News Brief - September 2020
From our Executive Director, Barbara Loh:
Happy almost fall!! The unofficial end of summer is here and we are heading into the homestretch for 2020. There aren't too many people that I know who won't be very happy to see this year end.
Still, we have months to go and so many uncertainties remain. One of them is that half of our annual budget usually comes from state funding, so we continue to await a final state budget to enable us to know our financial picture going forward for the fiscal year that started July 1. The current interim state budget ends October 31, but with no word on possible federal dollars coming to the states, a final state budget still seems elusive.
What to do???
It is one of those times that, beyond continuing to apply for and having already received various COVID-19 grants as well as a Personal Payroll Protection (PPP) loan, we need to ask our loyal donors to consider making a one time "special" donation to help us during this pandemic that has disrupted so many things.
So, if it is possible for you to help us with an extra donation during this uncertain time, our listeners would be the beneficiaries for the remainder of this fiscal year until some "normalcy" returns.
You can go to www.valleyeyeradio.org to make your donation or send a check by September 30 to Valley Eye Radio at 44 Hampden Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Thank you. Your generosity and support keep us going!!!
Despite the unknowns, our accessible broadcasting service continues to operate 24/7 with updates on COVID-19 every weekday so our listeners have the latest. Our amazing volunteers continue to record mostly from the safety of their homes. We thank them as always for giving our listeners all the latest accessible local news and information from many sources that is even more critical during this COVID-19 health threat.
- Valley Eye Radio went back on the road recently for our first (socially distant) in person interview at Mercy Life to learn about the PACE program, an all-inclusive health care option designed to keep seniors in their homes and out of long term care facilities.
Thanks to Season Bryant, Community Liaison and Santoya Jackson, Rehabilitation Specialist, our listeners heard about the options available to them. Providing information on community resources is just one of the many things we do at Valley Eye Radio. - This month, we presented even more programs sponsored by FOLOCA (Friends of Longmeadow Older Citizens Association) from the Longmeadow Adult Center on such subjects as Self Advocacy and Cutting the Cord (so to speak) to save money on one’s cable TV bill.
- In a timely presentation just before the primary elections in Massachusetts on Sept. 1st and to continue our observance of the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage, Valley Eye Radio broadcast the portrayal of Dora Lewis, Philadelphia Suffragist for the National Woman’s Party.
The audio from this Zoom presentation for the Longmeadow Adult Center, gave our listeners a chance to hear “first hand” from Dora (portrayed by Carol Spacht) about her role in the historical ratification of the right to vote for women. - In September, we will broadcast audio recordings from various Zoom events including an open discussion with State Sen. Eric Lesser, thanks to the Storrs Library in Longmeadow, and one by Martin Gillen who wrote “The Ultimate Boston Red Sox Time Machine Book”, thanks to the Westfield Athenaeum.
- Valley Eye Radio continues to offer our listeners important practical information such as this presentation for the Longmeadow Adult Center by Nancy B. Cahalen, President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Central & Western MA and Northeastern CT, on what to know when you hire a home improvement contractor.
Happy Birthday to all of those in our volunteer reader family who were born in the month of September: David M. had his big day on the 2nd, Jennifer got all the attention on the 10th, David R. feels the love on the 16th, Laura hears from all her friends on the 20th, Marion and Harold both begin their next trip around the sun on the 21st, Eileen S. and Dennis both get their cake and presents on the 23rd.
Happy Birthday wishes to all!
