Raydio’s 2026 Battle of the BartendersRaises $4,440 for Child Awaiting Heart Transplant

Raydio’s 2026 Battle of the Bartenders Raises $4,440 for Child Awaiting Heart Transplant

Sunday (5/17/26) night’s Raydio 2026 Battle of the Bartenders at Legends Sports Bar & Grille was more than just a bartending competition. It was a night filled with energy, laughter, creativity, community spirit, and an incredible outpouring of generosity.

Hosted by Raydio at the DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Milford, the event featured six talented local bartenders competing in a series of fun and challenging contests while raising money for a very special cause.

When the final scores were tallied, Iris Bentley of Cornell's Irish Pub was crowned the 2026 Battle of the Bartenders Champion, earning the $250 grand prize after narrowly edging out a strong field of competitors.

Participating bartenders included:

• Ashley Smith from Valley Pub / Polish Hall
• Kristen Precourt from The SHED / K Cooks
• Iris Bentley from Cornell's Irish Pub
• Jeanne Barry from The Black Harp
• Zack Andrew from Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
• Dario Palombo from Italian Vets in Milford

Each bartender also received a $50 tip bonus in appreciation for participating and helping support the fundraiser.

While the cocktail competition kept the crowd entertained, the true focus of the evening was raising money for 5-year-old Elina, who is bravely living with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome while awaiting a heart transplant at Boston Children's Hospital.

The fundraiser was held in partnership with Radiate Positivity Initiative, whose mission is to support children and families facing difficult medical journeys.

Funds raised from the event will help provide Elina with an oxygen concentrator, portable oxygen tanks, battery packs, and support for her adaptive bicycle, giving her greater freedom and independence while she continues her fight.

“With everything Elina and her family are facing, seeing the community rally together like this was incredibly emotional,” said Ray Auger, owner and operator of Raydio. “We thought our goal of $3,800 was going to be difficult to hit, but the generosity in that room was absolutely amazing.”

By the end of the night, attendees and sponsors helped raise an incredible $4,440 for Elina and other children in need through Radiate Positivity Initiative.

Raydio would like to thank judges Rich Cyr, Juli Johnson, and Amanda Bedrossian, last year’s Battle of the Bartenders champion, for helping make the evening a success, along with the outstanding staff at Legends and the DoubleTree.

Special thanks also go out to Tim Rice Photo for capturing the event and to sponsors:

• Blackstone Valley Power Washing
• DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Milford
• Masters Touch Design Build
• Berry Hill Farm, which also made an additional donation to the cause

Raydio also extended a heartfelt thank you to Julie Atherton of Milford Hardwood Floors for her generous contribution.

Raydio continues its mission of bringing the community together through fun, meaningful local events that make a positive impact throughout the Greater Milford area.

For more information about Raydio, visit www.localraydio.com or follow @LocalRaydio on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Have you got your tickets? We're talking about the Party for The Pantry - March 28 (audio)

FM #1682 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1682 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Marsha Tait, Development Director of the Franklin Food Pantry, Jen Johnson, Development Associate, and Bill Donavan, (Director of A/V with Stage Edge). We had our conversation in person in the community room at The Franklin Food Pantry on Monday, March 2, 2026. 

Discussion items: 

• Tickets on sale for Party for the Pantry; March 28 at THE BLACK BOX

• Online bidding for silent auction items opens March 19

• Bidding for travel opportunities opens the night of

• 3 bands to provide entertainment - Fab 3, Karate Show, and South Street Six

• Light food items catered by Chef Kristen Precourt, KCooks 

The conversation runs about 20 minutes. Let’s listen in 

audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1682-party-for-the-pantry-03-02-26/

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Party for The Pantry page (tickets and travel auction descriptions) https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/happenings/events/party/

Sponsorships still open at link above

Raydio (Your 24/7 Local Soundtrack via the Internet) - https://localraydio.com/ 

K-Cooks LLC - https://www.k-cooks.com/

2025 Annual report of The Pantry - https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FY25-Annual-Report-2-page.pdf 

Franklin Food Pantry web page -> https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/ 

Follow The Pantry on

Facebook ->  https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFoodPantry 

Instagram ->  https://www.instagram.com/franklinfoodpan/ 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Raydio Celebrates a Successful First Holiday Toy Drive with Truckloads of Community Generosity

Raydio is thrilled to announce the overwhelming success of its first-ever Holiday Toy Drive, held the weekend of November 28th through November 30th. What began as a brand-new community initiative turned into a heartwarming display of generosity, as listeners and neighbors across the Greater Milford area came together to support local families during the holiday season.

Thanks to the incredible response, every partner organization left the event with a truck full of toys, ensuring that hundreds of children in our region will experience a brighter, more magical holiday.

Toys were distributed to four local organizations whose work directly impacts families in need:

• The Milford Youth Center
• Santa’s Porch
• The Santa Foundation
• Toys for Kids and Teens

Raydio collected donations throughout the weekend at the DoubleTree in Milford, where residents dropped off toys, gift cards, and contributions. The atmosphere was festive and full of community pride—an encouraging sign for the start of what Raydio hopes will become an annual tradition.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better first year,” said Ray Auger, founder and operator of Raydio. “Launching something new is always a leap of faith, but our community showed up in a huge way. Seeing each organization drive off with a truck loaded with toys was a powerful reminder of what this area is all about—heart, kindness, and looking out for one another.”

Raydio extends sincere thanks to every listener, family, volunteer, and partner who contributed to making this inaugural drive a success.

Your generosity directly fuels the work of these organizations and ensures a happier holiday for children who need it most.

For more information about Raydio’s community initiatives, events, and partnerships, visit www.localraydio.com or contact localraydio@gmail.com.

About Raydio:

Raydio is a 24/7 local internet radio station serving the Greater Milford region with upbeat music, community-focused programming, and grassroots partnerships. Founded by longtime broadcaster Ray Auger, Raydio is dedicated to celebrating local people, stories, and events.

RAYDIO Announces Annual Holiday Toy Drive At The Doubletree In Milford

Community invited to help “Stuff the Bus” for local families in need this holiday season

Local internet radio station Raydio is once again bringing the community together for a great cause with Raydio’s Holiday Toy Drive, happening Black Friday weekend, November 28th through November 30th, outside the DoubleTree by Hilton in Milford.

RAYDIO Announces Annual Holiday Toy Drive At The Doubletree In Milford

The event kicks off at 10 AM on Friday, November 28th, and runs through 5 PM on Sunday, November 30th, as Raydio teams up with the community to stuff a big Vendetti School Bus full of toys for The Santa Foundation, Santa’s Porch, Toys for Kids & Teens, and the Milford Youth Center. Donations of new, unwrapped toys are encouraged to help brighten the holidays for local families in need.

In addition to toy donations, Raydio is also seeking “Shopping Spree Sponsors.”

With a $100 cash donation, Raydio will do the shopping on your behalf — making it easy for individuals and businesses to give back even if they can’t make it in person.

“This event really captures what Raydio is all about,” said Ray Auger, owner and operator of Raydio. “It’s our way of giving back to the community that supports us all year long. Every toy, every donation — it all helps make the season a little brighter for local kids.”

All event details, including drop-off times and sponsor information, can be found on the Raydio Holiday Toy Drive event page on Facebook.

Let’s come together as a community to make the holidays merry and meaningful — one toy at a time.

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About Raydio:

Raydio is a community-driven online radio station based in the Greater Milford Area, featuring upbeat music, local news, and community-focused programming. With features like Hot Happenings, The Local Vibe, and Virtual High Fives, Raydio celebrates the people, businesses, and stories that make local life special.