Father Patrick DesBois will be in Southwest Florida later this week. He’s the author of “Holocaust by Bullets: a Priest’s Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews”. He’s also the founder of Yur-ad un Unum – which means “together” in Hebrew and Latin.

When most of us think of the Holocaust it’s of concentration camps. But DesBois’ journey has led him to remote villages in parts Poland and the former Soviet Union.

His grandfather was imprisoned near one of those villages during the war. He told DesBois the camp was bad but what happened outside was even worse. He would not say more. To learn the truth the Priest went to the village near the camp that had held his grandfather and arranged a meeting with the mayor.

Naples Attorney Patrick White was recently named the new President of “Families of Flight 93”. White’s cousin, Joey Nackee, was one of the forty people on the United Airlines plane that crashed in a field near Shanksville Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. A land use attorney, White has worked with the Department of the Interior and the National Parks Service to acquire land and funds to build the Flight 93 National Memorial at the crash site. White said he had no idea his cousin was on plane that day from Newark bound for San Fransisco.

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement this morning. Florida’s Republican Senator George Lemieux commended Stevens on his record of distinguished service – including 34 years on the high court. 

The life and work of artist Guy LaBree is featured in a new book by Carol Mahler.  Mahler is a professional storyteller, poet, teacher, and musician as well as a writer.  She told WGCU’s Valerie Alker that she met Guy LaBree – the Barefoot Artist of the Florida Seminoles - at a musical gathering in Punta Gorda several years ago…and is now bringing his work to a larger audience.

U.S Representative Connie Mack returned to his roots yesterday – to the business in his hometown of Cape Coral that gave him his first job in high school.  The Republican lawmaker says Marine Concepts is a perfect example of a small business struggling to stay afloat under the policies of the Obama Administration.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker prepared this report.

National Geographic Polar Explorer Will Steger speaks at Edison College in Punta Gorda tomorrow.  Steger has travelled to the Arctic and  Antarctic many times over the last 40 years.   And he’s seen some changes.

The
Brody Project for Animal Assisted Therapy in Naples is hosting a
lecture by well known animal behaviorist Dr. Patricia McConnell Thursday
at Moorings Park.  McConnel teaches about the biology and philosophy of
human and animal relationships at the University of Wisconsin in
Madison, and for many years hosted the weekly public radio program
“Calling all Pets”.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker talked to her about that bond
and the Brody project that’s bringing her to Southwest Florida.

A
voice well-known to public radio listeners is hanging up his
microphone…at least on weekday mornings that is.  Carl Kassel has been
NPR’s primary Morning Edition Newscaster since 1979.  He’ll deliver his
final newscast a week from today.  WGCU’s Mike Kiniry spoke to him
Tuesday from the NPR studios in Washington.  He says he’ll do his best
to start sleeping in…

An event celebrating the life and art of a longtime Fort Myers resident is being held Saturday night at 7:00 at the Lee County Alliance of the Arts campus in Fort Myers. Bruce Gora was an architect, photographer and musician…he designed the Alliance campus and several other well-known buildings in Lee County. The evening will feature Gora’s photographs, architectural and community accomplishments...as well as live music. Longtime friend and Alliance board member Katherine Boren is chairing the event…she told WGCU’s Mike Kiniry that Gora was truly a renaissance man…

Port
Charlotte Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Mark Asperilla has been
named one of the ten most caring people of 2009 by the non-profit
Caring Institute. The winners of this year’s award were announced by former
Senate Majority leader Robert Dole – Chairman of the Board of the
Caring Institute.  General Colin Powell is also among this year’s
winners.  The Dalai Lamai will be on hand at the awards ceremony next
Tuesday in Los Angeles.  Dr. Asperilla will be attending with his son. 
He spoke with WGCU’s Valerie Alker about the honor…