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Program Segments 2002 in the Coffee House

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TCH Program Segments in 2002


Coffee House Forum airs an eclectic potpourri of current events and public affairs. Host: Mark Cohen
December Montgomery County, MD, is the state's most diverse, a fact that was reflected in the 2000 Census. The 2002 elections highlighted the growing influence of Latino voters. Commenting are Henry Quintero, director of the Latino Civil Rights Center of Maryland, and Nurith Aizenman, Washington Post reporter.
November As another Israeli government falls over that country's settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, concern grows over the increasingly vocal call to "transfer" Palestinian Arabs out of Israel and the occupied territories. Among those concerned is "Women in Black," which holds vigils every Friday afternoon in DC. Commenting are Sarah Anne Minkin and Abir Burgel.
October Incumbent Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD), 71-years old, is completing her eighth term in the House of Representatives. She is highly regarded for her independent ways and hard work on behalf of constituents. With perhaps the most liberal voting record of any House Republican, Morella has wooed enough crossover voters in the past to keep this seat for the GOP.

But two years ago, she only narrowly eked out a victory over a relative unknown. Since then the 8th District has been redrawn to the benefit of Democrats, who see this seat as crucial to their hopes of recapturing control of the House. The District now includes most of Montgomery County and a small portion of Prince George's County.

Morella's opponent is 43-year old Democratic State Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has built a solid reputation in Annapolis as a leader on the environment, education, health care, and gun control. In the recent Democratic primary, Van Hollen upset the heavily favored Mark Kennedy Shriver.

The candidates exchange views on Iraq and the "Bush Doctrine," tax cuts and budgetary priorities, the environment, what constitutes an appropriate minimum wage, 9/11 and civil liberties, the Homeland Security Department and employee rights, prescription drug benefits, campaign finance reform, and who can more effectively advance a legislative agenda that reflects the values of 8th District residents.

The general election is Tuesday, November 5.
September Much of the U.S. is in the throes of a drought while much of Europe and elsewhere was recently under water. What's with the extreme weather? Maryland State climatologist Kenneth Pickering and Mike MacCracken, senior scientist with the federal government's interagency Global Change Research Program, comment.
July Slams, an outgrowth of Hip-Hop and Rap, are reviving poetry around the country. We attend a celebrity slam pitting luminaries, young v. elder; watch an after-school DCWritersCorps poetry club in action; and attend the citywide middle school slam. Features "In the Year I Loved Your Mother" by Regie Gibson, among others.
June College costs are already mind-numbing and projected to double for kids now entering kindergarten. There's help available in "529 Plans," say Joan Marshall, executive director of College Savings Plans of Maryland, and Peg Downey, registered investment advisor. "529 Plans" offer substantial state and federal tax incentives for college savings.
April The Bush-Cheney team is putting as much distance as it can between it and the disgraced, bankrupt Enron Corporation. But David Corn, Washington editor of The Nation magazine, says the ties between the administration and Enron are long-standing and raise concerns about the influence of big money over government policy.
March Should hospitals be required to tell rape victims about the availability of emergency contraception (EC)? Susan Holland thinks so. Her Down's syndrome daughter was raped and the hospital failed to tell the family about EC. Maryland Del. Cheryl Kagan (D-Rockville-Gaithersburg) has introduced legislation to require hospitals to provide information about EC.
February A group of Takoma Park and East Silver Spring pioneers -- Mike Tidwell, Liz O'Donnell, Tom Wolf and Rick Zeller -- is now heating their homes with corn-burning stoves, which they say are pleasant, economical, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and help farmers, like Gary Boll of Mt. Airy.
January CareFirst -- Blue Cross of DC, Maryland and Delaware -- plans to convert from non-profit to for-profit status and then sell itself to a California private insurer. CareFirst maintains that conversion will enable it to provide consumers better products and services. But health policy analyst Carl Schramm contends that while a for-profit CareFirst likely means a windfall for investors, it's probably a bad deal for policyholders and health care generally. Maryland attorney general Joe Curran plans to closely scrutinize the proposed conversion and sale. (Also, remember those "ask why" Enron commercials?)
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In Sickness & in Health highlights mainsteam and alternative approaches to wellness. Host: Cathy Kristiansen
March Lyme Disease -- what it is, how you get it, how to avoid, how to treat it -- with Claire Spector, director of the Institute for Classical Chinese and Natural Medical Self-Care.
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exotic instrumentsMusical Traditions tunes in a variety of folk, ethnic & world music host: David Eisner
December Melanie Mason offers tunes by Robert Johnson and Mance Lipscomb.
November An encore appearance by The Kennedys, Pete and Maura.
September A cappella gospel and topical music with Reverb.
July An encore appearance by singer-songwriter Terri Allard, accompanied by Gary Green, featuring cuts from Terri's fourth CD.
June Jazzmen Antonio Parker and Sounds of the City. Don't miss it!
April WAMMIE winner Melanie Mason offers some down home blues.
March WAMMIE honoree Steve Key offers tunes about playing coffee houses and abusing "Demon Java."
February WAMMIE honoree Lea returns with two more original songs.
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In Step. Innovators and movers in the world of dance. Host: Liz Lerman
January "There are few leaders in the arts world today with [her] vision, stamina and talent," says host Liz Lerman of her guest, Carla Perlo, executive artistic director of Dance Place in DC.
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Writers' Bloc allies readers with authors as they discuss their latest books. Host: Lisa Page
November Donna Hemans chats about her acclaimed first novel, River Woman.
September O'Henry winner Richard Bausch chats about his just released novel, Hello to the Cannibals.
July DCWritersCorps executive director, poet Kenneth Carroll, talks about the mission of his organization.
April If Duke Ellington's music were poetry, how would it read? That's what Brian Gilmore set out to imagine in Jungle Nights and Soda Fountain Rags.
March We reprise our September 2001 interview Pulitzer winner and civil rights activist, Roger Wilkins, author Jefferson's Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism.
February Author Maxine Clair returns to discuss her acclaimed new novel, October Suite.
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Rewind.Pat Aufderheide
December She launched her first documentary, about a Teamsters strike, at the Sundance Film Festival. Kristi Jacobson joins us to talk about "American Standoff."
September "The Buffalo Wars" filmmaker, Matt Testa, drops by to talk about the fate of the last wild herd of bison in America.
July Award-winning actor and filmmaker, William Greaves, talks about his latest documentary, "Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey."
June For most of us, our holy lands are somewhere abroad. But for Native Americans, they're here in the US and, as filmmaker Toby McLeod discovered in "In the Light of Reverence," they're under attack.
April Tod Lending's Academy Award-nominated documentary Legacy followed a project-bound Chicago African-American family for five years, chronicling its battle for dignity.
February A preview of the forthcoming Environmental Film Festival with the Festival's associate director Chris Hanson, including a clip form the film "Buffalo Wars." Also, a look ahead to the upcoming Social Media Showcase at American University, which will feature the film "Legacy."
January Pat Aufderheide interviews Louis Alvarez and Andy Kolker, the award-winning, creative team behind the taboo-shattering PBS documentary, "People Like Us: Social Class in America."
Back to Top of Page

Feature Reports
September Magician Sean Po deals from all parts of the deck.
August The entire hour is devoted to a conversation with the Democratic candidates for the 8th District congressional seat now held by Republican Connie Morella.

The candidates consider, among other things, whether -- or under what circumstances -- Congress should endorse an invasion of Iraq; novel measures the federal government might take to address global warming; regional transportation issues, including the Purple Line and the Inter County Connector; corporate abuse and whether the government is doing enough to stop it; and campaign finance reform.

Candidates Chris Van Hollen, Deborah Vollmer and Ira Shapiro participated in the conversation; Mark Shriver declined to appear. Ira Shapiro praised the discussion as the best and most substantive yet in the campaign.

July The Rave dance music scene is often depicted as nothing more than a haven for club drugs. But as producer Sarah McAleer found, the Rave scene in the D.C. area attracts kids by the thousands with an avant garde mix of electronic music, art and dance.
April Takoma Park will be hosting its seventh annual JazzFest on May 18th. A look back at last year's JazzFest, this year's JazzBrawl, and what's on tap for this year's JazzFest. Commenting are Dave Lorentz, Bruce Krohmer, and Juanita Kus.
April A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for Takoma Park's forthcoming community center, a dream of many, including our Howard Kohn.
March A majority of the Montgomery County Council now says it support passage of a "living wage" bill requiring that for-profit county contractors of a certain size pay employees over $10.50 an hour. A similar measure was narrowly defeated in 1999, after which council members Phil Andrews and Isiah Leggett, along with Tom Hucker of Progressive Maryland, discussed the future of the "living wage" movement in the county.
March The comic juggling and saw playing of Nicolo-Whimsey.
December She looks like a fashion model but don't be fooled. Silver Spring's Lisa "Too Fierce" Foster is now a world boxing champion.
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In Verse
December "Estela" by Rebecca Villarreal.
November "The Source" by Jessica Simon; "House Call" by Brandon Johnson.
September Poet Holly Bass offers "a revolutionary movement of air."
June DJ Renegade's "Mex."
June Rose Solari's "As if to Remind us of Everything."
March Lori Tsang offers a poem, "Undertow," accompanied by Antonio Parker on sax and Leland Nakamura on drum.
February Miriam Morsel Nathan offers a poem, "Sweeping."
January Rebecca Villareal offers a poem, "Second Hand."
Back to Top of Page

A Second Look. Journalists put their work under a magnifying lens. Host: Howard Kohn
December During the gubernatorial campaign, Democrats cast Bob Ehrlich as an extremist; Ehrlich presented himself as a moderate. What's the truth about the governor-elect, and what should we expect from his Administration? We ask Gazette Annapolis Bureau Chief Steve Dennis.
November The media coverage of the Beltway sniper: How much of it was helpful and how much was it simply churning speculation? Commenting is Christopher Hanson, professor at the University of Maryland.
June There's a new, hi-tone magazine published in Takoma Park for fans of alt-music. Hear about harp from Scott Crawford, its publisher and art director.
February EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman wants to dissolve EPA's ombudsman's office, an office that has challenged as a "sweetheart deal" the cleanup of a radioactive waste site by a company with financial ties to Whitman's husband. Tom Devine, legal director of the Government Accountability Project, argues Whitman has a conflict of interest.
January DC's revered/reviled "journalist-truthsayer," Sam Smith, editor of the iconoclastic Progressive Review, drops by to discuss his latest book, Why Bother: Getting a Life in a Locked-down Land.
Back to Top of Page

Weekend Traveler Quick getaways in the Washington-Baltimore region.

September A day hike up Sugarloaf Mountain.
June Visit the Dupont Circle Farmers' Market for some fresh and healthy food, and a taste of community.
April The animals are outside in force again at the National Zoo. A chance to see some of the new babies and learn about the founding of the zoo and how its mission has evolved. Produced by Susan Glick and Kimberly Keese.
January Salsa dancing at Glen Echo Park. (Produced by Susan Glick and Kimberly Keese; some photos courtesy of Richard Cook)
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Photo Essay
July Martin Lueders of Insight Photos traveled the globe shooting stills for "Bread for the World."
June We go inside an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan with photojournalist Martin Lueders.
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2002 in the Coffee House

December
Forum Montgomery County, MD, is the state's most diverse, a fact that was reflected in the 2000 Census. The 2002 elections highlighted the growing influence of Latino voters. Commenting are Henry Quintero, director of the Latino Civil Rights Center of Maryland, and Nurith Aizenman, Washington Post reporter.
Feature She looks like a fashion model but don't be fooled. Silver Spring's Lisa "Too Fierce" Foster is now a world boxing champion.
A Second Look During the gubernatorial campaign, Democrats cast Bob Ehrlich as an extremist; Ehrlich presented himself as a moderate. What's the truth about the governor-elect, and what should we expect from his Administration? We ask Gazette Annapolis Bureau Chief Steve Dennis.
Musical Traditions Melanie Mason offers tunes by Robert Johnson and Mance Lipscomb.
In Verse "Estela" by Rebecca Villarreal.
Rewind She launched her first documentary, about a Teamsters strike, at the Sundance Film Festival. Kristi Jacobson joins us to talk about "American Standoff."
Back to Top of Page
November
Forum As another Israeli government falls over that country's settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, concern grows over the increasingly vocal call to "transfer" Palestinian Arabs out of Israel and the occupied territories. Among those concerned is "Women in Black," which holds vigils every Friday afternoon in DC. Commenting are Sarah Anne Minkin and Abir Burgel.
In Verse "The Source" by Jessica Simon; "House Call" by Brandon Johnson.
A Second Look The media coverage of the Beltway sniper: How much of it was helpful and how much was it simply churning speculation? Commenting is Christopher Hanson, professor at the University of Maryland.
Musical Traditions An encore appearance by The Kennedys, Pete and Maura.
Writers' Bloc Donna Hemans chats about her acclaimed first novel, River Woman.
Back to Top of Page
October
Forum Incumbent Rep. Connie Morella (R-MD), 71-years old, is completing her eighth term in the House of Representatives. She is highly regarded for her independent ways and hard work on behalf of constituents. With perhaps the most liberal voting record of any House Republican, Morella has wooed enough crossover voters in the past to keep this seat for the GOP.

But two years ago, she only narrowly eked out a victory over a relative unknown. Since then the 8th District has been redrawn to the benefit of Democrats, who see this seat as crucial to their hopes of recapturing control of the House. The District now includes most of Montgomery County and a small portion of Prince George's County.

Morella's opponent is 43-year old Democratic State Senator Chris Van Hollen, who has built a solid reputation in Annapolis as a leader on the environment, education, health care, and gun control. In the recent Democratic primary, Van Hollen upset the heavily favored Mark Kennedy Shriver.

The candidates exchange views on Iraq and the "Bush Doctrine," tax cuts and budgetary priorities, the environment, what constitutes an appropriate minimum wage, 9/11 and civil liberties, the Homeland Security Department and employee rights, prescription drug benefits, campaign finance reform, and who can more effectively advance a legislative agenda that reflects the values of 8th District residents.

The general election is Tuesday, November 5.
Back to Top of Page
September
Forum Much of the U.S. is in the throes of a drought while much of Europe and elsewhere was recently under water. What's with the extreme weather? Maryland State climatologist Kenneth Pickering and Mike MacCracken, senior scientist with the federal government's interagency Global Change Research Program, comment.
Weekend Traveler A day hike up Sugarloaf Mountain.
Rewind "The Buffalo Wars" filmmaker, Matt Testa, drops by to talk about the fate of the last wild herd of bison in America.
In Verse Poet Holly Bass offers "a revolutionary movement of air."
Writers' Bloc O'Henry winner Richard Bausch chats about his just released novel, Hello to the Cannibals.
Musical Traditions A cappella gospel and topical music with Reverb.
Feature Magician Sean Po deals from all parts of the deck.
Back to Top of Page
August
Feature The entire hour is devoted to a conversation with the Democratic candidates for the 8th District congressional seat now held by Republican Connie Morella.

The candidates consider, among other things, whether -- or under what circumstances -- Congress should endorse an invasion of Iraq; novel measures the federal government might take to address global warming; regional transportation issues, including the Purple Line and the Inter County Connector; corporate abuse and whether the government is doing enough to stop it; and campaign finance reform.

Candidates Chris Van Hollen, Deborah Vollmer and Ira Shapiro participated in the conversation; Mark Shriver declined to appear. Ira Shapiro praised the discussion as the best and most substantive yet in the campaign.

Back to Top of Page
July
Forum Slams, an outgrowth of Hip-Hop and Rap, are reviving poetry around the country. We attend a celebrity slam pitting luminaries, young v. elder; watch an after-school DCWritersCorps poetry club in action; and attend the citywide middle school slam. Features "In the Year I Loved Your Mother" by Regie Gibson, among others.
Writers' Bloc DCWritersCorps executive director, poet Kenneth Carroll, talks about the mission of his organization.
Coffee Art Two artists from Minnesota now work in the medium of coffee. We sample their work.
Feature The Rave dance music scene is often depicted as nothing more than a haven for club drugs. But as producer Sarah McAleer found, the Rave scene in the D.C. area attracts kids by the thousands with an avant garde mix of electronic music, art and dance.
Photo Essay Martin Lueders of Insight Photos traveled the globe shooting stills for "Bread for the World."
Rewind Award-winning actor and filmmaker, William Greaves, talks about his latest documentary, "Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey."
Musical Traditions An encore appearance by singer-songwriter Terri Allard, accompanied by Gary Green, featuring cuts from Terri's fourth CD.
Back to Top of Page
June
Forum College costs are already mind-numbing and projected to double for kids now entering kindergarten. There's help available in "529 Plans," say Joan Marshall, executive director of College Savings Plans of Maryland, and Peg Downey, registered investment advisor. "529 Plans" offer substantial state and federal tax incentives for college savings.
Weekend Traveler Visit the Dupont Circle Farmers' Market for some fresh and healthy food, and a taste of community.
A Second Look There's a new, hi-tone magazine published in Takoma Park for fans of alt-music. Hear about harp from Scott Crawford, its publisher and art director.
In Verse DJ Renegade's "Mex."
Musical Traditions Jazzmen Antonio Parker and Sounds of the City. Don't miss it!
Photo Essay We go inside an Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan with photojournalist Martin Lueders.
Rewind For most of us, our holy lands are somewhere abroad. But for Native Americans, they're here in the US and, as filmmaker Toby McLeod discovered in "In the Light of Reverence," they're under attack.
In Verse Rose Solari's "As if to Remind us of Everything."
Back to Top of Page
April
Forum The Bush-Cheney team is putting as much distance as it can between it and the disgraced, bankrupt Enron Corporation. But David Corn, Washington editor of The Nation magazine, says the ties between the administration and Enron are long-standing and raise concerns about the influence of big money over government policy.
Weekend Traveler The animals are outside in force again at the National Zoo. A chance to see some of the new babies and learn about the founding of the zoo and how its mission has evolved. Produced by Susan Glick and Kimberly Keese.
Writers' Bloc If Duke Ellington's music were poetry, how would it read? That's what Brian Gilmore set out to imagine in Jungle Nights and Soda Fountain Rags.
Feature Takoma Park will be hosting its seventh annual JazzFest on May 18th. A look back at last year's JazzFest, this year's JazzBrawl, and what's on tap for this year's JazzFest. Commenting are Dave Lorentz, Bruce Krohmer, and Juanita Kus.
Rewind Tod Lending's Academy Award-nominated documentary Legacy followed a project-bound Chicago African-American family for five years, chronicling its battle for dignity.
Musical Traditions WAMMIE winner Melanie Mason offers some down home blues.
Feature A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for Takoma Park's forthcoming community center, a dream of many, including our Howard Kohn.
Back to Top of Page
March
Forum Should hospitals be required to tell rape victims about the availability of emergency contraception (EC)? Susan Holland thinks so. Her Down's syndrome daughter was raped and the hospital failed to tell the family about EC. Maryland Del. Cheryl Kagan (D-Rockville-Gaithersburg) has introduced legislation to require hospitals to provide information about EC.
In Verse Lori Tsang offers a poem, "Undertow," accompanied by Antonio Parker on sax and Leland Nakamura on drum.
In Sickness & in Health Lyme Disease -- what it is, how you get it, how to avoid, how to treat it -- with Claire Spector, director of the Institute for Classical Chinese and Natural Medical Self-Care.
Feature A majority of the Montgomery County Council now says it support passage of a "living wage" bill requiring that for-profit county contractors of a certain size pay employees over $10.50 an hour. A similar measure was narrowly defeated in 1999, after which council members Phil Andrews and Isiah Leggett, along with Tom Hucker of Progressive Maryland, discussed the future of the "living wage" movement in the county.
Musical Traditions WAMMIE honoree Steve Key offers tunes about playing coffee houses and abusing "Demon Java."
Writers' Bloc We reprise our September 2001 interview Pulitzer winner and civil rights activist, Roger Wilkins, author Jefferson's Pillow: The Founding Fathers and the Dilemma of Black Patriotism.
Feature The comic juggling and saw playing of Nicolo-Whimsey.
Back to Top of Page
February
Forum A group of Takoma Park and East Silver Spring pioneers -- Mike Tidwell, Liz O'Donnell, Tom Wolf and Rick Zeller -- is now heating their homes with corn-burning stoves, which they say are pleasant, economical, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and help farmers, like Gary Boll of Mt. Airy.
A Second Look EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman wants to dissolve EPA's ombudsman's office, an office that has challenged as a "sweetheart deal" the cleanup of a radioactive waste site by a company with financial ties to Whitman's husband. Tom Devine, legal director of the Government Accountability Project, argues Whitman has a conflict of interest.
Rewind A preview of the forthcoming Environmental Film Festival with the Festival's associate director Chris Hanson, including a clip form the film "Buffalo Wars." Also, a look ahead to the upcoming Social Media Showcase at American University, which will feature the film "Legacy."
Musical Traditions WAMMIE honoree Lea returns with two more original songs.
In Verse Miriam Morsel Nathan offers a poem, "Sweeping."
Writers' Bloc Author Maxine Clair returns to discuss her acclaimed new novel, October Suite.
Back to Top of Page
January
Forum CareFirst -- Blue Cross of DC, Maryland and Delaware -- plans to convert from non-profit to for-profit status and then sell itself to a California private insurer. CareFirst maintains that conversion will enable it to provide consumers better products and services. But health policy analyst Carl Schramm contends that while a for-profit CareFirst likely means a windfall for investors, it's probably a bad deal for policyholders and health care generally. Maryland attorney general Joe Curran plans to closely scrutinize the proposed conversion and sale. (Also, remember those "ask why" Enron commercials?)
A Second Look DC's revered/reviled "journalist-truthsayer," Sam Smith, editor of the iconoclastic Progressive Review, drops by to discuss his latest book, Why Bother: Getting a Life in a Locked-down Land.
Weekend Traveler Salsa dancing at Glen Echo Park. (Produced by Susan Glick and Kimberly Keese; some photos courtesy of Richard Cook)
In Step "There are few leaders in the arts world today with [her] vision, stamina and talent," says host Liz Lerman of her guest, Carla Perlo, executive artistic director of Dance Place in DC.
In Verse Rebecca Villareal offers a poem, "Second Hand."
Rewind Pat Aufderheide interviews Louis Alvarez and Andy Kolker, the award-winning, creative team behind the taboo-shattering PBS documentary, "People Like Us: Social Class in America."
Back to Top of Page

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