| This
reporter has fond memories of a time gone by - when local
radio served the community with local involvement, live
local news, local sports, local weather, and school
closings. Fond memories of a station
across from Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner
from about 25 years ago. But wait, is it possible?
Could that community anchor, WGAW really be back.
The answer is an unqualified yes.
 From
the ashes of a former local standby has once again arisen a
powerful community force with a transformation that could
only be described as extraordinarily unique for these times.
It's almost as if the characters themselves have come back
for scenes in a play - only it's all too real.
Former Gardner Mayor Gerald St. Hilaire from 25 years ago is
the mayor today again, and again appears regularly over the
airwaves at what could only be described as "WGAW reborn"!
Sports icon and retired Gardner educator
Chuck Leblanc is on the air again with a live daily show
replete with his much-loved wit and ever-anticipated
intelligent reflection on the daily news and other topics of
interest. |
 Spencer
Marshal is the host of Gardner's only live Morning Show.
Once again, up-to-the-minute news, weather, and school
closings are only a radio dial away at 1340 AM. And
the programming is still free, like it always was.
WGAW General Manager Chris
Thompson is openly pleased about the radio station's success
stating that County Broadcasting (the station's owner) has
even more plans in store for 2006. "We have a great
year ahead of us," Chris Thompson says. Of
course, those who know Chris quickly discover a man governed
by hard work and a unique mix of pride, humility, and
modesty. The radio station shown at left is a
substantial transformation of its former self - new studios,
offices, even an aesthetically pleasing landscaping job.
Here we go again - it
seems once again WGAW AM 1340 is home to high school sports,
Red Sox baseball, Patriots football, and more.
But there's something different too. It's better!
And I think I know why. Ever wonder what would
happen if you could go back in history with the knowledge of
the past and redo things, keeping what worked and what
people liked and leaving out the rest? That
appears to be the magic formula behind Gardner's WGAW.
And just when you
thought it couldn't get any better the word is out - SWAP
SHOP is back. The popular BUY-SELL-TRADE show
where you could sell everything except used mattresses and
firearms has returned to the airwaves. |
Listen to WGAW for details on how the show
works.
WGAW is licensed to serve Gardner Massachusetts.  Below is the coverage area as
listed by radio-locator.com. Click on the image for a larger
view. The station broadcasts at 1000 watts and is on the air
24 hours per day.
 Lest
we forget something else new to WGAW in this iteration of
its former self: WGAW programming is also broadcast on
WCAT AM 700 - a great convenience to WGAW listeners who
either live or work in the Athol-Orange area. WGAW
itself now features news not only from the Chair City, but
also from the Tool Town too.
"The Eagle has
landed" - remember that from almost 4 decades ago?
In its own way, County Broadcasting is exploring new
frontiers with classic rock FM, The Eagle, another popular
station also managed by visionary Chris Thompson.
The Eagle is a regional FM station which feeds its
programming from the Gardner studio site and maintains a
transmitter in the Athol-Orange area.
For more information on
this "Uniquely Gardner" story, please contact Chris Thompson
at (978) 630-8700 or email
chris@999theeagle.com.
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