People walking in to the Butterfield Pavilion at the Old Fairgrounds Thursday night were met with the delightful smell of cooking food, the sight of a roomful of smiling faces, and the sounds of talented local musicians seizing the stage.
The ninth annual WVLP 98.3 FM hog roast was a roaring success. The local radio station focuses on positive, community driven news and talk shows. Local musicians also have a way to reach their fans throughout the Valparaiso area.
Sponsored by Strongbow Inn, the event featured a wonderful selection of dishes, from roast pork sandwiches and chicken breast to salads and homemade pie. Two WVLP members who host Punk Rock Radio are also connected with Strongbow to provide the food for this annual fundraiser.
"It's a grass roots, organic, in the family type thing," Executive Director of WVLP Gregg Kovach said about the hog roast. "Big thanks go out to Strongbow for the food, and the Parks Department for letting us use this space. They really help us out with this event."
WVLP relies on fundraising for about a third of their budget, and events like the hog roast play a critical role on keeping our local voices on the air.
"WVLP is important because for the people who like it, it's their radio station. There are a lot of people who listen to it and really like it," Kovach said . "They like hearing people that they know on the radio. These people have friends, and they're listening on the radio to their friends. It gives you the feeling that you think oh I can be on the radio too. You can have a lot of fun with the radio."
Families young and old came out to share in the fun on Thursday evening. From infants to veterans celebrating their 80th birthdays, everyone came to share in the food and music.
"Basically WVLP is for people who want to know what's going on in the community," Kovach said . "ValpoLife is basically the online version of what we do."
By giving community members the opportunity to literally have their voices heard, WVLP helps foster a sense of community engagement while working for the common good by promoting all the great things going on in Valparaiso.
"I like the feeling that I'm an active part of the community," Kovach said. "It's fulfilling."
For more information about WVLP or how you can become involved in local radio, call 476-9000.