Like fine wine, KVMR just gets better with age. July 14th is KVMR's true birthday (shared with Woody Guthrie!)—it was 46 years ago today KVMR went live with a test from the Banner Mountain shack. We reflect with gratitude upon all the folks who made radio, tuned in, donated time/food/dollar$/love—we thank you all! KVMR has grown in some pretty remarkable ways to serve our community, but we’ll always be young at heart. We’re just too in love with having fun! Thanks for all the great years, KVMR family, here’s looking forward to many more decades of escapades!

Swing by the station today for cupcakes and lemonade and tell us your KVMR memory. Maybe we’ll put it on the radio!

Tune in LIVE

YOU ARE INVITED!

We’re having a free party in Pioneer Park next Sunday, 1-6pm, and you're invited. It’s a potluck, so bring a dish, your utensils and an instrument if you play. We’ll be in the picnic area socializing and having a community jam. Hope to see you there!

Arthur Cohen, Bobby Angel and Noam Siegel in front of KVMR, 1981. Arthur was KVMR's first GM, and went on to be a big wheel in community radio, recently retiring from legendary New Orleans station WWOZ. Post retirement, he returned to Nevada City—you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!

Laura Miller at KVMR Fright Night, 1986. Laura says, "If you dress as ET be prepared to hear everyone say 'phone home.'" Bobby Angel conceived Fright Night as a fundraiser for KVMR. In fact, he dreamed up most KVMR fundraisers in the early days. Laura was KVMR's first Program Director and even served as GM for a while. You can still catch Laura's show, Diamonds & Rust, Saturday evenings 6-8pm.

Alan Stahler & Hap Hazard on Air in The AVM 1984

Both Alan and Hap are still on KVMR-- Alan hosts science show Soundings and Hap hosts the Friday Music Magazine. Hap says, "Many years ago I was doing a morning show and the weather outside was beautiful so I encouraged listeners to turn off the radio, go outside and take a walk. A few months later I got a call from a woman who said she had listened, turned off the radio and went for a walk. I could hear baby sounds, and the woman told me that walk began the labor that resulted in giving birth. So sweet of her to call and let me know. Radio is f'ing magic!"

KVMR's New GM In The Way Back

Cyrene Jagger as a 19-year-old highschool student making radio for English credits! The year was 1979, so KVMR was still in the shack on Banner Mountain. Nothing says "The 70s" like an orange and brown sofa. She recently returned to lead KVMR, after a long career in radio and music. This is where she got her start! We are so proud!

This Snapshot Represents 100 Years of KVMR Experience

KVMR auction in action, 1985: Laura Miller and jazz deejays Bruce Tepper and Len Gorsky. Bruce hosted hosted Jazz Break and was a deejay on KVMR from 1980 til about 2017. Len hosted Lullaby of Birdland on KVMR for decades, and passed away on July 11. KVMR used to have a live, on-air auction to raise money for the station where folks would call in and bid against each other over the air! Pre-internet, of course.

They Get The Party Started

Todd Wahoske & Jerianne Van Dijk have done their own thing at KVMR plenty of times but prefer to team up because it's more fun. Here they are co-hosting a live remote sometime in the 2000s. Best guess, High Sierra or California Worldfest...? These two currently co-host Under The Influence, third Wednesday nights, 8-10pm. That's this Wednesday! Tune in this week when KVMRx deejay Geordie (Known Pleasures) guests with Jerianne to bring you a Radiohead special!

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Jerianne Van Dijk hosted the Friday Morning Show for over a decade, and has been involved with KVMR for nearly 30 years. She served as our Board president, co-emcees the Celtic Festival, and, as a professional artist, frequently contributes illustrations for KVMR swag. Here she's joined by another icon, Gumby (Mikail Graham), in the old Spring Street studio. There's no need to actually dress up for a radio interview... May we all aspire to this level of joie de vivre!

Paule Castro Makes A Beautiful Mess, 1977

Paule sez: Exactly one year BEFORE KVMR started I was in England designing & building the airframe and electronics for radio controlled airplanes—and crashing most of them. I attached a camera to this one that was too heavy and it all went boooooom! I started with KVMR in 1999 doing Zen Tech, a call-in tech show after some KVMR Town Hall Broadcasts for General Questions brought in lots of tech queries. The Y2K Broadcaster Class announced they were opening up space for “talkies,” so Glenn Far and myself instantly got a slot every fortnight (2 weeks)! Zen Tech is currently on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 6-7pm.

Dreamwalk With Michael Ben, Skip Alan Smith & Jennifer Robin aka Miss Jiff

Love that old-school gear in the Spring Street studio. Skip Alan Smith started KVMR's Native American program, Dreamwalk, and was usually joined by co-host Michael Ben, who then invited his daughter, Jennifer Robin, to co-co-host. Her mischievous personality was a natural for radio, Miss Jiff was created, and the rest is history! When Skip and Michael Ben retired, Miss Jiff recast the show Resilience Radio honoring the resilience of Native peoples. Catch it every Thursday, 10am-noon.

Broadcasting LIVE From High Sierra

If you just enjoyed the High Sierra Music Festival from the relative comfort of air conditioning, thank a KVMR broadcaster! Here, Little Sunny brings the fest all the way from Quincy to your earholes! Little Sunny hosts his Freedom Highway gospel show today, noon-2pm (alternate Sundays). Come to the station to say hi, have a glass of lemonade and wish us happy birthday!

KVMR Jumps With Irie Vibes

Jayan Jacob Berman, aka Dj Ites Tea, brings us Green Door Roots Reggae, alternate Tuesdays early morning, midnight-2am. That's this week! DJ Ites T is also an artist and is excited to participate in all things KVMR. he says, "My show's been on air since October with Red Eye Radio, apprenti to Ralph and Charles." Welcome to Team KVMR, Ites T!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Former KVMR Morning host and live-broadcaster, Cheri Snook, moved to Alaska—but in the early 2000s her daughters hung around KVMR waiting for her. Here, they're hanging with a friend and digging through the stacks in the the music library of the old Spring Street building.

Arellanes and Shanimal (KVMRx deejays) lounge in the new music library, c 2023. Shanimal won our "Gift of Gab" award last year, and on her Friday show during this heatwave she cooled my jets by saying, "You're a frog, under a leaf, in the 70s, that's how cool you are..." Hear her show, "Belly Up Get Down" and Arellanes' "Sans Back Up Plan" on kvmrx.org.

Remember NightLive? I Think Kim Rogers Made This Logo!

Regarding Nightlive, as lifted off Facebook



Joe Craven: I did several of these; Way Out West, Dan Hicks & The Acoustic Warriors & John Girton, The Beret Brothers, maybe more. Good times.

Beth Moore [owner of Wild Eye Pub]: I was in the audience with Danny Levitt and Mark Staneart [then host of KVMR program “Californai Okie”], watching Bela Fleck & the Flecktones— Mark Levy, Future Man [aka Roy Wooten] with his drum-ax, and his brother, 23 year old Victor Wooten on bass. In the middle of Victor’s blazing bass solo he threw his bass, which flew around his neck on the strap landing back in his hands, and his solo kept on without missing a beat. Our eyes all popped, mouths open. Mark [Staneart] shook his head and said, “Well, guess I’ll just go home and burn my f’ing bass.” 

Redeye, Wes & Kim Having a Ball

Live at the Palms series with Redeye (DJ on KUOP and one of our best friends), Wesley Robertson and Kim Rogers. Kim says, “We were the Three Muskateers. We had a good long run and so much fun. RIP Wesley." Kim Rogers has been on KVMR since 1999, catch her show Good Stuff, Saturdays 2-4pm.

Kathi Keville—Garden Forum

Kathy says: I remember the excitement tuning in to my friend Jima’s [Abbot] first show. And again, in 1998 when Steve Baker suggested I take over KVMR’s garden show to fill the professional shoes of Maureen Glimore, who was moving on to Hollywood. He said, "KVMR needs a gardening show, after all this is Nevada County." His advice? "Just be yourself." Steve suggested that Amigo Bob and I alternate. I spotted Amigo in one his famous T-dye shirts at the Whole Earth Festival in Davis and a plan was born. We invited organic farmer & herbalist Robyn Martin to join us. The Garden Forum has been on air now for 26 years, still with me, plus now Richie Marks and Kalita Todd. Garden Forum, is in a NEW TIME, at 6pm 1st & 2nd Mondays.

Swag of Yore! Joseph's Amazing Technicolor KVMR Apron

From the desk of Joseph Guida: Annie O’Dea Hestbeck and I serving food to the family with the highest bid on a KVMR Holiday Gift Auction item—Joseph's Fabulous Five Course Vegetarian Feast—in the mid 1990s. Depending on the year, I may have been the GM at that time!

Joseph has been on KVMR for over 30 years, even serving as KVMR’s General Manager. He’s still on air with Beyond Borders, alternate Friday afternoons, noon-2pm, and Annie still hosts Celtic Cadence, now alternate Friday mornings, 10am-Noon.

From Humble Beginnings, Ever Improving

Volunteer-centered and community-first. Still crazy after all these years.

Mark Leviton Pet Sounds

Here's a Mark Leviton at the Spring Street studios in 2008. He says, "I'd arrived in Nevada City in 2005 without knowing KVMR even existed, but soon took the broadcaster training and with the support of the Program Committee started my "Pet Sounds" show from 4-7am every other week. I moved through several time slots before landing where I am today, alternate Mondays at 2pm. Long live KVMR!"

Marc Cuniberti & Buzz Barnett

Yup, it looks like Wesley Robertson is in that photo, but it's the cardboard cutout we bring to all the live remotes. That cut-out haunts the halls too, really freaking people out at night! Marc Cuniberti has been with the station since 1999, bringing us Money Matters commentary and Buzz Barnett is KVMR's engineer extraordinaire. Marc has a VERY vintage KVMR cap, while Buzz sports his signature, and still available, KVMR trucker cap--which you can get when you donate $89.50. Just saying!

Thomas Greener (Ragged But Right), Eric Rice (County Line Bluegrass), Wesley Robertson (deceased), Rick Snelson (Hard Country), Mark Staneart (deceased) defend the perimeter from disco outside the studios at the AVM 40-ish years ago...

KVMRx Makes More Access On Air

KVMR has had thousands of local folks on our airwaves over the last 46 years. Many folks found their life’s work here! We're grateful for their passion, expertise, and time—making KVMR the best community station in the universe. Some broadcasters have been in our living room, car, even showers for decades, they're our friends. KVMR needed more airspace to make room for new friends, but how? KVMRx, that’s how. If you haven’t tuned into the little station that could, get ready to party like it’s 1979 again—with the inmates running the asylum. It’s fresh, it’s bold, it’s on the dial and off the hook, hyper-local Nevada City/Grass Valley 105.7, or worldwide kvmrx.org. It’s a whole new world of local personalities and musical tastes, just waiting for you to discover them.

Photo: DJ Geordie (Known Pleasures) & BBoy Supreme (Jai Hanes, KVMRx Program Director) getting the word out on Commercial St in Nevada City, c 2022.

KVMRx broadcasters in the X studio at KVMR headquarters, and deejaying around the county!

Community radio is a great place for people of all ages to try on new skills. KVMRx provides access to local folks of all ages, backgrounds, musical styles for civic engagement and leadership, just like KVMR, but with a lot more open timeslots. A whole new station of lifelong learning, friendship, community and sharing-- all under one roof. Plus, it’s great radio! It’s a beautiful thing. kvmrx.org

Future of Radio—Youth Journalism

Youth News Reporter, Gabby Gerster, reported on the Dorsey Marketplace Project May 30, 2024, for KVMR Youth News Corps. KVMR’s Future of Journalism program gives participants a well-rounded and fun experience in radio journalism while incorporating lessons in free speech, civic engagement, history, public speaking, writing, research, ethics and digital production. KVMR—creating opportunities for local folks to acheive their dreams since 1978.

Hey Hey—The Kids Are Alright

KVMR partners with local highschools and job placement agencies to give opportunities through internships for young people to do professional work when they're just starting out. We are so grateful for the work they have contributed to KVMR. Many KVMR interns stick around, becoming broadcasters and contributors, because they find a community here. We are proud of the impact we've had in creating avenues for folks to pursue their dreams, wherever it leads them. To every volunteer, intern, broadcaster, donor over the last 46 years—you'll always be part of the KVMR family. Thank you so much! We LOVE you!

KVMR Is For The Dogs

Michael Ben holds Miss Jiff's constant companion and sometime co-host, Matilda (aka "Piggy"), while airing Dreamwalk, maybe 2012? Miss Jiff says, "KVMR stories? Like back in the old studio when we could have dogs on air with us and smoke weed out the back door during 8 minute flute songs?!" The statute of limitations has expired, so yeah, like those stories... RIP Piggy. KVMR is still very much "for the dogs." Pets are people too here, sometimes they're even donors!

1,257th Episode Incoming—Old Radio Theater

Part of an article that appeared in the Roseville Press-Tribune newspaper on December 12, 1999. And now, a little “pitch” for Old Radio Theater – be sure to tune-in this coming Sunday night (tonight!) at 8pm for the 1,257^th broadcast of the program. Linda and Dave Breninger say, "If you have any requests for old radio programs you’d like to hear on the show, please let us know!"

The Latest Technology In 2002

Feels a little like being on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, in the best way. Radio does travel the spacewaves after all.

Bill Emerson Broadcasting from 2002!

Bill has been doing a weekly or biweekly show on KVMR for over 20 years. That's a lot of dancing! Check out Trance It Lounge, now every Friday, 10pm-midnight.

KVMR Members Have ALWAYS Said It Best!

Regular folks making a donation when they can is how KVMR has survived, against the odds, against logic, reason and good sense, for the last 46 years. Many people didn't believe community radio would survive in these hills, but you, dear listeners, have proven the naysayers wrong. We could never have done it without you, nor would we want to. You're the reason. You turn us on. Thank you for the past 46 years, here's looking forward to 46 more!

Are you paying registration and insurance on a car you don't drive? Is it sitting in your driveway, hogging up all that sweet parking? Have you been avoiding selling it because you don't want strangers coming over or don't feel like meeting them in parking lots, waiting around for them to test drive then not buy it/agressively haggle/waste your time?

Fuhgeddaboudit! Just donate and be done with it. KVMR uses Charitable Adult Rides (CARS) because it's so easy. Call 1-877-411-3662 and tell them you want to donate it to KVMR. That's it! They haul it away, you get a tax receipt, KVMR gets a check supporting your favorite programming, and Craigslist weirdos get nothing!

Your vehicle does not need to run or be registered, and CARS may even be able to help clear up lost title issues. Call 1-877-411-3662 and take back your parking space!

You made it all the way to the end—you deserve a treat!

Come by KVMR headquarters this morning between 10am-2pm and have some lemonade and cupcakes. We LOVE YOU, KVMR family!