January 2021

From our Executive Director, Barbara Loh:

Happy New Year to everyone!!

First I want to thank all who supported us on Giving Tuesday and during our End of Year campaign. We were able to reach our goals. Your kindness and concern for our listeners during these challenging times is so appreciated.

We usually rely heavily on state funding for our day-to-day operations. However, because COVID delayed passage of the state budget this year which in turn is delaying our receipt of those dollars, you have truly helped us to keep our broadcasting on the air 24/7 for our listeners.

We could not be continuing these essential, accessible local news and information broadcasts, including the latest on COVID without you.

I would also like to thank Peoples Bank for their recent grant sponsorship to help us keep our listeners informed during this pandemic crisis. We welcome them as new supporters.

Our new space at the STCC Technology Park is gradually being transformed into a top notch studio space. We look forward to having visitors when it is safe to do so.

On a programming note, many thanks to Stephen Cary and Focus Springfield for providing audio from key events they are covering in Springfield to keep our listeners informed and up-to-date about key issues—especially COVID.

For example, in addition to listening to our readings of Springfield Republican articles about what has transpired every Monday during the Mayor’s press conferences on the latest COVID developments in the city and at area hospitals, our listeners can now listen to the actual press conference later in the evening.

We are also continuing our late afternoon COVID expanded broadcasting including the latest state statistics for COVID that day as well as all of that day’s latest developments, especially now on vaccine distribution.

It has been a very busy and productive time. Thanks again to all—board members, staff, volunteers, community supporters and donors who are making it all possible for our listeners.

• Thanks to our collaboration with Focus Springfield, Valley Eye Radio has begun broadcasting same day recordings of the weekly Covid-19 Press Conference by Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno, Springfield's Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Helen Caulton-Harris as well as status updates from Baystate Health President and CEO, Dr. Mark Keroack and Mercy Medical Center's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Roose.
  
  Our listeners hear this presentation from prominent local authorities during our 11 pm Monday updates to bring them direct source updates on Covid-19 news.

• Thanks to the Longmeadow Adult Center, Valley Eye Radio will broadcast audio from two virtual presentations including a program by Dr. Sujata Holman, Cardiologist at Pioneer Valley Cardiology, who discusses senior heart health and how the heart and heart disease risks change with age, heart-healthy diet changes and more!
  
  We will also broadcast the audio from their virtual presentation in October 2020 by Amy Dane entitled “Lebanon: Restive Past, Uncertain Future Travel”. Thanks to Amy, we will explore through her words the various aspects of the life and strife in this tiny Mediterranean country.

● Thanks to the World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, Valley Eye Radio listeners can look forward to hearing the audio from Dr. Daniel, the founder and director of the Harvard International Negotiation Program from his upcoming virtual presentation on Negotiating the Non Negotiables in the Arab-Israeli Conflict and Beyond.
    

Happy Birthday to all of those in our volunteer reader family who were born in the month of January: Arvind began his next trip around the sun on the 4th, Marilyn got all the attention on the 6th, Jim got his cake and presents on the 11th, Bob got spoiled on the 16th, Kathy gets (virtual) best wishes from family and friends on the 27th, Peter will hear from all his friends on the 28th and Karen gets all the attention on the 28th.

Happy Birthday wishes to all!