WCCA TV News and Information Round Up: August 6, 2015

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AG’S OFFICE TO HOLD REGIONAL OPEN MEETING LAW EDUCATIONAL FORUMS THROUGHOUT STATE THIS FALL

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office will hold four free educational forums on the Open Meeting Law throughout the state this fall. The AG’s Office will also offer two live web-based trainings on the law.

The forums are part of a broad effort by the AG’s Office to assist public bodies in understanding and complying with the requirements of the Open Meeting Law. State, local, regional, and county public bodies are required to comply with the Open Meeting Law. The Open Meeting Law educational forums will be conducted by attorneys from the AG’s Division of Open Government and are open to the public.

Fall 2015 regional educational forums will be held on the following dates:
Sandwich

Wednesday, Sept. 9

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

130 Main St., Sandwich

Cambridge

Thursday, Sept. 17

5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

449 Broadway, Cambridge

Southbridge

Thursday, Sept. 24

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

41 Elm St., Southbridge

Avon

Thursday, Oct. 8

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Avon Town Hall

65 East Main St., Avon

The educational forums are being offered free of charge. All members of public bodies, municipal employees, and members of the general public are encouraged to attend. Individuals interested in attending an educational forum are asked to register in advance by calling (617) 963-2925 or by emailing OMLTraining@state.ma.us, and providing: 1) their first and last names; 2) town of residence; 3) the public body/organization they represent, if appropriate; and 4) the location of the educational forum they will attend.

The AG’s Office is also conducting online webinars on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Attendees can participate entirely online and will be able to submit written questions during the training and receive real-time responses from Division attorneys. Those interested in registering or receiving additional information about the webinar may do so by emailing OMLTraining@state.ma.us.

Since assuming responsibility for enforcement of the Open Meeting Law at all levels of government in July 2010, the AG’s Division of Open Government has responded to more than 11,000 telephone and email inquiries from members of public bodies, municipal counsel, and the public. The Division has also conducted 29 regional trainings across the state, 11 webinars, and issued more than 640 written determinations.

For more information on the Open Meeting Law, visit the Attorney General’s website at www.mass.gov/ago/openmeeting.

Media are welcome to attend.

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More Media Consolidation. BIG CORPORATIONS SEEK TO MERGE
This is why we need to encourage sTRONGER support for public access stations such as WCCA TV. Main stream media is controlled by fewer corporations our news and inforamtion becomes more and more propagand for the interest of a select few.

Charter Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Advance/Newhouse Partnership, the parent of Bright House Networks, have filed applications seeking Commission approval to transfer control of their licenses and authorizations in connection with their merger. The proposed transaction would bring together fourth (Time Warner Cable), seventh (Charter), and tenth (Bright House Networks) largest multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) in the country to create the third largest provider in the country, serving roughly 17.3 million customers. Additionally, the new company would bring together 19.4 million broadband subscribers, creating the second largest broadband internet provider in the country and would provide services to customers across portions of nearly 40 states.

https://www.fcc.gov/transaction/charter-twc-bhn

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Worcester about to loose a music venue icon

T&G Victor Infante writes:
Owner says it’s time to sell Lucky Dog Music Hall

WORCESTER — The owner of the Lucky Dog Music Hall says the venerable music venue is for sale, but he is denying assertions that the venue is closing Aug. 29.

“The past 16 years of my life has been filled with many terrific memories and has forged so many life-long friendships,” said club owner Eric Godin, in a statement. “As with any ‘job’ you hold down for that long, you start to get a little worn out and stir crazy. I have elected to put the club on the market, and my landlord has trusted me to find a buyer. I am looking for the right person or team of people that have a ‘live music’ idea to propel the nightclub into something that I haven’t had the time or the energy for as of late. So, what I’m saying is I’m trying to have this club NEVER go away.”

A Craigslist advertisement lists the Lucky Dog Music Hall for an asking price of $120,000. The building at 89 Green St., assessed at $377,500, is apparently not part of the sale. It is listed as being owned by trustee Elvira Diliddo.

Chip Emerson, of the real estate broker George & Company, confirmed that the company is handling the club’s sale, but declined to comment on particulars, including how the business was being valued or how much time was left on the business’ lease.

Mr. Godin’s statement comes on the heels of rumors fueled by a band’s promotion of its upcoming show at the venue.

Musician Rob Therrien, of the band Moulton Llama, has been promoting an Aug. 29 show by his band there as the Lucky Dog as “the Last Saturday Night at the the Dog Ever.”

In a message to the Telegram & Gazette, Mr. Therrien said, “Eric (Godin) is giving up he hopes to have it sold by the beginning of September, but nothing solid yet. So we’re trying to make this something special for all involved.”

In his statement, Mr. Godin said there is no final date set. “As far as the ‘last show at the Dog,’ that date doesn’t exist and is especially NOT August 29,” he wrote. “So, please put that rumor to bed.”

Musician Duncan Arsenault, a stalwart of the Worcester music scene who has performed frequently at the Lucky Dog with bands such as the Curtain Society and the Curtis Mayflower, confirmed that he had knowledge of the business being for sale, and added that he had been working with other local musicians to put together a potential “closing” show for when the business eventually sells, but had not set a date for that concert.

The Lucky Dog Music Hall, previously known as Sir Morgan’s Cove, has been a mainstay of Worcester music for decades, and has featured musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Jim Carroll, and members of the metal band Korn.

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