Thursday, December 27, 2012

Ozcat and the Community for the Holiday Season of 2012

Being a part of the community is Ozcat Radio's mission. This page is about Ozcat Radio's presence in the community during the holiday season. As a community voice, Ozcat's mission is to serve the people who need their own spot on the dial. 
While Ozcat is a beloved member of the community at-large, since 2010 there has been the specter of certain folks working under clandestine hoods, who go so far as to paint the word "Nigger" many times on Ozcat's community center's front entrance, and to sabotage Ozcat's radio tower and equipment. However, despite the danger, the spirit of Ozcat Radio is not dampened during this Holiday Season!  Ozcat Radio asks that the community stand together for community radio, and to donate towards their non-profit. 


2012-12-07 "Solano AIDS Coalition needs toys" from "Vallejo Times-Herald"[http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_22144667/solano-aids-coalition-needs-toys]:
If the holiday season is in full swing, chances are Mario Saucedo of Solano AIDS Coalition is worrying about getting enough toys to give away to needy children. This year is no exception.
The Solano AIDS Coalition annual toy give-away takes place Dec. 21 at Saucedo's downtown Vallejo thrift store.
He said there are not nearly enough toys for all who will need them.
"I'm just hoping that people will have their hearts touched and they will bring in an unwrapped toy and help a kid have a nice Christmas," Saucedo said.
The sixth annual Solano AIDS Coalition toy drive will assist needy families whose lives have been impacted by AIDS/HIV. He expects at least 750 children to get a toy, visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus and get some cookies and juice.
Those who would like to help are encouraged to drop off new and unwrapped toy to the Solano AIDS Coalition thrift store at Marin and Georgia streets or at Ozcat Radio Station at 600 Marin St.
They can also drop off toys at the Starbucks within the Vallejo Plaza Shopping Center at Sonoma Boulevard and Valle Vista Avenue.
Meanwhile, the Suisun City Salvation Army is also needs toys to help an estimated 1,000 families in Solano County and surrounding areas.
In a one-day only toy collection drive on Saturday, the Salvation Army will accept toys at the Walmart store in American Canyon.
Other donation spots are at 2701 N. Texas St., Fairfield, and 1501 Helen Power Drive, Vacaville.
Salvation Army Kroc Center, 586 East Wigeon Way, Suisun City, also will accept toys.


2012-12-09 "Annual Mad Hatter parade attracts hundreds to downtown Vallejo" by Irma Widjojo from "Vallejo Times-Herald"
[http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_22157198/annual-mad-hatter-parade-attracts-hundreds-downtown-vallejo.html]:
Last week's storm forced organizers to postpone the annual Mad Hatter Holiday Festival for a week, but it surely did not rain on the excitement.
Georgia Street in downtown Vallejo was lined Saturday afternoon with hundreds of people who watched the third annual parade.
"We were really concerned about postponing it a week," co-organizer Kathy O'Hare said. "But it's not a problem. We definitely have more people here than last year."
The parade has become an exciting city tradition for some.
"We came here last year, and we enjoyed it very much," Alberta Barton, of Vallejo, said. "So we decided to come back."
Barton was with her two granddaughters, Maddy, 6, and Abby, 4, who were excited for the parade's art
cars -- meant to be art on wheels -- and characters.
"I love it when everyone gets together like this," Barton said.
The parade featured a few familiar faces, like the Mad Hatter mascot; Miss Tickle, the Creature Quad -- a four-wheel cycle that has a moveable white dragon-like creature attached in the front; and the crowd-pleaser Chester, the Pony, a flaming vehicle with a horse head, which was also Santa Claus' ride in the parade.
Among the new additions were "Cat of a Different Color," an Ozcat-sponsored art car in the shape of a cat, and Andy Pischalnikoff, performing acts with a flame thrower.
It was also the first time for a Vallejo native to be involved in the Mad Hatter Holiday parade.
Norm Turley, 87, dressed up in a Santa Claus costume and rode his 1930 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster.
"The city needs every cultural event," said Turley, who was accompanied by his 3-year-old Yorkie, Bullet. "This is a great thing for Vallejo."
Jesse Bethel High School and Hogan Middle School marching bands also added to the event's festivity.
The parade was part of the day-long Mad Hatter Holiday Festival. Entertainment and vendors were stationed at the end of Georgia Street, by the John F. Kennedy Library.
At the end of the parade, this year's Grand Marshal Joey "Jaws" Chestnut led the lighting of the city's Christmas tree.
Chestnut was born and raised in Vallejo, and is the reigning champion of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest since 2007.
"This is awesome," he said. "Vallejo didn't traditionally have any holiday events like this. I can't wait for next year."
Mayor Osby Davis and a Con Funk Shun's member Michael Cooper were also in the parade. Con Funk Shun is Vallejo-based American R&B and funk band started in the 1970s.
"I think it's a great start to the season," Davis said. "It shows that Vallejo is still alive, and that people are excited for their community."


2012-12-10 "Owner says Vallejo Ozcat Radio hit by vandals again" by Irma Widjojo from "Vallejo Times-Herald"
[http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_22160674/owner-says-vallejo-ozcat-radio-hit-by-vandals]:
Ozcat Radio has been hit by vandalism for the third time since August, forcing the FM station to go off the air at least for a month, its owner said Sunday.
"I definitely think this is personal," founder and owner David Martin said. "They did not take much, but did a lot of damage."
Martin said he and a group of people went up to the station's hilltop transmission facility on Saint John's Mine Road on Sunday morning to fix the battery problems that arose from the first two incidents of vandalism.
Minutes before arriving, Martin said he received a phone call from the alarm company informing him that a hiker reported seeing a large hole in the wall of the shack that houses the equipment.
The security system was installed on the shack's door after of the previous vandalism incidents.
Inside, Martin said he saw snipped off wires and some equipment missing. However, the suspect, or suspects, took no copper or more expensive items, Martin said.
"With the first incident I thought it was a random act," Martin said. "But now, I know we are targeted. I don't know why they did it, and I might never know why."
He said all the vandalism this year could cost the radio station about $8,000.
"It might not be a whole lot of money for people," Martin said. "But it's a whole lot of money for us."
The radio station, 89.5 FM, was founded by Martin and his wife, Katie Martinelli, six years ago. It is a volunteer-based, non-commercial station that focuses
on playing local and independent artists.
"We spent the last six years of our lives on this radio, to serve the community," Martin said. "I'm hoping Vallejo as a community will support us."
Martin said he will report the incident to the Federal Communications Commission.
"At this point, I'm just at my wit's end," he said.
To donate to the radio station, the public can come to the station at the Atriums of Arts, 600 Virginia St., or visit www.ozcatradio.com and click on "Donate."
---
The OZCAT FM tranmission station has been vandalized for the third time in 4 months. This time vandals delivered a crucial blow that, according to owner David Martin, "could have the station off the air for 30 days." (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)



2012-12-10 "Vandals target Vallejo community radio station again" from "KTVU.com"[http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/crime-law/vandals-target-vallejo-community-radio-station-aga/nTRwP/]:
KTVU and Wires

VALLEJO, Calif. — Ozcat Radio, a community radio station in Vallejo, was vandalized Sunday for at least the third time since August.
David Martin, the station's owner and manager, said someone drilled a hole in a wall of the station's 8-by-10-foot wooden shed that contains solar batteries and transmission equipment on St. Johns Mine Road off Columbus Parkway in Vallejo.
The hole was large enough for someone to get inside the shed, and the burglar took two devices used to charge the solar batteries and a 24-volt converter, Martin said.
The vandal also snipped several wires but did not take any copper, Martin said.
Martin said he was on his way to the shed when the alarm company notified him that a hiker on the ridge reported that the shed had been vandalized, Martin said.
Someone had previously tried to cut off the lock on the shed, Martin said.
"We've definitely been targeted. Someone is hell-bent on keeping us off the air," Martin said.
He said he doesn't know why anyone would target the 2-year-old radio station.
"We're a music station with 37 volunteers. We play everything from rock to Bach. We play music that reflects the cultural diversity of the community, and we bolster nonprofits," Martin said.
The station is named after the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz." It provides recording facilities, music lessons, and a place to hone interview skills and give artists FM exposure, Martin said.
"We're a magical place where dreams come true. We're a one-stop shop for up-and-coming independent artists," Martin said.
Martin said he would like to replace the wooden shed with a steel shed and keep the equipment in a vault. He estimated that would cost $8,000.

Friday, December 21, 2012

A New Aeon Dawns

Rebirth the soul alongside all those who know...


Gathering of the Tribes
2012-12-21, 5:30pm
930 Marin st., Vallejo
A Liberated Zone in the heart of Vallejo's Art District at "St. Vinnie's Culture Club" and the "McCree Goudeau Gallery", affiliated with "Northbay Evolver Network"


2012-12-21 "Mexico's Maya heartland awaits dawn of new era" by Mark Stevenson from "Associated Press" [http://news.yahoo.com/mexicos-maya-heartland-awaits-dawn-era-065537327.html]:
MERIDA, Mexico (AP) — In the darkness before dawn Friday, spiritualists prepared white clothes, drums, conch shells and incense ahead of the sunrise they believe will herald the birth of a new and better age as a vast, 5,125-year cycle in the Mayan calendar comes to an end.
No one was quite sure at what time the Mayas' 13th Baktun would officially end on this Dec. 21. Some think it already ended at midnight Thursday. Others looked to Friday's dawn here in the Maya heartland. Some had later times in mind.
"Wait until the dawn on the 22nd; that is when we Maya will speak," Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu said earlier in Guatemala, another Maya area.
People gather in front of the Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen Itza, Mexico, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012. AP Photo/Israel Leal)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Gift catalogue



[http://www.schoolsforchiapas.org/english/store/catalog.html?producttype=Mayan%2Bhandicrafts%2Band%2Bart]
Celestial Zapatista Drawstring Pouches (Item 1126). Using naturally dyed textiles, artisans have embroidered these cotton pouches with images of suns or moons most of which are sporting pasamontaƱas and/or paliacates. $11 - $30
Embroidered Baby Sleeveless Tops (Item 1019). Perfect for your favorite baby or toddler, these earth tone tops are great for warm weather or layered over long sleeves for colder weather. $10 - $25

Hand Embroidered Tortilla Warming Towels(Item 1027). These double fold towels are perfectly shaped to keep your tortillas warm. Measuring about 9 inches across, they feature extraordinary floral embroidery and are perfectly suited for corn tortillas or small flour tortillas. We have two sizes available: 8" (suitable for corn) or 10" (suitable for small flour). $12 - $25



Jewelry, ornaments & more made from disarmed & recycled nuclear missile systems [FromWarToPeace.com]

Remember to enter the RESIST coupon code so that the Nuclear Resister [www.nukeresister.org] gets 20% of the sale, and you get a 5% discount!
In addition to this beautiful filagree peace sign, there are bracelets, necklaces, earrings, ornaments, keychains in many designs* – not to mention the Beers not Bombs bottle openers and Make Wine Not War wine bottle stoppers!  (*Tree of life, peace sign, labyrinth, spiral, cross, peace lotus, Star of David, hamsa, mezuzah, St. Christopher medallion, 7 rings of peace, heiwa, infinity symbol, crescent moon and star, om symbol and much more.) 



Nuclear Power? No Thanks!
TOTE BAGS AND YARD SIGNS
With the classic smiling sun “Nuclear Power? No Thanks” logo in yellow, red and black, licensed from www.smilingsun.org.

New!  The colors really stand out beautifully on the black twill bags. Perfect for a day at the beach or a trip to the store (or as a gift for your favorite anti-nuclear activist!)
These are fair trade bags made by the DouglaPrieta Works women’s sewing cooperative, part of a grassroots self-help project in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, just across the border from Douglas, Arizona (www.douglaprietaworks.org).

Bold and colorful, lightweight and rigid, the 18”x24” corrugated white plastic signs are great for use at vigils, demonstrations and public hearings, and make perfect yard signs with a wire stand (included).
The signs and bags are screen printed at the Gloo Factory, a progressive, community-centered union print shop here in Tucson (www.gloofactoryink.com). When you buy one (or more!), you’re supporting not only the Nuclear Resister, but also the Gloo Factory and, with purchase of a tote bag, DouglaPrieta Works!
$20 each, your choice (includes shipping; please add $5 for addresses outside USA)
You can order your bags and signs by contacting us via the blog or emailing us at nukeresister@igc.org and paying via paypal on the Nuclear Resister blog, or sending a note in the mail with your order (Nuclear Resister, POB 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733), along with a check or money order made payable to the Nuclear Resister.
(current as of 2012-11)


Gifts and Winter Items from the Ecology Center Store
The Ecology Center Store has plenty of ideas for your gift giving needs. We can also help you spiff up your house with our collection of earth-friendly cleaning supplies. Don't forget that your garden doesn't put itself to bed; we can help you get your winter crops going, or plan your spring tasks before they sneak up on you again. Need help planning? We've got calendars for that. Real ones. Here are some suggested gift ideas:

Hempy's Beanie -  Winter means cold, and the best way to keep the chill off is a good hat. Soft, in natural colors with great patterns, these sturdy beanies will keep you warm for years to come. $22.00 or $19.80 for members.

All Good Goop Healing Balm - Cold, wet, wind. Winter is brutal to skin. All Good Goop's Organic Healing Balm, made with beeswax and olive oil infused with calendula and other herbs, does wonderful things to dry and ravaged skin. Also great when it's not cold, this product is a year-round staff favorite! Starting at $8.50 or $7.65 for members.

Hevea Raw Rubber Duckie Bath Toy
Soft, natural, dye-and-paint free, sustainably harvested, squeak-free... What else could you ask for from a rubber duckie? Hevea's bath toys are designed to be great, safe natural fun, perfect for kids, big or little, who like a little company when they bathe. Bath toys include frog and fish; Hevea makes a line of natural rubber pacifiers and teethers as well. $10.99 or $9.89 for members.   

Schylling's Panda's Pick Bamboo Builders - Winter is the best time for indoor activities and games; Ecology Center now has a terrific selection of sustainable wood and bamboo games and toys for older kids. Try Panda's Pick Bamboo Builders, a log cabin building of the style favored by kids for generations. $30.00 or $27.00 for members.

Solmate Mittens - Hand stitched in Vermont and 100% recycled, Solmate's mittens are available both fingered and un-fingered. Like the socks, they are unforgettably colored and happily mismatched. No one will mistake them for anyone else's! $37.50 or $33.75 for members.

Cork Kindle Case from Eco Bay Home- Ready to settle in and read the long novel with the e-reader you just got? This cork case from Eco Bay is just the thing to wrap it in. Cork is soft, warm and deliciously tactile; it's also a sustainable way to keep your electronics safe from dents and scratches. $45.95 or $41.35 for members.

Uncle Goose Wooden Blocks -  Check out our Uncle Goose Wooden Blocks for an additional holiday gift idea. These wonderful learning tools are suited for ages 2+.  Made here in the USA, these products use non-toxic and child safe inks. Styles vary and include Sign Language, Braille Math, and Classic ABC woodblocks. Starting at $22.00 or $20.00 for members.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Gathering of the Tribes at the Mad Hatter Parade and Party!










Bringing the Cat of Many Colors to the parade...
Part One: To gather everybody at the Cat!

Part Two: Walking with the Cat to the parade

Part Three: KEEPING UP WITH THE CAT!!!
 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Gathering of the Tribes presents "The End-Time Countdown Party"

Friday, 5:30pm until 8:30pm
930 Marin St., Vallejo, Vallejo, California
A Liberated Zone with poets, 'zines, and updates on alternative arts projects, opportunities, and special year end Tarot Card Readings.
 Bring something for the Pot-Luck! All dishes welcome!!
 Suggested donation $5, includes: Locally roasted Moschetti's coffee, teas, snacks and wine.
 During these darkest days of the year, isn't it nice to know there is somewhere warm and cozy in the heart of Vallejo?

* Be sure to listen to us live Thursdays, 3 to 6pm, on Ozcatradio.com, 89.5FM Vallejo [www.ozcatradio.com]
* Affiliated with the Northbay Evolver Network [http://northbayevolvernetwork.blogspot.com]