'Veteran's Corner' returns to Westborough cable
By Ken Powers Contributing Writer

Ken Ferrera, producer and moderator of "Veteran's Corner," welcomes Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill onto his show. SUBMITTED

Westborough - While the return of "Veteran's Corner" hasn't set the Nielsen ratings - the national barometer of a television show's viewership - afire, folks tuning in to the Westborough TV production seem to be enjoying its revival.

"It's gone really well. Production of Season One, that's what I'm calling it anyway, is finished," said Ken Ferrera, producer and moderator of the show. "I think everyone involved is really pleased with how it has worked out."

Ferrera has been very pleasantly surprised with the number of viewers, which has been higher than he expected.

"When I started with the show I wondered if this was going to be one of those ifa tree-falls-in-the-forestdoes anyone-hear-it kinds of things," Ferrera said, "but I've been very pleasantly surprised. George Perry, the veterans agent in town, has gotten a lot of feedback, as has the television station. Even the folks in my neighborhood, when they see me, comment on the show and on having seen me on television."

Ferrera, 61, a Vietnam Warera veteran, got involved with the show as a result of wanting to get more involved in the community. While discussing the possibility of Ferrera joining the Veteran's Advisory Board, Perry mentioned how he wanted to resurrect the Veteran's Corner television show that had aired a few years ago, but for reasons no one could seem to remember, had ceased.

"I was all for it," Ferrera said, "and together George and I began lining up guests that would fit the criteria of the show."

Ferrera said that criteria is presenting veterans' issues and dispersing information on veterans' benefits available.

So far, Ferrera, Westborough TV station manager Bob Cantara and Perry have put together eight shows on a variety of veterans topics.

Ferrera recently had Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill on the show talking about monetary benefits available to veterans who call the Bay State home.

"The treasurer explained the Veterans Bonus Program, a state-run program that awards veterans who served in Afghanistan or Iraq $1,000 and anyone else who has served in the conflict in any way $500," Ferrera said. "It's not that it's big money, but it's available money."

Ferrera said Cahill told him more than 16,000 Massachusetts veterans have yet to sign up for the program.

Other guests on the show have included: Oliver Mason, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard; Bruce Linnell, director of Veterans Outreach Metrowest, a Marlborough-based program; Mike Duplessis, director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post in Westborough; Tom Kelly, secretary of Massachusetts Veterans Services; and Heidi Kruckenberg, director of the Women's Veterans Network.

Another show, Ferrera said, focused on Mass. Veterans Inc., a shelter in Worcester for homeless veterans.

Perry was on the first show of the year, which aired in June.

"That was our pioneer show, and for all the right reasons," Ferrera said. "It allowed us to define what we're trying to do. It allowed us to visibly show George and Westborough and what type of services the veterans agency that's right here in town was doing. It let us focus the show right down to the most personal part of our mission."