LAKE COUNTY
Final results for November 3 General Election posted.
final results for the November 3, 2020 Election have been posted on the County of Lake’s website at http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/ROV/results.htm. The local races showed Lake County voters overall favored President-Elect Joe Biden over incumbent Donal Trump by a margin of 52 percent to 46 percent (rounded off.)
Other results include wins for incumbents John Garamendi in the race for U.S. Representative in the Third District by 53 percent over challenger Tamika Hamilton (47 percent) and a local win for Jessica Pyska over Bill Kearney. Pyska garnered 64 percent over Kearney’s 36 percent in the District 5 race for the Board of Supervisors where the overall voter turnout was 81 percent.
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LAKEPORT
Lake County Community Radio welcomes new board member, continues fall fund drive
The Lake County Community Radio Board of Directors welcomes its newest director, Pub Talk radio programmer, Martin Sheel. The board also elected Jacklyn Ley, who joined the board in 2019, as its new president. “We were unanimous in our decisions and look forward to the enthusiasm, creativity, skill-set and commitment Martin and Jacklyn bring to the board,” said outgoing President,” Olga Martin Steele. Steele, will serve as Vice-President; Susan Krones and Roberta Thomas will continue serving as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
“It’s been a year of constant adjustment,” said Steele. “We’ve significantly altered our regular operations to protect our volunteers from potential exposure to COVID-19, reducing our on-air programming hours and limiting the number of volunteers in the station to one at any time.”
Like many nonprofits, LCCR, Inc. struggled for resources as the pandemic took hold. A Spring concert was called off and the annual on-air spring fund drive, usually a week-long event, was significantly modified to a more low-key approach.
“We didn’t want to be intrusive at a time when the entire community was struggling,” said long time station manager Andy Weiss.
“For the first time in my tenure, we reached the point where our operating expenses were substantially outpacing our income. It looked like we might not make it through the year. We needed a life line,” Steele said.
Chloe Karl, Program Director and past President, agreed. “We’ve always had to work very hard to meet our expenses. In addition to membership and other donations, we could supplement our operations with other income sources, like concerts and underwriting donations, which, before COVID hit, was an increasing source of revenue for us. We had to change our paradigm,” she said.
Weiss, one of the original founders of the local radio station, KPFZ, was the driving force behind the idea to fund raise in a softer, more low-key way. He came up with the idea of a “silent” fund drive. “Instead of live pitching by our Programmers, we pre-recorded a message and played it intermittently,” said Karl.
The silent fund drive worked. “Thanks to our programmers, members, listeners, underwriters, and angel donors – like Jackie Riche, who donated $12,000 to help get us through a very challenging time this year – we will end the year in the black,” Steele said. “Next year is another matter.”
As LCCR, Inc., closes the books on 2020, the all-volunteer nonprofit is returning to the tried and tested tradition of live on-air pitching. “We’ll see how it goes,” said Weiss. “I have a good feeling about this – our listeners and supporters never let us down.”
To support local community radio, tune in to KPFZ, 88.1 FM. The on-air pitching concludes Sunday. The focus of the pitch will be the history, purpose and value of non-commercial community radio – a forum for freedom of expression and cultural diversity.
In keeping with the spirit of on-air pitching, a volunteer will take donations or pledges at 707-263-3640 and a live Programmer will ring the bell and announce contributions as they come in.
“We won’t be able to open the doors to the station as we have in the past,” said Weiss. “We’ll miss our drop in supporters who joined us live in studio to express their support. But the show will go on,” he said.
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