Westport News

This is the Fall Edition of the Westport Public Access Newsletter. Included are brief descriptions of some of our programs.

WACC 17 is the Town of Westport’s Public Access Channel on Channel 17. It is offered free of charge for residents to air community notices and programs that they have produced. Any town resident can take advantage of the services regardless of cable television subscription. Cameras are available for borrowing.

In addition to the facilities at the Town Hall Annex, we maintain a second studio at The American Legion Hall, 489 Sanford Rd., Westport, MA. Our purpose is to train town residents how to use the production facilities and assist them in getting their shows to the viewers. Topics range from sports, entertainment, local history and human interest.

Our bulletin board features notices from area non-profit organizations, and other messages of interest to the community. Messages to be posted can be sent to us by mail, fax or e-mail.

Programming runs usually from 8:00 am – 10:00 pm, 7 days a week. Each show runs several times to allow for our viewers to watch the shows at their convenience. Check the town website, local listings in The Chronicle newspaper and the Community Bulletin Board for airtimes. To find out more, contact us by any of the following ways.

856 Main Road

Westport, MA, 02790

Other times by appointment.

Valerie Bain - Coordinator

Derek Frates - Coordinator

Half hour magazine show highlighting events at Bristol Community College that would be of interest to the Greater Fall River area and the Bristol Community College population.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy discusses issues of importance to Massachusetts residents. This month’s show discusses “No Child Left Behind”

This is a program providing information about services available at the non-profit Family Service Association of Greater Fall River.

History Study Group

This program series is a discussion group that presents topics of Westport’s history.

This variety show program is hosted by George Cataldo. It is produced at the American Legion Hall on Sanford Road and covers musical, local events and entertainment topics.

This program series for women is produced by women and covers many issues; careers, law, style, business, medicine, social issues and many more topics.

On this month’s show, “Watercolor Freedom", John R. Malsen discusses the process he has undergone in seeing and painting in both representational and abstract ways. He is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, the Transparent Watercolor Society and the American Society of Marine Artists and holds the Platinum Merit Award for Experimental Painting on the Cutting Edge from NWS. John holds both BFA and BS degrees from RISD. He is the brother of Nancy Burkholder, President of the Westport Art Group, and came from Portland, Oregon to help her out.

This show presents programs sponsored by the Westport Historical Society that are given the second Thursday evening of the month at the Bell School House or the Senior Center. The programs are on a variety of subjects of interest to the general population of Westport and surrounding towns. In addition, we interview individuals and groups about town on subjects such the art scene, authors, biographies, music, fairs and senior activities. We are always looking for subjects.

This month’s show features Ralph Guild Day at Adamsville Pond which took place on Saturday, August 25, 2007. The Westport Historical Society celebrated Ralph Guild with a day in his honor. Ralph has done much for local history and preserving older structures. Friends and fans of Ralph together with the Westport River Watershed Alliance thank him publicly for restoring Gray's Mill, Longfield House, now the mill pond, and for spending many years dealing with authorities in two states in order to have the Pond dredged.

“Westport Matters” has been aired on the public access channel 17 from early 1993. The shows were taped at various locations. There have been about 450 different shows dealing with topics of local interest.

Bringing the community coverage of local and regional sporting events has been a successful venture for Channel 17. Since last fall the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth Athletic events have been aired including; Football, Ice Hockey, and Men’s and Women’s Basketball. Dartmouth High School Hockey Games will also continue to be shown. The team represents a unique combined effort, with Students from both Westport High School and Dartmouth High School playing for the team. If anyone is willing to volunteer to videotape other Westport High School Sporting Events it would be our pleasure to broadcast them. Just contact us at:

Channel 15 is the Town’s Government Access Channel. We currently air the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission, Finance Committee and the Westport Historical Commission meetings on a regular basis.

Playing this month are some special programs such as Westport Economic Development Task Force.

Check the town website, local listings and the Community Bulletin Board for airtimes.