It was their shortest pledge drive in recent memory, but WRVO FM 90 was finally able to get their spring fundraiser underway last week after several delays due to the station's coverage of the war in Iraq and the April ice storm.

In all, 400 listeners phoned in their support during the three-day pledge drive which netted the station $40,000. WRVO estimates about $475,000 of its annual operating budget this year will come from listener donations.

WRVO's programming can also be heard on WRVD in Syracuse, WRVN in Utica-Rome, and WRVJ in Watertown.

Syracuse New Times publisher Art Zimmer is bringing back his "Cruzin' Thru the '50s" musical for another run this year at the New Times Theater at the New York State Fairgrounds.

The play once again features cameo roles from a who's who of local radio celebrities including Gary Dunes, Oldies 92.1 (WSEN), Ted Long and Amy Robbins, 93Q (WNTQ); 'Big Mike' Fiss, Sunny 102.1 (WZUN), Dave Allen, Lite 105.9 (WLTI); Phil Markert, WTLA; Armond Magnarelli, WFBL; and Pete Michaels and Brenda Bissett, Y94FM (WYYY). Bob Brown directs the show which runs through next weekend.

New Rock 105, The Dog (WWDG) gets some improved coverage this week as the station's owner, Clear Channel Communications, flips its Syracuse translator at 98.3 FM from Power 106.9 (WPHR) to WWDG. The Deruyter licensed Alternative formatted station at 105.1 FM suffers from weak coverage in the Syracuse metro area.

Fans of local motor sports can now keep up with what's happening on the tracks of Central New York by tuning in to Around the Tracks on WTLA 1200 AM and WSGO 1440 AM. The new show, hosted by Joe Marotta, airs Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. Marotta is the chief announcer at DIRT's Rolling Wheels Raceway, Cayuga County Speedway, and Oswego Speedway.

Around the Tracks aired previously on SportsRadio 620 (WHEN).

The numbers are out for the Syracuse winter book and New Rock 105 (WWDG) enjoyed the biggest gain in the market. There was nowhere to go but up for 'The Dog' which switched formats around the first of the year from a simulcast of B104.7 (WBBS) to alternative rock.

As one might expect, Clear Channel Entertainment has a history of partnering with its own local radio stations to help publicize concerts and events which the entertainment conglomerate promotes. That type of collaboration already exists in the Syracuse market, and Clear Channel's Syracuse manager Joel Delmonico looks for it to continue once the company begins promoting events at the proposed Destiny USA shopping and entertainment complex.

The radio industry's leading trade publication, Radio & Records, has announced the list of nominees for its annual Industry Achievement Awards. The list includes three nods for Syracuse active rocker 95X (WAQX).

It looks like Clear Channel Communications will not have to sell any of its broadcast properties in Syracuse or Utica-Rome thanks to a new ruling from the FCC which is expected to be announced on June 2.

Former Utica-Rome jock Bud Money is the latest addition to B104.7's on-air roster. Money, who recently moved back to Central New York from Tampa, Florida where he worked for Clear Channel's Thunder 103.5 (WTBT), can be heard Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons on WBBS.

Money also runs the mobile disc jockey service Phonix Sound as well as several Utica-Rome radio tribute web sites.

Bob 102.5 (WRBY) is dropping syndicated evening jock Lia to make way for Mark Weston. Weston will also continue to oversee the Sports Stars Radio Network on Utica-Rome sister stations WADR, WRNY, WUTQ, and WLFH as well as concentrate on production duties.