Television show addresses issues facing local towns
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

(l to r) Shrewsbury Town Manager Dan Morgado, Shrewsbury resident and State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, Westborough Selectman Lydia Goldblatt and Westborough Town Coordinator Henry Danis stand in front of the mural of Harry's Restaurant after taping a talk show hosted by Polito and Goldblatt at the legendary Route 9 restaurant. PHOTO/KEN POWERS

Westborough/Shrewsbury - While former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill was right - all politics is local - Westborough Selectman Lydia Goldblatt and State Rep. Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury, have become aware of a 21st-century twist to it: all politics is local, and on television.

Because of that, Goldblatt and Polito have joined forces to host a monthly television show that will be seen on both towns' community access television stations.

In another twist cooked up by the pair, the show is not shot in the typical television studio setting, but on location in a booth at Harry's Restaurant on Route 9 in Westborough.

"We didn't want it to be just another show in a studio," Goldblatt said. "We wanted to bring a diff erent look to it and we decided on Harry's because it's more relaxed here. Harry's has been a staple of the town for the last 50 years."

Goldblatt, who works at Harry's as the general manager, stressed that the show isn't of the "talking politics" variety, but rather focuses on local issues facing the Westborough and Shrewsbury communities.

"We deal with issues of the day," said Goldblatt, who is enjoying co-hosting the show. "I absolutely love doing the show. Karyn's a dear friend and I like having the people on that we have on, and I like the casual atmosphere. It's as if we're sitting at home in the kitchen, just two old friends talking."

Polito and Goldblatt were approached about doing the show by Westborough TV representatives Maria Sheehan and Catie Foertsch, who wanted a way to keep residents of the towns in the loop municipally.

"We have new people moving into our towns every day," Polito said, "and they're going to be involved with the decision making and they need to be informed. This is an important time for all the municipalities. Plus, we need feedback. We need to know what people want us to be focusing on and working for. This show gives us another way to reach the people we represent and an avenue for them to know what we're working on."

So far Polito and Goldblatt have taped two shows. The first one, recorded in March, had Westborough Police Chief Al Gordon as the guest. The second, taped earlier this month, features Shrewsbury Town Manager Dan Morgado and Westborough Town Coordinator Henry Danis.

"We're talking about municipal issues," Goldblatt said. "During a lot of our show with Dan and Henry we talked about our schools and all the mandates that have been put through by the state. They give you the mandates, but not the money needed to orchestrate the mandates."

Polito and Goldblatt believe, and Morgado and Danis agreed, that airing town government meetings on television is just the beginning.

"People watch a fair amount of local television," Morgado said. "Our citizens are very engaged in the process and much more informed than years ago. I think the next generation is going to be able to contribute to meetings from home. Eventually there will be a system in place so they will be able to email questions into the annual Town Meeting."

Danis agreed.

"There have been several times recently that people have come to public hearings and said, 'I was just home watching the meeting on television and I think this needs to be addressed.' The community is very engaged," Danis said. "They're watching. And paying attention."