Portsmouth Community Radio 106.1 FM will devote special programming to the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to honor the victims.

Five programs will participate in the broadcasts over six days beginning Thursday, Sept. 8.

Anita Croteau, host of “This ‘n’ That With Anita” (Thursday, 3-5 p.m.) will devote her program to music commemorating 9/11, including “Angels and Heaven,” and honoring the first responders, some of whom now have illnesses as a result of being at Ground Zero on the day of the attacks and in their aftermath.

On Friday, “Radiogazette” (9-10 a.m.), hosted by Ann Haggart, the station’s news and public affairs director, will follow the story of two Seacoast colleagues and their families as the events of 9/11 affected their lives that day. Ellen Fitzpatrick, a University of New Hampshire professor of history and a scholar specializing in modern American political history, will join Haggart in a live discussion of the historical perspective of 9/11. As a presidential historian, Fitzpatrick often appears on the “PBS Newshour.”

Haggart will also interview Ken Feinberg, distributor of the 9/11 Fund, who will speak of the strength he drew on to complete his difficult task. Radiogazette will end with a poem written by a Seacoast author to commemorate the tragedy of that day.

On Sunday, Susan Tuveson, host of “Classical Combinations” (8-10 a.m.), will broadcast the Duruflé Requiem, as well as various works by American composers, in honor of the memory of 9/11′s victims and their survivors.

Also Sunday, PCR Music Director Angelynne Hinson, and frequent host of “Operaworks Radio” (5-7 p.m.), will air a special two-hour program. The first hour will feature “9/11: A Tribute At Dusk,” an original production created by Alexandra Borrie in September and October 2001. The second hour will broadcast Nils Lindberg’s “Jazz Requiem” and Stephen Hartke’s “Pacific Rim.”

On Sunday’s “The Free Speech Zone” (7-9 p.m.) host Brad Carr (“Big Brother”) will direct his attention to controversy: “While National Public Radio announces that ‘the facts of 9-11 are indisputable,’ at least half of all Americans do not believe the official narrative of that day and the events surrounding this attack on our country,” Carr said.

On “The Burt Cohen Show” (Tuesday, noon-1 p.m.), Cohen’s first guest will be Marjorie Cohn, President of the National Lawyers Guild and professor at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, who will address how our rights have been affected by the reaction to the attacks of 9/11. During the second half of the show, from 12:30 to 1 p.m., Republican presidential candidate Gary Johnson, former governor of New Mexico, will discuss how our constitutional rights have been infringed upon since 9/11 and what might be done.

The programs will be available in archive form at portsmouthcommunityradio.org for two weeks following their broadcasts. For details, visit portsmouthcommunityradio.org.

original article here. http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20110908-NEWS-109080409

On March 8 our radio show, “Don’t Dis My Ability,” heard on Portsmouth Community Radio 106.1 FM every other Tuesday from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. was honored by the presence of a fine young writer.

I had sent out a request through my network of friends that our show was looking for a poet who could express what it was like living with a disability. On Tuesday, a poet and writer, 13-year-old Cheyenne Gemma, of Raymond, came to the radio station with her entourage of grandparents and speech pathologist. We were told ahead of time that she did not like people talking for her, over her and about her. She made it known that she had a voice, even though it came through an electronic communicator, and she knew how to use it — thank you very much!

So, I’m not going to do that and incur her wrath. Her grandmother and I worked together weeks before the interview to fashion the questions that were then answered by Cheyenne. The next step was to create a script and program her answers into her electronic communicator.

Here is Cheyenne in her own words:

Question: How do you feel not being able to speak?

Cheyenne: Who knows what it feels like not to talk? Shut out of the world, and all alone. Not being able to share your thoughts, only listening to others talk about you. I want to cry and tell them how they hurt me. Words are wonderful; they should make me feel alive. I want to tell everyone how they make me feel. I wish I felt good about myself.

Telephone

Please let me talk on the phone…;

Happy even though no one is home.

Oh, it would be so much fun!

Not alone, just to talk to someone.

Even the recording would satisfy me!

Question: When did you first realize you could write poetry?

Answer: When I first started typing — my mind works best in rhythmic patterns. The music is like poetry with beats and waves. Nature inspires me. It’s so beautiful and I see beauty in words.

If I could

If I could I would run and play outside.

I want to touch the trees.

I want to shake hands with the trees.

I would roll in the grass.

I would hold the earth close to me.

I would sing with the birds.

I would sing praises to Jesus.

I would draw in the sky.

I would draw beautiful rainbows.

I would kiss the flowers.

I would love to play with the flowers.

If I could.

The next day I thought of this saying. “Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form when within thee the universe is folded.”-Baha’u'llah, 1817-1892.

Everyone has some indispensable unique contribution to make in the world. You have it, I have it, and certainly Cheyenne has it. Believe it. If I didn’t know it before I met Cheyenne Gemma, I certainly know it know.

Ronnie Tomanio is the creator and co-host of Don’t Dis My Ability radio show.

Inspired thumbs up to our local radio station, WSCA-FM 106.1, for its chilly, all-night, outdoor broadcast to raise awareness about homelessness on the Seacoast.

Using its new remote broadcasting equipment, WSCA DJs Rick Dirck, Dee Herbert and Jasper Salach set up camp outside at Vaughn Mall and broadcast the thoughts and stories of locals regarding homelessness. They also had professional commentary from homeless service providers including Cross Roads House, New Generation Inc., Child and Family Services and the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness.

“It was a long night, obviously. It was very cold,” Herbert said. “You pour a glass of water and 20 minutes later it’s frozen over the top. That part was hard, but the really good part was meeting all of these people and hearing their frustrations, hearing people who are just right on the edge of it. Some people, they’re wondering how they are going to make it through the next few months without being homeless themselves.”

While WSCA has participated in the national 14-hour Homelessness Radio Marathon in years past, this was the first time the station had the equipment to broadcast from the streets. It was a moving experience for the WSCA staff, those who stopped by to chat and all who heard the broadcast.

If you know of a homeless person in need of services, you can dial 211, a hot line operated by the United Way, which will connect you to 1,800 health and human service organizations throughout the state.

Thumbs up to Jim Jalbert and C&J Lines on the launch of direct bus service between the University of New Hampshire, Portsmouth and New York City beginning Feb. 28.

Frankly, until the launch of this service, getting to NYC on public transportation from the Seacoast has been a hassle, requiring separate trips aboard buses, trains and planes. Now you can board a first-class touring coach bus with Wi-Fi and electrical outlets at each seat, ride to your business meeting or social engagement and arrive in The Big Apple five hours later, in comfort and style.

“Outside of flying first-class on a plane or first-class on passenger rail, you can’t find amenities like this,” Jalbert said. “And time wise, we’re competitive with a flight. People either have to go to Logan and transfer or the train station and transfer. Here, all you have to do is go to the bus station and hop on the bus. All the time down there is your own.”

The initial fares are less than a train or plane ride, with a one-way fare ranging between $59.95 for the first 10 to reserve a slot, to $75 for the other remaining 20 seats. C&J also offers free parking, another major savings.

Best wishes to C&J on this new business venture.

Thumbs up to the makers and supporters of Bow Wow Bones, a healthy dog treat now on the market that is produced by local young adults with developmental disabilities. Not only is the small business making money, it is contributing most of its earnings to The Friends Project, which provides social and recreational opportunities for adults with disabilities.

The young adults making the Bow Wow Bones clearly take pride in their work and they are ably assisted by both professionals at Living Innovations as well as family and friends. Kudos to Bethany Church, in Rye, which donates the kitchen space where the Bow Wow Bones team works.

You can purchase Bow Wow Bones at Cranberry Bog in North Hampton, and the Little Shop of Pets and Seaport Fish in Portsmouth. If your business would like to sell Bow Wow Bones, contact Gail Brown at 964-1734, Nancy Novelline Clayburgh at 436-6525 or Nancy Splaine at 964-2750.

Original article here.

PORTSMOUTH — Lines like, “Where did you find that?” “Wow! Haven’t heard that one in a long time!.” These exclamations are music to John Scavo’s ears. So is the ’60s through ’80s pop music he spins on “Scratchy 45′s and Beyond” on WSCA-FM 106.1, Portsmouth Community Radio.

Scavo, or “Supersport,” as he’s known on his show, is a fan of it all, luring others to music, listening to music, spinning actual vinyl and doing it on a community radio station. He was involved early in the nationwide campaign to keep low-power FM available to communities while living in Massachusetts

“Even in Boston, we were losing that local touch, what I’d grown up with,” he said. “I didn’t lead the campaign, it was out of California when I got involved. But I got in early.”

He’d always been a “very, very big” fan of local radio. “And before that of broadcasting itself. I’d always wanted to be a DJ or be involved with radio,” said Scavo, whose day job is operation manager for Philips Health Care. “Basically, you can call me a radio junkie.”

He settled in York, Maine, about eight years back after deciding it was time to “visit the city not live in it,” and found his way to WSCA in 2009. He arrived with credentials. Back in Boston, Scavo had founded EB, a “micro flea power” few-blocks-wide station in East Boston, “the best rock on the block.” He built its equipment, produced the shows, went on the air in ’95 and took it to the Web in ’98.

He launched “Scratchy 45′s and Beyond” just short of a year ago.

“What I brought to WSCA is what you couldn’t hear on the radio in this area. Most stations weren’t playing hits from the ’60s through the ’80s — pop music. They had, but it faded away,” he said. “I grew up with the big radio top 40s. I just took that and brought it here for a two-hour show.”

“Scratchy,” which runs Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon and generally takes four hours to prepare for weekly, is “somewhat of a trivia show,” he said. In addition to playing the rarely heard oldies, he talks music: maybe obscure facts about the tune, the artist or placing the work into the context of its era. “A lot of it I have up in my head, I was a groupie of music growing up. I also do research …; using books and the Internet.”

Scavo nearly always spins originals, a combination of 45s “with big hole in the middle,” and albums. Only rarely does he throw on a CD.

The vinyls come from his private collection. “I want to say I probably have about 1,000 to 1,500 albums, and 800 or 900 45s.”

Scavo referred to his “Scratchy” as the fastest show on air. Today’s tunes generally run four to seven minutes. Those he features average two to three minutes, making for a lot of turntable action.

“It’s what I love to do. I could easily put my music on a CD; I have a home studio. But that takes the fun out of it. I love the pressure of the timing; love using the turntables. To others, it looks like I’m a chicken with my head cut off, but I’m having a blast,” he said. “I want to take it off the vinyl. It’s part of me — the geeky side.”

In addition to the spin, there’s the usual bits of radio business, such as logging in each tune as required by licensing and online for webstream listeners — a bit more busy-work when playing shorts, he noted.

In addition to music there are the chats with and about callers, not to mention with the occasional guest. Last Saturday he gave a shout out to a few regular listeners who were having birthdays that week.

He was joined that day by Shawn Henderson, another WSCA DJ ,and Gary Lowe, a member and former WSCA DJ, now with WUNH. They all chatted with musician Jeannie Daniels, who called in to answer a question posed on the show regarding her upcoming benefit concert for WSCA. “It’s not just about playing music but making sure the local culture is coming across as well.”

“I really love to bring back and present the localism, if you will, of the station I’m working for, in this case the Portsmouth and Seacoast area.”

Perhaps one of the more unique elements of Scavo’s show is the jingles — yes, the jingles, with their familiar tunes and slightly corny, fun lyrics

“I grew up in that environment as people in my age did, hearing jingles,” Scavo said.

Scavo had the jingles crafted by JAM, a top, national jingle company in Texas — yes there is such a thing. Scavo wrote the lyrics and chose the bed (tune) from their catalog and had them customize a few. “So, people from day one have certainly noticed …; Most the initial calls said ‘you sound like a real radio show now,” he said, laughing. “Many listeners can relate, they remember.”

Finding WSCA was a dream come true, right up there with launching “Scratchy,” Scavo said.

“I have the utmost respect for Tim Stone and his crew that got this off the ground and Portsmouth for keeping it going,” he said. “I love this place, love this area. I love listening to the station and living here, and having York Beach in my back yard.”

Original article here.

WSCA 106.1 FM Back by popular demand, the Jeannie Daniels Band will perform its infectious dance floor fillin’ music that includes rock, R&B, Motown, soul, funk, and swing. The hall offers a comfortable atmosphere with a large dance floor, plenty of room to sit back and relax with friends, reasonable beverage prices, and free on-site parking. This 21-plus event supports some of your favorite local DJs. Mark your calendars and come together for a great time dancing with your friends and neighbors.

SAT 1|29 O CANADA—SONGS FROM THE GREAT CANADIAN SINGERS/SONGWRITERS Cabin Fever Concert Series featuring Susie Burke, David Surette, 8 p.m., Lower Mills at Salmon Falls, Rollinsford. $15, tickets available at door or in advance at 743-4700.

COUNTRY TO THE NORTH WITH A LOT OF TALENT Canada has produced some of the greatest singer songwriters, such as Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen, Ferron, and Stan Rogers, just to name a few. For this show Susie Burke and David Surette will be joined by their old trail buddy Kent Allyn on piano, bass, and electric guitar.

THURS 2|3 AUTHOR ELIZABETH GILBERT part of the Writers on a New England Stage series, 7 p.m., The Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth. Adults $13, members $11. Tickets available at box office, 436-2400 or www.themusichall.org.

EAT, PRAY, LOVE (AND THEN GET MARRIED) In her only New England appearance this winter, Elizabeth Gilbert, the bestselling author of “Eat, Pray, Love” will discuss her latest work of nonfiction, “Committed,” which will be published in paperback in early February. The new book, which also topped the New York Times bestseller list, begins where “Eat, Pray, Love” left off. It is a true “love story,” a clear-eyed celebration of the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails — a favorite of readers across the country.

THURS 1|27 reception for ‘iIMAGE: The Uncommon Portrait’5:30 to 7:30 p.m., on display through April 24, The Portsmouth Museum of Art, One Harbour Place in Portsmouth. Admission free. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Guided group tours available by appointment by contacting museum at 436-0332 or by e-mail at info@portsmouthmfa.org.

NOT WHAT YOU’D EXPECT ‘ilmage: The Uncommon Portrait,” curated by Stephanie Holt, takes a fresh look at the once traditional concept of portraiture. This 21st-century perspective explores constantly evolving ideas of self, unexpected interpretations of the notion of portrait, unusual materials and techniques including the use of technology. (Shown is “Simonez” by WK Interact.)

see original article here.

WSCA has more than 50 shows on its weekly schedule, produced entirely by volunteers. The radio station doesn't have a single paid staffer.

The city’s community radio station now has the ability to take its show on the road, and its first stop will be the Spotlight Awards on Thursday, April 15.

WSCA-LP 106.1FM will host a Spotlight Awards pre-show party in The Music Hall’s Founder’s Lobby beginning at 6 p.m. (Yes, the bar will be open.) WSCA DJs will play music and conduct interviews with nominated artists but the star of the pre-show will be a new piece of equipment that has Portsmouth Community Radio literally set free. more…

Artist-in-residence Jeff Erwin teaches Newington youngsters about ecology and science of sound and light waves during musical lessons.
Jeff is a long time volunteer at WSCA. More in The Portsmouth Herald, April 11, 2010.

York life coach helps clients look to future is the interview with the host of What Can I Say? , the bi-weekly show on WSCA 106.1FM dedicated to make your communications better.

YW: What is it that you do? What is it that people want out of life and what do they want in their businesses?

RK: Often surprisingly, it’s the same thing — health and happiness. People want to be happy themselves and if they are business people, they want their businesses to thrive as well. Since I have a background in counseling and entrepreneurship, I bring both theory and my own successes to the table and call myself a life and business coach. You might think of it this way — an athletic coach introduces athletes to drills and rules on how to play and succeed at a particular sport. As a life and business coach, I give people an outline on the game of life. I introduce people to models of thinking and various drills to help people learn how to pay attention and reframe things to get away from the negative past and back to the possibilities in the present and so be better able to create their magnificent future. Read more…

Article in The Portsmouth Herald:

Lee Harvey had never been happier than the time right before his stroke.

Harvey spoke softly into the WSCA microphone on Nov. 3 during the first broadcast of “Don’t Dis My Ability,” a new biweekly show on Portsmouth Community Radio giving voice to local people with disabilities. More…

Portsmouth Community Radio invites new supporters and renewing WSCA members to contribute to the station’s goal of raising $20,000 and signing up 250 new or renewed members during its eight-day membership drive, beginning Thursday, April 24.

In conjunction with WSCA’s Connecting Community Campaign, WSCA-LP will be donating the first dollar of every pledge to Cross Roads House, which provides secure, transitional shelter to those in need. There are thank-you gifts available for donations made during the drive.

All funds raised will support WSCA programming. WSCA has been operating for more than four years, offering a range of independent music, local and global news and community information, all thanks to the support of its members and dedicated volunteers. Portsmouth Community Radio can be found at 106.1FM and streams its broadcasting live at www.portsmouthcommunityradio.org.

For information, call Bjorn Turnquist at 430-9722, or e-mail generalmanager@wscafm.org.

Original article here.