Harford County (June 23, 2004) -- There's an old saying; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Nevertheless, changes continue at WBAL-TV (11). Popular anchor Marilyn Getas is out after the station declined to renew her contract. She's been replaced by weekend anchor Mindy Basara, who, in my opinion, lacks Getas' sophistication and smooth presentation skills. And weekend sports anchor Sarah Caldwell has stepped aside to spend more time with her growing family. She's been replaced by Pete Gilbert, who was formerly in Lancaster with WGAL-TV (8). Caldwell can continue to be seen on Channel 11, but now she's doing morning traffic reports as an employee of Traffic Pulse.

Up the road in Towson at WLIF-FM (101.9), morning show host Greg Carpenter has been promoted to program director. Greg's a deserving young guy who will hopefully breathe creativity and new energy (not to mention some new music) into 'LIF, which has been stagnant both in sound and ratings for more than a decade.

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	Actress Patricia Neal visits HCC Nov. 12-13

Closer to home, it seems Bill Thomas has landed the lion's share of work for the new, "post-Captain Jim," WAMD-AM (970). Former owner and morning show host Captain Jim McMahan signed off for the last time at the end of April, sailing off into radio retirement. Meanwhile, an old rumor is circulating again that WAMD will soon have to move its studio and transmission towers to make way for Harford County's relentless development. In any event, the Aberdeen oldies station has been advertising on air lately for commercial sales people, and that's always a good sign.

Local public broadcaster WHFC-FM (91.1) is shopping around for a new program to replace "What's On Your Mind." The unique mental health call-in show hosted by psychiatrist Dr. Linda Austin and produced by Maine Public Radio has been a regular weekly feature on WHFC for more than four years. Production has been halted for undisclosed reasons. The station expects to have a new show in the Monday noon timeslot soon. Meanwhile, rebroadcasts of "What's On Your Mind" will air.

Word from the grapevine has it that a legendary local broadcaster may be suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. We're not revealing his name out of respect for his and his family's privacy. However if true, it's nothing short of devastating for all concerned. Longtime residents have enjoyed this man's work on local and network TV and radio since the 1950s. My dad has Alzheimer's, and its effects are cruel to say the least. We'll hope for the best.

Finally, some words about Rolf Hertsgaard, who passed away April 30 at the age of 81. Of Norwegian extraction and the Lutheran faith, Hertsgaard studied for the ministry his first three years in college, before fate took him in a different direction. A native of Minnesota, Hertsgaard's broadcasting career began in the 1940s at WCCO-AM in Minneapolis, where he built a solid reputation as a writer and reporter. In 1956, he was hired by a national Lutheran organization to head its TV and radio department in New York City. Two years later, Rolf was lured to Baltimore where he became the anchorman for WBAL-TV, a position he held until 1973. Faced with stiff competition from WJZ's "happy talk" news presentation, Hertsgaard was dismissed for being too old and serious. Initially, Rolf turned back to radio and hired on at WITH-AM (1230), where he remained for three years. Displaced by a strike in 1976, Hertsgaard went in another totally new direction when he opened a fast food restaurant near Memorial Stadium. Eventually, he retired and moved to Pennsylvania, only to return to Baltimore in the early 1990s, where he kept busy as a volunteer at Sinai Hospital. His final go-round came in 1995, when he was re-hired at WITH to do the morning news. Unfortunately, budget problems and dysfunctional management brought Hertsgaard's second term with the station to an abrupt end in mid-1996.

I was fortunate to have worked with and known Rolf Hertsgaard, first in 1973 when I was a young intern at WBAL-TV, and again in 1995/96 as the morning host at WITH. Rolf was serious, introspective, and somewhat complex. He kept most people at arm's length and was not known to engage in small talk. Yet once he got to know and trust you, you couldn't help but find him engaging, incredibly bright, and extremely funny in a dark sort of way. A couple of years ago, I asked him why he gave up his Pikesville apartment to move into Oak Crest Village in Parkville. He replied, "I'm getting to that age where one day the kids are going to come over and find a real mess, so I figured I'd better go someplace where someone can keep an eye on me." Perhaps he foresaw his own decline and eventual death. He was, after all, already suffering from prostate cancer, as he had been the whole time we worked together at WITH - and I never knew it. I doubt whether this very private and fiercely independent Norwegian even revealed his illness to family members until it became absolutely necessary.

In any event, I learned a great deal from Rolf Hertsgaard-about being a professional, and about being a man, with all the frailties and imperfections that go with it. A large crowd was on hand for his memorial service at Oak Crest's chapel on May 10 - a testament to those he touched during his life, and those of us he'll continue to touch despite its end. I will sincerely miss Rolf Hertsgaard.

Have a question or comment? Email me at gwhelton@yahoo.com.

GH