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How "Blue" Is Maryland?

When it comes to red states and blue states, Maryland is supposed to be one of the deepest shades of blue. Democrats here outnumber Republicans two to one. With the blue tide that swept Democrats back into power during this midterm election, it was a no-brainer that Maryland would be riding the crest of the biggest wave. But the races for governor and the open senate seat were hard fought battles. Democrats Martin O'Malley and Ben Cardin won with comfortable margins. But these were real contests - a fact that left some wondering what happened. Metro Connection's Sidsel Overgaard reports.

Gail "For Rail" Parker

While the hotly contested Virginia Senate race could hardly have been any closer, it became obvious early on that Independent Green candidate Gail "For Rail" Parker was not going to eek out a win. Granted, she ran on one issue - "more trains, less traffic" - and spent next to no money on her campaign. But she did pick up over twenty-six thousand votes. In a race where George Allen and Jim Webb were neck-and-neck, it's a number that could have put either one of them over the top. Gail Parker joins us.

Commentary by Steven Salant - Domestic Violence

Last week on the show, Senior Commentator Fred Fiske spoke about domestic law and the granting of protective orders for abused spouses in Maryland.

We heard from many of you who took issue with Fred's comments, and we air a response from Steven Salant. He is Family Division Master with the Montgomery County Judicial Center. And although Salant has been a Fred Fiske listener for many years, he says this time Fred missed the boat.

The Exponent Awards - The Sitar Center

Aside from the city's official capital status, DC has also been called the "nonprofit capital" of the United States. About half of the nearly eight thousand non-profits in the DC area are small organizations, with budgets of less than five million dollars. Many of them deal with constant funding and staffing issues, and their success often depends on the person at the top. Nonprofit Executive Directors are a passionate breed, but even the most determined can burn out. DC's Meyer Foundation is trying something new to raise awareness of the burnout factor - an award for visionary non-profit leadership. The "Exponent Award" and a set of $100,000 grants will be given to five leaders of non-profits in the region.

Today we launch a series profiling the winners of this year's awards. In part one, Metro Connection's Jessica Smith meets Rhonda Buckley, Executive Director of the Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts.

Working to Battle "Burnout"

A study co-sponsored by the Meyer Foundation says three out of four nonprofit leaders plan to leave their jobs in the next five years. Julie Rogers is President of the foundation. Speaking in her office, she said she hopes the Exponent Awards, which will be handed out to non-profit leaders on Monday, will help focus attention on the issue of leadership burnout.

Celtic DC Part II - "Pavilion 3"

Celtic music is not just confined to Irish jigs and Scottish reels. Musicians playing in the tradition also draw on rhythms from northern Spain and the French region of Brittany. In the second of our profiles on the fall Celtic music series at the Old Brogue Irish Pub in Great Falls, we focus on a band that gets REALLY eclectic. "Pavilion 3," comprised of Karen Ashbrook, Paul Oorts and Steve Bloom, find room for African, middle-eastern and Cuban influences that they say bring a contemporary spin to the world of Celtic music.

The fall Celtic series at the Old Brogue Irish Pub takes place every Sunday through December 3rd.

Peter Fay's Best Bets

With the election behind us, arts editor Peter Fay says it's time to focus our attention on theatre, museums and concerts in the DC region.