A8 PETALUMA ARGUS-COURIER • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

CRISSY PASCUAL / ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

KPCA, a Petaluma low-power community radio station, debuted one year ago today. KPCA
is a public membership TV and radio nonprofit. Executive Director, John Bertucci, right,
checks in with radio producer and Board of Directors member, Dennis Murphy, left, and
Rob Tomaszewski, radio station manager and programmer.
CRISSY PASCUAL / ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Mentor Me executive director Deborah Dalton talks with RK Wall-Polin, the Petaluma
Peoples Services Youth Link case manager, about the new facility at the Salvation Army on
McDowell Boulevard that will serve youth from 16-24 years old who are homeless or at-risk.
Radio Continued from A1 and energy.”
KPCA is looking for community mem-
bers who would like to try their hand at
eral Communications Commission can- broadcasting. Those who have an idea

Salvation Continued from A1 subject to much higher

rates of predatory behav-
ior amongst that group,”
celed the Sonoma station’s license, leav- for a show can visit www.kpca.fm to
ing just Napa sharing the local airwaves. learn more.
Since the Napa station is far enough Bertucci, who expects to hear in
Though there’s still much programs at the nonprofit Johnson said. “They’re from Petaluma, the FCC next month March from the FCC about the plan to
work to do, she hopes the and will be involved at the preyed upon in various will likely grant KPCA round-the-clock air full time, said the expanded pro-
facility could open as soon new center. ways at higher levels than broadcasting permission, according to gramming will be both live and taped
as April. “I really want the young other homeless. Human John Bertucci, KPCA executive director. repeats. He said the station could air
“In Petaluma there is adults we serve to feel trafficking, prostitution “That’s a big the audio from city
a high percentage of our comfortable coming in … — these kinds of things breakthrough,” he council meetings and
homeless that are are much bigger said. “It’s been very plans to have a show
actually in this age problems among hard to promote a
“It’s been very hard to from the Petaluma
group,” she said. homeless youth, who radio station that is promote a radio station that Downtown Associa-
“There’s a high per- “In Petaluma there is a high tend to be shelter on the air 2.5 days
is on the air 2.5 days a week. tion promoting week-
centage of these kids percentage of our homeless resistant.” Petaluma Salvation
a week. Now we
Now we will be able to start
end events in town.
Other new broad-
that are struggling in will be able to start
school or dropping that are actually in this Army Major Mitham broadcasting full
broadcasting full time and 7- and 10-year-oldcasters include
out or that are out of age group. There’s a high Clement answer questions
declined to time and we’ll start
we’ll start ramping up.” kids talking about
school and unem- ramping up.”
ployed … we get percentage of these kids that about the project, The full time kids’ stuff, and the
—John Bertucci, KPCA executive director Sonoma State Uni-
them, Petaluma Peo- are struggling in school or but said in an email
he’s looking forward
radio station is
versity-based Project
ple Services Center the culmination
gets them and so does dropping out or that are out to the prospect of of a project started a decade ago, when Censored, which will tape a show at
Salvation Army.” of school and unemployed ... partnership. “The Salvation
Bertucci sought to launch Petaluma’s KPCA and syndicate to 41 radio stations.
“It’s a lot of air to fill,” Bertucci said.
At the center, Men- first radio station since KTOB was sold
tor Me will offer sup- we get them, Petaluma People Army is excited in the 1990s. In the past year, the station “That’s a puzzle for me, but we’re figur-
portive relationships Services Center gets them and about the possibility has gained a local following despite its ing it out.”
through mentoring to work with Men- limited air time. The station broadcasts from studios at
while providing edu- so does Salvation Army.” tor Me, PPSC and Several regular shows include Paul 205 Keller St., sending its signal through
cation and criminal —Deborah Dalton, Mentor Me executive director Leadership Class to “the Walrus” Strobeck spinning Beatles an antenna at the SRJC Petaluma cam-
justice services with provide the service covers, Joe Manthey’s Blues Groove, pus. Bertucci said it can be heard as far
its youth advocacy to the youth in our and a political talk show hosted by for- away as Novato, the Sonoma Valley and
team. Petaluma People and be able to walk in and community,” he wrote in a mer city councilman Matt Maguire and a few miles from the coast. He said once
Services Center will grab a snack and work on statement. Jim Thomas. 24-7 broadcasting begins, KPCA’s goal
handle counseling and a resume, check emails, The effort resonated Radio manager Rob Tomaszewski said will be growing its listenership.
housing issues and offer print out documents, with the Leadership Class, that expanding their airtime will be an “Building audience loyalty is the big-
referrals to other services browse job listings but a group of 25 business and exciting challenge. gest challenge,” he said. “We’re on. Get
while Salvation Army will also to come in for one-on- community leaders who “It’s a bit daunting,” he said. “It’s used to it, and enjoy it.”
offer programs includ- one coaching or whatever each year complete a local great that we have a younger group of (Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@
ing assistance with food, needs they have and to be project, Onita Pellegrini, programmers that want to invest time arguscourier.com.)
substance abuse problems able to let me know of the CEO of the Petaluma
and shelter. Information things going on in their Chamber of Commerce
about resources and ser- lives,” she said. “I want said. The class is hoping
vices from Petaluma City people to be able to come to raise about $10,000 for
Schools District will also in regardless of their gen- the work, though details of
be provided. der, documentation status, fundraising are still being
Exact numbers for you name it, I want them ironed out, she said.
Petaluma-based homeless to come in and be able to “It struck an immediate
youth were not avail- say it and name it and be chord and was chosen as
able, but a 2017 point in accepted for it,” she said. a class project,” Pellegri-
time survey showed 532 Reaching transition age ni said. “They’re doing
homeless children and youth is key, said Com- a number of things at
transition-age youth mittee on the Shelterless’ the center … all will be
countywide. CEO Mike Johnson, whose determined by how much
The Petaluma Service nonprofit serves the local money they raise.”
Alliance and the Petaluma homeless population. Maureen Frances, Pet-
Chamber of Commerce’s While homeless adults aluma Service Alliance’s
Leadership Class of 2018 have foundations to build project chairwoman, said
have proposed to complete on, many kids don’t have the conglomeration of sev-
the remodel of the facility. the support or skills they en service clubs is working
Though plans are still need to succeed, making it with the Salvation Army
being drawn, work will difficult to break the cycle to identify the scope of
include a revamp of the of poverty, he said. needs. Members will com-
front office, community ar- “Aside from just the fact plete the labor and turn to
eas, bathroom and kitchen that they’re kids mostly the community for help as
areas, Salvation Army’s coming of age, they’re needed, she said.
Petaluma Advisory Board
Chairman David Adams
said. It will include about Myths & Facts of Hearing Loss from
300 square feet of office Sonoma County’s Experts in Hearing Care
spaces, he said.
Mentor Me, a nearly two
decade old organization
that pairs Petaluma youth
with adult mentors, is head-
quartered at the Cavanagh
Recreation Center on the
west side of the city. More
than half of the schools Amber Powner, AuD Brian Duguay, AuD
that partner with Mentor Doctor of Audiology Doctor of Audiology

Me are on the east side,
and the annex would also
provide another convenient
space for mentors and
mentees to meet and for
programming, Dalton said.
Dalton said she’s worked
to design each room
for “trauma informed
care” with soft, bright
and calming elements to
help teens who have had
traumatic experiences feel
at ease. Providing kids
with a space to meet their
needs is a chief concern
for PPSC’s Case Manager
RK Wall-Polin. She works
with youth employment
Myth: When an individual begins to notice that he or she is having
problems hearing in certain situations or environments, it is not
necessary to address these issues immediately.
Facts: The effects of auditory deprivation have been shown to
cause neurological changes over time resulting in numerous
hearing-health related problems. One of these problems is
known as Phonemic Regression, a permanent condition where
an individual loses the ability to identify or recognize certain
individual speech sounds, like /s/ or /f/ for example. Bottom
line, if you have hearing loss and hearing aids are prescribed,
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