By Eric W. Schoen
I never called him Bill. I never called him Mr. O’Shaughnessy. I always called him ‘The Boss.’ Tears came to my eyes when I heard of the passing of, as so many of the online obituaries referred to him as ‘Radio’s William O’Shaughnessy,’ the owner and President of Whitney Communications.
A loss for radio. A loss for ethical journalism. A loss of a fierce protector of the 1st Amendment. A quick reminder:
‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’
Whitney Communications is owner of radio stations WVOX 1460 AM and WVIP 93.5, two small but giant radio stations. WVOX is the only radio station ‘broadcasting Westchester’ since the demise of WFAS. WVOX 1460 AM, WVOX.COM, WVOX app for download free from the App Store is where I broadcast the Westchester Rising Radio Show so many of you listen every other Thursday morning from 10-11 a.m.
Let’s not forget WVIP. WVIP features a Caribbean music format airing programming for the Afro-Caribbean community. Its studios are in New Rochelle, and its transmitter is located yes, in Yonkers.
I always wanted to have a radio show since I was a kid. Mom and dad always had the radio on, mom a 1010 WINS listener except when it snowed and we would find out if schools were closed on WVOX or WFAS. Knowing my interest in radio, Dan Murphy, the hardworking Editor of these newspapers asked me one day if I would share broadcasting duties with him on the The Westchester Rising Radio Show. In a Yonkers minute I said yes.
Had I heard radio growing up all my life? Yes. Did I know how to host a radio show? Not a clue. But Dan said don’t worry, it’s easy. You simply speak what’s on your mind. just like I do every week in these newspapers. Some people agree with you, some people don’t. Dan said both of these types of people will call to make their voices heard. Some callers keep it short. Others could go on for the full hour. You just have to know when the time comes to say thanks for calling, have a great day!
So I walked into the station, put the headset on, cued the microphone, took a picture in front of the microphone, learned the basics from Cracker Jack Engineer Debbi Shecter and away I went. At first I would spend the whole day before getting ready for the show. Now I jot down the topics I want to talk about the night before, look for hot topics in the morning papers, jot down some notes from my weekly columns and away I go.
No one tells me what I can and cannot say on the radio. Freedom of Speech is a hallmark of William O’Shaughnessy. Do I talk about current events. Of Course. The latest movies I have seen. Folks love my bargain segments, particularly in light of the prices of everything going up in the current economy. Does one ever know what I will be talking about? Nope. As one caller said, ‘Your radio show is different from so many of the other shows on this and other stations.’ I take that as a compliment.
Tune on the other radio stations. Trump. Clinton. Biden. Harris. The all news stations and the talk stations give you the same thing with different spins. I believe the listener wants something else. That’s what I try to offer. And I thank ‘The Boss’ for giving me the opportunity to share what’s in my mind with you. I do hope you enjoy it, and if you do or don’t you will call me or email me
at thistooisyonkers@aol.com with your thoughts.
Several times a year, I publicly thank ‘The Boss’ for allowing me to occupy the airwaves for my hour every other week. William O’Shaughnessy made my dream come true. I will forever be grateful!
WVOX is affiliated with Music of Your Life, which airs overnights, weekends, and in time slots not occupied by a local show. Sinatra Programming, golden oldies, smooth music, sometimes a man broadcasting on his boat tunes from a time where crooners made music for people to enjoy and relax. Yes friend, WO, ‘The Boss’ has passed, but his Melody and the wonderful talk and music you hear on his stations will, God willing Linger on!
Senseless Shootings
Man shot on the subway. People shot at a Grocery Store in Buffalo. Children Shot at at school in Uvalde, Texas. When is this craziness going to stop?
Who is in charge here? Washington and Albany? I don’t know, do you? We have got to get guns out of the hands of bad people. We have to stop this crazy New York bail reform which is a revolving door for criminals. We need, particularly in light of the pandemic more mental health services available to those who need them. And when a red flag pops up, we have to get the gun outs of the hands of the person who has it.
Who is to blame? Democrats and Republicans in Washington can’t reach consensus on anything. A tragic event occurs, everyone is in an uproar, and no changes are made. It’s a vicious cycle that just goes on and on. Look at what happened at Sandy Hook. Wasn’t everything supposed to change after that. Did it? Nope!
Everyone placing the blame on someone else. But how many tragedies are we going to have to go through before something is done?
As we go to press, bipartisan working groups are being set up to reach some consensus in Washington. Isn’t this the same thing that happens every time we have a tragedy. Our leaders in Washington know what to do. If they don’t, they should resign and we have to put someone in charge who does. And tell our friends around the country to do the same thing.
Sadly, eventually this madness is going to hit home. Buffalo is eerily close to us. The subway shooting of a man out for Sunday Brunch and other shootings in our area. Maybe it has already hit home.
Major mistakes were made in Texas. Those who made the mistakes must be punished and if the mistakes were intentional, prosecuted. There is no room for mistakes or parents being arrested trying to get their children out of a school building under siege.
We talk about the one door in policy in schools. Very few school buildings in this country have every door alarmed so that the central office and security office know when a door is open. Alarming every door in a school building. Not going to happen.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s me or are we just becoming use to these mass killing in our schools and grocery stores. Every time it happens we vow it will never happen again. And it does. And the situations keep getting worse and worse.
It’s been an emotional week. Sorry for being so emotional. I hope next week we will find a course of action to make things better. And somebody will be in charge in Washington and New York State. And tragic episodes in school buildings, grocery stores and on mass transit will stop.
Dream. Sadly, that’s all we can do!
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @ericyonkers. Listen to Eric Schoen on the Westchester Rising Radio Show alternating Thursday’s from 10-11 a.m. On WVOX 1460 AM, WVOX.com click listen or download the WVOX app from the App Store free of charge.
