The WCCA TV Newsletter, April 2017

The WCCA TV Newsletter, April 2017

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This Month at WCCA TV, The People’s Channel

We want to thank the City Council and all our members and friends for their support on the Worcester City Council item 10b, which will help begin the process of returning the local Worcester television channels back to the prominent locations that the people of Worcester want and deserve. The quick response to this Council Item by several community members was very inspiring to us!
As you may remember, WCCA TV used to show on Channel 13. Meanwhile the School, Government, and Charter Channel 3 channels all were nearby in the numbers for community members to watch. Then, Charter Communications, without consulting the community or their customers in Worcester, chose to move all of these channels to higher numbers that were not conveniently close to the other channels that most Worcester cable customers watch. This movement of channels, without community input, has had negative results on ALL of the community channels. WCCA TV was at Channel 13 for many years and the move away from there has resulted in some community members being unable to view the station. This is contrary to the spirit of the public access channel agreement, and has decreased access to public access television instead of improving it.
Item 10b was sent to the Public Service and Transportation Committee, which includes Councilors Gaffney, Lukes, and Economou. We ask that you contact these three City Council Members, if you have not already, and let them know how important it is that WCCA TV be put back on Channel 13, where we belong, instead of Channel 194. Please stand up for your community and make your voice heard on this issue! Thanks again for your precious support!! see ++

WCCA TV Special Presentations

Recently, the WCCA TV crew recorded the Anna Maria College Artist Showcase featuring Peter
Marcus. Darrell Matsumoto, Director of Visual Arts Programs and Gallery at Anna Maria College, conducted the interview.

On the College Front:
Soapbox #1114 NE Jazz Hall of Fame has been posted on the WCCA website at
http://www.wccatv.com/video/soapbox/SOAPBOX1114
WCCA TV produced Soapbox show is hosted by WCCA Executive Director Mauro DePasquale. Mauro’s guests are WPI Professors Rich Falco and Tom Shaker discuss the NE Jazz Hall of Fame. Portions of the actual event, along with interviews with jazz artist by Mauro DePasquale, will be video taped and added to the Jazz Data Base and will also soon air on WCCA TV.

Community Forum: Sam Quinones, author of Dreamland, The True Tale of American Opiate Epidemic was presented by the Worcester County DA, Joseph D. Early Jr.. The program was recorded by Adam Rice for WCCA TV, Channel 194.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. On Instagram, we are wccatv13.

WCCA TV Program Notes

  • Tune into new episodes of SOAPBOX in May. Host Mauro DePasquale welcomes Rich Falco and Tom Shaker to talk about the NE Jazz Hall of Fame; Rita Sullivan and Kathy Fugatt to tell us
    about the RSVP Group; former Worcester Mayor Ray Mariano; Lorrie Martiska and Laura Farnsworth to talk about the Safe Homes program at The Bridge; and City Councilor Moe Bergman, Jerry Powers, and Deborah Packard from Preservation Worcester. There is something for everyone on WCCA TV, The People’s Channel!
  • BEACON HILL CHAT is a program with interesting people talking about the interesting
    things going on in Central Massachusetts. Host of the program, Senator Harriette Chandler, welcomes Vince Lombardi, the Executive Director of the Audio Journal. In another episode, Senator Chandler chats with Michael
    Thomas and Wendy Lindsay from the New England Board of Higher Education.
  • In this new episode of ROSEN’S ROUND TABLE, host Gary Rosen and his panel members talk about Clear Bags and changing the way Worcester recycles. In another episode, the guys share their opinion on how Worcester is turning into an Agricultural Center.
  • KNOW YOUR RIGHTS is a show to inform viewers of their civil rights, hosted by
    Ron Madnick. This episode’s topic is Death with Dignity. In another episode, Ron talks about the Massachusetts Drug Lab. Tune into WCCA TV to know your civil rights!
  • CLOSE TO HOME is a show about people and situations that demonstrate deep respect for mankind. Host of the show, Molly Finn, welcomes Yenni Polanco, instructor at YMCA and Fitness Guru.
  • WHAT IT’S WORTH is a WCCA TV show definitely worth watching! Host of the show, Tommy Colletta, welcomes the chairman of the Columbus Day Parade committee, Judy Verdini,
    along with the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade, Mauro DePasquale. In another episode, Tommy’s guest is Lyn Lincourt, the author of the book Mansions Of Magnates: America
    In The Mad 20th Century    .
  • Tune into another episode of HIDDEN TREASURES. Host of the show, Bill Safer, will guide you through the odd world of Yard Sales and Flea Markets. There is a science to it and Bill will give hints and tips to make your treasure hunting more enjoyable and profitable. Exclusively on WCCA TV!
  • Your coffee break is not complete without COFFEE WITH KONNIE. Join City Councilor Konnie Lukes and her guests as they discuss city issues at Worcester area coffee shops. In this episode, Konnie has coffee with attorney Paul O’Conner.
  • HEALTH MATTERS is a program from the Worcester District Medical Society. Host Dr. Bruce Karlin welcomes Drs. Joel Popkin and Paul Steen to the show. The topic of discussion is Art and Humanism in Medicine.
  • THIS IS WORCESTER is a program that features interesting facts about Worcester, hosted and produced by community activist Bill Coleman. Bill chats with Worcester resident Frederick Harvey Nathan.
  • CONNECTING THE DOTS is a non-traditional legal program with the emphasis on
    the attorney as a trusted advisor, with an interdisciplinary approach to solving life’s issues. Host of the program, Attorney Liz Myska, welcomes Jordan Salvatoriello, producer of the documentary Best and Most Beautiful Things.
  • SENIOR SPEAK is a program by WCCA TV in collaboration with the Worcester Senior Center. Senior issues are discussed and a good time is had by all. Senior Speak is recorded at the Worcester Senior Center, located at 128 Providence St., on Tuesdays at 2 PM. Stop by and be a part of the show!
  • VIDEO JAM is your source for eclectic music videos. Your favorite host, Tracy Foley, has been presenting mainstream and indie rock for more than 10 years on cable TV public access stations. Today’s Playlist includes: Natalise and The Sunset Run/ The Lucky Ones, Tremble/ Want to Want Me, Carolyn Marie/ Shelter Me, May Fall/ Same Code, AV Super Sunshine / Star Man, Kenney Polson/ Babydoll, and more! Keep jammin’ with WCCA TV!!
  • Spend an hour enjoying the latest and greatest in country music with host Tracy Foley. This episode of VIDEO JAM COUNTRY features: Mark Melloan / Things I Feel, Crystal Day/ Brave, LOCASH/ Ring on Every Finger, Kenzi Whittington/ Comin in Hot, J Michael Harter/ I’ll Fly Away, OBB / Sweater, David Fanning/ First, Doug McCormick/ Dirt Road Dancin’, Indigo Summer/ Something You Miss. Enjoy!
  • BEN BEHIND THE SCENES is a WCCA TV show that showcases music videos, interviews, reviews, and short films. The show is produced and hosted by Ben Alotey, one of WCCA TV’s longest active producers. Tune into for another episode of pure entertainment.
  • NUESTRA ESPERANZA is a Spanish-language religious program hosted by Lucy Tomey. This program has been airing on WCCA TV since 1990! Programación christiana de inspiración en Español, de mas larga duración en WCCA TV desde el año 1990, anfitriona y productora Lucy Tomey.

About WCCA TV

Worcester Community Cable Access is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation administering public access cable television for Worcester, Massachusetts. Our mission is:

  • To advance democratic ideals by ensuring the people have access to electronic media
  • To provide a platform for first amendment rights and for artistic and cultural expression
  • To promote co-operative relations with those who serve the public interest
  • To promote communication through community use of media

LEARN, CREATE, CONNECT!
WCCA TV, Channeling Worcester Community Since 1986!

++ Our Comment to the City regarding the item seeking to return our local channels back to their original cable channel line up:

April 25, 2017
FOR THE RECORD CITY CLERK FILE
Dear City Manager Augustus, Mayor Petty and Members of the City Council
On behalf of all our members ask that you please mandate Charter Communications to return our local NON-PROFIT PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL, WCCA TV, back to its original channel location 13 and to also return the City Hall Channel back to 12 and the WPS channel back to 11.
Please note currently CHARTER has its cable channel 3 and 11 black with no signal. The NFL Channel “13”is not available to all basic cable subscribers. Returning WCCA the people’s channel back to our original channel locations as proposed, is an opportunity for Charter to illustrate good faith and a REAL commitment to serving Worcester, a city it greatly profits from in exchange for OUR rights of way.
Our call letters “WCCA” stands for Worcester Community Cable “Access”. Placing our station in the outer stratosphere of the cable line up makes us essentially “inaccessible” to a great many. The City Cable license calls for PUBIC ACCESS, not public in-accessible. Moving us to cable channel 194 has severely undermined access to the channel and our own ability to fund raise to meet community media needs in city as large as Worcester.
WCCA TV is the ONLY Station in the ENTIRE Cable channel system, and in the region, that has been solely dedicated to serving ALL of Worcester since 1986. FURTHER MORE, WCCA TV (13) should be distributed throughout the region. It is unjust not to do so.
Many community producers from surrounding towns request their television shows to be seen on WCCA TV and our content has many programs such as “Beacon Hill Chat “, “Know Your Rights”, “Senior Speak”, “Soapbox”, Documentaries such as the works created about the Armenian genocide, Ethnic Programs, various PSA’s, and many more, that often present content that applies to the region and beyond as well for the benefit of Worcester citizens.
Whereas Worcester is the second largest City in New England and whereas all other “commercial” stations that are seen on the lowest spectrum of the cable channel tier, represent and serve BOSTON, Worcester’s PUBLIC ACCESS Channel, WCCA, is the best station to represent our great city and its diversity, as no other channel is or is even capable of doing.
The City currently spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote itself. WCCA TV is virtually an untapped resource that, if it were distributed regionally and made accessible in the lowest tier, it could provide a meaningful and substantial benefit toward elevating our City and its people FOR FREE, without infringing on the City budget!
Return WCCA TV back to the lower cable channel tier and have it accessible in the region we will be delighted to also include the City Council Meetings in our program lineup, as well as even Charter’s News, along with ALL THE REST THAT IS WORCESTER.
Wouldn’t that be good for Worcester, good for our Citizens by giving them a voice to truly level the media playing field? Wouldn’t it also be good for promoting and developing Worcester? Wouldn’t it be good for public access WCCA, and it would even be good for Charter?
I’d happy to work with all parties to make this possible. Thank you for your consideration
Mauro DePasquale, Executive Director, WCCA TV “The Peoples” Channel, WORCESTER, MA 508-755-1880 ext. 111