KNOM Radio Mission PO Box 190649 Anchorage, AK 99519 The Nome Static (907) 868-1200 Transmission 643: April 2018 Visit us at knom.org

Ricardo Antunes, a conservation scientist with the Wildlife Conservation Society studying sounds of the Bering Sea; a researcher retrieves an undersea recorder (photo: Ricardo Antunes, used with permission). Dear Friend of KNOM, Listening to the Bering Sea • Encountering Christ What does the Bering Sea sound like? Scientists are recording the sounds of the sea, • Embracing culture listening to determine if/how the sounds change over time. • Empowering growth For five years, Ricardo Antunes, a con- • Engaging the listener servation scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, has been positioning small It’s fairly easy to vision how a radio sta- recording devices encased in grey PVC pipe tion in bush Alaska can fit the latter three lines of throughout northwestern Alaska seas, such as KNOM’s mission statement. But how do listeners the Bering Strait and off the coast of St. Lawrence encounter Christ through KNOM? Beside air- Island. Antunes says that learning what sound ing Sunday Mass, the evening Rosary and Divine patterns are present in this decade will be helpful Mercy prayers, and inspiring messages, KNOM in decades to come. The Bering Sea region has trains deejays to be a friendly, helpful voice in been slowly warming. Its sea ice cover is shrink- the everyday lives of listeners. The underlying ing. These changes have opened the coastal messages to a listener include, “You are loved by communities of KNOM’s listening area to in- God.” “You matter.” “You can accomplish your creased shipping traffic. goals for good.” “God is with you.” All of these shifts may have consequences You keep life-affirming messages of God’s for subsistence animals, like seals and walrus, love beaming through Western Alaska. Thank you. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Being at peace with yourself is the direct result of being at peace with God.

KNOM: Faith, Inspiration, News, and Education for Western Alaska CONTINUED FROM “LISTENING...,” PAGE 1 ping in these waters might create an impact by the introduction of noise.” Communities on St. upon which many Alaska Native communities Lawrence Island in particular, like Savoonga and depend. Gambell, are especially concerned that more According to Antunes, the advantage of shipping could mean fewer marine mammals for this sound survey is that the underwater record- subsistence. ing devices can remain in place undisturbed for President of the Savoonga IRA, Delbert many months, giving scientists unbroken data of Pungowiyi, told KNOM listeners that he grew up sound patterns, regardless of what’s happening at with 9 months of winter. But now, he says, “Every the surface. This allows them to get to know the day, those of us that grew up with the ice, when characteristic sounds of different kinds of ocean- we look out toward the ocean, (we’re) in a state going mammals: “from the rubbery song of bow- of shock, disbelief.” head whales to walrus’ tell-tale knocks.” Read more of the story written by volun- Antunes explains that “marine mammals teer Zoe Grueskin at knom.org. are very sensitive to noise, and additional ship-

“That economists may have the courage to reject any economy of exclusion and know how to open new paths.”

— Pope Francis’ prayer intention for April 2018

Snow, Snow, Snow! Shortly before Iditarod this year, Western Alaska was buffeted with a series of blizzards, adding feet to the already considerable amount of snow on the ground. Since Western Alaska’s winter temperatures don’t rise above freezing in winter, this snow accumu- lates for months, forming a permanent base layer. The presence of this snow cover makes pos- sible all sorts of outdoor winter activities, from snow- shoeing and cross-country skiing to snowmachine travel (such as from village to village). But excessive snowfall can also delay flights carrying supplies and mail to the bush communities KNOM serves. With heavy snow, homeowners will shovel snow from rooftops to prevent ice dam buildup. An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms on the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow (water) from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the dam can leak into the home and damage the walls, ceiling and insulation. Your support allows KNOM to bring regular up- dates on regional weather — including sea ice cover and marine forecasts — to thousands of listeners each day. Thank you! At left: scenes of snowy Nome, March 2018.

Encountering Christ | Embracing Culture Norway’s Ulsom Wins Iditarod 2018 brought a fresh face to the roster of Idi- tarod champions. After 9.5 days on the trail, 31-year- old Norwegian musher Joar Leifseth Ulsom [YOUR LEAF-seth ULL-some] crossed under Nome’s historic “Burled Arch” in the wee morning hours of Wednes- day, March 14. This was Ulsom’s sixth Iditarod; he first ran the race in 2013, when he took Rookie of the Year honors for finishing in 7th place. Ulsom’s 2018 victory came after an exciting, surprising upset on the trail. Along the Norton Sound Coast, past the checkpoint of Shaktoolik, first-position musher Nicolas Petit ventured 1.5 hours off course. The error allowed Ulsom to take the lead, which he maintained for the remaining 200+ miles to Nome. This year’s heavy snow and slower trail condi- tions forced many top contenders to slow down and adjust their race strategies. In the end, the winner, Ulsom, had trained his team for the deeper, softer trail. KNOM news director Davis Hovey and former KNOM reporter Zachariah Hughes flew from check- point to checkpoint and sent trail dispatches to keep listeners informed on the race. Meanwhile, KNOM reporter alumnus Ben Matheson volunteered dozens of hours during a working vacation, helping the staff cover the race from the station in Nome. This year’s Iditarod was doubly special because its roster of competing mushers included another former KNOM volunteer: Tara Cicatello, who served as producer during the 2013-2014 service term. In her years after KNOM, Tara remained in Alaska and be- came increasingly involved in professional, competi- tive sled dog mushing. After successful runs in shorter, qualifying sled dog races in 2017, Tara registered for the 2018 Iditarod, running a team from the kennel of Iditarod veteran musher Kristin Bacon. Your support made possible multiple race up- dates each day and feature stories and interviews from mushers, whom listeners follow closely. “Christ bids us bring His You’ll find many stories and photos from the Peace to the world. We are 2018 Iditarod at knom.org. called to pass on the healing Images at right: 2018 Iditarod champ Joar Ul- we have experienced and the som (top, photo courtesy of Lia Nydes) and his sled dogs reconciliation we have been (middle); Iditarod rookie and former KNOM volunteer given so lavishly.” Tara Cicatello departs the ceremonial start line in An- chorage (bottom). — Saint Pope John Paul II

Empowering Growth | Engaging the Listener A racer departs the Nome-Golovin start-finish line; volunteers Karen Trop and Gabe Colombo, in between on-air reports from race headquarters; broadcasting hardware inside St. Joseph Catholic Church. A Frantic Race on the Sea Ice thousands of people on this exciting, fast-paced The wildly popular annual Nome-Golovin race day. Thank you! Snowmachine Race attracts a large slate of com- petitors from throughout Western Alaska for a Easter, Loud and Clear After fix-it work from engineers Van Craft furiously fast run from Nome’s sea ice to the and Les Brown, the rack of hardware compo- neighboring village of Golovin and back. nents pictured above (right) will carry Easter Mass The 2018 champion, Jarvis Miller of Nome, to listeners who do not have a priest to celebrate made the 190-mile round trip in only 2 hours 8 Mass. You make it possible! minutes. His average speed was 89 MPH! The speeds and intensity of Nome-Golovin From the GM’s Desk make for frantic few hours. KNOM broadcasts minute-by-minute details to listeners. Kotzebue “Early spring in Western Alaska can often be challenging. After the region has radio station KOTZ simulcasts KNOM’s coverage been operating many months in the dark- well north of the Arctic Circle. ness, the sharpness of the light can be strik- Your support allows the station to bring ing. This is when KNOM’s constant pres- widely-sought sports and news coverage to ence is foundational. During the month of March, KNOM companions with each listener as mushers and their sled dog teams The Iditarod Trail is marked by trek across the state. The race brings mes- sturdy tripods. Each post must be sages of hope, courage, joy, laughter, strong teamwork, and perseverance. As teams, the same length, or the tripod will families, and friends arise to these chal- topple in the wind. lenges, so do we journey to new life, both physically and spiritually into the Easter and Three equal posts fastened together spring seasons. Thank you for being a friend form one tripod. So it is with the to Western Alaska, and being a companion Blessed Trinity: three Persons in in moments big and small.” one God. Margaret A. DeMaioribus, General Manager

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