This Week on Midweek Politics with David Pakman
Produced by:
David Pakman, WXOJ, Northampton, MA
Louis Motamedi, WXOJ, Northampton, MA
Total Running Time: 56:13
This Week’s Topics:
–Payson Schwin of the Center for American Progress discusses the politics of energy, and the future of alternative sources of energy.
There were a couple of notices in the local media of Ed Charla’s passing, which we reprint here (there was also a notice Valley Advocate on August 10, 2006, with a photo by Paul Shoul.
Edward Charla, a popular figure in the Valley known to many as DJ Hit and Run, died late last month due to complications from diabetes. Charla, who was 50, had suffered with the disease since childhood, but he hardly let it stand in his way. Perhaps best known as the visionary behind Extremos, a series of underground parties, Charla remained a politically active person throughout his life. He had dedicated much of his energy recently to the cause of low-watt, “free” radio as a board member and producer at Valley Free Radio, where he produced the show “Bread & Roses.”
“Ed was one of the people who gave Northampton the flavor it has,” said Paul Shoul, who took the accompanying photo in October, 1987. “He was blind and frail, but he had the strongest will of any person I ever knew.”
Shoul’s sentiment was echoed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette obituary of Ed Charla, which ended with this: “He was blind for nearly 20 years but saw better than most of us did.”
And a notice printed in the Daily Hampshire Gazette on August 3, 2006.
NORTHAMPTON – Ed Charla, formerly known as DJ Hit and Run, died here on Sunday, July 30. He was 50. The cause was complications from diabetes.
He was born Edward Anthony Charla Jr., in New Rochelle, N.Y., June 6, 1956. Raised in the Bronx, he moved to Vermont at the age of 17. There he built his own home by hand, and lived in it for the next dozen years.
During that time he was an executive sous chef at a high-end restaurant in New Hampshire. He made food for every visiting U.S. president.
He moved to Northampton in 1979. In Hampshire County, he continued as a chef at a number of establishments, most recently at the Eastside Grill.
He also built his reputation as DJ Hit and Run, the venerable organizer of the underground cabaret parties known as Extremos.
During this time, he also made recordings with DJ Smash in New York City on Eightball Records, a clubhouse and cool jazz recording label in the 1980s.
After 30 years of diabetes, he began to lose his vision. In 1988, he moved to St. Croix to adjust to the change. For the next six months, he learned to use a cane.
In 1989, he moved to Miami Beach, his winter residence, while continuing to summer in Northampton. He continued to DJ on both the South Beach and local scenes.
Due to his escalating childhood diabetes, he underwent a double (pancreas and kidney) transplant in 1992. For the first time in his life, he was diabetes-free. The first thing he did was eat a piece of cheesecake. The transplant worked until 2004, while for 12 years he was free of diabetes.
He returned to Northampton but maintained a residence in South Beach until 2003.
Most recently, he was on the first board of Valley Free Radio, where he produced the program ‘Bread & Roses’. Highly involved in community activism, he served on the board of the Primus Mason Interethnic Alliance in Springfield. He was also active in the Haymarket People’s Fund and ALANA.
Mr. Charla is survived by his brother, Robert Charla, and his two stepbrothers, Jed and Clay.
Funeral services will be held today at Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North St. Soon thereafter, he will be interred with his family in New Rochelle. A separate service will be held in New York.
He was blind for nearly 20 years but saw better than most of us did.
VFR General Membership meeting. Live at MEF. Wednesday August 16th.
Read more on General Membership Meeting Agenda: August 2006…
Our anniversary show, plus a guest DJ set from Amy Davis from The Lovely Mrs. Davis Tells You What To Think. MP3 at http://sparetherock.com/20060812.mp3.
They Might Be Giants – Dr. Worm (Severe Tire Damage) (as if we could start with anything else)
The Nields – Anna, Kick a Hole in the Sky (All Together Singing in the Kitchen)
Uncle Rock – It’s a Mermaid (Here We Go!)
Lunch Money – Miniature Things (Silly Reflection)
Asheba – Little Anancy (Caribbean Playground)
Brady Rymer – Every Day Is A Birthday (Every Day Is A Birthday)
– song ID (including an excerpt from our first show)
Justin Roberts – It’s Your Birthday (Meltdown!)
John Sheldon – Roller Skating Baby (Mighty Fine Hound)
Stevie Wonder – 1-2-3 Sesame Street (Songs from the Street)
–song ID
Thunderlords – Old Man Olaf (Noisy Songs for Noisy Kids)
Candy Band – Rock, Paper, Scissors (More Candy)
Talking Heads – Stay Up Late (Little Creatures)
Pencilhead and the Playground Punks – Wedgie (Punk Salad)
The Go! Team – Junior Kickstart (Thunder, Lightning, Strike)
The RTTs – Turn It Up Mommy (Turn It Up Mommy)
Audrarox – Short Attention Span (AudraRox)
Shonen Knife – Frogphobia (Brand New Knife)
ScribbleMonster & His Pals – Chocolate Milk (Chocolate Milk)
–song ID
(Guest set by Amy Davis)
Parker Bent – Count On
Frances England – Digging in the Dirt
Justin Roberts – Billy the Bully
Dan Zanes – Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie
Warren Zanes – Mating Calls
Hipwaders – Twitchy
James Superstar Kochalk – Hockey Monkey
Guv’ner – Lucky Ladybug
Wilson Lake & the Rock Bass – Kersplash
Charity & the JAMband – Whatcha Gonna Bring
Jill Sobule – Survivor
Don Robertson – The Happy Whistler
Bobby Bare – Singin’ in the Kitchen
Andy Offutt Irwin – Maribel
Uncle Rock – Rock & Roll Babysitter
They Might Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul
–conversation with Amy Davis
They Might Be Giants – Robot Parade (Live)
Programming Committee Minutes: August 1, 2006 Read more on Programming Committee Minutes: August 2006…
Alan Vogel and Bill Childs discussing the legal news of the day, including legal education, judicial confirmation hearings, motorcycles, and more.
I am happy to inform you of the latest VFR Website feature: podcasting. What is podcasting? Read more on Podcasting the Sounds of VFR…
Problem Definition:
The problem is that we have been much too busy to concentrate our energies on the development of an effective volunteer coordination process. This problem exists because those who have taken on leadership roles to keep our new miracle station on the air (thank you, thank you, thank you) have been very busy putting out fires. Read more on Volunteer Task Force Draft Proposal…
They Might Be Giants – Istanbul (Not Constaninople) (Flood)
Mr. David – Hello! (The Great Adventures of Mr. David)
Dan Zanes – Hello Hello (EP)
Cat’s Pajamas – Senor Don Gato (Reading Rocks)
Asheba – Ahmahlittle Pumpkin (Children are the Sunshine)
Justin Roberts – I Chalk (Meltdown!)
ScribbleMonster & His Pals – Pick Up the Toys (Best of Friends)
–song ID
Beatles – Good Day Sunshine (Revolver)
Milkshake ID
Milkshake – Bottle of Sunshine (Bottle of Sunshine)
Johnny Bregar – Moon (Stomp Yer Feet!)
Babaloo – Room For Everyone (Room For Everyone)
–song ID
Miz B – Raise the Brain (Raise the Brain)
REM – Stand (Green)
RTTs – Snack Time (Turn It Up Mommy!)
Joel Caithamer – Bobby’s Been Bad but Wanda’s Been Worse (Activate!)
Terrible Twos – When I Get To Eleven (If You Ever See An Owl)
Candy Band – Get Up Already (LolliPunk)
Replacements – Seen Your Video (Let It Be)
–interview with Asheba
–Legal ID
Baby Loves Jazz – 10 Little Monkeys (Baby Loves Jazz)
Frances England – Charlie Parker (Fascinating Creatures)
Asylum Street Spankers – I Am My Own Grandpa (The Bottle Let Me Down)
–song ID
Purple Stripes – Aba Daba Honeymoon (s/t)
Rebecca Frezza – Tall and Small (Tall and Small)
Kid Koala – Fruit Belt (See You on the Moon)
Lunch Money – Roller Coaster (Silly Reflection)
–ScribbleJim phone interview
Ralph’s World – We Are Ants (Amazing Adventures of Kid Astro)
Yosi – Eat, Repeat (What’s Eatin’ Yosi?)
– Justin Roberts intervew
Erin Flynn & the Co-Op Band – Mary Mack (Dreamers of Dreams)
The Quiet Ones – How Fast Can You Run (Make Some Noise)
Roger Day – Ready to Fly (Ready to Fly)
–song ID
They Might Be Giants – Free to Be You and Me
To: Board Members, Valley Free Radio � 103.3FM Northampton
From: African American Affairs Collective, Valley Free Radio
RE: Challenges and Recommendations Read more on Challenges and Recommendations…
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