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The Chisago Lakes Cable Television Public Access Channel is accessible-- but it is not being used by the public, and Jack Doepke is hoping to turn that around. He is pursuing part of his mission serving on the appointed cable T.V. commission, but he's also hosting a cable talk show he's calling Nosy Neighbor. "It will be interviews with people who are doing neat things," he said. What it won't be about is politics or controversial, heavy issues.

Doepke wants the show to come across as two people talking over coffee and learning about what's special in their lives. It's one hour long and is a simple three-camera taping with minimal set.

By bringing people into the cable television studio for the show interviews he hopes to expose more community members to the studio which he feels is under-utilized.

Chisago Lakes cable public access channel 10 is funded by a portion of franchise fees paid to the member communities by US Cable. It has an operating budget and a quasi-volunteer director Terry Vruno.

The modern studio and broadcast equipment are located in Chisago Lakes High School in the rear protion of the Ethel Montgomery Auditorium lecture hall. The studio has a lot going for it, and Doepke said the commission members have done a "great job creating this, we just need to get the word out."

Doepke envisions people submitting any number of productions or footage to air on Channel 10. He has taped the Karl Oskar Queen Coronation, for example, and is editing it for air. He knows there are cooks, hobbyists, historians and others who would be highly interesting "t.v. personalities" if they just made use of the facilities and equipment.

"It's a little jewel waiting to be used," he states. What's on now includes a church service, veterans' interviews which are a part of an oral history project and a community events text and that's about it.

Going back 30 years, Doepke first started playing around with video. He had a little (back then it was considered little) port-a-pac camera and he'd interview people. He's semi-retired now from a career in media production and has some time to devote to community programming. The main goal is to bring people into cable television, to "interact, share resources, get to know each other... I happen to like interviewing people," he said, but the possibilities are limitless for public channel involvement.

If you'd be interested in being a part of the talk show Doepke's working on, or if you want more information about your own production, contact Vruno at 1-651-208-5778. You'll likely leave a message and he'll get back to you with details.

Or, contact your city hall for the cable television commissioner for your area and get ahold of them. Elected officials from Lindstrom, Chisago City, Shafer and Center City serve on the commission, along with a school district Community Education representative and appointed citizen members.

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