New online radio station helps Sylvania find its voice

Port Clinton resident lends his expertise

Tom Brady, left, and Steve Wronkowicz pose with equipment in Mr. Brady's basement studio. Mr. Brady said that he and his partner, Mr. Wronkowicz, began discussing the online radio-station project late last year.

Two Sylvania residents have launched an online radio station aimed at the nearly 60,000 residents of Sylvania and Sylvania Township.

Tom Brady said he and his business partner, Steve Wronkowicz, began discussing the project late last year.

WSYL began airing in May. It is at sylvaniaradio.com.

"Other Toledo area TV and radio stations cover some stuff around here, but they don't cover it all," Mr. Brady said. "We're living in an area without a voice. This will be our voice."

Mr. Brady said that he was inspired mostly by his friend Greg Peiffer, who began an online radio station, WPCR, in Port Clinton in 2008.

Mr. Peiffer was the general manager of WFOB and WBVI in Fostoria and Findlay.

After working for 30 years, he retired to his summer home in Port Clinton.

Just one day into retirement, Mr. Peiffer realized that Ottawa County didn't have a radio station.

When WPCR started up, it was run by Mr. Peiffer and his wife, but it has added nine employees.

Because of his station, Mr. Peiffer was nominated by the city of Port Clinton for Citizen of the Year, he won the Chamber of Commerce Lighthouse Award, and the station was named Business of the Year for Outstanding Community Service.

"The acceptance of [the station] has been phenomenal," Mr. Peiffer said.

One of the advantages of Internet radio is that listeners can drive all the way from Ohio to California without losing signal, and stations can be picked almost anywhere via computer, smart phone, or WiFi radio.

Mr. Peiffer said, "When Tom came to me about six months ago and said 'I want to do what you're doing,' that was one of the greatest compliments that I could ever had.

"Here's a guy who's been around the block once or twice with radio and TV advertising and to come to me and say, 'You've got something here that's going to benefit the community,' that was a pretty good shot for the ego," Mr. Peiffer said.

Contact Payton Willey at: paytonwilley@theblade.com or 419-724-6050