2023 Year-End Message From Our General Manager
Dear Friends and Supporters of KBCS,
It won’t be long now before we celebrate the arrival of a new year and bid farewell to 2023. This is a friendly reminder that you have until midnight on December 31st to make a tax-deductible contribution to KBCS on your 2023 tax return.
Donations from KBCS listeners make up the largest part of our yearly operating budget. In fact, well over 80% of our budget is comprised of donations from our supporters who contribute what they can afford to keep this fifty-year tradition of democracy in action on the air. As the General Manager of KBCS, I assure you that the programming on this public radio station will not be tailored to meet a desirable marketing demographic. That marketing focus is for commercial radio stations and not noncommercial educational radio stations like KBCS.
At the core of our mission is a promise to provide programming that serves the underserved segments of our community that are not necessarily served by commercial radio. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 includes this provision: “… it is in the public interest to encourage the development of programming that involves creative risks and that addresses the needs of unserved and underserved audiences, particularly children and minorities.” Now, that sounds clear to me and has always been a guiding light since my first job in public radio as a college student reporter in the mid-1970s.
Over the years I have worked in both commercial and noncommercial radio, and I know the difference between the two. Today, it can be difficult to discern that important distinction when listening to some public radio stations. I am a “hard news” advocate and have never been a fan of “happy talk” news. At KBCS, you are going to hear a lot of news stories that do not have a happy conclusion.
That is why I am proud to work at KBCS and why I urge you to support our educational and cultural mission with as generous a donation that you can afford.
In addition to our local news reporting with a social justice focus, I am also proud of our eclectic mix of music programming. Our music programming features the musical traditions of many diverse cultures and ethnicities that make up life’s colorful mosaic in our beautiful little corner of the world. I am also pleased that we continue to seek out even more diverse music program offerings that feature local community volunteers and student interns who produce and host most of our music programs. That is what community radio is all about. It has always been about diversity and inclusiveness, which are not just “talking points” around here.
Please make an end of the year donation to KBCS at whatever amount fits your budget. Some listeners can afford to give a little more than others but no donation to KBCS is too small. When added together they make the magic happen at KBCS and support our never-ending quest for continuous improvement in all that we do.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the coming New Year to all our friends and neighbors here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest and to those streaming online everywhere at kbcs.fm
Dana Buckingham
General Manager and Proud Sustaining contributor to true Community Radio KBCS.
The Houston family property in Renton
This is a story about the Houston family who is seeking reparations from Renton School District in what they say was an unfair acquisition of their family’s former land in Renton. They were part of a vibrant Black community there in the 1950s.
Producers: Gol Holghooghi and Yuko Kodama
Photo: Photo taken by Rob Pearson
John Houston with his family including his daughters. He said ‘I have seven grandchildren who I would like to see go to college’.
Take Our 2023 Listener Survey
Hi KBCS Listeners!
We hope this message finds you well! At KBCS, we truly value the opinions of our amazing community, and we believe that your insights can help us enhance your experience with us.
That’s why we invite you to participate in our short and insightful listener survey. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of KBCS and ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed your expectations.
Your responses will remain confidential, and the survey should only take a few minutes of your time. We appreciate your continued support, and we can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Thank you for being a part of the KBCS family!
Best regards,KBCS Team
A Sephardic Hanukkah
Today is the first day of Hanukkah.
KBCS spoke with Dr. Devin Naar, University of Washington Sephardic Studies Program Chair and Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies about Hanukkah celebration rituals in Sephardic Jewish culture.
Listen to an interview about Sephardic Hanukkah delicacies like bunuelos, a Ladino song titled Ocho Kandelikas and other details about Hanukkah in the Sephardic style.
Flory Jacoda, composer of Ocho Kandelikas, performing the song
Ocho Kandelikas rendition sung by Idina Menzel.
Producers: Yuko Kodama and Lucy Braginski
General Manager Update
After nearly three years of a frustrating critical supply chain delay, KBCS forged ahead this past week with the installation of new hardware and software upgrades to our station automation system. This project also includes the installation of the three new Wheatstone console mixer boards, among other essential broadcast equipment.
This is a significant step forward in our plans to build, back, and better the outdated preexisting KBCS infrastructure with modern broadcast digital equipment. This new equipment will help us enhance the clarity of our signal strength and further snuggle up a little closer to the legal boundaries allowed by our FCC license. This equipment will also improve the clarity of our signal and offer greater operating efficiencies to help relieve some of the burdens often placed on our small staff of professionals.
Along with these important equipment upgrades, KBCS is about to launch our World News Radio KBCS HD2 programming stream that has been in beta testing mode for some time now. This all-automated 24-hour stream of news and fine arts programming will feature the live satellite feed of the BBC World Service from London as the base programming as well as other independent public affairs and fine arts programming. The weekday evening programming from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. features the syndicated weekly broadcasts of great symphony and chamber music programs featuring, The New York Philharmonic this Week with Alec Baldwin, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Collectors Corner with Henry Folger, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony broadcast series and more. These symphony and chamber music broadcasts will also include Symphony Cast by American Public Media which highlights major orchestral and chamber music broadcasts that span the globe. On Sunday evenings, listeners can enjoy LA Theatre Works presenting great radio dramas featuring some of the finest actors of stage and screen today. Soon we will be able to stream World News Radio KBCS online with both its own dedicated home page and a new exclusive App.
Other broadcast initiatives down the road, will feature opportunities to broadcast Bellevue College academic and sporting events and supply even more opportunities for greater student involvement, for both Bellevue College students and students from other state college and public high schools across greater the Puget Sound region.
We have these amazing new initiatives at KBCS to be thankful for during this time of the year, when we put aside our grievances, and express our gratitude for those things in our life, like family and friends, and true community radio for which we are grateful.
Season’s Greetings and the Happiest of Holidays to everyone!
Dana Buckingham, KBCS General Manager and Proud Sustaining Contributor
P.S. The end of the calendar year is fast approaching to make your tax-deductible contribution to KBCS. Now would be a good time to donate, so you don’t forget.
Conditions in Gaza
As of yesterday, Day 36 of the Israel Palestine conflict, Jewish Voice for Peace health committee reported over 11,000 killed. (67% of this number are women and children) Over 27,000 are injured. 270 health facilities have been attacked, 60% of hospitals and 71% of primary health centers are shut down.
198 medical staff, and over 45 journalists have been killed. 1.6 million people (67% of Gazans) are internally displaced. Electricity had been out for 31 days and there is no fuel.
Local physician, author, filmmaker and activist, Dr. Alice Rothchild has been working in solidarity with Palestinian medical organizations since 2004. She’s an author on healthcare in Palestine, the latest book one being Condition Critical, Life and Death in Israel/Palestine. Dr. Rothchild has more recently, written children’s books set in Palestine. A young adult novel, Finding Melody Sullivan came out earlier this year, and a middle grade book, Old Enough to Know, will drop later this year. Dr. Rothchild also directed the documentary, Voices Across the Divide, available free on vimeo. She speaks about what she’s witnessed in Gaza and her journey in understanding conditions there.
Producer: Yuko Kodama and Lucy Braginski
Photo: from Dr. Alice Rothchild
Families in Solidarity with Palestine
In Gaza, Israeli attacks have killed 8,000 women and children (70% of fatalities). Today, the two largest hospitals in Gaza have stopped functioning as they’ve run out of fuel and are surrounded by Israeli forces.
Meanwhile, yesterday, 300-400 hundred people gathered in Seattle’s Columbia Park for a Ceasefire march around the block and rally for families and children. Participants sang songs, painted murals and prayer flags for Palestine, and wrote postcards addressed to state elected officials to demand a ceasefire.
Listen to some sounds and voices from the event. You may hear the rain in some of the clips.
A longer highlight of this event will broadcast tomorrow on KBCS during the Grit at 7 am.
Producer: Yuko Kodama
Photos: Yuko Kodama
second row – Miwa Nietering (age 6), Nazia Siddiqi
third row – Rose Waterstone and Cypress Waterstone (age 10)
fourth row – Loren, Zachary, Theo, Tony and Didi; mural of handprints
sixth row – the march was around the block
seventh row – Macy Ratliffe “Don’t let the world forget about us. Free Palestine”
eighth row – table to write post cards to Washington state elected officials
ninth row – artwork by Ruth Wilson Gilmore
tenth row – art tent to contribute to the mural and to create prayer flags
Microaggressions and Mental Health
KBCS contributor and Health Chair of the NAACP Snohomish Chapter, Kevin Henry hosts a discussion on the effects of microaggressions on people of diverse backgrounds. They also offer approaches on how to best support the community in recognizing and calling out microaggressions in the workplace and in personal settings. Featured speakers are University of Washington Mental Health Therapist and Cultural Liaison, Antonia Ramos and Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Health Chair of NAACP Seattle King County, Michael Swann.
Producer: Kevin Henry
Photo: Kevin Henry
KBCS In-Studio with Kirk Reese
We had a great conversation with Tacoma based roots musician Kirk Reese this past August. We talked about passing guitars down through generations, playing open mics and how to wander creatively. We also talk about where you should not wander! (Hint: gated communities).
Kirk can often be found performing around town both solo and with the Grit City Pickers!
The Dia de los Muertos Observance
Dia de Muertos/Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a two day festival celebrated November 1st and 2nd in Mexico and parts of Latin America to honor our loved ones who passed away.
KBCS spoke with Barbara Rodriguez, Producer and Artistic Director and Matt Hooks, Producer of Seattle Center Dia de Muertos festival about what the Day of the Dead holiday is about and what’s often found as part of the ofrenda, or altar for this season.
They also describe the beginnings of the Catarina, the skeleton depicted as wearing fancy dresses and a large hat in prints and sculptures in Mexican culture.
Some Dia de Muertos Events in our region:
El Centro de la Raza Dia de los Muertos (Seattle Beacon Hill neighborhood)
Dia de los Muertos Fest (Seattle Phinney Neighborhood)
Producer: Yuko Kodama
Photo: Jesse Means