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These short vignettes, "sonic IDs," are sound portraits and short stories that weave throughout the broadcast day of WCAI. Below you'll find samples of the hundreds in our archives. We'll also post new sonics, added as we get them. Atlantic Public Media helps create the "Sonic IDs." The core producing team for Sonic ID project is Jay Allison, Viki Merrick, and the staff of WCAI. See what the broadcasting newspaper Current has to say about the Sonic ID project. An archive of some of our earliest sonics is here. The Sonic ID project was awarded a regional Edward R. Murrow award for the best use of sound by the Radio Television News Directors Association.

Sonics from the Archives

mightymightymatze / flickr /creative commons

Here are more sonics from the WCAI Archive. 

NeighborhoodsRalph Binder of Mashpee

MegaphoneNantucket's Ruth Chapel Grieder

Radio VoicesJerry Nelson of Truro

Clapping ScallopsOn Martha's Vineyard

WWII Veteran Wesley KoWWII Veteran Wesley Ko of East Falmouth

Hanging the WashEileen McGrath's tips on hanging laundry on Nantucket

WWII Veteran Bob SilverbergWWII Veteran Bob Silverberg of Barnstable

Stripper PoleProvincetown Hairdresser Dougie Freeman

PopeyeWriter Susie Seligson of Truro

The Open SeaDave Masch on the lure of the open sea

Message to KidsMashpee Wampanoag Annawon Weeden

Stairwell in B FlatGlenway Fripp's musical alcove

Coin DealerYarmouth coin dealer Bill Sharkey

Metal DetectorHunting for loose change at the beach

GoldYarmouth coin dealer Bill Sharkey

Cooking EelsThe late Milton Jeffers on a Cape delicacy

Learning to FishTom Messinger of Hyannis

CelloChelsea Doohan's love-hate relationship with her instrument

CoyotesDick Wheeler of Wareham

Hide the BaconAn unorthodox summer in Wareham

Sleeping Under SinksHairdresser and salon owner Dougie Freeman of Provincetown

The Baltics in West YarmouthPat Warren on why her grandmother bought a shack on Cape Cod

The 2008 Arrival of the CicadasCousins Kevin Furlong and Matt Carmichael

Elvis CostelloWhat deep-sea divers listen to

Santa ClausChimney sweep Jeff Gonsalves of Harwich

WampanoagEarl Mills on the Wampanoag language

Scraped KneeDick Wheeler of Wareham

Maynard SilvaA Vineyard guitarist and sign-painter

Lunchbox Stories 1

Lunchbox Stories 2

SwampRichard Kerry of Nantucket demonstrates his specialty

Bird Decoy CarverDick Nelson of Mashpee

The Gift BookA biologist's lament

LobstermanFisherman Bill Souza of Truro

The Worst Thing About NantucketA teen's perspective

You're Listening To...Dick Wheeler of Wareham

MechanickyA Brazilian on the Vineyard

Toe-heeNaturalist Dick Wheeler of Wareham

Squid FishingRonnie Baretta's birthday treat

Where have the Cod Gone?Dick Wheeler of Wareham

Felicity the LlamaMaureen Collette of East Falmouth on her pet llama

Great AukNaturalist Dick Wheeler of Wareham

New York City and the VineyardIan compares his hometown to Martha's Vineyard

RacoonsDick Wheeler of Wareham

Lobster BoatGeorge Cadwallader goes lobstering

All Hell Breaks LooseLobsterman Alex Brown of Provincetown

The Pet HusbandElaine Bowen on how to control one's spouse

Out of WorkLobsterman Alex Brown of Provincetown

Erastus at the CircusNantucket's Ruth Chapel Grieder on Erastus Chapel

Pounding MeatloafJeanne Decker of Harwich

Could I Have My Leg Back, Please?Nantucket's Michael McCone on the perils of being handicapped

Low Income HousingMyrna Nuey of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe

BugsPolly Hill of the Polly Hill Arboretum on those nasty creatures

Singing Down FlusChimney sweep Jeff Gonsalves of Harwich

The Old MillBuilt on Nantucket in 1847

BuckBuck the boat dog saves the day

Bass DerbyPulling scales, going down the back bone, over the ribs: cleaning fish

ChowderMaking chowder, from quahogs to soup

SkunkAlberta Costa on the taming of a skunk

This HalloweenWhat Halloween would be, if Ben Bianchini had his way

Next HalloweenDreaming about next year's costume

No MagicWhen Halloween loses its magic for a 6th grader

Indian SummerA haiku reflecting Indian Summer

Jackson FiveA different kind of litter at the MSPCA

Nobska FameWhen your home is a destination

PreteensStretching the truth... just a little

LullabyA lullaby from Jason Baird of the Wampanoag-Aquinnah Tribe

ChappyA memory of Chappaquiddick when it was primitive

OrganistThe Good Rich Organ of Nantucket

Nathaniel PhilbrickOn the ever-changing and everlasting ocean

Up to the NeckRuth Chapel Grieder on the hurricane of 1938

Ms. BrazilRiding the Menemsha bike ferry with Miss Brazil

Marge on MilleMs. Mille and her store in Maddicott

Spooky WorldThe things people do...