A brief video by volunteers of Simsbury.
SCTV mourns the loss of Albert (Buzz) Holmes
Buzz was a US WWII veteran, a SHS teacher, a tennis player & coach, and Simsbury Hometown Hero. He joined SCTV as a producer of Our Simsbury over a decade ago & was an active board member, fundraiser, & dedicated volunteer.
His loss will be felt at SCTV & throughout Simsbury. Our condolences go out to his family.
Interview with Albert J. Holmes, WWII veteran. CCSU Veterans History Project.
Simsbury Community TV celebrates Buzz Holmes By Althea Greaney.
SCTV Congratulates Ken Picard – ACM Video Festival Winner!
SCTV congratulates our fellow board member Ken Picard for taking first place in Alliance for Community Media’s Sports Category for his outstanding production of Simsbury Farms Golf Series. Ken’s award will be presented at ACM’s Northeast Video Festival Saturday, November 12th at 6:30 pm at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. If you’re interested in learning more about public access stations and getting a glimpse of the outstanding programs produced by your local station, please join us for the video awards ceremony that evening. For more information, please visit www.acm.ne.org. Congratulations Ken!
Tegan Blackburn,
President SCTV
Elements of Broadcast Communication to be taught by Young Broadcasters Assoc.
Beginning Tuesday, October 25 from 4pm-6pm.
Three-week workshop for ages Ages 11-18
Cost – $250
Workshop activities include:
- Delivering the broadcast script using YBA’s Trademark Curriculum (I.P.I.E.);
Inflection, Pronunciation, Intonation, Enunciation - Reading off the teleprompter & the Live Shot- Deliver a script, and then ad lib for :30 “live” on location anywhere in the world or out of this world!
- Introduction to the interview
The interview plays a large role in broadcast communications. You will learn how to ask a question the right way. The importance of being conversational. To be a good interviewer, one must also be a good listener. - Introduction to host your own talk show
Participants will prepare the topics and take turns being host concentrating on improved eye contact with camera, eye contact with co-hosts, body language and non-verbal communication. Show review and critique in a group setting is one of the defining moments of the workshops.
for more information and to Register visit youngbroadcasters.com/simsbury-ct
Simsbury Community TV celebrates Buzz Holmes
By Althea Greaney, SCTV volunteer
Published: Saturday, August 06, 2011 on foothillsmediagroup.com
Submitted photo. Albert (Buzz) Holmes, a volunteer at Simsbury Community TV for nine years, is the producer of “Our Simsbury,” a half-hour show.
SIMSBURY — Simsbury Community Television recognizes producer Albert (Buzz) Holmes, a man of passion and vision, who, for the past nine years has been able to obtain enough support for SCTV to ensure its future in the Simsbury community.
The half-hour program “Our Simsbury,” which Holmes created, has been a staple on SCTV from October 2002 through today. Wherever he went, Buzz was always talking about SCTV and how important it is for Simsbury to have its own television studio. When Buzz talks with you, his eyes twinkle and you know he is thinking of a new idea.
Failing health has forced Buzz to stop producing “Our Simsbury” and give up his position on the board, but ask him what he wants for SCTV and he’ll tell you: enough money to buy the cameras and equipment needed to keep the volunteers coming in to keep freedom of speech alive and well.
Buzz began ‘Our Simsbury’ after retiring from his job as a Simsbury high school teacher. His plan was to involve as many people as possible in SCTV, so he originally had high school students as his hosts and recruited camera people from among his many acquaintances, family, and friends. Eventually he began recruiting people he would meet shopping to be his host and camera operators. His guests were local people who had interesting hobbies, occupations, or provided services in Simsbury. As time passed, Buzz perfected and streamlined his technique for producing “Our Simsbury” by providing his guests with a document on how to prepare for their appearance. Some shows that appear regularly include the AARP tax program, the Simsbury Fly in, and the Farmington Valley VNA. In 2009, Buzz started filming the Senior Men’s luncheon speakers. He always loved filming the Tariffville Memorial Day Parade, and this year’s rain storm prevented him making this his last parade program.
But creating more than 250 programs for SCTV was not his only contribution. Buzz has been an active member on the SCTV board of directors, and for several years wrote for and obtained grants totaling $83,000 for SCTV. His impassioned pleas for assistance have helped SCTV obtain the cameras and equipment needed to stay active in the Simsbury community, filming events, meetings, and providing Simsbury residents with a forum to speak their mind.
To celebrate his contributions to SCTV and give Simsbury residents a chance to review some of the programs Buzz has created, SCTV will be replaying many of his programs next weekend, Aug 6 and 7, and you can also view some of “Our Simsbury” programs on-demand at www.simsburytv.org.
Through the Heart [PG-14]
The latest short film from writer/director Jacob Bittens, “Through the Heart” follows a cruel-hearted screenwriter who, over the course of a single night, discovers what it means to be a good man.
To rate, comment and to view this film in HD go to youtube page
New Parent and Child Resource Center Opens
The Firefly Center is officially up and flying, offering inspiring classes for both children and parents in Old Avon Village. Started by two Simsbury moms, Jane Costello and Karin Lefranc, their goal is to provide a place for families to connect and to enroll in enriching classes from Love & Logic Parenting Series to a Weekly Storytime.
“As mothers passionate about supporting parents and improving the well-being of children and families, we are thrilled to offer a growing list of classes and programs. I’ve been envisioning this center for over a decade,” says Costello. “People want and need a safe place to talk about the challenges of raising children, and issues that we all face in today’s world. So many people in the community have reached out to us, offering support and great suggestions. We are evolving daily.”
With self-serve coffee and tea, and a hip studio feel, parents will find themselves slowing down and taking a moment to breathe. Children’s classes include yoga, manners classes and acting classes. The Firefly Center has partnered with The Hartford Children’s Theatre to offer two acting classes: Storytime Theater (ages 5-7) and Act Out! (ages 8-12). The programs are offered simultaneously (in two separate classrooms) to make life easier for parents, who want to sign up siblings.
Expectant parents can enjoy prenatal yoga, and infant & child CPR, and parents can take the popular, Love & Logic® classes. In addition, A wonderful weekly New Mom’s Group starts May 25.
“Families today are stressed with lots of responsibilities and pressures,” adds Lefranc, who is not only a certified children’s yoga and etiquette teacher, but also the author of the just published children’s picture book, A Quest for Good Manners. “Our kid classes, from yoga to acting, enable children to tap into their imagination and free themselves from worry and negative self-talk. When children are being creative, they are expressing their unique spirit, which builds mindfulness and self-confidence.”
The Grand Opening Celebration will be Friday, June 3, from 12-5 pm. Parents and children can come and enjoy free classes, including Firefly Yoga and Story Time, plus Firefly Crafts and Music. Karin Lefranc will read from her just published book, A Quest for Good Manners. Acclaimed photographer Eileen Broderick will capture each child’s light in a free photo shoot from 1–3 pm. While children are in classes, Blueprint Parenting will teach parents five easy strategies to get kids to listen. Meet and greet our program and resource teachers while enjoying delicious snacks. Special discounts and fun giveaways. More details at www.thefireflycenter.com.
Study Shows Public’s Cable Channels at Greatest Risk
April 8, 2010: Today the Alliance for Communications Democracy (ACD) and the Benton Foundation released results of a nationwide study on public, educational and government (PEG) Access showing that public access cable channels have been the hardest hit by a wave of funding cuts and closures across the country in recent years. The primary causes are new state franchising laws and decisions of local governments.
“These findings reflect an alarming trend,” said Rob Brading, ACD President. “The loss of Public Access channels closes the door on the local community, including health and jobs groups, housing advocates, small business, churches, and arts and civic groups. Immediate steps need to be taken to stop the erosion of the infrastructure devoted to public use.”
“Public access channels advance first amendment goals through inclusion of a diversity of people, ideas and issues, “said Benton Foundation Executive Director, Cecilia Garcia. “That’s deserving of our government’s highest protections, particularly at a time of unprecedented media consolidation.”
The study looked at results from over 200 PEG centers from around the country, as well as tracking closures of centers in the past five years. Findings show:
- PEG Access Centers in at least 100 communities across the United States have been closed since 2005. A disproportionate number (93) exclusively served the public.
- Hundreds more PEG Access Centers in six states affected by state franchising laws may be forced to close or experience serious threats to financial and in-kind support over the next three years.
- Half of the 165 survey respondents providing financial information for 2005 and 2010 reported an average funding drop of 40% since 2005.
- The primary reasons cited for reductions in funding and in-kind resources for PEG Access Centers were new state franchising laws and/or decisions by local governments.
The study was conducted by The Buske Group, a Sacramento, California based consulting firm.
The Benton Foundation works to ensure that media and telecommunications serve the public interest and enhance our democracy. It pursues this mission by seeking policy solutions that support the values of access, diversity and equity, and by demonstrating the value of media and telecommunications to improve the quality of life for all Americans.
The ACD was founded over twenty years ago to preserve and strengthen community access to media through participation in constitutional questions and court cases involving community media.
Complete study results are available by clicking here.
Post-it Note April Fool’s Prank 2009
Simsbury High School’s Class of 2009 Post-it note prank on unsuspecting Mr. Fleet, the freshman geometry teacher.