Aired on June 17th, 2010
Florida hotels and resorts are trying to stay afloat despite negative news about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This past Monday the online travel booking company Orbitz launched what it calls an “Open Beach Guarantee” to help travelers and the hotel industry. Donna Green-Townsend talked with Orbitz spokeswoman Jeanenne Tornatore about the new travel concept and how it’s designed to possibly save Florida’s key tourism season.
Aired on WUFT on June 14th, 2010
No one is watching the traveling oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico more than David Godfrey. Godfrey is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, which next week will change its name to “The Sea Turtle Conservancy”. This not-for-profit organization is continuing the turtle research and conservation efforts started by the late Archie Carr, the internationally acclaimed sea turtle expert from the University of Florida. Godfrey talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend and says his staff is at alert status because of the BP oil spill.
Aired on WUFT on January 12th, 2010
Imagine someone having access to all of the deleted messages, voicemails and contacts on your cellphone. That’s what happens in the Hippodrome State Theatre’s new comedy, “Dead Man’s Cellphone.” the play opened January 8th. Donna Green-Townsend talked with one of the actors in the production, Jessica Morris, who plays the role of the estranged wife and widow of the dead man.
Originally aired on WUFT on June 8th, 2010
Jean-Michel Cousteau has spent his entire life either on the ocean or educating the public about protecting the ocean. Jean-Michel is the eldest son of the late Jacques Cousteau who will forever be remembered as an ambassador of the sea. Jean-Michel spent much of his life traveling aboard the famous Calypso with his father exploring and videotaping the undersea world. He recently published a book about his life with his father called, “My Father, The Captain.” Jean-Michel talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about why he’s continuing his father’s work and how that work took him to the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Aired on WUFT on May 27th, 2010
Florida CFO Alex Sink wants people to know that Florida’s beaches are beautiful, the fish are biting and the only oil on the state’s beaches is suntan oil. Sink is worried that all the coverage on the oil spill has caused people to make vacation reservations elsewhere. Sink, who is running for Governor, wants to use $25 million dollars from BP to fund a global advertising campaign to get the word out that Florida’s beaches and waters are free of oil and open for business. She talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.
Aired on WUFT on May 14th, 2010
Alachua County Animal Services is holding a “Spring Cleaning “ adoption event on Saturday (May 15th) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at their headquarters on Northeast 53rd Avenue in Gainesville. The afternoon event will feature a variety of vendors and educational materials as well as food and a raffle. The main goal is to have people come out and take home a furry friend. Donna Green-Townsend walked through the animal services facilities and talked with Public Education Program Coordinator and Event Coordinator, Hilary Hynes.
Aired on WUFT on May 12th, 2010
Area residents are being encouraged to contribute needed items for oil cleanup. The Wild Iris Bookstore has agreed to be a drop-off point through Monday morning (May 17th) for items ranging from toothbrushes to towels and shovels. This effort came about when a Gainesville writer met up with a group of activists who were holding a meeting over another contaminated site. Donna Green-Townsend talked with writer Lola Haskins and one of the owners of Wild Iris Books, Cheryl Krouth about how others can get involved. For more information about ways to help you can go online to http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/whatyoucando.html
Aired on WUFT on May 11th, 2010
The University of Florida held a dedication ceremony on Tuesday (May 11th) afternoon for the new Biomedical Sciences Building on campus. Donna Green-Townsend has more on what this new medical facility is expected to offer to researchers.
Aired on WUFT on May 7th, 2010
The Gainesville community can experience a true audio and visual art and science performance Friday night (May 7) at the Phillips Center For The Performing Arts. Donna Green-Townsend talked with the Musical Director of the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, Evans Haile, about this celestial happening involving music, NASA video and telescopes.
Red Henry and his family are no strangers to the bluegrass and folk festival scene in Florida. The Henrys often play at the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, which is held in the St. Augustine area to honor the late guitar finger-picking balladeer who graced stages across the country with his musical ability and legendary story-telling. Rogers was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in the late 1990s, not many years after he died trying to save a drowning man off Flagler Beach. Red Henry was one of Gamble’s close friends. Henry, a former Floridian, now lives in Winchester, Virginia.
All the members of the Henry family are part of the country’s “bluegrass scene” and are all accomplished musicians. Red plays a variety of instruments including mandolin and fiddle. His wife Murphy plays guitar and banjo and is well-known for her “Murphy Method” for teaching how to play many bluegrass instruments. Daughter Casey plays banjo and son Chris plays guitar and mandolin and has been touring across the country with his own band called Chris Henry and the Hardcore Grass.
Red and Chris like to come to Florida festivals to play, especially the Will McLean Folk Festival and the Florida Folk Festival because of their close ties to not only Gamble Rogers, but also the “Father of Florida Folk,” Will McLean and environmental troubadour Dale Crider. Donna Green-Townsend has this profile: Aired on WUFT on April 30, 2010
Here is Red and Chris Henry and their All Star Band performing Stay Out Of Your Way at the 2017 Will McLean Music Festival
During the 2015 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs, Chris and Red Henry and their Allstar Band performed one of Chris’ new songs, “I’m Gonna Wait On Jesus” on the Mainstage.
Here’s a recording of a typical jam at a Henry campsite…this one recorded in 2012 at the Will McLean Festival: