ELCAT opens state of the art facility
Date: 7/11/2013
By Chris Maza
chrism@thereminder.comEAST LONGMEADOW — Once a catch-all for items and equipment that didn't have a home elsewhere, the garage next to the entrance to the district office behind East Longmeadow High School has been transformed a top-notch facility for East Longmeadow Cable Access Television (ELCAT).
The new ELCAT headquarters is nearly four times the size of the station's former home, which consisted of a 24-by-20 foot room. ELCAT Director Don Maki told
Reminder Publications that the project was a culmination of a long-time vision he's had for the station.
"I started as a volunteer 8 1/2 years ago and once I was on the ELCAT committee, I started planning in my mind. Of course I didn't know that one day I'd be in this position, but I thought about what a great community resource this was and wondered what it would be like in 10 years," he said, adding that upgrades at the station began long before the physical expansion. "I remember when we went to digital. Before that we were using one VCR deck to air our programing."
The project, which Maki said was nearly complete, started just after Thanksgiving. It was funded with monies obtained through the town's licensing agreement with Charter Communications.
"I definitely want to acknowledge [East Longmeadow Building Facilities Manager] Bruce Fenney, who was the project manager and did an amazing job with the contractors," he said.
"The DPW [Department of Public Works] also contributed however they could," he added, explaining the DPW did the preliminary electrical work on the building that saved roughly $40,000 and also installed storage cabinets in the facility.
Maki said the increase in the size and quality of the space would allow the station to utilize new tools that could enhance its services.
"The biggest thing about this expansion is it is going to accommodate new technology and equipment," he said. "It's going to enhance our ability to turn things around faster."
Maki said he hoped the improvements would also help increase participation in ELCAT projects by students at the high school.
"It's going to allow us to grow programs by getting students involved in the day-to-day operations and providing curriculum options to the high school," he said. "The School Committee and [Superintendent] Gordon [Smith] have been very supportive of our being here."
Maki added that while he expects an increase in student involvement, the public should remember that all residents are invited to use the ELCAT facilities.
"I hope [the improvements] encourage the people of the community to make use of it. It really is a resource of the town and it's open to the public," he said, explaining that the expansion would allow for easier scheduling with residents. "When we had the smaller space, it was sometimes difficult to arrange a time when they could come in."
Maki said he planned to have an open house sometime in September.
"I want to give the community the opportunity to come in and get an idea of the potential this has to offer," he said, adding the event would have activities for kids, including the opportunity to record their own tape.
