WAMU 88.5FM American University Radio

Emergency Planning vs. Instinct

We started "National Preparedness Month" with a look at what local residents are doing - or not doing - to prepare for a terrorist attack or natural disaster. We bring the month to a close with a look at what would actually happen during a real emergency, with a focus on one group whose actions remain especially hard to predict...parents. We've been told by emergency management officials that the best thing to do in the event of a disaster is stay put until told otherwise, even if our kids are at school and we're across town. The question remains whether parents will be able to fight instinct and heed that message. Sidsel Overgaard reports.

Reading Classes

The federal No Child Left Behind law requires all schoolchildren to read on grade level by 2014. That's a tall order, considering that nearly three million school-age kids in the U.S. are just learning to speak English. But many school districts are responding to the challenge - like the Montgomery County Public Schools, where about 13,000 students are learning English. This school year, the county made sure special reading classes were in place at nearly half of its middle schools. Sarah Hughes has more.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - Illogical

WAMU 88.5 Senior Commentator Fred Fiske remembers back to a time that seemed simpler, happier, and much more logical.

Monarch Migration

They weigh less than an ounce and have over 2000 miles to fly - the monarch butterfly migration is always a major event, but naturalists say they're counting monarchs in record-breaking numbers this year. Cape May, New Jersey, is one of the best spots in the world to view them during their journey to the mountains of Mexico. The peak generally occurs during the first couple of weeks of October. We traveled to the southern tip of New Jersey with naturalist Mark Garland to catch the monarchs in their full splendor. And although you can't see their Halloween black-and-orange wings filling the skies on the radio, but trust us - as we walked between the dunes this week the butterflies were on display in abundance.

Naturalist Mark Garland is the author of the book "Watching Nature: A Mid Atlantic Natural History."

The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

The second annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival kicks off in DC on Wednesday, and for five days next week world class jazz will dominate venues from U Street to the National Mall. Reporter Jessica Smith spoke with festival director Charles Fishman.

Short Order Stories

From Donny and Marie to Amy and David Sedaris, there's a long history of brothers and sisters in the arts who somehow find a way to work together. A new play that opened in Arlington last week, "Short Order Stories," is the product of a first time brother/sister collaboration. Written by DC playwright and actress Renee Calarco, and directed by Helen Hayes "Outstanding Director" winner Joe Calarco, it's produced by Charter Theatre and running now at Theatre On The Run.

Sleeping Beauty - The Time Traveler

We finish with some more local theatre today, this one aimed at a younger audience than the college-bound crowd. Six years ago, a homegrown children's musical based on an old fairy tale premiered at tiny Imagination Stage at the White Flint Mall - "Sleeping Beauty: The Time Traveler." Now, the production itself has traveled to Imagination Stage's new Lerner Family Theatre in Bethesda. Metro Connection theatre critic Bari Biern has a review.

The show runs through November 5th. For information you can call 301-280-1660.