Koce

In the coming months, KOCE-TV will move to Costa Mesa, change its name and become the new full-service PBS station for most of Southern California. And that means finding a new home for the cat. The station, which has operated at Golden West College since 1972, adopted a feline two years ago when rats began invading its studio. The cat, named Koce (pronounced "COH-see"), took care of the rat problem quickly but still lives there full time, in part because the crew got attached to her. "Now she's a part of the family," said news director Mike Taylor.

HAPPENINGS The sweet life Surf City resident Joshua Serafin, whose work will be on display Saturday, paints the life he knows at the beach. B1 ALSO: Michele Marr looks at the issues that could be raised by the release of "The Passion of the Christ." B3 ELECTION The race is on Candidates speak to the issues as the March primary fast approaches. A4 CITYSCAPE KOCE sale suit The Coast Community College District considers a religious broadcaster's threat of a suit in closed session.

Judging by the response to my Aug. 20 column, I believe it's safe to say that everyone is now back from vacation. I was beginning to wonder what it was going to take to get some momentum going on a good argument. What finally got things rolling was a favorite subject of mine, for which I can thank Joe Bell for initiating. The Communications Act of 1934 forbade noncommercial broadcasters (in this case, stations such as KOCE) from airing advertisements defined as messages that "promote any service, facility or product" for profit.

Suddenly, this summer, Daily Pilot writer Steve Smith has begun presenting himself as an expert on television in general and public broadcasting, specifically. This despite his admission that he has not watched television in more than nine years. And much like the reviewer who hasn't read the book or critic who hasn't seen the play, Smith's views are filled with misperceptions, erroneous notions and false assertions. The most stunning to me was his claim that KOCE is financially upside down and that the station belongs to the Coast Community College District.

o7"When we started this station, we had limited funds, so we used second- and third-hand equipment. Our professionals went out looking for hand-me-downs so we could go on the air."f7 -- Norman Watson, the first chancellor of the Coast Community College District who was in office when KOCE-TV started; Watson is not pleased with the Fourth District Appellate Court's June decision to cancel the sale of KOCE to the KOCE-TV foundation, the station's fundraising arm. o7 "The Brown Act is not implicated when the city neither creates the committee, pays for its operation, or appoints its members, and the committee meetings do not include a majority of the council members."

GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Independent. If you'd like information about getting your organization listed, call (714) 965-7170. The Huntington Beach Senior Outreach Center is seeking volunteers to join the Council on Aging Seniors Team (COAST). The goal of the center is to promote independence and self-sufficiency among the elderly in Huntington Beach. (714) 374-1544. The Huntington Beach Tree Society needs volunteers to help plant trees in their free time.

The Huntington Beach Public Works department's utilities division is warning of a possible water shortage in the city this summer, as a dry winter and a lack of water in the Sacramento River Delta have cut into supplies. As a result, residents have been asked to reduce consumption voluntarily by 10%. The city's suggestions include watering lawns only every other day and using a broom rather than a hose to clean up the driveway. Average residential water use in the city is 11,250 gallons per month; watering on alternate days saves 1,100 gallons, while using a garden hose 10 minutes less saves 100. For more information on conservation, visit www.bewaterwise.

Ellen McCarty When does your term expire? I've worked for KOCE for 19 years. I'll probably retire in 2002. Family status: I was married for 48 years to Ken Caines, who passed away last year. Age: 70 Education: B.A. in Speech, English and Drama from N.Y.U., graduate work at UC Irvine. Past offices held: Vice president, California Public Television/Radio Assn., Families and Communities Together of Orange County, State Superintendent of Education Advisory Council on Black Affairs Present occupation: Director of Community and Government Relations and Outreach for KOCE-TV, Orange County Public Television Explain your job in 15 words or less: Maintain contacts, relationships and outreach with a full range of community-based, governmental and corporate agencies and organizations.

Council is right to reconsider Poseidon I am strongly opposed to the Poseidon desalinization plant that has been proposed off the coast here in Huntington Beach. I do not think it will be a benefit to the city or the environment and I am glad the City Council is reconsidering it. PAMELA BUROS Huntington Beach Report shouldn't have passed Poseidon's environmental report should not have passed. The Planning Commission knows that the [report]

Facing the costly conversion of KOCE-TV to the digital format, Coast Community College District leaders are looking to sell off all, or part, of the public television station. At a May 15 meeting, the district's board put the station on the auction block. The board has also set a July 16 deadline to receive offers on the station. Federal law requires the station, on the Golden West College campus, to make the move from an analog to digital signal by May of 2003.