Programs

The Sitka Sentinel celebrated its 75th anniversary last year without much fanfare. As many newspapers in big cities have folded or turned into online only operations, the Sentinel steadily churns out five issues a week. The paper is owned and edited by Thad and Sandy Poulson, reporters who arrived in 1969 and are determined to keep the press running. Download Audio

May showcases a new series - FRONTIER SCIENTISTS - a featuring a range of research being conducted in the Last Frontier. The series follows scientists around Alaska as they explore the mysteries of this vast state. Some of the episodes include: capturing the migratory patterns of birds; the role of supercomputers in research; volcanoes and volcanic activity; the lives and times of arctic squirrels; mapping Arctic waters. The series starts May 6 at 9 p.m. right after NOVA and runs every Wednesday night through much of the summer.

Running the gamut from enlightening documentaries to musical showcases, the anthology series PACIFIC HEARTBEAT draws viewers into the heart, mind and soul of Pacific Island culture. This season of Pacific Heartbeat follows a Maori acting company on their journey to bring a native language adaptation of Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida to The Globe Theatre in London, profiles an intimate musical journey with legendary Hawaiian musician Jerry Santos, shares the stories of native Hawaiian masters who have dedicated their lives to practice, preserve and pass on knowledge and expertise, and travels to Papua New Guinea as a group of men and women compete for a coveted spot on the national surfing team - their only way out to see the wider world.

BILLY JOEL: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE honors singer-songwriter Billy Joel’s receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The evening will include performances by Joel, as well as Tony Bennett, Boyz II Men, Gavin DeGraw, Josh Groban, Natalie Maines, John Mellencamp and LeAnn Rimes, with a special performance by Kevin Spacey — as well as a dance ensemble performance from Twyla Tharp’s “Movin’ Out.”

Ken Burns’s seven-part documentary weaves the stories of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, three members of one of the most prominent and influential families in American politics. THE ROOSEVELTS marks the first time their individual stories have been woven into a single narrative. This encore presentation begins Tuesday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m and runs through June 23.

From Maine to Mississippi, Alaska to California, filmmaker David Grubin, visits physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals who are placing the patient at the center of their practice — transforming the way medical care is delivered while lowering costs. Rx: THE QUIET REVOLUTION shows how a patient-centered philosophy can improve health outcomes and enrich the lives of patients.

A group in Kodiak recently completed an Alutiiq boat that was last seen in the mid-19^th century. Alutiiq people once used the angyaq to travel over long distances and through rough seas. It’s an open boat, like a dory, with a flat bottom and bulbous bow. The artist leading the effort says the boat builders aren’t just recreating the past. They’re reviving a piece of Alutiiq history for use now and in the future. Download Audio

Art blockbusters don’t jump out in New York City the way they did several decades ago. That’s not all bad, as smaller venues don’t sport long lines.  In spite of a blustery mid-April week, husband Dave and I found good hunting, discovering a variety of art spaces. We also caught an ‘off-off’ and a ‘Times Square’ Broadway show and found a new place for dinner. So hop on public transportation with us as we explore springtime art in Gotham. Read more