Interviews

On this week's 1430 Connection, the focus is on an Anne Arundel County firefighter who is recovering from COVID-19 and how he gives back to the community through books. WNAV’s Donna Cole talks with Firefighter Paramedic Brian Holtslander on his experience with coronavirus, what he learned from it and what others might be able to and how some of this has changed from early on to today. While Holtslander indicated he can’t be sure where he contracted the virus, there was an outbreak at a facility he works part-time as a nurse – that facility is not in Maryland. They also talk about the Little Libraries program.

WNAV reached out Capt. Russ Davies, spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Fire Department on the COVID-19-related precautions the department takes to safeguard its personnel. Davies emailed, “We have a robust contact patient tracing system in place through the fire department Risk Management Division and our Infection Control Officer. To this point, we don't believe we have had any patient to provider transmissions. We have had 26 people test positive since the beginning of the pandemic. The N95 mask and gowns were part of our regular available personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to the pandemic. We instituted its use by providers on Patients Under Investigation (PUI) patients early on. Potential PUI patients were identified by our 911 call takers very early on, starting when PUI patients were identified by international travel, and then the questions have been adapted as the CDC guidelines dictate.”

In the interest in transparency, this interview was recorded on Monday, prior to President Trump's diagnosis. The 1430 Connection airs every Friday at 2 on WNAV.

Ed Clark is the founder and president of the Wildlfe Center of Virginia. He was also a key player in the state of Virginia banning carbofuran in advance of the nationwide carbofuran ban by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Delmarva Peninsula includes Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Why doesn't Virginia have the carbofuran/eagle issue, but Maryland and Delaware do? They did, but Virginia ban of carbofuran ahead of the EPA & requiring registration for it seems to have made a significant difference. All of what happened is explained in this two-part interview.

For more information on the Wildlife Center of Virginia, visit https://www.wildlifecenter.org/

For more information on the carbofuran/eagle problem in Maryland, visit https://www.annapoliscreative.com/the-carbo-wars/

On this week's 1430 Connection, the topic is the Kinera Foundation. WNAV’s Donna Cole interviews Kate McCloskey, executive director of the Stevensville-based nonprofit which provides support to families that have special health care needs through parent support groups, access to therapies, and much more. The discussion includes what programs and support does Kinera offer and how is the organization supporting their clients through the pandemic, with schools online, rather than in-person.

For more information on the Kinera Foundation, visit www.kinera.org

On this week's 1430 Connection, the topic is the history of commercial broadcasting and the 100th anniversary of the first commercial broadcast. WNAV’s Donna Cole interviews Brian Belanger, curator of the National Capital Radio and Television Museum in Bowie, Maryland. The discussion starts with the birth of amateur radio, then to KDKA’s first broadcast, through to today and how radio and regulations have changed along the way. Also, what visitors to the National Capital Radio and Television Museum can expect to see. It is free to visit and currently planning its reopening (it’s been closed due to the pandemic).

For more information on the National Capital Radio and Television Museum, visit https://ncrtv.org/

Tornado Damage Reported in Multiple Areas Along the South River

A storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service has concluded the tornado that hit the Edgewater on Thursday evening began as an EF-1, then weakened to an EF-O as it made its way along the South River, causing further damage in several Annapolis neighborhoods. The agency said the tornado was on the ground for just over 6 miles and about 10 minutes.

The National Weather Service report states, “tornadic damage began after the storm crossed Beard’s Creek off the South River. Trees were first downed near the intersection of Edgewater Drive and Park Avenue, just north of Lee Airport.

Tornadic damage began after the storm crossed Beard's Creek off the South River. Trees were first downed near the intersection of Edgewater Drive and Park Avenue, just north of Lee Airport. The tornado intensified as it moved east into central Edgewater, and reached its peak EF-1 strength in the area of the community bounded by Solomons Island Road (Route 2), Virginia Avenue, and Ridge Avenue. In this area damage was blown in all directions, siding was torn from the wall of one home, and some roof flashing was damaged on another. A commercial fence was blown down to the North. However, most of the damage was to trees. Most of the trees in this area had at least some large branches ripped from their upper sections. About 10 trees in this wooded community were entirely uprooted or snapped. Some of those trees fell into power lines, and at least 2 power poles were snapped because of this. A few homes and vehicles were damaged from falling trees and branches.

As the tornado crossed Solomons Island Road, it weakened to an EF-0 but continued to cause scattered tree damage with uprooted or snapped trees that were thrown generally left of the tornado track. Damage was noted on both sides of Warehouse Creek along Leeland Road and South River Landing Road.

The tornado continued across South river and into Hillsmere shores. A large tree was uprooted on the Key School soccer field with numerous large branches strung across the 100-yard field to the left of the track. One large branch caused damage to the protective netting and metal framing attached to a scoreboard situated on the west side of the soccer field. The damage path continued east across Hillsmere drive where a half dozen 30-40 foot tall pine trees where (sp) uprooted and criss-crossed in a northeast and southeast fashion.

Further northeast along Sunset Drive, scattered tree damage was observed with several large trees snapped. One large tree was uprooted and puncturing a roof resulting in water intrusion inside the home. Additional scattered tree limb damage was observed immediately to the east northeast with limbs noted thrown to the left of the track.

As the tornado tracked east, scattered tree limb damage was observed along Thomas Point Road and through the Arundel on the Bay community. A few large trees were observed to be snapped and uprooted along Cohasset Ave near Walnut Ave. Tree damage became minor near the shoreline of the bay between Linden Ave and Walnut Ave.

While wind damage from this storm was examined between Crofton, Davidsonville, and Riva, that tree damage was unidirectional, largely oriented from west east, and falling generally in the direction of the storm's motion.”

The Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management has opened the damage assessment portal, which is a tool for gathering data on the damages caused by the storm.

Damage assessment is a critical process that occurs after a severe incident or disaster. Preeti Emrick, the Director of the Office of Emergency Management, emphasizes that “data collection helps determine the severity of impact an incident or disaster has on individuals and communities which can help us prepare for future events.”

Residents and businesses can report any damage that was incurred as a result of the severe weather event by filling out the Anne Arundel County Damage Assessment Data Collection form (https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSd5NsGDWvbzD6xUlK…/viewform) through September 14, 2020.

Update - the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down at this location.

WNAV’s Donna Cole was on Virginia Avenue in Edgewater where there's extensive storm damage. The National Weather Service has said a tornado was confirmed on radar south of Annapolis.

We spoke to Arif Mahmood who lives here.

On this week's 1430 Connection, the topic is the Annual Scholarship for Black and Latinx Birders of Maryland & DC. WNAV’s Donna Cole interviews Orietta Estrada-Chaconas, a writer/editor and birder, and Chris Eberly, executive director of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership. They discuss what the scholarship offers, how it came to be, how students can apply for it and how others can help. Also discussed is the lack of diversity in the birding world and the movement to change honorific bird names. For more information on the scholarship, visit https://marylandbirds.org/black-latinx-birders-scholarship.

WNAV is a media partner of the Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership.

On this week's 1430 Connection, WNAV’s Donna Cole interviews Jeff Horstman, executive director of ShoreRivers, an Eastern Shore-based non-profit. While the interview focuses much on the work and mission of ShoreRivers, also discussed is Jeff’s mom, Nina Houghton, who died in March. Nina founded, along with Jeff’s father, Robert Horstman, the Sea Mammal Motivational Institute (SEAMAMM). Nina’s passion for the environment surely had an impact on Jeff who spent some of his early years living on a research vessel in Florida, then moving to Queen Anne’s County, where his stepfather, Arthur Houghton Jr., lived. Nina’s legacy lives on in many ways, including with a fund established for ShoreRivers in her name.

For more information, visit https://www.shorerivers.org/news//nina-rodale-houghton-fund-to-endow-riverkeepers

A peaceful Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest was held in Shady Side Friday afternoon. Like many of the local BLM protests, this one was also organized by a young person. One that wants change in his community and doesn't want hate.

On this week's 1430 Connection, WNAV’s Donna Cole interviews Chad Wilkerson, an Annapolis photographer and videographer. The topic is what he sees through his lens, how he tells stories, why diversity matters and how life experiences play a role.