WRFA-FM 107.9 is a low power, nonprofit radio station serving Jamestown. It's affiliated with the Arts Council of Chautauqua County and operated by Dennis Drew, a founding member of Jamestown-based multi-platinum recording artists 10,000 Maniacs.
Univera Healthcare was so impressed with WRFA's community-minded programming, civic activities and outreach to youth that the health plan provided underwriting support.
Univera Healthcare also launched an initiative to engage and grow the station's Facebook community to help engage and inspire the community at large.
Article Photos
Art Wingerter, president of Univera Healthcare, is pictured with Dennis Drew, of WRFA and 10,000 Maniacs.
Submitted photos
The health plan created a magnetic picture frame so that friends of WRFA could post photos that inspire them on their refrigerators at home or their file cabinets at work, and also invited them to post those photos online at facebook.com/wrfalp.
Two thousand magnetic frames are being distributed free by Jamestown-area businesses eager to support the effort, including: Jamestown Radiology, Spectrum Eye Care, Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, Peppy Dental, Shults Auto's Chevy, Ford and Kia dealerships, Jamestown Mattress' Lakewood store, Jamestown area YMCA locations, Ryder's Cup, Z&M Ag & Turf , White Daisy Boutique & Tie-Dye Shop on North Main Street, and Jamestown Convenience Care at 320 Prather Ave.
ROLLING HILLS RADIO
Chautauqua County's only local radio program dedicated to live music is now in its third season on the air. Hosted by local singer Ken Hardley, "Rolling Hills Radio" combines performances and interviews to both showcase the music and reveal the inspiration behind the work of the region's most talented artists. The program is recorded on the final Thursday of each month at the Labyrinth Press Co. in Jamestown, and broadcast on local radio station WRFA-LP (107.9 FM).
Rolling Hills Radio (formerly known as the Woodsongs Coffeehouse Radio Hour) is funded in part by Univera Healthcare, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Trinity Guitars and the Arts Council for Chautauqua County. Because of the support from the sponsors, WRFA is able to handle all production and provide national syndication of "Rolling Hills Radio," the first such local program to be produced for a national market.
Each performance showcases the original work of two different musical artists. Hardley discusses with each artist their life history and inspiration before each work is presented and then breaks down their technique and creative process with incisive and graceful questioning. In addition to performances, Hardley helps guide the audience to a better understanding of the process of creating works of art with insightful and humorous dialogue. The artists come together at the end of each performance to unite the sometimes contrasting or complimentary styles in a musical grand finale, blending some very unique sounds into a common moment of original music.
More information on "Rolling Hills Radio" can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/RollingHillsRadio.