Connoisseur Media Connecticut Receives Three Marconi Radio Award Nominations
Connoisseur Media’s radio stations in Connecticut received three NAB Marconi Radio Awards nominations today.
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Partnering With New Haven Pizza School For Pizza & Brew Fest
Connoisseur Media with New Haven Pizza School have partnered to present a first of its kind Pizza & Brew Fest this summer. Connecticut’s pizza culture is renowned for being one of the best in the country, and the Connecticut Pizza and Brew Fest will honor that passion. The Fest will be hosted at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater on July 16, 2023, from 11am-3pm. Pizza lovers are encouraged to attend a day of pizza, craft brews, music, and fun. Well known establishments such as Frank Pepe Pizzeria, Sally’s Apizza & Zuppardi’s Apizza will all be represented!
In addition to pizza and brew, attendees can also look forward to dough throwing contests, craft brew samples, free pizza panel discussions, live music from Last Man Standing Band, Residual Groove, The Pop Rocks, JULAI and the Serotones, plus merchandise, and more. Plus, those attending will have the opportunity to vote for the “Best in Fest” pizza award.
“Connecticut Pizza & Brew Fest is a celebration of Connecticut’s rich pizza culture, and we’re thrilled to be able to bring it to the state where it all started,” said Frank Zabski of the New Haven Pizza School, one of the organizers of the event. “We invite everyone to come out, enjoy some delicious pizza & beer, learn about New Haven pizza, and have a great time with family and friends.”
The Connecticut Pizza & Brew Fest celebrates all things pizza, craft beer, and desserts, with more than forty (40) vendors serving up their signature dish. Pizza vendors include: Bertucci’s, Big Green Pizza Truck, East Coast Pizza Truck, Frank Pepe Pizzeria, Little Pub, Nautilus Pizza, New Haven Pizza Truck, Silver Sands Pizza Truck, Slice of New Haven, The Parlor, The Pizza Pie Wagon, Una Dolce Vita and Zuppardi’s. Desserts from: Michelle’s Pies, Moon Rock Gourmet Cookie, and Valley Jim’s Soft Serve. Beer & other beverage samples all day from: Athletic Brewing Co., BADSONS Beer Co., Barn Brew, Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers, Drink Mechanics, Fishers Island Lemonade, Good Dogg Seltzer, Hanging Hills Brewery, Links Drinks, Pump House Brewery, Waterbird, and Whalers Brewing.
The Fest includes FREE panel discussions hosted by icons of New Haven Pizza featuring some of the most famous pizzerias: Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria, Ernie’s of Westville, Abate of Wooster Street, Sally’s Apizza, and Big Green Pizza Truck from New Haven. Pizza panels range from the history of New Haven Pizza to how to make the perfect dough. Attendees have the opportunity to meet and chat with owners of some of the most iconic New Haven pizzerias.
Connecticut Pizza & Brew Fest is sponsored by: Sacred Heart University Brewing Science Program, Big Machine Vodka Spiked Coolers, New Haven Pizza School, Carbutti Real Estate and Connoisseur Media Connecticut. Special thanks to partners: Campus Customs, Electric Boat, and Napoli Foods.
Tickets options include: VIP hour with a limited number of tickets available from 11am-12pm which allows guests to indulge in all-you-can-eat pizza samples for $50 per person, $25 for kids under 12; or General Admission from 12pm-3pm, for $15 for adults and $5 for kids under 12, with $3 slices and many other options available. Tickets are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com. There will be a LIMITED number of tickets available at the door.
For more information about the event visit www.ctpizzaandbrewfest.com or follow Connecticut Pizza and Brew Fest on social media @ctpizzaandbrewfest.
94.3 The Shark Welcomes Aimee Brooks To Middays
Connoisseur Media’s WWSK/94.3 The Shark welcomes major market rock veteran Aimee Brooks to the on-air lineup. Aimee takes over weekdays between 11am and 2pm, beginning Monday, June 26. Brooks brings with her a wealth of rock knowledge and experience making her the perfect fit for the “everything that rocks” format.
“This is a big win for The Shark,” said Rob Rush, 94.3 The Shark Program Director and Afternoon Drive host. “Aimee lives and breathes the rock culture and I know our audience will love her passion and genuine appreciation for the music during the workday.”
Before joining 94.3 The Shark, Brooks spent seventeen years at Rock 104.7 WIOT in Toledo, Ohio, has experience in multiple markets around the country and is excited to bring her voice and talents to Long Island’s 94.3 The Shark. She grew up listening to music, usually at full blast, loves New York, loves coffee, plays guitar, and rescues kittens.
“I am beyond excited to join the team at 94.3 The Shark!” I want to thank Patrick Shea and Rob Rush for bringing me on board. I’ve been grinning ear to ear for the past week. I’m looking forward to spending middays on Long Island!”
Aimee Brooks
Connoisseur Media CT Adds Afternoon Co-Host And Promotes Staff
Jennifer Grullon is added as co-host in the afternoon on STAR 99.9 (WEZN-FM). Jennifer comes to Connecticut from Burlington VT and will join market vet Kevin Begley. Jennifer remarked, “I could not be more excited to join Kevin Begley at Star 99.9. Thank you to the whole team at Connoisseur Media for challenging me with this wonderful opportunity!” Kevin and Jenna will debut on air May 15th for what will be a fun, fast moving, local focused “morning show in the afternoon” style program.
Ed Oliveira is upped to a new a role of overseeing “Ferocious Content” which is the video arm of Connoisseur Media. Ed will continue to manage the production, traffic and continuity departments within the CT cluster. “I have had the pleasure of working with Ed for over twenty years from Richmond to Boston and for the last 12 here in CT,” said Vice President of Programming Keith Dakin, “And he is one of the most forward-thinking guys I’ve ever met. Putting him in charge of our video production was a no brainer move.”
With Ed moving up the ladder, Andrew Krause, who is currently assistant production director, moves into the role of production director. Andrew is a homegrown talent having started as an intern and working his way through almost every job in the building. Dakin added, “Andrew is an incredible dedicated employee and great with clients. This is a perfect fit for him.”
WALK 97.5 Kicks-Off American Authors 2023 Tour
American Authors kicked-off their 2023 “Best Night of My Life” tour with WALK 97.5 at Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub in Smithtown. The first in the 2023 “WALK 97.5 Acoustic Café” series of events, American Authors delighted fans with a 30-min set followed by a Q&A session and a special chance to meet the band and take a photo with them.
I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since Best Day of My Life! The new album is a ton of fun and the audience absolutely loves the guys
WALK 97.5 Program Director Patrick Shea
WALK 97.5 will host the next event with Parmalee, coming to Mulcahy’s on March 9, 2023. Listen-to-win contests begin week of 2/6 and tickets for the show are available at www.muls.com.
Connoisseur Media Helps Pat Lafontaine’s Companions In Courage Foundation
Connoisseur Media Long Island donated its studio offices to the Companions in Courage Foundation for the fourth year in a row to host the annual “Santa Connection”. The Santa Connection serves pediatric patients across their “Courage Network” with a one-on-one live video chat with Santa. Many of these children are isolated in the hospital and cannot visit Santa at the mall. Patients are joined by family members and their caretakers for a few moments of “normal” holiday cheer. The Child Life Specialists at the hospitals prime Santa with details about each patient, so each visit is incredibly personalized.
The Santa Connection broadcasted from the Connoisseur Media Long Island studio offices on December 7th and 8th, 2022. Years ago, when the pandemic shut down the Santa
Connection studios in New York City, Connoisseur Media Long Island offered space in the Farmingdale studio offices to connect Santa “from the North Pole” via video chats with patients across the “Courage Network.” It’s been an annual tradition ever since.
The Companions in Courage Foundation was originally founded by NHL Hall of Famer, Pat LaFontaine in 1997. They are recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and eligible to receive donations. In just the last five years, their efforts have provided interactive playrooms, called “Lion’s Dens”, in hospitals throughout North America. Through innovative communications tools, these playrooms replace the isolation of a hospital with a connection to family, friends and celebrities during each hospital stay. By virtue of their location (primarily in major metropolitan areas), children’s hospitals tend to be safety nets to the most vulnerable in our society. On average, these facilities devote almost half of their care to children of low-income families. Their “Lion’s Den” rooms were designed by Edwin Schlossberg and his renowned ESI Design team in New York City.
“I’ve always said that it’s important to score your goals early in life, because later on, it’s all about the assists! Our partnership with the kind team at Connoisseur Media has brought smiles and good cheer to pediatric patients for almost two decades. That’s the kind of teamwork that means the most to me and to Long Island!”
Pat LaFontaine
“We first connected with Companions in Courage about 17 years ago with event marketing and promotional support,” said David Bevins, Connoisseur Media COO and Long Island Market Manager. “The Santa Connection is truly an inspiring program and their team is welcome to host it from our studio offices annually.”
Connoisseur Media Long Island is a proud long-term partner of the Companions in Courage Foundation. Their mission is simple: no child in the fight for life or health should ever have to go through it alone. The Companions in Courage Foundation provides courage, friendship, compassion and support to those children and families who are overcoming illness and life-threatening obstacles.
WALK 97.5 Collects Thousands Of Pounds Of Food
Long Island Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace during the month of November to donate food and/or funds for Long Islanders who need food assistance.
In support, WALK 97.5 hosted a special live broadcast on November 17th, from 5am until 7pm, at the Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace in Port Jefferson Station. Over the course of the day, WALK 97.5’s on-air appeal and in-store promotion produced 17,589 pounds of food collected for Long Island Cares. Additionally, in-store monetary donations raised $10,557.14 for Long Island Cares.
“This is the 22nd year WALK 97.5 was able to use our airwaves to collect a large amount of food to support our friends and neighbors who receive help from Long Island Cares,” said Patrick
Shea, Program Director and midday personality on WALK 97.5. “It’s a tradition I look forward to each and every year.”
The WALK 97.5 Thanks-For-Giving food drive is a month-long effort with dozens of food drives anchored by an annual live broadcast event. 2022 welcomed Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace to the campaign as the host sponsor offering both WALK 97.5 and Long Island Cares the opportunity to be on-site in their stores working with their staff and customers for the betterment of Long Island.
Check out the video recap!
WALK 97.5 Celebrate’s 21st Anniversary Of Being Long Island’s Holiday Music Station
Long Islanders loved when WALK 97.5, the radio station that they listened to every day, began playing nothing but holiday music. After tremendous joyful feedback, an annual tradition was born and since then, celebrating the holidays on Long Island has meant tuning the radio in your car, office, or business to WALK 97.5 for the perfect holiday soundtrack.
WALK 97.5 will once again play non-stop holiday music through Christmas Day. The moment when WALK 97.5 officially switches over to holiday music varies each year and the ceremony surrounding “hitting the big red button” is always unique. To celebrate the 21st anniversary of this tradition, WALK 97.5 is adding star power to make it EXTRA SPECIAL!
On Friday November 18th at 5 P.M., WALK 97.5 afternoon host Christina Kay will officially usher in the holiday season with the help of The Backstreet Boys! WALK 97.5 will play The Backstreet Boys’ new holiday song “Last Christmas” from their new holiday album “A Very Backstreet Christmas.” Christina, said, “Hitting that ‘Big Red Holiday Button’ is one of my favorite traditions. It just makes it feel like the holiday season is finally here! “Some of the biggest acts in music have helped me kickoff holiday music on WALK 97.5; but when I heard that The Backstreet Boys accepted our invitation…it sent needle on my Holiday Spirit “Clausometer” over 110%! This year is going to be extra special!”
Jovia Financial Credit Union continues their partnership as the presenting sponsor of Long Island’s Holiday Music Station. “WALK 97.5 has been the soundtrack for the holidays on Long Island for decades, and listeners are as excited now as they have ever been. The biggest question is when will WALK 97.5 start? I am really happy to be able to give people an answer. Now I just want to hear requests,” said Patrick Shea, Program Director for WALK 97.5.
“The best place for Long Islanders to listen to festive holiday music from now through the new year is WALK 97.5 FM. This has become an annual tradition of its own and Jovia Financial Credit Union is ecstatic to be the presenting sponsor for the sixth consecutive year,” noted Renu Dalessandro, Jovia Financial Credit Union’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Jovia is committed to the communities we serve, and together with Connoisseur Media, we’re making the season merry and bright.”
Hope Rocks Radio-Thon 2022
Now is the time to break the stigma about talking about mental health. TALK SAVES LIVES.
94.3 The Shark presents the 3rd annual Hope Rocks radio-thon, Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 2pm until 6pm at The Studio at The Paramount in Huntington, NY. Hope Rocks is an award-winning campaign dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention/Long Island Chapter.
“There seem to be more rock artists who have battled with mental health issues than any other genre of musician,” said Rob Rush, Program Director & Afternoon Host of 94.3 The Shark. “As Long Island’s leading rock station, we feel like it’s our responsibility to host this conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.”
The 2022 Hope Rocks campaign is a series of fundraising events leading up to the one-day radio-thon broadcast. The broadcast will be filled with celebrity guest interviews, on-air donation pledges, and other special features. Hope Rocks also includes an online auction featuring high value items and experiences, live now at 943TheShark.com/hoperocks through November 12th.
“Music has gotten me through some dark times,” said Orlando, Morning Show host for 94.3 The Shark. “That’s why we have to have this conversation so we can share stories, feel a sense of camaraderie and community and help others heal and even learn the warning signs to help somebody in crisis.”
Please join us for this special on-air event and make a donation at 943TheShark.com/hoperocks
or drop by The Studio during the broadcast to make your donation in person
Connoisseur Media Wins 8 Awards At Annual NYSBA Luncheon
Connoisseur Media Long Island’s WALK 97.5, KJOY 98.3, 103.1 MAX FM, 94.3 The Shark and 104.7 WHLI were awarded 8 honors at the annual Long Island New York State Broadcasters Association Luncheon, Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Blackstone, Melville. Each award is determined by statewide submissions that are reviewed and selected by the New York Broadcasters Association.
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