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 WARD HILL, Mass. (December 27 2011) —The nationally syndicated Thom Hartmann Program comes to WHAV noon, Jan. 2. Hartmann will be heard live three-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week, taking listener telephone calls and providing news, opinion and debate.
Hartmann is the nation’s top progressive radio talk show host, according to Talkers Magazine, and is listed among the trade publication’s “Heaviest Hundred: the 100 most important radio talk show hosts of all time.” He is a four-time Project Censored-award-winning, New York Times best-selling author of 22 books in 17 languages on five continents. His daily talk show, now in its eighth year, comes to WHAV through its affiliation with the Pacifica Network.
“The Thom Hartmann Program meets WHAV’s criteria for presenting information and opinion not heard elsewhere in the market. It is a welcome addition to WHAV’s lineup,” said WHAV President and General Manager Tim Coco. Importantly, the non-commercial version of the program sets aside time each hour for local programming,” Coco said.... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (November 14, 2011) — The more than 55-year history of WHAV’s Open Mike Show will be chronicled tonight (Monday) when Tim Coco takes over as host of the venerable talk program.
The late Edwin V. Johnson was the first host of the Open Mike Show during the mid-1950s and the microphone was eventually passed to the late William C. “Bill” Pike, Lindsy Parker and John “Jack” Bevelaqua. Unlike the early days, the Open Mike Show is heard today on the Internet at www.WHAV.net and seven cable television stations across the Merrimack Valley. It may also be viewed on Haverhill Community Television channel 22 and www.WHAV.tv. The show begins at 6:30 p.m.
“WHAV was the first station in the Merrimack Valley to have a talk show. Jerry Williams, I guess they call the dean of talk, had started earlier, but we started in, I’m going to say, about 1953 or 1954 with a talk show,” Johnson recalls in a segment recorded in 1996 that.... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (October 13, 2011) —Juan C. “Camilo” Gil, a Haverhill High School senior, is interning this term in WHAV’s Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom. He is learning about news writing, broadcasting and announcing.
Gil, 17, son of Margarita Mosquera and Hernan Gil, also appears on air every Thursday when he provides a preview of upcoming games at and between area high schools.
“I got started in communications myself as a Haverhill High School senior, interning at WHAV in 1978. It seems fitting to extend that opportunity to another student,” said WHAV President and General Manager Tim Coco. “It is also quite appropriate that Camilo works in the newsroom that bears the name of Edwin V. Johnson, a long-time Haverhill High School instructor and WHAV news director who passed away in 2003,” Coco said.... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (September 22, 2011) — Dr. Lane A. Glenn, who became Northern Essex Community College’s fourth president this summer, will take listener calls Monday night during WHAV’s Open Mike Show.
Glenn will be interviewed by WHAV News Director Marc Lemay during the live broadcast which begins at 6:30 p.m. The program can be heard at www.WHAV.net and several area public access stations. Open Mike may also be viewed over Haverhill Community Television’s Channel 22 and at www.WHAV.TV.
Prior to his appointment as president in July, Glenn served as vice president of academic affairs for five years. He has expanded the college’s relationships with local high schools and partnered with local employers, such as Raytheon, to develop programs that deliver the skills most needed in the job market... MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (5/9/11) — WHAV has expanded its diverse program offerings through partnership with the Pacifica Radio Network, the oldest noncommercial broadcast network in the United States. Pacifica Radio is renowned for cutting edge grassroots journalism and arts, as well as broadcasting a variety of viewpoints that are otherwise unavailable in mainstream media.
WHAV is airing most of Pacifica’s schedule, including Democracy Now!, the award-winning daily news magazine hosted by Amy Goodman, live at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday, and Free Speech Radio News, an international newscast using on-location reporters, at 5 p.m. weekdays. Other Pacifica Network programs carried by WHAV include Explorations, a science and technology program with Dr. Michio Kaku; Sprouts, featuring local stories of national interest from Pacifica affiliates; and WINGS, news and current affairs featuring strong women’s voices and ideas from around the world... MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (4/20/11) — Public Media of New England Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, came into being this month and will operate WHAV as a non-commercial community radio station. Three local residents were also named to the new board of directors.
Anita M. Purcell, William D. Cox Jr. and Tim Coco, all of Haverhill, are serving as the initial officers and directors of Public Media of New England Inc. WHAV’s on-air, Internet and cable television operations have operated as a unit of COCO+CO. Inc. since 2004.
“Serving the public interest, convenience and necessity was the aim of restoring WHAV seven years ago this year. It has remained a community service project with all revenues committed solely to this purpose,” said Coco, who continues to serve as a volunteer general manager. “WHAV continues to operate 24 hours a day and will be adding more educational and talk programs,” he said.
Purcell recently retired as vice president of lending at Haverhill Bank. Previously she worked as operations manager at Grasso Appraisal Services Inc., Burlington, for 13 years. She has also worked in various capacities at several area banks and mortgage companies and as a real estate broker for seven years. ... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (1/3/11) — Melinda Myers brings her series for home gardeners, “Melinda’s Garden Moments,” to WHAV for 2011.
The show, heard three-times-a-day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, is intended to help listeners achieve a big harvest, beautiful landscape or just stress relief. Her timely, one-minute tips aim to eliminate garden guesswork, inside or out, during all seasons of the year.
“Melinda’s Garden Moments” adds to WHAV’s weekday line-up of short form features. These include “Little Known Facts,” “Report to Consumers,” and “It’s the Law.”
Myers, of Milwaukee, Wis., has more than 30 years of horticulture experience in both hands-on and instructional settings. She has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in horticulture from University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is a certified arborist, and was a horticulture instructor with tenure... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (9/24/10) — Brenda K. Ghorashi of Haverhill won the grand prize — an iPod Touch — when winners of WHAV’s “Tidal Wave of Winnings” were drawn live last Monday night during the Open Mike Show with Jack Bevelaqua.
Kevin Alder of Haverhill was named the second place winner and will receive an AM/FM radio and CD player. In total, 16 prizes were awarded during the contest, undertaken as part of a survey to ascertain the needs and tastes of listeners throughout the Merrimack Valley... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (08/19/10) — A number of local businesses are supporting WHAV’s “Tidal Wave of Winnings” drawing with prizes ranging from an iPod Touch to gift certificates.
The contest is being undertaken as part of a survey to ascertain the needs and tastes of listeners throughout the Merrimack Valley. Survey respondents are eligible to win such prizes as an iPod Touch donated by COCO+CO., portable AM/FM Radio and CD Player from Haverhill TV & Appliance, $25 gift certificate from Haverhill Beef Company, Checkered Flag Indoor Karting gift certificate, family four-pack of tickets to the Topsfield Fair, Roma Restaurant gift certificate and a free haircut from Supercuts.
“WHAV recognizes its responsibility to determine what programs are of interest to listeners and what improvements — whether in content or delivery — are needed,” said WHAV General Manager Tim Coco. The “Tidal Wave of Winnings” is the brainchild of Mathew Jakobsons of West Newbury, who... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (08/2/10) — Tim Coco takes readers of Radio magazine on a virtual tour of WHAV as it existed from 1947 to 1980 in the August issue of the national engineering publication.
Coco’s article, “A Technical History of WHAV,” begins by taking readers back to the 1947 week-long open house at WHAV’s new studio building. The Haverhill Gazette, then-owner, opened the art deco-styled building.... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (05/5/10) — Tony Seton, former ABC-TV journalist and producer of Barbara Walters’ interviews, will discuss his new novel, “Truth Be Told,” during WHAV’s Open Mike Show at 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 17.
Seton based the book on the true story of a woman’s fight against sexual harassment and discrimination at a top-50 U.S. law school. Julia Borden, the protagonist in the story, is based on real-life Kyndra Miller Rotunda... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (March 15, 2010) — WHAV is now heard on Plaistow’s local access channel 17.
Channel 17 carries other local programming and broadcasts WHAV when it is not airing its regularly scheduled programming.
The radio station is also heard on the Internet at WHAV.net, cable television in several area communities, mobile phones and a low-power AM radio station at 1640. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Feb. 15, 2010) — The WHAV Open Mike Show is giving away one free cake each week to listeners celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Each week a new flavored cake, donated by Emily’s Bakery, will be awarded to a lucky listener.
For an opportunity to win listeners need only to call the Open Mike show, which airs live on Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The show, hosted by long-time talkmaster Jack Bevelaqua, is heard on the Internet at WHAV.net, cable television in several area communities, mobile phones and a low-power AM radio station at 1640. A special televised show may be seen online at WHAV.TV or channel 22 in Haverhill. MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (Dec. 15, 2009) — The failure of the Haverhill School Department to keep a commitment made to Mayor James J. Fiorentini and School Committeeman Joseph J. Bevilacqua two years ago means Haverhill will not have a local FM radio station.
Horizon Christian Fellowship of Fitchburg, received word in October that it will be awarded the last available FM radio frequency in the Greater Haverhill area. A map provided by the group indicates the proposed station’s signal will not reach Haverhill, but its presence likely precludes construction of another station to serve Haverhill. MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (Dec. 15, 2009) — Groveland officials notified WHAV Monday the station’s programming will not be allowed to air on the town’s cable television stations unless the popular Open Mike Show is pulled from the schedule.
Tracy Gilford, a member of the town’s Cable TV Advisory Board, informed WHAV Monday the town had been manually pre-empting the Open Mike Show for several weeks because Groveland officials did not like criticism of the town’s government by program host Jack Bevelaqua, according to station officials. When the town inadvertently failed last week to block the show, Gilford reported, town leaders ordered WHAV’s audio off its cable system altogether. The Open Mike Show airs live from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mondays, with a repeat at the same time Thursdays. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Nov. 16, 2009) — Pat Johnson, widow of Edwin V. Johnson who passed away in 2003, will unveil a permanent metal plaque Wednesday during the formal dedication of the “Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom” at the new WHAV studios in Ward Hill. The event will be recorded for broadcast over WHAV at 6:05 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24.
Mrs. Johnson of Haverhill will be joined by announcers such as Phil Christie of Andover, who worked with Mr. Johnson at WHAV during the 1950s and who is still heard daily on the station. Former Haverhill High School colleagues, including Elinor Curtin Cameron, and students such as Merrimack Valley Hospital’s Mary O’Neil and local public access television fixture Larry Seaman will also participate in the ceremony. Mayor James J. Fiorentini, whose father worked with Mr. Johnson, is also expected.
“Ed Johnson was WHAV’s longest serving employee, beginning only a few years after the Haverhill Gazette placed the radio station on the air. Over a 34-year career – and three station owners – he demonstrated a commitment to objectivity, accuracy and truth in reporting,” said WHAV President and General Manager Tim Coco who received his start at WHAV in 1978 with the encouragement of Mr. Johnson. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Sept. 7, 2009) — Tony Seton, former ABC Network Television journalist and producer of Barbara Walters interviews, will talk about the state of the news media next month in downtown Haverhill.
Seton will discuss “From Cronkite to Colbert: Journalism in Transition,” Monday, Sept. 21 at The Galleria Banquet Room, Maria’s Family Restaurant, 83-85 Essex Street, Haverhill. He will also be available for a wine and cheese reception before the talk. Tickets are $100 for both the reception and talk and $25 for the lecture only and may be obtained by calling (978) 374-2111 or visiting www.WHAV.net.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the establishment of the Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom. Johnson, who passed away in 2003, was associated with WHAV for 34 years. He retired as news director in 1985.MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (June 8, 2009) — Matthew R. Pereira, a Liberal Arts student attending Northern Essex Community College, joined WHAV last month as a newsroom intern for the summer.
Pereira, of Tewksbury, is participating in the WHAV Radio College Internship Program, which provides practical, on-the-job experience to students interested in pursuing careers in broadcasting, journalism and related fields.
“Matthew is ambitious and eager to learn. He has already voiced newscasts, community calendar announcements and Business Bulletin segments,” said Tim Coco, president and general manager. He is also learning about live event production... MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (April 23, 2009) — “Report to Consumers,” a 90-second product review feature from the editors of Consumer Reports, now airs three times daily on WHAV.
Host Ernie Sprance provides money saving tips, alerts consumers to safety and health issues and offers product comparisons. “Report to Consumers” is heard on 290 radio stations across the country. The program airs at 7:45 and 11:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“’Report to Consumers” well complements WHAV’s daily array of interesting and informative features. The program joins other short form shows such as MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (March 11, 2009) — Mark W. McKellar of Haverhill joined the sales team at WHAV in February. He has 14 years of experience as a media sales professional including stints at WRKO/WEEI and WXRV.
McKellar, who will serve as account executive, has worked with some of the largest brands in the region and scores of local businesses. He has created and executed media placements in print, radio and online media based on each client’s unique goals and needs. McKellar is also a talented and creative copy writer.
McKellar previously published The Alliance newspaper, covering health and human services in the Merrimack Valley MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Jan. 25, 2009) — Jack Bevelaqua, the last host of WHAV’s popular Open Mike Show, returns to the air live at 6:30 p.m., Monday night, Feb. 2.
Like the original, the weekly, two-hour program presents timely guests and gives area residents a chance to call and discuss issues of concern. Unlike the earlier show, however, the program will be heard not just over the airwaves, but also on the Web at www.WHAV.net, area cable television stations and mobile phones. Bevelaqua will also comment on e-mails and voicemails.
“No feelings will be spared and no topics off limits,” said Bevelaqua. “I welcome hearing from old and new friends alike. The promise of a free society is only fulfilled when there is a free exchange of opinions and ideas,” he said. MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (Dec. 19, 2008) — A number of tech-savvy residents turned to WHAV on their cell telephones for information during the recent storm-induced “blackout.” The surge in listeners clamoring for emergency instructions has led WHAV’s owner, Xelocast, to accelerate plans to provide easier access to its two radio stations on mobile phones.
WHAV is already available on the Internet at WHAV.net, cable television in several area communities and low-power station at 1640 on AM radios. Its sister station, StreamingSuperstation, is also available on the Internet. A new Web page, www.WHAV.net/cell/ makes it easier for mobile phone users with data capabilities to download necessary software and tune-in to both stations. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Oct. 30, 2008) — WHAV airs radio’s most famous broadcast, “War of the Worlds,” Oct 30 – 70 years to the day it sent the nation into panic. A documentary, commemorating the anniversary, will also be heard.
Orson Welles and “The Mercury Theater on the Air” based the play on the 1898 novel by H. G. Wells. However, the radio version used simulated news bulletins to announce the Martian invasion of Earth... MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (Sept. 12, 2008) — “SetonnoteS,” a daily two-minute commentary by Tony Seton, is now airing weeknights after the 6 and 11 p.m. news on WHAV. In one of his first commentaries on WHAV, Seton gave listeners a sense of his views. He warned the bump in the polls John McCain received by naming Sarah Palin as his running mate may not endure. “After another two months of lower home values and high prices for food and fuel, the sharp bite of the Gorgeous Gov may not be enough to overcome... MORE
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  WARD HILL, Mass. (June 11, 2008) — Carlos J. Olivera of Haverhill and Christine A. Ribeiro of North Reading joined WHAV last week as newsroom interns to gain knowledge of the broadcasting industry. Both provide production and reporting assistance to the local Internet radio station, which is also heard on a number of cable television stations. MORE
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 WASHINGTON (May 30, 2008) — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded WHAV federal protection from service mark infringement. Federal registration was sought to ensure the call letters would forever be associated with audio broadcasting in Haverhill, Mass. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Feb. 6, 2008) — Kelsey Y. Kane of Amesbury, Mass., joined WHAV in February as a newsroom intern to gain knowledge of the broadcasting industry. She provides production and reporting assistance to the local Internet radio station, which is also heard on a number of cable television stations. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Dec. 10, 2007) — WHAV, the Merrimack Valley's Internet and cable television station, is launching its “Soft Gold” format at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 17 with a rebroadcast of “WHAV´s 60th Anniversary: A Promise Fulfilled” with Tom Bergeron, Gary Lapierre and Phil “The Voice” Christie. The station's Top 40 music offerings are moving to a second station, “StreamingSuperstation.com.” MORE
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WARD HILL, Mass. (Sept. 11, 2007) — The new WHAV, heard on the Internet at WHAV.net and affiliated cable television stations in Andover, Groveland, Haverhill and Methuen, has been named an affiliate of the Monterey, Calif.-based Quality News Network (QNN).
QNN, founded in 2006, provides 15 top-of-the-hour newscasts each weekday. The network also airs the hour-long public affairs program, “America Back on Track,” each weekday. WHAV is phasing in QNN programs and will be carrying all newscasts beginning in October. MORE
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 WARD HILL, Mass. (Sept. 4, 2007) — Karen McDowell was recently named public affairs director for WHAV, which provides soft rock music, news, weather and other programs via the World Wide Web at www.whav.net and affiliated cable television stations.
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 WARD HILL, Mass. — Leon E. "Gene" Weed was last heard on WHAV nearly 40 years ago. He returns to the WHAV microphones at 8 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 9 with a special program, "Music of My Life." The broadcast, in association with the 60th anniversary of the launch of WHAV, may be heard on the Internet at WHAV.net and affiliated cable television stations in Andover, Groveland, Haverhill and Methuen.
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 WARD HILL, Mass. — Hollywood personality Tom Bergeron, recently retired WBZ anchor Gary LaPierre and popular radio personality Phil Christie will be on hand for “WHAV’s 60th Anniversary, ‘A Promise Fulfilled,’” Friday, March 16, over WHAV.NET and affiliated cable television stations.
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