- [Michael] Tonight on "WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories," a ship built in Scotland back in 1907 will make the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston its new home.

Discover the last Edwardian era steam liner in existence.

And meet Matt Rozler, a practical woodworking expert in St. Lawrence County.

This retired state trooper gives it is all with every piece he crafts.

Plus the Irish step dancers of the Johnston School of Irish Dance are gearing up for St. Patrick's Day.

Your stories, your region coming up right now on "WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories."

(bright music) - [Announcer] "WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories" is brought to you by.

- [Narrator] When you're unable to see your primary care provider, The Carthage Walk-In Clinic is here for you.

Located off Route 26 across from Carthage Middle School.

Comfort and healing close to home when you need it most.

(gentle music) - [Narrator] North Country Orthopedic Group is there for your urgent ortho or sports related injuries.

With our onsite surgical center and same or next day appointments, we're ready to provide care for patients of all ages.

Your health matters to us.

North Country Orthopedic Group, keeping healthcare local.

- [Narrator] We are the North Country, where protecting one another like family is who we are, and where our tomorrow will always be worth defending.

Find out how we keep the North Country strong at claxtonhepburn.org today.

- [Announcer] And the Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Additional funding from the New York State Education Department.

- Good Tuesday evening everyone, and welcome to this edition of "WPBS Weekly: Inside the Stories."

I'm Michael Riecke.

You are about to embark on a journey of great historical significance as we board the last Edwardian era steam liner in existence.

Built in 1907 in Scotland, it's the newest edition at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes in Kingston, Ontario.

(bright music) - [Gail] The SS Keewatin is the world's last Edwardian passenger steamship constructed in 1907, five years before the Titanic in Glasgow, Scotland.

This 350 foot 8 million pound treasure was built for the Canadian Pacific and helped cement confederations.

- CP Rail and the British Empire and so forth and the people who were involved in the project wanted to create a link that basically went from Great Britain all the way to Hong Kong and then by default also down into New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and so forth because the British Empire was huge, right?

Problem was they had to get through Canada really to do it.

And so Canada is big massive, and North America is this big massive continent in the way, and Canada basically was very populated in the East, but not very populated in the West at all.

You just had British Columbia, and in the middle, you had those territories that were just basically plains.

So the railroad systems then came into play and the steamships that tried to make this connection.

Also, they had to deal with the government because for Confederation, BC wanted to join Confederation, but it was dependent on the fact that the railway joined BC to the east.

That was part of the deal.

- [Gail] In service, the ship worked for 57 years on a two and a half day, 542 mile run.

She carried 288 passengers and 88 crew.

Each trip and materials from Southern Ontario to the top of Lake Superior, returning was 1,600 tons of grain.

- By the time Keewatin was built in 1907, the railway link was established over the top of Lake Superior, but it was not a great route to travel on.

And so therefore, people still wanted to travel by ship for several reasons.

One was because it was a lot nicer, it was also luxurious, because they built these ships in that era and they wanted to attract a certain clientele to do that.

So they had nice dining rooms, great menus, food.

CP was always very concerned about their food that they served, bars, ballroom.

They tried to make it as comfortable as possible.

Now it wasn't on the same scale as the Titanic, which is the apex of that whole era, of course, but it was designed with that in mind, to provide that same transatlantic steamship experience that the Titanic and all the other steamers had.

- [Gail] The ship, featuring 105 first class cabins, was steeped in luxury, with state rooms furnished in mahogany and brass, a two deck flower lounge complete with hand-painted windows from Italy, and a dining room that exuded elegance and grandeur.

For many, it remains a firmly planted image from a bygone age.

- I was originally the cabin watch and the night steward.

So I'd make sandwiches and so forth, or someone wanted to drink, I would tell the bar while I would make the sandwiches here, then go around and check.

So there was also a watchman that he went around that I would go around.

So we did that every hour and a half hour.

We lived on the ship.

I lived up in the front cabins up there and I think I stayed with a porter, a porter, a waiter, and the silver king.

And the silver king is the chap that stood there and polished all the silver.

The second year I came back as a cabin watch, and then needed a waiter.

So I went to a waiter and I got this table.

- [Gail] The journey from Port McNicoll to the Hamilton Shipyard and then to Kingston last spring was described by some to be the maritime event of the year.

Eyes were on the Kewatin.

Not only is it massive in size, it is unlike any ship you see today.

When the ship opens to the public in May of this year, it will be a remarkable artifact to serve the museum's mission.

- So the Great Lakes Museum, as we are known now, was formerly known as the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston.

And our mission has been to inspire an enduring connection to the maritime heritage of Kingston and the Great Lakes.

And so the acquisition of the Keewatin as the last remaining passenger steam ship liner, the oldest passenger steamship in the world in Canada.

Having that as part of our collection helps us to fulfill that mission to be able to better connect the public with Canada's Great Lakes maritime heritage.

We generally have been very, I would say probably a bit more geographically centered around Kingston and Lake Ontario, but we really do wanna make sure that we're connecting with the rest of the Great Lakes and helping people understand that whether you're in Kingston, you're in Collingwood, you're in Thunder Bay, there's a maritime connection.

And honestly right back to the indigenous peoples, the waterways are the integral piece of connecting those people.

We are so focused on the land, now it's time to turn to the water and take it from that perspective.

- To have a ship like that that fills the dry dock on basically the front of the road here, it will attract visitors right then and there, but the size of it is colossal.

And as an artifact, it's a colossal artifact.

So there's nothing like it in the world.

It's not just a a Canadian heritage ship, it's a world heritage ship in the sense that it is the last Edwardian era passenger liner.

- [Gail] For "WPBS Weekly," I'm Gail Puckett.

- The ship is expected to be open to the public sometime in May.

Also tonight, we dive into the craftsmanship of traditional woodworking using modern day tools.

As part of a special series funded by the Dr. D Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation, we take you to St. Lawrence County to introduce you to Matt Rozler.

A retired New York State police investigator, Rozler works full-time to create masterful and practical pieces for the region.

Take a look.

(bright music) - [Joleene] It's rare to find a craftsman that takes his work all the way to the root.

In order to make this, Matt Rozler of St. Lawrence County starts outside with this.

- I became first interested in woodworking through my father, Bob Rozler, and my grandfather, John Tamel.

They were certainly the first inspiration for me with woodworking as most of us know it, but the cutting the trees and the sawmill side comes from my uncle, Tom Jackson.

I spent a lot of time cutting down trees with him.

- [Joleene] Since retiring from the New York State Police in 2020, Rozler has focused on his business 100%, from artful yet practical pieces on display at Tawny and Canton to cabinetry or cutting boards, his work is in demand.

With a shop full of tools both modern and old school, Rozler digs in.

His end game is to produce a piece that boasts no hardware at all.

But to get there is a multi-step process.

- My woodworking process, I try to focus on being natural.

My process is to start with a standing tree and cut it down into a log, bring it into my sawmill, turn it into lumber, and I can turn it into lumber in several different ways in the sawmill.

And then I'll kiln dry it.

After it's kiln dried, then I can make a finished product with it.

I like a clear finish, and I like to show off the natural grain and the natural quality of the wood.

And I like to build with native lumber.

There's hand saws that I use and there's also power saws that I use.

And same with sanding.

There's hand sanding and there's techniques for that.

You use a block sander, sometimes just your hand and a piece of sandpaper, but other times different kinds of power sanders.

I think my initial inspiration is from my father and my grandfather, but I also had other inspirations along the way that shaped the way I like to woodwork.

My shop teacher, John Driscoll, he had techniques that I hadn't learned before, so I learned those techniques.

And PBS Tar (indistinct) Abram changed a lot of the way both my father and I built because it's the use of modern techniques with traditional joinery.

And in the end, I'm able to make a traditional looking piece using modern power tools.

- [Joleene] Part of craftsmanship includes the challenge involved with a particular piece.

When Matt is charged with building something he's never done before, he has to step out of his comfort zone.

But as he explains, it's a zone that's needed to build something really great.

- Particularly now that I build for my customers, I'm constantly taking risk because I'm not taking my inspiration and trying to make a finished piece.

I'm using my customer's inspiration and trying to make the piece that they envision.

That can be challenging sometimes, and I can end up doing something I've never done before with wood.

For me, woodworking embodies hardworking and practicality, to me, I'm not so much an artist as I am a craftsman.

And that's what I like about woodworking is I can make practical items.

The practical items I'm talking about would be like tables and chairs, furniture, but other things too that people want.

I recently just built a patio bar.

So I can make things that people desire that aren't necessarily just artistic, but they're something that we use.

- [Joleene] Even better, it's something that can be used and made with local resources.

- I think the way that it serves the community on a greater scale is that it can be unique to where we live.

So I use native lumber, and any woodworker that uses native lumber can bring an identity to an area.

So I think in that way it's important.

I also think that the practicality of what I build is important because people can use it.

- [Joleene] Despite a change in times and the world seemingly in a hurry, time slows down with a handcrafted piece.

And fortunately this kind of work is still very much appreciated.

In St. Lawrence County for "WPBS Weekly," I'm Joleene DesRosiers.

- I wish I could demonstrate, but I can't.

So we'll just have to talk about Irish step dancing tonight.

Its roots are anchored in traditional Irish dance.

And with St. Patrick's Day coming up, you're sure to see a group of dancers in an area parade.

We caught up with the Johnston School of Irish Dance out of Watertown in Syracuse to discover what it takes to prepare for their busiest time of year.

(bright music) (dancers chatting) (bright music) - What is Irish step dancing?

If you Google it, it'll probably say it's a form of dance, traditionally from Irish dancing with stiff upper body and fast moving legs.

To me, Irish dancing is friendship.

It is goals, it is achievement.

It is meeting people that you will know for your whole entire life.

When you go to that first class or you go to competition and you dance against the same people in your age group, whether you're in California or Ireland, it's a friendship, it's a bond.

Irish dancing is more than just stiff upper body and fast moving legs.

It's a life experience.

So I started, my parents came over from Ireland with two boys and then had two more boys and they finally had a girl, they wanted me to take Irish dancing.

So I went to the Hibernian and I went to learn Irish dancing and loved it from day one.

So when I went to competition, that's when I got the fire.

That's when I got the fuel.

I really enjoyed competing.

It was fun to Irish dance, but once it really meant something that what I was doing had a goal, if you would, then that's when I really, really enjoyed it.

(bright music) - [Narrator] In 1993, Anne's love of Irish step dancing led her to establish the Johnston School of Irish Dance.

- [Ann] I started with four kids.

Their grannies were from Ireland and they wanted to learn how to Irish dance.

And then Riverdance hit and everyone wanted to learn how to riverdance.

It was no longer Irish dancing.

It was a phenomenon that hit the world and everyone wanted to know how to riverdance.

So I was there to teach them how to Irish dance.

- [Narrator] The popularity of riverdance and the growing interest in Irish step dancing enabled Ann to open schools in Auburn, Casnovia, Utica, Binghamton, Syracuse, and even Pennsylvania, in addition to her first location in Watertown.

Students in our classes have found that there are many benefits to Irish dancing.

- [Ann] Irish dancing is like a sprint.

It's a two minute dance that you're gonna go fast from the beginning to the end.

You have to have good core.

But mentally, Irish dancing is a release.

I've had kids that say they have anxiety and I say, "You don't have anxiety."

And they say, "Not here, not at dance class."

I feel like it is a place that you can release all the bad energy and have good energy.

- [Narrator] Over the years, the Johnston School of Irish Dance has spawned many competitive and championship dancers.

- Talking about my students, I could go on forever.

I have to say that right now I have two boys that qualified for the worlds in Scotland.

Then I have a handful of kids that are going to Texas for the national competition.

- [Narrator] One award-winning student is Watertown native Leah Zembiec, who most recently won first place adult solo champion at the Great Britain Irish Step Dancing Championship in October, and first place with a perfect score, adult Ceilidh Forehand at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Olreachtas in Philadelphia in November.

She started step dancing when she was just five years old.

- I got started with the Johnston School of Dance because my parents took me to the Irish Festival in Watertown and I saw the show and then my parents asked if I wanted to do that with my sister.

I like Irish step dancing because it's like a sport, but it's also like a stress reliever for me.

It brings on its own stress from like competing, but it's different.

I dunno, it's like when you're dancing, you just forget about everything else that's going on.

You can just focus on that.

When I won at Great Britain, it was a real exciting feeling.

It was kind of weird because my mom has always like gone to the competitions with me.

So that one, I couldn't even tell her I won till like the next day because of the time zone difference.

But I was really fortunate to have Ann with me, and they welcome the teacher on stage when you won.

And it was kind of one of my goals in life was I wanted to have my teacher on stage with me because I wouldn't have been there without her.

So that was like a huge accomplishment for both of us.

- In November, I did a class with just traditional, I was just gonna do one dance, a traditional dance, a session every Friday, and I did it, and at the very last class, everyone did the dance.

It was just one basic dance treble, one treble, two treble, three.

And I took a video of all of them doing the dance, and at the end, this little girl looked at me right in the eye and said, "That is so satisfying."

So for me, someone going to the worlds, winning the national title, it's satisfying.

A little kid if they're at class and they're struggling and they finally get the piece, just so satisfying.

One, two, three, four, five six.

I say, if you haven't tried Irish dancing, now's the time.

Get off your couch, come to the state office building, go to your local Hibernian, find out where there's a class.

It's great exercise, it's a release, it's fun.

And I think everyone should try it, any age, nine to 99.

- You can catch the Irish step dancers.

This Saturday in Syracuse's St. Patrick's Parade or on Sunday in Watertown's North Country Irish Festival Parade.

Out of Kingston, Ontario tonight is the music of rock band Kasador.

They share a session from their studio with us and here they are with their original tune, "Quit Your Crying."

(upbeat music) (gentle music) ♪ The door slammed shut just after three ♪ ♪ The sun's not coming up till you've said your peace ♪ ♪ Oh no, here we go again ♪ ♪ These nights just seen the never end ♪ ♪ If I'm the worst thing that you've ever seen ♪ ♪ Then you must have closed your eyes after you met me ♪ ♪ What's the point of misery ♪ ♪ Why don't you just get rid of me ♪ ♪ You used to love me before when I was too much to handle ♪ ♪ If you think I'm a dog it's because I am girl ♪ - One, two, three.

♪ So quit your trying ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ I know it hurts but we ain't dying ♪ ♪ Quit your crying ♪ ♪ We fell in love when we weren't trying ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ All you wanna do is find tomorrow ♪ ♪ Laugh scream cry beg and borrow ♪ ♪ Someone get me out of here ♪ ♪ Someone get me out of here ♪ ♪ Remember when you used to sing lullabies ♪ ♪ 'Cause I wanna hear your voice when I close my eyes ♪ ♪ Now you're like an enemy ♪ ♪ Why don't you just get of me ♪ ♪ You used to love me before when I was too much to handle ♪ ♪ If you think I'm a dog, it's because I am girl ♪ ♪ So quit your crying ♪ ♪ I know it hurts but we ain't dying ♪ ♪ Quit your crying ♪ ♪ We fell in love when we weren't trying ♪ (upbeat music continues) ♪ You used to love me before when I was too much to handle ♪ ♪ If you think I'm a dog, it's because I am ♪ ♪ So quit your crying ♪ ♪ I know it hurts but we ain't dying ♪ ♪ Quit your crying ♪ ♪ We fell in love when we weren't trying ♪ ♪ Oh quit your crying baby girl, oh ♪ ♪ Oh quit your crying baby, yeah ♪ (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) - This region is in for a significant historical event next month.

The next total solar eclipse to visit North America will be April 8th.

The duration of the totality will be up to four minutes and 27 seconds.

Here's what you need to know to protect your eyes and understand more about this once in a lifetime event.

(bright music) (dramatic music) - Viewing the sun directly with your eyes, with binoculars, a telescope, or a camera can lead to permanent damage to your eyes.

What makes this even more dangerous is that while you're damaging your eyes, you won't feel any pain.

So you don't even realize you're hurting your eyes until it's too late.

This damage can be permanent.

There are two simple ways that make it quite easy to view the sun in a safe way.

First, you can use the projection method, which is viewing the sun indirectly.

Another method is to view the sun directly using certified solar eclipse glasses like these.

You wear these lightweight glasses just like you would any other glasses, but they're so dense that they block out most of the sun's intense visible light and harmful ultraviolet and infrared light.

And that's the important part.

These forms of light that we cannot see can cause severe burns to our retina, potentially damaging your vision permanently.

Wearing certified eclipse glasses will prevent this and still allow you to safely watch all the partial phases of the eclipse.

The only time during a solar eclipse that's safe to look directly at the sun is during the total phase, when the moon completely blocks out the sun.

As soon as the first beads of sunlight peak out from behind the moon, its glasses back on immediately.

- That does it for this Tuesday night.

Join us next time for a fresh look inside the stories.

With spring around the corner, springtime sports and activities are gearing up.

See what rock climbing is all about with the Thousand Islands Wanderer.

Also, Yancy's Farm is more than just maple syrup.

It's also a dairy farm.

Discover its rich history and how it stands out from other sugar bushes.

Also, with the solar eclipse happening in less than four weeks, we pause to recognize the skies with another phenomenon, the Aurora Borealis.

Meantime, if you have a story idea you'd like us to explore, we would love to learn more.

Drop us an email at wpbsweekly@wpbstv.org and let's share it with the region.

That's it for now.

Have a great night, everyone.

Take care.

We'll see you next time.

(upbeat music) - [Announcer] "WPBS Weekly: Inside the stories" is brought to you by.

- [Narrator] When you're unable to see your primary care provider, the Carthage Walk-In Clinic is here for you.

Located off Route 26 across from Carthage Middle School.

Comfort and healing close to home when you need it most.

- [Narrator] North Country Orthopedic Group is there for your urgent ortho or sports related injuries.

With our onsite surgical center and same or next day appointments, we're ready to provide care for patients of all ages.

Your health matters to us.

North Country Orthopedic Group, keeping healthcare local.

- [Narrator] We are the North Country, where protecting one another like family is who we are, and where our tomorrow will always be worth defending.

Find out how we keep the North Country strong at claxtonhepburn.org today.

- [Announcer] And the Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Additional funding from the New York State Education Department.

♪ Remember when you used to sing lullabies ♪ ♪ 'Cause I wanna hear your voice when I close my eyes ♪ ♪ Now you're like an enemy ♪ ♪ Why don't you just get rid of me ♪ ♪ You used to love me before when I was too much to handle ♪ ♪ If you think I'm a dog, it's because I am girl ♪ (gentle music)