Stoneham TV is ready for its close-up
Published on May 24th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - As she wends her way through the Stoneham Community Access Television (or simply StonehamTV) studios in a tour during construction, it's obvious that ebullient SCA Executive Director Amy Brough-Palmerino and Operations Manager George Manfra have put her heart, soul and considerable enthusiasm into the $500,000 project - a finished project that is ready for a public opening Thursday night at the former First Congressional Church at the corner of Central Street and Common Street.
"This is going to allow people to work in a permanent studio space where it's even one step further than plug-and-play," said Brough-Palmerino, of the 5,200 square foot state-of-the-art community television studio. "All the equipment is plugged in and ready to go...it's a pretty exciting time for us and this has been a long time in the making.
"Since I've been here, we've gone from the small Comcast space on Montvale Ave., to the basement of the Town Hall to the space here across the street from the Town Hall over the span of three years," added Brough-Palmerino. "The great thing about the way the studio is going to be set up is that you can get as fancy or as simple as you want. We have an 80-year-old woman that checks out the camera and tapes the St. Pat's Mass every weekend, and we have options for residents that would like to get a little edgier with the editing and camera options. Once people are fully trained, they'll be able to tape live shows or taped programming, and they can use our non-linear digital editing bays to bring the shows to life...there are a lot of options at people's disposal."
The evening, billed as a "Night of Celebration at Stoneham TV's New Studio" is set for Thursday, May 25, from 6-9 p.m. at the 55 Central Street location, and will include an open house and tour of the studio. In addition, Brough-Palmerino and Stoneham Boys and Girls Club Director Julie Kramer will unveil the Stoneham Stained Glass Window created by members of the Boys and Girls Club - a fitting addition to a space that still has the stain-glassed and steepled feel of a church while ably serving as a full-service TV studio. Three stained-glass windows remain from the existing church, and the window created by the Boys and Girls Club will be the fourth section of the stained-glass in the corridor leading from the front of the building to the control rooms and editing bays.
The actual construction of the Central Street studio, which began in earnest in January 2006 after approval was gained from all parties involved, took only 4 1/2 months to finish, and caps off Brough-Palmerino's vision for a permanent, an all-the-bells-and-whistles control room and several editing bays to serve prospective community television auteurs.
"I know I've said this before, but this project was all about bringing as many different members of the community out as possible and really giving them the knowledge and the equipment to produce whatever they want," said Brough-Palmerino, who said the studio and the project wouldn't have been possible without the guidance of the Stoneham TV Board of Directors (Albert Conti, Charles Houghton, Peter D'Angelo, Al Cialella Jr., Annamae Arsenault, Robert Hogan, Joanne Lamey, Weylin Symes and P. Bill Mucica) . "I've had five or six people already approach me in the last couple of weeks about show ideas and things they'd like to try out in the studio. This is the Town of Stoneham's studio, so we encourage as many people as possible to come out and give it a try."
Brough had a long list of people to thank many who generously donated their labor and expertise: including Gerry McCarthy of Mac's Landscaping, Joanne Paul of Joanne Paul Landscape Design of Arlington, Richard Michaud of Graphics Group Inc., Gamit Signs, Chris Williard of the Stoneham Public Schools Foundation which donated office equipment from the schools, Designer Lawn Sprinklers of Wakefield and Robert Bouvier of Everett, who redid the hardwood floors in the buildings.
"The Porter Arts Group has also set up a gallery to display their artwork in the outside corridor and is going to supply classical music the evening of the opening," said Brough-Palmerino, via the phone while making last minute preparations for Thursday night. "It should be a great night."
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