This Tuesday November November 7th voters in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Putney and Guilford will vote on whether or not to approve a merging of school board's in the WSESU to comply with Act 46. And with such a complicated issue there's lots of content on BCTV to watch to learn more.
First, the WSESU Act 46 Study Committee meetings in their entirety can be found by clicking here.
Need the condensed version? Check out these FAQs from the committee by clicking here.
Watch the latest forums in Dummerston, Putney and Brattleboro.
How about more debate? Click here to watch the latest Citzens' Breakfast all about Act 46.
Click here to watch Montpelier Connections video on alternatives to Act 46.
And there's lots more. Act 46 videos are all tagged as such, so you can simply type 'Act 46' into the search bar and have at it!
Watch the acceptance on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/brattleborotv/videos/1755324721179342/?hc_ref=ARQZl0DQpShsNzV8UpRpTTmhykQlipcXbUEdxHQa3MtTpPDUOYjAKaC2MYmhc278GSo
Winner: Artist a la Mode: Wyld Nightz Band, November 2016. Produced by Kathryn Turnas. This local favorite band is one of many hosted by Kim Timledge on 'Artist a la Mode' in BCTV's studio.
Sponsor:
BCTV joins the Brattleboro community in mourning the passing of Stanley Lynde of Lynde Motorsports.
http://www.brattleborotv.org/stanleys-zoo-0 This video from 2011 captures his clients and friends talking about what made his shop and connection to people so special. Video by Greg McAllister.
http://www.brattleborotv.org/it-happens-brattleboro/stans-motorcycle-shop-fun-flat-st A recent tour of the shop by Gerry Del Monico.
With this year's 2017 edition of the Brattleboro Literary Festival set to run from October 12-15 you can catch up on all the best from years past with BCTV's series coverage.
Links:
Brattleboro Literary Festival BCTV Series - Check out authors from previous years
Brattleboro Literary Festival Official Website - find the complete schedule for 2017 and more
Keep Talking: Author Ron Powers - catch up with Ron before his Lit Fest Event with this studio interview
Here We Are BCTV Series - join host Wendy O'Connell as she interviews participants in the 2017 festival
Following Chris Lenois' announcement (below), I want to thank Chris and Fish at WKVT for allowing BCTV to make Green Mountain Mornings into BCTV's local news show for the past year (going on 14 months). I'm proud that BCTV was able to present the show's high quality content, featuring reporters from Windham County's three news institutions, and of the timeliness, reliability, and quality of the video production.
Chris Lenois, host/producer
Watch the awards night here: https://www.brattleborotv.org/bctv-annual-meeting/producer-awards-night-2017
BCTV Producer Award Winners 2017
- Community Partner of the Year: Mitchell * Giddings Fine Arts
Mitchell * Giddings Fine Arts holds a signature monthly "Artist Talk", which is a dialogue with a featured artist discussing their process. Mitchell Giddings enlisted videographer Andy Reichsman to produce a series of shows documenting the artist's talks, titled "MGFA Presents," aired on BCTV and shared on the gallery's website. Producer Reichsman says: "The artists are some of the most articulate and interesting people around. The opportunity to document and share their artistic insights was irresistible." Petria Mitchell, the gallery owner, says "We have had many positive comments from folks, both artist and public. It's great to have an outlet to share creativity and the artists' insights to a broader audience outside our gallery. Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/mitchell-giddings-fine-arts
- Municipal Partner of the Year: WSESU Act 46 Study Committee
Five members of the study committee came to BCTV to create a short video "Act 46 FAQs for WSESU," explaining their recommendations for a merger proposal. Committee member Jill Stahl-Tyler noticed that people's concerns were typically best addressed when they could talk one-on-one with their neighbors or friends. "Knowing it was impossible to talk with everyone individually, we felt creating a video that answered the questions we heard the most would probably be the best way to effectively reach a larger number of people," explained Stahl-Tyler.
Video: http://www.brattleborotv.org/windham-southeast-supervisory-union/act-46-faqs-wsesu-full-video
- Nonprofit Member of the Year: Guilford Community Church
Pastor Lise Sparrow, who had wanted to record the services at Guilford Community Church for years, finally found the right producer-Gerry del Monico, who records the weekly service for BCTV and online. Choir director Peter Amidon uploads choir anthems to YouTube to share the musical offering. Amidon says, "Making our Sunday morning church services available on BCTV and online is a meaningful gift for those in our church community who are housebound and/or ill. It is also a great way for people to find out about our church and our church services."
Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/guilford-community-church
- Volunteer of the Year: Interns Ben Somin and Jane Fenstermaker
In July 2016, two students who wanted internships contacted BCTV separately: Ben Somin, from Landmark College, who had DSLR camera skills, and Jane Fenstermaker of BUHS, who knew how to edit. Their timing was perfect. BCTV was seeking ways to partner with WKVT's Green Mountain Mornings to showcase local journalists talking about the news of the day. But, we didn't have the staff. For the first six weeks of the show, Ben recorded Chris Lenois talking with journalists from the Reformer and The Commons, and the same day Jane would edit and add B-roll from BCTV videos for upload that night. They both took on more responsibility than your average intern and worked hard to make the show a reality for the station.
Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/green-mtn-mornings-tonight
- New Producer of the Year: Chard deNiord
Poet Laureate of Vermont Chard deNiord came to BCTV with an idea, and soon learned how to use BCTV's equipment to make it a reality for two different shows. Acting as both host and director, deNiord created "Poets Speak," a monthly interview show with area poets and writers talking about their work, their inspiration and how Vermont plays a role in their creativity. Next he created "You Come Too," a series of short videos in which he reads a new poem by a Vermont poet each week with visuals provided by local artists Brian Cohen and Eric Aho. deNiord found the staff at BCTV made the technical aspect manageable: "When I became Poet Laureate of Vermont in 2015, I began thinking about practical ways of bringing what the poet Ezra Pound called "the news that stays news" to as many people of Vermont as possible. I finally entered the studio after overcoming my trepidation of managing my own show and have now completed five interviews with poets Verandah Porche, Jeff Friedman, Dede Cummings, Bianca Stone, and Tim Mayo."
'Poets Speak' Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/poets-speak-conversations-vt-poet-laureate-chard-deniord
'You Come Too' Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/you-come-too-poetry-series
- Producer of the Year: Gerry Del Monico
Gerry Del Monico became active with BCTV two years ago and instantly rose to become one of its most prolific producers. He mastered the technique of using a tablet to create and edit short pieces, adding music and narration and submitting it as a finished program. His regular series include, "Day Kitchen Demos," shot at the Brattleboro Food Coop, and "It Happens in Brattleboro," where he takes to the streets of Brattleboro in search of vibrant, sometimes quirky, and always entertaining stories from around town. Gerry is also the producer of the weekly Guilford Community Church service. He finds satisfaction in being a community media producer and the ability to help others. Gerry says: "A couple of weeks ago I was filming the church service, and someone came up and told me there's a 100-year-old woman who lives in a nursing home who wants to get to the service, but she can't. So she asked a nurse to DVR the service on channel 8 and she watches it. If I can make life better for someone like that, it's worth it to me. So that's why I share it - others enjoy it!"
'Day Kitchen Demos' videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/day-kitchen-demos
'It Happens in Brattleboro' videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/it-happens-brattleboro
- Series of the Year: The World Fusion Show
Derrik Jordan is a local recording artist, singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and teacher who created "The World Fusion Show" at BCTV, featuring interviews and performances with a different performer for each episode. Jordan and his technical team, including Wyatt Andrews and Alan Stockwell, employed sophisticated audio capture techniques and created a different set for each show, depending on the guests' instruments. Jordan's inspiration, he says, is his network of talented friends who share his interest. "I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would host a TV show, but I realized a couple of years ago that I knew a lot of people who did World Fusion Music and I had a long standing passionate interest in the subject. This show contributes to that culture and brings together this wonderful group of people to a wider audience to enjoy." The show has its own Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Videos: http://www.brattleborotv.org/world-fusion-show
Comcast sues Vermont over PEG access requirements - Sign the Petition today!
Here is the petition: http://bit.ly/2xsY3RM
In January 2017, Vermont's Public Utility Commission, as part of renewing Comcast's Certificate of Public Good to operate in Vermont for the next 11 years, required that Comcast give PEG channels the same accessibility and features as other channels on the cable lineup, including access to the Interactive Program Guide and HD channels. Comcast appealed these requirements, claiming that the PUC did not have the jurisdiction to make such a ruling. However, in July, the PUC again ruled in favor of supporting PEG channels and upheld its order. On August 28, Comcast filed for federal relief, claiming again that the state lacks jurisdiction to require these conditions.
Vermont Access Network (VAN), the alliance of 26 public access stations in Vermont, gained some allies in the fight with Comcast. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) launched a Petition, urging Comcast to cease and desist from further legal action.
This Petition will raise awareness about this consumer rights issue and lay the groundwork for greater support if and when Comcast files a federal court case--which promises to be expensive (upwards of $100K) for VAN.
Find out more:
https://vtdigger.org/2017/08/
http://digital.vpr.net/post/
Pauline Dean was appointed to the BCTV Board in March 2015. Pauline serves on several community boards and works with young people at the Meadows Educational Center, a therapeutic alternative school located within the Brattleboro Retreat where she is a case manager and intensive special education elementary teacher.
Cassandra was appointed to replace Joe Bushey on the BCTV Board in January 2017. She is the Director of the Brattleboro Area Prevention Coalition.
Chris was appointed to replace Steve Cormier on the BCTV board in March 2015, then was elected to that seat in the fall. In 2016, he was elected BCTV Board President. Chris recently accepted a position as Associate Director of Marketing Communications at Landmark College. Prior to that, he hosted "Green Mountain Mornings" talk radio show on WKVT 100.3FM/1490AM and rebroadcast on BCTV as "Green Mountain Mornings Tonight". He also served as the station's news director and was part of its broadcast team for Brattleboro Colonel athletics. Raised in Vernon and a graduate of BUHS, Chris has been involved in media in one form since freelancing for the Brattleboro Reformer in high school. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of Vermont.
We are pleased to introduce BCTV's newest full-time employee, Nolan Edgar (on right). Nolan has been a long time BCTV volunteer, starting when he was 16 years old! Recently, Nolan has been our field producer for "Green Mountain Mornings Tonight" and guest director for Brattleboro Selectboard Meetings. He is 25 years old, a graduate of the film program at Windham Regional Career Center and Leland and Gray High School, and is currently enrolled at GCC for a Graphic Design certificate. In addition, he has years of experience producing and editing video with MondoMediaworks, BCTV and other local employers.
We were thrilled to have such a high quality pool of applicants, and also to be able to reinforce the message that volunteering for BCTV can be a path to employment. Thanks to everyone who applied for the job and demonstrated interest in BCTV.
As one of the state's leading authorities on the sale of VT Yankee from Entergy to NorthStar, local reporter Mike Faher joined the set of VT PBS's weekly news show 'Vermont This Week' via Skype using BCTV's remote streaming mini-studio.