As KSQM remains firmly planted at 91.5 FM on the airwaves, its physical location moves to new digs a football field away.

Volunteers and community members celebrated the station’s new space with an open house on Dec. 7 in Sequim Village Shopping Plaza at 609 W. Washington St., Suite 17.

To the day, it was 10 years ago when KSQM went on air for the first time.

“We’re happy,” said Jeff Bankston, Sequim Community Broadcasting board vice-president and KSQM program director. “It’s a great deal of relief to be here. We worked really hard to make the open house.”

The new space is twice the size of its first and former space in Serenity Square at 577 W. Washington St., he said.

The remodeled 1,500 square-foot space includes three new studios, including an on-air studio, newsroom and recording facility.

Bankston said the newsroom expands the station’s Emergency Management and Communications and administrative offices are more spread out.

“Morale has really grown,” he said.

By the end of the year, Bankston said they anticipate improvements being done to the large studio and until then they are working from a smaller studio space.

Included in the new space is a room available to the community for local, large groups in a relaxed, informal setting, Bankston said.

Station officials say they are investing a lot of time and funding to emergency response.

“We’re making sure we have the auxiliary power and equipment needed if the chips are down,” Bankston said.

“If, God forbid, an earthquake were to happen, we’d still be on the air. We’ve got a number of people to get us right back on the air as fast as we can.”

News Director Ed Evans said they want “to be an important voice in times of emergencies.”

One of his roles for the station is working with the City of Sequim to establish a link with the city’s Emergency Operations Center at the Sequim Transit Center.

Evans said he’s worked with different agencies’ leaders to provide pre-recorded messages about what to do in case of an incident because those individuals/services may not be available right away.

At the anniversary party, Rick Perry, KSQM founder, said his intent with the station, “first and foremost is to provide a voice that can be put out there in case of an emergency.”

Evans said in his six years with the station, he’s seeing the community interact with KSQM more seeing it as an emergency outlet along with its entertainment value.

“They are beginning to think, ‘I’m trusting this station,’” he said.

Celebration

For its 10th anniversary, KSQM broadcast the event live.

Motorcyclists with the American Legion Riders – Post 29 helped memorialize Peal Harbor Day holding American flags as group No Batteries Required sang prior to the event’s ribbon cutting coordinated by the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Sequim Community Broadcasting Board President George Dooley led community members in a moment of silence and Kate Lily sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Richard Hendricksen sang “Oh, Canada” for its Canadian listeners.

Perry and Bob Sampson, KSQM’s first chief engineer, helped cut the ribbon.

Inside, community members toured the new studio, office and community space and were greeted by Santa Claus, treats and conversation.

Bankston said Perry’s vision to start a radio station started in 2004 with the creation of Sequim Community Broadcasting, a 501(c)3 non-profit parent company and license-holder for KSQM 91.5 FM. Four years later, the station went live.

KSQM remains listener supported and commercial free.

Bankston said it operates at about $14,000 a month and no on-air radio talent is paid. Currently, there are about 100 active volunteers, he said, and at least 400 over the last 10 years.

For moving expenses and costs for the remainder of the year, he estimates they need about $35,000 in business sponsorships and/or community support.

“We’re really an adjunct chamber,” Bankston said.

“We’re more of a phenomenon. I like to say we’re community radio rather than a community radio station. We’re forever on the move and we hope to improve our services across the board.”

For more information on KSQM 91.5 FM, listen to them on the radio or online at www.KSQMFM.com or call 360-681-0000.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Motorcyclists with the American Legion Riders – Post 29 circle around the ribbon cutting for KSQM 91.5 FM’s ribbon cutting on Dec. 7. Station leaders commemorated the station’s 10th anniversary and recognize Pearl Harbor Day with a moment of silence. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Board members for Sequim Community Broadcasting, the non-profit parent company of KSQM 91.5 FM, greet the audience inside the station’s new community room on Dec. 7 during its annual open house. Standing from left, are James Hindes, Al Friess, George Dooley, president, Scott Scherer, Lynda Perry and Jeff Bankston. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

No Batteries Required sing for a crowd at KSQM’s ribbon cutting on Dec. 7 as Santa Claus listens in. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Kate Lily sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Dec. 7 to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day and 10 years for KSQM 91.5 FM going on-air. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash