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Who Knew Trivia Question

Holy Night with Candy Canes!!

Who knew fact checks: Candy canes were always red and white j-hooks? NO! Candy canes began as simple white sugar sticks in Europe in the 1600s. Hard candy sticks were popular then, and over time the idea of bending them into a hooked shape emerged — possibly to resemble a shepherd’s staff or simply to make them easier to hang on Christmas trees

Who knew: Story behind O Holy Night. “O Holy Night” began not as an English carol, but as a French poem titled Minuit, chrétiens (“Midnight, Christians”). In 1843, the poet Placide Cappeau wrote the words at the request of his parish priest to celebrate a newly restored church organ in Roquemaure, France.The song didn’t become popular in the English-speaking world until 1855, when John Sullivan Dwight, a Unitarian minister and abolitionist, translated it into English. Dwight was especially moved by a verse that speaks of breaking chains and declaring all people brothers, which resonated powerfully in the years before and during the American Civil War

Who knew: Wright Brother’s Day. One important day that changed the world was the day when a man was able to fly through the air in the style of a bird! Not only was this unprecedented, but it set the stage for a whole host of other ideas and inventions that have contributed to the advancement of technology as well as the adventure into space.

Who am I? 

1. I was born on December 17, 1894, in Boston, Massachusetts. 

2. I led the same orchestra for nearly 50 years, longer than almost any major conductor in American history. 
3. I believed classical music should be for everyone, not just concert halls and critics. 
4. I helped turn an orchestra into one of the best-selling recording acts of its time. 
5. I made free outdoor concerts a beloved American tradition—especially on the Fourth of July. 
• I was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for my impact on American culture. 

 Arthur Fiedler, legendary conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra. 

Congratulations to Amanda of Mount Vernon and Richard for being caller #9 and participating in our Christmas Gift Exchange! Tomorrow is the last day to participate and the winners will be announced THIS FRIDAY!

Thank you for supporting the 44th annual Food For The Hungry drive!
Thank you for supporting the annual Food for the Hungry drive! Our current total is $346,854.32 and 15 Truckloads of Food! (as of 5:00pm 12/16/2025)

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella

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Rudolph or Rollo?!?

Who knew: Jingle Bells wasn’t even written for Christmas? It was actually a Thanksgiving song! But hey… it’s hard to resist a good sleigh ride in December

Who knew: Before plastic trees, the first artificial Christmas trees were made in Germany from green-dyed goose feathers. Yep — goose feathers. Festive… and probably a little fluffy

Who knew: Rudolph almost had a different name. Early drafts called him Rollo or Reginald. Imagine singing ‘Rollo the Red-Nosed Reindeer’… doesn’t quite land

Who knew: The first electric Christmas lights? Totally a marketing stunt. Thomas Edison’s team wired them up in the 1880s just to show off the power of electricity

Who am I?…

  1. I was born today, December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida, and passed away on November 9, 2024, in Mooresville, North Carolina. 
  1. I was a central member of the famed “Alabama Gang,” a group of racers based in Hueytown, Alabama. This group was known for dominating NASCAR from the 1960s—1990s. 
  1. I won the 1983 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, driving for Di Gard Racing. 
  1. I earned 84 official NASCAR Cup Series wins, tying me for fourth on the all-time wins list. 
  1. My career effectively ended after a near-fatal crash in 1988 at Pocono Raceway, which resulted in major head injuries and forced my retirement from driving. 

I am… Bobby Allison! Congratulations to Tomi of Mount Vernon for taking home 2 $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Congratulations to Dennis of Utica and Bob from Mount Vernon for being caller #9 and playing our Christmas Gift Exchange! For more information about our fun exchange click HERE!

Thanks for listening!

Tune in for Praise Thursday with Eric!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Hugs and Gifts!!

Today is National Make A Gift Day!

For Who Knew Wednesday on The Afternoon Drive, we learned that today is dedicated to inspiring people to create personalized Christmas gifts for people they love. The heart behind this day is simple: Every person can be unique and create something they find fun and a blessing to someone they love!

Here are some ideas for a gift you could create:

  • You can bake a tasty treat!
  • You could write a poem or write a sweet letter!
  • You could create an origami!
  • You could raise a plant!

To learn more about this day, click here!

Today is also National Hug Day!

Regardless of what culture you grew up in, hugging is a universal way of showing affection to each other!

So what can you do to celebrate? Find your spouse, a family member, a friend, your children, even your pet, and show them your affection towards them and give them a hug!

To learn more about this day, click here!

Here were this week’s hints for our game of Who Am I?.

  1. I was born today, December 3, 1937, in Miami, Florida, and passed away on November 9, 2024, in Mooresville, North Carolina. 
  1. I was a central member of the famed “Alabama Gang,” a group of racers based in Hueytown, Alabama. This group was known for dominating NASCAR from the 1960s—1990s. 
  1. I won the 1983 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, driving for DiGard Racing. 
  1. I earned 84 official NASCUP Cup Series wins, tying me for fourth on the all-time wins list. 
  1. My career effectively ended after a near-fatal crash in 1988 at Pocono Raceway, which resulted in major head injuries and forced my retirement from driving. 

Today’s mystery person was a stumper! Tune in next week for a chance to win two $5 gift cards to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thank you for listening!
– Ethan Hershberger

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Thanksgiving Eve 2025!

Today we shared a few Thanksgiving fact checks…quick, clear, and commonly misunderstood points:

✅ Fact Check #1: Did the Pilgrims call it “Thanksgiving”?

False.
The 1621 harvest gathering was not called “Thanksgiving” by the Pilgrims. That term was used for religious days of fasting and prayer, not feasting.

✅ Fact Check #2: Was turkey definitely served at the first Thanksgiving?

Probably false.
The only foods confirmed by historical accounts are venison, corn, and some type of fowl (which could have been duck, goose, or even swan). Turkey is possible but not verified.

✅ Fact Check #3: Did the Pilgrims wear black clothes and big buckled hats?

False.
That is a myth from later art. Pilgrims wore a variety of colors—earth tones, blues, greens—and buckles were not common until decades later.

✅ Fact Check #4: Did Abraham Lincoln make Thanksgiving a national holiday?

True.
In 1863, Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, largely due to the advocacy of writer Sarah Josepha Hale.

✅ Fact Check #5: Was Thanksgiving always on the fourth Thursday of November?

False.
For many decades it was the last Thursday of November.
Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it to the fourth Thursday in 1941 to lengthen the Christmas shopping season.

✅ Fact Check #6: Are cranberries native to North America?

True.
Cranberries originated in North America, and both Native peoples and early colonists used them long before the modern sauce.

✅ Fact Check #7: Does the President really “pardon” a turkey?

True (but ceremonial).
The turkey pardon is a light-hearted tradition that became an official annual practice during the George H. W. Bush administration in 1989.

—

We also heard some final totals for the 2025 Operation Christmas Child collection here in Knox County. Jill Haught shared with WNZR that we surpassed our goal by 272 boxes, collecting 5,930 boxes!

  1. I was born November 26, 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee
  2. I rose to fame in the 1960’s, with a band known for hits like ‘Proud Mary.’
  3. I left that group in 1976 and rebranded as a solo artist, breaking through with my 1984 album, “Private Dancer”
  4. I sold more than 100 million records and earned multiple Grammy Awards
  5. I died in 2023 at my home in Switzerland at 83 years of age.

Congratulations to Jennifer of Fredericktown, who guessed correctly that our Who Am I? artist was Tina Turner! Jennifer wins the $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Thanks for listening!
– Joe

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Time to Spend Time with Family!!

Who Knew – National Play Monopoly Day – A day celebrating one of the world’s most famous board games. It’s about playing the game and appreciating its role in bringing people together and offering a fun way to learn valuable life skills. 

Who Knew fact checks: Sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins — up to 40 minutes by slowing their heart rate. 

The 25th Annual WNZR Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt is back! Listen for Tom’s “Gobble” and be caller #5 to be REGISTERED to win a turkey thanks to Smithhisler Meats of Mount Vernon! The drawing will be this Friday during The Morning Thing, announcing FIVE winners.

Who am I?  

  1. I was born today, November 19, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
  1. I had started off my baseball career as a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948 to 1957. 
  1. I won the National League Most Valuable Player Award three times, in 1951, 1953, and 1955. 
  1. In 1958, I was in a car accident which left me paralyzed from the shoulders down, which ended my career. 
  1. I was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. 

I am… Roy Campanella! Congratulations to Dave of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Joe!

Thanks for listening!

– Gabriella 🙂

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Soup for the Soul?!

Who Knew: National soup for the soul day– Celebrates who you are and how you’ve gotten there, often by sharing stories. Click HERE to read some stories!!

Who Knew fact checks: Weight gain around this time of year may not only be due to comforting fall foods like pumpkin pie and cider, researchers have found that lack of vitamin D reduces fat breakdown and triggers fat storage.

Who Knew fact checks: Koalas have fingerprints that are nearly identical to humans.

The 25th Annual WNZR Totally Tasty Tom Turkey Hunt is back! Listen for Tom’s “Gobble” and be caller #5 to be REGISTERED to win a turkey thanks to Smithhisler Meats of Mount Vernon!

Don’t miss our Contest – The Afternoon Drive has Sing for Rend Collective! Each day THIS WEEK, you will have a chance to sing a Rend Collective song to win a pair of Deluxe Experience Tickets to The Rend Collective Folk! Fall Tour at MVNU on 11/14!  These Deluxe tickets are valued at $75 each! Congratulations to Cliff of Mount Vernon for winning a pair of deluxe tickets to Rend Collective!!

Who am I?  

  1. I was born today, November 12, 1982 in Brooklyn, New York. 
  1. I am married to actor and producer Adam Shulman, and we have two sons together! 
  1. I won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for my role as Fantine in Les Misérables in 2012. 
  1. My breakout role was playing Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries in 2001 when I was 18. 
  1. Some of my other well-known roles are Selina Kyle, or Catwoman, in The Dark Knight Rises, Brand in Interstellar, and Daphne Kluger in Ocean’s 8

I am… Anne Hathaway! Congratulations to Alyssa of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Stressed?- Get Donuts!!!

Who Knew – National Donut Day. Started in 1938 in June to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers during World War I. 

Who Knew fact checks: Turkeys are born to be wild! Yes, they are not mean to be domesticated. They have characteristics that are made for survival.

Who Knew fact checks: National Stress Awareness Day. Started in 1998 by the international stress management association to increase public awareness about the effects of stress and promote healthy ways to manage it. 

Who knew

Don’t miss our Contest – Ring for Rend Collective. Listen to The Morning Thing and The Afternoon Drive this week! Listen for the short clip of the song Hallelujah Anyway and be Caller #3. You can win a pair of General Admission Tickets to The Rend Collective Folk! Fall Tour at MVNU on 11/14!  Tickets are valued at $26 each! Congratulations to Richard of Fredericktown for being caller #3!

 

 Who am I?

  1. I was born today, November 5th, 1960 in London, England. 
  1. I attended the prestigious West Heath Girls’ School (alongside Princess Diana) and later graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Social and Political Sciences. 
  1. I began my acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before getting recognized in movies. 
  1. Some of my most notable acting roles are Orlando in the 1992 movie Orlando, Eva Khatchadourian in We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, and Jadis, the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia. 
  1. I won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for my performance as Karen Crowder in Michael Clayton alongside George Clooney. 

I am… Tilda Swinton! Congratulations to Brandon of Croton for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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The Prince of Peace!?!

Who Knew Fact Check: National Oatmeal Day! You can celebrate by eating oatmeal in new and creative ways, like trying a savory recipe with cheese, making overnight oats, or baking oatmeal cookies. Try an oatmeal face mask for skin rejuvenation!

Who Knew Fact Check: National Cat Day! You can spend quality time with your own cat by playing or grooming, give treats and new toys, or support cats in need by donating to a local shelter or becoming a foster. You can also share photos and stories of cats online, learn more about cat welfare, or adopt a cat if you’re ready!

Who Knew Fact Check: A snail can sleep for three years? Yes! Some snails can sleep for up to three years by entering a state of dormancy called estivation (to survive heat/drought) or hibernation (to survive cold). They seal themselves inside their shells with a mucus layer to stay moist and protected, slowing their metabolism to survive harsh conditions.

October is almost over, BUT there’s still time to show your pastor appreciation. This Friday during the morning thing is the last drawing along with our GRAND drawing. Go to wnzr.fm to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

Who am I?  

  1. I was born Oct. 29th, 1942, in Daytona Beach, Florida 
  1. I had a PBS television show, “The Joy of Painting”, which aired in 1983-1994
  1. I am known for my soothing voice, gentle personality, and calm demeanor 
  1. I served our country in 1961 for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force 
  1. My most expensive painting is “A Walk in the Woods,” which is valued at $9.85 million

I am… Bob Ross! Congratulations to Kari of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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Dog’s are a Man’s Best Friend!?!

Who Knew fact checks– National make a dog’s day. We use this day to ensure that the dogs around us enjoy themselves as best as possible. 

Who Knew fact checks: National nut day. It was created by Liberation Foods Company to encourage the public to choose healthier snack options. This is your day for nutty fun!

Who Knew fact checks: National smart is cool day. Recognizes, appreciates, and celebrates being smart!

October is almost over, BUT there’s still time to show your pastor appreciation. Go to wnzr.fm to nominate your pastor for Clergy Appreciation Month!

Who am I?   

  1. I was born on this day in 1938 in Stamford, Connecticut. 
  1. I’m known for my role as Emmett “Doc” Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy. 
  1. I also played Uncle Fester in The Addams Family films. Jim Ignatowski in the TV series Taxi. 
  1. I have won three Primetime Emmy Awards.  
  1. I have won 13 awards overall in my career. 

I am…Christopher Lloyd! Congratulations to Theresa of Mount Vernon for guessing correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Ethan and Gabriella!

Thanks for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂

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