Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Joe Lampkin, who teaches Los Gatos High School students in the KCAT lab on the campus, works with Brian Snyder during the production of his final project.

KCAT benefits from grants

By Clarence Cromwell

Cablecaster Maxine Bouchard flips a switch at 6 p.m., and the videocassette she just plugged into a VCR at Los Gatos' KCAT is rolling.

She rattles off a motley list of shows that the public access TV station will run later the same week, everything from Tehran TV to real estate news.

Bouchard will continue to plug in tapes from 6 to 9 p.m. four nights a week because the Town Council decided to continue funding the station in recent budgetary sessions, although last year the possibility of eliminating KCAT funding altogether was raised.

The station's four employees will be sustained until next summer by a $31,000 community grant.

The KCAT grant is just one among $124,470 in community grants and federal block grants the town budgeted for the 1997-98 fiscal year.

Community grants come from the town's general fund and this year totaled $91,290. Those grants will benefit more than 8,000 Los Gatans.

Community development block grants are funded by the federal government, and spending decisions were made by the Town Council at an April 7 meeting. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development hands out block grants annually under the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act.

Los Gatos community grants fall into the two categories of human services grants and grants for the arts, culture and education. Both are aimed at nonprofits that serve Los Gatos residents, and in the case of the arts, culture and education grants, at organizations with Los Gatos residents for volunteers.

KCAT is currently preparing a new show called Timepiece, which will center on political issues in Los Gatos. The show will begin airing in August.

Last week the station aired the Los Gatos High School graduation ceremony.

And KCAT may resume live coverage of football games this coming football season, something the station hasn't done for two years.

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