Hello, WACF followers, friends and listeners!

Not only are we back on the air, but our live studio is almost finished! Engineering whiz Chris Tracy has been diligently working on assembling the audio chain and testing equipment to make sure it works perfectly. (You may have heard his mellifluous voice making some station ID announcements over the air last Friday as he tested the studio’s live microphone.)

We still have a bit of work to do—maybe a few day’s worth or so—with final connection of some remaining equipment and cleanup of odds and ends left over from the process. We’re also completing conversion of the former Green Room bathroom into a storage closet, and purchasing and hanging acoustic panels on the walls. But once that’s done we’ll post photos so you can all see how beautifully it has come together! 

 We’re also working on a less expensive way to begin streaming our content on the web, via a used computer and monitor and a free streaming app. The main expense (about $1500 a year) will be an online station subscription that not only provides a place to access our stream online, but includes coverage of the sizable fees for the FCC-mandated music licensing and it will allow us to run underwriting notices and public service announcements.

 That having been said, the length of time and costs of this move from the now-demolished Gavitt Wire & Cable building, and the additional, unexpected expenses that have accompanied it, have completely drained our move-in budget and forced us to dip into our operational funds, so streaming will have to wait for the time being. Our listeners’ help is needed now more than ever if we’re to cover our future monthly insurance and electrical bills. If you haven’t already, and you love our programming and want to see us expand it, then we ask that you please consider a donation to Apple Country Radio, WACF-LP 98.1. Any amount will help and will be greatly appreciated! Go to applecountryradio.org/support-wacf for ways to support us and help your non-commercial community broadcast radio station grow!

Finally, we’ll be appearing at the annual Apple Country Fair at the Brookfield Town Common on Saturday, October 10, from 10am to 4pm. Come by Booth #76 and say hello!