The news that WKIP has laid off Uncle Mike is disappointing—not just because another familiar voice has left local radio, but because people like Mike are becoming increasingly rare.
I had the chance to do some shows with Mike, and they were screamingly funny—full of the kind of genuine, unscripted humor that made listeners feel like they were part of the conversation.
You can tell everything about a person by how they treat those who can never pay them back.
That’s why I want to recognize someone who has lived that truth every single day.
Whether you know him from the radio or from the countless acts of kindness he performs quietly throughout the Hudson Valley, Uncle Mike has never measured success by ratings or recognition. He has measured it by service.
He has been a tireless advocate for our veterans. He has stood beside first responders. He has organized drives for families in need. He has answered phone calls from people looking for help, often without anyone ever knowing about it.
He didn’t do those things because they were part of his job description.
He did them because that’s who he is.
The measure of a broadcaster isn’t simply the number of listeners they reach. It’s the number of lives they touch.
In an era when syndicated programming is replacing local voices, stations aren’t just eliminating positions—they’re losing relationships. They’re losing decades of trust built one conversation, one fundraiser, one community event, and one act of kindness at a time.
Mike reminded us that radio, at its best, isn’t about transmitting a signal.
It’s about connecting people.
As the saying goes, “A person’s true character is revealed by how they treat those who can offer them nothing in return.”
That describes Uncle Mike perfectly.
Whatever comes next for him, the Hudson Valley will continue to benefit from his compassion, his generosity, and his unwavering commitment to helping others.
We see you, Mike.
And this community is better because of you.
The Valley Viewpoint 