NATIONAL PARKS ALL MONTH LONG!

posted by Jack Gibson

The long awaited Ken Burns documentary, 'National Parks: America’s Best Idea' begins on Sunday, September 27th at 8 p.m. and continues all week long. Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales — from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska — 'The National Parks: America's Best Idea' is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background — rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

Arizona Public Media will also feature National Park highlights on National Public Radio, and on Arizona Spotlight. Be sure to watch locally produced 'Southwestern Gems: Our Desert National Parks' premiering September 23rd at 8 p.m. with encore broadcasts on the 27th at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Each Thursday in September, Arizona Illustrated will highlight National Parks from a local to international perspective. And you can share your favorite National Parks stories, photos, and video on our Web site.

If all the excitement surrounding Ken Burns’s National Parks leaves you wanting more, be sure to keep an eye out for a very special half-hour preview of Burns’s latest documentary. The preview will air as part of special programming during the second half of our TV fall membership drive starting Saturday, September 5th and running through Sunday, September 13th. In additional to the National Parks preview, we are also pleased to announce the return of Celtic Woman to our air, and to Tucson, for a very special one-night-only live concert. The ladies of Celtic Woman really put on an outstanding show, so we hope that you’ll tune in for their special. Celtic Woman will be in Tucson, Monday, November 16th at the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall at 7:30 pm. Watch for ticket information beginning September 5th when PBS-HD special programming brings to the screen the talented Celtic Woman.

Whenever you feel the urge for a classical music treat, at work, at home, or in traffic, KUAT-FM might be just what you need. Fine classical music 24-hours a day, on 90.5 and 89.7 on the FM dial in Tucson, 89.7 in Sierra Vista, 88.9 in Bisbee and 91.7 in Nogales. I invite you to tune in to our Community Concerts series recorded right here in Southern Arizona and broadcast Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. and Thursday evenings at 9:00 p.m. on Classical KUAT-FM and online at AZpublicmedia.org.

Sincerely,

Jack Gibson
Director and General Manager
Arizona Public Media®