Contact:        Mary T. Prenon, Chairman                                                                       Posted: 05/11/2004

                        (914) 923-7745

 

For Immediate Release

 

GO-TV To Hold First Ever “Open House” Featuring Guest Speakers on May 27th

 

 

FREE Event to Include Studio Tours and Reception for the Public

 

Ossining, NY  (May 2004) For the first time ever, Greater Ossining Television (GO-TV) will hold an “Open House” featuring guest speakers, studio tours, and a reception for the public.  The “Open House” event will take place on Thursday, May 27, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00, beginning at the Ossining High School Library, then moving upstairs to the GO-TV studio.  The event is FREE and open to the public.

 

The “Open House” will be hosted by Estelle Dashman, the wife of the late Frank Dashman, the founder of GO-TV. Guests speakers will include: Antonio Correia, Station Manager of New Castle Community Television (NCC-TV), who will address “The Power of Public Access Television;  Douglas Paddock, Producer and Host of Writers Blocked on “Finding an Idea That Works For You,”; and Bernie Garzia, from the creative team of The Prince and the Pauper, on “Demystifying the Process of Production.”

 

“As we continue our fundraising efforts, we also think it’s so important to give something back to the community,” said Kristen Graney, GO-TV Station Manager.  “GO-TV is a great resource for the community and it’s important that people are aware of the services we have to offer.  We hope this Open House will introduce ourselves to those who aren’t familiar with GO-TV, and reinforce the services we provide for those who are already know us.”

 

While GO-TV continues to operate out of a classroom at Ossining High School, the public access station is still in search of a new home and needs a share of the Cablevision Franchise Fees to make relocation possible.   The Franchise Fees are paid to Cablevision by its customers, then passed on to local municipalities.  Every other Westchester municipality except Ossining distributes these fees  -- either fully or partially --- to their local public access TV station.  

 

The Village of Ossining currently receives $200,000 in Franchise Fees, while the Town receives $60,000.  GO-TV has been lobbying for a share of these funds for more than a year, providing both municipalities with extensive research on the subject, as well as a slide presentation of other public access TV stations in Westchester.

 

Having access to the Cablevision Franchise Fees would allow GO-TV to relocate to a more visible location and expand its hours of operation to better serve the public.   The public studio hours are now Tuesdays through Fridays, from 6:00 p. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

For more information about the Open House, please call (914) 923-7745 or check the GO-TV Website at www.greaterossiningtv.org.

 

GO-TV broadcasts public access on Channel 18, and government access on Channel 78.  Now in its 9th year of operation, GO-TV serves the Village and Town of Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, and parts of Chappaqua, Pleasantville, Valhalla and Mount Pleasant.  GO-TV televises a growing number of community activities and provides a variety of original programs, in addition to broadcasting regular and special meetings of the Ossining Town and Village Boards.

 

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