LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Local Talent to Try Own ‘Wait Wait’ Show
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Jeff Budd, executive director of the Greater Sitka Arts Council, is a fan of keeping it local – and putting on events at a reasonable price.
In the case of the upcoming Sitka version of the radio show “Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me!” he was able to do both.
Writers for the upcoming Sitka version of the radio program “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” work on the script at the KCAW radio station Monday. Pictured are, clockwise from left, Owen Fulton, Hillary Seeland, Rachel Waldholz, Elena Gustafson, Ed Ronco and Tom Hesse. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
The show – a local version of the NPR show broadcast Saturdays on KCAW – will be staged 7 p.m. Friday at Allen Hall.
The Sitka program will have the features of the NPR show, but with all local writers and talent. The audience can expect to hear the limerick quiz (with panelists filling in the final word) and “Not My Job” with a celebrity guest; and they’ll be challenged to select the true news story among three possible stories (two of them fictional).
Ed Ronco, who was a KCAW news reporter for four years before moving to Seattle, will host the show. Sitka High junior Owen Fulton will be the announcer. The “celebrity panel” includes Sitka High music director John DePalatis, Pacific High co-principal Phil Burdick, and Juneau actress Collette Costa.
Ronco hasn’t been participating in the writing, but has received regular updates of the writers’ meetings and the scripts so he could be prepared. He gave credit to Sentinel sports editor Tom Hesse, who emerged as the head writer.
“It’s laugh-out loud funny,” Ronco said. “I’ve been reading (the script) at my desk at work. And I’ve had to explain to my co-workers why I’m laughing out loud.”
Mayor Mim McConnell will judge a contest, and Belly Meat is the house band. As in the real “Wait Wait,” members of the audience will be asked to participate.
Budd said the show has been coming together, thanks to a team of writers that includes Hesse, Hillary Seeland, Robert Woolsey, Rachel Waldholz and Elaina Gustafson.
“It’s been fun to watch the team write, and watch how the five of them do it,” Budd said. “Everyone’s been really nice, and easy to work with.”
Budd’s original idea was to invite the Chicago-based NPR show to come to Sitka and originate the nationwide broadcast from here, but found it would cost $100,000. He considered the option of bringing “Wait Wait” panelist Paula Poundstone to Sitka, but the $15,000 expense for that venture was still out of GSAC’s price range.
“I thought, let’s do our own doggone show,” Budd said.
He knew that would be the cheapest option, and perhaps the most entertaining one for a local audience. And the price was right. For host, he tapped Ronco, who established himself as an accomplished entertainer while he lived here, and Ronco asked only for a round-trip plane ticket to Sitka.
Ronco said he was pleased to be asked to host. Since October, he has been working as a Morning Edition producer at public radio station KPLU in Seattle, but says he still misses Sitka.
“The answer to ‘Do you want to come to Sitka?’ is always ‘Yes,’” Ronco said. “It was more: ‘Can you come to Sitka?’”
He was able to arrange his work schedule to make the answer turn out “Yes.”
Since arriving back in town Friday night, Ronco has been trying to make the most of his first return visit to Sitka. During his four years here as a news reporter he also hosted a number of fundraisers, directed plays and starred in two of them. He keeps in close touch with his former co-workers and other Sitka friends who stop by to see him when they pass through Seattle.
“It’s great to be back,” Ronco said. “I felt like I never left. I stepped off the plane, and I felt right at home right away. It helped that it was beautiful ... The sun was shining and Edgecumbe was showing.”
Tickets for the show are $15, and available at Old Harbor Books.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.