The latest issue of the 88.1 the Park Newsletter features and interview with WSDP Alum Brian Stackpoole, at 1994 Plymouth-Salem graduate.  We also spotlight 88.1 the Park’s partnership with the Park Players Theatre Company.  The COVID-19 restrictions for live theatre productions caused the Park Players produce live radio dramas that have been heard on 88.1 the Park.
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We’re part of an amazing community in Canton and Plymouth and we can’t say thank enough for your generosity in supporting our annual pledge drive.

This has been a challenging year.  But in the midst of it, our community really came together to support 88.1 the Park.  We were able to raise almost $12,000 through the gifts of listeners, alums and our student’s families.  Over 125 people gave throughout the week.  The amazing part is that 55 of those gifts came on the very last day of the pledge drive when we raised $5,500.

So. as we head into Thanksgiving we want to take this moment to thank YOU.  We always knew our listeners were looking out for the station, and had our back during this challenging year.  Thanks for reminding us in such a powerful way.

88.1 the Park honored two deserving alums when the station presents the Dr. Andrew Melin WSDP Distinguished Alumni Award on Wednesday August 12, at 7:00 p.m. at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth.

The award was created in the Spring of 2017 in honor of former WSDP Station Manager, Andrew Melin.  The purpose of the award is to recognize WSDP Alums that have used their experience at the station, and Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, to further the mission of WSDP by achieving success in their chosen career field; investing in the lives of young people; or supporting their local community. It is the hope of the station’s management that the honorees will serve as role models for future students at 88.1 and P-CEP.  The first recipient was June Kirchgatter, Plymouth-Salem ’83.  The 2018 honorees include Rob Milford, Plymouth ’73, and Glenn Bar, Plymouth-Canton ’82.  The 2020 honorees were Mike Schulte, Plymouth-Salem ’78, Scott Herrold Plymouth-Salem ’98, and Jake Bugeja, Starkweather ’02.

The 2020 honorees were David Snyder, Plymouth-Salem ’82 and Patty Williamson, Plymouth Salem ’88.

David graduated from Plymouth-Salem in 1982 and eventually came back to serve as the station manager of WSDP from 1987 to 1991.  After leaving the station he went back to school and began a career in television.  He is the evening anchor for WCJB ABC 20 in Gainesville Florida.  During his time as a reporter he covered Congress from the Capitol Building on September 11, 2001.  He saw first hand how our nation rallied together at one of the most challenging times in our history.  He also had the privilege of interviewing President Barack Obama for a one-on-one interview.  He is proud to have a close association with North Central Florida’s active veterans’ community, he loves to read to school kids, enjoys running for various causes, and is a  friend of the Dance Alive National Ballet and Gainesville’s burgeoning innovation community.

Patty is a former News Director at WSDP.  She graduated in 1988 and after college went on to a career in radio, working at stations throughout Northern Michigan.  After leaving radio, she went back to school and began a career as a professor of Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts at Central Michigan University in 1999.  She is a film buff, a television binge-watcher, a reality television expert, and an animal welfare advocate. Her interest in film led her to produce a documentary film on the challenges faced by women in radio.  The film is called “Breaking the Sound Barrier” and it looks at the history of women in this industry.

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.

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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.