MEXICO – Lainey Cross believes people should know what’s going on around them, whether it’s what’s happening at a selectmen’s meeting or a local school concert.

She’s in the perfect place to help make that happen.

Cross, from Bethel, this fall because the station manager for the local access cable televison channel, WVAC. This is the first time Channel 7, which serves many of the River Valley towns, has had a manager.

Cross not only manages Channel 7, but she also manages Bethel Public Access Channel 2, while working a full-time job as a laboratory technician at Rumford Hospital. She’s also a member of the SAD 44 board.

As manager, she programs dozens of VCRs so viewers can watch a variety of local programs. She devises the weekly program schedule, which covers 24 hours each day. She also creates the message boards.

“This is my creative outlet,” she says of the variety of colors, clip art and other components used to design announcements ranging from community suppers to municipal board meetings.

These message boards are updated twice a week, which is something that couldn’t always be done when volunteers ran the station. Now, viewers can see notices for suppers, meetings, concerts and any of dozens of other events on a timely basis.

The 24-hour programming means if someone doesn’t have a chance to catch a selectmen’s meeting or church service the first time it is aired, they have several more opportunities.

Cross said most videos are run 12 times a week, while church services are run three times each week.

Local churches in Peru, Rumford and Mexico have a regular run, as do one or two from out of the area.

A new program titled, “Meet the Artists,” began airing this week. Host Maureen Goudreau interviews local artists about their work.

Although the number and variety of programs has expanded, more needs to be done, Cross said.

And volunteers are the key.

Right now, Joe Volkernick, chairman of the WVAC board, John Rivard and Mary LaPointe are the entire volunteer pool. If residents want more coverage, more volunteers are needed.

This is important, said Cross.

“It keeps people connected to their community. Being invested in their community means knowing what it’s all about,” she said.

Those who can’t get out often rely on what they can see on public access television, she added.

Future plans call for a locally produced health show, and more videos created by area people.

“They can contribute shows to be aired. This is user friendly,” she said.

Prior to becoming the manager for the cable access stations, Cross volunteered for several years with Bethel’s public access channel. She received the 2003 Henry P. Hastings Award for Citizenship from the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce. Most of the work she does is still volunteer, she said.

But she loves it. Her hospital job is on weekends.

“The schedule allows me to do this, to put my own flair on it,” she said.

Those who wish to volunteer may contact Cross at 364-7956 or [email protected].