Page1TV Crew

Zita Christian
Executive Producer and Host

		Zita Christian

If you are afraid of getting wet, you'll never make a good fisherman." That bit of wisdom is taped to my computer. It reminds me that what I might otherwise think of as mistakes are really necessary steps on the path to a goal. With several projects going at a time, I'm often drenched.

One of those projects involves writing. Fortunately, I'm the daughter of not one, but two, natural born storytellers. My housewife mother wrote limericks. My sailor father told sea stories. My first three books (Band of Gold, First and Forever, and Just A Miracle) were historical romance novels set in the American West and published by Harper Collins. In 2002, Berkley published my novella Tambourine Moon in an anthology titled Words of the Witches. The April 2004 issue of Hooked on the Outdoors magazine prominently featured my article "Winds of Change" about my husband's hike on the Appalachian Trail.

I also host and produce FULL BLOOM, a television show about subjects of interest to the baby boom generation, those of us in the "full bloom" time of life. Guests have included forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee, psychic detective Nancy Orlen Weber, and comedian Nancy Tucker. FULL BLOOM has won six Pegasus Awards, national recognition for amateur video producers. Check it out at www.FullBloomTV.com

The regular paycheck comes from my job as conference and projects coordinator in the education department of The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. I'm surrounded by hard-working, creative, enthusiastic people who believe in the value of the arts and spend the energy to prove it.

Dick Christian
Producer, Floor Director, Cameraman

		Dick Christian

I grew up wanting to be in broadcasting. I started out in radio in 1959, first with the Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, then on Okinawa. After I was discharged in 1962, I spent seven more years in radio as a news director with WLOB in Portland, Maine, then with KMAK in Fresno, California. I thoroughly enjoyed working in radio. I would have worked for free-and almost did. But the job didn't pay the bills. For nearly 30 years I worked as a business manager in the automobile industry. In the summer of 1996, I joined the Appalachian Mountain Club and went on a two-week series of day hikes in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. That was my first experience with hiking. I liked it. I liked it a lot, so much so that I quit my job so I could hike the Appalachian Trail.

On April 6, 1999, I flew to Georgia. The next day I set foot on the AT. Six months later, on September 27, I climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine and completed the trail. I had hiked over 2,160 miles, climbed 180 named mountains, and lost 48 pounds. Though I denied it at the time, hiking the AT changed my life. To read about my adventure, go to www.DickTakesAHike.com

I'm retired now, with plenty of time for hiking and for working with Zita on FULL BLOOM and PAGE 1. So although I'm working behind a camera instead of a microphone, and I'm definitely working for free, I'm back in broadcasting.

On September 1, 2003, I had an even more dramatic adventure. Nearly a mile up Mount Bromley in Vermont, with a hundred pound pack on my back, alone, in the pouring rain, I suffered a heart attack ‚ a big one. I'm fine now. I've even returned to hiking, though nothing as strenuous as the AT. That "jolt" proved one thing to me: Don't wait for "someday" to do what you want to do. Someday is now.

Mike O'Grady
Announcer, Cameraman

I'm living proof that Connecticut is "The Land of Steady Habits." I was born and raised here, graduated from Central Connecticut State University, and have been married to Leslie, a fellow Nutmegger and writer, for 30 years.

After spending 14 years working for the post office, I decided this was one steady habit I had to break and, in the true spirit of FULL BLOOM, I made a major career change. I'm now studying to become a voice over artist. I'm the announcer for both FULL BLOOM and PAGE 1. You'll soon be hearing my voice on radio and television commercials, audio books, documentaries, and as cartoon characters--hopefully, for a long, long time.

Liz Aleshire
Research Co-ordinator and Creator of "Wisdom for the Weekend Writer"

		Liz Aleshire

In my heart, I'm a mentor. I love to teach and, many years ago, chose writing as my creative and teaching outlet. Between classes, conferences and individual students, my estimate is that I've taught, and hopefully encouraged, over 1,000 writers. I'm the author of four books under the name of Liz Greenbacker: Willybudykin: a Fireside Tale for Parent and Child; Bugs: Stingers, Suckers, Sweeties, Swingers; Private Lives of Ministers' Wives; and co-author with Kathleen Barach of The Confident Collector's Guide to Quilts. In 2004, Random House published The Official Price Guide to Quilts, co-authored as Liz Aleshire with Kathy Barach. But I'm more thrilled about the five books sold by other writers who used my methods for structuring a book and writing a book proposal. And I'm ecstatic about the three new writers I'm mentoring now. They're creating books that I just know will be published.

On Page 1, I write and host the segment called "Wisdom for the Weekend Writer." These ten-minute lessons are designed to equip writers with specific tools, such as how to write dialogue, how to revise, or how to contact an expert.

I pay the bills as a Senior Accountant for the Robert Haff staffing firm. I'm currently working on several projects: (1) a book titled How to be a Friend In Deed, a handbook of do's and don't's for friends and family of people who have lost a child; (2) a biography of Betty McDonald, author of the classic The Egg and I, and (3) a how-to guide for others who would like to produce their own television show for public access.

I teach two non-credit writing courses at Manchester Community College. One is how to write the non-fiction book proposal; the other is how to write a proposal for a novel.

Art Querido
Audio

		Art Qearido

Dave Smith
Director

		Dave Smith

Jason Theriault
Camera

		Jason Theriault

I am 24 years old and youngest son to Ronald and Sharon Theriault who also are on the Production Crew for Page 1 and Full Bloom. I was introduced to Zita by my parents when they told me she needed help on her shows. I have been volunteering at Cox Communications since September of 2004 and enjoy working on the shows very much. The people that I get to meet on every show are extremely interesting to me and all have lessons to share with us.

Ron Theriault
Graphics, Technical Director

		Ron Theriault

After working 37 years at the Wiremold Company in the Information Service Department, I retired. Since then I have been pursuing my hobbies of woodworking and reading. My wife and I were encouraged by a close friend to become a volunteer in Public Access. After training, we became members of the production crew on People's Forum and Milt's World. Later we were asked to be part of Full Bloom and Page 1. I enjoy volunteering and have met many new people and made many new friends.

I also volunteer at the Lutz's Children Museum and do filming and editing for MCTV (Manchester Community TV).

Sharon Theriault
Camera

		Sharon Theriault

As an aspiring writer, I feel honored and privileged to be a part of this crew. I have not only found a wonderful place to learn my craft I'm also blessed with new people I can now call friends. I am married and have raised three wonderful boys. I am now retired along with my husband and having a wonderful time. I love volunteering and spend many hours knitting for the hospital, doing animal care at the Lutz Children's Museum or working at Cox Cable as a member of four different crews. They are Page 1, Full Bloom, People's Forum and Milt's World. In between, I work on my writing. My hope is someday Zita will have me in front of the camera as a guest with a best selling book instead of behind the camera watching and hoping for that dream to come true