Evan Dawson

Fires on the west coast turned skies a sickening orange color for days, and eventually all that smoke and haze drifted all the way to Rochester. Our ostensibly sunny days last week were eerily gray. The dark orange in the west scared children and caused health concerns, particularly for people with breathing challenges.

Three of our guests are Rochester natives who now live in California and want listeners to understand just how frightening the sky had become. And we discuss the impact of climate change on our lives. Our guests:

• Joseph Henderson, Ph.D., lecturer in the Department of Environment & Society at Paul Smith's College of the Adirondacks
• Alison Konecki, arts professional and avid camper
• Allie Larkin, author and avid hiker
• Alex Wegman, writer and full-time mother
  

Free the People Roc has called for a temporary pause to daily or nightly protests in Rochester. Their goal is to rest and prepare for the next phase of work to enact significant and lasting change. So what is the end goal? Are their demands negotiable? Can they work with the mayor, after calling for Mayor Warren's resignation?

Our guest joins us for her first conversation on Connections since the story of Daniel Prude went public. Ashley Gantt was recently profiled by City Newspaper for her work in organizing, and now she's one of the most visible leaders in Rochester. Our guest:

• Ashley Gantt, co-founder of Free the People Roc

We’re joined by journalist, author, and former “Good Morning America” co-host Joan Lunden. Lunden is the new host of WXXI’s nationally distributed medical talk show, “Second Opinion,” and she’s in Rochester this week shooting this season’s episodes.

We talk to her about her career in broadcasting, the state of journalism in 2020, her new book on aging, and about what’s on tap for “Second Opinion,” which airs in 2021. Our guest:

• Joan Lunden, journalist, author, former co-host of “Good Morning America,” and current host of “Second Opinion”

Two young people were killed Saturday morning in one of the worst mass shootings in Rochester’s history. Jaquayla Young and Jarvis Alexander were both 19 years old. The shooting happened when an argument broke out at a gathering that included more than 100 people. Rochester Police say Young and Alexander were innocent victims in the mass shooting. More than 40 rounds were fired and 14 other people were wounded. The shooting happened five years after three people were killed in a mass shooting outside the Boys and Girls Club on Genesee Street.

This hour, our guests address gun violence in Rochester, what they’d like to see change in terms of policy, and what they hope the community will learn from this tragedy. Our guests:

• Sirena Cotton, founder of Roc the Peace, who lost her son Christopher to violence in 2007
• Justin Morris, community activist
• Deb Antoniades, volunteer with Moms Demand Action in Rochester
  

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing on Friday has led to public displays of mourning across the country. As NPR reports, "her death will inevitably set in motion what promises to be a nasty and tumultuous political battle over who will succeed her."

This hour, our guests discuss the consequences of her passing, as well as Ginsburg's life, her legacy on the court, and her contributions to this country as a champion of gender equality. Our guests:

• Jill Paperno, J.D., president of the Monroe County Bar Association
• Stephanie Woodward, J.D., disability rights advocate with Disability Details
• Stephanie Townsend, member of the Pittsford Town Board
  

We continue our series of interviews with candidates for office. Longtime Republican State Senator Joe Robach is not seeking reelection, and two candidates are vying for his seat.

This hour, we hear from Republican candidate Mike Barry, Jr.. He discusses his platform and priorities for the district. Our guest:

• Mike Barry, Jr., Republican candidate for the 56th Senate District

When Governor Cuomo locked down the state at the beginning of the pandemic, businesses faced uncertainty and significant losses. When the economy began to reopen in Upstate New York, some businesses downstate got creative. A wine bar in New York City was one of them.

The team behind Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels NYC discovered property in Interlaken on Cayuga Lake and opened their new venture, Supernatural Lake, in July. The project is a wine bar, restaurant, and bed-and-breakfast, with the New York City-based staff now living in the Finger Lakes.

We talk to the team about their decision to shift their focus to Upstate, the economic impact of the pandemic, and what it means to get creative in the food and beverage industry during this time. Our guests: 

• Caleb Ganzer, managing partner for Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels NYC and Supernatural Lake
• Eric Bolyard, executive chef and managing partner for Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels NYC and Supernatural Lake