Big Challenges for KAXE in the Year of the Ox

by Maggie Montgomery

The lunar year 4706 is a Year of the Ox, according to the 12-year Chinese zodiac. The Ox is a sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. Oxes (Ox people wouldn’t be called “Oxen” would they?) are dependable, calm and modest. They are logical but have great imagination and appreciation for beauty. They speak little but with intelligence. They can be articulate and eloquent. They are tenacious and self-sacrificing and make good parents and teachers. President O’Bama and KAXE’s Scott Hall are both Oxes.

The Year of the Ox will be a tough one financially for KAXE. Like many nonprofits, our organization has received news of serious budget cuts. KAXE’s 2009 budget started out $42,000 smaller than it was in 2008. But that budget was created last summer. We just learned that the State will pay us only $12,000 of the $35,180 that was appropriated for the station last year, and KAXE’s endowment lost so much money that the station will have to forego the budgeted $16,000 annual distribution. These items total $39,000, and more losses may be coming.

Some nonprofit organizations are in imminent danger of “going under.” For example, we have seen a rather dire letter to the editor in the Pioneer newspaper from a board member of the Headwaters Science Center in Bemidji. We have read warnings of possible closure and pleas for funds in the Cedar Cultural Center newsletter.

KAXE entered the current recession in good shape. The organization has some money in the bank to maintain cash flow and has no long-term debt. In this, KAXE is definitely Ox-like. Oxes are not extravagant. Being in debt makes them nervous. KAXE will not go under—but it will also not go untouched.

KAXE’s response to the financial challenges will be like the Ox. The station has always been frugal. The staff and volunteers are hardworking and will selflessly do a wonderful job with fewer resources. Oxes have many friends, so we’ll look for more friends ask current members to pitch in just a little bit more.

We will also make further budget cuts. At this point, those cuts will have to go deeper and will likely include the station’s retirement plan, a reduction in the quality of our health care plan and, possibly, staff lay-offs. These things are very difficult to contemplate, let alone do. I hope the measures will be temporary.

I wish all of you prosperity this year, through fortitude and hard work! If you have reactions or ideas for us, please let us know!

NOTE: Our family celebrates Chinese New Year because our daughter-in-law, Siau Yean, is from Malaysia, and her family is of Chinese ethnicity. Celebrating the New Year in northern Minnesota connects her to family and friends at home. The pictures on this blog are from our family’s New Year’s Eve celebration and include an Ox (Babe, of course. This is Minnesota!), some hot pots (for cooking Tom Yum soup communally, as a family), and fireworks (firecrackers are supposed to scare away evil spirits).

HighSchool Girls Hockey Action: Bemidji vs Grand Rapids-Greenway

Two of the best girls hockey teams in the state faced off Tuesday, January 27th, at the IRA Civic Center in Grand Rapids. Bemidji's outstanding senior forward, Jessica Christopherson, put her team ahead with goals in the first and 2nd periods. Grand Rapids-Greenway stormed back with three goals in the 2nd period. GR-G forward, Molly Arola, got two of those goals. The teams were tied, 3-3, going into the 3rd period. Christopherson got her third goal, a short-handed breakaway in the 3rd period, for the game winner. Bemidji 4, GR-G 3. Bemidji is the only northern team to defeat GR-G this year. We hope these two teams meet again at the state tournament.

In the picture above, Molly Arola (13) gets the second of her two goals past Bemidji goalie Kaia Sele. Thanks to Jack Muhar for the picture.

The Days of Our Lives

By Jennifer Poenix

Maggie Montgomery came across a 2009 calendar that lists all kinds of “days.” For example, so far this year, we’ve already had “National Spaghetti Day,” “Dress Up Your Pet Day,” and “Winnie the Pooh Day.”

Somebody realized it was National Pie Day last Friday, so of course we ordered pizza and had lemon meringue for dessert.

Yesterday (January 27) was Chocolate Cake Day. I was made aware of this fact on Monday, so when Stephanie Rose headed to Target and asked if anybody needed anything, I said “Yes, chocolate cake because tomorrow is National Chocolate Cake Day.” She brought back a devil’s food cake mix, and I baked it yesterday morning, and then we had cake! And then Michelle Brandt brought cake too, so we had more cake!

Today is National Kazoo Day. Scott Hall suggested to Mark Tarner that he broadcast today’s “Currents” in an all-kazoo format, but Mark wouldn’t go for it. I don’t blame him, although I do play a mean kazoo.

Mark your calendars: February 10 is National Cream Cheese Brownie Day.

Help Support Phenology!

KAXE's Phenologist John Latimer and DNR Forest Ecologist John Almendinger talked with Welby Smith, the author of "Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota".

Welby Smith is the foremost botanist of Minnesota and endangered species expert. Here's some information about the book:

With more than two hundred tree, shrub, and woody vine species in Minnesota, anyone with an interest in the outdoors has likely encountered an unfamiliar plant and wondered about its name, origin, characteristics, and habitat. In this new identification resource, the state's foremost botanist and endangered species expert Welby R. Smith provides authoritative, accessible, and up-to-date information on the state's native and naturalized woody plant species. This fully illustrated resource features: - Easy identification: more than one thousand color photographs of fruit, flowers, bark, and leaves for every species, as well as more than one hundred illustrations by botanical artist Vera Ming Wong - Distribution maps: more than five hundred maps, including state and North American range maps - Interesting background: descriptions of each species' habitat, natural history, and ecology, which provide context to the entries - Comprehensive coverage: includes all native and naturalized trees, shrubs, and woody vines in Minnesota from Abies balsamea" to Zanthozylum americanum." Written for everyone from scientists and environmentalists to teachers and people interested in horticulture and gardening, Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota" will engage and educate anyone with a curiosity about the natural world. Welby R. Smith is a botanist for the Division of Ecological Resources at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He is the author of Orchids of Minnesota" (Minnesota, 1993).

All this year, this 25th year of Phenology, we are celebrating by creating a fund that ensure that Phenology will continue into the future. Continue on the airwaves of 91.7KAXE and in the classrooms of Northern Minnesota. What is phenology?

As John Latimer says at the beginning of every show, "Phenology is the rhythmic biological nature of events as they relate to climate".

If you listen to Phenology once or twice or every week, you realize that you start to witness the world around you in a different way. Instead of saying "oh that's a pretty little bird" you might say, "Hey, that's the chickadee I heard about - the one that has that fee-bee call." And suddenly you know more about trees and lakes and bogs and the world outside our windows.

You can support the efforts of John Latimer - as he goes to the classrooms of the kids of Northern Minnesota - classrooms of children who have learned to notice and name the birds and critters and vegetation of where they live. Your contribution will also help support the raingarden at KAXE as well as the martin bird houses.

If you pledge your support at $250 for the year we'll get you a wonderful Phenology t-shirt, a hand lens to examine the outdoors more closely AND Welby Smith's amazing reference book "Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota". Thanks to the University of Minnesota Press for their generous contributions.

How can you support Phenology in its 25th year? Call us at 218-326-1234 or email comments@kaxe.org. THANKS SO MUCH!!!

3 Good Reasons to Listen to Centerstage MN this Thursday Evening at 6!!!

by Doug MacRostie

First off an Escher Update (if you missed it, my son Escher Lennon MacRostie was born on January 9th of 2009 – and its been awesomely amazing :D). Escher has been doing very well; he is almost within the length requirements to hang out with Dad in the bjorn (I CAN’T WAIT – the first trial run is tonight!) and says to tell all of you thanks for the well wishes! While the love and excitement at home right now can’t be matched, here are 3 things I’m excited about for Centerstage MN this Thursday evening at 6 on 91.7 KAXE.

I’ll be talking with Lehto and Wright – I’ve been describing them as a progressive celtic folk-rock (or procefikork) – anyway, they’ll be performing at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids this Friday, I’m thinking about sneaking out and going to the show, from what I have listened to, I expect some quality entertainment (if I go, I’ll blog about it – if I don’t, it’s because Escher wanted to hang out :D).

I have to say that the biggest surprise I had last week wasn’t being offered the call from Lehto and Wright, but the CD Revolution Evolution from Kritical Kontact! I had no idea there was a rap/hip-hop artist of this caliber out of Duluth – plenty of authentic American sounds with contemporary twists like Charlie Parr and Trampled by Turtles, a metal core/screamo underbelly, jam bands, cover bands and all sorts out of Duluth, but Kritical Kontact are all out, balls to the walls rapping poets; socially conscious lyrics over wonderfully thumpin’ backbeats. What makes this professional album even more fun is that hip-hoppin’ songs can have a lot more words - leading to some very interesting kontent. I’ll be playing songs each week from KK’s Revolution Evolution on Centerstage MN, so tune in Thursday nights at 6!!! The best thing is they sent a (hand labeled) CD with radio friendly versions of the songs (damn FCC…but thanks!).

And, a request came in for Clawtroat (formerly Cpt. Clawthroat and Crooked Teeth). From Grand Rapids, operating out of the Twin Cities, Joseph Downing is the singer, guitarist and songwriter, and these guys got to perform at the Winnipeg Folk Festival last year, and it was great seeing Joe there.

All that and more this week on Centerstage MN.

Thanks for reading along and ROCK ON!!!
Doug


P.S. Things I have to do: Two Many Banjos live, Trampled by Turtles’ “Duluth” and The Tisdales’ “Bakers Dozen” :D

My return to Centerstage Minnesota

by Doug MacRostie

After a few weeks staying at home with my wife and my 13 day old son Escher – its exciting to get back into CSMN (even though it SUCKS leaving home…even more so than before!).

Tonight I’ll be playing what I think was the “best” interview on CSMN last year. It was my conversation with The Limns – I picked this one because I think the band really opens up and shares and I felt I learned a lot during the conversation and its some amazing insight into the band.

Also tonight I’ve got a Wookiefoot tribute to Guantanamo, plus new music from Mark Olson and Gary Louris.

I’ll also play a set of music for Escher, including Mason Jennings, Uncle Shurley and The Tisdales.

Next week my guest will be the progressive folk rock duo Lehto and Wright, so we’ll hear some of that tonight as well.

It’s good to be back (absence makes the heart grow fonder) and I hope you can log on or tune in tonight and enjoy!

ROCK ON!

Doug

www.kaxe.org, then click on “Listen live”

Or 91.7 in Grand Rapids, 89.9 in Brainerd and 105.3 in Bemidji.

Guido's Guide to the Arts with Steve Downing

Ironworld in Chisholm. “Apron Chronicles: A Patchwork of American Recollections” (subtitled ‘Tie one on---an apron, that is’), 1/31-4/30. A travelling exhibit from the Women’s Museum in Dallas: vintage aprons, pictures, stories, history. Lots of accompanying workshops, lectures, story-telling, group tour opportunities, plus chances to show off your own aprons and other related stuff. ironworld.com

Range Creative Art Center in Hibbing. A number of winter classes start this month: woodcarving, water color, stained glass---details on their newsletter at rangeartcenter.org

Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork. The Edge takes a bit of a break during the slow winter months, but this Sunday (1/25) it’s their 4th Annual Polar Revue; sometime this month or next they’ll have the Blandin Male Chorus in a free concert, a thank-you to patrons; on 2/6 at 10 & 2 local 2nd and 3rd graders will present “Jack & the Beanstalk”; and, whenever there’s an event, selections from The Edge’s permanent visual-arts collection will be on display in the lobby. the-edge-center.org

Bemidji Community Art Center’s “Call For Art” is out now (through 1/30) to BCAC members, for their annual show. Bring in 1-3 pieces of your work for approval and installation. Opening reception 2/2, 5-7, and the show runs till 2/28. The Center’s closed till 2/5, but for other Bemidji area arts info go to bcac.wordpress.com E.g., Bemidji Community Theater is doing “Moon Over Buffalo” at the Historic Chief Theater 1/29-2/1, evenings at 7:30, Sunday matinee at 2.

Brainerd neighborhood. This weekend (1/23-1/25) at Central Lakes College: “The Hunt for Stinky Pederson”, musical comedy for the whole family (somehow) concerning a missing (stinky) dead body and the Mighty Hunters from the Mule Lip Saloon, happy ending (somehow) guaranteed. Sunday (1/25) at 2 the Staples Motley Area Arts Council presents cellist Patrick Riley at the United Methodist Church in Motley---an afternoon of chamber music, also involving Michelle Laliberte on violin and Stephen Carlson on piano. brainerd.com

Ripple River Gallery near Deerwood. Bob Carls & Amy Sharpe are between exhibit calendars now, till early March, but stop in anyway. They’ve always got top-notch art to look at, and Bob’s usually out in the studio, just waiting for an excuse to turn off the lathe and talk politics or discuss the world shortage of exotic wood (not unrelated topics in Bob’s expansive regard). ripplerivergallery.com

Jaques Art Center in Aitkin. Now through 2/7 “North Country Views”, their annual juried nature exhibit (note: Sara Schwerin of GR won a 2nd place award for her photo ‘Early Morning’). This weekend (1/23-1/24) it’s the Recycled Art Fair: no furniture, appliances, computers, clothes, or toys (i.e., no dumping), but otherwise it’s all about the eye of the beholder. Proceeds to JAC. N.B.: no brown bag lunch this month. jaquesart.com

MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids. The January exhibits, sponsored by Cub Foods, are Bill Gossman’s terrific wood- and soda-fired pottery and the travelling show from North House Folk School, “All From One Tree”. The world hasn’t seen many projects this creative, this earth-friendly, this educational, this flat-out beautiful. John Zasada: congratulations, and thank you. MAC winter classes: kids’ pottery with Lisa & Bob Stein starts next week (1/29); Donna LaBeau’s doing drawing/painting for adults starting 2/5; Sam Miltich teaches music just about anytime to just about anyone interested---call MAC at 326-2697 to schedule your lesson-time. macrostieartcenter.org

Brewed Awakenings in Grand Rapids. Lea Friesen this month (VERY accomplished work), and a change of plans next month: not Marva Harms but Mateya Miltich. There’s more than music-art in the almost excessively gifted Miltich family---check out Mateya’s work at BA in February. Don’t forget jazz, 3rd Thursdays, open mike,1st Fridays, and occasional Saturday gigs, too. brewedawakenings.biz

Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Tomorrow night (1/23): Williams & Ree, the Indian & the White Guy. If you can leave your PC vulnerabilities at home, these guys will make you laugh, at everybody; their humor is indiscriminate (in the fullest sense of the word). Lehto & Wright (Anglo-American folk/folk-rock) 1/30, 7:30, sponsored by Grand Rapids GM. Air Supply 2/7,7:30, sponsored by Anderson, Ophoven, Stauffer Law Office & IKON. Robin & Linda Williams (contemporary country) 2/18, 7:30, sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. And there’s a wonderful exhibit in the Reif lobby now, by Kathy & Mike Jasper (Mike’s clay vessels & Kathy’s photography). Early alert (more on this later): the Itasca Orchestra will be on stage 2/28.

Out of town recommendation. SoHo Playhouse/Manhattan: Sam Rosenthal’s satire, “Blanche Survives Katrina in a FEMA Trailer Named Desire”. Tennessee Williams has NOT left the building; nor has Blanche DuBois.

Early Bird Fishing Guide with Jeff, Keith, Chad & Scott

This morning the fishing talk was about the conditions on the lake (lots of slush and difficult conditions in Itasca County and Red Lake with better conditions in the Brainerd Lakes Area) for ice fishing.... but it also became a talk about fishing in Alaska. Today's guest was Keith Holtan, owner and guide for Beaver Creek Cabins and Guide Service in Kenai, Alaska. Keith, and his wife Jane, spend their summers in Alaska and winters in Brainerd.

Jeff Sundin asked alot about the fishing in Alaska, including Keith's advice for if you had a week to fish in Alaska, where you would go. Keith talked about the trips he used to take with his dad before he was a fishing guide, where they would fly into Anchorage, rent a car and drive to Homer, Alaska for Halibut fishing, then three days in the Kenai/Soldotna area for King or silver salmon fishing and finally a few days in Seward, Alaska. Jeff also asked Keith his favorite time of year for fishing, and Keith said the end of August, when the silvers are in.....

Have you been to Alaska? What was your favorite part?

How's fishing this year where you are? Post your comments here!

Cass Lake Inauguration Celebration

The mood was festive last night at the NorthStar Coffee Bar in Cass Lake, as 40 or 50 people joined millions of others around the nation for an inaugural celebration. The event, on Leech Lake Reservation, featured a potluck dinner of roast turkey, wild rice, squash, noodles, sandwiches, ice cream and cake. There were friendly greetings, animated conversation, a variety of Obama tee shirts, a 16-foot TV screen connecting participants with their peers in Washington DC, an “Obama Conga” line, music, stories and poetry.

Sharon Enjay-Mitchell brought her grandchildren to the event and took the microphone to share a story about her own grandmother, who lived to be over 100 years old. “When I was 16 she told me that a Black man would be president of the United States. I asked her how she knew that and she said she saw it in a dream.” Sharon said that she normally doesn’t force the children to attend events but she wanted them to be part of this one. “It’s history,” she said.

Greg Chester described his emotions as he talked to his son, who had gone to Washington DC with friends to take part in the inauguration, on the cell phone. “I unexpectedly found myself getting choked up,” he said. Local physician Diane Pitman bought a round of drinks from the coffee bar. An elementary student circulated through the crowd with a video camera, taping people’s reactions to the inauguration.

Unlike many other inaugural celebrations, this event was organized online by members of the Cass Lake/Leech Lake e-Democracy forum, a web- and email-based discussion group for local issues that has recently formed in the community. Forum member Patty Smith suggested the gathering in a posting to the list, and the suggestion blossomed into an event.

You can follow this link to join the Cass Lake forum: http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/cl/

To see more photographs from this event, follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/eastnary/CassLakeInaugurationParty12009?authkey=1rU6HBfpWdE&feat=directlink

Yma's Tomato Soup

We've gotten so many questions about the Tomato Soup that Yma called about last Saturday, the one she makes at Harmony Natural Foods Coop in Bemidji. Mike, a KAXE volunteer, took better notes than I did during the show AND he tried the recipe last night. Here it is:

1 c beef broth
1T brown sugar
3 T balsamic vinegar
1 T soy sauce
5 whole garlic cloves
1 onion, coarsely chopped
2 28oz cans of chopped tomatoes
3/4 c half and half

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Spray a 3x9 pan with cooking spray - peel garlic cloves and add a coarsely chopped onion. Pour tomatoes and other ingredients in. Cook 50 minutes. After cooking use a blender or food processor - then add the half and half and serve.

Mike wasn't quite sure of the high heat for 50 minutes, but he said it worked, and he'd make it again. He recommended the tomatoes be chopped instead of whole.

Potato Wild Rice Soup

By Jennifer Poenix

Today we celebrated Heidi Holtan's birthday with delicious potluck lunch. As you may have read previously on this blog, I love potlucks.

Stephanie made pasta and sauce, Penny made a white cake with strawberries and wonderful cream cheese frosting, Mark brought bread, Katie brought a pistachio salad, Dan provided beverages, and Scott brought ice cream. I made soup. It seems to be the theme of this blog lately (because January is National Soup Month), so I hope you don't mind if I continue the theme.

I've made this soup quite a lot at home and a few times for KAXE stuff. People tell me they like it, but I can't take much credit for it. It's so simple. Some might say it's cheating, but not me! Here is what you need:

4 cans of cream of potato soup
1 or 2 cans of wild rice (I use the Canoe brand. It's the only brand I know of.)
Approx. 1 quart of half and half
Bacon (optional - I buy Hormel bacon pieces that come in a jar)
Shredded cheese (also optional, but seriously, you should use it)

Drain the rice. Mix it with the soup. Add enough half and half to get the consistency that you want. You can add the bacon if you want, however, if you are serving vegetarians, leave it out, and it can be added as a topping. I think the cheese works better as a topping too.

You can cook this on the stove until it gets hot, or use a crock pot. You'll want to heat for about 3 hours on low, or about 1 hour on high. Enjoy!

Michelle's Butternut Squash Soup

Dice a 2lb squash and cook until tender.

Puree in a food processor (leaving some chunks in)

Return to pan and add 4 cups of vegetable broth.

Stir in 1 cup sour cream and 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.

Stir until melted.

Add salt, pepper and cayenne (if you like heat)

add 2T butter and heat through.

DJ's Chicken Lime Soup

From DJ the DJ.... Saw this on Emeril one night and the lime bit got my attention cuz I love limeade, and those lime nacho chips and wedges in my Corona and in my Coke.......mmmmmmlimes.... Anyway it was just called chicken lime soup and its So Am/Caribbean recipe: vegetable oil 1 lb cubed chicken breast 1/2 t salt pepper to taste cumin 1 onion chopped 2 cans chicken broth or make your own 1 or 2 tomatoes chopped 2 oz fresh squeezed lime juice lime slices cilantro cubed avicado heat oil and add chicken. add salt, pepper, cumin. stir fry till chicken is done. add chopped onion and tomatoes and cook till tender. add chicken broth and lime juice. dust with cilantro at the end. pour into a bowl and add cube avocado and garnish with lime slice. says four servings but its really two cuz its so good you want more. Emeril also fried some tortillas in some oil till crisp and then used them like crackers with the soup it was really good and added a nice touch. and, most importantly, DO NOT OVERCOOK! Bon Appetite DJx2

an easy Clam Chowder recipe from Mona Abel

On Saturday's Between You and Me, Willie called in and talked about his love of clam chowder. He was looking for help for a recipe or a place that had good Clam Chowder.

We heard from Mona Abel who is a Recipe Diva / Former Go-Go Dancer and author of "To Mom With Love: Ethnic Recipes and Family Favorites"... she sent in an EASY clam chowder recipe for Willie....

Saute l/2 onion and 1/2 diced green pepper in 2 or 3 T. butter. Add 2 cans of cream of potato soup and 2 cans of half and half. Add 2 small cans of clams and some juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. I make this for the holidays.

I have a great Jimmy Dean Potato Sausage Soup if you want it.

Keep up the good work. These are both in my first cookbook, but unforunately, they are almost gone. Not too many second cookbooks left either. M

Soup Recipes from Between You and Me

Thanks to Mark from Summer Kitchen Supplies for his Clam Chowder recipe....


Clam Chowder
This is one of our family favorites. It is simple to make, and tastes so exotic on a January night in northern Minnesota. A white sauce is the foundation for many of our hardy winter meals.

¼ cup butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Freshly minced or dehydrated onion
2 cups milk
4-6 potatoes
Old Bay seasoning, salt and pepper
1 small can Snow’s minced clams

Peel and cube the potatoes into about ½ inch cubes. Cover in salted water, bring to a boil, and then simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.

Melt butter in a large pot. Add and cook onions until tender, if using fresh onions. Stir flour into butter to form a bubbling roux. If too thick, add more butter. Heat milk in a large glass bowl in the microwave for 2 minutes and stir slowly into roux.

About this time the potatoes should be ready. Using a slotted spoon, add the potatoes to the roux. Save the potato water, and add it to the chowder to thin it as it cooks. The starchy potato water makes a silky- smooth chowder.

Dump in the whole can of minced clams, including the juice. Crumble in a handful of onions, if you are using your own dehydrated onion. Add lots of freshly ground black pepper. Shake in some Old Bay seasoning, to taste.

While the chowder is simmering, mix together 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 3 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ tablespoon of sugar. Cut in ½ stick of butter with a pastry cutter. Mix in about 1 cup of cold milk and a dollop of sour cream. The mixture should be too sticky to pat out for cutting, but not too thin. Spray a large soup spoon with cooking spray, and scoop out some dough onto a lightly sprayed cookie sheet. There should be enough dough for 10 to 12 drop biscuits. Bake at 425 degree for about 12 minutes.

These biscuits, hot out of the oven, are much better than crackers. Clam lovers can add 2 cans of clams, but we find that one can is enough to give it good clam flavor without adding too much clam meat; which our kids are not too fond of. Vegetables may also be added to the chowder. We sometimes add a handful of our dehydrated carrots.

What does Stalking mean?

This morning we talked with Melissa Scaia from Advocates for Family Peace, Amanda Eason from Itasca County Alliance Against Sexual Assault and Laura, a victim of stalking.

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, and when they do things like that - create a month to talk more about an issue - it's a sign that we don't know enough about it.

Here's some startling facts:

1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lives.

1.4 million people are stalked every year in the United States.

76% of the women killed by their partners were stalked by their partner before their deaths.


The definition of stalking:

Stalking is a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention, harassment and contact. It is a pattern of conduct that can include:

• Following the victim
• Appearing at the victim's home or place of work
• Making unwanted and frightening contact with the victim through phone, mail and/or email
• Harassing the victim through the Internet
• Making threats to harm the victim, the victim's children, relatives, friends or pets
• Sending the victim unwanted gifts
• Intimidating the victim
• Vandalizing the victim's property
• Securing personal information about the victim by accessing public records, hiring private investigators, using Internet search services, contacting friends, family, work or neighbors, or going through the victim's garbage.

There's lots of information online about how to know if you are being stalked, and also how you can help your local agencies and victims.

KAXE Volunteer Chad Brandt on Minnesota Bound

Blueberry Hills

Blueberry Hills & McCarthy Park are groomed weekly or as conditions dictate, & very good condition. Boomer

Making Sausage

by Scott Hall

Thursday mornings, at 7:20, Colleen Nardone (DFL) and Chuck Marohn (Rep) comment on issues and events about Minnesota politics.

I'm re-reading Betty Wilson's biography of Rudy Perpich to try to get a little perspective on these uncertain times. Rudy was elected governor in 1982 when the state and national economy was in bad shape. The DFL and Republican parties were in turmoil and changing leadership. Republicans were rising, Democrats sinking. During his years in political exile (1979-1982) Rudy worked in Europe for Control Data Corporation. When he returned to Minnesota he had a vision that anticipated a global economy and the importance of education (he wanted MN to become "the Brain Power State").

We are eager to hear your ideas and keep these Thursday morning conversations going. Add your comments here, send an e-mail to comments@kaxe.org, or call our TalkBack number, 999-9876.

Chuck is the President of the Community Growth Institute in Brainerd. He works with a lot of local governments on a variety of planning and zoning issues. Chuck writes a blog for his business web site. Check out one of his latest posts, "Is More Regulation Always The Answer"

This morning's All Things Equine

This morning KAXE volunteer extraordinaire Bobbie Kleffman talked with the Spirit Horse Center in Brainerd.

We got this email from Katie this morning:

My sister, who is a serious horsewoman, listens to "All Things Equine"via her computer in North Platte, Nebraska. She just called me and told me about the Spirit Horse Center, Inc. in Brainerd that was on the Morning Show today.

Kristi couldn't stop talking about what
great horsewomen they were and couldn't stop talking about the wonderful things they do with their horses. Kristi is incredibly serious about her horses and seemed really excited about this morning's show.

I'm going to take my daughter over to the Spirit Horse Center open house on
saturday!

see - people are definitely listening to our little station on the river
all over this great country!

Thanks for sharing Katie! We love to hear feedback on KAXE.... email us comments@kaxe.org.

Making Sausage - recount and budget edition

This morning Scott Hall talked with DFL-er Colleen Nardone and Rep. Chuck Marohn about current happenings in politics. He calls it Making Sausage. Ever wonder why the HECK Scott calls it that? Me too! I've asked him before, but all I could find online was this:

Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made.

Otto von Bismarck
German Prussian politician (1815 - 1898)

This week the conversation revolved around the two big issues facing Minnesotans, politically. Recount and State Budget. Here's what the folks had to say:

Recount
Colleen suggested that election law needed to be changed to prevent this mess again - runoff voting - maybe instant. She thought early voting could help some of what is happening between Norm Coleman and Al Franken right now. If you could vote earlier the absentee ballots could be counted earlier which would eliminate some of the problems. Change law to implement early voting - absentee ballots could be counted earlier - now they aren't counted until the end.... might eliminate some of the problems of absentee.

Chuck understood that there would be a push for some kind of change; probably instant runoff voting. Chuck thought that instant runoff voting wouldn't help the situation at hand that it's meant to deal with 3rd and 4th candidates. The margin of victory is so small. According to Chuck, it's not the mechanism of voting that is the problem - but the quality - a coin flip would be as good as what is happening...

Colleen - She didn't like that that candidates like Governor Tim Pawlenty and Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken are not winning by majority.... this came from instant run off voting - top of the ballot whether its us senate or governor - Tim Pawlenty has never had a majority of voters - need a mechanism where someone can "protest" the candidates but yet choose the least offensive to them as their official vote

Chuck doesn't think that election reform could change what happened - it's a statistical tie - and there is always a margin of error and that's a fact - only thing is completely different system and its not justified because this is unlikely to happen again, just like this.

Colleen said that early voting would cost somewhat more but not as much as the recount is costing us right now.

Chuck went on to say that early voting doesn't change Coleman's issues/battles right now with the recount -He believes that the call for reform is fine but it overlooks that we have 2 candidates with the same amount of votes - coin toss - we're not that accurate and we need to admit that -

Colleen said that there is actually a minnesota law with an exact tie coin toss.

Chuck said that this recount is like a game of 3 million card pickup - how many times are you going to count 3 million and get the same number twice?

Colleen added that the election judges are over 50 - late at night - dealing with all the issues - lot less likely to make mistakes if it had been counted the day before - if there were early voting -


Scott moved on to the issues of the Minnesota Legislature facing the budget crisis

Chuck wanted to say "Let the bloodbath begin" with the opening of legislative session. Chuck said that he is actually pretty optimistic about the budget - he felt the 2 parties have been pretty civil and everyone realizes we are in pretty deep here - there's going to be some partisanship ex. taxes, and some grounds have been staked out. But overall, Chuck was optimistic about tone and results will make sense at the end of the day. But he added, it's going to be brutal.

Colleen on the other hand, was not optimistic. She didn't think the parties were being civil at all and especially Governor Tim Pawlenty. Colleen's view is that he is doing as he always does - saying I'm governor and as long as you do what I say it's okay.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Help us continue this conversation - how would you tweak the election system? What would you do about the budget crisis if you were in the Legislature?

Tune in every Thursday morning at 7:20 for Making Sausage on KAXE with Colleen and Chuck!

Spring Cleaning

By Jennifer Poenix

“If you do your Spring cleaning in January; guess what you don't have to do in the spring? Anything.” – Michael Scott on the tv show The Office

We took the Christmas tree down at KAXE on Tuesday. It’s always nice to have a tree up, but it always feels really good to take it down too. There’s still an extension cord hanging down from the skylight, but let’s not dwell on that.

Stephanie and I marked all the tubs containing decorations, so next year, we’ll know exactly what’s in them. One of them says “Extra garland. Do not bring upstairs!!” We keep most of the Christmas stuff in our crawlspace. The nine-foot tree, however, doesn’t go down there very well. It’s in a big, long box.

Our storage room was waaaaaaaaaaay too cluttered to put it in there, so that meant we had to do a bit of tidying. (See photo at left.)

We didn't get the room super clean, but we did make some improvement. (See photo at right.)

Most importantly we put away the tree. We taped up the box, so we could stand it on end. “Hold tight, little tape,” Stephanie said.

Help Us Build Houses!

By Stephanie Rose

I just got some information in the mail about helping to build Habitat for Humanity houses. My goal is to get a KAXE team of staff and volunteers together to do this. We’d partner with other community members and build a lasting sense of community … that’s what we do at KAXE!

Habitat Homes are built using 90 percent volunteer labor and donated material. It takes an average of 2,050 volunteer hours to finish a three-bedroom home. Right now Itasca county Habitat for Humanity is working on two homes in Bovey and one in Calumet. Since 1992, they’ve provided 27 families with simple, decent, affordable housing. That’s more than 40 adults and 72 children! That's awesome!

Would you like to help? It’s going to be fun, and rewarding and fulfilling. No experience is necessary, and there are all kinds of jobs to do. Send me an e-mail or call me at 218.326.1234 if you’d like to be part of the KAXE-Habitat team. We'll get it done.

KAXE's new online project - Northern Community Internet

Katie Carter is KAXE's Managing Editor of KAXE's Internet project. As you can see, She's working so hard on getting the community journalism part of Northern Community Internet up and running, she's been forced to wear safety goggles and a hard hat. Tomorrow morning she'll talk with Scott Hall on The Morning Show at 7:50 about the first topic for the community journalism stories - the economy.

If you'd like to be involved call Katie 218-326-1234 or email her!

Books coming up in January on Realgoodwords

"The Invention of Air -A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution and the Birth of America" by Steven Johnson

"Fried - Surviving Two Centuries in Restaurants" by Steve Lerach

"Fiction on a Stick - Stories by Writers from Minnesota" edited by Daniel Slager

"The Sisters 8 - Book 1 - Annie's Adventures" by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

"Keeping the House" by Ellen Baker

"The Writing Diet - Write Yourself Right Size" by Julia Cameron

"The Soul Thief" by Charles Baxter

"My Answer is No - If That's Okay with You" by Nanette Gartrell, M.D.

DNR dock survey

Scott Hall talked with DNR public waters hydrologist Tom Hovey about an online survey for watercraft owners concerning docks and structures on Minnesota's lakes this morning.

For the first time, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking all owners of registered watercraft to take an online survey to express their opinions about structures such as docks, boatlifts, and platforms in the state's lakes, rivers and streams.
January 19, 2009 is the deadline for completing the survey. Survey results will be available online shortly after the January 19 deadline.
People who cannot access the survey electronically and would like to participate can call 651-259-5700 to request a paper copy. Those who do not own a watercraft but wish to express their opinion are invited to send comments via e-mail to structures@dnr.state.mn.us or mail your comments to Docks and Structures Survey, DNR, 500 Lafayette Rd., St. Paul 55155, by the January 19 deadline.
The legislature passed a bill last spring requiring the DNR to update rules and permit requirements on structures allowed in public waters by January 15, 2010. This survey is part of the information gathering process.
The DNR will name members for an advisory committee before the end of the year to provide input and review drafts of the rules revisions. A period for public comments and a public hearing on the proposed rules will take place in 2009.
Take the Survey

Word of the the day Mondays

I was listening to KAXE's Morning Show today with Scott Hall and Kathy Dodge. They talked about having a Monday morning word of the day. A way to get yourself jump started on your week. Today I'm working on interviews I have coming up in the next week, and as always, I've stumbled across a word that I don't know - and definitely don't know the definition of....I thought I'd admit my lack of worldly word-knowing and get to the bottom of things. Here they are:

miscellarian - I'm reading about a scientist named Joseph Priestly*. You probably were like me and assumed that he was some long lost relative of Canadian actor Jason Priestly. So far I haven't found the connection. Anyway, he is described like this: a miscellarian who relied on conversational networks to feed his fascination with technology

I went to Dictionary.com where I often find the answers to my questions.... and oddly, this word was not found there. It asked me if I meant MISCELLANARIAN. Since I didn't know exactly what I meant, I decided to check out the meaning of THAT word.

Mis`cel*la*na"ri*an\, a. [See Miscellany.] Of or pertaining to miscellanies. --Shaftesbury. -- n. A writer of miscellanies.

I did a google search on the word Miscellarian - and found that an author named Russell Ash called himself a miscellarian - or a 'writer of this and that'. Good to know!

Has anyone out there used this word casually in conversation? Let us know! If you are a wordy person, check out Merriam Webster's Word of the Day, online.

*The book I'm reading is called "The Invention of Air - A Story of Science, Faith, Revolution and the Birth of America" by Steven Johnson.

The real MMAs...Macedelic Music Award for MN Album of the Year :D

Further Macedelic Music Awards – this time, Minnesota!
by Doug MacRostie

To reiterate what I started with my Top 10 list of favorite albums from 2008, now officially known as the Macedelic Music Award for Album of the Year (which I happen to give 10 times each yeah…), here’s a list of albums I enjoyed the most this year from Minnesota. I’m in a good position to hear MN music hosting Centerstage MN on 91.7 KAXE (http://www.kaxe.org/), but I’m always listening for talent (if you know a great MN band, leave a comment, or email your suggestions to mac@kaxe.org).

There have been lots of great CDs this year and it’s never easy trying to limit to a top 10, so I also again gave myself the easy-out of an Honorable Mentions list at the end. So, also in no particular order…Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the first annual:

Macedelic Music Award for Minnesota Album of the Year
Trampled by Turtles [Duluth]
John Wilber & Timmy Haus [Road Weary]
The Tisdales [Bakers Dozen]
Sam Miltich & the Clearwater Hot Club [Just You, Just Me feat. Dave Karr]
Enchanted Ape [Off the Ground]
Uncle Shurley [Stellar Echoes]
Mason Jennings [In the Ever]
Roma Di Luna [Casting the Bones]
Paul Mayasich & Andy Dee [The Dough Bros]
Wookiewoof [Activate] *

Trampled by Turtles new CD Duluth is just the latest in the ever evolving newgrass that is TBT unique and exciting sound and style. Not only are there the upbeat and highspeed tunes to enjoy like “Nobody Else” and “The Darkness and the Light” but the Turtles really amazed me this time around with the six and half minute “Methodism in Middle America,” a slow moving and haunting song. In the first SECONDS you can tell something profound is coming (like those special Neil Young songs).

John Wilber and Timmy Haus recorded an amazing collection of Blues and Americana songs. I already knew that Timmy had a great voice and was an outstanding songwriter from his work with Friends of Yoder, but I didn’t know anything about John when I first heard the CD. His story as hobo-story teller riding the rails comes through in this album and his gravelly and experienced voice is given all the more contrast by Tim’s clear vocals. And Timmy’s songwriting really shines on “Roots Down Deep” and “Down to the River.” Beyond the originals, they go some great covers like “Talk to You Daughter” which is one of the best songs I heard all year, hands down.

The Tisdales CD Bakers Dozen rocks all the way through. The album has a nice and raw sound. None of that over-produced crap you hear – this CD is 4 guys rockin’ out. The drums are played loud, with intricate guitars and boppin’ baselines. A big part of it is the musicianship, and the rest is the songwriting – great tunes with catchy melodies that are hard not to sing along with, especially “Like a Horse” and “Box of Wine.”
Sam Miltich is a phenomenal musician, and at the age of 23, a true virtuoso jazz guitarist. On Just You, Just Me, Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hotclub team up with Dave Karr in a fine collection of original and classic pieces. Sam’s electric guitar and Dave’s tenor sax compliment each other beautifully, and listening to the two of them dance back in forth through the melodies is a real treat. Sam continues to prove that jazz music is a living thing that grows and expands with the generations of musicians.

Enchanted Ape’s CD Off the Ground is organic roots music, it’s got a feel of blues, a little bit of jam and rhythms to get your feet moving. Furthering the vibrations of the Grateful Dead, the Ape’s have a great sound that can be both soothing, yet energizing starting with the first song “Heat Waves.” Then the next song, “27 Miles” hits you with a great rhythm and catchy melody. By the time I got to “Red Eye River” and “Crawl” I knew it was something I’d be listening to a lot.

Uncle Shurley have quite a reputation for their live shows, something I have yet to experience (but my wife has). But, when I finally got to hear their CD Stellar Echoes I was very pleasantly surprised. The first song establishes the bands unique and experimental rock style, and “Kellers” is wonderfully colorful trip through odd times, strange melodies and somewhere just within the edge of perception. With songs like “The Tramp” and “Velcro Panties” (my wife’s fav…:p) I get an idea why people enjoy their live shows. But the song “Ghost in the Machine” is what really brought this band to the front in my mind, with the lines “…Who am I to say that we got no soul…and when we die there’s just a big black hole…I’ve got to believe, I’ve got to believe…there’s a ghost in the machine,” – from the writing, performing and production, amazing.

Mason Jennings has something special going on that I really enjoy. He’s a true songwriter with a very unique style and sound. Plus, old people don’t seem to get it, so that makes me like it even more :D From the first song, his CD In the Ever is a pleasure to listen to. Damn near every song has something special or catchy about it that I would like to mention, but that would just be silly. So I’ll just say, “I never knew something about you, Buddha and that fighter girl with her new man back at that river with the soldier boy, the perfect lover in your city.”

Roma Di Luna have a nice and haunting Americana Folk style with a modern twist that is highlighted with a unique vocal style. This husband and wife songwriting duo added a full band for the CD Casting the Bones. The album kicks off with the excellent song “The Romance of Wolves,” from there the album covers a lot of ground before reaching the aggressive and edgy sounds of “Pearls of Pigs.” But, if strip back the production, these songs would be just as haunting and compelling with just a guitar and voice – a sign of a very well written music.

Paul Mayasich and Andy Dee are on dueling dobros for their collaboration project The Dough Bros. This CD is full of excellent music, some originals and some versions of classic tunes. Both of them are well established and experienced musicians (and I love Andy Dee’s project Sweet Soul Sewage), and the sound they created on this CD is great.

* Okay, I am admitting right up front that Wookiefoot’s CD “Activate: The Story of Nothing and the Monkey Part Too: Good for Nothing” didn’t come out in 2008 (or even 2007 I don’t think) BUT, I had never heard it before and thanks to the excellent musical tastes of my wife we checked them out at the 10,000 Lakes Festival and they put on a great show. My buddy Warner talked with them backstage and got a copy of the CD. It’s outstanding, and it was NEW to ME in 2008, so :p


And there you have it! Of all the excellent music that came out of MN this year – these are my favs – the albums that inspire, that ignite and set my soul on fire so it can take flight (or something…) And, here are the albums that ALMOST made the top 10…

Macedelic Music Honorable Mentions for MN Album of the Year :D
Two Many Banjos [Give Me Time]
Terramara [Dust & Fiction]
The Limns [The Limns]
Boiled in Lead [Silver]
Two Many Banjos [Give Me Time]
The Darbuki Kings [Lawrence of Suburbia]
Charlie Parr [Roustabout]
The Magic Castles [The Lore of Mysticore]
Cult of the Sunny Jims [The Shoebox Sessions Vol. 2]

Thanks for reading along – feel free to leave any questions, comments or concerns (but just because I ask doesn’t mean I’ll agree with you :D).

ROCK ON!
Doug