| Davis Media Access

Davis Media Access (DMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. DMA is a community media center serving Davis, CA and surrounding areas. Our mission is to enrich and strengthen the community by providing alternatives to commercial media for local voices, opinions and creative endeavors. Our major projects are KDRT 95.7 FM, Davis Community Television and DJUSD Channel 17.

KDRT Highlights

Put another candle on the cake -- KDRT turns 17 today

This week marks the start of fall, the return of students to UC Davis, and the 17th birthday of KDRT. Our launch party was held on a warm Friday evening, Sept. 24, 2004, on the Davis Media Access backlot. It featured live music, hay bales for seats, speeches, cake, camaraderie, and excitement about having our own community radio station!

Davis Garden Show, Sept. 23, 2021 -- Leucadendrons

Do native bees, pollinators, and other beneficials NEED to have only NATIVE plants? No, for most. But yes for a few. The "Pipevine Swallowtail" butterfly needs the California pipevine for its larva to feed on (other pipevine species won't do). Monarch butterfly larva feed only on milkweed plants. But most local insects will be happy with many garden plants. Having a diversity of plant species is a good way to attract and help beneficial insects.

What is "planting with natives?" If "native" means "originally existing in the local plant community," then we are extremely limited in Davis. If "native" means "native somewhere" (that is, it's not a hybrid), then anything goes! If "native" means "naturally occuring in some political region" such as California, then native-ness has no relationship to how well something will grow in my yard -- because California contains so many different climate zones. Perhaps it would be better to look for "locally adapted" plants -- species which originated in climates like ours (such as the Mediterranean, coastal Chile, parts of Australia, southern Africa, etc.), and so will grow well in OUR climate.

Today's questions include: Should we be "pinching" broccoli? (Don doesn't.) That's bacterial Citrus Blast -- exacerbated by a few days of humid weather in August. Why Don's 32-year-old orchard is being taken out (lifespan of the trees vs. changing economics vs. climate expectations). How farmers decide what to plant where. And what some people expect to happen to our local climate in the next 20-50 years.

Jazz After Dark September 21 2021

Tonight on Jazz After Dark: we'll start with some of Gerry Mulligan's studio recordings from the early 1960s. Then Grant Green, Deodato, Benny Carter, two from Count Basie's late-career recordings, Milt Jackson, Dave Young with Oscar Peterson, and the Rosenberg Trio.

Davisville, Sept. 20, 2021: Amid drought and frightening wildfires, Davis is relatively fortunate

The prediction a few weeks ago, inspired by this year’s ravaging wildfires, that “every acre [in California] can and will burn” — does that really apply to Davis? And if the drought continues through this coming winter and spring, does Davis have the water it needs? Today we talk with Stan Gryczko, director of Public Works Utilities & Operations for the city, and Joe Tenney, Davis fire chief, about the city’s water supplies, conservation, and the fire risks facing Davis in 2021.

Davis Garden Show, Sept. 16, 2021, Brassicas -- a one-plant wonder

'Tis a time of CHANGE! Weather is cooler, season is later ... For some folks, it's time to cut down the cucumber vines and plant some brassicas. For others (like Don), there are still tomatoes ripening to harvest into October. What's your plan for a winter garden? Now is a good time to plant peas, lettuce, brassicas, and other cool seaon vegetablees. You can also plan to put "cover crops" on the portion of your summer garden that you don't plan to plant for the winter -- to keep down weeds and improve your soil.

COVID-19 Community Report

Davis Media Access Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault will be hosting live shows Tuesdays 12-12:30pm and Fridays 12-12:30pm to help update the community about COVID-19. The shows will rebroadcast Tuesdays and Fridays at 5pm. This show will be a compendium of local resources with check-ins from local officials and other community leaders. As a companion piece for the show, link to the weekly updated blog posting of local services and information called the COVID-19 Community Resource List.

Gratitude to Our Supporters

During this time of continued pandemic, DMA and KDRT continue to work hard to provide locally relevant information, virtual technical services, and of course, eclectic music. This is work we share with you, and we want you to know your support matters. Donations—whether by individuals, events, local businesses, or donor-advised funds—keep KDRT on the air, and help support DMA's work on local elections and youth media services. This list includes donors from July 1, 2021 and forward. We thank you!

$1,000 & Above

Advocating for the Arts

Davis Media Access (DMA) straddles an interesting intersection between the arts and technology, but we are generally classified as an arts and culture organization. Our Yolo County arts and culture nonprofits were deeply impacted during the pandemic, both financially and programmatically, and many of us still have our doors closed or our services deeply curtailed.

DMA celebrates international Make Music Day June 21 with Make Music Davis - DIMI Showcase video premiere

In honor of the international “Make Music Day” celebrated across the globe each June 21st on Summer Solstice, we present the “Make Music Davis-DIMI Showcase 2021” which will air on DCTV (Comcast Ch15 or AT&T U-Verse Menu 99) at the following times: Mon 6/21 10am, Noon, 6pm, 7:30pm, and Tues 6/22 at noon.

KDRT wins national award

KDRT Wins 2021 Hometown Media Award

DAVIS, California ─ KDRT 95.7 FM has received a 2021 Hometown Media Award from the Washington, DC-based Alliance for Community Media (ACM) Foundation. Station representatives will accept the award for “Overall Excellence in Community Radio” at a virtual ceremony June 30, 2021. This is an inaugural year for this award, and was awarded to three stations of different sizes.

Mental Health Month Spotlight: DMA revisits three interviews with local mental health professionals

May is Mental Health Month, and we at DMA see that as a prime time to get resources and information in front of the community. DMA's Executive Director Autumn Labbe-Renault said, "our staff lost a good friend when our own Brian Holsten died by suicide some years ago. We believe in promoting resources and having discussions towards normalizing mental illness, and to that end, it will always crop up in our programming from time to time."

Thank you to our 2020-2021 Supporters

During this time of COVID-19, DMA is proud to say we grew community in a time of crisis. This is work we share with you, and we want you to know your support matters. Donations—whether by individuals, events, local businesses, or donor-advised foundations—keep KDRT on the air, and help support DMA's work on local elections and youth media services. This list includes donors from July 1, 2020 to now. We thank you!

$1,000 & Above

Craig & Darien Blomberg

Jessica Kelly Includes a volunteer match by Cisco

Alison Kent & Allan Hollander Via Car Donation

Richard Krogsrud and Rebecca Ryland Via Car Donation

Anthony Roy Via Car Donation

Sunny Shine

$500-$999

Clyde Bowman

Shelley Bronzan In Honor of Matthew Bronzan (includes car donation)

Nancy Flagg

Marie Graham In Honor of "Praise Time with Preacher"

Don and Julie Saylor

Sharmila Shinde Via a Car Donation

DMA Annual Report video for 2020 highlighted by Alliance for Community Media

How do you document the significant changes that our community and our organization have gone through over this past pandemic year? DMA's Annual Report 2020: When Everything Changed is a 5-minute video that takes the viewer through the key changes, challenges, and creative and resilient adaptations that DMA/DCTV/DJUSD.tv/KDRT experienced last year while finding new ways to connect to our community.

Thanks for supporting DMA/KDRT on May 6, BDOG2021

During the 24 hours of Big Day of Giving (BDOG) on May 6, Davis Media Acccess and KDRT received close to 100 donations, and we exceeded our 24-hour goal for the second year in a row. Thank you for the generous support of our community media! In Yolo County, 98 nonprofits received $1.5 million -- up 75% from the pre-pandemic 2019 figures, according to the Yolo Community Foundation.

Bob Dunning Parade - Celebrating 51 years at the Davis Enterprise, part 2

DAVIS, Calif. (April 19, 2021) — The popular Picnic Day Parade and the Davis Children’s Christmas Parade were canceled by the pandemic. But the community is invited to enjoy a do-it-yourself parade Saturday, April 24, to honor Davis Enterprise columnist and sportswriter Bob Dunning on his 51-plus years with the newspaper.

Arts Alliance Davis - Connections increase impact of Davis arts sector

By Wendy Weitzel for the Davis Enterprise (April 15, 2021) Local artists continue connecting and sharing their craft, knowing their voice is amplified when they work together. That was the message April 8, 2021 at a virtual meeting of Arts Alliance Davis. The 18 attendees heard first about the newly formed Sacramento Alliance for Regional Arts. The nonprofit promotes and advocates for arts, art education and cultural equity in the greater Sacramento region.

Davis Media Access: Getting back into the routine (Column for Apr 1, 2021 Davis Enterprise)

Excitement is building for vaccine availability and the prospect of life beginning to return to normal. I’m starting to field many questions about when Davis Media Access will “reopen,” and would like to take this opportunity to address a number of them in one place. Some things to know:

Tune in for "Celebrating Bob Dunning" on Friday April 9 at 4pm!

A celebration of Bob Dunning's unprecedented career at The Davis Enterprise on Friday April 9 at 4pm. The presentation includes his early years in Davis, covering community and UC Davis sports, writing a widely-read newspaper column, supporting community activities and raising a family. Special appearances by friends, elected officials and community members. Hosted by Bob Bowen, set a reminder and watch the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8JQBnfTOAc

Concern for the Creative Economy (column in Feb. 26, 2021 Davis Enterprise)

As the name implies, Davis Media Access (DMA) is a community media center, but it’s generally classified under the larger umbrella of arts and culture organizations. This is one of those things that has bearing as we apply for grants, but it also plays out in our day-to-day work, as we teach both media technology and media arts.

Reflections On A Changing Landscape (column in Feb. 5, 2021 Davis Enterprise )

This month marks 23 years that I’ve written this column in The Davis Enterprise, which has allowed me and many others to write about nonprofits, businesses, lifestyle, arts, climate, culture, and more, for decades.

27th Annual City of Davis MLK Celebration is Virtual on Monday, Jan. 18th at 9 a.m.

The City of Davis will honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a virtual celebration including highlights of speakers and entertainment from past years recorded and archived by Davis Media Access. It also contains current messages from local youth, as well as an introduction from Mayor Gloria Partida. It first airs at 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, via the City of Davis website at www.cityofdavis.org where it will be available through the end of the month.

1
2
next
last