuals -- each a one-time patient in a TB sanitorium, but each experiencing a very different outcome.

Today, in the Pacific Northwest, tuberculosis may not be an everyday word. But many Oregonians remember when it was. As recently as the 1940s and '50s, children lined up at school for TB skin tests. Mobile X-ray trucks parked at offices and factories to administer chest X-rays to workers.

Over the years, untold numbers of Oregonians developed active tuberculosis disease, and thousands tried to recuperate in one of the state’s public sanitoriums. But many -- perhaps even most – died from the disease, because until the 1950s, tuberculosis had no cure.

Oregon was the first Western state to build a public TB hospital and was, for a long time, the epicenter of TB surgery in the Pacific Northwest, because until 1946, Portland had the region’s only medical school. Two Portland doctors, brothers Ray and Ralph Maston, achieved national recognition for their open-chest procedures which helped pave the way to modern thoracic and heart surgery. But all of those facts have faded into history.

Oregonians don’t talk much about TB anymore, because they simply don’t see very much of it here. But elsewhere in the world, it continues to kill more than 2 million people a year.

Watch the complete program online anytime after May 17 at
opb.org/oregonexperience or at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB's HISTORY DETECTIVES Wins Gold Medal

Last modified on May 4, 2010 10:08 AM

The popular PBS series HISTORY DETECTIVES has won a Gold Medal at the 2010 New York Festivals International Television and Film Awards. The Series won the Gold Medal in the History & Society category. The producers, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and Lion Television, are honored to see HISTORY DETECTIVES ranked among the "World's Best Work."

"This is a terrific honor, and much deserved for our terrific production team," says Dave Davis, OPB's vice president for National Production.

"We are grateful for the award and to PBS who support a show that tells compelling stories about U.S. history to such a wide and popular audience," agreed Lion TV Executive Producer Chris Bryson.

The New York Festivals awarded the medal at a May 3rd ceremony in New York City. Representing 30 countries, NYF Television & Film Awards is one of the most widely respected competitions on the globe. Entries are judged by panels of international award-winning industry professionals recognized as leaders in their respective fields.

Each episode of HISTORY DETECTIVES begins with a viewer's tantalizing question about an object from the past. Viewers join the detectives' journeys as they track unexpected connections between long-ago events. HISTORY DETECTIVES highlights the adventure of history and the intrigue and challenge of ongoing discovery.

HISTORY DETECTIVES features five inquisitive fact finders: Wes Cowan, independent appraiser and auctioneer; Elyse Luray, an independent appraiser and expert in art history; Eduardo Pagán, professor of history at Arizona State University; Gwendolyn Wright, historian and professor of architecture, Columbia University; and Tukufu Zuberi, professor of sociology and the director of the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

HISTORY DETECTIVES launches its 8th season June 21, 2010, 9pm. It airs throughout the summer on Monday nights following ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: THE SPIRIT OF TEK Premieres May 3

Last modified on April 23, 2010 09:44 AM

In 1945 four young entrepreneurs decided to start an electronics company in Portland, Oregon. It was the right idea at the right time. In its heyday, Tektronix was Oregon's largest employer and earned a reputation as a "freewheeling idea factory" with ambitious and brilliant engineers. OREGON EXPERIENCE: THE SPIRIT OF TEK explores the history of a unique company through engaging archival film and photos, and the eyes of some early employees who remember the heyday of a company that changed the world. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, May 3 at 9pm.

Howard Vollum was fresh from the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Jack Murdock was home from the Coast Guard. Both were radiomen eager to build new careers. Along with fellow "Coastie" Miles Tippery and accountant Glenn McDowell, they decided to start their own business and signed incorporation papers in 1945, naming their company Tektronix.

Both Murdock, who started his own radio repair and appliance shop after high school, and Vollum, a Reed College graduate with a degree in physics, wanted to build a small, family-like company. Tektronix employees were hired on the basis of talent and knowledge. All were encouraged to experiment, take risks and seek excellence in an informal, egalitarian culture. The company quickly became known as a freewheeling research factory that led the world in innovative, state-of-the art oscilloscopes and hundreds of related products. Tek engineers were engaged in continual research and constantly testing new ideas to make better products.

From the start Tek scopes were a huge success because no other company could match their quality, accuracy and design. Tek built a wide variety of scopes to meet the needs of the many industries they served including the computer, automotive and aircraft industries. In addition, Tek scopes were indispensible in the development and improvement of television and helped send men to the moon.

By the early 1980s Tektronix had ballooned into a billion dollar company and had become Oregon's largest private employer. But its size and success would also bring change. Ideas for new products and projects were often lost in the pipeline and many of Tek's best and brightest were leaving the company to start their own.

The exodus of top employees from Tek would help seed Oregon's Silicon Forest in Washington County – and help transform the state's traditional lumber and resource based economy to one of high tech manufacturing instead.

Today Tektronix and continues to produce oscilloscopes at its headquarters near Beaverton and employs about 4,500 people worldwide.

Watch the complete program online anytime after May 3 at opb.org/oregonexperience or at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting new history series on OPB-TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for OREGON EXPERIENCE is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB National TV Production Approved for a Six-Part Primetime Series on PBS

Last modified on April 5, 2010 12:49 PM

Producers Launching Sponsorship Effort to Bring Series to National Audience

Oregon Public Broadcasting just moved one giant step closer to presenting a new series to public television audiences nationwide. PBS has asked The Talbot Players, an OPB production partner, to begin developing six one-hour episodes of SOUND TRACKS: MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS. The series will explore America and the world through music.

PBS Chief TV Programming Executive John F. Wilson stated that PBS is prepared to air SOUND TRACKS in prime time next year, pending full funding of the project. “The pilot episode is a handsome, exceptionally well-produced, innovative and exciting show,” said Wilson, adding that the series will “bring fresh and diverse voices to PBS.”

PBS’ endorsement is based on the successful national broadcast of a pilot SOUND TRACKS episode on January 25. Press and viewer response, including hundreds of e-mails from viewers, was overwhelmingly positive. The pilot episode was also pre-released online on the PBS Video Player, earning a spot among the top 10 most viewed videos in January and February.

SOUND TRACKS is presented to public television by Oregon Public Broadcasting, one of the nation’s top producers and presenters of public television programming including HISTORY DETECTIVES, TIME TEAM AMERICA, THE SIXTIES, RAPE OF EUROPA and FOREIGN EXCHANGE WITH FAREED ZAKARIA. David Davis, executive producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting, added this endorsement: “We were thrilled with the way the pilot was received, and we know the series will be huge hit for PBS, assuming we can find the necessary production funding.”

“People who liked our show really liked it,” said Executive Producer Stephen Talbot. “It struck a nerve with a younger audience who told us, ‘This is not my father’s PBS. I love it.’ But it also had cross-generational appeal. One man wrote: ‘It’s one of the best programs I’ve ever seen and I’m nearly 70.’ “

Viewers called SOUND TRACKS “colorful, catchy and inspiring;” “thought-provoking” and “mesmerizing.” “Finally, a smart show with a sense of humor and an even better sense of rhythm,” e-mailed one woman.

“We think SOUND TRACKS offers underwriters a unique opportunity to reach an influential, well-educated PBS demographic, while also appealing to a younger, more diverse audience,” says Talbot. “This will be a cross-platform show with a major online presence and endless possibilities for sharing the music we report about.”

The New York Times called the SOUND TRACKS pilot “engrossing” and “fascinating.” The San Francisco Chronicle said, “What makes it special is…opening ears to new sound [that] can also open minds to greater cross-cultural understanding.”

The SOUND TRACKS pilot reported three stories – revealing the masterminds behind a Russian hit pop song called “A Man Like Putin;” exploring the legacy of Afrobeat superstar Fela Kuti; and uncovering the surprising story behind the music in the outrageous comedy Borat. The show ended with an exclusive, soulful “global hit” performance by the reigning queen of Portuguese fado: Mariza.

The series will continue to be a musical adventure, combining compelling, well-reported stories with musical performances. While exploring the world, every episode of the series will also highlight American music and stories, featuring both famous and undiscovered talents.

Marco Werman of Public Radio International’s The World hosts SOUND TRACKS. As senior producer and anchor for the weekday news show, Werman brings international news and music to an audience of 2.8 million listeners each week. A global music expert and fan, Marco has produced The World’s daily “Global Hit” segment since 1997.

Werman is assisted by a reporting team of savvy journalists including NOVA and FRONTLINE/World producer Alexis Bloom, NPR and FRONTLINE producer Arun Rath and The San Francisco Guardian’s Mirissa Neff (aka DJ Felina).

With SOUND TRACKS’ strong audience support and PBS support for the series as primetime offering, Stephen Talbot’s company, The Talbot Players, is approaching potential funding partners for a six-part series. The pilot episode was made possible by support from AT&T and PBS, with additional underwriting from the Center for Asian American Media, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Latino Public Broadcasting, Native American Public Telecommunications and the National Black Programming Consortium.

Watch the series and read viewer comments at pbs.org/soundtracks.

Find photos and host bios at http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/sound_tracks_music_without_borders

Fan the show at facebook.com/soundtrackstv

OREGON EXPERIENCE: Opal Whiteley Premieres March 1 at 8pm

Last modified on February 12, 2010 11:16 AM

Child prodigy, nature writer, princess or fraud?

Who was Opal Whiteley? In 1920 everyone in Oregon seemed to have an opinion about her. Today, her life and her writing remains a mystery.

Opal grew up in the logging towns around Cottage Grove where she was known for her encyclopedic knowledge of nature. But it was the publication of her childhood diary that gained her international fame and spurred her mysterious legend. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, March 1 at 9pm when the next episode in the OREGON EXPERIENCE series explores the life of the woman some say was a literary genius and others, a fraud.

Was Oregon the home of a kidnapped French princess?

At the turn of the century, Opal Whiteley was a child of Oregon’s logging shantytowns. From an early age she stood out from everyone around her. She seemed to be a child prodigy with an incredible knowledge of nature. She collected and labeled thousands of specimens of plants and insects, and as a young teenager, gave lectures to her classmates and the community. By the time she was 17, this engaging and charismatic young woman was touring the state as a religious leader with the Christian Endeavor.

The University of Oregon was so impressed with her and her knowledge of nature that they admitted her before she finished high school. At the time, the University’s Dean of Geology Warren D. Smith said, “This experience happens to a university but once in a generation. She knows more about geology than do many students that have graduated from my department."

But Opal had trouble fitting in and keeping up with her classes. When her mother died, she dropped out of school and went to California to seek fame as an actress. Success eluded her, so she turned her attention to writing.

She self published a book based on her nature studies called The Fairyland Around Us. Philander P. Claxton, commissioner of education, exclaimed in a letter to Opal, "I have read your book with interest and delight. I should be glad indeed if copies of it could be put in all of the schools of the United States."

In 1920 the Atlantic Monthly published what she said was her childhood diary written when she was about 6 years old and living in the Oregon lumber camps.

"Today the folks are gone away from the house we do live in. They are gone a little way away, to the ranch-house where the grandpa does live. I sit on our steps and I do print. I like it -- this house we do live in being at the edge of the near woods."

The diary was written in an unusual style and described the world around her as a childhood fairyland.

"I went to look for the fairies. I went to the near woods. I hid behind the trees and made little runs to big logs. I walked along the logs and I went among the ferns. I did tiptoe among the ferns. I looked looks about. I did touch fern-friends and I did have feels of their gentle movements. I came to a big root. I hid in it. I so did to wait waits for the fairies that come among the big trees."

The diary quickly became a best seller and was hailed as a work of genius. But some people called it a fraud. The entire diary seemed to be controversial.

It contained clues that Opal had been kidnapped as a child and was really the daughter of a French prince. National media descended on Cottage Grove to track down the facts. Opal became an international celebrity and seemed to drop out of site. She went to Europe, lived under the name of Françoise Marie de Bourbon D'Orléans, and never returned to Oregon.

Today the diary has been rediscovered and is in print all over the world. But the mystery of Opal remains unsolved.

Oregon Public Broadcasting producer Kami Horton examines the mystery and mystic of Opal Whiteley, her life and writings in OREGON EXPERIENCE: Opal Whiteley.

Watch the complete program online anytime after March 1 at opb.org/oregonexperience or at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

Award-Winning Producer Joins OPB

Last modified on February 9, 2010 12:52 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting is pleased to welcome award-winning producer and writer Jule Gilfillan to its local production team. Gilfillan will produce shows for OREGON ART BEAT and OREGON FIELD GUIDE.

A native Oregonian, Gilfillan's production credits include programs for NBC, MSNBC, HBO, Sundance, MTV, A&E, Discovery, Lifetime and others. Her awards include a Cine Eagle Award and Regional Student Academy Award. She was also on the Emmy-Award winning team of the NBC series "Starting Over." Giffillan received her undergraduate degree in Asian Studies and lived in China for six years before returning to the U.S. where she received her MFA from USC in film and TV production. Before joining OPB Gilfillan worked as an independent producer in Los Angeles.

She is the daughter of Warren Gilfillan who created the Oregon Outdoor School. Gilfillan said she is pleased to return to Portland full time and work at what she describes as her "ideal job" at OPB.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: Vortex I Premieres February 8

Last modified on January 28, 2010 11:38 AM

Go back in time to Oregon's "Woodstock"

Summer, 1970. Richard Nixon was president and the Vietnam War raged on. The preceding months had seen the shooting of war protesters at Kent State University and the beating of demonstrators here. Now anti-war activists were planning to converge on Portland during an American Legion convention. The FBI was forecasting 50,000 people and a violent outcome.

Governor Tom McCall’s solution? A “biodegradable festival of life.”

Discover Oregon's "Woodstock" on the next OREGON EXPERIENCE on Monday, February 8 at 9pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

To this day, Vortex I remains the only state-sponsored rock festival in U.S. history. It was, in fact, a diversionary event to lure young people away from planned -- and potentially violent -- anti-war protests at an American Legion convention in Portland. And by most almost every measure, it succeeded.

The festival took place at a state park near Estacada. Some now-unknown person created the name "Vortex I: A Biodegradable Festival of Life," and it stuck. Many people came. Estimates ranged from 30,000 to 100,000.

On the surface, Vortex appeared much like hundreds of other counter-culture music events of that era: Young people listened to mostly local bands, wandered about in little or no clothing and partook of illegal substances.

But Vortex was different.

Entry was free. Private businesses in Portland contributed much of the food, supplies and building materials. Law-enforcement officers kindly escorted hundreds of young people to the festival location at McIver State Park. Yet no laws were enforced on the park grounds themselves. And all of this was endorsed and underwritten with state money and services by the Republican governor, Tom McCall.

OPB's "Vortex I" portrays the political environment which spawned the festival and shares many stories from the people who were there.

To compile the imagery for the show, producer Eric Cain worked with the Oregon Historical Society’s Moving Image Archives. “Vortex I” includes film footage and photos from many photographers, amateur and professional, who were there. (Cain himself went to the festival as an 18-year-old, but neglected to take pictures.) Author Matt Love, too young to have been at Vortex, has written the definitive book about it and shares his research in the program. Ed Westerdahl, executive assistant to Governor McCall, maintained a low profile during the event, but he was probably the person most responsible for Vortex I. In an interview from his California home, he reveals some unique insights. Several bands that played -- or almost played -- on the Vortex Stage have provided some of the show's music and include the Portland Zoo Electric Band, Jacob's Ladder, Notary Sojac and Brown Sugar.

Watch the complete program online anytime after February 8 at opb.org/oregonexperience or at watch.opb.org.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
OREGON EXPERIENCE is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

Financial Aid for College 2010 Airs January 28 at 9pm

Last modified on January 12, 2010 10:20 AM

Annual OPB Special Provides Crucial Advice for the College Bound

Plan for the future as financial-aid experts provide crucial information on loans, scholarships and grants, as well as advice on the college application process in FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE 2010. This half-hour special hosted by Steve Amen airs on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, January 28 at 9pm and will rebroadcast on Sunday, January 31 at 2am and 1pm.

Viewers can go online at www.opb.org/financialaid through January 28 to submit questions for the panelists to discuss during the program. Questions not answered in the on-air panel discussion will be answered by financial-aid experts in a Q & A feature on the Web site after the broadcast. A phone bank of financial-aid professionals will also be on-hand to answer questions from viewers during the broadcast and until 10pm.

Experts interviewed on the broadcast include Kathy Goff, senior Financial Aid coordinator for Portland State University and Dan Preston, dean of Enrollment Management at Linfield College.

FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE is a cooperative project of the Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, ECMC and Oregon Public Broadcasting.

The PBS NewsHour "Patchwork Nation" Special Features Lincoln City on December 11 at 7pm

Last modified on December 9, 2009 07:30 AM

Lincoln City is one of five cities featured this week on a PBS NewsHour special series, "Patchwork Nation," exploring the economy's impact on communities throughout the nation. The series, reported by NewsHour Senior Correspondent Ray Suarez, began on Monday, Dec. 7 and concludes Friday, Dec. 11 with the Lincoln City segment.

“Patchwork Nation” explores what is happening in the United States by examining different kinds of communities over time. The effort divides America's 3,141 counties into 12 community types based on certain demographic characteristics, such as income level, racial composition, employment and religion.

Each night, the program looks at a different city to see how it is coping with its own economic challenges. The NewsHour will focus on five of the 12 “Patchwork Nation” community types, specifically, “Industrial Metropolis” (Philadelphia, PA); “Campus and Careers” (Ann Arbor, MI); “Tractor Country” (Sioux City, IA); “Boom Town” (Eagle, CO): and “Service Worker Centers” (Lincoln City, OR).

Friday, December 11: Lincoln City, OR (“Service Worker Center”)
Citizens in places like Lincoln City were among the first to experience the pain of the great recession. Unfortunately, they may be among the last to feel the effects of a recovery. A remarkably scenic, yet remote, beach town on the Oregon coast, Lincoln City’s economic fortunes are tied to those living several miles away. When tourists from Portland and Seattle stop spending, the effects are immediately felt in Lincoln City. As a result, second homes are in foreclosure, restaurants and stores are empty and unemployment is rising. (29 million Americans live in 628 counties identified as “Service Worker Center” communities)

Viewers can also log onto the “Patchwork Nation” Web site to see what’s happening across the rest of the country and learn more about each of the 12 community types. Online, visitors can explore a county by county interactive map of key economic indicators like unemployment, foreclosures and gas prices, as well as demographic and political data. And to give an on-the-ground picture of what’s it like to live in these places, people can also read posts from community bloggers and watch reports from PBS NewsHour partners at local public broadcasting stations. Visitors can also contribute their own views by submitting their photos to the Patchwork Nation Flickr group, uploading a video to YouTube or writing an article.

This PBS NewsHour segment also airs on OPB HD at 4pm on December 11 and December 12 at 12am.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: Sagebrush Symphony Premieres November 9

Last modified on October 27, 2009 04:05 PM

In 1910, classically trained violinist Mary Dodge arrived in the high desert country of Harney County with an intense love of music and the desire to share that love with the local children. Her determination and drive built an orchestra that gained statewide fame. "Sagebrush Symphony," the next episode in Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Experience series airing Monday, November 9 at 9pm, tells the forgotten story of a woman who changed Oregon's musical history

Mary and her husband, Mott moved from Portland to Burns where Mott, a civil engineer, had gotten a job on an irrigation project. Raised and educated on the East coast, Mary had taught school in Boston and New York before moving West, and was soon giving lessons to anyone who showed an interest. She was the "Pied Piper" as her granddaughter describes her in the program.

When the children's talent began to emerge, Mary decided to form an orchestra. Within five years, the Harney County Sagebrush Symphony was touring the towns of Eastern Oregon and gaining the admiration of all who heard their performances.

In 1916, the opportunity arose for the symphony to perform in Portland and Salem, so the residents of Burns raised $2,000 to send 30 children and their chaperones on a trip of a lifetime.

During their weeklong tour, the children were front-page news. "The journey of the little people is considered one of the finest exhibitions of community spirit ever shown in this state," wrote an Oregonian reporter.

But back home in Burns, World War I disrupted plans for future tours. In 1918 the Dodges returned to Portland where Mary was appointed music director at Irvington Grade School. She also gave private lessons and opened her own violin school. Several of the original Sagebrushers followed her to Portland to continue their lessons.

With so many students, Mary formed an "advanced orchestra" that practiced in her attic. She was determined that the group would become a permanent young people's symphony, so she persuaded a visiting professional conductor, Jacques Gershkovitch, to take the baton and lead the orchestra to the next level of excellence. Mary’s orchestra would become the genesis of the Portland Junior Symphony -- now called the Portland Youth Philharmonic -- America’s first youth orchestra.

"Sagebrush Symphony" tells this forgotten chapter of Oregon's musical history with archival film, photographs and interviews with people whose lives she touched.

Watch the complete program online anytime after the broadcast at opb.org/oregonexperience.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The OREGON EXPERIENCE Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

OREGON EXPERIENCE: Bull Run Premieres October 12

Last modified on October 6, 2009 12:54 PM

For 115 years, Portland, Oregon has enjoyed some of the purest and best-tasting water of any large city in America. The source is a self-contained watershed in the Cascade Mountains that receives bountiful amounts of rain and snow. The story of its discovery and the building of the delivery system that brings the water to the city reads like a tale from the American Frontier and is the next subject of Oregon Experience, airing on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, October 12 at 9pm.

The Bull Run watershed drains about 100 square miles and boasts beautiful views of Mt Hood, lush old-growth forest and one of the most-attractive big dams in Oregon. But to protect the water from contamination, the entire area has long been closed to public access. As far back as the 1880s, Portland’s first Water Committee – a group of local businessmen -- fought to keep their future water supply free from logging, livestock grazing and homesteading. And the continued quality of the Bull Run water resource is a tribute to citizen involvement, long-range vision and local government at its best.

"Bull Run" combines old photographs and charts with modern aerial footage, GIS mapping and beautiful on-the-ground video. Casey Short, author of the only full-length book on Bull Run, recounts its early history, while Dave Rowley -- one of the few people to have actually lived in the management area -- shares stories from his isolated childhood there.

Other people in the program include: Catherine Howells, a water historian who teaches courses on Bull Run at Portland State University; Rick McClure, a regional historian for the U.S. Forest Service; Richard Robbins, Natural Resource Program manager for the Portland Water Bureau; and the bureau’s chief engineer, Michael Stuhr.

Portland’s Bull Run water supply will be making news in the years to come. Local people will contest the proposed covering of the city's now-open reservoirs. The federal EPA wants the city to filter or otherwise treat the never-filtered Bull Run water. The threat of fire on the watershed continues to loom, while parts of the city's water distribution system are wearing out after all these years.

OPB’s Eric Cain, the producer of "Bull Run," says the program offers no solutions to those issues. "But we do hope to convey the uniqueness and the value of the watershed and the water it produces. This is a remarkable resource that hundreds of thousands of us rely upon every day. Most of us take our water for granted, but we probably should not."

Watch the complete program online anytime after October 12 at opb.org/oregonexperience.

About OREGON EXPERIENCE
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The OREGON EXPERIENCE Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

OREGON ART BEAT Begins its 11th Season on October 8

Last modified on September 28, 2009 11:24 AM

Oregon Art Beat is set to brighten your fall and winter evenings as it kicks off a new season profiling artists and art of the region on Thursday, October 8 on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting. The award-winning show's 11th season brings you the music of legendary jazz singer Shirley Nanette, internationally known musician and composer Dave Frishberg, as well as a host of not-to-be-missed painters, ceramicists and dancers. Also … Look, viewers, look! See Dick draw! You'll delight in our interview with Dick Wiley, illustrator of the famed learn to read Dick and Jane books.

"I am continually amazed at the variety and depth of artists here and their willingness to share their work with us," said Executive Producer Jessica Martin. "Ten seasons on and we just keep uncovering gems in Oregon."

First up in the season opener is a moving feature on Paul Missal, a talented and sought-after painter who has also made his mark on hundreds of art students at the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). Tune in to find out why Paul loves teaching so much.

Next, meet Ty Ennis, a graduate of PNCA. Ty works in pencil and ink, and paints with a faint wash. His passion is finding stories that he wants to tell from history, especially his own.

Think you don't understand abstract art? Well, painter Lucinda Parker says to stop worrying about what it means and just experience how it makes you feel. Art Beat takes you to do just that as we watch her create one of her almost-wall-sized paintings.

About OREGON ART BEAT
Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emmy-Award winning local arts series, is in its 11th season. Art Beat profiles Northwest artists, musicians and artisans -- from an operatic baritone to a bit-and-spur craftsman to everything in between. The program airs Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2am and 6pm. In the Mountain Time Zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9pm Thursdays and repeats at 7pm on Sundays. Funding for Oregon Art Beat is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Kinsman Foundation. More information is available online at opb.org/artbeat.

OREGON FIELD GUIDE Begins its 21st Season on October 8

Last modified on September 28, 2009 10:12 AM

Oregon Field Guide opens its 21st season with a half-hour special that follows a group of young people who cross the urban/rural divide to experience the realities of rural life. These kids have volunteered to participate in one of the only programs of its kind in the country, and it's no vacation. They get up at the crack of dawn. It's cold. They get muddy, help with calving, give vaccinations and share in both the joy and the misery that comes with real rural life.

It all began in 2005 when a group of students from Portland's Sunnyside Environmental School strutted into a public hearing packed full of ranchers from rural Grant County. They began to rap, share poems and read essays in defense of the West's most iconic predator -- the wolf. The ranchers, seated quietly in their tight Wranglers and Stetson hats seethed in anger. They'd long suspected that urban Portland was a training ground for environmentalists. Now their suspicions were confirmed.

The clash made headlines. Editorials were written. Angry letters were exchanged.

But just as it seemed Oregon's urban-rural divide had grown into an unbridgeable chasm, a handful of ranchers did the unexpected. They invited the kids to live and work along side them to see their side of life. And the kids took them up on the offer.

What's now called the Urban-Rural Exchange has taken place every year since 2005, thanks to 4H and the Sunnyside Environmental School. A dude ranch it's not. This is the real rural Oregon and it's unlike anything these Portland kids have known.

Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, October 8 at 8:30pm (and Sunday, October 11 at 2:30am and 6:30pm) as Field Guide tags along to Grant County to see how they're all faring.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 21st season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

OREGON FIELD GUIDE Pays Tribute to Jim Newman

Last modified on August 27, 2009 09:54 AM

Jim Newman, veteran Oregon Field Guide producer and reporter, is hanging up his hiking boots after more than 20 years of covering virtually every corner of the state. Affectionately known as "The Voice" for his deep, concisely articulated narration, Jim has produced over 250 episodes which have helped OFG win numerous major awards, among them several EMMY, Golden Eagle and Telly statuettes.

"Jim has been with Field Guide since the beginning," said Steve Amen, executive producer and host of the show that enters its 21st season on OPB in October. "To simply say 'The Voice' will be missed and his boots hard to fill is not only cliché, but an incredible understatement. Jim has played a huge role in the success of the program. He is particularly passionate about geology and history and that came through in his work, and gave us a real advantage over all the other outdoor programs on the air," said Amen.

In September, Oregon Field Guide will pay special tribute to Jim by airing some of the reports that epitomize his great ability to take a complex subject and make it understandable and entertaining. "Jim is a gifted storyteller, and his body of work speaks for itself," said Amen. "What better way to honor him than revisiting some of the reports he has done over the years that have given us all a better understanding of our state, who we are and how this puzzle involving history, nature and geology all fits together."

On September 3 at 8:30, Field Guide will air a half-hour special Jim produced in 1998 on the "Missoula Floods." "No other story better illustrates Jim's expertise with taking something that happened thousands of years ago and coming up with a visual presentation that helps viewers comprehend exactly what took place when massive ice-age floods tore up much of the northwest section of the continent," said Amen. "Jim used great photography and animation to show us what happened then and what it would look like if the floods were to happen again today."

On September 24 at 8pm, Field Guide will dedicate an hour special featuring some of Jim's favorite stories. Among them: "Paiute Reburial" where we were given the rare opportunity to witness the Paiute Indian's farewell ritual to the dead. In the story "Lava Hand Prints," Jim explores an ancient mystery of hand and footprints embedded in a lava flow that’s at least 8,000 years old. Jim did a lot of dangerous climbing to bring us "Hell Hole" -- a bizarre land formation known only to a lucky few which is hidden away high in the Cascade Mountains. And a profile of "William Finley," a man who, during the early 20th century, made incredible contributions to the future of Oregon's wildlife and natural resources.

"We'll also show you what Jim will be up to now that he'll have all that free time. It's a totally different side of this talented, complex man," said Amen.

Please join us as we celebrate Jim's legacy.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 20th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 2:30am and 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

OREGON LENS Spotlights Northwest Independent Filmmakers

Last modified on August 5, 2009 02:19 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting brings indie-theater directly into your home over four nights this month. The work of some of the Pacific Northwest's most-talented independent producers will be showcased on Oregon Lens August 17-20 at 10pm.

"Oregon Lens is now in its 11th year and I think we have one of our best seasons ever,” said Steve Amen, executive producer and host of the series. "A number of our short features were produced by student filmmakers, and I think viewers will be amazed by the creativeness and innovation these up-and-coming filmmakers display. And it's always great to give our viewers, many of whom don't have access to Portland's theaters and micro-cinemas, the opportunity to see the kind of innovative filmmaking for which this area is becoming known."

Here's a rundown of the variety of films, both long- and short-form, that will be featured:

August 17
The Leeward Tide - This story of an old man haunted by memories of his long-lost love was filmed along the Oregon coast and historic Astoria where a forlorn mariner seeks comfort in the rusted remains of a forgotten shipwreck. Produced, written, directed and edited by Brett Eichenberger with fellow producers Jawad Mir, Jill Remensnyder and Dayn Wilberding.

The Cowboy Way - Shot in Baker County, Oregon and Ogallala, Nebraska, this film depicts what it's like to be a cowboy. Produced, shot and edited by Brett Eichenberger.

Mood:reflective - This film is the result of a class assignment to establish a mood almost entirely through the selection of subject matter, camera angles, and lighting while keeping music and dialogue to a minimum. Produced, shot and edited by Brett Eichenberger.

Mood:Disturbing - The next film reflects totally different results from the same class assignment. This disturbing yet entertaining take was produced, shot and edited by Johnny Buell.

Skinny Baggy Jeans/Emo Pants - One of the winners in the "Celebrate Portland in :30" contest tackles the subject of skinny, baggy jeans and expresses an original sentiment about what makes Portland wild, weird, or otherwise wonderful. Produced by Johnny Buell.

What's Keeping Portland Weird - The name says it all. See just a few of the many events, people and businesses that contribute to Portland's dubious reputation as one of the weirdest big cities in the country. Produced by Christina Diamond, Cori Barnett Mintzer and Joshua James McHale.

Inside Looking Out - Through the study of classic literature, university students learn to understand life inside a prison environment while inmates learn what it is like to be in college. Produced by Tiffany Kimmel and Jessica Reedy.

August 18
Never Stop Moving - Quadriplegic athlete Kevin Hansen and his work with wheelchair athletes is the subject of this film. Kevin was a typical young man with a love for anything athletic until a tragic skiing accident left him a quadriplegic at the age of 21. He started World Wheelchair Sports, a Eugene-based non-profit organization providing athletic opportunities and recreational experiences for folks who use wheelchairs. Produced by Kevin Hasenkopf, Melanie Johnson, Brian McAndrew and Ashlea Holcomb.

The List: Portland's Most Wanted - By 2003, the Old Town neighborhood had created a role for itself as the epicenter of drug abuse and crime in Portland. That year, police veteran officer Jeff Myers created a program that cracked down on a select list of repeat offenders and pushed them into immediate, high-quality treatment. His program-- known as "the list"-- worked. Still, some Portlanders describe Myers as a tyrant rather than a hero and want him to throw out his list. ACLU has joined Portland's public defenders in saying that the list directly undermines Oregonians' constitutional rights. Produced by Taimi Arvidson and Tiffany Kimmel.

Art In a Time of War - The story of World War II-era artists who were interned in labor camps because of their pacifist beliefs. Stationed at Camp Waldport, these men suffered public contempt, a harsh existence and deadly work. In spite of these conditions, they showed a resilience and communal spirit that enabled artistic creativity and social conscience to flourish. Produced by Michael Werner, Katie Campbell and Pierre Anthony Canovas.

What We Could Carry - Finally tonight, we explore the story of four Japanese-American students who were denied diplomas and expelled from the University of Oregon in 1942. It features Sam Naito, Robert and Homer Yasui, Midori Funatake, Alice Kawasaki and National Book award winner and Oregon's former Poet Laureate, Lawson Inada. Produced by Sam Allen, Emese Foss, Catalina Vazquez and Daniel Miller.

August 19
Architect of Sound - This film examines the work of Eugene violinmaker David Gusset. He has been making violins for 35 years and is one of the few people to ever win the prestigious Stradivari International Violin Making Competition in Cremona, Italy. Produced by Marc Dadigan and Katie Kalk.

Making Music: The Art & Craft of David Rivinus - David Rivinus spent the last 40 years honing his craft as a violinmaker. But what sets his work apart from others is how he has changed the look and feel of the violin. This Oregon violinmaker is now internationally known for his adaptations to the violin that help overcome the orthopedic issues. Directed by Carl Vandervoort and Christopher Ley.

August 20
Andrus: the Man, the Mind & the Magic - This one-hour documentary details the story of Jerry Andrus, a modern-day DaVinci. Best known as one of the most-influential "close-up magic" performers of all time, he is equally regarded among scientists, educators and even skeptics as a visionary, poet, philosopher, inventor and creator of truly astounding optical illusions. Produced by Robert Neary and Tyson Smith.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Recognized for Best Environmental Journalism

Last modified on July 22, 2009 03:00 PM

The National Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) has presented Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) two awards for outstanding environmental journalism for 2008/09. The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special won second-place, and a series of four Oregon Field Guide stories won a third-place award in the "Outstanding Beat/In-Depth Reporting, Television" category. The SEJ contest is the world's largest and most-comprehensive awards for journalism on environmental topics and represents the best environmental reporting in print, on television, radio, the Internet and in student publications.

"The Silent Invasion is testament to the impact of in-depth research, superb photography and editing, and the willingness to wade -- literally -- into the weeds and waters where environmental battle is being waged," commented the judges. "We are transported to the front lines; from the ranchers struggling to keep their connections to the land, to the Customs workers manning the ramparts against the unending tide of biological 'invaders.' We commend you for helping to ensure that The Silent Invasion will no longer be met with a silent shrug because of your commitment to environmental reporting."

The Silent Invasion premiered on OPB April 2008 and is also the winner of a prestigious duPont Columbia Journalism Award and three regional Emmys. Produced by Ed Jahn, the documentary illustrates how invasive species are changing the environment in Oregon, and focuses on ways people can work together to make a difference to native fish and wildlife resources, Oregon's economy and quality of life. The broadcast marked the kickoff of the ongoing "Stop the Invasion" campaign that encourages community partners and citizens to collaborate in their efforts to take action against invasive species. More information about The Silent Invasion and "Stop the Invasion" is available online. The Silent Invasion production staff also includes Jeff Douglas, Sarah Fox, Todd Sonflieth, Nick Fisher, Michael Bendixen and Bruce Barrow.

Vince Patton, Todd Sonflieth, Nick Fisher, Michael Bendixen and Tom Shrider were recognized for Oregon Field Guide segments on bighorn pneumonia, carp in the Malheur Refuge, a revealing look under Celilo Falls and mysteries regarding Mount St. Helens. The judges commented that, "Oregon Field Guide offers a deep exploration of the dilemmas we face as we try to 'manage' our biosphere. We humans have learned about 'unintended consequences' time and again as we change our environment and watch what unfolds. Whether it is carp that choke a once bountiful lake, a waterfall sacred to Native Americans now submerged by a dam, or the spread of disease from domestic sheep to their bighorn cousins, we have an uncanny way of often creating more problems than we solve. Oregon Field Guide captures these conundrums with perfect pitch and pace, and we hope they continue to tell those stories in such a compelling fashion."

Videos of these and other Oregon Field Guide programs can be viewed online.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 20th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

OPB Producer Wins Prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award

Last modified on July 1, 2009 11:55 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting is pleased to announce that Oregon Field Guide: "Celilo Revealed" produced by Vince Patton with videographer Todd Sonflieth has won a prestigious CINE Golden Eagle Award. The CINE Golden Eagle Awards, distinguishing excellence in professional, independent and student works, are recognized internationally as symbols of the highest production standards in film and television production.

In "Celilo Revealed," OPB's Oregon Field Guide broke the news that new images existed which proved Celilo Falls was still intact. The images, which came from the bottom of the Columbia River, put to rest long-held beliefs that the government did not just drown the falls; it blew them up first. Fifty-one years of broken promises by the U.S. government had created strong distrust among the tribes who had depended on Celilo Falls as their most-important fishing site for the last 10,000 years. The images Field Guide revealed showed that reports of dynamiting the falls were not true. But the Field Guide report did uncover evidence of explosives being used just 600 feet from the "Niagara Falls of the West" which did damage the nearby Celilo Village. "Celilo Revealed" can be viewed at the Oregon Field Guide Web site.

Since its founding in 1957, CINE has been dedicated to discovering, rewarding, educating and supporting established and emerging talent in film and video. Among great talents whose first major awards included the CINE Golden Eagle are Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Ken Burns, Charles Guggenheim, Stanley Nelson, Albert Maysles and Frederick Wiseman.

Top Archaeologists Uncover Secrets on Time Team America, Co-Produced by OPB and Premiering July 8

Last modified on June 17, 2009 07:57 AM

For most Americans, any examination of the people who lived before us begins and ends with the reading of a book or the viewing of a film. There are some, however, whose curiosity and desire drive them to get their hands dirty by digging into the places where history began. Finding evidence buried for centuries is the only way to satisfy their hunger for knowledge. This kind of passion drives the archaeologists and historians in Time Team America.

This all-new summer series, which is co-produced by OPB, brings viewers into the trenches of working archaeological digs for three intense days -- showing them what it takes to uncover the story of America. Premiering Wednesday, July 8, 8-9pm on OPB, Time Team America descends on a new site each Wednesday through August 5, traveling to Roanoke Island, North Carolina, the swamps of South Carolina, the fields of rural Illinois, the canyons of Utah and the South Dakota prairie in search of America’s roots.

Part extreme adventure, part science and part reality show, the five-part series takes viewers deep into the trenches of America’s most intriguing archaeological sites. In each episode, the show’s team of top scientists has three days to uncover the buried secrets of their assigned dig. Every hour counts as they piece together the past, using the latest technology, decades of combined experience and their own sharp wits. Far from the comfort of a museum or science lab, the team faces searing heat, driving rain, alligator-infested swamps, frayed nerves and inevitable technical setbacks. Through it all, the audience peers over the shoulders of the archaeologists at work, eavesdropping on intense conversations and sharing the rush of discovery as artifacts emerge from the ground.

Regardless of conditions or impediments, the team strives to uncover critical discoveries that fill in the missing pieces of what is known with the proof of what is found. A chip of pottery becomes colonial kitchenware; a slate pencil suggests a 19th-century schoolhouse; a stone projectile point indicates a 13,000-year-old tool factory; and a centuries-old broken bottle leads to adventurous tales of the Wild West.

In exchange for an abundance of fascinating stories and intriguing mystery, the chosen sites are enriched by Time Team America's work. Many excavation sites wait years between discoveries due to lack of funding, labor, expertise or equipment. The Time Team America cohort gives sites an intensive three-day boost, offering consulting from across disciplines, access to the latest scanning and imaging technology, artists’ renderings, professional documentation and even a precision backhoe operator when necessary.

The series is based on the popular long-running British “Time Team” series, which also has served to educate the general public about preserving the United Kingdom’s archaeological record.

In a groundbreaking experiment, Time Team America's premiere episode debuted online on the PBS video portal months before the series’ broadcast TV premiere. Time Team's online premiere on Earth Day 2009 was part of PBS’ successful launch of the new portal; the show was the most viewed video on the site at launch. Additional episodes will be available online the morning after broadcast.

Key members of the team are blogging now at the Time Team Web site. A content-rich series Web site will replace the blog a few weeks before the television premiere of the series. Time Team America also will be available on DVD at ShopPBS.org.

Oregon Connections
CHELSEA ROSE
Born and raised in Northern California, Chelsea Rose is a historical archaeologist who lives in Southern Oregon. Consumed with a love of history and archaeology from an early age, Chelsea’s passion is researching the Frontier Gold Rushes of the 19th century, where her interests include Chinatowns and multi-ethnic mining camps in California and Oregon. Her current research project is focused on a mid-19th century mining camp in Southern Oregon that was established by native Hawaiians-- a population that has been little studied in archaeology. Chelsea received her undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon, and is finishing her graduate degree in Cultural Resources Management at Sonoma State University. She is currently an archaeologist with Southern Oregon University's Laboratory of Anthropology. When she’s not in school or on an archaeological dig, Chelsea is either traveling or raising chickens, garlic and raspberries on her farm.

JULIE SCHABLITSKY
Dr. Julie Schablitsky grew up in Minnesota, where her interest in “old things” was piqued by fossilized imprints she found in the gravel of the family driveway. Following her passion, Julie received an M.A. in anthropology from Oregon State University, and a doctorate focusing on urban archaeology from Portland State University. She is a longtime friend of Time Team America team leader Adrien Hannus, who was the first real archaeologist she ever met. Now a resident of Maryland, Julie oversees 12 archaeologists and architectural historians as the head of the Cultural Resources Section for the Maryland State Highway Administration. Under her leadership the department has developed a public outreach program to complement their work preserving the archaeology Julie describes as “everywhere around us.” In addition to her work in Maryland, Julie also retains an affiliation with the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, where she conducts research and publishes on historic-period archaeology sites. Julie’s current research focuses on the Donner Party of California, 18th- and 19th-century sites in Maryland, and John Paul Jones’ birthplace in Scotland. As a continuing part of her research into the life of the famous sailor and U.S. Navy hero, she leads an expedition to Scotland each summer to excavate sites important to his life.

Time Team America is produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting, Videotext Communications Ltd. and Channel 4 International. Executive producers are David Davis for Oregon Public Broadcasting and Tim Taylor for Videotext Communications. Graham Dixon is the series producer. Episode producers/directors are Dixon and Bruce Barrow. Writers are Dixon, Barrow and Davis. The series is underwritten by Public Television Viewers and PBS.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Wins Three Emmys Including the Prestigious Community Service Award

Last modified on June 3, 2009 10:15 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting's The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special received three Emmy Awards in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 46th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Award competition, including the prestigious Community Service Award. The awards were presented in Seattle this past weekend. Earlier this year, The Silent Invasion received the acclaimed Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for broadcast journalism. The duPont Awards are considered the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizes.

The Silent Invasion also won the Emmy for Topical Documentary and for Best Writer. The documentary was produced and written by Ed Jahn. Sarah Fox was associate producer, Bruce Barrow, editor, and Todd Sonflieth and Nick Fisher were photographers.

"Since it is highly unusual for a public broadcaster to receive this award, we are particularly proud of the Emmy for Community Service," said Steve Bass, OPB president and CEO. "The impact the program and its extensive outreach is making on our community is inspiring."

The Silent Invasion focuses on how invasive species are changing the environment in Oregon, but further involves people working together to protect native fish and wildlife, and to defend Oregon's economy and quality of life from invaders through its ongoing "Stop the Invasion" campaign.

Jeff Douglas, senior vice president, station manager and executive producer of The Silent Invasion, was awarded the Community Service Emmy on behalf of OPB.

"Since the documentary premiered last April, community partners and citizens have collaborated in a wide range of efforts against invasive species," explained Douglas. "What allowed us to develop such an effective action campaign was the involvement of our community partners such as The Nature Conservancy, SOLV, Oregon Invasive Species Council, OSU SeaGrant and others," he said.

The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services also helped create and produce the "GardenSmart Oregon" guide, a booklet that describes more than 25 invasive plants that should be removed from gardens along with 200 non-invasive alternatives. Over 70,000 of these booklets have been distributed free of charge. In addition, Web sites were created to help people identify invasive species and take action to stop them. And OPB set up the Oregon Invasives Hotline for people to report suspected invasives online.

Oregon Invasive Species Council Coordinator Lisa DeBruyckere noted that The Silent Invasion and the "Stop the Invasion" campaign were instrumental in the introduction of 14 invasive species-related pieces of legislation in the 2009 legislative session, the majority of which have passed, and the convening of a summit of legislative leaders and scientists to come up with solutions to the invasive species problems. A second summit is planned for this year.

And the work goes on. Thousands of SOLV volunteers have joined work parties to remove invasive species from stream banks and other natural areas in order to restore habitats for fish and wildlife. And Oregon Field Guide continues to produce segments on invasive species, keeping the problem in the public eye.

The entire video and more information about The Silent Invasion and the "Stop the Invasion" campaign is available online at opb.org/silentinvasion.

New Episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "A Cuisine of Our Own," Premieres May 21 at 9pm

Last modified on May 5, 2009 10:37 AM

Today, good food has become a movement. "Fresh and local" is the mantra of cooks throughout the Pacific Northwest. Yet many have forgotten the name of the man, the native Oregonian, who may have started it all. James Beard was a renowned chef and cookbook author. From an early age, he had a passion for good food. During his life, Beard authored 22 cookbooks, wrote a long-running newspaper column and hosted the first-ever television cooking show. He preached a message of quality ingredients, simply prepared. And he would change the way Americans think about food. The next installment in the Oregon Experience series, "A Cuisine of Our Own," looks at the life and work of Beard in the context of the Pacific Northwest food environment in which he was raised. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, May 21 at 9pm.

Beard was born in Portland in 1903 and lived his first twenty-some years in Oregon, spending summers on the coast in Gearhart. Throughout his life, Beard had a gift: an extremely good sense of taste. He could remember flavors much like a person with a photographic memory recalls images. Fortunately for him, he grew up in a world of excellent food.

His mother cooked with only the finest, freshest ingredients bought from the farmers who grew it. Good local seafood was plentiful as well. And between her and the family's Chinese cook, the Beard home served some of the best meals in town.

Although Beard lived most of his adult life in New York City where people in the food world proclaimed him "the dean of American cookery," Beard forever championed Oregon as a food-lover's paradise. His friend Julia Child would say simply, "In the beginning, was Beard."

Oregon Experience draws on the knowledge of historians and cookbook collectors Richard Engeman and Jacqueline Williams, Beard biographer Robert Clark, personal friend Jerry Lamb, and Astoria couple Irene and Duane Jue who took several of his summer cooking classes at Seaside High School. These and other ingredients combine to form a tantalizing profile of this remarkable Oregon icon.

Portland chefs David Machado and Cory Schreiber also share how their careers were influenced by Beard's vision and cook several recipes from old Oregon cookbooks and Beard's books.

Beard passed away in 1985 and his ashes were scattered in the ocean off Gearhart.

Watch this episode of Oregon Experience online after May 14 and other episodes, anytime at the Oregon Experience Web site.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Experience Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

New Episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "Kam Wah Chung," Airs May 14 at 9pm

Last modified on April 30, 2009 12:29 PM

In the late 1800s, thousands of Chinese miners came to Eastern Oregon in search of gold. Often these men encountered hostility and violence as they tried to make their way in the West. Among them were two men, Ing Hay and Lung On, who joined forces and opened a business in John Day called Kam Wah Chung – The Golden Flower of Opportunity. The next episode in the Oregon Experience series explores the contributions the two men and their business made to this remote area of Oregon at the turn of the century. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, May 14 at 9pm.

Kam Wah Chung was a multi-purpose center for the Chinese community. It served as a general store, a temple, a recreation hall, a bunkhouse and labor recruitment center for Chinese miners, but, above all, it was an apothecary.

Ing Hay was a gifted practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and pulsology, able to diagnose ailments by feeling pulse points on a patient’s arm. He was also expert at prescribing herbs from his apothecary to treat these ailments.

Lung On was highly educated, politically savvy and a sharp businessman, literate in Chinese and English. He ran the general store, served as a labor contractor and assisted Ing "Doc" Hay with the practice.

When the mines played out and the Chinese population dwindled, these two men began to focus their attentions on the non-Chinese of Eastern Oregon. At a time when doctors were scarce, "Doc" Hay’s ability to treat infection and cure disease became big news. Over time, Kam Wah Chung became the focal point for medicine in Eastern Oregon, and Doc Hay and Lung On were a welcome sight when illness struck the region. For these and other efforts, these two men became well known and highly regarded members of the community.

Oregon Experience: "Kam Wah Chung" talks to people from the John Day area who remember the two men and the impact they had on everyone they met. Today the recently restored Kam Wah Chung is an Oregon treasure filled with thousands of different herbs and artifacts.

Watch this episode of Oregon Experience online after May 14 and other episodes, anytime at the Oregon Experience Web site.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Experience Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Nominated for 25 Emmys

Last modified on April 15, 2009 01:21 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received an astounding 25 nominations in the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 46th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Award competition.

"To receive a regional Emmy nomination is a tremendous honor, and for OPB to receive 25 nominations is exceptional," said Steve Bass, OPB president and CEO. "We're up against some of the best in broadcasting, so this is a testament to quality work we're producing and the impact it's having on our community."

Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in Seattle in late May.

Nominations:

Community Service
The Silent Invasion; Jeff Douglas, senior vice president & Station Manager

Arts/Entertainment - Feature/Segment
Pinhole Photography (Oregon Art Beat); Vince Patton, producer/reporter

Arts/Entertainment - Program Special
Oregon Art Beat Episode #917; Jessica Martin, executive producer
Oregon Splendor; Todd Sonflieth, producer/editor

Historic/Cultural - Program/Special
Oregon Experience: Lola G. Baldwin; Nadine Jelsing, producer/writer; Wendy Morgan, editor
Oregon Experience: Searching for York; Beth Harrington, producer/writer; Laurance Johnson, co-producer; Ron Craig, consulting producer
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Kami Horton, producer/writer; Lisa Suinn Kallem, editor
Celilo Revealed (Oregon Field Guide); Vince Patton, Producer/Reporter; Todd Sonflieth, photographer

Sports - Feature/Segment
Electric Drag Racing (Oregon Field Guide); Michael Bendixen, videographer; Vince Patton, producer/reporter; Greg Bond, videographer/editor

Informational/Instructional - Feature/Segment
Reptile Hunter (Oregon Field Guide); Ed Jahn, producer/director
Marmot Dam Removed (Oregon Field Guide); Vince Patton, producer/reporter

Documentary - Cultural/Historical
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Eric Cain, producer/writer; Nadine Jelsing, producer/writer; Emily Shreefter, editor

Documentary - Topical
The Silent Invasion; Ed Jahn, producer/writer; Sarah Fox, associate producer; Bruce Barrow, editor; Todd Sonflieth, photographer; Nick Fisher, photographer

Informational/Instructional - Program/Special
Oregon Field Guide 20th Anniversary Special; Steve Amen, executive producer/host; Lisa Kallem, senior video editor

Promotion - Program - Campaign
The Silent Invasion; Mark Buchanan, director, on air creative

Director
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Nadine Jelsing, executive producer

Writer - Program
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Kami Horton, producer/writer
The Silent Invasion; Ed Jahn, writer
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Eric Cain, writer
Oregon Experience: Searching for York; Beth Harrington, writer

Photographer - Program
Mt. Washington Climb and Spirit Lake Photoessay (Oregon Field Guide); Michael Bendixen, videographer/editor

Editor - Program
Oregon Experience: The River They Saw; Emily Shreefter, editor
Oregon Experience: Civilian Conservation Corps; Lisa Kallem, editor

Craft Specialty - Musical Composition/Arrangement
The Silent Invasion; Cal Scott, composer

OPB's OREGON FIELD GUIDE Receives Four Telly Awards

Last modified on March 31, 2009 02:50 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting producer Vince Patton has received four prestigious Telly Awards for Oregon Field Guide stories that aired during the program's 20th season.

The 30th annual Telly Awards competition received over 13,000 entries from the most-respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies and corporations from all 50 states and countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

Patton's segment with videographers Nick Fisher and Todd Sonflieth which documented the removal of the Marmot Dam won a Silver Telly in the Nature/Wildlife category. Unlike daily newscasts, Field Guide was able to document the largest dam removal to date, from start to finish over a six-month time span. Remote cameras were set to record the explosion in "stage one" while two cameras were employed to capture the even more dramatic demolition wrought by Mother Nature in "stage two."

A Silver Telly was also awarded in Sports for Patton's story on "Electric Drag Racing," produced with videographers Greg Bond and Michael Bendixen. In this piece, a gear-head in Gresham turned his 1972 Datsun into a super-powered race car able to leave gleaming Corvettes in his dust -- without a drop of gas. (Incidentally, this segment has been viewed over 1 million times on the OPB Web site and is also posted on YouTube.)

Winning a Bronze Telly in Nature/Wildlife was Patton's feature on "Bighorn Pneumonia." With videographers Tom Shrider and Dave Spangler, Field Guide took two trips to Northeastern Oregon and Idaho in sub-freezing winter and again the following summer to document how biologists are working to end an epidemic killing wild bighorns.

"Ceilio Revealed," produced with videographer Todd Sonflieth, also took a Bronze Telly in the Cultural category. Field Guide broke the story of the first images in 50 years of Celilo Falls as it exists at the bottom of the Columbia River. The remarkable underwater scenes proved the falls were still intact and had not been blown up as many tribes had feared.

Steve Amen is executive producer and host of Oregon Field Guide.

These and other Oregon Field Guide segments can be viewed at the Oregon Field Guide Web site.

About OREGON FIELD GUIDE
In its 20th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Silver Telly Award

Last modified on March 13, 2009 09:38 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received the prestigious Silver Telly Award for its Oregon Experience documentary, "Civilian Conservation Corps," produced by Kami Horton.

The 30th annual Telly Awards competition received over 13,000 entries from the most-respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, interactive agencies and corporations from all 50 states and countries around the world. It is a fantastic achievement to be selected for recognition.

Oregon Experience: "Civilian Conservation Corps tells the story of some of the "CCC boys" in Oregon. Recent interviews with former CCC workers, archival film and photos paint a captivating picture of the program that put millions to work on federal and state land for the "prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion, plant, pest, and disease control." Nationwide, enrollees planted three billion trees and came to be known as the Tree Army. Today, Oregonians continue to enjoy the CCC legacy at parks and forests around the state.

Oregon Experience is an ongoing history series co-produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Oregon Historical Society that brings to life fascinating stories that promote the shared identity of Oregonians. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

To view "Civilian Conservation Corps" or any Oregon Experience episode, or for information on the series, go to the Oregon Experience Web site.

OREGON ART BEAT: Revisiting the Artists You Love

Last modified on February 25, 2009 07:48 AM

Revisit the artists you love on Oregon Art Beat, March 5 at 8pm! Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting to celebrate 10 years of Art Beat on this live-hosted roundup of viewers' favorite stories along with a few surprises.

Art Beat combed through a decade's worth of stories on talented artists of every stripe who have been featured on the program. There will be updates on favorites -- like Eastern Oregon painter James Lavadour who was in the first show of the first season. Art Beat recently went back to Pendleton to revisit him and get his fascinating take on life as a working artist.

"Our stories are about people," said Art Beat host and station manager Jeff Douglas. "The art is the vehicle with which we learn about the people."

Get a dose of fire and color from some of your favorite glass artists, like the Oregon Coast's Pyromania.

And there will be plenty of music. Take another listen to -- and get another look at -- that bejeweled Monette trumpet. Enjoy the '20s and '30s retro sound of Midnight Serenaders. Feel the beat of Irish dancing. It's a special Oregon Art Beat celebration.

Video of the stories featured on Art Beat can be viewed online immediately following the broadcast.

About OREGON ART BEAT
Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting's local arts series, is in its 10th season. The program airs Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2am and 6pm. In the Mountain Time Zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9pm Thursdays and repeats at 7pm on Sundays. Funding for Oregon Art Beat is provided in part by James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and the Kinsman Foundation. More information is available online at the Art Beat Web site.

OPB Delays DTV Switch to June 12

Last modified on February 9, 2009 11:52 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting plans to delay its switch to digital-only broadcasting until June 12, the extended deadline Congress approved in bills passed last week, and which President Obama is expected to sign shortly.

"The government is concerned that some people aren't ready to make the switch," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of OPB. "We decided to honor their request and delay until June 12. This decision comes at a cost. OPB will need to spend about $100,000 for unbudgeted utilities and other expenses. It may also have the effect of delaying the digital transition for some of our translator sites in rural Oregon."

OPB plans to continue its extensive efforts to help the community prepare for the end of analog broadcasting. For information on how to make the switch, visit opb.org/digital or call 1.800.241.8123.

New Episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "Road to Statehood," Airs February 16 on OPB TV

Last modified on February 6, 2009 11:57 AM

Oregon celebrates its 150th birthday this year. The next installment in the Oregon Experience series, "Road to Statehood," explores Oregon's bumpy path to becoming the 33rd state in the Union. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, February 16 at 9pm.

For thousands of years, hundreds of native tribes thrived in what became known as Oregon Country -- a vast wilderness that stretched north into present-day British Columbia, south to California and east into Idaho, Montana and parts of Wyoming. By treaty, the land was jointly occupied by the British and the United States with both wanting to establish dominance in the area.

The first Euro-Americans in Oregon Country were mountain men and fur trappers who came in the early 1800s for the abundant pelts used to make popular beaver hats. The British Hudson's Bay Company soon followed, establishing its Northwest headquarters at Ft. Vancouver in 1825. Managed by a British citizen named John McLoughlin, Hudson’s Bay dominated the vast fur-trading network for 20 years -- using its own brigades and Native Americans to trap the furs. The company also acted as the only “government” in the region.

But along with commerce and trade came diseases like smallpox and malaria that killed hundreds of thousands of Native Americans and decimated complete tribes. Missionaries brought more changes and began luring more immigrants to settle the rich farming lands of the Willamette Valley.

This growing number of Americans had no legal representation in Oregon Country. If a legal issue arose, they were on their own. It was the death of a wealthy settler with no will that acted as a catalyst for the formation of a provisional government in Champoeg. On May 2, 1843, the settlers voted to align with the United States and create the first American government west of the Mississippi. By 1857 more than 50,000 people called Oregon home -- enough to petition for statehood. Finally on February 14, 1859, Oregon became the 33rd state in the Union.

Oregon Experience examines the stories of the native people already here, and the trappers, missionaries and other pioneers coming over the Oregon Trail who together shaped the state of Oregon.

Watch the complete program online anytime after February 16 at the Oregon Experience Web site.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Experience Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

Oregon Broadcasters Join Forces To Help Consumers Make the Digital Television Transition

Last modified on February 5, 2009 09:22 AM

Through an arrangement with the Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Oregon Public Broadcasting will expand its Digital Help Center to create a centralized resource to assist people during the digital transition. This comprehensive effort was initiated and funded by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters, with additional funding provided by Portland-area television stations, including KOIN (6), KGW (8), KPTV (12) and KPDX (49).

A number of commercial broadcasters as well as OPB will switch to digital-only broadcasting on February 18, the original date set by Congress.

"Stations have worked diligently to help people prepare, but we know that many will still have questions in the weeks before and after the switch," said Bill Johnstone, CEO of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters. "This central effort will make it easier for people to get help with one simple phone call. Since the OPB digital help team has already personally assisted nearly 25,000 people with the switch to digital television, we are confident that OPB is the right choice for the creation of a larger endeavor to serve even more people."

The Digital Help Center will assist people over the phone with challenges they may face in making the digital switch. From advice on setting up converter boxes to help walking through the rescanning process, to assistance with proper antenna placement, digital experts and station engineers will work to ensure the switch is successful for everyone.

The toll-free phone line for the Oregon Digital Help Center is 800.241.8123.
The Help Center will operate from 8am-5pm weekdays.

Expanded hours around the transition are:
February 14-15 weekend 8am-5pm
February 16 8am-9pm
February 17 8am-9pm
February 18 7am-9pm
February 19 7am-9pm
February 20 8am-7pm
February 21 8am-7pm
February 22-23 weekend 8am-5pm

In addition, a demonstration and resources area will be set up at the Help Center. People who need additional hands-on help can drop by OPB from 8am-5pm between February 14 and 23 to pick up instructions and hook-up diagrams, to view antenna options, or to see in person how to hook up a converter box.

Find out more about how to switch to digital at OPB's DTV NOW Web site.

OPB to Switch to Digital-Only Broadcasting on February 17

Last modified on January 29, 2009 12:23 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting plans to make the switch to digital-only broadcasting on its main transmitters (Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, Bend, La Grande) at midnight on February 17, 2009 and has filed the required applications with the FCC. OPB's analog translators serving most rural parts of the state are not affected at this time.

Also planning to make the switch on the original date established by Congress are a number of commercial television stations in Eugene, Medford and Klamath Falls as well as several Portland stations.

Steve Bass, OPB president and CEO, said, "OPB has worked diligently to help consumers prepare for the end of analog broadcasting for more than a year. Delaying that transition will confuse viewers and add nearly $100,000 in unanticipated electricity costs to keep OPB's analog transmitters running until the newly proposed June 12 deadline."

Over the past 14 months, OPB has conducted an extensive multimedia outreach effort to inform Oregonians and encourage them to prepare for this unprecedented event. OPB has personally assisted more than 22,000 viewers with the switch to digital television and is working closely with other organizations across the region such as Elders in Action and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) who are focusing on at-risk populations.

For information on how to make the switch, visit OPB's OPB's DTV NOW Web site or call 1.800.241.8123.

New Episode of OREGON EXPERIENCE, "The Logger's Daughter," Airs February 9 on OPB TV

Last modified on January 20, 2009 12:46 PM

Documentary recounts the story of an African-American woman, born in eastern Oregon, who sets out to explore her family's past

Gwen Trice, like many girls growing up in La Grande, Oregon during the '70s, liked skiing, hiking, the Mary Tyler Moore Show and boys. But as the only African-American kid in her class, she always felt a little different. Years later, living in Seattle, she was still an outsider -- only this time it was her rural background that branded her as different. The next episode in OPB's Oregon Experience, "The Logger's Daughter," tells the story of Trice's exploration of her family's past and how she found a community that embraced her. It's a "family" she never knew she had. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, February 9 at 9pm and Sunday, February 12 at 10:30pm to see how a town that's now gone can still provide a sense of kinship.

Large timber harvests require many workers, and logging camps were once common in the Oregon woods. But few of those camps housed whole families -- the fact that Maxille did made the town distinctive.

Maxville was built in 1923, almost overnight, by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company near Wallowa in eastern Oregon. The Maxville workers came mostly from out of state, transported by the company directly from the deep South. But what made Maxville unique was that 50 to 60 of its citizens were African-American. It was home to the only segregated school in Oregon. Its black residents lived in a group of houses across the tracks from the white residents. Yet conflicts across racial lines were few and friendships many.

Maxville was officially closed in the early 1930s, though a few loggers and their families stayed on for another dozen years. And most of what happened there during its short existence is not widely known.

Enter Gwendolyn Trice.

A black woman from La Grande, Gwen never knew much about her father's early years in Oregon. She only recently learned that he had left Arkansas in the 1920s with his father to live and work in this place called Maxville.

A couple of years ago, Gwen set out with a tape recorder and a video camera to learn more about Maxville. Her gathering of oral histories took some unexpected turns as she became immersed in a much wider community. The story of that community, its history and its people is revealed in "The Logger's Daughter."

Watch the complete program online anytime after February 9 at the Oregon Experience Web site.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust. The Oregon Experience Web site is opb.org/oregonexperience.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Prestigious duPont-Columbia Journalism Award

Last modified on January 12, 2009 02:10 PM

Award-Winning Coverage Will Be Featured in the Annual Documentary, TELLING THE TRUTH: THE BEST IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM, Premiering on Jan. 15 on OPB

Today Columbia University announced that Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) was selected as one of 13 winners of the 2009 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards for broadcast journalism. Chosen from a pool of hundreds of radio and television news entries that aired in the United States between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008, the award-winning journalists will be presented with the duPont silver baton on January 22 in a ceremony at Columbia University. The duPont Awards are considered the broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizes.

OPB's award-winning entry, The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special, premiered on OPB last April. Produced by Ed Jahn, the documentary illustrates how invasive species are changing the environment in Oregon, and focuses on ways people can work together to make a difference to native fish and wildlife resources, Oregon's economy and quality of life. The broadcast marked the kickoff of the ongoing "Stop the Invasion" campaign that encourages community partners and citizens to collaborate in their efforts to take action against invasive species. More information about The Silent Invasion and "Stop the Invasion" is available at the program Web site.

Cinny Kennard, member of the duPont-Columbia University Award jury for excellence in broadcast journalism, noted: "The Silent Invasion provides great clarity about a critical environmental issue – invasive species … The jury was struck by the boldness and courage of OPB to attack such issues and then to put resources against it. The work is educational, informative and the production exemplary. Oregon Public Broadcasting has a long history of producing exceptional work, and we are thrilled to present this award to them for The Silent Invasion."

"Being recognized by the duPont-Columbia Awards is one of the highest honors in broadcast journalism and a proud moment for OPB," said Steve Bass, OPB president and CEO. "The production of The Silent Invasion represented a tremendous commitment of time and resources for us, but we knew it was the right thing to do. It is indeed gratifying that the importance of this effort is recognized and affirmed by duPont with this award."

ABC's Bob Woodruff will interview Jahn and several of the duPont winners in the special program Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism premiering on January 15 at 10pm on OPB. This program, an annual feature on public television stations, will include excerpts of the winning programs and explore how journalists outsmart the blizzard of spin, the limitations of newsroom budgets, and the logistics of travel to dangerous locations in order to produce exemplary stories.
View a complete list of award recipients

About the duPont-Columbia University Award
The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards honoring overall excellence in broadcast journalism were established in 1942 by Jessie Ball duPont in memory of her husband, Alfred I. duPont. With his cousins, Mr. duPont transformed their gunpowder company into the chemical company E.I. duPont de Nemours. He later created a successful financial institution in Florida and was owner of a chain of small-town newspapers in Delaware. The duPont Awards have been administered since 1968 by Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. The school also administers the awarding of Pulitzer Prizes.

Award winners receive batons designed by the late American architect Louis I. Kahn. The batons are inscribed with the famous observation about the power of television by the late Edward R. Murrow: "This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box." (Excerpted from Murrow's address to the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Chicago, October 15, 1958.)

OPB Airs FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE 2009 on January 22 at 9pm

Last modified on December 22, 2008 01:51 PM

For parents, teachers and college-bound students, OPB will present a half-hour special, FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE 2009, on Thursday, January 22 at 9pm. Hosted by Steve Amen, the program will feature a panel of financial-aid experts who will provide crucial loan, scholarship and grant information, and advice on the college application process.

Viewers can go to OPB's Financial Aid for College 2009 Web site from January 5-22 to submit questions for the panelists to discuss during the program. Questions not chosen for the on-air panel discussion will be answered by financial-aid experts in a Q & A feature on the Web site after the broadcast. A phone bank of financial-aid professionals will also be available to answer questions from viewers during the broadcast and until 10pm.

The program rebroadcasts on Sunday, January 25 at 3am and 2:30pm.

OPB to Launch New Digital Television Channel Lineup

Last modified on December 5, 2008 02:47 PM

The digital television era is here, and this month Oregon Public Broadcasting will launch its exciting new channel lineup to serve viewers throughout Oregon and southern Washington.

"On February 18, 2009, all full-power transmitters will switch to all-digital broadcasting," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of OPB. "We wanted to introduce our new family of channels early, so viewers who have already converted to digital can enjoy our expanded lineup immediately, and those who are not yet ready will have an incentive to do so now."

Based on viewer feedback, OPB developed a broad range of programming that will be available on three digital channels beginning December 10, 2008: OPB, OPB HD and OPB Plus.

OPB will continue to offer the full range of OPB programming that viewers know and trust -- including the best in children's programs, how-to, travel, documentaries and performance -- with an improved picture for viewers with traditional sets.

OPB HD will broadcast your OPB favorites -- including children's programs, news and public affairs, documentaries and more -- in high definition with the highest-quality picture and sound. Note: Viewers who do not have a high-definition television can still watch the programs on the OPB HD channel in standard definition.

OPB Plus will offer more choices in viewing times and added programs in news, public affairs and lifestyle.

"The digital transition gives us a tremendous opportunity to provide our viewers with more of the programs they enjoy and a greater selection of times to watch," said Bass. "Children's programming will be available on both OPB and OPB HD during the day. And OPB Plus allows us to showcase programs of various types during the day -- including travel, gardening, home improvement, crafts, etc. -- and present an array of public affairs, news and lifestyle programs in the evening," he said.

"The future of broadcasting is full of promise with the vast array of capabilities digital technology makes possible," said Bass. "We will continue to evolve our channels and services to expand our ability to give voice to the community, connect Oregon and its neighbors and illuminate a wider world."

All three of OPB's digital channels are available free, over the air (with an antenna) in the Portland metro area, La Grande, Corvallis, Eugene, Bend and Baker City. All that is required is a TV with a built-in digital tuner or with an added digital converter box. Thanks to support from Governor Kulongoski and the Oregon Legislature, OPB has begun upgrading almost 50 low-power translators that serve the coast, east, central and southern Oregon. These areas will begin to have full availability of OPB's digital television services in the coming 12 to 24 months.

Where to Find OPB Channels Over the Air Starting December 10

OPB HD:
Portland 10.1
La Grande 13.1
Eugene 28.1
Corvallis 7.1
Bend 3.1
Baker City 13.1

OPB:
Portland 10.2
La Grande 13.2
Eugene 28.2
Corvallis 7.2
Bend 3.2
Baker City 13.2

OPB Plus:
Portland 10.3
La Grande 13.3
Eugene 28.3
Corvallis 7.3
Bend 3.3
Baker City 13.3

Where to Find OPB Channels on Cable Starting December 10

OPB HD
Comcast 710
Clear Creek 210
BendBroadband 607
Verizon FiOS 510
Crestview 603

OPB
Comcast 10
Clear Creek 162
BendBroadband 7
Verizon FiOS 10
Crestview 3

OPB Plus
Comcast 310
Clear Creek 168
BendBroadband 175
Verizon FiOS 470
Crestview 116

Program schedules for OPB's new digital lineup will be available online beginning December 10.

For information on how to make the switch to digital television, visit OPB's DTV NOW site.

New Episode of Oregon Experience, Airing November 17, paints a portrait of York, an unofficial member of the Corps of Discovery

Last modified on November 10, 2008 10:25 AM

The Lewis & Clark Expedition was a pivotal moment in American history. But the story of York, a slave to William Clark and comrade on this journey, has been obscured by omission and stereotype. The next Oregon Experience, "Searching for York," paints a portrait of this unofficial member of the Corps of Discovery as it explores the ways in which history is written. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, November 17 at 9pm as living history experts and interpreters help illustrate this man and moment in history.

York's personal story is not well known, though the story of Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery is. How is it that we as a culture remember some pieces of history and not others? G. Mitchell Reyes of Lewis & Clark College talks about the role of public memory in our understanding of history. In addition, some of what we know about York comes from the oral histories of various native peoples who encountered York as the Corps of Discovery made its way across the continent. Roberta Conner, director of the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, shares her thoughts on oral history tradition that may tie back to the expedition. Shot on location at Ft. Vancouver and Ft. Clatsop, "Searching for York" is an engaging look at a man shrouded in mystery.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

New Episode of Oregon Experience, Airing November 10, Recounts Visual Legacy of Columbia River Gorge Photographers

Last modified on October 29, 2008 10:43 AM

The beauty and magic of the Columbia River Gorge has attracted photographers for more than 150 years. Oregon Public Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Oregon Historical Society and the Portland Art Museum, presents an hour-long Oregon Experience chronicling the history of the Gorge with rarely seen images crafted by Carleton Watkins, Sarah Ladd, Benjamin Gifford, Al Monner and many others. These early photographers left a stunning visual legacy through images still considered among the greatest landscape photos ever made. Tune in to the stations of OPB on Monday, November 10 at 9pm (rebroadcast on Sunday, November 16 at 1pm).

Carleton Watkins was the first significant photographer to visit the Gorge. He arrived in 1867 and traveled by steamboat and portage railroads upriver and down. He was also a master of large format landscape photography using wet-plate technology -- a remarkable undertaking that meant transporting large amounts of chemicals, a dark tent and heavy glass plates used to make negatives in the field. His photographs offer a glimpse into what life was like in the Gorge during the latter half of the 19th century.

Many photographers -- both amateur and professional -- would follow, each offering a unique look at the landscape, business and industry that was developing in the Gorge.

"The River They Saw" uses an astounding collection of photographs to reveal the immense salmon runs at Celilo Falls, the early canneries and fish wheels. This visual history shows how travelers navigated the untamed river and how technology changed the Gorge with the building of locks and canals, the Columbia Gorge highway and the dams at Bonneville and The Dalles.

Viewers are encouraged to visit the Portland Art Museum to experience the concurrent exhibition "Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867-1957." This stunning selection of historic images, on view at the Museum October 4, 2008-January 11, 2009, features photographs by several of the artists showcased in Oregon Experience: "The River They Saw". An Oregon Historical Society exhibit also running October 4-January 11 features Carleton Watkins' stereoviews of the Columbia River Gorge. The Oregon History Museum will display nearly 100 photographs of the Columbia River Gorge that Watkins printed in the popular, 19th-century stereoscopic format -- two identical photos mounted together that, when viewed through a special lens, make the image become three-dimensional.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

New Episode of Oregon Experience, Airing November 3, Tells Local Story of the Civilian Conservation Corps

Last modified on October 20, 2008 10:14 AM

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the most popular of the New Deal relief programs installed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt shortly after his inauguration in 1933. The next Oregon Experience tells the story of the organization that put millions of unemployed young men to work improving federal and state lands during the Great Depression, and reintroduces us to some of its work that is still being enjoyed to this day throughout Oregon. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, November 3 at 9pm (and Sunday, November 9 at 1pm) for a fascinating look at how the program accomplished so much during its short existence.

Five days after his inauguration, President Franklin D. Roosevelt called an emergency session of Congress to install the Conservation Civilian Corps -- known as the CCC. The program targeted unemployed young men, veterans and American Indians who were hard hit by the Great Depression. The "CCC boys," as they were called, were required to send a portion of their money home to their parents. In addition to their wage, the boys received free education, healthcare and job training.

Oregon hosted dozens of CCC camps all over the state. Among their many projects, enrollees fought fires on the Tillamook Burns, helped build ski areas on Mt. Hood, built telephone and electrical wires, and improved farm lands.

This episode of Oregon Experience tells the story of some of the "CCC boys." Recent interviews with former CCC workers, archival film and photos paint a captivating picture of the program that put millions to work on federal and state land for the "prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion, plant, pest, and disease control." Nationwide, enrollees planted three billion trees and came to be known as the Tree Army.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting history series on OPB that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

Environmental Journalists Recognize Oregon Field Guide

Last modified on October 17, 2008 11:13 AM

The National Society of Environmental Journalists has awarded Oregon Field Guide third place in the "Outstanding Beat/In-Depth Reporting, Television" category for a series of four stories that aired this past season.

Said the judges: "The Oregon Field Guide was like picking up a fishing pole, grabbing a bucket of worms and listening to beautiful stories told by my grandfather all day. To watch these stories was to be there in the moment, experiencing it as it happened. Simply beautiful storytelling. Oregon Field Guide showed us things this panel had never heard of. More important, this program did what documentaries do best. They made a point to stay after everybody else left. By doing that, they were able to report beyond the headlines and were able to prove everybody wrong."

Field Guide staff, Vince Patton, Todd Sonflieth, Nick Fisher and Michael Bendixen, were recognized for stories on the Marmot Dam removal, the Opal Creek "living classroom," ice worms on Mt. Rainier and a toad rescue in Sun River. Steve Amen is executive producer and host.

Video clips of the stories featured on Field Guide can be viewed online immediately following the broadcast.

About Oregon Field Guide
In its 20th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations. Oregon Field Guide airs Thursday evenings at 8:30pm on the television stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting and repeats on Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. In the Mountain Time zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9:30pm Thursdays, and at 7:30pm Sundays.

Oregon Art Beat Kicks off Tenth Season on September 18

Last modified on September 8, 2008 09:19 AM

Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emmy-Award winning weekly television series profiling local artistic talent, kicks off its 10th season on Thursday, September 18 at 8pm. The first show of the season features a glassblowing artist in Vancouver, a dose of the blues and a retrospective of Art Beat's past nine seasons.

"It's been an honor (and a blast!) to feature artists from around the state for the last nine seasons," said Jessica Martin, executive producer. "Each one is unique -- every person we meet allowing us a glimpse into an artist's life. We'll celebrate our 10th year with more inspiring stories from all over Oregon and southern Washington," said Martin. "We'll visit a printmaker in Pendleton, a ceramics artist in Astoria and a sculptor in Corvallis. We'll take you to hear salsa music in Portland and a tango-style band in Eugene. We'll even meet a famous hurdy-gurdy maker and a whole lot more," she noted.

On the season opener, the show visits David Schwarz's glassblowing studio in Vancouver to see how he uses a combination of glassblowing and cold techniques to create dramatic pieces that seem to move and shimmer in the light. The Art Beat crew tracks down the Northwest boogie cat, Norman Sylvester, for a dose of the blues. Also, a look back over nine years of profiling artists.

"In nine seasons, we've profiled more than 750 artists and the list of stories we'd like to do is probably at least that long," said Jeff Douglas, Art Beat host and OPB senior vice president and station manager. "We often hear from viewers that they had no idea that Oregon is home to so many talented artists from ballet dancers to saddle makers. We love celebrating that diversity," he said. "Linda Ethier, one of the first artists we featured on Art Beat, told us, 'Money is a way of moving goods and services through time and space. Art moves people's spirits through time and space.' Exactly. And moving people's spirits through time and space is a good description of what Oregon Art Beat does," said Douglas.

About Oregon Art Beat
Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting's local arts series, is in its 10th season. The program airs Thursdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2am and 6pm. In the Mountain Time Zone of Eastern Oregon, the program airs at 9pm Thursdays and repeats at 7pm on Sundays. More information is available online at opb.org/artbeat.

An OPB Original Production: Independent Films Featured on OPB's Oregon Lens

Last modified on August 1, 2008 12:07 PM

The work of some of the Pacific Northwest's most talented independent producers is showcased over four nights on Oregon Lens, a yearly special on Oregon Public Broadcasting now in its tenth season. Tune in to the stations of OPB August 11-14 at 10pm to see a diversity of surprising and challenging work.

"I'm always excited about the opportunity to share the incredible work of our local independent filmmakers," said Steve Amen, executive producer and host of the series. "The series gives our viewers, who may not have access to Portland's theaters and micro-cinemas, the opportunity to see the kind of innovative filmmaking for which this area is becoming known."

First up on Monday, August 11 is Nuclear Acrobat, a short documentary about a Portland woman who gave up a career as a rocket scientist to join the circus. (Filmmakers: Wen Lee, Rebecca Purice and Steven Wilsey) Also airing is 7,500 Miles to Redemption, a powerful story about regained purpose, self-worth and humanity for inmates at the Oregon State Penitentiary. The producers spent four years following members of the prison's Asian Pacific Family Club as they helped guitarist Tinh Mahoney realize his dream to build a school in his native Vietnam. (Filmmakers: Emiko Omori and Tinh Mahoney) In Bow, see why Portland's own world-class bow maker, Michael Yeats, is one of those rare artists who works intimately with the nature of wood to create one of a kind bows. (Filmmaker: Peter Gold) Finally tonight, Psychic Numbing: When Our Intuition Fails explores psychologist Paul Slovic's life-long research revealing the flawed nature of human judgment and how these faults have contributed to perhaps the most disturbing trend in human history -- a legacy of genocide. (Filmmakers: Desiree Aflleje and Emese Foss.)

On Tuesday, August 12 our summer series continues with Reinventing Ed's Coed. This entry is a fun look at a film made 80 years ago by University of Oregon students with a camera borrowed from Cecil B. DeMille. It's a comedy about student life, including dating, fraternities and trouble making. A silent movie, it was a victim of bad timing (since talking movies appeared around the same date), bombed and was soon forgotten. This project tells the story of the film -- how it was made and how it was reinvented. (Filmmakers: John Rosman and Eric Rutledge)

Next is Bass Driven. Known internationally, Gaia Tribe is a party promotion company founded by brothers Andrew and Neko Mataus. House music, a genre of electronic music, powers the gatherings. The events take place once a month in various venues across Eugene. Andrew focuses on the bass-driven music while Neko focuses on the ambience, or what he calls "Spaceshaping." Together, the brothers have transformed the electronic music scene in Eugene. (Filmmakers: Sloane Cameron and Catie Ciciretto)

We also highlight the work of Cinema Syndicate, a group of rogue filmmakers sworn to uphold the sword of comedy and good, clever writing despite their lack of budget and professional key grips. This year's examples include: Love & Sappiness-- A woman brings her boyfriend home to meet her family for the holidays. The holiday? Arbor Day. The boyfriend? Not exactly a tree hugger. Red Letter Day-- An amusing look at "Hatuchama," a secret society... blah blah blah. See what it has to do with an infomercial from 1986. Maybe. In Pick Up, Audrey, a somewhat pathetic lovelorn Internet dater, pursues her last-ditch effort at romance via the prison pen-pal system.

Also, Meet the Freegans. Steve is an educated man. A school teacher. A homeowner. He also enjoys eating food from dumpsters. (Filmmaker: Travis Shields) Feeling Cingular: iPhone | iCan't is a first-person case study on whether someone could create a consumer-activist online video that could influence corporate ethics when companies fail to provide proper redress to legitimate problems. (Filmmakers: Justin Callaway and Luis Aguirre)

Among Wednesday's films is Finding Thea which examines the life of Thea Christiansen Foss, a Norwegian immigrant to Tacoma and the inspiration for the fictional character "Tugboat Annie." (Filmmakers: Nancy Bourne Haley and Lucy Ostrander) Sharks: Stewards of the Reef takes you on a voyage of underwater discovery to explore tropical reefs and dive with sharks. This 30-minute documentary describes the relationship between these top predators to the oceans and coral reef ecosystems while examining the habitat destruction and over fishing that are causing Pacific reef shark populations to plummet. (Filmmakers: Holiday Johnson, Christopher Johnson, David McGuire and Christopher L. Jenkins)

On Thursday, our fourth and final night, Finding Normal presents a gritty sojourn into a world of addiction and recovery. It is also a story of hope as we learn about an Oregon mentor-run program that has about a 70-percent success rate, often with people who have failed multiple times in recovery. Documentary producer Brian Lindstrom follows a group of Portland drug addicts and their rehab counselors trying day-by-day to keep themselves clean, sober and together. (Filmmaker: Brian Lindstrom)

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Two Regional Emmy Awards

Last modified on June 17, 2008 11:08 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting received two Regional Emmy Awards at The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 45th Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards held Saturday, June 7 in Seattle.

Oregon Experience: "The Beach Bill" won in the category of Historic/Cultural-Program/Special. Nadine Jelsing produced and wrote the program and Bruce Barrow was the editor. The program documents the story of Oregon Governor Tom McCall and his vision and passion to preserve the beaches of Oregon for generations to come.

Oregon Field Guide won in the Informational/Instructional - Program/Special category. Steve Amen is the executive producer. In its 19th season, Oregon Field Guide remains a valuable source of information about outdoor recreation, ecological issues, natural resources and travel destinations.

The Northwest Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences serves television professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

Oregon Experience: "The Art Makers" Premieres on May 22

Last modified on May 13, 2008 02:25 PM

Modern art is an old story in Oregon -- about 100 years old, by some accounts.

These days, active and diverse art scenes flourish throughout the state. Oregon's art-friendly reputation extends nationally and beyond. But all this has been a long time in the making. "The Art Makers," a new episode of OPB's Oregon Experience series, explores the art and the artists that paved the way. Tune in to Oregon Public Broadcasting on May 22 at 9pm and see the state of the arts in Oregon in a whole new light.

The arts in Oregon are alive and seemingly everywhere. The state boasts thousands of accomplished artists and hundreds of art galleries -- about 80 in Portland alone. Publications tout the big city's "exploding" art scene, and even small towns now have their own gallery walks, studio-tour weekends and seasonal art fairs.

But not too many years ago, touring Portland's art galleries on "First Thursdays" would have been unimaginable. For starters, Portland didn't have any galleries.

How did Oregon come to be such an art-friendly place?

"The Art Makers" presents a story rich with colorful characters and many wonderful paintings. Meet some of the artists, past and present, who've influenced the state's art scene, including:

Harry Wentz -- Hired to the new Portland Art Museum School in 1910, Wentz encouraged countless students to paint traditional subjects with fresh, modernistic techniques.

C.S. Price -- This onetime illustrator of Western magazines evolved his painting into uncharted expressionist and abstract territory. He inspired others to follow before passing away in 1950.

Louis Bunce -- His bold mural for the Portland Airport opened a hornet's nest of public opinion. But Oregonians acknowledged that modern art had "arrived," and Bunce became a celebrity.

"The Art Makers" features interviews with painters Lucinda Parker, George Johanson, Jack McLarty and the late Mike Russo. Dozens of archival photos and nearly 150 older paintings help tell their stories. And it all leads up to the arts in present-day Oregon, which surely owe much of their vitality to those "oldtimers" and the art they made.

Everybody's Art – An Oregon Art Beat Special - Premieres May 22 at 8pm

Last modified on May 7, 2008 09:48 AM

What do you think about public art? From Portlandia in Portland, bronze sculptures in Joseph, whale bones in Newport, and art on our college campuses, we're surrounded by art in public places. We walk or drive past it, love it or ignore it -- but did you know that we all own thousands of pieces of art? Our tax dollars have commissioned them, and each one impacts the visual landscape of Oregon.

But how do we think about this public art, and do we value it? And what does it add to our communities, our culture and our state? "Everybody's Art," a half-hour Oregon Art Beat special, takes a look at the topic, from artists who work with committees to create public art, to communities impacted by installing art, as well as a look back at the history of our "Percent for Art" legislation from the late 1970s. "Everybody's Art" is airing on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Thursday, May 22 at 8pm (and Sunday, May 25 at 2am and 6pm).

Frank Boyden is an internationally known ceramic artist and sculptor. Brad Rude is two decades younger, with years of experience in foundry work and metal sculpture. The two are collaborating on a commission for TriMet, which provides public transportation to the Portland metro area. Their groundbreaking interactive installation, designed for five towns served by TriMet's new suburban rail line, is the first of its kind in the nation. Because they're creating art paid for with public funds, a committee is involved in every step of their creative process. During "Everybody's Art," an Oregon Art Beat special, we follow Frank and Brad from their initial meetings through design and construction through the final approval of their work. Can innovative art come from a process that involves so much committee input? The two artists think so, and we follow them from their studios, to committee meetings, and back again as they work towards their delivery deadline.

"Everybody's Art" also takes a look at public art around the state, paid for with public funds and privately sponsored, and explores the role of art in building community in urban and rural settings.

"Everybody's Art" visits the eastern Oregon town of Vale where ranchers drive pickup trucks past huge, historic murals on downtown buildings to explore the question of whether public art has helped stimulate a projected economic boom for this tiny community.

We take a tour of Portland's public-art collection with Eloise Damrosch, executive director of Portland's Regional Arts and Cultural Council (RACC), and artist Victor Maldonado, as they discuss the impact of public art in a city, as well as the challenges of maintaining a public art collection.

We explore the 30-year history of Oregon's Percent for Art legislation and examine the impact it's had on the state's art collection and artists in the state, as well as hear from people who think that no government money should be spent to subsidize art.

At the Oregon Art Beat Web site, viewers are encouraged to get involved in the public art process. Log on to see Frank and Brad's installation and provide feedback. Also learn how to join a committee, attend a neighborhood meeting and critique a public art proposal.

Video clips of the stories featured on "Everybody's Art," as well as archived Art Beat stories, can be viewed online immediately following the broadcast at www.opb.org/artbeat/.

It's an engaging look at something that affects all of us, every day. After all, in Oregon, public art is "Everybody's Art."

Oregon Experience: "Lola G. Baldwin" Premieres May 15

Last modified on May 5, 2008 11:25 AM

On April 1, 1908 Lola Greene Baldwin was sworn in to perform police service for the city of Portland and became the nation's first policewoman. The next installment in Oregon Public Broadcasting's Oregon Experience series examines the life and work of Detective Baldwin who made it her mission to crusade for the moral and physical welfare of young, single working girls and prevent them from being lured into lives of prostitution and crime. Tune in to the stations of OPB on Thursday, May 15 at 9pm.

Baldwin was born in Elmyra, New York in 1860. She dropped out of high school to support herself and two sisters when her father died unexpectedly. She would go on to earn a teaching certificate and taught school in Nebraska where she met and married dry goods merchant LeGrand Baldwin. After the birth of her two sons, Lola got involved in social work, volunteering at homes for unwed mothers and prisoner's aid societies.

In 1904, the Baldwin family moved to Portland where Lola was appointed supervisor of the local chapter of the Traveler's Aid Society organized to help protect young women coming to Portland in search of jobs during the 1905 Exposition.

During the fair, Baldwin reported helping more than 1,600 young women find safe lodging and employment. She was so successful she later convinced Portland's City Council to fund her position under the police department's jurisdiction. That required a civil service exam, and when she passed, Lola Baldwin was sworn in as the nation's first municipally paid policewoman.

Other cities around the country noticed Portland's grand experiment with women police. Baldwin was instrumental in helping Tacoma, Seattle and other cities set up their own Women's Protective Divisions. After 14 years of service she retired in 1922 but continued to lobby fiercely for equal benefits for women police. Lola Greene Baldwin died in 1957 at the age of 97. She pioneered a new profession for female cops and her legacy lives on in the thousands of women who followed in her footsteps.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives 16 Emmy Nominations

Last modified on April 22, 2008 09:35 AM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has been nominated for 16 Northwest Regional Emmy Awards by the Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Televison Arts and Sciences.

Oregon Experience received 11 nominations. Oregon Field Guide was nominated in four categories. Oregon Art Beat also received a nomination. Winners will be announced at the June 7 banquet in Seattle. The Northwest Chapter serves television professionals in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.

OPB’s nominations:

Arts/Entertainment - Program Special
OPB-TV, "Oregon Art Beat Episode # 901"; Jessica Martin, executive producer

Historic/Cultural - Program/Special
OPB-TV, "Beervana"; Beth Harrington, Producer/Director/Writer

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: The Beach Bill"; Nadine Jelsing, producer/writer; Bruce Barrow, editor

Informational/Instructional - Program/Special
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Field Guide"; Steve Amen, executive producer

Informational/Instructional - Feature/Segment
"Oregon Field Guide: Quagga Invasion"; Ed Jahn, producer; Todd Sonflieth, videographer; Nick Fisher, videographer

Human Interest - Program Feature/Segment
OPB - "Oregon Field Guide: Toad Crossing"; Vince Patton, producer

Documentary - Cultural/Historical
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Oregon at War"; Eric Cain, producer/writer; Lisa Suinn Kallem, editor

Promotion - Program - Campaign
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon at War"; Kami Horton, producer

Individual Achievement - Director
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Canyoneering"; Ed Jahn, director

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Oregon at War"; Eric Cain, director

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Beatrice Morrow Cannady"; Nadine Jelsing, director

Writer - Program
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Bill Bowerman" Nadine Jelsing, writer

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: The Braceros"; Eric Cain, writer

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Oregon at War"; Eric Cain, writer

Editor - Program
Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: William Gladstone Steel"; Lisa Suinn Kallem, editor

Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Oregon Experience: Oregon at War"; Lisa Suinn Kallem, editor

The Silent Invasion: OPB Special Kicks Off Statewide Campaign to Tackle the Threat of Invasive Species

Last modified on April 8, 2008 09:03 AM

The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide special presentation premieres April 22, 2008 at 8pm.

Something troubling is taking place in Oregon. Strange exotic plants and animals are showing up in places where they don't belong. Every day, more arrive. They come by airplane, by boats, by trucks, in handbags and suitcases. They come from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and all corners of the globe.

"Ecosystems are completely changing, things that we grew up with are no longer. They're disappearing off the landscape and being replaced by things that are coming in from other countries ... and very quietly, so we don't notice it."-- Jim Gores, Oregon Fish and Wildlife

Feral pigs, bullfrogs, starlings and nutria driving out Oregon's native wildlife. English ivy smothering Forest Park. Purple loosestrife taking over Oak's Bottom Wildlife Refuge. Spartina eating away at the oyster industry of Willapa Bay in Washington. The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special takes a look at the invaders lurking across our borders and showing up around our state. It introduces the people fighting to protect Oregon and our way of life. Tune in on Earth Day, April 22 at 8pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting to learn more about this problem and what can be done to stop the invasion.

"The Silent Invasion is a highly unusual undertaking for OPB. We've done many documentaries about environmental problems but nothing like this," said Jeff Douglas, executive vice president and station manager. "The usual sides in environmental stories don't appear. Invasive species are an equal-opportunity threat to our environment and our economy … to the Oregon we all love. Ranchers know it. Birders know it. It's not an issue that divides liberals from conservatives or urban versus rural. We all care about Oregon and we can all make a difference."

The documentary illustrates how invasive species are changing our environment. One story takes viewers to the Oregon/Idaho border where yellow star thistle is wreaking havoc on the grasslands. A family ranch in Hells Canyon, passed down through the decades, has been so decimated by the weed the ranch may be worthless to the next generation.

And solutions to invasive species aren't easy to come by. In one case an exotic fish was brought in to eradicate an invasive weed taking over Devils Lake near Lincoln City. The new fish destroyed the weed, then began devouring native plants as well, upsetting the food chain and spurring a dangerous bacterial growth.

And then there's the quagga mussel. Brought to the Great Lakes in the ballast water of a ship from the Caspian Sea in the '80s, they multiplied out of control, causing an economic and environmental catastrophe. Then, in 2007, quaggas hitched a ride on an unwashed boat to Lake Mead some 2,000 miles away. Now fish hatcheries have been shut down and Hoover Dam itself is threatened as quaggas clog water intakes and turbines. Could Oregon be invaded next? Every boat entering Oregon waters is a potential risk to everything from Oregon's dams to wild salmon.

Narrated by SOLV's Jack McGowan, The Silent Invasion documents the economic consequences to the social and environmental costs of invasive species. But it also highlights success stories and points viewers toward action they can take.

STOP THE INVASION -- An unprecedented statewide campaign to protect Oregon from invasive species

"The broadcast of The Silent Invasion on April 22 is not the end of the OPB program -- it's the beginning of a campaign to Stop The Invasion," said Douglas. "It's a campaign that involves OPB's partners -- SOLV, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Invasive Species Council, the City of Portland, Portland State University, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University and -- most of all – our citizens."

"This campaign truly represents the highest level of collaboration amongst government, nonprofit and private entities in Oregon," said Governor Kulongoski. "This is an excellent example of what can happen when people work together to leverage resources to make a difference to Oregon's native fish and wildlife resources, economy, and quality of life."

Volunteers take action
Following the broadcast of the silent Invasion, SOLV and OPB will kick off a massive statewide volunteer effort to remove invasive species and restore Oregon's native environment. Learn how you can join any of the hundreds of invasive species weed eradications or native landscape restorations by searching the calendar of events at opb.org/silentinvasion.

A Web site to help protect Oregon from invasive species

The Silent Invasion Web site is the place to go to find out how you can take action in your community or right in your own backyard. The Invasive Species Hot Line is a tool designed to help Oregonians report invasive species outbreaks. The "GardenSmart Oregon" guide, developed in association with The Nature Conservancy, Portland BES, Oregon Sea Grant and the Oregon Association of Nurseries, highlights which plants are most likely to cause problems in yards along with several suggested alternative plants that are unlikely to escape into the natural environment. Visit the OPB Web site to find out how to download or order a hard copy of the GardenSmart guide.

Join in the fight
"We want the end of the series to mark the beginning of the ongoing effort to detect, slow down or even prevent future invasions," said OPB's Douglas.

Log on to opb.org/silentinvasion to find out how to become involved. And be sure to watch The Silent Invasion: An Oregon Field Guide Special on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 at 8pm. The program rebroadcasts on Thursday, April 24 at 2am and 8pm and Sunday, April 27 at 2am and 6pm.

Video Archive
Want to know more about some of the plants, animals and insects threatening the state's most pristine environments? Throughout the year, Field Guide is airing episodes on invasive species, documenting the destruction they're causing our environment. A video archive of these episodes is available to stream anytime at opb.org/silentinvasion.

Financial Aid For College 2008: A Live Call-In Program Airs February 27 on OPB

Last modified on February 25, 2008 03:24 PM

For parents, teachers and the college-bound, Oregon Public Broadcasting presents Financial Aid for College, a live, half-hour special airing Wednesday, February 27 at 9pm.

Every year, the cost of college tuition goes up. New students must be ever more resourceful in finding ways to pay for their education. Financial Aid for College is designed to help families of all economic backgrounds and students of all ages. Hosted by OPB's Steve Amen, the program features a panel of financial aid experts who provide crucial loan and grant information, and offer advice on the college application process. This year's experts are Kathy Goff, senior financial aid coordinator at Portland State University and Dan Preston, dean of Enrollment Services at Linfield College.

New for 2008 is the Oregon Opportunity Grant's Shared Responsibility Model which allows more Oregonians to receive access to higher education, including middle-income families through a structure that calculates funding available from the federal government and family resources when determining aid available to pay for college. If all of the available resources do not add up to enough to cover the cost, the state will help fill the gap through the Oregon Opportunity Grant.

Viewers can call financial aid counselors toll-free during the broadcast and have their questions answered in English or Spanish.

Financial Aid for College is a cooperative project of the Oregon Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) and Oregon Public Broadcasting.

OPB Launches Production of Native American Multi-Media Documentary

Last modified on December 19, 2007 01:32 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with Painted Sky proudly announces a new documentary currently in production, For the Generations: Native American Story and Performance.

Part performance-based, part unblinking slice-of-life, the documentary will air in Spring 2009 and profile the behind-the-scenes stories of the artists and the endeavor by Painted Sky to bring together the all-star cast to one stage. The trials, obstacles, triumphs and foibles of this effort will be captured as it happens -- weaving a narrative through the performances that will lend grit and personality to the beautiful artistry showcased.

Artists set to be profiled in the documentary include pop-diva, "Urban Indian," Jana; soulful R&B crooner Jaynez, hip-hop poetess Wayquay, Painted Sky's own Northstar dancers and a host of others. "These remarkable performers have the uncanny ability to transcend genres," said OPB’s Sean Hutchinson, producer of the documentary. "Though they all weave their tribal heritage in and out of their music and dance, their performances have appeal that extends beyond what might be too easily classified as ‘Native American' music."

"Thanks to OPB and the other sponsors for providing an opportunity for a national audience to experience Native music, while getting a glimpse of the life and times of our artists," said Arlie Neskahi, co-president of Painted Sky Incorporated, Navajo Nation.

A grant from the Spirit Mountain Community fund, in part, has made the documentary possible. "As a tribal foundation, it is an honor to partner with Painted Sky and other funders to promote Native American arts and culture. As a terminated tribe, we know the value of honoring our culture to perpetuate our tribal history," said Fund Director Shelley Hanson. Fund-raising efforts continue in hopes of bringing all the artists together for a benefit performance in 2008.

Much of the focus of the documentary will be centered on the outreach these performers do and their work with native youth. "A person like Jana really shines a light on a pathway to success and presents a model for kids by which they might become an artist or doctor or astronaut -- whatever they can conceive for themselves -- and not be daunted by some bleak odds," Hutchinson said.

The For the Generations Web site, which will be launched at a later date, will offer a social networking component to provide a forum for collaboration, appreciation and growth of cotemporary Native American music and centuries of heritage. With so much of the Native tradition finding its basis in non-textual media, emergent Internet technologies provide a unique opportunity for archiving history, building community and leveraging the future by engaging youth in a safe and enriching online environment.

Additional support is provided by: University of Oregon; Portland State University's Native American and Student and Community Center; Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission; Native American Youth & Family Center; Native American Music Awards and the American Indian College Fund. In addition, The City of Portland (Tom Potter) and The State of Oregon (Kulongoski) have endorsed the project.

Oregon Experience: "The Beach Bill" Premieres November 12

Last modified on November 1, 2007 12:05 PM

In 1967 Governor Tom McCall signed the Beach Bill with great fanfare, granting the public recreational access to the dry sands of Oregon's beaches. The next episode in the Oregon Experience series, "The Beach Bill," looks at this landmark legislation and how it set the stage for other breakthrough environmental legislation. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, November 12 at 9pm.

The fight to protect Oregon's beaches from private development and "No Trespassing" signs began around 1913 when Governor Oswald West designated Oregon’s tidelands -- the wet sand portion of the beach -- as a public highway.

But in the 1960s, private developers along the coast began challenging the law saying that, in fact, the dry sand portion of the beach belonged to the upland owners. And, therefore, they could do whatever they wanted with the land -- including putting up barricades to keep the public off their portion of the beach.

What ensued was a fight to save Oregon's beaches for public recreational use -- all the way to the vegetation line. The battle erupted into the hottest issue of the 1967 legislative session.

Using archival footage of Governor Tom McCall, State Treasurer Bob Straub and many others, this documentary illuminates the events and issues that led to the Beach Bill, and tells the stories of people who worked for its passage.

It is a story of conviction, passion and the vision to save the beaches of Oregon for future generations.

Oregon Experience: "Beervana" Premieres November 5

Last modified on October 23, 2007 01:19 PM

Beer brewing has a long, colorful history in Oregon. Today, Portland is known as the beer capital of the world.

Oregonians have long been enthusiastic about their beer. In 1852, beer came to the Northwest when Henry Saxer opened the Liberty Brewery at the corner of First and Davis in downtown Portland. Many came in Saxer's wake -- most notably fellow German immigrant, Henry Weinhard -- to quench the thirsts of loggers, miners, fishermen and farmers who would build the region. The next installment of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Experience series looks at the history of beer brewing in the state and at the vibrant craft beer industry that exists today. Tune in to the stations of OPB on Monday, November 5 at 9pm to find out about how the adventurous tastes of Oregonians inspired a micro-brewing movement.

It's the craft beer of Oregon -- made locally, recognized worldwide -- that contributes significantly to the state’s economy and fuels a vibrant social culture in the form of numerous brew pubs. With its clean water, hops and barley production, Oregon is fertile ground for the beer industry. And with a population willing to try a range of styles and categories of beer, it’s no wonder that Portland, with more breweries than anywhere -- including Germany -- is now considered the beer capital of the world. With ingenuity and determination, the industry survived the temperance movement and prohibition, and now pumps over $2 billion into the state’s economy.

This documentary tells the story of this industry through compelling and amusing anecdotes from the fascinating characters of the Oregon beer community.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting new history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and OPB, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home. Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB Premieres Oregon Experience: "Oregon at War" in September

Last modified on September 13, 2007 10:43 AM

World War II changed the face of Oregon.

The war's onset found Oregonians still reeling from the Great Depression. But four years later, the state emerged from the conflict with a thriving economy and a fast-growing urban sector. Oregon had evolved very quickly, and there'd be no turning back.

Tens of thousands of young Oregon men -- many of whom had never before strayed far from hometowns -- had now traveled the globe. They had seen a wider world and, in many cases, sights too horrific to describe.

Countless Oregon women had worked throughout the war at jobs once off-limits to their gender. The state now had thousands of new African-American residents. And for the first time, Hispanic workers dominated the agricultural labor force.

This special Oregon Experience: "Oregon at War," airing Thursday, September 27 at 9pm on the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting, explores what happened during those war years through the stories of 17 Oregonians who remember them. Some of these people served in the military: an Air Force pilot from Baker City who was shot down over China; a logger from Scotts Mills who served as a medic in the bloody battles for New Guinea; a crop-science major from OSU who manned a landing craft in the invasion of Normandy; and twin brothers from Portland who both fought in the Battle of the Bulge and were both captured by the Germans.

On the home front, we meet two Portland-born Oregonians whose families were forced to leave their homes, sell their belongings and live confined behind barbed wire; a Forest Service ranger who responded to the Japanese balloon-bomb killings; a buckaroo who broke wild horses for the U.S. Army Cavalry; a woman who came to Oregon for the wartime work -- and for the right to sit wherever she wanted on the bus; and another woman who, as a teenage girl in a town of young military men, jitterbugged her way through the war.

At the Oregon at War Web site, other video stories are posted and people can share their World War II experiences and explore submissions from Oregon and around the country.

OPB's "Oregon Art Beat" Receives Governor's Arts Award

Last modified on July 19, 2007 08:26 AM

Oregon Art Beat, Oregon Public Broadcasting's Emmy-award winning weekly television series profiling local artists, is one of eight recipients of this year's Oregon Arts Commission Governor's Arts Awards.

Jessica Martin, executive producer and KC Cowan, host, accepted the award on behalf of OPB at last night's ceremony in Salem.

"It is a tremendous honor to be among this year's esteemed recipients for this prestigious recognition," said Martin, executive producer of Oregon Art Beat. Since Spring 2000, Art Beat has produced over 600 segments profiling hundreds of artists, musicians and artisans from Oregon and southern Washington.

"The purpose of our show is to introduce people to the arts and cultural events happening in the community," said Martin. "We know we've accomplished our mission if, after watching the show, viewers get involved."

The summer re-broadcast of audience favorites, determined by vote, show how enthusiastically involved Art Beat viewers are. Top vote getters include Leroy Setziol, Lillian Pitt, Pat Courtney Gold and Henk Pander (previous Governor's Arts Award recipients), as well as Polly's Cake's, the Carousel Museum in Hood River, Stolen Sweets and Lucinda Parker.

In addition to the weekly television series, Oregon Art Beat developed, with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Beat at School, an online collection of over 100 lesson plans with video clips and related resources designed for K-12 classroom use. "We believe that the arts are an important part of learning and expressing what you think," said Martin. "Being a part of Oregon Art Beat is its own reward if it leads to more people getting involved in the cultural life of their community."

"This award, along with Governor Kulongoski's advocacy for greater financial support for Oregon's cultural community, further illustrate the state's affirmation of the important role the arts play in the vibrancy of our state," said OPB President Steve Bass. "We have profound gratitude for this recognition and support."

Legislative Funding for Oregon Public Broadcasting Will Assure Digital Television Service for Rural Oregon

Last modified on June 27, 2007 11:22 AM

Last-minute bills include $3 million for OPB

Oregon Public Broadcasting is one step closer to installing digital transmission equipment in rural Oregon after the State Legislature today approved $3 million in capital funding in last-minute budget bills.

These new transmission facilities will ensure the continuation of OPB programming for more than 200,000 residents outside the major Portland metropolitan area, along with continuation of an emergency alert broadcast system that reaches throughout the state.

Under a federal government mandate OPB must turn off all full-power analog transmitters on February 17, 2009. At that time, the majority of those who rely on over-the-air broadcast television will need to either acquire a digital converter box in order to receive digital signals on analog television sets or purchase a digital television set. Find out more about watching digital broadcasts

Oregonians in many parts of the state -- particularly the coast, the Gorge, eastern and central Oregon -- rely on an extensive network of analog translators to receive public television service. These translators operate only in the analog system, requiring significant digital upgrades in order to maintain service after February 17, 2009.

"Many of the thousands of Oregonians who live in rural areas consider OPB to be a lifeline service, bringing them news and information, educational programming for children, and providing a connection to the rest of the state. The leadership of Governor Kulongoski and members of the legislature ensures that public broadcasting service in rural Oregon will be available for years to come," said OPB President Steve Bass.

Conversion of the network of analog translators will provide viewers in rural areas the same level of service currently enjoyed in Oregon's more urban areas. OPB currently offers four programming services on its digital transmission network, including high-definition programs, OPB analog simulcast (scheduled to begin early July), OPB Create and the Oregon Channel (a programming service offered in partnership with Legislative Media and the Oregon University System that provides legislative coverage and other public affairs programming).

Bass said substantial credit for this success goes to Governor Ted Kulongoski, who included funding for OPB in his recommended budget, as well as legislative leaders including Senator Betsy Johnson; Representative Mary Nolan, House co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee; Senate President Peter Courtney; House Speaker Jeff Merkley; and Senator Kurt Schrader, Senate co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

Bass said appreciation also goes to hundreds of Oregonians who championed the cause by writing letters, opinion pieces and columns in support of the legislative funding.

OPB will work in partnership with Southern Oregon Public Television to convert all statewide analog television translators to digital starting this summer. The legislative funding did not include operating funds to run the translators network.

Oregon Public Broadcasting to Distribute Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center

Last modified on May 23, 2007 01:09 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting today announced that it will distribute Islam vs. Islamists: Voices from the Muslim Center to public television stations under an agreement reached between The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Oregon Public Broadcasting.

"Islam vs. Islamists addresses very difficult issues," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting. "We are pleased to facilitate a dialogue on one of the central issues in the world today in conjunction with the broadcast."

"As stewards of the investment in public broadcasting, this fulfills our responsibility to the taxpayer," said Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

OPB Hires New Producers

Last modified on April 4, 2007 01:06 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has hired two new producers, Vince Patton and Katrina Sarson, to work on local productions including Oregon Field Guide, Oregon Art Beat and Oregon Experience.

For the past six years, Patton has been the environmental reporter for KGW TV. His work has been honored with four regional Emmys and one of his documentary reports won first place in the nation from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Patton will begin working with OPB on April 16.

Katrina Sarson comes to OPB after about 10 years as an Emmy-award winning freelance producer, primarily working on programs for HGTV and the Food Network. But she has some PBS roots as well, producing the Parenting Works! series for KQED. She has a keen interest in childhood education and a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Sarson's first day at OPB will be April 10.

OPB Names Martin Executive Producer of Oregon Art Beat

Last modified on March 20, 2007 02:50 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has named Jessica Martin executive producer of Oregon Art Beat. Martin has served as a writer and producer for OPB since joining the organization in 1987.

Her extensive repertoire includes four years covering outdoor subjects for Oregon Field Guide and producing stories from accordion players to violinists for Oregon Art Beat. She also produced the historical documentary Rose City Remembered for which she won a regional Emmy.

Martin's Emmy-nominated Growing Up And Growing Old: Caring For Our Parents evolved into The Way Home documentary, which won a Freddy at the International Health and Medical Media Awards. She also received the Helen Hayes Award for best all-around production.

Prior to joining OPB she worked in radio (KWJJ/KJIB), and commercial television (KOIN TV, Portland's CBS affiliate). She is a graduate of the University of Oregon in film, broadcasting and writing.

OPB Launches Expanded News Web Site

Last modified on March 12, 2007 03:24 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting, one of the most respected sources of news, has just enhanced its coverage with the launch of an expanded news Web site at opbnews.org.

"OPB's expanded news site is the first of many steps designed to elevate our attention and commitment to news on the Web," said Morgan Holm, vice president of News & Public Affairs. "It offers more local and regional news from a wider variety of sources, along with an online discussion forum."

"News and information programs on radio and television have large and loyal audiences on OPB. Many more OPB listeners and viewers now want access to news and information on their schedule and wherever they may be," said Steve Bass, president and CEO. "Putting more of OPB's respected and trusted program content onto the Web allows us to provide a public service that goes well beyond the geographic boundaries of television and radio signals, as well as the time limitations of radio and television program schedules."

Visitors to opbnews.org can get the latest local, state, national and international news, and traffic reports. In addition, a range of streamed and downloadable programming is available, including a library of episodes of FRONTLINE. In addition, podcasts or audio downloads of many of OPB's most popular radio programming is available, including a daily online-only program featuring news and information from around Oregon, southwest Washington and the region.

Another new feature is the "Town Square" online discussion forum, where Web users can post comments and engage in civil discourse about major issues impacting the Northwest. "Whether the conversation is taking place in Washington, D.C., in our state and local governments, or with your next-door neighbor, people are seeking ways to constructively address and move forward on issues as diverse as the damming of Celilo Falls, the Beacon Bill, school funding and global warming, to name a few," said Lynne Pollard, vice president of Interactive Web. " 'With Town Square,' our goal is to create an online community dedicated to exploring the challenges we face and the options and opportunities for change."

The site will continue to evolve, Holm explained, adding that a news staff person will be assigned to file material primarily for the online news page. "We anticipate more original reporting, photography and in-depth news coverage unique to opbnews.org and complementary to our broadcast news efforts," he said.

OPB's Oregon Experience Profiles William Steel, the "Father of Crater Lake"

Last modified on February 13, 2007 12:08 PM

William Gladstone Steel was one of Oregon's most active mountaineers and advocates for national parks and forest conservation in the Pacific Northwest. He is best known as the father of Crater Lake National Park and the founder of the Mazamas, the West Coast's oldest continual mountaineering club. The next episode of Oregon Experience examines the life of this complex and sometimes controversial man. Tune in to the stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting on Monday, February 19 at 9pm.

He was born in 1854 in Ohio, where his parents ran an underground railroad stop. They eventually moved to Kansas and then to Portland. It was in Kansas that Steel claims to have first read about Crater Lake in a newspaper used to wrap his lunch. He vowed then to see it, and 15 years later finally did.

So awestruck by what he saw, he made it his life's mission to preserve the lake as a national park. He was dedicated, passionate and annoying. After 17 years of hard work, Steel's efforts paid off. On May 22, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill making Crater Lake a national park. But once the park was established, Steel felt it had to be developed in order for people to enjoy it. He pushed for better roads, secured financing for a grand lodge and even wanted to build a bridge to Wizard Island in Crater Lake.

Despite his ideas for development, he was also a dedicated conservationist. Steel was one of the original founders of the Mazamas. In 1894 an advertisement was placed in local papers inviting interested, serious mountaineers to join the charter climb. More than 300 people encamped on the flanks of Mt. Hood on July 18. By 8am the next day, the first climbing party reached the summit, followed by the rest of the 193 men and women who were able to summit that day.

William Gladstone Steel was complex and controversial and an important force for preserving the Cascade Range as we know it today.

About Oregon Experience
Oregon Experience is an exciting new history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society and Oregon Public Broadcasting, takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, Robert C. and Nani S. Warren Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust.

OPB's "Meth: The Oregon Front" Honored at NETA 2007

Last modified on February 1, 2007 09:24 AM

The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) honored 23 public television licensees with awards last Friday in Norfolk, VA. Oregon Public Broadcasting's Meth: The Oregon Front was named the best outreach campaign based on a national project. The judges praised its well-constructed organization, its clear, forceful presentation, and its creative innovation, calling it a model for other stations to emulate. The program was developed as a local follow-up to FRONTLINE: The Meth Epidemic which was produced in partnership with OPB, The Oregonian and FRONTLINE.

PBS president Paula Kerger emceed the ceremony. Vermont Public Television's president and NETA board chair John King presented trophies to 38 projects in the areas of program production, promotion, outreach and instructional media.

The NETA Awards are annual recognition of member-produced excellence in public broadcasting, a tradition established 40 years ago by the pioneering Southern Educational Communications Association.

NETA is a professional association founded in 1997 to serve public television licensees and affiliated educational organizations. The organization has members in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. NETA is headquartered in Columbia, SC.

See www.netaonline.org/ for additional information on NETA.

OPB Program Updates Progress on Oregon's Meth Problems

Last modified on January 17, 2007 10:11 AM

A year ago, Frontline: The Meth Epidemic, produced in partnership by OPB, Frontline and The Oregonian, explored the growing methamphetamine epidemic in Oregon and across the nation. This award-winning documentary and the OPB panel discussion that followed it, Meth: The Oregon Front, sprung from a series by The Oregonian's Steve Suo.

A lot has changed in the last year. Suo has continued to break stories on the changing international meth trade. New laws approved by Congress and the Oregon Legislature have had substantial impacts on the purity and price of meth on the street. But the drug remains readily available and devastating to those who become addicted to it.

On Tuesday, January 23 at 9pm OPB will rebroadcast Frontline: The Meth Epidemic. Immediately following at 10pm, OPB will update its local exploration of what methamphetamine has done to Oregon in Meth: The Oregon Front 2007. Three of the experts featured in the original Frontline program will update their unique perspectives on meth.

Joining OPB's Colin Fogarty for the discussion are: The Oregonian's Steve Suo who will discuss how new laws are hampering meth cartels in Mexico, but may allow Chinese gangs to fill the gap; Rob Bovett of the Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association will describe how Oregon has seen the steepest decline in meth lab seizures, due in part to the strictest controls on the meth precursor, pseudoephedrine; and Rita Sullivan, therapist and administrator at OnTrack in Medford, will speak about how that progress hasn't ended the epidemic.

More information about the meth problem in Oregon including resources, links to articles, video streaming of Meth: The Oregon Front 2007 and a special radio feature by Colin Fogarty on Oregon Considered Tuesday, January 23 at 4:30pm will be available online at opb.org/meth/ after the programs air.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Announces Debut of the Oregon Channel Providing Coverage of the Legislative Session

Last modified on January 3, 2007 01:32 PM

Now that the elections are over, here's your chance to see your elected officials at work. Gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the Oregon Legislature is set to hit the airwaves on January 8. A pilot project conducted by Oregon Public Broadcasting, the Oregon Legislature and Southern Oregon Public Television will test the concept of a 24/7 "Oregon Channel" to broaden public access to state government and public affairs events.

Additional programming will come from the Oregon University System and the Oregon Public Affairs Network as well as OPB's own productions.

"It is important that OPB, the most-trusted media resource in the state, step forward with this service that gives citizens more insight into the issues impacting us all," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of OPB. "This new channel is a perfect example of OPB striving to fulfill our mission of giving voice to the community and connecting all Oregonians. "

"For the first time ever, Oregonians will have a television channel dedicated solely to covering the legislature and state government. This new Oregon Channel will be a good resource for Oregonians to learn more about their government," said Senate President Peter Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn).

"The Oregon Channel is one of the only practical means for many Oregonians to actually see what goes on in Salem," said Karen Minnis (R-Wood Village). "The channel is the next step in Oregon's history of open government and it will make us more accessible to those we serve."

The Oregon Channel pilot will launch on January 8, 2007, the Opening Day of the next legislative session. The channel will include unedited coverage of legislative floor sessions, committee hearings, Capitol news conferences, and other state government and public affairs events. The pilot project will conclude at the end of the legislative session, at which point the channel will be evaluated to determine the feasibility of establishing a permanent Oregon Channel statewide. Similar channels have been successfully launched in other states and the partners are eager to test the concept in Oregon.

The Oregon Channel will be broadcast on digital television channels available in most of the state's largest cities served by OPB and SOPTV. Since digital television technology is still in transition, access to the channel during the pilot period will be limited primarily to digital cable subscribers and households equipped with a digital television tuner. Information about how and where to tune in is available on OPB's Oregon Channel Web page or www.oregonchannel.org where visitors can access streaming video feeds of the channel, a program schedule and an online survey that will be used to help evaluate the pilot project.

The pilot project will cost approximately $150,000, and will be funded by the Legislative Administration office. All of the project partners are contributing equipment and staff time for the project.

OPB Co-Production Honored for Journalistic Excellence in Covering Drug and Alcohol Problems

Last modified on November 29, 2006 10:17 AM

FRONTLINE: The Meth Epidemic, a co-production of Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), The Oregonian and WGBH (Boston), has just received the prestigious Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award, honoring journalists who have "demonstrated the highest standards of reporting on drug issues." The award was presented to producer Carl Byker at a ceremony in New York City earlier this month.

The hour-long documentary, inspired by a series of articles by award-winning Oregonian reporter Steve Suo, examined the meth crisis in and beyond Oregon. OPB expanded upon this work with a series of programs on OPB TV, OPB Radio and the Internet tracking the impact of meth on individuals, families and communities, and what is being done to combat the problem.

The Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award was the first in the nation to recognize excellence in reporting on drug and alcohol problems.

"This is a huge honor for this documentary to be acknowledged with such a prestigious award by people who know the human cost of meth addiction," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of Oregon Public Broadcasting. "We're pleased that through this type of reporting we have been able to play a part in bringing awareness to the severity of the problem and helping affect changes in laws that make it harder for meth dealers to obtain this drug. And we began a dialogue in our community that continues today to assist those in trouble because of this terrible drug."

FRONTLINE: The Meth Epidemic will be rebroadcast on OPB TV on January 30 at 9pm.

About the Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award
During her long and distinguished career as a broadcast journalist, Nancy Dickerson Whitehead reported on many critical social concerns, including the nation's problems with drug and alcohol abuse. Her thoughtful analysis increased public understanding of these complex issues and reflected her own deep commitment to finding more effective answers. As a member of the Board of Directors of Drug Strategies, a nonprofit research institute in Washington, D.C., she worked to develop programs and policies to reduce substance abuse.

These awards honor Nancy Dickerson Whitehead's efforts to improve media coverage of drug issues. The awards are given annually to two journalists, one from print media and one from broadcast (radio or television), who have demonstrated the highest standards of reporting on drug issues.

Oregon Experience Premieres October 23 at 9pm

Last modified on October 24, 2006 04:33 PM

Oregon Experience is an exciting new history series on OPB TV that brings to life fascinating stories that help us understand who we are and that reinforce our shared identity as Oregonians. The series, co-produced by the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), takes advantage of the extensive film, video and stills from the archives of OHS and OPB, and draws upon the expertise of OHS researchers and historians. Beginning this month, each half-hour show features captivating characters -- both familiar and forgotten -- who have played key roles in building our state into the unique place we call home.

Premiering Monday, October 23 at 9pm is the story of Abigail Scott Duniway, a plain-talking farmer's wife who was largely responsible for Oregon women having the right to vote since 1912 -- eight years before a constitutional amendment gave suffrage to women throughout the country. On October 30 at 9pm, "Reub Long's Oregon Desert" visits the dry, desolate Fort Rock Valley where for more than a century, settlers have tried -- and most have failed -- to earn a living. But they left behind some fascinating history and wonderful stories. Bill Bowerman, legendary University of Oregon track coach and Nike co-founder, Sam Hill who dared to dream a highway through the Columbia Gorge and others will be featured in upcoming episodes.

Abigail Scott Duniway
She was born in 1834 in Illinois and traveled West across the plains in a covered wagon settling in Lafayette. Abigail married a rancher and soon found herself cooking, sewing and laundering for her family and the hired hands as well. Through a series of accidents and bad luck, her husband lost the farm and was unable to work -- so Abigail became the family breadwinner. They moved to Portland in 1871 and Abigail embraced the fight for women's rights -- even inviting suffragist Susan B. Anthony to visit Oregon. Together they toured the Northwest organizing support for voting rights.

An avid writer, she confronted the injustice and inequality of women in her 20 novels and hundreds of stories, essays and poems, delivered countless public lectures, and founded one of the regions most influential newspapers, The New Northwest, to keep important issues in the public eye.

Oregon Experience unveils the forgotten life of Abigail Scott Duniway with excerpts from her diary and colorful quotes from her lectures. She actively campaigned for national suffrage and equal rights for all women until her death in 1915.

The program will be rebroadcast on Friday, October 27 at 10:30pm and Sunday, October 29 at 1:30pm.

Funding for Oregon Experience is provided in part by Ann & Bill Swindells Charitable Trust, Oregon Cultural Trust and James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.

OPB's High-Definition TV Crosses the Cascades

Last modified on October 9, 2006 12:50 PM

Digital Television Upgrade Promises New Public Service for Oregon

Oregon Public Broadcasting began transmitting high-definition television programs to viewers in Central Oregon this week with the completion of the installation of a new digital antenna for KOAB-DT/channel 11 in Bend. The new antenna atop Awbrey Butte brings digital television to a rapidly growing Oregon community and completes the upgrade of OPB's five digital transmitters. But the signal offers much more than just a better picture for Central Oregon residents.

OPB's new digital capability also holds the promise of a sophisticated emergency communications network that could serve even the most remote corners of the state.

Unlike the analog signal beamed to a standard television set, digital TV signals can transmit multiple streams of data and pictures simultaneously. While viewers with digital sets watch OPB's regular programming in downtown Bend, for example, crews battling a forest fire in the Cascades could receive real-time satellite imagery and data on the fire on the same broadcast signal.

"OPB's all-digital signal could be the backbone of a state-of-the-art emergency system," said OPB President Steve Bass. "We have the ability to provide police, firefighters and emergency relief crews with the information they need sent directly to cell phones, computers and specialized receivers in the field."

The technology - called "datacasting" - is already in use in some other cities and states. Bass is among those who tested the technology for emergency services last year while still at Nashville Public Television in Tennessee.

"We still have a ways to go here in Oregon," Bass added.

With completion of the installation of the digital antenna in Bend, all of OPB's primary stations now carry the digital signal to the most-populated parts of Oregon. However much of the state is served by smaller "translators" that broadcast in areas where mountains or coastlines block the larger transmitter's signals. These translators have yet to be converted to digital.

A federal government mandate requiring OPB and all other broadcasters nationwide to turn off the analog television system in February 2009 provides a dilemma: Either OPB's network of 41 translators must be converted to digital operation or they must be shut off. The mandate puts viewers in large parts of Oregon - east of the Cascades and along the coast, for example - at risk of losing their television service altogether.

"Those are precisely the parts of Oregon that stand to benefit the most from OPB's digital signal," said Oregon Senator Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose. "OPB alone has the ability to offer equal access to both urban and rural Oregon with high-quality arts and education programs and to serve emergency responders as well," she said.

Bass estimates the digital translator upgrade will cost $5.5 million. "It's a small price for an exponential increase in possible services all across the state," he said. "As the state's primary operation center for the Emergency Alert and Amber Alert systems, the digital conversion of OPB's translator network will provide unparalleled opportunities to enhance the safety of Oregon's citizens. Just the potential to develop a tsunami alert system on the Oregon coast makes the investment look worthwhile to property owners there," Bass said.

"Through OPB, people throughout the state have equal access to information and educational opportunities," said Oregon Representative Greg Smith, R-Heppner. "OPB now has the potential to make communities around Oregon safer and better prepared."

A State of Oregon appropriation in 2001 and contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations provided the $22 million required to meet the federal requirement to convert OPB's major transmitters. To date, no funding has been secured for the translator upgrades.

Over 1.5 million Oregonians tune in or log on to OPB's television, radio and Internet services every week. OPB has one of the highest per capita membership totals of public broadcasting stations nationwide. OPB already serves as the hub of operations for the state's Emergency Broadcast and Amber Alert system.

OPB Documentary Wins a CINE Golden Eagle Award

Last modified on July 12, 2006 09:53 AM

The Three Rabbis, a film produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting, has just been selected to receive a CINE Golden Eagle Award in the Documentary/People and Places category. The Golden Eagle is a national recognition of excellence in documentary and other informational film and video production. The project automatically becomes a nominee for the CINE Special Jury Award, which is presented to the best film in its category.

The Three Rabbis recounts the story of three devoted and passionate Portland Rabbis (Rabbi Geller, Rabbi Rose and Rabbi Stampfer) who played a pivotal role in the growth and emergence of Portland's Jewish community over the last 50 years. It premiered on OPB TV last October. Jessica Martin, writer and producer of The Three Rabbis, said, "It is a tremendous honor to have worked on this project and for it to be recognized by those in our industry with this prestigious award. It is also exciting that we'll be competing for the Special Jury Award with a number of notable films including Martin Scorsese's film No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

George Page, Creator and Host of Nature, Succumbs to Cancer

Last modified on June 30, 2006 10:37 AM

George Page, whose rich voice and infectious enthusiasm for the natural world made him one of public television's most popular personalities as on-air host of the weekly series Nature, succumbed to cancer on June 28, in Equinunk, PA. He was 71.

Mr. Page's journalism and broadcasting career spanned more than 50 years, but he was best known as the creator and voice of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning wildlife and natural history series, produced for PBS by Thirteen/WNET New York. The series debuted in 1982 and will mark its 25th season on the air this coming fall.

Mr. Page introduced and narrated each episode of Nature, until an illness prompted his retirement from television in 1998. He then devoted his time to the completion of a book, "Inside the Animal Mind," which explored the latest research and findings about animal intelligence and self-awareness. The well-received book became the basis of a three-part miniseries of the same name, broadcast on Nature in January of 2000.

During his 26 years at Thirteen/WNET, Mr. Page also served as director of science and natural history programming, and was responsible for such notable series as Travels, The Brain (also a Peabody winner), The Mind, and Medicine at the Crossroads.

OPB Digital Television Comes to Bend Area

Last modified on July 21, 2006 09:07 AM

Installation of Oregon Public Broadcasting's new digital television antenna in Bend will take place in July. Work is scheduled for completion by the end of the month.

During the installation process, service to BendBroadband customers (in Bend, Redmond and Sisters) should not be affected. Crestview cable service, serving Prineville and Madras, may be affected; however La Pine will lose cable and off-air service for this period. Viewers with satellite service will not be affected. And viewers with antenna-only reception in Bend and the immediate area should continue to receive OPB TV via a lower power signal. Those with antenna-only reception in Prineville should be able to receive the OPB TV signal on channel 16. In addition, Sunriver will lose the Chambers Cable signal and the OPB TV off-air signal. Those served by BendBroadband should not lose service.

OPB Radio service will operate on lower power while the installers are working, but OPB Radio service should be relatively unaffected.

A temporary antenna has been providing limited DTV service to the Bend area since last summer. The new antenna installation was scheduled for completion last July but experienced delays due to manufacturing issues and subsequent shortages of materials being diverted to the areas damaged by hurricane Katrina and then winter weather conditions. OPB apologizes for any inconvenience and thanks viewers and listeners for their patience during this time.

An OPB Original Production, Who Will Govern Oregon?, Airs May 6 at 7pm on OPB TV

Last modified on April 21, 2006 03:29 PM

Oregon voters face an important decision this year: Who will govern the state next? Oregon Public Broadcasting presents intimate conversations with each of the six major candidates in the May 16 primary election for governor. Tune in to the stations of OPB TV on May 6 from 7 to 8pm (rebroadcast May 7 at 1pm) and learn more about the candidates' values and what makes them tick.

OPB's Christy George and Colin Fogarty pulled the candidates off the campaign trail for a quiet interlude to bring viewers a fresh glimpse of these men. The three Democrats: incumbent Governor Ted Kulongoski, former State Treasurer Jim Hill and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson; and the three Republicans: State Senator Jason Atkinson, former Oregon Republican Party Chairman Kevin Mannix and former Portland Public School Board Chairman Ron Saxton, answer questions such as "When is it appropriate for a governor to defy a president?" And "What is the most surprising thing about you that most people don't know?"

Tune in to OPB Radio's Oregon Territory on Friday, May 5 from 4:30 to 5pm to hear the candidates answer additional questions.

And after the May 7 broadcast, viewers can log on to opb.org and hear each candidate's full answers to all the questions posed them.

MUSTARD PANCAKES, Produced in Association with OPB, Wins Spring 2006 Parents' Choice Gold Award

Last modified on March 27, 2006 08:52 AM

MUSTARD PANCAKES, the celebrated live-action, public television preschool series produced by Mustard Pancakes Productions Inc in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), has won a Spring 2006 Parents' Choice Gold Award for Outstanding Television Programming for ages 3-6.

Established in 1978, Parents' Choice is the nation's oldest non-profit guide to quality children's media and toys. The Foundation's purpose is to search out and recommend products that help kids grow - imaginatively, physically, morally and mentally - and that are fun, safe and socially sound. Parents' Choice reviews books, toys, music, television, software, videogames, Web sites and magazines for children and families of all achievements and backgrounds.

Reviewing children's materials since 1978, the Parents' Choice Awards program honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and Web sites. Parents' Choice Foundation's panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents - and kids themselves - identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels.

Said Joel Wertman, executive producer of MUSTARD PANCAKES, "As producers of the show and parents ourselves, we are extremely honored to receive the Gold Parents' Choice Award. We appreciate this significant recognition by the Parents' Choice Foundation, an organization we hold in high esteem. Since its establishment, Parents' Choice has been focused on its mandate to identify and promote excellence in children's entertainment. While developing MUSTARD PANCAKES, our objective was to create a series that embraces the whole child - a program that inspires children to discover the world around them and to learn the values that will help them become successful, creative and responsible adults."

Entering its second season, MUSTARD PANCAKES is a public television children's series for 3- to 6-year-olds, featuring the loveable and funny Courtney Campbell - a gifted storyteller, songwriter, guitarist and comedienne known to children for her musical performances and her family of fun-loving puppets. The live action series celebrates the joy of childhood through the power of music, storytelling and appealing characters, and invites viewers into a world where characters support each other's growth and work together to overcome the day-to-day challenges that all children face.

Executive producers of MUSTARD PANCAKES are Joel Wertman and Liza Perel. MUSTARD PANCAKES was created by Joel Wertman and Courtney Campbell with the creative involvement of a number of award-winning veteran public television puppeteers, writers, musical composers and consultants from perennial favorites such as "Caillou," "Dragon Tales," "Sagwa," "Sesame Street," "Seven Little Monsters," "Noddy" and "The Big Comfy Couch."

MUSTARD PANCAKES is produced by Mustard Pancakes Productions Inc. in association with Oregon Public Broadcasting and distributed by American Public Television (APT). The series made its television debut in July 2005.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Receives Two Telly Awards

Last modified on March 7, 2006 12:09 PM

Oregon Public Broadcasting has received the prestigious Silver Telly Award for its documentary The Three Rabbis and a Bronze Telly Award for The Oregon Story: Rethinking the Forests.

Founded in 1979, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. Winners and finalists represent the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators and corporate video departments in the world. With over a quarter-of-a-century history of recognizing creative excellence, the Telly Awards is a widely known and highly respected international competition.

The Three Rabbis, which recounts the story of three devoted and passionate Portland Rabbis who played a pivotal role in the growth and emergence of Portland's Jewish community over the last 50 years, aired on OPB TV last October. Jessica Martin, writer and producer of The Three Rabbis, said, "It is a tremendous honor to have worked on this project and for it to be recognized by those in our industry with one of the most sought-after awards."

Kate McMahon was associate producer on the project and Gloria Feves Hammer, a Portland educator and driving force behind the production, served as coordinating producer.

A prestigious judging panel of over 25 accomplished industry professionals, each a past Winner of a Silver Telly, the top honor, upholds the historical standard of excellence that Telly represents. Judges evaluate entries to recognize distinction in creative work; entries do not compete against each other - rather, entries are judged against a high standard of merit. Less than 10 percent of entries are chosen as Winners of the highest honor, a Silver Telly.

The Oregon Story: Rethinking the Forests is part of The Oregon Story series that explores Oregon's ever-changing social, cultural and economic relationships with the land. The Oregon Story: Rethinking the Forests, which aired on OPB TV last November, ventured outside the usual arguments to find new voices with fresh perspectives on the present forest gridlock in Oregon and presented some different ways to view the problems. Eric Cain produced and directed the documentary.

History Detectives Calling for Story Ideas

Last modified on February 9, 2006 01:57 PM

The fourth season of the popular OPB-produced series History Detectives will begin in June and the detectives are looking for more mysteries to solve.

Combining the latest forensic technology with old-fashioned, pavement-pounding detective work, History Detectives lifts the lid on intriguing artifacts and objects, family legends and local folklore in cities and small towns across America.

Do you have a mystery that fits into the big events of America's history? All you need is an object and a good story around it! To submit your story, go to www.pbs.org/historydetectives, call 503-244-9900 ext. 2118 or write to History Detectives, c/o Oregon Public Broadcasting, 7140 SW Macadam Ave., Portland, OR 97219.

OPB Programs Focus on the Meth Epidemic

Last modified on February 1, 2006 01:54 PM

OPB, Frontline and The Oregonian Co-Production to Examine the Meth Epidemic in Oregon

Speed. Meth. Glass. On the street, methamphetamine has many names. What started as a fad among West Coast motorcycle gangs in the 1970s has spread across the United States. The drug is now more potent, and more destructive, than at any time in the past decade. To explore this issue that has had a devastating effect on many Oregonians' lives, Oregon Public Broadcasting and The Oregonian have teamed up to produce a documentary for the PBS Frontline series that examines the meth crisis in and beyond Oregon. OPB will expand upon this work with a series of programs on OPB TV, OPB Radio and OPB.org that track the impact of meth on individuals, families and communities, and what is being done to combat the problem.

"This is a problem that started here and has spread across the nation," said Steve Bass, president and CEO of OPB. "The bad news is that Oregon has been dealing with this epidemic for a long time. The good news is, that because of our experience, we have a lot of knowledge about the problem. Frontline provided us with the opportunity to produce an important program to share with our local audience and the entire nation. It takes stock of where we are in this crisis, what we've learned and how we're making headway," said Bass. "We'll also serve our local audience by using all our resources - television, radio and the Web - as a catalyst to find solutions to this serious problem."

The Frontline documentary was inspired by a series of articles by award-winning Oregonian reporter Steve Suo. Suo and a number of Oregonians contribute to the Frontline documentary, "The Meth Epidemic," airing Tuesday, February 14 at 9pm nationally on PBS stations. Immediately following at 10pm, OPB's Colin Fogarty will host Meth: The Oregon Front, a roundtable discussion about Oregon's meth crisis. (Frontline rebroadcasts on Thursday, February 16 at 3am and 9pm and Meth: The Oregon Front at 4am and 10pm.)

Frontline: The Meth Epidemic
Twenty years ago, methamphetamine abuse started in the Western United States, but began spreading rapidly into the Midwest. Now the drug has reached the East Coast. "Meth has made a steady march across the United States," said The Oregonian's Steve Suo. "Right now you have Mexican methamphetamine flooding in through Atlanta, and from there [it] fans out both south and north." The discovery of meth labs in states from Maine to Florida foreshadows a new crisis on the East Coast: "They can expect to see increased car theft, increased identity theft, ... domestic violence, child neglect, drug overdoses and just a lot of mayhem," said Suo. Indeed, statistics show that meth can trigger a surge in other crimes: In Oregon, a staggering 85 percent of property crime, as well as a majority of muggings, car thefts and identity thefts, have been linked to the drug.

The number of meth addicts is skyrocketing: With 1.5 million addicts in the U.S. alone and millions more around the world, the United Nations calls meth the most abused hard drug on earth. This program investigates America's addiction to meth and exposes the inherent conflict between the illegal drug trade and the legitimate three-billion-dollar cold remedy business.

Meth: The Oregon Front on OPB TV
Following Frontline at 10pm, OPB's Colin Fogarty will host Meth: The Oregon Front, a roundtable discussion about Oregon's meth crisis. Some of the Oregonians interviewed by Frontline, as well as other experts, will be in OPB's studio to explore why meth is such a problem in Oregon and learn what Oregon leaders are doing to find solutions. Participants in the discussion include Steve Suo from The Oregonian, Rob Bovett of the Oregon Narcotics Enforcement Association (Newport), Bret King of the Multnomah County Sheriff's office and Jay Wurscher, State Alcohol and Drug Services coordinator. Support for this broadcast comes from the Ford Family Foundation, the Northwest Health Foundation and Kaiser Permanente.

OPB Radio to Air Meth Series
Four radio commentaries from people in Oregon whose lives have been affected by meth in distinct ways will air February 6-9 on Morning Edition (3-9am) and Oregon Considered (4:30pm). In addition, OPB's Christy George will host a special Oregon Territory on February 10 at 4:30pm devoted entirely to Oregon's meth crisis.

OPB Web Site and Online Forum
Each panelist from Meth: The Oregon Front will present an essay on the OPB Web site introducing themselves and their perspective on meth as it relates to them both professionally and personally. Additionally, visitors to the OPB Web site (opb.org/meth/) can submit questions and comments that will be considered for discussion on Meth: The Oregon Front.

The Web site will also feature material from OPB Radio and TV programs and provide additional resources about meth.

"The Meth Epidemic" is a Frontline co-production with Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with The Oregonian. The producer, director and writer is Carl Byker, whose work includes The New Heroes and The Great War for PBS. The executive producer for OPB is David Davis. The executive in charge for OPB is Jack Galmiche. Frontline is produced by WGBH Boston and is broadcast nationwide on PBS. The executive producer for Frontline is David Fanning.

Oregon Public Broadcasting Launches Its First Digital Multicast Channel

Last modified on January 31, 2006 09:31 AM

On January 9, 2006 Oregon Public Broadcasting will launch a new 24-hour channel that will feature OPB productions, national news and talk programs and some of public television's most popular lifestyle and how-to programs. OPB CREATE is OPB's first multicast channel and second channel on its digital transmitters and represents the next step into the digital future. OPB CREATE will also be distributed by Comcast on digital channel 210 available to Comcast digital cable television audiences from Eugene to Vancouver, and on Clear Creek Telephone and TeleVision in Oregon City on digital cable channel 162. This dynamic new service will provide viewers with more flexibility, more choices and greater convenience to watch their favorite public television programs and find new ones.

Weeknights from 6pm-12am OPB CREATE will air BBC World News, Oregon Art Beat, Smart Gardening, Oregon Field Guide, Charlie Rose, The NewsHour, Tavis Smiley and the Nightly Business Report. In addition each week OPB CREATE in partnership with American Public Television will feature 22 high-profile series and specials in its daytime, weekend and overnight schedule. The channel's do-it-yourself genres will include viewers' favorite public television series and specials on cooking, renovating, painting, crafts, travel, gardening and other interests. Current titles range from Rick Steves' Europe Classics to Caprial & John's Kitchen and America's Test Kitchen to P. Allen Smith's Garden Home and Scrapbook Memories. The full schedule for OPB CREATE is available on the OPB Web site.

"OPB CREATE recognizes a commitment to our supporters who contributed to our digital conversion, enabling us to provide added public broadcasting programs through our increased digital channel capacity," said Tom Doggett, OPB vice president of TV Programming. "It gives us an opportunity to serve new and wider audiences. We will also be able to offer our traditional OPB TV viewers more options to watch their favorite programs as well as other public broadcasting programs not available on our normal schedule such as Tavis Smiley, Jacques Pepin, For Your House and more," he said.

Support and funding for OPB CREATE is provided, in part, through contributions to the OPB Capital Campaign which is helping raise the millions of dollars necessary to convert to the mandated digital broadcast system by 2009, and by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through its Digital Services Fund.

New TV Translator in North Coast of Oregon

Last modified on January 31, 2006 09:31 AM

On October 12, OPB turned on a new TV translator service on the North Coast area. The signal can be seen on Channel 23, and the translator itself is located just North of the Columbia river near Chinook, Washington.

The new signal will serve the Astoria/ Seaside/ Gearhart, etc., areas, as well as most of Long Beach Peninsula in Washington.

Antenna Installation to Affect Bend Service

Last modified on January 31, 2006 09:31 AM

UPDATE: September 23, 2005 The delivery of OPB's new digital antenna for the Bend area has been delayed, therefore we do not have a definite installation date at this time. We will post information as we learn more about the delivery date.

During the installation, a temporary antenna will provide limited service for the Bend area. If you are a cable viewer in Bend or Redmond, your service should not be affected. However, most other areas will experience impaired or no service. Radio service should be unaffected except for minor interruptions during construction.

We apologize for any inconvenience. Rest assured, we will get the work done and be back on the air at full strength as soon as possible. Please check back at opb.org or call Audience Services at 888-293-1982 for the latest construction updates.

Thank you for your patience and support.

New Children's Series Airs Weekdays on OPB TV

Last modified on January 31, 2006 09:31 AM

Preschoolers will be singing a new tune when MUSTARD PANCAKES enters OPB's weekday lineup beginning Monday, June 6 at 10:30am.

This new children's series for 3-6 year olds features singer/storyteller Courtney Campbell and her fun-loving and inquisitive brood of puppet friends Oogleberry Ink Dog, Tiny Tina Ten Toes, Mo and Mr. D.

In each program, the MUSTARD PANCAKES family invites its young audience into their home to learn from the experiences of the characters through the magic of storytelling and the joy of song. The issues that are raised in MUSTARD PANCAKES are gleaned from the same issues that kids are dealing with on a daily basis, ranging from the emotional, such as sharing and caring, to the practical, such as practicing and tenacity. By combining story, song and experience, MUSTARD PANCAKES actively and thoughtfully engages children in the process of learning.

MUSTARD PANCAKES airs weekdays at 10:30am and Saturdays at 7:30am on OPB.

We'd like to hear what you think of this new series! Please email your comments about MUSTARD PANCAKES to mustardpancakes@opb.org.