Learning Ojibwe: Gichi

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering the Little Brothers"


Gichi: great, big, or strong
 Listen

As in Gichi Gami, the Great Sea, also known as Lake Superior to many of us; and Gichi Manidoo, the Great Spirit.  In "Discovering the Little Brothers", the Sturgeon, Name, lives in a stream that flows to Gichi Game.


Click here for more editions of Learning Ojibwe.

Brandon Chase's Grandma's Tavern Burgers

by Heidi Holtan

KAXE volunteer Brandon Chase dropped by on Between You and Me last week to tell us about his grandma, Mary Helen Hoffoss' TAVERN BURGERS.  People couldn't get enough of them, and it's still a recipe requested all the time at Brandon's house.  I tried it for dinner at our house, and it was GREAT!

TAVERN BURGERS
1 lb hamburger
medium onion chopped
1 cup ketchup
3 Tbsp Worchestershire sauce
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp - 2 Tbsp mustard
splash of vinegar
brown sugar to taste (about 1 Tbsp)

Brown hamburger and onion together.  Mix other ingredients together and pour into pan.  Simmer and sprinkle with brown sugar.

Last Minute Thanksgiving recipe

by Heidi Holtan

A couple of weeks ago on Between You and Me I talked about an easy recipe for a corn casserole.  So easy in fact, that's it's a little embarrassing.  One caller said they call it "redneck corn casserole" in their family.  Whatever you call it, it's really really good.  So good that I'm always asked to bring it.  Mine is cooling on the counter right now, and even though it might be a little late for Thanksgiving for you, this might just be the thing to liven up the leftovers.

CORN CASSEROLE

1 can whole kernel corn (frozen works just as well)
1 can creamed corn
1 stick margarine (I use butter - NEVER margarine!)
1 c. sour cream
1 box corn muffin mix

1 egg
crushed up saltine crackers for the top

Mix all ingredients together in greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Crush saltines on the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Feel free to doctor this with pepper jack cheese, peppers, or anything to your liking.

Learning Ojibwe: Gi, Gid

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering the Little Brothers"


Gi or Gid: different forms of "you"
 Listen

I

Click here for more editions of Learning Ojibwe.

"He's not show quality but he's so sweet and all he needs is a little love"

by Heidi Holtan

What would you do if you heard that? For author Julie Klam, she immediately pictured the Charlie Brown Christmas tree and thought "I have to have him". She got in her car, drove to Pennsylvania to meet Otto and immediately fell in love with him. She told me, "He was the man of my dreams".

Julie Klam's book is called "You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness". Check out her book trailer, and tune in to Realgoodwords this week for my conversation with her.

MN's Blues Man Big Walter Smith

by Doug MacRostie

Big Walter Smith is the lead vocalist with the Groove Merchants and has personified the blues in MN for 40 years. Winner of multiple MN music awards, his 300 pound presence and velveteen voice have graced nearly every blues and R&B stage in the Midwest and he joins us to talk about “Royal Blue Cadillac,” his new album with the Groove Merchants this week on Centerstage MN. He came to Minneapolis back in 1970 for a two week MC gig which lasted over a year and a half. He fell in love, both with MN and his future wife, and has been here ever since.

Big Walter Smith and Groove Merchants will be performing at the “Home is Where the Heart Is” dinner and Dance on Sat. Dec. 4th at the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids starting at 5, music at 8, to benefit the GRACE House Homeless Shelter.

We'll also hear from Mason Jennings brand new album "The Flood" which came out this week. It's a return to his acoustic sound. It's a collection of unreleased songs that Mason re-recorded in March. On his website he says, "It was really fun looking through all my old tapes and finding these, some I hadn’t thought about for years."

All that and more this week on Centerstage MN.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Load Up Your MP3 Player!

by Doug MacRostie

Let's give thanks for good listening! Here is what is currently in our Audio Highlight box at KAXE.org. We've got a fun, intimate conversation with 3 Time State Fiddle Champion Mary LaPlant, harvesting tips from Organic Farmer of the Year John Fisher-Merrit, and the story of MN's 1st Volunteer Regiment at the battle of Gettysburg. From remembering conservation leader Wes Libbey to the Sexy Book of Sexy Sex, there's something for everyone. You can click on them to listen on your computer, or "right click" and "save as" to download the files and then load them onto your mp3 player, burn to a CD, or whatever. Enjoy!

Remembering Wes Libbey

Bill Berg and Randy McCarty remember conservation leader, Wes Libbey, who died in November at age 101. Get more nature news on the Phenology Page.

The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex
Do you watch the Daily Show? Daily Show writers Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist talked with Heidi on Realgoodwords about their latest venture, “The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex”. Check out more author interviews on the RealGoodArchive.

Mary LaPlant, Welcome Back to Centerstage MN
I could sit and talk with Mary LaPlant all day; she's one of those positive people that is just fun to be around. Classically trained on the violin, Mary is a 3 Time MN State Fiddle Champion with 2 albums out, Serenity & Out of Nowhere. Her style is lyrical and sure.  While Mary clearly loves music, her concern for the environment was stronger and she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Minor in Music. With the sounds of the woods and birds recorded and mixed into her albums, you can close your eyes and picture her sitting high in a tree playing music with the wilderness. Read More....

Aaron Brown on Courage

If courage was common we'd give it an easier more calming name like "smooth living"...The courageous among us aren't courageous most of the time. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

Guido on Courage

Courage is a word lush with meaning. Yet, when we use the word we make the assumption that no interpretation is needed. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

The Last Word on Courage
What takes courage, often more than we have, is telling the truth. Get more contributions and stories at the Between You and Me page.

MN's 1st Volunteer Regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg

Local historian, Barry Babcock, on the heroic stand by the First Minnesota Volunteers at the Battle of Gettysburg. Get more stories from Our History here.

The Harvest with John Fisher-Merritt
Organic Farmer of the Year, John Fisher-Merritt, from Wrenshall, talks to Maggie Montgomery about his harvest this year, his unique “root cellar” storage system for thousands of pounds of produce, and his organic approach to soil fertility.  Get more Local Food stories here.

Swashbucklers Go Public in Bemidji
A secret society of swordsmen revealed their talents and charitable aspirations to their home community of Bemidji at the Swashbucklers' Guild Equinox Duello. Check out more on the Morning Show page

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Last Friday morning John Bauer and Heidi Holtan talked to Nancie McDermott about her latest cookbook, "Southern Pies:  A Gracious Plenty of Pie Recipes, from Lemon Chess to Chocolate Pecan".  One of the many tips Nancie gave was that she doesn't believe people should worry about a crust.  "It's the filling that matters", she said.  Our crack group of reporters say that this interview caused many people to eat more pie over the weekend.

"Frankly, we're a little worried.  On the one hand it may just be too much pie eating in the KAXE listening area.  On the other, what if people are pie-d out by Thanksgiving?"

Hopefully, KAXE caused no pie difficulties in your life.  Here's the recipe for Chocolate Pecan Pie.  Make at your own risk.

CHOCOLATE-PECAN PIE from Southern Pies by Nancie McDermott.  Published by Chornicle Books
Simply luscious and rich, but not hard to make at all, this pie is a modern favorite.  It's a good choice when you need a make-ahead, take-along dessert.  Let it come to room temperature before serving if it has been refrigerated for more than two hours.

Pastry for a 9-inch single-crust pie
1/2 c. butter
3 squares (3 oz) unsweetened chocolate
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. dark or light corn syrup
4 eggs, beaten well
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups (6 oz) coarsely chopped pecans

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a 9-inch pie pan with crust and then crimp the edges decoratively.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter and chocolate over medium heat.  Cook, stirring often, until the chocolate and butter melt and you can stir them together into a smooth sauce, 5-7 minutes.

Remove from the heat and add the sugar and corn syrup.  Stir and combine well.  Add the eggs, vanilla, and and salt, and stir to mix everything together into a thick, smooth chocolate filling.  Add the pecans, stir well, and pour the filling into the piecrust.

Place the pie on the bottom rack of the oven.  Bake until the filling puffs up and is fairly firm in the middle, 30-40 minutes.

Place the pie on a cooling rack or a folded kitchen towel, and let cool to room temperature.

Video: Mary LaPlant Performing In-Studio

How perfect that Mary played "Somewhere over the Rainbow" at our studios in Grand Rapids :)

Read more about Mary's visit on Centerstage MN.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org. 

Radio Somewhere: "Bopping Thru The Wild Blue. (Trying Connect With You)"*

by Scott Hall


"Programming on KAXE is made possible by our listener-members, our largest source of funding..." We say it out loud, on the air, every day. The three main sources of income for KAXE are listeners, local  businesses, and federal and state money.  Most of the federal money comes through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and is based in great part on the amount of support listeners and local businesses give to KAXE.  It seems like an odd business model, but it seems odd mainly because it's so visible.  It's a line item clear to see in our annual budget, and even in the name: public broadcasting.  However, public money is a big part of every private business plan too - in the tax code, utilities, transportation, and so on.  But in the private sector it's mostly out of sight. For all small businesses, public and private, it's always a hustle to make it work.

The flap over NPR's firing of news analyst Juan Williams has intensified calls from conservatives to cut federal funding for the CPB, even though very little CPB money goes directly to NPR. Cutting CPB funding would
hurt radio and TV stations much more than NPR.

                                                 *                     *                      *

"Reagan proved deficits don't matter." - Vice-President Dick Cheney to Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill in 2002

There are plenty of reasons to doubt if the hysterical rhetoric over the deficit before the election was warranted. Deficits do matter and we should be concerned about the federal deficit, but retiring Senator Judd Gregg, Republican from New Hampshire, says if Congress takes the hysteria seriously it could cause great harm.  Gregg is a member of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility. In an interview with Steve Inskeep last Tuesday on Morning Edition, he said it will take 15 to 30 years to bring the deficit down, and to do so in five years or less would be "harmful to the economy and people" and cause "significant economic disruption" to our economic recovery.  Gregg said there is no question that the deficit will go up more before it comes down and there will be no surplus in the foreseeable future. This is a far cry from the election rhetoric on the deficit.  I doubt if there are many Democrats - even Blue Dogs - who would disagree with Gregg.  Opponents of public broadcasting will use the deficit scare to renew their efforts to cut funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. KAXE's manager, Maggie Montgomery, estimates that each Minnesotan pays about 7.3 cents a year for KAXE's piece of the public broadcasting pie. To see what money for public broadcast buys read the rest of Maggie's analysis.

* from "Radio Nowhere" by Bruce Springsteen

Radio Somewhere: Bopping Thru The Big Blue...

by Scott Hall

Another Big Lie In The Works

This week Fox news exec Roger Ailes apologized to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish organization, for calling NPR news executives Nazis. He didn't apologize to NPR.  He said he was angry about NPR firing Juan Williams and apologized for using inappropriate language.  He said he should have called them "nasty, inflexible bigots" instead of Nazis.

Ailes gave the interview to "The Daily Beast", an on-line news service, about a month after NPR fired Williams, and just as Congress went back in session. Right on cue, House Republican whip, Eric Cantor, led an attempt to deny NPR stations, including KAXE, funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was defeated, but the attempt to cut CPB funding will probably return with the new Congress next year.

Ailes' remarks were not an impulsive mistake made in anger.  He and Fox want to keep the focus on cutting funding to NPR and other public broadcasters by portraying them as biased news services on the public dole. Saying NPR news is run by intolerant bigots doesn't get the level of attention, reaction and repetition that the Nazi label evokes.  He knows if the lie - NPR is a news organization run by "left-wing Nazis" - is repeated often enough, people will believe it and Congress might act on it. He also knows most of us don't pay much attention to the differences between journalism,  propaganda, and press releases by lobbyists and PR firms.

Compelling Radio Coming to a Speaker Near You

by Doug MacRostie

When my wife saw this picture she said, "I can see the fear in your eyes..". And yeah, I'm facing off with Butterscotch Bitch, one of the Iron Range Maidens; also known as KAXE Producer Heidi Holtan. I walked into work today proudly wearing my Babe City Rollers t-shirt and as soon as I saw her Maidens shirt I knew there would be trouble... but things settled down. That's one of the amazing things about derby, such a sense of friendly community.

I have been working on a radio documentary, "The Women of Roller Derby," for months now; driving to homes, sitting on the floor, and chatting with people about Derby. I'm doing it as part of Documentary Production Training class for Northern Community Radio by Milt & Jamie Lee along with a few other staff members. It has been an amazing experience. We all have been doing interviews for years, but to make a documentary is an entirely higher level of production and commitment - and we are making some very compelling pieces to share.

Other topics include a hand bell choir, finding good food, and young golfers.

We plan to have a listening session on The KAXE Morning Show on Friday, Dec. 3rd and we are all racing to have our pieces ready for their debut. Milt and Jamie will join us in-studio to present the documentaries. This will be a morning of radio you won't want to miss as we bring local voices and stories onto the airwaves.

Mary LaPlant, Welcome Back to Centerstage MN

by Doug MacRostie

I could sit and talk with Mary LaPlant all day; she's one of those positive people that is just fun to be around. Classically trained on the violin, Mary is a 3 Time MN State Fiddle Champion with 2 albums out, Serenity & Out of Nowhere. Her style is lyrical and sure.  While Mary clearly loves music, her concern for the environment was stronger and she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Minor in Music. With the sounds of the woods and birds recorded and mixed into her albums, you can close your eyes and picture her sitting high in a tree playing music with the wilderness. Mary says, "When I'm playing violin and when I'm in the forest, time stands still and I am fully alive". She'll perform in-studio for us and we'll talk about her music this week on Centerstage MN.

And Mary will be joining The Itasca Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Keith Swanson to open the season with an overture, concerto and a symphony on Saturday, November 20, 7:30 pm at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids. Part of the program will feature soloists Kristine Arntson and Mary LaPlant.

We'll have a set of Hip-Hop style MN music too with Brother Ali, Dalia and Mayda. And a set representing Northern MN including a song from the forthcoming release from the high energy Iron Range string band Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses, called "Then & Now".

Next week I welcome back Big Walter Smith, and we'll hear another song from his new CD "Royal Blue Cadillac."

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Sexy Sex on the Radio

by Heidi Holtan

So it's become something of a running joke around here. Me and this book, "The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex" by Daily Show writers Kristin Schaal and Rich Blomquist. I did the interview quite some time ago. Okay fine, the blackberries were ripe, that's how long ago. I was nervous to talk about this book, which is hilariously funny but quite honestly, pretty dirty. I mean, it's public radio. There are laws about such things.

I taped the interview and Kristen and Rich were great. Me? Kind of a dope. Nervous. Giggly. Making jokes. Seriously, what is my problem?

So, finally, after stewing and wondering where and when to run this interview, I decided that I needed to get some courage. Showcase a book that I wouldn't normally feature on the KAXE airwaves. Even on the rebroadcast of Realgoodwords at 9am on Sunday.

Along with the "The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex" the show turned into a really interesting one - featuring the independent book publisher Chronicle Books. I talk with Brian McCullen from McSweeney's about "Art of McSweeney's" as well as Lesley M. M. Blume about "Let's Bring Back". Oh, and that sex book. Did I mention that?

Enjoy!

Good Sports

by Scott Hall

One of the best sports story this Fall (and maybe the whole year): Last Saturday the Wadena-Deer Creek High School volleyball team won the state 2A Volleyball Championship and completed an undefeated season. Their final record was 33-0 and they didn't lose a single game in the state tournament.

WDC has had state tournament quality volleyball teams in the past, but what made this year extra special was the Wadena-Deer Creek School was destroyed last June by a tornado. On Monday the demolition of demolition of the school began.Work on a new school is expected to begin next Spring.

Another recipe from Between You and Me

by Heidi Holtan

Last Saturday on Between You and Me KAXE listeners told stories and shared recipes to get ready for Thanksgiving. Among my favorites - sisters who each called in to tell me about their tradition of wrestling for a piece of pie after the meal.  Also,  a science teacher called in to tell us how to make PERFECT mashed potatoes.  I tried it last night, and she IS right.  Here's the gist of what she told us on the air:

Peel and cube potatoes.

soak cubed potatoes in cold water.

Boil a pot of water with a strainer basket in it.

Steam cubed potatoes until they are about 1/2 way done.

Take them out until they are cold - then steam them again.  (I might have messed up on this step - I put them back in cold water to make them cold)

Rice potatoes.

Whip them by hand or with a mixer with your favorite ingredients - butter, buttermilk, sour cream, garlic, bacon, peanut butter.  No one is judging here.

WA-LA!  Best mashed potatoes EVER.

Check out Jennifer Poenix's recipe for crockpot stuffing here.

The Great MN Give Together - Record Breaker?

by Doug MacRostie

Last year was the first Give to the Max day, when Minnesotans truly gave to the max: as a State we had the most successful one-day online fundraising drive in history totally over $14 million for 3,434 different Non-Profits (smashing previous record of $3.8 million in Dallas).

And until 11:59 pm tonight we're trying to do it again, and every donation you make gives your favorite organization the chance to win even more money. Time to GIVE!

On the search page at givemn.org, you can find local organizations to support. Let's say you want to find a Non-Profit in Deer River, or Bena, or Bagley, or Aitkin... done. It's great how well they have all of this put together in such a user friendly way. And you can also use the local site, northerncommunityinternet.org which has been working with givemn.org.

While you're at it, don't forget to throw a little in for 91.7 KAXE, the 90.5 KBXE building fund and Northern Community Internet, all services of Northern Community Radio :) Our mission is to build community in Northern Minnesota through radio programming, cultural events and interactive media.

We bring local stories and events from the airwaves and internet into communities and homes. We have local volunteers from all over Northern MN who come in to play music, or talk about the nature in their lives, or share a story about what they saw in the woods while deer hunting. Northern Community Radio is local, independent, community oriented and vital. Click here.

Thanks!

New Pix: Beautiful Sunset, New Zealand, Fall Colors

We've got dozens & dozens of listener-submitted pix added to our Photo Album, including "Ladies Night" during the Fundraiser, pix from Geet our traveling gnome in New Zealand, some more zombie pix, a little Comic Relief involving bears, and some amazing nature shots from Karen Oothoudt. And check out this beautiful sunset (above) over by Bigfork from Karen Oothoudt!


Here's the picture of the tower for 105.3 blown down in Bemidji a couple weeks ago. Also check out pix from the KBXE Zombie Crawl, including the zombie-version of The Sunny Era. Plus, the Lazarus Film shoot (side) & sexy zombie hunters.  See the pictures here. We've also got pix from Kazyak, Mark Olson and Aurora Baer live in-studio. Got pix to share? Email them to photo[at]kaxe.org!  Many of the pictures are sent to us by listeners - please include your name and location.

Learning Ojibwe: Geget

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering the Little Brothers"


Geget:  Definitely, for sure
 Listen

In "Little Brothers", the songbird, Nagamowin-bineshiinh, and his best friend, the fox, Waagosh, come to the waters edge where they see a huge sturgeon, Name. Nagamowin says Name must be the biggest fish in the world and Waagosh replies: "In these parts definitely, geget!

Click here for more editions of Learning Ojibwe.

What's New On KAXE

John Lennon & Yoko Ono "Double Fantasy / Stripped Down"
The Civil Wars "Barton Hallow"
Balval "Le Ciel Tout Nu"
Sara Lee "A Bad Think"
The Delta Flyers "Sixteen Bars"
Elizabeth and the Catapult "The Other Size of Zero"
Electric Owls "Cullowhee Songs"
Po Boyz "Country Funk"
Tony Joe White "The Shine"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

The Only Stuffing Recipe You'll Ever Need

By Jennifer Poenix

Last Saturday on Between You and Me, I called in and talked about my favorite part of Thanksgiving: Stuffing. Not just any stuffing, but this recipe:

Crock Pot Stuffing

1 c. butter or margarine
2 c. chopped onion
2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
1 4 oz. jar mushroom slices
12-13 c. unseasoned bread croutons (I find these in the bakery section of the grocery store.)
1 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. thyme
1 1/2 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp. pepper
3-4 c. chicken broth
2 beaten eggs

Layer in order given in crock pot. Cook on HIGH for 45 minutes, and then on LOW for 4-6 hours. Stir a few times while cooking. You can also add more croutons as it cooks down, and you may need to add more broth as well.

You'll never eat Stove Top again!

105.3 KAXE Hopefuly Back On the Air on Monday

We hope to get 105.3 KAXE in Bemidji back on the air Monday - that's assuming the weather holds and all the parts have arrived. Thanks to everyone for your patience! If you are able to help us pay some of the expenses to find a new tower location and reinstall the translator you can pledge using the options below, or call us at 218-326-1234...

Use Visa/Mastercard to help save 105.3 FM:

Use PayPal to help save 105.3 FM:

The tower holding our Bemidji translator blew down in the wind storm the other week. The tower, which was on the Bemidji Federal Building, didn't belong to KAXE and our equipment hanging on the tower was saved. We are making every effort to get 105.3 in Bemijdi back on the air as soon as we can.

Math, Public Broadcasting and KAXE

Recently we’ve heard a lot of talk about cutting or even “zeroing out” public broadcasting. I remember when this happened in the mid ‘90s. At the time, Newt Gingrich led congressional leaders in calling for a “glidepath to zero” for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). That plan was ultimately scrapped due to a huge outpouring of grassroots support from the listening and viewing public.

This time, the fires seem to have been fanned by NPR’s (National Public Radio) firing of Juan Williams. Yesterday we also learned that cuts to CPB were part of the proposed $200 billion in spending cuts identified by the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility.

So I did some math, based on the most recent public broadcasting appropriations. (This is not “per-taxpayer” ciphering—the numbers are based on “total population” and include everyone, even our kids). What I found is that even in these fiscally challenging times, public broadcasting is still a heckuva good deal.

If you are a typical taxpayer, you probably pay less for public broadcasting than you realize! On average, each Minnesotan invests just $1.76 per year—total—both federal and state—to help support our national and state public broadcasting systems.

Here are the nuts and bolts of how public support for public broadcasting breaks down for us in Minnesota:

On the federal level:

The total CPB appropriation for FY11 is $430,000,000

The CPB subtracts its own operating costs (about 11%) and then distributes what’s left (89%) to stations and program producers.

• 75% of what’s left goes to TV.
• 25% goes to radio (by that formula, $95,675,000 will go to public radio stations and programs in FY11).

The population of the US (estimated as of 11/11/10) is 310,681,000 people.

This means each American invests $1.38 to help support the public broadcasting system in its largest sense, of which 22¢ per year is for public radio.

In Minnesota:

In the State of Minnesota, the entire public broadcasting budget for 2011 is $2,015,000.

More than half of that is for public TV ($1,378,000). MPR receives $250,000/year and 11 AMPERS stations receive $387,000/year (equipment and operating combined, or $35,181/station—one AMPERS station is too small to qualify for state funding).

The population of MN (2009 estimate) is 5,266,214

Doing the math, the average citizen in Minnesota invests just 38¢ to support public broadcasting statewide.

Of that amount, 26¢ supports public TV.

For radio (AMPERS and MPR combined), it’s 12¢/person.

For AMPERS stations only (like KAXE), that investment is 7.3¢ per person per year.

Here’s what we get for our investment: The money that goes to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is used to help fund 1,214 independent, nonprofit TV and radio stations like KAXE across the US. The stations use their federal dollars to leverage six times that amount in programming and services, creating 17,000 jobs in the American economy.

We also get educational and entertaining programs created by trusted news and production organizations like NPR, PRI and PBS, including Car Talk, Sesame Street, Nova, Morning Edition and All Things Considered. In a Harris poll conducted in 2005, NPR and PBS were named the most trusted news sources in the United States by the general public. NPR and PBS receive most of their funding from stations. Only a tiny part of their budgets come from government sources.

In Minnesota, our long-time investment in public broadcasting helps keep stations relevant and vital. It helps Minnesota Public Radio buy critical new equipment. It supports public television stations in the Twin Cities, Appleton, Austin, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth and Hibbing. For AMPERS stations like KAXE, it is used for operations and infrastructure, which underpin our ability to create meaningful programming for our local communities. State funds help us employ local people, and form a basis for pulling in additional matching funds.

I hope you agree that we squeeze a lot out of your investment. Public broadcasting is a treasure that is available to everyone. Please keep this in mind as the federal and state budget year unfolds!

Maggie Montgomery, General Manager
Northern Community Radio

Help Save 105.3 KAXE

Use Visa/Mastercard to help save 105.3 FM:

Use PayPal to help save 105.3 FM:

KAXE's translator at 105.3 FM in Bemidji is off the air. The tower holding our Bemidji translator blew down in the wind storm the other week. The tower, which was on the Bemidji Federal Biulding, didn't belong to KAXE and our equipment hanging on the tower was saved. We are making every effort to get 105.3 in Bemijdi back on the air as soon as we can. If you are able to help us pay some of the expenses to find a new tower location and reinstall the translator you can pledge using the options above, or call us at 218-326-1234.

The picture below of twisted metal is what was left of the tower. High winds blew the tower down so we have to dismantle it to keep it from falling to the ground. One of the legs broke in the wind, then the others bent as it went down and hung off the edge of the Federal building. We'll replace the translator tower as soon as we can to bring the signal back to Bemidji. You can still try 91.7fm in that area, or stream online at KAXE.org.

When Lonnie Knight Says Jump...

by Doug MacRostie

Lonnie Knight was there for the first digital recording. Yes, I'm serious. He was working as Staff Guitarist at Sound 80 when 3M built the first digital machine and he was on the very first recording sessions to test it. That's just one of the numerous examples why this Minneapolis singer-songwriter with mutliple MN Music Awards rightly is a legend in MN music. Picking up his first guitar back in the 60's, when he was 12, Lonnie started out as a folkie, then played in some of the Midwest's seminal bands like Jokers Wild,. Neilson-White Band and The Hoopsnakes. His professional career went beyond being a studio musician - he was also a producer for a while in Nashville. His most recent work has gone back to his acoustic roots, and Lonnie Knight will be joining me on Centerstage MN to talk about his new album, "So We Jump," which is an excellent release of clever acoustic music bringing together many of the best aspects of Lonnie's music.

There is a lot of great new music just released/about to come out - and we're also going to hear from Matt Ray and Those Damn Horses from the Iron Range, The Marc Gartband from Duluth - that's one of the projects by Marc Gartman of Two Many Banjos; when Marc puts down the banjo then it's the Gartband, and lately he has been picking up the Irish Bouzouki. Which comes out of the new Wise-Magraw album "How the Light Gets In" perfectley. Wise-Magraw is Marcus Wise on tabla and Dean Magraw (of Boilded in Lead) on guitar.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Often featured on MNartists.org.

Ben Moore and 'Boom Drawings'

by Travis Ryder

Luther College assistant professor of art Ben Moore is primarily a painter.  His new work at MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids departs from that form, with silkscreened images from past parties he has attended intermixed with exceedingly subtle pencil drawings of explosions and dust clouds.  They're called "Boom Drawings", and he says the images portray "calamity, things that are about to go wrong.  That moment right when you know something bad is going to happen."

Double Head

Don't Be Jealous

These works and many others are hanging until Thanksgiving week at the center in downtown Grand Rapids.  I speak with Ben about his new images Thursday morning in the 8 o'clock hour.

Give to the Max

By Jennifer Poenix

Tuesday, November 16 is Give to the Max Day in Minnesota.

Last year more than 38,000 Minnesotans logged on to GiveMN.org and gave to 3,400 of their favorite Minnesota charities and nonprofits in 24 hours during Give to the Max Day.

This year, throughout the event, an individual donor will be randomly chosen every hour to have $1,000 automatically go to the charity that received the donor’s original donation during that hour. Nonprofits of all sizes across the state will have the chance to benefit from these random drawings.

If you'd like to donate to Northern Community Radio, you can do so here. 

We also encourage you to give to your other favorite causes as well. You can search for non-profits by community here. Just type in the name of the town you live in or group you want to give to.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 16 and think about what great causes you can support.

Thank you!

Learning Ojibwe: Gayaashik

From Chelsea Annette's book, "Discovering the Little Brothers"


Gayaashik: Seagull

 Listen

In "Little Brothers", the songbird, Nagamowin-bineshiinh, marvels at how the seagull, Gayaashik, can live so closely to people, Anashinaabeg, by eating the food they throw away.

What's New on KAXE

The Volebeats "The Volebeats"
Syd Barrett "An Introduction To..."
Norah Jones "Featuring"
Spider John Koerner "Stargeezer"
Dar Williams "Many Great Companions"
Lake Street Dive "Lake Street Dive"
Asylum Street Spankers "Mercurial"
Eden Brent "Ain't Got No Troubles"
The High Dials "Anthems for Doomed Youth"
Badly Drawn Boy "It's What I'm Thinking"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...

Katie Corning Spreads Her Creative Wings

by Doug MacRostie

Something about an emerging performer from a small town really appeals to me, and Katie Corning from Bagley is just starting to spread her creative wings and share her talent - which is a very good thing. Originally from East Bethel, MN, Katie moved to the Bemidji area to attend BSU. She has a very powerful and dynamic voice that conveys emotion and feeling at a very deep level. Blending an eclectic mix of indie alternative and acoustic music on both keyboard and guitar, her style is very hard to classify. She'll be joining me in-studio this week on Centerstage MN to talk about, and perform, her music.

A classically trained musician and accomplished vocalist, Katie works with Matt Glenzel for lyrics. He has a blog of his poetry that he has given Katie full access to. It's a very interesting collaboration where he just keeps writing and writing poems, and Katie checks it for words or rhymes that appeal to her.

Some of these collaborated songs are 'simple' love songs, others touch on sensitive topics like God and religion. Katie says her philosophy is, "Stop worrying about the afterlife. Love where you are right now, love life. Just look at what's around you; the skies and everything, and the trees and all that. It's like 'hey embrace that, don't worry about this high power so much, just try to love the life you're in right now'."

We'll also hear from a new release out of the Iron Range from Germaine Gemberling. Just when I was thinking, "the creativity and music coming out of the Range is outstanding," this CD showed up and drove the point home. Recorded at Sparta Sound, and with Rich Mattson on guitar and back-up vocals, it's beautifully simple country music - sort of like John Prine, not flashy or forceful, but smooth, creative and clever.

Plus we'll hear from Eden - a new band out of Eden Prairie working on their debut CD - I've got a copy of their demo to share. Also Duluth's Portrait of a Drowned Man, Bemidji's The Magic Castles, and more.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji and can be heard again Sunday mornings at 6. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org. Centerstage MN is also heard on KSRQ in Thief River Falls Saturday nights at 11 & Wednesdays at Noon, and on WTIP in Grand Marais Thursdays afternoons at 4. Sometimes heard on KFAI in Minneapolis & St. Paul. Often featured on MNartists.org.

What's New on KAXE

7 Walkers "7 Walkers"
The Jimi Hendrix Anthology "West Coast Seattle Boy"
Natasha Borzilova "Balancing Act"
Devon Allman's Honeytribe "Space Age Blues"
The Sails "A Headful of Stars"
Greg Ruby Quartet "Look Both Ways"
Annie Gallup "Weather"
Louisiana Swamp Stomp
Shannon Whitworth "Water Bound"
Read more on the Currents Playlist...