“We just simply couldn’t rock without the Commons,” said Jackson DiCarlo, station manager of Fredonia Radio Systems.
The board of Fredonia Radio Systems has made the unanimous decision to postpone its annual “Rockin’ the Commons’ fundraiser for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to April 2022 due to ongoing street, curb and sidewalk reconstruction in Barker Commons. The 17th annual event was to have been held on Saturday, Sept. 18.
“It was a tough decision, but we talked about it extensively,” Mr. DiCarlo said. Other options, such as relocating the event to Russell Joy Park, another village park, or to campus were weighed by the Fredonia Radio Systems board. Moving it to Russell Joy Park would have likely result in fewer students attending, while the community aspect of the event would be lost if it was staged on campus.
“The park was the perfect location; most of the businesses that made donations were from the Main Street area. It’s a great location that’s accessible to a lot of people,” he added. The event has traditionally featured live performances by Western New York bands, CD sales, a Chinese auction and raffles.
These businesses informed about the postponement were fine with the decision, DiCarlo said, and “are totally glad to be a part of the event, no matter what happens.”
Rockin’ the Commons raised approximately $1,900 for Roswell in 2020. It was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
