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EDMUND DINIS, ESQ., OWNER
1.WJFD-FM “Radio Globo” Ownership from 1975-Present
Attorney Edmund Dinis has owned and operated WJFD-97.3 FM since 1975.
Through his ownership of WJFD’s Radio Globo, Attorney Dinis has taken a leading role in various social economic and political issues of concern to the Portuguese community for more than thirty years. WJFD’s twenty-four hour broadcast in the Portuguese language, with Antena 1’s daily presence, has consistently comforted the nostalgic and encouraged the curious. Radio Globo’s ever-improving programming, while broadcasting from its 50,000 watts of FM power, has made an immeasurable impact upon the significant Portuguese residing in eastern New England, and now the World via the internet.
This could not have happened without Attorney Dinis’s generosity and dedication.
2. Public Offices
Attorney Dinis has held several political offices through which he invariably defended and promoted all matters Portuguese. Early on his career he took a significant role in one of the most important voter registration drives in New Bedford of the 1950’s. He served in the New Bedford City Council, and was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing New Bedford’s Ward 6 District. He was subsequently elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1953, serving the Third Bristol District until 1956, where he continued his efforts to highlight the Portuguese. As a State Senator he filed and secured the passage of Chapter 539 of the Acts of 1955 establishing the Dighton Rock State Park.
Additionally, Attorney Dinis was County Treasurer and he became the first District Attorney of Portuguese descent having jurisdiction over the then larger Bristol County, which included the Cape and Islands. He served for twelve years.
3. “The Peter Francisco Day” Proclamation
The Society of the Descendents of Peter Francisco, The Virginan Giant newsletter reported in 2001: “In the 1950’s, when he was a member of the Massachusetts State Senate, Mr. Dinis brought the name of Peter Francisco to national attention by sponsoring legislation that made March 15, the date of the Battle of Guildford Courthouse, ‘Peter Francisco Day’ in Massachusetts.”
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Section 12S provides: “The governor shall annually issue a proclamation calling for the a proper observance of March fifteenth, as a day set apart in recognition of the heroic contribution toward the success of the American Revolution by Peter Francisco.”
The newsletter continues: “Most recently, he is remembered as the person who purchased our surplus books (Peter Francisco: The Portuguese Patriot, by William Arthur Moon). Mr. Dinis, is now distributing books to 250 schools (mainly high schools) on the east coast between Boston and Newark.”
3. John Philip Sousa
Of equal importance were Attorney Dinis’s efforts in purchasing and distributing Paul E. Bierley’s John Philip Sousa, American Phenomenon, among the many high schools and libraries in Massachusetts.
4. Estevan Gomez Monument, Bangor, Maine (1999)
Attorney Dinis called upon his legal and political skills to successfully persuade the Bangor Historical Society and City Officials to dedicate a parcel of land by the Penobscot River to celebrate the Portuguese Estevan Gomez 1525 landing in the area, while Gomez was in the service of Spain.
The eminent historian Samuel Eliot Morison recorded that Gomez, who originally set sail with Fernando de Magalhaes, was born Estevao Gomes in Portugal before joining the Spanish fleet.
The Estevan Gomez memorial monument was dedicated on Columbus day in 1999 in Bangor, Maine, on the banks of the Kenduskeag near Penobscot.
5. Alvarez Fagundes Monument, Hallifax, Nova Scotia (2000)
Similar efforts resulted in the dedication of the Alvarez Fagundes Monument in Hallifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2000. Nova Scotia’s name “Bay of Fundy” is attributed to Fagundes and older maps referred to Cape Breton as “Cabo Fagundo.” Fagundes sailed around the area in the early 1500’s before the French and English.
HISTORY
WJFD-97.3 FM is a 50,000 watt radio station broadcasting 24/7 from a 600’ tower covering a significant part of southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
In 2005, WJFD celebrated its 30th Anniversary of continuous broadcasting.
From its tower, WJFD draws its audience mostly from the Portuguese-speaking communities sprinkled throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Although WJFD reaches the Boston-area Portuguese communities, its highest listening audience is found in Southeastern Massachusetts and Southeastern Rhode Island, where the Census 2000 lists the following percentages of population as of Portuguese ancestry:
Massachusetts: Acushnet: 37.7% Rhode Island: Bristol: 36.79%
Dartmouth: 40.5% East Providence: 30.87%
Fall River: 47% Warren: 31.14%
New Bedford: 35.8%
Somerset: 41.6%
Swansea: 37.2%
Taunton: 27.5%
Other Massachusetts communities that participate in WJFD’s contests or use the request line, we count among them: Milford, Framingham, Cambridge, Somerville, Lowell, Peabody, and Gloucester.
Through the internet, WJFD reaches the Portuguese speaking world dispersed throughout the World.
WJFD’s programming is directed to an active, industrious and economically diverse listening audience. Our newsroom is connected to local, national, and international news agencies, being constantly updated with the latest news. Of particular interest is our hourly news broadcast directly from Portugal over Portugal’s Antenna One satellite network.
Our Cabo Verdean listeners benefit from our daily 9:00-11:00 p.m. dynamic “Porton di Nos Ilha” program and Josinha’s Sunday “Caminho para Cabo Verde.”
We have an active and engaging sports program featuring Monday night sports roundtable and daily sports news at Noon. National, international and the World Cup soccer matches are broadcast on a regular basis.
WJFD’s music is a careful selection of the most popular titles and artists from Portugal, Brazil, and other Latin-American and European counties. While directed to our Portuguese listeners, our play list appeals to other groups as well.
Daily contests keep our listeners involved in our programming. Among the prizes: a new 2007 Nissan Versa, a Swimming Pool, A Two-Person Trip to Las Vegas, a Two-Person Caribbean Cruise and many more prizes.
ADMINISTRATION
Henry M. Arruda, Esq., General Manager
Claudia Bernier, Office Manager
Jorge H. Morais, Director of Programming
