Th e 8 8 . 5 F M W YS U News l e t te r

Volume 48, Issue 3 | September – December 2019

T H E 8 8 . 5 F M W Y S U N E W S L E T T E R88.5 FM

WHAT’S COMING UP for WYSU!

88.5 Youngstown88.1 Ashtabula97.5 New Wilmington

RADIO YOU NEED TO KNOW.

OF WYSU–FM: A TIMELINE

50th Anniversary Events – Join us!September 27, 2019 7:00 pm – 10:00 pmWYSU FUNDRAISERMad About the ArtsMcDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown State University, YoungstownInformation and Tickets at wysu.org

October 18, 2019 • 7:00 pmCONCERTBurning River Baroque Presents: “A Mad, Burning Desire”St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wick Avenue, Youngstown

October 20, 20192:00 – 5:00 pmEVENT – CELEBRATION!WYSU 50th Anniversary CelebrationMill Creek MetroParks’ Davis Center Auditorium, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown

November 7, 2019 • 7:00 pmLECTURENPR’s Corva ColemanSt. John’s Episcopal Church, Wick Avenue, Youngstown

November 17, 2019 • 2:00 pmPLANETARIUM SHOW‘50th Anniversaries: WYSU-FM, The Moonwalk, and The Ward Beecher Planetarium’Ward Beecher Planetarium, Youngstown State University, Youngstown

For more information on these events, visit wysu.org or go to the WYSU Facebook page.

1967 (Pre-WYSU!): Don Elser, Steve Grcevich, and

YSU President Albert Pugsley propose a fine arts radio station for Youngstown State University and the Mahoning Valley Community.

1969 (Birth of a station!): At 10:00 a.m. October 23, 1969 WYSU-FM signs on the air at 88.5 MHZ as a charter member of National Public Radio, broadcasting 12 hours daily from its studios in room 310 of the former

Valley Park Motel on Wick Avenue. Aired first edition of Folk Festival with Charles Darling. Original staff members were: Steve Grcevich, Director of Telecommunications; Bill Foster, Announcer/Record Librarian; Polly Golden, Secretary; Lew Moler, Chief Engineer; Richard Stevens, Program Director

1971: Began airing All Things Considered.

NPR became part of the first radio network using satellite delivery of programs.

1972: Aired first edition of Now’s The

Time with Martin Berger.

1973: Began airing Saturday Night on

Broadway with Don Elser.

1974: Began 18-hour

broadcast day.

1976: Moved studios to

newly built Cushwa Hall

50years1980: Began 24-hour broadcast

day. First on-air fundraiser.

1985: Morning Edition began.

Robert Peterson named director.

1987: Bill Foster passes away.

Barbara Krauss named announcer/producer.

1988: Ann Cliness named

announcer/producer.

1990: Began summer bus excursions to

Blossom Music Center. Gary Sexton named program director.

1991: Began operation of new 50,000

watt transmitter with broadcast antenna moved to the WKBN tower. Aired live coverage of the first Gulf War.

1993: Ashtabula translator began

operation at 90.1 FM. Catherine Cala named development officer.

1994: Rick Popovich named

announcer/producer, and WYSU began airing The Jazz Sofa.

1995: New Wilmington translator

began operation at 89.9.

1996: Added state-of-the-art

digital editing equipment. Co-sponsored first Mad About the Arts with the YSU McDonough Museum of Art. Automated overnight programs, saving Gary Sexton’s sanity.

1997: Added political affairs program

Commentary Café with Bill Binning and Bob Fitzer.

1998: Michael Cervone named

announcer/producer. Improved New Wilmington signal by moving translator to 97.5 FM.

2000: The first station-sponsored

European tour traveled to Great Britain. Gary Sexton named director of broadcasting. Added website & streaming audio. Initiated Robert W. Peterson Scholarship.

Steve Grcevich and student

Arlene Ivan

2 | NEED TO KNOW

A&C BeverageAebischer’s Jewelry Akron Children’s Hospital

Mahoning ValleyAfrican American Male

Wellness Walk American Heart Association Apollo’s FireASECU Associated School

Employees Credit UnionAustintown Farmers Market Ballet Western Reserve Butler Institute of American

Art Byce Auction & Realty Canton Symphony

Orchestra Copeland Oaks DeYor Performing Arts

CenterDr. Thomas ShipkaForest Lawn Memorial ParkFriends of Fellows Riverside

Gardens in Mill Creek Park

First Presbyterian Church of Columbiana

Froggerjobs.comHarrington Hoppe &

Mitchell Hersh Exterminating

Service, Inc.Home Savings Charitable

FoundationHorodyski’s White Barn

FarmIDMI.net Jazz In the Park YoungstownKeynote Media Group KSU Trumbull TheaterMahoning Valley College

Access ProgramMahoning Valley Historical

Society McDonough Museum for

Contemporary Art at YSUMercy Health Foundation Mercy Health HospitalMethod 8 Corp. Mill Creek MetroparksMontessori School of the

Mahoning ValleyNagel Advertising, Inc. NE Colla & SonsNoble Creature Cask House Oh Wow! The Roger and

Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science and Technology

Ohio Living Park Vista Opera Western Reserve

WYSU Underwriters!

Thank youPublic radio is a great way to promote your business, organization or agency while supporting a great cause. Learn how you can become a WYSU underwriter at www.wysu.org. You’ll be in good company!

to our

Paige & Byrnes InsurancePeter Allen Inn &

Event CenterPhiladelphia Candies Pittsburgh Symphony

Orchestra Pittsburgh Theological

SeminaryPublic Library of

Youngstown and Mahoning County

Raptis Coffee Roth Blair Roberts Strasfeld

& Lodge Selah Restaurant Simply Slavic Sisters of Humility of Mary Southwoods HospitalStambaugh Auditorium Star Supply Bargain OutletSunrise Entertainment The Renal Group The Ursuline Sisters Thiel CollegeThomases Family

Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation

Tuesday MusicalUnitarian Universalist

Church of YoungstownUS Airforce Band Airmen

of NoteVicki Doe Fitness Villa Maria Community

Center Warren Civic Music

Association Western Reserve PBS Westminster College Youngstown Flea Youngstown Foundation Youngstown Playhouse Youngstown Symphony

Orchestra YSU Bible Study YSU CLASS YSU Cliffe College of

Creative Arts & Communication

YSU Dana School of Music YSU Department of Nursing YSU Department of Theater

& Dance YSU Foundation YSU-OEA YSU Office of Marketing &

Communications YSU Summer Festival of

the Arts YWCA Mahoning Valley

2001: David Luscher named associate director.

Aired live coverage of 9/11. Expanded news programming.

2003: Began broadcasting Youngstown 2010

simulcasts in association with PBS 45 & 49. Added A Prairie Home Companion to the program schedule.

2004: Installed digital

equipment in the broadcast studios.

2005: Ron Krauss named

broadcast engineer. Ed Goist named development underwriter.

2006: Began first strategic

planning process since station made its debut.

2007: Began broadcasting

in HD (digital). Began Lincoln Avenue community affairs program.

2008: Added all-classical

HD channel. Added all-classical Internet stream. Laurie Wittkugle named administrative assistant.

2009: WYSU travelers go to China. The station’s

fall fund drive raises a record amount, with over 1,100 contributors. In honor of the station’s 40th anniversary, WYSU hosted NPR reporter Don Gonyea for a station event.

2010: A Way with Words was added to the WYSU

program schedule in February. WYSU’s Lincoln Avenue, with Sherry Linkon, was awarded a 2010 Ohio Public Images Media Award in the Documentary/Public Affairs category. Chris Hartman named associate broadcast engineer.

2011: WYSU activates a new antenna to increase

its broadcast coverage area. The WYSU iPhone app is introduced.

2012: In the summer, the TED Radio Hour is

added to WYSU’s weekend program schedule.

2013: Tricia Perry named the station’s new

funding officer.

2014: Cindy Bella named

administrative assistant. Susan Moorer named development officer.

2015: In February, Mad About

the Arts celebrated its 20th anniversary. In November, a back-up antenna was installed on YSU’s Stambaugh Stadium.

2016: On February 9th, after 40 years

in the basement of Cushwa Hall, WYSU moved its offices and studios into the Art and Helen Wolfcale Broadcast Facility on the second floor of the recently renovated Melnick Hall on Wick Avenue. On February 22nd, WYSU hosted an open house of its new facilities. In June, a lightning strike to WYSU’s antenna caused $50,000 of damage,

and reduced power by 40%. On September 13th, WYSU hosted NPR Weekend Edition News Anchor Scott Simon for a guest lecture at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

2017: WYSU added The Takeaway, Freakonomics,

and The New Yorker Radio Hour to its weekend program schedule. Car Talk signs off.

2018: In January, WYSU hosted Cokie Roberts,

NPR senior news analyst and political reporter, for an event at Stambaugh Auditorium. Throughout the year, WYSU served as a major sponsor for the YSU Cliffe College of Creative Arts & Communication’s Donald P. Pipino Performing Arts Series. Ed Goist became local host of All Things Considered.

2019: WYSU created the Barbara Krauss

Memorial Scholarship. Carolyn Van Valien named part-time announcer/producer and local host of Morning Edition.

WYSU’s first tour group traveled to Great Britain in 2000.Photo by Gary F. Shaffer

Antenna being installed on Stambaugh Stadium

NEED TO KNOW | 3

we’re going

2019 is the last year WYSU will be publishing a print newsletter. Hence, this is the last print Need to Know newsletter. Beginning in 2020 our newsletter will be electronic only. So, be sure to email us your email address by sending it to info@wysu.org.

Burning River Baroque Returns to the Mahoning Valley on October 18th!

WYSU-FM and St. John’s Episcopal Church present A Mad, Burning Desire, a concert featuring Burning River Baroque, on Friday, October 18, at 7:00 pm, at St. John’s church, on Wick Avenue, in Youngstown. Burning River Baroque creates Baroque music programs that inspire dialogue about contemporary social issues. A Mad, Burning Desire highlights the extraordinary accomplishments of the first English actresses who gained the legal right to take the public stage in the early 1660s. This program will shed light on these unconventional 17th-century women and issues surrounding mental health.

Discover the hidden side of everything with Stephen J. Dubner, co-author of the Freakonomics books. Each week, Freakonomics Radio tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do) — from the economics of sleep to how to become great at just about anything. Dubner speaks with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, and various other underachievers. Special features include series like “The Secret Life of a C.E.O.” as well as a live game show, “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.”

Join us at Mill Creek MetroParks’ Davis Center Auditorium, 123 McKinley Avenue, in Youngstown, as we celebrate the station’s 50th birthday! The party will feature WYSU on-air staff, live music, appetizers, a champagne toast, and much more! Admission will be FREE, and this event will be open to all WYSU members, listeners and friends. Please join us. We hope you will come and celebrate 50 years of WYSU with us!

!digital

50JOIN US FOR A PARTY!

The WYSU–FM

AnniversaryCELEBRATION

th

Sunday, October 20, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Are you listening to…?Freakonomics Radio • Saturdays at 12:00 pm

WYSU 50th Anniversary Fall Fund Drive – Thank You!

The staff of WYSU 88.5 FM would like to thank all the listeners, volunteers, vendors,

sponsors, and student employees who supported our membership efforts during the recently completed 50th anniversary

Fall 2019 Fund drive. We really appreciate your continued commitment to your

public radio station!

Youngstown State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age, religion or veteran/military status in its programs or activities. Please visit www.ysu.edu/ada-accessibility for contact information for persons designated to handle questions about this policy.

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PAIDYoungstown, Ohio

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Youngstown State UniversityOne University PlazaYoungstown, OH 44555

Youngstown State University | One University Plaza | Youngstown, OH 44555330-941-3363 | www.wysu.org | info@wysu.org

WYSU STAFFCindy Bella – Administrative Assistant

Ed Goist – Coordinator Chris Hartman – Assistant Broadcast Engineer

for IT & Operations Ron Krauss – Broadcast Engineer

David Luscher – Associate DirectorSusan Moorer – Development OfficerRick Popovich – Announcer/Producer

Gary Sexton – DirectorCarolyn Van Valien - Announcer/Producer

PROGRAM HOSTS/PRODUCERSMartin Berger – Now’s the Time

Tim Francisco – InterviewerWillie Lofton – Production Assistant

Gina Marinelli – Doing Good

STUDENT STAFFWalter Allen – Board OperatorIsaac Hraga - Board Operator

Emily Karr - Office Assistant and Board OperatorMorgan Palange – Office AssistantMeredith Pallo – Office Assistant

Ed Tatta – Board Operator and Music Librarian

FY2014Karen O’Malia

Zauderer

FY2015Patricia Fleming

Lynn GreeneTom Hull

Chris MetaJessica Winters

FY2016Fred Alexander

Bob ClydeDan KuzmaLisa Long

John Manhollan

FY2017Lauren Arnold

Christa Coleman-NgJohn Fahnert

Mike Kraynanski

FY2018Elliot LegowRobyn Maas

Nancy Marsh-McGarryJames Rodgers

FY2019Stacey Adger

LuWayne AnnosBarbara BrothersGary Davenport

David MooreCicilia Yudha

FY2020Noreen Moderalli

Phil Volpe-Monrean

WYSU-FM ADVISORY BOARD

This newsletter is printed on 30% recycled paper.

Find Us OnF A C E B O O K

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We post a lot on Facebook, and many times you will find information about

WYSU events and program information. We also post photographs there. If you come to our events, or volunteer for us,

you might even be in them!

So find us…on Facebook!

The WYSU Newsletter, including the schedule for “Now’s the Time” can now

be found at www.wysu.org.

Your Contact Information is Safe

with UsWYSU-FM refrains

from disclosing contributor or donor

names or other personally identifiable

information to any nonaffiliated third

party.