Harford County (August 29, 2002) -- Baltimore's 98 Rock WIYY-FM (97.9) has a new program director. His name is Dave Hill, and he comes to town from a station in Albany, NY. Hill takes over for former PD Rick Strauss, who has joined a station in Philadelphia. 98Rock has slipped in the ratings recently, scoring a 3.8 mark this spring and dropping into a ninth place tie with WWMX-FM (106.5). That 3.8 equates to about 14,820 listeners per quarter-hour, as opposed to the 4.4 (17,160 listeners) the station had this time a year ago. It'll be interesting to see if Hill can reverse the downward spiral.

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Meanwhile, former 98Rock overnight host Megan Gunning of Fallston recently appeared on Entertainment Television's "Wild On Wants You," a search for a new host for E's "Wild On" series, which takes viewers to hip places around the globe. Although not selected, Megan did appear briefly in a scene taped at Lulu's Mardi Gras Club in DC. Since leaving 98Rock, she's been modeling and recently appeared on the Arts & Entertainment (A&E) Network in a documentary entitled "The History of Cleavage," which forces me to pose the question, who thinks up these shows? No doubt the same pea brain that came up with "Who Wants To Marry A Millionaire?"

There's a new man in charge at "The Breeze." He's Steve Yasko, and he takes over for Dr. John Turner as general manager of WTMD-FM (89.7). Yasko is formerly of Pacifica Radio, with stops at NPR and Washington's WAMU-FM, leading us to expect a more left of center agenda at the Towson University public radio station in the future. It's almost certain WTMD will drop its current new age/jazz format for Adult Album Alternative (AAA) music on or around January 1st. Also expected to go is longtime program director Jim Armstrong, a very kind and capable gentleman who, along with me, got his start some 30 years ago at WBJC-FM in Baltimore. The total makeover of WTMD includes the strong possibility of simulcasts of Philadelphia's WXPN-FM.

WHFC-FM (91.1) has added "Jazz From The Lincoln Center" to its fall lineup. Formerly distributed by NPR, "Jazz From The Lincoln Center" is hosted by "60 Minutes" anchor Ed Bradley and features trumpeter Wynton Marsalis as musical director. "Jazz From The Lincoln Center" debuts in October on WHFC. And look for more jazz on the Harford Community College station when "Jazz for Insomniacs" premiers overnight this fall.

Over the years, some exceptional radio and TV talent has passed through our area. With that in mind, we'd like our readers' opinions on who was the best dj, news anchor, sportscaster, etc. To get the reader's poll going, here are the names of 10 prominent Baltimore television news anchors from the 1950s through today. The nominees are:

• Dave Stickle (Channel 2, 1950s-70s)
  
• Keith McBee (Channel 13, 1950s-60s)
  
• Rolf Hertsgaard (Channel 11, 1950s-70s)
  
• George Rogers (Channel 2, 1960s-70s)
  
• Jerry Turner (Channel 13, 1960s-80s)
  
• Sally Thorner (Channels 2 & 13, 1980s-present)
  
• Stan Stovall (Channels 2 & 11, 1970s-2001)
  
• Jack Bowden (Channel 2, 1960s-70s)
  
• Al Sanders (Channel 13, 1970s-90s)
  
• Tony Harris (Channel 45, 1990s-present)
  

Vote for one of the above or write in your favorite local TV news anchor of all time by emailing gwhelton@yahoo.com. Deadline for casting votes is September 30. Results will appear in the next installment of "Here, There, and On The Air."

Bel Air's popular Festival for the Arts takes place Sunday, September 15th at Shamrock Park from 10am to 5pm. For information call 410-836-3295. The traveling exhibition "The Face of Courage" can now be seen in the Chesapeake Gallery at the Student Center, Harford Community College. The exhibition, conceived by HCC Associate Professor of Art Barbara Marcus, consists of more than 30 portraits of the fallen uniformed rescue workers of September 11th. There is no charge for admission but donations will be accepted. The exhibition continues through October 17th. For directions, hours, or more information, call 410-836-4428 or log on to www.thefaceofcourage.com. And finally, HCC's annual Musicfest takes place Sunday, October 6th at the campus on Thomas Run Road in Bel Air from 1-5pm, rain or shine. Headliners include The Seldom Scene and Mama Jama. For ticket information call 410-836-4211.

Have a question or comment about this column or local media? Email me at gwhelton@yahoo.com.

GH