Saturdays 10 - 11 AM on
WVBF AM 1530 & 99.7 FM
Via the Web on your favorite streaming platform including https://tunein.com/radio/WVBF-1530-s23471/ Link to WVBFradio.com Via your smartphone and the Cranberry Country Journal Paul Laz Facebook stream
Welcome to Cranberry Country Journal - Since 1983, "A slice of life of the people, places, events, and activities that make Cranberry Country - and now beyond - a special place to call home"
...Yup. We're updating this section, but here's a look of past PROGRAM LISTINGS: CRANBERRY COUNTRY JOURNAL...
Check out our list of previous Cranberry Country Journal guests and topics
NOVEMBER 6
And joining us as guests on Cranberry Country Journal will be the fabulous Driscoll boys. You will have a chance to get to know Joey and Don Driscoll, co-hosts of Sunday morning’s Middleboro in Review radio show on WVBF. And we are going to have some fun with the pair.
OCTOBER 30
Keeping in mind Halloween that rolls in on Sunday, on today’s Cranberry Country Journal we’ll be meeting with folks from the scariest house in Massachusetts. The site of a double murder whose story has been told in stories, films and folklore since it occurred back on August 4, 1892. Have you guessed? It is the story of Lizzie Borden who allegedly murdered her parents with an axe in a double murder mystery that has never been solved.
Ah. What a great way to welcome tomorrow’s Halloween celebration!
OCTOBER 23
So as we celebrate and discuss Boston Cream Pie today - the pie that really looks like a cake - we will also be joined by Glen Hannington, Sr. Vice President, member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Wareham Gatemen
.
We will talk a little baseball and about the most prestigious collegiate summer league in the nation, as well as the opportunities for those looking for major-league style internships and volunteer opportunities with the Gatemen as they prepare for the 2022 season at Spillane Field in Wareham.
OCTOBER 16
Today’s we will be joined by Lorri Devlin a local author living on Cape Cod who has written and illustrated two delightful children’s’ books: Cape Cod Critters - A Fun Look at Cape Cod Wildlife and More Cape Cod Critters.
Lorri grew up spending summers playing outside in the abundant natural beauty of Cape Cod and today calls Cotuit home. She attributes her creativity to growing up barefoot and largely unsupervised in the wild natural beauty of Cape Cod, MA.
OCTOBER 9
Today’ guests and topic? Well we will be joined by Cheryl Johnson and Gina Fernandes of New Bedford. The sisters are the founders and owners of Lux Picnix by C & G, a company that sets up and put on some very interesting picnics - but not just any old picnics that you may remember from days past.
As Cheryl describes what they do, “We just come in and create everything, the décor, the theme … “And then we come back and pack everything away.”
So if you still think a picnic is just a blanket and some beach chairs, we will learn about their trendy "Glam Picnic" set ups that have gone far beyond sitting on that cold hard blanket.
OCTOBER 2
Today in North America, the Masonic Fraternity gives almost $2 million each day to causes that range from operating children’s hospitals, providing treatment for childhood language disorders, treating eye diseases, funding medical research, contributing to local community service, and providing care to Masons and their families at Masonic Homes.
Joining us - and I am elighted to have him here in our plush but not overly ostentatious WVBF studios down by the bog - is the Past Worshipful Master of the Middleboro Mayflower Lodge. A gentleman whose face is well known in the Middleboro area along with his wife Diane - and that is Mr. Ken Madigan.
SEPTEMBER 25
Glenn Montapert of the Middleborough Tourism Committee will inform us of the 8th annual Crantoberfest to be held Saturday, October 9, at Middleborough Town Hall from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Now in its 8th year – and certainly no one hit wonder!
There will be free admission and free parking at the fest that will include the great Cranberry Bakeoff, food and merchandise vendors, games, the crowning of Ms. Crantoberfest and more. It’s fall alright!
Our guest, Alex Citrone, a native Bostonian, who is a Traditional Tattoo Artist currently tattooing at Resurrection Tattoo in Austin, TX, will inform our Cranberry Country Journal listeners of the American Traditional and Japanese styles of tattoos he designs, having won multiple awards including 1st Place at the Star of Texas for Traditional event in 2019.
SEPTEMBER 4
For today – I want your calls!
Got two questions I am throwing out there today, and I MUST hear from you at 508 822-1106. For today YOU are the guests! Love to hear your input: Here are today's questions: #1 “What are your plans on Labor Day Weekend? And do you lament the end of summer – as much as I do?
And for question number 2? “What else is so special about this day of September 4? “
Well we’ve celebrated national mutt day, cousins day and previously brought you info about the “Put a pillow on your refrigerator day celebration. But today? Well for question #2 - you'll just have to tune in!
AUGUST 28
I am truly excited to tell you about this mornnig’s guest and topic. Yup, for all you fall lovers, the OFFICIAL New England Rennaiasance Festival opens in Carver, MA next week - and we ill be joined by royalty as The King himself - King Richard - will be joining us!
What better way to kick off the fall than attending the King Richard's Faire.
The start of fall will begin Labor Day weekend when the annual Faire will bedazzale patrons with acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, fire-eaters, minstrels, dancers and those delicious giant turkey legs. Yum!
This year as they elebrate their 40th Anniversary – wow 40 years - hundreds of talented performers will perform non-stop on eight vibrant stages, and they will welcome back the King’s handsome knights as they battle on horseback and once again take on and battle as bawdy beggars compete in mud.
JULY 24
Let me ask- - Do you remember Saturday morning cartoons as a kid?
Were you like me as a kid where Saturday mornings meant pouring yourself a bowl of cereal and parking yourself in your pajamas right in front of the TV set – watching a marathon of cartoons that filled the screen all morning long?
For me it was a heaping bowl of the politically incorrect named cereal of Sugar Frosted Flakes (Today Tony the Tiger calls them - ahem – Frosted Flakes, and whole milk.
Did your selection of cartoons include Johnny Quest? How about Mighty Mouse, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Super Friends, Spider-Man, Caper the Ghost or Huckleberry Hound - the cartoons that took over our televisions from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
I am delighted to introduce you to Charlie Moss. He is a freelance writer with extensive experience writing about all things relating to pop culture – whether that be about comic books, music or movies. And we will learn why those mornings of cartoon madness have disappeared.
JULY 21
Joining us this morning is Jen Fusco Hoye, an amazing Taunton woman who began walking after facing the shock - along with her family – of the sudden suicide death of her brother Teddy back in 2017. It’s an amazing story of how she began walking in honor of her brother and today also walks in honor of others across the world lost to suicide.
From April 19 to just this past May, Jen walked over 300 miles and raised over $11,000 to support a cause that is dear to her heart – and that is the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and their national mission to prevent and educate others about this topic. Join us in our visit with Jen.
JULY 17
On today’s Cranberry Country Journal we will be visited by a local actor, playwright, producer – who began his talented career as a stand-up comedian. George MacDonald.
George was a charter member of the Boston influx of comics that played the many comedy clubs in the Boston area, many of whom went onto national acting and comedic roles and staples of late night talk shows such as Lenny Clarke, Steven Wright and the late Kevin Meaney
The South Boston native’s credits included movies such as Monument Avenue, appearances on Mad TV, as well as his successful play Waiting for Whitey.
JULY 7
This morning we are going to speak with Dr. Maria Gray. She is the founder and president of the American Academy of Canine Water Rescue, and also the owner of Angel, her amazing Newfoundland dog.
I recently became aware of her organization and their trainings and services to help reduce or eliminate occurrences of unintentional deaths by drowning – via the use of trained rescue dogs via her Wareham-based organization that trains dogs and handler teams to rescue troubled swimmers.
JULY 31
Do you like the blues? Are you interested in attending a blues festival held to promote blues music in Southern New England and to benefit worthy area community groups?
We are going to be visited by Karen Blair, well-known in Cranberry Country as the editor and publisher of the newspaper that I had the honor and pleasure to write for, The Free Bird Times.
Karen is also the founder and organizer of the 16th Annual New England Blues Festival, scheduled for September 11, at the Middleboro Lodge of Elks on High Street.
I want to bring her on this last Saturday in July before tickets are all sold out to the event which will include a spaghetti and meatball dinner with proceeds going to worthy causes.
I'll be there!
SATURDAY, JULY 4
In our opening segment: Meet a successful ,young entrepreneur, a social media marketing professional, and an influencer who began her career when she started her own fashion and lifestyle blog – at the age of 15!
Today, Ashley Mason continues with her success as president and owner of two successful web resources – Dash of Social, and her latest – Student to CEO!
Let’s find out from Ashley how she got started, who are some of her clients, and what it takes to run her websites and organization!
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Want to find out what’s going on in Middleboro? Need to know who may need some assistance or wants to know the best restaurants in town or when classes begin for the public school system? Then you will have to listen to Ree Donnelly the co-founder of the very popular Middleboro Helping Middleboro website that has grown to over 18,000 susbcribers – keeping Middleboro area folks abreast of activities and more - - all for free.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
In our first segment we'll be joined by Tom Whalen, the Executive Chef of the Pawtucket Red Sox to hear about the Paw Sox "Dinning on the Diamond" event that will have you and your family and friends taking part in a delightful meal - and more - right on the field at McCoy Stadium!
And in segment number two, Matt and Christanie Channel tell us about "Urban Farming" - and the wonderful items for sale along with the animals that inhabit their Hanson, MA , Channel Homestead!
SATURDAY JUNE 13
Join us as Karen Foye of Foye Photography talks about her successful business as well as provide some tips and insights in getting the right shots for your photos
In our second segment let's head back in time with the legendary Pufferbellies DJ during the heyday of John Morgan 's Cape Cod Happy Hours - Gary Titus - relive some happy hour memories and find out what the popular Canton, MA DJ is up to today!
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
We are going to talk with a Bridgewater State University graduate faculty member – completing her Doctorate degree - who learned of a family that could use some assistance.
So she took part in a fundraiser in an unusual way.
But instead of the usual car wash fundraiser or a weekend 5K fundraising road race, she hiked over 29,000 vertical feet – all to help a local Abington family.
But – and it’s a big but with an exclamation point – she did it in ONE WEEK! And without any preparation!
Join us as we meet with the amazing Chrissy Semler of Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
SATURDAY, MAY 30
In Our First Segment
But you were kept away from licking up the cookie dough because it contained raw eggs?
We’ll see what recipes he’ll be sharing with
SATURDAY, MAY 23
In Our First Segment
From the American Ninja Warrior television series, Allyssa Beird joins us as we talk about her national TV appearances and her athletic background that led her to rise through the programs ranks.
In Our Second Segment
Rachel Letourneau Borus, proprietor of Rachel's Hair Expression will be discussing the new rules as part of the Governor's latest Phase I requirements and what her clients could expect as they head back to getting hair cuts!
SATURDAY, MAY 16
In Our First Segment
Local author David Whitemyer joins us on Cranberry Country Journal to discuss his book, "Abandoned Massachusetts - Lost Treasures of the Bay State," which contains brief stories and his over ten-years of vivid images of long forgotten and abandoned facilities including area churches, factories, theatres and hospitals.
We'll delve into the author and amateur photographer's decision to explore these abandoned local and once thriving, people-gathering, working facilities. Many of which are still standing and found in the South Shore area.
In Our Second Segement:
It's no longer a secret! We are going to talk with A Middleboro native currently living out west and - we'll just say - who won't be "slinging the bull" when we talk about a sport organization that she works in. Described as the fastest growing sport in the US and a sport that I reckon we folks don't rightly see much of here in these parts of Cranberry Country!
You'll just have to join us for the May 16th edition of Cranberry Country Journal, heard from 10 to 11 AM on WVBF 1530 AM & FM 99.7 - And throughout the world on the Internet at https://radiostationusa.fm/online/wvbf-1530-am
MARCH TO MAY 16 2020- STORED IN ARCHIVES
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