Canadasouth march 2015 op by Brehm Communications

Editor

‘If those walls could talk’ O

ur goal for this issue was to explore some of the ways our tens of thousands of Canadian snowbirds could learn more about their winter home. To address that, we dispatched our writers to a few of the wonderful museums that dot the Coachella Valley. Sally Hedberg set off to find out more about “Section 14: The Other Palm Springs,” an informative exhibit currently on display at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. Much to our delight, Sally had the opportunity to spend some time with Millie Browne, the founder and current chairwoman of the museum, and a woman who actually grew up on Section 14. Read her fascinating story. Ken Larson was dispatched to take one of the seven walking tours offered by the Palm Springs Historical Society. He selected the “Stars and Star-chitects” tour of the Deepwell neighborhood and was amazed by the number of Hollywood celebrities who once lived there. Vicki Hayek, the tour guide and volunteer docent, had lots of stories to tell. One of the lesser-known homeowners was Hugh Hefner, who owned a “bunny retreat” in the neighborhood, which is where the “if those walls could talk” came from! Read his account of his morning stroll in one of Palm Springs most fabled neighborhoods. And Dori Smith went to Indio to visit what is probably the world’s only Date Museum, which is part of the Coachella Valley History Museum. She met with Pat Laflin, who, with other volunteers, created and launched the museum. Pat came to Indio in 1950 (that’s 65 years ago) to help her husband’s parents grow dates, and she’s been there ever since. Read Dori’s account of how dates arrived in the Coachella Valley and now account for 95 percent of the nation’s date crop. We didn’t get to all of them, but there are many other fascinating museums and information centers in the Valley: the branches of the Palm Springs Art Museum, the Air Museum, the Children’s Discovery Museum, the Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, the Cabazon

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Cultural Museum, Sunnylands, the Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Garden and so on. So when you get up in the morning and say “What can we do today?” here are a few ideas! One of the many exciting events coming up in March and April is the La Quinta Arts Festival (March 5 – 8). We loved the photo of glass artist Stan O’Neill’s sculpture “Snowbird” so much that we put it on the cover. We are all about snowbirds and who could resist this amazing glass goose. Kathleen Hughes, events manager for the Festival, let us know that the goose would be used as the image for the men’s festival t-shirt. Every Canadian snowbird should want one. Here is a photo of the markup for the shirt.

This has been a fun issue to edit. It will be our final one for this season, but look for us in the Fall. Meanwhile, have a good time learning more about your winter home.

Gary L. Willhide Editor

Millie Browne: Remembers ‘The Other Palm Springs’

HOllywood’s biggest stars come alive in deepwell tour

there’s a new museum in town

Four Canadian Artists coming to la quinta arts festival

A ‘date’ with pat

Third annual canada/snowbird fest

Top tennis talent signs up for bnp paribas open

Marie osmond at fantasy springs

a weekend of comedy at ipac

Native filmfest to feature canadian films

Calendar briefs

Legal views: what’s happening with that retiree visa?

Allan pitchko fine art & antiques

She’s south of the border now and ecstatic about it

attractions we love

La spiga ristorante italiano: a hidden gem with a canadian backstory

Avoid making children afraid of the dentist

4: Millie browne remembers ‘The Other Palm Springs’

8: Hollywood’s biggest stars come alive in deepwell tour

12: There’s a new museum in town

17: a ‘date’ with pat

30: FilmFest to feature canadian films

Cover: “Snowbird,” glass sculpture by Stan O’Neil, coming to the La Quinta Arts Festival.

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40: Alllan pitchko fine art & antiques

Story and photo by Sally Hedberg

ildred “Millie” Browne has served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Agua Caliente Museum since its inception. She was largely responsible for the creation of the museum that opened in 1991. Millie was born and spent part of her early life on Section 14, the subject of the current museum exhibition in downtown Palm Springs. This interview centers on Millie’s accomplishments as a member of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Section 14 first came about in 1876 when President Ulysses S. Grant by executive order set aside Section 14 and a portion of Section 22 (Tahquitz Canyon) as the Agua Caliente Indian reservation. The government had previously given the odd-numbered sections to the railroad, creating the checkerboard parcels that exist today.

Section 14 is a square mile parcel located one block from downtown Palm Springs and extends from Indian Canyon to Sunrise Way and from Ramon Road to Alejo Road. According to Millie, “It was a small community. Everybody knew everybody. It was a community where it wasn’t just Indians. It was Blacks. It was Mexicans.” Millie lived in Section 14 until she was in 6th grade. She remembers how as kids they loved Palm Springs in the summertime. “During

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the summer, Palm Springs was boarded up and shut down. It became ‘our town.’ We could rollerskate from one end of the town to the other. It wasn’t so humid in those days. Everyone slept outside on beds with wet sheets to keep cool. We also had swamp coolers or put wet towels in the windows. During the winter, Indians were not allowed near the only hotel or to even go downtown. But in the summertime, when no one was around, the Racquet Club did open its swimming pool to us.” There were only 23 tribal members, including women and children. This small band moved forward, learning to speak fluent English and Spanish because this area had been part of a trade route. Early on, the tribe valued education as a survival strategy to keep their property. They made sure all the children went to school. The Bureau of Indian Affairs had an agent living on the “rez,” who was in charge. All the Indians were given last names. Many of these names were from Mexican origin like Patencio. Millie’s great grandfather was called “Old Man Pete,” so Pete became their last name. The Indians embraced Catholicism. It was never forced on them. In fact they gave the land, the site of the ceremonial house, to build “The Little Indian Church” that later became Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

In 1951, Albert Patencio, the net (tribal leader) died and, since no one could take his place, the tribe burned the ceremonial house, thus breaking ties with the old ways. In 1918 the Bureau of Indian Affairs had forbidden important ceremonies and, according to Millie, the structure needed repair, and it was time to give up old ways and look toward the future. Everything changed when the movie stars, pioneers like the McCallums and those suffering from respiratory illnesses started coming to Palm Springs. Everybody wanted the tribe’s valuable land and the water rights. They began to say Section 14 was a pigsty, that the residents were poor and lived in shacks. Millie painted a different picture. “We had fruit and fig trees and grapes. We hiked in the mountains. Everyone took care of each other. Residents had jobs and the Tribe had revenue from the canyon’s toll gate and the natural hot springs spa. During the evenings, when the spa was available, everyone had a key to go into the natural springs.” Millie never considered herself poor, and she had a very happy childhood. The main reason the Section 14 residents didn’t build more permanent housing was that they had to lease their own land back from the government and were only allowed

Section 14: The Other Palm Springs Section 14 is a square-mile parcel of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation. Located one block from the heart of downtown Palm Springs, it extends from Indian Canyon Drive to Sunrise Way and from Ramon Road to Alejo Road. The current exhibition at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum explores the life experiences of people who lived on this historic tract in the 1940s through the 1960s. Section 14 was the home of diverse cultures, races and ethnicities. It became a battleground over Tribal Sovereignty and conflicting political and economic interests that forever changed the fabric of community life as it was known. The exhibit runs through November 8. five-year leases. Naturally, they did not want to build anything too substantial for fear of being ousted. And that is exactly what happened. Beginning in the 1940-1960 period, the city started razing Section 14. Millie and her family were never displaced, since they had already moved to near the airport. The museum exhibit states, “It became the battleground over tribal sovereignty and conflicting economic and political interests that changed community life in Section 14.” People would come home and personal belongings would be out on the street without any 30-day notice or even an eviction notice. Sometimes their homes were burned down or destroyed. This displacement of the inhabitants off their own land forced many of them to scatter to Banning, Morongo,

North Palm Canyon, east to near the airport and Cathedral City. In 1950, a historic precedence took place. The Agua Caliente Band had its first All Women Tribal Council. One of the members was Millie’s mother, Elizabeth Pete Monk. Millie often accompanied her mother to Washington, D.C., where they lobbied to get the first long term lease efforts for Indian lands. Ellen Miguel was quoted, “We have valuable land, but you can’t eat dirt.” This progressive land lease legislation in Congress enabled all United States tribes to promote their own economic development. Later, this unique experience shaped Millie for her role as ViceChairwoman of Tribal Council. The Equalization Act of 1959 finalized the individual Indian allotments (an allotment is a land parcel owned by a tribal member). On a combined basis, the Tribe and its members currently are the largest single landowner in Palm Springs. They also own land in Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. They contract with all these cities and Riverside County for police and fire services.

During this time, the Tribal Council had another big economic breakthrough when the Spa Hotel and Bathhouse came up for sale. Sam Benowit built the hotel in 1957 and had signed a 99-year lease, but he ran out of money. The tribe bought the hotel and added it to their sources of income. The Tribe was growing in numbers and flourishing. Education has always been a top goal, and the young people are still encouraged to go to college with all expenses paid. In 1987, the Tribal Council had another important decision to make: whether to go with gaming or not. Millie pointed out that this was a tough decision. After careful analysis of the advantages and disadvantages, one being gambling addiction, they decided to go with the gaming and give money toward the rehabilitation of gambling addiction. It was this time in Millie’s life that her youngest of five children was finally in school. She was on a two-person committee with Richard Milanovich, Tribal Chair, to look into

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Story continues from page 5 starting a museum. Millie explained that the Tribe has a committee for everything, but Milanovich was so busy with tribal affairs he had no time for the committee. Millie deliberated whether she wanted this responsibility or not, as she had no experience with museums. But she had been involved in another situation that led to the idea of a museum. The Corp of Army Engineers had just decided to put dams in Indian Canyons because they were worried about the 100-year flood. The Tribe certainly didn’t want this to happen. Anthropologist Dr. Lowell Bean, who had studied the Cahuilla Indians for years, was contacted. He said they should excavate the canyons to learn about their history and gather artifacts. The city and county drew up a memo of understanding to declare the canyon a historical site. Bean and others set up a small lab and storage facility and dug for two years. Much information was gleamed about how the Cahuilla lived so a small information center was built. The center was the only experience Millie had, but the idea of a museum still intrigued her. She contacted Dr. Michael Hammond, who was setting up a museum in Warm Springs. He became her mentor and eventually became (and remains) the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Executive Director. She set up another committee with more members and she began to go to all the sessions offered at the Western Museum Association and American Association of Museums conferences. “When I started, I had 10 percent knowledge but 90 percent drive,” says Millie. Her turning point occurred at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., when she was invited to give input on the Native American Indian Museum. A lady asked her, “Are people really interested in the Indians?” Millie began to think her culture had fallen into a trap. The museum shouldn’t just include the old stuff and the traditions but how it relates to the Indians of today. Millie is looking forward to the day when the new museum will be built. The site is on Tahquitz Canyon Way near Sunrise. Everything is ready to go – the site, the plan, and the permits. It won’t be long before it is a reality. In the meantime, the current museum is located at 219 South Palm Canyon Dr. next to the Palm Springs Historical Society. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliates Program. Today the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has 500 tribal members. It contributes to the economic development of the county through employment opportunities and its many ongoing philanthropies. The Tribe continues to value knowledge as a tool for empowerment, autonomy and the proper stewardship of the land and culture, thanks to the hard work of tribal members like visionary Millie Browne.

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walking tour

Hollywood’s biggest stars come alive in Deepwell tour Story and photos by Ken Larson

eneath snow-covered mountains, one of seven Palm Springs walking tours offered by the Palm Springs Historical Society is a stroll through the pristine midcentury Deepwell neighborhood with its elegant modernism homes. The tour is appropriately named “Stars and Star-chitects.” Celebrity homes include those of William Holden, Loretta Young, Tippi Hedrin, Liberace, Eva Gabor, Carmen Miranda, Jerry Lewis, Liz Taylor and Eddie Fisher. Many of these homes were designed by renowned architects, names such as Donald Wexler and E. Stuart Williams. And who doesn’t love a few Hollywood secrets? Guests not only get to enjoy the historic Deepwell neighborhood, learn about some of the famous homes, but also discover some of the fascinating stories of the stars.

Tour Guide Vicki Hayek, a volunteer docent, described the homes, the stars, and the architects. One of the largest and most recognized homes in Deepwell was owned by actor William Holden, who lived on Driftwood. Created in

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1955 by George and Marcia Barrett, the house sits on nearly an acre, which comprises four city lots, and covers some 4,000 square feet. The home was built by Joe Pawling. Holden purchased the house in the mid 1960s. Hayek explained that Holden loved Palm Springs because it reminded him of Kenya, Africa, and he needed a place to house his large African-oriented collection. He thought of his home as his American headquarters. One of the many famous women in his life was Stephanie Powers who, because she could speak seven languages fluently, became the ideal travel companion. Although they never married and he was 24 years her senior, they spent his final years together. Holden died at 63 from a tragic fall in his coastal home in 1981. He is best known for his part in “Sunset Boulevard,” filmed in 1949, and many remember his first film as a young boxer in 1939, “The Golden Boy.” Another famous Hollywood celebrity, who had a long history in Palm Springs was Loretta Young. She resided on Manzanita Avenue and was an actress for 75 years, making nearly 100 movies, and was most famous for her longrunning TV series, “The Loretta Young Show.”

One of the first houses on Manzanita was owned by Julie London, who became a famous singer. She was married to Jack Webb, famous for Dragnet on television. They divorced and according to tour guide, Webb, who was also a TV and radio producer, later built a home next to his ex-wife, “so he could keep a watch on her.” On the other side of Julie London Webb resided Earl and Anne Goldenberg, who owned a bakery and leased their home to Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher as their desert “getaway.” Taylor was between husbands during this time. The Jerry Lewis’ family owned a home on Sagebrush Road that is currently being renovated and upgraded by designer and general contractor Avian Rogers of Moderne Builders. Jerry and Patti Lewis and their six children lived in the home from the late ‘50s into the ‘70s. First known as part of the Martin and Lewis comedy team of television and film, he became a household name with his annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. The home is currently owned by Jon Wasser of Los Angeles. Rogers explained that she is

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Clockwise from above, Vicki Hayek, tour guide; Canadian Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arcy LeVesque, current owner of the home Liberace built for his mother; Avian Rogers, designer and general contactor with Moderne Builders, who is re-designing the former Jerry and Patti Lewis home; and the former home of actor William Holden.

Story continues from page 8 opening up the home to the west to capture the mountain views and taking the home back to its Mid-Century modern roots. “We are integrating the outside with the inside and have created a 700-foot master bedroom addition, staying true to the original structure.” Another famous name in Deepwell is Liberace, who owned two homes that are on the tour. The first home was designed for his mother. The French Chateau-style home was built in 1966 and rumors have it that even the bathroom fixtures were made of solid gold. Unfortunately his mother never lived in the home. The current owner of the 2,500-square foot home with 12-foot ceilings in the living room, is D’arcy LeVesque of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Liberace’s first home in the desert was just around the corner from his house he had built for his mother. He moved to this house in 1957 and was known in the neighborhood for his artificial flowers and antique collection. He did a lot of cooking and rumor has it that his unique dinner service came from the England’s Royal family. Over the years, he owned three homes in the desert. His last and most famous desert home is located on Belardo Road in the Las Palmas area of Palm Springs. Deepwell was also the home of the youngest of the Gabor sisters, Eva, who lived on Manzanita. She starred in TV’s “Green Acres.” Eva was often seen with at area social events with television personality Merv Griffin. According to the tour guide, the Gabor sisters lived in Palm Springs for over 40 years and, among the three women, had 22 husbands. “Rumor has it, Eva had enough pearls to stretch from Palm Springs to Budapest,” says Hayek. The famous Latin bombshell, Carmen Miranda, came to Palm Springs hoping to alleviate her chronic sinus problem. Her home was built on Calle Rolph in the late ‘40s. Before going to Hollywood, Miranda gained fame in the 1939 Carnival in Rio De Janeiro, by dancing and singing in a hoop skirt with a basket of fruit balanced on her turbaned head. She was married to David Sabastian and loved to barbecue and often had notable guests, such as Marlon Brando. She passed away in 1955 at the young age of 46. Another famous name with roots in Deepwell was Oscar Mayer, the famous Chicago meat packer, who purchased homes in Deepwell twice. Hugh Hefner considered his home in the neighborhood as a retreat, famous for his

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playboy bunnies, “If only these walls could talk,” says Hayek. Two of the homes on the tour were designed by famous architect E. Stewart Williams, born in 1909, the eldest son of Harry Williams (architect of the historic La Plaza Shopping Center in Palm Springs). As did his father, Williams studied architecture at Cornell and went on to receive his masters degree from University of Pennsylvania in 1933. Among his major projects are the Oasis Office Building, Coachella Savings and Loan, Santa Fe Savings Bank and the Upper Mountain Station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. In addition to the Frank Sinatra House (his first residential commission), Williams has designed numerous architecturally significant private residences throughout the Coachella Valley. His most dramatic public building is the Palm Springs Art Museum. Its first phase was designed in 1976. His last project was a major expansion of the Museum known as the “Steve Chase Addition.” He started designing the addition in 1990 and completed it in 1996, when Williams was 87 years old. One of the homes on the tour designed by Williams was built in 1955 for Leon Carver, also situated on four city lots. The “low profile” home is complete with a Zen garden, pool, water features and was the site for a recent “Alpha Dog” movie featuring Justin Timberlake. Deepwell is one of many Palm Springs neighborhoods that are noted for their “Modernism Homes.” The use of glass, clean lines, natural and manufactured resources and indoor/outdoor spaces all describe the modernism era. Desert Modernism has evoked a lifestyle of simple elegance and informality. Hayek explained that the term “discreet to Street,” is often used to describe these homes, as many of the street views are plain and simply. However, they open up with large, elaborate backyards ideal for indoor and outdoor entertaining. Reservations are required for the Stars and Star-chitect tour of Deepwell and can be made by calling the Palm Springs Historical Society at (760) 323-8297. Tours are $18 per person and run approximately two and a half hours. They are currently scheduled on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. Ask about the other six walking tours offered by the society,

Palm Springs Historical Society Walking Tours Tour 1: The Heart of the City. 1½ hours. Through downtown. One of the most popular. 9:30 a.m. Weds., 4 p.m. Thurs. and 9:30 a.m. Friday. Tour 2: Golden Era Hollywood, Homes in Las Palmas. 2½ hours. Walk among the stars in this prestigious and historic neighborhood with one of the highest concentrations of celebrity homes (Elizabeth Taylor, Kirk Douglas, Lucille Ball, Gene Autry and many others). 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Weds. Tour 3: Inns, Architecture and Glamour. 2 hours. Some of Palm Springs’ most historic, charming and secluded hotels in this premier neighborhood, where stars like Frank Sinatra, June Allyson and Joan Crawford stayed and played. 9:30 a.m. Thurs. Tour 4: The Exclusive Tennis Club Enclave. 1½ hours. An inside look at how Modernism took center stage in this historic resort neighborhood. 9:30 a.m. Thurs. Tour 5: Rat Pack Playground: Modernist Homes in Vista Las Palmas. 2 hours. See homes where Rat Pack members and other celebrities lived and frolicked (Dean Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Elvis Presley, Kim Novak and many others). 9:30 a.m. Tues. Tour 6: Stars and Star-chitects in Deepwell. 2½ hours. Stroll through this pristine mid-century neighborhood with homes designed by our most renowned architects. Homes by names like Loretta Young, Liberace, Jerry Lewis, Carmen Miranda, William Holden and others. Learn some fascinating secrets of the stars. 9:30 a.m. Mon. and 1 p.m. Sat. Tour 7: Frank Sinatra’s Neighborhood: The Movie Colony. 2 hours. See enchanting old Palm Springs, home to Hollywood royalty (Cary Grant, Gloria Swanson, Tony Curtis and many others). Frank Sinatra made it his neighborhood when his oconic mid-century home became party central. 9:30 a.m. Fri. NOTE: Reservations are required for the tours. (760) 323-8297 or pshistoricalsociety.org. $18 per person.

museum

There’s a new museum in town T he new Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion, in downtown Palm Springs (300 S. Palm Canyon Drive) is the hub of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s exploration of architecture and design. It houses related exhibitions and educational and community programs, as well as research space and a storage area for the museum’s growing architecture and design collections and archives.

The opening exhibition (which has now closed), “An Eloquent Modernist, E. Stewart Williams, Architect,” celebrated the accomplishments of Williams, the acclaimed architect who designed the historic building in 1961 to be the Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan and who was one of the most important architects of the Desert Modern style, developed in and around Palm Springs in the middle of the 20th century. “Palm Springs has the world’s greatest concentration per capita of midcentury modern architecture, and so it is a natural fit for the Palm Springs Art Museum to increase its commitment to architecture and design through exhibitions, educational programs, and research,” said Dr. Steven A. Nash, former executive director of Palm Springs Art Museum. “It was important to us not only to be a leader in these fields, but also to be able to preserve this important example of Desert Modernism.” The building, purchased by the museum in 2011, is a classic midcentury International style structure. After changing hands several times, it recently received Class 1 Historic Site protective status. The rehabilitation was overseen by preeminent Los Angeles architecture firm Marmol Radziner, known

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for the restoration of the famed Kaufmann House and the Ship of the Desert residence, both in Palm Springs. The firm based its restoration designs on black-and-white photographs of the building taken by Julius Shulman, as well as Williams’ original drawings.

The 13,000 square-foot glass and steel building is elevated above street level, and the glass pavilion features floor-to-ceiling windows that perfectly frame the cityscape and the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains. The main level features gallery space for architecture and design exhibitions, curatorial offices, and a store located in and around the bank vault, which retains its original door. The lower level will become a study center and will provide meeting and archive spaces. Renovations included removing office dividers to create one seamless space, removing carpeting to reveal the original terrazzo floor, and adding sustainable desert landscaping. The museum has also added an elevator, restored the perimeter retaining walls, and replaced and restored the movable, anodized aluminum screens original to the west-facing facade. Palm Springs Art Museum, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary, holds major collections of modern and contemporary art, glass, photography, architecture and design, and Native American and Western art. The museum was also designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1976 and expanded by him in 1996. Over the last 10 years, Palm Springs Art Museum has placed a growing emphasis on exhibitions devoted to architecture and design. The museum’s architecture collections (including drawings, photography, and mod-

els) are growing rapidly, as highlighted by the recent gift of the large L.J. Cella Collection of drawings, photographs, and objects. The museum also holds significant portions of the Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, and Arthur Elrod/Harold Broderick archives. The collection also includes Frey House-II, the historically significant residence in Palm Springs that architect Albert Frey designed for himself and bequeathed to the museum. “We want to ensure that our growing collection is accessible to architects, scholars, and the general public, and that we have the opportunity to develop more programming focused on architecture and design, including current innovations in these fields,” said Sidney Williams, the museum’s curator of architecture and design. “The new A+D Center provides us with the much needed space for our permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, and the E. Stewart Williamsdesigned building itself is an important addition to our collection.” Palm Springs Art Museum launched a capital campaign in 2011 to raise funds for the purchase and rehabilitation of the A+D Center. Three donors provided the lead gifts for the purchase of the building: Trina Turk and Jonathan Skow, Elizabeth Edwards Harris, and John Boccardo, and to date, more than 100 founding members have each committed $25,000 to support the rehabilitation and initial operations. The hours for the A+D Center are Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Thursday 12 noon – 8 p.m. The Center is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Photo by Daniel Chavkin

Work by Canadians Brett Varney, left, and Boris Kramer, right.

Four Canadian artists coming to La Quinta Arts Festival L isted as the #1 Fine Art Festival in the nation for the past three years by Art Fair SourceBook, the La Quinta Arts Festival 2015 will be held March 5 to 8 at the La Quinta Civic Center Campus. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Among the 230 gifted artists are four Canadian exhibitors, two of whom are brand new to La Quinta Arts Festival.

The other first time Canadian artist is sculptor Boris Kramer from Ontario. Each Kramer sculpture is hand formed, using methods of both modern and ancient blacksmithing. (His father was Richard Kramer, an artist and blacksmith.) For Boris, art must touch not just the mind, but the heart as well. No two pieces are alike with sizes range from ten inches to monumental.

The first is drawing and pastel artist Brett Varney, who specializes in oil pastel and metallic leaf. Varney grew up in Washington State and settled on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast in 2007, where he was granted citizenship.

From British Columbia are two returning fiber/textile artists, Joanna Staniszkis and the award-winning team of Louise Valentine and Brian Provencher (Best of Category - Fiber in 2014). All are masters in the art of silk couture.

While not from Canada, glass artist Stan O’Neil from Sedro Woolley, Washington, holds a special significance for our Canadian friends: O’Neil’s glass sculpture “Snowbird” was chosen as the design image for the men’s commemorative t-shirt in tribute to our large contingent of snowbirds. In addition to artwork, the La Quinta Arts Festival offers a diverse lineup of new entertainment headlined by OperaArts, presenting operetta and Broadway performances, and the Louie Cruz Beltran EPK Latin jazz band. Check the festival website for a daily entertainment schedule. Festival patrons can enjoy a leisurely lunch on Restaurant Row or lighter fare, fine wines and craft beers at the Island Bar and Oasis Lounge. Plus, The Chocolate Bar by Brandini Toffee will dip vanilla ice cream bars into chocolate and roll them in their famous toffee. Tickets are $15 for one day or $20 for a multiday pass. For information and directions, visit www.LQAF.com or call (760) 564-1244.

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Pat Laflin stands in front of the original crate in which the first Medjool shoots were shipped from North Africa.

he fascinating California Date History Museum might be one of the bestkept secrets in the Coachella Valley. Opened in 2010, the museum may well be the only one of its kind in the world. It is housed in the Coachella Valley History Museum in Indio. Pat Laflin, with other volunteers, was instrumental in creating and launching the museum. She is a fount of knowledge about how dates came to be an important crop. The Valley is the primary date-growing region in the United States, responsible for nearly 95 percent of the nation’s crop, according to Laflin and Wikipedia.

The museum tells the story of how dates arrived, with lots of artifacts and memorabilia from local farmers.

man’s oldest cultivated crop. Alexander the Great used them to feed his armies. There are bas-relief carvings in the British Museum of early cultures in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley, which show dates being cultivated.”

Pat knows that history by heart. After growing up in Northern California and meeting her husband at UC-Berkeley, they moved to Indio in 1950 to help his parents grow dates. With a degree in history and first-hand farming experience, it was a natural outcome that she’d absorb the crop’s history. Pat credits the U.S. Department of Agriculture and early date farmers for the Valley’s success raising dates.

This area was one of America’s last pioneer regions, and the Agriculture Department helped farmers figure out what kind of crops to grow and how. It even sent scientists traveling worldwide as “plant explorers.” One of them helped bring back healthy Medjool shoots, the principal date variety here at that time.

“Dates have been grown for 3,000 to 4,000 years overseas,” she said. “It’s probably

“Plant explorer Dr. Leonard Swingle was in North Africa traveling with the French For-

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eign Legion,” she said. “He got ahead of the soldiers and had to stay in a small oasis as the local sheik’s guest. There was a grove of Medjool date palms. He asked the sheik how much money he was getting for the dates – ‘two cents per pound in England.’ Swingle said: ‘I’ve been in London and the merchants sell them for 25 cents per pound.’ The sheik thanked him and asked: ‘What can I do for you?’” Some date trees in the Mid East were infected with a disease, but Swingle knew the sheik’s Medjool trees were healthy, and requested some shoots. The sheik gave him 11, which were crated and put on camels that carried them to a ship. Nine of the shoots survived and, two months later, arrived in Indio. The crate is on exhibit in the Date Museum. “They saved the variety for the world, and even shipped shoots to Israel and other countries,” Pat added. “Medjools are produced in enough quantity now that you see them in supermarkets. The industry originally was comprised of many family farms of 20-30 acres.” The date is a successful crop here because of high temperatures, no summer rain and abundant underground water. “They only grow in oases and where there is plenty of water,” Pat said. Other memorabilia in the museum include various farming tools and historic photographs. Pat is proud of one tool on display. It’s a canvass/wood/metal harness used by early workers when picking dates that her father-in-law developed. National media, including National Public Radio, PBS, and Al Jazeera America, have covered the Museum. “It’s important for people to know the story of dates,” Pat said.

The California Date History Museum at The Coachella Valley History Museum 82-616 Miles Avenue, Indio Phone: (760) 342-6651 Open now through May 31 Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday reserved for schools and private group tours. Admission: $10 adults; $8 seniors; free first weekend of the month

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Third Annual Canada/Snowbird Fest February 28 and March 1

he third annual Canada/Snowbird Fest, this time expanded to appeal to U.S. snowbirds as well, will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 28 and March 1.

The event will be held at a new venue, The University of California Riverside in Palm Desert at Cook and Frank Sinatra, three blocks off I-10 freeway. Saturdays hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays hours will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission fee will be $8, with children under 10 free. Parking will be free and valet parking will be available. Canada/Snowbird Fest, sponsored by Bette King Productions, will have food trucks, entertainment, vendors, speakers, midway games for prizes and lots of new special activities. A new addition will be “Party on Canada/Snowbird Fest” from 8 to 10 p.m. Saturday. There will be a separate charge for this event and attendance will be limited to 300. Entertainment will include celebrity Canadian disc jockey Red Robinson, songwriter-producer-entertainer Dennis Lambert, Peter Beckett from the ‘70s rock group Player, and impressionist Bethany Owen. For more information, call (760) 202-4007 or email bettekingproductions43@gmail.com.

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February 2015

Top tennis talent signs up for BNP Paribas Open

he BNP Paribas Open, the largest WTA and ATP World Tour combined twoweek event in the world, to be held March 9-22 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, has released its entry lists, which are highlighted by 11 former BNP Paribas Open and 12 Grand Slam Singles Champions, it was announced by Steve Simon, tournament director. The announcement of the 2015 BNP Paribas Open entry lists kicked off a countdown to the 40th anniversary of the Southern California tennis tournament. From humble beginnings back in 1976 at Mission Hills in Palm Springs, to the 2015 tournament where more than 300 of the world’s best players will descend on Indian Wells and compete for more than $10 million in prize money in front of more than 400,000 fans, the event has grown exponentially. The men’s entry list is led by World No. 1, seven-time Grand Slam Champion and Defending BNP Paribas Open Champion Novak Djokovic (2008, 2011, 2014), 17-time Grand Slam Champion and World No. 2 Roger Federer (2004-2006, 2012), and 14-

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time Grand Slam Champion and World No. 3 Rafael Nadal (2007, 2009, 2013). In addition, all of the remaining top 10 ranked players are entered, including Stan Wawrinka (4), Kei Nishikori (5), Andy Murray (6), Tomas Berdych (7), Milos Raonic (8), Marin Cilic (9) and David Ferrer (10). On the women’s side, the entry list is led by World No. 1 player Serena Williams, who is returning to Indian Wells after a 14-year absence, and World No. 2, five-time Grand Slam Champion and former two-time BNP Paribas Open Champion Maria Sharapova (2006, 2013). They are joined by a number of former BNP Paribas Open Champions including World No. 5 Ana Ivanovic (2008), No. 8 Caroline Wozniacki (2011), Defending BNP Paribas Open Champion and No. 12 Flavia Pennetta, Jelena Jankovic (2010), Victoria Azarenka (2012), Daniela Hantuchova (2002, 2007) and Vera Zvonareva (2009). Top 10 tennis players also on the entry list include Simona Halep (3), Petra Kvitova (4), Agnieszka Radwanska (6), Angelique Kerber (9) and Dominika Cibulkova (10).

“Over the past 40 years, the BNP Paribas Open has developed into one of the world’s best sporting events, and a significant reason for that success is the fact that the best players in the world annually come to Indian Wells,” said Simon. “This year our fans can once again look forward to seeing past BNP Paribas Open Champions such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, and Caroline Wozniacki, along with hundreds of other world-class tennis players.” The remaining spots in the draws will be filled by winners of the qualifying tournament (March 9-11) and wildcards. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden features the second largest stadium in the world next to the U.S. Open. It includes 16,100-seats and 44 luxurious stadium suites and a new permanent Stadium 2 with 8,000 seats. For ticket packages and other information, visit bnpparibasopen.com.

Marie Osmond to perform at Fantasy Springs

eginning with her national debut at age three on The Andy Williams Show, Marie Osmond has proven to be a resilient talent with a magnetic presence recognized across generations. On Saturday, April 4, she brings her “An Intimate Evening with Marie and Friends – My Life Through Music” Tour to the Special Events Center at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Showtime is 8 p.m. Marie recorded “Paper Roses” at age 12, making history as the youngest Country female artist to have her debut record go to #1 on the charts, followed by two Grammy nominations. She still holds the record as the youngest female host of a national television variety show, The Donny and Marie Show (1976-81). She has recorded over 35 albums and has numerous gold records and hit songs, including a CMA “Vocal Duo of the Year” Award for “Meet Me In Montana.” Marie’s 2010 first inspirational album titled “I Can Do This,” was an iTunes top ten listing after she performed “Pie Jesu” on Oprah. Donny and Marie’s single, “A Beautiful Life,” reached #1 in 2012. Beckoned to the Broadway stage in the mid-1990s, Marie mastered a new style of singing, to which she received outstanding reviews – starring in Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” and “The King and I” on national and international tours. Marie was also a finalist on season five of Dancing With the Stars, watched by 25 million people. Tickets ($39 to $79) can be purchased online at www.fantasyspringsresort.com or by calling (800) 827-2946 or (760) 342-5000.

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February 2015

“White Women,” one of the winners of the Improv/Comedy Festival

A weekend of comedy at IPAC

he Indio Performing Arts Center, 45-175 Fargo Street in Indio, will present “A Weekend of Comedy” March 27, 28 and 29. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday’s performance is at 2 p.m. What makes this show special for the Coachella Valley is that the performers were chosen by audience votes at the inaugural Coachella Valley Improv/Comedy Festival, where improv groups and stand up comics from across the nation performed to compete last July. The overall winner and headliner for the “Weekend of Comedy” is a Los Angeles-based improv group called “White Women.” This ingenious troupe takes a suggestion from the audience and creates a completely improvised piece of comedy based on the suggestion. “White Women” regularly perform at the Upright Citizens Brigade theatre in Los Angeles, which was co-founded by Amy Poehler. Local resident Richard Weiss, who has performed stand- up comedy for eight years in clubs like Caroline’s in New York, has also toured the country in sold out shows as part of the “Stand Up to Addiction” tour. He will be acting as emcee for the event as well as performing. Dr. Mike, a former Marine and practicing physician from Los Angeles, who believes “the only true way to heal someone is to make her or him laugh,” performs as well. Tickets are available for $19-$26. Patrons can select their own seats by going to the interactive seat map at www.indioperformingartscenter.org, or call IPAC at (760) 775-5200 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Explore and Enjoy the Coachella Valley

venue for all of the films in the festival, under the theme: “The Transformative Power of Art.” Niro, who is a multidisciplinary visual artist, pursues subjects that seek to move the myths of Native people to the realities of today, often using members of her own family (and herself) in her work. She also punctuates her work with pop culture icons, like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. One of her favorite motifs is to picture Mohawk women in photos that shatter myths, such as the 1991 photo of she and her sisters called “Mohawks in Beehives.” In “Robert’s Paintings,” Niro portrays the story of artist Robert Houle, who “has broken free of the emotional restraints of a residential school and made a name for himself.” Houle was raised in Manitoba at a time when Natives were sent to residential schools, presumably to aid in their “assimilation” into the local culture. At the schools, Natives were not permitted to speak their Native languages or observe their Native traditions. “Assimilation is a gentle way of putting it,” Niro says. “I call it genocide.” Robert “is a success,” she says, “here is a guy who went through all this and has made a name for himself.” His paintings, mostly in the tradition of abstraction, have been exhibited at the National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, and the Stedelijk Museum.

Shelley Niro

Festival to feature Canadian films By Gary Willhide

he Agua Caliente Cultural Museum’s Festival of Native Film and Culture traditionally includes work by Canadian filmmakers, and 2015 is no exception. The 2015 FilmFest will run from March 3 through March 8, and on Thursday, March 5, Artist-photographer-filmmaker Shelley Niro, a Mohawk from Ontario, will present

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(and will be there to interact with filmgoers) two pieces – a feature documentary (52 minutes) on Canadian Native Artist Robert Houle, called “Robert’s Paintings,” and a documentary short (six minutes) called “The Shirt,” a look at the history of Native lands using t-shirt statements filmed at the beginning of the Iraq war, 2003. Niro’s films will be shown starting at 5 p.m. at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs, the

Niro continues her work, as it was displayed in “The Shirt,” to show Mohawk women in myth-shattering circumstances. “The Shirt” is a simple piece, “filmed on a very low budget,” she said. It parodies the typical tourist t-shirt from the point of view of First Nations Peoples as an exploration into the lasting effects of European colonialism in North America. It makes a powerful statement. What makes Niro happy? “Working. Writing, painting, photography.” What is Niro’s concept of a perfect world? “There is no such thing as a perfect world. Well, watching TV on a Friday night.”

Another Canadian filmmaker will be featured at 8 p.m. March 5. Under the theme of “Resistance,” “Rhymes for Young Ghouls,” an 88-minute feature film directed by Jeff Barnaby (Mi’kmaq), will be shown.

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Story continues from page 30 The film focuses on Aila, a 15-year-old member of the fictional Red Crow Mi’gMaq reservation in 1976, who is subject to a government decree that states she and everyone else on the reservation under the age of 16 must attend residential school, where they are at the mercy of a sadistic Indian agent who runs it. She must choose to run or fight, and “Mi’gMaq don’t run.” The film includes adult content.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum presents the fourteenth annual Native FilmFest March 3 through 8 at the Camelot Theatres in central Palm Springs. The festival is one of the nation’s most highly regarded events of its kind – featuring the best in films by, about, and starring Native Americans and other Indigenous peoples. Engaging, entertaining and enlightening feature films, documentaries, and short films from some of today’s premier Native American and Indigenous filmmakers will be followed by informative QandA sessions. Guest programmer is Elizabeth Weatherford, founder and director of the Film and Video Center of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Thematically, the 2015 festival highlights traditional cultural practices, art, environmental issues, and identity. Individual tickets, as well as the 2015 All Access Pass, can be purchased at Camelot Theatres during normal box office business hours. Online purchases at www.camelottheatres.com are held at will call in the box office. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camelot Theatres is located at 2300 East Baristo Road in Palm Springs. Ticket prices are $10 (adult), $7 (senior adult 60+, youth 16 and under, and active military personnel). All Access Passes are $50 and provide entry to all screenings. For additional Information, visit www.accmuseum.org or call the Museum at (760) 778-1079 or Camelot Theatres box office at (760) 325-6565.

Native American Film Festival Schedule Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m. Theme: Coming of Age “Drunktown’s Finest,” United States, Feature, 95 minutes The lives of three young Navajo – a girl offreservation, a rebellious father-to-be, and a promiscuous transsexual – begin to overlap as they seek their own paths, along the way finding the promise that Navajo tradition holds out to them. Director: Sydney Freeland (Navajo) In Attendance Thursday, March 5, 5 p.m. Theme: The Transformative Power of Art “Robert’s Paintings,” Canada, Documentary, 52 minutes Acclaimed artist Robert Houle (Anishinaabe) has created a body of work that reflects with beauty on his experiences as a First Nations child, including the impact of boarding school, on visual culture representing Native peoples and on his expansive view of life. Director: Shelley Niro (Mohawk) In Attendance

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“The Shirt,” Canada, Documentary Short, 6 minutes The history of Native lands is noted with irony and a t-shirt in this video collaboration between two noted photographers, Shelley Niro (Mohawk) and Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie (Navajo/Seminole/Muscogee Creek). Director: Shelley Niro (Mohawk) “We Were Always Here: Rick Bartow,” United States, Documentary Short, 6 minutes Artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot) discusses the creation of his monumental sculpture commission, We Were Always Here, a contemporary art installation that now stands as a welcoming sentinel at the northwest corner of the National Museum of the American Indian site. Director: Brendan Rawlins Rick Bartow in Attendance “The Making of Pull of the Moon,” United States, Documentary Short, 14 minutes Ai Weiwei, internationally acclaimed Chinese dissident artist, and Navajo artist Bert Benally collaborated to create “Pull of the

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“The Shirt” by director Shelley Niro

sistance to the mine’s unstoppable hunger. Executive Producer: Northland Films Directors: J.T. Haines • Tommy Haines Charlie Clements Theme: Power of Film Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. “The Master and Divino,” Brazil, Feature, 85 minutes Portuguese, Xavante with English Subtitles

Story continues from page 32 Moon,” a temporary, site-specific art installation in a remote part of Coyote Canyon on the Navajo Nation. Directors: Daniel Hyde and Blackhorse Lowe (Navajo) Theme: Resistance Thursday, March 5, 8 p.m. “Rhymes for Young Ghouls,” Canada, Feature, 88 minutes, adult content Aila, a 15-year-old member of the fictional Red Crow Mi’gMaq reservation in 1976, is subject to a government decree that states she and everyone else on the reservation under the age of 16 must attend residential school, where they are at the mercy of a sadistic Indian agent who runs it. She must choose to run or fight, and “Mi’gMaq don’t run.” Director: Jeff Barnaby (Mi`kmaq) Theme: Exploitation Friday, March 6, 5 p.m. “Gold Fever,” Guatemala, Documentary, 84 minutes Gold is a symbol of wealth and power. But for Diodora, Gregoria, Crisanta, and the people living near the Marlin Mine in Guatemala’s highlands, gold represents oppression, intimidation, pollution and even murder. With the rising price of gold, the mine’s owner, Goldcorp, posts record profits, while these courageous Mayan women live in re-

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Two filmmakers portray life in the village and in the mission of Sangradouro in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state. Adalbert Heide, an eccentric German missionary – around 1957 after this Xavante group sought the mission’s protection from their decimation – started to film with his Super 8 camera. Divino Tserewahú, a Xavante filmmaker, has produced documentaries on his people and the revival of their rituals since the 1900s. Shifting between appreciation and rivalry, irony and affection, the two give life to their visual records and provide a look at the complex interactions between indigenous people and the missionaries who have assigned themselves a life-long relationship to them. Produced by Video nas Aldeias/Video in the Villages Director: Tiago Campos Torres Theme: In Those Times Saturday, March 7, 5 p.m. “Ten Canoes,” Australia, Feature, 90 minutes

Blackfoot man whose life is in chaos. Haunted by a dismal present and by ill-defined traumas of the past, he sets out to regain a rifle stolen by his wife who has fled to town, and begins what will become an odyssey of discovery. The story opens with Virgil drunk in a ditch and seeing an image of his dead father, frozen, and continues to spiral downward, leading him to town on a wild and somewhat dark effort to retrieve the rifle. He is boxed-in by his anger and strikes out, sometimes brutally, at those whose path he crosses. But he is also groping for meaning and seeking to reawaken his own humanity. The film mixes up time, emotional shifts, surreal moments in a rich mixture of a tale of a lost man seeking to find himself. Directors: Alex Smith • Andrew Smith Theme: Race Relations Sunday, March 8, 7 p.m. “Mystery Road,” Australia, Feature, 121 minutes adult content In this mesmerizing mystery thriller set in Australia’s Queensland, a tough Aboriginal detective, Jay Swan (Aaron Pederson), who recently returned to his outback hometown, is assigned to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. As he makes the rounds of the sleepy but troubled community, Jay unravels a web of intrigue and drug crime endangering at-risk youth, including his own daughter. Producer: David Jowsey Director: Ivan Sen (Aboriginal)

In Australia’s Northern Territory, a man tells a story within a story of his people and his land. Set a thousand years ago, Dayindi, of the Indigenous Minygululu tribe, covets one of the wives of his older brother. To teach him the proper way, he is told a story from the mythical past, a story of wrong love, kidnapping, sorcery, bungling mayhem and revenge gone wrong. Directors: Rolf de Heer Peter Djigin (Aboriginal) Theme: Going Home Saturday, March 7, 8 p.m. “Winter in the Blood,” United States, Feature, 98 minutes adult content Based on the critically-acclaimed novel of Blackfeet author James Welch, this is the story of Virgil First Raise (Chaske Spencer), a

Cast of “Rhymes for Young Ghouls”

Calendar Briefs Palm Springs VillageFest (every Thursday) Every Thursday evening, Downtown Palm Springs transforms into the Palm Springs VillageFest, also known as the Palm Springs Street Fair. At the VillageFest, you will experience a diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks and sweets. Add all that to the great shops, restaurants, clubs, and entertainment venues located along Palm Canyon Drive – and the result is one of Southern California’s most popular weekly events. 6 to 10 p.m.

College of the Desert Street Fair (every Saturday and Sunday) For over 30 years, the College of the Desert Street Fair has been a popular weekend destination, where locals and visitors alike can spend their day with an open-air shaded shopping experience second to none. With merchandise and services for all ages and any budget, the Street Fair offers more than 300 merchants, artists, a farmer’s market, live entertainment, gourmet food and much more. 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. College of the Desert campus, off Monterey Avenue in Palm Desert.

La Quinta Arts Festival (March 5-8) The La Quinta Arts Festival has been ranked the #1 Fine Art Festival and #1 Fine Craft Festival in the Nation by Art Fair SourceBook, the definitive guide for art and craft fairs in the United States. No other show has previously received this dual distinction. The 33rd annual festival returns to La Quinta’s Civic Center Campus (78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta). The event is produced by La Quinta Arts Foundation, in partnership with its premier sponsor, the City of La Quinta. Live entertainment, food, wine and beer complement your experience.

BNP Paribas Open (March 9-22) The BNP Paribas Open is the largest two-week combined ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier professional tennis tournament in the world. It is held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, considered one of the sport’s best venues, and features the top men and women professional players competing in a 96 singles draw and 32 doubles draw. The tournament offers more than $10 million in prize money, with each of the Champions earning a $1 million prize purse. It is the only professional tournament in the world, including the Grand Slams, that provides Hawkeye, the official line-challenge system for players, on all match courts for both main and qualifying rounds. In 2014, more than 431,000 people attended the event and over 350 media from all over the world covered the BNP Paribas Open. For more information, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com.

Art Under the Umbrellas (March 21) Art Under the Umbrellas shows are one-day events located in Old Town La Quinta from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on select Saturdays from October through March. Over 80 artists participate at each event. Live entertainment complements the day. Admission and parking are free. One more event is scheduled for this season, on March 21. Sponsored by the La Quinta Arts Foundation.

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Legal Views

Canadians

What’s happening with that retiree visa? By Michael W. Brooks, Esq.

get asked frequently in my Palm Desert law office about what’s happening with the proposed visa that would allow certain Canadian citizens to visit the United States up to eight months a year. Unfortunately, the answer is: not a whole lot. Let’s take a look anyway, and while we’re at it let’s also review what immigration options are available to the Canadian who is determined to spend the entire year in the U.S.

Current immigration law Currently Canadians are permitted to spend up to six months in the United States in any 365-day period. Canadians should remember, however, how to avoid being deemed a U.S. tax resident in a given calendar year (who then must fill out an annual U.S. tax return and declare their worldwide income in the U.S. and complete other U.S. filing obligations). The Canadian citizen who averages between 120 to 180 days in the U.S. over a three-year period should fill out the IRS Form 8840 (the Closer Connection Form) detailing for the IRS how the Canadian maintains an overall closer connection to the country of Canada (than the U.S.). The message here to remember is that a Canadi-

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an citizen can come visit and live in the U.S. up to six months each year, but those who average between four to six months a year in the U.S., year in year out, should fill out the Form 8840 annually. (Recently, an article appeared on CBC News’ British Columbia website which suggested that Canadian citizens are only allowed to spend 120 days in the United States each year. That report was completely inaccurate and, as I understand it, has been removed from the website.)

Economic impact Six months is nice for Canadians who wish to visit (and live part-time in) the U.S., but many Canadians would like to be in the U.S. for an even longer period. It’s hard to imagine regions like the Palm Springs area not be fully behind a year-round Canadian visitor visa, given the enormous economic impact the Canadian community has on this area, even with the six month limitation (although I’ve never heard a word about it from our current congressman, but perhaps I’m just not listening). In fact, recently there was a legislative proposal gaining some momentum in the Congress, so what was that about and where does it stand now?

Eight-month visa proposal (JOLT Act) In 2013, the “JOLT Act” (Jobs Originated through Launching Travel) was introduced into the U.S. Senate. The JOLT Act was a bipartisan bill with a provision that would permit Canadian retirees to spend up to eight months in the U.S. To be eligible for the Canadian Retiree Visa, one would have to satisfy the following criteria: • Have Canadian citizenship; • Be 55 years of age or older; • Maintain a residence in Canada; • Own a residence in the U.S. or have a rental agreement for the duration of stay; • Will not engage in employment while in the United States; and • Will not seek public assistance in the US. OK, now we’re cooking. Eight months sounds pretty good (certainly better than six), and for so many Canadians who visit the Coachella Valley the criteria listed above won’t be a problem. In fact, much of the JOLT Act did pass the Senate as part of the overall immigration proposal you might have read about or saw discussed on the television. Regrettably, however, Congress did the JOLT Act no favors

by tying it to the contentious immigration proposal, which related for the most part to the issue of the illegal immigrants in the U.S. The immigration proposal was never voted on in the House, and therefore died in the last session of Congress. Will the JOLT Act (or some variation thereof) come back in some form in this session of Congress? The rumor is it will, this time not tied to a broader immigration proposal. But will that proposal ever be voted on, and if so, will it pass? At this point, the future of the Canadian eight month (or longer) visa remains highly uncertain.

So what are the current immigration options for Canadians determined to be in the U.S. year round? So if we take out the options where a Canadian’s sister is American living in Chicago (and family relations can take a very long time to lead to a visa anyway), and where we assume the Canadian is not going to marry an American, what’s left? Below I list the most likely contenders. You’ll note the common theme running amongst all options below is the Canadian purchasing or creating and maintaining (in varying degrees) a U.S. business. L-1 Visa: A Canadian owns an existing Canadian business and transfers himself to newly

created U.S. subsidiary (or other affiliation) of the Canadian business. An L-1 Visa can lead to a U.S. green card, but the applicant must have an existing Canadian business to even consider it. E-2 Visa: A Canadian invests in a U.S. business (there is no set minimum amount, but let’s say at least $100,000) and that business hires Americans (again, no set minimum, at least one). Not too bad, huh? The problem here is the E-2 never leads to a green card, just a series of reviews of the business by the U.S. immigration authorities. Business isn’t going well at the next review (no longer in business, not hiring Americans), there goes the Canadian’s right to be in the U.S. EB-5 Visa: This is the big one. The Canadian invests either $500,000 or $1,000,000 in a U.S. business. What’s the difference between the two options? Choose the $500,000 option, and (likely) the business will be selected for the Canadian by an approved U.S. government-approved “regional center” (the Canadian should choose their regional center wisely). The regional center selects a U.S. business, that business stays in business and hires at least ten Americans (and for this purpose we count the waitress across the street where the workers from the invested

business go to eat) for at least two to three years, and then the Canadian can earn a green card. On the other hand, if the Canadian prefers the $1,000,000 option, he or she can invest in whatever business they desire. But for the green card in two to three years, the invested business again needs to remain in business, and continue to hire at least ten Americans (and now we only count the direct hires of the business). $1,000,000 on the line is a lot, but at least the Canadian can build or invest in the business of his or her choice under this option. Michael W. Brooks is a cross-border attorney based in Palm Springs, and can be reached at (760) 898-3413 or at crossborderattorneybrooks@gmail.com. In 2015 he started his own law firm (tentatively named Palm Springs Regional Canadian and International Law Center) in Palm Desert. The information contained in this presentation is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Michael W. Brooks expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this article.

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Allan Pitchko Fine Art & Antiques By Karen Olson

llan and Shauna Pitchko, who operated Antiques Alberta for many years in Edmonton, have created a stunning, upscale museum-like experience for both serious buyers and those browsing for future purchases at the Pitchko Fine Art & Antiques Gallery in Rancho Mirage. What began as a hobby for Allan is now a tastefully elegant showcase of 18th, 19th and 20th century American and European art, Oriental porcelains, bronze sculptures, sterling silver, fine china, art glass and estate jewelry, as well as Georgian and Victorian furniture. Although Allan was born in Calgary, Alberta, and raised in Saskatchewan, he returned to Alberta to find employment after completing his second year of college. This was readily accomplished in Edmonton in 1966 in the flourishing wholesale lumber business. He remained an employee until 1978 when he opened his own lumber business. Ten years later, having developed an appreciation for elegant antiques and fine arts, the Pitchkos opened Antiques Alberta in Edmonton. “Collecting antiques began as a hobby 30 years ago,” said Allan, “and it still is, but I do continue to manage my lumber business.”

and when the opportunity arose, they purchased a home in Rancho Mirage. In 2008 they opened their gallery on El Paseo, but as their business grew, the need for more space became apparent. When the exceptional 12,000 sq. ft. commercial property in Rancho Mirage became available in 2011, Allan purchased it and began the involved process of creating a space worthy of the beautiful objects he intended to display. After extensive exterior and interior painting plus reworking of the interior lighting, among other upgrades, the Gallery was opened in 2012.

Allan and Shauna enjoyed coming to the Coachella Valley during the winter months,

The main showroom is a masterpiece to the senses in presentation of color, lighting,

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placement of fine art, antique furnishing, and objects d’art. The exceptionally large building to the rear of the main building holds more contemporary furnishings, some “fun” pieces, as well as a large collection of paintings. Of note are the eco-friendly motion detection ceiling lights which turn on when someone approaches and shut off when no one is present. Conveniently located at 70-125 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, Allan Pitchko Galleries is an experience to be enjoyed slowly, thoroughly and repeatedly. Phone (760) 324-9595 for further information.

Profile

of our parents worked in the mines underground. It was a very interesting life -- about 500 miles north of Winnipeg. We were so far north we used to get our newspaper the day after. People laugh, but it’s true. If it was Tuesday, the Winnipeg Free Press was really Monday’s paper.” When Lou turned 18, her mom gave her a set of luggage – a clear signal that she wanted her children to live elsewhere. So, Lou went to university and moved south to Edmonton for most of her adult life. Lou continually smiles and laughs about life. She plays golf with the Rancho Mirage Women’s Golf Association. At one such tourney, she hit two balls in a row into the water on a tough par-3 hole. “When I did that, I said: ‘Seriously?’ If you can’t laugh at that...” She said her whole family has a great sense of humor, including a younger brother who is a teacher by day and a comedian by night. “My family members have a very quick wit,” she said. “Starting with my parents. We’re always laughing. Sometimes inappropriately. That’s how we deal with things.” Even in the most difficult times.

Lou Whitaker

She’s south of the border now and ecstatic about it By Dori Smith

ou Whitaker always has a smile on her face. That smile grows wider every October when she and her husband Steve drive from Canada into America. “As soon as we cross the border, I can’t get the smile off my face,” she said. “When we go back, the tears come up because I don’t want to go back.” After working in a local school, Lou worked with Steve in his chemical-manufacturing business. He first produced car-wash soap in their garage. Together, they grew the business. Before selling it, they offered more than 200 products, owned a large warehouse, and employed several people.

When contemplating retirement, they first focused on Mexico. But a hockey team caused Lou to rethink that plan. “Steve used to come here every year with fellows from his hockey team,” she said. “They came here and played golf. I never came because it was just guys. He said ‘Before we do anything, we have to go to Palm Springs.’ We stayed right here in this complex (Rancho Mirage Country Club). I was here two days and said: ‘We are home.’” Her childhood home is a small mining city (copper and zinc) called Flin Flon in Manitoba. A prospector named the city, now grown to around 5,500, for a fictional character in a 1905 paperback novel. Lou’s dad was a miner. “The whole town, obviously, was based solely around the mine,” Lou said. “Almost all

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When planning her mother’s funeral, they couldn’t find the urn her mother had purchased for her ashes. “We decided to put her in a teapot, and we were laughing,” she added. “The funeral director didn’t know what to think.” Lou thinks that – for a “girl” from Flin Flon, Manitoba – she’s found her paradise in the Coachella Valley. She loves that the Valley isn’t far from other scenic areas, such as San Diego, Los Angeles and Disneyland, and Las Vegas. She also plays pickleball, walks, rides a bike, and sometimes just sits at Starbucks on El Paseo. “Everyone’s super friendly,” she said. “Restaurant staff and clerks in stores. They’re happy to have us here because we help the economy. I also love the pace here. The quality of entertainment is unreal. We’ve seen shows here that are in Vegas – Barry Manilow and Terry Fator and a lot of them live here, too. “I look out at the mountains and the palm trees and my pool in the back yard,” she continued. “Who would have thought? I pinch myself every morning. I jump out of bed and can’t wait to get going. I wake up every day and say, ‘woo hoo!’”

Palm Springs Art Museum. Featuring art and the performing arts. Museum hours year round: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Thursdays 12 noon - 8 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays; 101 Museum Drive, Palm Springs, (760) 325-7186, www.psmuseum.org. Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. Museum hours: Closed Mondays. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. 72-567 Highway 111, Palm Desert. (760) 346-5600. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. History, culture of Cahuilla Indians, baskets, artifacts, photographs. Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 219 South Palm Canyon, Palm Springs. (760) 778-1079. www.accmuseum.org. Palm Springs Air Museum. One of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest collections of flyable World War II aircrafts and memorabilia, vintage automobiles, large-scale model ships. Open daily year round 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., last admission at 4 p.m. 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, www.palmspringsairmuseum.org. Cabazon Cultural Musuem. History of Cahuilla Indians, baskets, artifacts. Monday through Saturday, 1 - 5 p.m. 84-245 Indio Springs Drive at Fantasy Springs Casino, Indio. (760) 238-5770. La Quinta Museum. Showcasing La Quinta history and cultural arts through displays on two floors. 77-885 Avenida Montezuma, La Quinta. Museum hours 10 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call (760) 777-7170. Coachella Valley History Museum. Campus contains the Smiley-Tyler House, a 1926 adobe home which houses the main exhibits; the historic 1909 Indio Schoolhouse; and the Date Museum. Grounds hold a variety of gardens, including a Memorial Date Garden, Japanese Garden, the Jardin Del Deserto, and the oldest Cork Oak tree in the desert. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Friday, Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 82- 616 Miles Ave, Indio. (760) 342-6651, www.coachellavalleymuseum.org. Cabotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pueblo Museum. A Hopi-inspired pueblo that is a unique treasure in the heart of Desert Hot Springs. The structure is handmade, created from reclaimed and found materials. The Pueblo is four-stories, 5,000 square feet, and includes 35 rooms, 150 windows and 65 doors. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 67-616 East

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Story continued from page 44 Desert View Avenue, Desert Hot Springs. For more information call (760) 329-7610 or visit www.cabotsmuseum.org. The Living Desert. Zoo and botanical garden, desert animals, African wildlife, 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, free parking. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last admission at 4 p.m. (760) 346-5694, www.livingdesert.org. Moorten Botanical Garden. The Moorten family, all desert plant specialists, turned their residence estate into a living museum of desert lore. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something of interest for everyone with glistening crystals, colorful rocks, ancient fossils, pioneer and gold-mine relics. 1701 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Wednesdays. Admission is $4 for adults and seniors, $2 for children 5-15, and children under 5 free. For more information call (760) 327-6555 or visit www.moortengarden.com. Sunnylands Center and Gardens. Free and open to the public Thursday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. No reservations are required. Find yourself surrounded by world-class art and awardwinning gardens. Free guided garden walks are offered Thursdays at 11 a.m., and free guided bird walks are offered Fridays at 9:15 a.m. 37-977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. For more information visit www.sunnylands.org or call (760) 328-2829. Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest rotating tram provides breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley as it ascends Mt. San Jacinto. Monday - Friday first tram up 10 a.m. Last tram up Sunday - Thursday 8 p.m., last tram down 9:45 p.m. Last Tram up Friday - Saturday 9 p.m. and last tram down 10:30 p.m. Highway 111 and Tram Road, Palm Springs. For information: (760) 325-1391. www. pstramway.com.

dining

Calabria region – and emigrated to Canada when they were young. Vince actually began working in a restaurant in Sicily when he was 12, learning the business from the bottom up. When he landed in Canada in 1970, his initial inability to speak English prevented him from getting the kind of chef jobs he wanted, so he worked for a restaurant kitchen installation company for about eight years. He estimates that he installed a minimum of 250 kitchens during that time in cities like Montreal and Vancouver, all while supporting his young family and dreaming of returning to his true passion. In 1979, the couple moved to Edmonton with their two children and Vince finally got his chance. They opened their first restaurant there in 1981 and, though it was a simple place, it thrived. It led to the opening of two more establishments and, ultimately, a fourth. The latter was an ambitious undertaking in a historic 1913 Edmonton house – an absolutely beautiful setting, Connie says. They named the restaurant La Spiga, which is Italian for a sheaf of wheat. Right off the bat, La Spiga attracted an upscale clientele. Senior government officials, oil executives and other Edmonton movers and shakers became regulars. “We did well in Edmonton. We made a lot of long-lasting friends and great customers, and we still have a lot of them,” says Connie. Eventually though, the northern city’s climate began to wear on this couple, who had begun their lives basking in the warmth of southern Italy. Seventeen years ago, they started coming to the Coachella Valley during the winter months.

Connie and Vince Cultraro

La Spiga Ristorante Italiano A hidden gem with a Canadian backstory Story and photo by June Allan Corrigan

ucked away in a corner of Palm Desert where you might not think to look sits La Spiga Ristorante Italiano. A good number of Canadians manage to find it however, mostly because they’re devotees of the enterprising couple who own and run it. It just might have something to do with

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the outstanding cuisine and unsurpassed hospitality they offer. La Spiga’s story began in Edmonton, Alberta, and continues to unfold here in the desert. Vince and Connie Cultraro are a hard-working team. Even now, as they close in on retirement age, Connie admits they find it hard to relax. They were both born in Italy – he on the island of Sicily, and she in the

At that point, the Cultraros had sold their first three restaurants. When they were first in the desert, they were still able to run the original La Spiga at a distance with the help of a seasoned staff. “We did the six months here six months there thing for a while, but eventually we got our green cards, and then we became citizens. We’re now dual citizens and we’re here permanently,” says Connie. Even during their fledgling years in the desert, this couple wasn’t exactly idling days away on the golf course. They were starting up yet another La Spiga in a 54-seat location on El Paseo that they operated very successfully for six years. It was roughly where the Apple store is now. Of course the City of Palm Desert’s redevelopment plans led them to look for a new home and that’s when the Cultraros built and moved to their present location. For those still pondering

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grow,” says Connie. There are also three gazebos, an outdoor wood burning pizza oven and a putting green. Wise Canadians know a good thing when they see it. This would explain the fact that a lot of the same customers the Cultraros had in Edmonton are now their customers here. “Most of those heads of corporations we used to serve are now retired and quite a few of them are here. So we’re still serving them!” says Connie. “It’s as if we never left Edmonton. It’s like one enormous circle and it’s a joy because I remember some of the original customers from back in 1981. We host a lot of Canadians. And with us being Canadian, well, it’s kind of nice we all stick together, you know?”

Story continued from page 48 where that might be, it’s behind the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert. They are currently marking their eighth season in the spot. “We have enough land here to have built a monster of a restaurant, but we never wanted that. We wanted what appeared to be a

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house with gardens,” says Connie. And that is precisely what they developed. It’s a lovely setting with intimate indoor rooms and a spacious outdoor spread that includes over 15,000 feet of gardens, including a plethora of rose bushes, vegetable and herb beds, plus a wide variety of fruit trees. Much of the produce makes it way into special dishes at the restaurant. “We try to incorporate what we

Learn more about La Spiga and its emphasis on serving only the highest quality food in its purest form and cooked to order. Visit their website at laspigapalmdesert.com.

Health

Avoid making children afraid of the dentist By Dr. Bruno Lemay

f you do not fear the dentist, you probably know someone who does. It does affect more children than adults, but is still present in the adult population.

Fear of visiting the dentist is a frequent problem in pediatric dentistry. A new study confirms the emotional transmission of dentist fear among family members and analyses the different roles that mothers and fathers might play. A new study conducted by scientists at the Rey Juan Carlos, University of Madrid, highlights the important role that parents play in the transmission of dentist fear in their family. Previous studies had already identified the association between the fear levels of parents and their children, but they never explored the different roles that the father and the mother play in this phenomenon. Published in the International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, the study analyzed 183 children between 7 and 12 years and their parents in the Autonomous Community of Madrid. The results were in line with previous studies, which found that fear levels among fathers, mothers and children are interlinked. This is why as parents it is very important to be careful when talking about dentist experiences at home or in front of your children. Statements like: “If you are not nice, I will send you to the dentist”

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or “don’t worry it won’t hurt,” or “brush your teeth or you will have to have your teeth pulled” are not good phrases to use and can only be negative for the child. It is important to understand that once someone starts to fear something as a child, it is hard to change the behavior later on in life. Dr. Bruno Lemay, a native of Quebec, is the sole owner of Desert Dental Alternatives. Dr. Lemay has a fellowship from the California Implant Institute and is the founder of CMI Institute (The Canadian Mini-Implant Institute). CMI specializes in the education and training of dentists throughout Canada and California in the mini-implant technique that Dr. Lemay has utilized and improved since 2001. Desert Dental Alternatives is located at 69-450 Ramon Road in Cathedral City, (760) 324-4450, www.desertdentalalternatives.com.

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Fashion Week El Paseo (March 21-28) Fashion Week El Paseo celebrates its 10th year with an extraordinary fashion celebration. Enjoy a welcoming, paparazzi-filled red carpet arrival and pre-show cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with stars, celebrities, and designers. Then, marvel at the stunning fashion show (March 21) featuring most of the outstanding designers from the last ten years, as well as Broadway entertainment and other surprises. Featured designers include Gilbourt Chigoury, Kevan Hall, Candice Held, Lloyd Klein, Eduardo Lucero, Zang Toi, Oliver Tolentino, and Trina Turk. For details and the schedule, check www. fashionweekelpaseo.com.

ANA Inspiration LPGA Golf (March 30-April 5) Formerly the Kraft Nabisco, the first major of the LPGA season will have All Nippon Airways of Japan as the title sponsor. It will be known as the ANA Inspiration and will continue to be played at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, home of the event since 1972. For information visit anainspiration.com.

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The Dinah (April 1-5) Pop music’s queen of romance, Christina Perri, is slated to headline Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend’s 25th Anniversary. The weekend will also feature two of the biggest dance-floor legends: Rose Royce and Crystal Waters. Continuing its old-school icons series, The Dinah is cranking up the decibels and bringing the heat of disco inferno to your dancing feet during its world-renown epic weekend pool parties showcasing two disco/dance giants whose timeless club anthems have been continuously capturing old and new generations. The Dinah is for women of all ages. For more information, visit thedinah.com.

Indian Wells Arts Festival (April 3–5) Art, food and entertainment on the grounds of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For details, check www.indianwellsartsfestival.com.

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 10-12 and 17-19) The festival, which typically announces its lineup in January three months ahead of the

event, consistently sells out and opens the summer festival season. This year’s installment featured OutKast, Muse and Arcade Fire, among more than 180 other acts. The festival is held at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio.

Stagecoach Country Music Festival (April 24-26) Also held at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, and, like Coachella, sponsored by Goldenvoice, Stagecoach features the top names in country music. Headliners this year will be Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Others include Merle Haggard, Vince Hill, Dierks Bentley, ZZ Top, the Oak Ridge Boys and many more.

White Party Palm Springs (April 24-27) White Party Palm Springs Producer Jeffrey Sanker has announced the addition of the Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs waterpark to his weekend line-up. The Palm Springs White Party is known as the largest gay dance music festival in the world. Fashion icon Kelly Osbourne has been named Queen of the White Party. For the weekend schedule, information and tickets, visit www.jeffreysanker.com.