Seven years ago today, April 1st, in the middle of a snowstorm, we moved from St. Paul to our primitive house in the woods just south of Grand Rapids. We had no connections, other than the people at my husbands new job, no family, friends, or network. I still had my job in St. Paul and was working in my home office and telecommuting. So while the boys went off to work and pre-school, I stayed home, still connected to my work community. For the first year, the only time I "went to town" was for church on Sunday. But I was longing for some connection...where and how do I get connected to this beautiful community? One day my husband came home from work and said he'd discovered a very unusual radio station, a community radio station that's run by all local volunteers. KAXE 91.7. (listen on line at www.kaxe.org) So on my next communite to St. Paul, I tuned in to hear Scott Hall interview a man that was making wine from tent catepillars. WOW, I was hooked. I love a good story, especially if it's a spoof. So I kept listening, and eventually got involved with the station by helping them plan the ampitheater park, making mosiac sculptures, planting gardens, etc. When John Bauer suggested I run for the board, I jumped at the chance. You see, it's because of KAXE that I now feel like Grand Rapids is my home, my community. I have learned so much from the broad range of listeners, their stories, and the culture of northern Minnesota. KAXE is truly special, I think of them as the welcome wagon of the community! Thanks for welcoming me to this community!
2 comments:
Hi Kathy, Nice site. I have heard so many stories from people like you who live in Northern MN cuz KAXE is here. I moved to Ely in 1975 to be the new young librarian (media specialist)at their brand new facility. I was moving from the North Metro area and I loved the woods and water and wonder of the BWCA, that was before it was the BWCAW, but the radio station was not too hard, not too soft, not too good. I had to get my music jones fixed at the local craft shop that also sold records and they would order them also cuz they didn't have what I was looking for. This pack sacker got some strange looks when my albums came in. Well, all good things must come to an end and declining enrollment and an unfortunate incident with the Supt led me on a path to Grand Rapids and to KAXE. We had a duck camp on Big Boy Lake and one night spinning the knob I found a Led Zep song playing so I stopped and listened....and I recognized that they were playing side 1 of Led Zep 1 and at the end a voice came on and said you are tuned to 91,7FM KAXE. I ripped the knob off it's been there ever since. My plan after retirement was to return to Ely to live. Pretty soon I was sending them money, then I signed up for on-air volunteer training and have been doing that for over 10 years. Just this year I was elected to the BOD's and serve as treasurer. This is my family, my home, my community...thanx KAXE
DJtheDJ
hi kathy,
this is such a nice site about your family and business. i had no idea you guys were involved in finding your family roots, and old battlefields, but it makes sense since you're into antiques! and eddie is into keeping records about where he has skateboarded--that is so cool!
it's also pretty cool to hear that kaxe helped you feel at home in grand rapids. it made me feel at home when i moved to northern minnesota in 1977 too, and that's a big part of why i'm still rather attached to it today. your story and dj's have a lot in common, although you're very different people.
we are lucky to have a person with your experience and qualifications be involved in kaxe as a volunteer. thank you!--maggie
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