Happy KSER New Year - 2013

Happy New Year from everyone at KSER.

We're honored that you've made KSER part of your listening habit in 2012 and we look forward to continuing to serve the Pacific Northwest in 2013.  We couldn't do it without your support.

We feel like all 365 days of KSER broadcasting in 2012 were highlights...but a few events do stand out more than others.  In October, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! came to Everett to support KSER and spoke before a standing-room only crowd at Everett Community College.

Amy Goodman at Everett Community College

In November we were honored to present the 5th annual KSER Voice of the Community Award Ceremony.  This year's awards were presented to the Snohomish County Music Project; MS Helping Hands of Edmonds and Lillian Ortiz-Self.

Roger Pawley; Jan Vance; Lillian Ortiz-Self

Every week of 2012, KSER's Ed Bremer featured local newsmakers and community leaders on Sound Living, weekday afternoon's at 4 p.m.  One of the top stories featured in 2012 was the closing of the Kimberly-Clark paper mill and the debate over what to do with the valuable water-front property.  A number of local leaders talked with Ed about the future of the Kimberly-Clark site, including Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.

Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson talked with Ed Bremer

You'd be amazed at the famous people who want to be interviewed by KSER's Ed Bremer.  In July, we had an in-studio visit from Ben Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin

Dozens of local bands and musical artists visited KSER during the year, including Left Hand Smoke; Sightseer; Northern Departure; Tony Lucca, Ian McFeron and a lot more.

In September, KSER's Sondra Santos was named a hero. Really! By the government, no less. The Snohomish Health District presented its Public Health Hero award to the host of KSER's morning news show for her weekly interviews on health issues in the northwest.

Suzanne Pate; Sondra Santos; Dr. Garry Goldbaum

Speaking of health, our own KSER doctors answered your questions every Thursday afternoon for 52 weeks in 2012. Primary Care Physicians Kasra Pournadeali, Rebecca Dirks, and Stacy Wells, have been answering listener calls live on KSER since 1998. This summer the weather was so nice, we actually moved them outdoors in August...to do a live show from the sidewalk on Wetmore avenue. Now that's taking the doctors to the people!

KSER's Sidewalk Doctor Show

In 2012 KSER's Jim Hilmar celebrated 15 years of hosting Frettin' Fingers, the popular Saturday guitar music show and KSER's Jeff Hofman, host of Dusties on Saturday afternoon, marked 25 years of doing public radio.

Jim Hilmar; Jeff Hofman

We started what we hope is a long-running new tradition this holiday season with the first ever Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater Kaddywompas Holiday radio show.  Tim and his crew are working on a few more specials...maybe more...for 2013.

Tim Noah

And, actually, 2013 is an important anniversary for our predecessor.  KRAB-FM started broadcasting 50 years ago.  One of the country's first true community radio stations started broadcasting as December turned to January in 1963. In 1991 KRAB became KSER and moved to Snohomish County. In 2003 we moved to our current location in Everett.

If you'd like to make sure that great independent public radio continues in the north Puget Sound, you can help with a donation. Most of our operating income comes from individual listeners like you.  It's easy to make a contribution.  You can go to our website KSER.org and click on the 'donate now' button.  We're a non-profit and your contribution is tax-deductible...a great way to get one more deduction before the end of the year.

Some people also take advantage of our easy-to-use automobile donation plan.  You can also do that online here. It's fast and easy, we do all the paperwork. And you may be eligible for a tax deduction.  Running or not, we'll be happy to help.

And if you accidentally left somone off your holiday gift list, you can support KSER and buy a nice gift for someone at the KSER Store.

So thanks for your support and thanks for listening to KSER.

And Happy New Year!

More Great Artists on KSER

You never know who's going to show up on KSER.  Listeners to the KSER Sunlit Room this week were treated to a special performance by Seattle singer-songwriter LeRoy Bell!

LeRoy Bell in KSER's Sunlit Room

LeRoy Bell talked with KSER's Ron Taffi about his music and his star performance on the X-Factor and played a few of his songs.

Speaking of a great local artist, just two weeks ago Ron also had a visit from singer-songwriter Pepper Proud.

Pepper also performed a few of her songs while visiting KSER...

Pepper Proud; Ron Taffi

You can see more videos of some of the artists who've recently visited KSER here.

And if you missed our KSER Kaddywompas Holiday Special last week, you can still hear this special hour of fun radio on Christmas Day at 6 p.m. on 90.7 FM or online at KSER.org. The Kaddywompas Radio special was performed before a live audience at Tim Noah's Thumbnail Theater.

Tim Noah and his Thumbnail crew wrote and produced an incredible hour of entertaining music and storytelling and you get another chance to hear it as a Christmas Day special, Tuesday the 25th at 6 p.m.  It's the start of a new KSER holiday tradition. And stay tuned for more Thumbnail specials in 2013.

Happy Holidays!

KSER Kaddywampas Holiday Special

This past weekend, before two nights of packed audiences in Snohomish, Tim Noah and his Thumbnail Theater troupe performed a live KSER Kaddywampas Holiday Special!

And now you can hear all the fun on KSER 90.7 FM three different times between now and Christmas.

The one-hour, fun-filled music and story-telling KSER Kaddywompas Radio Show Holiday Special will be broadcast at these dates and times:

• 8 a.m.  Sunday, December 9, 2012
• 2 p.m.  Friday, December 14, 2012
• 6 p.m.  Christmas Day, Tuesday December 25, 2012

If you weren't one of the lucky ones in the audience at Tim Noah's Thumbnail Theater this past weekend (or even if you were) make sure you don't miss what may be a great new KSER tradition.

Tim Noah, getting ready to take the stage.

Special thanks to Tim and his remarkable cast of musicians, performers and volunteers for all the planning, writing, rehearsing, long hours, work and effort that went into putting together this great hour of fun radio!

KSER's Jeff Hofman - 25 Radio Years!

This Saturday, KSER's Jeff Hofman celebrates doing 25 years of playing great music and doing great radio in the Pacific Northwest.  Jeff is the host of Dusties, every Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. on KSER 90.7 FM featuring some incredible soul and R&B music.

Not only does he play music from great artists, but frequently he has them in the studio. For example, see the picture below of Jeff at KSER with the legendary Brothers of Soul and JJ Barnes.

Richard Knight; Bobby Easton; Jeff Hofman; Ben Knight; JJ Barnes

But Jeff has also interviewed Martha Reeves; Tony Drake; Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company...and a lot more. 

Jeff started doing his weekly radio gig 25 years ago this month and he'll have a special show this Saturday, December 8, 2012 to mark the occasion. 

And here is some show-name trivia (and a photo) that may stir your memory....

Jeff Hofman - The Early Years

Some of Jeff's early radio work was on a show called 'Nuggets' and then the 'Rock and Soul Shack', and then the 'Grab Bag.'  At KSER his show stared out as 'Rising Soul', but eventually he settled on the name 'Dusties' in honor of great old records that sit around gathering dust.

 Jim Hilmar of KSER's Frettin' Fingers fame with Jeff Hofman

If you love great Soul and R&B and music you probably haven't heard in a long time...if ever...make sure you catch Jeff Hofman and Dusties, especially this Saturday when he marks 25 years in radio (which is like 500 years in normal life!).

Jeff is part of the great KSER Saturday lineup that starts with Tim Bliss at 5 a.m.; The Academy of Comedy at 7 a.m.; Steve Ward's Big Bandstand at 9 a.m.; Frettin' Fingers at 11 a.m.; Jon Noe's Juke Joint at 1 p.m. and Pull the String with Van Ramsey at 3 p.m....all followed by a great Saturday night of KSER music on Audio Indigo; Blues Odyssey and The Dawghaus.

The hardest part for some people to believe is all these great KSER music shows are all prepared, produced and hosted by dedicated hard-working volunteers.  And, remember, if you want to contribute to KSER and ensure this kind of independent public radio continues, just visit KSER.org and click on the Donate Now button.

The Singer-Songwriters who visit KSER

One of the newest volunteers at KSER is George Bentley.  You won't hear George on the air.  He's now one of those radio guys whose work you can SEE!  George is a great photographer, and video editor.

When we have a musical performer on one of the KSER shows, George usually shows up and takes pictures.  And video.  Not only that, but he usually talks the performers into going outside and doing what George calls, "KSER Outdoor Sessions."  So, to help you relax on the long Thanksgiving weekend, here's some of Georges work and some of his pics.

Special thanks to Ian McFeron and Alisa Milner for appearing with Ron Taffi on KSER's Sunlit Room.

Thanks to Tony Lucca, of The Voice fame,  and his band for appearing with Ron.

Ron also featured Sightseer on the Sunlit Room.

Miss Nicolette hosted Northern Departure on the Sunday morning Bluegrass Express.

And Left Hand Smoke made a special appearance on KSER's Sunlit Room.

If you're not regularly listening to the great music shows on KSER you're probably going to miss some spectacular performances by great local artists.

And extra thanks to KSER volunteer George Bentley of GeorgieCat Productions for the great videos. You can see more of George's musical photo work here. 

Ian McFeron visits KSER

Seattle singer-songwriter Ian McFeron stopped by KSER this week to talk with KSER's Ron Taffi and to play a few songs from his newest project. See if you agree with some who have called Ian the Northwest's answer to Bob Dylan. Watch the video of his KSER:

Ian has been recording in both the Northwest and Nashville.  You can read more about him and his music here.

Ian McFeron; Ron Taffi; Alisa Milner

Ian McFeron in the KSER Studio

You can see more of the photos of Ian's KSER visit here.

KSER Volunteer Howard Winningham

For more than a decade every single thing you heard on the air at KSER was, in a way, scheduled by Howard Winningham.

Howard was one of more than 100 dedicated volunteers at our independent public radio station.  Many of them you hear on the air, but many more work behind the scenes.  Howard wanted to be a behind the scenes guy.  And he was. All the time.  Every single week, regardless of the weather...snow, rain, earthquakes...Howard Winningham showed up at KSER every single Saturday morning like clockwork to prepare our 'program logs', the schedule that we follow around the clock on the air.

Sadly, Howard died this week after a brief illness.  Howard was one of those people who lived alone and didn't care to do a lot of socializing with many of the other people at KSER. It was just his style.  But, a week ago, when he didn't show up for his regular volunteer shift and we tried to call him to make sure he was okay, he didn't return our calls. So, many of us are feeling pretty depressed that Howard was hospitalized and we didn't know.

Howard had a big laugh and a big personality and was a big man.  Even he told me once, "I'm too big, I need to lose some of this weight." But his over-sized frame was part of his character.

KSER's Ed Bremer worked with Howard a lot longer than I did and describes him this way:  Howard was an airplane mechanic working for Boeing and Goodrich at Paine Field. He never wanted to go on the air...he never wanted to have a show.  He was perfectly happy to sit at the station's front desk struggling with the computer, putting together our program schedule. He was smart, witty and just a really nice guy.

Remember KSER's Mad Mad Moscowitz?  Howard was his biggest fan.

His other great love was barbecue. And he was quite the expert, even starting his own business and a blog where you can still read Howard's advice on everything from the best grills to the best meats and recipes.

Howard Winningham was one of those people who was always there. Never missed a day, no matter what.  If Woody Allen is right that "90% of life is showing up," then Howard had a good life, because he always showed up.

Thanks, Howard...for all you did to help keep KSER special!

Northern Departure visits KSER

Serious bluegrass fans try to never miss Bluegrass Express every Sunday morning at 11 a.m. on KSER.  But this past weekend was very special.  Northwest bluegrass icons Northern Departure stopped by to do some talking, picking and playing with KSER's Miss Nicolette.

Northern Departure stopped by KSER this past Sunday morning and played several great songs in our community room live on 90.7 FM.  Nick Dumas, Derek Gray, Austin McGregor, and Will McSeveney all talked with KSER's Miss Nicolette and played for about 30 minutes before hitting the road again.

Add caption

Miss Nicolette

Northern Departure at KSER

Thanks to Northern Departure for stopping by KSER Sunday and entertaining our listeners on 90.7 FM. 

KSER's Voice of the Community Awards

Thanks to the more than 200 people who packed the Weyerhaeuser Room at Everett Transit Station Saturday night for the 5th annual KSER Voice of the Community Awards Ceremony.

The KSER selection committee faced the challenge of determining award recipients from among an amazing list of individuals and organizations that make our community special.

Roger Pawley; Jan Vance; Lillian Ortiz-Self

The KSER Voice of the Community Award for Cultural Impact was presented to the Snohomish County Music Project.  Executive Director Roger Pawley runs the Project which was founded in 2011 by refocusing the Everett Symphony.  The group educates the public on the importance of music instruction and advocates for the funding of music educations programs.

The award for the category of Community Impact by an Organization was presented to MS Helping Hands of Edmonds.  MS Helping Hands is a statewide, all-volunteer organization formed to increase awareness of Multiple Sclerosis to the public and provide people with MS and their families a resource of education and support. MS Helping Hands Executive Director Jan Vance accepted the award.

And the award for the category of Community Impact by an Individual was presented to Lillian Ortiz-Self who drew a standing ovation for her powerful speech advocating for greater equality within the Latino community.  As a counselor at Everett High School, Lillian provides Latino students and their parents with vital information.  She also serves as an advisor for the Latin Image Club, which gives Latino students a safe place to express their ethnicity and bridge barriers to their academic success.  She has also served as the Chair of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and developed the Leading Change through Advocacy training program to bring together parents and community members to learn how to be better advocates for Latino children in public schools.

Congratulations to the award winners and all the nominees and thanks for making our community so special.  And thanks to everyone who attended and made the sold-out evening such a success! 

Frettin' Fingers for Fifteen Years!

Mark your calendar.  Saturday, November 17th, 2012, 11 a.m.

KSER's Jim Hilmar will reach a milestone: 15 years of hosting his popular Frettin' Fingers program on 90.7 FM.

KSER's Jim Hilmar

It was back on November 19, 1997 when Jim sat behind the mike for the first time and hosted his very first "Frettin'Fingers, The Guitar Music Show" on KSER.

Back then, when Jim started he was a radio novice, but he was already a world-class guitar expert.  Not only was he a great picker, but he also was a professional writer for a couple of guitar publications; notably writing the popular monthly “SPOTLIGHT” column for Vintage Guitar Magazine for 10 years.

So the guitar part was a natural for Jim and now he's a veteran radio guy too, with a decade and a half of experience.  He's part of the amazing Saturday lineup on KSER that also includes Steve Ward's Big Bandstand; the Juke Joint; Pull the String and Dusties!   

  

Through the years, Jim has interviewed great guitar players like Brian Setzer, Jimmy Bruno, Larry Collins, Speedy West, Gary Potter and Leon Rhodes and drummer Jan Kurtis. He's also written liner notes for numerous CD’s including projects by Howard Roberts, Pearl Django, High Noon, Lester Peabody, The Rainieros, Scotty Anderson, Gary Potter, Joe Cohn and more.

Jim Hilmar; Drummer Jan Kurtis

Jim grew up in a musical family and has always loved guitar.  Now, in addition to playing a lot of great guitar artists on the radio, he also plays and records his own music.

Jim Hilmar at the Mike

Frettin' Fingers is a show you never want to miss Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. on KSER.  But next Saturday, November 17, you'll want to make certain you catch a very special edition of Frettin' Fingers. Because that's when Jim Hilmar and his special guests celebrate 15 years of a Saturday Northwest radio tradition.

Congratulations Jim!  And thanks for 15 years of great radio!

Manager's Mailbox - Set your Clock Back Edition

There's leftover Halloween candy; campaign commercials are almost over; and remember to set your clocks back.  Because this weekend we get an extra hour of incoming email at the KSER Manager's mailbox!

Dear Tom@KSER.org: I've never stayed up to find out, but I've always wondered what radio stations do when the time changes back to standard time.  Do you just repeat an hour or KSER or what?  Mark, Mill Creek

Mark:  We browbeat another hour of work out of our DJ's. At 2 a.m. Sunday morning we just make the host of Under Currents work an extra hour while the rest of us are sleeping an extra hour.  It's a tough job, but we're there for the NW insomniacs.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: I don't live in the area, I listen online to KSER and my favorite show is Frettin' Fingers on Saturday. Great guitar music and that DJ, Jim, really knows his stuff. I've been listening every Saturday for almost 2 years. How long has he been at it?  Dave, Tampa, FL

Dave:  Jim Hilmar is about to celebrate 15 years of Frettin' Fingers on KSER.  Jim not only plays great guitar music on the radio, he plays great guitar for real.  In fact, he was a writer for Vintage Guitar magazine for 10 years. Jim brought his love for guitar and music to KSER in November of 1997.  And he's been at it ever since...now with a great show every Saturday morning. He'll have a special 15th anniversary show on Saturday, November 17 at 11 a.m.

KSER's Jim Hilmar

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I wasn't able to buy tickets to see Amy Goodman when she came to town last week.  Did you really sell out?  Do you know when she'll be back?  Rianna, Everett

Rianna:  We've invited her back.  But, as you can imagine, she has a busy schedule and is in demand. But keep listening, we'll let you know the next time she's coming to the Northwest.  Sorry, you weren't able to get tickets before they sold out.  We'll think about using a bigger auditorium next time.

Amy Goodman

Dear Tom@KSER.org: I want to thank KSER for providing great coverage early last week from both Democracy Now and from the Takeaway about the incredible storm that did so much damage on the East.  It was very moving and dramatic coverage. Thanks. Anna, Lake Stevens

Anna:  Thanks.  The staffs of Democracy Now and The Takeaway both did remarkable work in incredibly difficult circumstances. You can read about the personal ordeal the host of the Takeaway, John Hockenberry had to deal with...being evacuated from his own home. But he still was on the air every morning.  Amy Goodman was on the road, but her staff had to deal with the storm and arrange to actually have her broadcast via cell phone.  They did a great job.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: Is there a way to find out who has been nominated for your Voice of the Community this year?  Can anyone attend?  Mark, Mukilteo

Mark:  The entire list of nominees for the 2012 KSER Voice of the Community Awards Celebration is on our website at KSER.org. The event is next Saturday, November 10, 2012, 7 p.m. at Everett Station. And yes, anyone can attend. Tickets are just $10 and you can buy them here.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I love Friday nights on KSER.  The music is great. I really like Poptopia Parkway.  Keep up the great work.  Darren, Arlington

Darren: Thanks. Always a great way to start a weekend listening to Lon Palmer's Poptopia Parkway. Especially when you change the clocks and get an extra hour of sleep!.

Packed House - Amy Goodman in Everett

EvCC Campus

It's one thing to have the nerve and stamina to set up a tour of 100 cities in 100 days.  But imagine doing it without missing work!?

Amy Goodman's Election 2012 Silenced Majority Tour rolled into Everett this weekend and the KSER listeners packed Jackson Conference Center at Everett Community College loved every minute of it.

Amy Goodman at Jackson Center  by Christophoto

 Amy and Denis Moynihan, co-authors of The Silenced Majority, both spoke to the sold out crowd and Amy spent more than an hour going beyond the mainstream media’s obsessive focus on the latest poll numbers and candidate gaffes. She told great stories about how people are organizing; how the massive influx of campaign cash following the Citizens United decision is changing how our democracy works and she campaigned for support of independent public radio stations around the country.  She reminded the crowd how lucky we are to live in a community that does have an independent station....because many cities and towns do not have a KSER.

Amy Goodman; Denis Moynihan  by Christophoto

Amy and Denis started this whirlwind tour at the political conventions and not only have they not missed a scheduled event, but, as regular KSER listeners know, Amy has figured out a way to not miss a single one of her daily radio shows.  Not just her regular daily shows, but she's also done special coverage from the conventions and special coverage of each of the four political debates including her own Democracy Now "Expand the Debate" coverage which included third-party candidates.

Amy Goodman signing books at EvCC  by Christophoto

During her talk, Amy told the crowd of KSER listeners “There is no longer a mainstream media, it’s an extreme media.”  She said balanced reporting of topics is no longer the norm, pointing out that of nearly 400 newscasts by four major broadcast stations about the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 logged only three reports with anti-war leaders.

And she talked about some of the people she knows in the television news world, who she referred to as 'personalities' and not journalists, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd. "Television tends to quote the same pundits who are talking in a circle, It is a waste of precious airwaves."



She reminded the audience that when Occupy Wall St. started, in the media capitol of the world, right under the noses of mainstream media, it was ignored for nearly a week by the major networks even thought the reporters, anchors, producers and executives had to fight their way through the thousands of protesters just to get to work.

“What we need is media to cover power, not cover for the power,” she said. “It’s the Fourth Estate, not for the estate.”

Amy's inspiring message and tireless efforts are a good reminder of  the importance of KSER and the hundreds of other independent radio voices in the U.S.  We can't thank Amy Goodman, Denis Moynihan and their staff enough for making this visit to Everett and helping to support KSER.

Thanks also to KSER's Sondra Santos for being on hand to introduce Denis and Amy; and thanks to the KSER volunteers and board members who helped with tickets and seating for the event.

But mostly, thanks to our listeners and contributors who support KSER and help make sure the North Puget Sound has an important independent voice.

If Amy's views inspire you to help in that effort, whether you made it to her talk yesterday or not, you can always help support KSER here.

We learned two important things this weekend: Next time Amy comes to Everett, we need to rent a bigger auditorium. And don't get in Amy Goodman's way when she has a plane to catch for her next stop in supporting public radio!

Tony Lucca visits KSER

You never know who's going to stop by KSER to talk with one of our DJ's and play a few songs.

We're researching it, but we think today was the first time ever a Mouseketeer has appeared on KSER.  Tony Lucca stopped by the Sunlit Room and talked with KSER's Ron Taffi.

KSER's Ron Taffi (left), with Tony Lucca

 Tony gained world-wide fame this year when he appeared on NBC-TV's hit show "The Voice."  He also had a starring cameo role on NBC's "Parenthood."  His songs have been featured on TV’s “Friday Night Lights,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Shark,” and “Felicity” and in Kevin Costner’s feature “Open Range.” He has been seen on E! Entertainment Television and A&E, and performed numerous times on NBC’s “Last Call With Carson Daly.”

And he's been working on this show-biz thing for a while.  When he was just 14, Tony auditioned for and won a cast-member role in Disney's Mickey Mouse Club. It was Mouseketeer Tony from 1991 to 1995. In fact, Entertainment Weekly included Tony as one of their 10 most famous Mouseketeers.  (Talk about info you won't hear on Democracy Now!)

First the Mickey Mouse Club. Then Carson Daly. The Voice.  And now, KSER. This guy's going places!

KSER Manager's Mailbox

Fall is in the air, leaves are on the ground, Amy Goodman is headed to the Northwest, politicians are still campaigning and the KSER Manager's Mailbox has binders full of pithy queries. So, proceed, Governor...

Dear Tom@KSER.org: One of my favorite KSER DJ's is Mark on the sunlit room.  He has a really cool voice and plays great music.  I love his Daily Dose of Dylan.  But, Mark's only on once a week. Does that add up? Shouldn't it be a Weekly Dose of Dylan?!?  Erin, Langley

Erin:  Look, we have a 5-point plan to present Bob Dylan. Six different organizations have studied our plan, and it works. Of course it adds up. And besides, alliteration comes before precision. In the dictionary and at KSER.


Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I've seen those pictures of your DJ Uncle Pat in the studio wearing those crazy yellow chicken shoes.  I listen to his show every Thursday night at 7 p.m.  He plays some great music. But I hope that picture was just a stunt and he doesn't always wear those chicken shoes.  Dick, Arlington

Dick:  Uncle Pat doesn't always wear yellow chicken shoes.  But when he does, he also wears a cape and patriotic headgear.  Stay chicken-footed, my friend.

Uncle Pat, host of KSER's Good Times

Dear Tom@KSER.org: My husband and I bought tickets for the Amy Goodman speech at Everett Community College on October 27th.  But we're not that familiar with the campus.  Can you tell us where on campus, she'll be speaking? And is there parking? Ginny, Mill Creek

Ginny:  Amy will appear at 1:30 p.m., Saturday afternoon, October 27 in the Wilderness Room of the Jackson Conference Center on the campus of Everett Community College.  Once you reach the campus you should see several Amy Goodman directional signs to the center.  It's building #8 on this map. Plenty of free parking.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  Thanks to KSER for broadcasting the presidential debates.  I've been able to watch the last parts of them, but I'm always in my car when they start, so I'm glad you're putting them on the radio.  I know there's one more; will KSER do that one?  Marvin, Everett

Marvin:  The last debate is this Monday at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL. We'll carry it live on KSER starting at 6 p.m. And don't miss the special Amy Goodman day-after-debate coverage Tuesday morning at 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Dear Tom@KSER.org:  I'm really disappointed in KSER for broadcasting the presidential debates. I can't take anymore of this stuff. I can't wait until it's over and you guys get back to normal.  Doyle, Lynnwood

Doyle:  There's only one left.  Then it's over.  Listen to the last one on Monday evening and then chill out with Caribbean Sounds.  KSER DJ Noel Williams will lower your blood pressure.

Dear Tom@KSER.org: Would KSER mind if I carved a pumpkin with the KSER logo?  Dianne, Arlington.

Dianne:  Carve away, and send pictures!

More Odds & Ends...Mostly Odds!

This is odd, but true.  I was standing in line at a coffee shop this week and trying not to eavesdrop on the two guys in front of me.  But one said to the other, "If I don't get tickets to see Amy Goodman, my wife is gonna kill me."  I could tell by his tone that he wasn't excited to see Amy, but his wife apparently was. I'm glad KSER is doing it's part to keep marriage strong.  By the way, if you haven't bought your Amy Goodman tickets yet, there's still time.  What better way for a happy couple to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon than listening to the host of Democracy Now!  Ticket info here.

We know that some listeners get tired of our Pledge Drives at KSER.  But we always remind people that we only do a few per year and usually only for 7 to 10 days at a time.  And, on the air, the pledge breaks are still less time-consuming than the commercial breaks you hear on most stations.  But if you made a donation, thank you! And if you were getting tired of hearing about it, it's over! And if you thought about donating, but just didn't find the time, you can still donate online.

Speaking of odd, a number of people have asked us about the over-sized yellow egg-timer our on-air hosts used to time pledge breaks during our recent pledge drive.  People wanted to know if they could buy it, really. So we may offer it at auction in our next pledge drive!  By the way, someone inadvertently brought another over-sized egg-timer, this one blue, into KSER. We come in one morning, and there was something new! 

Never trust those Blues

Talk about dedicated volunteers. Many people know that nearly all of the on-air hosts at KSER are volunteers. Volunteer DJ's do their own show prep, pick their own music, put their shows together and do their shows at the same time every single week.  And some of them have been at it a long time.  Take, for example, Jim Hillmar.  Jim is the host of Frettin' Fingers which is on KSER every Saturday morning at 11 a.m.  Next month will be Jim's 15th anniversary of hosting the show.  That's a frettin' long time!

Jim Hillmar

If you can't be near a TV for the Presidential and VP debates (or if you just can't stand to watch anymore) you can hear the remaining debates on KSER.  The next one is this Thursday, October 11th at 6 p.m. with Joe Biden and Paul Ryan.

Tickets are on sale now for KSER's annual Voice of the Community award ceremony.  The event is Saturday evening, November 10th.  You can find out more about the nominees and how to order tickets here. 

During our pledge drive, not only did people donate at KSER.org and call our pledge line (425-303-9070) but some people actually stopped by our studios in downtown Everett. On Saturday several visitors were admiring the "cardinal" color of Van Ramsey's KSER T-shirt and wanted to know how to get one.

KSER Shirts come in Many Colors!

You can buy all of our shirts and tchotchkes at the KSER Store.

KSER - Voice of the Community

KSER's annual Voice of the Community Awards Ceremony is coming up next month. 

Award recipients and finalists will be announced at the KSER Voice of the Community Award Celebration Saturday evening, 7 p.m. Nov. 10, 2012. This year's event will be held at the Weyerhaeuser room, top floor of Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave. in Everett.

Last year, Dr. David Beyer, President of Everett Community College was presented the KSER Voice of the Community Award for Community Impact.

Dr. David Beyer

And the KSER award for Cultural Impact was presented to Joe McIalwain, Executive Director, Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Joe McIalwain

There is an impressive list of nominees for three different categories for the 2012 KSER Voice of the Community Award. You can see a complete list of nominees and order tickets for the event here. If you want to spend a fun Saturday evening with some of the people who have make a positive impact on the region, order your tickets now.

The KSER Voice of the Community Award was started in 2008 as a way to recognize individuals, organizations and businesses who make a positive contribution in the north Puget Sound by giving voice to important community or cultural concerns.

KSER Pledge Drive Update:  We wrapped up the KSER Fall Pledge Drive Saturday night. If you were one of the many listeners who pledged financial support during our campaign, Thanks!!  If you didn't find the opportunity to contribute, you can still make a tax-deductible donation at any time at the KSER website.

Amy Goodman ticket update:  There are still good seats left for Amy Goodman's upcoming KSER appearance at Everett Community College. There's not a bad seat in the house at the Jackson Conference Center and it'll be a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Everett.  Read more about Amy Goodman's October 27th Everett visit here.  You can order tickets for Amy Goodman here.

You're in the Front Rowwwww!!!

UPDATE!
The Front Row Tickets for Amy Goodman are now gone. But there are still plenty of seats left for Amy's Saturday afternoon, October 27 appearance at Everett Community College. Ticket info here.


There's still time to buy tickets to see Amy Goodman when she comes to Everett, Saturday afternoon, October 27.  You can buy tickets here.

But you can also purchase a pair of reserved front-row seats. The only way to do that is to listen to the KSER pledge drive that's going on through Saturday.  There are only 10 pairs of front-row seats available and they may go fast. So, if you want to be in the front row when Amy Goodman speaks at the Jackson Conference Center at Everett Community College make sure you tune into 90.7fm or listen online at KSER.org.

 

And we'd like to send out a special thanks to all of the volunteers who've pitched in this week at KSER during our Fall Pledge Drive. We're having picture-perfect Fall weather, but our volunteers are spending their time in KSER's Pledge Palace! They're here every day and evening...even Saturday and Sunday.  They're answering the phones, taking your questions, taking your pledges, supporting the station and helping to make sure KSER stays on your radio!

If you've already pledged, thanks!  If you haven't there's still plenty of time to call 425-303-9070.  Or you can donate easily at any time online. 

And don't forget another upcoming KSER event that will give you an opportunity meet some of your neighbors, have a great evening, honor some true community heroes and support KSER.  The annual KSER Voice of the Community Awards ceremony is Saturday evening, November 10, 2012. You can read about the nominees and get ticket info here. 

The KSER 3-Minute Egg Timer

Here's a quick technical explanation of how a modern-day radio station moves ahead in this ever evolving high-tech world.  Below you see two of the most important tools we utilize in the studio during our KSER Fall Pledge Drive.

Yeah, sure, there's the microphones and headphones and control board....but there are two more important things in that picture.

The first is our volunteers.  That's Steve Ward of KSER Big Bandstand fame. The volunteer DJ's, hosts and personalities are what make the station sound so good and they're the ones who do such a great job on the air explaining why we need your contribution.  If you don't believe me turn on 90.7 right now or listen online at KSER.org.


Off the air there are the volunteers, some of them brand new, who are spending hours upon hours at the station helping to answer phones and write down your pledge information and help the whole operation run smoothly. We really can't thank all of the KSER volunteers enough. They do an incredible job.

But the other very important tool in that picture, believe it or not, is that yellow 3-minute hour-glass egg timer.  It may not be high-tech, but it gets the attention of every person who is on the air doing what we call a 'pitch' or what some people might just call 'asking for money.'

Because, believe it or not, we are bending over backwards to make sure we only talk for a maximum of 3 minutes during every 'pledge break.' 

                                 
A few times a year we do week-long pledge drives. And when we do them we want each one of our
pledge breaks to be no longer than 3 minutes.  When you listen to commercial radio, they make all of their money by running commercials.  Sometimes 5 or 6 breaks every hour and some of those breaks can be longer than 5 minutes. 

In the grand scheme of things, a few pledge breaks of less than three minutes, a few times a year is really not such an interruption.  But it is how we make most of our money and it's how we are able to keep KSER on the air.

So here's hoping you've decided to help.  And if you haven't, you still have plenty of time to ensure we meet our goal for this pledge break. Just call our helpful volunteers at 425-303-9070. Or make a donation online. 

You can also buy some very nice gifts in the KSER store. Heck, you could even donate your old car! 

And if you've already donated, thanks. And please bear with us while we work for the next week to try to reach our goal in this pledge drive. Thanks to our high-tech egg-timer, we promise to keep the interruptions to less than three minutes. 

Two more quick reminders:

You can also support KSER, meet some wonderful neighbors and have a great evening at the annual KSER Voice of the Community Award ceremony. It's Saturday evening, November 10. You can get tickets here. 

There are still tickets left to see Amy Goodman when she comes to Everett October 27. But the tickets may not last long.  Don't miss this rare chance to see her in person at Everett Community College.  Ticket info here.



 
 

True Stuff....or Stuff I Made Up?

Sometimes, it can be challenging to separate fact from fiction; truth from lies; reality from fantasy; chicken salad from....well....other chicken stuff.

So here's the first ever KSER Manager's Corner quiz: True? Or Stuff I Made Up?

Two popular KSER DJ's have been working since the start of the exhibition season as replacement refs in the National Football League. In fact, one of them was involved in the controversial interception-into-touchdown call in the Monday Night Football game at Century Link this week.   True? Or I made that up?

Two popular KSER DJ's are actually big award-winners. The two have won Best Blues DJ awards from the Washington Blues Society's Best of the Blues Awards.  True? Or Made Up?

The Romney/Ryan Campaign, in an effort to sway undecideds at the event, has purchased a huge block of tickets to the upcoming Amy Goodman visit to Everett. It means your opportunity to purchase tickets may expire soon. True? Or Made Up?

A government agency can name someone a hero.  Not only can they, but the Snohomish Health District gave KSER's Sondra Santos paperwork naming her a hero. True? Or Made that one up?

The KSER studio building on Wetmore Avenue in Everett has been named by Architectural Digest as one of America's Top 10 aesthetically pleasing buildings.  True? Or Dude, have you been in that building?

One of the replacement refs in the NFL pre-season was actually fired by the Lingerie Football League a year ago for incompetence. That can't be true? Can it? Or Made up?

Not only can you help contribute to KSER by purchasing shirts, jackets, dog sweaters, aprons, water bottles and teddy bears at the KSER store, you can also get 10% off orders over $40 until October 5th. True?  Or That ain't true, I'm not gonna click on this link.

KSER will provide live coverage of the 3 Presidential debates, and the Vice-Presidential debate. The first one is next Wednesday, October 3rd at 6 p.m.  True? Or Made Up? 

Jim Hightower, who does regular commentaries afternoons on KSER may be a hard-hitting progressive, but he was once an elected official...in Texas!!  True? Or No Freakin' Way?

The one Vice-Presidential debate will be moderated by Howard Stern. True? Or Made Up?

The new and improved KSER Facebook page utilizes cutting-edge fiber-optic technology which allows us to turn your computer monitor into a high-def camera. We can see you when you're on our Facebook page. So, please, get decent before clicking KSER's Facebook page. The naked truth. Or Horsehockey.

Not only is Amy Goodman coming to Everett Community College on October 27th (and you can get tickets here), but they're going to have her speak in, of all places, the Henry M. Jackson Conference Center. That's True Or No way. Polar Opposites!?

Mark Hale, who does a hard-hitting progressive commentary, "Sand in the Gears" on KSER, was Johnny Carson's first sidekick on the Tonight Show.  True? Or Made Up?

Not only are all the DJ's on KSER hard-working volunteers, but the station's Board of Director's are also all volunteers.  And more than 50% of the operating costs of KSER comes from listener contributions.  True? Or That's can't be True, Can it?

The whole Gangnam Style rage was actually started by KSER's Ed Bremer during a slow news-week. True, I think? Or Totally Bogus?

Contrary to conventional wisdom, listening levels actually increase....we're talkin' through the roof...during KSER Pledge Drives. (It can be a little difficult at first to understand why, but if you want to try to figure it out, make sure you listen frequently during the 10-day KSER pledge drive that starts this Friday.)  Really, really true. Or C'mon, Man.

It is considerably easier to write a blog post when about half of it is stuff I made up. True? Or One More Thing I Made Up?