Radio station hosts block party fundraiser in Millheim

MILLHEIM — WSOV, the Sounds of the Valleys, a low-power FM community radio station for Penns Valley, recently hosted a block party fundraiser.

The party was held on both sides of Penn Street, at the St. Luke’s Cultural Center and The Millheim Theatre, directly across the street. The party featured free entertainment and great local food for sale to benefit WSOV. A wide variety of local musicians performed live at St. Luke’s, and there was assorted entertainment in the theater and games for kids of all ages.

Proceeds from the event will help WSOV purchase its emergency broadcast system, necessary for going on the air.

Project coordinators Larry Wolken and Lisa Marshall said the FCC requires all radio stations in the country to have an Emergency Broadcasting System transmitter which is tied into the station’s main transmitter. These devices are also tied to the Internet and will automatically interrupt normal broadcasting in the event of local or national emergencies.

WSOV, 101.7 on the FM dial, is a project of the Penns Valley Conservation Association, and received its license to build in March 2014. Since then, organizers have been raising money, planning programs and building studios in the St. Luke’s Cultural Center. Wolken said that about $9,000 is still needed for transmitting equipment before the station can begin broadcasting.

Wolken noted that community radio stations like WSOV are subject to commercial restrictions much like Public Broadcasting System stations. They cannot air commercials like privately owned stations, but businesses, organizations or individuals may sponsor shows and receive recognition on those shows. He said that the group has raised $3,000 of its original $12,000 goal.