Kristine Massari & Enrico Granafei of Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, N.J., will present “The History of Neapolitan Music.”

Kristine Massari is currently a first mandolinist and a featured vocalist. She has toured many jazz clubs in the metropolitan area and also in Italy at music festivals with The Enrico Granafei Quartet.

Enrico Granafei is recognized as one of the finest chromatic harmonica players in the world. He is also an accomplished classical guitarist, songwriter and composer. His experiences encompasses Classical, traditional Italian music, Brazilian music and Jazz. He has performed at many jazz clubs including the Blue Note and Birdland.

Once again, WDFH may be in peril of shutting down if it does not get the necessary funding, says its founder Marc Sophos. Read below for more information from Sophos on the situation, in addition to the various programs it offers.

1” src=”http://yorktown.lohudblogs.com/files/2012/02/tjndc5-5wakoz716syafdqdfsb_layout1.jpg” alt=”” width=”267” height=”400” />The lower Hudson valley’s only public radio station, WDFH 90.3 FM and online at WDFH.org, is facing shutdown, and its irreplaceable FM broadcast license will be lost unless the community steps up with greatly increased financial support.

“It’s heartbreaking to have brought the station this far and still be teetering on the edge,” said Marc Sophos, the station’s executive director, who founded the station in an effort that began in 1973. Because no FM frequencies were available so close to New York City, that effort took 20 years.

WDFH went on the air in 1995, but it wasn’t until late 2010 that it simultaneously had both a studio for live program production and a signal that could reach a significant number of potential listeners. “We’ve put the pieces into place,” he said. “The stage is set for us to start building a significant following.”

But the station’s signal expansion project, which increased WDFH’s potential audience to 400,000 lower Hudson valley residents, dragged on for over seven years and had consumed most of the nonprofit station’s cash reserve by the time it was completed in 2009. Mr. Sophos said that before the expansion took place, the station could reach only 10,000 residents, and that without the expansion, WDFH would never have become viable.

And so the station has been living hand to mouth. But tax-deductible donations from listeners and other sources have lagged far behind expenses, and what’s left of the cash reserve is quickly running out. Moreover, WDFH belongs to a category of public radio called community radio, typified by volunteer staffing and modest budgets. Many community radio stations, including WDFH, don’t have access to the established funding structures available to mainstream, NPR-type public radio stations.

Taking WDFH’s existing donations into account—including a major donation from an anonymous resident who made it possible for WDFH to lease its current studio space—the cost of running the station is currently $120,000 per year, a tiny fraction of the budget of other public radio stations. The small budget figure is attributable largely to community radio’s volunteer staffing model.

The station’s programming is belied by the modesty of its budget. WDFH regularly invites lower Hudson valley musicians to its performance studio for performances and long-form interviews. Programs like In Focus and Eyes on Westchester provide in-depth coverage of local news. Recovery Talk is the station’s pioneering program that covers recovery from addiction, trauma, illness, domestic violence, combat violence, and more. If WDFH can raise the funding to survive, it plans to launch a new program, For the Greater Good, that will spotlight a different local nonprofit group in a half hour conversation every week.

And last October, WDFH launched a new program, OutCasting, which gives voice to the issues faced by LGBTQ youth, created and hosted by LGBTQ youth and their straight allies. Thought to be the first radio show of its kind in public radio in the United States, OutCasting has attracted some national attention and was covered in a major front page article in The Journal News.

In addition to these local public affairs programs—all of which are available as podcasts through both WDFH.org and iTunes—the station broadcasts a unique mix of rock, folk, blues, and jazz, along with daily news programs from Pacifica (Democracy Now in the morning and Free Speech Radio News in the evening) and carefully selected other public affairs programs from Pacifica and independent producers.

Melinda Battle, a WDFH volunteer and resident of Bedford Corners who hosts Eyes on Westchester, said, “We are all actively chasing ideas to keep the station alive. It’s such a unique gem. I really feel folks just need to realize what an incredible resource it is.”

In WDFH, our region already has what communities across the country struggle to get. Mr. Sophos noted that the FCC is flooded with applications on the rare occasions when it opens a filing window for new broadcast licenses. There is intense competition for virtually every available frequency across the country, and relatively few applications are actually granted.

“We’ve been through that already, and we have the irreplaceable broadcast license. It’s ours to lose, and we hope that the community will step forward to make sure that we don’t lose it.” He added that it is unlikely that another frequency will become available in our area in the future, so if WDFH’s license is lost, there will probably not be another chance for local public radio in the lower Hudson valley.

“I think that Westchester and Rockland have to decide what kind of community they want to be and what kinds of resources will help build that community,” he said. “A lot of people think of our area as just a bedroom for New York City, but actually there’s a lot going on here. A local public radio station can be an amazing and powerful resource that can bridge the gap between the local arts and nonprofit culture and the majority of residents who aren’t in touch with that culture.”

If WDFH is unable to reach its funding goals, the broadcast license will be turned over to another entity, probably a public or religious broadcaster from another state that would eliminate all possibility of local programming.

Vinny Cohan, a resident of Croton-on-Hudson and another longtime WDFH volunteer, said that there are many large-scale philanthropists in the lower Hudson valley and that he hopes that the station will gain their attention. At the same time, he noted, “A thousand people contributing $10 per month would enable us to reach our budget goal for this year.”

If the station can establish funding of $100,000 or more, it can apply for annual grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It could also become eligible for more corporate and foundation grants.

Right now, though, the station isn’t close to that income level, and Mr. Cohan noted that with funds running out, some cutbacks have already been made. “The situation is urgent at this point,” he said. “We have a precious resource in WDFH and it would be a terrible thing to lose it. We hope that the community will step up to the plate.”

Anyone interested in assisting should contact Mr. Sophos at savewdfh@wdfh.org or (914) 674-0900 ext. 58 or visit WDFH.org for other ways to help.

About WDFH

WDFH, Westchester Public Radio, is the lower Hudson Valley’s only local public radio station—a community station run mainly by volunteers. The station is owned by Hudson Valley Community Radio, Inc., a 501©(3) nonprofit organization.

WDFH is an affiliate of the Pacifica Radio Network. It can be heard on the air at 90.3 FM in central and northern Westchester, eastern Rockland, and parts of southern Putnam and far western Connecticut. It can also be heard anywhere online at WDFH.org. Archives of shows are available on the station’s web site and on iTunes (search for “wdfh”). Over the years, WDFH has been covered by The New York Times, WNBC-TV, The Journal News, The Gazette, The Examiner, The Enterprise, Westchester Magazine, the Westchester County Business Journal, and many other news outlets.

Photo of Marc Sophos in the studio taken by TJN.

The event will feature keynote speaker Gerry Allen, former running back for the Washington Redskins. The topic will cover the past struggles and achievements of African-Americans.”  There will also be gospel music and a performance by the Ghanaian Cultural Troupe of the Bronx.

The program begins at 1:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. The church is located at 1040 Main St., Peekskill.

The system is located in the adult library section near the new book area.

The library has the equipment for a 90-day trial. Field Library is located at 4 Nelson Ave.

“Enchanted Doll Forest”
Grand Opening
Address: 2201 Crompond Road
Toddville Antique Center
Cortlandt Manor NY 10567

Welcome Friends

On Saturday March 10 2012

From 10 AM to 2 PM there will be an open house

Refreshments will be served

Features:
Doll & Bear Hospital
Custom Dollhouses
Supplies and Accessories
Flowers, Art, Antiques and Oddities

Shop Hours Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10 am to 2 PM
or by appointment
Information-shirleyinoz@aol.com

845 526 3875
845 803 6846

Spring Exhibit-
The Dolls of Ireland

Ossining High School Hockey Coach Kevin Connolly took center ice in the world’s greatest arena Sunday night when he was honored by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Connolly, who has been Ossining’s head hockey coach for 30 years, was the fifth winner of the Emile Francis Award for his contribution to local youth hockey. He received the trophy in a special ceremony during the second intermission of the Rangers’ game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden.

“Coach Connolly has been such a great role model for these players to follow because he has shown dedication and leadership and has taught them how to give back to their community,” said Sharon Abreau, whose son plays hockey on the OHS team. “To him it’s not about winning it’s about having fun. These boys have learned great values and have great respect for him, and that’s why we nominated him for the Emile Francis award given by the New York Rangers. He fit exactly what they were looking for in a candidate and we’re proud to call him our coach!”

Former Rangers Nick Foitu and Brian Mullen, both native New Yorkers whose hockey careers began in local youth hockey started by Emile Francis, presented the award to Connolly. Coach Connolly was joined on the ice by six of his current players: Zach Giusti, Jackson Kane, Joey Abreau, Jake Camilliere, Nick Lema, and James Brosnan.

Ossining High School head hockey coach Kevin Connolly is a role model both on and off the ice.

As Ossining’s coach, Connolly has reached out to the community and always encouraged his players to give back to that community. The Ossining hockey program is particularly proud of its longtime involvement with the local Veterans Hospital.

Connolly’s coaching tenure has been marked by his ability to teach players life lessons both on and off the ice.

Leading Catholic author, editor and publisher Michael Leach will present Why Stay Catholic? as part of the Maryknoll Speakers Series at the Maryknoll Mission Center, 55 Ryder Road, Ossining, on Sunday, April 22, at 2:30 p.m.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested and can be made by contacting Colleen Brathwaite at cbrathwaite@maryknoll.org or 914-941-7636, extension 2445. Additional information and directions can be found at http://www.maryknollsociety.org .

At a time when many Catholics are questioning if they should abandon their Church, Mr. Leach, author and publisher emeritus of Orbis Books, said it doesn’t have to be this way. Orbis Books is a division of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.

There are challenges in today’s Catholic Church, said Mr. Leach, while asserting that Catholicism is a church overflowing with the ideas of saints and thinkers who glorify love, not fear, and who encourage the experience of eternal life.

Mr. Leach has been called “the dean of Catholic book publishing” by U.S. Catholic magazine for more than 30 years of leadership in Catholic publishing. He has edited and published more than 2,000 books, including those of Nobel Prize and National Book Award recipients. The Catholic Book Publishers Association honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award during 2007.

Mr. Leach also has authored bestsellers, including Why Stay Catholic? (Loyola Press 2011) and I Like Being Catholic (Image 2005). He co-authored A Maryknoll Book of Prayer (Orbis Books 2003) and authored A Maryknoll Book of Inspiration (Orbis Books 2010).

Founded during 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nourish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of Christian faith and mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the cause of reconciliation and peace. Learn more at http://www.orbisbooks.com/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/orbisbooks .

Horace Greeley’s Lindsay Hill, center, passes the ball to a teammate under pressure from Ossining’s Andra Espinoza-Hunter (cq), left, and Destini Walker during the girls basketball Section 1 Class AA quarterfinals at Ossining High School on Feb. 21, 2012. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

See more photos from the quarterfinal between Ossining and Horace Greeley in a gallery, and go to LoHud.com for the game story.

Seniors who will present their research: Laura Anderson, Stephen Anderson, Amanda Buonagurio, Amna Chaudhry, Francesca Giordano, Julia Kelly, Kathleen Mavrommatis, Priya Mohindra, Andre Nakkab, Alexei Naumann, Luke Nolan, Brian Pulling, Nisha Rath, Nithin Santhanam, Meaghan Skelly, Juliana Vigorito, Tony Wang, Miwa Wenzel and John Wolff. Juniors who will be presenting their research: Jurgen Bushi, Colson Campbell, Frank Cao, Lily Cao, Elizabeth Crumley, David (Linus) Hamann, Emma Iaconetti, Ronald Kao, George Khandji, Joseph Kovaly, Jack Luceno, Maria Mavrommatis, Avik Mohan, Taylor Morgen, Michael Park, Allyson Pitzel, Hari Rau-Murthy, Maya Rau-Murthy, Devon Rosh, Julie Rothberg, Taylor Smith, Tanvi Tiwari, David Vernik, Alison Yih and Jessica Yuan.

If you are an adult who would like to volunteer as a practice judge, it is not necessary to have studied or to be a scientist, engineer, mathematician or psychologist, etc. You will be provided a grading rubric to fill out anonymously for each student observed. Please contact Director Michael Blueglass at mblueglass@yorktown.org to let him know what areas you feel comfortable judging, including: biology/medicine, biochemistry/microbiology, engineering, computer science, environmental/ animal science, or psychology/behavior.

The top eight individual projects and top four teams have the honor of representing Westchester & Putnam counties in the INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair, competing with over 1,500 high school research students from over 50 different countries worldwide. For more information about WESEF, please visit http://www.wesef.org.