Debbie Croft: Small town Mariposa gets airtime on KAIL-TV

Old Town Mariposa is now the subject of a weekly television broadcast on KAIL-TV, Channel 53.

Called “Central Valley Buzz With Chuck Leonard,” Bob Borchard joins as co-host. Notable Mariposa County residents are interviewed in an effort to promote tourism and greater interest in what the mountain community has to offer.

The shows can also be seen on Facebook’s Old Town Mariposa page and the Old Town YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/OldTownMariposa.

The first broadcast aired March 20. Originally, the program ran for about 12 minutes, somewhere between 11:15 and 11:45 a.m. But recently the program’s length has been doubled, with a commercial break in the middle. Advertising is open to area businesses and sponsors.

Borchard says the show is about the character of the town – a combination of the people, events, history and locale – all of which give Mariposa uniqueness of place.

Past guests have included Frank and Debbie Sipes, regional musicians; Troy Foster, local businessman; Celeste Azevedo, principal of Mariposa High School, regarding the school’s centennial; Kathy McCorry, executive director of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce; Terry Silk, executive director of the Mariposa County Tourism Bureau; Raymond Winter, regarding the John Muir Festival in Coulterville; and Trace DeSandres, athletic director at MCHS.

Later this month Leroy Westerling, a professor at UC Merced, will be a guest. He has written extensively on the subject of wildfires and climate change.

These guests and others present the unique cultural venues and personalities of the area. They also provide community information that may be of interest to national and international viewers.

Borchard is hoping to change the view Central Valley residents may have, to redefine the town’s image. Unfortunately, a negative view is too often presented, with the latest pot bust, mug shots and community problems getting most of the attention.

“What they don’t see,” he said, “is a cultural center. Mariposa County has the highest concentration of artists per capita in the U.S. It’s the birthplace of the Sierra Club. And this is a place where people aspire to live.”

Borchard believes image defines potential. And his goal is to change Mariposa’s image, from a primitive, backwoods, gun-toting community to the Carmel of the Sierra.

Within the past 40 years, Mariposa County been labeled as a gateway community to Yosemite National Park.

More recently with population growth and changes in technology, many newer residents have brought with them a sophisticated knowledge of how to connect Mariposa with not only Yosemite but the rest of the world.

Because of the the recent television and internet presence, in the past five months businesses have seen an increase in revenue compared to past years. Attendance at the opening night of Mariposa Evenings was the best ever.

The Central Valley Buzz Old Town Mariposa shows generate a couple thousand views per week from people in Mariposa, California’s Central Valley, across the country and even overseas (including Europe, Asia, South America and Australia).

This success has caused community members to enlarge their vision of promoting their town.

In February, this column discussed Walt Hebern and his unique partnership with Mariposa organizations and businesses. Hebern’s MCHS multimedia class designs and produces video advertisements for local businesses and organizations. Since then much more has taken place.

A new television channel is being developed. In a cooperative effort with skilled residents, high school faculty and students, and staff members of the Mariposa County Unified School District office, two multimedia studio facilities are being constructed.

“We will be starting a bi-weekly show that will highlight school activities,” Hebern said. “We are in the process of setting up the studio and planning the details.”

The other studio will be located in downtown Mariposa.

Eventually the studios will produce “on-demand” television programming, similar to the Old Town YouTube channel. Plans include producing local programs on music, art, culture, history, news and more for broadcasting on the PBS website channel.

Those involved in the project hope to attract sponsors and advertisers to help fund the broadcasts. Anyone interested should contact Borchard by email at robborc@sti.net.

If California’s the place to dream big, could it be that Mariposa’s small town dreams are about to come true?

This story was originally published September 20, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Small town Mariposa gets airtime on KAIL-TV."