Press Contact:
John Patterson
Community Television of Santa Cruz County
831.425.8848

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Santa Cruz, Calif.— Wednesday, March 12, 2008— Community Television of Santa Cruz County (CTSCC) announced a partnership with Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) that has produced a public service announcement video that promotes public use of an innovative drug disposal program, in which citizens can drop off unwanted prescription drugs and used syringes.

The drinking water for at least 41 million U.S. residents contains small amounts of a "vast array of pharmaceuticals," according to a five-month investigation of the 50 largest U.S. cities conducted by the Associated Press, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports. The report also states that an increased amount of un-metabolized or unused medications is "flushed down the toilet," and, although "wastewater is treated before it is discharged" into water supplies, "most treatments do not remove all drug residue" (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 3/10).

Current wastewater treatment processes were not designed to and do not effectively remove many of these compounds (medicines). “The compounds are very difficult to measure in wastewater, so you might not be able to measure the effectiveness of any treatment strategies reliably,” said Akin Babatola Lab/Environmental Compliance Manager, Santa Cruz Wastewater Treatment Facility.

“Secondly, because the impacts are so very subtle at such low concentrations, the effects of these drugs on organisms in waters across the country are only now visible and measurable after continuous multi-generational exposures.”

With the active leadership of the Santa Cruz City management, staff and management of the WWTF and others in Public Works decided to create a PSA to help promote effective solutions to this problem, by alerting the public to safe, legal and responsible disposal options.

Babatola said that WWTF chose Community Television, because of the combination of high quality production, very low costs, and their ability to saturate the local community with this valuable information.

The educational video is being aired on the public access, educational and government television channels of Community Television of Santa Cruz County and can be viewed on 25, 26, and 27 for Comcast subscribers and on 71, 72, and 73 for Charter subscribers. The video is also featured online at www.community tv.org.

“Community Television enjoyed this collaboration with the Santa Cruz Waste Water Treatment Facility to help promote solutions to environmental problems like removing prescription drug waste disposal out of local water sources,” said John Patterson, executive director at Community Television of Santa Cruz County. “We are currently airing the piece on our television channels and online, reaching over 71,000 households in Santa Cruz County."

About Community Television
As a non-profit organization, Community Television of Santa Cruz County (CTSCC) strengthens the spirit of community through television and electronic media.

Community Television provides locally produced cable programming that connects local people to local resources and information through live and taped coverage of local government meetings, community events, education, entertainment and news.

These programs air on three local television channels categorized as education, government and free speech/public access channels throughout the county on Comcast (25, 26, 27) and Charter (71, 72, 73). Many CTSCC shows can now be viewed online at http://www.communitytv.org.

A low-cost annual membership offers any county resident access to Community Television. Members can take classes in video production, camera use in studio or field, lighting, Final Cut Pro and iMovie. Certified members can check out equipment and use the editing and studio facilities at Community Television or sign up to create their own television show to be aired on the free speech/public access channels.

For more information about Community Television, contact 831.425.8848; http://www.communitytv.org.

January 2008

Community Television of Santa Cruz County Launches New Community News Magazine, “Epicenter”

Santa Cruz, Calif.—January 9, 2008—Community Television of Santa Cruz County has launched a new current affairs program called, “Epicenter.” The premier show is now airing on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm PST as part of Community Television’s curated local programming on channels 25 and 71.

The long-form news program aims to fill a video-journalism void left by local media outlets who have left the county or who are located outside of Santa Cruz County.

The news magazine will provide more in-depth information in six-to-seven minute mini-documentary segments covering relevant news topics often overlooked or under-reported by the mainstream press. In a segment on health care, Epicenter producers demonstrate the impact of the national health care crisis on the lives of local residents, community organizations and health care providers.

Epicenter features video news segments by staff members, Emery Hudson, Craig Goldstein, Peter McGettigan, and community producer Ed Schehl. The first pilot of the Epicenter program takes a look at immigration, city staffing and other issues affecting Watsonville, at health care reform and the affects on county health providers and patients, the art project “Night Light,” and the opening of a new biodiesel fuel station in Santa Cruz.

“Community Television of Santa Cruz County is excited to serve county residents with a video news magazine program,” said John Patterson, executive director of Community Television. “ One of the public access television station’s goals for 2008 is continue to cover more community events and improving local and high-quality programming covering arts, education and government on cable channels 25 & 26 and 71 & 73.”

Epicenter follows a journalism code of ethics and is produced in the vein of Frontline and other reputable current affairs programs.

As a non-profit organization, Community Television of Santa Cruz County (CTSCC) strengthens the spirit of community through television and electronic media. In 2008, CTSCC will be offering several internship positions at the station.

Community Television provides locally produced cable programming that connects local people to local resources and information through live and taped coverage of local government meetings, community events, education, entertainment and news.

About Community Television
Community Television can be found on three local television channels categorized as education, government and free speech/public access throughout the county on cable channels (25, 26, 27) and Charter (71, 72, 73). Many CTSCC shows can now be viewed online at http://www.communitytv.org.

A low-cost annual membership offers any county resident access to Community Television. Members can take classes in video production, camera use in studio or field, lighting, Final Cut Pro and iMovie. Certified members can check out equipment and use the editing and studio facilities at Community Television or sign up to create their own television show to be aired on the free speech/public access channels.

November 2007

Community Television of Santa Cruz County Announces Award Recipients

Santa Cruz, Calif.—November 16th, 2007— Community Television of Santa Cruz County (CTSCC) announced the recipients of the 2007 Community Television Recognition Awards on Thursday at 7pm.

The awards ceremony was held at the CTSCC studios located at 816 Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz, award recipients were presented with awards for their work as public access producers and volunteers on productions creating local content for Santa Cruz County’s three public access television stations: on Comcast, Channel 25, 26, 27 and on Charter, Channel 71, 72, and 73, in Capitola and Watsonville.

Award-winners included programming about youth, oral history projects, public service announcements for non-profits, local arts, diversity, cultural events, and talk show formats. Some award highlights include:

Program of the Year Category
* SoWAT, a live talk magazine airing Sundays & Wednesdays at 8pm, covering the world of Santa Cruz arts and culture. Starring Jeff Dinnell and Chip!

* Voices from the Village, a live call-in public affairs talk show that can be seen on Comcast 27/Charter 73 the first, third, and fifth Sunday of each month. Interviews include political and social issues, produced by Charlie Phillips.

In the Youth Category
* Preps-Local high school athletes are showcased with video clips of individual sports, games and venues hosted by local journalist, Julie Jag. The producer is Ian McFadden.

Public Service Announcement Category
* EarthVision PSA – Producer, Ed Schehl, the co-founder of EarthVision, produced a public service announcement about this internationally recognized environmental film festival. EarthVision is celebrating is tenth anniversary at Santa Cruz venues in March of 2008.

Community Portraits Category
* Davenport Oral History - Producer Peter McGettigan with Alverdo Orlando interview residents of the north coast of Santa Cruz County.

Community Television is also honoring staff members with more than five years of service to the organization: Mark Halfmoon, Peter McGettigan, Jeff Dinnell, Craig Jutson, and David Gott.

In addition to the recipients of CTSCC’s annual awards, three members of Community Television will be presented with awards from the Western Access Video Excellence Awards (WAVE) 2007 Awards. The following members were announced as local WAVE award winners at the Thursday evening event.

Entertainment / Community Producer
Charlene Quaresma
Fair and Balanced Episode 20

Documentary Events / Community Producer
Vanessa Stafford
Art Box

Documentary Events / Pro
Marigold Fine
Peacemakers - Palestinians and Jews Together at Camp

Public Forum / Community Producer
Sandra M. Leigh
Dear Mister Bush

Complete List of 2007 CTSCC Recognition Awardees

Volunteer of the Year
Josh Rosen
Chris Johnson
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Program of the Year
SoWat – Producers, Jeff Dinnell & Chip
Voices from the Village – Producer, Charlie Phillips
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Cultural Expressions
SoWat – Producers, Jeff Dinnell & Chip
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Public Service Announcement
EarthVision PSA – Producer, Ed Schehl
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Entertainment
SoWat – Producers, Jeff Dinnell & Chip
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Instructional/Informational (2 separate plates)
Adventures of Chef Matisse – Producer, Daniella Ponce de Leon
Eco-Review – Producers, Tom Harvey & Kathy D’Angelo
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Youth
Preps… with Julie Jag, Producer, Ian McFadden
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Community Portraits
Davenport Oral History - Producer Peter McGettigan
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Diversity
QTV – Producer, Hilary Hamm
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Public Affairs
Voices – Producers, Mark Halfmoon
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300+ Club
Club Cruz - Producer, Becky Johnson
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Most Prolific Producer
Sonya Sokolow, Urban Cowgirl Show

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We are also honoring Ken Kearney as follows:

Community Television
of Santa Cruz County would like to recognize Ken Kearney for his outstanding contribution to the Santa Cruz Community.

2007 WAVE Finalists

FINALISTS: PROGRAM TITLE CATEGORY
Emery Hudson Cabrillo Journalism Educational Access/P

Ian McFadden Preps Educational Access NP

Peter McGettigan African American Graduation Community Event/NP

Mathilde Rand What’s Moving Santa Cruz Community Issues/NP

OTHER ENTRANTS: PROGRAM TITLE CATEGORY
Charlie Phillips/Ian McFadden Voices from the Village Talk Show/Issues NP

Peter McGettigan Cinema Scene Live to Tape/P

Joanna Martin Poetry Box Performing Arts

Mathilde Rand Treasures Doc Profile/NP

Sandra Leigh Starmakers-Halloween Entertainment/NP

Sandra Leigh White Album Performing Arts/NP

Kathy D’Angelo Russo Alberts Trio Entertainment/P

Sabretooth Tales of Sabretooth Performing Arts

Sabretooth Tales of Sabretooth (2 categories) Entertainment

About the WAVE Awards:
The Western Access Video Excellence Awards are produced by the Western Alliance for Community Media. The awards showcase the best video production, documentaries, public service announcements, shorts and special events created by community media producers in the Alliance for Community, Western Region's six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico.

About Community Television
The mission of Community Television of Santa Cruz County is to strengthen the spirit of community and enrich individual lives in Santa Cruz County by fostering communication through television and other electronic media. A low-cost annual membership offers any resident access to the video production, camera, lighting, Final Cut Pro editing and other classes available at Community Television. County residents can also sign up to create their own television show.

Community Television of Santa Cruz County is located at 816 Pacific Ave. Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. More information about how to use the television studios, take classes or utilize the editing suites can be found online at www.communitytv.org, or at 831-425-8848. Community Television’s programs can be found on Comcast (25, 26, 27) in the Santa Cruz area, and on Charter (71, 72, 73) in Capitola and Watsonville.