The 88.1 the Park Auction, scheduled for Saturday May 16, has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 school shutdown.

The auction is the station’s major fundraiser each year.  Last year 88.1 the Park raised over $16,000 due to the generosity of businesses throughout the community.  This year’s auction was sponsored by Community Financial Credit Union.  They are kindly allowing the station to keep the sponsorship money as a donation.

“It was a hard decision to postpone the auction until next year,” said Bill Keith, Station Manager.  “The auction is not only a wonderful fundraiser but it’s also a favorite event for our student staff.”

Postponement was especially hard because the station has 16 seniors who will miss out on their final auction.  88.1 the Park will make every effort to invite 2020 graduates back for next year’s fundraiser.  It will be important for the station to benefit from their talent and expertise.

“We thought about hosting the auction later this summer or early in the fall,” said Keith.  “But we know that local businesses are taking a big hit this year and we couldn’t imagine asking for donations.”

88.1 The Park is owned and operated by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and is staffed by students at Canton, Plymouth and Salem High School.  The station has been on the air for 48 years and features Plymouth and Canton’s Hit Music, hourly local news, live broadcasts from the community, and high school sports.

The Plymouth-Canton Community will run as one as the 10th annual S-J-5K kicks off on Sunday May 3.  This year’s run will be a bit different as it goes virtual.

The S-J-5K is more than a charity fundraiser.  This event brings the Plymouth-Canton Community together to make a difference.

By participating you can help five Plymouth Canton families and bring them hope, support and much needed funds as they face incredible challenges.

The SJ5K was started in 2011 to raise funds for Jessie Lindlbauer and his family.  Since then the run and walk has raised over a half million dollars for 40 families in our community.

You can extend the reach of this community event by participating in the virtual SJ5K, donating funds, or sponsoring the race.  Pledge to run, walk, or bike the Virtual SJ5K anytime and anywhere between Sunday, May 3rd and Sunday, May 10th. You can join us on Sunday, May 3rd at 8AM for the kick off ceremony airing on 88-1 the Park

Registration forms and more information is at SJ5K.org.  The S-J-5K – join us as we run as one.

88.1 the Park is a proud sponsor of this year’s  SJ5K

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation presented 88.1 the Park with the 2020 High School Station of the Year Award for the third year in-a-row.  The MABF also honored 17 Plymouth-Canton Educational Park students in their annual High School and College Awards Competition.  The MABF presented the awards during the Great Lakes Media Show on Wednesday March 4, 2020 in Lansing.

P-CEP students received 16 of the 30 awards presented in the high school radio category, including six first place awards in the 10 categories.  88.1 has received the Station of the Year Award nine times since 2001.

“Our success starts with the great work our students produce.  We’re lucky to have such hard working and talented students.” said Bill Keith, Station Manager.

The MABF received nearly 328 High School entries from 21 schools in the radio and television competition.

Continue reading →

Congratulations to Lily Mahnken, Lilly Betts and Julia Flora.  They are the February 2020 Staff Members and Director of the Month at 88.1 the Park.

Lily Mahnken and Lilly Betts were named Staff Members of the Month.  Lilly Betts is a Salem Sophomore.  Her show can be heard on Fridays from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.  She is also a member of the station’s Promotions/Fundraising Staff.  Lily Mahnken is a Plymouth Sophomore and is on the air Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  She also is a member of the Production Staff.

“Lily and Lilly are quickly becoming very talented on-air hosts,” said Bill Keith, Station Manager.  “They put a lot of work into their shows and the station sounds great because of it.  We are so lucky to have them on our staff.”

Julia Flora is a Salem Senior.  She is the station’s Fundraising Director, and has served in that role since her Junior year.  Julia is also a very gifted news writer.

“Julia was one of a handful of staff members that really put in the hours during our annual record show last month,” said Keith.  “She was there bright and early and stayed well after the event to account for the money raised.  We are grateful that Julia has been part of our staff since her Freshman year.  She’s become a really dependable leader.”

The latest issue of the 88.1 the Park Newsletter features and interview with WSDP Alum John Dobel.  John is a member of WSDP’s founding staff.  We also preview the upcoming 88.1 the Park Record Show, a fundraiser that brings over 400 collectors to the Salem High School Cafeteria.
airwaves_no_40

88.1 the Park is excited to announce the release of the station’s new iPhone and Android Phone Apps.  The phone apps are available at the iTunes and Google Play stores.  You can search for 88.1 The Park.

“We’ve been working on this release for over a year so it is exciting to release the apps for our listeners in Plymouth and Canton, and throughout the world.  We wanted to make it easier for our listeners to access the station and our digital content,” said Bill Keith, Station Manager.

The apps were created through a partnership with jācapps, a mobile apps development company in Southfield.  They are one of the leading app development companies for radio stations.