WHDD: When lightning strikes ... keep on going

SHARON  — It has been five months since the studio of WHDD-FM91.9 and AM 1020 (robinhoodradio.com) at 67 Main St. was struck by a lightning bolt, destroying approximately $23,000 worth of equipment.

Since then the station has raised around 40 percent of what it needs to pay for the new gear that replaced the destroyed equipment, according to Marshall Miles, a co-founder of the radio station with Jill Goodman, and head of the nonprofit National Public Radio station’s parent organization, Tri-State Public Communications.

And the station is still pressing on, Miles said.

“We have a budget, so we’ve had to put off certain things that we should have done earlier,†Miles said. “Yes, we still need to raise the money, but we’re not letting that stand in our way.â€

In fact, Miles said, the station recently purchased WHDD-AM, which they had been leasing from Willpower Radio.

The station has also added new programs such as “Darren Winston’s Book Report,†“A Moment in Wine†with Fred Tregaskis, “Language Matters†with Nat Benchley and “Leader’s Edge†with Sander Flaum, Miles said.  

Flaum is a consultant in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and is the chairman of the Fordham University Leadership Forum and a professor at the Fordham Graduate School of Business. “Leaders Edge†airs every Wednesday morning around 7:30 a.m. “Language Matters†runs Thursdays at 2:45 p.m. and Sundays at 6:45 p.m. “A Moment in Wine†plays Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:35 a.m.,  Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m., Saturday at 8 a.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. and “Darren Winston’s Book Report†can be heard Thursdays at 2.30 p.m.

Miles said several other shows will debut early next year.

“We’re currently putting together ‘Do the Right Thing,’ with Karen Grigsby Bates, the author of ‘Basic Black’ and a correspondent for NPR News.

“In addition, we’re developing a show with WOWOWOW (Women on the Web),†he said.

“WOW features such contributors as Liz Smith, Joan Ganz Cooney, Whoopi Goldberg, Peggy Noonan, Sheila Nevins, Margaret Howard and Lily Tomlin.

“Plus we will have a show called ‘Getting Organized’ with Margaret Lukens,†he said. Lukens is the owner of New Leaf and Co., which helps companies streamline their operations. The show will offer tips to businesses and organizations on how to create clear business plans.

WHDD has an arrangement with WBSL 91.7, a Berkshire School student station, to broadcast programming when students are not on the air with their own programs.

Miles and Goodman stressed that plans for future programming on the NPR station can only be accomplished through listener support.

“If anyone has questions about why their donations are important I would ask them to either call us or stop by the station to see what we’re doing,†Miles said. “It’s very important that we continue to raise funds, so we can devote ourselves to improving the station’s product.â€

Send tax-deductible contributions to WHDD-FM, 67 Main St., Sharon, CT 06069. Make all payments out to Tri-State Public Communications.  

For more information about WHDD, call 860-364-4640 or visit the station’s Web site at robinhoodradio.com, or online at Facebook.

WHDD At a glance

Organization: Tri-State Public Communications

Director and title: Marshall Miles, president, Jill Goodman, secretary and treasurer

Web site: robinhoodradio.com, catv6.com

Founded in: 2002

Mission: Local public radio  and local access television for the Tri-state region

Biggest annual fundraiser: Do not have one yet, in planning stages.

How much total money is raised each year and how? $300,000 to $400,000 from underwriting, grants and donations.

Any funds or other suupport from local towns? No

Total assets: $400,000

How is the money spent? Operational costs

What can volunteers from the community do to help? Donate time, money, ideas, shows, etc.

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