With Christmas only a few days away, I was bummed that I scheduled my flight to Denver the same day as the KPBX kids' concert at the Bing.  It would have been great to listen to some live festive holiday music by the Spokane Area Children's Chorus. I would like to hear your opinion's of the performance if you attended. You can post a comment below this post. Also, you can post your guess for the picture of the week, which is for all the listeners to the east of Spokane. Now that I am in Denver for the holiday season, the blog won’t be updated as frequently. Every Monday there will still be a picture of the week. Hope your having a great start to the week!

'Tis the Season

 

The last several weeks have been great for viewing light displays around town. Even though the snow is quickly melting, it is evident that the holiday spirit is in full swing. Holiday movies are just beginning to air nonstop on television and even though we have all watched Christmas Vacation or Christmas Story a hundred times over the years, they are still entertaining to watch, especially when you can relate. Clark Griswold and my father must be related, since he decides each year to decorate the area around our house with hundreds if not thousands of white stringed lights. The first sign he is ready for the holiday season is when he plays Christmas music before Thanksgiving. By the time the family is eating leftovers, he’s untangling boxes of lights out in the yard, while listening to more Christmas music. The best part is sitting inside the warm house watching him try and reach the tops of the trees in the dark. My dad is not anywhere close to the Griswold’s in the amount of lights he displays and by the actual holiday roles around he can’t stand listening to another version of “All I want for Christmas.” Since our new neighbors moved his holiday stamina might change. For the last several years he had no competition as the Light King on our street, but now the house to right has more lights. KPBX is also getting in the holiday spirit by playing a mix of cheerful Hanukah, Christmas, and other holiday songs and specials. Verne even decorated the studio with lights. If you have any of your own holiday stories feel free to leave a comment.

Spokane Sunset

Photo by: Conner Discoll

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Before the forecasted freezing rain arrives in Spokane, I thought it would be great to post a picture of some recently good weather. If you know the location of the picture, post a comment. Weather wasn’t an issue for the open house last night. Quite a few people turned out at the station for the meet and greet. The discussion part of the night, had some great questions from listeners from all across the region. Sitting in the studio taking the minutes, the night seemed to go quickly. Before we know it the next open house will be upon us.
Have a good hump-day.
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Icky Leak

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While the fallout from the Wikileaks scandal continues to gain momentum, Spokane Public Radio has been concerned with a different type of leak. After the city was blanketed with several layers of snow last week, the warm daytime temperatures have now started to gradually melt the once frozen precipitation, which has conveniently manifested itself into an “icky” leak just in front of the door way of the lobby. About the same time Hilary Clinton was addressing the public about the disclosure of classified government documents, Jerry Olson the chief engineer at the station was constructing a makeshift water feature for the entrance. By placing a funnel under the leak and duct taping it to a gradually suspended rope, the water was guided into a bucket away from the constantly revolving lobby door. Just as the government braced for more classified documents to be released, the station was alarmed at the possibility of additional drips developing, thankfully there have been none, thanks to Jerry. If you have had any problems with melting snow let us know, drop a comment about your own icky leak. Even though today is Monday, I will put up a picture of the week up tomorrow. Hope the week's starting out great and your enjoying our partly sunny weather.

Winter Wonderland

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It's a winter wonderland outside. The snow has been relentless all day and shows no sign of stopping. Travel around the city seems to be getting difficult as the white stuff starts to pile up again. Spokane Public Radio has you covered on all the closures and up to date information on the storm. I know I will be rejoicing about all the snow once this latest system moves through the inland northwest. If you're planning to take a trip up to the slopes, like I am, instead of listening to all your buddies' play-lists for the hundredth time, turn the dial to SPR. The station can be heard at all the ski resorts around Spokane. Can you guess the location of where this picture was taken and where you're also able to listen to SPR?

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Back to Reality

Hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving. I know Verne was excited to be at the station for the holiday, playing many of his favorite songs. Even though I was quite a distance from Spokane, it was great to be able to listen to Spokane Public Radio on the Internet at kpbx.org. I have to say, Verne’s weather updates caught me off guard, considering there was no snow before I left for the week. When he mentioned that Spokane would receive large amounts of the white stuff and the high temperature for a few days would be below freezing, I was ready to book another vacation to somewhere warm. Today is Monday, and normally time for another picture of the week. Tomorrow I will post a photo since today I am still making my way back to Washington. The correct answer to last week’s picture was the Monroe Bridge. Stay cozy and happy holidays.

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Turkey Time

Picture Courtesy: Conner Discoll

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it’s becoming apparent that people are already catching the holiday fever. In the past, I laughed at all the people fighting to get out of town during the half week holiday we call Thanksgiving. Now I laugh no more since I am one of the 42.2 million people who will travel more than 50 miles from home this year, according to AAA. From my experience, it can be a hassle to travel during that time, so this year I developed a new strategy to avoid the long lines and the boycott of full body screening on Wednesday. Leave a week early.

All those times I went to class even though I was sick or was exhausted from battling friends in video games late at night have paid off. Having no absences in my classes, I was able to escape with my teachers none the wiser and finally enjoy some quality living at home in Denver. Sure, spending the extra time with the family is great, but it’s the home cooked meals and not eating instant noodles or fast food that makes the trip worthwhile. 

Today will be the last post for several days and, since it is Monday, I have posted a new picture of the week.  Take a guess and leave a comment by clicking directly below the post on the word, "comments". Several people posted some great guesses to the picture last week, but unfortunately they were not the location where the picture was taken.  The answer to last week’s picture was Mission park. Have a great Thanksgiving and Black Friday. I know I will be sleeping in after a good Thanksgiving meal. 

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Verne the Next Food Network Chef

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Last Friday, during halftime of the Gonzaga basketball game, I was flipping through television programs and came across the Food Network: a channel I refuse to watch ever again. After several minutes of observing the host create an effortless and delicious dish of crème brulee. I sat there with a craving for the dessert – but with none of the ingredients.
Have you ever heard of the story of Stone Soup? The kid’s story about soldiers returning to their homeland from the Napoleonic Wars who are in search of food in the midst of winter and face the grim reality that they don’t have food or a place to stay? The soldiers developed a plan to deceive the residents of a town by making “stone soup.” Without any initial ingredients except for a stone, the crafty soldiers convince the villagers, one by one, to find ingredients to add to the community pot.

Arriving at Spokane Public Radio today, I was reminded to the Stone Soup tale. During the winter on Wednesdays, the lobby is filled with the aroma of cooking soup, instigated by Verne, who grabs left over ingredients from the station’s cupboards, and many of the staff who bring in ingredients to add. By the time Verne is done with his broadcast at noon and he has made the announcement on the intercom that the soup is complete; almost every chair in the lobby is filled with staff, volunteers, and guests partaking in the cuisine. After several hours slaving away at my internship duties today, the soup acted as a comforting motivator, especially on a cold day. Today’s soup was, Italian Wedding Soup, a blend of beef and vegetables and was delicious. You could of thought Verne may have worked for the Food Network at one time…

Unlike during Friday’s basketball game, it was great this morning to be nourished with soup at the ready. It is no wonder that college students consume so much instant noodles. In the future, I will have to employ the “Stone Soup Strategy” on my friends and family, except next time it might be crème brulee.
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Where in the City is Evan?

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Hey! Hope everyone had a terrific weekend even though it’s been gloomy outside for the last several days. Today is Monday, and that means time for a new picture of the week. Last week’s picture was taken on the Gonzaga campus, and featured the granite fountain. It was brought to my attention though that there are similar fountains throughout the city. This week’s picture will include a riddle: Where can kids pretend they are astronauts launching into space, but are restricted by the number of chain links? Take a guess and feel free to post a comment by clicking the word comment below this post.

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Note to Self: Guitar Instead of Sax

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Guitar Hour today featured Jay Hildebrand playing live in the studio. After a quick listen while taking pictures, I found myself trying to refrain from making an impulse guitar purchase. This wasn’t the first time a musical instrument has tempted me. In the fifth grade, I started playing the alto saxophone after I heard the song, “Havana,” by Kenny G. All I can remember is buying a sax at DJ’s music box in Denver, and the owner telling me that the majority of kids quit after the first year of playing. I told him that I was an exception and that I would be the next great sax player. I showed him! After two years of playing in the school band, I quit and never picked up the instrument again. Watching Jay today, it was obvious that he has a passion for playing from the quality of the sound he creates. I’m sure he never had the temptation to quit. In hindsight, maybe I should have started on the guitar? Catch Jay’s show tonight at 8pm in the Whitworth Music Building, it should be an inspired performance.
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Picture of the Week

Take a guess at this week's Picture

Re: Picture of the Week

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Daylight-Savings Time has arrived. The first several days after adjusting your clocks can be a confusing time. In honor of daylight savings, the picture of the week will be pushed back until later today. Several people commented that last weeks picture was difficult. The location of the picture was from Silver Car Collector Auctions, just down the street from the station.
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Ahoy Mates!

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Hey, it’s Friday! The last several days have been great weather-wise. Saturday just might be the last great fall day before the storms roll in. So, while you’re out and about, drop by the Spokane Masonic Center Auditorium at 1pm to see KPBX’s FREE Kids’ Concert. Tom Lewis will be performing shanties and telling sailing tales. Bring the whole family - it is a must ‘sea!’

Election Day

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"The country's 24-hour politico-pundit-perpetual-panic conflictinator did not cause our problems, but its existence makes solving them much harder," John Stewart

It probably is a cliche at this point in the election to say that I am sick of all the negative election coverage. Flipping through cable television channels the last several months it was impossible not to witness attack ads and talk show hosts bashing candidate's and propositions. Since I'm from Colorado, living in Washington, election season is a unique experience that has its trade offs. I can't vote here, so I've tuned out the local coverage, and at the same time, I haven't kept up on the issues in Colorado. Since turning 18, I have only voted by mail. While the last presidential election energized everyone to vote, I'm not as motivated this election cycle. It wasn't until I started hanging out at Spokane Public Radio that I remembered why I liked to vote. Unfortunately, I missed the mail-in ballot deadline.

Election day at SPR is a stimulating time. Every hour at the station, staff members are commenting about election results. The news department is getting prepared for a long night of partying. Actually, they will be asking tough questions at the local Democrat and Republican election centers. In the news department no side is safe, considering the brief time I stopped by their office, they were making jokes about how the local Democrats are meeting at the Lincoln Center. Wasn't Lincoln a Republican? The station tries to remain unbiased during elections and does not support any candidate, unlike Glenn Beck or other cable television show hosts.

Last weekend the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" MC-ed  by John Stewart, the host of the "Daily Show" was regarded as a success after tens of thousands of people turned out to proclaim that they are tired of the bickering in politics and the biased opinion of cable television pundits. While standing in front of the steps of the Capital Building, Stewart said, "The truth is, we work together to get things done every $%#* day. The only place we don't is here, or on cable TV-but Americans don't live here or on cable TV"

During the election, employees and volunteers at SPR may not agree on issues or candidates, but for the most part everyone still works together to ensure that programming and news is professional.
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Picture of the Week

It has been two weeks since the last picture of the week. Several people commented that the Riverfront Mall escalators were too easy of a location for the last picture. This week hopefully will be a little more difficult. Leave a comment by clicking on the comment link below this post to let other's know how well you know the city of Spokane.

Pledge Drive Recovery

The final phone rang at 8:12 a.m. to end the week-long pledge drive of fall 2010. Extended for one more day, in a mere two hours the pledge drive was able to generate ten thousand dollars in pledges. Not long after the station reached its goal the building seemed to return to normal. When I arrived at the station at ten in the morning the pledge center no longer buzzed with excitement. The fridge had been emptied of all the delicious donated treats and the hallways no longer echoed with conversation. It felt like the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas. The staff was grabbing salads for lunch, after several days of eating tasty, but high calorie food. Some retreated to their desks to finish their daily work while others mingled in the lobby talking about their plans for the weekend.

Stephanie, the volunteer coordinator, was finishing the last of the thank-you cards and was noticeably excited that she and others no longer had to arrive at the station at 4 am. I completely understand after spending three hours the day before answering calls; I was worn out. It was great talking to many of the generous donors. Several callers were probably not as excited to talk to me as I was to them, since multiple times they had to repeat their contact information before I finally got it right. Pam and Helen, two other volunteers working with me, seemed to have no problem quickly getting people’s information. These two generous ladies helped the rookie out when I fumbled to get the courage to say, “Spokane Public Radio volunteer, May I take your pledge.” “It’s best if you say volunteer when you first start out because they will cut you some slack” Pam said, as with ease she answered another call. Reflecting back on my first pledge drive, I was amazed at how well the pledge drive went considering the size-able number of dollars that the station needed to raise. Spokane and the surrounding communities have great listeners and the people who volunteer and work at the station are great as well. This partnership between the listening community and the committed volunteers and station staff makes me proud to be an intern at the station.
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Community Chest

I will not play Monopoly anymore! Do you hate playing for hours and landing on properties that produce no income, like the Electric Company, while other players live it up with Boardwalk and Park Place? I always feel obligated to buy every property I land on. Later I regret that decision, while I watch as time after time other players pass by with plenty of cash, and I sit there broke. In reality, don't we all wish we owned the utility company? If life was a Monopoly game, Spokane Public Radio would be the first player pursuing that property. While in the studio today, I learned that SPR spends well over $3,000 dollars in electricity costs on a monthly basis. It takes a lot of juice to power up a radio station! The SPR pledge drive continues through Wednesday and is a way for you to help the station pass GO and collect $200 in order to keep the airwaves operating.

Today's Pledge Drive Pic

Patricia Felgenhauer won tickets to the YWCA
"Women of Achievement Luncheon"

 

“Mmm…sprinkles.” This morning the Homer Simpson in me emerged when Maggie, a volunteer at Spokane Public Radio brought in doughnuts. It was hard not to grab a pink pastry and retreat to a desk to take a siesta. Instead, there were guests in the studio and pictures to be taken. The last several days have been interesting taking shots of studio guests, drawing winners, and daily events. After spending time in Pledge Central, it became apparent how enthusiastic the volunteers are about answering calls. Everyone was so excited to answer phones that an informal competition emerged. Between the volunteers battling for phones, and the staff hovering over the new “delicious dish” in the lobby, it seemed more like a scene from “The Bird’s” than a friendly public radio pledge drive.  Today is Friday! But at SPR it’s just the beginning of the week. While I might pull out the hammock and relax on a fall day like Homer, the volunteers at SPR will be working hard to take your donations throughout the weekend. Pledge your support at (509) 328-5729.

 

 

Daily Pledge Drive Picture

It's pledge drive time at Spokane Public Radio! Verne and everyone at the station are energized by the amount of outgoing support for SPR. Each day during the pledge drive "Making Noise" will be featuring a picture of the day. If you have a spare moment, log on and check out the action going on behind the scenes and call into the station to pledge your support (509-328-5729).

Verne got an unusual surprise this morning when a listener dropped by the station to give her donation.

                                                                                  

Pledge Drive

It is pledge time at Spokane Public Radio! Everyone at the station is excited and anticipating a great upcoming pledge week. All the phones and equipment have been setup next to the studios for volunteers to accept pledges.                                                                                                      

“Where are the tote bags? I'm not leaving the premises without tote bags. I was promised tote bags and tote bags I shall have.” Kramer from Seinfeld
 

George is not bringing the Yankees to answer pledges and there are no tote bags, but SPR does have some great gifts to raffle off. Earlier this week I took some photos of the many superb items being raffled off to donors who pledge their support. Along with a bike and a one-of-a-kind sculpture, there are many other great items that will be raffled to donors.

The pledge drive starts tomorrow and will be running through October 27. I will be answering calls on Wednesday and look forward to receiving your pledges. I might just have to wear my puffy shirt. 

Picture of the Week

Do you think you know Spokane? Every Monday and during the pledge drive, “Making Noise” will feature a new photo from somewhere in the Spokane area. Take a guess and leave a comment by clicking the comments link below to show others your knowledge of the city.

Musical Musings

Today, I arrived at SPR earlier then normal to take pictures of Verne’s guest, Daniel Gaisford the cellist playing with the Gonzaga Orchestra this Saturday. Director Kevin Hekmatpanah also made an appearance, but had to leave quickly to teach a class. I grabbed the camera to take shots before he left, but before I could make it into the studio the on-air light flicked on. The red light above the door rattled my nerves. We have all had our phones ring at inappropriate times. I have visions of my embarrassing ringtone playing on the air when I’m taking shots of a guest. Instead of going into the studio, I waited patiently in the lobby and listened to the broadcast on the intercom until the next set of music played. Gaisford was talking to Verne about the amount of practice he does. “Now that I have the callouses I can practice six hours a day. That wasn’t true when I started, maybe a half an hour tops,” he told Verne. I played the saxophone growing up and getting me to practice even an hour (let alone six) was like giving a kid a shot from the doctor. The music started playing and I went into the studio and took the photos I needed and chatted with Gaisford. He was upbeat and was excited about his upcoming performance in Spokane. I know several members of the Orchestra, and had planned to attend, but Gaisford’s dedication sealed the deal. Monday, I will update “Making Noise” with my impressions of the performance. Check out the performance at the Fox at 7:30 pm on Saturday.

A New View

I used to joke about people driving hybrids. Driving a gas guzzling Jeep Wrangler it never crossed my mind that my commute could ever be considered environmentally friendly, until I started riding the hybrid Spokane bus.

Taking the public transportation for the first time to SPR was like reliving the childhood experience of taking the bus for the first time to school, but this time my parents weren’t there, so instead, I stood with strangers waiting for the #28 Nevada to arrive. My adrenaline really started pumping when I had to deposit a $1.25. The driver quickly grew impatient after my wrinkled bill was rejected time after time by the fare meter. Without notice, he gunned through the intersection to make the changing light. I held on for my life and was able to finally grab a pass and make my way to a seat. I finally made it to the station with time to spare--even after making a transfer downtown.

While meeting people at the station during my first week, I learned that Verne, Brian Flick, and others also use alternative transportation to get to work. Verne rides his bike in any kind of weather and Brian walks two miles to work every day. “I could get a gym membership and rarely go, or I can walk to work and ensure that I always go,” Brian told me.

With class in the afternoon at Gonzaga, I had to make my way back to campus. With the light turning green, the arriving bus quickly stopped for all the soon-to-be passengers. The driver opened the door and waved people on as through he had just stolen it and was prepared to finish the job by following the plot of the movie “Speed.” I then came to find out that the fare meter was broken and the ride was free. It was a spectacle to see old ladies giving “high fives” to each other while other riders with contented faces were discussing how great the day had just become.

I realized that day that taking the bus allowed me to take my eyes off the road and start seeing the minute things that my surroundings have to offer. In the past, I only used a bike for exercise and left all my commuting to the Wrangler, but now, taking a stroll downtown, using my bike, or grabbing a ride on the bus has opened a new “hybrid” way of thinking for me.

Bing!

Wednesday night’s are usually a slow time for downtown Spokane, but last night was unique. Sorry, AC/DC wasn’t headlining at The Factory last night, but at the Bing, Howard Berkes, a national reporter for NPR, was putting on a show.

Arriving late I was surprised that the only seats in the house were in the upper level. With the lights dimmed and the presentation already in full swing, it was interesting to see and hear Berkes present audio clips from past news stories. After playing several moving audio excerpts, he then presented insight. His explanations brought deeper meaning to the stories, and he even admitted that he was amazed about the new ability to present reports on the internet, which to him seemed to be a great way to involve the NPR audience.

Growing up in Denver, a stone’s throw from Fort Carson Army Base, I know first hand about some of the Western stories Berkes mentioned in his presentation. The local news does a good job reporting on family members who have been impacted by the loss of a loved one, but nothing compares to the way Berkes audio clips captured children impacted by the loss of a father in Afghanistan.

The lights went up and the night concluded after a question and answer session. As I was leaving, it became apparent that the night brought a mixture of new and old, and I am not just talking about the audience. The Bing is a theater enriched by tradition. The presentation referenced the internet as a growing news outlet and used contemporary technology to exhibit what is considered, to some, old technology in radio. Berkes presentation highlighted a key point that no matter the medium in which the news is presented, old or new, it should be presented as complete, impartial, and as fair as possible. I became aware last night of the importance of radio as a news outlet. I receive my news in many ways, but, sometimes, you need the impact that radio provides.

Where in Spokane is Verne?

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Have you ever been the new kid on the block? Being the new kid at Spokane Public Radio so far has been an interesting experience. While making the rounds I met many great personalities at the station. Verne Windham, the on air host from 9am-noon on KPBX, was one of the people I ran in to. After talking with him for the first time I was amazed at how incredibly active he is in the community. For many people working as an on air host would be enough, but Verne does more. Let’s Follow him as he makes his way though the week:

Tuesday:
Morning: Jim Tevenan takes over for Verne on the KPBX airwaves - while Verne is busy working with camp Lutherhaven in Coeur d'Alene.

Night: “Orchestra” seems to be the theme of this day since Verne conducts for the Spokane Youth Orchestra and will also be rehearsing for the opening of South Pacific, where he has been recruited to play horn.

Wednesday:
For most, Wednesday is hump day. But for Verne, it’s just the beginning --

Morning: Jim Tevenan continues with Verne’s on air duties with a surprise special guest from the cast of South Pacific. NPR Correspondent Howard Berkes will be around to chat as well. Rehearsal for South Pacific continues where you will hear Verne playing his French horn in the 26 piece orchestra.

Night: Before the lights go down for Howard Berkes, Verne will be meeting and greeting with SPR members and answering questions at the Bing from 6:30-7pm. If you’re out on the town that night you might catch a glimpse of Verne riding his bike to perform at the INB at 7:30pm.

Thursday-Saturday:
Finally a regular day and time for rest (or so we thought):

Mornings on Thursday and Friday: Vern returns from his journey and is back in the studio hosting morning radio.

Night: South Pacific continues and so does Verne.

Sunday:
For many, it’s the day of rest but “Jam for Bread”- A benefit for the teen shelter Crosswalk will be emceed by “Mr. Community”: Verne Windham

While making this post it was hard not to check out Facebook for signs of Verne -- but I couldn’t help take a quick glance. There on “The Verne Windham Fan Club” page I noticed that not only does he have a following, his 184 admirers rival most people’s friends lists. And after he filled me in on his weekly schedule, it is not hard to see why.
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Hello! October Beginnings

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It's the start of a new month and along with that the seasons are changing. "Making Noise" is changing things up as well. My name is Evan Winiger and I am going to take over for Nicole as the marketing intern. In the weeks ahead, some exciting events are coming up at Spokane Public Radio. This Wednesday, NPR coorespondent Howard Berkes will be dropping by the station and also will be making a presentation at the Bing in the evening. I will be updating the blog every few days so stay close to your computer and hit that refresh button.
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Goodbye

You may be wondering why this blog has not been updated for a few weeks. Well, I'm back at school, beginning my junior year at Gonzaga University. Sadly, that means my internship at SPR has come to an end.

It's been a wonderful experience for me. I've gotten to write press releases, design ads, and even hear my own voice on the radio. I learned so much about what makes a radio station run smoothly. It's so much more than just the voices you hear from your car stereo. Behind the scenes many different people are organizing events like An Evening Under the Stars and the SPR Kids' Concerts, conducting interviews, calling sponsors, and managing publicity.

In addition, I had the chance to meet some amazing people in this position. Neesha gave me my first complete tour of the station. Nancy, the "comfort woman" for A Prairie Home Companion, always had a smile and a "good morning" for me. Amy, the sweet receptionist, helped me to find whatever I needed at the station - whether it was one of the staff, more paper, or a sugary snack to help me through the morning. Verne was always willing to let me bother him for an update for this blog, as well as making some incredible ice cream. Patrick was so much help with the promo for this blog and more importantly, didn't laugh at my timorous first attempt at recording. Then, of course, there was Shelley, who taught me everything from advertising design, to podcast uploading, to how to write a good press release.

In all, this internship was great fun and very intersting for me and I will miss my time at SPR. This blog will stall for a few weeks until a new intern takes my place. Thanks for everything SPR!

"Songs of Survival"

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Walking into the station this morning, I was met with a very different sound. The song's lyrics were sung in a different language. Passionate and beautiful, it was tinged with an unmistakeable sense of sorrow.

Gonzaga alumna Julia Riegel sat in the studio with Verne, explaining that the song, composed during the Holocaust, was part of her thesis presentation "Songs of Survival." For the project, she demonstrated how music from the Holocaust can contribute to understanding what it meant to be a prisoner in a concentration camp and to an overall understanding of that period in history.



For her part, Julia is fascinated by both the music and the history. She analyzed songs with the confidence of extensive research, barely glancing at any notes. She smiled as Verne played a song with a title translating into "It Burns."

"This is one of my favorites," she said. "It's so powerful - kind of like a rock song from the Holocaust."

Julia and Verne have been known each other since she played the viola in his youth symphony. "She was about two years old and came forth fully-formed," Verne joked. The two have shared a love of books and music for many years, and Verne attended Julia's original thesis presentation this past May, where she first explained her work on "Songs of Survival."

"She's really great," Verne said of Julia after the broadcast. "She's so bright and can express things just wonderfully."

Me Making Noise!

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Last week Shelley decided that it would be a good idea for me to create a promo for this blog to be run on both KPBX and KSFC. As I had never written copy to be read before and had no experience in advertising, this was quite the daunting task. My first draft turned out to be far too long and not catchy enough for radio. So, with much editing from Shelley, I returned to my desk and eventually came up with a few usable versions of the promo. I timed each one, reading it out loud at a reasonable pace, to make sure that it would fit within the specified time limit for the slots between musical pieces.

When Patrick had some free time, we headed to the recording room. I was very nervous and kept wringing my hands as I ran through the copy, occasionally adjusting words or inflection with suggestions from Patrick and Shelley. I discovered that "KSFC" is surprisingly difficult to pronounce clearly. And never again will I write "s" alliteration into my copy. After a few good recordings, though, Patrick said that he had enough to work with and returned to edit the fresh promo. I was directed to find an instrumental song to layer behind each recording.

With that instruction, the next day I was set loose in the music library. I might as well have been given the keys to Candyland. Walls upons walls, shelves of CDs and vinyl records met my amazed eyes. There was even an entire shelf dedicated to one of my favorite artists, Tito Puente, "El Rey de los Timbales." I spent the morning browsing through the library and playing wonderful music on a dusty boom box to my heart's content. Finally I returned to Patrick with a stack of CDs, my favorite tracks marked on bright yellow sticky notes.

At the moment, Patrick is meshing my voice recording with a few different songs to create a couple promos to play in between daily programming. Soon, I'll get to hear my own voice on the radio. I can hardly wait!

Helping with Dinner

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Much like the elementary school teachers who don't actually sleep under their desks each night like their students suppose, the folks at SPR also have lives of their own. This often results in a lot of good for Spokane. For example, each Tuesday, Amy, Shelley, and Stephanie head over to the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant to help provide over 80 nutritious meals in two hours for the needy people of Spokane. Recently, Amy was named Volunteer of the Year.

"I was really surprised," she said, blushing slightly. "I do so little compared to everyone there." But of course, every Tuesday for over a year, plus special events like their summer barbecue where the Restaurant feeds over 1000, tends to add up.

"It's a wonderful, wonderful place," Amy said. The Restaurant, which is located in the basement of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, serves the poorest zip code in the entire state of Washington. Dinners are provided on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a big lunch and fresh "take-out" produce on Fridays. The food is completely donation-based from local groceries, farmers, and home gardeners.

Amy had wanted to be more active volunteering in the community and "this is something I think does a lot of good for a lot of people," she said. "I'm in a fortunate position and everyone needs help from time to time."

For two hours each Friday women and children can come into the Restaurant and fill out "menus" detailing the food they would like for themselves and their families. Volunteers collect these menus, looks over them, and fill recyclable bags with the requested items. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hot, healthy meals are served to all guests.

"It's really a great example of how a few people wanting to make a difference can become a lifechanging service," said Amy.

Party!

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Sprinkles.

Sprinkles and syrups.

Sprinkles and syrups and fresh cherries and decorations.



That's how the table in the lobby grew this morning. Each year about mid-July, the station has a hot dog roast and ice cream social during the lunch break to celebrate summer birthdays. Right now Verne is playing 52 minute stretches of music to snatch a few extra minutes to help with preparations. A line of ice cream machines churn away on the back porch. Stephanie is coordinating buns, beans, and barbecue. All in the midst of actual station work.



"We like to do this each year to zero in on our real love... food," said Verne. I've been told that his homemade (or rather station-made) ice cream is a big tradition. Added to Verne's vanilla, Patrick and Shelley have brought chocolate ice cream, Neesha is making, according to Verne "something Neesha-esque," and Nancy is whipping up a batch of sherbet for a non-milk-based alternative.

"We've also been eyeing the root beer in the fridge," Verne said. "Somebody might experiment with that."

Luckily for me the annual "ice cream orgy" as Verne put it, falls right on my birthday. So, as a special treat, I get to take a bit of a break from press releases and promos to blog about ice cream. The only concern is that we might wind up with more ice cream than the station can handle.

"It's like why I don't wear Spandex," Verne said.

Spandex? I gave him a look of complete puzzlement.

"You don't have to gear up and make a big fuss to ride your bike to work. Just like that, you don't have to go all crazy to enjoy some ice cream at work. It should be something normal," he added in explanation.

Well I, for one, am all for the normalization of ice cream at the station. Yum!

Work Song

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Right now Nancy and Verne are at work on a new project. Early in September, KPBX's program The Bookshelf will feature the popular regional writer Ivan Doig's latest book, Work Song. Just A Theory host Tony Flinn has already begun recording readings from the sequel to The Whistling Season, a story about the miners of Butte, Montana. What makes this particular selection from The Bookshelf special though, is that the station has commissioned a local composer to create an actual work song to be played with the reading of the novel.

Composer, musician, screenwriter, and novelist Don Caron will bring to life what Nancy says should be "an infectious marching tune" like the song meant to organize the miners in Work Song. The lyrics to the song will most likely be accompanied by a concertina. Between the work of bestselling author Doig and that of award-winning composer Caron, this chapter of The Bookshelf should be page-turning.

Un "Promo" Muy Caliente

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Early Tuesday afternoon, as I was doing a little design work, Shelley called my name.

"Could you come here for a minute? We need your Spanish expertise."

Because this year's An Evening Under the Stars fundraiser is Latin-fiesta themed, they've needed my limited Spanish much more often than one might expect from a public radio station in Spokane. As I entered Shelley's office, our Production Director Patrick looked up with a grin and said "Hola!" with an unmistakeable American-trying-to-be-Spanish accent. One quick glance at the computer monitor that he and Shelley were facing revealed the words: An Evening Under the Stars 2010 Promo - Antonio Banderas style.

"Errrre, errrre..." went Patrick, attempting to roll his "r's." "How would you say 'the beautiful grounds of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars' in Spanish?" Shelley asked me with a critical look at the screen. And so, I became one of the voice coaches to a Spokane radio announcer trying to be Antonio Banderas.


On Wednesday, after we had hammered out the perfect mixture of Spanish and English words so that an everyday listener might understand the promo, the three of us headed to the recording studio. Patrick's voice is naturally pleasantly mid-range but to transform into the sultry latino, he kept deepening it as he practiced the script.

"Buenos días," he said normally. "Buenos días," a little deeper. "Buenos días." With that, he went too deep, reaching instead the voice of a latino you would hope not to run into in a dark alley. Patrick readjusted and ran through the entire script several different times, pausing to ask the correct pronunciation of "señores," to perfect a Spanish-accented version of the word "radio," and several times just to laugh with Shelley and me at the silliness of the whole situation. When Patrick decided that he had enough usable takes, he took the sound recording back to his office to piece together the best versions of each section of the script.

Behind the promo recording he layered (what else?) music from the soundtrack to The Mask of Zorro.

National Impact

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When the sun is beaming cheerfully as it is today, after a gorgeous 4th of July weekend, it's easy for the average person to forget (if only temporarily) that America is at war. Here at the station though, Amanda is knee-deep in the daily effects of war on our country. Part of NPR's Impact of War, the story Amanda is working on will be part of a series called “Living With War At Home.” She is writing about the difficulties for members of the armed forces who plan for a return to civilian life after service in the military.

"Some come back with PTSD; some come back with injuries or, at the very least, trauma," Amanda said. "My story is basically, how do you go back to the grocery store after something like that? How do you return to focus on school when you have trouble even leaving the house?"

The hardest part of this story, she said, has been finding veterans willing to share their day-to-day experiences after the military.

"I can find policy advisors all day," Amanda said, "but I want to know what it's like for the people actually readjusting to regular life."

Her conversation was filled with terms like PTSD, transition, and therapy.

"This is the white noise in my head right now," she said. "It's the hum that's always in my mind."

The story, which will be broadcast in the coming weeks, is one that is not often remembered.

According to Amanda, "This story is so important because it's something you just don't hear about. These people blend in, but they're at a loose end in their lives and there's not a lot of help."

Musical Kids

This morning at quarter 'til 11, Verne had the nagging feeling that he'd forgotten something. As he pondered over what it could be, a line of excited 8-to-15-year-olds filtered into the lobby. It suddenly hit Verne that today was the live broadcast for the Holy Names Music Center piano camp and he shot into action.

"Us trapeze artists were about to splatter on the pavement," he said of the accidental lapse of memory and the unprepared live-recording studio. Together he, Jerry, Brian, and Patrick cleared out the room and set up sound equipment with record speed just in time for the 11 am broadcast.

It was at this point that I entered the office, only to be asked by a station volunteer, "Are you one of the pianists? They already went to the back room."

"Pianists?" I replied confusedly and sure enough, the strains of a lovely classical piece reached my ears. Shelley handed me a camera and I tracked down the tinkling notes to discover this scene:




35 kids of varying ages and attention-levels coated the carpet of the little room. A small strawberry-blond head bent over the piano.



Verne perched upon a stool, narrating between each of the 14 child-performers' turns on the piano and the camp instructor shuffled her students into place. Parents and friends spilled out into the hallway, listening to each piece and snapping rapid-fire photos of their children. Some kids waited patiently for their turn.



Others waited less patiently.

But when they sat down at the piano, the music was beautiful.



And everybody remembered to applaud.




The applause actually proved to be a bit of a problem. In an adjacent room, John was trying to record a news story in between the clapping and sounds of the piano. Because the building is not sound-tight, a few bars of a piano solo leaked onto the end of his recording.

"I had to redo it a couple times to make sure there wasn't any extra sound on it," he reported.








Overall, though, the broadcast of the young pianists' performances was a complete success.

"It was a wonderful rush of energy," Verne said with a grin.

Paper Parade

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Today SPR is preparing for one of its biggest mailings just as The Guide is nearing completion for the printers. So, everywhere I turn there is paper. Third, fourth, and fifth versions of pages from The Guide hit my desk to be proofread and then passed on to Neesha or Stephanie's desk to be proofed again. Every little detail must be caught and made perfect before the finished product can go to the printers for distribution. Shelley types away correcting everything that the office full of proofreaders manage to spot, and dozens of papers in various stages flit from chair to chair.

At the same time, Mary, our Membership Coordinator, is organizing for a massive mailing on Friday. Just moments ago, Brian's voice came over the intercom with a polite, "If you'd like some exercise we could use help setting up for the mailing." Then came Amy's voice, a little more insistent, "Whether you want exercise or not, now is the time for action!" At that, people from across the office rose from their chairs and were put to work carrying stacks of envelopes, address sheets, and chairs down to the mailing room. By the time the paper parade came to a close, the room was ready for mailing and The Guide was ready to go to the printers.

A Red, White, and Blue Brainstorm

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While for most people the 4th of July means food, flags, and fireworks, at SPR the patriotic holiday means brainstorming. This afternoon Verne padded into the office with no shoes and a harried but eager look on his face, clutching a fistful of scribbled notes on 4th of July special programming. During any holiday listeners expect something different and exciting from the station to match the mood of the day. This all boils down to the need for a surge of creativity from the broadcasters. Verne ran his fingers through his hair so that it stood wildly on end as he went over the first draft of the holiday weekend schedule. In addition to special programs like satirical singing group Capitol Steps performing their 4th of July version of “Politics Takes a Holiday" and the critique of government action during the Vietnam War "Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers” performed by L.A. Theatre Works, Verne said that the station will also run a mix of holiday-appropriate music throughout the weekend.

“We’ll have patriotic songs and music to burn burgers by,” he said, thumbing through notes. Verne mentioned the tentative schedule (that Capitol Steps will air on KSFC on July 2 and 5 at 5 pm and on KPBX on July 4 and 5 at 4 pm and noon respectively) but be warned that times may be altered.

“That’s the fun of radio,” he said, heading back to work, “changing our minds at the last minute!” And with that he ducked out the door, leaving half-formed notes as the remains of a patriotic brainstorm behind him. For an up-to-date schedule of 4th of July weekend programming go to kpbx.org or follow Spokane Public Radio on Facebook.

Taking cover from the Prairie

This week at SPR my job has become to help wherever I can... mainly by staying out of the way. The station is a flurry of activity as the countdown to "A Prairie Home Companion" rapidly draws to a close.

Shelley has been painstakingly designing and proofing program fliers for the event. Amy and Nancy are busy fielding phone calls about tickets. Soon, a small group will be headed down to the Spokane Arena to set up and make final preparations for the show. People fly in and out of the door bearing stacks of fliers, programs, and paperwork. Everywhere you can hear the low murmur of "Garrison! Garrison!" The entire station is driving to make this show the best it can possibly be.

As for me, I find I can be most helpful by keeping out of everyone's hair for a while and working on other tasks. I'll come out from under my desk when all this is over and we can enjoy the success of "A Prairie Home Companion."