THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, PEOPLE OF WORCESTER.

Last night, March 19th, WCCA met with members of the city council's Public Service and Transportation Committee to discuss WCCA's operational and capital needs for the next five years.

Councilors Joe Petty, Gary Rosen and William Eddy were very receptive and expressed their support for WCCA. Gary Rosen passionately expressed that he hopes to be joined by all his colleagues on the council in a call for assurances to ensure WCCA will continue the valuable level of service and to meet future community media needs.

Congratulations to YOU, Worcester. Thanks to the people and organizations of Worcester for the tremendous outpouring of support and encouragement you have given to WCCA TV over the past years. You have have helped us with your letters, editorials, post cards, petitions, attendance at cable meetings, and your many phone calls to city leaders. Because of your efforts, the city was able to negotiate a decent contract with Charter. The city will soon be receiving the funding and capital needed to continue WCCA TV's public access mission.

Now WCCA's funding and its future lies in the hands of City Manager Michael O'Brien. It is up to him to allocate funding pursuant to YOUR needs as ascertained by the city. YOU have spoken at those public hearings and through YOUR letters, before the PS&T and Cable Advisory committees. Both Committees echoed your request for increased funding, equipment capital and additional channel for WCCA TV “The People's Channel”, YOUR VISION TELEVISION. The city has been sensitive to all of our voices and, so far, to the needs of public access.

Your continued support is more vital now than ever. Please continue those calls and letters to our councilors and the City Manager.

Stay alert for upcoming public hearings regarding the future of WCCA. Sign up for our WCCA mailing list. Together, we may be able to convince the Manager to see to it that WCCA sustains at least the current level of service and community productions. We must press on together. That is what makes this truly "the people's channel".

Sincerely on behalf of the Volunteers, Community Producers, Interns, KidsNet/Youth Channel Students, Community Board, and Staff, Thank you.
Mauro DePasquale

Only on WCCA TV 13, The People' Channel.

Watch all the preliminary excitement as the new Hanover Theater enjoys it's premier night. Relive the celebration with cameraman Frank Rocco with Gary Rosen and Dottie Hargrove,as they interview crowds on the red carpet.

Cable and web casting this
Thursday night at 9pm, (pre-empting Grecian Melodies), Monday, March 24 at 8:00pm (pre-empting Ted Lalos),
and also on Friday, March 28 at 2:30pm

WCCA's Mike Benedetti also has images posted on Flickr. as well. Congrats to all involved.

Every time I view channel 13 or visit this website I am amazed. My love and respect for the people of this is heightened with each viewing or read.

Jeff's (Wormtown Taxi)blog expressing his insight regarding the city's treatment of the cable franchise, reminds me of why this whole situation matters to everyone. There would be something deeply wrong with our city government, it's leadership, it's system of operation if Jeff is right. It would be wrong to toss aside the over 22 years of WCCA's accomplishment, and valuable service. It is wrong to think that advocating for WCCA is just about jobs. It would be wrong to impose further bureaucracy to drain funds mandated by law, that are not tax dollars, away from public access. To do something wrong against WCCA is to do something wrong to the people of Worcester.
Who are these PEOPLE on this channel?

Well, if you take a quick look at WCCA TV channel 13 or on WCCA TV's website, you will see this is a TV station about YOU about Worcester, from the ground up.

YOU ARE WCCA:
You're: the abolitionist(Love146), the youth media student (Young Views Real News, Teen Central), the music enthusiast(Video Jam, Youth Session), Indymedia, a blogger (the Taxi guy), the Cultural Coalition(WCC) , a church, a library, a historic Institution, a college, a museum, an independent journalist (Ramona Interviews), an activist collective, a graduate student, a neighborhood center, a medical society, a monk (Love Truth and Miracles), a politician (Coffee with Konnie), a concerned citizen (Flipside), a technology buff, a charitable organization, an immigrant, a homeless person, a veteran, a retiree, a mom, a friend, a tax payer, a cable subscriber, an author, a cook, an artist, and everyone else. YOU ARE ALL WCCA TV.

Concerns about the future of WCCA are concerns about YOUR voice

It is such an honor to see YOU on WCCA TV.

We appreciate your support and encouragement.

Mauro De Pasquale, Executive Director, WCCA TV,
“The People's Channel”

The Worcester Telegram reported incorrect local primary election results in this mornings news paper. They did correct it on the on line version. Less than 15% of the registered voters showed up to vote yesterday. That is a key issue.

With this story today we want your comments or theory why such a despicable low voter turn out.

Please note:
The T&G wrote;
WORCESTER— The following candidates for at-large city councilor finished in the top 12 in yesterday’s preliminary election and have advanced to the Nov. 6 general election: Gary Rosen, Konstantina B. Lukes, Kate Toomey, Frederick C. Rushton, Dennis L. Irish, Grace C. Ross, Michael J. Germain, Michael C. Perotto, Joseph M. Petty, Morris A. Bergman, William J. McCarthy and William S. Coleman.

Those eliminated are: John J. Mahoney, Maritza Cruz, Allison A. Alaimo, James M. Callahan, John L. Dellasanta and Michael Grandone Jr.

A chart on the front page of some editions of today’s Telegram & Gazette gave incorrect results.

WCCA TV in partnership with InCity Times will be conducting a candidate forum focusing on the the At Large and Mayoral Candidates. SAVE THE DATE October 3rd, 6:30 PM LIVE at WCCA TV 13, the People's Channel.

WCCA TV is participating again with Worcester Windows:
A Community Gallery Program" funded in part by the Worcester Cultural Coalition,
City of Worcester, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce,
and KJ Barron's Fine Wine and Spirits.

August 29, 2007

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WCCA TV 13 will be presenting a special six part series promoting local artist entitled ARTIST SHOWCASE.

The WCCA TV series will present four visual artist: Sumiyo Toribe, Debra Bianculli, David Wackell, Svetlana Burinskaya visual painter/poet Judith Ferrara, composer/ video artist: Andrew DePasquale and a craft /jewelry artist: Chris Ploof. The series will feature a unique view of the diverse talent from the Worcester area.

These exciting collaborative television production features intimate discussions examining and sharing perspectives and artistic treatment by the creating artist. The series is TV by Artist, for Artist and for those who appreciate the significance art and culture has on both individual and community well being.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Worcester Cultural Commission, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, The program is a collaborative involving the Worcester Cultural Coalition and its members, the appearing artist and WCCA TV.

There are many great and important artists in the Worcester area. We view this initiative as a pilot with intentions to continue placing the spot light on many more artist and cultural institutions in the future.

Artist Showcase will be cable and web cast weekly, beginning Saturday at 9 AM and 5:30 PM beginning September 1st on WCCA TV channel 13 and over the web at www.wccatv.com

For more information please contact: Tracy Foley, Program Manager, WCCA TV

WCCA is considering changing hours of operations for weeknights and weekends.

What hours would be more convenient for you to produce your own TV show, use our computer lab, volunteer on WCCA community productions, submit videos, etc.

Let me know by leaving a comment or phoning me at 508-755-1880 extension 11.

Thanks
Mauro

WCCA TV 13, "The People's Channel", Worcester's public access channel is presenting the BOLD STEPS conference along with exclusive interviews presenting local leaders and partners in this wonderful collborative on:

Thursdays, June 14 & 21 at 9:00pm
Friday, June 15 & 22 at 10:30am

In an effort to address the need for shelter and transitional housing,the Central Massachusetts Housing Authority Alliance has joined with Worcester State College and several agencies to form a BOLD STEPS INITIATIVE.

A packed room including several government leaders attended the announcement yesterday, included Mayor Konstantina Lukes, Sen. Edward Augustus, city councilors, state Rep. Robert P. Spellane, D-Worcester, and U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester.

Partners in the Bold Steps Initiative include: Worcester State College, Curry College, L.T.L. Dance Studio, Massachusetts State Police, Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corp., Worcester Boys & Girls Club, Worcester Department of Health & Human Services, Worcester Firefighters Local 1009, Worcester Probate and Family Court, Workforce Central, Girls Inc. and YMCA.

Also we provide more about this from the Worcester Telegram

Worcester Rally
Federal Courthouse, Donohue Federal Building, 595 Main St, Worcester

Day of Action to Restore Law and Justice

Help restore our rights and bring habeas corpus back to its rightful place in
the Constitution.

For nearly seven years, we have seen the decline of our freedoms, from the
suspension of habeas corpus and due process, to shameful acts of torture, CIA
kidnappings, and secret prison programs.

On June 26, 2007, while activists from around the country rally in Washington,
D.C. to call on Congress to restore our Constitutional rights, we will hold a
parallel rally in Worcester.

This is your chance to make your voice heard! Please join us.

Note: A parking garage is across the street from the courthouse.

Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Time: 5:30 PM

If you'd like to attend this event you can RSVP online.
http://acluma.convio.net/site/Calendar/1040876325?view=Detail&id=100722

In an effort to engage citizens we thought it would be fun to ask community media groups and individuals to join us ( independent journalist, volunteers and public access video producers) as we hit the streets asking the questions:

1."Do you trust City Hall?"
2."Do you trust State House politicians?"
3."Do you trust the president, senate and congress?"
4."Do you trust government in general?"

Look for the question answers to posted on this site http://www.wccatv.com.

We invite other community media organizations, writers, and volunteers to ask the same questions. It will be interesting to see the collected at large results. We hope to share results and post them the week of May 21, 2007.

Enjoy