[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4681]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING WALK-FM OF LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GRUCCI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor WALK Radio Station in 
my district on Long Island that is celebrating their 50th birthday this 
Saturday, April 19. WALK-FM invited the public to visit its new 
stations and studios on Colonial Drive in Patchogue on its official 
opening day, Saturday, April 19, 1952.
  Quoting from the invitation, the station's staff was ``most anxious 
for you to see the glamorous, fully-equipped studios and offices in our 
ultra-modern building, which is not only the radio showplace of Long 
Island, but one of the most beautiful radio stations in the East.''
  WALK received well wishes on the air that day from radio and 
television personalities of the era, including Perry Como, Dick Powell, 
Kay Starr, and Jack Sterling.
  A clipping from the Bay Shore Sentinel and Journal dated April 24, 
1952, described WALK this way: ``The ultramodern station affords the 
best in facilities and promises to become a most important link in the 
communications field in Suffolk County.''
  In more recent years, WALK 97.5 FM has had consistent ratings 
success. WALK has been the number one adult radio station on Long 
Island for over 16 years, reflecting a heritage of broadcast 
excellence. WALK uniquely balances the needs of the Long Island 
community in providing vital news, weather, and traffic information, 
and a variety of music that Long Islanders enjoy at home, at work, and 
while in their car.
  WALK's news and public service commitment has been recognized and 
honored over the years with a slew of awards from the Long Island 
Coalition for Fair Broadcasting, the New York State Broadcasters 
Association, and the Press Club of Long Island. On the trade side, 
their programming has won national awards from Billboard Magazine and 
Radio & Records.
  WALK 97.5 was chosen as the National Association of Broadcasters' 
Marconi Adult Contemporary Station of the year in 2001, giving the 
station national recognition for its community service and leadership.
  In short, WALK embraces the Long Island community through its 
tireless support of the island's not-for-profit organizations and 
important causes, like the fight against breast cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House to join me in 
congratulating WALK-FM radio and its employees for 25 years of being a 
thoughtful neighbor, and for its leadership in the community for over 
50 years.

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