KBBF Radioland 89.1 - January 2018
After a busy year-end of festivities and continuing to provide original programming that serves the community, KBBF welcomes 2018 with best wishes to our listeners and to the readers of RadioLand. The New Year sees everyone at the station digging deep to find the programs, coverage, information, and community events that make a difference to the people of Sonoma County. ¡Feliz año nuevo a nuestros radioescuchas!
KBBF Antenna Dodges the Bullet
Alan Bloom writes on the KBBF blog that the October fires in the North Bay burned within 100 yards of our antenna, destroying a communications site to the south, but leaving the station’s site untouched.
An electrical outage during the fires put our live programming in peril, however. Fortunately, we had an emergency generator at the ready and were able to integrate using it seamlessly, keeping our vital live coverage going without a break. Bloom reports, “We were never off the air.”
Alicia Sanchez, KBBF’s president of the Board of Directors, adds, “In a time when there was no power, cellular, or Internet, radio came through.”
Thinking back on those critical moments as fires were breaking out in several locations, Sanchez remarked that it was evident the community recognized KBBF’s role as “the first responders in the Spanish-speaking community.” People rose up to support the station in many ways, bringing by donations of cash and household items for people impacted by the fires.
KBBF’s impact was felt further away as well. The fires had been burning a couple days when, late one night, a call came in from the BBC in London. This was how Jorge Ramos wound up interviewing Edgar Avila, KBBF’s Director of Programming, about how locals were suffering due to being unable to access services and resources.
Welcome Roseland Community Celebration
November 1, 2017 marked the official date that Roseland became part of the city of Santa Rosa. To celebrate this historic milestone, there will be an afternoon fiesta at Roseland Neighborhood Village, 779 Sebastopol Road, on January 20th. At the noon opening, Roseland community members will speak. The family festivities – which are scheduled until 4pm – also include games, music, performances, and food.
In addition, educators involved in Sonoma State University’s Literacy Leadershipclass will be on site to distribute books written in Spanish and English to students who lost possessions in the fires. The group shares, “As future literacy leaders, we are passionate about the power of literature and community. Literature has the ability to comfort us in a special way. There’s magic in holding your own book, a book that allows you to get lost in adventures, sagas, capers, and more. Books are windows to other places. They allow us to escape for a while and would be a comforting distraction for those who were traumatized with losing their homes. Books are also mirrors that allow us to see how others have lived through challenging situations. We feel validated and emotionally supported by reading our own struggles in other’s lives.”
Make a Resolution to Support KBBF
Usher in your New Year by becoming a sustaining member of KBBF, La Voz de tu Comunidad. Consider contributing $4.99 per month or making a donation. Our staff is comprised of all volunteers. Visit our website at KBBF.org for more information.
