The sale of WBLQ, a beloved local radio station and institution in Westerly, has been officially completed with new owner Rick Schmidt promising to preserve the station's strong community roots. The transaction marks the end of an era nearly three years after the unexpected death of Chris DiPaola, the station's founder and longtime operator who was widely known as "The Voice of Westerly."

Rick Schmidt, a resident of Yonkers, New York, with extensive experience in radio broadcasting, has purchased both WBLQ in Westerly and WWRI in West Warwick-Coventry. Schmidt currently hosts "Greatest Hits USA," an oldies radio program that reaches 145 affiliates worldwide, including stations as far away as Australia. His show specializes in playing chart hits from the 1960s and 1970s and features a call-in request line for listeners.

The ownership change was announced on October 1st during the station's local programming, with morning host Frank Prosnitz declaring the beginning of a "new era at WBLQ." Schmidt made it clear both online and on-air that his priority is keeping the station "local, local, local," maintaining the existing news, sports, and talk format while retaining current staff members.

This development has been welcomed by faithful listeners who tune in regularly for coverage of high school sports, area news, and local politics. The station maintains a familiar lineup of programming, including the Saturday Sports Report and a weekly Saturday show hosted by Betty-Jo Cugini with regular appearances by Shawn Lacey, Westerly's town manager. The schedule also features weekly morning talk shows and various music programs.

Reaction to the sale has been overwhelmingly positive, both online and among broadcast industry professionals. Many expressed relief that the station would not become part of a national media conglomerate and would instead be led by an experienced radio professional who understands the value of local broadcasting.

Steve Conti, DiPaola's former business partner, described the sale as "the passing of the torch to the next generation of local media owners." Conti expressed his best wishes for Schmidt's success and hopes he will experience the same fulfillment that Christopher DiPaola found in operating the stations. "Rick knows local radio and has a keen ear," Conti noted, adding that he thinks of DiPaola daily, remembering him as "an incredible human."

Chris DiPaola, who died unexpectedly at age 49, was posthumously inducted into the Rhode Island Radio & TV Hall of Fame. Known for greeting listeners each morning with the latest regional news, weather, and sports, he was often called "The Voice of Westerly" for his on-air presence and dedication to community radio. DiPaola frequently referred to himself as the "ringmaster" of the radio station and was known on-air and in commercials as "Crazy Chris."

Following his son's passing, Tom DiPaola took over as station manager for WBLQ and oversaw the station's 2023 relocation from High Street to its current location at Grey Sail Studios at 39 Canal Street. This move had been planned by the younger DiPaola before his untimely death, ensuring continuity in the station's operations.

Morning host Prosnitz acknowledged the station's history during his Wednesday show, stating, "We'll always be grateful for everything Chris did to develop the station, to run it and then for Tom to be able to carry it on. All of that history becomes part of who we are today."

According to Inside Radio, a broadcast industry publication, Schmidt's company Turn Up Your Radio LLC filed with the FCC in May to acquire both WBLQ and classic rock station WWRI from DiPonti Communications. The deal includes the Westerly-licensed translator W276DF at 103.1 FM, which simulcasts WBLQ AM Stereo 1230, and the West Warwick-licensed translator W288EE at 105.5 FM, which simulcasts WWRI 1450 AM. The FCC's licensing database was temporarily unavailable due to the recent federal government shutdown, but the transaction details confirm Schmidt's commitment to maintaining local radio service in the region.