Bill Dwight Show

Northampton schools got a bad report card from the state regarding their special education programs. Valle Dwight (yes, Bill’s sister) is the co-chair of the Parent’s Advisory Council for Special Education, and talks about why she was not surprised, and what’s next. Also, actress Jennifer Coolidge - who can be seen in Christopher Guest’s “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind” - is bringing her stand-up gig to the Hu Ke Lau. We talk to her about her midlife career crisis.

Beware the impending robot invasion! And also misguided attempts to help Haiti (One great way to help would be to attend this weekend’s Help for Haiti benefit concert, featuring a talk by Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracy Kidder). We talk to ACLU attorney Bill Newman about whether corporations are people, too.

Oscar nominations have been announced, so we bring in our movie dude, Luke Bittel, to talk about that, Edge of Darkness (which he worked on), and his experiences with alleged inebriated attempted bank robber, Rip Torn.

Then Bob and Diane from the Northampton Arts Council come in to tell us about the first of Four Sundays in February, the Silver Chord Bowl. And also to put out an appeal for Bob’s hat, which is missing.

It’s the last Friday of the month, which means we’re in the produce section of Serio’s Market! Michael Kusek hips us to another benefit for the arson victims (which will include a gorgeous piece of artwork from Serio’s staffer and jeweler George Beaupre Jr.); Reverend Peter Ives and his wife Jenny Fleming Ives talk about how Peter’s going to spend his time now that he’s retiring from First Churches; and lookout! it’s an acapella rumble! Featuring two local groups, The Connotations and 5 Alone.

Dr. Robert McChesney has some concerns about the current weakened state of journalism, and how it weakens our democracy. We also talk to R. Joshua Mobley about an article he wrote on his connection to suspected arsonist Tony Baye.

Did Bill help kill Air America? Whatever, he’s eagerly anticipating the announcement about the rumored Apple tablet. Meanwhile, we talk to (still fairly) new council president David Narkewicz about his hopes for this council.

Bill was off in the wilds of New Jersey for a funeral. Luckily, we’d chatted with some folks earlier - like Drs. Peter Bittel and Harold Robles, of the Medical Knowledge Institute, who are bringing Archbishop Desmond Tutu to the area.

Also, our LA correspondent Tommy Saunders demands to know why he cares more about our fires than his.

Joel Russell wants to make Northampton even more pedestrian and local-business friendly. Find out how. We also talk to attorney Thomas Estes, director of Northampton’s public defender’s office, to clear up some misconceptions around the legal proceedings in the arrest of Anthony Baye.

We talk to attorney and legal director of Voter Action John Bonifaz about the recent Supreme Court decision giving corporations the right to pump money into our political process, and how you can help fight it.

Also Steve Connor and Gerry Budgar talk about tonight’s benefit for the arson victims, featuring entertainment from one of those victims; and Barbara Storper of Foodplay talks about making good food choices fun for kids, and their appearance at the Hamphire Regional YMCA open house this Sunday.

We try to look at the bright side of Scott Brown’s victory. Meanwhile, Jaime Michaels of Out for Reel Films has a cure for your blues that involves singing along to ABBA with your neighbors. And Massachusetts Agricultural Commissioner Scott Soares and CISA’s Phil Korman talk smokeless sugaring, winter fairs, and more….