Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, we know you will want to join us for a festive hour of wise words, music and love. Consider this our gift to you on this blessed day.
Guests include bestselling author and Maine State Warden Service chaplain Kate Braestrup, musical group Mister Moon and Kurt Holmgren of The Root Cellar.
Kate Braestrup is the bestselling author of Here If You Need Me and a Maine State Warden Service chaplain. Educated at the Parsons School of Design/The New School and Georgetown University, Braestrup originally thought of herself primarily as a writer.
In 1985, she married James Andrew “Drew” Griffith. Maine State Police trooper Griffith was killed in a car accident while on duty in 1996. Kate Braestrup was left a widowed mother of four children between the ages of 3 and 9. As it happened, Drew had spent the last year of his life thinking about, researching and finally committing himself to becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister, a plan that was naturally discussed extensively with his wife. In this way, unwittingly, he had prepared the way for Kate Braestrup to recognize and develop her own vocation. She entered the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1997, and was ordained in 2004. Since 2001, she has served as chaplain to the Maine Warden Service, joining the wardens as they search the wild lands and fresh waters of Maine for those who have lost their way, and offering comfort. As an ordained minister, Braestrup performs weddings, and advises individuals and couples.
Kate’s latest book is entitled Beginner’s Grace. In BEGINNER’S GRACE: Bringing Prayer to Life. A new kind of prayer book – made for those who might not pray or even know how. In 2006, Braestrup married the artist, Simon van der Ven. They have a total of six children, all whom are now sauntering, tiptoeing or being pushed up to and across the threshold of adulthood.
Rachel Keyes and sisters Hallee and Katie Pottle of the group Mister Moon were our first ever musical guests on our “Maine Magazine Minutes” segment, co-hosted by Genevieve Morgan. We first encountered this group of heartbreakingly talented young women at the J.C. Stone Symposium last fall.
Rachael “Richie” Keyes – Richie began doodling on her father’s guitar during the summer of 2008, and has now picked up several stringed instruments during the course of her musical journey, including the mandolin, DADGAD guitar, and ukulele, and has also proven to be a natural at the bass fiddle. Rachel is nineteen-years-old. Hallee “Xanadu” Pottle – Xan was first introduced to the mandolin at the age of ten, and since then has performed in various all-children bluegrass bands such as Into The Blue, a group of 13+ talented children. Xan has been singing with her sister and cousins for many years with dreams of someday touring the country. Hallee is fifteen. Katie Pottle is thirteen-years-old. She sings and plays the ukelele.
The singers of Mister Moon come from the Palermo, Maine area. This is their first radio show appearance.
Our “Give Back” segment features the The Root Cellar and its director Kurt Holmgren. Kurt is from Minneapolis, MN, he came to Maine in 1984 and has been the Director of the Portland The Root Cellar for 6 years. He volunteered there for 3 years. Kurt has been married for 28 years and has 2 grown children. He attents the Eastpoint Christian Church.
Our financial wellness tip of the week is brought to you by Tom Shepard of Shepard Financial. While Dr. Lisa Radio Hour business advisor, Marci Booth of BOOTH Maine, offers better business tips, Ted Carter of Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes shares important talking points, and Black Bear Medical covers health and fitness updates.
