Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Are we building community pride and attachment?

The Knight Foundation in collaboration with Gallup Reports investigated what makes people feel most connected to the community where they live. More than jobs and housing, their study says that attachment is most closely related to how accepting a community is of diversity, its wealth of social offerings, and its aesthetics.

We hope the Media Center is a useful vehicle for making people feel connected and attached to the Midpeninsula. The community TV programming, volunteerism, and socially oriented workshops are all aspects that we hope build a greater sense of community. Tell us your ideas of how we could be more effective in that way.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sports Fields Cause A Ruckus at Planning Commission Meeting. If You Missed It, Watch It Here!

Sue Dremann of the Palo Alto Weekly wrote an excellent article about last night's EPA Planning Commission Meeting where the commission voted 4-1 to approve $3 million for sports fields named in honor of slain police officer Richard May. This was an often heated, and highly charged emotional debate. Here is a link to Sue's great article. If after reading her article you would like to watch the meeting, we have that available this weekend on Channel 29:

Friday Night 7 pm
Saturday Morning 11 am
Sunday Night 7 pm

The meetings can also be watched over our website at the appointed times. If you have AT&T U-verse run over to Channel 99 to their local access portal and look for Palo Alto Channel 29!

To see the complete list of City Council Meetings and Government Committee Meetings that we bring to you live and via replay from our five town, two county service area, please visit our government schedule pages. If you have questions about a particular meeting, check in with Dave (dave@midpenmedia.org).

Saturday, November 20, 2010

PALY FOOTBALL ADVANCES TO CCS SEMIFINALS & WE BRING YOU THE GAME!



Last night, a crew headed by KMVT's Bobby Chastain taped the Palo Alto High School - Archbishop Mitty game at Palo Alto High School. Members of the crew that will be familiar to the Media Center were Wes Rapaport (pictured), Lisa Tesler and yours truly. KMVT in addition to bringing their production truck and three cameras contributed Mr. Playback Tom Clark and his amazing instant replay software, sports coverage veterans Tim Erskin and Ted Mielke.

This game was important for many reasons: it was literally a joint venture between the Media Center, KMVT, the Paly Athletic Department and Paly parents Chuck and Suzanne Feury. Collaboration means that we can all do more and spread the responsibilities and benefits around and in the end we get important community programming to put up on our channels and website.

The undefeated Paly football team squared off against Archbishop Mitty in the pouring rain and bone-chilling cold. The game was called by Paly Junior Andrew Feury. Strong defensive teams kept the scoring low. With less than a minute to go and Paly trailing 10-6, quarterback Christoph Bono connected with wide receiver Devante Adams (pictured) in the endzone. It was a wild finish and we were there to catch it and preserve it. Paly advances to the semifinals against Bellarmine next weekend.

All I have to say is if you need someone to coil cable in the mud, ask me first. Wes literally wrung water from his gloves and Lisa's face peeked out from foul-weather gear she had wisely provided for herself. And the same team more or less is down at Independence High School in San Jose even as I post this. What are they doing? They're bringing us the #1 seeded Paly Girls Volleyball team as they battle in the first round of their CCS playoffs.

Last night's game will be aired in another joint venture:

Today: 3 pm – KMVT Comcast Channel 15 & 8 Pm - MCMC Comcast Channel 28

Tomorrow, Sunday, November 21st: 2 pm & 8 pm - MCMC Comcast Channel 28

Monday & Wednesday, November 22nd & 24th - 9:30 pm, CreaTV Comcast Channel 28, San Jose & Campbell

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th: 3 pm – BOTH KMVT Comcast Channel 15 & MCMC Comcast Channel 28

Copies of Tonight’s Game Available from KMVT – 650-968-1540

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Community Forum on Bullying

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS) to Host Forum on Bullying

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), will host “Breaking the Stigma: Bullying” on Tuesday, November 30, from 9 PM - 10 PM, live on Cable Channel 28, simultaneously webstreamed at http://midpenmedia.org/watch/stream/index.php, and open to the public in the Media Center's studio.

This is the fourth installment in a series of community forums organized by ACS to combat the stigmas surrounding teenage mental health issues. Previous forum topics have included teen depression, substance abuse and sexuality.

The forum is cosponsored by the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC), Outlet, Foundation for College Education (FCE), and Youth Community Service (YCS). ACS Executive Director Dr. Philippe Rey will moderate the forum which will feature mental health and education professionals, including ACS On-Campus Counseling Program Director Roni Gillenson, CHAC Executive Director Monique Kane, Outlet Program Director Anthony William Ross, and Jordan Middle School Principal Michael Milliken.

Dr. Rey encourages anyone interested in the issue of bullying to participate in the event. “I think it is really important that we are talking about this, especially given the recent tragedies which have brought national attention to the issue of bullying,” said Dr. Rey. “Teens are living in a very different world today where bullying isn’t just limited to school walls. I hope that this forum provides a safe space for both teens and family members to ask questions, address concerns and become more educated on this important topic.”

“Breaking the Stigma: Bullying” is open to the public but space is limited. To reserve a seat at the forum, attendees must e-mail Curtis Hill at curtis@acs-teens.org with their name and the names of any additional guests. The Media Center Studio is at: 900 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto, 94303.

For more information about ACS, call (650) 424-0852, email info@acs-teens.org or visit ACS online at http://www.acs-teens.org.


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Don't Shoot the Programming Manager! DN to Start a Tad Late Through Dec. 5!

Well you can't please all the people all of the time! How does the old saying go? November 15-December 5 is fundraising time for Free Speech TV. FSTV brings us Democracy Now live over satellite feed twice a day. On Channel 27, instead of starting at 9 am, DN starts at 8:30 am. But did you know that we carry the news LIVE from Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park starting at 8:25 for approximately 10 minutes every school day (more or less) on Channel 28? What we decided for the next few weeks is to kick it over to Free Speech TV at 8:35 after the Hillview kids finish up, so you will miss the first 5 minutes of Democracy Now. We can't cut the kids! If you are thoroughly put out by this you can jog over to the Democracy Now website and catch all the headlines plus watch the latest episode right off you're computer.

Everything will be right as rain on Monday, December 6 when DN will run at 9:00 am. And you'll notice the afternoon rebroadcast of DN is unchanged and still runs from 4-5 pm. Throughout the fundraising period, instead of bringing you the Thom Hartmann Show at 5:30, we'll bring you Grit TV.

It is really flattering when you folks call up and complain -- and you should! It shows you care. And sure this temporary schedule is most inconvenient, but we really appreciate your sticking with us and putting up with the late start so that we can bring you the kids of Hillview School in their entirety via the Youth Broadcast Coalition.

Nota Bene: Did you know that during October we brought 91 school news broadcasts live to our viewers?! This was over the I-NET that our amazing IT Specialist Chris Pearce engineered for us. Chris helped the schools set up a "studio" and then fixed it so we can pipe in a live feed into master control here and then we relay it right out. This was accomplished in cooperation with Comcast! Thank you Comcast! So check out the Channel 27 and 28 morning schedules if you want to watch our great kids!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

HONORING VETERANS - Channel 30 Tomorrow



Tomorrow is Veteran's Day. In honor of the memory of those who gave their lives and to say thank you to the survivors and to the service men and women who are still representing our country here and abroad we have an entire day of programming planned.

On Channel 30, starting at 6:30 am we will be running a "Veterans Helping Veterans" Marathon. Veterans Helping Veterans is produced right here at the Media Center Studios and covers topics and issues of concern to today's veterans -- where to find support, the right health care, jobs, and how to help other Veterans returning from the stress of living life on the front lines. Host and co-producer Sheryl Shaffer is a tireless advocate for Veterans. Catch some of her spirit tomorrow and on the regularly scheduled playback times for Veterans Helping Veterans on Channel 20.

At 12 pm, we will run "Remembering World War II: First Person Accounts", a 3.5 hour program of personal accounts of the World War II experience -- personal accounts told by our neighbors right here in Silicon Valley! This program is graciously brought to us by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District and was a labor of love production by their students and staff over many years. We are proud to bring you this incredibly powerful and moving tribute of such historic significance. Special thanks to Sheila Dunec of Foothill College for bringing this treasure to our attention!

From 4pm-8pm another Veterans Helping Veterans mini-marathon and then at 8 pm another cablecast of "Remembering World War II: First Person Accounts."

And if you have a chance, drop by our local VA Hospitals and Homes right here in Palo Alto and in Menlo Park and see what you can do to help. Volunteers, donations, and gifts are always appreciated and needed.

And finally, did you know that right here at the Media Center we have some veterans? Steve Hall who volunteers on practically every show we produce served in Vietnam. Friend Steve on Facebook and say Hi! Art DeSouza a recent graduate of Zoom In told his Vietnam story in his student project that he co-produced with Zoom In member Kathy DeSouza. And if there is a veteran around here that I don't know about yet, well let me know... I'd love to shake his or her hand.

Veterans programming:
Veterans Helping Veterans Marathon 6:30 am & 4 pm
Remembering World War II: First Person Accounts 12 pm and 8 pm

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

ZOOMIES - Media Center Honors FIeld Producers!





Last Friday night, the Media Center hosted its first ever ZOOMIE Awards to honor the efforts of the ZOOM IN Video Production Collaborative, the Media Center's field production initiative launched in March. Since its inception, ZOOM IN student producers have created over 30 community based videos and members of the collaborative have produced close to a dozen videos for our channels and website.

Zoom In producers are raising the visibility, relevancy, and impact of the Media Center and Friday night was our way of honoring this effort and thanking our Zoomers.

We provided champagne, Martinelli's and a lovely spread of goodies with the help of some of our volunteer boosters like Joyce McClure.

Earlier in the week our panel of judges: Lisa De Martini, Zoom In Grad; Sue Pelosi, Media Center Board Member and Wes Rapaport, Media Center Intern, scored all the submissions on technical merit, community impact, and effective message delivery. The scores were tallied and double-checked and the awards announced Friday night:

OVERALL EXCELLENCE - Graduate Division
ICON
Producers: Daya Curley and Mark Messersmith

COMMUNITY IMPACT - Graduate Division
Deborah's Palm (Opening Day)
Producers: Joyce McClure, et al

OVERALL EXCELLENCE - Student Division
Autumn Oak
Producers: Sally Rayn, Anthony Martin

COMMUNITY IMPACT - Student Division
A Vietnam Veteran Remembers
Producers: Kathy Cordova, Art DeSouza

With the help of Jeff McGinnis' "interior computer", we were able to quickly tabulate the ballots for the Audience Award - given for the video in each division we'd like to watch again.

AUDIENCE AWARD
Graduate: ICON
Producers: Daya Curley and Mark Messersmith
Close Second: Uncle Bill Remembers
Producer: Doug Kreitz

Student: Planet Daisy
Producers: Judy Gittelsohn, Greg Gatwood

Producers earned certificates and the Graduate Projects Winners earned a plate on the new ZOOMIE Wall of Fame in the Studio Lobby.

Want to learn more about ZOOM IN? Talk to any staff member?

Next Zoom In Class will be held over two weekends in November: November 13,14,20&21 -- just in time for the holidays!
Contact: Becky@midpenmedia.org for more information.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Election Night Coverage


Even before the polls close in California, you can tune to your community access channels for unique election coverage. Beginning at 5 PM until 11 PM on Channel 28, you can see analysis of national results through the progressive lens of "Democracy Now!" in collaboration with "Free Speech TV", "GritTV", Mother Jones magazine, and The Nation.

From 8 PM onward, you can catch all the local results (San Mateo & Santa Clara Counties) and state proposition tallies as they roll in on Channel 29. Thanks to the magical programming work of Chris Pearce, we get the results as soon as the registrars update them.

We're very curious if you tune in to a display of local election results, or if you much prefer a hosted Election Night program with candidates coming in as the guests and occasional updates on the results - as we've done most years before. Leave a comment!

If you don't have cable you can watch the webstreams (If you get a message that all the "Flash" streams are being used, then click on the Quicktime link next to the player.)

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