Becky's Blog
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Written by Becky Magura
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Tuesday, 07 September 2010 08:23 |
Stations of Imagination is WCTE’s signature family event and is a feature of Cookeville’s Fall FunFest to be held this year on September 10 and 11th. However, this event reaches far before that date and after.
I remember that day, over 16 years ago, when the news came of a tragic event. Brian and Rena Johnston, a young couple from Cookeville, lost their precious son, Sawyer when he was just a toddler. Loving and generous people, Brian and Rena thought of other children even during this time of intense grief and wanted to give back to families in our area, a free event that would bring a day of joy and fellowship based on programs that Sawyer loved, Sesame Street included. As memorial gifts came to WCTE to remember this young child in a way that others would benefit, I was overwhelmed with gratitude at knowing people who loved and valued children that much. What a fitting tribute to the memory of their child and to all children, Stations of Imagination is.
Each year, the entire Johnston family, including Sawyer’s sister Baylor, play an integral role in Stations of Imagination, as caretakers of the Sesame Street activity booth and assisting in the sponsorship of one of the Walkaround Sesame Street characters. They have never missed and we will never miss a chance to remember Sawyer.
In the many years of this incredible event, it has often been a struggle to continue to offer a children’s area that is totally free with activities, entertainment and characters from their favorite PBS shows, but thanks to our partners and supporters we have managed to do so. It’s important to us, to the Johnston’s and to the families we serve in this region to provide this kind of opportunity and we are grateful to those who continue to make this event possible.
It’s coming soon and will be back again next year the weekend after Labor Day. I certainly hope to see you there!
WCTE depends upon the support of our membership to engage our communities with educational and public awareness initiatives, as well as produce and broadcast quality programming. Please help us continue this 30+ year tradition of community involvement by contributing to WCTE today.
Become a WCTE Member online.
More Information on supporting WCTE.
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Written by Becky Magura
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Friday, 27 August 2010 08:23 |
I picked up jogging this past spring and it has brought great strength to my body, mind and spirit. I’m slow but steady in this pursuit of better health and less stress. Our own PBS President, Paula Kerger, has been a great inspiration to me as a successful triathelete. I catch her tweets about training, which encourages me to keep going even when I think I’m too busy or too tired. She’s working daily to be stronger, healthier and better personally which resonates professionally.
Truth be known, I would never have tried this without Jennifer LeFevre. She found a ”Couch Potato to a 5k in 9 weeks” program on the internet, downloaded it on her Ipod and started. Weeks later, after watching her dedication and determination, I wanted in on the game. I had never even attempted running except in playing softball and yet within 9 weeks I was able to jog 30 minutes without stopping. Jennifer and I have since finished three races (5-8k). We didn’t win, but in my book staying in is a win. So...how about you? Google Robert Ulrey’s Couch Potato to a 5k in Nine Week program and get started. Thanks Jennifer and Paula for keeping me running.
WCTE depends upon the support of our membership to engage our communities with educational and public awareness initiatives, as well as produce and broadcast quality programming. Please help us continue this 30+ year tradition of community involvement by contributing to WCTE today.
Become a WCTE Member online.
More Information on supporting WCTE.
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Written by Becky Magura
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Friday, 20 August 2010 08:22 |
Flying in to Nashville from a recent business trip, I look down in the midst of a golden sunset on billowy clouds to see my home. I don’t know that I’ve ever looked at it like that…my home of Tennessee. The lush greenness so evident, even this far away. The snaking rivers, the land…so much land. I’ve made this flight many times before and yet it seems that I’m seeing it for the first time.
Perhaps it’s that I’ve never lived anywhere else and so most of my trips in and out of this state were not truly a “homecoming” or perhaps like so many things in life, it’s something I took for granted. I realize now that anytime is a homecoming because this is home.
WCTE is home here in middle Tennessee as well. The station is a reflection of the people and the places we know and love.
WCTE depends upon the support of our membership to engage our communities with educational and public awareness initiatives, as well as produce and broadcast quality programming. Please help us continue this 30+ year tradition of community involvement by contributing to WCTE today.
Become a WCTE Member online.
More Information on supporting WCTE.
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Written by Becky Magura
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Thursday, 15 July 2010 06:45 |
Obviously, I haven’t updated my blog site in a very long time and after an honest observation (thanks Noley), I think it’s time to do something about that. My blogs, like my thoughts, will run a gambit of subjects and temperaments, but will hopefully be of interest.
Here’s my thought for the day. Regardless of your political persuasion, I am urging you to utilize your right to vote. This is something that I have never taken lightly and have never missed an election. In fact, I often vote early to reduce the chances of something taking me away from the voting booth on election day.
In one presidential election many years ago I worked to call voters to remind them when early voting started and to offer a ride to the polls regardless of their political affiliation. I was shocked when a woman mentioned to me that “she let her husband handle that for the family”. I mentioned that she also had the right to vote and she again said that she just decided to let him vote instead. The woman of 1920 who suffered for that right to vote would not understand that sentiment I feel certain.
I am reminded of their sacrifice thanks to an email from my aunt, Ruth Phipps, who as far as I know has never missed a chance to exercise that right. Her email reminded me of the individual women who went down in history for marching on Washington for the right to vote and the suffering they shared in doing so.
HBO released a movie recently called “Iron Jawed Women” available on DVD. I intend to watch it. I hope you will as well to remember just what an opportunity it is to live in a democratic nation. We owe so much to those who live daily to serve our county in the military, in public office and service, but we also owe a great deal to those who came before us in fighting for our individual rights.
Don’t take it for granted. Take part in the democratic process of our great country. Exercise your right to vote. Don’t leave that to anyone else. VOTE!
WCTE depends upon the support of our membership to engage our communities with educational and public awareness initiatives, as well as produce and broadcast quality programming. Please help us continue this 30+ year tradition of community involvement by contributing to WCTE today.
Become a WCTE Member online.
More Information on supporting WCTE.
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Written by Becky Magura
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Friday, 13 June 2008 15:17 |
"We will miss her more than we can even imagine..."
Friday, June 13th, 2008
I have very sad news to report.
Donna Castle passed away early this morning, around 1am, after a long battle with ovarian cancer. She was our Director of Programming and Promotions and an incredible producer of many local series, but truly more than that she was our rock that we leaned on many, many times.
Even from the hospital, she watched our tv auction last week and called
my cell phone regularly with advice on how to speed it up or to write the bids darker. This week, she mentioned that she wanted her boys to bring
her a lap top so she could start working on the monthly programming schedule.
We will miss her more than we can even imagine, as will our entire PBS family. Donna is survived by her husband, Richard Castle (former WCTE GM) and three sons, Russ, Art and Roger. She has been at WCTE since it's inception in 1978 and my friend since the day I met her. It is a loss of great magnitude.
-Becky
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Written by Becky Magura
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Wednesday, 23 January 2008 05:54 |
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