Gary Morris Cocola Launches a “Say No to Falls: Just Look Down!!!”
Local TV Host & Producer, Gary Morris Cocola Launches a “Say No to Falls: Just Look Down!!!”
Public Safety Campaign & Contest After His Recent Sidewalk Trip and Fall
May 2, 2024. Monterey, CA. Gary Morris Cocola, the producer and host of the weekly Monterey on Tonight TV Show, has recently launched the “Say No to Falls: Just Look Down!!!” Public Safety Campaign & Contest.
On the evening of April 27, 2024, Gary Morris Cocola, accompanied by a friend, departed from the Cypress Inn in Carmel after attending a performance by favorite singer/entertainer, Debbie Davis. Amidst conversation, Gary
Gary is not a drinker and was not drinking that evening at the Cypress Inn.
Drawing from this experience, Gary emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility when navigating city streets, advocating for the simple mantra, “Just Look Down”. Particularly during nighttime excursions, Gary stresses the critical role of utilizing a smartphone flashlight to illuminate one’s path on sidewalks or streets. He further asserts that hotels should encourage guests to adopt this safety measure during nocturnal outings in the region.
To raise awareness and support those who have similarly suffered trip and fall injuries, Gary has launched a contest calling for individuals to submit photos and brief descriptions of their incidents via email to [email protected] by June 1st. Three selected participants will receive certificates for his favorite Old Fisherman’s Grotto Clam Chowder Bowl on Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
Gary Morris Cocola remarks, “I firmly believe in individual accountability for personal safety. The ‘Just Look Down!!!’ Public Safety Campaign and Contest aims to underscore the importance of vigilance when traversing city streets. Not all sidewalk repairs can match the pace of tree root growth. It is imperative that we all assume responsibility for our actions. A simple flashlight, a practice I endorse and employ, could have averted my own trip and fall incident. This campaign is a simple but important reminder for both young and old.”
With 84 episodes of Monterey on Tonight broadcasted on Channel 27.10 and available anytime via streaming, Gary has regrettably postponed the taping of new shows for a minimum of one month. However, previous episodes featuring interesting members of the community and others will continue to air continuously 24/7 on the website, www.kmbytv.com.
For more information or to schedule an interview with Gary Morris Cocola, contact Wendy Brickman at 831-594-1500 or brickman@brickmanmarketing.
About Gary Morris Cocola
Gary Morris Cocola is the Owner of Cocola Broadcasting Companies LLC, with headquarters in Fresno, California.
Cocola Broadcasting Companies is the licensee of television stations, serving the Fresno, Bakersfield, Sacramento, and Monterey California television markets. Gary also operates several television stations in the Boise Idaho market.
He gained his first experience with the television business at the age of 17 while working for a local Fresno television station. He first worked as a panelist on a local program at KFRE-TV in Fresno, called “Open House” with Al Radka. His job was to judge new records for a program called “Traffic Pops.” He then became a co-host of the television program “TV Record Hop,” a local dance-party show in Fresno and the Top Ten Platter Den, a local dance-party show in Bakersfield.
This television experience was gained while he was attending San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno. While attending Fresno State College, he hosted his own programs on both radio & television in the Fresno, Bakersfield and Monterey California markets.
Several years later he left the Broadcasting Industry to join his father in the family produce business. After working with his father, he opened his own produce sales and marketing business and it was very successful, but the work didn’t fulfill him. As a result, he decided to return to his original field of interest.
In l985, after a seven-year effort to obtain a construction permit from the Federal Communications Commission, he built Full Power Channel 59, KMSG-TV (now KFRE CW 59) in Fresno. He left the produce industry to own and operate the station. At that time Channel 59 was an affiliate of the Spanish language network, Telemundo. He sold that station in l991.
In l992, he formed Cocola Broadcasting Companies with the launch of KGMC-TV Channel 43 currently the Fresno markets Estrella TV Network Affiliate. KGMC also carries Daystar Religious Network, QVC Network, Antenna TV Network, Cozi TV Network, the Laff Channel, and Me-TV Network on its sub channels.
Channel 43.1 is also carried on the Comcast Cable system on Channel 10 and on Dish, DirecTV and ATT U-verse systems on Channel 43. Cozi TV Network (43.8) is carried on Comcast Channel 378 and Me-TV (43.6) is carried on Comcast Channel 375.
In June of 2009 with the switch of television stations from analog to digital, Cocola Broadcasting now operates several streams of video on the converted stations.
Cocola Broadcasting is the largest privately held Television broadcasting company in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
In June of 2022, using the name Gary Morris (his on air name in 1962 at KMBY Radio in Monterey) he launched a weekly Television program on KMBY TV Monterey Channel 19.4 (Now Channel 27.10) called Monterey On Tonight. The show is a blend of interviews with local business owners, artisans, non-profit representatives and people who just have an interesting story to tell with music videos/concerts selected by Cocola. The program is seen every Sunday evening from 6 to 9 pm PST and can be additionally viewed worldwide streaming at www.kmbytv.com.