Local Focus
Local Focus is a series of short (<10 minute) videos which profiles an event, person or organization in the Media Center's service area. This series is distributed on our website and on the Media Center TV channels. Have an idea for an episode of Local Focus? Is there some event or organization you would like covered? Or is there something you'd like to cover yourself? Please let us know. We'll help you produce the video or will produce it ourselves.
The Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo revamped its bobcat exhibit, opening on June 19. See how the Google Serve volunteers' efforts led to the opening of the new Bobcat Ridge exhibit, for their bobcatsk, Tule and Rufus.
How much do you know about that behemoth landmark just off Highway 101 at Moffett Field? It's in danger of demolition. Learn about its history.
A Moving piece about a volunteer at Peninsula School in Menlo Park who leads a K/1 class in creating a totem pole to celebrate Earth Day.
The Palo Alto Youth Forum, a collaboration between the City of Palo Alto and local youth-serving agencies, took place over the course of 3 sessions from Feb 6th to April 3rd, 2010. Local youth, adults, and community representatives discussed changes they would like to see around Palo Alto and how the city can support youth. Community representatives were charged with taking the youth's ideas into consideration and coming up with an action plan on how to implement some of these changes.
The Youth Forum was a huge success and demonstrates the city's dedication to making youth empowerment a priority and incorporating the youth voice into major decisions.
Shout Out for Change held an event at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto on May 15, 2010.
Guide Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organization which trains and supplies the dog as partners for the disabled. Guide Dogs are raised for the first year from puppyhood by volunteers, before being returned for more advanced training.
We visit a local Guide Dogs puppy club to find out how puppies are trained to remain calm in stressful situations, and how volunteers cope with having to give up their puppies after a year.
http://www.guidedogs.com
The Senior Games return to Stanford!
At Gunn High School, hundreds turned out to counter-protest the visit of the notorious Topeka, Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church who came to promote their fringe beliefs. The counter protest transformed the event into a affirmation of tolerance for diversity.
More about this event
A twin-engined private airplane crashed after takeoff from the Palo Alto airport. The Media Center sent a video crew to record the aftermath. All fatalities were aboard the airplane. More information is available at Palo Alto Online.
Free the Children is an international organization that is now branching out to Palo Alto, CA. This event at the Oshman Family JCC celebrates work done by the youth and inspires them to keep going. Features an interview with co-founder of the organization, Marc Kielburger.
http://freethechildren.com
Local residents John (swimming) and Beth (Track) Guislin both competed at the 2009 Senior Olympics held at Stanford. We talked with both of them and filmed them during their events.
64 year old Daniela Barnea competed in her first Senior Olympics in August 2009. She had a spectactular debut, garnering 6 gold medals! The Midpeninsula Community Media Center Interns, in a summer project, has produced a series of Local Focus short videos on athletes competing in the Senior Olympics. The first of this series is a profile of Daniela and her performance at the 2009 Summer Senior Olympics at Stanford.
The Peninsula Women's Chorus is a 50-voice ensemble which has won prizes in international competitions, and has been recognized for their adventurous programming. This is a hometown institution that has a lot of recognition in choral circles around the world but curiously is little known locally. We visited the PWC during rehearsals for their Spring 2009 concert, and then recorded their concert in May 2009 at Saint Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park.
Have a look and a listen. You'll be impressed.
On Earth Day weekend, peninsula residents had lots of options for earth-conscious activities, from learning about compost to touching critters from the bay.
Inauguration Day activites in East Palo Alto, Palo Alto and Mountain View.
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