PBS Western Reserve presents a collection of stories that are singularly focused on the region that we all call home. Explore the people, places, history and events that make Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania so special.
About Our Region — November 2025
Published on
A PBS Western Reserve Production
City Centric
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 AM
PBS Western Reserve presents an inspiring series highlighting passionate individuals who reflect the fabric of their cities. Each city’s episode reveals the stories of six trailblazers who define the essence of their community and possess unique roles including business leader, revitalizer, artist, humanitarian, historian, educator and visionary.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The World According to Polka Halloween Spook-Tacular
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2:30 AM
If Vincent Price had teamed up with Lawrence Welk, they might have come up with something a tad like this. Hosted by Emmy-winning bandleader Jake Kouwe, this program is a delightful jaunt into your favorite spooky season!
The Chardon Polka Band provides a delightful soundtrack of creepy classics, macabre masterpieces and trick-or-treating tunes! Special guests include horror hosts The Mummy and The Monkey, guitar phenom Michael Weber, The Vindys’ Jackie Popovec and animal handler Outback Ray. This is a spine-chilling special for the ages!
A PBS Western Reserve Production
East Liverpool, Ohio: My Town
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 1, at 6:30 PM
East Liverpool has faced challenges similar of many Rust Belt towns, including job losses and declining population. However, the depressed area’s young people are now returning home with a vision for a new tomorrow. Several alumni, with talents ranging from jazz singing to marketing and architecture, bring an innovative spirit to the challenge of revitalizing their hometown.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The World According to Polka, Season 3
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1:30 AM & 10 PM
Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sunday, Nov. 2, 8:30 PM
The Band Is Back: The World According to Polka Season 3
The Chardon Polka Band returns for a third spin on THE WORLD ACCORDING TO POLKA. With host Jake Kouwe fresh off his second regional Emmy win for his role, the band is back and better than ever. The new season takes you to to places near and far with plenty of polka jams along the way.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve and The Summit FM
Studio C Sessions
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturdays at 10:30 PM
Sundays at 2:30 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Sundays at 8 PM
Enjoy live performances that capture artists and audiences connecting in the closest of confines. To experience these unique concerts live, you have to be a member of The Summit FM, a public radio station serving Akron, Canton and Youngstown. This series allows you to watch these intimate music moments on PBS Western Reserve.
Great Lakes Now
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sundays at 11 AM
Through a regional magazine-style television program and daily online reports at GreatLakesNow.org, GREAT LAKES NOW covers the environmental, recreational, cultural, and economic issues of the lakes and the communities that depend on them.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Forum 360
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
First Monday of every month at 5 PM and 5:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Mondays at 7:30 PM
Saturdays at 5 PM
This public affairs series provides a local viewpoint on global topics. Subjects covered are both educational and entertaining, and are hosted by a Northeast Ohio community member who assists in determining the show’s content.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
Monumental Devotion: The McKinley National Memorial
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, Nov. 7, at 8:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1:30 AM
This half-hour production explores the design and construction of the president’s final resting place, William McKinley National Memorial, located in Canton, Ohio. It also examines the life of President McKinley, including his devotion to his wife, Ida, his path to the White House and his assassination.
Watch MONUMENTAL DEVOTION: THE MCKINLEY NATIONAL MEMORIAL online.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Northeast Ohio & the Great Flood of 1913
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, Nov. 7, at 9 PM
Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 AM
Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8 PM
Friday, Nov. 14, at 1 AM and 5 PM
Sunday, Nov. 23, at 1 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 PM
Monday, Nov. 17, at 10 PM
Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon
Discover the story of the Great Flood of 1913 and its devastating impact on Northeast Ohio. From the loss of life to billions of dollars in damage, the Great Flood remains the worst weather disaster in state history. With flood risks on the rise, this story is now more relevant than ever.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Marauder Men: In Their Own Words
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1)
Sunday, Nov. 9, from 3-4:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, Nov. 10, from 8-9:30 PM
This three-episode docuseries spotlights the Martin B-26 Marauder and the brave World War II pilots who flew the aircraft.In the 1990s, the B-26 Marauder Historical Society videotaped oral histories detailing the experiences of “Marauder Men,” the nickname claimed by Martin B-26 Marauder pilots in celebration of their camaraderie. This series offers an intimate look at that footage.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Veterans of America — Our Heroes in Uniform: Out of Our Brains, Not Out of Our Minds
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 4:30 PM
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, affects hundreds of thousands of veterans. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. This 30-minute documentary, produced by Canton resident Ron Ponder, talks about some of the research and treatments of veterans and the general public of today.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
Memoirs of World War II
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Sunday, Nov. 9, at 5 PM
Less than 3% of those who served during World War II are still alive today. Once they are gone, what will happen to the story of their sacrifice? Through personal accounts of real-life World War II veterans, this local program, dedicated to preserving the history and memories of those who served in the war, honors their sacrifice.
Feed Our Region
PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, Nov. 14, at 9 PM
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 AM & 1 PM
Sunday, Nov. 16, at 4 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 3 PM
Monday, Nov. 24, at 9 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 2 AM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, Nov. 17, at 8 PM
Saturday, Nov. 22, at 3 PM
The work of four regional food banks is highlighted including Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, Mercer County Food Bank, Second Harvest Foodbank of the Mahoning Valley, and Wooster Hope Center. Plus, an opportunity to make a difference for neighbors in need throughout the holiday season.
Give now by calling 1-800-672-4549 or donate online.
Lakeside Chautauqua: An American Treasure
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1:30 AM
Lakeside Chautauqua is nestled along the Lake Erie shore on the Marblehead Peninsula. When you drive through the gates, you take a step back in time. Featuring stories told by Lakesiders and archival images, LAKESIDE CHAUTAUQUA: AN AMERICAN TREASURE will take you back in time, 150 years to its founding.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
By Nature’s Design: Exploring Our Native Wildlife, Native & Invasive Species of the Wetlands
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Friday, Nov. 14, at 10:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 AM & 2:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Monday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4:30 PM
Explore wetlands in this close look at the flora and fauna in and around the ecosystem. With the help of more local experts, learn about the essential role of native species, the destructive force of invasive species, and the importance of protecting biodiversity in our wetlands.
10TH SEASON!
A PBS Western Reserve Production
Around Akron with Blue Green
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 PM
Monday, Nov. 16, at midnight
Monday, Nov. 24, at 4:30 PM
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8:30 PM
Friday, Nov. 21, at 7 PM
Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 PM
This monthly half-hour shines a spotlight on all of the good things that Akron has to offer. Each show consists of four stories, including segments on dining, arts and culture, history, business, and movers and shakers.
See what’s new and exciting in Akron on PBS Western Reserve’s legacy series AROUND AKRON WITH BLUE GREEN, now in its 10th season.
A PBS Western Reserve Production
PBS Western Reserve: A Study in Persistence
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Monday, Nov. 17, at 3 AM
Friday, Nov. 21, at 5 PM
Through insightful interviews, archival photos and cinematic reenactments, trace the rich history of PBS Western Reserve from its early days to the 50th anniversary of WNEO’s first broadcast.
A PBS Western Reserve Production in collaboration with Akron 200
Akron 200: Forgotten History Forum Series
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, Nov. 20, at 6 PM
AKRON 200: FORGOTTEN HISTORY FORUM SERIES explores lesser-known chapters of Akron's history, from urban renewal and the story of deaf rubber workers to the local history of the African American church and much more. Presented in collaboration with the city’s bicentennial commission, the series is more than expert lectures, it is an invitation to foster dialogue that shines a light on the influential and at times challenging corners of Akron’s 200-year lifespan.
This episode: The History of the Akron Sound Part Two
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The Master Craftsman
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Monday, Nov. 24, at 10:30 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 25, at 3:30 AM
For more than 50 years Richard Grell has been hand-crafting Windsor chairs on his Hudson, Ohio, property, using wood from his farm. His museum-quality chairs are owned by institutions, businesses and individuals across the country, including famous actors, musicians, Fortune 500 CEOs and presidents. This documentary is an intimate look into Grell’s woodworking skills and techniques.
Presented by PBS Western Reserve, Ideastream Public Media and the
University of Akron’s Media Studies program
Akron Roundtable
Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):
Thursday, Nov. 27, at 6 PM
Since 1976, the Akron Roundtable has brought new ideas to Akron. Now, PBS Western Reserve, Ideastream Public Media and the University of Akron’s Media Studies program are partnering with the Akron Roundtable to bring those ideas to our region at large. The Akron Roundtable’s signature series delivers thought-provoking presentations on a wide range of topics from speakers of global, national and regional importance.
This episode: Reinventing the Rigid Airship: LTA's Pathfinder 1
Presented by PBS Western Reserve
The Remember Balloons
PBS Western Reserve (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):
Thursday, Nov. 27, at 8 PM
Friday, Nov. 28, at 1 AM & 5 PM
A heartwarming dance-theater production that brings families together through storytelling and movement. Inspired by the award-winning children’s book, the show uses dance, music and multimedia to explore memory, loss and intergenerational connections, making difficult conversations about Alzheimer’s disease accessible for audiences of all ages.
