On WSKG Radio’s OFF THE PAGE
Tues., Nov. 15 at 1 & 7pm
Whoops! This program did not air as scheduled Tuesday 11/15 at 7pm (we re-repeated a program from two weeks ago).
We have RE-SCHEDULED the "From Fly Creek" OFF THE PAGE program for:
Thurs., November 17, at both 1pm and 7pm. WSKG regrets the error.

           
            Fly Creek is not necessarily one of the cultural centers of Otsego County, NY.

            Those unfamiliar with Otsego might wonder what kind of bastion of culture that county might be, not recognizing the presence of Glimmerglass Opera and Catskill Symphony, the Farmers Museum, the art haven in Gilbertsville and the national Halls of Fame of both baseball and soccer.  The beautiful hills and lakes of this western Catskill region draw lovers of both the visual and performing arts, of history and sports.

            Thanks to Jim Atwell, for the past dozen years Fly Creek – a hamlet just west of Cooperstown – has had an extra life in literature.  Jim’s personal experiences could be a commanding autobiographical novel.  He has been a Catholic teaching monk, a college professor and administrator until, after the death of his first wife, he retired and moved to an 18^th century farmhouse.  Jim lived the gritty life of a solitary country gentleman until remarrying.  For the past twelve years he has been sharing his day-to-day experience with readers.    

                                    -- from “Expanding Into Pork”

Many people, perhaps everyone, in Fly Creek raises chickens and pigs and cares for cats and deals with headstrong goats or nasty geese.  But Jim Atwell chronicles his life and those of his neighbors in sparkling, well-constructed prose.  His columns appear in the weekly CoopersTown Crier.  They now number over 500 and have won several awards. Many of them archived at the newspaper’s website.  “From Fly Creek: Celebrating Life in Leatherstocking Country” collects fifty of these essays, with pencil-drawn illustrations by Anne Geddes-Atwell.

            Jim Atwell joins Bill Jaker on OFF THE PAGE to share ideas and his essays written “as if we sat across the kitchen table, both of us with coffee cups in hand.  In fact, most parts of this book were probably first read at kitchen tables, and picked up a lot of cup rings and jam stains.”

            To join in the conversation – or to share your own experiences of country life – call 1-888/359-9754 during the live 1:00 PM broadcast, post a comment HERE... or email directly to WSKG.Radio@Gmail.com.

Listen to the program now
in RealAudio© format
(requires free RealAudio© player)

---

On November 29^th, philosopher and guide Trebbe Johnson of Thompson, PA visits OFF THE PAGE to tell about longing and passion and how these universal sentiments, both human and spiritual, can be understood.  Her new book is “The World Is a Waiting Lover: Desire and the Quest for the Beloved”.