April 18, 2017

40th Anniversary of Ham Radio Club

April 18, 2017/ Colin Butler

On 17 April 1977, twenty two radio amateurs met at the Hillsboro Farm Bureau Conference Room to form the Highland Amateur Radio Association (HARA)

Today, there are nearly 100 HARA members and more than 150 ham radio operators in Highland County, OH.

One of the original members was John Levo W8KIW whose interest in radio goes back to a day when he was in junior high school and hanging out with his dad and other farmers at the Faris Implement Store in New Vienna.

“One day [I] went into the store and heard a lot of people talking about the new (WSRW) radio station in Hillsboro. That got my interest. I went home and turned it on and heard stations from all kinds of other places and got hooked on radio – big.”

— John Levo W8KIW

It was 1963 when Levo took a class in Blanchester that gave him his ham radio license.

On 22 April 2017, HARA will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a dinner at the Hillsboro First United Methodist Church. Levo said an invitation is extended to current members, past members, former licensed hams, and others interested in amateur radio and radio communications.

Media Story -
http://timesgazette.com/news/14028/ham-radio-club-will-celebrate-40th-anniversary

April 18, 2017

Sunnyvale Ham Radio Outlet Closes

April 18, 2017/ Colin Butler

Sunnyvale Ham Radio Outlet has signed off after 26 years as a hub for Silicon Valley’s amateur radio community

Due in part to rising rent in the city, the outlet at 510 Lawrence Expressway chose to close its doors and merge operations with its Oakland location, according to shop employees.

“Some of the costs associated with operating in the Sunnyvale location have absolutely skyrocketed, and the traffic and parking availability in our current Sunnyvale location has become seriously problematic.”

— Steve Gimore National Sales Manager, Ham Radio Outlet

Steve Gilmore, national sales manager for Ham Radio Outlet, stated on the store website that changes needed to be made to its Northern California locations.

The store inventory will be packed up and sent to Oakland. Employees have been offered jobs there, but Kelly said none have accepted an offer yet.

“This is depressing. It’s like the end of an era. It’s like your best friend moving away,” Gregg Lane said.

Media Story - http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/24/sunnyvale-ham-radio-outlet-closes-after-26-years/