By Darrell Halen

It had the glitter and excitement of Oscar night. A long red carpet and spotlight. A VIP entrance. Smiling people holding awards while standing at a microphone.

It wasn’t the Academy Awards.

But the volunteer recognition evening hosted by Bedford Community Television on Thursday, Sept. 10, to show its appreciation to its volunteers and supporters had a Hollywood atmosphere and was broadcast live on Channel 22.

“Our station is built on a foundation of volunteers and your hard work and your passion, and we appreciate all that work,” Bob Thomas, chairman of the station’s board of overseers, told the audience gathered at the BCTV station.

“Occasionally, we get the opportunity to have an event like this. We’re very pleased to have all of you here tonight.” In addition to Thomas, awards and certificates of appreciation were handed out by station manager Bill Jennings and assistant station manager Coleen Richardson.

The recipients had helped the station over the past three years. Award selections were based on quantity and quality of shows.

“It’s a pleasure to be in a community with an asset like BCTV,” said Ray Chadwick, host of “Right for New Hampshire – People and Choices,” after receiving a BCTV Talent/Host Award. “The facility is excellent and Colleen and Bill are always courteous, professional and competent. It’s a pleasure to be part of it.”

The talent/host awards were given to people who are comfortable serving as an on-air personality and are well prepared and educated on their program’s topic. The other recipients were Doug Pearson and Paul Bordeleau.

The BCTV Producer Awards recognized volunteers who produce their own shows independently or with minimal station staff support. Usually, they do their own post-production work.

Four people were individually honored: Ed Carey, Mike Robinson, Bill Greiner and Doug Tricarico.

Carey began volunteering after retiring four years ago. His wife, Cathy, told him he wasn’t going to stay home and “drive her crazy.” He saw a public service announcement that the studio would teach volunteers how to use equipment.

Since then, he’s learned several skills, including operating cameras, editing video and managing the studio’s audio mixer and video mixer.

“It’s probably the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done in my life,” he said after the ceremony. The BCTV Production Crew Awards were given to groups who do all their own pre-production, production and post-production work for their programs.

The recipients included the producers of “The Word of Light” program, the Bedford Bulldogs Production team at Bedford High School, and producers of the show “Hollywood New England.”

The station has at least a half-dozen crews, said Jennings.

“They’re doing everything from scripting to shooting to editing, and they do it independently,” said Jennings. “They get the equipment from us or they’ll use the studio. What happens is, they come up with an idea, they shoot it, they come in and give us a DVD and we say, ‘thank you.’ That helps the staff to continue to focus on other areas to make us the station you’ll always be proud of.”

The station carries government and School Board programming on Channel 22 and public and education programs on Channel 16. Live video streaming and video on demand is available at the station’s Web site, www.bedfordtv.com.

Viewers can watch a wide range of programming, from coverage of Town Council meetings and library programs to fly fishing and school talent shows.

“I have said this right along, that I believe we have one of the best cable stations, best municipal stations anywhere in the state,” Town Manager Russ Marcoux told the audience.

“And I’ve been in three communities in this state and this is by far the best. And that’s a tribute to all of you. Many of you donate a lot of your valuable time to help us make it what it is.”

Six individuals and one organization each received a BCTV Chairman’s Award: Chadwick, Mimi Silverman, Terri Shawver, Pete Macdonald, Pamela Cook-Correia, Jim Pingree and Breathe New Hampshire, the Bedford-based organization committed to eliminating lung disease.

The recipients, who were handed a star-shaped golden trophy, are “can do” folks who play a valuable role in the station’s success.

“Without your participation as a volunteer here, (a) particular show or series of shows may not get off the ground,” said Jennings. “There are things they do that allow us to run successfully.”

One of the people who received a certificate of appreciation is Martha Gaudes, who hosts “Martha’s Moments.” The show has featured various events and places in town.

When accepting her certificate, Gaudes shared an interesting story with the audience.

One day, she was in a local store and couldn’t find what she was looking for so she asked the clerk for help. To her delight, the woman recognized her from television.

“‘I know you, she said, you’re that lady that’s on BCTV,’” recalled Gaudes. “So they’re watching!”