~ Jeff Shapiro Adds Second Nantucket Based Radio Station (Josh Gray)
~ Arts & Social Listings for Wednesday - Thursday
~ Photo Gallery: The Concert for David Perry
(Gene Mahon)
Jeff Shapiro Adds Second
Nantucket Based Radio Station
Josh Gray
In August of 2012, Nantucket residents got in their cars, turned on their radios and heard something they hadn't in some time: a stop on their FM dial meant just for them.
It was May 24th and Jeff Shapiro's (inset right) 97.7 ACK-FM had begun broadcasting an assortment of contemporary and classic rock music, complimented by original programming hosted by Nantucket residents. Since that time, the station has grown beyond Shapiro's wildest expectations and certainly far beyond the expectations of his critics who said a year round station was not a viable prospect. So successful was his endeavor that he and his staff have recently launched another Nantucket-centric FM station, 89.5 WNCK, which, while still currently building its slate of programming, offers classical music, several pieces of NPR programming and a variety of shows produced on Nantucket.
A one-time Wall Street banker, Shapiro, whose family have been Nantucket summer residents for more than 40 years and owned the Sky's the Limit kite store on lower Main Street in the late 1970s, first found a love for radio while working at his college station. Seizing an opportunity and getting back to what he loved, he left the bustle of Wall Street and purchased his first station nearly 30 years ago. In addition to the two stations on Nantucket, which he co-owns with his parents and seasonal island residents Dr. Robert and Lois Shapiro, Jeff owns and operates a variety of small to medium market stations in Vermont and New Hampshire.
"It's part labor of love, part community outreach and part business," said Shapiro. "It's been an overwhelmingly positive experience, so far beyond what we could have personally imagined."
Though 89.5 is new to his Nantucket-focused programming vision, Shapiro has owned the station since the early 2000s, and until recently, leased it as an extension of WGBH's classical station in Boston. Where 97.7 operates as a commercial, for profit LLC, 89.5 is licensed non-commercially and operates as a non-profit organization, said Shapiro.
Laura Burnett
With the help of his year-round staff -- Station Manager Laura Burnett, Operations Manager Dave "DC" Collins and Marketing Manager Lauren Sleeth -- Shapiro has built 97.7 into a station that many on Nantucket listen to on a regular basis. With local news, weather reports, high school sporting events and local commercials, there's no mistaking from where this station is broadcast. Whether it's Chicken Box owner Rocky Fox playing hip hop classics on Friday nights, DJ Bri Guy sharing his set list live from the Rose & Crown every Saturday, or hearing your favorite local musician on "The 228" on Sunday nights, nearly every aspect of the station is familiar to those who listen. This is all complimented by a 1600 song music rotation developed and curated by Collins.
Even when listeners aren't within range of the station's signal, Shapiro said many remain faithful listeners through the web.
"A grandfather told us recently that he listens to his grandson's Whaler football games on the station and is really grateful for the opportunity to do so," said Shapiro. "Lots of people say the best part of listening to the station is hearing the ads. You never hear that. We cover everything, and we'll interview anybody. We have a great relationship with the town and cover the Board of Selectmen meeting every week with the help of NCTV Channel 18. That is what community radio is about and we're really enjoying being a part of the business community on Nantucket."
Commuting between Nantucket and his off-season home in Hanover, NH, Shapiro leaves the day to day operations to Burnett who began in September, but has been a friend to the owner and his station since the beginning. A former media director for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Burnett has been an island visitor since the 1960s and a full-time resident since 2012.
DC
"When they decided to make 89.5 local, that was a good time for me to come on board," said Burnett, who had initially talked to Shapiro in 2012 about the position, but had not yet moved to the island full time. "Right now I'm primarily concerned with growing the NPR station with local programming and making it successful. Success of radio across the country right now is local, local, local and that is what we're doing."
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Building on the foundation of large blocks of classical music, NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and NPR News segments, Burnett was proud to announce the station's first locally produced shows.
Called Nantucket's American Songbook, host and half-time resident John von Soosten takes listeners on a journey through some of our country's most beloved tunes including classics from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Gene Kelly, Tony Bennett, along with the great composers like George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Stephen Sondheim.
John von Soosten
"I choose the music at home and create the playlists and talk in between the songs about the performers and maybe give some information about the songs, passing along some interesting pieces that the audience may not be familiar with," said von Soosten, whose show runs from 9:06 to 11 every Sunday morning. "This is music that I love, that I grew up listening to and still listen to to this day."
Mixing in some contemporary pieces to his mix as well, von Soosten recently broadcast his second show and said he has heard a great response from more than a dozen locals as well as those listening online around the country. A former TV executive and XM Radio host covering Broadway and the national theater scene, he is no stranger to the medium and is enjoying the opportunity to work at a small station away from the corporate environment he was used to for much of his career.
"Jeff and his family are extremely community-minded and both stations are community oriented," he added. "I came from this huge, corporate structure and I'm happy to be a part of this personal, friendly environment now."
Nantucket native and long-time resident, bird enthusiast and writer Ken Blackshaw has also joined the weekday line-up at 89.5. At 8:06 a.m., just after the NPR news, Blackshaw revisits the themes from his long-running bird column in the Nantucket Independent and more recently Mahon About Town, and chooses a new and interesting bird to discuss for each short broadcast.
Ken Blackshaw
"I'll single out a specific bird of interest each week and pick one that might grab listeners interest," said Blackshaw, who said his segment is not meant to compete with Vern Laux's program on WCAI. "I try to bring a Nantucket connection to a lot of the stories and I love doing it. "
Burnett and Collins said they are continually looking to add programming to the new station, and are very open to ideas from the community.
"People have had a lot of really great ideas and we are definitely willing to dialogue about possible programming," added Burnett. "We just need people who are willing to work with the station for a daily or weekly show and realize that it takes a lot of resources, especially time, to make it happen."
She went on to further explain their commitment to Nantucket, saying they are in talks with NCTV Channel 18 to collaborate on summer festival coverage, as well as developing a stand-up comedy show for youth in collaboration with Nantucket Comedy Festival Executive Director and stand-up comic Kevin Flynn, as part of the NCF's Stand Up and Learn program.
"We really want to make it the people's station," said Burnett from their 19 Old South Road studios this past week. "NCK is meant to branch out and touch people we haven't yet. This station will appeal to people with an interest in diverse learning and adding a little bit more to their lives here on island."
Both being 6,000 kilowatt stations, Collins said they do not turn their signals up to full capacity (and reach much of the Cape) because their mission is solely focused on Nantucket, harkening back to their regularly heard, on-air slogan, "True Island Radio."
Listen online by visiting their website: ackfm.com, or download the "Tune In" app for IOS and Android and search for WACK or WNCK. To reach Laura Burnett about programming ideas or opportunities, email her at lburnett@ackfm.com.
Josh Gray has spent more than half his life on the island, and after a couple of years of traveling abroad and pursuing career opportunities in America, he has once again made Nantucket his year round home. An adventure traveler and amateur photographer at heart, Josh spent part of his youth in Mumbai, India, going on to visit nearly 20 foreign counties including Cuba and Turkey, where he resided in the city of Istanbul for a season. A former staff writer and editorial assistant for The Inquirer & Mirror, Josh has covered arts and music on Nantucket for many years.
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WEDNESDAY
MOVIES Interstellar (PG-13) Wednesday, November 19, 7 pm: Dreamland Theater With our time on Earth coming to an end, a team of explorers undertakes the most important mission in human history; traveling beyond this galaxy to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, John Lithgow Director: Christopher Nolan
Whiplash Wednesday, November 19, 2 & 7:30 pm: Dreamland Theater Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer into his band, forever changing the young man's life. Andrew's passion to achieve perfection quickly spirals into obsession, as his ruthless teacher continues to push him to the brink of both his ability-and his sanity.
Cast: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist, Paul Reiser, Austin Stowell Director: Damien Chazelle
Jersey Boys Wednesday, November 19, 7:00pm - 9:00pm: Nantucket Atheneum Great Hall Jersey Boys is a musical biography of the Four Seasons-the rise, the tough times and personal clashes, and the ultimate triumph of a group of friends whose music became symbolic of a generation. Far from a mere tribute concert (though it does include numbers from the popular Four Seasons songbook), Jersey Boys gets to the heart of the relationships at the center of the group-with a special focus on frontman Frankie Valli, the small kid with the big falsetto. Free
For the latest complete list of open restaurants and take-out food, as compiled by David Sharpe at Nantucket Visitor Services, with hours, addresses, and phone numbers, click here.
NIGHTLIFE & LIVE MUSIC Trivia Night Wednesdays, 8:00pm: Kitty Murtagh's
For days other than today, plan ahead and check the complete calendar of island restaurant specials.
Bold type indicates a current Mahon About Town advertiser. Additional details on these events and the full calendar of arts and social events from 2008 through 2014 are here.
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THURSDAY
MOVIES NFF Now: Force Marjeure Thursday, November 20, 6:30pm: Dreamland Theater A model Swedish family-handsome businessman Tomas, his willowy wife Ebba, and their two blond children- embark on a skiing holiday in the French Alps. The sun is shining and the slopes are spectacular but during a lunch at a mountainside restaurant an avalanche suddenly bears down on the happy diners. With people fleeing in all directions and his wife and children in state of panic, Tomas makes a decision that will shake his marriage to its core and leave him struggling to reclaim his role as family patriarch.
Cast: Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren, Vincent Wettergren Director: Ruben Ostlund
St. Vincent (PG-13) Thursday, November 20, 7:00pm: Dreamland Theater Maggie, a single mother, moves into a new home in Brooklyn with her 12-year old son, Oliver. Forced to work long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of their new neighbor, Vincent, a retired curmudgeon with a penchant for alcohol and gambling. An odd friendship soon blossoms between the improbable pair. Together with a pregnant stripper named Daka, Vincent brings Oliver along on all the stops that make up his daily routine - the race track, a strip club, and the local dive bar. Vincent helps Oliver grow to become a man, while Oliver begins to see in Vincent something that no one else is able to: a misunderstood man with a good heart.
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Bill Murray, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd, Terrence Howard Director: Theodore Melfi
TALK
Barbara White "Cyrus Peirce: Radical Thinker" Thursday, November 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Whaling Museum Local historian and NHA Research Fellow Barbara White presents the findings of her new biography of radical educator Cyrus Peirce, a man ahead of his time who advocated for women's rights, emancipation, and the peace movement -all in the 1830s.
Fine Wine & Fertilizer Thursday, November 20, 5:00pm - 7:00pm: Haul-Over An informal presentation and discussion regarding best practices for fertilizing on Nantucket. A brief question & answer period to follow. Cisco Brewers will pour Land Council Red a white selection. Free.
For the latest complete list of open restaurants and take-out food, as compiled by David Sharpe at Nantucket Visitor Services, with hours, addresses, and phone numbers, click here.
CONCERT
NCMC Parlor Concert: Haydn Baryton Trios, viola, gamba & bass Thursday, November 20, 6:00pm: Nantucket Community Music Center Harold Lieberman: Viola & Gamba; Mollie Glazer: Gamba; Nigel Goss: Bass. $20 includes wine and cheese reception Call to reserve 508.228.3352
NIGHTLIFE & LIVE MUSIC Earth Got the Blues Thursdays, 7:30pm - 10:00pm: Rose & Crown
Karaoke Thursdays, 10:00pm - 1:00am: Rose & Crown
Sean Lee Thursdays, 4:30pm - 7:00pm: Cisco Brewers
Industry Night: Lance Mountain Thursday, November 20, 9:00pm: B-ACK Yard BBQ Weekly featured burger, $1 Buffalo "Hot Legs", $4 Beer Specials
Bold type indicates a current Mahon About Town advertiser. Additional details on these events and the full calendar of arts and social events from 2008 through 2014 are here.
The Concert for David Perry took place on Saturday, November 15 at the VFW. Photos by Gene Mahon. More events atMahonAboutTown.com.
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