The first 15 minutes are random short clips about little community interactions of the past week: Betty Wolfson, a Florence neighbor who ran out with a homemade smoothie when I was picking up trash; Chris McCulley walking his bike down the sidewalk with a table saw on the milk crate; reactions I got Friday wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt; Ben Ross’ facebook post inviting people to meet in Pulaski Park to talk about whatever was on their minds;  butterfly spotting at the Florence community gardens; and a minute rant about fuzzy speaking toys in the trash.

At 16:00 min, Alex shares a story about hopping  a freight train home to Maine.

In the second half hour, Northampton City councillors Bill Dwight and David Murphy share their thoughts on a potential wage-theft ordinance in Northampton.  Bill Dwight wonders how we can make it effective, and David Murphy says it is the State’s role, not the City’s.

To break up or not to break up, that is the question.  My personal life has been in emotional chaos the past week, so it’s hard to think about doing a radio show.  Anyway, I managed to fill the hour, thanks to running into Alice K on Round Hill Road/Crescent St, and her telling me about her wooden ladder trellises, and how she unsuspectingly became a painting contractor in her early 40s, which she continued for 25 years.  Thanks to music for helping get me through this show as well.  And a word from Ernie of Ernie’s Garage about his pebble parking lot, and Chris P and Tyler in front of Haymarket answering relationship questions (or not).

After arriving in Chinatown NYC in 2002, Lingeng worked in restaurants for 14 years, including the last 9 at the former Zen restaurant in Northampton.  Despite long hours that left little time and energy to build a life in a new country, and pay ranging from $4-$10/hour, he has learned English, gone to college, and been organizing with the Pioneer Valley Worker’s Center.  (AND become a Pedal Person!)    www.pvworkerscenter.org

Clips from my trip:  woman collecting trash/recycling by trike on the HighLine in NYC; Borderland Bike Billboards in Knoxville, TN; Food Not Bombs in Knoxville; and I have lot to say about VIP helicopter travel in New York City, along the path by the river where people are trying to breathe.