Former Secretary of State and Kent resident Henry Kissinger once observed that “power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.” Maybe that explains why Journal reporter Cynthia Hochswender wrote last week that a local radio personality is a “chick magnet.”
All kidding aside, broadcasting is a serious business — nowhere more so than in the Tri-State Corner, where our two local radio stations have been battling each other for bragging rights for more than a decade.
One station has a down-to-earth approach, with lots of colorful local personalities and an entertaining morning show, but an inferior music format. The other has a varied playlist that includes some of my favorite artists, but with little in the way of local news or talk.
Give Lakeville’s WQQQ-FM (Q-103) a listen and it’s clear the station is the choice of working people in the area. Take the Q Morning Show, for example. The smooth voice of Joe “Six Pack” Loverro wakes us up every weekday at 5:30 a.m., replete with weather forecasts and local event listings. Of course, unless a cow has wandered onto Route 44, there is no need for traffic reports.
The hiring about a year ago of newsman Ron Lyon has added much to the show, giving the loquacious Loverro a capable foil in the witty and laconic Lyon. To be fair, since the spartan Q-103 has no real news staff, Lyon’s local “news report” consists of little more than a scanning of headlines from that morning’s Waterbury Republican and Poughkeepsie Journal. Still, notwithstanding its limited resources, the station makes a good-faith effort to deliver as much local content as possible. And, as The Journal reported last week, the recent addition of Fiona Hutchison and Thia Tarrab has given the morning show a touch of charm and urbanity.
With only one exception, the remaining original programming is an uplifting mix: “Nascar” Dave MacMillin, country music and the auto racing report on Sunday mornings; Loverro’s own Friday Night Gold; and a big band swing-era show with Gary Bonds on Sunday evenings.
For some reason, the otherwise levelheaded Loverro, who also doubles as station manager, insists on carrying the rantings of L.A. Steel, a bitter name-calling liberal talk show host who, in a recent Tuesday evening show, referred to President Bush as “a lying creep.” The weekly bombast of the shrill Steel and his like-minded co-hosts is the left wing equivalent of Rush Limbaugh — minus the humor.
A couple of months ago, the station celebrated a milestone of sorts. Bill Krasowski, the knowledgeable and affable host of “Talking Sports,” celebrated his tenth year on the air. But as Krasowski’s colleague, Bill Simmons, noted on the day of the anniversary, even more remarkable is the fact that the tiny Q-103 has itself survived for that long.
The area’s other station, WKZE (FM 98.1 and AM 1020), is something of an oddity. The Sharon-based station beams the bulk of its powerful FM signal west over the Hudson Valley toward the progressive axis of Woodstock and Saugerties. Consequently, listeners as nearby as Canaan and Cornwall have reported spotty reception, limiting the station’s influence in Connecticut.
KZE’s eclectic mix of rock, folk, blues and jazz is much more to my liking. Afternoon drive-time personality Doug Harrel, host of the aptly named “Doug & Pony Show,” is outstanding. Harrel’s quirky sense of humor, combined with his affinity for Steely Dan, the Allman Brothers and Little Feat, keep my office radio glued to 98.1 every afternoon.
WKZE-AM is a shell of its former self. Throughout much of the 90s, the station played country music, then switched to hits of the 70s, 80s and 90s after luring personality Marshall Miles away from Q-103 to do his popular “Marshall In The Morning” show. Ironically, it was Miles’s second go-around at WKZE, having been fired in 1993 and led away by armed guards at the behest of Stan Gurell and Ira Levy, the station’s eccentric former owners.
Now that Miles has left again, banished to the netherworld of the local public access cable outlet, WKZE-AM simply simulcasts the programming of its sister station. Rumor has it WKZE-AM is on the block, but its weak signal and dawn-to-dusk license will make it a tough sell.
In some ways the two stations are emblematic of how this nation is currently divided: the working class Q-103 (red) and the more upscale WKZE (blue). Come to think of it, that kind of true diversity is what makes ours such a great area in which to live. Be thankful and enjoy.

Lakeville resident Terry D. Cowgill is a former editor of The Millerton News.

Many schools are seen as a natural networking, educational site to build community. With increasing demands, regulations,and even insurance liabilties, some schools are refusing to post or relay info from “the outside world” to the student body. There are no community boards, kiosks, or liasons.

This streamlining and safeguarding may be counterproductive…but most parents, and citizens are not even aware of the changing policies or have a need to interact or publicize something–an event, or heavenforbid, an idea…or poem…

Now, regarding the now for-profit (private?) hospital hosting an event for a political candidate and “pressuring” people to attend with a solicitation…I would say let’s consider the “freedom to assemble” as
a value we all hold dear. Calling admission a donation is a clever trick that many venues use. I don’t think the amount can be demanded..or admission denied if the donation is not paid..(maybe a dollar would fill the bill). In the adult world, I think invitations can be made, and mandates that no negative consequences befall those not responding accordingly. People such as staff at the hospital could opt out of being on any solicitation lists.

In free enterprise, other candidates could be readily informed of the event (those contending for the same position or at least let the other political parties know of the event), and then be given a time to meet as well.

There may be political laws regarding fundraising that need further scrutiny. In general, freedom of assembly, free speech and so on are worth keeping as values to practice.