Random Pixels

Cox Communication has recently changed their television program delivery to ‘a purely digital signal’. According to Cox ‘this upgrade to All digital will impact any televisions that currently receive an analog-only signal’. I found the process to obtain a free mini box (free for one-year) for one of my older televisions to be really easy and Cox was very responsive. I called their phone number, 858-836-7983, pushed a few buttons and received the box in the mail the next day! (You can also go to their website for help) It took me less then 10-minutes to hook the box up and I’m now able to watch KOCT in my home office. (I’ve got to get my LIVE council fix!) Please let KOCT know if YOU have any problems receiving KOCT’s Channel 18 or Channel 19 during this digital transition. E-mail us at KOCT@KOCT.org or call the station at 760-722-4433 during normal business hours.

Measure A ALERT: Tell your Carlsbad friends they are going to want to watch KOCT on January 7^th, Community Channel 18 at 7 pm. KOCT will be having a Special Election 2016 Journalist Roundtable on Measure A —the strawberry fields project initiative. We’ll have a Proponent of the Caruso shopping mall, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall and we’ll have an Opponent: Cori Schumacher with Citizens for North County. 

It’s easy for them to watch this high-definition program by going to KOCT.ORG and then clicking on the Streaming 18 button, or they can watch as Video On Demand throughout the month of January and right up to the February 23^rd special election.

Buy a Banner Ad on KOCT.ORG-A simple way to help KOCT and promote your organization at the same time is to buy a Banner Ad on KOCT.ORG   These small banners adorn the KOCT home page, VOD and News pages on the lower left side of each page. Prices range from $150 for 3 months to $300 for a full year.  Buy a Banner Page and you let our community know that you support independent, local media while also promoting your business or service club.

IF you had told me when I started at KOCT that one day our highest quality hi-definition television signal would not be what we air via cable but instead distributed via our internet signal I’d have asked if you were dizzy and needed to sit down.  But thanks to the effort of a lot of people, that is the KOCT reality. It started with a grant from the County of San Diego to upgrade our Mobile Studio to Hi-Definition. Thanks to Supervisor Bill Horn and all of the Supervisors for their support of community television.  (And thanks to KOCT Grant Writers Carol Mudgett and KOCT Station Manager Jake Rush for a successful application!)

The equipment would still be in boxes if it wasn’t for our amazing Chief Engineer Bill Peters and the hundreds of hours he has invested to install, test and troubleshoot this new technology. KOCT’s IT Specialist Phoenix Von Hendy has also been busy converting all of our Editing Suites to Hi-Def.  And then I have to acknowledge &  thank my two key staff members; Production Supervisor Angela Miranda and Station Manager Jake Rush who have had to learn how to use the new sophisticated Switcher, cameras and how to process the subsequent giant files of information.  They are talented and tenacious in grappling with this huge learning curve.   So when we go into 2016, ALL of KOCT’s programs will be produced, recorded and edited in Hi-Def. Whoa now I’m starting to feel a little Dizzy!

Random Pixels

KOCT is pleased to present two special airings of a new film by a local filmmaker. Lincoln’s Greatest Speech is the brainchild of Emmy Award-winning producer-director Kenneth Kebow. Hosted by Academy Award-winning actor and avowed U.S. historian Richard Dreyfuss, it features Dreyfuss’ reading of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural, followed by a discussion with Ronald C. White, bestselling author of Lincoln’s Greatest Speech and A. Lincoln.

Here is a brief teaser of Lincoln’s Greatest Speech. The complete program will air on KOCT’s Community Channel 18 on December 21st at 3 pm and on December 26th at 9 pm.

KOCT will have new public access procedures beginning in 2016. KOCT airs public access programs, submitted by local residents and members of the faith community, every Saturday and Sunday on KOCT’s Community Channel 18. Now, instead of public access producers submitting their programs on videotapes or DVDs, they must provide Digital Files via Drop Send (or similar services) or on a flash drive. This will save KOCT staff many hours of transfer time which means they can devote more time to producing community programs. More details can be found here & downloading our Public Access Guidelines.

Check out this new public service announcement (PSA) http://koct.org/video/category/koct_promos/detail/nctd_google_maps_2015 produced by one of our talented KOCT Editors, Toby Maysey.

This spot highlights the cool new North County Transit District/Google Trip Planner that helps you to schedule rides on the Breeze bus line and/or Sprinter train line. We’ll be playing this spot in between programs, as ‘commercial’ breaks in our regular shows like Journalist Roundtable and as Video On Demand via KOCT.ORG.

Thanks to our volunteer KOCT Board of Directors KOCT now has a new Mission Statement:

“KOCT, North San Diego County’s Community PEG* Channel, is an exclusive, independent, non-profit, educational media conduit.  KOCT’s focus is on the topics and issues of importance to the people of North San Diego County.”

*Public, Education & Government Access Media

December Oceanside Spectrum

Oceanside Spectrum is KOCT’s community television show with a guest list as diverse as our north county community. The program is hosted by Elaine Swann— “the Etiquette Lady”.  Our community (& KOCT) is lucky to have this professional host interview our local community activists, leaders and non-profits. Ms. Swann has shared her etiquette advice on various radio programs, as well as on the TODAY SHOW, ABC, NBC, CBS, The CW, FOX News, The STYLE Network, and CNN Headline News. A recent New York Times article touted her as one of the "Emily Posts of the Digital Age". As the go-to leader in everything etiquette her advice has appeared in publications such as the Modern Bride Magazine, Kiplinger's Magazine, and several newspapers across the US.

Our December Oceanside Spectrum has a great line-up of guests and organizations and things to do, including art in our community and in our schools and support for Camp Pendleton families. Also in this edition is information about a 2016 Youth Success Week and an organization that is providing shelter and services for our veterans.

Our first guests discussed Artbeat’s ‘Crazy Christmas Sweater’ party and exhibit.  Elaine then interviewed Cathy Nykiel, the Sunset Market Manager, who talked about the First Friday Art Walk and the weekly Sunset Market.

One of the most active and much needed YMCA’s in north county is the Armed Services YMCA that serves our military families on Camp Pendleton.  The new Executive Director, Chris Keane, made his first appearance on the program to share information about Santa’s Workshop and their Secret Santa program.

Our next guests came on to talk about Youth Success Week (January 10^th through17^th, 2016). This week is being organized by the Community Alliance for Youth Success. You can learn more by watching KOCT’s Spectrum and going to these web sites: www.8Keys.org or visit www.youthsuccessweekoceanside.org

Our last guest was Greg Anglea, the Executive Director for Interfaith Community Services and his topic was their Veterans Assistance of San Diego. Find out more by going to www.interfaithservices.org.

So why not consider helping YOUR favorite charity, non-profit and service organization in 2016 by booking an appearance on KOCT’s Oceanside Spectrum?  It’s a popular show so try to make your appointment at least 90 days in advance of your event.  To reserve a spot contact KOCT’s Production Supervisor, Angela Miranda by calling 760-722-4433.

Good Holiday News

Good Holiday News!  KOCT has figured out how to save you enough time to learn to surf and enjoy a recent musical event in downtown Oceanside.  We have a new program called Oceanside City Council Highlights—Reporter Promise Yee, who covers the City Council meetings for The Coast News, provides a brief synopsis of the most important agenda items for those who don’t want to watch an entire council meeting!  (The link takes you to our VOD page—just scroll down and click the City Council Highlight for the most recent council summation.)

With the extra time we just saved you why not Learn to Surf? KOCT has a new series called Learnin’ to Surf which will begin airing on Saturday December 5^th at 8 am on KOCT’s Channel 19.  For the premier of this new series we’ll play three episodes back-to-back and you’ll get 3 hours of surf lessons for free! We’ll also play the entire series on the following Sunday at 9 am but on Channel 18.  We’ll play 1 episode throughout December—every weekend too. KOCT would like to thank artist and producer Norlynne Coar for allowing us to air this creative series—to find out to order a copy contact her at N.CoarArt@gmail.com

Finally you are going to enjoy a new Newsbrief: Oceanside Music Festival. This was the 14^th Annual Music Festival and KOCT was informed about this  unique event by the key organizer, Robert Parker, Executive Board Member of Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF).  Our program was produced by Kellie Davis and edited by Toby Maysey. Congratulations to the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation for putting on another fabulous performing arts event! 

What's New at KOCT?

Are you interested in news and events about the County of San Diego?  If so check out the San Diego County News Center website.  They have lots of interesting short videos, news stories and information about the Board of Supervisor meetings.   KOCT recently partnered with their talented Producers and video specialists and rolled KOCT’s  hi-definition Mobile Studio to Escondido. 

The purpose was to record the Year of the Veteran Conference at the North Inland Live Well Center.

This conference was hosted by the Board of Supervisors and featured emotional speeches by veterans, their friends and family members and advocates of veteran services.

KOCT will be playing this long form program throughout the month of December and the County News Center is also playing highlights of the event on their informative web site.  The CTN Veterans Conference will play on KOCT’s Channel 19 at the following times:

Sat     11/28      7pm

Sun    11/29     11am

Mon   11/30      4pm

Tue    12/01      8:30pm

Thu    12/03      5am

Sun    12/06      11am

Another new program on KOCT,  the Homeless Task Force Newsbrief, will give you some insight into the homeless problem we have in North County and about  the city’s Homeless Task Force that is trying to remedy the problem.  Thanks to local reporter and KOCT Producer Ruarri Serpa for his research and effort in producing this newsbrief. 

 The program was edited by KOCT’s talented Micheyl Steinway.

Happy Thanksgiving from KOCT’s Board of Directors, Staff & Volunteers!

A Tribute to Bill Stromberg

Picture courtesy of: "Craterlakemonster". Via Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Craterlakemonster.jpg#/media/File:Craterlakemonster.jpg

Today’s Community Connection is courtesy of Tom Morrow—well known author, columnist, band leader, Host and former KOCT Board member about his good friend -- Bill Stromberg:

A special block of programming devoted to filmmaker William R. "Bill" Stromberg will be shown beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday on Oceanside television, KOCT. Bill spent more than 30 years working in Hollywood, primarily as a special-effects artist.

Tom Morrow interviewed his friend on "Living Legacies" a number of years ago. That interview with Bill telling his career story will begin at 9 a.m., Saturday on KOCT, Channel 18, followed by his production of Ray Bradbury's "Sound of Thunder" at 9:30 a.m.  At 10 a.m., Bill's full-length feature Sci-Fi thriller, "The Crater Lake Monster," will be shown.  "Crater Lake Monster" continues to be listed as one of the top 10 "low-budget" sci-fi movies ever made.

Bill passed away earlier this month after a long bout with cancer. Notably, Bill's two sons, Billy and Robert, followed in their father's footsteps and are both quite successful in Hollywood. 

Robert is a two-time Academy Award winner for Visual Effects ("Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland"), and winner of Britain's "BAFTA" (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award for "Avatar." He also has won five Emmys for various television production works, including the HBO series "John Adams," and several special effects works in the "Star Trek" series. Robert's latest work was as director of the 2014 Disney feature film "Maleficent," starring Angelina Jolie.

Billy Stromberg is a Grammy-nominated musician and recording producer concentrating on classic movie scores.

 

Bill is survived by his wife, Elaine. Bill and Elaine, as well as their two sons, all graduated from Carlsbad High School. 

KOCT is available on Channel 18 for Oceanside Cox viewers; Channel 99 on AT&T, and world-wide on the Internet at: www.koct.org.

 

RANDOM PIXELS

 

KOCT continues to produce a number of new programs for our upcoming series Community Health Matters.  This new series was funded by a generous grant from the Tri-City Healthcare District Community Healthcare Alliance Committee. Our latest production featured health care professionals from North County Health Services and focused on Midwifery and Pediatrics. Up coming programs will feature Vista Community Clinic. Here are some photos from our most recent shoot:

 

 

Last nights “live” Journalist Roundtable was the  shot in High-Definition for the first time in its 15+ year history! We’ll post the program next week so you can watch it as video on demand. The show featured the CEO of Tri-City Medical Center Tim Moran,   Sgt Regalado with the Oceanside Police Department and State Senator Pat Bates.

 

Do you like classic surf music? It has a distinctive sound and was the soundtrack in the 60’s for every surf expedition, surf movie and beach bonfires.  The Deoras performed this summer at a concert sponsored the Oceanside Parks & Recreation Dept. at  Heritage Park.   You can watch and listen to the concert by clicking HERE.  Another surf band, Lady Pearls Surf Affliction also performed  some classic surf tunes and that program is also available to watch on your iphone, computer or tablet.  Here are some shots of the talented KOCT crew that has brought this surf music  experience to you.

 

Finally author Victor Villasenor, famous for his book Rain of Gold, recently spoke at the Oceanside Library.  Each November he has an amazing  Snowgoose Global Thanksgiving potluck event at his Oceanside home. He has a new book out—hear all about it by clicking here.

 

 

 

Watch Journalist Roundtable this Thursday at 6 pm

Tune to KOCT - Channel 18, Thursday November 5th at 6pm for a one-hour "live" Journalist Roundtable with an interesting line-up of guest and topics:

Homeless, Healthcare and State Politics are the subjects of this week’s Journalist Roundtable program. Journalist Roundtable is a monthly topical news program that airs on Cox Cable, channel 18 in Oceanside and county-wide on AT&T’s U-Verse (channel 99). KOCT also streams the 6 pm hour-long program on KOCT.ORG.

The first guest of the evening will be the CEO of Tri-City Medical Center, Tim Moran who will discuss the recent announcement of an affiliation between UCSD and the community hospital.

 

 

 

Our second guest will be Sergeant Regalado of the Oceanside Police Department. He will discuss the recent meeting of downtown businesses who gathered to discuss homeless and vagrant issues in the Oceanside downtown business community.

 

The last half of the program will feature State Senator Patricia Bates, 36th Senate District who will discuss: her 2016 legislative priorities, the UCSD/ Tri-City Medical Center partnership, transportation funding, the drought, and the challenges of connecting with her vast and disparate legislative district.

 

 

 

The host for Journalist Roundtable is veteran journalist Kent Davy. He will be joined on set by KPBS’s Alison St John and Columnist Logan Jenkins from the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The program can be viewed on Channel 18 Cox Cable in Oceanside as well as AT&T and U-Verse

Ch 99 county-wide. Stream us live on www.koct.org and on your smart phone or tablet by clicking here. Stay in tune with your community by tuning into KOCT-Your Community Channels!

RANDOM PIXELS

We have a lot of local local local community content this week on KOCT— For those who love watching KOCT on their big flat screen TVs, go to KOCT.ORG—click on Schedule and then type in the name of the program you want to watch and all the program days and times will be revealed. Or, for those who want instant gratification, click on any of the links below to watch programming about our library, hospital, health and politics—all on KOCT-Your Community Channel!

Newsbrief Big Read True Grit –Our latest Newsbrief is about a great event our downtown library recently held about the classic book (and two movies) True Grit.  Our Oceanside library is so innovative in the grants they seek and the events they create.  Their creative and talented staff have done a great job creating a 21^st Century Library. Check this Newsbrief out!

Recently Host John Bonosoro interviewed the CEO of our community hospital, Tim Moran, only days after a historic announcement.  In our latest Community Health Matters we hear about how Tri-City Medical Center has entered into an exclusive affiliation with UCSD Health. This surprise announcement was well received by our community and San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Logan Jenkins too. 

Open Enrollment & Community Health Matters--On this episode, Wayne Knight, Sr. Vice President of Medical Services at Tri-City Medical Center, talks to host John Bonosoro about Open Enrollment, also known as Medicare Annual Election Period. If you are receiving or eligible for Medicare this is a must-see-program for you!

Did you know you can watch Oceanside City Council Meetings on YouTube? KOCT, of course, carries every City Council meeting live and replays them on channel 19 (Thursday after the meeting at 2 pm, Saturday at 11 am and Sunday at 5 pm). So if you miss the ‘live’ meeting or replay, just use the above link to get your political/local government fix for the week.

Are you a Baby Boomer?

·         If you are a senior or a baby boomer (maybe one & the same?) then KOCT has informative programming for you!  We will extensively air a comprehensive program about healthcare for aging baby boomers and a timely program that will help seniors understand their current Medicare options.

 "The New Economy of Aging Baby Boomers" was held at the Veterans Association of North County facility in late September. It was produced by San Diego North Economic Development Council.  There were two panels of experts who discussed our region from a healthcare perspective and they asked and answered some critical questions:  Where we are now and what do we need to do to serve the aging baby boomers? How is North County preparing for the future impact of our growing aged? What is the economic impact of these Baby Boomers and what does the future holds for jobs, facilities, education and infrastructure?  How will our region prepare and respond?

 The panels were moderated by Paul Sisson, healthcare reporter for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Distinguished panelists were:

·         Mary Ball, president/chief executive officer, Alzheimer’s Association of San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter

·         Kapua Conley, chief operating officer/executive vice president, Tri-City Medical Center

·         Leslie Ray, senior epidemiologist, County of San Diego

·         Sharon B. Hamill, Ph.D., professor of psychology/faculty director, CSU Institute for Palliative Care, California State University, San Marcos.

·         Tim Lash, executive vice president strategy and successful aging, West Health.

Broadcast of The New Economy of Aging Baby Boomers will begin on Monday, October 19, Channel 19, 4:30 – 7:00pm.  Other replay times are:

Channel 19:

10/19 - 4:30 pm

10/21 - 9:30 pm

10/23 - 7:00 pm

10/24 - 5:30 am, 2:30 pm

10/25 - 7:00 am

10/26 - 3:30 pm

10/30 - 5:30 pm

10/30 - 8:30 am

10/31 - 8:30 am

11/01 - 7:30 am, 5:30 pm

You can also watch the program in high-definition as Video On Demand (VOD) by clicking here.  Because of the length of the program, we have broken the show into three parts--Go to Video On Demand: Specials to watch all three parts.

Tri-City Medical Center is the Producer of a new Community Health Matters program about Open Enrollment.  Guest Wayne Knight is an expert on helping seniors to understand their Medicare options.  He explained to program host John Bonosoro that every year, San Diego County seniors who are eligible for Medicare benefits have the opportunity to enroll in a health plan between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. To qualify for coverage, you must be a U.S citizen or permanent legal resident age 65 or older and eligible for Social Security benefits. Individuals under the age of 65 who have received Social Security benefits for 24 months, pension from the Railroad Retirement Board, or suffer from Lou Gehrig’s disease or permanent kidney failure may also qualify. 

Community Health Matters, Open Enrollment with Tri City Medical Center will begin airing on Monday, October 19 at 7:00 pm on Channel 18.  Replay times will be Monday – Friday at 7:00 pm and on Saturday & Sunday at 11:00 am.

You can watch this program on your computer, tablet or smart phone by going to KOCT.ORG / Video On Demand / Community Healthcare Matters http://koct.org/video/category/community_health_matters/detail/chm_open_enrollment_2015

We’ll also be playing this program on KOCT channel 18 & 19 beginning in November.

Keep watching KOCT and keep informed about healthcare issues in North County—we’ll be recording a number of new Community Healthcare Matters during the next two months with Vista Community Clinic, North County Health Services, and Tri-City Medical Center. And encourage your friends and family who want to stay informed to subscribe to Community Connection—it’s as easy as clicking here and then filling out your e-mail address at the top right of our home page.