Producers at Community Media Access Partnership, which serves Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista, won best documentary and best experimental or innovative professional program at the 2009 Western Access Video Excellence Awards - an honor created in 1988 to recognize and promote the best in local community programming. More than fifty awards are presented to winners selected from more than 500 entries, submitted by professional and amateur community video producers from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and New Mexico.

Eight Gilroy and Hollister television programs were also chosen as finalists, including a video made by teens from CMAP's summer youth media program. CMAP Programming Manager Jan Janes received the 2009 Brian Wilson Mentorship Award, an honor granted annually to those who take the time to provide outstanding mentoring and guidance to others.

"I'm proud of our independent community television producers," said CMAP Executive Director Kathy Bisbee. "CMAP is fortunate to have so many talented members and youth producers."

CMAP operates four channels featuring locally-produced public access, government, and education. Any Gilroy, Hollister or San Juan Bautista resident can sign up as a CMAP member and receive free and low-cost training on cameras, lighting, field and studio production, and editing on both Mac and Windows machines.

More information and a list of classes can be found at www.cmap.tv, or by calling (408)-846-4983.

Winners:

Best Documentary Issues - Professional Program, for: "Changing Faces: Community Food Bank of San Benito County" - produced by CMAP, Kathy Bisbee and Emery Hudson

Best Experimental/Innovative - Professional Program, for: "CMAP Summer Camps 2009" - produced by CMAP, Laura Rodriguez, Kirsten Dorenkamp and Kathy Bisbee

Finalists:

Flowers Made Simple - Linda Estill

Coverage of the 2008 California Coast Classic Arthritis Fundraiser - Len Stimac

Horses, History & Hoof Prints on the Land (Stories of Horses in Coe Park - Anza's Ride) - Bonnie Stromberg

Changing Faces: Community Food Bank of San Benito County - Kathy Bisbee and Emery Hudson

Questions about Substance Abuse - Spencer Wilkinson, Kathy Bisbee, Mario Discua, Raquel Rios, Mark Echeverria, AJ Martinez, David Mitchell, Ray Ramirez, Jennifer Lopez and Orlando Cruz

CMAP Summer Camps 2009 - Laura Rodriguez and Kirsten Dorenkamp