[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 113 (Thursday, August 1, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF WLNG

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. TIMOTHY H. BISHOP

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 1, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate WLNG 92.1 
FM as the station celebrates its 50th anniversary on the air. 
Broadcasting from its studio in Sag Harbor New York, WLNG is known and 
loved throughout eastern Long Island for its oldies format, local news 
and sports, and personality disc jockeys like Gary Sapiane, Rusty Potz 
and the late Paul Sydney. WLNG may well be a one-of-a-kind radio 
station. Since 1963 the station has stuck to its popular oldies format 
playing hits from the 1950's, 60's, 70's and 80's, mixed with lots of 
old-style jingles, birthday announcements and live remote broadcasts 
from local events.
  Perhaps more importantly, WLNG has served as the pulse of the 
community connecting friends and neighbors in good times and in bad. 
The station can be found doing a remote broadcast from a local 
fundraiser for cancer or providing life-saving information during an 
emergency. The station served as a reliable resource for the latest on 
Hurricane Irene in 2011, and during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 WLNG 
continued broadcasting and streaming online using generator power and 
flashlights as the storm surge rose to ``ankle deep'' in the studio. 
One of its mainstay programs is the ever-popular ``Swap and Shop,'' a 
kind of on-air ebay in which residents can sell used or unwanted items 
to their neighbors. Listeners also rely on WLNG for the latest in 
school closings during a snow storm or the scores of local high schools 
sports events--even for finding a lost dog.
  Radio junkies love WLNG for the retro jingles and reverb--the sound 
of radio the way it used to be. Its DJs are happy to dedicate songs in 
honor of listeners. Independently-owned, WLNG has remained steadfastly 
the same in times of huge and sometimes overwhelming changes in 
communication technology and format, and maybe that is the key to its 
success. It can be relied upon like a good neighbor. Perhaps Paul 
Sydney summed it up best when he was quoted in an interview with the 
Sag Harbor Express saying, ``WLNG is like a person. You're with it. 
It's your friend. We're talking to one person at a time. I know there 
is no other station in the world like it. Even if you want to avoid it, 
you always come back. Whether it's Sag Harbor or Norman, Oklahoma, Main 
Street is Main Street.''
  It gives me great pleasure to congratulate WLNG radio on its 50th 
anniversary and wish the station many more years of successful 
broadcasting.

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