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Rivers Activities Picnic Archive
May 11, 2002

schedule of events | musical guests | participating organizations

Schedule of Events

10:00 - 10:40

Opening remarks by Dakota County Parks Program Director Stephanie LeGros and musical performance by Charlie Maguire.

10:40 - 11:05

Lorna Benson and Cathy Wurzer chat with Mainstreet Radio's Rachel Reabe about the series of Mainstreet reports throughout Rivers Week.

Lorna and Cathy conduct river quiz with audience.

Lorna chats with Mississippi River historian John Anfinson about the river's role in our lives from commerce to recreation.
Listen

Cathy chats with Jerry Murrow, of the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center, accompanied by Annie the peregrine falcon.
Listen

11:05 - 11:50

Musical performance by Ruth MacKenzie

11:55 - 12:15

Lorna and Cathy chat with Leonard Witt about the Civic Journalism project associated with MPR's Changing Currents project.

Cathy chats with a Minnesota Land Trust representative about the importance of buffer zones and permanently setting aside river land.
Listen

Lorna chats with Seasonal Park Ranger John Weinberg, of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, about some of the challenges of protecting rivers that share borders.
Listen

12:15 - 12:40

Musical performance by Charlie Maguire

12:40 - 1:10

Lorna chats with Mississippi River troubadour Larry Long about his work
Listen

Long and vocalist Amy Bryant perform a few songs.

1:10 - 1:25

Lorna and Cathy conduct river quiz with audience.

Cathy chats with Deborah Karasov, assitant director of Great River Greening
Listen

Cathy chats with Bruce Hankinson, representing the Minnesota DNR and the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee
Listen

Lorna and Cathy chat with Jim Cuff, of the Raptor Center, accompanied by Samantha the great horned owl.
Listen

Lorna chats with Larry Thomas, from the Minnesota Science Museum, who gives a brief science presentation for the kids.

Dakota County Parks Director Stephanie LeGros thanks attendees.

1:25 - 1:50

Musical performance by Ruth MacKenzie


Participating Organizations
Check out the Changing Currents Resources list to find out more about organizations participating in the Rivers Activities Picnic.


Musical Guests

Charlie Maguire
© National Park Service
In 1995, Charlie Maguire officially became the "Singing Ranger" of the National Park Service. He serves at Mississippi National River and Recreation Area in St. Paul, composing and performing Mississippi River songs and creating river-education programs based on the arts. After meeting Garrison Keillor in 1974, he made regular appearances on A Prairie Home Companion for 10 years. During that time he wrote and performed some of his most-requested songs: "Goodnight Baby," "Play Us A Waltz," "I'm From Minnesota," "Talking Home Improvement," and "Getting in the Cows," which is included on APHC's Tenth Anniversary Album.
More information about Charlie Maguire

Ruth MacKenzie
© Minnesota Public Radio
Twin Cities singer Ruth MacKenzie has been called the "Janis Joplin of folk" in Finland and Sweden. She has worn many hats as a singer, writer, and actor. Her creation and performance of "Kalevala: Dream of the Salmon Maiden" earned much acclaim from local and national press. Her solo career as a jazz and blues singer has included performances at the Ordway Music Theater, and she has been featured at the Walker Art Center, Ruby's Cabaret, The Dakota Bar and Grill, Big Top Chautauqua, and Winnipeg Folk Music Festival. She is the co-founder of the musical group TROVA, which has toured throughout the United States and Europe and recorded two albums.

Larry Long
Larry Long is a musician, community organizer, father and educator. He has organized farmer-controlled markets in Tennessee; a movement to clean up the upper Mississippi River; and the first hometown tribute to Woody Guthrie, celebrated with children in Okemah, Oklahoma. He has sung along the banks of the Amazon and Tiete Rivers of Brazil and joined on a peace cruise down the Volga River in the former Soviet Union.
More information about Larry Long