May 2022
From our Executive Director, Barbara Loh:
Did you know that May is National Elder Law Month? Did you know that Shatz, Schwartz, and Fentin, one of our programming sponsors, publishes a monthly elder law newsletter that we record and broadcast? They are just one of our committed sponsors that helps to keep us on the air with their ongoing support. It is another way that we strive to keep our listeners informed and aware beyond newspaper reading.
Speaking of sponsors, due to our greatly increased hours of local programming, we would love to get more. Contact Barbara or Harold if you or a local business would like to underwrite one of our programs. It is a great opportunity to support Valley Eye Radio and get the word out about your service or business or show your support as a community member.
We want to thank Senator Adam Gomez again for filing a state budget amendment last week in the Senate to help us to receive FY'23 state funding. Representative Michael Finn did the same in the House.
We greatly appreciate their efforts to support us and keep us on the air 24/7 for our listeners. We should be able to update you further on our potential state funding in our June newsletter.
- Thanks to the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, Valley Eye Radio presented "An Evening with Lech Wałęsa" (former President of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize-Winner) as our "Special Event Program". Our thanks also to their partner organization, the World Affairs Council of Western MA, for this rebroadcast of another very timely presentation.
Yet another interesting program came to Valley Eye Radio this month from the World Affairs Council of Western MA with a panel discussion on the refugee experience in Western Massachusetts.
- Valley Eye Radio was back on the road again presenting information and important updates on our service for participants at the 2nd Annual Western Mass Blind and Low Vision Resource Fair at the Clodo Concepcion Community Center in Springfield on Monday, May 23rd. Our thanks to all those who attended.
- Valley Eye Radio can now be heard through the Sero (formerly iBlink Radio) app for the blind and visually impaired on their cell phones in addition to their smart speakers or our website. Check out www.valleyeyeradio.org for the latest information on how eligible listeners with a visual or print impairment can tune in to us and get their local news and feature programming.
- The Greater Springfield Visitors and Convention Bureau held their 25th Howdy! Awards for Hospitality Excellence and two persons from Valley Eye Radio were finalists in the Public Service category, our Program Director Harold Anderson and Heather, one of our volunteer readers, for her work at Cordes Orthodontics. Although no one from Valley Eye Radio walked off with a trophy, our thanks go to all our volunteer reader family and staff that make what we do possible.
- May is Stroke Awareness Month and Valley Eye Radio is proud to present audio rebroadcasts of two talks by experts at Baystate Health on the important subject. The first event was “Strokes Can Happen at Any Age” by Dr. Rajiv Padmanabhan, Neurologist, Baystate Neurology.
The second presentation, by Dr. Heydi Flores Podadera, Neurologist at Baystate Neurology, was another very significant side of the topic entitled "WOMEN, Do You Know Your Risk for Stroke?".
Happy Birthday to all of those in our volunteer reader family who were born in the month of May: Eugene celebrated his day on the 3rd, Phil was spoiled by family and friends on the 6th, Joan began another trip around the sun on the 11th, Pat and former reader Bill both felt the love on the 13th, Kathy S. had a perfect day on the 14th, Bobby had his special cake and presents on the 17th, Lorraine looked ahead to another nice year on the 18th, Beverly was feted on the 21st and former tech volunteer Dick will hear from all of his loved ones on the 26th.
● Thanks to our volunteer reader Phil, a retired veteran himself, Valley Eye Radio presents our daily “Vet Minute” program with one or more articles from the VA and other official sources as part of our outreach to veterans. If you know of a visually or print impaired veteran, please let them know about this program and our hour-long program for veterans every Saturday at 8 am.
Happy Birthday wishes to all!
