Business notebook: WTBA expands news efforts with ‘Our Town'

WARWICK - This January, after celebrating the first-year anniversary of “Q-11 News,” Frank Truatt, station manager of Warwick/Florida radio station WTBQ (1110 AM), announced the expansion of local news coverage with a new program titled “Our Town.” The show, designed to keep listeners more informed about their hometown, first aired this past Monday, Jan. 22. Although WTBQ has been reporting the major news throughout its history, the station began broadcasting “Q-11,” a program of early morning news geared to local events and community issues, on Jan. 2, 2006. The most important or interesting segments of the show, which airs from 6:30-9 a.m., are recorded and replayed throughout the day. “Q-11 News” also is available on the Internet. “Our Town” is intended to offer listeners an opportunity to hear and speak with local office holders during interviews that begin daily at 8:05 a.m. following the ABC Radio Network News on WTBQ. During each broadcast, the supervisor, mayor or other invited government official will answer questions put forth by a panel from the “Q-11” news team. Guests will also take questions from listeners who call the station at 651-1110. Then on Fridays, a panel consisting of the news team of Dick Wells and Rob McLean along with former Warwick Town Supervisor Tony Houston and morning show host Frank Truatt will review with their listeners all that was learned during the past week. Local office holders are currently scheduled as follows: • Mondays with Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard or Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton; • Tuesdays with Florida Mayor Jim Pawliczek or Greenwood Lake Mayor Bill Morris; • Thursdays with Monroe Mayor John Karl III or Goshen Mayor Scott Wohl. “The interviews are live and the answers to our questions are spontaneous,” said Truatt. “Hopefully our guests will discuss the issues that most concern our listeners. And we invite other public officials who wish to participate to contact us.” Planet Dance Last August, Maria Thompson, owner/director of Planet Dance in West Milford, N.J., opened her second studio in the Meadowcrest Shopping Center at 129 Route 94 South in Warwick. “I had operated a successful school in West Milford for nine years and I felt the programs we offer would be equally well received in Warwick,” said Thompson. “At Planet Dance, we strive to bring the highest level of education and training to each and every one of our students. We reach for the stars every day.” Thompson began studying dance when she was only three years old and as she said, “I never stopped.” She earned her fine arts degree in dance education from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Throughout her career, Thompson trained at many renowned schools including the Broadway Dance Center, Phil Black Studio, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. She has performed professionally and is an accomplished dancer in tap, ballet, jazz and modern dance. Planet Dance is open every day except Sunday and offers a variety of programs that are geared to all levels of experience from toddlers to adult and for beginners or advanced students. In addition to Thompson the staff includes seven certified instructors and eight assistant teachers. More than 40 classes are offered each week in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern dance and musical theatre among others. And as a community service, Brownie and Girl Scout troupes are invited to earn merit badges and attend classes free for one year. Thompson lives in nearby Sussex County, N.J., with her husband, Jay, and their two children: Lilly, 5, and Owen, 1. “I naturally understand the problems parents have,” she said, “and I try to arrange convenient classes that fit their schedules.” For example, Planet Dance can arrange back to back classes and offers a satellite program where the instructors do the traveling and conduct classes at area pre-schools. The studio is also available for children’s birthday parties featuring dance, music and theater games. For class schedules and additional information call 988-5868 or visit www.planetdancenj.com Scholarship applications due soon WVT Communications (Warwick Valley Telephone Company) recently announced that entries for the 2007 FRED (Foundation for Rural Education and Development) College Scholarship must be submitted no later than Jan. 30. The scholarship program is open to eligible, college bound seniors attending high school in the company’s local service area. For information call Antoinette Quinn at 986-8080.