The Weekly VillageSoup

The holiday season is a time of giving and lending a helping hand to your neighbors and community. This need continues all year round and nobody knows this better than the Salvation Army. In this episode we are joined by Major Mark Mackneer of the Salvation Army of Northern New England to talk about the history, reach of this organization, and their mission here in Maine.

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The holiday season is in full swing and for this episode, we talked with Tracey Hair, the executive director of the H.O.M.E. Co-op in Orland, which oversees the Emmaus Homeless Shelter in Ellsworth. We discussed the work the local shelter is doing to combat emergency homelessness and develop affordable housing, how folks can lend a hand during and after the holidays and overcoming stigmas.

Maine is well known for its natural beauty and wildlife opportunities attracting many from around the state, region, and beyond to spend some time in the Maine outdoors. For this week's episode we talk with Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for the state of Maine. Commissioner Camuso is the first woman to lead the department, overseeing the preservation, protection, and enhancement of inland fisheries and wildlife resources in the state.

Nov. 15 marks the 20th anniversary of the Mount Desert Islander and we are celebrating by talking with Alan Baker, the Islander's founding publisher and Earl Brechlin, the Islander's founding managing editor. We discussed the last two decades of the Islander, what it was like starting the paper in 2001 and the future of print journalism.

Our guest this week is Cara Romano, executive director of Heart of Ellsworth, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is in part to "provide a vibrant community for all residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations and local government." For this episode, we discuss the organization's many programs and events, like the ongoing mural project, grant opportunities and upcoming Cider + Cheese Festival.

Sara Trunzo is a singer-songwriter who calls Maine home but before she became a recording artist, she spent years tackling food security issues across the state and continues that mission today. Get to know her in this episode and hear a taste of her music. You can hear more on her website saratrunzo.com.