Around Town

Watertown Cable Offering Sponsorship Opportunities to Local Businesses

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The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable Access:

WCA-TV is excited to announce that we’re now offering sponsorship opportunities! As a non-profit, we cannot advertise or run any paid programming on our channels. However, we can offer sponsorships to businesses in Watertown for broadcast on our channels, website, and community bulletin board. In addition, we can offer sponsorship of a specific program or underwriting for various sporting events. With over 7,500 subscribers and hundreds of viewers online, this is a unique way to benefit your business while also supporting the community!

Around Town

Non-Profits Can Record Video Announcements at Watertown Cable Community Production Day

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WCA-TV is hosting its first, revamped Community Production Day on Friday, Nov. 4 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. for all non-profit organizations in Watertown! If you’re familiar with our previous PSA Days, you’ll notice that this day is very similar, but with a few extra additions! As always, the staff here at WCA-TV will work with you to produce a video announcement free of charge but this time you will also get the chance to collaborate with other community members in the studio! All videos can be up to 90 seconds in length and will be shown across all WCA-TV channels.

Drawing with Fred

Watertown Cable Show “Drawing With Fred” Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti, center, celebrates the 30th anniversary of his show with the airing of an episode of “Drawing with Fred” in October 2022. The latest episode of Drawing with Fred will debut on Watertown Cable in October, and it marks the 30th anniversary of the show created by Watertown’s Fred Grandinetti. As a child, Grandinetti was a fan of children’s shows and the lessons they provided. When he started Drawing with Fred, he drew upon those shows. “The inspiration for my show came from the adult-hosted family series I watched growing up; The Uncle Gus Show, Rex Trailer’s Boomtown and Bozo the Clown,” Grandinetti said.

Government

Council Pays Tribute to Former Cable Executive Director

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WCA-TVHelen Chatel leaves Watertown Cable Access Television after 9.5 years as executive director. The City Council thanked former Watertown Cable Executive Director Helen Chatel for her work at the local cable access station, especially he role in helping Watertown’s government keep holding meetings during the pandemic. City Council President Mark Sideris personally thanked Chatel at the Sept. 29 meeting. “Helen was extremely, extremely helpful, and helped us get through COVID and issues with the Zoom and I can’t thank her enough for everything she has done to get us to the place where we are with technology and cable access,” Sideris said.

Around Town

LETTER: Cable Access Executive Director Bids Watertown Farewell

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WCA-TVHelen Chatel leaves Watertown Cable Access Television after 9.5 years as executive director. Good day Watertown,

Today is my last day in the office at WCA-TV. As I reflect back on the 9.5 years here, I remember how much my life has changed and with it WCA-TV and Watertown. When I arrived we only went live with Town Council, Planning and Zoning and School Committee. We rarely covered subcommittee hearings.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Offering Series of Fall Workshops

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The following information was provided by Watertown Cable Access TV:

WCA-TV has exciting news – Fall Workshops are just around the corner! From learning how to edit in Adobe Premiere to hands-on experience with our field cameras, lighting kits, and studio equipment, there is a workshop for everyone! Starting this season, there is a new format to WCA-TV workshops:

Brand new Orientation Workshops are available on Monday, September 12th and Monday, October 24th at 6 p.m. These workshops will give a brief overview of WCA-TV, our services and offerings, and a basic training on our field cameras, so you’ll be able to check cameras out right away! An Orientation Workshop is required to sign up for subsequent workshops. Sign ups for all Fall Workshops begin on Monday, August 29th.

Government

Applicants Wanted to Serve on Watertown Cable Access Board

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Acting City Manager Thomas J. Tracy is seeking Watertown residents interested in serving on the Cable Access Corporation – Board of Directors. The non-profit corporation will work cooperatively with the Watertown School Department to manage a state-of-the-art studio located at Watertown High School. The Board of Directors will be charged with hiring an Executive Director and staff that will be responsible for day to day management of cable access programming. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest accompanied by a resume or other information concerning background or experience by email to citymgr@watertown-ma.gov or City Manager’s Office, 149 Main Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02472.

Around Town

Watertown Cable Employee Honored as Emerging Leader

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Watertown Cable Access TVWatertown Cable Access TV Assistant Director Andrea Santopietro received the 2022 Emerging Leader Award from the Alliance for Community Media. The following announcement was provided by Watertown Cable Access:

Watertown Cable Access Corp. (WCA-TV) is very excited to announce that its Assistant Director, Andrea Santopietro, has received the 2022 Emerging Leader Award from the Alliance for Community Media (ACM). Andrea accepted her award during the national ACM conference in Chicago at the end of June. 

The national ACM conference brings together representatives from public access television stations and media centers from all over the country for three days of networking, vendor presentations, workshops, and awards recognition. 

“Ever since joining WCA-TV Andrea has brought fresh ideas, a spirit of collaboration, and a willingness not only to learn more, but to share her knowledge with volunteers, coworkers, and community organizations,” said WCA-TV Executive Director Helen Chatel. 

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a professional who is under 40 years of age working in the field of community media who demonstrates the values of building community through media on a consistent basis. 

“I am so honored to have received this award, and I will continue to work hard in making my community and organization the best that it can be,” Andrea said. 

Mike Wassenaar, President & CEO at Alliance for Community Media and Andre Santopietro, Assistant Director of WCA-TV at the awards ceremony in Chicago. Addressing the audience during an awards ceremony in Chicago, Andrea reflected on her role with WCA-TV, which includes coordinating coverage and broadcast of Watertown’s municipal meetings, organizing and teaching workshops, and working with volunteers to help them produce programming. 

“Even with the administrative responsibility of an Assistant Director, I am still able to do what I love and incorporate it in my day to day life at the station,” Andrea said.