HEC-TV - PageTurnPro

JUNE 2016
www.hectv.org
BROUGHT TO
YOU BY
HEC-TV
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
SAINT LOUIS
.STL.
WHERE TO FIND HEC-TV
www.hectv.org On Demand
Ch. 989 Charter Cable (with converter box)
Ch. 108.26 or 118.26 Charter Cable (for digital TV’s)
Ch. 99 AT&T U-verse
Ch. 2.2 KTVI (Antennae TV) Selected Programs
ABOUT HEC-TV
HEC-TV is St. Louis’ leading producer of education, arts and cultural
television programming, reflecting our mission statement, “to
strengthen and promote the education, arts and cultural communities
of the St. Louis Metropolitan area.” HEC-TV is programmed by the
St. Louis County Commission of Educational Media and by the Higher
Education Consortium, comprised of area colleges and universities and
62 cooperating school districts in Greater St. Louis.
In addition to providing local programming for the general viewing
audience, all HEC-TV productions are available to teachers, with
applicable curriculum and classroom materials accessible via www.
hectv.org. Winner of the prestigious Station of Excellence award from
the Mid-America Emmy association in 2010, 2011 and 2013, HEC-TV
is committed to producing television designed to engage and challenge
viewers, and to illuminate subjects that will, “Make You Think!”
HEC-TV BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dr. James Carrington, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Mr. Dennis Lower, Cortex
Dr. Don Senti, Education Plus
Dr. J. Michael Pressimone, Fontbonne University
Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, Harris-Stowe State University
Dr. Michael Shonrock, Lindenwood University
Dr. Clay McDonald, Logan College of Chiropractic
Dr. Mark Lombardi, Maryville University
Dr. James M. Dennis, McKendree University
Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, Missouri Botanical Garden
Dr. Frances Levine, Missouri History Museum
Mr. Bert Vescolani, Saint Louis Science Center
Dr. Fred P. Pestello, Saint Louis University
Dr. Jeffrey Bonner, Saint Louis Zoo
Dr. Ronald Chesbrough, St. Charles Community College
Dr. John A. Pieper, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Dr. Jeff Pittman, St. Louis Community College
Ms. Ruby Curry, Florissant Valley (STLCC)
Mr. Rod Nunn, Forest Park (STLCC)
Ms. Janet Walsh, Meramec (STLCC)
Dr. Patrick Vaughn, Wildwood (STLCC)
Mr. Joseph Reagan, St. Louis Regional Chamber
Dr. Carlos Vegas, Southeast Missouri State University
Dr. Stephen Hansen, Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
Dr. Thomas George, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Dr. Mark Wrighton, Washington University
Dr. Elizabeth J. Stroble, Webster University
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Alan Winklemann, Vice President
Ann Terry Johnson, Secretary
James L. McHugh Sr., J.D., Treasurer
Wayne Goode, Member
Craig Larson, Ed.D. Member
June 2016
HEC-TV Magazine
p. 10
p. 2-3
JUNE ARTS CALENDAR
p.3
DIRECTOR’S CUT
by Dennis Riggs
p.4-5
JUNE PROGRAM GUIDE
Find airdate information and program synopses for all
p. 12
specials.
p. 6-7
FEATURE
“Kwame Alexander—Attracting Kids to Reading with ‘White Space’ ”
by Angie Weidinger
Kick off your summer reading with inspiration from authors. Join HECTV and Maryville Talks Books for our One on One lecture/interview
series. This month see marathons of past authors and watch the
premiere of our interview with Newbery Award Winner, Kwame
Alexander.
p. 8
PRODUCER’S CORNER
“Student Spotlight: Reis Rosenbloom”
by Angie Weidinger
Meet this star student on the next all-new episode of Behind the
Minds.
p.9
PRODUCER’S CORNER
“On the next Innovations”
by Kathleen Berger
Learn more about science and technology innovators in St. Louis on
the new installment of HEC-TV’s Innovations.
p.10-11
SIGHTLINE
“Sizzling Summer Reads”
by Christina Chastain
Looking for a beach book or a more in-depth read for the summer?
HEC-TV has got you covered. Check out our list of new books you
won’t want to put down.
p. 12-13
EDUCATIONAL MEDIA
“Burning to Read”
by Diane Tinucci
From the public library to local book nooks, follow HEC-TV’s literary
programs and reading guide for educational opportunities this
summer.
HEC-TV STAFF
Dennis Riggs, Director
Boyd Pickup, Broadcast Operations Manager
Jayne Ballew, Content Coordinator, All Platforms
Christina Chastain, Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Coordinator
Amber Hirsch, Communications Coordinator
Diane Tinucci, Educational Opportunities Coordinator
HOW TO REACH HEC-TV
3221 McKelvey Road | St. Louis, MO 63044
Phone: (314) 531-4455 | Fax: (314) 531-0750
Email: [email protected] | Web: www.hectv.org
p. 8
ON THE COVER
Cover art by Christina Chastain.
“Like” HEC-TV on Facebook at “Higher Education Channel TV”
and follow us on Twitter at “HEC_TV”
1
April 2016
juneSTL
what to do around town
dance
music
theater
arts
festivals
science
dining
culture photography
June 1-August 3
Whitatker Music Festival
Missouri Botanical Garden
www.missouribotanicalgarden.org
June 4 & 5
Midtown Taste & Art Fair
Locust Avenue, Midtown
www.midtowntaste.com
Birds singing in the
warm, rose-scented
evenings signal it’s
time for the summer
Whitaker
Music
Festival. The openair festival presents
free
Wednesday
evening concerts under the stars every June through August. Music begins
at 7:30 pm. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic supper, baskets,
or coolers. Picnic fare, beer, wine, soda, and sno-cones are also available
for purchase on-site. The festival is funded by the Whitaker Foundation,
which supports St. Louis arts and parks to promote common heritage,
celebrate diversity and encourage vitality within the community.
Just east of the Fox Theatre, on the
lovely tree lined Locust Street (between
Compton and Huntleigh); enjoy fine
art booths, food trucks, music on the
Mainstage, a craft village, wine and
beer tastings, and more. In addition,
don’t miss the Food Truck Challenge.
Six of St. Louis’ top food trucks will compete for bragging rights and prizes.
Beginning at 10 am, chefs must completely cook and build a dish for the
judges in one hour. Mainstage judging concludes at 11 am.
June 8 – 11
Twangfest 20
Off Broadway
www.twangfest.com
June 1 – 26
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Shakespeare Glen, Forest Park
www.sfstl.com
Welcome to Twangfest, a place where
incredible musical performers from all
over the country play before the most
fervent bunch of music lovers that they,
or you, will ever meet. Twangfest is a big
tent; the big top of a musical three-ring
circus, filled with the sights and sounds
that make roots music so vibrant and
inspirational. Get ready to fill your ears
and feast your eyes, and be sure to
introduce yourself to friends new and old. Twangfest is not just an event;
it’s also a nonprofit organization working to preserve and promote the
unique tradition and culture of Americana music. Musician Dale Watson
says, “Twangfest is the future survival of country music…and a home for us
survivalists.” Headliners include James McMurtry, Hurray for the Riff Raff,
JD McPherson, Alejandro Escovedo, and The Waco Brothers for four nights
of unforgettable music.
It’s time for a comedy! Last seen at the
Festival in 2002, A Midsummer Night’s
Dream will feature a diverse cast of
actors portraying some of Shakespeare’s
most beloved characters. Renowned
New York actress and Olivier nominee
Nancy Anderson will play the role
of Titania. Artistic and Executive Director Rick Dildine will direct. This
marks the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis’ 16th season of free, outdoor,
professional theatre in the park. Performances run nightly, except Tuesdays,
and begin at 8 pm.
June 2 – July 3
Circus Flora Presents Pastime
Circus Flora Big Top, Midtown
June 11
3rd Annual Summer Gras
Old Rock House
www.oldrockhouse.com
It’s the 30th Anniversary for a St. Louis favorite. Circus Flora showcases worldclass talent by both new artists and venerable talent. Their performances
represent the continuation and evolution of circus arts and ensure its future
for generations to come. Commissioned by famed
Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti for the Spoleto
Festival in 1986, Circus Flora immediately set
about creating productions unlike most Americans
had seen before—productions that melded the
best elements of traditional European circus with
modern theater techniques and sensibilities. From
the very beginning, every Circus Flora production
has been an original performance, its storyline
often rooted in history or literature. Through the
narrative, individual acts are woven into a cohesive
story, further developed and enhanced by live
music composed specifically for the productions.
HEC-TV Magazine
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Get
your dose of Mardi Gras this summer.
Grab some beads, indulge in some
King Cake, and parade on down to
one of St. Louis’ premiere music
venues. With outdoor and indoor
stages at the Old Rock House, join
revelers for a celebration of the music
and food of New Orleans. Get yourself
a little Mardi Gras fix this June. Doors
open at 5 pm; show starts at 6 pm.
2
June 2016
June 15 – July 3
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland
The Playhouse at Westport Plaza
www.stagesstlouis.org
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice as she
falls into the madcap world of Wonderland and
meets such extraordinary characters such as
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Mad Hatter,
the Queen of Hearts, and the frantically late White
Rabbit. Inviting and magical, Disney’s Alice in
Wonderland is a fantastic adventure the whole
family can enjoy! Experience the magic, fun, and
excitement of a very merry tea party with Alice and
her friends and discover why Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland have delighted children of all ages
for centuries. We know you won’t want to be late
for this very important date so join us for Disney’s
Alice in Wonderland!
The days are longer, the weather is warming, and the
graduates are marching across the stage. All signs are
pointing to the beginning of the summer reading season!
This year as you pack the picnic basket, lawn chair, and
beach blanket be sure to include your laptop or tablet
computer. Our cover story this month explains why. Our
fantastic Maryville Talks Books program series gives you
unparalleled insight into the books and the authors who
create them.
June 18
Family Day Block Party
Sheldon Concert Hall/Pulitzer/Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
www.sheldonconcerthall.org
HEC-TV’s One on One interviews with the authors
go far beyond anything you’ll find anywhere else. Our
interviewers go deep into the thinking of the writer and
the creative process. Authors constantly complement
HEC-TV on being a welcome relief on their book tours
because of our focus on depth and substance. After all,
we do promise to “make you think.” Go to our website to
check out all the interviews we’ve done on Maryville Talks
Books, I’m certain you’ll learn an enormous amount about
a book you’ve read, one you’re about to read, or you’ll
discover an author who was previously unknown to you.
Join The Sheldon, Pulitzer,
and Contemporary Art
Museum St. Louis for
a day of FREE familyfriendly activities! Visit
each institution to create
your very own superhero
costume while enjoying
crafts, face painting,
snacks, and a dance party with Grandfather Paul Stark of KDHX’s Musical
Merry-Go-Round Family Radio Show. Additional performances include
Chicago-based theatre group, Tapman, and kid-friendly musical group, The
Boogers, who will perform at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Families are invited
to park for free at The Sheldon.
This month we’re also bringing you up-to-date on all the
research and development occurring in the Metro area
through new episodes of our Innovations program. Enjoy
local films and filmmakers on Frames, and Two on the Aisle
shows you the latest from our robust theater scene. Behind
The Minds has an all-new episode about the wonderful
work being done in area elementary/secondary education,
and we’ll talk to scientists on Conversations at the Donald
Danforth Plant Science Center.
June 25 – July 16
Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis
Missouri History Museum
www.mohistory.org
Known
as
the
“Mother Road” and
the “Main Street of
America,” Route 66
plays an important
role in American
history and myth.
But the famous road
also has a story to
tell about the St.
Louis area and how
it has changed.
In Route 66: Main
Street Through St.
Louis we explore
the local history of this world-famous highway. Come get your kicks by
learning stories about the motels, custard stands, and tourist traps that
could be found along the road as it passed through St. Louis. Visitors will
see a number of artifacts ranging from gas pumps to roadside signs and will
even get a chance to drive the road themselves.
HEC-TV Magazine
While others may be slowing down for the summer,
HEC-TV is speeding up our efforts to “Make You Think.”
Dennis Riggs
Director
3
June 2016
program
GUIDE
JUNE 2016
Alaska: America’s Wildest Refuge, A
documentary film about the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge, Mondays 2 pm & Wednesdays 6
pm C H S/M
America’s National Monuments, Join Jordan
Murphy as he explores spectacular National
Monuments throughout America’s Geologic West,
Mondays 6 pm E H
American Cinema, Film history through the
eyes of Hollywood insiders, Wednesdays 7 am A
C
Ancient History, Globe Trekker’s Zay Harding
hosts this new look at ancient civilizations,
Fridays 5 pm C H
Destinos, Introductory Spanish language course
presented in an entertaining storyline, Mondays 7
& 7:30 am L E
Dragon’s Tongue, Mandarin Chinese language
course, Tuesdays 7 & 7:30 am L E
Finding Wild Missouri, A series of short films
that explore every mile of every road on the
Missouri state highway map, Tuesdays 10:30 am
LE
Fokus Deutsch, Introductory German language
course, Saturdays 7 am L E
Frames, Tuesdays 8 pm LP A
Frames, Comedy Shorts, Thursdays Noon LP
Art Through Time: A Global View, This series
takes the viewer across the world and back
through the ages to experience the art of many
cultures and historical periods, Wednesdays 9 am
AC
Frames: The World’s Greatest Fair, A local film
and interview with the filmmaker of this look
back at a St. Louis historical event-the 1904
World’s Fair, Sundays 9 pm, Tuesdays 2:30 pm &
Thursdays 9 am LP H
Behind the Minds, A magazine style program
bringing you inspiring stories from K-12
classrooms in the St. Louis area, Tuesdays Noon;
Thursdays 4 pm; Wednesdays & Fridays 7 pm E
LP
French in Action, French language course,
Fridays 7 & 7:30 am L E
Building Alaska, The history of the development
of Alaska’s transportation infrastructure, focusing
on its railroads, highways, and bridges, Mondays
3 pm H
(The) Civil War – St. Louis, A local look at St.
Louis’ Civil War history in an exclusive shortformed series, Tuesdays 11 am C H
Closer to Truth, The definitive television series on
Cosmos, Consciousness and God, a global journey
in search of the vital ideas of existence, Mondays
7:30 pm and Tuesdays 9 am S/M E
Colores, This series explores the arts, music,
history and culture of New Mexico and the
American southwest, Wednesdays 9:30 am A C
(A) Conversation with David Robertson, A one
on one conversation with the St. Louis Symphony
Conductor, Sundays 3 pm LP A
(A) Conversation with John Pizzarelli, An
interview with the engaging jazz musician,
Sundays 2 pm LP A
(A) Conversation with Michael McDonald, Get
up-close and personal with this Ferguson, MO
native and music legend, Sundays 1 pm LP A C
Conversations at the Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center, An in-depth conversation on the
dream of St. Louis as a world center for plant and
life sciences, Sundays 5 pm & Tuesdays 8 am LP
S/M E
Connect with English, Helps teach English as a
second language, Sundays 7 am L E
Full Circle: St. Louis Recycles, A local look at
innovative recycling and sustainability in St. Louis,
Wednesdays 3 pm & Thursdays 10 pm LP C
GED Connection, The series covers the five
subject areas and guidance for taking the GED
test, Tuesdays 10:30 pm E L S/M SS
Healing Quest, The latest in integrative health
and natural approaches to wellness, Mondays 9
am & Tuesdays 9:30 pm SS S/M E
Health Literacy: Missouri’s Prescription for
Better Health, This documentary looks at hour
poor health literacy results in higher healthcare
costs and poor health for Missourians, Mondays
4:30 pm, Tuesdays 2 pm & Fridays 10:30 pm E S
Healthy Body, Healthy Minds, An informative
health and wellness series, Mondays 9:30 am &
Tuesdays 9 pm SS S/M E
HEC-TV Presents! The Anti-Defamation
League’s Torch of Liberty Award, This year
the award is being presented to Senator Jack
Danforth. The event will feature Sen. Danforth
in conversation with his longtime friend and
“America’s Foremost Political Columnist,” George
Will, Live on 6/1 at 11:40 am LP
(A) History of American Indian Achievement,
This series takes a new approach to presenting
American Indian history from the first groups that
crossed the Bering Sea, 14,000 years ago, to
present day, Mondays 5 pm, Mondays 1:30 pm &
Fridays 1:30 pm H E C
(A) History of Black Achievement in America,
Highlights the inspirational accomplishments of
Black Americans throughout history, Wednesdays
5:30 pm & Thursdays 1 pm H E C
(A) History of Chinese American Achievement,
Celebrating the contributions of Chinese
Americans in modern society and culture,
Mondays 5:30 pm, Tuesdays 6 pm & Saturdays
1:30 pm H E C
(A) History of Christianity, A six-part series that
reveals the true origins of Christianity and delves
into what it means to be a Christian, Wednesdays
1 pm & Thursdays 5 pm H E C
(A) History of Civil Rights in America, From the
past to the present, this eight-part series takes the
viewer through one of the most powerful forces in
American history; the promise of equality for all,
Tuesdays 1 pm & Thursdays 6 pm H E C
(A) History of Equal Rights, Recounts the
significant advances and the ongoing effort to gain
a clear and permanent guarantee of privileges
for women and all economically disadvantaged
groups, Tuesdays 1:30 pm & Thursdays 6:30 pm
HEC
(A) History of Hispanic American Achievement,
Host Patricia Lopez takes you through the
500 year odyssey of Hispanic achievement in
American history, Saturdays 1 pm & 6 pm H E C
(A) History of Jewish American Achievement,
Celebrating the contributions of Jewish Americans
throughout history, Mondays 1 pm, & Wednesdays
5 pm H E C
(A) History of the U.S. Constitution, This
series looks at the U.S. Constitution and how
it has protected the American people for over
two centuries. Discover how our nation’s most
revered document has empowered Americans to
excel in art, literature, science and technology,
Fridays 1 pm H
(A) History of Women’s Achievement, Donna
Mills hosts this eight-part series celebrating
women’s contribution to American history from
the seventeenth century to present day, Thursdays
1:30 pm & Saturdays 6:30 pm H E
(The) History Project, Historical documentaries,
Saturdays 5 pm H
iAm Ladue, A series program about their school
and community by students from Ladue High
School, Sundays 6 pm C LP
I Love Jazz, Don Wolff hosts this unique television
version of his popular radio show emphasizing
local flavor of the original American art form—
jazz, Wednesdays Noon; Fridays 4 pm; Sundays &
Thursdays 8 pm LP A
Impact, Take a personal tour into St. Louis’
outstanding organizations to see what “impact”
they are having on the world around them,
Tuesdays 12:30 pm; Thursdays 4:30 pm;
Wednesdays & Fridays 7:30 pm LP C E
Arts = A Business = B Culture = C Education = E History = H Language = L Local Programming = LP Sciences/Mathematics = S/M Social Sciences = SS
HEC-TV Magazine
4
June 2016
program
GUIDE
JUNE 2016
Innovations, This series explores and examines
the questions about science and all things related
that occur in an around St. Louis, Mondays 7 pm
& Tuesdays 10:00 am LP S M
Land of the Dragon, Sheds light on the lives,
struggles, and cultures of China’s 56 ethnic
groups, the people’s relationships to the land, and
the effects of modernization on Chinese individual
and society, Tuesdays 6:30 pm C
Liquid Light, HEC-TV’s local film series
featuring full length films and documentaries,
and interviews with the films’ creators, through
University City’s CALOP, this month features films
made by local women filmmakers, Thursdays 2
pm LP A
Liquid Light: Jim Crow to Barack Obama, A look
at how issues of race and racism have changed
in the USA over the last 100 years, Fridays 2 pm
LP A C
Lost Treasures of the Ancient World, This unique
series enables ancient wonders of the world to be
seen as never before, magically restored to their
former glory through 3D graphics, Tuesdays 5 pm
CH
Maryville Talks Books: One on One with
Marathon . . ., One on one interviews with
prominent authors. This month focuses on
women authors, Saturdays 8 am – 1 pm LP A
Maryville Talks Books: One on One with Krista
Tippett, One on one interview with the author of
Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and
Art of Living; Sundays 4:30 pm, Wednesdays 9:30
pm & Fridays 12:30 pm; Ending 6/14 LP
Maryville Talks Books: One on One with
Kwame Alexander, One on one interview with
the author of Booked; Beginning 6/15; Sundays
4:30 pm, Wednesdays 9:30 pm & Fridays 12:30
pm LP
Mission to Educate, A very special local
documentary of the history and pioneering
moments of the Catholic education system in St.
Louis, Wednesdays 10 am & Fridays 8 pm LP
SCOLA Programming, A variety of authentic
foreign language programs C
Spanish, Mondays 8 am
Mandarin, Wednesdays 8 am
Italian, Thursdays 8 am
French, Fridays 8 amSIUE Global Village,
Weekly series highlighting events at SIUE,
filmed, directed, and produced by SIUE
students, Sundays 6:30 pm LP E
Something in the Water: A St. Louis
Rockumentary, An exclusive documentary about
St. Louis’ unique rock-n-roll history, Mondays
9:30 pm, Wednesdays 8 pm, Fridays 9 pm &
Saturdays 2 pm LP A C
State of the Arts, Take an insider’s look at the
vibrant arts community in St. Louis as we go
behind-the-scenes at arts events, performances,
and exhibits throughout the area, Marathon on
Sundays 8 am – 1 pm; Mondays Noon; Saturdays
4 pm; Sundays & Thursdays 7 pm LP A C
Tartan TV, A magazine series focusing on
Scotland and its many treasures, Saturdays 10 &
10:30 pm C
Theater Talk, Roundtable discussions with
Broadway actors, directors and playwrights,
Tuesdays 7 pm; Thursdays 9:30 pm A C
To Dance Again: Parkinson’s Meets Tango,
Explores how the three-minute love story known
as tango improves the lives of Parkinson’s
patients, while telling a personal story about
living with the disease, Thursdays 11:30 am &
Saturdays 3:30 pm LP C A
don’t
MISS
Two on the Aisle, A look at St. Louis Theatre with
Bob Wilcox and Gerry Kowarsky, Sundays 4 pm;
Tuesdays 7:30 pm; Thursdays 9 pm; Fridays Noon
LP A C
Under the Lothian Sky, Join Brian McNeill as
he celebrates the 40th year of a career that has
established him as one of the most acclaimed
forces in Scottish music, Fridays 9 am & Saturdays
8 pm LP C
Veterans Day 11.11.11, This documentary is a
nationwide “day in the life” exploration of what
it means to be a military veteran in the U.S.,
Mondays 10 am C
Water Blues Green Solutions, This documentary
takes us on a journey across the country in
search of communities that are adopting new
ways of thinking about how to protect, restore,
and preserve our rivers and the sources of our
drinking water, Wednesdays 2 pm & Wednesdays
10 pm C S/M
Western Tradition, History of western civilization,
Sundays 7 & 7:30 am H E
Weaving Musical Traditions, This exclusive
documentary looks at how folk music truly has
no boundaries as it follows the migration patterns
of humans. Fridays 11 am & Saturdays 7 pm LP
AC
We’ve Got the Power, A documentary about
how the United States can replace fossil fuels
with clean energy in a way that is economically
beneficial to consumers and businesses alike,
and ensures a safer environment for future
generations, Wednesdays 4 pm C
Wild!, Nature and wildlife documentaries,
Wednesdays 11 am & Fridays 6 pm E C
Ozark News Journal, A news magazine from
Missouri State University, Tuesdays 10 pm E C
Physics for the 21st Century, Dark matter, string
theory, particle accelerators, and other big topics
in modern physics come together in this series,
Tuesdays 9:30 am E S/M
Railroads in U.S. History, This series offers a
fresh perspective on how railroads created and
shaped America’s singular brand of capitalism
and its unique way of doing business, Mondays
9 pm H
Return to Rail, Created by professors at Saint
Louis University, this 15 part series looks at
designing, promoting, and building railway
systems to advance economic growth and reduce
U.S. energy use and greenhouse gas admission
by 2050, Mondays 8 pm LP S/M
Mondays at 3 pm
Arts = A Business = B Culture = C Education = E History = H Language = L Local Programming = LP Sciences/Mathematics = S/M Social Sciences = SS
HEC-TV Magazine
5
June 2016
feature
STORY
KWAME ALEXANDER
ATTRACTI N G KI DS
TO READI N G WI T H
“WHI T E SPACE”
By Angie Weidinger, Producer
“You can’t go from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss
to Shakespeare,” says Alexander.
Not often do New York Times bestselling authors
admit they once hated reading. It’s even more
unusual for Newbery Medal winners to make that
kind of admission. But, Kwame Alexander is not
your typical author (above). For example, he’ll
tell you he writes for non-readers…seems like an
unusual business plan, doesn’t it? But, Alexander
sees it more as a challenge.
Fortunately, Alexander found a format that’s
like jumper cables for this problem: poetry. It’s
probably not the solution you would’ve guessed,
but Alexander says it works because of all the white
space.
Alexander’s Newbery Award-winning
book “Crossover” and his latest title “Booked”
are both written in verse (using all kinds of poetry
formats). And, it’s working! He’s attracting lots
of once book-hating students to his pages, using
poems to tell incredibly relatable stories. Plus, by
writing in verse, the chapters are short and words
are meticulously chosen (Alexander rewrites A
LOT).
Many kids lose interest in reading around middle
school – just like Alexander did when he was ten
years old. In a Maryville Talks Books interview
that premieres this month on HEC-TV, Alexander
points out that if you don’t jumpstart these
students’ interest before high school, it becomes
much harder.
HEC-TV Magazine
6
June 2016
“Students flip through my books and see all the
white space and say, ‘Oh, I can handle that,’” says
Alexander.
Plus, Alexander’s books have a rhythm, a style,
a vocabulary that kids dig. During a talk and
book signing at Maryville University, a middle
school boy told Alexander that a lot of books he
picks up take way too long to get into because
the first few chapters are boring. Challenge
accepted! Alexander picked up “Crossover” and
read the first poem/chapter to the kid. When he
was finished, the student responded, “Now, that’s
what I’m talking about!”
While the chapters of “Crossover” and “Booked”
are short, Alexander’s books deal with some
pretty heavy topics. In “Booked,” his poems
cover parental tension, bullying in school, racism,
competitive soccer and divorce. But, he does it
by turning phrases that will have you repeating
the words aloud. For example, “It does not
take a math genius to understand that when you
subtract a mother from the equation what remains
is a negative.” By the way, his books aren’t just
appreciated by middle school age kids. Many
adults, including myself, love his writing.
Alexander says this challenge of re-engaging
middle school students in reading is important
because words and books can change your life and,
he’s not just talking about becoming a Newbery
Medal winner. “In college, I didn’t know how to
talk to girls, but I could write poetry. So, I started
writing my girlfriend a poem a day. Now, she’s
my wife.”
Don’t miss the premiere of “Maryville Talks
Books: One on One with Kwame Alexander”
beginning June 15th at 9:30 pm, also Sundays
at 4:30 pm and Fridays at 12:30 pm. For more
inspiration on summer reading, watch archived
episodes on all our authors from this series,
Saturday marathons of “Maryville Talks Books:
One on One” programs from 8 am to 1 pm. Watch
this exclusive programming only on HEC-TV or
on demand at www.hectv.org.
HEC-TV Magazine
7
June 2016
Student Spotlight:
Reis Rosenbloom
By Angie Weidinger,
Some stories we report on are a little more special than
others. Such is the case for our Student of the Show
Reis Rosenbloom (right) and his story on childhood
obesity and Camp Jump Start featured in this month’s
new edition of Behind the Minds.
“I attended the camp a couple of years ago and it really
helped me on my journey,” said Rosenbloom. “I wanted
to do this story as a testimony to all they do.”
In fact, Katie Korein who is featured in the report
is Rosenbloom’s best friend who he met at the lifechanging camp. But, that’s not the only thing special
about this story. It is the last production of Rosenbloom’s
Ladue Horton Watkins High School career. To be
fair, Rosenbloom actually started producing videos in
middle school (he started the Ram Rundown at Ladue
Middle School). Since that time, he’s produced at least
twenty videos. Many of them now live on his website:
reisertonmedia.weebly.com.
since the video department was his second home
throughout high school.
“I really enjoy listening to people’s stories and the
emotions behind them,” said Rosenbloom. “Being able
to capture it and tell the whole world, essentially – which
is what the Internet allows us to do.” In addition to Rosenbloom’s story, the June episode of
Behind the Minds also features a report on the Global
Student News Network – a website created by Rosenbloom
and some fellow classmates at Ladue Horton Watkins
High School to promote positive student media, an app
called Blueprint4SummerSTL that connects kids to
local summer camps, and a recent graduate of Crossroads
College Preparatory School who’s making his mark as a
leader. It’s a show that will not only make you think, but
will leave you impressed with our area’s great minds!
And, we predict it won’t be the last video he ever
produces. Rosenbloom, a self-proclaimed “tech nerd,” is
attending the University of Missouri-Columbia in the
fall. He plans on majoring in computer engineering and
potentially double majoring in communications. His
dream job would be as a consultant for tech companies
(combining his love of all things tech with the social
aspect of communications). We’re sure there are at least a
couple of video projects in his future at Mizzou, especially
HEC-TV Magazine
8
June 2016
On the Next Innovations
By Kathleen Berger, Producer
Swizzle is a startup from Seoul, Korea—one of
the world’s most technologically advanced
cities. Swizzle technology provides an
analytical tool for marketing, using
corresponding comments from their audience.
exact market niche, determining what
their followers think, read, view and
feel in a measurable way. Szabo said
he recognized St. Louis as the fastest
growing city in the country for tech
startup funding, choosing to locate
social media and online entertainment,
a new class of celebrities have
are a force for brands they interact
with. Swizzle’s Chief Operations
incentive, as one of this year’s Arch
Grants recipients, accepting $50,000.
marketing analytics to capture and analyze
Olio City is
another Arch Grants
recipient. Discover how
the Olio City app is a
personalized city guide.
Founder Ellen Prinzi said
there’s a real need for this
personal city discovery
application,
providing
recommendations based
on each user’s unique
“likes” and interests!
And at the Saint Louis Zoo, programs
consist of various ways to alter the
physical environment, modify animal
care, create social groupings, and increase
sensory stimulation to encourage natural
behaviors. The Saint Louis Zoo has
been innovating and advancing their
Animal Enrichment Program for more
than two decades, now extending to the
entire animal kingdom! Watch all this
and more—on the next Innovations,
exclusively on HEC-TV or on demand at
www.hectv.org.
HEC-TV Magazine
9
June 2016
sight
LINE
Allegheny Front, Matthew Neill Null
The American West
may be our biggest
national mythmaker,
but for my money,
the dark hollows and
craggy mountainsides
of old Appalachia are
equally fascinating—
and much eerier. West
Virginia native Null’s
debut collection of
short fiction sticks to
the Allegheny region,
chronicling more than
200 years of history
and the comings and goings of humans and wildlife in
a wilderness soon to be lost to mining, fracking, and the
choke of burning coal.
By Christina Chastain, Marketing Coordinator
Whether you’re planning on taking a beach break this
summer or just want to unwind with a good read, we’ve
got the books that will make you think. There’s something
here for everybody. So kick back, put your feet up and get
lost in another world.
Everybody’s Fool, Richard Russo
The Loney, Andrew Michael Hurley
Russo’s ability to
capture the humanity
and humor of smalltown life is what
continues to draw me
to his work. Getting
to hang out again
with the characters
from Nobody’s Fool,
published
over
two decades ago
and turned into a
memorable
film
starring Paul Newman
as Donald “Sully”
Sullivan, makes this
novel my pick. But you don’t need to have read the earlier
book, also set in North Bath, N.Y., to appreciate the
plot, which features Philip Seymour Hoffman’s character,
Douglas Raymer, now the chief of police.
I’ve long been a fan
of Tartarus Press,
a small specialty
publisher in the U.K.
known for its high
quality supernatural
fiction. The Tartarus
edition of The Loney,
a first novel, received
limited distribution in
the U.S., but garnered
praise from the likes
of Stephen King, “It’s
not just good, it’s
great. An amazing
piece of fiction.”
Now a major American house is making this novel widely
available. I’m curious to see what the excitement’s about.
HEC-TV Magazine
10
June 2016
sight
LINE
Voyager: Travel Writings, Russell Banks
Eligible, Curtis Sittenfeld
In this compilation,
the novelist reflects
on a career of
traveling
and
writing,
eventually
uncovering that for
him, the two practices
are
inextricably
intertwined.
Each
of
the
essays
introduces a place
by first grounding
the
location—the
Everglades,
the
Caribbean, Scotland,
Dakar—in a deep
historicism, and then watching the flawed narrator
stumble through. In the title essay, as Banks makes a
whimsical spiral throughout the islands of the Caribbean
while courting his fourth wife, secrets and long-hidden
desires come bubbling to the surface.
Put
down
your
diary, Bridget Jones.
Make way for Curtis
Sittenfeld,
whose
amusing
if
crass
new novel Eligible is
the latest “modern
retelling” of Pride
and Prejudice, Jane
Austen’s
beloved
Regency romance.
This version of the
Bennet family—and
Mr. Darcy—is one
that you have and
haven’t met before:
Liz is a magazine writer in her late thirties who, like her
yoga instructor older sister, Jane, lives in New York City.
When their father has a health scare, they return to their
childhood home in Cincinnati to help—and discover
that the sprawling Tudor they grew up in is crumbling
and the family is in disarray.
The Heavenly Table, Donald Ray Pollock
here. If not, well, buckle up.
HEC-TV Magazine
Booked, Kwame Alexander
Was Deliverance a little
too mellow for you?
Give this a try. It’s
Pollock’s third book,
a
psychotic
terror
ride through an early
20th century hillbilly
hellscape that puts the
family of a swindled,
good-hearted farmer
on a collision course
with three brothers on
a crime spree. If you’ve
read Pollock’s earlier
stuff you’ll have an idea
of arkness he traffics in
Soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage as
twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words in this
follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel The Crossover.
He wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully,
and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping
him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate
Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick
inspiring books to read. This electric and heartfelt novelin-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it
captures all the thrills, setbacks, action, and emotion of a
World Cup match!
Watch the exclusive interview with Kwame Alexander
June 15 only on HEC-TV! (Read more about the
interview and Maryville Talks Books lecture on pages
6 & 7.)
11
June 2016
educational
MEDIA
By Diane Tinucci, Educational Opportunities Coordinator
Burning to Read
For the many who share a passion for reading, area book
groups thrive to satisfy our need to learn, relax, grow, share,
laugh, reinvent, and restore. Right now, city and county
libraries are publicizing reading programs for students
soon to be on summer break, yet those libraries offer
similar incentive programs for adults. Area booksellers
support readers by hosting in house gatherings, as well
as publicizing contact info for private book clubs. To
share two of the many throughout the area, Novel
Ideas, one of Left Bank Books’ nine in-house groups,
meets monthly at lunch to consider a selection offered
at discount to participants. And, Main Street Books
in St. Charles gathers readers one Monday evening a
month to discuss a discounted title. Of course, all area
readers can look to Read St. Louis, a community-wide
initiative of the St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and
St. Charles County Libraries to encourage St. Louisans
to read and discuss great books, for titles to add to their
Reading Wish Lists.
examined represent the best of what has been recently
published. Whether a reader views an interview before
reading to inform upcoming title selection or whether
someone enjoys author insights related to a book that
has been read, Maryville Talks Book is the enjoyably
essential reading companion. One can learn that Kite
Runner author, Khaled Hosseini, who practiced internal
medicine before becoming an author, feels that his latest
book is his most autobiographical. Also, as Erik Larson’s
research for Dead Wake: The Sinking of the Lusitania
brought him a wealth of first person resources, he could
And those Wish Lists can be rounded out with quality
reads by exploring the consistently excellent HEC-TV
Maryville Talks Books author interview series at http://
www.hectv.org/watch/maryville-talks-books/. From
fiction to history to biography to psychology, the titles
HEC-TV Magazine
12
June 2016
educational
MEDIA
Reading Group Information
St. Louis City Public Library
http://slplsr.evanced.info/
St. Louis County Library
https://slcl.readsquared.com/
St. Charles City-County Library District
http://www.youranswerplace.org/book-discussiongroups
Read St. Louis
http://www.slcl.org/sites/default/files/readstl/index.
html
structure this report to guide the reader through
the experience along with its participants. Master
historian Nathaniel Philbrick helps Americans more
fully understand and, maybe, in part, empathize with
the iconic traitor Benedict Arnold in Valiant Ambition.
And, although the political and personal events of 1862
have destroyed many leaders, in Rise to Greatness, David
Von Drehle explores how Abraham Lincoln survived
it. Ready to enjoy? Forty-one more quality interviews
await the passionate reader at HEC-TV’s Maryville
Talks Books.
Left Bank Books
http://www.left-bank.com/reading-groups
Main Street Books, St. Charles Book Club
http://www.mainstreetbooks.net/book-club/
Maryville Reads
http://libguides.maryville.edu/MaryvilleReads
Reading Group Guides – The Online Community
for Reading Groups
http://www.readinggroupguides.com/
“Incendiarily,” Maryville University Reads 2016 has
directed its staff and student body to read Ray Bradbury’s
Fahrenheit 451, the iconic novel that considers a future
without books.
HEC-TV Magazine
13
June 2016
Let’s Talk About…
NEXT GENERATION
BIOENERGY
By Robert Garcia, Producer
Bioenergy, an important renewable energy produced
from biological materials, is becoming an increasingly
attractive energy choice in the context of economic
development, energy security, and climate change.
Large-scale bioenergy development could bring
significant ecological benefits, or equally significant
damage. The land requirements for biomass
production are potentially immense. Displacing
annual agricultural crops with native long-lasting
biomass crops could help restore natural ecosystem
functions in worked landscapes, and thereby preserve
natural biodiversity.
With increasing world population and rapidly
growing regional and global economy, conventional
fossil fuel-based energy alone is not likely to provide
essential and sufficient support to the functioning of
modern economies, due to its limited supply, high
fossil fuel prices, and concerns about national energy
independence. Bioenergy may be one of the most
viable options to adopt in the near term.
Please join us for a discussion about the potential
for alternative energy sources, particularly renewable
biofuels, to transform major industries, including
aerospace and aviation on the next episode of
Conversations at the Donald Danforth Plant Science
Center, exclusively on HEC-TV and hectv.org.