WDBX holds its annual masquerade benefit

Factoid:The seventh annual WDBX masquerade ball is being held at 6 p.m., Friday, at the Carbondale Civic Center. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at Arnold’s Market, Mungo Jerry’s Fat Cat Caf, The Neighborhood Co-op, Harbaugh’s Caf and Cristaudo’s Caf and Bakery.

WDBX 91.1 FM, the area’s only community controlled radio station, is holding its seventh annual masquerade ball with this year’s theme being Mardi Gras.

The ball takes place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Carbondale Civic Center, located at 200 S. Illinois Ave., and is expected to run until 11 p.m.

The evening will feature live music by the Southern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble and Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp. Cristaudo’s Caf and Bakery will provide a traditional Cajun dinner with a cash bar provided by Hangar 9. A silent art auction will transpire throughout the evening with final bids closing around 10:15 p.m.

The SIU Jazz Ensemble will perform for an hour beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served shortly thereafter for another hour, followed by the radio station’s evening announcements.

Tickets to the event cost $30, a drop in $5 from previous years. They can be purchased at Arnold’s Market, Neighborhood Co-op, Harbaugh’s Caf, Mungo Jerry’s Fat Cat Caf and Cristaudo’s Caf and Bakery.

“In years past most everyone waits to buy tickets, but I am concerned that the impending strike might negatively effect us,” Powell said.

Regardless, Powell is still optimistic on the outcome of the ball. He expects the typical 200 to 250 attendees that the ball usually attracts, and he also expects the art auction to be the key financial focus.

“The ticket sales end up just meeting the cost,” Powell said. “All money the station brings home is through liquor sales and the art auction.”

The annual masquerade ball is only one way the station receives funds for maintenance and operation expenses. Powell said the station also accepts donations and conducts membership drives, one of which will be coming in April. Since the station is not part of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, it does not receive any financial support from the government.

WDBX 91.1 FM is currently running a program called Adopt-a-Watt to raise money for a new transmitter and tower. The station currently produces 700 watts, but the upgrade would take the station up to 3,000 watts of transmission power. This will cost the station around $60,000. Patrons interested can purchase a watt for $20 each, eventually bringing the total watts purchased to the amount needed for the upgrade.

More information on Adopt-a-Watt will be available at the Mardi Gras ball, as well as announcement on a major donation to the station by a “very nice person” as Powell put it.

Powell also said WDBX is a crucial element in our area because of its commitment to public service.

“We are responsible for promoting tolerance and enlightening people about other cultures,” Powell said. “We know we’re making an impact.”

For more information about tickets or other details about the ball, call WDBX at 529-5900.