Corn toss fundraiser for WHDD hits the mark

MILLERTON — The weather couldn’t have been better for a corn toss last Sunday, Sept. 20, when area residents came together to raise funds for WHDD, the NPR affiliate radio station in Sharon.

The station was struck by lightning back in July, damaging approximately $23,000 worth of equipment. The station was not insured for the damage. Listeners’ donations are helping Tri-State Public Communications (WHDD’s parent company) to slowly recoup the cost.

But Pat Deneen and “NASCAR� Dave MacMillan (of the station’s Hometown Sunday morning show) wanted to do more. They said they organized the corn toss at American Legion Post 178 in Millerton to help out a radio station that has always helped the community.

“Let’s give back to them, as they’ve given back to us for so many years,� MacMillan told the crowd.

“Marshall Miles [co-head of Tri-State Public Communications, also station co-founder with Jill Goodman] helped us out a lot,� explained Amenia Councilwoman Victoria Perotti, “especially with negotiating our current Cablevision contract.�

There were several things going on Sunday: the corn toss tournament, a backyard game where players try to toss bean bags through a hole in a wooden board; a barbecue complete with hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork and grilled sausage and pepper sandwiches; and the musical accompaniment of Samii and Sara Scavone, 13-year-old twins from Pennsylvania who are friends with the radio station and made the trip to Millerton to play some tunes and show their support for WHDD.

“We wanted to help out Dave and Marshall,â€� Sara said.  “And we love to play, so we thought we’d do a few sets today.â€�

The Scavone sisters have been getting some airtime on WHDD recently and are currently working on a full-length album.

The crew from WHDD was there, and said the support from the community was reaffirming to the station.

“It’s very helpful,� said Goodman, “and we encourage anyone who can donate to do so.�

Miles pointed out that the donations received are starting to increase in number, but that he was especially pleased to see a wide range of demographics represented.

“We get the $5 and $10 donations, but we also get the $200 donations as well,� he said. “And it’s a wide area, from West Cornwall to Copake.�

Miles hinted at a few additional fundraisers for the radio station, but he was quick to point out that fall is a big time for fundraising (MacMillan’s Sunday in the Country Food Drive is hoping for $50,000 in donations this year), and that whatever the radio station puts on will not interfere with other events. The crew especially thanked everyone who came out to show their support: the American Legion, the Scavone sisters and the Sunday in the Country crew.

“I think we had a great turnout,� said Deneen. “It’s a good crowd and people had fun. There was a lot of help from the community and it was definitely a success.�

The corn toss idea might stick as well, with Deneen suggesting there might be another held to raise money for the food drive in the coming months.

As an added bonus, participants were given the chance to see Miles square off against Barclay Prindle of Sharon for a true corn toss, as they fought back and forth to see who could toss a corn cob through the hole. Miles emerged victorious.

To send tax-deductible donations to WHDD, write to WHDD-FM, 67 Main St., Sharon, CT 06069. Make out payments to the station’s parent company, Tri-State Public Communications.

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