SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR STARS at 102.5 FM
June 9, 2023 — This morning at 9:59 a.m., we said goodbye to a radio station that has spent fifty years entertaining those of us in Buffalo and the surrounding area.
Star 102.5 (formerly known as Rock 102, Q102.5, Majic 102, and even WBEN) has brought us music, talk, contests, exclusive interviews, local broadcasting, and, yes, Christmas music, unlike other stations on the airwaves. And for 30+ years, the station has given the SPCA Serving Erie County millions of dollars of airtime.
Star 102.5 allowed the SPCA to spotlight animals on a weekly basis for more than three decades, dating back to local legend Sandy Beach welcoming animals into the studio during his morning show produced by Rob Lucas, who started at the station in 1986.
Over the years, Sandy, Rob, Sue O’Neil, Roger Christian, John Anthony, Jimmy Stelianou, Dave Edwards, Brian DeMay, and other well-known talent supported various SPCA efforts. The station was the first sponsor of the Paws in the Park dog walk 30 years ago, and helped to pioneer the 20-year-old Radiothon fundraiser; combined, just these two efforts have raised millions of dollars to help the animals and animal-lovers in our community through the SPCA.
See the SPCA’s video tribute to Rob Lucas >>
Even with no official sponsorship, the station dedicated airtime to the SPCA and allowed promotion of our stories, our departments, our programs, our events, and thousands of our animals, as much as possible.
To the management, sales, on-air, production, creative, and other teams at Star 102.5, we thank you for helping an infinite number of animals over the years. Together with your listeners, you helped us grow from a smaller shelter in Tonawanda to a campus-like setting in West Seneca, with the ability to provide even more life-saving services to animals as we help the people in our community who love these animals. You are a prime reason people in our region know about our SPCA and what it has to offer.
Goodbye to the people and the station that have meant so much to us over the years. Thank you for taking our animals along on the ride.
— SPCA Chief Communications Officer Gina Lattuca
