Aired on WUFT on March 17th, 2011
One North Central Florida environmental organization closely monitoring the situation with the nuclear reactors in Japan is Citizens for Affordable and Renewable Energy in Gainesville. The founder of the organization Rob Brinkman talked with WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend. Brinkman is critical of Progress Energy’s plans to try and bring its Crystal River plant back online given the recent problems with a recent crack in a containment wall.
Aired on WUFT on March 11th, 2011
A dozen University of Florida students are currently studying abroad in Japan. The Executive Director of the International Center at UF, Susanne Hill immediately tried to communicate with the students following the 8-point-nine-magnitude earthquake off Japan’s coast. Hill spoke with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend:
Aired on WUFT on March 11th, 2011
One researcher who’s closely monitoring the situation in Japan is Assistant Professor of Geological Science at the University of Florida, Mark Panning. Panning specializes in earthquake research. He spoke with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.
Aired on WUFT on January 27th, 2011
Growers in nearly every county in the state of Florida have faced severe conditions in the past few months either from drought or serious freezing weather. Now emergency loan assistance is being extended to the areas of the state hardest hit by bad weather, including Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion and Pasco counties. WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with the spokesman for the State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Sterling Ivey who says federal help is on the way.
Aired on WUFT on January 24th, 2011
On Tuesday night the Marion County Commission will continue discussion about potentially taking over the operation of the Silver Springs attraction. One researcher planning to attend that meeting is Bob Knight. Knight did his doctoral research on the Silver River back in the 1970s under the guidance of the late Howard Odum at the University of Florida. Odum was the first scientist to study the ecosystem of the Silver River more than half a century ago. Now a new Florida Springs Institute has formed in his honor. Bob Knight is the Executive Director. Last Thursday about 130 people attended the inaugural reception for the organization. Knight told WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend the institute will work with a variety of state agencies to bring research and education efforts together under one umbrella to try and improve the health of Florida’s springs.
Aired on WUFT on January 24th, 2011
There’s a new grassroots effort underway to try and save Florida’s springs. It’s called “The Blue Path.” The campaign incorporates the “Arts” into the picture. The Blue Path campaign includes the current exhibit at the Florida Museum of Natural History as well as area painters and photographers among others. The coordinator for “The Blue Path” is Annie Pais who is also the Executive Director of “Florida’s Eden” organization. She talked with WUFT’s Donna Green-Townsend.
Aired on WUFT on January 14th, 2011
The frigid winter weather in North Central Florida has kept farmers busy this past week. As Donna Green-Townsend reports, vegetable growers in Putnam County were scrambling to get their crops to market before the freezing temperatures could hurt their profit margins.
Vegetable growers in North Central Florida scramble to get their crops to market during a January, 2011 freeze.
Aired on WUFT on January 5th, 2011
The cold snap in December on top of the major cold snap earlier in 2010 doubled the yearly average of manatee deaths in Florida. Overall, 767 manatees died last year with nearly three hundred of those deaths coming from “cold stress.” The Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission handles the necropsies on the manatee carcasses. FWC veterinarian Martina DeWitt talked with 89.1 FM’s Donna Green-Townsend about how the cold weather took a toll on the endangered sea cow.
Aired on WUFT on December 22nd, 2010
Firefighters from a variety of agencies continue to battle a growing wildfire near Island Grove and Cross Creek in Southeast Alachua County not far from the historic Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park. About 300 acres burned on Tuesday near Lochloosa Lake. That fire has tripled in size because it’s in an area where firefighting equipment can’t get to. WUFT-FM’s Donna Green-Townsend talked with Wildfire Mitigation Specialist with the Florida Division of Forestry, Ludie Bond to get an update on what’s being called the “Burnt Island fire.” Meanwhile, because of extremely dry conditions, Alachua County has issued a burn ban until the area receives more rainfall.
Heisman Trophy Winner and former UF Gator quarterback Danny Wuerffel is known for his passion for mission work. Just a few years after winning a national college football championship while playing QB for the Gators Danny decided to gather some football buddies and other friends and family together to produce a Christmas CD.
Former Gators Jason Odom, Lawrence Wright and James Bates joined Wuerffel on, Go Tell It On The Mountain. Members of the well-known band Sister Hazel, Ken Block and Andrew Copeland, performed on He Come From The Glory and Silent Night. The goal of the music project was to benefit Desire Street Ministries in New Orleans. Wuerffel wanted proceeds from the Heaven & Nature Sings Christmas CD to go toward helping the ministry with its goal of transforming impoverished urban neighborhoods into flourishing, healthy communities. From Donna’s 2001 audio archives here’s the feature she produced on Wuerffel’s music venture.