Thursday, February 11, 2021
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Volume 67 | Number 24
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THE DESERT MOBILE HOME NEWS CELEBRATING THE DESERT COMMUNITIES FOR 65 YEARS
From Broadway with Love...Backwards Join your favorite performers for this Valentine’s celebration!
In This Issue
Getting the COVID Vaccine..................2 Why President’s Day?..........................3 Social Distant Valentine’s Day................4 Saucey Creole Shrimp Recipe..............5
P
alm Canyon Theatre will present a Valentinethemed concert fundraiser, “From Broadway with Love… Backwards,” with about 21 performers including many favorite company members and special guests. Although the concert is an annual fundraiser for the 24-year-old theatre, this year – with so many things a little different – PCT decided to “flip the script.” During the concert, men will sing songs originally written for women, and women will sing songs originally written for men. This twist allows performers a rare opportunity to interpret Broadway numbers they would likely never be cast to sing. The two day streaming event will fill people’s hearts and souls with everything from traditional ballads to fun, unconventional love songs. Each uniquely crafted performance and video recording will be a new “favorite” for the “athome” audience, who can watch the program at their leisure – and even more than once – over a twoday period from February 12-13.
1. ANATOMY: What is the hardest substance in the human body?
Lizzie Schmelling and Christian Quevedo are among the talent performing in “From Broadway with Love… Backwards.”
Among the local talent performing some of Broadway’s most memorable love songs from their homes and socially distanced on the PCT stage are Se Layne, Ron Coronado, Julie Rosser Balbini, Allegra Angelo, Christian Quevedo, Anthony Nannini, Jaci Davis, Morgana Corelli, Michael Pacas, Marcia Harp, Sarah Hagar, Michele Davis and Laurie Holmes. Because of the “at-home” format, some performers are from outside the valley, including Jay Espano from Chicago and Jenn Paulk from Florida. Derik Shopinski and Virginia Sulick will host the show, with direction by Derik Shopinski.
Jaci Davis is the show’s musical director, with post production by Anthony Nannini. All performers are donating their time and talents to benefit PCT, which is the oldest live stage production company in the Coachella Valley. Tickets for this streaming show are $25 and are available for two day only on Showtix4U.com, which is also the platform to view the recorded production! From Broadway with Love… Backwards is available for streaming for the 48-hour period between 12 a.m. on February 12 through 11:59 p.m. on February 13. Purchase at: showtix4u.com/event-details/46332
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens reopens The Living Desert has resumed select amenities and attractions, in addition to the 500 amazing animals and more than 50 botanical gardens, private safari tours, giraffe feeding, Wildlife Wonders Show, carousel, and the Zoo’s res-
• Baked beans aren’t baked. They’re stewed. • OMG, the popular acronym for “Oh my God,” was first used in writing in a letter to Winston Churchill in 1917, by John Arbuthnot Fisher, a retired Admiral of the British Navy, who said, “I hear that
taurants take-away service will reopen under the State of California’s lift of the ‘stay at home order’ and Riverside County’s return to the Purple Tier. The Living Desert is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last
admission at 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and tickets can be purchased online at LivingDesert.org. The Living Desert will continue its COVID-safe operating practices. For more info., visit website.
a new order of Knighthood is on the tapis, O.M.G. (Oh! My God!).”
we’re having a good time. The rest happen when we’re in pain, embarrassed, uncomfortable, horrified or even miserable!
• Horrormeister Stephen King has triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13) and won’t stop writing if he’s on the page number is 13 or a multiple of it. • A singing birthday card has more computer power than the entire Allied Army of World War II. • Researchers have found that there are 19 different types of smiles, but only six occur when
• After he seized power in Cuba, Fidel Castro banned the board game Monopoly and ordered every set to be destroyed. • Genoan sailors were known colloquially as “Genes” and wore cotton pants, which is where we get the word “jeans.” (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
2. GEOGRAPHY: Off which U.S. state’s coast is Santa Catalina Island located? 3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the first president to hold a press conference? 4. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many breaths does the average human being take in one day? 5. MOVIES: Which movie featured the Seal song “Kiss From a Rose”? 6. U.S. STATES: A city in this state became the first in the world to install a parking meter? 7. ANCIENT WORLD: Before he became a philosopher, what was Socrates’ profession? 8. LANGUAGE: What is the only letter that does NOT appear in any of the U.S. states’ names? 9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of giraffes called? 10. LITERATURE: Which dystopian 1950s novel was originally titled “The Fireman”? © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc. ANSWER TO TRIVIA ON PAGE 6
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WORD SEARCH Getting the COVID Vaccine
ANSWER TO WORD SEARCH ON PAGE 6
CLEAN
DRAWERS
RESOLUTION
CLOSET
MESSY
SHELVING
CLUTTERED
NEATEN
SORTING
CONTAINER
ORGANIZED
STORAGE
DESIGN
PAPERS
STREAMLINE
DESK
PHOTOGRAPHS
TIDY
DONATION
PROFESSIONAL
TRASH
When can we get our COVID vaccine? Seniors everywhere are asking this question, and the answers are often vague, wrong or nonexistent. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the vaccines will be given first to health care workers, then “frontline essential workers,” seniors in descending order of age and those with high-risk medical conditions. While getting the vaccine to health care workers hasn’t been much of a problem, scheduling seniors has been more problematic. One of the snags has been with distribution. States often don’t know how many doses they’re going to receive, which has made it difficult to schedule people to be at the vaccine site at a certain time on a certain date. A more serious problem came to light when batches of vaccine sent to various states were found to be defective because they hadn’t been kept at the right temperature along their journey from manufacturing to vaccination site. In one state, for
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Staff Cindy Melland Publisher Kimberly Brucks Advertising Manager KBrucks@desertentertainer.com
Jose De La Cruz Senior Graphic Designer news@desertmobilehomenews.com
Serving 110 Mobile Manufactured Home and RV Parks in the Coachella, Morongo and Yucca Valley for 65 years. The Mobile Home News is a household tradition for the 55+ manufactured home park and RV Park population. Available at clubhouses and racks in manufactured home parks. Also available in many area businesses and senior centers. Businesses or private parties interested in advertising to the 55+ community please call 760-365-3315. Published Thursdays by Hi-Desert Publishing Company. News, photos or editorial submissions or story ideas should be sent to news@desertmobilehomenews.com All delivery issues should be directed to Ahkto Distribution at distribution@ahkto.com or call 760-459-4204
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example, out of 50 boxes of vials, 35 were found to be defective. All over the country websites have crashed as people have tried to sign up for the vaccine in their area, and many seniors have found the computer program impossible to use. Do you know how to get on the list to receive your vaccine? Do you know what group in your state is currently allowed to receive the vaccine, or what priority group you’re in? Each state has been allowed to decide what its definitions is for seniors -- over 75, over 70 or over 65. Your best bet is to contact your doctor’s office. Ask if they have a wait list or can tell you specifically what steps you should take. Call the hospital and your pharmacy. Call your state’s health department. This is one time where you need to be proactive if you want the vaccine. (c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc
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Why ‘Presidents’ Day’ actually goes by another official name An official list of federal holidays in the United States won’t feature “Presidents’ Day” among the observed holidays. Some may say that’s preposterous, as they’re certain that post offices and other federal entities are closed on such a day each February. While the third Monday of February is commonly referred to as “Presidents’ Day” throughout the United States, the day is legally referred to as “Washington’s Birthday.” According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, this holiday is designated as “Washington’s Birthday” in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for federal employees. Though other institutions, such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is OPM policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.
History of Washington’s Birthday The idea to give presidents a little extra fanfare originally was established in 1885 in recognition of George Washington. After his death in 1799, Washington’s birthday on February 22 became a day of remembrance, according to History.com. Its observance as an official holiday was signed into law in 1879 by President Ruther-
ford B. Hayes. Originally, the holiday only applied to the District of Columbia, but in 1885 it was expanded to the entire country. Abraham Lincoln, another revered American president whose birthday was February 12, also was largely celebrated during the month of February as a state holiday, particularly in his home state of Illinois. In the 1960s, when Congress proposed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act that designated Monday as the day to celebrate various federal holidays, the proposal also included a provision to combine the celebration of Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays to provide more equal recognition of these two influential leaders. The name Presidents’ Day was proposed at that time. However, when the bill moving the celebration of Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February went into effect in
1971, Congress rejected the name change, so it remained Washington’s Birthday. That name stands to this day. Why Presidents’ Day? Even though federal calendars will list February 15 this year as Washington’s Birthday, it will largely be referred to as Presidents’ Day. This unofficial moniker developed in the 1970s due largely in part to retailer’s use of that name to promote sales and the proximity of the holiday to both the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. Indeed, a Washington’s Birthday furniture sale doesn’t have the same ring to it as a Presidents’ Day sale. No matter what the holiday is called, Presidents’ Day offers citizens a chance to learn more about the history behind Washington and Lincoln — two pivotal statesmen in American history.
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CROSSWORD
ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 6
ACROSS 1. Ancient Persian city 5. Spindles 11. Stake 12. Retrain 16. Close by 17. Commercial 18. One who publicly announces 19. American ballplayer 24. Junior’s father 25. Go up or climb 26. Concern 27. When you hope to get there 28. Iacocca and Oswald are two 29. Plant of the lily family 30. Male college organization 31. National capital
33. Raccoonlike animal 34. Symbols of fertility 38. Astronomy unit 39. Series of ridges in anatomy 40. Hebrew leader 43. A portent of good or evil 44. Supreme goddess 45. Gelatinous substance 49. Engage in a contest 50. Famed ballplayer Ruth 51. Pledge 53. -__, denotes past 54. Revival 56. Spanish surname 58. Gold 59. Elsa’s sister
60. Workplace 63. Large quantity of something 64. Engraved 65. Discount
DOWN 1. Shoe 2. Disquiet 3. Posture 4. Large nests 5. Soviet “Second Symphony” composer 6. Joins two pipes of different diameter 7. Exist 8. Overdose 9. Pleat of fabric 10. Predict the future 13. Burgeoning technology
14. Having made a valid will 15. Having no fixed course 20. __ route 21. Lethal dose 22. Indian musical pattern of notes 23. Athlete 27. Geological times 29. Atomic #21 30. In support of 31. Brew 32. Certificate of insurance 33. Taxi 34. Type of saying 35. For cigars 36. Phil __, former CIA 37. Local area network 38. Gym class 40. Philippine Island 41. Not great or bad 42. Eastern part of NY state 44. Gov’t lawyers 45. Constructions 46. Former British gold coin 47. Unkeyed 48. Rechristen 50. Threaten persistently 51. Southeast 52. Cools your home 54. Removes the leaves 55. Regretted 57. Thus 61. Relief organization (abbr.) 62. Exclamation of surprise
SUDOKU
ANSWER TO SUDOKU ON PAGE6
Brain Teaser
A man found an old coin and declared that the date on it was 150 B.C. This could not be true. Why? SEE ANSWER ON PAGE 6
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to perform marriages in secret and was beheaded for it.
On Feb. 12, 1912, Hsian-T’ung, the last emperor of China, is forced to abdicate. A provisional government was established, ending 267 years of Manchu rule in China and 2,000 years of imperial rule. The emperor was only 6 years old. On Feb. 13, 1920, The League of Nations, the international organization formed at the peace conference at Versailles in the wake of World War I, recognizes the perpetual neutrality of Switzerland. On Feb. 14, 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome, is executed. Ruler Claudius the Cruel was having difficultly getting soldiers to join his military because of their strong attachment to their wives, and had banned marriages. Valentine continued
On Feb. 15, 1965, in accordance with a formal proclamation by Queen Elizabeth II of England, a new Canadian national flag is raised in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The search for a new national flag began in 1925. On Feb. 16, 1984, Bill Johnson becomes the first American man to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing, a sport long dominated by European athletes. Johnson quickly became a national hero, but never again competed in the Olympics. On Feb. 17, 1972, the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line, breaking a four-decade record held by the Ford Motor Company’s iconic Model T. The VW Beetle dates back to 1930s Germany. (c) 2021 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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February 11, 2021
7 ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a socially distant manner
The last year has been challenging for social butterflies, as the COVID-19 pandemic has limited opportunities to socialize in person with close friends and family members. Social distancing guidelines affected various holidays throughout 2020, but such guidelines were issued after Valentine’s Day 2020. Valentine’s Day may be the easiest holiday to celebrate while still adhering to social distancing restrictions. After all, Valentine’s Day is typically a day to spend time alone with the person you love. The following are seven socially distant Valentine’s Day celebration ideas.
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1. Order a take-out dinner for two from a favorite local restaurant. It gives you the night off from cooking and helps support a small business. 2. Watch a romantic movie on
your preferred streaming service. 3. Treat each other to a pair of cozy pajamas and spend the day under the covers catching up on cuddles and rest. 4. Bundle up and, if weather allows, take a hand-in-hand stroll through a park or favorite sightseeing spot. Just follow any protocols for remaining safe, such as wearing masks. 5. Those who reside in climates that are mild in February can rent a small boat and enjoy a few hours on the open water far away from others. 6. Purchase the ingredients to a recipe you both enjoy and prepare the meal together. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert. 7. Take turns giving one another back massages at home. These are just some of the ways Valentine’s Day can be enjoyed safely while adhering to pandemic-related safety guidelines.
HD-11858_1
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WordSearch Answer
CryptoQuote Answer
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February 11, 2021
Crossword Answer
I imagine that a cross between a cannon and a bell would be dubbed “the boomerang.”
Stickelers Answer The answer is 2) 1 in 3. Eliminating any cousin who is 1 year old narrows the range of guesses. You have: 1) 2, 3 and 6 2) 2, 2 and 9 3) 3, 3, and 4
Inspirational Quote “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
Sudoku Answer
Maya Angelou
Go Figure Answer
Trivia Answers 1. Tooth enamel 2. California’s 3. Woodrow Wilson, March 1913 4. About 23,000 5. “Batman Forever” (1995) 6. Oklahoma (Oklahoma City)
7. Stone mason 8. Q 9. A tower 10. “Fahrenheit 451,” Ray Bradbury
Hitori Answer
(c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
Brain Teaser Answer
Because B.C. is counting backwards from the birth of Christ. If Christ hadn’t been born yet, there were no dates in B.C. yet!
VA, Fitbit Team Up Do you have a Fitbit activity tracker? If so, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a free program for you. The VA and Fitbit have hooked up to provide one year of free membership to eligible veterans who have the device. This couldn’t have come at a better time, when we need more exercise, less stress and better sleep at night. Up to 10,000 veterans (including caregivers and VA staff) can get one free year of Fitbit Premium, which
includes a health metrics dashboard, guided programs and more. Plus, you’ll have access to coaching. Check healthsolutions.fitbit.com. Eligibility will depend on a few things, such as whether you already use Fitbit and where you are. A bonus for veterans who already use VA healthcare: You might qualify for a Fitbit Sense, which is the Fitbit health smartwatch. If for some reason you can’t get into the Fitbit program, you have other options for exercise and working out. Step one is to call the gyms closest to you and ask if they offer anything for veterans. CrossFit, Gold’s Gym, 24 Hour Fitness, OrangeTheory and numerous others offer discounts and special deals for veterans. Don’t forget to try the non-chain locations.
If you’re eligible for Medicare, check into the Silver Sneakers program at local gyms; many Medicare plans will pay for that. Near a base? If you’re retired, are a MOH recipient or have a disability rating of 100%, you can qualify to use the gym on base. For at-home equipment, if you’re a Veterans Canteen Service (shopvcs.va.gov) member, check out the prices on equipment such as rowing machines and exercise bikes. Look online for a FreeCycle group in your area (freecycle.org), an online listing of items people are giving away. There are 5,300 groups across the U.S. Finally, don’t forget CraigsList.org for people selling equipment near you. (c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
Magic Maze Answer
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SERVICE DIRECTORY
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Saucy Creole Shrimp
• Line your veggie and fruit drawers with plain paper towels to avoid messes in the refrigerator. Check through produce daily to remove any spoiled items. • “For grease stains on fabric, I don’t reach any further than my kitchen sink. I saturate it with dishwashing liquid and throw it in the washer. it works better than any stain stick.” — W.D. in Pennsylvania • If you have many books on a bookcase, here’s a tip that’ll blow you away: Use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow dust off the top of the books. Work from the top down, wipe the visible shelf with a microfiber cloth, then vacuum the floor. • “Everyone knows probably five uses for pantyhose with runs in them. Here’s one I heard from a friend that I had never heard before. Scrunch one leg up and use it like a dusting mitt on upholstered furniture to get rid of cat hair. I guess it would work for all pet hair, but I do this every day now, and it’s so easy.” — G.T. in Washington (c) 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
• 4 tablespoons butter • 2 stalk celery • 1 large green pepper • 1 medium onion • 1 tsp. salt-free Creole seasoning • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 2 medium tomatoes • 8 ounces clam juice • 1 1/2 lb. peeled, deveined shrimp • 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce • 1 tbsp. Louisiana-style hot sauce • 1 1/2 cup cooked white rice 1. In 5-quart saucepot, melt butter on medium. Add celery, green pepper, onion and Creole seasoning. Cook 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. 2. Sprinkle flour over vegetables. Cook 2 minutes, stirring. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes or until tomatoes are very soft, scraping up browned bits. Stir in clam juice. Heat to simmering on high. 3. Add shrimp, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce. Simmer 5 minutes or until shrimp are just cooked through, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice with additional hot sauce, if desired. Makes 6 servings. (c) 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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