WERU Community Radio

WERU thanks everyone who donated during the WERU Quiet Drive, which ran from March 22 through March 28. The Quiet Drive was online only and entirely silent on the airwaves, and was conducted purely through social media, our website, and our mobile app. We don’t want to impede your WERU listening experience with fundraising any more than we need to, and we always appreciate your support for the important and diverse programing WERU is known for. Also, we are very excited to share that every donation made last week was matched by an amazing and generous anonymous supporter! And now, the numbers: $2000 raised in individual donations, which were then matched, bringing the total funds raised to $4000. Once again, thank you!

WERU’s annual Spring Gathering, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 5, has been moved to Saturday, April 26, from 11:30 am to 2 pm. The gathering will still take place at The Alamo Theatre, 85 Main Street in Bucksport. WERU listeners, volunteers, and staff will get together to visit and celebrate community radio, as WERU turns 37 years old in May. There will be plenty of pizza in the lobby and live music in the theater. The event is free and open to the public, no RSVP necessary, so we hope to see you on April 26 for our Spring Gathering!

Do you follow WERU on any social media platforms, such as Facebook or Bluesky? Please take this 2 minute survey, to help us evaluate our social media presence and usage! Thanks!

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Write and call Congress to support public media. WERU depends on listener support to keep our diverse music and information programming coming to you. An important way to stand up for WERU is by writing to and calling Maine’s Congressional Delegation to let them know how important community radio is to you, and how important the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is to local community radio (25% of WERU’s budget). Continuation of federal funding for public and community media is under serious threat in Washington, so Senators Collins and King, and Representatives Pingree and Golden, should know how you feel about WERU. Just tell them your reasons why you listen and support community radio. And please thank them for their past support. More information is available at Protect My Public Media. “Read more” for contact information for our Congressional Delegation. Thank you!

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Exploring physical, emotional & spiritual wellness, with Rhonda Feiman.
Most recent episodes:
Healthy Options 2/5/25: The Feldenkrais Method
Healthy Options 12/4/24: The Principles & Practice of Non-Violent Communication (NVC)
Healthy Options 10/2/24: Stroke Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment

Listen to the latest One Small Step conversations, between teens and elders, produced during Fall 2024.

For the past two years Chris Battaglia and Michele Christle (both of Torchlight Media in Belfast) have been fortunate to recruit, facilitate, record, archive, and produce StoryCorps’ One Small Step conversations for WERU—first as a hub station in 2023 and then as an alumni station in 2024. They recorded 33 conversations in total and hosted three trainings and two public community events. (Want to see our full archive of all the conversations we recorded? All released conversations are here.) 

WERU is currently broadcasting the most recent short clips from a few of these conversations on Thursdays, February 6, 13, and 20 at 8:30am, and on Fridays, March 7, 14, and 21 at 3:50pm) This past year, we chose to highlight intergenerational conversations between teens and elders rather than focusing on political differences. We’d love to know what you think of the pieces you hear on the air (or in the One Small Step archives). Email feedback to info@weru.org.

Chris and Michele have finished their work on One Small Step, and WERU offers a huge thanks to them for their dedication and skillful, award-winning work over the past two years! Many thanks as well to all the participants, prospective participants, event partners, StoryCorps, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (for providing funding).

We want to acknowledge that far more people signed up to participate in One Small Step here in Maine/Wabanakik than we were able to match and record conversations with. The good news is that there may be more opportunities to participate in One Small Step-related activities/conversations with WERU. The station is taking a pause right now and is hoping to start back up again this spring. We invite you to sign up for WERU’s newsletter to be sure you hear about it.

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We Are Queer, hosted by Olivia Paruk, is a monthly half hour show discussing being LGBTQ+ in Maine and beyond! We Are Queer, highlights the touching experiences from Maine’s diverse LGBTQ+ community that builds empathy and understanding in our greater community. If you have feedback for the show or want to get in touch email info@weru.org with WERQ in the subject line.

Episode 1 – Pepin: Discovery of Self
Episode 2 – Father Douglas: God Does Not Create Junk
Episode 3 – Bo Dennis: Finding Queer Joy Through Farming
Episode 4 – OutMaine: Looking Out for Our Queer Children

You can also listen to all the episodes wherever you get podcasts!

What’s the Word on Maine Street, hosted by Sarah Pebworth, is a weekly short feature every Saturday at 9:30am looking at local word and literary arts events and offerings!

You can listen to all the episodes in the WERU archives!

Interview by Katy Green, Member Board of Directors

DJ Coco is the host of Golden Hour, Saturdays 5-6pm.

Tell me about your path leading up to you volunteering at WERU.

I’ve been a musician for many years now and I have typically made friends and found community through playing music. Since moving to Maine, it’s been harder for me to find folks to play music with so I thought community radio might be a good way to meet fellow music lovers and I was right.

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